Redpath's Journals: Admissions Under Red Lights (10)

We had barely left the clearing before Cavalier Hawke, who like myself ignored the title placed upon our brow, began his questioning and teasing. I did not take it too harshly actually remembering how this was the same bantering playfulness that occurred between friends. like Meli and Sert, and even the Captains of the Royal Guards.

“Did she not offer that you stay by her side as her royal guardian if not her royal pet?” Hawke asked as I walked beside him along the trail heading northward. I sighed and nodded not truly wanting to explain the moments or events of our parting moments. “And you stilled refused her offer to give you everything including herself?” he continued. I nearly choked from shock at his words. “It was very clear to everyone how she truly deeply loved you squire of Atlantis.” he remarked at my reaction. “And do not tell me you did not feel the same for her.” he added more seriously.

“Sir Hawke,” I began but stopped releasing a strangling yowl in such a cat-like manner it actually surprised me. My shoulders slump as my mind tried to find a logical reason that could keep my heart from aching. For his part, the cavalier waited in silence to hear my answer. “My duties to Lord Kestrel must come first.” I finally stated with a hint of exasperation in my voice. “A throne is not what I am meant to sit upon as a Feline Royal Guard who sneaks around behind his Lord’s back.” I continued slowly. The comradery that had formed between Hawke and myself nearly had me revealing the darkest secret about the beastly Royal Guards of Atlantis, but I held it back. “It is not a place any of us animalistic beings should ever attempt filling.” I added hoping this would end this path of discussion.

“But as a Knighted hero of her lands, you are now nobility that would be accepted as a royal consort and her loving king.” he returned softly. I turned to glance at him seeing worry in his eyes. “The love you two share is not easy to find a second time, friend.” he continued slowly and quietly. I realized that this was advise based on his past learned with time. “I am just making sure you understand how deeply this decision may affect you, noble Redpath.” he added. The look of worry and sadness was easily noticeable in his eyes as he looked at me.

“You know that I do not have permissions to be here or to interfere as I have done.” I retorted using my previously revealed failing to excuse myself for walking away from Dia and the love we shared. “And I am unsure if mating with something like myself would give her pleasure or possibly harm her.” I continued pulling every possible problems bare for him to accept my refusal. I would not bring up the heavy coin purse now dangling from our waists nor the well crafted leather armor I now wore. “I can accept the gifts as rewards for my actions but the throne is not something she should hand away to the likes of me, cavalier.” I added with a hint of a growl in my voice.

“I understand how your duties and your code of honor holds you back but does your heart not yearn to be with her?” he asked directly. “I can tell you that her heart yearns to be with you as well.” he added softer.

“I know.” I interjected back. The growl died in my throat as my eyes meet his. “Sometimes, love must be set aside or hidden away to prove it’s truly strong.” I continued calmer. “Even my Lord Kestrel can put aside his heart to serve his duties as a mere Envoy for Atlantis.” I told him. “It has earn the Royal Guards treating him as a king without needing a throne.” I added with a half smile.

“Oh!” Hawke exclaimed as understanding dawned in his eyes. “You serve the untitled king of Atlantis?” he remarked shocked. “Now I understand why you are avoiding your feelings for her.” he continued slower. “Why did he not simply claim the throne and the woman he loves?” he added stunned.

“To prevent a civil war, to prevent challenging the Norse gods, to prevent causing death and chaos to spill forth from Atlantis into the world.” I enumerated as I had learned from the information I had heard since I could first take a step. “He wishes to protect Atlantis even if his heart burns in the process.” I continued more confidently. “Like him, my duty to serve and protect him are more important than my heart at this moment.” I concluded finally believing my words regretfully.

“You have chosen a very hard path to walk, squire.” Hawke returned with a sigh. “I believe Queen Diadem was correct naming you a Knight, sir Kestrel Redpath.” he stated with a soft chuckle. I humphed and yowled under my breath at being reminded of my newly acquired title. “A knight serves their lord’s will even if it grinds their heart to dust in the process.” he explained with a smirk. “That is why I am but a Cavalier and not a knight even if I have been handed the title a few times now.” he added laughing heartily.

With my laughter joining his, we continued along the pathway sharing comments and questionable remarks. The farmers, traveling merchants, and even peasants waved and greeted us warmly seemingly ignoring my feline features. When they would call the two of us heroes, Hawke would redirect that title solely upon my shoulders while stating he was only helping out a bit to the noble knight from Atlantis. I would glare and growl at him but he did not seem to take it seriously as a threat. The end of our first day of walking found us entering a small town where my cavalier companion seemed well known and respected. He lead us not to an inn but a house that reeked of alcohol, sweat, and bodily acts reserved to private moments.

“Why are you taking us here?” I asked as we approached the doors. The aroma of a carnal house was impossible to ignore as it filled my nostrils numbing my sense of smell. “If this place is what my nose is detecting, I do not believe I should be here.” I remarked pausing before entering. Hawke gave me a grin as he stopped and turned to face me fully.

