Chapter 58

One thing I didn't miss from Orario, was 'the stare'. Being the strongest, or just 'strong', or even just 'successful', came with a shopping list of little problems. Side effects. One of those was jealousy. It was how I got my first 'nickname', the Demon Fox. Someone had been jealous of Mine and Bell's success, at reaching level two as fast as we did, and forced me into a fight he thought I would lose.

I nearly did, too. But my still infantile Kitsune nature took over, and I came very close to beating him to death. That's when 'the stares' really started for me. Petty jealousy, suspicion, being sized up.

I really didn't like it, but I had worked very hard to try and make 'the stares' I got less... hostile.

That said, I was getting tired of Ren and Itsuki giving me 'the stare', as we neared the Castle Town of Melromarc.

"Kodori?" Melty pulled my attention away from the Sword and Bow giving me sideways looks, "The Queen says everything is ready."

In her hand was the little padded box I'd given her for the Occulus. "Good. Not too much fanfare I hope?"

Her look told me everything, even as she tried to think up how to play it down without triggering the slave curse. "More than you would like?" She sighed when there was no reaction, "As you like, or hate, to say, 'politics'. With the head of the church of Three Heroes dead, most of the followers dead, and a great deal of the corrupted knights dead or captured, she is trying to reassure the people."

I didn't like it, but I understood. "Your father and sister?"

"In hand. Firmly in hand."

"Their parties?" I made a motion with my head towards the other wagon.

"All found, though some were helping the former Church. One of them even managed to escape."

"Damn-ow." My tails both swatted the back of my head, "But it makes sense."

"Speaking of parades, perhaps you should clean up a little? I understand you care little for appearances, but..." She sighed, "You look nothing like a hero. Very plain."

I looked down at myself, then back to her, "This will make the reveal more amusing." I smiled, "But I'll at least wash up a little." I offered her the purely for show reigns for Tetsu, "I'll tell the others, use the sound stones to gather everyone up from the hunting parties."

She accepted the reigns and got into the 'driver's seat, while I hopped off the wagon and walked a half dozen long paces over to the wagon Kuro was pulling.

I was just opening my mouth to call up to Ren, when Kuro turned her owlish eyes to me (on a head that moved much like an owl's did) "You know, your dragon is a coward."

The comment caught me off guard, and even made the other two heroes blink in surprise. "Oh?" I managed to say after a moment.

"Indeed. She refused to race me. She didn't even try. Afraid to lose I'll bet."

The fact that a dignified looking smart car with feathers was insulting my dragon... made me laugh. "I taught her not to fight if there was no way to win. And if she had to fight a losing battle, then she should escape." I chuckled, "She also knows she's made for strength and endurance, not speed."

"Humph."

I decided that Kuro would not get a headpat later. At least not from me, and I looked up to the Sword and Bow. "The Queen has a little celebration planned. Splash a bit of water on your faces and maybe smile a little. Most of your parties were found as well, and are waiting."

"Most?" Ren raised an eyebrow.

"A few were working with the former Church." I replied, "And one even managed to escape."

"How are you talking with her?" Itsuki asked.

"Crystal ball." I said with a shrug, starting to turn back, "Anyhow, try to be people persons at least until we get into the castle." Thankfully I was looking away as I smiled. I mean, one thought he was better off solo, the other was pretending to be like... Batman or something.

About a hundred metres from the west gate of the Castle town, we got everyone together and had Ake and his knights form up around us. Even from this distance, I could see people lining the streets and up on the parapet looking over the gate.

We, that is, we four heroes and my party, had put as much effort as was practical getting a bit of the dirt off ourselves. Monster hunting for food (or in Ake and his knights case, doing their jobs as knights and killing monsters too close to the roads) and basically non-stop travel had gotten us a bit dusty, so a little personal care was needed.

The small group of Frost's Ragers fell back a little, then split off entirely so they could enter through the south gate, away from the parade. I didn't know why, but it might have been because they weren't being paid to be people persons. I would have to talk to Frost later as well. Give him a tip for being so flexible while under contract.

But yes... We got a parade.

People were cheering. Throwing flower petals. Chanting one of the four weapon names...

After everything I'd been through, all it really did was give me a headache and reminding me of my years working retail. Forcing myself to smile while resisting the urge to rub my horns as they throbbed at the two faced nature of people...

Now, as much as I wasn't enjoying myself... The others were having fun. Or at least, not looking like they wanted to be anywhere else.

