Men who play games of war and soldiers born from circumstance...
MAIN
PROFILES
ALBUMS
STORIES
EXTRAS
LINKS
 |
Scroll 05 : 01
|
Mismatched eyes meet hard yellow an instant before he twists himself around, pushing the hilt of his weapon forward before tapping it abruptly up to knock the other man’s pole arm directly from his palm. A stifled laugh in the background from those gathered under his command spills into the air when a leather sandaled foot is brought up and Bal’thial kicks his opponent with just enough force to send him stumbling away. “S-sorry sir” the man tries as he quickly turns to sweep up his fallen weapon while doing everything in his power not to meet the smug gazes of his comrades who had been watching near silently off to their sides up until that point. He turns once his weapon is back in hand and immediately takes on a defensive stance, but the white haired Captain simply shakes his head as he lowers his own sword to his side. “You are ill-practiced and lacking and it is pathetic for those under our Queen’s command.” He motions towards the group standing behind them and when he does, they collectively stiffen. “I want weapon stances perfected by the morning, even if this means you are practicing all night.” A groan resonates out that’s immediately lost when blue and green eyes turn towards his men. “No arguments, you have brought this on yourself.” The men shout an agreement before he waves them all off with his sword, as eagerness inside of him that doesn’t show as he dismisses his men before the Harbinger is scheduled to arrive. “Go, all of you, find another place to be” He commands, sending them all scrambling to exit except one. Several large men meld with the side of the stairwell as they exit the arena to avoid the Queen’s Harbinger who descends past them with sword in hand. Kso’ppghiel simply smirks, uncaring of what they think. Because of his continued ‘obedience’, the Queen has allowed him more freedoms. These freedoms normally means more time spent with the Captain of her Guard. Metal enchantments chime as he hits the dirt floor of the arena with worn leather boots, walking inside with sword in hand to meet the one waiting for him within. He’s mildly surprised to see one of Bal’thial’s men still inside, attempting to converse with his Captain. Amused with the scene before him, he simply stays at the entrance to watch. A smile forms in the slightest on the white haired man’s lips when he catches the Harbinger’s presence from the corners of his eyes as the one before him continues to stutter his way through a sentence that makes a not so subtle argument on why a personal lesson would be best. “We will speak more on it later.” Bal’thial interrupts abruptly. “Unless you wish to explain to our Mistress personally as to why her chosen returns to her later than she expects” hard yellow eyes widen and shoot towards the entrance the Captain motioned at, turning back and apologizing swiftly before bowing his head, turning on his heals to move towards the doorway beyond. Kso’ppghiel smirks under the mask, walking forward just as the Captain’s subordinate tries to run past. The Harbinger clips him with his shoulder, sending the other man to the ground and the moment he hits, he stares up in wide-eyed terror. White eyes narrow and he growls in the slightest at the fallen man, causing him to jump to his feet and run out of the arena. Laughter spills from both men as the Harbinger approaches. “That one seems to take personal interest in you…” Turning his sword once in his hand, the white haired man slams the serrated edged weapon into the dirt floor below as the blonde is nearly upon him and he steps forward to meet him before he begins walking Kso’ppghiel back. “That he has. He will be pretty disappointed to find though that my heart belongs to another.” Amusement dances in mismatched eyes as they remain locked with pupiless white, one man pushing forward while the other takes blind steps back and soon enough; the Harbinger’s backside hits the closed arena doors behind. A short whispered stream seals the room around them and the Captain’s hand slides up to rest against the worn wooden frame directly to the side of the blonde’s head while the other slips towards the metal barrier that keeps them apart “He is young though, and I am sure he will get over any heartbreak caused from my rejection.” Another stream of words slips past full lips and a second later