I WILL ALWAYS FIND YOU
The summer sun broke through the pine canopy, but only just. Some might say the Chamber was eerie, unwelcoming. The Chamberlings were of a different opinion. Where others might skirt the edges of the wood in avoidance, they embraced the cool, needle-littered forest. Where the shadows cast themselves long across the lichen floor, his son lay his head to sleep. The caw of ravens overhead did not bode dire circumstance, they rang softly against the bark, forming a familiar backdrop to the otherwise stillness. Still. That was what the Chamber was to him, cool (relatively), calm, collected. The forest sported a dignity that the other realms just did not possess in his opinion.
As of late though, he had contributed to a ripple in the design, a thrum to the taught strings that fated his Kingdom. He had fathered a child, had assisted in creating new life to fill the borders. In doing so he had staked his claim to a partner, to a mate, to a confidant. Engelsfors. He walked with a noticeable since of pride, of belonging, not that he had felt an outcast before. The pairing had just solidified his sense of inclusion, creating a blood-tie to the Chamber. He raked the compost as he passed, sliding against the trees, his barrel touching each with a familiarity. There had been several newcomers and he sought to know them all in scent, his nares flared wide as he inhaled each bouquet.
He could easily find his more active herd mates now. Engelsfors was the easiest, her aroma like the twilight, of crisp evening air, and lover’s secrets. Vercingetorix is musky timber, morning dew and daybreak. Erebor’s scent had changed, becoming smoke and ash, an acrid crackling hearth, topped with certitude. Straia was distinctly pine, more so than the others, a tincture of feathers and carrion, with a stately measurement of something that made his nose tingle. He associated this with magic. Warship, smelled of the damp moss that lined the north side of the trees. Of endurance and hardships, discomfort and trials shouldered for others, for the Chamber. The metallic tang of blood. Kavi was change, transition. Fragile yellowed parchment, thick cursive ink, and floral incense.
The others, he was still learning, their fragrance had yet to take a permanent part in the perfume. He was sure with time, that wouldn’t be so, but for now the fact held. His nape stretched, thickset and sinewy towards some low hanging boughs. Auburn chops lip at the sap, a few stray hairs caught in its viscid trap.
KILLDARE Tracker Lieutenant of the Chamber
i want the world in my hands
 The kingdom was large enough now that she found she could no longer be everywhere at once. She found that she felt no need to greet every newcomer on the border, sure that someone else would be there and more than able to handle the situation. Should something arise, she didn’t doubt that the ravens would be quick to inform her, and only then did she go. Not that she didn’t spend time doing things for her kingdom. She knows no other life, no other way. But her kingdom had flourished, had taken on a life of it’s own.
And now she found herself weaving through the pines, thinking of ways to stir the pot in Beqanna. Engelsfor, among others, spent plenty of time trying to steal. Perhaps they needed more challenges. But still, the rest of Beqanna seemed unruffled. The Chamber needed to do more, to remind the rest of Beqanna who the Chamber really was. They were not the kingdom her father had built, one bent toward his whims and alliances with the Gates. They were something far, far greater than the legacy he had created.
She catches the familiar sight of Killdare not too far off, weaving his way through the pines as many of the Chamberlings are prone to doing. This is how she knows the true Chamberlings. They welcome the cool, misty darkness of the forest like one welcomes a lover to bed. They move through the pines with the same ease a cat can move through legs, always brushing against one of another, but never tangled, never stopped.
She slips through the pines in his direction, wearing only her crown of feathers. She has no wings today, no ravens on her back. They are not far away; at least some always circle the kingdom. But for the most part, the day has been quiet. “Killdare,” she says, coming to stand before him. “How is fatherhood?” She asks. She hasn’t formally met their son, but she has seen him around, knows his name. She knew when the boy was convinced. After all, the ravens miss nothing. She may not be everywhere, but the ravens certainly were.
straia the raven queen of the chamber
08-17-2015, 01:01 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-17-2015, 01:05 PM by Killdare.)
I WILL ALWAYS FIND YOU
A familiar tingle traces the rim of his nostrils, causing him to shake his head from the irritation, avoiding a sneeze. Coarse black tendrils flap at the movement, flying away momentarily, only to fall again from the tug of the roots that held them secure. He stopped in his winding path, though he didn’t really need to turn his head, he knew who it was without looking. He did look though, curving his thick neck to take in the form of the advancing Queen. She stopped as well, just before him, in all her feathered glory.
His eyes fell over the crown first, the circlet of black feathers made from only her desire of them to be. It was a nice touch, a subtle frivolity that she needn’t really wear, but she did all the same. Because she could. The days of them sitting idle were surely coming to an end, he noticed the subtle changes since the fae had come. A trail of magic and mischief left behind, so far as the Chamber was concerned. It struck a chord that rippled into the stagnant air, seeming to reverberate into Beqanna, calling forth all sorts of equine.
