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Date Posted: 03:56:47 12/26/01 Wed
Author: Leigh
Subject: Re: Orignal Gemstone 9
In reply to: Leigh 's message, "Orignal Gemstone" on 03:53:05 12/24/01 Mon




Madeline's footsteps echoed with a hollow sound down the hallway as she made her way towards the council room. Once there she entered and closed the door behind her. The woman seated at the table rose to her feet and inclined her head.

"Ismene," Aella greeted her. "You sent for me?"

Madeline dismissed the doyan's adherence to protocol with a wave of her hand. "Did a message from Barra arrive at Themiscya?" she asked, sitting down at the head of the table.

"Early this morning," the doyan answered, her eyes carefully blank. She wasn't sure what her mother was up to yet, but she sensed it was not something Nikita would like.

"And Nikita's reaction?" Madeline asked, her gaze piercing.

"I wouldn't know. She didn't speak with me concerning it," Aella responded.

"Not at all?"

"No, Ismene. After sending Barra's messenger back, she left with Michael and hadn't returned yet when I received word that you wanted to see me." Aella paused, her eyes trying to assess her mother's mood. "Is the M'yrene in danger?" she asked. Relief washed over her as Madeline shook her head.

"No," Madeline answered, her voice distant, as if she were talking more to herself then to the doyan. "Nikita will be safe as long as she remains within our borders. But I must speak with her." Her attention focused again on Aella. "Rest awhile then return to Themiscya and tell Nikita that I must see her immediately. I do not believe she would have done so, but just in case, tell her that I request she not mention anything concerning Barra's message with him."

Aella nodded once, a worried look returning to her dark eyes as she bowed her head once more, then turned and left.


************


Nikita paced back and forth as Aella stood to the side and waited patiently. She'd arrived back in the early morning hour and found the M'yrene already awake and having breakfast alone in the dining hall. When she inquired where Michael was, Nikita had answered with a drawn out sigh, "In bed. I needed time to think the Basileu situation out without distraction."

"Has Barra sent further word?"

"No, not yet," Nikita answered. "I instructed her to send a couple of runners across the border to check if what the guards reported is true. I should have some word back by today." Nikita turned to face Aella. "What of you? I was surprised to return yesterday and learn that you had gone to Pontus. Does mother know what's happening?"

"Yes. She wanted to know what steps you were taking. I told her I didn't know since you hadn't spoken to me concerning them. She's asked that you come personally to Pontus, and, that you don't mention anything to Michael."

Nikita looked away, her eyes clouding over. "No," she said quietly. "I won't."

"Do you think he will object?"

"I'm almost certain of it," Nikita answered, then resumed her pacing. "I mentioned the possibility of us going to war against his uncles in order to get his land back, but he wouldn't hear of it. He doesn't want to fight against his people."

Aella nodded thoughtfully. "It is a difficult thing to do."

"I know," Nikita sighed. "I had hoped though that he would accept it. That he would see how combining his land with ours would make things easier. Our people would be allies rather then enemies."

"And he still refused?"

"He's not like his uncles," Nikita said, her heart warming as she though of Michael's nobleness. "There are many people in Taranis that he cares for. People whose lives and homes would be destroyed if we went to war."

"But Nikita," Aella interrupted, "Rhus and his brothers preparing for war, how can we not go to battle?"

"I never said we would not," Nikita replied, her expression pained. "I have no choice but to defend our land. Michael need not know of any of this until afterwards."

"And if he should choose at that time not to forgive you for going to war against his people?" Aella asked.

Nikita swallowed and blinked back the moistness that filled her eyes. "No formal oath has been taken between us yet," she answered softly. "If at that time he should decide he wants to leave, I won't stand in his way."

************

Something was not right. Michael stared at the back of Nikita's hooded form as she spoke with Aella and several of her military commanders. He couldn't see her face from where he stood but he could read the expressions of the others. What he saw told him there something serious was going on.

He bided his time, clamping down on the rising urge to walk over to the small group and demand an explanation. The Vatians would be personally affronted at his intrusion and he doubted Nikita would be too happy either. She was trying very hard to have her people accept him. It was difficult though. The women still eyed him warily. They still saw him as an outsider, a Scythian --an enemy.

It made him love Nikita even more. She never mentioned it but he was aware of the odds she faced in getting the Vatians to accept that she wanted him as her mate. He'd learned that Vatians usually picked mates from amongst the Marsyas, a tribe of men in the north. Certainly none had ever chosen a Scythian, thus he had to tread carefully, conducting himself in an appropriate manner when he was in public. But it was hard, for most times he wanted to openly show his love for Nikita and to protect her. This despite his knowledge that she could take care of herself.

So many questions swam in his mind. Was there a military problem? Had there been an attack somewhere along the borders? And if so, by whom? Would Nikita be going to battle? His gaze hardened and his mouth compressed into a tight line. He would not allow her to leave him behind.
Vatian customs be damned, he was not letting her go to battle without him there by her side.

As he watched, one of the commanders glanced his way. There was a look in her eyes that made Michael uneasy as she leaned closer to Nikita and said something. Nikita's head turned slightly, not far enough to see him, but enough for him to know that he was the current subject of their discussion.

Finally the others left and Nikita turned and walked towards him. Her eyes seemed shadowed, her expression sad despite the fact that she gifted him with a small smile. He waited till she was close, then began to drill her with questions.

"Relax, Michael," she said, her voice sounding tired. "There's nothing wrong. I was merely discussing a military training maneuver the troops will be participating in over the next few days."

"Training maneuvers?" He sounded skeptical.

