Chapter1

    Boot heels clicked resonantly against the harsh stone floor of the hallway, the dark passageway lit by the torches borne by men both at his fore and back. Discounting the rustle of cloth, the passage was otherwise silent, save for a far off murmur of voices now and again punctuated by a raised challenge or confrontation.
     The man smiled quietly to himself, hand falling to rest habitually upon the silver pommel at his side. It was just like Adraste to get the lords all worked up so soon after taking over the seat of General.
     He glanced sideways with a wrinkle of his nose, toward the older man at his side, stealing a covert glance before returning his attentions to the fore. Johsu seemed to have picked up the sounds of conflict as well, only he didn't seem at all amused by the harmless antics. He seemed, in fact, downright agitated, and Ryu offered a rather mocking grin as the elder caught his sideways glance.
     The hallway finally opened up onto the Great Hall, Ryu and Johsu's heels clicking together in attention before the sentry at the door allowed them entrance. Ryu glanced far too sharply toward the nearest unoccupied corner, for it was all he could do to keep from laughing aloud.
     Adraste, for all her obvious speculation and cunning, could not know the scene she was making.
     The center of the room was dominated by a large table in the shape of a circle, intricacies and designs carved into the deep mahogany surface that resembled the color of dried blood. Here and there, the marks were accentuated by silver or gold ink, and it was a marvel of workmanship to behold. Seated around it were the subservient generals and lords, although a good lot of them were on their feet, arms braced against the table before them as though for support in their argument.
     Upon one side of the table, there was a small notch taken from the circle, a small rectangle that intruded upon it's cyclical perfection no further then an inch, yet was glaring in its disruption of the circular line of passage. The chair at that place was a bit more lavished than the rest, though at the moment it lay upon its side, sprawled across the floor, likely disrupted by a too hasty rise from its occupant.
     To whom Ryu's gaze next moved with a faint grin.
Ebony strands that glimmered with effervescent shades of burgundy and navy when it shifted framed a pale complexion, normally placid features drawn up in agitation beneath the current circumstances. An enigmatic shade between blue and green dwelled within the femme's forceful gaze, currently smouldered with a deeper indigo, silver shards enunciating the obvious loss of patience that was writ within every curve of the General's slight form to the point of snapping.
     And yet, Adraste was as poised and commanding as any of the men in the room, some twice her size at least. Abysmal pinions upon her back bristled dangerously with her agitation, yet the clear music of her voice was sharp, like biting a penny. Despite the fact that she was the youngest of the lot, and the smallest, when she spoke, they all listened. Whether they liked what she was saying or not.
     "But that leaves the southwestern border completely unguarded, General." Came the whining voice of Lord Toran, whose arms were crossed in the manner of a slighted child. Ryu grinned at the overly dramatic roll of eyes that Adraste shot in his direction, looking to the male almost imploringly before attention shifted back to the disgruntled Lord.
     "Lord Toran.." Her voice was a quiet purr, and Ryu's hand rose to smother his laughter. Adraste was only ever "gentle" when she was in the mood to kill something. "As I have said, I understand this. But there is no time to send new reinforcements to Durelle, and I need to bait Adonis and his men away from the castle. An open border is something they would be unable to pass up."
     "But what about the -"
     "I am through arguing with you, my Lord. I didn't ask for this, and while the entire lot of you," her gaze shifted to bear its heated scrutiny upon every man in the room, "seem convinced I am neither old enough or.. male enough to run the Akutenshi nation with any vestige of intelligence, I assure you it is for the better. Now." Her weight had shifted back onto her heels, and she slumped with a faint smirk back into the chair, which one of the servants had replaced at her back during her tirade. "Lord Moret?"
     "My Lady?"One of the men who had kept his seat during the entire incident rose, a faint smirk still lingering upon his face as he glanced toward the Princess.
     "I want you to send one of the Viars to the southwest." A quiet sigh as a hand rose to cradle her chin, elbow propped on the chair arm. She seemed lost in thought. "Have the men told to wear their uniforms.. and be sure their emblems are borne where they are visible. I want Adonis to realize where they are being moved from."
     "Adraste, you are inviting attack!" Lord Toran was red in the face, and seemed close to seizure. The girl grinned, as Moret shifted his weight with a scowl.
     "I am aware of this, Toran. Do not worry yourself over it. I am fully aware that your lands lie within close proximity to the southwestern border. Don't fret... I won't let anything happen to your little hoard." There were muffled snickers and chuckling from around the table. Toran was known for his stubborn, miserly ways, and the man only reddened further.
