Speech = ``...´´
Thoughts = [... ]
ºº
``Let me get this straight…., you want me to fight you...while also follow you somewhere else?´´
When someone put things like that there was never something good coming after them, and when they came from the actual, living, breathing war goddess Beatrix herself it made Iris felt a little more smaller and insignificant as the woman uttered those words with that deadpan, monotone voice of hers.
The red head princess bit her lip nervously, her hands clutching at her arms that had been crossed and pressed against her chest just underneath her bust.
``I would not have word it that way…, but that is pretty much a summary of it, yes.´´
``I see…´´
Was Beatrix laconic answer, in a way, it was surprising how much a few words could make Iris head hurt from trying to think whether the woman was satisfied, angry or just disappointed. Which...kinda double down in the red heads mind since the elf was in a wayward sense the "hero" she had chosen to follow after.
In the way of the sword anyways.
Still, though many would have considered the older woman's features beautiful if not breathtaking, if someone where to look pas them they could reach to the conclusion that there was something strange going on.
If her face was a canvas, then it would be devoid of anything, empty and blank...a nightmare for those with problems already trying to know whether people far more expressive were fishy or just weird.
To be honest with herself, the blame was not whole on the mystified legend that was Beatrix herself, but also the fact that Iris had not really prepared herself to come to spar with words with the short spoken and mysterious elf. In fact, this weird chance of fate had come out of the blue as she had just slipped out of the palace and tried to sneak herself out of the kingdom through alleyways.
Having her hair cut short was not enough so she had wrapped herself in a black set of robes, covering her head with a thick hook that almost reached into her nose, wearing on her back a bag with some resources for her travel, gold, food and swords….a lot of them since she did not know how long they would last under her grasp before breaking.
And then...just as she was taking a narrow corner...she had stumbled on the woman.
First mistaking her for a mere civilian..only for her to get a good glimpse of those glinting eyes and that face to realize that she was not standing in front of a common person, but rather the goddess of war herself who had made a name for herself in all tales that were about swordsmanship.
She did not know whether it was a message sent by the goddess herself, fate or luck...but she would not look the teeth of this divine gift.
And so she had tried to convince the woman to join her in her quest
…
…
With….no spectacular results to speak of as of yet.
After a few more seconds of eerie silence she decided to take a step forward, her lips opening again to utter a question, wanting to prod at what thoughts could be lingering in that head of hers.
``So..?´´
``No..´´
The refusal stung more than she would have wanted, like a shower of cold water it made her almost stumble in her following words.
``Why..?´´
``I have to look for someone..´´
Iris bit her lips, clenching her jaw, one hand balling into fists while the other clawed at her hip.
Was talking always this difficult or was it because the elf thought of her as a lesser? She almost pitied her father for having to go through this in a daily basis.
Still, she could not give up.
She had already crossed a line...she could not go back and pretend nothing had happened. And if she did, and no one actually caught wind of what she had pretended to do. She would know she had given up.
And who knew how long it would take her to regain the initiative...
``Perhaps I could help..´´
The woman stared at her for a moment, blinking once, then twice..before her face creased a little bit.
``Why..?´´
``Why not..?´´
Beatrix stared at her for a moment, those eyes slowly closing to a half lid as they seem to try to pierce into her very soul... before she shook her head with a sigh a few seconds later.
``I am afraid I cant...´´
``Why?´´
``I have someone to find..´´
``I can help..´´
She tried to intercede immediately, placing a hand over her own chest as she did.
``I don't need it..´´
Iris felt appalled by the refusal, but tried to not let it show. Her mind however was echoing time and time again something that she already knew.
This is not working.
``Look, think it this way. As the heir of Midgard I could make use of my authority to aid in your search…, I would only have to give the word and I could have dozens if not hundreds of people giving you a hand in whatever you may need..´´
She took a step forward.
``Swords, funding, information...they could be yours if you were only to grant me my request..´´
She tried to to reason with the woman, hoping that her words would get to her. Speaking had never been her forte, but her sister.
But if there was one thing she could do was use her position to make things easier for others.
The elf seemed to ponder about her words for a while, before she end up giving a weak nod.
``More eyes could cover more ground...that is true.´´
YES! Yes! They were finally making some progress...!
