The Empress
Melancholia
Anger
Jealousy

As Bruce and Neeka entered the courtyard Bruce realized that it was eerily quiet. Even this late in the day shops should have been closing with merchants banging shutters. The courtyard should have been full of voices announcing meals being prepared or served and even the boisterous voices of tavern patrons who got a jump on the evening's drinking.

Nothing. Not a sound. Bruce looked around and as he saw in the field, individuals were standing but motionless. He saw that it was as though they were frozen in mid activity. A woman was bending over a kettle hung over a stoned in area where a fire once burned. She was apparently in the middle of stirring the contents when she just stopped. The fire had long gone out and the contents of the pot had congealed, but there was no mistaking what she had been doing.

Bruce looked over to the merchant area and there the blacksmith was, a huge Boar, hammer raised overhead ready to bring down on the horseshoe he was resizing. It had probably been red hot when he had been working on it but now it was as cold as the anvil upon which it rested.

Neeka whickered and Bruce caught the fleeting nervous mental image.

"You're right Neeka. I don't like it either. It's not at all natural."

"You came Sir Bruce!" a voice behind him spoke and Bruce nearly jumped out of his skin and Neeka also whirled around with a start.

There stood Narin with a look of embarrassment on his face. "I'm sorry Sir Bruce. I didn't mean to startle you! I'm just surprised you came, or rather, that you could get this far."

Bruce waited for his pulse to return to normal and said, "If you ever do that to me again Nrin I swear I'll skin you alive and use your pelt as a blanket for my bed!" He then grinned so that the lad would realize he was joking.

Narin returned the smile and said, "I am sorry Sir Bruce. Would you follow me? The Empress told me to bring you straight to her as soon as you arrived. We can put Neeka in the stables but I'll have to apologize that there is no one to curry and feed her. I'll attend to it myself as soon I take you to the Empress."

"That'll be fine Narin." Bruce stated. "Let's go. I want to find out just what is going on."

They put Neeka in one of the large deserted stalls and unsaddled him, making sure he would be comfortable. Bruce noticed that there were no other horses in the stables and Narin confirmed the observation.

Only sentients seem to be affected. Well, only sentients except you, I and the Empress. Everyone else is frozen like a statue. I turned all of the horses and cattle loose in the fields so that they wouldn't starve.

Bruce nodded. That explained the emptiness of the place. "How long has this been going on Narin?"

"Please Sir Bruce. I cannot answer. The Empress will give you all the details."

"OK Narin, please lead on."

They entered the main entrance way of the castle and again there were guards frozen in mid stance. As they walked down the long corridor to the throne room their footfalls echoed softly around them. It was totally erie. Not a sound other then their own footsteps and that of their breathing could be heard. It was as though they were walking through a cemetery and Bruce thought that that particular observation might not be far off.

They came to the large, ornately decorated wooden doors that barred entrance to the throne room and Narin didn't hesitate to knock. He grabbed a large handle and pulled the door open. Bruce would have thought that the smallish Fox would have had trouble with the massive door but either the door was extremely well balanced or Narin was much stronger than his size suggested.

The walked silently into the large throne room and there on the throne sat Empress Anara. Bruce understood why Narin had said she was beautiful. Totally pitch black fur covered her body. Light played off of it when she moved and those piercing blue eyes were the only detail that broke up the image that she had been carved complete from a piece of obsidian by a master craftsman. As they approached the throne Anara stood. Stood is a term for someone getting up from a seated position and Bruce thought it didn't do what she did justice. She just, flowed to standing. Such a smooth move. No wasted energy, no wasted effort. She had been seated and now she was standing.

Bruce shook his head slightly. His thoughts had started wandering getting focused on the Empresses movement. He looked at the Empress and she smiled. Bright white, sharp teeth now broke the blackness but the smile was a welcoming one Bruce had seen many times before.

"Thank you for coming Bruce." The Empress said conveying her concern and thanks all in the tone of her voice. "It seems I, and my people, have a serious problem and I couldn't think of anyone else to help with it."

