♔ The Approach of an Adventure ♔

The palace had been cordoned off for most people. The only place anyone was allowed to enter was the kitchen for the obvious delivery of produce.

King Veissmir Von Krees' younger brother, His Eminence, Lord Morcart Von Krees, had left Yuvantah, the cultural centre of the kingdom, seventeen days since and only reached a week ago. He was a fanciful fellow, dabbling in a world made of clouds and angels and whimsical ifs.

Lord Morcart admired beauty in extraordinary places and saw wonder in incredible notions. People marvelled at his existence and even speculated about his species but he must've been human, bearing in mind he looked rather human.

Of course any creature that disguises itself as a human, looks more human than humans do. I had heard of such creatures - beautiful and deadly - sighted by the islands of Deydiy and Reirah.

But still, no matter what I heard, I believed His Majesty's younger brother was a proper fellow, and fully human to top it. We do have humanoid creatures, ones that we peacefully coexist with, but that is neither here, nor there. A story for another time.

As I was saying, despite all his eccentricities, fascinations with the ethereal, and his very odd conduct, when it came to reasoning the man was level enough to take a just and clever verdict, which proved important as the court sessions for public grievances were being held by him.

This replacement didn't seem to assure anyone of the king's health; the official announcement said it was just a stomach flu but the king's tasters seemed very well to me, hopping about town and singing brazenly into the night with their tankards and their tarts.

King Veissmir's older brother, Sir Rojack, was not fit for travel - or so his messenger had said - even though he lived in a massive mansion by Lake Breer. It was said he never saw eye to eye with our king, hence could never be bothered to visit during any occasion.

There was no queen to speak of and all the children the King had fathered were illegitimate, begotten by concubines. There was no prince to take the throne in any case. The vacuum of authority and struggle for power would result in bloodshed that nobody wanted.

Hence there was a desperate search for something or the other. A medicine, perchance?

Word of the King's guard interrogating and arresting people had got out. And people tend to believe perilous news more than they believe the good. Whispers reach listening ears far and near and the whispers spoke of poison.

The whispers I hear are quietly murmured into my ear by milkmaids and seamstresses. I was an orphan when Sensei took me in at the age of six. Since then I have assisted him as he required. And due to my youth and flexibility, I was always his favourite student. His chief responsibility - and source of income - was instructing the royal army the arts of freestyle combat. I had few acquaintances and fewer friends. Not that it mattered much, I spoke very less, I learned early in life to deliberate before I express.

♔ Chief Commander's Calling ♔

The Executive Corps of King's personal militia visited the dojo the fifth morning after my twenty-sixth name day; they was the elite one-fifth, battle hardened warriors, fiery upstarts and veterans alike. They had armaments the length of my arms and the look on their faces was icy to the point that I felt a window had been left open during a blizzard.

The Chief Commander was a severe looking fellow with bushy hair, he looked too young to have hair so white but the creases on his brow spoke of the countless years of worry he had seen in life. He joined Sensei and I for lunch, his apprentice sat beside him, sharpening a dagger quietly.

By two past noon every aspect of the King's private kvetch had been accounted to us, the King had indeed been poisoned. However, the poison in question was unique; it was an ageing potion that had been mixed with the king's gravy. Evading it would've been a supernatural feat.

His Highnesa would've had to have a sixth sense and some sort of advanced gullet to avoid the freshly poured cup of death. The mystic drug would speed up the process of ageing, so much so that it quickened a person's descent into death.

That would be a natural demise through unnatural means. A cruel joke.

I understood the problem but I had one question, what did they need from us?

"We have caught the culprit. Former King Forgei admitted to all charges." the Chief Commander said.

"Mind you, we first interrogated every member of the group therapy for illegitimate children." the young brown-haired apprentice said, he was considerably younger and lean. At my furrowed eyebrows he laughed and explained, "Bastards United, discussing their daddy issues while they bathe in scented oils and decorate themselves with silks and ornaments."

I had to suppress a surprised chuckle myself. The image he painted for us seemed too good to not be true.

Sensei had been listening all the while, silently, at the end of the account; he took a breath and voiced the very question I had in mind. "What brings you here, then, Lord Geilg? Surely, not our pot roasts."

"No, Sensei. I will be getting to that in a moment." Chief Commander Geilg replied with a lightening of his features. "The former King Forgei wanted to strike a bargain with the King. He wanted his old kingdom back"

"The south-eastern corridor?" I asked and the Chief Commander nodded. "That is the section with all the brand new mines. Who in their right minds would agree to that transaction?"

