Veiled Chaos

Past the castle gates, the squadron broke rank and filed towards the barracks. Tieras lagged behind and slipped into the tree cover by the castle's main wall. Hidden from sight, he brought his hand to his lips and did a bird call. Within seconds, a lone hawk descended from the sky and perched on a branch near Tieras's head. The bird had a scrap of parchment tied to its leg which Tieras untied and scribbled all he knew so far. Once done, he fastened the parchment to the bird's leg and bid it to fly back to the Death's Herald. Alone again, he took a moment to breathe and think. He was now just outside the blood keep. The Sagnian army was ready and easily mobilized. The soldiers could follow orders to the letter, as efficient as could be. What else could he do to shatter the power of Sagnia? The soldiers needed no morale; fear of death by the Red Sisters was their motivation. His eyes twinkled as a thought came. He had heard a name muttered by one of the other soldiers, a 'Captain Tultrin'. He could use that information as protection. Nodding to himself as he ran his plan over again in his head, Tieras slipped out from the shadow of the castle wall and walked straight into the main courtyard.

The queen walked through her castle without guards. There were enough stationed at every other turn as well as the ones on patrol. And after all, she was a capable enough fighter in her own right. As Haedria walked, lost in her thoughts, she didnt notice the guard who ducked quickly out of sight once entering the courtyard. Tieras paled at the sight of red hair and regal bearing, he wasnt ready to actually see one of the Red Sisters just yet. Judging by her robes and the way the servants bow to her, this was the elder of the two, Queen Haedria. Tieras resumed his patrol-like walk, keeping an eye on the queen but not approaching.

Sera tossed and turned in her bed before sitting up and dragging a tired hand down her face. Her sleep was fitful to say the least.

Long slender arms draped around Sera like curtains, "A restless sleep beloved?" Elysia's song drifted into the air. Leaning down she planted her full lips onto Sera's cheek and smiled, "Good Morning."

Sera stifled an unflattering yawn and reach up a hand to caress Elysia's face. The slave girl's skin, familiar and soft to the touch, helped ease Sera into wakefulness. "Not at all pleasant, I'm afraid. Although, your presence is a great comfort." the princess gently took Elysia's hand and brought it to her lips.
"And what of you, love? How was the day treated you while I slept?" she asked, a gentle smile upon her face.

Haedria settled herself on a bench in the castle gardens. The bright, morning light filtered down softly through the trees. The queen looked up and wondered. The trees had been tall and strong ever since she could remember. They had been planted by the founder of the kingdom, her ancestor. Did those that ruled the land before her look down from the heavens? If they did, perhaps they did not like what they saw. She shook her head and tore her gaze away. This kingdom was her now, till the day it would be passed to an heir, and that was still a ways away. She shifted her position on the bench and closed her eyes, feeling the surge of power in her veins. Her eyes opened and stared ahead unseeing, the swirling cloud of colors returning.
'Sera.' she thought.

Elysia swooned at the knightly gesture of the hand kiss, "Oh Mi'lady the day has been dull and bleak without thy gentle soul and compassionate heart to bring it light. I wandered aimlessly for quite a while lost within myself for I dared not to wake you from whatever pleasing dream you were having, I had managed to find the kitchen and did enjoy a rather tasty meal and a small conversation with the Castle's Houndkeeper, whom inquired into my adjustment to the castle to which I replied that I found it quite to my liking. Ah but look at me dittering on lulling you back into a sleep with my incessant chatter, please allow us to indulge in something more exciting!" Elysia face brightened up as she twirled around in the bedroom energetically, "Oh and my signet Ring I cannot wait to try it on my love!" She spun around facing Sera abruptly clasping onto her hands and looking into her eyes with puppy like enthusiasm looking expectant.

