The Council meeting was odd to me. It did not seemed like they debated his words at all, accepting what he said without a thought on what they agreed to accept. Cole did not notice this oddity but I did. I had seen and listened to many moments of the Council with and without Cole. This seemed too easy as the Council as a whole agreed to everything being said by Kestrel. Cole was rejoicing and I did not feel like changing his mood with my worries.
“What has your tail twitching?” Kestrel whispered to me. We were nearing home at this point.
“Everything if fine, sir.” I replied with a smile. A forced my tail to wrap around my leg to prevent other questions. He sighed but did not pursue the subject as we entered our home. I was busy from time to time while still having my evenings free after the meal to follow my own paths wandering around the central core of Atlantis. The brothers’ visit passed quickly and I followed Kestrel in the shadows after my kestrel friend squawked and chirped at me. He stood on the docks with his brothers sending them off with kind words. My ears were opened fully listening to what I could hear of their final parting words.
“I thank you but must believe it is the great peacefulness of Atlantis seeping into my mind, body, and spirit.” he told them before they walked up the gangplank. A few minutes later, while Kestrel waved at them, the Leviathan jumped through the swirling air disappearing as they had appeared three long days ago. The sun had set upon us as Kestrel turned to return home. I held my position until he passed me and I fell in behind him on silent padded feet. I heard the chirps from the dolphins in a pool along our pathway home. Kestrel moved to sit upon one of the bench beside the dolphin pool.
“I have discovered that my time left here is very short.” Kestrel told them softly. I crept closer but still hidden in the shadows of the copse of nearby trees. A second presence manifested but, like myself, remained back silently waiting.
“No.” he replied to their chirped question. “I will arrange for another to take my place who will be able to save it from destruction.” he reported to them. I felt a tingle at the back of my mind at those words. “Nothing will stop Atlantis from vanishing from the world for many millennium.” he added in a near whisper. My eyes glanced at the other one watching. Her golden slit eyes had gone wide and the moonlight sparkled on her dark golden scales. The word ‘dragon’ came into my mind as I watched her slowly stepping towards Kestrel’s back. No aggression nor hatred came from her as more of her body flashed in and out of the shadows. I heard the chirping of the dolphin pod retreating but my eyes remained on this dragon woman.
“They truly are wise.” she told him in a whisper. She stood at his back. Her clawed hands hung loosely at her side. Serene and majestic in her stance behind Kestrel. He did not turn nor look at her.
“You have come to speak or warn me of another problem heading my way?” he asked her. He had tensed but not the way he did when angry or readying to do battle. I remained in my shadow simply watching.
“I saw the images you showed the dolphins.” she informed him. She bent down to have her mouth by his ear. Memories of the few events my senses had given me during his meeting with Lacona had me worried but I held my position. She then moved around to kneel beside him with her golden slit eyes looking up at him. “A scion of the stars empowered by the fall of another scion to defeat the other remaining scion.” she told him quietly. Kestrel’s head pivoted to look at her meeting a gentle smile at him.
“She will not know that it is not me she faces until the true death blow claims her.” he replied. “I must still find a way to protect Atlantis after it slides under the veil of ocean waves.” he explained. Her hand moved fluidly but quickly to his face as a quick wink passed to him.
“A gift from my kind to you as a solution.” she returned. She placed something in his hands but I could not see it from my hiding spot. “Let Annianka decide if she should be saved or Atlantis be protected with this small gift.” she continued. She smiled and watched him as he discovered what she had given him. Knew the Queen would want to save Atlantis but her oddness made it a possibility for her to act selfishly. She giggled at him.
“The opal stands for the Ley’ä’Luna’s light upon everything that lives and the hematite stands for you being the shield and sword against the darkness.” she stated to him. “Give her the ring when all seems lost.” she explained with another giggle. “If she accepts it on her finger, she will be freed from Atlantis and the corrupted stone.” she continues softly. “If she refuses it, it will bind with the land of Atlantis to make it return into reality at the appointed time.” she added. I saw Kestrel head bend forward to examine this ring hidden from my eyes.
“The first two dragons of the second race.” he said suddenly. He looked up at her whispering words to her receiving a quick nod.
“They are your hands and the hands of your replacement until the true darkness tries once more to claim this world.” she replied to him. Sparkles that were not from moonlight danced around her feet as she spoke quicker. “They will only serve the Chosen One of the Ley’ä’Luna, sweet Genin.” she told him. “Words of others will mean nothing to them.” she concluded. The sparkles covered her legs and torso as her flesh shifted into transparency. She rose while moving to kiss his cheek and the sparkles covered her and flew away upon the wind.
He stood slowly to return along the pathway home but his movement seemed stiff and unsure having me move closer but not interfere. His step falter but another was by him to prevent him falling. IchCui and Steel were there along our path. Steel had helped Kestrel to his feet and their eyes finally meet. Kestrel took a step back from him.
