The Ruin of Hayll

The decimation of the One Hundred families had started with the Witchstorm, though to be honest, it had started centuries prior. The main branches wiped out with one resounding psychic blast. Those that didn't die immediately were left as husks of their former selves; empty and broken in both mind and jewels; easy prey for the Landen looking for a scapegoat to generations of suffering. Those that did not survive were just bits and pieces that once were assembled into refined aristocrats of society; their presence reduced to just another mess needing cleaned up.

Within one day the majority of the territory's priestesses and acolytes were wiped from existence. The strongest of them gone in a simple blink of an eye to become nothing; not even a whisper in the darkness. The queens that remained were either too young, too broken, or untrained; easy prey for the the rebellion as it swept through the territory pushing back the ravenous landen that threatened to exterminate their Blood counterparts. 

Only a few managed to hold out through those decades. A few outliers of the families who had something to protect; in this instance Leona their Purple-dusk to Opal priestess. The last remaining matriarch of an outlying branch of the Domani family. Kiera knew, on some instinctual level that she should count as one of those treasures. Her jewels were weak, with her offering Jewel barely reaching a pale Rose, and overlooked she had remained hidden in the annuals of her family. A mere footnote with no merit or training. 

Perhaps it was the fact her hair was not the perfect straight black of the long lived races, her eyes were not a rich gold but instead a pale butter yellow. Kiera knew she was pretty, beautiful really, if her cousin was to be believed. Still, she was shunned for traits beyond her control. It wasn't her fault that her mother's chosen consort had produced a queen of dubious bloodline and weak jewel strength. Not that Dorothea had been accepting of strong willed or dark jeweled queens. Most were broken in unfortunate accidents before their offerings; turned into nothing more than vacant eyed broodmares to produce their one legitimate child before their husbands could stray to more fertile fields. 

Kiera knew she should be thankful that her branch of the family survived. That somehow her cousins, brother, and mother were spared from the storm that took so many. Their estate far enough away from the capital city that the first wave of landen uprisings didn't reach them until they had recovered their strength. She wasn't thankful though; trapped within the high walls of the estate. Not when she could feel the suffering of the land beneath her feet. It's hunger cried at her, beat at her mind until she tossed and turned in her sleep unable to find rest. 

Shalador, they had heard, had started training queens. The territory had produced several queens in the decades that had passed between The Tragedy and now. The shorter lived races faster to adapt; to pivot to the change in times. Hayll, stubborn as Askavi, had remained stagnant with the Blood fighting the landen while retreating and holding to the old broken ways, with Queens being nothing more than vats of power to fuel the gardens and farmlands needed to feed the armies raised by the survivors of the great families. 

Only her cousin's protest had kept her from serving in the fields alongside the serfs and remaining slaves. The broken and damned that toiled beneath the hot sun as the queens poured their strength into the ground for the few stunted crops that would grow from the tormented earth. Kiera served only to aid in her family's garden. Her blood enriching their foodstuffs and keeping cheeks within their manor from hollowing with hunger. A decade of blood letting, of kneeling in the soil, had left its mark on her in the manner of small white scars along her palms and forearms. 

A decade of their holding out as family after family fell to the Rebellion and their leader. Alessi Gerodi; an Opal to Sapphire Warlord Prince from a line only note worthy for having produced several strong Princes prior to him. Men that Dorothea had targeted to be broken, killed, or turned into eunuchs shattered to her will. His own father having been outright killed for his vocal protest over the direction of their territory. He and his rebellion were the rock that trapped the aristos in their fortified estates, with the landen pressing from the otherside until one by one the estates fell and occupants within either slaughtered or absorbed into the menial ranks. 

"Kiera.. are you even listening to me?" Luca's voice broke through her reverie. With a sigh Kiera placed her quill to one side; blowing a breath over the wet ink on the page. Only one among many as she did her best to keep record of the rebellion and fall of Hayll. "They are approaching. Your father's forces have surrendered and our sires are both prisoners of that savage." Luca tugged at her arm, urging her to rise. 

