Zuzia lies on the roof of the stable serving an inn where Yaulander dragged her. She’s out of sight on the back side of the slope, where the exterior security wall of the city is, meaning that the only way to see her is to be on the roof with her, on one of the upper floors of the taller buildings around, or on the wall, which is the standing-log type, rather than a mannable defensive barrier. Given the size of the modest town, the wall is likely to keep large animals and weaker monsters out of town, rather than an army. This means that it is the perfect place for her to remain out of sight and comply with the Grand Prince’s order. Thankfully, just like plenty of Earth languages, there is context to many words in the Eastern Imperial language that most of the people she has met speak. So, for her, his exact order translates automatically in her brain, with her own knowledge allowing the wiggle room, to “Sleep in/around the stable/kennel like the rodent you are.”

  She may be a magically bound slave, but she’s thankful that it seems she can exploit wording as long as she’s careful. It’s the same thing she and Serrentuk relied on with deafening him so that he couldn’t be given orders in time to defend himself.

  The honey-haired brunette has earplugs in as she stares up at the sky. She’s having trouble actually falling asleep after everything that happened. She expected a skirmish, but it nearly turned into a full on war, and before she knew it, she was bound by magic to a cruel monster of a person.

  Worse is what has been actually keeping her up.

  She watched Amalaskae be impaled by some sort of demonic being and apparently slain.

  The goofy angel was earnest and ditsy, but she truly cared about and looked after Zuzia. They had a moment of drunken intimacy that left Zuzia feeling lofty and excited, which lingered for a long time afterwards. But now, that infatuation has become a crushing guilt.

  She got Amalaskae killed by her very antithesis. Everything that continues to occur has shaken her basic core of belief, and she can’t help but have questioning thoughts.

  It’s not her first time with doubts. It won’t be her last. But, the guilt is eating away at her. She wants to cry, but the same crushing numbness is still holding fast, while denial tries to block out reality.

  She’s not even sure she could convince herself it is reality. She’s staring up at the sky, but of course, there’s not a single constellation she recognizes.

  After all, she’s not on Earth anymore.

  Without really thinking about it, Zuzia closes her eyes to try and pray. She knows God is always listening, even if she wouldn’t blame him for ignoring her now. But, she lets her feelings flow into her prayer.

  Forgive me, God… I don’t know what your plan for me is, or what my purpose truly is supposed to be. But… Amalaskae didn’t deserve a foolish champion like me. I know it isn’t my place… but I pray that you will grant her a second chance. If you see fit to resurrect Amalaskae, I hope… that I can have a chance to apologize, but more importantly, I pray for her safety and happiness. You trusted me with a true angel that I didn’t deserve, and now…

  A tear starts to slip from the Polish woman’s eye, and she clenches her eyelids shut even tighter.

  I will resist in every way I can think of. My foolish hubris caused all of this, and I swear, I will do anything and everything I can to not sink deeper into a sea of sins that I cannot escape from. Please grant me strength and courage to face everything that is coming.

  Amen.

  She opens her eyes when she feels a sound through her back more than hears it, since the stable is being torn apart.

  Ah… I didn’t think that through… The innkeeper will be inconvenienced by this…

  She can tell voices are shouting her name. Thankfully, her strategy is working. She can’t hear them, meaning there ‘are no orders for her to follow’. She has to be extremely careful not to reveal her strategies, but that doesn’t mean she can’t test her limits.

  She removes her earplugs and tucks them into her pockets, officially hearing “Zuzia Spolskia! I order you to show yourself at once!” being screamed by her unwanted lord and master.

  She can feel the compulsion gripping her, but as long as she does obey, how quickly and carefully her orders are followed are highly dependent on the wording of the orders.

  She quickly, and quietly climbs up the wall, acting like she just leapt over the wall. She tries to land on top of Yaulander in hopes that breaking his neck and killing him will free her. Though, from the sounds of it with Serrentuk’s situation, there are mechanisms in place that wouldn’t be so convenient.

  That said, her body naturally lands itself safely behind him, rather than on him, and she is already kneeling.

  Tch! Remember moments like these, Yaulander…

  Fortunately, she does get a moment of satisfaction when he turns to investigate the sound of her landing. He launches himself away from her with an exclamation in a language she doesn’t recognize, though it has a similar sound to the words as the common language she’s using. “Kajir gan feltre! Meedero!” He trips over his own feet in his frantic retreat from Zuzia, falling on his backside before embarrassment and rage immediately fill his expression.

