Chapter XXVii: Politics

For the first time, this new life I had found myself in felt anything like my old life.

For a month and a half, ninety days, I woke up, went to a forge I'd borrowed, and worked on my projects. It was not entirely the same, of course. Emilia and I worked together to bring the dresses for our favorite people to life.

I thanked the gods that she knew what she was doing. And that one of her duties was to fit the queen and her retainers with current styles befitting their station. Something I was not at all knowledgeable about. My preference for Meryl's clothes, clothes for any of the delightful ladies that have graced me with their presence, would have been a little more scandalous and easy to slip out of.

In the afternoons, I'd still spar with the First Knight and Lady Shari. They wanted to make sure that my fighting skills were as sharp as the blades I was making. And Shari wanted to test out her new toys.

I still did etiquette reading in the library with the queen in the evenings, and pleasure reading whenever I could get away with it. I found several more of her favorites and they became some of mine too. Though, sometimes, her taste was questionable. She had a real soft spot for a story where a man and a ghost fell in love, which seemed self-indulgent.

I'd still have dinner with the queen and her retainers. As a lord, I was expected to attend more political dinners and give my opinions about anything and everything, regardless of my actual knowledge on the subject. Most of which were traps designed to trick me into looking foolish. Which I didn't always avoid as deftly as I should.

Not all of the dinners were like that, though. Some of them were just Carmella, Meryl, Emilia and I. Shari would join in as well, when she was free of her duties as Almoner. And those were always my favorite nights. I still lived in a gods damned castle. But for the first time, I felt like I belonged. I had something to do that wasn't being a trophy, just being present because I entertained them, or theoretically fulfilled some vague prophecy. And it felt nice being able to do things for them; with them.

Shari was still struggling to gain her feet in her new station. She was pretty good at sifting out whether or not someone was trying to get more than they needed, at finding fraud, even at figuring out novel ways of distributing aid. But she wasn't particularly tactful, which had caused almost as many issues as I have.

And I could not really blame her for that. People had started coming to me for advice on how best to approach the queen about certain issues. With an official title and as someone who obviously had the queen's eye, people now figured that I was someone to be used.

"Lord Johann," a finely dressed man beseeched inside the royal forge. "I've come to ask for your advice." I was busy carving some final touches into a new sword for Lady Carmella, something that would utilise her ridiculous strength a little better. I didn't meet the man's eye, already having little interest in the conversation. It wasn't the first time this had happened and wouldn't be the last. After he realized I wouldn't respond, the man cleared his throat and continued on, "You see, my lord, I'm going through a land dispute with a neighbor. We can't quite come to an agreement as to where his orchards end and my fields begin." He paused for a moment, presumably waiting for me to ask a clarifying question. When I did not, he deflated. "I fear if this is not resolved, things may get bloody. Word is that he is buying mercenaries to try and force his way."

"I'm no surveyor," I replied flatly, tapping a chisel into the blade with a small hammer. "I'm also no mercenary."

"O-of course not, Lord Johann," the man stammered. "I never meant to imply- merely that..." He trailed off. I met his gaze, hand on the hilt of a very heavy sword, an alloy of the heavy starmetal and the cloudy Gith Silver. The man's eyes bounced between me and the blade and he swallowed. Between my reputation as a 'dragon slayer' and the man who had killed the eldest Sharcaol brother, some people seemed to think that I was some wild man, liable to strike out at a moment's notice.

Unfortunately, that didn't buy me much peace, as people still wanted to step on my head on the way to the queen's favor. The man continued on, having collected himself again. "I was merely hoping that the queen could intercede. Before this comes to blows."

"Queen Meryl is a fair woman," I said, keeping my tone even, despite the annoyance billowing up in my chest. "I'm sure she can find an equitable solution."

"W-well, of course she can," the man cut in. "It's just that my neighbor, you see, he's an unreasonable man. A good man, but irrational." I watched the man, nonplussed. I had no real reason to doubt the man. Other than his words and demeanor, of course. An honest man would just go to the queen and get it handled. Hells, it sounds like the lower courts could resolve this. "And he is a powerful landlord in the area. Owns several farms in the area and insists that the whole of the land should be his, even if I bought it fair and square."

"I understand," I replied softly, examining my work.

"You do?" He asked, chest billowing up with hope.

"You wish for me to speak to the queen on your behalf." There was no heat in my tone.

"Y-yes! You would do that for me?" I resisted the urge to wipe my face. My hands were covered in soot and smoke. Instead, I grabbed a rag and started wiping them as I studied the man.

