Topic: Echoes, Past meets preasent in a clash of sound.

Sheyleigh

Date: 2005-10-02 13:53 EST
The kingdom of Kemria was rather unique. The founders had decided that building the city into the cliff face of a large seaside mountain range was a smart defensive maneuver, Which at the time it may well have been. Over time the original city grew until it covered miles and miles of cliffs, and boasted small colonies on the cliff tops. Kemria's founders styled themselves kings and queens.

For nearly a thousand years Kemria knew peace. the rulers of Kemria were for the most part fair and just. Crops while not plentiful were sufficient for the ever growing populace. And small deposits of valuable minerals found among the cliff side cave homes across the length of the kingdom kept trade with nearby empires bustling and prosperous.

Twenty eight years ago, Elyssia Paige, the Queen of Kemria was murdered. The poison given to her by her own brother caused the early births of her twin daughters, N'Staseia and Lyreness. The prince consort, Andrew Starstriker, a man once a common solider in the small military force of Kemria took his infant daughters from the palace in the dark of night assisted only by the queen's oldest retainer. The two men made their way across the shadow sands to the temple of Kinatal, heart of the kingdom of Kisan.

While civil war raged in Kemria, a bargain was struck in the halls of the shadow temple. The prince consort would wed the Queen of the Kisani, Kinadria Lyness. The two young princesses would be raised as her own and the armies of Kisan sent to return peace to Kemria until the time when the young princesses would be fit to rule there.

The armies came to Kemria, and a fragile peace was once again established. It held for nearly three decades, until once again the brother of Queen Elyssia decided the time was ripe for rebellion

Sheyleigh

Date: 2005-10-02 14:41 EST
Twenty eight years of peace in Kemria. And the cost? A good mans life and a piece of a catlings heart.

Andrew Starstriker was old. When he wed the Queen of Kemria he was nearly sixty years of age, but so sweetly enamored of his young bride. They had been wed fifteen years when Elyssia announced the impending birth of their first and quite possibly only child and Andrew was overjoyed. He was still a strong and healthy man, really barely into middle age for one of the foxling blood, But foxling males were slow to breed and it had taken great care and attention from the healers to get this far.

Months passed and each day Elyssia grew more beautiful, round and award with the growing child. The affairs of the kingdom ran smoothly as always, and the people seemed thrilled with the thought of an heir to the throne. There was some unease among the populace at the thought that the Queen's only brother Astorin might inherit the kingdom. If they had been more vocal in their suspicions, thing may have been different.

Two moons before the birth was due to happen, Queen Elyssia planned a dinner for the families of herself and her consort. It was a small gathering, intimate and very close. Andrew's sister late in the stages of her own pregnancy was in attendance along with her mate, a dance instructor by the name of Olwin Lightfoot. Also in attendance was the Queens brother and his young son Torim.

The wine was passed and the meal was served and all seemed to be going well. No one knew that there was a viper in their midst. Lord Astorin's servants had treated the wine with herbals to induce birth and thin the blood. The first hint that anyone had of any trouble, was a pained cry from Andrew's sister. The healers were called for and she was taken to chambers where she was prepared for the birth.

Dinner continued with a nervous air, finally concluding when the Queen whispered to her husband that she was not feeling well. As he helped her from her seat, blood pooled at her feet. Once again the healers were summoned and the Queen helped to her chambers. The birth was long and hard, not helped by the fact that it was two babes instead of one, and that both bore the wings of a female foxling. The healers worked for hours, but could not stop the bleeding. Dawn came ... and the Queen was dead.

Sheyleigh

Date: 2005-10-05 22:21 EST
The death of the Queen sunk Kemria into deep mourning, and the stirrings of civil war. Civil war in Kemria was just that very civil, a thing of politics and bloody assassinations. Lord Astorin and his supporters pressed his claim to the throne, while others staunchly defended the rights of the little princesses to rule.

Astorin was not content with just the death of his sister. The babes, that there were two was a surprise that frustrated Astorin to no ends, had been meant to die as well. That they had lived was further aggravation to Astorin. He could not risk another attempt on their lives, but he could not leave them alive either. And so he made plans.

Word of these plots came to Andrew by way of the old gardener who was alarmed by Astorin's inquiries as to the toxic plants grown on the palace grounds. Andrew started his own plans then. Kemria's neighbor, the kingdom of Kisan had a standing army. Andrew would pack up his infant daughters and flee.

In the dark of the night Andrew and the old gardener bundled the babies in a pair of old burlap sacks, settled them in a wheelbarrow, and snuck them out of the guarded gates of the palace and to the home of Andrews's sister and her husband.