“Yes, this is a house of prostitution but it offers the best accommodations shy of the castle.” he returned casually. The door opened as another blast of smells blended perfume and citrus to the preexisting stench filling my nose. “They will treat us properly without issues, I promise you this.” he continued with a smirk. A tall woman with long red hair and glowing red eyes appeared at the door smiling at us.

“Bringing a true friend this time, Hawke?” she asked in a deep husky voice. The cavalier stiffened at her voice turning slowly to face her. “He looks very nice in comparison to those soldier types that usually accompany you.” she remarked before turning her gaze upon me. The smell of brimstone made my nose crinkle while my eyes spotted the well hidden twin set of horns upon her head. “You are more than welcome to find protection and safety within my establishment Atlantian.” she added towards me.

“This is a bit of a surprise having you meet us at the door, Lady Rouge.” Hawke sputtered nervously. “She is the owner of this establishment. Queen’s Knight Kestrel.” he stated overly formally. He sudden shift from confident and courageous cavalier into a servant to myself was more than a surprise. “And I have the coins to pay for secluded private set of room for us as well.” he added subdued.

“Hawke partially misrepresents my importance.” I started explaining. A lone finger that felt hot touched my lips silencing me.

“Our kingdom’s hero need not explain themselves to me.” she whispered to me. I knew that Hawke had not heard her words spoken at the right volume for only myself to hear and understand. “No coins are required this once Hawke as you deserve a reward for helping the kingdom stand proud once more.” she told him directly. “And do not hide behind your furry friend with false servitude.” she added before taking us by the arm drawing us within her establishment quickly and without chance for us to escape. The warning thrill ran up my spine but it lessened as she guided us to a table where two servant held platters with food a drink for us.

“A pair of birds for us to feed and cuddle with.” one of the two serving woman stated smiling at us. I quickly examined the two women knowing that they were human, hopefully.

“A hawk and a kestrel make a good hunting duo indeed.” the other servant returned with a pleased smile. Their smile faltered slightly as Rouge cleared her throat.

“Hawke is all yours but the kitten is not to be touched since I wish to discuss matters with him, personally.” the lady ordered bluntly and directly. I could not help but swallow audibly at her interest in me. I doubted this was intentional betrayal by Hawke but it was a curious situation he had lead me into. “Eat, drink, and enjoy the entertainment noble gentlemen.” she announced merrily. Her red eyes did not show happiness exactly but a hint of mischievous glee that I had noticed when Dia or Meli, or other even Miss Hope, when they had a surprise or secret to spring upon someone, mostly myself. “I will return later for our discussion, lovely kitten.” she added before drifted away from the table.

“Hawke?” I half-growled to get his attention. “What was that about?” I asked softly. But his answer had to wait as the two women took places close beside us with the platters placed upon the table.

“Eat.” the one by my side stated holding a silvered fork with a piece of meat stuck to it’s points. She placed it be my lips suggesting I should open my mouth to be feed by her. I notice the other woman did the same to the cavalier who took the meat without hesitations. I followed suit more nervously than my companion. The hint of blood and mild spice mix made the bite very tasty as both women smiled at our accepting being served by their own hands.

“Drink.” The other woman stated as we finished chewing. A cup was placed upon our lips a gently lifted to allow the sweet liquid into our mouth. I quickly adjusted to this very intimate serving of a meal and drink that was delicious and satisfying but not intoxicating, in my case. I could see the blush of mild drunkenness flush Hawke’s cheeks but I sense no alcohol nor other intoxicants within my food and drink. The woman closest to me leaned in close to my ear.

“No fear, the cavalier will sleep very well tonight without ill effects while our Mistress has the most friendly time with you.” she whispered in my ear. She pulled back to give me a quick wink and a full lipped smile.

“Will you reveal what this is about?” I purred at her knowing Hawke was being removed from the equation.

“Your name is what has Mistress Rouge intrigued and best if Hawke does not add falsehoods to your truth.” she replied softly. She ran the back of her fingers along my cheek. “And maybe I will be allowed to have you cuddled at my bussom for the best night sleep either of us will ever have.” she continued slowly. Her tone hinted at seduction but held back from fully indulging in this possibility. “Unless the Mistress decides to keep you for herself.” she added with a hint of a frown.

The meal proceeded in this fashion between bite of food and sips of drink while the entertainment flowed on a small stage that was before our table. Exotic dancers hinting at bare flesh hidden by fans and thin silken scarfs moved to cause arousal within the bar styled house of ill repute. I could see clearly how this affected the other patrons present even upon Hawke himself, but none of it seemed to touch me. It felt odd to me since I was old enough to have these reactions but I felt perfectly removed from sensing arousal within myself. The sips for Hawke had become mouth serving directly from the woman at his side. My hand servant smiled but simply held the cup to my lips not even daring to attempt a liquid kiss as her opposite did to the cavalier.

“You obey your mistress well.” I remarked softly. Her touch upon my cheek and arm was soft, gentle, and pleasing but only hinted at what more could be possible if she was given permission. “I do find it odd that no alcohol or other mood enhancing herbs are being used upon me.” I commented casually.

