Traitor to the King: A Tale of the Benaga Sisters

by Clare SM Keating

  She had needed him to die, needed her baby brother and his wife to die too… if only so no one could reveal secrets that only Molwesa and King Otzell could understand.

  “There can be no mistake in his blood… or his attitude. But my lady, what can we do?” The question from Saravona pulled Molwesa out of her deep thoughts and she snarled to herself as she flexed her hands again. There were too many secrets to keep hidden but she was pleased that Saravona was a worthy apprentice and a useful companion to have in such matters. Turning towards her Molwesa chuckled gently; she knew that collecting the secondary sample she needed from the creature to confirm a growing suspicion in her mind would be easy enough to gain when the time came.

  “We need… that… to gain an answer to an ancient riddle. I will put the matter to the king in due time, if the beast wishes to serve then…” Her words were interrupted by a violent series of shouts and screams from the guards on duty at the library. The noise of the party was quickly removed by a swift motion of the hands of Lord Floryas as he stole the sounds with his magic. The moment the guards reached his position within the central plaza, Molwesa and the Karayan had both hurried over to find out what was going on, only for the guard to notice her first. His motions were swift and when he snatched her wrist Floryas permitted the figure’s voice to return.

  “My lady healers… please go as fast as you can to the top of the shortcut to the bridges, young Lord Kelvis’ wife is dying. We don’t know what happened, but you must go, you must save her!” The desperation in the trembling dark grey skinned figure encouraged Molwesa to nod her head and she bolted at great speed towards the gate with Saravona on her heels. There were motions of people to mumble, but when they opened their mouths it was obvious that Floryas was still maintaining his control, yet amongst the crowd Jarl bolted after Molwesa with a look of terror and desperation in his eyes.

  “Now… if you would kindly speak with more calm and at a more suitable volume; tell me what has happened?” Floryas stood as always, the thin noble looking watcher with eyes as large as his nose and a face as gaunt as death. His domineering looks within his great black cassocks kept everyone motionless as he ushered with one pallid palm for the guard to continue to speak. To his surprise however, Floryas noticed that the Karayan was still able to give an audible grunt that indicated the head of the police had no magical power over him… an unpleasant realisation to be sure although it irked only the slight lifting of an eyebrow. The guard however was soon flapping his arms about in dismay, upon his knees and grasping at the long sacred robes of the police that had been blessed and made by the priests to allow them to seek only the truth of Nabuto within Virenheim.

  “I did not see the attacker… they knocked me and my companion out straight after, but I was able to sound the alarm for the Watchers to pull up a net. But the poor lady… I think she only wanted to stop the figure too… she was stabbed straight through from behind. I saw a scythe-blade stab through her before it was pulled back on a chain and then the figure was gone.”

  “A scythe-blade with a chain?” One of the other members of the police, whose robes meant the magic of his master could not be used, spoke with concern and growing realisation. Gently Floryas lifted his hand to give all their voices back but the swift motions of his flat hands for people to disperse meant no one wanted to be present in public any longer. The second policeman was ushered to take the guard away to gain a full statement as well as to assist to his injuries and then Floryas beckoned another of his companions to his side with the Karayan pressing closer with irritation.

  The implications were clear enough and sadly it was well known throughout Virenheim that there was only one person within the whole of the Kingdom that could use such a blade. Murder was one fact to be concerned with, but there were implications that the being had gone after the stone or worse had been intending to kill the king. At such a time of distraction traitors were wont to reveal themselves to the world, but at such a dangerous time for the whole of Virenheim it was a threatening factor… a distracting factor. Concern raced within the minds of the gentlemen present and Floryas even appeared to look saddened as his mouth spoke with the first kind of gentility he had ever thought possible from himself in all the years since his wife’s suicide.

  “Only one person can wield that weapon… Lord Karayan when was the last time you saw Lord Benaga?”

