Chapter 34
Proposal under the starry sky
Argland Council State
Keno strolled through the city streets of Lasierasia. Even if she was not in a hurry, arriving on time was a fixation she could not shake off.
Great fatigue enveloped her. Given her condition, a reflection of the psyche rather than the body.
A man with feline features walked past her, sliding a large number of hairs from his fur over her.
Keno passed him, pretending nothing had happened. After silently using [Clean] magic, she was dumbfounded about how much that part of town seemed to hate her.
'But I suppose we couldn't choose any other place to meet. With the bustle of people on the main street, we don't run the risk of being too conspicuous.'
"Hey, miss, can I steal you for just a moment?" A friendly-looking merman approached her for a second. He was carrying a large number of flyers with him, all depicting the same subject. "You're a human aren't you? The mask is not enough to hide from these eyes of mine," and he pointed to the teal green pupils that seemed to conceal the color of the sea within them. "I work for Mr Gorgola's campaign. Even a vote can help."
Normally, she would have avoided that clumsy campaign attempt without a second thought, but this time the vampire found herself intrigued.
"I thought the human representative was Ms Mikelana," she said, looking at the flier she was offered. At the center was depicted a not-too-young man with short gray hair and a cunning look. "And it is still a few years before there are new elections."
Races of all kinds passed by them. From simple humans and elves, to bearmen and lionmen to eye-catching heteromorphs whose appearance was bizarre crosses of various biologies. The road they were walking on had three carriageways, one for the ground creatures, one reserved for the flying ones to make emergency landings and one equipped with small pools filled with water for the amphibians to refresh themselves.
At the moment, Keno and his interlocutor were on the first one.
"Haven't you heard?" The scaly face changed to an expression of surprise. "Ms Mikelana retired from the position a few weeks ago. Nothing serious, it seems. Standing to official statements she just felt too old to continue with her duties. Although gossips insinuate that it was just something else that dictated the choice after the latest... events. Extraordinary elections have been arranged to find a replacement."
Indeed, Keno had been missing from Argland for a long time. A couple of months, if she had done her math right. That also explained why a demi-human was working for a human. Probably, that Mr. Gorgola had enlisted the help of some renowned agency for his campaign, without having to fear sabotage dictated by personal interests.
"Are you referring to the KingSlayer? Is it out of fear that Mikelana resigned?"
The merman brought a finger to his mouth, to signal her to shut up.
"Shhh... don't say that name out loud!" After checking that no one had noticed them, he continued. "The boss thinks it's all nonsense. But a public representative quitting means new elections. And new elections mean new business for us. So, will you think about casting your vote for our candidate?"
"I promise I will think about it. I might be more enticed if you could tell me something. You seem like a big talker and I have never been here in this town," she lied. Peering outside the mask she wore, Keno could see the publicist struggling to hide the skepticism. "I come from the east, along the Lake Fastela area. I have never come here to the south and I don't know what the situation is around here."
He did not believe her for a moment, but turned a deaf ear. The round gift that Keno discreetly placed on his hand alleviated any possible hesitation.
"So far so good, but there is a palpable tension in the air, almost suffocating. People are trying to carry on as if nothing is wrong, striving to go on as usual," he replied, growing gloomy for a moment. "But we know that if war with the Theocracy breaks out, these will be the first territories to be targeted."
"Do you think war is really such a close possibility?" Keno already had an idea about that, but preferred to hear what the citizens there thought. "The Theocracy will still take a long time to recover from the damage done by the elves."
"I don't think anything at all, I just do my job and shut up," then, caught up in unexpected haste, he began to walk away. "Now I must go, I still have many areas to cover and risk incurring the boss's wrath if I don't complete my rounds. I hope that was helpful!"
The vampire greeted the merman with a wave of her hand and resumed her walk.
'Can it really be as he says? Re-Estize seemed calm and the enslaved elves were let loose. Lakyus also had nothing particular to say. I don't think war is on the horizon, but what if I'm wrong? What should I do? Better gather more information before making any rash moves.'
Awareness flowed around that thought like a river pouring over a rock, flooding it. A sigh of relief was breath. No point in wrapping one's head around it before one had broken it.
She arrived at a crowded inn, whose hubbub from within devoured the slumbering silence of the street like a furious beast. Once inside, the vampire made her way through hordes and hordes of drunken revelers, so busy partying that they did not even notice a figure as small as her own.
"Hey, innkeeper," the proprietor was an ogre of great stature, blending well with the hustle and bustle of his clientele, moving like a professional dancer in a ballet through the crowd. Keno had to struggle and raise her voice several times before she caught his attention. "Finally!" She exclaimed, when he had approached her.