“The Mistress wishes you are clear of mind and in full control of your emotions, Kestrel.” she answered easily. Her voice was no longer a whisper but still soft over the music and noise of the happy patrons. She still smiled and touched my arm but her stance was more relaxed and not pushing the level of intimacy to increase. “And Hawke is a special case since no matter how aroused he becomes, there is only one woman he would allow claiming him and she is far from here.” she supplied with a softer more friendly smile. “My sister and me can only dream of the chance to be truly with him outside of sleeping entwine with him between us.” she admitted glancing at Hawke. A soft purring chuckle escaped me as I saw the look in her eyes as she watched her sister and the cavalier touching each other in a gentle loving way. “Yes, it’s a foolish thought since his heart can never be won again.” she added nearly inaudibly.

“I will have to remind him his on words to myself.” I replied giving her a wink. “As for the one that has touched my heart, she will either die of old age in my arms or live a lesser life upon Atlantis.” I continued with a soft sad smile. She turned fully towards me and ran her fingertips along my furry head. “A cannot force a noble and honorable Queen to that cursed a life because of love.” I purred out under my breath. My eyes nearly closed from her gentle touch on my scalp enjoying her gentle but simple touch.

“It seems you have understood that my girls treat our patrons how they truly wish to be treated and nothing more.” Rouge’s voice had me slowly opening my eyes. My servant’s hand retreated hesitantly from my head and arm. “Bring Hawke up to his room and give him a good night.” she ordered in the most gentle and kind voice I’ve ever heard spoken. “Follow me to the private lounge the other Kestrel, I wish to speak to you about, enjoyed the most.” she requested looking down upon me. “Please?” she added in a whisper for my ears only. She held out her hand to me opened palm and finger outstretched. As my hand touched hers, her fingers entwined with mine as she easily helped me to my feet. She ran the fingers of her other hand gently over my head in a petting motion before leading me to a back room half hidden behind the main serving board.

“I know only one other being named Kestrel and I am unsure if my Lord is the one you speak of.” I reported to her slowly and hesitantly. “May I know which race you truly are since my nose and eyes see demonic traces.” I added before taking the seat beside her upon a large stylish divan.

“Your perceptive skills are correct in the fact that I am a demoness but not the succubi type that usually work in, or own, this type of business.” she easily admitted. She pushed her flaming red hair to tuck it behind her double set of horns that curved from her forehead towards the back of her head. She gave me an open mouthed smile showing her sharp triangular teeth, fangs, and forked tongue. “And I do not have a tail which is a succubi trait.” she continued in a huskier voice. She no longer tried hiding her inhuman features that were so easily blended into a human guise nearly flawlessly. “The Dread Bird Kestrel has gained another Atlantian companion to equal a team of five if all together.” she added as the mischievous sparkle returned to her glowing red eyes.

“Dread Bird?” I asked confused realizing the truth. It was Lord Kestrel she which to discuss and she knew he had Meli, Sert Cole, and now myself in his retinue. “I have never heard him called by that name before.” I admitted now looking at her closer. She giggled as she reached out to play with the fur along my head. I was about to protest but a lone hot finger touched my lips.

“Hush kitten, and let me pet you, please?” she whispered to me making my words die in my throat. I nodded as her nailed fingertips continued gently running from the front to the back of my head ruffling my fur. “I see why both of you enjoyed this so much.” she whispered with a hint of amazement in her voice. “You share his eye color of honey touched amber.” she continued in that amazed whispering tones. I sat frozen unable to resist this ministration lavished upon me. A soft peck touched my cheeks and forehead before she finally puled back. “Thank you, that was exquisite.” she added finally leaning back from me.

“Why was that so important for you to do that?” I asked in a squeaky voice. “It was pleasant but slightly odd at this moment.” I continued in a quicker and more confident voice. “And you have not explained the Dread Bird reference to Lord Kestrel.” I added a hint of annoyance and anger in my tones.

“It’s the other side of the coin to his Meakita persona.” she answered casually. “Where Meakita is him acting the part of a noble hero, the Dread Bird Kestrel does the violent and questionable actions sometimes required in this world.” she explained in a slow and calm voice. “I must presume that, as Lord Kestrel, he has the freedom to utilize any mean possible to accomplish his mission since it is understandably noble and honorable, correct?” she added tilting her head. The mischievous gleam was gone and her smile was more casual and friendly than before.

“Yes.” I interjected quickly. “Be it protecting Atlantis with a compassionate hand or a violent sword.” I admitted slowly. In my mind I remembered the screams of madness from the traitorous fairy being punished in the most cruel way possible. “He can be a monster if needed to protect what he sees as righteous.” I added with a shudder. Her eyes crinkled with worry or concern at my shivered out words.

