Post by gcar on Sept 26, 2008 23:44:14 GMT -5
Chapter 5
Shyera was arrested and convicted on the crime of treason. They couldn't execute her right away because of her position in the government. She was to spend time in prison until a successor could be chosen and she could resign her post. Once Shyera was out of power, she would be destroyed for her crimes. Things looked grim, and the once noble Priestess was despondent about the future.
The priests and priestesses of the religion were mystics with clairvoyant abilities. They had a strong empathic sense of the world around them. That was how they were chosen to be a part of the religion. It wasn't by birth, as was the sovereignty. The Military is based on strength and physical power. The Religion was based solely on the will of the spirits and deities. Shyera's abilities were discovered in early childhood.
----flashback to Shyera's childhood----
A eight-year-old Jaga was play fighting with a wooden sword. Shyera was three, dressed in a frilly, white, dress, sitting on a bench under a tree, at the edge of a forest.
Shyera: Sword, again?
Jaga: I must practice, if I am to lead the Military one day.
Shyera: uh-huh.
Jaga was always practicing with the wooden sword. He was always ambitious. Shyera loved watching her brother as he was swinging the sword around. But today, something was distracting her. She could understand it, but something was wrong. Jaga was intent on training and did not notice when Shyera stood up and wandered into the wooded area.
An hour later, Jaga had finished practicing with the wooden sword. He seemed quite pleased with himself. He holstered the weapon.
Jaga: Shyera, I could lead now, if they'd let me.
Turning, Jaga was surprised to find his sister's bench empty.
Jaga: Shyera?!? Shyera?!? WHERE ARE YOU!?!?
Upon seeing the tracks in the snow, Jaga determined that they belonged to his sister. In a rush, he hurried into the woods following the footsteps in the snow.
...
Shyera meandered through the snow covered trees. Unsure of where she was going. Undinai, was primarily a wintry planet. It wasn't a hard winter, in terms of harsh, biting winds. But snow was always a constant sight everywhere on the planet. Shyera was only half aware of her surroundings.
Shyera made her way to an old wooden bridge over a rushing river. She walked to the center of the bridge and leaned on the railing.
Jun: Help!
The teenager's voice was barely a whisper. But Shyera, who was standing above him on the bridge, heard him. She looked down at the water, scanning. There, in the water, clinging to a crossbeam, was a 16-year-old boy.
...
Jaga: Shyera!!!!
Jaga was racing through the forest, desperate to find Shyera. He was half a mile away from the bridge, when he saw a figure dressed in white standing on the railing.
...
Shyera didn't give herself time to think. She climbed on the railing and jumped into the river. Struggling against the current, Shyera swam to the half-conscious figure, and was able to free him from the watery prison. Shyera had just reached the bank dragging Jun with her.
Jaga: Shy...Shy...
Shyera: Jaga! This guy fell in the river! We have to help him!
Jaga saw the concern in his sister's eyes, then turned his attention to Jun, who was passed out. Jaga knelt beside the prostrate young man, checking his pulse. Jun was not breathing and his pulse was weak. Jaga began administering CPR to Jun, until he gasped and coughed up the water that was in his lungs.
Jun: Thank... you...(his voice was raspy.)
Jaga: Shyera was the one to pull you out of the water.
Jun: Shyera?
Shyera: That's me. (her eyes wide, at this strange, new person.)
Jun: I am forever in your debt, Milady. (Jun bowed gracefully, taking Shyera's hand and kissing it gently.) I am called Jun.
Shyera giggled and blushed.
Shyera: Hello, Mr. Jun.
Jaga: (turning toward Shyera.) What made you come her, Shyera?
Shyera I don't know. One moment, I was watching you with the sword, something felt bad and I came here.
Jaga: Strange...
Jun: Have you ever felt something like this, before?
Shyera: No.
Jaga: What is it? Jun, what are you thinking?
Jun: It's like, Shyera had a mystical instinct to come here...
Jaga: (thoughtfully) Like a priestess...
Jun nods, and Shyera just stands watching in total confusion. The three of them, Jaga, Jun, and Shyera, then head off to the city. A few days later, Shyera was tested for clairvoyant abilities, and the tests proved that she was intuitive and she began her training to become a full priestess.
----Flashback ends----
Shyera, stared bleakly at the cell around her. Shaking her head, she glanced once more at profiles of her possible replacements. Whoever her successor was, he/ she would have a terrible time trying to keep Jareth under control. For the good of the empire.
