After the interrogation with Lillian, I left the dungeons and met back up with Richard and Susana who had been waiting for me just outside the first door that led down to the dungeons. They both looked worried but I gave them both a reassuring nod then motioned to the door I'd just come from.
"She and I have come to an agreement, she will supply us information and help fix the problems she has caused," I said. "You two are to get as much out of her as you can. If you think for a second she is trying to manipulate either of you or is lying then kill her without hesitation. I'm going to have female talon riders guarding her cell with orders to ignore her completely and to kill her if she tries anything even remotely manipulative."
"Are you sure of this, your majesty?" Richard asked. "I don't want to admit it but even I was fooled by her act."
"As was I," Susana added.
"I am," I replied. "To do anything she needs something to work with and I will give her the illusion she has something, all while a blade is pressed to her neck, ready to kill her at any time, and if I am lucky then soon I will have someone who can deal with her. She's smart but not that smart, and as I said if either of you even suspects any manipulation then just kill her. She is valuable but not that valuable."
"yes, your Majesty," They both said in unions before heading through the door and back down to the dungeons."
I watched them go and I felt a bit of worry. could they truly handle her? A sudden idea occurred to me and I summoned Zombieman to my side.
"I need you to go down there and keep an eye on Richard and Susana. They're going to be speaking with a highly manipulative person with good looks to boot. Your orders are simple. If you believe she is compromising either of them then put a bullet in her head."
A cigarette appeared from nowhere and he took a long pull from it as he nodded. "You got it, boss. How long should I stay down there?"
"When they leave, you leave," I said.
He nodded and headed down into the dungeon after Richard and Susana, lifting a slight weight from my chest. With the orders given to Richard and Susana and Zombieman Lillian was going to be unable to do anything, and if she tried even the subtlest game I trusted Zombieman to pick up on it since he was technically a detective and a good one at that.
"Come on, Lilah," I said, turning and going down the hallway. "We need to see Asara and the riders then we can use my summoning tokens."
It took less time to reach the birdcage than it had the first time, which I chalked up to feeling more relaxed in the palace and having already been here. Both rider guards at the front door to the birdcage smiled widely at the sight of me and bowed. I have them both smiles as I passed them and entered into the birdcage.
The birdcage was as it had been the first time I'd seen it, wide open with plenty of space and a gentle breeze which seemed to be coming from all around me, which I guessed must have been some sort of enchantment. When I was done with the war I was definitely going to have to look into that alongside everything else as I'd made it a goal to improve this kingdom in all aspects as it was now my kingdom.
There were a few riders I could immediately see, though a quick gaze from left or right failed to catch sight of Asara. The riders seemed to all be relaxing or going through some sort of movements with their mounts. I stood and watched them for a time, nodding and whistling in appreciation at the way they moved and the elegance and grace they showed.
Their mounts looked as epic as ever with skin gleaning in the light, and I summoned Rath who stretched his wings out comfortably before laying down. I stroked his head, causing him to let out a pleased growl.
That caused the riders and their mounts to turn and eventually, I was spotted and all eyes turned to me, making me the center of attention. Before I could utter a word one of the riders ran off, to get Asara I assumed, while the others just stared. It seemed like they wanted to approach but were hesitant.
"I'm not going to bite," I joked, looking at them.
There was a chuckle at that and slowly they approached until over a dozen riders were huddled around me, looking at me with hungry eyes. I'm not going to lie, even with having slept with my three summons it was hard to remain still under the eyes of over a dozen badass and beautiful elite warriors.
"Your majesty, what is your guard?" A black-haired rider asked.
"She's a darkwraith," I replied.
That caused a slight stir among them and I wondered if they had darkwraith in this world and what they looked like since I highly doubted they looked like Lilah. Perhaps that's why they seemed so confused.
"Would she care to spar with us," Another, blonde-haired, rider said and I held back the urge to raise an eyebrow at the jealousy in her tone?
Some of the other riders shook their head at the blonde's question while others seemed to become eager.
"I'm not sure," I said, looking to Lilah. "Would you?"
She nodded and the riders stepped back from the two. I followed a few seconds later and stopped once I was a dozen feet away. I'd seen talon riders fight and knew it was best to be at a safe distance. Not to mention that Lilah was easily just as dangerous if not more so.
"What's going on here?" A loud, familiar voice called out.
I turned to see Asara approaching with four riders beside her. When she and those following her caught sight of me they all bowed.
"Your majesty, could you explain?"
"Lilah and one of your riders are going to spar," I said.
"I see," she said In a tone, I couldn't identify. She turned to the pair who were a few feet away from each other with weapons drawn.
"Oh, well that's not surprising," Asara said when she saw which rider it was. "Jill has always been a straightforward one. Both of you, this match is till first blood or finishing blow! No killing!"
Both women nodded in understanding and Asara turned to me. "Would you like to do the honors, your majesty?"
I nodded and raised a hand. "On the count of three! One, Two, Three!"
I brought my hand down and focused on the fight just in time to see the first clash of steel on steel