The courtyard was especially full that day as preparation for the departure of the Queen's guard for Lyraie was underway. Horses and packhorses were being saddled, while servants ran around from one task to the next.
Agrat stood beside General Sira, while absently stroking her Piebald's mussle. The horse had a light brown coat with white lines across its back. It was already saddled and dancing with eagerness.
Turning, Agrat smiled as she saw Lilith and Naamah walking towards her. She met them halfway with hugs and kisses before stepping back and casting a surreptitious glance at the balcony where Queen Eve stood with a frown on her face.
Naamah followed her line of sight, then quickly dropped her head and unnecessarily began straightening out her gown.
"Don't act guilty, darling," Lilith hissed softly, then placed her hand gently on Naamah's back and turned to gaze up at her mother with a respectful bow.
The Queen nodded.
Agrat scoffed. "Where's Eishet?" she asked, bowing to the Queen too.
"Doing her part. You still remember yours?" Lilith replied and started towards General Sira.
"I do, and I promise you that I'll make sure it's successful," Agrat answered as she followed them.
Lilith nodded.
"Princess," General Sira bowed as the trio approached her. "Come to see your Lilin off?"
Lilith smiled. "I missed you yesterday, General. No doubt you had more important things that needed doing?"
The General's eyes darted surreptitiously to the Queen's perch. "I don't remember being under any obligation to attend, Princess."
"Indeed, General. I wish you the best of luck and fun on your vacation. I hear Lyraie's such beauty this time of the year," Lilith said with all seriousness and placed her hand on the small of Agrat's back, nudging her forward. "Walk with me?"
The General glared at the backs of the retreating trio, before turning that gaze on the Queen and offering a slight bow.
"What was that for?" whispered Naamah.
"An incentive. Most people don't know it and she probably doesn't too, but Sira is a proud person. Undermine something she takes pride in and she'd defend it." Lilith answered.
"You want to make an enemy of the General too?" Agrat asked.
"I've not made any enemies, darling. Not that I know of, and Sira is about to be a public enemy. She and Queen Eve. Just saying."
"Is that then, what Eishet is doing? Stirring up the people?" Agrat asked.
Lilith turned a beatific smile on her. "Maybe. Maybe not."
"So, why am I walking with you?" Agrat asked.
"My company is no longer that desirable to you?"
"Please, as though you care. Besides, there are places I'd rather be right now," Agrat replied with a playful scoff.
"You hear that, darling?" Lilith asked Naamah, who was smiling. "Our Lieutenant have gotten so big; little, ignorant Lilith is no longer desirable to her."
Agrat and Naamah chuckled.
"I think it safe to let you in on the plan. Queen Evelyn will be sending taunting letters to the kingdoms of Raoling and Baercroft, riling them up. Make sure that you don't expend all your major resources in defence before then," Lilith said to Agrat.
"That's the plan? To start a war?" Agrat asked incredulously.
"The plan is to win a war, Lieutenant. And you will. Further information will be delivered by either Eishet or Naamah while you're away," Lilith answered and drew Agrat into a hug, kissing her. "Rest assured that our victory is secured, okay?"
Agrat nodded and broke away from the hug. Her hands found her sword belt and she bowed respectfully. "I love you, Princess and I'll see it done." She said and spun away from them, a soldier once more.
"You see that, Naamah darling? Don't you just love soldiers?"
Naamah chuckled. "I prefer little, ignorant princesses."
"Oh, you do, do you? This Princess is always available, but presently, she has matters of import to attend to. Are you ready?"
#
Lilith held the door open for Naamah to enter. The hallway was empty as everybody was still seeing the General and her entourage off.
Naamah stepped into the room and Lilith closed the door behind them, before crossing over to the bedside table where a wooden box with bronze edges sat. Beside the box, heavy tomes lay scattered.
"You left the books on the table, darling?" Lilith asked as she furiously began shoving the books into a sack lying close by.
Naamah looked chastised as she came around to help. "We were in a hurry to leave that I forgot to hide them."
"At least nobody saw it," Lilith tied up the bag and stuck it into a deep part of their wardrobe before turning back to Naamah and the box. "You know what to do when you get there?"
