Part 1: The Queen is Dead
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The Queen of planet Chyssia is dead. She died in childbirth while her infant girl survived. The humble and peaceful people of the planet were wrought with grief. The Queen was loved greatly amongst her subjects for she was fair and gentle in all ways. Nothing would sooth this pain for some time. Even the proud beauty of their world; the luminous grasses and high red mountains, could offer no comfort or peace.
The Falconer has served proudly as leader of the Royal Guard for two generations. He stood just outside the door with the King, while the Queen labored. When the Chancellor came out to report her death, the Falconer had to catch his King who crumpled toward the floor. As his beloved monarch cried and asked how this could be, it pained him to have no answer. Falconer’s mind raged in turmoil.
He went to the top of the highest spire of the castle, where he took time to think and reflect. This was, to him, the most peaceful place in the entire kingdom. He could gaze out upon the beauty of the land and clear his mind. This time, the mind clearing wouldn’t be so easy. There were things that didn’t make sense about the Queen’s death, but Falconer couldn’t put a finger on it. The Chancellor had reported her death as natural from complications in child birth. Despite those findings, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something evil was involved. So he needed to think and think hard. It had now been three days since her death and he felt like the clock was ticking toward some horrible event. He took a deep breath and closed his silvery eyes. He felt the wind course through his ash white hair and press against his chest. The breezes whispered in his ears and cooled his skin. Up there, he could let go of everything and just be one with the air and sky. In his mind, he only saw the smile of the Queen and the face of the infant Princess. He breathed deep and hoped for some answer to come to him, but it was only the sound of the wind. His eyes snapped open as he felt a pair of small feet land on his shoulder. Sharp talons rested against thick black cloth but didn’t pierce through. His spirit-mate, Sersi, nudged his right temple with her beak.
“You still fretting?” she said in his mind.
“Yes,” he answered aloud, not even thinking about their psychic bond. He stared out over the countryside.
“It’s a terrible tragedy, I know. But we don’t have any proof of our suspicions. Shouldn’t we concentrate on protecting the ones that are left?”
“Sersi, you are right, as usual. I just needed to clear my head. We should get back down there now.”
She fluttered away from his shoulder, “See you there!” and she dove fast toward the courtyard below. Few creatures anywhere are as fast as a falcon in a dive. Sersi dropped like a missile toward the ground below. In only a second or so, she spread her wings and lightly landed on the head of a statue in the courtyard. She made flying look ridiculously easy. Sersi craned her neck to look up and watch Falconer.
Falconer gazed down at the courtyard, hundreds of feet below and let go of the pole he stood by. He and Sersi were no strangers to heights. For that matter, no one in the castle was. The entire royal palace was built into the high cliffs of the red mountains. It could only be reached by airship. Falconer leaned forward and let his body yield to gravity. Air rushed past as he sped toward the ground head first. His clothes rustled and wind filled his ears. The courtyard below grew quickly in visual size. The rounded stones of the courtyard floor seemed to reach for him as he plummeted. With a few yards before impact he slowed, turned his body and gently landed on his feet.
“Always catching yourself at the last second,” Sersi chuckled.
“It’s good practice for the reflexes,” Falconer replied, “And as I remember, it’s a trick you taught me. Come, let’s go and check on the King.” He held out his left arm and Sersi fluttered down and landed on it.
They crossed the lush green courtyard and entered a long marble hall. High windows opened to vast balconies. The colors of the tapestries rippled alive in the sun. The Chancellor stood halfway down the hall, waiting for him. The Chancellor always seemed to be an extra serious, if not bitter man. His face carried a scornful expression that moved about as much as the faces of the statues. Falconer couldn’t remember ever seeing the man laugh, much less smile. His robes and ornaments of office were ruler straight, just like the rest of him. Even his long gray beard seemed to have been trimmed with some measuring device. The Chancellor glared hard as Falconer approached, but it was hard to tell the difference from any other time.
“It seems the King is taking some stock in your suspicions about the Queen,” he grumbled, “He wants to see you.”
Falconer paused and looked the Chancellor in the eye, “I know you take offense because my suspicions are against your own findings. But it’s not meant to offend you. Besides, you know my gut feelings. When have they ever been wrong?”
“To your credit, never. None the less, the King will see you know,” the Chancellor cut the conversation and gestured down the rest of the corridor.
Falconer shook his head and carried on toward the throne room.
“Crusty old goat needs to get over himself,” Sersi said.
“Don’t you get started now,” Falconer remembered to use their telepathy this time. He didn’t like having to talk this way. It made him feel like he was hiding something. Still, he didn’t want to escalate bad feelings with the Chancellor any more than they were.
“Well, you’re only doing your job.”
