The Outer Lands were the continents that were not Arken and Ighten and Ongoreth. They were the forbidden lands. It was where the land of non-believers and ruthless armies ruled by kings made by blood and glory. Of course, not everyone in the Outer Lands were like that. Not all can be bad, after all. But, in this particular spot any who were looking for hired help and to win an army came here.
It was off the coast, a desert land. One would think that if they were near the ocean there wouldn’t be a desert. However, in this case it wasn’t true. There was a wall of large logs, maybe that was where the forest had gone. Behind the wall there was a small town of mercenaries, army leaders, some of the army themselves, whore houses, slave drivers.
So, he came to this particular spot for a reason.
The cloaked figure made his way through the streets. There was only a deep blackness under his hood, which was strange seeing as the sun was bright and hardly left any shadows. He was headed for the arena, which was roaring at the moment as warriors challenged leaders of great armies, hoping to take there place.
He was going to walk straight into the arena uninvited, which was his specialty. The guard standing at the arena door stood in his way, but the guard wouldn’t be there long. The man in the cloak walked straight up to the guard and kicked him, hitting him hard enough that he went through the arena door, making an entrance for the hooded figure.
The arena didn’t go completely silent, but it was clear that the attention had been drawn to him. The hooded figure walked to the center of the arena, a few dead bodies laid scattered around. A few were left standing.
“I have come to challenge the leaders of the armies in this town. The leaders of the bands of mercenaries...” the man in the black clothes and black cloak said.
“You’ve come to the right place,” a large man said.
“You beat a leader you become the leader,” another said.
“Well, then, I need to kill all over you?” the cloaked figure said with a mocking tone.
He brought a sword out and spun backwards stabbing the person behind him. The others attacked him soon and he twirled his sword, stabbing behind him as one came at him from the back. Then he ripped the sword out through his side, cutting into another who came after him. Within a matter of seconds five well trained leaders were lying in a pool of there own blood.
“So... I guess this means I’m the winner?” his voice said, it was smooth, and... almost husky. One thing was for sure, it was dark and deep.
The whole stadium grew quiet and then erupted in cheers. From under his hood he smiled.
Behind Those Eyes I See
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Emora Deen
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Emora Deen
- Avatar of War
- Posts: 12211
- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:41 am
- Location: Beyond Time and Space
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The roses bloomed beautifully this time of the year. She loved roses, especially the ones that Cyrus would pick for her when he was feeling romantic. To hide from her magic teacher she would run to the rose garden. There was a huge rose bush with a hollowed out middle that she had a stone bench placed inside and a small pathway leading to it. She hid in there most of the time, laying on the thick grass and napping.
That was exactly what she was doing, hiding in the rose bush. Cyrus was away visiting the Border, doing things he would much rather be doing than staying in the palace learning the ways of royalty.
Since she was a Queen she was required to have magical abilities. Which meant needing a tutor. It would take her years to be just a hair of hour powerful Shea’s abilities were, but unless someone killed her she had years of wasted time to spend studying.
How long had it been since she last kissed Cyrus? Five weeks? She sighed, sitting up and pulling the leaves out of her curly hair. She stood up, dusting off her dress and ducking out from under the rose bush.
“There you are my Queen,” a man said.
“By the Gods, Turner, must you hassle me?” Rai said, lifting up her dress so she could walk fast enough.
“My Queen it is required that you learn magic,” the man said.
“And I’m learning, pressure me more and I’ll practice on you,” she said through clenched teeth.
“Oh, no my queen,” her tutor said quickly.
“Okay, then leave me be,” she said as she went up the steps, exiting the garden and going back inside.
She was half way down the corridor when she heard the sound of bells ringing in a continuous row. She looked at her tutor and then lifted up the her dress to run quickly down the hall towards the middle of the tower palace. She ran and then turned down the corridor leading to courtyard at the front of the palace. The guards opened the double steel doors and coming through the gate into the courtyard were Arken soldiers, at the head of the line was a man clad in gray armor trimmed in gold. He had a gray and gold helmet on that covered his face like a mask, with a human shaped face on it.
“Cyrus!” she cried and lifted up her dress again, running down the steps to greet her husband.
