Heroes Fic -- A Queen's Call Chapter Four
Title: A Queen’s Call
Author: Alex Foster
Characters/Pairing: Claire/Elle
Category: FantasyAU, Adventure, Romance
Rating: R for violence and sexual situations
Summary: Apprentice Claire Bennet wants nothing more than to finish her studies of enhanced humans and gain a position within the Company. But after meeting Elle Bishop, a mysterious traveler with an agenda of her own, Claire is drawn into a conspiracy hundreds of years old that leads her to question everything she’s ever been told about abilities and the kings and wizards of old.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by NBC. No money is being made and no infringement is intended.
Chapter Four
In analyzing the period we must be careful not to over romanticize. The tale of King Hellar and his chief adviser, the Wizard Archabold, is often portrayed as a star-crossed love story. Letters written between the two during Hellar's rise to power are often pointed to as declarations of true love despite their terms of endearment being relatively tame for the day.
It should be noted that during the period those in power often carefully chose their lovers to better guard their standing. One only has to study the teachings of Exlar, Archabold's mentor, to see the use of such a relationship to secure the wizard's position in the court.
Claire tapped the end of her pen against her lips as she considered the wording. Factual, yes, but it sounded flat and cynical.
She grinned. Perhaps Daphne had been right about a night out being good for her. Or a few of them.
"'Lords above save us from poets and people in-'" Claire stopped herself from finishing the old saying and shook her head at the lunacy of it. Festival time was for carefree fun and nothing more. Trinkets and a few kisses in the dark, and there was nothing more to it.
She doubted Elle was sitting alone in a room somewhere spinning sugary webs with her thoughts. Daphne may have been right about having a little fun but it was time to get back to work.
Claire set her pen aside and turned to the large book sitting open on the desk in front of her. The book, its leather cover and binding worn and frayed around the edges, was the only in the hunter's library chronicling Wizard Archabold's final days.
In addition to being the wizard most pointed to by those that romanticized the period, Archabold also had the distinction of being one of the few enhanced humans assassinated during his king's reign. Claire was sure she had all the information needed for her notation, but kept reading anyway. She skipped over the drought years and focused instead on Archabold's death.
The histories were unsure of his exact ability but many considered it a form of mind reading or manipulation. Much of Archabold was lost to time; scholars had the published papers and journals from other wizards but because Archabold's time was the beginning of the fall of the kings little had been saved. Occasionally papers from his time were found and published but rarely anything written by his hand.
In the aged pages of the book, Claire read carefully pressed reports from the inquest launched at the king's orders after the death. The hunters directly assigned by the king wrote some of the reports. The Company blamed the assassination on the Council of United Lands but in the reports Claire read Hellar sent hunters to the far east in response to the killing.
A lot of them, Claire saw. Over a dozen ventured out but she didn't see anything indicating if they accomplished their strange mission. She frowned at that. Hunters within the Company kept their own journals so that explained why these reports were not included in the history books she'd read before, but that didn't explain why the reports abruptly ended without notice. Had the king or Company called the hunters home? Had they completed whatever mission Hellar sent them on?
Hellar was hardly an example of sanity after Archabold's death-in fact when the kings later turned on their wizards they used Hellar as an example of how their minds were being twisted by enhanced humans-so Claire guessed it was possible the Company recalled them without official word. Though if a major body had gone against the king's wishes Claire wanted to know.
She closed the leather bound book and turned back to her notes. The thought nagged at her. With a sigh, Claire slid her chair back and started across the library.
Save for the custodian, she had the library to herself. The lamps flooded the room with warm light and a faint scent of burning oil. Claire gave the librarian a friendly nod and disappeared into the rows of books.
She walked past the required reading of students from this enclave, past tomes belonging to the founders, and into the area of kept hunter journals. Here the mustiness of the books was stronger and not even the custodian could keep up with the dust gathering on bindings rarely touched.
Claire moved by centuries of letters and papers written by those that led hunters for king and Company. She slowed when the dates written on the journals reached the reign of Hellar. An attitude for history provided Claire with the exact time of Archabold's assassination and she pulled the journal free from that year.
The light was dim this deep in the rows but Claire didn't bother taking the book back to her desk. She paused and gently turned weathered pages. The ink was sloppy and barely intelligible in places. Reports and orders sent between king and Company saved for the official record.
Claire found a copy of one of the reports she saw in Archabold's history and reread it. Written at the bottom of the page, copied exact by an unknown historian hundreds of years past, was a notation written by Hellar to his Chief of Hunters.
