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Into the Icy Darkness II: The Next Generation
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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1592834" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p>Valaron was speechless in terror. There was his mother, side by side with her assassin! And by the confused look on her face, she had no idea what danger she was in!</p><p></p><p><em>Think Val! Think! How can you tell her something is wrong without letting Hemmel know? Think!</em> the young prince’s mind began to repeat urgently. He didn’t have to see his sister to know her mind was stuck on the same problem. As their minds tried to think a way out of the seemingly impossible situation, they merely stood there, mouths slightly agape. The air from a nearby window blew the cool air of night in upon their faces.</p><p></p><p>Siabrey’s eyes watched as her two children flicked their eyes between herself and Hemmel, abject terror in their eyes. Her grip on Kelir tightened slightly, and she started forward, her mind netering the same hypersensitive mode she felt when something was amiss; when danger was about. It was her old fighter senses flowing back, and she noted Hemmel was just behind her as she went forward.</p><p></p><p>“Valaron, Vintressa? What is it?” she asked, her voice filled with concern. <em>”You’re right, Kelir... something is very wrong!”</em> Her own sight could see the ghostly glowing shape of magic hovering over both of her children, concentrated most along their waists, and places running along each of their left hips and legs.</p><p></p><p><em>As if a sword is being magically covered...</em> her mind thought. She had seen the tactic many times before... it was easy to do, and easy for her magical sight to spot. It was all the more apparent because both of her children had their hands hovering along the seemingly empty air along their thighs... as if they were gripping the hilt of a sword...</p><p></p><p>Vintressa heard her mother’s voice, but her own was not able to respond, her fear was so great. Her eyes flashed towards Hemmel, just behind her mother. It did not take a mage to read the cold steel in the man’s eyes, boring in directly on Vintressa’s. Most people reflected something about their internal thoughts through their eyes... yet this man’s gray eyes were as a steel wall, and she could see nothing within his soul. Or indeed, if he had one. That alone sent shivers down Vintressa’s spine.</p><p></p><p>She glanced over towards her brother, and while his right hand rested on what would have been the hilt of his sword, she could see his left hand was behind him, fingers splayed wide. Suddenly, he closed his thumb with his palm, then his pinkie. </p><p></p><p><em>He’s counting down!</em> she realized, her own grip on her sword tightening. Her eyes flashed back to Hemmel.</p><p></p><p>Her ‘uncle,’ when giving her lessons, had told her that every creature that fights with blades has a ‘moment of decision,’ a specific point and time when they chose to attack. And this moment is reflected differently in the body reactions or face of each and every person. Some get a slight crinkle in their brow, some take a deep breath, some have a slight twitch in their pinkie. Often it was too fast to be consciously registered.</p><p></p><p>She never knew what Hemmel’s ‘moment marker’ was, all she knew was that she <em>saw</em>, and she started drawing her own blade. The world seemed to slow down, grinding to a crawl. Her own blade seemed to inch out of its scabbard, as she felt her mouth open in a warning cry to her mother. Simultaneously, she watched in terrified horror as Hemmel’s right arm flashed upward, toward the base of the Empress’ neck...</p><p></p><p>Siabrey had only an instant’s warning from Vintressa that something was wrong with Hemmel. Her instincts, her reflexes, her 30 years of training with a blade took over, and Kelir flashed out of his scabbard. Her mind clicked that the warning was about Hemmel, and her body started to spin as her blade was drawing, increasing the distance between her percieved threat and herself.