《Order》


 Who?

    "Tzu,The Wyvern Of Malice.I thank you for visiting our humble home," a feminine voice said with a too wide smile. Next to her, upon the small stage at the center of the throne room was a man, skin the color of a white swallow. The wyvern eyed the gold sitting upon his head, along with the wrinkles around a familiar glare. One that gained the same recognition as the queen''s hospitality, doubting people and their intentions was very natural for Tzu and any self aware individual when placed in such a environment. There are no humble landowners or farm women and men with a chest full of gold in attendance today. No, today only the smell of nobility tainted these walls, most enjoying a glass of wine worth a village total in taxes half full. As red traveled down their tongues they watched the man-thing with... noble smiles. The kind a thief makes after striking a deal. Regardless, Tzu was more interested in the invitation above all else, and waited to hear it''s owner''s words.


    "Would you like to have a seat? You are a guest of the kingdom." The wyvern turned away from the litter of men and women, all deigned in a mask that covered at the very least their eyes. "No, I only came to hear you out. That is all."


    "Who knew it would be so vulgar. The nerve, it''s knees should be red on ground while giving thanks for being thought of." Most of the room, including the king and queen bended their view to the slurring words. They were made by a noble of course, one who seemed to already had too much drink in his belly. His lone burst of laughter confirmed it, along with his stained blue coat as some nearby tried to calm him. The wyvern did not give him a glance, only continued to wait for the words he had traveled so far to hear. "On behalf of the kingdom I apologize, master Tzu. Most present do not agree with such foul remarks." When the queen spoke the last few words, she blinked more frequent then usual. Was it her nerves? Did she truly fear him so much? Tzu glanced around, then to the king before locking eyes with her again. It was doubtful.Stolen novel; please report.


    "I do not mind," he said softly. After a worn pause of word, the queen seemed to realize his wishes and lowered her gaze. "Tales of you have traveled far, from Morphon to Palen at least... are they true?"


    "Not all." Her eyes quickly lifted to him. "But you know of the one I speak of, yes? The death of a thousand elves, in their own homeland no less."


    Tzu began to understand why his presence was requested. Instead of revealing his rising interest he forced it to stifle for patience, allowing a stoic appearance to lay open."It is true."


    The room quickly filled with whispers around him, as if that was the answer they had been waiting to hear. "Why bring up such a old tale?" The queen glanced to her husband with a worried look, he only nodded. Then she turned to her guest with empty words. "I am sorry." The room''s chin moved from the wyvern as the giant silver trimmed doors opened at the entrance of the throne room. The king stood, while Tzu turned his eye behind also.


    Elves flooded the wide doorway, where blinding gold armor and blood lust covered every one. There were too many to enter at once, and likely their number stretched outside the palace. Few stood out, but one in particular caught Tzu''s eyes. Instead of gold the woman wore a crimson robe and hood with sky blue lines weaved through out the exquisite set. She wore a smirk as she stepped forth, the act alone pronouncing her commander and chief. When Tzu met her eyes, he also couldn''t hold his lips from crawling into a smile.


    "I''ve finally found you, Tzu."

 Me Two

    "Eva... your alive." The woman across the throne room held her chin high as she eyed Tzu. "I am," she reassured as her steps began, echoing through the silence engulfing all around them. They watched her move without motion, as a sheep would a wolf. "Would you believe that all back home had already thought you dead and gone, that I alone still believed, and clung to the idea of you breathing as any among us?" The woman''s steps calmed before the wyvern. Now both eye to eye, he could truly see how hardened she had become.


    Her hand raised, finding the side of his cheek. Her thumb brushing up and down his skin as before. The wyvern''s eyes closed. Even now, her touch sent a addictive tremble through him. One he had nearly forgotten. "Twenty-seven years," she said softly, causing his silver eyes to open again. "Enough time for an elf to sleep through, a good joke. But when your focus is shifted..." Tzu felt her soft grip begin to tighten. "When you await for news that will never come, when you are scouring the ends of the world, time does not fly like a dream." Tzu shuddered, still keeping eye contact. Even as the nail of her thumb slid through his cheek, where she had brushed so carefully. Exposing the red blood many believed the dragon was unable to spill. The red formed a slim line downward, over Eva''s hand before dripping to the identical shade of carpet.