"They have broken the pact," Claire read. "The Kenseian Knights have betrayed us"-She couldn't make out the next two lines-"Go east and kill them all. Pay blood with blood and bring the catalyst back to where it belongs."
The official record didn't mention the hunters again.
Uneasy and not quite sure why, Claire carefully placed the journal back on the shelf. "What's the catalyst?" she asked aloud.
Later, much later, Claire waved farewell to the custodian and left the library. In her bag was a stack of notes, ink still fresh. Her boots clicked down familiar corridors as she worked her way back to the entrance of the enclave, like a miner climbing back to the surface.
Outside there was a chill in the air, a reminder if she needed another that it was festival time, and late afternoon shadows stretched across the grounds. A small scattering of first year students milled around without a second glance at her.
Claire hefted her bag and aimed in the direction of the mess hall. She'd missed lunch but if she rushed she'd still make the bell for dinner. A quick meal before diving back into long gone royalties.
She only made it a few paces from the building when a figure came running up, waving his arms. He was a small boy, seven maybe eight years old, with the hurried look of carrying an important mission.
"Claire Bennet?" he asked, out of breath from the run across campus.
"Yes."
He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a sealed letter. "A lady told me to find you here and give this to you."
Clare accepted it and then felt helplessly at her coin purse. "I'm sorry but I don't have-"
He flashed a toothy grin before running off. "She already paid!"
Once he was out of sight, Claire opened the letter with a flick of her thumb under the wax seal. Inside was messy scrawl worthy of the journals she'd spent the afternoon reading. The address was plain enough though as was the signature at the bottom of the paper.
E. Bishop.
…
…
Claire ran her fingers along the folded paper in her pocket as the host led her through the restaurant. It was two stories but narrow and converted from one of the townhomes along the river. Despite not being in a wealthy part of the city, smooth stone and wood paneling accented the restaurant and created a dark and cozy feel. Candles on individual tables, not wall lamps, provided light.
Following the host, she climbed a wooden staircase that opened to another dining area, the seating here was further apart giving greater privacy and a sense of intimacy. Several glass doors stood open to the night and tables on the balconies. The host led Claire to the one farthest from the stairs.
"Here you are, miss. If you require anything, simply ring." The host bowed and Claire thanked him.
Sitting at the only occupied table was Elle Bishop, waiting for her.
The older woman stood. "I was beginning to think you were going to force me to eat alone."
Claire let out a long breath and held up the note. "A child, really? You could have come to the school, you know. I would have liked that."
"Where is the fun in that? The kid did the job well enough apparently."
Claire smiled and walked toward the table. "Are you attempting to court me?"
"I'm trying to get you to eat with me." Elle pulled a chair out and gestured to it.
"It won't work." Claire sat and was slid close to the table.
Elle sat, moving her chair so they were side by side rather than across from each other. "The courting or the dinner?"
"The former."
There was a bottle of wine already open on the table and Elle poured them each a glass. "And why is that? Don't think I have enough coin to offer a bride's price to your family?"
"I'm wrapped up in my studies," Claire said. "I should be in the library right now."
"But you are a dancing scholar." Elle waggled her eyebrows before taking a sip of wine. "You should be able to have fun."
"I'm...focused. I may not get the position I applied for."
Elle shrugged and signaled for a server. "You still accepted my offer - that is something."
They each ordered a light meal. Once the server was out of earshot Claire turned back to the conversation.
"What about you? Do I finally get to know more about you? You say you are in town for more than just the festival. An easterner, not by birth, able to read historical symbols that most commoners overlook and yet I haven't seen you on the school grounds for business."
Elle smiled slow and didn't answer.
"Am I wrong?"
"No, I'd give you passing marks on that exam." Elle set her glass aside and leaned in close, her arm over the back of Claire's chair. "Maybe I'm in town to meet you."
Claire blushed. "I find it hard to believe that is the only reason."
When their food arrived Elle scooted back to eat and Claire felt the absence of her closeness acutely. She helped herself to more wine.
"So what is your business? Really."
Elle cut a piece of fish with the edge of her fork and stabbed it. "You can call me a freelance information agent. I travel the world for those that need my services and observe and report. Along the way I occasionally have affairs with beautiful men and women."
"That certainly sounds like an interesting job."
"It does have its moments." Elle mock saluted with her fork.
"So I'm just another conquest then? I should have known." Claire sighed dramatically, playing along.
"Hardly that."
