Kia's Lament

[kiakblackthorne]

The adventure they had undertaken was over, all were limping or injured in some way. Kia watched as Syn carried Nicho back to the castle for proper healing and medical attention. That new dark blue lock of hair hanging petulently in her face. Brushing it back behind her ear, her eyes looked over the rows of graves. The stench of death and dampness filled the air but Kia couldn't pick it out from the normal smells of everyday life.

Limping a little from the creature that had tried to rip her leg off, she walked slowly through the rows.
"Alex Demitri - Loving Husband, Beloved Father Aged 28 years. Killed during the rebuilding of the Kingdom."
Taking her gloves off she let her fingers run over the head stone. That had been right before everything started, when Paul had brought Kia here and gathered so many others. All the workers, the peasents and the servants were here. All the people that called the land home that had nothing to do with the boiling politics of those that chose to come and go on a whim. These people were born her and died here as part of every day life. The stones were simple, with little ornamentation. A few had flowers or angels etched in them but they were all simple and small.

"What makes me better then them? Why am I inside that castle pretending to serve them... when I don't even know their names," Kia asked aloud. Even after all these years she still thought it was strange how she had broken from her cast as a slave to become a part of the High Council, a dark figure that helped make the kingdom what it is today. " Did you tell your children stories of the drow demon that haunts the walls or of the Ghost boy who is King?" A smile came over her lips for a moment before she continued onward.

Walking along to another part, the dead trees looked gnarled in the winter, reaching out to grasp at invisible goals. Her boots tred on some still freshly turned soil. Looking to the grave she sighed, the lamb on the top signifying a child. Her eyes closed for a moment. "Baby Cynthia Bowers. Although she entered this world all to briefly and burned so bright for such a short time, she was dearly beloved and will be missed. Aged... 2 days." Kia openly cried reading that. Her own children ment so much to her. She had almost lost Geren twice.

"May you find peace in heaven," Kia said softly as she passed the grave. There were parts she walked through she vowed to come back and restore the graves. The head stones broken or half buried made her all the more resolute she would return.

Then finally she came to an obviously richer part of the yard. The raised crypts of the royalty, those who had ruled the land even before it was named GoldenMyst. Kia had had enough for the day though, the aching in her hip was becoming too much. Limping her way towards the entrance she looked to the castle from this place so near the cliffs. Colorless eyes became distant as she thought about the possibility of her own mortality and Rune's. Would he be coming back? Would she find a grave beside him in the far future or the near future?

(More to come look for Kia's restoration of the Cliff of Kings!)

[kiakblackthorne]

A shovel leaned against the wall as Kia pulled on her boots, carefully pulling closed all the buckles that drifted up to her knee, sealing her in black leather pants.

"Mama, where ya going," Geren asked running into the room with Letti trailing behind, giggling as Tsuki came after her with a fake spider dangling from the end of a stick. Kia smiled, a soft laugh escaping her as she scooped Geren up into her arms, smothering him with kisses as she straightened out his white hair. "Mama owes a favor to the people of GoldenMyst. I have to go help some old friends," Kia said softly. It would sound horrible to a child to say ... oh Mama is going to help some dead people. Nuzzling him she blew a zerbert on his neck and then sent him running with the giggles back to his sister and cousin. She laughed and shook her head slowly watching them running around the lair so exuberantly. Her tattooed fingers worked at pulling her hair back into a pony tail as she donned her cloak once more, then pulled her gloves over her decorated fingers. Grabbing a near by bag, she checked that she had everything she needed. Inside was a few different trowels, some cement mix, water, brushes, a gentle soap for the delicate marbles and feldspars of the graves and a few other things to help her work. Slinging that over one shoulder she grabbed her shovel and headed back to GoldenMyst and more specifically the graveyard.

After a few hours walk she stepped up to the gate, looking over the head stones. She was sure the villagers thought her some kind of grave robber or pilfering necromancer, that idea actually amused her. "Let them think what they will...," she said softly aloud. Walking past the first row of graves she headed towards the back, along the fences. Here the graves were small, only a foot high and were in the poorest condition. Taking out her hand drawn plot of the yard she marked down the grave and what she could read on the head stone. "Lila Howe - Our Dearest Daughter Now in Heaven. Aged 13 years." There were chips around the grave from where someone had had tried bashing at the white and gray granite of the head stone. Kia pulled out some epoxy and started to reattach the chunks where she could. After some time the stone looked good, using a filler to fill in the cracks and sanding it so it was even with the face and rear of the stone. A smile on her lips as she looked over headstone before she carefully cleared it of dirt and lichen. Later she would return with flowers for the dead.

