I awaken early, refreshed by the night's sleep but nervous about the day ahead. I listen closely to my surroundings, noticing Cecil and Aisha waking up too. Catching no sign of danger, I hop out of bed and grab the basin at its foot. I fill it with water from a barrel and clean up before heading into the main room.
“Good morning Elizabeth.” Cecil speaks up.
“Hey.” I reply. “How ready are we?” I ask.
“As much as we can be.” She says. “I'll spend all morning making sure that we stay that way. How confident are you to be able to defeat the Countess?”
“I have a trick up my sleeve.” I shrug. “It'll depend on too many factors for me to make any promises.”
“Good, that's a relief.” Cecil says, surprising me.
“How so?” I ask.
“You're not overconfident about your chances and don't seem to have any illusions. That's all I could hope for, short of convincing you that it's not a good idea.” She explains.
“I'm going ahead.” Aisha speaks up, taking hold of a cloak and wrapping it around her shoulders.
“I'll head out too, I need to open the crates.” I say.
“How many barrels should I bring?” She asks.
“Two dozen I think.” I reply.
“That works, it'll fit in one carriage along with the trough.” Aisha nods.
She hands the key over and then steps outside, I almost follow but think better of it. I walk back into my room to grab my mask and slip it inside my shirt. I also take a clay vial of friendly pheromones before departing for the warehouses. Cecil follows behind me down the alley until she takes a left turn.
I keep going, making my way while putting up the appearance of someone confident going about their day but, underneath that front, I survey the area for anything unusual with rapt attention by using all my senses.
The piers are stock full this morning, not in the way that I would have expected if I knew beforehand, wealthy bourgeois are boarding ships by the dozens and calling the captains to lift the anchor. There is an undertone of fear in their voices, not an urgent pressing scare but a remnant.
I've lived through these moments of terror myself... still, I cannot bring myself to sympathize with these escaping rats, many of which I suspect are of Noble birth. The battle last night must have gone worse than they hoped.
I cross a small street, looking for someone to question. I notice a young man that's rushing along, he's carrying a suitcase and his clothes indicate that he's likely a servant.
“Hey, sorry, do you have a moment?” I ask.
“Not really.” He replies but does stop.
“Do you know what happened last night? On the wall?”
“The Criers are silent but rumors say that we lost more than two-thirds of our catapults.” He answers tensely and departs without waiting. “My employer says our defensive constructs were overpowered and blew up, you should escape too.” He throws over his shoulder.
I scoff at the words and head towards our two warehouses in the quiet part of the docks. I find Charles standing in front of the closest one, impatiently tapping his foot. I pause but he catches sight of me before I can hide and walks up to me.
“You work for Cecil?” He asks.
I consider how to answer that for a moment. There's no one else around and I was obviously headed towards the buildings. And I'd rather find out what he wants in case there's a problem.
“I do.” I say slowly.
“Tell her I expect my bonus by noon, I have passengers to ferry over so I can't wait a few days.” He tells me, looming over my short height.
“No.” I utter, not disturbed in the slightest and pushing back with a dark glare. “You'll get your money once we've delivered the goods without an issue. She was not happy about the addition to your contract, to begin with, I wouldn't push her.”
“It'll take us three days to sail to Port-Odo and come back, we won't even be here to interfere, your boss is too paranoiac.”
“Madame Cecil works for powerful people, merchant. The reason why they call on her is that she delivers and follows contract terms.” I look up and down the man with a sarcastic gaze. “Perhaps you could follow the example.”
“Girl, I'm twice your age, I know what discretion means. The truth is that I don't want to sail back here at all.” Charles admits.
“You're here instead of looking for Cecil because you knew she wouldn't go along with your request.” I comment. “I won't agree on her behalf so you can use that against her.”
“What's up with these fucking precocious kids getting all business savvy on me?!” He grumbles.
He flips around and departs without another word. I wait without moving while he leaves, restraining myself. Once gone, I walk up to the front door and ensure that it's still barred, doing the same for the other warehouse.
I then check the backdoors. Everything is still secure. I sigh in relief and unlock the door, stepping inside. I pick up the crowbar, that Aisha used the other day, and use it to pull the nails out of the first crate.
