The Warriors Shall Rise Again

[serpington]

the lizard walked into town and found the tavern, he quickly walked in and sat at a table right in the corner so he wouldn't be disturbed.

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

The owl looked back to the seargent, who pulled the knife from his gut, and hissed as he stood up straight, looking to Leo.
"Maybe," he said. "But we're not going unless we're called upon. More often than not, it's a false alarm." The owl prepped himself into a fighting stance again, with his mace ready. The crocodile raised his hand, keeping the owl still. "Boy," he said to Leo. "All you need to know is that respecting others, and a sense of dignity and honour is very important to us. Show us respect like anyone would show to any other and this fight can end right now."





Rasha looked from one Lynx to the other, tilting her head, examining their similarities.
"Brother?" She whispered a smile, which plummeted into a violent scowl. She raised her hand, and slapped Kha'lin across his face; the sound echoing throughout the city.

[Shenzii]

Tar-Ryn began to walk. "Are you coming?" She asked. "A nice stroll around the town?" She waited patiently.



Sorin attended to newcomer. "How may I help you today sir?" He asked calmly.

[tangletail]

Leo kept his eyes fixed upon the village exspecting the most random of occurances to happen such as the village randomly being ignited into a bright and alive blaze. He shook the thought off turning to face the Sargent only to stumble some as his wound was now finaly getting to him "Fine," he grunted before digging into a small bag that hung from his side and pulling out an assortment of leaves. "As of today, you have my greatest respects" he grunted as he popped the leaves into his mouth chewing them for some time before spitting it onto his hand and forceing it into the wound with his fingers, only letting a growl escape from his mouth. He pulled out his hand and shook the small driplets of blood off before takeing off his jacket and tieing it on his side for a temporary bandage.

[serpington]

"just some food and water, then ill be on my way. will this cover it?" he said putting a small bag of gold on the table while keeping his face covered by his cloak.

[KittKat chunky~]

Kha'mal saw the blow coming long before it reached him, and yet he did not dodge to the side, as easy as it would have been. He did not raise his sword or even an arm in protest or defence. He stumbled, caught off guard by the strength behind the slap.

The assassin laughed, a harsh sound that wracked his chest with another fit of coughing "Oh dear little brother... It would seem somebody owes a certain Queen an explanation... And there was me, thinking you are the truthful sibling." The Lynx raised one hand, and the three remaining assassins crumbled into ashen sand...

Down in the courtyard below city guards rushed towards the palace. They where slowed down by the large crowds of civilians, all of whom tried to get out of the way at the same time, inadvertently getting in the way of the guards and each other...



----



Kha'lin jumped down off the mule-cart, paying the driver a few coppers as she landed. She cocked her head to one side, listening to a far off noise. She frowned, already walking at  fast pace towards the palace courtyards, weaving between the crowds and carts as the palace itself rose up into view, along with the spectacle on he balcony...

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

The crocodile smiled at Leo.
"Save your leaves, we're not savages, we have some of the finest doctors in the world. Come," he said, and led the way past the barracks towards a wide building where a raven in white robes yawned and stepped aside to let the soldiers.




Rasha looked to the intruder. "I can guess at his mistakes, but not at yours. Why are you here?" She pressed her hands to her hips, and gave an expectant glare.

[KittKat chunky~]

The Lynx bowed theatrically, falling halfway to one knee before Rasha "Your majesty, I am merely a tool today. Here to pass on the necessary message..." He stood back up, black cloak billowing. Kha'mal moved in response, equally fast, hand clamped around the dark-furred wrist of his brother. From within the deep folds of his sleeves a thin needle of glass stretched out towards the Queen, sharp point hovering mere inches from her chest.

Kha'mal brought a fist down on the weapon, shattering the crystal clear glass and throwing the assassin back against the balcony railing. The Lynx stumbled, but still grinned, watching his brother with matching amber eyes "Ahahaaa... You are exactly as I remember you dear brother... Forgive me, highness... Most rude of me it was too. Perhaps we could have gotten to know each other better, if I was not so intent on killing you here and now..."



----


Kha'lin jinked between guards, leaping up the flights of palace steps ahead of them. Several shouted at her to stop, for in her civilian clothes she could have been anyone. She ignored the orders, dashing through a set of double doors and past the massacred bodies of guards as behind her the less-encumbered guards started up the stairs as well.

Turning a final corner at break-neck speed she stopped, claws scraping across the marble palace tiles. One hand moved towards the second of her daggers, a nervous twitch in her wrist that she suppressed, walking towards the balcony at a slower pace, watching the figures on the balcony intently...


