Richard Parker - Elsewhere

“No M’lady. We will hold them at the base of the tower for as long as we are able,” na Gall heard the Captain say as she once again became aware of her surroundings. The veranda was now crowded with people, with more emerging from the stairwell every second. na Gall glanced at the Queen, who had tears running down her face.

“Travel,” she told them all. “Prince Gwaynn is waiting.”

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Tarina Cyn de Baard returned to Manse three hours after Gwaynn and the army arrived. She felt refreshed, renewed, more herself. She was in control again. Gwaynn’s long absence allowed her enough time to come to her senses regarding her present situation. Despite her lapse, her weakness, she now knew she was in a near perfect position to complete her assignment and kill the young Massi Prince. And kill him she would, no matter the growing army that surrounded him, no matter his breathtaking fighting skill, no matter her love. He had to die; she knew that now. It was the only way to be free of the yoke he’d hatefully placed around her heart. She was an Executioner, a Tarina, and no one; not even the Prince of Massi was going to enslave her like some mindless beast of burden. Oh, she was going to kill Gwaynn Massi all right, and if things went to plan she might even be able to plant a kiss on his lips as his life ran away from him. If she couldn’t share his life, well then she would be happy to share death with him, after all it was the most intimate of human moments. She felt the familiar warmth spread up from her crotch as she thought of the Massi Prince. Thinking of his death, the heady feeling became even more intense and de Baard smiled to herself. She would almost be happy to see Brandt once again. She needed him on top of her.

Satisfied she was in control once more; she greeted several workers with a dazzlingly false smile as she passed through the newly constructed gates. The defenses were coming along fast and she knew the Temple Knights would be hard pressed to fight their way through them, Palmerrio allies or no. She actually felt a little pride for the people around her, they were working hard and training harder, but that would not keep her from using all her skill to bring about their destruction. She moved through the rapidly growing town and headed directly toward Lonogan’s lumber mill where she still kept a room. It had become her sanctuary, a place where she could relax after a grueling day of smiling, acting pleasant and training the peasants of this land. She shivered just thinking about it, but put on her most congenial face as she moved by people who considered her a friend. She would have liked nothing better than to gather them all up and burn them in a single fire. They could all burn, feeling of pride or not.

Despite her new found balance, de Baard felt her heartbeat accelerating as she moved closer and closer to the mill and was slightly disgusted with herself.

‘Perhaps the Prince will be there,’ she thought then grimaced, so appalled she had to spit, as if the thought had somehow become trapped in the saliva she expelled. She fought to get control once more, then she spotted Eve and her stomach did a little flip.

‘He must die! He must die! He must die!’ She chanted to herself over and over again as she dismounted. She climbed from her horse, and found the feeling of the ground beneath her feet very satisfying. She stretched a moment, reluctant to go inside, afraid her new found resolve would be blown away like so much dust. She was about to start forward when suddenly he was there, walking toward her through the large doors of the mill. Their eyes met and for the briefest moment de Baard was sure she saw pleasure shining from his face and something more, something like desire. He smiled and she found herself smiling back at him like an idiot, but then the bitch followed him out and the illusion collapsed.

‘He must die!’ She thought stubbornly to herself. Her resolve intensified when the lumbering Lee Brandt exited the mill and took what seemed like two strides before he was upon her. He lifted her effortlessly from the ground and she forced herself to smile at him as he twirled her around.

‘You must die first,’ she thought as he set her down and took her small hand in his.

“This is just great,” he said excitedly. “Have you heard the news?”

de Baard frowned slightly and shook her head.

“Samantha’s pregnant,” he said and with a laugh lifted her easily from her feet once more. “We have an heir to protect!”

de Baard suddenly felt sick and it took all of her training to keep the false smile on her face as she congratulated both Prince and bitch, then claiming to be tired from her travels she moved inside to attempt to compose herself. Brandt insisted on following her, hoping no doubt to help with the removal of her pants. She might just let him, but his presence did nothing to calm the roaring symphony of anger and hate playing in her mind.

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Gwaynn stood in the background as Zarina Monde arrived from the Gap. Accompanying her was Prince Phillip, his Weapons Master Alba Tabernas and Laynee. They reached the growing city of Manse only twenty minutes after Jess na Gall and Queen Ramona appeared along with one hundred and fifty-four additional survivors from the fall of Eno.

The loss of the Toranado city was devastating and put the Massi people in great danger, but when Gwaynn caught sight of the Toranado Queen he felt nothing but compassion and gratitude for her and her people. The siege had obviously been very hard on her. Ramona looked tired and haggard; the strain on her nerves aging her to such an extent that both Gwaynn and Samantha were shocked by her appearance.

“You’re safe for the moment,” Gwaynn said embracing her. It was still dark; sunrise would not come for several more hours.

“Cousin,” was all she managed as she allowed herself to be led away to rest and regain her strength.

Phillip on the other hand smiled widely as he stepped through the Traveler bridge. He rushed up to Gwaynn and clapped him on the back with youthful exuberance. He was happy to be back in Manse, though the sight of a few of the soldiers from Eno quickly tempered his mood.

“Mother?” he asked.

“Sleeping, I hope,” na Gall answered. She too looked tired but stayed to welcome the High Zarina to Manse, plus she wouldn’t have missed the opportunity to show off Gwaynn.

“Is mother well?” Phillip asked, clearly concerned, the news of Eno’s fall etched on his face.

na Gall nodded. “As well as could be hoped for. The loss of the fleet…and Admiral Cantu dealt her a hard blow.”

Gwaynn winced at the mention of the lost fleet. They would face the Temple Knights soon now. There was nothing for it, no one to stop them.

“We’ve made contact with Captain Wicks, the Speaker Tearrio is with her now,” Phillip stated, his face tinged slightly red from the shame of the defeat. “She’s making alterations to the remainder of the…the fleet, the King will not surprise us again. But we no longer have enough ships to guard the entire northern coast of Massi…there may be enough to keep the harbor at Cape safe, but little more.”

“The Toranado fleet dealt an equal blow to the High King and the Palmerrio,” na Gall said.

“Hmmmph,” was all Prince Phillip managed then turned to Gwaynn once more. “I’d like to see her,” he added, and Gwaynn motioned for one of his aides to show the Toranado Prince to his mother.

As they left, the Toranado Weapons Master smiled briefly. “You’ve spent your time well,” he said in his high, sing-song voice, noticing the change in the immediate surroundings despite the dark hour.

“Wait until sunrise,” Gwaynn replied. “The change is astounding.”