Redpath's Journals: My Duties and My Delight (21)

Days seem to flow together while I had midnight meetings with Shala and Siren, some days in the Council Chambers while others days on the training fields with a mix of different Guards. I even got a few more sessions with Cassis who easily was accepted into the Militia Reserves giving her rank while opening new paths for her. Toma made a suggested to her one day as we finished our training session leading to new metallurgical process mixing his fire with her wind. I got to watched them. Even if I could not sense the magic itself, the visual beauty of their synchronized gifts at work showed they were a truly bonded pair.

I heard the door hit the wall of the foyer followed by a few words from Cole before the sound of a body hitting a wall hard. I peeked to witness Cole being lofted up into his room hearing his privacy lock snapping shut. Kestrel strolled up the stairs to his private room. The door slammed shut, the lock clicking into place, followed later by the sound of his ocarina. As I returned to my treetop bower, the sorrow of the music floating around me had tears running down my cheeks. The drizzle that followed increased the sadness having me mewling as I cried uncontrollably. As the retched feeling nearly had my heart breaking, I had a vision like those Lord Death had shown me in Dia’s kingdom.

A great cavern spread out before me filled with children that I felt were truly ancient. Their form were in part nightmarish but amazing beautiful at the same time. Some had patches of skin that appeared like liquid night sky mixed with scales, fur, leaves, and bark covering their child-sized bodies. I floated above them as I notices musical instruments of all sorts hanging from their waist or slung across their backs. I was being moved along the top over them seeing all these children of antiquity as if drawn to something or someone. Near the back of the room stood a lone flame burning white with a smaller see-through humanoid entity flitting around as if patrolling the perimeter. It’s hair was tentacles of purple and blues, a more even separation of bluish-purple scales, and liquid night sky, and eyes glowing of the purest purple color I had ever seen.

“You are the first to notice me.” the young girlish voice came from this entity. “You are a very special feline indeed.” she added before turning to face me. A pair of her purplish tentacles reached out to me but did not touch me. I instinctively reached out my two hands that appeared as shadowy furred in this vision. My palm connect to the under flesh of her tentacles. My hand closed on her tentacles that folded to hold onto me.

“Who are you and why are they here?” I asked in a soft purring voice. Her head tilted as her purple eyes deeply gazed into mine. I knew she was touching my mind but it was such a gentle touch as if searching for the right words or the right thing to compare herself to. “I can feel your mental touch, it is alright if it helps you.” I told her. Minor memories floated up in my mind as she looked quietly into me.

“The one who will be a Kre, the one who is but is not at the same time is allowed to visit me the unborn daughter.” she answered slowly. The musical hints in her voice reminded me of Lord Death and indirectly of Lord Kestrel when he spoke Atlantian. Two more tentacles stretched out to slowly pet my head and scratch behind my ears. “Like you, I am a Kre; KreLey, alive but not alive.” she continued softly. She smiled and giggled as her tentacles slowly touches my shadowy fur. “For you, I will be Kryel but that will be in a much different future.” she added still giggling. Her words were both spoken for my ears and whispered into my mind as we stared at each other floating in this vision.

“And they are?” I asked.

“The Forgotten Ones, imprisoned for being of the mix blood of the Ancient and Old Ones and feared by all the ones that came before except the first true six races and those that brought them, the six, forth.” she replied slowly and softly. “You walk with the one that was not imprisoned here.” she explained with a sad smile. “Passion would never let them remove her son from her.” she continued with a giggle. “His sorrow falls upon the twin lights in this world for those trapped here he cannot save himself.” she told me. “Stay by him since he will know soon the path that must be taken, Kre.” she added.

Her tentacles pulled back and felt myself pushed back through dizzying darkness to be back in my body in the tree. I realized the music had stopped and my fur was damp from the tear-like drizzle. I looked down to see Kestrel had returned and sat discussing softly with Meli. His words repeated what Kryel KreLey had told me about what my eyes saw during my vision. The second half of the discussion had my ears perked up, listening intensely.

“We will be leaving as soon as I rest for the Amazons territories.” Kestrel warned Meli. I mostly ignored the reason for this rushed travel pondering what this will change upon Atlantis. Big sister left him as he slowly drifted to sleep. I did pick a few tasty morsels from what remained on his plates and drank the third cup of tea he had not noticed hidden under the bench he slept beside. I spread out some of the bits of left over food closer to the area birds, and the family of chipmunk could safely come to eat. A tentative squawk had me glancing to one of the trees spotting a very young kestrel. I took some of the meat pieces and placed them away from the area the other animals fed.

“We share everything with our friends.” I purred under my breath to the bird of prey. It landed and started cautiously eating while watching me moving around to collect the empty cups, plate, and tea pot upon the tray to return it to the kitchen silently. “You stay here to watch over everything.” I told the kestrel. I did not know why I spoke to the bird but felt it was polite. My trip to the kitchen was quick to simply place the tray upon the small table to make it easy to find in the morning. The kestrel had taken a spot in the tree next to the one I had selected as my sleeping perch. None of the meat or the other bits were left as I moved to climb back to my spot. I curled up purring until I slid into sleep.

Dawn had barely let light enter the walled private garden when Kestrel had awoken and already started preparing himself. I watched silently with the bird matching my silent focus. As Kestrel left the garden, I pounced down to follow him. I was near the bottom of the stairs as Meli and Sert stumbled their way down to join Kestrel in the foyer.

“What...” was all Cole was able to say as his head poked out of his room. I heard him being bounced into the back wall of his room and the door slamming shut and locked.

