The two-day honeymoon had been everything Aurabelle hoped for.
And considerably more exhausting than she had expected.
She had always considered herself energetic.
Even before becoming a Vixen, Aurabelle had been unusually strong for a Rabbitkin.
Then came the iPoints.
Strength.
Speed.
Endurance.
Vitality.
Month after month, she had invested in herself.
Built herself.
Tested herself.
She could run farther than she ever had before.
Fight longer.
Hit harder.
Recover faster.
And yet...
After two uninterrupted days alone with Jax...
Aurabelle had discovered one deeply troubling truth.
She still couldn't wear him out.
That should have frustrated her.
Instead...
She couldn't stop smiling.
The wagon rolled lazily toward Burrowlane as Aurabelle rested against her husband's shoulder.
Her entire body felt pleasantly exhausted.
Her legs protested every unnecessary movement.
And somewhere deep inside...
A competitive part of her had already begun planning for next time.
Jax looked down at her.
"You've been smiling for twenty minutes."
"No, I haven't."
"You're smiling now."
Aurabelle immediately flattened her expression.
Jax waited.
Three seconds.
The smile returned.
He laughed.
She poked him weakly.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were going to."
"I was thinking."
"That's worse."
She settled against him again.
Fields rolled past.
Fences.
Trees.
Burrowlane somewhere beyond the next few hills.
Aurabelle sighed happily.
"I could've used another day."
Jax nodded.
"We could go back."
Her ears immediately rose.
For one dangerous second...
She considered it.
Then she remembered what waited north of Burrowlane.
Her ears lowered again.
"...No."
"No?"
"We have a Raid Cave."
Jax smiled.
"There she is."
Aurabelle sat slightly straighter.
"Nobody has cleared it."
"I remember."
"So we have to."
"Naturally."
She nodded firmly.
Then slowly melted back against his shoulder.
"But maybe after a nap."
"Also naturally."
By the time they returned to Burrowlane...
The rest of the Vixens were already waiting.
Nyxian saw the wagon first.
Her grin appeared immediately.
Aurabelle saw it.
And knew exactly what it meant.
She stepped down from the wagon slowly, stretched her aching legs, and smiled right back.
Nyxian folded her arms.
"Well..."
Aurabelle's ears twitched.
"Go ahead."
"Oh, I don't think I need to."
Zee was already blushing.
Llandra wore the composed expression of someone who remembered receiving this exact treatment after her own honeymoon.
Nyxian tapped an imaginary notification in the air.
"Congratulations, Mrs. Darquebane."
Aurabelle lifted her chin proudly.
"Thank you."
"Very productive honeymoon."
"Extremely."
Nyxian's grin widened.
"We noticed."
"I assumed you would."
A pause.
Nyxian tilted her head.
"That was a lot of firsts."
Aurabelle's confidence cracked just enough for a little color to reach her cheeks.
But she refused to surrender.
"I'm his wife now."
She shrugged.
"Apparently the System appreciates newlyweds."
Llandra laughed.
"Oh, it does."
Aurabelle immediately pointed at her.
"And I seem to remember someone giving me plenty of opportunities to discover that after her honeymoon."
Llandra's smile disappeared.
Nyxian's head whipped toward her.
"Oh?"
Llandra narrowed her eyes at Aurabelle.
"Don't."
Aurabelle grinned.
"What?"
"You know exactly what."
Zee covered her mouth, laughing.
Nyxian looked delighted.
"I feel like I've missed important historical research."
"You have," Aurabelle said.
Llandra folded her arms.
"I liked you better before you got married."
"No, you didn't."
"No."
Llandra smiled.
"I really didn't."
Nyxian wrapped an arm around Aurabelle's shoulders.
"So..."
She glanced toward Jax.
"...did you accomplish your mission?"
Aurabelle followed her gaze.
Jax had already started unloading their things from the wagon, wisely pretending not to hear any of this.
Her ears drooped slightly.
"No."
Nyxian blinked.
"You couldn't wear him out?"
Aurabelle sighed.
"Not even close."
Llandra gave her a sympathetic nod.
"I could have warned you."
"You did."
