"He's right that way. When you're done chatting, come see to me about paying me back for this."
The stranger to whom she still had no name for had been standing before her. In front of a door. That's where he was. The man she sought after for a while now. In everything she's done, this made her the most anxious. At least, from what she could remember. It was so… personal.
"Right." She responded.
The man simply nodded and then went off to go about his business until hers with the Nobleman would conclude. They were in a remote location. Away from Valeria. Not too terribly far, but down a valley at an old ruin that remained as an abandoned fort that wasn't so abandoned. For it held the Guild that Aloysius the Bold, the man that helped her in Brytwood, had been a part of. She was now in the hold, surrounded by the cold and unwelcoming atmosphere from the men and women in the fort. She didn't care much really. Her silver eyes stared at the door, knowing who was behind it. She slowly dragged her boot up a bit before taking a step towards the door, extending her gloved hand out as she had felt this odd feeling within her. A cold sensation that made her want to shiver. But… She didn't feel burdened by the cold or extreme weathers as others did. She couldn't explain it. It made her hands shake a little. She wasn't scared of him. No, she was scared of how he would look at her upon seeing her. She had been so very horrible to him after all. Davina took a deep breath, soon getting her fingers around the handle to the door before she quickly released it. She shook her head a little as she glanced around before she had hesitantly knocked on the door with just a few taps. She quickly stepped away a little, running both hands through her hair as she held her breath somewhat, feeling the anxious feeling within her chest as she turned and paces a few steps before facing the other way. She crossed her arms, a few strands of her black hair resting on the sides of her face. The back officially touched down her neck a bit as the other thick strands could touch her chin and jaw at most. Her jaw, which you could see clenching at the line where the muscle was. Her eyes shut tightly as she tried to gather herself. How did you act when you were facing a friend you had harmed so violently? Then, she heard it, the sound that made her body jerk a little. The sound of the lock slapping against metal as the door was pulled open. She didn't have her sword or shield with her. They were with the stranger.
Her eyes opened as her lips parted a bit, then shut as she had gulped down whatever 'hello' she planned to give. She stayed facing away from the door as she was truly unsure of whether to turn around and even be bold enough to face her former partner. She slowly uncrossed her arms, her silver orbs for eyes dotting across the wall as she released that deeply taken breath.
"My, my. I like your new haircut. Captain." His voice spoke.
But… It hadn't changed. It was the same. The tone and everything. The way you could tell there was a glimmer of arrogance that held no fear in talking to someone. The casual and almost scarily calm way he spoke to her. She slowly turned her boot, turning herself to him as her eyes directed to his bright… Well, surprisingly.
"Wrafe- Your-" She was quite speechless.
Then, a small smirk teased at the corner of his lips as he looked at her with those vibrant gazes he always had. With the yellow gems for eyes he had. Which, both of them seemed to be intact. Not even a scar or scratch on his body, from what she could tell. Her eyes looked him down and up. He was just dressed as he always was. Finely.
"Yes?" He asked, a brow raising.
How glad she was, but also conflicted by his attitude. His lengthy red hair, still all swept back with some strands from the top teasing one of his cheekbones while he was dressed in his long snug-fitting red coat that draped down to nearly his ankles. It was a bit roughed up. But, still in good shape with a nice black leather vest buttoned at one side while there was a dark gray shirt tied onto his person below the vest. He had on nice pants that draped over his even nicer boots with a couple inches of heel to them. He looked… Just fine.
"What? Did me slinging fire around not give you the hint? Being magical is quite useful for injuries." He stated, as he stepped forward, dragging his hands behind his back and holding them together as he had approached her quite comfortably. What was he thinking? She couldn't tell. Was he extremely angry or uncaring? Was this him being cold towards her? The small inner panic aside, Davina was no meek or timid woman. I'm fact, she was the opposite. But, everyone could be made as uncomfortable as she was now.
"I just didn't expect to see you being- Well, like this…" She said, gesturing a hand out to gesture at him as she then held her hands at her sides.
There was silence between them.
"I expected a man wrapped in bandages. Glaring at me, ambitious to retaliate." She explained, looking so pitifully somber by this.
His smirk had slightly faded as his head lowered a bit, his yellow eyes averting as he had cringed a little, just a bit.
"Yes, well…" He muttered.
That is all he really said. Perhaps he expected her to jest some witty retort at him? She kept wondering. But, she knew she couldn't possibly be forgiven. Or even considered to be tolerated. Damn, she thought. That's right. She has to warn him immediately. Perhaps after an apology.
"Wrafe, I'm-"
He held his hand up, closing his eyes as he shook his head a bit.
