Alleara Delegio's Story

90th Day

Solaria

“Well one would assume they will lay her out and the viewings will be first.”

There were sipping noises and the clanking of glasses.

“Oh of course. Do you think they will let the ‘others’ in with us at the same time?”

Alleara raised her glass to her lips once more to stifle the almost growl of indignation that threatened to escaped. It was Meldra that was the worst, holding herself above everyone else in Solaria. She would have put herself on the same level with the Queen if it wouldn’t have been considered a treasonous offense. The fact that her mother socialized with Meldra and these other women bothered Alleara but worse was that she made her social with them as well.

”t is to keep your good standing. A man will marry for family name and by keeping good company we keep our name in a positive light.”

“And if I do not wish to marry or I wish to marry a man who values my intelligence?”

Her mother’s horrified look said it all.

They clucked like hens discussing the timing of the viewings and the organization details. Alleara rolled her eyes and looked to the window.

A lovely breeze blew through the open portals and cooled down the room, excising it of the women’s hot air.

Alleara didn’t care about things like the funeral organization or what food they would serve. She was already going to have to dress up, walk past the Queen’s laid out body and then mingle with those she found the most annoying and pretentious in the whole of Solaria.

“Do you think they will put the Queen in white?”

“Oh yes, that would be traditional. I wouldn’t think they will break from that.”

“I don’t know the new Queen is so...’young’ what if she is not overly familiar with tradition or worse what if she thinks to be progressive?”

By the mutterings someone listening might have thought that progressive thinking was akin to murder by the way the women reacted.

Alleara frowned. Would a change of things be ‘so’ bad?

“Well that begs the question what do we wear?”

Alleara’s body slumped in her chair and she almost groaned aloud. She couldn’t believe they were discussing the clothing options for the funeral. Did they really have nothing better to discuss?

“Well I would think a purple or blue would be respectful. Staying away from yellow or white of course.””

“But of course....” Alleara mocked under her breath.

“What was the Alleara dear?”

Her mother addressed her and Alleara silently cursed her good hearing. If there was one thing her mother did well it was hear ‘everything’. From the quietest secret or the sneaking of her feet down the hall her mother heard it all.

The look in her mother’s eyes told Alleara that she had indeed heard her daughter’s mocking though her face was the perfect mask of politeness.

Alleara shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “I think red would be a poor choice as well, given the talk that her death was murder.”

The women began mutter.

“Too true...too true.” Meldra agreed. “If one wore red it would be like saying they know it was murder or worse that they were involved.”

One of the women gasped. Another fanned herself.

“Well we all know it is the truth. No one has come out to take responsibility is all.”

“You mean, assassinated?”

“Of course. Protectorate likely.”

“You think so?”

“Or maybe someone here in Solaria....” The woman leaned in to whisper conspiratorially. “The Queen was not always favoured by everyone. She did too much at times. I heard there were some who felt as if they did not get a fair share of her time or her ear to voice their concerns or needs.”

“I think it was Drakyvarian assassins.”

Meldra rolled her eyes. “Really and do you think they are responsible for your backside growing so large in the last month? Honestly Petrie. There aren’t any even in ‘Solaria’. Do you think they somehow disguised themselves?”

The woman looked fearful for a moment. “Can they do that?”

Alleara’s mind immediately began working. Would it be possible to create a device that would allow one to be invisible? She frowned, her mind working out all the issues and problems that would come from making such a thing happen. What of a mask? Something made to cover ones face? But you would have to cover hands...the material would have to move with the person...

The women around her clucked on about mysterious assassins.

“It matters who but it also matters how. I heard it said there was not a scratch on the Queen.”

“I heard there was a knife in her back.”

“Oh goodness, you are a ninny and so literal...”

Alleara turned her attention back to the women. It amazed her how one minute they could be talking away about dresses and colour choices yet now they talked assassins and methods. They could rule the councils if they spent their time focused on things that matter, things of intelligence rather than mundane, tedious things.

“You know poison could be used quite easily.” Alleara’s voice broke through their chatter. “There are different kinds, some that show no signs of being used. Many need to be ingested though...”

She was lost in her thoughts on poison and the various ways it could be tweaked or used.

Around her the women were in a twitter about the very idea that someone poisoned the Queen. Alleara didn’t really understand why they were so a flutter since they were the ones who had started the discussion.

She dismissed them and turned her attention to the mystery before her. Who killed the Queen?Why and more importantly....how?

Her feet moved, she wanted to leave the little tea party and head to her father’s lab, to start writing down her theories and lists.

Her mother gave her a look that told the young woman to sit still.

Alleara endured another forty five minutes before she was allowed to run off to work in the lab. She ran down the hall, her mother glaring at her back. She had work to do, so many ideas that she needed to write down and experiment on.

(Co-written with SkullsandSlippers)

The timekeepers say it is ninety two days into the 514th year of Jeytelh's ride.

-

Solaria

The Queen’s death, the strong possibility it was assisination and the method consumed Alleara. She wrote down what she knew, which admittedly was not as much as she would have liked. On top of that she wrote down every poison she could think of and its effects.

After all that the next list was the method of delivery. Her hands ached from the scribbling.

What if it was not poison and they just never announced how she died? A knife to the back? A slit throat?

Despite her earlier boredom with the talk of the funeral Alleara could not wait to view the Queen’s body for signs of the cause of death.
***
The day of the funeral she was dressed in light blue, a colour her mother decided was most fitting. The whole family bore the colour in some form or another from her dress to her father’s robe.

Alleara fidgeted. She was eager to go and get in what would likely be long line ups to view the Queen’s body.

Her mother frowned at her, scrutinizing the young woman. She was certain her daughter had some sort of plan going on in her head but she did not know what for sure. She vowed to watch her like a hawk to prevent the curious woman from make a fool of herself or her family.

Her father was lost in his own head as well though his thoughts centered around his newest creation. It was a bonding agent that would help hold all manner of things together though the mixture was still off currently.

The family of three left their home, Alleara’s mother ordering them to look as sombre as possible.

They would eventually join the many nobles and dignitaries present within the Palace of the Sun to give one last gaze to the departed queen's countenance.

The new queen sat with her entourage of maidens and servants on a balcony overlooking her predecessor's coffin filled with treasures. The last queen was draped in the finest fabrics and linens that covered her completely save her face. Guards were posted at the entrances, around the old queen's body, and on the balcony where Haniea sat. The young queen was not expected to say much during this day, her vow of silence would last until the funeral's completion.

The old queen was considerably older when she took to the throne, the timekeepers say she was around 33 when she was crowned. Similar to Haniea in terms of her rise to ruling Solaria, she was an orphan taken in by the Sisters of Jeytelh and she lived a monastic life. Unlike Haniea, the late queen became a Solar Matriarch and she was then chosen by the queen before her to be the successor. She ruled for approximately ten years before her tragic end came. She was struck down by fate, as some would have it, before she had the chance to name a successor.

Of course, some believe in fate, and others do not. Some believe in Jeytelh, and others feign belief in the Lord of the Sun, and he who founded Solaria. They say that the late queen's spirit will join his sphere that he takes across the sky. After her soul has circled the world of M'Sal for a year, it will be released into his domain.

The line of nobles was long. Too long. Alleara really wanted to get closer and it seemed like people were taking their time to look over the cold dead body. Dead body people, nothing special....move it along....

From her spot she could see the fabric covering the body and she huffed in annoyance. Her mother shot her a look and Alleara dropped her eyes to the floor.

She let them drift up. Guards? Who guards a dead body? What is she going to do get up? Someone going to try and kill her? Really....

The line moved in a slow shuffling manner. A hand tapped her arm and her mother pointed to where the new Queen sat. Alleara frowned at her mother but looked up anyway. The woman was young but a bit older than Alleara from what she could tell. She wasn’t the best judge of such things though. From her spot in line Alleara could see the guards that surrounded her too and the look on the Queen’s face.

I would hate to be in her spot.

It would go on like that, slow shuffling steps bringing her and her family ever closer to the body. She watched as some women played up their grief, sobbing and falling to their knees. Alleara rolled her eyes. As if they will win some sort of favour with the new Queen for their pretending.

Her mother sniffled beside her and Alleara’s eyes went wide. Not her too....

They inched closer. Alleara could make out the slope of her feet under the material. She leaned around the person in front of her in order to try and get a better look at the face. Colour looks fine. So that rules out a couple but means nothing overall.

The man in front of her grunted at her and Alleara stood back. She tapped a foot impatiently. They made it to the end of the coffin. Her mother moved past her and Alleara pouted. Her mother was more concerned with what was in the coffin with the body and how they had dressed her. Didn’t she realize there was a real mystery here? For his part her father simply walked as if strolling slowly down a street, his mind elsewhere.

Alleara stepped closer to her mother.

Limbs look straight, no distortion of the body. She mentally crossed off the poisons that caused the muscle of the body to seize and contort. It was almost impossible to straighten a body out once again.

A wound from a knife would require a thorough inspection of the unclothed body, something Alleara knew she would never be allowed to do. It disappointed her that she might never solve this puzzle fully. The young woman turned her attention back to poisons.

They were equal to the Queen's knees now and Alleara was scrutinizing every shape, bump or distortion of the material. If I could just get closer... Her mother sniffled again and then began to cry.

"Oh godness mother...." Alleara whispered harshly. Her mother fell to her knees and leaned on the coffin. It was like an epiphany.

"Oh mother...." Alleara tried to sound as sad and sympathetic as she could as she leaned in with her mother. She scooted around her to get closer to where she knew the Queen's hands would be. "Its alright."

The guards looked over at them but made no move to immediately dismiss them. They had been letting people have their moment before shooing them away from the casket.

Alleara moved her mother a little and the woman leaned heavily on the side as she cried. Alleara marvelled at her mother's performance, it was truly believable. As her mother leaned Alleara leaned though her hand slipped under the material. She grasped cold hand of the queen and she was immediately struck by the texture. Adjusting it slightly she exposed the fingers to her gaze.

One of the guards saw her caress the queen's hand, he simply paid no heed to what Alleara was doing.

Alleara kept one eye on the guards and her ears trained on her mother. The rest of her attention was on the Queen's hand. They roamed from her wrist to her fingertips. No lines tracing the veins so whatever it was, if it was poison did not leave a marked trail as it circulated.

Her mother became a mess of tears and sobs. Alleara growled lightly knowing the woman's behaviour was going to get them noticed more by both the other mourners and the guards. She gently turned the hand over to inspect the palm. There was veining here that should not be so pronounced. Alleara considered the possilbe causes. A few agents in the blood would show up on the palms but there would be other markers. She quickly made mental notes on the appearance of the palm before turning the hand over once more. One of the clearest indicators would be in the nail beds. Different chemicals and natural compounds left markers in the nail beds. With any luck, if it was a poison of some kind that killed the Queen it left a signature there.

Beside her Alleara's mother leaned into the coffin more. Alleara hissed at her. "Mother, stop that...you are going to get us escorted away!"

Her mother turned, red eyed crying mess "So horrible, so sad.."

Aleara moved huffed and went back to the hand that she held. Her eyes raked over the nails even as her ears picked up the sounds of footsteps. Great...just a little longer...

Haniea watched from high, noticing the younger woman touching the queen's hand and observing the body. To the queen, she seemed to find the late queen a curiosity.

Haniea whispered to her head servant, "Who is she?"

The head servant watched the woman as well with some interest, taking note of the people surrounding her. They were most likely her family.

"I believe that is Alleara Delegio of House Delegio. Her father works as an inventor of our technologies. One of the few notable names that are not of high noble lineage."

"She takes after her father well, do you suppose?"

"I suppose your majesty. There is a certain way that their minds work."

They observed Alleara keenly, waiting for perhaps some reaction or expression on her face.

"Khundis, what is she doing?"

"I...I am not sure myself, your majesty."

Now...they were indeed curious as to her motives.

"I want a private audience with her."

"Yes your majesty," Khundis whispered to some of the guards on the balcony. She pointed to Alleara, the soldiers nodded and left immediately.

The guard that was watching Alleara for some time finally lost his patience, "Alright, on with you."

He shooed her on, a bit annoyed, as if the queen's body was on for show.

Alleara frowned. "But..." And then she saw it. There were arches in the nail bed of the Queen's fingers. Blue. Not the kind of blue the skin takes on after death but a disinct blue arch in each bed. Her eyes went wide. Her mother leaned on her and she helped her walk away. She was super excited to get back home now. She had a lead.

Her mother still cried on her shoulder and Alleara resisted the urge to push her off. She played the dutiful daughter and walked her away. Her father followed, unaware of anything that had occurred.

-

After the nobles had their time with the deceased matriarch, the palace servants continued with the prior arrangements for a procession through the streets of Solaria. Starting from the Imperial Quarter, the queen's body was left before the open air within her casket. The guards carried her in advance of the rest of the procession. Following the past queen was the new queen, symbolic of the ushering of a new ruler. She was followed by her servants, and guards as well. The nobles followed after, with their own house and personal escorts along side the royal guards. Musicians playing in uplifting melodies followed behind.

They would stop once the queen left the Imperial Quarter, from that point, it was all silence through the streets. The people came out in flocks, in awe of the queen. Some had never seen her before, and were thus stunned by the beauty that had departed. Others shed tears as if the late queen was someone close to them, within their homes, perhaps to an extent within their hearts.

The Delegio's followed along with the procession of nobles as the Queen's body moved through the streets. Her mother, thankfully, clung to her father now leaving Alleara to her thoughts. Blue..only a couple who do that. I need to get back to the lab. She walked heavily annoyed at the pomp and circumstance around her It would be easier to pinpoint the nature of the poison and how it was administered if I could just get a full look at the body.

Alleara's father always preferred chemicals and machines to people and while she appreciated all of that, she liked the interaction of those things with the living world in a way that differed slightly from her father. They often used this slight difference in approach to help each other with their theories and research. She wished in this moment that she could ask him his opinion on what she saw.

The procession moved down the streets of the Imperial Quarter. As the nobles reached the border of the quarter they began to move aside and let the body and its escorts continue on. Alleara stood there for a moment and watched the procession disappear down the streets.

There goes all the evidence.

Her heart was pounding as she frantically tried to find a way to stop them taking the body away to the pyre. Alleara knew there was nothing she could do without disgracing her family and getting herself into trouble.

"Let's go now. Stop gawking. We can't be late for the luncheon."

Alleara turned to face her mother. She had composed herself now and the only evidence of her spectacle was her slightly red eyes. Alleara sighed and turned to join her mother. "So close...."

Beyond the Imperial Quarter, the queen's body would be carried through the other quarters, letting all the peoples that made up Solaria see her face one last time. The final leg of the journey would be the Gate of the Setting Sun. The gate sat on the western edge of the city. The timekeepers ensured that the queen would reach the gate in time for it to align with the setting sun. Once that was done, they would carry her body up to the western tower where a pyre had been prepared. Her funeral pyre would serve as the last light into the night.

After they had passed through the many quarters, the procession finally made its way to the western tower and mounted the steps toward the western tower to the platform. The guards lifted the late queen's casket above the pyre. Servants then placed Solarian crystals on the pyre, and as the flames lit, they changed from yellow to blue and began to dance toward the sky.

Haniea watched the blue glow stand apart against the fading orange of Jeytelh on the horizon.

Alleara was surrounded by people who were more concerned with who was wearing what instead of the mystery of the queen’s death. To them it was an excuse to show off but to her it was a puzzle that needed to be solved. She realized of course, that most of them didn’t give two thoughts about how she died. Even the women who had been gossiping about that very topic had now dismissed it and moved onto something else.

She nibbled on the food, though it was very good she had little appetite. The constant noise around her made Alleara annoyed. Do they not know how hard it is to concentrate when they drone on?

Her father was on one side of the room discussing something with another man. They seemed deep into the topic, whatever it was. They had paper out and were scribbling things furiously as they talked. The other side of the room her mother sat, tea in hand engaged in conversation with a group of women.

Alleara was expected to mingle, converse with those her age but she found the task almost painful. She moved to a corner and did her best to hide away. Here I can think... Her eyes moved to window where the sun was setting.

“It is time everyone.”

The crowd gathered near the windows to watch as in the distance the body was lit and served as a light for the people.

Alleara wanted to cry. Gone was the body, reduced to ash by the night’s end. The blue flames lit the sky and Alleara turned, shaking her head. The biggest piece of evidence is gone. I will have to solve this another way. It wasn't that she wanted to prove the queen had been assassinated, it was more that a puzzle had been presented to her and Alleara felt compelled to solve it.

Co-written with SkullsandSlippers

93rd Day

Solaria

The three Sunfires waited in the courtyard of the Delegio villa. They were in their battle dresses, which were well-recognized for their ornateness. The armor typically sported a bronze color leaning toward a glowing amber. They donned this color mainly symbolic of the sun and the desert sands. The glowing amber was meant to strike fear into their enemies as well as serve as a source of pride for their comrades. The color stood out very well, as they shone brightly whenever the sun reflected off the metal. They had been assigned by the queen to escort a young woman named Alleara Delegio to the palace for a private audience.

The head of this trio leaned against a balustrade as the other two talked about their recent forays in the desert. Sunfires often had many stories to tell, whether it be fighting bandits, to thieves, to possibly even the creatures that dwell among the Ba'Gatha. This was to be expected from Solarians who were extremely devoted to both Jeytelh and their queen.

