Arrival Recognized

[Diala]

Kalista stood, her head bowed over some parchment reading news of what seemed importance. It seemed the day couldn’t possibly get any more hot than it already was, and though she stood in the Gazebo that was placed in the orchard of her garden, surrounded by the many fruit trees, all well pruned, some baring fruit, the shade offered little relief this day. She had decided this must be the hottest day of the year so far. Suddenly, the sun went out, an eclipse? No, not possible it wasn’t due yet… She drew her sword as a deep chill ran down her spine and as the unique sound of the sword of Karador was unleashed, ringing through what would now be darkness she could hear the shuffle of feet and a few voices,. All familiar to her,

“Hold your ground, I am fine…just taking a small precaution is all.” She stated to the obvious scramble of her personal guard.

“Your majesty, what power is this to block out the sun? It is not scheduled yet for another..” A voice sounded in the dark.

The guard was cut off by a sigh from the Queen of Karador and as the sigh ended, her normally onyx eyes suddenly sparked to life with an eerie silver glow to them as she felt, she knew. “Another ten years, yes I know Chailin.” She finished the girls sentence for her as she opened her right hand and a small ball of yellowish light appeared there, then hovered a moment before shooting up and over the top of the gazebo and expanding to send a yellow light to surround the entire gazebo and a few feet out on all sides, creating a circle so that they could all see one another easily, and see if there was any other visitors to the garden spot.

“Should I go to the Keep and retrieve the captain, Majesty?” Chailin asked.

“No, I have already told the Captain to peruse another matter.” Kalista responded. She had indeed sent the Captain of her guard a mental command to stay there, watch the Keep for signs that might mean her enemy had entered the Keep.

Her eyes remained that eerie silver as she looked around and then, as she rounded her gaze to the right, a slight wince of pain ran through her expression as the sun began to just peek out from its hiding place behind whatever spell, or force of will that had imprisoned it so shortly. She backed up and sat down hard on the bench behind her, a tear of sorrow sliding down her cheek as she felt the deaths of hundreds of creatures, their cries not reaching her ears, but the interruption in the air about her straining harshly against the massive deaths.

“Chailin, go, fetch General Cassius for me, I think we need to talk…” She voiced through gritted teeth as the sun then rolled back into its normal state and once again shown down brightly over the world.

Kalista remained seated on the bench inside the gazebo, her eyes closed, the Sword of Karador residing still at her side, in her hand, as if waiting to be used again the foe she knew to be in their midst, for certain now.

[Cassius Ado Virtus]

Not more than an hour had passed and the sun still glared down on the walled gardens, showing no signs of relenting any time soon.

"Step aside, fool - Move. GET OUT FROM UNDERFOOT DAMMIT"

The heavy silence was broken by a loud voice coming from the direction of the doors to the keep.
A large man clad heavily in ornate armour was shouldering his way through a crowd of courtiers, to a chorus of terrified squeals and yelps. General Cassius Ado Virtus was not one for flunkies and their frippery, and he took every opportunity to remind the world of that fact. He even managed to keep a straight face all the while, even as he kicked another petrified courtier from underfoot.
The general was accompanied by two other men, who were also clad heavily in steel armour and bristled with an array of weaponary, their chest plates shone with ribbons and medals of various colours.

After a short while Cassius and his men stepped onto the garden path, their armoured feet ringing. They didn't even turn back for another go.
The three walked smartly and in step through the beauty of the gardens, between flowering shrubs and fruit laden trees, the bright metal of their armour a stark contrast to the warm, vibrant colours of the garden.
As soon as they were out of sight and earshot of the doorway, the two officers almost collapsed in helpless laughter and Cassius even cracked a smile.

The General's smile broadened slightly as he looked about the gardens, but quickly fled from his face when he saw Kalista. Her features were drawn with concern, and that was never a good thing.

"Wait here and keep your eyes open. No interruptions." Cassius told the two officers, who immediately saluted and drew their swords, stepping away to block the path.

Slowly, Cassius walked over to Kalista. "My queen," He bowed deeply, waiting to rise again.

[Diala]

Kalista’s eyes opened, they had remained shut against the pain that still reside din her head after the sudden welling up of agony she felt in her Kingdome, the hundreds of voices that had cried out in such agony and then were silenced had hit the sorceress’s mind hard, giving her something to remember his entrance by for quite some time. It wasn’t until she heard the familiar tone of the marching footfalls of Cassius striding down her garden path that she had allowed her onyx eyes to peer once again into the light that surrounded them all.

“Leave us.” She said in a flat tone to her personal guard as Cassius made his way to the gazebo.