He dismounted his horse and pulled his helmet off. Revealing his handsome face, that to Rai’s surprise had the makings of a nice chestnut beard growing on it. She ran and leaped at him. With a smile, he caught her in his arms and she kissed him. He returned the kiss just as passionately, since it had been at least six weeks since he had seen her. He lifted her up to carry her in his arms. Though, the armor would make for an uncomfortable ride, Rai didn’t particularly care.
“My Queen, your lessons,” Mr. Turner said as Cyrus carried Rai through the doors, the whole time they couldn’t seem to keep there mouths off each other.
Cyrus pulled his lips away from Rai long enough to look at Turner. “Her majesty the Queen will finish her lessons later... Right now,” He looked back at Rai. “we have catching up to do.” He turned up the staircase and began to head to their room to begin there “catching up.”
Cyrus was about to kick open the door into their room when Rai stopped him.. “Hey, I want it to close once were inside,” she warned. He lowered his foot and glanced at the door knob to one of the double doors. He opened it with his abilities and closed it behind him, not once using is hands. Then, with a laugh, he tossed Rai onto the bed. She fell into the thick covers and pillows, laying back and getting comfortable. He climbed on the bed and she starting laughing at him. “Getting a little ahead of yourself, dear? I hope you don’t think you’re doing this with that armor on,” she rested her hands beside her head smiling up at Cyrus as he unlatched his armor, taking his sweet time just to aggravate his wife.
When he was finished he was left in only a pair of black pants. He climbed onto the bed with her, wrapping one arm around her waist and pulling her up slightly to him as he kissed her. His chest had gotten harder over the past two years and his arms looked stronger. He looked great to her before, but now he looked even better. He looked older, more mature and indeed he was.
“Promise not to go away this long again?” Rai asked, her hand lightly touching his face.
“I can’t promise that Rai,” he said softly, lying down beside her, his arms wrapped around her small frame. “Not with the patrol or the army to tend too... and not with going to speak with King Auron.”
Rai sighed and glanced up at him, then kissed him softly. “Okay, if you say so.”
He kissed her more deeply, though she was a bit uncomfortable with the beard rubbing against her face, scratching it.
“Okay, since you can’t promise to come home quicker promise to shave more often?” She smiled innocently, her blue gray eyes sparkling in the dim candle light.
“Okay, I’ll do that,” he said softly with a smile and began kissing his way down her neck, unbuttoning the dress down the back and pulling it off her shoulders slightly. He kissed her shoulder, his hands running over her soft body. He unbuttoned her dress more and then slid it down gently to her hips, revealing another layer of clothing.
“Damn, I forget how much a woman puts on...” he said with a grin.
“Oh lord,” Rai sat up and pulled the dress over head, then the corset she threw across the room, because she utterly detested them. The only thing left was a slip that would easily come off and Cyrus made sure of that. Before she had laid down fully he had it off and across the room. Cyrus took her in his arms, kissed her passionately, then rolled above her. Somewhere between before and now he had lost his pants.
She welcomed him with open arms, for she had missed her husband.
* * *
Rai was sleeping on her side, with Cyrus curled up behind her, his arms wrapped around her small frame and holding her close to him. He didn’t ever want to let go of her. He was always worried about her. Surely there were still rebel supports of the late Queen of Arken who would gladly want to see the woman who killed her dead. Cyrus had to leave a lot so who would be here to protect her. And Odoff was gone to destroy the slave shop... so he wouldn’t be here to protect her for at least another week. She had only the guards and Arken soldiers.
However accomplished they might be, they were still not someone he trusted to protect the woman he loved. He didn’t trust them to die for her.
Cyrus scratched is irritating beard and decided he had enough of it. He slipped his arms gently from around Rai’s body and stood up, pulling the sheet and blanket back over her nude body to keep her warm. She sighed softly, hugging the covers too her as she rolled over on her back in her sleep. He grabbed a pair of gray cotton pants and pulled them on before walking to the large spacious bathroom. He stood in front of the mirror and lathered his face with warm cream and grabbed a sharp blade from one of the cups on the counter. He dragged it across his skin, shaving off the cream and hair. He continued to do this until he washed his face clean and it was smooth, except for one little cut on his jaw.
