The general watched in stoic silence as, one by one, her comrades left the room. Morna's piece against her had been expected; in fact, she would have been surprised if the elf had not said something of the sort. She nodded slightly towards Gamnuri, but she refrained from giving any real response.
She knew that it would take time for many of them to accept the way things were. She only wished she'd been better prepared to tell them everything. Even her closest friend had been ignorant of the situation; that was her only true regret. Eriana deserved better. Quite frankly, they all did.
When only she remained, Artemis finally stood, walking briefly towards the various maps and logs scattered on one table. Her eyes roamed over the map, easily finding the marked places where all the known dragons were supposed to be. As she thought, not a single one lived within a hundred miles of Garas Harbor. It was impossible for one to attack without warning; they should have seen it coming.
Deep in thought, she walked through a single door hidden in the side of the room that led to her own quarters. Closing it quietly behind her, she began to slowly remove the leather armor meant to protect her. It was badly damaged, charred beyond reason and stained with blood. Her clothes underneath were not much better, but they were at least intact. It mattered very little; one of the few benefits of being royalty meant that she had plenty of clothes and armor to spare.
She smirked at the thought. When she was younger, Artemis wanted nothing to do with the crown and blood magic. At first, her mother had been relatively understanding, willing to at least forego blood magic training. But one day, something changed...drastically. She never discovered what happened, no matter how hard she looked into the matter. All she knew was that, right after her younger sister was born, her mother became an entirely different person. She was no longer the kind woman who sang her daughter to sleep. She became indifferent and even cruel, forcing Artemis to learn blood magic by any means necessary.
Although blood magic could indeed be taught and learned safely, Artemis always had the sinking suspicion that her mother was trying to drive her into madness. When that didn't work, she made her general of the Hellhounds, hoping that her own daughter would be killed by monsters. It gave the princess a bitter sense of satisfaction that she proved herself to be stronger than her mother ever was. But that did nothing to erase the scars caused by so many years of torment.
A sudden high-pitched whistle forced Artemis back into the present. She turned towards the door, panic racing through her mind. Have we been attacked? Recognizing the whistle's pitch to be Axilya's, she took off running towards the Rose Company's barracks. As she turned the last corner, ready to conjure fire and shadow at a moment's notice, she stopped in her tracks, practically skidding in her leather boots.
Heat flared in her cheeks as blood rushed to her head. Fire sparked between her fingertips--a rare loss of control caused by the overwhelming fury she felt at the scene. Artemis marched forward, pushing past Gamnuri and shoving the two women apart. "How dare you draw your blade against your comrade?" she barked, her voice even but loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. Her hands shook, but Artemis ignored it as she forced Tamsyn back, the archer's head slamming against the wall with an eye watering crack.
For several long moments a strange hush settled over the scene...until an erratic metallic tapping shattered the silence. As Tamsyn's eyes seemed to focus on the general's anger contorted face, her whole body began to shake violently. It was impossible to tell whether fear, anger, or a combination of both was the cause of the tremor, but the result was the tip of the woman's sword bouncing off the stone wall.
"I- I- I was ju- just…" The attempt at an explanation faltered into nothing, and Tamsyn's eyes vanished behind grime-stained eyelids until the tremors that had been racking the knight's body subsided some. "I just wanted to-"
"I don't give a damn what this is about, Tamsyn. I never want to see something like this again. We are in the middle of a war against creatures that are stronger and faster than all of us. We cannot afford to fight between ourselves for a single moment, or people will die. Do I make myself clear?"
Once again silence descended, though this time it was heavy and tense as green eyes glared at royal ones. Also as before, the quiet was broken by the sound of steel on stone as Tamsyn's sword clattered to the floor. At the same time, a crumpled ball of parchment landed by Artemis's feet.
"People dying is what worries me." The retort was all but spat in the general's face. "Good people."
Artemis shook her head, opening her mouth to reply, when she noticed that the hall had grown colder and darker. The space returned to normal within the space of a breath, but the presence of magic would have been unmistakable to anyone with half a mind. Pain ebbed its way through the general's arms a second later.