Naamah lifted the box filled with letters sealed with the Queen's seal and nodded to Lilith, expression hardening to one of resolve.
Lilith smiled. "It's not a death sentence, darling. All you have to do is deliver the letters to Eishet."
"I can do more than that, though," Naamah said.
"Sure you can. But there's nothing else you should concern yourself with now, okay?"
"It feels partial. Agrat is off to do battle and Eishet is out, spying, while I'm running errands that could honestly be done by anybody else. I don't feel like I'm contributing," Naamah complained.
"It's not partial and it cannot be done by anyone else. It has to be you, but if you feel like I'm depriving you of the right to contribute, then by all means, contribute.
"Agrat is a soldier and the duties I've given her coincides with who she is – I'll never have her running spy missions. Eishet, as you know, grew up on the streets of Ridgeback as anything she had to be to survive – a con-woman, a whore, a gang runner, a spy. But you, my gentle Naamah are the daughter of a Noble woman and have been so all your life. You can't fight in wars or spy to save your life, but what you are is meticulous and resilient," she paused with a sigh as she drew Naamah within arm's length and stared into her innocent, brown eyes. "The task I gave you, darling, coincides with your skills and attributes. No one else can do it and I'll trust nobody else with it, okay?"
Naamah blinked and sniffled. "You always say the best things, don't you?"
"I do aim to please," Lilith replied, smiling.
Naamah closed the gap between them and kissed her deeply. "Okay, I'm ready."
Lilith stepped away from Naamah and suddenly, a portal appeared between them. "It'll take you directly to her," she explained. "Don't worry about being spotted, and on returning, I've placed a false wall down the alley between the 4th and 5th Redstone store districts. You can't miss it."
Naamah nodded to all the repetition of instructions and stepped through the portal.
Lilith watched as the portal closed behind Naamah and smiled. "Safe journey, darling."
#
Queen Evelyn watched as the last row in the column of riders vanish behind the edge of the Eros highlands. She still wore a frown, fingering the ruby encrusted in her golden neck band. She felt murderous, betrayed, cornered and most surprisingly, afraid.
She was intuitive enough to know that she was playing a dangerous game of which she knew no rules or opponents, or even how to quit. Never in all her life had she felt more helpless.
First, the issue with the siege. Curse those Kingdoms and their unreasonable grudge against her people. But danger from without wasn't her major fear. Moira had betrayed her and even in death, had managed to drive a stake-sized wedge into her rulership.
Lilith's memorial service did not help matters and the respect of her own councilors and Senators was in serious danger of collapse. Her every decision and action is closely evaluated, challenged and scoffed at!
"My Queen!" a voice squeaked, drawing her back to reality. Her eyes focused on a figure struggling in her choke hold.
The servant's face was already turning red, eyes popping and breath coming in gasps.
The Queen quickly released her hold and stared wonderingly. She had no memory of ever attacking the woman. Her neck band lay on the floor at her feet, twisted in knots.
"What do you want?" she asked, turning away and staring out at the empty courtyard.
"It's Lord Adam, my Queen. He's recovering and will be conscious soon. You asked to be informed if there's any progress, my Queen," the woman answered after successfully moving air through her half-crushed windpipe.
"Leave me."
Not waiting for another order, the woman flew out of the room.
"Finally, some good news," the Queen muttered, then stood a while longer before heading for the chamber where her lover was hospitalised.
#
Lilith stopped halfway along the hallway to her class as she spotted Inanna coming towards her. She smiled and waited.
Inanna was not dressed in black with a sack over her head, nor did she look like a hangman on vacation. Her lithe form was rather clad in a green satin gown, embroidered with metal buttons. Her hair was braided into a single strand that coiled around her neck like a living thing, it's blonde sparkled in the noon sun.
Green eyes shone from an already radiant face as she came upon Lilith and offered a slight bow. "Princess."
"Inanna darling, strange seeing you here and dressed like a doll, no less," Lilith replied, still smiling.
