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part four.
IP: 137.44.82.131
Posted on December 11, 2010 at 06:40:17 AM by georgia

Amarna, Egypt, AD 990 "All have been informed who should have been informed," Allianah reported. "It is done. Aura?" The last word was tentative. Since the news of the child's birth had reached them, Aura had not flown into one of her famous rages - it was probably only a matter of time. The Chair of the Council of Originals was a fair and decisive ruler, but she was well known for her temper. It was a general source of amusement for all the originals - including Aura herself, when she calmed down (which was usually reasonably quickly; the tantrums were fiery but brief) - but tonight of all nights Allianah did not want to deal with any excess stress. Tensions were running high as it was. Nobody knew where this child had come from or who its divine parent could be - tests would have to be run, enquiries made, the Star Chamber would need to be called in... it was easily the biggest scandal in fairy history, and only the second or third time since the council had been established that the fairy race as a whole had looked to Aura for leadership. Generally, the council made decisions together, but in emergencies the Chair would step up as the supreme authority. This was the first time since the Akhetaten crisis that any one fairy had been made the Acting King. The Council of Originals was based in the Egyptian desert, around the ruins of the ancient city of Akhetaten - what would later become known as Amarna. During the "Akhetaten crisis", fairies had gone to war amongst themselves over their origins and gods; the fighting had finally been stemmed by Aura after the establishment of the council. Typically, the Chair was no real leader, but simply directed the meetings where decisions were made by the council as a whole. However, in times of need the Chair could be elected "Acting King" by the select group of originals who chose to remain at Amarna permanently rather than travelling abroad; the Acting King would then have complete power to make decisions and pass laws until the emergency was over. Allianah had been one of those originals who remained at Amarna. Aura generally lived in England, but she had been called back to Egypt when news of the child's birth first broke. Neither Aura nor Allianah had yet seen the child; both were more concerned with gathering the council and ensuring the other originals were informed of the situation. Ardati, the only other original left in Amarna, was sitting nervously across the room. Ardati was easily the finest looking woman alive and prided herself on this very much; her confidence and arrogance were complete. The news had had the most effect on her, and she was looking prettily pale and seemed to be on the verge of hysteria. Allianah ignored her, looking instead to room's other occupant; Aura herself, who seemed to be staring unseeingly out of the window. Rather than repeat her request Allianah remained silent, knowing full well that Aura had heard and that she would reply when she was ready. It didn't take long. "We must travel to Greece," she said finally, her English accent sounding particularly pronounced in the hot, exotic Egyptian morning. "The council will refuse to meet until they see this child, and certain enquiries must be made before we can ascertain which topics of discussion will be necessary." "How will we know where to go in Greece?" Allianah asked. "There are many islands; I do not wish to search them all." Aura pointed out of the window. "Why, my dear; we shall follow that star of course. The star which marks the birth of the new divine." And sure enough when she looked, Allianah saw that despite the light of the morning, one star shone clearly from the Heavens. She nodded. The Island of Mykonos of Greece Teleportation is a convenient but rude form of transportation. Being a member of the polite English upper class, Aura absolutely refused to teleport directly inside the barn as Allianah wanted her to, but rather forced the three of them to reappear just outside the town's walls. Swathed in cloaks, the three ancient women walked solemnly down the street, steering well clear of the pubs and inns which radiated light and merriment. They were stopped only once by a middle-aged, beady-eyed man who asked what they were doing out and about at such an hour. "We are but three wise-women from the west come to sell our wares," Allianah crooned in convincing tones. "We bring miraculous healing potions and powerful charms filled with good spirits." After that, their passage was smooth. Wise-women were still revered and rarely meddled with, particularly by superstitious old men. The trio followed the star to the centre of the town, where they found the sad little inn; however, when Allianah enquired at the desk, the innkeeper told them that he had not put up anyone new that night. She wished she could capture the expression on Ardati's face when Aura suggested they check the barns for squatters. To someone used to luxury only unimaginable wealth could bring, this inn was the equivalent of street-gutters, which could only equate the barns to the sewers. Once they'd reached the back of the inn, it became clear that Aura's hunch was correct; two recognisable forms, those of the originals Mallos and Tsi, were standing outside the barn conversing quietly. Tsi looked grave, but Mallos smiled attractively at the arrival of the three women. "As you would say in England, it's jolly exciting this, no?" Were his first, inappropriately cheerful words to Aura. Tsi cut in. "The young man who gave birth is dead. There was another man with him, his friend... I've given him a minute alone to say his goodbyes. The child is in there too, asleep. We haven't checked her heritage yet, we thought... I thought that you should be the one to do so." After acknowledging them both, Aura entered the barn, closely followed by the others. A gathering of five originals was unheard of outside of council meetings; with the exception of those, they probably hadn't all been together like this since the beginning of time. The first thing Allianah saw upon entering was Eleutherius' body and the kneeling form of Panagiotis beside him; Tsi and Aura both went over to speak quietly with him, but Mallos and Ardati made straight for the little girl, who had been wrapped in cloths and placed in the animals' manger. Allianah glanced at the sleeping child, whose face was the image of peace, and wondered how such a tiny thing could be the cause of such nuisance. Ardati stared at the newborn with an expression of undisguised disgust, but Mallos' face lit up and he gently plucked the little creature from her 'crib' and held her in his arms. Mallos had always wanted a child. It was a well-known fact; he'd fought the hardest against the passing of the law which banned the originals from reproducing and tried to have it revoked at every meeting. Surely, though, he wouldn't be stupid enough to try and have one anyway? No. Mallos was free of suspicion simply by being the most obvious suspect. Aura appeared at his shoulder, followed by a grim-faced Tsi and a stricken-looking Panagiotis. Carefully she placed her fingertips on the child's temples, flinching slightly at the little electric blue sparks generated, closed her eyes and appeared to focus. Silence ensued. Ardati leaned in closer, Tsi held his breath and Allianah felt her pulse rate soar; even Mallos seemed to be more rigid than normal, although he retained his characteristically casual expression. After what seemed like eternity Aura released the little girl and backed away, her facial muscles contorted into pure shock. "Well?" Tsi urged her. "Who is the other parent?" Aura said nothing - it appeared she couldn't. As one the other originals reached for the child, slapping each others' hands away, until finally Tsi succeeded in placing his fingers firmly over the girl's temples. After an agonising few minutes he too backed up in shock, wheeling around to stare at Aura, who was now shaking uncontrollably. "You - " He choked, the words only half-forming in his mouth. "You did this, you..." "I didn't," she whispered back. Mallos was the only one to recognise it instantly - the quiet before the storm. Tucking the child under one arm and grabbing Panagiotis with the other, he teleported swiftly out of the barn, followed in rapid succession by Allianah, Tsi and Ardati. Even as he vanished, Mallos felt the fire sprung from Aura's rage licking at his heels and heard her scream of anger, frustration, emotion... and fear.

[two more parts to come after this, but you may have to wait til tomorrow for 'em xD]

Replies:

• part five. - By georgia December 11, 2010 at 07:39:36 AM
  • part six. - By georgia December 11, 2010 at 09:08:07 AM

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