Saturday, November 12, 2005

   In The Shadows: Part II
This is the part of the story where Xalif is described in more detail... in other words it's the part I edited constantly for this short, or not so short story. Anywhozel, this is my favorite part because the leading lady is introduced! enjoy:



Xalif took the secret passage to the Queen’s chamber and managed to arrive before Lord Yuan’s messenger. He knocked on the Queen’s door. “Enter.” Her sweet voice called to him from beyond the oak door. His palms were clammy under his gloves, and his stomach either fluttered or tied itself in knots as he turned the handle. He stepped into a lavishly furnished chamber. Her guardian stood by the door with his arms crossed and his back against the wall. Xalif felt his gaze upon him immediately, even though his head was hung and his eyes cast down.
Xalif shook off the feeling of intimidation and walked toward his Queen. Her ladies in waiting were seated around her knitting or crocheting. The Queen herself held a cross stitch hoop in her hands and a work in progress on her lap. They sat on cushioned chairs, the Queen on her favorite lounge chair with a back support and a space to stretch her legs. The color, a pale yellow green, of the lounge chair complemented her auburn hair nicely and the silver circlet with dangling emeralds did the same. The dress she wore was fine cotton, dyed to match the Emeralds on the circlet. It was sleeveless and cut to flatter the bust and waistline. The skirt was three quarters length and showed her shapely calves and white sandals that tied at her ankles. Her eyes mirrored an incomprehensible intelligence, like pools that had frozen over from a winter’s chill and her lashes were long and dark. She was his vision of beauty, and the one woman in the whole kingdom he could not woo. He knelt, respectfully, before her.
“A messenger is here from Lord Yuan.” He informed her.
“You have my gratitude for the advanced notice.” She placed her cross stitch aside and stood. Her maidens did the same and followed her to a side door that led to her bedroom. The Queen stalled before she grasped the door handle. She turned and ordered, “Stay with Curucam, the message could be of important updates for the war and your special division might be needed. I have tried to keep us out of this war, but if the troops are losing your division will be the first to go.”
Xalif hung his head and answered, obediently, in unison with her guardian, “Yes, my Queen.” Xalif did not rise until he heard the click of the closing door. He rose and looked around the room. There were numerous paintings of horses and nature scenes. He walked around the room looking at them, conscious of the Guardians gaze as he moved around the room. The thought of the watchful eyes made him uncomfortable and he strayed to an empty corner to wait. He closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall.
“So you’re the General, huh?” A gruff voice asked. Xalif looked toward the Guardian, who was the only other soul in the room, and nodded. He was a powerful looking man. His build was solid and the depths of his physical strength were accented by the rippling muscle that showed through his clothing. He was older, the lining of his face and whitening of his cornflower hair were results of age. There was a long scar on his face that started from the left side of his for head and trailed diagonally across the bridge of his nose and across his right cheek. Xalif assumed it was an old battle scar, he was lucky he hadn’t lost an eye. “People say you’re the devil’s incarnate,” He went on. “And that you thirst for human flesh.” Xalif didn’t answer; he got similar remarks on a daily basis since he started working the day shift. As far as he was concerned, he didn’t need to explain himself to anyone.
“I thought bronze armor was out dated.” Curucam commented, obviously trying to make conversation. Xalif decided to humor him.
“It was my fathers.” Xalif answered. “He bestowed it upon me when I was inaugurated as General.” Xalif smiled at the memory, it was the greatest memory he possessed.
“How long does it take you to wrap yourself?” Curucam asked after a long silence. Under his armor he wore a long sleeved grey tunic and the same color pants. His shirt was loose and beneath it snaked white bandages that wrapped around his body in the areas that his clothes did not cover. The bandages created his gloves and Curucam could see where the many ends folded under to secure the fabric in place. His face was exposed but the bandages started at his chin and wrapped around his head. His bangs and the sides of his hair were exposed, its length running down just past his shoulders. The rest of his hair was directed by the bandages to rest behind him. A separate bandage started at his neck and disappeared under his shirt.
