Sandorn was relieved to finally get up and out of the tunnels. Dranar had looked at him slightly confused when he’d eventually met up with them at the agreed entrance, the look on Sandorn’s face no doubt troubling him. Sandorn however had smiled away any queries and waved him off, asking him instead about Dranar’s own wounds.
Frowning Dranar thankfully hadn’t pressed him. He too waved off any concerns. Though he was getting older his Beast still healed his wounds the same as any other Chimerean he assured Sandorn, only now it just took a bit longer.
They waited then, it was a small group. Joining him and Dranar were two of Dranar’s own personal guard and three of Sandorn’s. He’d chosen Grend, Sarvth, and Lear, with them he didn’t feel the need for numbers.
This time Sandorn didn’t head up first. They waited instead for the signal from above giving them the all clear before they headed up. They moved quickly once they received it. Lady Liniseh had offered to arrange a meeting place for them, one close to one of the entrances. She’d secured the old warehouse that sat on an entrance close to her manor. Waiting for them as they climbed up were the Lady herself along with four of her household guards. She was well disguised and only after she had removed her hood covering her face could Sandorn see who awaited him. She looked radiant, even in the low torchlight. The effect giving her an almost ethereal glow.
“You’ll forgive our other co-conspirators King Sandorn, things being the way they are we must move cautiously now more than ever. Of the members of the last Council, it was easiest for me to arrange a safe meeting point from your tunnels. I gladly agreed and whatever words pass between us will be passed onto those who need to hear it.”
“Wise actions Lady Liniseh, and I thank you for arranging such a meeting. I and my Brother appreciate it more than you know. I hope you will also forgive me for my bluntness but we do not have time for idle formalities. We must only discuss the matters at hand.”
Lady Liniseh smiled, “I would not have it any other way, my King. As you can imagine those of the New Order are feeling rather aggrieved by the loss of the palace. One House blames the next. There seems to be a belief that they were betrayed by someone from within the Palace guard itself. As each one of those guards foregoes any family name on admittance it is hard then to pinpoint who exactly could have performed such treachery.
However, this will not go the same as when you took the Barracks. The Palace is a symbol far above that of a mere Council chamber. They will not suffer your presence there. They plan an attack.”
Sandorn nodded, he had hoped as much, though risky this would be their opportunity, while the New Order focused on retaking their palace those Houses loyal to the Kings would sabotage from within, when the order was given to attack Sandorn would lead out his own force from the palace. Trapped any of the New Order foolish enough to try fighting would be shown no mercy.
“When?” Dranar asked.
“On dawn three days from now.” Liniseh replied, “The palace is to be surrounded. Should the gates remain closed to them then they will be forced open, any who resist will be slaughtered. Any who surrender will likely be slaughtered regardless in fact.”
Sandorn nodded and put a hand to his chin, “Three days, I would have thought sooner. Is there something we are missing?”
“I think not,” The lady replied, “Once they have taken the palace they plan to launch an immediate attack on any Barracks in the Outer city still holding out. In one brutal day, they aim to return Gorias to law and order. The three days are to make sure they’ve organised some other system of guards to put in place once they’ve gotten rid of the traitors.”
“And the 23?” Dranar asked, “You are sure they are all still willing to fight for our cause.”
“More than ever,” Liniseh stated firmly, “the New Order seeks to gain even more power after this is all through. Many Houses that do not see a future similar to theirs will be destroyed, one way or another. If a House is not willing to submit they have no other option but to join with us.”
“So it is not because of any loyalty to the King then?” Sandorn raised a brow.
Liniseh laughed, “No, but it was never about such a thing as loyalty. For it loyalty comes at a price. Always. They respected the Kings, their power, and their legacy, but they knew too that the rule of the Kings was the reason for Gorias’ prosperity. Had it remained so too would they.”
Sandorn couldn’t help feeling a little stung by her words, he knew they were true for most, though he hoped some still held the same kind of reverence for his Family as someone like Grolo evidently did.
“Have they said how they will attack?” Dranar questioned.
Liniseh nodded, “Yes, they’ve ordered all of the Houses to be present, a show of both force and unity or so they claim. They’ll use their own weaponry to launch an assault from distance before setting a team of the strongest Chimeras to break down the Gate. All in all, there will be over a hundred adult chimeras involved in the attack. More at one time than has been seen in a generation. It would be impressive, were it to go ahead.”
“Fortunately it will not,” Sandorn interjected. “I trust everyone on our side is prepared and ready. They all know their mark.”
“They do,” Liniseh assured him, “All Chimereans are to meet at the center fountain. They're the champions of the New Order will no doubt make their final speech before the attack. Before they have finished the main of our Chimereans will transform. As realisation sets we’ll inform the New Order that they are surrounded, the fountain is ironically a perfect location from which to spring a trap. There are many spots suitable for Ballistae to be placed as a safeguard should any of the New Order feel like transforming themselves. Once we have made our move you make yours. The fountain is not far from the palace, in your Chimera form you, your Brother, Dranar, and his family will be there in mere minutes, we’ll have men along the streets ready to pass on the signal. Then I leave it up to you what happens next.”
Sandorn nodded, he was impressed by Liniseh’s words. She is one familiar with plotting and schemes.
“Then we have our plans.” Dranar clapped his hand, “And fine ones they are too. Tell me Liniseh, the others, they show no signs of trepidation, we can trust that everything will go as planned.”
“You can,” she said, Sandorn saw no lie on her face. “Though King Sandorn and his Brother may have finally inspired us to act this is no spontaneous movement. This is the product of years of planning. Indeed you yourself would have been involved far sooner Dranar had you not been so watched after your last attempt. The others are as committed as I am. Gorias needs change. Together we will bring it about.”