Raphtalia was waving to various people, though she had one of my tails in her free hand as she stood on the driver's bench next to me. Usa was on my other side, waving as well, though without holding a tail. Clive and Kunshu were on top of the wagon, and every so often his bow would thrum and little puff of fireworks would go off overhead. Melty was actually riding on Tetsu, looking completely in her element, a good echo of her mother's poise.

Totally ruined by Tetsu as she waved to people, said hello to anyone who got close enough, and even gave out headpats with her agile front 'legs'.

The other hero wagon was much more dour. They, under the direction of Motoyasu, were at least attempting to play to the crowd. Waving, smiling, that kind of thing. Kuro... Well she endured, and while most people didn't want to get in the way of the big feather ball, some still managed to work up the courage to brush a hand over her stubby wing.

But, finally, the farce ended, and the guards near the bridge leading into the castle proper stepped in behind us as we crossed it. Ahead, near the big double doors that led into the castle proper, I saw the bear-eating frame of Frost and the exquisitely regal form of the Queen standing side by side waiting for us.

"Thank you, Heroes, for coming as fast as you could." She said with a nod. "While I see you have managed to clean the worst of your journey off, I would invite you all inside to clean up properly. The parade was a welcome, but I would ask you all be present for the... conclusion to his unpleasant affair that has gone on in my absence."

"What of our party members?" Itsuki asked.

"Those who were not traitors and spies are waiting for you. You as well, Spear Hero, if you would have them back." The Queen replied.

"I'll at least say hello. But they'll have to get along with Kuro first."

"Humph." Kuro huffed, her impressive fluffiness expanding somehow.

"We will talk further inside. If you would follow my temporary guard captain to set aside your wagons." A pause, "You... Sir Ake, if I recall."

The young knight dismounted from his filolial, taking off his helmet and kneeling, "My Queen. I am."

Mirellia nodded, smiled ever so slightly, and said, "Well done. We will talk later about the former knight captain's orders concerning your disobedience."

"I would be honoured, My Queen."

While we 'parked' the wagon, I got in a word with Frost, "Guard Captain, huh?"

He shrugged massive shoulders, "Well, aside from our contract being all but done, I figured you wouldn't mind me picking up a side job."

"It's fine." I nodded, "But speaking of that. The rest of your company is probably in the city drinking a tavern dry. No casualties. And for exemplary service..." I reached back to put my hand by the Shield's gem and let a pre-counted bag of coins fall into my hand, "Drinks are on me."

He accepted the bag with a smile, letting it bounce on his palm a couple times to weigh it without opening it. "Thank you for the contract. If you need us again, you know how to contact us. And provided my quartermaster hasn't screwed things up, you'll know how to find us too."

As soon as we finished parking, we were ambushed by a bunch of maids. They were polite about it, but basically insisted we all get a bath. Being the highest seat of nobility in Melromarc, there were a lot of bath rooms.

To my surprise however, I found my bath room already occupied.

Mirellia Q Melromarc, in all her naked glory (I would not have believed she'd had three children, or any at all honestly), was laying in a square stone bathtub that was partially sunk into the floor. Magic and clever aqueduct systems made this cozy little bath look elegant, and hot enough to make the cooler stone walls glisten with moisture.

She waited until the door shut behind me before speaking, "We have much to discuss, and little time to do so." She said as she brushed a sponge over her arm. "No one will disturb us here, ma'am hero."

I took a moment to recover from my surprise, then shrugged and started taking my clothes off. Her use of words told me that she believed this room was safe to talk in, unlike when we had spoken in Siltvelt.

"What of?" I asked, folding my clothes, and setting them on a stool. I saw no buckets or the like for washing off before entering the bath, as is done back home, so I stuck the Shield on my arm and slid into the bath.

Even in the bath, she was all elegance and poise. Naked or not, this was all business to her. I did notice her eyes wander over my body as I got in, but it was more a look of appraisal, not lust. To be fair, aside from exactly one thing, I looked like a man.

"My idiot husband has upset a great many people. Nobility and commoner alike. They are, to put it mildly, out for blood. After all that has transpired, with the knights under his and the former church's command all but neglecting the common people during the Waves, I have little choice but to execute him."

While she spoke, I picked up my own sponge and started scrubbing.

"My daughter is also party to this. She was a tool of the Pope, poisoning my husband's mind with her lies, and for a time, the minds of the other heroes. It was through her, that the idea of bringing all four of you to Melromarc was put into his head."