Alarm flashed behind Sera's eyes for a second. She had forgotten all about the signet ring! The princess's expression calmed when she remembered that she had instructed the jeweler to make it and if he valued his life, it should be done by now.
"Of course, your ring." Sera said, standing. A wave of nausea hit her suddenly, causing her to sit heavily back down, clutching at her temple. "If you could wait but an hour more, then you will be able to try it on." she said wearily.
'Sera'. a voice sounded in her head. It was so soft, the princess mistook it for a thought.
"What?"
'Sera?' the voice said again. The nausea began to dissipate. Sera looked pleadingly at Elysia, worried she was going mad.
'Oh, its working? No, you're not going mad, dear sister.'
"What in the hells, Haedria. You know how I feel about you using your power on me." she said, outloud.
A wave of intense remorse passed through Sera, feeling foreign to the girl. It was Haedria's.
'I know. I apologize. But this may be necessary.'

Elysia had perked up upon hearing that she would be able to try on her ring within the hour, 'Perfect and I will be able to use to signet ring to increase my authority' The sudden change in Sera's demeanour brought on worry and concern both in Elysia's face and thoughts she had begun to lean down to comfort her lover when Ser burst into a shout. "The Queen is using her power upon you once more Mi'lady!?" Elysia's eyes shot with concern and worry. While suspicion grew within her, 'Damn what is going on, if it really magic or a bout of madness, I am certainly doing nothing, it is safer to assume it is the Queen.' Elysia stood over Sera with Lover's Grace, "What is it she is saying Mi'lady?"

'I can hear her. You may tell Elysia this is a private conversation.' Haedria said, sounding a big smug. 'Perhaps you could simply think your replies back to me? I can feel your emotions as well after all, but if you wish to articulate your thoughts-'
"You can hear her too? Can you see through my eyes as well? Touch through my skin?" Sera nodded to Elysia but did not look at her. Her blood began to boil at her sister's invasion of privacy.
'No, only hear I'm afraid.'
"What is the purpose of this, Haedria? If you needed to spy upon me, you'd need only to have asked. I keep no secrets from you." Sera stood to get dressed. Her gaze lingered on Elysia. How innocent she looked, how concern seemed to shine in her eyes made Sera's heart ache. Curse Haedria for interrupting them.
'I feel your anger, directed at me. My apologies. I thought in this way I could find you and- wait.' The queen trailed off, leaving an eerie silence in Sera's head. She felt Haedria's confusion and wonder as she tied her hair in a loose ponytail and put trousers and jerkin. The emotion flew from curiosity to panic within a second, followed by a searing pain in Sera's chest. The queen screamed wordlessly in Sera's head.
"Haedria!" the princess reeled backwards into the wall of her chambers, overwhelmed by the intensity and pain.

The queen had been staring into space for a good few minutes before Tieras saw his chance. The bench Haedria was sitting on was obscured by the foliage of the garden, blocking off sight from the four hallways. She had wanted privacy, but it would work against her. Quietly but quickly Tieras approached, dagger drawn. Even as he stood behind the queen, she made no move. Curiosity getting the better of him, he moved to look into the Red Devil's face. Haedria was beautiful, with the passive and peaceful look of one not expecting any disturbance. Her eyes were open, though they were clouded. Strange. A black shine from a slit in the queen's robes caught his eye, and with deft fingers, Tieras pulled free the black dagger. That motion caught the queen's attention. She turned her sightless eyes to him, her brows knitting together. Those eyes moved across his face and down his chest, seeing something Tieras could not understand. He felt like he was about to lose his chance. He acted quickly, flipping the black dagger and plunging the spelled blade into the chest of the queen.

As Sera reeled back Elysia flew to her side arms wrapped around her in an embrace, "Sera Are you alright!?" she shouted her voice marred by panic, worry, and the strain of having heavier (muscular) Sera in her petite arms. 'Has the Queen attacked her!? This is wonderful so long as the attack isn't lethal at all.' Darkmin thought hurriedly and excitedly.

Sera leaned into her lover's embrace, still stunned by the telepathic shock. Haedria's presence was gone in that instant, but the abrupt departure was cause for worry. "I'm fine, Elysia. I'm fine." she said, straightening and pulling the girl into her arms. "I'm afraid something has happened to the queen." Rubbing at her temple, Sera took her swords from their rack and carried them under one arm, guiding Elysia out with the other.