the mask is pulled free just as he’s leaning in to claim a passionate kiss. The men lose themselves as both sword and mask are dropped, hitting the ground with a metal clang. After several long minutes they pull away, both slightly breathless from the intensity. “This is good…” Kso’ppghiel smirks. “Otherwise I would have to take his head for daring to look at what is mine.” The Captain smiles and they meet again for another kiss before the Harbinger reaches down to reclaim his sword and the two begin walking out towards the center of the arena. “That woman had decided that I am fit for duty. From my understanding I am to go out to where her armies are to be lead next and simply show my presence. This is supposed to warn them of imminent death? It is not a very glamorous duty for what is supposedly such an important position.” A laugh slips free of Bal’thial’s lips as a clawed hand is wrapping around the hilt of his sword and he pulls it free of the floor it protrudes from. “I suppose it may not seem so, but the position is an effective one.” Turning around as he spins his blade in his hand once, the tall Captain smirks. “The sight alone of her Harbingers have won her wars before the rest of us can even begin them at times, or done enough from fear alone and made it easier for the victories taken in her name. Where a Harbinger shows, death will follow… this has been her way for the entire time I have been in her service and I am told it was no different before.” Kso’ppghiel readies his sword as he waits for the Captain to make the first strike. “I was unaware my face was so well known, especially behind a mask that covers most all of it.” Bal’thial moves forward, the metal of their blade hitting as the Harbinger moves low to slide the Captain’s blade off in a shower of sparks. “She will not allow me to leave without the mask and I am not allowed any of my swords either. I am unsure how she plans on me coming back alive if I am to make my presence known to a large, heavily armed battalion.” Pushing the Harbinger’s weapon back and swinging up, both men spin opposite of one another before another clang of metal brings them together again. “I… am not sure what she is thinking or why she would not allow you at least one sword… but I do not like the sound of it.” twisting his blade around, white plaits flair out as another spin brings the Captain striking Kso’ppghiel’s open side only to have his weapon blocked at the last possible second, pulling a quick smile to his lips. “In truth, I am surprised she is allowing you out of these walls at all… though you have been playing her game well and it seems as if her confidence of her hold on you is strong.” A smirk forms on the Harbinger’s lips. “Perhaps it is because I am now reciprocating when she mounts me. I am only able because my thoughts are of you. Every whim and command is obeyed because it allows me this time with you. She also knows I will come back for my swords…” Kso’ppghiel strikes forward, shifting his weapon flat as the metal meets and bringing himself flush with the taller man. “Which is true, but my main reason for coming back is right here.” He smiles as he leans forward, sharp fangs grazing Bal’thial’s lower lip before he pushes off and readies himself once more. The Captain’s tongue slips briefly out to lick at the spot where sharp fangs had just grazed, a smile painted on his lips as he dips down and onto a knee before striking up, the flat end of his blade brought to his free hand to brace against the hit that rains down from above. “On one hand I am heated by your words, Harbinger, in knowing that you will not forget me once you are outside of these walls...” sliding free of his knees, he pushes completely up and swings out, spinning around to block the secondary blow coming at his own side. Pulling a hand free of his weapon, he reaches swiftly over as their swords are lowered between them to wrap clawed fingers around the end of a spiraled horn and yank the other man’s face towards him, full lips crashing briefly against Kso’ppghiel’s to steal another rough kiss. Pulling back without allowing the blonde’s horn free, a smirk is given soon after “On the other I am finding much distaste in the thoughts of our Queen taking more from your body than time allows me.” “As am I, but it is either that or nothing and I choose you over nothing without hesitation. For all her…experience, she is not very skilled at the art.” The