Chapter 23
With the way things were going Zarracen knew she was going to have step in soon. The purpose of her doing this was mostly to ensure that her squads could get along. But it seems like the noble members decided to swing their status putting Xan Blakely on the back foot. Zarracen sighs. She didn't think she'd have to step in like this.
Avery's group was working fine. They were all attentive to her directions and orders. Xan's group had mostly been commoner knights save Jeane, but it seems like once he felt assured of the surrounding power of his fellow nobles and sister, he started to lose whatever semblance of respect for his squad commander.
Their behavior was grossly insubordinate and if Blakely came to Zarracen she would solve it immediately. However, despite their flagrant disregard Blakely appeared to be at ease. He still barked orders to them on patrol. They argued and didn't do it. Blakely simply shrugs and walks off keeping the few commoner knights that were with him to properly manage what he needed to manage.
His silent statement of any 'holes' in the perimeter defense would rest solely on them is blatant. Blatant enough that the nobles decided to actually obey seeing as they couldn't get the rise they wanted out of the man. Truly, Blakely handles himself well. She had thought of intervening but the more she watched the more she comes to understand that Blakely was used to nobles.
Likely due to his previous experience. Still, she wants to curse Sir Gibraltar. Noble hearts my ass! Zarracen thinks viciously. The man clearly lied to her likely they wanted to be a part of the guard badly. Still, she's hurting for members and doesn't trust the lot of them as much as she trusts that they can all beat her in combat.
Blakely appears to have things at hand but she makes her apperance regardless. She moves so fast they barely have to recognize her presence when she appears next to Sir Reynard. His sword is drawn and swings on her. She simply stands there. The sword strikes her but cuts through nothing. She arches her eyebrow at him as he stares in shock. His hands tremble.
"Assault on a superior officer my you are bold Sir Reynard," Zarracen quips.
"Apologies Galt Zarracen I just felt a presence rushing towards me and swung."
"And what if that presence had been the Princess?" Zarracen questions. He pales significantly then. Amusement fills her but the man would never had been able to land the blow.
Fiella or Zarracen would have taken off his arm before he was even able to fully swing it. Still, his shock is amusing to say the least as is his fear. Sir Reynard was clearly out of his depth when it came to power and that was plain. The blow was strong but she didn't feel the necessary aura behind it. It's likely why his father sent him here.
There was whisper of it before it faded away.
Zarracen is curious why that happened. The blow was supposed to be full of Videle but the lack of it made it easy for her tempered body to just shrug off the blow. Of course, Barn Fabron's work was proven as well as it kept the blunt damage from affecting her.
"It's good that I have you all's attention. As it's come to mine that you don't respect Xan Blakely. Let me remind you are my soldiers and I've given him command. Questioning him and being insubordinate to him is the same as being insubordinate to me? Understand?"
They shift but give their affirmation.
"Great!" Zarracen grins widely and pats Sir Reynard on the shoulder. "Back to your wall patrols. We'll be training together tomorrow bright and early be at the training grounds before dawn!" Zarracen walks off with a wave. Now, that she let them know she was watching them she decides to return to doing so.
When, morning comes for the next day Zarracen is not at the training grounds with her guardsmen. Nor, or the guards there. Instead, Zarracen without a lick of sleep along with her squad are stationed around the princess as she gets in her personal carriage.
Zarracen steps inside herself while the other guards sat atop personal Panteras. Once, inside the carriage she looks to Isabella whose eyes have drifted to the window. The knight couldn't help but see the worry hidden beneath the glittering stars in them. So, she questions where they're going.
Isabella doesn't respond at first. Instead, she places a barrier up between her soldiers and them. Zarracen frowns then. Although, this had been used often before a privacy curtain for a location that they're going is unheard of especially since other members of nobility are escorting her.
"We're going to see Mom," Isabella tells her. Zarracen stiffens.
"The Empress?" Zarracen's question comes out as if it's a hushed whisper.
