Weeks later, the letter said;

William,

I've done as you asked. No help will come from Escor. The Dragon Empire is invading through the southern pass. King Vortegex is fighting them. I've put out a call for mercenaries. Little response. Most are fighting in the Iron Kingdom.

You have stabbed yourself in the foot.

Sorry,

Raynald.

William had smiled when he read it. You could always rely on Raynald to be short and to the point in his letters. The withered-armed man hated reading and hated writing even more. He'd only learned because Rusara had forced him to learn. Now, he sat in a council of war as one officer after another made their reports.

"Prince Aris, how fairs the army?" asked Estal.

"My men are more than prepared," said Aris. "When the Calishans come against us, we'll make them pay a dear price for it."

"I thought we hoped to avoid a war," said William, though he never knew if it meant giving up Safara. Unless giving up Safara would bring peace, in which case he would give her up.

William would do it in a heartbeat.

She meant nothing to him. He'd hardly even seen her in the halls. However, the wedding somehow got lost. Somehow, once it had been decided on, the decision faded away from everyone's minds.

There was only a vague idea of gaining Baltoth's blessing. It only flittered through his mind when he pressed the subject. And even that faded when he considered Baltoth's blessing to ben't very important. Where was he?

"Wise men always prepare for war, even in peace," said Aris.

Only an instant had passed, yet time always seemed to slow to a crawl when I thought about Safara, her perfect hair and shimmering coils that glistened brilliantly in the sun.

"Esgroth, what news from the merfolk of the sea?" asked Estal.

Was everyone affected by her? Or was it just William. He hadn't noticed much change in everyone. Yet then he'd been able to function well despite the presence of Safara. His unyielding and unconditional love of her was there at all times. But it allowed him to keep his identity.

She was benevolent like that.

"It is worse than we expected," said Esgroth, who alone had been different. He'd been in a fouler mood than ever. He'd even had harsh words for Safara when they met in the halls. "No sooner had the Festival of the Hearth ended and the Calishans gathered their fleets. They will be ready to move before the month is out. They must have begun mobilizing as soon as Prince Aris' ship had sailed."

"Merfolk? Why would they help us?" asked William.

"In my younger days, I had a number of adventures beneath the sea," said Esgroth. "In one of them, I saved the life of a daughter of the Shark Queen. In exchange, he brings me news of all the fleets which travel around Estal."

"Indeed," said Estal. "By his very presence, Esgroth is invaluable to our wars."

It was true then. Even the most unpleasant of people were capable of good. "What is our plan now? Do we wait here for the fleet to be mustered?"

"How many ships do they number now?" asked Estal.

"Nearly a thousand, my king," said Esgroth.

"A thousand?" asked Estal, incredulous.

"And it is growing larger by the week. Calisha is mustering vast forces," said Esgroth. "Baltoth will strike when he has overwhelming force. And his gathering of it tells me that he is determined to war on us."

"Numbers are of no use if you cannot deploy them," said Aris, shaking his head. "If we engage the enemy well, we can use their strength against them."

"There is one other thing, my King," said Esgroth.

"Yes," said Estal.

"There is a ship bearing the Emissary of Baltoth," said Esgroth. "No doubt she will demand the return of Safara and our subjugation."

"We shall wait for her and negotiate when we speak," said Estal. "We may yet avert this war."

William didn't believe it for an instant. The only way that would happen was if Safara were returned, and she had worked her magic far too well for that. He wondered if it was a deliberate action on her part or if she merely made all who looked upon her love her.

The latter seemed more likely. After all, one so perfect would never use magic to force people to act contrary to their interests. Not that it was against their interests to harbor Safara. Just to be stabbed to death by Calishans.

"We cannot wait, Father," said Aris.

"You have something to say, my son?" asked Estal.

"Once Baltoth has mustered his fleet, he cannot send it back home," said Estal. "Now, without concessions on our part. At best, he will give us a chance to become his slaves in exchange for being spared.

"War is all but declared."

"I fear you may be correct, my son," said Estal. How quickly hopes for peace had been abandoned. "Young William, what news from Raynald De Chevlon?"