"How can I help you? If you need a table, I think you may have understood from the view that we are full." He muttered, probably annoyed by such an unusual customer..
"Erendil," was Keno's only reply.
The orc's eyes widened, struck by a sudden realization. The sweat that beaded his forehead became more copious and his voice more uncertain.
"Are you..." He began to speak, but the vampire did not give him time to finish. No need to lose more time.
"Yes, no need to add more. Lead me to my table." A general's order could not have been more peremptory.
"Certainly, as you wish," he replied slavishly.
They began to move among that raging torrent, Keno in silence, ignoring the cackling and shouts of happiness and celebration. Even if she did not appreciate them, she was still glad to know that there were people who could appreciate life so much at that moment, even if there was no reason in particular to do so.
"One of your comrades has already arrived. They have not explained much about the reasons for your visit. Is it something important?"
"I could tell you, but that could put you in danger. Ignorance is a gift, don't you think?"
He fell silent, taking the hint.
The inn was divided into two floors, and on the upper one was the place reserved for Keno and the people she had to meet. The noise was lessened, but still present.
"This is the table," said the orc, arriving at their destination. A hooded figure waited lazily seated. A long cobalt sword rested waiting to be unsheathed at her side. "If you need me, do not hesitate to ask. My name is Urkel, and I am at your complete disposal."
"Thank you, Urkel. Another one should arrive soon. For now, you are dismissed," replied the hooded figure.
He took his leave, leaving them alone.
Keno activated the magic [Sound Control] in order to muffle the sound of their words. Combined with the great hubbub and the camouflage ring she wore on her right ring finger, it would have been difficult for their speech to leak out.
"So you were the first to arrive, shorty." As the vampire took her seat, the hood was lowered, revealing a woman who looked apparently elderly, but whose vitality overflowed like a mountain spring. "I would have bet on our friend, but I'm glad to see you again after all this time."
"Don't call me shorty!" The affectionate nickname sounded too derisive for her taste. "Anyway, the same goes for me, Rigrit. How much has it been since last time? Two years? Maybe three," the woman's wrinkled face expressed happiness in a smile that did not seem to have suffered the passage of years. Fingers tapered like blades but exquisitely delicate touched Keno's hand in a warm greeting. "How are things in Eryuentiu?"
Rigrit guzzled from the frothy mug of beer in front of her as if it were water. Then, after licking her lips to wipe off the foam, she gave her answer. "The south has been in turmoil lately. Don't worry. The flying city is safe as usual. The thirty guardians do a better job of protecting it than I ever could. I rarely return nowadays there in the old capital, but I have subordinates who constantly keep me up to date on the situation."
"What worries you about the south? As far as I know they have always been small independent kingdoms fighting each other," the harsh conditions of the desert and the made life difficult there. It was once said that few places were as lush as that, but even if that had been true, by now a person unaware of the old stories would never have been able to tell. "The Theocracy is currently at war with one of them if I'm not mistaken."
Fights between mercenaries were a constant that never changed in those parts. Keno was not an expert on local geopolitics but she could say with certainty that there was not much to fear.
But Rigrit's expression seemed not to say as much. In deep thought, the old companion let go of her worries.
"Yes, the Theocracy is in a fight with the old Talafest Diarchy, a war that I believe will soon come to an end," she said, guzzling another mug. There was no need to specify who she believed to be the future victor. "But that is not what concerns me. You spoke of many small independent kingdoms. Well, that has not been the case for a while. I guess the news hasn't reached here yet."
"What do you mean?" Surprise gushed from the vampire's mask, her scarlet eyes widening in astonishment behind it. "I admit that between the KingSlayer and what is happening in the north there has been little time to worry about southern affairs."
Rigrit turned her gaze first to the right and then to the left, to be sure that even the walls weren't paying attention to them. Alone in that place, theirs seemed like a small universe detached from the outside reality.
"Some time ago the city of Tar-Kalaban met a new ruler. The Golden King, he calls himself. And he proclaimed that the entire south would fall under his hegemony. So far, nothing strange. Characters like these appear in every luster, and their declarations end up being absorbed into the sands of the Masakan desert. But this time, things didn't go the way they always do."
"What do you mean?" Keno asked, well aware of what answer would follow.
Rigrit remained silent for a moment to collect her thoughts.
