Alex’s heart thunders in her chest, the only sound beyond the gentle clicking of shoes on rough stone ground.
Any sleep that still lingered on the fringes of her mind drips away in the sweat that runs down her spine. This was it, the culmination of her plan, and the reality was finally setting in.
The reality of the situation was, she had never done anything quite like this before, at least not to this extent. Back before her father’s death, when she still lived in the manor she was born in, she had no need to do anything even closely related. However, upon reaching her uncle's castle, it was a skill that needed to be picked up rather quickly.
As much as she told herself she disliked scheming, as much as she told herself it was only because it was necessary, some part of her did find pleasure in it as well.
Picking out the pieces of a puzzle from fragments of conversation, small droplets of detail and slivers of information, and using that knowledge to put it all together, using the full picture as a way to get others to do what you want. It wasn’t the act of having power, or perhaps it was… regardless it was more so the fact that she was good at it, that made her happy.
And she was good. Perhaps, had she not found herself in Casper's party she would have risen the ranks behind the scenes to acquire incredible power and influence. Then again it was also very popular she would simply be forced to tend to the needs of her husband…
Though, even without staying as a noble, she figured this course she had taken also had strong merit. After all, the power she was about the wield, assuming all of the pieces fell into place as they should, would be incredible.
Alex walks down the familiar passageways through the thieves guild, listening to Katelyn's “oooohs” and “aaaaaahhh’s” as they pass through the inset shops and open cavern spaces.
She takes the path their guide had walked them initially, retracing her steps all the way to the massive underground cove, and around its lattice work platforms to the palace the slaves were kept.
“I had no idea this place was down here.” Katelyn flutters her eyelashes as she looks around.
“Of course not, your father would have never let you in on his little secret. But I thought you would enjoy a peek behind the curtain.”
“Oh yes, quite….” Katelyn confirms.
Perhaps Alex would have felt a little bad about doing this to the woman, she was for the most part ignorant of the deeper malice behind her fathers decisions. She is, ultimately, a product of her upbringing…
But that could only excuse so much. While she may be ignorant of the details of her station she is not ignorant to the power it brings her, power she readily flaunts.
Maybe it wasn’t fair to pass judgment on the woman given the fact that they had only ever interacted for approximately twelve total hours, but fairness was no reason to stop now. The pieces were already set, and whatever came next would come for the benefit of her party.
The next piece in this order of operations was to see if Annabelle had done her job…
Rounding a bend, Alex finds herself face to face with the man guarding the doors to the slave hold. The man looked none too imposing in front of the large iron reinforced threshold, but that was more of a testament to the doors than to the man, who was still impressive in his own right.
“Greetings, I have an arranged meeting.” Alex smiles, and goes to say his fake male name, but finds he doesn’t have to as the door guard nods and opens the passageway.
So Annabelle managed just fine, perfect, Alex thought.
“What is this place?” Katelyn asks as Alex leads her through the corridor, towards the slave hold proper.
“A place to have a little fun.” Alex smiles and stands in front of the collection of slaves in their cells.
Observing the lot, she tries to make it not obvious that she had been here before. Taking her time, she looks at the bodies behind the bars as if examining cuts of meat.
“Tell me Katelyn, would you be interested in trying another woman with me?” Alex asks outright.
The slight gasp indicates that once again she had managed to catch the noble off guard.
“Excuse me?” Katelyn asks, unoffended but shocked.
Alex turns to the woman and assesses her with a similar gaze. “You took me home the first night we met. I know my charms may very well have been a leading cause, but I'm sure you’ve had plenty of other suitors, possibly hundreds. I'm also sure you would have been able to sleep with any man you desired for a night of fun even without commitment. However, given the look on everyone's faces as you left with me, I get the impression you haven't done that yet.” Alex tests.
“Well… I, you see…” Katelyn starts, her usual haughty demeanor quickly shifting to something uncomfortable.
