ABeatingOfTheMinds(continued from The Green Hell) The door slammed open, revealing Cole, gore dripping from his trousers and stocking feet and the ruddy sword in his hand. He wore a murderous expression, but it vanished abruptly when he took in the scene before him. Pelageya was right behind Cole, a hunting, predatory look in her eyes. She relaxed slightly at the sight of Gillian. "Gillian?" [Cole] asked. "Are you okay?" Gillian sucked in her breath at the sight of him. "Bloody seven hells, Cole! You look like..." She shrugged helplessly. She didn't know what he looked like. Words failed her--again. Gillian pointed to Rinaldo on the floor. "Him." She then gestured to Random behind her. "Vialle's hurt." Greffet, Pelageya thought. She moved into the room and out of the way, so that Rhea and Fiona could come in, reach the King and his Queen. Her skin burned as if exposed to intense sunlight. Somehow, Random had formed a Pocket Realm around himself and his wife – the Pattern energies blazing. "All this is his doing," Pelageya said coldly to Gillian as she walked over to where Rinaldo lay unconscious. It was statement more than question. "Death might be a mercy, something we have in short supply," she observed. Maybe her words inspired something in Rhea. Maybe it was already there. But after witnessing her mother’s suffering, she strode past the group; her attention only for Rinaldo. Pelageya and Cole had witnessed that expression once before. . . in the sea cave. Just before she crushed a man’s skull with her foot. She turned the rifle around in her hands, as if it were a club. On the other side of the room, a Trump Gate began to open mid-air. Pelageya turned her attentions to the Gate, natural and non-natural weaponry ready to strike should a foe come through the Gate, rather than reinforcements. If anything Pelageya shifted further from Random's blazing Pattern Realm and closer to the Gate to avoid that hideous radiation. Gillian summoned the last fragments of strength remaining to her - readying the blue lightning spell she'd already utilized with such great effect. It lacked the power of its previous incarnations, but more than enough to deter even the most strident attacker. She placed herself between the manifesting Gate and the Royal couple. The Gate took shape, opening to reveal a shadowy night. Two figures stood in front of a darkened building - Corwin's chateau. The group quickly recognized Cynwyd and Temnal. Both appeared to borne witness to and suffered violence. Indeed, bodies littered the ground around them. Pelageya released a breath and relaxed that it as not more foes. Her eyes studied both men, and the scene beyond. Cole knew better than to try to force his way between Rhea and Rinaldo. He thought of saying something to her, something about how Rinaldo was the monarch of a foreign nation that already had strained relations with Amber, and that killing him would be declaring war. But that was stupid. Rinaldo had already attacked, in person. He'd apparently attempted to murder the queen of Amber and might possibly have succeeded. And anything that left Rinaldo alive would allow the madman to attack them again. It was already war. This was a necessary step to end it. He walked over to stand by Rhea. If she didn't kill Rinaldo, he would. It seemed to be what he was meant for. Cole didn't have to worry about finishing the job. Ignoring everyone, Rhea raised the rifle and brought it down with savage strength. Rinaldo's head snapped back with a crack - blood welling out of his ruined eye. She struck him again. And again. Bone splintered first, then the wooden butt. And again she struck him. Even after Rindalo was obviously dead, the bloodied Princess did not appear ready to stop. Pelageya nodded with satisfaction at the sounds of Rhea's fury. It was right, and proper that she take such matters into her own hands. A gasp came from the hallway. Fiona bolted into the room, "Rhea!" The broken rifle fell against, the blow wet and hideous. Cole put his hand on Rhea's shoulder but he didn't try to stop her. "He's dead, Rhea," he pointed out, softly. "It's okay to stop. We need to take care of your parents now." Rhea stared at him with tear-puffed eyes - her body shaking from exertion and chaotic emotion. But, for all her external upset, her voice remained unnervingly distant, dispassionate. "He might not be dead," she said. "We need to make sure. Don't we?" The broken rifle trembled in her hands. Cole put his other hand on the rifle. "I'm sure," he said, softly and calmly. "He won't hurt anyone ever again. Let's go with your parents now, and we'll get cleaned up." Rhea slumped into his chest, her lip quivering. She was a princess of Amber. She would not cry... she would NOT. The ruined, bloodied rifle slipped numbly from her fingers. "Yes," she said simply. "Come through," Pelageya offered to Cynwyd and Temnal. Temnal motioned Cynwyd to precede him, since Temnal was the one creating and holding the Gate open. Sheathing Nuala, Cynwyd stepped through with a nod to Temnal. Clearing the space of the portal, he stepped to the side as he took in all those present. A quip was readied, and then discarded as he noted what... or indeed whom... Gillian was guarding. Two and two was not very hard to add after that point, so he remained silent, waiting for someone else to break the pregnant silence. Once Cynwyd was through, Temnal followed. As the Gate began to close behind him, he took in the scene around him with an expression increasingly grim. His grip tightened briefly, then loosened on the haft of his Pattern sword. "Rinaldo attacked Vialle," Gillian explained for the benefit of the newcomers. "The king suspended Vialle and himself in time while this all sorted out. Rinaldo is...um...dead." She pointedly avoided looking at the grisly remains of Rinaldo's skull. "I'm not sure what to do now. I'm no healer--that's Temnal and Raina." Temnal looked over at the shielded royal couple. "It doesn't look as if His Majesty is asking for any help," he noted, "and Rinaldo is ... past it." There was just the suggestion of a hitch in his quiet voice as he looked on the remains of the man who had been, in some sense, his son. Pelageya gave Temnal a nod. She couldn't quite fathom the connection that Temnal had to the fallen Rinaldo but the fact that it had affected him was undeniable. Fiona touched her hand to her mouth, staring at the mess her niece had