“Keep him busy until we are gone.” Kestrel told me. I pounced up to the second floor sinking my claws into Cole’s door leaning against it to keep it closed. I smirked and nodded to Kestrel before he rushed the others out of the door of our residence. I could feel Cole trying to push open his door by I held firm giving Kestrel a chance to board a ship and escape from Cole for a bit longer.

“Enough Redpath! Open this door.” Cole stated in a harsh voice.

“Do you promise not trying to stop them?” I replied calmly.

“Yes, I will stay here.” he called back through the door. “I promise.” he added softly. I let the door open by stepping back from it. It opened slowly as he peered out at me.

“Lord Kestrel is meeting with the Amazons and we are not invited.” I informed him before he could ask. He nodded slowly.

“Do we know why he is doing this?” he asked with silky tone. “Or is this another plan we will find out about later?” he added.

“Possibly a treatise or trade agreement but we will find out once he returns.” I answered purring. He did not need to hear the extra information Kestrel had revealed in private to Meli. He sighed as he nodded once more to me.

“Alright.” he interjected slowly. “I still need to visited the Council within the hour.” he continued slowly. “Will you be accompanying me or do you have a training session planed for today?” he asked calmly. I purred while scratching my temple thinking.

“Is it alright if I just ignore today?” I returned hesitantly.

“It is not a problem, but why?” he returned casually. “Are you feeling ill or something?” he added. The worried set of his face did not truly reach his eyes or in his body’s placement.

“Not exactly.” I replied with a shrug. “I just have something on my mind I wish to look into personally.” I lied to him. I purred under my breath scratching at my temple and at my chin alternatively. This feigned distracted seemed to have been convincing as he eyes shrunk as he nodded.

“If I should know about it, you will inform me, yes?” he asked softer.

“Of course, once I learn all the details.” I replied easily. “It is just a minor friction between two of delegations which I feel has an outside instigator.” I explained briefly. This vague bit of information would be enough for him to look into every minor conflicts between the multiple delegations visiting in rotations upon Atlantis. He would find some external goading causing some of them, which should increase their trust in Atlantis doing its best for all the foreigners and for peace. “If I cannot fix it myself, I will inform you to get the Council interfering for the interests of Atlantis.” I added. I punctuated this final statement of mine by bowing to him and heading back towards our private garden and my unofficial bedroom.

Returning to my perch, I glanced over to see the kestrel still sitting on the nearby tree. It would glance at me sometimes but only cooed softly without looking like he wanted to move. I learned much about these small vicious birds that appeared to be indirect companions to Lord Kestrel. I understood these birds of prey preferred and excelled in attacking much larger targets which had me fearing for my harpy friends delivering messages to me. This fear was quickly put to rest as a harpy landed with a squawk to collect my letters for Rena and those that lived within Dia’s kingdom. The kestrel looked at the harpy but did not move nor make a sound other than a quick short thrill and cooing. I had found a satchel like carrying bag that could be fitted on the harpy without interfering with its flight abilities. It rubbed the side of her head against me as I placed this messenger pack on her. It was already holding my many letters written with ink and the tip of my index claw as a quill. When my harpy friend left, the kestrel was still perched on a branch looking around the garden and at me, cooing softly.

This oddly pacifist behavior was noted but I felt it saw no threat from the harpy or any of the other critters within the inner garden. It could be Kestrel’s newest feathered companion but his presence here while Kestrel was away made me dismiss this idea. If this bird had simply selected this garden as his home territory, the lack of stories or rumors of attacks meant it did not hunt on Atlantis. I sighed still thinking about our newest guess while going to the kitchen to collect myself breakfast and extra snacks for the critters of the garden including our new resident guest. My return to the my garden room gave me another surprise that had me both confused and curious.

The second older and more weather worn kestrel stood on the bench trading squawks and high pitch chirps with the smaller one in the tree. The smaller one floated down to pick at the new one’s leg pulling off a capsule. I had seen and heard of these capsules that carried messages. The capsule was left on the bench as the elder kestrel took to the air. I nearly called it back to share in the small bits of meat I had for the smaller one but did not get the chance. The small one stood on the bench shrilly squawking at me to gain my attention.

“In one moment, my new feathered friend.” I told him. I moved around the garden to deposit the different delicacies I had select for those that shared the garden with me. As the night before, I placed the favorite food types closer to where each could collect them easily. I ended with placing the kestrel’s fare close to the ground by the bench before sitting with my meal. I collected the capsule but did not try opening it while watching the interactions of the small group of chipmunks, birds, and the lone kestrel. The kestrel had picked up a few pieces of the meat cubes I had given him, tossing them toward the zone of the other two groups. Beak clicks, whistles, chirps, and soft squawks was exchanged by the feathered ones while chitterlings and chirps was exchanged between the chipmunks and kestrel. Seeds, millet grains, and nuts were moved to the kestrel’s feeding zone receiving a bowed head from the bird of prey to them. I had just witness these small creatures making deals bartering food. I opened the capsule to read the message within.

 

            Young Kestrel,

We are safely away and I thank you delaying Colêsträ. We should be returning late in the afternoon to report to the King and Holy Queen. Please remained close to the residence if possible since I wish to have words with you about a possible new house guest.

Lord Kestrel.

I sighed and chuckled knowing replying was not truly possible and mostly useless with his rapid return to Atlantis. I had already gotten Cole to look into the friction between the multiple delegations and feed all our friendly creatures. I slowly ate considering if I could get a training session with the Royal Guards or Council Guards before Kestrel’s return. A mid-morning to late morning session was a possibility after leaving word with the Atlantian Court of when they could expect a report from Lord Kestrel.

