Interlude: Annianka

Annianka sat in silence on a grassy patch of her private garden as miss Hope arrived. She did not move or speak. She simply sat staring forward at a small rose bush before her while miss Hope walked around the garden's edge. She reached out a hand toward the plant and the unopened buds cracked and flowered. Miss Hope glanced over but returned to her patrol around the garden in silence. The newly open flowers appeared unreal while the previously existing roses paled in comparison.

“Do you think the new flowers fit in?” Annianka asked softly. She ran her finger along the edge of a frost coloured rose to have it melt at her touch. No answer came to her. “Miss Hope?” she whispered. She glanced around to spot her white tigress guard standing as still as a statue staring back at her. “Do they look pretty at least?” she commented to her.

“They are pretty Holiness.” Hope returned quietly. Annianka smiled back. “I do not think the ice roses will last long in our climate.” she added slower.

“But the fire ones could be useful for light and heat.” Annianka returned. “I am unsure about the gem ones or cyclone ones though.” she remarked pensively. Her eyes returned to the bush before her. She ran here fingers through the flame petals of the fire rose without fear.

“The gem roses are bending the stems to nearly breaking.” miss Hope mentioned. “And the cyclone roses seem to be trying to fly away taking their stem with them.” she continued. “All are pretty but hard on the plant if it is to live a long life.”

“Maybe this is not the best plant to attempt some of these?” Annianka remarked casually. She glanced in silence as the stem from the fire rose slowly burned away lowering the flaming flower into the mass of the plant. She waved her hand and the special flowers vanished instantly leaving empty spots in there place on the bush.

“Something sturdier and more resistant might be a better choice.” the tigress suggested. Annianka nodded sadly back. “You will have plenty of time to practice such diversions while Lord Kestrel is away.” she commented softly.

“He will return soon enough to my arms.” Annianka remarked. I soft silly smile touched her lips as her cheeks reddened. “I am sorry that you must witness our time together.” she continued nearly purring. “He is such a man that pleases my every needs.” she added with a small giggle.

“You seem more relaxed and happy when he is near you my Holiness.” miss Hope remarked. “I have no issues giving you time to be with him but I must ask you a hard question.” she continued. “Do you love him?” she whispered slowly. Annianka giggled as she blushed a deeper shade of crimson.

“I do not know if it is love but ...” she replied shyly. “But he is my everything.” she concluded.

“He would be a very noble and true mate to you.” Hope commented. She did not look at Annianka as she spoke. In her mind, she saw his face with the amber cat-eyes again. “Even the Holy Heart of Atlantis deserves to have a mate at her side.” she added with false casualness.

“So should my Honour Guard.” Annianka remarked. “But you seem geared at always standing alone.” she reprimanded. “When will give love a chance to touch you miss Hope?” she asked softly. Hope glanced at her seeing concern in her face.

“When a man can truly be my equal in all ways.” she answered with a wry smile. “With beautiful amber cat-eyes that no feline could ever resist.” she added under her breath.

“You found such a man!” Annianka accused.

“I was just shown one thanks to Lord Kestrel's gift.” the tigress returned. Her eyes return to avoiding Annianka's as she returned to prowling the perimeter of the inner garden. “It did not answer if you would have him as a mate?” she remarked in a purr.

“I would fear I would do many things for him that would be driven by jealousy and mistrust of others around him.” Annianka stated. “This world would not be large enough to contain us.” she half whispered. “Many other places once this one is gone.” the other voice hissed from Annianka's mouth.

Hope turned slowly to look at her. A vicious smile had replaced Annianka's normal soft smile. Miss Hope remain silent and unmoving as she forced her mind into the thoughts of the beast she was mixed with. She looked at the face that she knew well now appearing like a dark stranger before her. The eyes tightened as the predatory grin showed Annianka's teeth fully in a horrid grimace. Her hands clawed at the ground leaving patches of dead earth at her touch. Her shoulders hunched forward as her face seemed to darken an the air chill around them. It took only a moment for this transformation to come and leave Annianka.

“I am just unsure it would be proper for me to marry him miss Hope.” Annianka said calmly.

“You must be visiting the Healers' Hall shortly.” the tigress reminded her. “A detachment of mixed Royal Guards wait at the doors to escort us there your Holiness.” she added quickly.

“And if I decided to refuse?” Annianka retorted petulantly.

“And not see your people?” Hope returned easily.

“Atlantis needs their Heart or they will lose hope in their lives.” she rimed off from memory. “But is it safe after my little tantrum?” she remarked quickly. “What if I get annoyed and over react again?” she pinned. Slow tears rolled down her cheeks as she frowned.

You have never had it happen when in the Healers' Hall before your Holiness.” miss Hope stated softly. “And you like being there to help your people directly.” she continued. “You are nearly as happy helping your fellow Atlantian as when you are in Kestrel's embrace.” she added with a wry smile. Annianka blushed slightly as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. She rose slowly to her feet as the tigress came to her side. She nodded once to her as she smiled softly before they walked to the doors to the garden.

