#kikia

For the first time. Syre belongs to @the-lady-saron, Kikia and the associated characters are all mine. I wrote this as a gift for Christmas to her since she’d been begging me to. With her permission I’m gong to upload it to here. _____________________________

The day had been long, but normal for most accounts in the deep of the Darklit City. Kikia was on her way to her quarters within the King’s Palace after a day of dealing with the court and the grievances of the Diwa’ka.  She rubbed the bridge of her nose as she walked, feeling a little headache coming on. She was looking forward to the night alone.

But she was surprised by a small crowd of Diwa’ka coming down the hall. It was an odd hour for it to be happening, so Kikia was caught off guard. The crowd had a Bahnishal and a couple of Neejar flanking him. He greeted as they stopped in front of her, “My lady. I’m sorry to bother you so late, but we have a problem. Rather, a hard to handle prisoner.”

Kikia asked, hiding her annoyance, “Are they so dangerous that they can’t be kept in one of the local jails?”

“Not…dangerous…but we’re having trouble keeping her in her cell.” The Bahnishal replied. “She was captured as a petty thief but…she might pose a more serious threat.”

“Why?” Kikia asked.

“She…keeps getting out of her cuffs and cage.” He replied.

“How? You were using the power erasing shackles, right?”

“Yes, but they have done nothing.”

  Kikia frowned and nodded. “Show me.”

 The Bahnishal led her through the palace to the gates where a jail wagon was waiting. To Kikia’s surprise, a woman, tall, red-headed and with bright golden eyes. A large scar ran from her chin to under her ruddy red clothing. She was extremely fit and well-muscled. Large golden hoops hung from her ears and her eyes were rimmed with red. She was eating an apple, sitting atop the jail wagon, outside the bars. When she saw them, she waved.

“Hi! You came back! Do you have any more of these things?”

Kikia, confused asked, “You get free, and you don’t run?”

The woman shrugged. Kikia asked, “What is your name?”

 “Syre.”

“Syre, you understand that you have been charged with theft and must suffer a punishment?”

 “Yep.” Syre replied after another bite out of her apple. “What’s the punishment?”

“Jail time. A fine perhaps? What exactly did you steal?”

 “Some food. Uh…I think a map. Uh…some sort of metal thing that was shiny.”

 “A cheese strainer.” The Bahnishal explained. “Mine, actually. And broke it trying to do something weird with it.”

“Weird?” Syre replied. “You grate cheese with it. I was trying to do that.”

“See? She’s strange.” The Bahnishal complained.

Kikia muttered to him, “She must be an outsider. I would have done the same thing at one time, when I didn’t know anything about magic items.”

He blinked at her blankly. Kikia asked then, “Are you Alumian?”

“Aluma-who?”

 “Alumian.” Kikia repeated. “Are you part of the special unit?”

“No and no.” Syre replied. “I have no clue what you are talking about.”

“Then you are…Imperial?”

 “No.”

“You are from beyond the forest? To the south? The land of sands?”

 “No, no, and no.”

 “Then from where?”

“Not here.”

 Kikia suppressed an eyeroll. “So, will you serve time, or pay the fine?”

 “That rhymed.”

  “Pick one.”

“How about neither?”

  Kikia growled, “You will pick one. Do not test me.”

Syre gave her a massive grin and said, “Test you? Are you going to explode or something?”

Kikia took off her crystal ring and then let red enter into her vision. The shadows rose up and wrapped around Syre’s arms, pulling her off the wagon and onto the ground. Syre seemed un-surprised. She only said,

“Cool magic. Reminds me of…some other underground people.”

“This is just the tip of it. Don’t make me mad.” Kikia answered sternly. “You will go to the dungeon until you choose your punishment.”

“Okay.” Syre replied with a happy shrug.

The shadows formed into two Shadow Ghosts and whisked her away into the palace grounds. Kikia let her eyes clear and then then addressed the Bahnishal. “I’ll take it from here.”