  Some hours later, when the party was all calmed and everyone back home, the cool air flew in from the open windows of the attic where they sat above ground, swirling down the tubes and pipes into the main household where Anouk sat alone within the master bedroom. Even when her grandfather had died, her father had been too scared of his heavy presence to have occupied such a room, but with her heart so heavy and in desperate need for guidance, she had come into the room again to sit in grey-blue light and meditate.

  This had been the last place she had ever seen her grandfather alive, the night before he saved the entire kingdom from an Archdemon that had broken through the stone’s defence and attacked the tower. She had been barely fourteen when the event had occurred, and she did not remember the details, just the body being brought down. Yet, in this room she stared at the desk and its open journal and the lonely half-burnt candle that had not changed since the moment he’d blown it out and gone to sleep. Here, all those years ago, Anouk had shuffled in with her thumb in her mouth and a scowl on her face from a bad dream and he had turned to her. The moment he had seen her, his greyed green eyes had lit up with happiness and he had beckoned her to him, scooping her up and placing her upon his knee. He had taken a sheet of paper and folded it neatly into the form of a bird before irking a chuckle from her as he’d released it into the room.

  That memory was still glowing brightly in her mind with every detail more vivid and beautiful than ever before, the glowing brilliance of the candle and the way the shadow of the pen danced across the paper where it lay waiting for more seemed to sing. She recalled the warm expression upon his aged bearded face that was always more like a dwarf’s then any Elf! She recalled the warmth of his hand stroking her face to wipe away her tears as she’d told him the nightmare caused when she’d seen an Orc for the first time attacking a Dregg and thrown stones at it. She recalled too the rough and yet soft tones of his voice as he’d put his cheek to her head in a warm embrace and whispered tenderly. She had asked him why it was their destiny to fight the Orcreich instead of any other being and he had chuckled at her.

  “To fight for survival is the way of nature but we have been permitted a great gift that sets us and all the other elves and Imperials apart from the beasts. We have been granted the ability to choose to take up arms against an enemy for the sake of others; we have overcome the desire to survive with the desire to protect. Nabuto chose us as the guardians of the stones and to sit beside the Orcreich for the sake of other kingdoms because Virenheim is made of beings as brave as you… willing to fight the enemy no matter the reason for the sake of the innocent. You are a true Benaga Anouk, you know the difference between good and evil and when you need to fight.”

  Somehow, hearing such words inside her head relieved the pain in her chest from the weight of her heart. Every agony she was beginning to feel anew from the secrets of the past and the treachery of her bloodline were washed aside with the new sensations of affection and loyalty. Even if it did not answer her fears regarding her growing affectionate feelings to the Karayan, it did ease her fear regarding her trust of him and in his purpose….

  But it was in that moment of realisation that she finally heard the heavy boots within her house. She recognised the anxious sounds of Karani and Damara as they met the figures coming to the bedrooms and for a moment Anouk was not sure what was happening. Still, she remained at peace within the room as the familiar figure of Lord Floryas stepped inside and right beside her. She could not figure out why the police were present, only that something very serious had happened and that she was required to assist, however Floryas’ hand went heav
ily to her shoulder and it dawned on her that she was being arrested. Standing up in silence and turning about with her arms out to be chained, requesting no additional item of clothing as she was led out in her long billowing white night robes, her red hair flowing in the cool air like a banner behind her, Anouk was led away. The only person to make a single noise to the matter was Damara, held back by the Karayan, Talon and Karani as she wrestled them to reach out and grasp her sister… to call her back to safety the way she had years ago when Loteg had carried Damara away from death.

  But as then, Anouk blocked it out.