---


The assassin turned his head, eyes flicking to the balcony entrance and the corridor beyond. His grin widened, sharp white teeth flashing "So.... Sister, I was wondering when you would join, so strange that Kha'mal here reached me first, I honestly expected... perhaps even hoped, that it would be you. Welcome to the party, we are going to have sooo much fun..."

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

Rasha rolled her heavy lidded eyes, racked with annoyance boredom at the simplicity of it all.
"Kill him," she said, and stepped back.

[KittKat chunky~]

Kha'mal nodded, raising his falcata blade up, ready plunge it down into the Lynx's chest. The assassin stood still, looking at neither the sword or anyone else. Instead he muttered under his breath, the words indistinct and indecipherable. Kha'mal growled, bringing the blade down "Your foul sorcery and treacherous backstabbing will no longer tarnish this family..."


Somebody screamed, a single shout of surprise, fear and anger. Kha'lin stood in the doorway to the balcony, travelling clothes covered in dust, and even blood from her rough encounter. She held one hand raised, fingers clutching, already wishing she handnt. Kha'mal paused, looking back from his sister, to the blade he held above his head.

The slightest moment was enough, and the Lynx shouted a final word, a single syllable with which his form changed to that of black sand. Cloak and all, he dissapeared, sand blowing away into the wind with unnatural speed. Kha'mal dropped the sword to his side with a deep sigh, eyes closing behind his mask "I am sorry your highness..."

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

Rasha watched the dust get caught by the breeze, then narrowed her eyes, shifting her stare to Kha'mal.  She turned away, and looked out across her city.
"Fear not! The Godess Shazia smiles upon us all. Your queen is safe, and so is this city. Though we must always be... vigilant, against such attacks." She smiled at her people, then turned, walking past Kha'mal, back down the corridor to Kha'lin, bringing her into an embrace. "So, sister, did you do what I asked of you?"

[KittKat chunky~]

Kha'lin gave a muffled -oof- as Rasha embraced her, the air momentarily knocked out of her as she remained watching the spot where the figure had disappeared. She shook her head and re-focused on the queen, smiling as pleasantly as she could muster "Yes miss... Tar-ryn said that she would be travelling soon, but would not impart the date of her departure or arrival. I would assume that they will arrive soon, but that is merely an educated guess."

 She sighed, looking from Kha'mal, still standing on the balcony to Rasha again "If you would not mind your highness, I would like to leave briefly for the public baths. Travelling always leaves me feeling somewhat dusty under the collar..."




Kha'mal knelt down, picking his brother's sword from off the tiled floor. He studied the silver blade for a moment, before it too turned to black sand, running through his fingers to spill onto the marble below. He clenched his fist and breathed a deep sigh. Finally he stood again, sheathed his golden falcata, and stepped back into the palace. He stood just behind Rasha to her left, pushing away the embarrassed resentment that curdled in his stomach...

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

Rasha smiled at her young guard.
"Thank you, Kha'lin. You can of course, go clean up. I'm sure I can get to my room without an escort." She let go of her and walked past, heading back to the royal chambers.

[Shenzii]

"That's more than enough sir." Sorin walked away and soon returned with he asked for. He gave him the best meal he would whip up and a nice cold glass of water.


Tar-Ryn looked at Chronin. "Come now. We're going to get ready for the journey to Queen Rasha's kingdom." She began to hurry back to the tavern.

[KittKat chunky~]

Kha'lin walked past Rasha and walked up to her brother, pulling him into a brief hug. She held him close, eye to eye "I know you stopped for me. You knew he could escape, given the time..." She sighed, leaning in and brushing a kiss across his cotton mask "Thank you..." With a nod she stepped back and turned away towards the staircase, where guards where busily moving bodies...


Kha'mal watched his sister walk away and sighed, looking across to where Rasha walked towards her bedchambers. Apparently reaching a decision he fell into step, a reasonable distance behind her, following quietly. He did not attempt to close the distance between him and the Queen, but neither did he let her out of his sight, footfalls silent on the marbled tiles...



---



The Public baths where relatively quiet, being the middle of a working day, the markets where full. The white-walled and low-ceilinged building housed several long baths of both the cold, and newer hot variety. Hot coals left to smoulder underneath the stone foundations warmed the water, and everywhere a low cloud of steam clung to the tiled floor.

Kha'lin slipped off her travelling clothes, wincing at the numerous bruises and giving a quiet groan as she cracked her back and stretched her calf muscles. The women's baths where silent, with only two people already in the long pool, talking quietly at one end. Kha'lin slid herself into the water, breathing a sigh of relief at the warmth. It was only recently that the hot water baths had been built, and the luxury of it had still not worn off...