Avoiding the the guards,
Satrina made her way towards the oldest part of the city. Once, the
Razielim city had sat on the high slopes of the mountain... But... had
moved down lower taking advantage of the smog that shielded the
land of nosgoth from the sun.
Inching past the final fallen
arch-way, the young woman took a deep breath of the fresh air. This place
was her secret garden. She had found it years ago while exploring the ruins
of the old city. It was the only place where the sun could shine during
the day and fresh rain could fall. Here, roses grew in abundance.
The garden had once been
one of the many courtyards that featured elegant statues. In hers, a beautiful
warrior-angel guarded one end of the garden. The rose-vines seemed
to bind the angel to the stone. Here, Satrina could be by herself
with her thoughts. She paced up and down the length of the garden, Stopping
by the stone angel. "Why must he treat me like a human child?" The angel
said nothing. "He should have known that I am fully capable of taking care
of my-self?" She untied the scrap of red martial that covered the wound
and rubbed her sore hand.
Satrina didn't really recall
who had bound her hand after the arrow was pulled out. All that she could
remember was the pain, the agony. When it was over, both she and her sister
were back in their rooms. Wanting to know what was going on Satrina had
sneaked out of her room and headed towards Raziel's apartments. She encountered
him on the way He was with Gavian and Adrien...
"Master, What has happened?
She had asked him.
"Go back to your room Satrina."
"But."
"Do as I command!" He roared.
Then seeing the stricken look on her face, Raziel lowered his voice."Satrina,
go back to your room. The one who have wounded you may come back. For your
safety, you must be protected." Upset, she left him. But she did
not return to her room.
Satrina sat on the grassy
ground covering her eyes with her hands. The wind picked up again causing
the blooms to bob and sway. Staying as she was, Satrina listened to the
small sounds of the night. The rustling of the leaves, the cry of a night
bird and the light clanging of the...
Looking up towards the sound,
Satrina noticed a small glimmer of steel beneath the stone angel. Crawling
forward, She reached into the thorny bush pulling out the long cold object.
It was a rusted old sword. "This must have
been here for centuries" She said to her silent companion."By the style
of the sword, I think it was made in the year 587 (Year of Kain's reign).
Humph! At least the history lessons were good for something."
All young clan members of
the aristocraticy were required to study the history of nosgoth. Knowledge
of the events before Kain's rule were known less and less as time progressed.
Satrina had a fascination with the Sarafan
warrior-priests of much earlier times. She had read all the information
she could find on them. Her history teacher, Lady Rebecca had scorned this
saying, "Obsession about that morbid cult is unbefitting to a Razielim
Lady, but then again, you are not a Lady"
Her hand griped the sword
handle tighter as she remembered the mocking face Rebecca had made. "I
only wanted to know more about them, like what their names were. not because
I was..." Satrina felt a chill creep up her spine. The Sarafan. Countless
vampires had fallen before them. The mere mention of the Sarafan even caused
brave soldiers to tremble.
"Well what can I do?" Her
voice suddenly angry. "No matter how hard I try, I never seem to improve."
Satrina took a beep breath."What can I do to prove myself to you Raziel?"
Her voice had died off into a whisper. "I only want
you to..." She hung her head, noticing the old sword still in her hand.
The sword in her hand...
She held out her hand with the
sword in it. Her hand seemed small compared to the long blade but, When
she griped it tighter. A strange confident smile grew on her face.
* * *
Over the years, life within the court continued. The assassination
attempt was soon forgotten.
Satrina took on an
unseemly interest in observing the training and practice of our soldiers.(Though
our lord would let her indulge in this.) Also, She would often disappear
for a few days. Many suspected that she had a lover from another clan whom
she would meet. But I knew better. I believe she is hiding something.
Secrets in the court weren't
unusual. Nearly everyone knew something or other about someone else. Little
intrigues lessened the boredom for my elders. I never participated in such
events. You see, I too have a secret, I am teaching my-self the mystic
arts.
Magic and sorcery are completely
forbidden to women And I learned a great deal. Mostly I have learned healing
powers that only works on humans. I can cure sickness that our slaves contracted
but some illnesses evade my healing. Controlling the elements are more
difficult to do, I hope to expand my talents. If I ever did get caught,
my punishment would be death.
If I had been human I would
60 years old. As a vampire I'm still young. Soon, the others tell
me that I will mature into an adult. In the days that passed the clan grew
as more 'chyldren' were created. Normally no one is allowed to have
a new chyld with-out permission from Lord Raziel. On my 84th year
Manachem had our master's approval to bring two young humans into the clan.
