Ludis had a similar reaction to the rooms for Malik and herself. As the king, these rooms were equally lavish, trimmed in blues, gray and gold. They were massive, and she was delighted to see a workroom for her had been attached. They lay sprawled out in front of the fire, sated after dinner, a long hot soak and making love. She rolled onto her back in Malik's arms to look at the intricately carved ceiling. She could not believe she was going to be queen. Malik kissed her ear.
"Coin for your thoughts?" He whispered, and she chuckled, turning again to embrace him.
"I cannot get the Amelia person out of my head. Why was she so young and beautiful looking? I could feel the tainted ancient power she carried, but it should have rotted her away beyond recognition. Kora said that this Drew character was the same way. How are they doing it?" Her academic mind was taking over, Ludis sat up. Malik smiled, and watched as Ludis stood and shrugged his shirt on, walking towards her new workroom. He got up, tugging on his breeches, and followed her. He watched her navigate the shelves of books and old scrolls, muttering to herself. Knowing she could be at this for hours; he began to make a fire and boil tea. She was puzzled about this, and he could see she was on to something when she selected several scrolls and a few dusty textbooks. She thumped them down on the table, pulling up a chair, not even noticing what Malik was doing. He lit a few more candles to give her light and kissed her. She barely kissed back, murmuring her thanks as she dived into the scroll. He left the room, heading for bed. There was no stopping Ludis when she went like this, and he planned to spend his first night at home in bed.
Rising early, he found Ludis at the large table in their side dining room. She was freshly bathed and sipping hot coffee while nibbling on a biscuit covered in jam and honey. They knew their friends; well, all family now would be joining them soon for breakfast. She was still nose deep in a textbook, frowning slightly. Malik leaned over to kiss her; his own hair wet from another quick bath.
"Any luck on whatever you're reading about?" he asked, as he began to scoop eggs a healthy slice of sausage and fresh fruit onto his plate. Ludis shook her head, using a few signals in the air to begin pouring his coffee for him with magic. She had not even looked up. A knock on the door announced the arrival of their family and Ian. They all wore relaxed smiles. Starting to each load their own plates, the coffee pot began to circle around filling every one's cup. Ludis was still buried in the textbook. Kora, grabbing a handful of her hair to keep it from landing in the food-leaned over to look at the title.
"Why are you reading about the gods this early Ludis? Don't you get your fill when the temple mages come banging on your door?" She joked, and then shuddered. For the Fae, the gods were … an interesting topic. Ludis marked her place and slammed the book shut, surprising everyone. She had a curious look on her face.
"Kora, in your time, temples and god worship wasn't really a big thing, was it?" Kora took a bite of her eggs, looking thoughtful.
"We did not shun them, but the few Fae that were left did not participate in worship. The temples were paid for and well taken care of, and we widely practiced acceptance of open religion. Everyone was encouraged to worship as they pleased - aside from those who worship the ways of the dark, of course." Kora spoke, still thinking. The men could see the academic look taking over Kora and Stella's faces, and sighed, inclined to spend the morning in silence. They loaded their plates a little more and began to dig in.
"Come to think of it, isn't there stories of the Fae having conflict with the gods? For leaving the realm of the sky." Stells mumbled through a mouthful of sausage. She took a sip of her coffee to wash it down.
"I specifically remember them not being pleased of their subordinate Oberon taking his wives to start a new way of life for the Fae." Kora sat back, looking at the ceiling.
"My father often talked of that to us when we were adolescents. It was part of our education. We do not worship because we are of the earth. There is in our mind no higher power than that of mother nature. She is the creator of all, and we are her children. The first Fae was born from the tears she cried over a sapling - grief that she had made all this beauty and had no one to share it with. The humans, they were created in the god's image. Made to worship those above." Kora sighted her lessons, still not sure where Ludis was going with this.
"Didn't the gods make, like assassins of sorts? To take revenge on the Fae for leaving." Ludis was talking fast now, thumping the dusty textbook on the opposite end of the table from the food. Ben gave her a thankful look as he had raised his arms to cover his plate. Ludis blew her bangs out of her eyes and began to flip through the pages. Pointing, Kora and Stella leaned over to look at what she was indicating.
"It's about Stragoi- Fae killers." Stella leaned closer to read, while Kora huffed, angry.
"Yes, much of my people were killed thousands of years before I was born, thanks for reminding me. What are you getting at Ludis?" Kora was moving to walk back to her chair, when Stella now read aloud, her voice shaking.
"The Stragoi were beautiful and eternal. To use their gift was to suck the life force from any living being. The gods crafted them in their image, so they may walk among the humans unnoticed, even to the Fae. Their only goal was to force the Fae into extinction." Kora dropped her coffee cup, and it rolled under the table forgotten. She turned towards everyone; her face white.
"Amelia, Drew. They are Stragoi." Ben stood up now, walking to Kora, concerned.
"What does this mean? "Malik's face was stony as he spoke. Ian was now standing, looking over Ludis's shoulder at the textbook. Royce, too, had moved over to get a closer look.
"It is how Cade was killed. They took his life force. It is how they gain magic, sucking it from other mages. It is how he created an army of the Men of the Gray, by teaching them how to siphon the power from others. Youth and health, they drain it from others! It all fits! The men of the gray, the scaly ones, are tainted mages yes, but they were created and trained by stragoi! Only the gods can control Stragoi. They are even more of a myth than the Fae! Don't you see?" Ludis was excited, she had figured out the enemy's secret! Kora, however, was growing angry. She looked over the images in the book, and she could see Drew resembled the drawings of the first Stragoi. He was the first, Saltzer and the leader. One billion years of destruction. Kora laughed bitterly. She had been a fool.
"How is any of this good news Ludis? Do you know how difficult it is to kill a full Stragoi? Not one who has been converted? How long did you have to plan your trap? How much magic did both of you expend to create it? What did you even have planned to handle Amelia, after you had her? Do you think Drew will fall into something like that so easily? I have had a love affair with a creature who is single-handedly responsible for the extinction of my species. He had me kidnapped, turned my own mother against me, had me raped and beaten. What is good about this?" Kora was shouting now. Ludis would not be deterred, she stood toe to toe with Kora.
"This is not just about you Koraline Eden Demacia. We now know who is behind the enemy, who leads them! As a nation, we can finally plan to eradicate this evil for good! What happened to you, to your people, is tragic. But this is not about your revenge Kora, this is about the greater good. Just because it aligns with your personal agenda, does not make your need for his death any more relevant than that of the people you swear to now. We all have taken oaths to protect Deirdre, you have a few times over! Do not let your hate cloud your judgement in this. It will be your undoing." Ludis spoke forcefully and Kora bit her tongue, furious. Even more so because she was right. Ben reached for Kora, but she spun on her heel and practically ran from the room. No one moved to follow her, the shock of the revelation still radiating throughout the room.
"How do you kill a stragoi?" Royce said, his voice quietly. Ludis slammed the textbook shut and pushed her bangs out of her eyes again.
"You rip its heart out. Ironic, isn't it?" Ludis turned to follow Kora, and the others stared at each other in horror. How would they ever be close enough to the Stragoi who has been killing Fae since the beginning of the world?