Thursday, November 17, 2005

   no electricity...
I know i will be sad to not be able to post and catch up with all of your lives, but this weekend the electricity in my house will be off because we're working with the circutry. >.< we're also cleaning out the garage. So I will probably be like my newfriend tenchi K and develop and ulser from working in the garage alone. I'm the muscle, my moms so lame and weak and my bro doesn't get off his @$$ long enough to do anything. So.... this post will be extra super long. Mwahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!! bask in the longness!!! I SAID BASK!!!!

Last Part!!!!!

Xalif knocked on the door of the Queen’s chamber. The two of them heard a shuffling and the door opened a cracks width. “What is it!” boomed Curucam’s voice.
“The Volb have already invaded. The message was a hoax.” Xalif answered urgently. The door swung open and Curucam stepped out and grabbed his wet shirt collar, sending a trickle of water down his front.
“This better not be a joke.” Curucam warned through gritted teeth. He threw Xalif inside, who stumbled to get his footing. Luin walked toward him, sliding past Curucam timidly. They watched as Curucam strode to the Queen’s bedroom door, it opened as he lifted his hand to knock. The Queen stood in the doorway wearing a silk robe over a frilly dressing gown. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, “What’s going on?”
“These two say the messenger was a hoax and the Volb have already invaded.” Curucam informed her. The Queen’s eyes widened and she looked toward Xalif and the deaf soldier.
“Tell me it’s a lie.” She pleaded; it made Xalif sorry he had to tell her the truth.
“I can’t.” He told her. “This soldier came from the Forest division. He says the Volb are already at the edge of the forest.”
“Then who sent the messenger?” the Queen asked Luin. Xalif tapped the man’s shoulder and signed the Queen’s question. She and Curucam observed with questioning stares.
“He’s deaf.” He explained. Luin signed aggressively, with a scowl on his face.
“Some one on the inside,” Xalif translated. “Most likely staged to weaken the castle’s guard, the Field Marshal believes someone hired the messenger.”
“Yes, but who is powerful enough to keep word of the Volb’s breach from reaching the castle?” Curucam asked.
“The Volb themselves,” The Queen answered. “They surround a city and leave no one alive.”
“They slipped past the beacons...” Curucam protested.
“Or they waited for the guard to fall asleep.” Xalif interjected. “There was only one guard when they slipped past, and no man can stand more than eighteen hours on duty before the needs of sleep overtake their senses.”
“But the other beacon guards should see the massive army coming into the territory.” The Queen rationalized.
“Not if the offenders are smart.” Curucam reasoned. “They could kill the one guard and sneak passed in small groups.”
“Dressed for battle?” Xalif asked. “It’s impossible, the villagers would notice.”
“Alright, what’s your thesis, huh?” Curucam retorted. “They kill all the beacon guards?”
“Exactly,” Xalif answered. Curucam shook his head in disbelief. “It’s not impossible. Once you’ve killed the guard you don’t need to worry about that tower. Move on to the next one and wait for them to mess up. If you kept doing this...”
“You could disarm every beacon tower.” The Queen finished her eyes wide with shock. An uncomfortable silence followed. Curucam scowled grabbing Xalif’s throat with one of his strong hands. “How do you know all of this?” He inquired, lifting Xalif off of his feet.
“It’s a statistic, all of the ex-captains...” Xalif choked; Curucam’s grip was cutting off his airway. The pressure of Curucam’s hold was surprising, and his vision was blurred. He clawed the hands at his neck, desperate to breath. He choked as the pressure increased, and thought his neck would break.
“Stop it.” The Queen’s voice sounded. The pressure at Xalif’s neck subsided and he fell to the floor. He gasped for air, and rubbed his neck tenderly. “Violence will not solve this issue.” The Queen told them. “We’ll have to wait for them here. I want you to act as nothing happened, in case there is a link to the traitor within the castle. It will remain between the four of us.” Xalif choked his understanding and was helped out by Luin. The two of them walked to the battlement and took up places among the watch.
Why didn’t you defend yourself? Luin asked.
What do you mean? Xalif signed back. Luin pointed to the rapier at his hip.
You always have that rapier with you, but I’ve never seen you use it. Why didn’t you use it when he was strangling you?
