By the next day, Thepa received orders for the new mission. The Archduke had informed her that one of the outposts in Clayborn controlled territory had been overrun by orcs. King Starmoon was requesting help reclaiming it. She nodded and told the Archduke it would take a day or two to get her team together, but she would do what she needed to begin preparation. He gave her three.
This time, Thepa was sure it would be different. Of the three ionic crystals scattered throughout the land, Clayborn was the only nation to have established an outpost near its crystal. This meant there was no need to worry about teleporting into an enemy ambush.
For the next two days Thepa stayed up late into the night, preparing for every possible scenario. She coordinated a plan that included teleporting to the ionic crystal, gathering intelligence, and making the six-hour journey to the outpost on foot, or in her case hooves. She couldn't afford to make any mistakes, not with the Archduke's trust in her leadership wanning.
Therefore, it was to her utter shock, when the Archduke summoned her to a meeting late in the night.
"Are you sure, Thepa asked looking at the request. The gold lettering across the white parchment could have only come from the Archduke, but the missive said very little. Other than a short, "Follow the page" with a loopy 'A' as a signature, the note was blank.
The page stared back at her wide-eyed. "Y-yes ma'am. The Archduke says you're to come immediately and talk to no one. My job is to escort you to the castle."
"Alright then," she said ill at ease. She stuck the small note into her pocket and gestured forward. "Lead the way."
The trip from the council meeting room to the Archduke's chamber was short, but it was enough time for Thepa to turn into a nervous wreck. Every possible scenario of what was about to happen ran through her mind ranging from another dressing down to a report about her mother. Given the events of the previous week, both seemed likely. The fear inside her only grew when the page led her pass the chamber down to a room she had never seen before.
I'm being let go, she thought.
The page smiled, gesturing towards the room. "They're waiting inside."
"They're?" she asked, but the page said nothing. Instead, he gave a small pop and disappeared, leaving behind no trace he was even there. Confused she checked her pocket to find even the letter gone.
"A phantasm?" she whispered, opening the door, but she wasn't sure. Phantasms were illusions often used to entertain younglings or fool beasts, not that either one was hard to fool. Most wizards thought them not worth the effort or energy, due to the fact they were rarely good. The problem with phantasms is they came across as caricatures, something drawn up by a street performer to earn a few copper pieces. To pass it off as a real people required a high magical intelligence and creativity wizards often lacked.
Thepa stepped into the small room, closing the door behind her. For a brief moment, the room was dark, but as she turned around, she found a reddish hue washing the walls. More to the point, she wasn't alone.
Five Saintians stood before her, their skin warm and washed, diffused by the reddish hue now cascading over their bodies. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she began to recognize the familiar faces: the Archduke with his commanding presence, President Skydane with his ever-growing scowl, Mistress Verola, the Ministry of Wizardry leader of the city of Wildehaven, and, much to her delight and joy, the newly married Foxes.
"Hey girl," Einkidi said with a smile.
Thepa smiled back at her halfling friend, giving her a once-over. It was hard to tell in the red light, but it seemed that Einkidi had changed quite a bit in the completion since they'd last seen each other. Her brown hair was now tied up in a bun, a departure from the sleek, down style she used to favor. Her youthful face had matured, taking on a more womanly appearance with a slight narrowing of her features. Even her red spectacles, which had once seemed too large for her eyes, now sat more comfortably on the bridge of her nose.
"I should have known it was you," Thepa said grinning from horn to horn.
"Actually, the phantasm was me," responded the Mistress.
"Now that you should have known," Einkidi said with a giggle. "You knew my phantasms were shoddy. Did you forget my mantra? If it can't be blown up, transmuted, or set on fire..."
"What's the point?" Thepa said with a laugh.
"Can we focus here please? I'm sure the captain has other things to do; not that she's doing a good job of those things." Said Skydane. Thepa turned in embarrassment. The dig was clear. He too was not a fan of her leadership.
Fortunately for her, Einkidi was having none of it.
"Now hold on you overgrown toad. Just because you've got some height doesn't mean you control the sky. What gives you the right to treat my sister like that?
"You're sister—"
"Enough Skydane," interjected the Archduke. "We are here because of the information provided to us by Captain Thepa and your own champion."
"I'm still not convinced the large creature exists. But even so. A beast army that large is too big to ignore." Skydane replied.
"Which is why we're going on the offensive," said the Mistress.
