The Forgotten Zodiac

"Release him!"

Riordan was fast on the scene, his hand firmly grasping Null's shoulder. "He's well within his place, while you are not in yours. Though I suppose I can't blame you." The king let go of Null's shoulder, moving to stand next to Ink.

Their differences were faint, but definitely there. Riordan had definite age-lines in the space between each of his eyes and his nose, and he was slightly shorter than Ink. His hair lay mostly flat as well, while Ink's had a tendency to spike up in places.

Null eyed Riordan carefully before letting go of the other. Null considered the possibilities, then went with the most simple. "I...was not aware you had a twin, my lord." It was either that, or Riordan had been experimenting with cloning. Considering it was impossible to make a walking, talking clone that perfectly...well, Null decided to keep it easy enough to understand.

"Why's he here, Riordan? I don't like him," Ink cowered behind the younger, shivering.

((Null is the captain of the unit that's going to escort them out of there. Just so you know. You probably already guessed, but whatever. xP))

(('Kay.))

"Shh, Ink. He's going to help us," Riordan answered, glancing lightly over his shoulder at his sibling before returning his gaze to Null. "Yes, not many know this, but I do have a twin brother, and this is he. It's a long, complicated, and boring story, but that's not what I called you here to explain, Captain." His voice was curt and neat, his gaze holding a pulled-in air.

"I understand, my lord." Null said quietly, bowing lightly. "Forgive my intrusion." Bowing. An act that showed respect, usually involving inclining the head towards the other. Seen in ancient culture as a sign of trust towards the other, as the act of bowing gives them an opportunity to slice off the bower's head. Null shook off his thoughts as he straightened up, making eye contact with Riordan's mouth.

Riordan would know that he wasn't doing so out of disrespect. A disfunction somewhere in his mind prevented him from seeing eye to eye with other people. It was hardly a disadvantage; he was free to focus on stance, movement, and body language. It made him very effective at killing, when he needed to kill. He did have a bit of a god complex, but he did his best to keep it under wraps when speaking to those of higher status than himself.

"In short, you, Captain, are going to help escort my family, and myself, out of here as safely as possible. I am the king, but this does not mean you are to sacrifice my family in order to protect me alone, should a situation arise. They are of more importance than me now." Riordan's orders were quick and to the point, and he frowned once he was done speaking.

Null didn't ask any questions, nor did he falter. "I understand, my lord. My men and I are ready to go as soon as you give the word." He didn't ask the destination or the reason. He only asked one thing. "Would you prefer to ride on horseback, or in a carriage?"

Null was a simple man. Asking questions would make things more complicated than they need be. Simple and clean. That was the sort of job he wanted today.

"Horseback is faster, but I don't think Ink could stay on a horse, so carriage it is," Riordan said, turning to sit on his throne for a moment in thought. "Just make sure you're ready to move out at a second's notice. We don't have much time as it is." The king gave the captain a small glare, but said nothing more, a clear dismissal.

"Understood, my lord." Null bowed once more and turned on heel, leaving the room quicker than he had entered.

"He didn't argue. I would have argued. He didn't even seem scared that we're leaving. I'm scared. Do we really have to leave?" Ink asked quietly, holding Riordan's arm in his hands. He could feel his older twin shivering slightly as he inspected the slight scraped he had gotten from Null's greaves.

"Null's like that," the king stated, letting Ink hold his arm even though he could've pulled away. "But just to be safe, you should stay away from him. He's got a severe attitude to those he things are below him. He likes controlling people, and when he can't control someone, he doesn't really like them too much at all."

"But...but..." Ink pouted slightly. "Okay...I guess. He can't control you, though, right? If he controls you, that'd be bad..." He said thoughtfully, then straightened up as he got an idea. "If I wore Valley's high-heels, I'd be above him! That'd look silly, though. We should make tall shoes. That way, he can't control us. Hey, if he's like that, then why is he working for you? People who work for you should be happy. My brother is a good boss."

((Null is great. I like him already.))

((I don't. xD))

"Ink, just..." Riordan started, rubbing his eyes. "...it's complicated. I needed a good soldier, and he showed up. It's just better if you stay away from him, okay?" The mark on his neck throbbed slightly and he winced, but said nothing about it. "Just keep calm and carry on with the plans and whatnot," the king instructed quietly, giving his head a small shake.

"Alright. But I still don't like him," Ink sighed a bit, shaking his head. "H-hey, I think Veros is coming...I can feel it," He trembled slightly again.

Indeed, only a few moments later, Veros strolled through the door. "Greetings, Riordan. Everything is going well, I presume?" He questioned, smiling a bit.

((-patpat-))

((-purr- ^^))

"Just fine," Riordan answered without missing a beat. "It's time we took action, Veros. It's now or never, and if we're going to further a war into being, the time is nigh. My captain is going to move my family to a safer place, in-case the enemy decides to try and strike at the palace, while the army heads out like normal."