"We cannot give his Kingdom back for obvious reasons; before you know it all other conquered kings will turn on us, clamouring for their piece." Chief Commander Geilg continued. "We had to use some rather unethical means to have him tell us of the antidote and its whereabouts. We require one of your personal best to accompany us. We have heard that they know their way around the known parts of the Chasm of Chaos well, having trained there for generations now."

"Of course," Sensei sighed, "Well, if it is my best warrior you are after, you needn't look beyond this very table." Sensei said and I had a feeling of foreboding, I felt the need to stoop under our table cloth and dig until I came out on the other side of the world irrespective of where that led."

"Sensei your dedication is overwhelming and while we admit you would be a principal choice... Um, we were hoping for a novice when compared to you, someone a bit, ah, sprightly." Chief Commander said.

"Oh, uh, Chief Commander..." the apprentice sat up straight, reading the looking on Sensei's face very easily." I don't think Sensei was talking about himself." as our eyes met the apprentice nodded imperceptibly in acknowledgement of the fact that I had stiffened some muscles in anticipation of an insult.

I had underestimated this fellow; he was sharper than he looked. I could see he had accepted me straight away. Chief Commander Geilg, on the other hand, had this expression of doubt but he nodded.

"Very well, if Sensei believes you are capable, you shall join the excursion." the Commander declared with only a sliver of doubt. "But be warned of the consequences."

♔ Journey into the Jaws of Death ♔

We departed the next day, Chief Commander Geilg had told us to assemble at Sir Bane's Square. The Commander would not be coming with us, but a briefing was in order. Teygen - as I learned was the name of the Chief Commander's apprentice - had a map. I hoped the luck of Sir Bane, The Fortunate, would go with us, but that was of course too much to ask.

The king's fabled Sergeant Uben, had joined us, he was a tall fellow with hair red as rust and a short beard that ran wild along his jaw. He had risen in the ranks of the army as rapidly as a hummingbird's wings, since his recruitment merely a year ago.

Keoki was an elderly lady of the Attendants; she had been appointed our healer and medic for the excursion. At first glance she seemed perfectly normal, but the longer I spent in her presence the more I felt a strange sense of serenity radiating from her. She had a resigned air, so calm and sublime. I did try to talk her out of the trip, as treasonous as it was, I couldn't bare the idea of her coming.

But the words she spoke to me were sounded by a self-satisfied voice. She knew what she was doing and there was no turning back from it. It was a time honoured tradition the Accolade Attendants would spend their life assisting the wounded and would go to death doing so too, it was in their job description. She told me she knew the dangers going into the institution, and was more than happy to comply. I did not agree with her views but I respected them.

Sir Juku was the last to arrive, he presented himself just as our grieving ended, he wore a pair of mismatched socks and showed more enthusiasm than all the rest of us combined. Eager to prove himself, brave, but foolish.

It was only the five of us and Missy, my horse. They had tried to convince me to leave her behind, as if I ever would. She would follow me even if I were walking into the very jaws of death. As the saying goes; a home is for love, a hearth is for lunch but a horse is for life.

With the briefing behind us, we walked for a day, arriving at four past noon to a river by the Sheeor valley.

There were a few dwellings situated on the bank. It was here I caught hold of Iddy, he was a young lad with years and years ahead of him, he was a simple farm boy who had agreed to come forth at the promise of a gold coin in exchange for clever directions, direction that ones only a naughty child with a penchant for worming his way into every place he could would know, a veteran of adventure and scolding.

The lad Iddy brought us to his care-giver, the man was an owner of a kiosk and was kind enough to invite us in for a meal, probably our last proper meal for a while. As we sat to eat, I observed the clumsy handlings of the cutlery by Teygen. The man had calloused hands that were good with little other than weapons. If he continued in this manner, this meal might very well be his last. Not to forget the fate of the kingdom's monarch rested in our hands.

While leaving we offered money to the generous owner who refused firmly, he wanted to show his dedication and support for His Majesty. The King was loved by all subjects, each and every one. Only a good for nothing lout like Forgei would dislike him.

The boy pointed us in the right direction and led us to the Chasms of Chaos. I had heard stories of the chaotic crevices of the labyrinth. Stories of men who had entered the tunnels looking for glory and never come out. Stories of a creatures that haunted the very depths of the caves. It was said to be far worse than the dark terrors that the king has protected us from for these past years. It would take a thick person to have little love for His Majesty considering all he had done for us.