"What's different is that now it was the truth," the tone of voice became slow, plagued by the weight of preoccupations. "In a very short time, the Golden King has united the entire surrounding under one banner. Only the Diarchy and Eryuentiu resist. The former will soon be under the rule of the Theocracy, while the latter is already under his sway. The council of seven that governs the city know that they will not be able to resist much against the forces of Tar-Kalaban. Should he succeed in taking control of the flying city, I dare not think what he might do with it."
"Even if he were to take the city, it does not mean he could have control of the old Eight Greed Kings' base. Did you not say that the guardians still mount guard?" Rebutted Keno. The extraordinary power of the Thirty eluded the normal logic of this world, it was impossible to think that a mere newly-born kingdom had sufficient strength to counter it. Only a True Dragon Lord could, indeed, perhaps not even one of that almost extinct species. "In the worst case scenario, this new king would only find himself with a handful of flies on his hands."
"There's something I haven't told you yet. You see..."
"The Golden King has publicly declared that he is the rightful heir to the Eight Greed Kings. Or the Eight Stars in the Sky, as they are called there."
A male voice intruded on the conversation. When they saw the newcomer, both Keno and Rigrit were taken aback.
"Logem!" They exclaimed in chorus. "Where have you been?"
The elf sat down next to them, accompanied by Urkel.
"Now that you are all here, may I bring you something?" The orc asked, as he gestured to the rest of the crowd to be silent.
"Just water for me," said Keno. Her body needed nothing else.
"Bring me another mug of beer," was Rigrit's request.
"For me, some tea. Lots of sugar."
"I don't think... I don't think we have any." Urkel was momentarily taken aback by Logem's order, but when he saw the one eye of the elf looking at him with such intensity that it could make the bravest heart melt, he quickly corrected himself. "But I don't think it will take long to get me some. I'll be right back."
And immediately he returned with what had been ordered. How had he been so fast, Keno thought it was best not known.
The vampire observed the elf, who was slowly tasting the hot drink. Compared to Rigrit, not a day seemed to have passed since they had spent countless adventures together.
Poor Rigrit, how did it feel to be the only one aged among the three? The only one who had felt the passage of time on her skin? At this point, only them remained of the original group.
Keno had to bury her friends.
And then their children.
Soon, it would have been the turn of the grandchildren.
Rigrit and Logem were still there. But for how much?
"So I see you're still the same grumpy guy, Logem;" a crystalline laugh tore at the vampire's doubts. "If you put all that sugar in, what's the point of having tea? Let me get you some milk at this point," said the old woman, unable to help but notice the exaggerated amount of sugar cubes the elf was tossing into the cup.
Logem raised his right hand... and scratched his nose slightly, caught by an annoying pinch.
"That's the way I like it," he merely replied, receiving a sardonic smile from Rigrit, who once again brought the mug of ale to her mouth. "You haven't changed either. Still the same vulgar woman... Didn't they teach you manners when you were little?" And he pointed to her lips, dirty of beer.
Keno emitted a low laugh behind her mask. Then, suddenly remembering what they were talking about, she asked the elf: "Is what you said true? The Golden King is truly a descendant of the Eight Greed Kings?"
"Well, that I cannot say for sure," the scar seemed to have almost disappeared under the elf's relaxed face, the vampire noticed. "But when I was in the southern reigns, years ago, there was already talk of his emerging strength. Personally, I doubt his proclamations are true, but if I am wrong, there could be trouble."
The vampire similarly shared her old comrade's opinions and concerns.
"Yet it seems so strange to me that a descendant of the old masters of the world has only now sprung up," more than five centuries, in fact, had passed since their undoing. A conflict whose magnitude was still lost in the folds of history. "And, above all, even if indeed any of that lost lineage had survived, Tsa would not have allowed it."
At the mention of their old comrade, faces darkened. The dragon's fate was unknown even to those who had once fought together with him. Still, his absence left a void in their hearts.
At the time of revelation, they had felt rage against him and his deceptions. But now the dragon's wisdom and strength were missed.
If he were still with them, how would things have changed?
"It may well be that he only intends to give himself some sort of authenticity when he asserts his supposed rights to the flying city," ventured Logem, his shoulders tightening in uncertainty. "That way it will be easier to convince the guardians to share their secrets."
"Indeed, I have heard that a new cult celebrating the eight has been founded and all other religions are being suppressed," Rigrit's voice grew hoarse, as if a toad had died in her throat. "But, believe me when I tell you that if this is just a cunning scheme to be able to fool the keepers of Erentiyu, it will be doomed from the start. The way of thinking of those beings is alien and unknown to minds like ours. They follow inflexible absolutes that cannot be distorted or changed. And those absolutes are their Masters' wishes. Morality, ethics, but also opportunity and profit take second place when compared to the will of their masters. And now that the latter are gone, only standing guard over what had once been theirs is the only semblance of life they have left."
