“If I may, your highness?” Lavress, feathers and hair tangled blonde down his shoulders, requested the privelage to speak from his queen.
“You may not.” Ganidaea did not blink and kept her determined yet soft gaze on Shinayne T’Sarrin, wanting only for the young elven noble to speak her heart and mind.
“Your majesty, I cannot answer your question clearly.” Shinayne blurted from tearing eyes and a trembling lip.
“And why is that young lady of Kilikala?”
“I love Lavress, he has given me a secret love for decades that I have kept from all, just as he has. Yet I fear you think me rebellious and young, therefore you may argue any response as your age and wisdom is far beyond mine.”
“I assure you, young highborne, that I will hear you out. To the mortal world of men and others, love is but a thing. I understand its power, as does our race as a whole. I am indeed concerned for your future and that of Lavress. Fear not Shinayne, I will listen without passing judgement.” her pointed ears perked at the sound of relief in the breaths of both the savage hunter of her realm and the elven girl that was at one time set toward the throne of Kilikala.
“My adopted family has stolen my throne, set regulation that I do not care to abide, and they have not my love or heart. So I stand to fight, to rebel, to feel love and be loved. I have learned the way of an elven man’s swords, flown as captain of the griffon wing army, and crossed any boundary of earth, water, or air to be alongside Lavress Tilaniun. With, or without your approval your majesty, or the approval of the king and queen of Kilikala, I stand in love with him. I mean no disrespect, yet I will not follow those that seek to control passion and root it out like a cancer. I will follow my love, my heart, and will cross word or blade with any who would try and sever what he and I share.” Shinayne was trembling, had not realized that she had walked three paces closer to the queen of the wood elves. Her passion was an angry yet determined force that she had just orally unleashed in the sacred grove of Gualidura.
“Well spoken and powerful young highborne. Your golden skin and hair seem to come alive when you speak those words of passion and defiance. However, does Lavress feel the same? Or do you fight a one sided rebellion of the heart?” Queen Ganidaea concentrated on the grass and roots beneath her feet, felt the arcane and fey energies listen to her subconscious whims, and a slow forming throne rose from below, glowed and grew green and lush with red-brown vines and bark, then sparkled into existence in the low lit grove. The wood elf queen sat gracefully, now eyeing young Lavress with her green glare of majesty and wisdom.
“My queen, Shinayne and I share something that is beyond words, in any language. And as for her bodyguard and escort, well, they will be catching up soon I would imagine.” Lavress bowed to his queen. He knew that it was wrong to bring Shinayne here without prior permission, and he was well aware that he had been mentioned at the Temple of the Whitemoon in recent meetings with the elders. Yet stopping Shinayne from anything was like trying to stop the blood in his veins from flowing altogether. He would face any punishment or ridicule that was deemed he be awarded for following his heart.
Ganidaea turned to look past them both, deeper into the mysterious canopy that protected Gualidura from the rest of Agara. The shaman queen knew she had hundreds this moment throughout the trees and dark abodes of the last elven kingdom on the continent. Concentrating for but a moment, she sensed the heartbeats of those around her, and four griffons with but three riders in tow. “Your highborne escorts are here now, sooner than you had predicted, and they mean to take you home Shinayne, alone.”
“How do you…”
“I sensed them, three to be exact. Nathaniel Hanaira, Eliah Shendrynn, and Tarakis Hanaira, this must be quite serious indeed for Kilikala in sending such a noble entourage. They are here now, at the edge of the grove with my hunters, being escorted as we speak. Should I hide you?” Ganidaea grinned as she waved one finger to the trees to let her innumerable guards know that they were safe to allow.
“No great queen, I will speak to them and have them send word home that I will not be returning.” Shinayne turned with her hands on the grips of her matching elven blades and marched to the north of the grove to speak with her adopted noble family. She paused and turned to hear the wise words of the queen once more.
“Shinayne, one day you will have to lead instead of follow. One day, those closest to you will rely on you for survival and whether alone or no, you will have to lead them. I pray you learn this soon.”
