Over three hours had passed before Meli and Kestrel returned home. The grimace on her face made me avoid her as Kestrel had done. I did follow him to the kitchen noticing what he did for the healer of our group. I had watched Meli preparing tea before but Kestrel seemed to be more random in his selection of herbs to blend in the tea. I did not understand why their tea preparing style was different but both were skilled tea makers. I shrug and went to the door of our bathing area to gently knock.
“Occupied.” Meli called from within.
“Lord Kestrel has made tea for you, Meli.” I stated back through the closed door. “I can bring it and slide it into the room without peeking.” I informed her and waited.
“Is it set to stay warm on the hearth?” she asked.
“Yes, and will be steep to a stronger flavor.” I replied. I had to mention this showing I had been learning from her comments to herself while making tea. I heard a soft giggle from her.
“Leave it but thank you for letting me know I have tea waiting for me.” she returned sounding less annoyed already. I heard the water splash softly as she slipped into the large water basin. “I will visit you in the garden later to tell you about our trip.” she added.
“I will try to be there for your storytelling, big sister.” I remarked before walking away purring. I went to the training field to continue sparring with Sert. Kestrel entered a few moments later as if he had been moving very slowly around our home. I had barely warmed up but could keep up with Sert’s speed easily and perceive his attack lines as we continued sparring. As Kestrel watched us, I felt he was not truly watching us but thinking. He scratch as his chin and tapped his feet in a staccato rhythm which I learned was his pensive traits. He finally asked for the battle to stop informing Sert he had a sparring session with Chichi. My purring chuckle whispered out as I walked with them to the foyer. I went to the garden to climb up in my tree. The kestrel still sat silently on it’s branch possibly sleeping. It did not even turn to look in my direction as I settled onto my branch. I do feel like calling it my nest but kept stopping myself before saying it.
To my surprise, Prince Bryan, Deas, and Kestrel entered the garden. Deas stood at the side of the door inside the garden without following while Prince Bryan sat with Kestrel near the middle of the garden on the stone benches. Using the trees as a pathway, I dropped down by Deas gaining a shocked smile for the shy man. He silently nodded at me but looked away afterwards. His body stood stiffly as he looked into the garden center where Lord Bryan sat with Lord Kestrel.
“He
seems angry.” I whispered to Deas. He simply nodded slowly as I
listen to bits of the conversation. “He is smart but lets his
emotions rule his thinking.” I commented in my purring whisper.
Another wordless nod. “You are worried he will take the wrong path
because of his strong emotions.” I continued my whispering
conversation. A silent nod answered me again. “His passion is not
misplaced but may blind him to the larger reality Lord Kestrel will
show him.” I added to receive another slow nod.
I sighed and climbed the closest tree to make my way back to my perch as the discussion ended. Upon their departure from the garden, I bounced to the wall and down to the street below. I followed in the shadows escorting Prince Bryan and the silent Deas returning to the Royal Enclave. Barely a quarter way had them talking out loud to each other.
“I know he is right and that you were right, my friend.” Bryan stated. A soft chuckle came from Deas like a whispering wind.
“I knew if I could not convince you, Lord Kestrel would since he is trustworthy to all of us.” Deas replied in a soft voice.
“Thank you for no simply calling me a fool.” the young prince replied. Without looking at each other, their hands shot out in fists to tap against each other. It was something I had never seen before in the Atlantian nor human world. I simply smiled and filed this special greeting they shared in my mind. “Is it wrong that I wish my own father’s death?” he added quietly. I thought it was mostly asked to himself but the reply was not what I expected from the shy and silent Deas.
“No, he is no King, has no nobility, nor a soul within him.” Deas replied bolder. “I would find a way to have his head on a silvered platter for you, if asked.” he stated bluntly. My step faltered at his conviction and direct statement. They froze and slowly turned to gaze in my direction. “Yes, Feline, I am not always nice.” he remarked to the shadows I hid in. With a sigh, I stepped into the light.