"I don't care to hear it." He said, dismissively.
That made her press her lips back together shut. Her brows furrowed in a bit. She knew it. He hated her.
"The Queen's after you. She used me to find you to bring you back." She said, changing the subject as she tried to speak more of important things he definitely needed to know.
"I assumed as much the moment I left. I'm more curious as to why you accepted the deal." He said, still speaking to the same volume.
Damn his demeanor. His thoughts were so unpredictable. This felt so painfully out of balance.
"Because I was going to help you escape. And…- I was her prisoner." She retorted to him.
He nodded a little, turning to the side as he then took a few steps to the side. Her eyes followed him.
"Smart." He said, turning and sitting upon a crate with an arm propped against his leg.
He was looking down at the ground. She stared at him, curious as to what else she could say.
"What is it?" The Valerian asked the Savencroner.
His eyes raised up to hers as he had just shaken his head and leaned back against the wall.
"As much as I appreciate you betraying the Queen just for my sake, she most likely will find out where I am soon. She's a rather… Invasive devil." He sighed and shrugged a brow as his eyes rolled.
"Why would she want you that badly? That dog swooning over her she has at her side seems capable enough." She said, bitterly at the thought of the Elven Queen.
"Well, there's a reason most sorcerers, mages, or what have you, don't really stick around the wars. We're taught better, because we're the most dangerous tools of war." He explained.
It was a good point, she thought to herself.
"She just wants you at her side when she takes out the Empire." Davina observed.
He nodded. Well, after he did he had soon smiled and then laughed a little.
"Oh, but she can't right now. After the stalemate you brought from the mountains? The good Queen's plans to take charge have been halted for now." Wrafe said, seemingly amused at the very thought.
That's right! Davina thought to herself, remembering all too well of that damn spirit.
"Cira Khan." She muttered, hate laced in her voice.
"Yes, as I assumed." He answered, soon to sit up and then stand up before her.
"You want to know your beloved Empire hasn't a new ruler yet? She's why. After that necklace came off your neck…-" His voice trailed off, soon to form a quietened whisper of a curse under his breath.
She had a curious look, soon to slowly cross her arms as she had never considered it. She didn't think the spirit did anything besides trick her for freedom. Wrafe then saw her obliviousness to the situation and soon spoke again.
"You fainted and got caged before it happened. But… That amulet? I am curious, why did you wear it?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.
Davina huffed as she rubbed her cheek and then her forehead a bit.
"I had just died. Cira Khan told me that it would keep my body frozen in time until my "justice" was taken. It made sense, considering she was a magical being. Or- It didn't…- I was just. Broken. Vulnerable." She couldn't make an excuse.
Admitting something such as that had taken some nerve. He had noted that.
"She just used you as a deliverer." Wrafe said, earning her gaze right back to him.
"After you were locked away, that amulet had been cracking. It eventually shattered with the spirit emerging from it. Somehow… This spirit formed as a whole. An actual being. It was frightening seeing what came next." He said.
She narrowed her eyes in curiosity.
"You know, the Queen, Casoria, she is the most powerful mage you will ever see in this world. Hell, that's why she's Queen. She wasn't even of the Royal bloodline for the throne and…- Well, she got it. As Elves are naturally powerful within the magicks of nature, this spirit, this phantom named Cira Khan? She stopped Casoria with a single swipe of her hand. She is no simple spirit I'm afraid. But, I fear she is a Faen." He explained to her, regrettably.
She understood. But, she also quietly sulked. A Faen. It was of the Empire's old history. Older than the war against Salynthra. Probably older than the Empire itself. Faen were those who once roamed this world but passed into another with great horror upon their darkened hearts. It is said they are these spirits who are so powerful that they have escaped Helheim. Which was known to be the impossible. But, there lies the issue with what was fiction and reality. In this world, it was hard to tell with what new things had arisen.
"If she is what you say… The Empire is doomed." She said.
"Good riddance, I suppose. Why the long look?" He asked.
She knew the answer. It was guilt. From the moment she knew the Empire she gave her life for, literally, had taken on an evil tyrant for a new ruler, it had set in her mind that she had been at fault for dooming so many innocents. It began to eat at her.
"So many people will suffer. Because I brought that disgraceful phantom there." She spoke low to him.
She knew that Cira Khan was evil. Nobody commits such deceit against another like she did to the raven haired woman who had truly been regretting her foolish decision into accepting the spirit of the mountains offer.
"People will suffer because of what she does. If anything. You're not holding the blade to their throats, Captain." Wrafe said.
It was funny. How he still called her that even despite how they both knew she was no longer of such stature.