Iris tried to contain her enthusiasm under etiquette, stretching a hand forward in an open gesture, while the other remained over her left hip.
``That is indeed true, in fact, two heads think better than one..or so I have heard´´
[Please accept, please, please..., pleeeeease accept.]
``And yet, as a princess..you are asking and seeking the aid of me. Why not use your powers as a princess to get what you want without my presence..?´´
If her words had been a stake, they surely had been ram through her heart.
It was a good question, yet one that she...hated to be reminded of.
``Because this...as much as I loath to admit...I have to do on my own..´´
She was not lying. No one could know…
She could not play by the book this time.
Especially since she had gotten nothing out of it when she had tried it that way.
º
….Some time ago…
º
``What do you mean that the prisoners are no longer in their cells...?´´
``Exactly that my princess, the prisoners are no longer in their cells..´´
She stopped in her tracks, turning on her heel as she glared at the chief jailer in the eyes.
The act making the large man flinch, raising one of his fat hands, brushing his greasy hair away from his eyes before he put the regulatory cap of his station over his head.
The thing comically small as it was...
``Yeah, that is what I just said..´´
``Ah-of course! I meant no disrespect, I was merely reinforcing your statement..´´
``It was a question..´´
She added coldly much to the mans dismay who flinched again..
``AH.., wait! Really..? M-my apologies your highness..it was not my intention to misunderstand ´´
…
…
``You know what? It doesn't matter, tell me what happened. Did they escape? Is that it? If that is the case Why are you standing there like nothing...!? We must ring the alarm´´
``I believe that they were...relocated, your highness...´´
One of her eyebrows rose, her lips opening for a moment, trying to utter a single word of bafflement, only to find her throat dry and hoarse at the attempt.
``Relocated...?´´
``Yes...´´
`` Why? Where...? By whose order?´´
She sputtered almost on the spot, barely able to control her composure at the nagging questions that were fired up one after the other. Each time her voice growing louder and more serious as she took a step forward.
The man looked away from her, his small eyes trying to catch onto something on the dark recess of the dungeons they stood now. She tried to follow where his eyes where, grasping onto a wayward shadow that just slipped her as it vanished around the corner. The distance and the poor lightning of the area stopping her from even getting a good grasp of the shape of it.
By the time she turned her attention back onto the chief jailer the man had stopped looking into the distance and was holding a small board, things written on sheets of paper. By the looks of it and the smell the thing clearly having been pulled out from-..well, it was better not to think of it.
``I cant say, it just says here on this sketch that an order was given to take them away from this cells.., perhaps to a more safer location? Its all I know..´´
She did not say it, but she had doubts that was what happened.
The vague series of answers that led her to nowhere did not help matters either afterwards.
ºº
``I am sorry my princess, but I believe that what you propose is a bit…, pardon my wording, but a bit unsound to say the least´´
Were the calm, even apologetic words of a senior man dressed in an old, though no less stunning military uniform. Expressing the apparent DE-facto opinion of the other men sharing the room with her.
Al men of the state.
All prideful members of both the aristocracy and the army of the kingdom, the medals hanging from their chests from their many accomplishments glinting under the light of the candles made them look bigger, though...not really that threatening.
Red wine eyes blinked once, then twice...before they closed into a barely perceptible scowl once the gears of her mind started to move.
When she had come to meet the generals of the kingdom she had expected many things, but she had not expected than when she did meet them in a close room the first thing she would hear before she barely finished stating her request to be denied like that.
Not even given a few minutes or hours to consider or make counter arguments to make it better wherever her own planing may have fall short.
They...just said no.
A new record in the story of dismissals..and she had the dubious honor of being the one to suffer it.
She clenched her jaw, trying to take a few deep breaths, though she could only feel her heart quickening.
``What..?´´
``Indeed, though it may sound good in paper, my princess….your idea would only cause problems to the kingdom..´´
She stared at the second man, wine red eyes narrowing even further. His words tasting foul, as expected of anything that didn't go according to plan.
Ha! And what a plan it was...
``My Lords, I know it has been a few busy days, but surely now is not the time to jest..´´
Laughter follows up as a result, but the loosen scene of their lips does not reach their eyes who continue to bare down on her in cold silence.
In fact, her words only seems to harden them even further.