  “Rat! You filthy cur!” The Grand Prince springs to his feet, grabbing her by the hair to try to wrench her head. Zuzia doesn’t move or look directly at him. She can certainly feel him pulling on her hair, but thankfully, Amalaskae’s blessings are still protecting her. It makes her feel a little guilty, but it also grants her the resolve that she owes to her guardian angel. She will resist him in every way she can, and when the stars align, she will find a way to be free.

  Even if that means trying to find a way to achieve the same escape that Serrentuk made use of.

  I hope he’s doing well now… thinks the Polish woman as Yaulander tries to wrench her hair.

  “Your Majesty, I was simply obeying orders.”

  “Orders!?” snaps the Grand Prince. “I ordered you to sleep in the stable like the animal you are!”

  “And, I was, until I was given new orders to sleep outside of the wall.” She looks directly into his eyes with a defiance that irritates him.

  “You. Are. A. Slave. Rat. You obey Me.”

  “In order to obey my conflicting orders, your Majesty, I was sleeping against the wall as close to the stable as I could be.”

  “Who gave her these orders!?” snarls Yaulander as he whirls on his soldiers, who have gathered. “Who was it, Rat!? Answer me! Who dares undermine me!?”

  “I don’t know any of your soldiers, your Majesty. The line of men trying to ‘teach me a lesson’ appears to have been quite long.”

  His teeth flash, tightly gritted together as his rage boils over.

  Zuzia adds, “Forgive me, your Majesty. Orders are-” Smack!

  She halts when his hand smacks her face. It doesn’t hurt, but it is a little surprising.

  “You must think I am a fool. Speak the truth at once.” His tone is suddenly cold and serious, as if the rage were nothing more than an act.

  Oh. He’s more clever than I thought. I’ll have to be more careful, then.

  “I have spoken the truth, your Majesty. I obeyed all of the orders I was given.”

  “I’m warning you right now,” growls the blond.

  “And, I’m trying to reassure you. I have no reason to lie. If I were your foolish soldiers, seeing you like this, I wouldn’t admit to my pranks.”

  He kicks his heel into her face, and she closes her eyes to keep dirt out of them as he keeps his heel pressed to her forehead.

  “Remember this feeling, Zuzia Spolskia of Earth. You are beneath the mud and fecal waste of beasts. All of which I step on.”

  “Forgive my unsolicited advice, but you shouldn’t step in gówno, your Majesty. People might mistake you for a beast yourself.”

  Yaulander glares hatefully down at her with his one-eyed gaze, the other hidden behind a patch. He doesn’t growl this time, and he doesn’t throw a tantrum just yet. But, one of them will break, and Zuzia has her God-given enhanced strength and durability to give her an edge. Her sarcasm has all of the soldiers on edge as they watch fearfully for what is going to happen next.

  It’s true that the collar should keep Zuzia perfectly in check, even if it can’t restrain her mouth, but no one wants to be in the way of her testing her limits.

  “Your Imperial Majesty!” exclaims one of the robed gentlemen that jogs up. Zuzia assumes and is probably correct that he’s a mage of some kind, though he’s rather young-looking. Regardless, he approaches and kneels, “Your Majesty, there’s an urgent message from the Empress. She has ordered a gathering of all of the Imperial Ministers, including your Majesty.”

  “Sundenelle?” asks Yaulander as he is momentarily distracted away from Zuzia. He takes his boot off of her face, and she breathes a little easier, though she remains kneeling for now. The blond man remarks out loud, “She’s already made it back to the Imperial Palace?”

  “Yes, your Majesty. It seems there is some sort of crisis, though the Chief Royal Arcanist would not elaborate further.”

  Yaulander ponders this for a moment. He looks around at his soldiers, thinking deeply. He’s not overly surprised, but it does seem clear that he was expecting the Empress to be gone longer. And, if it’s some sort of crisis, it’s possible the attack at the fortress they left not too long ago is the event in question.

  Yaulander sighs. “I suppose we were going to pass through the capital anyways. Send a reply that I’ll be there in two days.” He scowls at Zuzia. “Consider yourself lucky, Rat. We’ll need to move quickly, so no one will have the time to discipline you at night.”

  “I’m grateful, your Majesty. I was afraid you would make me pull the carriage faster than the buckrokhs so we could arrive there in one day.”

