Zerae swam up to catch breath. She kept swimming forward without submerging back down. The woman got out from the water next to her.
She looks young and wears just her underwear. Yet she feels dangerous.
“Going somewhere?” she opened up the conversation.
Talking, not attacking. Good start.
“I need to talk to the admiral, now!” Zerae didn’t waste time on pleasantries.
“Why?” she asked.
“Do you have a family? Parents? Siblings? A lover? I’m trying to save mine,” Zerae went for the emotional push.
“You are out of strength, you won’t make it to the ships,” the girl observed.
“I have to, so I will,” Zerae contested.
“Name’s Luna, but they call me Nigh’,” the girl introduced herself.
“Zerae.”
“Alright, Zerae, two things. First, try something funny and I will fucking eat you alive. Literally,” Luna said and her face slowly split ear to ear, while filling itself with massive fangs.
By the Goddess… what nightmare did you crawl out of? But… if Palai armies are fine with having a monster, it just might be fine with us Faye. This is some seriously good news. Really scary, but also really good news.
“Secondly, you will never, ever tell anyone about what will happen next,” Luna announced in a murderous tone.
“Alright, I promise. Now, what are you talking about?” Zerae pried.
“I will go in front of you, you will hold onto me and I will swim you to the ship,” Luna said before she got in front of Zerae and stopped.
I am not in a position to refuse any help. Wait… is that?
Zerae caught herself around Luna.
“Do you know what the symbol tattooed on your back means?” she inquired.
“It’s the symbol of your Faye Goddess. Put your head down on my shoulder, your neck will break otherwise,” Luna told her as she started swimming. She was weaving her body while holding Zerae’s legs, so she doesn’t fall off. Luna started slow but was quickly accelerating. Zerae had to close her eyes as the water hitting her was too sharp. It hurt like hell even when she pushed herself into Luna.
It seems the Goddess watches over us, after all. Thank you.
“Why do you have the symbol?” Zerae whispered.
“My girlfriend carved it into me,” Luna answered awkwardly.
“Listen, Luna. When you get me to the ship, I will need you to get back where the ships were. Get back and fish out any Faye you see. Just put them on something that floats so they don’t drown,” Zerae added.
Am I pushing my luck? Probably. But I will not stop taking for as long as the luck keeps giving. And then some more because I need more than just a bit of luck.
“Ehhh… you girls are enemies. We are going to be stabbing everything we see floating by tomorrow morning,” Luna revealed.
“You’re not. I will strike a deal with your admiral before that happens,” Zerae contested.
“Then I should wait until you do. Everyone’s gonna be fucking pissed if I spend the whole night making them extra work. Not to mention having no orders and shit,” Luna protested.
She is right. But I don’t have time for that… my sisters don’t have time for that.
“Listen, Luna. I don’t have any right to ask this of you. I know it. But my sisters, your girlfriend’s sisters are drowning. Fuck me; I’m nothing for you. But do it for your girlfriend. Do it so the next time you see her, you can tell her that you did all you could to save her sisters,” Zerae insisted.
Luna sighed. “Meh… there goes my dinner.”
The way her mark is done is the same warriors have it. The way our queen used to put them on us. Her girlfriend must be a former warrior… I actually have to know her.
“Is your girlfriend here with the fleet?” Zerae asked softly.
“No, but we have arrived,” Luna announced. Zerae looked up to see the massive ship by which they were swimming.
Did she just swim a mile in under a minute? What type of monster is she?
Luna caught onto the net that was put down and started climbing on it. Zerae didn’t have the strength to protest.
“Oi, guys! Nigh’ caught herself dinner,” one of the soldiers shouted from above.
“Nah, bet she just got fucking tired of her dildo,” another man shouted.
“SHUT THE FUCK UP, ROD!” Luna exclaimed in an embarrassed voice.
“BWAHAHAHAHA,” the soldiers all laughed. They stopped abruptly. Luna did too. They were almost at the top of the net. Above them on the railing stood Beatrice Hellwind, her gold-trimmed commander’s cloak weaved in the wind. She held an elegant sword in her hand and was peering down on them.
