Chapter 12) Aquelia


With that blackmail in hand, Lord Nicholas watching the court. Potential threats were dealt with in a quiet, quiet way, with warnings. Those who did not heed those warnings were dealt with. Bribes were paid, people ruined.

It was all quiet, and all under the guise of a womanizer. That is, until Lord Nicholas met the lady Elizabeth, who was more than his equal, and the only one who saw through his act.

His flirtations stopped after their wedding, but that was fine. He already had all the weapons he could have ever needed.


The world itself might change a lot in five years, but Aquelia? Aquelia never changed. For one thing, it was as busy as always. The smell of cinnamon and meat drifting over the sounds of sermons, singing, the crowing of sellers trying to get people to buy their wares… yes, it never changed.

It also never stopped being a place where conmen tried to strike.

"Madelyn, come on," I hissed, snagging her by the arm and dragging her away. "That stuff is bogus."

"But wouldn't it be neat if it were true?" she retorted, eyes still sparkling. "Something that improves your ability to resist damage…"

"Where would they have even gotten a dragon anything in this day and age?" You heard the old wives' stories, but that was all they were. Stories. "Besides, what is it supposed to do? Skin breaks at the same point every time."

"True…" She sighed heavily. "I was just thinking of how hurt you and I can get. If not for everyone, I know I would have lost something by now."

"Eh, you are better than you think you are." Really, it was a bit surprising. I think she had a bit of talent for swordwork. Or maybe dancing, and it transferred over. "You think you are going to go back to being a proper lady after this?"

"Oh, I hope so. I dislike all this fighting. I simply dislike not being able to defend my home even more so." She leaned into me. "I will be glad to leave the fighting to the soldiers."

"You can stay here. You would be perfectly safe in Hanover."

"I wish to defend my home, and I will learn the strength to do so. But afterwards, I will not take up a sword again unless I must protect my home again." She made a face. "Though, seriously, I think I will die if someone is helping me. Oh, well."

"That… is not really something to say 'oh well' to."

"I would rather die protecting something than running away." …Ugh, why did I have a feeling she would get herself killed protecting some kids or something? She would. "Is that the estate?"

"Yeah." We walked past the gates easily, the guards letting us in with a token look. I felt a little uneasy at that until I noticed the other guards hiding. Ah, there they were. I should have known Hanoverian guards were subtle in their competence.

We opened the door, letting the servants take our cloaks. They gave me warm smiles, and I smiled back before heading for the study where we were all supposed to be meeting.

"Welcome home, my dear~" Uther immediately teased as we entered. He looked loads better than he had earlier. "So, an 'official' visit didn't pan out well." He, Nicky, and Elbert all exchanged looks. "Marcus and Eagler are trying to see if they can find out information from the knights here, while Maria is checking with the Ilian liaison for information."

"And where is Hassar?" Madelyn asked, taking one of the few chairs. I remained standing, leaning against the wall. "How are his injuries…?"

"Yodel is taking a second look at them," Nicky answered. His fists shook at his side, and I knew he was still livid over what happened earlier. "I really wish you all had let me take that soldier to task."

"He thought he was protecting me." Yeah, we had her and Hassar go out earlier, and Hassar had been attacked as a 'kidnapper'. "He looked rightfully sorry…"

"He only looked sorry because I was screaming at him." And because Nicky was damn terrifying. "He wouldn't have cared otherwise. He was more sorry he caught my wrath than attacking an innocent person."

"But…" Madelyn sighed, drooping. "Really, I shouldn't have even suggested he come out with me, though. He had looked reluctant, but I insisted…" And Hassar had gone, because she asked. I really was curious as to what was blossoming between them, because I was certain there was something going on.

"You can go apologize to Hassar when we're done here, Mads," Uther pointed out. "Ask if he needs help with something or just offer to keep him company." He had a small smirk there, and I knew he had also noticed something. Unlike me, he seemed amused by it. Me? …I knew very well what could happen when a noblewoman did not act 'properly'. I feared Madelyn getting disowned and thrown out like I did. "Though, not sure what to do besides gathering more information. Amanda, did you hear anything?"

