Back to the start...
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| The Invitation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The sky turns a pale pink with purple-lined clouds scattered across it. The large yellow sphere known as the sun barely peeks it's head up over the horizon, shedding it's light on the vast land. The earth, which before this moment was lush green littered with wildflowers of every hue, was now littered with bodies. The crimson of the blood was almost breathtaking. A few men still walked the field looking for survivors -- hopefully from their own side. They also scouted to identify their dead to send word back to their families and friends. No one wanted to be the one to look -- it was always saddening. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Further off the field, an armored man knelt on a small hill, his helmet on the ground before him. His dark hair was matted to his forehead with sweat and blood, contrasting with his pale face and sea green eyes. He looked out over the field of death and saw his scouts stepping over the bodies of their enemies and friends. It was a miracle that so many had survived. He closed his eyes and made a silent prayer, thanking any power that may have helped them triumph. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Standing, he turned away from the field and faced his remaining men who had already begun to regroup. The tents across the field housed beds for them to rest, tubs for them to bathe, and many surgeons for obvious reasons. He sighed with relief. It had been so long since he'd felt relaxed, had a good worm meal, slept in a soft bed... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Been with a woman. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| But now, he could have all that again. He could go home, get some rest, see his friends again. The war was over. Picking his helmet up, he trudged down the hillock, armor clanking to the rhythm of his footsteps. At the bottom of the hill was his tent, and just as he reached it -- intending to strip his armor, collapse into bed and not move until that afternoon -- a young boy on a horse came riding up to him. It was a royal messenger with a letter. "Sir Alexander?" the boy asked, dismounting his horse. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am he." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Sir, a letter for you from Prince Horace of Storindrake. It was sent with great urgency." He thrust the letter at Alexander and waited for him to receive it. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hm, what could be so urgent? Is it a command to stop fighting, perchance? A letter arrived too late?" He took the letter and broke the seal. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know not, sir. I was not informed of the contents of the letter when I was sent." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It was a question not to be answered until I read the letter, boy. It was a joke," he said with a smile. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh! I see, sir. Very funny!" the boy exclaimed, giving a forced laugh. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Go easy, boy, I'm not going to cut your head off if you don't laugh." Alexander sighed and opened the letter. Reading it quickly, he found that Prince Horace, a friend since childhood, knew that the war would be finished by the time the letter reached him. He knew Alexander's ways all too well. Horace congratulated him on his victory and asked that he come to his kingdom for a month to rest and catch up on old times. The next passage intrigued him, however. As soon as he'd begun reading the letter, he'd had his mind set on going to visit, yet this made it inevitable -- instead of stopping by and making an excuse to leave in a week, he'd stay for the duration. It read: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Have you heard the news of my kingdom? I'm sure that being at war has probably limited your income of worldly news, so you must not. There was a new order of priestesses who have just finished taking their final vows, and my kingdom now has its first High Priestess in over 200 years. Hearing this, I was quite enthusiastic to meet her. However, the All High Priestess never told me that she was the youngest and most powerful of her order. I'll also tell you that she is rumored to be the most radiant beauty in the entire country. Have I intrigued you yet? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I must warn you, however. Many men have heard of her and tried to force themselves upon her. I've had my hands full trying to keep these men in line. The Divine Law of the Priestess is not to be messed with. When you arrive, skeptical though you may be, you mustn't toy with her. She is very powerful. But I do entreat you, if she doesn't tempt you, do come and stay with us anyway. We would love to see you again. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prince Horace | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This confirmed it. Horace knew exactly how to wet Alexander's appetite and sway his opinion. If this priestess is as powerful as the price says she is, then it would definitely be a sight to see. It would also explain the impeccable timing of the letter; priestesses were rumored to have some powers of sight, seeing future events and knowledge of the natural and supernatural. Alexander had never seen a priestess before, and the thought of her power enchanted him. Her beauty also peaked his curiosity. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Boy, does the prince expect a reply?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I believe he does, sir. Shall I await your letter?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nay, my answer is simply that I will be residing with him for a month. Can you send it?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes, sir," the boy said with a smile. "His Highness shall expect your arrival. Good day, sir!" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Good day." Alexander watched the boy mount his horse and ride off towards the castle. Now he could rest. He would rest for a day and begin travel that night with his troops. Hopefully, he could lead his troops to their home in Wychdaerv while he continued on to Storindrake to Horace's castle within three days. