Chapter 23 (DnkStar)
The council chambers of Castle Doma were an unholy orchestra of confusing and convoluted voices.
“Did you hear what they said--?”
“But it was outside, and a night--could have been anything. Can’t trust
half of what you hear nowadays, anyway.”
“--An angel! Can you imagine? A REAL angel”
“---said we were in DANGER!!”
After what seemed to the people like hours, a messenger for Lady Hortesnse finally yelled, “Enough! Her Ladyship will hear what you have to say, but with these conditions:
One: That you delegate one or two of you to speak on the behalf of the rest.
Two: That the rest of you cease your infernal CATERWALLING!!!”
With that, the messenger, red-faced with irritation, turned and ascended back up to the top of the steps, to await some concession from the throng that was gathered below.
“It should be Balthazar”, cried one “after all, he was there and saw it all!”
Another countered “No, Ashrail, is the better speaker, let him be the one to address the princess!”
Another half-hour of arguing, and the unruly crowd finally decided on their two delegates. With hushed voices, and trebling knees, the two followed behind the irate messenger and were led into the throne room to await the princess.
Scant seconds later, the princess, draped in a smock of rose-colored silk, entered the room. She cast a condescending eye over her still-trembling visitors. “Well--?”, she asked with a cocked brow. “What have you to say? Can someone PLEASE tell me what happened last night that’s set this whole kingdom into CHAOS???”
“Well, yer Ladyship, it was like this--me and me sons, and a few of the other lads was out watchin’ our flocks, y’see. It was a bit warm and they tend to get restless when it’s too hot and well--”
The princess gave him a pointed look. “My time is VERY valuable. If this story has a point, I’d suggest you get to it--quickly!”
“Well yer Ladyship, we was all out there, when wonder of wonders---an angel of the lord appeared and she said--”
“Let me guess,” said the princess “this angel was bringing you glad tidings of great joy, right? Shepherds watching their flocks by night--? Somehow, I think I’ve HEARD this story before--.” She rolled her eyes.
“No Milady, that’s no’ what she said AT ALL!”
“No. well WHAT then--?”
“She said that we was to BEWARE; that Lord Darkseid’s come back, and he’s amassin’ his forces to destroy the earth. An’ that yer brother was a fix’ in to betray the Themys--Themyscr--the elves to the likes of Lord Alexander of Metria. She said that if we was a smart lot, we’d take arms against Metria and be right quick about it!”
“What’s this? My brother betraying the elves--?? What sort of mischief has my ARROGANT, FOOLISH brother been up to this time. I wonder? Truly, he can’t stay out of trouble long enough to tighten the buckles on his shoes!! Altheon! Altheon! Come quickly!”
“Yes, Milady?”
“What do you know of the mischief my brother has been perpetrating of late? Did he confide it to you? Answer me, truthfully knave, or so help me, I’ll have you run through like a pheasant on a spit!”
“Milady, I know nothing of your brother’s latest schemes--!”
“Do you know if it is true that my brother planned to raise an army against Themyscira?”
“Aye, Milady--this much I know to be true. Even now, soldiers and arms are being trained toward those fair lands.”
At this news, the princess paled slightly. She swallowed hard. “I demand an IMMEDIATE stand down!”
“But your majesty, it was done on your brother’s orders and--”
“And tell me, Altheon-- does you see my brother here now? My dear brother is, no doubt sleeping off the drink in the bed of some Metrian harlot, while he sends out kingdom right through the doors of hell! I am here now, and MY orders are tell my army TO STAND DOWN!! IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!?”
“Yes, your majesty. As you wish.”
“And as for you two-” She gazed at the pair of delegates, who were by now, white as sheets, and close to collapsing from fear, “as for you two, your information proved to be both truthful and invaluable. Thanks to you, a needless war was undoubtedly avoided. You are heroes, and all of Doma is in your debt. I don’t know if what your people saw last night was truly an angel or not; but I do know, that for what you’ve done here today, you deserve to be duly awarded. You may go now, with my eternal thanks.”
“T-thank y-you, y-yer Muh-Majesty.”, mumbled the pair as they beat a hasty retreat out of the throne room, and back down the stairs.