If I did, who would look after the Queen? Luin nodded and signed his understanding. They went back to their vigil and Xalif found it hard to concentrate. His mind kept returning to the Queen and her silk night gown. Once he started to day dream he would move back into the rain, the cold water sharpened his senses and he would snap back to waking life. He kept doing this all night until the first sight of dawn. She came slowly, spreading faint light in the rain. He left before his men and woke the members of the next shift with a gong in the plaza. The men assembled and he sent them to relieve his men. By then the sky had changed from black to a dark grey, and he fled to his quarters. He had forgotten to don his bandages, reluctant to do so because of the bruise on his neck. He was lucky the rain blocked the early morning sun. When reached his room he stripped off his wet clothing and put on dry ones. He was fast asleep as soon as his head hit the pillowcase.
A few days later Curucam passed by Xalif on the outside of the battlement. “Where are you going?” He asked him. Curucam turned around, “None of your business...” He proclaimed.
“Everything that happens outside the battlement is my business.” he reminded, walking up to Curucam.
“Your business has nothing to do with me.” Curucam spat.
“Oh, I think it does.” Xalif informed. “I wouldn’t be doing my job if I let you leave.” Curucam glared at him.
“How is that?” he seethed. “You’re in charge of security and I’m not charging the gates.” The sarcasm in the man’s voice severed a nerve in Xalif’s resolve.
“You left the Queen unguarded the other day.” Xalif accused, exercising all his will power to control his anger. He saw surprise through Curucam’s anger. “And you’re leaving her now.”
“That’s not your field.” He reminded, through gritted teeth. Xalif grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled his face closer to his.
“If you ever leave her unguarded like that again during this war,” He warned in a menacing tone. “I’ll kill you.” Xalif pushed him away and he left. He watched as Curucam entered the castle at the gate. He entered after him, intent on tailing him through the castle, but Curucam had vanished. He walked the castle’s entire area searching for anything out of place and found his way to the garden. There was an assortment of flowers and a pond. Near the back there was a Cherry Blossom tree with a small bench underneath it that seated two people. Presently a white figure sat beneath the tree. He wandered over and as he neared the figure it became clear it was a woman, her skirt encompassed most of the bench. As he came closer she looked his way. “General!” The familiar voice of the Queen exclaimed.
“Are you aware of what time it is, my lady?” He asked her as he approached the bench.
“Is it late?” She asked naively.
“It’s near midnight.” He informed, keeping his voice void of his recent aggravation. He bowed when he reached the bench. When he straitened she was looking over the pond pensively. Her face was engraved with worry.
“I can’t sleep.” She confessed. “Not when he’s gone.”
“When who’s gone, my lady?” He inquired.
“Curucam.” She told him still staring out across the pond. Xalif wondered if he should tell her about their earlier meeting. “My lady,” he began. She looked up at him and rubbed her neck. “Would it be better if I sat down?” He asked. She nodded and he sat, careful not to sit on the skirt of her dress. “How often does he leave you alone?” he continued.
“Lately he leaves when I least expect it and doesn’t come back for hours. I’m beginning to think I should relinquish him of his duties.”
“I should say so!” He fumed. “For crying out loud, the Volb are nearly at our gates! If something were to happen to you I’d...” He stopped. He was so wrapped up in his anger that he wasn’t aware of what he was saying and almost exposed his feelings for her.
“You’d what, General.” She asked. When he didn’t answer she touched his shoulder. “Tell me.” She insisted.
“I can’t...”
“Come on, tell me.” She laughed.
“No!” He yelled in frustration. She stood and moved in front of him. She bent down and prodded his chest with her forefinger. “I order you, to tell me!” She yelled back. He stood and she backed away as he loomed over her.
“Don’t be afraid.” He whispered. “Everyone’s always afraid.” He reached out and touched her face with his mummified hand. “My love is too deeply embedded for me to harm you.” He told her. He left her standing by the pond; there was nothing more for him to say. The damage had begun, and he mentally prepared himself to be fired in the morning. But morning came, the Guards switched, and his routines went uninterrupted. He entered his room and laid himself down on his bed.
“What could this mean?” He wondered. “Surely she would think I was offensive. Lord knows everyone else does... So, why haven’t I been fired yet?” As he was pondering this over, a soft knocking came from outside his door. “Here it is.” He thought as he hauled himself out of bed and over to the door. He closed his eyes as he opened it, and slowly opened them to see one of the Queen’s hand maidens standing in his door way. He stood dumbfounded as she pushed her way in.