    "It is a nightmare. Crawling in a slow, stagnant motion." Her old friend swallowed. "I''m sorry."A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Two decades late."


    Ahead of the woman''s unforgiving glare, the sound of the pale king clearing his throat rung through the soundless room. "I was not aware that you were acquainted with him, Lady Nel. I assume our arrangement will still-"


    "It will." Eva let her hand fall, still holding Tzu''s eyes as she raise the other, which unlike the first was cloaked by a dark gauntlet decorated by gold gems. She aimed the open palm forward, no more then a space away from his chest. "Today is the day the wyvern will be bound by cage."


    Somehow, the throne room''s silence deepened after her words. The same words he never expected to hear from her of all people. His eyes fell to her palm, then returned to her glare.


    "Is that so?"


    Her eyes feigned nothing. Nothing. "There is a reason why I did not come alone." Tzu lowered his stare, curving it''s target until he simply eyed blankly near the scarlet carpet, and in time, a burst of laughter took hold of him. Uncontrollably even as cautious eyes watched grimly, and so much so that he wiped his tears with a wide smile deep inside the unnatural silence. "Ah, yes, I see. I see," he said with a a different chord of voice as he raised both his hands, and almost as if by will, the elves in gold took a step backward near the entrance. Their step was made soundly within the room, all aside from Eva. His sight now found her again. Though hers had also curved, even if by inches.


    "The monster will lend you this victory," he said while still holding the wide smile. Eva, hesitantly, lowered her hand with an uncertain brow.


    "I do hope you enjoy it."

 Words and Lies

    "Uza!"


    "Uzaaaa!"


    "Uzaa!"


    Three voices called a name amid the chill air with both hands cuffed around their lips. It was early. Too early for such nonsense. Still, minds always wandered when idle, and each head fell so until worry was found below the coat of night and roof alike. "Uza! You better hope I''m not the one that finds you, you damned brat!"


    ?


    The bell rang, again, and again. Stirring up folk within seconds as expected. Nostalgia bended quickly in the girl as the crowd formed. Identical to the past, where she had fell lost inside, panicking while being bumped up and down the filled road like a damn twister cup. Innocent times, they were, but unlike others I do not wish for them again. Now I watch the people run amok below, now the breeze can be felt against my cheek, now I know when chaos fills ground, and when it does I climb high. That is a lesson, among plenty I am not willing to give up.


    Get out the window, Angie always yelled when she was finally found. Get... out... the window... The girl''s eyes moved left to right as the road of mud and stone were filled by the weight of humans. Those days had long since past. She would not be found today.


    "Do you want to see?" Above, where her legs wavered through air and bottom to stone outside the decent sized shape, only the calm breeze replied to her words. "Yes, I think I will come with you," she replied as she pushed off the stone into a squat position, sure that her head would not meet the shape''s outline like so many times before. Reaching outside and upward, she pulled herself to the building''s roof with little effort, dusting herself off as her legs began in a casual stride.


    Pine green eyes found the cloudy dark sky, it always felt good up here, or anywhere above ground really. She''d tried countless times to bring Serah or Moot, but they claimed the cold was too much. A odd excuse, it had never gotten too chilly for her in however many years since she''d found interest in heights. But if they declined such a request, then there was no chance for stubborn Angie to step foot on the dying brown metal roofs at the city''s center. Though it is well known that she is afraid of heights. Sometimes Uza wondered how she even got around, the woman is a good amount more then six feet, blissful ignorance she supposed.