The words festival fling kept Claire from reading too much into that comment. This is what people do during the Green God, she told herself. They play and have fun.
"So are you going back out tonight? To observe and report on the festival?"
Elle smiled. "Not tonight, no. Another evening though, if you'd be willing to act as my guide again. I still would like to see a playact of Queen Barone's consummation."
Daphne's teasing voice rang through Claire's head. "You certainly do have a fixation with that. Is your interest in the monarchy that strong? Or do you have an agenda?"
"Who says I can't have both." Elle leaned in conspiratorially. "Perhaps I have a royal agenda?"
"I think you might just want to see the buxom Barone peg her wizard."
Elle's laughter carried over the patio of the restaurant. She topped off Claire's wine and then her own glass. "Maybe a little of that too."
Claire smiled at a private joke. "My interest in history is for different reasons than your interest in Barone."
"I'm surprised you weren't enjoying yourself more the night we met-I would think the Green God Festival with its link to the royals would be a dream for you."
"In the past it was. And if this year goes well next year will. You aren't exactly catching me at my best right now."
Elle shot her a look. "Well, if this is you at your worst I would certainly like to see your best."
Claire flushed. "You are just trying to flatter me."
"I am." Elle pushed her plate away and placed her arms on the table, her fingers interlaced. "But we can stay on track if that is what makes you comfortable.
"Do you have a specialty you are studying?"
"Enhanced humans," Claire answered immediately, scooting forward on her chair.
"You play favorites."
Claire gave a small shrug. "I'm fascinated by the civilization they helped build and how they came together once abilities started to manifest. Without their early work forming the government the world would be a completely different place for enhanced humans like you and I."
Something flickered in Elle's eyes but she didn't correct her so Claire felt sure her guess was accurate. She'd also just come out as a special herself and felt a little thrill at that.
"And by uniting the lands under one central rule, they formed a system that fostered organizations like the Company to grow and increase its knowledge of abilities, language, arts, and history. Without them not only would we likely still be burned as spellcasters but wars over boundary lines would likely still exist today."
Elle took in all she said for a long moment and finally spoke around the lip of her wineglass, "Sadly the royalty ended so badly. Just think how wonderful the world would be if we had a monarch instead of a decentralized council."
Claire felt a twinge deep in her chest. "You're making fun of me."
Elle set her glass down and looked confused. "No, I'm not. As a student of history isn't there a part of you that idolizes those days? You just said how much good they brought to the world-wouldn't it stand to reason an additional two hundred years of rule would have only added to it?"
"I don't idolize, no. It would be blasphemous to our kind." Claire thought about the hours she spent reading and writing about King Hellar. "There are those that spin lust tales about the wizards and monarchy and believe them wholly but I'm not one of them. The kings hoarded power until they rebelled against the wizards and tried to wipe enhanced humans out."
"So you don't believe it was an equal partnership?"
Claire hadn't heard anyone save for first years suggest such a thing-it flew in the face of Company teachings-and was momentarily surprised at the sincerity in Elle's question.
"I'll allow that in some of the early years the balance in writing law was probably equal," Claire said, "but they became afraid of enhanced humans as our numbers grew. After the monarchy was removed it was clear the council could run things without a figurehead, as they still do today."
"But the council itself is ruled by a single figurehead," Elle said. "Maybe we are simply waiting for the right person to come along and retake the throne?"
Claire smiled. "I don't think that is likely to happen soon. The wizards were quite thorough in putting down the uprising and no royal blood remains. Besides, how could the world ever trust another king again?"
Elle's eyes sparkled. "Maybe the right special just needs to come along and offer the right champion to the council?"
Claire tipped her head and her smile grew unsure.
"It wasn't always blood, Pom Pom," Elle explained. "There were several royals-Queen Altus being one-that never had formally known heirs and the council tried to replace her ahead of the court at the end of her rule."
"Ah, the laws of non-relation succession." As part of her first year studies Claire memorized the bylaws of that rite. It was a formal trial held in front of the council. "I'm familiar with that."
A look passed over Elle's face that said she was simply humoring Claire about what the student thought she knew. "Then you know how the wizards in their enclaves here in the city used to fight amongst themselves for the right to champion a replacement in front of court and council. Sometimes battles were fought to the death, assassination was employed to gain the high position, and wizards risked being disgraced if the person they championed was not picked to ascend to the throne."
Claire stared at Elle. The school did not teach that. She simply knew the trial as a legal matter handled by the government. Yes, wizards had stood up for candidates but the way she understood it they simply acted as modern day solicitors. "Where did you learn that?" she asked. "Your tutors couldn't have been trained here or they severely misguided you."