"I could speak to the queen." He stood straighter and I thought he might burst. Time to deflate him. "But I warn you, my word will not carry alone. The queen does not respect a man who cannot speak for himself." That pushed his billows back down a bit, I thought proudly. This was the gambit I had landed on: never actually promising to speak to the queen and pushing them to deal with her directly. Or one of her underlings. She had an entire court system to deal with all manner of issues. Still, sometimes self-important people thought their matters large enough to warrant her attention. Like this land dispute. His neighbor might honestly be overreaching. But equally likely was just that this man bought some land from someone and didn't actually know where the boundary limits were. Or he did and wanted to expand himself. "Look, friend, the queen is fair. Her royal surveyors are fair. Present your argument and she'll see its worth."

The man left, a little less buoyant than he had been upon entering. Which was all the better. He was insufferable, I thought, uncharitably. And he wasn't the only insufferable one. Lady Patricia had also made herself a regular in my life.

"Oh, Johann," she began as I walked to the kitchens. She seldom used my new title. Which, with anyone else, would've been a relief. But for her, it was a sign of disrespect. A brazen one, at that. "You must visit my estates. We have quite the view. Beautiful hills and plains and forests as far as the eye can see. I'm certain that you would love it."

"While that does sound lovely, I don't know when I'll have the time, Lady Patricia," I half-mumbled, making my forward.

"Nonsense!" She waved a dismissive hand. "I'm sure that Queen Meryl would be happy to let you have time off from shoeing horses and sharpening knives. In fact," She murmured, tapping her chin, pretending whatever thought she was having was just coming to her. "Why not ask her along? She works so hard and is in desperate need of a holiday."

"I'll talk to her about it," I promised. She beamed and quickly bustled away, her overstuffed dress bouncing behind her. I hate making promises like that, but it's the easiest way to deal with her. It wasn't likely to happen soon. Meryl was still preparing for the deposition of Governor Sharcaol. It was under the guise of a treaty meeting, but the adventurers the crown had sent had uncovered quite a bit and Lady Morgana, Meryl's older cousin, and governor of Babrycg opposite to Sharcaol, thought it worth a meeting, apparently.

Occasionally, when I did not have other meetings or wasn't annoying my lovers, I would take a drink with Sir Bizzbid. I had snubbed him in the past because I had thought him a ladder-climbing sycophant. And he absolutely was that, but somewhere, underneath all of that pomp, was a spine. And he did know the court better than I did. I wouldn't take his word as gospel, but I figured I could use him as he wanted to use me. Even if the thought does make me sick. Still, it wasn't as though I could ever let my guard down around the man. He had a strange way of sussing out things he shouldn't know.

"So, lad. You're the queen's prophesied third, aren't you?" The knight asked casually one night. I choked on the whiskey we were sharing. "After the First Knight and the Head Maid."

"Well," I managed through a rough throat after clearing my windpipe of the burning liquid. "Maybe. That's the going hypothesis, at least."

"You doubt it?" He asked, raising a brow at me.

I shrugged noncommittally. "Not really my concern."

"You're not concerned that you're fated to do great things?" He turned to face me more fully, not even bothering to hide that he was studying me.

"From the way the queen explained it, I'm not fated to do much of anything." I stared into the fire flickering in the hearth. "She chose me, so I became a part of it. If she had chosen differently, it wouldn't be me. And that's taking for granted that the prophecy is real. Something we should be taking seriously."

"Have you ever read it?" He asked. I shrugged again. I had, but it hadn't made much sense to me. He frowned and took out and unfolded a piece of parchment and began reciting, "Molten magic pours down through the royal line, manifesting before she takes shape." From over the paper he weighed my reaction. I closed my eyes and leaned against the hearth. "Any clue what that means?"

"Queen Meryl said she satisfied that part when she was three or so. I think it had something to do with her manifesting magic from a young age."

"I watched her grow up. She has always had powerful magicks in her," the knight muttered noncommittally. "Lit the curtains aflame as a toddler. Her poor maid ran out panicking. Rightfully so, mind you."

"I've always thought she was pretty magical," I agreed with a soft grin spreading across my face. "Though, I hadn't quite realized how literal that was." Sir Bizzbid snorted and took another drink. "Why are you asking?"

"Your hands have gotten much defter, but I fear your wits have not, Lord Johann," he said without heat. Unlike Lady Patricia, this knight always used my new title, though I doubted there was any more respect in it for him. "I was seeing if you were staying for the prophecy or if you were some glory seeker."

"Being at her side, the side of any of them, really, is more than enough glory."