It was his turn then. "I received a letter from him this morning. Here it is. Escor cannot come to our aid. They are fighting off an invasion from the Dragon Empire on their southern border. In time, we might gain help when those battles are over. But for now, we are on our own."

"We should attack at once," said Tanith.

"Tanith?" asked Aris. "Attack a fleet larger than ours and growing?"

"Why not?" asked Tanith. The Calishan fleet is only going to get larger, and they think they are safe in their harbors. If we attack quickly, we could take them by surprise and even win before they set foot on Estal."

"That is far too risky," said Estal. What if they hear about us?"

"Well, why don't we have Esgroth contact the merfolk and have them tell us where the fleets are," said Tanith. "We could be able to defeat Calisha's fleet piecemeal."

"Tanith is right," said Aris. "Our odds will only get worse as time goes on. This way, we might do serious damage and slow down their invasion. More time will mean we will be stronger."

"Would you have us attack without defiance sent, my son?" asked Estal.

"No," said Aris. "The emissary is coming here. Let her in. Welcome her politely and with all due courtesy. But declined her answer. Then, when she is in the palace, we may set out with our fleet at once. Once we are away, you'll decline her offer.

"We'll also leave a large part of our army behind. In case the battle goes poorly. What I have in mind may be done with a few ships and many."

"My son, as always, I am pleased with your daring," said Estal. Why did his words sound forced?

"I don't like this," said William. "It may not technically be dishonorable, but it is still deception."

"Sometimes honor much come second to victory," said Aris.

Or to peace. No doubt the scoundrel had tricked Safara into coming here. What was he thinking? Safara must have known what was happening.

"We started this war to defend a lady's honor," said William flatly. "Should we not fight it in an honorable fashion?"

"Watch your tone with me, Gabriel," said Aris. "You may be a guest, but-"

Estal raised a hand. Aris went silent. "Enough. Quarreling among ourselves will solve nothing. Safara is dear to my heart as she is to all of us, and we must do all we can to defend her. So, we will make our plans and work against Calisha. If it is to be war, it will be war."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"King Estal, there is one other matter we must attend to," said William. "The cyclopi."

"Ah yes," said Estal. "Do you believe we should ally with them?

"I don't think that is practicable," said William. "Peace may have been made, but it is much too soon to ask them to fight for you. However, it might be possible to hire them as mercenaries. And if that should fail, we should try to get their pledge that they will remain neutral in the conflict."

"A wise policy, William," said Estal. "Will you take charge of this matter?"

"Gladly, of course," said William. "But..." It pained him to say this. "King Estal, I realize that you care for Safara. However, if we may avert this war by returning her, should we not-"

"I will not hear of it," said Estal. I realize you think only of peace. But peace, in some circumstances, means surrender. It would be the height of dishonor to return Safara now."

William nodded. "Then I will speak with the cyclopi."

"Oh, come on, William," said Tanith. "You'll miss the opening battle."

"Tanith, given my father's stance, I would not feel comfortable joining the battle. Not if there is another way I may serve," said William. "Besides, this war won't end in one battle.

"Not by a long shot."

Tanith seemed cheered up by this news. No one else shared her glee. William supposed he should be grateful for that.

The meeting was adjourned. William once again walked the halls with Felix. And as he did, he felt an undeniable sense of frustration in the air. It was frustration with William. Something was pressing in on him.

"Something is wrong here, Felix," said William. "One moment, Safara is an unwanted guest. Now everyone is gladly marching to war in her name." It pained him to even speak of it.

"It's her nature," said Felix.

"What?" said William.

"Everyone loves Safara. They can't help it," said Felix. "Didn't you find it strange that a half-demon with the snake's body slithered off the dock?"

William realized that the idea hadn't even occurred to him. "No. No, I didn't, now that you mention it. All I could think of was how beautiful she was."

"Exactly," said Felix. "She is like a snake staring down a mouse. Only instead of freezing them with fear, she does it with love. Instead of swallowing them whole, she consumes their hearts. She clouds their minds until they cannot think of anything but pleasing her."

"I hope you are exaggerating," said William.

