Disclaimer: I do not own the Gundam boys, nor am I making any money from this. The idea of a Confessor and the Mord-Sith are taken from Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth novels. Many of the names of locations are from the game of Everquest. Warnings: AU, angst, shounen-ai Pairings: 1+2 3+4 As always, special thanks go out to Betty, my beta reader, and to Maria whose encouragement is much appreciated, along with her willingness to by my guinea pig. Mord-Sith! Part 4 The third arc of the Confessor Series As I cross the bridge by the waterfall As I make my way by the stars There's a shadow walking beside me Here in my heart Like the restless wind in the tree tops Like a whispered voice in my ear `I will always be there for you' I'll always be here. --Bless the Wings (That Bring You Backk)) The Moody Blues from the album `Keys to the Kingdom' Palace of Light, Erudin Duo strode out into the stable courtyard dressed in his black riding outfit, flanked by a pair of guards. He was finally getting used to having them around. Besides, he really didn't have a choice. The Emperor forbade him to leave the Palace alone. When he had protested, Odin had pointed out that even though he had been accepted as a Confessor in the Palace, it didn't mean that others would be as understanding. It was fine with the Emperor for the braided young man to go exploring as long as he took an escort, but Duo felt that guards would slow him down and make him stand out. On a few occasion he had tried to sneak out to explore the fascinating city he could glimpse from his window. To go against the Emperor's orders meant punishment, but Duo was willing to accept the risk. Unfortunately, he had always been caught; it was harder than he thought to elude a Mord-Sith. It wasn't so bad when it was Une, or even Dorothy. He could usually talk his way out of any of their punishments. But the one time Mariemeia caught him, her vicious pleasure from being allowed to punish him nearly ended in disaster. It had taken six weeks for his broken ribs to heal, and Odin Lowe nearly lost yet another one of his elite guards to the Confessor's power. Only Une's intervention had stopped him. But the animosity between the Confessor and the redheaded Mord-Sith remained almost tangible. To this day, neither of them could be in the same room without a referee. Somewhat surprisingly, the guards turned out to be good company. They were unobtrusive and respectful to him, and would defend the braided Confessor with their lives. He had heard a rumor from the ranks that being a member of his personal guard was a position that was fiercely sought. Duo suspected that they wanted to be around him because he was the one person who could fight a Mord-Sith and have a chance of coming out alive. This amused him because he was never sure of just who was guarding whom. The sun blazed down, burning away the lingering midmorning coolness; it was going to be another scorcher. He shaded his large violet eyes as he looked up, searching for some clouds that would bring relief from the high temperatures, but the sky was its usual flawless blue. Even though he knew it was going to be just as hot outside as it had been for the past week, he needed to get out of the Palace. The young Confessor had been restless lately. Duo felt as though there was a small current of electricity constantly under his skin. He didn't know how to relieve it. He had taken to wandering throughout the Palace, in both open and forbidden areas, unable to sit still for even a few minutes. Even the immense Palace library had lost its attraction. He thought a ride would help ease his tension. Duo felt a prickle of anticipation, as though something was about to happen but he didn't have a clue as to what it might be. Breathing the warming air deeply, he looked around for his horse. A welcoming nicker drew his attention and he made his way to the far end to the courtyard, the guards a step behind and on either side. Without warning, Duo stopped and stared, a cold wave of shock washed over his body as the two guards stopped a step beyond him. "Here you are, sir." The groom gestured to the tall, fine black mare standing with two other horses, all saddled and bridled, ready to ride. She pawed restlessly at the ground, and then shook her chiseled head, making the thick black forelock fall into her large, liquid eyes. She turned and looked at Duo, making him swallow hard. "Your usual horse was a bit lame this morning," the groom explained anxiously, mistaking Duo's hesitation for annoyance. Duo didn't hear the man's words. He was too caught up tryingto deny what his violet eyes were telling him. It couldn't be. There must be hundreds of black mares in Erudin. There was no way it could be Shinigami. He hadn't seen her since Since Well, he didn't remember the last time he had seen the shadowmare, but he knew without a doubt it was she. A wide grin broke out over his heart-shaped face and his violet eyes sparkled. He whooped with joy as he ran and threw his arms around her sleek neck, burying his face in her long mane. Shinigami had been more than just his horse; she was his truest friend. She had carried him for countless miles without tiring. He had told her all his