“Are
you serious miss Hope?” Curd asked loudly. The other two Captains
who waited in the abandoned throne room heard the caterwauled
question from the hall. It was followed by the distinctive growling
hush from the former feline Captain.
“She
must have been in a good mood.” Ent remarked.
“So
you have suffered from Curd's sour mood also?” Rez returned softly.
Ent stared at him missing miss Hope's entrance. She strode into the
vaulted room dragging Curd by the scruff of his neck like a mother
cat reprimanding it's kitten. Rez's rumbling chuckle echoed in the
empty room. Ent turned slowly to spy the scene as she tossed him
ahead of herself toward them. He watched as Curd tumbled as he
twisted around to his feet facing her.
“First
piece of information.” she stated businesslike at them. “Lord
Kestrel confirmed that both Her Holiness' body and soul are of the
Royal Atlantian bloodline.” she told them directly. “At lest
prior to touching the Heartstone of Atlantis.” she added quieter.
“Are
you serious?” Curd repeated annoyed.
“Were
they his exact words?” Ent remarked calmer.
“Sensible
warning considering Her Holiness' minor explosions of late.” Rez
comment pensively. Curd glared at the other two Captains as Rez
shrugged to him. “The darkness imposed upon the Stone by the
Usurper's forced linking.” he explained still deep in thought.
“Purifying
the Heartstone by taking the darkness within Herself?” Ent replied
softly. “Acting like a true Atlantian Royal by sacrificing Herself
for Her people?” he concluded.
“Only
if the darkness was removed root and all from the Heartstone.” Rez
whispered under his breath.
“Still
see all evil bound to one root source?” Curd retorted. “And why
would it be located in the most Holy of places in Atlantis?” he
continued dismissively.
“To
touch the world as a whole.” Ent remarked.
“Best
hiding spot for evil would be something of a holy nature.” Rez
returned slowly. “Tactically speaking.” he added quickly.
“But
it suggests that Her Holiness is infected by this darkness.” miss
Hope stated. “Manifested by Her explosions increasing in
destructiveness.” she pointed out. “Which makes me fear a
repetition of the Usurper's bloody reign.” she added softer.
“Lord
Kestrel will not allow it.” Rez grumbled.
“Unless
he takes the throne with Her, how can he curb the growing darkness
within Her Holiness.” Ent hazarded.
“Should
we try to convince him to do so?” Curd retorted unconvinced.
“Nothing
we have to say will convince him.” miss Hope returned. “His
duties and oaths to those that reign above us all will not allow him
to do so.” she continued easily. “Even if it is to save
Atlantis.” she added vehemently.
“If
Her Holiness falls fully under the yoke of darkness,” Rez began
slowly.
“We
must protect the citizens of Atlantis as She would truly want us to
do!” miss Hope growled at him.
“We
allow Lord Kestrel to remove Her from the mortal coil permanently.”
Rez continued undaunted. A dead silence filled the empty vaulted
room. An eternity seemed to pass as they stared in silence at Rez.
Ent was the first to nod at him. Miss Hope then Curd followed suit in
the same reluctant fashion. “Dark times indeed when we Royal Guard
Captains can agree sacrificing our charge for the sake of all the
Atlantian people.” he concluded in a rumbling voice.
“We
may be vilified for this treasonous sounding decision.” Curd stated
glumly. “Especially if Kestrel fails to destroy Her.” he added.
“If
he fails, no one will live long enough to see us as traitors.” Ent
remarked darkly.
“And
Atlantis become nothing more than a fading memory in this world.”
Rez agreed.
“But
now I must touch a personal matter that has been effecting our
ranks.” miss Hope announced.
“Should
I step out of the room?” Rez asked with a sneer.
“Your
cool headed advice would be appreciated here.” she remarked
casually. “And it forces these two brothers-in-law to explain the
events from the start.” she continued with a half grin. “Now
speak!” she ordered.
“I
am uncertain of what the starting incident is.” Ent replied. “All
I know was Curd backing down during one of our heated debates when
Valeria entered the room.” he explained slowly.
“It
was not that!” Curd snarled back. “I just got tired butting heads
with a stubborn wolf.”
“Then
why have you dropped arguments on the simple mention of asking
Valeria's opinion?” Ent returned. “And I am not the only one that
has used this fact against you!” he exclaimed bluntly. Curd
grumbled annoyed without giving him an answer.
“I
believe the last hunting pack was the source of his sudden behaviour
change.” miss Hope hazarded softly. “Unfortunately drawing you
into the mess.” she added softer.