Harbinger smiles. “Perhaps if she thinks me loyal enough she will send me out on special tasks with you and that strange little feathered creature for whatever it is you accompany him for.” Clawed fingers reach up to thread into white braids, reciprocating the hold. “That woman seems to be growing rather… attached. As if I were her mate. She did not seem that way with the one she killed. Is this normal for her?” “No…” Bal’thial’s expression straightens as the two begin lowering the weapons between them, their continued holds over one another remaining strong when their swords slip down to their sides. “I have never seen the amount of… emotion in her that she has shown towards you.” He continues quietly as a step brings him even closer to the blonde’s body and his fingers begin sliding over every ridge of curved spiraling horn. He knows why his Mistress acts this way… the substation the other man is in accordance to his father in her eyes and he is not happy that as of yet, he can’t explain this it to the blonde any more than he can say how unhappy he is that her hopes for this person he’s claimed are as such. He doesn’t want Kso’ppghiel to belong to anyone else, not even their Queen… “She cares so little for anyone beyond her whims… but you…” tracing clawed fingers around towards the base, the white haired man’s hands slides across light blonde hair and down to travel over the contours of his structured jaw, mismatched eyes following every slow movement as he speaks. “You are… special and I am sure this is why…” “I am no more special than any other. There are many who fight, there are many who would be adverse to her command. I am just another man with a sword…” Kso’ppghiel smirks, closing his eyes briefly as the Captain’s fingers move over his skin. “It is dangerous for her to become involved with what she deems as a pet. It will make her weak. That woman is already easily manipulated because of it, not that I would prefer she wake from that dream. I will use it to end her, I only need to become stronger to withstand her wrath and break her defenses.” Pupiless white eyes slowly open to stare into mismatched blue and green as the Captain traces around the contours of the Harbinger’s lips. “You are already very strong.” He says as claw tips travel down to rest beneath the blonde’s chin, metal adornments on long winding horns chiming as he leans in to brush his mouth against the others. “Time and training will fortify it and make your freedom possible soon enough…” a smile forms as he leans in just a little more, allowing the briefest moments of contact before he pulls back again. “I have seen many men with swords in my time and you are far from average,” He smirks before he begins to move around Kso’ppghiel and towards the entrance far beyond. “as it is not a common occurrence that I find myself interested enough in another to risk life and limb as I have…” Two steps away brings the Harbinger’s hand back up to wrap around a few long plaited braids and with one hard yank back, the taller man’s back hits the blonde’s chest behind and head bent to avoid the curves of duel horns. A devious smile forms of his mouth when a strong arm wraps around his waist to lock them together close and his mismatched gaze slides back over a broad shoulder to meet the other man’s snow colored own. “Though despite her weakness as far as you are concerned... I understand it; one cannot help the feelings of one’s heart.” “Yes.” Kso’ppghiel smiles. “The feelings of my own heart have caused me to do things I would have never otherwise done… such as follow orders.” He smirks as his lips move to graze over long ears. The Harbinger slams his blade into the ground, freeing his other hand to travel over Bal’thial’s tunic covered chest. Clawed fingers make their way under fabric and over the soft skin of the Captain’s abdomen, tracing every curve and indent. “You risk your life for me just as I feel I would follow you to the ends of the world and back. When we are free, I plan to do just that.” Bal’thial smiles as he allows his head to fall back, mismatched eyes sliding closed while velvet lips trace along the long line of his ear and down to the heated skin of his neck while clawed fingers at his abdomen causes fiery ripples to spark beneath the surface of toned flesh. “When this happens we will travel under only our command…” slipping his sword blindly over, he hooks the end of his hilt around the long