lordofthemanse

[lordofthemanse]

MEETING THE KING W/@warriorkhaia

Khaia:

After she ran into Phury and Zsadist, Khaia had called the number Phury gave her.  She left a message and asked for a chance to meet with the king.  Several days later she got a return call with an address and time to be there.  Khaia wrote down the address and then waited for Tuesday night to come around.  

When Tuesday night was upon her, she dressed in leathers and went to the location.  This must be the audience house for King Wrath.  There was no one around, but there were lights on inside.  She approached and tried the door.  It opened and she peered inside.  There two large males just inside, they had to be more Brothers; but she didn’t see Phury and Zsadist.  She stepped inside.  

“I’m Khaia, daughter of Khaos.  I have a meeting with the King tonight.”  

One of them patted her down before he showed her into a room with a desk and few chairs.  Then he closed the door behind her.  She walked around the room looking at the things on the shelves.  There were few books and knick knacks from the old world.  When the door behind her opened she turned to see a large male with wrap around glasses and beautiful golden retriever leading him.  His presence filled the room and she had to admit that he was an intimidating figure.  

“Thank you for seeing me,  your majesty.”  

Wrath:

The night had already been long with instance after instance of disputes: disputes over land, disputes over inheritances, disputes over property, and the most ridiculous of all, a dispute over a mated bed. Who argues over the mated bed of their mahmen and sire? There is one twisted family for you.

Next up on my docket was a female claiming to be kin to Khaos, a brother I had known long ago. Khaos had been exactly that, chaos with a capital “K.” He had a penchant for getting into trouble and leaving everything upheaved in his wake. He was an incredible warrior and loyal to the bone. One thing about him had bonded us, he had no interest in mating a female. He had loved once and lost and it had nearly put him in The Fade at a young age. After being pulled out of a great depression by the Brotherhood, he put it all behind him and moved forward, vowing to never allow the love of a female to control his life, again. Me, I just wasn’t interested in it all. I was 110% a warrior and I lived for the fight and nothing else. So, we made a good team.

The thought that his kin had found their way to the Brotherhood was surprising to me, considering his female had made it clear when she left him that she wanted to be completely free of her connection to him and the Brotherhood. He had told me that he sired twins with her, but he had also told me that she had left him to mate another and had insisted that her new mate was to raise the young as his own. The whole situation had been brutal on Khaos and considering how insistent his female had been when she left, I was certain this couldn’t be one of the twins. So, if not one of the twins, then who? Was it possible Khaos spilled his seed elsewhere? Absolutely. He had sworn off falling in love, not females entirely. But, he had generally been fairly careful with his conquests and not letting them know who he was.

I had asked Saxton to research and find what he could about Khaos and his kin in our tombs. He had found no proof of any other kin to Khaos, aside from his sire, mahmen, and the twins. Tucking the file Saxton had converted into Braille for me under my arm, I took George’s harness in the other and let him lead me into the room. John Matthew was with me for security, as was Saxton, for his knowledge in the matter.

The female’s voice was light, yet strong as she greeted me. I nodded in return and found my way to the chair behind my desk. Once settled, I turned to where the voice had met me and started, “So, I understand you claim to be kin to the Brother Khaos?”

Khaia:

Khaia had to keep her cool.  The word claimed did not set well with her.  She knew who she was from the journals left by her mahmen and her late twin.  Maxus was not her blood nor had he ever acted like a father. He had been the male her mahmen's family had chosen because they thought her true father wasn't good enough.  In her mind, they were tje ones that had gotten her twin killed.  She believed had her mahmen stayed with her father, her brother would still be here.

"I do not claim.  I am his daughter.  Mine twin, named for our father, Khaos has entered the fade as has mine mahmen, Emilia daughter of Moraeu."  She was speaking quickly.  The fear he was going to brush her aside was lurking in the back of her mind.  So many others had, why would he be any different.  

