Redeemer Ch. 7

Following the death of grand duke Sky, a period of mourning was ordered not by the queen— for she had been too devastated to even leave Sky's side, morbidly attached to her son's corpse— but by her husband and king, Arthur. For eighteen days the entirety of the Light Kingdom observed Sky's death as a national tragedy and terrible plight on those whose hearts he won just by his eagerness to know them. His corpse was brought to the largest Lighten house of worship, a massive cathedral-like structure so inspired by Human architecture. Ixora and her family regularly attended rituals and ceremonies at the structure, and now the queen along with her husband spent all of their time within.

Then there came one exception where the Light queen, so distraught, took a walk and returned to her soon-to-be-finished tower where she commanded the military. Arthur went by her side, holding her hands as they walked alone down the streets toward the nearby structure. As the royal couple walked quietly away from the holy architecture, named after the brave Sleepers whom saved the Light Kingdom in the civil war, they were greeted by crowds and lines of mourning people, many weeping for their beloved queen and her son.

Ixora had been at a total loss of words since she walked away from the beach with Sky in her arms, crying uncontrollably, feeling she was the reason for his untimely death.

"Poor Sky..." Were the only two words she uttered on the way back from Sky's lying in repose.

In all reality, while the people outside were all shouting their words of sorrow and sympathy to the monarch, they were actually all waiting to view the corpse of the heir apparent.

"It'll be okay, Ix. It'll be all just fine..." Arthur said quietly to his wife.

The Human who had so faithfully married and stood at the side of the young Light queen now was entering the massive tower of a fortress. Why the queen wanted to come here was not known, but Ixora was a talented psychic, able to read peoples' minds from distances beyond comprehension. She was good at seeing what others saw, and Arthur had a hunch within him that the queen had had it with officials in her inner circle.

In fact, for years the queen had been battling negativity being spread about her son, the giant aboriginal from the otherworld. It was no secret that Ixora's key personnel were very prejudiced and spiteful towards the grand duke who was not of Light birth or ancestry at all. What merely started as private gossip developed into rumors and hurtful commentary that alienated Sky from the Light high brass. This was on Arthur's mind as he loyally escorted his bride up to the top of the tower by elevator. He gradually understood more and more just why he was coming to the tower.

Ixora blamed herself for Sky's death— but she clearly blamed his detractors for causing his resentment to grow.

Surrounded by thick walls of shiny cobalt bricks, and massive doors meant to withstand any attacks, the queen made her way with Arthur toward the central command room at the northernmost end of the top floor. She held little regard for what was going on around her, and she even let go of Arthur's hands as she came to the large blue double doors that let into the command room. She did not slam the doors open, but instead quietly pushed them open for she could hear in her mind the conversations being held on the other side by her military commanders and advisors. They were not flattering words about the deceased son.

"If it may be said by myself; I think that the brat queen's loss is the best thing that could ever have happened to her." Said one commander who was obviously unaware that the queen had entered.

Another unaware officer followed it with an equally nasty remark.

"Everyone knows that it would have only been a matter of time before the gray boy would have eaten the queen and her husband! Those forsaken Jakaki do not belong in our dwelling!" Said another officer.

Now the queen and Arthur stood at the doorway. Her arms were crossed, and everyone now looked at her. She was wearing a black dress and the eyeliner she had worn had run down her cheeks about halfway from the tears. She obviously tried to look as presentable as possible, but even her hair was a bit worn-looking. The queen let down her arms, her jaw and lips visibly trembled as she tried to utter very succinct and choice words to her officers. But not before they could say anything.

"Your majesty, this is unexpected." Said one commander, her highest-ranked, in fact.

Instead of saying anything right off the bat, the queen approached her top ranking commander of the Light military, her fist coiled and ready to slug him for his very hurtful and regrettable words toward her son. She had the strength and will to slug him, but she instantly thought of her son and recalled that if he were in her shoes, he would not have struck the insubordinate man at all.

Spared the rod, but not spared her fiery wrath, the commander and his peers were relieved of their commands.

"Go now!" Ixora hardly was able to exclaim. "All of you! And take your infernal hatred toward my son with you! I will not have it in my court!"

Individually, the now former officers left the room in disgrace, their badges meaning nothing any longer. Ixora and Arthur now stood alone and in silence— but not for long, for the queen surprised her husband with what she said next. The queen took a seat in a chair beside a mainframe of computers and screens, Arthur continued to stand in front of her.