From an outside perspective, she suddenly looked like a mere apprentice who had yet to learn control; it had been years since her magic had manifested against her will. Combined with the sudden pain in her arms, where she could sense the dark magic growing in power...it could not be a coincidence. Anxiety gnawed within her, but the general would have to deal with the possibilities later.
Instead, she stood silently for several moments, ever calculating as she noticed the piece of parchment crumbled on the floor. She did not know exactly what had transpired, but instinct told her it had something to do with that piece of parchment. Artemis picked it up, not taking her eyes off of Tamsyn except to look at its contents. Surprisingly, it was blank.
A letter.
The princess stiffened in realization, her muscles coiling with the anticipation of a fight. She forced herself to relax, as Tamsyn's statement was now made clear. Aware that they were no longer in the secure space of the war room, she stepped forward, forced to look up at her subordinate due to their difference in height. She kept her voice quiet this time, knowing that anyone could be listening.
"I can only make a few guesses as to why you would try to send a letter, Tamsyn Trelawny. You say you're worried about people dying; so am I. But if you think that telling anyone about my plans will help them, you are wrong. You will be signing their death warrant. My mother's spies are everywhere. If she catches even the smallest hint, she will not hesitate to spill blood."
Artemis paused, making a decision to prove her point through more personal means. She lifted her shirt, just enough to reveal her stomach. It was a rather horrifying sight. On her right side, the skin twisted around and around, tinged an angry pink. On the left side, three wide lines sliced through the otherwise perfect skin, deep gouges that had only just begun to pale.
The scars were unmistakable--a fatal wound on the left and a terrible burn on the right. She could not completely prove that they were both caused by her mother, but Artemis did not need to. She shoved her shirt back down quickly, her point made.
"You know absolutely nothing about what the queen will do to stay in power. And allow me to remind you that I do not make idle threats. When I said I would be forced to kill you, I meant it. I will do it, not just for my sake..but also for the sake of the people you would be damning as soon as you try to send word."
Artemis looked directly into Tamsyn's eyes, searching for any sign that the woman would try to send word regardless of her warning. Her voice became even quieter. "Please do not force me to follow through on my threat." It was as close to begging as the crown princess would ever get.
Gamnuri watched the confrontation unfold with an unpleasant amount of trepidation rising in his gut. He wasn't worried for Tamsyn, and in truth he was a little surprised the general was being lenient enough to give her a second chance. Rather, it was Artemis herself that was the source of his concern. Those two clearly unintentional displays of her magical power might have simply been caused by her exhaustion and stress… but there might be a more sinister cause for them as well, perhaps related to her interaction with the dragon's dark magic. His mind quickly skittered away from that thought, rejecting it by reflex. Of course it was just the physical and mental strain. She'd damn near died, it would've been more strange if there weren't some kind of side effect to that experience.
The dwarf sighed quietly to himself and gave Axilya a wave of the hand and a grimace that was meant to indicate that it was perhaps best to withdraw for now. Tamsyn was no longer a threat to anyone present with her sword out of reach, so there was no need for any extra hands around to keep things from getting violent. Gamnuri put that suggestion into action for himself immediately afterward, turning round and heading away to allow Artemis to handle the trouble as she saw fit and Axilya to make her own choice about whether to stay or go.
The Lieutenant gave the dwarf a nod as he excused himself, taking half a step back and clasping her hands loosely behind her back. As his footsteps retreated from the hallway, her impassive gaze drifted to the General and the trembling Tamsyn, blinking once, twice. She remained still, waiting for something, anything - an order, a dismissal, a word or small gesture that might indicate if she should stay or if her part in the matter was concluded.
Pressed against the wall, Tamsyn seemed to flinch slightly everytime the general breathed on her. At her sides her hands were clenched so tightly into fists, the veins of the woman's arms stood out all the way to the elbow, and her eyes had closed again. "I made blood oaths to my people long before I made a vow to you. Do what you must, just…" Here the voice that was so full of bravado faltered slightly as a slight pleading tone crept in. "use a blade."