"From what I got from the street kids, there was a rash of sudden disappearances with whores and kids here," I answered, crossing my arms. I was fairly confident in this information. Kids were honest, especially when you gave them a lot of money for the information. "But they suddenly stopped, around the same time the ones in Ostia started."

"Before he got sick, King Gawain was working on some reforms to improve conditions here for those forced out on the streets," Nicky explained. He took a deep breath, slowly calming down. Which was a damn good thing. Nicky's temper was easily worse than mine. Though, I was glad to see that five years had led to him calming down. It used to be hair-triggered. "Mordred was planning on picking that up again. Meaning any sudden disappearances would have been noticed, and Mordred is young enough to make a fuss."

"So, this group went to Lycia to get more victims while they waited for him to get sick and die." This was so poison. "That is about all I got. We might need to contact Urien for information about whatever the hell those creepy gold-eyed things were."

"Actually, I know someone else who might know, and more importantly, they are a little closer than Urien is." Given the date, though, Urien was probably due back soon. "Amanda, why don't you come with me to go see him? Uther and Elbert can run through the market."

"Yes, that sounds like a good plan," Elbert agreed. He was smiling slightly. "We can meet up with Marcus, Eagler, and Maria while we're out and consolidate information." That would speed things up nicely. "Madelyn, you stay here with Yodel and Hassar."

"Fine by me," Madelyn replied with a shrug and a smile. "I'll go see if either need help. I can make bandages or something if needed. I'm pretty good at weaving." Actually, if she was good at sewing, she would probably be good at stitching up injuries too. "Until later, everyone!"


There was only one location in the whole city that was not sparkling and lively. The area by the Tower of the Saint was in ruins. Charred and broken ruins, gutted long ago. They were a silent memorial to the first victims of the Scouring. According to the stories, it was a devastating attack on Aquelia, unprovoked and unexpected, that led to humans declaring war. The legends say that Saint Elimine, the Lady Hildegard, the Lord Martin, the Lady Alice, the Lord Mika, the Lady Maron, and the Lady Sheryl were the only survivors of the attack.

The Tower of the Saint itself was intact, though one piece of it was noticeably newer than the rest. I had always been taught it was a deliberate design choice. Something about how it resembled a scar, and highlighted the pain those survivors went through.

"Your friend lives here?" I asked in the silence as we skirted the edges of the Tower, going to something behind it.. It felt wrong being here. Like we were trespassing. "How did you even meet him? Some stupid dare again?"

"No," Nicky replied. His voice was very soft, and I noticed he was careful to avoid walking on certain places. It took me a second to realize the black stains were in the shape of bodies. Small bodies. Right, if a whole city had been destroyed, then even babies would have been… "After the… knight initiation, I came out here to scream. It had been raining, so I thought it would be better." Nicky… "While I was sobbing and thinking some… very bad thoughts, a traveler held their cloak over me and got me into some shelter. He listened to me as I rambled on and on and just… helped me fit myself together enough that I could keep going."

"You never mentioned this person."

"For a long while, I thought I had hallucinated them." He glanced back at me with a wry smile. "But then, after Grandfather threw you out, I came back here to scream, and to talk myself out of assassination."

"You would have hated yourself forever."

"That's really not a new feeling. I've just long since learned that even if I hated myself, there are others who love me, for some reason." Nicky… "Anyway, while I was out here, that traveler appeared again, and listened. I made a point of coming to visit every week while we lived here, just to say 'hi' or to ramble. But he's incredibly intelligent. I think he's a traveling scholar or something."

"Like Nimue?"

"Even smarter." That… was saying something. "That's why I think the best chance we have of finding out what those things were is here, not in any sort of magical library." Oh. "Here we are." This… well, this building was mostly intact. Still in pieces, but there was at least some semblance of a roof. "This used to be a temple. A Temple to Fire Spirits or something. The Dragon Knights of Aquelia were stationed here."

