“Fine,” I replied, accepting my fate. “But my guards will not be mere fodder for some assassin, I’m going to lay traps around every window and door in my residence as well. That will at least give them a fighting chance should someone that dangerous actually make it here.”
“Thank you, Empress,” Aiva replied sincerely as she returned from her errand.
When I turned to face Aiva, I saw that the ‘pillow’ she brought with her was no simple cushion. It was larger than a mattress, and she and several other guards were ferrying four of them into Bane’s chamber.
“They made those themselves, you know,” Tási informed me as they lined the heavy mattresses up along the far wall. “When I told them that we were converting this room into Bane’s residence, Aiva and the others insisted on making their own contribution to it.”
As the last one was put in place, Bane got up and crossed the room to lay in the middle of the huge cushion that the four large mattresses formed. I could almost feel his sense of contentment as he nestled his tremendous body into the soft bed, and I looked forward to snuggling up on them together with him and Tási later that night.
“We may give you a hard time, Empress,” Aiva explained. “But it’s only because we care about you. You’re more than just the person we’re here to protect—you’re even more than just our Empress. You’ve been so good to us, to everyone really, and we knew how much you missed Bane. So, we wanted to give you back at least a little something in exchange.”
Damn it. How did everyone around me seem to know exactly how to push my buttons in order to make me shed my tears? Aiva’s eyes shot open in surprise as I pulled her into my embrace.
“Thank you, Aiva,” I whispered to her as I hugged her tightly.
“Y-you’re welcome,” she hesitated.
“Remember what I told you about knowing when it’s okay to drop protocols?” I whispered back to her.
“Yes, I do,” she replied stiffly.
“This is one of those times, Aiva. Now hug me back.”
She wrapped her arms around me hesitantly at first, but then gripped me fiercely after just a few seconds, and I was shocked when I felt the first of her tears fall against me.
“I’m sorry, I—” She started as she tried to draw away from me.
“Shut up, Aiva,” I whispered as I pulled her back in.
We held each other for a few more moments before letting go together. Neither of us could see clearly as we pulled away, and we both had to blink away the mistiness from our eyes.
The other guards who had brought in the cushions had already left, or I might have done the same with each of them. But since only Aiva remained, I asked her to convey my thanks to them.
“Please let everyone else who helped with this know how much I appreciate their efforts,” I told her.
“I will, Empress,” she replied, but her words lacked the stiff formality she typically imparted to them.
She left the room then, and I was alone with Bane and Tási for the first time in ages. The second Aiva closed the door behind her, I practically dove into Bane’s side and curled myself against him. Tási wasn’t far behind me, and once she wriggled herself in place between us, I wrapped my Cloak around the two of us and we snuggled together for a while. Even though I still had a full day ahead of me before we could spend the night together, I cherished the few moments of pure bliss I had for our brief reunion.
Sintári, there is something you should know, Bane’s words echoed inside my head.
‘Can it wait, Bane? I’m so happy right now, and it sounds like I’m not going to like what you’re planning to tell me.’
I am sorry, but it cannot. I have already kept this news from you for too long.
“Go ahead,’ I sent back to him with some reluctance. It seemed like everyone had been holding out on me lately, and even my dear sweet Bane was no exception.
I have lost my fangs, Sintári. They are solid teeth now, and with that change, I no longer have any venom.
Okay, that was a big deal, but not exactly tragic. As a tiny Rhastoren, Bane needed his venom as a weapon to even up the odds against the larger foes we often faced. But now, with his huge size, his formidable bite would be more than enough to rip almost any opponent to shreds. Hollow fangs might have even been a disadvantage at that point, so his revelation, although somewhat remarkable, wasn’t really all that bad, and I told him so.
‘I’m not sure that’s such a bad thing for you, Bane,’ I replied to him. ‘You’re big enough now to handle things more directly.’
That was my thought as well, Sintári. I was only concerned that you might be disappointed in me.
‘Bane! Don’t you ever think that,’ I shot back instantly. ‘There is nothing that can happen to make me feel that way about you!’
As I spoke, he craned his neck around and stared me in the eyes. Since Tási was snuggled up against me with her eyes closed, I channeled my emotions into a controlled rage and let my eyes flare with their green light back at him.
‘Show me,’ I sent to him.
Bane opened his mouth for me, and I ran my fingers over his thick canines. The vicious fangs that he now had were quite impressive, and I was actually able to wrap my entire hand around one of them, and the tip still stuck out from beneath my fingers. As I let go of his tooth and Bane closed his mouth again, I gazed into his eyes and gave him my honest assessment.
‘You’re magnificent, Bane. Perfectly magnificent.’
My praise seemed to drain away his concerns, and he lay his head down gently over both Tási and me as we settled in once more. His purr thrummed through my chest as I nestled against him, and the powerful beating of his heart echoed in my ear when I rested my head on his chest. Far from being a distraction, the sounds of Bane’s contentment lulled me into a state of relaxation that I had been missing ever since he had outgrown my chambers below. With Tási lying next to me, and Bane beside me as well, I found a sense of peace, and the momentous events of the day no longer troubled my mind as we lay together on top of the soft cushions. But all too soon, Karina quietly roused me to let me know that it was time for one of my appointments.