  He stares at her, and the soldiers are quiet for a moment.

  Zuzia keeps a straight face, which is pretty easy now with the numbness she feels over losing Amalaskae. But, she secretly hopes he takes the bait.

  The sooner we get there, the sooner I can try to find anyone who can help me. So, do it, you blond dupku. I’ve got a whole lot more than two steps in me today.

  “Very well, Rat. I’ll reward your confidence.” Yaulander turns to the mage, ordering, “Find me every mage capable of Steady, Counter-quake, and Shock-dampening spells and have them gather at the carriage ready to depart immediately. Do not keep me waiting.” He then smirks as he looks at Zuzia, “We’ll test my newest beast of burden.” He leans close to her, retorting, “Unfortunately, if you can’t make it in one day, you will be entertaining the dogs instead of the men.”

  “Yes… your Majesty…” murmurs Zuzia with the most disappointed voice she can manage.

  Yes! Suck it, klaunie! I hope your mages are good, because we’ll make it there tonight! I’m gonna trample all over your pride for Amala if it’s the last thing I do!

  She hides her triumph with her eyes closed, looking down.

  Please let the Empress be a reasonable person. She can’t be as terrible as this guy, right? R-... Right?

  Zuzia will be praying once more, but her main focus now will be making it to the Imperial palace as fast as she can. She hopes they’ll show her the route ahead of time, thinking she won’t be able to do it, but if she can grasp the landmarks and road turns, she can hopefully keep her sense of direction and make good progress.

  Amala, I will get revenge on this man, and then that demon. I swear it, and I ask God to grant me the strength to remain moral and just as I act to fight this evil. Guide me well, my Guardian Angel. I won’t let you down a second time.

  “Inn-keep, you may keep the buckrokhs we’re leaving behind as compensation. In exchange, send your stableboy to hitch Rat to the carriage. I expect this will be no issue?”

  “O-Of course, your Majesty,” replies the innkeeper. He glances at Zuzia nervously, but obviously resolves to side with the devil he knows instead of a dirty and obviously low-rank slave.

  “Lieutenant, you may have your men practice their sword-strikes on Rat until the stableboy arrives. If she is unable to keep her word, then she may learn to keep her mouth shut.” The Grand Prince chuckles as he leaves to ready himself for departure. “Oh, and Inn-keep, you can tell the stableboy to take his time, of course.”

  “Y-... Yes, your Majesty.”

  The soldiers all chuckle, and Zuzia braces herself. She’s not sure if there are limits to her durability, nor if God will revoke them in time. But, for now, she will just try to keep being herself and not surrender to despair. Amalaskae would be even more sad that her champion gave up, even if Zuzia already let her down once.

  Letting her down a second time is absolutely unacceptable.

  ***

  Ryuogriar walks with Fal cradled in her arms and her eggs being pushed in strollers behind her by the Acolytes. Gold, now known as Jeavana, is carrying her egg in a harness as she follows them, and Vaergraes walks with them. “A-... Are you sure, Ryuo?”

  “Yes. I must admit, I do wish to see her response to seeing Fal, but beyond that, you should be able to air your grievances and hopes for the future.”

  “I meant… Daniel ordered…”

  “Mukori trusts us. Though, as I said before, I will grant you a head start only if you make a sincere request. If you violate my trust, you will face the full wrath of the Fievegal.”

  Vaergraes scoffs. She takes a breath and lets out a relieved sigh. “I just… want my sister back. And, before that, I have to determine if she’s still alive, or if her skinwalker has fully replaced her.” She looks at Ryuogriar and Jeavana with a sad smile. “I have to believe that’s what it is.”

  Jeavana warns softly, “You should be prepared for… a different outcome, Vaergraes.”

  “I know. But, you would not tell your hatchling that her teeth will fall out before she even has any, would you?”

  The golden dragon is quiet, since it’s a childish fear dragons always have as children, and sometimes makes them concerned if they have toothaches as adults, even though they lose and regrow them rather regularly. For children, it can be even more worrisome and make them overeat in desperation, or undereat out of fear of knocking their teeth out.

  The three approach the cell block, and several Stalvaltan Guardsmen, including Captain Muindis, are waiting at two of the cells. The Captain salutes in the Earth way that Daniel somewhat reluctantly set into motion. Daniel’s hesitation, of course, comes from his humble origins and self-imposed humility and restraint. But, anyone can easily see and acknowledge how much more efficient the salute is over kneeling, as well as even the low-arm salute done by the Empire. While both the latter and the hand to the temple are rather quick motions that can be done standing, the implications are very different.

