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In the dusk of King Paquettes life he announced a tournament for his daughter's hand, the sole heir. The contest for the princess attracted champions from all over, starting a pilgrimage.
The air charged by the excitement of their impending arrival. Something was needed to mark the event, Elliott Witt had the foresight to have a keg for a party. Mirage placed himself at the center, retelling the same story that he just finished along with his last drink launching into a convoluted patchwork narrative. As if anyone was paying attention to the drunken tale-spinner’s story and his sluggish pantomiming, Gibraltar attempted to get him off the table. Fuse guffawed at the scene as Hound looked on like a solum statue behind rose glasses.
The revelers verbose laughter and jokes to pass time waiting for the comfort of sleep to smother the waking world.
The fire being tended to by the silent hunter glows on their glasses floating embers in the night, the crackle of the damp kindling filling the silence. Not far from the encampment there was a traveler on the road, Bloodhound saw a spector atop a black steed, piercing white eyes cutting between the trees to stare at them.
Tracking the figure to prevent an unseen attack, not moving from their place to not provoke action from the specter. There was a long silence till Hound awoke Fuse to tell him of the event and to trade off in case it was merely a consequence of sleep deprivation.
The morning light refracting through the morning dew illuminated the cold ground as the camp slowly gained momentum. Bloodhound had been the first to finish packing, giving their attention to helping care for the horses while waiting for the rest of the band to start off again. Mirage had taken the longest to wake as the dawn had shifted to a more intense sun warming the damp air, thick like a wool coat.
Jolted awake by a bump in the road, Witt found himself loaded in one of the caravans with the equipment. Slipping his head into the noon sun trying to blink out the sudden light.
Fuse shouted over “Sleeping beauty wakes, if we waited any longer we would get there at the betrothal.”
“How couldn’t I be at my own engagement?” Mirage mused, trying to rifle through his trunk for clean clothes.
The joke laid over the group, settling back into light conversation to pass the endless seeming journey. Once they had stopped to water the horses Fuse shared about what Hound saw the night prior, a chilling tale to distract from the high sun.
“At the witching hour a wraith came down the road, glistening obsidian knight atop a black war horse will o the wisp for eyes. Looking right at Hound across the thicket never stopping or slowing like a wolf circling its prey.”
The brave knights were enraptured in the story ripped out of it when Hound had re-mounted to set off again. The new topic made the rest of the journey pass faster, on the remaining night there was not another sighting.
Finding the game grounds had been easy given the distinctive typography of Kings Canyon, the valley was undergoing the needed transformation. Thankfully there was forethought giving the champions space to settle in.
-
“Natalie, I need to make sure that you are safe.”
“Papa, you are loved by your people and royals. I don't understand why you are so concerned.”
“Natalie, I have made sure that you have wanted for nothing. I gave you everything that I could. But when I am gone the world will start spilling into the space that I have been able to make for you.” His voice was tired, from his labor that he gave freely. “Natalie, it is not fair that I am asking this of yo-” a coughing fit cutting his plea short.
“If this is what you need from me then you have it.” Trying to sooth her father.
“I wish that I didn’t need to ask this of you, I hope that you can forgive me.”
“Paquettes” from the doorway, stood one of the king's trusted scholars, Nox. “I apologize for intruding but the next regiment is due, and the results are important.”
“Of course, hopefully good news.”
“A result is a result” Nox replied.
-
With a week prior to the games starting allowed the champions to become acquainted with each other. All had come for glory and fame, looking to win both the king's favor and the princesses hand but some for different reasons. Restoring their name, to use the resources of the kingdom to seek revenge, to improve the status of their house, representing another for payment, but one had not offered their reason.
The short woman with black hair and simple clothing had remained quiet, continuing eating, soon gaining the attention of the other champions. Mirage could not help see the opportunity to get a lot of attention with very little effort.
“What about you? Have you come to honor your pledge of poverty? Another Pil-” His mouth shut when the woman looked up will o’ wisps meeting his eyes. She had taken his daze to free herself from her seat and launched into him like the wrath of god, he tumbled to the ground. It happened so fast, a flurry of hits not hard, a show to make a point and Mirage would become the stage. Lucky for him she had been removed, her final point, still gripped in her hand. Gibraltar had pulled her off him, “Alright, he’s down and you’ve had your fun. I’m going to put you down as long as everyone is done acting a fool.”