"Dragon Knights?"

"Knights who protected dragons from humans and humans from dragons. The organization fell apart during the Scouring, for obvious reasons." He flashed me a grin as we walked inside. The place was… surprisingly not very dusty. "It's pretty cool. I want to be one."

"You would." I could not help but smile back. "Is there a reason you have your friend stay here?"

"He doesn't want people to know about him. I almost brought my kids here to see him, but he requested I didn't." His smile turned a little pained. "I think he was a father, and that he outlived his child. He just has that air about him." I thought of Grandfather, and the look of devastation he had on his face when my father and Nicky's were buried. I could believe that. "But this is a bit of an emergency, so I don't think he'll mind my bringing you."

"But this is why you did not, say, bring Uther with you."

"Exactly." We stepped into a large room, huge and open. Shattered windows, broken pillars… but there was still a grandness to the place. This must have been the receiving room, the room of prayer, or something when this had been functioning. "Wuotan? You around?"

"Ah, Nicholas…" A shadow moved in the corner and from them, a man stepped out. He was rather young looking, I noticed. Thirties, I would guess, though there was something old about his eyes. Pretty, though. They were a very, very pretty blue. "I thought you were in the south, in your estates," he murmured, smiling gently. He moved slowly, and I saw some nasty looking scars peek out from the collar of his shirt. He had been in a vicious fight a while ago. "And you… brought someone?"

"I know you wanted to keep our meetings between just us, but things are… interesting," Nicky explained. The man did not seem angry, thankfully. Merely curious. "This is Amanda, my cousin. I talked to you about her before."

"Ah, yes, you did." The man's smile warmed. He reminded me a bit of… oh, I did not know… like the sun, really. Like the fire keeping watch while camping. His hair helped the feeling, being a pretty fire-orange. "It's nice to finally meet you, Amanda. I am Wuotan, a traveler."

"It is nice to meet you too," I murmured. He really did just seem… tired, worn, but still walking anyway, for reasons only he could explain. I could see why Nicky thought he might be a father who outlived his children. He honestly had the same air as Grandfather, not that Nicky would ever admit it. I wondered if he took to Wuotan because of that. "Forgive me, but is it all right if we just skip to business?"

"Certainly." Wuotan sat on the steps to some altar, and Nicky easily sat next to him. I hesitated before sitting a step or two below. "So, what is it?" he asked. His eyes sharpened slightly, becoming serious, attentive. "I notice some recently healed injuries." …How did he notice that?

"Yeah, there was a fight at my estate," Nicky sighed. Wuotan instantly looked alarmed, but Nicky smiled. "Everyone's fine. Some injuries, but no deaths." Wuotan looked so relieved at that. "But there was something strange about the attackers."

"That was?"

"They just… disintegrated after being killed."

"Turned to dust?" Wuotan tapped his fingers on the stone, the clack making me look. He had longer nails than I would expect on a man, and they made me think of claws. "Did they have gold eyes?"

"Yes, actually. Pale skin, red lips, black hair, and gold eyes. All of them."

"Morphs, then." There was a name? "Dolls crafted from quintessence, life force." Did he just say…? "Tell me. Have there been a long string of sudden murders recently?"

"Yes, there have been," I blurted. My hands were shaking. This was… "That… that is how we even got involved. Uther and I were looking into some, and then…"

"That is why they were killed, then," Wuotan answered. He rested a gentle hand on my hands, holding them until my shaking eased. "There are other ways to retrieve quintessence, but the most efficient manner is to kill a person and steal it from them as their life fades away. Long slow deaths are best for it, as you can be certain to extract every bit." That was… "Drowning works well, actually." I thought of the whore and those two kids who had been thrown into the river. "But really, any sort of death suffices. Death from old age, though, rarely does well, as most of the quintessence is gone."

"But the young have more potential."

"Yes." His smile was sad, bitter. "The magic is originally draconic. A user of elder magic can mimic it, I am certain. Little is beyond the reach of elder magic, if you are willing to pay the price for it. But whoever it is must be someone with extensive knowledge in draconic magic as well."

