Renner awoke in the dead of night, courtesy of one of the creatures that were put under her command for the time being. That was the moment where she realised how correct her choice of immediately siding with these people was. Shadow demons, as they were apparently called, were loyal to a fault and undetectable to even adamantite adventurers. Her espionage network of different nobles turned from drawing information out of the maids to having constant information come in through a primary source.
Now however was not the time for observation, but for action. The war with the empire was maybe a month away at most, but what expansionist empire would not take an opportunity presented by a country losing its monarch? While her hatred for her father wasn't as powerful as for those who insulted her dear Climb, it was still present.
His duties as a king drew him away from his youngest child and thus Renner became what she was. Before her father would suddenly die of old age, there was one thing to still do and that is secure the throne for herself. Her two older sisters were already married off and not able to inherit the throne, same as their husbands, but Zanac was more politically crafty than most gave him credit for.
She could have had him assassinated, that poison given to her was quite literally otherworldly in how little one could do against an assassin armed with it, but she decided against it. His support for her ascension to the throne would also bring the support of Marquis Raeven, who was the smartest person in the kingdom besides Renner. In truth, his machinations behind the scenes were the only reason the country still stood.
Of course it helped that Zanac was, as low as the bar was, one of the nicer people to Climb. Out of her entire family, he was the one she didn't hate and so she decided to spare him. And she was in luck, her brother and the marquis were having a secret meeting in the dead of night, even if they couldn't be secret enough to avoid the shadow demons.
Avoiding the maids was simple as there were relatively few around at this time and she had memorised their routines long before. She opened the door to a room and saw what she expected; a slightly flustered Zanac and a rather composed Marquis. In this room they would either die or submit.
"Brother. Marquis. I have an offer for you two." she said, her mask of warmth gone, her gaze soulless. Zanac knew of this side of her, but still gulped involuntarily. Raevan's polite façade on the other hand shattered as his widened and he muttered to himself, "I knew it." Many years ago, when the princess was still one what could call a child, he caught a glimpse of her true nature and had been wary ever since.
"You remember our visitor to the court, Lord Pyke?" she asked, silently signalling to the shadow demons in the room to be ready to show themselves.
"That one is hard to forget." said Zanac, before shuddering. "Wait, what do you mean lord?" he asked. That specific word being chosen by the infinitely sharp Renner already told both the prince and his colleague most of what they needed.
"Yes, lord. If you work with me, your lives and prosperity will be guaranteed, even if I will be queen instead. And if you don't, my newfound lord has seen it fit to grant me assistance." She snapped her fingers and out from the shadows materialised three pitch black figures. They were humanoid and with piercing, sickly yellow eyes. "All you have to do is support my claim for the throne tomorrow."
Normally Renner would use a more subtle method, but where a show of force does the job one might as well utilise it. Zanac sighed, realising the position he was in, "Seems like I don't have much of a choice, do I sister? Have it your way, I'll support you, but does that mean father is dead?"
The golden princess displayed no emotion, a serene smile on her face, "Do not worry brother, all is in order." She turned to the marquis who was still looking at the demons in shock.
Zanac leaned back in his chair, "Give it up Elias. She's got us in checkmate, as always."
Elias Brandt Dale Raevan was a pale man with the aura of the most venomous snake in the court, one who once had held ambitions for the throne in his heart, but resigned himself to his fate for the sake of living to see his son one more time, "Your highness, I too will support you."
The demons melted back into the shadows, losing a dimension and giving the two politicians an eerie feeling of being watched. "Then I will see you tomorrow." she said and walked out of the room. On her way back to bed she handed the vile of mystical sand to one of the shadow demons and ordered it to do the deed.
And right as she was about to fall asleep it reported its success, letting Renner sleep without worry…
ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ
Brain opened the door and immediately two pairs of eyes turned to him. When he decided to set out on this trip he expected to find one familiar pair of eyes, but he didn't recognize either of these. To add insult to injury, one of them clearly had vampiric, blood red eyes! What the hell was going on in E-Rantel?! He shook his head, realising that it was Pyke he was dealing with.
Keno assumed her adult form, even if it was not as familiar and comfortable for her, it was still easier to deal with men when half of their brain was shut off. Jericho leaned in, "You recognize this guy or do I put him on the operating table?" the hint of sadistic glee at the thought of torture was something Keno had gotten used to at this point and tried to keep in check.
"Did you not read the reports?" she whispered back, "That's Brain Unglaus, a friend of Pyke's?" She facepalmed as Jericho shrugged, seemingly winging it as usual and already planning how he was going to bluff his way out of the next strategy meeting. Little did he know, next time he would try such a trick Keno would send a message to a very stern, very deadly scythe wielder.
