Kilia

Kilia arrived on the platform by the gate and queued up behind the merchants and their wagons. The travel from the Academy required her to pass through two intermediate gates, her home realm remoter and safer than many from the incursions of the Dark. She frowned. After her experiences, observing the complacency exhibited by the extravagance of this gate, of treating the passage between realms as no more than a journey like any other, it struck her as wrong, as the image of the torn bodies she had seen haunted her vision.

She shook it off, bringing herself back to the now. She knew word had been sent ahead, but wondered who, if anyone, would care to come. Awakened mages were respected though few indulged in combat or bothered going to the Academy, living in peace and luxury as part of the elite. Awakened warriors formed part of the army or served as elite mercenaries, and like the mages few went to the Academy, preferring home to a faraway school they viewed as unnecessary and barbaric. The Awakened outside of those parameters were the most likely to leave, and to look for opportunities elsewhere, especially those who were chosen by Delir. The attitude displayed by Hurnith, of seeing them all as thieves and untrustworthy, was a common one. She sighed, her father was a rich merchant, her mother a socialite of note trying to claw her way, one party at a time, into nobility. An Awakened daughter should have been a boon and would have been if it was for any power other than Delir.

She finally arrived at the guards examining those coming in. Those from other realms, or merchants from other countries making their way through from the gate to their own countries underwent a far more stringent search and security verification. The search, since the guards were keen to stop smuggling as each smuggler they caught earned them a bonus, and the tax officials were just as keen to make sure they found everything since anything they collected over quota resulted in a large bonus for them. There was a slight commotion ahead of her, a hawk Gwathur was protesting loudly, claiming religious discrimination as the guards insisted on opening its “spirit bundle”. The reason for the protest became very apparent when the bundle was opened and a handful of rubies, high grade from all appearances, tumbled out. The would-be smuggler and its bundle was quickly chained by the attentive guards and dragged off.

Finally, Kilia stepped up to the guard and customs official. They only briefly glanced at her papers, to make sure all was in order, before passing her through. A child of a wealthy merchant returning home, it would be career and political suicide to delay her or try to extort anything from her. And who she was, well that was easily seen from the name on her papers to the high-quality clothing and armour she sported. Unmolested and only briefly detained, Kilia stepped into the market surrounding the gate. Stalls were set up along the edges and merchants stood on platforms calling out to those passing by.

She listened to the familiar sounds, looked at the familiar scene and almost immediately spotted those who were what she was accused of being. One small boy, in particular, seemed to be making merry with the purses of those in the crowded marketplace, his sharp knife hastily separating a purse from a belt, with him always making sure to go for ones that did not bulge, that were not too heavy. He knew that the heavier the purse, the sooner it would be missed. She watched as he steadily made his way across the market, choosing his targets carefully and never too close together. When he was in arms reach of her, she looked down at him, shaking her head. He flashed her a quick sign with his fingers, peace amongst the underclasses, and left. She laughed, her misspent youth gave her certain advantages, and being mistaken for one of the underclasses was one of them as was being chosen by Delire. Though terming that an advantage would be disputed by many.

Amused at the diversion, she made her way across the market, looking out for anyone she knew. She was surprised when she spied Maurice, her father’s factotum standing there, looking lost as he waited instead of being overwhelmed with work as usual. She started towards him, and, as he saw her, he waved and started to make his way towards her, followed by two guards in House livery.

“Mistress Kilia, welcome home, your father awaits your presence. He is most anxious to see you after your time away.”

Kilia wondered what was happening. Her father being anxious about her return seemed as likely as him donating all his money to become a wandering monk and living off begging. If he truly was anxious, instead of Maurice just being polite, there had to be a reason. She did not trust in her father's paternal instincts at all.

“Maurice, what has happened? Why would my father suddenly want my presence when he could not hide his disappointment at my being Awakened by Delir?”

“Ah, Mistress, please let him explain. It is truly not my place to do so.” He seemed to squirm a bit and then fell silent. Throwing her a contemplative look every so often as they walked through the streets.

“My father’s business I must wait for. Tell me about my mother. How does her hunt for prestige go?” She looked at the factotum, seeing him squirm even more.