    The girl''s legs slowed as the building''s footing reached it''s end not long after starting her little walk, luckily it held the perfect view. Below, the crowd running parallel to her own steps had calmed also, though in number they multiplied after meeting another body of limbs at a intersection of streets, and at it''s head, past the side walk was the Great Estate. A building made of pure white gold, and protected by two statues side by side behind the front gate and brick walls, planted firmly within healthy green grass. The property held a aura of beauty unmatched in the city, a fact even Uza could not deny as she found a seat at the roof''s edge above the anxious crowd.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Excuse me." The ramblings of lips below slowed as a figure appeared upon the building''s upper floor patio. The man was slim head to toe, with a eye glass upon one eye and a large scroll lying within his elbow. He was around the same floor height as Uza, perhaps even eye level, though the amount of distance between the two might as well have left him blind as far as having a chance to spot her. "As the law of courtesy demands, all will be silent before the lord''s words!" he said while pulling the scroll in hand and unrolling it''s contents. The man had quite the voice, no hint of magic or machine aided him, yet his words seemed to reach all with ears nearby.


    The girl glanced low again, at the many faces new to her in this wide yet small city. All were quiet now, waiting for the words of their ruler, their fill-in kings. A pretender pretending to be a pretender, by the gods. One way or another, her eyes drifted to those standing in the corners of the crowd, from this height they stood out sorely, each one masked by steel with a pole arm in hand. They are the pretender''s soldiers. Though which one, Uza was still uncertain. Some time ago she had witnessed some foolish souls attempt a protest during one of the lord''s gift in words. Their fates were nothing more then a demonstration for the then newly made rule: The law of courtesy. Or in better words: mind your tongue, or lose it.


    "My friends. My family. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to visit this great memento of our home, our city, Jahrin, and listen to my humble words." The pretender held a fist to his lips as a cough took hold momentarily. "Today, change runs wild through our air. Today, our order grows stronger!" Below, shouts and applause sung to the heavens. The speaker only smirked before continuing, holding a hand up to call for quiet as he continued, but Uza shared no such emotion.


    "Fortunes and accomplishments have cursed our family greatly in the last few months since you heard my words. Many of these feats you will hear of soon, but for now! Gather your coin, prepare your schedules, festivities will find our streets in the coming days!"


    As expected, the crowd responded in kind to his words with volume and energy, despite whether it be genuine or imperative. Either way, Uza had lost her interest entirely as she found her way back to her feet. "And here I thought something interesting would happen." With a sigh, her green eyes found the dreary grey sky again. Dawn was ending already. Which means... Uza shook her head. The thought of returning home gave her a headache. She had yet to return since sunlight and it was already morning. The girl, with reluctance, turned her back to the pretender and his pretend king''s words, the crowd, and soldiers to find her way back. But while doing so, something interesting-or rather frivolous caught her eye.


    A red slip of paper carried past her sight by the wind. She watched as it slowly made progress, and before it fell out of reach, she plucked it from the air, and eyed low as she opened her fist hip-level. Something in her rattled after reading it''s words, as if a sixth sense came alive, echoing the warning.


    Betrayal is near


    Prepare


    Uza swallowed as she reformed her fist, and placed the crumpled message in her pocket as her legs began to push forward again as planned.

 Secrets

    Voices beyond glass flooded the air. Among them were cries for help, screams of rage, and tears wept from broken will. Amid the darkness sat one with a smile. One that could not be removed as his back laid on a wall of stone, he seemed comfortable inside the cage and chaos. As if the voices were nothing more then a soothing tune.


    Eva watched the darkness shared with cage and smile from behind the glass, forcing silence upon the room she stood in. Unlike him, she did not wear comfort on her face. Quite the opposite in fact. "How long will you watch him?" a voice asked at her side. She replied with silence. "Were you close?" Again, no word tore from her lips after another space of quiet. But soon, with patience and interest alike, she spoke.


    "Since I''ve known him, he has been ... Sick."


    "Sick? How?" asked the man with a low brow.