Shinayne nodded, bowed, and turned away from her and Lavress to meet the griffon riding nobility from Kilikala that had been undoubtedly sent to bring her home.
Heavy breathing, deep and feral like the outer forests, approached Ganidaea from behind her magical throne. She knew that it must be Mirash, the great sphinx of the Order of the Whitemoon, for she had expected him hours earlier. The pawed steps barely made the slightest whisper, yet Lavress looked at the same moment as his queen and bowed to the elder being of the fey guardians that remained on this world.
“You are late, my old friend.” Ganidaea smiled as she stood, bowed, and then reached out a hand to the ancient maned face of Mirash, his lion sized body and white feathered wings majestic and peaceful as always. His features, human in look besides the feline eyes, smiled at her touch.
“We have been followed, Queen Chaldre of Gualidura, and attacked. The elves of Shalokahn seem to hinder our efforts at preservation more and more each decade. We must hurry this along I am afraid.” Mirash stared at the now bowing Lavress Tilaniun he had heard so much of lately, and then his blue eyes above his prominent aging nose squinted toward the northern edge of the grove. “Smells of treachery there, the one with arcane glyphs to mask his thoughts, the one in the middle, be wary of him Ganidaea. Who are they?”
“Escorts for young Shinayne T’Sarrin of Kilikala my firend, not to worry.” a two-tailed watch owl screeched out a raspy howl as it glided from nowhere in the grove and landed on the shoulder of the wood elven queen. “What do you sense…”
“What is all of this my queen? Forgive my interruption, but who is…”
“I am Mirash, young Lavress, and I am the eldest priest of the Order of the Whitemoon and guardian of the western temples. You will be coming with me now to train in the sacred and secret order of the Hedim Anah. Seirena has blessed you with gifts and talents that are undeniable, and they must be used to keep the remaining temples of the Goddess safe, and her granddaughters, the fey council.” the sphinx growled low so that keen elven ears of the highbornes ahead would not hear.
“But Shinayne is going to stay and…”
“And cannot go where I will be taking you Lavress. You must have the deepest concentration and focus to face the enemies of the fey realms and elven ways. The Hedim Anah will not allow an outsider in, and your love for that girl will not be an easy distraction to overcome. I am sure that your queen will arrange for some annual meeting here in secret if you wish.” more of an order than a suggestion, Mirash looked to Ganidaea.
“Of course sacred one, I will ensure it will happen at the start of this day every year. It will be done.” Ganidaea sighed deep and placed her hand on the tan and marked cheek of Lavress Tilaniun. “You do your people and family proud Lavress, not for centuries has a wood elf from Gualidura caught the eyes of the Hedim Anah. I know not where you go, or what dangers you will face, but you have my love and the love of the people. Your brother Caliun will be trained to take your place as ambassador to Kilikala. Seirena be blessed in your every breath. Go now, and say good bye to Shinayne.”
“You knew this was going to happen my queen?” Lavress respectfully acknowledged as much as queried.
“Yes Lavress, but I had no idea you would be bringing your young beloved with you when you returned. Now go to her, for it will be a long year apart for you both.” Ganidaea touched her heart, her chin, then her forehead with the sacred sign of the Goddess of the fey and earth.
“Yes your majesty.
” Lavress bowed quickly and without hesitation, did as he was asked. He knew that this honor was more than any of his race could ask for, and denying it would mean a shame of centuries upon him, his family, and Gualidura itself. Once a year, he thought, I will make it far more often than that. His mind went to the young noble who had his heart and how she would tear inside at this latest obstacle in their journey.
The golden haired nobility of Kilikala passed by Lavress without as much as a recognizing glance to the woodland hunter they knew. As a sign of respect, they left Lady Shinayne and her lover some time alone before they returned her to their homeland across the ocean. As a sign of respect, they approached the shaman queen of Gualidura and all three took knee before her. The two-tailed owl turned to its master, then to the great sphinx next to the queen, then to the three elven men once again.
