It did not take Regina long to confirm that the assassins they’d caught (she was pretty sure they were indeed here for murder, not simply infiltrators) must indeed have been sent by Marquis Lyns. Madris was still keeping an eye on the would-be king’s army, and she had confirmed that the surviving one reappeared there. Apparently, Regina could share her impression of the man’s mind with the dark elf even over such a distance to make sure they had the same person, another new skill Madris showed her since it was useful now. While that was not proof of the type they could show in court, assuming there was a court to go to, two psychics being convinced there had been an assassin sent by Lyns was enough evidence for everyone else.
Janis explained all of this to Kiara, who nodded along, her thoughts hard to read from her expression. Under the circumstances, Regina kept an eye on her, though, so she felt her emotional turmoil at the news. Not that Kiara was surprised. While she clearly didn’t like to think that her father might want her dead, she was smart enough to understand the situation.
Regina had never felt someone start to hate before. It was slightly disconcerting. Slightly uncomfortable. And she had the impression it was at least partly for the situation this put Kiara in, the choices she was forced to make, not just because of the attempted murder itself.
Regina herself was pretty angry about that, too.
“We are still officially allied to Marquis Lyns, but I consider this to be a breach of the contract,” she explained to Max, leaning back in her chair in one of the common rooms in the first story of the base. There was a table in front of her with some cups and drinks set out along with snacks, and the drones had managed to maneuver her into a comfortable and slightly more imposing armchair than the other chairs scattered around the room. “He sent armed men with hostile intent into the heart of our territory, attempting murder against someone under my protection. I’ve already told Via and the others to get out, and I’ll send him an official letter as soon as they’re a safe distance away. He can fight his own battles now.”
“That sounds entirely fair,” Kiara murmured as she entered the room.
Regina tilted her head and nodded at her. She’d felt Kiara coming, so she didn’t bother to look surprised at her entrance or as if she hadn’t meant her to hear.
“Unfortunately, maybe, he’s as good as won the war by now and withdrawing our help doesn’t really hurt him much,” Max observed. “Even with his need for gold.”
“Is stopping the military alliance the extent of your response to this attack, Your Majesty?” Kiara asked, carefully stepping into the room, keeping a little distance.
“I’m still considering the extent of it,” Regina told her.
Kiara took a deep breath, and Regina felt her mentally gather herself. “I would never break a contract with you in such a way. And I have supporters of my own.”
There was an implied question, a suggestion, here.
“I know.” Regina leaned back, shaking her head slightly as she ran a hand through her hair. “I have responsibilities, Kiara … The hive is at war, we have many potential enemies, and I need to make sure I make the right choices for my drones.”
It wasn’t an agreement, although it wasn’t really denial either. It wasn’t much of an answer to Kiara, she supposed.
“You need to know what you stand to gain, before you risk throwing your drones’ lives away,” she surmised.
Regina shook her head. “I’d need assurances, I guess,” she murmured. “But - I do think you would make a great queen, certainly a much better royal than Lyns.”
Kiara stared at her for a moment, and Regina met her gaze. She could see the other woman was evaluating her, taking the last chance to weigh her options before she committed.
Then Kiara took a step forward and sank to her knees, bowing her head deferentially. A whisper of an indrawn breath chased through the drones in the room, while Regina sat up straight.
“Your Majesty, Regina von Woltan of the Starlit Hive. I request you take me as your sworn woman. Your enemies will be my enemies, your friends my friends as you will be my lord. I give you my sword arm, my life’s breath and the beat of blood in my heart, my magic and my will. I will do as you bid and rule the lands and territories bequeathed to me fairly and justly in your name. So I vow, before the gods and those assembled to bear witness here, I will be true and faithful every day of my life. This I solemnly swear.”
She raised her head and Regina met her gaze again, while she tasted the conviction and satisfaction in Kiara’s mind. A bold move, but not bad strategy. Kiara had maneuvered her where she wanted her, they both knew it. This was more assurance than Regina could reasonably ask for, it was dramatic, and it required a response.
