A Regent's Sacrifice – Chapter 1

Second Year of the Regency of
Arianna Auset Rebecca Worsret

Rashman Sama had been traveling for six days at a steady pace, having stopped during the twilight hours for rest and starting up again when the stars were still visible in the sky.  He had finally reached his destination.  He reined in his horse near the forest on the edge of the Eighteenth Vortex and took a moment to reflect on his journey here and the basis for the trip.  He reached over the side of the saddle and removed his water skin, then took a long refreshing drink to quench his thirst.  I must be getting too old.  The trip never felt so long and desolate before or perhaps it is the reception I am dreading.

He looked up into the evening sky and smiled at a pair of twinkling stars that shone down on him.  The lovely pastel shades that he had witnessed in the sky only an hour or so before had slowly morphed into bluish gray as evening began to set in and he knew he had to move along before the area was plunged into complete darkness.  Nudging his horse gently, he began the last leg of his journey through the Forest of Twilight.  The forest had received its name because not even the tiniest ray of sunlight seeped through the trees and it always appeared as if it were night when one was traveling through the forest, no matter the time of day. 

Rashman began to reminisce about the many journeys he had made to the Eighteenth Vortex and had he been younger, he would have ventured out here during the winter months.  However, over the years he had come to dislike riding the infernal beasts that were used during the months of ice and snow, their jostling motion not at all pleasant; he much preferred the smooth motion of his horse.  A sudden rustling of leaves made him glance to the left and his eyes lit up when he saw a handsome stag running through the forest followed by three does.  Gone are my days of running through the forest or anywhere for that matter, not with this leg. 

A memory of himself running from the temple to find Cassandra and tell her the Goddess had closed off the vortex near the temple reared its head and he sighed.  I nearly broke my neck getting to her.  Such a disastrous time for all of us, but so necessary.

He had not realized how far he had come and was surprised to see the lamps of the village up ahead.  He gazed out past the village and shook his head.  To think that Miklios came this way when he left with his men and did not even realize how close he had come to meeting his son. 

Rashman remembered the day Miklios left…he remembered it well, since he had been visiting with his Grandfather when Miklios came to speak with him.  Armand had become upset when Miklios revealed the reason for his visit and Rashman had been shocked as he listened to his Grandfather and Miklios argue. 

That day, Miklios told Armand he would find the entrance to the Eighteenth Vortex and go on a new adventure.

"Why?  You are her personal Guardian.  It is against the laws of our people to do such a disrespectful thing."

"I cannot stay here any longer.  Watching her with my brother is eating me alive.  I deserve some happiness."

"And you choose now to leave, now after all these years?"

"I am tired and I want some adventure, perhaps even a love of my own that does not belong to anyone but me."

"Yes, a new adventure without thinking of the consequences.  Have I not warned you that the vortex is unstable?  If it were not for the Goddess herself, I would not have made it back through when I fell into the breach.  The times shift constantly and…"

"Enough!  I am leaving and there is nothing you can do or say that will change my mind, Advisor."

"Go, but know this, the Goddess is furious.  Do not think for one moment that she will aid you should you desire to return."

"Ahh, then I shall spend an eternity in other times, perhaps other worlds, seeking out new life and new loves."

Miklios had stormed out of the cottage that day and Rashman knew it was a sign of bad things yet to come.

Rashman halted his horse and looked at the house at the end of the village, the house where no lamp was lit, the house where his nephew dwelt, that is when he was not off somewhere hunting.  He took a deep breath as he remembered the day he had moved his sister and his nephew here; it had been a sad day for him for he knew he would not see them as often as he would have liked.  However, Asad had made his first shift and it was not safe for him to remain at the temple.  Renegade Guardians were hunting down the Shifters and the Goddess had told him they would be safer here.  His eyes filled with unshed tears when he thought of Calantha.  My poor sweet sister.  You did not deserve to die in that manner. 

It had been her violent death, along with the gossip Asad had heard of how his parents came together, that had made Asad into the beast he was today.  "My Lady, I do not…"

You must do this one thing, my priest and then you shall have your reward; a place by my side until it is your time to walk this realm again.

