“I must know where I must be if not at your side.” I growled at him. It may have been arrogance on my part as I watched him stiffen in his seat as a snarl form on his face. It was too late for me to stop my tongue now that I truly understood what they all faced. “They have allowed me stand here seeing all of you as you truly are, so I deserve to know my place!” I roared in the room. My growling vibrated the room sparking at the cosmic wards and the central pillar of light shined brighter. All eyes grew wider as I stood at his full height without fear nor worry upon my face. Smiles and soft chuckles and giggles sounded just above the whispering buzzing of the pillar.
“You will stand between the enemy of Atlantis existing and the enemy wanting to consume the world.” Order finally answered turning away from me. “If you select wrong, none of them will be able to stand with you against the final darkness that will be upon us within the last days.” he warned me softly.
“I pray the Light guides your claws to the right target.” War chuckled softly.
“He will choose the one being I cannot face without dying.” he retorted bluntly. Wide eyes focused on him while Chaos hands came to her mouth with a gasp. From her reactions, I knew it was Genia, half-sister of Kestrel, that I would face with the light sword the pillar of light had shown me. “He already knows which must die without me, but after it will be his decision on what comes next.” he concluded. In unison, a slow nod to him and then to me showing they accepted his words and whatever I decided afterwards.
I moved swiftly and silently around the room while softer conversations and tales of their combined past whispered in the room. I was easily included in their words, answering my softly asked questions and made remarks about what I had accepted as my Squire’s duties. I could see the soft but merry smile on Kestrel’s celestial face as this quieter form of reveling surrounded me. I learned much about Order’s life and few things about his prior life as simply the Great Lord Genin. I also gained an understanding of the deities in this world that mostly were not from this plane directly.
“Was his soul bounded wife pregnant?” I asked in a whisper. I stood between Famine and Pestilence as I hazarded this odd question. Their negative answers had me worried I had mistaken KreLey’s origins but a tilted head and swirling look from Chaos had me moving to refill her tall glass.
“None but I knew.” she whispered in my right ear. Her stilted Atlantian was harsh but easy to understand. “Elyria had not told Order yet since they hunted her vile sister, Ann'Anka Anccilar.” she quickly whispered to me. “We then received words she had died and Order had ensconced himself in the Temple of Light ignoring everything in his deep pain.” she explained with a sniffle. “It took a millennium before he finally and willingly returned to his duties and our side showing only a cold empty face.” she concluded.
“His daughter lives and named herself Kryel KreLey.” I informed her. “She believes a day will come when she is born as his daughter for real, but calls Sara her big sister.” I added in a purr. She hid her smile with a hand that also silenced her joyous giggle.
“And that will have us becoming seven in our special family to make it complete.” she whispered back. She motioned me to continue serving as I learned more about all of them including their origins and race. Time crawled by like many stories and discussions until high full moon crested in the skies above Atlantis. They reverted to their human guise before disengaging the comic wards and the pillar of light blinked out of existence. The Ambassadors to Atlantis had their selected Guards escorting them home while Chichi offered to walk Scarabea back to the Leviathan. I nearly interfered in this but remained closed to Kestrel instead as we headed home in silence.
“Why was I selected as your Squire?” I asked softly. I had been purring to hide the nervousness I felt asking this simple question.
“Because you would never allow me to enter that room alone.” he replied easily. “If you would have attempted to follow me in, you would have died because of the wards erected upon the place.” he continued at a slow pace. “I cannot risk losing any of you but you are the one most likely to go against my orders in the name of honor.” he added to me.
“They knew I was your Squire.” I told him. “That is not why you asked this of me other than how limited your time here remains.” I continued. I feared I was not truly the one he wished as his Squire but only a convenience to him. “Why was I the one you asked to be your Squire?” I finally asked. We had stopped and turned to face each other. In his Atlantian form, he was a head taller than me even at my full height.
“Sert has the heart but not the will to walk my path.” he began softly. “Meli has a protective nature but does not have the drive to follow my path.” he continued calmly. “Cole has his cunning but is too easily swayed from the path he must walk to follow mine.” he explained slowly. “This leave you with the heart, kindness, and cunning plus the honor to follow in my footprints as my Squire and my replacement.” he concluded. I could sense he meant all this but held back something he felt he could not reveal to me.
“I do not fully believe your words but will follow your path without asking to know more.” I replied and nodded to him. I returned to walking as he moved to be at my side. We were greeted with another trio of worried faces that was boiling into protective anger.
“You have been doing everything to do the least possible lately.” Sert commented.
“You have been weakening since you saved that child, haven’t you?” Meli snapped at him.
“You have been acting very odd and more silent lately, sir.” Cole stated quietly.
“Do not tell us that we are over reacting due to over protectiveness.” Meli warned him.