The Sunfires have been vocal about the truces between Solaria and the other two cities, but they knew that their duty laid within the martial realm and not the political one.

When they returned from the funeral Alleara had stolen away to the lab and kept herself there pouring over her notes. She now knew that the queen had blue arches in her nail beds. Poison Alleara felt confident that it was murder. Who had perpetrated it she did not know but her mind was on the puzzle of what and how, not who.

A servant came in looking for her and Alleara waved them away without so much as a look over to them. She did not even let them speak about why they were there. She did not wish to be disturbed. She wasn't hungry, wasn't thirsty and needed nothing. In truth she didn't even know if an hour or days had past since they returned home.

Her eyes raked over books with the descriptions of poisons. She had narrowed the list down considerably but without knowing if the queen was sick before she passed and for how long or with what symptoms there was no way to really pinpoint the exact poison. If the queen was not ill in the days or hours leading up to her death that was a different category.

Alleara had gone through paper after paper of notes, lists with things crossed out and scribbled in.

"Miss Aleara, I really must insist on speaking to you."

She looked up and over her shoulder at the man who stood just behind her. "I told you I don't care what my mother thinks I should be doing I am not interested. I am working."

"This isn't about a summons from you mother miss. There are some people waiting to see you. You have been summoned to the palace."

Alleara's head whipped up from her paper. She had gone back to ignoring him in favour of her work until he said she was summoned to the palace. "The palace? For-for what?" The young woman paled visibly.

"I am afraid I do not know Miss Alleara but there are three Sunfires standing outside in the courtyard waiting for you. They have been charged with bringing you to the palace."

Alleara took a slow breath in, her stomach churned with nerves. Why would she be summoned and by whom? "I'll be right there."

He nodded and left the room. Alleara slowly closed her books, set her papers into a neat pile and then made her way to the door. The walk from the lab down the hall to the front entrance of the house was the longest of her life. Her mother appeared. "You can't go looking like that. You need to change!"

Alleara shook her head. "I shouldn't make them wait any longer." Her hands smoothed out the wrinkles in her lavender dress. There were no stains from ink or other things from the lap thankfully. Her mother tossed a shawl around her shoulders and Alleara frowned. 'I am not cold mother."

"To make you look a bit more presentable. Who knows why you are to go with them."

Alleara inhaled and stepped outside.

"I am sorry for making you wait."

Her eyes looked the trio over. They stood in their armour and despite their relaxed posture they were very intimidating.

The head of the trio was named Estios, he nodded curtly to her, "Lady Alleara, we have been assigned by Queen Bitava to escort you to the Palace of the Sun for a private audience."

"These two are Greks and Vallon," he gestured to his comrades who turned to greet her.

"This way."

-

They kept their path through the main roads that were lined with markets. Estios led, while the other two brought up the rear, still conversing amongst themselves. As they continued they spotted a pair of Vauls quarreling with a group of merchants.

Estios looked to Greks, who understood with a nod.

Greks walked over to the merchants, brandishing his sheathed blade, "What's going on here?"

The situation was defused as neither party wanted trouble with the Sunfires.

The group continued on their way to the palace.

Alleara followed saying nothing but her mind worked in overdrive. Private audience. Queen. Why? If it was because she had touched the dead queen's hand this would have been an arrest not and escort. She honestly had no idea why Queen Bitava was interested in a private audience with her. There was no explaination that made sense to Alleara. She was a noble's daughter and not a inherited title at that.

She could feel people's eyes on her as she walked with the armoured trio. Alleara kept her eyes forward and head up. Regardless of why she was going to the palace she would not be embarrassed. Surely it can't be bad. She swallowed and tried to tell herself that it was likely a good thing, an honour to be called for a private audience.

She paused when they did, walked when they did but said nothing to the men. She was too nervous and afraid of what might come out of her mouth if she spoke.

Estios continued ahead silently, keeping his eyes on the watch for any civil disturbances. It was unncessary as the sight of such fine warriors immediately made each Solarian more well-mannered than normally.

The other two warriors continued with their conversation, not really bothering to keep their voices to themselves. They were talking about the murders that occurred a day before the late queen's funeral.

"The third one went by the name of Pala Biurin, she looked as if she drowned in her own blood." Greks said, maintaining a stoic face. Such was the way one dealt with cold-hard facts.

"What did the Custodians of the dead say?" Vallon asked.

"We didn't need the Custodians to know that it was a murder. Stomach was split open, very likely a blade. Her and three others died on the same night. Another man was near death, but he managed to live by sheer luck thanks to his servant."

"You think his case is somehow linked to the other four?"

"It already is, they eached worked in the Palace of the Sun for the late queen."

"Who would want to kill them and why?"

"That is a question that we are still trying to figure out."

Alleara perked up as she listened to their conversation. Murders? Before the Queen's death....connected? Alleara walked a little faster not wanting to miss anything that was said. She frowned as they spoke of drowning in blood, stomach's split open and how four people had died in the same night. A fifth had been attacked and yet survived. Alleara gasped when she heard that all worked for the late queen.

She was murdered, the people who worked for her murdered. What is the reason though? Sucession? A message? Did they all know something they shouldn't?

Even the guards did not know the reason. They seemed to be on the same page as Alleara. Motive was the main question.

"The others, did they all die the same way? The man who survived...was he attacked with a blade as well? What did they do for the Queen? Were they advisors?"

Alleara completely forgot who she was talking to, why she was with them or what their destination was. She looked up and between the figures. This new information all fit somehow with the queen's murder. If Alleara could get more information she might be able to figure out why they were killed and if given enough time and information even figure out who had done it.

The two warriors stared back at her for interrupting their little conversation. They were surprised at the sudden curiosity, realizing she had been eavesdropping. Not that it mattered, the two weren't being discrete in the first place, and it couldn't possibly hurt to divulge some information to her.

Greks began slowly, "No. Each died differently. Two of them looked as though they had committed suicide. The other two were most likely killed. The last, we suspect to be poison."

He continued, "The two women were servants. The two men who died were advisors. And the last who survived, Harl Moyro, was a wealthy nobleman. As far as we know, he is the only living member of House Moyro. No wife or children. His parents died years before during one of the plagues."

"Why do you ask?" his comrade Vallon inquired.

Alleara felt her cheeks slowly warm as the men stared at her. She had been curious and it was only occuring to her now, as they stared that she shouldn't have said anything. Still after a moment of awkwardness they gave her a few more details.

"I ask because it all seems very coincidental. The queen dead, her people dying in mysterious ways."

Two servants, two advisors, a nobleman....they must have known something or saw something they were not supposed to.

"Did any seem like they were poisoned?"

Alleara wondered if like the queen any had suffered from the same poison. Of course to know for sure she would have to examine their nails as she had the queen's but it was reasonable to consider that this too would be a connection.

She had made a connection that none of the investigators thought of. Perhaps these string of cases were linked to a greater plot relating to the queen's asssassination. It was possible. The two Sunfires looked at each other, pondering the palpability of such an idea. Their duties as investigators demanded skepticism. Here was a young noble woman trying to create a larger conspiracy from various murders around the day of the queen's funeral.

Estios overheard their conversation, choosing not to join as he wanted to keep his thoughts to himself. Was this the reason why queen Bitava called for a private audience with this inquisitive woman? He continued forward though, they would know soon enough. He had a duty that still needed to be carried out.

"None of those that were dead. We suspect the last man to have been targeted with poison. He is still among us in one of the healing houses," Greks replied.

Alleara bit her lip. Still alive.

"So the others all died in other ways, no poison. Perhaps to make it seem unconnected?"

She was speaking more to herself than to the men though took not effort to lower her voice. "If the same person or person's who were responsible for the queen's death took care of the others...hired assassin? Group of assassins. Set up but who paid for the job? Simply to get rid of the queen? Then why the others, what did they know or see?"

Alleara's finger tapped her cheek. "I am missing something. There has to be something in particular that connects them all. Can't just be that they were her servants and two advisors. I mean, why just them? Maybe someone is wiping out all of the old queen's people but again why, what do they have to gain from it?"

She looked to the men.

They looked to each other.

Her thoughts sent theirs scattering.

Estios' gruff voice recalled them to the present, "Can you two quicken your pace? We are disrepecting the queen by bringing Lady Delegio to the Palace later than expected."

Alleara jumped at the sound of the third man's voice.She had forgotten about him and who she was talking to in general. She cast her eyes to the street and remained silent for the rest of the walk. Her thoughts however were focused on what she had heard

-

They were within the Imperial Quarters, which were marked by large and imposing structures that either reached into the sky or crawled along the ground. They had a cream color in day to a greyish color during the night as the braziers and other crystals glowed. They were marked by an architectural design consisting of elaborate folds on the exterior that were reminiscent of the weaves on a basket. The structures that were elongated on the ground looked almost like giant solid worms, with each segment divided by the lighting of the interior. Those that reached up into the sky were of hyperboloid form. Despite this, the structures were very simple in form and almost devoid of any elaborate aesthetics.

Alleara felt vaguely like she was walking to an execution. She felt as if she was being marched in front of the people to her death yet she did not know why she had been summoned. No one lined the streets as they had for the funeral it was just a sense of almost deja vu she had as she walked towards the palace. She wished she knew why the queen wanted to see her. Now knowing what she did about the former queen's death and those four who worked for her Alleara felt vaguely on edge. Those that got involved with the royalty stood a chance it seemed of being murdered.

A frown was on her face as she walked. Was someone targetting all royalty or was there something about the old queen that they did not like? Was the new queen subject now to the same risk? Did she have a hand in what happened?

The group finally reached the largest among the towers. Of course, the tower was just the front of the Palace, there was more to it beyond the facade that was the spiral. The Palace was meant to stand out before the rest, spiraling into the sky. It faced east, where the sun rose, and perfectly aligned with the rays during certain days of the year. The sun would dip down in the west, resting against the canal pools that formed the rear of the Palace.

There were no gates into the Palace, just open passages guarded by soldiers. Many openings in the ceiling allowed light to filter through. They were patterned in such a way as to allow the light to reflect this design once the rays shone upon the floors.

They passed the rows of guards standing staunchly quiet along the steps and the halls. They reached the forum from the foyer through which most of the Palace was connected. The forum was a wide open circular room, with elaborate stones on the floor, and intricate carvings and engravings on the columns that held up the room. Awaiting them was the head of the servants, Khundis. She was covered completely from head to toe in robes. She wore a simple rectangular headdress that was wrapped in fabric which flowed down the sides, leaving her face uncovered. She was followed by two attendants and a pair of guards. Beside her stood two delegates. One was a human, and the other a Vaul. They were in robes as well, simple dress robes, nothing elaborate. The human had a long face, with greyed hair and clean shaven. The Vaul had brown feathers and a short beak. His eyes were completely black, observing the four of them as they came in.

Alleara peered around one of the Sunfire's to look at those they approached. That is a lot of people waiting for me. She swallowed hard. Her eyes scanned the guards as she silently hoped that they accompanied the others everywhere and were not there for her.

"Captain, what took you so long? The queen will not be pleased with your tardiness," Khundis reprimanded the Sunfire before her eyes fell upon Alleara.

"Apologies Lady Khundis, the streets were busy today," Estios bowed.

"A sure sign of prosperity isn't it?" the Vaul delegate quipped.

Greks and Vallon were completely silent before them now, no longer chatty like earlier. They stood as Sunfires should, quiet and firm.

She couldn't help but flinch as the Captain was questioned about their delay. Alleara hadn't exactly been prompt in meeting them, thus making them even more delayed than they should have been from the beginning.

Khundis smiled to Alleara, "The queen has been expecting you, come with me."

Alleara returned the smile though there was apprehension in her eyes. She nodded her head in understanding and stepped forward. She cast one last look at the guards. What is going on?

And there they passed the noblewoman on. The cadre continued their leg to the chamber in which the queen waited.

She followed the woman, back straight and hands at her sides though her heart was pounding against her ribs. Why me? What could she possibly want with me?

"Lady Delegio is it?" the Vaul was the first to open conversation.

The delegate straightened his feathers, walking with his talons balled behind his back.

Alleara looked towards the Vaul. His dark eyes felt as if they could bore right through her. "Yes. Alleara Delegio. Daughter of Mathus Delegio. Scientist and inventor. Given his title and estate in reward for his work." She smiled slightly. She was proud of her father though in the current situation she worried that her actions may do somethng to strip her family of their titles. Nervously her hand fiddled with a blonde strand of hair.

The Vaul smiled contently, he recognized that she was on edge, as did the others who were escorting her. In fact, they may not have appeared to show it, but they themselves were also somewhat anxious. None of them knew the exact reason for the queen's summons. They were just doing their duty. The only pressing matter on their minds at the moment was the late queen's murder, and perhaps this meeting was somehow related to that.

Alleara's mind worked in panic mode as they moved further into the palace. No one else said anything to her and it left her to draw her own conclusions on what might be waiting for her when she met the queen. As they approached the doors she was feeling no calmer than when she arrived at the palace.

They entered the chamber, as the two guards opened the doors to allow them in. Queen Bitava sat on an elevated platform at the end of the hall, and attendants were plenty.

Khundis led them before the queen, everyone was expected to bow before her, and they did just that. It was a custom, a display of respect for the queen and the power she wielded.

Alleara bowed with the others being careful to keep her eyes to the floor.Don't do anything to insult or offend...don't do anything to insult or offend... In that moment Alleara wished she had paid better attention to her mother and etiquette teachers.

"No formalities are needed at the moment Khundis," the young queen spoke, then she turned to her servants, "You may leave."

They bowed out and retreated out of the chamber.

Alleara's eyes, still on the floor went wide as the queen asked the servants to leave. What is going on? Why am I here? I really wish someone would tell me what the hell is going on! Get a grip, if you get upset you are going to say something you regret and there is more hanging in the balance than just yourself. She tried yet again to calm her nerves. Her blood pounded in her ears, her hands gripped her skirt lightly and her mouth had gone dry.

The soldiers followed behind, leaving only the high-ranking officials and Alleara with the queen.

Soon the room was devoid of anyone but the delegates and the queen. Is this how conspiracies start? Is this what happened and caused the old queen and her people to be murdered?

The queen looked to Alleara, who appeared to have avoided eye contact by keeping her eyes low. Was there something interesting to be found on the chamber floor?

"Lady Delegio, I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to heed my summons."

Khundis noticed the young girl was staring at the floor, so she nudged her lightly.

"It was-" Alleara lifted her eyes and looked over at the woman who elbowed her lightly.. "What did you..." She started to hiss it through her teeth at the woman before she remembered where she was.

She cleared her throat a little and looked towards where the queen sat. "It was no trouble your majesty. I am not sure why you have seen fit to honour me with a summons to you but I will do what I can for you."

Alleara hoped she sounded proper enough. This would be easier if she knew why the queen wanted to see her but she thought it might be improper to come right out and ask.

The queen stood from her seat and proceeded to walk down the steps, "Excellent. During the funeral..." she walked closer to Alleara before she turned away and stepped toward the side of the chamber, perhaps talking to herself.

"You...could you explain...what you were doing?"

Alleara bit her lower lip as the queen descended and moved towards her. The first words had to do with the funeral and Alleara felt all the blood drain from her face. She saw that? She saw? Oh no, no....

With a deep breath in the blonde tried to steady herself. She straightened a little and kept her eyes on the now vacant platform.

"Well I had heard a rumour that the old queen was murdered. You see some women were discussing the funeral and the circumstances of her death..." Alleara stopped there and inhaled once more. "That is not important. Their talk got me thinking. I, like my father am a scientist. I like puzzles and this seemed to be a mystery. I thought perhaps that queen might have been poisoned. I was looking for signs of it in the veins of her arms, her hands, her palms and specifically her nail beds. Certain chemicals leave behind markers to show they were there. If she was poisoned well, there might be a clue as to by what in her body."

Her voice took on a more confident quality as she spoke of the poisons but now it lowered again. "I was inspecting her arm and hand your majesty. I was trying to be subtle but it appears my actions were noticed. I was not trying to offend. I simply get caught up in puzzles and felt the desire to try and solve it."

Alleara wasn't sure if she should apologize or not. She waited now to see if there was to be punishment for her actions. Mother always said my curiousity was going to get me into a great deal of trouble...

"Lady Delegio," the Vaul representative spoke, "We have our own investigators looking into the matter. However, your actions as it seems...represents a desecration of the queen's body."

The representative turned to Queen Haniea, "Your majesty, I beg that you be lenient in your punishment of her offenses."

"I would also like to second his pleas," the human delegate added.

Queen Bitava remained silent for a time, before she turned to face them.

Alleara's knees were weak. She felt ill and as if she might fall over but did her best to look as calm as possible. Desecration? I didn't do anything but look. She wasn't going to complain. Punishment. Mother is going to fall over and die when she hears. A cold sweat broke out on her body. Lenient. Well that is nice of them. I wonder what that means and if she will be gracious.

"I...had no intention of punishing her," Haniea replied to the officials.

They were wide-eyed, they did not expect this.

"Then..why...?" Khundis asked.

The queen now spoke only to Alleara, "Tell me, what did you find on the queen's body?"

