As we arrived to the pass, my retinue stiffened as the eerie silence and stillness overtook us. The horses slowly moved forward acting as nervous as my companions. Redpath had quickly gone from horse to horse calming them which was odd in itself being a predator type animal but they responded well to him. Just another mystery linked to this odd little feline that had joined my household. The harder ride had me slumped in my saddle but still noticing the situation around us. Life like statues lined the path up and between the mountains gaining the direct attention from Sert and Meli while the feline kept up his duties towards the horses. This was our first warning as more statues appeared further along the passage and the tremors of magic touched each of them.
“This pass is closed!” a female hissed out. A cloaked figure easily mistaken for one of the statues moved to block the path forward. We were halfway through the mountain pass at this point and only Redpath seemed to react properly pulling the horse closer to the rear horse without stopping any of us from dismounting if needed. “Unless you are the one I am waiting to speak with.” she added in a sibilant hiss from under her hood.
“Yes, Lacona.” I replied from my saddle perch. “I am here for our second meeting.” I continued bluntly. I flipped my leg over to rest sitting sideways in the saddle. “Stay back Sert and Young Kestrel, since you do not have protective magic against the sisterhood of the Gorgons.” I warned them which seemed to be a pointless action. I slide from the saddle to stand but instead crashed hard upon my rear with an annoyed squawk.
“Meakita?” Lacona whispered in shock. She moved forward in a lightning fast serpentine twisted slitter but found Redpath standing between us with firmly closed eyes and one pawed hand opened padded palm facing her.
“If I do not look upon your countenance, I am safe, correct?” he asked but I doubted it was directed towards us. With a grasp on the stirrup of my saddle, I pulled myself to my feet as Sert and Meli hands grapple on my sides and arms to assist me. I could see her hooded head tilting from right to left as she looked at my name sake’s insane bravery.
“Yes.” she whispered in a hiss before pulling back a bit from him. “I will wait until given permission to approach allowing you to return to your friends.” she added lowering her head to look upon the ground. Redpath took a half step back before pivoting on his heel to return to us. He had the reins of the three horse in his one hand while giving each horse a quick pet from their mane to their nose purring softly to them. The horses remained calm and immobile by the feline.
“I had to kill bastards like this last time I went through here.” I commented bluntly. I shake free from my companions to slowly move forward with only a bow-staff to support my tired weight. “So you decided to turn them into stone this time, Lacona?” I slurred out. Another few step forward had me standing where Redpath had acted foolishly.
“You three may as well move away, this discussion is a private matter between Myself and Meakita.” Locona hissed. The hood was slowly undulating as something alive seemed to move under it. “You do not want to watch over this conversation.” she added bluntly towards us. Meli stepped forward with Sert at her heels while Redpath focused upon the horses.
“We will stand with Lord Kestrel!” she called back defiantly. Sert wisely kept a few paces behind Meli as she slowly moved to try standing beside me.
“Drop your protective nature this once, Meli!” I snapped angrily at her. “Let me deal with this as you three continue to the port.” I told them bluntly. I pulled myself to my full length causing the bow-staff to bend slightly from my weight.
“I will let them pass if you remain to speak with me, Meakita.” Lacona stated in a calm but loud hissing voice. “I promise no harm shall come to him while in my presence.” she added towards my companions. The hood moved on it’s own but a tight grip from her hand kept it from sliding off her head.
“She is honorable in her words.” I assured them. “Leave us so I can conclude what was not known to Cole about my last visit to this place.” I concluded calmly.
“As you wish.” Meli finally grumbled. Redpath was forcing the reigns into their hand keeping one separated. He kept motioning to them to mount their horses but does not seem to be planning to leave himself as he held my horse’s reins. The other two resisted leaving but eventually moved passed up upon their horses. Redpath remained looking away from us simply holding the reigns to my horse keeping it calmly waiting. Once Sert and Meli disappeared from view, Lacona moved towards me this time unhindered.
“Stop being so stubborn, you old bird.” she hissed as one of her arms wrapped around my shoulders. Her serpent tail coiled around my lower body holding me on my feet without crushing me. “What have you done to yourself this time?” she whispered to me.
“Called upon the Light of Life to save a child.” I returned blunter than I wanted. I felt so powerless while she gently held me. I glanced back noticing that Redpath had remain with his back towards us focusing all his attention upon the heavy horse before him. I let myself lean into her coils that felt oddly warm instead of cold like a true snake would feel. She would be know in future stories and mythologies as a medusa but at this moment she was still Lacona, the youngest unknown sister of the known three Gorgon sisters.
“That would not render you this powerless.” she retorted with a hint annoyance in her voice.
“I have found my oldest most hated enemy and realized that I cannot save Atlantis without the world suffering the greatest darkness.” I continued in a slow tired voice. I am sure she notice the tears that spilled from eyes. The coughing fit assaulted me until I spat blood upon the ground beside us. A quick glance told me that Redpath was ignoring everything happen believing I was still safely healthy.
