The Missing Queen

[PixieDust]

@TechEwok Chilania let out a triumphant war cry as she raised her dire wolf fang twin blades above her head. She had finally beaten the tribe's most formidable warrior, Chalassa in a duel. This, she was sure, would make her mother, Queen Medea, proud of her at last.


Chalice who had been wiping her sword clean, nodded her approval at the princess's strength, neither of them paying much attention to Chilania's servant, sitting not too far away from them at the edge of the training pavillion.

 

[Dirtbear]

"The Lakati princess has remarkable skills, Axius. Why don't you take her as your bride and take her under the heavens? Surely you've considered the possibility, no?" Valden spoke to him, pacing nearby in his pale blue transparent form. Valden was a spirit guide only visible to his charge and the Shaman King, who happened to be slain in the Lakati raid. Valden looked down onto the training yard and could sense the world around him, the princess' pride embellishing inside her after feeling accomplished.


"If she hadn't slain our people, I might have those fantasies. Instead, I fantasize spreading her along logs and letting the ravens peck at her flesh, the wolves devour her organs, and the worms decompose her rotting carcass where she stood." Axius replied to his spirit. He looked onward to the barbarians as he brushed dust off his thigh. His hate had grown for the barbarians over the span of his captivity. Though fierce warriors they were, the deaths of his people still loomed in his heart when he looked at them. He passed a hand down his braided beard and sighed out. A long day in the sun where clouds were hardly seen and no snow ever fell. He shaded his light blue eyes as he gauged the time of the day. High sun, hours till the sun fell. Axius was bound to this life of servitude under these savage barbarians. If Valden ever allowed him, he would end his mortal life now and be done with it.


Valden glowered at Axius and pointed a wispy finger, "You best get that idea out of that thick skull of yours. No champion ever dies to his own hand. Now keep to your wits, you still have a job to do."





With effort, Axius stood from the bench he sat on beside the training pavilion. "Yes, this job of meaningless toil. How exciting." Axius mocked Valden. He began to walk to the edge and crossed his arms across his bare chest. He stood there and waited until Chilania gave him some instruction.

 

[PixieDust]

Chilania"s breaths were ragged and uneven as she took a moment to recuperate from her duel. The heat was sweltering and dry as was the norm in the Lakati citadel and beads of sweat clung to her olive skin and wild brown hair. She felt indestructible at this moment, despite being out of breath, for she had finally beaten the one obstacle she never could, she had beaten Chalassa in a duel.


Looking around she spotted her servant, Axius, sitting discreetly away from the action. She had to admit that he was imposing for a man and possessed the great virtue of strength. His shortcoming was of course, being male and whether she agreed with it or not, he must be kept in his place of subservience. "Fetch me my water Axius," she instructed, impassively, nodding toward her flask of water.

 

[Dirtbear]

With a grunt, Axius walked to the opposite end and lifted the flask from the ground. He shook it slightly and it was halfway filled. Enough to sate her thirst, not enough to drown her, sadly. A sly grin appeared and vanished instantly as he turned to her. Axius took a few strides to stand beside Chilania and presented her with the flask.


"Drink. You look... ragged." Axius said in the barbarian tongue. He still didn't know it all but enough to get him by and keep the savage happy. He heard a snicker from behind him, a wispy echo-like laugh from Valden.


"You look ragged? Might as well have called her a vile savage that doesn't bathe." Valden laughed heavily, sounding as if distant in a hollowed cave.


Axius clenched his teeth and bit his tongue. There were times he spoke to Valden and it was audible to the princess. He kept his eyes steady on the princess, refusing to avert his eyes. Axius couldn't afford to show weakness to the barbarian princess. He stifled a cough from the increasing dry heat that was in this forsaken land. He nodded again to the princess, "Drink, Chilania. A victory well... deserted." Axius said, failing at finding the right word.