I nodded to show I was listening, but otherwise, I took a bar of soap I had made from the Shield and started scrubbing my tails with it.

"Due to her misuse of the temporary authority given to my husband, the utter lack of regard for the people, and her campaign to undermine your efforts, she is also to be executed. It is my hope this placates the people, and the recovery of my kingdom's order can begin."

"Where are they now?" I asked, carefully washing my ears.

"They are both in the dungeon. They have both been put under the slave curse as well, so they will not escape, or be able to manipulate anyone into freeing them." She replied.

I felt my horns tingle pleasantly as I considered something, "You are aware your husband stole my wedding ring, yes?"

"He has not revealed its location to me." She said with a frown.

I was silent for a minute or two, thinking. She wanted me to spare them. She wasn't saying it outright, but I could tell she didn't want either of them executed.

That was fine. I'd been thinking on exactly what I would do to them for a while now. Death would end their suffering. And for all the crap I'd been through, I wanted them to suffer. Oh, the crowd might be out for their blood, but no.

"Very well." I said, "I'm going to need a few... props."

The 'arena' where I had fought Motoyasu the first time had been redecorated a little since I'd been there last. There were still hundreds of people seated up on the balconies looking over the space, as well as many more under those balconies, held in line by Ake and his knights.

In the middle of the courtyard, were two very nice looking guillotines. Yes, French revolution head removers. The blades had yet to be raised, and their occupants had yet to be brought out for display, but their presence was a clear indication of the plan for the two who had caused so much trouble since the Waves started.

And the people were demanding their use. Cries of 'kill the king' and 'kill him for what he's done to us' rang out over the courtyard, heard over the angry growling of the masses.

The Queen, in all her stately glory, made her appearance finally, walking through one of the nice doors and walking to the crenellations of the balcony and standing in front of the nice chair in the middle of her private booth.

I myself was sitting next to her in a much less impressive chair, waiting for my cue. The other heroes, their parties, and my own party, were all sitting where the Pope had sat the first time I'd been here, in what would normally be 'the VIP, but not the Queen's' seats. The only exception was Melty, who was on the other side of the Queen's seat.

The crowd was starting to chant now, "Bring them out! Bring them out!" But that started to die down as yes, Aultcray and Malty were brought out in chains, and the Queen raised her hands for silence. They were dressed in their usual clothing still. Malty, in her nice too-new looking adventuring gear, and Aultcray in the 'royal garb' he wore while sitting on the throne. The former king, unlike his daughter, looked like he hadn't bathed in a year, and there was nothing regal about his bearing now. She was defiant, yet he... He was broken.

And to the sound of the two prisoners grunting and straining against their chains, Mirellia started to speak.

"People of Melromarc." She started, her voice carrying over the still angry grumbles. "Before you are two of the three major factors for the recent troubles in Melromac. First and foremost, though already executed by the Four Heroes, is the Pope of the Church of the Three Heroes. With his death, I hereby decree the dissolution of the Church of the Three Heroes, and reinstate the Church of the Four heroes, as was Melromarc's custom for generations."

There was a little cheer from some, mumbles from others, though most of that seemed centred around the Pope's demise.

"This leaves Aultcray, and Malty. My husband and daughter."

More murmurs, 'just Aultcray?' 'no longer the king?'

"For their collusion with the Church of Three Heroes. For summoning the Four heroes to Melromarc and excluding the other nations of our world from summoning a hero of their own. For neglecting the people during the Waves. For allowing the corruption of some of the Knights. For nearly bankrupting the royal treasuries with frivolous spending. For undermining the efforts of a Hero while they tried to save the world from the Waves. For forgetting that the power granted unto them was given in good faith..."

The crowd started to chant again, "Kill them! Kill them!"

Again, she had to raise her hands for silence, though down below, the guards were putting both the two captives in the stockades under the angled blade of the execution device. Only once they had been locked in, did the Queen start speaking again.

"But, through all this, one above others has been the victim of not only the hate of the followers of the Church of the Three heroes. Framed as a criminal, sold into slavery, slandered, cheated, stolen from, even as they continued to do their best to be a hero to the people and protect us from the Waves. Even with all this pulling them down, they have done their duty. Not only that, they have worked hard to help those victims of the corrupt nobility, rescuing the slaves who were take just after the first Wave of Disaster."

That was my cue, so I stood up, waving to the crowd (and showing off the nice Hagane red Shield).

