Post by shimakaze on Feb 7, 2011 23:37:05 GMT -5
*An excerpt from the journal of Ikrua Shimakaze*
The Empress held her weekly court to learn what had transpired during the week in her realm, discussing trade, commerce, external and internal events, and court matters. At the conclusion as everyone was departing, Heika (the Empress) call me before her.
*Kneels before the heika*
“Hai Heika what is your bidding?”
She looks down upon me and speaks;
“I have a task for you! Go to Stonegate and find the Lady Merci. Tell her I wish to see her as soon as possible tonight. Bring her to my palace without haste!”
“Hai Heika, by your command”
I bowed and headed directly to Stonegate. Upon my arrival the Inn was a flurry of activity. Several greeted me upon my entrance, I acknowledged their greetings and declined to join them, stating that I had a message from the Empress of Tokuno for the Lady Merci. She was seated not far from where I was standing and walk up to me.
“What is the message?”
“The empress (using their tongue) wishes to see you”
“Oh, I’ll come at once!”
And with that I escorted her to Zento, then though the moongate to the Imperial Palace. One there, I had her wait in the throne room as I went upstairs. I returned a few moments later and escorted her up to the empress’s private chambers.
*omits the context of the meeting for security reasons*
Upon completion of the meeting, I escorted the Lady Merci back to Zento, where she told me she could get back home on her own from there. I bowed and returned to the palace.
Upon my return to the palace, Heika and Lady Yoshi were talking by the doors of her chamber. The Heika then dismissed Lady Yoshi for the night explaining she which to talk to “Ikura” (using my first name) alone. Knowing my daughter ‘s face as well as I do, I could tell she was surprised by this request, but did not let it show in her response, she simple bowed graciously and departed.
Heila instructed me to sit and took a seat across from me, then spoke;
“How well do you know the city of Trinsic?”
“I know of it (holding back any details I knew) and my wife is currently teaching there.”
“Then I have sad news to bring you” she stated.
“Alatan have cleansed the city and have renamed it Kaane!” “Do you understand?”
I heard her words but the weight of them did not register with me fully. She then said;
“She may have fleed with the few that got out.” Then it hit me what she was saying.
I told her;
“My wife was teaching herbal medicine to the Paladins of Trinsic, knowing her, she would not run.” “She would have stayed with the sick and wounded!”
Heika locked her eyes with mine, and with a face void of emotion simply stated; “There are no sick or wounded!”
I could feel the blood rush from my face and hands, my fingers started to twitch involuntarily.
I asked; “Could this be confirmed?”
Heika responded; “I can check with those I know, but it is grim”
I asked her not to speak of this to Yoshi, until we could confirm the information. I thanked her for words and bowed, departing on legs that were weak and wobbly.
I made my way downstairs to find Lady Yoshi, my daughter waiting for me. I looked into her eyes as I approached and saw in them the face of her mother. She and her mother could have been sisters, she reminded me so much of her. My thoughts were snapped back when I heard Yoshi say; “Father!”
I looked at her snapping; “see to the empress!” I slipped my unsteady feet into my boots, tied my mempo back in place and placed my helm upon my head.
Yoshi started to say something to me as I mounted my steed, I shouted to her; “Girl do your duty!!!”
And rode off leaving her voice in the wind as I headed towards Trinstic!
The Empress held her weekly court to learn what had transpired during the week in her realm, discussing trade, commerce, external and internal events, and court matters. At the conclusion as everyone was departing, Heika (the Empress) call me before her.
*Kneels before the heika*
“Hai Heika what is your bidding?”
She looks down upon me and speaks;
“I have a task for you! Go to Stonegate and find the Lady Merci. Tell her I wish to see her as soon as possible tonight. Bring her to my palace without haste!”
“Hai Heika, by your command”
I bowed and headed directly to Stonegate. Upon my arrival the Inn was a flurry of activity. Several greeted me upon my entrance, I acknowledged their greetings and declined to join them, stating that I had a message from the Empress of Tokuno for the Lady Merci. She was seated not far from where I was standing and walk up to me.
“What is the message?”
“The empress (using their tongue) wishes to see you”
“Oh, I’ll come at once!”
And with that I escorted her to Zento, then though the moongate to the Imperial Palace. One there, I had her wait in the throne room as I went upstairs. I returned a few moments later and escorted her up to the empress’s private chambers.
*omits the context of the meeting for security reasons*
Upon completion of the meeting, I escorted the Lady Merci back to Zento, where she told me she could get back home on her own from there. I bowed and returned to the palace.
Upon my return to the palace, Heika and Lady Yoshi were talking by the doors of her chamber. The Heika then dismissed Lady Yoshi for the night explaining she which to talk to “Ikura” (using my first name) alone. Knowing my daughter ‘s face as well as I do, I could tell she was surprised by this request, but did not let it show in her response, she simple bowed graciously and departed.
Heila instructed me to sit and took a seat across from me, then spoke;
“How well do you know the city of Trinsic?”
“I know of it (holding back any details I knew) and my wife is currently teaching there.”
“Then I have sad news to bring you” she stated.
“Alatan have cleansed the city and have renamed it Kaane!” “Do you understand?”
I heard her words but the weight of them did not register with me fully. She then said;
“She may have fleed with the few that got out.” Then it hit me what she was saying.
I told her;
“My wife was teaching herbal medicine to the Paladins of Trinsic, knowing her, she would not run.” “She would have stayed with the sick and wounded!”
Heika locked her eyes with mine, and with a face void of emotion simply stated; “There are no sick or wounded!”
I could feel the blood rush from my face and hands, my fingers started to twitch involuntarily.
I asked; “Could this be confirmed?”
Heika responded; “I can check with those I know, but it is grim”
I asked her not to speak of this to Yoshi, until we could confirm the information. I thanked her for words and bowed, departing on legs that were weak and wobbly.
I made my way downstairs to find Lady Yoshi, my daughter waiting for me. I looked into her eyes as I approached and saw in them the face of her mother. She and her mother could have been sisters, she reminded me so much of her. My thoughts were snapped back when I heard Yoshi say; “Father!”
I looked at her snapping; “see to the empress!” I slipped my unsteady feet into my boots, tied my mempo back in place and placed my helm upon my head.
Yoshi started to say something to me as I mounted my steed, I shouted to her; “Girl do your duty!!!”
And rode off leaving her voice in the wind as I headed towards Trinstic!