"And?"
"I thought I was stronger."
"You are."
Llandra glanced toward Jax.
"That's not the problem."
Aurabelle considered that.
"...Fair."
Then her ears rose again.
"But I learned a lot."
Jax stopped unloading the wagon.
Slowly...
He looked over his shoulder.
Nyxian burst out laughing.
Zee turned even redder.
Llandra shook her head.
Aurabelle smiled innocently.
"What?"
Jax stared at his new wife for another second.
Then returned to the luggage.
"I'm staying out of this conversation."
"Smart man," Llandra said.
Aurabelle slipped free of Nyxian and walked toward him.
She wrapped both arms around his waist from behind.
"Tired?" Jax asked.
"Exhausted."
"Regrets?"
She squeezed him tighter.
"Not one."
The teasing lasted all the way back to Jonathan and Arial's farm.
Arial hugged Aurabelle immediately.
Jonathan shook Jax's hand.
Auron looked between the newlyweds.
Then at Aurabelle.
Then Jax.
His eyes narrowed.
"What?" Aurabelle asked.
"You both look entirely too pleased with yourselves."
Her ears shot upright.
"AURON!"
He grinned.
"Just making an observation."
Jax nodded.
"Sharp man."
"JAX!"
The family erupted in laughter.
Aurabelle briefly considered turning around and walking back to the cabin.
The Vixens had remained in Burrowlane for a reason.
The Raid Cave still waited.
Equipment had been organized.
Supplies prepared.
Maps gathered.
World Breaker was ready.
Starpiercer.
Sanctaris.
Lilith's Kiss.
Peacemaker.
The following morning...
They would head north.
But Jax still had business to settle.
And this time...
It involved the future of Burrowlane.
Auron approached him near the edge of the family farm.
Several brothers followed.
Jonathan came with them.
And beside Jonathan stood his eldest son.
A broad-shouldered Rabbitkin named Alden.
Alden was older than Auron and Aurabelle.
Where Auron carried himself with restless ambition...
Alden was quieter.
Measured.
He had spent most of his life working beside Jonathan.
When Jonathan wasn't available...
People often went to Alden.
Not because he demanded authority.
Because he'd earned it.
Jax noticed that immediately.
Auron stopped in front of him.
"We've been talking."
Jax looked toward the group.
"That keeps happening."
Auron ignored him.
"About your five-year promise."
Jax smiled.
"Oh?"
"You said if we trusted you for five years..."
"...none of us would need to work these fields again unless we wanted to."
"I did."
One brother nodded.
"We remembered."
"I hoped you would."
Auron looked across the surrounding farms.
"So..."
He hesitated.
"...what exactly are we building?"
Jax turned toward the fields.
That was the question he'd been waiting for.
"Not a farm."
The brothers exchanged looks.
Jonathan raised an eyebrow.
Jax smiled.
"A farming network."
Auron's ears shifted.
"What's the difference?"
"Scale."
Jax pointed toward the nearest fields.
"You already know how to grow food."
"Better than I ever will."
"You have fertile land."
"Generations of experience."
"Families that already know how to work together."
"And more product than you can efficiently sell."
Auron nodded.
"We talked about that."
"And now you have access to my transportation network."
Jax pointed back toward the portal in the distance.
"Which means you're no longer limited to nearby markets."
He began counting on his fingers.
"Solmere."
"Hairbro."
"Crescent City."
"Eventually the Elven Kingdom."
"My restaurants."
"Grocery markets."
"Hotels."
"Guild kitchens."
"Schools."
"Anyone feeding large numbers of people."
The joking stopped.
Everyone listened.
Jax continued.
"I want you to start buying land."
Auron glanced toward Jonathan.
Jonathan remained silent.
"Every worthwhile parcel around Burrowlane that isn't already owned."
"Not recklessly."
"Not at ridiculous prices."
"But steadily."
Alden finally spoke.
"And who owns it?"
Jax looked toward him.
"You do."
Alden's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The family?"
"The family."
Jax nodded.
"I'm not interested in owning Burrowlane."
"I'm interested in investing in people who already know what they're doing."
Jonathan smiled faintly.