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opening the flap of his tent and sitting on his cot, he imagined this young and powerful beauty. This priestess was one that he had heard of, however. There were tales of her before she had taken her vows. She had been called the 'Child Priestess' because she was so young. She couldn't be too young, considering her rigorous training. He thought of her in the flowing white gowns he'd heard of, being worshipped. He thought of the most powerful people -- like kings and noblemen -- all coming to her for help. The thought of the priestess being so young -- and he imagined her being around twenty years old -- intrigued him. He couldn't wait to meet this Child Priestess. As he dreamt, he drifted to sleep. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Prince Horace roamed through the hallways of his enormous castle, wondering where his priestess was. He'd searched her chambers and most of the main rooms in the castle with no luck, and now he was on his way back to his chambers. He needed a rest from being prince. His father, the king, still lived -- barely -- yet Horace received all the work. Not once was he considered capable of doing the job, and when he succeeded, all the credit was given to the king. Horace was labeled incompetent. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opening the golden doors to his room, he cursed to himself for not being as forceful as he wanted to be. He closed the door and fell onto the bed only to sit straight up again. "Chilandrea!" he cried. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Standing in the corner, wearing her usual long, black silk gown and velvet cloak, she stared quietly out from the shadows at him. Her clear blue eyes shone brightly through the shadow of her hood. "Your Majesty," she said. Her voice was soft, smooth, almost eerie, and relaxing. "I really would prefer you called me by my title, as Priestess Chilandrea." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm sorry, Priestess, but you frightened me. Why are you hiding in the shadows of my chambers?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You were looking for me." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| For a moment, he blubbered, stunned. "But... you... I..." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Were you not looking for me?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No, no, I was looking, but why weren't you in your chambers or the main hall?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was busy. Once I was finished, you were on your way here, so this is where I came." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are too mystifying. Well, I was coming to tell you--" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That we are having company. Your friend, a knight named Sir Alexander, is on his way here this very moment." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "...Yes, er... He's never seen a priestess before, and he has heard tales of them, so if you don't mind--" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Excuse me?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You wish me to dress like the other priestesses; all in white robes with golden jewelry and to keep myself visible. I will not have it." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But if they wear all white, then isn't there--" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "There are no rules as to what color we wear. Most prefer white and gold because they have heard the tales of other priestesses. I prefer black and silver. Now, Your Highness, this is not important," she said coldly, taking a step out of the corner into the light. "I must speak with you about the matter at hand." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And what's that?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The matter of Sir Alexander who will be arriving in one day's time. He must not stay here." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But he's my most trusted friend! I've invited him to stay a month. Why do you object?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I've had visions. If he stays here, there will be horrible consequences to follow." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Consequences? What kind of consequences? Does someone get hurt? Or is it just him fooling around as usual?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I cannot say." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Cannot say?! I order you to tell me what will happen!" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A sudden gust of wind surrounded them, nearly knocking Horace off his feet. Chilandrea seemed to be growing larger, the wind blowing her hair away from her face and her clothing flap menacingly. She spoke, her voice loud and harsh. "I cannot tell you what will happen! Understand my reasons to keep this kingdom free of harm without questioning them!" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The wind settled and Chilandrea seemed as though nothing had happened. She looked peaceful, calm, and almost harmless. "All I say is that disaster will accompany Sir Alexander when he arrives. You may disregard my warnings and still allow him to come to this kingdom and let the inevitable occur. Yet if you do, do not ever question my reasons, ways, or ever expect me to predict what I cannot see." She turned and seemed to glide towards the door. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Horace was staring after her, wondering if he should cower in the corner or simply keep his decision final. That's when he became aware of his violent trembling. He held onto the bed for support and gasped for air. He wouldn't question her again, he promised himself that. Yet he would allow Alexander to stay, keeping Chilandrea's warnings in mind. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea had stopped at the door and was watching him intently. "I will tell the servants to prepare for Alexander's arrival. And you shouldn't worry. I shall remain civil. What just occurred will not happen in Alexander's presence. Good day." And with that, she turned sharply and disappeared into shadow. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| On to the next chapter! Back to the start... |
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