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The day was long, the light of the midday sun streaming between the columns in the courtyard. No one else had arrived. A meeting had been called for the city's top officials. The discussion: Trouble in the West. The lady Guenivere stood still at the end of the series of columns, her dress of white a sharp contrast to the marbled stone of charcole gray. Her eyes of azure pierced the day, casting a concerned glance to the West. She remained pensive as she stood there waiting for the council to arrive.

"Thoughtful as always, my Queen," noted a male voice behind her. "Concerns weigh heavy on your brow."

She turned, her weary gaze landing on that of the male that had approached. She seemed to glow in the mid day sun, as her features softened. "Introduce yourself M'lord." she said softly. She knew well who had entered, he'd been a servant to the throne for quite some time, she merely teased him as always.

"Why, m'lady, it is I, Lord Brenau of Fionn. Would you so slant a good man?" he teased right back, a honey-skinned hand over his heart, hazel eyes faking dejectedness. His short black hair lay tousled, as if he couldn't be bothered to comb it.

With a half smile she curtsied, a show of respect to the male before her. "In answer to your primary statement," she said to him, "Aye, great concern lingers 'pon my mind." She stepped down into the shallow meeting area. "You seem to be the first to arrive. Some delegates can't be bothered to show." Zeus fluttered down between the queen and this male. He always showed a teasing side to him.

Brenau cast a grin upon Zeus. "And where is fair Cae, golden boy?" He gave a small bow to his Queen then. "The West is stirring, you would think the council could be bothered to stir in response." He stroked one of Zeus' long ears. "What thoughts stir within you on the subject?"

"If it is true," she said as she bid him to take a seat at the council table, "Then I fear that we are unprepared for any attack that they could unleash." Her tone was worried, for many years Athas slept at night with no worry, and only when the reign had shifted did the soil stir with ill will.
Zeus leaned into the patting, then followed his master with growing concern. The Mention fo Cae however sent a shiver up his spine. He did love that girl.
"If we call upon the far west, the south and the North West, we may be able to show some strength. But to us those areas are unknown...What say you?"

"I say some soul must venture forth and gather us allies. Will they answer though? That would be our question. I believe it would be a fine time to step up the training of our knights and soldiers." Brenau frowned in thought. "M'lady, your sister...is it wise to allow a child of the royal family to ride into battle?"

A wayward smile cast softly to her lips of blushing rose. "My Lord it is not for me to decide for her how she lives her life. I've come to understand her." She stated simply. With a slight sigh she uttered, "Though I wish she wouldn't, Dreor will do what is asked of her from her heart, Lord Brenau."

He nodded. "Perhaps you might seen that she begins training those dragons she helps to breed to do battle. Would you have us spare men soon to seek our allies in the outer territories?"

She looked at him, her brow furrowed only slightly, her mind remained pensive, and as such so did her posture. "Lord Brenau, I must admit to you something I feel, and have felt for some time..." She paused, turning her gaze away. She really didn't want to show weakness, but at this time it was all she felt. "I feel fear for this land." Her voice was low, a whisper upon the mid day breeze. Her gaze shifted back, glassy orbs of blue rested intently upon the male within the courtyard.

Lord Brenau bowed his head. "M'lady, many of us feel it. But for the sake of our land, we must be brave and show good face and faith." He laid a hand on her shoulder. "And you, m'queen, must be our bravest soul of all."

Gently her hand did grace that of the Lord gently, then pulled back. "I know," she said turning to the west. "But who will we find brave enough to leave this place and go into the wild? Other than my bullish sister anyway." she said flashing a forced grin.

The Lord raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps being so bullish, your sister might know who should be sent."

"Aye." she said softly as she rose, hearing the voices of the doddering old council members that would come to decide the fate of Athas approach.

A smallish girl named Kynthari hummed to herself as the morning breeze wafted through her hair. She smiled ruefully thinking about her gray hair. Some called it silver when they were being kind. But truth be told she was gray all over - gray eyes and gray hair - only her unlined face and deeply tanned skin showed her to be under 25.