</p><p></p><p>Her spin did not come fast enough to completely avoid a hit, and she felt her shoulder blade crack and break as a terrifying fist slammed into it with the force of a massive warhammer. The punch continued, and she felt her collarbone rattle to its core, and the end of her upper arm bone break apart under the force. Kelir, which had been flying out of his scabbard, sailed out of his scabbard, and flew straight upward as the Empress now fell away, part from the force of the blow, part from her own reflex. </p><p></p><p>As she fell, her eyes caught a glimpse of the guards in the hallway, already reacting, already drawing their blades and dashing towards her. Even as she landed on her shattered shoulder and arm with a sickening <em>thud</em>, her mind thought of only one thing. Her children. Kelir clattered the ground by her side, yet out of reach of her broken body.</p><p></p><p>Valaron watched in shocked disbelief as his mother’s blade, the famed katana, cartwheeled through the air, as her wounded form crumpled to the ground. The world for him seemed to enter another dimension, where everything was slowed. He felt his mouth opening, screaming his mother’s name, as his legs started moving him towards her.</p><p></p><p>Vintressa’s pink rapier was finally out, and her instinct and training took over. She knew her mother had been hit, and she knew that the Empress was now vulnerable. One thought dominated her young mind... to defend her mother as best she could. Heart’s Rose was now extended, in perfect fencing form, its tip hovering only a foot from the chest of Hemmel, her eyes dancing with rage.</p><p></p><p>The assassin’s eyes only focused on the fallen Empress for a moment more, before flicking towards the new threat. As Vintressa’s blade slashed forward, the assassin sidestepped the blow. Reaching out with one hand, he grabbed the hilt of the pink rapier as she lunged past. A slight push forced her into a greater forward momentum than she expected, and his eyes coldly watched the Princess as she tumbled forward to the ground.</p><p></p><p>The assassin then calmly reached into his breast-pocket, even as ten guardsmen now were running towards him, shouting. Even as the Princess gave a cry as she landed roughly on her shoulder, Heart’s Rose clattering out of her grasp. From his clothing he withdrew a shiny, metallic object, long and thin... a vicious looking dagger with two prongs.</p><p></p><p>The Empress, in frightful pain, saw this through lidded eyes. As his hand moved upwards to form an arc, her mind realized what the object was intended for. Despite her shattered shoulder, some part of her body managed to conjure up the strength, the will, to tense her muscles, ready her to move. She took in a ragged breath, and felt a horrible burning, cutting in her chest. Instead of moving, she coughed, and blood spattered out, as the man’s arm began its downward arc...</p><p></p><p><em>”Valaron!”</em> a voice echoed in the prince’s head as he watched the man pull out the metal shape, obviously intended for killing. <em>”Use me!”</em></p><p></p><p>The Prince had heard the voice of his mother’s sword before... indeed, many years ago, he had listened to the sword’s descriptions of his mother’s exploits. As he dashed forward, the boy reached instinctively for the sandhog hilt of the blade, and as the assassin’s arc started its deadly downward march, Valaron’s fingers found their grip.</p><p></p><p><em>”Up!”</em> the prince heard in his head, and Val brought the blade upward, just as the dagger of doom left Hemmel’s hand. In the slowed world full of adrenaline, Valaron could swear he saw the dagger’s flight, and he also thought he could adjust Kelir’s upward path slightly. </p><p></p><p>The dagger seemed to cross the arc Kelir was cutting, until at the last moment, the hilt of the dagger was sliced into by the blade of Kelir. A metallic <em>clang!</em> echoed as the larger, heavier katana slammed into the dagger, sending it cartwheeling above and to the left of its former path. Another dull <em>thwack</em> echoed in the air, as the two pronged dagger slammed deep into the wall... merely inches away from Siabrey’s ear.</p><p></p><p><em>”Right cut!”</em> came hard into Valaron’s head, and her slashed his blade to the right without thinking. Only then did he feel the sharp slam of something hitting the sword, realized that a likely deadly kick from the assassin, directed at him, was blocked by the flat of Kelir’s blade.</p><p></p><p>Instinctively, the prince brought the sword back down, into a low guard position, his eyes now locked with Hemmel’s. This way, Val knew he could either block or slash as needed. It was now that he felt a slight warmth on his hands, and realized that all of this time, Kelir’s flames were licking up and down the blade.