For the first time, Iris felt that something was really wrong with this whole conversation. However, the intervention of the furthers general of the trio put such notions to wait. The man leaning a little to the side before he spoke, drawing her attention away from the wrongness of it.
``If only that were the case.., and though it vexes me to say this, let alone admit it, I must agree with my fellow men of state here, your highness...´´
``And what is "that" which you mean you have so reluctantly agreed on..?´´
``Your plans may need revision, they are not as bad as they make them sound like, but..perhaps having shared this vision with us for would have been better?´´
``I just did.., right here, right now..´´
She muttered, confused. Not understanding where they were coming from.
Father and her sister perhaps would have known right there and there what it was all this about.., but Iris had still a lot of trouble to visualize it.
The generals looked at each other, each one glaring at the other before they shared a few grunts of acknowledgment or nods.
``We meant...before that´´
Before what? Before she had come with the idea? What was she suppose to share with them then? Air..?
She wanted to shake her head, to roll her eyes and sight all at the same time.
Her head was hurting, it was hurting a lot….something that she had started to experience when her mind started to go through the roofs chasing ghosts..
Like a scalpel having been lunged into her scalp with both finesse and cruel intent, but whether it was intended or not, it did not rob her of the sense to know that this whole thing did not make any of it to begin with.
Nothing of these things they were on and about made sense..!
..
…
[No, control yourself Iris...you..you are the Heir to the kingdom. Now is not the time to show weakness]
``Generals, what are you on about? Why is it a problem to increase the number of troopers we can muster to defend the kingdom.., if its a monetary concern I would understand the reservations, but you have not brought the topic yet..´´
An eerie silence stretched between them, the mood in the room growing colder and thicker...
Iris finally started to regret her decision to come here alone.
``The thing is that the problem is another..´´
``And that is..?´´
``They are not Black knights…´´
–
``And the problem lays….where exactly?´´
The men stared at one another for a moment, throwing glances between them, speaking with their eyes...before they seemed to reach a conclusion.
``At best, the nobility will see this attempt to push the common citizen into soldiery as mere theatrics with out mirth or joy, if we are not lucky they may just consider the whole thing as a direct threat to their holdings..´´
``I don't understand, the decree would create a lot of jobs, it would give the people who lost their homes an occupation and roof to sleep under while also bolstering the numbers we lost. Why would they feel threatened by it? Its their lands and establishments that have suffered the most by the attack´´
``Incident..´´
Iris blinked, not really sure she had heard right.
``What...?´´
``We...we have come to the unilateral decision that its better to call it as an incident, to call it an attack would create hysteria. I mean, incidents happen everywhere, but you don't hear often of people attacking "the capital", don't you agree?´´
She stared at the three men with a series of changing emotions, first with shock, seconded by denial, ending in a bitter grimace as she realized that they were not joking, but actually been serious about it.
This was not an insult to herself, this was not a joke taken to far…
This was...deliberated.
Iris clenched her fist, muscles and bones tensing and aching as pressure continued to ever built in them. Her heart ice cold inside her chest, no matter how much it felt to the contrary.
This was not her..
This was not like her to act this way.
But something had broken that day, and the scars were aching inside her...poking at her, pushing at her, and just like a wooden door that had been holding onto the waters of a lake, it had somehow gave in, allowing the floodgates open..
She took a step forward, one of her hands slowly descending by her hip while the other remained balled tightly into a fist, not falling limp, but rather searching for the ease and familiarity of the pommel of her blade. Her fingers caressing the coolness of its surface with a silent wanton.
Whether it was for a need to feel reassured of her own choices or some other...more darker thoughts that were echoing in her mind she did not know.
What she knew was that she had enough of this…..this needlessly and endless theatrics!
```My Lords, I think that what you and I may consider as an incident may differ..´´
``I suppose that was to be expected, as for the other thing…., still it doesn't change much´´
``Why..?´´
``It will disturb the status quo..´´
``Why..?´´
``The present situation in the kingdom does not allow for radical changes to be taken.., reconstruction efforts need to continued, people given shelter, food distributed..´´
``Why..?´´
``We don't have-´´
``Why..?´´
``Because you cant!´´
Finally spatted the man in question, his bearings twisting and morphing into an ugly grimace as his composure was lost. An ugly sight to behold, but compared with the corpse like forms of the living dead, this was nothing.