"Kodori Haruhime, the Shield Hero." Mirellia said. "She has been as much a victim as many of you, and with the hope of reconciliation between myself and her, for my own crime of negligence in leaving someone I hoped was worthy to hold my place while I discussed the matters of the Waves with the other nations, I am leaving the fate of my daughter and husband in her hands, a Queen from another world."

Silence.

I expected that. The Queen didn't slip when she said 'her'. And while I didn't like my title, it was true. Kinda. Melromarc was a Matriarchy, and the Queen had just revealed yet another crime, while introducing me not just as a hero, but a diplomat of sorts. And if my informal title of Queen could be a tool? I'd use it like anything else.

With the crowd lost in confused silence, I stepped forward as the Queen returned to her chair. Then, just for a little dramatic flair, I vaulted over the crenellation and dropped smoothly to the stone floor of the courtyard.

However, the acoustics weren't as good, and I didn't want to yell, so I switched the Shield to the Gengar Shield, speaking into the mouthpiece on the back, "AHEM!" I lowered my voice just a little more, "People of Melromarc." I slowly relaxed my 'disguise', my house kimono form fitting to my true shape, "I will clear the newest question first. Yes, I am a woman. And by your laws, the treatment I have been given by your former king, and the first daughter of the Queen, would already warrant quite the penalty."

I stopped, lowered the Shield, and looked at the two shocked prisoners. And just for effect, I adjusted my Kimono a little to show just a hint of cleavage.

"Deceiver!" Malty screamed, struggling as much as she could while locked in the stockade of the guillotine. "See! I was right! This thing cannot be trusted!"

I gave her a smile, then raised the Shield up again, "Oh? When I arrived, the Queen was absent, Aultcray had surrounded himself with men who were part of that little cult, and you pretended to want into my party when no one else wanted to join me."

I stepped towards her, "I refused, seeing that among all the others who joined the Heroes, you were the only one who didn't have a speck of work on you. You reeked of laziness and privilege, while your smile dripped with poison honey."

"I took pity on you! And you rejected me!" She shouted.

"I didn't need pity, I needed help." I stood in front of her, then looked to the guard.

The crowd gasped as the guard unlocked the stockade, and the guard standing by Aultcray's guillotine hauled her to her feet. Together, they held her by the elbow and shoulder, locked in place in front of me.

"Then." I said, pacing back and forth, "While I rested in one of the only places in the city that cared, you set it on fire." I tossed some burned rope, kept all this time in the Shield's inventory, at her feet. Yes, I had been waiting for this. "I was just able break out of the room I had been locked in, then break into the Lady of the house's room, where she had been tied up to burn to death with me." I took out the 'fire stone' of the alchemist set, "And you said, before the other heroes and Aultcray's court, that I set the fire with this." I looked past her, to the balcony.

"The fire stone used commonly used for alchemy only applies heat, not fire. And only if it remains in contact with the object you wish to heat." Announced the nice old alchemist I had gotten it from. "It's not common knowledge, but having used them for most of my life, I've yet to start a fire with one."

I looked back to Malty, "That night, as soon as I had fallen out of a window with the nice lady of the house, you were there. Not only that, you had rented a fighting slave to pick me up."

"I would never use a slave!"

"I beg to differ, young lady." Said a voice from the upper floor, "True, you didn't pay for one, but he was used, Yes Ma'am." Said a man with a wide smile who had an amazingly muscled clown standing next to him.

"Then." I continued, "Continually, you tried to pit the Spear Hero against me. Having him challenge me to 'free' my party members from my service. Again when you attempted to apply a fifty silver tax to enter, and another fifty silver tax to leave the village of Riyute. Again before the second wave." This time I looked to my left.

Motoyasu stood up, "I couldn't stand it any more." He said, "So I left you behind so I could try and be a proper hero, not a thrall to your toxic attitude."

The look of betrayal on her face made my horns tingle happily. Carefully, I reached out an captured her chin so she'd look at me again.

"I could tell, the instant I arrived, that I was being judged for being a demi-human. That having this Shield stuck to me was some kind of curse. But even then, I followed your laws, I killed your monsters." I backed up a step, "But the Queen has given me your life. So I will judge you by my laws."

I looked to the side and behind me, and a guard brought over a little table, a nice porcelain dish in the middle. This was followed by another Muscle Clown, who set down a little pot, then a brush.