Rashman nodded as he started out again.  It was best not to dwell on what could have been, but to meet this head on.  The Goddess would help him through this as she had helped him through so many things before.

Asad Worsret Sama was in his Shifter form, pacing back and forth in the house that his uncle had procured for him after his mother had been killed.  He could not bear to stay in the home where he and his mother had lived and been happy, the home where his mother had been butchered and left for dead.  He paced in front of the hearth, the flames still stretching up into the air even though he had put the last log on before he had gone out for the night.

He was still highly agitated although he had made a killing tonight it had not satisfied him.  It was the same every night, once the sun started its descent he had to go out on the prowl…to find someone or something to take out his anger upon.  Asad hungered for revenge for the brutal way in which his mother had been killed, therefore, he sought out those that he thought should be punished for whatever criminal deeds they had committed.  He did not realize that no matter how many vile and evil men he killed he would never find retribution for what had happened to his mother.  He was still restless and he howled in anguish. 

Tonight's kill had been slightly different than on previous nights, tonight he had savagely attacked a man who had been whipping a young woman for her disobedience and when Asad came upon them, he lost what fragile hold he had on his temper.  Images of his mother in place of the young woman sprang unbidden to his mind, and without another thought he attacked the man, going for his jugular, then in his frenzied rage he had ripped the man's body to shreds. 

Asad ran off into the woods without heed to the frantic cries of the man's wife; not moved by her grief.  The man should never have raised a whip to his daughter and Asad was not sorry he had killed him.

In this place, here on the outer edges of the Eighteenth Vortex, there lived a mixture of people, people mostly displaced from breaches in the seventeen other vortexes, together with people from countless different time periods of the Earthly realm.  Perhaps it was not appropriate to mix killers with innocents who had fallen through in a breach, but it was the law and was strictly enforced by the Guardians of the Gates to the Eighteenth Vortex. 

These criminals and miscreants were relegated to the Eighteenth Vortex and not allowed to mix with those of Eschevelae so as to not pollute the bloodlines with killers, thieves, and unsavory characters.  It was a law that had been passed during Dorelia's time, after most of the vortexes had been sealed off by the Goddess and it had served its purpose well.

Rashman heard the anguish and frustration in the howls coming from the small home as he dismounted and sighed.  I know I cannot ask you to take this burden from me, my Lady, but I pray the Regent can finally bring peace to his soul.  He is so very tortured.  Rashman's thoughts were met with silence, but he had not expected a reply from the Goddess. 

He walked over to the house, but did not bother to knock, for he knew Asad was in his Shifter form.  He opened the door and found himself staring into the green eyes of his nephew.  He took a deep breath, then holding his left hand over his heart, he allowed the words to flow through his mind.  I will only speak to you in your human form, Asad.

In his Shifter form, Asad was massive; his weight approximately one hundred twenty pounds of pure muscle, his fur golden like the sun.  He snarled, the sound emanating deep within his gut as he gazed up at his uncle.  Why are you here?

Rashman knew it was a test of wills, but he would prevail.  I shall not speak to you in your Shifter form, Asad.

Asad narrowed his eyes and stretching out his huge paws, he began to concentrate on his human form and within a few minutes, his muscles began to constrict, the fur turning to flesh as the change came over him.  He reached for a pair of loose fitting drawstring pants, which he pulled on before turning to his uncle.  His golden hair fell into his now blue eyes, making him appear younger than his years, but also giving him a lethal and dangerous look as he glared at his uncle.

Rashman smiled briefly as he remembered the day his sister had given birth to the man who stood before him. 

Calantha had looked up at her brother with the most beautiful smile as she reached out and touched the golden lock of hair her son had been born with.  Do you see his golden hair, Rashman?  I shall name him Asad, for I know he will have a golden mane of hair like that of the lion. 

Rashman raised his blue eyes to look at those of his nephew.  The lion has a fierce bite, but I wonder if he can be truly tamed.

Asad continued to glare at his uncle.  "I ask you again, Uncle, why are you here?"

"I have come at the behest of our Regent to offer you a proposal on her behalf," Rashman stated firmly.