It took a moment for Alleara to process what the queen was saying. "Not going to punish me? I don't..." She looked around at the rest of those in the chamber as if trying to understand what was going on.

She pulled her blue eyes back to the queen. "I found signs of poison your majesty. Blue arches in her nail beds."

Alleara was not sure what was going on but she looked to the queen and waited now with baited breath.

"That's not...how could she possibly have been poisoned? She was battling an illness before she died. Blue arches in her nail beds? That could have been signs that the blood has drained from her fingers. But how could you possibly prove that now?" the human delegate stated.

He was right about one thing, they had already burned the queen's body as customs demanded. The largest piece of evidence was now gone. In hindsight, they should have held onto it and continued drawing from it to determine possible causes of death and suspects.

"Hold your tongue, Lord Faeran. Continue Lady Delegio," the queen said.

Alleara looked over at the delegate. "With the poison there would be no need for any other method. It was strong. I have narrowed down the list of possible poisons used but without knowing if she was sick before or in the time leading up to her death there is no way to know which one for sure. Now that the body is gone there is no other chance to examine it further." The one delegate, Lord Faeran gave her a crucial piece of the puzzle. Sick before! Battling an illness! That will help narrow it down. Alleara resisted the urge to ask how long the queen had been sick for leading to her death.

She looked now to the queen. "Also the recent murders, servants and advisors to the former queen are likely linked. I heard that some involved were stabbed, some made to look like suicide and one poisoned are likely linked to her murder. Why else would they be targetted? Odd mix of people to murder unless there is something to tie them together. They have the now dead queen in common but there has to be a reason for their deaths. They knew something, saw something that others have not or someone is going to be systematically killing all the former queen's people."

Alleara lost her fear now.

"Now see here, those...recent murders, how could they possibly be linked to the late queen? I think conspiracies are a bit beyond you, Lady Delegio," the human delegate retorted, he turned to the queen, "Your majesty I really don't see why we needed to summon her. Our investigators can handle the matter themselves."

"I agree with my compatriot, there is no need for nobility such as Lady Delegio here to concern herself in such highly confidential affairs," the Vaul glanced at Alleara with those same black eyes.

Alleara gritted her teeth. She didn't like the fact that they considered it beyond her. She was perfectly capable of solving problems, she had been since she was a child. She likely knew more about chemicals and compounds than the stuffy delegates all combined. The Vaul looked at her once again and Alleara exhaled through her nose.

"Hold. We can not waive the possibility that those recent murders are not somehow linked. They came shortly before the late queen's funeral, do you not think that it was by coincidence? Four deaths on the same night?" Haniea said.

"It is very startling. The suspect moved and acted quickly, but it's possible he had accomplices."

The queen moved to the side, "Lady Delegio you mentioned a link between the four deaths and the queen's murder?"

She paused, "I want you on a special assignment. My personal attaché to the cases. See what you can find."

Alleara felt a great deal of respect for the queen as she decided that the murder did indeed need solving. She felt mildly smug that the queen had chosen to see her points. "Special assignment?"

The blonde looked stunned for a moment. "Me? You are asking, apologies telling me to help? In the investigation?" Alleara didn't know if she should be excited or scared out of her mind. The delegates did not seem to like her, that much had quickly become clear. A feeling of fear grew in the pit of her stomach. Personal attache. The title sunk in slowly.

"If indeed the murders are somehow connected to the queen's death, then we may find our suspect. If not, then the queen will find no peace in the afterlife."

Alleara bowed to the queen, "I firmly believe the queen was poisoned. The arches in her nail bed are a signature marker, her illness before her death helps to narrow down what it was. If we can find out what the queen, the murdered people and the poisoned noble all have in common along with what poisons were used we might be able to find the culprits or culprits. I will do everything I can to get this mystery solved for you your majesty."

She no longer had to work on this problem in the privacy of her lab, missing pieces and sneaking around for more information. She could now work in the background, talk to the poisoned noble and his servants. Alleara's mind raced with possibilities. She didn't know why the queen had centred her out but she was honoured and thrilled to begin.

Alleara stood taller and smirked a little to herself. Take that you stuffy delegates. I wonder which of you are a part of this whole plot and were using your power to cover things up.

She began a mental list of each of them. She would have to look into everyone's ties to the old queen and what they gained or lost by her death. She would need to know who had access to the queen in her final days and had easy access to chemicals and potions. Her eyes were on the floor again as she lost herself in her thoughts once more.

"May I leave your majesty? There is much to do, notes to make and things to look up. I need to talk to the noble who was poisoned and his servants. There is no time to waste."

The queen simply nodded, the group dispersed with the exception of Khundis, leaving the queen to her thoughts.

Once they were alone, the head of the servants approached the queen.

"Your majesty, I don't understand. Why do we need to involve a noble of her rank in matters such as these? Please tell me, surely you have some greater idea in mind?"

"I don't. But I just have this feeling about her."

[Co-written with VindicatedPurpose]

93rd Day

Solaria

Palace of the Sun

The queen allowed her to leave. Alleara turned to face the closest delegate.

“I would like access to any information that you have compiled already. I wish to know everything about the queen’s illness. Walk with me please.”

She walked out of the room, expecting him to follow. Alleara did not think her in charge, in fact she didn’t give the request much consideration other than she needed to leave and needed to talk to him.

“I would like to hear all the events leading up to the three weeks before her death. Can you have any documents or other evidence or anything physical sent to my home please? I would also like to have access to the most recent victim, attempted victim and his servant. Oh and any information about the other deceased parties.”

Alleara paused to look at the delegate, waiting for a response to all her questions. Lord Faeran was rendered speechless by her sudden upstart pompousness as he looked to his fellow delegate for a word. The Vaul said nothing, he kept his eyes pinned on the young lady as she left. Faeran huffed a frustrated sigh, as his reddened face somewhat subsided.

Alleara gave a small frown of confusion at the man's sigh. "I am sorry, is there a problem? The queen asked me to look into this and in order to do so I need to know everything that has been found out so far as well as talk to people who are involved. If you can't do this for me perhaps I should as the queen who might be best suited to help me."

It wasn't a threat, Alleara was simply stating a fact if this man wasn't able to help her there had to be someone who could.
Faeran cleared his throat and straightened his tunic, he was still a delegate, first and foremost. He a duty to the city and the queen.

"No, none at all. Please follow me to the Custodians of the Dead, they will have more information regarding those that already passed. We will also have to meet with the timekeepers as they have kept records regarding queen."

Alleara smiled and nodded. "Oh good. I had hoped it wouldn't be an issue. For a moment I worried that you might tell me that there were no records or something like that. I am happy to hear that is not the case."

She turned and began walking down the hall once more. "Now then, where shall we go first? Also did any of you see the queen in the days leading to her death? What about the most recent victim?"

Alleara glanced over her shoulder at those that were walking with her. She had no idea where she was going and hoped that they would lead her on as well as tell her what they knew. They were advisors and delegates whose loyalty was to the crown, it meant they knew a great deal more than most and likely had people working as servants who might overhear things they shouldn't. She would never be so bold at this moment as to inquire about such things but she filed the notion away for later.

"No, she was bedridden for the week leading up to her death. Not necessarily bed-ridden, but confined to the palace," the brown feathered delegate replied as they walked.

"Confined to the palace? For what reason? Was her illness that bad? Who had access to her during this confinement?" Alleara looked over her shoulder at him. His eyes still gave her chills. She couldn't shake the feeling that they could almost look through her, as if he could see her very thoughts.

"At the behest of Lady Khundis, the servants advised the queen to stay within the palace, and perhaps within her quarters. Only they had access to her."

Alleara frowned. Lady Khundis. Interesting.... She said nothing aloud but nodded in understanding. It seemed strange to her but she hoped the records would give her some clue as to what led to the illness.

"Before her illness did the queen go any place out of the ordinary? Attend any function or meeting?"

"If she did, it probably would have been in the confines of the Palace," Lord Faeran added.

"So there will be records of everything she did in the weeks before her death? Did any of you see her or have business with her before she grew sick? Do you know of anyone in particular who might have sought audience for a specific complaint?"

Alleara realized that they were likely to brush her off, stating that the records would hold the information she sought but she knew as well as anyone that records were not always accurate. Things were omitted, items missed whether on purpose or not. It was just as likely that something happened in secret that caused rumours as it was that something official occurred. What she hoped was that any of the delegates who had knowledge that would help the investigation would state it in an effort to help the investigation. It did not escape her that they might attempt to hinder her more than help her though.

In a word, Faeran denied with a single 'no'. Whether this was the truth, or he was harboring something private remained to be seen. The Vaul returned to silence.

Alleara took a slow breath though inwardly she sighed. So this is how it is going to be....
-
Once they departed the Palace of the Sun, they continued on through the Imperial Quarter to the Temple of Jeytelh. Within the temple, there was a department known as the Custodians of the Dead. They were were responsible for the last rites and interring the remains of the deceased, and they kept records of how they died. On occasion, they worked alongside the Sunfires in the investigations of murders. Usually retribution was swift as the Sunfires were nearly everywhere, and they would detain suspects within a day. A tribunal consisting of Solar Matriarchs would judge the fate of the defendant based on the evidence given. The subject was guilty until proven innocent.

The Imperial Quarter was defined by a single dominant architectural form. The Temple maintained the same elaborate folds and weavings that the Palace of the Sun had, and it was just as ornate, if not moreso than the Palace itself.
Alleara felt tense as they approached the Temple of Jeytelh. So much happened in it halls, death, investigation and trials. Much of what she needed, the records and such would be in there and it was as she walked inside that Alleara realized she had nothing to back up her new task save the word of the delegate at her side. Her heart raced. What if he says I am a spy? What if I end up in the hands of the tribunal? I wish I had been smart enough to ask the queen for a letter or something. Now I have to go on his word and I am not sure I can trust him.

Her eyes drifted sideways to look at Lord Faeran.

His long and dreadful face provided no comfort, and his somewhat portly size made for some jokes among the common folk. One would never hear these circulating among the nobles though. He walked ahead, paying no attention to the lady. The Vaul kept up behind, watching the skies, zipping about as was the nature of his avian kind. However, he was different from most other Vaul as he was a bit more controlled and tempered as it appeared.

Lord Faeran's countenance provided Alleara with no bolstering to her confidence. Behind her the Vaul delegate also offered no comfort for her situation. Really should have thought this through... She swallowed hard and followed.
Then, just as they were about to reach the entrance, Faeran stopped, paused in the middle of his tracks.

Alleara stopped just short of running into the man. "Is something wrong Lord Faeran?" Her hands went to her stomach. Her tone was cautious. What now? Thank the stars I have a better head on my shoulders than my mother, I swear she'd have had two heart attacks by now.

He looked to her with a pair of sharpened eyes, lips mute. He cleared his throat, "Nothing at all." Then he continued ahead.
Alleara's stomach was in a knot. "I should hope there won't be any issues. I would hate for the queen not to get the information she desires." She tried to sound confident and calm though she was beginning to heavily doubt the man in front of her. I need a plan if he tries anything. Her mind worked quickly trying to think of all the possible scenarios and what she might do.

Dangling the queen's sword. The delegate was startled by her tactic, but he knew that it was by the queen's decree, and he had everything to jeopardize.

"No. There won't be any."

Somehow his words failed to reassure her. Alleara inhaled slowly and walked on. "I admire that we have such good record keepers. It is a testament to our desire for knowledge and facts to keep such detailed history of Solaria and its people."

The noble simply nodded, perhaps he was begrudging Alleara for intruding on matters that were out of her rank and station.

Now she was simply making small talk in an effort to ease her own nerves though it too was not really helping. Her hands remained on her stomach and her cheeks had lost some colour as thoughts of death and trials flooded her mind.

"The records may very well be the key to tracing the queen's illness back to the point of origin and from there we can figure out who administered the poison."

"We'll have to meet with the dead first, before we can access any records."
-
The Temple of Jeytelh

Alleara was tense as they approached the entrance of the temple. The figures that stood guard were not exactly intimidating on their own but add them to the architecture and stillness of the temple and Alleara was significantly on edge. She followed Lord Faeren's lead though she worried that he might do something to hinder her. Without him though she could get no where and it would mean returning to the queen assuming she could leave here freely.

She was too afraid to say anything. Her eyes moved, taking in everything around her.

The two male Jeytahs at the entrance were dressed in knee-length chitons of a tan colored fabric. They wore orange head scarves, and gleaming amber rings hung on theirs arms as they welcomed the high ranked officials with revering bows and welcomed them into the temple. The two servants pushed the giant doors inward to allow them through. Once the three were in, the doors were pulled back and sealed. The temple composed several different quarters separate from halls where the shrines were kept and the Solar Matriarchs and Jeytahs performed their daily rituals. They walked through the main hall where the braziers and torches had been quelled the previous night, and the only light was that which was filtered through the openings throughout ceiling and the walls that coned ever upward. Tall golden support columns lined the walkway through which they passed.

Each of the quarters were separate departments of the Temple, and one such department was the Custodians of the Dead. The clergy believed that once a soul passed beyond the mortal realm, that soul belonged to the Sun Lord. And it was the responsibility of the Faith to handle matters such as rituals over the dead.

The doors to the Hall of the Custodians were giant giant doors emblazoned by a darkened silver sun at the very center. The two Custodians at the door were dressed in full armor similar to the Sunfires, but theirs was a variation of the armored battle dress. Darkened silver similar to the sun on the door, and long dark capes running to the floor. They wore visorless helmets, similar in design to the Sunfires, but different colored. The helmets covered their cheeks, leaving only their mouth, chin, eyes, and nose uncovered. The two Custodians barred the door with their pole arms angled.

"What is your purpose here?" the Custodian on the right said with a simple yet firm tone.

"I am Lord Faeran, delegate in charge of the investigations behind the late queen's murder as well as the recent deaths that happened during the days of her funeral."

The Vaul spoke for himself, "I am Representative Gavri Aureliar of the Vaul Quarter."

Faeran then gestured to Alleara "And this is Lady Delegio of House Delegio, attaché on special assignment for Queen Bitava. We request access to your records and the morgue containing the bodies of the fallen that have not been interred."

The guard looked to his brother-in-arms, the two retracted their spears and pulled the iron doors open.

Alleara's body was tense as the guards asked their purpose and Lord Faeran answered. She was relieved to hear him state that she was there on assignment from the Queen. He could have stated it in another way thus leaving it open later to have her removed. One door down but how many more to go. She wanted to work with everyone involved but she knew when it came to the crown, power and politics people tended to resort to underhanded tactics to get ahead rather than work for the betterment of everyone. Remarkably different from science. Unfortunately Alleara had more experience in that world than this one.

The doors groaned as they were opened and she couldn't help but think they reminded her of a great creature ready to swallow her and the others into the depths of the morgue.

Head high, face placid in an effort not to show her nervousness Alleara followed Lord Faeran past the iron doors and into the new area.

She made note of the Vaul's name. That was more than she had heard him speak yet.

Their footsteps echoed slightly on the floor as they walked towards where the dead were kept.
-
As they entered, they reached a central desk where several scribes were recording notes. The desk was dark iron just like the doors and the armor of the custodians that preceded it. Records upon records were stacked on the table, as the scribes dabbed their quills in black ink and continued to carve out words upon the thin sheet made from Grelb skin. On the corner of the desk was a device that was supposed to be a light source. Two Solarian crystals of different sizes and shapes sat within rings that were connected to a central metal ball that turned. And as the ball turned, so too did the two crystals in a set revolution around the sphere. Other scholars proceeded to retrieve what scrolls had been completed to catalogue and index them along shelves that lined the walls.

Beyond the central desk was the crypt itself, where hundreds of other custodians wandered among the rows of the dead, updating their records. The two lords saw a group of Sunfires and custodians examining a body at the other end of the long hall.

One man met them at the entrance and immediately nodded to the portly delegate, "Lord Faeran."

Lord Faeran felt the need to speak on behalf of the group because he was there self-appointed representative, "Magister Olue."
The Magister was the Master of the Custodians, a tall and gaunt man. His grave eyes had sunken. He had a pair of dark iron shoulder pauldrons from which his long white cape was tied from. The shoulder guards themselves were chained across his chest with an ornament. He dealt with death on a daily basis and he took his duties very seriously with every ounce of professionalism he had.

"Representative Aureliar," Olue noted.

The Vaul replied with a nod.

He gestured to Alleara as she was an unfamiliar face while the other two had become regular visitors to the hall.

"Queen Bitava has assigned her to the cases. Apparently she believes that the string of murders are somehow related to the queen."

"Oh is that so?" the Magister raised his eyebrow toward the young noblewoman.

"Very well, I suppose you'd like a look at the first victim."

They approached the group of Sunfires and Custodians, Greks and Vallon were there, they both nodded to Alleara.

On one hand she was happy to have Lord Faeran do all the talking. He knew the people here. On the other hand she wished she was more sure at that moment to open her mouth and introduce herself. Alleara stood tall and tried to look calm and confident under the Magister's gaze but the whole place gave one the sense that they were very small, very insignificant. It wasn't knowing the people around her were dead it was the atmosphere, the reverence those that worked there had for the dead and their work.

"I thank you for showing me. There is reason to believe that all the recent murders are connected and connected to the former queen's death as well."

Alleara gave a nod of respect back to those that stood in the group.