Unfortunately after leaving word with the Royal Court through the Scheneshal, I found no Guard groups holding a training session, not the cadet Guards, nor even the Militia Reserves. I did not want to get caught in the Council Chambers with Cole without knowing how long his business would take. With Cole, he could easily end up having to visit with half if not all the Council members with the bait I had dropped in front of him. I let my feet lead me as I strolled the streets of Atlantis. I was wearing my plain leather armor that had originally been used by Sertian keeping away the attention Dia’s gifted armor brought upon me. This old armor had darkened with age and was nearly a match to my own natural black fur.

“Ah! Young Kestrel of the Redpath clan!” someone called out to me. I looked around realizing I had wandered into a food providers section turned into a Market Place. A foreign man by one of the stalls was waving at me. I moved slowly towards him wondering how he knew my full name. “Thank you for coming to my call.” the man stated quickly. “I received a recipe that I am testing but it is not a food type we have in our lands.” he started explain in that same rushed manner. “It is spiced meat on sticks which I need to verify how closely I have made it to the recipe.” he added slower and suddenly hesitant.

“And you believe I can help?” I asked cautiously and confused. He nodded vigorously back at me. “I am not a chef nor do I truly know anything about cooking.” I returned.

“Not cooking skills required, only tasting skills.” he replied softly. “You are known as a Knight in one of the countries in the area these meat sticks come from.” he explained nervously. “I would like your opinion on the flavor being authentic or not.” he continued his explanation. “We in Egypt do not know these things.” he added.

“I am sure they are fine, my husband.” a woman called out from the back of the stall. She walked forward from the back carrying a tray laden with meat sticks I recognized. They looked and smelt exactly like the one’s Dia and myself shared through my time with her. “He worries so much and doubts his own skills.” she told me as she placed the tray at the front of the stall.

“I can say they smell and appear exactly as those from the Way Stores.” I told them quickly. I must have licked my lips or sniffed too aggressively as they both laughed.

“Please try one.” the man offered as his wife held out a single stick to me. I took it gingerly from her and closely examined it with both my eyes and nose. I small bite filled my mouth and minds of memories of the happy moments with Dia. A tear slowly rolled down my cheek with the second larger bite of the mildly sweet and spicy meat. They paled as they looked at me.

“They are perfect and will remind anyone from those lands about home and happiness.” I told them after swallowing the second bite. I wiped away the tear before finishing the remaining meat in one bite. The smiles I received from the man made his face glow like the sun and wife giggled.

“You see how skilled you are, my love.” she told him with a giggle. She held out another six sticks to me. “Take them in gratitude, Sir Kestrel.” she added. I knew I could not refuse and took the sticks gratefully.

“I thank you for your allowing us to use your taste buds.” the man added with an odd bow. I recognized it from one of Meli’s books as a formal bow used by their priests. The man did not look like a priest but this small action was stored away in my mind. Something about a priest married to a noble girl floated up into the back of my mind. A soft mental touch on my mind with whispered words.

“Yes, he who is named after my Uncle, we have returned to visit Atlantis as normal humans.” the woman’s voice whispered in my mind. I had stiffened as it started but relaxed at the word ‘Uncle’ as I remembered the story Meli and Sert had told him about their first trip away from Atlantis. I also remember the Egyptian woman I nearly fell onto discovering about Kestrel being Sara's father. I smiled performing an Egyptian bow as fluidly as I could. The merry chuckles and giggles I received either meant I did it correctly or I was absolutely awful at it. I did not bother asking which as my feet return to meandering along the streets of Atlantis. I had just arrived home with one last meat stick in my hand, slowly taking small bites relishing on the memories when my nose warned me of Captain Ent and Sert returning home. Captain Ent was still chuckling while Sert looked worried.

“What has happened?” I asked looking from Sert to the Captain.

“Lady Mekiliean is now a beast like us.” Ent retorted chuckling. “She has grown her fangs!’ he added in a mirth-filled howl.

“Her canine teeth have been chipped into fang shaped teeth.” Sert stated more serious. “She also has blackened eyes and a broken nose.” he continued. I could see the worry on his face that Meli had been hurt. “She acted up with the Amazons and was put in her place then attacked for no reason other than lustful greed.” he concluded more fully. I bite my lips to not make a noise that could be seen as a bad reaction. Captain Ent was still chuckling.

Kestrel's Journals: Repercussions From The Past (20)

Three hours of standing in the Royal Court explaining all the events of the last few missions. It did not help when I had to restart half-way through my explanations because of King Munin’s late arrival. I did notice his concubine looking around the room before finally starring towards me. Touching her mind lightly had me receiving only one question, ‘where is the cat?’. I held back laughing using the chance to restart my tale while mentally reminding myself to ask Young Kestrel about this. I repeated the full tale of dealing with the ice dragons finishing with the soul-link between Morag and Icebreaker, and the questions began.

“That is not possible.” Munin stated bluntly. “The only time a dragon and human will link is if both are very young and stuck to survive together alone.” he babbled on. He recounted the record regarding Arry and Skydancer but did not take in the warning that this was just a theory. “You yourself have reported this was correct.” he added, glaring at me.

“That was the supposition we made for that first incident of a soul-link.” I returned calmly. “But seeing her stand for the ice dragons as if they were her people and truly wishing to protect them may have swayed the ice dragon’s brood leader.” I explained casually slow. “Both heart were on the same level emotionally to bond.” I added simply.

“If more humans would begin thinking along those lines instead of seeing dragons as great monsters to be feared and hunted.” Annianka mused out loud. “I could see the dragons wanting to link with the more thoughtful ones within the humans.” she concluded. The small smile made what Meli considered possible the next point I had to make.

