She stood at the center of the throne room. Her face turned towards the ceiling where the first ruler of Binoria's image was captured in perfect detail. The artists, she wondered, did they make him sit still on top of the Telinete rhino? Or did they craft Selarch's face separate from his body, then depended on their prowess to place him upon the Telinete. In the hallways outside the throne room was another mural, depicting Gonza Vigon, then in the archway leading to the Meeting room was another mural of Julisper Vigon, and another mural and another mural. The whole palace had segments of it painted with the murals of a Kings of Binoria. All of them male, all of them with glowing red eyes, the symbol of Goddess Meena's power coursing through them.

She fought against the urge to order the murals all painted over. To have them stripped of their significance for it was all a lie. Gonza Vigon, Julisper Vigon... All the Vigons parading upon the surfaces of marble and stone alike, were all a lie. It was all Selarch Vigon, reincarnated and reborn ten times over. Taking the flesh of his descendants so he may rule. So he may continue his dynasty according to the wish of his Goddess. Her father, whom she'd thought loving, hadn't been her father at all. It had all been a lie, the way he regarded her with loving eyes, was all just a ploy to cater to subterfuge that spun 500 years. The person masquerading as her father, wearing his flesh, was good. Really good. He fooled even her into believing that Vayin Vigon was indeed her father. But for some reason his youngest son, her brother, Leba Vigon, wasn't completely fooled.

What have you done Leba? Dahli wondered. What monstrosity have you brought upon the realm!

The Goddess Meena had revealed that a darkness was coming. A darkness so potent and vile that would lead mothers to fling their babies off roof tops and men to slaughter their sons as they sleep. A darkness so profound whose sole purpose is desolation, carnage. A darkness that cannot be appeased, a darkness that rebels against humanity and craves its end. And in that darkness, in the center of it all stands her brother, Leba Vigon. Her brother who'd disappeared without a trace. All efforts to look for him yielded no fruit. He disappeared together with several palace servants. Where to? She did not know. She knew nothing other than the fact that something ancient walked the realm once more. Something that brought panic, despair and hopelessness to the Goddess whom she serves.

The throne room doors opened, Dahli did not need to turn to know who'd joined her. She could hear his thoughts: adoration, respect, loyalty, desire and most profound of all, love. His blond hair, blue eyes and milky white skin would have granted him any woman's favor. Yet it was only her he desired. A desire that blossomed anew each day, leaving her to wonder whether the pressure building from her indifference may one day drive him to act. To speak up. To confess his love. What then would she do? Would she break his heart? Or would she fulfill his dream?

Dreams. She saw another man in the dead of night when her eyes were closed. Young as she is, with a dark mess of hair, violet eyes and fingers whose tips are stained blue. Ishar, the Champion of the God of Chaos. And with the image of him so too does something well within her, bubbling to the surface, a yearning so profound she could not place its source. Ishar had killed Vayin Vigon, bringing the unbeaten streak of Binoria to an end. Resulting in the deaths of three quarters of Binoria's Legions. Ishar was an anathema to the Binorian standard. She should hate him, she should loath him, she should crave his death. Yet, here she was, feeling things she didn't want to voice. Wondering where they came from and to what do they lead. Things that are the complete opposite of hatred, things that made her wonder...

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"My Queen." Orgeeg said while lowering himself on one knee.

"Rise and report." She answered without facing him, her eyes still fixed on the ceiling.

"Masutap attacked Shama's Local yesterday as you predicted. She castrated the Highlord and burned him alive before all his whores." Orgeeg said while getting off the floor.

Dahli smiled, That's one problem fixed. She frowned upon Shama's trade and influence among the Highlords. To be rid of him was one of her first objectives but how would she do so without losing face? Her half sister had taken care of that quite well. However, Masutap could not be allowed to ran rampage within Binoria, the kingdom was currently at its weakest. A united front, with her sister by her side is what Dahli wanted. But how would she reach out to Masutap? The woman hated her just as much as she hated Vayin Vigon. Masutap's hate was palpable, Dahli had had an intimate understanding of it when both of them had been summoned before the Goddess Meena. Where all pretense of privacy had been stripped and their hearts laid out bare for the Goddess to bestow upon them her blessing.

"My Queen?" Orgeeg pressed. She could sense his thought, the urge to lather her with a tongue of honey. She smiled.

"How do I look, Orgeeg?" She asked while turning to face the Rank one of the Royal Black Guard in her gold embroidered dress that flowed down her curves. Orgeeg's breath caught. He struggled to compose himself. She could not tell if the effect she had on him was something she should explore further, toy with it as a Yendw wolf toys with a mouse. What then would that make of her? Did she not strive to be as different from Selarch as she could?

"You..." Orgeeg started. "You remind me of the Rankf Sea, when the tide comes back and the waves aren't as aggressive as they are during a storm. When the heat of the sun warms the waters and the lapping of the waves upon the feet is as pleasing as a lover's touch."

Dahli moved close to her Rank one. She lifted her hand and cupped his cheek. Then she felt it, that feeling ever residing behind the hearts of men. Sorrow, a profound sorrow, one she was sure hadn't been as pronounced as it was now that Leba had let loose an ancient evil upon the realm. "A dark period is coming, Orgeeg, one where your purpose would be to survive. To take one breath after the other without cease. Do not give up, do not go gently into that dark night."

"My Queen?" He was puzzled.

Dahli let her hand drop, she turned her back to her Rank One of the Royal Black Guard. "Masutap is heading to the Westlocal. Alert the Highlord Kemi and implement the plan we discussed." She smiled. "I believe Dulab is ready. Take fifty of the Royal Black Guard with you, ones she does not recognize."

Orgeeg stood in silence, battling words he would not allow to leave his tongue. But she knew them, she heard them loud and clear as he revised them. "You're dismissed." She said before his courage broke its banks and he made himself even more vulnerable before her. As he walked away, she turned her head to the ceiling, observing the mural of Selarch Vigon. Countless times had she looked up at it and felt admiration, envy and pride. Now, she felt disgust.

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