     "See that you don't." The disgruntled man stormed out, and Ryu made a flourish of sidestepping from his path. He was spared not even a glance by the angry Lord.
     Adraste seemed tired, and her gaze as it swept over the rest was inquiring. "Does anyone else have any concerns they would like addressed?" There was a slight stirring as most of those who had stood with Toran retook their seats with mute glances of apology, which were disregarded as she stood once more, ink draped wings flattening to smooth arcs once more as her annoyance passed. "Alright.. everyone is dismissed. Moret, please see to it that the entire garrison is moved by dawn. And send one of the younger Viars to the east. Tristet has been far too quiet over there for my liking. Archangels are never quiet unless it suits them."
     She watched silently as they filed out, a sparse few offering an encouraging nod or smile before the Hall was empty of all but the guards, Johsu, Ryu, and Alec. The latter was off to the side, still leaning upon a wall in the shadows. Ryu hadn't seen him until he moved, and even then it was merely to shift his weight to the other foot. He gave the other body guard a nod and a faint smile, which was returned blandly. Alec was never one to show much emotion.
     "Alec, Ryu, to me. Where are Talin and Damion?" Adraste gestured for the two, as well as Johsu, who had made a rude noise as he was excluded from the little meeting that was forming.
     Ryu paused for a moment, mind stretching before he nodded. "They're on their way. Damion's horse pulled up lame."
     "That's why the idiot has wings." She murmured, swatting away Ryu's hand as he took a seat beside her.
Alec had slipped with the silence of a lounging panther into the one on her right, a brow raised eloquently toward the dirty blonde hairline. "Worried?"
     Adraste glanced to him with mild surprise that the male had outguessed her, brow slightly furrowed. "With Adonis banging on my door to the south? Yes, I'm worried. Worried that he'll see through this, just like he sees through everything I do." She both looked and sounded as frustrated as a child who was always caught with its hand in the cookie jar, but none of the men there let it fool them. Adraste was brilliant when it came to strategy, and there were none in the court that could match her stride for stride with either wit or machination.
     Adonis, however, had taken it upon himself to be the very bane of her existence. Only a year older then the seventeen year old princess, he had come into power on accident, much as Adraste had. Although, he had fought his way up, while she was merely the heiress to the previous General. He had died two weeks ago in the siege on the southern outpost against Adonis and his men, when the line had split.
     Adraste and the Akutenshi knew very little of Adonis, or his past. He was an enigma, glorified by his continuous string of victories in battle. Adraste maneuvered, he countered. He maneuvered, she countered. Despite hundreds of miles of distance, the two were engaged one on one in a deadly match of chess, in which any mistake could mean the fall of a nation, or its rise. Adonis was the only reason the Archangels hadn't already been expelled. Adraste was the only reason they hadn't already taken over.
     "You're doing just fine, Kiara. Your father would be proud."
     Adraste scowled at the use of her first name, an irritated glance moving toward the elder man. One could never tell what side Johsu was on. At times he was the first to side with Toran, other times he was backing the young protegee one hundred percent. Alec merely smirked, leaning back in the chair and propping both feet on the table, drawing yet another glance of warning from the femme.
     "Come on, �draste. Lay off it for a bit. You both know you're the best. I'd hate to see you two get into an argument, if you ever meet. You're likely both equally stubborn and thick headed." He ducked the sweep of a wing that was meant to swat him in the head, smiling faintly.
     "And it's a wonder I haven't already lost my mind, with idiots like you always -"
     "Supporting you every step of the way. My point exactly." Came the casual remark from the doorway, where Damion and Talin were standing. The first looked faintly irritated, while the latter - the source of the snide comment - was grinning comically. "The cavalry has arrived." He announced with a flourishing bow, before accompanying the other man into the room.
     Adraste looked aggrieved. "Wonderful. Now I've five thick sculled males to deal with. Why not invite Adonis while I'm at it?" It was her turn to duck both Ryu and Talin's offhanded swats, before she seemed to sober slightly. "I wanted to discuss something of gravity with the five of you... I've been considering it for some time, but until recently it hasn't become so pressing matter." A gesture of her hand was all that was needed for the guards standing sentinel to shut the great doors, their echo momentarily deafening those seated within.
     The four bodyguards and the elder Advisor merely nodded, immediately serious as the situation called for as much. "And what would that be?" Alec queried quietly, as Adraste seemed to reconsider letting them all in on what seemed to trouble her.
     "I think.. Mn. I think we might have a spy within our ranks."