  “Attention!” calls out Muindis, though all of the Stalvaltan Guards are already saluting, as Daniel explained.

  “At ease,” replies Ryuogriar with a contented smile on her face. “Is she awake?”

  “Yes, your Grace,” replies Muindis. “Though, I think I would prefer her asleep.”

  “Indeed, I have heard. Please open the door and mind her hands more than her strength. She is weak, but if she seizes any of your weapons and endangers Fal or the eggs, I will not be happy.”

  “Please put it out of your mind, your Grace. I am aware of the plan and will personally take responsibility.” He signals, and the guards at the door open it as instructed, revealing the spider woman known as Ochibenara praying contentedly to her new gods.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  The drider perks up when she notices the door open, and she asks, “Oh! Visitors! Have you come to learn about the Great Children of the Star?”

  “Not quite,” replies Ryuogriar. “But, as you have helped us with understanding Prince Fal, your continued good behavior will be grounds for sharing your wisdom of the Star Children.”

  “I am but a simple speaker of truths. Should the rest of my life be spent speaking of the truly divine, I shall forgo even eating and sleeping.”

  “Mind yourself, wench,” growls Muindis. “You are speaking to the Second Empress.”

  “Forgive me,” mocks the spider woman. “But, I have never known an Empress, nor was I raised in such a way as to acknowledge one. I shall stay out of your way, oh Great and Powerful Empress.”

  Ryuogriar smiles in good humor, though she knows the peculiar woman can’t see it. “Actually, I need you to come with us for a short while.”

  “If you intend to humiliate me, I will pray to the Children of the Stars here.”

  “No humiliation. But, you agreed to cooperate. I’m asking for your cooperation.”

  “Ryuo, maybe we should reconsider…” murmurs Vaergraes. “Isn’t this too risky?”

  “What can they do?” asks Jeavana. “The cells are neutralized against magic.”

  “Yes, but… I don’t know… Don’t you feel… if… if Thymeria is truly… our enemy…?” The Uhl’tall archpriestess trails off softly. She doesn’t want her precious little sister to be so deeply ingrained in the enemy ranks, but the evidence she saw herself is undeniable. And, whether it was triggered by Thymeria or her allies, the only one who could have instilled the curse marks that meant to kill-switch Vaergraes and Aoloan has to be Thymeria, as she had everyone’s trust for a long time.

  “I cannot promise that we will free your sister before the enemy has been rooted out and destroyed,” replies Ryuogriar. “A magic contract is an option, though Doephluev proves that we will need to be very explicit in ensuring it covers a great deal of contingencies. Not to mention how much she knows about anti-magic material. Our enemy has tried to keep the world weak by encouraging a reliance on magic. If they didn’t already know what we know, then we need to start fishing out how much she relayed to her allies.”

  Vaergraes is silent. Treason is treason, and in most kingdoms, including most western tribes, Thymeria would already be dead with her gruesome death on display in one horrible way or another. Goblins hang traitors upside down with weights hanging from their ears. Some dattakorien tribes leave the heads with the traitor’s own tail in its mouth in front of their family’s home, while the body is discarded into the waste pits or used to feed crustaceans along bodies of water. Humans have a wide variety, including hanging over gate ways, heads on spikes, pillories, and burning.

  The Uhl’tall cast a series of curses; muteness, undying pain, and slow petrification, with the traitor trapped in place, and in many cases, the traitor’s direct family would be imprisoned in front of them with the slow-petrification spell cast on them first. This would allow the traitor to watch his or her loved ones slowly suffering the panic that sets in as petrification swallows them and turns them to stone, before his own body solidifies. It’s known from individuals who have been freed from petrification that the curse leaves the individual conscious long after the petrification sets in, and in fact, can keep them alive much longer than they would normally have lived naturally.

  Of course, for traitors, their hearts are carved out of the petrified form of their body, such that if anyone tries to break the petrification curse on them, they will instantly die upon being freed.

  The Uhl’tall Archpriestess is commonly responsible for authorizing and sometimes even administering the punishment, as well as training the mages who will in the future. Vaergraes has administered the ‘Traitors Trimaledict’ three times over her modestly long life, though she personally opted to leave the families out of it.