Asad wrinkled his nose.  "The Regent, the reincarnation of my Father's love?  Why would she send you here?"  He spat out angrily.

I see that talk has already spread, even to this vortex.  Rashman stood his ground and spoke without wavering.  "She wishes you to become one of her personal Guardians."

A look of pure rage came over the young man and his eyes began to turn green as the muscles in his arms and torso began to stretch themselves to the limit.

However, before he began the shift, Rashman roared, "Stop this.  Stop this, immediately.  The Goddess wishes it so."

Asad growled menacingly.  "The Goddess?  Since when does the Lady Isis interfere in what I do with my life?"

"Be careful, nephew, do not anger her unduly, lest you endure the same fate as your father."

"My Father?  The animal who rutted with my Mother in the temple rooms reserved for meditation?  The man who…"

Rashman could not stay his hand and a resounding slap was heard in the small room as silence fell around both men.

Asad was too shocked by what his uncle had just done to move and Rashman stood there staring at his hand. 

"I will not apologize for what I just did," Rashman said as he looked up at his nephew with a hard expression on his face.  "I will not hear of such things.  My sister, your mother, deserves more respect than…"

Asad's hands shook with rage, the veins in his arms pulsing, his eyes glowing as they kept reverting from green to blue.  "My mother deserved so much more than what was given to her.  She deserved happiness, happiness that he did not give her.  Instead he left her…left her to…"  He fell down on his knees and howled out in anguish when he remembered how he had found his beloved mother, taking her last breaths in this life as she died in his arms. 

His pain ate away at Rashman and in that moment he found himself reaching out to his nephew, however this time Asad did not push him away, as he had always done in the past, but allowed his uncle to offer him solace.  But the moment passed all too quickly and Asad shoved Rashman's hands away and stood up glaring at his uncle, pure hatred pumping through his veins for the man who sired him.  "One day I shall see him and that day will be the last he draws breath."

Rashman shook his head in despair.  It is hopeless, my Lady. 

All of a sudden, the room became transfused with the scent of Lotus Blossoms.  The fire in the hearth turned an icy blue, then shot up into the air and from within the flames, the Lady Isis emerged in a robe of midnight blue.

Rashman immediately knelt and bowed his head, but Asad stood there in awe and shock.

"Your stubborn nature shall be your undoing, Asad Worsret Sama."

Asad's bottom lip trembled and he found himself slipping to his knees, but even in his awestruck state he could not hold his tongue.  "I have asked for your mercy when my mother was dying, but you denied me your presence and your mercy.  Why do you come to me now?"

The Lady Isis felt his pain, but she merely inclined her head.  "Everything happens for a reason, my young Shifter.  You were given a test, but the path you chose was filled with death and destruction.  I offer you a new path now.  I advise you to take it."

Asad wanted to bite out a reply, but as he gazed at the Lady, the face of his mother formed before him and his body shook with pain as tears welled up in his eyes.  "I will go to the Regent, but I shall not promise you that I will take this offer," he said bitterly.

The Lady nodded once, then turned and walked into the icy blue flames, which engulfed her wholly, but her parting words hung in the air. "You will always remember what happened to your mother, Asad, but the pain will lessen once you are in the presence of my Regent."

Asad stood up as the flames died down and clenched his fists.  "The pain will never lessen, if anything it will become greater when I see that woman," he ground out.

Rashman grabbed his staff to give himself some support to stand but he slipped and would have fallen over if Asad had not been there to wrap his arm around his waist and aid him.  "Thank you, Asad."

Asad stepped away as his uncle leaned heavily on his staff.  "You are not well, Uncle.  How is it that the Regent sent you all the way here in your condition?"  He asked angrily.

"The Regent does not know how unwell I have become and you will say nothing of it to her," he stated emphatically.

Asad walked over to the window and looked up at the night sky.  "It is late, you should rest here for the night and then we will leave in the morning."

Rashman gave a deep sigh of contentment.  "I am glad you have decided to accept…"

Asad turned, his lips set in a grim line.  "I have not decided to accept the proposal, Uncle, but I will go with you to see this new Regent."

