Wedding Announcement (67)

      Time seemed to slow during that last tryst with sweet Annianka. She was more vigorous and giving which should serve as a warning to me but had the opposing effect upon my mortal body. I must admit that I had never truly released myself into procreation since the affair with Gaia, until now. The dark ending of one daughter lost to me forever did not enter my mind that day. I sense my essence taking root in her sparking into a new life before we collapsed, drenched in sweat upon the grass of Annianka's private garden. Her panting shifted infinitesimally into sobbing sighs as time trickled by. I took heed of this second more subtle warning. I roll to my side to face her resting my head upon my arm. I watched as teardrops rolled down her face that stared skyward avoiding me. Her strengthening sobs was only sound in that garden as her tears increased in intensity.

      “What is wrong sweetness?” I finally whispered.

      “This must be our last time together.” she answered. “We can no longer share this bound that brings us pleasure.” she clarified. I twisted to sit on my crossed ankles while her eyes continued avoiding mine. “The Council forces me to marry another so I may return to my proper position upon the throne of Atlantis.” she continued quietly. I ignored the strangled gasp from miss Hope by feigning indifference. I attempted touching her mind but ended up scrapping talons against her steely mental barrier.

      “Are you absolutely in agreement to this action?” I asked. I could not hide the anger that showed in my voice. “What type of man do they think could reign over Atlantis as your equal?” I squawked as rage swelled in me.

      “Lord Munin, child of Frigga and a Norse noble warlord for Odin.” she answered without emotion. “They believe linking the royal line to the Heartstone and the Norse gods will prevent the madness infecting the throne.” she explained nonchalantly. Tears still flowed freely from her eyes but I sensed no sadness, regret, or anger leaking through her mental walls. “It is to bear an heir of the most noblest souls in existence.” she added. I held back my lashing out at her and Atlantis' Council with the righteous rage fuelling my powers to a level to scare all the gods that ever existed linked to this world.

      In silence, I mentally reformed my clothing as I rose to my feet. I walked away as she lay sobbing at her ill turn of events while I still sense nothing from her as if her existence had ended in the flash between seconds. I knew miss Hope followed me out in the silent depressive anger that surrounded me. As I left Annianka's tower, the tigress still shadowed my steps as I felt her worry leaking through her human half into the beastly mind shown to mentalists.

      “I will not kill, maim, destroy, or threaten any Atlantians” I remarked to her. “Nor could you stop me or prevent my rage washing all of Atlantis into nonexistence.” I added. I felt her hand touch my arm gently. I froze in mid-step allowing her to move to my side fully.

       “I would simply ask you to stop for the innocent citizens knowing your honour would end your destructive outburst.” she whispered. “This news is a surprise to me also.” she stated to me. “Since Her Holiness sent a missive to the Council but has not received any notes or visitors from them in many months.” she explained. “Please verify with them before letting short sightedness blind us all.” she added quickly.

      “Why do I sense I am trapped with you as my shadow until we reach the bottom of this fable?” I returned.

      “Easier to tell the Captains what I hear personally.” she replied easily. “I ask the right of Royal Guard protecting the Atlantian throne to be present for your questioning of the Council.” she stated formally. I felt it pointless attempting to refuse her. I knew she would find a way of muscle herself a place for my impromptu meeting with Burdish's faction and the whole Council of Atlantis.

      “As you request Lady Hope, leader of the pride.” She chuckled in a soft purring fashion to my reply. “And it is best to have an impartial witness with keen senses.” I continued. I began walking once more at a calmer pace with her at my side. “Your hearing and sense of smell can surely discern a lie.”

      “You believe deceit will be stated to you?” she asked softly. I glanced over to spot the mild signs of confusion on her face.

      “I doubt that will occur directly.” I answered. “But best to have a second being to verify authenticity of what we are learning.” I continued. My thoughts centred on the one member I could not use my full mental abilities upon, Peregrine, my sister's time bomb.

      “I must agree with your thoughts wise and cautious bird.” she returned amicably. She tentatively took my arm as we approached the Council Hall. Her grip tightened crossing the threshold of their sanctum of power still feared by many citizens and nobles alike.

