Kibble scribble: not as long a chapter, but I figure its been long enough already, and some of the events may caused raised eyebrows.
My new tablet keyboard is working nicely. It is proving to speed up my typing a nice amount, which means updates may come a bit faster, as it only took about a month for this one to get out, so here's hoping.
But enough of that, onto the madness.
"Your majesty, Lady Valliere has been sighted returning upon her Manticore," Agnes De Milan said as she stepped into the Queens study after being admitted.
Henrietta who was sitting in a chair at her desk only partly turned to face Agnes, Smiled and put down her Quill. " Excellent, it will be good to see Louise again. "Do you believe she will land in the courtyard?"
"I, believe it is very likely, your majesty," Agnes said, finding the expression of Henrietta's face to be a bit strange and unnerving. Though she did not speak of her own thoughts on the matter.
"Good, then let us be off to meet them both!" Henrietta said as she got up from her chair, saw to her dress for a moment to make sure it was immaculate and then turned to Agnes.
"Are you sure that you would wish to meet them in the courtyard your majesty?" Agnes asked as she opened the door and stepped out, holding it for Henrietta. "
"Yes, I doubt she will care how I look when we meet, and I care not for being controlled in how I travel about my own castle."
"of course," Agnes said as she followed just a step behind Henrietta as they traveled the halls of the castle down to the courtyard. On the way they encountered servants, all of whom bowed and were thanked for their work by Henrietta, and in short order they came out of the castle proper into the courtyard that housed the stables for any and all animals that could be kept in the castles walls. Mostly horses, but a couple griffons used by some of the knights as well.
And at the far wall beside the large fountain that supplied the troughs of water for the animals, was a larger than normal manticore, And Lady Valliere, fully outfitted in her riding leathers and travel gear.
"Lady Valliere, I take it you have returned successfully?" Henrietta spoke up as she and Agnes approached.
Karin Valliere turned to the both of them and bowed. " I have returned with the information about those that live upon the island yes," Karin said in a simple but businesslike tone. " There is much to go over."
"I am sure that there is, but more importantly, where is our guest?" Henrietta asked, as she looked around expectantly.
"that is one of the things that must be went over, your majesty," Karin said before letting out a slight sigh. As if to prepare herself. "Upon receiving your invitation, as well as a similar invitation from the Envoy that Gallia sent, The Gems refused the invitations claiming that they have no reason to leave the island, and that their weight would pose an issue for our mounts."
Henrietta's expression darkened. "And was it explained to them that refusing such an invitation is normally considered highly insulting?"
"it was. They also claimed they had no reason to leave as they have little interest in places outside their island, and do not believe that trade will be something they wish to partake in."
" I see. It sounds like there is much that you need to report at length then," Henrietta said before Turning. "Agnes, please have the sitting room prepared, it appears this debriefing may take some time."
"understood," Agnes said as she turned and hurried off, leaving Henrietta and Karin in the courtyard, as Karin tended to her manticore, unhooking the saddle straps and letting its body breathe.
"Lady Valliere, were you able to properly confirm that the one Gem was indeed Louise, or not?" Henrietta suddenly asked, causing Karin to pause for a moment.
"I was not, your majesty."
"May I ask why not?" Henrietta asked, her tone calm, but her expression tense and clearly annoyed.
"The Envoy from Germania, Dame Evelyn, was present the entire time, As was the Envoy from Gallia on the last day we spoke with them," Karin answered as she returned to removing her Manticores riding gear and then let it go to head over to the water trough. " it would have brought up a number of questions if I had acted in a way to confirm that matter, and I believed it in the best of interest to not let such information get out."
"Hmm, very well, I understand your logic," Henrietta said with a sigh. "Who was the Gallian Envoy?"
"A chevalier named Tabitha. She was young, but proficient in her skills and both calm and collected."
"Someone to look into and be wary of if you speak highly of them then," Henrietta mused as she gestured towards the castle, making it clear she wished for Karin to accompany her.
Karin nodded in understanding as she turned from her manticore.