  Thirteen: Traitor to the King

  “When the old King knew his time had come he looked to his three daughters and saw that he had two grandsons to choose between. The first was from his eldest daughter who had given birth to a strong and powerful son but not from the arrangement he’d made, for she had run into the arms of her beloved bodyguard and her son was Benaga, not Otzell. Then there was the child of his third and favoured daughter, a boy fathered by the king’s most loyal ally and already holding the name of the king. He chose Otzell and ignored Benaga, but when he died the people rushed to Benaga as the rightful heir to take control from his young and seemingly foolish cousin. But Benaga was truly noble, truly loyal and bowed his head before his cousin whom he’d loved as a brother, offering his life to prevent any other attempt to rise against the king. But Otzell refused to kill his cousin and proclaimed none of the Benaga could ever be his enemy.”

  - History of Virenheim, Marguson Nelighan

  “We’ve got to do something! Why are they taking my sister?” Damara bleated and wept within the Karayan’s firm grasp. He held back Talon and Karani too with the slightly tipsy aid of Droy and Martum, trying to keep all their remaining friends safe from whatever might happen. For once Damara was willing to kick, scream, punch and even bite at every limb that barred her from following her sister down the stairs towards the city paths, even if she had to gallop after them in her nightwear with her hair loose. The Karayan did not flinch at her actions however, though she bit surprisingly deeply into his arm, he gripped the girl gently and allowed her body to jerk forward and jump without a noise. He understood her upset and her shock, he wanted to pull Anouk out from amongst the figures, but he knew it was not a safe thing to attempt.

  “We don’t know what’s going on yet Damara – they have to gather information, but they don’t want her to run… that’s all.” Talon whispered reassuringly to the young elf as he stretched out with his hands to hold her gently in a hug. As she spun from the Karayan’s grip and fell into her friend’s embrace, she wept away and the Karayan took his opportunity to move. Like a gust of wind, he darted from beside the household gate to the path behind the group and beckoned for them to pause for him to catch up. Automatically the Core members did in response to their master’s command, dramatically freezing so that Floryas, Anouk, the police and the guard nearly catapulted off the walkway into the depths. They turned about to see what might be happening but in doing so their faces seemed to become grim.

  There was an unspoken sense of dread between them all, as if perhaps the Karayan might just decide to slice them all down where they stood. Anouk shifted about in the centre of the group and turned back to face her friend with a reassuring smile. It was curiously warm and for the fact she seemed so comfortable it cut into the Karayan and he froze too, waiting for her to tell him what he needed to do. But Anouk knew that whatever she said would be used against her right now; silence was the best option for her and yet it was obvious someone needed to speak. So, she turned to face Floryas and indicated with her head towards the Karayan for him to explain everything. For a time, the tall figure said nothing as he tried to decipher her meaning, but then he realised what was requested and nervously cleared his throat.

  “As our initial suspect, Lord Benaga must be housed in a cell within our office for a period of one and a half days as evidence is gathered. Maintaining good behaviour at this time can assist in a faster procedure, but because there is a secondary nature to the incident, Lord Benaga will then be transferred to a prison cell for interrogation if it is not concluded swiftly.” Floryas stated the words quite calmly although it was obvious he was frustrated to have to explain himself to anyone. The Karayan’s thin eyebrows knotted at the words however; he knew that if Anouk was not proven innocent then she would be tortured for information. But Floryas quickly called out to him as if to reassure him. “As Head of the Royal Core, you should go to the palace and check on the situation there. Remember what the guardsman hinted at? Your duty lies with the king’s protection not in the matter of Kirlia’s death.”

  The Karayan nodded his head regrettably and then continued to follow the group towards the bridges. His citron eyes locked on Anouk’s form with a growing depression that normality was really becoming hazardous for everyone in the kingdom. He was not sure what he was allowed to do in this situation, but Anouk could not have killed Kirlia and there was no reason for her to be interested in a stone or she would have taken it from Damara with ease. As the crowd pulled away from him, the Karayan watched Anouk being led off and then his ears twitched at the sound of Martum’s flat feet rushing to his side. The Karayan recalled others that could be pulled unfairly into this event and he turned to the panting figure with a sneer.