Kiera looked, finally noticing the rich dress draped over the foot of her bed. A beautiful thing of damask silk in a rich green that brought out the golden highlights of her skin and made her pale eyes seem exotic rather than defective. A pair of matching slippers sat beside the bed as she looked over at her cousin for a moment bewildered. If their doom was approaching, why was she being wrapped up like a present to be offered at banquet. 

"Mother darkness... they mean to.." The words caught in her throat; bit back the bitter bile that rose in her horror. She ignored the fact that her cousin had already half unfastened the lacing to her gown. His interest didn't lay in the distaff sex and he was the best to assist her in dressing. Kiera shivered as the cool air kissed over her skin as the ratty faded yellow dress fell to the floor and pooled at her feet. Her thin slip beneath barely provided cover, much less warmth.

"Better than certain death. Now lift your feet." He tapped her calf and raised each foot, allowing the worn leather shoe and often patched stockings to be removed from her legs. As soon as the most visible parts of her worn clothing was removed, the rich gown was guided up her hips and over her arms. The heavy material offered warmth as it settled with its full sleeves that draped down to her fingertips. The neckline dipped low enough to show the top of her breasts with the threat of too deep a breath causing a nipple to escape the stiff fabric. 

"Easy to say, you aren't the sacrificial goat" Kiera replied bitterly. She knew she should be honored to sacrifice herself to preserve her family, to guard the last of the dark jeweled priestesses of Hayll. Keira wasn't; she was livid despite burying the emotion as far down as she could; focusing instead on being dressed. New stockings were slid up her legs before the delicate slippers were slid over her feet. Luca tsked his tongue at the tangled mess that was her hair before pulling out a simple silk snood studded with a few chips of quartz to catch any stray light. 

"Well you are a pretty goat. As well as one of his demands." At her alarmed look Luca shrugged. "Did you think that our people not withering wouldn't catch attention? The Witchbane is a smart man, piccola. Prince Gerodi has been bringing all the queens to justice or service." Luca shrugged trying to hide his fear for her buried beneath his usual light hearted banter. Once she was fully dressed and her bracelet that held her yellow jewel donned along with the necklace that her pale rose jewel was set into. Thus at least she would go armed as much as she could be before the conqueror. 

The pair of them reached the marble foyer. Beautiful, it had once been an immaculate sweeping room with its polished marble flooring, arched roof with painted murals, and expensive fragrant wood furniture. Now it was hollow, emptied but for a few pieces of mismatched tables and cabinets. Cobwebs and dust coated much of the surface, and the marble was dull from grime and wear. No one had time to worry about frivolous luxuries as they struggled for basic survival.

Her mother stood there before the door. Her shining black hair loose down her back where it touched her hips. Tall and slender, her mother stood straight with squared shoulders. Her deep burnished gold eyes fierce as she braced herself for the events to come. Dressed in deep red gown that clung to every curve; her mother was a beautiful woman. Sensual with lush curves that deprivation had had lessened; leaving Kiera to feel like the little waif. 

Luca brought them to the back of the party that had arranged itself in the foyer. All anxious gazes on the heavy wooden doors as they waited for the impending arrival of the victorious rebellion and what their final fate would be. Kiera's heart beat loud enough to drown out the murmurs of the others around her. Servants, half bloods too weak to hold jewels but too different to remain with the landen, surrounded them among the common blood witches, young priestesses, and healers that her family had managed to scavenge from the countryside. Warlords formed the perimeter with the occasional Prince dappled through as they formed a physical shield between the women and the door; leaving only her mother exposed as those doors swung inwards at the invisible push. 

The strength of his presence filled the room first, before he had even stepped in. Fierce and determined, Alessi was a creature to be marveled at. Pure Hayllian from the rich brown of his skin, the deep nearly blue black of his hair, bright gold eyes. He was handsome and angry. His gaze searched over their motley gathering dismissing each of them in disgust before falling on Kiera. Quickly she dipped her head, hiding her eyes even as her mother snapped her fingers indicating the girl should come forward. 