The general's shoulders dropped, disappointment and hurt weighing them down. She had hoped to reason with Tamsyn, but it seemed there would be only one option. "I can grant you that, at least." she murmured quietly.
Artemis glanced over her shoulder at the sound of Gamnuri's retreating footsteps. Ever the soldier, however, Lieutenant Axilya still stood there, awaiting orders. Quickly Artemis turned back to look at Tamsyn, hiding her conflicted expression as she wondered how this had come to such a terrible ending. "You may go and prepare for the journey to Arvena, Lieutenant. I can handle everything from here."
Without waiting for the elf's response, she unsheathed the long dagger she almost always kept with her. It had been a gift from her mentor--sharp and effective, etched with runes to keep it from becoming dull or breaking. Although she had resolved to kill anyone that threatened her plans, Artemis paused. Despite their differences, the general respected Tamsyn, even liked her. But she could not risk even a moment of weakness, especially now. The princess was nothing if not true to her word, and she never made empty threats.
She turned the blade in her hand, deciding to make the execution as painless as possible. Officially speaking, Tamsyn should be granted a court martial, but the general simply could not risk discovery. No, this would have to be done here and now. Artemis knew it was necessary, but still...she hesitated.
What are you waiting for? Kill her. She betrayed you. A voice whispered from behind, soft as the air. Artemis froze, her eyes widening as she felt something behind her. That voice...she had heard it before. She whirled around, slicing the dagger through the air in a killing blow. But there was no one. It was still just her and Tamsyn in the hall.
Why are you hesitating? She needs to die. The throbbing pain in her arms started to return now, and the hallway grew cold. Her whole body began to shake, a primal fear completely taking over.
"Show yourself!" she finally snapped, ripping the very shadow away from the walls. Light shone brightly, illuminating every speck of dust around them. The presence remained, an unmistakable feeling that assaulted her senses. But her eyes deceived her, as she could not see any sign that they were being watched.
The voice laughed, the sound echoing inside her own head. Artemis then realized it was exactly that--inside her own head. She began to recall lessons about the madness of blood mages; it always began with voices that no one else could hear.
Do it! Kill her! The voice screeched at her. The pain in her arms sharply increased, forcing a cry from her lips. But the pain was not what scared her. It was the complete helplessness she felt as she watched her arm move of its own accord, preparing to strike against Tamsyn. Her arms shook with the effort to stop the motion, but it was as if she had lost control over her own body.
Just as suddenly as the unknown presence took control, it disappeared entirely. The general fell to the floor, shaking uncontrollably as she stared at the ground. Her dagger had fallen from her grasp, but she didn't even bother to pick it up. Hot tears streamed down her face, though she couldn't remember when she started crying.
When Artemis finally looked up, she nearly screamed. Several feet away, four figures stood passively, each one emanating a powerful aura. She recognized one aura as magical, but the rest were completely foreign. The primal fear she felt before returned, though this time it was more in awe than absolute terror.
The figures themselves were hard to describe. The left figure was shrouded in a mixture of light and dark to the point of being indiscernible, but two distinct eyes peered out at Tamsyn and Artemis. The second seemed animal-like to Artemis, but it was constantly changing. Its fur changed colors, while its body changed shape. The effect was nauseating to see, but she almost couldn't look away.
The third was the most...normal out of the four. The figure appeared almost human, but the look in his eyes belied an ancient and unfathomable existence. The final figure--and also the one with the magical aura--seemed to resemble a living flame with a thousand colors, blisteringly hot and bright.
Artemis remained on the floor, completely frozen. She had no idea if Tamsyn could see these figures, but she didn't dare look away from them to check. She dared not speak, either, for fear that they would retaliate. Instinct told her that, if these beings chose to, they could kill both women with barely any effort.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of fearful silence, the figures spoke. They spoke as one, their voices mingling together into the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard. Not even the best instruments could compare. And yet, the sound only heightened her awe and fear.