"Too right." The Archduke agreed. "What I'm about to tell you must never leave this room under penalty of death. We can't risk this information leaking to the beasts." Thepa didn't see how. She couldn't imagine any Saintian leaking information to the beasts, let alone a beastman letting a Saintian live long enough to share the information with them. "Go ahead Skydane."
"Are you sure she—" Skydane said gesturing to her, but the Archduke cut him off visibly annoyed.
"Bastian."
"Fine, fine. Under penalty of death then. Half a completion ago a goblin stronghold was discovered two clicks away from Lightmount."
Thepa gasped, but she was the only one. Apparently, it was just news to her. She mumbled an apology for interrupting, while he rolled his eyes and continued.
"Anyway, we've been sending random patrols near the area, keeping our distance. General Todla and General Nel believe that if we leave them alone their mere presence would provide us with information. So far, its proven to be useful. Large squads of goblins have been seen coming and going. It's allowed us to get a rough estimate of their numbers. We were just about to lead a raid against them, when the elite team's report fell in our lap."
"That's where we've come in," said the Mistress. "Recently, we've discovered a way to infiltrate the goblin stronghold without raising suspicion."
"What kind of way?" Thepa asked, suddenly looking toward her friend, who was avoiding her gaze.
"I made a breakthrough," Einkidi replied. "I figured out a way to transmute the body into a beast."
"No. Absolutely not," Thepa argued, the pieces finally coming together in her mind.
"Lexidor, control your captain, please," snarled Skydane, his tone dripping with irritation.
Before Lexidor could respond, Thepa and the Mistress simultaneously snapped, "Will you shut up?"
"Thepa, I have to go," Einkidi insisted, her voice calm and collected. "The potion is too complex, and we don't know how long the mission will last. If I'm not on-site to brew it, whoever it is risks being caught."
"And I'll be there with her," Draco chimed in confidently.
"You have nothing to worry about, Ms. Warbol," the Mistress assured. "You know as well as I do, Mr. and Mrs. Fox are two of the best students to ever come out of the School of Wizardry. They can take care of themselves. Plus, we will make sure they have all available resources of the ministry backing them."
"Alright," Thepa said trying to collect her thoughts. It was not alright. Fighting in a battle was one thing, but willingly going into enemy territory was another. "What do I need to do? Surely, you brought me here because you expect something of me."
"You're cleverer than you look, satyr." Skydane retorted with contempt.
"Bastian, I don't think it's wise to continue on this path," tutted the Archduke. "At some point, even the bear knows it's dangerous to provoke the bee."
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"She doesn't look so tuff," he said, gesturing to her. Thepa was just hoping he'd start something. As it was, her hand was itching for her daggers. She might not have killed the man, but she would have made him bleed.
"I was talking about the young lady who just admitted to being able to change a human into goblin flesh."
"I'd be happy to give a demonstration," Einkidi said with a smile.
The President said nothing, much to her disappointment. Einkidi could be really scary when she wanted to be. She silently mouthed a thank you to her friend, as the Archduke explained the plan.
"Over the next few months, Mr. and Mrs. Fox will undergo rigorous training, each session designed to prepare them for life as goblins. They'll master the language, adopt the fighting styles, adjust to their...diet," Thepa winced at that one, "and immerse themselves in the customs. They'll learn to navigate the complex social hierarchies, understand the nuances of goblin behavior, and even adjust to the physical demands of goblin life. Every aspect of their training will be aimed at ensuring they can blend in seamlessly, surviving—and thriving—in an environment where any misstep could mean their downfall.
"Your job," he continued, "will be to gather intelligence. Anything you see or hear on your missions, no matter how small, must be documented and reported. However, you must not tell your team this, including the High Priestess and Ms. Silver.
"I—I understand."
"Good. Now, I believe you have a mission tomorrow. It's best to get some rest. Please remember what we talked about. You were never here. We never met. You're dismissed."
"Actually, Archduke," Einkidi chimed in. "Is it alright if I step out and escort Thepa home? If we're heading back to Wildehaven tonight, I would like a personal minute with my sister."
"I don't think that's wise Mrs. Fox. We've gone through a lot of trouble for you not to be seen together."
"Oh, don't worry about that. I was prepared. Perhaps, you will get a demonstration after all." Einkidi reached into her bag, pulling out a small vial. Popping the cork, she thrusted the contents into her mouth, that looked like crimson blood in the red light.