The Lady Hortense leaned against the wall, and heaved a giant sigh. She didn’t know exactly where her foolish brother was, nor at this moment did she really care. She only hoped that wherever the arrogant buffoon was, he was too far away to know that she had counter-manned his order; and in enough time to hopefully avoid a calamity. He may have been her older brother, and heir-apparent to the throne, but in her heart of hearts, Hortense knew that she was the smarter and more capable ruler. She knew it was an ugly
thought, but it was not the first time that she’s wished her louse of a brother would just crawl away and die someplace, and leave her as the sole ruler of their kingdom. Her ladyship had no way of knowing that this time, she’d gotten her wish.
Alexander Luthor found himself in his chambers, once again pacing and brooding. He felt lost, out of control of the situation. And if there was one thing Luthor hated, it was not being the one in control of the situation. That oaf, Tressor, was dead, Kal-el, and the elf maid had escaped-- along with the bottle and Lois.
Lois. He scowled. How DARE she betray him, the little WENCH. He’d show her, show the whole LOT of them. He’d have their heads on pikes, in the front courtyard, where he could look down on them from his chamber’s window. He poked absentmindedly at the fire, imagining Lois’ face there. He’d grab her and carve her like a turkey, he’d stab her through her traitorous heart. He’d--he’d-- OF COURSE. Why hadn’t he thought of it before? Ahhh, revenge, sweet revenge. His frown turned into a wicked sneer, as a plan formed in his head:
Of course, it worked before-- and with just a few tweaks, he was it could work again.
He settled himself, took a deep breath, and began to recite the incantation:
“Bound by life
And bound by blood
Once was two,
Now are one.
What I feel,
What I see
So shall you
Be
A part of me.”
He sat back and laughed coldly, as a familiar tingle went through his body,
and purple-blue streaks of lightning lit up the wall of his chambers.
The exhausted party has stopped only briefly, to stretch out their legs, readjust their packs, and to take in a quick meal.
“Well, we’d best be getting along. If we’re lucky, we can make Bludhaven
by nightfall. Then we can--” But whatever thought that John Stewart may have had, was at that moment blocked out by a dazzling sight:
Purple-blue streaks of lightning arced across the sky, and crackled to the earth, in a shower of sparks, directly in front of the weary travelers.
Zatanna, the sorceress, was sitting on a log in front of the fire, and was thrown several feet by the force. She tried to stand, but wound up dropping, dizzy and swooning, back to the earth. Both of the knights- Walter and John- rushed to her side to help her stand up.
Lois, sitting slightly apart from the others, felt a sickening familiar tingling run through her body; and a terrible throbbing pain in her temples. She reached for her head to check for an injury, but in the next second, the pain vanished, as if it had never been at all.
Strange, she thought to herself, Why do I feel suddenly so strange? She shook off the tingling and stood up, leaning against a nearby tree for support.
“Lois, are you alright?”, asked Kal-el, a concerned look on his face.
“Yes. I think I just got a slight dose of that strange lightning as well. Just feel a bit unsteady; I’m sure I’ll be fine in a moment.” Lois’ lip secretly formed an ugly scowl.
What do you care, you fool? As long as you have that elven harlot by your side, does anyone else even matter? I’ll get you, I’ll make you pay-- I’ll make you ALL pay!!! Lois stood trembling, wondering where such wicked thoughts were coming from. Yes, truthfully, she was just a WEE BIT jealous of Kal-el and Diana, but she had never before had such vile thoughts towards them and their comrades. After all, these people were her friends as well. They had taken it upon themselves to rescue her from Luthor’s clutches a great risk to themselves. She had never felt anything but gratitude for them before but now—
An image of Alexander’s evil sneer flashed through her mind, along with another sudden, searing jolt of pain in her temples. When the pain subsided, one strange lingering thought remained: Get them. Kill them. Destroy them, ALL of them. Sweet Revenge. Sweet,
sweet revenge.
Lois, let out a silent gasp, willing, with every drop of her considerable will, for the vile thought to be gone from her mind. She didn’t know where these terrible thoughts were coming from, but she was determined not to give in to them-- not to listen to them and betray her friends, no matter what the consequence may be---.
