Chapter Seventeen

Words could not form to explain what Elidra, Shani and Kerve witnessed outside of Blackroot. Sickening grounds seemed to span from the base of the Tower peaking from behind twisted and gnarled vegetation. Dead and hardened to stone, it released a smell that took everything Elidra had to keep her stomach from wrenching.

Carefully they had moved around what appeared to be countless Rhiyan soldiers. Kerve and Shani instantly pulled their troops back and began sending reconnaissance teams out. In short order the count mounted to more than ten times their numbers, a far cry beyond what the generals felt could be conquered or broken. To her dismay, Elidra gave the order for the main soldiers to carefully escort the litter carrying Vrok toward Tova under the leadership of General Kerve.

Shani maintained a small escort to help keep Elidra safe as they continued to watch the armies as more seemed to arrive in a steady stream. There was no denying it was an invasion force, yet they were almost gathering too far to attack Tova.

As night fell, Elidra slipped from her tent and moved beyond any potential eyes. Once clear Elidra slipped from her clothes and took to her leopard form. Seeing with eyes stronger than hers and moving with a grace she could not achieve otherwise, she darted in and out of surrounding dead foliage.

No other creatures moved in the night air, but she could smell every last soldier, whore and cattle they traveled with. Primal rage filled her as she smelled refined oils and linens seeping from the inner structure of Blackroot. With a low rumbling growl, Elidra bound back toward the soldiers, scanning for the largest test.

Carefully she moved from one dimly lit area to another. Padding carefully Elidra spun her head to follow the scent of a soldier very close to her. As their eyes met, he moved to call out. Instantly Elidra bound at him, closing her powerful mouth around his neck. Effortlessly it snapped against the pressure.

Licking the blood from her snout she left him gurgling on his own blood, but not before she tore her clawed paw against his chest, tearing both skin and fabric with ease. Satisfied with her work, she continued on her path.

Easily slipping into a large tent, two men sat talking to one another bare chested, drink hung heavily on their breath. Without either noticing Elidra made her way behind their vision and prepared her pounce. One of the men leaned forward and exposed a strange series of markings that almost seemed call out into the night.

Concentrating Elidra realized there was magic around her and it was bouncing off the man as if the markings were protecting them. Sighing she realized too late she was louder than she intended to be. Immediately the man not leaning started to turn. Elidra closed the gap between them before he could finish his turn. Using her powerful paw, she mauled his face instantly filling the air with the smell of ale and the faint metallic scent of his blood.

Paint bit into her side as the other man swung wildly at her with a small dagger. Growling she leapt to knock him off his feet, knocking over his chair and table as they both tumbled to the ground.

Landing on her feet Elidra snapped at his throat only to find his forearm instinctively moved to protect him. Slapping at him with her claws extended, Elidra quickly shredded the skin of his arm and face. Turning his head to call out, only a whisper escaped as the leopard crushed his jaw, ear and eye socket clenched n her mouth.

Around her the air cackled and compressed as the first man had returned to his feet, despite his wounds, began using magic against her. Elidra could feel her body changing back against her will. Loosing her breath she almost fell into darkness, yet her mind refused to let go.

Standing before the man completely naked, Elidra witnessed his attention fall onto her body itself. Carefully and gently she moved it against the night air as she carefully moved within range to touch both him and the man dieing on the ground next to them. As he raised his eyes to meet hers, horror spilled forth from his eyes.

With her foot touching the dieing man on the ground, she held the maimed sorcerer with both her hands. All around her the air compressed and removed them from the rest of the world. Everything the dieing man knew flowed through her body, only to exit into the man she held. Every ounce of pain threatened to split her own flesh as bruising appeared all over her skin.

In response, the new pain the maimed sorcerer felt was returned to the dieing man, convulsing as the new pains entered his body. Their tattoos protected them from unseen magic, but it couldn’t protect them from her touch. Mixed in their thoughts of death, she could feel their lust for her exposed form. Rage filled Elidra’s every through as she forced into both men the pain she felt as the poison wracked Vrok’s body.

Both men were now on the ground convulsing as Elidra continued to fill them with every pain in her body, her memories. Only when she felt her unborn kick suddenly did she finally release them. Looking down she knew they were dead. From all over their bodies small wounds opened spilling their blood onto the ground, causing the ground itself to hiss and blacken.

Fear filled her immediately as she realized something was terribly wrong with what was happening. While she knew her own powers, something here was enhancing them, twisting them into cruel and vicious versions of her own thoughts. Quickly she returned to her leopard form and sprinted out of the tent.

Moving between two tents, Elidra heard a familiar voice, causing her to stop instantly. Digging quickly into the blackened ground, she pulled just enough of the sickened earth back to dip her head under the tent edge. Inside the tent, sitting on the lap of a large and armored warrior Elidra saw the unmistakable face of Jade laughing with them. For a moment she thought out of the corner of her eye Jade had made contact with her.

Scanning the room there were simply more than she could handle alone and Elidra didn’t want the strange amplifying of her powers to take over again. Elidra knew one thing; Jade would not survive back to Tova.

****

“I know what I saw Shani. She was laughing and joking with them. Those that killed my beloved, she was laughing with.” Before the sun had rose, Shani had come to Elidra to find her pacing back and forth in anger.