He walked back into the room and looked at the window at the fading sky. He yawned, tired from the ride home, and just worn out over all. He took his pants off and climbed back in bed, wrapping his arms around Rai again. Feeling her warm body against his made him feel at him, made him feel comfortable.
He fell a sleep for what seemed only a few minutes. Then a maid came in, but it was really hours later. She set a tray of two plates of breakfast down on one of the tables in there room then turned to go into the bathroom to ready the queen’s bath and pick up the dirty clothes to take them to the wash.
Rai sighed, moving around in her husband’s arms before sitting up just as the maid left. She stood up, and grabbed her peach silk robe, pulling it around her and holding it closed as she walked towards the bath room, looking back at Cyrus who was snoring lightly. She grinned, walking into the bath room and closing the thin white curtain behind her.
The hot bath felt good to her, though as of late she hadn’t done anything strenuous to make her want a bath. It just felt good to take one that was so hot steam rose into the air from the top of the water. She put her hair up in a clip, curls danging down around her face and neck framing her face beautifully. She could smell the scented oils in the water and sighed as she leaned back into the tub.
She heard something in the doorway and her eyes snapped open. She looked up to see Cyrus standing there, holding the curtain back casually. He was smiling at her. “Have I ever told you that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen?” Cyrus asked, stepping into the room and folding his arms across his bare chest.
“The most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen?” she asked softly, raising her legs and crossing them in a taunting way.
“Yes,” he said, standing in front of her tub.
“Really?” she asked, tilting her head slightly before dipping her toe in the water and splashing water onto his gray pants. She smiled, sliding a little further down into the tub. “Thank you.” She was completely honest. “So, what are you doing today?”
“Well, I was thinking of going riding to the dessert... Just to see if the Raith clan is acting civilized,” he said gently.
“T-the Raith clan?” she asked and sat up slightly.
“Yeah, want to go with me and General Coldran and his men?” he asked her gently.
“Uh...” she said softly, a bit unsure since she and the Raiths didn’t really get along.
“I promise, not one of them will touch you.” Cyrus said protectively, remembering her story of what happened when she was sold into slavery.
She thought for a moment and then sighed. “Okay, if you promise.”
Cyrus smiled at her and turned to go to get dressed, leaving the bathroom.
That was exactly what she was doing, hiding in the rose bush. Cyrus was away visiting the Border, doing things he would much rather be doing than staying in the palace learning the ways of royalty.
Since she was a Queen she was required to have magical abilities. Which meant needing a tutor. It would take her years to be just a hair of hour powerful Shea’s abilities were, but unless someone killed her she had years of wasted time to spend studying.
How long had it been since she last kissed Cyrus? Five weeks? She sighed, sitting up and pulling the leaves out of her curly hair. She stood up, dusting off her dress and ducking out from under the rose bush.
“There you are my Queen,” a man said.
“By the Gods, Turner, must you hassle me?” Rai said, lifting up her dress so she could walk fast enough.
“My Queen it is required that you learn magic,” the man said.
“And I’m learning, pressure me more and I’ll practice on you,” she said through clenched teeth.
“Oh, no my queen,” her tutor said quickly.
“Okay, then leave me be,” she said as she went up the steps, exiting the garden and going back inside.
She was half way down the corridor when she heard the sound of bells ringing in a continuous row. She looked at her tutor and then lifted up the her dress to run quickly down the hall towards the middle of the tower palace. She ran and then turned down the corridor leading to courtyard at the front of the palace. The guards opened the double steel doors and coming through the gate into the courtyard were Arken soldiers, at the head of the line was a man clad in gray armor trimmed in gold. He had a gray and gold helmet on that covered his face like a mask, with a human shaped face on it.
“Cyrus!” she cried and lifted up her dress again, running down the steps to greet her husband.
He dismounted his horse and pulled his helmet off. Revealing his handsome face, that to Rai’s surprise had the makings of a nice chestnut beard growing on it. She ran and leaped at him. With a smile, he caught her in his arms and she kissed him. He returned the kiss just as passionately, since it had been at least six weeks since he had seen her. He lifted her up to carry her in his arms. Though, the armor would make for an uncomfortable ride, Rai didn’t particularly care.