    "In the beginning, near our first encounter; few times in a year strange traits would emerge. He would ... speak abruptly out of character, or eat a meal that until then disgusted him." Eva folded her arms as her eyes slid to the corner of the glass, where she knew he laid in the darkness.


    "Most spoke nothing of it at the time, the circumstance then were more then dire, but ignoring it would not last long. Over time, these temporary characteristics only increased in potency."


    "None of the symptoms were physical ..." Eva nodded, her eyes still forward. "But nothing of the sort is written in the red records."


    "Because no one other then I and another knows, excluding present company."


    "Do you know what it is?"


    "No. But it''s growth over those few years was fearsome. Now that so much time has past since then, I can''t even imagine what it''s evolved into." Eva''s associate turned his sight to the glass also. "Well, no use in agonizing over what no longer matters. He will never again know freedom. The red and gold order are likely deciding his fate as we speak." Eva''s eyes lowered after his words. Pulling his sight to her gaze. "No one can escape an order. No matter how powerful or far their myths spread."


    "You don''t believe them?"


    "I believe he would be no ordinary opponent. But hardly compared to the word of his feats." His eyes remained on the woman for a moment, then shifted forward with bitter swiftness. "But you''ve fought against and with him. Is he as they say?"


    "My thoughts do not matter."


    "That is not the case, Lady Nel. It would be foolish to pretend otherwise." Eva contemplated her response quietly, finding it just as quick, the truth would change nothing. She knew that well. "If you''ve heard all that I have to say, then my words may not surprise you ...Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "That is not Tzu."


    Joseph returned his gaze to her with a stare. Unspoken at first, but not for long. "What?" Eva pushed her eyes forward once again, her face calm as coming autumn, and her fingers and gauntlet curled around her arms. "Tzu is not human, a known fact. His kind are usually born with unique oddities in terms of behavior. In his case, it was emotion, altered, different compared to others. Smiling was never his forte. Especially near the kind of crowd that surrounded him that night. Not to mention he did so again after learning why I had arrived. Such a reaction is simply not apart of his nature."


    "But ... You seemed almost connected when speaking to him, was it a lie?"


    "No. It was real. I am the opposite of the wyvern. Emotion runs thoroughly throughout my being at all times, and the sensation multiplied when he was in front of me. My mind was a mess, I''ve waited so long for that moment ... I believe then I was speaking to him. But sometime after the king spoke, he changed. Entirely."


    The man shook his head with a lowered chin. "No, he surrendered. He was cornered."


    "Joseph. The man I fell in love with would never willingly put himself in a cage ... let alone smile about it. Truthfully; he would have contemplated our actions, tried to step in our boots, but inevitably would have deemed us all as enemies."


    "He was cornered, Lady Nel," Joseph said with boiling blood. Eva turned to the man slowly. His tied ash blond hair wild over his forehead.


    "Lord Eye, If that was my husband, all of us may have died that night. He was not the prey. The truth is just that simple."


    The door behind both before the glass of darkness and noise caught the room''s attention. A worn voice following a pair of steps. "Eva Nel?"


    "And who are you?"


    "I must ask that you come with me." The woman''s arms lowered as she turned to the man with a raised brow and unhindered agitation. "And why would I do such a thing?"


    "Because you represent the silver order," the man simply stated. "And the council of Jahrin has summoned you."


    Eva glanced to the one at her side with a interesting look in her eye. "Is that so?"


    The man took a step backward, finding his place outside the doorway before lowering into a humble bow. "If you would please," he said with closed eyes. The woman breathed through her nose and aimed her eyes once more to the corner of the glass. "It seems this is quickly growing out of hand, and high profile."


    "Will you go?" asked lord eye.


    "Of course. I must. More then one order will be waiting for my arrival, I''m sure." Eva narrowed her eyes. Her sight lingering as if there was a chance the darkness would look back. Perhaps it was.


    "Was this your wish... husband?"


