“Does it always feel like this?” Líann asked. “The fear, the excitement, the rush?”
“For me it does,” I answered her honestly. “It’s faded a little as I’ve gotten used to it, but it never really goes away.”
“Depends on what you’re fighting,” Tási chimed in. She’d been there for our entire exchange, but only then chose to speak. “Beastkin just give me the creeps.”
“Everything gives you the creeps,” I chuckled at her.
“I can’t stand goblins,” Líann shivered. “They scare me to death.”
The two of them started a whole discussion on the various creatures that disturbed each of them the most and seemed to completely forget that I was even there. They were so engrossed with comparing what did or did not frighten each of them that I was able to slip away from them unnoticed. I would have liked to have seen the looks on their faces when they finally realized what happened, but Ella caught me as I was sneaking away and ushered me into my carriage while the Army got ready to move once more. We were more than a mile down the road before Tási tracked me down.
“Sneaky bitch,” she muttered as she dropped down to sit with me on the pillows that lined the floor.
Her words were harsh, but the thin trace of a smile that Tási couldn’t quite manage to hide told me that she was more amused than anything.
“The two of you were getting along so well discussing monsters and such that I figured I’d leave you alone,” I replied innocently.
“Monsters?” Tási huffed. “Actually, you didn’t come up at all.”
Ouch.
“It turns out that Líann doesn’t seem to like anything smaller than she is,” Tási recalled. “Goblins, kobolds—”
“Halflings?” I cut in.
That comment earned me a pillow to the face, but it was totally worth it.
Tási braced for my reprisal, but I hugged her instead. She was clearly suspicious of my motives as I pulled her in, and rightfully so. It wasn’t often that I let her get away with anything, and with how frequently she prodded me, I was sure that she enjoyed our playful antics as much as I did. But her casual conversation with Líann made me happy, and I only wanted to show her some appreciation, so her caution wasn’t necessary… at least not on that occasion.
Once I’d managed to reassure her that she was safe, Tási and I relaxed and lay quietly together as the carriage gently rocked us while we traveled farther down the road. Comforted by the swaying motion, I let my fingers play through Tási’s hair while I pulled up my notifications. There hadn’t been too many kills to go around, but I had participated in the battle, so I should have at least gotten my Commander’s Bonus for most, if not all of them.
Experience gained – You have gained 385 XP.
…
Experience gained – You have gained 385 XP.
Commander’s bonus – You have earned party credit for every kill made under your command or the direct command of one of your party members.
Experience gained – You have gained 43 XP.
…
Experience gained – You have gained 43 XP.
Right away I noticed that, although the individual beastkin kills still gave 385 XP each, my party kill credit had gone down since our last battle against them. It was only a few points less, but the discrepancy still bothered me. I tried to tally up just who the hell was being counted in my party and realized what had happened—not only was Ella considered a party member, but both Saibra and Líann were being figured into that calculation as well. My bonds with them, emotional and otherwise, made that fact all too obvious once I thought about it for more than a moment. I only hoped that each of them was receiving some reward in return.
Peeking at my sheet let me know that I was still just under 14,000 points shy of reaching level 43, so I closed it quickly and focused on something more important.
I slid my fingers down from where they’d been toying with Tási’s hair and brushed them across her cheek as I sent a thin tendril of desire into her. A soft murmur escaped her as Tási responded to the subtle coaxing of my thread, and I whispered my intentions to her.
“Later, not now,” I let my lips graze her ear. “I just want to let you know what you have to look forward to.”
“Mmmm,” she hummed her anticipation. “In that case, tell me more.”
I provided Tási with a few more hints, some a little less subtle than others, until the Army came to a halt for the evening. While our camp was being set up—and over Tási’s protests—I wandered around, offering words of encouragement and even a little help here and there. None of this was necessary; the entire operation was quite efficient without my help, but if people were going to put their lives on the line for me, I felt that the least I could do was show my face and pitch in a little.
Dinner that night was shared with my Cabinet and advisors, as it was most nights we traveled. Each evening, we’d review anything of note and make adjustments or changes that circumstances might require. Obviously, the big news of the day was the beastkin attack, so that dominated our discussion. Although we reviewed the short battle thoroughly, nothing had happened that seemed to indicate the need for us to alter our behavior, and no one suggested any changes be made.
When we finally departed for the night to head back to our tent, I took one last glass of wine with me as we left. It had been a particularly appealing variety, and I wanted to savor just a little more of it before going sleep. I’d just placed the glass on the small side table and was so absorbed in enjoying the flavor of the wine that Tási’s ambush took me by surprise.
“Stop ignoring me,” she growled as she pulled me down. “You made me some promises earlier, and now it’s time for you to keep them.”
I hadn’t forgotten, at least not completely, but the conversation and the wine had made those promises slip my mind. Tási immediately reminded me of them, in the very special way she had of doing so, most persuasively emphasized by the fact that she’d already stripped herself naked before she’d dragged me into bed.
Tási got everything I’d promised her that night, and even more. Once she’d ambushed me, there really was no question of that. I’d never had any real defenses against her desires once our bodies met, nor did I want any. She was my first love, and despite all the complexities of our relationship, I never wanted to do anything but make her happy. And for that night at least, I can say that was exactly what I did.
We were inside the protective confines of Dhel-Ar’s mountain passages before any other mishaps could occur, and reached Rhoboth right on schedule. Normally, an army of nearly 5,000 would overwhelm a city’s ability to accommodate, but with our arrival expected, the King had been able to make arrangements for us.