“My Queen, your lessons,” Mr. Turner said as Cyrus carried Rai through the doors, the whole time they couldn’t seem to keep there mouths off each other.
Cyrus pulled his lips away from Rai long enough to look at Turner. “Her majesty the Queen will finish her lessons later... Right now,” He looked back at Rai. “we have catching up to do.” He turned up the staircase and began to head to their room to begin there “catching up.”
Cyrus was about to kick open the door into their room when Rai stopped him.. “Hey, I want it to close once were inside,” she warned. He lowered his foot and glanced at the door knob to one of the double doors. He opened it with his abilities and closed it behind him, not once using is hands. Then, with a laugh, he tossed Rai onto the bed. She fell into the thick covers and pillows, laying back and getting comfortable. He climbed on the bed and she starting laughing at him. “Getting a little ahead of yourself, dear? I hope you don’t think you’re doing this with that armor on,” she rested her hands beside her head smiling up at Cyrus as he unlatched his armor, taking his sweet time just to aggravate his wife.
When he was finished he was left in only a pair of black pants. He climbed onto the bed with her, wrapping one arm around her waist and pulling her up slightly to him as he kissed her. His chest had gotten harder over the past two years and his arms looked stronger. He looked great to her before, but now he looked even better. He looked older, more mature and indeed he was.
“Promise not to go away this long again?” Rai asked, her hand lightly touching his face.
“I can’t promise that Rai,” he said softly, lying down beside her, his arms wrapped around her small frame. “Not with the patrol or the army to tend too... and not with going to speak with King Auron.”
Rai sighed and glanced up at him, then kissed him softly. “Okay, if you say so.”
He kissed her more deeply, though she was a bit uncomfortable with the beard rubbing against her face, scratching it.
“Okay, since you can’t promise to come home quicker promise to shave more often?” She smiled innocently, her blue gray eyes sparkling in the dim candle light.
“Okay, I’ll do that,” he said softly with a smile and began kissing his way down her neck, unbuttoning the dress down the back and pulling it off her shoulders slightly. He kissed her shoulder, his hands running over her soft body. He unbuttoned her dress more and then slid it down gently to her hips, revealing another layer of clothing.
“Damn, I forget how much a woman puts on...” he said with a grin.
“Oh lord,” Rai sat up and pulled the dress over head, then the corset she threw across the room, because she utterly detested them. The only thing left was a slip that would easily come off and Cyrus made sure of that. Before she had laid down fully he had it off and across the room. Cyrus took her in his arms, kissed her passionately, then rolled above her. Somewhere between before and now he had lost his pants.
She welcomed him with open arms, for she had missed her husband.
* * *
Rai was sleeping on her side, with Cyrus curled up behind her, his arms wrapped around her small frame and holding her close to him. He didn’t ever want to let go of her. He was always worried about her. Surely there were still rebel supports of the late Queen of Arken who would gladly want to see the woman who killed her dead. Cyrus had to leave a lot so who would be here to protect her. And Odoff was gone to destroy the slave shop... so he wouldn’t be here to protect her for at least another week. She had only the guards and Arken soldiers.
However accomplished they might be, they were still not someone he trusted to protect the woman he loved. He didn’t trust them to die for her.
Cyrus scratched is irritating beard and decided he had enough of it. He slipped his arms gently from around Rai’s body and stood up, pulling the sheet and blanket back over her nude body to keep her warm. She sighed softly, hugging the covers too her as she rolled over on her back in her sleep. He grabbed a pair of gray cotton pants and pulled them on before walking to the large spacious bathroom. He stood in front of the mirror and lathered his face with warm cream and grabbed a sharp blade from one of the cups on the counter. He dragged it across his skin, shaving off the cream and hair. He continued to do this until he washed his face clean and it was smooth, except for one little cut on his jaw.
He walked back into the room and looked at the window at the fading sky. He yawned, tired from the ride home, and just worn out over all. He took his pants off and climbed back in bed, wrapping his arms around Rai again. Feeling her warm body against his made him feel at him, made him feel comfortable.