Of the three present, only she had an idea, however approximate, of the thirty keepers after years spent in that fortress, knowing no other life.
A bird in a cage, whose open door made it no easier to escape her captivity.
Keno was seized by unpleasant memories, which she stifled with ruthless force in the innermost recesses of her mind.
"In any case, the matter deserves further investigation. I would take care of it myself, but at the moment my schedule is not lacking," Logem observed the empty cup in front of his single eye, as if intent on scanning the future at the bottom of it. Or perhaps it was just a way of not holding their inquisitive gaze, already aware of the questions that would follow. "Go ahead, I have no problems imagining what you want to know. But let's try to make this stupid dance conform to classical patterns. Who will be the first?"
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
The onus fell on Keno.
"As for this KingSlayer, are the rumors about her true? That she killed your father and stained the forest of Evasha with the blood of elves?"
Logem's face was furrowed with a devilish smile, his lips took on a deep scarlet hue.
"Yes, it's all true. Oh you should have been there! I can still see that moment. The king crawling at my feet, her approaching and piercing his heart. Splendid! Marvelous! Magnificent! Ahahahah!" Caught up in a perverse madness, he began to laugh without restraint. Then, as quickly as he had appeared, the elf's incandescent fury quieted down to make way once more for his customary calm. "Forgive this unfortunate display of happiness... It still seems so unreal to me. Sometimes I am still afraid to wake up and realize that the nightmare is never over."
"You have nothing to apologize for," Rigrit comforted him, resting a hand on his. "'Sulky as you are, it was more fun than anything else to see you externalize so many... feelings. Let us not allow ourselves to be despondent. Instead, we will celebrate that you finally managed to put an end to your revenge! After all these years... I am as incredulous as you are, and I am sincere in saying that I feel no less joy than you do."
Logem mumbled, his gesture of sincere thanks.
"I feel the same," Keno said, wondering if she should replicate the woman's gesture. She desisted. "I am happy for you and the elves, truly. But that does not detract from the fact that we are faced with an unknown force that seems entirely inclined to ally itself with our enemies. The question is therefore: can we trust her to go free?"
The elf's expression frowned. His eye glowed with a bloodlust that seemed dormant, but not quite tamed.
"What do you mean? Are you asking if we can trust her or should we eliminate her?"
"She is still a citizen of the Theocracy. Or do you mean to tell me that she doesn't share their ideas about the human race and their supposed superiority?" Quite the opposite of what Argland was professing. This, they both knew. "If we take your stories about your father as a reference, we are looking at someone even Lord Suveria and the other dragons cannot hope to beat."
"Exactly. What makes you think we could have any hope of beating her if we were to draw her wrath?"
"This I know perfectly well," a sigh hidden behind the mask, faint but not inaudible. "And therefore it is good to establish who are the friends we will be able to count on in times of need... and who are the enemies."
Silence.
Logem seemed on the verge of jumping up and abandoning them in that sitting place. Instead, after what seemed an interminable moment, he simply told it like it was.
"I have no intention of betraying the one who saved me and my people. Not that I have any sympathy for the Theocracy, on the contrary. Nevertheless, let it not be said that my debts are not repaid," before Keno could counter, he raised his hand to signal for her to stop. "Mind you. That does not mean that I will not do everything in my power to nip any conflict squarely in the bud. Most of all, the horrors of war are known to me. They have been my carers, tutors and friends. And precisely because I know them so well, I will not let others relive what I had to go through."
"Please excuse me if I seemed insensitive," a mistake she had unfortunately made far too many times. "There are still so many unknowns, and defining who are those we can trust is essential at this time. What seems rude to you, I can assure is only caution."
"Come now, there is no need to show such hostility," as usual, Rigrit showed herself the wiser of the situation. "If Riku saw you right now, I'm sure his heart would weep endlessly."
The mention of the late friend had an obvious effect on both of them.
"That fool would get in the way with a few run-on sentences about friendship and other such nonsense. Then, when he would finally realize that they were of no use other than to overheat tempers even more, he would look at us with eyes that seemed to be the very wellspring of honesty in this world. What an idiot...," despite the harshness of his words, Keno knew that what Logem felt for their old leader went far beyond that. She understood it well, since it was the same feeling she herself experienced. "How was that little poem he used to recite so much?"
"An oath carved in mud.