"Aye," she answered, avoiding his eyes as she pulled on a pair of leather gauntlets over her long fingers. "Every so often we take the troops out for training in the field. It helps keep them in shape and battle ready."

Michael was silent for a moment as he studied Nikita's face. Then he reached out, placed his fingers underneath her chin and gently tilted it up. "You're not lying to me, are you Kita?" he asked softly.

It took all the strength she had not to crumble under the weight of his stare and the added pressure of hearing his endeared name for her. She looked into his eyes, purposely voiding them of emotion as she answered. "Of course not, Michael."

His eyes shifted down as his hand moved to the folds of her cloak. He lifted one side slightly and beheld the sword she wore. His eye moved back up to meet hers.

"A formality," she said, giving him another unconvincing smile. "I am the M'yrene afterall. It wouldn't look good for me to show up at the maneuvers without a weapon."

He still didn't look convinced and so Nikita stepped close and moved her face next to his. Her eyes looked into his and she allowed her love for him to shine through. "Don't worry," she said softly. "I'll be back before you know it."

Something about her tone caused a feeling akin to panic strike him. He reached within the folds of her cloak and grasped her sides, pulling her closer. "I'm going with you," he said, his lips next to hers.

"No. You can't Michael. Please try to understand. You wouldn't be accepted out there in the field."

He groaned in frustration, muttered an oath as he turned away. His fists clenched at his sides as his brows furrowed. This was wrong. He could feel it in his bones.

There was a gentle touch on his shoulder, then Nikita was turning him around. She stared at him, her eyes flowing over his face. Then she leaned in and kissed him. Her lips implored him to be patient. "I love you," she breathed, and then her kiss deepened, taking on a desperate quality. "I love you," she whispered again, then abruptly pulled away, spinning on her heel and hurried away leaving Michael feeling as if his world were about to fall apart.

************

The night wind was cold, blowing northward from the valley below. Nikita pulled her cloak tight about her and waited in the shadows, away from the illuminating light of the moon. Occasionally she heard the snort from one of her warriors' stallions but otherwise all was quiet.

She estimated there were close to two thousand of them encamped below. Much too large for a single Scythian battalion. No. More likely this was a combined force. The armies of Taranis and Danu.

They were being careful to keep their campfire low so as not to draw attention. It didn't make much difference though. Barra's scouts had discovered their movement days ago and had sent a messenger to warn her.

Nikita had hoped that the initial reports had been wrong. That Michael's uncles would not be so foolish as to think they could defeat the Vatians in battle. She'd even questioned Michael, hoping that the movement of troops Barra reported was some sort of military training --anything that would give her reasonable doubt. But after her discussion with Michael she was assured of two things.
The Scythians never moved their armies in this manner unless they were on the offense, and second, she could not tell Michael what his uncles were up to.

She couldn't draw him into this battle. At first she'd thought it would be the perfect opportunity for him to regain what was rightfully his inheritance. But she'd learned instead that Michael had no desire to fight against his people.

The truth had pierced her deeply. He was a man of honor, preferring to give up his inheritance rather then fight the people he'd grown up with, and Nikita admired him for that. But on the other hand, his refusal to fight had been like a premonition of what was to become of their love.

"He is a Scythian," her mother had said, warning her that a union between her and Michael would never work. She'd argued though that Madeline was not being fair. That she was judging him based on his blood.

"He loves me, mother," she'd replied in quiet defiance. "Of that I am certain."

Nikita closed her eyes, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill over. This was no time to be getting emotional. She still believed with all her heart that Michael loved her, but, along with that knowledge was a burgeoning awareness of the truth behind her mother's words. She and Michael were the products of two different worlds. As much as they wanted to deny it, there were several differences in their upbringing that would make a union between them nearly impossible.

The hooting of a Moeruru owl drifted towards Nikita, breaking her out of her reverie. Dismounting, she made her way quickly, silently through the dark, past hidden warriors, and towards the signaled area. Aella was waiting for her along with Barra and Rehana, another of her commanders.

"Report," Nikita stated, looking first at Barra whose scouts had been sent out on a reconnaissance mission.

"This appears to be the main body," Barra said in a low tone. "But there are two more smaller bodies. One to the south and the second directly behind this one."

"Numbers?"

"About five hundred each."

"Status?"

"Currently neutral but highly mobile."

Nikita noticed Aella shaking her head. Through the darkness she could just make out her sister's frown. "What is it, doyan?" she asked.

"The numbers do not match," Aella stated. "The Scythians know we have a large army. If they planned to attack, why do they have so few in numbers? The combined forces of Rhus, Megara, and Stephen should be close to five thousand." Aella directed her gaze towards Nikita. "Where are the missing troops."

"Aye," Nikita said. "I was thinking the same. Rhus would not be so foolish as to leave part of his army behind --unless he had an alternate plan."

"A second front," Rehana murmured.

"But where?"

Nikita quickly reviewed in her mind Vatia's topography, focusing specifically on the lands and districts that bordered with the Scythians. Then it dawned on her. "The Azores," she whispered. "Sidhe is on the other side of it."

"Stephen's land," Aella stated, nodding in agreement. "It would be the perfect counterpoint."

Nikita thought a moment then turned to Rehana. "Gather your troop and ride back to Themiscya. Take the third and fourth battalion and head toward Basilius. Aella I need you to send a message to the Ismene. Tell her what we suspect. She'll know what to do."

"And what of them" Barra asked, pointing with a nod of her head toward the army encamped below.

Nikita turned and surveyed the quiet camp, then said, "We attack at the break of dawn."

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