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Authors: Elizabeth N. Love
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plan proceeded perfectly.
Elora ruined everything. The woman argued for the process to stop. She did not want her child to suffer. She implored Tyrane to put a stop to the torture, and she convinced Patrum, the child's biological father, to take action. They could find another way to appease the enemy, but no more children should be abused. Her pleas fell upon deaf ears; and so somehow, Elora and Patrum helped the girl escape from her training and go into hiding.
Bringing them here, to this insufferable place under the hill. The Prophets carried the Stormfly burden themselves, and the Queen plotted the elimination of the human species. And Tyrane was useless. Useless.
You were always a fool,
Tyrane chided himself.
You thought you could control them. You thought you were superior. You were for a time, and you protected your race. Now you are a criminal and a traitor. You deserve this fate.
Chapter 7 - Motivation
23 rd Unimont (Matersday)
Miri Stockers, personal aide to the Protectress and long-time resident of Undun city, sat on the grassy side of the Palace hill basking in the light of the two suns as they sailed overhead. While the air from the mountains offered a cool twinge, the suns warmed her pale face and freckled arms. Even though soaking up so much sun without proper sunscreen was an unhealthy idea for most people, every once in a while, Miri wished she possessed a healthier-looking complexion besides bleached pink. After a winter spent indoors, she looked the color of toothpaste, and felt just as loose.
This winter, happily, she avoided any serious viral infection. She was so prone to illness that she took extra precautions during fever season to avoid her ailing neighbors, to wash her hands thoroughly, and to eat the most vitamin rich foods. Her chronically weak immune system made these habits a necessity in order to avoid a season-long infestation of germs. At least one time per winter, she fell victim to the River flu, despite vaccination, and was laid up for two weeks. With her mistress being so horribly injured last fall, Miri did not wish to leave the woman without assistance at any point. Miri was too valuable in helping the Matriarch keep up appearances when it came to failing to recognize a councilor by name, or forgetting to put on shoes or a coat—at least when Mr. Elgar was absent. The fewer people noticing the Protectress' forgetfulness the better.
Doubts about the Protectress' abilities were soaring at this time. Morgan Mainsteer's newsletters were escalating the issue. “Our Esteemed Matriarch is weaker than any of her predecessors. She is unskilled and uneducated,” Mainsteer stated in a recent installment of his monthly publication. “Her lack of formal training is a detriment to her office. It is my most adamant opinion that she should be removed.” Miri read the sheets to stay abreast of the opposition. Miri only wanted to protect her.
Now that spring bloomed, and the couple's commitment to be bonded and married loomed in the near future, Miri felt safer leaving the Protectress alone for bits here and there. If the aide was needed, the Protectress would summon her. Needing a quiet break, Miri enjoyed sitting here on the hill's gentle incline, just out of sight of any eyes from above or below, listening to the wind rustle the golden, dry, knee-high grass. Little else penetrated her ears from here, save the intermittent solo of song bird in the distance.
Yet, a visitor approached. As much as she enjoyed Mikel's company, every once in a while she wished he wouldn't come looking for her. He didn't understand that desire for some reason, so whenever he noticed her missing from the Palace proper, he started an expedition to seek her out wherever she was hiding on the grounds. Granting him leeway, she understood he worried about the Stormflies. Miri was the closest advisor the Protectress had. The Stormflies would be in a lethal position if one decided to infest her, so Mikel implored that
Elora ruined everything. The woman argued for the process to stop. She did not want her child to suffer. She implored Tyrane to put a stop to the torture, and she convinced Patrum, the child's biological father, to take action. They could find another way to appease the enemy, but no more children should be abused. Her pleas fell upon deaf ears; and so somehow, Elora and Patrum helped the girl escape from her training and go into hiding.
Bringing them here, to this insufferable place under the hill. The Prophets carried the Stormfly burden themselves, and the Queen plotted the elimination of the human species. And Tyrane was useless. Useless.
You were always a fool,
Tyrane chided himself.
You thought you could control them. You thought you were superior. You were for a time, and you protected your race. Now you are a criminal and a traitor. You deserve this fate.
Chapter 7 - Motivation
23 rd Unimont (Matersday)
Miri Stockers, personal aide to the Protectress and long-time resident of Undun city, sat on the grassy side of the Palace hill basking in the light of the two suns as they sailed overhead. While the air from the mountains offered a cool twinge, the suns warmed her pale face and freckled arms. Even though soaking up so much sun without proper sunscreen was an unhealthy idea for most people, every once in a while, Miri wished she possessed a healthier-looking complexion besides bleached pink. After a winter spent indoors, she looked the color of toothpaste, and felt just as loose.
This winter, happily, she avoided any serious viral infection. She was so prone to illness that she took extra precautions during fever season to avoid her ailing neighbors, to wash her hands thoroughly, and to eat the most vitamin rich foods. Her chronically weak immune system made these habits a necessity in order to avoid a season-long infestation of germs. At least one time per winter, she fell victim to the River flu, despite vaccination, and was laid up for two weeks. With her mistress being so horribly injured last fall, Miri did not wish to leave the woman without assistance at any point. Miri was too valuable in helping the Matriarch keep up appearances when it came to failing to recognize a councilor by name, or forgetting to put on shoes or a coat—at least when Mr. Elgar was absent. The fewer people noticing the Protectress' forgetfulness the better.
Doubts about the Protectress' abilities were soaring at this time. Morgan Mainsteer's newsletters were escalating the issue. “Our Esteemed Matriarch is weaker than any of her predecessors. She is unskilled and uneducated,” Mainsteer stated in a recent installment of his monthly publication. “Her lack of formal training is a detriment to her office. It is my most adamant opinion that she should be removed.” Miri read the sheets to stay abreast of the opposition. Miri only wanted to protect her.
Now that spring bloomed, and the couple's commitment to be bonded and married loomed in the near future, Miri felt safer leaving the Protectress alone for bits here and there. If the aide was needed, the Protectress would summon her. Needing a quiet break, Miri enjoyed sitting here on the hill's gentle incline, just out of sight of any eyes from above or below, listening to the wind rustle the golden, dry, knee-high grass. Little else penetrated her ears from here, save the intermittent solo of song bird in the distance.
Yet, a visitor approached. As much as she enjoyed Mikel's company, every once in a while she wished he wouldn't come looking for her. He didn't understand that desire for some reason, so whenever he noticed her missing from the Palace proper, he started an expedition to seek her out wherever she was hiding on the grounds. Granting him leeway, she understood he worried about the Stormflies. Miri was the closest advisor the Protectress had. The Stormflies would be in a lethal position if one decided to infest her, so Mikel implored that
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