The Price of Peace (Completed)

[guiltyvampire]

Skythe's brow furrowed in response to the question.
Could she be of assistance? Skythe wondered, perhaps.
She groaned mentally, she probably should have just left as soon as the woman had said Herald was asleep. Now she would have to think of a way to... explain herself.
   "well," Skythe started, mind working fast "I think that last night something I drunk must have been spiked. This morning when I woke up I couldn't remember exactly what I was doing here" that in itself wasn't unusual. "I seem to have forgotten my orders, which has never happened before."
Skythe tried her best at giving the woman a pleading look; she tried to live her life accomidating others, except ofcourse when she was killing them.
   "i am terribly sorry if I'm being a hinderance." she said shoulders slumped forward in shame.

[Frost]

Although Jezebel hadn't completely grown accustomed to human's expressions and body language, she had noted that the girl must be in some sort of distress or confusion.
She wasn't going to ask what a 'spike' was, perhaps it was a memory-erasing serum, she wasn't quite sure.
"We've been stationed here to watch for the arriving representatives of neighbouring countries, once we see them coming, we've been ordered to assassinate them," She told her.

[guiltyvampire]

Skythe let out a relieved sigh and quickly thanked the woman.
"I'll be leaving you now." She said
Skythe turned to leave her. The orders seemed familiar, and they were simple enough to follow.
Skythe decided to return to her dank room, from there she could do as she was sure many of the others were doing. She could watch, and she could wait.

[Farrelei]

Safroth made his way down the stairs and into the palace Gardens. Ashrose was being held in a rather large bunker situated to the back of the Gardens that was originally constructed for the Phoenix, and was adjusted to fit the needs of Ashrose only two months ago.

Cassidy ran as fast as her legs allowed her, leading her squadron of maidservants around the corner and down a shortcut, placing them in front of everyone else.
Breaking a sweat, she felt it time she arm her pistol, which she quickly retrieved, "Alright girls... Get ready."

Fern's squadron was the largest, and the slowest in the scheme.
They eventually came into view of Safroth and Fern sneered, "Be careful..."
Just then, they heard a shot from ahead, and Fern immediately froze still.
Safroth, in front of them, visibly stiffened. And for a moment, life seemed to stop.

"Damnit!" Cassidy fired two more warning shots at the soldiers in front of them, who didn't hesitate to open fire upon the party crashers.
Violet ((forgive my godmod, Frost)) was too quick, however, and in a stunning move, swung her club across their heads, knocking them out instantly.
Cassidy swore once more, "Hurry!"
Violet nodded, and the group set off again.

Safroth ahead of them opened into a sprint, and Fern grimaced, "Right, girls, GOGOGO!"
"Yes, Mistress Fern!"
They set off once more on his trail and quickened their pace.

Back at the Bunker, the news broke out of the intruders.
"Empress, what shall we do?"
Eleanore sighed, "You buffoons, they're just kids playing a little surprise game. Why are you s-"
"Sir, we've just recieved word that three of our units have been wiped out!"
"Right, everyone, get ready, Empress, my sincere apologies!"
Eleanore facepalmed.

"Targets in sight, sir."
"Hold your fire."
As Cassidy's squadron reached the front of the Bunker, they were welcomed by the Dawn Team, lead by a sneering Severon.
"Hello girlies. The kitchen's that-a-way."
"We're not here to cook for you," Cassidy mirrored the smile, but dropped her weapon and kicked it over to Severon's side.
"At least you aren't completely daft."
Then there was an explosion, and Severeon's men were blown this way and that.
Cassidy screamed, "FERN, NOW!"
"Got it!" Fern's squadron had just caught up, and ran past Cassidy and into the Bunker.