"You are a strange knight, boy." He swirled the drink in his hand. "But a knight nonetheless." His eyes focused on the paper again, and he recited, "Lastly, a common smith crafts arms four, cutting rotten ties, recasting passions dulled." He looked up from the paper again. "Do you think the prophecy was talking about Sharcaol and Babrycg or that dragon?"

I rubbed my face and shrugged despondently. "I don't believe in the prophecy. I don't know how they work. I don't get them, and, frankly, I don't care to. I'm here until she tells me to go away. Until she doesn't need me. Or want me. Whatever the case may be."

"How did I know you were going to say something like that?" He let the rhetorical question hang in the air before taking a final swig of the whiskey and putting the glass down. "Well, I'll be here to watch over you and her both." He started walking away, and then, over his shoulder, he added, "Warden against any of the fallout coming."

I gave no acknowledgement of his passing. Instead I just stared into the fire, letting the drink warm in my hand.

Not too long after, I woke early and dressed myself. In spending so much time with my Head Maid, I had learned something of the fashions of the lands. I dressed in fine stockings, trousers, and a silk tunic, matching the queen's colors: purple, silver, and black. And I donned my new armor. As practice for the First Knight's armor, I had made myself a set. Not quite as defensive as hers. It was a simple breastplate made of Myrnil. True to form, I couldn't leave it undecorated and had spent some time etching designs into it, as I had with every weapon I'd made so far.

I had also repaired Carmella's full plate. Which gave me the opportunity to take down her measurements. Her armor was something that wasn't custom made for her. "I don't need such luxuries. Better for someone else to waste their coin and time on." Her voice echoed through my head. I grinned wryly.

I hadn't managed to keep Shari or Emilia's gifts secret, but with the help of those two, we had kept today under wraps. And it didn't hurt that I had gifts to bribe them with. Not that it was necessary. Smiling, despite myself, I shook my head. Gods, I've been negotiating so much that even giving gifts seems like some transaction.

Still, today was the perfect day to give gifts. Something to lighten what very well could become a dour situation. Our entire company was heading out to Lady Patricia's south easterly estates, partially at my insistence, to meet up with a delegation from Babrycg. Her manor house was nestled in the Braney Woods, which stood between Bayfield City and Babrycg. We would include Lord Sharcaol and Lady Morgana under the pretense of peace negotiations. The adventurers the crown had sent down there had uncovered some nasty business. I wasn't privy to most of it, but from what I'd heard, it shouldn't be hard to depose Sharcaol.

Finally dressed and ready, with sword and dagger at my hip and armor shining in the predawn torchlight, I left the room. As I did, a figure loped to my side and stole my arm, pressing it into her chest. A smile spread across my face and I pushed deeper into her embrace. "Done with the finishing touches?"

"Yep." Emilia was positively beaming. I didn't need to check our bond to know how proud she was of our work together. She was warm and felt so nice, I almost considered stopping to neck in the hallway. There's just too much to do, I lamented. I caught her studying my profile in the periphery of my eye. She spoke, "So, Johann..."

"Mm?" I asked, anxiety spiking. Whenever she gets like this, she's up to something.

"You seem nervous." The maid pouted her bloodred lips cutely.

"Out with your scheme already," I muttered darkly.

"Scheme? Me? Never," she said innocently. I met her gaze. "I was just wondering what your intentions with Lady Shari are." I stopped and stared at her. She didn't let go of my arm.

"What do you mean?" I asked, with a quickening pulse.

"You are a lord," she explained, almost singing. "She's a lady. Shouldn't it be obvious? You have responsibilities to her."

"I have responsibilities to you all," I said noncommittally, continuing on. She matched my pace.

"Exactly!" Emilia agreed. "So, are you going to marry her or bond with her? Both?"

"Is there a difference?" I asked, feeling myself flush at the memory of the bonding ritual I'd performed with the other three women.

"Oh, a big one," she said, an impish grin spreading across her face. "For one, since neither of you are natively magical, for one of them, you'd need help." She licked her lips in what I was pretty sure was an unconscious motion.

"Oh. Is that all you're after?" I asked, relief flooding through me. "You know, I kind of figured you'd ask eventually. Next time just ask instead of all of this politicking. Gods know I get enough of that from everyone else."

"Ask what?" She asked.

"All of you have something that you enjoy the most. Meryl likes to be controlled. Or rather, she likes to test control on her," I began, shrugging. "Carmella doesn't have a passive bone in her body." Then I met the maid's gaze. "You like control, too; you love it when people submit to you. But I don't think that's your only fetish."

"Oh?" She asked, pulling away a little.

"I saw you that night, you know. With Carmella." Her dark face flushed and her lips twitched. "You like to watch. And now you're wondering how Shari and I handle each other."