"Can you please tell me all you know about the first victim? Leave out no details please about their death. I am a scientist not a lady sitting over her tea. The details are important."

Despited her confident tone of voice Alleara was acutely aware that she was in a very precarious spot. Such an honour the queen has given me... Her thoughts were sarcastic in nature. Though she wanted the puzzle solved she was not sure if it was worth all this tension. You don't belong here. You belong in a lab, with books and scrolls and...

Her thoughts were not apparent on her face as she looked to the Magister for the information about the first victim.

"Go ahead," the Magister nodded to the scribe who managed the record.

The scribe cleared his throat and began, "Ixtoth Karlein of House Karlein. Advisor to the late queen, and seneschal of the Palace. Aged 39. He has no children or spouse. Time of death was a quarter past midnight. Victim was found hanging from his own balcony by a rope. He died of suffocation by strangulation. The rest of his physical body was untouched."
Greks interjected, "Witnesses say that they saw him still out before midnight. The servants had departed his estate before then, according to their testimony."

"We have no motive," the Magister said.

"Nor any leads," Vallon added, "The killer was skilled, that much we know, because he left no evidence or traces behind."

Alleara worried her lower lip. "Was there any sign that he fought the attacker? What evidence is there that the man did not kill himself? What is the timing of his death in relation to the queen's illness and death?"

"Ixtoth was a very close servant of the late queen, it would hardly seem in line for such a person to commit suicide," Faeran replied.

"Tis true," Magister Olue added, "As the seneschal, he was very much part of the queen's inner circle, if she had one that is. Oft I saw him alongside Lady Khundis and the late queen in the Palace."

"With regard to an attacker," Vallon postulated as he tried to turn the head of the deceased to the side, "We inspected his neck, and it appears that he received a blow there."

He pointed to the lightly bruised spot, a purple coloration, "It's possible that the assailant knocked him unconscious before proceeding to hang him from the balcony."

"According to the Sunfires on patrol, he was found dead the night of the queen's funeral," Greks said.

She was not surprised to hear that the killer was skilled, that there was no trace. The queen's poisoning had gone undetected due to knowledge and skill. The other deaths, under the strong assumption that they were linked would be perpetrated by the same skilled or at least a group of skilled hands. She wanted to rule out suicide, feeling that to ignore the possibility was to ignore all possible options and that just would not do.

"I do not think he killed himself I just wish to definitively rule it out. I believe we have a killer or a few working together to target the former queen and her people. He is the first and with no family and a high position it makes him the easiest to eliminate."

"But at the moment we have no motive for Karlein's death, much less the others. And if this was all a concerted effort on part of a group of assassins, we still have no connection to the queen's death other than that they all perished around the same time," Lord Faeran stated.

Alleara looked thoughtful for a moment. "Tell me about the second victim."

She knew there was a pattern, there had to be. There was something that connected all the victims with the queen in a way that made it important for them to be eliminated. Even if it was as simple as they had been the ones to administer the poison in the first place and those they worked for wanted them to be taken care of in order to ensure no one accidently let it slip what they had done. They knew something, were involved with something that warranted their deaths. It wasn't just coincidence.

The group came to the second body, this time it was a female.

"Pala Biurin, low born. Servant of the late queen. Aged 31, her spouse was Audhul Biurin, also a servant in the capitol. Time of death, approximately around midnight. Victim was mutilated. Internal body parts were strewn throughout their dwelling."

"The husband was the first to discover his wife's body on the ground and he immediately called for aid. We found her in a pool of blood on the floor." Greks said.

He turned to Alleara, "She was the one I said that looked as though she drowned in her own blood."

"It's startling that there were no witnesses," Vallon folded his arms as he stared at the woman's body, which was draped completely from her feet up to her neck in a white cloth to hide the gruesome wound. Her hair was dark and her face had paled into a bland ashen-gray color, with her blood permanently dried on her face in maroon form.

"Quite so, especially considering that they resided just outside the Imperial Quarter, and yet the sentries and guards on duty saw nothing that night," the Magister said.

All this time, Representative Aureliar stood quietly apart from the others, observing the bodies. Some thought he might have been squeamish, and offered to escort him out of Hall, but he refused, insisting that he was fine. Nobody could really tell though, for he was a Vaul and nobody really knew if their sort could be squeamish.

Alleara inhaled very slowly as she listened to the facts. She nodded to Vallon. "It is quite intriguing that no one heard or saw anything. That level of brutality..." She placed a finger to her lips. "Such a difference between them. I wonder if it is to throw off a trail or it is a message."

She frowned and lost herself in her thoughts for a moment. Mutilated. Not poison, not hanging. Why? Why was she so brutally attacked? A servant. Hoping not to bring attention to the other murders? She looked up from the body. "The former queen's servant, what exactly did she do? Chambermaid? Lady in Waiting? Cook? Food taster? What was her job? How often did she see the queen and in what circumstances? Would she have come into contact with Advisor Karlein?"

It was bothering her that there were so many pieces and she couldn't quite figure out how they all fit together. She knew they did, it was like an itch that needed scratching. Alleara just needed to find the right spot and it would all come together.

"She was an herbalist, she worked in the Royal House of Healing. With regard to her presence around the queen..." the scribe peered to his overseer, Olue, before continuing, "We have no information regarding that."

"What would a murderer want with an apothecary? And why...?" Vallon wondered aloud.

"Perhaps it is to throw us off their trail, if there is one," Greks, despite all that had happened, maintained a level of open-mindedness, "Perhaps there was a reason as to why he wanted to...maim...her so."

"Her spouse, her husband where was he before he found her? Also what is his job? Servant yes, yes I know that, I mean specifically." Alleara held up a hand and gave a slight waving motion as if she anticipated the answer of servant already as it had been stated for her once. She wanted details, not surface information.

Although Lord Faeran would have put in a word reminding Alleara of her position as an oversight and not as the head of the investigation, he decided to keep quiet and watch how long she could carry on and how far her antics would take her.

The Sunfires and Magister Olue turned to the scribe, who searched though what notes he had regarding the woman.

"Her husband, Audhul, is a royal scholar. Beyond that, we do not know."

"Might I speak?" Aureliar interjected with his talon.

"Certainly, delegate," the Magister affirmed.

"May I add that the possibility of a new kind of murderer has joined the ranks?" he professed at a distance from the rest.
His comment drew glances from the group.

"What do you mean?" Lord Faeran shifted to his fellow delegate, perplexed.

"Some people," the Aureliar sharply turned, "Kill for the sake of killing."

"That's-"

"Madness?" he paused, "Not quite so. Motive, still eludes us. Their modus operandi follows no logical pattern, whether by purpose or by fault...we know not. One person he hangs, the next he disembowels." Aureliar's black eyes trailed off into the dead woman's grey face.

"That's a possibility," Greks said.

Alleara frowned. She disliked the idea that there might simply be someone out there who was killing for no reason. She was well aware that there were those that enjoyed it, the taking of lives but they were hired to do their jobs most times. The very concept that the murder might be random left a sour taste in her mouth.

"It might also be the work of more than one killer. Different methods but same motive. I feel like they were targetted though I cannot quite figure out why. I know it has something to do with the queen. It has to."

"Lady Delegio, perhaps you should not depend too heavily on the idea of a greater conspiracy at work when you have so little to support it at the moment," Lord Faeran dismissed.

She looked over at the delegate. "I hope for all of us that there is a reason and not someone simply killing those they choose. For someone's mind to be so broken..." She shivered a little.

Nods from everyone affirmed a general consensus.

"The third victim?"

The record-keeper of the third victim breathed a sigh, "We...her body..." he turned to the Magister.

Magister Olue began, "By far the most brutal of the deaths," he said this with some hesitation.

The nature of the case was no less tragic than the others, but the cause of death certainly set it apart from the others.

"Jain Valire, also a common born. A mechanic who worked among the machinery in the airship hangars, aged 28. Her father and mother had long passed. She stayed in the home of her aunt. Her body was found between the cogs of machinery.

"We can not rule out the possibility that this could have been a tragic accident," he further pined.

"We need to send out word to the families of the deceased soon," the Magister told one of his aides.

Alleara took a slow, deep breath. If there was something more brutal the second woman she needed to steel herself for the details. "Odd. This one has no connection to the queen then? A mechanic...she would not have had any obvious dealings with the queen. What of the others? The first and second victim? Friends?"

"None," Greks said flatly.

She was disturbed by the idea that the woman had been found in the machines inner workings. Alleara could only imagine the pain and agony. Her eyes went wide for a moment. "Was there any sign on the body of other wounds? Those not consistent with the machine cogs? What of signs of a struggle? Was anyone with her in the hangar that night?"

"Well, due to the...circumstances...of her death, whatever evidence that was present on her body is now gone," the Magister stated.

"However," a scribe added, "We do know that she was the only one present at midnight, our records show that she often worked the late shift in the hangars."

There was a chance that this victim had nothing to do with the rest, that she was simply an accidental death though a horrible one nonetheless.

"Another cold trail," Lord Faeran muttered.

Alleara couldn't figure out how things fit. She was missing something important, she could feel it.

"What of the queen's death?"

Perhaps the clue that would put it together lay with the queen. She was the only thing that tied two of the victims as well as the man who survived. The woman, the mechanic didn't fit the puzzle as far as she could see it at the moment but perhaps something would come to light in the future. When unsure go back to the source. "The queen is the link for the first two victims. Tell me of her death."

"Would you perhaps like to look at the last victim, before we continue prodding your theory?" Lord Faeran snidely suggested.

"I was told three deaths and one survived. There was a death I was not informed of?" Alleara looked to Lord Faeran. "Three deaths, the queen and one man attacked but saved by his servant."

"Four," the delegate corrected her with a sideways glance, "Four deaths aside from the queen."

"The queen's other advisor...the fourth. The fifth is the poisoned nobleman. Two servants, two advisors and one nobleman...."
She shook her head slightly. "Forgive me I miscounted the number of advisors involved."

Alleara nodded slightly, "Thank you, this is why I prefer to make detailed notes so that nothing is ever miscounted." She looked back to the magister. "The fourth victim?"

They approached the fourth body, which was mostly intact compared to the previous two that they examined.

"Michael Lyk, you already know he was an advisor to the late queen. Victim was found lying in the street in a pool of his own blood, presumably a suicide by jumping. Witnesses supposedly saw the man jump from the fifth story of a tower in the Imperial Quarter. However, all accounts say that it was too dark to tell around the time."

"Aged 30, no children or spouses. He was a head of the scholars," added a scribe.

"It's possible that he committed suicide," Greks examined the bruised corpse, bruises that were earned when the man's body met the ground.

"Yet, we have no reason as to why," Vallon said.

"Lyk was appointed as head of the scholars during the late queen's reign. And he maintained that position until her death earlier this year," Lord Faeran said.

"I remember that he told me that he would resign following the queen's death, citing that a new regime would need new people," Magister Olue recalled, as he stared at his deceased acquaintance.

The man had a battered countenance and fluffed white hair, common among many in the desert.

"Master Lyk, was he a native born of Solaria?" Aureliar asked, drawing the eyes of his fellow delegate, Faeran.

"Quite so, delegate, he was not from Solaria. However, the position of scholar could be attained by anyone of learning," Olue said.

"Explain," the Vaul representative pressed the Magister, beak thrust upward.

"Master Lyk had proven his exceptional abilities in the fields of learning, from astronomy to medicine and healing. That's as far as I know regarding the man."

"Tell me," Aureliar asked the scribe standing beside him, "What records do you have of Master Lyk's history? Before he came to Solaria."

The scribe searched through the scroll, which was barely filled, as there was few information regarding the victim, "Not much, lord delegate. All that we know of his past, is that he came to Solaria approximately six years prior."

Alleara looked thoughtful, "So a man with little past held a place in the court. He excelled in his area of knowledge but no one wondered on his history? Did he seem like the type to kill himself instead of simply retiring from his position as advisor?"

"It did seem strange, but Master Lyk was a studious and friendly fellow. Approachable anywhere, always offering words. Even in court, which was praised by the late queen."

"Both advisor's, were they particular favourites of the late queen? What of the servants? Did any of them spend an odd amount of time with the queen, outside of normal expectations?"

"Well, I would say Master Lyk spent a good amount of time with the queen" the Magister said, "But then again I was never in the palace that much to know."

"What are you implying?" Faeran stared at him, "Do not tell me that you are buying into Lady Delegio's claims that the queen was murdered."

"I am not implying anything Lord Faeran, nor have I bought, as you would put it, into her claims," Olue gestured at Alleara,
"However, as the Master of the Custodians, it is my duty to be impartial to all possibilities."

"What investigation is there? We have a killer on the loose, and the queen died of natural causes. Hardly grounds for some grand conspiracy."

Alleara looked at Lord Faeran, "How do you explain the blue arches on the queen's nail beds? They are the signature of a very specific poison. How do you explain her illness leading up to her death? Someone poisoned her and it seems very likely that some of those closest to her, perhaps those involved, those that figured it out or those who knew a secret were all killed to help clean it up. She was poisoned. I saw the arches. Death doesn't do that but chemicals, natural or formulated do."

She looked to the Magister, "I thank you for being a logical man. There are other possibilities than natural death and I appreciate someone's impartial views and input. It means that the information you give will not be clouded and you are less likely to overlook a detail simply because it does not fit your idea of what occurred." She bowed her head in respect.

Alleara inhaled slowly. "Perhaps all the deaths aren't related, perhaps they are but we owe it to them and it is now a duty given to me by our Queen to thoroughly investigate. Shall we discuss the former queen and the time leading to her death as well as observations made upon her death."

She was calm and ready to hear more. She knew it would not be settled today, there was still information missing and more questions she wished to ask but Lord Faeran seemed annoyed so Alleara decided moving forward was less likely to cause him to want to leave.

The Magister returned the bow, though he would not partake in any continued jabs, as he perceived, at Lord Faeran.

"Natural causes," the portly delegate firmly answered after the Magister finished.

"Blue arches?" he shook his head incredulously.

Through the four deaths, he still could not believe how the noblewoman could conceive of such a naive idea. From the court chambers until now, she still clung to it blindly, he thought. The delegate decided it was time to end this farce.

"What blue arches? As we searched the body, we saw none of the so-called 'blue arches' that you claimed. Our investigators made no such discoveries. I might also add, for everyone else who was unaware, your little 'discovery' was made by probing and defiling the queen's body as she lay in her casket."

This solicited silence from everyone present.

"But go on then, and show us your chemicals. The burden of proof lies with you now. Proof as to whether or not the queen perished by poison and not natural causes," Faeran said.

Alleara glared at Lord Faeran, "Did the investigators think to look for chemical markers? Perhaps they didn't find them because it didn't occur to them or they were told not to look for them. The arches appeared in her nail beds. If they did not think to look that is not my problem but I know what I saw and that it was poison. Only a poison does that. There is one in particular that leaves that signature. As for proof, you know very well the queen's body was burned and with it the physical evidence. All that is left is the records of her last days. That will help us trace back when it was given to her and perhaps how and by whom."
She crossed her arms. "Tell me Lord Faeran do you or the investigators have a great deal of experience with chemicals? Have you worked in a lab? Read up on chemical markers and properties? Did you think to look for signs of poison? Did you personally inspect every inch of the body? Was it checked more than once? Some chemicals do not settle into the tissue for days. Did you know that? That a body should be inspected at least a day or two after to make sure that chemicals and other indicators have settled?"

He had tried to embarass her in front of the other men. "I had the sense to look, yes by inspecting her in the coffin but when else would a scientist have had access to the queen's body? I had a theory, something you and the investigators should have thought of and I acted on it. At great risk to myself but the Queen seems to deem it worth looking into. Scoff all you want and if I am proven wrong I will apologize to you for questioning you but until then we must look at all the information, ignoring nothing. If you wish to end this go explain it to Queen Bitavia. I await her decision. In the meantime I wish to hear about the queen's final days."

Faeran scoffed, "We shall see."

Alleara was livid but tried to keep her composure. She was also scared. All she had was a theory and her notes from what she saw on the queen. With the body gone she had no physical proof. It was only by the queen's graces that she was even investigating. Had to solve the puzzle, had to stick your nose into it... She was not impressed with herself at that moment.

"Her records are with the timekeepers," Vallon said.

"Very well. If there is a connection it begins with the queen." She looked at Vallon, thankful that only Lord Faeran deemed it necessary to cause a scene. "Thank you Magister."

[Co-written with SkullsandSlippers]

94th Day

Sanctum of the Timekeepers

The Sanctum was a massive multi-tiered structure that sat outside of Solaria. It was one of many throughout the landscape of the Ba'Gatha, they served as source of knowledge, and a record of time. They had been around since the beginning of time, the time which they began recording. Since the beginning of time, the Timekeepers established themselves as an entity of scholars and record keepers, beholden to nothing and no one, except time itself. It was their duty to measure time, and keep a record of all the happenings in the desert.

The Sanctum worked like it did any other day. A company of Keepers were incessantly transliterating and replicating older pieces of knowledge, as well as recording new pieces that came in daily from scribes of the cities. Each city had a group of scribes who would deliver a set or records on current events to the timekeepers. The timekeepers in turn would translate the events to the days on which they happened into a general record of history. Because there was no other method of telling time outside of the timekeepers, independent historians were often far and few.

