Liam cried until he had no more tears to cry, remaining in Maya’s embrace until the sun was high overhead. By then, a full complement of knights and paladins stood outside the slavepen, forming a wall of armor that blessed Liam with privacy.

They’d replaced the collars, using twine to tie them shut. A tactical maneuver meant to avoid undue suspicion as they held their vigil. As if a dozen armored paladins could be less conspicuous.

Through the tears Liam became aware of paladins negotiating. With talk of coins and slaves passing in one ear and out the other. No ducal guards remained present, nor could he fault mortal men for fearing lightning. Quetz came and went as well, somehow commanding the paladins with his own micro bolts of taser lightning. Quickly realizing that he could coil himself around Thaddeus’s winged helmet in such a way that the desert’s heat caressed all of his scales.

Though when Thaddeus had changed into armor couldn’t be guessed.

Eventually, Liam was left feeling alone and empty. Utterly depleted. So he turned to Maya, beckoning her closer to whisper into her ear.

“In a past life, I was the Lightning Lord that slew Pandora. I need to return to Greenwood, to the land of the Lightning Daughter. But it’s too far for me to go alone and my mother is dead, while my father is unknown. I… I must be carried. Lady Nyota Green is an eclipsiarch like you, one of the few left, and most likely your kindred.” Whispered Liam, seeing the tiny fluff within her ears tremble at his thoughts.

“I- uhm…” Said Maya, confused by his words. “Did Taloc send you?” She asked.

“Taloc, that stupid old fart barely spared five minutes for me before he–” Flushed me down a silver shoot. Like a turd…

Liam was too tired to care about past losses. Too emotionally drained from the death of Sirin.

“Actually… He didn’t let me pick where I was going… And there is no way in a dozen lifetimes that I would have chosen Kheresh… So… I guess he did send me here. Wish he could’ve left some instructions if he intentionally sent me here…” Said Liam, struggling to speak with his hoarse voice.

Maya ran her claws through his hair, pleasantly scratching his scalp. The personal touch deepened his introspection. He was supposed to be a man. A Lightning Lord in his late twenties! Yet he was clinging to another child like a liferaft. Had Baron Green lived through Pandora’s fury, Maya might be calling him step-dad.

Taloc, if this is all a joke, your humor is beyond fucked up.

“Please take me home. I can’t stand this place.” Whispered Liam.

His supplication was answered by an uncomfortable cough from Thaddeus. “My lord, travel between fiefdoms is currently prohibited–”

“Let mortals be bound by the rule of fools.” Snapped Liam, earning a weary smile from Thaddeus.

“That’s not what I mean. You mentioned Greenwood, please forgive me sir, I do not think my station so high as to understand the machinations of a Lightning Lord, or what the almighty has gifted you, but the portal plague of Greenwood spread across the continent. No town or city is safe. King Aldric and the entire fulminonimbus has mobilized to combat the plague. My paladins hunt the monsters that trouble humanity, but Greenwood is the epicenter. For two years it has been impossible to open portals to or from there. Any supplies or slaves must journey, in force, up the river to the Port-fortress of Sintra.” Said Thaddeus.

Portress Sintra? I’m sure there is something in there to make Jenkins smile… Well, besides Phaedra.

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“So you’re sending slaves as Lightning Lord Liam Green required… Thaddeus, why is an eclipsiarch still in Khereshetal.” Asked Liam.

Thaddeus swallowed, suddenly uncomfortable as he glanced from Liam to the slaves and back again. “My lord, most eclipsiarchs have been gathered, though a substantial number of them evade detection. A sin of defense on their part.” He tugged on his gorget with one finger, giving himself room to breath. “Ah. I must confess, our orders were to sterilize them before delivery to Greenwood.” Said Thaddeus, keeping his voice low, and eyes averted.

“Who would dare issue such an order–” Liam realized that only the king could have issued such a command. “Nevermind. I’ll deal with them later. Did you obey the orders?” Asked Liam.