The black cat nodded slightly. A thin groan from the mass on the floor was taken as a confirmation. But no one held it against her for beating the snot out of him, it maintains her status as a mystery.
Gibraltar spoke first “let me buy your drinks for the night, he is a fool that springs his traps on himself. Please don’t hold it against him.”
She accepted the drinks but still seemed to dwell at the edge of the gathering, a simple tent and no attendants to interrogate, keeping her own equipment. She was a common presence at the training grounds, attempts to get her to offer her stories were met with being stared down by her icy blue eyes. Will o the wisps forewarning death.
-
Natalie had been spending her days as the participants arrived to learn what is expected of her. What to wear, what not, what she can say, what she can’t, what she can do, what she shouldn’t. Having to watch as Nox continues his experiments with continually noncommittal answers to anyone, with her fathers health not improving. All day from sunup to sun down, till she can’t understand what she is being told and her eyes blur. She needed out just for a day, she felt guilty for wanting to indulge her selfishness as she found a cloak of a house guard.
The bustle of attendants and merchants almost colliding, she had covered her ears to transverse the grounds of her home. The house buzzed with preparations for the opening day failing to notice the hidden lady.
Traveling to the game grounds was similarly easy, finding the preparing champions. Most of them didn’t notice her, she caught rose smoked glass staring back at her. Panic cuts through her as the satire holds, her heart climbing into her ears. But nothing happened, the lock was broken, tension slipping into the background. Natalie felt her breath speed up to feed her starved lungs, she needs to hide, to feel safe. Where were her feet taking her, no one knows.
Natalie found herself at the edge of the tournament grounds, sparse traffic just a black horse next to a simple tent with no attendants, the fire clinging to life. Finding a thin collection of kindling, stoking the embers back to life.
-
‘DANGER - she’s here - hide - talk to her, she’s safe.’
Renee’s eyes open the familiar pain of a bickering court rocking her awake. Silently landing on her feet, her thin cloth sticking with sweat, peering out onto a house guard tending to her fire.
Her voice cracked and thickened from her short respite “What are you doing.” Moving to trap the intruder’s cloak to prevent them from falling in the fire.
“Oh merci” the taller woman shifting back on her footing. Dusting the bark off her gloves, turning to face her host. “I was just tending to …” her cheeks flushing seeing the smaller woman in her sleep ware, turning her head to the fire.
Renee can’t help the slight smile forming on her face “I thank you for tending to my camp, if that is all I need to take care of all my equipment.” Cooling facing the upcoming endeavour. “If you will leave me to my task.”
“Can I help?” the other woman undeterred. “I could use something to do that keeps me out of the thick of it.”
‘She is a danger, she’ll take everything - she’s safe.’
“okay”
-
“You don’t have a cape?” Natalie asked over the pristinely cleansed and oiled armor. The black haired woman looking up from patching cloth nods. “You must, how do you hope to attract the attention of a - what you are looking for.” a shy smile for her lack of knowing the intentions of the knight.
“I was hoping that my prowess would speak for itself.”
“I am sure that they will mon ami, but it can’t hurt surely. If you don’t mind, I think I can find one before the start of the games.”
“Why would you go to the trouble of getting a cape for someone that you don’t know?”
“You let me hide here. I am merely repaying the favor.”
“Do what you want.”
-
Mirage noticed the house guard walking into the encampment fiddling with their gloves, he was slumped after a spar with Hound. Observing the nervous figure approach Rampart, as curt as she was with everyone shifted as the guard pulled something out. Rampart turns to all grins finishing noting down what must be a custom order. As Mirage gathered himself the guard had wandered off, interrupting the woman’s good mood he interjected “What was that?”
“I’m not sure what you mean. What did it look like?” The grin present in her voice.
“Whatever that kid bought I will get two if you tell me.”
“You couldn’t afford it if you wanted it.”
“W-w-w … what?”
“It seems that the princess has picked a favorite.”
-
The remainder of a day with nothing to do as the sun sluggishly crossed the sky, slow to finish packing all her kit back. Exhausted from a prolonged training schedule and increasing lack of sleep as the voices become more active in close proximity to more people. Resigning to spend the afternoon training with a longbow after getting some food.
