Lenah, Straen, Veema, and Shi stood around the staked out individual. “Do you know what this man did?” Solution asked the four, they were all dressed in dark blue robes and wore black and white masks over their faces. He was dressed in nothing but his pants. He was rather on the portly side, short if he were standing, dark hair and with robust lips and round, puffy cheeks. His skin was pale, and it did nothing to hide the sweat that glistened in the moonlight.
He was blindfolded, hearing only Solution’s voice.
“I did nothin! Nothin!” He flapped his jaws and shook his head, his feeble muscles pulled at the ropes that had him staked out on the ground.
“Lenah, Straen, remember all the things Bracer did to you? Veema, remember the person who beat you up the day you were bought?” The three nodded. “Shi, you like your sisters, don’t you?”
Shi nodded, “They’re nice talkmates.”
“What’s a talkmate?” Veema asked the blue haired girl.
“Mated pairs make new meat by getting close with their bodies, talkmates are out of reach so you can’t body mate with them, but you get to like them by talking to. You’re talkmates, I like you.” Shi said in her usual almost empty tone.
But it was the first time she’d expressed fondness for them, and it was all they could do to stay focused when Solution cleared her throat to draw their eyes to Teacher again.
“Well, this man said that the mistress of the house used to do the things to children, that Bracer used to do to you two.” Solution said and pointed to Lenah and Straen. “If people believed him, there was always a chance, Veema, Shi, that they’d take her away, and take all of you away from each other. Now… has she done anything like that?”
Shi shook her head, “No, she’s a nice crawlmaker. She gives good meat and things, I have a nice nest now.”
“They’re called ‘beds’, Shi. But more importantly, you wouldn’t get that nest anymore, or your talkmates, or your good meat, if people believed what he was saying.” Solution explained slowly, and the four of them drew out their knives.
“Crawlmaker, Mistress I mean, she says I can’t do things like this because I want to. But I want to. Can I, Teacher? Can I cut his meat?” Shi asked in a voice of childish fury.
“Cut him. Cut him. Cut him.” One by one the other three intoned the words.
“Only if you use correct form, take your time and do it right, the first one was about whether you could or not. This is about making sure you do it ‘right’. You have all the time you need.” Solution promised, and patted their heads approvingly.
“I just said what they paid me to say! That’s all! It's not my fault!” He yowled, “I didn’t make up the lie, I just repeated it!”
Solution’s golden hair swayed as she laughed at her victim, “Now you’re paying for it.”
“Go on. Cut him, my little Pain Children, and afterwards I’ll even give you sweets or meat, a little piece for every perfect cut or thrust.” Solution promised and clapped her hands together, followed by a happy giggle.
“If I do them all right… can I have a glowy? Like what mistress has?” Shi asked.
“Do everything I say, and one day, we’ll see. Now go on, Shi. You go first.” Solution said and patted her on her upper back.
“No! No!” The subject wailed into the indifferent night on the almost empty estate, his muscles pulled as hard as they could, and the sound of the taut ropes stretching, was just a false promise of freedom he was not going to get. The tip of the blade was just over his kidney. His eyes widened beneath the blindfold. “Please don’t cut! Please don’t cut! I’m sorry I lied!”
Shi cut.
Veema cut.
Straen cut.
Lenah cut.
Flesh split beneath steel and sky split above cries of pain.
Each cut or thrust was followed by Solution going to the one to take her turn, and patting her warmly on her head. “Very good girl, very good. That is how you protect everything you have, everything you want, everyone you love… let nothing stand in the way of your mistress, especially not the lies of petty, greedy fools. His death will make you safer, and it will make me proud of you one day, and make her proud of you. Such good, good girls, all of you.” Solution whispered into every ear, until there was nothing but a limp mass of meat dripping from countless wounds.
Solution traced her fingers over them, the hesitation marks were almost entirely gone from three, and there were no marks of hesitation from Shi, as she expected.
“Never hesitate, that gives them a chance to hurt you again, we will practice more. Much more before you are old enough to work… but I think you’ve earned your treats, who wants bacon and sweet rolls?” Solution asked with a contented smile lit up by the moon.
“I do!” Four knives thrust up to the sky when the children raised their hands.
“Then go wash up, I will take care of this.” Solution licked her lips and looked down at the body, and while the Pain Children went to go clean up and change, the monster absorbed the flesh and blood left behind, until nothing was left but the ropes to say anyone was ever there.
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On the fifth day of the march when they made camp, Nua summoned Vargas to the command tent. At her left and right were Sado and Kaiji, at their own insistence. ‘They’re like mother hens with me, I swear it.’ Nua managed a contented joke in her own mind, but kept her face stoic and serious. A few feet off to one side stood Botisa.