Confident of his abilities, Severon had previously given the thumbs-up for Eleanore's departure. She had just finished farewelling some of the more honoured guests of the Palace, and had just started walking up the bridge to the Ashrose for the first time, wondering where her best friend had gone, when suddenly Safroth burst through the doorway.
Bowen kind of squealed.
"Wait!" Safroth yelped dramatically, visibly beaten up somehow.
He pushed past the gawking crowds, and started up the bridge next to Eleanore.
"Elle..."
"Safroth, where have y-"
"My Empress, my friend.. Eleanore, before you leave... Please accept these. I know they're kind of small, and of course not befitting of you, but here. These are for y-"
"What."
Safroth looked up. All that was left of his bouqet were some dead flowers and burnt wrapping.
Nothing was said.
"Eleanore!"
Everyone looked up once more. Fern burst through the doorway, followed by hoardes of maidservants carrying knocked out soldiers and a disturbing array of weaponry.
Bowen kind of squealed.
Fern pushed past the gawking crowds of people and up the bridge next to Eleanore.
She bowed respectfully, "My Empress, my friend - Eleanore."
Safroth cursed.
"Before you leave... Please accept these. I know they're kind of small, and of course not befitting of you, but here. These are for you. Please accept these on behalf og your Mostly-Beloved Maidservants!"
Then, the maidservants behind Fern produced Eleanore with a boquet the size of the Empress herself.
Eleanore facepalmed. Safroth went into a rage, and Bowen kind of squealed.

---

In all seriousness, though, after all the confusion had died down, Safroth hugged Eleanore, "I'll miss you, Elle."
"Safroth... I hate formalities." She smiled, though, the smile she always gave to Safroth, her best friend.
"I will though!"
"And I'll miss you, too. But it's not like we'll never see each other again, it's only a few weeks, you know," Eleanore laughed.
Safroth smiled somewhat distantly, and for a while Eleanore tried to figure out what was going on in his head.
"Hey Elle, when you get back... You have to let me fly that thing with you, all through the skies."
"It's not a toy, Saf..."
"You're Empress, Elle. Everything's a toy to you."
"Yeah, yeah. Just look after Siberius and make sure he doesn't run off anywhere for me, will you?"
"Easier said than done."
They laughed a bit, and Eleanore turned to Siberius and Safroth and Bowen talked to each other a little.
"But, really, Siberius. You'll be fine. When I get back your life'll be way more easier, trust me. Fern's an excellent pianist, get her to play you a song or two, alright?"

[Frost]

SIberius nodded and smiled, "Have a good time, good luck."
Eleanore's departing wasn't something that Siberius really was sad about, they were friends, that much was obvious, but, with all of the separation Siberius had gone through, and the unexpected reunions afterwards, he knew that she would come back with that same positive attitude to this nation as she did now.
He was wrong about this, of course.

---

Jezebel smiled. Slightly. And sat back up on the window sill, it was very comforting, and, slightly peaceful.
She could see both ways very clearly, her vision stretched quite far, and she could just see the tops of the palace spire through the distant haze, where, beyond Jezebel's vision and feeling, her best friend was having her heart emotionally ripped from it's socket.

By he who calls her Dirtgirl.
img100.imageshack.us

[Farrelei]

((Aww...
But the last sentence sound somehow grammatically incorrect... Change 'him' to 'he' and 'call' to 'calls'?
Or maybe 'him' to 'they'?
I dunno owo))

Eleanore hugged Siberius briefly, then gave one last farewell to those in the bunker.
As she boarded the Ashrose, she felt the butterflies in her stomach twitch and fly around madly.
She had smiled so much in the last few days, real, meaningful smiles, that she felt the depression and sadness she had frequently lived harshly under in previous years insignifcant, and far away.
And she smiled a little now, too.
Maybe I really could change the world... Something so many dream of, and something I never really wanted... Ironic.

The inside of the 'castle' looked simple whilst in it's dormant position lying on the ground. Eleanore was led into a room along with Bowen, and was promptly seated (her seat was sideways as the ship was on it's side in the dormant position).

((Sorry I suck so much, I'm having terrible writer's block -cry-))

[Frost]

((Yeah I was rushing at the end because I had to get off))

[Frost on dads phone]

Siberius watched as the Ashrose started up it's engines, Violet watched also, from afar, and without as much cherished memories replaying themselves in her head as Siberius.

---

...Vivian marvelled at his newest addition to his cause.
Trale walked up behind him, holding a scroll and reading it out loud.
"It's one of the strongest of them all, it maneuvers a mixture of myst and aura into lightning, it's victims would find themselves dying a slow and torturous death, or a sharp and sudden..." Trale read out curiously.
Vivian clasped his hands and smiled, "Incredible. Absolutely incredible," Vivian exclaimed.
Then his eyes narrowed. "And what's better is...she's answers to me."

img100.imageshack.us

[Farrelei]

((Dun dun DUUN?))