“Thank you, my lady.” He replied. He returned to his cart and prepared to leave. Kikia headed back into the palace, swearing under her breath. She was ready for a night of peace and quiet. She got back to her quarters, shut the door behind her and ditched her pink silk scarf. Jillian was waiting for her. She said,

“You’re running late.”

 “There is a new prisoner. I had to take care of her.”

 “Oh I…” Jillian started to reply. But she paused and stared past Kikia. Then,

  “This is a nice part of the palace. You live here?”

 Kikia whipped around to face her balcony and saw Syre sitting on the railing. She gave her a big goofy grin and waved. Kikia was stunned for a moment and then anger flared. She snapped, “How did you get out? Is this your power?”

“Power? Like strength?” Syre asked. “Or like…magic? You guys seem to use those interchangeably.” Kikia didn’t have an answer. Syre hopped down off the railing and offered, “You look super mad. You want a hug?”

Kikia answered as she slipped her crystal ring off again, “No. I want you in our dungeon.”

“Its really musty down there.” Syre complained. “Can I have a room like this one instead?”

Kikia lashed out with her power, ordering the shadows to rise and wrap around the red-haired woman. She snapped, “You are going to the dungeon and you will stay there!”

Syre shook her head and suddenly her form disappeared from existence and out of the shadow’s grasp. Kikia was stunned. Then behind her,

 “Ooo. Sorry. Guess I made you mad huh?”

Kikia whirled around as Syre opened the door and stepped out. She said, “I’ll just go find a room on my own.”

The door swung shut before Kikia could get a hold of herself. She hurriedly grabbed her cane and said to Jillian, “Stay put, I don’t want you to get hurt.”

 “Yes, my lady.” Jillian said with a hint of fear in her voice. Kikia burst out of her room and glanced both ways down the hall and saw Syre just as she disappeared around one corner. Kikia yelled,

 “Guards! Guards! The prisoner is free! Capture her!”

She picked up her cane, allowed the shadows to swarm over her weak legs and arm and raced down the hall after Syre, calling for back up as she did. Before long, she saw the armas of the Neejar hurrying to flank her. She issued orders to them and they spread out into other halls. Kikia checked every guest room she could only to find them empty. Just as she was about descend some stairs, she heard footsteps echoing down the hall behind her. She turned and saw Syre running through the perpendicular hall. Kikia pointed and ordered her Shadow Ghosts, “There! Capture her!”

The Shadows rose to her bidding and dead Imperial Soldiers wreathed in black flame raced down the hall in pursuit with Kikia close behind. But as soon as she rounded the corner, she saw that the ghosts were looking around, apparently having lost their quarry. She growled in exasperation. She ordered the Shadow Ghosts in their alternate world to spread out and look for the woman. In a few moments, one of the ghosts popped up with a location. Kikia turned to head to it, but then another ghost popped up and offered another. Then another did the same. Before long, Kikia was confused and still unsure of where Syre had gone.

One of the armas came down the hall and met her. It echoed, “We are unable to locate her. Every time we narrow in on the prisoner she disappears to another part of the castle.”

Kikia sat down on a bench in exasperation, trying to think of a way to capture the woman. She rubbed her aching head and then came up with a sudden idea. She said, “Call off the search. Syre is curious about the Diwa’cita from what I could tell. We will lay a trap. Let your armas appear dormant. Wait until she isn’t expecting you and then get her. My Shadow Ghosts will do the same.”

“Yes, my lady.” The arma responded. It took a position up next to the wall by her bench and assumed a pose as if it were just a suite of armor and the blue glow that emitted from the breaks in the metal dimmed significantly. Kikia leaned back and let the shadows fall from her arm and legs back to the ground below her and adjusted her glasses. And she waited. Finally, after some time, the arma next to her lit back up and said, “We have her.”

 “Bring her to me.” Kikia ordered.

  “As you wish.” The arma stated.

It went silent again, communicating with the other armas. Another few minutes passed and then Kikia heard the sound of metal boots on the floor. She sighed as the two armas brought forth Syre who was wearing one of their suites of armor. The woman giggled as the two let her go. Kikia asked,

“What are you doing?”

“I found this suite of armor just standing around, so I tried it on.”

