by Reiter
“What’s the matter, mortal? Not up to the task?”
“Demons?!” Hugh whispered.
“Get on the trailer!” Kayjoe yelled, taking two of the would-be men, lifting them up, and slamming them down on the flatbed.
“Kayjoe, I’ve got a third,” Kethgeegan shouted, reaching up to remove Boris from his shoulder. “Give Bigun an extension, Boris!” The ball of colored fur quickly became a purple-fleshed cable with one end stretching over toward Kayjoe who was just getting up from his lifting feat. The other end split into two neck shackles, locking around two of the three remaining men.
Valian’s face twisted with severe focus as he grabbed the man again. He huffed and jerked the man up off the ground. He turned and threw the body and it landed on the back lip of the trailer. “How’s that for ‘up to it’?” he huffed, running to the trailer. Annodia was at the controls, firing up the engines.
Cedric grabbed Kyle’s ankles and started pulling. “We’re out of time!”
“Just one more connection,” Kyle cried, trying to find a means to remain at his workspace. He slid off the trailer in protest as Kayjoe pulled the last two men up on the platform.
Once the largest retainer released Boris, his end of the cable shifted to three more neck shackles and a cable that found Valian’s hand.
“Floor it!”
“No!” Kyle cried, but his voice was drowned out by the tug’s amped engines.
Cedric turned to look at his twin who was shaking his head and on the verge of tears. “What is it?”
“I maximized the booster output, but I didn’t reconnect the regulator!” Kyle answered. “Annodia’s not going to be able to slow down! That thing’s gonna power up ‘til there’s not a thing left!”
“What the hell?!” Valian cried as the five bodies started to move toward the rear of the trailer.
He could feel the inertia lock field on his body and he assumed that it was working for the entire trailer. The weight of the men, along with the tremendous acceleration of the tug, was proving too much for the holding field.
“Hold tight, Boris!” Valian cried, wrapping the cable around one arm and reaching for the front lip of the trailer with the other.
One by one, the first three men fell off the end of the trailer. Valian cried as he could feel the weight on his arm, and Boris was slowly losing color in his form.
“This thing’s a runaway,” Annodia thought, feeling the acceleration of the tug. “First time I’ve ever been afraid of how smart the Twins are! Well, that’s probably not true, but damn if–” Valian’s cry broke into her thoughts and she looked back to see his struggle. Annodia pushed forward on the stick, taking the tug into a dive. She also took the ship into a turn.
“Yes!” Valian thought, releasing the trailer and securing both feet to pull the five closer to him on the trailer. The fifth man had just arrived on the flatbed when the tug leveled out.
“You alright there, Boris?!” Valian was relieved to feel the shape-shifting creature caress the inside of his hand.
“Best I could do,” Annodia yelled.
“And still more than I deserve,” Valian replied. “Start your climb again, but make it gradual.”
“Climbing now, but the throttle’s not responding. The engines are heating up... they weren’t built for this kind of thrust.”
“It seems you are insufficient to the task once more, eh, KnighT?” one of the men said as he looked up at Valian. His eyes turned yellow and he snapped the arm restraints with ease. “I would kill you... but I shall leave that pleasure for our master.
“Get into position!” the man ordered.
The other four freed themselves and started pulling at the neck shackles Boris had made.
“Boris, conduct!” Valian yelled shoving his end of the cable into the open access panel. His hand was burned as it was pushed away from Boris. Electricity coursed through the shape-shifter’s body and into the five creatures. They all cried out in pain, unable to move or free themselves.
“Take us out over the waters!” Valian directed.
“We’re over them now,” Annodia stated. “Engines are red-lining!”
“Then we need to jump,” Valian shouted. “Boris, let them go!”
Hearing the command, the creature released its hold on the power feed, quickly shifting to its furry base form. Valian smiled, looking at his friend before tossing him to Annodia. “You take Boris!”
“What about you?”