The halls were damp, and mostly dark except for the little of holes of sunlight that marked the great dials that measured the length of day.

Two men walked down a corridor of the labyrinthine sanctum. Both were defined by baldness that had been around since the beginning of time, pointed ears, glowing blue eyes that seemed to never blink, dry hairless faces with many trenches and wrinkles, robes that covered them completely save their heads, and single emblems etched on their foreheads.

"Keeper Kel," the first spoke, leading the way through the dark hall.

"Yes, Keeper Umian?" the second one replied, as a flash of sunlight hit his pale face.

From a glance, the first Keeper seemed experienced, by the way he walked, the way he talked, and the many wrinkles on his forehead. The last was an indication of age, and perhaps seniority. The second one was the opposite, save for the wrinkles, for his face and eyes were sunken in like a pouch as well. To be a Keeper, as they addressed one another, was to live a monastic life, a life of austerity.

Nobody really knew much about them, some claimed that they were as old as the sands themselves, others said that they came from the sands. Despite the legends, the Timekeepers were easily accessible by those who wish to know of events past and present that have been put down into the memory of the sand.

"What day is it?"

"The 94th day," Keeper Kel replied.

"The 94th."

"The deserts will see much strife."

"Much strife," Keeper Umian echoed behind his senior.

---

Dunes Between Solaria and the Sanctum

The sun was warm, not hot. The sands were soft. A straight road once led to the Sanctum of the Timekeepers from the city. The path had been covered with windblown sand, quiet and still. Between Solaria and the Sanctum of the Timekeepers was open territory. Open in the sense that marauders roamed the sands freely.

In the distance, a large cadre of Solarians could be seen making their way along the hidden trail. Several of the group were mounted on yakolas while their escorts went on foot beside them.

Faeran and Aureliar rode in the back, while Alleara and Estios, who was the head of the escort detail composed entirely of Sunfires, led in the front. Greks and Vallon kept pace on foot along with the other guards. Their bronze armor gleamed in the desert, while their short white capes fluttered in the wind. The Sunfires noted that it was odd seeing a bird ride another beast, in reference to the Vaul delegate, but they kept their mouths shut.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Aureliar whispered.

The portly delegate returned a nod, his mount groaned slightly upon its next step, to which the Vaul said nothing more.

Alleara was dressed in a lightweight dress and a parasol over her head to keep her from the warm sun. They were lucky that the temperatures were of a more moderate nature on this day. She had gone home from the Custodians of the Dead to inform her parents of her new task as the Queen's liaison and investigator for the old queen's death. Her father had been thrilled, her mother wanting to boast and preen in front of her friends. Alleara had left them to pack a small bag. There was a journey ahead of her and she wished to be ready. She had her books, ink and pen as well as some coin for the journey. She would not go empty handed.

Now she walked the sands with the others, their guards around them. She had never left Solaria. She was excited at the prospect of new places but fearful. Alleara had, since her childhood heard stories of the horrors that happened in the deserts outside of the city. Now she traveled with men she only knew by name but not by character as well as an entourage of guards. She felt out of place. Scientists, inventors were meant to stay in their labs, not travel the world. For her own peace of mind and his, her father had sent her with a firearm and powder. She could use it, she just hoped she would not have to.

The guards, their escort of Sunfires seemed very competent and Alleara reminded herself that these were the best in Solaria.

She walked at the front of the group with Estios. Behind her were the two delegates. She still had not decided if they were truly helping with the investigation or doing what they could to hinder her as they gave the impression that they did not like her. Alleara didn't blame them necessarily. This position was as much a surprise to her as it was to them and she could understand the men not taking too kindly to a young woman who suddenly questioned everything. Still she thought that their duty to the queen, a desire to solve the issue of the murders would overrule all. Perhaps they have other agendas or perhaps they are simply miserable men who do not like their incompetence pointed out. Alleara truly felt that things had been overlooked in the original death reports, pieces were missing and the original investigators missed connections or at least possible connections.

I need time to sit and make notes, to see where the connections lay. She adjusted the strap of her bag that crossed her body. It left her arms completely free though it rubbed slightly as she walked. It was a necessary thing though, she would not be caught without her notes this time and money as well as her firearm ensured that she was prepared for anything that might delay them.

"It's funny to think that she would know how to use that," Aureliar observed from afar, in reference to her rifle.

"It won't do her much good," Faeran remained terse.

When he felt necessary, Faeran could assume a cold and calculating mask. After some time had elapsed, the Vaul delegate asked that the group settle in the shade for a brief respite before continuing on their day's long journey to the Sanctum. Estios agreed and the group rested behind a large rock that shielded them from the sun at an angle. The wind picked up and bits of sand followed its call.

Most of the soldiers stood on guard as they snacked on part of their rations.

Alleara found a spot to sit. She removed her bag, her firearm and placed her parasol next to her on the ground. Her hand slipped inside the bag to remove one of her books and she quickly began to jot down a few notes, things that had come to mind as she walked. The shade was cooler than the sun and easier on the eyes. Around her others were sitting or standing and eating. She had no appetite simply wished to make notes before the thoughts drifted away like the blowing sand.

"Already at work I see?" Vallon said as he stood before her alongside Greks, it seemed as though the two were nearly inseparable.

"Just some notes. Observations and such. Everything might be a piece of the puzzle. It would not do to overlook something." Alleara did not look up right away from her book. She finished scribbling her sentence and then raised her eyes slowly to look at the two men. She felt as if they were watching her every move and found it very disconcerting. She would not let them know that they unnerved her though and after a moment went back to work though there was a slight shake to her hand as she wrote.

Estios, for his part, remained standing, watching the sands, waiting for any marauders. He could see Faeran and Aureliar conversing with another Sunfire corporal, who he did not recognize. There was something off about it, and perhaps he would have known more had he listened in on their conversation. Yet his mind was elsewhere. Their break was brief and they were immediately on the road once more. They had not reached the halfway point to the Sanctum before Lord Faeran spoke from behind.

"That's far enough."

Alleara adjusted the parasol over her shoulder as she turned and looked to Lord Faeran. Her eyes flickered to Estios who was still beside her as he had been the entire journey so far. Far enough? "Are we taking another break?" She inquired.

Estios remained silent as he turned to face Faeran.

The two mounted delegates had their eyes set upon the young noblewoman. Their beasts lightly bucked as though the men were ready to off.

"You've been quite the thorn in our sides for some time now," Faeran turned to Aureliar, "Who would have thought a lowborn noble such as her could have convinced the queen to believe her lies?"

"Quite surprising," the Vaul ruffled his feathers before he addressed Alleara directly, "Your journey has come to an end, Lady Delegio."

Alleara was unsure for a moment what was going on. She shook her head as if to assure herself she was not dreaming. Lies? I have not lied and I convinced the queen of nothing she asked for me...

At those words, half the soldiers rallied around the two delegates, unsheathing their swords and readying their bows. An invisible line had been drawn in the sand. The other Sunfires, those who were still loyal to the queen and to their duty of protecting the lady, drew their swords slowly. They were unsure of the situation, but it would eventually dawn on them.

Captain Estios looked at the two delegates, "What is the meaning of this?"

"Captain," Faeran paused for effect, "I apologize that it had to end like this. You will be remembered as a hero..." he paused once more, "Or a traitor."

"And that fate lays with the rest of you as well."

The men were talking as if this were a simple matter, as if discussing what meat to have with dinner. It was as if the decision was already made and she was but a bystander. She realized with a sickening feeling that she was going to die, here in the sand. They meant to get rid of her. The were ridding themselves of a problem because she was delving into things they didn't want people to know. Her eyes flickered between them. "You can't do this."

"Oh, but we are," Faeran said, almost with a hint of joy.

One of the loyalists had raised his sword "Protect the queen-," his sentence was cut off as an arrow lunged into his throat and sent him onto the ground. The swords unsheathe and screams fell onto the sand as both sides raced at each other. Another arrow would have came toward Alleara had Estios not dove in front and activated his solar shield. The situation seemed hopeless as her guards, those still loyal to her, were outnumbered.

"These dogs! How much did you pay them?" Estios roared, it seemed as though he had discarded his earlier taciturn nature.

The tide rose ever higher against them, as the traitors began to nearly surround the loyalists. The sand was bathed in blood and metal. Arrows zipped by nearly as quiet as the desert wind and found flesh.

Greks found himself cornered by two traitors, he proceeded to parry their blows, before returning his blade. Just as one fell, the other was about to strike at his unguarded side, but that never came to fruition as Vallon dove between, piercing the traitor's armor with his sword. The man slumped to the ground dead. They saw that the battle was nearly lost, as even the captain himself was nearly surrounded trying to defend Lady Delegio.

"No!" Alleara pulled her rifle from her back as Estios darted in front of her. She realized that it was only his quick thinking that had saved her life, an arrow deflecting off of his shield. "What do we do?" She called to Estios as she loaded the firearm.

Around her men were dying, struck down by the very men they served with. She quelled the tide of panic that grew in her. She had wanted to help, to solve the queen's murder but never did she think it would lead to the slaughter of good men. "They are killing them!" Alleara lifted the now loaded rifle. She took aim. I have to kill them. She shot. It hit one of the traitorous Sunfires in the back. He buckled to the ground and she proceeded to load the rifle again. Her eyes darted about a little as she readied herself should she need to run.

Greks and Vallon sprinted to the captain and the lady, by now the traitors were nearly surrounding them.

"Captain! Let us handle them, you need to get her to safety," Greks said as he blocked off an arrow with his sword.

"But we can't leav-" another arrow flew by that nearly clipped Estios had he not ducked in time.

"We'll hold them off for you and her to escape. Don't let our sacrifice be in vain," Vallon charged back into the fray.

"But you won't escape them. There are too many." Alleara raised her rifle once more. "No! Wait-" Her voice caught in her throat. "They will kill him!" She looked at Estios, fear in her eyes. They were killing them and it was because of her.

"As long as you survive, Solaria may see another day," Greks said to the noblewoman, before he turned to the captain," It was an honor, sir. Now go!"

And with that, he too charged valiantly toward his doom.

"No...no..." The tears formed in her eyes making it hard for her to see her shot.

Estios had nearly lost touch with reality until another arrow strafed by, and he knew what he had to do.

"Comon' let's get out of here," he grabbed Alleara by the arm and pulled her into the winding canyon that was behind them.

Aureliar noticed their escape, "Damn you fools, after her!" he commanded several of his men, who pursued quickly.

A hand grabbed her and pulled her. Alleara's feet moved automatically. She was running, doing her best to keep up with the man who held her tightly. Run! Run! Her mind screamed even as her heart wanted to break for the men that were being killed.

"Take my shield and give me your rifle," Estios barked at the woman, he was now fighting for their lives.

Alleara handed him her firearm and took the offered shield. She was warring between crying and screaming. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. They were murderers and she knew in that moment that this was not the first time the Lords had conspired to commit such and act.

As the pursuers chased after them into the cramped passages of the canyon, Estios swung around and fired a round at them, a shot to kill, a shot to warn, and perhaps a shot to slow them. The two continued run through the narrow corridors for sometime, trying to sidetrack or even lose their pursuers.

After some twisting turns, Estios pointed into a crevice leading down another a path, "In there," he whispered.

Alleara did as he said and moved into the crevice. She was very, very aware that this man was all that stood between her and certain death. Her feet hurt, her muscles ached and her face as dirty as her hands now but she didn't care. She ignored all discomfort. What was a little pain in her legs compared to the lives of the men who had charged in to protect her?

As she went in, he traveled a bit further and threw down his helmet in the sand and made some tracks to confuse them, before he rejoined her inside the cramped little confine. They watched and waited for the soldiers to pass by, quiet and still with bated breaths. Adrenaline continued to flow, as Estios gripped the rifle tightly.

Alleara closed her eyes and listened as footsteps ran past them. The longer they stay there, still and hidden away the more her panic drained and left her shaking. She did her best to wrap her arms about her to still the movement. One moment she was travelling, working out the mystery in her mind and the next there was blood and bodies. Her stomach lurched a little. What if no one had helped her? You'd be dead in the sand like the others....

They waited for some time, a very long time it seemed, before Estios believed they could leave their hiding place. Just as he was about to stand up, a familiar voice could be heard throughout the canyon. The echoes bounced off the walls, it was the same hated voice as before. Both he and noblewoman would know the voice to be that of Faeran's.

"Lady Delegio! Captain Estios!"

The captain tensed up as he held his breath, his eyes darting about, waiting for the traitors to suddenly appear.

"I have one of your soldiers here!" the echoes gave his voice a guttural effect that only made him seem more ghastly.

"Tell them your name!"

There was a brief pause, silence.

"You can't speak?" he began to laugh.

"His name is Vallon," he cried out again.

Alleara looked at the Captain. Her eyes were wide with fear. She didn't know where Faeran was but he seemed to know there were somewhere near by. He used the canyon to his advantage she could tell, the acoustics causing his voice to bounce and echo. There was no way for them to know exactly where he was without looking. Her heart stopped as he stated he had one of the guards with him. She shook her head. He is sick. Out for himself and willing to do anything to keep his power. She dared not say a word only released a shuddering breath.

Then there was the unmistakable crack.

And the captain lowered his head for a time.

Alleara jumped at the sound. It echoed around her and she didn't think it would ever stop echoing in her ears. She covered her mouth, pressing hard to stifle any sound she might make. She didn't understand how someone could so coldly snuff out the life of another. Her eyes moved to the man beside her. Those were his men, loyal and traitors alike. They were his men and now they were dead or had turned on him. She wanted to comfort him but she didn't think he'd want that and certainly not from the woman who had caused all of this.

Estios took a single breath before he reclaimed himself, and peered out of their hole in both directions.

"Comon'," he gave her a hand to pull her up before they continued.

Alleara took his hand and stood so that she could follow. "Captain..." Her voice was just a bit above a whisper. "I am sorry about your men. They...there is no excuse for what has happened." She couldn't bring herself to think about her parents, about what they would tell the Queen when they returned to Solaria. She would be named traitor, they would say it was her doing. Alleara could feel it in the pit of her stomach. They were involved with the murder of the queen or at least the events leading up to and after. There were secrets they wished to remain hidden and the Queen asking her to investigate and her thoroughness threatened to expose them. She recognized them for what they were murdering traitors who were afraid that the truth would mean the end of their power and positions.

"Don't be," the captain said plainly, he understood that she felt guilty, but he knew it was misplaced guilt.

He knew they had other things of concern than guilt, for it was possible that the delegates had sent hunting parties after them. A return to Solaria would be ill-advised as by then they would be walking straight into the jaws of death. They had to find another way, should they continue to the Sanctum? He did not know.

She forced herself to look at Estios, there was guilt written all over her face. She knew that if she hadn't been sent to do a job that his men would still be alive. She was angry at the men who attack them and angry at herself. Had to solve the mystery. Had to go looking for answers.

"Let's get out of this canyon," he said to her, then he looked at the shadows of the canyon to determine which direction was east.

That would be the direction that they would go.

Alleara nodded and followed. Though he told her not to feel guilty at the moment the lingering sound of the man, Vallon's death haunted her. "Where will we go? If I can get to the Queen I can explain what happened. She is the reason I am doing this journey. She requested it. Surely she will believe me. I have to stop them before they spread rumors. They will stop at nothing to hide the things they have done." She watched as Estios looked at their surroundings. "I have to fix this. I have to show the kind of men they are."

"The path back to Solaria is fraught with marauders, and perhaps by now they have already ridden back and reported to the queen with lies," Estios shook his head, "At this point..."

The captain was unsure what path they should take. He was lost in the winding canyons.

[Co-Written with VindicatedPurpose]

94th Day

The Fringes of Solaria

The pair began to walk but there was the constant fear of the pursuit. Alleara looked over her shoulder frequently. The silence between them was not uncomfortable. They were both still in the process of coming to terms with what had happened, at least she knew she was and she couldn't imagine what he was thinking.

The sun began to set and Alleara wrapped her arms about her body. She had never slept outside. She knew the evening got colder. Her pack contained a light cloak but she knew it would be of little use and she couldn't ask him to stop moving. She hadn't expected to be outside or walking by nightfall, that hadn't been the plan.

Alleara said nothing as they walked but kept her eyes and ears alert. They could be following us...

The desert was known for its fierce temperatures both during the day and at night.

Estios had already abandoned his ornate traditional armor, leaving it buried within the sands somewhere. He would have been a conspicuous target had he kept it on.

He used to be among those who led raiding parties to scour the border lands of rogues. Now he was a target for slavers, bandits, and, for the first time, fellow Solarians. By then, the two delegates had already returned to Solaria bearing their own tale of the events that transpired. The only witnesses who could say otherwise were him and Lady Delegio, but they were fugitives of the city. To return would be to heed the knell of death on the grounds of treason. It would be their words against that of the city's.

Even as the two transients wandered the canyons, back in the city, Faeran and Aureliar's agents were already at work eliminating any factions that resisted their moves. The lustful dogs hungering for power disgusted Estios. Then he realized the possibility that the Grandmaster himself had become a pawn in their plans and had sanctioned their actions this day. He felt ashamed at what they became. Some of the proudest Solarian warriors reduced by lies, delusions, offerings of bezants.

The dunes around Solaria were now filled with patrol groups and hunting parties looking for a noblewoman and a traitor Sunfire captain.