"We can only do this much for you, Artemis Carrow. They will be back, and we cannot return as we are now. You must reach Arvena, but be warned. Chaos is growing, and they will try to stop you. You and your fellow mortals must restore the Balance that has been destroyed before it is too late. Order is diminished, but she is not gone. You must find a way to revive her; only then can Balance return to Eymia."
The figures began to fade, their melodic voice dwindling. Artemis could only stare, completely dumbfounded. What the hell?
Just before they disappeared completely, the figure shrouded in light and dark spoke in a feminine voice. "Spare this one. It is not her time to die, and you will need all of your allies. You cannot succeed without them."
With that, they disappeared completely, as if they had never been there in the first place. Artemis finally looked up at Tamsyn, her hands still shaking despite her efforts. Picking up her dagger, she got back on her feet, the feminine figure's words repeating in her mind.
It is not her time to die.
As for the archer, she was slumped on the floor, staring wide eyed at the spot where the four figures had been. Whatever internal force had kept her calm on the precipice of death, its limit had seemingly been reached and surpassed. Her breathing was rough. The tremor which she almost had under control returned to its full strength, and a long string of snot hung from her nose.
It took the woman several moments to notice that Artemis was back on her feet. But when she did, her gaze swung magnetically to the dagger; green eyes wet and full of fear as she tried to crawl away from the general.
Artemis stared at Tamsyn as she desperately tried to put distance between them. It took her several moments to realize that time does, in fact, still move on after such a harrowing experience. Shaking her head, she placed her dagger back in its sheath then crossed her arms to keep them from shaking for a moment longer.
The gesture was a peace offering, given the woman's obvious terror. Guilt gnawed its way through her core, and she shuddered in memory of the voice that tried to compel her to kill Tamsyn. Even though she thought herself justified only moments before, Artemis now felt almost...tainted.
"Did you...did that just happen?" she asked tentatively, her voice unusually quiet and small. The general's mind was still reeling over what she saw and heard, but she needed to know that she wasn't the only one who saw those figures. If Tamsyn saw them, too, then maybe I'm not going mad after all.
The redhead wiped at her face with her arm before slowly nodding. As the general's dagger had been sheathed, Tamsyn had given up supporting herself at all and now lay flat on the floor, somehow looking much smaller than she was. Her eyes actively avoided Artemis's gaze and, for the most part, seemed fixed on the ceiling. "Wh- What… What happens now?" Even in the corridor, these words were hard to hear.
Artemis did not answer her for several moments, her mind racing with various possibilities. Those beings, whatever they were, they had not seemed...mortal. Her thoughts drifted to Gamnuri, who had always been rather shameless about his religious fanaticism. She recalled his various rants about the gods. The general, along with the rest of the Rose Company, had always passed off his words as those of an antiquated belief system. She'd always thought that, even if the gods were real, they took no interest in their lives.
But now...she wasn't so sure. Artemis could hardly say for certain whether they had just encountered gods, but she did know that they were unlike anything she had ever seen. And they had known her name...and where they were planning to go. Even more troubling, their presence seemed to be directly correlated with…whatever it was that had tried to control her only moments before. They mentioned something about Balance, Order, and Chaos...but none of it made sense to her.
For now, the questions in her mind would have to wait. The general turned her attention back to Tamsyn, painfully aware of the woman's fear. Her gaze wandered over to the crumbled piece of parchment on the floor, which she must have dropped during the whole ordeal. She picked it up once more, turning it over in her hands as she contemplated their predicament.
Tamsyn's resolve was admirable but treacherous, and she seemed to willfully ignore the danger she'd be causing for everyone--not just Artemis herself. Or perhaps she truly believed sending a letter to her people would actually help them, rather than place them at an even greater risk. Regardless, Artemis could not let it happen.
But she could not ignore what she'd been told. Even though it was quite possible--even likely--that the four figures had malicious intentions, something told Artemis to trust their words. The feeling came from a deeper instinct, though logic screamed at her that sparing Tamsyn would be foolish.