“Every time you leave, we expect Redpath returning with word that you have been sent to Healers’ Halls because you collapsed.” Sert chimes in harshly.
“We have found nothing that could return your health before you have died.” Cole added grumbling. I looked at them in silence next to Kestrel. I had words for them at this time but a different idea started forming on how to change their thoughts away from worrying over Kestrel’s state.
“Yes, I have been avoiding many things and holding back my strengths and abilities for what I have foreseen coming.” Kestrel returned to them. He kept his voice calm but I could see his one fist was so tightly held that the knuckles were turning white. His face like his words lied of his emotions as he smiled shyly at them with a shrug. “Please understand that much may come in the near future that will force me to extend myself nearly as much as I did saving that child.” he explained. “If I am to walk away alive from this, I must channel all my strength internally until that time.” he added. I knew he hoped they would simply drop it, so I spoke.
“This is why I have been at his side to allow us a chance to prevent him needing to waste power which we can do for him.” I remarked softly. I eyed my feet as I yowled under my breath. “I am worried but we must trust that he is doing what is best for all of us and Atlantis.” I added. I looked up at them with tear soaking the fur on his cheeks. I did not know I could cry on command but it worked to get them to allow him to be excused for an early morning meeting with the Council with his Brothers. I wait until he left before requesting Sert and Meli to join me the garden for tea and discussion. They agreed more so since I was avoiding having Cole, whom they still distrusted, joining us. I could have my discussion with him outside the Council Chambers during tomorrows meeting.
“We must speak in private.” I whispered to them. “One hour in the garden, my friends.” I added quickly. I disappearing into the shadowy hallway towards the kitchen to fetch a catnip and chamomile tea to assist them to sleep in next morning. They found my sitting on the grass with the tea pot on a brazier to keep in warm with a cup for each of us. They nervously sat in a triangle with me receiving a cup of steaming tea before we started talking.
“What has happened?” Sert asked first. Meli nodded while her eyes stayed on me.
“It is not of Kestrel I wish to speak of.” I clarified quietly. I gave a shy hesitant look hoping they would see that what was on my mind was hard for me to discuss about. “I musk ask you about out Holy Queen after explaining to you some of the questions she has asked he Honor Guard, Miss Hope.” I told them. My voice soft, hesitant, and slow to match my feigned behavior.
“You wish to speak with us and not report this to Kestrel directly?” Meli asked mildly confused. I nodded slowly to her. “Why with us?” she added bluntly.
“You have known her behavior here for much longer than I.” I replied calming. “And if Miss Hope has fears I must know if you share in them with her before reporting to Lord Kestrel.” I concluded. I gave each of them a nod knowing they would accept this simplified reply.
“This is about her questions regarding the none existent winged wolf that she believes carried Sara in her infancy?” Sert asked softly. Meli looked at him with a tear rolling down her cheek.
“I have memory flashes of seeing such a guard but I know that only Valeria was assigned to watch over and tend to Princess Sara prior to Ichcui’s arrival.” Meli supplied slowly. She finally turned to face me asking for her cup to be refilled.
“That is one of the things since Miss Hope knows only of her cousin, the tigress Valeria, who would carry Sara around and care for her, as you have stated.” I replied quietly. “The queen has claimed that a dark faction within the Council Guards murdered him under Council orders.” I continued. All cups were refilled including my own. “She has claimed the Council is the enemy to Atlantis and her rule here.” I informed them sadly.
“You should mention that to Cole since he would know the mindset of the Council better than we do.” Sert returned pensively. I could see this worry growing in them as they focused on the other being they truly cared for.
“Truth and lies mix upon his tongue making his words of no value here.” I returned. It was easier for them to believe I distrusted Cole as deeply as they did with this simple comment. “I have already investigated the Council, at both Kestrel’s and Miss Hope’s request, to find they all support Annianka now while ignoring Munin.” I reported to them using casually their name. They glanced at each other but nodded as their eyes returned to mine. “But they cannot ignore the increasing stories of events that never happened nor her violent outbursts.” I added. A mewling sigh escaped me as they thought about my revelation.
“They are thinking of returning her to her prison cell?” Meli asked angrily.
“They would have no choice if she draws in foreigners into these fantasies and half lies.” Sert returned softly.
“Yes, which I believe will happen if the peace plans with Lemuria collapse.” I explained softly. I gave Meli a sad shrug as her eyes realized what could happen at this critical moment. “I fear the world will not wait for the crystals to arrive in their lands but force Atlantis into an unwarranted actions.” I revealed. This was from what I had learned from the diner with the Kestrel’s sacred family. They would already think of how to react once it starts and, knowing them, it will be to save the citizens and foreigners. “At that time, we will lose Kestrel for good because of it.” I hazarded this last fact.
