Rune Stealer

Poor Choices

Men and women dressed in cooking uniforms walked out of the kitchen door carrying silver trays with steaming food arranged delicately on them. I noticed Mercy among the servers and we made eye contact and smiled at one another. Her face went pale as she caught sight of the black orb in my hand and the dead body of Lord Plianne. I quickly sent the rune back to its body, still keeping a wall around it and Plianne began to stir and slowly sat up

A steaming plate was set in the empty space in front of me and my nose was instantly filled with the delicious smell of cooked chicken and pork with sprouts adorned in almonds and steamed carrots. There was a gauntlet full of blood red wine and sweet cream and fruit in a bowl next to it. My mouth began to water and I grasped my fork and instantly began attacking the chicken.

The food and the baths, I thought, adding to my mental list of the only things good about this godforsaken palace. Plianne sat silently next to me, staring at his food. His face was flushed with grief and regret and I could feel in his mind that he knew he was going to die.

"Your Majesty," boomed General Morthan, cutting into his junk of pork, "what are your thoughts on what the girl says?"

Saar stopped sawing and stared blankly ahead, thinking about the General's question. I could tell that he didn't know how to answer because the King didn't have it in him to make decisions for himself

"I guess," began Morthan, realizing that also, "a better question is do you believe in the girl's statement that you would not be able to handle the rune?"

"Yes, child," breathed Lady Min. "What makes one strong enough to handle such a rune?"

"The strength of their human soul," I answered. Suddenly there was a frightened gasp, and I looked up and Mercy, who was bringing around a pitcher of wine, was staring at Cress with her eyes wide and terrified. Cress was staring back, with an evil grin on his face. Noticing that we were watching her, Mercy shook her head, mumbled an apology, shuffled back into the kitchen. I took a note to ask her about what happened later.

I looked back at Lady Min and began searching her mind, an annoying twinge in my brain told me to leave the good Lady alone, but I knew that was just her charisma rune influencing me. I learned long ago to never trust anyone with a charisma rune. Her mind was fully guarded, but the wall was thin and I began groping it, searching for the thinnest point or a crack.

"How do you know His Majesty's soul is too weak," asked the scientific advisor his eyes teaming with curiosity. I needed to be careful around him because I felt that he would jump at the chance to dissect me and figure out how I worked.

I shrugged and said, "I just do."

"What are the chances of the King surviving the... operation?" Lord Imari pushed up his spectacles.

"Slim," I said still searching Lady Min's mind and getting frustrated when I found nothing; I wouldn't be able to get through to her mind without alarming her to the invasion. I moved on to Lord Imari. I was pleased to find Imari's mind was less guarded and I slipped in swiftly and began exploring. Just like Morthan, Imari had a thirst for blood, but it was more to study beings. He enjoyed finding out how things ticked and didn't mind making one suffer to find out. All that mattered, however, was that I could easily seize control of him and that I did. He wanted to see me place the rune in the King, but I would make him think otherwise. However to take full control of him, Plianne would have to go.

"If you lovely people don't mind," I said, placing two fingers on Plianne's neck. Plianne tensed and his breathing increased. He turned to me pleadingly, but I kept my gaze on the advisors. "I grow exhausted from controlling Plianne's rune." With one quick thought, I pulled out Plianne's rune and his body slumped once more. I held the rune soul in my hand, making sure it was in full view of the advisors, before closing it in my fist and setting my hand on my lap. I picked up my fork and began eating from my pile of carrots. Lady Ozai hissed something in Leing before turning to the King.

"This woman is the one who needs to be killed," growled the fierce woman in yellow. "She can bring great hell upon the kingdom, Your Majesty."

"I agree," said Kian and I rolled my eyes.

"I disagree" piped Lord Imari, fiddling with the rim of his glasses as he eyed me curiously. "I think-" I quickly stopped the Lord from continuing when I detected what he was going to say. I instantly spread my influence throughout his body; to every fingertip all the way down to the end of his toes. I had full control and although the scientific advisor might not hold the most influence of the advisors, it would help.

Lord Imari coughed and cleared his throat before saying what I told him to say. "The girl should stay, but that rune is far too dangerous to experiment with."

All eyes turned to the Lord; even the King gazed at his advisor with concern. "That is not like you Imari," said Saar, raising an eyebrow.

"Right," sighed Lady Min. "You would normally jump at the chance to experiment with something dangerous.

"What I'm saying is it is too dangerous to experiment on the King himself," said Imari, "but on another, maybe."

This will have to do, I thought. Although, I began to feel like I was trapped. There was no good ending to this; this rune had to be destroyed.

"Perhaps I could adorn the rune," roared Morthan. "I can enhance my soldiers runes when we march into battle."

"You would lose your other rune, I'm afraid," I retorted. Morthan looked at me questionably, but then nodded in understanding. "Listen," I began with a sigh, frustration seeping into my abdomen. "Lords, Ladies, King, there is no benefit from this rune, it is too powerful and must be destroyed." I pressed my empty hand onto the table and rose, opening my fist, revealing the dark soul.

"In fact," I cheered with a devil-like smile.

"Laika," growled Kian next to me.

"I think I might!" Suddenly Kian shot up and reached for my arm just as I was tipping my hand to let the soul fall. The soul began its descent and Saar and all the advisors stood in shock. An advisors hand stretched out to catch the soul though doing so would just aid in my goal.

Kian pulled my arm down aggressively, his hand holding mine open. He tried to force me to catch the soul in my own hand, but I knew it was too late. The smoky orb hit the tip of a silver fork and there was a burst of energy as a black cloud of gas enveloped us all.