Keno sighed, "Well, no point in hiding that I'm a vampire I guess." She returned to her shorter, natural form and slumped into a nearby chair. "So what are you doing here, Brain? Looking for Pyke?"
He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, "I'm kind of out of a job right now and I can't keep leaching off of Gazef like that so… Not to mention that I still want to get stronger and beat him, and there's only one guy I know of that could supply both. Next thing I know he starts a mercenary company? I just knew I had to get in on that!"
Jericho put on his most diplomatic smile, "We prefer the term free agent not mercenary. People like you squandered the word and gave it a bad reputation, and I would not dare damage my father's reputation."
"Wait, Pyke's got kids? And you're one of 'em?" he asked, dumbfounded.
"Ah, he didn't tell you? There's a whole city down there, somewhere under water. I don't exactly know how it works, but" she shrugged, "he created it and all those that are there so he's both king and dad. After he killed the Gods in the Theocracy he's been pretty busy down there."
"Killed. The. Gods? Think I misheard you. The Gods are already dead. Or let me guess, it's a long story?" Suddenly he felt a metallic object impact his back.
"A long story it is indeed and I shall tell you all about it over tonight's meal, alongside the rest of my force." said Valodan, his stature as imposing as his aura commanding.
"And you are?" asked Brain.
"Valodan Whigrane, General of the Swimming City. I've heard of you, Brain Unglaus. I can see by the way you carry yourself that you are a warrior through and through; that you didn't lose your balance when I hit your back already says much about you. I need someone like you. You wandered and sought strength, learning wherever you went. That worldliness will be invaluable. I'll give you strength and you join my army, what do you say?" He stretched out his hand.
Brain eagerly took it, "Sounds like a fair deal. How come all of you are so persuasive?"
Jericho laughed as he sifted through various scrolls in the back of the room, "Runs in the family my friend, runs in the family…"
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The atmosphere in the throne room was… not as heavy as it should have been. In fact, it was rather electric. Ramposa wasn't a disliked monarch, in his youth he was even beloved for his valour on the battlefield! Alas, those ages had passed long before time took its course. Now the kingdom stood at an impasse. Babro who was supposed to inherit the kingdom was dead and the noble faction was openly vying for power.
Gazef already read Ramposa's private will that was addressed to him and it said to protect Renner and put her on the throne. Still, the most recent conversation with Pyke ran through his mind on a loop and he constantly asked himself, 'Is this what he meant that time? Is this his doing?' and he always came to the same answer, 'No, he'd be a lot more brutal. This was just old age…'
He came back from his thoughts and pounded his chest plate three times in order to silence the room. His attempt was successful and Renner stood in front of the throne meant for the monarch, "In accordance with the will of my father I will take the throne."
In an instant the dead silence turned into a thunderous roar of outrage at the thought of a woman ruling the kingdom. "Silence!" yelled out Gazef, his deep voice forcing the nobles to shut it for a brief instant.
And a brief instant is all that Zanac and Raeven needed, "I support my sister's claim to the throne. It is what father wanted after all." he said.
"I agree with Prince Zanac. Her Majesty Renner will be more than capable of managing the kingdom, unless any of you want the responsibility of fighting the Empire soon? I doubt they will miss a chance such as this to attack us…" said Raeven. With their short-sightedness revealed they agreed to the coronation of Renner.
Greed may have been their vice, but that didn't bring stupidity with it. In their avarice dominated minds they realised how much a war like that could cost to their own domains if they had to deal with it as king. Now that Renner was queen however they could abandon her call for aid against the empire and not lend their private militias, as well as not honour the levy from their lands.
Of course this was all according to plan and Renner accepted the crown with a pleasant smile. The people loved her, so there were no worries there and her supposed inexperience in politics meant that when she agreed to the deal Pyke would propose it would be excusable.
The nobles themselves would most likely lie in wait, until the yearly war was over and they could go back to plotting about taking the throne. The Royal faction's support was guaranteed in the short term as well, given that she was handed it in the will. Raevan's and Zanac's support was the nail in the coffin as the plan was slowly unravelled…
(AN: So there you have it! Volume 2 is done! I hope you've enjoyed the story so far! While I write volume 3 you should read [When Death Walked The World] by Eternity999 since that is a fantastic. Next time we return to Pyke and the dogs of war are let loose! This volume also marks the end of the prewritten chapters and from now on you will actually have to wait for them. Anyway, Volume 3 soon and maybe some illustrations if I get good at drawing.)