There was a lot of cheers and celebration as the Ashrose left Gardaine for the first and the last time, a marvellous spectacle in the sky as it rose to the upright position, the engines burst into life and it sailed through the sky at a moderate pace.


Within one hour it would be but a dot on the horizon.


Eleanore was helpedn out of her seat and walked up the stairs at the back of the room, accompanied also by Bowen, into the Castle's throne room. It was magnificent, and made to resemble the one in Gardaine, just a little.
She was walked out onto the verandah and her hair flew wildly in the wind as they passed by clouds and over the grounds below.
When the servant retreated to get them some wine, she turned to Bowen, "I haven't flown for... Almost a year now. Remember that time I hijacked the ship?"
Bowen laughed, "Could I forget? You almost killed us both."
"No, I'm pretty sure I almost killed me. You didn't have to be all heroic and jump in to save me."
"Don't say it like that.."
"Why not? I'm Empress."
"Want me to kiss the ground you walk on while you're at it?"
"Hah! The day we have rulers like that in this Empire is the day I die. Literally speaking, of course."

[Frost]

Siberius turned to Safroth,
"So then, it looks like it's up to us to keep the peace in this city, then," Siberius smiled.
Safroth smiled and nodded, and the two trailed off, after taking one last glimpse of the dwindling view of the Ashrose as it soared away from Gardaine.

---

Shelrair tiredly walked into Vivian's office, in her hands were a plate with a cup of tea placed on top, it was rattling quietly from the shake of her hands.
"Vivi, here's your te-" Shelrair suddenly stopped talking.
Vivian sat at his desk, smirking, Trale stood behind him with his usual slightly-smiling expression on his face, but it was neither of them that caused Shelrair to be stopped dead in her tracks.

Sitting beside Vivian's desk in an armchair just as big as Vivian's, was a woman wearing a long black dress, she was looking away from Shelrair, she wore a large, frilled hat that covered her entire top of her head and cast a dark shadow over the rest of her face. Besides her lips, which were dark red and were smiling just as Vivian was. She had long, blonde hair, and her shoes were high-heeled and dark black.

"Who's this? A new recruit?" Shelrair stuttered, the mere sight of this dark woman caused Shelrair to lose the usual confidence and optimism in her voice.
Vivian closed his eyes and shook his head, "Not exactly."
Shelrair smiled and walked over to the desk, "I'm Shelrair Hemari, how are you?" Shelrair asked, after putting Vivian's tea on his desk and holding out her hand for the mysterious woman to shake.

The woman sat motionless, not even acknowledging Shelrair's existence, not even her lips, the only visible part of her face, moved.
Shelrair withdrew her hand with a slight frown, and then her eyes widened, and she knew where she had recognised this woman.
"Well, Vivian, Trale...Ma'am...I must be off, enjoy your tea."
Shelrair rushed off and after she was out of the room and walking through the corridors, she began running down various passageways, going deeper and deeper into the underground hiding place.
Her run turned into a sprint as she saw the doorway that led to where she kept Serynn.
She burst into the room, and, just as she suspected, the chains that held her victim were broken, and the wall where Serynn was meant to be placed on, was bare.

Shelrair's eye twitched. Realising what and who that woman must be.
Trale...has betrayed me... She thought, pulling up on of her sleeves to see dark purple bruises running up her arms.
Vivian...has interfered... She thought, looking at the empty room.
"AND THEY'VE TAKEN JEZEBEL AWAY FROM ME!!!" Shelrair screamed angrily, pulling out the large handgun Vivian had given her and wedged it between her teeth.
Her finger shook as it grasped the trigger.

There is no point anymore...I can't rise up now...they've beaten m-
...Shelrair smiled, and then took the gun out of her mouth and looked upon it.
No. I'm not beaten. This game has just started.
She giggled.
"I've never played Elimination before. Better go hide, kiddies!" She laughed.
img100.imageshack.us

[Farrelei]

((Omfg yes.
How awesome Dx
I'm seriously gonna have to think about how to reply to that.
Just.. awesome.))

