Grandeur and beauty still emphasized the white marble palace. It still makes Zara feel so small and dull, but it’s striking features grew more so now that snow didn’t distract its purity. Much of the grass had put on new growth by sprouting and the scent of cooking food gave the palace a welcoming feeling, but she knew it couldn’t be further from the truth. Zara still love her father as a daughter ought, but after his cruel actions and uncaring personality towards all who he’s wronged she wouldn’t fight for him. He’ll get what he deserves and she won’t stand in the way.
Something strange caught her attention when entering the lavish palace. A dozen of powerful Kings Guard were all strategically placed around the door to the dungeons when there has only been two or three to her knowledge. The amount standing guard made her instantly suspicious.
“What is going on over by the dungeon? Has my father gone down there for some reason?”
One of her escorts continued walking, but said “All we are told is that there are dangerous prisoners and as a precaution stationed many powerful warriors in the event they escape.”
After the explanation Kyri gave a knowing look that asked just what had been said, but Zara shook her head and pointed at the following shadow. A quick hand signal let her partner know she’ll explain when they are alone.
Dread clutched Zara’s heart for as she took each step towards the palace garden the closer she came in contact with her father. Still she only wished he hadn’t taken her bracers and sword back when he came to capture Gerieg.
They ascended the palace and reached the hall beneath the garden. Two guards stood to either side of the meeting hall that her father used to hold council with his advisors. The positioned guards eyes were the only thing that moved.
Zara pushed the iron doors open when the servant raised his fist to knock. She no longer cared about protocol after all that had been taken from her. The two guards who led her to the palace waited outside with the servant, but Kyri and Midnight followed silently.
Inside the hall, where her relatives were slaughtered all those years ago due to her father’s cruel ambitions, resided a large fireplace that stood over ten feet tall and six wide and sat in the back of the room with large flames that made it harder to look directly at the king’s throne. The large flames were warm and filled the room with a pleasant aroma. Before the throne sat a long rectangular table with two dozen chairs. Half were filled.
Neither Jerkin nor Rake sat beside her father and Zara sighed inside, trying to not appear apprehensive. In every chair sat an older man who looked as tyrannical as the next, but none more so than Peile as he sat to the right of her father’s ornate throne.
Peile looked to be a man who gave into lust without remorse, just like Runkamon enjoyed killing and causing pain. The general looked to be in his middle years with striking white hair, blue eyes and a shaven jaw and upper lip. He rarely took his helmet off, but he only felt at ease within Runkamon’s presence. The helmet looked to be made of the clearest glass and its abilities gave everyone pause, but so long as it isn’t on his head they were all safe. Even while sitting the general’s size overwhelmed nearly everyone except for the king.
Seeing him here, she felt dread for he would only return if he had been successful in his mission. Zara now understood the need for all the security near the dungeon entrance. He had somehow captured Alex.
Behind the general’s chair stood the new pupil, Zara quickly surmised. The boy looked about sixteen years old and wore the standard red tunic, a gold band around his arm signifying his King’s Guard status, brown pants and boots designed for combat and traveling long distances. Although only a few years younger, the boy stood as large and daunting of an opponent as his master. In his hand he clutched a yellow disk she knew to be pliable and could grow to over six feet in diameter. Its circular edge is razor sharp and can be used in either a defensive shield or thrown to split anything in its way and return to its master every time.
“You sent for me, Father.” Zara said as she glared at the occupied throne.
“Aye.” He admitted with complete and cool detachment, just like he’s done all her life. Wishing and personal belief he held some love towards her went unanswered. She finally realized after much reflection he didn’t see her as family but as another obstacle in his quest for domination.
“And who am I to be enslaved to now?” She glared when Peile chuckled inappropriately.
“Your marriage will be held the day of our victory over Queen Allahandra and Freelan to Prince Thane of Mylan.”
“Thane?” She asked in utter revulsion while switching her voice to include Kyri in the conversation. “That swine is your age, Father, and is so large he can barely manage to walk under his own power…”
“Nevertheless, he has agreed to my terms and is willing to take you as his bride. He and his father will arrive within a week’s time from their castle and I expect you to see to his every need like a woman is meant to do. You will do as you are told or shall I force you to do this?” He growled back without passion.
“I do not accept him.” She growled in retort through her teeth.
“And I do not care what you want. You will bed him every night until you conceive an heir.”
“And afterwards?” Kyri asked, sensing her beloved’s temper was about to say something she’d regret.
The king casually spoke to the Makkian. “Afterwards I’ll have no further need for her. I’ll take the firstborn as my own and raise it, properly this time. And as for you, Jerkin has found an acceptable Makkian in the bend mountains many day’s journey from here. After my daughter gets married you will breed many cubs so that my grandchild and great-grandchildren will have an opportunity to select the best breed of fiend possible.
“Until our victory against the weakening forces of Freelan, you will be confined within the city for I cannot afford either of you to neglect your duty to this kingdom. When Zara’s new betrothed arrives he will reside in the palace and become accustomed to the proper way the lands should work.
“Do you have anything else to say?” Runkamon asked, but both could sense that he wouldn’t allow any more of his time to be spent on either of them.