The armored warrior inside doesn't visibly react to my presence but I do catch a slight rise in its body temperature. He is slumped down, his lower trunk resting flat on the floor with his four pointy legs arranged to either side of it. His three-clawed hands are hanging along his upper trunk, the creature's breathing is slow and barely noticeable.
I lay a hand on top of his head and stroke the smooth black surface of the carapace protecting him. The Rykz leans in with my gesture, making me smile. Since when have I felt so close to these creatures?
I shiver and pull away, moving towards another crate to start opening it. Behind me, the warrior rises and steps out, following me. I pause and extend my left limb out to tell it to stop. It obeys, head inclined to the side.
I jam the crowbar in the crate's hinge and leverage my strength to open the lid in one go, not bothering to pull every nail out this time. The scout inside appears just as lethargic as the other Rykz was. However, this one remains inside, likely because I didn't touch it.
The warrior behind me moves to the other container in the row and forces one of its claws into the hinge to try to force it open. I observe it, surprised and curious at what it'll do. The creature slips, tries again, and fails. The cycle continues until I tap its shoulder to tell it to stop.
I walk up to the scout and wake it up with a small push. I guide it to the crate and take hold of its spike, using it like a crowbar to pull the cover off. I then point both of the Rykz to the next container.
They imitate what I did with eerie precision, successfully opening it with a few tries. I use the crowbar and keep working at freeing more of them. After a while, I decide to teach another pair of Rykz to speed the process up.
As I reach the end of the last row, I hear a carriage approach and stops near the front of the warehouse, someone steps off and knocks. I urge the warriors and scouts back inside their crates.
“Elizabeth?” Aisha calls softly.
“One second.” I reply.
I make my way to the beam blocking the entrance and lift it off. I crack the door open just slightly, throwing a quick glance around. I find no one else on the pier. I point at the draft horse attached to the wagon.
“Hurry up inside.” I urge, taking hold of the clay vial and uncorking it.
I apprehensively monitor the outside while she directs the animal inside. I close behind her, putting the beam back into place. She places a hand on the side of the horse to calm it down while I ensure that it's doused with friendly pheromones. I remember what happened to Templar Joan because the Rykz smelled the mounts she was guarding, I don't need a repeat here.
“It's dark in here.” She speaks up.
“Ah, my bad, got used to it.” I say, linking to a flow torch and activating its construct. Aisha freezes. “What is it?” I ask before hurriedly turning around, hoping she didn't notice that I saw 'her' with my back turned. She is staring at the Rykz resting in their crates.
“You freed them already.” She comments, looking skittish.
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“There's no danger, they have orders to stand by.” I reassure her. “Come on, let's get started.”
I signal the two pairs of Rykz to finish the work while we discharge the trough to set it in the middle of the room. We then roll a water barrel up to the edge of the carriage and jump off to receive it, depositing it safely on the ground.
“Breaking a sweat, huh.” I tease, catching Aisha wiping her brow.
“Heavy.” She replies, wincing.
“Just roll them over and I'll catch them.” I say.
We unload half the barrels, even I sweat and feel a bit tired by the end as my right arm doesn't have my left's endurance or strength, neither does my back. I empty a few sacs of flour inside the trough, up until it's half full. We then open a barrel and pour water to fill it up. I use the crowbar to mix and break the largest lumps.
I tap the Rykz one by one while Aisha watches from a good distance. They rise and trot out of their crates to head directly towards the food in order. They make some noise but it shouldn't be noticeable unless someone approaches. I stop a harvester from taking a spot and signal her to come.
“Let's keep adding more to keep the level even and avoid the slurping sounds they'll make when they reach the bottom.” I speak up.
Aisha nods a little shakily, always keeping a suspicious eye on the creatures as we feed them. It takes at least two hours for the hundred and fifty Rykz to each have their turn.
She sits down to take a break and recover her breath while I throw sacks of grain into the carriage, filling the space previously occupied by barrels. I get all the Rykz to hide back into their crates and we put the lids back without nailing them.