“I’m just here to talk to the admiral,” Zerae said as she saw her.
“I will need to take your sword,” Beatrice answered.
“Be my guest,” Zerae smiled weakly. Beatrice ducked down and pulled Zerae’s sword out of the sheath.
“Drop her on the deck, I will take it from here,” she commanded.
“Yes, ma’am,” Luna replied, finished the climb and put Zerae down. Zerae tried to stand but had to hold herself by the railing to not collapse to the ground.
“I will be back later,” Luna shouted at the soldiers before she leaped back down into the water.
Thank you.
“Can you walk?” Beatrice asked calmly.
Zerae nodded.
“Follow me,” Beatrice ordered and led the way. She walked slowly enough for Zerae to keep up. Zerae felt like she will collapse at any second.
“I’m happy to see you are doing fine,” Zerae whispered as they walked.
“Thank you. That’s… really not what I expected you would say,” Beatrice looked slightly confused.
“Did you expect me to ask you why you left?” Zerae pried.
“Are you going to?”
“No. I am not saying I understand why you left, but you weren’t the only one and I think I have the idea why,” Zerae revealed.
Many warriors left after the queen was gone. Some were more creative with faking their deaths or disappearances, while some were less.
“Are Astril and Leena still around?” Beatrice asked.
Why would she ask me that? Did they… did Astril and Leena want to leave as well? I know Astril was in a team with Beatrice, but I didn’t know she and Leena know each other.
“Yes,” Zerae confirmed.
“Admiral’s a reasonable man. No matter how the talk goes, he will grant you safe passage home, at the very least. Unless you do something stupid, of course,” Beatrice stated.
“I will keep that in mind.”
They walked to a decorated door. The soldiers opened them without questions as they saw Beatrice walking up to them. At the other side of the small room stood admiral Elias la Grace. He was perfectly arranged and wore a heavily decorated cloak.
“To what do I owe the pleasure, commander?” he turned to Beatrice as they entered.
“This is Zerae Hellwind, War Leader of the Faye. That’s akin to a general. She wishes to speak with you,” Beatrice laid out.
Elias measured Zerae with an appreciating look.
This isn’t your average soldier. Even I can tell a powerful magician when I see one. Is he making the fog himself?
“Alright. Please take a seat, lady Zerae. The rest, please leave us. We shall speak privately,” admiral la Grace commanded.
“She is a strong warrior with multiple hidden weapons. I advise caution,” Beatrice contested.
“Thank you, commander; I will keep that in mind,” admiral didn’t let up.
Does he see me as that little of a threat?
“Sir,” Beatrice confirmed and left the room. She closed the door behind her.
“Whiskey?” he asked Zerae as he walked to a cabinet.
He acts like he has all the time in the world, which he kind of does since today’s battle is clearly over.
“I apologize for the bras
hness, but I do have neither time nor energy for a lengthy negotiation. First of all, anything and everything Luna has been doing tonight is because I forced her to. All blame for her actions is mine and mine alone,” Zerae started.
“Acknowledged,” the admiral nodded.
“To the actual deal, I need you and your fleet to take any Faye you fight as prisoners, alive. Then you will hand these prisoners to people I tell you at a location I tell you. In exchange, I will hand over any and all information I have about the movements and planned operations of both the pirates and us. I will even have my people actively search for any relevant information,” Zerae proposed straight up.
“My intelligence suggests a matron leads your forces. Are you acting on her behalf?” Elias asked with an unreadable face.
“No. All of this is and will be done behind her back,” Zerae admitted.
“Can you guarantee me that all men defeated by your warriors shall receive the same treatment? Be captured and handed over to where I desire?” Elias pressed.
“No. I can attempt to push the Faye to start taking prisoners by using you taking Faye prisoners as leverage. Then I can have them mysteriously free themselves and disappear,” Zerae revealed.
