local settlement date 35,959
Start applying meaning to everything and nothing will make sense.
King Namor Zujahrah
02 kill for freedom
Orthia was happy to find out she was having a birthday party. Everyone had big birthday parties but Orthia forgot the significance of her party. She would be a queen before she went to sleep again. She knew that becoming a queen was a common event. Still it was an event to celebrate. With so many people in the castle, there were countless parties and events every day. Orthia almost only went to events when her two favorite cousins convinced her to join them.
Orthia did not want to miss any events on her birthday so she was pleased when King Rosh and Prince Morhart appeared before her in front of her bed.
"The princess sleeps her last day as princess away."
"I wasn't sleeping. I was smelling my smells and listening to the morning sounds."
Rosh and Morhart listened before continuing.
"Yes. Sounds worth listening to. And, of course, if I could smell you in my bed, I would never leave it."
Orthia jumped up and kissed Morhart.
"Before you two get started."
"This didn't start today, King Rosh."
"I am aware. And it is not my point."
"What was your point."
"What I want to point out is that if we leave now, we can still get a front row booth for the game. And I have heard that today's game promises to be a good one."
Orthia had never been to a game. She had heard about them from her cousins. She knew Draves would be killing Draves. Draves convicted of a crime.
The last few men were being placed on their positions as Orthia and her cousins sat themselves in a front row booth. All the upper booths were already full. Orthia looked around to see if she knew everyone.
"A full house today."
Orthia smiled at Rosh then looked down at the players.
"Rosh."
"What is it, Princess."
"I want the Drave that is looking at us at my party."
"He's a grawl. He'll be dead soon."
"Rosh, please arrange it for me. You are a king."
"For you, Orthia, I will arrange whatever I can."
Orthia kissed him.
Rosh was truly happy to do anything for or with Orthia. Whenever he could. He had many other things to tend to, of course. Being a king was mostly fun and games. Fun and games, however, required much attention.
He was the first king to arrive at the official's booth. Arranging the Drave required that he make a proclamation and wait to have it written so that he could sign and seal it.
"I, King Rosh of the Royal Family, request the presence of Drave 24 at my cousin's Becoming a Queen Party."
Rosh watched the Draves adjusting their various armor. He could smell already the fear. He thought about the tax collectors no one ever saw who brought in an endless supply of Draves. It was not a problem to lose a few of the older ones in the games. Many of them were unbearable after they reached puberty.
"What was his crime."
"Insubordination."
It was almost always insubordination. There was not much beyond that. Rosh signed and returned to his booth.
"Thank you, Rosh."
"My pleasure, Princess."
The first move was announced. It was Turan, Drave 24. He was a grawl. Armed only with a blunt wooden spear. It had historic meaning. The historic meaning put grawls at a disadvantage. Other times in the history no one knew about had metal axes. Another time had swords. His first three opponents were grawls. He killed them quickly, with an animal fury.
The next time he was ordered to fight, his opponent was an Urskin. Rarely did an Urskin lose against a fresh grawl. Turan had three fights behind him.
Turan waited for his opponent to attack him. When the Urskin swung his ax, Turan moved part of his body back so that the ax grazed his chest. With the rest of his body, he thrust forward with his spear ripping into his opponent's throat.
"Oh my gods. He is good."
"He was a little lucky."
"He was fast and fearless."
"He's going to be at my party."
"And I would be willing to wager half of my wealth that you will seduce him to your room."
"There would be a good chance that you would be much wealthier tomorrow."
Turan was entitled to the clothing and equipment of his kill. He was given enough time to strip the Urskin's leathers and put them on while another two Draves fought.
He could see, though he tried not to look, that the last grawl of his team was being brutally beaten by an Alois. With a chain. He had already maimed the grawls legs with his sword. His slower more brutal death was meant to scare those opponents not yet dead. Turan knew he was it.
Turan acted as though it did not concern him. He concentrated on making certain that all of his leathers were well adjusted for optimum movement. There was not much protection in the animal skins. They gave the impression that the wearer was a fighter, however, and Turan was very happy to have his groin protected like the unknown soldier of whatever time.
Turan knew he would not turn to face his opponent until he was ordered to fight. He heard when the chain stopped beating the dead grawl. As a final act of terror, the Alois chopped off the head of the dead grawl and threw it toward Turan. Turan was now very concentrated on throwing his new ax up and catching it. He was so concentrated that the ax seemed to follow a very precise rhythm. Part of it was its own. Turan smiled.
The crowd was relatively quite.
"He's driving the other Drave mad."
"He's not doing anything."
"Exactly. His opponent wants his attention."
"What a beautiful strategy. He looks so calm. He didn't even flinch at the bouncing grawl head."
"What is done with the Draves that don't die."
"They get official freedom from castle service papers."
"So they can leave the sanctuary of Castle City to find a way to pay taxes."