She frowned, her eyes hardening...
``I am the heir to the throne, I can and have the power to take decisions such as these when the situations demands it...´´
``The king..´´
``My father rules, not you...´´
``Tsk..´´
Iris stood up from her seat, the men did the same.
This was no longer an affable situation between servant and superior.
This was a battle.
``I am not that good at speaking my way into things…, I have always preferred the blade. But who knew that actually knowing nothing would get you to speak honestly with me just once.., my Lords?´´
We are loyal...
``I never said you weren't, why the need to say it now?´´
The man stumbled back as if slapped.
``Why Y-´´
He never got the chance to finish.
``Enough of these games and wordplay, they are not worthy the time I have wasted on them. Tell me the real reason.., now!´´
Another silenced stretched between the four of them.
Furtive glances were exchanged, teeth seethed and grinded against one another like saws and the mood had grown so thick that one could cut it with a knife.
It was...unbearable if she was honest with herself.
But..she had gone through worse, not like that was of any consolation.
``Because a lot of noble families have made it their goal for their children to become Black Knights to test their mettle and usefulness in their...family schemes. And there are even those of lower status as barons who though don't have anything to their names, and their connections are poor...their only use its the quality of Black knights they can give us through their children.´´
``Common people also attend to become Black Knights and I have never heard a fuss about it, I studied in the academy with people with common origins too´´
``Only a handful of them…, not tens of thousands..!´´
``It still doesn't change that they are our citizens! If so worried you are for them to be seen in the schools premises, then you don't need to make them be there in the first place. You can have their training take place somewhere else. We bolster our forces, the nobles don't need to see them at all, everyone is satisfied that way..´´
``Please, princess Iris, think this through….if we were to pass this decree...we may raise a large number of troops to protect us from outside and inside threats...only to incur new ones´´
``Those are serious accusations, my lords´´
``They are not accusations, they are facts..´´
She could not believe it.
They were really pulling he this...this excuse..? She clenched her jaw, her hands balling into fists.
``Is that how you see it? Do you have such little faith that you think a civil war would erupt from a mere decree? Isn't that a far fetch thought..?´´
``With all due respect.., it will happen if the nobility and those who have enjoyed the times as they are change so...quickly. Most of them are not known for their brilliance and may act rashly if they feel they have to.
``You make it sound as all nobles do is lust for more power..´´
``And why would they not? That is their nature!´´
``You yourselves are nobles..!´´
She cried out, her words echoing through he room in a roar, only dwarfed by the thunderous crack that followed as she slammed her fist into the table. The entire thing breaking down in half like one would break a twig.
Angry, frustrated and pained at these theatrics she could only feel the throbs of her heart echo endlessly in her skull..
The hypocrisy of their words could not have cut any deeper...
``Princ-´´
``Enough…´´
She growled, her words seething with barely quelled anger through grinding teeth. The taste of iron slipping into her tongue, her hands clenched and trembling...
``Enough is enough….I had enough´´
She muttered this time, her voice dying out into a bitter whisper as she slowly leaned back, dusting away the specks of dust and wood that had clung to her glove. Her eyes mostly covered by stray locks of scarlet, yet they were unable to hide the emotions brewing inside them.
``This needs to be done..´´
…
``This has to be done´´
...
``And you will help me..´´
``Help you defend the kingdom from who? Bandits? The enemy was slain, their people butchered and destroyed. This is as you and your farther said, enough...´´
In that moment she had just wanted to storm through the room, walk to the window and rip out the curtains from their hinges so that the three of them could see what the silky like walls covered with their tapestry the massive hole that had carved part of the city like a knife would do through a cake.
She wanted to do that..
She really did.
But at the end she merely walked away from it all.
It was time she realized that they were never going to give her their aid, the invitation to the room had merely been a formality.
A pretty way to say that they had slammed the door in her face.
ºº
There were a few more instances here and there, but she decided not to dwell on them too much. Still, one thing was fore certain and for sure: there was foul play taking place in front of her eyes…
There was no way things to not remotely go so wrong like that. No way for prisoners to...vanish and these constant stream of denials seemed to have the only purpose to stall her into square one.