“Which one is it?” I whispered once I had extracted myself from the tangle of Tási and Bane’s mutual embrace.
“King Nerec today, Empress,” she replied as we snuck out of the room carefully, to not wake the sleeping pair.
While the summit had a somewhat open-ended schedule in deference to the need to draft the necessary accords, a series of meetings had been arranged in advance for me to meet with each of the individual monarchs. Karina’s reminder made me recall that his had been scheduled first, followed by Broda’s uncle and then Queen Líann. Nadiel had obviously not been included in our plans, so I inquired whether or not she had been accommodated.
“Yes, Empress,” Karina replied as we made our way downstairs. “Since we have no idea how long the negotiations will go on, Ambassador Broda scheduled you to see Queen Nadiel tonight over supper.”
Each meeting was meant to be a more informal affair—a simple session to get to know each other over a shared meal. So today, I would apparently be sharing my lunch with the King of Lorida and having dinner with the halfling Queen. It was quite a step up from where I had started in this world just a short time ago.
When I arrived at the suite we had provided for Nerec, Karina escorted me inside, where we were joined by one of Nerec’s guards. The two then stationed themselves outside the door to the side chamber where our food had been laid out for us, and Nerec and I were able to talk privately for a while over our meal.
“I understand that you started your grand journey in my Realm, Empress,” he began. “I have even been informed that it was you who was responsible for taming the Bloody Heart mess that had been plaguing my people.”
“All of that is true, your Majesty,” I replied honestly. “And your people are dear to me for those very reasons.”
“Yet you intend to lead them into war,” he respo
nded bluntly.
“No,” I replied with conviction as I looked him in the eye. “I intend to lead them to victory. Victory over the evils that plague this world, victory over the petty divisions that have led to so much senseless slaughter, and victory over the Dark Lands themselves. And ultimately, victory over the rest of the vile scum that preys on them much like the Bloody Hearts once did.”
“I believe you,” Nerec answered me. “But still, as noble as your cause is, you cannot deny that many lives will be lost in the process.”
And there it was. Nerec had hit upon the subject that had been troubling me for quite some time. After even the relatively minor battles we had already fought, we had suffered losses—losses that I was powerless to prevent, and only had a very limited ability to restore. Even with the power of Death’s Embrace, I could only bring back three fallen soldiers, a paltry number considering the tremendous loss of life that would follow after each and every battle I was certain to have to fight.
But what other option did I have? I simply refused to let things remain the way they were, with people dying in senseless battles and bandits killing and abusing innocent people wantonly across the entire continent. The injustice of it all galled me, and even just considering it caused the rage inside me to begin stirring in violent waves of anger.
“Scrolls,” I finally replied when the idea came to me from nowhere.
Well, not nowhere, I realized when I recognized the tingle of Nentai’s influence. The Goddess had often irked me in our early interactions, but more and more I was truly coming to not only appreciate her, but also even love her after a fashion. She was shepherding me though some of my most difficult moments, but still refused to tell me why. Despite the fact that her motives remained a mystery, I was still grateful for the inspirations she sent to me.
“I need resurrection scrolls,” I repeated more confidently. “Enough to at least attempt to bring back every single soldier that falls in battle under my banner.”
“Forgive me Empress, but are you mad?” Nerec replied in astonishment. “That many scrolls would cost a fortune, and not to sound crass, but is the life of a mere soldier worth such an expense?”
“Every life is worth that expense, Nerec,” I informed him as I held his gaze. “That concept is the very heart of the Empire you have sworn your allegiance to. And while I understand that the beliefs I hold are strange to you, I think that in time, you will come to see the value in them.”
“Your standards are quite… unique, you are certainly correct in that,” he replied thoughtfully. “But if it is change that we seek, then we must also be willing to be part of that change as well. I look forward to seeing the Imperial Charter that our representatives produce. From what I understand, it will herald great change indeed.”
We spent the rest of our time talking about lighter subjects, and I found Nerec to be a decent and honorable man. And although he was firmly rooted in the traditions of this world, he also had a deep and sincere concern for the well-being of his people. When we finally parted, I was convinced that Nerec would try his very best to adapt to the dictates of the new world I was trying to bring to Arrika.
Nerec offered me a shallow bow as I left, and I returned his gesture with a slight inclination of my head. We had been made aware of the new protocols that had been devised, and we both smiled as we performed them for the first time.
“I take it that things went well,” Karina inquired as we left Nerec’s suite and the rest of my escort joined us.
“As well as could be expected, I imagine,” I replied to her honestly. “We’re asking a lot of them, and it won’t be easy to accept all the sudden changes we’re requiring them to make.”
“Yet I’m certain that somehow, you will get them to do it,” Karina smiled back at me.
“So, you’ve noticed that, have you?” I grinned at her in return.
“I’d have to be blind not to,” she chuckled.
