Rated: Fiction M - English - Romance/Adventure - Chapters: 208 - Words: 492,526 - Favs: 1 - Follows: 3 - Updated: Mar 30 - Published: Jan 8 - id: 14315791
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Prologue, Part 12
Next morning, even as the first hints of dawn start to creep over the horizon, the three of you begin to stir. Kelissa is bashful, not knowing what to say as she awakens in your arms, and she covers her uncertainty by blurting out that she needs to attend to her mistress. She dresses hurriedly and starts to rush out... but then pauses to offer a heartfelt "thank you" before scampering away.
The two of you watch her go with amusement, before rising yourselves. You aren't in the same flustered rush, but you do need to get going. Both of you have long trips ahead of you; you to the town in Vekmar where you'll be intercepting Khaytala, and Rysanial to the capitol of Nelin where she'll start to investigate the mysterious Mockingbird.
You dress as well, though at a more relaxed pace, then head upstairs to the roof of the tower. Looking out across the landscape from that high vantage point, you make note of the different features, thinking about your route. After a while, you hear footsteps coming up from beneath you, and then the Witch Queen emerges onto the roof, followed closely by Kelissa.
The queen is holding two coin-purses and two rolled-up pieces of parchement. She starts by giving one of each to you. "This has as much money in it as we could fit without being conspicuous," she explains. "It should more than suffice for your expenses. And this is a map that should help you find your destination."
"Thank you, your majesty," you say, accepting them both.
She nods, then walks over to Rysanial. Strangely, she doesn't seem as nervous around the succubus as she was the previous day. Rysanial accepts both items as well, but this time the queen hesitates, fidgeting a little, as though trying to decide what to say to her... before suddenly lunging forward and wrapping Rysanial in a hug.
The demoness' eyebrows shoot up. She can't be any stranger to passionate embraces... but there's something different about it this time. Despite all her charms and seductive allure, it's obvious that the queen's display right now isn't motivated by any of that. When the girl finally looks up at her, the emotion shining in her eyes isn't lust at all, but simple gratitude.
"Thank you, Rysanial," she whispers. "Kelissa... she told me what you did for her. Taking her place when the orcs tried to... to..."
Amusingly, you notice that Rysanial actually seems to be thrown off-balance by how pure and non-sexual the affection in the queen's hug is. She shoots you an urgent, questioning look over the queen's shoulder, to which you respond with a helpless shrug.
Eventually, the demoness responds by—extremely awkwardly—patting the girl on the back a few times. "Don't... ah... don't worry about it," she says. "It's... not the same for me as it is for you mortals. I enjoyed the chance to put him in his place."
The queen nods. "But you still saved her," she says, holding the embrace for a little while longer. Then she pulls away, turning to you. "And then the way you turned it all against Varthurg... I summoned you to deal with these heroines, but you're already doing so much more for us. I can't tell you how grateful I am."
You glance over at Kelissa, wondering if she told her mistress exactly how much you'd "done for her" last night. The small blush that suddenly blooms over the queen's cheeks in response indicates that yes, she probably did.
It surprises you... but in retrospect you realize that it shouldn't have. Of course the loyal maid wouldn't hide the fact that she'd allowed herself to be taken the demons. After all, in the eyes of a properly suspicious summoner, it would be a clear sign that Kelissa had been compromised, and could no longer be trusted.
But Kelissa still stands in her usual place, and you see no lessening of trust in the queen's eyes. Rather—against all sense and good judgement—she seems to have decided to trust you. Perhaps it's because she can see the genuine, unforced joy radiating from the maid in the wake of your tryst. You wonder what that has done to her opinion of you.
There's only one concession the queen makes to sensible levels of caution, and even that isn't for her own sake. Stepping in close to you, she whispers a command that tugs at the bond between you. "Don't hurt her."
It's a vague, abstract enough command that it has little real binding force on you, as opposed to a more concrete task. And you both know it. But you nod anyway, acknowledging her concern. "Of course, your majesty."
You turn away, moving toward the parapet at the edge of the tower, placing one foot atop it. You're about to leap from it when you hear the queen's voice suddenly come from behind you. "L-lily!"
You turn, raising an eyebrow. The queen blushes, then stares at the floor. "Lily..." she repeats, in a more subdued voice. "That's... my name. My real name. They gave me a new one when I took the throne—Queen Elisavet Melcavan the Seventh—and that's the one I have to go by officially, but..."
The distaste in her voice as she speaks it makes it obvious what she thinks of calling herself by that name. "But... my real name is Lily. That's the name I had before—" Her voice breaks off, a look of pain crossing her face.
But she shakes herself and continues. "That's what Kelissa calls me when we're alone. And... and if you could call me that too..." She looks back up at you hopefully.
You smile. "Then I'll see you soon, Lily. Listen for word of our victory."
With that, you launch yourself from the parapet, a mighty flap of your black-feathered wings propelling you skyward at dizzying speeds. Rysanial follows suit a moment later, the two of you racing off on your respective tasks.
As you soar toward your first confrontation, you spare one glance back at the too-small figure of the young Witch Queen Lily. Still standing on that tower, watching the departure of the demons in whose hands her fate now rests.
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