"Do you know of someone who can?"

"…I did. Once. But if he is still alive, then he is not the man I knew any longer." His words were firm, if bitter. "My dearest friend's husband. I have never been able to confirm his demise. So, I suppose it could be him. Perhaps he creates morphs to bring back his dead wife."

"You can do that?"

"You can create a doll that looks like a person. But to bring someone back to life requires far more than simple quintessence." He shook his head. "Most of those who try bring back simply walking corpses, unable to say or do anything, and then they go mad, convincing themselves they succeeded while the body rots under their fingertips."

"But why so many?" Nicky asked. I saw the fear in his eyes. "With so many dead… there could be an army."

"How much quintessence a person has varies, and even if you harvest all they have, much of it is unusable," Wuotan explained. His eyes closed, and it was easy to tell he was thinking quite deeply. "You can replace quantity for quality, though." So, not that many, just enough to throw many at us. "That said, depending on how long this has been going on…" I did not need that thought in my head.

"What can we do?"

"I am not certain. But if you kill many, then you can at least disrupt the plans, and make whoever is behind this start again. Delay." And maybe have enough resources and luck then.

"And how much danger are we in?" …Wait, that was right. If they got us…!

"I cannot speak of your companions, but you two will be fine. The blood might be diluted, but the quintessence you inherited is still powerful and gives you protection." …Huh? "Quintessence as bright as the sun, as bright as hope, and burns just as much. No morph will be able to steal it from you. It will burn their hands, blind their eyes, even as you lie on death's door. This leader might, but if he reveals himself, he risks being destroyed."

"Blood?" Nicky looked a little confused. "You've made mentions of that to me before. Something about blood and inheritance."

"…You had powerful ancestors, and while the blood you have is diluted, the quintessence you inherited still burns strong." It was obvious he was talking around something, but the look in his eyes said that it would be a secret he took to his grave. "Two powerful ones, but while one gives House Hanover quintessence like the sun, the other gives a certain… well, some would call it a gift, and others a curse. The ability to never be predicted, to even transform unchangeable moments of the future, to create what some would call miracles." Nicky flinched, and I remembered. Many called his surviving his knight initiation a 'miracle'. "That is something inherited, something you inherited from the same person you inherited your eyes from."

"…That's a lot of vague nonsense." Nicky scowled. "I hate vague nonsense."

"Haha, forgive me." Wuotan's smile was warm. "But there are promises even I still keep, and anything but vague nonsense will require my breaking them."

"Oh, no, I figured that. I'm just a bit annoyed anyway." He sighed, shaking his head. "Regardless, though, we're fine."

"Yes. Your companions might not be, though." That was a sobering thought. "It is good you came today, though, Nicholas. I was just about to leave."

"Oh, for where?" Nicky's smile was sad, but resigned. I imagine these two had talked about this. "You never told me."

"I am going to visit my little knight." …I bet that meant his child's grave. "From there, I think I will travel to the Western Isles. It has been quite some time."

"Be careful. There's a campaign to conquer it right now."

"That is why I wish to go. I want to see if there is any knowledge to salvage." Wuotan stood slowly. "Someone should remember. You never know when knowledge might be useful."

"…Is that why you still live here?" I asked softly. The words just slipped out, but I could not help it. "In a ruin, wandering about without a home."

"My home was destroyed in flames, and to keep what pieces I had of it safe, I had to stay away." Wuotan's smile was very, very bitter. "But yes, I keep on living, because there are some things that need to be passed on. Like the knowledge of morphs." Yes, that… that was going to be helpful. "Besides, I made a promise to my daughter. There is a knowledge I have that will be needed. I wait for that day. Only then, I will go rest." His smile warmed though. "Nicholas, I am not certain if I will see you again, but do take care of yourself."

"Cristina takes care of me well enough," Nicholas replied. He smiled back warmly. "Oh, but if you see any of my children, will you at least check in on them?"