“His powers surpasses anything that exist here.” she said softly. “But I am happy he has found a good place to live with enough peace to not hide his truer self.” she continued with a half smile. “He has been in this world since it begun so learn from his omnipotent knowledge.” she advised me softly. Before I could react, she had pulled me into a tight embrace. “Sleep safely in my arms you sweet innocent kitten.” she added in my ear. My head rested on her ample warm cleavage while her hands ran fingertips along my back. The leather armor did not prevent her touch upon my furry back as sleep pulled me into the darkness of her gentle embrace. My eyes flicked before finally closing as I drifted asleep cuddled upon her lap like a tamed house cat.

Kestrel's Journals: A Plague With Three Faces (9)

“I only found a handful of insects and spiders within the zone you mentioned.” Meli told me after she explored the area the boy had directed me to search.

“Which is the secondary source of the illness.” I explained having finally understood what was truly happening. “It’s a single disease mutated by the venom of the spiders or other insects.” I continued slowly. “One form that shows in the ulcerations of flesh, another in the lung damage causing coughing fits with blood phlegm, and finally the unnoticed version that is more purely venomous in nature.” I simplified it for her. I was still weak but my mind had fully returned to use. “It would easily slip into the provisions of this village slowly eating away upon the villagers.” I concluded with a calm smile.

“This does explain why the listing of symptoms varied.” she remarked pensively. “I did notice a few plants in the area that can be used as an anti-venom, anti-bacterial, and a few anti-viral we can use.” she reported slowly as she planned ahead.

“Mix them in together in equal portions with a fever reducing plant to start a baseline treatment.” I suggested to lead her thoughts in the proper pathway. “It should work on the ones before they arrive in the terminal stage.” I added to clarify the only line she should not cross.

“Can anything be done once they are in that final stage of illness.” she asked hopefully and annoyed. I shock my head but also raised a hand palm out to her trying to prevent her continuing. “But you..” she began but halted looking at me pleadingly.

“Not even their deities can save them once they reach that point from what I’ve seen.” I told her softly and quietly.

“What about your people and your deities?” she retorted anger creeping into her voice. “Can they not help you save the others?” she added bluntly. As a healer, she wanted desperately to save every patient that was placed in her care. I understood this was the source of her frustration and anger but I could not give her false hope.

“They are not those I called upon to save the child.” I answered not hiding my annoyance in my voice. “No deities that have ever ruled upon these lands have the power to save even a single child.” I admitted to her in a low whisper. “We are here to assist since they cannot interfere directly nor do anything to save the majority of them.” I continued with a half confession. The so-called deities here always interfered but were impotent in truly helping these people. The only lie was that did not have the right or power to force us to be here. Our presence here was only a coincidence of the path I had selected to avoid annoyance which still came to us.

“So we become the hands of deities because their hands are bound?” she asked with a huff. “Is that not our typical role as Atlantians within these foreign lands?” she added with a derisive snort of laughter.

“The outer world needs to feel both free and secure to have hope for a future if they will progress forward properly.” I explained. I did not which to admit that this was my brothers’, sisters’, and my own duty in this world of the last race. “We save the ones we can, give comfort to those we cannot save, and give all hope for them to move forward.” I continued looking at her. Meli grumbled an agreement with a grim nod before slowly walking away to collect the herbs to create a possible cure. I sat there knowing I would suggest treating the terminal patients as well as those that could be saved. It might save one or two of those too far gone if they were strong enough to fight the illness but those survivors would be looked upon differently. A guard came to assist me in my still weakened state back to the healing tents we had at the center of the village.

Once returned to our medical base of operations, I requested that all the mortars and pestles that could be found in the village brought to the center of the village. I assured that each of the dozen grinding tools were manned by skilled hands waiting for Meli’s return with the mix of herb bundles. Meli would be free to administer the mixture while the herbs were grounded together in the proper mix that I could oversee even in my weakened state. It would still take an hour or more before the first mixture of ground herbs mixed with boiled water could be administered to our patients as a medicinal draft. I insisted that while we waited to see if this worked, we grinded the remaining herbs which luckily came in from the elder women of the villagers. The older women had looked at the plants and rushed off wanting to help us. Two bushels of the three main ingredients arrive shortly leaving only the fever reduction agent missing. Only a half bushel arrived with a plea for forgiveness in her inability to find more about an hour after the other bushels. I assured them that this was more than enough for now, and warned them to not gather anymore at this time. I set aside a place to dry the herbs that had arrived in preparation for grinding and mixing.

“It is slowing down the progress but not removing the symptoms.” Meli informed me that night in Atlantian.

“It gives us a chance to customize the cure for the three variants of this illness.” I replied with an encouraging smile. Meli did not smile back at my words. I knew she still worried about those we will be loosing. “We have the tools and the knowledge to defeat this disease, dear Meli.” I added softly.

“But do we have the time to save enough of them to make it worth our efforts?” she retorted bluntly.

“Better to save a handful and prevent other from getting ill, than loose all the populous of this village.” I returned calmly. “A single life is worth our efforts since we have done our best.” I continued with a half smile. “Back to work with a variant to directly target each version of the illness we’ve noted so far.” I concluded pointing to a written list. The name and quickly drawn image of each plant was shown on three sheets of Atlantian paper with the alterations for each form of the sickness.