</p><p></p><p>Hemmel’s eyes seemed to lock on the prince, even as a fist flashed up as the nearest guard approached, crushing in his face. The assassin let out a screeching noise, and in a flurry of leg sweeps, punches and kicks, the guards that approached were down around him, battered and broken. His eyes then refocused on the boy, their steel gray gleaming.</p><p></p><p>“You are very brave, little prince,” he said quietly, “but very foolish! I have watched you train for five years,” Hemmel continued, just beyond the reach of Kelir in Valaron’s hands, “I know your tricks, your speed! You cannot hope to defeat me!”</p><p></p><p>Suddenly, the assassin’s face took on a twist of pain, as a scream of another kind pierced the air. Valaron’s eyes refocused, and he saw a thin, pink blade tearing through the front of Hemmel’s leg. Behind it, Vintressa’s eyes flashed with a terrifying fire, as she pulled Heart’s Rose out, and started to rise, keeping the sword between her and the assassin.</p><p></p><p>To their utter amazement, Hemmel spun, using his injured leg as a pivot, and delivered a furious kick that knocked Heart’s Rose from Vintressa’s hands. As Val lunged forward with Kelir, Hemmel once again sidestepped the blow, and the Prince tumbled onto his sister in a hopeless pile.</p><p></p><p>As the shouts of guards rose in their ears, cries of confusion, anger and fear thundering up and down the halls of the palace, Valaron and Vintressa both cringed, waiting for the furious <em>crack</em> that would signal their mother’s end, and the same noise imprinting the black void of death upon themselves. Instead, they merely heard a footstep, and a slight whoosh of air.</p><p></p><p>Rough hands grabbed both of them, and their eyes saw the faces of men clad in the uniforms and armor of Imperial Guardsmen looking at them worriedly.</p><p></p><p>“Are you hurt!?” the one looking directly at both of them asked. Both shook their heads no, and the two quickly scrambled to their feet.</p><p></p><p>“Where is he!?” Valaron snarled, Kelir in hand, murder in his eyes. As his eyes feverishly searched the halls, it was his sister’s voice that caught his attention.</p><p></p><p>“Mother!” she screamed, causing Valaron to turn.</p><p></p><p>The Empress was now sitting, propped up along the wall. Her eyes were open, but it was apparent that remaining conscious was taking all of her strength. She coughed again, and a little more blood trickled from her mouth.</p><p></p><p>“She has bone fragments in her lungs,” one of the guardsmen said excitedly, “fetch a healer!” he barked, and quickly guardsmen were scurrying about. The two children were immediately by their mother’s side, Valaron holding her uninjured hand, and Vintressa putting a hand behind her head.</p><p></p><p>“Mom?” Val asked, his own voice shaking.</p><p></p><p>Siabrey, with a great deal of effort, turned her head to her two children, and smiled... something more grotesque than reassuring in some ways.</p><p></p><p>“Do not worry about me,” she whispered, “I have felt worse,” she added with some sarcasm. She gave a slight wince at the guardsmen shifting her about slightly, trying to make her comfortable until healers could arrive. Seeing that her despite her sarcasm fear and terror were on her children’s faces, she gave a slight, shuddering sigh.</p><p></p><p>“I saw both of you,” she whispered again, her good hand clasping Valaron’s tightly. “Very... im...impressive,” she slurred out slowly, another weak smile on her lips. </p><p></p><p>“Mom!” Valaron was crying by this point, with Vintressa very close to the same. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The Crown Prince and Princess sat, backs rigidly straight, on a divan outside of the Empress’ Quarters. Their eyes stared at distant points, focusing on the events of only a few hours prior, in both of their minds, trying to find out ways that they could have done things better.</p><p></p><p>“What happened to mommy again?” little Lucius, barely five asked. Beside him, Jasmine, six, sat cross-armed, her eyes asking the same question.</p><p></p><p>“A bad man tried to hurt mommy. She’ll be fine,” Valaron said hopefully. The two younger siblings were far too young to understand the nature of politics, or why someone would want to hurt their mother, other than that he was a ‘bad’ man. Part of Valaron wished he was that young, and didn’t know what he now knew.