“We will see Holy Queen, since the humans of that village might be increasing their interactions with the ice dragon brood.” I replied quickly. “It may open the possibility of more soul-links being formed between the villagers and that ice dragon brood.” I concluded. Munin looked absolutely annoyed by this sudden change in information he saw as written in stone.

“But it does not explain the sorrow and drizzle that fell over Atlantis.” he rebukes coldly. “Nor the fact it originated from yourself.” he added.

“It was a personal matter I had to deal with.” I replied firmly. “I must beg forgiveness for not realizing how much of my depth of sorrow flowed out to overcharge the Atlantian magical network.” I concluded with a bow. I hope in vain that would end this line of discussion.

“That is not good enough since even our satellites enclaves were affected by it.” Munin retorted.

“I have receive reports from even Avalon, our farthest satellite, and communications from Lemuria asking if this was an attack as even their shielding could not prevent this sorrowful drizzle touching their lands.” Annianka informed us. I breathed slowly and deeply controlling the rage welling up in me.

“Once again, I was a sign of how deep me sorrow ran within me.” I answered with false calmness. “With my mother being Passion, my emotions run very deep and powerful.” I commented quickly. The shadow of the spinning stars within my eyes glinted as I face nearly snarled at them. “And my father was Madness incarnate which makes that at time my power does flare in eldritch ways.” I concluded. I blinked my eyes to return them to normal while recomposing my face into a mask of a polite smile.

“We can speak of this in private, if you wish, Lord Kestrel.” Annianka returned calmly. She had realized how I was at a point that would and could destroy the entire Royal Court Room to have this subject closed permanently. The last time a drizzle had gotten through the shields of Atlantis, it did not have the same heavy sorrow felt by all associated with it.

“No, we will not, your Majesty.” I retorted bluntly. “I shall not explain any more about this subject.” I concluded with a finality that drew a gasp from those nobles present. I took a moment to simply breath. Taking three slow deep breathes to regain my control over my anger at explaining my sorrow without revealing the source. I continued, after this, to discuss the treaty offers and the arrival of an Ambassador from the Amazons the immediate future. I followed this up with the small unfortunate incident suffered by Meli at the hands of the Amazons. Annianka’s face grew worried as I spoke.

“How badly hurt is she?” she asked as I felt her mentally attacking my hardened mental shields for this information.

“A broken nose with typical blackened eyes.” I began casually. “And she now sports fangs from oddly well chipped both canine teeth.” I continued with a small smile. “The Royal Guard Captains have all offered her to join in their training because of the animalistic look she now bears.” I added unable to hide my smirk. Munin was not able to stop the laughter that risked him falling from his throne. The dark glares from Annianka were ignored as he seemed unable to stop laughing about Meli’s plight. With a mental snap, I stopped the dagger nearly touching Munin’s face. I tossed it to my feet even if this dagger originated from Annianka’s hand, more or less. His lead concubine held her hand crossbow but did not raise to target the Queen even if her paramour was in deadly danger.

“She challenged the Amazonian Queen Aurora Nightshade and received a firm fist to put her back in her place with minor injuries.” I report the details of the full events. Annianka’s eyes returned to mine while Munin stared blankly at the dagger between my feet. “The one that attacked her afterwards is being dealt with in full Amazonian justice for disobeying their Queen’s commands of not touching them.” I stated. It was to mollify the mild annoyance slowly filling Annianka for her favorite little healer.

“And what of their King?” Munin asked slowly. I did consider telling him that he stood before him but better to not make him a fool this quickly.

“No man can be higher than their Queen, not even myself as ‘Primal Free Man’, in their purely matriarchal society of warriors.” I told him. “Men are mostly seen as breeding slaves or lesser ranked citizens.” I continued calmly while a toothy grin bloomed on my face. “I earn my rank among them by defeat every single warrior of their mighty nation.” I added. Munin swallowed hard as his face blanched at my words. Annianka’s more curious look at me followed by a small smirk at her forced husband nearly had me smiling.

“You used this rank to discuss treatise in Atlantis’ name, correct?” she asked slowly while her eyes were locked on me.

“No, I still required an intermediary of high standing to vouch for my truthfulness of my offer since it was, from one Queen to another.” I replied slowly.

“I did not order such treatises.” she remarked eyeing me closer.

“It is for Atlantis and the Throne that I went to them.” I replied softly. “It was easier and prevented possible problems that could arise by linking all this to our Holy Queen Annianka,” I conclude with a small flourish of a bow to her.

“That did not stop Lady Mekiliean from being injured.” she retorted quickly.

“Her original injuries where of her own doing and arrogance.” I reported unemotionally. “The second event took place while I was not present.” I continued. The edge of anger sipped into my casual words. “Would it be more to your liking if I left your ‘pets’ at home next time?” I asked bluntly. The use of the word ‘pets’ had the desired effect as Annianka’s eyes grew wide with shock. Only the Lord and Lady of Elven kind used this term when talking about the citizens of Atlantis and Lemuria. “Yes, they have sent their greetings like all the others deities I ran across during my lengthy absence.” I continued waving it off. “I just do not see most of them as important enough to remember all their pointless messages.” I added showing my arrogance fully. I quickly bowed to them before turning on my heels and walking away without them dismissing me. The royal Guards at the doors to the hall parted to allow me to leave unchallenged.

Munin was screaming at my back about not having dismissed me. He bellowed to the Guards asking why they had not stopped me from departing the Royal Court. Annianka had not moved while her eyes followed my departure until the doors closed to block her view. I heard most of this but ignored it like I ignored Annianka’s attempt to mental touch my mind. This did not prevent me from seeing what thoughts formed in her mind. Physical touch gave her a glimpse into me but her mental touch found and saw a great darkening cloud formed around me. As for myself, I no longer felt as only hers anymore and this fact and feeling grew daily even if we had returned into having pleasing trysts often.