“I am sure your little sister Callistra is overjoyed about all this.” she remarked with a soft half giggling hiss. I felt her fingertips brushing at my temples, then down my cheek as I leaned heavily into her coils. “Have you chosen the path of death to avoid killing your only kin?” she whispered in my ear. She let her tongue tickle and flicker along the edge of my ear.
“I will face her as the Bastion of Light in Atlantis, but I do not think I will be the one that ends that battle.” I admitted trembling in her gentle grip. I felt the rush from Lacona’s earth ability forced into me to strengthen my body.
“Take strength from one that is both an ally and an enemy to you, Meakita.” she whispered as her grip tightened. I felt her lips brush my cheek with a hot power filled kiss. “Take all that I am, Lord Kestrel, if it will help you stand for but a few moment longer against your ordeals.” hissed in my ear. Her hands slide down my body as more powerful kisses touched my cheeks and lips. “I have no fear of death as long as it from your hands or from being under your body.” she teased. "My children are old enough to continue my bloodline with a mix of honor and terrifying behavior." she added in a hiss. As the heat from her coils increased, they firmly held me unable to stop her from pouring herself into me.
“Do not offer a bonfire when the heart of a star is needed.” I whispered back between her kisses. My hands moved instinctively along her torso wanting to touch her bare scaly skin instead of the silken cloth covering her hidden body. Everything blurred around us but only one would exist alive after this submissive turning over her life force. She allowed me to claim her life force and her spiritual essence in what she believed was love making she offered to me. The last kissed burned but tasted like salty tears as she expired into my being. I stood with my renewed strength as her stone colored hooded cloak lay empty upon the ground.
Momentary flashes of memory and possible futures flickered through my mind. Sert’s next life where he was a simple farmer with a wife and many children living happily away from the politics and machinations of nobles. This was a joyous vision until the a horse-mounted army filled the horizon charging at them like a wall of death. Meli falling prey to her own blood-lust taking control of her as she blindly slaughtered her way through town showing no mercy. Redpath unable to save one of the many women that loved him releasing his feral anger upon those that forced his hand. This last vision stabbed me the deepest, even if I could not see who this woman was, since it reminded me to clearly of my own moment of cosmic madness upon Elyria sacrifice. But the ending broke my heart, as after the carnage, he sat holding his woman in his arms and upon his lap yowling out his pain, his lost, his regret, and his shame, fully broken and empty of hope. I looked towards Redpath that still looked away from me simply keeping my horse calm.
“We should be able to rendezvous with the others if we hurry.” I stated to him. He turned too fast to face me and I realized how much the lighting had shifted toward darkness. “We will ride for as long as we can before a short camp night.” I corrected slowly. He tilted his head looking at me silently. “What is it?” I asked softly.
“It has been over a day you have discussed with Lacona.” he informed me softly. “I will not ask where she has gone, sir, since it should not matter to me.” he continued quietly. “And I can lead the horse at night while you attempt resting in the saddle, Lord Kestrel.” he added and bowed at me. I looked at his changed behavior from a frolicking sociable feline into a calm cool panther warrior once alone with me.
“You can speak to me as easily as the others, young Kestrel.” I stated calmly. I moved easily and lighter upon my feet towards him and my horse. I took my place in the saddle holding out a hand for the reigns. Redpath stood at my side upon the ground looking up at me before handing me the reigns. “Once night takes us, you may guide the horse but do not push the animal too harshly.” I told him. He smiled up at me before moving forward gently clicking his tongue. The horse moved to follow his clicking without my command. I could only shake my head seeing how he, a predatory based animal, befriended a horse, a prey animal.
He did examine the statues we passed, sometimes placing a gentle hand upon it’s rocky flesh. He did not comment seemingly understanding what these statues actually were, humans forever cast in stone. We had nearly crossed to the other side of the pass when Redpath stopped to stare at one of the statues closely. I heard the deep throated growl and his hand balling into a fist. He rose the fist into position to strike growling openly at this statue unlike the others. With a deep breath, the growled died and his fist lowered to his side.
“Time and nature shall dispose of you.” he half-growled before turning to continue down the pathway.
“You seemed to know that former man.” I said loud enough for him to hear me. “Any and all his crimes are being paid for as he feels all the damages nature does to his stony form.” I told him. “Do not waste energy or time shattering him, young Kestrel.” I added softer.
“He was one of the first bandit group that attacked Dia.” he replied as his pace slowed. He turned as he stopped to look up at me. “Shattering him would barely reach the amount of pain I wish to inflect upon him.” he growled at me. The tears in his eyes showed not only his anger but his hatred at himself feeling so violently animalistic.
“Righteous rage is what made the cursed Royal Guards strike out.” I reminded him softly. “Never allow self-loathing make you act or make you hold back your claws, Kestrel of the Redpath clan.” I continued slightly louder. “Let your natural honor guide you since it has made you a hero to Diadem, has it not?” I added with a soft chuckle.
“I try but I lack your confidence that my actions are truly noble.” he retorted with a yowling sigh. “I got lucky and Dia had the gift of visions leading us forward.” he explained slowly. “Nothing could be seen beyond her death but I was shown more by Lord Death, which gave me confidence.” he continued. The words came out rushed as he confessed a weakness he himself lacked. “I doubted as the sword came down but could not move to stop it.” he added meowing. Tears poured down his cheek as his mind was filled with negative self-contemplation during that one day alone.