Entering the grounds there was a constant murmur and eyes followed as she made it to the food tent. In the early afternoon most competitors were continuing preparing, finding Hound, Gibraltar, and Mirage left in the tent quickly cutting off their conversation. Renee used to being treated as a danger though nothing of it, eating unperturbed. But there was something new, Gibraltar, a mountain of a man had moved from his seat, not to crowd her but clearly trying to get her attention.
“Hey, have you heard the rumor going around?”
‘It’s a trap’
“I have not, did someone say something that they should not have? Someone failed to concede a match that they lost? Or someone said something uncouth?”
The laugh shakes the whole tent. “No, there is a rumor that the princess has already picked a champion to give her favor.”
Renee staired the man down her confusion boiling into anger. What did he mean, just coming over to gloat that she would never find anything for her effort.
“It is just a rumor that was started by Mirage, all I know is what he said.” Throwing the other man in front of other worldly anger.
Mirage cowards behind Hound. “All I know is that a house guard got something from Rampart and she said that the princess has a favorite I have no clue what or who.”
‘Claim down, they are friendly, they can help.’
Her sigh rushed out. “Okay, all we know is nothing and the games start in two days?”
-
She had finished her late lunch indulging in curt conversation. Witt prodding her for more information of who she is and talking over her lite answers to bemoan his wounding. Getting a few grinds out of her from his melodramatic retellings of failed courtings and an odd story of having fought off a ghost on the journey to the tournament, getting looks from his companions.
The archery range is warm from the afternoon sun, the thin shadows from the range master’s tent. Collecting an unstrung bow taller than her, fighting to curve it into submission. Seeing the windsock, slight wind across the range from the east pulling the first shot back straining against the needed force. A first shot sailing through the air, striking high and to the right. Ignoring the cavalcade of jeers from the voices, knocking a second shot.
The fatigue fills her body as the sun wanes in the heavens, having dialed perfect shots one after the other gaining a group of observers.
-
Natalie finds her eyes lingering on the woman, her figure leveraging well trained muscles to beautiful acts. The sweat pooling at the small of her back her shirt accentuating the curves of her lean torso. The trance of the young woman left her unaware as Loba approached, a predator her fangs ready to rip open the veins of her prey.
“Hello beautiful, admiring the dark horse?” growled, leveling her eyes at the younger woman.
“Pardon?” trying to hide the color filling her face, ”I am not sure what you mean.”
“Don’t try hiding now, you should stay for dinner and talk to her. To be honest with you, if you could get a full sentence out of her then you must be blessed, as they say nothing ventured nothing gained.” sauntering closer to the younger woman.
Mirage injected himself in between them. “Hey kid, I didn’t get your name last time. I remember that thing that I had said I forgot. It turns out that -” noticing that Loba had finally wandered off. “Sorry about that, you seemed like you were thrown to the wolves.”
“Merci, I am a little out of my depth.”
“Don’t sweat it kid a lot is going on. I happened to have a question for you. Who is the princess favoring?” Natalie is speechless, confusion reflecting off her face trying to parse the sentence over the nose of perfect shot after perfect shot. “Rampart said the thing you bought was on behalf of the princess.”
“Oh … I’m sorry, I need to get to my shift if you will excuse me.”
-
Falling
The ground is approaching rapidly. The light blinding, reflecting off the gilding of the structure running to hide from directionless danger. Pressed into a space under the staircase, finding nothing. Footprints coming from above moving heavy, a stop and dropping something. Rigid chest cage taking thin breaths, as a hum fills the air. Thunder enters the room, running to get safe. Snagged, trapped, lashed, slugged in the chest falling to the ground.
“Meilleure chance la prochaine fois, mon amour.”
Gripping her chest feeling the sting dissipating breath hitched smoothing slowly. Covers stuck to her, flailing free falling flat from former fastening fabric. Landing on tender muscles grounding her with the normal pain. Sweat cooling in the early morning air, dawn slowly cresting the horizon.
-
Natalie drifting awake, Nikola curled in the crook of her legs, she shifts slightly to message the hitch in her joint. Awakening her bedfellow, chirping for attention, combing through his thick fur.
