Ultimate Fireheart Fantasy Collection, page 46
Forcing herself to look ahead, Alessandria focused on the dark grey stone blocks that formed this little section of the crypt. She could feel the cold coming from them and everything was gently chilled down here.
Considering this was a crypt in the castle, Alessandria would have imagined this viewing room would be more ornate. But at least the crypt had a beautiful domed ceiling with little flecks of gold and scripture embedded in the stone.
She remembered her Father making a joke about the scripture here after his Mother died. He said it was a waste of paper. You need magic to protect the soul, not paper.
The thought of her family being lesser magic users gave Alessandria some comfort about her Mother's soul. Even though she wasn't sure she believed in such things.
Making herself look at the coffin itself that sat on an impressively plain black stone altar. Alessandria admired the level of skill involved in the coffin. As she looked at the little details and flicks of the painting as someone had decided to paint a timeline of her Mother's life on the coffin. Alessandria didn't know if it was nice or pointless.
Seeing Daniel arched over the coffin, his black leather trench coat and trousers making him almost blend into the crypt, Alessandria took a deep breath and walked over to the coffin.
Slowly looking at her Mother's body, Alessandria frowned as she had to look at her tall, slim Mother with her well aged features dressed in her long silky white wedding dress. This wasn't pleasant.
Alessandria thought about the times she had held her Mother's hands, now cold and lifeless, and spoke to her. But now her Mother's lips were thin, dry and cracked.
A part of her wanted her strong beautiful Nemesio with her but she knew this was a family matter. Her and Daniel needed to do this alone.
“She was special, wasn’t she?” Daniel said.
Alessandria wasn’t sure if that was emotion she detected in his voice.
“Definitely. She really did everything for us,”
“For you more than me,”
Alessandria didn’t know how to respond to that.
“She did love you, Daniel. Sure she didn’t even try to understand you until recently but she loved you,”
Daniel looked away from the coffin.
“I know she did. She really tried recently. I just wish she tried after I tried to kill myself,”
“I thought it was Mother who got the doctors and witch to you,”
Daniel nodded at that comment.
“And she was being abused by Justin,”
“To protect you. You were off limits. I clearly wasn’t. Or maybe Mother thought Justin destroying my life was enough damage,”
Alessandria walked over to Daniel and hugged him. Surprisingly enough, Daniel buried his face into her shoulder. Daniel’s nose was annoyingly pointy.
“We are a strange lot, aren’t we? Mother a schemer. Father died a war hero. A gay son who tried to kill himself and a Daughter who’s perfect,” Daniel said.
Alessandria wasn’t sure how to take the last bit.
“Daniel, I’m not perfect. I love you but I do get jealous sometimes,”
Daniel looked up at her. “I know you aren’t perfect. But why are you jealous of me? I’m a no body, a freak, a family embarrassment,”
Alessandria gave an accidental laugh.
“That’s rubbish, Daniel. A No One. Seriously? You’ve helped save the kingdom tens of times. A freak to people who don’t care or even try to understand you. A family embarrassment. Really? There’s no one I’m prouder of. I’m proud to call you my brother,”
Daniel smiled.
Alessandria gave him a kiss on the head and she wandered over to her Mother’s body.
Looking at her Mother’s cold pale lifeless hands, they were laying in fists which was odd considering she never formed a fist in her life- on purpose.
“Daniel, what did Mother die of?”
“The doctors said Heart Attack, but they noted rigour lasted a lot longer than normal. They had to dress her whilst her body was in rigour,”
Alessandria nodded. Touching her Mother’s hand, she felt a sharp pulse of cold travel up her arm. Alessandria really didn’t want to do this.
Carefully, Alessandria uncurled her Mother’s hands and something fell out. Landing on the soft cushioned fabric of the coffin.
Picking it up Alessandria realised it was a piece of rough musty old parchment. Daniel walked over to her.
Opening it Alessandria frowned as she saw lots of ancient scripture from various religions. But there was a passage circled in thick black ink.
Alessandria read it: “He lives in between all the lives of us and he rests in front of the Loom of Fates. Falling asleep as he weaves the Loom,”
Both siblings looked at each other wide eyed.
“That’s what The Flamesword said to us about Fateweaver,” Alessandria said.
“Mother found something and she died for it,”
“I thought Father made sure Fateweaver couldn’t influence our family,”
“No, Alessandria. Only directly. Someone else could have been influenced to kill Mother,”
Alessandria nodded.
Turning her attention back to the parchment, there was another line or two that made been highlighted.
“The Loom of Our Fate and Faith are the Same. In the House of the Gods, the Fates are Weaved for all to die,” Alessandria said.