Kikia stared at her for a second and then said, “Get out of it.”

“Uh..no.” Syre replied with a smile.

“Syre, get out of the armor.” Kikia ordered.

“Well, I’m in a suite of armor and you aren’t.”

“Get out of the suite.”

“You’re not my mom.”

“I’m the leader of this”-

“I’ve got a suite of armor. You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Get out of the armor!” Kikia commanded.

“No. My armor.” Syre taunted.

“You are not inside armor. You are inside one of my Diwa’ka.”

 “Oh…I don’t see any guts in here.”

Kikia rubbed the bridge of her nose. “It doesn’t have guts. It’s an ethereal Diwa’ka.”

The Neejar said in its echoed voice, “It tickles, a little.”

Syre’s eyes got huge. She said, “I felt that. The suite vibrated.”

“That’s because you are inside one of my Diwa’ka. Please get out so it can go back to its duties.” Kikia ordered. Syre pouted for a moment in protest. Kikia shook her head and said, “Drop your arma.”

“Huh?” Syre started to ask. The armor lost its glow and clattered to the ground at Syre’s feet. She looked down at it with surprise and disappointment. Kikia put a hand on her hip after that and asked,

“What is it that you want?”

“I don’t want anything. I’m just here to explore”- Syre started to say but stopped and stared past her. Then Kikia caught the sound of a tapping cane behind her. She turned a little to see the Darklit King approaching them from down the hall. His ghostly yellowed eyes were wide as he observed the commotion.

“What’s going on? Is this the human that’s been loose in the palace?”

“Yes. It is.” Kikia replied. She growled towards Syre, “For some reason we can’t keep her in her cell, your majesty.”

“Whaaaa? This is your King?” Syre exclaimed suddenly. She skipped up to him and bowed. “I’m happy to meet you, your majesty.”

The Darklit King grinned and said, “She’s at least polite.”

Syre suddenly reached out and shook Griffgar’s hand. “I’ve never met a walking mummy before”-

There was a sudden snap and the King’s arm was in her hand, detached from his body. Syre winced and said, “Oh gosh! I’m so sorry!”

She tried to put it back as the King laughed heartily. He said, “It’s okay lassie. It’s not going back on that way though. You’re a strong one.”

Syre looked down at the arm in her hand like she didn’t know what to do. The King winked and said, “But look, I can do this!”

The hand wiggled on the detached arm and Syre laughed in response. Griffgar asked, “This is exciting. Where did you find this one?”

“Out in the markets, stuffing food in her face without paying. And stealing a cheese strainer.” Kikia replied. “The market guards couldn’t keep her restrained, so they sent her here. We’re having the same problem.”

Griffgar gave Syre a grin and said, “Well I wouldn’t want to sit in one of our smelly dungeons either, waiting for whatever fate the local crotchety sourpuss dictates.”

Kikia gave him an angry glare which he returned with a wide grin.

“That thing with the holes was a cheese what?” Syre asked.

“A cheese strainer.” Kikia answered her.

“I think you mean a cheese grater.” Syre replied.

“It’s a magical item. So, it has a different name.” Kikia explained with exasperation. Syre’s face lit up again.

“Well now I want one even more if its magic!”

The King chuckled and said, “I’ll have one bought for you.”

“Thank you, your majesty!” Syre replied with another bow. She then held out Griffgar’s arm and asked, “So how are you going to get your arm back on?”

“The palace hand will stitch it back on, no worries.”

He turned and motioned for her to follow. Syre skipped after him and called over her shoulder, “Is limpy coming?”

It took Kikia a second to realize who the woman was referring too. Her patience snapped. She yelled, “What was that?”

The Darklit King got a strained grin on his face and he quickly interjected in a loud whisper which Kikia could still hear, “Now lassie, we don’t say that around her. She gets a bit touchy when you mention the limp.”

Syre lowered her voice and replied, “Oh. Sorry. What should I call her again?”

“You can call her sourpuss if you want.”

“My title will do, Syre.” Kikia growled. “Lady Kajalar is what I want you to call me. Or Regent Vicereine, your choice.”