"Your majesty.  I am looking for information on my father.  I… I want to know who he was. What he was like.  I want nothing more."  A soft sigh crossed her lips. "I have been searching along time for anything on him and have had many doors shut in my face. You are mine last hope."

For a moment she studied Wrath.  His wrap around glasses. His poker face.  "I have learned to fight and to protect our race as he did.  I want to honor him."  Her heart was racing and her mind was telling her that even if she produced the ring, she would still not be believed.  

Wrath:

I could hear the tension in her voice, yet it offered no signs of deception. This young female believed she was daughter to the late Brother Khaos, and she had all the facts right. We had learned of Khaos, son of Khaos’ passing. Just as we had known of Emilia, daughter of Moraeu’s passing. There were few that knew of the existence of Emilia, let alone the twins, and no one knew of their names.

When Emilia left Khaos, he had ensured that her request for privacy was fulfilled. He also knew that if his young were ever discovered, they would have targets on their backs, so it was all a well-guarded secret amongst the Brotherhood. It killed him every day that they were lost to him. How could he protect them, if they were so far away? He tried for years to stay close, but that just made everything more difficult… watching Emilia with Maxus had nearly torn him apart. So much so that he finally decided to move away, and depend on the Brotherhood to keep the young safe.

Yes, the twins were a well-guarded secret and very few people would know the names Khaos, Son of Khaos, and Khaia. They would also not put them together with that of Emilia, daughter of Moraeu. This information alone, made me think twice about this female’s claims. Was she really daughter to the late Brother Khaos? If she wasn’t, this was a fishing expedition for information, and I was not going to be the one to confirm any of it.

“I believe, that you believe, you are who you say you are. That does not make it true.” I began, almost hearing the shift to aggression in Khaia’s stance. I held up my hand to John Matthew. “You must understand, we get numerous claims every month, stating that they are long-lost relatives of Brothers past and present. 99% of them are false.” This female had too much correct information to dismiss. Yet again, I did not want to be confirming dangerous information about the real Khaia to a stranger.

I remembered that Khaos had once told me that Khaia looked just like Emilia. Unfortunately, Tohr and I were the only two Brothers that ever met her, that were still alive, and I was of no use in verifying Khaia’s looks. “What you have told me today, does not add up to proof.” I was careful with my words.

Khaia:

When he hadn't accepted who she was, her ire started to show.  She was tired of being a liar by so many, when the male that was no doubt a Brother started to move forward she was ready.  If it took a fight to prove who she was, so be it.  Just as she thought it, Wrath held up his hand and the male stepped back.  

Khaia pulled the chain from under her shirt.  "I have mine father's ring.  He left for mine twin, mine mahmen never gave it to him.  It was with her things in a envelope with a letter from our father." She held it out even though she knew he couldn't see it.  How could she prove who she was?

"Then tell me how I prove who I am?  I have mine mahmen's journals and mine brothers.  In his he mentions meeting a male when he was a teenager, the male had our eyes and that our mahmen knew him well.  Khaos was sure he was our father."  

Her hands were at her sides gripped into fists. "I have very little memories of him.  The last I saw him I was very young.  I remember dark hair and a booming laugh that was infectious." Her eyes stayed on Wrath.  " The only thing I have to offer as proof besides his ring are the journals."

In her heart she knew if he didn't believe her, she would never be able to claim her birthright. She knew there was a training program and that females were accepted.  Her mahmen never wanted her young to follow in their footsteps, but fighting was instinctual to Khaia.  It was what she was born for.  

Wrath:

Thinking carefully here, there was much at stake. If, on one hand, this was not Khaia, giving up or confirming any information could be deadly to the real Khaia. Then again, if this actually was Khaia, she belonged with us.

A plan began to come together in my mind. “The ring.” I extended my hand in expectation. This female would have to know, if she were offering a ring as proof, we would want to be able to examine it.

