|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Runic Heart | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Act three: the Black Queen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In a land far away from that tranquil forest - in a sinister looking kingdom - prisoners were being marched through the blood stained streets. These were the remnants of the forces that had tried to oppose the will of their master. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The buildings had an old look to them - far older than anything remotely designed by current times. But none seemed older - or more eye catching - than the large gothic castle that overshadowed the kingdom. For this was the home of the Witch Queen - a sorceress named Tamina. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In her castle - sitting upon her golden thrown - the dark queen watched the defeat of Greel through a magical crystal. She watched as the proud and defiant duke was run through by one of her lancers, and smiled. With a wave of her hand the images faded. She slowly got up and walked over to her favorite full-length mirror and admired her reflection. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Her purple silk dress - that was held together in various places by thin threads of gold left little to the imagination on her voluptuous form - which was just the way she like it. A knocking on the distant doors got her attention. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Please - enter," she called out. The great doors at the end of the great hall slowly opened and a strong looking man in blood stained black armor made his way towards her. She sighed and walked back to her thrown and sat down. "You have news Hunter?" she asked. The man removed his helmet to reveal that he was a dark elf. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The forces of Greel have fallen," he stated seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know - it made for a most entertaining show. Tell me - has his wife been found yet? The arrogant duke - surely didn't anticipate being defeated - as such - she had no reason to flee," she asked coyly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "According to my sources - she escaped the castle through a secret exit - one we missed. The fault is wholly mine my queen," he said seriously as he bowed to her and knelt. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know. But she couldn't have gotten far - and if she has - she couldn't have been very discreet. I want her found - and I want her caught. Her - bold and arrogant husband said some - harsh things about me," she began as she looked at the back of her hand. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do you want her killed mistress?" Hunter asked coldly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Killed? Hmm. I do - but not yet. The noble duke - he called me - of all people - a whore. No - I do not want her killed yet. I want her caught first - then I want you to take her highness - to the barracks. I then want - every able bodied man - to have his way with her for seven days - seven nights," she began coldly as her snake familiar began to coil around her leg. The queen smiled and waved her hand. The snake floated up and coiled around her extended arm. "I then want - her battered naked body - put on a horse - and sent - to the good king. Understood?" she asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It shall be done," he replied as he slowly got up. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Tell me - any news of - that little rogue Harmen?" she asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You interest in him confuses me - but that is none of my concern. According to my people - while we were starting the campaign against Greel - he rode off," he replied. Instantly he had her undivided attention. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Rode off? To where?' she asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Unknown. All I do know is that he was on some quest. I believe he is seeking - the Runic Heart," he replied. The answer made the Dark Queen laugh. She sighed as she petted the snake as though it was a dog or cat. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My dear Hunter - you know as well as I that there are no more Runic weapons. I have the last of them - and I ensured - that no more could be made," she reassured - focusing her attention on the snake. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know this - you know this - as should they - yet he left? If not for the only Runic weapon you do not possess - why would he leave when the war is going so poorly for him? It makes no sense my queen," he replied rationally. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hmm. You have a point. Change of plans - have one of your agents find the duchess - I want you to find the - handsome prince. And I want you to bring him to me," she said with a sigh - remembering his beauty. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If he resists?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If you mar his beautiful face or any other part of his body - I will unman you - personally," she scolded. Hunter sighed and shook his head. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My mistress - he openly spurned your affections once - what reason would he have to accept you now?" he asked seriously. The Dark Queen scowled at him. Hunter sighed and realized how what he said sounded. "My queen - I know of no one more desirable than you - none here - or elsewhere could either - but this man," he began. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Silence! You will find him - you will bring him to me. He was - confused when last I spoke with him. I will - simply - make him an offer that even his highness can't refuse. So go - and do not fail me again," she ordered. Hunter sighed and shook his head. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Your will shall be done - my master," he said seriously as he bowed to her and walked away. Tamina scowled at the dark elf and shook her head. The nerve of him for even thinking such things! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If he wasn't so - useful - to me - I would have him killed," she said to her snake. She moved the snake up so that she was looking the serpent in the eye. "I have all of the Runic weapons save one - I thought you would have given me the heart - but all I got from you was the Runic Thorn," she said lowly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Beware," a raspy voice began. Tamina looked up from pet serpent as saw her advisor - an old seer named Oracle. Most of the time she just ranted madly - but when she spoke clearly - it was usually serious - deadly serious. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You see something?" she asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I see - the Heart," she replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Impossible," she interrupted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I see the Runic Heart - I see an empire in ruins - I see - your death," the old woman chanted. Tamina tossed the serpent aside and walked over to where the seer was swaying back and forth. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where? Where is the Heart?" she asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I see - a man - a golden sword," the seer chanted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where? Where is the Runic Heart," she repeated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "In his hand," the seer replied with a mad laugh. Tamina frowned and wanted to kill the mad woman that was laughing before her. She stormed away from the seer and gazed at her reflection. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This - this is an unpleasant turn of events. If in fact that Heart - is out there - I somehow missed it - but how? Every weapon made by that family - its power was renowned and feared - save for one obscure record - there was no mention of the Heart - and it is supposedly the most powerful of the Runic Weapons," she said to herself. "Perhaps - that foolish prince's quest is not as foolish as I first thought. Oracle - go - release my ravens. If the prince is close to finding the heart - I want him found - fast," she ordered seriously. The seer cackled as she danced out of the hall. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Releasing the black birdies," she sang madly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Argh - if only," Tamina strained as dark power swirled around her fists. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||