“Silly kitten.” I returned with a smile. “You did not move because you still believed in your deepest heart and mind.” I explained slowly. “Your most powerful skill is how you can connect with others in a deep level making them allies.” I informed him. I chuckled softly as his eyes went wide at my words. “Your honor shines forth to show them a path they cannot see and this makes them ally to your noble, if insane at times, wake.” I stated as his jaw dropped. “You have acted always in the best interest of everyone, including yourself.” I added. He started laughing as her turned to continue walking. His steps were floating as if he weighted nothing. The horse followed with a bit of a prancing step.
The calmer ride had me slipping into a light slumber in the saddle with just the clip-clop of the horse’s hooves and the gentle tongue clicking from young Kestrel. I barely noticed the night passing by us as morning light touched my closed eyes. I glanced slowly around noting we had nearly reached the harbor town overnight. I sighed as I stretched in to saddle gaining a soft purring chuckle from my feline companion.
“I took a bit of a short cut along lesser noticed pathways, sir.” he reported easily. “We should be entering the town at the same time if not slightly after Meli and Sert.” he continued as another purring giggle escaped him. “For them, your discussion was truly short.” he added. He glanced back at me with a silent smirk.
“You heard and saw what happened?” I asked quietly.
“Nothing happened that I need report to the only one who matters.” he replied casually. “My duty is to only report to you unless you have given me permission to speak to others, Lord Kestrel.” he continued with a shrug. “Therefore. I have not seen nor heard anything since you were listening and watching.” he added in a singsong voice. Only purring chuckles came from him as he strode forward with the horse neighing and strutting behind him. It was a bad imitation of Lord Death but it brought a smile and sense of peaceful safety to me.
We feel into the parade of fellow travelers lined up to enter the gates. My feline name sake disappeared ahead of us while I looked above the head to try spotting Meli and Sert. I could not spot them but noticed Redpath on one side of the entry gate with a guard in front of him. I watched worried about the reaction to an anthropomorphic panther trying to converse with them. The guard gave him a quick once over while they seemed to be speaking. The man nodded and spoke gaining a bow from the feline before he started walking back quickly to me.
“We missed them?” I asked softly. He sighed, shrugged and nodded.
“They were passing into the town just as we were arriving in the entry line.” he confirmed. “And word has reached even here about a friendly and heroic feline being adventuring in the area.” he added shyly.
“So the legends of the Feline Knight of the Redpath is born?” I asked with a chuckle. He looked up at me before slowly starting to laugh himself. “We will be back together by the time we reach the port.” I continued casually. “And possibly have a day or two in town before leaving.” I added annoyed.
“They would have waited to fully resupply the ship until we arrive, if it is the Herald.” he stated slowly. “Correct?” he added.
“Yes, it is the Herald we will be sailing upon once more.” I affirmed with a nod. “Resupplying would be delayed to have the freshest possible provisions on board for the return trip.” I explained receiving a quick nod from him. “And a longboat would collect the daily needs while the ship sits safely in the harbor waiting for us.” I added.
The line did not move slowly or quickly but the gate guards seemed efficient but busy. I wondered if this heavy activity had to do with Lacona’s actions, the war rumors, or Diadem’s return to power. Something seemed to have the populous rushing towards a port town as if an exodus was in progress. I glanced down at Redpath that had been looking and listening to the crowd within the entry line. The look I received was a confused one as he shook if head and shrugged before talking a short walk along the outer edge of the entry line area. He did two slow passes before returning to my side as I neared the gate. Without touching his mind, I could easily read the pensive curiosity filling him from the information he collected. The guards acted friendly and quick to accept our words of boarding a ship in the harbor. They seemed very relaxed but still wary as they allowed us entry into the town with a quick warning of which inn still had rooms available for travelers. I waited until we were within the city walls before dismounting and walking beside Redpath.
“It is nothing beyond the mountains causing a heavy flow of outgoing supplies to the other harbors along the coastline.” Redpath informed me in a whispered purr. “And multiple reasons are being alluded to but noting in itself as a common ideal.” he continued slowly.
“Odd but not truly uncommon if multiple rumors are fueling their actions.” I remarked casually. I considered it would be best to ignore this mystery but something about it had Redpath’s attention. “What are your thoughts, young Kestrel?” I added in the same casual tone. We had crossed into the wide road pathway to the harbor before he replied.
“The sheer amount of goods seems very high for these lands, sir.” he admitted slowly. “You do not dispose of most of your goods unless something very bad is going to happen.” he suggested hesitantly. “Nothing of the reasons I have overheard would suggest such a dark event coming upon them.” he concluded, looking at me. Curiosity and confusion burned brightly in his golden eyes sending an electric shiver up my spine.
“Yes, it is an odd event.” I returned grudgingly. “But not something we should worry about at this time.” I reminded him softly. Nothing else could be shared as Sert yelled out to us waving from his position at the edge of the docks. “Seems we found them.” I added as we moved towards our companions.
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