Aray: Intro

Stars were falling, silently, and so slowly…

      She was standing in silence, in the darkness, and watched the sky. She tried not to think of past; not this night when all the lights in the sky were trying to find the way to her eyes, there to drown and forever to fade.

      Three moons were almost full and very high on the dark purple sky. Their coloured lights shed most of stars on their sky. Red Halion like the drop of blood in the dark; blue Undomiel, the one they called Soulstealer for its light was deceiving and seducing; and beautiful silvery Lunior moon of everything pure and innocent, were shining in the distance, reflecting on the golden surface of waves, so far below her. They smiled to them, mortal, fading men, to all those who were seeking their own destinies in this night of The Spring Even.

      And still she knew too little of it, far too little for that what was coming. There weren’t enough spring nights like this, not enough silence and whispers of Golten Sea, not enough star shine under coloured moonlight…

      Stars were falling tonight… and it was somehow hard to know that none of them, when their blue sun rise once again from golden waves would be the same. They will never be the same again. None of them… not even her…

     It was so hard to hate those men that were gathering down there, caught with rage and hate. It was hard to take that against them when she knew all that have happened on this world filled with suffering and laughter, ugliness and beauty. She couldn’t even blame them for this dreadfully beautiful sky tonight.

      Stars were falling still...

      Countless torpedoes were crashing into energy shield over her head and dispersing in some crazy beauty. But she told herself that the stars were falling. It was easier that way to face the fact that they were under siege for hours now.

      And she had told that to her mother, that very day when she had informed her about her engagements in the night of Spring Even. She had told her, the stars were going to fall, but her mother have just shaken her head with the taught it was just another nonsense her strange daughter was been seeing and for which in the ancient time of Isolation she would be publicly burned.

      Father had listen to her, but not even he understood. No one had understood why she’s not happy about her engagement. Her mother had shaken her head in anger, threatening her to start act like a fiancée, and her father looked at her with silent concern. He had known that that gift, or curse like her mother called it, she had inherited from his mother.

      And he clearly remembered, how his mother, daughter of Temidian senator, clearviewed on everything and how her eyes during that had become dark and timeless. She had clearviewed of everything, but of death; and he didn’t know till this very day, was it because she couldn’t saw, or because she hadn’t wanted to.

      Tonight Eyanna thought that was no gift, no blessing, but her curse, her punishment, because it would be so much easier to believe that tomorrow everything will be fine if she just didn’t know if she didn’t feel everything that is going to happen.

      Quiet steps were coming from Impradom, from that spot where everyone gathered in fear, and tried to do something. Way to late, she knew, for anything to change.

      ''Eyanna… '' In the distance sirens were howling and she barely heard quiet whisper of the young man beside her.

      Somewhere below them, in the town that was lightened like in the middle of the day with bonfires, plasma canons once more shot. No, those weren’t bonfires, all of the sudden she realized. The protector’s mansions were burning. The whole pack of them were lightening the night, and among them was the one that belonged to her father and tears finally came to her eyes.

      Above them plasma cannonade fell on the shield and once more it sparkled on tonight too bright sky, making new thread of stars falling and burning out in the dark void.

      Finally she took her eyes from Arayan sky and looked into the darkest eyes she had ever seen. Those eyes were watching her with concern from a bit too skinny face of a tall young man beside her. She remembered that it was today first time that she saw them, and it was like she knew them whole her life. And although they were in rakalla shadow, he must have noticed tears in her eyes lightened with colored moons.

      ''Everything is going to be all right…'', he was trying to comfort her, very clumsy with his bony arms too long for his body. It looked like young duke had somehow grown too fast from his body, and was forced to borrow his limbs from some older relative.

      No it wont, it will never be all right again… she thought, but didn’t say it. For how should she explain everything she had seen, everything she knew? How could she say that she had seen Aurion, that wasn’t Aurion they knew, that she saw shadows on their way, and blood, so much blood.