“Rise Lord Tarakis, Lord Eliah, and dear Nathaniel. This is quite an akward meeting to say the least, would you not agree?” Ganidaea had a playful tone to her voice, yet her features were stern beyond dispute. The wise words of a sphinx were never incorrect, nor to be taken lightly, as the queen eyed the wizard, Eliah Shendrynn, closely.
“I would agree your majesty.” Nathaniel, bodyguard to the T’Sarrin sisters in Kilikala, spoke gently and with great sincerity as if he himself had done some misstep instead of Shinayne.
“Lavress has been chosen by the Hedim Anah, as I am sure you are well aware, so this will now be more awkward. I have three requests of you, and I expect them honored.” Ganidaea eyed the three of them and forced a smile in lieu of her driving suspicion of the blonde braided wizard and swordsman that stood in the middle of the three highbornes.
“We shall, your highness.” Tarakis, older, wiser, full of small decorative scars behind his tight and focused gaze, spoke with a military devotion. His chain armor and plates were in perfect order along with his matching high elven blades, shining with polish even in the cover of the Sesperian Grove.
“I demand that Lady Shinayne be allowed to visit this time every year for a month. I enjoy her company and spirit, make it so. Her sisters, Lael and Samia, may accompany.”
“Obliged your majesty, but she will have to be escorted with further protection indeed.” Eliah retorted with a smirk of superiority and arrogance to the queen dressed in fine animal skins and fetishes. His glare showed a wickedness behind it at the inferior noble of savage making demands upon highborne lords.
Without giving it thought nor care, she continued. “Second, I wish that no punishment be issued to her for following her heart as Siril, God of the elves, commands. It is enough she has lost a future kingdom and her parents. This loss of the heart, perhaps for but a few decades, will be more painful than anything King Naladra could deal. Are we understood?”
“I will have his ear my Lady, I will explain the situation and your wishes, fear not.” Nathaniel bowed once more at her respectable demand.
“Third. Shinayne has much passion in her. I wish to see her trained by the finest swordmaster of elven blood. Tarakis, whether the king will know of this or not, you will train her in the ancient styles of the blade. I fear for her safety in the years to come. Lavress has shown her much, but an expert like yourself could perfect her without the interruptions of love. Shinayne will one day lead, I have foreseen it. Yet her will be the way of leading with the heart and bonds of strong friendships, I do not wish to see her become a despondant leader like her adopted father. Do these for me, and I will consider our issues of kingdoms, and this little disruption, forgotten.” Ganidaea told half truths now, as she was allowed. She knew that this would keep Shinayne occupied in the long years to come without seeing much of her lover. It would also secretly spread in rumor of her skills, and that alone could ward off many an enemy to the remaining T’Sarrin family that she had much fondness of to this day.
“That is a difficult request your highness…”
“And, may I say, stepping a bit out of line to make such a demand of conflict from the kings own brother.” Eliah interrupted.
“Brother by marriage, not by blood. Tarakis, does a queen have your word, or your weakness?” Ganidaea stared at Eliah with a foul glare as her eyes lit with arcane malevolence for him daring to mention her lines of boundary as his black heart of greed planned its schemes in secret.
“You, you have my word Queen Ganidaea. It will be done.” Tarakis looked from his bowed head at Nathaniel, then to Eliah, knowing it was a promise that would earn him much disfavor at home.
“Then we all agree, I am pleased. Now let us give these two another few moments of privacy before they are separated. Mirash, please be safe in your journey. I have heard rumor that highborne elves may be allied with the ilk of elves from Shalokahn. I pray you are not followed again in your travels around my lands. May the Goddess Seirena bless us all.” the queen bowed as her flaring eyes of red magicks and green glares focused on Eliah. The bows, but not the gaze, was returned by all.
“I shall retire, but first my pet, send me Caliun Tilaniun, the younger brother of Lavress, for we have much to discuss.” at her whim, the majestic and rare two-tailed white owl, Chemidhe, flew through the shades and shadows of the sacred grove to find the brother of Lavress.