“Not long,” Xalif answered. “But I’ve had quite a bit of practice.”
“Why do you wear them?”
“Medical purposes.” They stood in silence after that, and Xalif assumed the man finally realized he didn’t like speaking about it. He closed his eyes once more and didn’t reopen them until he heard the soft click of the door. Xalif and Curucam looked to see the Queen had changed into a traditional dress that was less casual and more formal with long sleeves and a longer skirt with a train. The gown was made of rich green silk and was high collared. Even in the more modest clothing she held on to her beauty. The Queen walked over to Curucam and he offered her his arm. The Queen’s hand maiden’s resumed their work as the Queen and Curucam exited the room. He followed a few paces behind them, wondering what news the messenger brought as the three of them headed for her conference room.
Lord Yuan’s forces were in need of reinforcements and the Queen was the nearest ally. Called upon to send whatever she could whether it was troops, supplies, or both. In Xalif’s opinion the messenger was vague with details of what was happening on the battlefield. He stood in a corner listening and he assumed the Queen felt the same as she pried for any information the messenger could give her.
“Are you sure you can’t tell me any other details?” She inquired.
“I wasn’t informed in great detail myself Queen Alphedhel.” The messenger earnestly replied. “I know only that the enemy has produced an addition to his forces that overpowers ours.” He apologized.
The Queen sighed, and rubbed her temples with one of her slender hands thoughtfully. The moment stretched on, and Xalif felt pity for her. He couldn’t imagine the stress of being responsible for a kingdom, but he could see the out lines of worry as she pondered on her decision. “General.” She voiced with her head in her hand. By her tone Xalif knew she had come to an unsavory conclusion. “Bring me the captain.” She ordered erecting her head with false confidence. He bowed and quickly left the room.
He exited the building and crossed over from the shade into the winter sun, immediately encompassing his body with his cloak. His disease continued to be an on going misery for him. The rare blood disease forced him to fear the sun’s gentle warmth on his bare skin. Ever since he was a baby he was wrapped up like a mummy when he ventured into the sunlight. He learned it was easier to be a creature of the night, hanging onto shadows whenever he was out in the day. Fortunately, he had a relative with the disease. His Uncle had been his everything, before he died; his parents wanted nothing to do with an imperfect son. They thought of him as a disappointment. His brother thought him a lesser human. The people of the castle where terrified of him, because of his disease. Their fear seemed evermore apparent as he walked amongst them in the Queen’s court yard. It bothered Xalif to see mother’s clutch their babe’s possessively as he walked by, and merchant men hold their wives and turn away as if he was the reincarnation of a demon. They avoided his path, parting in the direction he faced, scrambling to get out of his way.
He reached the battlement and found Kayden. As soon as he convinced him into coming, he brought him to the Queen. “Captain,” She began. “You will accompany the Field Marshal and his troops aiding Lord Yuan. Your men will stay; the General will be in charge of the diurnal guard and his own nocturnal guard. You are to report to the Field Marshal on the morrow. Your first order Captain is to bring me the Field Marshal.”
“Yes my Queen.” Kayden answered. He bowed and left the room. Xalif waited for the Queen to give him specific orders. “General,” she began. “You will set up a perimeter around the castle. Also your men will occupy the villages and the beacon towers. I want a strong cluster in the forest and the mountain settlements. Warn them not to attempt stopping the Volb out side of a village or settlement. The exception is the forest and mountain teams, and then they can do whatever they must to stop them.” She paused and he was silent. “Yours won’t be the only team deployed. I am sending half the Field Marshal’s forces to patrol in the daytime. The mission is strictly a Nocturnal venture; it’s why I had you create such a team. I’m leaving it up to you to divide them. Remember that it only takes one man to watch a beacon tower.”
“Yes...”
“And General,” she went on. “Station yourself among the men patrolling the Castle’s perimeter. Since the captain is leaving I want the Officer of the Day Guard in charge. You will return to the schedule of the Night Guard.”
“Understood, Your Highness.” Xalif affirmed.
“Before you make the adjustment, I have some errands for you.”


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