Marin and Zerich were siblings, raised by the court scribe since infanticy.
Satrina and I were delighted,
these new members were closer in age to us. We all would go riding together.
Life in the Razielim city was filled with happiness for us all.
* * *
"She is learning to fight."
"How well?" A second voice
asked.
"Very well, but she will
need more training in hand to hand combat." The first said."She needs a
sparing partner for that too."
A clawed hand hand rubbed
his
chin. "So you're going to reveal your-self to her?"
"I am."
"It would be wise to keep
this between us." The vampire said. His immortal companion said nothing,
He continued, "You know of the consequences, don't let her be caught."
The Armored man nodded.
Her skill with many of the
weapons matched with those of the soldiers. She had watched them train
and copied the methods. She griped the handle of the whip, her favorite
weapon, and snapped it towards the targets.
Snap! Snap!
Snap!!
The clay targets shattered
into dust. Sighing, Satrina coiled the whip and examined the small collection
of weapons she had gathered, a large broad-sword, a battle axe and a spear.
Her ears picked out a small
sound. She griped the spear and threw it with force.
CLANK!!
The spear found it's....it
was thrown harmlessly back into the clearing.
Though puzzled, Satrina
braced her-self. Have they found out? She wondered.
"Your aim was a little too
high." said the voice in the darkness.
"Who is there?
Come out and show your face." She called out, pulling out her dagger.
"I would, but if you insist
on hurling dangerous sharp pointed objects..."
Satrina threw the dagger.
CLANK!
Silence.
"Nice dagger, where did
you steal it from?" The voice asked a minute later.
Growling, Satrina reached
for the sword. "I did not steal it sir, it was given to me." That was true,
Mikail, one of the Razielim warriors had given the dagger to her soon after
that attack many years ago. "Now." She continued."Will you come out sir?"
He stepped out of the shadows.
Fully dressed in armor,
the man was human. But Satrina's sensitive nose told her that his blood
was ancient. He held his helmet under one arm, her dagger in the other.
His face was handsome in a way. Calm, hazel eyes bore no
malice towards her.
"I have been watching you
Satrina. I know everything that goes on in this city. I am the royal guard
of the clans, you may call me Brent milady."
Her eyes widened, "The royal
guard? b-but I thought you were only a myth." She stammered. He laughed,
"Well, as you can see I'm very real, and..."
Brent smiled," I have no
intent on harming a lady like you."
Fingering the pommel of
the sword She asked."Then why are you here?"
"I come to make you an offer"
"Hmm?"
"Give me a student whom
I can teach the fine arts of combat, and in return I'll make what ever
you wish come true."
Satrina thought for a while.
"Can you get me to compete in the tournaments?"
Brent blinked in surprise."You?
A woman? that would be imposable."
"You said you could make
what-ever I wished come true, and I wish to compete in the tournaments."
She lifted her blade higher.
"True." Brent frowned. A
woman in the great tournaments?
"Then you will help me Royal
guard of the Clans?"
"Yes, as you wish milady."
* * * *
With the tournaments in 5
years, there was speculation on who from our clan would represent us. "I
say Mikail should, he is the best of all of them." replied Zerich enthusiastically.
"Everyone knows that." I said, tucking my hair behind my ears.
While we were talking, I
saw Satrina make her way past us. "There she goes." Observed Zerich.
Brother, have nothing else to do then to watch her?" Marin and I laughed
as his face reddened.
"But, I'm sure she's up
to something." He protested, "She always disappears." Marin snorted. "you
starting to sound like Rahin, seeing conspires every-where. I agreed. "yeah....agh!"
A sharp pain in my head
caused me to reel.
"Kali? Are you ok?" Marin
asked.
"Yes, I'm fine...I'll see
you later ok?"
As I walk along the halls
My senses seemed to play tricks on me. I heard echoes of sounds that seemed
to come from within me. My sight wavered. I stumbled around, my feet carrying
me to someplace. Gavian. The name rang
through my head like a fever. I must get to Gavian. In a drunken stupor
I made my way to his quarters, my reason lost...
Finally, through my blurred
vision I saw him. "Gavian." I called out, but it came out a whimper. "Kali?"
He ran to me."Are you alright?"
I embraced him, my heart
pounded, I felt dizzy with joy and...Reaching up I kissed him passionately.
Unable to resist, Gavian responded. |
