Why does it seem like the best answer to getting my point across is violence, always violence? Attempting to hide my sigh, I make sure to breathe within my closed mouth using the neckchain. I order my current target, “So tell me why you should survive Leezahna, why you deserve special treatment, why you deserve to live, what makes *you* better than anyone else, special in any way.”

Stuttering as she stares at the sword I have leveled towards her face, Leezahna starts, “M-my my f-family—“

Rolling my eyes, I interrupt, “Wrong answer Leezahna, your family isn’t who you are, it’s not a mask to hide behind, or lord over others. Family is who you care about and protect. Using it the way you just did makes it seem like you only care about and protect yourself. Try again. Why are *you* so much better than anyone you call gutter trash?”

Choking on her words, Leezahna glances around, desperate for someone to bail her out, but even her two flunkies have joined in the desperate attempt to make room for our ongoing hostile engagement. The wide circle of the crowd on the aerie is eerily silent. Revvy, Gresog, and Farzee gaze at me worriedly. They know that I technically need her alive, and I abhor the idea of killing anyone. They know that I’ve skipped several steps, and am playing my biggest threat directly to get through to her.

Trying to use different words to say the same things, Leezahna begins, “I-I was born to, to the Dim—“

I snarl at her as I furrow my brows before barking, “Stop it! Stop using your family and its name as a tool to batter and bludgeon your way around the social landscape! They deserve better than that! Or perhaps they don’t. Perhaps I should simply exile them all.”

Leezahna starts objecting, “You, you c-can’t! You can’t do that, you don’t have the power, the right! You’re noth—“

Growling at her, I explain, “You have admitted you’re too dangerous to let live by signaling your defiance with your transformation. You’ve shown that you have no concept of empathy for anyone you believe is beneath you, and that you believe nearly everyone is beneath you.”

I scowl as I have to resort to further threat of violence, “I’d be well within my right to kill you and your entire family, in order to drink of their dragonforces to make further progress in the war against Terrorzin. You know, the war to stop the arseholes who are literally going to burn down the entire world. That war? Remember it? The war that your family would have joined in, under Terrorzin’s banner, if he’d have given you enough nummy munchies.”

I know I hit a low blow there, but I didn’t call her father into question specifically. She does look like I’d slapped her across the face however. I advance half a step on her, bringing Frostburn dangerously close to her bangs, and forehead. Glaring into her eyes, I realize wrath is starting to bubble to the surface at the idea that she might harm my loved ones in retaliation if I let her live.

Gulping down my hatred and fear, I ask, “What proof do I have that you won’t lash out at my family like you lashed out at me? That you won’t try to harm them in subtle or overt ways when they’re most vulnerable? You wouldn’t even make a fit prisoner. Why do you even deserve my mercy, let alone believe you’re above all of the others that I protect?”

I can sense certain psychic wavelengths nearby that I really would rather not have witnessing this, but I sigh and continue what is only partially a farce. I await Leezahna’s response, which is now burbled through tears and snot as she begs, “Stop! Please, please stop! Don’t hurt me!”

Growling at her, I state, “I didn’t ask what you want me to do, I asked you why I should even trust you in the slightest. What makes you think I could ever let you or any member of your family live, knowing the danger you pose, the selfishness you embody?”

Whimpering, Leezahna complains, “B-but, you’re supposed to be a hero, our Hero.”

I flash Leezahna an angry glare as I state, “No. I’ve always hated when people labeled me with that title. I’m no hero. I’m a fuggin’ monster. As far as the capital H Hero, I’m only that to the Order of the Onyx Dawn, and the peace-loving residents of Mount Solace that accept me and my faults to be that for them. Do you know why I consider myself a monster? I’ve taken so many lives that I lost count!”

Slightly softer, angry at myself for using this route, I add, “I hate myself, and this world, and every last person who ever makes a situation life or death, instead of accepting a compromise that doesn’t require the subjugation of someone else’s will. Why should my compromise be anything less than your exile or death, and that of your entire family, when the safety of those I hold dear is on the line?”

In tears, on her knees, Leezahna’s facade cracks, crumbles, and fully collapses as she begs, “Please, please they say you’re kind and merciful. Please spare me—glp, n-no, koff, family. My family, m-my momm- mother.”

I drop onto my arse in front of her and sheathe Frostburn. Drawing a deep breath, I sigh at the shocked, scared little girl I see before me. I blink back a tear in my left eye and ask, “Do you understand why I just sheathed my blade? Why I think you deserve to live? Why I love you just as much as I love all the residents of Mount Solace? Why I will protect you and all the others until my dying breath?”