“I believe that is part of what the Master should discuss with you.” He stopped short, and Kilia could detect his discomfort. Ah Mother, what have you gone and done?

The trip through the marketplace and the city streets took a few hours. The houses gave way to more elaborate manors and then to estates, mini compounds of both buildings and gardens slowly getting more elaborate as they headed inwards, circling the palace like the foppish hanger-ons at court circled the king. The family estate stood at the extreme edge of where wealthy commoners lived, abutting the estates and grounds of nobility. A false divide, since many of the richer commoners, her father included, were wealthier than the majority of the lower nobility.

She frowned as they entered, looking at the extra guards at the gates and the elaborate stone falcons that were all too clearly magical guardians perched atop the columns of the walls. What trouble had her family gotten into, and was this why her father should suddenly be wanting her to return home?

With her escort, they walked through the guard posts, no one stopping them with the familiar figure of Maurice. She frowned, surely, they could not be this lax? Who said his escort was correct, that he was not being compelled? If their family was in such danger that they required extra guards and magical protection then the guards needed to be trained, properly, to do their duty and not make assumptions. She stayed silent, keeping it to address with her father.

Much to her surprise, Maurice took her directly to her father’s study. A surprise since when growing up one of the most stringent rules to never be broken was, “Do not disturb daddy in his study. He will call you when you are to come.” Of course, the times she was called there during the day were rare and became non-existent when she was awakened by Delir. Maurice had tried to explain on his behalf how both his rivals and allies would suspect him of having her spy on them if she was seen to be active in the business. She did not believe it for a minute, after all, they lived in the same house and under the same roof, and he could just as easily discuss business with her in the kitchen or anywhere else. She put her lack of contact with her father down to a simpler explanation, he did not care and then, when she Awakened, he was simply embarrassed.

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Maurice opened the door, ushering her in without entering himself. She was shocked at the study’s condition. She had never seen it so messy, or so dim. Only a few of the lamps were lit. Her father sat behind a desk, his face gaunt, papers piled around him. To her surprise, he was reading none, just looking at her, his eyes surrounded by dark circles.

“Ahhhh.” A simple sound, nothing more as he looked at her and then stood. She watched transfixed as he walked up to her, embracing her tightly. Shocked she felt his body trembling, tears from his eyes going down his neck.

“My beloved daughter, you are safe!” He stepped back, streaks from his tears making rivulets down his face. “My beloved daughter. Safe.” He stumbled back, leaning against his desk, mumbling softly. “She is safe.”

“Father,” Kilia was surprised at the concern in her voice, she hadn’t expected her father’s reaction. “What is happening, what is going on?”

He looked at her shaking his head, then nodding to himself. “I would not have told you, but you are old enough and Awakened. No need to hide anything from you.” He sighed, looking at her, then away from her, then back, clearly uncomfortable with what he was going to say.

“Your mother,” he paused, cleared his throat and began again. “Your mother is not a well-woman.” He frowned, “I do not mean physically, there she is the picture of health. Her sickness is in her mind. Wealth is not enough. Prestige is not enough, all that counts for her is status. She cannot abide that she is merely a merchant’s daughter and the wife of another. She wants better, but what noble would marry her? Her father was merely a trader in clothes and leather, nothing elaborate enough to appear in noble company. And once married to me, while certain aspects of my business draw me to court, she is already married, and no noble would deign to marry her even if that were no longer the case. I knew her desires and what she searched for, but I made the mistake of thinking she knew her limitations.” He laughed at himself, looking down at his feet, “She had an affair with Duke Knossos, and his wife found out.”

Kilia went pale. A noble having an affair with a commoner was not uncommon and nothing much would happen if it were kept discreet. Once her father found out, at most he would have called for a surreptitious end to it and quietly put her aside, letting her live in peace elsewhere, with no one disturbing the status quo. But if the Duke’s wife objected and exposed it, as had obviously happened, the repercussions would be bad, very bad indeed.

“Is she here?” Kilia looked at her father, now understanding the panic in the household. Duke Knossos was not the power in the house, his wife was. He held the title as her consort, nothing more. If the Duchess was targeting the family everything they owned, all their lives, were at risk.