    ?


    "How long will we ride?"


    "No less then two hours, Lady Nel."


    "Good."


    Their steps echoed well in the halls of the west wing. Though lack of conversation withered the lively cool air. Soon, steps of another group shared these walls. But when the shortest of the three glanced ahead, his stride bit into the floor before stepping to the side and lowering his head. The largest quickly followed, but the last looked to his comrade with crooked brows before ahead again. Eva met eyes with the man, her face stale from being called for so short notice. He lacked a response to her stare, before quickly the shortest reached and pulled him to the side and pushed his head down as he and the other. Silence caried on as their strides past by with no rush. The third hesitated, but raised his eyes while their heads still laid low, and to his surprise, the woman met his interest with again a calm, now low stare. Still, neither spoke a word as her chin moved forward, continuing the path led by her navigator.

 Perception

    Sunlight rained into the kitchen with ease. Flooding the room strides away with unneeded light. Mel always held a candle near when the lights fled. Nothing new of course, that is simply the kind of person she is. Always prepared and always perfect. Weather it be being on time or brushing her hair. Uza believed the trait often hid her less benevolent sides, and sometimes even predatory. The ground trembled at least twice a month near our area. Too close to the pretender''s playground, where he attends to his plenty of soon to be failed experiments for his coming climb for power. A widely known secret. Uza''s teeth grinded as her gaze remained in her plate, and her fork repeatedly falling downward onto the colored glass and already pierced scrambled egg. Trash. Him, and all who serve. If she could reach them ... If he and anyone alike could feel her wrath-"


    "Uza." The girl''s chin raised, her sight quickly shifting across the table. Glare and troubled thoughts crumbling along with the act. She had forgotten. This was supposed to be a uncomfortable moment, she was supposed to be uncomfortable. Humans and their rules. The girl eyed the owner of the sole voice, her brow high as if she had no idea of their current predicament. Why were there so many rules ...


    The table was filled, excluding one, four seats, two on each side, and each noticeably more quiet then usual. Aside from the words of birds and life outside the home, and Uza''s persistent fork, the sound of general use of silverware was all that held place within their walls.


    "Have you something on your mind?" Uza returned her attention to her scrambled egg. "You speak of last night?" The woman in stained red kept her glare forward with precision. "I do."


    "Then no. Nothing in particular." The sound of a spoon dropping soundly on her plate gained the attention of each pair of eyes at the table. Angie seemed in no mood for games. Not that Uza was playing any, truthfully. In fact, she spoke as one who did not feel like participating in the game. Not that it would be considered. "Where were you, girl. We spent all morning searching for your hide."


    "I don''t recall Mel having to deal with your searches and emotions, and she leaves for days at a time. Even currently."


    "You may as well when you''ve proven yourself responsible enough."


    "Being invited to a institution is proving responsibility?" Angie slammed her palm onto the table, causing a proud thud that called for silence. "Under this roof, yes. It means something. Now think over your actions and finish your breakfast." As called for, silence came, with quick glances Uza could feel from Moot and Serah. The girl continued to pick at her egg, without the aggression, and turned to the blinding window with the back of her hand beneath her chin. She didn''t have the worst of it. Some had no food in the mornings. No roof when the ground quaked, no bed when rain came. By no means was she near the best of it either, still, why did this feeling always take hold after brief normalcy. The feeling of being trapped in a cage, a cage that wore a cloak of life. ... Humans.


    ?


    "Keg, where have you been? It''s already eight," the friendly voice said while checking his wrist and a polearm the size of himself leaning upon his neck. Keg offered a half hearted laugh as he scratched his head. "Yes... Things have grown quite unpredictable since our second was born. Apologies."


    "No issues, friend. Patrols have been postponed anyhow, so no harm done."