It was only after she recalled the feeling of seeing her own body move at the command of someone else that she finally came to a decision. Above all else, she knew that voice wanted her to give in to violence by killing Tamsyn. Even at the mere thought, the dark magic in her body seemed to swell in anticipation, as if it hungered for the traitor's blood. Regardless of the meaning behind the sudden appearance of the "gods," Artemis knew that she could not give into the voice's compulsion.
So she decided to let Tamsyn live.
Without hesitation, the general burned the piece of parchment to ash before reaching a hand out towards the archer. "You heard them. It's not time for you to die yet." She paused, waiting for Tamsyn to--hopefully--take her hand as a sign of truce.
It took some time but slowly Tamsyn used her arms to push herself off the floor and up the wall before reaching out and taking the general's hand, using it to pull herself fully upright. Tamsyn had never exactly had a tidy appearance, but even by her standards she knew she looked a mess. Her mouth hung half open, stray hairs plastered her face, there were trails under her eyes left by tears, and snot bubbled from her nose.
"What are your orders, general?" This question was asked at a volume barely louder than Tamsyn's previous question. The woman still couldn't seem to meet the general's eyes, staring off to the side into nothing.
Artemis did not fail to notice the archer's refusal to meet her eyes, and guilt once again twisted into her gut. Pursing her lips, she took a few steps back, giving Tamsyn space to breathe. "Prepare for the journey to Arvena. We leave before sundown." She turned, deciding to leave the woman be for now. She would tell Commander Griel to restrict Tamsyn's access to the messenger birds in the fort. That would have to be enough.
Glancing back at the redhead, Artemis paused as one final thought occurred to her. "Tell no one about what you saw, not until I tell you otherwise." Until she was more certain about what they had seen, it was better to keep the information under control. With that, the general walked away, leaving Tamsyn to her own devices.
When Artemis finally reached the war room, she nearly collapsed into a chair, spent from the adrenaline. Despite her exhaustion, she only allowed herself a few moments to rest before forcing herself to stand once more.
The general wasted no time packing her things. Mentally, she catalogued the necessary supplies: extra clothes, spare set of leather armor, her bow and quiver of arrows, silver and gold, as well as woolen blankets. After changing into new clothes and armor, she left her quarters, making her way through the fort to the kitchens. They would need rations for the journey ahead.
On her way there, she passed by Commander Griel in the courtyard, taking the opportunity to relay her orders regarding Tamsyn's access to the ravens. He listened to her in silence, but the expression in his eyes betrayed the questions racing through his mind. Artemis ignored it, trusting Rolan to follow her orders regardless.
A sudden shout from one of the guards grabbed her attention. A moment later, the entrance to the fort opened, metal and wood creaking loudly from the effort. Artemis breathed a sigh of relief, her lips forming a rare smile when she saw the reason behind the commotion. A horse carrying a familiar elven woman trotted through the gates, coming to a stop in front of the general and Commander Griel.
"Lady Thessalia, I did not expect you to return so soon. What news from Laeva?" Artemis asked, rather glad to see a member of the Rose Company who knew nothing about her blood magic--yet.
Thessalia rolled her shoulders back as she finally entered through the gates, looking forward to a short rest before she was thrown into the turmoil that seemed to always accompany the Rose Company. She dismounted her horse, fondly named Fleetfoot, allowing him to be led away for food and water.
"Laeva continues to refuse our assistance." The sigh in Thessa's voice was evident as the days of diplomacy with her uncle began to wear at her patience. Her aunt had been much more receptive to her suggestions of compromise while her uncle simply wanted new information on her allies. However, Thessa's attention was drawn instead to her general as a frown tugged at her lips. "Are you alright, General?"
The princess seemed tired, and that was only what she could surmise on the surface. Weeks away from the company often left her anxiously wondering how they were faring without her, and her concern only multiplied when it came to the general.
"I hope that I didn't miss much during my travels." She looked at Commander Griel, her dark brows furrowing.