"Yes. Though I worry as the Gallian envoy had a member of the Zerbst family with her. The same one who according to my daughters diary, was one of the most prominent in her Bullying," Karin said tensely, the memory making her angry.
"that is worrisome yes," Henrietta agreed. " once our fair country is back on its feet properly, it may be a good idea to prepare ours for more conflict. And it may be a good idea to show Germania that we are not to be trifled with."
"Your majesty, while I would never declare your words to be incorrect, as a member of our armed forces and the captain of the manticore knights, I must state that our forces are not up to the task of open war with Germania."
" I am aware of that Lady Valliere," Henrietta said darkly as she held a hand out in front of her as they walked. "while my own prowess with the Void is growing, I realize our forces are not capable of such as of yet. It is something I will be working to change in the coming months,"
"I see," Was all that Karin said out loud, while inwardly she was terrified by the implications of Henrietta preparing Tristian for open war. And of Henrietta who once wished for nothing but peace and stability, being so seemingly fine with such a prospect.
It only took them a minute more to arrive inside the castle at the Sitting room and found Agnes standing within it, a Pot of Tea and a plate of sweets sitting on the table between the two large and cushioned chairs that within the small room. Agnes also appeared to have a note book on her person, and a quill and inkwell on a small nearby side table. Making it clear she intended to stay and take notes on what was said.
Henrietta strode straight in and to the larger of the two seats and sat down, quickly picking up the teacup and taking a short sip before placing it down and looking at Karin as she sat down across from her. "So, Where are we beginning then?"
"I shall begin at the beginning," Karin stated as she looked at Agnes. And upon see that she was ready, began to recount nearly everything that she heard, said and was part of. From first going to the island and coming back to get the mission of being Tristian's envoy, the arriving and finding no food to be there, to her and Evelyn staying at the nearby village and of what they learned, all the way up to when Tabitha and the Zerbst Harlot arrived and when the Lunarians came and attacked. The only thing she expertly left out was when she had spoken to Evelyn in secret. The whole debriefing took almost two hours to make sure all of the information given was accurate and correct.
"So in simple terms, these Gems are sentient Gemstones that appear to be devoid of magic and are capable of much greater than human feats of strength and endurance," Henrietta said simply as she appeared deep in thought.
"That is correct. They appear to be friendly and patient, but also appear to hold grudges against their foes, and do not forget them," Karin added, causing Agnes to speak up.
"due to the claim that they have perfect memory, and claim to have no lifespan, correct?"
"Yes. I realize it is a fanciful idea, but the Gems seemed adamant in it being true," Karin said before taking a sip of tea. "However they appear to recall things they are told with surprising ease, and despite seeing us interminably had no difficulty recalling our names, or the names of our mounts despite their names being mentioned only once in passing."
"Hmm, strong, powerful, enduring, intelligent, with perfect memory, Yes, I can already imagine a number of ways they prove to be exceedingly powerful additions to Tristain," Henrietta said with a nod as she looked to Agnes. "What do you think?"
"they do sounds strong, especially if they are as resistant to magic as was described. However it also sounds clear that they have little desire to leave their island or engage in politics or trade," Agnes said stoically.
"it is something to think about then," Henrietta conceded with a nod as she looked back to Karin. "Thank you lady valliere for acting as an envoy to our new neighbors thus far. This information will be useful in our countries further dealing with these Gems."
"it is of no concern, everything I do is for Tristian," Karin said respectfully.
"Thank you for that," Henrietta said with a nod. "I believe though that you have been away from your squadron, and your family, for longer than expected."
Karin looked at Henrietta for a moment before speaking, her expression stony and unchangingly neutral. "Am I to take that as a job well done, and that you will be placing another to the position of envoy to the Gems?"
"That is correct," Henrietta said with a nod.
"Then I thank you and shall take my leave," Karin said as she stood up and suddenly had a thought. "Ah, may I ask who is going to become the envoy to them?"
"I am considering Headmaster Osmond," Henrietta said simply.
"I see, then I shall not worry," Karin said with a nod. " I believe I shall return to my family manor your majesty, thank you for the tea."
