Shadows And Poison [Mordrena]

[Kaja Nowak Volkova]

Looking out at the dusk she stood on the balcony, placing her hands on the burn marks where her father had once stood. It made her feel closer to him. The slight sense of heat often made her feel like he was holding her hand back. With a slow glance to her hands, she gave a half smile before looking out the sky once more. It was a silent night and even though the castle was full of her soldiers their noise didn't reach her part of the castle. Like her father before her she liked to have her own private space. And like her mother she liked to gain more space with a good old battle. Tonight would unfortunately not be such a glorious event. Yet it was still deeply important to her. Tonight she would head south to seek word of her brother for it was from one of their docks he had traveled under disguise to Chreina. Turning to enter the room she'd come from, she gave a sigh. She hated having to play nice.

Pushing open the heavy oak doors to main door, she walked in dressed in her armour and her blades swung at her side. Behind her two bodyguards followed, equally armed and a blank yet vicious look upon their faces. Before her many of the soldiers were eating around the great table, some split into their little teams. Mini clans they often got nicknamed, although Kaja was often quick to remind them of their true loyalty. Passing many of the old Tiger clan, she reached the old Novosi guard, now a small number of the old legion. There must have only been about twelve of them left but Kaja trusted them more than any other men there. They had served her father and they served him well. Pointing to them as she passed, they all rose to their feet and joined in the march to the other side of the hall to the doors that led to the court yard.

In the yard there was no words exchanged except the usual signals to the guards on the tower that command had changed hands. Many in the Ajurah wanted to be the next top dog and Kaja could rely on them to keep the castle safe whilst she was gone. Even the Bervenhall clan knew that she would come back hitting hard and violently if they tried a full attack whilst she was gone. Shifting into her true form, her armour became her skin and the blades shifted in her back becoming two of the larger spikes on her back. With a powerful thrust to the ground, she shot up from the ground and glided down the mountain side. Behind her fourteen other rajeghs followed, each sweeping over the wall and gliding down the mountain in a single move. With a few strong swings of her wings, she adjusted her route and headed south.

Medria. Even in the old days it had been one of the smaller kingdoms. The nearest kingdom to the western plains it was often a popular port kingdom for the westerners to use. With the constant warring between the Ajurah and Bervenhall, the ports in the west could never be guaranteed to be safe. Kaja was still not so sure about the ports in the south though. Choosing to rest in the city Medria instead of a harbour, they landed one by one near the outskirts, shifting as they did so. An old tactic but a good one. She was no fool to land in the main city in her true form with fourteen of the same behind her. To the humans that was an invasion force. Making sure all of the men were there, they set off at a quick pace into the city in search of somewhere to rest. Kaja was not so noble that she would seek a bed in the palace. She was clan leader and she did not think herself to be a noble. Like her mother she stood out next to such people.

An inn near the centre was decided to be the best place for the number of them. Even though she didn't think herself a noble, she didn't think herself better than her men either. They got rooms too, even if some had to share. It was safer for starters as guards often got killed even if the murder attempt failed. And Kaja had a few of those come her way. The plan was for them to rest that night, head to the docks the next day, ask around and then head home. Keep it quick, keep it smooth and keep it quiet. But that was tomorrow. Tonight they were going to be loud as they liked. Ajurahns were no strangers to the south and their history was connected to these people. With the rooms paid for, they set about having a drink by the fire and meat to eat from wooden plates. The mood was that of enjoyment and even Kaja had the odd smile to show. These men were like family to her and they were the tip of her clan.

Heading to the bar, Kaja asked for a few more drinks and waited patiently for a moment. The innkeeper was aware of who she was and went to get her some drinks straight away. To her left five large men wearing furs, most likely hunters, turned to her and began to argue that she cut in the line. A couple of them were drunk and placing their hands on their swords hilts constantly, making over the top gestures in an attempt to scare her. Kaja remained looking forward, no emotion on her face as her men stood up behind her, their own hands to their hilts. Kaja turned slightly to the right and gave a slow shake of the head. Turning to face the men, she let them see the scars on her face before smiling. By now some of the locals had either left, taken cover or remained watching in case of a fight. The innkeeper had already taken shelter by the bar. ”The first man to come at me gets a quick death. The rest will die slowly” she coldly assured them, her hands now by her swords.