"Prince Gerodi, we are your humble servants." Her mother's silken voice laced over the room. Slithering and insidious; Leona wasn't exactly wicked but she certainly wasn't a paragon among witches either. She was the one to make the hard choices that no others wished to face. Pragmatic she would do what was necessary to maintain her influence and life; even if it meant sacrificing the life of her only daughter. 

"Spare me the false humility Leona." He interrupted her greeting rudely; continuing the disrespect by dropping any titles due to the matriarch by virtue of bloodline or caste. "You are beaten; your armies gone and even your jewels empty from your futile defiance." Alessi didn't spare anytime on correcting the woman's hubris. Instead he marched in further and paused before the gathering looking over each one of them again. "Where is the queen you harbor here?"

"My daughter is untrained and simple." The words stung at Kiera. Even now her mother worked to diminish her; to make her seem lesser in the eyes of those around them. Kiera was accustomed enough to the sting of the not so subtle barbs. She could hope that this time the dismissal would serve in her favor. "Though I am happy to trade her for the peaceful retreat of your army. Perhaps you can find a use for the girl." Leona kept her tone carefully neutral, barely hiding her contempt of the man standing before her. Kiera took her first step forward before freezing as her mother's eyes bulged and her nails clawed at an invisible hand clenched around her throat. 

"Do not toy with me, Priestess. You will die badly." Alessi's expression never changed, nothing about him indicated the strain of craft, as he released the hold on the Priestess. The indomitable Leona Domani fell to her knees, slumped over on the hard marble as she gasped in each breath. The sight of her mother kneeling at the man's feet, still gasping each breath, spurred Kiera forward. She knew her duty. Hers was the task to preserve what she could of the Domani family even if it meant selling part of her soul.

"I am here Prince." Kiera raised her voice just loud enough to be heard over the dull murmur of voices that came with too many bodies in a small space. "Lady Domani kept her part of the treaty" Kiera managed to dip a low curtsy as she stepped in front of her mother; an indication of her lesser jewels to his. The volume of her skirts meant to help hid her mother from immediate view, to distract his gaze from Leona and allow her mother to regain her composure. Kiera fought the urge to flee, the depth of his jewels hung between them almost suffocating with the malice that emanated from the man. 

"So you are." She felt his fingers curl beneath her chin, tipping her face up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "You understand that your survival depends on my will, don't you?" His voice held contempt for her. Either her caste, or her place as an aristo; but either one she didn't have a choice in the accident of birth that had produced her. His fingers curved around her jaw roughly until she glared at him and jerked back against his touch. Whatever he saw in those brief moments seemed to appease him as he released her and shoved her back at Luca. Her cousin caught her before they both were surrounded by three of Alessi's men; warlords the each of them. 

"Kill the aristos, screen the rest of them.. except the girl and her escort." He turned away from the queen as he uttered the command. Nothing in his tone gave indication of his emotions; just the cold chill that lingered in the air. The danger of warlord princes affirmed in the calm command to shatter what agreement had been arranged between himself and Lady Domani. Her mother seemed prepared for the turn as purple dusk shields snapped into place around the tight gathering. Several others snapped into place behind it; white, yellow, and the continued rainbow of light colored jewels. Horror and desperation had Kiera lunging at Alessi, her fingers digging into the material of his coat as she pulled on his arm. 

"No! Please Prince, I beg you.." Kiera cried out, watching in horror as the rebels surged forward. Their organized attack shattered those fragile shields in a breath. Their swords descended, plunging into the warm living bodies of the remaining warlords, acolytes, and witches alike. The half bloods screamed and ran, becoming a hazardous obstacle as they attempted to escape the carnage. More than a few died from accidental strikes as they wove between the two forces in their panicked flight. Her eyes closed as the first spray of blood arched in the air; not from craft but the cleave of a blade. The soldiers trained enough to reserve their power during battle. A sword killed just as finally as a strike of magic. 