I stopped near the edge of the Royal central enclave of Atlantis to visit the Royal Kitchens. I still needed to speak to Chichi about putting my warrior in his place. It was actually too easy enlisting the little chef’s agreement, which had me planning a way for an even fight. Brother Famine would rise to the occasion of the limitations I was going to place on him and assure Sert would survive the encounter. Sertian would learn the hard way to never underestimate nor discount the hazards of facing someone in their own element. With this small lesson prepared, I altered my return path to hopefully meet Meli as she made her way home from the Healers’ Lodges.

The bandage mask was gone from her face and the bruising around her eyes had reduced greatly but her eyes and mind held annoyance. She felt cheated at not getting vengeance upon the woman that had attacked her. She barely talked but did growl a bit before marching off to the new addition to our residence, a small simple bathing chamber. It had been added slightly before my departure when discovering Annianka was marrying another simply to regain her rightful throne. I visited the kitchen preparing a soothing tea for Meli once she felt ready to return to her normal Atlantian state of mine. The tea pot was set to stay warm and steep into a much stronger version she would need. I moved slowly from the kitchen to our private training area to find Sert and young Kestrel sparring.

I did notice Redpath held back using his greater speed while simply blocking all the direct attack from Sert. His feline dexterity allowed him to dodge any attacks not directly aimed at his furry body. Two considerations ran through my mind. I did ignore asking the House Cat to show his true speed but thought better of it at this time. My second considerations was requesting Miss Hope to assist in Young Kestrel’s training as she should be able to match his much faster speed. I could not be sure she would agree with the extensive workload her position already held on her back. Annianka had more outbursts and their level of aggression had risen greatly culminating in the nearly assassination of Munin. His death at her hands would have the Nobles and Council going insane while the Royal Guards would ignore this action considering Munin not the true King upon Atlantis.

My initial actions of stopping this happening now became a debate in my mind wondering if it would not have been easier to just rid Atlantis of him. I would have been forced to take over by most of those disturbed Nobles and members of the Council while Annianka was securely put away. But I knew that if I were the King of Atlantis, the humans would be lost as I would be destroyed from the final battle upon Atlantis. The Brothers and Sisters of Light could not stand against the great darkness without me as I could not perform my duties without them assisting me. And with my final death, Atlantis would be destroyed and the shadowy entity hidden here would be released upon the world. It would draw the events tighter together, pulling the great darkness forward to the moment Atlantis was shattered and my chosen family would be lost. Callistra, would simply offer herself to the beast and serve its chaotic commands instead of fighting against it.

As I was discussing with Sert before leaving for his sparring session with Chichi, I received a special guest that I did not expect. The firm knock on my door had me slightly confused before my mind showed to me who had arrived. I opened the door greeting Prince Bryan and Deas who accompanied his friend. He informed me that he and Deas were sharing a class when word of my performance in Court reached him. Deas had easily and quickly become young Lord Bryan closest friend and most trusted advisor. Deas had compelled him to speak with me, as the Royal Advisor, about the attempt upon his father. I nodded and escort him into my private garden while requested a pot of tea for our discussion. As during his last visit, Deas stood by the door within the garden to not interfere with our discussion.

“Why did you not let her kill him?” he asked me directly. I stared at him waiting for him to explain why he was asking me this question. “You could have become the king and kept Atlantis safe from the highest possible position.” he stated sounding mild confused. He could not foresee all the other consequences that this small action would have lead to.

“And have Annianka imprisoned, if not executed, for slaying her husband and King?” I asked softly. “Nothing would have turned out well if I had not stopped this from happening.” I continued slowly. “I may have been offered the throne but mostly they would have forced me to sit upon it with only yourself and Sara left of the Royal bloodline.” I concluded hoping this would be enough.

“He deserves to die for his dishonorable way of ruling this island.” Bryan retorted. “I would be willing to sacrifice Annianka even if she was my true mother for Atlantis to be rid of that man.” he nearly growled. I sensed his hatred towards his father had not lessened but increased since my first visit with him.

“Then what?” I asked with an edge in my voice. “Atlantis falls into turmoil because both the hated and loved Royal have died.” I state bluntly. “And the populous rebels no matter who is placed upon the Throne, including myself that is well known to all of them.” I continued without giving him a chance to speak. “They would see the Council spearheading my taking the Throne and view it as a plot against Atlantis.” I added to make my point clear.

“Both Sara and myself would tell them we agree for you to be King reagent until we are of age.” he countered quickly. “And all the Guard Captains including Miss Hope would support your right to claim the Throne of Atlantis.”

“It would not stop them seeing it as some sort of plot after the events with the last Royal Advisor.” I returned calmer. “After the Usurper Queen, the smallest disruption within the Royal House will cause a negative reaction.” I told him. “Plus, they would doubt the Council will allow the Throne return to yourself or Princess Sara.” I added. I knew these were the worse possible outcomes but he needed to understand how a simple death could lead to mass anarchy being released upon Atlantis.

He stared at me. I could see him working through my words while attempting to find a logical arguments to what I have told him. His deep sigh showed he understood and saw the reality in my listing of events and possible repercussions. He slowly nodded to me. I placed a hand on his shoulder while nodding sadly back to him.

“Why is it so complicated when it should be simple?” Bryan asked softly. The look of exasperation on his face told me more than the thoughts floating through his head.

“Because it is an ideal construct called politics that does not care about honor itself but about what people could think which is always the worse possible thoughts and outcomes.” I replied solemnly. With a suffering sigh from him, Bryan and I walked to the foyer with Deas behind us. I heard the door close with a soft click while Deas stared at it for a moment confused. I waited until they had left and walked away before I got Sert to follow me to the Royal Kitchens.

