Disclaimer: I do not own the Fable universe. Characters you do not recognize were created by me for the purposes of this story. Changes have been made to the region of Silverpines. The area is larger and certain buildings have been added. I have added details about the balverines, so do not be surprised if you read a detail or two that the game does not cover.
Will earn the M rating. Expect content of a mature nature in future chapters. You have been warned.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story, any and all feedback is appreciated! - Fallon.
Chapter Two
Maya tried to keep her cool as she approached the strange group in front of the Mourningwood Fort. The balverines showed no signs that they were preparing to jump her, but she kept her hand on the Dragonstomper regardless. She wasn't about to trust monsters.
Hale didn't like the situation either and kept close to his mistress.
When she was as close as she could force herself to get, the little girl the balverine held titled her head and beckoned Maya closer.
She took two more steps before stopping.
It seemed to be enough, as the little girl smiled.
"You don't seemed frightened, child." Maya said softly.
"You don't either! That's good, daddy will be happy." The child piped happily, seemingly unaware of the danger around her.
Maya was confused, why wasn't the child terrified? She had seen grown men piss themselves when confronted by a single balverine and here this child was being held by one. "What is your name?"
"I'm Shiloh, and you are Maya – the princess!"
Maya eyed the other two balverines. "Why did they bring you here, Shiloh?"
The little girl laughed. "Daddy told them to bring me here, silly!"
"And why are you here?"
Again the child laughed. "Because you are here! Daddy wants to meet you, he gave me a top secret message to give to you." She held up her hand and revealed a roll of parchment.
Maya didn't move to accept it. "What is this about, Shiloh? Why didn't your father deliver the message himself?"
"He knew you wouldn't attack if you saw me." The child's tone was indifferent.
Maya seethed with anger, what sort of man would send his child in the company of monsters to deliver a damned note! She was tempted to take the note just to have a chance to shoot the coward who sent Shiloh in his stead.
"Here," Shiloh offered the parchment to her, "take it."
Maya slowly approached the child, keeping her eyes glued to the balverine that held her. She accepted the parchment from the child and took a step back.
"Daddy said to make sure you read it." Shiloh said softly.
"How about this, I swear on my honor I will read it inside the fort, so long as you answer a question for me." Maya hoped her offer would appeal to the child, she wasn't keen on the idea of reading it while being surrounded by three balverines.
Shiloh twisted her lips as she thought and looked up at the balverine who held her. "What do you think, Loki?"
The creature stared at Maya, snarled and nodded.
"Alright, Princess," Shiloh said with a short nod, "if Loki says so, it's so. What is your question?"
"Are you one of them, Shiloh?"
Hale began to growl.
The child giggled and nodded. "Yup, I'm too young to change though. Read the letter from daddy, Princess."
Maya watched as Shiloh and the balverines walked back into the gloom of the swamp. She held onto the letter tightly. She knew that balverines had, at one point, been people but she never expected to come face to face with an infected child.
She heard the gates to the fort open behind her and soon felt a hand on her shoulder. "Maya?"
She glanced over her shoulder and saw Ben. "I'm fine, I think we'd better read this though." She held up the parchment and Ben nodded.
Ben, Swift and Walter sat around the fire, eagerly waiting for Maya to crack the seal on the parchment.
Maya did so slowly, unsure what she would read within. She rolled open the sheet of parchment. Those around the fire were deathly silent.
She cleared her throat and began.
To the Princess of Albion and her allies,
I apologize for the display in getting this letter to you, but I am afraid it was necessary. I do hope you understand, if by chance you do not, then hopefully that will change by the end of this letter.
My name is Ezra Kaiser and I lead a particular family of people interested in aiding you in your efforts against the King. We may be few in number, but we are skilled warriors eager to see Logan off the throne. I shall be straight with you, Princess, we are balverines. I say this plainly because your hatred of us is well known and I do not wish for there to be any confusion. That being said, I do hope you are able to put aside your anger, for we have a common enemy.
I seek an alliance with you, Princess. The details of which, we must discuss in person. If you are interested, I extend an invitation to you to visit me at my home in Silverpines. I can guarantee your safety, though I do request you come alone. When you enter the Pine, and we are certain you will not do anything reckless, we will send one of my men to guide you to our home.
You have until tomorrow night to visit the Pine. I do hope to see you.
Sincerely,
Ezra, the Alpha
Maya tossed the letter into the fire and sat down. "What a laugh!"
Major Swift took a long puff of his pipe and looked at Walter. The old knight turned to Maya. "I think you should consider his offer."
"You must be joking, Walter. We don't need their help, believe me."
"I know it'll be hard for you," Ben began, "but I think we should think rationally about this."
Maya couldn't believe what she was hearing. "It sounds like I'm the only one who is thinking rationally!"
"You're not," Walter insisted, "you're blinded by your hatred. We could use all the help we can get, Maya. Even if it's from balverines."
"They will stab us in the back as soon as the opportunity presents itself!"
"Just because they're balverines?" Walter questioned.
Maya stared into the fire but said nothing. She thought Walter understood her, so why was he asking her to consider Ezra`s offer?
After a few minutes of silence, she spoke. "He wants me to go there alone, Walter. Do you remember that part?"
He crossed his arms and nodded. "Yes, I do."
"And you still want me to do it? Given all you know about me?"
"Think about the people of Albion, Maya, we need allies to help them." Walter pleaded. Of course he knew her discomfort in dealing with balverines, but he was hoping she would see past that to the potential benefits the alliance could bring them.
Maya groaned. She hated balverines, but she also hated the idea of disappointing Walter. "Fine, but you and Hale have to wait for me at the entrance to Silverpines. I will go there, see what they have to offer and decide on my own if it is a good one."