Kyri and Zara glared defiantly, but remained quiet.
“Midnight, they will not disobey me so you may partake in whatever you wish. You have but to ask, for thanks to your loyalty in helping me remove a thorn from my side you need only request for any desire or pleasure.”
Midnight’s shadow came around and his head emerged beside the throne. “Then I want a hearty slave for a proper meal and to find a female Shadow Fang in heat. I know how much of a disappointment daughters are, are you sure it wise to let them roam free?” The wolf-like creature glared at the two and then smiled mockingly.
“Neither would defy me again or else punishment will be much more severe and your requests are easy enough to accomplish.” Runkamon admitted. “I’ll have several slaves brought to your new den and you can select to your heart’s content.”
Runkamon then returned the conversation back to the human language. “Now that you know your duty, daughter, you may leave my presence. Remember Zara, if you attempt to leave the city, dire consequences will result. Leave now and begin preparations for your husband to be.”
Shaking in a rage she hadn’t felt since her training began, Zara spun around on her bare foot and stomped away with her equally enraged partner.
She struck her foot out and frightened the guards from how the doors exploded outwards. Zara hoped to demolish the inanimate objects, but the thick iron doors were solid and held by thick hinges that even her strength had a difficult time destroying.
The two guards who escorted her began stepping back in place, but a defiant growl from Kyri made them halt. They looked at each other until Zara explained in passing “Don’t attempt to follow us. My father has ordered me to stay close and I’ll not require your services.”
Reaching the end of the hall Kyri nudged Zara when she began t
o go down the stairs. “Zara, while your father is in meeting how about we go rest in the garden?”
With a nod Zara followed her partner up the steps and told the stationed guard to step aside. She did and the two stepped out into the beautiful garden that hadn’t changed much.
The guards in each of the five towers surrounding the palace garden simply looked down at Zara and Kyri, but didn’t interfere as they walked to the western side of the grounds.
Soft grass tickled Zara’s bare feet nearly as much as Kyri’s pads, but inner turmoil wouldn’t allow them to enjoy the sensation. Together they reached the edge and sat down. The princess’s legs dangled over the edge of the white palace and looked over the grand city that she has wanted to truly be part of for her whole life. Servants were nice and catered to her needs, but she wanted more. She wanted a loving husband and a family like many of the women she saw gliding through the city. From such a height they looked little more than small blades of grass, but her keen eyesight could easily differentiate.
“What can I do?” Zara asked as her eyes began to water and sobs began pouring out now that she didn’t need to look strong and could express herself without anyone seeing, not even the stationed guards could clearly see her from the western edge.
Kyri curled her great body around Zara’s back, allowing her tail to hang over and her head to come close. The female Makkian allowed her partner to cry and hug her with all that would be required. Eventually the sorrow faded and she replied with a few puffs of smoke “The question is, what do you want to do?”
The Furion female pulled back to set her light blue eyes on her closest friend’s large brown ones. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I mean, do you agree to what is transpiring?” Zara shook her blonde hair. “Then do something without getting caught.” She blinked curiously and Kyri sighed teasingly. “Do I have to think of everything? I answered my own questions after seeing the guards surrounding the palace’s prison and Peile’s return. He must have captured Alex. If you want to free yourself from your father’s grip then I’ll bet you that he would be all too willing to help.”
“But I cannot reach him with all those guards blocking the way. I’d never be able to sneak past with the way they’re positioned.”
“You are a Furion aren’t you? Your strength alone can easily overwhelm them.”
“I cannot to that. Defending myself is easy, but the thought of harming others sickens me. And even if I do manage to get down there Father and every palace guard will come after me immediately. By the time I reach Alex, assuming I can find him somewhere in the labyrinth, how can I escape? It is designed for only one way in or out, from what I’ve learned. What’s more, where could we go? We have no one to take us in and, knowing Peile, Alex will not be in any condition to help anyone, let alone us.”
“Then what about leaving under the cover of darkness?” Kyri wondered.
“The entire city will be even more watchful during that time. I might be able to slip out, but your size and beautiful markings will be easier to spot, especially in this environment. Jungles work to your advantage, but here you will stand out.”
“Hmm.” Kyri pondered and settled her head down over the edge to peer from the great height. From such an advantage she knew the people beneath her would be easy prey to pounce unsuspectingly on, but an old promise to never eat a unsuspecting human kept the Makkian from ever doing it, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t wonder.
“What bothers me is why my father chose Thane…”
“Punishment.” Kyri explained. “Runkamon likes to force his will on everyone and our failure in Alluan and the finding of Gerieg so close and with us must have put him in a foul mood. He cannot kill you or risk angering the people. Gerieg is most likely too old to father another child and Alex is beyond unpredictable and cannot be forced to obey, like our susceptibility. Runkamon can only truly rely on you to birth another Furion and as punishment chose the most vile and uncomely male of your species to father the next generation…”
“And what of you? Jerkin has found a male with breeding potential. I believe once I conceive we’ll be split apart forever.” Zara worried while petting soft fur absently.