“As you command, Lord Mêkëa.” she replied with a soft giggle. She gave me a quick bow before focusing on the pages I had written for her. “Always perfectly organized, sir.” she added in a whisper I was not meant to hear. Meli began setting the driest herbs into sets to be ground by our six helpers. Two grinders worked on the mix assigned to them by Meli while I watched and noted if anything else could be done at this time. Meli did select a combination of the three main herbs aside grinding them in her own device.

“A hunch or instinct?” I asked her with a raised eyebrow.

“Only a very few of them have developed fevers which means the extra herb might not be needed in their case.” she explained slowly. I could see her pensive bodily signs as she planned a different base for our treatment ideas. “We can add either herb to this balanced mixture for each specific patients prior to administrating it to them.” she concluded before looking towards me. The healer’s glow shined in her eyes showing she was fully into her role of an Atlantian healer.

“Sound like a good starting point for a basic potion that could slow the progress of the disease until we can discern which mutation they are suffering.” I agreed with a nod. “Have any of these mixtures been tested on the terminal patients?” I asked gaining a shocked look from her.

“If this will not save them, why try it on them?” she returned confused.

“Their reaction to the possible cure both mentally and physically might help us tailor one that works more efficiently on the newly infected no matter their variation of the illness.” I explained slowly. I saw the gleam in her eyes as she considered this might be my way to figure a way of healing even those in a supposedly terminal state. “Plus it gives them peace of mind that we have not already given up on them even if our actions are mostly in vain.” I continued in the same calm slow voice. “It gives hope.” I added in Atlantian to her. It took a moment of deep thought before she nodded back to me. She understood that this wasn’t an attempt to save them but give them respect in their last moment. I knew this would be done in the future when humans would be kept alive solely to give them a peaceful death without regret.

It was nearly a week before Sert returned to the village’s guarded border. In that time, as he reported, he investigated the three other villages finding them clean of illnesses and no signs of causing this plague to attack the village. He found many of the villagers back on their feet and the disease fully under control by Meli’s advice and my daily checks. We were tired but happily keeping up our work to protect and heal the village. A perfected mixture had been developed by Meli that could allow the villagers’ body to naturally fight off all three variants of this disease linked to spider venom.

Those spiders and most of the insects had been removed from the fields as plants were used to force them to leave. We had avoided killing them even if the villagers thought it a wise protective ideal. Nature worked well to safeguard the village and fields without disturbing the natural order of life. Only the infected livestock were unfortunately needed to be destroyed since none of our mixtures seemed to have any effects on their spiral towards death. Black smoke drifted up from the pyres on the farmlands where the animal corpses were being burned to ashes. It was only a minor problem for the village having lost more than half of their animals to this plague. It was the moment Meli and myself could agree that the plague had ran it’s course and we only waited for the few that were still sick could recover fully.

“It is time for us to return to our journey.” I told them still weary from both the work and my use of my true powers. Part of me wished to simply return to Atlantis, but duty prevented this action. A week and a half had passed while we healed this village and Meli agreed with my words with a tired nod.

“They have been taught and shown everything to fight this disease if it returns.” Meli informed us. “And they will have a better chance to face other illnesses that come to this village.” she added with a half smile.

“One more night for us to recover or we will require an ox pulled cart to carry us to our meeting, sir.” Sert countered quickly. I could see he was tired but not as badly exhausted as Meli. I would resist my deeply ingrained fatigue, weakness, and mental fog if they decided to leave but easily accepted this final night of actual rest. We all accepted to this last night even if it delayed our arrival to our targeted city. “And I want both of you resting undisturbed this last night here.” he added looking sternly at both of us.

“Did they enjoy ‘naked time’?” Meli asked before collapsing in uncontrollable laughter. A dark glare from Sert had me groaning, knowing he had decided to create one of his questionable diversions. We helped her to her feet to drop her gently upon a sleeping cot while she still giggled. I took my cot without any resistance feeling centuries of life weighing down upon my shoulders. Calling upon the Ley’ä’Luna had drained me in ways that I did not realize were possible. My physical strength had mostly returned but my spiritual and mental energies had barely increased from that moment.

The high pitched buzzing of the combined voices from the pillar of light assaulted my ears as sleep took me into it’s embrace. I could not resist the pull dragging my weakened mental self into the chamber at the center of all that exists. My ephemeral form crashed to the floor before the pillar of light unable to even stand against the constant battering noise of their voices. What usually was a whisper was now a screaming cacophony beating upon my essence directly. I fought to understand the mixed conversations pouring over me barely able to make any head way at first. I knew this was congratulatory and thankful words but it was like a hammer pounding me into the ground. It felt to me that many days if not weeks had passed as I lay barely conscious being thanked for my actions toward a nameless village in the middle of nowhere.

