The midday sun had removed all the shadows that the towers cast across the city. The spring day was flooded with the fragrance of blooming plants as the gardens that were found all over the city spread their fragrance. For any who paid attention a small shadow passed over the ground moving at a fast speeds, but in a port city were seagulls are as common as people, no one pays attention to creatures flying above them. Unable to be seen by the mundane eye a magical servant flew through the towered city of Mirabalpur. It finite wings making little to no noise and was able to travel great distant in a short period of time. In a city of mages this magic servants was quickly noticed. Eubratosa stood at his balconies railing watching as the invisible servant landed on the balcony. The Archmages blue robes seemed to glow softly in the spring noon light. He looked for a moment at the creature and extended his hand to except the letter that the creature carried. The scroll held the Orphier's seal. Eubratosa's eyebrow drew together for a moment. Except from Niotrosa, Eubratosa rarely received messages carried by these magical servants. Eubratosa looked at the runes carved into the sealing wax. He turned and walked to a chair on the balcony. He muttered under his breath and then as the lock spell dissolved, Eubratosa broke the seal. As he unrolled the parchment he saw what appeared to be a series of scribbles. He sat there looking at the paper his eyebrows almost merging into one brow. Eubratosa rolled the parchment up and quickly walked into his rooms. As he crossed the threshold into his rooms he said "/Non Video Audioque."/ All the doors in room swung shut and bolted themselves as the windows clouded over. The Archmage walked over to his desk and with a wave of his hand the drapes closed over the windows sending the room into complete darkness. The Archmage stepped around his desk complete comfortable in the darkness of his office. He placed the letter on the table and pulled out some sand and sprinkling it over the parchment. As he sprinkled he spoke the words of magic. The Archmage waived his hand again and the candles all around the desk came to light. He sat down and read the message that had emerged from the scribbles. The color began to quickly drain from his face. The message read. /Archmage/ /I am quickly writing this message to you. King Villard, his sons, and their families have been killed. A note was left from the Vraa'al saying that the blood vow was paid in full. I am not how sure how far this assassination will go, but the Lords of Parliament and myself ask that you save our king. We send our sympathies to her highness Glarwain. I pray that all is well there. I will send a letter with more detail latter./ / Orphier/ The Archmage was out of his chair and throwing open the door before the blink of an eye. The guards blinked as they saw the Archmage standing in the door all color drained from his face, and what could best be described as a look of fear in his eyes. He looked at the guard to his left. "I want the entire Council at the Council Hall in an hour." He turned to the other, "I want the whole of the Royal Guard to meet me in the Great Hall exactly ten minutes ago." The latter was off as soon as the Archmage finished his sentence. The former took a little long but he was soon running down the hall as well. ******** Opozoya Villard sat in the large dinning hall looking at his plate. He was trying to decided were to begin. He was like any normal 16 year old boy and had a strong passion for food. He had made up his mind and had started eating the fish when he friend spoke. "We have Theology next class." Megraz said as he took another bit of his apple. Opozoya Villard swallowed and looked at his friends. "I know Sorceress Rutzath is boring but…." "But you enjoy Theology. Yes we know, but," Leoragana said and the in a dramatic pose continued. "The future High Priest must love Theology." He finished in a triumphal tone. "I never said that." Opozoya Villard said he bit into part of his roll, "Don't let Sorcerer Negava'ta hear you talk like that or he might send you to the Council for blaspheme." The boys started laughing. They continued with the normal lunchtime ritual of teacher mocking. As the group finished the last few bits of their lunches Opozoya Villard felt a hand on his arm. He turned to look at Megraz. "Has you great grandfather ever visited you at school?" Megraz asked. "No. He wants people to like me for me and not because I will be Archmage-King one day." Opozoya Villard said as he put the apple core on his plate. "Well he must have changed his mind. That or else he really wants to meet me." Opozoya Villard looked over at Megraz. Then turned to follow his friends gaze to the door were his great-grandfather was standing with a small guard. His great grandfather was looking around the room clearly looking for someone "Excuse me." Opozoya Villard said to his friends. He stood up and stepped over the bench and began to walk towards his great grandfather. By now a few more people were begging to notice the Archmage standing at the back of the room. Sorcerer Negava'ta stood up and began to walk quickly towards the back of the room. It only took a minute for the Archmage to notice his great grandson. The moment the Archmage saw his great grandson the Archmage began to run. Opozoya Villard stopped in surprise. The Archmage never ran to anyone. Soon Opozoya Villard found himself enfolded his great grandfathers arms in what could only be called a bear hug. He tentatively returned the huge and realized that he was almost as tall as his great grandfather. "Your majesty." Sorcerer Negava'ta said as he walked up behind the Archmage. "Opozoya Villard will be not be in class for the next couple of days." The Archmage said as he turned to face Sorcerer Negava'ta. He kept his arm over Opozoya Villard's shoulders. "Come Opozoya we need to go." The Archmage did not even wait for his grandson to reply before he started walking back towards the door. His arm still over Opozoya Villard shoulders. Opozoya looked back over his shoulder at his friends. He shrugged his shoulders, and they shrugged back. ******** Opozoya Villard sat next to his great grandfather deep with in the Palace of the Monarchy. On the way here his grandfather had only said that he grievous news and wanted to tell the whole family together. Opozoya Villard had been lead into what his great grandfather called the Sanctuary of the Royal Family. An underground chamber that was used in case the royal family needed protection. The room was comfortably furnished and held wine and fruits for refreshment, but neither of its current occupants paid any attention to refreshments. They sat their talking to each other. Their conversation was quiet as it is quiet before a storm. Before long Opozoya Villard's younger brother Toshasa walked into the