"It seems only the Princess, her Lilins and the guards are allowed to walk around the palace in trousers and doublets,"
"You need only speak the word, dearest, and see it changed."
"I desire something else, Princess… something of a more… intimate nature," Inanna replied, eyes twinkling.
Lilith's smile got wider and she stepped closer. "It seems we both desire the same thing."
Inanna chuckled and stepped back. "And your Lilins?"
Lilith smiled as she pulled Inanna into an embrace. "Since when do you care?" she asked and claimed Inanna's mouth with hers.
When they finally pulled away from each other, the passion between them was irresistible. Breath coming in fast bursts, the two of them vanished into an empty classroom.
Lilith closed the door and turned to receive a face full of Inanna, who took her by the waist and carried her all the way to the teacher's desk, discarding articles of clothing in the process. When they got to the table, Lilith let her leg drop to the floor and lifted Inanna to the desktop, kissing and nibbling down her neck and exposed cleavage.
Inanna's fingers dug into Lilith's backside, pulling their centres closer and arching her back to present more skin for Lilith's ministrations. She crossed her legs over Lilith's thighs, locking them in place and began grinding with each breath.
Lilith's fingers flew from around Inanna's waist to grope her as their passions boiled. The fabric tore to shreds under her grasp and she claimed the nipples with her mouth.
A moan escaped Inanna's lips and her fingers dug deeper, pulling Lilith closer. The movement of Lilith's tongue and teeth over her breast nearly sent her over the edge, until the class door opened.
Standing on the threshold were two students, books clutched in hand, cheeks red, eyes wide and mouth agape. Lilith sighed and turned slowly to face their audience, while Inanna wore a lascivious smile, making no move to cover herself up.
The girls quickly dropped to their knees at the sight of Lilith's face and bowed. "Mother. We are sorry to interrupt," they said.
"Come now, daughters," Lilith said placatingly and started towards them. Inanna watched curiously. "You did nothing wrong and as such do not require my forgiveness. How old are you?"
"18 this Summer," they replied.
Lilith smiled and held out her hands for them and they took it, drawing themselves up to their feet and kissing the fingers. "Go then, daughters and enjoy your youth. I'd appreciate it if you keep this between yourselves," she said.
The girls nodded and bowed, before retreating with a chorus of "Yes, Mother."
"Mother?" Inanna asked incredulously.
"Yes?" Lilith answered and walked back to her, smiling at her state of undress.
"I didn't know you had children, Princess," Inanna said after wrapping her legs around Lilith's.
"What does it matter? Now where were we?"
Inanna replied with a kiss, progressing with each breath and passing second. She trailed kisses behind Lilith's ear and down her neck, through her collarbones to the full breasts struggling against the V-neck cotton shirt.
Lilith moaned and pressed herself closer to Inanna.
Shouts reached them from outside the class, tearing them apart immediately. Free from their lustful haze, their senses sharpened to detect the sound of running boots echoing down the hallway. Indistinct cries reached their ears too.
Inanna slid down from the table and rearranged the bust of her gown before following Lilith to the door.
Jogging down the hallway were guards, swords clanging against their steel cuisses. Lilith reached out for one of them. "What's happening?" she asked.
The guard's eyes – pinpoints peeking through rectangular visor – fell on her and Inanna. "The Queen is under attack, Princess," she said, bowing.
Inanna gasped and Lilith frowned. "Where and by who?"
"If you'll come with me, Princess? That's where I'm headed."
Lilith nodded and followed the guard. Inanna lifted the hem of her gown and hurried after them.
#
Moments before, Queen Evelyn left the balcony where she'd considered her enemy to no avail, and headed to see her lover who was finally returning to consciousness after many days.
She entered the room and hurried over to Adam's side, leaving the nurse to shut the door.
Adam lay still, face-up, with his eyes closed. The mattress covered only his lower body, leaving his muscular torso exposed. His hair was unkempt and faint stubs were making their appearance on his jaw.
Queen Evelyn sat on the edge of the bed and lovingly trailed her fingers through Adam's scars. "Can he hear me?" she asked the nurse.