Artemis nodded in reply, unsurprised that King Theodas remained stubborn in his ways. In his thousand years as king, he had never been known for compromise, and it was no secret that he despised receiving help from others--especially non-elves. Still, it was a shame that he continued to put his own people at risk by refusing her aid. She had thought that Thessalia might be able to persuade him as his niece, but alas…
Shaking her head slightly, the general forced a smile when she heard Thessa's question. "There is not much time to brief you, Lady Thessalia, but I will give you the important details. A dragon attacked Garas Harbor; we were able to defeat it but at a great cost. I will fill you in on the specifics later.
"For now, gather supplies and then meet back here in the courtyard. We leave at sundown for Arvena, and it is vital that we get there as soon as possible." Artemis recalled what the supposed gods had told her. You must reach Arvena, but be warned. Chaos is growing, and they will try to stop you. She still had no idea what it all meant. Hopefully, they would find answers in the famed City of Riches.
Thessa blinked at the quick briefing, but nodded quickly despite her confusion at the statement 'great cost'. Had someone fallen in her absence? What had been sacrificed for their victory? Her lips parted to inquire further, but the princess was correct. If they left at sundown, she would need to get her things together. She placed a foot back, her dark hair bobbing as she gave the princess a low bow, followed by a nod to Commander Griel.
"I'll go prepare then." She raised her head and began her brisk walk towards her quarters. Her steps paused for a second as a bit of anxiety broke through her otherwise collected exterior. "And let me know if you need anything, General. I've found that a steaming cup of tea and a quick nap can improve one's health exponentially."
She spared only one glance over her shoulder before she continued walking.
Artemis nodded, giving Thessa only a slightly forced smile in response. She waited patiently until the elf disappeared from her sight before turning to Commander Griel, who once again failed to prevent his own questioning expression. She shook her head, making it clear that he was better off not knowing. Rolan huffed but said nothing.
"Send ravens to the Grand Marshals. Do not mention anything about the dragon attack or our mission to Arvena. Simply tell them to come to the fort as quickly as possible, even if it means abandoning a mission. Understood?"
"It will be done, Your Highness." Commander Griel bowed low before turning on his heel, heading straight for the fort's dovecote. Artemis, on the other hand, went the opposite direction towards the kitchens.
It didn't take long to acquire military rations, though Artemis still wasn't sure if it would quite be enough if a blizzard trapped them in the mountains. It would have to do; there were enough packs for each member of the company to carry one--in addition to all their other supplies. And a couple extra for Vultog.
With an hour to spare before sundown, the general decided to follow Lady Thessalia's advice, returning to her quarters to brew herself a cup of tea. Unfortunately, it did little to actually calm the anxiety that weighed upon her mind. Too many unknowns were before her.
The four "gods" and the malicious voice, not to mention the illusionist at Garas Harbor with an army of insane blood mages. On top of that, their whole mission to Arvena was based on the unknown, starting with whatever Eriana had learned. She had not yet spoken with her closest friend about this whole damned situation, and Artemis couldn't help but feel a sense of dread at the inevitable conversation they would have.
Shaking her head, she downed the rest of her tea and gathered the supplies she'd prepared, noticing that the sky outside her window was beginning to darken. It was time to leave.
The general arrived in the courtyard before everyone else. The packs of rations had already been prepared by one of the fort's soldiers, left ready near the center. All that remained was to wait for the rest of the Rose Company.
They watched the human princess from the shadows, their lips curling into a smile. These pathetic mortals, unknowingly giving them more and more power. Before, the "Hellhounds" had been such a nuisance. But ever since this meddlesome human fell into their trap, they no longer worried if these mortals would interfere. The dragon was not truly meant to spring the trap when it did, but it no longer mattered.
Yes, letting the beast die had been worth it, for everything was falling into place now. "Artemis" would soon be under their control, and the rest of them would scatter like pitiful rats without their leader. They might even catch a few more along the way. The magic-hating woman and the cursed orc were particularly interesting...so many wonderful possibilities.
The interference of the others had been a minor setback--one that would never happen again. They chuckled, remembering the terror on the mortal princess's face when they started to take control. The more she lost control of her magic, the faster their influence spread. It would not be long before she would be unable to resist their commands. And when that time came, the others would not be there to stop them.