"Yes," Isabella informs. But, why the secrecy.
Zarracen wants to ask. But something passes over the carriage a magic. Isabella looks unbothered but Zarracen's hand is on her sword as she peers out of the carriage and notes that her escort has been changed. Before she can draw her blade and be on them Isabella's hand stays her own.
"Don't. They're Mom's."
The knight is extremely confused about what to do. If they're the Empress' soldiers, then.... She feels out for them, but she cannot grasp their power completely. They felt like how Fiella felt the first time they met. Before Zarracen spent enough time around her to grasp their power completely.
Tension doesn't leave Zarracen's body at all. Instead, she slowly builds her aura. She doesn't like being put on the back end, but this was the Empress. And if her guards and Fiella were trained by her then Zarracen is likely in danger. Isabella perhaps is in danger as well. If they were though they should've already attacked.
However, it seems that they are leaving the city from their surroundings. Her head swivels from side to side trying to look for a weak spot in their ranks. They were in almost perfect diamond formation. Two up fronts. Two on each side. One on top of the carriage. Two on the back side and two on the back point.
The guards' movements seemed to be synchronized as well. Isabella's hand pulls Zarracen's off her own. The knight looks at her in confusion.
"Calm, Mom's knights will do nothing to me."
Zarracen should calm down, but her instincts did not like being surrounded by strong opponents without getting herself ready for an altercation. It was like asking a beast to not kill their prey after they had done the work to hunt it down. Isabella keeps her main hand though in her own.
The urge to snatch back that hand rises especially when one of the guards looks through the carriage. Zarracen's eyes catch theirs a scowl firmly planted on her face. Neither of them looks away. Isabella waves her free hand and the carriage's curtains fall around the windows blocking the visual views from outside to in and vice versa if only a little.
Her eyes slowly turn back to Isabella who looks far too relaxed for one surrounded by individuals that were not her own. Fiella was not present either. However, given how she felt like the individuals around them perhaps despite her seeming loyalty she was not truly Isabella's. Was that why there was that bout of anger yesterday?
Did Isabella suspect this already? Or did she know?
From her calm demeanor it feels like she knew. Zarracen remembers back to their conversation about trust. Did Fiella? Lose hers.
The martial master is stumped but she says nothing. Partially afraid that her questions will not be answered.
Zarracen glances towards the window when she feels the crowd around them diminish exceptionally. They were leaving the city.
The shaking of the carriage increases a bit when they hit different paved roads for the external part of the city. The bumps and rattling increases as they go along. They were going off the main road.
"Isabella, I don't like this," Zarracen expresses to her. The concern on her face clear.
Isabella winces.
"Trust me attacking Mom's men will be the worst thing to do. Let's see what she wants that she has to drag me all the way out of the city for."
"How did she even switch the guards? I swear I'm gonna slaughter those to magic users that were supposed to be capable of stopping shit like this," Zarracen sneers.
It's one of the reasons she was always thought little of in comparison to some of her fellow commoner knights. Her lack of any ability to use magic outside of basic physical enhancement and little barrier. Others tended to even the weaker side of things could detect such a change in magic that would swap them out for another.
"Trust me I suspect they weren't expecting a shadow exchange?"
Zarracen has never heard of that before. Her confusion must be plain on her face from the way Isabella chuckles before she begins her explanation.
"The simplest explanation is that all royal carriages including mine have a switch rune symbol on it. A shadow exchange method that royals have had for generations. It allows us to switch instantaneously with a near perfect copy of the other carriage. It's like a known secret to guards."
"And I didn't know because? If I don't have information like this then-"
"I know I never gave you that information."
"That doesn't explain how they didn't immediately come after us?"
"And that's where we get to the shadow part. If you haven't noticed you've lost yours."
Zarracen looks down then. And she was right. Her shadow was gone. Fear and disbelief grips her heart. She didn't even notice. Is she getting sloppy as a guard?
"The shadows take our place inside of the carriage. No one notices until it's too late usually."