created. Seeing Cole was dealing with the Princess, she turned to address the others. "The King has slowed time around them. Undoubtedly to keep her alive long enough to reach medical aid. We need to move them to the infirmary." She gestured to the guards outside. They nervously entered the chamber to assist in moving the Royal Couple. As they worked with the heavy burden, Fiona looked from face to face. "It would appear you all have a story to tell." She turned toward Temnal, "Unless you wish to assist with the Queen's injuries." "If I can be of help, of course," Temnal replied at once, and prepared to follow the guards out the door. Fiona shook her head, “The Princess Flora will care for them. You shall remain here.” She didn’t add ‘… as far from them as possible,” but the implication shone in her apple-green eyes. Temnal frowned, but remained. He knew that all the Amberite royalty had medical training ... and besides, if he had to have this same argument with Flora and anyone else caring for the Queen, he could be of little use. Cole ignored Fiona--which occurred to him might be the best option for preserving his sanity in all future dealings--and concentrated on trying to lead Rhea out of the room. He caught Temnal's glimpse at the mangle corpse they were leaving behind, and felt a pang of sympathy. But he couldn't indulge in it just now. "Are there any more of Rinaldo's forces still loose?" Pelageya asked Fiona. "Do they need to be dealt with?" Gillian used Pelageya's question as an excuse to slip out the door behind Cole and Rhea. She didn't so much have a destination in mind as she just needed to get out of the room with Rinaldo's grey matter spattered in sticky, bloody, blobby bits all over the floor and wall. That Fiona was present was just the proverbial icing on the cake. (Cole and Gillian continued in The Walking Wounded Deux) Fiona, ignoring the departures, focused on Pelageya's question. "What few traitors remain have been contained and should surrender shortly. With their leader dead, the castle is back in our control. Whatever Power he utilized to Trump people in is. . ." She glanced over at the corpse. "No longer a threat." She rung her hands, "However, the effects of this attack will be felt for some time to come. Our Forge is damaged beyond repair. And many of our weapons along with it. Our defense against the Nyx may be untenabl, at this point. And if the Queen dies. . ." Cynwyd looked at the leavetaking with a mix of emotions. The Queen had believed in him when no one else did. Nurtured him. Whatever he was now- whomever he was- he owed a lot to her nudgings and that trust. Which brought with it certain loyalties and responsibilities- not just to her, but to her ideals and desires for her kingdom. "...we carry on," Cynwyd said, his voice flat and cold. "That's who we are and what we are. There are others out there that depend on us, and the Queen knows that more than most, I think. "We have a responsibility to make it work, no matter what. Isn't that what has been done before? Through it all, we make it work. "So, the Forge, the weapons... what else. And not just the problems- solutions, dammit." “At this point, we are still assessing the damage,” Fiona said. “However, from what I can tell the attack focused solely on the castle itself, rather than the City. We should be able to bring troops, supplies, and weapons from the various garrisons throughout the city-proper. As well as call upon the marines in the Harbour. The latter is more risky, considering the Rebman threat. We cannot appear weak and invite further hostilities.” Pelageya kept silent at this and bit her lip. Although she had just acted against Rebma, her loyalties were...complex. Worse, Fiona, was right. She paused, “And your companion, Malachi, should be acquiring reinforcements from Shadow. However, we’ve not heard from him.” "The link between the Dragon, and what was my father," Pelageya said, "has been broken. What remains is to forge the Three cords between me, and Etrosk, Last of the Nine, and thereby have him on our side against the Nyx," she said. She turned to look in the direction that Rhea, Gillian Cole and Rhea had gone. "With Gillian's help and guidance, I believe this can and should be done as quickly as possible." Fiona gave a faint snort, “That, I can handle. No sense in taxing our fair sister further.” "Possibly," Pelageya conceded to Fiona. "I spoke not of your capability, but rather of the familiarity and comfort the Dragon already has with Gillian. However," she dove inwards and made a smile. "I am certain that the Dragon would be interested in meeting you." Fiona nodded, "And I him. He taxed us quite a bit during the Final Battle of Kolvir. He must be quite clever to have avoided our detection for so long. And, at this point, we could do with an additional resourse. "We can depart from here once I've conferred with my sister." Pelageya nodded. This wasn't the best solution, but this was a time for any and all measures. She winced, as she thought again, of what her father had become, and what she had had to do. She glanced over at Temnal. “And where, might I ask, did you find that?” She gestured to the Pattern-blade. Temnal's chin tilted up at a defiant angle and he looked Fiona straight in the eyes as he replied, "The Unicorn showed me where it was." Fiona frowned, offering him a dubious expression. "Oh really? The Unicorn. And I suppose it offered you teaching and guidance, as well?" Her frown wavered when she recognized his truthfulness. "And what did our Symbol tell you?" "It didn't speak," Temnal informed her. Fiona narrowed her eyes slightly, "Very well." She turned for the door, "It might behoove you to spread the rumors of its return amongst the troops. They could do with a morale boost. If the Unicorn has reappeared, Amber will survive this coming Trial." She didn't sound so certain. Temnal didn't feel so certain either, but merely nodded. "We should gather the Family in the Library - if it hasn't burned. Although the King is detained, we need to move forward with our plans." She tilted her head, "Will the Chaosian delegate assist us," she asked of anyone. "It was promised that it would be- and so it shall," Cywnyd responded. "Da," Pelageya agreed. Fiona nodded. "Then call for them. We will meet with my brothers to discuss our strategy further." She moved toward the door, "Unless you have anything else to add or ask of me?" |