That answer mattered.
Jax continued.
"I'll provide financing for expansion."
"Equipment."
"Storage."
"Refrigeration."
"Transportation."
"Distribution."
"You provide land management."
"Farmers."
"Experience."
"And product."
Auron slowly smiled.
"You invest."
"We produce."
"We distribute."
"Everyone makes money."
Jax pointed at him.
"You were listening."
"You've said it before."
"Good."
Auron glanced toward the fields.
"How much equipment?"
Jax smiled.
"Enough that several of you are going to become very unpopular with people who sell shovels."
One brother laughed.
Jax continued.
"Plows."
"Harvesting equipment."
"Irrigation."
"Storage systems."
"Eventually machinery that lets fewer people cultivate significantly more land."
Alden looked toward the fields.
"And what happens to everyone who works here now?"
"We grow."
Jax answered immediately.
"We don't replace good workers."
"We give them more land to work."
"Then we hire."
Jonathan's ears shifted.
Jax looked toward him.
"Burrowlane won't lose its farmers."
"It'll need more."
Auron smiled.
"So in five years..."
He looked at Jax.
"...we're rich?"
Jax laughed.
"There it is."
"You promised."
"I promised you'd be wealthy if you listened."
"Same thing."
"No."
Jax pointed toward him.
"That's why you're not managing the money."
Several brothers laughed.
Auron stared at Jax.
"Then what am I doing?"
"Sales."
Auron stopped.
"Sales?"
Jax nodded.
"You like people."
"You talk too much."
The brothers immediately started laughing harder.
Auron glared at them.
Jax continued.
"You aren't intimidated easily."
"You remember what people say."
"And you're competitive."
Auron folded his arms.
"Those sounded increasingly less complimentary."
"They're excellent qualities in sales."
Jax stepped closer.
"You're coming with me."
"Where?"
"Everywhere."
Auron blinked.
"Solmere."
"My restaurants."
"Markets."
"Hotels."
"Other towns."
"You're going to meet the people buying your family's food."
Auron's expression slowly changed.
Jax continued.
"You'll learn what they need."
"What sells."
"What doesn't."
"What quality they expect."
"What quantity."
"What seasons create shortages."
"What chefs want more of."
"What customers complain about."
He pointed toward Auron.
"Then you bring that information home."
"You'll head distribution."
"Orders."
"Storage."
"Delivery."
"If one of my restaurants orders five hundred pounds of potatoes..."
"...you make sure five hundred pounds of good potatoes arrive."
"If produce is spoiling in storage..."
"...you find out why."
"If a restaurant isn't happy..."
"...you fix it before I hear about it."
Auron stared at him.
"That's..."
He thought about it.
"...a lot."
"Yep."
"And you think I can do that?"
"Yep."
Auron looked suspicious.
"Why?"
"Because you tried to squeeze my hand hard enough to intimidate me five minutes after meeting me."
Auron stared.
The brothers laughed.
Jax continued.
"You didn't know who I was."
"You didn't care."
"You had a job."
"Protect your sister."
"You did it."
"Badly."
Auron frowned.
"But confidently."
Jonathan laughed.
Auron slowly smiled.
"...Alright."
Jax extended his hand.
Auron accepted it.
"Head of sales and distribution."
Auron tested the words.
"I like that."
"Good."
"Do I get a title?"
"No."
"Business cards?"
"No."
"A fancy office?"
"Absolutely not."
Auron looked toward Aurabelle.
"Your husband is cheap."
From nearby, Aurabelle called back.
"He's a merchant!"
Jax nodded approvingly.
"She understands."
Then Jax looked toward Alden.
"You're staying here."
Alden nodded.
"I assumed."
"But you're going to have another job."
Jonathan glanced toward his oldest son.
Jax continued.
"Burrowlane is connected to the Kingdom now."
"Trade."
"Transportation."
"Investment."
"Eventually..."
"...representation."
Alden's expression became more serious.
Jax looked toward Jonathan.
"This village listens to you."
Jonathan said nothing.
That wasn't pride.
Simply fact.
"You know these people."
"You know what they want."
"And more importantly..."