“You heard that?” The Darklit King asked with a knowing grin. Kikia shook her head at him and then limped her way down the hall ahead of them. She slipped her crystal ring back onto her finger and felt the familiar inability to use her power anymore. She grumbled as she did,

“Let’s get her a cheese strainer and figure out what to do with her, your majesty.”

The group settled in the palace’s dining hall. A palace hand went to the unpleasant task of sowing the King’s arm back to his body. Most of them hated doing it. The King was weird enough without them having to see what was under his clothes. Kikia sat at the far end of the table, rubbing her head. The night’s excitement was leaving her more tired that she should have been. Syre had stayed with them and was excitedly talking with the Darklit King who was more than happy to entertain her bubbly personality. They sat at the other end of the table. He was always excited when something unexpected happened in his keep.

Kikia had sent for Jillian a while ago, and her servant had come down with her dinner and tea as well as a medicine for her headache. She also took a vile of the bitter herbal mixture that helped staunch her seizures when they crept up during times of stress. It made her a little foggy headed, but it was better than the alternative.

The red-haired woman explained how she had come to the Diwa’cita. It was nothing short of a magical explanation and Kikia wasn’t totally sure she believed it. Syre jabbered excitedly, “And I took this jewel and poof! I was here! I don’t always know how these work and Inari is going to be livid when she finds out I stole it! I can’t wait to see the look on her face!”

Syre held out a glowing purple orb that was small in the palm of her hand. Kikia had gleaned that it was the source of Syre’s ability to jump around space at will. That would explain why the power suppressant shackles hadn’t worked on her. Though she had yet to explain who this Inari was. The Darklit King asked, “May I touch it?”

“Probably not a good idea, your majesty. Don’t want you to teleport to someplace you can’t be found or something like that.” She replied and tucked it back into a pocket. She glanced down at Kikia and shot her a grin. Kikia sent a small glare back at her and turned her attention to the mirrored wall. She heard Syre whisper to Griffgar,

“I think she’s sore that she couldn’t catch me.”

“Oh, probably lassie. She’s not used to someone besting her in combat or a chase. Don’t mind her. She’s usually this dour.” He whispered back, as low as he could. Kikia was some distance away but that was nothing for her sharp hearing. She ignored them, pretending she couldn’t. Griffgar was pretty good about judging how far she could hear him, but she had let him guess a bit on the distance. She didn’t want the court to know just how good her hearing was. It made it easier to deal with threats or problems within it should she overhear. It was part of her job, as there was no way the King could handle such threats himself, or he just wouldn’t.

“Really? I’m surprised she can do anything with that limp”- Syre started to whisper back. Kikia cleared her throat and asked,

“So, when are you going back to your world or…wherever you came from?”

“I don’t know. This orb is a holder of chaos and its kind of uncontrollable. Sort of…kind of…I can make it work okay. Don’t ask me how though. No clue.”

“You don’t even know how your own powers work?” Kikia asked exasperated. Syre said,

“It’s magic. Not power. At least, not the type of power you mean.”

Kikia shook her head with a shrug. Syre answered, “I don’t know. The orb kind of does its own thing and…I don’t know how I made it bring me here.”

“And who is this Inari person exactly?” Kikia asked.

“She’s my FRIEND!” Syre stated. “Annnd, also a god. So, she’s pretty awesome. Although I heard she like, ATE a bunch of other gods so she’s kind of scary too. But cool. Cool-scary.”

Kikia rubbed her head again. Gods didn’t exist in her opinion. Maybe Inari was an accumulation of several of Syre’s ancestors? The more she thought about it, the less she cared. She really just wanted to retire to her bed for peace and quiet. She heard Syre whisper to Griffgar again, “Does she seriously never smile?”

“She does, lassie.” He replied.

“How do you do it?”

“By not making her annoyed, for one thing. Hard to do, trust me.”

Finally, Samuel returned with a newly purchased cheese strainer and placed it on the table in front of Syre. He said, “It was a bit hard this late, but I managed to find one.”

Syre picked up the crystal object. It was square in shape, with holes along its flat surfaces. She shook it a bit and asked, “How does this thing work?”