The horse and knight are already past.
Where is the horn he blew?
They are gone like the rain on the mountains,
like the wind in the meadows.
The days have waned in the west,
behind the hills,
into the shadows."
Hearing her sing in a whisper, Keno saw the young daredevil of yesteryear again in Rigrit. But the old woman had not disappeared, she had only finally appeared as she really was, stripped of a mantle that had never been there, except in the vampire's mind..
The weight of the years accentuated her sweetness, the wrinkles her beauty.
For a moment, the vampire felt envy. Envy at seeing how the cruelty of the passage of time could be such a blessing.
In the change, there was a poetry that wove the gifts of nature. An imperfection that tended towards infinity, a constant search for a harmony that might never be achieved.
The living celebrated youth, leaving old age as a mere bogeyman to beware of. This was only because they did not understand what it meant to be trapped forever in an arid perfection, without being able to free themselves from that condition.
If the truly brave were those who were afraid, how could one live without fearing death?
A withered flower was no less graceful than one that had just bloomed.
"You were really great, Rigrit," she interrupted the flow of her thoughts before they drowned her. "How did you remember it so well?"
The woman's cheeks turned red. Enchanting, in their innocence. "I heard it so many times, when we were alone, that it would have been impossible even for an old cobbler like me to forget it." Remembrances too painful but at the same time full of happiness invaded her mind. Keno could read Rigrit's inner memories as if they had been her own. "Now that we've cleared the air, I'd say we can divide our tasks. I will go south. I will keep an eye on both this elusive Golden King and the forces of the Theocracy there."
"I will continue to keep an eye on the KingSlayer. If there is any news worthy of note, I will report it to you," Logem said, still irritated but no less cooperative.
"Perfect," a toothy smile appeared on Rigrit's youthful face. "And you, shorty? What are you going to do? Will you stay here in Argland?"
"I told you not to call me shorty! No, I have another assignment that has been given to me. Remember the Empire of Sorsilia?"
Rigrit appeared confused. Logem, on the other hand, was all too quick to give her an answer.
"The kingdom to the west that recently got into a civil war. Refugees from those lands made it more difficult to transport refugees from the forest of Evasha, when there was still war," an unexpected bitterness was betrayed by the elf's trembling lips. "It was also one of the old kingdoms founded by the Platinum Dragon Lord, right?"
He uttered that last sentence in a low voice, to avoid being heard.
"Exactly," Keno retorted with the same intensity. "It was under the direct control of an old dragon friend of Tsa and Suveria, who acted as the emperor's prime minister. But it seems that both have disappeared, and with them most of the imperial family."
"A dragon suddenly disappearing into thin air is never a good sign. Something is rotten underneath," Rigrit's worries were not unfounded.
"There's more. The Commonwealth tried to seize some of the old territories by taking advantage of the chaos, but they seem to have been repelled. A total rout, according to the fragmentary reports we have received."
"Did they use their famous golems?" Logem asked. Each of those golems, even taken individually, was comparable to a group of adamantium-ranked adventurers.
"It would appear not. But it was still a mighty army routed. And the perpetrator would be one person, to boot."
"You don't mean..." the elf and the woman exclaimed in unison.
Keno preceded them before they could finish the line.
"Yes. We fear it is another apparition comparable to the KingSlayer," trouble never came alone. If one also added what Rirgrit had said, great changes seemed to be arriving all at once. Like a storm sweeping over everything. "All we know is that he calls himself the Witch King. Yes, a high-sounding name, I know. He has taken total control of the empire, thanks in part to his forced marriage to the last remaining princess, a distant niece of the old emperor."
"So your job is to try and figure out exactly what happened?" Rigrit's question concealed an all too obvious concern. "You're not going alone, I hope."
"Don't worry, I have been assigned a trusted guard," she reassured her. "And the mission shouldn't be too dangerous. Just trying to get some clarity on what exactly is going on there."
Both Rigrit and Logem seemed heartened. If they had any other doubts, they did not leak them.
"Then, I propose a toast!" The woman drew the attention of Urkel, who was passing just then to check that everything was going well. "May we get together again as soon as possible! No matter how long the road ahead will be, as long as we know we will have a place to return to!"
Arwintar, Baharuth Empire Capital
If E-Rantel was tradition, Arwintar was innovation.
A vibrant sensation filled the lungs, and the people walking in the streets were in constant motion, as if called by an ancestral force that urged them to move ceaselessly in search of progress to be achieved.