Her bare feet sank into the plush grass as she wandered through the meadow. She was but a simple shepherdess and flocks needed tneding 365 days of the year - and most nights as well. She smiled - her face lighting up as one small spindly legged lamb came towards her - a goofy grin on it's face. She scooped up the little creature and petted it's still soft skin as she kept a lookout for the meaner creatures that prowled this close to te edge of the kingdom.

Her clothing was simple - a dark brown skirt and cream shirt that she usually left untucked. Around her waist was her most expensive piece of clothing - her corset. it was beautifully woven in browns and creams bringing out her lovely tanned complection.

She loved the land - it was abundant and lively with a very good ruler - something a lot of the neighboring areas could't claim at all. And the creatures that lived here amazing. The Kitsusagi were the great helpers - and highly revered. And far more special than a mere shepherdess could afford - or so her two steady down to earth parents thought. She however was willing to dream.

Wandering - she found a nice perch where she could watch over her entire flock safely, and sitting. She had already been up some 6 hours and it was barely midday. her legs ached and her eyes felt gritty from lack of sleep. For some reason unbeknownst to her she just couldn't fall asleep at all last night.

So there she sat - her gray eyes stromy and worried, nibbling on her bottom lip whilst she thought about the nightmares that had chased through her sleep.

*Suddenly lilwere remembered something...* Oh no the jousting match is today! oh i must hurry. *Cracking the reins and kicking into the horses lower half lilwere gave the signal for Savor to go into a running frenzie. Going as hard and fast as she could she within the next few minutes arrived at the stadium. Quickly dismounting lilwere proceaded to get her armor and jousting stick on and with her in a rush. Also placeing some armor onto Savor she quickly re mounted and headed towards the stadium entrance. Huffing slightly she raised her head high and kept her back strait as if nothing was wrong. Facing her apponent she waited for she signal reins on the ready.*

Dreor nodded to the man in the center of the arena. The man dropped the flag and ran out of the way.

Ginko threw the front of her helmet down and charged the horse at the other jouster. She was glad however that even with their match, no one would be hurt.

Tara watched anxiously with Nassor, bouncing in place and glad he supported her.

*Watching the signal lower lilwere didnt wait for her opponent. Cracking and kicking into Savor once more she steadily lowered her jousting stick as she made her way for ginko, aiming for her torso as she did so.*

Ginko ran straight for the center, holding her lance steady as they nearly met at the center of the fighting ring

Tara hopped around and nuzzled Ginko making sure she was okay.

"I'm okay hun, just a bit bruised." she told the kitsusagis, hugging both tara and fear and Sami who toddled over slowly. "Now we just get to watch the matches for a while."

[[ Enter: TEH EVIL TWINS OMG. xd ]]

The tall, dark-haired young man dressed in cotton and dark-dyed leather armor turned often on his horse to check on the flighty woman behind him. "Cadwyn," he intoned, not scoldingly or with any sign of expasperation, "keep your eyes where you're going, girl."

The young woman in question nudged her stout black gelding forward until she was beside Caddoc. Her cloak floated behind her, then settled again on the gelding's rump. Something else not quite her cloak -- or anything else -- floated around her. She parted full painted lips in a dazzling smile. "I am keeping my eyes where I'm going, Caddoc," she replied in a gentle lilt.

He sighed. "You are a handful, sister." His dark violet eyes viewed her with the solemn interest that was common for him. "Are you playing at shadow games again then?"

"Just staying warmed up until we meet the Lady Queen," she laughed softly. The floating aura that was not quite anything of this world swirled around her lightly and settled again, slithering just out of direct vision against the dark breeches and halter top.

Caddoc nodded. "Good. You will make an example of the wretched woman before her people, I should hope. Sceaduwe has waited long to ruin Athas." He grinned. "Would you like the weak little queen or the warrior princess?"

