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Nihilistic Mind

Altair is in the center of the Pattern. What Brand had said was true: the Pattern was the greatest trial an Amberite could overcome.

Now that Altair had just claimed his heritage as an Amberite, it was time for him to take his other heritage. The Shadow of Rien was but a thought away...

Ruger · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 66

It was a time of reflection. He knows he possesses knowledge that no other inhabitant of Rien could dream of.

Altair begins to focus and imagine the world he once knew. He closes his eyes and holds his breath as he wishes of a world far away. It wasn't long before he could swear he was there, feeling familiar winds speak to him. He opens his eyes and nearly falls over from a sudden change of place.

Joy, confusion, and fear flood Altair's mind. He knows this place, an old hill where he played with other children of the kingdom. The city was less than a mile away, he was nearly there. At once he began to take off running.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject:

On his way across the hill and to the fortified castle, he sees farmers till fields and he passes several carts transporting goods to the city. Altair makes his way to the city gates where two guardsmen with shiny yellow armor and lances salute him politely. One of them asks: "Does his grace bear the appropriate paperwork to enter the city?"

It seems that the guard does not wish to insult Altair if he is in fact nobility (Altair's current garb giving that much away), but the fact that Altair travels by foot and without a retinue gives the guard some doubts as to his station.

Ruger · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 66

In his excitement, Altair has nearly forgotten himself. He obviously has no papers, and nothing even to carry them in.

After a moment of consideration, Altair speaks up. "Does a prince of Rien need such papers to enter his own city?" He flashes a bright smile and stands with pride. "I am Altair, Prince of Rien, and I am here to claim my throne."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 11:48 pm Post subject:

The guards look at each other briefly, the same guard says, "I'm afraid you'll need to do better than that... Prince Altair disappeared long ago, before you were born, I reckon. Now scram, charlatan!"

Ruger · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 66

The look of pride on Altair's face quickly becomes one of confusion. He thinks for a second that maybe he went to the wrong Shadow. Brand had told him that anything was possibly in Shadow, and he looks briefly around to see if such a mistake was made. There is no mistaking it, this is his Rien.

"You men must be mistaken," Altair says with an unexpected hint of hostility. "I am right here. I am Altair. I have only been gone a few years."

He reaches for his neck and pulls out the pendant his mother gave him on the day of his leaving. It is simple yet elegant, bearing the crest of the royal family. "Would some simple charlatan, as you so elegantly put it, carry this?"

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 9:40 pm Post subject:

The guard looks at him more closely for a few moments, looking at the pendant shape. Rather than apologizing, he simply says, "Follow me if you would."

He shares a few words with the other guard and leaves his post with Altair in tow.

The city streets are very much what Altair remembers of Rien. But some of the shops have changed and he recognizes no one among the citizens and passing nobility. It has the eerie sense of the familiar and foreign all at once.

Altair notices that the construction of a great temple has been started in one of the 'high districts' and there are bridges across towers that did not exist when he last left the capital of the Kingdom.

As the guard and Altair hike up the wide staircase to the palace, a retinue of a dozen Royal Guards, bearing the Royal Crest painted on their shields. The guard remains quiet throughout the ordeal and they stop at the central and highest gate. There, the guard exchanges words with a noble or councilor seemingly in charge. They whisper for several moment, the noble stealing glances of Altair and his current accoutrement, taking in the pendant that now hangs around his neck. The noble, dressed in a green velour suit and a wide-shouldered jacket, nods several times during the exchange with the guard.

The noble walks down from his steps and small desk to greet Altair with a smile. "Your Grace, welcome to the Royal Palace. My name is Lord Pelague and I will be your guide here. It seems there is some sort of clarification needed here, isn't there?" Without waiting for a response, the middle-aged man continues to smile as he proposes: "If you would follow me to the Royal Chambers the King will be very interested to see you, I am certain."

He begins walking down a hallway, looking back to make sure that Altair is in fact following him.

Ruger · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 66

Altair remains entirely silent as he walks through the city. He avoids meeting the gazes of those around him. Normally he would be enjoying their eyes upon him, reveling in their curiosity and wonderment. This time is too much uncertain, it is enough to drive a man mad.

A guide? He thinks to himself, not hiding it in his eyes. Their lack of trust in his words continued to confuse and anger him. He played along with them though, following his guide a few paces behind. His eyes remain on the one in front of him, now attempting to hide the anguish.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 12:56 am Post subject:

Altair notices the guard following closely behind him.