“Perhaps you took me because I looked young? Perhaps, a little feminine even?” Alex presses.
“No! No you are mistaken…”
“Am I?” Alex steps a little closer and takes the taller woman by the chin, forcing her head down and her shoulders to slouch at an odd angle. Despite the uncomfortable position, Katelyn obeys the unspoken command, and listens.
“Are you lying to me, Katelyn?”
The woman shakes her head yes.
“I thought so. Tell me, are you perhaps, curious?”
“Curious?”
“Curious about what pleasures another woman might be able to offer you.”
Katelyn nods her head yes again.
“Good girl.” Alex smiles and releases her chin, allowing Katelyn to stand back to her full height.
“We will take the Nymph!” Alex shouts to the guards in the room, before turning back to face Katelyn. “I hear they are… otherworldly. A perfect first experience.”
The guards, perhaps a little too enthusiastically, open the Nymphs cage, and help escort the three women to the private quarters just further down the hall.
Alex has to flick her eyes a few times as the Nymph accidentally makes eye contact one too many times.
If Katelyn suspected anything now, it would be impossible to recover from. Luckily for Alex, the assertive and dominating role she took seemed to have riled the woman up enough to not notice.
Alex lets out a soft sigh, as the guards exit the room and close the door.
“You… are a deviant.” Katelyn whispers with a shuddering breath as the Nymph walks up to her, assessing.
“I am, aren’t I.” Alex walks behind the Nymph, and rests her hands on her shoulders.
“Shall I begin then?” The nymph asks in her flower sweet melodic voice.
“Yes. you shall.” Alex confirms.
Vines begin to twist forth from the Nymphs hands to envelop Katelyn. The silky smooth plant life acts as an extension of the Nymphs own body.
Alex watches as the vines encircle her chest, her arms, beginning to gently pull and tug at them, working Katelyn's tall, slender body into bondage.
The vines then curl around her legs, forcing her knees to bend until she is left at hip height with Alex.
Katelyn's face runs a deep crimson as her mind likely rushes to all of the possible places the night would lead from ever. Every possible outcome, aside from the one that was actually happening.
The door rattles gently, and Katelyn's expression drops to a frown as she turns to look at who would intrude on her upcoming experience.
“Occupied!” Katelyn shouts.
She is about to cry out another, but can’t manage to find the breaths as the door gives to the force of the people behind it, swinging it open.
Alex takes a step backwards, as Highspire guards enter the room. Each of the five men in armor, obscuring their faces, making each one look an indifferent god of justice come to smite the woman now nearly quivering on the floor.
“Lady Katelyn, for the crime of treason, you are hereby placed under arrest.” One of the guards echoes out from under the helmet, while the others place her wrists and ankles in manacles in one smooth motion.
Katelyn's demeanor shifts in an instant, if she wasn’t already loathsome before, she was now.
“Alex was a part of this too! Alex is a slave trader! He brought me here! He did!” her face twists and warps into a cruel mask of spite and desperation. The hard lines of her face grow even darker as she struggles, kicks, flails against the strength of the guards.
“Arrest him too! Arrest him too!” She screams, spits, and bites, as she is dragged from the chambers.
Alex waits until the screaming is nothing more than a distant echo, before letting out her held breath.
“Well, I have to say, I am damn impressed.” The familiar voice of Janus replaces the silence left in Katelyn's wake.
“Is it really that impressive?” Alex asks, exiting the private room to see Janus and his cousin in the hall. Both of them did in fact look genuinely impressed, she had to admit.
“It is, the other guards are making the arrest of Josson now, with the quick and speedy trial to be held privately several hours from now. You were right, the count was ecstatic.” Janus confirms with a smile.
“Wonderful… Though I take it there isn’t time to get a nap in?” Alex risks asking.
“No, afraid not. You’re the key witness in all of this so the count needs your report before you are made present at the hearing. I'm meant to escort you directly to the castle once we are done here.”