New things were constantly being introduced and brought out to society, giving rise to the opportunity for merchants to explore many new markets. A constant influx of goods and talents was seen in the Empire's capital. For the citizens living in the capital, it truly was a time of hope and opportunity
Antilene wandered around the city markets with Etienne, Agravaine and Melody remained in the room they had been assigned upon arrival, and the quantity of products present made the half-elf's eyes sparkle with earnest curiosity.
Equal-footed horses, companions on the return journey, marked out the distance along the dying day.
"Wow, herbs from the Minotaur Kingdom. And these spices are a speciality of Beppo Allo," she read aloud the various tags on display, mixing in the spending crowd with an extraordinary naturalness. "How much for this Pepe... Peperoncino?"
"Ahahaha, it's called pepper, miss," the merchant corrected her. A slender man with a rapt look, the skills honed by experience. "Actually, in confidence, I can tell you that it comes from places further afield than the city-state. The merchant who sold it to me, a very honest fellow, claims its origin can be traced back to a very… very far place," hands began to gesture, as if tracing invisible maps in the air. "A giant goblin kingdom located in the center of the continent. It is particularly renewed for the strongly spicy flavor it imparts to food."
Those origins were far too... exotic for her taste. But the desire to try something won over the disgust. Spicy. She was not used to it, but there was always a first time.
"And how much is the cost?" She asked, while motioning the butler to approach.
"Ten grams for one silver coin. Practically given away," the smile he gave her as a free gift didn't say as much. A marten would have looked more honest. "If you buy a hundred, I'm willing to give you a small discount. Nine coins instead of ten."
Antilene didn't seem very convinced of the fairness of that price, but she hated haggling like few other things. Even in the Theocracy, her spendthrift was infamous among the Cardinals.
Before he could hand over the bag, Etienne whispered in her ear: "try not to flaunt too much wealth, or we would risk attracting too much attention."
An eventuality the half-elf had not thought of, but it seemed appearance alone was cause for prying eyes, even in a city accustomed to the extravagances of the adventurers like that.
Heeding the advice she had received, the half-elf tried to make an offer.
"Eight silver coins and six copper coins."
"Impossible. I would end up broke." The fairy tales she listened to as a child were more believable.
Antilene made to leave, but was suddenly stopped, called back by the merchant.
"Okay, miss. Eight silver coins and eleven copper," the merchant's voice became more mellifluous. For a moment Antilene almost pitied him.
"Seven copper coins," she attempted to lower the stakes.
"Ten copper coins. Or my children will have nothing to eat tonight." The half-elf doubted she had children, but still felt strangely moved by that last statement.
"Okay, it's a deal," more important to give the idea to unwanted glances that she was not a rich, clueless lady. The final price did not matter. "You sure know how to conduct business."
"Oh, I could say as much about you, young lady," a lie disguised as a compliment. Antilene ignored it and, after paying, placed the envelope with the goods in the bag Etienne was carrying.
That was not the only stop. After only a few hours, much of the small sum they had brought with them was almost finished.
"Are you satisfied with your purchases, Lady Antilene?" The elf asked as they continued to move between the various stalls. Many other things attracted Antilene's attention, who was used to the closed markets of the Theocracy that knew great products from within but very few curiosities from outside.
Much of what had been purchased was probably junk passed off as rarities from exotic places, but Antilene was banking on something extraordinary he had managed to catch in the midst of that welter.
"I would say yes. I like to try new things. Don't you find it exciting to discover something that was unknown to you until recently, Etienne?"
The elf tightened his shoulders. It was admirable how he kept a perfect gait even with all those packages he was carrying. Perhaps she should have helped him, but the half-elf considered that the butler was happier doing all the work himself. Maybe.
"I am a simple person," he said, nimbly dodging every passer-by who crossed his path. "And old. It is with difficulty that I can break away from my habits."
"Oh, don't use the old excuse," curious how elves and humans made the same kind of justifications. Simple statements of taste were masked by external factors that influenced the outcome. "Just say that you prefer things to be done a certain way. There is no need to be afraid to show yourself for what you truly are. It is your Queen who commands you!"
"I understand perfectly, Your Majesty."
They reached a well-ventilated lay-by. The cool weather made resting on the chosen bench even more satisfying.
"Perhaps we should return, I wouldn't want Melody and Agravaine to be bored standing guard. Besides, you must be tired too, right?"
"A little rest wouldn't hurt, Your Majesty."
For someone so bound by tradition, Etienne had adapted quickly. Antilene was deeply pleased.
"The dance will be in two days. I wonder what I could do in the meantime? Moving around the city all the time would be tiring."