Regina stood up and stood before Kiara, taking one of her hands in her own. After a moment of hesitation, she also laid a hand on top of her head, burying her fingers in her hair.
“Kiara Lyns, daughter of Nicholas and Florance, I, Regina Louise Elizabeth Aneta von Woltan, of the Starlit Hive, do hear and accept your vow. My enemies shall be your enemies, my friends shall be your friends, my charge shall be your will. You will have an honored place by my side and at my table, and the protection of my house and my hand. All grievances you have I will judge fairly and justly, and none shall harm you for fear of my sword. So I vow, before god and those assembled to bear witness here, to you I will be true and faithful as long as you keep to your oaths. This I solemnly swear.”
Regina lowered her hands and stared down at the first person to properly swear vassalage to her, as Kiara got to her feet, smiling. She was glad she’d remembered the traditional vow, although she’d probably fudged a word here and there. Still, it seemed close enough for Kiara.
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Regina couldn’t say she hadn’t expected this to happen sooner or later. And they both also knew she might have deliberately prompted it.
“Congratulations,” Max muttered.
Regina turned and hesitated as she met Janis’ gaze, who was staring at them with a faint frown, clearly thinking hard. Regina didn’t get the impression she disapproved, necessarily, but she clearly understood the gravity of the situation.
She turned to sit back down and gestured to another chair, watching as Kiara took a seat and Janis sat beside her. The two exchanged a look and Janis reached out to squeeze her hand before she turned back to focus on Regina.
Regina cleared her throat. “So, we will fight Lyns for your claim to the throne and make you queen of Cernlia, Kiara. I intend to make it part of a bigger whole. For now, we should focus on fighting the Marquis and finally reestablishing lasting peace in Cernlia. I would prefer this to happen with minimal bloodshed, and soon. Any questions?”
“Of course, my liege. I have no questions about this.” Kiara smiled at her, almost playfully. She was clearly relieved.
"How are we to go about it?” Janis asked, crossing her arms. “I’d suggest making contact with Kiara’s remaining supporters among the Cernlian army, and seeing if they’re prepared to back us. And how they could.”
Looks like no one’s bothering to pretend this isn’t the only Cernlian army or court anymore, Regina noted. She nodded.
“Duke Bluegrass almost certainly will support us,” Kiara put in. “I am good friends with his older daughter, who he wants to cement as his heir very dearly. He’s always been a good ally.”
Janis nodded and smiled a little. Regina agreed as well, Bluegrass was one of the people she had little doubt about. “But he’s only one man, despite being a duke,” she said. “And didn’t you say his lands were hit hard by the war?”
“Harder than some, not as hard as a few others,” Kiara shrugged. “But yes, his direct power is limited. However, he still has access and influence.”
“We’ll try to get in contact with him then, discreetly, and also sound out who else might be prepared to fight for you,” Regina concluded, standing up restlessly and watching as the others did the same. “Detailed plans can wait until we have a bit more information. I’m going to alert the hive’s forces, but we’ll refrain from any obvious movements. No need to alarm Lyns or squander the element of surprise.”
Max chuckled. “Lucky we already have a small army training with the Delvers, then. They are going to back us, right?”
“I assume so,” Regina replied. “I’ll talk to them.” She mentally put it on her list as yet another thing to take care of. At least she was pretty sure the Delvers didn’t care too much about the Cernlian internal dispute and would follow her. It might be a good test, actually.
There was a moment of silence. Janis glanced at Kiara, then hesitantly put her hand on her shoulder. Kiara slid a bit closer to her, so they ended up with Janis’ arm around her.
“How are you dealing with this, Kiara?” Regina asked carefully.
The girl shrugged. “I appreciate the help,” she said. “I am aware we have a lot to talk about. I promise you won’t regret this, or all the help you’ve already given me.”