Thaddeus said nothing, he didn’t need to. Nor would his answer be safe to speak aloud. But Liam needed to know specifics.

“Speak man! How many of Nyota’s kin did you butcher?” Roared Liam.

The paladin shut his eyes, ashamed of his words, for they were evidence of his misdeeds.

“All who were transported by the King’s soldiers were sterilized, while only a third of those that the church… –that I transported were… I thought nothing of it at first, since they carried the Lord Bishop’s seal, but then I met him in person, to complain about the order, and… My lord! He had no recollection of the order being sent! He’s been in a fugue of recovery, mind weary from Taloc’s revelation. I should have been more vigilant, my lord!” Shouted Thaddeus, drawing his sword and offering hilt first to Liam.

“Put that away, you idiot. I’m barely three years old! What in the world can I do with a sword?” Snapped Liam. “Look, I’m going to Greenwood, seize these slaves if their owner is guilty of sterilizing them, otherwise purchase them and see that the merchant changes his business practices, because I swear this to you, during my lifetime felinid slavery will end. I’m so tired of this shit. At some point soon, I'll start killing slavers instead of paying them.” Growled Liam.

“Uhm, these slaves already belong to the church sir… Archbishop Matimeo has made Lord Liam’s last wishes on the matter quite clear, slavery is to end. Plans are already in motion, gold has been exchanged and thousands freed. His majesty decreed that all freed felinids should be transferred to the pardanite lands, far to the southwest. Though, with the portals appearing everywhere, they are being formed into militias where they are…”

“Sent against the portals. So they can bleed in their master’s stead.” Said Liam, guessing what wasn’t said. “Thaddeus, induct all felinids into your paladins. Spare the rod, but they’ll require heavy discipline. Start with a simple phalanx formation and start getting them fed. Especially the big oaf, he’ll need your personal tutelage, else his ancestors will rise from their graves and beg me to save his worthless soul.”

“As you command, so it will be.”

Liam nodded, starting to like the faithful paladin. “Maya, you’re coming with me as my personal assistant until we reach Greenwood, then I will entrust you to Lady Nyota’s care. But before we can leave… I need to meet the gorgon…” Liam swallowed the lumpy mountain in his throat. “And bury my mother.”

“Yes my lord.” Said Maya.

Her use of the honourific was stiff, unwieldy, and filled with a longing to never repeat the phrase. As if she had never known a master she would willingly serve. Liam hated hearing it, so he stepped into her personal space and clapped both cheeks with toddler hands. Squishing her cheeks, she sucked her lips together, making a fishy face to rival Liam’s scowl.

“Maya! No honourifics! Use my name! Eclipsiarchs should use my name and never my title! You’re a mage just like me, we’re equals.” Ordered Liam.

In way of an answer, Maya flexed her lips at him, pantomiming a fish.

“Look around you. The slaves follow your lead, not mine. I’m a strange elf child, while you are their younger sister and future queen. The time has come for you to show your magic. To grasp the future and shape it according to your will! You must choose, will you walk the path of bloody violence with me? Or will you doom everyone to violent meaningless deaths? There is no peace in this world. Come with me to Greenwood, if only to meet-” Liam paused, unsure what to call Nyota. He had married her as Baron Green, making her Lady Green, but that was a human title reserved for nobles, it just didn’t feel right. The fact she possessed magic, and especially the lightning affinity meant that the kingdom would probably honor her claim to the title. Still, she was the Lightning Daughter, not some meek backwoods baroness.

“Matriarch? No, Queen Nyota is better. Matriarch is for wrinkly old ladies. With gray hair. Not gorgeous platinum blondes.” Muttered Liam.

Maya raised an eyebrow in way of question, but he refused to elaborate.

“Cmon Maya, we’re going to bury mom, then find your mom. Maybe she’ll adopt me.” Said Liam, turning to shitty jokes rather than face the reality of Sirin’s fate.