room. He, like Opozoya Villard was dressed in the plain grey robes of Iniates and lower level Apprentises. He looked at his family as Opozoya and their great grandfather stood up. "Come here Toshasa." Great grandfather said in a gentle voice. Toshasa stepped over and found himself infolded in a large huge. A moment latter the rest of Opozoya family walked into the room. As soon as Fadanria, Opozoya Villards only sister, and Eubratosa saw their Great grandfather they flew across the room. Great Grandfather gave each of them a large huge. Opozoya Villard watched as his parents entered the room hand in hand both with a curious look on their face. As soon as Great grandfather was clear of younger children the couple stepped forward to receive their own hugs. As great grandfather looked at Princess Glarwain tears started trickling down his check. Soon Opozoya Villard's extended family arrived. They sat in the various chairs looking around. After a moment the Archmage stood up, and looked over his family. "As you know Niotrosa and Rentra are in Talishara and so will not be here." He looked around a sighed. "I have grievous news. This news will soon be shared with all of Mir and Midsea, but I desired to talk to you, my family, first." Opozoya Villard looked over as he felt his little sister lean against him. "This news affects you most Glarwain and your family." Mothers hand other hand grabbed fathers. "Glarwain, your father and the rest of your family has been killed." The family sat their in utter silence. A look of shock crossed Princess Glarwains face. She looked over at her husband seeking some sort of denial of this news. All Nepoya could do was pull his wife in close and hold her close as she silently began to weep. Nepoya own face twisted in grief. Opozoya Villard was staring at his great grandfather, who had become a hazy form as the tears welled up in his eyes. He saw his great grandfather moving towards him. He tried to clear his eyes on the sleeve of his robe. As his great grandfather stepped closer he opened his arm. Opozoya Villard felt his sister leave his side and run to their great grandfather. Opozoya Villard stood and was pulled into his great grandfather's embrace. Opozoya Villard felt Toshasa also join the embrace. Their aunts, uncles and cousins were soon gathered around them saying nothing but they let their family now that they were their. After several minutes of quiet weeping, Glarwain looked up from her husband shoulder. "What happened?" "I do not have the full details. I received a letter from the Orphier about forty minutes ago." He pulled a scroll of parchment from his sleeves and hands it to Glarwain. She opened the scroll and began to read it. Nepoya, with his arms still around his wife, read the letter over his shoulder. After reading for a moment, Nepoya and Glarwain looked at each other and then at Opozoya Villard. "I had not realized that." Nepoya said. "Nor I." Glarwain replied. "This is too much for me." Glarwain said as she sank to the couch. "I will handle it." Nepoya said. "No the rest of you family needs you." Great grandfather said, "I am the best to handle this." Nepoya nodded his head unable to deny his grandfathers wisdom. He pulled his family close together except Opozoya Villard who was pulled aside by his great grandfather. "What is going on Grandpa?" Opozoya Villard asked as his great grandfather led him out of the room. His great grandfather did not say anything as he lead the way out of the room and back into the Palace proper. As soon as they stepped out they were surrounded by the Warlord coutrie. ********* Eubratosa watched as his great grandson sat next to him on the marble platform. They were sitting in the old throne room. The room was never used anymore but was still kept in excellent conditions. They sat on the marble platform that had been built at the front of the throne room. Behind them was the massive throne. Around the room stood statues of past kings. Eubratosa liked to visit this room when he wanted to think. He felt like he could seek aid from his ancestors. They had been sitting there on the platform for a long time. Eubratosa had explained that Opozoya Villard would likely as not be the next King of Burcancy. Eubratosa knew to lose family you loved and then elevated to such a position with out warning was a lot to take in. Opozoya Villard looked up at Eubratosa. "Why?" he asked. Eubratosa looked at his great grandson. "Honestly I don't know? Their will be many times in our lives that unexplainable things happen." Eubratosa stood up and stepped off the platform. "It is not what happens to us that is important but what we do after it happens." He held up his hand to help Opozoya Villard stand up. "I want to show you something that may help." Opozoya Villard followed Eubratosa to one of the statue. The statue was the only female in the room. The statue face looked a lot like Opozoya Villards aunt in the shape of the face. Her eyes were deeps set similar to the rest of the Celamyrsa family. On her head rested what looked like the Crown of Mir. "This is Queen Faasdra." Eubratosa commentated. "The only Queen to rule over Mir. Of all of our ancestors I think I am closest to her. She was the wife of King Nepoya XI." He paused and looked at Opozoya Villard. "Do you remember the court yard filled with graves that is found in the southern wing of our family home." "The one that has all of thoughts halls leading to it." Opozoya Villard said. "Yes." Eubratosa said. "That once used to be the family ballroom. Two thousand years ago Nepoya and his queen gathered all of the Celamyrsa family for a large celebration. Duiring the party a hurricane came ashore and destroyed that section of the house. Only Faasdra and her grandson Loraces survived." Opozoya Villardlooked back at the statue as his grandfather continued. "She found her self as ruler of Mir. I have had the chance to read her journals. She was not prepared to rule a country. She had just lost her beloved husband and family, and had a country that was on the verge of being torn by civil war, but as she decided to make the best of the situation." They began to walk towards another statue. "I think you would like to read her journals. They might help." Opozoya nodded his eyes still read but quietly regarding what Eubratosa had said. They continued around the room talking about various kings standing in the Hall. As they came back to the platform. Eubratosa led Opozoya Villard to stand before the throne. "Life is not always understandable. We try to improve our lives, and sometimes we have set backs. Sometimes we lose the physical companionship of thoughts we love, but their stories and spirit are always with us." Opozoya Villard nodded his head. Eubratosa pulled him in for another hug. I know that it does not make it any easier to lose thoughts you love." ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