Collecting her equipment she moved less then 6 inches to next grave. A sigh escaped her as she read the name. "Killee Howe - Now in Peace but not forgotten. Aged 9 years." Kia was begining to suspect something horrible had happened, since the year was the same. These children both born over 50 years ago dieing in the same year with the same family name. This one really only needed to be cleaned, some brush moved away. Once more marking it on her plot and the name and information as she moved to the next grave. "Joseph Fillimore Darling Son, gone too soon from loves good graces. Aged 10." The year the same as the Howe girls. She glanced down the row, some broken, others worn by age, all seemed the same year. After a few hours she rose from her kneeling, having restored at least ten of the children's graves. She looked over the list of what she marked as Row 10 section 12 quad A.
"Lila Howe - age 13, Killee Howe age 9, Joseph Fillemore age 10, Cyran Helphon age 5, Twins Daniel Arthur and Celia Arthur age 2, Shey Morgan age 6, Victor Morgan 2 months, Tellia Morgan age 3, Ullee Jillian age 11."

"Something isn't right here...," Packing her things she had one more thing she needed to do before she could in good conscious leave the yard. Moving to an empty area she started to dig, two graves. It took her a few hours but then she looked at the gapping mouth of the Vampires lair, cursing him softly in drow as she made her way back into the catacombs. Come hell or high water she was determined as she stepped into the Vampire's chamber, claiming once more the bodies of those two missing workers. She wasn't sure what should be done for them, taking the bodies with her to the village. She was of coarse filthy, smelling of blood and the damp dirt of the grave yard. Marching right into a church as she shuddered in sudden pain. Gasping as she gripped her chest falling to her knees beside the alter. Laying the bodies down before her, crossing their hands over their chests. She gripped the top of the alter screaming as her hand actually smoked. Two clergy men ran from the back rooms. Looking to her, then to the bodies. "Quickly... help," Kia begged in a moment of humility. The two clergy men seemed conflicted for amoment then one ran to her side helping her to her feet and the other followed shortly after getting her out side. Letting go of her as she collapsed at the foot of the stairs. Shuddering for a moment before Kia lost control. Zarra slowly stirred in her, lifting herself from the ground. "Thank you gentlemen, they have graves already dug. Just see to their proper burial," the voice was distinctly different and the two men ran inside spouting something about demons and exorcisms. Zarra's brow raised for a moment before she started towards the castle, looking momentarily to Kia's burned and bleeding hand. As soon as she was back in Goldenmyst she found a couch, laying herself out on it before Kia, still unconscious slipped easily back into control.

[Kolava]

Very nice.

I would be taking too much credit if I claimed to have started the trend of posts on the PRP boards, but I am very glad to see it, and I look forward to more.

[kiakblackthorne]

::Hugs tight the Grumpy bunny:: THANK YOU! hehehe

Yeah I like doing this stuff and yours is hard to live up too.

[petepyroaer]

LMAO ::Dies laughing. Grumpy bunny....funny....::
Oh yeah, right right...I love it. Clear, intreasting, the such. Solid.

[Maggie_Draken]

::Smiles and enjoys yet another great read::

[kiakblackthorne]

The sun was shinning on the grave yard as Kia placed the top of the grey limestone obelisque back on its seating. The three peicies had fallen off long ago. She had found them half buried in the cold dirt around the base. The metal rod used to peice them together had rusted and fatigued, finally failing sometime in the past 75 years. The grave appeared to be a whole family, a name on each side. After placing it firmly in the cement she took a step back. Collecting her plot of the yard she wrote the names down carefully. "The Barrens Family, Mother Sara - 36 - Father Johan - 42, Daughter Fiona 12, Daughter Cecily 14." They had all died in the same year, somewhere around 75 years ago.

"In nomine, patri, filii, spectra...," a deep slow chanting voice interrupted her thoughts. Coming up the hill in slow somber progress was a funeral procession. A single priest walked infront holding a golden cross as another followed chanting as he clutched his Bible, a third holding the sensor of incense. Alter boys trailing behind them as three groups of men carried coffins on their shoulders. The first two coffins were unfinished wood, a bright blond timber with no ornaments and temporary leather straps the pallbearers held onto for carrying. The third coffin was carried by only two men, instead of six, painted white for innocence. Her eyes locked on the third coffin, the other two she cold only assume where the men she had returned to the town the day before but ... a child accompanied them.

Standing in the delapidated part of the cemetary still she watched them, eyes following without any movement of her body, as they approached the two holes she had dug. A third one now sat near the other two. The pall bearers carefully lowered the coffins, then used the straps to lower them into the holes. Stepping back as the Priests each blessed one of the bodies. It was all in latin so the only thing Kia understood was something about ashes. The families weeped, standing around as holy water was cast on the graves and further blessings were said over the two workers to save them from the demon's curse.

A light breeze whipped her white hair and black velvet jacket. Her eyes watched the as a little girl, the only one wearing color jumped around a bit. The red dress and her pitch black slightly wild hair flailing wth her movements. The girl turned and saw Kia standing there, running to her mother she tugged on her mothers black dress.

"Mama.. the demon," she said to her mother.

