Zephrun’s Imperium

Well. It's done. I thought this project would take me like a month but, surprise, it didn't! Aaaaand now I'm all burned out with art. 'XD Which is unfortunate, because I've got a ton of meet-ups next month and I gotta do a lot of art for give-aways. And I say that, but I drew the bones of a drawing today in like 20 minutes. I've been missing anatomy a LOT. Too much coloring!!! So without further ado, "Comfort!" If you don't know what this drawing is, check out the previous blog entry, it explains it pretty well. I'm gonna get it framed sometime this week and I'm just absolutely stoked. In case anyone is wondering, the people on it are (from as left to right as possible) Ralvon Kanze, Ajax "AJ", Nicolae Kimby, Sierra Satrebil, Riva Thadel, Tamika Satrebil, Granite Oakenwey, myself, Rose Praetorium, Sophie Celeste, Star Celeste, Pheonix Blaze, Heather Albany, Narrator Xinoehp, and Ember Celeste.

She wandered about the room calmly, hands behind her back (ignoring her husband’s shouts). The room was as spartan as she’d expected; everything in it had a function or didn't exist, which was a real shame since the room was massive. The lack of decor made it feel empty. How did Caden stand it in here? But no matter. She'd be changing things up very soon. The small inventory done, Riva began searching. No corner of the room was exempt; she threw open every drawer, looked under the desk and the nightstand, opened every cabinet and searched for false backs in case of secret compartments. What are you hiding, Caden Praetorium? Clothes were tossed out of the closet, the sheets of the bed thoroughly patted down for anything out of the ordinary. She'd be throwing most of these things out anyway. As she searched she made a list of things to buy or bring over from her old room. Paintings, a bigger mirror, a better bed-spread, some flowers, more inviting curtains. Yes, that should brighten the place up quite a bit. Yet an hour later, Riva had nothing to show for her efforts; not one piece of odd or incriminating evidence to hold over his head. The Raveness slumped beside the bookshelf, arms folded sourly, thoroughly annoyed. If she was going to continue being Caden’s superior, she’d have to have something over him. Eventually she’d use a tongue-loosening serum on him to try and find out what she could from his own lips, but the unique opportunity to search a subject’s living place had been too good to resist. Too good to resist, perhaps, but apparently not worth it. He didn’t even have anything worth reading! Just old but untouched tomes on strategy and war-making. Stars, this was going to be a long marriage. The moment Ivian was assassinated and replaced - for every Mendaharian monarch eventually found their end, that much she was fully certain of - she’d waste no time in slipping something deadly in the man’s tea. She rolled her eyes, resisting a shudder at the day’s earlier events. It was Ivian whose death should be at the top of her list. She hated him, she hated him more than anything. What was he playing at? So willing to throw her life away, yet insistent upon using her as a pawn in his political games by marrying her off. He didn’t respect her and that was dangerous for both of them. Revenge would come eventually and when it did, oh it would be sweet. Every time she recalled being dragged out of her seat and forced down, she wanted to scream, to strap Ivian to her table in the dungeons and watch him beg for mercy. A growl built in her throat and she only realized she was clenching her fists when her nails drew blood. But being so angry was tiring. Her eyelids were already growing heavy, although the hour was not yet very late, particularly not for her and her nocturnal habits. Well, whatever. There was no time like the present to try out Caden’s massive bed. But, figuring she may as well look for notations in his books, she selected a tome on the end of the shelf to look through before dressing down to her chemise and sitting herself down on the surprisingly-soft mattress. It didn’t take very long for her to get comfortable. The whole room was miles better than Riva’s old surroundings and she found she quite liked it. If Caden wanted his room back, he’d have a devil of a time trying to get her out of here. She settled into the fluffy pillows, a thick blanket wrapped around her, and began reading the title-less text. The first sentence was particularly eye-catching: My name is Acalia Praetorium. Riva shut the book, grinning at her luck. So, our good General had a previous wife. Utterly fascinating. The Raveness flipped through the pages with her thumb eagerly. Just as she’d worried, the end of the book - or rather, it appeared, journal - was splattered with blood. Killed her, didn’t you, Praetorium? Riva sighed. She’d make sure she didn’t meet the same fate; one couldn’t stay in her position and live as long as she had without facing a handful of skilled assassins. But perhaps she could learn a thing or two from reading her predecessor’s words….

Star hissed and jumped on the thing, pinning it to the ground with her knees on its stomach. "You have two choices," she spat. "Either you join me voluntarily or you will spend the rest of your existence as my slave. One is significantly more comfortable than the other. Now. Which do you choose?"

“Oh shut your trap!” Riva yelled back. “It’s my room, go find your own.” While Caden kept banging on the door, the Raveness decided to make herself at home. She didn’t have anything to put away exactly, but she did want to add her own little touch to the place. After, that is, she searched it.

Quick as a flash, Riva waltzed into the room and slammed the door on his face, locking it so he couldn’t get in. Only when she pressed her back into the wooden door - eyes closed with serenity - did she finally feel like she could breathe. Well, she thought. I guess I'm home now.

It was obvious. The door was more decorative than any other down the hall and there weren't many doors next to it, which told Riva it was big. Without thinking, she bulleted towards it. "I think you'll come to revise that statement."