“Being nice does not always mean being honorable.” I replied calmly. I knew I could have slipped away in the shadows but had decided revealing my presence. “Prince Bryan.” I greeted him with a fluid bow. “I am Kestrel of the Redpath clan, servant of Lord Kestrel.” I introduce myself to him.
“An escort from the Royal Advisor?” Bryan suggested doubtfully.
“I was out to patrol the city and decided to be your shadow for your own safety, Prince Bryan.” I answered truthfully. “And Deas is a friend of our household.” I added with a half shrug. Deas chuckled that windy laugh.
“I am not happy that Lord Kestrel might hear of my violent thoughts.” Deas stated softly. “But I feel he and his retinue would agree in this case.” he added calmly.
“It is which hands that dispatches him that keeps him alive for now.” Bryan remarked.
“An unfortunate accident away from Atlantis, would easily be overlooked and not questioned.” I admitted in a purr.
“Or you advising me on how to proceed?” Deas asked with a more dark whispering chuckle.
“No, he is admitting what could make his death overlooked and keep peace upon Atlantis.” Bryan returned quickly. He glanced at Deas then back at me. His grin held a hint of feral viciousness without evil. Deas’ grin matched the prince’s as they both looked at me.
“Atlantis must be absent during that time to be an effective outcome for Atlantis.” I reminded them. “With his aggressive and abrasive personality, it is only a matter of time before it happens.” I stated in a deep purring-growl. Prince Bryan laughed for a moment before Deas joined. The laugh was soft and held no more of the angry vengeful feeling their grin had held. “But you should be returning to the dormitories of the Officers’ Academy, sir.” I added as a gentle reminder to him.
“Even the Prince is not above the rules of the scholastic dormitories of Atlantis.” Deas pipped in. They turned to start walking as I followed visibly with them. The rest of their conversation was left to them and their privacy while I watched over them. Only my soft purring let them know I followed while soft growls warned them to change their chosen subject. None would hear or know the questionable subjects they might attempt discussing in public with my growling help. Once they were in their dormitory, I continued on my way knowing I would be too early to stumble upon Siren and Shal. But I did stumble upon someone I had not expected meeting.
The dark ephemeral being blinked into existence a few feet before me. As its form solidified, the face was recognizable to me as the Holy Queen Annianka, but her dress was dark and her scent held the hint of corpses and dirty. I froze in the shadow I stood in to watch her as she came into focus but was still partial diaphanous. She glanced around slowly as I heard the silken fabric of her black dress crinkle as she moved. Her eyes finally rested on me directly as pale hands moved to cover her mouth. I looked closer at her face with stunningly cold dead eyes, skin as pale as fine parchment, and, as her hands moved away from her mouth, bluish-black lips. She looked like a corpse walking Atlantis, a ghostly visitor, that matched the Queen in features and in form but drained from lively colors. She smiled sadly at me before giving me a quick wave and fading back into nothingness. I did not know what I had seen but a chill crawled along my spine and down my tail. A pair of delicate hands on my shoulder had me freeze once more. I glanced towards them seeing hands the color of the moon upon my night black fur. I finally noticed the black manicured nails upon each of her pale skinned fingers.
“You saw nothing.” the deep husky voice whispered in my ear. The touch to my mind paused then recoiled quickly. “You know Alal? Hope’s little kestrel?” it asked softer but more animated. I barely realized I was being spun to face that pale copy of Queen Annianka’s face. “I am her sister and not her who sits upon the throne here.” she admitted quickly. A soft glow of life was now shining in those cold dead eyes. “She is sister Hope, while I am sister Depression.” she added with a smile that showed bright white teeth sporting sharper canines.
“I am Kestrel...of the Redpath...clan.” I answered haltingly. “I am confused.” I admitted still frozen in place.