Sheyleigh

Date: 2005-10-08 19:41 EST
The day of the Queens dinner party was one that Keillyn Lightfoot would never forget. It was the day her world spiraled out of control. That day she went from being a simple vintners daughter and wife, to being a highly visible member of a rebellion. All because she had the fortune to give birth to a baby.

Little Sheyleigh Lightfoot was a born with princesses. The best healers in the kingdom attended her birth, and yet her parents were no more than simple farmers. She would spend her first two weeks of life confined to the halls of the palace, unknowing and uncaring of just how much time she would spend there in her life. As soon as the healers pronounced both his wife and child fit enough for travel Olwin Lightfoot whisked them away. The settled into their little home comfortably, hoping to remain unnoticed in the political struggles of the kingdom.

That hope was dashed by a midnight knock on the door. Olwin sleepily answered it to find a grubby looking gardener.. toting what appeared to be two sacks of seed in his arms. He was about to dismiss the man and close the doors when one of the sacks gave a rustle and a piteous wail. The gardener was hurried inside and Olwin went to wake his wife.

Keillyn tumbled down the stairs stretching her wings sleepily. The moment she saw the two little pairs of black wings on the backs of the babes she set to work. Hardly an hour had passed since the gardener arrived and the babes were tucked in makeshift cradles, high in the loft used to store excess furnishing. The man was sent on his way back to the palace with a few plant cuttings, vines that would grow well on the palace terraces,and a message for Keillyns brother Andrew.

It would be weeks before Andrew would be able to escape from the halls of the palace himself. when he arrived at his sisters home he was delighted to see the three little winged fox kits tumbling around the room together. It was good to know that his daughters were safe.

Kina Kitty

Date: 2005-10-12 19:18 EST
The trip across the shadow sands to Kinatal and the heart of the Kisan empire was not an easy one for Andrew and the two infant princesses. What little organized military there was in Kemria was out in force looking for them. Several times the barely escaped capture. By the time they reached the temple both babes were seriously ill from stress and the elements, and Andrew was not much better off. Upon riding into the gates he barely had time to pass the infants to the grooms that rushed out to see what was happening before sliding off the horse, and into darkness.

When he woke it was to a vision of dark hair and golden eyes leaning over his bed, wiping his brow with a cool damp cloth. The golden eyes, catlike and brimming with concern flickered over him as he stirred fretfully in the bed and tried to speak. "Hold on ... let me get you some water" the vision said, putting her fingers softly to his lips to silence his attempts. Water was poured and a surprisingly strong slender arm used to help him to a sitting position to sip the cool contents of the cup.

Once the cup was empty, he tried again voice coming out weak and raspy, "My daughters? Are they safe?"

The golden eyed woman nodded. "The little ones were tired and ill, but they have been tended and are now doing their best to charm the healing staff. May I ask what was so important in the shadow sands that you risked all your lives like that?"

Kina Kitty

Date: 2005-10-12 19:55 EST
What was so important? Andrew tried to think. He could not remember what caused the flight through the sands, only that it had been urgent and had something to do with.. a cat? so he stammered as much to the woman tending him. "I have to find the cat"

The woman tisked softly and helped him lie back down. "We can speak more of this later. You need rest and the healers are glaring at me most frightfully." The woman rose to leave tucking the blankets loosely around him again, almost tenderly.

He shot a hand out to catch her wrist in a trembling grasp. "Wait ... please, your name?"

The last thing Andrew heard as he drifted back into unconsciousness was the whispered words of the vision who had be tending him, "My name is Kinadria."

Kina was sorely troubled by the man and the two winged babes who had arrived so abruptly at her doorstep. Rumors had been drifting in to the temple fore weeks of a coup and a murder in the neighboring kingdom of Kemria. Some of the small farmers and vintners had already crossed the sands looking for refuge from Astorin's rule. She recalled Astorin from visits that the old Kemrian king and his family had made to Kinatal years before. He was a cruel boy even then and Kina had been disturbed that her father thought he might be a fitting match for her.

Kina suspected that the man in the healers wing was the former prince consort. A small tender smile crept across her lips thinking of him. How daring he was to cross the sands with two infants like that, even if it was incredibly foolish. And not bad to look upon either. A faint flush stained her cheeks and Kina shook her head to clear the confusion fogging her brain. If he was the Prince Consort of Kemria, then he was surely deep in mourning for his queen, and Kina had no right thinking such thoughts.