“You did inform me that Chchi agreed to a sparing session but why are you telling me that it will take place in his kitchen?” Sert asked confused. We were half-way to the Royal Kitchens where Chichi worked and lived within.

“It is time you learn the problems of fighting an enemy in their natural environment.” I replied with a smirk. “But I have found a way to make the odds even for both of you.” I added with a chuckle. Sert glanced at me and I could read and feel his doubt.

“I disbelieve it will be that even a battle.” he commented. The arrogant hint in his voice had me chuckling knowingly about the outcome of this little practice match.

“You will understand soon enough as I put in place the rules for this martial engagement.” I returned to him casually. Chichi was waiting impatiently for our arrival as we entered. His sickly sweet smile towards Sert did not last long as I selected plain wooden spatula and tossed it to him. “That will be the only weapon you use for this match, Chichi.” I told him. The smile turned into an insulted frown. “Sert can use anything he gets his hands on in this kitchen.” I concluded my arrangements for this mock battle.

“Are you being serious?” Chichi retorted mildly annoyed. “I get stuck with a wooden spatula when he can use anything?” he grumbled. The mischievous sparkle in his eyes told me he was acting indignant but relished this opportunity. “With all the knives, cleavers, and everything else, I will not have a chance to defeat a trained warrior.” he concluded with sarcasm dripping from each word.

“But with only a wooden spatula, you cannot truly kill him, can you?” I retorted with a smirk leveled at Sert. Chichi snorted at my comment. I steeped back to block the doors and stay clear of the battle zone. My Honor Guard selected the largest cleaver and knife as his weapon. I sighed at his oddly direct selection falling into Chichi trap with both feet. “Begin!” I called.

For every attack move Sert attempted, Chichi dodged dance-like and countered with a solid rap on his fingers. This small seemingly innocuous hits served Chichi well by forcing Sert to drop the weapon he attacked with. The dropped weapon was kicked under counters to prevent being retrieved and used again. After the first hour passed, Chichi added arms, legs, and body strikes while Sert did not back down. The constant strain from the multiple small hits added up to wear down Sert as the next hour passed. I could feel Chichi’s annoyance that Sert was not backing down as the third hour of this combat arrived. Head strikes from the wooden spatula sounded like cracks in the quiet kitchen. Sert had now resorted using pots, pans, oven trays, and every large blunt items he could grab but it was in vain. Just shy of the four hour mark, Sert finally dropped from exhaustion and the amount of blunt damage he had suffered. Chichi stared at me in disbelief while breathing hard before smiling at the fact he had finally won.

“Do you think he is worthy of working in your kitchen?” I asked smirking at the chef. No answer came as he pulled out one of his hidden bottles to start drinking it down quickly. I chuckled as I collected Sert, tossing him over my shoulder, to carry him home for Meli to treat. The walk home had me chuckling knowing Sert would stop seeing non-combatants as easy victory especially within their own natural environment.

Kestrel's Journals: The Sealed Gate of a Sorrowful Past (18)

It was about an hour later when I sensed my companions approaching. I stood slowly to meet them before we moved together to the longbow to paddle slowly towards the Herald. As Meli mentioned the soul-link, I placed my thoughts forward that matched hers.

“It is sensible as both are strong leaders.” I remarked gaining me a sigh from Meli.

“You should have stayed and helped since one possibility was brought forth that has even me worried.” Meli commented. This peeked my curiosity waving her to continue. “Since both leaders are soul-linked, each group will become closer which could result in more soul-links.” she explained slowly. I could see she judged each words she used for the most effective explanation of her worries. I hummed back scratching my chin with one hand while guiding our longbow with the others. Sert had been acting as engine rowing in a slow rhythmic pattern towards the Herald. “Is this a possibility?” she asked quietly.

“Yes, a possibility but not an assured outcome.” I replied slowly. “There will be a higher change that a small portion of the dragons will link with human but it would be for a purpose.” I started explaining. “Ice dragons would link to equal rank such as leader to leader maintaining a balance between both societies.” I continued casually. “If the villagers and dragons truly get close enough, then it might become natural for soul-inking to happen to maintain the close-knit structure of the area.” I concluded with a shrug.

“Time will tell but I did mention having a squad to research this matter mostly to understand the soul-link better.” Meli returned softly and hesitantly. “That is the proper procedures in this case, yes?” she added quickly and nervously. I nodded slowly.

“It is rare enough to require a study of it especially if the possibility of have an entire village of humans soul-linking with dragons.” I admitted. “As long as they do not interfere it happening or not happening.” I added with a shrug.

“I will make sure they understand this fact before requesting our Holy Highness to make it happen.” she returned with a giggle. Sert chuckled at this as he rowed and nodded. “And I am still amazed that we discovered the only two soul-linked human and dragon pairs.” she continued still smiling.

“As the historical listings of Atlantis records it.” I returned. My mind was only half on this topic, already slipping into the thoughts of what I was about to do.

“Would that mean there are more humans linked to dragons than those two?” she interjected catching the slight hint in my words. “Through the Heartstone, Holy Queen Annianka knows all of history and she knows of no other soul-linked humans.” she reminded me slowly and tentatively.

“Even the great Heartstone of Atlantis does not see everything, nor the reality of what it does see.” I answered under my breath in a near whisper. I was not thinking or realizing my words knowing they would eventually report them to Annianka. Being only the three of us present, I had slipped into a more casual speech pattern as part of my mind raged at what I was about to do. We were close to being in earshot of the sailors on the deck of the Herald.

