Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2004 21:18:59 -0500 From: T.K. Walters Subject: Working a Fallen feather, prologue If a story about explicit sex is what you're looking for, keep looking. This story will have some sex in it, but it will be quite muted. So, just a warning, if you're looking for a quick pound of the pud, then I suggest my other story in the incest section: "All For Him". WARNINGS: This is a story. This is only a story. If this had been an actual fact, then you would've heard more people clamoring to get in here. Anyway, I hope all who were just looking for a sex story will still read this. I've been told it's quite . . . inventive. Prologue IN THE CAPITAL city Ascelpius, Hearth of Remmus, homeland to most of the Spellcasters of the Northern Regions, Perloi scanned the empty streets that were set as a maze with the granite homes. Just one sign of life is all he needs to find fulfillment in this particular mission, but in his heart he knows that none of those he was chosen to protect had made it out of the battle. Even he, a great Wingbearer leader, sustained many wounds--none mortal as of yet but left unchecked could cause his death quite quickly. The air was thick with pure magic, the residue of the tragic deaths of all the Spellcasters that happened to be in the city at the moment of impact. In the pit of his stomach, Perloi knows his body is recharging and soon he will be able to take flight again. It was then he felt the air above him shift and a youngling Wingbearer, barely sixteen of age, landed on the ground with the noiseless grace that was innate to him and his kin. In the boy's hands, feathers of several dark colors--ranging from midnight black, to dark blue--were gathered as the only mission that he had. Kendite was young, not yet in full grasp of his magic and would not have likely lasted in the Battle of the Skies, which is why Perloi had sent him and others like him after the Oyni, the feathers of rebirth. "I could only find these," Kendite explained. "I examined all the bodies that I could, either they were too damaged or had already been disintegrated by the Utheno. They're getting smart. They know that the ones they thought they're fighting for the first time were brought back from a fight months ago." "Dammit," Perloi cursed. "I knew it wouldn't be long before Omegus realized this fact. I told Beltan to switch his soldiers every now and then. Stupid idiot, he very well might've lead us to our defeat." Around Perloi, a small gray haze began to form. Kendite stepped back, slightly in awe of Perloi's ability to command pure magic in a way that Spellcasters could and definitely afraid of this same fact. He waited for the magic the subside, as it always does, and stepped forward. "Pardon me, Master Perloi, but I have other news." "What of?" "The Royal Family, sir," Kendite answered. "I'm gravely disappointed to say that they had been killed with the rest of the Spellcasters." Unscathed by the information that he already knew to be true deep down, he asked, "And the Tribunal?" "All dead but one man, Ferrigor," Kendite reported. "He's safely at the Southern base." It made sense to Perloi, as the South had not yet experienced an invasion--at least not like the East and North have gotten. "Very well," he said, "I will need you to send one of the younglings to Calico. Inform him that the North has become a desolate place. If we still intend on waiting for the Great King, then we must intercept his location when he comes." A great worry came to Kendite's forehead. "But that would mean certain death to him!" he protested. "No one, not even the Council Elders have been able to survive a sudden tear in their travel. We could very well end up being the reason they are buried!" The moment he ceased speaking, Kendite realized that he had spoke out of ranking and quickly stiffened. "Please, excuse me, sir. I know not what I speak of." "Yet you do," Perloi interjected, his voice soft and soothing, much like a loving father's. "You forget that I've known you from before. We were boyhood friends, your predecessor and I." "If I may speak freely, sir," Kendite said. "I do not know my past yet. The Elders have given the choice to me and I have not responded." Perloi`s eyes furrowed. "What is the problem?" he asked. As he awaited for an answer, two other younglings--both carrying similar feathers to Kendite's--descended like falcons. "We will speak again of this soon, Kendite," Perloi reaffirmed; more so for himself than the youngling. His wings shivered, shaking the fatigue out of themselves, before he flew up to meet the two. Kendite stood mesmerized and in awe of his past lover. Such energy emanated from the use of Perloi's wings. He held much power, as Kendite realized when he saw that Perloi's wounds seem to be healing rapidly.