Needing to think and to plan Kina headed for her favorite place in the family keep behind the temple, the large old library on the ground floor shared with the schools of fighting and healing, that were part of the temple compound. There she settled in with a large old book gifted to her father on that past visit, a book on Kemrian law.

Kina Kitty

Date: 2005-10-13 02:01 EST
Kina avoided the healers wing for the better part of the next three days confused by her own feelings and entrenched in the search for the answers to the dilemma of what to do with Andrew and the twins. And the healers had indeed confirmed for her that the man and infants were the Prince Consort and the heirs to the Kemrian throne. She had also been spending quite a bit of time in the makeshift nursery with the two little princesses.

The little ones were just so sweet, one could not help but live them. As different as night and day, one sweet and affectionate one fierce and independent. Kina had arranged for them to be taken to their father as soon as he was well enough, and so they made daily visits to his rooms. The catling watched these from afar with a strange sort of envy. What would it be like to be included in something so loving and warm?

Finally she could put it off no more, she needed more information and the Prince of Kemria was the only one who could provide it. As fortunes would have it she arrived at Andrew's room just as the temporary wet nurse was struggling to get the two little winged infants in the room to see their father. Without thinking she scooped up one infant and was cuddling her and purring pleasantly when she walked in the room.

Andrew was shocked at the little thrill he felt seeing the vision from his bedside "mothering" one of his little girls. She had haunted his dreams for the past few nights, and he was afraid he was dreaming just then. He felt a silly grin slip over his lip as he murmured out a pleasant greeting not even thinking. "Ah ha! My angels have arrived, all three of them!" He held out his arms to the vision and his child wanting both woman and child in his arms at that moment, a fact that shocked him.

Kina blushed furiously and handed over the baby as quickly as she could before pulling back and moving across to look out the window. It was not a bad room, with a nice view of the herb gardens. Taking a moment to compose herself before turning and asking "How are you feeling today?"

Kina Kitty

Date: 2005-10-16 17:10 EST
Andrew hid a smile at the woman's reaction in the act of giving his daughter a fond snuggle. "I am doing much better today. The healers say I may get out of bed on the morrow. I feel as though I have wasted so much time and I still have not met with the person I came here to find."

Another faint blush colored the catling's cheeks. "Yes well about that... Why were you looking for the Lady of the Cats? I've heard a bit of who you are and where you came from, servants gossip mostly I would like to hear it from you." Kina settled into a chair near the bed looking over the man there again. He was still so thin and wasted looking.. but the deathly pallor relived only by the burns caused by the desert sun was fading into a pleasant tan.

The worst of the burns would always leave a scar though, a thought that gave the catling a moment of sadness. Such nice cheeks to be marred by that large red patch. She barely resisted the urge to reach out and stroke it tenderly.

Andrew looked at the woman before him questioningly for just a moment before asking "You are her aren't you?" At the woman's nod he sighed and began to tell her the tale of his escape from Kemria. "After Elyssia's death Astorin put Kemria under martial law. He named himself regent to the princesses, claiming that being common born I had no right to rule in their names. The changes he put into effect in Kemria hit the common people hardest. There was talk in the palace grounds that Astorin killed Elya... and meant to do the babes harm as well. We wrapped the babes in burlap sacks and sent them out with the gardener."

"Astorin was in a rage. He had people tearing apart every inch of the palace searching for the girls. I was locked in the dungeon and accused of terrible crimes.. including Elya's death. I owe my life right now to my sister and the gardener, and a plant who's pollen makes people sleep. The night before Astorin was to have me executed for my supposed crimes the old gardener snuck me out of the palace the same way he had my daughters." Andrew paused to pick up a glass of water and take a long drink before continuing.

Kina Kitty

Date: 2005-10-16 17:30 EST
"Elyssia always spoke highly of the cats of Kisan, and told me that years ago when she was a girl they had visited here. She said that the heir to the throne of Kisan had saved her from a wild beast... and had sworn to protect her always if she had need. I had assumed that the heir was just another boastful young male. I am surprised to instead find a beautiful young woman." this time it was Andrews cheeks that stained with color. but he recovered quickly his deep violet eyes darting up to meet the woman's golden ones.

"I came to Kisan to ask you to extend the protection you promised Elyssia to her daughters. I was prepared to promise you one as a bride for you in return, once they came of age ... but I find that plan not apt to work at the moment, and I am somewhat at a loss."