“He is not an enemy, Lord Kestrel.” IchCui warned him. She moved to stand by the wolf-boy. “Sara suggested that you and Steel should meet.” she told him quietly. Steel eyes moved to meet mine receiving a wink from me. He did not react to me right away. Kestrel stiffened as his eyes fully looked upon Steel’s form. Fur ranging from dark brown to deep red with blacker fur on his clawed feet and hands. Blazing red eyes like fire studded his mostly wolfish face crowned with a pair of short blunt black horns on the left side only. I noticed the new gouges from his claws trying to rip away the slave brand at his exposed shoulder.
“You bear her mark and dare to stand before me?” Kestrel snapped at Steel. My feathered friend whistled high above the event. I lowered into a position to pounce forward if this become violent. I could not let Kestrel hurt Steel nor allow Steel harming Kestrel.
“My slave mark has me feeling the same before any celestial beings.” wolf-boy growled back. He was smirking instead of being angered by Kestrel’s words. He hated the one that had enslaved him in his past but never revealed his previous owner’s name.
“You face one that she allowed cast from the heavens but barred from hell by her former lover.” he retorted back. “What is this about IchCui?” he asked her aggressively. Steel moved to place himself between them as I moved closer to the possible violent reaction.
“He offered his half-breed army that have escaped captivity to protect Sara.” she replied calmly. “Many demons and devils have abandoned the hell over the mistreatment from Lucifer’s and the other fallen angels’ hands to join with Steel’s clan.” she told him. “All of them would rather be Sara’s army than return to the servitude they were previously under.” she concluded.
“An army of demons, devils, and the mixed blood of half-beast and half-infernal serving the daughter of Seraphim?” Kestrel returned with a sarcastic short laugh. “The being cast out for giving the Archangels the weapons to save heaven from Lucifer’s rebel army?” he stated as a reminder. He stood chuckling about this offer. I moved closer, ready to strike if needed.
“You may have been up there but you are not angelic.” Steel growled back. I pounced to land between Steel and Kestrel.
“True, but it is the same principle.” he returned. At the same moment he spoke, his hand caught the back of my neck to force me to stand beside him. I moved into the guard position before him. Steel and I stared at each other for a moment as we spoke the languages of animals to each other.
“We can not let this get violent.” I growled at Steel.
“They do not want violence either.” he snapped back.
“We play vicious enemies to prevent them stepping into a fight?” I suggested.
“Let’s hope we can get this done without having to play fight.” he countered quickly. Our mutual nod was imperceptible as we crouched in an aggressive stance growling at each other.
“Redpath, Steel. Steel, Redpath” Ichcui stated not knowing we knew each other.
“And I thought cats and birds had problems when meeting.” Kestrel remarked. I felt his eyes glanced for me to Steel. “Yaotl Tonatiuh! What does your temples say about this arrangement?” he asked. The title meant nothing to me as I continued pretending to growl and hiss at Steel.
“They have proven themselves as fighting for their own existence and chose to follow Sara because they believe in her cause and her vision of a future freed from darkness.” the Governess replied directly.
“Do you swear to protect her?” Kestrel asked.
“I swear, like my group, my allegiance to her directly and not to you.” he replied in a growl. His eyes remained on me in our aggressive play for those we serve willingly. “You are not long for this world to earn my allegiance.” he added. I nodded to him showing I also knew this fact as truth.
“Then swear to the one you are growling at, Steel.” Kestrel told him. His words, though blunt, held no emotions as he spoke. Steel eyes moved up to Kestrel before slowly growing much larger showing the black sclera around his flaming red iris. He moved jerkily to his feet as I matched his moves. The bow was a shock including the formal words that followed.
“I swear to you, Kestrel of the Redpath clan, in the name of all my clan and allies to protect Sara until we have all been slayed to the last.” he told me still bowing low. I could not hold back my purring chuckle at this view of Steel being so formal and stiff. I am sure we received confused looks as Steel growling chuckle joined mine before standing straight again.
“So we can stop pretending we are not friends now?” I asked casually. Our arms met in warriors shake sealing the oath he had made to me. I turned my head towards Kestrel. “The household is worried since you seemed very detached from us during the Celebratory Supper.” I told him. My kestrel friend’s soft squawking whistle floated down from one of the nearby roofs. “My little bird friend made it easy to find you, sir.” I concluded. Kestrel glanced up to spot my winged companion but said nothing about it.
“I had many thoughts that needed clarification.” he answer calmly. I nodded still purring under my breath.
“You saw your Brothers off, you visited the dolphin pool where you had a dragon guest, and now you parlay with a half demon and the Royal Governess that should be with her charge.” I enumerated briefly his actions. “Anyone else you need to meet before we return home, sir?” I added. My purring chuckle returned at the soft grunting sound from Steel.
“Protective cat he is.” Steel commented with a nod to me. “He also sees more than all others perceive.” he remarked. His growling chuckle joined mine once more.