</p><p></p><p>“Did the bad man get caught?” the little Lucius asked.</p><p></p><p>“Not yet. He jumped out of a window,” Valaron repeated what the guardsmen had told him had happened. “He climbed down the side of the building. But pappa is going to have people look for him, ok? You don’t need to worry about him,” Valaron added. To his relief, his younger brother accepted the apology as fact, and went back to playing with his wooden toy dragon.</p><p></p><p>Val then felt an arm snake around his shoulder, and leaned into Vintressa’s embrace... a hug he desperately needed as he looked back towards the massive gilt doors that normally marked where his mother could be found sharpening her sword, reading up on Imperial law, or playing with the younger two kids. </p><p></p><p>Val had watched painfully as guardsmen and healers had carried her into the room and laid her on her bed. He watched fearfully as his father rushed in, worry in the Emperor’s eyes.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly, the doors to the Empress’ Chambers flew open, and a very worn, tired look Lucius V, Emperor of the Holy Santoric Empire, stepped out. And for the moment, he laid aside his Imperial mantle, for the one of a father.</p><p></p><p>“Your mother will be fine, they say” he said as the doors were closed behind him, before almost collapsing onto the divan next to his two children. A tear ran down his face, as he sighed again, “She’ll be fine, thank the gods.”</p><p></p><p>Valaron and Vintressa responded with a tearful hug of their father, and his strong hands grasped and caressed the back of both of their heads. He laid a gentle kiss on each of their foreheads, and whispered quietly, “You two saved your mother’s life. You know that?”</p><p></p><p>Vintressa gave a tearful nod, and Luke gave them a heart-breaking smile.</p><p></p><p>“And they’ve relayed to the information about this Fire Stone. And we’ll figure out what to do with that tomorrow, after your mother’s sedation wears off,” Luke said quietly. “And I have instructed people to go to the Academy and look for Raven... I have no doubt she’ll be found safe and sound,” Luke smiled hopefully to his two worried and frightened children.</p><p></p><p><em>And, if I have my wish,</em> the Emperor’s mind darkly fumed, <em>House Erelion, to the last servant, shall not see another midsummer’s night!</em></p><p></p><p></p><p>= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =</p><p></p><p>So ends the first part of the story. I'm going on vacation for a few days, so there will not be an update until the middle of next week at the earliest. I promise I'll be back to add more to the story! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1592834, member: 15043"] Valaron was speechless in terror. There was his mother, side by side with her assassin! And by the confused look on her face, she had no idea what danger she was in! [i]Think Val! Think! How can you tell her something is wrong without letting Hemmel know? Think![/i] the young prince’s mind began to repeat urgently. He didn’t have to see his sister to know her mind was stuck on the same problem. As their minds tried to think a way out of the seemingly impossible situation, they merely stood there, mouths slightly agape. The air from a nearby window blew the cool air of night in upon their faces. Siabrey’s eyes watched as her two children flicked their eyes between herself and Hemmel, abject terror in their eyes. Her grip on Kelir tightened slightly, and she started forward, her mind netering the same hypersensitive mode she felt when something was amiss; when danger was about. It was her old fighter senses flowing back, and she noted Hemmel was just behind her as she went forward. “Valaron, Vintressa? What is it?” she asked, her voice filled with concern. [i]”You’re right, Kelir... something is very wrong!”[/i] Her own sight could see the ghostly glowing shape of magic hovering over both of her children, concentrated most along their waists, and places running along each of their left hips and legs. [i]As if a sword is being magically covered...