Fantasy
Puss's Boots - Chapter 4
Nearly nine weeks had passed since Lady Heightmyer’s, now known to the siblings as Caoimhe, proposal to Dione, Orlando’s twin and last surviving sibling. Nearly three days ago was the stranger’s last visit. As always, he had come at night, alone, after any potential witnesses to his arrival had long since gone away. He was never seen by anyone save Orlando, and, the day after, Puss always knew about his visit. And, always, he flirted and courted Orlando with gentle poems and stories and innocent requests, and Orlando, whose face always seemed so composed with everything else, after every visit, was coloured a vivid red for days.
By Dionearia Red9 months ago in Chapters
Sparrow on a Plank Chapter 14: Bribes and Paper Prisons
The inspectors had already come and gone, their pockets considerably heavier than when they had come aboard. The inspection was a farce, but luckily a quick one; there were goods that even a large bribe wouldn't protect, and a sizable number of those were on board the Hell's Wrath, waiting for pick up. It was fun to watch Rick go into his act as a first mate on a “poor cargo ship”, bargaining for the lowest bribe he would pay. The inspectors got into the spirit of things, and so there was the quick conflict of supply and demand, as the inspectors demanded what they could from the supply of funds that they had been given for bribes. In the end, thanks to a mix of Rick's bargaining skill and the inspectors' lack of recent entertainment, the bribes were half what they had estimated. Captain Taylor breathed a sigh of relief when the last so-called inspector left, with all goods still on board, and the remainder of the bribe money going into a party fund.
By Jamais Jochim9 months ago in Chapters
Puss's Boots - Chapter 3
“There was a most interesting joust; did m’lady have a chance to join in the festivities?” “My sister does not take part in such bloody events, Lady Heightmyer. Was it a fair tournament?” Orlando’s voice was cool, refreshing to hear to Caoimhe over the sugar-heavy voices in Court. He stood straight and tall, and, to both Orlando and Dione’s good fortune, his hands were steady on his teacup. Puss, seeing the poise that his two charges managed to display smiled a secret cat smile, curled up on his accustomed spot on the window seat, and feigned a nap during the proceedings.
By Dionearia Red9 months ago in Chapters
Emerald Flame
Was it still following me? It must have stopped by now. I glanced over my shoulder. The persistent creatures’ amber eyes flashed with fury as it struggled to keep up with me. For once I had no clue as to why it continued to chase me. It had kept within pursuit of me for quite a long while. Personally, I had hoped it would have turned and fled at the mere sight of me, but as usual, no such luck. I beat my slender wings effort fully, darting this way and that, trying to lose the creature, but to my bewilderment, it always managed to regain control and follow behind.
By Maddy Newt9 months ago in Chapters
Puss's Boots - Chapter 2
“How truly beautiful she is, Master Cat!” Exclaimed the pleased Master Detective that afternoon as she gazed upon Dione’s likeness. “Why, Cat, if she is half as intelligent and kind as her portrait is handsome, I have half a mind to beg her hand on the very spot of our meeting.” “Ah, M’lady, she is kind enough to feed a strange, and rather obviously hungry, cat from her own hand so that it might continue to live.” “But,” the lady countered cunningly, “could it not also be a sign of great stupidity, to feed a strange, possibly vicious – no offence meant, Master Cat – animal out of her own hand?” “If it were anyone but her, yes. Mistress was so discomforted by the thought of a creature in pain that she was blind to any consequences. As for her intelligence, my mistress often spends her days reading so that, upon her brother’s arrival home, she can adequately debate with him and amuse him with witty conversation.” “A woman with a mind.” “A woman who fears not to use her mind,” countered Puss, the master debater, for he knew that intelligence and a willingness to use her mind for more than just gossip was the surest way to impress a woman titled the kingdom’s Master Detective. On these points Lady Heightmyer thought deeply and for a great length of time. At long last, around the final moments of sunlight, she decided to meet the woman who was both intelligent and kind, not to mention beautiful. She awoke Puss, who had found a delicious patch of