“Me?” Valian whispered. “I have to make sure I’m up to the task.” Setting his feet, Valian charged one of the five men, tackling him off the side of the flatbed. “Blow it!”
“What is he doing?” Annodia asked as she set herself to jump. She drew both of her blasters and cast herself over the side. Boris moved to her back as she turned, firing both guns on the tug. It only took two shots to make it explode, taking the trailer with it. Annodia could see it was no normal fire that burned in the middle of the sky. She could feel the presence of an active Energy trying to gain magnitude. “Mother hold me!” she gasped, seeing a hand and an arm that was three times the size of her body. It was yellow flesh, covered in a reddish-black gelatinous material. Black talons clawed at the aperture that seemed to burn against the arm. It clawed and pulled for entry, but it was denied. The aperture closed with another explosion ten times more powerful than the first. Annodia had to tumble for a moment to recover control of her body.
“Valian,” she whispered, searching the skies for her KnighT. It did not take long. His was the body trailing in reddish-black smoke. The man he had tackled was gone, taking most of Valian’s clothes with him. He was falling through the sky, but that was the only movement coming from his body. “Gods, no!” she cried as Boris shifted on her back, wrapping around her torso while shifting to a pair of massive black-feathered wings.
Leaning into the wind, Annodia allowed Boris to power her through her the sky and she streaked to Valian, grabbing hold of his body. She could see burns, claw wounds, and the markings of one large bite in his shoulder. The creature had put up a fight, and Annodia brought Valian’s face close to hers. She sighed with relief when she heard him cough.
“Thought I was dead,” he strained to speak. “You look like the most beautiful angel.”
“Trust me, Valian, when you die... it won’t be a feathered angel coming to collect you!” Valian laughed and winced in pain. “Yes, feel the pain, and keep feeling it. Stay with me, Valian.”
“No plans to do otherwise.”
“Good. Boris, can you manage the weight?” The wings on her back opened up wide and the two began to glide on the wind. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes’. Let’s get back to the estate, then.”
It was not a long trip, but for Valian, it was a most uncomfortable one. Whenever he closed his eyes for too long, Annodia would grab one of his wounds, insisting that he remain awake.
“Now this is unexpected,” Annodia said softly, looking at the mass of people that had gathered on the Eastern edge of the Jhormynn property. As she was nearly at ground level, Annodia could hardly see the end of the crowd. “Boris, as soon as we land, you know what to do.”
With one more flap of the massive wings, Annodia set down on the ground into the waiting arms of Hugh and Kayjoe. The wings folded and Boris quickly moved over to Valian, becoming purple robes. Hugh caught Annodia while the largest of Valian’s retainers scooped up his master with relative ease, carrying him toward a waiting gurney.
“Hey, Kayjoe,” Valian said softly, slowly blinking his eyes. “Did you get bigger while I was gone?”
“Had nothing better to do,” the large man answered with a devilish smile. Valian winced as he laughed, but the pain could not keep away the mirth.
“Ow,” Valian chuckled.
“You there,” Yorlson called out. “Boy of Valian, stand your ground.”
So close to the gurney, Kayjoe looked down at Valian with questioning eyes. Valian patted the large man on the chest.
�
��Better let me stand and face my brother.”
Reluctantly, the mammoth of a man stopped and squatted to put Valian down.
“Report!” Yorlson commanded. “What is happening here? We had guests, Valian!”
“Did they leave, Your Grace?” Valian inquired. “Because if they didn’t, I would wager we still have them.”
“This is no time for your flippancy!”
“It certainly isn’t time for a debriefing,” a young female voice remarked.
Yorlson spun around with anger clearly marked on his face, but the young golden-haired woman seemed unaffected by the revelation.
“That man is injured, and unless you’re a HealeR, you do not know to what extent. Can’t these questions wait until we’re assured that his injuries are not life-threatening?!”
“And who are you, woman?”
“Eyes, Yorlson,” Valian thought, closing his. “Use your eyes!”