Daniel took a few steps back. “Mother gave us everything we need. The Loom has to be in the Grande Cathedral, the head of the Church,”
“Of course but something still feels off. If the Fates have been weaved by it’s fated for the Queen to be attacked,”
Daniel frowned. “I’ll stay here to protect the Queen and Harrison. You, Nemesio and Hellen go to the Grande Cathedral. Hellen should have returned by now,”
Alessandria slowly nodded. She knew this was a sound plan but something told her she didn’t want to leave her brother. It was too dangerous. She just lost her Mother. Alessandria couldn’t face losing Daniel. But it was her Duty to find Fateweaver and she might find out more about the Word Bearer on the way.
Alessandria gave Daniel a massive hug. “Stay safe, Daniel. I love you. Just stay safe please,”
Daniel kissed her on the cheek. “Come back to me, Alessandria. I need my Maid of Honour,”
CHAPTER 8
When I had said to Alessandria I would protect the Queen I didn't think I would be faced with thousands of mobsters at my feet. But that's life I suppose?
As I looked down from the high grey stone castle walls, I saw thousands of angry mobsters staring back at me. All of them were people from different classes, areas of Ordericous and jobs. Yet they were all here to moan at the Queen.
Well, I say moan but judging by the looks I was getting these people wanted to kill.
Again I felt sorry for the people in the shops across the Castle. Men, women and children were at the windows their eyes widened. They probably barracked their shops just in case.
A drop of sweat ran down my spine as the warm midday sun beat down upon us.
A part of me wanted to find some essential oils to put under my nose because these people stunk. The air was thick with disgusting sweat and other foul odours.
The sound of their shouting the same stupid religious nonsense over and over was starting to annoy me. I mean yes keep shouting stuff but change it up!
If I hear one more passage from Saint Arthur the Third I'm going to kill these people. Well, I'll probably do that anyway.
Seeing the Queen step forward to my left, I had to admire her. She knew she was going to lose this argument but, with her stunning angelic white battle armour, at least she could lose in style.
Thankfully there were six guards forming a box like defence around us in case someone attacked the Queen. It still didn't make me feel any easier.
My dulled blade spun quicker as I looked at Harrison on my right. I really didn't want him here. This was dangerous. I couldn't let anything happen to him.
Just admiring his beautiful longish blond hair and his perfect face as he sat in his wheelchair, I knew I might need to make an impossible choice later on. The Queen or the love of my life.
Making a little cough, my attention returned to the Queen as I saw her stepping forward. My body tensed. My hand on the cold hilt of my sword.
“Mighty Citizens of Ordericous,” the Queen said.
A wave of screaming and throwing fruit followed. Thankfully none of the fruit made it anywhere near the top of the wall.
“I understand you are angry but you have all been lied to. The Church is feeding you lies. I did not kill my Father and there is no such thing as the gay virus,”
I have to give it to her. She was trying. Failing but trying.
“Please stop this. I am not your enemy. I have transformed this country for the betterment of you. I serve all of you,”
Hundreds of fists banged on the Castle’s gate.
The mob turned furious.
“Please calm down. I am telling you the truth. I am not the enemy. The Church is deceiving you,”
The Guards around us looked at each other.
Harrison rolled forward a little bit.
“As Queen I only want the best for you but do not become the puppet of others. Do not do the Church’s dirty work for them,”
People screamed.
Flames engulfed a shop across us.
The Guards looked at each other nodding.
Harrison went to roll forward. I grabbed his wheel.
Something was wrong.
The mob banged on the Castle gate.
Magical energy crackled in the air.
The guards whipped out their swords.
They swung at the Queen.
I tackled her to the ground.
I jumped up. My sword hungry.
Slashing the throat of one guard.
The Queen leapt up.
Whipping out her swords.
They glowed bright red and blue.
The Queen attacked.
Her swords lashing through armour and bone.
I looked for Harrison.
He snapped the neck of a Guard.
Something was wrong.
He snapped the neck of a new Guard.
There were more traitors.
We had to move.
A Guard slammed his fists into me.
I fell forward.
Almost falling over the wall.
I spun around.
A guard charged at me.
I dodged him.
Kicking him as he charged.
Throwing him off the wall.
His body cracked on impact.
The mob’s banging got louder.
Something cracked.
The Queen roared.
Her swords swirling, twirling and slashing at the enemy.
More Guards charged at her.
I surged forward.
Thrusting my sword into chests and backs.
Blood poured from the wounds.
I carved a bloody path to the Queen.
Guards screamed as I kicked them.
Shattering bones into deadly shards.
We needed to move.
The Queen waved at me.
She pointed to somewhere.
I looked.
She pointed to a little-
I ducked.
A Guard’s sword swung past.
Harrison charged forward.
His chair knocking the foe.
Giving me time to snap his neck.
I threw the corpse off the wall.
I looked up.
The Queen pointed to a little wooden shed.
I nodded.
The Queen slaughtered a group of enemy guards.
So many traitors!
The Castle gates exploded.
It shook the entire wall.
Harrison rolled forward.
I grabbed him.
Thousands of voices screamed in delight.
The mob was inside the castle.
We needed to move!
The Queen sliced and diced the enemy.
I protected our rear.
Harrison pushed on.