sword standing erect at their sides and allows it to fall, supported by the other weapon’s weight before he reaches back to thread his fingers in layered strands of white blonde while his other hand slips over the one to his front. “We will go where the winds take us.” He whispers as he pulls his head free and allows it to fall forward, a soft grazing of sharp fangs tightening his hold in Kso’ppghiel’s hair “I will show you the world past the hate… one filled with purpose and reason beyond revenge…” The Harbinger’s eyes close as he holds the other close, burying his face into white braids. “I feel I will very much enjoy the remainder of my life if it is with you…”
 “Mithghiiel survived.” Io’fayl’s voice shows little trace of emotion as she walks forward into the mastersmith’s work area. “This would be the obvious conclusion considering you hold his son.” Caramel colored eyes finally shift down to the item he holds, slowly unwrapping it to reveal the longsword he had made Mithghiiel all those years ago. He smiles as he looks over it, beyond the normal wear and tear of war, it seems as if Kso’ppghiel took proper care of it. “This is not a happy reunion.” The Queen says, highly annoyed. “He was ordered to death, how did he survive?” “Must have slipped away in the night…” Gran’hein smirks as his eyes travel to the leather wrapped hilt, his tone thoughtful. “This is new…” After several long moments he finally shifts his gaze to the one before him. “Does it matter? He’s dead now and you have his son, of whom I hear is being very obedient to your whims.” “That is not the point.” Io’fayl crosses her arms over her chest. “You were with him, you were close to him. I want to know how he survived to make that son.” A smug smile forms over the large man’s lips. “I could not say, though I will suggest you inform the boy of your relationship with his father.” “There was no relationship.” She snaps. “Come now, Io’fayl. You know as well as I that he wasn't your usual pet. You couldn’t sink your claws so deeply into him that he was a blind idiot to your whims. You liked it and he liked that you tried. But you pushed it too far Offy, you crossed a line you should have know better than to cross with him.” Gran’hein places the sword down on his worktable and crosses his own arms in defiance. He’s known the Queen far too long to let her push him around. “But the method works. I look out for my own men, not those of other armies. If they are dying in battlefields how can I help them?” “Killing helpless farmers and children certainly isn’t the best method. When the boy finds out it was you who did all this to both his father and him, you won’t be able to control him.” Gran’hein smirks. Io’fayl snorts. “And you are suggesting I tell him? The point is I can control the child and have done so for the past few months. Why would I tell him anything that would cause me to lose that?” “Because you don’t control the boy and it’s the right thing to do. Maybe if you said you were sorry he might find it in his heart not to slaughter you.” Caramel colored eyes glitter as his smile widens. “He cannot touch me, he does not have the ability, otherwise he would have done so in the beginning.” “You just keep telling yourself that, Offy.” He hands the sword back to her and she rips it out of his grip. “Don’t get attached to this one like you did his father, he’s not Mithghiiel.” The Queen’s eyes narrow, her grip tightening on the sword and she turns to leave.
 Kso’ppghiel watches as the Captain begins climbing the long stairwell that will take him back to his chambers- chambers he would prefer to be joining him in. Once the other man is out of sight he turns back to claim his sword that still sticks in the ground several yards away. He is… happy. Very happy. He cannot remember feeling so complete. Clawed fingers wrap around the hilt, pulling the weapon free just as he feels a set of eyes on him. He spins around immediately to see yellow eyes peering at him from outside the door. This solider could cause them trouble if he does not curb his interest in Bal’thial. The Harbinger walks towards the exit, smirking when the other man scrambles back to get out of the way. As he walks through the doors he turns to face the one just outside avoiding his white gaze. “The Captain has no interest in you. You would do best to accept this.” He smirks as yellow eyes narrow and continues on his way back to the Queen’s chambers.