“Her name is Oedelorana Raynko, young Lord Yorlson,” the Empress said as she walked up behind the younger woman. “Forgive my cousin. She has the habit of speaking her passions whether those words have been requested or not.”
While the Empress engaged Yorlson, one of her Dreadnaughts walked over to Valian, slapping his hand down onto the young man’s shoulder. The surge of MannA flowing through his body caused Valian to shudder.
“Stand tall, young man,” the Dreadnaught whispered as he healed the young KnighT’s wounds. “You’re in the presence of the Empress.”
“My apologies,” Valian whispered, nodding to the man who was only a few centimeters shorter than Kayjoe... and yet he walked... in plated armour... without making a sound.
“.. but if you do not mind, Proxy,” the Empress continued, walking around Yorlson. “... I would like to know the man who would engage in the name of my defense against a... what was it again, N’Toa?”
“Gateyans, Your Majesty,” the Dreadnaught who had healed Valian replied. “Pseudo-Daemonic creatures often used as living portal stakes for a more powerful demon. From the scent coming off the Duke’s Ward, the demon in question was not of Royal Hierarchy. Perhaps a provincial lord in Upper MoGo.”
“Ahh, but what if that minor demon had been a gateway for an even more powerful master?” Pelania pressed, waving a finger at her Dreadnaught as she uttered the hypothesis. The way her body moved and her tone was a language the two had mastered ages ago, and the Dreadnaught stepped forward, placing his hands behind his back... again without making any noise save when armour touched armour.
“Then this man has indeed saved your life,” N’Toa testified.
“Oh my!” Pelania said, placing her hand on her chest. “I am overwhelmed. Tell me, what would inspire one so young to act in such a fashion for one so old?”
“It is the lacking of his habiliment that leaves Your Majesty without an answer to her inquiry,” Quilori said, stepping out from behind Kayjoe. “Allow me to present to thee, Valian Styrke, Ward to Duke Vaiyorl Jhormynn and KnighT-in-name to the same. In service to the master of these grounds, we are in service to Your Majesty.”
As Quilori’s head began to descend, so did all those of Valian’s family, continuing to a choreographed kneeling. It was the sort of graceful movement that Pelania was accustomed to seeing at Court, but very rarely outside of it, and she allowed them to remain bent before her for a moment.
“Rise.”
“Your Majesty,” Quilori said as she stood up, keeping her head down as she backed away, standing to the left and behind Valian.
“What is this?” Pelania thought as she approached Valian. She gazed deeply into his eyes, finding it refreshing that his gaze did not waver from hers. And then she gasped.
“I know you!” Pelania put her hand to the side of Valian’s face. “Valian Styrke. Son of...” Pelania closed her eyes in an effort to recall. She put her hand on Valian’s chest when he took in air to speak. “... Kolinkar and Arva Styrke!”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Valian said, not knowing how to feel that the Empress of the Inner Rim remembered the names of his parents.
“Two noble souls who gave up their lives in service to a True Lord that I made Duke,” Pelania nodded. “What is your opinion of that promotion?”
“I believe there are good reasons why our Emperor is our Emperor. His intelligence and your grace are but two of them. But more to the point, as my people are more prone to say: it’s hard to argue with results.”
“Bold,” Pelania thought, “giving open air to an Ardrian saying in this company... and without the slightest inkling of uncertainty in his eyes or his voice.
“So, you are in service to the Duke, are you?”
“Until the hour after my last breath,” Valian bowed.
“His Proxy has invited me to a celebratory ball this evening.”
“The family of Jhormynn is adorned with many gems, Your Majesty,” Valian replied.
“Oh, so you will be attending then. Good. I will see you there. My cousin will need an escort.”
“It would be my honor to serve,” Valian stated.
“N’Toa, see to matters, will you?”
“But of course, Your Majesty.”
“Young Lord Yorlson, I trust you now know who this woman is,” Pelania said, gesturing to her cousin.