      '' It won’t my lord… It will never be all right. Tonight the sky will crumble, and all the stars will fall. But everything will be just fine if you stay with me when everyone else abandon me, and when everyone else turn their back to me; but if you ever doubt my word… '', she shook from terror.

      If it was some other night, he would laugh to those words that came from mouth of this little girl. But instead he held her in his arms on this strange night, when, how she said, the stars were falling; and he didn’t laugh…

      ''We are covered with the mist, you and me… it isn’t yet determined what will become of us…''

      Suddenly her eyes darkened, like the moons had stolen their shine. Darkness and cold, of his Sklavin, crept to them, in those eyes from which in this moment all the stars were gone. And he remembered how Anais, her cousin, had told him that his future fiancée was clearviewing. He remembered even now, how he had shaken from terror when he heard about it and crossed himself to chase curses away. And now he held her in his arms, while her eyes are so painfully empty, and still he felt no fear. Nothing that was coming, from this little girl can’t be evil. For now he clearly understood that this afternoon he wasn't been engaged with princess Eyanna ker Elinor, crown princess to Throne of Fenix and future empress of Aray, but with a lost and frightened girl.

      ''Our battles won’t end for a long, long time, and still I don’t know their outcome… the end of this war that had begun is so far that my eyes can’t reach it, and our destiny is tied with its end… you are my suffering and my smile, my tear and my sin, it’s all I can see…'', she finished silently, shutting her eyes with pain. ''She will never make you happy, my love, for Anais is the darkness itself, and in her heart there is no place for light.'' Stars were once again in her mocking eyes.

      He stood there with a sudden understanding. She knew of his forbidden passion towards her older cousin, beautiful, golden haired Anais ker Aleni. He could deny everything in that moment, but he didn’t. This night was too hard for something like that, so he just put down his head, hiding his dark eyes. She nodded with understanding.

      ''I think I have always known that…'', once again she turned away from him, towards dreadfully beautiful sky on this night of The Spring Even.

      There were no human songs this night, no laughter in Impradom, that beautiful imperial palace which was laying above Aurion and Golten Sea. But still there was song, enchanting and unforgettable melody. It was said that the one who hear it, never leaves Aray. Noctbirds, little, plain birdies, that habituated gardens around them spread their melody through night, but it was spoiled with occasional sharp crashing of torpedo into energy shield above them and those sirens somewhere far away.

      Beauty of the night around them was dreadful and too strange for her little heart that just threatened to explode from will to live and love. She would cry, but could not let anyone see her tears, so she just swallowed them almost choking with their bitterness.

      ''Do you know I love you?'' That question he spread to the night surprised him too. ''I will be beside you forever. The whole eternity will be ours…'', he wondered what forced him to say that, that oath, when he knew his heart belong to another girl.

      She didn’t say a word, just smiled under tricolour moonlight so sadly and he thought it would take little for her to cry. Suddenly her hand just mildly touched his face just to again face the sight of burning city.

      ''Our eternity is just taken'', she whispered finally, not even looking at him. ''They took it, without a clou what they are doing and for whom… There is no time that will belong just to two of us, at least I can’t see it… and anyway you came to say goodbye, didn’t you?'' She asked, with the hope he will deny.

      ''I must leave for Sklavin with my father in a few minutes. They've made some plan for evacuation. They will randomly shutting the shield off, for the shuttles to take off. Resistance will be organized in distrada…''.

      Prime minister crashed in their little circle of darkness.

      ''It’s time your highness. The shuttle is ready. You will be sent to Wadeea with princesses Soreni. Hrabrenvill can defend itself longer if something goes wrong.''

      She looked him with wonder. If something go wrong… well, wasn’t he just that person that had warned her mother to the possibility of the upraise. She hadn’t listened, in her rigidity she had never listened, and she should have.

      ''Long ago everything went wrong, long ago, and now there is no way to make things better. It is too late for far too long.''

      Prime minister stopped although he was in a hurry, and looked at her with caution. For a moment he thought she was teasing him, but in the same moment he put that thought away. That was something princesses Soreni could do, but not Eyanna ker Elinor Soreni. There was indescribable peace of ancient empresses in her, and primal wisdom although half of the court would laugh him if he would described her so. But they didn’t see that attention on her face when she was listening his daily reports to her mother.

