Nua felt rather like Shi. Kaiji and Priceless were putting her into, of all things, a completely useless dress. It was a dark blue shade embroidered with many white stars, and enchanted to shine. The sleeves were long, ending before the hand, but to cover their mistress’s false hand, they chose some white gloves the sleeves were drawn over. Kaiji was behind her, tugging tightly on the laces in the back. “Was the corset really necessary?” Lady Aiwenor asked with rhetorical frustration.
“Yes, mistress, it is.” Kaiji answered while Priceless knelt to attend to the mid heel quarter height boots. Nua felt fingers moving deftly up her back.
‘She is much faster at this kind of thing than she used to be.’ Nua thought, and glanced down at Priceless, whose equally deft fingers were nearly done with the laces of Nua’s footwear. ‘I suppose…’ She thought as she looked down, ‘that would explain it.’ Nua let out a reluctant sigh and stared out of the window of her quarters.
“I can’t assassinate anyone in this…” Nua grumbled, and felt four eyes staring at her, below and behind, “Alright I can… but not with my knife and not easily and… never mind, just finish.” Nua reluctantly retracted her statement, and a moment later, she felt Kaiji’s hands in her hair.
“What are you doing, slave?” Nua snapped, and Kaiji froze at the tone.
“I, mistress I have to remove it to comb your hair…” Kaiji stammered in response to the perceived offense of removing the weave of Sobella’s final token.
Nua lowered her head… “I’m sorry, you’re right, I shouldn’t snap at you for doing your work. I just don’t want to lose that.”
“Mistress,” Priceless spoke up as she stood, “Why don’t I take it to one of the magic casters, we can get preservation magic set on it, then you won’t have to worry about it getting destroyed by the elements and time.”
Nua would have nodded, but Kaiji was holding her hair tight as she ran her brush through the golden strands. “Yes, go ahead and do that while Kaiji sees to this. However, you are to make no detours, you stop for nothing.”
“As you say, My Lady.” Priceless said and took the ink black hair up from the dresser with the greatest of reverence, bowed, and left the room.
“I won’t touch it again without your permission, My Lady.” Kaiji said quietly as she ran the comb through the beautiful strands of gold that had been cut to shoulder length.
“Good… but I still shouldn’t get angry at you for doing your job.” Nua responded, “You’ve been nothing but loyal.”
Kaiji laid the comb down and went to a jewelry box of red wood. It was an artfully carved box bedecked with stars carved from pearls, with a small brass catch holding it closed. She opened the box and drew out a necklace, and stared at it silently.
“Kaiji?” Nua asked from over her shoulder, “Is something wrong?”
Kaiji looked the necklace over, while the chain was of white gold, like any other one might expect a high ranking noblewoman to wear, what attached to it was anything but. A four pointed star of white gold inlaid with a black pearl in the center.
Her mistress’s voice snapped her out of the brief reverie over unexpectedly finding Komestran plunder, then mentally kicked herself for not expecting that. ‘I should have expected it sooner, if anything.’ Kaiji thought, and went in front of her Duchessa.
“It was nothing… nothing of importance.” Kaiji said with a little smile, She swept her hand over her forehead all the way to the tip of her right horn, then through the black hair that was just like Sobella’s, and then she held up the necklace, putting both hands to it, she opened up the chain. “Just picking out something… perfect for you, the only star I worship. This… this fits you perfectly, hope of all Komestrans.” She put the necklace over Nua’s head, then ran her fingers down the length of whitegold chain, to cup the little star. She stared down at it, and then let it fall from her fingers to rest at Nua’s bosom.
“Well, Kaiji, how do I look? Like a proper noble of Pas’en?” Nua gave an indulgent smile to the woman, opened her arms, and Kaiji went to one knee and bowed her head with one hand over her ample breast.
“As an empress should, our guiding star, our hope, my goddess, and a beauty that will bring civil war if you are not careful.” Kaiji added with a tease.
“Kaiji…?” Nua asked in a hushed voice, she reached down and laid a hand on her forehead at the tip of her horns. “Something is wrong, isn’t it?”
“No, nothing my Duchessa.” Kaiji shook her head.
“Kaiji Najin, I permit no secrets from me.” Nua’s words were of rebuke, but her voice was affectionate, as was the hand that ran through ink dark strands to touch the skin beneath.
“It’s true, more the opposite. Almost enough to believe in fate again… the necklace, mistress, it once belonged to me. Plundered from my house after our defeat, I’m sure.” Kaiji raised her head to look up at where it lay against the lightly tanned skin of the Lady Aiwenor.
“Does it trouble you, to see me wearing something that used to be yours? For your sake… I would remove it at least.” Nua offered, but Kaiji vigorously shook her head.