"Too late?"
"Well, the method was created to make sure certain members of the Imperial family had... 'accidents.' Of course, Mom isn't trying to kill me which is why I kept you from attacking them. And over time the method was changed for discreet movements of royalty as well."
Zarracen didn't understand how the woman before can be so calm explaining that their shadows got yanked from them was a method used to assassinate royals in the past. She builds her aura just in case again. She was not going to be caught unguarded again. She leans back against the seat taking her hand back from Isabella.
The sun is high in the sky when the carriage finally stops. The door opens and Zarracen's boot flies into the face of the guard there. Anger released with that kick she jumps out of the carriage to face almost a dozen of the men and women who felt like Fiella.
The one knight kicked is still on the ground holding her face. A glare in it which Zarracen only smirks at. She turns her back to them inviting an attack as she holds her hand out to assist Isabella out of the carriage. Isabella who is looking at her with an expression of clear amusement before it adjusts to a serious one.
They were outside what looked like a pastoral cottage. It was like a serene refuge, surrounded by giant oaks, blooming wildflowers and the melody of singing birds. The guards around them break apart to step aside the cobbled path leading up to the cottage. One on each side of the path.
Isabella lead the way up the path with Zarracen a simple step behind her exuding her aura loudly. A threat to any who wishes to attack. A few of the knights seem pale. So, they were weaker than their odd aura suggests. Zarracen thinks to herself. Good. Isabella makes her way up the steps.
Zarracen quietly yet quickly bypasses her to open the door for her. Isabella sidles pass into the room. Zarracen is tempted to stay on the other side of the door sensing the dragon on the other side of the door. Someone who invokes her flight or fight instinct by mere presence. She has only felt it like this in the presence of the Emperor or the Grand Shield Knight.
She must be careful. She enters and directs a low bow towards the person. She's not foolish enough to lift her head even as she hears Isabella greeting the person as her mother. Zarracen has heard rumors attributing the Empress to being in the same league as the Emperor and Grand Shield Knight, but this is the first time being in her presence like this.
She's mostly kept herself from public appearances. Reasons unknown. People say that it's because of the Emperor's Consort, the mother of the other two heirs to the throne. Others say it is because of the shame of not having two children as most families do. Good things come in pairs after all.
Yet, Zarracen has a distinct feeling that none of those are the reasons.
"You may rise," Zarracen slowly looks up.
The Empress was as enchanting as she was powerful. The knight struggles to look away. When she does, she looks to Isabella and relaxes when she sees the woman settled sipping what appears to be tea.
"Come take a seat, Galt Ahktan."
The Empress grey eyes watch her with every step. Zarracen settles down slowly in her chair waiting for the iron to strike on her for being willing to sit with her... betters as it was. Zarracen glances down at her own cup completely unsure of what to do as of this moment.
"Mom why did you summon us out here?" Isabella asks, cutting to the point.
"I was curious about the knight Bhaltair stuck to you," Vesper states completely at ease despite her daughter's abrupt tone.
"As you can see, she's properly fit," Vesper looks Zarracen up and down.
"Hmm so you say but she didn't even notice the shadow exchange happening even if she didn't know what it was is such a failure by her, and her guards seem to make them inept."
Isabella doesn't falter at the knowledge of her mother spying on them and hearing that conversation. Zarracen does because she feels shame. The woman wasn't wrong. Magic has always been a weakness of hers. One, she has been trying to rectify.
"She's aware and besides it seems the other guards are not inept as it seems."
Zarracen looks down having been on high alert. Her shadow reforms at her feet. A bit of Empyrean on it. Avery. That means the shadows must have been directed back to the castle and the woman figured out something was amiss. She thanks Tximuria for that.
"Hmm so there are some competent individuals that you scouted Galt Ahktan," it should be a compliment but given the circumstances it didn't feel like it.
"I'm sure that you called me out here for a reason so let's start before they arrive," Isabella takes the attention of Zarracen again.