Shyera was arrested and convicted on the crime of treason. They couldn't execute her right away because of her position in the government. She was to spend time in prison until a successor could be chosen and she could resign her post. Once Shyera was out of power, she would be destroyed for her crimes. Things looked grim, and the once noble Priestess was despondent about the future.
The priests and priestesses of the religion were mystics with clairvoyant abilities. They had a strong empathic sense of the world around them. That was how they were chosen to be a part of the religion. It wasn't by birth, as was the sovereignty. The Military is based on strength and physical power. The Religion was based solely on the will of the spirits and deities. Shyera's abilities were discovered in early childhood.
----flashback to Shyera's childhood----
A eight-year-old Jaga was play fighting with a wooden sword. Shyera was three, dressed in a frilly, white, dress, sitting on a bench under a tree, at the edge of a forest.
Shyera: Sword, again?
Jaga: I must practice, if I am to lead the Military one day.
Shyera: uh-huh.
Jaga was always practicing with the wooden sword. He was always ambitious. Shyera loved watching her brother as he was swinging the sword around. But today, something was distracting her. She could understand it, but something was wrong. Jaga was intent on training and did not notice when Shyera stood up and wandered into the wooded area.
An hour later, Jaga had finished practicing with the wooden sword. He seemed quite pleased with himself. He holstered the weapon.
Jaga: Shyera, I could lead now, if they'd let me.
Turning, Jaga was surprised to find his sister's bench empty.
Jaga: Shyera?!? Shyera?!? WHERE ARE YOU!?!?
Upon seeing the tracks in the snow, Jaga determined that they belonged to his sister. In a rush, he hurried into the woods following the footsteps in the snow.
...
Shyera meandered through the snow covered trees. Unsure of where she was going. Undinai, was primarily a wintry planet. It wasn't a hard winter, in terms of harsh, biting winds. But snow was always a constant sight everywhere on the planet. Shyera was only half aware of her surroundings.
Shyera made her way to an old wooden bridge over a rushing river. She walked to the center of the bridge and leaned on the railing.
Jun: Help!
The teenager's voice was barely a whisper. But Shyera, who was standing above him on the bridge, heard him. She looked down at the water, scanning. There, in the water, clinging to a crossbeam, was a 16-year-old boy.
...
Jaga: Shyera!!!!
Jaga was racing through the forest, desperate to find Shyera. He was half a mile away from the bridge, when he saw a figure dressed in white standing on the railing.
...
Shyera didn't give herself time to think. She climbed on the railing and jumped into the river. Struggling against the current, Shyera swam to the half-conscious figure, and was able to free him from the watery prison. Shyera had just reached the bank dragging Jun with her.
Jaga: Shy...Shy...
Shyera: Jaga! This guy fell in the river! We have to help him!
Jaga saw the concern in his sister's eyes, then turned his attention to Jun, who was passed out. Jaga knelt beside the prostrate young man, checking his pulse. Jun was not breathing and his pulse was weak. Jaga began administering CPR to Jun, until he gasped and coughed up the water that was in his lungs.
Jun: Thank... you...(his voice was raspy.)
Jaga: Shyera was the one to pull you out of the water.
Jun: Shyera?
Shyera: That's me. (her eyes wide, at this strange, new person.)
Jun: I am forever in your debt, Milady. (Jun bowed gracefully, taking Shyera's hand and kissing it gently.) I am called Jun.
Shyera giggled and blushed.
Shyera: Hello, Mr. Jun.
Jaga: (turning toward Shyera.) What made you come her, Shyera?
Shyera I don't know. One moment, I was watching you with the sword, something felt bad and I came here.
Jaga: Strange...
Jun: Have you ever felt something like this, before?
Shyera: No.
Jaga: What is it? Jun, what are you thinking?
Jun: It's like, Shyera had a mystical instinct to come here...
Jaga: (thoughtfully) Like a priestess...
Jun nods, and Shyera just stands watching in total confusion. The three of them, Jaga, Jun, and Shyera, then head off to the city. A few days later, Shyera was tested for clairvoyant abilities, and the tests proved that she was intuitive and she began her training to become a full priestess.
----Flashback ends----
Shyera, stared bleakly at the cell around her. Shaking her head, she glanced once more at profiles of her possible replacements. Whoever her successor was, he/ she would have a terrible time trying to keep Jareth under control. For the good of the empire.