We arrived early evening, the sun was still in the sky but from here on in, it was a downwards travel for it. As I had suspected, I saw tell-tale signs of danger at the entrance. Sir Juku brandished his sword and headed straight into the caves.

"Foolish child." the sergeant followed him warily.

"Clearly, the term patience means little to him." I heard Teygen whisper into my ear. I felt adrenalin rush through my system; I had to tense every muscle in my body to prevent myself from striking him on reflex.

"And the term personal space means little to you." I retorted.

"Miss Rose, you must go in after him, these lordly kind live in the upper town, they know nothing of the Ocilion Dozai." I nodded at the little boy's comment, he was right, the lords didn't live anywhere near the Sheor region, they know not that the only way to defeat a fire Doza was with a blade made from the claw or tooth of its own kind.

"Alright, young fellow, but you have to promise me one thing." I replied, drawing my Ocilion daggers, readying myself to face the cave lizard whose breath was fire and life's mission was death, no pressure.

"What is it, My Lady?" the child asked.

"You must take care of Missy while we are gone, that is the most important task, it all comes down to you, you understand? King Veissmir depends on you." The child's eyes were big, wide as saucers, he nodded. I tousled his hair and rushed in after the sergeant.

"Why did you come on this expedition? This is no place for a girl." Teygen asked as he and Juku followed me.

"That is a story that must wait for another time," I said, jumping into the fray.

We came out smoking and burnt, we had already lost Juku. He was burnt to a crisp the moment he had entered the caves. It was gruesome. We barely made it to the inner caves. I had used to the Ocilion Doza dagger to bind him to the wall, wines had held him in place and the dagger had behaved as a paralytic. Since Dozai were rare killing them was a crime, hence the daggers were enchanted by an Ocilion. Ocilions lived peacefully amidst humans; this dagger was my last name day gift from Sensei. Retrieving it would be a feat I do not want to think of.

"That was impressive," Sergeant Uben said, he sounded genuinely amazed. "I must admit I had my doubts about you."

"As did I, about you, Sir Sergeant." I admitted.

"We have a long way to go, milord, milady," Keoki said, she wheezed between breaths, but she was a strong woman at least at heart. If she was so determined on doing what she wanted, it would be my job to make her passing easier; I took her arm to help her forward.

She smiled at me and put forward a request. "I would like to hear it too, milady, why did you join our expedition?"

"Why, Lady Keoki? What else would you have me do?" I asked with a smile as I manoeuvred her through the sloping tunnels.

"You are yet young and I am sure without all that leather and steel you clean up very well. You should be getting married, you should've had a few ankle-biters already." she told me, it wasn't the first time I'd heard that and it wouldn't be the last.

Frankly I thought I'd have a spouse and a couple of ankle-biters to boast of by this age too, but to find a spouse - one who would approve of my fascination for sharp objects and poisons, and antidotes, and habit of telling battle stories of my own - was hard to find.

"The reason I accepted this invitation is because of the king."

♔Our King ♔

It was a long story but I didn't mind telling it, it was a story I was often asked to share with the children that had been initiated into Sensei's Martial Art's primary classes.

"Our king - His Majesty, Veissmir Von Krees - was a self-made man; he had set out to conquer territories fifteen years ago, at the age of nineteen, he had left his barren village in search for any job he could find, he had been recruited in the army of King Yosep - the king of Greater Lumen-Kio. After ascending the ranks of the army in a matter of three years, King Yosep took him under his wing. Under the pretence of a squire; King Yosep trained him to be the next ruler of Greater Lumen-Kio. After taking up the title left to him in King Yosep's will.

"After that the story went down in history as the largest non-violent occupation ever. Bloodshed was kept to a minimum and several kings were allowed to keep their lands with a treaty that ensured their allegiance lay with Greater Lumen-Kio. Once Greater Lumen-Kio had tripled in size, it was renamed Lumiria. Soon Lumiria itself had tripled in size. After the kingdom and the king's heart had split into two - due the untimely demise of his betrothed - the two part kingdom was then named Greater and Smaller Goloria."

"Forgive me for interrupting but how do you know of this?" Sergeant Uben asked. His voice was hard as the stone beneath my feet. "From what I can tell, you probably know all the tactics he's ever used in any war he's ever won or lost. Why do you know such sensitive information? What is it that made you analyse His Majesty in this manner" He sounded suspicious of my intentions.

Sheepishly I muttered. "I am a fan."

♔ Matching a Mystic ♔

We came to a wall. A dead end. A block in the path. And no matter how much we poked, prodded, pushed or hacked at it, there was no way we could find a way through.