deepest secrets and had slept better at night knowing she was nearby, watching over him. His delight nearly overwhelmed his somewhat fragile emotional control and he took a minute to compose himself. "I take it you are OK with this mare as a replacement?" the groom inquired. The Confessor's response had been surprising, but they were used to being surprised where Duo was concerned. Duo's grin threatened to grow wider than his face. He nodded enthusiastically, and Shinigami pushed her nose into his stomach, almost knocking him over, making him laugh out loud. One of his guards spoke up. "I think she likes you sir. She's a very fine animal." "She's a beauty," Duo agreed. He stroked the satin neck; then, grabbing a handful of black silk, he vaulted into the saddle. He turned her and said as she pranced impatiently, "Alex, Mueller, get a move on. Let's go!" As the two guards mounted, he wondered how his horse had come to be here in Erudin. Duo had known there was a special bond between himself and the shadowmare, but he had forgotten about her completely until he laid eyes on her just today. Her magic, like his, was the ancient Wild type magic. It enabled her to blend in so no one noticed the shadowmare in their midst. She had appeared when he was running from the village where he had spent his childhood and had been his constant companion since, until three years ago. Now she was back in his life and he couldn't stop smiling. They headed out the Palace's large, main gate at a canter, the horses' hooves clicking along the paved roads as they headed straight out of the city and into the surrounding hills. By now the sun was high in the sky, but Duo set a quick pace and the mare pricked her ears as she felt her rider's impatience. Once out of the confining streets and into the rolling hills, he urged her faster. She eagerly leaped ahead, going from a rocking canter to a ground-eating gallop in the span of a stride. The lesser horses the guards rode were unable to keep up with the shadowmare, but Duo didn't hear their hails for him to slow down. He was completely caught up in the sensation of speed, feeling the rhythmic working of the sleek muscles between his legs as the wind blew his long chestnut bangs back out of his violet eyes. It was the closest thing to flying he could imagine. How could he have forgotten this? Far out to the west, Duo could now see towering clouds above the hilltops. He studied their path as they swept over the horizon and he knew the summer storm would not threaten the city, even though they desperately needed the rain. Laughing, he leaned forward and urged Shinigami to go even faster. He wanted to race the storm. She complied with enthusiasm, stretching her long neck as her strides lengthened. As the horse and rider neared the hills, they turned and began to parallel the storm's track. A stray breeze brought the refreshing scent of rain and clean earth. It has been said that the sense of smell is the most powerful trigger of memories and, as Duo inhaled deeply, somewhere deep in the locked doors of his memories, a key turned. He felt strong arms around his waist, holding them both secure as they outran the storm. The shadowmare carried them both as they flew over the ground and he was laughing in wonder and adrenaline. The presence was so strongly sensed that thrills of electricity coursed up and down his spine. It felt good. It felt right. All he had to do was turn around and see No one. No one was there. It was gone. The memory dissipated as quickly as smoke on a rising breeze. He clenched his jaw to keep from screaming his frustration. So close! He had been so close to remembering and it was gone. Shinigami slowed down to a canter again, and Duo sat back on the shadowmare as they turned around to go back. His head began to ache again. It wasn't one of `those' headaches, thank goodness. But the day was getting very hot and he was tired. Alex and Mueller eventually caught up with him, their horses were lathered and blowing hard from futilely trying to keep up with the shadowmare. There were looks of disapproval on their faces, but the chestnut haired Confessor didn't care. He knew they wouldn't report this to the Mord-Sith. Without a word, Duo headed back to the Palace. Less than an hour after the black-clad Confessor had headed out the Palace gates with his escort, three newcomers entered through those same gates. Heero Yuy, Chang Wufei and Quatre Winner had reached Erudin after weeks of traveling. Each of them was trying hard not to stare in wonder at the marvelous city that was the capital of the Golgathan Empire. They had all been to Virimonde on many occasions, but Erudin made even Oz's capital look like a squatters' village. As they approached the Palace of Light, Quatre was fighting hard not to be intimidated. Nevertheless, the spectacle of the huge building growing in size before him made him sweat almost as much as the rising heat that was making his blond hair cling to his temples. Huge stone pillars supported the arching domes connected by roofed corridors. The Palace was an amazing display of architecture and magic. Quatre could feel the ancient spells woven into the very stone foundation. Despite his practice and planning, he