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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 30, 2006 22:37:49 GMT -5
I had reached the doors to Elton's quarters; I knew this order wasn't right, even my cold, stony mind told me it was unnecessary. Still...
Sighing, I straightened my shoulders and knocked on Elton's door. I wanted to be done, so I could sleep.
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 31, 2006 17:21:37 GMT -5
As I came down the hallway to my rooms I saw Aleron standing before the door, fist raised to knock. He looked marginally better, but still like hell.
"Didn't I tell you to get some rest?"
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 31, 2006 17:28:06 GMT -5
Spinning, startled at the voice behind me, I almost ran face-first into Elton. He looked unhappy as per usual, but not particularly angry. "Jaiden told me to give you a message," I said coolly, using the shock at him popping up unexpectedly to fuel my stone-self. "You may want to be sitting down for this."
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 31, 2006 17:44:13 GMT -5
I raised a brow, and ignored the sinking certainty I felt in my stomach.
"Just tell me. I don't have time to sit, and if it is a message from the Duchesse, I'm sure I won't enjoy it whatever it is."
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 31, 2006 17:47:20 GMT -5
Taking a deep breath I said, "She's charged me with working up a contract to find her a husband and make an agreement with them."
My words were plain and toneless, I didn't want anyone getting the idea I had thoughts on this idea. Maybe then the messenger wouldn't get killed this time.
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 31, 2006 17:54:05 GMT -5
The words dropped like stones into my mind. Jaiden wanted to marry. I closed my eyes and leaned against the wall. So this is what a death wound feels like?
Her coup de grĂ¢ce.
"Why?" I tried to keep the agony our of my voice but think I failed miserably.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 31, 2006 21:47:02 GMT -5
The pain in his voice almost made me want to close my eyes and turn away to answer him, but that was not how such things must be done. "She wants an heir; other than that, nothing. She's willing to pay them to keep the land out of their hands, and will release them after the child reaches three years of age."
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 31, 2006 23:00:38 GMT -5
My breathing echoed in my ears and I could feel my blood rushing through my veins. Everything was so quiet, I could almost hear my heart break.
"Bitch." The word hissed between my teeth and was imbued with all the pain, hurt and rage that was boiling up under my skin. "Unholy BITCH!" I roared, animal and enraged.
Tapestries lined the walls, a heavy chest stood against a corner. A bench and several stands were in the hall as well. I destroyed all of them. Aleron stood pressed against the wall, trying not to move and draw my attention. Smart boy.
But it wasn't him I wanted to hurt. No, I knew where the blame lay.
"Where is she?" My lips curled in a snarl.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 31, 2006 23:04:15 GMT -5
Cold again- I couldn't take so much emotion being expressed around me without shutting down- I said, "The conservatory, last I saw her."
Then I turned on a heel and walked away- I did NOT want to be in the manor for this. It wasn't my problem. I had a job to do.
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 31, 2006 23:13:27 GMT -5
I looked at the carnage in the hall. I knew where she was. I entered my room and stripped off all my weapons, a last vestige of prudent sense asserting itself.
It also told me I should wait, calm down before I saw her, but I only had so much sense left and leaving behind any implements with which to kill her used that sense up. I slammed out of my rooms and went hunting for her.
The conservatory door shattered with a satisfying crash. Glass shard littered the floor and one struck my cheek, a hot trail of blood in it's wake. She was already rolling to her feet, all predator and alert. Her eyes narrowed when she saw me.
"Why Jaiden? You unfeeling, bitch WHY? Why have him tell me? Coward!"
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Mar 31, 2006 23:24:01 GMT -5
The click of the latch brought my eyes to the door. I watch in slow motion as Elton stormed in, could almost taste the anger in the air as it poured from him. Without thinking I dropped the book and rolled to my feet, combat ready.
His words were like a slap in the face. Why had I told him?
"Because I'm not yours! I am the Sovereign Duchesse of Camlach and I need an heir, a legal heir!" I circled him wearily, glad I'd donned boots instead of house slippers. Glass crunched beneath my souls and I watched him wearily.
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Apr 2, 2006 19:11:07 GMT -5
I watched her, ready to defend against me in a heart beat. I may be incensed, but I would never, in a thousand years, hurt her. Didn't she know me at all?
"I don't care what your excuses were, you should have had the stones to tell me yourself! Instead you send your pet to tell me. Thank you, Jaiden Liatris. I know fully where I stand with you. Thank you for putting me out of my misery." I stood ramrod straight and gave her a mocking salute. Smartly I turned on one heel and walked to the shattered door. I paused, not facing her, and spoke.
"I thought if I gave you time, you'd heal, but I was wrong. Betancourt did his work too well." I left the conservatory, left the manor. Damn her and my honor. I headed into the City, to the Cockerel, the local pub the men favored.
Maybe death wounds hurt less if one was too drunk to care.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Apr 2, 2006 19:41:20 GMT -5
His words hurt worse than any blow he could have dealt me. I sat on the rim of the dry fountain, feeling suddenly cold and stiff.
Betancourt.
I tried never to even think about him, and Elton had said his name. Images flashed across my eyes and I hurt. My father's skull crushed by the mace. His men raping my mother in front of me after our last attempt at escape. His hands on me, tender almost as he tried to impregnate me and steal the Duchy. Those same hands wielding the bull whip, flaying me alive. Burying my mother and her child in the frozen, uncaring earth. Svellmaer in my hands, Betancourt a ruined mass of blood in his bed. Never touch me AGAIN!
My chest hurt and my eyes felt hot and strange. I wept silently into the fountain, alone among the glass shards.
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