"I'm the one who handed her the blade though." Davina retorted.
Then, Wrafe had gone to just stand before her, more so to earn her attention.
"Honestly, get over yourself." He said, quite bluntly to her.
"You attacked me. Sought to kill me. Sliced my open quite well. But, you know what? I don't blame you. I don't want revenge against you. Because I know, that wasn't you I fought." He spoke so very passionately regarding revealing his irritation with her.
"I was angry for a while. But, I'm here. Looking at you the same as I have before." He finished.
That entire thing sent her into a mix of feelings. It was a surprise, flustering her. Then, a deep remorse with this barely uplifting sentiment at the end. You could see it in her face. The raw emotion of the ill feelings she had.
"My, how you've changed. I guess I was right…" The Savencroner said.
Her brows furrowed a bit in ignorance to what he had meant by that.
"Right about what?" She asked.
Then, his lips formed a smirk a bit.
"Playing the hero. You do it quite well. Plus, only heroes find an asinine reason to blame themselves for tragic events such as that." He mocked, playfully.
She had shaken her head a bit. Ironically enough, she realized how much she missed him being such a jester of an ass. It felt like how it was before with them. Plus, she got her answer, knowing that she wasn't hated.
"You're the same. Still nothing but a dog. I hate dogs" She retorted with a more confident smile across her lips.
He smiled, too.
"Woof."
Hours later.
It was there that the reunited partners had stood side by side, standing and looking up at a massive structure before them.
"Ah, yes. I remember him talking about this now." Wrafe said, squinting his yellow eyes at the building as the sun finally beamed again and all over them. It was behind their heads a bit.
"I swear to all things unholy if I have to go into another damn tomb." Davina muttered, quite bitterly to herself as she wore a scowl on her slightly pale but quite strangely pleasant face.
She looked youthful. Like someone who was maybe just a year or two over their twenty years. Wrafe looked quite well around her age, too.
"No, I'm afraid not…" He muttered, holding his hands behind his back with a puff.
This temple, it was made entirely of stone. It started with a long broken stairway up to the first part of the building. So many pillars were done with parts of its fine and ancient structure just aging so poorly. It was also built into a smaller mountain. It rose and spread quite far and wide. It had towers and massively caved in rooms that had fallen from the mountain with so many openings. It just depended on where to go. You could tell this temple was made more so for someone who lived here, in a flat land of grass with plenty of nature and trees. You could see birds circling around the top of the temple. A royal family who once hailed from a different ethnicity. There were tales and rumors. That it was from Loraant. However, it was allegedly fabled since Loraant was just as far away as Salynthra. It was in the East. But, then, the Valerian eyed him and looked him down and up.
"What're we doing here?" She asked, expectant of a decent answer as the wind blew against them a bit.
He looked at her, raising a brow as he did the same.
"I'd rather you take your anger out on him when he tells you." The Savencroner retorted.
She cursed under her breath, knowing what to expect now. She hadn't been fond of the day already. But, then they heard them. The footsteps from a man. No… Men and women. The two had turned away from the old worn temple and saw the pathway to them. She saw him, the stranger from before who took her to Wrafe.
"Seems you lovebirds have made up." He remarked.
Davina's brows furrowed a little as her eyes dulled from the comment with her upper lip curving up a bit in disdain.
"Shut up." She ordered.
"What're we doing here, Strahan?" Wrafe asked, changing the subject.
With Strahan, others were to follow. Mercenaries, by the look of the armor. Their swords, no doubt stolen. The rugged and tough look to them. The facial expressions of hardened people. Davina soon scoffed at them, glancing to Wrafe as she turned away from them to simply gaze at the temple she was thoroughly impressed by admittedly.
"We're finding the staff." Strahan said to him.
The Savencroner held back his amused smile.
"Oi, you're laughing at me, are you?" One of the female mercenaries said.
She called out to the Valerian's attention.
"Yes. I am." She said, bluntly.
Wrafe's eyes averted to the mercenary woman. She had a large sword on her back. Bright golden locks tied back in a half ponytail and a scar on her cheek. He simply watched as his partner was approached.
"Turn around and face me." The mercenary demanded of her.
Davina's brows raised as she had turned around and looked at her. She was kind of skinny looking. Similar to herself but… well, at least her armor masked how she was. The mercenary had her arms just with no protection. A fur pelt on her shoulders as a cape of sorts as she had a leather cuirass over her tunic and some boots.
"Damn. What a regrettable decision on my part." Davina said.
The mercenary stared at her, tilting her head as she suddenly stood dangerously close to her, being just an inch below the Valerian. Everyone thought there'd be conflict. Especially with how they glared bloody daggers at each other. The mercenary woman clenched her fists as she looked her down and up.