nearly panicked. How could he hope to fool the people who lived here in this place of wonder? Only the thought that Trowa was in there helped him maintain his composure. The blond mage looked over at Heero, whose gaze never left the immense stone building before them. He knew that Heero was studying the architecture with a single-minded intensity. Duo was in there somewhere. Trowa hadn't been able to find the Confessor's quarters. Some of the Palace's floors were closed off to everyone; even guards couldn't enter unless they were granted special permission. The Palace was so huge it could well take Trowa a month of devious searching to find Duo's rooms. The trio rode into the vast main courtyard and dismounted. Two guards armed with swords approached them and inquired about their business. Quatre stepped forward, still holding Sandrock's reins. He noted that the guards didn't seem to be bothered too much by the heat. They were probably used to it, he mused. "I am Quatre Winner, a representative of the Sank Kingdom. I have been sent on behalf of her royal Majesty, Queen Relena, to speak to the Emperor." The guards didn't react, even though they had only seen one other Midlander before, and he wasn't even really human. One nodded to the other, who turned back and walked over to a third guard who listened for a minute then saluted and left. Heero noted that even though the Palace gates were open, there were many guards around and they all looked competent. After a few minutes, a skinny little gray-haired man walked out of a side door and introduced himself to the trio. "Welcome to the Palace of Light. I am the Steward. Please, allow us to aid you in any way." He gestured to a small troop of grooms headed to them. "They will take your horses." Heero's cobalt eyes narrowed dangerously. He did not want anyone to touch Wing. But he knew that he would have to comply with the wishes of the Erudites. Reluctantly he handed the moons' shade colt over to the waiting groom, glaring the whole time. The groom saw the look and paled. The Steward saw this mute interaction and turned to reassure Quatre. "We will take very good care of your horses. I can see that they are magnificent animals and very valuable. Our grooms are the best and will make sure your steeds are comfortable." Quatre nodded to Heero, the blond was supposed to be in charge after all. Heero toned down his glare, but made a careful note of the direction in which the grooms led the horses. The Steward breathed a quiet sigh of relief. That dark-haired soldier had an intensity that was frightening. The only other person in whom he had ever seen such focus was the Emperor himself. Shaking his head to get rid of the thought, the Steward motioned for the Midlanders to follow him. "Please come with me. I will show you where you can put your gear and I will inform the Emperor of your arrival." The Steward left them in a small reception area for a short while, he said that he had some other business to attend to for a few minutes, and asked that they please make themselves comfortable. They looked at the padded chairs and table set with refreshments and opted to stand. For a long moment they stood looking at each other as silence filled the room. It was hard to believe that they were actually in the heart of the enemy's territory. The door opened and a tall woman with clear eyes and long brown hair that fell unfettered to her waist entered. She was wearing a long blue silk dress with white accents. She spread her skirts wide in a low curtsy to them. "Welcome to Erudin, noble travelers. We are very pleased that you have come at last." She looked directly at Heero and smiled. For a brief moment the soldiers stared at her, then Quatre stepped forward and bowed to her. He was uncertain of her rank, but something told him that she was very special. Behind him, Heero and Wufei also bowed. "Thank you, my Lady." She smiled and the room seemed lighter. Then Quatre frowned and he heard Wufei gasp quietly. The air was filled with a subtle power that danced right beyond the blond mage's ability to understand. Then the power vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. "May you find what you seek." Without another word she turned and left the room, closing the door behind her. Wufei stared at the door for a span of five heartbeats, then turned to the others. "Is it just me, or did anyone else find that extremely weird?" Quatre closed his blue eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He reached out with his power and tested the air around them. What he found disturbed him. "No, Wufei, it isn't just you. She did something to us, but I'm not really sure what it is." "What do you mean?" Heero centered his cobalt gaze squarely on the blond mage. "I mean that she did something to us. I have been keeping a low-level masking spell on us to help disguise the fact that we are who we are. I was hoping my spell would go undetected. But what she did is much more subtle and powerful. She wove her power into mine and it masks us completely. From what I can tell, we really are Sank representatives, here on a peace mission." Heero turned to the door as if the carved wooden entrance could provide some answers, but it remained