Walter nodded. "Just promise me you will really think about what he offers, and not just say no because of what he is."
"I will," she stood up, "just promise me there will be a tankard of ale waiting for me when I get back."
Ben laughed, "I can promise you that, Princess."
Maya stood alone in the center of a small clearing just inside Silverpines.
Ezra's letter had said one of his men would approach her once they were certain she wouldn't be "reckless", but she still wasn't sure what she was supposed to do. Maya crossed her arms and kicked a pine cone. She hated to be kept waiting, and being kept waiting by bloody balverine made her especially unpleasant.
She kicked the pine cone into a shrub and pouted. If Ezra was being truthful, where was the man he said would be waiting for her?
"Good to see you again, Princess."
She turned and saw a young man standing before her. He was tall and thin, the clothes he wore practically hanging off of him. Maya guessed he wasn't more than eighteen.
The man nodded to her hand, which had reflectively gone to the Dragonstomper. "We won't have a problem, will we?"
She shook her head. "Can't blame me for being a little jumpy given the circumstances."
"I suppose so," the man approached her, "I am Loki."
"Nice to see you without the fur." She jabbed, wanting to get a rise from him.
Loki frowned. "I see my master was right about you."
"Oh really?"
Loki nodded. "Yes, you are too young to be filled with such hate."
Maya tried to remember what Walter had told her but it was damn difficult. "And what are you, fifteen?"
Loki's expression was unreadable. "Twenty-five actually."
That surprised her, but she tried to not let it show. "Good for you, now will we get going? I don't have all night."
"Of course, miss." He turned and walked casually into the brush. "Follow me."
She reluctantly followed the balverine, keeping a reasonable distance all the way. Maya looked up into the trees periodically, and every time saw the faint silhouettes of balverines jumping from tree to tree.
"Do not worry, Princess," he said without turning around, "they're simply curious as to why I don't attack you."
"Hmm, so am I really." She admitted.
Loki jumped over a fallen tree with ease. "You really don't know much about us, Princess. Don't worry though, you are too skinny for my tastes, not enough meat on you..."
Maya chuckled sarcastically. "Thanks so much for that."
"Don't thank me," he said with a smirk, "some of my brothers enjoy a slender girl for dinner."
Maya tensed but didn't want to risk having the man think she was weak. "Well, give me a heads up when we meet them, I'll be sure to shake my skinny ass especially for them."
Loki looked at her over his shoulder, a devilish grin on his full lips. "Will do, Princess, will do."
Soon enough a large mansion appeared from the fog. It was old and worn, but Maya had a feeling it was beautiful once.
Loki lead her past the front gate to a torn section of fencing. He jumped over it, leaving Maya to climb over it. He waited for her to join him on the other side, and then approached what had once been a gardener's shed. He opened the lock with a flick of his wrist and opened the door for her.
Maya eyed him and the man sighed, walking in first.
The room was small and dark, the last place she ever wanted to be with a monster. Loki felt around in the dark, being able to see much better than the princess, until he found what he was looking for.
He pulled the switch and the floor boards parted to reveal a worn staircase. In the darkness, there was only a single source of light coming from the bottom of the staircase.
She followed him silently, too busy with watching her step in the darkness to care with keeping her eyes on the balverine. It was so dark, she only saw each step by a small gleam of light that reflected off of the edge of each one. Still, she was thankful for the railing.
"Sure are big on your security here..." She muttered as she followed him down the stairs.
He shrugged. "You're not the only human that hates us, Princess."
The stairs finally ended and Loki approached a stone wall. He pressed something in the dark, and the wall opened, revealing a well decorated parlour. Maya walked in past him, her fingers brushing Dragonstomper to reassure her that is was there should she need it.
The parlour was decorated in rich velvets and silks and lit by numerous candles. There were two large chairs in front of the fireplace. Maya could see they were occupied.
Loki walked past her. "The Princess of Albion, master."
A man stood. His silver hair startled her. It was not grey with age, for he did not appear old, it was pure silver.
Maya guessed he was Ezra, the author of the letter she had received.
A woman stood up from the other chair. She had long black hair that ended abruptly at her clavicle. Her eyes were gold, not yellow or amber, gold. Just as pure as the colour of the man's hair.
"Welcome, Princess," the man said, "I am Ezra and this is my mate, Vienna."
The black haired woman nodded in greeting.
"Mate?"
Ezra nodded. "Or "wife" in your terms. A bond of love and respect, just the same as what a husband and wife have in your society."
Vienna frowned. "Ezra!"
He smirked. "Sorry, love. No, a bond between mates is much stronger than that, it was a poor comparison on my part, I apologize."
"I thought we were negotiating the terms of an alliance, brother, not giving her a culture lesson."
Maya turned quickly. An angry looking man stood in the doorway. His eyes were a bizarre shade of white-blue that she had never seen before. His hair was black and kept in a strange mohawk that Maya thought was both comical and exotic. The man was well dressed, his clothes obviously expensive and tailored to hug his body just so. Maya reminded herself that she was looking at a balverine, a monster, and nothing more.
"Ah, brother!" Ezra said happily.
Ezra`s brother glared at Maya. "This is the girl to whom you are entrusting our fate?"
Maya scowled. "I'm not happy about it either, buddy."
Ezra stepped in to cool the tension. "Maya, this is my brother, Von Kaiser."
"Pleasure to meet you." Maya sneered.
Von glared at her, his lips pressed tightly together.
"I do understand that this is probably the last place you want to be, Princess -"
"Are you surrounded by people you hate?" Maya questioned.
Ezra smirked. "No, I suppose I'm not."
Vienna clapped her hands together. "Well, let's get started, shall we?"