That man was in rare form, the King of Avongale, but who could blame him certainly not Stromwell Atticus. The man had nearly lost his only child the future sovereign of the entire kingdom so it was to be expected his disposition to be less than favorable, Stromwell knew all to well hearing the bark of permission to enter the leader's study with the one of central culprits in tow. The bound merchant, Siglar. Stromwell hadn't tied him up in fear of the man attempting to attack, he bound him for his own safety against the surprisingly strong older gentleman. If left to his own devices, Atticus might not have been able to stop. All he saw was black and those he served harmed. Pushing Siglar forward, he prevented the bearded man from colliding with the king's desk. Stromwell took a spot on the immediate right, head bowed respectfully.
"It has your highness," He answered. "Allow me to introduce Siglar Rinus formerly of the village of Abendroth. His wife, the dead woman, was central in Lady Aeolthine's attack earlier," Atticus pulled on the rope in a nudge to Siglar. The merchant locked eyes with Reynard.
"Tis true," Siglar spoke bitterly. "She grieved for our lost child so much. A child you took in your campaign-" Atticus swiftly knocked a closed fist to the back of his head. The man grunted, turning to the side he saw the blackness in Stromwell's eyes. The fury. He faced Reynard once more. "We had planned to do your daughter in not so soon," Continued Siglar. "At one of her parties. We plotted to take her and send her back to you in pieces for every life you took. Magic is not the enemy! You are!"
Stromwell frowned angrily, hearing the truth a second time did not make it any easier. He slammed Siglar's head directly on the king's desk pressing a hand to the back of the man's head. He would not act unless given express permission by his Majesty. Something was wrong though. He felt it in his veins the moment he burned the village to the ground. That this was just the beginning. Everything they had done up until this point would come back to haunt them. The lives lost would be gain vengeance. It already started with the princess, the merchant's wife acted against the little ploy all because her grief proved too much. Stromwell did not like what he was feeling. He wondered whether the king felt the same.
Sleep swallowed Aeolthine whole and she last heard the rain against the outside softly only when the darkness took her, the princess found herself surrounded by it. Bare feet covered by the transparent water sloshing around with the slightest of movements. Lifting her head, dark eyes found the darkness everywhere. From above huge rain droplets descended below into the water causing ripples to spiral outward. This place, it was strange. Almost still and at the same while familiar, Aeolthine knew it. It brought a feeling of melancholy a relative dread. With her mane of long hair draped wetly across her shoulders, the young woman's entire body was soaked as if she fought with weather and lost. Extending her arms out, Aeolthine caught some of the rain in her open palms watching the streaks roll across her wrists and down her arm.
A gentle tap touched her shoulder. Lowering her arms, she turned around finding no one there but that whisper as smooth as silk crept up into her ears. The same one from before telling her to destroy not only Sayviel, her father, and everything because in the end destruction would be the fuel for her growing appetite of power. She shook her head, covered her ears. Destruction lead only to one road, death. She had seen death in the form of the woman, Aeolthine did not want to see anymore.
She couldn't.
She sat down in the ankle high water, head still shaking at the whispering taunting her. Was this her power? The one she controlled not the other way around, it really felt as if it had claws piercing her flesh and would not let her go. Aeolthine's eyes raced fast. Someone encroached on her once assumed seclusion.
Pulling her hands from her ears, she could see the wide ripples made in the water by the unseen footsteps boxing her in walking around her. She opened her mouth to speak but not a single word came out. Her ability to talk had been locked, sealed away by some unknown infirmity. Whatever it was circling her held not a form she could she, but Aeolthine felt the enormity of power resonating from it. So much so she felt afraid and wanted both Sayviel and her father, the ones this whisper told her to tear asunder to leave no trace of them left in the world. Why, because had Sayviel not shown up Aeolthine could live in the ignorance not knowing the monster her father could be, this is what the whisper told her. The princess was against it. All of it. She wanted them, tried to cry out for them even Strom yet no words came still and the force walking around her stopped right in front of her. Aeolthine felt her chest penetrated, something stabbed deep inside and the pain of the woman's fist erupted like a volcano. Abruptly, the young one day a ruler awoke with a start laying face down in a brook the cool water slipping between her lips bringing a salty yet nourishing taste. It never registered with Aeolthine at first. Her eyelids had erratically opened to a world unknown when it should have been her bedroom.
Dark eyes stared listlessly at the flowing of the clear water directly toward her. It was then, mystified, she sat up. Red loose hair flailing about dripping with water, the princess touched her chest wide-eyed recalling the unavoidable darkness and the attack she was sure would destroy her. However, none of that occurred here. With her arms behind her and hands against the algae covered rocks, the young woman found a thick white fog dangerously close to the tall forest trees with leaves moist from the morning mist.
