The Alpha and the Omega: Act I | Chapter 5
20 Aug 2018User1355
ACT I - CONQUESTCHAPTER 5
The raids continued, of course, Clan Morgana growing ever more bold in its aggression against Gal-Cop. In a way, its dominance was a liability- with Sola and her clan rising to ever greater heights, so too was their reputation for being Pegasi’s only source of Quirium. Even at rates that she was almost ashamed to name, the clans and other outlaw groups flocked to New Cambria, eager to purchase her seemingly never-ending stocks of the precious fuel.
Yet while Sola’s infamy was built upon these raids, the Matriarch found herself able to lead fewer and fewer of them. The demands of leading not only a clan but an entire system’s worth of subjugated peoples took their toll, and the woman was forced to leave the source of her clan’s wealth in the hands of trusted captains. They were competent and performed well, but within the woman was a hidden mourning
for the loss of her favorite, savage diversion.
Jyrron remained as impotent and useless as ever. Sola’s warrior-mate and father of her son was barely acknowledged to exist any more, his corpulent form sustained by strong drink and heavy foods. It was rare for him to even rise for anything except of icial occasions. Arcturus knew to never mention him in his mother’s presence. The same could not be said of other clans.
The offers were only veiled hints at first, trusted ambassadors subtly alluding to the impossible in private conversation. Yet as time passed so too did their utterances grow in clarity. Sola’s hand was fast becoming the single greatest prize in all of Pegasi. That she was warrior-mated to a living, breathing man was irrelevant. Jyrron was no more a warrior than the animal flesh he consumed in revolting quantities, and it became a delightfully taboo conversation piece as to what suitor would be his most ideal replacement. Would he be from a clan that of ered wealth? Land? Ships? Warriors? Or would she do the thinkable and select none at all, honoring her union to a man so clearly unworthy of it?
Sola was content to play her suitors’ games, caring less and less if rumor of her dalliances reached Jyrron’s ears. Even the clan priests had begun to discreetly reassure her that their union, though initially blessed with child, had soured in the eyes of gods and mortals alike. In her private moments Sola wondered what bribes had been slipped into the pockets of the priests for them to issue such convenient tidings.
Yet earthly politics or not, all signs pointed to the fulfillment of deeper prophecy. Her covenant with the Crone was never far from her thoughts, and Sola knew that the time for action was approaching. The Void would bless her no matter what choice she made, she was certain- but the choice itself was hers and hers alone, and no detail would be left unpondered.
All the while Arcturus watched his mother’s machinations, the first hairs of a dark beard sprouting from his cheeks as the months passed. He had learned the value of silence and obedience, for he was no fool and knew well the contempt that his mother held for his father. Within the boy a hollowness formed, in the part of one’s soul normally filled by a mother’s love. The hollowness grew and festered, until it was an infected wound upon his very spirit.
And like all who yearned for such fulfillment, young Arcturus would soon learn to fill the emptiness with whatever bile that slowly secreted from the rot.
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