"You think you can take me, do you?" She asked, loudly in her face.
"Yes. I can." Davina stated.
Then, the most interesting part came. When the mercenary woman suddenly smiled and reeled back to release a hearty laugh, throwing an arm around the other woman's neck to then face the crowd.
"We gotta feisty one!" She said.
She earned a few chuckles from the others.
"Oh, calm down, eh? We're all friends in this! As long as you don't give me a reason to slit your fucking throat for running off with the reward, we're all good, huh?" The woman said, hugging that arm around her.
The Valerian was thoroughly uncomfortable and confused.
"Uh… Y-Yeah. Yeah, we are. I'm just paying our mutual friend back. The reward is not anything I'm interested in." Davina said, being flustered by the woman's ironically chipper but also blunt attitude.
Wrafe has never respected anyone so quickly until he saw just how much the change startled Davina.
"Oh, shit then. That's really grand for us! Not gonna lie, I was talking to me and the boys and I was tempted to rob you and your man here once it was said and done." Her blatantly open personality startled her yet again.
Davina slowly turned her head and eyed her with a more emotionless look.
She laughed again, soon to release her and go off with her fellow mercenaries.
Strahan had then stood between them all.
"Alright. I have a client who's paying a lot of money to get what we discussed. The staff of Arcane. Reason I hired you all is because this'll be a dangerous trip. And, I'll have enough to hire you again ten times over. So, let's get it done." He said, speaking plainly with little emotion in his voice.
"Excuse me." A male's calm voice aired from behind the other mercenaries.
This man stood tall. He was well built. Plenty of tone to himself. As he raised his hand upon speaking, you could see a ring.
"May I ask for what troubles we may come across? You said it was dangerous. It must be for a reason." This man, this truly handsome bastard stated quite reasonably.
"I don't know." Strahan said, plainly.
Davina rolled her eyes and groaned.
"You know, you're a real bland chap." She responded to the vague individual.
"One would say a bland man. Heh." The man with the ring said.
There was silence.
"We need to be moving." Davina added.
She wasn't wrong, as time never stopped. The sun would be setting in more than a few hours.
"If you all are ready, she's right. We must be off." The rather light-hearted presence stated. He also had a ponytail in his appearance. He looked a whole lot less like a travelling mercenary who does odd jobs.
Then, they all headed off towards the temple. Strahan led them, of course. However, one thing was to be made to note. Davina and Wrafe hung back a bit from them. The mercenaries simply were in the middle, walking with the "funny guy" with the ponytail. Meanwhile, the two souls in the back simply chatted amongst themselves as they approached the temple.
"They look like Bandits." The Revenant stated, suspiciously.
"Strahan usually attracts such a crowd. Are you weary of everything already?" Wrafe said, soon to glance at her.
"Yes." She bluntly stated.
"I would only worry about our mutual associate. He's known for his wits." The Savencroner warned her, as he believed it to be a more worthy concern.
She sighed a little. Truthfully the dark haired woman had just had enough of being weary and wandering through these damn crypts. There was a time where she has fought for the thrills of such simple victories to get by the day at her formerly occupied hold, Winter's Ark. Now they were closer. Closer to the point the temple's structure of stone had curved outwards and over them a bit. Then, Davina was quite curious as to see everyone suddenly stop in their tracks, her partner included. Her eyes were immediately drawn upwards to see what had caused this. All except Strahan stopped. He kept walking. Even as the temple suddenly had a line of archers up the long way of crooked and worn down stairs.
"Strahan, stop!" Davina shouted.
He ignored her.
She couldn't stop the fool in time. It couldn't be her issue to solve even if she wished it to be. However, Strahan had just raised his hand up.
"I'll be fine. I'm with them." He said, with little practice of emotion to his voice.
Damn him and everything, she thought. She wasn't a moron, she knew what this was. Some form of ambush and wildly misplaced trust. She turned to eye her partner, to whom had these eyes dulled halfway open. She could see the muscles in his jaw clench as the red haired man just shook his head slightly.
"I'm willing to fight my way away from this if you are." He said to her.
Davina's silver eyes gazed upon the line of dozens of archers.
"It's more preferable than another dark tomb." She agreed with his will that matched her own.
"Strahan, what is this!?" One of the men yelled.
"At ease, Grokir. There is no need for anger." The emotionless individual said as he had turned once he was a good ways away from them, speaking louder as he faced them all.