stubbornly mute. Quatre and Wufei looked at each other. Yes, things were definitely weird in the Palace of Light. In another part of the Palace, the Faydwer princess walked down the hall to the Emperor's quarters; her face was pale but composed. The guards escorting her marveled at her poise. They didn't know that her heart was pounding so hard in her chest that it hurt, or that she had her hands clenched tightly to keep the guards from seeing them shake. But she was a princess, and princesses are trained not to show feelings. The young redheaded female clad in brown leather standing at the door opened it for them, a hint of contempt in her icy blue eyes as the princess and her escort entered the room. The princess ignored her. The woman was no threat compared to what awaited the dark-eyed young woman behind the desk. The princess stopped several feet away from the front of Odin Lowe's desk, flushing in humiliation at being made to wait for him to deign to look at her. The Emperor had ordered her to attend him immediately, like some common serving wench. He kept writing for a few more minutes, then deliberately put his quill down and raised his cobalt gaze to appraise his latest acquisition. She held her breath as that sun-on-steel gaze slowly moved down her body, missing nothing. He noted the long, thick black hair that cascaded straight down to her slender waist. Small breasts and kitten hips hidden under a modest silk gown promised that she was yet a virgin. A slight smile played across his thin lips. Then he looked into her large dark eyes, now narrowed with anger and humiliation. His smirk grew bigger. "Welcome to Erudin, princess," he purred. She said nothing as she resisted the urge to slap him then and there. She was grateful for the anger; it covered up the cold knot of fear in her stomach. Her anger only amused him further. "Did you think that General Marquise would ride to your rescue on his blood-bay stallion Epyon like the hero does in the stories? Surely you realize that those stories are just fantasies young ladies make up about romance." He stood up and walked around the desk to stand in front of her. He was the taller so she had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. "You are prettier than Kunark's daughters, and have more spirit." He raised his hand and stroked her smooth cheek. Her jaw clenched but still she said nothing. Her gaze was full of contempt and the glimmer of fear was almost hidden by her rage. His hand cupped the back of her head and without warning he leaned forward, brutally claiming her lips in a harsh, dominating kiss. She tried to pull away, but one hand held her head in an iron grip while the other painfully squeezed one of her small breasts. But she wasn't a princess for nothing. With a strength belied by her small frame, she brought her knee up right between his legs. As he fell back, clutching at his wounded anatomy, she punched him squarely in the eye. The guards caught her flailing fists before she could land another punch, and dragged her back. Odin Lowe slowly straightened up, his face a bit gray, and the soft flesh around his eye already puffing. He was breathing hard but, incredibly, he was still smiling. As she looked into that cobalt gaze, she knew with a sinking feeling that she was going to suffer a long time before he killed her. Before he could say anything however, Mariemeia escorted the Steward into the room. He affected not to notice the tension in the room as he delivered his report. "Please forgive the interruption, but your Generals are waiting to meet with you about the monsters in the southern Stonebrunt Mountains and there is a small delegation from the Sank Kingdom wanting to talk to you." Odin Lowe's smile faded slightly, but he regained his composure quickly. He nodded to the Steward and said, "I'll be there in a few minutes. Get me a Healer now." The Faydwer princess did not mention that she was a Healer. It was the one advantage she had to find a way out of this nightmare. She had heard what happened to Kunark's daughters. The Steward bowed and hurried from the room. The princess could not repress a shiver of fear as the Emperor of Golgatha turned back to her, his smile more disturbing than ever and his gaze was of sun on steel as he addressed her guards. "Take the princess back to her quarters, and guard her well. I'll deal with her later." His smile grew wolfish as the guards, holding her by her elbows, steered her to the door. "Until later, my dear Meiran." The three Oz soldiers were ushered into the Throne room. To the casual observer, they looked like any other delegation. An exceptionally good-looking delegation. There was an air of quiet confidence about them despite the fact that they were now in the heart of the greatest empire in the world. The soft murmur of discussions taking place filled the room as various groups of scholars and mages, as well as merchants and commoners moved about in the giant hall. There were guards of course, but the Emperor had no fear of anyone trying to hurt him. The power of the Throne prevented him from ever being attacked. The fearsome Mord-Sith provided protection as well. All the people in the huge room were slowly waving pieces of paper or