"...what they don't want."
Jonathan nodded.
Jax turned toward Alden.
"But I don't expect Jonathan to spend his life traveling to Solmere for meetings."
Alden smiled slightly.
"My father would rather chew through his own leg."
Jonathan frowned.
"I would not."
Arial called from the porch.
"You absolutely would!"
Everyone laughed.
Jax looked back toward Alden.
"I want you to represent Burrowlane."
Alden became still.
"To the United Kingdoms?"
"With your father's blessing."
Jax glanced toward Jonathan.
"And the village's."
"This isn't me appointing you."
"You'll speak to the community."
"If they want you..."
"...you'll become Burrowlane's voice when the Kingdom needs one."
Alden looked toward his father.
Jonathan studied him for several seconds.
Then nodded.
"You've been doing half of that job for years already."
Alden swallowed.
It was the first time Jax had seen him look genuinely unsettled.
"You think I can?"
Jonathan smiled.
"I know you can."
Alden nodded slowly.
Jax extended his hand.
Alden accepted it.
"Welcome to politics."
Alden immediately frowned.
"I thought this was a reward."
Jax laughed.
"It isn't."
By afternoon...
The framework had begun to take shape.
Not just a farm.
Not merely a family business.
Something larger.
A cooperative network of Burrowlane farms.
The exact name could come later.
Auron had already rejected six possibilities.
Nyxian suggested Bunny's Bounty.
Aurabelle threatened her with World Breaker.
The matter was tabled.
But the idea remained.
Families would retain their farms.
Expansion would come through cooperation rather than Jax buying everything himself.
The Darquebane businesses would provide financing, transportation, refrigeration, equipment, and guaranteed customers.
Burrowlane would provide food.
Fresh food.
Reliable food.
Produce harvested in the morning could reach a Solmere restaurant that evening.
Jax could already see what that meant.
Better ingredients.
Less waste.
Reliable supply.
New grocery markets.
Restaurants serving vegetables harvested hours earlier instead of days.
Fruit that didn't rot before reaching distant cities.
Milk transported safely.
Meat stored properly.
And eventually...
Burrowlane becoming the agricultural heart of the United Kingdoms.
Jonathan stared across the fields as Jax explained it.
"Five years?"
Jax nodded.
"Give me five."
Jonathan smiled.
"And after that?"
Jax looked toward the farms.
"After that..."
"...you won't need me."
That answer earned him another smile.
The following morning...
It was time to leave.
Arial arrived carrying enough food for a military expedition.
Aurabelle stared at the baskets.
"Mom."
"You need provisions."
"We're going into a Raid Cave."
"You'll still get hungry."
"Jax cooks."
Arial stopped.
She looked toward Jax.
Then at the food.
Then back toward her daughter.
"...Fair."
She removed two baskets.
Aurabelle stared.
"Only two?"
"Don't push it."
Nyxian laughed.
Final hugs followed.
Jonathan embraced Aurabelle.
Arial held her longer.
Auron hugged his twin and whispered something that earned him a punch in the shoulder.
Alden wished them luck.
Then looked toward Jax.
"Bring everyone back."
Jax nodded.
"That's the plan."
The Vixens gathered their equipment.
Aurabelle lifted World Breaker.
Auron saw it for the first time.
"Can I hold it once?"
Bunny handed it to him. The head immediately dropped to the ground.
He used all of his strength and balance to lift it upright get the head of the hammer into the air, before Aurabelle reached over and grabbed it with one hand.
"Sorry, but it's ench-"
Nyxian cut in, "Really, really heavy. Not just anyone can carry it with normal strength."
Auron's eyes grew wide. How strong is his sister now?
Its familiar weight settled perfectly into her hands. She swung it around her body and lifted it high.
She looked toward the northern hills.
Her smile returned.
Honeymoon over.
Time to find out what she could really do.
Meanwhile — Alexandria
Hundreds of miles away...
A very different meeting was beginning.
Deep inside the Imperial Palace...
Three Generals waited before the Queen.
Korvin.
Veynor.
Malreth.
No servants.
No guards.
No King.
The chamber had been sealed before any of them entered.