"I will check in on your grandchildren as well, if our paths cross." …He was going to keep traveling as an old man? "Be wary, though. What this leader will want, more than anything, is a war." …War would kill a lot of people, giving a lot of… oh, shit. "You must keep things quiet."

"That was the plan, but I will make sure it is emphasized. Farewell, Wuotan."

"Farewell." With that, Wuotan left, disappearing into the shadows.

"…Nicky…" I began slowly, as soon as he vanished from sight. "Nicky, how old is he?"

"I have no idea," Nicky answered honestly. He stood with a stretch. "But if someone told me he was older than the Scouring, some days, I could believe it." Yes… "Let's go return to the others. We just got a lot of good information, just as I hoped."

"And some vague nonsense that will probably never, ever make sense."

"Yep." We exchanged a look and just burst into laughter, unable to help it. It echoed through the room, warming the air. I wondered if this place had been filled with laughter, long before it was destroyed. "Come on."

"Right behind you."


When we rejoined the others, we quickly decided that while Nicky gave explanations, Hassar, Maria, and I would go on and infiltrate the castle. It was a rather extreme and dangerous decision, but Eagler managed to hear that Mordred was very close to death from one of the worried knights, so it was decided speed was of the essence. I filled in Maria and Hassar as we wiggled our way in through some underground passages.

"Escape tunnels make very convenient entrance tunnels too," Maria noted as we walked through the waterways. It was the first thing anyone said since I finished my explanation about the morphs. "So, this is for the moat… canal… thing above our heads?"

"They say Saint Elimine purposely had these things designed so largely in case of some sort of massive attack," I explained. I ran my hands over the walls, ignoring the slimy algae and sticky moss. There was a switch somewhere around here. "What happened to her home haunted her forever."

"I can understand that. Still, the water?"

"Oh, yes, that's for that, and it helps serve the aqueduct system." That had been a later addition, though. "Hassar, you're quiet."

"That's unusual?"

"Brooding quiet."

"That's unusual?"

"Quiet, Maria." I gave her a playfully dirty look and she snickered, covering her mouth to muffle the sound. "To be serious, Hassar, are you all right? Is your injury okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Hassar replied slowly. "I was simply thinking of these morphs." Yes… "It reminds me of something the diviners in my tribe read in the stars."

"Oh?" I turned to walk backwards and face him, keeping a hand still on the wall. I hoped I was remembering this correctly. If I was, then this should get us right into the Royal Wing. "What did they see?" I asked. I did not believe in fortune telling, but considering how weird everything had been lately…

"A shadow defiling the dead, with purpose lost to the darkness. Long do they work, slowly and meticulously, and if they succeed, the world will be nothing but scorched and scoured land." …Well, that was not ominous at all. "The diviners mentioned that it is a vision that is both long and not, both past and present. It is not a future that can be stopped, yet, but can be in time."

"So, what? All our group can do is buy time?"

"Perhaps." Well, I did not like that thought. "Keep things safe for the present, and let the future step out. Sometimes, all you can do is believe in the future."

"Hope and wishes are worthless."

"Then what do you lose with having them?" I… had no reply to that. "Are we almost there?" Oh!

"If I remember correctly…" My fingers found the button and I pushed it, letting the brick wall slide open. "Here we are."

We stepped through without a sound and made our way through the tunnel. We opened the door at the end, and that was where I learned I… well, I was right in that this would take us to the Royal Wing, but I had been wrong in that… uh… apparently, this took us right to the room Mordred was in?

I assumed Mordred was in here, at least, as the person who suddenly threw a lance at us looked suspiciously like an older version of the little boy I knew as Douglas. He had a good throw, too. It cut one of Maria's pigtails.

"I won't let you take him!" Douglas's eyes were fierce as he settled into a stance in front of a bed. I leaned around and saw little bits of blonde hair on the pillow. Mordred did have blonde hair, so… "I chased away the supposed healers! Don't think I won't take an assassin!" Oh, what was the little nursery rhyme he loved…? Ah, I remember now.