Interrupted by a knock at her chamber door. “Something was delivered for you dearie.”
A huff escaping the warmly wrapped blankets. Gingerly stepping on islands of insolation from the sea of cold morning stone. Shifting the door to her chamber open to inquire about the morning’s delivery revealing Horizon, one of her father’s multitude of scholars.
“Merci, what is that look for?”
“Nothing I just never thought that I would see you look at anything other than research and potential magical procedures.” Paired with a kind smile.
“I am not sure what you mean.” Ducking behind the door to hide her face.
“Take your time, Nox has been asking for your opinion on something.” offering the black cloth through the door. Sealing herself back into her sanctum with the object of fascination, the commission had come out better than she thought it would given the time constraints. A new moon heaven, thin stars peaking through the fine weave. A violet embroidered on the collar, a small extrusion found passing her fingers over the rich cloth.
Placing the cape to the side to get ready for the rest of the day. Slowly moving through her ritual, reminding her of the plan for the day.
-
Renee returns to her tent from procuring food for the day to find an invitation for a commencement dinner being held by the king.
‘Stay away, it will only lead to danger.’
She placed the food down to investigate the invitation.
‘It will only open opportunities for questions that you don’t have an answer to.’
Her frustration curls the edges of the paper.
‘She will be there.’
A deep breath escaping with her frustrations, at worst she could slink off to try and skim through an archive for some answers. Pocketing the paper, getting back on track to ready for the games reflecting back on the house guard from the other day. Listing the lack of a cape, not that it would matter to her another empty promise failed to be kept. It still hurt but added to the pile of lies forming her reality seemed like nothing in the face of infinity.
-
Natalie dragged as Horizon was tasked with helping her with the finishing touches to prepare for the games in tandem with the commencement dinner. Picking colors, directing, and managing Natalie is exhausted, overwhelmed, but continued. Numb to the constant motion and sound around her till Horizon had pulled her to the side to make sure that she was okay. A small smile was all she could muster, being guided back to her room to calm down. That she would be safe to take her time till the dinner, apathetic to the approaching challenge of dressing for the event.
Pulled back to the black cloth reminding her that she would need to find a way to the tournament grounds, absentmindedly pulling the cloak over herself.
The prolonged labor around the tournament made her adventure largely unnoticed, but unhindered.
The lone encampment had seemed untouched from the other day, Natalie thought that time had not passed until noticing that there was a growing glowing pile of embers.
-
‘She is here, be nice.’ The whistle of her sigh through her nose almost covered the sound of an approaching interloper. Shuffling her papers into a semblance of order.
Peering through the entrance of her tent finding the house guard from yesterday. “Skipping out of your duty again?” a slight smirk growing across Renee’s face till the approaching guard shook their head rather fervently. “What, do you need a bribe? Unfortunately you won't find anything in my purse. … I jest.” Responding to the younger woman’s mortified look.
“Oh, I came to keep my promise mon ami.” Proffering the bundle of black cloth. “I am afraid that I can’t take too long, I need to help with dinner tonight. I do hope you like it, I had to get it rushed.”
“Thank you. … What is your name?”
“Nat-” catching herself before accidentally admitting that she was not doing something that she should be.
“Could you only afford that much?” The older woman smirked.
The blond colored turning tail and moving rather quickly back up the path to the tournament grounds. Watching the retreating figure Renee placed the bundle in her tent before shifting back to the problem at hand of what to do about the upcoming banquet.
-
Renee finished adorning her cleanest and only outfit wandering into the tournament grounds proper being kept company by the constant canon critiquing chorus. As Renee had finally reached the grounds center she was accosted by some sort of peacock, Mirage had closed the gap shining in his finest clothing.
“Well small, dark, and handsome going all out to impress?”
“I guess that I’m going for a more subdued look to offer contrast, or a salvation from all this gilding.” Gesturing over the crowd of competitors in their regalia. “Hopefully save someone's eyes from a stray glint of light.” A bored monotone, lacking the investment on the upcoming social event. Mirage had given her a reprieve from insistent conversation traveling to the dinner after being stared down twice.