  Compared to even Vaergraes herself, Daniel has instilled seemingly unparalleled mercy as policy for the Fievegal.

  “If I may, your Grace,” requests Muindis.

  “Go ahead,” replies Ryuogriar warmly.

  “Is… this one really necessary for your questioning of Lady Thymeria?” He gestures at Ochibenara.

  The two dragons don’t make it obvious, but they notice when Ochibenara twitches.

  Ryuogriar replies, “Yes, indeed I think it will. After all, I would rather convert Thymeria to a worshipper of the Children of the Star than to leave her as a loyal servant of evil. Isn’t that right, Ochibenara?”

  The drider is silent, and platinum Dragon Empress smirks. “I see. Hmm? Yes, Fal. We should murder them both. But, you see, your papa is a very gentle soul, and his power is unparalleled.” She bobs the baby feldrok in her arms, and his black eyes shift to look at her. She smiles at him, though her semi-sinister expression is meant for everyone else. The words alone should suffice for the drider cultist.

  “Thymeria is what we call a mendicant…” blurts out the drider without warning. “We’re not supposed to know each other by more than titles, but I overheard our master refer to her by name once out of anger.”

  “Anger?” asks Jeavana. She looks at the acolytes behind her, and they bow, walking away with the strollers and their eggs. Another acolyte approaches and takes Jeavana’s egg, since the eggs will be far less necessary if either of them is cooperative. It’s already clear that Ochibenara was low-ranking, but served at the heart of at least some part of the operation the Fievegal is working against to bring peace.

  “Yes,” replies the blind woman, tilting her head towards the golden dragon in spite of being unable to actually see her. “He believed Thymeria was granted far too much leniency in her operations, and had far too long with far too little results to show for her placement.” She ‘looks’ towards Vaergraes, saying, “The Demon Queen was supposedly easy to manipulate, yet the mendicant within her inner circle never accelerated the Demon Queen’s urgency.”

  Vaergraes’s eyes widen, and she looks at the dragons worriedly, or even hopefully. Her own heart is unclear on what she feels with this revelation.

  “Remember that we do not have anyone with lie detecting abilities on hand,” replies Ryuogriar to the urgent gaze. “Such a statement would be exactly what our enemy would want us to believe; that Thymeria was holding back on her treacherous duty because of familial love. It may yet be true, but…” She looks at the drider. “It may also be to create doubt for us.”

  “You are wiser than the kings and emperors before you, oh might Second Empress,” mocks the drider.

  Muindis immediately warns, “Show respect, or we’ll break your legs. You have six of them, so it will be three times as painful.”

  “Perhaps,” retorts the blind cultist. “But, I can pray and worship without legs. And, when the Childen of the Star come to cleanse this place, will you be cleansed or will you see the light for its beauty?”

  Muindis clenches his fist, but Ryuogriar holds her hand up to stop him. He relaxes and nods.

  “Let’s go speak to Thymeria before this cranky child becomes any more irritable,” interjects the Dragon Empress. “We can put her down for a nap afterwards.”

  Jeavana and several of the Stalvaltan guardsmen snicker, and the acolytes still escorting the dragons, rather than their eggs, give approving smiles.

  Ochibenara frowns, realizing that she’s the one being mocked. But, she holds her tongue, bowing a little sarcastically. “As you wish, oh, unstoppable and beautiful visage of what an Empress should be.”

  Jeavana scoffs at this, and Ryuogriar chuckles. “A blind joke? If you aren’t careful, you might end up Mukori’s next Empress.” She walks to the cell where the Uhl’tall junior priestess is being housed. “He likes a sense of humor. And, the eldest Princess is similar in appearance to you, in a certain kind of way, I suppose.”

  The guards at Thymeria’s cell greet the group, replying, “Your Graces, Lady G-, er, Lady Jeavana. Forgive me, my Lady…”

  “It’s fine,” replies the blonde dragon. “My official Harbinger-given name is new, and I don’t yet have a formal title other than Master of Pearls.” She playfully shakes her fist, saying, “Harbingerrrr…”

  “Open the door,” states Ryuogriar.