There was a moment of stillness in the room as everyone watched each other, their eyes going from the opponents eyes to their swords. Kaja slowly moved into a fighting stance and held onto her blade's tightly. With a shout, the first man charged, one of the more drunk ones. A twirl of blades and her blades were back at her side, the blood dripping from them. Down he fell and to the side his head rolled.

Staring at his head for a second, they looked back to her and all of them charged. Blade to one arm, the other to block another sword on her. Duck to dodge the third and swing the first blade to counter the fourth. A kick to the firsts chest puts him on the floor, his hand clutching the stump on the end of the other arm. Second blade spins and counters the third man as the first blade into the side of the second man. Twist of the blade and pull. Fourth man attacks and leaves himself open. Both blades cut across his throat and with a half spin, she pushes both blades into the stomach of the third man. Behind them the fourth falls to the floor spluttering and clutching his throat. Lifting the man by her blades, she slams him down on the bar and pulls them from his side. Standing over the first man, she grabs him by the throat and slowly pushes her blade into his throat before dropping him back to the floor. Turning slowly, blood sprayed across her face, she watches as the third man drops from the bar and begins to crawl towards the door. As he does so, it opens with a gust of rainy wind blasting through it.....

[Mordrena of Medria]

There was a time when Mordrena wouldn't have cared about who was passing through her borders. There was a time when Mordrena would have stayed in her room instead of paying attention to patrols and spies. There was a time when Mordrena would have been content with hearing that a bunch of Rajegh had trespassed her land.

Times had changed, and so had Mordrena.

"My Queen, a number of Rajegh have landed on the outskirts of the city. They have made their way to the Lion's Mane. What action should we take?"

She tapped her long fingernails on the throne she was sitting on, and smirked mischieviously. "Prepare my carriage. I want fifty of your best men at my command."

"Yes, your majesty. At once."

The guard left after bowing, his amour clanging as he made his way outside of the throne room. Mordrena made her way to the staircase, opening the door to her son's room. Making her way to his bed, she kissed his forehead. "Sleep tight my young prince." she whispered, and made her way outside, after closing the door. "Make sure he's protected." she ordered the two guards outside, as she made her way outside the palace.

Her black carriage was already in place, the black steeds' armours gleaming in the moonlight, as she made her way inside. "Ride, now." she ordered, as the carriage rode forward, the fifty men on their horses following swiftly.

It wasn't a long ride to the Lion's Mane, as she made her way outside of the carriage and opened the door. A man was trying to make his way to her, and at her sight, dressed in an elegant black dress, everyone stopped talking.

Perhaps they had even stopped breathing.

"It's the queen..."

"Shut up..."

She knelt in front of the man and looked at him, her brown eyes showing nothing but disdain. "You remind me of my husband." That was all she said, as she touched his face with one finger. The man started to breathe very heavily, as black veins seemed to engulf his body. In a matter of seconds, he was dead.

She looked up and noticed the woman with the two swords. "Captain?" she ordered, as the captain of the guard pointed at the group of the rajegh. "There they are, your majesty."

She moved towards them, her eyes still on the woman. "Everybody out except for the group of Rajegh that entered my land without permission!" she ordered, as everyone rushed outside.

She turned her attention to the woman. "Now you, are quite interesting. You have cost me three deaths, or should I say four in just one night. I must take my price, as Queen of Medria." she went behind one of the rajegh and touched his throat for a second. The black veins appeared and he writhed in pain. "He has fifteen minutes of life left, unless you listen to what I have to say. If you strike me down, the poison will spread through this room in the air and we will all die. Listen to my proposal, and we all live."

She made her way to a big table and sat at the head. "What say you?"

[Kaja Nowak Volkova]

It was as if the air had been sucked from the room as all the heads turned from the bloody mess before them. Kaja felt an unease as she watched the woman suck the life from the man she'd been saving for last. Tightening her grip on her swords, she gave a slight snarl as the woman made eye contact with her. Something about her did not sit right with her. However the captain's entrance could not do anything but amuse Kaja. With a smug smirk of bloodied teeth, she mused ”What ever gave us away?” which led to a small chuckle from her men. ”Drop that finger or loose it” she then threatened as he continued to point at her. Dropping his hand like she said, he looked to the lady beside him. Kaja did not like that one bit. He wasn't supposed to fear her more than Kaja.