He fell a sleep for what seemed only a few minutes. Then a maid came in, but it was really hours later. She set a tray of two plates of breakfast down on one of the tables in there room then turned to go into the bathroom to ready the queen’s bath and pick up the dirty clothes to take them to the wash.
Rai sighed, moving around in her husband’s arms before sitting up just as the maid left. She stood up, and grabbed her peach silk robe, pulling it around her and holding it closed as she walked towards the bath room, looking back at Cyrus who was snoring lightly. She grinned, walking into the bath room and closing the thin white curtain behind her.
The hot bath felt good to her, though as of late she hadn’t done anything strenuous to make her want a bath. It just felt good to take one that was so hot steam rose into the air from the top of the water. She put her hair up in a clip, curls danging down around her face and neck framing her face beautifully. She could smell the scented oils in the water and sighed as she leaned back into the tub.
She heard something in the doorway and her eyes snapped open. She looked up to see Cyrus standing there, holding the curtain back casually. He was smiling at her. “Have I ever told you that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen?” Cyrus asked, stepping into the room and folding his arms across his bare chest.
“The most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen?” she asked softly, raising her legs and crossing them in a taunting way.
“Yes,” he said, standing in front of her tub.
“Really?” she asked, tilting her head slightly before dipping her toe in the water and splashing water onto his gray pants. She smiled, sliding a little further down into the tub. “Thank you.” She was completely honest. “So, what are you doing today?”
“Well, I was thinking of going riding to the dessert... Just to see if the Raith clan is acting civilized,” he said gently.
“T-the Raith clan?” she asked and sat up slightly.
“Yeah, want to go with me and General Coldran and his men?” he asked her gently.
“Uh...” she said softly, a bit unsure since she and the Raiths didn’t really get along.
“I promise, not one of them will touch you.” Cyrus said protectively, remembering her story of what happened when she was sold into slavery.
She thought for a moment and then sighed. “Okay, if you promise.”
Cyrus smiled at her and turned to go to get dressed, leaving the bathroom.
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Emora Deen
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- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:41 am
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The desert was steaming hot, a place that Rai had no desire to be again. But, diplomacy always ruled over what she wanted to now days. She looked at the village before, stroking her horses neck as she stood outside the town hall, where women weren’t allowed to enter. No matter if she was Queen of the kingdom they resided in she had no right to enter. She stood outside with four guards stationed in a square around her.
She could hear muffled yelling coming from inside the building, though she supposed Cyrus was doing much of the yelling. He hated Raith’s with a passion since she had told her story, and the fact they continue to send assassins to hasten her demise didn’t help his temperament of them, either. She jumped as she heard the door being ripped open harshly and a stream of long violent curse words coming from a voice she knew well. Then she saw General Coldran and one of his soldiers dragging Cyrus out by his arms.
“You son of a bitch! You come near her and I’ll rip you’re damn head off!” Cyrus was jerking as someone walked out after them. She recognized his face immediately. He was one of the guards who beat her when she tried to run away. He had a smug grin on his face.
“What happened?” Rai asked as she came up toward them, pulling the soldier off of Cyrus and wrapping a hand around his arm.
“Nothing,” Cyrus replied, still glaring at the new leader of the Raith clan.
“Well, something had to have!” Rai snapped. She looked at Coldran. “General, I order you to tell me what happened.”
“Er...” Coldran looked to Cyrus and then to Rai. “Eh...”
“I order you!”
“This... Mr. Lumeur said that you... willingly slept with him and his men in order to escape. But, when they didn’t let you go they... erm... Took you by force...”
“Its called rape, dimwit.” Lumeur grinned and his eyes scanned over Rai as she stood wearing a flattering blue riding gown.
“I’ll kill you!” Cyrus roared and managed to jerk away from Coldran, and easily away from Rai.
“Cyrus no!” Rai tried to stop him but it was too late. Cyrus slammed into Lumeur and they rammed into the wall of the town hall. “He wants this. Kill him and it will start a civil war! Its okay... It didn’t really happen, you know that.”
“He’s dishonoring... slandering you...” Rai knew that wasn’t it. Cyrus was taking Lumeur’s words as threats of what he would do... not what he did. After all that’s how Lumeur made threats. Like the time he warned Rai about people making attacks against her life... And a Raith attacked her that night.