Korvin stood nearest the long stone table.
Tall.
Thin.
Perfectly composed.
His hands rested behind his back.
His clothing immaculate.
His expression unreadable.
Across from him...
General Veynor sat with deliberate casualness.
The youngest of Alexandria's remaining Generals had made ambition into an art form.
He smiled easily.
Spoke confidently.
And watched everyone around him as though waiting for them to make the mistake that would create his next promotion.
Korvin disliked him.
Veynor knew.
Veynor disliked Korvin.
Korvin knew that too.
Neither considered the information particularly interesting.
Malreth sat apart from them.
Comfortably.
The poison master preferred conflict when someone else supplied it.
He watched Korvin.
Watched Veynor.
And seemed perpetually entertained by the possibility that one might eventually destroy the other.
The doors opened.
All three Generals stood immediately.
The Queen entered.
Whatever hostility existed between them disappeared from their faces.
Not because it vanished.
Because none of them were stupid enough to display it in front of her.
She sat.
They remained standing.
"Report."
Korvin moved first.
Of course he did.
"The Beastkin Territories continue consolidating around Solmere."
The Queen gave the faintest nod.
She had never once referred to them as the United Kingdoms.
A kingdom required legitimacy.
She refused to grant them any.
Korvin continued.
"Trade has increased substantially."
"Portal infrastructure continues expanding."
"Merchant routes have been reorganized."
"Additional communities are beginning formal agreements with Solmere."
"The Elven Kingdom continues participating openly."
Veynor stopped tapping one finger against the table.
The Queen noticed.
She noticed everything.
"And Darquebane?"
Korvin produced several documents.
"Present at the center of nearly every major development."
The Queen looked down.
Jax Darquebane.
His name appeared repeatedly.
Trade agreements.
Guild reports.
Businesses.
Adventurer sightings.
Political negotiations.
Korvin continued.
"We now have a slightly clearer picture."
"Approximately eighteen months ago..."
"...Jax Darquebane did not exist."
Malreth leaned forward.
Korvin corrected himself.
"More accurately..."
"...we can find no evidence that he existed."
"No birth record."
"No family."
"No military service."
"No guild history."
"No merchant history."
"No property."
"No school."
"No known hometown."
Veynor finally spoke.
"Everyone comes from somewhere."
Korvin looked toward him.
"Excellent."
Veynor's smile tightened.
"I'll include that insight in my final report."
Malreth covered his mouth with one hand.
The Queen looked toward him.
Malreth immediately lowered it.
Korvin continued.
"He appears near Solmere."
"Confused."
"Unfamiliar with regional geography."
"Unfamiliar with politics."
"Apparently unfamiliar with several common customs."
The Queen's fingers slowly tapped against her chair.
"Amnesia?"
"Possible."
"Deception?"
"Possible."
"Summoned?"
Silence.
Veynor's amusement disappeared.
Malreth sat straighter.
Korvin studied the Queen.
"We have found nothing confirming that."
"You have found nothing disproving it."
"No, Your Majesty."
"Then don't confuse ignorance with evidence."
Korvin bowed his head.
"Understood."
The Queen gestured.
"Continue."
Korvin slid another page forward.
"He became associated with four female adventurers."
"Llandra."
"Aurabelle."
"Zephrial."
"Nyxian."
"The Vixens."
Veynor smiled.
"Yes."
"The famous harem."
Korvin ignored him.
"One is Elven."
"One Rabbitkin."
"One Luminari."
"One Succubus."
Malreth leaned back.
"Perhaps the man simply appreciates diplomacy."
Veynor laughed.
Even the Queen smiled.
Korvin waited patiently.
Then continued.
"The important detail isn't their relationship."
Veynor looked toward him.
"Speak for yourself."
"The important detail..."
Korvin repeated calmly...
"...is what happened after they met him."
That silenced Veynor.
"Llandra was considered talented before Darquebane."
"She is now believed capable of creating multiple combat duplicates while concealing her actual body."
"Aurabelle's physical strength has risen beyond normal Rabbitkin limits."
"Zephrial's healing capabilities have expanded dramatically."