She did not wish to hold such bitter thoughts in her mind, let alone her heart….but what if those madmen that had attacked the capital were not the last of their kin..and had infiltrated the Black Knights? What if they had taken deep roots in the kingdom..?
She didn't want to believe that, to doubt the people who had sworn oaths of honor and loyalty.
But...even she could see that there was a pattern when it was rightly slapped into her face, time and time again. The thought was a bitter pill to swallow….
Those restless nights of anguish and the echoes of the absolute, one sided beating she got under the monologue of those maniacs seemingly having open her eyes...though she was not aware of it yet.
She had almost stormed into her fathers room to share with him her findings and if necessary threaten and force him to DO something about it given that she was not in any position as of yet to do so herself!
But just as her hand had been about to latch onto the doorknob..she had halted.
She could do that, she could tell her father of her findings, or in this case, lack of thereof and make it be known that perhaps there were something wrong with their recruitment and the.. "dubious" loyalty of those working under them.
If not to raise the alarms, at least to raise some concern about the matter in the eyes of the kingdoms ruler.
She could do that., but after that, what?
Suspicion was not the same as the Truth.
They didn't know who was loyal or not, they didn't know if they were actually infiltrated or she was just seeing ghosts, that perhaps...she really had lost her mind and she was making a ruckus when there was nothing to be afraid of. That whatever was happening was just a set of strange coincidences...
And yet...
What if she ended up being right and then another of those like Fenrir came after her as retribution of her stubborn investigations?
What if it came after her people..?
After her sister..?
…
….
She didn't liked her odds.
It made her sick...
And so she made her choice.
She was not proud of it, she found it repulsing even…., but fear was what had stopped her from pulling the rug and expose whatever laid underneath in her haste, and ultimately stupid decision.
Fear..
Was it so easy to stop her in her tracks? To made her freeze? Or was the reminder of her own mortality what had made her doubt and second guess everything..?
She..did not know.
``I see…, do you expect trouble?´´
The words of Beatrix managed to break her out of her own made stupor, the woman having been staring at her in silence.
Perhaps respecting her moment to sulk and brood as her thoughts had led her back to those memories, or she had nothing to add until then.
It took her a few moments to pick up on what she just meant. And what she did, she could not help but tilt her head to the side.
``Trouble...?´´
She was immediately met with an accusatory finger, pointed at her…, no, something past her. At her back to be more exactly.
``There is energy emanating from your bag…, strong and old´´
Iris could not help but stare in confusion at the woman who seemed that was not going to elaborate any further on what she had just said.
Then it hit her.
``Energy-wait, you mean the holy sword? You can sense it..!?´´
The fact that someone could actually pick on the residual energy emanating from the weapons of her ancestors was something unheard of, but given who she was talking with perhaps it was a skill that someone as powerful as Beatrix could do.
in Iris mind was the only thing that made sense.
Beatrix however tilted her head to the side, now her face showing a slight expression of confusion in those eyes.
``Holy..?´´
``Its...a weapon from the times the kingdom was first founded.., we have guarded for generations´´
``So its a family heirloom…, and you are bringing it with you, secretly...´´
Iris could not help but flinch at the way the last word sounded. Almost as if she was disappointed.
``Y-yes..´´
``Why? You stole it..?´´
A pang of indignation flared all over her at the accusation….., she had almost been about to spat out a few words for it…, for the shame she was making her feel...had it not been precisely the truth.
Strictly speaking anyways
Still it was not like she could nod to that without losing face and looking like a complete idiot. Or at least, not as much as she may have already appeared to be in the woman's eyes.
So she decided to otherwise…, or at least, tried.
``I took it because I am not challenging you to for glory or some silly sense of pride, there is someone I may have to meet again, someone that I may have to face against..and I need to get better than I actually are whether liked or not.´´
``So you... want to hit them hard..´´
That was...a gross understatement of the whole ordeal, though she did not rebuke her claim. A big part of the reason she had. "borrowed" the heroes weapon from the depths of the castles secret vault had been to give her the edge she lacked in fire power as-well a weapon that would not break under the massive strain that would be put through it.
So….the war goddess was not wrong.
That did not mean she had to like that or concede that point.., she had, or at least...she wanted to believe she still had some pride to cling to.