    "Charter, who is this?" said another at the first''s side. "Oh, Vin''s replacement. Comes from Jahrin I think, right?" Keg nodded. The second offered his arm which was already covered in steel, Keg returned the greeting with a firm shake. After, the three continued through the building''s entrance. Their steps heard well and lone. "You said something about patrol being postponed?" Both fellow men in arms turned to Keg with raised brows.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Are you serious?" Charter asked. Keg nodded again as each of their steps slowed while approaching a doorway to their left. "Jahrin must reside under a rock." The first snickered as they entered, leaning his weapon against the wall and finding his number upon the first row of safes. "Give him a break, Mitchel. Those parts are graveyards compared to our quests for rumors and scandal."


    "Still, to be one with the snake yet so ignorant is ridiculous, perhaps even dangerous."


    "Is this reason truly so well known?"


    "Yes," both said in sync. Mitchel not even while facing his direction as he slid on his sturdy cloth of steel. "It''s not official," Charter began. "Hell, when something of this scale happens it never is, but there''s no doubt in my mind something large occured a few weeks back. Ever since, Lord Maker and his council have been hesitant to allow too many men stray away from the capital."


    Keg''s brow also raised as he retrieved his uniform and gear from his own personal entry. "Do you have any idea what could cause such caution? I''ve never heard of these kind of circumstances regarding our banner."


    "Probably because it''s never happened before, at least with our current leaders. Maybe even the Snake." Keg lowered, tying the ends of his boots while seated on a wooden bench. Charter eyed the man for moment, then turned to his own storage. "Regarding the what: the theories range all over the place. But if I had to make an educated guess, we came in contact with a powerful threat recently. Whether it was an organization or a leader, or if we won or lost, I have no idea."


    Keg finished the second knot and rested his arms on his thighs. "Organization, huh. Sounds too interesting for us." Mitchel shut the door to his safe, causing a simple bang to echo in the room, crawling into the nearby corridor. "Agreed," he simply replied.


    "Keg, I''ve been meaning to ask you something." The man turned his head as Charter also closed the door to his equipment. "Why did you become a protector?" Both met eyes after the words left his lips. Without word, Mitchel turned his sight to the new soldier as well. Keg''s eyes fell to the dark floor. "You''ve seen my history."


    "You were invited to the Institution Of Evolution at the of age sixteen, yet chose to become a protector with no martial background. I would ask if you are an idiot, but that seems rather unlikely."


    "...My mother hated the new regime. Anything associated with a banner she spit on in the name of freedom. "True freedom" she called it." Keg shook his head as his eyes lined ahead upon a wall no more then three steps away. "The real reason is because banners had claimed my father''s life. My uncle''s, my brothers, and her''s... and one day my own as well. She understood the cycle. That''s why she took her life I believe, she couldn''t stop it. She just wished for peace of mind, I suppose. Freedom."


    "Why couldn''t the cycle be stopped? If you don''t mind me asking. In the end it''s nothing more then a trade, right?"


    "The only reason I, and my brothers had a life to lose is because the right protector arrived on time. Killed a band of mercenaries turn cutthroats and freed the women. Things like that will always call to me, it''s what I want, it''s in my blood."


    The first swallowed. "I''m sorry, for stirring old wounds." With a deep breath Keg raised, his eyes lingering on the plain wall a moment longer. "It''s fine. I''ve grown since. Sometimes being reminded is humbling." The man turned and reached in his cabin of steel and retrieved his own polearm, it''s smooth surface a cherry red, it"s nail freshly sharpened. He stood the weapon upward and eyed it''s highest point, the nail. Meeting eyes with his reflection. "Keg." The man turned just as the helm met air, catching it with an open palm. "Heard you were in need of a new one." The man smirked before placing the shield of skin over his eyes, then rotating his neck to test the comfort. It was a good fit. Much better then the one before. "Thanks." Charter hit the floor with the bottom of his weapon. "Don''t mention it. Now, we should be going."


    Keg began his steps forward, syncing with Mitchel and Charter''s own as they returned to the corridors of the west wing. "Your right. We should."