by Ajax Lygan
The group saw an unfortunate side effect of the occupation, as soldiers pushed an elderly rabbitfolk man to the ground before they started questioning him. A bloody pool seeped from behind his head when he hit the ground and lay motionless. The only benefit of the streets being cleared was that it made travel very quick from the docks to the castle.
The interior of the main castle floor was bustling. The rich and powerful continued to shop, mingle, and entertain themselves to their heart’s content. It made Tempest’s skin crawl, and he wanted nothing more than to wrangle up Crux, Spirit, and Gusto, and get as far away from this place as he could.
Sophia stopped, as the main hall split, and turned to address the group. “I need to go in for a debriefing with the hydra,” she said, pointing over her shoulder. “You all are more than welcome to come, but something tells me you’d rather not.”
Tempest turned to look at his other companions, who all shook their heads. “I think we’re good,” Tempest said, smiling. “We need to go check in on the hunds and make sure they have been well taken care of.”
“Where will you be if you’re not there? I imagine things will move rather quickly once I’ve been debriefed.”
Tempest scratched at his cheek as he thought for a moment. His eyes wandered around the complex, reminding him of their recent stay. “We’ll be at The Eastern Oasis.”
“Kamilah Amin’s place?” she said as she cocked her eyebrow and crossed her arms.
“Yeah, is that a problem?”
Sophia rolled her tongue over the top of her teeth as she looked down the hallway. She turned back toward Tempest and shook her head. “No, but I am curious as to why you chose to stay there.”
“Well, after Riika’s…disagreement, with King Orum, we ran into Cladius and asked him for a place to stay.”
“Cladius, huh,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Good to know.”
“Are you going to tell us what the big deal is?”
“Nothing I can share officially.”
Tempest quirked his eyebrow before taking a few steps closer to her, leaning in to whisper. “Not even after what happened on The Amnesty?”
Sophia rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. She grabbed Tempest by the collar and pulled him a suitable distance away from the rest of the group. “Look, what happened back on The Amnesty was very much appreciated. I really enjoyed myself.”
“Me too,” Tempest said, chuckling.
“I also know that I owe you my life. There is no question where I would be if you hadn’t saved me. However, like you should already know, I take my work seriously. I’m not sure what this is or what you think it is, but now’s not the time for us to worry about that. We need to return Halairim back to some kind of normalcy.”
She paused and smirked. “And get the word out about how amazing you are. Once we do that, we can figure things out. Does that sound okay to you?”
Tempest adjusted his stance as he scratched the back of his head. He was disappointed and there was no hiding it. He knew he was being selfish for his own reasons and tried to push that aside. He knew she was right. There were more important matters to worry about.
“Tempest?”
His eyes shot up from the ground as he stumbled over his response. “O-oh yeah, of course. I completely understand, and it’s okay with me. Whatever you think is best, I am happy to oblige.”
Sophia’s smile crept along her face as her eyes squinted at his awkward movements. “Okay, good,” she said as she leaned in and smooched him on the cheek. The two shared a smile before she began backpedaling down the hallway. “I’ll catch up with you all as soon as I am done.”
As she turned and began walking down the hallway, Riika and Ella flanked Tempest on one side, with Saïgra on the other.
“What was that about?” Riika asked. “Something happen between you two?”
“Yeah,” Tempest said with a smug smile. “The night we left the island I went to check in on her, and one thing led to anoth…” before Tempest could his sentence, he froze. He felt the three girls quickly shift in front of him. He felt like he was in the perfect sight of a trained archer. He swallowed, quickly shifting between his three companions’ eyes. They all had their arms crossed with flared nostrils. He got a drowning feeling in his stomach.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Ella asked.
“Yeah, why didn’t you tell us?” Riika added.
“Yeah!” Saïgra said after getting glared at by the other two.
“Well, if I am being honest, I didn’t really think about it,” he said, shrugging. As he looked at the other three, he could tell that was the wrong answer.