      ''Come, please… and you too duke… your father is already waiting for you. Your shuttle is reedy…'', he was hurrying them for he didn’t have any strength to deny her words.

      Silently she looked straight into his eyes, those blue eyes that will soon forever fade away. Never again will she see in them reflection of her mother, and those nameless suffer that was invisible to everyone but to her. That suffer was crying for Empress Elinor ker Eyanna every single day. So Eyanna loved him, almost like she loved her own father. And that’s why she couldn’t take her eyes from his, knowing it was the last time she will see them. She let him pierce her armour, and there he could see everything.

      He saw everything she was hiding from them. It left him breathless. That little girl was carrying the weight of theirs lives, everything that will be. She knew; she knew what will become of them and that frightened him. Suddenly he was realizing why princess Eyanna ker Elinor was never laughing. Her smiles had faded long ago in a silence of their destinies, and there was no joy left in her.

      She allowed him to share her secret, this very night when stars were falling. He understood that nothing he might do will change what is written for them. Tonight they were only two drown souls that saw the shore, but in the same time knew the storms was taking them further and further, and that they will never come back. They will survive only if they give their hands to each other. Two drown souls… one man in the set of his youth and one girl whose childhood was abducted tonight and was crying deep inside for him alone, for his destiny. He understood and shook from nameless dread.

      ''Come on…'', finally she said and took his hand. Only second or two have flown over them and they were older for a whole lifetime, a man and a girl that will never again be a child. ''I will be your light in the darkness…'', she whispered him suddenly while her eyes were loosing itself on palace's pillars and windows.

      Shuttles were ready on the wide runway between park and Impradom, and around them protectors, ases and all their children were cramping. They were all here for the imperial engagements, and now they hardly waited to get out of this place, although before twelve hours they were ready to do anything to get an invitation.

      Her mother waited them on the terrace of the ballroom in which grand fest was suppose to happen. Diamonds were shining vividly on her black hair; and The Star of the Homeland around her high forehead was of the same colour like her eyes. Her father was here also; Eyanna had his eyes, brown and golden in the same time.

      She went to them, and held tight mother’s golden skirts. She wished to melt herself into her, into her body, bones and blood, to never lose her from her memory. One short moment mother cuddled her hair, but in the very next she pushed her away.

      ''Eyanna…'', Empress begun, but stopped when she looked her eyes full of Sklavinian winter and all those nameless secretes she didn’t even want to know name. ''You have to go to Hrabrenvill dear… '', she finally managed to whisper through her dry lips.

      ''I know I must. Hrabrenvill will hold longer if something goes wrong.'', she was repeating the same words prime minister have earlier said, but no faith was in them.

      ''Everything will be alright. Impradom can defend itself for months. Shield generators are completely independent, and there is no fear of failure'', empress had really high opinion on technology that protected them. ''Anyway… from the day Empire exists, Impradom had never ever fallen. Even during Invasion it had stayed isolated and unconquered…'', she smiled with confidence.

      ''No it hadn’t fall during invasion…'', princess whispered. ''But during Invasion there was no traitor in Impradom. Technology won’t ruin Impradom, treachery will.'' Her last word cut its way to the bright night around them like a sword. Guard in red and white uniforms behind her parents looked mixed up completely. It was all accepted fact on the court that words of the crown princess were always true. But princess didn’t care for them. Her dark eyes were pinpointed to the members of the Cabinet. They were waving with their hands while they were discussing situation. They clearly tryed avoid looking into direction of the imperial couple.

      Her mother ignored her words like she always did. She never listened to anyone and in that laid their tragedy. She had her beliefs, and not even the fact the world around them started to crumble, didn’t convince her in the opposite. Stubbornnes of the Belatri House had destroyed Galactic Empire, and now the House of Soreni made the very same mistake that had cost her ancestors and Galaxy way too much. It was a mistake that cannot be justified and forgiven and they all will be forced to wash it in the blood long after empress won’t be among living souls.