"A forest?" Aeolthine's lower trembled. She blinked, no longer was her voice stricken to silence. It was all strange especially to go to sleep next to Sayviel and wake up in such a strange place. Had she wondered away from her bed, no, someone would have noticed besides a storm had settled in for the night and here in this place beyond the fog were tranquil skies of early morning and a teasing breeze tickling her wet cheeks.
Looking down, Aeolthine wore her garments she went to bed in though they had gotten wet with her time in the water. On her feet trying her best to squeeze the water out of her hair and clothing, the sound of the brook filled her ears and would otherwise probably put her to sleep if it were not for the current predicament.
"Father," She called out doing a double take at the massive climbing rocks stacked upon one another. Something told her she should move on, to explore and find the answers she sought. This couldn't be a dream, Aeolthine thought, it felt too real. Putting pressure on her toe brought no pain.
"What is this? Where is Sayviel, father, everyone for that fact? Is this a work of my power? No, it sounds mad." The young woman followed the gentle water north just a bit. She veered off the path climbing on one of the big rocks to the twig and leaf littered ground heading in any direction. The fog cleared. Aeolthine thought she caught a blur of black in the distance near a lone tree arguably larger than those of the little haven she abandoned only a few moments ago.
Tilting her head to the side, the sun morning sun peeking over the horizon cast a glare on the outline of a figure where she had thought to have saw someone. It wasn't a figment of her imagination all things considered. Someone here, someone to help her understand the reasoning behind this phenomena. Aeolthine couldn't very see the person, if it were one, at her walking position. She stopped, hesitant to move on. What it were not a person rather something she must abscond from. It wasn't until the fear swept into her she realized danger was ever present. About to turn around that the soothing voice called out keeping her feet planted.
"That voice, I know it."
Sayviel!
"Sayviel!" Aeolthine threw away her cautionary fear. She ran the general direction of that, too, familiar voice and the figure. "Sayviel, I'm here!" The princess stumbled some over loose twigs, a smile on her face growing and dying the closer she came. What she understood Sayviel had been trapped in the form of a fox. Together they made plans to reverse this course of action, to help one another no matter what. Aeolthine did not find the figure of the violet-eyed fox, she came to a unceremoniously misstep her toes keeping her from a complete tumble. She inhaled a deep breath. Her eyes searched the entirety of the beautiful raven-haired woman standing there. Nervousness invaded her body. This could not be her companion, Sayviel was a fox by no means of her own hand and yet...
Releasing her breath, Aeolthine's eyes settled on those violet eyes of the female with alabaster skin a sight to behold.
"Sayviel....?"
Of course it was her. The princess knew in her heart and those amethyst eyes told the tale, eyes worth drowning in. Without a second thought, Aeolthine bridged the gap between them throwing her arms around the other woman. "Sayviel, it is you. You're here with me. Here in this unknown place." She put her head on the other woman's shoulder. "It's you," She repeated.
"It has your highness," He answered. "Allow me to introduce Siglar Rinus formerly of the village of Abendroth. His wife, the dead woman, was central in Lady Aeolthine's attack earlier," Atticus pulled on the rope in a nudge to Siglar. The merchant locked eyes with Reynard.
"Tis true," Siglar spoke bitterly. "She grieved for our lost child so much. A child you took in your campaign-" Atticus swiftly knocked a closed fist to the back of his head. The man grunted, turning to the side he saw the blackness in Stromwell's eyes. The fury. He faced Reynard once more. "We had planned to do your daughter in not so soon," Continued Siglar. "At one of her parties. We plotted to take her and send her back to you in pieces for every life you took. Magic is not the enemy! You are!"
Stromwell frowned angrily, hearing the truth a second time did not make it any easier. He slammed Siglar's head directly on the king's desk pressing a hand to the back of the man's head. He would not act unless given express permission by his Majesty. Something was wrong though. He felt it in his veins the moment he burned the village to the ground. That this was just the beginning. Everything they had done up until this point would come back to haunt them. The lives lost would be gain vengeance. It already started with the princess, the merchant's wife acted against the little ploy all because her grief proved too much. Stromwell did not like what he was feeling. He wondered whether the king felt the same.
Sleep swallowed Aeolthine whole and she last heard the rain against the outside softly only when the darkness took her, the princess found herself surrounded by it. Bare feet covered by the transparent water sloshing around with the slightest of movements. Lifting her head, dark eyes found the darkness everywhere. From above huge rain droplets descended below into the water causing ripples to spiral outward. This place, it was strange. Almost still and at the same while familiar, Aeolthine knew it. It brought a feeling of melancholy a relative dread. With her mane of long hair draped wetly across her shoulders, the young woman's entire body was soaked as if she fought with weather and lost. Extending her arms out, Aeolthine caught some of the rain in her open palms watching the streaks roll across her wrists and down her arm.