“I do not doubt this my Empress, it’s the nature of Jade’s work. I know you don’t agree with this, but it is her craft and her service to you.” Shani remained calm almost pleading with Elidra. “I sent her to do what she does best; gather information we could not.”

“No.” Elidra said flatly. “There was a genuine joy in this, not the actions of some common whore.”

“Yes my Empress, she does her job well. It is for this she has always served. Without it, much information we have we would not.” Shani tried to keep her eyes on locked on Elidra’s.

“What if she has been playing us all for fools? Shani my gut tells me something is very wrong with what I saw.” Elidra stopped finally collapsing heaving into a small mound of furs and linens she never set out.

“I only know the Emperor trusted her completely as she had been in service to the Rakshar Empire a long time.” Sensing Elidra, after hours of debating with her, was tiring faster than what was safe; Shani asked the question Elidra didn’t want to answer. “What are we going to do here my Empress? We cannot continue to toy with the borders of this army while you do whatever you do at night. We have to get you back to our people or you risk the child.”

Elidra looked up at Shani completely exhausted. “There is something terribly wrong with this place. There are powers moving here. We have to find out where they intend to go and why they are gathered at this awful place. Two more days.”

“We will have to move back more as they continue to grow.” Wincing slightly she added, “I expect Jade any moment with her report. Once we have it, we will send her on another mission away from you.”

“I appreciate what you are doing Shani. Whatever it takes to find out what is happening here is what we will need to do.” Elidra offered a kind smile as she spoke, and then suddenly turned away.

“Your Grace.” Jade knelt quickly as she entered. After a quick look at Elidra, she stood and faced the General. “General Shani, Mora of the Black Legion is here with her legion. They are preparing for some type of ceremony to transfer power to the new Seom.”

Watching both women, Elidra noticed the shock on General Shani’s face as Jade continued to give her report but had changed over to the finger language of the Silence; Vrok’s personal informants through all the realms. Elidra was happy the Emperor had taught the language to her, no matter how much she hated it when they started.

Her proficiency made it effortless for her to watch the conversation continue. All the Ministry Legions were at the ceremony. From it they would launch offensives against both Tova and the cities of the South. For some reason the ceremony had to be conducted to empower the legions with the assistance of Rhiya.

Joliel was there as well, waiting to take his title as Seom and become the leader of the Ministry and all Rhiyan affairs. Most importantly Jade discovered the Ministry’s council was dissolved. No longer was there a representative of the original families. All of Vrok’s mutes, agents of the Silence, were killed so none could deny the appointment of the new Seom.

Jade continued her report for almost an hour. Several times she made eye contact with Elidra only to look away quickly. Once it happened again, Elidra stopped her.

“Is there a particular reason you keep looking over at me Jade?” Elidra questioned her harshly. “I find there is something in your eyes you are not sharing. I find it most concerning.”

“My Empress, I keep looking because I am concerned. You look so very tired.” Jade answered quickly.

“I am tired. I can not shake the feeling you are not telling me something.” Clarity suddenly filled Elidra’s mind. “Who me your back Jade.”

Hearing the sternness in Elidra’s voice, Shani moved behind Jade. Quickly Shani removed her weapon from his sheath, leaving it calmly at a relaxed ready. Jade shot her a quick look then back to the Empress.

“My Empress, what I have done? Have I upset you?” Jade stiffened as she spoke.

“I said show me your back Jade.” Elidra got to her feet and almost charged at the informant.

Slightly stepping back, Jade was nudged back forward by General Shani.

“Show her your back Jade.” Shani took one of Jades hands and twisted it sharply. “An order was given by the Empress. To not follow is death. Show her or die where you stand.”

Shani’s weapon sat poised to strike up through the back and chest of Jade. Before Jade could answer Elidra turned her and lifted the back of her tunic. Letting out an audible gasp, dropping the lifted tunic, Elidra stumbled back.

“Oh Jade.” Elidra’s eyes filled with tears. “I am so sorry. I am not sure what entered my head.”

Her own eyes filled with tears, Jade calmly loosened and then started removing the tunic. Instantly Shani let go of Jade’s hand and resheathed her weapon. Lifting the tunic over her head, Jade turned to look at Shani as her back was exposed completely to Elidra.

From her shoulder blades to her buttocks, deep welts and bruises covered every inch of skin. Carefully Elidra stepped forward.

“Rhiyans lash their whores to be sure they are telling the truth. Every strap has a special brand on it so it is known who you belong to.” Jade explained slowly. “If you look closely you will see several of those brands, if my skin hasn’t bruised too much. Without such markings, whores are killed. I endure this for you my Empress, as I would have done for our Emperor.”

“Jade I can heal this.” Elidra started and reached out to touch the wounds. “You do not need to do this work any further. Please let me help you.”

“If I am healed and I return to them, I will be killed. I serve where I choose. I thank you for your concern.” Jade answered as she turned and pulled her tunic back on.

“Jade I am sorry.” Elidra answered as she reached out to touch Jade’s hand.

“You are the Empress; there is nothing to apologize for. If I may be excused your Grace?” Jade knelt again and waited.

“Yes of course.” The Empress answered as she sadly watched the woman leave. Immediately after Jade left, Shani and faced Elidra very closely as she spoke with her fingers.

“I am sorry for doubting you my Empress. I don’t know what has happened, but I know this, Jade was lying.”

Elidra collapsed as exhaustion simply took her.