" Of course Lady Valliere. I will call for you if your skills are needed, as always."
"thank you for your words Your majesty," Karin said before looking at Agnes and giving her a nod, before she then left the room, leaving Agnes alone with Henrietta.
"Your majesty?" Agnes spoke up after a few minutes of silence. " Should I prepare for a missive to be Sent to the Academy?"
"No, but please send For General Gramont," Henrietta said as she held her teacup out in front of her, seemingly studying it.
"May I ask why?"
Henrietta smiled as she set the teacup down. "Why, to go and bring our neighbors here to meet me of course!"
"I see, then what do you make of them, considering what you have told me Evelyn?" Emperor Albrecht of Gemrnai asked Evelyn as the two of them sat in the emperors study by lamplight
" I believe that we need more information, and that we will need to learn more about their culture before we can make a more serious decision about the gems. However they are clearly strong and patient, and I believe will have little initial skill in politics, but would likely improve to be more proficient in trade and politics than merchants of the pope given time with their ability to learn," Evelyn summarized simply.
"I see. Then I believe I have more orders for you, and I apologize but they will keep you away from Germania for a time longer," Albrecht said with a sigh.
"Do not blame yourself, I expected such. What would you have me do?"
"Return to the island with provisions so that you might perhaps stay on the island itself and learn everything you can. If you can propose a non aggression agreement , and perhaps further, that would be good as well, but only do so if it feels likely. I will trust your judgment."
"of course. I shall leave in the morning so that Minerva might have some rest, and so that I can properly acquire what I will need," Evelyn said as she surveyed the emperors expression." Something has occurred that worries you, hasn't it?"
"yes. My changes to the economy have not been well received by the nobility. I did not expect them to be, but their responses are far more vocal and nearing on violent. I believe there are a number who are fanning the flames of the situation out of proportion. I cannot say much more, but I have our spies looing into a number of individuals to root out any sedition." The emperor took a heavy deep breath and looked at Evelyn with a downcast expression. "I am worried about what they may discover however."
"I am sure things will go well. The people will realize that what you are doing is for the future of Germania. It is simply the shortsighted who are lashing out," Evelyn consoled.
"I hope you are right," The emperor said as he seemed go think to himself for s minute. " the empress is keeping to herself tonight. If you wish . . . . no, let me rephrase that. Would you be willing to join me for the evening?"
Evelyn smiled, her cheeks flushing slightly pink. " It would be my honor, my love."
"These people should have had more time," one elf said as he an his companion moved through the remnants of what was once a city upon the floating island of Albion.
The smell of death and rot was omnipresent, as was the sights of destruction. The people of Albion clearly had had no time to react or prepare to whatever had sundered their island home, making it fall from the sky to the sea. The destruction was so widespread it clearly had been instantaneous, and few had made it out alive by the looks of it. Buildings were almost completely turned to rubble, the very land in places was torn and devastated, and everywhere there were bodies of those bludgeoned to death from rubble, Splattered under the weight of buildings, or even killed by others scavenging for what they could. The roads of the cities were crippled and torn apart from the very land beneath them ripping in directions they never expected, and in the last two days of travel both elves had seen more human bodies then either of them had ever expected to see in their lifetimes. All of them dead, and most of them impossible to discern identity due to the states they were in
"They should have, yes," the female of the two elves said with a solemn nod. "This island should have stayed afloat for another four hundred years in the elders were correct. It should have begun descending towards the sea over years, not seconds."
"Yes. There are too many bodies to even attempt to bury, and the land is so treacherous in this state. I don't think we will find the cause on this island itself."
"I never figured we would, but checking was not a bad idea," The female elf stated as the pair came to the edge of a road that now was upturned, the cobblestones now forming a rough wall that rose almost twenty metes into the air.
"Yeah, me and my morality I guess," The man shrugged as he looked up the road turned wall. " Meet you at the top?"
"you will, yes."
