"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
Kushiel, was in fact, a man with a plan. It was a new feeling, and one that would come as a shock to all who knew him. Most days, Kushiel didn’t have a plan that stretched beyond the next stupid thing that would come out of his mouth. Today was not one of those days. Today he had this plan, and it had several parts, all of which needed to be carefully tended too.
1) He needed to lull his mother into a false sense of security. This could best be accomplished by minimizing contact with her. The second she got into his head he would know her son was spinning lies. Granted, she might have been suspicious when he picked up Namaah and sprinted out of the Valley, shouting goodbye over his shoulder as he went.
2) He needed to secretly indoctrinate his sister as a Chamberling. This was best accomplished by showing her around, and displaying all the beautiful, sparkly things the Chamber had to offer. She would need to meet Straia, as the most sparkling thing of them all (aside from her brother, of course).
3) He needed to survive his mother’s wrath when the deed was done. This is where the plan got a little shaky. His most feasible idea was to hide behind Namaah, and to use her as a sort of “sister shield”. He was not particularly proud of this part of the plan. But, sacrifices must be made, and Gallows would never hurt her baby girl. Her degenerate son, on the other hand, would most likely not receive the same consideration.
All in all, things were going smoothly. He had successfully acquired Namaah, and proudly escorted her across the border. They just needed to avoid the seedier parts of the Chamber, namely Gryffen and Shaytan. It was a dubious honor, being named the Chamber’s most insane. Naturally, Kushiel didn’t place himself on this list. Whether he deserved a spot tended to change from day to day. Today, he was a responsible big brother. Yesterday he had threatened to light Shaytan up like a second sun.
Hey, you had to keep things interesting.
The big stallion stopped in from the the Chamber’s burning tree and gestured at it proudly, as if he, himself had planted it, oversaw its growth, and kept it ablaze. He grinned down at his little sister, yearning to see a look of delight on her face.
“Well? Pretty great, huh?” He had already told her about the Chamber’s tree, but words didn’t really do it justice.
Crossing the fiery border lines of the valley was my first great adventure.
My Kushiel did not seem at all scared when he passed through the flames so I determined I wouldn't be either, but it wasn't easy. After all, my big brother spends most of his time being singed by fire. I like my feathers too much to hurt them. With a deep breath I left the valley and my mother for the first time, my eyes screwed tight as I hurtled forward. The air left my lungs in a whoosh of relief once I reached the other side, and I grinned, fastidiously checking my wings for damage.
Some day they will be strong enough to hold me. I want to be prepared.
The world feels like a new place when I am on my own. Well, not really on my own. I have a responsibility. I have to take care of Kush so it's practically like I'm in charge. Mother says he has a 'penchant for trouble' and although I'm not quite sure what 'penchant' means, I know that my flame wielding brother does seem to talk a lot. I bet that gets him in trouble. It does mama.
The landscape changes, ravens appear and pine trees sprout upwards. I widen my eyes, taking everything in. The chamber, after all, is my second great adventure and I don't want to forget a thing. Mother hates this place and Kush loves it. I don't see what is special about it, but it is new, and I am enamored by the shininess of it.
I ruffle my gray and white feathers, following behind my big brother absently. It isn't until he halts, almost causing a collision, that I am honestly impressed.
“Oh Kush! It's even better than you said. It's glowing and wonderful and oh, I see why you must like it here!” I grin at him, looking a bit like our mother. “Mama says the tree is your girlfriend and that no one else will be able to compete.”
I can understand the appeal, especially if one were able to control the tendrils of flame that lick their way up the trunk.
Kushiel was not sure if it was an act of god or insanity that spurred Gallows to allow him to babysit. Regardless, he knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth, the gift horse being his sister of course. The large stallion watched her expression as they crossed from the Valley and into the Chamber. One day she would be able to fly, making this journey a lot faster. It would, however, leave him to run on the ground below her, sputtering and wheezing the whole way.
He needed to start jogging, otherwise he would never be able to keep up.
The thought that there would be a time Kushiel would be unable to catch is little sister (wings or no) made him feel old and the thought was instantly discarded. He instead watched the curiosity on her face, and felt smug in the knowledge that he was influencing the youth of the world. It was, perhaps, a thought that would scare some. He felt nothing but deep satisfaction. When they stopped at the Chamber’s tree Kushiel was watching Namaah, rather than the flames. She grinned up at him and for a brief, flicking moment he recognized their mother in that grin. Kushiel’s expression grew quizzical. Dear lord, did he look like that? When he smirked? It was a thought that had never occurred to him. Smirky smiles and devilish grins were certainly a family trait, but he never considered that they might all share the same smile. Kushiel shook it off and answered his sister, doing so with a bit of a sheepish shrug.
“As usual, our Ma is correct. Melodramatic, but correct.” He thought about this for a moment, realized how she would take it, and rushed to correct himself.
“Not about the tree being my girlfriend. It most certainly is not, that would be weird.” A frown furrowed between his eyes. This was a rumor he needed to squash. He was fine with most of the other rumors that may have been flying around about him. Kushiel was a firm believer that negative attention was better than no attention, but he didn’t need people thinking he was into plants. Weed might show up and get the wrong idea. Kushiel realized he’d lapsed into contemplation. He smiled apologetically down at his sister, and imparted a rare kernel of wisdom.