“I have a message.” She told him. He closed the door and offered the chair for her to sit on. She sat down and straitened her skirts. He sat down at the foot of his bed. “I’m fired, aren’t I?” He asked her, with his head in his hands.
“Nothing like that.” She assured him. “She says it’s about what you told her last night. She wants you to meet her in the same place tonight after you have stationed your men.”
“I’ll be there.” He told her, the anticipation of what she wanted to say made him tense. The maid left and he tried for hours to sleep, his body finally won the struggle with his mind and he drifted off uneasily.
He awoke and left his room, the sun was setting and his shift was about to begin. When he reached the plaza he rang the gong and his men materialized from the shadows the Night Guard assembled shortly after them. He dismissed them and his men faded into the darkness of dusk. The Night Guard left as slowly as they assembled. There was one of them that stayed, it was Luin. He saluted and awaited orders from Xalif.
Why are you still here, do they not have use for you in the forest? Xalif asked him
The Field Marshal has resorted to sneak attacks. He says I make too much noise. Luin signed sheepishly.
I want you patrol the battlement. He signed. Luin saluted and left as the guards from the day shift sauntered into the plaza. Xalif watched them saunter sleepily into formation. He dismissed them quickly and headed for the garden. When he arrived the Queen was sitting on the bench beneath the cherry blossom tree once again. He crossed the bridge and bowed before her. “You wished to see me, my Queen?”
“I did.” She replied. Xalif looked up from his bow to see the Queen smiling with a quiet affection toward him. He was flattered she wanted to meet with him. She patted the space of bench beside her and he sat down.
“Might I ask why you wished me here?” He asked. The Queen laughed, and pushed his hood back with a gloved hand.
“You can’t deny...” She cooed, pulling off his scarf so his face was exposed. “That you’re not happy see me.” Xalif studied her face, and knew there wasn’t any sarcasm in her words.
“Listen...” He spoke in a gentle tone. She put her finger on his lips to silence him.
“You listen,” She instructed. She took her finger from his lips and he waited. “I fired Curucam this morning.”
“You did?” He asked, not able to hide his surprise.
“Yes, he was unhappy about it. He made a scene and carried on so much I had to get the guards at the end of the hall to throw him out of my apartments.” She paused and Xalif saw worry creep onto her beautiful features. “He threatened me.” She went on. “That’s why I had my hand maiden tell you to meet me here. I’m afraid he might betray me.”
“Have you seen him lately?” He asked her.
“No.” She answered; she looked back at him questioningly. “Why do you ask?”
“He knows the secret passages.” He told her.
“You don’t think he would lead anyone here...” The Queen gasped. Her eyes widened as she cupped her hand over her gaping mouth.
“He must not...” Curucam’s voice sounded from their right. The General turned swiftly to see Curucam standing a few feet away. “Other wise he would have realized sooner.” Xalif stood drew his rapier. He threw back his cape and drew the Queen close with the free arm.
“Realized what?” He inquired, tensed for Curucam’s attack.
“I could easily lead anyone through the secret passages, now that the Field Marshal’s forces are diminishing day by day. For instance...” He snapped his fingers and a Volb man from behind the tree charged at them with a pike. Xalif evaded it and pulled the queen out of the way, she screamed, filled with fright, in his ear. The man ran past before he could change direction and Xalif sliced the man’s thigh with the blade of his rapier. The pike master swung the weapon laterally and Xalif made the Queen duck under the attack. He sheathed his rapier and picked her up while the pike master used the centrifugal force of his swing so the pike would circle around his body while controlling the direction with his arms. When the blade came toward them it was angled lower and Xalif was able to jump it. He landed on the flat side of the blade breaking it off the long pole it was attached to. He then ran to the other end of the area before the pike master could swing again. He and the Queen watched as Curucam approached the pike master with an unsheathed rapier.
“You’re a disappointment.” He voiced as he slit the man’s throat. The Queen screamed again as they watched the man’s blood squirt from his arteries and ooze from his mouth and neck. He fell to the ground with a sickening gurgle.