Another snickering came from Valden. "Heeehee oooooooh-ho-ho-ho! Why lady Chilania, what a victory you deserted! Should I prepare your victory meal with desert! Maybe we will look out from the citadel and see the grand dessert!! HA-HA!" Valden laughed raucously and patted Axius' back in good fun. "Ooooh Axius, you must pay closer attention to my teachings before you put your boot in your mouth again."





Axius took in a deep breath, barely containing his rage with the pestering ghost that followed him everywhere. "I swear by the heavens, I WILL FIND A WAY TO END YOU VALDEN! Now, let me be." Laughter faded away slowly as Valden left Axius there to try to salvage himself from embarrassment.

 

[PixieDust]

Chilania took the flask from him and drank deeply. The cool water replenished her greatly. At times, she felt uncomfortable letting men who were clearly strong and capable live as subservients. After all, it was not as if she and her fellow Lakati could not do any of the menial tasks themselves.


Before she could think on this further, however, she was interrupted by the warrior guardian, Droghia, who walked over to them with a stern, dutiful air. Droghia bowed her head to the princess, Chalassa, and even Axius (she did not resent men as most Lakati did. If anything she was dangerously fascinated with them.).


"Lakata Medi, I must inform you that the Lakata is missing from the citadel and has been for the past 14 hours." She announced.


Chilania's blood seemed to run cold and her expression became filled with a mixture of rage and worry. "Her mother could not be missing. It put her strength into question and should she be found, she would be sacrificed to Locahoa.

 

[Dirtbear]

Words were spoken between the new barbarian and the princess. Axius could only interpret the conversation in broken words. Lakata. Citadel. Missing. His eyes narrowed as he tried to interpret the meaning. By the context and the face the princess held, Axius' guess was correct. The barbarian queen he fought, had gone missing. He showed no expression but inside his mind, his thoughts roamed different directions.


"Valden. Valden, come. It seems the barbarian queen is missing. Do you know anything about this?" Axius questioned the empty space.


Like smoke, Valden's form appeared from the earth. His figure having an ambiguous form, spoke with caution. "No, this is terrible. Do you not understand the severity of this? If the Queen is absent for a long period of time without any reason of absence, another Lakati with ambitions could challenge her position and overthrow the current Queen." Valden passed a hand throw his ghastly hair and "Though, I'm sure none of this matters to you. Bearing the banner of vengeance and death in your heart and all. The Queen would be sacrificed to their god, deity, or other being regardless."





Axius took in a breath and thought of it all. The Queen was the one who challenged Axius and stood unscathed with him. She deserved honor and recognition for being Axius' equal. Only one thing surfaced in his thoughts, finding the Queen. Axius positioned himself beside Chilania and bowed his head slightly, "Chilania, my hammer and shield are yours. Aid you in locating Lakata." His barbaric tongue still not any good, Valden's snickering confirming it.

 

[PixieDust]

Chilania's mind was still racing, obsessing over the whereabouts of her mother. She needed to leave as soon as she possibly could, though she had no objective view of the world outside these crudely built walls. Although she told herself she was strong enough to face anything the primitive world threw at her, inside her heart she knew she was gullible and completely unprepared. She had never seen an elf, nor a dwarf, nor an orc, but as Axius spoke to her in her language, she realised he was a perfect middle man to the outside world.


She eyed him thoughtfully. He was an imposing figure indeed, with his tall and built figure and rippling muscles that never seemed to end. He could probably put the fear of the gods into most, but that was not where her interest lay, after all she could do the same if she so wished. Axius was no diplomat, but he did not lose his temper nearly as quickly as she did and he had seen the outside world at least once in his life. Though she truly disliked the idea, she knew she must take him with her, not to fight, but to negotiate.


"I do not like it, but I shall need your aid carrying my possessions. "She said curtly, nodding to him almost as though she was looking right through him. "We will leave immediately, without any other warriors." She glared at all the women around her before picking up her twin blades and setting them in her bear skin sheaths at either side of her waist. "Come Axius, gather whatever belongings you have and find me a map."