“The tree represents power, Peanut. A few people may love for the sake of love, but everyone loves power.” It would probably surprise no one that Kushiel thought power was more important than love. There were a few notable exceptions. One of those exceptions was miniature and standing right next to him, the other one was dastardly, back in the Valley, and enjoyed spreading rumors about him. He would need to give her a piece of his mind when he returned Namaah. Not that she wouldn’t already know what he was going to say before he said it.
He isn't really convincing me that he isn't enamored with the tree but I can tell he believes what he is saying, and I give him a too-serious look. It's clear I'm not sure he's telling the truth.
Its okay, Kush. If the tree is your girlfriend, I mean. Everyone is a little bit weird I think. And I'll always love you.
I shrug, rolling my shoulders carelessly to convey my lack of interest in whatever relationship he has with this burning beacon at the heart of the Chamber. I look up at him, listening patiently as he explains the tree and power. Despite what my mother calls his fickle allegiance, I can tell he is devoted to it, and the chamber.
And really, although they would both be unhappy to hear it, what is the real difference between the Valley and the Chamber? They are just places like any other, full of adventure and secrets, sadness and joy. And love. All of them call to me. Some day I will answer.
I look up at the sky, noting the influx of ravens as I ponder over Kushiel's words.
I want to be one of the first kind, big brother. Someone who loves for the sake of love. I don't care about power. I glance at my wings wistfully. All I want is to fly and to love.
I grin at him. And to have adventures with my brother, of course.
I nudge his side playfully, sudden curiosity brightening my tone. What do you do here, Kushiel? When you're not, um, hanging out with the tree?
I circle the flaming branches. My yearling body is gangly and slim, but is slowly growing into the beauty mother says I will become. As each day passes I can see the similarities in the way my sibling and I stand and move. There's a satisfaction in that, in having family.
11-06-2015, 10:59 PM (This post was last modified: 11-06-2015, 10:59 PM by Kushiel.)
Kushiel heaved an exasperated sigh. The child was spending, way, way too much time with Gallows. Just as he had and continued to do. At this rate not a single one of them would be well adjusted and accepted into mainstream society. An intervention was needed, and before Namaah got much older.
“The tree,” Kushiel said in his most patient voice, namely, one that wasn’t very patient but was a little better than his normal tone.
“Is not my girlfriend. It it is simply a tree I enjoy a great deal.” Truth be told, Kushiel wasn’t sure if that was significantly better. He turned pensive for a moment. Was it possible that he was just as crazy as Shaytan? Kushiel remembered their last meeting, when they had just about come to blows over the tree, and shook his head. No, no he wasn’t.
Namaah spoke about love and Kushiel tried hard to keep a look of distress from his face. She didn’t care about power? Where the hell had that come from? Certainly not from him, definitely not from her father of all people. While Kushiel wouldn’t call Gallows power hungry per say, you didn’t become queen…twice, without something like ambition. Still, the stallion could admit that Namaah’s wishes were sweet, and he could see the merits. He looked at her sternly.
“Well…okay. Just so long as you don’t join a herd.” Kushiel shuddered, imagining his baby sister having to follow the deranged wishes of some fool of a stallion. It was enough to make him want to hit something. If she was going to follow any fool’s wishes it would be his, and she had yet to do that so a herd was simply out of the question.
“No sister of mine is going to be bossed around by some backwater nobody from…” He trailed off slowly, realizing that his colorful iterations were perhaps inappropriate for her age. He cleared his throat meaningfully, glad that she changed the subject. This subject, however, was hardly easier for him to discuss. Oh god, what exactly did he do? He spent a good deal of time avoiding work. Did that count as work? It was certainly difficult.
“Well, Peanut.” He said, stalling for time and trying to sound important.
“I’m a diplomat, so I talk to other kingdoms and negotiate our relationship with them.” Yes, yes indeed. That sounded very professional. It wasn’t even a complete lie. He’d gone to the Dale that one time. She didn’t need to know that he’d flirted with a pretty girl the whole time and hadn’t actually done anything that could be considered diplomatic. Quite the opposite actually.
“Oh Kush. Don't be so silly. Why would I do that? All the fun is to be had in kingdoms. No, the mare or stallion I love will be an adventurer like me”, I say with determination.
I can't imagine being tied down to a herdland. What is there to do there? Of course, my Kushiel probably thinks that means I'm considering the Chamber for a home. Mother hinted that he might try to sing this place's praises. She's equally determined that the Valley will win my love. Some day I will have the heart to tell them that both places have their charms, and yet neither is my own.
I glance up at Kushiel curiously, my study of the flame source broken by a mischievous thought. “Were you being a diplomat when you helped burn down the Gates kingdom?”
It isn't fair, really, how easy it is to fluster my big brother. I grin, widening my eyes in innocence. Mother keeps very little from me, and she wasn't afraid to explain a great deal of what she knew about Kushiel's part in the raid. I think secretly that she was just a little bit proud of our dappled gray stallion, and loved the excuse to talk about his initiative for once.
“Well, I'm glad you love it here, big brother. It's much nicer than mother said it would be, although there are an awful lot of ravens. Straia's, right? Mama told me about her, too. I've been trying to learn about all the rulers.”
Of which, I think with a grin, mother is now one. I can only imagine what she will do with that sort of power, and how Kushiel will react to our mother's coronation.