His ears trained towards her, finding the notes of her speech and listening in. She missed nothing, the ravens missed nothing. She knew without telling that the silvered buck was his, it had to be someone’s obviously. Not that he had hid this knowledge from anyone, it just hadn’t come up, not outright. The widening of the golden mares barrel, well, he thought it was apparent what had occurred. He probably should have at the very least introduced them, but like a man he thought Engel would have squared that away. ”Suffice to say, fatherhood is..rewarding.” It was as good a word as any, and it was indeed rewarding. ”I am pleased to say the child is a colt, not that you don’t already know that.” He raised an eyebrow, of course she knew, of course he knew that she knew.
The bay wasn’t brilliant, but he wasn’t an outright idiot either. ”He’ll make a fine soldier for the army, once he has grown and received training. His cognitive skills favor his mother’s side.” He added, a flick of his dark tail to the last bit, obviously he’d prefer a soldier. KILLDARE Tracker Colonel of the Chamber
i want the world in my hands
Of course she knows everything. It’s likely her favorite part of this whole raven magic thing. She can do all sorts of everything, but knowledge is power. The bay and white queen has always sought knowledge above all else, and now she has an army of spies. Though she is quickly becoming well known as the Raven Queen, and she suspects they some of the kingdoms may start killing the real ravens. She’ll have to switch to shadow ravens and light ravens then perhaps. More obvious than the feathered variety, but impossible to kill.
Though of course, some of the smaller perks were rather enjoyable too. She wore the crown that she didn’t need because it amused her. Because she could. She needed no other reason. Those in the kingdom knew without asking that she ruled, even before the ravens. She hardly needed a crown. But why not have a little fun? She didn’t understand those with traits that just never used them, pretended to be something normal. Not that she ever needed traits, but having them just made everything sweeter.
“I’ve met him,” she says with a slight grin. “He was greeting a newcomer. Already working for the Chamber, it seems. You’ll have to forgive me though, I’m not even going to attempt that name.” She laughs, not really asking forgiveness. “What were you two thinking with that one?” But she means well enough by the question, even if it could be construed as rude. Though it’s obvious that’s not her aim, but still. That name. Oh dear good.
“You know, we need more diplomats too. But I am glad you are enjoying fatherhood. And Engelsfors, of course.” Her grin widens slightly, a bit teasing now. She can’t help it. It’s rather fun, even if it might drive them all nuts that she knows the details of their personal lives. But of course, she doesn’t run around screaming it to the world. She has that much courtesy, at least. straia the raven queen of the chamber
 Use of mild power playing is allowed; no injuries without permission
09-05-2015, 03:15 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-05-2015, 03:16 PM by Killdare.)
I WILL ALWAYS FIND YOU
He raises a brow as she divulges him, it seemed she had already met the boy. Had already seen and perhaps conversed with the young child, or at the very least had observed him. He nodded at this, surprised and yet unsurprised at the same time. He should have known really, but he was glad nevertheless, to know that the child had not shamed them. On the contrary the colt was already showing his loyalty, he and Engel had impressed the importance of this from day one. As a father he was glad the information had stuck, proud even.
Children could be unruly, uninterested, but theirs seemed quite the opposite of that. The name, always the name. His features fall to display a strained look, the edges of his eyes squinting, their gaze narrowed. His nostrils flared to in response, and his tail flicked in annoyance. It could be a trick question, all things with women seemed to be in some form or fashion. His answer would surely get him in trouble one way or another, or at least he felt it may. Perhaps he was just guilty because he was no so fond of it. Tread lightly dear Killdare ”I can not take credit for that one.” He didn’t even bother to feign any form of strained smile. That little face at the end of a statement to let others know all was well. ”Engelsfors is as creative with names as she is with any other word.” He grimaced, ears falling flat and sideways, splaying out atop his head.
Diplomats Yes, of course even word weavers had their place amongst them, keeping the Chamber running smoothly. He didn’t for one second doubt Engels abilities, nor would he ever be caught doubting their importance, but his son. Surely they both wouldn’t have to suffer that sort of slight, wasn’t a name bad enough? The Queen finds it in her nature of late to make little quips when she can, bringing a small smirk to Killdare’s dark muzzle. ”I enjoy many things here in the Chamber. Engelsfors being one of them yes, something I plan on enjoying for a long time still.” A rather nonchalant air about it all as it left his lips.
KILLDARE Dragon-Winged Tracker Colonel of the Chamber
|