  “As you wish, your Grace.” The Stalvaltan Guardsmen open the door, with the rest ready to strike. It’s a double layer door for Thymeria, because she’s a magic caster, so the group will need to pass through a secondary door to actually enter her magic-suppressed cell. They approach, gripping their sidearms as they prepare to open the inner doors. Ryuogriar, Jeavana, Vaergraes, Muindis, and Ochibenara enter the ‘mana lock’, where they are instantly suppressed by the peculiar design Daniel implemented for the cells. The guardsmen close the doors behind them, while the two ahead open the doors in front. “Lady Thymeria, standby to meet their Imperial Graces, Ryuogriar gur Lawson and Vaergraes Uhl Lawson, as well as her highness, Lady Jeavana.”

  Thymeria is seated in a cross-legged position opposite of the door reading one of the three books she is allowed to have at any given time. Naturally, she is only being provided fictional or obsolete selections with replaceable value.

  “Sister? I thought I would never see you again,” remarks Thymeria, uninterested in playing along with the royal farce. She turns a page in the current book she’s reading.

  “You have no one to blame for your situation but yourself, Thymeria,” snips Vaergraes in retort.

  “I cast no blame, dear Sister. Power is burdensome. You’ve said so many times.” When she looks up finally, her expression flashes a sudden moment of horror.

  There are two things that could have caused it, though. Her gaze seems to have zeroed in on Vaergraes, but Ochibenara’s presence was also intended to rattle the Uhl’tall traitor.

  “Were you looking at this?” asks Vaergraes bitterly. She gestures at her shoulder, where her arm comes to an abrupt end. “Certainly my survival was no surprise to you, but perhaps you underestimated the audacity of your allies and the lengths my love would go to save my life.”

  The color and arrogance has noticeably drained from Thymeria’s face, and both Jeavana and Ryuogriar share a glance to confirm they both noticed it. They’ll have to check with their secret asset later, but it does seem to be genuine horror.

  It’s possible, in spite of her loyalties, that Thymeria does have a place in her heart for Vaergraes.

  Vaergraes finally asks with an accusing tone, “Just tell me why, Thymeria. If that’s even who you really are. Tell me why you cursed me so high up on my arm.”

  “I-...!” starts Thymeria, but she flinches, halting herself. She glances at Ochibenara, followed by the two dragons, and then finally returns her gaze to Vaergraes. Her face twists in frustration and pain, and she finally snaps her eyes away from her elder sister.

  “I didn’t mark you on that arm. Which means you used Sacrificial Exchange. And while it was meant to kill you swiftly, I went out of my way to cast it on your hand…”

  “Why?” repeats Vaergraes. “Why would you side with people who pursue endless war? Why? I couldn’t believe it when it was described to me, but I have no choice now when my own sister even went so far as to brainwash me!”

  “Would you prefer I watch them kill you!?” snaps Thymeria, launching herself to her feet. The Stalvaltan Guards, including Muindis, all move to block her, but she screams, “Should I have let them kill you!?”

  “Now, you wish to pretend you are my sister!?” screams Vaergraes, pushing her way past Muindis to confront Thymeria.

  “I have always been your sister! Always! The ends justified the means! You are alive! I have no regrets! If Daniel existed before I marked you, then things would be different, but he didn’t!” Tears are starting to form in Thymeria’s eyes, mirroring her elder sister’s agony as they continue screaming at each other.

  “You could have told me! We could have fled, or fought, or…”

  “They already had me!” screams Thymeria. “My mother sold me to them long before I was introduced to you! Long before Grandfather learned of my birth!”

  “But Father-!”

  “Father loved you! He always looked after you! And they killed him! They killed him because he learned about what happened to me! My parents were useless! You are the only one I have ever loved! The only family I have! I would do anything to protect you!”

  Vaergraes slaps Thymeria, halting her briefly. Tears are pouring from both of their eyes, but Vaergraes has regained some of her composure as she stands tall in a form of righteous defiance against her sister’s ruthless and callous words.

  “I would rather have died with my integrity and all of the lives of the world preserved than to live in a world where I must live under an engine of evil.” She presses her hand to her chest, declaring, “Too many races have always called us greater demons, like we are some form of evil by our very birth! But, all I have ever wanted is peace! I wanted the war to end! Not continue forever! I would have gladly given my life if it meant the war would end!”

  Thymeria looks down and to the side. “Then you would be dead, and the war would still be going.” She then turns defiant as well, glaring at Vaergraes for a moment before turning her anger at Ryuogriar. “Instead, you’ve allowed a filthy human and the bloodthirsty dragons to slaughter the western tribes by the hundreds of thousands.”