Sergeant Vargas did not disappoint. He appeared promptly when he was summoned, and immediately sank to his knees and bowed his head. “Mistress. You called for me?”
Sado and Kaiji leaned backward so that they traded glances from behind their mistress. Each met the other with confused faces that went from raised eyebrows and darting eyes, to slow and understanding looks of satisfaction.
“I did. First, all praise to you for what you’ve done on these assignments. That being said, I have one last task for you, the reward for good work is always the same… more work.” She joked, but nobody laughed.
Nua cleared her throat, “Regardless, everybody else is getting to go back to Pas’en to rest and celebrate before we go to Komestra, I won’t deprive you of a chance to see your wife after you’ve done so much already. So I am giving you a choice. You can go see her for a day and then go on your assignment. Or you can go on your assignment first and I will give you ample time afterward.”
“My lady, what is the assignment?” Sergeant Vargas asked, and Nua answered in a deadpan voice.
“You’re to stop a centaur coalition invasion of Ambassador Botisa’s people.” Nua said it as if she were ordering him to take a shift at guard duty, and that is how Sergeant Vargas received it.
“Do I have any resources, my lady?” Vargas asked further.
“Your wits.” Nua shot back.
“The wits of a fool to stop an army, how lucky am I?” Sergeant Vargas laughed, and at ‘that’ the tent exploded with laughter at his exaggerated way of putting it.
When the laughter died Vargas answered, “I’ll go immediately, and when I’m finished, I will come back.”
The words were not lost on Nua, “But before I go, mistress. I earned the freedom of one person for my actions, give that choice to Freyjin, it’s the only thing I can do to make up for what I did to her. That will never happen again, I swear it.” He said with iron conviction, the memory of his mistress’s shadow blending with his own, their knives up, ending lives, perfect synchrony in the symphony of death that saw a city fall. He bowed his head again, and meant it.
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Nua extended her hands out from her body like she was embracing him, her radiant blue eyes threatened to swallow him in their depths. “Your return will be welcomed, and when you are successful, Sergeant Vargas, I will have a new task for you. Assuming of course, you think you’ll be good at teaching children.”
“Since I’m going to become a father, I had better be.” Sergeant Vargas replied with a wry grin.
“I suppose you’ll find out, now, go take what supplies you’ll need, including a horse, I assume Ambassador Botisa doesn’t intend to be your transportation ‘and’ your guide.” Nua winked at the centaur, who gave a look to Vargas and added a deadpan answer of…
“No. No, definitely not.”
“Right, then get ready, you leave tonight. And by ‘tonight’ I mean as soon as you’ve gotten your equipment and supplies ready.” Nua gave the command, and Vargas went up to his feet and bowed to her before straightening up, rendering a salute, and when it was returned, he departed the tent.
“Lady Aiwenor, thank you again.” Botisa said and exited the tent.
“Centaurs… they say little, but mean more of what they say. Charming, but a little blunt.” Nua thought out loud when she was left alone with Kaiji and Sado.
“When did you… when did… mistress how…?” Kaiji and Sado stumbled over each other to ask the question.
Nua shrugged it off, “We… well, I suppose you could say he just got a firsthand look at the fact that elves aren’t so bad. Plus we did work together on the wall, those who risk their lives together tend to become closer…” She threw out a few possible reasons for the change of heart, but their doubtful looks said they didn’t entirely believe it. ‘I can’t very well tell them he snuck into my tent while I was asleep, they’ll never leave me alone again if they know he got that close to me.’
So she left off their midnight talk that preceded the rest, and excused herself with the justification that she wanted to sleep.
Unable to object further, they did escort her to her private tent.
Kaiji of course, followed her in, while Sado remained outside.
The demon-elf remained quiet while she knelt and undid Nua’s boots. “Something is on your mind, isn’t it, slave?” Lady Aiwenor asked.
“Yes, my lady. I was just thinking about everything to come, Diana and your Starlings, even if she says she wants to go free, that doesn’t mean she isn’t loyal.” Kaiji suggested tentatively.
“Maybe not, but as I’ve said before, I accept no will but my own in my house. Anyone who wants something else, may want it at my expense, and I can’t have that. They all want to use me, or fuck me, or kill me. Look at Yanlim, he called me sister, I called him brother. But he killed his cousin, and his cousin’s legitimate children and wives. They were family too.” Nua answered promptly.
“But Rasgen didn’t want Sado killed, what are they? Not family at all, just old friends who fell on the wrong sides of the field. Mistress, just because some things go some way, that doesn’t mean it has to happen every time. I’m not loyal because you own me… I’m loyal because I love you…” Kaiji finished unlacing the boot, and kissed the top of it. “You can try to free me, and I’ll follow you anyway. Because I treasure you, believe in you and what you can accomplish.”