“What is the location you will want me to bring your prisoners, who are the people I will be handing them over to?” Elias continued.
“I don’t know. I will have that information in about two weeks,” Zerae replied.
“What will happen to you if our possible arrangement is found out?”
“I will be executed by being publicly tortured to death,” Zerae kept an impassive voice
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I believe in something.”
I can’t read him at all. His face, mood or the general feeling he gives doesn’t change at all. The cavern city lord was like a kid next to this man.
“How do you plan to give me the information you are peddling?” Elias switched to a lighter tone.
“Dream World. I have a powerful dreamwalker at my disposal; she can relay it to whoever you desire before the morning of the next day.”
“My capacity to keep prisoners is limited by the combination of amount and time. Few hundreds for a few weeks are not a problem; if it gets to thousands and months, it will start eating into my food supplies. In such case, I will require additional information on the location of food storages my men can raid and opportunities to do so. Or a straight handover of supplies. Would that be possible?” Elias pried.
“Likely yes, although I do not have any way to guarantee it,” Zerae smiled awkwardly.
“Suppose I have spies both among the pirates and among the Faye, what can you give me that they cannot?” Elias jabbed.
“Direct influence. Though my position is temporarily compromised, I can influence the tactics of both Faye and the Storm pirates, up to a degree but I do believe even subtle influence will be more than enough,” Zerae laid out.
Of course, he has spies among the Faye and the pirates. It crossed my mind before, but I’m sure of it after seeing today’s battle. They used bombardment that explodes underwater straight from the first salvo, meaning they knew we are coming on sea drakes and not as a fleet.
“I accept. My dreamwalker shall handle the communication; he shall contact you in a few days to establish the communication process. For the immediate situation, I believe you shall need a way to get back your people. We have an Alnil priest on board. By the morning, he can row you to the location pretending he fished you out of water by accident,” Elias agreed.
Zerae was speechless.
That was… different than how I thought it would be. I know the deal I brought is very good for him since having prisoners gives him the leverage he can use at any point. I just thought he would be more afraid, more careful, more… doubtful. Luna and Beatrice both were, so why isn’t he?
No pain. No fear. No weakness. Such is the code of the Faye.
I know I broke it today. Yet the favor of the Goddess has not left me. I guess I need to start taking the rituals more seriously.
“I am sorry to ask, but you show suspiciously little fear of me betraying you,” Zerae remarked. She knew this is a touch risky, but she couldn’t resist.
“Oh, I expect you to, at some point. I just believe I shall gain more before that happens. I would also strongly suggest you drink some of the whiskey, it is quite spectacular and shall make you sleep better,” Elias explained. Zerae took the glass in front of her and downed it in one swig.
It truly is spectacular. The admiral is not cheap about his vices.
“Now. I believe we are settled. I wish you good luck, War Leader,” he smiled as he walked to the door.
“Fetch me Zakuma and commander Hellwind,” he ordered the soldiers.
“Sir, yes, sir” they confirmed and left.
Beatrice Hellwind was first to arrive.
“Commander, lady Zerae shall require accommodations for the night. Please see to it,” he ordered her in a casual fashion.
“Yes, sir,” she nodded and motioned Zerae to follow her. Zerae rose.
“Goodbye, admiral,” she made a slight bow.
“May the sun bless your path,” he wished her as a goodbye.
Wordlessly, Beatrice led Zerae through the ship and down to a small rowing boat. The boat took them to her ship. On the way, Zerae noticed a Faye girl working around the massive slingshot at the deck of admiral’s ship. Another Faye girl up in the Crow’s nest and two more among the soldiers. She recognized all of them.
I hope they know how to keep their mouth shut. I knew making my visit anonymously was impossible, especially since I did need to look the part.
Beatrice’s ship was smaller than admiral’s. Smaller, but prettier. It was these little details and decorations here and there that made the overall impression great.
Beatrice always liked her things to look great. Also, I am borderline amazed at how graciously does everyone ignore us. They all greet the commander as she approaches, but then act like nothing happened. I guess this isn’t the first time someone strange is around. Then again, I’m not so strange when people like Luna are around.