other objects to fan themselves. The air in the Throne room had been spelled to remain cool and circulate, but the spells were having a hard time keeping up with the intense heat outside and the number of people inside. A path was cleared as a large group of men strode down the main aisle. People were bowing low but they were ignored as the occupants passed, too caught up in their own discussion. The man in the lead was tall with silvering dark hair and intense dark blue eyes. A woman dressed in brown leather with red hair pulled back in a braid strode beside him. A man dressed in a general's uniform behind them was speaking urgently. "My Lord, the reports about the goblins of Runnyeye are in. There are more than twice the numbers predicted. Spirit stalkers have been sighted in the eastern parts of the Korona plains and there are orcs in Nektulos forests attacking travelers. Many of the towns and villages are asking for the army's assistance." Heero, Quatre and Wufei exchanged glances as they overheard that bit of conversation when the group of men passed them. Golgatha was having problems with monsters? Odin Lowe's army should have dealt with any threats from supernatural creatures long before they started conquering other lands. It was just common sense. "I thought we had cleaned out the Nektulos several years ago. What are they doing back?" the tall man dressed in deep blue asked impatiently. The three Oz soldiers knew immediately that this was Odin Lowe and turned to get a good look at the enemy. "We did, my Lord. But now they are back. We are not sure where they are coming from, but their numbers are alarming. And there are more reports from places all over the Empire indicating an disquieting trend." Odin Lowe climbed the steps to the Throne and sat down. He stared at his generals and his mages acting as aides in consternation. The young leather-clad woman stood to his left side, her icy gaze swept over the occupants of the Throne room, looking for any threats. "Gentlemen, not even four years ago we had eliminated every monster within the border of the Empire, including the goblins at Runnyeye. Where are they coming from?" Odin's voice held the hint of imminent punishment if someone didn't come up with an answer. No one in the group could answer him. Odin Lowe sighed in exasperation and ordered them to personally take several troop companies and go deal with the outbreaks. It annoyed him to be wasting time dealing with things that should have been taken care of along time ago. It was only common sense to make sure that any monsters were killed before embarking on a campaign. It wasn't the generals' fault, but they were handy vents for his frustration. A few months of fighting the vicious monsters should inspire them to do a better job. He considered using the Throne's power to find out where the monsters were coming from, but dismissed the idea. The Throne had been surly and uncooperative lately. It was acting almost sentient, but that was ridiculous. The Power of the Throne was energy, energy to manipulate objects and people. It didn't have a mind of its own. The Steward stepped up after the military personnel were dismissed. Odin Lowe disliked the stupid toad immensely but put up with the divot's presence because he was so competent in running the Palace. The man had an incredible talent for organization, even if occasionally he made Odin want to twist his skinny neck. "My Lord, the delegation from the Sank Kingdom requests an audience with you." Odin leaned back in the Throne and studied the trio of young men standing beside the Steward. "What is the purpose of their visit?" Quatre stepped forward and bowed in the courtly manner Paragon had drilled into him; Heero and Wufei did the same. "Your Imperial Highness, I am Quatre Winner. I have been sent on behalf of her Royal Majesty, Queen Relena of the Sank Kingdom, to discuss terms of peace and trade between our two kingdoms." Odin did a casual scan of the three. They were who they said they were. The young Winner had the air of a diplomat and a magic user. The other two were obviously mere soldiers sent to keep the blond young man safe on his journey. A peace treaty with the Sank Kingdom wasn't necessary; Odin planned to conquer it eventually. But if he were to agree to a trade treaty, he could have a legitimate reason for having his own people moving about the Midlands and there would be nothing Treize could do about it. There was still that weapon of Treize's to consider. Maybe he could find out more about it. "I may be willing to discuss some trade agreements if you are willing to answer some questions for me." Quatre refrained from biting his lip. Smoothly he nodded, thousands of ideas of what Odin might want to know were running through his head. He hoped he could deflect any questions whose answers that might reveal too much information. "A few years ago, a part of my army was camped at the Bitterroot fortress on maneuvers. An unknown force wiped it out. Despite all our efforts to determine what took place, we have been unable to do so. Do you know what happened there?" Odin watched their reactions closely and noted the slight widening of the blond mage's blue eyes. `Ah-ha' he thought. Quatre mentally