She cocked her head to the side; her mass of mostly short silvery braids fell sideways with the movement. "Who would make more impact on th' silly people?" she asked, her light eyes going distant as her gelding trotted on. "The torturous death of such a nasty woman as the Queen, or the beloved fiesty little sister? I wonder..."

"A difficult question to answer. Hmm...perhaps if we tortured both and forced the queen to watch the death of the little sister before she dies too? But how to do so with a crowd present..."

A cold, musical laugh floated ahead of them on the trail to Athas. "I can hold them, Caddoc." She held up a hand and let gray wisps float down her arm and over her fingers. The wisps solidified into a large black gauntlet around her arm. She clenched a fist; when the gauntlet closed, it made a high-pitched squeal, like a death scream. Cadwyn smiled pleasantly. "And I can torture, too. You can kill quicker, though."

He smiled. His twin was perfectly right. "Well, while you hold the crowd, I'll bring down the princess and then we can torture them all you want. I doubt the queen can defend herself very well after all. Just remember to be on the lookout for any of those blasted kitsusagi of theirs." He laughed. "I need a little fight before we let them die."

She reached over and held her brother's hand with a gentle smile. "Then a fight you'll have, Caddoc dearest." She released his hand and patted her horse's neck. "The kitsusagi should be held with the rest of the crowd. Plus, we have the horses. They'll fight if they have to." She had a plan for fear before the binding, the torture, the killing. Caddoc liked the fight; his sister liked the fear.

(RP 'tween Luce, Nanook, and I.)

Trumpets blazed among the competitors in this day's tournement. From the top of the royal stairs came the Royal party. Gwenevere led by her advisors descended to the box. She waved to the cheering public, a smile beaming.

Dreor stepped back from her spot on the podium to kiss her big sister's cheek. "Nice of you to join us, Gwenny." She grinned, patted Zeus's head and then took her place again. "Well, folks," she shouted. "Now that our lady is in place, let's put on a good show!"

From the other side of the grounds, on the very back of the bleachers, two dark figures stood in the crowd. One was a man, a warrior; the other was cloaked and hooded but vaguely female. The cloaked figure motioned the warrior down as if to whisper in his ear. After a moment, he smiled, touched the figure's hood and stood back up.

At a run, the man moved from bleacher bench to bleacher bench, easily stretching long legs over the distance. He shoved people out of the way with abandon until at last he was at the bottom. He leapt next over the low guardwall into the arena and kept going, striding across the sand toward the royal podium.

Dreor looked down at him with a raised eyebrow. "And what do you need, sir?" she asked.

"A good fight," he snarled, and leapt at the podium, sword drawn from across his shoulder.

Zeus perked at the sight of a sword so close to the podium. A visible change in his demenor could be seen. "What's going on?" Said Gwen, standing sharply, pulling zeus back from the podium.

As he leapt, darkness rolled like wildfire over the match grounds. People screamed in terror as they tried to move and were held immobile by hands they couldn't see. Fear was tangible and delicious.

Dreor drew her own sword the moment she saw the man's hand on his hilt. Their weapons met with a loud clang. "What the hell--" she started as she saw the shadows take the crowd, knights, kitsu, and horses.

She was cut off by her attacker's next move, which she also blocked, but with a wince.

Gwen gasped as she leapt back. Long had it been since she'd had to defend herself. She looked with worry to Dreor, then seizing the chance she grabbed a dagger from her sister's back sheath and held it outward in a defensive stance. She wasn't to be taken so easily.

"BAR THE GATES!" she shouted, but to no avail, everyone had ceased in movement.

As the shadows enveloped the bleachers, Cadwyn moved forward, throwing back her hood and revealing her lovely smile. Her gelding trotted out to meet her, snorting smoke and covered in shadowy armor.

She held out a hand and let tendrils grab the Queen and her kitsu, giggling all the while. She removed them from Caddoc's fight, twirling them in shadow like puppets. "Fight like a daemon, brother!" she cried.