The lady who they'd labelled the queen ordered the rest out and even the innkeeper left with the crowd, some of whom had to climb over the bodies scattered about the room. Her two bodyguards closed their distance between themselves and Kaja as the others remained at the table. Holding her tongue, Kaja waited to see what the queen had to say for herself after her remark of their so called trespass. ”I think you'll find that's four to me one to you” she corrected the queen as she pointed to the first man's head that lay to the side. Her moment of smugness was short lived though. As the queen neared her, one of her bodyguards positioned himself between them despite Kaja not feeling the need for him to do so. In these times it was better to be safe than sorry she thought to herself.

Once more she saw that sight of veins on the skin and this time she clearly growled, along with the rest of the men. Her first thought was that the queen had killed him and had she not spoken so swiftly she would have met a similar fate as the men before. It didn't matter what power she had. She would die. Her man slumped to his feet, clutching a nearby table and breathing heavily looked up to her. Alive. Watching the queen make her way to the table and listening to her words, she followed as if she were tracking her which made the queens own guards at the door unsure. This woman seemed so sure of herself but Kaja knew that even someone like her had weaknesses. Standing at the end of the table, she slammed her blade down into the wood and leaned forward slightly on the table.

”Listen here human. This is what will happen. You will remove the poison from him now. Then I shall listen. And in case you're forgetting what we are, might I remind you that poison doesn't travel very far when it's burning in rajegh fire. You kill one of my men and I will hunt down anyone close to you. I promise you now that they will not die quickly. They will feel every moment of it. I will listen to what you have to say not because you say I must. I will listen only because I see opportunity. You clearly knew we were here and that makes me curious as to why this would bother you so. Now, cure this man or your captain shall die a painful death right now.”

With that, Kaja faded into a black mist that seemed to vanish but had actually dropped into a shadow by the table. Emerging from a shadow behind the captain, she placed her knife to his throat and held him in a pin. ”You're not the only one with a trick up their sleeve. Cure. Him. Or this one dies now.” As guards to the side prepared to defend their captain, a few of Kaja's men drew their bows and aimed at them.

[Mordrena of Medria]

She shook her head in clear disappointment, as she relaxed in her spot, her fingers rubbing her temple. Rajegh, they tended to give her a headache. They had once been a proud race, but now, all she had for them was remorse. They were fighting a losing war, she could obviously tell that judging by the reports. Their pride was their downfall. Not allowing anyone else in their ranks would once prove to be detrimental, she was sure.

Mordrena had once dreamt of being a Rajegh. To escape her mother's clutches and marry Brandon, her one true love. But that was all gone now, and she had realized that you didn't need to be a Rajegh to have power. Even humans had powers, and magic. Magic was power. Her mother had taught her that.

She shook her head again as she looked at her captain's wide eyes, full of fear. Pathetic.

"I do not care for my captain, though I would advise you not to do that, for there are fifty men outside that you would enrage. Also, I might just fill this room with poison, as I said I would, and we would all die."

She tapped her fingernails on the table for a few seconds, and looked at the woman. "Sit, and I promise I will stop the poison." she said, and clicked her fingers. The veins from the man disappeared. "A few months ago, a Rajegh named Cezar came to my lands. I suppose that name should ring a bell? Needless to say, my husband was ruling the kingdom at that time, and he couldn't trouble himself with such a petty problem. I came upon this certain information from Cezar himself, about a clan of Rajegh in the West that wants to rule."

She gave the woman a smile. "Needless to say, Cezar and I became fairly accustomed to one another." She smiled again. "I am here because I see an opportunity, an opportunity that will help us both. I promise to clean your criminal records for tonight, trade from all the kingdoms I possess, military support though not a lot, and a few kingdoms for yourselves, if you do a tiny little thing for me."

She brought her hands in front of her face and gave the woman a malicious smile. "Help me kill the High King of Sioure and gain control of the South."