      Finally three members of the Cabinet, together with senator of Aurion, only member of commoners in the Cabinet, found courage to come to the imperial couple.

      ''Your Highness… We have decided to stay with you. Other members of the Cabinet will go to their districts, when the schedule for taking off will be arranged. Your destiny is ours destiny…'' Elenani si Halm was the oldest among them so he had the honour to talk with the Empress.

      Her mother’s head rose even higher abov her rigid neck. She was looking like she despised everyone around her, and that was one of the reason all of this was happening.

      ''Your destiny could never be the same as mine…'', she replied, causing discomfort amongst ministers. Emperor squeezed her hand tightly and she continued. ''But I do thank you for your courage and loyalty…'', although she was acting brave, her voice tremblied.

      Sad smile was on princess’s face. Looking at senators, she clearly saw who will ruin Impradom. She understood their bitter destiny, and what forced them to act.

      ''You think you know what you are doing, but you don’t… you have no idea what will you do to Aray. May the Trinity forgive you for the things you’re going to commit…'' she whispered to them, still holding her mother’s skirts.

      They were looking confused, but The Traitor knew the words were meant for him, for he was pail under all those layers of white powder. He didn’t understand her warning. And even if she pointed to him at this moment it wouldn’t mean a thing. They were in the hyperspeed to their destinies, and all decisions that would make a difference were already made, unfortunately not in their favour. They were speeding towards event horizon drawn with force made of their decisions, doings, things they had said, and the things they didn’t, and should have. So she said nothing, not to mother, and not to her father. She just let the look upon sky leave her breathless again. She couldn’t get enough of it, not this night…

      With the corner of her eye she saw nadasta Soreni, only relative of her mother. She was trying to find her daughters in that indescribable panic.


      Aleni ker Verina finally found her daughters. She found younger one behind tables, full with dishes no one even touched. She was filling her bags with cookies and little sandwiches. Eyanna ker Aleni looked more like her twin than her cousin. The only difference was in their eyes. Her eyes were serious, and they could be hard and cold as Sklavinian winter, but Eyanna ker Aleni had so happy eyes, always prepared to joke and laugh. The older one, Anais ker Aleni was in the dark, talking with the princess’s fiancé, and for that she was reprehended by her mother.

      Eyanna became aware of them only in the moment her mother pushed her towards the shuttle in which last remaining women of House of Soreni were just sitting. Her aunt’s husband, count Hrabar waited at the shuttle’s entrance. His severe face watched her carefully behind thick eyebrows. Count was soldier to the very bone, and he gave her mother a promise to keep her safe. He will not let anyone to hurt her, and no evil will come upon her. That fact filled her just for a moment with a hope; for she knew he will truly try to keep his promise.

      She went to hrabrenvill shuttle without a word. She was afraid her voice could betray her, like it could brake from sadness if she said even a word to her parents. She didn’t say goodbye to them, although she knew it was the last time she'll ever see them… she couldn’t face with mother’s confident look, and father’s silence. She just couldn’t when she knew what was going to be…

      She did turn; when she was already at the entrance. She turned, and she shouldn’t have… shouldn’t… she whished to fly to their embrace, to disappear together with them in this night… Hard and painful squeeze of count’s hand brought her back to reality. He saw her intention to go back.

      ''Don’t… it is too late. We must go…'', his voice was cracked.

      She looked into his eyes, grey and hard like a rock. Her destiny was set also, she knew in that moment. This man will not protect her. When the time come he will do nothing to help her, to protect her. That broke her like twig and her eyes flooded with cold tears.

      She saw the panic in his eyes, from the fear that child princess will cry in front him. She would not let him see her tears… never… not even when he turns her to the enemy… He will never saw them, neither him nor the others… never… that was the oath princess Eyanna ker Elinor Soreni gave to herself in the moment she was leaving everything she knew, in the moment she was leaving her parents to fulfil their destinies and to die in the bloodshed of this revolution, betrayed from the ones they trusted the most.

