Chapter 2 – A Tale to Tell
Queenclaw Aviara paced about her room, frustrated. Her fingers worried at a pale cream handkerchief, displaying her troubled state of mind for all to see. She turned to face her Bodyguards, whose faces showed no emotion. The Binding did that to them.
“Dasdar’s forces are growing rapidly, under the guidance of Zirak, the High Priest.” She said the word ‘Priest’ with a sneer, as it mocked her own goddess.
“Hopefully,” she continued, “if we assassinate Zirak, his forces will weaken. Dasdar is the true head of the snake, but if we can de-fang the dark god by removing his priest, that will be sufficient. Besides, his forces will also be weakened from poor morale. If we can assassinate him, we can assassinate any of them.” Aviara’s eyes blazed with inner hatred towards her foe. He had murdered her entire family, leaving her as a sole survivor. She remembered that day vividly: fleeing for her life, attempting to hide from the horrifying demon that had tracked down and captured the rest of her family. It had killed them. No, Aviara corrected herself, “kill” was too clean a word – it had tortured them to death, all upon the order of Zirak, Dasdar’s High Priest.
“Fortunately, my generals believe they have someone who will be successful. She is Assassin Tajara Onca, the best the army has. She has never failed a mission in her life.” Aviara paused, then added, “However, to insure the success of this particular mission, I am going to send one of you, my faithful Bodyguards, to assist her on her journey. You shall only interfere with the assassination if the assassin proves inadequate for the job, and fails. Is that clear?” Her Bodyguards nodded in unison.
“Have I any volunteers?” Aviara asked.
A single Bodyguard stepped forth. His hair was a rich, dark brown and his almond-shaped eyes were a brown that almost looked amber. Well muscled and fit, his skin was bronzed from exposure to the sun and his hands bore the calluses of a fighter. His expression was perfectly neutral, bearing no emotion, as was appropriate. The queen didn’t question his decision to volunteer. She had learned their backgrounds, motivations, and even their minds, on the day of their Binding. And this one she knew twice over.
The Bodyguard’s eyes watched her with burning intensity as she nodded and delivered his instructions. The Bound man turned to leave, but Aviara motioned him to stay. She wasn’t quite finished yet.
“Another thing,” she added, “go to the village and visit the prophetess before you go.” At the Bodyguard’s raised eyebrow she added, “You never know.”
*
Rowlen brought his story to a close, leaving his audience hanging. Mandy was the first to emerge from the story’s spell, shaking her head slightly. Her forehead creased.
“What happened next?” she asked.
“The travelers set out on their journey, and beyond that has not yet occurred.” the TaleMaster replied.
“Well then, what did the prophetess say?” the guard asked persistently.
Rowlen stared into her eyes.
“The words of prophets are delicate things, open to interpretation and risky to repeat too often.”
Mandy attempted to meet his gaze, but his eyes seemed to bore into her very soul, and she felt forced to look away. No one asked about it again.
After a moment of silence, the TaleMaster transformed his face to the expression that foretold the coming of another story.
“Which of you would like to hear the tale of the Binding of a Bodyguard?” he began traditionally, ensnaring his audience, and he launched into the next tale.
*
The next day, once they had left the village, Taj badgered Rowlen with questions.
“Is it true that the Bodyguards must meld their souls to that of the Queenclaw’s in order to serve her?” Rowlen nodded.
“After that, there is no secret that can be kept between them. Bodyguards serve until death takes them and would die before submitting to betrayal. They are utterly and eternally faithful to their liege. Their very souls belong to the Queenclaw.”
“Eternally faithful… what if a Bodyguard, say, falls in love, and has to choose between his love and the queen?” she asked.
“Such a thing could never happen. A Bodyguard cannot fall in love – their Binding does not permit it. The Bond provides the Bodyguard with a certain objectivity, clearing the mind of emotions that could get in the way of protecting the Queenclaw.”
“Harsh,” Taj replied.
“For some.”
Taj gave him an odd look before continuing her inquisition.
“And the prophetess? What did she say?” Taj asked impudently.
“I was not simply being evasive when I spoke to the guard,” Rowlen replied. He gave her the same penetrating gaze he’d used on Mandy, but Taj just grinned in his face.
“Won’t work. I’m an assassin, remember? I’m more dangerous than you.” Regardless, she didn’t expect him to answer. Of course, that didn’t mean she wasn’t disappointed when he turned away and proceeded to ignore her – she just wasn’t surprised.
“Oh come, we were doing so well. You were talking and everything!” Taj prompted him. Silence was her only reply. Taj sighed.
“Golem,” she muttered.
*
The far south was harsh and unforgiving, a land ruled by the unpredictable elements. Few creatures lived there, and in truth, few could. Freezing winds scoured the icy plains, whipping snow and sleet across its barren territory. Only snow demons and ice drakes stalked the snowy vastness, and even they were obsolete compared to the danger of the deadly and unpredictable weather.
Yet, deep within this white, cruel wasteland, one dared to defy the rules of this land, living within a cavern, icicles like teeth guarding the mouth of the cave. But the icicles weren’t the only things guarding the entrance; there was something else, something that prowled menacingly before the cavern, something of enormous proportions, and possibly more deadly than the elements.
*
Over the next two weeks, the assassin and her companion passed through nine more villages, and in each, they resumed their disguises and retold their tale. At some unmarked point, they crossed the border of their home country, Sheqeuen, and proceeded into neutral territory. A few days after stopping at the last town, they came upon the Great Lake of Khellendross. The waters of the lake were still, not even a ripple disturbing its glassy surface. Even the area surrounding the lake was quiet and still. No birds twittered in the trees; it was completely and utterly silent. The place had an aura of eerie beauty that caused both Taj and Rowlen to walk to the water’s edge and look out over the body of water, simply to admire it.