Leezahna shakes her head nervously, fearfully, so I explain, “You do have compassion, decency, even selflessness. Somewhere deep, deep under that spiteful veneer that you’ve labored to wear, there’s a decent person inside. Everyone who wants peace and happiness, if I can trust them to allow others to seek it, I love them. As much hate and wrath as I have? I have more love, far more.”

I shake my head dubiously at myself before continuing, “You’re right though. I am supposed to be a hero, be merciful, be kind. I try to be. I fail often though. Everyone fails and falters, from time to time, at being who they want, or need, or are meant, to be. Y’know? I’d never have done it, killing you while you lived here. Couldn’t do it. Hate doing it. I’d have exiled your family, and if you went back to Terrorzin’s lands and forces, or raided innocent settlements, I’d have slain you all. I wouldn’t have attacked or slain you here, but my wrath might have.”

I quickly continue in order to explain, “Wrath was pretty close to taking over, and murdering you, and everyone who ever seemed to be your friend or sympathize with you or listen to a word you say. Wrath would have done that out of fear for the retaliation they might dole out upon my family. I fought that off for your sake, to give you the chance to show who you are beneath all the crap.”

Softly, almost whispering consolingly, I request, “So, Leezahna, before I go try to save some more people, I want you to tell me about yourself. Who you truly, really are. No more of the crap.”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

She stares at me like I’ve asked her to swallow a moose whole while in human form. I roll my eyes and gesture for her to continue. She glances around at the circle around us, feeling the ostracizing that could come, that will probably already come from attacking the Order’s Hero, and bringing me to this state. Leezahna pulls her knees to her chest, wraps her arms around them, and sobs into them for several moments before she whimpers, “I don’t know.”

I let my tears roll down, streaming freely. Finally I feel assured of my family’s safety, as I truly believe her. I draw a shuddered breath from fighting off my own sobs.

Nodding to whom is essentially a victim of my bullying, I respond, “I know. I’m here if you need help figuring it out. Others too. Mount Solace is meant to offer its namesake, solace. I don’t expect you to become a paragon of our society, or the pinnacle of every value that I hold dear, especially not instantly.”

Calmer, quieter, I lean close as I request, “But please, when finding yourself, try to work kindness and compassion somewhere in there. Even if selflessness isn’t something you can manage a heavy dose of. You obviously have some of it, for at least your mother. Nurture the traits that help you love those around you, and they’ll learn to love you in turn. I’ll admit, after this little stunt, you’ve probably got a little bit of an uphill battle, but I’ll vouch for you. If you’re willing to try. Are you willing to try Leezahna?”

Nodding rapidly, Leezahna doesn’t speak, as she continues crying into her knees, rubbing her eyes on her forearms occasionally. I draw a ragged breath, and rub my own itchy, wet eyes. The person I’d least expect walks to stand beside me, puts one lanky, slender hand on my shoulder, and shoots me a glance that she flicks towards Leezahna questioningly. I nod and smile at Ixeyla, proud of her. She can feel some of it across our psychic wavelength. My pride in her. My gratitude.

Ixeyla sits next to Leezahna, offering her shoulder, leaning back slightly so that her right arm is behind Leezahna. Ixey mutters, “Come here Princess. Schism vouches for you being a good person inside. References don’t get much better than that.”

Leezahna lifts her face from its perch in her forearms and knees to gaze at me with a furrowed brow. She glances back and forth between me and Ixeyla for several moments. There’s still a slight, mild, underlying fury, resentment of me. I’ve reduced her to this state, I called her out until she couldn’t be called out any more. I disparaged the worth of a family name. I threatened her life, and her family’s life. Something I’d kill someone for doing. Even still, she can’t decide whether to leap into the arms I’ve spread wide, or to lean onto Ixeyla, someone she equally despises, to seek solace in either of us.

I offer Leezahna a sad half smile, and I see fear too, when her gaze meets mine. I understand that she wouldn’t be able to take comfort in any solace she could find in me, so I nod understandingly. I flick my head towards Ixeyla, and there’s a query on Leezahna’s face, an, “Are you sure?” because she’s afraid to snub me at the moment. I simply nod again while wearing that same sad half-smile. So she does take solace in Ixeyla, leaning over to her, resting her face upon Ixeyla’s shoulder.

Ixeyla, for her part, gives Leezahna a rough hug with her gangly right arm. I whisper telepathically to Ixeyla, “Thank you. You’re amazing. I hope Lil is ready soon. I really do. He seems absolutely head over heels for you, and I’m proud of him for finding someone as awesome as you to be enamored with so dearly. I think Leezahna here could maybe benefit from being out of the spotlight for a little while. Do you think you could take her somewhere quiet, and just be with her for a little while?”