Alex lets her head hang, as the anxiety of failure dissipates entirely, replaced by the ever lingering exhaustion that still threatens to make her pass out while standing up.
“I figured as much…”
“Well, if it helps raise your spirits, we arranged for the Nymph to be freed.” Dorain speaks up, signaling for one of the guards to approach, with a more administrative individual dressed in fine black at his flank.
The guard and the administrator approach the Nymph, who holds her head high in their presence.
The administrator then presses his hands to collar around her throat, and speaks the incantation to remove it.
With a satisfying click, the collar separates, and is pulled away by the administrator.
“A deal is a deal, you are free.” Alex smiles at the woman, who returns it.
“Thank you.” She bows deeply.
“Like I said, I am a man of my word.” Alex winks.
The nymph straightens up then, and looks around her. “Would you protest my staying with you? You have fulfilled your bargain to me, and nothing more is owed, yet still I request to be with you a while longer, until such time that I am strong enough to return to forests. The cell has not been kind to me.”
Alex’s smile widens. “Of course you may.” She confirms.
Alex had selected the nymph for a variety of reasons, but the one that stood out above all others was their loyalty. Given how much time this Nymph had remained below ground, away from the forests of the world, and in the presence of liars, cheaters and stealers, it was obvious that the nymph would wish to remain with Alex even after their bargain was over.
Perhaps it was a little manipulative, no, it was manipulative, and it wasn’t fair to her either. But fairness wasn’t much of a consideration when it benefited her party, and Nymphs were very good natural healers. Not as good as Celestials who specialized in the art, but they were most certainly the runners up.
“Collecting quite the number of beautiful women, I'm jealous.” Janus sighs.
“Are you now?” Dorain cocks an eyebrow.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“I am! I should convince Rathiel to recruit more beauties to our ranks. I'm sure it would improve morale.”
“I'm sure it would too.” Dorain rolls her eyes.
“Well, I won’t fail to appreciate what we have while we have it. Allow me then to bask in the beauty of your new Nymph companion as I escort you to the castle.” Janus bows.
“Right, let's try and get this over with quickly….”
It was in fact, not over quickly.
In a haze, Alex was brought through the city, which was filled with quite the commotion. Having performed the arrest strategically within the thieves guild, rumor spread like wildfire, throughout the city faster than a plague.
She couldn’t make out the words, only the whispered tones of conspiracy and hushed voices murmuring the sentence they had for treason.
Alex was so tired in fact, that she barely had the capacity to take in the castle built into the highest point in the city's spire, nor the true majesty of the rest of the remaining spire, that extended far, far above even where the castle was.
The next thing Alex knew, she was in a private study chamber, quill in hand, paper on writing desk, and several seconds away from truly passing out entirely.
Perhaps she did. Occasionally her vision flickers and she realizes she hadn’t moved for a while. Once, she found her head resting on the desk, entirely unknowing how it ended up there.
She struggled to write several lines, but after splattering ink all over her official legal statement, she decided it would probably be best to try and sleep.
“Alexander, someone is at the door.” The Nymph speaks, stirring Alex from her sleep.
A knock on the door then sounds.
She hadn’t any clue how much time had passed, only that the light in the window was a slightly different color than when she saw it last. Whether it was morning, noon, evening, sunrise or sunset she couldn’t tell.
Additionally, she had almost forgotten the Nymph was with her entirely. She stood so incredibly still most of the time, she nearly blended into the world around her. Though it was also possible that was the exhaustion speaking. That kind of beauty was hard to ignore under normal circumstances.
The knock came again, stirring her mind from the haze of sleep.
“Alexander, are you ready with your statement?” a voice calls from beyond.
“Ah, not quite! Sorry, just a little while longer!” Alex calls back, looking down at the empty page.
“The trial will be starting shortly…” the voice continues with a hint of anxiety.
“Of course! Just a moment!”
Quickly grabbing the quill, Alex channels every ounce of her brain power to put words on paper.
“Alexander…” The voice comes again.
