Authors Note: All the characters, story line, and everything else you read in this story is the property of me. I created all this from my own imagination and I ask of you not to steal any of it. I plan on turning all this into a fantasy series one day. Thank you.
******
The sun wa shrouded by clouds the day following the attack. It dared not shine it's brillant light upon the grusome sight below. And and all forms of animals stayed clear. Even the grass began to yellow, despite the fact that is was early in the summer season. A breeze blew towards the Darkwoods, taking with it the stench of death where it belonged. No birds sang, no animals scurried about, no cheerfullnes or happiness of any kind was afoot.
The clouds hung grey and dull in the dark sky above. Kenora had her hair completely down and was enjoying the gentle feel of it's caress over her skin. She had on a very seductive off the shoulder dress. A red shawl came with it, to be tied around or over her shoulders. But she had that inside the castle.
Right after the fight, she had gotten Shadowdance settled away into a stall in the royal stable, all his wounds tended to. Then she had helped attend to the wounded knights and those others involved in the battle somehow. Now she leaned against an outside wall of the castle, watching as the piles of corpses were sorted into two, one for civilians of the city, the other for the demons and Cerwirs. The pile of human bodies and remains were to be left to be identified later in the day, after all the sorting was complete. Then once identified and named, to be buried in the cemetery with proper tombstones. No funerals were to be help. Too many dead for that.
The corpses of the enemy did not have such a nice fate. The pile of demons and Cerwirs were to be burned in a huge bonfire. The bodies of the Seekers, however, no matter how evil they were, were still humans and had families. Ask had ordered families of Seekers to journey or send in portraits of their Seeker relatives. Once identified, the burial wishes, if any, were to be granted. If some of the bodies were not claimed or the family wished nothing to do with them, then they were to be buried in a separate cemetery then the city's.
Kenora turned her eyes away from the headless body of the Seeker she had killed last night. It was not because she was a squirmish person. She wasn't at all. The feeling from last night. The feeling of sudden realization that the Seeker could have been someone she knew and loved. That feeling still lingered. It would stay with her while she fought other battles. If she could ever fight normally again.
The place where her eyes came upon, was just as bad. A beautiful light brown Unicorn mare, very old despite her appearance, was being lifted from a tangle of bodies. Kenora knew each Unicorn, their name, parents, family members, personality. Knew them like she did her own family. Because the Unicorns were a part of her family. The light brown mare was the mother of Shadowdance. She never had any unique or grand name like her son. She was simply called Dusty. Being the oldest one there, she was also the wisest. Shadowdance was her first born, as he was in secession to rule over the herd after his father.
Poor Shadowdance. Having to watch as his family was killed with him not being able to do anything to save or even aid them. He was the last of his family. She found it hard enough losing her father, but to lose your whole family. She wouldn't be surprised or shocked if Shadowdance lost hope and the will to continue. Perhaps he would, though. He was a strong Unicorn. There was much he had taken in the past. But nothing like this.
"Something has been bothering you, hasn't it?" Ash asked, making Kenora jump slightly at his sudden appearance.
"How could you tell?" she asked.
"You haven't spoken much since last night's battle."
She didn't answer, just lowered her eyes to the ground. Ash never said anything to her. Didn't know what to say. For a long while they stayed silent, until Kenora spoke.
"Something else happened last night to cause me such greive and distress," she told him softly without looking up. She didn't want to say it. For her it was too early. But she had to. There was no way she could let this pull her down.
While she paused before speaking, her twin brother waited silently besides her. He could see exactly how much this thing she wanted to say bothered her. It would take her time to gather up the courage to say it out loud.
"Last night while everyone was frozen except for me and the leader of the Seekers," she began slowly, the fingers of her hand figeting with the skirt of her dress. "I lost myself, Ash. I went into a blind rage and I killed a Seeker before I know what I was doing." She stopped herself and raised her head to Ash, tears running down her face. "I realized after I had done it that it could have been someone I loved dearly that I had killed. I had no control over myself. The fear of that coming back is too great. How can I ever fight again? I don't want to become a helpless woman." Touching her face where there were tears, she moved her hand so she could see the sparkling liquid on the tips of her fingers. At first she seemed surprised to see them there. Then she glared at her tears as if it were all their fault in the first place. "Damn these stupid woman emotions. I shouldn't be out here crying like some weak little girl. That's not what I am. That's not what I've strived so long and hard to become. Damn these tears!"