Felix shrugged. "She was brought to Ruscow to control her, William. Back in the jungles of the East, she used her powers to control people. To make them act the way she thought they ought to act. Cities would join hands together and sing if she asked them to. And she did.

"Eventually, she started to pick off villages in Neseriah's domain, and there was a war between them. Safara lost and was brought back to Ruscow for judgment."

"Why didn't you say this before?"

"Well, I might have," said Felix. "But you were so violently opposed to anyone speaking ill of her."

"You've got to be joking," said William. You risked dooming an entire nation to a slavery of the mind because I struck you—an act done because you were disrespectful to royalty—an act for which I apologized."

"No," admitted Felix. "It didn't come to mind, truth be told. I haven't been home in many years. And anyway, Safara affects me as well."

Something was bothering William. "...Felix, you said you saw her when she was going to her wedding. Yet she said it happened when she was young. That must have been hundreds of years ago. Demons live a long time."

"I lied to make myself more impressive," said Felix. "People do it all the time."

"Except you don't," said William. "When we were traveling through Seathorius after you burned that satyr village down. You went out of your way to make it seem as unimpressive as possible. I've known you half my life, and I still can't read you." He paused and waited. But Felix didn't answer. "Nevermind. So what do we do about this?"

"What can we do?" asked Felix. "Then there will be a great war. If Estal wins, Safara will have the island wrapped around her little finger in a few years. If Calisha wins, we'll be dead."

William concluded. A conclusion so obvious it should have occurred to him some time ago. Yet it hadn't. "... I'll break the spell myself."

Then his thoughts dimmed. A long, scaly tail came behind him, binding his arms to his side and bringing him around. It squeezed him tightly, covering his entire lower body. Then he was face to face with Safara. "Really, William, must you interfere?"

His every thought seemed seeped in mud. For a moment, he could think of nothing—nothing except how beautiful Safara looked. Then came the guilt for daring to resist her, for making something difficult, something easy.

"Lady Safara, I presume Felix's assessment was correct," William said. "Based on your presence."

And then he felt the blood rush to his head as she wrapped her arms around him and pressed him into her bosom. He felt her full power on him now, pressing down around him. "I was young and did not understand things like free will, William. All I knew was that people loved me and would do anything for me when I set my mind to it. But I've changed since. I realize that people must be left to make their own choices.

"I intend now to use my powers for the betterment of Estal, I promise you."

She promised. Safara would never break a promise. He could feel her within him, her mind lovingly caressing his, trying to reshape his thoughts. He'd felt something like this before. Arraxia's kiss had made his entire universe revolve around her as if she were the sole reason for being.

But Safara was different. Safara induced love in people. Love of her, and through it, she brought focus to their lives. Made them improve themselves. Her control was for their betterment, not hers. He needed only to stop resisting.

"Of course you do," William staggered out a response. "What happened to your marriage to Aris?" He tried to break free, but she squeezed him tighter. Her hands gripped his shoulder.

"Don't be foolish. Aris doesn't love me," said Safara. "Not any more than anyone else, at any rate. No, Aris desires war with Calisha. He also lusts after me. Those two desires were fulfilled through me, as all desires are. King Estal desired that his son marry and settle down. I will fulfill that desire when the war is over."

"Meaning that you'll force him to," gasped William. He could hardly breathe.

"Force him?" asked Safara, voice musical as her tail wrapped tighter around him. "No, merely influence. A careful nudge here, a flutter of the eyes here. I don't force people to do anything. I just get them to see things my way."

"And what about all the people who will die because of this?" asked William.

She stroked his head as if comforting a distressed child. "It's unfortunate. But in sixty to eighty years, most humans alive today will die. Their children and grandchildren will have taken their place. But at that same time, I may establish my own empire. An empire born of passion, not blood. Love, rather than hatred. I will change things for the betterment of all people rather than a few."

"What makes you more qualified to rule than King Estal?" asked William.

"I have studied the art of ruling from Suloth, William," said Safara. "You don't have to worry. Why do you oppose me? I know that you hate violence. Wouldn't it be better to see an end to all wars? Your father desires to establish permanent peace.

"To stop all this conflict. To stop struggling."