In the next second both of them began using their light and agile bodies to nearly run up the wall of cobblestone sand leapt up onto the upper area of landmass. And then began sliding down what turned out to be a sheer slope that went down to the other half of the devastated city they were in. They both slid down with as much control as they could muster and as they neared the bottom threw up their hands and let their magic loose.
The resulting blasts of winds nearly stopped them in an instant and allowed them to roll away from the slope unharmed, but breathing far heavier than either had expected.
"R-right, I say we don't try to climb things on this island anymore, its too dangerous," the female elf said after a few breaths.
"I agree with this suggestion. This land has been sundered far to much. We should head straight for the coast and head to that new island, forget trying to look for survivors, we haven't seen any for the last three days. At this point I don't see anyone being alive."
It was at that moment they heard the sound of snapping branches, right before a trio of humans with rifles came out from a group of nearby tree's. the humans all looked weary and pained, one with a splint over his leg, and they looked at the elves with fear and worry, but strangely did not seem to immediately react.
"You, are elves," one of the humans, who appeared to be the eldest of the three, stated as he looked at them with broken, exhausted eyes.
"We are," the female elf said nervously, Carefully giving her ally a hand motion telling him to be prepared to run.
"Why are you here?" the old human asked, his rifle the ready, but not trained on either of the elves.
"We came looking for the cause of this islands fall, and we hoping to find survivors, or to bury the dead we found."
"Well, most of those that died are already buried. Crushed under our cities and the land itself," The old man said with a heavy sigh. " Come with us."
"what? Why?" the male elf asked with an anxious glare. " So you can imprison or torture us?"
"No. Our leaders, they will want to meet you I'd gather, that's all."
"Why should we trust you?"
"You don't need to trust us. Just like I don't trust you," the old human said simply. "But we common folk don't share most of the nobles disdain for your kind. The church is gone, our land is sundered, and no amount of praying to the founder stopped it or can change that. For those of us let alive, the time of blindly following a faith that allows the nobility to trod on us is long past."
The mans words surprised both of the elves, making them exchange confused glances. They had always been told the humans were basically addicted to the worship of the betrayer Brimir and considered their own kind as heathens and heretics. but this human was admitting to forsaking their beliefs, and while leery, seemed to be willing to give the benefit if doubt to them.
"Alright," the female elf spoke up strongly, shocking her ally. " But we must be allowed to keep our weapons."
"That is fine. Id prefer you be able to defend yourself isf an animal attacks us anyway," The human man said as he waved his hand and called out. " We're heading back to the base!" His orders caused noise from elsewhere Inmthe ruined town, and the trees outside of it, making it clear there were many more humans about. He then turned to the elves and gave then a half smile. " come, it is a couple hours to get to our base, and if we make good time we can reach it by sundown in time for a meal."
Following the humans, who appeared to number around twenty, the elves managed to learn a few things from listening in to the humans talk. The first thng they learned was that these humans were survivors who had been found by others, and in turn went out to find other survivors. It sounded as if they had found a lot of survivors from the edges of large cities and small towns, and that the cities were nothing more than large graveyards in most places, with sickness, disease and rot now rampant as many bodies could not be properly attended to or buried.
the second thing of importance they found was that few if any of the lands nobility had survived. Albion had been in the midst of civil war between the nobles, and as such almost all on both sides had been holed up in fortresses or cities. When the island had come down, their fortresses had come down on top of them. As such the small number of mages who survived were lesser nobles or those who held no titles, bastard children and the like.
The third, and perhaps most curious piece of information they heard was some of the humans talking about a visitor to their encampment. A visitor that was not elven or human, but shaped in the same manner but coming from the ocean itself. It sounded absurd, as nothing came from the seas but fish and monsters, but when they asked the humans after overhearing it they went quiet, and the old man leading them simple told them to wait and see.
They didn't have to wait long by this point as barely a half hour later they crested a grand hill, that may have before the fall been a mountaintop of some form, and found the location they were heading to. Along the edge of the coast was an area where a river had likely flowed. Its banks were now crushed up together like the base of a valley. A town that looked like it had once straddled the river and a forest was now crushed up against itself, the buildings rebuilt where they could be to form homes and covered areas, and where once were trees now appeared to be the sea. The lights from the crippled town were almost blinding, and even from the distance they were at they could see people moving around, and a number of makeshift boats moving around the water, likely back to whatever docks had been built.