Rashman exhaled.  "That is all I can ask for at this time."

The following morning, Asad began the task of getting his meager possessions together for the trip.  An hour later he and Rashman started off for the Manor, a trip that would take even longer than usual owing to the deteriorating health of the Advisor. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was a crisp spring morning and Carey Marie Sullivan Worsret was reveling in the feel of the sun on her face as she rode out to the Manor with Siathis Amarkana.  She saw Reid seemingly talking with a cytria and halted her horse.  "What is Reid doing, Siathis?"

"He is most likely thanking the cytria for his services during the winter months and assuring him that should he and his kind have need of anything during the warm months it will be provided to them."

"Wow, I had no idea they could understand our words."

"They are very intelligent animals," Siathis replied, the pride for these creatures evident in the tone of his voice.

"Yes, I know.  I remember the time I went riding with Nicholas on one of them.  They are utterly amazing."

Carey and Siathis arrived at the Manor and while Carey went straight to the study to see Arianna, Siathis searched out Azzam. 

"Hi, Ari.  How are you feeling today?"

Arianna had been jotting down some notes in a journal and closed it when Carey entered the room.  "Hello, Carey.  I feel well, just cannot get around too much with this belly."

"I saw Reid saying good bye to one of the cytria."

Arianna laid the journal down on the small table near her chair.  "Really?  I wanted to spend more time with them, but that will have to wait until next winter," she replied sadly.

"I still cannot get over how amazing they are," Carey said excitedly.

Arianna sat back in her chair.  "I was talking to Azzam and he said that they were a gift from the Lady Isis.  Apparently after closing off almost all of the vortexes during Dorelia's time and the destruction of most of the modern conveniences of Eschevelae, she felt we needed something to aid us in traveling during the winter months."

Carey sat down on the divan opposite Arianna.  "Well, they eat grass and certain roots, nothing that cannot be provided for them during their hibernation period."

The cytria were indeed a gift from the Goddess and served the people of Eschevelae well.  The animal was similar to a horse, however it had six times the amount of hair as the horse possessed, but the hair was more like fur, not hair at all.  The back of the cytria was wide, perhaps two feet in width and two yards long.  The animal stood at approximately seven feet tall.  The cytria loved the frigid weather and hibernated during the warm months in underground caves where the temperatures were cooler.  Huge stockpiles of food were placed in the caves during the summer months and there was a fountain of stone in the middle of the caves with an opening at the top, where the rain came through to fill it up for them so they would not thirst.  

"Yes, they are fascinating and I would love to go for a ride on one of them," Arianna commented.

"Oh, they are fantastic.  I went for a ride once with Nicholas.  He had to get back to the Command Center and I went with him to see Jamal." 

Carey's face suddenly changed at the mention of Jamal and Arianna noticed it immediately.  "How is Jamal?"

"He's fine," Carey said while biting her bottom lip.

"What's wrong, Carey?" Ari asked with concern.

Carey got up and sat closer to Arianna, not wanting anyone who might be within earshot to overhear their conversation.  She knew that Siathis and Azzam had keen hearing.  "I don't know, Ari.  Jamal and I have not spent that much time together since…"

"Since what?"  Arianna asked in a worried tone as she sat forward.

Carey began to pull at invisible threads on her shirt as she always did when she was nervous over something.  "The night Nicholas took me to the Command Center, Jamal and I had dinner and then he asked me to spend the night, but nothing happened."

Ari looked at her friend confused.  "What do you mean, nothing happened?"

"Jamal and I kissed and touched, but when he would have gone further I stopped him.  I don't understand why, I just couldn't," Carey replied in a frustrated tone.

Arianna suddenly had an extremely bad feeling about the relationship, but before she could comment further, Rachel and Sandra walked into the study.

"Hi, cousin.  How are you?"  Rachel asked as she bent over and kissed Ari's cheek.

"How are you feeling?"  Sandra added. 

"I am feeling well, but the baby never stops moving."

The girls all laughed and Arianna giggled.  "Rachel, I thought you said when you started your ninth month the baby settled down?"

"Melina slowed down, but I guess everyone is different," Rachel replied.