"Yes, beg pretty little aristo bitch. Beg like my father, my uncles, and grandfather did as your mother and her aristo friends mutilated them before breaking their minds leaving them little more than walking corpses. Beg as my mother was forced to when she could not find work to feed herself and children. Just like then it won't change their fate." He pulled his arm from her digging nails. Just as quickly he grabbed her, turning her around to face the battle giving her no escape, no illusion of what he was. No way for her to pretend their world was not this violent and dangerous place. His hand flattened against her belly as he pulled her back hard against his chest, giving the little queen no quarter to escape. 

"At least they are granted clean deaths. Be thankful for that and remember your fate could be so much worse." He released the queen then, allowing her to slump downwards as the force of her sobs tore through her body. Her eyes pressed closed as Luca came to kneel in front of her, his arms circled around her shoulders allowing her to bury her face against his shoulder. He offered a shield against witnessing the fall of House Domani. Even her stalwart escort could not save her from the sounds and glimpses of death around her; Kiera's attention locked onto the final image of the mighty Lady Domani. Her mother's eyes vacant and empty as she stared between the worlds in death. A death Kiera wondered if she could ever avenge. 

"The Commander has demanded you be bound and jewels confiscated Lady." The warlord's voice was soft, almost trying to sound reassuring despite the unflinching obedience to his leader's commands. Kiera felt the conflict in the male, could see the way he hesitated to strip the defeated queen before him of her remaining dignity. Temptation rose to push back, to strike out and if luck would have it join her family in the darkness, and then withered at the feel of Luca's grip on her. She bowed her head in defeat, passively allowing the man to loop the rope around her wrists before he slid her bracelet from her wrist and with a sharp jerk broke the delicate chain of her necklace slipping both jewels into a soft calf hide bag. 

"You too Prince." Luca had already released Kiera long enough to remove his own jewels. The ring containing the summer-sky of his offering jewel given over to slide into the bag before the matched cufflinks of his birthright tiger's eye joined the rest in the bag. Only their jewels were taken and slipped inside the bag that was promptly carried to the leader for him to fasten to his belt. 

"A poor goat I made; though still ended up tethered." Kiera whispered to Luca, holding still as the soldiers swarmed around them, looting the manor home of anything that was either foodstuffs, or of monetary value. The scent of smoke rose along with stench of burning wool as one of the expensive rugs was left to smolder by a carelessly broken lamp. 

"I should have run with you.. right after, I should have taken you into hiding Piccola. I am so sorry." Luca whispered as he held her close trying to shield her from the sight and smells around them. Then they were walking. Her thin shoes worthless as they were saturated the blood of the fallen around them. Only Luca's hold on her kept her on her feet instead of being drug by the bonds on her wrists. 

"Don't be, you did what you thought right Luca. Now we have to face the consequences of our actions along with our family's." She whispered as they walked, brought out in a parade of triumph. The hem of her fine gown soaked in blood and slapping against her ankles with each step. Tears streaked along her cheeks but somehow Kiera kept her chin lifted and expression impassive as they marched out through the parted sea of landen rioters, Blood rebels, and serfs who had served in the fields. All of which were vocal about their distain of her aristocratic status. 

A glob of mud struck her cheek, sliding down to fall off and land on the bodice of her dress. More followed until Kiera was forced to jog to stay ahead of the rocks and filth being flung at herself and Luca. Her caste didn't protect her from humiliation, from the forced march outside of the small city that her family had lorded over for centuries. 

Once they were beyond the worst of the masses, with only the rebels surrounding them, Luca and Kiera attempted to wipe the filth from their skins. Their feet aching and legs rubbery from the forced march towards the encampment. The threat that had waited for them on the hill, a vague smudge of smoke from their home, and now a looming reality that Kiera hoped would be a respite for her aching and exhausted body. 

"Prince Alessi wants that one in his tent. Her companion goes in with the others." The soldier seemed to hold some rank over the ones leading her and Luca. A cry of protest came to her lips even as Luca squeezed her fingers in reassurance.