"Westwood Village," the old man offered as he stepped up beside the two elves. " We used to be a lumber village along the river. The sea used to be almost a days travel from us."
"The landscape has changed a lot," The male elf said as he seemed to prepare himself for something. "How many fell?"
" . . . .About half the village died in the crash. Those of us who didn't well, we've been doing our best. Finding other survivors, those without family. The like," he said before shaking his head. " Stay close and I'll bring you to see the ones leading us. They can explain things and answer your questions. Though they may have questions for you."
"we understand but . . . is this a common thing, your people not believing now?"
"Some still believe in the founder," The man said as he began leading the elves toward the encampment, allowing them to notice makeshift walls made out of broken buildings blocking entry to one side of the village. " but most of us, well. . . . the civil war, the nobles infighting, the church's lack of help, the island falling. Most of us have lost such cares, especially considering one of the people now leading us forward."
The two elves shared a look but said nothing as they followed and approached the village, then entered. From inside it was easy to tell the level of devastation. Every building looked to be in a state of disrepair or destruction. The roads were little more that uneven piles of rubble, and what looked street lamps and fences were little more than tangled messes that served only as barricades or straps holding back mounds of rubble.
The people were even more disconcerting. Nearly everyone looked injured in some way or form. Some had simple scrapes and cuts, while others had bandages covering entire sections of their limbs or body, soaked with blood and other muck. Many more had visibly broken, or even missing, limbs, and no one had any light in their eyes. Everyone's eyes wee dull and tired, sad and filled with despair.
A few looked at them with clear distrust or outright disdain and fear, but most seemed either curious, or outright uncaring.
It took time to cross the rough and uneven pathways of the village, some of witch were old walls of buildings lying across open chasms, but eventually they came up to a moderate sized building, just as run down and devastated as all the rest, and stopped in front of it where a young man was standing guard.
"Boy, go tell them i am here with interesting guests," The old man said suddenly, startling the female elf a bit as the guard nodded and slunk into the building with a surprising lack of noise. The elves waited for a moment before one opened his mouth to speak, but stopped when the door opened and the guard came out, nodding silently to the old man. " come,"
The elves followed the man in, and were surprised as they crossed the doorway into the building. They had expected the insides to be partly furnished, even marginally, as human nobles and leaders tended to like that sort of thing, liked to flaunt their wealth even during times of crisis. What they found instead was that the entre building was a single room with a handful of tables spaced around the room with ramshackle chairs around them all pointing to the center of the room. One table had a few men sitting at it, each of them older, but not yet wizened. At another was a number of young men and a young woman who looked barely an adult. Another had some men that looked slightly more regal in how they cared for their facial hair, and yet another table had some women at it of various ages. The last table, at the back of the room, was the most curious because two women, one older and human, and another younger and who looed elven, sat, while directly in front of them stood a being that the elves could not guess as to what it was.
It stood on two legs, and its body was covered in what looked like flowing, almost flesh like layers of draping cloth and liquid , a whitish pink in color. Its head looked faintly humanoid shaped as well, but it was so clearly not that they found themselves staring even as it turn to look at them and smiled with an otherworldly expression.
It then stepped to the side so that they could see the woman and elf, a sight that made it very clear, from her absurdly sized breasts, that she could not be a trueblood elf, and was likely a half-elf.
"Hammond, I see you report with some, unexpected accompaniment," the woman with grass colored hair said aa she looked at the two elves with clear distrust.
"Yes, we found em in the city ruins nearby, their not heavily armed and appeared to be scouts of some kind. Figured you'd want to hear from them yourselves," the old man, now named Hammond, said with a gruff and simple tone.
Some of the men, the more regal looking ones, looked upset by Hammond's words, but did not speak at the woman nodded. " Thank you. Please get some rest, you look like you need it."