"I'm not the only one who's curious," she said a little defensively. I smiled at her. She was willing and able to give orders without so much as a blush, but this was something that embarrassed her? Gods, please never let me not find these women so endlessly fascinating. Emilia spoke again, "Meryl also wants to see it a little closer. She likes to watch more than I do. I just thought I'd offer to help you. Satisfy your responsibilities to the Lady Ahtri."

"Uh huh. We haven't discussed it," I answered honestly. I could've pressed the teasing further. She would, I thought. But I have enough to handle today. "As far as marriage or a bond goes. We also haven't discussed the possibility of an audience, but given Shari's attitude, I think she'd be delighted. Especially if you brought Meryl."

"And how do you feel about it?"

"If we didn't have so much to do today, none of us would be wearing clothes and I'd enjoy each of you until we all collapsed."

"Brave words, dragon slayer," a voice called from down the hall. I smiled at the First Knight. She was already in her armor.

"You're just in time. I need you."

"Oh? Is there trouble?" She asked, hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

"Just come on. It's important." We made our way to the forge. I packed a large chest yesterday. It was actually one of the chests we found in the dragon's lair. I'd emptied most of it already, with all of the little projects I'd been doing. I picked up one handle and hefted, Carmella going to the other side. We both grunted with the effort.

"Gods, blacksmith. What do you have in this damned thing?" The knight asked.

"Supplies," I lied. Half-lied, really. She looked at me skeptically, probably having seen through me immediately. We hefted the chest over to Meryl's quarters as Emilia went to retrieve Shari. Meryl wasn't quite conscious yet. She seldom woke before dawn. And she's been up late preparing the legal documents and precedents she was going to cite against Sharcaol. I watched the gentle rise and fall of her breast and the soft stirring of her sleeping until we were all gathered together. The First Knight kneeled next to me and enjoyed the show with me.

Emilia and Shari entered after a brief knock. Carmella hadn't bothered when we entered, opting to let her sleep a little longer. Probably just to get a chance to steal this beautiful sight. The knock was just enough to raise the queen from her slumbers. Bleary eyed, she blinked at her retainers gathered around her. "What's happening? Did I oversleep again?"

"Not yet," I murmured, leaning in for a kiss. She smiled against my lips and slowly sat up, revealing her delightfully nude form. Between all of the teasing and how gorgeous she was, I felt a stirring down below, but I pushed it to the side. "But we do have something to do before we head out to the meeting."

"Oh?" The queen's face screwed up in concentration. "I think I had everything planned out already."

"Do you?" I asked innocently. "What are you wearing?"

"I h-had a dress picked out already," Meryl said, confusion and a yawn battling over her words.

"Which one?" Emilia chimed in, which did little to allay our queen's confusion.

"Alright, you two. Enough. What scheme have you all concocted?" The First Knight broke in.

"Well, this is a pretty important meeting." I made my way over to the chest. "So, we figured we could all use an upgrade.

"An upgrade?" Meryl asked eagerly, crawling to the edge of her bed, unashamed of her nudity. And I stared unabashedly at her breasts hanging down. She puffed them out when she noticed me ogling her. "What kind of upgrade?"

"My queen, if you would enlighten the area so we can enlighten you?" I requested, grinning. She rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers. Lamps and candles all lit with a soft flame at her command. And I opened the chest. I dug out a few dresses and placed them on the bed. There were two for Meryl, and one for each of the other three women. Emilia took the opportunity to pass the others out.

"What are these?" Shari asked, eyes glittering as she let the dress unfold before her. "I don't recognize this fabric." I grinned broadly.

"Blacksmith, you can't expect me to go to a military meeting in a dress," Carmella chided.

"You probably could in this dress, but I see your point," I replied, gesturing to the chest again. "That's why I made this for you, too." The knight stepped forward and plucked up the myrnil helmet, a feather dancing from its top as she did.

"You think it'll fit?" She asked, considering the armor.

"I've spent a lot of time examining your... form," I offered with a grin.

"And if it doesn't fit?"

"Then I'll have to study you more closely." The knight gave me one of her rare grins and then started doffing her old armor. I helped her to take it from a ten minute process to something in the realm of reasonable.

"What do you mean that she might be able to wear this into battle?" Shari asked, still fingering the material.

"These dresses are special. Only made possible because of our brilliant and honorable maid." Emilia curtseyed, revealing her disdain for undergarments to the room.

"Do you know what this means?" Shari asked Caremlla, who shrugged.

"Some excuse they've cooked up to ogle us, no doubt." Her harsh words were belied by the blush and slight smile spreading across her face. Which only darkened when I pinched her ass as we continued to swap her armor.