      “They are truly not the enemies of Atlantis.” I whispered to her. “I have convinced most to support Her Holiness Annianka as the spiritual counterpart to them.” I hazarded. A dry growling nervous chuckle answered my comment and showed her distrust. “Long standing grudges still exist but are being overlooked to lead to a nobler path.” I concluded. My pace was casual while the guards ignored our presence mostly.

      “The civil war of deposing the Usurper has taught us to hold tightly to our tongues.” she returned. Miss Hope remained glued to my side while we walked. She seemed to avoid looking at the Council Guards like they did toward us. “I must believe that we will not stand with those that murdered the ones we were sworn to protect.” she continued in a guarded whisper. No mind around us registered her words.

      “Fear caused by one person makes many act stupidly.” I remarked. “A reason using fear is a bad form of control over others.” I said calmly. “How some react to fear is not always what is expected.”

      “Trapped animal can lash out with strength unknown to his species.” she agreed. “More so if wounded or protecting others such as their younglings.” she continued easily. We stopped before Burdish's door. The pillar like guards nodded politely to us but politely ignored our conversation.

      “It defines your state of mind standing for an empty throne representing not the Atlantian Royals but the citizen en mass.” I surmised softly. “I believe sir Burdish is expecting my visit?”

      “Yes Lord Kestrel!” one guard stated. The other opened the door for us. Neither attempted stopping miss Hope following me in.

      “Very happy to see both people that will scream angrily at me together.” he remarked upon our entrance. He stood behind a heavy oaken desk with young Peregrine leaning on the left front side of it. A lone parchment sat on alone on the surface of the desk. I could see from the door that it held Annianka' neat script. “This arrived a day ago and has the whole Council up in arms but impotent to stop it.” he reported. “This may cause many of Her Holiness supporters to turn against Her and us if no proof of Odin's will is given to the Council.” he added. I sensed his frustration that caused confusion and curiosity in me.

      “And my suspicions are justified.” miss Hope purred at me.

      “It may be time to compare information since you seem calmer than expected.” Peregrine said softly. “Reading the Holy Decree will explain our frustration in this matter.” he continued quickly. I moved with the tigress to the edge of the desk as Burdish turned the letter to face us. I quickly read over the letter noting that she claimed it was an order from Odin himself that she marry this man giving them the ability to ascend to the throne together.

      “Why would Her Holiness claim these orders came from the Council to you sir?” miss Hope mused out loud.

      “Delay me from ringing Odin's neck?” I replied casually. I let a whimsical chuckle escape me at the thought of ringing the little dwarf's neck as I perceived him.

      “More likely for you to attack the Council.” Burdish retorted annoyed.

     “Not a logical outcome for his typical behaviour.” Peregrine remarked softly. “He would arrive screaming at us for an explanation using verbal threats but hold back becoming violent until discovering the truth.” he explained easily. “Our noble and wise tigress must has discharged most of his rancour saving us the verbal assault.” he surmised.

      “Simply informed Lord Kestrel that Her Holiness had received no word from the Council of late.” she reported. She was still examining the letter as she replied.

      “Simple actions are good signs of wisdom.” Peregrine countered calmly. She slowly turned to gaze at him in cattish fashion. He casually gazed back at her for but a moment with a quick smile before returning to his pensive examination of the floor. “Nothing short of Odin or his inkling appearing in Council to all of us would confirm these are his words will allow us to pass this edict.” he concluded.

      “But whom in the Council could certify it is truly Odin or a magical construction?” I returned pointedly. “And would the words of another deity of the Norse be acceptable as truly being a decree from Odin?” I continued without pause. “There is no one short of myself and Her Holiness that could discern the reality in those situations.”

      “My kind could smell out an illusion but not confirm the identity of Odin.” miss Hope admitted. “But our eyes would accept a lie as easily as theirs.”

      “And your hearing would not do more than detect the lack of life within a manifestation because of the lack of breath and heart beat.” Peregrine commented. “Nor would your smell the origins of a visual manifestation.” he added. He frowned as he sank deeper into his inspection of the floor between his feet.