Grokir of Mor Vendrel, this tall man with dark hair tied back in a half ponytail and wielding a short beard and stache as his blue eyes stared at his employer. He was a well built individual like the other mercenaries. He was mostly dressed in leather and a fur pelt on his back and had brought a battleaxe on his back. Of course he'd be furious from the deception, as anyone would. Although Davina learned to try and remain calm until she and Wrafe would be at the expense of an unexpected arrival. One that marched from the temple into sight at the top of the stairs, making his way down them with a stern but pleased look about his face. The arrival made Davina's brows furrow a bit and curse under her breath. While Wrafe simply had a look of pure distaste.
"Ah, so the Valerian finds the Savencroner. And in a lot better condition than I suspected." Ser Talon of Mor Vendrel spoke quite confidently with a sense of dry pleasure being taken from seeing the two.
"You must've stayed awfully close, Talon. I take it Her Majesty grew impatient?" Davina spoke out to him quite loudly.
He scoffed.
"On the contrary. My good friend Strahan contacted me as soon as he laid eyes on the Savencroner and took him in. It's remarkable how much faster magic resolves messages to one another." Talon retorted, stepping down further.
Everyone seemed to be on guard.
"How long have you been there?" She asked him, more quietly.
"A day before you arrived. I moved around every twenty hours. Casoria must've…" His voice trailed off.
Davina didn't ask him to finish, she could only assume the Queen did something to hasten her Royal Aegis' arrival.
"The original plan was to confine you both and drag you back to Salynthra. But… As it just so happens, we are suddenly in a very desperate time." The capricious Aegis explained to them all, not soothing any emotional hearts.
"Why've you tricked us? What have you so foolishly neglected to be straight with us for?" Grokir raised his voice to him yet again.
Ser Talon crossed his arms and sighed, soon to raise a brow as he eyed the other warrior.
"Because, we are at a time of war. The Empire threatens our way of life. It threatens Salynthra and all its inhabitants. And, we fear this foe may have a right to boast so severely." He said with a rather displeased look.
It must be her, Davina thought. She and the Savencroner had begun to approach the front line of the mercenaries, earning the Royal Aegis' eyes for a moment. It was probably her, the spirit of the mountain. Who else would they suddenly be afraid of after crippling an entire civilization? Who else would be able to bring a broken Empire into something to make the Queen order her loyal dog out to seek them like this? Perhaps Casoria was nervous.
"Why would I care what happens to Salynthra? You and her both love to put yourselves in war. Why should I even bother…" Wrafe finally pitched his part in.
Truthfully, she entirely understood his neutrality. But, it was people like him that often were no better. Even as she looked at him and saw the raw emotion and the hidden depths of his opinion, she didn't know if she could agree. She honestly wondered. She has seen both evils of the world. Each side sees themselves as good. What would she pick? Yes, she was raised differently with opinion than her partner. She believed sides were important. Seeking out the pragmatic option was always best. As well… As ensuring you weren't with a tyrant or Emperor who slaughtered hundreds. She'd never pledge herself to something such as that again.
"Wrafe,"Talon spoke.
"You know why you should. It's what's owed to at least hear our side out before storming off like a child. Especially after what she did for you." He retorted to him.
Wrafe's lips slightly etched into a frown as his eyes dulled. He simply stared and didn't say anything.
"As for you," Talon's eyes moved to the Valerian.
"Your opinion will be held in very high regard to everyone." He said.
She was confused now. For one than just one reason. Why the hell would anyone consider her opinion more than worth even considering?
"Who are "they"? Does the Queen just have that many personalities?" She quipped as she asked the other question in her mind.
"No, if you agree to follow, you will be speaking to Her Majesty and the council of Galynfol. As well as Salynthra. Then Loraant, with a final ally of ours, Koskar."
All of those being kingdoms or holds of their side. Although, she had thought that the decisions regarding war were all up to the Queen, Casoria. It seemed she was mistaken.
"Why would I speak to their audience? I don't share your Queen's fantasy of power through deceit." She said, quite bluntly.
Talon expected a small rebelliousness of course. She was a Valerian, he thought. However, she wasn't rebellious because of her orientation of birth. Rather, because Salynthra has already shown their colors. They were rather unsightly, too.
"You're not being asked to pledge your lives to Salynthra or share fantasies. You all are being asked to come with me, hear us out, then make the decision for yourself. This is no longer a petty war of races, especially considering I choose to serve an Elf and think of her as my equal despite her superior role. Loraant is nothing but humans. Yet, we are allies. All in agreement against the Empire because of its vile nature." Ser Talon gave his rather fine speech.
"I don't share a fantasy with those who pillage and entertain war against the other races that differ from them and their religions." He finished.
