War of whips

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Idem moved towards the large, iron door, his hands held behind his back, his head bowed. He felt the depression hover around him as it often did, fouling his thoughts and soiling his mood. He nodded to the two guards that stood beside the door and the door opened without any visible force applied. He walked in and saw Tuli, standing atop a small platform, staring into nothing. The man often did that. Sometimes Idem wondered if any of his father's offsprings were sane. Tuli was not tall and he could not be truthfully said to be short either. He had soft, feminine eyes and full lips and he had smooth, light brown skin with defined muscles underneath them. He was almost beautiful. He wore a black, silk, sleeveless shirt, displaying the tattoo on his shoulder; a bird in flight and he wore large trousers that tapered together at the ankles. His brown hair was thick and curly and spread above his head. From here, Idem could smell the soft oils and perfumes he used. He turned to Idem and smiled, batting his eyes girlishly. He almost seemed to blush.

" Why, brother. If it isn't you. How was the duel? Ah, Elek beat you again, did he not? Don't let that bother you. I have tried for almost two thousand years. I just peaked at a draw." He said and giggled, covering his mouth with his left hand, the right resting on his hip. Idem scowled at him and looked around, searching for something. Tuli looked around as well, trying to figure out what Idem was looking for then he whooped.

"You're not looking for Mmuo, are you? Blasted boy has gone to one of the soft houses. He's at that age, you know? Funny, I don't remember you ever being at that age." 

Idem turned to him, his face contorting with rage and his orange eyes started to glow softly.

"So he decided to miss the duel so that he can go stick his penis into a hole and you just stand there, staring into blasted eruption? What is the matter with the both of you?" He roared, clenching his fists, supressing his curse as it struggled to break free. Tuli raised an eyebrow at him and shrugged, leaping off the platform and landing gracefully. He turned towards the exit, swaying his hips as he walked.

" Father wants to see us, you know? At the usual place. To receive our punishments. I lost to Elek and you did not even show up. I'd say we deserve it, no?" He said and Tuli stopped. He turned to look at Idem, his red eyes loosing all of the flippancy and humor in them. Of all of the emperor's children, he was the only one that had the same eyes as his father. He nodded slowly and shrugged.

"Ah, I expected it. Sunset as usual?" He asked, turning to stare off into nothing again. Idem nodded and Tuli tilted his head quickly, sticking out his lower lip. He turned and large, black wings tore out of his back and he flew up, flying out one of the large windows. 

Tuli was a shader. Shaders had the ability to take any animal form they wished. They could also increase the sizes and modify the forms, taking some characteristics from different animals. There were fifteen shaders that Idem knew of and Tuli was the best by far. Idem walked to a large,wooden chair and sat down, throwing his head back and closing his eyes. He was hungry but he did not want to eat. His mind wandered around what his father would do to him. He massaged the sides of his head and spat onto the polished marble floor.

He heard the door open and he looked up and saw Samza walk in. She walked with the dignified steps and gracefulness of a general and master swordswoman. She wore her black sand metal armor but she wore no sword, just wearing a hilt on her belt. If she needed it, the five foot sword would emerge out of the hilt. Her hair was cut short and she had high cheekbones, piercing grey eyes and a permanent sneer on her full, succulent lips. She was about two hundred years old which put her at middle aged for one of the few that had their lives stretched by the emperor. The average lifespan of generals was five hundred years. She was also a Viner, an exceptionally skilled one, more skilled than Idem. She stopped before him, frowning. Idem took one look at her, closed his eyes and leaned back into his chair.

" I have reports from one of the western reservations, darkness." She said, her voice toneless. Idem groaned and opened his eyes.

" What does it matter, general? Those reports are supposed to go to the captain of the barracks of that reservation. You know that. Why bother me with such news? It is of no import." He said and she raised an eyebrow at him. Then she walked to where he sat and took a seat beside him. Her eyes grew soft and she reached up to touch his forehead. He shrank back from her, frowning.

" The duel didn't go well, I take it? No matter, just endure the punishment like I taught you. It'll blow by quickly. Do not fall into one of your moods, now." She said and he looked away for a while before he grudgingly nodded. Samza had trained him since he was old enough to walk and after his mother died in his twelfth year, they had developed a bond akin to mother and son. She exhaled and leaned forward, ruffling his thick black hair, tied back with a single piece of black cloth but still rough and unyielding

"You should braid this thing or decide on something else. It's too...wild." she said and frowned. He smiled a little, despite himself and she chuckled. Her face twisted into thoughtful worry and she stood up.

" This matter is very important, Idem. One of the soldiers was killed by a commoner yesterday." She said and Idem raised an eyebrow. Soldiers were killed by commoners from time to time. Though very infrequent, it happened.

" So? I reckon the person or people that did it should be dead by now. It is still not important, Samza." He said. She rolled her eyes and when she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper.

" It was not the killing that mattered. It was how. The man was torn to bits and his sword was broken into tiny fragments. You are in charge of the reservations. What sort of thing, do you think, did that? Or should I ask what sort of person?" 

Idem's eyes widened and he stiffened, staring at Samza. He narrowed them again.

" You don't mean to say... Impossible, maybe he got into a quarrel with one of the shaders." 

Samza rolled her eyes and stepped closer to him.

" All the shaders were accounted for at that particular time. None was near the reservation. Some of the commoners around say that such deaths have happened a few times. Apparently, the soldier was having his way with a woman and her son did not like that very much." She said and Idem stood up, pacing a bit.

" And where is this son, exactly?" He asked. 

" Ran away, with his sister. His mother was left there, though. I have my best trackers looking for them as we speak." She said and Idem nodded.

" This... Mother of theirs. Is she still alive? I will want to have a word with her." He said and Samza shrugged.

" Ah, you know soldiers. They cut the woman up and burned down the Atu, proceeding to kill a few other people." She said and Idem snarled, his face hardening.

" Send word down there. I want the Captain's head removed from his shoulders. The men responsible for this carelessness should be found, bled of information and disposed of. I will go down to the reservation at once." Idem said. 

" What of your, ah, appointment with the emperor?" She asked, looking pointedly at him. He stopped for a moment, blew air through puffed cheeks and shook his head.

" Ah, I guess I'll have to miss it. Eruption, if I find this new shader and hand him over to father, he might even forego the appointment, eh?" He said and walked past her. She nodded and followed behind him. Up above, a figure moved out through the windows, silently as it had come in.