I lay relaxed on the bed, my arm tucked behind my head as thoughts swirled through my mind. I had spent most of the day training, I needed the distraction. When evening came, I came back to my room, took a bath, hoping for a good rest, but the Thalia came and as promised I had to fuck her. A lot.
Now I can't sleep and she sat in the middle of the bed, cross-legged and naked, working with her small knife on a wood. She seemed not to have a care in the world beyond the small wood.
For my part it was hard to care about anything when there's an imminent existential disaster about to strike. One that you are not equipped to handle. How do I even go about getting ready for that? I will have to get at least twice as strong as Thalia within a year to be able to stand a chance and even that seemed too delusional, because the way they talk about him it would have to be at least ten times. And what I hate the most about the problem was that it made the kingdom and its problems irrelevant, and I didn't like that. Thinking about the kingdom was feeling like robbing a bank for cash when there's apocalypse going on. That feeling was settling in and I really really didn't like it.
I sensed the girl turning, and glanced over to find her crawling toward me on all fours, a glint in her eyes.
She handed me a pocket-size sculpture of a six arm, four eyes monkey holding onto a tree branch with one arm. It was such an exquisite, very detailed work, and it was the third one she had given to me today. She was very good at this.
"I love it," I murmured, turning it over in my fingers.
She smiled softly before she retreated to her spot, and began scraping again. There were 3 more blocks of wood left. I watch her work, watch how easy the blade was in her hand. The blade was very sharp, but it was her technique and ease that made it more fascinating.
A distraction came to mind.
I got off the bed and went to my desk. Her eyes followed me when I got up, and they went back to what they were doing when she saw I was only going to the table. I dropped the monkey sculpture next to the sculpture of a full-bearded man carrying an incredible castle on his back. That was the most impressive work she had done, and it even got the interest of Ophelia.
I sank into the chair and sketched on loose sheets, outlining chess pieces. It felt like a waste of time, but I kept doing it. I was not a fan of the game, I was not good at it either, but still I kept drawing after the pawn piece.
A knock came to the door.
I looked up as Nadia entered, leading a dark-skinned child by the hand. A beautiful child. She had dark hair, wild and layered, falling in uneven waves that shadowed her face. Four long braids hung from the sides, tied neatly at the ends. Her ears were hidden, but it was obvious—she was a dark elf.
"I greet your majesty" Nadia greeted, dropping to one knee.
Ophelia stood up from where she laid, drawing the child's wide-eyed stare mid-greeting.
Nadia gently corrected the girl's posture, but her attention kept drifting to Ophelia, who approached with slow, deliberate steps.
Ophelia studied the child intently, while the girl fidgeted, twisting her fingers and avoiding eye contact as she dipped into a shaky bow.
"Telepathy" I said, catching Ophelia off-guard. "Can I learn it?"
"No." She slurred the word, her voice thick with her usual drawl. "Dark elf only."
The girl couldn't be more than ten years of age, and she already had 4 skills—Telepathy, Stealth, Disguise, Night vision—which meant she was most likely born with them, or at least one of them.
"What is your name?" I asked her, and Nadia translated.
"𐑦𐑮𐑥𐑪" she glanced at Nadia, clearly nervous.
"Irma, your majesty" Nadia translated.
I nodded, considering her. She was of no use to me. But there was no such thing as too many slaves.
"Can she detect the shadow mages too?" I asked Ophelia.
"I don't know" she replied. "But she can be taught"
Ophelia kept sneaking glances at the child. I didn't know seeing one of her kind would bring out this reaction from her.
I exhaled quietly. "Have her settle in," I instructed Nadia. "She is a child, she don't need to work unless necessary"
Nadia bowed. "Yes, your majesty"
I turned to Ophelia. "Teach her to be useful. You'll spend evenings with her."
She nodded, and I gestured for them to go. Ophelia had her gaze locked on the girl as they left. The child twisted back for one last look. Ophelia probably said something to make her turn.
I watched them quietly. There were emotions on the face of Ophelia. So subtle that only someone who had been with her everyday for weeks would notice.
"I never thought you would have a heart for something else" I said, getting up when the doors closed.
She turned, and for a brief second, I thought I saw fear.
I chuckled. "Don't worry I am not going to use the child against you" I said, coming to her. "I don't need to manipulate you to get whatever I want from you"
I gave her a soft, double smack across the face, with a smile.
She watched me return to bed, still standing there.
"There are specific forms I want from you" I said to Thalia, settling beside her.
She looked at me with a questioning look and I gave her the loose sheet.
"I want you to make this for me" I said pointing at the sketched pawn.
She looked at it, studying it.
"They will be this big" I showed her with my fingers. "And I want two of them. You think you can do it."
She nodded eagerly, a wide smile stretching across her face, the kind a child wears when trusted with something important.
"That's fantastic" I replied, brushing a brief kiss against her lips.
She tossed aside her old block and reached for a new one.
"There are other designs I will show you" I added, rising. "Do them for me and tell me what you want, okay?"
She nodded and went back to work.
I put on some clothes and left the room.
As I was walking the hallway, I heard loud distant celebrations outside. I looked out the window and I could see sprawling lights. I often wondered how it would be, but it turned out to be more festive than I thought.
It was the first of the 5 day festive period that marks the end of the year. Many of these people are probably not even from Drakoria, and many more are already on their way for the last day that would be Awakening Day.