“Never! I need nothing but your orders. But there is a story to that piece… it is a custom work, none like it exist in the world, it was a gift to me from Prince Syvat of house Gola. She was Prince Sado’s great, great grandmother, it was the symbol of the right to rule over Komestra. After her son fell sick with a curse, she screamed to all the court that she would give that up, if anyone could save his life. I broke the curse though at a… terrible price. So she gave me that.” Kaiji pointed up to the necklace.
“So why didn’t you take the throne then?” Nua asked, suddenly intrigued.
Kaiji laughed, “I loved her, of course, and her son. Besides, demon-elves are prized as advisors, between our magic and long lives and our… history, few cities would welcome one of my kind on the throne. At least back then. So I accepted the necklace, and went from ministry of magic to being the Prime Minister instead. Now… the symbol of rule over our people, rests around your neck… where it belongs. It is as if some divine will decreed my house be plundered for your fortune, and set the destiny of us all into your hands, as it did me.”
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Kaiji took a long, slow breath, and then filled the gap of Nua’s silence when her mistress took the necklace in hand and stared at it with greater interest. “Not to worry, I doubt very much that anyone in Pas’en will recognize it… but word will spread among us all. With all that you have done, there will not be a Komestran for a thousand days travel who does not believe that the stars themselves decree your rule. Not when I am through with this story.”
‘Acknowledged as Pas’enian royalty while wearing the symbol of rule for the dynasty of the last Komestran Prince? Is she ‘actually’ a goddess and ordered things so? Did her god ordain it? Or have the stars aligned to mark her for their favor? Or is it all just chance and she has uncommon luck?’ Kaiji wondered, but had no answers as Nua let it fall back against her breast again.
Nua put her hand to the side of Kaiji’s head and rested it there, “There is no fate, I don’t believe I was chosen, I was just lucky. Perhaps some unnatural favor of my god of death. I won’t rely on fate, Kaiji, I will ‘be’ fate. That is how I will rise to Empress. As an extension of my will, you must do the same.”
“I obey.” Kaiji said with deep humility.
Before any further words could pass between them, the door flung open and Priceless returned, her eyes were wild and face flushed from both hurry and worry, “Mistress! It’s Freyjin!” She announced.
Kaiji and Nua both focused their full attention on her.
“She’s been injured in training and is unconscious! The healer’s magic isn’t working!”
“What?! Why not?!” Nua snapped, and Priceless reflexively flinched.
“It was something Vargas did, he told the healer what it was, I don’t know, I don’t… I’m sorry I don’t remember the name but he said it took a stronger art or magic than himself to help her!” Priceless stared dumbly for a moment, old fears of indifference reared their ugly head, only to die the moment the pair took their first step.
“Where are they?” Nua demanded before the third step was made.
“They set up a cot just outside the room, they’re there, all three of them.” Priceless hurriedly explained.
“Very well, Priceless, go summon Sado and two more guards of the twenty-five, in full armor and weapons, have them meet me there. Then go and attend any early arrivals, have extra wine opened up if necessary! You’re Steward until Freyjin is able to return!” Nua snapped out the orders as they rushed over the hall.
“Yes mistress!” Priceless answered and rushed down the first set of steps while Nua held the front of her dress up to allow her to easily take long steps.
‘Curse this impractical clothing, it’s like somebody looked at women one day and said, ‘you know what, let’s make sure she can move around as little as possible, and that with as much difficulty as possible!’ Nua cursed the rich material that she presently counted as a prison, all the way to the training hall.
The healer met her and Kaiji at the door of the complex, it slid open before they even reached it. An older man in white clothing bowed deeply, no easy task for a human with his clearly advanced age. “My lady…” he said, he didn’t need to be told why she or Kaiji were there. “She is this way… the man Vargas is with her, he said what he did but… I’ve never heard of it before.” The creaky old whisper of his voice was abound with confusion as he led them on.
“What was it called?” Nua asked matter-of-factly.
“Creeping hand.” The old man uttered, Nua stopped in her tracks so suddenly that Kaiji almost ran into her.
“Say that again, old man.” Nua said with so much hatred and vitriol in her voice that Kaiji almost didn’t recognize her.
The old magic caster turned around and bowed his head as if he feared he’d displeased her. “Creeping hand, Mistress.”
“Are there slowly growing black cracks spreading out from an impact point?” Nua asked.
The old man nodded with his milky old eyes widening with surprise, “You know of it, Mistress?”
“I do.” Nua said coldly and looked over her shoulder. “Kaiji, go get my knife. Now. Run!”
Kaiji almost hesitated, and thinking the better of it, but at the order to run, she turned and sprinted as fast as she could.
“Old man, wait at the entrance, when Sado arrives with backup, bring them here then get out and keep a watch, if Vargas emerges alone, let the other twenty-five know and raise the alarm.” Nua gave the orders crisply and resumed walking, leaving the confused old man to rush to the entrance as she’d ordered him, unsure of what even to ask.