“Valeria's
first official hunt?” Ent returned confused. “She was especially
pleased upon returning to our home but refused to speak about it with
me.”
“The
felines of our tiger pride had a private hunting challenge.” she
explained casually. “Valeria out performed all but one
participant.” she continued. “This does not represent you are a
weaker Captain.” she remarked at Curd. “And not the reason I
originally selected you as my successor.” she added blunter.
“Which
participant best her?” Rez mused. A half smirk had formed on his
muzzled face as he stared at Curd through beady little black eyes.
“Miss
Hope, like every other year, proved herself superior to all the
tigers and tigresses of the island.” Curd replied. He took a moment
to bow deeply in a submissive pose to the white tigress.” I ended
up in the third rank position behind my own younger sister.” he
informed the other two.
“And
the reason you have backed down at the mere mention of her name
instead of proving or forcing your point?” Ent returned in a slow
confusion.
“His
failure to defeat her has placed him at a lower echelon within our
clan.” miss Hope answered. “If this small event causes you to
shirk your Captain's duties, then I have truly chosen incorrectly.”
she added softly.
“His
duties have not been negatively effected as of yet.” a voice
reported from the shadows from the throne. The four turned slowly to
face the empty throne as a growl rose from them. “This is a
Captains' meeting after all.” the voice chittered. A grey cloaked
form detached from the shadows holding out thin claw tipped hands
before him.
“Jäz!”
miss Hope interjected. The growls choked in the other Captains'
throats. The stranger pushed back the thick hood to reveal his
pointed ferret shaped face.
“Unfortunately
my elder brother is still abroad.” he clarified quickly. “I
represent him and our kind during his absence toward the other noble
Captains and the Holy One's Guardian.” he explained calmly. A
scroll popped from his sleeve to his outstretched hand. “Captain
Jäzærha's orders to me and his introductory letter to the four of
you.” he added. He held out the tied scroll before him in the
silent form of a statue. Miss Hope step forth to cautiously collect
the scroll from his open palm.
To
miss Hope and my fellow Captains,
I
am assigning my youngest brother Khëndrâèl
to act as my voice, ears, and judgement during the Captains' meetings
and ad-hock leader for the Ferret Guards. Khën
is not allowed full free reigns of our Royal Guard Captains beyond
the point of having the Ferrets perform their duties to Her Holiness
and, the so quoted by ferret kin, honourable Lord Kestrel, Right Hand
of Holy Annianka. He has indirectly met Lord Kestrel and found his
behaviour as highly acceptable as counterpart to Her Holiness. Khën
will keep me informed of your decisions as well as handing you my
words on paper as he has done previously for miss Hope. I presume
this will not cause any problems for any of you though his training
is closer to that of a scout than a battle geared soldier. I thank
you for your patience regarding my long standing repetitive absence
from Atlantis. I will eventually return to stay once I have completed
my private mission among those warriors that follow the Sun and the
Moon.
Sincerely,
Captain Jäzærha.
“Simple
words but the script is unmistakably his handwriting.” miss Hope
stated without emotion. She passed the scroll to Curd who quickly
read it. The scroll was handed to Ent and finally Rez. Each read in
silence before nodding their agreement to her words of authenticity
of its origins. “Well met Khën." she continued. “What insight will
you share on the two topics we have touched so far?”
“First
I must admit knowledge of all you have already discussed since your
original gathering.” Khën admitted quickly.
“I
am taking this as Captain Jäzærha sent you word to inform you.”
Rez replied.
“And
we need not know anything more than that.” Ent added in quickly.
Curd nodded his acceptance to ignorance on this subject.
“Jäzærha
agrees on the high level of Royal Blood in Her Holiness' body and
soul .” Khën reported. “I have not observed any dereliction in
duties from Captain Curd.” he continued. “But his sour
disposition and moments of indecision is negatively effecting the
Feline troop's moral around the other Guard groupings.” he
explained. “This includes not only the Royal Guards but the Council
Guards also.” he added. Curd growled as he grumbled under his
breath at him.
“Captain's
decisions should not be effected.” miss Hope snapped at him. “Only
decision within our pride can be questioned by Valeria if she wishes
to do so.” she continued bluntly.
“I
can admit that my mate speaks highly of your wisdom as a leader.”
Ent stated. “No change in those views after your hunting trial.”
he continued with a shrug.
“She
may have the prowess to out hunt you but no knowledge to lead a
military group nor the tactical skills required in group combat.”
miss Hope assured him directly. “I chose you as Captain because you
possessed those gifts above all others.” she continued quickly.