The Queen’s sword crackled with magical energy.
A burst of power exploded.
The enemy froze.
I didn’t care what happened.
I ran over to Harrison.
Pushing him forward.
We were off the wall now.
The soft cobblestone ground felt strange as I ran.
Harrison gripped his chair.
I couldn’t blame him.
The wooden shed was only a few metres away.
The mob screamed again.
They charged.
The Queen opened the shed’s door.
I felt the enemy getting closer.
I charged into the shed.
The Queen followed.
She muttered something and the shed started humming. I thought I heard the mob banging on the wooden shed, but it sounded so faint and distant.
Looking around I was a bit confused why we were in here. There was nothing except a large wooden chest in the centre of the little shed.
The Queen kicked it and it opened. Revealing a staircase deep under the castle.
The Queen looked at Harrison. Her eyes fearful and surprisingly motherly.
“Leave me,” Harrison said, quietly.
I ignored him and picked him up. The Queen carried his wheelchair. (Thank God it was light) No one was being left behind today!
CHAPTER 9
Hiding behind the edge of a massive stone tower in the Castle's wall, Alessandria hated the feel of the rough grey stone that chilled her fingers as she carefully looked over to the mob.
All Alessandria could see were the mobsters shouting and screaming. Presumably at the Queen. She remembered Daniel had said the Queen wanted to give a speech to try and get the mobsters to stand down. Alessandria always admired her friend's commitment to being a good Queen but this was foolish.
Even from tens of metres away, Alessandria could smell the sweat and utterly foul body odour of the commoners in all their different clothes and sizes.
To a professor or someone, it was probably amazing The Church had United all these different people against the one person who actually cared about them. But Alessandria hated this manipulation. It was cowardly. If the Word Bearer wanted to attack, he should be attacking. Not hiding behind deception and pulling the mob's strings.
The screaming and shouting grew louder like a bad choir. The hard cobblestone ground under her feet broke as Alessandria turned her feet.
She really wanted to run over to the mob and fight them. If anything to protect the Queen and Daniel. She needed to fulfil her duty. Then Alessandria remembered in this case her duty was to go to the Grande Cathedral to find the Loom of Fate and hopefully Fateweaver. It didn't make Alessandria feel any easier.
A memory of her beautiful Mother popped into her head. Her Mother once said sometimes scheme's require an extra piece that you don't like but the scheme still needs it regardless. Maybe her Mother was right. Alessandria didn't want to leave but her scheme to find Fateweaver needed it.
The sound of a massive wooden stick tapping against stone reminded Alessandria she wasn't alone in her mission. As she turned around and looked at her stunning Nemesio in his strong blue and red fiery armour. And her amazing friend Hellen in her dirty grey Procurator cloak.
With these two she could do anything.
Alessandria was about to speak but the air started to crackle gently with magical energy and the sound of the mob got even louder.
Peeking around the edge of the tower again, Alessandria frowned as she saw the mob attacking.
Of course, Alessandria (and definitely Hellen) wanted to go off and fight but they had a mission to do.
“We need to go,” Nemesio said.
Alessandria wanted to disagree. What if her brother got hurt? Could she really live with herself if that happened?
Feeling a massive wooden stick tap her ankles, Alessandria turned to see Hellen pointing away from the mob.
At first Alessandria just thought Hellen wanted to go but when she looked down the street of shops and houses. Alessandria was hardly impressed. Patrols of mobsters in small groups were walking around.
“This is an attack. I don’t think they want any alive,” Alessandria said.
“Ya but we gonna move,”
For once Alessandria was surprised Hellen didn’t want to charge in and whack people. Yet her friend was still right.
“Come on,” Alessandria said.
Both Nemesio and Hellen nodded. Their weapons in hand.
Looking around, Alessandria noted the long grey cobblestone road with side streets every few metres. Even the tall colourful shops and houses on either side of the street were perfect hiding spots.
Crouching Alessandria led Nemesio and Hellen through the street. The cobblestone made her feet cold as they move.
All three of them constantly checked their surroundings. Alessandria wasn’t taking any chances.
Their first side street was coming up on the left. Alessandria raised her sword. It was clear.
She hoped they all would be.
Knowing Nemesio and Hellen were checking around them, Alessandria focused ahead. The Grande Cathedral was at the bottom of this long street that basically ran the entire length of Ordericous’ Capital.
The screaming and shouting of the mob were far in the distance now. That gave Alessandria little comfort.
She felt Hellen tapping her gently on her shoulder.
Alessandria turned around to see Hellen pointing to a side street they passed.
She whipped out her sword.
Hellen whacked Alessandria to the side.
Alessandria spun around.
Three men with knives charged.
Hellen had saved Alessandria from a surprise attack.
Alessandria charged forward.
She jumped into the air.
Kicking the men as she landed.
Two men went down.
Their skulls cracking on impact.
Blood flooded out from the skull.
Hellen whacked the last man.
His neck shattered.