"Stop being gorgeous and we won't want to ogle you so much. Meryl's dress is made of spider-silk. It's as tough and resistant as leathers naturally."

"But you still get to peer down it into the valley of my breasts."

"And eye your ass, my queen," I added with a lascivious grin. Then sobered. "The rest of your dresses are made of a combination of spider-silk and Myrnil." Carmella stopped and stared at me, mouth open, one of her straps hanging loose. I took over her and smirked at her. "It's not quite as good as plate mail. Maybe not even half plate, but it should match a breast plate. At least from our tests. With all of the benefits of a dress." I glanced over to Shari. "Oh. I also made something else for you. It's in the chest."

The Ipet-Mau wandered over to the chest and took out and plucked out another breastplate. It wasn't too dissimilar to mine, but matched her form. Hers was made of Fadesteel; its dark coloring would help her blend in, if the situation ever called for it. I plucked out the sword I'd made for Carmella and passed it over to her.

My ladies donned their gifts and I marveled at them. Meryl's dress was a deep purple that shimmered in the light. It had a somewhat low neckline, but a gauzy white material that gave a hint of her skin underneath, that covered her chest and arms. While her shape was emphasized, she wasn't showing much in the way of leg, which was a shame. Her second dress was decidedly more salacious, but that would have to wait for another time.

Lady Carmella was testing the motion of her new armor and getting used to the relative lack of weight. It was a fourth of what she was used to, but I didn't think it would cause her many issues. She hadn't put on her dress yet and I couldn't wait to see her in it, but right now, she was married to her duty. Still, with properly fitted armor, detailed to my liking, she looked every part of the Valkyrie I knew her to be.

Shari had also donned her breastplate, after she realized that the style Emilia had opted for was in the Descan fashion and that its best use was to get me to drool over her, and not necessarily a somber political function. Even in the breast plate, I was not entirely drool free. I had designed it to accommodate, not crush her generous chest, while doing my best to avoid guiding blades into weak points. A tricky bit of crafting, but definitely worth the effort.

Emilia's dark red dress was designed in her normal fashion, a revealing variant on the maid's clothes she wore, which revealed her chest and thighs. Like with Meryl's, she'd opted to cover the breast window with a sheer material, still giving an eyeful, but hopefully defending against something more. She had also made stockings of the same material, meaning her plump thighs wouldn't be completely defenseless.

Somewhat hesitantly, I checked our bonds, which promptly overwhelmed me with a veritable flood of emotions. Our queen was composed on the outside, only wearing a satisfied smirk as any indication of her internal feelings. Inside, she was a burning inferno of love and desire. She wanted to make a mess of the new dress with each of her lovers and would be, were we not so busy for the day. Carmella's emotions were more raw and she was tamping them down. Joy and appreciation battled against her will and despite her considerable will, they almost overcame her. Emilia's emotions didn't have the taint of surprise, as she'd been in on the gambit the entire time, but seeing her loves and Shari all decked out in our hard work had her bursting with pride.

"You know," Meryl began, crossing the room to wrap her arms around me. "With such generous gifts, most lords would expect something in return."

"Your gratitude is more than payment enough," I said, slipping my arm around her and squeezing her tightly. She squeaked and slapped my chest.

"Flatterer."

"Only for you four," I said seriously. I glanced between them, enjoying the show of them exploring their new items.

I couldn't get a read on Shari's emotions. She was keeping everything close to her chest, which disappointed me a little. Breaking away from Meryl, I made my way over to her. "How are you doing, Shar?"

"I'm great, Johann," she said. I don't know that many other people would've picked up on it, but, even without a preternatural bond, I knew she was lying.

"You are great," I agreed, brushing some of her hair back out of her face. "But you're also lying." She scrunched up her face in annoyance.

"I hate that."

"That you're lying?" I asked a little wryly. "Me too."

"That you know I'm lying," she retorted, pouting cutely. "I am a great liar. And I miss when you were some defenseless lamb. Easy prey for me."

"You gave me these teeth," I replied, stroking her neck, she shivered against my touch, but didn't lean away. "Carmella gave me claws. Something about making me less naive, as I recall."

"We were fools to do so. Now you're a strutting cock, crowing and puffing your feathers." Neither of us could quite keep the smirks off of our faces.

"We can deal with my cock later," I murmured as I pulled her into me. She purred into my touch. "What is it?"

"When you made me my new weapons, I was excited." She cast her eyes down, lips twitching in distaste. "I had never received something so personal. Made for me. I was never worthy of such a thing."

"I'm sure you have had plenty of nice things before."