"They're coming..." She said to him.

"What do you mean?" Asked Arthur.

Ixora's eyes kept closed, she was very tight-lipped about what was going on. But in reality, the entire time that she had been by her son's corpse, she did not in fact dwell on the last words she exchanged with the boy. She instead used her incredible psychic talent to try to communicate with her son's spirit— but to no avail, she was unsuccessful. At least, she was unsuccessful in the endeavor, but she was a good study in the Light religion and knew that according to scripture, all of the dead were able to communicate with the living through a medium. And since communication with Sky was impossible, Ixora believed that he was not entirely dead yet.

"Ixora?" Arthur spoke up, trying to get an answer.

Slow to reply, the queen didn't want to come off as fiery and angry with Arthur, but she had something to say to him with regards to her son.

"You had a hard time accepting him, Art." Said Ixora.

The charge was true and fair, albeit the timing was not in best taste. Arthur was reluctant to think of Sky as his son in any form and he had his reason.

"Yeah well, try loving the son of the tyrant who killed and cannibalized your family. I did the damnedest that I could, and I loved the boy." Arthur defended himself, knowing that Ixora meant no ill will by it.

"He loved you." Ixora reminded Arthur. "He was a color-blind boy with a very big heart."

Not wanting to dwell over the differences that Arthur had with Sky, he pushed Ixora to move on and tell him what she meant by her earlier statement.

"Who is coming?" Arthur asked, kneeling down beside Ixora as she sat.

"......... Doesn't matter." Ixora resisted. "Anyway, I need a mystic brought to the palace. Can you task the guard with finding the one I believe Sky was going to see by the cliffs? I believe her name is Remorys. A bit of a recluse, but approachable."

"Remorys?" Arthur repeated the name Ixora told him.

"Yes. She might be able to help me get into contact with Sky's spirit, and I am desperate." Ixora answered.

Ixora's superstitions and religiosity often left Arthur curious, for he longed to understand her beliefs as best as he could. Even though the mystic ideas behind it was hard for his mind to fathom, he did the best he could as a friend and husband to be understanding and supportive. He was not one to dabble in Light religion for he clung to his monotheistic Christian beliefs. Nevertheless, Arthur always attended religious ceremonies with his wife and Sky.

Oryn, Ixora's faithful counselor and advisor abruptly entered the command room still in his mourning attire— as was customary, he followed Ixora usually everywhere she went. He entered quietly, wearing an attentive look on his face, the kind that showed a purpose. Ixora looked at Oryn and then she looked back down at her feet. She had just gotten up from her seat and now Arthur stood silently as the young queen took to conversation with her trusted aide.

"Your majesty." Oryn said. "Is it true, what my staff is telling me?" Asked Oryn.

"Is what true?" An enthralled Arthur asked.

"That her majesty has allowed the forbidden to happen." Said Oryn. "My staff tells me that commander Sogundyr has allowed an exiled Iridius along with Polonius to pass through the barrier to realm."

Oryn looked weary and quite displeased with the news. Shortly after the civil war had ended, the Sleepers whom Ixora trusted as friends put the monarchy behind them. Each of them went their own separate ways, not necessarily in spite of Ixora, but out of respect for her as the new monarch of the Light Kingdom. They all left the Light realm for good, and to make sure that her army did not go after them or try to target them, Ixora formally exiled the remaining three Sleepers— for it was the best way to explain their absences and leave them alone as they had wished.

It was the best political and logical solution at the time.

"Yes." Ixora answered.

"Your majesty, why wasn't I consulted? I am your chief advisor, your best legal mind on the issue!" Oryn impatiently inquired. "What hope do you have to not stir up dissenters if these Sleepers show their faces here? All of the remaining rebels from the war who aren't so loyal yet to your majesty will think of this as their new cause! All our hard work to keep peace over this land will be waste and naught."

"What hope will we have of healing our people if I refuse the chance to let our heroes in to view the corpse and mourn Sky?" Asked Ixora. "You think the disloyal are not looking for a reason to fight again?"

"Disaster." Oryn mumbled as he took a seat himself beside the door in a cushioned white chair made of steel and leather. "A disaster..."

"We shouldn't treat them like enemies, Oryn. They are truly good minds trying to move on from the decades that ruined them, is all." Said Ixora. "Anyway, I expect that you will show them to me when they arrive in the morning. I've longed to see them for so long now."