[/i] her mind thought. She had seen the tactic many times before... it was easy to do, and easy for her magical sight to spot. It was all the more apparent because both of her children had their hands hovering along the seemingly empty air along their thighs... as if they were gripping the hilt of a sword... Vintressa heard her mother’s voice, but her own was not able to respond, her fear was so great. Her eyes flashed towards Hemmel, just behind her mother. It did not take a mage to read the cold steel in the man’s eyes, boring in directly on Vintressa’s. Most people reflected something about their internal thoughts through their eyes... yet this man’s gray eyes were as a steel wall, and she could see nothing within his soul. Or indeed, if he had one. That alone sent shivers down Vintressa’s spine. She glanced over towards her brother, and while his right hand rested on what would have been the hilt of his sword, she could see his left hand was behind him, fingers splayed wide. Suddenly, he closed his thumb with his palm, then his pinkie. [i]He’s counting down![/i] she realized, her own grip on her sword tightening. Her eyes flashed back to Hemmel. Her ‘uncle,’ when giving her lessons, had told her that every creature that fights with blades has a ‘moment of decision,’ a specific point and time when they chose to attack. And this moment is reflected differently in the body reactions or face of each and every person. Some get a slight crinkle in their brow, some take a deep breath, some have a slight twitch in their pinkie. Often it was too fast to be consciously registered. She never knew what Hemmel’s ‘moment marker’ was, all she knew was that she [i]saw[/i], and she started drawing her own blade. The world seemed to slow down, grinding to a crawl. Her own blade seemed to inch out of its scabbard, as she felt her mouth open in a warning cry to her mother. Simultaneously, she watched in terrified horror as Hemmel’s right arm flashed upward, toward the base of the Empress’ neck... Siabrey had only an instant’s warning from Vintressa that something was wrong with Hemmel. Her instincts, her reflexes, her 30 years of training with a blade took over, and Kelir flashed out of his scabbard. Her mind clicked that the warning was about Hemmel, and her body started to spin as her blade was drawing, increasing the distance between her percieved threat and herself. Her spin did not come fast enough to completely avoid a hit, and she felt her shoulder blade crack and break as a terrifying fist slammed into it with the force of a massive warhammer. The punch continued, and she felt her collarbone rattle to its core, and the end of her upper arm bone break apart under the force. Kelir, which had been flying out of his scabbard, sailed out of his scabbard, and flew straight upward as the Empress now fell away, part from the force of the blow, part from her own reflex. As she fell, her eyes caught a glimpse of the guards in the hallway, already reacting, already drawing their blades and dashing towards her. Even as she landed on her shattered shoulder and arm with a sickening [i]thud[/i], her mind thought of only one thing. Her children. Kelir clattered the ground by her side, yet out of reach of her broken body. Valaron watched in shocked disbelief as his mother’s blade, the famed katana, cartwheeled through the air, as her wounded form crumpled to the ground. The world for him seemed to enter another dimension, where everything was slowed. He felt his mouth opening, screaming his mother’s name, as his legs started moving him towards her. Vintressa’s pink rapier was finally out, and her instinct and training took over. She knew her mother had been hit, and she knew that the Empress was now vulnerable. One thought dominated her young mind... to defend her mother as best she could. Heart’s Rose was now extended, in perfect fencing form, its tip hovering only a foot from the chest of Hemmel, her eyes dancing with rage. The assassin’s eyes only focused on the fallen Empress for a moment more, before flicking towards the new threat. As Vintressa’s blade slashed forward, the assassin sidestepped the blow. Reaching out with one hand, he grabbed the hilt of the pink rapier as she lunged past. A slight push forced her into a greater forward momentum than she expected, and his eyes coldly watched the Princess as she tumbled forward to the ground. The assassin then calmly reached into his breast-pocket, even as ten guardsmen now were running towards him, shouting. Even as the Princess gave a cry as she landed roughly on her shoulder, Heart’s Rose clattering out of her grasp. From his clothing he withdrew a shiny, metallic object, long and thin... a vicious looking dagger with two prongs. The Empress, in frightful pain, saw this through lidded eyes. As his hand moved upwards to form an arc, her mind realized what the object was intended for. Despite her shattered shoulder, some part of her body managed to conjure up the strength, the will, to tense her muscles, ready her to move. She took in a ragged breath, and felt a horrible burning, cutting in her chest. Instead of moving, she coughed, and blood spattered out, as the man’s arm began its downward arc... [i]”Valaron!”