Aiva, Karina, and the rest of my guards had become my constant companions over the last several months, and although they were consummate professionals, we had also become friends during that time. So, it wasn’t unusual for any of us to share a casual exchange when circumstances allowed. In fact, I actually encouraged it. Being surrounded by stuffy guards who refused to treat me like a person was an entirely unappealing prospect for me. So, while they maintained a sense of professional decorum when it was required, I did my best to make them feel comfortable around me otherwise.
When I arrived back at my residence, I tried to return to lay with Tási and Bane, but he had flown off in search of food again. Although his rate of growth had slowed somewhat, his appetite was still quite voracious, and he frequently went off into the forest beyond the wall to hunt the larger game that roamed in the wilds. I had a hunch that his forays involved more than a mere need to satisfy his hunger, as I sensed a growing desire in him to simply make the kill. While his newfound bloodlust seemed to be under control, it was a certain sign to me that the changes he was undergoing weren’t strictly physical in their nature.
“So, how did your meeting with Nerec go?” Tási asked as I settled into one of the soft couches in my chambers.
“Well, I think,” I replied to her. “He’s a good man, and I believe that in time, he’ll come to see things my way. But there was something that came up during our discussion that I need you to follow up on for me.”
“Of course, what is it?”
“One way or another, we’re headed for war,” I explained. “And while there’s no way for me to avoid losing people in the conflicts to come, I need to know that we did everything we could to save as many lives as possible. I can bring back three lives with the power that Lady Death has given me, but that is simply not enough. I want as many resurrection scrolls as we can get. Enough to raise our whole damn Army if we can get them. Every single soldier that fights for me needs to know that we will at least try to bring them back if they fall.”
“That’s… going to be expensive,” Tási replied tactfully.
“Use your imagination,” I responded. “Recruit Curates who can cast the spell, hire scribes—I don’t care how you do it, just get it done.”
“Some of the best casters are among Queen Nadiel’s people,” Tási replied thoughtfully. “You have already impressed her greatly, so that should help. As far as scribes, there are many among the elves of Íforn, but they hold onto them closely. Gaining access to them may depend on whether or not you can establish a good relationship with Queen Líann.”
Great. Aside from the few moments where she had been overwhelmed by our God-forged gear, the elven queen came off as a bit too formal and reserved for my tastes. And while I didn’t much like the thought of having to cater to her whims, I resigned myself to indulging her prudish, stuffy airs if it meant that I could save more lives.
“Well, I am scheduled to visit with Nadiel over supper tonight, so maybe I’ll bring the subject up with her then,” I told her. “And after lunch with Broda’s uncle tomorrow, I’m supposed to have dinner with Líann, so I’ll see if I can make some headway there as well.”
“Be careful with her,” Tási cautioned. “Líann is known to be a bit… reserved, and is quite unaccustomed to hearing the word ‘no.’ Even though she’s now your sworn vassal, you shouldn’t push her too far.”
“So,” I replied dryly. “You’re telling be she’s a stuck-up bitch?”
“I don’t think that’s the first time she’s been referred to in that manner, though never to her face,” Tási smiled.
Great.
Fortunately, I had some time before my dinner with Nadiel, and Tási and I were able to relax together for a while. Time was an odd thing for us—it seemed like we either had all there was of it to spend together, or practically none. With that shared feeling, we simply enjoyed every moment, often spending a great deal of time just sitting together or lying peacefully in each other’s arms. Words were often unnecessary, since we were able to communicate the most import
ant things to each other in a much more profound and direct way.
Several hours passed where we could have been doing more productive things, but instead, Tási joined me on the couch and we laid there sharing little tendrils of affection for a while. It was perhaps the purest and sweetest thing we had discovered as we explored our shared abilities. The light touch of the thin threads wasn’t quite strong enough to evoke our desires, but still managed to convey our feelings in a way that brought me pure joy. Finally, when the soft knock inevitably came at our door, I slipped out from beneath Tási as she lay on me and left her lying on the couch as I headed for my meeting with Nadiel.
Aiva led my detail now, but as we walked through my offices, she seemed oddly preoccupied. I realized what her distraction was almost immediately and brought it up as soon as I did.
“Did I make you feel uncomfortable earlier?” I asked her.
“No,” she replied a little too stiffly.
“Aiva, don’t make your Empress work too hard here,” I teased her.
“I’m not comfortable discussing it right now,” she answered me, making it clear that she was reluctant for any of the other guards to overhear what she had to say.
“Halt!” I called out as I brought my escort up short. “The lieutenant and I need a moment, wait for us in the next room.”
“Explain,” I practically commanded her when the sergeants left us alone.
“It’s difficult,” she stalled.
“Aiva, I trust you with my life on a daily basis,” I soothed her. “I would hope that you might feel comfortable enough to trust me in return.”
Aiva swallowed hard before replying.
“You make me feel, Empress,” Aiva confessed. “I’ve always been somewhat shut off from the world, but since I’ve been around you, I’ve started to actually feel things. To have emotions, and to actually care about people. I even went on a date the other night for the first time in I don’t know how long.”
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