Chapter 12: A new challenger

Kelda didn't like this. Not. One. Bit!

What was he thinking?! Bringing an imperial harlot back to the tower?! He might as well have brought back the spider queen, for cryin' out loud! At least it would've made for an impressive trophy! The only thing "impressive" about this puffed up floozy was the amount of grime she could smear around her eyes without going blind!

And now she was going to stay here, for who-knows-how-long, in order to "help with the war effort"!?

"Unbelievable!" Kelda muttered as she watched them from the stairs, like a gargoyle looming over the throne room, arms crossed in a silent show of contempt at the three of them conversing over a map of the imperial heartland.

It had been three days now since the witch-boy kicked down the doors of Everlight and claimed the region for himself; Three days since she arrived on their doorstep, only to label her as a lowly servant; Three days of near constant remarks about her "scruffy" appearance, her "crude" behaviour, her "dated" sense of fashion! At this point, it was enough to make Kelda reconsider her plans of converting the torture chamber into a trophy room...!

Part of her still couldn't believe that the witch-boy would actually do something like this. How could he?! After everything they had been through, one would think that he would know better than to bring another woman – much less a stuck-up imperial – into the tower! And yet here she was, proud as a peacock on a pedestal and twice as arrogant!

Of course, Gnarl hadn't exactly done much to help the situation. Shameless as ever, the elder minion made little effort to hide his "appreciation" for the newcomer as he kept stealing glances of her imperial cleavage. Kelda's glare narrowed as she watched the little bugger loose himself in her bosom. As angry as she was with the witch-boy, she blamed Gnarl for even putting the idea in his head to begin with.

She would have to remember to tighten his screws at some point...!

As for the intruder herself, Kelda had made no secret of her resentment toward Juno. She was, quite vividly, the embodiment of everything that Kelda had grown to despise about the empire: selfish, arrogant, lazy, shallow and deceptive. Though her greatest offence, by far, remained her repeated advances towards the witch-boy. Like Borius before her, she fancied herself a conqueror – albeit of a different sort – and much like Borius before her, she seemed determined to take everything that Kelda held dear and ruin it!

"As if I'd ever let her!" Kelda grumbled to herself as she turned and began to climb the stairs, leaving the throne room – and the three of them – behind.

Part of her – most of her, actually – wanted to just march down there and strangle her on the spot! Shouldn't be all that difficult. A pampered little courtesan against a seasoned huntress from the north? She wouldn't stand a chance!

Except the witch-boy wouldn't allow it. That's the only reason she didn't.

That... and she didn't want to seem... insecure.

For as much as it irked her to see this trollop walking around the tower, acting all high and mighty, she wasn't worried about "loosing" to her. Try as she might to steal away the witch-boy, Kelda knew that no amount of perfume or face paint could ever hope to match the bond they shared. She had known him since they were children! She knew about his past, about his parents. He trusted her; enough to remove his helmet in front of her; Enough to let her kiss him; Enough to share his bed.

So, no, she wasn't worried.

She just felt a bit... betrayed. That's all.

"What do you see in Kelda?" the question arose, seemingly out of nowhere. "Does she amuse you? She certainly amuses me!"

The Overlord suppressed a sigh.

"You should really watch yourself around her, Juno," the warrior muttered, eyes never leaving the spell catalyst. "She can be less forgiving than me."

His warning only served to make the woman chuckle as she continued to pace behind him – present, yet elusive, like a phantom.

"It's sweet of you to worry! But I can take care of myself," she assured him, pausing only to inspect her nails. "Trust me, I've dealt with jealous women before...!"

The Overlord said nothing as he continued to study the arcane artefact. By now he knew better than to entertain Juno's antics – especially those concerning Kelda. She didn't have her strength or her spirit, but what she lacked in power she more than made up for in wit and guile. Her words, though sweet as honey, were like a snare: All too easy to get tangled and trapped in.

"Are you familiar with the expression 'big fish in a small pond'?" Juno continued, casually.

"No. I'm not." the Overlord answered plainly, still focused on the artefact.

"That's too bad!" the woman chuckled, her voice reverberating ever-so-slightly through the magic room. "It fits her rather well, I think."

Sensing an insult behind her words, the Overlord spared her a brief scowl before returning to his work. For as much as it amused him – and it did amuse him – to hear the two of them trade verbal blows with one another, he was by no means indifferent to Juno's scornful remarks. Especially when Kelda wasn't around to defend herself.

"I'll admit, she does have a certain... rustic charm about her!" Juno continued to muse as she sauntered up beside him as if to inspect his work, only to slide in front of him, claiming his field of view. The Overlord frowned at the sight of her playful expression. He didn't like where this was going. "Though as I'm sure you've started to realize: the world is so much bigger than Nordberg!" the woman said with a smirk as she began to run her hands along his armoured torso, tracing invisible circles across his chest."I could show you things," she whispered, eyes gleaming with danger and passion. "Things no other woman can...!"

Catching himself – in spite of all reason – actually leaning closer, the Overlord quickly reached up to grab her hand before gently but firmly pushing her away.

"That's not why I brought you here!" he said, eyes narrowed.

"That doesn't have to be a problem!" Juno countered with a playful smirk, her eyes still urging him closer.

"I doubt Kelda would see it that way!"

Juno looked surprised for a moment. Then she smiled.

"Oh, really!?" the woman exclaimed with a dry chuckle, as if she could hardly believe what she had just heard. Despite himself, the Overlord couldn't help but to glare at the sight of her scornful smirk. "And here I thought the Overlord ruled this tower...!" Juno mused as she walked right past him.

The Overlord said nothing as he turned to watch her leave.

He knew better than to entertain Juno's antics, better than to let her get under his skin.

Most of the time, anyway...!

A/N: Alright, so here's the slightly updated version of chapter 11 – now rebranded as chapter 12. In hindsight, I do think the story is better for having another chapter to explore the lead-up to Juno's arrival. Hope you guys agree!