"Oh? This captain, you mean?" He motioned once, and Lance walked in, dragging an apparently paralyzed Null. His eyes were wide, filled with - not shock or surprise - but anger. Fury. He kept looking at Veros, and occasionally managed a small spurt of movement, but whatever Lance had plugged into his system was too effective.

"I am no fool, Riordan." Veros said harshly. "Do you think I, though I was asleep, could not hear your conversation with Nate? You intend to flee. You intend to run to Alastor, attempting to seek shelter with that fool of a king Werr. This is quite the situation. But you see...I'm not going to stop you."

"What?" Lance frowned.

"I said keep him from leaving, not incapacitate him. Give him an antidote. Honestly, Lance..." Veros sighed. She pulled a face, then gave Null another injection.

((Ooooh, is this where the brothers will fight together? ;D))

"So what do you plan on doing to us?" Riordan replied curtly, apparently not too shocked. "At this rate, it seems you'll have to kill us. Otherwise, no matter what you do, this union no longer works. I don't like what you're doing, and I feel my family is at stake. Now I'll ask that you let go of my Captain."

((Maaaayyyyyyybbbeeeeeeee. Also Valley is gonna die.))

"Hmph," Null pulled himself to his feet, although he still stumbled lightly as his legs grew used to moving again. He walked to stand between Veros and the king, though he said quietly, "The Starbows are comprimised, sir. I believe he's used magic to get into their heads."

"As it seems." Veros tutted. "Perhaps...not all of your family is in agreeance with you, though...Ink, child, come along. Your brother no longer sees sense."

"Um...I see sense? Little crazy me?" Ink blinked. "N-no....I think I...want to listen to Riordan..." He muttered, shaking his head.

Veros blinked at them for a moment, then let out a small sigh. "I was afraid it would come to this. Well..." He turned his back to them for a moment, eying the door. "Lance, Kage, Zex, deal with these fools with the help of our new friends. I have business to attend to. Cynyr is almost ready." He smiled brightly as Kage and Zex led the handful of Starbows into the room. There were two on each door in a matter of seconds. Veros left without another word.

"We take the west door," Null said quietly. "I can get you past those two, and make a break for the stables. There are horses ready there.

"It's about time...almost insulting, putting these guards under us. I'm very tired of sitting around. Howsabout we get some blood on our hands, eh Kage? Zex?"

Zex said nothing until Lance kicked his shin. He recoiled, glaring at her. He spat a foul word, his glare almost boiling.

((Okay.))

Riordan glared at them, then silently slid his white kingly robes from his shoulders, revealing a tight black armored outfit underneath that could only be for battle. "Ink," he said quietly, unsheathing the sword that hung at his waist. "I want you to go find Valley and leave as soon as you can. Null, take them both and go."

((Hahaha, you don't even care about her xD Reason two for murder!))

"What? But..." Ink blinked in surprise. "B-but Valley doesn't like me!"

Lance laughed. "You can run to her, but she's not moving. I'm afraid something has gotten into her system. She passed away...five minutes from now. There's no point in even trying to save her, I'm afraid."

"Come along," Null pulled on Ink's arm,

"No!" Ink wailed. "No, I won't leave you, Riordan!"

"Move in for the attack," Lance ordered. The Starbows fanned out, approaching quickly.

((I do care, and I don't want her to die, of course. I was feeling apathic when I posted this morning. xD

Also, Zex should turncoat here too. owo

Also also, where would Vorpal be?

Also also also, what ever happened to Sylas, Leo and Dark?))

Riordan's expression twisted at once, becoming pained and stunned. Valley... "No!" he shouted, whipping his sword around and lunging for Lance, his blade dancing with light as it glinted sharply. "No, no, no!" He had been taught from a young age how to fight - it came with being prepared for kingship - but now raged bubbled inside him.

((Haha, too bad. She's dead. xDD

Yeah, Zex will turn. Last we saw of those three, they were headed to Gossain, so it's possible for them to meet Riordan and company on their way out.

Vorpal and Cynyr are currently in a sad shape, being mixed together to form a body for Remor.))

Lance wasn't fighting with sword; she took the blow easily, Riordan's blade stuck firmly in her shoulder. She attacked with a needle; her usual moves. Just take the blows, feed poison into the fool that chose to attack her. She was, however, interrupted by a knife cutting into her hand. Ink, surprisingly, had moved to help Riordan. After disarming one of the soldiers, he had seen the poison attack coming and decided to retaliate.

How he had disarmed the guard was simple. By punching him in the face. He was remarkably strong, even if he had no experience in fighting. he had spent pretty much his entire life climbing around on pipes and through tunnels. He was capable enough to dodge pointy things and help where he could. "Riordan, get away from her," Ink pulled his brother back, hardly seeming scared. He was quickly joined by Null, who seemed to be upset about fighting his own, but he showed no mercy. He used a large axe, and was able to hit the warriors where their armor was the weakest. He kept the lot of them away from the king and his brother, seemingly effortlessly.