A gentle tap touched her shoulder. Lowering her arms, she turned around finding no one there but that whisper as smooth as silk crept up into her ears. The same one from before telling her to destroy not only Sayviel, her father, and everything because in the end destruction would be the fuel for her growing appetite of power. She shook her head, covered her ears. Destruction lead only to one road, death. She had seen death in the form of the woman, Aeolthine did not want to see anymore.
She couldn't.
She sat down in the ankle high water, head still shaking at the whispering taunting her. Was this her power? The one she controlled not the other way around, it really felt as if it had claws piercing her flesh and would not let her go. Aeolthine's eyes raced fast. Someone encroached on her once assumed seclusion.
Pulling her hands from her ears, she could see the wide ripples made in the water by the unseen footsteps boxing her in walking around her. She opened her mouth to speak but not a single word came out. Her ability to talk had been locked, sealed away by some unknown infirmity. Whatever it was circling her held not a form she could she, but Aeolthine felt the enormity of power resonating from it. So much so she felt afraid and wanted both Sayviel and her father, the ones this whisper told her to tear asunder to leave no trace of them left in the world. Why, because had Sayviel not shown up Aeolthine could live in the ignorance not knowing the monster her father could be, this is what the whisper told her. The princess was against it. All of it. She wanted them, tried to cry out for them even Strom yet no words came still and the force walking around her stopped right in front of her. Aeolthine felt her chest penetrated, something stabbed deep inside and the pain of the woman's fist erupted like a volcano. Abruptly, the young one day a ruler awoke with a start laying face down in a brook the cool water slipping between her lips bringing a salty yet nourishing taste. It never registered with Aeolthine at first. Her eyelids had erratically opened to a world unknown when it should have been her bedroom.
Dark eyes stared listlessly at the flowing of the clear water directly toward her. It was then, mystified, she sat up. Red loose hair flailing about dripping with water, the princess touched her chest wide-eyed recalling the unavoidable darkness and the attack she was sure would destroy her. However, none of that occurred here. With her arms behind her and hands against the algae covered rocks, the young woman found a thick white fog dangerously close to the tall forest trees with leaves moist from the morning mist.
"A forest?" Aeolthine's lower trembled. She blinked, no longer was her voice stricken to silence. It was all strange especially to go to sleep next to Sayviel and wake up in such a strange place. Had she wondered away from her bed, no, someone would have noticed besides a storm had settled in for the night and here in this place beyond the fog were tranquil skies of early morning and a teasing breeze tickling her wet cheeks.
Looking down, Aeolthine wore her garments she went to bed in though they had gotten wet with her time in the water. On her feet trying her best to squeeze the water out of her hair and clothing, the sound of the brook filled her ears and would otherwise probably put her to sleep if it were not for the current predicament.
"Father," She called out doing a double take at the massive climbing rocks stacked upon one another. Something told her she should move on, to explore and find the answers she sought. This couldn't be a dream, Aeolthine thought, it felt too real. Putting pressure on her toe brought no pain.
"What is this? Where is Sayviel, father, everyone for that fact? Is this a work of my power? No, it sounds mad." The young woman followed the gentle water north just a bit. She veered off the path climbing on one of the big rocks to the twig and leaf littered ground heading in any direction. The fog cleared. Aeolthine thought she caught a blur of black in the distance near a lone tree arguably larger than those of the little haven she abandoned only a few moments ago.
Tilting her head to the side, the sun morning sun peeking over the horizon cast a glare on the outline of a figure where she had thought to have saw someone. It wasn't a figment of her imagination all things considered. Someone here, someone to help her understand the reasoning behind this phenomena. Aeolthine couldn't very see the person, if it were one, at her walking position. She stopped, hesitant to move on. What it were not a person rather something she must abscond from. It wasn't until the fear swept into her she realized danger was ever present. About to turn around that the soothing voice called out keeping her feet planted.
"That voice, I know it."
Sayviel!
"Sayviel!" Aeolthine threw away her cautionary fear. She ran the general direction of that, too, familiar voice and the figure. "Sayviel, I'm here!" The princess stumbled some over loose twigs, a smile on her face growing and dying the closer she came. What she understood Sayviel had been trapped in the form of a fox. Together they made plans to reverse this course of action, to help one another no matter what. Aeolthine did not find the figure of the violet-eyed fox, she came to a unceremoniously misstep her toes keeping her from a complete tumble. She inhaled a deep breath. Her eyes searched the entirety of the beautiful raven-haired woman standing there. Nervousness invaded her body. This could not be her companion, Sayviel was a fox by no means of her own hand and yet...
Releasing her breath, Aeolthine's eyes settled on those violet eyes of the female with alabaster skin a sight to behold.
"Sayviel....?"
Of course it was her. The princess knew in her heart and those amethyst eyes told the tale, eyes worth drowning in. Without a second thought, Aeolthine bridged the gap between them throwing her arms around the other woman. "Sayviel, it is you. You're here with me. Here in this unknown place." She put her head on the other woman's shoulder. "It's you," She repeated.