"It's possible, my Queen. He showed signs of cognisance today." The nurse answered, hands clasped in front of her and head bowed in fear.
The Queen smiled and turned back to Adam. "That makes me more happy than anyone can ever know, my Lord. I thought I'd lost you. I've never been more frightened in my life like I was that day, when I saw that traitor standing over you with her sword," she paused with a sigh and Adam mumbled incoherently. "The things she said about you… jealous accusations, no doubt. Nobody can ever come between our love…"
As though yanked back to reality by that last word, Adam shot up and away from the Queen's touch. He snarled.
"What is this?" Queen Evelyn barked at the nurse.
"I've no idea, my Queen. Perhaps you should leave why I try to bring him under control,"
"That him is your Lord Adam and my lover!" Queen Evelyn barked, taking a step closer to Adam.
But at the words, Adam howled, shaking his head wildly as though to dislodge thoughts. The Queen faltered and the nurse yelped. He roared, looked around and grabbed a scalpel from the tray then launched himself at the Queen, eyes blazing.
The nurse shrieked and inserted herself between the Queen and Adam, taking the weapon through her left breast.
The Queen's eyes widened in horror and she stumbled backwards.
Adam hurled the nurse's limp body at the approaching guards and flew to finish his job. His scalpel caught on an invisible barrier created by the Queen. He snarled and pushed, the force sending the Queen's back to the wall.
The guards yelled and attacked, but the once comatose Lord made short work of them, immobilising them for good.
"Adam, what are you doing?" Queen Evelyn asked, panicked.
"I hate you and I'll see you die!" Adam bellowed and resumed his attack on the Queen.
Lilith and the guards arrived, along with other royal guests and servants. The guards went in while the others stood audience.
Adam slipped past the Queen's telekinetic shove and sent a ball of fire hurtling after her, followed by a mad dash with the scalpel. He tripped on air and crashed to his face, air and weapon leaving his possession. He groaned and struggled to his knees.
A guard got to him first and grabbed him by the hair, sword poised to strike, but suddenly, she was flying across the room.
"Don't touch him!" Queen Evelyn ordered, hands still poised for another spell.
"He fucking deserves to die!" one of the other guards who'd still managed to restrain Adam, lost her temper. "He attacked you and killed three people! Two guards and a nurse!"
In the silence following those words, broken only by Adam's groans, Queen Evelyn scanned the faces of everyone present, anger and paranoia rising. "You'll defy me, your Queen?" she asked the guard.
"It seems that's what everybody but Adam has been afraid to do!" the guard answered, ignoring the subtle signs from her colleague. "He's done nothing but plot against us since the beginning! Lieutenant Moira died for it and today you nearly joined her! It seems there's truth in your being enchanted, my Queen."
Lilith smiled, face hidden in the crowd. Mutters rose.
"I've heard enough from you, guard. Put down your weapon." The Queen said, voice unsteady.
"My name is Miriam Rawn and I swore an oath to protect the throne at all costs. Even from itself. Adam is a traitor and must be treated accordingly," Miriam replied, standing tall. "I won't put down my weapons if it means disregarding my oath. My Queen."
Shaking with anger, Queen Evelyn rounded on the other guards and jabbed a finger at Miriam. "Sieze her!"
The guards drew their swords and stood round Miriam instead, guarding her.
"What is this?" Queen Evelyn shrieked.
Captain Diana Luhan stepped forward. "It's the law, my Queen. Lord Adam of Baercroft have been accused of and caught in the act of treason. He would be tried in a court as is the right of every citizen."
"I am the Queen!" Evelyn roared, conjuring flames in her hands.
Lilith stepped forward and flicked her fingers, extinguishing the flames. "Don't make a decision you might regret, mother."
Queen Evelyn stared at her daughter, her mind a cesspool of emotions – grudging respect, betrayal, anger, fear, hate. "So this is an uprising?"
"It's justice, my Queen." Captain Diana said and bowed before turning to the guards in charge of Adam. "Take him to the dungeon."
Mother and daughter stared at each other as the crowd slowly dispersed. Lilith's face was as emotionless as a blank slate.
* * *