Kina had been listening silently to the mans voice. She was learning as much from the tone of his words as she was from the words themselves. She was touched by his bravery, and his obvious love for his deceased wife and their children. It made her envious of her young friend of so many years ago. "Of course Elyssia's children have my protection. I swore on the alter of Ka that I would always guard her if she needed it. Her and her kingdom, which would include her daughters."

By this time the nursemaid had come to take the sleepy little princesses back to their nursery. Kina watched them go with an odd sort of longing, before turning back to Andrew. "Tell me what you intend?" she asked quietly "It sounds as though Kemria is in dire need."

Andrew thought for barely a moment before letting out a rushed, somewhat breathless reply. "Alliance. At any cost. Kemria must be freed for my children."

Kina Kitty

Date: 2005-10-23 20:45 EST
Any cost... plans were made and the military set into action, and each day Kina and Andrew grew closer. The little princesses were growing swiftly and the young ruler of Kisan was enchanted by the children. She would often be found in the nursery playing with the babes when she was supposed to be off performing other duties. Andrew watched the woman with the children and resolved something.

The prince consort of Kemria decided that this woman, who treated his children like her own and had somehow managed to fill the aches in a heart left ravaged by the death of his wife, should be his wife. He spent some time in the law library at Kinatal researching marriage customs concerning the Kisani royal family. To his surprise the laws and customs were quite lax. The matriarch of the cats of Kisan was allowed to take any mate she wished.

Finding the answers he needed he made plans. And while the army of Kisan besieged the cliff side kingdom of Kemria Andrew began courting himself a bride. First it was just small things, little tokens and trinkets. Then flowers and compliments, an extra effort to spend time with Kina. Then an invitation to dine.

Dinner was set out in the grotto behind the falls on a soft white blanket piled with cushions. beverages chilled in silver ice buckets. Everything was perfect. Andrew waited at the mouth of the grotto in the finest clothes that had be provided for him, the regalia of a high ranking officer of the Kemrian army.

Kina Kitty

Date: 2005-11-02 15:39 EST
Kinadria approached the grotto curiously. A formal looking invitation had been delivered with a dozen red roses to the catling at the end of her weapons training session. Reading the note caused a pleased flush to spread across her cheeks, prompting her students to laugh and giggle.

Kina had hurried up the stairs that spiraled the inside of the family keep all the way to the top floor. The positioning of her rooms still gave her a pang, it had been less than a decade since her mothers death and the matriarchs chambers still felt very strongly of her. Bathing quickly in the rooftop hot pools she dressed in her softest dress a creation of cream swirled sand silk. She braided her hair into a single long plait reaching to the back of her thighs, and threaded one of the red rosebuds in the locks.

Andrew was struck breathless by the vision who approached the waiting picnic. She looked every bit as angelic as she had the moment he had first laid eyes on her delirious with fever as he had been. "Lady Kinadria, you honor me with your presence. Won't you please sit?" The words were little more than a whisper, said with such feeling that the catling felt her cheeks flushing crimson in response.

"Thank you Lord Starstriker, I would very much like to sit." This said even as she sank onto the nearest pile of cushions knees suddenly trembling and weak. Once settled she fidgeted nervously with her skirts trying to settle them modestly around her. "Thank you for the invitation Andrew, though I really have very little idea what could have prompted it."

Andrew set about serving the meal in silence for a moment. Once the plates were filled and set before them, and glasses filled with the pale blue starberry wine, he raised his eyes to hers and stated simply "I came to make a request of you, of a personal nature."

Kina Kitty

Date: 2005-11-02 16:00 EST
"A personal nature Andrew? You already know I would do anything for you and the little ones, you have simply to ask" Kina picked up one of the goblets of pale blue wine and sipped as she spoke not even dreaming of what his next words would be.

"Kinadria, Will you marry me?"

Goblet of wine slipped from suddenly nerveless fingers, a splash of blue against the cream and pale gold of the silken dress she wore spreading slowly. Kina stared at the growing stain in puzzled fascination a moment before looking up at Andrew and asking softly "When?" followed after a few breaths forced past the tightness suddenly claiming her chest by a soft "Why?"

Andrew smiled a gentle smile picking up a linen napkin and working gently at the spilled wine. "Because you have captured my heart, And I have hope that I, and my children have done the same for you?" The hopeful look in his eyes faltered a bit as he asked that, worried that perhaps she did not feel the same.

A trembling smile crept over the catlings lips, and a single happy tear slipped from the corner of one golden eye. "You know that you have Andrew, you and the children both." A deep breath taken before she uttered the most important words said in her life thus far " I love you and would be honored to marry you."