[Farrelei]

Night had fallen.
Safroth took another mouthful of the dinner. He sat at the right of Siberius, opposite the so-called prisoner Savannah, who, for a prisoner, had a rather generous spot at tonight's dinner.
It was Siberius' first night in the Palace after Eleanore had left.
There was a few important guests, but the size quite small in comparison to the other celebrational gatherings they had been having lately.

At the other end of the continent, the Ashrose had stopped at a small, less-travelled port town for the night.
Eleanore decided to sleep in the Ashrose instead of outside, but the town was heavily guarded tonight.

McKenzie prayeed the whole night through. With Eleanore now gone, the time for Descent was too near.
Three days near, in fact.
He wasn't ready. He knew that up until the very last moment, he wouldn't be ready. But it was resting heavily upon his shoulders. As much as he hated himself, and he did hate himself, he would have to go through with the promise.
"I'm so sorry, Empress... I'm so sorry."

[Frost]

"You'd have to stay behind, your body functions won't be ready in time for the attack," Vivian told her.
Once again, she didn't move nor talk...
Vivian put his hand on the desk and turned it so his palm was facing the roof, then focused his powers.
Slowly, and mystically, a bright light shone in his hand, the light grew and grew, until it was about the size of Vivian's head.
Then, Vivian stretched his hand out as far as he could, using his powers to bend the ball of light into what seemed to be a rather odd and twisted shape, but, as the light kept twisting, the light took the shape of a bird.

Vivian stopped and the light faded away, leaving behind a pitch-black Raven that sat upon Vivian's shoulder.
"It's been a while, my old friend," Vivian said to his Spirit Beast.
Vivian's eyes looked back at the woman, hoping that she would be impressed with his powers, but, she continued to just sit there, with the same, thin smile.

---

"So Safroth," Siberius said after taking another small bite of his own meal, "Tell me more about yourself."
Siberius smiled and waited for his answer, he thought it'd be a good idea to know more about the man he [thought] would be working with.

---

Montecore sat and peered out of the grand windows in the Throne Room, something was stirring, and the tiger knew it.

---

"Jezebel. Wake up."
Jezebel's eyes shot open, for three reasons:
One, because this was the first time she had ever been interrupted in her sleep.
Two, because she was having her first dream, which was about her walking into a small but deep river, and immersing herself into it's cooling and refreshing water.

And three, which was the most important, was because she was to be woken up if anything was spotted.
"They're here. Get up."
Jezebel jumped out of bed and put on her shoes.
"Quick, out the window," Herald told her, "I'm going to go wake a few others, just in case they aren't up yet."
Herald sneaked to the room beside his, knocked on it lightly, and then whispered, "They're here. Get ready. Follow us. Now!"

By this time Jezebel had already made her way to the ground, and saw other Provocateurs doing the same.

[Silverlining]

Kitharis gasped, as the thugs slammed him in to the wall. He looked past the men, to see even more of this gang running in to the alley.
He stabbed one of man who was attacking him in the gut with a knife, and was about to unsheathe his sword, when a brick slammed in to his arm.
Kitharis groaned, as he heard a crack in his elbow.

The group closed in around him, and another man swung a pipe in to his ribs. Kitharis looked up at the man, and his attacker got a shock, as he stared in to a face out of a wanted poster.

As the man stepped back, the roar of engines slammed in to the alleyway, and a huge flying machine moved across the sky. Kitharis began to crawl away, but one of the thugs slammed into his back.

[Farrelei]

Safroth shrugged, "Where should I begin? The reason I'm in this position is more or less luck and chance. It wouldn't have been me had not certain events occurred in my past. In fact, when you think about it, my whole life is just somehow... Made of chance."
He took another bite, "Ha, I'm sure my death will be some kind of unlikely accident. I'll be lying under the roof exactly where it falls. But in all seriousness, Elle is a long, longtime friend of mine. We were both taken by the Empire as children, and on the first night here we met each other. Both our lives are closely related to this building. I suppose the Palace has really always been our home... Kind of odd when you think about it."
Savannah seems very disinterested in the conversation, but, in order to make sure she kept a healthy appearance, ate modestly and tried to occasionally listen in to the Vizier and the King.