As Thepa watched, Einkidi stretched. Her stout frame elongated, limbs lengthening with an almost fluid grace. Her face, already matured, became even more angular, with high cheekbones accentuated by taut skin. Her clothes, tailored for her smaller halfling form, struggled to accommodate her now taller, more slender figure. As she grew, her chest expanded, adding a newfound fullness that her halfling frame had never supported. When her fingers lengthened into fine, graceful points, Thepa realized that her halfling sister now stood before her as a lithe elf, transformed in both body and presence.
"No wonder you talls think you own everything. With a view like this, it's hard not to feel on top of the world," Einkidi said grasping for breath.
"Wow hun. Do you think maybe we could save that for later?" Draco asked. Around her the Mistress giggled. Even the Archduke who was rather composed, didn't suppress his smile. It took Thepa a second to catch on, but by the time she did, Einkidi hooked her now taller form into hers, and led her out of the room with a simple word and a roll of her eyes.
"Men."
***********************************
A few minutes later, Thepa found herself with Einkidi out in the fourth-level courtyard. The crisp night air was refreshing against her skin, a stark contrast against the mysterious room they'd just left. Outside, the sky was clear, with stars twinkling faintly in the distance. Overhead, a crescent moon hung slanted, washing them with its silvery glow; a welcome sight after the unsettling red hue that had dominated their earlier surroundings.
Thepa wasn't sure what to say. She had expected Einkidi to start the conversation, given that she'd requested her time, but so far, Einkidi let the silence hang in the midnight air. Feeling the need to break it, Thepa spoke the obvious.
"I wish you could stay. It's been so nice having Claudia and Rory here, but it's not the same without you."
Einkidi squeezed her arm gently. "Verola almost didn't let me come. I refused to take on the mission unless she let me see you. You should have seen how furious she was."
"Verola?" Thepa echoed, suddenly remembering a joke from their school days, something Rory had started early in their friendship. "She actually lets you call her 'Verola'?"
"Nope. Smacks me with a stick every time I do," Einkidi replied with a grin. "Oh, Rory... how did you manage to get this far? How did you ever become High Priestess?"
"Well...It's hard not to love Rory." She paused before adding, "From the moment we met, we became friends. She changed my life."
"All of our lives. How's she doing by the way?"
Thepa sighed, again not knowing what to say. It wasn't an easy question to answer. There were times when Rory was Rory, fun, full of life, and quick with a joke. There were times when Rory was the High Priestess, preaching, teaching, healing, and guiding. Then there were times when Rory was someone else completely. Thepa did not like that Rory one bit.
"I believe she is as you hinted at in your letter. Something is off. I'm pretty sure she's lying to me."
"I've been thinking a lot about that. It seems to me; Rory is planning something and she doesn't want anyone to know. If I'm correct, it would explain the deception."
"Maybe," Thepa added. "But if she can't trust her sisters, if she can't trust me..."
Einkidi stopped and turned to her, a strange sight now that Thepa had to look up to her. When she did, she looked her dead in the eyes as serious as a cat stalking its prey. "You want to know something Thepa?"
Before today, Thepa had only seen two sides of Einkidi. The first was her playful side. Her size and lighthearted nature often made her a good friend to be around. She gave it as good as she got, and never let a good joke go to waste. The second was her academic side, which was fiercely competitive. As much as she liked to throw a quick jib, she had to be the best at what she did.
What was happening now, was completely new to Thepa. Even as an elf she could tell her Youngling of the Trees friend was vulnerable in a way that scared even her.
"I'm afraid. I'm afraid my husband in I are going to go into that goblin stronghold and be captured and killed. I'm afraid, because I agreed to it. I made him agree to it because we live in a world that cares about life more than death."
"Einkidi, you could always—"
"I could always what hun?" she whispered, controlling her voice through her anger. "I could always say no and then let someone else die? No, Thepa. That would not be me. That wouldn't be the good little soldier, groomed for war. If it was, I wouldn't be the girl who went to be the best in the best school in the land that taught me how to be an agent of death. That's what the academy made us. We didn't go to learn knowledge; we learned to kill and be killed. And what for? To have some statue or epitaph erected in our honor? What about the younglings left behind? Even the Wildehaven orphanage, while a wonderful place, really just hides our young from war's devastating toll, while they grow up never knowing those who gave them life in the first place."
A chill ran down Thepa's spine. She had no clue where Einkidi was going with this. "We fight to end the war. We fight to stop the killing from spreading and honor those who gave life. We fight, so no youngling will grow up without a biologic."