As much as Haedria could get on Sera's nerves with her power, she supposed it was only natural to explore the extent of her gifts. Sera herself spent many a day heaving around different weapons in the barracks to find what suited her. Perhaps Haedria was only doing the same. After much inquiring with the guards as to the whereabouts of the queen, Sera learned that Haedria had gone to the gardens.
"Elysia, go ahead to the jeweler's for your ring. I will check on Haedria." Sera said, planting a chaste kiss on the slave girl's cheek.

Tieras twisted the dagger, pulled it out, and plunged it in anew. You could never be too sure, as people tend to live through stab wounds. Satisfied with his work, he slipped back through the plants and into the shadows of the castle. He hastened his walk to construct the image of a patrolling guard and was about to patrol right out of the front gate when another red haired girl blocked his way. At first he shrank back, sure it was the other Red Sister. But no, there was something different. Not regal, per se, but out of place considering the Sagnian locals he had seen.

Haedria brought shaking hands up to her chest. Blood blossomed on her robe, staining the fabric the rich red color she loved so much. How strange it was, to be the recipient of the black dagger's bite.

Elysia walked through the halls toward the royal jeweller's workshop, she had never met the man and was anticipating the visit she was about to pay to him. Not for any form of social interaction, merely for the gift she had been commissioned. It had become apparent that something had happened to the Queen yet Sera managed the no doubt immense emotional pressure with grace and clarity. Both befitting of a Queen, a queen in love, with her. It would be nice if Haedria died actually, the sorceress was too unknown, suspicious, powerful. Giving a minor chuckle at the grimness of her own thoughts her melodic laugh filled the hallways and the chink of armour echoed back, and she froze. Her eyes darted wildly for the source of the noise, someone was there.

The red haired girl knew he was there. Tieras stepped out of the shadows and presented himself to the girl. She was well dressed; probably had the favor of the Red Sisters. Of perhaps a noble. The young man was easily captivated by her beauty and could not resist his curiosity. He approached Elysia and bowed in a courtly manner, fixing his mannerisms to be calm and not like he just killed the queen.
"Greetings, my lady. I did not wish to startle you." he said.

Sera found the gardens easily. She had been brought up in the castle after all. Pushing aside the brambles of an over grown bush, she saw a vision of blood. Haedria looked to her sister, already pale from blood loss. The queen had tried as much as she could with her power, but the blade's enchantment was stronger. She could not heal from this. The blade still stuck out of her chest, the blade itself blocking the wound from bleeding out too profusely. She had only minutes left. The princess rushed to her side, eyes darting wildly, mouth unable to form words.
"Sera. Could you find it in your heart to forgive me?" she said weakly, smiling.
"Who did this?"
"Theoleas. I know his face. But it doesnt matter now, Sera." Haedria took one of Sera's hands and laid the other on the hilt of her dagger. Fear was written all over the younger girl's face. Fear and confusion, panic, anger.
"I've always loved you. You will be a great queen." Haedria's voice was no more than a whisper. Grasping the handle of the dagger with what strength she had left, she pulled it out and pressed the bloody dagger into her sister's shaking hand. Crimson blood spurted out anew. Sera remembered how the sight of her sister covered in blood was once a vision of beauty. Now only horror came as Haedria's grip fell slack in her hand. The queen was dead.

The boy come out from the shadows and apologized to her. Elysia's eyes locked onto his piercing into him, he was the boy from the village. The sneaky scoundrel had eluded the guards masquerading as one of them in much the same fashion Darkmin had, sans the otherworldly powers and advantages. "Aye and startle me you did. Come then make it up to me the Ser guard be a gentleman and escort a lady as she does her errands amoungst the castle this day." Elysia's lips curled into a smirk. The Sea smelling lad would be very useful indeed it seemed, just as Darkmin had thought.

Tieras blanched. He was in a tight spot now. Having just assasinated the queen, the alarm would surely be raised soon. He had to get outside of the castle and lose himself in the village again as soon as possible. Yet the gorgeous woman told him to escort her, thinking him a guard. If he didnt comply, it would raise suspicion.
Tieras snapped a salute like how he saw the other soldiers do, and smiled kindly. "As you wish, my lady. I will be your shadow, if you so wished."