The second part of my plan was going to be pushing her patience, and I knew it. But, I had to be right on this one. It would involve sending her away today, in order for her to return with the journals she spoke of. The journals of Emilia would be proof enough, if they told the tale we all knew about. Plus, when she returned, I could ensure that Tohr was here to put eyes on the female. He would remember Emilia and be able to validate the resemblance.

I waited for the female to respond to my request for the ring.

Khaia:

The ring was on its chain around her neck.  She had held it up for all there to see and then as he spoke she ran it over the chain.  Then froze when he asked for it.  It had not been off the chain or her neck since she found it in her late brother's things.  

Reluctantly she removed it.  "I want it back.  Even you don't accept me for who I am, daughter of the brother Khaos, it's all I have left of my father." Khaia placed the ring in his hand still on its chain.  She felt everyone in the room staring at her.  

She was waiting for his next demand.  Would have to be her mother's journals.  They told how Emilia met Khaos.  The romance they had.  When the twins were born. Her mother had recorded every detail.  

"I'm sure you want more then just the ring."  Her eyes stayed focused on him.  She dare not look at the others.  They no doubt felt she was lying like Zsadist had.  

Wrath:

My fingers engulfed the ring as I closed my hand around it. It definitely felt hefty enough to be one belonging to a Brother. I passed it to my right, handing it over to Saxton. “Take care with this ring, while you verify it’s authentication.”

“Aye, sire.” Came the stoic response from my trusted attorney and friend. He was the ultimate professional when it came to matters of the Brotherhood.

Turning back to Khaia, I continued my requests. “We would also like to see the journals, to authenticate your history. I understand this is a lot to ask, but you must understand, if you are who you say you are, we need to believe it beyond a shadow of a doubt. You cannot just come in here with a story and expect us to bow down. If we were that easy to accept the truths of everyone that comes in here with a claim, we would all be dead, as would the people we are trying to protect. So, make another appointment to bring back the journals for us to review. At such time, we will return the ring to you. If this is not acceptable to you, Saxton will give you the ring back now and we will not see you again.” I hated to be harsh, but if she was telling the truth, she had nothing to hide. If she was not, we would lose nothing to have her turn around and never come back.

Khaia:

Her thoughts had been correct.  She had thought he'd want the journals.  Actually, that was what she had thought he'd want most and she was now kicking herself in her mind.  She should have brought them with her.

"I will get them for you, but like the ring I expect them back undamaged.  My family is gone and I had hoped to be welcomed into the one my father had chosen as his."  She had wanted to say she didn't see that happening, but she bit her tongue.  Better to see what happened then allow her blunt nature offend the King.  

"Thank you for seeing and I will setup another appointment." Khaia noticed the male standing to Wrath's right motion to her step over to him. He handed her a card with a date and time on it.  She met his eyes and thanked him. Then stepped back waiting for Wrath to dismiss her.  

Wrath:

The obstinance in her voice reminded me of Khaos. If she were to turn out to be his kin, the tenacity that she obviously oozed with, definitely came from him. Although, remembering back, Emilia had a stubbornness of her own. It would be no surprise that a young of theirs had the strength that this female obviously had in spades. If she only knew how much I already respected her. “As King of the Brotherhood and this race, you have my word that we will take the utmost care with your belongings.”

I stood up and grabbed George’s harness. “I will see you soon, young Khaia.” Turning, I made my way out of the room. I was eager to call Tohr and get his take on the whole situation. I also wanted to make sure that when Khaia came back, he would be available to be at the Audience House. I would need his eye on Khaia to confirm or deny the resemblance to Khaos’ lost Emilia.

Khaia:

With his words, Khaia looked around at the Brothers that were there.  She had dreamed of fighting a long side of them.  Of learning from them.  At this point, she thought it may stay just a dream; however, at least she tried.

Turning on the heel of her shoe she headed out of the audience house into the cool night air.  She stopped and  looked up at the sky.  No moon could be seen, she pulled her hood up before walking away.  

-END-

#MeetingTheKing #SASBDB #BDBRP