“You put the cheese on it and it will make different kinds as you specify.” Griffgar explained.

Syre grinned brightly and said, “I want to try it!”

“You are welcome to use the kitchen supply of cheese if you wish.” Griffgar replied with a chuckle. Syre popped to her feet as Griffgar pointed to the kitchen door. He continued, “I’ll have a page wait for you and take you to a guest room when you are done.”

Syre scampered to the kitchen and disappeared behind the door. Griffgar turned to Kikia and said, “I’ll keep an eye on her. You go get some rest, Kanala.”

Kikia sighed and asked, “You sure you can handle her?”

“I’ve been due for some excitement. I’ll be fine.” He replied with a sincere smile. Kikia stood and gave him a short nod. She then answered,

“Thank you. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Kikia returned to her room, got into a night gown and fell asleep quickly.

The next morning, she was roused from her deep slumber by an unusual and unpleasant smell. She opened her eyes. She was laying on her side, so through her bad eye she could only see the world in a blur. However, something yellow was laying next to her. She lifted her head so that her good eye could see what it was.

If her scream of rage could shake the foundations of the palace, it probably did. Kikia came storming out into the hall, screeching, “SYRE! WHY IN HEAVENS NAME IS MY BED COVERED IN CHEESE!?”

Syre popped her head out of an adjacent room, looking a bit sleepy, but still her irritating, mischievous grin persisted. Syre skipped from the room, and past Kikia into her quarters. The red-haired woman went to the bed, scooped up some of the cheese and said before she put it in her mouth, “Oh, that’s where it went. You like cheese?”

Kikia came back in and stood at the door, scowling at Syre in silence. The red-haired woman swallowed and reached for more and said, “No?” And then around the mouthful, “Mmmph mmm free breakfast.”

Kikia was having a hard time shoving aside the murderous streak that was urging her to reach out and strangle the other woman. She felt her eye twitching with the effort. Then she heard the sound of foot falls on the hall floor and a moment later,

“Kanala! Is everything alright!?”

Kikia let out a breath as she recognized the voice. Devon had arrived for tomorrow’s festival. She turned to him as he almost slid to a stop at her door. He was dressed in dusty traveling clothes, a white tunic with a black vest and brown pants and boots. Across his chest was a cloth sling and in that was their baby son, Ishamel. The baby’s eyes were wide though he was silent as he nursed a pacifier in his mouth.

Jillian, Haria and Keven were right behind him, all with wide eyes. Haria had her powers up, black claws extending from her hands. Keven had a spear that was too tall for him, probably snatched from a Neejar on the way up the stairs. Jillian had her dagger drawn. Kikia answered,

“Its…its fine.” She went to him and wrapped her good arm around his neck. Devon still looked a bit worried and then he saw Syre, munching on the cheese off the bed. The red-haired woman was staring between them all with wide, curious eyes. He frowned and asked, “Who is this?”

“Her name is Syre…of…somewhere.”

“Lyria.” Syre said. “Nice to meet you all?”

Devon replied as Kikia pulled away, “Devon Kajalar. These are our sons Keven and Ishamel, and our daughter, Haria.”

“Our?” Syre asked. Devon looked confused. Kikia explained,

“This is my husband.”

Syre looked shocked. She asked, “Wait, you aren’t married to the King?”

Kikia just shook her head. “I’m not a queen…anymore.”

“So, you were married to him?”

“Thank the heavens no! I’d have found a way to kill the bastard by now if I was.”

Syre was left looking confused, but she picked up another slice of yellow cheese and held it out towards Haria. She asked, “Want some? Its good!”

Devon leaned over and whispered in Kikia’s ear, “Is this…some new thing I should know about?”

“Huh?” Kikia asked, semi-distracted as Haria hesitantly took the cheese from the red-haired woman.

“Are we going to need to start ordering more cheese for home?”

It took a few moments for Kikia’s brain to click into place what he was talking about. She gave him an exasperated expression and whispered back, “No, no, no! I did not suddenly grow interested in cheese. This bumble-head dumped it in my bed last night!”