Dreor and Caddoc continued their battle, shoving each other off the podium and into the sand, struggling on the ground for a minute and then were back on their feet, thrusts and parries abounding.

Gwen hung in the air, zeus snapped, barking and growling at their dark attackers. "DREOR!" she cried, "What's happening!!" She felt helpless for the first time, and terrified.

Dreor shrieked, getting angrier by the second, and infuriated at the sound of her sister in trouble. Caddoc only began to grin. He was finding her stronger than expected. But with each blow, he was driving her a step back in the sand.

Cadwyn chuckled, looking over at the Queen and her kitsu. Her too-light eye flashed wickedly at the helpless woman; the other side of her face was covered by her braids. "I think it's time for a little fun of my own."

"Oh no..." Gwen said in fear.

Dreor screamed. "Leave her alone! Hey, you! Lea--umph." She had to block another thrust, barely managing for sake of distraction. Caddoc laughed.

With a flick of her wrist, the shadows tightened on the Queen and the kitsu, mimicking heavy chains. She made claws of her fingers and slowly closed them to make the shadows like knives. She giggled. "Does that hurt?"

Like daggers she felt shadow's sting. She tried not to cry out, though the pain was seering. Zeus too put on a brave face, though stunned he was as well.

Dreor whirled around Caddoc and tried to take out his legs. The Sceaduwean leapt over her sword and twisted in the air, nearly taking off the knight's head. Dreor recovered her balance from ducking, turned and ran back to the podium. She swung her sword at the cloaked woman's ankles.

With a smirk, Cadwyn jumped back and narrowly avoided the slash. "Naughty," she whispered, and tightened her grip on the Queen and the kitsu.

Caddoc grabbed Dreor's hair and yanked her back so hard she hit the dirt. He stepped on her arm to keep her sword hand down and pointed his blade at her throat. "Having fun, sister?" he called up.

The pain was too much for poor the Queen as the shadowy knives clamped down tighter. Finally she loosed a scream, the searing pain she now experienced evident in her features. Zeus had already lost consiousness, his little body having born too much from the shadowy attackers.


At the Queen's scream, Cadwyn's eye widened. A strange light seemed to come through her hair from the hidden side of her face. Her lips parted in a devilish, sickening smile. "Oh yes, brother," she said. "Very much."

"No!" hollered Dreor in response, kicking Caddoc in the crotch and then barely dodging the blade as he doubled over. She scrambled out from under him, pulled a throwing knife from her belt and flung it at Cadwyn's back.

The light under Cadwyn's hair pulsed brighter. Her eye focused on Dreor with a hateful light. Shadows grabbed the knife from the air and held it there as she stepped off the wall.

Caddoc growled as he straightened a little. "Now, Cadwyn, don't let her go to waste."

She stalked forward, her beautiful air lost in the heat of vengeance. Shadows surrounded Dreor and spun, tightening on her and binding her. "Don't you touch my brother!" she screamed, backhanding the princess.

Dreor grinned in spite of it, spitting in the mage's face. "What's the matter," she snarled, "saving him for yourself?"

Cadwyn grabbed her victim's chin in gloved, vise-like fingers. "You aren't worthy to touch him," she hissed. Her gaze flicked to Caddoc, then to the Queen, and a chilling smile spread over her lips.

Gritting her teeth Gwen tried to fight against the pain, remaining like the rest, frozen where she was held.

Caddoc returned his twin's grin and stood up straighter. "My sister's thinking wicked thoughts, you can see them on that pretty face," he laughed.

At that moment, Dreor gave a long high whistle. Nothing happened though, and so the Sceaduweans went on about their business.

"I think it's time for her to go, don't you, dearest?" Cadwyn chuckled. The shadows on Dreor tightened viciously, and likewise on Gwen.

Caddoc nodded and strode forward, his sword at the ready. He stepped before Dreor and put one hand on her shoulder in a good grip to steady himself, the other hand guiding his sword to point at her middle, slanted upward toward the heart.