 As she rounds the corner of a high landing, a familiar figure comes into view as he talks with a subordinate. As she walks up behind, the solider immediately bows, backing away to allow his Queen to speak with the Captain of her Guard alone. Her fingers rise as Bal’thial turns to face her, eyes lowering in respect as she smiles. “And how is our Harbinger doing with his training, Captain?” “Your chosen is progressing well Mistress.” The white haired man says quietly, finding himself a little surprised to see his Queen outside of her bedchambers with Kso’ppghiel’s other sword in hand as delicate fingers move across the contours of his chest. “Though he is in need of refinement as his skill is still rather…raw.” “Yes, I can imagine all those years of brute force war did very little for his skill levels.” A subtle frown forms on her features as she remembers Gran’hein’s words. “But… I do not need him to be proficient enough to fight in a war, since he will never be doing so. I only need him proficient enough to defend when performing his duties. I also do not need the two of you getting close.” Friendships strain loyalties and she does not want to give her Harbinger any excuse to disobey. “I have never had an interest in becoming close to your pets, Mistress, this one is no exception.” Bal’thial lies flatly as she takes a step closer to him, clawed hands trailing up to the lines of his jaw “I only wish to carry out your commands to the best of my abilities as you have rightfully come to expect…” “I am… worried about this one.” Io’fayl frowns, pulling her fingers away slowly, thoughts far from where she stands. Her grip on the sword tightens in the slightest. “It is of little consequence. Soon he will be in so far deep he cannot escape.” The Queen attempts to reassure herself. He is not liking how unsure his Queen sounds, there’s a hesitation in her voice and eyes he’s not seen before and it isn’t settling right within him at all. Something is off and if it continues, the risk to himself and the Harbinger becomes greater. “I… would not worry Mistress…” The tall Captain says as mismatched eyes rise up to meet rust, “Though he was difficult in the beginning, it is obvious you have prevailed and have tamed him.” Slipping a clawed hand up, the white haired man carefully touches the side of Io’fayl’s face in a way so very few have been permitted to do and he offers her a reassuring smile. “There are none who can resist you for long, and fewer that want to. This has already been proven by his willing presence at your feet and his… unhappiness at my role beneath your command. By those examples alone, I would say he is already ensnared…” A small smile quirks on the Queen’s lips. “I am pleased with his jealousy… and you are probably right.” She sighs. “I have a special interest in this one and would not enjoy destroying him.” But there is still part of her that knows, he possesses a will others cannot match. Being Mithghiiel’s son only augments that fact. Io’fayl pulls away without another word, turning to ascend the stars once more and return to her chamber. Mismatched eyes watch as his Queen moves towards the stone stairs leading up to her chambers at the far end of the hall, his face a perfect mask of calm despite the reservation he’s now feeling inside. Something has happened and he’s unsure of what it could be, but it’s dangerous, he can feel it deep inside. That Io’fayl was outside of her usual place within her chambers isn’t too uncommon, that she was carrying Kso’ppghiel’s father’s sword was and coupled with the doubt that had been flickering throughout her gaze… he isn’t liking this very much and the next time he can, he will have to warn the blonde to be cautious until that doubt has slipped away.
The doors behind him burst open, Io’fayl returning highly annoyed to find her supposedly obeying Harbinger doing just the opposite. “Kincaid! What do you think you are doing?” White eyes immediately fix on the sword she carries in her hand and without thinking he moves forward, preparing to strike against the one who holds it. She raises a hand, using the Harbingers own momentum to grab him and send him to the hard marble below. He rises, rage emanating off his form as he speaks in a low growl. “That is mine. You have no right to that sword, give it back.” Io’fayl’s expression goes cold. Turning the sword to grip the hilt, she bears the blade down on the one before her, Kso’ppghiel rolling out of the way at the last moment. “If you want this sword, child, come and claim it.” A snarl leaves the Harbinger and he pulls his own sword off his back, readying himself before. The look in his eyes already tells her everything she needs to know. He is not tame, it was only an illusion, he wants to kill her and that is not acceptable. The blonde lunges forward, Io’fayl easily deflecting the blow and turning back on Kso’ppghiel. Faster than he can register, her blade comes up, knocking his high and giving her enough room to flip her grip and barrel into his abdomen with the butt end of the hilt. The Harbinger doubles over immediately, his head coming up fast with the tip of his father’s sword points at his neck. The queen pushes him back to the nearest wall. “You have no understanding of how deep this goes, Kso’ppghiel, and I suggest you not try me.” She presses into his throat hard enough to draw blood, hilt in both hands, ready to take her kill.