sunlight and had curled up on the window seat to nap, and informed him that a meeting between herself and Lord Gloria was to be in order. Puss of course agreed whole-heartedly and promised to beg his master and mistress to come immediately. All he asked Lady Heightmyer for was to borrow his coach, for the Glorias’ had had to be abandoned in mud miles away from the winter estate. Scurrying back, again Puss reached the estate within seconds of leaving Heightmyer’s, and, once there, he immediately informed Orlando and Dione of the lady’s interest in their family. For the two scared, lonely twins, this came as a great relief. The Master Detective had a stern but fair reputation, but she was also known for her unique and remote beauty. Dione had heard even back in their hometown about her great intellect and cleverness and also of the handsome face of the Lady Heightmyer, and she was only too happy to be courted by her. Of course, Orlando was pleased that such a strong and powerful lady would show interest in his sister, but to lose all of your family save one and then to hear that she might just abandon you for a wife in the same season was just news too bitter for him to take. After congratulating his sister and twice being asked if he was well, Orlando escaped to the garden to mourn his losses in private. It was there that he once again saw the strange man. He was older than the twins, and strong and well-muscled, dressed in fine, if simple, lawn and leathers. His hair was pure spun-gold with eyes the colour of the a stormy sky; he was a stark contrast to Orlando’s own darker colouring. The stranger’s skin was tanned lightly and his hair cut shorter then fashionable, but it was kept long enough that a slight wave could be seen in it. He was dressed simply, again contrasted by Orlando’s borrowed finery. When he spoke, his voice flowed like a thick honey, rich and sweet. And now, that voice and those grey eyes were turned on the younger man. “Ah, the young Lord Gloria, out for a moonlight stroll, are we?” A knowing, flirtatious wink accompanied his silky words, and, at once, Orlando found himself blushing, as he always seemed to do in this man’s company. Granted, he had only seen the man twice before, once when his horse had gone limp in front of the siblings’ secret spot, and, the second time, the man had been in the company of his father. Orlando had just assumed that the stranger had been a business associate of his father’s, but never before had he had been able to muster up the courage he desperately needed to speak even the tiniest sentence to this Apollo of men who even the barest glimpse of made him blush and his heart beat wildly in his breast. He must speak now, Orlando belatedly realized as they were finally alone, and the man had addressed him directly. So he took a slow, deep breath and averted his eyes from the soft grey ones in front of him. Then Orlando spoke so softly that the stranger had to lean close to hear him. It was an exceptionally intimate scene to any passerby who might have been lurking in the gardens, but, fortunately and with regard to the hour, the gardens were empty tonight. “You of all people would know, Stranger, that I am no foreign lord come to visit.” “Ah, so the statue does know how to speak; oh, don’t colour so, Orlando. It is just that you have never spoken to me before tonight. As for your not being a true lord… Well, that I care not for, nor will I speak to the detective of it. I do have a request in return to ask of you though.” “Anything.” Orlando breathed, his heart beat faster at the mere mention of a request from the breathtaking stranger. “Anything that I want?” The man teased, watching the boy’s face as he blushed. Then, taking pity on the young man, he named his request, requests, actually. “All I desire is for your happiness, yours and, of course, Dione’s. Caoimhe is a good woman; she will make Dione a good wife. Follow my advice and allow the match. As for myself, all I ask is for your handkerchief there – the one in your hand. This only; this and that you shed no more tears tonight. You must set a brave example, Orlando, for your sister looks to you for guidance. It is hard, yes, but the rewards are great indeed.” With those honey-coated words spoken, the stranger took Orlando’s hand, the one that held the handkerchief he had requested, kissed the back of it, and took the embroidered, tear-stained piece of linen. Standing up gracefully and with a short bow, he was gone again before Orlando could blink.