Einkidi sighed at her response, her face falling in dejection. "Maybe, but I don't see it that way. You know, when I was young, I got to hear the stories of Edlyn from my mother and father. I'm not really a fan of the gods or goddesses, but I always enjoyed the stories. There was one teaching of Edlyn my mother was especially fond of. She said, 'it doesn't matter if one was the most powerful being in all of Sainta, if you did not love, you had no heart. It didn't matter if you fought for bravery or gave your life; if love was not there, it was a meaningless gesture.'"
Thepa nodded in agreement. "Rory said something like that the other day."
"But don't you see Thepa?" Einkidi said, looking back at her, her expression still stern. "The dead don't love. They can't love. We honor and pay tribute to a lifeless world full of statues. Even if you say we show love by honoring them, they don't receive it. At best, the love we give them is for us. Edlyn is right. Love should be shared to and for each other while we have the ability to share it. I think you understand that."
"What does this have to do with—"
"For the longest time, I suspected you were in love with Rory," Einkidi said.
Thepa glared back, the tips of her own ears reddening. She had not been expecting that.
"The way you would hang on her every word, how you would put yourself between her and anything even remotely hostile in our training, or even the way you watched her when you should have been reading. Sometimes, it was a little creepy. And frankly, you could do better. I mean, Rory? Really?"
Thepa was taken aback. "Wait, is that the impression I give Saintians?"
Einkidi smiled and put both her hands up signaling her to wait. "I didn't say anything, not even to Claudia. Who was I to judge? It was your life. You seemed happy and I was your friend. I was going to support you no matter what."
"I wasn't though," she stammered in embarrassment.
"I know, I know," Einkidi said with a wistful smile. "It took me a long time to understand. I eventually figured it out the day you founded our Sisterhood. It was then I realized your love for Rory wasn't about lust—lust is carnal and fleeting. What you had was something much stronger, something beyond what the laws of magic can replicate. The gods have a word for it. They call it agape."
"Agape?" Thepa repeated.
"Yes," Einkidi said with a gentle smile. "It's godly love, pure love, high love. The kind of love you would die for, or better yet, live for."
It occurred to Thepa that love could mean many different things. She had heard people use love to describe friendship, lust, and family, but this was something new and completely different.
Einkidi continued, "I'm afraid that as long as I live in this world, I'll never get to share in this love... I'll never get to be a mother because I have dedicated my life to being an agent of death."
Thepa placed a comforting arm on Einkidi's shoulder. "I hope you get your wish."
Einkidi smiled. " I will or at least I'll die trying. This mission is my out. No more war for Draco and I after this, that was our agreement with the ministry. When this is all over, I plan to have ten little younglings running around the city, and the beasts' be nothing more than a distant memory. But if I don't make it, I just want you to know, it was an honor you shared your love with me."
Thepa stared awkwardly at the ground, quite vulnerable herself. "I think I'll die on that day. I can't imagine losing you, Claudia or Rory. You all mean so much to me."
Einkidi gave her a hug. "A part of you will. But that's the risk of agape love. And as devastating as that moment would be," Einkidi continued, "it would still be better to have it than to never have had it at all. No matter what happens to us, you will be okay. Maybe a little broken, and never quite the same, but you will be okay. Those left behind will make sure of it. As long as I'm on this plane, I'll be there for you. Even if I have to bring ten younglings with me."
Thepa sighed in relief. Suddenly, things started to click in her mind. She needed them. She needed Einkidi, Claudia, and Rory, because under their influence she was able to grow and thrive. More to the point, she finally understood what her mother had been telling her all along. The Matriarch wasn't about playing politics and being a leader. The Matriarch was about protecting, serving, and loving the Sisterhood. The Matriarch didn't need the Sisterhood, because the Matriarch had to be separate and apart from the Sisterhood. Not to isolate it, but to allow it to grow. Without the Matriarch, the Sisterhood with wither and die, just as she would without her own little Sisterhood.
"Thank you, Einkidi. I really needed to hear this."
Einkidi beamed. "What good are friends if we can't help each other out?" With a mischievous grin, she added, "Remember that in the future."
Thepa snorted. "I am not watching ten younglings for you and your poor sap of a husband."
Einkidi giggled, before turning serious once more. "Please do watch the two of them for me, especially Rory. She worries me. Don't let her do anything stupid."
"I will," she promised, but what she really meant to say was "I'll try."