``Last time I was caught unprepared and with not the right equipment, I paid for it dearly...´´
``And you think that fighting me will make you able to beat them..?´´
``No, but at least I will be able to clash with their blades at least once..´´
She muttered softly, almost to herself rather than the other woman she was conversing with. And though there was some conviction in her words, a part of her could not yet shake away those red burning eyes, the laughter of that maniac or the bestial shrieks of the Theriantrope from her mind.
To clash their blades if it came to it.
To be able to do so…, and yet.., even that thought felt rather generous on her part.
That seemed to caught the attention of the woman as Beatrix tilted her head to the side, her ears twitching as she stared at her. Still expressionless, still unnervingly stoic...and yet, for some reason Iris had the feeling that the mood had changed somehow.
For the better or for the worse one could not say yet...
``You say they are strong…´´
``Yes..´´
``How much..?´´
``More than I can begin to imagine..´´
At least that she could say that without trouble or need to exaggerate. Even though she had not seeing him fighting, the remains of his work had remained behind.
Like a canvas were destruction and misery were his tools.
Beatrix stared at her once more, this time with a little more life into the glare, more strength, more force in the way those ponds of blue blinked yet never ceased to gaze at her direction like a hawk. Tilting this time not just her head, but her entire body as she was the one to take a step forward.
Those lips wrapped in a peculiar expression that she did not know where it stood between curiosity and seriousness
``And you think they will be where you are going…?´´
There was now a predatory glint in the woman's eyes, though it only was for a brief moment.
Iris bit her lips, though not at the question itself...but rather at the vivid images engraved into her mind that started to parade at that.
And especially, those red eyes that glowed with a fire akin to a sun.
"Fret not, little girl. You still draw breath.…"
"We part ways daughter of the blood.."
"I am the Reaper, the one who hunts the shadows, the who who hunts in the shadows...now and forever"
Was he there? Did she want him to be there..?
She decided not to answer those questions that started to formulate inside of her.
``I don't know, perhaps.., a few weeks ago I thought that I knew the world pretty well. It seems I was wrong…so it could not be that strange for something to pop up from where you least expected, especially since it seemed to exist an organization with a massive headquarters underneath the ground we stand now on..´´
She said with as much grace and composure she could muster, the admission still left a bitter sting in her chest.
The investigation of the city laid out had been informative if anything.
There were hundreds of tunnels down below the city that led to rooms and locations that would not have ever seen the light of day had she not stumbled on them during that dreadful day. And the worst part was that she was more than sure that they were merely scratching the edges of it.
``What do you want to find in Laugus..?´´
Iris looked to the side for a moment, hoping that no one would hear her words, that no one was keeping tabs on them.
It seemed….deserted for the moment. With only the sight of the common people wandering on the mains streets a bit further away.
She sighed tired, was it out of relief...? Well, it may as-well be it.
``Information, somewhere far away from the prying eyes of the capital and where there could be something that could shed some light in my own investigations..´´
``Your..investigations?´´
``Yes, it just occurs that I have tried to set up a collective work with the kingdoms authorities about this new and trying times…, but I am afraid that its not going to be as easy as I would have wanted it´´
``You expect treachery..?´´
``I have already been betrayed..´´
She replied bitterly…
She had no real prove, not tangible things to show to back up her claim than the awful sensation of knowing that something was going wrong and that someone was full of shit.
And she was sure that the it was more than just people thinking she was still unwell. That excuse was getting old really soon.
Though it was not like she could just call them out on it.
She had, after all..no prove.
She rose one of her hands and brushed the sweat from her face.
``I don't know what they want, who they are and what sort of individuals may be in their ranks apart from the very few I managed to confront…, but there is not much I know of their intentions apart that they are hostile and extremely dangerous...and by the looks of it, they may be not a recent addition to this worlds crookedness, but rather an old one´´
``That sounds….problematic, but not exactly something I should need to became part of before doing what I have to do´´
Answered Beatrix as she started to walk away towards the end of the alleyway, clearly having enough of the conversation.
Iris felt her stomach churn at the sight of the woman's back grow smaller as her form slowly closed in the edge of the alleyway.
Was this how it was going to end?
Another failure..?
…
…
NO..! She would not allow it..!