“Cyrus please... We can’t afford a civil war!” Rai’s eyes sparkled with determination.
“Well, now I know whose really the leader... A pathetic woman...” Cyrus growled and Rai motioned for the guards to get Cyrus away from Lumueur. They grabbed the two men and pulled them away from each other. “Such strong words, king... Should I take them to heart?” He spoke to Cyrus about threatening to kill him.
“No,” Rai said and stepped in between the two. “Please, we don’t want a civil wore.”
“That’s more like it,” said the Raith. “Humble yourself before me woman.”
“I’m not humbling myself, I’m being reasonably polite. But, try me further and Cyrus will get to have his chance. I’m tired of fighting. I’m tired of it all. You will succumb to the demands of setting the women free or my vast army will poor down upon this town and crush it in a single night I’m not afraid to give the word, Raith!” She said the word Raith with the same coldness as he said the word woman. “And I will stip you of your power.”
“You haven’t got that kind of power, witch!” Lumeur said coldly.
Suddenly he flew back, out of the arms of the guards, and against the way harshly. “Then, I will wipe you’re race from this earth.”
“So quickly. You’ve become Shea so quickly.” He was still taunting her. Rai was only making it worst with her threats.
“Good day, Lumeur,” she turned and went to her yellow horse.
“See you soon, woman,” he commented with a smirk.
Cyrus’s fists were clenched so lightly that what little nails he had dug into his palms to bring blood to the surface. He had to use all his will power to hold himself back. He didn’t want to risk getting there small fifteen man unit attacked by these Raiths. He really didn’t want to risk Rai getting attacked by them either.
“We’re leaving,” Cyrus growled and mounted his horse next to Rai. He glared one last time at Lumeur.
They road almost all day and all night and they stopped towards midnight to rest. They would rest and arrive in Arroes by the afternoon the next day.
Cyrus walked into the tent after having a few words with the men. He didn’t feel comfortable staying in the dessert after the heated conversation with the Raiths. They might attack them in the night. Rai was kneeling in the middle of the tent with her silk robe pulled around her hips as she gave herself a sponge bath. His eyes trailed over her beautiful smooth skin, her slim, curvaceous shape.. Curly blondish-brown hair was pulled over and hung off one should, cascading like a rippling waterfall. Gods, she was beautiful.
He walked up and kneeled down behind her, rapping his strong arms around her middle and pulling her back against him. His lips roamed over her neck. Rai smiled and leaned in against him. “Had a good day, my love?” she asked with a humorous tone in her voice.
“Its getting better,” he whispered into her ear as he nibbled on her neck. “I love you.”
“I love you,” she said back to him.
Soon they found themselves devouring each other in loving kisses. Before long, they were rolling across the fur blankets making sweet passionate love. Soran wouldn’t be to pleased to know this, but... He doesn’t have too.
Cyrus took a deep breath and kissed her neck., both of them lying spent and breathless. His arms wrapped around her as he pulled the blankets over them. It was awfully cold in the desert at night. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, his body heat warming her own.
“I’m afraid of what’s going to happen,” Rai voiced to him.
“No one will ever hurt you while I’m around, Rai.” He felt her nuzzle against him.
“I’m worried about not being a good Queen. I’m worried about becoming... Shea.” She pressed closer to him.
“No, you’ll never be that foul woman. Never... You’re too good.”
“Thanks,” she said numbly and yawned. “Hmm...” She felt so comfortable in his arms. So protected. Nothing could ever harm her if he was in his arms.
“Cyrus, you’ll always love me... Right?” she moved her head up to look at him in the dim candle light.
“Rai, you know I will,” he told her. He wondered why she would ask him that.
“No matter what happens?”
“No matter what.”
“Always?”
“Always. You’re thinking to much... go to sleep.”
Rai did just that, within moments she was asleep. However, for Cyrus the night would be far too long.
The first thing that happened upon the moment he fell a sleep was his mind being bombarded by nightmares of war and death. Horrible acts being committed against Rai... In these dreams a voice claiming the God of Light told him that the only way he could save his kingdom from this fate was to welcome a man called Edamor Urik.. Cyrus woke several times and went to sleep again. Each time he had the dream, but even more horrible acts were committed.