  “Go to Alard and Ling, get them both to the Benaga Household and tell them whatever we know. Keep them there and stay with Damara and her friends. Also, send Droy to fetch Jarl Kelvis and take him to Floryas – the husband is always the prime suspect in any murder.” The Karayan snarled; he felt stupid now for having let Jarl go and worst of all that he’d promised not to mention the kissing with Damara. If people knew that then they would not only be ashamed of both but there would be an obvious reason for Jarl or Anouk or even Damara to be suspects. But the Karayan knew that Damara and Karani had gone home, he could not account for Jarl and he could not really account for Anouk in his mind though he knew she was innocent within his heart. With a growl he watched Martum rush off and then he turned toward the palace pathway. He had the most unpleasant feeling about what might have taken place there and was suddenly thankful that Anouk had warned him of her concerns when they’d gone after Damara.

  As he reached the bridge over to the great shining white stone walls that formed the courtyard of the palace, he passed Lord Yeruell beside a tinkling crystal fountain where the figure appeared embedded in deep conversation with members of the Core that had already begun to investigate. The Karayan understood that Yeruell had been close enough to know what might have happened at this end, but the fellow looked sickly and pale from his drinking and his correlation of time could not be trusted. Still, the guards and Core who had been about the palace all looked quite terrible and this had been the cause of the real panic. When the Watchers had perceived that the lower levels of the palace tower, where the stones were kept, had begun losing people to a strange haze of sleep, they had pulled the spells up to protect what they could but the subtlety of the attack had been too successful. Now the robed figures and others with understanding of magical spells were rolling smooth crystals around the temples and cheeks of the most severely drained and damaged of the guard. They were bustling around Yeruell too and though the figure was quick to spot the Karayan’s approach, he ignored the questions being asked and stormed over towards the creature. The Karayan knew what was going to be said but he merely lifted a hand and stepped to meet the terrified looking form of Lord Sheran.

  “Karayan… I say, Lord Karayan I need to speak to you.” It was odd for the minuscule and quite feminine looking creature to rush for someone’s attention when not fully robed, especially when he sought out the stranger. The Karayan though had met the figure properly at the presentation of the stone the previous, well… so much time had passed now that it was practically the day before yesterday they had met. That twisted sense of time caused by the lack of sunlight frustrated the Karayan, but he accepted Sheran’s presence and was quick
ly whimpered at by the fearful muttering figure. “Oh goodness, the situation is quite serious… as you feared the other day… oh dear I did not think you could be so correct.”

  “I understand. The suspect is the same as Kirlia’s killer I believe, but how would it have gotten to them?” The Karayan questioned, swift to silence the fumbling fool in case more trouble was revealed to people the Karayan could not trust. He could see Yeruell’s ears twitching with interest and nervously the little stone-reader beside the Karayan mumbled away his assumptions.

  “Everyone was at the party but myself, the king, the Core and guard on duty here and the watchers. The King and the watchers never felt a change until they spotted the guards falling over with exhaustion. I don’t remember anything myself but stepping into the room and that’s where I woke up about thirty minutes ago! But I could have been there longer; Lord Zehna has stated a slowing spell was used so any concept of time was completely removed… if Kirlia were killed in the same way she could have been frozen in the most agonising death for hours!” Sheran stated fearfully; it was obvious he was very upset and shaken but the Karayan was a little more concerned by his statement. He had informed the king and the watchers everything about the stone and what he had experienced with its reaction to each of the group holding it as well as the demons. He’d even dared to let them know how he had saved Anouk’s life as Lord Zehna and Lord Sheran had been informed by the stone and magic itself of the Karayan’s unique ability around Anouk, though not what he was. He had also informed them all how Yeruell had been informed of the stone and facilitated Lutas to gather dangerous assistants; but to this Otzell had refused to reprimand the two figures or even make note of their participation. Even so, he had requested to be left alone with the Karayan to speak to him about things and then he had agreed to a safety measure with the Karayan’s help and this had been for their ears only.