1 The Dying Duchess

The Palace of the Duchy of Dromor~

"What story do you wish to hear today, Laurelis?"

"Mama, tell the me story of when you first came to Dromor…of when you fell in love with Father."

The Duchess of Dromor, Geneviele, rose upright and violently retched into the silver vase beside her bed. Her daughter, Lady Laurelis looked stricken as she watched her worn but still pretty mother slowly die in front of her.

When the Duchess had finished, the silent maids moved about quickly and replaced the vase with a sterile one. Efficiently they brought out clean handkerchiefs from the sleeve of their voluminous slate grey robes and various vials of medicine on a silver tray. After a few moments when the Duchess sank back with relative ease, she smiled upon her petrified daughter.

"Do not look so stricken child. I am all right," the Duchess smiled weakly at the peaked face of her daughter.

"No, you are not Mama," Laurelis brushed away a tear as her voice broke, "You are not…and I'm scared."

"This is a moment we must all face one day, whether one is a king or a commoner. This just happens to be my moment," she smiled with her cracked lips as she brushed her fingertips across her daughter's bloodless face.

"Mama, perhaps you should just rest. I shall attend to other matters."

"No, please don't leave me alone, Laurelis. I would like to look at you while I can."

"Mama…please…" Laurelis clasped her mother's cold hands in hers as she took them to warm against her tearstained cheeks.

"I am sorry that I couldn't do more for you, my darling child. I had promised yet…I hope that you understand."

"Mama, you have done everything for me. I don't need anything else."

"Flora's son shall receive everything…I wish that I had the power to give these things to you…I'm sorry," the Duchess couldn't hold back her tears as she looked upon her daughter.

"That whore's children can have it all. I don't care, Mama, I really don't," Laurelis's eyes drew to slits as she hissed at her father's concubine's name.

"You don't?" the Duchess was hesitant.

"Mama, just tell me the story," Lady Laurelis tried to smile and hide her tears.

"My story…it's not really a love story now is it. It was never a love story in reality. It was all just in my mind."

"Mama…" Lady Laurelis sighed with pain.

"I shall tell you a real love story…the only love story I ever truly believed in."

"Fine, Mama, whatever pleases you," her daughter smiled gravely.

"It was in a land far greater, far more beautiful than any place here in Dromor…she was raised by the sea, in the most beautiful seaside palace I had ever seen. It was called Kalis…a glittering jewel right in the middle of the beautiful sea. It was a rarity just like her," tears glistened in the Duchess's eyes.

"Mother, perhaps you should lie back," Lady Laurelis persisted.

"It is amazing how she knew exactly…she knew this very date…" the Duchess gasped as tears fell down her sunken cheeks.

"What are you talking about Mama? Who knew what?" Laurelis was alarmed at her mother's sudden torrential pour of emotion.

"She warned me that knowing would be a burden but I had been so young and foolish. I believed that if I knew this then I would know everything. But she was right…one is not supposed to know when one dies…it prevents us from doing the one thing we can…we can never be truly happy," she gazed up at the silver filigrees decorating her bedroom ceilings.

"You know when you're to die? Are you talking about the Oracle of Death, Mama? You knew her?" Laurelis was alarmed.

"Yes," the Duchess cracked lips spread into a sad smile, "I knew her…the great Madeleine and Oracle of Death, Venanée."

"What silliness did she tell you?" Laurelis cried, "You know Mama that the people of the old Empire realms turned against them for a reason. They didn't know anything…they were just corrupt figureheads."

"She was right…she was right, though."

"I do not wish to hear this story Mama…besides the Oracle of Death was forbidden to love anybody…all the Oracles were, weren't they?"

"I told you she was unique…a rare jewel among coals. Before she became the Oracle, she was originally known as the Countess Lesley of Poiters, the heiress of Aquitian…"