Two dozen mixed Royal Guards came to attention as Annianka and miss Hope exited the Royal Halls she had been confined to. Six of each of the four groups stood together in groups of four ready to be given the word to march. Miss Hope could not hide the smile that came to her face at this sight. They saluted to the Holy Heart simultaneously as if trained from birth together.

“Why are you purring?” Annianka whispered to her. Miss Hope still stood smiling like the cat that had eaten the canary while purring under her breath.

“It is nothing.” she whispered back. “Form up and we march soldiers!” she ordered bluntly. Small diamond shaped groups of four took their position forming a wide circle around them. “Let us hurry your Holiness.” she remarked to Annianka. She began walking forward with Annianka at her side and the troops moving with them like a cloud of swords and shields around them to clear the path.

“Is this truly necessary miss Hope?” Annianka asked. The hint of whining had entered her voice. Hope sighed as she prepared to explain to her again when the first stone came flying toward them. The tigress grappled Annianka's upper arm spinning her away from the flying stone. As Annianka was moved, Hope side stepped to grapple the stone in midair.

A few dozen more stone flew at them which the Royal Guards and miss Hope batted to the ground before they could make contact with Annianka. The handful of Atlantians that were near them spiralled on the spot trying to spot the source of this attack on their Holy Heart but to no avail. Annianka had smartly collapsed to her knees covering her head with her arms seeing nothing.

“Guards?” miss Hope growled. Eight guards came rushing forward to form a tight circle around them.

“The stones were thrown from our sight.” one reported.

“But there was no one there.” a second remarked.

“The citizens around us looked as much as we did for the source.” another stated softly.

“An earth wielder maybe?” yet another suggested.

“Unsure but we will ask the citizen while half the troops get Annianka either to the Healers' Hall or back to her residence.” the fifth guard countered.

“Send a foursome to the Healers' Hall to inform them of Her Holiness' absent.” Hope ordered. “Leave eight here to question the witnesses while the rest rush with me to place Her Holiness back safely at home.” she continued. “I want your reports of this incident in my hand and your Captains' hands by night fall.” she added in a growl. They saluted to her in silence before separating to follow her orders directly. The sixteen Royal Guards formed a tight circle around miss Hope and Annianka. She grappled Annianka's shoulders forcing her to her feet and forced her to quick march over the small distant they had covered.

“My own people are turning against me.” Annianka whimpered as they rushed. “I will never be freed from my prison ever.” she sobbed uncontrollably. Miss Hope ignored her words as they rushed her back into the safety of the Royal Residence. Once inside, Annianka broke free from miss Hope's grasp to rush to her bedchamber. The sound of the door slamming shut and the internal lock clicking into place echoed through the empty residence. Miss Hope listened at the door for a moment only hearing Annianka crying.

“Have the guards patrol the halls and grounds of the area until further notice.” Hope told the one guard. He had remained close to her waiting for orders patiently.

“I do not believe an earth wielder is behind this attack.” he softly informed her. She stared at this Ferret Guard who remained calm even if he was a mouse before her.

“Explain!” she ordered quietly.

“Because we would have seen the stones lifting from the ground and not just appearing in the air, mam.” he explained slowly. “They were appearing a few feet to the right or left of the citizens which some should have sensed the magic forming and been able to warn us.” he continued ponderously. “Something is on Atlantis that none can see.” he stated quietly. “But why would they be throwing stones and not daggers or arrows is a mystery to me.” he added with a shrug.

“They simply wished to scare her and not kill her.” Hope retorted in a whisper. They slowly walked back toward the doors of the section Annianka had been given as a home. “Best to still verify if any of the citizen present might have abilities without proper training.” she advised slowly and pensively.

“It will be done as you order Guardian of the Holy Heart.” he replied softly. He salute her in the fashion of the Ferrets holding the salute until she responded with the Feline salute. “I would also like the permission to offer young Sertian Royal Guard training as fits his position in Lord Kestrel's house.” he said softer. He held out a letter to miss Hope. “It is a request from our Captain directly.” he added quickly.

Miss Hope took the letter from his paw and quickly read through it. The seal of Captain Jäz was cleanly etched in wax at the bottom of the letter with just a “J” as signature. She read through it a second time as she read his responses to her fears that had been voiced during the Captains' meeting and banter between the three Captain and herself.

“If Lord Kestrel has no problems with it, offer it to Sertian but do not force him to accept.” she finally told him.

“As is your command.” he replied easily. He bowed to her before departing in silence. The tigress went through the rooms, peering from windows to spot the Royal Guards marching around the home in small wary groups. She sighed as she continued her inspection to assure the apartments of her Holiness were secured. She checked at Annianka's bedchamber door from time to time to discover the cries having turned into soft sobs and then whispering snores.

“And what if she did it to herself without realizing it?” the tigress mused to herself. She pondered the possibilities as she continued her unending patrols around the residence in silence.