      ''Do not fear, I will not cry… never…'', her voice was cold, and suddenly her eyes were dry. ''In the darkness we don’t cry…'' It was the part of Eyanna’s elegy. That song during millennia had given main motto of Soreni House: In the blood is hope. And for them hope existed no more.

      She took her hand from his and entered shuttle. Other women were already waiting for her, tied to their seats. Nadasta Aleni ker Verina was smiling to her, but she turned her look away. She couldn’t look at that woman whose smile reminded her so much at her mother’s. Anais ker Aleni was sitting by the window. She was trying to capture the last look upon young duke. So she sat beside Eyana ker Aleni. Young girl have already uncovered her supplies from raiding deserted tables. She was telling her all the gossips she caught this night, while she attended her engagements in the role of her secundant. Eyanna ker Elinor envied her. May the Trinity forgive her, but she envied her on her careless behaviour, easiness in not noticing events around them. She would give everything to swap with her, maybe then she could be careless, innocent and childish…

      ''Look our fiancée…'', happily Eyana ker Aleni pointed towards entrance, and toss a quick look to her sister. No matter how childish she was, she enjoyed the fact she was chosen to be princess’s secundant instead Anais. By that act she didn't just become the next in the line to the throne, and the one that would inherit throne if something happened to Eyanna ker Elinor, but she also become the woman young grand duke would marry. And she liked that fact only because Anais was so madly in love with him.

      Anais started to unbuckle her seatbelt, not noticing that the duke wasn’t looking at her. His eyes were lost on princess’s frozen face. Nadasta harshly clasped Anais over hands, and started to explain her something. Next moment she looked like someone poured the bucket of cold water on her.

      Eyanna couldn’t move even she knew she should go to him. She sat with her hands quietly fasten to her lap. Her eyes were lost on his pale face, and in too dark eyes filled with despair.

      ''Do not forget… the whole eternity…'', he mumbled from the place he stood.

      She felt smile creeping to her face, first in many, many days and last in many, many years.

      ''Exactly, do not forget… the whole eternity my only one.'', she responded, although she was ripped inside with the pain. She owed him that much, that little comfort. ''If not sooner, in Rad’Ninnia my love…'', that was traditional goodbye of two in love, and she hoped their love will not be forgotten like the location of Rad’Ninnia was.

      ''In Rad’Ninnia…'', he whispered once more and went out, not even looked Anais once. She sat there all crimson in her face like they whipped her with their words. Eyanna ker Elinor didn’t look at her, she has no interest in her. She knew too much of her beautiful cousin to waste even a second of her existence thinking about her.

      His shuttle already disappeared on the distant starry sky when they finally took off. In one moment force pushed her to the seat she was belted to, and in the very next it was like they came to the other world.

      Eyanna leaned her hot face to misted window. She wished just to shut her eyes and fall asleep, but the sight before her left her breathless. High towers of Aurion were shining, every single one, and Aurion itself was beneath them lightened with fires. People sat on the Round Square around bonfires and sung. She could almost hear courses meant for them who were rising from the impradom’s shield. Aurion was always so beautiful at night, but this night there were no words that could describe it.

      Once more she turned toward Impradom, this night so deserted and lifeless, towards everything she loved, and left behind her. It lied there like millennia before on that rock above city like it was mocking and challenging them all. Abov Impradom photon torpedoes were still sparkling in the dance of death. Not all the shuttles were able to take off safely, she saw that but at the moment she didn’t want to know who was in them…

      Arcs Over Sea raised below them from the darkness, like purple lace over golden bay. Moonlight in her eyes faded and she felt her heart was torn from her breasts. She knew all of the sudden that this was the last time she saw Arcs Over Sea, and that never ever towers will shine in the night. And that’s way she looked upon Arcs Over Sea, wanting that memory is carved in her soul like in the stone. She looked them until tears misted her sight and on far Aurion’s sky she didn’t see anything but stars that were still falling…