The last words were almost a command. William found his eyes closing. He felt like a child drifting off to sleep in his mother's arms. Except Mother had never held him like this, had she? With good reason. She'd wanted him to be strong.

Safara just wanted him to be compliant.

Suddenly, he found he had more strength than he had thought. He opened his eyes fully and pulled himself back. He managed it despite her attempts to keep him near her. "My father desires power, not peace. And in the words of King Estal himself: In some circumstances, peace means surrender."

Safara looked at him for a moment without expression. She seemed to be examining him. Finally, she set him down and released him. "You don't bend to my will easily, do you?"

"I've had a great deal of experience with this kind of thing," admitted William.

"Well, you are strong of will, I must admit," said Safara. "I've heard you playing music for your chimera. It is excellent, and the will behind it is breathtaking. You were named well. However, I have been practicing my art, honing my skills for many centuries.

"But your efforts are futile. I am the living incarnation of a power greater than any other. Love."

"Hardly," said William.

"Don't you see?" asked Safara. "Love is eternal. Love is steadfast. Only love will remain when hell and heaven have fallen into nothingness. My power is not corruption, which can be washed away by the rain. It is a great tree that only flourishes by the ministrations of the just.

"You should serve me. You are a man of great virtue and strength. Serve me, and I can show you passion and joy beyond the reach of any other emotion."

Her will washed against him, stronger than ever. But William pushed back and was not swayed. "Get out of my mind. I worship Elranor and him alone."

"And I'm simply not interested," said Felix.

Safara sighed. "I can see you are stubborn about this. Well, it seems we are at an impasse, my friends. I cannot control either of you, yet neither can you defeat my influence."

Then she turned and slithered away. Felix looked at William. "William, give the order, and her head will be at your feet."

"I didn't see you doing anything when she was binding me in her coils," said William.

"I did try," admitted Felix. "Unfortunately, I am no more immune to her charms than you. You kill someone you find yourself loving more than life itself." He paused. "But if you want, I could try. It is a solution worth considering."

"No," said William. "She is under King Estal's protection. We cannot harm her directly. For now, we'll speak with the cyclopi." He paused. "Felix."

"Yes?" said Felix.

"Why is it that every time I run into a demoness, they try to mind control me?" asked William.

Felix seemed to consider the question. "Well, for one thing, you are a paladin of Elranor. So you are forbidden fruit and therefore more attractive for that. You are very handsome, so there is a physical appeal. You have a pure spirit; they fantasize about corrupting that. But at the same time, you have a dry wit which gives them the thrill of competition. And your skill at battle and intelligence means you'd be an excellent subordinate.

"The female population of hell wants you as a pet. You'll just have to live with it. Or let Arraxia put a collar around your neck. You'd probably enjoy it."

William looked at him in irritation. "You came up with that list far too quickly."

"I've had time to consider it," said Felix.

"Once again," said Wiliam." What are we going to do about this?"

"We could write to Suloth and ask how he controlled her all these years," mused Felix.

"We both know that isn't an option," said William. "Though we could write to Suloth and tell him Safara is mind-controlling the King. It might slow him down."

"He probably already has guessed that much," said Felix. "Which is why he is already mobilizing. He knows Safara won't be returned without a fight."

William sighed. "...I think she might be out of my league."

"Yes, Safara is of significantly higher birth, all things considered," said Felix. "You might qualify as a consort. I doubt she'll limit herself to just Aris."

"No, no, I mean there are other paladins," said William, ignoring the bait. "King Anoa is the head of an entire order of paladins. One of them has got to be strong enough to break the spell. And if not them. Rusara might manage it."

"Gail Arengeth has the power," mused Felix.

Gail Arengeth? The legendary eternal sorcerer. "His concern is mostly Escor, but I take your point. Even so, Rusara is probably stronger," William sighed. "It doesn't matter anyway. What we have to do is win this war. Then we can write to King Andoa, and he can handle it."

"Or we could lose the war, and Suloth will take care of things for us," said Felix.

"There is that," said William. "Well, there is nothing we can do about it now, and we have a task from the King. Let's get to it."