The hall had been adorned with trinkets lit by the greasy yellow candle light, the hearth containing a massive fire. The table supported a massive collection of diverse foods lacking anything that seems appealing to her. Propping herself into a seat at the far end of the table near the wall with half a loaf of bread and a chunk of salted meat. Ending up across from Bloodhound, Mirage placed himself next to her. The focus of the event had been redirected to the King’s place at the head of the table early into the evening as there was hushed conversation of the Princesses striking dress, an icy blue that was simple enough providing contrast to her warm dissipation escaping in the nervous smiles garnered from the conversation that she was engrossed with the older redheaded woman sitting next to her.
Renee had growled herself out of undesired conversation, finding some solace in the simple redirection of any conversation to Mirage and slipping out of the room. Finding the refreshing simplicity of the cool stone corridor lit by lanterns painting dull shadows. She listened to the dulled roar of revelry amongst the soon to be competitors masking the light sound of fabric dragging on the warded stone.
‘Danger hide.’
Slinking behind a beam escaping possible danger. Watching the young princess walking a little stiffly unaware of her surroundings walking a little faster catching on her dress. Renee launched forward grabbing the taller woman, failing to stop her fall, going down with her softening the landing slightly. Coming down funny as a shooting pain comes up her left arm biting a breath.
“I’m so sorry I got overwhelmed and must not have been paying any attention.” Moving quickly to try and get untangled worsening the pain in Renee’s arm.
‘It is a pretty nasty sprain. Great right before the games too. Can’t even fall right. May as well ask her to hold your sword for you.’
Blinking as panic settles in her chest. ‘Ask to see Lifeline, she will help.’
“Stop moving.” Rolling herself mostly free from the taller woman cradling her injured arm.
“Oh, you’re hurt” The princess shooting her gloved hand trying to help. Renee turns away from the younger woman, grounds out “A little bird told me to ask about Lifeline.”
Natalie wearing hurt like an itchy sweater “She should be able to help. If you would follow me.”
Silence hangs in the corridors as Renee follows Natalie trying to fix an issue she made.
‘Apologize’
Renee bit the inside of her cheek as if it wasn’t just her hurting herself in spite of herself. Clearing her throat “I’m sorry, I was short with you because I’m in pain. It was an accident.”
“Merci” Natalie calmed, losing some of the tension in her shoulders.
The silence was broken when Natalie knocked on a door.
“Whatcha do to her? The games don’t start till tomorrow and you already got a challenger hurt.”
-
The smell of smoking oil, quickly pulling the pan off the hob wiping the burned oil out. Finally happy with the evergreen color of the batter, getting the silicon mold as clean as possible. The sound of sleep addled feet creaking on the boards, “There is fresh coffee, the pancakes should be ready in a couple minutes.”
“Mon Sauveur” paired with a morning breath kiss.
-
The dreams were getting more constant but less understandable. As she bundled all her things before leaving, Lifeline handed her a letter with a smile. Tucked into a pocket to maybe be read at some point. The travel back to her equipment quiet, once more seen by Mirage changes the tone of the morning.
“You wandered off at some point last night, and didn’t leave the castle.” Pushing his luck as he hasn't gotten stabbed in the kidney yet, ”Did you romance an equally hateful apparition? Don’t worry I won't tell.”
Renee doesn’t look at him as her ears start to color. Mirage for once in his life had nothing to say.
-
The opening ceremony dully slipped over her head speeches of peace and what not. The voices were oddly silent in the cool morning light. Lulling slightly nursing the stiff arm. A fair amount of murmurs grew around as she had seemed that it was fit to wear the new cape without giving it a second thought. The rich black cloth flowing behind her as if she brought perpetual shadow to walk out of.
“So what did you have to do to get that fine cape?” Mirage sleazed out of thin air, “You’re always quiet and awkward but you disappear from the banquet around the same time that the princess left and you’re wearing this, what am I supposed to think?” Playing between an exasperated parent and hurt gossip.
“You have a story that everyone has heard already, but there is nothing.”
“Sure so where did you get that cape?”
“It was a gift from one of the house guards that was wandering around the tournament grounds for the last couple of days.”
“You mean that bubbly one that follows you like a puppy? She hasn’t done any house business outside of ordering that cape.”
Renee, now irritated with the tedium of the conversation, just glares back.