  Vaergraes raises her hand, and Thymeria braces herself, but holds her head high. This act of resolve stays the elder sister’s hand, and she balls it into a fist for a moment. Before long, she slowly lowers her fist and says softly, “Then… you are truly lost.” Vaergraes turns her back on Thymeria, which surprises the younger sister a little. “My little sister valued all life, as a priestess should.”

  “I am your sister!” screams Thymeria, taking a step towards Vaergraes, upon which the two Stalvaltan guards step in to block her this time. The Archpriestess continues walking away, and she stops next to Ryuogriar and Jeavana. “Ryuo, Jeavana, this woman is no one to me any longer. Do what you will with her.”

  “Are you sure?” asks Ryuogriar.

  “Vae!” screams Thymeria.

  Vaergraes looks at her younger sister, or rather, the one who once was held as sister to the Archpriestess, and her gaze gives the latter pause with horror. Tears are streaming down Vaergraes’s cheeks, but her face is full of anger and disgust.

  “I’m sure. It’s clear to me now… The Thymeria I loved died a long time ago.”

  Vaergraes departs, and Thymeria desperately tries to shift her point of view, even trying to get past the guards, only to be blocked by them.

  “Vae! Vae!” Thymeria’s cries fall on deaf ears, and the dragons watch apathetically as she departs. Even Ochibenara, the former ally to Thymeria, also remains apathetic and silent.

  “Your performance is quite believable,” remarks Ryuogriar. “I almost believed it myself.”

  “You shut the hell up!” shrieks Thymeria, and she screams, “Vae!”

  “Brought a big ol’ tear to my eye,” mocks Jeavana as she feigns wiping away said imaginary tear.

  Regardless, the commotion has disturbed Fal, who begins crying. His wails are rather loud given his small size, and Ryuogriar immediately hushes him. “Shh, calm yourself, Fal. Mommy’s here. Shh.”

  This halts Thymeria and drives her back. Fal’s cry, though more child-like than when he was found, has a very distinct pitch and tambour to it.

  Those who are old enough, according to Ochibenara, have likely heard the cries of ‘Falkorgakohn’s Scepter’, which was actually Fal. Only the song of the choir boys could calm him in that state.

  But now, he calms down as Ryuogriar hugs him to her cheek, rocking him gently back and forth. She hums a soft melody that is completely unrelated to the choir boys, and yet, the tiny black being begins to quiet down.

  Thymeria looks at Ochibenara, who also flinched away from the sound, and she returns her eyes to Fal.

  Jeavana taunts her, “What’s wrong, Thymeria? Did you think Prince Fal was about to turn us all mad? That we would be turned into monsters?”

  “Friars,” states Thymeria. This startles Ochibenara, and the drider glances nervously back and forth. “The ones you seek are called the friars. That woman and I served the friar of the water.”

  “My Lady!” exclaims Ochibenara, but it’s already too late. Both dragons grin wickedly, raising their heads.

  “I’m telling you nothing more until you bring Vae back,” growls Thymeria.

  “Methinks you’re not in a position to make any demands, ‘Lady’ Thymeria,” retorts the brazen golden dragon. “Or, should we call you… Miss Mendicant?”

  “If I had no leverage, you wouldn’t be here,” retorts Thymeria. She returns to the spot they found her in, dropping to a seated position. She reclaims her book as if to ignore them, paging through to find her place.

  “Your Grace, should I…?” asks Muindis. He’s ready to discipline Thymeria, or even go much, much further if needed.

  “That won’t be necessary, Captain. It seems our resident Priestess of the Children of the Star knows more than she let on. Reclaiming the books should be enough.” She gestures with her hand, still rocking Fal gently against her bosom, and he whimpers, but remains calm and content.

  Muindis gestures, and the two accompanying guardsmen step forward, taking the books from Thymeria. She doesn’t resist, though she does give an annoyed expression.

  The young Uhl’tall priestess growls, “I will not compromise. You will convince my sister to hear me out, or you will walk into every trap they have. And, they know far more about you than you know about them.”

  “Perhaps,” replies Ryuogriar confidently. “But, I value the opinion of my dear friend Vaergraes far more than that of a traitor who would betray the trust of her own sister.”

  Thymeria grits her teeth, but she curls into a ball and refuses to speak further.

  “Come, everyone. Let’s see how strong Thymeria’s defiance truly is.” Ryuogriar leads the way, with the Stalvaltan Guardsmen following them out.

