The two sat and faced away from each other in silence. Jonen almost asked her more questions, but he didn’t want to speak to her. He wanted to leave Zrud completely and get as far away from this nightmare as possible. Both of the prisoners looked up when a commotion at the entrance to the dungeon turned into slamming doors.
“I want to see her!” Ravenna yelled, “It doesn’t matter if they never completed a ceremony – she is in my tribe!”
“We cannot allow you to –”
Someone slammed against a wall and the pink orc stomped towards her. Ravenna’s makeup smeared from the tears that streamed down her face. Tiero chased behind her into the dungeon. She saw Mira’s naked body and looked around for something to cover her with. Tiero grabbed a blanket from the wall and walked towards her.
“Don’t bother,” She stood, “Update me.”
“Elder Amethyst is stable. Lady Skymara suffers from many injuries and has not awoken. Elder Em is… completing the task you gave them.”
“We had to steal Bo’s body because they wouldn’t give him to me,” Ravenna wrapped her fingers around the cell bars, “Tell me… did that bastard suffer for what he did to my cousin?”
“He will circle the void for the rest of eternity. They all will,” Mira’s coldness spread into the air, “I ensured it.”
“Good. Let’s get you out of –”
“I am staying for now. Pack your things and prepare for our journey home.”
“Our? You still want to go back to Agrowl?”
“I promised you, and Bobabano, that I would save your people,” She stated matter-of-factly, “I won’t let his death stop me. We’ll leave when my business is concluded.”
“Thank you, Mira,” Tiero knelt in front of her, “For honoring him in his death.”
She bowed her head to acknowledge him, “I will continue to do so. Now, find Val. She has it.”
The yellow orc blinked, “She does?”
“Krission should be stopping by my cell. After he’s updated, Val should’ve placed it in the agreed upon location. There are three sets of envelopes there. Open the one addressed to Bragnoun,” She shooed them, “Send Em when they are done. I want to speak to them.”
“How are you so sure his highness will come here?” Jonen scoffed, “Arrogant.”
Ravenna looked to the him and back to Mira with pity, “I see that things have not gone well here.”
Her eyes drifted from Jonen, “There is nothing left in this place for me. We will leave when business is done.”
“I’m sorry, Mira,” She reached through the bars towards her.
“We have lost so much today. Focus your sorrows on yourself,” Mira grabbed her hands, “Now, go pack. Tiero, do not leave her side.”
“At your command,” He bowed.
“Comfort her however she needs,” She nodded, “It may be a while before I leave.”
“Yes, Lady Mira.”
“Ravenna,” Mira and wiped a tear from the woman’s eye, “I have already done enough damage to this city with my grief. Let me selfishly be the only one. Be strong for your people while they recover.”
“Our people,” She sniffled.
“Our people,” She mumbled softly, “Be strong for our people. They need a leader. Show them who to follow home. Only be weak with those we trust.”
Ravenna nodded, “Will you be okay in here?”
“I am not alone,” She looked to Tiero, “Take this.”
Mira flicked her wrist and a dagger appeared. The curved blade reminded her of a large tooth. She handed the blade to Tiero and he examined it. The black hilt had a stone identical to the one she had on her broken amulet. Encante chuckled at the tiny fragment of his form. He wondered what Mira would summon him as when she fully integrated with him.
“Is this—?”
“I will be able to keep in touch with you,” She nodded, “Now go.”
Tiero tucked the blade into his pants and nodded. He wrapped an arm around Ravenna and escorted her from the dungeon. Mira sat back down on her bed and closed her eyes.
“This is how I heard the world,” Encante chuckled as she focused on the blade, “I did not think of only allowing a shard of myself to follow them.”
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She did not answer him. His memories still lingered in her mind and she rubbed her temples.
“Did you enjoy being that beast? It has been thousands of years since I felt the exhilaration of the wind beneath my wings. Once we practice, we could fly again.”
“I would rather not speak,” Mira tried to focus on her connection to Tiero, “I am concentrating.”
She felt the man pout in her mind, “Do you like my eyes, at least?”
“You are a needy lizard,” Mira chuckled, “Yes. They are interesting. It seems they cause more fear.”
The dagger echoed in the darkness of her mind. She heard the muffled cries of Ravenna and Tiero’s words of affirmation. Once she sensed them entering the guest palace, she stopped focusing on their connection. She relaxed and took in a deep breath. She looked over to Jonen who glared at her.
“Does it not bother you to be naked like that?”
“I was forced to be comfortable in any state of dress or undress,” She shrugged, “It is a body. It does not matter what it looks like.”
“You looked better without the scars.”
His words hurt and she didn’t understand why. She didn’t like the way he smirked when he noticed her slight wince. She looked away from him and crossed her legs.
“I like your scars. They show you are a warrior. I’m glad the wounds you suffered did not make you impotent.”
“That’s just low,” Jonen grunted, “You did it to me, after all.”
“I did not expect you to survive.”
“Why did you even come here?”
She laughed airlessly, “I only came to this cursed city to see you, Jonen.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Another commotion caused them both to look at the dungeon entrance. Krission and Jaspen entered quietly. The prince carried a plate of cheese and meats as the elf carried a bottle of wine. Mira smirked as they approached her cell.