She scoffed, stepping passed them with a truly amused look on her face. She walked up to Talon, quite boldly. Even with a bunch of arches pointed down at them. She walked as if there was no rush.
"What're they for then? If you're such a noble individual who just wants honest help in a war he's to entertain." She spoke, retorting a fair point that some of the others agreed with. Grokir stepped to her side. Quite eagerly doing so to where he stepped up to the Knight hailing the side of the Queen.
"This doesn't seem like a friendly offer with too many options. What are you playing at?" He asked.
Ser Talon's eyes traversed to Davina and then to Grokir. Of which the knight had sighed tiredly through his nose. Soon to raise his head high.
"War is upon us. The Queen, Her Majesty, had asked me to kill any of you who hold ill will against Elves or Salynthrians. As well as those who hail from Loraant or Koskarians. That's why." He bluntly explained.
Davina shook her head a little as she glared at him. Wrafe came up behind her and then joined her side.
"How severe are the Empire's threats against her?" The Savencroner asked, holding a very curious look.
Perhaps he had a grasp of the situation, perhaps he didn't really care. Or, maybe he wished to know how badly his presence was requested. It was a gamble.
"Catastrophically severe." Talon was quick to answer.
He then stepped up to the Nobleman, speaking a bit quieter.
"I know the ill will you hold for her. For me, for being loyal to her. But, I know you cannot deny that your home is with us. And, because of this wayward spirit, it is in grave danger." He explained.
There was clearly some relation that The Mor Vendrel deceiver and the Savencroner had with each other. A clear history. One that she was painfully unaware of. She would take note to ask him of this later, since she and he seemed to be on good terms with one another. Much the opposite with him and the Queen's Aegis. Wrafe's lips kept a straight line as his eyelids stayed halfway over his vibrant eyes. He showed no reaction to his words. He wished to keep it that way. In the silence, the man in the ponytail had raised a hand up, earning the Royal Aegis' gaze.
"What is this spirit you speak of? You speak as if he or she is... Well, horribly malevolent." He pointed out.
Talon's bro raised a little as he eyed the man down and up. Soon for his lips to part as he had then spoken.
"Forgive me, but I'm afraid I don't recall your description amongst the men and women here to be recruited. What is your name?" He asked.
"My name is Rei Marvo." He said, bowing his head a little.
"Well, Marvo. The Queen has requested all of your attention to explain the dire plight." He said, with some vagueness to him that made the Valerian groan.
She stepped forward, spinning on a heel to face them as she crossed her arms.
"My name is Davina of Valeria. I was a Captain of the First Imperial Battalion. I was sent on a mission as per the demand of the Emperor, who was Ser Talon's o' so beloved Queen in disguise. I died at the Mountain near Valeria. That mountain, the name it holds? Cira Khan? That is the name of the spirit who brought me back. She is powerful. She is very wicked. And, the poor Queen couldn't even stop her." Davina spouted out the truth as she saw fit to drop it.
It was for good reason. She figured some of these people would foolishly walk into a battle throwing away their lives so recklessly in the name of a royal. She wouldn't have it without them knowing what they're getting into.
She eyed Talon then after she finished speaking, being able to read the clear displeasure in his face. He had slowly turned away from her, glancing at Wrafe to whom offered a small smile.
"She speaks the truth, Talon. What will you do about that?" He asked, seemingly pleased to see such frustration in the Aegis.
"That's not important Wrafe. What's is important is I ask you all: What will you do now with a line of bowmen aiming right for you should you vex me?" Talon asked, speaking a lot more firmly and stepping away from Wrafe to earn all of their attention and truly enforce the Queen's wishes without being friendly or gentle anymore.
The girl, the Nordling to whom had nearly caused a quarrel with Davina, her brows raised as she looked around at her friends. Then back at Talon.
"Well, if I look hard enough, I can see we don't got much fuckin' choice. Take us to the impolite wretch already!" She urged, throwing a hand out as she had rested her hands on her hips.
She was then dumbfounded as the knight stared at her with disdain. Her brows furrowed a little before throwing her hands out in annoyance
"What the hell are you starin' me up like a tart for?"
Hours later, upon the return to Salynthra, a long journey.
"Where are we going now? You never told us where we were to go." The fair haired woman asked.
Gwyndolin from Valeria was sitting across from Davina in a wagon, staring at her with a weary look about her while the one actually born of the place had averted her silver eyes ahead, more so to Wrafe who was holding the reins to the wagon.
"To a Kingdom of the Elvenkind. We're official guests by the Queen's ask. Or… More so demand." She explained to her.