"Stay strong, I will return to you as soon as I can." Luca's last words cut back the sob that wanted to escape her. Her carefully cultivated world was shattered in one day. Everything she had come to depend on gone along with her way of life. Suddenly forgotten and neglected seemed to be an envious life rather than this nightmare she faced. 

"Ugh, she stinks.. Rinse her off first at least." Kiera jerked her head up at that. A cloud of dried dust flurried off her skin at the motion. The caked on filth tugged at her skin where it had dried. Before she could even ask a bucket of stale tepid water was dumped over her head, soaking her gown and sending a river of grime drizzling down to stain the once expensive fabric. Another bucket soon followed until the worst of the muck was gone. The force of the water loosened the snood holding her hair, leaving a few soaked strands to pool haphazardly around her face. 

Shivering Kiera shifted in the muddy grass where she stood. Waiting for the next indignity, but instead she was lead inside the tent. Warmth immediately enveloped her. The heating spell enough to end the chattering of her teeth from the cool outside air combined with being soaked down to her skin. 

"You will be brought food and drink soon." The rope was slipped off her wrists, allowing her to rub the chafed skin to restore some feeling to her fingertips. The soldier indicated a spot in the corner for Kiera to settle herself. A sad mostly flattened pillow and pile of blankets made up what she took to be her bed. 

"You may want to stay standing until your clothing dries, if you don't know basic housekeeping craft." The man laughed before marching off, leaving Kiera in the tent. Her jaw hurt from biting back her anger and humiliation. She knew basic craft and could tap into it, however she didn't trust herself not to ignite her clothing into flames or worse with the state of her mind. Kiera had never had to learn how to manage the basics while her emotions ran high as servants had attended to her basic needs before The Tragedy; even defective she was still a daughter of the Domani family.

Exhausted she couldn't summon up the strength and instead just allowed herself to sink onto the floor, curled up against one of the tent posts. Her body aching Kiera fought the urge to sleep where she sat; too afraid to be even more vulnerable in the lair of the enemy. She forced herself to remain awake, running through all the lessons she had hastily read of blood law over the past year. Laws she should have known by heart before her offering; but was just now studying. Kiera didn't have to wait long before Alessi walked into the tent.

The wash of his power announced him rather than the fall of his footsteps. Silently she watched as he pulled the heavy wool coat off, slinging it over a foldable stool before the rough desk coated with ledgers. His shirt sleeves were rolled up and dark hair mussed from the day. A thin smudge of soot streaked over his cheek and jawline only highlighting the masculine beauty of the monster before her. A beautiful, lithe, monster; but still a monster. 

"Bring a change of clothing and a basin with soap and heated water" He called over his shoulder. A slender witch stood at the entry to the tent, waiting for his instructions. "For her too. She stinks." He qualified his decision with a sneer. Kiera glared back; as if she had a choice about her state of appearance. "Food after." The woman nodded before turning to leave casting a pitying look at Kiera. Alone with the man who had murdered her family, Kiera forced herself to stagger once more to her feet. Her sodden dress tangled and heavy around her legs. Her hands clenched at her sides, ready to defend herself as best she could from him. Alessi looked at her, giving a snort of derision as he raked his gaze over her.

"Sit down little queen. I have no interest in you. You are safe enough here; I am not stupid enough to throw a virgin queen in with the rest of the riff raff that we picked up along the way." He crossed to press a hand to her shoulder, the pressure firm but not hard enough to hurt. Kiera's knees gave out in exhaustion and she dropped to the ground with a soft grunt. "You will get used to the pace. We have several weeks to go until we reach Draega." He stepped back at the soft scratching sound against the canvas flap that served as a door. "Enter." He turned away as the woman from earlier stepped in. A small plump little hearth witch that carried a large basin with a ewer of steaming water and soaps. Behind her floated a simple outfit of a full skirt, blouse, and a few strips of cloth. 

"Thank you Mirella." Alessi took the ewer and emptied half of it into another bronze basin. The ewer floated back over to them as the hearthwitch pulled a draped curtain around the small area before indicating that Kiera strip her ruined clothing. Her tongue tsked against the roof of her mouth at the raw state of the queen's wrists. 