"Casius was active up until the last few weeks, but I guess you have a Guardian in there," Sandra exclaimed. 

"Now, that would be a welcome addition," Marsyas spoke up from the doorway.

"You are home early," Arianna said with a cheerful smile. 

"Yes, I bought home some reports to go over with Morgan." 

Morgan stepped into the room and walked over to Sandra, giving her a kiss on the cheek, then moved closer to his sister and whispered for only Ari to hear, "He wanted to stay close now that you are getting near your due date."

Sandra winked at Arianna and reached out and squeezed her husband's arm.

"How are you feeling, my love?"  Marsyas asked as he came over to his wife and kissed her temple. 

"Tired, but Derek assures me that is perfectly fine at this late stage of my pregnancy," Arianna replied as she gazed up at her handsome husband.

"I hope you have not been doing anything 'strenuous'?"  Marsyas said, putting emphasis on the last word.

Arianna gently caressed her belly.  "I have not been doing much of anything, other than sitting around.  Azzam watches me like a hawk," she said with amusement.

Marsyas started to chuckle and everyone else joined in.  "Good, I told him to keep his eyes on you."

"Okay, I think that is quite enough talk about me.  What is going on at the Command Center?  I overheard Drakon talking to his brother before about Nicholas, but they were whispering and I could not get it all.  Something about a cake?"  Arianna asked, confused.

Marsyas scrubbed at his beard, his mahogany eyes holding a mischievous glint.  "Ahh, the cake…that would be a small gift from Commander Sacren's daughter, Denae."

Carey, Rachel, and Sandra stared at Marsyas and Arianna's eyes lit up with a smile.  "Denae, the young woman who came here with Jorell a few weeks's ago?  She is very sweet."

"So, Nicholas has a sweetheart," Rachel said excitedly.

"I wouldn't exactly call her a sweetheart," Morgan stated, then added, "She has a huge crush on him and she does not mind that he is a Shifter, but it appears that Nicholas is nonplused on how to respond."

"I think he is merely nervous at the prospect of becoming entangled with someone," Marsyas added.

The conversation centered on Nicholas and then back on the baby and Arianna found herself pulled into the conversation, taking her mind off of Carey's relationship for the moment.

Late that night, when everyone in the house was asleep, Arianna was tossing and turning in her bed, dreams of the strange statue of the black robed Goddess plaguing her sleep, together with dreams of a hidden room.  She woke up with a thin layer of perspiration on her brow and as quietly as possible slid out of bed, not wanting to wake her husband. 

Arianna padded down the hall and entered her altar room.  She lit one large pillar candle on her altar and after placing her hands palms down on the altar, took a deep breath and exhaled.  My Lady, I do not know what the dreams mean.  Please help me.

"The dreams will become clear as time goes by."

"My Lady, why won't you…"

"Arianna, you must be strong for what lies ahead.  Go to your bed and rest, for your baby will be here sooner than expected."

Arianna's face went white and her lips trembled.  "My Lady, will my baby be all right?  Is something wrong?"

"I ask that you rest, Arianna.  I shall tell you nothing more for now."

Arianna felt completely frustrated and as she passed by the fireplace, she felt drawn to the Eye of Horus that was carved into the mantle.  She reached out to touch it and suddenly felt a wave of nausea sweep over her.  She placed her hand on her belly and felt the baby moving about.  All right, I will go back to bed.  I do not want anything to happen to you, my precious baby.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

While Arianna was settling back into bed, Carey was in throes of yet another awful nightmare…a nightmare that left her gasping for breath when she awoke. 

Carey threw back the covers on her bed and sat up, shaking nervously as she remembered part of her dream.  A huge monstrous creature appeared out of nowhere and Carey began to scream, only to be confronted by the young man she had seen in previous dreams.  He had his sword drawn and stepped in front of her to protect her from the monster. 

Carey shook her head to clear it.  Who is that fiendish beast?  It has to be a symbol of something in my life.  Hellish creatures like that do not exist.  And who is that young man?

Very soon Carey would have answers to her questions, but she would find them difficult to swallow.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Regent's Sacrifice – Chapter 2