“Trust and transparency,” Ella began, “is what is going to make this work. We all agreed to this life because we trust each other and you. When you don’t tell us about things, such as bringing on another partner, then it shatters that trust we put in you.”
“It makes us feel like you’re keeping something from us, and we’re being lied to,” Riika mumbled.
“But I’d never…” Tempest stopped talking as Ella held up her finger.
“Let us finish, please,” she said. Tempest looked down and nodded. “Riika go on.”
“It feels like we’re being lied to. I mean we knew it happened the very next day. There’s no hiding the changes we all go through when we bond. We all waited for you to say something to us, yet here we are addressing it with you. Didn’t you see how distant we were being on the way back?”
Tempest waited until Riika finished speaking before responding. “No, I just thought you all wanted time to yourself. All I can say is, that was never my intention. I realize that, now, and I promise to make sure that if anything like that happens again, to let you know as soon as I am able. Is that acceptable?” One by one, they nodded, Saïgra looking for confirmation from the other two before giving hers. Tempest went in for a hug, but the girls immediately denied him.
“Nope, you’re in the chicken coup for now,” Ella said with a smirk. When Tempest looked at Riika, she just shook her head. Saïgra’s face went red as soon as he looked at her. He couldn’t help but smile as he caught glances of her bouncing between the other two and himself.
“Can I ask a question?” he asked.
“Of course,” Ella responded.
“When you said ‘we’ earlier, were you talking about…” Tempest’s eyes shifted to Saïgra, whose face looked like a tomato at this point.
Ella let out a small laugh. “I think I’ll let her tell you.”
Saïgra was fumbling with her hands as she looked up at Riika and Ella, who gave her reassuring smiles. She took a step forward, her eyes floating between the floor and Tempest. “I-I thought a lot about whether or not I was going to accept Captain Helmrunner’s offer. I spoke with her, Ella, and Riika for hours on our way back to Halairim. While the thought of traveling the world was appealing, the battle at the fortress solidified something that they all seemed to reiterate.”
“What was that?”
“W-well, a few things. First, looking back at everything we accomplished in a few days made me stop and think. Even though many people don’t know or recognize it, we saved this city. The destruction of The Academy was but a blooming of what could have happened if we did nothing. Then we destroyed a cult of corrupt officials who had their vines into who knows how many things.”
The pretty dryad frowned. “They were sapping this world of good that could have been done without their influence. If we didn’t do what we did, I’m afraid of what damage they might have done.”
Saïgra paused and took a deep breath before looking deeply into Tempest’s eyes. “You are changing the world for the better, one problem at a time. But you’re not invincible. I think what happened back in the courtyard confirms that.”
“Wait,” Riika said, interrupting. “Did I miss something that happened?”
“Hush Riika,” Ella said. “I’ll tell you later.”
Riika huffed as Saïgra continued.
&
nbsp; “You need to be protected, just like I have spent my life protecting the grove. Only this…is more important.”
Tempest’s two other wardens shot glancing smiles at him before Saïgra finished.
“So, as you can see, I have decided to stay. As long as you all wish for me to be in your company, I will stay.” Tempest opened his arms out and took a step toward Saïgra but ran into the chest of Riika as she stomped forward to block his path.
“I don’t think so, mister. Remember? You’re still in big trouble.”
The others giggled as Tempest rubbed his crunched nose. When his eyes stopped watering, Tempest grabbed Riika around the waist and poked his head underneath her arms, getting an unobstructed view of Saïgra.
Riika wasted no time lifting him upside down, pointing him toward the other two in the group.
“I am so happy you decided to stay, Saïgra. I am lucky to have you watching over me.”
She smiled and nodded before turning toward the sounds of commotion coming from behind them.
Halairim’s elite had stopped and stared at the abnormal display of behavior.
Tempest tapped Riika on the arm, and she put him back on the ground. He glanced once more at the people stopped in the hallway before backpedaling toward the entrance. “Come on, let’s go check on the kids.”