“Just, one, moment!” Alex grinds the words out as her hand flicks across the page, her natural hand writing appearing far more feminine than intended. She hadn't considered the fact that she would have to also write in a masculine way to truly pass, but it was far too late to worry about those details.
“Alexander please, the trial will be starting-”
Alex throws open the door with the paper in hand, and hands it to the servant man, who is swearing rather profusely.
“Thank you, please, come with me.” The servant bows and begins to walk, prompting Alex and the Nymph to follow.
It was like seeing it all for the first time, given how little she paid attention upon arriving at the chambers.
The gilded halls were lined with towering pillars to support the high arched ceiling of the halls. Magical lights illuminate nearly every corner, set into brilliant crystal chandeliers that guide their path through to an antechamber.
Opening a set of doors, the space beyond is revealed, though it would be more apt to say it was manifested.
Alex couldn’t comprehend how a space like this was capable of being made inside the spire.
The ceilings were so tall, that clouds gathered just before it vanished from sight. The faint twittering of birds could even be heard, and occasionally seen as they fly around hundreds and hundreds of feet above, perching on small outcroppings. Pillars surround a circular room, where at one end rests an impressive looking throne, far more impressive than her fathers or uncles ever was.
Pure white ivory inlay with gold, the throne sits tall above gathered masses that line the walls of the circle, muttering and murmuring with their attention focused entirely at the two individuals at the center.
Nearly a hundred people had to have been gathered here, with more filling in from the massive open double doors that lead back out towards the city.
Given how high the castle was, it was shocking to see just how many non nobles were making the climb. Alex supposed it made sense. Given how powerful Josson’s name likely was, it would be quite the show to see him driven into the ground.
Nobles being punished was a rare sight after all, and likely not unwelcome to the peasantry, as much as that thought slightly disturbed Alex.
How many people wanted to see her there, she wondered…
A good number of nobles were present as well, all likely having been told to make their presence seen. If Alex had to guess, based on the very uncomfortable demeanor of the gathered elites, the count wanted to send a message to them as well with this.
Soon the room was flooded with bodies, so much so that people pressed to gather in the antechambers and down the steps leading out of the castle, all trying to hear.
The clamoring chatter dies, as the count of Highspire opens his own set of doors and enters the chamber.
He was a handsome man, though not Alex’s type it was a more objective observation. Leaning towards middle aged, the streaks of gray in his hair made him look all the more intimidating. Were this man not a count, she could have mistaken him for a seasoned adventurer given the size of him.
His presence alone commanded respect. Without a single word the room goes quiet as he takes his seat upon his throne, and looks down with contempt, and a hint of satisfaction to the father and daughter forced to kneel before him.
“Let it be known, Lord Josson, I've wanted to do this for quite some time.” The count smiles, and then stands.
“I hereby bring this trial to open!”
Alex had heard a number of trials in her time, though none so blatantly rigged as this one. As much as it hurt her, she couldn’t simply turn away. After all, the entire thing was her idea.
The conversation she had with Janus and Dorain was to establish the killing blow that would be dealt to these two. Given how close Rathiel's party is to the count, she used the two cousins to be her through line to the count in order to frame the trial as treason. Within the kingdom of Getha, treason was the only count in which the ruler of a nation could act as the judge, jury, and executioner. Given how much power Josson had over the city it was also the only way to guarantee a guilty verdict.
The plan had ultimately been simple in concept. The count wanted Josson gone already, and he was a man willing to move mountains to see that happen, he just needed the right in.
Alex, posing as a slave trader, looking to capitalize on resources Josson had available to him by way of strongarming the counts relation to the guild, only had to do three things.
One, play into Josson’s greed. Despite her claims of him being a good businessman, he was anything but. He had the opportunity to continue to make a steady, stable, good profit to eventually marry his daughter off to some mid noble and live comfortably, but instead he saw the color of gold and lost all composure. Greed had consumed him to the point of near bankruptcy once before, which meant he was likely to do it again. All Alex had to do was flash the money to prove she was wealthy, and make a promise of even more profit. He would be money blind, so much so that he would never see what happened next.
