Interlude: Captains' Truths (16)

      “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.