“Her actions would drive him away from us here in Atlantis.” Sert returned grumbling. Another refill of their cups as I prepared to give the story Kestrel would have planned for, if I were him.
“But unlike the Royal Wedding event, he will not return in time to save us.” Meli concluded softly.
“Very true but I believe it will be the Ones that sent him here pulling him away from us permanently.” I countered softly. I gazed at them directly letting fear showing in my eyes. “And he will feel that he has failed all of us if we simply sit here and die.” I concluded. This should get them moving into planning escape routes and ways to get the most people possible safely away from Atlantis. It also meant they would not get in my way as I faced off with Genia in a deadly duel. They nodded as we had one last cup of tea together before they headed for bed. My evening friends would have to understand about my absence for this night. I climb into my tree perch receiving soft cooing from my feather companion. “I hope this works as he has seen it working.” I whispered to the small kestrel perched above me. I was spending another night in a vigil at the pillar of light in their temple until a squawk from my bird partner that it was time to rise.
I stood with Cole in the foyer when Kestrel came down to join us. We did not need to exchange words as we moved together towards the Council Chamber doors. We met Twin and Cor at the doors. Kestrel stepped forward to stand with them on one side while Cole and me were ready to wait on this side of the doors with Council Guards.
“Do you think we will have any problems with this.” Cor asked softly.
“Speak quickly and clearly.” Kestrel replied. “Do not add any doubts or negative possibilities of anything going wrong.” he continued fluidly. “And smile like we all did last night.” he added with a wink. Broad grins appeared on the Brother’s faces as peaceful happiness shone in their eyes.
“Let us complete this part so we shall be in place for next act of this play.” Twin whispered. Cole and I nodded to them before they turned. The doors opened and they marched forward together. The soft click of the doors closing had me turning towards Cole as he did the same.
“Now we should speak and get the Guards’ knowledge added to our own.” I told Cole. He looked at the Guards cautiously before grudgingly nodding to me. The Guards moved in to make a barrier around us allowing them to join in while keeping our discussion mostly secretive. “Have any seen the ‘flutter cub’ our Queen claims cared for Princess Sara in her infancy?” I asked in a whisper. At first they only shook their heads while I glanced around at them.
“Speak freely as I do.” Cole ordered softly. “Those closest to her Highness except for Miss Hope, have vague memories which they do not believe in.” he told me. “I asked Captain directly about this once the rumored comments come to my ears earning me a comment that wolves do not grow wings.” he added slowly. I nodded to him and sighed before looking at the Guards once more.
“Nothing of this bear reality but are insidious memories that are unreal.” one Guard started. A round of verbal agreements and comments of her feelings against the Council growing greater lately. I nodded to them as a soft growling was in my throat.
“Has madness taken her or are we the ones that have gone mad?” Cole asked annoyed. “I fear what her next explosion will be like if she has truly lost touch with reality.” he added with a deep sigh.
“Something is making her believe fantasies are reality to serve their own purpose.” I returned softly. “It is an omen of what is coming towards us if we are not careful.” I added. Cole’s eyes were on me with curiosity gleaming there.
“What did happen during the private dinner?” Cole asked. The ring of Guards moved back turning their back towards us. “You have changed by it as much as the other six in that room.” he added as explanation. He was revealing nothing while hoping for juicy information.
“Explain?” I replied quickly. “What has changed and noticed in the other six?” I asked more directly. He sighed before speaking.
“Chichi was both sober and up early without a guest in his bed.” he began slowly. He ticked off the events on his fingers for me to see. “Lady Nightingale was having breakfast by the dolphin pool.” he ticked off. “Lady Scarabea spent the night sitting on the prow of the Leviathan watching the open ocean.” he continued. “Lord Corëe’ap’Ręæ and Lord Twin Feathers were sitting on the roof of their residence without throwing things at passerby’s.” he ticked two fingers. He held his index up to me. “And Kestrel was smiling all morning without speaking about anything at all.” he explained, starring directly at my eyes. “And you have asked for my opinion instead of telling me what others believe I am thinking.” he concluded softer. Leeriness and happiness warred in his eyes. I did not need the ability to read minds to know he was trying to learn what I knew and why I was acting so open towards him.
“It has been a very long time since all of them were together.” I replied. “And it will be a very long time before they can all be together again.” I continued softly. “They have much to think about and accept between the long absence that they face.” I conclude. I used his own non-answer technique while sounding like a complete answer. He stared hard at me trying find any hint of me teasing him. He eventually shock his head while we return to quietly discuss the royal events of late finding moment showing a slip into surrealistic non event. None could ignore the signs of madness growing in our Queen though I did have them ignoring the festivity she arrange for the Brothers’ visit. The many hours that passed gave me the time to have direct all of them along the pathways for them to be in place for what was going to happen while keeping far from the fight I was going to be facing.
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