I awoke to see the shocked face of Meli and Sert looking at me. I saw my amber raptor eyes with twin sparks rolling around the edge of my now black orbs. My words to them were squawks, hisses, and growling mumbles without a hint of coherence available for them. I was forcibly sat up as a draft was poured down my throat. I learned later that it was a double strength mix of our cure with a large dose of the fever reduction herbs. I half choked it down as Meli (I believe) emptied the mug into my mouth before slumber pulled me back into darkness. While I lay trapped in the barrage of gratuitous words from the Ley’ä’Luna, I would catch shards of words from the real world where my body lay in a fevered fitful sleep. It took another week, that felt like a lifetime to me, before I finally awoke feeling mostly healthy.

My spirit was still only at half strength, but my mind and body had recovered to full strength. I knew that a very old wound had been reopened deeply in my spirit because of the thing within the Heartstone shard I had linked with. My actions to save a lone child had become a beacon alerting my oldest and most hated enemy of my location. It had also shown me where that ancient evil sat infecting the world with it’s dark delusional beliefs. I had noted the warping in the general world of the human but now I was adding the same things happening within Atlantis itself to the list. I could feel the deep internal spirit room oozing out my essence in slow spiral to what could only be death. I blocked away all the undamaged sections into a secured copy to place within my squire when I selected one, eventually.

Annianka was infected which showed itself in her madness behavior. The plots against Atlantis both from within and without were all signs of the infection sitting without the Heartstone Of Atlantis. Everything evil in this world returned to Atlantis’ infected network of power. Destroying it would not truly stop the spread of Her evil delusion, but it may slow it down until my kindred brothers and sisters could finally defeat it. The vision of the stone being destroyed releasing a black cloud to infect the world now made sense. Atlantis needed to disappear from here but could not be destroyed if the world could be saved. A new Brother Order needed to be found since I know that as corrupted as I now was, it was not my place anymore. My focus was to find a squire and finding a way to remove Atlantis from this world even if it’s also the only chance humanity has to become their true selves.

Kestrel's Journals: Plague and a Step Over the Edge

 

Upon the second day of travel, we arrived at the blockade erected in the middle of a barely noticeable trail. I knew we were tired but this seemed problematic and intriguing to me. The lightly leather armored but well armed men beyond the barricade wore dirty white clothes tightly bound across their face. We examined the dozen road guards as I noted that this was not a band of bandits. My companions looked curious but no tensions came from their stance by me. One moved closer to their side of the barrier without crossing it. This gave me a chance to examine the mask that appeared like the protective face cover worn by healers dealing with virulent patients. This was a land suffering some form of plague they were trying to avoid spreading. It was already too late for this guard if what I saw in his eyes were showing reality.

“Please return the way you came or give our village a large berth for your own safety.” he announced without waiting for replies or counter remarks. He was already half turned away from us when I spoke.

“What ailment is your village plagued with?” I asked in a commanding voice. I had the attention of all the guards but none moved closer leaving the lone man to speak with me.

“It is unknown to us but, some have died already and many are sick. Best to simply avoid us, Sir.” the lone guard sated without turning to face us.

“We are trained as healers and may be able to assist your village.” Meli piped in. She moved to walk pass me but I stopped her with a single hand before her face. I felt her anger seeing my actions as insulting prevent her to help.

“You are already infected and close to the last stages of the disease.” I called out to the guard’s back. He froze as the other guards turned their weapons towards him. “Hold your attack until I can verify my assumption, friends!” I said with authority and command filling my words. I tried to rarely use this verbal power but I feared making a mistake while still weakened from facing off with the shard of the Atlantian Heartstone and what lies within it.His shoulders slumped as he turned back towards us. As he moved to stand before me passed the blockade, I motioned Meli and Sert to step back until I could asses this situation properly.

I starred into his eyes as he stood barely breathing before me. The yellowish tint to the white of his eyes, unevenly dilated pupils, and rings of red crowning and warping his light brown iris told the truth I knew he feared the most. I sighed pulling the mask off his face noting the bluish-black thin lips and marks upon his skin showing he was past saving now. I could feel that Meli had came to the same diagnosis I had as she prepared a mask for herself, Sert, finally myself. She was in the processes of making our face covering protection as I spoke to the guard.

“Return to your family so you may die with your loved ones.” I told him while watching the other guards pale and keep their weapons ready to strike. “Leave him pass, he is no long a danger to others anymore.” I added loudly. Dominance magic filled every syllables of my words to the other guards. They moved away from the first guard’s path lowering their weapons. The condemned guard ran back towards the village as one of the remaining guard moved forward to stand before me. His shoulders were squared and he stood showing bravery and warriors pride with his weapon sheathed at his hip.

“Do you know what is killing my village?” the new lead guard asked quietly. His eyes were clear and did not avoid my gaze.

“I know the signs that they are past both being saved or infecting others.” I told him slowly. I gave him a moment to accept my words. “But the disease itself is unknown to me.” I concluded pensively. Meli was at my elbow with a mask on her face holding one out for me. This was her way to take control of this conversation without directly interrupting me.

“We have extensive knowledge and may be able to to discover the source of this ailment and possibly create a cure.” she told the guard. I felt Sert moving up to my other side as I finished tying the mask upon my face properly. Before the guard could question our reason to offer helping them, Sertian cleared his throat.