She could only imagine how frightening the thought was to her, but she and all of them didn't have much other choice. Gwyndolin seemed to sigh tiredly as she had held her head. Davina felt bad for laying all this onto her so quickly. Her silver eyes then averted to an Elf on a horse. Niketas the Half-blood. He wasn't bitter about it at all, since he had sired himself to join Davina on a journey. Niketas had stayed close to Valeria while she herself ventured to find the Savencroner. But, she didn't return with him exactly as she had planned. Instead of him, it was Gwyndolin Von Bierce, the Harlot of the petty tavern. A poor soul rescued from the cruelties there. She had more color to her face. The wagon was actually just coming over a hill where the massive floating Kingdom and it's seemingly endless flowing waters had rivered off the very land and into the body below. The few enjoyed the beautiful sight of the sun rising behind them to strike it's light upon the truly massive kingdom. From here, you could very well see the other holds. Orzonfol. Galynfol. Others. Davina hummed under her breath, looking at the back of the Nobleman with a brow raised before she decided to get up and join him at the helm. So to speak. He merely glanced at her before returning his eyes to the pathway that he was following. Along with following several other wagons.
"Well, Captain. I regret to inform you you won't be pillaging anymore temples and tombs for now." He jester, quite darkly.
Although she had been amused by it, thankfully. Even bearing a slight smile upon her face.
"So unfortunate." She remarked back to him.
He smiled as well with a slight chuckle about his vocals. Then, there was silence for a moment between them. They sat next to each other, one of them wondering what really to say while the other had known exactly what he wanted to say.
"The Queen's not inherently evil, you know." The Savencroner said, truly taking her by surprise with the statement.
Her brows furrowed a little as she eyed downwards.
"You must know her well if you can say that." She retorted.
It was a subtle way to start another conversation, too. She was curious how close he was to Salynthrian morals.
"I do. More than most. More than Talon." He said, no longer having a smile.
"Truthfully, I said this to ask you something. Do you plan to side with the Queen?" He bluntly asked.
Rightfully so, considering their fates were quite intertwined. However, the question got to her. She gripped the guard on her knee, not bending the Elven steel of course.
"I'm not sure." She answered quietly.
"I do not consider myself an occupied Imperial any longer. But, that doesn't mean I'll side with someone who wishes to ravage the world. Nor with someone who is heartless amongst the innocents they slaughter." Davina spoke sternly of her position with Casoria.
Especially after the deceitful relationship between the two. Wrafe was silent. Although, she assumed if he didn't agree that he'd speak his mind. He was good at speaking his mind.
"Why did she need the book?" She asked, breaking the silence herself this time.
"She didn't need it. But, she required it. If word was to get out that "Tyr Malin" wasn't actually of the Royal bloodline, her grand plan would fall apart. But, it did anyways. Plus… Our kind and their kind are very good at getting hard-to-receive items when they shouldn't." He explained, shrugging at the very mention of her plan.
"What was her plan?" She assumed her asking questions wouldn't be much of a bother since she died for her.
He sighed a little at the very thought of this said plan.
"Forced peace. " He said.
"She took the actual Tyr Malin and disguised herself as he. Fooling all the glorious Empire to wage a peace treaty with Salynthra. Of course, it was a slow process. But, you managed to force her hand during the end, exposing her. Not that I care too much. The Empire would probably just have been more a slave than a friend to Salynthra." He said, putting sarcasm when complimenting the woman's original allegiance.
"Wrafe, why did you even stand by her side? I see you roll your eyes and scoff at every opportunity to mock her very name, yet I haven't forgotten that you've deceived as she has. Admittedly, you were honest with telling me you don't care for the Emperor's wellbeing in reference to her…" Davina said, sounding as if she had been treading along her words with him.
She didn't want to be misunderstood. She didn't care for his deceit as much as she did for Casoria and her deceit. But, she rather just wished to know why he kept a bitter alliance. His eyes seemed to dull halfway open as he had very little reaction, very little emotion to his voice. His hands tightened around the reins before loosening.
"Because I thought I owed her as a companion." He said.
So he was friends with her at some point. She took this bit of information out. She could read the emotions in his voice now. Bitter resentment. Hollow heart from damage. Hidden tales that she had not bent her ear too quite yet, of course it wasn't really her choice. It dreaded her to see him react in such a way. It was nearly hurting her to see it to the point that this "hurt" was biased spitefulness towards the feelings she held for the Queen. She felt this when he felt sorrowful. Then, she remembered the day at Brytwood. The night after killing the Jokul-Dog.
"You don't owe her." She said, with certainty.
