Ent growled as he stalked the back hallways of the Royal Towers. The crumpled note still clutched in his clawed hand as he moved along these unused routes. He barely had time to stop when Rez burst from one of the other halls nearly checking him into the solid stone wall. A rumbling grunt escaped Rez as an apology while growled still angered by this sudden call.
“You got the same message?” Ent growled at Rez. A nod, a grunt, and a held out crumpled paper was the only answer from the bigger man. “Why is Hope suddenly calling all of us together?” he added. Rez shrugged as they fell in stride walking further down the dim lit hallways.
“Maybe her new position has gone to her head.” Curd suggested from behind them. Ent turned to growl at the tiger that walked in silence behind them. Rez low rumbling chuckle echoed even if he had meant for it not to be heard. “But something has her thinking we should meet.” he continued. He moved in that silent gait only cats had to join the other two. He held up a only slightly damaged note to the other two. “Also guessing Jäz received one of these wherever he is right now.” he told them.
“What has gotten into that cat's head now?” Ent growled again.
“Best we make the rendezvous if we want to figure it out.” Curd returned with a matching growl.
“Enough!” Rez interjected. “We move.” he added in that rumbling voice. The other two nodded as they walked on.
The hallway had been unused for centuries as part of the old Royal Chambers that most believed haunted or cursed by the Usurper Queen. Dust lay thick on the floor and the trio kept have to remove the cobwebs that hung from the ceiling. Shafts of light pierced through the dilapidated shutters that hung at the few windows in this edge of the complex. They slowed as they now followed the single set of paw prints in the dust.
“What was the point of her calling us to meet here?” Ent grumbled.
“Security.” Rez whispered back. The wolf and tiger froze while Rez continued his cautious rolling walk forward.
“You have a idea about all this?” Curd called to his back.
“And these prints lead to the old Throne Room.” Ent noted.
“Yes and yes.” Rez tossed back. He did not stop as he neared the door half hidden in cobwebs. “She is being very cattish.” he added softer. The other two joined him to examine the passage. The cobwebs were parted but still hung before the door looking untouched.
“Only a Royal guard would spot that little trick.” Curd stated.
“And Hope always thought herself the better of all of us.” Ent remarked caustically.
“She is.” Rez grumbled. He pushed the door open as he crouched and shimmed his way into the room trying with much less success at leaving the cobwebs concealing his passage. Curd shrugged and motioned Ent forward. Ent clawed the remaining cobwebs from the door frame as he entered the room with a growl. Curd shook his head before following cautiously into the room.
“And we find ourselves back at the start of this mess.” Miss Hope greeted them. “Where everything went wrong with one crowning ceremony.” she continued. She seemed to be half ignoring them as they stood in this great room.
Dust coated every surface with the exception of Hope's paw prints showing she had been walkin in full circle before they arrived. Little knife like shafts of light breached the smoke and blood coated windows behind the lone throne set upon a dusty dais. In the light stabs, the darker patches of blood seemed to glitter freshly giving a feel of having entered just after the slaughter. The three men sniffed the air but found no smell a blood in the room.
“I was told that my grandfather stood here when he first turned into a great cat.” she mumbled half to herself. She placed herself where her ancestor had occupied that dark day. “Rumour from the eldest of the Royal Guards state him leaping with full claws over the others to lay the first of many killing blows from our kin folk.” she stated casually. Rez ducked and rolled clear as Hope attempted the manoeuvre falling short. “And then they all attacked ripping that monster to pieces.” she added.
“You called us here for a history lesson?” Ent remarked sarcastically.
“Best to know where the corruption started.” Rez declared. Ent and Curd turned to stare at him.
“Well put for an old bear.” Hope returned with a throaty chuckle. He chuckled back to the surprise of the other two Captains. “A sickness has taken root in Atlantis upon that day causing many different ripples.” she explained. Rez nodded while they waited in silence. “One of those ripples was our creation and actions upon that day.” she continued. Their head snapped up as two glared at her and the last member smiled sadly. “Last time we worked together while letting our animal free to do the right thing.” she added.
“You believe we should join together for a great butchery session?” Ent asked with a feral dark laugh.
“Working together to do the right thing even if blood must be spilled.” Rez corrected.
“But will Her Holiness who speaks so openly of peace agree with this idea?” Curd asked sombrely.
“She would not but another could understand and explain it to Annianka.” Hope hazarded. Ent and Rez nodded with knowing smiles while Curd looked to each face for a clue. “Lord Kestrel has proven with actions and words that he stands for Atlantis.” she explained bluntly to Curd.
“How and when do we get him crowned then?” Ent asked sarcastically.
“Foolish words.” Rez remarked.
“We ask a bird to explain our honourable actions to the one we serve?” Curd retorted arrogantly.