“You don’t just think that all I can do is talk, I’ve ears and eyes too. And may have asked a few pointed questions over drinks to solve a question that I have.” Mirage called to her as she walked off “Don’t worry I have no interest in harassing your lady love.”
Renee was having an awful morning, waking early from a dream that was new tender warm that left her cold grasping for this new heat. And now an issue of a load mouths attention for nothing but to feed the cavalcade of voices deriding her very existence.
‘She’s looking at you’
Her eyes snapped to the eyes of the princess being talked at by Lifeline, the princess attention locked to her. A spike of emotion went through Renee. Heat from the dream grew in her chest from the dream the night prior. As the princess looked away the heat drained with it, the sun blotted out, Nat emphatic that she was listening to Ajay. They walked back as Ajay chided Nat, Renee longed for her, the feeling so foreign to her that it scared her.
‘Great another one - leave her alone, it’s not her fault.’ An oncoming storm of sound, paired with a headache as Renee wandered back with the rest of the participants before the first round.
Her first round archery could have been worse, it was not an issue performing in front of a crowd used to the constant presence of the voices. After her first perfect shot there was what felt like a ray of sun right into the side of her head paired with tittle-tattle of the voices debating whether to look or to stay focused only adding to the distraction paired with her stiff left arm. She ended second after judging, she didn’t feel anything as placing was only a chance to get the right name or a favor. She seconded to a somehow more intimidating person with rose glasses called Hound, that seemed to enjoy a limited vocabulary and curt conversation that she could respect but their paramour Fuse was bright, loud, obnoxious, utterly contrasting. The evening's festivities were not to Renee’s liking but she did need to make an appearance to try and find as much information as she could. But she became the topic of conversation more than she actually got to ask questions paired with free cider for her trouble.
-
Nat had too much energy fretting with her hands to alleviate some of it, sitting in a crowd all day wasn’t what she would want to do with her days, but it did beat hiding from Nox. Absentmindedly running her fingers through the rough textile of the spare guard cloak, wandering back to the isolated tent she’s surprised to find it bereft of its occupant. The fire tended to give respite from the day's labor, lulled by the murmur.
-
The walk back to her tent was more difficult then she had assumed wobbling off from the festivities.
‘She’s waiting’ the ever cryptic counsel providing no context. Cresting the hill to find the house guard lulling next to the glowing fire.
“Hopefully she doesn’t fall in” Renee muttered as she pressed on.
-
Nat awoke lad on a short cot, she was more surprised to wake up laying down rather than slouched over her desk then taking in the fact that she was in a tent.
“So what brings you here this time?” says the other occupant of the tent, her back still to nat.
“I just came here for no reason. I should get out of your hair you must be tired you did really well even though you got hurt yesterday and that cape looks very dashing” Nat starts rambling.
“So what do you want?”
“I’m sorry, what do you mean?”
“Is it because I’m an oddity, a loner, that you are just bored or do you feel bad for me?” Renee contorts her body to finally look at her. Renee deflates seeing that she is frightening the younger woman.
“Ah … you were kind to me even though you didn’t know me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No you’re right I have been ignoring my responsibilities” as she moves to the mouth of the tent, “and I apologize for the harm I have caused.”
Renee wasn’t sure what she should do, she didn’t want her to leave, but in a rare moment there was no advice. Renee followed as Nat left, traveling back the glow of the fire dancing on the borrowed cloak. Watching her disappear into the darkness, Renee’s chest stung with no one to sooth her as the voices kept back in. Renee eventually fell to a restless sleep, she saw nothing surprised by the absence.
-
For Nat the morning was trying, some hard fought sleep for little rest. But bustled into the event schedule giving her little time to lament the day. Ajay had been kind enough to give her space after calming her down last night, kind words and reassurance even if Nat wasn’t forthcoming with details. Mary wasn’t as willing to let Nat brood, “What’s wrong?” she asked too kindly.
“I don’t know”
-
The joust was never Renee’s go to event but the amount of heraldry was for those that could afford to not fight. And her opponent was not ideal, an unchallenged expert that goes by Valkyrie that has grand stories to rival her ego. But Valkyrie’s behavior leading to the competition created doubt in Renee about Valk’s true caliper in the event, as Renee had to rebuff her advances on numerous occasions when trying to eat. So the event should have gone the way that it always went but there was an edge to the voices this morning ‘You Can’t Get Hit-Fall If You Have To’. Getting onto her horse was difficult at the best of times but with the free floating anxiety everything took more time and energy.