“Even my training did not reveal the link between you and Sara.” Ichcui revealed quietly. “How many others have you set deals with to protect and serve your child?” she added in a whispering tone.
“None but the oath your Steel already gave her and now, to young Kestrel.” Kestrel answered. “My other arrangements and oaths are to protect the world and the remains of Atlantis while it is hidden from the world.” he explained calmly. “Her protection, as Steel has stated, is not mine to arrange beyond the Brothers and Sisters of Light.” he added.
“And her three aunties of Wisdom, Joy, and Depression, with Balance waiting to strike if needed.” I remarked. I felt his gaze on me but did not turn to face him. “I have meet Depression as she comes to visit the ghosts of the old and abandoned Royal Halls.” I finally admitted to him. “I have collected many odd friends both outside and within Atlantis, Kestrel.” I concluded in a whisper. I turned my face away from him suspected harsh words of my actions of hiding information from him.
“You have always been a resourceful kitten who can find the truly heroic and make them follow the right path for them.” he told me in a near whisper. “You have earn this truth.” he interjected. He placed his mouth by my ear. “You are my Squire and will soon be replacing me.” he whispered in my ear. A hint of fear came from him as he spoke those simple words. He leaned back as my head turned to look at him. I hope he did not see the single tear slipping through fur as it slid down my cheek. I nodded my acceptance even if I did not understand what it meant.
A ring of bows ended our night before we turned to walk away in our respected groups. I walked beside Kestrel feeling for once I was truly worthy to bear his name. The walk was in silence until we reached the foyer of our residence. I nodded to Kestrel heading for the garden while he explained to Sert that he was tired and going to bed. I sat in my tree perch with the small kestrel perched above me. My feathered friend had squawked at me when I tried to go out patrolling. He peck at the tree between loud shrill squawks at me. I relented and simply lounged in my bower mental musing about what I had agreed to. Sleep took me quickly just after the moon hit its zenith.
My eyes opened to be curled on a dark grey stoned floor of what appeared as an ancient temple. I stood slowly looking around and at my body. It was the same shadowy form from my last vision like dream in the cavern of the Forgotten Ones. My surrounding were very open with benches along the curved walls. The room itself was oval in shape with a pair of heavy black wood doors at both farthest ends of the room. I stood without floating here. I walked to the doors that seemed to call to me. Slivers of light came more visible the closer I got to those doors. They swung open in front of me before I could place my hand upon them. This inner room was circular with a pillar of light shining at the center. I heard buzzing like multiple insects flying around me in a cloudy swarm. I perked up my ears to realize no other sounds were present her. A sniff gave only the smell of stones and dust but nothing else. The window were simple opening showing the purest blackness I have ever seen beyond them.
The buzzing grew louder as I started catching words in multiple voices speaking to each other and maybe to me. I stepped closer to the pillar of light as the words in the buzzing became clearer and concise. It sounded like they were debating something important. Kestrel appeared in the room standing close to the pillar. His body shifted until he was made of liquid night skies filled with stars. From his back sprouted 6 wing made from sand grain sized stars. His stature was larger than Atlantians and his feet no longer touched the stone floor. He floated before the pillar speaking words I did not understand. He bowed low his face nearly touching the stone floor as he was done speaking and receiving his reply. He returned to his normal human shape as he turned to start stepping forward disappearing before reaching the wall. The buzzing returned to me in waves of mixed words and screeching noise.
“Squire approach.” the buzzing called me forth. I stepped forward quickly. Bathed by the light my true body manifest around me including the armor Dia had gifted me with my knightly title. “Kneel young Squire of Order.” whispered around me, I instinctively dropped to one knee as I had be fore Dia. My head lowered to them that I knew came before everything existed, before even the universe came into being. Scorching heat touched my right shoulder but I remained kneeling before them. My left shoulder burned with the same heated touch. Finally I felt that hot touch upon my head between my ears. “You are prepared for what you are destined to become, Kestrel of the Redpath clan from the Royal Guards’ bloodline of most enlightened Atlantis.” it shrieked around me. I slowly rose to my feet to stair in the pillar of light where I saw a great brilliant sword spinning.
“That will end her.” I whispered softly. I felt a tear roll down my cheek.
“Yes, since it is the only way to stop her.” the buzzing of the pillar replied.
“Her progenitor was not allowed to join us because of his actions that brought her into existence.” another voice buzzed by my ear.
“She was not meant to be and has always ignored our words to advise her.” another whispering chirp touched my ears.
“I do feel bad for destroying her but I accept it must be done by my hands.” I told them. “You need not convince me to act.” I added. The pressure at my chests started pulling me back as gratitude and congratulations vibrated at my ears. Everything faded to black before I found myself curled up in my tree. A soft cooing from above greeted me back into this world. I did not know where I had been but I knew it was reality and not just a dream. It was as truthful as my meeting with Kryel KreLey and learning of something I would need to solve eventually. I looked passed my bird’s perch toward the full moon before slowly drifting back to sleep.
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