Beatrice led her up the ship, all the way to a large cabin. Cabin decorated with paintings and weapons.
“These are my quarters, you can crash here. I suppose you will want to leave before dawn,” Beatrice finally said something.
“Yes. The Order… is different than I thought,” Zerae admitted. Beatrice put her cloak on a hanger before she sat down by the table. Beatrice put her legs on it and grabbed a bottle from the cabinet.
“Drink?”
“Yes.”
Beatrice took a long swig and tossed the bottle to Zerae. Zerae took a long swig.
“This isn’t whiskey,” she observed.
“They don’t pay me that much”, Beatrice chuckled, “it’s rum.”
“Not bad,” Zerae took another swig before she tossed the bottle back. “How’s life in the navy?”
“Quite fine. You travel a lot and meet plenty interesting people. You kill these people and get back to traveling. Voidspire is the same as always, isn’t it?” Beatrice tossed up.
Zerae laughed. “More or less.”
“Heh. I’m amazed Astril and Mathilde can keep living in the same city,” Beatrice evaluated.
“That’s getting harder by the year. So far, I’m somehow keeping the balance, but it’s mostly due to Astril being too busy bedding who she can,” Zerae revealed. Beatrice laughed strongly.
“Some things never change.”
“Hmm?” Zerae pointed at a picture with her head. Picture of two children.
“My kids. Layla and Nikki, twelve and fourteen,” Beatrice smiled warmly. “They live at Xona with my husband.”
“Never thought you would be the family type,” Zerae observed.
“Me neither. I would say I’m not. But my husband thought otherwise and well, here I am. Mother of two,” Beatrice smirked, “quite the change fr
om running an assassination squad.”
“How was it, Killer Eight?” Zerae tried to remember.
“Yep. Well, now it’s Killer Seven,” Beatrice smirked.
“Come to think of it, I did see Connie around,” Zerae remarked.
“All of the original members are still around, we’re just missing Astril,” Beatrice smiled, “by the way, did Admiral give you the amulet?”
“What amulet?” Zerae asked cluelessly.
Beatrice got up, went to a cabinet and took something out. She studied it a bit as she walked to Zerae, then put an amulet in front of her. Amulet of the Palai Order.
“Wear this when you sleep, it’s how the Dreamwalker will find you,” she explained. “Oh, and as you focus on it before sleep, you need to say: ‘For my battle ends at dawn, the last dawn of my soul, the dawn of the thousand suns.’ It’s the activation phrase.”
“Right. Do you have a quill and paper? I need to write down the passphrase for my dream pocket defenses,” Zerae realized.
“Typical Elias,” Beatrice chuckled as she brought Zerae what she asked for.
“Not the man for rudimentary details, is he?”
“No. He is very good at ignoring things that do not necessarily require his attention. It’s a part of what makes him a great commander. That and being just the right amount of reckless and trusting,” Beatrice evaluated, “anyway, you look like you will pass out any second. Feel free to use the bed. I will need to work through most of the night, but I will wake you up at dawn,” Beatrice said in a way that made it sound more like a command.
“Before I do, one last thing. How many Faye are around the Order? I have seen quite a few.” Zerae inquired.
“About eighty in my legion alone. Few hundreds around the fleet, likely more in the entire Order. It suits us well,” Beatrice revealed.
“I can see why. Legion commander… that would make you the highest ranked Faye in the Palai order,” Zerae observed. Beatrice laughed.
“Maybe… I cannot really tell any details about it,” Beatrice smiled.
“I guess you aren’t allowed to tell me her name,” Zerae remarked.
“No, I’m not, sorry,” Beatrice apologized.
“I understand. I guess a bath would be too much to ask,” Zerae tossed up.
“The sea is all around. If you meant one with non-salty water… well… that’s not happening. Being salty gets a whole new meaning around the fleet,” Beatrice stated.
Legacy of Death_Revenge Page 22