I watched a long fire shot, trailing into the skies, coated with what I assumed to be water. When it reached high enough, it bust soundlessly, scattering beautiful, iridescent bubbles across the skies to the loud cheering of the celebrants.
More followed. I watched for more moments then turned away.
I reached Eowyn's room and found her alone.
"Where is Isadora?" I asked, looking around.
"I let her go to the festival," she said, not looking up.
"So we are alone?" I said with a smirk, but she didn't react to that.
She was already getting use to it.
I approached her where she was feeding the creature crystals.
The creature must have sensed my presence, it became excited.
"It seems bigger" I said, eyeing the creature.
"Incredible, isn't it" she said. "I have never seen a sudden growth as this."
"Well it is to be expected" I said, "You feed it all the time"
"I don't" she replied. "I'm yet to be sure but it doesn't seem to be the case"
She seemed so taken by the creature. I didn't understand if it was for experiment or genuine love.
She silently picked up the creature to pass to me, but I refused. She insisted, and I had no choice but to accept. The animal purred, rubbing its body against mine.
"Are you here for your sword" she asked, turning to tidy the table, stacking vials with care.
"No," I said absently, staring at the creature. For some reason I could sense our connection —a faint, warm pulse— and that gladdened it more because it purred and rubbed against me again.
I tore my gaze away. "No, not yet" I said, looking at Eowyn. "I'm here for something else"
I had given her my sword to keep for fear that it might get stolen since I barely used it.
I try to take off the creature but it refused and held on tight.
"I need to know more about that Being" I said.
She glanced at me, then casually looked away. "I am not sure there is much I can tell you"
That felt like a lie, but I didn't push it.
"How soon should I expect him"
She turned to me, silent, then she said. "In moons' time"
That sent a cold down my spine. I had barely started living again, and in months time I am suppose to lose it all. That enraged me so much, but my fear was much more.
"Do you think I stand a chance against him?"
"No." Her response was blunt, her stare unflinching. "Not in the slightest."
┌─────── ♕ ───────┐
Bairro, Montreal.
It was rare for heads of the regions, the dukes, and the Court of Montreal to meet. But for today all seven were gathered, with their most trusted military heads, to discuss military logistics and how to handle their internal affairs before the big day comes. Some have rebel issues, as every kingdom does, that have festered for years.
Duke Hahren of Dirr, lean and sharp-eyed, spoke next. "If we delay reinforcing the southern forts, the rebels will take Crossvine before frost settles."
"They'll take more than that," muttered Duke Galen, thick-necked and broad, slapping a report with the back of his hand. "They've already raided into iEdra's lands. You think they'll stop at petty thievery?"
"They've grown bold " Duke Horace added, " We have to finish it before true winter comes"
The discussion dragged on, voices overlapping in heated debate over troop allocations and supply lines.
"I will see what the capital can spare," King Cedric interjected wearily, pinching the bridge of his nose—he despised meetings, especially prolonged ones.
"How are things with Drakoria king?" asked Duke Aigor of Wishaw, the eldest among them, his tone measured and grave.
Cedric shot him a glare. "You have something to say, Aigor?"
"I am not looking to pick a fight, your majesty" Duke Aigor replied evenly, unflinching. "Awakening Day is in 4 days, we can't afford the complications current standing invites"
King Cedric's eyebrows arched. "You want me to concede to the boy?"
"It's that, or forfeit an entire generation's awakening," Duke Aigor pressed, his tone unyielding. "There's no guarantee he won't bar passage or worse—slit their throats."
"We send in more knights then!"
"How many would be enough?" Duke Aigor said, still calm.
"As many as possible damn you!" he slammed on the hard table.
"That would be declaring war too soon" Duke Aigor said, enjoying Cedric's lost of control, but he didn't show it. "Our partners won't appreciate that"
"I don't give a damn what they appreciate!" King Cedric barked, surging to his feet. "I am not conceding to that boy!"
Everybody was quiet, then Duke Hahren spoke up. "Listen to reason your—"
"No you listen!" Cedric jabbed a finger at him, then swept it across the others. "I am the king of the court! You don't tell me what to do!"
He stormed out of the chamber, the rest didn't say anything. They are use to his outbursts.
Duke Galen slipped out after him, finding Cedric stomping down the corridor, his boots echoing like thunder.
"Cedric!" he called. "Cedric!"
"What?!" he whirled. "Do not test me, Galen!"
"You are losing it" Galen said, stepping to him. "And this is not a time to be losing it"
Cedric was still enraged but he kept calm.
"This is a good opportunity." Galen went on. "Your alchemists are already fleeing. All you have to do is let go of your ego for a second, and give the boy a false victory. In months, you'll reclaim it all."
"Or you can go on as you are and lose everything" he warned.
Cedric stared at him, exhaling sharply, then turned and strode back to the chambers, Galen trailing.
His guests looked at him like they had expected him to come back.
He didn't sit.
"We will be sending a treaty to Drakoria tomorrow guaranteeing no more production or sales of soaps in exchange for passage and return of our children" he said looking at them, then his eyes settled on Duke Aigor. "Your son will be leading that envoy"
Duke Aigor frowned. "I object" he said. "There is no reason why it must be my son"
King Cedric smiled. "I don't give a damn about your objection, Aigor." he said. "Your son leads it, or no one goes."
Duke Aigor said nothing, he just stared, and King Cedric smiled at the fear he thought he saw there.
"That will be all" he said, and walked out.