In retrospect, she still hadn't decided how she was going to do it, nor what the goals would be. She had a vague idea, very nebulous in fact, but nothing concrete on her hands.
'Well, I'm used to adapting to the cards I'm dealt.'
Some children walked past them. Laughter and shouts of derision might have annoyed other passers-by, but the half-elf found them rather pleasant. There was a welcome innocence and candor in those pestiferous brats.
A rag ball rolled by where she was sitting.
"Hey, lady, can you pass us the ball?" A child with grizzled golden hair approached. Dirty clothes and skinned knees were a decoration of bravery for him, judging by the pride with which he sported them.
"Sure," Antilene kicked it, under Etienne's disapproving gaze. She calibrated the force to the minimum, but it was not enough. It was never enough.
The ball flew into the air, beyond the clouds. The small group of children stared in wonder at the spectacle for a few seconds, before it began to descend, gaining more and more momentum.
If it had fallen to the ground, someone would not have come out unscathed.
The half-elf rushed to catch it, also leaping into the air to intercept it. Of course, she managed to get it before it could do any damage, but the landing caused a cloud of smoke to billow across the pitch.
Everyone began to applaud her, as all the attention was now exclusively hers.
"I think we will have to retreat now, your majesty," said Etienne, who was trying to shield curious eyes aimed at his mistress.
Antilene, embarrassed by all that scrutiny, returned the ball to the children, this time by hand.
"You are a powerhouse, lady!" Remarked one of them, his eyes glazing over in admiration. "How can we become like you?" Asked another.
"Um... eat lots of fruits and vegetables and always listen to your parents," she explained to them as she walked away, missing the disappointment that crackled at her words.
"Fiuuu, that was close!"
They returned to their rooms, where waiting for them besides Agravaine and Melody was a young blond-haired boy, accompanied by a large number of guards and attendants.
"Lady Antilene, I see you have been well received in my humble city. I can well see there was no shortage of desires to be fulfilled," he commented, noting the packages Etienne was now arranging in the room. "I am Jircniv Rune Farlord El-Nix, Emperor of Baharuth. I deeply apologize if I was unable to receive you immediately, but important affairs of state required my presence elsewhere."
He bowed, about to kiss her hand, but the half-elf quickly recoiled, leaving him startled for a second. "There is no need for you to apologize. My servant and I were able to enjoy a bit of normality without being disturbed," she broke out her most cordial smile. Oddly enough, the emperor's guards sprang swiftly to his defense. "Has something happened?" She asked, unaware whether a serious offense had been committed.
"Nono, absolutely nothing," Jircniv's face had gone from peerless confidence to grim uncertainty in the blink of an eye. "My men are just too quick to move for nothing. They do it because they care about my safety, and for that I am deeply grateful. But I confess that sometimes it would be nice to have a little more freedom."
Antilene cast a glance at her two servants who were finishing putting the day's purchases in their places. "I understand completely. I can't say I'm completely used to it yet, but sometimes it's nice to get all this attention. And I stress 'sometimes'."
They shared a light laugh.
"May I invite you for a tour of the building?" The Emperor's proposal came in a moment of weariness, after a whole day spent walking around, but Antilene considered that it would have been rude to refuse.
There would have been another, more suitable, time for idleness.
"Gladly, as long as it is not too prolonged. And I'll come alone, I don't care to tire my retainers too much."
"Sister, are you sure?" Agravaine interjected, worried. "It shouldn't be a problem for me to accompany you. It is not good for a Queen to be seen alone."
"Oh, this is just an informal occasion. There will be no need to follow protocol to the letter, will there?" She sought Jircniv's approval, which came with a nod. "Besides, it's obvious you're worn out from constant travel. This is not an invitation, but an order! Or do you think something might happen to me?"
Agravaine recoiled in defeat. Like her, Etienne and Melody reluctantly accepted their ruler's will.
Antilene started walking with Jircniv in the wings of the imperial palace. Two knights dressed entirely in black were with them, one bulky man and a well-built woman, intent on scrutinizing his every slightest movement. The half-elf judged it to be commonplace for their position, and although she found it irritating as obvious as it was, she decided to let it pass.
"How does this palace compare to those to which you are accustomed, Lady Antilene?" Jircniv's smile grew warmer, the tone of his voice more affective. "I have been a few times in the Theocracy, but never in the capital where, I understand, you grew up."