“It might be best if we discuss these matters in private once we are home again.” Sert suggested. Neither of my companion seemed to noticed my words but I could see them in their mind as a passing comment without value presently. A momentary glare from Meli had him whispering to her which calmed her down quickly. We attached the lines from the deck to raise the longboat before climbing up the rope ladder to board. With no other word, I retired to my cabin to continue preparing myself for what will always feel like a betrayal towards my half breed brothers and sister from that first deistic war.

A soft knock on the door told me we had arrived. I moved to join my companions on the deck as the sailor shimmied the ship in place close enough to the frozen peak of land. While the deckhands with frozen hands fought with the gangplank, the edge of the blizzard touched us. We stood their in thick furs ready to move.

“We could hold up under deck until the storm passes.” captain Destine suggested. She had just come to join us while looking as chilled as her sailors.

“We have no time to wait and this storm will not abate.” I dismissively replied. Meli and Sert scanned the desolate Antartic island as their eyes picked out the unseen path we would be taking to reach the cavern in the central mountains. She shrugged before continuing her patrol checking on her sailors.

“The land tells me nothing else has made landfall in a very long time.” Meli whispered to herself.

“No signs of life as far as my eyes can see.” Sert added with a shiver.

“Then we should best hurry before it changes to the worse.” I commented back. I turned towards the sailor still fighting with the gangplank. “Allow me.” I stated in a commanding tone. The plank suddenly came to life in their hands. It jumped neatly into place as I stepped forth upon it. I heard the sigh from Meli as their footfalls sounded following mine as we strode off the ship into the storm. “We will return before the storm ends.” I called back to captain Destine. “Hide our trail, Sert.” I ordered in a whisper to him. “We don’t want any wayward sailors finding what we are doing here.”

“As you command, sir.” he replied without looking at me.

“And we are here to verify a sealed gate?” Meli asked casually. Her eyes roamed over the terrain without seeing anything but whiteness.

“Yes.” I exclaimed. I had not stopped walking as they followed in my wake. The blizzard split before us as we progressed forward. As the storm hide them from view from the ship, Sert pulled out and dragged a weighted net behind us. His trick combined with the blowing snow behind us returned our trail into undisturbed landscape. No words were wasted during our three hour trek while I knew the images they imagined seeing in their minds. I used this silence to focus my mind on what I must do without sharing the details to my companions. They may feel or sense the event but would not raise a finger in this action of reinforcing the seal upon this gate.

Every thousand years I return to this place with only one purpose, but now I know what sits behind the sealed first chamber. I held my anger at bay knowing that I can do nothing to change this fact. I did reminded myself that, with or without a body, I have came here every thousand years since slightly after the war between the Old Ones and the Ancient Ones ended. The ending of their war had caused this monstrous creature which could not truly be defeat entering this world. I found this place not knowing why such a strong energy already sat here and sealed it away from the world. Every millennium I returned to verify it and recharge it for another thousand years. It would be a different kind of event from this moment on knowing who sat imprisoned behind this beastly creature. The one thing both the Old Ones and Ancient Ones feared the most in all of existence: the half breed children that were formed during the war and far before that event.

As we reached the base of the mountain seeing the cavern entrance, clips of chimes and other wind instruments blended softly with the wind. They must have felt my tumultuous inner emotions as they called out with music to me trying to soothe my ire. The multitude of instruments played clearer as I reached for my ocarina. My gloves felled to the icy snow covered ground as my instrument moved to my lips. Meli and Sert looked dumbfounded around us before understanding dawned in their mind seeing my ocarina in place. Tentative, slowly, with tears burning my eyes, I started playing unable to prevent my mixture of emotions pouring into my notes creating the base of this unearthly symphony.

My music surrounded us before flooding over and into the land itself. The greatest and most skilled bards of Atlantis could equal this effect but the strength of so many warring emotions expanded and sculpted each note into a resonating magical sparks. I knew Meli felt this building of magical essence into a storm of emotional power to rival all Atlantian bards playing together. Sert was looking around for intruders feeling nothing of the magic directly but hearing the replying notes rising around us. Flutes, chimes, pipes, and a multitude of other instruments known and unknown at this time in this world added their voice turning this into a symphony, a dirge, releasing all the emotions trapped deep behind the second seal. Tear rolled down Meli’s and Sert’s cheeks as they felt the sadness claimed by the song we weaved from them below ground and me above ground. As our dirge reached it’s culmination, I ended it with a thrill of slowly played final notes of our long overdue symphony of sorrows and regrets.

“My brothers and sisters can finally know that I still am standing for them and remembering all of them.” I whispered with the ocarina still by my lips. I lowered the ocarina and stored into my chest pouch before crouching to retrieve my gloves from the frozen tundra. Only the sounds of the winds from the blizzard surrounding them could be heard now. I gave my companions and myself a moment to rub away the half frozen tears from our faces.

“Still clear, sir.” Sert reported in a hushed voice. “Very nice tune but too sad for my liking.” he added softly with a wry smile. With a deep chuckle, I stopped Meli from slapping him for his comment.

“Once we get home, I will play something livelier for you at the proper time.” I returned. We slowly starting moving forward towards the opening of the cave.

“What exactly was that?” Meli asked suddenly. She had stopped us just inside the cave entrance.

“It is the dirge for children lost in the wars before time began.” I stated oddly calm. “My siblings that were not as lucky as I have been.”

“Can anything be done to save them?” she returned tears still sparkling in her eyes. She had felt all of it unlike Sert who is blind to magic and deft to the subtle emotions that had filled the air around us.