At the last sentence Ash took her by the shoulders and spun her to face him. Keeping his hands where they were, he shook her slightly. "Jemma, calm down. It is over now. It has passed. You'll be alright. Believe you can fight again and you will. Don't let that one incident rule your life and your actions. You are strong, Jemma. You can get through this."
As Kenora stared up at her brother, her mind began to turn. She was doing nothing just wandering around the castle. A precious object has been taken from her mother, and no one was out searching for the band of Seekers who took it. Maybe she should.
"Jemma?" Ash asked, knowing full well what she was thinking. "What are you-?" But she cut him off.
"Who else but me is there who is willing to get mother's pendant back? I don't see anyone else moving. Mother needs her pendant back, Ash. And I'm going to go get it. Alone."
"I'm not about to stop you, sis. I understand what you are saying. Come to me when you are ready to leave. I will help you."
"Thank you, Ash. I really appreciate all you do for me. And I wish to pack for my trip today and leave, at the latest tomorrow morning."
"Then now seems as perfect a time as ever," her brother grinned. "Follow me." Turning towards the castle entrance, he gestured with his hand for her to follow. She obeyed, confusion plastered all over her face. This seemed important.
******
"What is it, Ash?" Kenora pressed. They had just entered through the castle's front doors.
"It is something that I have been saving for a long time," was all he would tell her.
He lead her down below the castle. Kenora wondered deeply what he was up to. It was obvious this surprise was an object of some kind. And an important one to be hiden below the castle.
Finally, after she thought she couldn't take the suspense much longer, he stopped in front of a door with a beautiful golden Unicorn on it. From a pouch tied to his belt, Ash extracted a gold key which he fitted into the lock and twisted it. The lock snapped open and the King opened the door.
Inside were all of Ash's most prized possesions. Weapons of every kind, shape, and size hung on the walls. There were a lot of those, since he loved collecting weapons from wherever he could. Other then the weapons, there were only various skulls of different animals used in battle. Like horses, dogs, and dragons. These sat on shelves in the back. And in the very middle of the room, perched ontop a small rectangle table, was a long object wrapped in light brown cloth. It was this that Ash took out carefully in his hands and handed it to her.
"I got this custom made many years ago," he told her. "So long ago that I can't even remember when exactly. It is made for you to use and no one else."
Kenora, her confusion replaced with surprise, slowly unwrapped the long bundle in her arms. She lifted the cloth covering the narrow end of it. Metal flashed up at her, a long, finely sharpened blade attached to a plain sword hilt. Wrapped around the hilt, with their heads almost touching on the blade, were two red snakes.
"Ash, I am speachless. Thank you."
"It's name is Sarett and is made from a most rare material that can withstand a great deal of impact and weight."
"Didn't it cost a fortune?"
"There is no prize too high for my sister. This sword will never rust and should serve you well throughout your life."
Kenora gripped the hilt in two hands and held it before her, turning it slowly in her hands. "Sarett," she breathed. "What a befitting name for it. Sarett, meaning snake in the ancient language of Magician's. I shall use this sword with pride."
******
Chairs scratched across the floor as the Magicians Circle sat down around the circlier table in their meeting room. This was a meeting called by Ash, concerning the attack on the city and what to do about it. No one knew the true reason behind it, except what Kenora was told from the Seeker leader.
"This is the worst thing to ever have happened," moaned Jasmine. "What are we to do?"
"What can we do?" Enchantra said. "We must stay here and tend to the bodies of the Unicorns, so we cannot take chase after them."
"What if we were to send out one of us to follow the band," Kenora suggested hopefully. "They can spy on the band and send reports of their findings back here." Ash shook his head slow enough for the others not to see and mouthed the words 'not now.'
"That's awfully dangerous for that one Magician," Enchantra protested. "Would be better to surround them in great numbers, then spring when they least expect it."
"But you can't attack Seeker's that easily," Kenora argued. "One would be less noticeable."
"It's still too dangerous," the other argued back.