‘There’s only one people in all the world who use ‘Creeping Hand’, as far as I know, and they’re supposed to be all dead, imprisoned, or switched sides. What the hell is one doing here?!’ Nua cursed and made her way to where Freyjin was… ‘hostage?’ She wondered, then dismissed it, then considered it again.
‘Yersin, get ready to feast, I don’t know how strong this one is, but if he is who he must be… well some of them could have handled Timnah on their own.’ Nua spoke to the gem in her hand.
The faint black pulsing glow was answer enough, and she rounded the last corner smoothly.
Vargas was prostrate on the floor, “It was an accident!” He shouted, and for a moment, Nua doubted.
“Vargas… raise your head.” She said slowly, retaining a guarded posture as she turned so that she was facing him from a sideways position rather than eyes front.
“I wasn’t trying to…” he was saying as he slowly raised his head, for a moment, all was normal… such as normal ever was.
Then she saw his face shift, when he caught sight of her short hair, the memory came flooding back, the woman with the short golden hair, the memory of her face warped with a mask of hatred as her sword ripped through his armor like it didn’t even exist… and his agonized face became a twisted snarl. “You?! You killed me!” He jumped straight to his feet and struck a combat stance Nua knew could only come from one place in the world.
His left hand had only a broken sword of wood… but in the hands of a Scripture member… it was enough.
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To Priceless’s surprise, it was the Prince who arrived first, coming through the door with the sort of presence and charismatic smile that made him the center of every room. She knelt humbly and lowered herself prostrate in greeting. “My Prince.” She said reverentially.
“Stand up, slave, I am in your mistress’s home and there is little work you can do down there.” He chuckled at his humor, and though the young slave blushed, she obeyed.
“Now, where is your mistress? The last time she came to a gathering of mine, she arrived ‘very’ early. I thought I would repay the favor.” Rasgen opened his arms and the half cloak that hung draped off one shoulder fluttered a little. Priceless looked him over as she tried to think of how to answer. He wore a rich dark red shirt bedecked with blue stars, a sword, the half cloak was black and bedecked with stars formed from silver thread. His pants were of turquoise and shone like the stone after which the color was named, when the light caught them just right.
‘I may have no idea where I was born but… if I could pick a place, Komestra suits me better, the styles here could blind a rainbow.’ Priceless thought, but there was little humor to be had, she gave her answer as diplomatically as she could, bowing deeply, she said, “My Prince, the mistress is attending to an emergency. Her steward was injured during a training duel. She has rushed to visit her slave and ensure she is well.”
Prince Rasgen paused at that, “She looks after you all very well, doesn’t she, slave?”
Priceless kept her bow, “It is why we love her, the stars say we are nothing, she says we are hers, she is like a mother goddess who has taken us in from the gods who cast us out.”
Rasgen stepped imposingly close to her, took her chin, and raised her head up so that she was looking up into his face, “Careful there, slave… that is perilously close to blasphemy. I won’t say anything,” he winked, “but if the wrong person hears something of that sort…”
Priceless’s eyes immediately went wide as saucers and she covered her mouth with both hands. “My Prince… I’m sorry… I…” She started to stammer and backed hastily away.
He waved his left hand, dismissing it and releasing his hold on her chin. “I understand, now, I hope her slave is well, and I will await her… where?”
“Y-Yes of course! Let me see you to the mistress’s private salon, I’m sure she’ll want to be alerted to your coming, do you have any servants accompanying you, My Lord?” Priceless asked as she found her feet again and cursed her loose tongue.
“No, your mistress attends to my company often without a bodyguard, I should show her the same trust, especially on the day I am to mark her a Duchessa of my city.” Prince Rasgen responded generously, and though he was looking away from her, surveying the wealth of the estate, he could feel the pride in the slave at his back.
‘You can tell much about someone, by how they treat the weak. I recall hearing about how much she was feared, but she is also loved. That is something else again.’ He thought, and his estimation went up several notches while a bell somewhere rang softly.
A moment later a dark haired beauty descended from the stairs, Rasgen looked her up and down, even though she wore a common maid outfit, it was immediately clear she was far more familiar with other forms of work. It was as if she breathed sensuality.
“Diana, take the Prince to the mistress’s salon, make sure he wants for nothing, until our lady returns.” Priceless instructed crisply.
“Of course, Voice of the Mistress.” Diana said sweetly and Rasgen felt her emerald green eyes roaming over him.
“Come, My Prince, allow me to show you the comforts and pleasures offered to you by the House of Aiwenor. You may call me whatever you wish, but if you want my given name, call me ‘Diana’.” She then approached, took him by the arm as if they’d known each other their whole lives, and led him down the long hallway.
‘There… that should keep him busy for some time.’ Priceless thought with relief and looked down the opposite hall. Her hands clasped together tight as if in prayer, “Please be OK…” She whimpered, and took up a position near the door to wait for the next arrival.