"Ba, ba, black sheep, have you any wool~?" I half-sang. It made him pause. "Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full. One for the master, and one for the dame."

"And one for the little boy who lives down the lane." He just said the words, but he was looking right at me. "Miss Amanda?"

"Hey, Douglas." I smiled warmly at him. "Think you can apologize to Maria here?" I pointed to her hair, which she tugged at in wordless shock.

"…I AM SO SORRY!" He dropped his lance, flailing. "Words cannot… I am so, so sorry, miss!" A little groan made him pause and he whirled back to the bed. "Hey, Mordred, sorry for the noise. Just get back to resting. I'm going to talk to Miss Amanda." If there was a reply, I didn't hear it. "Yeah, Miss Amanda. Don't know why she's back, but she is, and she was always so nice to us, right?"

"Well, I thought I was," I teased, creeping over to the bed. Mordred looked… like hell. "Poor baby…" Hesitantly, I ran a hand over his hair. "Hey, Hassar?"

"If his protector doesn't mind, I can take a look," Hassar answered, already coming over. Douglas looked at us with so much hope. "I can't promise anything, but I'm not going to purposely hurt him, at least."

"That's better than the healers here," Douglas muttered darkly. He squirmed as Maria crouched next to him. "I'm really sorry about your hair, miss."

"Do you have a dagger or something so I can make it even?" she asked. He passed one over without a word. "Thank you." She easily chopped off the other pigtail. "Hair grows back. Necks typically don't." She handed him the dagger back. "So, who did you think we were?"

"Those Bernese folk again." Bernese? "There's one in the kitchens, and ever since they started making Mordred's meals, he got really sick." Well, that was definitely poison. That or Mordred had more food allergies than I remembered. "Then there's the ones that just creep around. I knocked one out the window yesterday."

"Why would the Bernese want to try anything?"

"…Well, I've heard that Princess Hellene and King Desmond haven't exactly been getting along in their marriage." Douglas sighed. "It's supposed to be a sign of peace, but if it's not going well, then maybe Bern doesn't care." Could be, though…

"I have heard rumors about a group of assassins based in Bern," I murmured. I watched Hassar as he poked and prodded, wincing as his frown deepened. "The Black Fang or something." Though… "I had heard they only go after corrupt nobles. Vigilantes more than assassins."

"Mordred hasn't even officially been crowned, though," Douglas grumbled. I could tell this was all bothering him. "I know where they live, though." Oh? "I can't go directly. Almost did, but realized it would leave Mordred open. I'm his only real guard at the moment." Douglas, you were fifteen years old. "I tried getting messages out, but I found them torn in the trash, and I don't know who to trust." Ouch… "How did you all know…?"

"We were looking into something else, but might have found a link. Nicky's been trying to see you."

"I knew Lord Nicholas hadn't abandoned us." …Oh, right. I forgot Douglas had a bit of hero-worship there. "I did get a bird message from Lord Urien too, that he was on his way back. I couldn't reply, of course." But Urien was close. "Is… is Mordred…?"

"I can give him an antidote to help buy him some time," Hassar answered. He was rummaging through the pack on his hip. "If he gets another dose, though, I don't think he'll make it." He glanced up at me. "We have to deal with those assassins quickly."

"We should also just get some of us in here to help him," Maria added, pointing to Douglas. Douglas, for his part, just looked ready to cry from sheer relief. "So, it'll be a split group." Not ideal when we did not know what we were dealing with, but honestly, if a real assassin came, Douglas would not stand a chance. "Hassar, Amanda, I'll go on ahead and let them know."

"And then we'll figure out the groups and move." Yes, that was best for this. "Amanda, I need a hand with helping him drink this."

Administering antidotes, waiting, and then a race against time to protect a little king. This was not how I expected any of this to go. But, then again, it was clear we were in a situation that no one had any right to expect.

I knew this whole thing would be convoluted, but I think we were well beyond that now.


Next Chapter – Poisonous Fangs