But she started tuning out the motion around her, getting in position all she can see is her opponent and the princess looking at a point in space. Renee knew that she was moving, she heard the voices, she felt the hit plunged into darkness.
It was silent as her body fell into the mud motionless, sprayed with lance shards.
It happened so fast Nat couldn’t track what was happening, Ajay had hurried over to the rest of the medical team to try and determine what happened. She was sitting in her seat watching as Renee’s body was covered in her cape moving to the house to receive treatment.
-
“She’s down, now it’s a few more days.”
“Correct, you have met expectations” Nox affirmed. “One fewer distractions.”
-
As the lance was discovered to be tampered with the tournament was placed on hold until a full review could be done. Leaving everyone in limbo, Nat had been frantically working to discover what or who caused the incident.
She worked into the long hours of night poring over equipment manifests and logs. Nothing was tampered with, all the logs are perfect for the weeks leading to the tournament. They were too perfect compared to logs during the tournament, someone must have altered the logs. Now Natalie had something to do that kept her away from the infirmary. It was needed after having been awoken but Ajay the first few nights after the incident to get out of her way, she needed to keep herself busy.
-
It wasn’t clear if she was asleep or dead at first, a dark chamber that had no doors or windows, just a circle of chairs facing the center.
“Yeah it would just be more simple if you had just died” one of the voices called as a facsimile of herself came into the room. It looked like her from a distance but there were more scars, they seemed slightly older than her.
“Where am I?”
“Well I can tell you a lot but I don’t have a quick answer for that one.”
“What?”
“The best approximation I can tell you is that you're between all time and space. Which is more just saying where you aren't, it’s better not to think about it too hard.”
“Wait, are you me?”
“Kinda”
“So why are you here if all you’re going to do is not answer any question?”
“Because it was this or you getting inundated with questions for all of us. So you’re welcome.”
-
“Mary it doesn’t make any sense, only a member of the house could have even gotten access to the logs in the first place, but why would they try to kill a competitor that was unknown before her arrival? It must have been planned for a long time to go through all the effort to plan and cover up.”
“Natalie are you sure, I will help but I don’t think that everyone will be as forthcoming.”
“If this comes from my house then I need to be sure regardless of the cost.”
-
“She’s a princess. … Well that ones new. And you shut your mouth.” The oldest one barked at one that was trying to cover a laugh with a cough.
“Is she in all of my lives?”
The eldest face shifted trying to parse the best answer “She has been a part of all our lives. In some she still is, others her time has passed.”
“She is a figure in all my lives, that seems odd.”
“Kid like I said before I wouldn’t think about it too hard. But it does seem like you are about to get out of here.”
“Thank you”
“Oh don’t thank me yet, this was the easy part. You basically just spent the better part of a week laid up in bed.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“Yes we are.”
-
Returning to the waking world was quieter than she had imagined, a little light coming from behind the curtains of the infirmary pinpricks of light like stars at night from cat claws. The aforementioned cat nested on Renee’s chest, testing her arm to pet the fur ball. They melted into the touch, unfurling across her torso, almost falling off.
The door opened, “I swear Nikola you’re just as bad as your mom, leave the poor girl al- You’re awake.” Renee tried to shift to face the voice “Simmer girl just let me get you some water.”
Ajay came into view, handing off the water while taking a seat in the chair nearby. She launched into standard questions and tests surprised by how well Renee was. “Alright thank you, try to get some more sleep if you can, you’ll probably get a visitor soon enough.”
Renee didn’t need to ask who with the confirmation and jokes of the voices coming back, trying to get some sleep. Nikola nested back on her luckily not putting his weight on her bruises.
-
The afternoon sun glaring off the glass on her desk pulled Nat from her third review of the schedules. A raping at her chamber door, Ajay came in closing the door behind her leaning against it.
“Nat, when's the last time you left your desk?”
“I got some sleep last night,” Natalie huffed.
Ajay looked over to the mess of a bed unsure when it was last used “Okay your girl woke up.”