“Nothing can save the long dead and Forgotten Ones.” I snapped back. I could not hold back the anger at my own impotence at being unable to help them. “Let us just complete this task and head home quickly.” I added turning away. My footsteps were swift and sure at time forcing them to keep pace with me until we reached the point they needed to wait. In Meli’s mind, I felt she believed I could save them, some how, but held back from doing so. The silence between us was a physical pain for them by the time we reached the carved inner archway where no light could breach. I gave them a hand signal for them to stop and wait at this archway not allowing my voice to escape and betray my emotions.

With a deep breath, I stepped trough the archway disappearing in the perfect darkness beyond. My feet continued marching forward in the darkness. Each footfall matching the one I did every other times I visited this passage of black. I reached the far wall within the half-hour of absolute darkness. I touched the wall with a single hand bringing the swirling mystical glyphs alive, glowing in the symbols of those that fathered the Old Ones and Ancient Ones. This had been written by my own hands a million or more years ago to keep this dreaded monster from destroying everything in this world. I fell to my knees before this barrier that I cannot remove to free them without risking the end of the world.

“If I had known my brethren.” I whispered. Tears rolled down my cheeks. “I would not have made you trapped behind this most foul creature.” I continued as tears flowed in rivulets down my cheeks. “Little Galeä, I swear that one day you will walk free on this side of your prison cell.” I screamed. Sounds did not echo or move away from the tight area around me. For but a moment I truly stopped caring about my duties to the Fallen Ones, wanting only to save her and all the others, but...it could never be. “I will save all of you and allow you walk in the world freely, someday.” I added in a pained howl. My fist, now liquid night sky, striking the wall beside the scripting seal. With this, I let my powers flow forth to fill each line, each curve, and each symbol with the purest white light.

I rose slowly with great effort as both my physical and emotional reserves where spent now. I walked along my own invisible footprints through the darkness only mildly swaying while wiping the evidence of tears from my face. My face was set in stone as I exited the darkness through the archway where my companions waited. I could sense their concern but my footfalls had strengthened as I signal our departure. I knew they looked at me from time to time before giving each other a questioning glance. I ignored it marching forward towards the Herald as they followed.

I looked into the farthest reaches of the future that I could see, finding Galeä finally gaining freedom but unable to see the path to this outcome. Hints show me a great sacrifice of one of my children while a child born from a half-sister and half-brother holding the seal and true binding upon the creature as salvation. It made no sense to me at this time and felt disgusting as well but I could not simply ignore these hints. As we boarded the ship, I did not give the sailors a chance to retract the gangplank. A wave of my hand had it jumping back onto the deck nearly in position to be strapped down. The look of shock from the sailors and captain received a single worded order.

“Sail.” I stated bluntly. The ship shot forward before the sailors moved. The portal formed in our pathway as the ship still mostly unmanned raising to fly directly to it. The sailors looked shocked while captain Destine ordered them to their positions as the tip of the ship entered the portal. We exited on approach to Atlantis’ defensive outer reefs. The sailors moved into place jumping on their job while I stood motionless on the deck staring blindly ahead.

Meli and Sert looked at me but did not interfere in my imposed silent self-contemplation. Reaching the dock, I vaulted down to march directly home ignoring the gangplank and my companions. The two Captains barely had a chance to catch me deciding it safer to wait for my retinue. My form flashed from point to point as I rushed to reach my private room within my home in Atlantis. Cole had a more direct understanding that I wished to be alone. Cole was tossed aside as he attempted discussing the needs of the Council to me with a simple mental slash. I marched up to my room mental slipping the lock in place after closing the door. I finally dropped the furs from my body and moved with my ocarina to my open window.

As the ocarina touched my lips, the sorrowful song drifted outward as all the remaining emotions I could not release at the gate without destroying it poured forth. Hour after hour, the notes flew from my ocarina filling the air with sadness and bardic magic. The day slipped away as all I could do was pour out my sadness and regret being unable to help them. I would only find out later how potent my music truly was. Without releasing a good portion of my emotion during the symphony of sorrows with my lost brethren, I would have destroyed Atlantis on this day.

It had weaved its way into the magic shield of the island itself creating an event that has only happened once before here. A soft drizzling rain fell in patches around Atlantis while all felt a deep depression while I played. Finally emptied, I lowered the ocarina from my lips. Silence reigned for only a few moments before a soft knock was heard on my door. I moved to open my door finding Meli standing there with a tray of food in her hands.

“Chichi dropped it off for you a few moments before you stopped playing.” she informed me softly. Her eyes were red rimmed showing that she had been crying. I stared from her to the food on the tray. My body reminded me with a loud growl that I had not eaten in a very long time. I took the tray from her, mouthing the words “thank you” before moving with her. I went to the garden to sit on the dew coated ground placing the tray beside me on the bench. I picked at the food slowly eating while a hint of drowsiness crept upon me. Meli silently joined me placing a cup of tea by the tray and sat on the opposite bench looking at me.

“The gate hides more than a lone creature.” I finally told her after a sip of tea.

“Who are they really?” she asked, hushed.

“All my half-blooded brothers and sister from before the Ones above made war upon each other. I answered plainly. It did not give her more or less information that I had hazarded at the gate area.

“And when will you free them?” she asked hesitantly.

“I am not.” I returned slowly. “They will be given freedom by another.”

“You really hate yourself not being able to free them?” she said. I remained silent. “Alright, best you get some sleep since her Holy Highness will want an audience once you recover.” she informed me calmly.

“She will wait since we will be leaving shortly after I awake.” I retorted without emotions. “We visit the Amazons to find someone to reign in someone before his good deeds empties Atlantis of foreigners.” I added softer. A small smile and nod was my answer before she walked away. I planned what would be needed while slowly drifting to sleep. What remained of my meal feed the birds and other small animals in the garden including the house cat guarding me while I slept.