Bruce kneeled before the Empress and bowed his head in respect.

"Oh, get up Bruce. We've known each other far too long for this formality. Beside, right now we don't have the time for it."

Bruce stood up and approached the Empress. He stood only slightly taller than she and he smiled at her then suddenly gave her a huge hug. Narin's eyes went wide at this total breach of protocol but stood silently.

Anara laughed, almost music in the air, and so unlike the atmosphere of gloom that surrounded them and said, "That's more like it Bruce. Now, to details."

Narin cleared his throat behind them and both stopped to look at him.

"Your Highness, I have to leave for a short time. I promised bruce I would care for Neeka, his horse, when I delivered him to you and I wish to fullfil my promise."

"Of course Narin. You are ever thoughtful. Go and make sure she is well taken care of then come straight back. Bruce is going to need your help."

"Of course your Highness. I will be back as soon as possible. My duty calls"

Anara smiled at the Fox and said, "I have come to expect nothing less from you Narin. You have been a rock through this. Now go and return quickly. You know where we will be"

Narin smiled at the praise and nodded, understanding. He turned sharply and walked out of the throne room. Like all of his kind he moved almost silently.

When he was gone Bruce turned to the Empress and said, "It's been a long time Anara. I wish we were meeting under different circumstances. What in the name of the ancients is going on here?"

Anara sat down on one of the steps leading to the throne, relaxing slightly. She looked more like the young Panther that Bruce had known for years than the ruler of a vast kingdom with all the worries and protocols that go with it.

She looked at Bruce with those piercing blue eyes and said, "Bruce, 3 days ago my people stopped. Whatever they were doing, they just stopped. There is no cause that I could determine, but I know what is happening to them."

"And that is?" Bruce asked puzzled that she would know what is happening but could not remedy it.

"I cannot explain it exactly. I have to let you experience it."

"How?" Bruce asked again, still puzzled.

"Come, I'll show you."

They walked through the castle and as they headed to their destination the Empress explained, "Bruce, about a week ago people started acting strangely. Not anything you would realize at the time, but different now that I look back at it. They acted, at times, as though they were lost in thought or daydreaming." She continued, "During staff meetings my ministers would stop in mid sentence for a few seconds then not be able to recall what they had been saying."

Bruce listened carefully as they continued deeper into the castle.

"It because worse. The pauses became longer. It wasn't just the ministers though, it was everyone! Cooks, cleaning maids, counselors, even Narin's parents, everyone seemed to be falling under this spell! Except for Narin and myself."

Bruce now recalled the comment Narin had made at his home and understood it.

"So, what happened?"

They arrived at the kitchens, which would have been bustling with activity at this time of day, and it was totally silent. People were numerous but every one was stone statue still. Bruce shivered. It was uncanny to be around so many people and yet have it so quiet.

"We're here." The Empress said. "Like I said, I have to show you to explain. Give me your hands."

Bruce held out his massive hands and she took them and placed them at the temples of a nearby serving girl, a Lynx, who had been in the process of washing dishes. Her colorations were striking and her fur soft and well cared for except that near her hands which was well matted. The water had long since drained out of the sink, but she was still in the process of cleaning the plate she was holding. The Empress placed her hands over Bruce's and said to him,

"Close your eyes and empty your mind. I will show you what's going on."

Bruce wasn't sure what to expect but he knew the Empress had been scholled in the arts and did as he was told. When his mind had quieted emotions like a tidal wave hit him like a hammer. No, not emotions but a single emotion. Anger. Anger like he had never experienced before. He shuddered involuntarily at the experience. Anger of this magnitude should have flared into hatred but it wasn't. It was just wave after wave after wave of intense raw anger.

The empress pulled his hands away and Bruce was shaken. The mental image melted and he took a deep breath. "What in hell was that?" he asked visibly shaken.

"Come." Anara said, "To understand you have to know more."