The group walked out of the main entrance and headed toward the castle’s stables on the far side of the castle’s inner wall. The building was a triangular prism with two massive door openings on each end. The entrance protruded on the side closest to the castle; large enough for a small office and a window where a petite wulven woman sat.
They exchanged greetings before Riika handed her the small pins that she’d received when they’d boarded the marehunds. With a quick confirmation, the handler led the group to the three marehunds’ stables. All three marehunds began to howl when they smelled their approaching caretakers.
Once their pens were open, the marehunds couldn’t contain their excitement, jumping up and down, howling, and giving an endless supply of kisses. Riika wasted little time preparing Crux’s saddle. Once finished, she jumped on his back and turned toward the group.
“I’m going to take him out for a few sprints,” she said, slapping him on the side. “Someone looks like they’ve been spoiled.” Crux snorted before Riika snapped his reins, and they galloped down the barn’s entryway.
Ella began preparing Spirit’s reins as well. “We should probably do the same for these two,” she said, pointing toward the other marehunds. “I’ll take Spirit, if you two want to ride double on Gusto. He’s the biggest and would be an easier ride for you two.”
“Sounds good,” Tempest replied as he clasped the pommel after tightening the saddle’s cinch strap. He jumped into the saddle and shifted himself backward before extending his arm to Saïgra. She grabbed his arm and placed her foot in the stirrup, climbing in front of Tempest. Saïgra sat back and settled comfortably into the seat, pressing her bare ass, underneath her vine encompassed dress, back into Tempest’s groin. It was at that point, Tempest wondered, if this was such a good idea.
When he snapped Gusto’s reins and their bodies swayed in time with Gusto’s stride, he knew he was going to be in trouble. He didn’t want to embarrass himself or upset Saïgra by producing pheromones while they were on a ride. He tried to blank his mind, thinking about the time he awoke in the forests near Meadow’s Crest, and how things could have changed if he had gone the opposite direction. When he was confident he no longer had that thing on his mind, he leaned around.
“Saïgra, are you fine if we take it slow and just have a nice leisurely stroll around the grounds?”
“Is he going to get enough exercise that way?” she asked.
“Oh yeah, with both of us on here, I’m sure he’ll be fine. I wouldn’t want to start him off rough and injure him. Plus, it will give us an opportunity to talk for a bit.”
Unexpectedly, Saïgra turned around and quickly nodded.
Tempest pulled back on the reins and brought Gusto to a walking pace. He felt Saïgra let out an enormous sigh as they slowed down. The grounds were beautiful with manicured lawns, makeshift ponds, and of the hydra. It made for a scenic walk that, save for the massive industrialization of the castle and the walls, could easily pass for a serene meadow under the cover of a mountain pass. They made it nearly a quarter way around the grounds without saying anything. Tempest, thinking something was wrong, decided to be the one to start the conversation.
“I just want to reiterate that I appreciate what you said earlier, and I am thrilled you decided to stay.”
“Y-yeah me too.”
“Don’t think I will ever forget what you did for me back on the island. I know we didn’t have time to talk much after the fact, but you saved not only my life, but Ella’s as well. I’ll always work toward repaying you for that debt.”
Saïgra looked back for a moment before shifting her head back to face the front. “I don’t need repayment. I did it because of what you could mean to this world. Ella and Riika both put their faith in the fact that you want to and have the power to make it a better place. I would be a fool if I cast away the opportunity to be a part of that.”
She shook the leaves and vines that served her as hair. “To be honest, I was almost that fool. It wasn’t until I spent time with Ella and Riika, and got to know them—really talked with them—that I changed my mind.”
“Oh wow, I guess I’ll have to figure out a way to thank them.”
“Yes, you will, but I have a feeling you’ll think of something.” Saïgra giggled.