Finally morning came. The dreams were gone, but he was too tired to drag himself from bed. Rai smiled down at him as she stole the blanket from him to wrap around her body until she found her clothes Cyrus watched her with a tender gaze as she pulled on a green riding dress, and brown suede boots that when to her knees. She smiled back at him and tossed the blanket to him, landing over his middle.
They began the rest of there short journey back to Arroes and by the middle of the day they were back in the kingdom. Welcomed by a screaming crowed, the queen and king entered their palace. Rai went to the library to do some research on the spell that was used to give the Raiths there power. Cyrus went to the throne room to meet with a few generals on a plan for attack if the Raiths chose not to give up there power.
He was sitting on his throne, with his knights and generals gathered around him. Just as he was about to open his mouth to speak with the men he saw the door to the back of the bright throne room open. A servant girl curtsied politely and then began, “A man is hear to speak with you, majesty.”
For some reason Cyrus felt this wave of foreboding fall over him to the point it made him dizzy. “His name?”
“Edamor Urik, sire.”
She could hear muffled yelling coming from inside the building, though she supposed Cyrus was doing much of the yelling. He hated Raith’s with a passion since she had told her story, and the fact they continue to send assassins to hasten her demise didn’t help his temperament of them, either. She jumped as she heard the door being ripped open harshly and a stream of long violent curse words coming from a voice she knew well. Then she saw General Coldran and one of his soldiers dragging Cyrus out by his arms.
“You son of a bitch! You come near her and I’ll rip you’re damn head off!” Cyrus was jerking as someone walked out after them. She recognized his face immediately. He was one of the guards who beat her when she tried to run away. He had a smug grin on his face.
“What happened?” Rai asked as she came up toward them, pulling the soldier off of Cyrus and wrapping a hand around his arm.
“Nothing,” Cyrus replied, still glaring at the new leader of the Raith clan.
“Well, something had to have!” Rai snapped. She looked at Coldran. “General, I order you to tell me what happened.”
“Er...” Coldran looked to Cyrus and then to Rai. “Eh...”
“I order you!”
“This... Mr. Lumeur said that you... willingly slept with him and his men in order to escape. But, when they didn’t let you go they... erm... Took you by force...”
“Its called rape, dimwit.” Lumeur grinned and his eyes scanned over Rai as she stood wearing a flattering blue riding gown.
“I’ll kill you!” Cyrus roared and managed to jerk away from Coldran, and easily away from Rai.
“Cyrus no!” Rai tried to stop him but it was too late. Cyrus slammed into Lumeur and they rammed into the wall of the town hall. “He wants this. Kill him and it will start a civil war! Its okay... It didn’t really happen, you know that.”
“He’s dishonoring... slandering you...” Rai knew that wasn’t it. Cyrus was taking Lumeur’s words as threats of what he would do... not what he did. After all that’s how Lumeur made threats. Like the time he warned Rai about people making attacks against her life... And a Raith attacked her that night.
“Cyrus please... We can’t afford a civil war!” Rai’s eyes sparkled with determination.
“Well, now I know whose really the leader... A pathetic woman...” Cyrus growled and Rai motioned for the guards to get Cyrus away from Lumueur. They grabbed the two men and pulled them away from each other. “Such strong words, king... Should I take them to heart?” He spoke to Cyrus about threatening to kill him.
“No,” Rai said and stepped in between the two. “Please, we don’t want a civil wore.”
“That’s more like it,” said the Raith. “Humble yourself before me woman.”
“I’m not humbling myself, I’m being reasonably polite. But, try me further and Cyrus will get to have his chance. I’m tired of fighting. I’m tired of it all. You will succumb to the demands of setting the women free or my vast army will poor down upon this town and crush it in a single night I’m not afraid to give the word, Raith!” She said the word Raith with the same coldness as he said the word woman. “And I will stip you of your power.”
“You haven’t got that kind of power, witch!” Lumeur said coldly.
Suddenly he flew back, out of the arms of the guards, and against the way harshly. “Then, I will wipe you’re race from this earth.”