"In my land, the punishment fits the crime!" I started to pace again. "It is very rare that death is the final judgment! Even this string of lies, slander, unpaid debts and treachery against the people would not warrant the use of this..." I motioned to the guillotine.

I nodded to the two guards and they moved their hands a little. Then, I started to peel Malty from her equipment. Her breastplate hit the ground, followed by her shoulder pads. Then, with care, I undid the buttons of her shirt to about half way. The slave crest was there already, but it was only a basic one.

"For spewing nothing but lies. To me, to your father, to the people, to my fellow heroes..." She started to struggle as the clown picked up the little table and brought it closer, just outside her kicking range.

"No!" She struggled of course.

But the Queen said, "Be still." And with a flash of light from the crest, Malty screamed as it punished her disobedience.

She went limp in the guards grip, but was lifted to her feet and held still. I picked up the brush and the clown helpfully held a little knife for me, so I could drip blood into the ink dish.

"I sentence you, to silence. You have abused everyone around you with your words. Lied to everyone for your own gain. Nearly plunged Melromarc into war with Siltvelt, Shieldfreeden and Faubrey for convincing Aultcray to summon the four heroes here. Your words have brought so much pain and suffering. So, by the will of the Queen to leave your life in my hands, I am taking away your voice."

I began to draw the altered slave crest on her chest.

"It is a punishment that will only end if I am slain, or when the Waves end and I return home." I continued. "I know, that there are ways to removed a Slave Curse. But this one is a little different. If anyone but I removes it, you will burn to death, like you intended for me that night you set the nice lady's home on fire with me in it!" I finished up the design, double checking it, then adding the last little flourish to connect it to the Shield's system. "And if I die, so do you. The only way you live, is if I return home."

She tried to speak, but her entire upper chest glowed, and all she managed was a strangled gasp. While she writhed in pain, I made sure to set a bunch of other settings. "You will also suffer as I have, being limited to this." I motioned with the Shield, "You will hold no weapons except tools. You will gain no experience by fighting monsters. No magic. No sneaky items that let you cheat in a duel." I smiled, showing teeth, "And no, you won't be able to kill yourself, either. You will need to rely on the people around you, on their pity if they even care to look at you now!"

She tried to speak again, but the guards let her go this time as she flopped to the ground like a fish out of water. I turned towards the Queen, looking up, "Queen of Melromarc, I have passed judgment on your wayward daughter. Keep her safe, or not, as you wish, for I am done with her."

"I accept your judgment, and the shame of being unable to turn her from this path. I hope, when you succeed and her punishment is lifted, that she will have learned from her mistakes and live a virtuous life." Very regal, very scripted, the delivery was flawless.

But, I turned to face the crowd. "People of Melromarc. Do not do as she has done. If you see her, leave her be. Do not spare your time, your words, or your scorn for her. Let her pass in silence. Her punishment goes no further than this." I looked into her hate filled eyes, "Unlock her chains, escort her to her room."

I then turned to Aultcray, who this entire time had been silent. Except, he wasn't looking at me, or Malty, but instead to my left, where the heroes and my party were sitting. While this puzzled me, it wasn't terribly important.

"Aultcray." I said, his attention turning towards me. "Your list of crimes are almost as long as your daughter's. And while I was greatly offended by nearly being burned to death, I find your list of thefts against me, the kingdom, and its people far more grievous!"

"You dare accuse me? Filthy animal!" He snarled.

I waved my hand in front of the Shield, and took a rasp from my inventory. Meant for shaving down metal or wood, like a file. I instead scraped it over the blade suspended over his neck. I did this a few times, all but guaranteeing that the guillotine would need more than one try to cut his head off.

"Let me start at just after the first wave." I said after the crowd finished gasping at what might end up being a VERY cruel death. "The people of Lurolona village had their lives, freedom, and families stolen by your knights. Nobles, with your sanction were free to buy demi-human slaves to torture how they pleased." I began pacing again, the routine helping me stay calm.

"You once condemned me for having slaves in my party. I'm not proud of that, but I am proud of them! But you, and those who shared this hate towards demi-humans, bought and sold them like one might a shovel or farm animal!" I stopped, held his gaze, then continued, "Then, under the advise of your daughter and the former Pope, you stole the Heroes. You took us from our own homes. You took the opportunity for the other countries to summon them."

"We needed them!"

"In my world, greed is the worst sin." I shot back, "To fund them, you emptied your castle's treasuries, stealing the tax money your people worked hard for." I took out a bit of paper, "I even have a list! Those crystal balls you gave them? A farmer would have to work most of a year to buy even one, and you gave them over a dozen each!"