Devon glanced at Syre with an unsure expression and replied, “Are we going to be expecting her in our bed then?”

Kikia swatted him on shoulder with a glare and said, “Syre! Get this stuff off my bed! I don’t want my blankets smelling like rotting cheese!”

“You sure you don’t want any?” Syre asked with a sad face.

“Absolutely.” Kikia growled. Syre sighed, drew forth the jewel and after it glowed, the cheese disappeared instantly. Kikia heard a shout of surprise from one of the guards outside. She could only guess that’s where the cheese had ended up; all over one of the Neejar. Kikia rubbed her face in exasperation.

Syre’s attention turned back to them and she grinned widely and pointed at Ishamel. “Is that your newest?”

Devon answered before Kikia could. “He is. He’s almost a year.”

“Can I hold him?” Syre asked.

Devon took Ishamel out of the hammock and handed him to Syre before Kikia could object. Syre smiled down at him with her big grin. Ishamel smiled back around his pacifier, and then reached up and grasped for some of Syre’s long red hair. Kikia felt a twinge of pride. But she pushed it down and said, “I’m going for a bath. I probably smell like cheese.”

Syre whispered, “Sorry.”

Kikia looked to Devon and he said, “We’ll be here.”

Once her bath was finished and she was properly dressed, Kikia came out of her wash room to see Syre swinging the spear that Keven had brought in an attractive and practiced flourish. Kikia could see the woman had some skill in fighting. Keven and Haria were watching her with interest, Keven more so than her daughter. Her adopted son had begged Devon to teach him to fight properly, though her husband was reluctant until Keven had pointed out that he would need to know so that next time, he could protect his family if danger came. She knew losing his biological family had left a deep scar in her adopted son. Kikia wondered if he had brought along Rasha, the girl he had placed his young eyes on. He was fierce about her protection. Haria, she knew, had never been willing to learn to fight. Her first kill had been so traumatic for her, Haria refused to again except in self-defense. And her daughter had inherited Kikia’s power as it was. She didn’t need the training.

Once Syre had finished the display, Keven asked, “Can you teach me?”

Syre grinned and said, “If your parents say it’s okay.”

Keven grumbled a bit in response. Devon said from a chair across the room, “If you take it outside. That spear is making me nervous in here. Too many things to break.”

Her husband was feeding Ishamel with a bottle. Kikia sometimes missed feeding him herself. Since most of her time was spent here, she was away from her family. Keven was staring at her after he noticed she was there, waiting on her approval. She nodded and motioned to the door, “Get going.”

Keven grinned and hurried out. Syre shot her a smile and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt him.”

“I would appreciate it.” She said. Syre went out after him. Kikia then sat down by Devon and said, “I would like to feed him.”

Devon smiled at her and he handed Ishamel to her. Once the baby was settled, Kikia quietly explained to Devon what had happened the night before. Haria listened, interested as well. After she was finished, Devon shook his head and said, “Looks like you have a new friend.”

“I would hardly call her that.”

“Acquaintance then.”

“Maybe.”

Once Ishamel was fed and sleeping. The three headed down to the courtyard where Keven was trying to do one of the complicated flourishes that Syre had done but was clearly unable to wield the heavy and over-sized spear. He dropped the weapon with a loud clank. He frowned. Syre gave him a grin and said, “Try again.”

Keven had just picked up the spear when a warning bell started ringing in the palace. Kikia was on edge in an instant and she quickly removed her crystal ring. The Neejar in the courtyard said, “There is an intruder in the palace.”

Syre’s eyes got wide and she took the spear from Keven and said, “We should get rid of it.”

Kikia turned to her surprised. She said, “This isn’t your concern.”

“I’ve got magic poofing powers. I think I’ll be able to help.” Syre stated, looking serious for the first time since she had arrived. Kikia hesitated, but then motioned to her to follow. Kikia started to order,

“Devon”-

“No worries. I’ll protect the children.” Devon replied confidently. He produced a spike of ice in his hand, ready for anything that would attack. Kikia knew he could handle it.