It takes us another hour to free and start feeding the drones in the other warehouse. One of the harvesters has a limp broken arm that it moves weakly. The creature seems to avoid me, so I pat its shoulder reassuringly and push it towards the trough. Kszz. It breathes out. It raises its head to release its trunk and start sucking its meal in. Aisha suppresses a shiver.
We're both panting and drained by the end, after another hour and a half. She climbs up to the driver's bench, completely exhausted despite the fact that she used constructs to keep going. I haven't fared that much better with my trembling knees and sore back muscles.
“We'll rest once we're at the meeting, we're already a bit late.” She says.
“Alright.” I nod.
She takes the carriage out while I bar the double doors behind her and exit through the back, locking it. I climb on next to her and she guides us to a wide avenue running along the dock's entire length.
There are more people gathered in front of the piers than the dozen ships docked could possibly transport, many of them are wearing worn-out clothes and obviously can't pay for passage. They are ogling a specific ship with hawkish eyes as it unloads its passengers and cargo. There are city guard squads spread all around, ready to intervene.
I catch sight of Yvonne standing on the prow and gazing at Meria with a bright smile. I turn away and steal the cloak off of Aisha's shoulders, wrapping it around me and pulling on the collar to hide my face.
“Take a left.” I utter tensely.
“Problem?” She asks.
“Probably not, just hurry.” I say.
Just as we make the turn, I spot a richly adorned carriage engaging along the road on our right. We would have crossed paths if not for the early warning, my Lady could have been inside. I feel a drop of cold sweat run along my back. I lean even more into the cloth and don't glance back up while Aisha takes us deep into the maze of alleyways between the warehouses.
Should I go meet them? Hear what her news are before it's too late to call it off. But then they would know that I'm back in Meria early... It's too late to be changing plans unless Cetyz can be brought on the Izla within a few days, which is beyond unlikely.
“We still need to leave the docks to get to the meeting place.” Aisha mentions.
“Take a back road.” I reply.
It takes us half an hour to navigate the docks and reach an exit on the southern end, she then engages on a street and sets the course towards a crumbling structure with scarce traces of red paint on its facade.
“Put your mask on, we're getting closer and there's no one around right now.” Aisha tells me.
I do so and giver her the cloak back. She makes a turn into a deserted alley where we stop and hop off. I follow her in through a side door. We make our way through the main room and its broken down furniture towards the kitchen. There is an old stove and I see the end of a long table inside.
“I don't know what she promised you but I doubt that she guaranteed success.” Cecil says.
What is she talking about? I walk in, finding only two women here. Cecil is sitting at the head, facing a woman with her back turned to me, she is wearing a decorated military uniform and has straight black hair. Being unable to see her face doesn't stop me from recognizing her. They are challenging each other, unwavering.
“Lance.” I utter softly.
She jumps up from her chair, flipping around with an astonished face that soon turns into a furious one. Her hand is laid on her sword's handle, the pommel sculpted in the shape of a lance embroiled in a stag's antlers.
“One day!” She snaps. “You promised me time, Elizabeth! One damn day and then they tore us apart!”
“It was all I could do.” I protest automatically, still trying to catch up.
“And then you ran back here?!” She pauses and glare at me with suspicion. “How did you get over the wall?”
“No one notices a soldier lost among others.” Cecil speaks up. “It was your failure to stop the towers from reaching the wall.” She adds harshly.
“What is she doing here, Cecil?” I ask coldly, turning my gaze to her.
“Please.” My Lady scoffs. “I kept hearing about this pr... Madame who popped up every time I turned my back. It was only a matter of time before I caught up with you.”
“You mean until you swallowed your pride and asked peasants for directions?” Cecil comments sarcastically with a spiteful undertone.
Lance faces Cecil and the two woman resume their battle of wills, locking eyes to see which will break away first. The room's temperature seems to drop. I catch myself verifying through my new sense, obviously noticing no change.
“How bad?” I ask, worried that Grikyz ordered an actual assault.
“Our catapults are mostly gone, we don't have enough to stop the towers they held back for the next attack. We lost a thousand soldiers and three times that number of peasants.” Leomi replies sadly, breaking the stalemate with Cecil.