“I have indeed been acquainted, Your Majesty,” Yorlson said, bowing deeply. “I can only hope my tone was not too abrasive. I allowed my concern for your well-being to give fire to my emotions and cloud my judgment. My apologies, Lady Oedelorana.”
“Artful,” Pelania said, taking her gloves from her belt. “The House Jhormynn has certainly supplied the realm with fine sons. As the Emperor will not be in attendance, I am also in need of an escort this evening.”
“Your Majesty, might I suggest the Ward of my father be your escort,” Yorlson said with a smile. “Allow me to serve as escort to your cousin,” he added, turning to look at Oedelorana. “... that she might know my apology is genuine and heartfelt.”
“Capital suggestion, Proxy,” Pelania smiled, turning on her heels. “I can see that the House Primuson will be well tended to tonight.” All heads bowed as the Empress and company withdrew.
“You truly have no love for me at all, do you?” Valian asked in such a tone that made Yorlson laugh. Still, he was quick to recover his composure.
“It was the right thing to do,” he admitted. “It was your actions that won her over to even attend the affair. I would not say I have no love for you, Valian.”
“Just not nearly enough,” Valian thought as he bowed to his brother.
Annodia stepped up as Yorlson made his exit. “I think I know what happened. We didn’t make it. We left on that tug... and we died.”
Valian covered his mouth to keep his burst of laughter from being too loud.
“My brother is an ambitious pain, but he is not a fool,” Valian stated. “The Empress was testing him and he passed. He will go on thinking that if he performs well tonight then he will be well thought of in the company of the Throne.”
“And how do you think the Empress will see him?” Annodia asked.
“Ask me again after tonight.”
It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.
Benjamin Franklin
(Rims Time: XI-4903.20)
It was still hard for Valian to believe... but there he was, attending a function in the house of his family... and there... on his arm... was the Empress of the Inner Rim Empire.
The procession to enter the dining hall had formed in the main corridor. The young KnighT had received a hand-written note detailing when he was required to arrive, but that time had been so much later than the beginning of the event. After waiting for nearly fifty minutes, Valian had begun to appreciate the kindness the Empress had endeavored to show him.
“And sometimes a note is just a note,” Kethgeegan commented. Annodia snickered as Valian glared at him. Kethgeegan paid the sharp stare no mind and scratched the fur Bo
ris. He had taken the form of an extravagant collar around Kethgeegan’s shoulders.
“You two are becoming quite fashionable,” Valian admitted.
“What can I say, Boris in an excellent instructor,” Kethgeegan shared with a bright smile. “I’d be in green and purple without him.”
“Interesting color choice. You tried that, didn’t you?”
“You really have to appreciate when Boris decides to form a mouth just so that he can bite you.” The three friends joined in laughter, and it was Annodia who straightened up first. Neither of the young men had to look around. They both stood up straight and cleared their throats.
“My boys,” Annodia whispered, stepping back to bow deeply. “Your Majesty.”
“Good evening, young people,” Pelania said as she walked to the front of the line of couples. “Young Lord Valian. I hope have not kept you waiting for too long.”
“What breadth of time would be too great, Your Majesty,” Valian said in an airy breath. He bowed before kissing the woman’s hand. Pelania’s eyes opened brightly for a moment as she came up off her heels. It did not help matters that the orchestra started playing sweet, soft music at that precise moment.
“Lord Valian,” she sighed. “A most... moving reception. You do know that the title of Empress was conveyed upon me after I married the Emperor, yes?”
“I am aware of your position,” Valian returned as he placed Pelania’s hand atop his. “But how can any man simply be a man with you on his arm? I am not the Emperor... but at this moment... I am more than a simple man. I am a man with the hand of a goddess on his arm. Allow me to revel in this moment of perfection.”
“When you put it that way... your moment is allowed, but you must share it with me.”
“I am your servant,” Valian said softly as the doors to the dining hall were opened.
The first couple to enter the room, Valian looked ahead and saw the gigantic rectangle that had been made with the tables. He started to turn to his right, but Pelania squeezed his hand.