“That’s good to know, but not quite what I was talking about.”
Kiara sighed, leaning back against Janis. She’d clearly decided she gave no shits about showing her affection in front of them right now. “It’s still a bit hard to come to terms with the fact that my father tried to kill me,” she said. “I suppose there might be something wrong with me if there wasn’t.”
Regina gave her a sympathetic smile. She couldn’t really relate, but it couldn’t be easy. “Do you have any wishes for how to deal with him?” she asked. “I mean, he could unfortunately be killed in the fighting, or …”
Kiara made a face. “I suppose I’d prefer if you didn’t kill him yet.”
Regina nodded. “Of course. Then we won’t go after him directly, although, of course, there are no guarantees in battle.”
Ben might consider it an unwise concession, but Regina didn’t think so. Just assassinating the marquis wouldn’t help much, I don’t think. His supporters would still be there, with his army, and Kiara gone. His death might even be a rallying cry against us, so it could backfire quite a bit, in the long term.
It did remind her to make extra sure both Kiara and June were well-protected around the clock. And Florance too, she supposed.
“I will go talk to the Delvers myself,” Regina decided. It would be better to speak to them personally than try it through a drone or letters. “There are a few other errands to take care of, anyway.”
She nodded at Kiara and Janis, who currently seemed more concerned with each other than her departure, then walked out of the room. Max fell into step beside her once again, staying silent to let her think, although she felt him communicating with a few people over the psychic link.
Meanwhile, Regina considered a few other issues to take care of. “We have a store of gemstones, right?”
“A few,” Max said, “but I’m not sure how many or how large. Mia will know more.”
“I’ll need to talk to her anyway. I can Conjure some gold, any amount we need. Kiara might appreciate getting a crown made. Or several, one she can wear in battle and one for a formal ceremony.” Regina nodded to herself. She would talk to the Delvers regarding the other things.
“Symbolism, to establish your power?” Max asked.
Regina smiled slightly. “I haven’t exactly kept it a secret that I intend to resurrect a few traditions. We can combine them with more contemporary ones and make something new.”
They walked in silence for a few meters, before Max spoke up again. “You haven’t found religion, have you?”
Regina glanced at him, then away. “Not really. But I didn’t want to swear on the ‘local’ gods.” Who knows if Deirianon or one of the others might have been able to use that, with an important vow like this? Kiara must have noticed as well, she knew, but she hadn’t said anything.
“The Delvers might be interested, and you could use it to establish new avenues of power.”
“They will be. And maybe it could be useful, but messing around with religion is also dangerous, and I think I’d prefer an atheist state.” Regina sighed. “We’ll see.”
“As long as they don’t establish an official cult to the Progenitors with you as the prophet or messiah, I guess you have nothing to worry about.”
Regina laughed, but she could tell from the look in Max’s eyes, belying his smile, and their feeling in the psychic link that the words weren’t entirely a joke. And she felt uneasy about it, too.
“If I want to establish and protect full religious freedom, I guess I’d have to allow something like that, wouldn’t I?” she muttered.
Max nodded. “One among many other things you’ll have to tolerate.”
Regina didn’t say anything to that, but she knew he was right. There were going to be a lot of compromises in her future. Not just with other people, but with her own morals as well. Not that she could truthfully claim a lot of those, looking back at what she’d done for the last year or so. She was aware that people had died because of her, and all the good intentions in the world wouldn’t undo that. She was surprisingly okay with that fact.
She’d also been a lot more at peace with her nature as a Hive Queen recently. Ironic, since she’d claimed her heritage as what the Delvers called a ‘Progenitor’ more than ever. But she figured that in the end, there were some very human traits and urges mirrored in the ‘monster’. And values, as well. She looked at Max, catching his eye and smiling at her son while she sent him a feeling of appreciation.
No matter her other goals, she’d always protect her family, too.