“So quickly. You’ve become Shea so quickly.” He was still taunting her. Rai was only making it worst with her threats.
“Good day, Lumeur,” she turned and went to her yellow horse.
“See you soon, woman,” he commented with a smirk.
Cyrus’s fists were clenched so lightly that what little nails he had dug into his palms to bring blood to the surface. He had to use all his will power to hold himself back. He didn’t want to risk getting there small fifteen man unit attacked by these Raiths. He really didn’t want to risk Rai getting attacked by them either.
“We’re leaving,” Cyrus growled and mounted his horse next to Rai. He glared one last time at Lumeur.
They road almost all day and all night and they stopped towards midnight to rest. They would rest and arrive in Arroes by the afternoon the next day.
Cyrus walked into the tent after having a few words with the men. He didn’t feel comfortable staying in the dessert after the heated conversation with the Raiths. They might attack them in the night. Rai was kneeling in the middle of the tent with her silk robe pulled around her hips as she gave herself a sponge bath. His eyes trailed over her beautiful smooth skin, her slim, curvaceous shape.. Curly blondish-brown hair was pulled over and hung off one should, cascading like a rippling waterfall. Gods, she was beautiful.
He walked up and kneeled down behind her, rapping his strong arms around her middle and pulling her back against him. His lips roamed over her neck. Rai smiled and leaned in against him. “Had a good day, my love?” she asked with a humorous tone in her voice.
“Its getting better,” he whispered into her ear as he nibbled on her neck. “I love you.”
“I love you,” she said back to him.
Soon they found themselves devouring each other in loving kisses. Before long, they were rolling across the fur blankets making sweet passionate love. Soran wouldn’t be to pleased to know this, but... He doesn’t have too.
Cyrus took a deep breath and kissed her neck., both of them lying spent and breathless. His arms wrapped around her as he pulled the blankets over them. It was awfully cold in the desert at night. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, his body heat warming her own.
“I’m afraid of what’s going to happen,” Rai voiced to him.
“No one will ever hurt you while I’m around, Rai.” He felt her nuzzle against him.
“I’m worried about not being a good Queen. I’m worried about becoming... Shea.” She pressed closer to him.
“No, you’ll never be that foul woman. Never... You’re too good.”
“Thanks,” she said numbly and yawned. “Hmm...” She felt so comfortable in his arms. So protected. Nothing could ever harm her if he was in his arms.
“Cyrus, you’ll always love me... Right?” she moved her head up to look at him in the dim candle light.
“Rai, you know I will,” he told her. He wondered why she would ask him that.
“No matter what happens?”
“No matter what.”
“Always?”
“Always. You’re thinking to much... go to sleep.”
Rai did just that, within moments she was asleep. However, for Cyrus the night would be far too long.
The first thing that happened upon the moment he fell a sleep was his mind being bombarded by nightmares of war and death. Horrible acts being committed against Rai... In these dreams a voice claiming the God of Light told him that the only way he could save his kingdom from this fate was to welcome a man called Edamor Urik.. Cyrus woke several times and went to sleep again. Each time he had the dream, but even more horrible acts were committed.
Finally morning came. The dreams were gone, but he was too tired to drag himself from bed. Rai smiled down at him as she stole the blanket from him to wrap around her body until she found her clothes Cyrus watched her with a tender gaze as she pulled on a green riding dress, and brown suede boots that when to her knees. She smiled back at him and tossed the blanket to him, landing over his middle.
They began the rest of there short journey back to Arroes and by the middle of the day they were back in the kingdom. Welcomed by a screaming crowed, the queen and king entered their palace. Rai went to the library to do some research on the spell that was used to give the Raiths there power. Cyrus went to the throne room to meet with a few generals on a plan for attack if the Raiths chose not to give up there power.
He was sitting on his throne, with his knights and generals gathered around him. Just as he was about to open his mouth to speak with the men he saw the door to the back of the bright throne room open. A servant girl curtsied politely and then began, “A man is hear to speak with you, majesty.”
For some reason Cyrus felt this wave of foreboding fall over him to the point it made him dizzy. “His name?”
“Edamor Urik, sire.”