They walked up to one of the older manservants, this one was an Otter, and again the Empress placed Bruce's hands on either side of the servant's head. Once again she said,

"Clear your mind." and Bruce did as he was told.

Pain! Oh such pain! No, not pain at all. Melancholy. Melancholy in such intensity that pain was all that would register. Tears started flowing down Bruce's face for a loss he didn't know or even comprehend. These weren't mental images, they were feelings. Feelings amplified thousands of times greater than they should be. Bruce's body was shaking when the Empress pulled his hands away. They looked at each other and both were still crying uncontrollably. They took a minute to compose themselves and Anara asked,

"One more?"

Bruce was shaken to the core but knew in order to help he had to know the full extent of what was going on here.

"If I have to, yes." he replied breathing somewhat easier now.

They walked over to another serving girl, Boar species, who was carrying a load of dishes to some unknown destination. Again the Empress took Bruces hands and placed them on either side of the serving girl's head and once again she covered his hands with hers.

The emotion was almost like being struck by lightning! Jealousy so intense that you wanted to lash out. It was like being electrocuted yet, even in electrocution, it would end sometime. This just kept going and going.

Finally Bruce felt his hands being removed and he slumped to the floor.

"By all that is holy!" is all he could manage to say for a few minutes. He sat on the floor shaking and the Empress sat down next to him. Finally Bruce felt like he was in control of his own emotions again and asked,

"How long did you say this has been going on?"

"Three days now Bruce. I've looked into the minds of dozens of my people. It's all the same. A negative intense emotion. Hate, anger, melancholy, desperation, fear, terror...." She paused for a second before continuing. "Terror. Teror is the worst. I have already looked into these minds and knew what you would see. I didn't want you to see terror."

Bruce thought he couldn't even imagine what that would be like. "Thanks." He said. "Three days?"

The Empress nodded. "Yes. They stopped three days ago. This was after they started getting distracted."

"Did you have any visitors or travelers passing through a day or two before the sysmptoms started?"

"We always have visitors through here Bruce. To single any one out would be near impossible."

"Let me ask this then," Bruce continued, "Did you notice any traveler giving anything away? Perhaps a jewel, or a carving? Anything of that nature?"

"Now that you mention it yes!" The Empress said. A week ago a lone traveller came through giving away small crystals on a necklace. They were stunningly beautiful and everyone took one. Even I have one."

This surprised Bruce. Before he could ask his next question Narin came into the kitchen through one of the passages leading to the stables. He bowed to theEmpress who was still seated on the floor and was't quite sure what to do next.

"Sit!" Anara said. "Sit and help us figure this out!"

Bruce then continued, "Ana.. err the Empress tells me that a stranger came through here a week ago handing out Jewelry. Did you take one too Narin?"

"Narin sat nearby and answered, "Yes Burce. Of Course! They were beautiful. I had to have one. Everyone took one and put it on. They were gorgeous."

Bruce glanced around the room and while he could not see everyone, he did notice a neclace or two in open view. He then looked at Narin and the Empress and asked,

"Are either of you wearing yours now?"

The thought stunned the Empress and Narin was the first to reply,

"I never got to wear mine. We were having dignataries visiting and I put mine in my room until I got a chance to put it on. They kept us busy for several days and I never did get back to it."

Bruce then looked at the Empress, "Same story here Bruce. narin actually brought one to me and I thought it was lovely, but I never got a chance to put it on. Do you think this is related?"

"Sure seems so!" Bruce said. "Tell me Narin, did you get a good look at this traveller?"

"Oh yes Sir Bruce! A very good look. Tall man, long flowing beard. He looked far too young to have a beard of that length. If I were guess I'd say him no older than me. The beard just seemed so out of place. And his eyes..."

Bruce held up a hand. "Bright green right? Almost glowing they are so clear?"

"Yes Bruce, exactly!" You know this man?

Bruce nodded. "Oh yes. I know him. I know him all too well."

But that's a story for tomorrow.