[Kaja Nowak Volkova]

There was a moments stand off between the two sides and Kaja moved about to keep an eye on this lady and the guards in the door. She could feel the man in her arms shaking as he feared for his life. Such was the fragile state of the human life. So short and so easy to end. Now this woman spoke once more and she acted as if though she didn't have the same short life as these fools around them. Looking at the door and the few men that had squeeze into the small frame Kaja felt confident that her and her men could take them on easily. There were more of them inside that could fit through the door at a time. However this threat of poison did concern Kaja as she didn't know if it was true or not. It was certainly a good bluff and the look on the guards faces showed their own wondering to the truth of it.

That said, the click of the fingers with the removal of the poisoned veins along with the bodyguards long gasp for wanted air led Kaja to agree to the terms. She did not like to be told what she could and should do but she felt that here perhaps did not have the control she had back home. It would go in her favour now she knew the woman's tricks and she didn't need touch to kill her. Shifting to her shadow form, she reappeared now sat in the chair opposite the queen playing with the knife in her finger tips before motioning to her men to lower their bows. As the captain held his neck with a quiet sob by the door, her men began to sit back down and some made a point of placing their swords on the table ready for a fight.

It took Kaja by surprise to hear her brother's name mentioned and her attention to the queen improved greatly. Stabbing the knife into the table, she lent forward and listened carefully. ”Of course that name means something to me. He is my brother. I know he is travelling on behalf of us all following the advice of our late father. The only reason your king didn't tremble before him was, how do I put it, testing the waters. When a man of his size walks into a kingdom, they often like to show off their strength, or lack of in some cases. It makes them feel better and he gets to see how easy it is to crush them.” With a confident snort of power, she lent back into her seat. As the queen spoke of getting close to her brother, she tilted the hilt of the knife so it came loose from the wood and placed it back in her hands to play with once more. They were a close pair and it irked her that he'd mess around with a human like this. However they weren't lovers like some would rumour and he was free to mess with any lady he liked.

After she put forward her proposal, Kaja took a moment to think whilst glancing over to her men as if to see what they made of it. They would follow her every word and she had no need to seek their advice as those back home would do the same. However she'd been raised to talk with her men firstly. A confused soldier was easy to kill. One who knew what he wanted and how to get it was harder. Rising to her feet, she motioned with her hand for the queen to wait and she walked to her men. Rising to their feet, they spoke in hushed tones for a moment and with nods around the group Kaja returned to the queen. Sitting back down with the queen, she asked ”So I would be right to assume you gain the control of the south? To do this you'd have to be very open about your intentions. That's war. We could easily kill him silently and leave the politics to you. Less enemies that way. As for our criminal records here, any guard that tries to arrest us will die trying. I know your military is a fifth of ours.” With a smug smirk, she lent close to the queen once more and teased ”And a woman of your....power....would not ask the likes of me for help unless you need my strength. How painful that must be for you.”

After a moments silence as she returned to leaning in her chair, she placed her knife back in its sheath. ”Well even though I don't trust you, I trust that you'd keep your word. Not because you're a good person. But because you know I'd come kill you. I don't care about a poison in a room. I don't need to be in the room to kill you. Trade, kingdoms and a ban of Bervenhall clan activity in the south and you have yourself a deal.” For Kaja this was ideal. The south had access to trade with Enden and multiple kingdoms meant more trade with the south. And the queen was human. A nice short life. Long enough to establish a strength of their own whilst she did her own thing.

[Mordrena of Medria]

Mordrena tried not to laugh when the female rajegh informed her that she was Cezar's sister. It was an interesting turn of events, especially now that she remembered that it was Cezar who had informed her about the rajegh clan in the West and the ways to communicate with them. He was probably the reason she had been secretly assigning spies and guards to the borders of her kingdoms in order to find out whether or not the Rajegh had trespassed her land. She had been waiting for that event for a long time.

"Ah, I'm pretty sure your name came up once or twice." she said, and smirked. "Kaja, isn't it?" She let the rajegh continue, and laughed again. "Dear, the only reason the King didn't tremble over your brother was because I fucked them both senseless." she said, and gave her a cruel smile. "They were both too tired to even breathe."

