Post by mcian on May 13, 2023 12:49:41 GMT -5
Queen Virani was not happy. When she was not happy, literally no one in her immediate vicinity was either. She found a brief note from Damian, whom she avowed as her king, describing a holiday he was taking for two weeks. It was his handwriting; it was loving; it proudly declared that she would accompany him next time, to the same place. But it was not sufficient. In a fit of pique, she interrogated every guard in the estate, each of which trembled in her presence but who answered truthfully – they did not know where he went. She summoned first Malikai, the spy, into her presence. He, too, had no idea where his master had gone. Then she called for Kelvearn, Damian’s trusted assistant and resident scholar to meet with her. He told her more – that the Elder had told him of the trip and that he had seen them leave the estate, having watched from an upper window. He mentioned the number of guards as four, plus a pack animal carrying a concealed coffin, and them all leaving by a gate spell. He remembered also that, just as the gate started to close, a small, imp-like creature ran to it and disappeared seconds before it closed. He described the hirelings: two mages and two warriors which was all he knew.
It occurred to her that she might be able to communicate with him telepathically, them being linked by blood as vampires can be. She went to the top floor of the palace where a weathered bronze statue of Damian stood, arms outstretched in spellcasting. Placing her hand on her consort’s replica, she sent out her thoughts to him, concentrating on their connection.
She heard first the sound of steadily flowing, rushing, water. The rhythm was steady, unaltering, and loud. She tilted her head slightly, focusing on the sound, then visualized Damian himself, attempting to bring his visage vividly to the forefront. In between the blurry images, she glimpsed his face. Tentatively, she sent her thoughts to him: “My king…”
She saw his face. His eyes opened, then his mouth. She attempted again, a bit more confident, “My king.”
His eyes revealed fear at first, then hope. He tried to convey his thoughts into words… “asleep… ambushed… trapped… help me… forgive me…”
“At once my king. Take from me my strength to grow stronger.” She then yelled for Malikai to attend her.
His thoughts continued: “smell… flowers… faintly.”
She turned her focus back to the Elder, trying to discern the smell of the flowers.
“Water… strong… flowing… cannot move…”
“What can you see my king?”
“Sunlight… above… find Jexmir… not kill… tired… forgive… hungry…”
“Can you see anything that can give me an idea where to find you?” She sensed his pain in trying to concentrate.
He managed to convey the image of a golden scepter, albeit briefly, as it quickly faded. “Tied to me… can guide… limited…”
“I will find you my king. Rest now and stay with me.”
“love… you…”
Virani yelled again for Malikai. To find it, she would rip the place apart if she had to, or any who shirked helping her. She ordered Malikai to find Jexmir and return him to her, alive.
(FYI - This was played out IG and contains dialogue from the event from both Virani and Damian).
It occurred to her that she might be able to communicate with him telepathically, them being linked by blood as vampires can be. She went to the top floor of the palace where a weathered bronze statue of Damian stood, arms outstretched in spellcasting. Placing her hand on her consort’s replica, she sent out her thoughts to him, concentrating on their connection.
She heard first the sound of steadily flowing, rushing, water. The rhythm was steady, unaltering, and loud. She tilted her head slightly, focusing on the sound, then visualized Damian himself, attempting to bring his visage vividly to the forefront. In between the blurry images, she glimpsed his face. Tentatively, she sent her thoughts to him: “My king…”
She saw his face. His eyes opened, then his mouth. She attempted again, a bit more confident, “My king.”
His eyes revealed fear at first, then hope. He tried to convey his thoughts into words… “asleep… ambushed… trapped… help me… forgive me…”
“At once my king. Take from me my strength to grow stronger.” She then yelled for Malikai to attend her.
His thoughts continued: “smell… flowers… faintly.”
She turned her focus back to the Elder, trying to discern the smell of the flowers.
“Water… strong… flowing… cannot move…”
“What can you see my king?”
“Sunlight… above… find Jexmir… not kill… tired… forgive… hungry…”
“Can you see anything that can give me an idea where to find you?” She sensed his pain in trying to concentrate.
He managed to convey the image of a golden scepter, albeit briefly, as it quickly faded. “Tied to me… can guide… limited…”
“I will find you my king. Rest now and stay with me.”
“love… you…”
Virani yelled again for Malikai. To find it, she would rip the place apart if she had to, or any who shirked helping her. She ordered Malikai to find Jexmir and return him to her, alive.
(FYI - This was played out IG and contains dialogue from the event from both Virani and Damian).