Nua lowered her hand and stroked the long dark hair of her treasured Kaiji, “Tell me, why are you saying this… the truth? You think Diana will ask for her freedom, don’t you, and you don’t want her to be removed as untrustworthy?”
Kaiji didn’t answer, not for some time. “Kaiji, I’m ordering you to tell me the truth.” Nua said in a harder voice.
Kaiji swallowed hard and kept her eyes down, just inches from the top of Nua’s boot, but she answered clearly nonetheless. “Yes, my lady. Diana has never been free in her life, but she’s been ‘around’ the free for all of it. She’s seduced many to destroy them at my behest, but they were always making choices, and… why wouldn’t she envy them?”
Kaiji’s voice held the tiniest hint of regret. “Diana might have had it easier if she’d been a scullery girl. But where she was, doing what I ordered her to do... I think that was part of why she loved destroying them, because of envy. My lady… some people are ‘more’ trustworthy if they are free than chained. If she asks… you will be the one to give her that gift, I took everything from her, you giving her all that you do… I believe she will prove me right.”
Kaiji did not need to look up to feel the doubtful expression above her. “One more question, slave. Are you speaking as my advisor, giving me good advice, or as a woman who loves the girl you raised in your service?” Nua’s question was a sharp one, and it stabbed deep.
That did not stop her from spilling out a rapid answer. “I am both… but if I must choose, it is as your advisor. If you want to experiment with this, she is the ideal candidate. You will find no one better.” Kaiji replied with passion, and only rose to her knees when the firm but soft right hand touched her cheek and drew her that far. She kissed the giving palm, “Thank you for listening, my lady. Thank you.”
Two days later, row after row of armored soldiers approached the city of Pas’en. Pounding feet and pounding halberds assaulted the walls with their noise. At the sight of this entry, there were none who did not stare. The living city of people of myriad races got out of the street as fast as they could to stop and stare at what dominated their streets.
Heavy, powerful and proud Komestran warriors responded to the cadences of their officers and did not hesitate to stare down anyone who stared too long. Sado did his best to keep from smugness. ‘Natural slaves… no. Nobody will ever say that again.’ He thought and kept an eye to the mistress who led them, the sun caught her short golden hair and made it shine almost pure white, her glinting armor cleaned of blood, polished to a shine itself. Atop his steed and staring straight ahead, there was nowhere else he wanted to be.
From the enthusiastic booming voices of the warriors behind him, they were of the same mind. Behind them came wagons of plunder, thousands upon thousands of suits of armor, swords, and other materials that would be melted down, or sold, and divided among them all. Behind that, came the slaves given to the House of Aiwenor by the House of Yan. They were a less happy lot than the soldiers, that much Sado had seen. Their heads hung, and most hid themselves under the blankets they’d been given, and tried desperately to pretend that their chains were part of some awful dream.
‘Still, I can’t pity them much, they don’t know their luck, not yet.’ He thought idly, and last came the payment of the city-states to hire her themselves. Copper coins, silver coins, gold coins, and raw unsmelted materials of all sorts, the price of the promise of victory.
‘What she’ll be able to demand as payment after setting a new Prince on his very throne and demolishing tens of thousands of southern mercenaries with just her handful… I can’t even imagine.’ That set Sado to a state of frank giddiness, and from the corner of his eye, he could see Kaiji felt the same.
Clad in her light field clothing, the demon-elf magic caster exuded power and authority. Atop her own dark horse, her expensive dark colors stood out precisely because they lacked the brightness typically associated with Pas’en. But heavily enchanted by the most powerful casters in all the city states, even those without magical gifts could feel the power coming off of her. But despite it all, she was only barely restraining her giddy happiness at how they all were at that moment.
And it held that way through all the winding streets, all the way back to the grandest estate of Pas’en after the palace of the Prince.
The drums began to beat in earnest and the fifes joined in, the watching crowds began to marvel at the wealth as word of the wagons even more than the soldiers themselves drew notice.
No journey however, endured forever, and they made the last turn into the grounds of the House of Aiwenor.
The ranks began to form up and the loud noise called servant after servant to abandon their duties and rush out of the estate to stand to the sides and watch what some had come to see as the goddess of hope, or goddess of victory, or goddess of mercy… come home at last.
Nua’s back was straight and her blue eyes clear as they swept the grounds of all that she possessed.
Walls of soldiers took synchronized turns to wheel about on the parade grounds in perfect step. The grass was doomed as far as Nua knew, but that was nothing compared to the living feet that she would use to carry her to the throne of an empress.