“My what?”
“Nat I had to literally kick you out of the infirmary, you don’t have to do anything or say anything about it.”
“Alright Ajay how is she?”
“She’s doing surprisingly well, no sign of long term damage but she shouldn’t be moving for the next couple days. But I do think that Nikola is keeping her put for now.”
“He’s a good boy. Do you think that I could ask her a few questions that I need for this investigation?”
“Sure just be mindful that she just woke up, don’t expect too much yet.”
-
“Another issue that will need to be removed.” Nox growled wandering from the corridor from Natalie’s room.
-
“That's what I think,” Renee told Nikola to his mew in return. “And then I got told to not think about it too much.” Nikola raised his head to look at the door awaiting a new arrival.
‘She’s coming’
The door opened “Hello?” Nat quietly asked into the still air.
“Good morning princess, is it still morning? Anyway, have you come by to pick up this handsome boy?”
“No, and no you are welcome to keep him. I was hoping you could answer a few questions about the accident.”
“Sure, I don’t know how I can help but anyway I can.”
“Thank you, did you know anyone associated with the house before the tournament?”
‘It’s safe’
“No, I came to ask a few questions. But I didn’t know anyone.”
‘But you would like to know her better,’ the voice cut in Renee coughs.
Natalie seemed elsewhere, “And I assume that also extends to the other competitors?”
“Yeah, I don’t know if I was actually the target.”
“What do you mean?”
‘God Nox is a bastard everywhere’
“A little bird told me that Nox is involved.”
“I’m afraid you’re right.”
“Excuse me princess,” Renee smirked.
‘Really?’
Natalie laughed, “I did need that, it’s been an awful week. Ajay kicked me out of here -”
“Why’s that?” Renee asked.
‘She asked, knowing the answer.’
“Well you know I just wanted to make sure that you were alright, and we didn’t know if you would be.”
“And you missed the trivial tasks I gave you?”
“I missed you.”
Renee didn’t know what to say to that. Swallowing that new truth.
‘Just tell her.’
“I missed you too.”
They both sat in the warm silence, some passing peace. Eventually falling back into easy conversation into the night and falling asleep.
-
‘Wake Up’
A hand clamped onto Renee’s mouth as another gripped her throat, “I have to do everything” Nox growled. Panic shot through her kicking trying to leverage out of his grip. Finally grabbing her knife and sinking it into the meat of his right arm, forcing farther till he finally released her throat. Natalie used the opening to grab the knife and force energy through it into Nox’s flesh.
He finally fell, Natalie fell into the bed and fell asleep.
-
Searching His lab discovered his plot, hiring Revenant to create the distraction with the tournament and using the King’s illness to pressure Natalie to take the throne and puppet her to assume full power. But Renee had unexpectedly prevented him from having access to Natalie.
But it did help give Natalie the confidence to grow into a competent leader as she continued to care for her ill father, Renee never leaving her side.
-
“Oh Sir Hope~” Ajay called in the sing-song way that Renee had learned came with a joke at her, or request on Nataile’s behalf that she’d hate but do.
“Today really” Renee’s voice hushed, still bouncing off the vaulted ceilings and ornate glass.
“Witt had his fun embarrassing you at that stag party, it’s only fair.”
‘She’s not wrong, watching Elliot somehow get stuck on a chandelier was worth it.’
“Fine Ajay,” Renee took an exacerbated breath “how can I help?”
“It’s the bride to be, she’s getting numb feet.”
“Isn’t it bad luck to see the bride the day of the wedding before the ceremony?”
“Renee, one of the first times you talked to her she sprained your arm. If you had any luck it’s so little that this won't hurt.”
“Okay.”
-
It was odd for Renee to be in the hall outside Nataile’s room, over the years Nat had started spending more nights in Renee’s room using her old room as a workshop, repository, and hideaway.
Renee knocked on the door, calling through it “Natalie are you okay?”
Natalie opened the door revealing her dress, “It’s a lot, is it not.”
“Your’s has more pressens and is beautiful, but I would say they weigh about the same.”
Natalie huffed “Leave the jokes to me moi amie. You still have that cape?” She gestured to the worn but cared for black cape with violets embroidered in the collar.
“I do.”