Estios wondered if there was some more elaborate and secretive cabal at work.

As he walked, he looked very much like a desert merchant by the way his robes had been wrapped around him. A scarf obscured his face from the buffeting wind.

He remembered the offer that Faeran made just before the day was bathed in blood. He could still return to the city, abandoning the noblewoman in the desert. Yet, the more he thought of it, he could not forsake her or his honor or the men that fell trying to safeguard her. He realized that she might be the only hope for the city. Perhaps it was by chance or perhaps it was by the hand of Jeytelh, the captain decided he would let future generations decide. His focus now shifted from dwelling on the past to getting them to shelter and water if they were to survive and one day return to the city.

"Stay close, the wind cuts to the bone at night," he huffed.

Alleara nodded and hurried herself to ensure she was close but not overly so. Her breathing was heavy, not being used to long treks in the desert sands. "You do not have to stay with me." She finally spoke up. "I can't even begin to understand how you feel, your men...but you owe me nothing. This was the queen's mission and now I am going to be an enemy of my people aren't I?"

He gave a heavy sigh when she uttered those words. He felt no point in saying anything instead he resumed the same taciturn demeanor that he wore when he first met her at the Delegio villa.

Alleara couldn't help but feel guilty as Estios sighed at her and then kept up the silent trudge through the sand. The wind had picked up and the sun was going down. She hunched her shoulders, trying to keep in some heat. She wouldn't complain, wouldn't say anything to him that wasn't necessary. This man saved her life and lost his men in process. There wasn't much she could say. Thank you for her life? Sorry for your men? Sorry you can't go home? Sorry you are stuck with me? It all seemed trite and impersonal.

So Alleara opted for silence and staying close to the man that would have the greatest say in whether she lived or died.

It was the wind that caught them off guard if anything. At night it screamed and wailed like the banshees in childhood stories. Just as they were about to exit the canyon into a wide field of sand dotted by various sized balmora trees. It was one of the few pieces of shrubbery that managed to grow in the arid land. The water that the plant needed seemed to be carried by the wind, or its roots had tapped far below layers and layers of sand into a sizeable aquifer. The interior was hollow which required less nutrients, but its thick carapace prevented loss of water due to the heat.

The wind had covered their ears, but luckily not their eyes. Estios spotted a shadow in the distance which was immediately followed by more shadows. They were soon illuminated by the bright orange sun and the rolling sands that were kicked up by the hooves of their mounts. They carried torches and were galloping at a quickened pace.

Estios signaled to his charge that she remain within the canyon as he crept up to the edge that was the exit to observe the riders as they rode by.

As they neared, the captain could see that they were dressed in a mixture of black and brown. Raiders. Their curved scimitars were held up high above their heads as they gave high pitched shrieks that seemed to rival the wind. They were out for blood. Any blood they could find. As the captain could remember, whenever they were riding at that pace, it meant that a merchant caravan was nearby or perhaps something of value to the bandits. Now they were simply closing in for the kill like the colorful sand vipers.

He retreated from the exit lest he be spotted by them, diverting them from their true target. Normally it was his duty to protect traveling merchants seeing as how they were still within Solarian lands, but it seemed that he had trouble protecting himself and the woman.

"Bandits," he said in a voice that was gruff perhaps because they had gone for hours, or what seemed like hours, without water.

Alleara stayed put where Estios told her to. When he came back and the single world made her pale. "What do we do?" She brushed her hair from her face. It was knotted now. Her face was streaked in places with bits of dirt and sand. She looked as if she had been walking the desert for days, not hours. She had no experience with bandits, with anything really except her lab and her mother's tea parties. The thought of her mother mad eher lip quiver. What would she say when she found out whatever lies the Lords would go back with? Her father? Their work? Alleara shook her head. Now was not the time to break down.

Her hand gripped Estios' arm. "What do we do now?"

He stood there to think for a moment.

"We can't stay here," they needed to find shelter, and the canyons were not really a suitable place. They had to stay put as the raiders passed, but not even his years of experience could tell him about their patterns. Bandits, sand pirates, rogues, whatever the civilized called them, they were known for their random and savage attacks. Yet, they were not so bold as to attack the cities directly.

"We will wait for them to pass," he said as slowly crouched down before taking a seat and leaning against the canyon wall. He let his head fall back as he stared at the lines of eroded rock that ran along the wall across from him.

"Not here okay..." Alleara frowned as Estios then sat down. She was confused but sat down next to him, though careful to keep a respectful distance. He didn't need a frightened woman cowering against him. The wind made her ill at ease, the idea of bandits terrified her.

The older man swallowed some saliva as he rubbed his bearded chin. What was there to say?

The shrieks and screams that were distinctly human had passed by and echoed down the canyon. That was them, he thought, as he shifted his head in the direction of the sounds. He stood up immediately and went to see how far off they were. He watched as they rode off into the distance, and then he waited. He waited for them to turn around and return, return to where he was, but they did not. He immediately ran back to Lady Delegio and gave a nod that meant it was clear. He thought it was odd how he still considered her to be a lady, or a noblewoman, when clearly she no longer was. Perhaps that was because he still believed that this was all some kind of dream; he still believed they could return to the city.

Alleara went stiff as Estios stood up suddenly. He was watching. When he nodded, she was on her feet immediately. She didn't know what was going on but she would not be a burden to him. She closed the distance between them. "Lead the way, I will do whatever you say." She was trying to keep the tremble from her harsh, dry voice. She couldn't remember a time when she had gone so long without food or drink. Servants were always delivering things to her in the lab that she had taken it for granted.

They left the canyon, by then it was almost dark. A blanket of night was slowly covering them, and yet no shelter in sight. It was disheartening to the captain, they would wander aimlessly like so into the night, he thought. They had been lucky that the canyons were still in sight, as no matter how far they had walked, it had curved and wandered beside them. He thought perhaps they would have to settle for the canyon as they had no other choices. He set about gathering what little sticks he could to make a fire. By this late in the night, the bandits would have returned to whatever holes they came from, at least that was what experience told him.

The fire crackled as the captain fed it with twigs and other sticks. He had been on raids and patrols that required him to stay outside the city for nights, it was nothing new to him. He was not sure about the noblewoman though. Her physical frame had not been prepared for this, he could tell. He had given her his cloak as he watched her keep warm. Perhaps this entire ordeal was also his fault, he had not expected traitors in his ranks. The fault lay with the commander if his soldiers failed to obey him, that was a rule of war. He looked up to the stars to see which way was north in order to determine or try to determine where they were.

Alleara mimicked him, picking up whatever sticks she found that he might have missed. She did not know the first thing about surviving in the wilderness but she vowed not to be useless. She'd learn, watch and do with him. She wouldn't be a burden anymore than she already was.

Once the fire burned Alleara sat near it and tried to keep herself as warm as she could. When Estios gave her his cloak all she could do was thank him. It wasn't enough, now he was left without but she was grateful for his kindness. Alleara huddled inside of it.

"Captain? Why do you think they did it?" Alleara's voice was soft, just audible over the crackling fire. "The Lords...the other men...I have been trying all day and the best I can reason out is they are hiding something. I suspected all was not right when I first began questioning things but why attack us? Why kill your men when it was I they had a problem with?"

Estios looked her in the eyes with intent, but no words to add to her thoughts. He was where she was in trying to discern more of their plans. He was a never a thinker of matters such as these, he was a soldier after all.

He stared into the fire, the dancing flames were bright at night.

His hands were clasped before him, "If I had to guess, I would say they know something we don't. And perhaps we represented a threat to them in some way. As for my men...they've all been seduced by the coin," he paused, "Those that sided with the delegates."

"They need underlings, servants, all of this is just random thought to me," he stared at her again, "I don't really know."

Alleara stared back at him, determined not to let the intense eyes unnerve her. "I think they know something about the queen's death and perhaps the other deaths. I think that the queen setting me on the investigation proved troublesome for them. We present the truth if I can just prove it. I needed to know about the queen's final days." She inhaled. She didn't want to ask him but she needed to. "Captain did they offer you payment for turning to their side or did they simply know you were not corruptible?"

She did not want to insult him in anyway but she needed to know. Cover all bases.

He returned a glare at her one that seemed only to have been further fueled by the flames that danced within his eyes, which was the reflection of the fire pit before him. The brief flash of anger disappeared, he understood that she had a reason, if not the audacity, to ask such a question.

"No," he said.

Alleara nodded. "I did not think so Captain. I have not known you long but from what I have seen I believe you to be a man of honour. My evaluation would be they set us both up, knowing you would not go against your orders to protect the queen's investigator. They mean to further their own agenda and we do not fit into their plans. I am sorry but I had to ask. I cannot rely on my judgement alone. I need to be objective in this if I am to figure out what to do next and how best to succeed. I thank you for your honesty Captain and I am sorry that you and your brave men were caught between the truth and those who hunger for power."

She looked down at the ground. "I hate to think what they are doing now. How they are scheming and if perhaps the queen is in danger..."

[Co-written with SkullsandSlippers]

95th Day

Dunes East Of Solaria

The night had been cold but bearable. When dawn broke they began their journey once more. Neither was positive where they were headed or who they might encounter but they knew that going back to Solaria was not an option.

The sun rose overhead, the wind picked up forcing them to stop to take cover from the blowing sands. Despite delays they kept walking and by evening the sight of tents and buildings came into view.

Alleara wasn’t sure what the place was but knowing that there would be food, perhaps shelter for the night was a enough to force her past her hesitation. There was a lingering fear that they might encounter those that might wish them dead. Would people be hunting them down by now? What of the lords and the other Sunfires? Hunger and exhaustion overrode these thoughts.

It became quite clear as they drew closer that the place was a trading post. Merchants with their carts laden with various wares lined themselves along a makeshift centre street. There were rough looking buildings as well. Overhead the stone walls came up to form an arch which added shelter to the haphazardly formed village in the valley.

Alleara licked her lips. “Where shall we start?”

Mens' voice rang out. Clothing, food, trinkets and weapons. All were available for a price. They promised that their items were superior to others. Alleara couldn’t help but wonder how much of the things for sale were stolen from travellers now dead, left to the sands. She tried not to think about it.

“I have some coin. If we are smart with it we can make it last.” Her voice was a low whisper as she drew closer to her travelling companion.

"Important matters first, dress and meal. Be wary of others."

There were many kinds of folk at the trade post, most were merchants of some sort, some were travelers. Slavers kept their property, most of whom seemed to be a mix of Drakyvarian and human, in cages for potential buyers to survey the specimens. Estios watched the merchants hawk at the other travelers. He spotted a pit by which there was some beast roasting. The aromas of stews and meats did not need any wafts to reach his nose and send his stomach into a muted but frenzied growl. He looked around further for any threatening faces. He had never been a face reader, and he knew he would never be able to distinguish a spy or bounty hunter from an ordinary traveler. It would be best if they assumed disguises or new dress to better blend in with the desert folk if they planned on surviving the night without drawing too much attention.

Estios had already left behind his breast plate, in hindsight he thought it could be sold for a decent amount of coin to sustain their travels. However, it was traditional Sunfire armor that could recognized for miles, and they had made many enemies in the desert for their over-zealousness. He also needed a robe woven by desert maidens to replace his loose fitting Solarian tunic. He looked to Alleara, she was still draped within her highborn dress. That needed to disappear as well.

Alleara nodded and moved slightly closer to him. She felt nervous and it became very clear that not only was she a woman and one of the few, she was also not nearly as hardened as the rest appeared to be. They headed for the merchant with cloth folded and hanging from the thin ropes that held his tent open. There was a variety of blues, greens, purples, oranges, and browns. There was leather, linen, yakola fleece, and various other fabric clothes. None of the cloths seemed any more comfortable than their own attire, but the Estios knew they would have to make due.

"How many bezants do you have?" he asked Alleara, as he reached for his own pouch.

All soldiers and Sunfires were expected to carry some coin with them at all times. If the captain had known they were going to be hounded from the city, he would have taken more with him before they left.

Alleara looked around and then practically pushed herself into the captain's arms. She blushed a little. She wasn't trying anything or flirting she just didn't want anyone to see her heavy pouch. She pulled it from seemingly nowhere and pressed it into his hand before stepping away once more. "There is that as well as a very small amount hidden. Insurance that I could get passage home should I need it." Alleara looked at her feet. "That pouch has enough for lodgings and food for one person for one week. Assuming one stayed in nicer inns. My mother would not bear the thought of me staying in something run down or that the common traveller would stay in. With two of us, if we are careful with it, it should last us the week or maybe more. I give it to you to hang onto as I would be an easy target." She looked around at the people. "I trust you."

I trust you. The captain could feel a burden shifting onto his already unhinged scales.

Her eyes were on his face, her expression serious. "The other small amount I will keep hidden, still as my insurance should we be become seperated."

"You carried much with you. You surprise me milady. Did you know beforehand that you were going to be cast from the city?" the captain's eyes searched the laid out goods for anything suitable.

"No but my mother wanted to ensure I had all I needed no matter where I went. It would not do for family reputation for me to be caught without coin to pay for things or heaven forbid have to stay in a questionable place. I did not know what arrangements were going to be when we arrived so it was best to plan ahead. I prefer to be practical whenever possible." She looked around and then lowered her voice. "Perhaps you should not refer to me as milady..." Alleara bit her lip. "Alleara would be better. Anything else shows status and we do not want attention."

They were fortuitous that the merchant attended to the needs of other travelers. The captain replied with a low mumble that meant he would heed her sound advice. Alleara was sure it was just her imagination but it felt like people were watching them. watching her. You are being paranoid. Now is the time to keep a level head, not get caught up in silly notions. She knew they needed to be alert but it did not mean they needed to be skittish.

"How much for her?" A gruff voice to Estios' left asked.

Alleara grabbed Estios' arm and moved closer to him. She peered around the captain to see who was talking and to ensure that they were not in fact talking to him. She was wrong. The man stood about 5'11 with skin tanned dark from the sun. He had scars on his arm, making it clear he was not afraid of work or fighting. His face did not carry an expression of kindness.

"She is pretty docile. Good training then." The man's mouth split into a grin that was not at all pleasant. "How much for her?"

Her hands gripped the fabric of Estios' sleeve even tighter and she tried to make herself very small beside him.

The captain looked at Alleara, then he returned to the unsavory man that had addressed him. His scars reminded the captain of a bandit that he had fought off years ago. Perhaps this was the same bandit, Estios wondered at the incongruities of fate and fortune. The captain chose not to keep the man awaiting, for he might have been an untempered fellow.

"Not for sale right now," Estios chose his words with care.

He did not refuse the man, for his tone of words would have lit a fuse in the man. It was best to say little and speak calmly and courteously if one wanted to survive in the wastes. A wrong word or a loud mouth was the quickest way to find one's head on a platter. The standoff concluded when the captain pushed Alleara onward to the bazaar. No doubt that the man would not be the last to view the captain as a slaver. Estios thought it odd that the man had not considered him the slave, and Alleara the slavemaster, given the way that they were dressed. She was by far better kept, and his robes had seen better days.

The merchant was thin for a man of his age, and narrow shouldered. He shaved his beard, which was black with a twinge of grey, in an artful manner that was presentable as though he belonged to low nobility. He had a traditional desert headress with a few gems, their value dubious, embroidered at the front. His face was worn with a few wrinkles, and perhaps his brown eyes had a twinkle that gave away his desire for coin. He haggled away with a determined woman in an unknown dialect that the captain had never before heard. Their business concluded as the customer handed the old man three coins and went off.

Before Estios and Alleara could get a better look, the merchant swept toward them, "See anything you like?"

The captain assumed he was merely another desert trader. It was a flawed assumption as the captain was taken aback by his fluent, though accented, diction, "How did you.."

"Business is business in any language. Your dress," the merchant gestured toward their attire, "You are Solarian, no?"

Alleara now kept herself almost wrapped around Estios' arm. He had swiftly taken care of the man, pushing her away and leaving the frightening man behind. It took her a moment to really come to terms that he was asking about buying her. If Estios hadn't stayed with her, wasn't working with her there was no telling what might have happned to her by now.

She frowned as the merchant asked if there was anything they liked. Her eyes scanned his things. She looked up at Estios. "You choose. I do not have experience with this sort of thing." Alleara whispered and resumed her position of practically hiding herself against Estios.

"Yes. We're just looking for now," Estios warded off the merchant's advances before he turned to Alleara, "I don't normally pick dress for a woman, but keep your eyes open."

Alleara nodded. "I don't know how to bargain or such..."

She held onto Estios' fearing they would become seperated. There was so many tables, so many things and it was loud.

"No need to grasp too tightly," he whispered.

He kept an eye on the merchant, who occupied himself with another customer. When they were done, the merchant returned to them, "Have you want of anything here?"

"Yes, how much for that robe?" he pointed.

"Four bezants," the merchant eyed Alleara, "So are you returning home from pilgrimage?"

"No, just travelers. What do you suggest for her?" the captain referred to Alleara with a thumb.

The merchant reached through his assorted goods, folding over what he laid out to reveal other raiments beneath, before he reached one that he considered to be fitting.

"This, nine bezants," he held the robe, which was bedecked with a few modest and unshimmering jewels. It was quite revealing.