"Ladies, please," Ash cried over them. They both fell silent, Kenora picking at the red scarf around her neck in embarrassment. "Maybe we should discuss something else."
Ash brought up the subject to why Jupiter was attacked. Kenora wasn't listening. The only thing on her mind was the plan developing in her head. It was dangerous. She did agree with the Circle there. But if she left now, she would be able to trail the Seeker band. How she was to actually get the pendant back, she had no idea. She was certain, however, that a plan would come to her when the time was right.
Chester was going to be a big problem. Because he was so protective of her, there was no way he was going to sit back quietly and watch her go out alone. Sneaking out was an option, but he would notice very quickly her adsence and take off after her. He would find her in an instant and drag her back home if he had to. Forgetting about leaving was definatly not an option. The only thing left was to gain his permission. And her mother's.
******
"What are you thinking?" cried Chester later on that day in his chamber room. After the meeting, Kenora had told her older brother she wanted to talk to him, so he had taken her to his room where they could be alone.
"Why are you not thinking carefully these days?!" he also cried out. "First, not listening to me at that battle last night when I told you to stay inside your protective barrier with Shadowdance! Now you want to go out after the Seekers alone! You'll be going to your death, Jemma. Those are men and women trained to deal with Magicians and Magic. So why? WHy do you always act this way?"
Kenora jumped up out of her seat angrily. The chair banged loudly on the floor. "You want to know why?" she asked angrily. "Because I'm an independant woman. I'm not a child anymore, Chester. You don't need to protect me from everything anymore. I am capable of doing that myself. Let me do this alone to prove to you that I can. Please, Chester."
Chester seemed ready to agrue back, but then he sighed and closed his mouth. "This is really important to you, isn't it?" he asked, staring her in the eyes. "If it is this important to you, then I guess I have no choice. You are right. You are not a child anymore. I have been too protective of you. But you must understand. You are my little sister. I want to see you safe."
"I know," she agreed. "However, I don't need so much protection anymore. I am going to get mother's pendant back. I will."
Don't make a promise you might not be able to keep," her brother advised her.
"I do promise and I will keep it."
Chester sighed again, knowing her mind just couldn't be changed. She was too hard set upon this. Too determined. There was fire burning in her dark brown eyes. Fire of determination and the will to succeed. "You'll need help packing, won't you, then?" he asked.
"I think I can manage. I have travelled around before. But what about mother?"
At that Chester smiled slyly. "Sneak out in the early morning before she wakes up. Ash is the ruler of Jupiter. He decides whether to have a party chase after you. There is nothing mother can do to stop you. She would never disobey the King, even if he just happens to be her son."
******
The air outside was still filled with the stink of death. Clouds still hung in the sky and covered the brillant sun with their darkness. Again, no life stirred among the meadows, save for the hired men and women attenting to the bodies. They were all sorted out, now. The bodies of the humans were being laid out for recgonization. The bodies of the Unicorns were to be taken care of by the Magician's Circle. And the bodies of the Cerwirs and demons were to be burned in a huge bonfire that night. The night of the attack was to be something that would be remembered for many years to come.
Inside the Darkwoods, something was stirring. The constant night ever surrounding the forest seemed darker than ever, if that was even possible. It was as if the forest was celebrating the chaos that had reigned the previous night.
It made Kenora nervous. When she left to chase down the band, she would have to pass through the Darkwoods. She could go around, but there was not enough time. Every second counted. She could not let the Seekers get too far ahead of her. That was why she wished to leave as soon as possible. However, she would follow Chester's orders-which she didn't do much, actually-and sneak away in the morning.
Once more, she was outside, but behind the castle, so she couldn't see the bodies or the greiving families of the deceased. Behind the castle were also located the royal stables, where Shadowdance lay resting. He was the only creature in the stables. All the horses grazed outside on the green grass and yellow flowers. She was near here, leaning against the fence, passing the time away. She was all packed and ready for her journey. It was just all a matter of being patient until morning came.
Thinking back to the Circle's meeting today, she knew Enchantra was right. Going out alone after a band of Seeker's was very dangerous. And when she caught up to them, what then? She should also be thinking of a plan of action. But what would happen if she had to fight? There would not be anyone dear to her there, but that did not matter. She still wasn't sure if she'd be able to fight. If she wasn't able to fight, then how was she to get the pendant back?