"Aye, speak to you later Mathilda," Hammond said with a wave as he turned to leave and passed by the two elves with a partying word of, " good luck," before he left the room.
"Perhaps introductions should be first?" The blonde half elf said with a smile as she stood up from her set, further making her chest clear in how enormous it was. "My name is Tiffania Westwood, and this is my Sister Mathilda of Saxon Gotha. We are, something like the ones helping everyone get by here," she said before gesturing to the two elves. "May we know your names?"
The two elves looked at each other for a second before the female elf took a step forward. "I am called Marin, and my Brother here is called Moro."
"why are you here living with humans?" Moro then spoke up abruptly, before anyone else could speak.
A couple of those present yet unnamed looked like they were about to yell or scream, even attack, but Tiffania simply smiled and spoke, her tone as soft and friendly as it had started. "I am a Half-Elf. My father was a noble who reigned over these lands and this village, while my mother was an elf he saved and allowed to stay in his home. She worked as one of the maids while she healed from a wound, and they fell in love."
"You mean to say he forced her to stay, right?" Moro pressed, looking both angry and disgusted all at once.
"No, they loved each other very much, and even when my mother passed on when I was four, my father did not take another wife or mistress," Tiffania said as he expression turned slightly worried . " You, are not here for me, are you?"
"No," Marin said as she glanced at her brother in annoyance and with a gaze he understood as telling him to keep quiet. "if you held spirit magic some of the elders would argue that you be brought back to elven lands though."
"I see," Tiffania said with a downcast gaze, telling Marin she likely did have spirit magic. Her expression quickly turned friendly again though as she looked back up at her. "May I ask what you are doing here on Albion then?"
"We were ordered to travel to Halkeginia and investigate the sudden appearance of the island off the coast, as well as something else of minor importance. We figured there was a possibility of finding the reason for that islands appearance here on this one, as its fall coincided with the others appearance."
"Ah, then you will may wish to come with then!" the strange creature said with a disturbing chuckle.
Marin looked to se many of the humans avert their gazes away from her, admittedly voluptuous, body. " What are you talking about you . . . No, firstly, what are you?"
The creature smiled as they stepped forward and curtseyed their strange fleshy dress like frills. "I am Ventrilocosiolius, Current queen of the Admirabilis. I also am one who understands who and what are upon that island, as my people were dragged behind it to this strange land where our prehistoric ancestors walk the land as if it is normal!"
"what is that supposed to mean?" Moro asked, sounding like he was being tricked and he knew it."
"Ventril has been assisting us with procuring seafood for us, and in return we have been giving her information about our lands as she claims her kind were displaced to the nearby oceans," Mathilda said as she eyed Ventrilocosiolius warily. " She has also just before you arrived brought up the idea of us moving all of or people to that new island, but claimed we would need to speak to the denizens that inhabit it first."
"Why would you need to move?" Marin asked curiously. "Why not simply rebuild here?"
"The land is too ruined to do anything," one of the old men spoke up. " There are no fields where we can plant crops, and most animals have died or fled."
"Our stores of food and tools have dwindled badly as well," Tiffana spoke up. " Even with Ventrils help, we're having difficulty feeding everyone."
"So, that was why I suggested going to meet the ones who live on the island!" Ventrilocosiolius said with a strange smile. "I haven't met them myself, but my ancestors have had dealing with them in the past and it has gone well. They're very understanding and peaceful."
"I see. I admit, I am interested in meeting the ones who live on that island. Would they know why their island appeared in these lands?" Marin asked curiously.
"That I do not know,"
"Well, I was going to agree and volunteer to go and meet them," Tiffania suddenly spoke up as she looked to Marin and Moro. " Would you like to come with us perhaps?"
"Are you sure we would not be interfering?" Marin asked as her gaze temporarily shifted to Mathilda, who still looked at them with distrust. "I know that many humans do not care for my kind."
"I am sure it will be fine," Tiffania said with a smile that was somewhere between friendly and diplomatic.
"Then, we would be honored to accompany you to that unknown island."