She waited while Kaja made her way to the other rajegh, as she tapped her fingernails on the table impatiently. She would never understand why the hell their leader took time in asking for their opinion. She was a leader, she made the decisions herself, and others followed. That was the way she had learned. She prayed to the Goddess of Death not to prolong her suffering any longer, and sooner than later, Kaja was back.

"Hardly, my dear. I do not wish to wage war on the High King. I am far better at politics than warfare, that much is painfully obvious, as I am sure you have already realised. What I want to secure is an alliance. You get my troops, I get yours if I am in danger." she said. "The High King will die one way or another. The other kingdoms will become nothing but mere pawns in my hands, and they will wage the war for me. All I want is a sense of security." she added, and raised a finger. "I've spent most of my days next to my late husband, I've experienced boredom and pain like no other has. Needless to say, this is quite a refreshing break, and not at all painful."

"My dearest Kaja, trusting me would be the worst mistake of your life. You can trust the fact that I want power, and to achieve that, I need a permanent alliance with you." She looked at her and smirked. "If you kill me, Kaja, you will lose the best deal that has been offered to you, a deal that you need. I'm pretty sure that that is not in your interests. Especially if the rest of Sioure finds out that the Ajurah clan has killed the Queen of Medria. You'd fighting against the Bervenhall and against the whole of Sioure." she said, and got up. "And now, if you'd please, leave my lands. The High King has spies everywhere."

[Kaja Nowak Volkova]

It was a curious thought that crossed her mind and one that she would ponder over for some days to come. Did she like the queen or not? On the one hand she was a possible ally in hard times to come and on the other it was clear she'd screw her over the moment she got a chance to. And the way she spoke. Gods be good the way she spoke! It was not the usual formal “noble” way of talking. It was blunt, honest and very open. As were the women in the west. For a moment she had wondered if the queen had come from the west herself. The south was known for their treachery of course but such openness was unusual. ”Well I'm glad that my brother was shown a good time down here. And so willingly. He must have made an impression upon you!” Kaja retorted, sliding her knife into each sheath.

Upon her return from discussing with the men the terms, she listened to the queen talk with an occasional raised eyebrow. From being explicitly open to wording a plan into mere hearsay and thoughts. Perhaps this queen wasn't so powerful as she made out. ”Ah spies. Don't we just love them? You should make them fear to risk doing such a job in your kingdom. A spy is a spy, sent by an ally or not. I have my shadows and you have your poison. Each a way to remind them not to tell on us. Because where is the fun in that? I assume by the ending of this meeting we have a deal. War with the south or not, I will see that you honour your words. You will have my support come this war, whether you admit its existence or not. War is coming regardless. And the dawn of the Rajegh will come. Mark my words you will see us rule once more.” Rising to her feet, she motioned for her men to follow and moved towards the door. Blowing a mocking kiss and a wink to the man whose neck was still tender from the touch of her blade, she halted in the door.

With a small smile, she tilted her head slightly without looking at the queen and said ”Long live the king” before turning to look at the queen once more with the smile growing. After a pause, she walked out the door followed by her men and set off south. They still intended to reach the docks however now they were without the planned rest. A town further south would do. None of the men trusted this queen and Kaja had to agree with them. A greedy soul would always do what was best for them and a fake smile was easy to hide behind until the dagger was drawn. With recent weeks being quiet in the west and the only real fights between the two western clans being in other nations Kaja figured some extra help could be useful yet she was no fool to rely on it. This queen had not proven herself to be trustworthy and as she'd said herself it was a mistake to trust her.

Shifting into her true form, she set off into the sky with her men in search of the next town. To any spies, if any existed, this would look like them leaving and to those that were more committed, they would see them reach the docks a few days later and ask around for information on her brother. A short journey back home and that was the end of their travels. Word of trade convoys in the east saw them take to the skies once more and so continued the search for information on her brother. It was not until the eve of the ambush on the convoy that a letter from Cezar himself came into her possession. He was back in the mainland and he was travelling some more. News of a united Chreina spread concern but Kaja was simply happy he was nearer. With him at her side no nation, kingdom or empire could stop them. Friend or foe, they'd all bend the knee.