“Stop it!” Hope growled at them. “I think Her Holiness will eventually give us the order directly to stand with Lord Kestrel.” she continued calmer. “But that is not why I see us joining forces once more.” she corrected quickly. “I see another moment of the Atlantian throne gaining an heir not by choice.” she explained. “And I am assured that Rez will agree that the infection will surface fully at that time.” she added.
“None of the remaining nobles would hazard such a move.” Ent returned. He turned looking toward the door that had closed behind them. “And the Council will never attempt it without losing their strength over Atlantis.” he continued. He slowly glanced around the room as the other noticed his hackles rising. “Any of you feel like we are being watched?” he added in a whisper.
“Something with this abandon part of the Royal sector causes that to everyone Ent.” Curd replied as he sniffed around. “We would smell if someone was here.” he added rolling his eyes.
“Or the stories that the last King and Queen of Atlantis haunts this place until the rightful heir returns have gotten to you.” Hope suggested with a smirk. Rez had begun looking around in silence. “What do you think Rez?” she asked.
“This place has more memories of darkness than anywhere else for us.” he answered. His deep rumbling voice betrayed none of his feelings to them. “We stood as one group before this moment and need that to protect each other as history foreshadows repeating itself.” he continued. “Too bad Jäz is not here to join his wisdom to ours.” he added. Silence dropped upon them like a blanket.
“So what do the rest of you think of our odd bird Envoy?” Curd sliced into the silence.
“He will fight to his last breath.” Ent commented.
“Destroy himself to attempt saving us.” Rez remarked.
“Will be a bearer of dark deeds for noble causes.” Hope said softly. “And the person Annianka will depend on the most.” she added in a barely audible whisper.
“I think he will turn Atlantis upside down for whatever so called noble quest he sees fit.” Curd returned at them. “Just happy he is on Atlantis' side in the world.” he added in a purring chuckle.
“Definitely make excitement in this island's life.” Rez agreed. Ent nodded as he chuckled. Miss Hope sighed at them. “A bit of excitement will not kill us.” he added with a shrug.
“I will leave that in your paws since I see Her Holiness giving me more excitement than I believed possible.” she returned softly. The three men glanced at each other before staring as a group at her. “She was talking to what could only be the Heartstone itself.” she let slip out. “Something I have never heard of any other Hearts ever doing before.” she explained. They nodded gravely. “I just feel something is amiss without having proof.” she added quietly.
“You keep your eyes, ears, and nose on our Holy Heart while we deal with Atlantis and Lord Kestrel.” Rez stated quickly. “Correct my fellow Captains?”
“It is our sworn duty after all.” Curd agreed with a smirk.
“We serve Atlantis and her Holiness as is needed.” Ent returned formally. “If you permit it,” he began softer, “I will escort you back to Her Holiness' side Miss Hope.” He bowed to her as he waited for a reply. A round of nods ended this meeting as Curd and Rez headed for the door. Hope and Ent walked behind them in silence until the other were far ahead of them. “A word outside of our Royal Guardians' bloodline?” he whispered to her.
“What is on your mind Ent?” she returned as quietly as he had.
“I am sure you have heard that your cousin Valeria, Curd's younger sister, has been seen with myself in public often of late.” he replied hesitantly. A soft giggle escaped Hope making Ent blush. “We have not informed Curd yet of our plans to be mated.” he mumbled shyly.
“I am sure Curd would see you as a competent mate for her.” she remarked. “It will not stop him from acting superior to you in public.” she informed him grudgingly. “Unless you think you could best him outright on the practice field or the hunting grounds.” she added with a giggle.
“I may be able to fight him to a standstill on the field but nothing hunts like that tiger when challenged.” he returned quickly. He sighed deeply at the thought. “I wonder if we could forget to tell him until after our mating ceremony has been placed upon us.” he added with a mischievous chuckle.
“That would earn you a few hours in the practice field with him just out of sheer pleasurable retaliation.” Hope informed him.
“Better than going to the mating ceremony with wrapped wounds.” Ent returned laughing.
“Speak to him directly and from your heart Captain Ent.” she told him. “I think he might surprise you and let this be a reason for the Lupus and Felines to work together easier.” she concluded. The stepped together from the older parts of the Royal estates into the streets of Atlantis.
“As you suggest Miss Hope.” he stated before bowing to her. Curd and Rez stood a few feet away shaking hands before going their own way. “We need private words Captain Curd!” he called out to the tiger. Curd turned a bemused look at Ent and Hope.
“I must be off but rest assured Captain Curd that Captain Ent does not shirking his duties to me because of something much more pressing.” Hope remarked to Curd. “Good parting to both of you.” she added quickly. She rushed to disappear with the few other pedestrians on these smaller inner streets as her path lead her back to the healing complex that housed Annianka.
No comments:
Post a Comment