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Sandorn gave a slight bow, King he might be but he respected wisdom, Lady Liniseh seemed to have a great deal of it.
“Then it is time we were heading back, it is not safe for any of us here. We must leave matters in your capable hands Liniseh and handle our own back at the Palace. Again let me express my gratitude, to you and all of the Houses who risk so much for this. Soon we will have realised my Father's dream.”
Sandorn made sure to acknowledge Dranar as he spoke, his father’s oldest friend smiled sadly but bowed deeply at Sandorn’s words. Lady Liniseh gave an elegant curtsy.
With that they began to head back out, Sandorn was about to head down when Lady Liniseh called out to him.
“My King. May I have a word. In private?”
Dranar glanced at Liniseh, evidently surprised by her request. Sandorn himself was a little confused by it but tapped Dranar to let him know it was ok and turned back. Dranar looked like he was going to say something but thought better of it, instead he just nodded at Sandorn and headed down.
“Ah yes, Lady Liniseh? Is anything the matter?”
Lady Liniseh smiled but said nothing, looking over Sandorn’s shoulder to make sure the others had gone back down. She waved her guards away and they took several steps back, though noticeably their eyes never left Sandorn’s. They don’t seem to trust their King all that much.
“My King, I wondered if perhaps I might ask you a personal question?”
“You might, though we must not delay long.”
Liniseh nodded, “Of course not, I will be brief. You see if all should go as planned you will be the true and official King of Gorias within three days. As King much will be expected of you. One such thing will be to have a wife, a Queen Aureate. If Gorias is to have a King it should have a Queen.”
Sandorn had expected many things but not this, he kept his face stony however, and began to scratch his jaw.
“I see. Well Lady Liniseh I admit I have not given it thought. But I admire your tenacity and preparation. Though I have many things on my mind I’ll admit without hesitancy that you are indeed a beautiful woman. I would be lying if I said I did not find you most alluring.”
“You….I…”
Sandorn was pleased to finally break the severe expression on Liniseh’s face.
She took a moment to compose herself before she shook her head, “You know that is not what I meant King Sandorn.”
She eyed him, not unpleasantly.
“Though I am glad to hear you say such things we both know it was not I that was being referred to. I am far too old in any case.”
“Thirty-odd years is not so old.”
“I am forty-two, and you know as much.” Liniseh fixed him with an unimpressed stare, though Sandorn saw something else behind it.
Sandorn shrugged, “I care little about age, it is a problem for you?”
“A problem? You jest with me King Sandorn. For me, it is no problem, but that hardly comes into it.”
“It does for me,” Sandorn stated, he smiled slightly and took a step forward.
“Liniseh scoffed but took no step back.
“A queen would need to produce an heir, King Sandorn. I’m afraid there is not much time left for me on that front.”
“I wouldn’t need much time.”
Liniseh raised a brow, “Is that so?”
Sandorn held her gaze for a moment. He appreciated what the Lady was doing, already planning for the future, he wondered who she would have proposed, one of her daughters perhaps, a relative definitely, someone who she could use to leverage further power within the city. He understood her aim and respected it, but he would not make it easy for her, no one manipulated him. Besides, he doubted anyone she proposed would measure up well to her. She truly is the essence of Chimerean beauty, he perceived, and what’s more, is that she knows it.
They stood looking into the others’ eyes for what seemed an age, finally, Liniseh shook her head.
“You are full of surprises King Sandorn, I will give you that.”
“Is that all you will give me?”
Liniseh tilted her head, frowning slightly but with a faint smile on her lips.
Sandorn held her gaze, he knew he had pushed but had felt compelled to.
He needed to be careful he knew, women like Lady Liniseh were not easy to read, indeed by this very conversation alone she had made him break character.
“A bold question.”
Sandorn took her hand in his, she offered hers freely “Bold yes. But one I would like you to think on. As I will think on what you said about a Queen. But for now, I must be back to the palace. There is much to plan.”
“Much indeed,” Liniseh agreed. “Very well, King Sandorn, we shall both think.”
With that Liniseh leaned in slightly to kiss Sandorn gently on the cheek.
He smiled, gave a final short bow, and with that headed back down into the passages.
As he looked back one last time his eyes met Liniseh as she watched him leave.
Her eyes narrowed though she gave no indication that she saw him looking. She appeared completely lost in thought. Sandorn hoped that a good thing.
Back down he found Grend, Sarvth, and Lear eagerly awaiting him. Dranar stood to the side with his three men. They all looked up as he joined them.
“Everything in order my King?”
“Everything is in order Lord Dranar, let’s head back.
Dranar smiled slightly as he looked at Sandorn.
“A productive chat? Lady Liniseh is a fine speaker.”
“Very fine.”
Dranar smiled but raised his hands as if in surrender.
“Be careful King, that is all I will say. Be careful. A lady as beautiful as her does not come without trouble.”
“I always am,” Sandorn responded smiling as he headed off down the passage.
Lear, Sarvth, and Grend hurried to keep up with him.
“It was a personal matter then was it?” Grend raised a brow.
Sandorn smiled, “Yes personal, as in between me and Lady Liniseh.”
“How personal?” Lear asked.
“Personal enough,” Sandorn replied.
“Ah King Sandorn,” Sarvth called, “I believe you may have something on your cheek, something personal perhaps.”
Sandorn marched on ahead ignoring the jibes from behind. Shaking his head he laughed as he refused any request to elaborate.
He touched his cheek and found that Lady Liniseh had indeed left her mark on him. He wondered if he had left his on her.