Finally they began to stop as the ranks lined up. Nua dismounted her horse and approached a platform where a single precious life stood waiting. Her brown hair was longer than Nua recalled, and her brown eyes brighter, and her purple tag seemed to shine a little more. Priceless could barely go to her knees fast enough, she prostrated herself at her lady’s feet, and shouted louder than Nua ever knew she could.
“Welcome home!”
The roar of the same came from thousands of throats, far more than Nua expected, but it didn’t take her long to work out what happened. ‘Oh that clever little Priceless… she alerted the soldiers families and let them come here to see this… profoundly wise, this one. I didn’t even think of that.’
Nua reached down and touched her loyal servant’s hand and drew her to rise up to her feet.
Not far behind the platform, Nua saw Freyjin waiting with the children in her care. ‘Well fed, looking taller too, and more confident.’ Nua mused and turned to face the great massed ranks.
As she did, she saw a carriage that could only belong to one man in all Pas’en, making a long slow turn into the grounds of her estate.
Instead of that, she focused on the task at hand.
“A moment of silence for the fallen. They are my children, your brothers and sisters, and we remember them.” Nua announced, and as one, heads bowed in reverence. When they rose after their mistress, she continued.
“I am a death worshipper, my faith teaches us that there is always time for death, but life is scarce, rare, and beautiful, and like a flower, it should be treasured. Men and women died out there, but not for nothing. They died fighting for those beside them and behind them, giving better lives to those they treasured. I will honor their sacrifice, those honored dead have won for their families, freedom. This very day! Those children or mates who wish to follow in the footsteps of the fallen… will have that choice honored and join the ranks of the Breakers. But whatever the choice, the choice is theirs, because they are free.”
“You did your work, and did it well, I am proud of you. But one task remains before I take you to the promised land…” She raised a hand to call for silence as murmurs grew.
“Rest! Eat! Drink, and celebrate what you’ve won! I declare seven days of holiday, all captured goods sold and divided accordingly are available for use, less what is deposited in your accounts of course… but you may enjoy your time with your families or try to expand them…” Lewd looks were plentiful between onlookers and the soldiers, though blushes were just as common.
“On the final day, pack your things, and prepare to go home.” She snapped a sharp salute the crack of which echoed over the field as the door of the carriage opened and the Prince of Pas’en stepped out.
Thousands of fists slapped thousands of chests over thousands of faithful beating hearts.
“Officers! Take command of your soldiers, and dismiss them to a well earned rest!” Nua shouted as the Prince crossed the field.
The voices of those who commanded companies and squads were plentiful, but curious eyes were more and more drawn to the brightly dressed Prince who was followed by twin half elven servants.
From where they stood beside the platform, it was hard to miss him even if he hadn’t been wearing the bright white wheel of ruffled fabric around his neck and the bright gold and green outfit with its whorling wavelike patterns covering it. ‘So, triangles are out and now waves are the new fashion. I swear, Pas’en never settles.’ Kaiji thought, but it was the intensity of the Prince’s eyes that really drew her.
Kaiji felt her mistress’s awareness as well, and the Duchessa jumped down unceremoniously so that he wouldn’t have to look up at her.
Sado felt his stomach starting to lurch.
“Welcome home, Duchessa.” The Prince said with a warm look on his face. When she saw the strip of black hair embossed into the hilt of his sword, Nua reflexively reached up behind her and touched the place where black hair was woven and bound into her gold.
‘That is hers…’ Nua thought with a dull ache that only briefly touched her expression.
Rasgen knew what it was immediately and touched the hilt of his sword. He leaned forward, “What I couldn’t protect, to remind me what to protect…” He whispered to her.
Then drew back and with his back straight, he held his eyes on the Duchessa Nua Calen Aiwenor, and then held both his hands out between the two of them.
“My lady, I learned a hard lesson. There is never a perfect time for anything, but there are always impossible times if we let ones that are good enough, slip away. I am not a perfect man, not a perfect Prince, despite being called ‘The Great’ by many. I let slip the great loves of my life, many died because I could not stand by my dearest friend. I put my city before anyone who ever stood by me, making me in a way, the worst mate a person could ask for.” Rasgen swallowed hard in spite of himself his heart was pounding.
‘Come on Rasgen, this should just be a business arrangement between the powerful.’ He lied to himself, and not convincingly enough for it to work.
“But if you join with me, all our lives, and all the lives of those we treasure, will be better, will be safer. Two pairs of hands can better bear the weight of duty than any one pair alone, no matter how strong they are. We will make one another stronger. I won’t promise to be the perfect mate, but I will be the best one I can be. So… what is your answer, Lady Aiwenor, will you become my wife?”