"And Nyxian's combat capabilities have similarly increased."
Malreth raised an eyebrow.
"All after joining him?"
"That appears to be the pattern."
The Queen looked toward the reports.
"So he strengthens those around him."
"We cannot establish causation."
Veynor smiled.
"You really hate saying things you can't prove."
Korvin looked at him.
"It's why my reports are useful."
Veynor's smile disappeared.
Malreth quietly enjoyed himself.
The Queen continued reading.
"And his creatures?"
That brought Veynor fully into the conversation.
Korvin noticed immediately.
"Still poorly understood."
"Approximately one thousand were observed during the Crescent Moon engagement."
"Various species."
"Wolves."
"Ogres."
"Serpents."
"Armored knights."
"Flying creatures."
"A gryphon."
"And one extremely large dragon."
Veynor leaned forward.
"Summoned?"
"Possibly."
"Bound?"
"Unknown."
"Domesticated?"
Korvin looked at him.
"Do you commonly domesticate fifty-foot dragons?"
Veynor's expression remained flat.
"No."
"Then probably not."
Malreth smiled.
The Queen said nothing.
Veynor ignored them.
"Do the creatures think independently?"
"We don't know."
"Do they communicate?"
"Unknown."
"Can they be killed?"
Korvin paused.
"Yes."
Veynor's attention sharpened.
"But?"
Korvin hated the next part.
"Several reports suggest destroyed creatures may later return."
Veynor became completely still.
"Explain."
"I cannot."
"Resurrected?"
"Possibly."
"Re-summoned?"
"Possibly."
"Recreated?"
"Possibly."
Veynor leaned back.
"You've become remarkably fond of that word."
Korvin's eyes narrowed.
"I would rather say 'possibly' than invent answers."
The Queen smiled faintly.
"Correct."
Veynor said nothing.
Point to Korvin.
Everyone in the room knew it.
Korvin continued.
"The dragon appears capable of producing temperatures sufficient to damage stone."
"Survivors consistently described it as the most terrifying creature on the battlefield."
Veynor's eyes remained fixed on him.
"I want to interview one."
Korvin's expression didn't change.
"One what?"
"One of the survivors."
A pause.
"You executed them."
Silence.
Malreth looked down.
Veynor's jaw tightened.
Korvin hadn't raised his voice.
Hadn't smiled.
Hadn't emphasized the words.
He didn't need to.
The Queen slowly looked between them.
"And whose failure was that?"
Neither answered.
Her smile appeared.
"Excellent."
She leaned back.
"Remember this."
"Information destroyed cannot be interrogated later."
Malreth nodded.
Veynor remained silent.
Korvin continued.
"His economic expansion may be equally dangerous."
That earned a look from Malreth.
"More dangerous than the dragon?"
"Potentially."
Korvin began listing.
"Restaurants."
"Warehouses."
"Schools."
"Transportation."
"Manufacturing."
"Guild investments."
"Real estate."
"Portal infrastructure."
"Trade agreements."
"Food distribution."
"Adventurer support."
"Political influence."
"In approximately eighteen months."
Malreth's amusement slowly faded.
Veynor stopped looking bored.
The Queen looked down at Jax's name.
"Too fast."
"Yes."
Korvin nodded.
"Extremely."
"For comparison, merchant families often require generations to establish what Darquebane appears to have built in months."
"And his wealth?"
"Unknown."
Korvin hated saying it.
"Estimate."
"Enormous."
Malreth laughed once.
"Very precise."
Korvin turned his eyes toward him.
"My specialty is intelligence."
"Not guessing."
Malreth smiled.
"And yet you continue arriving with unknowns."
There it was.
Quiet.
Polite.
A knife slipped between ribs.
Korvin smiled back.
"If you'd prefer..."
"...I can poison the reports."
Veynor laughed.
Malreth's smile remained.
But his eyes changed.
The Queen watched all three.
Amused.
"Children."
The word ended it.
Immediately.
The three Generals straightened.
The Queen rested her chin against one hand.
"What does Darquebane want?"
Korvin answered carefully.
"Growth."
"Security."
"Prosperity."