Zarracen keeps quiet as Vesper arches an eyebrow at her as if she was expecting a response. The Empress turns towards her daughter.
"It appears we have a bit of unrest in the capital and some surrounding regions," Vesper informs.
"Yes, I'm aware. I believe Maximilian Hassan died recently." Isabella informs. "I believe Celeste has been having a little bit of trouble recently."
"Not enough if she's constantly trying to impede you."
"Hmm. With Maximilian's death it should increase hers for a while. We had not an issue like that in years and then the rate of violence in some reasons are increasing as well."
"We are being poisoned."
It takes a moment from the back and forth for Zarracen to understand that they're talking about Exl. It appears Celeste is trying to keep the issue quiet. But, seeing as Prawm was quieted the issue is known amongst nobility but not her. She remembers Prawm saying it was handled but from what she's hearing now that was nothing but appeasement.
Zarracen understands that. The last time this occurred riots went out everywhere. Internal disputes amongst the knight orders ran rampant. It was hell. It's the perfect distraction.
She stiffens at this thought and focuses back on the conversation.
"How is the poison spreading?" Zarracen questions.
"Amongst nobility of course. Some individuals have been having trouble with their abilities and have been buying it, but this one is different from the last," Vesper addresses her.
"In what way?"
"It makes you weaker unless you keep taking it and it disrupts your Videle."
Zarracen frowns in confusion then. Disrupts Videle but that's dangerous. She shifts in her seat. Videle is essentially your life. You can burn bright and fast, or you can burn bright and long.
"The alchemic formula was changed have you gotten any samples?" Vesper shakes her head.
"RIM kept it locked tight. Celeste is conducting cleanup with a few mercenaries as well."
Zarracen freezes in her seat. Please not in that way. She almost begs internally. The panic that comes into almost cripples her. She didn't expect this at all. She'll check on them after her return to the capital.
"So then what do you want me to do about it?"
"Solve the issue. Prove your competency is better than your sisters. You can do it can't you?"
Even to Zarracen's ears. It's clearly not a request.
"You're the best option for this after all."
"Yes, Mother."
Vesper looks to Zarracen. "And I expect you to do better. Your dossier is more impressive than you."
Well, that hurts. Zarracen winces at this judgement.
"Of course, your majesty."
"Your friends appear to be arriving soon. To keep trouble from happening it'll be best to meet them outside."
"Right." Zarracen stands first and assists Isabella out of her seat.
The two walks towards the door. And as Isabella walks through first a barrier rises up keeping Zarracen stuck inside the homely cottage with just the Empress.
Zarracen turns then only to be shocked to find that Vesper was standing right in front of her. Her hand immediately atop hers that went to her sword. The Empress grey eyes meet her red ones. Her head tilts to the side as if searching for something. Her hand reaches out and everything in Zarracen holds her back from attacking as the Empress lifts up her pendant.
Vesper closes her eyes and pain passes across her face briefly as if she was struck. The sight leaves Zarracen both concerned and breathless. It was as if one look at her keepsake took out all of the fight in her leaving only sorrow. Sorrow so deep that Zarracen doubt she could reach the bottom of it.
"So, this is the real reason," Vesper murmurs sadness coating her words.
Zarracen has seen such grief before. She has seen it a thousand times. And she fears it because it could mean a promise unfulfilled.
"Has this ever activated?" Vesper asks. Zarracen nods.
"Against the Dragon." Vesper hums.
"What did it do?"
"It shielded me."
Vesper releases a shuttering breath. The woman releases the pendant.
"Protect my daughter properly this time. You only get one chance."
Zarracen bows her head.
"With my life your majesty," Zarracen states not even addressing the idea that she actually meant it. It would be with her life.
The barrier goes down and Zarracen is given permission to leave. Isabella meets her at the door, eyes roaming her for damage before glaring past at her mother. But, the princess did not say anything for their guards appeared as the two royals properly stepped out onto the pathway.
This time?