Estios's mouth was slightly agape, "We plan to travel to lands of heavy wind and sand, have you anything.."

"Ah of course," he smiled as he replaced his first choice with another dress that was well-covered, "Seven bezants."

Alleara couldn't help but frown at the first garment up for them. Estios had just told the man they were travellers. In what thought process did that robe work for travelling? She loosened her grip on Estios' sleeve feeling a bit sheepish but still out of her element. She couldn't shake the fear that gripped her that they would be seperated by the crowd.

Her eyes flickered up to the new garment. "Offer five..." She whispered to Estios. There was no reason that it should cost so much more for hers than for his. The workmanship was good, it would hold up to the weather but he was overcharging. Alleara was sure of that.

"Speak up girl, do you have something to speak?" he chuckled, "Your slave is a pretty one. You spend much coin on her I see that," his accent clipped his words.

Estios said nothing on that subject, "Five bezants for the woman's dress."

The old man laughed, "You take me for fool, I try to run business. Six bezants."

"Five."

"Six."

The captain eyed the other merchant stands before he returned to the man before him, "I suppose our business is finished here."

The old merchant began to smile as though victory had been clinched, but that was before he saw Estios pushing Alleara to leave.

"Wait wait," he waved his hands at the two of them, "Okay okay, dress and robe, nine bezants," he sighed.

Estios returned, but without a smile, he had to maintain a stern front to do business in the desert. He gave the man the pieces and they took their garments.

The man called her a slave. Alleara bit her tongue so stop anything she might say, fearing she would ruin Estios' deal. She watched them haggle and when the man agreed on a price for both she let out a small exhale. Estios paid, took the garments and Alleara looked up at him. "What next?"

She looked around at the crowd. Her stomach rumbled but she ignored it. Alleara was watching for men they might recognize. Men that might be watching her or Estios. She saw a few who took a bit of interest in the pair and though she did not know them she worried they may be thieves at the very least. "We should not stay still very long. We are attracting some attention."

Her words fell upon his hunger-induced deafness, "We eat."

Alleara nodded. While she was still wary she was thrilled to hear food was in their very near future. She let him lead her on to find food. Alleara kept glancing over her shoulder, watching for the men who had been eyeing them earlier. Every so often she caught sight of someone but tried to tell herself it was her imagination, that it was not the same person every time.

Her stomach rumbled lightly once more. "I am all for food but..." She looked back once more. "We should make sure we aren't followed." As much as she wanted to say she was overreacting she knew better than to dismiss her observations. "Perhaps we should vary our route?"

Estios nodded and he proceeded to take them around the encampment of pitched tents. They wandered around smokey fire pits with snapping flames like the copper braziers that stood shoulder high, past the rows of huddled faces that kept to themselves. A few animals, such as a white skinned paragis that seemed to have some meat on it to last any man for a week, crossed their path. By that point, they had been eyeing many of the tents to appear as though they were simply travelers and not fugitives.

Alleara stuck close but kept her eyes on the shadows. "I am not certain but I think we might be being followed." She looked over her shoulder once more. "We should decide on a place soon. I am not picky." She whispered to her companion. It seemed like no matter where she looked there were people or tents and as they moved inward everything felt more dense, more crowded. It made it very difficult to determine for sure if they were being followed or if faces and bodies were just starting to blend together. Alleara inhaled and exhaled slowly trying to focus.

They eventually found a tent that billowed out a dense and savory aroma from several pots fashioned over a burning pit. There were neither tables nor stools where they could seat themselves properly like the street thermopoliums or taverns in the city. It was a food tent, if it went by a name, where travelers took their seats on mats that could be folded easily by the owner for a mobile life. Each of the food tents only served a single specialty, thus there was no competition and everyone profited, in theory.

The two of them took their seats on an ornate rug woven with many unique patterns that were indigenous to the deserts. A servant delivered two clay bowls that were crudely hand molded before returning to the pots. The roughly shaped spoons seemed more fitting for the mashing or grinding of food than the spooning of soup into one's mouth.

Alleara settled into her spot beside Estios. She breathed a little easier now that they were in a tent, surrounded by those working and those eating. They would not be attacked in such a place, of that she was certain. The smell made her stomach rumble painfully and she looked over at Estios with a bit of a sheepish smile. "Please excuse my stomach."

By the time the servant came by she was feeling ravenous. "What is our next step then? We have clothes to change into, food...then what?"

"In matters of war, I may speak a great deal. At this junction, I am not sure. Have you given any thoughts to it?" he rubbed his chin, but he stopped when it began to irritate his cracked skin.

The servant from before returned with a large ladle that carried both of their portions, he poured half of the stew into Estios's bowl and half into Alleara's before he returned to the kitchen.

Alleara's eyes went to her bowl and the stew that now sat in it. She swallowed, imagining the taste of it from the smell as it wafted up to her nose. With delicate movement she spooned some into her mouth. The first bite was like heaven. She let it sit in her mouth for a moment, savoring the flavors. The woman took a few slow bites, making the stew last as long as she could.

"I think we should try and go to the Timekeepers." Alleara leaned towards Estios, her voice very low. "I think tonight we find a place to sleep, we get some supplies and we try to push on. I do not know where else to go or what else to do. I do not think we will make it home without being killed. We need to find evidence of the queen's murder." She turned her head to look up at him. "Assuming that is that you wish to continue to travel with me..."

Estios had his head in his bowl, supping away at the soup.

She looked down a moment, a frown on her face. "I fear you are tangled up in this because of me and my investigation. I was only doing what the queen asked but it has meant a great deal of hardship for you. If you wish to cut your losses I would ask for a part of my money back and let you take the rest for your own journey. I realize that staying with me may not be in your best interest though I would welcome your knowledge and skills."

"I have no other place to turn to. The sands are alien to me. Solaria is my home," he cleared his throat, "I have been dishonored. My men deserve retribution," and then Estios said no more, casting a glance back at his now empty bowl.

He raised it up, signaling to the servant to deliver another portion from the steaming pot.

Alleara sighed. She felt terible that this man was stuck with her and unable to return home. She nodded though Estios' eyes were on his bowl. He signaled for more and she slowly finished off what was in her bowl. It was wonderful to eat and yet it sat like a stone in her stomach. Guilt and anger intermingled. It isn't right what they did and now I don't know what else to do. Who knows what they told the queen or my family.

He was going to travel with her because he didn't know what else to do or where else to go. Alleara honestly didn't care the reason, she was happy to have him with her. She was not naive enough to think she would last a day alone here or in the desert.

"Then we rest tonight and make for the timekeepers in the morning? Perhaps get some supplies to help our journey?" She finished the last of her meal.

"That's a start," he continued with his second portion.

Alleara looked ahead. She held her empty bowl and before she realized it her eyes started to slowly close. The long night in the desert and not the full stomach was taking its toll on her. Alleara shook her head a little, trying to keep alert. Estios was still eating and she did not want to rush him. Eyelids once more grew heavy and again she forced them open.

One hand came to her mouth as she stifled a yawn. Even her mind usually so keen to work through problems was quiet. Sitting and a hot meal reminded her about how they had been pressing on ever since the ambush. Alleara felt her body ease a little.

[co-written with VindicatedPurpose]

95th Night

Dunes Far From Solaria

After the meal, the pair moved on to find a place to rest and clean up. Alleara said very little, following Estios' lead. She still kept watch behind and around them. She could not shake the feeling that eyes watched them from the shadows.

The woman wasn't wrong. The trading post was full of travellers and bandits alike. There would be those who would sell you goods and others who would rob you of said goods in a heartbeat.

The evening fell upon the trading post and outside the tent activity and noise slowed to a dull murmur. The fires outside crackled gently as a few pack animals could be heard shuffling. The slits located near the ceiling of the tent allowed the light of Anara inward. Estios had already retired, snoozing away. The day had taken a toll on the warrior, that was expected. Rest was important though, reserves of strength were needed in the longer journey.

Alleara found a place to change out of her current dress and into the one Estios had purchased. She carefully folded and tucked away her old one into her pack. Using her pack as a pillow Alleara laid down on the carpet. She was tired but sleep was long from coming.

She laid there worries running through her mind. Will they let us in? Will they tell me what I want to know? What about my parents?

---

Ninety-Sixth Day

The sun rose. Alleara had slept as much as possible. She sat up, ran her fingers through her hair to release as many tangles as she could and waited for Estios to awaken. She had woken up with no answers to her nagging questions than she had had before.

Estios was still asleep, snoring away. Had he been in Solaria, he would have awoken a hour earlier. A Sunfire was regimented, trained, and disciplined. Now, he could enjoy some sleep having left that life behind. He was no longer a captain, for by then the two delegates had already tarnished his name. He was fortunate that his only family was the Sunfires. They could defend themeselves. Even that was impossible, they were still hunted. He could only hope to sleep a few hours and be alert to catch any would be assassin off-guard. He could only hope the few hours he slept were good few hours that replenished his strength enough for him to carry on through the next day's unforeseen troubles and trials.

He opened his eyes wide, thankful for two things. The first was that he was not facing east, where the sun rose. The second was that there was not a sword pointed at his face, as was the custom for Sunfires who overslept to wake up with a blade just a few fingers from the bridge of their nose.

Estios exhaled and peeled himself from the mat that he had slept on, "Morning.

"Good morning." Alleara said softly as she watched Estios sit up. "I hope you rested well. Our things and our persons went undisturbed, a small blessing in all of this." She was trying not to think about the past, the events that led to this moment. They needed to think solely on what was ahead of them.

"Are we planning to eat and then try to make our way to the Timekeepers? Am I correct in that we are still going to try for that? I have come up with no other options." Alleara tried not to sound disheartened or frustrated.

Estios rubbed his eyes clean of the web that had kept them shut, "If that's where you think we should go, I have no quarrels. Lead the way."

It was like a weight on her shoulders. If that's where you think we should go... Alleara stood. She wasn't at all sure that they should be going to the Timekeepers. Why would they talk to them? They were just two people with nothing to back up the reason they were there. She wasn't sure they shouldn't go either, after all what else were they to do? They needed information and right now the only people who held it was the Timekeepers. Not for the first time in the past two days Alleara was wondering why she had tried to figure out the queen's death to begin with.

"Yes...yes let's go there but first..." She knelt down and scrounged through her pack. Alleara pulled out some parchment and ink. She began to write out a letter. "If you want to grab something to eat go ahead, I am going to be a moment."

Estios checked his equipment, ensuring that none had been stolen like she said, before he left her to her thoughts. Alleara knelt down and scribbled furiously. The words went down quickly but the writing was small, neat and even. She had one chance, one possible last hope for some help from Solaria. If she could get this letter there and to its intended without interception there was a small, a very small chance of help.

She wrote it all down. What she had learned so far from the deaths of the others, what her observations were of the Lords who had accompanied her and in great detail what had happened on her journey here to this point. She included everything that seemed even remotely important. The more details she included the more she hoped it would persuade the reader that she was telling the truth. The hard part would be getting into Solaria and into the Queen's hands. Alleara knew it was risky but the Queen had given her the job of being her investigator in the matter of the former queen's death and no matter what she was going to do that job. If the Queen did not believe her than she was in no better position that she was currently. If she did, even a little...if she could find out more on the traitorous Lords and those in her court it would be better for all. Alleara wondered how much Lord Faeran and the others were involved in the queen's poisoning, how much they were trying to cover up and just how many of the court were involved.

Alleara stood and blew gently, helping the ink to dry. Now she just had to figure out the best way to get it to the Queen's hand and not anyone else's.

---

Moments later Estios returned with a pair of biscuits and dried jerky wrapped in cloth. A canteen was strapped to the belt on his waist. He set the bundled food down beside her as he saw that she was still writing. Then he took a seat nearby and squeezed his forehead as he watched her write away.

The tent owner appeared from a closed section and noticed this as well.

"Ahh. Scribe?" he asked in a smoothed accent, there was still an accent though.

Alleara's eyes lifted from the paper. "Ugh...yes, yes a scribe." She nodded. It wasn't far from the truth. "I am almost done and then I need to send this off."

The old man nodded before he proceeded to oust the small and enclosed firepit that had lit the tent during the night. Then he drew the curtain fold up to admit more daylight in. Estios was unsure if the old man understood much of what Alleara said.

"What are you writing?" he watched her while sitting with one knee propping his arm.

Before she could reply, he decided to make himself useful. He pulled out his sword once more from its sheath and observed the blade for any marks or dents. He remembered that he barely used it during the battle, he exhaled. Not a single drop of blood was drawn. Perhaps it was not his time to kill yet. He proceeded to rub it down with his Solarian robes; he had taken them off the night before as he donned his new garb to better blend with the desert.

Alleara looked from Estios to the old man. She hesitated for a moment. Crossing to where Estios knelt with his blade she crouched next to him and whispered. "I am writing to the Queen. It is our only chance I think. I have told her that a conspiracy is in the works, that perhaps it has been for a while. I told her of what happened, of the Lord's behaviour as we learned about the other deaths and the ambush, how they killed all those they had not bought off. I told her that no matter what she hears of us that it is not true. I told her everything and all of my observations. I do not know what else to do."

She bit her lower lip. "My dilemma is in how to get it to her hands. I do not know for sure who is working for her and who is against. I don't know who to trust in all of this...except you and you are here..."

Alleara looked down at her parchment. There was a lot of writing, a great deal of information that she wished to impart to the queen. It was all very important. "Do you know anyone that we could send it to? Someone who could get it into the queen's hands? Someone you can trust above all else? They can't let this out of their sight or hands. I don't...I don't have any friends. I spent my life in a lab and I don't know about my parents." Alleara now doubted her plan. It seemed worth it to write it all down, to hope that if the queen read it she might at least investigate the allegations but now the task of getting it to her seemed too big to accomplish.

Estios stopped rubbing his sword as she said this. The captain made no motion, staring blankly at the mat he sat on. The tent lurched at the rolling wind's beckoning. He could see a banner billow in the open air for a time, it would become a windy day.

Estios sheathed his sword once more, "You have not told her anything. The letter has not delivered into her hands."

"And I know not of anyone who could get it to her hands. I don't even know who to trust within the ranks of the Sunfires," Estios paused, "The delegates' agents might be anywhere in the city or the deserts."

"It would be our word against theirs. Just us two. A disgraced captain, and a girl. No proof."

Alleara's heart sank. The last grasp of hope dissolved. She was so sure that if she could get it to the queen that everything would be okay. Now all her concerns about getting it there combined with a reminder that they were such small parts in all of this were shared by another, not just in her head. They were real not fleeting things to be easily overcome.

"It would be but...maybe I will hold onto it for now and perhaps all will go well with the Timekeepers and I won't have to try and send it..."

She carefully folded the letter and slipped it safely away into her things. "I will come up with a plan. If all else fails this has to get to the queen. She can't ignore what is before her. Our word matters." Alleara tried to sound more sure than she felt at the moment.

"Shall we head out?" She turned and looked outside. Sand was blowing about. Alleara took sash from her original dress, now folded in her pack and wrapped over her head. It would help to keep the sand from blowing into her face. She had forgotten about food, her mind too occupied with the letter and the journey before them.

The captain holstered his scabbard, and they bid their goodbyes to the good-natured tent keeper. Another long day in the deserts.

---

Alleara's steps were heavy. The sand slowed her but the uncertainty of her situation, of their situation weighed her down more. The letter to the queen felt like a rock in her pack. She was sure that if she could just explain to the queen what had happened everything would be alright once more. Facts are facts. They will state the truth and in this we are in the right. Justice will happen because fact will prove it. Alleara felt like as long as she believed in that, in the truth of all of this that things would work out.

The wind had picked up and she was glad for the material of her other dress to wrap around her head to keep the sand out. Alleara put her head down and pushed forward behind Estios. She fell occasionally onto her knees but got to her feet as quickly as she could each time. Alleara looked over her shoulder.

"Do you think we are being followed? I saw people watching us in the market. Do you think they will follow us?" She called out to Estios.

"If they are following us, they'll lose us eventually," Estios was referring to the wind.

It seemed as though a storm had been born not to far ahead. From the moment they left the trading post up until that point, the wind had only grown stronger. It reminded Estios of an old myth that the old women and sages often prattled about. It was a myth relating to a sandstorm in those parts. The legend went on about a great warrior named Apmekh, who was supposedly a brilliant strategist as well. He belonged to a group of peoples known as the wind tribes. These tribes were known as the wind tribes because they went wherever the wind went.

The tale went on to say that by the time Apmekh came into the world, the wind tribes had severely dwindled in numbers due to wars with various other groups. Back when the land still had magic flowing through it, Apmekh went on to lead his people against extinction. His many victories were achieved through sheer speed, they were known to move like the wind and lightning. They moved like the storms. They howled in fury, struck fast, and left their foes in defeat. Some say that Apmekh and his people eventually merged with the sandstorms that strafed the deserts.

It was entertaining to hear when Estios was a child, but it was a myth because the alchemists and thinkers merely believed that the wind had patterns. At certain points the wind would gather into storms until the energy to maintain the storm had dissipated, and the winds themselves dispersed.

The storm that was headed in their direction was not about to disperse anytime soon.

Alleara nodded as she hunched her shoulders, further hiding herself from the wind. She guessed the wind was a blessing in that sense. If they survived the trek there was little chance of finding their tracks.