Xalif unsheathed his rapier once more as Curucam stepped to ward them. He raised the rapier to guard as Curucam rose to attack. “Step away.” He told the Queen, nudging her behind him. When Curucam brought his rapier down Xalif guarded the attack. Curucam swung at Xalif with his free hand. Xalif dodged pulling back and was glad that he didn’t run into the Queen. She had retreated to the tree where he could clearly see her. Curucam advanced and the two of them danced back and forth easily parrying each other’s attacks. Curucam got tired of the dance and started to fight more aggressively. Xalif remained loose, parrying Curucam’s aggressive advances. Once his opponent started to sweat he started attacking, with a greater force than Curucam. He had the advantage he needed as Curucam’s parries became sloppy. He stepped back instead of advancing and waited for Curucam to attack. The man fell right into his trap, swinging laterally. Xalif parried and twisted his wrist around causing the rapier in Curucam’s to fly out of his hands and into the pond. Curucam stared at the tip of Xalif’s rapier, now at eye level with him. “Give me a reason.” Xalif demanded.
Curucam hit the rapier aside with the back of his hand and came at Xalif reaching out for his throat. Xalif dodged his hands and reluctantly swung his rapier at Curucam’s neck. He coughed sputtering blood and crumpled to the ground, the same sickening gurgle sounded as he landed. Xalif looked in the direction of the Queen as he sheathed his rapier; she was still standing beside the tree. He walked over to her, and saw that she was wide eyed with terror even though the danger had passed. “It’s alright, my lady,” He told her touching her shoulder lightly. She blinked out of her frightened stupor and looked up at him. He touched the side of her face, “You’re safe.” She embraced him and began to cry. He didn’t know why, no one but her enemies were dead, but he comforted her anyway. When she was done sobbing he took her to her apartments and asked the guards to watch over her. He then tightened security around the secret passageways and discovered two more armed Volb soldiers. He killed them on sight, and took the bodies, as well as the pike masters and Curucam’s to be burned at the coroner’s. He was on the battlement when dawn broke. He wrapped the scarf around his head and hooded himself, watching the path as the light defined its edges. As the light grew he saw movement within the trees, he whistled a signal to his division and the men lined up in front of the castle. He waited and watched as a party of men walked out of the forest toward the castle. The let up a hardy shout and clamored on gaily, singing songs. One of his men in front of the castle turned and cupped his hands around his mouth. “IT’S OUR PARTY, GENERAL!!” he shouted up to him. “THEY ARE SINGING SONGS OF VICTORY!!!”
The army fought in the forests using stealth and sneak attacks and had won the conflict that night. The soldiers who died in battle were buried in the cemetery near the castle’s church; among them was the body of Kayden. Xalif attended the funeral and saw his parent’s for the first time in his life. They shunned him, as usual, and caused a scene so horrible that he was asked to leave the ceremony. He stood by the church door and watched as his brother’s body was placed in the Earth. It brought tears to his eyes, he had brought flowers, prayers, and compassion; all of it unwanted.
His feet carried him into the cemetery, and he wandered the far side of the rows of head stones until he found the one he was looking for. It read: R.I.P, General William Drake, beloved uncle, died in service. It was all he had been able to afford when he passed away. He wanted to erect a memorial of his uncle’s likeness to mark the grave, but his mother and father wouldn’t chip in for one. He placed the unwanted roses over his Uncle’s grave. He stood for a long time, slowly coming to terms with his emotions. He balanced being stiffed by his parents with the logic that they never, truly, wanted him and that he shouldn’t make any efforts to comfort them. But the loss of his brother was a burden, and streams of tears fell from his eyes and wet the scarf. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned up to see the Queen accompanied by the priest. “I heard...” she explained. “They’ve left his grave... do you want to say you’re condolences?” Xalif shook his head and wiped his eyes with his bandaged hands.
“No, they don’t want me, so I don’t want any part of them.” He told her, trying to convince himself.
“In that case, I better go start the sermon.” The priest voiced. He patted Xalif on the shoulder and left.
“I came over here to think about my life and I found these roses belonged at this grave.” Xalif told the Queen when the priest was out of earshot.
“Who’s buried here?” She asked.
“My Uncle,” He told her. He bent down and plucked one rose from the bouquet. “He shared my affliction, and was the only relative that would take me in. He taught me everything...” He handed her the rose, and she accepted it. “...including the formalities of courtship.” He offered his arm and she linked hers with his. They walked out of the graveyard and into the church, the acolytes closing the grand oak doors behind them.

Thus, concludes my story.... Mwahahahahahaha!!!! Seriously, i didn't know where to divide it because the climax was involved. Also I have a good add for you:

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