"LET HER GO!" she shouted, though trailing into a groan of anguish. "Monsters!" she cursed them. "DREOR!" she tried to reach but her arms wouldn't move.

Just as Caddoc began his upward thrust and Dreor began to scream, a snarl broke out and something big, brown, white, and black dove out of the shadows and into the tall warrior's side. With a sharp snap, its massive jaws closed around his sword arm.

Cadwyn screamed, a sound of unbridled fury. The shadows solidified and smacked into the thing's body with a resounding thud.

But it only snapped at the assault and turned its bite instead to Caddoc's head, taking it just enough to keep from crushing him, and started dragging him away across the sand, tempting Cadwyn to follow.

Gwen dropped like a stone, her body slamming into the ground, zeus landing on top of her. Scrambling she got to her feet, yanking on the chain above her. This would call her fire-breathing dragon to aid.

Cadwyn shrieked, the dark light behind her hair pulsing angrily. She leaped on her horse and jammed her heels into his sides, charging forward. Behind the dragon charged Caddoc's stallion, equally armored like Cadwyn's.

From what seemed like no where Francine joined the fray. A loud roar and a blast of heat left her lips as she emerged to her call. Gwen collapsed from the stress and pain, her body motionless. could they have succeeded in bringing her down so easily?

Trocious ran toward and to the side of Francine, holding onto Caddoc's skull with a growl. And so Cadwyn and the horses were at a standoff with the dragons.

As the female Sceaduwean charged down on the thing harming her brother, Dreor was yanked along roughly with her, still held securely in the grip of the shadows.

"Let him go, you vile beast," Cadwyn growled, harsh with malice. Dreor began to spin above the ground, shadow-knives pricking her all over.

Francine lunged for the steed carrying the femme. A swipe of her claws meant she wasn't playing around. Defend they would until her last breath, this land. She roared again, shooting a plume of fire before the horse.

"Trocious, kill him," commanded Dreor. The dragon paused and then started to comply, but with a whine. He knew they were bargaining for his mistress' life.

The gelding danced aside from the flames, Cadwyn staying astride his back. "You kill him and she'll beg for death," she murmured, keeping her eyes on the dragon. The knives stuck deeper.

Dreor gasped and snarled, "Do it, dammit!"

Trocious, however, was a clever creature. Suddenly, he took off at a run, Caddoc in tooth. The dragon was out of the arena and headed down the road beyond at a gallop.

Cadwyn screamed and Dreor spun rapidly in the air, shadow-chains tightening. At a sharp whistle, Caddoc's horse took off after the dragon and Cadwyn followed.

Somewhere far beyond the castle, Trocious dropped Caddoc, bloody and unconscious, in a ditch. Then he hid in some brambles and waited for Cadwyn to appear. When she did, he made his pounce, tackling her from her horse and avoiding its hooves as he promptly slammed her head against the ground, hoping to knock her senseless. Without her senses, after all, how would she hold onto Dreor?

She saw stars and through those, the motionless form of her bloodied, beloved brother. Rage colored her vision and she finally lost control. Shadows swept between them and exploded, blowing Trocious from Cadwyn.

The dragon yelped and scrambled for purchase, finally finding it in Cadwyn's steed's spine.

The darkness swept up the twins then and deposited them on Caddoc's stallion. At that point, the horse shrieked and ran, disappearing into the countryside. Dreor fell hard to the ground, landing on a hard rock - perhaps a final jab?

"Nnph," she hissed, and then coughed as Trocious thudded to the ground atop the dead horse before coming for her, maneuvering her onto his back, where she got a grip on his spines. They took off back toward the arena in a hurry.

Braska, being nothing more than a commoner who couldn't help much anyways, just stood there worrying about everyone. Gwen, Dreor, they animal friends and his kitsu egg who he was holding but could not move to his arms or head enough to see it.

((I wanted to try and RP......but......I'm no good..... sweatdrop ))