  Once they’re in the mana lock, Ryuogriar asks without looking at her, since it’s pointless anyways. “Priestess Ochibenara… I believe cooperation was quite an explicit prerequisite to your privileges.”

  The drider hesitates, showing a brief expression of disgust. She replies quietly, “You never asked.”

  The temperature spikes higher, and it causes the Stalvaltan Guards to grip their swords. But, the increased heat is from Ryuogriar, and Fal whimpers.

  “Here,” offers Jeavana, and she takes the feldrok infant for the moment. She steps away from Ryuogriar, who is growing hotter. It’s not magic, so it’s not neutralized, and if she were to ignite her pilot flame, the air would become quickly thin and even hotter.

  In spite of the heat, Ochibenara can’t help but shiver. She tries to brace herself, but the temperature is quickly increasing more and more.

  “This is a matter of life and death for my family,” growls the Dragon Empress. “You seem to believe that you will withstand any means of torture we can concoct against you. The fact that you gave us information on Fal is the only reason you are not already spilling your entire soul before us. You and your masters have underestimated the Harbinger of Calamity. It does not matter what races make up your secret cabal. You have angered the Fievegal.”

  “Y-Your Grace,” croaks out Captain Muindis, and the dragon snaps her glare to him. Her eyes have taken their natural pupil-shape, with the cross-like pattern that helps polarize her vision naturally.

  The Guardsmen are all noticeably sweating and trying to keep their distance from her, but it’s no use. The air is already slowly wavering from the oven-like heat, and Jeavana is using a body self-control technique to act as a heat-sink to protect Fal by absorbing the heat around her. It’s not perfect, but highly effective.

  Ryuogriar sighs as she exhales, and visible smoke comes from her mouth while the temperature finally levels off. The suppression water that flows around the room rather quickly cools it off as well, and the dragon turns back to Ochibenara, who is shaking in fear, in spite of being unable to see the dragon.

  “However, the carrot can be as effective as the stick, I suppose. So, I will offer you something no one else can.” She leans close to the drider, who retreats when she realizes the dragon is so close.

  “Lead us to the capture of the friar of the water, and the secrets of this cabal, and I shall return your sight to you.”

  Ochibenara stops shaking, stunned by the words.

  She was not always blind, but she has virtually no memories of being able to truly see, with the exception of the Children of the Star.

  Her mouth moves to form words, but she has a heavy choice to make. Her entire life revolved around her service to the cause.

  But, her entire life was empty and meaningless in the end.

  Ryuogriar whispers with a honey-sweet temptation that might be able to corrupt even the most noble of heroes, let alone a blind and worthless servant. “Imagine the beauty of seeing the Children of the Star as they are, and how they dwarf the beauty of all before them.” The dragon cups Ochibenara’s chin gently, whispering in her other ear. “They are truly beautiful, and to see the envy of the sun itself as they shine…”

  The dragon pulls away from Ochibenara, returning to the group and reclaiming Fal before he begins fussing.

  “I’m only asking you for one of the friars, Priestess Ochibenara, not all of them. Even one would be worthy of naming you the Saintess of the Children of the Star.”

  Ochibenara is silent as she drowns in her own thoughts.

  After they return the drider to her cell, Jeavana remarks quietly, “That was rather devious, Ryuo.”

  The platinum dragon gives a regal smirk. “Temptation is often ineffective on those who know nothing of luxury. But, to someone who has already captured a glimpse of something they could only dream of…” She grins widely, confident that she has already won.

  “But… Can you even give her eyesight?”

  “Is that relevant?” asks the red-eyed matron. This shocks Gold, who momentarily slows a step. She quickly returns to pace with the white dragon, who never paused for a moment.

  “I… You… lied to her?” whispers the blonde.

  “The games they play against us, and you ask that?” retorts the Empress. She holds her head high and walks with a greater deal of purpose. “If you must know, I would not feel an ounce of remorse about lying to someone like those two. But, I have some notion of how to keep my promise if it comes to that.” She looks at Jeavana, adding with a slight edge and deep seriousness to her tone, “She must lead us to the friar’s capture. If we find him on our own, then it does not matter, does it?”

  The blonde dragon sighs as she ruffles her own hair. “Ahh… Whatever. I don’t care about any of this.”

  The two rejoin the acolytes, asking briefly after Vaergraes, who returned with haste to her own quarters.

  Her feelings are undoubtedly mixed, but she may have provided more help than any of them expected.

  ***