[/i] a voice echoed in the prince’s head as he watched the man pull out the metal shape, obviously intended for killing. [i]”Use me!”[/i] The Prince had heard the voice of his mother’s sword before... indeed, many years ago, he had listened to the sword’s descriptions of his mother’s exploits. As he dashed forward, the boy reached instinctively for the sandhog hilt of the blade, and as the assassin’s arc started its deadly downward march, Valaron’s fingers found their grip. [i]”Up!”[/i] the prince heard in his head, and Val brought the blade upward, just as the dagger of doom left Hemmel’s hand. In the slowed world full of adrenaline, Valaron could swear he saw the dagger’s flight, and he also thought he could adjust Kelir’s upward path slightly. The dagger seemed to cross the arc Kelir was cutting, until at the last moment, the hilt of the dagger was sliced into by the blade of Kelir. A metallic [i]clang![/i] echoed as the larger, heavier katana slammed into the dagger, sending it cartwheeling above and to the left of its former path. Another dull [i]thwack[/i] echoed in the air, as the two pronged dagger slammed deep into the wall... merely inches away from Siabrey’s ear. [i]”Right cut!”[/i] came hard into Valaron’s head, and her slashed his blade to the right without thinking. Only then did he feel the sharp slam of something hitting the sword, realized that a likely deadly kick from the assassin, directed at him, was blocked by the flat of Kelir’s blade. Instinctively, the prince brought the sword back down, into a low guard position, his eyes now locked with Hemmel’s. This way, Val knew he could either block or slash as needed. It was now that he felt a slight warmth on his hands, and realized that all of this time, Kelir’s flames were licking up and down the blade. Hemmel’s eyes seemed to lock on the prince, even as a fist flashed up as the nearest guard approached, crushing in his face. The assassin let out a screeching noise, and in a flurry of leg sweeps, punches and kicks, the guards that approached were down around him, battered and broken. His eyes then refocused on the boy, their steel gray gleaming. “You are very brave, little prince,” he said quietly, “but very foolish! I have watched you train for five years,” Hemmel continued, just beyond the reach of Kelir in Valaron’s hands, “I know your tricks, your speed! You cannot hope to defeat me!” Suddenly, the assassin’s face took on a twist of pain, as a scream of another kind pierced the air. Valaron’s eyes refocused, and he saw a thin, pink blade tearing through the front of Hemmel’s leg. Behind it, Vintressa’s eyes flashed with a terrifying fire, as she pulled Heart’s Rose out, and started to rise, keeping the sword between her and the assassin. To their utter amazement, Hemmel spun, using his injured leg as a pivot, and delivered a furious kick that knocked Heart’s Rose from Vintressa’s hands. As Val lunged forward with Kelir, Hemmel once again sidestepped the blow, and the Prince tumbled onto his sister in a hopeless pile. As the shouts of guards rose in their ears, cries of confusion, anger and fear thundering up and down the halls of the palace, Valaron and Vintressa both cringed, waiting for the furious [i]crack[/i] that would signal their mother’s end, and the same noise imprinting the black void of death upon themselves. Instead, they merely heard a footstep, and a slight whoosh of air. Rough hands grabbed both of them, and their eyes saw the faces of men clad in the uniforms and armor of Imperial Guardsmen looking at them worriedly. “Are you hurt!?” the one looking directly at both of them asked. Both shook their heads no, and the two quickly scrambled to their feet. “Where is he!?” Valaron snarled, Kelir in hand, murder in his eyes. As his eyes feverishly searched the halls, it was his sister’s voice that caught his attention. “Mother!” she screamed, causing Valaron to turn. The Empress was now sitting, propped up along the wall. Her eyes were open, but it was