'This is useless,' she thought. 'I should be on my way at this very moment. I'm not waiting till morning. I'm sure I can sneak out without mother knowing. I am all packed and ready. Yes, that is what I will do. I will go get a stablehand to start getting my mounts ready while I get my stuff from my chamber room.'
Pulling the scarf more over the exposed flesh of her bosom, she slowly made her way to the stables, where she told the stablehand which two horses she wanted. After that was completed, she next headed into the castle.
It was supper time, so not a lot of people were about in the halls. This time was the perfect time to sneak away. Each member of the royal family ate in their chamber rooms, so her mother would not even notice her absence.
Whem she opened the door to her chamber room and went in, she got the fight of her life. She hadn't expected anyone to be in here. And yet, there was her twin brother, sitting casually at the finely polished table where she ate. She cursed under her breath and closed the door, her heart still pounding in her chest.
"Ash," she hisse. She didn't mean to, it just slipped out that way. "Don't scare me like that."
"You're leaving now, aren't you?" he asked seriousily. She only nodded. "Yes, I figured you wouldn't be able to wait until morning. I have something for you, my sister."
"Ash, the sword was enough."
"But how do you expect to fight in those long skirts?" he told her, handing her a silver bundle. "This outfit is made for a warrior. Now you are ready to leave."
******
Kenora stood in the royal stables, refitting the skirt of her shirt. It really was fit for a warrior. There was no skirt on it to trip up on. Instead, there were pants, the same color as the shirt. Silver. There were also no sleeves, or straps, and a beautiful loop chain belt wrapped around her waist to hold her sword. Long, silver gloves covered her arms from between her elbows and shoulders, spilling slightly over her fingers. A pattern of swirls and dots wound its way down the gloves, while some more did on the bottom of her shirt's skirt.
The stableboy came from inside the tack room, carrying a plain travelling saddle with the bridle matching it over one shoulder. "Are you certain, my lady?" he asked with concern, opening a stall with the nametag "Morning Glory." "The Darkwoods are most dangerous at night, when even the trails are as dark as the forest."
"I know, Tal," she responded, now picking with her hoop belt. The sheath of her sword was fitted for this belt, with small protrosions to ensure the weapon stayed where it was supposed to. "I cannot wait until the morning." She stopped for abit when Tal came out with a strawberry roan mare all tacked and ready. Taking the reins from the boy, she patted her mare on the neck. "Do not tell anyone which way I have taken. Though it won't quite matter since I'm sure they'll know." Clicking her tonge, she started to lead her mount out.
"Kenora," came a weak voice from inside one stall. It made her stop in her tracks. Shadowdance was the one who had called her. It surprised her cause he never called her by any of her names. For him to call her 'Kenora', something must be wrong.
Slowly, she looked over the stall door. The black Unicorn was laying down and was trying to get to his feet, but with much difficulty. His wounds still hindered him.
"Shadowdance, lay back down," she demanded. "You are too injured to even stand. What are you trying to do?"
He did not answer her until he was standing, wobbling on his legs like a newborn foal who's on its feet for the first time. "Take me with you, Kenora," he told her softly. "I must get revenge on whoever sent those Demons and Cerwirs that killed my family."
"But you can't even stand," she protested.
"Heal me some more and I shall."
"Shadowdance, I will not-"
"Heal me!" he yelled in pure anger. The amount of breath it took him to raise his voice so almost made him stumble. But he regained his balance and stared at her, with a new purpose in his life. "Just let me do this and I shall gladly accept death."
Kenora did not know what to do or say. No matter what healing she gave him, it would never heal the wounds of his heart. Never again would he have the same spirit he once had. Never again would he be happy.
But she couldn't allow him to come with her. He needed his rest. Yes, she could with her magic heal his physical wounds. However, he would still be weakened. It was rest he needed now, not revenge. If she took him along, he would only slow her down. Time was precious during a crisis like this.
On another note, if she left him here, what would he do? There was no will in him to live and get better. He wanted death more than to be alone. It would be more cruel to leave him here and not do anything to somewhat heal his broken heart. Revenge wasn't the answer. But then, what else was there at the moment for him?