The elven nobility from Kilikala stared at great distance, as did the sphinx and the Queen of Gualidura, at the two lovers holding each other close. Many moments, tears upon desperate tears, and a barrage of soft lips and softer words were exchanged in the twilight mists of the veiled forest. Shinayne and Lavress could not imagine the pain of being apart, and held together even tighter with each thought of the thought that this was truly happening. No one but them knew the words and feelings that were being exchanged in a sad struggle of majestic love. No one dared move first and be the one to disrespect what was being torn apart from them both at this very place in time.
“I will always sense you Shinayne, your every breath, no matter…”
Shinayne II:II
City of Harlaheim 345 AD forty three years later
“The sword is but an extension of oneself, a part of the body that helps it survive when used properly, hurts the body when it is not, and if severed or lost, the body will certainly perish.”-From the teachings of Tarakis Hanaira, weapon master of Kilikala, describing the philosophies of properly disarming an opponent.
“…how far away you may be from me.” Those words trailed off from somewhere across her mind, as if permanently spoken by her lover when she thought of him.
Shinayne T’Sarrin wiped the rain from her cheek slowly, her eyes and focus coming back from the nighttime daydreams of Lavress Tilaniun. His embrace, his kiss, the long words, even the unspoken ones haunted her spirit with longing and loneliness. Her breath let out without noise, her hands gripped her blades tight, and the canopy of stone still had her hidden from any but the most keen of predators. “Where are they?” the elven noble whispered to herself as her gaze inched across the outstretched city before her eyes.
Stone shingles dripped the rain that had poured half of the forty days she had been in Harlaheim. Breezes of warmer air from across the Agarian mainland kept the snow at bay in late winter, but the dampness of the city could not be ignored. Clouds hid Gimmor and Carice, the green and white moons, allowing only the hint of a shimmer that they were there. Cascading softly and constant, illuminated by the oil lanterns of yellow and orange, the rains gave life to the dark and decaying metropolis. Arcane lights glowed on many a tower and wealthy manorhouse, while golden lights of holy men decorated the cathedrals and churches. Most of the city held buildings no less than three stories high, and some as high as twenty, such as the tower of Kalzarius and Castle L’Herrim. While impressive in architecture, it gave the city much more shadow, an elaborate darkness, and a danger that only those who knew of it could understand. Shinayne knew well the dangers of Harlaheim, for tonight she was one of them.
The highborne elven swordswoman had left the minotaur with the ten trained guards of Kalzarius, for they were the net. Sh
inayne was the bait, albeit deadly bait. Her alluring aquamarine eyes, golden skin and hair, and lithe form had distracted many a would-be swordsman on her trail into false moves. She and Saberrak the gray had been followed by spies of King Richmond the Second, agents of the Bishop of Harlaheim, elves from Shalokahn, and even local thieves guilds. What they wanted, they had not caught, the assassins of the infamous White Spider. They wished to make an example of someone in that organization, find out who was sending them, and perhaps a little interrogation. Not one spider brand burned in flesh, not one shoulder marked with the symbol, yet Shinayne knew they were here, watching and waiting.
Her keen pointed ears and elven senses traced the steps of a man coming in and out of the Taverne Dra’ Gouin on the corner of Gendry Street below, far below. The noble elf was perched atop the bridge between the old Library Fastine and the Cathedral of Saint Gavriel, five stories above the cobblestone and entrenched in shadow. He had entered four times now, and was waiting for someone, she knew he was not there for drink or merriment. Human, Harlian for sure, and carrying a rapier. Not uncommon for anyone out this late at night, save that he was looking up at the unlit bridge as if he knew she was there. Three more men came from the alley behind the popular tavern, dressed the same, black cloaks, leather armor, soft boots and hidden blades. Shinayne smiled, seeing them head for the spiral stairs next to the canal.
The Exodus Sagas: Book II - Of Dragons And Crowns Page 2