Without hesitation or perhaps even a thought to argue the remaining of her personal guard turned about smartly on their heels after bowing in unison and walked a fair distance from the two figures now alone in the garden’s main gazebo.

“Take a seat General.” Kalista said, rather formally, her mood obviously not the greatest just now. “I trust you noticed the eclipse.” She stated her tone as well not hiding the fact that she was not at all too happy. ‘It seems my worst fear has indeed come to pass… Kaldryn it seems has not only returned, he’s returned with even more power than he had when last I saw him.” She frowned, her eyes turning to gaze at Cassius. “Of course, this means we have much more to worry about than Necromancers…” She stated unnecessarily as she remained seated, her grip on the Sword of Karador not relinquishing but all the same, she slipped it back into its resting place at her side.

Kalista had taken an indirect hit from his use of force in the forest, some of his anger reaching its target and it was quite evident she still felt that harsh sting as she sat there, her face rather pale and a most unwanted wince of pain surged through her as her head throbbed relentlessly.

[Cassius Ado Virtus]

Cassius stood, rising gracefully from the bow and bringing a look of rage and concern up with him. He stepped back and took a seat, immediately removing a small piece of parchment and a quill from somewhere about his uniform and scratching thick, heavy letters into it.
Cassius did not raise his head nor stop writing as he spoke, "Then our worst fears are being realised." He said quite matter of factly.
"Captain!" He turned and called to one of the officers who had accompanied him. The man turned and ran towards the General, sensing the urgency in his voice. "Take this back to the war room at the Fortress. They will know what to do." Cassius folded and handed him the piece of parchment, referring of course to the military keep that lay within the city limits, and was affectionately called 'The fortress' by many of the soldiers.
The Captain stood smartly to attention, saluted sharply and turned on his heel and left the keep with haste.

Cassius now stood, moving over to Kalista. He moved to place one armoured hand on her shoulder, but thought better of it, "Are you alright, Kalista?" He asked her.

[Diala]

Kalista gave Cassius a somewhat believable smile as he approached her and asked if she was all right. Her onyx eyes flickered a bit from slivery to black again and then she sighed.

“Yes, I will be fine, in a moment, it would seem Kaldryn has become quite a bit more powerful than last time I encountered him, and it also seems, his anger has not diminished din his long absence.” She told him as she looked up to gaze at the General for a moment before situation herself a bit and then moving to stand. She no sooner wished to show weakness in front of Cassius as she would anyone. She was Queen of Karador and couldn’t allow that.

As she stood, flashes of light zipped across her vision and a searing pain entered her head, causing her to nearly black out for a moment and she stumbled forward slightly, though reached out and caught Cassius by his armored shoulder and steadied herself and taking a deep breath, chuckled slightly.

“It would seem his reach is very far indeed…” She started, letting her hand slide from the General’s shoulder as she now stood once again on her own, her eyes fixed on the parchment she had been going over just moments before, though not actually looking at it, it gave her a steady point to focus her spinning mind on as it fought to regain control over whatever it was that had taken her just moments before. “I believe it is time for council… There is no escaping the fact tat we are already under attack and the menace may even now be at our doorstep and we can not see them.” She near growled now as her eyes remained unfocused on the parchment, her voice, despite the pain she felt, was still as strong as ever, determined.

[Cassius Ado Virtus]

Cassius refrained from offering one of his heavily set arms to Kalista in support. He would not demean her by offering his aid now. No, she was a warrior too. A strong one at that, and she would not wish to be made to look weak, besides, the General knew she was fully capable of taking care of herself. However, the minute that changed he would surely be there, to give his life should it prove neccesary, and with darkness approaching thick and fast, one could never be sure.
He inclined his head to her in respect and acknowledgement, "As always, your wisdom becomes you, my Queen." he told her in his thick, low voice, showing none of his age.
"May I take your leave, my Queen?" Cassius bowed deeply, "There is much to be done, lest you require more of me."

[Diala]

Kalista stood straight now, her onyx gaze moving over the shaded area of the orchard until they reached Cassius and she inclined her head. “Yes, you may go, there are many things that are needed to be done and I know you need to get them started.” She replied through gritted teeth, her anger growing steadily with each passing moment.

Kalista then, with the speed of a snake striking its victim, drew from her side a dagger and slammed the blade through the parchment before her until it was embedded to the hilt and growled. “I will need you in council by this time tomorrow, that should give you plenty of time to lock the city down I trust.” She said to him before he would have the chance to take his leave and then she turned toward him fully and laid a hand on his shoulder, the look she gave him needed no words attached, he knew she had thanked him for allowing her, her own recovery.