By Dionearia Red9 months ago in Chapters
Puss's Boots - Chapter 1
Orlando was barely nineteen when he suddenly found himself the head of his house. He was still more a boy than a man, but, now, he was the sole man left alive in his family. And he had a sister – his youngest sister and twin – who needed him to provide for her. Except that they had nothing; all that they owned had been destroyed in the fire that had claimed the lives of their parents and other siblings. So now Orlando and Dione, the last remaining members of their once large and happy family, sat on what was left of their front steps and tried to determine their next move. But they were not completely alone. A large, rather odd-looking cat sat only a few feet away from Orlando, watching him intently. Dione noticed him first and begged Orlando to allow her to give him a lick of milk to cool him off from the heat of the summer day. Even though their store of food was barely enough to last them for the week, Orlando saw the need in the poor creature’s eyes and consented, not willing to allow any living thing to suffer if he could help it. So they took an early lunch and willingly gave up a good sized portion of their food to the strange cat, and, after the meal was finished and good size of their supplies with it, the true surprise of the cat was revealed. “I thank you, Lord Gloria, for your generosity.” spoke the cat. The twins were shocked to hear the words that were spoken by the cat as these the ancient forms of Magic were, supposedly, lost in their country, especially since the dark spell placed on the current king’s great-grandfather. “Yes, young lord and lady, you heard me correctly; you fed me, cared for me, and, now, I will repay the favour. Do as I say, young ones, and I will bring you fortune, honour, and, perhaps most importantly, even happiness and safety. To thank you for your generosity, I can offer you more than thrice what your parents had, and all you have to do is to buy me the clothes of a man and feed me your own food.” A glance was shared between the siblings, and Orlando agreed to the cat’s demands. He knew that the chances of the cat saving their future was slim, but he would do anything to protect Dione and, hopefully, see her happy and married to someone rich and with power enough to protect and care for her. So that very day Orlando, with the last of their once great fortune, left to buy a suit of clothes, complete with a child’s pair of boots. That night they ate the next-to-last portion of their food and slept in the remains of the once comfortable house. The next day, early in the morning, the cat, who was dubbed by Dione as ‘Puss,’ left for the estate of the Master Detective over ten leagues away; this woman, a powerful noblewoman – Lady Heightmyer by name – was favoured greatly for her cunning and intelligence but renowned for her gentle and protective nature. Once there, Puss arranged a meeting with Lady Heightmyer’s butler and offered rich gifts if he could introduce his Lord Gloria to her. At first, the butler was amazed by the talking cat, but he remembered the busy schedule that Lady Heightmyer had and refused the cat entry. That was, until Puss revealed a ruby the size of a man’s fist; it was a pure ruby too, no imperfections. The butler’s tone quickly changed seeing the power the magical cat held, and the cat was admitted to speak with the lady. He spoke to the lord of his foreign master and his beautiful, young, and quite unmarried mistress; both of whom were lost far from home several leagues away. That caught the noblewoman’s attention – for she was not only concerned about the plight of two lost visitors to their kingdom but also was in search of a companion for herself and found the cat’s description of the lady to be facinating, and she requested a second visit, complete with a portrait of the beautiful young lady. For now though, she granted the use of her winter house, close enough to the town where Orlando and Dione lived to easily ride there by nightfall, and sent Puss with word for preparations to be sent to the estate. By midday, Puss had returned to his master and informed the two that they were to report to the winter estate of Lady Heightmyer. By the time they arrived it was nearing nightfall, and a feast had been laid out for the siblings. The housekeeper, upon seeing the condition of what she thought were traveling clothes, forced Orlando into the clothes of Lady Heightmyer – who preferred the men’s fashion of breeches and coats over gowns that would limit her mobility and function – and Dione into those of the woman’s late mother. There, in a rich estate, wearing rich, if old fashioned, clothing, the true beauty of the siblings shone. The newly minted Lady Gloria’s gently rounded figure could truly shine in the long, silk, off-the-shoulder evening gown. Her