Frustrations rose and then voices, embarrassingly enough mine too. I had never yelled at anyone in my life but time was running out and night was already upon us, a candle had been lit and had burned halfway down which indicated that it was passed midnight in the outer world but here every second felt like a millennium, every moment I spent thinking of anything other than the antidote or the king filled me with regret hot and heavy.

We had breached the topic of turning back only once and it resulted in me, even more embarrassingly, thumping Teygen in the face with a very dainty little fist.

Then, the candle went out and a voice echoed throughout the tunnel. A warning from a voice that belong to a Mystic. I had thought Doza travelled alone, I thought Mystics were a myth but I stood corrected. She accused us of trespassing and hurting the guardian of her home.

The second she began chanting her spell I heard the ground split to my left right where Sergeant Uben had been, now laid a yawning chasm. Then all at once I felt an invisible, chilled, clawing tightening on my chest. I knew there was no reasoning with her; she was trying to asphyxiate us without trial. It came down to either her or me and I refused to let this task fall to ruin. I called out to the other two to close ranks we stood back to back but soon I was on the floor the cold burning upwards from my abdomen over my bosom and slowly yet tightly gripping at my throat,

My eyes started to hurt and the little sight that I had left in the darkened tunnel began to go out. I could hear Keoki chanting too, at first I thought she was possessed but on hearing closely I realised that both chants were different. Keoki was trying to counter the spell.

I had mentioned previously about creatures that could disguise themselves as humans. Keoki was an Ocilion, I had no way of knowing but the proof was before me, even though I couldn't see it, I could hear it.

Just when I thought it was the end, that I would die here, and be left to time and nature to deal with, I heard a crack the kind you hear during a rainstorm on Reirah and then darkness.

I awoke to the sound of footsteps, footsteps to only one pair of feet.

"Keoki?" I croaked out.

"She gave her life to destroy the mystic," I heard Teygen's voice as he let me down onto my own two feet. In his hand was a candle and before us was a set of stairways which we descended via, into darkness and possibly any kind of danger. My mind kept shifting back to Keoki and I felt neither pain nor pity. I barely knew her, but she was gallant and I felt only determination as I came out of the tunnelled stairway. I would fight harder to bring back the antidote.

I felt a nudge in my side and when I looked up, I saw, sitting on a simple stone altar a blue bottle the colour of the sky when reflected by a pond. The antidote.

♔ The Next Day, or was it Night? ♔

I could have sworn I saw that wall before, and that rock. That alcove looked very familiar. I felt dazed, Confusion washed over me like a wave at every turn. What time was it? What day? What month? I couldn't tell which way was up nor what I was wandering for, maybe I should sit down.

I plopped onto the floor and the scabbard of my sword scraped against stone. Why did I have a sword? I was unaware of sights and sounds. Had I eaten or drank anything? I couldn't tell. My world unreal, my life force felt like a dark paw resting on my shoulders, pushing me down, soft at first, comfy, cosy and then hard, painful and suffocating.

I heard a buzzing in the background but payed no mind to it.

And then, I was out. I could hear, a voice, I could breathe the air, stale and dusty but real nonetheless. I could see the stone altar and the bottle and then, I could feel. I could feel pain piercing up my thigh. I looked down and saw my hand forcing a dagger into my thigh; the red pain oozed out of the wound and wet the cloth. I yanked the dagger out and regretted it, a fresh wave of pain hit me, making me bend over and retch.

Gasping I got to my knees, then onto all fours, the dagger painted the dull grey floor with my blood as I crawled to Teygen he lay a few feet ahead, splayed out and gasping, his arm way reaching out, grabbing onto the leg of the altar desperately. I turned him over and saw his eyes had rolled back. I raised my hand and stuck him across the face, leaving a handprint of reddening sink in its wake. His eyes snapped to me his throat cleared and he took a massive breath of air.

"What-?" he began to ask but I cut him off.

"The Mystic left us one last present." I winced when I tried to move, I required a moment's reprieve. "Get the bottle, but do not look at it, the spell works on sight."

Teygen hoisted himself up, his eyes shut as he plucked the bottle off the altar. Sight spells shatter when their purpose is defeated. And I heard the unmistakable sound of a glass splitting into shards, yet I felt no cut. No real glass was broken after all.

An arm I felt around my waist, and then Teygen lifted me off the ground and helped me hobble until the pain in my thigh had receded to a dull, wet throbbing. "We shall dress that soon as we get above ground, I apologise but for me the bottle is first priority."