Two, get both of them dirty. Josson had little involvement with the thieves guild, functionally none at all in fact. He wanted to be as clean as possible in order to capitalize on the dirt he had on the count. However, in his greed blind state and the promise of millions, he more than willingly made his presence known within the guild. Alex also took the daughter, so that the entire family could be seen down there. Simply existing in the space was all the proof anyone would need.
Three, Pay off the guild to say what needed to be said. The thieves guild are opportunists at heart, looking to make money wherever possible. Anyone in close contact with Josson while he was present in the guild, and anyone in close contact with Katelyn would be paid handsomely to one, reveal their own guild affiliation and in turn plea down their sentence so long as they offered written statements that Josson and Katelyn were there. While this wasn’t entirely necessary, it would ultimately be good for the counts public appearance. Having people willingly sacrifice themselves to drag the merchant down with them made all of this look incredibly good.
Besides, no one else would know for the counts connection with the guild, they would at worst serve time in private cells and be treated very very well for their contribution to this sham.
By the end of the trial, it was clear to anyone listening that Josson and Katelyn were really the ones involved with the thieves guild, they were pulling the strings of the entire thieves guild operation the whole time, and forcing the counts hand, exploiting him and his sick son to make as much money as possible.
By the end of the trial, after the lie-filled statements are read as truth, the count announces the sentence of death to resounding cries and cheers of celebration.
A part of Alex’s heart sinks then, as Josson screams, and Katelyn cries, while the both are hauled up by guards and surrounded.
A part of her wonders if she was okay with all of this, as she and the Nymph follow the procession out of the throne room, through the antechamber, and out to the steps.
A part of her, considers running to the count and telling him to stop this, as she finds her body pressed in the masses chanting and cheering down the long walk to the middle cities, following the spiraling steps of the spire, until the ground levels and leads them to the gallows.
A part of her regrets all of this, though only a part, a part that is quickly killed as a firm hand rests on her shoulder.
Looking back through the press of bodies all shuffling and shouting, she looks up into the single eye of Annabelle, towering above her.
“How'd you find me in this mess?” Alex asks over the rising voices of citizenry, voices that only grow louder as Josson and Katelyn are forced onto the raised gallows platform and made to face the crowd.
“I followed the aura.”
“Aura?”
“Aura of terror.” Annabelle chuckles. “You are truly one scary…. Man.” She offers, her own face turning to look at the two nobles.
“I suppose I am, when I need to be.” Alex admits coolly, basking in the warmth of Annabelle's reassuring grip on her.
“Actually, I just saw the Nymph honestly, she looked out of place in the crowd, and then happened to see just beside her.” Annabelle explains with a laugh.
“I promise she isn’t a slave.” Alex tries.
“Right right. Explain that to Casper.”
Any part of her that regretted this dies, even as Katelyn's eyes find hers in the crowd. Her expression of fear was replaced with hate, loathing, and a deep, crushing betrayal.
Alex watches with contempt, as the trap door is opened as the only sound to rise above the cheers, is the sound of their snapping necks.
She would do anything, if it meant helping out her friends. She would kill two people, if it meant that Annabelle and Elisayra could be healed. She would frame a nearly innocent woman, in order to retrieve Casper's money from their coffers, money she had pretended to give willingly in order to frame them.
She would do it all over again, without question or hesitation, if it meant the people close to her could be made whole.
“So, when do we get to raid their estate?” Annabelle asks as the crowd begins to disperse.
“We don’t, though I told Janus how much I had paid them, and he said he would ensure we received all of our money back, and then some. And it goes without saying that we have second priority on healing when the diamonds are turned into the church.” Alex explains.
“Damn, I was hoping we could loot the place ourselves, but I’ll take what I can get.”