Kyri lifted her large head and revealed deadly teeth. “That won’t be a problem for I’ll simply chase him off or if he tries to force himself I’ll kill him as soon as he finishes. Males become weak after mounting a female.” That context made Zara’s cheeks burn. And Kyri grinned to add “Besides I know a way to keep Thane from mounting you too.”
“Explain.”
“Act coy and burn off your clothes, like you used to do. You can explain that even thinking about mating makes you nervous. He’ll never consider entering you knowing his manhood will be in danger.”
That made Zara laugh for the first time, but not so much to relieve the ache her heart felt. “I’ll burn it off and Father couldn’t fault me much for if he knew as much as he claimed he’d know we females are slightly different than Furion men.”
“If we keep thinking, we’ll find a way out of this situation.” Zara couldn’t agree more.
Together they overlooked the city, pondering a way out and weren’t disturbed for the remainder of the day.
Nearly when the last sliver of the sun began dropping below the horizon a flicker of gold in the distance caught Zara’s eye. Hoping, she began searching again and spotted the source walking away from the final great siege wall, moving deeper in the palace district.
A tender smile crept its way across Zara’s lips as her acute sense of sight spotted the familiar form of Veign crossing proceeding down the streets alone and looked as cheerful as ever. He even helped collect fruit that an overworked slave carried home for her master. Just the sight of him made her remember all the fun she had with him. Their time together had been only a brief three months, but the best times she can only remember are with him and Kyri.
Imaging a future between herself and Veign made her heart race and the fear and resentment she has felt for the past six hours vanished. She imagined herself happy, wrapped in his strong arms while they watched their children play with Kyri’s cubs. The cruel world disappeared and an imaginary reality appeared. Possibilities became endless and she knew happiness lay with him. Love seemed promising so long as he was part of it. Kyri wouldn’t mind at all for she liked chewing on him and he never showed any fear.
Right then, a likely plan began working out and Kyri sensed the change. She lifted her head and her round ears perked when spotting the excitement blossom in her distraught partner. “Zara, why do you appear so… happy.”
The young female’s smile transformed into a grin. She scanned the area and grimaced when seeing how shadowed the garden became and couldn’t afford to make a mistake. She leaned forward and put her lips inside Kyri’s ear to whisper “Do you trust me?” The Makkian leaned away and growled at the insinuation and it made Zara hug her tightly. “Good, now follow me quickly.”
And with that, Zara stood and felt her heart beat increase and her strength surge. With excitement as powerful as her abilities she leapt off the palace roof.
Wind pulled at her sturdy clothes and her shoulder length hair whipped frantically behind her. The rushing wind from a fall cooled the intense heat pouring off her blazing flesh and felt amazing with the perfect balance of hot and cold. The palace walls looked to be rising slowly, but she understood that falling while triggering her abilities made the world seem slower. The ground came close and she properly angled herself towards the brick road that ran alongside the palace. At the last moment Zara spread her arms and locked her legs for a moment and it angled her feet-first towards the ground. Properly spacing her legs she flared the heat to its maximum as her feet touched. Knees bent while flexing her calves and thighs, bent her back and brought her open palms down. Jumping from over two hundred and fifty feet made her solid impact with the ground audible, but her abilities were more than capable of keeping her from harm. Three commoners stared openly
from several yards away after witnessing an amazing feat, but Zara simply waved while turning around.
After Zara leapt from the palace top Kyri quickly found a safe way and leapt, landed two stories down on a balcony and sprung again. Thirty feet further was a stone ornament that she used as another platform to land on a windowsill. Its thin ledge too small to hold her weight properly, but years of training gave moves in combat and dropping from immense heights that few Makkian possess. From the sill she flipped around to land on a buttress and ran down its slope without fear of falling or it not unable to hold her aloft. Seconds later she jumped with a roar of excitement and landed in the ground. The lord looked back and grinned, the palace is the tallest thing she had ever jumped from.
Seconds later Zara appeared at her side and explained “I watched the wall the entire time you came down and there was enough light remaining to see that Midnight isn’t following us. Come, we must hurry before anyone realizes where we are going.”
“And that would be?”
The princess smiled and began running towards an alley. Kyri chased after her, caught up in the inexplicable change of mood.
Seconds later Zara stopped and turned down another to explain “From the palace I memorized the layout of this section. It will be nearly impossible to find us for awhile. Keep up and stay out of sight as best you can.” and sped down another desolate alley.
For the next twenty minutes they ran and dodged out of any person who traveled. Still Zara didn’t explain this need to rush, but it added to the excitement. Then she realized they were following a familiar scent. Soon they stopped, neither one short of breath. The alley hiding them in darkness was the only thing keeping them from being spotted by many Kings Guard since this is the barracks to those being trained and who don’t have a family.
In a moment of opportunity, a small brawl broke out in a nearby pub and all eyes turned in that direction, they used the distraction to cross the street and enter another alley unnoticed and it had been created from the five story building and a low ranking general’s mansion of similar height. Due to the wealth of his family the general can afford such property to stand equally with a Kings Guard barracks.
Ra' van (Book Three of the Items Trilogy) Page 44