"Things that I stole." I raised a brow at her and she waved her hand. "Don't get me wrong. I have no issue taking things that I want or need. Anything and everything is mine if I want it."

"But this is different?" I asked.

"Yes. It was made for me. Not stolen, not taken; given."

"So?"

"Am I worth all this effort? I could've gotten my own things. Replaced everything I lost. Hells, I have a legitimate job now. A title. I could afford to buy these things."

"Not at my prices," I replied with a grin. She risked a glance up at me. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into a hug, our breastplates clinking against each other. "You are worth all the effort in the world. I want you around. I want to see you use those weapons. Preferably against someone else, but I'll take what I can get." I tapped the sword hanging off of her belt. "I want to see this arm dented and scratched as it protects your life. Because I don't think there's a world where no one ever tries to hurt us again." I paused for a moment, lifting her chin and meeting her gaze. "And most of all, I want to see you in that dress. I want to be red in the face from embarrassment and lust and then in exertion as I take advantage of it."

Lady Ahtri licked her lips, tongue dancing across her sharp canines. "I would like that, too. A lot."

"Emilia asked..." I hesitated and she waited patiently, unblinking in that way that only cats can manage. I sighed and continued. "Do you have any interest in bonding with me? In the elven sense."

"A soul bond?" She asked, considering the thought. "That's what you've done with the others, correct? Having my soul bared entirely to another person." She shivered at the thought. "It is not how we handle things in Desca. We have a form of marriage that we practice. Though, you'd already be disqualified. At least for a while."

"Why's that?" I couldn't help but frown at the thought of being denied her. Briefly, my mind tried to follow that line of thinking; how different that was from just a little while ago. But I cut it short.

"Because you're the one asking," she explained, a small, genuine smile spreading across her dark lips. "I would have to ask you."

"I didn't ask to get married," I countered. "I asked if you wanted to bond. Emilia volunteered to help."

"Help?" The cat asked, eyebrow raised.

"She wants to watch."

"Mm," she purred. "Interesting. I'll consider it. But for now, we have business to attend to."

Our company headed out, with Sir Bizzbid and Lady Patricia in tow. The lady had volunteered her estates and needed to be there to act as a host to both parties. Which meant that she'd received quite the boost in importance. She was a relatively minor lady, as far as things went. Bizzbid was meant to represent a calmer head militarily than I or even the First Knight were expected to offer. Age and wisdom. And a desire to climb to higher station, I thought, a little bitterly.

Meryl had opted to teleport us there. She couldn't take whole armies with her, but we were hoping that wouldn't be necessary. She had to confer with the noblewoman at length to get the description specific enough to find it arcanely. However such things were done. With a dramatic wave of the queen's hand, space and sky split open before us, revealing beautiful rolling plains and a manor house off in the distance.

She hadn't oversold the view. A younger version of me would've gaped. Even her manor grounds were more than enough to consume the whole of Sofen, with large open fields and plains stretching out far, until they were hugged tight in the embrace of forests. The house itself felt quaint next to the castle, but was huge compared to just about anything else.

Meryl and Lady Patricia spoke softly to one another, their heads together about something. Emilia seemed pretty distracted, too, awkwardly adjusting her father's sword and mine. She hadn't quite figured out how to wear both comfortably. Bizzbid's horse seemed nervous, but he just patted the beast's neck absently, softly cooing. As always, the First Knight's gaze crawled over the surrounding area suspiciously, which set off my own nerves. I felt the hair on the back of my neck creep up.

"What is it, cat?" Carmella asked when her eyes fell upon my Ipet-Mau. Shari's tail had bristled and her ears were laying flat against her head.

"There are men in the forest," the Ipet-Mau replied, not making any sudden movements.

"Are you sure?" I asked, sidling up next to her. She glared at me. "I don't doubt you. But this is a peace talk."

"Meaning that there is something to fight over," she pointed out. I sighed and stopped myself from checking my sword in its scabbard.

"How many?" The First Knight asked, keeping her same straight back and stoic face.

"I cannot be sure from this far away. I would guess forty. Maybe more," she guessed. Then hedged. "I don't know this land well."

"Those aren't good odds," Lady Carmella remarked with the casualness of someone who had received a biscuit and no jam.

"Okay," I began, trying to keep the exasperation out of my voice. "What do we do about it?"

"With these fields, we'll see them coming," Bizzbid reassured us.." We can set up a watch, and defend from inside the manor. If they don't have knights, then we can run them down on our horses."

"Shouldn't we just go back?" I asked. "This is a trap."

"It's two traps," the queen remarked from atop a tall horse. She was almost as tall as Carmella was on hers. "The first trap is the one you found. But what is the second trap, my dear blacksmith?"