Sera was too stunned to speak or move. Her sister was dead; Haedria was dead. A tempest of grief threatened to take her, render her a sobbing mess. But no. No, that cannot happen. As the second in line, the kingdom would pass to her. She had to protect the kingdom, Haedria would have wished it. There was an assassin still in the castle and a fleet just off the sea. Tears streaming from her eyes, Sera gripped the black dagger's handle. There will be time for mourning later.
She rose and called for guards, her fury keeping back the sorrow for now. When armored men came, they were shocked to see the queen lying dead in the middle of the garden. The princess's face was a mask of rage. "The queen has been murdered! On your watch!" she roared. "Lock down the castle, no one is to leave or enter. Do it, now!" the guards scampered away, bringing the news to other reaches of the castle.

The princess, now the queen, turned back to look at Haedria's body. How peaceful she looked. It was almost as if she had simply fallen asleep after an exciting day of torture. Gently, she caressed her sister's face, and planted a light kiss upon her head. Sorrow threatened to take her again, but Sera had to be strong. If not for herself, for the kingdom. For Elysia. And for revenge.

The boy was becoming worried, and that pleased Elysia, "I wish not for a shadow but for an escort Ser guard." Elysia swayed her hips slightly placing a hand against her waist to subtly help enunciate her figure. "we shall begin by walking to the Jeweller's workshop, if you would ever so kindly begin walking in that direction. Elysia pointed her finger down the hall. "It would be a wonderful start to today."

Tieras bowed slightly, acquiescing to her wishes. He started on the path and hoped to the gods that it was indeed the path to the jeweler. "If I may be so bold as to ask your name, my lady?" he asked.

Kerza ran up the winding stairs from the dungeon. He heard the panicked shouts and shocked whispers of the other servants. The queen was dead? He had to see for himself. What happened to Sera? The undertaker had been living in the castle and working for the crown since the royals had been children. He saw the two young girls grow into deadly and beautiful women. He all but crashed through the garden, coming to a halt just behind Sera. She still kneeled beside her sister's body, not willing to move just yet. Silently, Kerza put a hand on her shoulder for support.
"Kerza. Do me a favor, would you?" Sera said without looking at him. Her voice was steady and though tears flowed unchecked, she would not cry out.
"Anything."
"Bring up a dozen of the hounds. There are spies in the castle. I would trust no one. None but you and Elysia, my swords and my hounds."
Kerza nodded once, gently squeezed his grip on the princess's shoulder, and left.

Elysia locked her eyes on the guard nearly scouring him with her gaze, "That is indeed bold Ser guard. I am Lady Elysia." Mouth curling into a slight frown she turned away from the guard and continued walking towards the jeweller. Distracting Tieras from his task was certainly good fun, but he seemed to be having trouble playing guardsman. Entering the workshop Elysia presented herself to the crasftman and smiled, "Ser Jeweller I have come to pick up an order placed by Princess Sera for a ring if you have it done?"

The old man removed his spectacles when Elysia walked in. He blinked a few times. Having never seen Elysia before, he thought he was one of the sisters. "Ah yes! Right here." he said, reaching into the drawers of his work table. He produced a lovely signet ring with sapphires embedded in its gold band. Wiping it down with a cleaning cloth one last time, he set the ring into a small box padded with velvet. He handed the box to Elysia.
"Lovely little thing, a pleasure to work on it. I can see why the princess demanded perfection." he smiled crookedly.

"Close the gates! Lock down the castle!" A guard shouted as he ran by the jeweler's workshop. Curious, Tieras asked what was going on, though he had a feeling. "The queen's been killed! Under orders of the princess, the castle is to be locked down. Dont just stand there!" the guard said, speeding on. Tieras began to sweat.

The Queen was dead. Elysia's face went pale and her body trembled. She turned the look at Tieras, "Ser Guard you had best go. If such a horror has truly occurred they will need all of the guards to lock down the castle you had best be off." She said placing the ring upon her own finger.