"I am not an expert in architecture, so you will excuse me if the answer is vague," she began. "The luxury that comes from these places is suffocating, almost ostentatious. In the Theocracy only that which pertains to the Gods can be celebrated and admired. Not that there cannot be exquisitely crafted decorations, but they are always aimed at a specific, higher purpose. Whereas here it is the pursuit of beauty as such that prevails. At least, from what I can see here."
Now that she paid more attention, that difference was accentuated by their clothes. The jumper and long trousers Antilene wore were practical and comfortable, perfect for facing a long, harsh winter like the one they were now experiencing.
On the other hand, Jircniv was covered in precious garments, gold and jewelry which accentuated his pleasing features. To be able to move under all that luxury he had probably undergone exhausting training.
As they continued their tour, pictures depicting previous emperors seemed to emerge from the canvases they were imprisoned in, peering out at them. Antilene, unaccustomed to all that human exaltation, felt almost crushed with discomfort.
"I understand what you mean, Lady Antilene," they crossed the threshold leading to a large hall. Chivalrous statues so realistic that it appeared they greeted them with military salutes. "Ours is a nation based on individuality. We believe that the talents of the single shine when glorified and cultivated. Our philosophy is not 'what can you do for the community?' but rather 'what can the community do for you?' Obviously, what is given is expected to be returned."
Scarlet eyes, brimming with sincerity, closed and reopened before her gaze. A cloud of inscrutable thoughts seemed to appear in the young emperor's head.
They stepped outside onto a long balcony from which one of the inner gardens could be seen.
"This is one of our troops' training sessions," discipline and ardor under the unbending gaze of a knight wearing the same armor as the bodyguards were on display. "The imperial guard is my pride. How do you think they compare to the soldiers of the Theocracy?"
Antilene watched the sunset receding beyond the hills and the sweat still beading on the men's jerky bodies.
"I do not think I am able to provide an adequate comparison," a disappointment that could not be hidden even by a skilled actor like Jircniv. "But they seem like able-bodied men to me. Willing to risk their lives to protect what they hold dear."
"I assumed the famous KingSlayer knew about military arts," if he had called her bluff, he didn't show it. "Honestly, I thought it might be possible to get some tips for our military."
He sighed, admiring the sunset. One of the guards, a woman with long blond hair, approached him and said something Antilene could not quite understand.
He stood there, saying nothing, continuing to observe the training.
The silence took the half-elf, who by now had already become accustomed to Jircniv's loquacity, by surprise.
"I am nothing special. Most of the stories told about me are exaggerated," a timid attempt to get the conversation going again. "I am willing to bet that your generals and knights are much more talented than I am."
Jircniv assumed a quizzical air. "Do you mean to say that the story that you killed your father and eliminated an army single-handedly is just hogwash?"
"N...no. Those are true."
"And that you tamed a dragon all by yourself?"
"...That is also true."
"And that you bathe in volcanic lava?"
"That is false!"
Jircniv tried to hold back a laugh. But he failed in his endeavor, and began to crack up laughing. It took him a good five minutes before he regained his composure.
"Forgive me, Lady Antilene. The expression you made was far too funny. At least I am relieved to know that there should be no problem with your cleanliness while you are my guest."
"I did not think you had much of a sense of humor, your Majesty," until that moment, Antilene's idea of him was that of a capable and confident man who had no time to waste on such nonsense. It was difficult now to make the image that had presented itself before her coincide with the one outlined just before. "A person of lesser caliber would have taken your behavior as gravely offensive. Fortunately for you, I find it amusing."
Laughter rose from his lips to his eyes, which took on newfound vitality. "I suppose I had accumulated far too much stress in the last few days. Honestly, I have thought hundreds of times in my head what would be the most suitable way to approach you. You are... different from what I expected."
"What did you expect?" She asked, defensively.
"The personification of death and war. A possible ally... or an enemy to watch out for," and when the mask gave way, Antilene could see what moved that fragile body. "Let me set the record straight. Nothing is more important to me than the prosperity of my nation. Nothing. Let them call me bloody emperor, tyrant or any other appellation that comes to mind. I will do everything in my power to ensure a better future for my subjects."
Respect.
That was what the half-elf felt for the ruler of Baharuth.
The passion and love for his people was far greater than what others in the same position felt.
Others like her.
"I have been asked something like this before," she said, as her memory returned of her brief stay in E-Rantel. "And let me tell you that I am absolutely sincere when I say that you have nothing to fear from me. Like you, I too have dear things that I want to protect. As long as they are not threatened, you will have nothing to fear."
The night had come. Stars contended the sky in droves.
"Lady Antilene, allow me to make you a proposal."
"Go ahead."
"Will you marry me?"