“You can take the bandit from… ah, I'm too tired to think of something clever.” Alex dismisses.
Annabelle laughs, and walks with her back towards the inn.
“So are you all done?” Annabelle asks.
“Hmmm, almost. I have one little order of business to attend to, if you care to join me?”
“Of course, I’m happy to.”
Alex, the Nymph, and Annabelle force their way through the crowds, to once more make the long, painful walk up the spiraling stairs to the Castle, where the doors remain open and guards converse with Janus and Dorain, who in accordance with Alex’s plan were told to wait for her after the sentence was passed.
“Damn, I'm impressed.” Janus whistles.
“As am I, it was alot of moving pieces but we managed.” Alex sighs.
“No, not about that, about you making the walk again. Why go and see the execution? Could have just stayed up here for your meeting.”
Alex shakes her head through rasping breaths. “No, my father taught me that when you sentence someone to death, it is your duty to see it through to the end… and I dare not disappoint my father.” She explains, though it takes a while to get each word out through the panting.
“Respectable.” Janus nods, and motions for the three women to follow.
Alex had arranged to meet with the count after the events of the evening were over, and now regrets that decision, still suffering from a distinct lack of sleep.
Still, it was better to get all of this done quickly, rather than drag it out over the course of the next several days. Casper had a habit of working quickly, and while she might not ever be able to match his pace, she wanted to try and be efficient.
Alex is led through to the higher portion of the spire, to an incredibly fine meeting room, beset with a polished marble table at its center and several fine oak chairs around it.
Tall windows allow a view to the ocean, the city below looking like a blanket of slate roofing before it meets the docks and then waters.
Already inside, stands the count, who looks out the window, and turns only once Alex, the Nymph, Annabelle, and Janus are inside, with the door closed behind them.
“Firstly, I would like to thank you for doing this for me.” The count begins, facing Alex and looking her directly in the eyes.
“I wouldn’t thank me yet.” Alex counters, causing the count to raise an eyebrow.
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Because, I haven’t done this for free.” Alex explains coolly, which quickly causes Janus to look at her, his expression concerned.
“Of course not.” The count smiles, and sits. Motioning for her to do the same.
Abiding, Alex takes a seat at the table, and waits for the others to join her before continuing.
“Let me be perfectly clear, I have no intention of bleeding you dry like Josson did, but I can’t simply walk away from all of this without a fair deal.”
The count opens his hands and motions her to continue.
“I require compensation for my time and effort in this, beyond just the cost of gaining Josson’s trust, I would require fifty percent of his total coffers, lands, and title here.”
“Alexander…” Janus quickly coughs and blinks a few times. “This is…”
“This is the cost of what I have done. I would also require access to guild resources whenever I am present, furthermore I request a boat, a large vessel, one to conduct trade with.”
“I was under the impression that your slave trader persona was exactly that, a persona.” the count asks.
“It was, however, given how profitable the market is here, and given the fact that the auction house is no longer operational, I decided to take it up more sincerely.” Alex counters.
The count nods, “very well, it is done, anything else?”
“Your cooperation, should I need it. Material rewards aside, I believe you still owe me a debt.”
“Are you sure about all this?” Annabelle asks under her breath.
“And what is to say, stop me from ordering the guards beyond the door to kill you, and be done with all this?” the count retorts, leaning forward with narrow eyes.
“Because I am an ally of Janus, and that means you would have to kill Janus too, and explain that to Rathiel. Along with the letter I offered you, I produced one more much earlier explaining my involvement in these operations and gave it to another member of Rathiel's party. Should none of us return it will all be revealed and you will fall, quite spectacularly.” Alex explains.
The count leans back in his chair and nods his head with closed eyes. “Very well then, that will be done as well. A debt is owed, Lord Alexander.”
“A pleasure to assist you.” Alex stands and offers a hand to the count, who takes it and shakes.
“You are a truly terrifying man, Alexander.” The count admits as the group turns to leave.
“So I have been told.”