"There are other places besides the Company," Elle said.
But none as accurate or comprehensive Claire started to say and then stopped herself. She didn't want to insult Elle. "My mentor has been trying to get me to think about the royalty from a different perspective," she said instead. "He thinks my thesis will stand out from the others submitted if I write it from a point of view not often thought about."
"The kings?"
Claire nodded. "He keeps giving me these books to read that focus on them instead of the actions of their wizard within the court. My writing isn't going well."
"Why?"
She thought for a moment before answering. "I don't really understand their point of view," she admitted. "The actions of the kings were horrible - they attempted to commit genocide against specials."
Elle sipped her wine. "There are alternate interpretations."
Claire figured she meant some of the playacts in the festival. "Those are not true. I have to deal in facts."
"After so much time has passed is it that outlandish to say the histories are less than complete?"
"Much has been lost but I can't spin conjecture."
Elle bit her bottom lip as she thought. "Then use the history books you have, as they are written, but tell me why you think the kings rose against their wizards."
"You sound like Professor Rains."
Elle didn't answer, waiting for a response
Claire sighed. "The kings wanted power and complete rule over the united lands."
"They had power." Elle sounded like she was enjoying this. "The end of the 'official' playact between Niccerson and Samet is clear on that."
"Greed cannot be rationalized."
"Yes it can."
"Okay." Claire felt a flash of irritation. "The kings wanted more than they possessed and eliminating their wizards also quieted the worries of their alliance within the court and council. How is that for rationalization?"
Elle shook her head. "This is why you are struggling. That reason is too easy to pull apart. The court possessed no real authority once a king or queen was in place and the worry of the relationship-lust tales aside-between the nobility and enhanced humans kept the council from ever moving against the monarchy."
Claire thought about Hellar and silently conceded that Elle had a point about the council. It was widely believed they had a hand in Archabold's death, but in his writings Hellar largely dismissed the council as impotent. "Then what is your theory?"
Elle caught her tone. "Your history books, Pom Pom, not mine. My education was obviously lacking compared to the Company."
"I can't complete this." Claire threw her hands in the air. "It's impossible without falling into a trap of conjecture and guesswork."
"It isn't impossible. All the information you need is already available-you just have to be open to alternate interpretations."
"Lust tales."
Elle glanced over the balcony at the riverfront and frowned in thought. "You need to be open to the idea that there is more to the events in your books than just names and dates. Niccerson and Hellar were real people with complex motivations. If things were as simple as your classes painted them than your paper would be easy to write."
Later, after Elle paid for their meal, they stepped outside the townhouse and watched as the evening traffic passed by. They were several streets away from the festival but decorations of red and green still covered doorways and buildings. Couples walked along the boardwalk in bright clothes and masks.
Claire slipped her hand around Elle's.
"I like this city," Elle said. "I like the life and feel of it here." She paused as though picking words carefully. "I almost grew up here-my father was with the Company for a short time. But once my assignment is done I am not staying."
Claire felt her stomach dip at that and mentally chided herself for such foolishness.
"The world is a very big place with many important things in play right now." She chewed her lip again. "May I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why study history?"
They walked in silence for a moment. "My passion is with the wizards," Claire admitted. "I've felt a connection to them ever since my ability manifested." It was the first time she'd said such out loud and almost felt like glancing around to see if anyone overheard.
"Then instead of filling your thesis with dates and worn facts, you should write with that passion. Don't worry about how it will be viewed until after you've written it."
"This has to be perfect. I have to stand out," Claire said. "Every student in my field rewrites the same examination without illuminating anything new."
They turned a street corner and passed several hotels with banners welcoming visitors for the festival.
"If the Company wants people that care about their fields of study, then that is how you stand out." Elle said. "Archabold didn't have a reputation with the council because he was simply hardheaded. He was a fearsome and powerful individual that badgered the council into submission more than once-documented, by the way. Write about that side."
Excitement tickled the edge of Claire's thoughts. It was tempting to let go that freely. "I'll think about it," she said. "Thank you."
Elle stopped walking in front of one of the hotels and pulled her to a halt. "My temporary home in this port."
"Oh." Claire glanced up at the building. She had a lot of work to get back to at the school and new ideas swirling around trying to find their place in her mental outline. Her gaze dropped back to Elle's. "Aren't you going to invite me up?"
Elle smiled.
TBC