“You even share the name Hope gave him.” she remarked examining me closely from ear-tips to tail-tip. I shivered even if I tried to act brave before her. “And you are in my favorite color as well.” she added in a deep giggle. Her voice and giggles sounded too deep to come from such a delicate formed being. I glanced down nothing her feet, still transparent, did not touch the ground. She floated and her height match humans with a slim nearly emaciated body loosely wrapped in a black silk dress.
“That
does not explained anything.” I retorted as she continue her
minutia inspection of my form with her eyes. “Holy Queen Annianka
is your sister Hope, correct?” I asked quietly. She nodded still
focused on my furry body. “How many sisters does our Queen have
that bare her likeness?” I continued quicker. “And why is this
not known to us in Atlantis?” I added. Her cold dead eyes snapped
back to meet mine.
“Oh!” she interjected. Her hands were back at her mouth as her eyes went wide while staring at me. “We are four and the world in general is not suppose to know we exist.” she explained still hiding her mouth. “Wisdom, Joy, Hope, and me, Depression.” she told me softly. “But those Ancients that brought us into existence say one is missed which is name Balance.” she added.
“And you reveal all this to me so candidly but I do not understand why.” I replied with a soft purr. I let my eyes note the minor differences she held with Holy Queen Annianka. “Why did you appear in Atlantis at this moment?” I asked in a purring whisper to her. She giggled before moving her hands back to her side. Outside the unearthly paleness of her skin, cold dead eyes, fanged tooth smile, and dark color of her clothing, she was a perfect smaller match to the Queen.
“You serve the Dread Bird Kestrel, Alal, which makes you part of our secret existence.” she returned with a crooked smile. “I visit here from time to time to enjoy the silence and the ghost within the old court.” she continued easily. She tilted her head and I noticed another difference. A line of crud stitches ran around her neck usually hidden by the wide collar like choker she wore. “They love the chance to talk to someone again until it is their time to be reborn.” she added. She noticed where my eyes rested and she shyly moved her choker to hide the stitches once more.
“Then why did you stop to...” I started, paused, and continued, “...discuss with me like this?”
“To erase your memory of seeing me at first until I say him in those memories.” she answered. Her deep tones had risen slowly as we talked. Her voice was still too low in tone to be confused with the Queen’s higher pitched voice. It was more pleasant than jarring now as her first words had been. I stayed not out of frozen fear but curiosity now. “You asked questions, I answered, and it became a better moment for me.” she admitted avoiding my gaze. “I should let you be on your way while I am going on mine.” she added with a sudden jolt in her body. She touched her forefinger and index finger to her lips and touched mine with them as blush gave her cheeks a more lively complexion. She rushed away floating in and out of shadows while I stood watching her disappear in the distance.
“That was an odd event.” I told myself out loud before turning to follow the path closer to the Royal Residences where I might find Siren and Shal. My mind reviewed the short meeting with this strange mirror image of the Holy Queen of Atlantis. I had slipped so deeply in my thoughts that I nearly missed Siren stepping out in front of me. I was able stop but she still had a pawed hand firmly placed on my shoulder to prevent us crashing into each other. “Sorry, I was lost in thought about...”I started explaining before looking back along the pathway, “someone I met.” I felt like I was going to spot her, Depression, but saw empty streets.
“Someone?” Siren asked in a soft whisper. “An intruder?” she added sniffing at the air.
“Not exactly an intruder but an oddness.” I told her. “It might have been just my cat mind dreaming while I am awake.” I added to dismiss this line of discussion. She looked around still tasting the air but eventually nodded to me.
“Shal is still occupied and might not be in a mood to talk tonight.” she informed me quietly. “The other concubines have discovered what she has been adding to the tea.” she reported in a soft tight voice. “They all agreed Munin deserves no other heirs since Bryan is already there and truly honorable and noble to stand by little Princess Sara.” she concluded her report on this matter.