“No, she and the duke have disappeared.” Anticipating her next question he continued, “So far the Duchess has said nothing, made no demands of us, done nothing in retaliation, but I have spent the last month preparing.” He looked at her, continuing, “And I owe you an apology. Your mother always resented you. As a child, she wanted a son one she could marry into a royal house. She doubted any would be interested in you since daughters of merchants spend their lives trying to entice noblemen into marriage. Even when you showed no interest in that, you still were not what she could use to advance her interests. And then when you were Awakened to Delir, she saw that as the final nail in her social-climbing coffin. Perhaps that is why she was so foolish as to get caught in an affair with that Duke. Daughter, forgive me, I should never have listened to her or followed her lead. I have always loved you and hid it because of your mother’s foolishness.” He knelt before her, his hands out.

And Kilia, hearing words she had wanted to hear all her life broke down. Fifteen years of neglect and wanting to be loved broke forth as she knelt, embracing her father, the two crying on each other’s shoulders.

The next day she did what she thought was right but feared could backfire. An action she decided on, acted on, and carried out without consulting her father or Maurice. She was dressed in her court best, the ridiculous fashion with its hoop skirt and laced bodice making her feel like a peacock. She laughed at that, considering that the peacock was male and the peahen so bland in appearance, but she looked her foolish best as she arrived in her carriage at the estate of the Duchess Knossos.

Her carriage approached the gatehouse, the driver stating her name and desire for an audience with the Duchess. She could hear someone running up the path. At least the grounds would not be too big given the estate's location in the city. It did not take more than a few minutes and the gates opened, leaving the carriage to canter up the cobbled path to the estate’s front door.

Kilia exited the carriage, smoothing over her skirts, looking at her glove-covered hands in disdain. A footman placed a step for her to descend, and another came forward to lead her inside. The foyer was far smaller than she had expected. From the outside, the house looked immense, so she wondered at the small entrance. She also frowned as she could not remember ever being here before, or even of there being invitations or parties to this estate. A rarity amongst the nobles as circulating between estates for parties always seemed to be their preoccupation when she was younger. A butler came forward, his black clothing immaculate. He bowed to her.

“The Duchess awaits you within.” He stepped to the side and opened the door waiting for her to enter.

Kilia entered the door and found it completely different to what she expected. The interior was done up as an obstacle course, a particularly challenging one from the looks of it. One figure could be seen dancing through it, her lithe body navigating the obstacles with an acrobatic flair. She watched for a few minutes, waiting for the woman to finish. When she did, she came forward, her body clothed in a tight leather outfit. Looking at Kilia she smiled, turned around and lifted her hair to show the mark of Delir hidden beneath her hair.

“Welcome child, your mother’s mistake is not yours.” She laughed, “And as one of the Awakened of Delir to another, you can tell your father to cease his panic, there will be no retribution.” She frowned, “Though do leave out the part of me being Awakened by Delir, it does tend to upset some of the nobility so very much to know that one so close to the king is so chosen.”

“Come, follow me, we have much to discuss, not the least what your new role is within the Kingdom. After all, the King has been wise enough to leave me as his Spider Queen, running the country's intelligence agencies for him just as I did for his father, and neither of us is foolish enough to discard a useful resource.”

Kilia followed; it seemed her life was not going to be what she imagined. She was intrigued to learn that she was in the King’s regard, but how would that interfere with her plans to return to the Academy and rejoin the group?

Name: Kilia Race: Human Class: Awakened Rogue Level 5 (XP 200/6000)

Str: 10 Con: 14 Dex: 19 Int: 12 Cha: 14

Skills:

Read/Write 10 (Journeyman), Dodge 10(Journeyman), Ride Horse 5 (Apprentice), Knife skills 5 (Apprentice), Dual wielding 10 (Journeyman), Stealth, Movement 5 (Apprentice), Stealth Hide 5 (Apprentice), Stealth Sleight of Hand 5 (Apprentice)

Stat points: 0 Skill point: 0 Hit Points: 40/40 Mana Points: 25/25

Mana Realms: Stealth

Magic Skills: Silent Move 5 (Apprentice), Shadow Blend 5 (Apprentice), Track 5 (apprentice)