But there was one thing that concerned them. The other four said that Order was not completely destroyed, but surely that was not true. After all, they had watched her die, and it was her death that finally set them free. Perhaps it was a lie to distract them.
Or perhaps not.
They could not take the risk. If Order was truly alive, then they needed to accelerate their plans. It would take away much of their amusement, but ultimate victory was far more important. They turned from their prey, taking only a step before finding themselves hundreds of miles away in Evanis--the home of their favorite puppet.
They stood behind an elaborate throne of wood and gold, inlaid with precious gems. In front of them stood a court bustling with humans, elves, and and even the occasional dwarf. There were no orcs or merpeople to be seen, not in Queen Adira's court. Some sort of celebration was going on; they did not care what for. No, they were here for a very specific purpose.
Unheard and unseen, they leaned forward, invisible lips only inches from the queen's ear. She sat on her throne, looking regal but bored. As soon as they began to speak, however, she straightened. Her pupils dilated, and her lips parted slightly. Anyone who noticed the sudden change in the queen's demeanor quickly dismissed it, assuming that she'd had one too many glasses of wine.
Your daughter is trying to overthrow you. She's plotting against you even now, turning your beloved people against you. She will try to kill you. Send three assassins through the mountain pass to Arvena. She goes there to bargain with the Miser King. You must stop her.
Queen Adira stood suddenly, and the clamor of the court ceased in response. Her face was pale, and anger contorted her expression. If one looked closely, her shadow seemed to grow a bit darker. Turning on her heel, the queen left the throne room, and the celebration soon continued without her. Her queensguard followed silently, their dark armor reflecting sunlight and then torchlight as they moved deeper and deeper into the bowels of the castle.
She paused before a door made out of obsidian, seemingly carved from the very stone of the earth. She held up a hand, signaling her guard to stay put as she opened and closed it behind her. Unfathomable darkness surrounded her for several moments before white fire lit several torches along the walls, revealing what appeared to be a large dungeon. Five cells were on each side, all of them occupied except one.
In the center of the dungeon stood a large cauldron filled to the brim with a dark liquid. A bowl stood ready next to it. The queen filled it, not caring at all when the liquid splashed on her silk gown. She worked in a hazed frenzy, approaching the first occupied cell on her left. If one looked inside, all they would see were three collars connected to a chain, hanging in the air like some magician's act. Opening the cell, the queen approached the collars and held out the bowl, waiting patiently for the beast to appear.
It growled first, low rumbles that were silenced when the creature noticed the presence of its master behind the queen. The cerberus appeared then, morphing out of shadow and air to reveal its three gaping maws. It hungered for blood, but it knew the mortal queen was off-limits. Instead, it focused on the offered bowl, recognizing the scent instantly. The blood from the cauldron that had always smelled so tempting...it was finally being offered to the beast.
The cerberus leaned forward, rolling out one of its red tongues. The other two heads howled in response, begging for a taste. This put the beast into a frenzy, and the queen responded by tossing the blood onto the three heads. It was a rather terrifying sight as the three heads immediately thrashed about, each fighting the other for a chance to get another taste of blood.
When the beast finally began to calm, the queen moved forward, unlocking each collar quickly before skittering away. The beast looked at its invisible master, waiting for final permission to seek out the scent of their new target. The master nodded. The cerberus disappeared with a howl, morphing into shadow itself.
Queen Adira repeated the process twice more with two other cerberi. By the time she was done, her light blue gown looked purple. She hardly seemed to notice as she finally left the dungeon, and her queensguard made no comment as they followed her out of the depths of the castle to her quarters. When the queen finally came out of her daze, she wondered how she had made it to the baths without even realizing it, but she eventually concluded that she drank too much wine.
All the while, they had simply watched, an amused smile on their face. Satisfied that their plans were now in motion, they left their puppet queen to her own devices. Even if Order was alive, she could do nothing to stop them now.
Indeed, the Rose Company would never reach Arvena.
Commander Eriana Kiryn