"Great. A test. One that if I'm wrong, we could all die," I stalled, clinging to a shield of sarcasm while I considered the options. "Technically, there haven't been any overt attacks. Missing the meeting would look like you weren't taking the negotiations seriously and that might give him the political capital to mount a militarized revolt, instead of this passive secession."

"Oh, I'm not sure of any of that, Johann," Lady Patricia broke in with a tittering laugh. I sighed and shook my head. "I'm sure they're just a personal guard. I mean, you could've brought your army, after all, my queen."

"And if the Ipet-Mau's eyes are correct, mayhap you should've," Sir Reginald huffed. His face reddened as he took a swig from a flask. Drinking already. Great. And he's supposed to be one of our lines of defense.

"If I arrived with an army, he'd be even more up in arms than he already is. Especially considering what we came here to do."

We came to the end of the road and finally arrived at the lady's estates. We left our horses with a man at the stables who would tend to him. I tried to swallow my fear. If something does happen here, that man will probably die. We might too, but unlike us, he may not even know what's out there. He's just a man, doing his job. For the first time in a while, I lamented having brought this onto everyone. I had made my peace with defending Emilia. I had mostly made my peace with killing the elder Sharcaol. But there's still so many downstream consequences to my temper. I took a deep breath and steeled my will.

"Lady Patricia, have your man, all of them, come inside with us."

"Johann," she tittered patronizingly. "Giving me orders?"

"Please," I begged through gritted teeth, meeting her eye.

"They have work to do," The noblewoman dismissed me with a wave of her hand. "Come now, enough of this. We need to freshen up."

"Their work can wait. And we may need the horses ready for us."

"Honestly, I never expected you to be so skittish with how often you get into fights," the lady of the house scoffed. Meryl watched me from the doorway, Carmella by her side. Shari and Emilia also considered me, eyes bouncing between the noblewoman and I. Another test. Great. I pushed my mind forward, trying to find a tactic through her denials and dismissals.

"Well, perhaps you're right, Lady Patricia," I allowed, putting on my best smile. I could feel the disappointment of each of the women bore into me. Undeterred, I carried on, "But shouldn't your people celebrate?"

"Celebrate?" Lady Patricia asked, a frown creasing her mouth.

"Why yes, of course. Why, I believe that Sir Bizzbid brought some fine spirits and I'm sure he wouldn't mind sharing," I continued. If looks alone could kill, I'd be dead from the glare the older man was giving me. I met his eye. He blinked first.

"O-of course, Patti," the knight intoned familiarly.

"But what are we celebrating?" The lady asked, her eyes narrowing.

"You've returned home, of course. Your servants work so hard to maintain your area for you and you spend so much time in the capital. It's only right to give them a chance to behold their..." I trailed off, trying to think of a title that wasn't 'brainless twit of a noblewoman'.

"Lady of the house," Emilia offered, deferentially. I smiled at her gratefully.

"Not to mention, you brought Queen Meryl here." I gestured to her. "This might be their only chance to see her. There will be time to finish their work later. But you wouldn't deny them a chance to celebrate your return, and the arrival of your honored guest."

"Perhaps you have a point, Johann. L-lord Johann." Her eyes remained narrowed. I could practically see her mind working through to unravel what my ploy was. If she gets them inside, I don't really give a damn. She gave the order to the stableman to collect the rest of his fellows in a reception room.

As we got into the house, Bizzbid leaned over and whispered in my ear, "You will pay for this, lad."

"I know," I replied, deflating. "I'll get you something worth your while, I promise/" He nodded and we departed to freshen up to our respective rooms. It hadn't been a long journey, but I still spent the time dousing my face in water and was drying up when I heard footsteps from the hall.

"That was well-played, Johann," a voice called from the doorway. I looked up, towel in hand. I dropped it to the side of the water basin and frowned at Meryl.

"You could've handled it. And wouldn't have had to promise another man's alcohol."

"Yes," she admitted, sauntering into the room I'd been given.

"Then why?" I growled. "Why all of these tests today?"

"All of this has me a little wistful, dearest." She pressed into me, the silk of her dress sliding across my palm as I hugged her. "I've known how to do all of this for so long. I've been managing fools and sycophants since I was five. And I've been doing it on my own since I was ten. The things that Carmella can't defend me against. Not openly, anyway." My heart panged for her.

"Yeah. Emilia had said that your parents passed young. I... I'm sorry. I know it never really gets easier."

"Dead parents, and no equal. And everyone wants something from me. Another piece of the prophecy." I raised a brow at her. She clarified, reciting, "Alone, ancestors absent, with no compeer, guideless, her power is off-balance. In its wake, it can only raze, destroy."