``Is it final? Your decision I mean..´´
``It is...´´
``I see, but there is something that you must know before you go.., something that may interest you..´´
``And what would that be´´
``Though most of the tangible proof has disappeared, of the few things we managed to recover and keep from some of their installations were cages..´´
``Cages?´´
The word seemed to...disturb the war goddess. As if the mere mentioning tasted foul in her tongue, her legs slowing down, her pace coming to a crawl, but not stopping...
``Yes, boxy and sturdy cages of iron. Too small to be for monsters...but too strong and expensive for mere pets or small animals´´
It was hard to say what they had actually wanted to do with those things, what purpose they had served in whatever foul and cruel machinations those hooded lunatics had thought of...but whatever it was, it could not be good.
And in these cases, to think the worst outcome of all….perhaps was the more accurate.
``I don't know if they are in the business of slavery, but is possible that they have been doing this for a long while given the hideous and appalling amount of empty cages we found…, perhaps recruiting bandits to do their dirty job of collecting while they distribute their captives to… "buyers"´´
Such practices were horrid to the princess of Midgard.
The fact that there were people that not only imposed their will on others so forcefully..but also had made a killing out of it thanks to the funds of even more sordid and nefarious individuals was a something that she would have preferred to be just out of a book...rather than reality.
Her naivety died the moment her curiosity led her to wonder about the need for so many cages and the answers that she got were not pretty.
And here she had thought that getting attacked by the living dead had been bad enough.
It seemed that like her, that had made Beatrix stop.
The tall elf having halted her approach just as she had been about to leave through the alleyway and back into the main road. Tilting her head to the side, one blue eye gazing at her, her face still wrapped with that stoic mask of aloofness. Her lips closed tightly, opening slowly, parting ways with one another before-
``Princess Iris…´´
``Y-yes..?´´
She could not help but mutter weakly, something had changed in the air, a different aura emanating from the war goddess from the one she had felt before.
It was heavy...and cold. Sweat starting to trickle down the red head, reaching into her chin and right into her collarbone.
``Do you think they would target elves…?´´
She didn't know why that would be the first thing she would ask, but she decided not to question or even ask why the interest.
Though her words had phrased a question, it was more of a statement.., as if the famed sword-master had already come to that conclusion a long time ago, but was merely waiting to hear her own thoughts confirmed through another.
This was something that clearly bothered but also interested the elf, something that was both personal and crucial for her to know. She had not said it with words, but she could tell that it was not out of curiosity.
Iris knew…, she knew that she had the answer..and that if she did, she would fall well in the woman's graces..or at least that she would have her absolute attention for just a few more minutes.
She had already spent her other choices and there was nothing to lose at this point so she may as-well just go for it.
And yet….Iris felt nothing to be proud of when she did.
``They are...apparently in high demand in the black market from what I have heard´´
…
…
Though she could not see it, her ears managed to catch to the sound of a hand balling into fist, bones and muscles tensing and pushed to their absolute limit as fingers clawed the insides of someones palms. Cracks appearing to slowly morph underneath the sword-masters feet, webbing ever forward like the web of a spider.
The light in Beatrix eyes seemed to dim, to lose some of its glint...leaving nothing but an empty carcass behind for a few seconds.
The aura that had emanated from her now almost eclipsing the skies above her..or at least that was what she believed was happening as the light seemed to dim around the already dark alley..
Iris could not move, she could not speak, she had even trouble to breath. A primitive surge of fear or just dumb stubbornness stopping her from kneeling in the ground, latching a hand into her throat or running away just as her instincts were telling her to.
How strange was it not, that when she had stared at Deaths eyes she had not felt half of the hostility she was sensing just now.
Then, just as fast as the wave of danger she was feeling had come….it disappeared. Lifting from Iris shoulders the weight that had been crushing her. The relief that she felt was such that she almost didn't hear the words that uttered the elf as a follow up..
Two words…
Not really directed at her, though, but they were loud enough for her to pick them up in the silence that throbbed in her skull now that she was no longer hearing the maddened beats of her heart..
``I see...´´
Beatrix stared at something in her hand, her face hidden from Iris view...but she almost was sure that there was a thoughtful repression that had warped in. Lines creasing her fair features, lips pursed down, twisted in a both a grimace...yet tainted with hope.
Well, the last one was quite the stretch.., but what else could it be..?