apparent that remaining conscious was taking all of her strength. She coughed again, and a little more blood trickled from her mouth. “She has bone fragments in her lungs,” one of the guardsmen said excitedly, “fetch a healer!” he barked, and quickly guardsmen were scurrying about. The two children were immediately by their mother’s side, Valaron holding her uninjured hand, and Vintressa putting a hand behind her head. “Mom?” Val asked, his own voice shaking. Siabrey, with a great deal of effort, turned her head to her two children, and smiled... something more grotesque than reassuring in some ways. “Do not worry about me,” she whispered, “I have felt worse,” she added with some sarcasm. She gave a slight wince at the guardsmen shifting her about slightly, trying to make her comfortable until healers could arrive. Seeing that her despite her sarcasm fear and terror were on her children’s faces, she gave a slight, shuddering sigh. “I saw both of you,” she whispered again, her good hand clasping Valaron’s tightly. “Very... im...impressive,” she slurred out slowly, another weak smile on her lips. “Mom!” Valaron was crying by this point, with Vintressa very close to the same. The Crown Prince and Princess sat, backs rigidly straight, on a divan outside of the Empress’ Quarters. Their eyes stared at distant points, focusing on the events of only a few hours prior, in both of their minds, trying to find out ways that they could have done things better. “What happened to mommy again?” little Lucius, barely five asked. Beside him, Jasmine, six, sat cross-armed, her eyes asking the same question. “A bad man tried to hurt mommy. She’ll be fine,” Valaron said hopefully. The two younger siblings were far too young to understand the nature of politics, or why someone would want to hurt their mother, other than that he was a ‘bad’ man. Part of Valaron wished he was that young, and didn’t know what he now knew. “Did the bad man get caught?” the little Lucius asked. “Not yet. He jumped out of a window,” Valaron repeated what the guardsmen had told him had happened. “He climbed down the side of the building. But pappa is going to have people look for him, ok? You don’t need to worry about him,” Valaron added. To his relief, his younger brother accepted the apology as fact, and went back to playing with his wooden toy dragon. Val then felt an arm snake around his shoulder, and leaned into Vintressa’s embrace... a hug he desperately needed as he looked back towards the massive gilt doors that normally marked where his mother could be found sharpening her sword, reading up on Imperial law, or playing with the younger two kids. Val had watched painfully as guardsmen and healers had carried her into the room and laid her on her bed. He watched fearfully as his father rushed in, worry in the Emperor’s eyes. Suddenly, the doors to the Empress’ Chambers flew open, and a very worn, tired look Lucius V, Emperor of the Holy Santoric Empire, stepped out. And for the moment, he laid aside his Imperial mantle, for the one of a father. “Your mother will be fine, they say” he said as the doors were closed behind him, before almost collapsing onto the divan next to his two children. A tear ran down his face, as he sighed again, “She’ll be fine, thank the gods.” Valaron and Vintressa responded with a tearful hug of their father, and his strong hands grasped and caressed the back of both of their heads. He laid a gentle kiss on each of their foreheads, and whispered quietly, “You two saved your mother’s life. You know that?” Vintressa gave a tearful nod, and Luke gave them a heart-breaking smile. “And they’ve relayed to the information about this Fire Stone. And we’ll figure out what to do with that tomorrow, after your mother’s sedation wears off,” Luke said quietly. “And I have instructed people to go to the Academy and look for Raven... I have no doubt she’ll be found safe and sound,” Luke smiled hopefully to his two worried and frightened children. [i]And, if I have my wish,[/i] the Emperor’s mind darkly fumed, [i]House Erelion, to the last servant, shall not see another midsummer’s night![/i] = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = So ends the first part of the story. I'm going on vacation for a few days, so there will not be an update until the middle of next week at the earliest. I promise I'll be back to add more to the story! :) [/QUOTE]
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