kicked himself. He should have anticipated that Odin was going to ask about Bitterroot. "I was not at Bitterroot when it was destroyed, your Highness." Quatre danced around the question and Odin immediately picked up on it. `He doesn't know what happened,' Quatre thought as his thoughts spun wildly. `He knows what happened.' Odin was feeling malicious and knew he would have fun by toying with the newcomers. But right now he had other matters to attend to. He decided to let them stay and string them along until he could find out exactly what they knew. "You are welcome to stay here at the Palace of Light. I will look forward to making a treaty between our two peoples. I hope that it will bring our kingdoms closer together." With that, the trio bowed deeply and the Steward led them out of the Throne room and into a large hall with stairways leading up at various intervals. "I will show you to your quarters. Dinner will be served in the main dining hall which is this way." He pointed to another set of large doors leading to another wing of the Palace. They made notes of various points of interest as they followed the Steward deep into the Palace and up numerous flights of marble steps. Finally they came to their quarters. The Steward opened the door and ushered them inside. "Just collar a servant if you need anything. My office is always open if you have any requests." He paused to see if they needed anything. They didn't. After the Steward left, they explored their luxurious surroundings. There were three separate bedrooms leading off a main sitting room. Another room contained a bathing pool. Large windows and lanterns provided light at various intervals. There was no fireplace. "It must not get too cold here," Wufei observed. At some unspoken signal, they all stopped wandering around the rooms and looked at each other. "Well, we're here," Quatre said. "Shall we get down to business?" Duo jumped into the willow tree outside his window and quietly climbed down to the ground. Clad in his usual black trousers and a loose white short-sleeved shirt, he landed under the protective branches and waited to see if anyone had spotted him. As yet the day had not started to cool down and his rooms were still sweltering. He had spent most of the late afternoon lying in a cool tub reading a book, and then dozing on his bed. For the first time he had enjoyed a sound sleep with no dreams and, when he woke up, he had felt good, despite the heat. The gardens were quiet, even the insects seemed wilted. Most of the Palace's inhabitants were staying as near cool baths and iced drinks as possible, leaving the gardens deserted. The humid air muted the glow of the setting sun. He ghosted through the manicured flowerbeds, making his way to the south side of the Palace where the stables were located. He had grabbed some apples and was going to say goodnight to Shinigami. He had spent the hour after they got back from their ride just grooming her sleek hide. For three years he had had nothing to tie him to his past, then suddenly she had shown up, giving him some assurance that all he had known wasn't entirely lost. Being around her made him feel that two of the threads of his unraveled life had suddenly rewoven themselves, tighter than ever. The young Confessor slipped into the open stables. The doors had been left open to let in any small breezes and perhaps cool the horses a little. He made his way past stall after stall; there were about seventy-five horses stables at the Palace at any given time. Shinigami's stall was near the far end. The horses were quiet, most were sleeping and a few picked at their hay. The occasional swish of a tail or stamp of a hoof were the only noises he could hear. He was almost to her stall when he glanced in over an open half-door and noted the new horse next to her. It was a tall, silver colt, the color of the twin moons. It looked back at him with interest but made no attempt to approach the stall door. He thought it was a beautiful animal, but not as nice as his Shinigami. Shinigami leaned her head out her own door and nickered quietly, drawing his attention away from the moons' shade colt. Duo walked over to her and stroked her soft muzzle. She readily accepted the apple, munching away happily. She was still immaculate from his previous brushing, but he went into the tack room and grabbed a brush anyway. He entered the stall and she stood still while he worked the brush over her silky hide. He was so engrossed in what he was doing he didn't notice the sun go down. By the time he was satisfied that the black mare was completely free of any dirt, it was well after dark. Duo was sweating when he finally emerged from the stall. His shirt clung to his back and chest, and his bangs were plastered to his face. He put the brush back in the tack room and grabbed a clean towel, drying his dripping face and neck. As he tossed the towel into the laundry pile and shut the door, he wished that it would rain. Duo was so engrossed in his thoughts he didn't realize he was no longer alone, but a slight sound whirled him around. He found himself staring into a slightly widened set of cobalt blue eyes. TBC The stage is set and the players are in place. Let the games begin!