“Atlantians cannot turn away from helping those that deserve it.” he bluntly stated to the guard. “I may only be a soldier like yourself but even I willing risk this plague to assist your people.” he told him in a softer more friendly tones. He felt himself pulled back a few steps behind us. I refused to laugh as Meli used her earth elemental ability to separate him from this problem suited for healers better than military men.

“We will find another way for you to assist us Sert.” I told him with Meli nodding beside me. “You do not have a self healing method that can combat diseases unlike Meli and myself.” I explained to him in Atlantian. In my mind’s eye. I saw the electrified healing cloud covering her body matching my nebula healing magic.

“Being a stranger that understands our language, you may be of great assistance by verifying the three nearby villages.” the guard remarked. I could sense worried excitement from the guard. “We fear that this plague came from one of the other villages or they maybe suffering the same illness.” he told Sert more directly. I knew that his fear was that this ailment had been sent unwillingly by one of those nearby villages. I would not change this mission which could protect Sert and possibly find the source or how far this plague had spread before being noticed. The guard moved aside with Sert drawing maps of the area with a stick in the dirt. My retainer studied the map for a few minutes easily memorizing it. He nodded to the guard before moving to my elbow awaiting my orders.

“Remember that they might be innocent or in the grasps of the same illness.” I whispered to him in Atlantian. “Keep the mask ready if you notice anything out of natural order there.” I added giving him a final nod. Sert smiled under his face cover and silently gave me a crisp salute before heading out towards the closest of the three neighboring villages. My attention now turned to Meli. I warned her of the signs in in the eyes and other potential warning reactions.

“These are the signs that our patient is beyond our help but no longer a risk to infect others.” she concluded for me. She turned toward the guard who started escorting us toward the village centre. “What are the signs that show they are infected already noted?” she asked the guard already in professional healer mindset. The guard stopped us at the first roughly made house.

“Some have coughing fits with blood and breathing issues, other show blights on their skin, and a few, like our captain, have no signs until the ending moments.” he explained looking from her to me as he spoke. His eyes looked haunted, tired, and exasperated from this sickness. He kept the mask tightly on his face as he spoke to us. “We can only detect those that show signs of infection.” he added darkly and quietly.

“Check for mild discoloration of her skin by their nails, eyes, or mouth with the spectrum crystal.” I commented to Meli. I was not absolutely sure but it was a good starting point to detect the smallest possibility of infection. “It should be most visible on their fingers tips and palm of their hands, but check the skin by their eyes and mouth if you doubt what you see.” I added knowing she understood why I was being thorough in this case. We might be able to resist getting infected but it was not a perfect protection if we missed infected villagers we were unknowingly exposed to.

Meli simply nodded as she withdrew the spectral crystal from her healing kit at her hip. The guard slowly nodded holding his hands out for her inspection. She smiled as she noted no changes upon the skin seen through the crystal that heightened the smallest color change. She explained how this inspection worked sending him to check the guards manning the barricades isolating the ill village from outsiders. He thanked her before rushing away with the crystal in a tight grip. A second matching spectrum crystal was in her hand as she looked at me ready for us to enter the village proper. With a nod, we stepped in sync forward towards the center of the village.

“I take the houses on the left while you do the ones on the right.” I ordered as we reached the first set of doors. “We send the infected to the center of the village where we will set medical tents to house them.” I continued before moving from the dirty street. “We will be repeating this verification daily to assure the source is not within a household.” I added softly. She knew these procedures even if it was never needed upon Atlantis. My words were just a reminder which she nodded to me grimly. We separated and quickly identified the villagers that were infected sending them ahead of us to wait.

A quarter of the village was infected with only a few beyond hopes of saving. Our tents where going to be filled with more sitting outside. The villagers were scared but oddly calm with our humane treatment towards them. They were humans and not plague bearers to be shunned and ignored until they died. By nightfall, three more join the ranks of those beyond help and were returned to their family to end their days in familial love and caring. I escorted them myself to verify that no other family members were ill. The next infected victims arrived the next day just after the noontime zenith of the sun.

Both Meli and myself followed the villagers’ normal life to find what morning activity could be the source of this illness. Water sources, fields where their food grew, their herd animals, and their feed was all tested finding neither virus nor bacteria that could cause this plague with mixed symptoms. We questioned the villagers about strangers or new trade products that entered the village before the first victim became ill but it was a vain path of research. By the second day of searching was nearly done, word arrived from one of the outlying farms to verify their animals once more. I left Meli behind in the village to visit the farm that I did not think would help our investigations, but I was mistaken. Half their herd of animals had developed ulcerations on their skin which concerned their owners. These infected animals showed disorientation in their movement which match the symptoms to those infecting the humans of the village.