Ixeyla nods my way, and slowly stands, trying to keep Leezahna from falling over, offering her a hand up. When Kinzul parts the crowd for them, there’s gulping, and murmuring from the crowd. Our Lady simply states, “Thank you for handling that with compassion, my love. For fighting your inner turmoil, struggling against the fear for our safety. I love you more each day, and plead that you always remain true to yourself, this version of yourself, and further nurture your compassion, and kindness, always.”

Nodding to Kinzul, I stand and shift in height to approach her. I quickly embrace her so that she can hide her face in my neck and shoulder, to obscure the tears that are about to stream forth. She shakes her head though, rather than hiding her tears, she lets them flow freely, visible to the large crowd from several angles. While crying openly, instead of hiding, she kisses me softly on the lips.

I sink into the kiss unintentionally. How can I not? She’s remarkable, incredible, amazing, compassionate, kind, loving, and a vision of perfection that carries around the weight of the Worldstorm, and all the pains and sorrows of the past. I love her in ways I still haven’t found words to describe, or boxes to categorize those feelings under.

The quiet, hushed gasp and whispers and murmurs that follow our embrace are enough that Kinzul smirks playfully. She’s been intentionally feeding the rumor mill. I’m not entirely certain why. It feels like there’s a long game play going on here, by setting the truth of the upcoming announcement to spread before we make it.

Maybe stoking the rumor mill with the truth is just that, to show our beloved residents that she truly does love me, and isn’t making the marriage for some unknown reason. Even if she does have other reasons in mind. I feel loved, whether or not her primary purpose for our marriage is something else.

Ixeyla whistles a low note of appreciation as her eyes are wide in staring, since she’d been trying to get Leezahna out to some place quiet and private before anything new happened. She’s thankfully got Leezahna facing the other way, while looking back over her left shoulder at Kinzul and me. I flash her a smile and nod in that regal head-tilt manner. Huh, I wonder if Kinzul does that to save on neck strain, after having had to nod at many things for hundreds of years.

My wife chuckles across our telepathic wavelength at my silly line of thought, while continuing to smirk, pulling our locked lips in a mild twist. I stroke my wife-to-be’s cheek, and we rest our foreheads together. She’s going out to battle today, soon, while I continue my evacuation efforts. I’m terrified once again, about the— there are other minds around here. I’m terrified of the prospect of possibly losing my wife-to-be, but I’d never try to cage her, or hold her back from any duty or responsibility she’d decided to fulfill.

I whisper, “Be safe, my love. Bring yourself, and all of them home safely. Nothing is more important than that.”

The Vivant, other than Prinrin, look a bit stunned. Lil rolls his eyes and hangs his tongue out in a joking display of disgust, while Luni chuckles and elbows him playfully. Prinrin sends waves of desires to our bond, things she wants to say, and do, before they head out, but she can’t, with this many people around. Especially not after Kinzul basically just laid claim to me in front of the gathered individuals.

Farzee accidentally telepathically lets loose a, “Ho-lee-shi’,” in that delightful accent that lacks most end-word stop-consonants. I nearly burst into laughter at it, but Farzee covers her mouth in meatspace in embarrassment.

My delightful friend, the Order’s The Blue, telepathically sends, “Sorry Schism, last night, wasn’t sure what was true and what wasn’t, and haven’t slept, so kinda just assumed I’d maybe made stuff up, to try to convince myself to not chase you. I mean, seduce you. I mean, I already agreed, so wasn’t going to, but maybe thought I was subconsciously psyching myself out to stop myself. Err, ugh, I’m just tired Schism.”

Farzee collects her thoughts and adds, “Broke One’s coming by soon, and we’ll start your evac while the rest of the Sand civvies and some others finish up here. Also, uh, really ‘preciate you giving me chances, and not laying in as hard as you did Dimineros there. You’re scary when you’re pissed.”

I struggle to keep from smiling at the offhanded compliment. Mostly because I’m not so happy that my love, and several of my beloveds, are taking wing, heading off to battle. Lil, Lu, Kinzul, and the Vivant all take to the sky as Lady Kinzul begins assuming her full size, or at least as much of her full size as I’ve seen. I can’t resist blowing a kiss in the general direction of those that are leaving for the Laotzxhi Citadel.

Gnawing on the inside of my lip, I offer a weak, nervous chuckle to the stunned crowd before asking, “So, uh, any other questions?”