The crowd needed the Queen to silence them. Four out of four worlds hated it when someone took money out of their pockets, especially like this.

"Then, there was me. You hated me. I didn't know why at the time. I didn't care why. If you had only summoned one hero, and I know that you could have chosen which one, you wouldn't have taken me from my family. You wouldn't have taken me from my home. All of the baseless malice you've shown me would never have had to happen."

"The Shield is cursed! The fact that you ended up with it makes you just as worthless as the Shield!"

"And had you not listened to a child and summoned all four heroes when your Queen was negotiating with the other countries for which hero to summon, I would never have shown my face to you. Oh, I might still have arrived here. But I would not have been your problem."

I turned away from him, taking a deep breath, then turned back, nodding to the guards in charge of the guillotine. Again, they unlocked the stockade and yanked him to his feet.

"The punishment fits the crime!" I said, "For the theft of the Heroes, the freedoms and money of your people, and stealing me from my wife, children and family when all you were going to do was try and discard me..." I paused for effect, "I sentence you to poverty."

The guards held him tight as I started to pull things off of him. I ripped the formerly nice royal purple cloak from around his shoulders, making a point to shake it out, then pull it apart before tossing it aside. The nice shirt he was wearing? I took fistfuls of fabric and pulled it off in strips. Undershirt? Gone. Necklaces? Pulled off with a sharp tug and set aside.

I stripped him down to his royal underwear, in front of everyone, ripping apart everything as I went. And while I did, I explained the conditions I was about to set on him.

"You will own only what you can carry. You will not be able to buy anything, only be given things out of charity. You will not be able to steal. You will not be able to lie. Like me, when you stole me from my home, you will start with nothing, and be thrown out of town to survive on your own."

Finally, I got to what I was looking for. The rings on his hands. One by one, I pulled them off, fat rubies, thumbnail sized emeralds, sky blue sapphires...

"no..." He said as I got to his little finger on his left hand. "don't take the angel away from me..."

He had three rings on that finger. Thin banded, two of them had large gems set on them, while the third, in the middle, was my wedding ring, the pure jade heart setting hidden so it would activate the memory of my wife every time he made a fist.

While I worked the rings off, I spoke just as quietly, "I told you I wouldn't ask again. Even my five year old children have better sense than you."

He grunted in pain as I pulled, my precious ring cutting into his flesh and eventually making it slick enough to pull free. "And she's my angel, but I'll tell her when I get back."

I held my bloody ring, blinking slowly and seeing little flashes of memory, little hints of scent and sensation. I put the ring on my left ring finger, sighed happily, then picked up the brush. "Like your daughter, your curse will only end with death, or my return home!" The two guards held him rigid while I expanded on his slave crest.

And like Malty, he appeared on my status screen, and I started to change the settings. "But unlike her, you may still speak. You might not be able to own anything, but you may still work. Still hunt. Still fight. And if you are as clever as you were when you won the heart of the Queen, you may even make your own things."

I then pulled out a pair of Usa's spare pants, and one of Clive's spare shirts. This, I handed to one of the guards. On top of this pile, I added one of the stone knives I had made. "Now put these on, and start paying back your debt by killing some balloons."

And yes, there in front of everyone, he got dressed in ill fitting clothes, and was escorted out of the courtyard with the people present laughing at him.

After he had vanished through the double doors that led out of the castle, I stepped between the two guillotines, turned to face the Queen, and said, "My judgment is done."

"Thank you, Lady Kodori, for your justice, and mercy." Then to everyone else, "People of Melromarc, my people... While this is regrettable, the danger is not over yet. The Waves are still in progress, and I will need everyone to cooperate with me, and the Heroes, so that we may come through the other end of these trials successfully." She looked left to right slowly, "It will take a little time, but once I have my house in proper order, my loyal knights and guards will return to their duties to protect everyone, while the Heroes return to their work of pushing back the Waves."

There was a little cheer. The people were eager to get back to 'normal', even if they didn't get to see a double execution.

"Heroes. While time is short, I would very much like a little more of your time to discuss things. Aside from Lady Kodori, I know none of you as well as I would like, and would render aid and advice to you all."

NOTES!

Ring returned, Trash and Bitch humbled by Orario law. And a vacation is now in order! Next chapter? The start of the Cal Mira L'arc.

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