“I know.”
Two armored guards swung the great doors to the chamber open for him to pass through and bowed their heads as customary. Reverence was always required to any member of the royal guard. King Stymus looked up from his kerchief where he had been covering his tear filled eyes and smiled.
“Ah, my trusted friend,” he hefted his large and portly body to standing and his golden robes draped the floor around his feet. His wide and dark red beard showed traces of tears caught in falling. “I’ve been thinking about what you said. Have you had any more thoughts on who could have done this or how?”
Falconer bowed and as he stood, looked back to see the Chancellor glaring at him from the great doors. “No, my King, but my heart and mind know no other questions. I will not give up my cause unless it is your order, as I believe you were considering.”
“Yes, I was. I have decided that you should keep those bright eyes of yours wide open. I have decided that I cannot ignore your suspicions. You have been right far too many times.”
“Then what shall we do, my King?”
“The other Federation members are coming for an emergency meeting. I will have all of my guards and many soldiers here for my protection. I want you to take my daughter out on an airship to protect her. Out there, no one should be able to reach you. The Chancellor will hand pick the crew. Once all is clear, you will bring her back home.”
Falconer nodded, “Your Majesty is most wise. If you say you will be safe, then I will see to this task without fail.”
“I know you will, my friend. I would not trust the job to anyone else. Go now, and prepare your men.”
Falconer bowed again and left the throne room. The Chancellor followed.
“Hold on a moment,” the Chancellor ordered outside the throne room doors.
“Yes, Chancellor?”
“I want to talk to you about that new recruit of yours.”
“Helshred? What about him?”
“He’s a brain damaged brute, that’s what. I know he’s been your little pet since you found him half dead on a mountainside, but he’s a Teri-Moor and I don’t trust him.”
“He’s loyal to a fault.”
“You’ve said that. But every time I see him crouching around with his four hands in those bladed gauntlets, clicking them together like some strange child, I feel sick to my stomach. You better keep your pet on a leash, Falconer.”
“He hasn’t been any trouble and won’t be. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Falconer turned on heel and briskly walked away.
It seemed like the Chancellor just wanted something to pick at ever since Falconer aired his suspicions on the Queen’s death. Falconer held high faith in Helshred, even if he was a member of a warring race from another solar system. Teri-Moors boast a muscular red skinned body with four thick arms, three eyes and a long prehensile tail. They were very efficient in battle and known for violent tendencies. When Falconer found Helshred, he was unconscious on a mountainside with a severe head injury. He had on gauntlets with long blades from the fingers that no one could remove. They thought perhaps, he was exiled and the gauntlets were some kind of punishment, meant to make caring for himself difficult. Falconer nursed him back to health and Helshred vowed service in return. No one knew his story past that. They weren’t even sure if he remembered anything of his past. He never said. For that matter, he seldom said anything. His brain damage caused him to use his hands and move by crouching low to the ground like a great ape. When agitated, he would click the blades on his fingers together and mutter his name over and over again. He’d only been seen in combat by practice. He attacked statue dummies with devastating effect. They had an opening in the royal guard when their mind reader died a few months ago. Falconer, brought Helshred in to keep him close and give him a chance at a new life. So far, Helshred had given no reason for doubt in his service. Despite others fears, he had always been gentle and yet protective of everyone in the castle.
Falconer paused and remembered Gren, the mind reader. He had been troubled before being found dead in his quarters. The Chancellor called it a natural death, citing that his time had come. But now Falconer wasn’t so sure. Could the death of the mind reader and the Queen be connected? He shuddered at the thought, trying to dismiss it, but now it nagged him even more. He quickened his pace toward the chambers of the Princess where he found Reigndale standing at her door. Reigndale made military precision a science and he stood steadfast, unmoving at Falconer’s approach. Reigndale was a soldier for one of the other Federation planets. Unlike the other guards who used medieval scales of weaponry, he preferred his energy rifle. He was a crack shot with speed equal to precision. Still, if needed, he had other tricks up his sleeve besides marksmanship. Stark Reigndale served as Falconer’s second in command of the Royal Guard. Next to Helshred, where was no one in the Guard more loyal. Helshred crouched against the wall opposite of Reigndale with most of his claws resting against the stone floor. The Teri-Moor’s eyes were sharply watching from one direction to another. Even if they weren’t, he heard Falconer coming at the same moment Reigndale saw him. Sersi flew over to a nearby window ledge ahead of Falconer and just over Helshred’s shoulder.
“I’m glad I found you together, we have a job to do,” Falconer said as he approached.
“Excellent, sir,” Reigndale nodded.
“Helshred,” the Teri-Moor said gruffly, clicking his blades together.
Falconer filled them in on the details as given by the King.
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