"Hurry, I've heard sight spells regenerate rapidly and stay for a few years, even after the death of the Mystic that cast them..."

"My, don't you have soul." Teygen commented good-humouredly.

"Barrels full. Help me hobble faster." I felt a rush, a slight sense of achievement that made me lightheaded, or maybe it was the pain. Either way, I checked myself, it may be almost over but I wouldn't count my chicken until it was hatched.

♔ March of the Candles ♔

Needless to say, the candles were running out. We tried rationing and we used every candle till they were melted to stubs but it was useless.

Teygen and I were the only ones left. We'd been walking and stumbling for hours; we'd refilled our wineskins at the spring we'd rested by for an hour while he dressed my wound. We had bread in plenty but all else was lost. Nothing to soften the dryness, our last slab of cheese had been long since consumed. The rest of them had been lost with Sergeant Uben. The herbs I had found in late Keoki's pack had numbed my pain but it wouldn't only be worse once the effects wore off.

"It has been two days since we last saw sunlight and a day since we spotted moonlight." Teygen spoke, his breath was short and underfoot his boots crunched on the skulls of those who'd dared to tread here before us and failed. His footsteps were particularly hard and heavy. The man had no sense of discretion and over the last day, he had been very noisy. "Won't you say something? I am starting to wonder if you have lost your voice."

"Save your breath," I trudged onward, the satchel on my back weighing down on me. "We still have a climb once we reach the end."

Fortunately the herbs saw me through to the end.

Once up to the surface, I spared no time, I took the bottle from Teygen tied it to Missy and spanked her behind and she took off in a gallop in the wrong direction. Teygen groaned a lament as my heart leaped into my throat at the notion. But then the angel turned and headed for home, she knew the right way to Sensei's window. Bless her.

♔ A Life Returned ♔

It took a day to take effect. A day of worrying in the recovery room for me but it worked. And then I received a summon to the court. I was escorted to the main room. Its grandeur blew me away but I stood my ground, at least I tried to until I spotted His Highness, Veissmir Von Krees on his throne, and the colour of his robes, a brilliant blue and the liquor in his cup a celebratory gold. He was the epitome of good health and he looked not a day over thirty.

I shook myself out of my stupor, the King looked magnificent, his aura was intimidating and his smile was charming.

"You have saved me, my gracious warrior." The King raised his cup to me in appreciation. "I am indebted you, Lady Eleka Rose, let me give you something in return."

"There is no need, your highness, your safety and gratitude is reward in itself." I answered him, with my head bowed, I couldn't bear look him in the eyes for long, he may have been merely thirty-four but his eyes were a piercing shade of blue that seemed capable of cutting through your outer shell and analysing the secrets inside, the look on his face was clever and amused at the same time.

"Lady Eleka Rose, let me reward you with a title," His Majesty stood and stepped down from his throne to stand before me. "Be my queen."

A silence fell on the room, I felt my cheeks colour in a way they never had before. "Your Grace, you do me great honour, however, I do not think that a queen's life would suit me. I am an orphan and a warrior." I spoke clearly, I hoped I came across as confident but my knees were practically shaking in my breaches. "I would not know how to be a queen, I do not think I would be able to carry out any of the responsibilities-" My reply was more confident than I had thought it would but I had somehow babbles the same thing twice.

"You have some soul, Lady Eleka, to speak to me like that, but you wouldn't have to do anything you don't want to..." The King seemed to have a solid preamble but he took one glance at my face and stopped, his younger brother nudged him something and told him in words so soft. "However, if it isn't what you want, we do have another proposition. But that is it." The King raised his voice a notch. "You must choose one or another. You cannot decline both."

When his younger brother nudged him, the king's jade gaze shifted from mine and he cleared his throat, I felt myself relax just slightly. The nobilities and ambassadors had started whispering anew.

"What do you propose, Your Grace?" I asked.

"I have heard that you have bested my personal guards many times over. I have talked of this to my brother and we both agree that the right course for you would be to join my Kings guard, Lady Eleka."

My eyes met those of His Majesty, I wondered if my ears were fooling me. "Me, Your Grace?"

"Did I stutter, my lady?" His words made my throat tingle with an urge to laugh, my cheeks fought to lift. His Majesty himself let out a chuckle, the noblemen muttered again, apparently in surprise. "What say you?"

"Of course, Your Grace, I would be honoured to pledge my sword to you."

"And what of your soul, my lady warrior?"

"That, is yet to be seen, Your Excellency."