ebony tresses spilled over her narrow neck and down to curl down around her slender waist. The silk dress matched her midnight coloured eyes and highlighted her ever-pale skin. Instead of taking advantage of the late Lady Heightmyer’s jewellery box, Dione wore only two pieces of jewellery: her mother’s silver locket, which contained a lock of both hers and their father’s hair, and the sapphire ring that her father had brought back for her as a birthday gift on one of his trips. As for her brother, the rich clothes did nothing but swallow his slender form – as slender as his sister’s – for Lady Heightmyer was broader and taller than Orlando. The twin’s father had been a successful merchant, and their mother had spent her days raising five children and overseeing the two servants that the family had kept part-time. They hadn’t been rich per-say, but the family lived in a large house outside of the town and wanted for nothing. Now, with the death of their parents and the burning of the house, the two remaining children were penniless. But their luck had changed; true to his word, Puss had gotten them residence in a lord’s winter home and new, richer clothing. Food, too, was plentiful, and the siblings ate well. But, they did not forget the unique cat, nor did they neglect him. Dione fed Puss the best scraps of fish from her own hand, and Orlando made sure to leave him a dish of fine crème before they retired to sleep. But Puss did not sleep. He instead used his own brand of old, long forgotten Magic to go to Dione’s bed and paint a portrait of her exact likeness. He did not even have to exaggerate her face to make the piece captivating and was well pleased with the result. This painting would ensure that Lady Heightmyer would meet with the siblings in the weeks that followed. Smiling the cunning smile that only a cat could, Puss exited the room as quietly as he entered and went instead to the woman’s brother’s. Orlando was equally as stunning as his sister, but his beauty was of a different nature. He was tall where she was short, only his blue-black hair was worn shorter than Dione’s, but not by much. It fell to dust just the top of his shoulders. His eyes were midnight blue, the same as her’s, but it was not only in physicality that they were similar: their kind and gentle natures, their quick minds, and their love of both music and dance as well as books and art were identical. Now, dressed simply in breeched and a long shirt, his hair tied back; his father’s locket was plainly visible around his throat. Puss stared silently for another few moments before turning and sliding into the pitch black night
By Dionearia Red9 months ago in Chapters
Puss's Boots Prologue
The wedding was a small, intimate affair, and one the directly contrasted the Royal Wedding that also took place on that day with silks and velvets, cloth of gold and silver, trumpets, drums and harps, but that was, perhaps, for the best. The bride wore a simple blue gown and a silver locket as her only adornment save for her new wedding ring. The groom looked as though the world hung on her very being. He and his dearest friend stood alone at the altar of the chapel – save, of course, for the priest whose joyous role it was to proclaim marriages – for he had no family and neither did his bride. As such, the priest, knowing well that this was a True Love match and that the legal ceremony could afford the friend-less woman the protection she so desperately needed, waived the reading of the Bans and allowed the marriage to proceed immediately. The ceremony so set, as the King himself knelt on the velvet cushion in the Royal Cathedral, so too did Master Red kneel on their chapel’s faded but well-loved cushion. As the new Queen walked down the silk and flower lined aisle to kneel by her new husband’s side, so too did this bride walk lightly over the uncovered stone and mortar to join her new husband. Both weddings were solemnised with the same words, and for both weddings the bells were tolled. Two weddings on the same day, at the same hour, but of such different people… And yet, our story begins here.
By Dionearia Red9 months ago in Chapters
Corruption, Power, and Global Security Concerns
China’s Military Under Scrutiny: Corruption, Power, and Global Security Concerns China’s military, known as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), is facing increased attention after reports of investigations into senior officials. According to international media, including reports discussed by security analysts, China has placed high-ranking military figures under investigation as part of its long-running anti-corruption campaign. While China describes these actions as internal discipline, the developments have raised questions about stability, command control, and global security.
By Wings of Time 9 months ago in Chapters