The wind grew stronger as they walked and she found herself falling more and more as it pushed her down. Alleara clenched her teeth and forced herself to keep moving. She would not give up, it was not in her nature. Alleara was not used to such physical exertion. Sit her at a table for hours on end with a book and not be affected but this was an entirely different experience.

"Cap-Estios are there any animals I need be concerned about in the sands?" Alleara inquired as she struggled to once more return to her feet from her most recent fall. Each time it was as if the sand was trying to suck her in as the wind tried to force her down. She wondered if the land and air were somehow in on the conspiracy and trying to eliminate the last two witnesses of the treachery the Lords had done. Is it possible for men to control the elements? Alleara couldn't help but wonder.

Estios had forgotten that Alleara was a noblewoman, she lacked experience traveling the deserts. She lacked greater knowledge of the dangerous elements aside from the blustery weather. The predators of the land were not afraid to prey on an unsuspecting traveler. They could be buried in the sand by one's feet before striking. The creatures were vicious at times, comparable to the land in which they lived.

"Plenty, but perhaps not now," Estios yelled above the wind.

The captain found it harder to tread, the sand thickened about his feet. Each laborious step dug into the ocean of orange. The incline pushed against them as they climbed the crest of one of the many dunes in their path. He led with one hand in front of him, while his other hand pressed against the robe cloth that helped to cover his face.

At the top of the dune, they were hit by puffs of wind while the sand pelted them. Estios had been through storms before, but he had never grown accustomed to them because he had never spent many days out of the city. At one point he thought he nearly lost Alleara, and he was about to call out for had he not realized her hand was still on his shoulder.

"Stay close," he beckoned.

Alleara's eyes widened as Estios told her there was plenty of things to be concerned about in the sand. She looked down at the shifting land with fear. "Great, one more thing on the list that wants to kill me. Sand creatures..." Her voice couldn't be heard over the wind.

It took her a few moments to realize they were moving upward on an incline. The process grew steadily slower and harder. Even Estios was slowing down. She put her head down, held onto his shoulder as best she could and tried not to eat or inhale too much sand.

He told her to stay close and Alleara simply nodded. She had no intention of doing anything other than staying as close as possible to him. Her hand gripped tighter as her feet sank.

"I feel like the sand is trying to swallow me!" Alleara yelled over the blowing wind. She instantly regretted it as sand found its way into her mouth. She coughed and stumbled as she tried to spit as much of it out as she could. Alleara fell to her knees, letting Estios go. Her stomach heaved slightly as it fought out the bits of sand she had inadvertently swallowed. She let her body clench a moment as it tried to expel the grit.

Alleara looked up hoping Esitios had not gone too far. She struggled once more to her feet and tried to run towards him to no avail. She began a slow, heavy footed trudge. Her head down this time she raised her voice once more. "How long do these storms last?"

"Long enough to force one to seek shelter," Estios's reply was clipped by the buffeting wind. His field of view was limited to a couple of steps before him, but that was enough to spot the canyon opening. He thought perhaps they could shelter there until the storm pattern dispersed and the taste of sand had disappeared from their mouths.

He was sure her hand was still tugging on his shoulder, and he led them to the crevice that would lead into the interior of the rock formation. The wind was less harsh with the rock walls covering them. Estios was careful to keep his face covered with whatever cloth he had. He ran his free hand among his robes to ensure that their pouch of funds and his sword had not fallen off somewhere in the path. The search for them out among the dunes would serve to delay their progress, and to go without them would be foolhardy.

Shelter was music to her ears. Alleara struggled to remain close as he led them forward. Thank any gods listening that he is with me. I would have.... She didn't complete the thought. She knew what would have happened if Estios had not saved her life. She reached out and grabbed his shirt once more as they pushed forward.

At first she didn't know what he was moving towards but eventually she could see the opening. Alleara wanted to go faster, to get out of the wind but it was like the sand was mocking them with every step.

"Not-much-further-" She yelled above the wind. It had picked up, blowing stronger and Alleara wanted to curse at it as it tried to take her breath away once more.

Estios pushed as far into the canyon passage as he could. With the arches overhead, they were protected from the beating wind for a time. He intended to set out as soon as the storm let up.

Estios let out an exhausted exhale, which was followed by several coughs as he attempted to relieve himself of the salt that landed in his mouth. Both were muffled by his robe. The taste was nothing new to him, but the texture was certainly annoying.

“Are you alright?” he yelled, “Keep your face covered.”

He knew she was fine, but reassurance never hurt. He could see the wind was calming from its earlier howls, the sand was less bitter. It was still far too harsh to make any further headway in the open stretch. At least he could see his hand in front of him, that was a positive sign.

Alleara took a breath and immediately started coughing. It felt as if the sand had penetrated every crevice of her face. "Yes, I am fine but I feel like I have eaten a good portion of the desert..." She turned and in a very unladylike fashion spit out as much sand as she could. "Yuck." She covered her face once more.

If Alleara could see Estios' face, she would see him smiling.

Her head went back against the wall for a moment. "I am exhausted. I never realized how hard that walk was going to be."

It was then that Alleara realized her heart was pounding in her chest in an almost uncomfortable fashion. She also realized her eyes were verging on tears. She felt defeated and they hadn't gotten very far at all. How am I going to do this? Doubt began to creep in again.

Alleara pushed herself away from the wall and began to walk towards Estios. No tears, no giving up. You can't do this. He lost so much and you don't get to buckle now. "Do we wait or keep moving?"

"We wait, until the storm dies," Estios covered himself once more as bits of sand had nearly lashed his face.

Alleara nodded and huddled into her clothes a bit more to keep the sand away. This wasn't what she had envisioned when the Queen asked her to investigate. She had thought questions, lists and then finally an answer. Nothing was to result in caravans through the desert, ambushes and more death let alone hiding in a passage to wait out a sandstorm.

She almost missed her mother's nagging her to be social, to get out of the lab.

The storm carried for a time.

---

When the dust settled, literally, they found themselves in the same place as before, the sprawling desert. The storms never did much to alter the landscape, however, some say that the grooves, curves, nooks, and crannies on rock walls were the result of erosion by bits and grains of sand for years on end. Perhaps that too was the work of Apmekh and his followers, wearing away the great walls of rock until everything turned to sand.

Alleara fixed her scarf, adjusted her pack and had finished freeing her nose and mouth of as much of the sand as possible. When the storm finally died down she felt ready to continue on. As she peered out at the landscaped she was disheartened to see that nothing changed in regards to the landscape but she also wondered why she thought it might. What would a storm like that accomplish really other than pushing sand about? Expose some long forgotten city of legend? Open a new path to an unknown land? When did I take to having such fairytale hopes? Alleara sighed in annoyance and stepped out into the sands.

"Now that I can hear you better what exactly should I be looking for in regards to things that might lurk in the sands? With the storm not battering at us I imagine we are not that only things that will come out of shelter to explore the lands once more."

"Venomous creatures. Their stings would make the sands your crypt. Let's hope they all scurried into their holes during the storm."

The captain moved on ahead as ever, his scabbard hung from straps at his hip.

The captain's lack of details about the things that might try to kill her left Alleara feeling less than excited about their trek. Her mouth set into a line as she followed him through the sands.

The sun grew higher in the sky and Alleara kept pulling her scarf further and further over her head until she could get no more shade from it without covering her face completely. Sweat trickled down her body. For the first time in her life Alleara thought about what it must be like for those who could not afford a home to give shelter from the repressive sun. Sure tents worked but there was nothing like the cool shade of a built home to make you underestimate the everyday impact the sun had on the people. Alleara spent most of her time in the lab and hidden away from the outside world. Now it beat down on her and she wondered if she had what it took to survive.

The trek was tiring but Alleara said nothing out loud about how weary her legs were growing or how her pack, as light as it was began to feel like rock on her back. They had to get as far as possible. There was a lot at stake and collapsing in the sands was not an option.

A bead of sweat dripped into her eye and with a sharp hiss through her teeth Alleara paused to wipe it away. It was then that something tickled her leg. It wasn't a tickle of say a feather or material brushing against skin but more like something touching her.

"E-Estios....those creatures....um..."

Her eyes moved downward to see a thing with many legs and a shiny body at her feet. Part of it's frame remained in the sand as it decided to crawl out to see what was standing near or on its home. Long thin limbs moved against her leg, feeling her.

The logical part of her said it was simply checking to see what she was, food or predator, perhaps an object blown by the wind. The logical part saw the need for the creatures curiosity.

The part of her that was now overwhelmed with fear could not focus on anything but the pincers that protruded from the front.

"What do I do?" Her eyes remained on the thing in the sand.

Estios turned to see her predicament. Fortunately, it was nothing serious to warrant pulling out his sword. Many occasions in the past were otherwise though.

"Leave that one be. It's one of the few harmless ones," the captain waved the creature off.

It did as told, scurrying into the wide expanse. Somewhere along the way it buried its head into the ground, the body soon followed and altogether disappeared beneath. The captain huffed and cleared his throat, he kept moving forward. He was trying to retrace their path. The desert was never marked with roads, it was the reason why there were so many trade posts. They served as markers for those who traveled, those who stayed at the posts were well-traveled and could serve as guides or give directions if necessary.

The words that one of the guides had given him was to head north. He had rarely visited the Sanctum himself, but he knew that it would be recognizable from a distance.

Alleara was relieved by the statement that the thing was harmless. It never occurred to her that any of them might be harmless. She had been too fixated on the venomous aspect.

The thing skittered away. Alleara opened her mouth to thank Estios but he had already turned and with a huff started off again. She followed behind and once more thought perhaps things would be easier if she had more real world experience. Reading in the lab was not the same as interacting with the world around her.

The pair walked and walked. Alleara said nothing more, asked no other questions and kept her eyes out for other things that might come crawling out. She wanted to show the captain she was not a liability or a burden.

When the first pieces of the Sanctum appeared in the distance over the top of a dune Alleara thought she was imagining it. Clearly the sun was causing strange visions in the distance. She said nothing to Estios, fearing he might think her going mad from the heat.

The tops of the Sanctum grew and extended down to show the rest of the building. Alleara blinked ensuring she wasn't hallucinating. "Estios. Do you see that? The heat isn't getting to me, there is a building there right?"

It was a structure in the middle of the desert. It was shaped like a dome, but other than that it had no real aesthetic to it. It was colored like the sand, almost as though it were meant to be a dune. Estios had to cover his eyes, as they were facing the sun. He could not tell if it was a mirage, or if that was the recognizable Sanctum that was foretold.

Alleara looked over at Estios. He seemed to give pause as if pondering if he too were really seeing a building. The heat and trek had taken a toll on them both.

"Let's keep moving. The sooner we reach it the sooner we are out of the sun and the sooner we can figure out our next step."

With a shift of her pack on her shoulder Alleara began walking once more. The colouring of the building was throwing her off, making it hard for her to keep focused on it. She could see it but the constant squinting and blinking from the sun meant that at times she could not find it again right away.

The closer the came to the Sanctum the more clear it became. The structure grew bigger and its shadow became ever more discernible on the sand.

"Almost there. I hope the men here are willin-"

Alleara paused, stopped walking and turned her head as if listening intently. After a moment she looked at Estios. "Do you hear that?"

[Co-written with SkullsandSlippers]

96th Day

Sanctum of the Timekeepers

It took time to traverse the rest of the sands to the sanctum. Alleara was warm and sweaty but the time they reached the door and the shade cast by the building.

"Thank the gods." She breathed as she stepped into the cool shadow.

"Do we knock? Do we open the door? I had thought to be here with the lords and never thought to look into what to do should I be alone." Alleara frowned as she lowered her make shift scarf from her face. The wind had died down now that they had walls to block them from it. The sand no longer assaulted their faces or stifled their breathing.

The grand double doors that seemed almost sky-high opened with a giant groan that answered her words.

The captain looked at her before he glanced down the pathway revealing itself as the doors slowly spread apart.

Alleara stared as the doors opened. They were a marvel. Their size, their bulk. Once fully opened Alleara walked forward slowly and cautiously.

"Hello." She spoke out into the darkness, her eyes attempting to adjust increase of shadow. Alleara also noted that the temperature dropped at least another degree as she moved into the actual building.

Out of the darkness came forward two men, both similar in appearance. Estios assumed these were the Keepers. He had never seen them before, even when he was escorting lords to and from the Sanctum. He had never been inside before to know what they looked like. He would never have imagined that they looked so foreign, almost as though they were not quite human.

Their robes covered them almost completely, leaving no skin bare aside from that of their hands and head. Their facial features were quite similar almost as if they were one and the same. They were both bald, and pale as if they had never been touched by the sun. Their eyes were blue with a seemingly eerie and unnatural glow. Their cheekbones were raised high, and their lips were thin. The only difference that separated them were their height. The Keeper on the right was a head shorter than his compatriot.

Interestingly, both had tattoos and markings on their foreheads. Strange symbols that did hinted at some ancient language based on images rather than characters, they were very similar to the Queen Bitava's own birthmarks. One had a circle at the center of his forehead. The other had a line run horizontal to his eye before cutting down his cheek.

Alleara stood very still as the two approached. She suddenly was unsure of what to say or do. Without the lords she wasn't even sure she could get anything out of these men.

"Hello. We come seeking information." Her voice echoed though she did not speak loudly. Alleara swallowed.

"You come for the late queen," the two Keepers waved the two wanderers in.

Alleara nodded slowly, confusion on her face. "Yes, we come seeking information about her last days."

She wasn't sure how they knew. Had the lords sent news ahead? Had news of what happened reached the Sanctum already? Alleara was slightly on edge. She looked at Estios hoping he had some idea of what was going on.

"We are investigating some deaths in Solaria and wish to find out about the queen's final days. Would that be possible?"

"We were expecting an entourage of lords and soldiers a day or two ago."

It appeared the Keepers were unaware of the political upheavals taking place in Solaria. It was none of their business anyway. The Timekeepers' only purposes were to keep a measure of time and history for all who dwelled in the Ba'Gatha. Their sanctums were neutral territory to the frail politics of mortals. Their service to the Sun Lord was more austere than that of Matriarchs of Solaria or any other religious group for that matter.

As the two entered, the Keepers closed the giant doors behind them, sealing the bright sun away. Inside, they were almost bathed in darkness, almost. In the atrium, the sunlight shone onto a giant dial in the center. Estios studied the domed ceiling above them, there were several structures shaped like arcs that were interwoven to form a sphere meant to represent the sun.

Alleara followed, hands gripping her dress. She felt like a trapped animal even though they were being welcomed in. She didn't know how to handle this, that is what the lords had been for. Traitors and murderers...

"We thank you for seeing us."

"Come," the two Keepers spoke in an elevated tone that pierced the ever enveloping silence as they had walked in.

As the two keepers walked, their arms remained at their side. They seemed untouchable and pure. Estios had expected more of them as they walked through the pristine halls.

Alleara felt so out of her element that she felt ill. Worry knotted in her stomach as she followed them. She wondered how many visitors they received and if everyone who entered here felt the way she did.

As they walked Alleara couldn't help at look around. The architecture was phenominal. She had to keep from asking them questions about the building.

There was a moment as they walked deeper in that Alleara looked back over her shoulder toward the entrance and the feeling of being trapped overwhelmed her. Too late now. She knew that they needed to do something, to find out more. Alleara wasn't sure what was happening, what the lords were saying back home but unless she tried to continue the investigation she had no way to fight them.

"Excuse me, but where are the others?"

"Busy," the reply was terse and clipped.

Estios would have pursued further, but he felt as though the Keepers were not the conversing type. They moved with a gait that was befitting priests or wisemen as though they were on a holy sojourn.

Alleara frowned at the answer. Perhaps that is just the way they are. I can appreciate those who focus on work, the tasks at hand and have no time for small talk. She couldn't figure out why it left an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach.

She tried to keep up. She glanced at Estios and tried to look calm and reassuring though she didn't feel it.

Alleara had questions too but given the way the Keepers answered Estios she wasn't sure she would be satisfied or even get an answer. Instead she just kept following, counting the footsteps and the listening to the echoes as they moved deeper into the sanctum.

They walked through what seemed to be numerous maze-like halls, the captain himself was unsure at times which direction they went inside the structure. It seemed more like a temple to time itself than a hall of records or library as it was thought to be. The two Keepers, their guides, walked on in silence. They spoke not of where they were going, nor did they ask any further questions to the two visitors.

Then they finally stopped, outside a pair of large chamber doors, presumably leading into another wing of the building. They were large plain doors made of the same material as the great outer doors, but these felt thicker. There was nothing elaborate to them, these doors were like any other doors that they had passed. One of the Keepers bowed to the other and departed down the same hall they went. The other finally turned around to face the two of them.

"In here," he bade them follow as the giant doors began to reveal large columns and racks lined with scrolls on end. It was a quiet chamber, a rather large one. Estios was surprised at the size of the room, for when his sight first came upon the structure from the outside he would never have guessed that the Sanctum could such a large chamber.

Alleara's eyes went wide as she looked at the racks of scrolls. The space was expansive and she was struck by just how much history was stored here. She was taught from a young age about this place but now witnessing it was awe inspiring.

"There is so much history in this place...." Alleara looked around. She stopped for a moment and then quickly followed so as not to be left behind. She had questions but held her tongue for the moment.