" Shh... no games your sister joins your uncle today," the mother said before begining to sob. Raising the blazing white handcercheif to her eyes. The little girl turned suddenly, stepping from her mothers side.
"The devil walks upon your soul, owning your blood, flesh and bone. "

Kia took a startled step backwards, crushing a branch beneath her boot. A voice came from that girl that should have never slipped from an innocent. Hurrying she moved to the cover of a near by tree. The mother turned around and picked up the girl. Starring towards the tree, having only caught a glimpse of the monster. "Shh... one day you will understand," she tried to comfort the girl who was now placidly crying against her mother's shoulder.

Kia stayed behind that tree untill a little while after she heard the work men start filling in the graves. Rising slowly, she starred at the ground wondering if it had ever been concecrated. Quickly she started to collect her equipment, hoping not to catch the eyes of the workers. Stopping she stood and looked over to them once more.

One of the workers was walking towards her, a gruff looking older man with a greying beard and long hair left alone to long. "What are you doing here," he said gruffly to Kia.

"I have been restoring some of the graves here, many of them needed work," she said. The truth was never easily believed.

"And adding to them," His eyes burned. They blamed her. Kia could not believe they blamed her, surely Paul
had told the village they were going to rescue those men or return the bodies if they were found dead. Surely someone must have known. Maybe they had been told but chose to believe an easier more tangibly convenient anwser. Her eyes narrowed at the man.

" I surely, do not know what you mean sir," she said calmly, keeping emotion from her voice.

"Get outta here you monster," the man advanced towards her, roughly pushing her shoulder. Kia stood her ground not moving.

" Don't ever touch me again or you will have the King at your throat," Kia turned and headed towards the gate. The men spat insults at her back as she walked towards the castle. The words she said so rashly burned in her ears. She shouldn't have mentioned the King.

[silkilvin]

::She had been wondering where her mother was sneaking off to. She followed quietly. It seemed the stealth of the cats were rubbing off on her. Watching her mother repair the broken graves, touched her deeply. She of all people knew the softness of Kia's heart.

She watched the the child. Not close enough to hear her words, she saw the interaction and growled. No one spoke to her mama that way. Then the man. Smirk touched her lips.

She ran on to Golden Horn and then to see if she could intice Nicho to spar with her at GoldenMyst.

[kiakblackthorne]

The little girl had said something but not what Kia heard. Sil would merely have heard, " Dumb dirty drow, lurking in the underground."

[kiakblackthorne]

After last night's match with Lord Ashram there wasn't a whole lot Kia wanted to do the next more. Holding her head, a bruise from the hilt of his sword pounded. "Fighting him is worse then a hang over," Kia said, pulling herself off the couch. It was still dark outside when she looked out to garden doors. Slowly she made her way up to her old room, the first one with the mural by Archelo. A smile on her lips she stepped into the old room, the one she had adjusted so Sil had her own and Kia the one adjoining room. Sighing she dug through some old things pulling out a change of clothing.

"Did I really used to wear this," An old brown blood stained skirt. She remembered it vividly, the blood was from a series of adventures Kia had enthusiastically gone on with Paul and Peter. She was sure their had been other people... like Nicho she remembered on one. Maybe that head trauma was getting to her. Shaking her head, she pulled off the tattered dress slipping into the stained skirt and a white blouse she happened to find too. Pulling on a working apron so not all the blood splatters showed she headed down to the library ( dear gods... that looks spelled wrong).

"Hmm... where is Lina when you need her," Kia said softly wondering if any town records were held here. She wanted to know exactly who was buried in the cemetary and if the grounds had been concecrated ever. The last of which she suspected not or she would be having major problems. Sighing she would just talk to Lina later about that.

Kia headed out towards the cemetary, grabbing her coat and then borrowing a rake from somewhere on the castle grounds. Climbing the hill she check around the grounds first, assuring herself that none of the villiagers were there. Since the snow had melted the day before in the sun she began to rake at the dead vegitation that lay all over. Closing her eyes as her body protested to the work some. Today was not the day for lifting stones back into place or hefting her pack of equipment on her shoulder.

Something distracted her for a moment, was that giggling. Looking around she turned to find two children peaking from a bush outside the cemetary. That brought a smile to her lips, what it must look like to have an elf cleaning the cemetary. Then the kids looked terrified once they were discovered.

"Hey! It's alright I don't bite... *much*," She smiled hoping they would come over. They rose and quickly started running back towards the villiage. There was nothing else to go but laugh, "What stories they must be telling in the Village."

She was begining to think she needed an official badge or coat that said, "Cemetary Caretaker" or "Cemetary Keeper."

The two boys ran all the way back to the village, their friends sitting around near the well. Rushing up they all looked over, wondering what had scared their friends so bad.

"It's true! She is there, I bet she lives there... in the ground, because all drow live underground," William Kyrel said.

"Her skirt was stained with what could only be blood! She tried to lure us into the grave yard so she could kill us and drink our blood or use it in spells," Darren Turnish said. The other boys laughed and shook their heads not believing their friends.

"Drow's can't stand the light... it burns their skin and makes 'em blind. What are ya stupid," an older boy asked?

After a while they convinced their friends to come back to the cemetary with them. But by then Kia had made her way home, to sore to do more then a few hours of work.