      “You understand the special abilities of the Royal Guards quite well.” miss Hope remarked back at him. His eyes remained glued to the floor in a pensive state near to a meditation.

      “Ally or foe must be fully understood to be of proper use to preserve Atlantis.” he returned without thinking. I signalled Burdish to join me at the far right side of the room away from Peregrine.

      “He received tactical military training in his youth including martial art with the Council Guard squads.” the Council member admitted before I could ask. “And he is correct so far with most of his thoughts on this matter.” he continued quickly. “Most feared your visit would signal their death sentence.” he confided to me. “Some for wanting to obey the Holy decree and others for their refusing to knuckle under the command.” he explained quietly. “In the history of Atlantis, the Council has never been so equally divided over a decision until this day.”

      “Any thing short of summoning Odin in the flesh, leaves the Council locked in a perfect stalemate situation.” I surmised bluntly. “It leaves you unable to block the marriage which announces Annianka as Holy Queen over Atlantis.” I clarified to him. “If the Council moves against Her, a civil war will erupt destroying this island paradise.” I continued. “If you you sit on your hands, the marriage will happen forcing you to face Her as your Holy Queen instead of simply the Heart of Atlantis.” A strangled squeal escaped Burdish as Peregrine's head snapped up to look at me. Miss Hope did not move from her examination of the proclamation in Annianka's own handwriting.

      “I did not think she would move ahead with the wedding and coronation without our consent.” Peregrine remarked shocked.

      “Silence from the Council is seen as acceptance.” miss Hope retorted. “As Her Holiness silence shows acceptance in your machinations.” she stated in the same blunt tone. “The decree clearly shows it also.” she added.

      “What do you mean Lady Hope?” Burdish snapped.

      “It states that the Herald will depart upon the morrow to collect Lord Munin from the northern territories of the Norse.” she answered. “It continues the order of events with the wedding a week after including the coronation ceremony.” she continued easily. She turned to face me. “And I know another for you to speak with if you wish to learn about the man-god that is to be King of Atlantis.” she told me.

      “He is known in Atlantis?” I mused. A small growl escaped her as she moved to stand by me and Burdish.

      “He is a widower of an Atlantian bride.” she told me. Burdish nodded his agreement with a sour look on his face. “She is from a noble family and her son resides here with them.”

      “Young Lord Bryan is brash but very well liked upon Atlantis and enlisted in the military college.” Burdish informed us.

      “But would their view of Lord Munin be unbiased?” I remarked.

      “Words from his son will be truthful.” she stated. Burdish nodded his agreement to this.

      “He will paint you a very clear picture of his father.” Peregrine commented. I glanced over at him to find him back deep in contemplation of the situation after realizing that this wedding could truly not be stopped. I read all this from the surface thoughts in his fast working mind.

      “I will take his words to heart.” I replied. “But first, I must complete our discussions here with the Council on whole.” he reminded her. She bowed her head to me. “Is it possible to call an assembly to order so I may know their thoughts directly?”

      “The Council has been coming and going from the assembly hall since the letter arrived.” Burdish admitted. “I can have word sent for you to speak with them within minutes.” he added with a quick grin.

      “I do believe what I learn will not be anything new but best to be certain.” I stated easily. “Is the wording Her Holiness?” I asked quietly to miss Hope.

      “More formal than most of Her missives to the Council.” the tigress replied.

      “It is extremely rare for Her Holiness to send a truly spiritual notices to the Council.” Burdish commented.

      “Social reformation ideals easily acceptable for the most part.” Peregrine agreed. “The few spiritual edicts are more lofty in verbiage than formal.” he slowly revealed. The group amassed once more at the desk to examine the letter. “A formal style using simple words.” he added.

      “Typical for Her Holiness to make Her thoughts clear to the Council and all others.” miss Hope confirmed.

      “It would prove it being her thoughts and beliefs.” I told them. “The question in mind equals the thought in all of you.” I continued calmly. “Should we intercede?” I admitted. “And does She want us to do so?”