She couldn't have known the debt the Savencroner may or may not have with her. She just felt like trying to give him some sort of power over his choice when it came to Salynthra. It did matter, as hers did.
"No. I don't." He bitterly agreed through his slightly gritted teeth.
She stared at him as he just glared ahead with the emotion slowly disappearing from his face to rest as it normally did. Whatever he was thinking of, memory or otherwise, it faded into other thoughts.
"Ser Talon told me we'd be meeting a council. And, that I'd need to dress more nicely." She said, to lighten the mood with another subject.
He chuckled.
"I don't think I've ever seen you wear a dress before. Hell, it's a custom for most of Salynthrian's attire to be dress-like. You'll fit in. Plus, it'll be a grand sight for me to see you wear something aside your armor. You despise them, I presume?" He spoke with a smile across his lips, ever so subtle.
Her eyes rolled a bit before she puffed.
"No. I was a Knight. Swore an oath. I'm not opposed, just required not too. Especially wearing just silk for once." She'd be so relaxed at the thought.
She'd imagine how much lighter she'd feel without so much steel covering her body. She then smirked.
"I'm glad to know I'd be a sight worth admiring wearing something else." She said, quite confidently.
He almost laughed, but not quite. He finally was compelled to look at her.
"Well, don't get me wrong, your armor's still above appealing. Especially this new all black look. I almost shuddered when I saw it." He mocked, sarcastically.
Out of good fun. Albeit flirtatious fun.
"Shut up." Davina retorted, taking it very well.
She hadn't minded, funnily enough. As he didn't either. She was often bitter when anyone tried any advance towards her when she didn't care for them. He was a different case clearly. Unfortunately, it was right back to business, because it had to be.
"I noticed you said she wasn't inherently evil. Is that an odd choice of wording because she is an evil of the lesser variety compared to a greater?" She asked.
He was silent at first. However, once gathering his thoughts, Wrafe had finally answered.
"We were close once. She was awfully stubborn, but also incredibly persistent. She was determined to help all of her kind make profit off the world again, since at the time Salynthra was in a deep recovery because of the war with Loraant. Then, she took the throne." He said, almost sounding as if the bitterness he held was fading slightly.
She listened carefully.
"Things already started to change. Soon, she had been in her first battle. The bloodiest with Loraant. She lost her brother within the day. We'd never been killed ourselves. But, then this girl who was shy to even wield a sword killed a whole front line of swordsmen. That's when she really became the Queen. She won the battle with this newly revealed immense power that was nothing like we'd ever seen." He said.
"She grew power hungry?" She asked, raising a brow as she began to form an idea of how she was.
"No."
"Then what happened to make her this way?"
"One person can only take so much loss before it drives them mad. That's an unfortunate part of being an Elf who's a Queen. You live a lot longer to experience far more. Family, friends- She doesn't really have any." Wrafe said, not really sounding sympathetic nor angry.
He sounded as if he was just telling any other story.
"It changed her, of course. For the worse. She became cynical. A more dark presence. Obsessed with a forced peace governed by her. She left me for dead when I didn't really agree with such an idea, despite how I knew her ever since her youth." The blunt part of the story had finally been made.
"I tell you this because she isn't evil. She has done plenty of evil. Not just to me- But, I know you have yet to make a decision. You should know the Queen doesn't do what she does out of selfishness or pride or perhaps for the sake of the old ways or religion. She does what she will in order to bring about good. But, also note her idea of good isn't what the word entails." He finished.
It was certainly something to think about. The Valerian wasn't really swayed by the Nobleman's story of woe for Casoria. Although, that wasn't his intention to make her empathize. It was to enable whatever decision she makes so they could make it before they arrive in the great Kingdom. Davina believed she knew where she would stand on this, between the sides at stake. Unfortunately, it was certain that the Nordic Empire would be going to war with the Salynthrian Regime. It was inevitable, most likely.
"So, where do you stand?" He asked her, taking a glance at her with a curious look about his face.
"For now, with myself. I'll have to stand by my own side with those I know are innocent." She said, with her head raising a bit to stare at the floating palace of Elvenkind.
He whipped the reins forward.
"Who are those, Davina?" He asked, with true curiosity.
"With them." She inferred Gwyndolin and Niketas.
"With Ksenia, even. With Lexian. With the Elves of Orzonfol. With those at Brytwood who did not cast their ill breath upon me. With that boy, Hadrian…" She said, soon to look at him.
"With you." She stated, more quietly.
He turned his head, looking upon her with his bright yellow eyes as he had stared for a moment of unreadable emotion. He turned away, turning his attention back to the road. Wrafe then spoke.
"Then I stand with you. Even if I don't agree with where you go."