"Everything seems unrazed, for a prophecy," I countered with a shrug. "Hell, I'm the only one that's ruined anything."

"Things are only in-tact because you are here. You three. My ballasts three." I shrugged and held her close. "Without you, I fear that I may not have the strength of will to maintain anything."

"I'm sorry about your parents. I would've liked to meet them."

"Oh, my mother would've eaten you alive," she replied, slapping my chest with a laugh. "If my father didn't stab you first."

"I've been stabbed before. I'd live." There was a heavy weight in the air. She rested against me for a long moment. "Do you ever talk about it?"

"Not really," she whispered into my neck. "It's been almost two decades. And I have bigger concerns." I nodded. "Talking about it wouldn't make a difference. Either they were destined to die to match the prophecy or a cruel, arbitrary plague took them from me. They aren't coming back, either way."

"I get it," I muttered against her scalp. She pulled back to meet my eyes. I was blinking back tears. She reached up and stroked my bearded cheek. "I don't talk a lot about my parents either. For much the same reason. Though, without the cosmic importance, admittedly."

"They gave me you," she whispered, her eyes boring into mine. "That's plenty important." She held that gaze for a moment or two longer, before patting my cheek and stepping away. "Come now. Lord Sharcaol and Lady Morgana should be arriving soon."

"If they're not going to attack first."

"That's the flaw of his trap, Johann." She grinned from over her shoulder. "He has to come for the same reason I did."

"Doesn't make a ton of sense to me. He could just kill us and try to take the throne for himself."

"We will not fall so easily," she muttered, letting the illusion over the whites of her eyes fade to their natural black. "And if he does try something so foolhardy, he will know the wrath of a demonness scorned."

We entertained everyone in the house for a few hours. At least until there was a knock at the door. One of the maids answered the door, a little flush with the harsh liquor that Bizzbid preferred. I listened from the parlor we were in, and heard someone push inside without waiting to be invited in; then hurried footsteps come down the hall. The maid curtseyed in the entrance to the parlor, and said, "If I may announce Lady Morgana."

A few moments later, a woman entered the parlor. She could've been Meryl's twin, were it not for the laugh lines around her eyes and the streak of grey splitting her scalp. Dark black hair, perfect poise as she walked on ridiculous heels that brought her to my height. It was almost like I was peering into her future. And the future looked good; great even. She gave a deep curtsey to the room as a whole, but her eyes rested firmly on Queen Meryl. "Your grace, I apologize for my rough appearance and my tardiness. I only just now got away from the Sharcaol encampment."

"Lady Morgana," the queen whispered, crossing the room immediately. I took in the governor of Babrycg again. She was composed and in control of herself, so much so that I had missed the mud on the hem of her dress, twigs and leaves marring her otherwise fine midnight blue dress. "What do you mean 'got away'? Cousin, has something happened?"

"Unfortunately, dear girl." The mask of composure the older woman was wearing faltered for a moment. "We traveled here separately, and I didn't realize it until it was too late, but Sharcaol has brought his mesnie." She paused, waiting for a reaction. No one looked particularly surprised. Not even Lady Patricia. Though, she took a long draw of her whiskey.

"Do you know how many men?" Sir Bizzbid asked. Then added a belated, "My lady."

"I only got a brief look. I only had a light guard with me and they gave me the ability to ride on and get here. Maybe five score?"

"Decent sized retinue," the old knight remarked. I glanced over at the First Knight, weighing her reaction. Her face was stone, but I knew that she was doing the math in her head.

"Do we know anything about their force?" I asked, hand unconsciously resting on the pommel of my sword. "If they're even half as competent as Jonathan Sharcaol was, we're in trouble."

"You faced down a dragon, blacksmith," the First Knight kindly reminded me.

"And people got hurt doing that," I countered, trying to keep the irritation and worry out of my voice. "There are more people here. People who haven't been training under you." She begrudgingly nodded. I turned to the queen. "Meryl," then a little self-consciously, as everyone's eyes fell on me. "My queen. I think you should go back to the castle. Take as many with you as you can. The First Knight, Shar- Lady Ahtri, and I can take care of this."

The queen spent a long moment studying me. When she spoke, her voice was a dangerous whisper, "I can take care of myself, Johann."

"I know you can/" I reached out and gripped her shoulder, trying to reassure her. "I'm asking you to take care of your subjects."

"Who taught you to politic so well?" She asked, a smile stretching her lips.

"A pain in the ass customer," I replied, mirroring her smile. "Had to have a deft hand at it to handle her at all."