Co-written with SkullsandSlippers93rd Day
SolariaThe 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 attachΓ© 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."