“Hello, Krission,” She stood and placed a hand against her cheek, “Your mother must be worried about the commotion I’d cause.”
“L—Lady Mira,” The visibly awkward dwarf cleared his throat, “Would you like some clothes?”
“If seeing me like this bothers you,” She turned to look to the elf, “Or you.”
“I am glad you feel comfortable enough to show your exquisite form, Lady Mira,” Em's emerald eyes sparkled, “It may be better to cover your skin around more sensitive company. Though, you are a sight to behold in your full power.”
“Jaspen!” Jonen yelled, “What the f—”
“Flattery?” Mira snorted, “Really?”
“I thought you could use a laugh, after everything,” His face contorted to the emerald eyed illusionist, “You can’t blame me for trying. Prince Krission, if her body makes you uncomfortable, simply find her clothes. Your people stripped her.”
The prince turned away from her. He walked over to a small basket and sorted through the laundry until he found a large tunic.
“I assumed Skymara would be here with him,” She said flatly, “How badly is she injured?”
“You’ve crushed all the bones in both of her arms. She’s with a healer,” Em responded, “I’ve been assured she’ll awake soon.”
“I’ll have to apologize the next time I see her,” She shrugged.
The prince cautiously approached and handed it to her without looking. Mira pulled the frayed tunic over herself.
“I am mostly covered now,” She tugged at the fabric just long enough to fully cover her bottom, “You may face me properly.”
“Lady Mira,” Krission cleared his throat, “I apologize for my mother’s anger. You must understand that she is not aware of the situation. Your true identity is… better known to me.”
“Then, come sit with me,” She smiled coyly, “Let’s talk.”
“I do not believe –”
“I won’t bite,” Mira patted the bed next to her, “We must discuss what will happen going forward. My plans have, obviously, changed.”
She pointed to the wall behind them. The prince grabbed the keyring and paced towards her cell. After trying several keys, one unclicked the lock and he opened the cell door. Krission looked over his shoulder at Em. The elf nodded encouragingly and handed him the platter of food and wine bottle. He walked in and sat on the bed next to her. She plucked a piece of meat from the platter. She flicked it into her mouth and swallowed it whole.
“Is the prophetess really dead?” He asked in disbelief.
“Yes.”
Krission cleared his throat, “Did you have to call me to deliver food?”
“Yes.”
“What can I do for you, Lady Mira?”
She delicately grabbed a slice of cheese. She chewed on it as she thought of where to begin.
“Were you aware of Vernent Reiner’s plan to assassinate Bobabano? Is that why they were paired together today?”
“No, Lady Mira! I told my mother that it was a bad idea to have him face your lover.”
Her finger grew into a claw. She used it to uncork the wine bottle. Her calm demeanor terrified the prince. She took a swig directly from the bottle.
“Is your mother working with Isaan Naybellos?”
“No! She would have told me,” His fingers fumbled over a piece of meat, “There aren’t many secrets between us.”
She looked to Em, “Val should have all the evidence by now. You’ll get it later.”
“What evidence?” Jonen asked.
“Reiner is working with Isaan,” Mira took another swig and offered the bottle to Krission, “As are many of the higher-ranking Travel Knights. I believe he is planning on overthrowing or kill your mother to take Zrud.”
The three stared at her in disbelief. The prince ran his hand through his beard as he thought. Em cursed under his breath and turned around.
“Will you help me save her? I am not strong enough to stop them,” The dwarf pleaded.
“Because the true villain appeared, it won’t take much to convince the others. He’ll behave for now as he gathers his allies,” She played with his beard and twirled her fingers around the metallic strands of his braids, “You know you have to leave with me, don’t you?”
“I have been told,” He stiffened at her touch, “I am prepared.”
“Prove your obedience.”
He blinked, “How would I do that?”
Mira looked at Em. The elf stood in the open cell and studied them intensely. She raised an eyebrow at them to get their opinion. They tapped a finger against their lips in thought.
“Zrud must chose you,” Encante spoke in her mind, “You are already his Vessel as well. We must complete your connection.”
Krission looked into her honey-colored eyes as she examined him. The malicious smile that spread across her lips sent a fearful shiver down his spine. He felt like a mouse trapped by a lioness for entertainment. He heard Zrud’s gravelly laugh in his mind.
“I like this woman. She is brilliant.”
“Is he talking about me?” Mira leaned into whisper in the prince’s ear, “I can almost hear him.”
“It seems he has taken a liking to you,” He coughed.
Mira stared at the decorations in his hair and beard before landing at the top of his head.
“The crown,” She looked up at the stone, “Give it to me.”
“Prince Krission, you can’t just –” Jonen stood up.
“Silence!” The dwarf’s voice boomed, “Is that all you want? My crown?”
“Yes.”
Prince Krission got down on one knee and lifted the crown from his head. Mira’s hands combed through his hair to detangle it from the snags in his elegant braids. He held the crown between them for a moment as he studied her cold indifference. The dwarf placed the crown on her head. She waited to hear the old stone’s voice.