Years crawled by as I excused myself from most missions claiming that Atlantis needed my presence more than the outer world did. I would now watch the sparring sessions between young Kestrel and Sert. My feline replacement had pushed Sert to increase his speed to much higher levels. He still could not match young Kestrel at his fastest but so far no one did. The last session between Repath and Cassis had ended with Cassis heavily plucked from the air to be pinned by her opponent. Meli and Cole would sometimes join in the sparring session but mostly tried to avoid being overly stressed facing the celerity of my cat. Nightingale and Chichi visited from time to time, sometimes sparring, sometimes conversing, and sometimes asking why I remained in place while they were here to protect Atlantis during my absences.
“The world can protect itself for a bit longer.” I told Chichi over strong liquor one evening in my garden. Redpath was in his roost with his linked companion kestrel perched above him. The chef looked at me with a worried gaze. “Just accept my decision and wait to hear with all the others, Brother Famine.” I ordered him directly.
“You have been rather quiet and remaining home more often than ever before.” he replied in a tense breath. “I am not the first Famine that has fallen to the wayside but you have always led us without changing.” he continued calmly. “Is it truly your time to step aside for a new generation to take up your torch of leadership?” he asked in a near whisper.
“All things must change eventually.” I replied softly. “Everything has been prepared and my Squire stand by my side knowing what his duties will be.” I continued slowly. I automatically looked up at my feline replacement. “And only he can save this world from something much worse than they might ever be able to face.” I added softly. My eyes returned to his face. He glanced up for a moment then looked confused to me. I nodded to him as his eyes widened.
“You mean he is...” he breathed out softly. I nodded again smiling at him. “But he is...” he started then glanced up at young Kestrel who appeared to be napping. He looked back at me. “He is seen as an oddity among the Royal Guards because of his unnatural speed.” he explained softly to me. “He bested a wind mage that geared all her skills to celerity.” he reminded me. “With your abilities, he will make lighting seem slow.” he added with a shiver.
“So he will be able to put all of you in your place?” I returned. I chuckled at the dark glare he gave me. “His quick body has a quick mind which will be of use to all of you with the future I have seen.” I confided in him. He sighed and our conversation returned to mundane matters.
My time with Annianka was also different during our daily meetings. She felt I had changed describing it similar to how she has changed during the many centuries she had arrived in Atlantis. I smiled, kissed her, and whispered that everything was as it should be. Miss Hope acted more friendly to me as the meeting time with my Brothers approached. She had whispered to me as her confidant about her fears and worries. I consoled her and advised her but nothing more at this time. Her glances at young Kestrel when he accompanied me to the gate was odd but also shy. I also gave myself time to remember the storm upon my arrival. I was still unsure what had cased this unnatural assassin to exist.
My half-sister’s absence on the island except for her living bomb could suggest she was involved in the attack upon me. The other option was still that the monstrosity in the Heartstone had lashed out to stop my arrival upon Atlantis. In both possibility, prevent me from walking upon Atlantis was the point of either of their deadly assault upon my ship. The chance of it being a natural event had been erased in my mind when I saved the young boy and fully awakened the echoed shade within the shard of the Heartstone. My presence upon Atlantis for the last two hundred years was not wanted but might have been adjusted for. Receiving the shard, being attracted to Annianka, and constantly sticking my nose in so many issues around the world.
The five years drifted closer daily as time seemed to speed up for me. Arrangement had been made with Pestilence reserving a hall for us six to meet, Chichi created elaborated meals and wines rarely found in this world, while I kept track of my Brothers War and Death who would carry Sister Chaos with them. This was the last great gathering for all of us together. This event would not happen again until the next knot was coming upon us. Our pathways would cross but never would the six meet again until the appointed time. Each of our path would cross most of those we have met so far but it would be just passing moments in my case. Young Kestrel will be with all those he has touched during many lifetimes for many moments. I just hope he and Dia can be together more often than any others in his line or mine.
My household had arrived as a group to stand at the dock with Corëe’ap’Ręæ’s and Twin Feathers’ selected Guards waiting with the Four Captains at our backs. Whispers from the Captains had me turning to face them. They looked worried at me as I realized it was my team they whispered with. I listened but faced forward in a pretense to ignore them.
“I shall be fine.” I remarked over my shoulders to them. I did not hide the edge of annoyance hearing my health being discussed openly between the Royal Guard Captains and my overly worried team. “Saving my energies for the revelry to come.” I lied to them. I smiled knowing without looking that young Kestrel quickly glanced at me and smiled as well. I straightened sensing the rift opening to allow the Leviathan to glide into docking position. I still heard the whispers at my back.
“Since I saw him heal that child, he has been weakening but there is no cause or ailment present.” Meli secreted to the Captains.
“I believe he bent a rule imposed on him by the Ones that sent him to us.” Ser whispered to another Captain.
“And they punish him by leaving him to slowly die?” Cole commented with a snort. He was not trying to be silent knowing Redpath and I would hear all their words easily. “Something else must have happened to degenerate him so thoroughly.” he suggested. I heard my feline Squire take in a deep breath as he turned to face them.
“Things are as he has foreseen them.” he told them. “He always told Miss Hope that he would not be the one fighting for Atlantis in his prophetic vision of our darkness.” he reminded them softly. The Captains eyes turned to Redpath. He looked at each in the eyes before nodding and saluting them one at a time. They simply nodded back to a feline three-quarter their size.
“Do you truly believe this, young Kestrel?” Curd asked not whispering.