It was then that she turned to face her. Iris bit her lip, still a bit nervous to be the target of those eyes who though had regained part of their warmth, were probably capable of going to the wrong way again..
``I will go with you..´´
…
...
Iris could not help but blink, a bit unsure whether she had heard right. She would not be surprised if she had just imagined it.
``What...? What was that..?´´
``I will go with you as you wanted…, Princess of Midgard.´´
Repeated the goddess of war as she slowly turned on her heels and once again started to approach her, only stopping a meter away from her.
``You will?´´
Now it was time for the elf to tilt her head to the side, confused...
``Isn't that what you wanted..?´´
``Y-yes! That is what I wanted...´´
``Then its decided…, anything else?´´
Iris stared at the woman for a moment, unable to comprehend how the entire conversation had shifted from one corner to the other.
Individuals like Beatrix surely were otherworldly….
``Are you...ok, princess Iris?´´
She shook her head, looking away for a moment, hoping that the woman would not caught on the fluster that was starting to spread on her face.
All those lessons of etiquette and she was just caught staring like a reindeer caught staring at the headlights in the middle of traffic..?
``Yes…, I was..I was just caught up on the moment. There are no words to express the gratitude I feel in my heart...´´
The princess said as she stretched her hand forward, a white glove extended in waiting at the other woman. Beatrix stared at the offered appendage for a moment...before returning the handshake. Albeit...more awkwardly.
Well, it didn't matter….and she really should not bother herself with that.
``So, when are we going...?´´
``Now..´´
Iris did not mind the forceful and imperative tone of the war goddess…, in fact, she relished on it. For once in a long time she had found an adult who actually was proactive to take action about what was going on.
Besides, she doubted than even if she tried she would have been able to change her mind.
``Of course, if we go to the trains station we may-´´
``No.., we will not use such method of transportation..´´
Iris blinked for a moment, but was not bothered about the interruption.
``I see..., well.., if you don't fancy them we can use a carriage. The roads up north are rumored to have bandits here and there, but between us they would not pose that much of a threat. I am sure that we may be able to switch horses between some of the towns-..´´
``No..´´
``Then horses..´´
``No..´´
``Boats-..´´
``No..´´
``No?´´
``No..´´
Iris was confused, she did not understand what the elder warrior was talking about with such vehemency. Until she did...and was left even more confused.
``Wait, you mean...not even that…!?´´
Beatrix did not reply with words, merely shrugging her shoulders and giving her a solemn nod.
Alright, this was not making sense….
At all…
Was this some sort of fear or just general dislike of the elven race towards machinery or constructs made by men for travel? Was Beatrix testing her resolve or just her imagination about the amount of ways they could reach their target?
She did not know, she was not that well aware or in the known of what the other races could or could not do, let alone what they disliked or approved of barren the obvious…
The more Iris tried to think about a proper answer to the constant stream of denials, the more her head started to ache.
And so, Iris did what she knew she could do. Or in this case, the only thing she could do….
Just ask the bloody answer.
``But, without a method of transportation... how we will manage to get there...?´´
``We will go on foot..´´
Iris stared at the elven woman with barely hidden confusion. Raising one of her hands and starting to scratch the back of her head, only to remind herself that she was a princess and that some etiquette was still needed to be uphold.
``Its a long way up to Laugus that way…, are you sure you don't want to skip such long walk?´´
``Why do we have legs if not to tread upon the soil…?´´
``Well, yes..but-´´
Her words started to stumble one over the other, her face rapidly taking the shade of her own hair. Of all the things that she had witnessed..what the hell was she suppose to say to that...!?
``Patience is a virtue...and you will learn its meaning.., Princes Iris´´
Iris sighed, tired... rubbing the back of her head.
``Now you sound like my dad…´´
``Then perhaps something you can still learn from him..´´
That...Iris had doubts, though kept said thoughts to herself.
There was no need to throw more oil into the pot when it was finally no longer boiling over and so she followed after the war goddess into what appeared to be the beginning of a particular adventure, though one her legs may not survive...
ºº
A/N
Perhaps some of you may not agree, but I believe that given that Beatrix character is actually traveling around the glove its relatively easy to picture her going through certain hubs and kingdoms which would allow her to meet some characters and since we don't know anything she did during the five year gap between the creation of the canon SG and the SG adult selves I think anything could be possible.