The two continued their trot around the castle’s grounds, speaking more about Saïgra’s childhood, the various spells she could cast, and her love of painting. As they approached the stable, Tempest saw Ella, Riika, and Sophia were standing out front waiting for them. Sophia’s change into a replacement Halairim officer’s uniform made Tempest think they might be in trouble.
Tempest pulled on Gusto’s reins as they reached the others. “I almost didn’t recognize you without Captain Helmrunner’s clothes on. I’d have to say I am a bit sad about it.”
“As much as I appreciated Samara lending me her clothes, it wasn’t really my style.”
“I’m guessing there’s been a development?”
“See for yourself,” Sophia said, pointing to the front of the castle’s wall.
Tempest cupped his hand over his brow to see Halairim soldiers carrying wood to the top of the castle’s walls. “There’s going to be a public execution, as well as a public showing of the hydra together. Queen Vatia informed me that Queen Kasta returned temporarily from her mission just so she could take part in the public showing. They plan to announce that the threat has been dealt with, publicly denounce those who were involved, and commit to hunting down the remaining members of The Cessation.”
She paused. “The Queen has already begun sending instructions to Halairim’s hidden detachments and putting bounties on all that remain at large.”
“Hidden detachments? What do you mean, like spies?” Riika asked.
“They are known as The Umbra,” Sophia nodded.
“Why would the hydra publicly announce all of this so soon?” Ella asked. “Making the Cessation publicly known will send the rest into hiding, and we know nothing about the man we saw in the mirror—the one they called ‘The Seer’.”
“I have a few ideas, but personally… I think it’s because they are afraid.”
“Afraid of what?” Tempest asked.
“Afraid of the people,” she said, pointing out toward the city. “If what Cladius told me was true, almost ten percent of Halairim was destroyed in the riots and the resulting fires, and that is just an early estimate. They are still calculating all the damage. I guess the poorer areas, further out from the city center, got the worst of it—likely because there was less of a military presence there.”
“If the hydra loses control of Halairim, it could destabilize the entire pla
net,” Saïgra muttered darkly.
“Exactly. From what I am told, they are getting an increasing amount of pressure from the other IRC leaders to end this.”
Tempest nodded and patted Gusto on the side of the neck. “Well, I am going to go put him up and then we can handle whatever’s next.” As Tempest led Gusto away, Sophia called out to him and moved to the marehund’s side.
“Oh, and before I forget, after the public announcements, the Queen wants to depart for the IRC immediately. The other council members will be gathering there today.”
Tempest rubbed his head and nodded. “Seems like we’re in for another long day.”
The city criers did their jobs as there was not an empty spot in the crowd. It was shoulder packed, with children resting on their parent’s shoulders. People filled windows to the brim and sat on crowded rooftops, treating this like some sort of entertainment spectacle. Vendors shouted through the crowd offering cups of ale and personal sweets to any with enough coin.
Tempest, Ella, Saïgra, and Sophia stood to Queen Vatia’s left while the makeshift execution pyres sat on her right. While Queen Vatia had shown up in her humanoid form, she was the only one to do so. King Orum and Queen Kasta sat behind the walls overlooking the crowd in their dragon forms.
King Orum’s dragon form reflected his muscular humanoid form with a very square jaw and overly muscular frame. Burning lava seemed to flow from the opening of his mouth, sending the crowd running whenever he would swing his head over them. Queen Kasta’s dragon form was rather thin and elegant. Her pointed face was shaped like a spearhead with three horns protruding out of her head. A black and purple smoke seemed to pour from under her scales, mouth, and nose as she sat rather elegantly, perched like a bird watching ants below. Her black scales shimmered in a beautiful purple as the sun caught her reflection.
The festivities began as guards marched the prisoners toward the pyres. They secured four females, including a mousefolk, a reptikin, and two wulven’s, beside a male elf. The crowd erupted into boos when the soldiers shackled them in place. The cries and chants settled down almost immediately as Queen Vatia raised her hands.