“Now drop your kittenish sulking!” she added harshly. He glared
at her as the growl slowly subsided in him.
“I
believe that ends the subject, correct?” Khën asked calmly. Curd
nodded first followed closely by the other three and finally by the
smiling ferret. “Captain Jäz would ask we discuss the connection
between the darkness plaguing Atlantis and the outer world and our
Heartstone.” he stated. “Some points seem to allude me on this
subject and how it relates to Her Holiness' explosions.” he
explained quickly.
“We
believe the darkness either infected or came from the Usurper when
she forcibly touched the Heartstone.” miss Hope reiterated. “Her
Holiness may have cleansed the Heartstone by taking the
darkness, in part or as a whole, within her.” she continued her
explanation. “Which is uncertain because She appears to speak to
the Heartstone as if it is a sentient entity.” she clarified.
“Either way leads to fearing a repeat of the Usurper's bloody reign
if Her Holiness regains the Royal Throne.” she concluded.
“Thus
our decision to step aside if She succumbs to the darkness.” Curd
added in quickly.
“But
how would this darkness be infecting the rest of the world?” Khën
returned slowly. “And why has it not fully corrupted Atlantis prior
to Her Holiness' arrival?” he remarked perplexed.
“The
Heartstone is the key connection point between Atlantis and the outer
world.” Rez slowly rumbled back. “Through which we are part of
Yggdrasil which is the source of life for the world beyond our
borders and shielding net.” he explained. If our Holiest of Holy
possessions is infected, it would be able to infect the world through
Yggdrasil with it's darkness in a slow progressive manner.”
“There
is a flaw in that thought.” Khën remarked. “Why would it be our
Heartstone and not that of our Lemurian cousins that is infecting the
outer world from Yggdrasil?” he explained to them. “This would be
the mirror image ideology that is our Heartstone and theirs battling
over the World because of the martial fury of the Lemurians.” he
continued slowly. “This also suggests that passiveness is the
illness that plagues us versus the Lemurians and the world.” he
added even slower.
“If
the darkness is not our pacifist nature,” Ent began replying, “our
devotion to honour would be our curse.”
“But
it is the lack of Honour and passiveness that proved the Usurper was
truly evil and ill.” Curd remarked pointedly.
“Or
our malady at that moment was in turning our backs to the outer world
which suffered greater darkness by our absence.” miss Hope
suggested. “Leaving the darkness to infect the human's hearts,
minds, and souls as well as the mystical beings alike.” The ferret
nodded his acceptance to these thoughts.
“Does
Her Holiness' explosions suggest in truth that she is losing the
internal struggles against the dark illness?” Khën returned
softly. “I do agree as Jäzærha does that it will be wise and
honourable for us on a whole to step aside if Her Holiness falls full
into the throes of darkness and madness.” he repeated directly.
“But should we not begin acting as watcher over Her madness instead
of simply being Guardians?”
“We
will not turn against her in such a dishonourable matter !” Curd
roared at the ferret. The ferret did not cringe from the tiger's
anger as he meet his glared with his own.
“Is
it not what the sane and honour-bound Holy Heart Annianka's order us
to do?” he retorted in a mock purr. Curd froze slack-jawed. The
growl vanished as the three others glared at the ferret
representative in disbelief. “It is no different from our reasoning
to allow Lord Kestrel the freedom to assassinate Annianka for the
benefit of all Atlantis.” he remarked softly. Ent and Curd
sheepishly stared at their feet as miss Hope nodded her resignation
to accept his thoughts. The long silence grew around them fully
before Rez's rumbling laughter rolled and echoed through the room.
“Jäzærha
would never allow half measures to be put in place.” the bear
stated bluntly. “We should not expect it from his representative.”
“We
will remain as Her true Guards.” Khën told them. “Simply watch
and report signs of Her Holiness slipping deeper into the darkness
She is suffering from.” he continued. They all looked directly at
him once more. “We report to miss Hope until we agree who should
hold this information we have gathered.” he added softly.
“Lord
Kestrel!” Rez returned hard.
“Lord
Kestrel.” Curd agreed with a slow nod.
“Lord
Kestrel!” Ent voted.
“Lord
Kestrel's honour will force him to save Her, Atlantis, and the outer
world.” miss Hope confirmed.
“I
see my Captain acceptable to Lord Kestrel as the head of this healing
viper of information.” Khën conceded. With this, the Captains
bowed and parted company leaving Khën and miss Hope alone in the
empty room. “I shall escort you back to Her Holiness' side.” he
offered. She took his arm as sign of reply before they exited this vaulted
abandoned throne hall.