“I believe in Lord Kestrel knowing what must be done if everything goes wrong upon Atlantis.” he replied looking at Captain Curd. “He stays feigning weakness, to be the most potent shield and sword of Atlantis.” he added bluntly. He bowed fluidly to Curd before turning to face the Leviathan as the gangplank slid into place.
“Best we keep this to ourselves and let him play his role as he has planned it.” Rez grumbled at then softly. With a soft thunk of wood on wood, the gangplank had connected the ship with the dock. I stepped forward with only Redpath at my side.
My plans were set in stone in my mind. I would offer Annianka salvation, her refusal would allow me to focus on Atlantis alone with the twin archaic dragons. I would make a great show of being ripped away from Atlantis with my remaining strength to be safely hidden in a secured place. I would then set everything in motion by transferring my gifts and potential into my Squire. The new Brother Order would go forth to save Atlantis while my body expired and dissolved into the nothingness of true death. He would find his own path to save Atlantis and survive with what I have taught him.
Cor and Twin barrelled down the gangplank to tackle me to the dock. We ended up in a tangle of arms, and legs laughing like children. They acted like true little brothers to me which made me wish the five of them were my true brothers and sisters instead of Genia. A young woman in an Egyptian cut cloak and dress slowly walked down the plank as we three disentangled ourselves. A smile glowed on her face that held the purely features of the Egyptian people.
“Meakita.” she stated in a hesitant whisper as she curtsied to me.
“You should wait until I get these two off me before greeting me, little Sister.” I panted out between chuckles and laughs. I fully pulled myself to my feet to bow to her. “Lady Scarabea of the Sands.” I greeted her formally with a second bow in the Egyptian style. Her eyes sparkled with mischief for but a second before she launched herself into my arms. As I knew my Brothers were behind my knees, to assist her toppling me over to my back. Laughter ran around from us four playing like children on the dock. We ignored the Captains, their Guards squads, and my friends who all looked at me with surprise and relieved shock. Young Kestrel laughed but did not move to help me until he knew we were ready to act more adult. Slowly our laughter spread through to all of them. I held a hand out to Redpath who helped me to my feet and assisted Serif, Sister Chaos to her feet. She gave him a quick curtsied thanks pressing her forehead into his leather armored chest.
Cor and Twin walked at my sides while young Kestrel and Scarabea followed with my remaining retinue close behind them. Easy words of no real importance passed between us as we marched with two contingencies of Guards following the four Captains. I mentioned in passing that the King had excused himself the day before they arrived and planned to return the day after their scheduled departure. What we discovered was not lined nobles to greet them. The nobles stood in small groups spread out around the Royal Court chamber merrily sipping from mugs and discussing casually. They hailed us as we entered cautiously to this odd receptions. Annianka giggled as she welcomed us to a taste of Valhalla upon Midgard’s jewel. Cor and Twin faces feel from the shock as once more the crowd of spread out nobles hail their arrival.
“A slice of home away from home!” Annianka announced to them louder. “Enter and be merry!” she ordered rising from her throne. The brothers shot forward directly towards her but failed as she launched herself at them to easily topple them to the ground. A less aggressive repeat of our playful greeting on the dock proceeded while the nobles acted like this was normal. Scarabea remain close to Redpath while I side-stepped to stand on her other side. The smile was on my face as all of this truly pleased me.
“It is always good to see you smile, Brother Order.” she whispered to me. “It has been a very long time since I have seen you smile in earnest.” she added a bit louder.
“Lord Kestrel smiles and laughs often since he has been on Atlantis.” young Kestrel remarked with a shrug. She turned to look at my feline counterpart. “When he does not need to crush threats towards Atlantis and the world.” he added. A small smirk had started forming on his face.
“I am sure the grin they receive is a very vicious smile when doing so.” she replied with a soft giggle.
“Only when they truly deserve to see his full vengeance.” he returned with the icy edged smirk. It softened as he turned to me. “You should join in the festivities, sir.” he suggest to me.
“This celebration is for my two Brothers and not for our Sister or myself.” I answered him. “It is why we two stand here removed from it while enjoying the youthful performance.” I continued with a deep chuckle. “You are right about how long it has been since you last saw me smiling.” I added to Chaos.
“What has happened to you to regain this shine in your eyes?” she asked softly.
“My answer would be Holy Queen Annianka.” Repath purred out before in became a soft vibrating chuckle.
“She is of your age category which very few can claim except Genia.” Scarabea returned slurring my half-sister’s name. “Any words on where that psychopath of a half-sister has been hiding, Great Lord Genin?” she continued with a growl in her voice. Kestrel glanced back to her as he placed a hand on her shoulder. She calmed at his touch as her snarl returned to a pleasing soft smile.
“All I know is that her little walking bomb is in place in Atlantis.” I stated softly. “She will show when it goes off to hide her interference by destroying the island.” I added to her. I did not hide the momentary snarl twisting my mouth before it returned into a pleased smile. The air was filled with anecdotes of Cor’s, Twin’s, and Annianka’s playing tricks on Loki and the other Asgard deities. Intersperse with these was blasts of laughter and shock sounds of hearing the crafty nature of their Holy Queen. She waved most of it off as childish whims and not her true nature nor her adult personality. This revelry did not truly get anything done but lasted from their noontime arrival to the last glows of the setting sun extinguished on the horizon and the highest marbled spires of Atlantis. As they all filled out of the Royal Court, most left in family clusters with a Guard or two escorting them out of habit and not for true security.
No comments:
Post a Comment