Tieras nodded and hurried away, heading straight through the castle towards the gate. Just as he emerged from the castle, the gates slid shut effectively trapping him on the castle grounds. The sound of husky growls from inside the stone structure caused him to break out into a cold sweat. He turned, and saw the remaining red sister. Sera walked through the castle, swords drawn and a dozen large hounds at her heels. Her mouth was set in a grim line, her knuckles white from gripping the swords. Her hands and forearms were covered in blood, steadily drying. Tieras whirled about to try and hide, but other guards were beginning to form rank, ready for an inspection by the princess and her dogs. If he ran, he would be caught. If he stayed, he would be caught.

Egales marched up to Sera from somewhere inside the Castle, "Your Majesty!" Presenting himself before her he knelled in front of her. "Please do not forgive me for my complete and utter failure to protect this Kingdom." Egales bowed his head down in solemn motion and continue to speak his voice grave and regretful, "Whilst I was preparing the village I caught a boy from the sea spying, but before I could apprehend the The King of the Northern People came with specific orders to arrest the very same boy. I should not have allowed him to take the boy into custody and done it myself." Egales slammed his mailed fist into the ground beside him kicking up dust and indenting the ground, and the gauntlet rattled as Egales clenched his fist. "Perhaps then this atrocity would not have happened." Egales looked up to Sera with a hard and dutiful look, "I can however preform at least one last service to you, I can recognize the boy's face."

Sera slowly leveled a sword at Egales's face. "You. Everything began to change once you arrived." she said. Her eyes were glazed and dull, but her sword arm was steady. "I should cut you down where you stand. I dont recall your face from any earlier than the day I sparred with you in the courtyard. But if what you say is true and Hamilcar had orders to capture this boy, then you are to bring him to me. Do you understand?"
Beside her, the hounds growled at Egales.

Tieras lined up at the very back of the line of soldiers. Hopefully here he would be able to slip away when the moment presents himself.

It was utterly insulting, for the Princess to lay such a baseless claim to guilt before him without any form of proof. Especially since this particular enterprise he had no hand in. Darkmin huffed internally at the mortal who dared to speculate his guilt. Yet Egales rose and thanked the Princess and turned to walk and do his duty. She didn't recall his face, bah. She never even asked him for his name. He doubted she even knew any of the guards. already feeling insulted when one of the dogs growled at Egales his blind eye turned to the dog and glared at it with malice. The malice of an Ancient being.

Sera watched curiously as Egales left. A couple of the dogs followed him a few feet away from their master. Did they sense something? It was strange, to say the least. With a sigh and a look around for Elysia, Sera stepped out to the front courtyard. She watched as the soldiers ranked up and her thoughts wandered to Kerza. He assured her that the former queen would be 'prepared' with the utmost respect. Then there was the emergency coronation or whatever. She sighed again.

Darkmin wondered if it was perhaps time for Egales to simply vanish into the mists of time. If Sera truly was suspicious of him then it would be better to solely focus his efforts on using Elysia to manipulate and control Sera. Since there would be no one else to interfere with her control over Sera. Though that would mean holding back on directly manipulating the peasants into civil war, it was not impossible however for Elysia to do similar control. So thus Egales faded and Elysia appeared, whether or not this would be permanent or not would be tested by time.

As Sera stepped out into the courtyard, her hounds set out to sniff the lines of soldiers one nervous guard after the other. They passed the first to third line without incident, the hounds having known these soldier's scents from long exposure to them on walks and battles. As a large brown dog approached the fourth line, he started to grown and bear his teeth. Tieras broke rank and turned, sprinting as fast as his feet could carry him. The dog easily ran him down, jaws clamping on his leg and dragging him across the sands.
The princess threw her sword into the ground by Tieras's head, the sharp edge so close to his face stopping his struggling. Sera's stare was hard. Once, she would have been filled with joy and the thrill of the hunt. Now there was only the cold burn of hate. "You have explaining to do, boy." was all she said. With a wave of her hand, her dogs dragged Tieras across gravel and sand, back into the castle.