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| The Runic Eye | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Act four: familiar face | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The sun slowly began to rise and filter into the room where the young prince was resting. His eyes slowly opened as memories of the night before flashed through his head - or were they memories? He slowly looked over and saw Syn fast asleep next to him. It wasn't a dream. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gregory slowly sat up and looked around the room. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You troubled my prince?" a soft voice asked. He looked over and saw Syn smiling at him. A smile crept across his face. "I hope I wasn't a disappointment to you," she added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No - you were great. I - I just wasn't expecting," he began but stopped. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do you regret what we did?" she asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No," he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Good - it was the most wonderful experience - I have ever felt - I would hate to have you regretting it," she said with a smile as she put her arms around him. The prince smiled and closed his eyes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How - how is it - that I just met you - yet - I seem - I feel as though I've known you all my life?" he asked in a distant voice. Syn kissed her way up his arm and then kissed him on his cheek. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Must be love," she rationalized. He looked over at the smiling woman. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You think?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I hope so - because I love you," she replied. He sighed and shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - you're just saying that because I rescued you," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I would be lying if I said that wasn't a part of it - but in you I feel a bond - something - I have never felt before," she replied - resting her head against the back of his shoulder. "I truly feel as though I would be lost without you," she admitted softly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hmm. I feel the same way. It - it's like I can tell you anything - like you are a part of me," he stated quietly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So what will become of us my stately prince? Do we stand a chance?" she asked hesitantly. Gregory sighed and looked over his shoulder at the worried looking woman. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I will do everything I can - to see that we do - I promise," he answered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The promise of a prince - what more can I ask for?" she replied as she began to playfully tickle him. The two fell back down to the bed. When the two stopped laughing - they held each other. "You - have to go. Back to that castle - don't you?" she asked hesitantly. Gregory sighed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I came to this area for a reason - I have to go back and tell the queen what I found. I promise I will return as soon as possible - the earliest possible chance," he reassured - tracing the back of his hand against her cheek. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I will wait - forever if need be," she replied contently. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I won't be gone that long," he reassured as he reluctantly got out of bed. Syn sighed and watched as the prince got dressed. "If you need or want anything - just tell the inn keeper to make it happen. He owes me," Gregory stated with a wink. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I - need very little - thanks to you," she replied contently. The prince finished getting dressed and smiled at Syn. He walked over and gave her a gentle kiss and then slowly left the room. Syn sighed and watched as his shadow faded from the window. Just then - her pet cat Pookie hopped up onto the bed and began to purr. " Ah - my - precious little Pookie," she said as she scratched behind the cat's ears. "Be a dear and see if he has left," she added. The cat hopped from the bed to floor - from floor to window. Pookie watched as the prince rode down the rode that led to Eversky. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He is gone. A voice replied in Syn's head. Syn slowly stretched her arms out. As she did - a magical aura began to flicker around her. Everything about her began to change until her true guise was revealed - Tamina - the Witch Queen! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It is good to be out of that guise," she said as she looked down at the sword shaped scar on her belly. She traced her fingers over it and remembered how much it hurt her - both physically and emotionally when the man she loved - the noble Prince Harmen - stabbed that runic weapon clear through her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At least your guise is a semblance of your former self. The voice hissed as the cat leaped from the window and landed before Tamina. This was the best you could do? A cat? The voice said in disgust. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I didn't exactly have a lot of time. Everything happened so fast," She began as her mind flashed back to the explosion - the confusion - the pain. "You are lucky I was able to save you at all Black Fang," she added seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pardon me if I don't jump for joy. The voice retorted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Until - the Runic weapons and artifacts are dealt with - once and for all - including the keepers and guardians - you cannot show your true self. If they know you survived," she began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| They will know you did too - believe me - I know. How did that waif of a boy beat Tzago? Even with a Runic weapon - that rat god should have made short work of him. The voice asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I wish I knew. Who knows what goes through the heart of a hero?" she replied coyly. The cat walked over and placed its paw on the small ring on her hand. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| With the Runic Eye - you do. I have been listening to you talk to that boy - it turns my stomach. I thought we agreed that all of that line had to die. Why are you playing games with this one? The voice asked sternly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I - don't answer to you. And until you are restored to your true dragon form and body - your powers - are not near strong enough to claim dominion over me," she warned. The cat hissed and slowly grew into an angry looking panther. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I am not a harmless pussycat - do not underestimate me. The voice retorted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I would never dream of doing such a thing. As a show of good faith - allow me to explain - how I see this little drama unfolding. I see a love-struck prince - so in love with me - that he would believe most anything I say," she began. The panther began to smile. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You plan to use the son to kill the daughter. The voice in her head stated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The poetic irony alone. Harmen chose to spurn me - hmm. I wonder if he can see me from where he is. I wonder if he can see and appreciate what his rejection will cost," she began as she doubled over and fell from the bed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tamina? The voice asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Uh - I - I'll be okay. Just acts up every now and so often," she reassured. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Powerful magic made that wound. Even your power cannot fully heal it fully. The voice stated as the panther hopped from the bed and did what it could to help her up. Will you be able to complete this? The voice asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why - Black Fang - if I didn't know better - I would almost think you were worried about me," she said with a smirk. With the panther's aid she was able to get back onto the bed and sit up. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Don't let it go to your head. Until you can deal with the last of that wretched family - until those Runic weapons are once again in our control - neither of us is safe. The voice retorted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know," she said holding her stomach. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Did you do as I suggested? The voice asked. She looked over at the panther and nodded. You used the power of the Runic Eye to play on the fears of that neighboring king? The voice added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I told you I did," she scolded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Good. The queen will either hand over the artifacts to that old fool - or she will be waging war. This queen - is soft - she will be ill suited to the task. Her kingdom will fall - and the paranoid king - will be ripe pickings for us. The voice said as the panther smiled a wicked smile. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes - and then - I will wash the ground in a sea of blood - and make people rue the day - that they cost me - everything," she strained. Pain shot across her face. Then - her body went limp and she fell back down to the bed. The panther sighed and did what it could to cover the unconscious queen with a blanket. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rest Tamina - our time will come soon enough - and you will need to be strong for that. Rest. The voice in her head said hypnotically. Tamina sighed and was almost instantly asleep. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||