“Herbivores, yes?” I asked the farmer while verifying his hands with a spectrum crystal. He was fine but his animals were not. “What field do they usually feed in?” I added before he could respond. The animals were beyond our talents if we could not isolate the source of this illness. I rushed to the field the farmer let them feed upon hoping a clue could be found to save this village. Meli had, with my minor help, to reduce the progress of the disease with Atlantian knowledge but we still could not stop them from eventually dying so far. I prefer waiting giving advice to the farmer other than separating the sick animals from those that were still appearing healthy and having him avoiding the field. A farm hand with a kerchief covering his nose and mouth came with me to the designated field.

“Any odd signs from the herd other than the spring heat prior to the sickness appeared in the village?” I asked my companion. He shook his head while still looking pensive over my question.

“Nothing until now, healer.” he answered looking simply tired and scared. A young boy rushed towards us as we reached the edge of the field. I had seen the boy upon my arrival and he was healthy, but now; his yellow tinted eyes, deformed dilated pupils, and red rimmed irises showed him in the final stages within less than an hour. He held up a tightly clenched fist towards me shaking on unsteady legs.

“I think it’s between the field and barn.” the boy stated breathing hard. His small hand open to show the remains of a dead insect or spider mostly crushed by his little fingers. I scooped the boy up as he collapsed into unconsciousness. I lay him upon the ground and told the farm hand to send word for Meli to come quickly. I pulled out the amplifier stone which was a piece of the Atlantian Heartstone to hold it tightly in my hand. I could not allow the one that brought the only clue to this illness to die. I was overstepping my boundaries set upon when I was birthed into this world but this was my only hope to save him.

The farmer with his workers rushed to my location believing they would find a dead or dying boy. What they found was a sight causing awe and terror beyond the stories of their gods and goddesses. My electrical nebula of healing spread visible to their eyes until both the boy and myself were surrounded by sparking cloud. They heard words nothing living, neither deity nor mortals within this world, poured from my mouth as tendrils of blue-white light waved around the child’s body mixing flawlessly with the cloud of sparkling energy. The farmer’s household stepped back from us as they saw my eyes turn into black orbs with twin stars spinning wildly. As I stood with my free hand gathering the ends of the tendrils and became the source of lightning sparks. The child’s limp body rose towards my outstretched hand that was shaded in aspects on liquid night skies.

Meli arrived at this time to the spectacle of healing magic beyond anything known in Atlantis itself. Her gasp told the farmer and his household that this went beyond the knowledge of Atlantis and this world. A litany of mysterious words that she could not follow or understand echoed in a deep resonate tones from my mouth to wrap around the floating boy and myself. Multi-colored ribbons of light shot from my hand to entwine around the child. Spasmodic tremors suddenly wracked the boy’s body which echoed in my own human form. Meli’s earth sense had a pillar rising to meet the boy’s back before he fell. I was not as lucky since the area around me refused her call letting my fall upon my side to the ground harder than any would have expected. My last memories was slipping the stone back into the silken pouch with archaic glyphs older than the Earth itself before darkness slowly claimed my vision as a soft but deep humming touched my ears.

Meli rushed to the child as his eyes opened. The boys brown eyes were clear but bore a mark of this event in the form of three bright blue circles in his iris forming a triangle around his pupil. With a deep breath, the boy twisted to see what had happened gaining a shocked scream from him seeing my collapsed and partially broken form.

As I was told later by Meli, my body was still spasming uncontrollably in the dirt. She grabbed the child using her body to hide me from his view. She checked his hands finding him fully healthy as his family starred stunned by this event that reclaimed him from death’s embrace.

“His eyes were the eyes of the dead before your master acted.” the farmhand told Meli. She handed the boy off to them saying he was find and he must not have seen what he believes he saw. The family moved aside while I body was wracked with spasms for the next hours. The hand that I had used for healing appeared shredded showing raw meat around displaced bones. I did finally regain a semblance of consciousness at this point fully feeling the effects of my actions. Nothing living upon this world could unleash the power I had used now twice to save others. My thoughts were still muddy as Meli finally came to speak to me as I lay upon the ground now soaked in my sweat.

“What was that?” she asked with wide eyes. I was too drained to even hazard a look inside her mind choosing to glance over her shoulder towards the Farmer and his wife holding their living child. I looked at my ruined hand which I finally felt pain from.

“I asked for help in saving the boy from the highest power that ever existed.” I half-lied to her. Could not change the memories of this event nor touch their mind to see what they perceived because of my weakened state. The Heartstone shard could not help me as my spiritual pool had been emptied drawing forth the power of my true bloodline channeled through the Ley’ä’Luna into healing one child that walked the edge between life and death. “And I am nearly powerless because they answered my request.” I explained failing to rise in a sitting position. Meli assisted me to my feet allowing to hang off her shoulder like an ancient great-grandfather barely able to move by himself. The gratitude of the farmer and family received a weak wave of my hand. “I did nothing but allow the ones above me to use me as a conduit to save him.” I stated with a weak voice. I would never tell them that their child must live for another more important event. Meli moved me to a log to sit and regain enough strength to stand on my own. I thanked her as she bandaged my ruined hand as I realized that the true damage I had suffered was much deeper than simple bodily wounds.