Rosh laughed.
"What's funny."
"Funny is being a member of the royal family."
"This game is funny."
"Unless you're in it."
Turan was still watching his ax floating what looked like a sideways figure eight. Or was it more like a flower. Someone was moving behind him. Toward him. To kill him.
"He still isn't turning. Maybe he doesn't know."
"He knows. His opponent is mistaken if he thinks he doesn't."
"Rosh. He's going to throw."
"He can't risk it."
"He can."
King Morhart was right. He knew he was right and he knew when it happened that a better instant could not have been taken to let the ax take his arm down and his body into a swing. Turan swung his ax a hair over the dusty floor. Twisting once around, he finally looked at his opponent and released his ax.
Into his opponents stunned face.
"Screaming Bloody Beast."
Morhart jumped up and started screaming to Rosh what a beautiful move they had just seen. Orthia found the whole thing a little too brutal but had to smile at her cousins.
"Orthia. Such a move almost never happens. It was simply perfect."
"I'm glad you like my lover."
"Your Lover. Won't you share."
"I could. I don't think he would if he is no longer a castle Drave."
Most of the spectators were standing either asking about or explaining the last move. The next move would not be called until the crowd had time to enjoy the immediate memory of one very brilliant show of fighting skill.
Turan pulled the ax out of his opponents face. Turan took the body armor off of the Alois and noticed his opponent was not yet dead.
"I'm sorry, my friend. In our next lives I won't be told to kill you."
"He said something to him."
"He was asking forgiveness."
Rosh and Morhart looked at Orthia.
"He didn't want to kill him."
"You are an angel, Orthia."
"Well thank you, Rosh."
"Impossible not to adore you."
"How many more must he fight."
"I'd guess most of them."
"He is the main attraction."
"But he must stay alive."
"If I knew you were waiting after the game, I'd stay alive."
Orthia smiled and stood up and tried to will Turan to look at her. When he did, Orthia was not surprised. She showed him as best as she could that she wanted him alive.
Turan sent the protective cladding of the dead Alois to the Urskin who would have to fight before him. At least two would have to fight before Turan could be called to fight.
"Good move."
"Very clever."
"Why shouldn't he wear the metal."
"He's fast. The beast skins are enough. He'll out move his opponents. I'm starting to believe he will be at your party."
"I can see he's an angel too."
Rosh and Morhart looked at Orthia.
"You'll see."
"He is a killer."
"No Rosh. We are."
"Orthia. You are breaking my heart."
"I'm sorry I don't like your game Rosh. I don't get a good feeling watching it."
"I won't ask you again."
Orthia kissed Rosh.
Turan passed the chain up to his teammate and started practicing simple movements with his new sword. He faced away from the fights and concentrated only on his sword. Watching for rhythm and patterns.
"He's going to get tired."
"I don't think so Rosh. He is playing. He is a very strange creature."
"Maybe not the kind of a creature one would want to have alone in bed."
"Forget it King Rosh. There won't be anything to share."
Orthia wanted the game to be over so she could take a long hot bath and relax until her party.
"I'm going to get something to eat."
"We've got Draves here."
"I want to look at it first."
"Whatever you decide on, send some of the same."
Orthia kissed both her cousins and went to another level to find a kitchen to her liking. She watched the Draves prepare her food.
"I'm sorry."
The Drave who had handed her food did not know how to respond.
"Thank you. Drave."
Orthia was very confused. There were almost as many Draves in the theater as royal family members.
She walked back to her cousins.
"Why do Draves agree to be our servants."
"That's the way it is."
"How many fights left."
"The way it looks, two. Your Drave, one."
"He's playing with his ax again."
"It would be crazy not to throw it now that he has a sword."
"It won't be a surprise."
"Watch and see."
"When is the move."
"It's being called now."
Turan waited. His opponent waited. Turan could feel his opponent waiting. He threw his ax up a few more times to get the feel of its mass. Just the ax. The head. The handle.
He felt when he was ready. He felt the handle hit his hand and carry it toward the floor. When he twisted around to see his opponent, he saw it was too soon. His opponent had just started to move. Turan let his ax spin him around. He went down lower.
"He's off balance."
"No. It's another brilliant move."
Everyone jumped to see Turan had spin around to face his opponent. He was lying just above the floor when he let the ax go.
"Burning Beasts."
Turan was picking himself up off the floor the same time his ax handle bit into the dirt just under the shield of the Alois. The head slammed into his groin.
"Howling Bleeding Beasts. He got him square in the groin. It missed his cup. He's bleeding brutal."
Turan did not wait. He charged his opponent before the Alois could overcome his shock. He managed to swing his chain at Turan but Turan jumped over it and took off his opponent's head in one swing.
"All right, my dear friends. I am going for a long bath."
"We shall come to escort you."
"Please do."