His steps aren’t slowed in the slightest as he makes it into the long marbled hall, heads turning when he’s shouting towards the crowd gathered around the opened doors to his Queen’s chambers, the commotion inside echoing throughout every wall. The guards fall back when he moves past, parting to allow him access as he slows and bursts through the doors in time to find the Harbinger pinned and his own father’s sword at his neck, rust colored eyes burning with intent for a kill. “Mistress!” he shouts out and before he can even think to stop himself, he’s running towards the pair ahead. Just as two sets of burning eyes are shifting to him, a clawed hand flies out to wrap around Io’fayl’s wrist and he yanks back to break her combined grip, pulling the sword away from the Harbinger’s neck. Surprise only flickers momentarily through his Queen’s gaze before she pulls back with her free hand to backhand him hard, sending the Captain flying away from her as her strike sends him slamming hard into the nearest wall. Only the slightest of noises leaves his lips as he falls face first onto the marbled floor below, white plaited braids tumbling over broken skin and his mind swimming from the force of the blow. “I am not stupid, Captain.” Her attention is taken momentarily until movement behind her causes Io’fayl to point the sword back at her Harbinger’s neck to keep him from moving. “This is precisely why friendship is ill advised. After all the years under my service I would think this would be something you understood. Your loyalty lies with me and no other, especially not a poorly controlled Harbinger. Do not make me choose which one of you to kill as it is not a choice I would prefer to make.” The tip of her blade follows as Kso’ppghiel jerks forward, wanting to run towards the Captain and stopping once the metal threatens to slide deep into his neck. Slightly glazed mismatched eyes slide up as Bal’thial is working to push himself back, the coppery taste of blood strong in his mouth as he speaks. “My concern… not… him… Mistress.” He sways dangerously as he works to push flat words from stained lips, the metal adornments capping dust ridden horns chiming when he doubles over and a hand is slid out to brace against the floor to his front. “You will regret… killing this one… I wish to spare you… that…” Io’fayl steps forward, flipping the sword around and slamming the hilt into the side of Kso’ppghiel’s head, knocking him unconscious instantly. Her eyes hold no emotion as he crumples to the ground before her. Her attention turns to her Captain. The Queen frees a hand, grabbing Bal’thial by the throat and lifting him to a standing position, her voice coming very low. “You will never stay my hand again. Do you understand me?” “Perfectly.” He chokes out, misted blue and green eyes held by fiery rust. He wants badly to look over to the fallen Harbinger, to make sure he still lives but for many long and tense moments as he fights to both remain conscious and take in a breath from beneath her vice grip, he won’t dare. For the first time in years, he’s actually unsure if he’ll survive this fit. “Forgive me… I did not think… wanted only to spare you… future pain…” Rust colored eyes narrow. Why would the Captain think killing him would cause her any pain? He doesn’t know about Mithghiiel or her feelings towards him in relation to his son. Bal’thial knows more than he lets on but she is not in the mood right now to dig around. “We will talk of this later.” She shoves him off, not bothering to watch as he hits the ground. The Queen signals a few guards over who reluctantly follow her command as she points to her unconscious Harbinger, ordering them to lay him on her bed as she walks out on her terrace to remove herself from this mess. Clawed hands slide back to brace against the cracked wall behind him as the eyes of his own men look on sympathetically while he works to pull himself up, a quick motioning of his head that sends the world spinning momentarily as he signals them to do as their Mistress has said. Reaching his feet, he spends a few moments with gritted teeth watching as the unconscious Harbinger is lifted and carried over to Io’fayl’s bed and a measure of relief washes through him to see the other man relatively unharmed. He wants to go to him, tend to that wound on his neck and he’s hating through the haze that swims in his mind that he can’t. Yellow eyes pull his gaze away as he’s met with the overly concerned features of his direct subordinate and he pulls a hand up to wave off the help the younger man attempts to give. Pushing away from the wall, Bal’thial turns on unsteady feet as the other simply follows closely behind and moves as fast as he can manage out of the Queen’s room.
|
