Shadow
Hatchling
First Princess of Ormrland
I am the voice in the still night that will end the restless slumber
Posts: 88
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Post by Shadow on Apr 23, 2007 13:02:58 GMT -8
This was getting out of hand fast, the Queen had obviously never run across Mort and his lot, or she wouldn't be so quick to take offense. She took this baby as her son?? Well, first things first. She held up her hands for peace, and abased herself in the most humble, abject display of supplication that any Avian had ever demonstrated to any Queen in the history of Beyond, and did not move or speak. If she could not warn the Queen of the inherent danger of raising what might be an abomination without causing international strife, it was more than the Cormorant clutch that could come to harm; if Mort ever discovered he had a child that was willingly accepted into an Avian clutch, the entire world was in danger of invasion on a large scale, and life in Beyond as they knew it could end in the blink of a baby's eye.
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Post by cyprien on Apr 23, 2007 14:01:09 GMT -8
Realizing that perhaps she might have jumped to quickly, as her Clutch was prone to do, she immediately spoke, "Rise, Shadow. Forgive me for being so terse with you, without allowing you an explanation. Bear it in mind, however, that you are in no way to insult this child. He has only just been born and has committed no crime, and we will not treat him otherwise." Her tone was much calmer than it was before, but there was still a note of danger in it, a word of caution for Shadow's behalf. "Now, explain your reasoning, please."
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Shadow
Hatchling
First Princess of Ormrland
I am the voice in the still night that will end the restless slumber
Posts: 88
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Post by Shadow on May 31, 2007 22:46:47 GMT -8
She rose as regally as a princess possibly could, looking every bit like her mother, with the grace of one who knows that she has more knowledge and power than the person she is speaking to but pretends that this doesn't matter in the least. Regardless of her strength, she was still a princess, and Cyprien the Queen. Respecting their places fully, she explained fully the fiasco at the ball, and the time reset, then told her that the baby probably wasn't Cormorant at all, though it did indeed have the partial scent of a common Dragon. She ended her detailed but hurried explanation with, "We can't risk another invasion. Even if we were to fight to the last feather and talon, the hordes of hell would overrun this world and reduce it to so much ash. If this child learns its progenitor's identity, or should Mort become aware this child exists, it could mean the end of Beyond." She disliked sounding melodramatic, but the Queen had to understand what a dangerous thing it was to make this foundling child her own.
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Post by cyprien on Jun 1, 2007 7:46:40 GMT -8
Cyprien sighed as she saw the resemblance between Shadow and her friend Subtle, Shadow's mother. She loved Subtle very much, and they had been good friends for a very long time. If there was one trait she did not like about her friend, however, it was the same sort of deference that Shadow was showing. Cyprien doubted Shadow meant it the way she herself took it, but to her it was blatantly patronizing. She was aware of her friend's strength, and of Shadow's strength, but she had always wondered how they found it easy to forget that she too was powerful, and as wise a Queen as anyone. Never mind that was how many of the Clutches saw her, a young Queen without the sense to turn away those not Avian, one who enjoyed partying and lolling about. It was bad enough having to hear it from Yseult all the time, much less Queen Anastasia or the secretive Thunderbirds, whom she herself had not actually spent much time around, or even the old Crows. It was enough to make her pull her hair out in rage and frustration.
Even as those thoughts passed her mind, however, she sat on her throne, perfectly serene, if a little cool, as if Shadow wasn't informing her about a potential danger that could destroy Beyond. Yet, Cyprien still did not believe it would come to that. Only one person she had ever admitted into her Clutch had betrayed her, and the thought darkened her thoughts considerably, but she would never allow that to happen again. Gavrie was only turned because of an evil influence, and she intended to guard her child so closely that he would never experience that. "Yes, I remember the ball now," she said, speaking slowly as if recalling old memories. "And I recall this Mort whom you speak of, and Visant. I have my own vendetta against Visant, and I understand your vendetta against Mort and your cause for concern. However," she paused, looking at Shadow severely, "neither of those touches this boy. He may very well be Mort's son, yet he cannot be held accountable for his father's sins. I understand your paranoia, but, as it is, I do not think it will be as bad as you believe it to be. From what you have explained to me, Mort does not seem like the person to care about what lives he destroys. I doubt he even knows, or cares, that he might have a child here in Beyond, and I wouldn't be surprised if he had many other children spanning across several worlds. As I have said before, Cormorants turn no one away. We will keep and shelter him until either the day he dies or the day he betrays us, and only once in my life as Queen has the latter ever happened. He stays, even if I have to fight every single Dragon and Crow alive myself personally. He is a Cormorant now, and we are loving to our own. As his Queen, I will protect him."