“And none of them are Atlantian but show our wise honor regarding the King.” I remarked with a toothy smirk. She did not simply giggle but laughed at my words while nodding. “Have you ever noticed the Queen out at night but dressed in black?” I asked on an odd gut reaction.
“The phantom of the lost Princess?” she asked as her laugh soften into more of a chuckle. “Many report seeing someone that appears as Her Highness floating above the ground but seeming so small and frail.” she told me slowly. The hint of doubt in her voice was not hidden away. “Dressed in funeral garbs forever mourning the forceful passage of her parents.” she continued with a wry smirk. “I have not witness her but have heard many stories in my life.” she added.
“So I met the lost Princess or had a waking dream.” I stated to her with a quick nod. I held back the conversation I had and information I had learned from this dark mirror version of the Queen. She looked at me tilting her head. She placed both hands upon my upper arms to force my eyes to look into hers. “It is nothing and should be forgotten.” I lied to her. She sniffed at me and her snout crinkled as if it smelt something bad.
“The smell of deep dirt and the dead has touched your shoulders.” she retorted before stepping back from me. “You actually saw her and she touched you.” she said bluntly. “Is it truly a ghost or some ill omen?” she asked in a whisper. Her tail was wrapped around her leg, her ears had flattened against her skull, her eyes showed the white outer ring, her nose twitched, and she shivered. The scent of fear came from her at this moment.
“Whatever it is, it is not here to harm others.” I assured her. “Simply ignore her and look away if you see her.” I suggested from my meeting with her. “But most of all, do not fear her.” I assured with a soft purr and smile. “Anything else to report?” I asked more casually. It took a moment before she returned to standing casually but I did notice her nervous glances to the area surrounding us.
“Nothing to report but I doubt I could keep fear from me meeting this ghost.” she replied mostly calmer. A forced chuckle had me smiling and purring a truthful chuckle back at her.
“It will not be easy, but I believe she would be happier not being feared outright.” I returned softly. I bowed to her before taking a step back and returning along my pathway to go home. I was in the shadows approaching the main doors of the Royal Kitchen as I spotted Kestrel carrying Sert over his shoulder. I gave them space as I followed silently home. While Kestrel carried Sert upstairs with Meli worriedly following him, I went to collect the healing herb packs, a bucket of warm water, and a rolling mortar to carry up to Sert’s bedroom. I silently entered to place everything in neat piles where Meli could easily reach them. I left once I was done without being notices by her.
“Thank you kitten!” I heard her call behind me. I pounced down to the floor of the foyer from the second floor landing. I moved silently to enter the garden and quickly place myself in my perch to sleep. The small kestrel had not moved from its perch until I was curled up in the bowl made from trio of branches. It moved to a branch just above my sleeping spot. It looked down at me cooing before settling into a sleep posture. My purring breathing slowed as sleep took me as it had taken my kestrel companion. It was an odd thought but I felt this kestrel being mine as a companion and feathered friend and not just another creature living within our garden.
Sunlight woke me as much as the sound in the foyer. I moved to join them in the dining room for breakfast. I did put some food aside for the creatures of the garden while listening to the discussions. Kestrel and Cole both sounded annoyed while Sert jerked away from the meal bowl that had a spatula to serve it. It is only after Kestrel and Cole left that I discovered what had happened to Sert. I sat with Meli in the garden over tea as she recounted what she had learned from the warrior. I held back my laughter even if she giggled under her breath. I mentioned to her how Sert shied away from the bowl holding a spatula gaining an actual laugh from Meli.
“Little Chichi only used a wooden spatula to harry him into unconsciousness during the four hour of their sparring session.” Meli revealed still laughing. “I believe he will fear spatulas from this moment on.” she added. I looked at her suddenly understand how funny it was that a strong skilled warrior feared a normal kitchen spatula. I let my laugh escape me as I looked at her. The rest of the day was spent to help out around the house waiting for Kestrel to return and discover why the Council had called upon him so suddenly that even Cole did not know about it.
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