"Will do, sir. Thank you, sir." Topien saluted and left.

Topien nodded. "I think that's for the best sir. It's unlikely he'll be able to offer up anymore information anyway. He's disturbed, he is. And I believe his brother said he didn't have a reason for trying to kill you anyway. He was probably insane when he got here."

"The assassin we caught a few days ago? Darrin Oakenwey? Something is... very wrong with him. He appears to have gone completely insane, sir. Keeps ranting about having failed and of some impending doom, likely his own. I've never seen anyone react so fast to the Raveness. And I'm pretty sure they only met once; she told Daku to starve him so her potions would be easier to administer, so it might not even be the Raven at all. I'll be honest, it's kind of terrifying what he's doing. He's scrawled 'I've failed' on the walls in his own blood several times along with some strange symbols."

"Good. Good." She followed him. And then, an idea came to her. "Where is your room anyway?" --------- Darrin paced, muttering to himself. The walls were scrawled with words and strange symbols, and the would-have-been assassin was pale and thin; far more emaciated than he should have been after only a few days without food. His whole body was covered in bruises that seemed to have come from nowhere, though the guard had simply passed that off as an effect from the Raven. He had no idea that Riva hadn't given him any potions at all. As Darrin's muttering grew louder, so too grew the annoyance of the guard outside his cell. "Hey, would you shut it?" he eventually yelled. "NO!" Darrin screeched suddenly. He threw himself against the bars, staring the guard down with blood-shot eyes. "No! No, no, no, you don't get it, you don't understand. I failed. Do you understand what's going to happen? DO YOU?" "Yes, actually, I do. You're going to be executed and then the dungeon won't have to do with your ruckus." A mad cackle arose from Darrin's throat. He laughed for a good little while, then started sobbing. "You have no idea." The guard sighed and looked over at his partner. "Didn't his brother swear the Raven wouldn't break him easy?" When the other guard shrugged, he rolled his eyes. "Actually... Topien, I think he's going insane. If the Lady Raven's done her job, don't you think we should try to get rid of him sooner than later? I doubt he's coherrant enough to offer up anymore information. You wanna go tell the king?" By now, Darrin was sitting in the corner, praying. Topen eyed him and the scrawled markings on the cell. I failed, was written repeatedly. Hundreds of times, perhaps, sometimes in Darrin's own blood. "I mean... I guess so. It's about time for a shift switch anyway. And I'd do anything to get rid of this guy." -------- A few minutes later, Topien had found the king. "Sir," he said, "I have news from the dungeons." @Channelknight Fadran

"This place is massive, Caden, you can't expect me to just find my way around. At the very least I need a bedroom." She paused. "Please say you don't expect us to sleep together. Not that I would get in bed with you anyway, if that was your intent."

"So," said the Raveness, tossing her hair. "Do I get a tour?"

"Well, I'm not your servant, that's for certain. Whatever the case, however the method, you owe me a new dress, understand?" She stared him down, tapping her bare foot.

"Of course it is! I can't wear the same muddy-" Riva clenched her fists. "I suppose I can have your servants wash my dress, but I doubt they've ever has to do such a thing before. Argh!" She marched forward, joining him at the door. "Unless you want me walking around half-naked, I suggest you get me a new dress."

Riva scoffed. "Well, maybe not, but I'll still be muddy when I get inside." Suddenly, she halted. "I don't have clothes for tonight or tomorrow."

Riva's heels sunk into the grass with every step she took - it must have rained yesterday when she was sleeping - and she growled, eventually taking the shoes off entirely and holding them. "You'll pay for these infernal heels too," Riva mumbled.

"I've no idea!" Riva admitted. "But tradition is often that way." She sat down on the carriage and stepped down. Her foot promptly squelched in the mud, dirtying the hem of her dress. "Ah," she said. "You'll be paying for that."

She gave an iconic eyebrow raise, hands on her hips. "I do believe you're supposed to help your dear wife out of the carriage." That's what they do at balls anyway. "Furthermore, the groom usually carries the bride in the house."

"Wonderful!" She offered her hand.

Riva was unable to resist a good chuckle. "Oh, dear. Sorry. I could lie and say that wasn't an accident, but I swear on the stars it was. So, we're here, or have you just woken me up to annoy me?"

Riva yawned and when she stretched, her hand smacked Caden in the face.

The Raveness let out a sigh and snuggled as best she could into the cushions, shutting her eyes. "Well. I think I'm going to do my best to rest. Wake me when we arrive."

"Mm. A shame." Riva looked out the window. I was worried he was trying to kill me, but he showed today that if he wanted to, he would simply do it. What is he playing at? "You're an interesting man, Caden." ------- Riva’s janitor had never actually had to do this before, but he was aware of what his master meant by “her essentials.” He knew her potions as well as she did - although he was far from in-the-know about her recipes - and was really quite amazed how well the Raveness had mastered her craft. She was an artist, if a rather morbid one. But even her morbidity had some beauty to it. Stars, he thought everything about her was beautiful. What would he, as a young man, have thought if he’d known that in his old age, he’d come to love the Raveness herself?