They pass familiar halls and portraits when Altair notices that the portrait of his father, the King, has been moved, replaced by someone akin to him. An older version of his brother, Jardein perhaps.

The trio enters the Royal Chambers in succession and Altair sees his brother on the stone Throne bearing his father's crown. Lord Pelague walks through the nobility gathered here and they grow quiet. He makes his way to the King and whispers in his ear for several moments. Jardein eyes Altair harshly.

"Leave us be," the King says, and the nobility is hard pressed to obey, leaving only the King, Lord Pelague and Altair in the large and oppulent room. In the back of the room, Altair notices an old lady reading a book. She is veiled and her features are concealed. A cane lays near to her and she puts down the book of hours she was reading.

The King walks down from his pedestal and approaches Altair. His eyes betray surprise and curiosity. "Altair..." he says in a sigh.
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Ruger · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 66

Altair's eyes grow wide, showing a thousand different emotions in a glance. He betrays all confusion simply to embrace his brother hastily. He pulls away the next second, holding him at arms length to investigate him. "Jardein! I almost believe it cannot be you, but it is. I know it is." He eyes him up and down a few more times before breaking the contact and wandering the throne room.

He speaks again before allowing his brother the chance. "What has happened in my short leave? Well, I guess a few years cannot be that short..." He is obviously not caring about responses as he turns sharply to face Jardein again. "I must ask for forgiveness. I realize my disappearance was not settling, but... the things I've seen Jardein! I have so much to tell you, so much has happened!"

Stone walls and paintings draw his attention back, beckoning him to continue thinking allowed. "Has something happened to the king? I am glad to see that you have stepped up in his place, but has it really aged you so badly? And what of mother?" He freezes and grins, "Oh yes, where is mother? I must speak to her immediately."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 2:11 am Post subject:

Befuddled, King Jardein offers his brother nothing more than confused looks through Altair's own reaction. When he finally asks about his mother, Jardein steps back and asks in a low voice, "What treachery is this?!?" After several heavy breaths, he exclaims, "Altair has been gone for 39 years! You are not he! You are some... some illusionist!! Some treacherous ghost of the past!"

He turns to the old woman, who has been inching her way closer aided by her cane, "Mother! What is the meaning of this! Altair is gone!!!"
Despite his tone, Jardein's voice has been scandalously low. Lord Pelague, for his part, has been making his way to a corner of the room where a life size marble statue of the late king stands proud, overlooking the scene. Lord Pelague's face has whitened to resemble a statue in the background, only his green suit and dark hair distinguishing him from the surrounding statuary.
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Ruger · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 66

Altair's face gains a look of confusion. "39 years..." he half says to himself.

Could such things be? He thinks. Brand had told him that time passes differently on Shadow, and he had not been told the time passage of Rien. He could have been gone 100 years, or 5 minutes. He simply hoped it was similar passage, but that was not the case.

His attention shifts quickly to the old woman at the word "mother." His hands begin to shake as he begins to slowly approach the woman coming near him. He fights tears back, not truly knowing whether they are ones of sadness or excitement.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 8:01 pm Post subject:

Ignoring Jardein's questions, the old lady lifts her white lace veil with her left hand while leaning on the cane with her right, revealing Altair aging mother. She looks thin and wrinkled and little of her past beauty has remained with her. Her hair is long and white and her grey eyes are filled with tears.

When she is two steps away from Altair, she jumps at him, holding him at arm's length and without ever looking away she exclaims, "You are back! I knew you would be back, Altair!"

Jardein is simply speechless and looks filled with terror.
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Ruger · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 66

Altair has let go of all control now, crying openly. His hand shakes violently as he reaches to touch his mother's face. Once it rests there, he embraces her. "I... I have returned, mother," he says through tears. He lets go, not wanting to hurt the fragile woman before him.

"I have been gone so long..." he says, "I had no idea about... about any of this."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject:

"It's alright, my son, quite alright!" the Queen Mother answers as she holds Altair close to her using surprising strength for her fragile-looking appearance. "I am so happy you've decided to come home after all this time!!!" Tears are streaming down her cheeks and she does not let go of him.

After a moment, a horrified Jardein exclaims, "Home! How could you say this, mother! This is no longer his home! It was barely his home when he lived here!!... This... Ahhh! This is impossible!"

Jardein steps away, shock still overwhelming him. After a moment he regains a bit of composure and says in a shaken voice, "It will be his home when he pledges allegiance to his King, of course... It-it only makes sense for protocol to take over in such a... uhm... undelicate situation..." Jardein is teary-eyed and frowning, clearly still unsure what to make of all of this.
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