She gently traced the lines on her throne briefly, before sighing quietly. "But I will not risk all of my Clutch nor Beyond for a single child. Should his kin come to take him away.... I will hand him over myself." Her eyes flashed sadly for a moment, but when she looked back at Shadow they had returned to their cool composure. "As much as I hate handing over anyone in my Clutch, I will do it. But until that day, he remains with us, an honorary Cormorant, my adoptive son, and under my protection. That is my final decision, and I will not be swayed. If Ormrland or any Clutch opposes that decision, they are welcome to come after Jackfylt themselves. However, any move against my son I will take as a move against myself and my Clutch, and I will treat it as an act of war." Cyprien spoke her words with finality, but she did not smile when she spoke to Shadow again. She even seemed somewhat sad, as if she did not like her decision, but Cyprien always held to her decisions and promises and this one was no different. "Forgive me, Princess Shadow, but I am afraid I must ask you to leave. I dislike sending my guests away without the proper reception, but I must finish gathering my delegation to bring to the Ceremonial Grounds. The Summit will begin soon, I have no doubt, and I have every intention of attending. Please tell your mother that we will come soon. I leave it at your discretion to speak of this as you will to her."
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Shadow
Hatchling
First Princess of Ormrland
I am the voice in the still night that will end the restless slumber
Posts: 88
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Post by Shadow on Jun 16, 2007 11:40:55 GMT -8
Paranoia? She was taken aback completely by that thought. Perhaps that is all this is, just paranoia on her part. After all, cousin Fallen was able to slough off his evil father's influence with her mother's help; if anything should go wrong with this child, there was no doubt in her mind that the Cormorant Queen would be more than capable of handling whatever came up. Aloud, she said quietly, "I don't think it will come to a fight, though I find it particularly curious, Highness, that you would single out Crows and Dragons as your opponents. If he was ever a threat to the world, you may be sure that those would not be the only combatants to enter the fray." She spoke that not as a threat, but a gentle reminder. She felt the Queen had some personal grudge against her and her ancestral clans (both Crow by birth and Dragon by association), and it was starting to wear on her decorum. She might only be a princess, after all, but she was indeed a princess, and shouldn't be treated like some Fledgling in a snit. Making a mighty effort to rein all this in, lest the Queen be insulted, she said, "If his kin come for him, you won't have to worry about handing him over. They'll raze the world as we fight to the last body." Sighing softly, unable to restrain herself, she added quietly,"No one here has mentioned taking him from you. I doubt anyone will. I will speak to my mother of this, if the BDA hasn't already made her aware. I will of course wait until after the Hatching Ceremony." She bowed and took her leave, before she could add aloud, "But not for YOUR sake" and get herself in a lot of trouble. She'd had her fill of being looked down on for trying to protect the world from harm. She didn't care anymore if the Queen's feelings were hurt, since the Queen obviously had no care for hers. But she'd be cast into the Abyss for longer than her aunt had been trapped before she ruined this important day for her family.
(Continued at the Ceremonial Grounds)
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Post by cyprien on Jun 16, 2007 15:19:48 GMT -8
Cyprien massaged her temples with a sigh once Shadow had gone, and her eyes seemed weary and strained. She wished Shadow understood why she was so protective of the boy, and how it felt to be a mother. Jackfylt wasn't hers by birth, of course, but she had taken to the child almost immediately and wanted to care for it like she might have any child of her own blood. It went even deeper than that, though; Cyprien felt she had a lot to answer to for Visant, even though that hadn't turned out as badly as it could have, and Cyprien wanted to, in a way, redeem herself by nurturing this child past the circumstances of his birth.
But perhaps she had spoken too harshly with one of Shadow's age--Shadow was intelligent and had great potential, but she was not a Queen yet whereas Cyprien had one for many years. Cyprien doubted that anything bad would come from harboring Jackfylt, but Shadow's words on the destruction of Beyond hit home. She knew in her heart that what she was doing was right, but what if she was somehow mistaken? What if she endangered all of Beyond, hundreds of innocent lives, for a single child? Did she really have the right to do such a thing? No, she did not, but she was doing it anyway. Everyone deserved a chance to live, in her opinion, and Jackfylt was no different. She just hoped what she intended to do wouldn't be irreparable.
Nevertheless, she quickly cleansed herself using a few pinfeathers--judging by Shadow's reaction to the boy's pleasant scent, there would be no peace at the Summit if her childhood friend went Mad and General Striker roasted everything in sight--and began gathering her Clutch. She could not bring too many--Raider Cliffs could not be left unguarded at any time, even for a global event--but she gathered several hundred Hunters, her Lawgiver and mate, all the Royal Consorts save those remaining to tend to Jackfylt, and as many common Avians and offworlders that wished to attend before they were off through many large portals hovering in the air.
She appointed ten of her most trusted Hunters though, as an afterthought, to remain with the Consorts and to guard Jackfylt with their lives. The Hunters were not certain why their Queen asked them to watch such a young babe--surely there could be no threat to him there in the Royal Nest--but they swore to serve faithfully and saluted Cyprien with respect. The Cormorant Hunters were a very disciplined group, and asked no questions pertaining to orders; their skills and tactics enough to rival even Ormrland for military prowess. Her orders were enough for them; that, and the fact that the babe was a new Clutch member and their Queen's adopted son.
Thinking of Jackfylt's sweet, sleeping face, Cyprien smiled as she stepped through the portal. Nothing would ruin her recent rise to motherhood; she would not allow it.
(Continued in the Ceremonial Grounds)
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