“I'm sorry.” I say, reaching out to her left hand with my right. She takes hold of it, squeezing.
“It's over now.” She continues. “We stand little chance of holding the walls.”
“Surrender.” I reply. “End this.” Lance remains quiet.
“She cannot.” Cecil intervenes. “Duke Meria has not given anyone the authority to do so and Commander Morgan will only obey an order marked by his seal ring with a construct identifying that the Duke did indeed send it.”
“And what is he doing? Isn't he supposed to defend his city?” I ask angrily.
“I don't know.” Leomi sighs. “Yvonne is on the way here, with Edusa, and news that we both need to hear directly.” She pauses and her beautiful eyes narrow. “Why are you back, Elizabeth?” She asks. “Did you use me to provide the Rykz with the information to attack the wall?”
Her grip on my fingers tightens while her dominant hand pulls her weapon a few centimeters out of its scabbard. I sustain her accusing expression with calm, keeping eye contact without wavering.
“No.” I utter. “I'm trying to avoid a slaughter, not cause one, Lance.”
“I don't trust you, you've lied to me before.” She says.
“That's rich coming from the woman who took my mask off after I specifically asked her not to.” I counter coldly.
“I. I shouldn't have.” She looks down, paling. She was hit harder by my words than she should have been.
“Do you two need some privacy?” Cecil asks, cutting through the awkward silence.
“We do.” My Lady answers, taking hold of my shirt and dragging me behind her, passing by an astonished Aisha. “I have people surrounding the building, Madame Cecil, do not think that any of you are free to go. That includes the three that I know are hiding somewhere in here.” She throws without bothering to turn.
I, however, do. Cecil seems to have no reaction to the words, remaining in control of her elegant face. She winks at me and I catch Aisha walking up to the old stove before Leomi pulls me past a corner and opens a door to check inside.
Finding a closet, she closes it and moves on, opening various doors until she finds a bedroom with a window letting the sun in and an intact roundtable. My Lady uses her hold on my clothes to throw me inside. She unsheathes her sword, aiming its tip towards the center of my chest.
She then forces me to walk backward until I hit the table to lock me in place. Her body heat is climbing, past what I've usually seen in humans. She is excited but it isn't showing on her face, she looks focused and rather happy. I raise my hands in pacifying gesture.
“You're unarmed.” She comments.
“I am.” I nod.
“Under my power.” She whispers.
“You like that.” I grin behind my mask, amazed by this hidden facet of my Lady's personality.
“I do.” She admits, blushing slightly. She still presses the sharp point of her sword against my chest. “But this isn't about that. What's your plan?”
“Did you forget what happened last time you threatened me with a weapon?” I ask in a steamy tone.
“This time is going to be different.” Leomi says, her gaze lowering to gaze at my breasts. She flicks her sword and my shirt is split in two by the sharp blade, right in the middle. “What are you doing here? What's your plan?” She questions again.
I pull away from the weapon, frightened. She could cut the sleeve glove's straps, catch sight of the monstrosity I keep hidden. See my innumerable scars and be repulsed. My unusual reaction only seems to encourage her and she slices the cloth covering my stomach.
“Answer.” She orders with a short breath.
I use my left hand to try to grab the sword but she evades my movement with a swift sidestep, landing a palm strike that throws me back against the table. I'm too slow and tired for this.
“You know, we really shouldn't mix business and pleasure.” I speak up. “Why the weapon? Let's sit down and talk.”
“Because you're dangerous. You're much stronger than you've let us perceive, Elizabeth.” She replies, running the sharp tip along my right breast.
“That's not really an answer.” I note, dissatisfied because I hoped she would admit that it's all pleasure for her right now.
“Only one I'll give you. Besides, I'm rather enjoying this.” She says with a small smile, not even hiding the fact that she's admiring what little she can see of my flesh.
“I would too, honestly, but I'm shy.” I admit, lying a little and doing my best to stay away from the threat.
“Tell me what the Rykz' plan is.” Leomi orders with a hint of desperation in her voice. “I'll consider letting you go if you do.”