Syre and Kikia hurried through the palace with a couple of Neejar escorts. One said, “They are on the top level. I’m afraid we are unable to engage. This one is brandishing fire, and we don’t want to risk the keep going up in flame.”

“Understood.” Kikia said, letting the shadows wrap around her legs and weak arm. She saw Syre eyeing them from the corner of her eye. The group went up a flight of stairs and at the end of the hall leading to them, Kikia saw a cluster of guards. She transitioned to a run with Syre right behind her. The two rounded the corner, Syre brandishing the spear in a threatening manner, and Kikia with claws formed on her hands and shadows ready to do her bidding.

The intruder, surrounded by Neejar, was a short, semi-dark-skinned man. His dark hair was shaved on both sides of his head, he had a goatee and blue, vibrant eyes. Tattoos scrawled out from below his clothes across his skin. He had a pair of goggles around his neck, and some sturdy boots. He was wearing a long brown coat, with brown clothes beneath. A necklace with a red jewel hung from his neck. Kikia almost took him for a Barkal but the blue fire flickering in his palm told her otherwise.

Then Syre exclaimed next to her, “Tyberius!!”

She dropped the spear and ran up to him and pulled him into a bear hug. After she had nearly squeezed the life from him, he said, “Syre! I’ve been looking for you! I figured out you stole one of Inari’s chaos beads and”- He paused and looked around at the guards with suspicion. Kikia let the shadows fall away from her as she asked,

“Another of Lyria?”

“Yes! This is my husband! Tyberius, meet Lady Kajalar!”

“Call me Kanala.” Kikia replied. She motioned to her guards to lower their spears. “Are your people all going to pop up in the palace?”

“Doubtful.” Tyberius replied. “I’m only here to fetch my wife.”

“You stole one of Inari’s chaos beads too?” Syre asked excitedly.

“She gave one to me.” Tyberius replied. “To use to come get you.”

Syre only grinned in reply. He said, “We should be going.”

Syre’s grin fell, and she said, “Can’t we stay a bit longer? I have to show you all the cool stuff that’s here! Have you seen the cave ceiling yet? And my cheese strainer! I have to show you that! It changes one type of cheese to another! Isn’t that cool!?”

Tyberius looked like he wanted to go along with Syre’s requests. Kikia was starting to lose the need to get Syre out of her hair…almost. She groaned internally and offered, “You should at least stay until tomorrow. We are having a festival and a parade out in front of the palace. I’m sure your wife would love to see it.”

Syre’s big grin came back and she glanced at Tyberius. He sighed a little and then said, “Okay, okay. But you are taking the brunt of Inari’s wrath when we get back. She’s unhappy that one of her beads fell into a foreign world.”

“I’ve kept it safe!” Syre protested. Kikia added,

“By annoying the breath out of me. Come. We’ll meet up with the King in the dining hall. I’m sure he wants to know what is happening in his palace now.”

The three went back downstairs, Kikia fetched her family and the group sat down in the mirrored dining room, waiting for the King to get there. Syre asked while they waited, “Is there really a festival going on tomorrow?”

“That’s why they are here.” Kikia replied and motioned to her family. “You popped up just in time. I’m sure the King will be happy to have you.”

Inktober 2018 - Day 4

Punk AU (Alternate Universe)

Inktober 2018 - Day 3

Stitches

“It takes but a moment for a life to change forever. But the death of one leads to another. I betrayed my honored bloodline, For a life of peace, But for a dream so innocent, the price I paid was steep.”

Inktober - Day 9

Beaten Up

The rage you had for me burned my skin, It came to your fists at my perceived sin, Didn’t listen, didn’t wait, my life you didn’t take, In that moment the child died, Rose to the heavens to watch the woman rise.

**This is a bit belated. I just wasn’t happy with this one and started over on it several times before I settled on this one. This one is of one of the major turning points in Kikia’s story.

Inktober 2018 - Day 7

Animal Costume

Syre: Put this on. It’ll look great on you! Kikia: What is it? Syre: Just put on for me, pleeeeese? I’m putting one on too! Kikia: Fine...

Inktober 2018 - Day 27

Joy