"Perfect, Then we should leave as soon as morning comes!" Ventrilocosiolius declares with a clap of her hands that made her own chest quiver in a way that no human or elves ever would. "I shall return in the morning with our transportation, and I am sure you will find it surprising!"
Then, before anyone could really speak up against it, Ventrilocosiolius walked straight for the door, past the elves, and out of the building.
"um, should we be, worried?" Moro asked as he gestured toward the door.
" I do not believe so," Mathilda said neutrally. " Ventril has been appearing repeatedly since just after the island fell, and they seem harmless so far."
"Yes but, it is late. We don't have much, but I'm sure we can find a place for you to rest," Tiffania said with a smile. " would that be alright?"
"Oh, yes. Thank you, I mean. For the hospitality." Marin said with a nod, earning a glare from her brother that she ignored.
"Then could someone-"
"I'll do it," Mathilda said, interrupting Tiffania as she stood up and came around the table. "I'll be back in a bit."
"Oh, thank you," Tiffanai stated as she looked at Marin, "Mathilda will bring you to a room you can use for the evening. We'll see you in the morning!"
"Thank you," Marin replied before she and Moro turned and followed Mathilda out of the building and bxk into the ramshackle collection of buildings and bridges and ruin outside.
Mathilda instantly turned down the pathway and headed closer to the new coastline, eventually leading the two elves to a building that looked like it had its back section crushed underneath a cliff line. She pushed open the door, revealing a simple room with a pile of broken furniture to one side, and some dirty carpets covering the floor." You can use this building to rest for the night. I would suggest not leaning on the back wall," Mathilda said as she stepped away from the door.
"Thank you," Marin said as she took a step toward the door, only to find Mathilda suddenly blocking the way with her arm.
"I don't trust you elves. If you do anything to prove my distrust, I will not let you live long enough to regret it. Understand?"
Marin simply nodded, her gaze never straying from Mathildas as she used one hand held slightly behind her back to signal her brother to not react.
"good," was all Mathilda said as she turned and walked off.
"Why are we going along with this?" Moro demanded from his sister after a few minutes of silence.
"Because," Marin began, "They are going to that island, and we need to get there anyway."
"We could have gone there ourselves. Going with the humans and that, thing, is a bad idea."
"That thing is why I think we should go with them," Marin countered, causing Moro to stare at her.
" Explain."
"That creature, nothing like it has ever existed, and it sounded like it knew what was on the island we need to head to. It can give us information about those on that island, and leaning about it itself would also be smart."
Moro let out a grumble of annoyance. " I don't like this. Any of them, that creature , or the humans, could betray us at a moments thought. I wouldn't put it past the humans either."
"Normal humans yes, but these humans are not acting as directly hostile as we have always been told they would. I do believe they have been truthful that with the fall of their belief in their religion, they have let go of some of their hate for our kind."
"Hrm, I'm not so hopeful, but I suppose we will see," Moro said with a sigh. " Go to sleep. I'll take first watch."
Marin nodded and laid down on the cold floor to sleep, allowing Moro to think, and hope, that the rest of their mission would be less chaotic and unexpected. He didn't like surprises.
It was late at night, nearly midnight, when Julio Chesare finally reached the cathedral of the founder in the Capitol city of Tristania. He had flown for over a day straight, pushing his mount nearly to the edge, but as soon as he landed some of the priests who had seen him took his mount and did not stop him from entering the building, his sign of rank more than enough to earn him entry without question.
He stormed in, and as soon as he saw the cathedral leader, The cardinal of all Tristain, he did not even give him a chance to speak.
" I am Julio Chesare, personal assistant to the Pope. I require writing implements to write a letter to his Holiness immediately, and need you to prepare both as many holy crusaders as you can, and to set up a meeting with Trisatain's regent for as soon as dawn breaks. Understand?"
Cardinal Mazarin nodded in understanding, but did not immediately move. "May ask what I am to tell the Queen so early in the morning?"
"That I bring news of heresy in our midst that must be purged in the founders name!"