"Thank me by telling your men to be less of bastards. Poor girl's wrists are chewed up." The purple-dusk witch retorted in a huff before handing Kiera one of the strips of cloth, soaked in the hot water and lathered with a softly scented soap. Hurriedly Kiera used the scrap cloth to scrub off her face, chest, and arms of the filth while the other woman worked her hair free of the snood and slowly combed through the mess loosening any dirt that had encrusted each tangled lock. 

The makeshift bath removed the worst of the dirt and once changed into dry clothing with her wrists soothed by a thick salve Kiera felt a little better. Grief still threatened to steal her breath and fear kept her on edge, but at lest she didn't smell like a farm animal. The curtain whisked open as Mirella cleared the fouled clothing and filthy water. With one last glare directed at Alessi the woman left the tent with only the rustle of the heavy canvas to signal her disapproval. 

"Why?" The statement escaped her. The demand to give voice to her anger, her grief, and strange sense of betrayal forced the words from her mouth. "They had surrendered. She had surrendered. So why?" Kiera just wanted to understand. She needed to understand the day, to make some sense of the waking nightmare she was trapped in. 

"Why?" He echoed back, his voice deep and velvety, as he focused his attention on her fully. Watched the heave of her chest as she pushed through her fear. Studied her slight form, so delicate and breakable, a temptation to see how far she could bend until snapping beneath his will. "Because of the men she and her coven ordered mutilated for entertainment. For the children left without mothers or fathers because she followed orders to purge any suspected of rebellion" Alessi watched as horror bloomed over her face. Her skin paled beyond the exhaustion that rode her. 

"Oh yes, just because your mother survived the witchstorm didn't mean her hands were clean of blood. Justice, that is why. Because everything has a price Lady, and she finally paid for her crimes against those weaker than herself." Alessi tried to remind himself that the woman before him was barely past being a girl herself. At least five decades his junior and sheltered; as the anger of injustice passed pushed his short temper higher. 

He stalked closer, pausing at the scent of her, her skin clean of perfumes and filth, she smelled alluring. A call to home that had him taking a half step forward before he pushed off whatever hold she threatened to hold over him. This woman child that called to him; offered him the leash every warlord prince sought. His queen, his to serve, to protect, and to cherish; he refused to succumb. His will would remain his own and not this spoiled child's plaything. 

" I didn't.. she couldn't.." Kiera stammered at his approach. Her hands rose to protect her face as if expecting him to strike her. Her physical recoil a challenge and insult rolled into one. He stepped closer, narrowing the space between them, as he pulled her hands down away from her face unable to resist stroking his thumb along the back of her hand. 

"I know, and she did. Now rest little queen. You won't be touched or bothered." He gave her a little push that sent her toppling to the pile of blankets. The force of her landing cushioned by the layers of blankets. her soft squeal and then huff of outrage earned a sharp bark of laughter before Alessi sat at his desk, starting to review the reports sent over from other camps as they all worked to converge on the capital city.

Reports of the poisoned earth, of drought and famine, they came from across the territory, branching even into others while Dena Nehele and Shalador alone seemed to be recovering and finding their balance again with their proper Shadow realm trained queens. Their meals were brought and he ate while working, listening to the soft scrape of her spoon against the bowl as she slowly consumed her meal. The sound of her movements stilled as her breathing dropped into the peaceful pace of slumber. 

At a stopping point Alessi put down his pen and rubbed his eyes in exhaustion before rising to go to his own bed. As he went to cross the small space he looked over at the hunched figure of his captive queen. She had fallen asleep where she sat with her neck at an uncomfortable looking angle. Quietly he approached her, carefully shifting her to lay down on the blankets before drawing another one up over her. 

Satisfied that she would at least sleep peacefully Alessi slid into his own bed to fall asleep; his shields wisely still snapped into place even while he slept. Even in the middle of his camp of trusted and loyal soldiers his guard was never let down.