Orthia kissed them both and went off for a hot bath. After it had been prepared, she sent all the Draves out. She had already decided not to do anything with her hair. She would wear no scents or colours. Perhaps a translucent robe.
With these thoughts, she slid under the water. She opened her eyes to look at the fuzzy things above the surface.
When she finally came up to breathe, she came up only enough to have her eyes and nose over the surface. She liked the hot water pressing against her ears. She looked up into the sky. Not everyone in the royal family could see the sky from their bath. She was a little more royal than some of her family.
She blew some bubbles in the water.
"Queen Orthia. What are you doing."
She knew she had asked so did not see the need to reply. She contented herself with keeping very still and listening to the sounds in her head. Pumping blood.
She wondered about her desire for a Drave. She had had sex with many Draves. All her own Draves often. That was what they were for mostly.
At least for Orthia.
But she wanted something else from Turan. She did not want to tell him. She wanted him to want her.
She wanted him to love her.
"Oh my."
"Is she sleeping."
Orthia smiled and slid her head out of the water.
"Do you bring me news."
"Yes, Princess Orthia. Your party guests await you."
"I'm ready."
"Your hair. Your makeup."
"Not tonight. Tonight I will try to seduce a Drave. I want no disadvantages."
Orthia chose a robe and Morhart and Rosh helped her put it on. They both looked quite stunned when she turned around.
"Wow."
"Tonight. I wish I was a Drave."
"Thank you, Rosh. Take me to my party."
"You look perfectly dangerous."
"Thank you, Morhart. That was a pretty observation."
Orthia took both their arms and allowed her self to be guided to her Becoming a Queen Party.
Orthia's mother was waiting with torch in hand when Orthia was escorted into a great party hall.
"Orthia. You look divine."
"I feel divine. I am so happy you are here to celebrate with me."
"I've never missed one of your birthday parties."
"Yes. Reason enough to be happy and here you are again."
"Take this and light the beast so that I can embrace you."
Orthia took the torch and laid it under the metal beast. She watched the oil soaked wood take on fire before returning to her mother to embrace her.
"I haven't had that pleasure since your cousin's party."
Orthia's mother embraced Morhart and Rosh.
Orthia turned to watch the metal beast. A strange thing. It did not really look like any animal Orthia could imagine. She would not want to meet one that was alive. This one had a voice but it was the voice of a Drave trapped inside the metal beast.
The howling sounded like that of a terrifying beast, as the metal grew red. The party guests grew quiet for the sound of the beast.
Orthia could not stop wondering about the burning Drave screaming to start their feast. It was how they started parties. It was only one Drave. Likely dying from insubordination.
A nasty crime. Obviously.
Orthia was not certain.
The crowd carried on the scream after the voice had died.
"Let us eat."
"Tonight you are a queen."
There were a few proclamations to be made before the feasting. Orthia smiled and played along but she was only interested in Turan. He was sitting beside her. A most unusual event. And he had not said one word.
"I love your hair."
"What."
"Your hair is so beautiful."
"Thanks, Mother."
"May I inquire about the Drave."
"He won his freedom today. Ask Rosh to tell you."
Orthia stood up to make a proclamation. It was the only way to get the guests to eat at a Become a Queen Party.
"I am going to visit outside the gates."
No one was quite certain what she meant. Gates were everywhere. Orthia meant the outside gates. She had never seen them but she knew of them. She also knew she would have to follow Turan out of the castle if she wanted him to be her lover.
"Turan. I'm sorry I made you come here. I can see you don't want to be at this party. You are free to go."
"Then I will go."
"Take me with you. Please."
"You wish to join me outside of the castle."
"I do."
"You are an unusual queen. I am pleased to take you with me."
"I've got to go, Morhart, Rosh, Mother all my dear family. I'll be back. But not tonight."
"Are you certain you want to leave the castle, Queen Orthia."
"I have never been certain. But tonight I know I want to be with Turan, wherever he takes me."
She kissed Rosh, Morhart and her mother.
Turan took Northie's hand. He allowed a smile to come over his face. Orthia smiled back at him like a goddess. All who saw them were stunned to see a new queen look at a Drave so.
Queen Orthia walked out of the party hall with a free Drave. Silence fell over the party. They did not look back. Orthia and Turan. When they were out of sight there were sounds again behind them. Quiet whispers. The proclaiming of relevance and significance.
This was something new.
It was a long time, walking in silence, hand in hand, through the torch lit corridors and gardens. Sometimes exchanging glances. Sometimes they saw pieces of the sky above them but seldom more than small pieces until they finally stood in the tax collector's courtyard of gate 36.
Orthia stopped to stare up at the sky. It was very big.
Nothing was certain. And everything had changed.
It was backwards outside the gate. Beyond the world of the tax collectors outside the castle and outside of the gates it was the Drave's world.
chapter 03
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