"Protection for those he considers his people."
"Anything more personal?"
"Unknown."
"What frightens him?"
"Unknown."
"What does he protect?"
"His cities."
"His businesses."
"His allies."
"His women."
Veynor smiled again.
"There."
He looked toward the Queen.
"There's your opening."
Korvin didn't bother looking at him.
"No."
Veynor's eyes narrowed.
"No?"
"Not yet."
"You just said—"
"I said he protects them."
Korvin finally turned.
"That doesn't mean approaching them is intelligent."
Veynor leaned forward.
"They're weaknesses."
"They're S-Rank adventurers."
"Those concepts are not mutually exclusive."
"No."
Korvin smiled pleasantly.
"But attempting to abduct one of the most famous women on the continent while she's protected by the man who destroyed an Imperial army would be..."
He paused.
"...energetic."
Malreth chuckled.
Veynor's jaw tightened.
"I never said abduct."
"No."
Korvin nodded.
"You simply thought it very loudly."
Veynor stood.
Korvin didn't move.
Malreth's eyes brightened.
Then—
The Queen laughed.
Softly.
That was worse than shouting.
Both men immediately stopped.
"Sit."
Veynor sat.
The Queen looked toward Korvin.
"You enjoy provoking him."
"No, Your Majesty."
She raised an eyebrow.
Korvin paused.
"...Occasionally."
Malreth laughed.
Even Veynor's mouth twitched.
The Queen's smile faded.
"Your rivalry is useful."
She looked between the three.
"Until it isn't."
Silence returned.
"You are not friends."
"I have no interest in making you friends."
Her eyes moved toward Korvin.
"Korvin wants my favor."
Then Veynor.
"So does Veynor."
Finally Malreth.
"And Malreth would happily watch both of you destroy each other if it improved his position."
Malreth bowed his head.
"Your Majesty gives me too much credit."
"No."
Her smile returned.
"Exactly enough."
Malreth wisely stopped speaking.
The Queen stood.
"I don't require affection."
"I require results."
She turned toward Korvin.
"You will lead the investigation."
Korvin bowed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Veynor's expression did not change.
His eyes did.
Korvin noticed.
Naturally.
"Malreth."
"Your Majesty?"
"You will support Korvin where your skills are useful."
Malreth smiled.
"Of course."
Korvin trusted that smile about as much as he trusted poison.
Which seemed appropriate.
Then the Queen looked toward Veynor.
"You will wait."
That hurt.
Everyone knew it.
Veynor bowed his head.
"As you command."
"Patiently."
A pause.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Good."
She returned to her chair.
"I want facts."
"Not newspaper stories."
"Not tavern rumors."
"Not frightened witnesses describing monsters through smoke."
"I want to know what Jax Darquebane is."
Korvin nodded.
"I'll find out."
"And Korvin..."
He stopped.
"If you fail..."
The Queen's gaze slowly moved toward Veynor.
The young General kept his face perfectly still.
His eyes betrayed him.
"...someone else will be given the opportunity."
Korvin looked toward Veynor.
Only for a heartbeat.
Then back toward the Queen.
"As you command."
The meeting was over.
Korvin left first.
Veynor waited several seconds before following.
Not because courtesy demanded it.
Because he refused to look like he was following Korvin.
Malreth watched both men disappear.
The Queen noticed.
"You enjoyed that."
Malreth smiled.
"Competition improves performance."
"Sometimes."
"And other times?"
The Queen looked toward the closed doors.
"One competitor removes the other."
Malreth's smile widened.
"Efficient."
"Very."
He bowed.
Then departed.
The Queen remained alone.
The reports stayed spread across the table.
One name appeared again.
And again.
And again.
Jax Darquebane.
A human without a history.
A merchant accumulating wealth faster than established dynasties.
A warrior capable of destroying an Imperial General.
A commander of creatures that should not exist.
A man whose companions became dramatically stronger after joining him.
An anomaly.
For the first time in a very long while...
The Queen had encountered something she didn't understand.
She smiled.
Not because that frightened her.
Because it interested her.
And in Alexandria...
Being interesting to the Queen was rarely a good thing.