Two days of feasting and celebration ensued, and the entire city was awash in festivities. The food was plentiful, and the ale practically flowed in rivers through the streets as we honored and celebrated the strong bonds that had grown between the people of Dhel-Ar and my Empire. During those celebrations, I was moved when the loved ones of some of the soldiers who’d lost their lives in our battles came to me and told me how proud they were of those who’d fallen in my service. The goals we sought were no secret, and the memory of those heroes were honored by their families for having sacrificed themselves in an effort to achieve them.
It was both a stark and poignant reminder of my obligations. My goals were no longer only mine—they’d become the shared aspirations of tens of thousands of souls. Abandoning them or even settling for coming up short was simply out of the question. To do so now, after so much blood had already been spilled, would not only be a betrayal of myself, but of them as well—neither of which was a burden that I was willing to bear.
Before leaving Rhoboth on the third day, scheduled so that my army could recover from their overindulgence, we met with the dwarven King to say our goodbyes. He and Broda shared a long embrace as we made ready to leave, but before we did, I had a parting gift for the King.
; Without his early assistance, my efforts would have been severely hampered, if not impossible to achieve. I’d already presented him with a pair of Khelduin gauntlets in recognition of that fact, and before we departed Rhoboth for Oróna, I gave him the remaining pieces of the full suit of armor to accompany them.
“You have been a true friend to me and my Empire, your Majesty,” I grinned broadly as the gift was presented to him. “I just couldn’t rely on a mere pair of gauntlets to protect such a valuable ally.”
The raw metal itself was incredibly valuable, but the suit of armor that Hilgreth, Renn, and Georl had crafted with the Forge Hammers turned that metal into a nearly priceless artifact. The gleaming armor shone brightly in the torchlight, and the King gaped at it in open wonder when it was revealed to him.
I’d hoarded my Khelduin, guarding it jealously and keeping it for the use of only my own troops. The King knew this well and even respected the value I’d placed on the typically rare metal, so his astonishment was easily understood.
“You’ve done me an honor, Empress,” the King spoke reverently as he handled one of the sections.
“No, Torgyd,” I whispered back to him. “I’ve only returned one.”
The King nodded at me slowly, not bothering to contradict my words. We’d forged our alliance, and there was no need for us to bicker over who might owe the other anything.
The Army was on its way again a short while after our farewell meeting with Broda’s uncle broke up. After a few days’ more travel underground, we’d be under the open skies once more, and only a short distance from Oróna. With the path ahead of us clear, we forged onward towards our destination, eager to discover what fate had in store for us there.
Once we were clear of Dhagboro and on the open road again, the Army was able to pick up its pace just a little. The roads inside the mountain that was the Kingdom of Dhel-Ar were safe and clear, but not quite as wide open as the more heavily-traveled caravan trail.
In addition to the sunshine and open skies over my head, I was also relieved to have Bane back with us. The confines of the underground passageways of Dhel-Ar had simply been too restrictive for him. While he could have managed to walk them quite easily, Bane would never have been able to take flight while we traveled inside the mountain and chose to rejoin us when we emerged on the far side instead of suffering the restriction to his movements.
Our travel to Oróna was uneventful, save for the increasingly obvious anxiety I noticed from Líann as we drew closer and closer. She tried to hide her nervousness, and actually did a very good job of it, but I knew her too well and could almost feel it radiating off her despite her outwardly calm appearance. I assumed that Líann’s was just looking forward to returning home after so many months being absent from her Realm and didn’t press her on the issue. She’d never had any problem telling me when something was truly bothering her, so I didn’t think much of it beyond that.
Once we reached the great elven city, our army camped on the vast plains that lined the road just to its north—the same road that the delegations from the remaining independent Realms outside my Empire would have to travel as they arrived in Oróna. Each one would survey the entirety of the Imperial Army before they sat down at the negotiating table with me, with the message I’d sent to them clear in their minds.
We still had two days before the envoys were expected to arrive, and I took some of that time to tour the city. It was a much more formal affair than my last time walking through the streets; my full escort of personal guards couldn’t prevent that fact, but Oróna was still a marvel to behold. The bright white stone walls and graceful arches had lost none of their appeal, and the sights and sounds of the city were a delight to behold once again. Understandably, for a monarch who’d been absent so long, Líann had a full schedule for herself during those two days as well, and it prevented her from accompanying me on any of my excursions. Fortunately, the third morning was not only the day that the delegations were scheduled to arrive, but also our weekly breakfast together, and Líann finally revealed to me what had been troubling her during our journey, as well as what had kept her so busy the previous two days.
After taking a few nervous sips from her teacup, Líann finally told me just what she’d been doing.
“I’ve been keeping something from you,” she confessed hesitantly. “I would have told you sooner, but I knew that you’d object. But it’s too late for that now—it’s already done, and there’s nothing you can do now to change anything.”
Líann’s words caused me a great deal of alarm—whatever it was, this was no small matter that she’d been attending to. I wanted to say something, but Líann was so uneasy that I let her simply go on, rather than interrupt her.
“I may have been a horrible person before I met you, but I’d like to think that I was at least a decent Queen,” Líann anxiously toyed with the cup in her hands as she spoke. “I cared for my lands and my people, if not as individuals, at least in general.”
“But I’ve been torn between my obligations to them, and my love for you, and Íforn has suffered for it. My people deserve to have a ruler who is devoted only to them, and that is not me. I cannot leave your side, Empress, nor can I continue to rule Íforn from afar. I’ve been forced to choose one or the other, and yesterday, I made that choice.”
“I’ve submitted my formal abdication to the Regent; he will assume the Throne this afternoon. The documents have already been signed and attested, I cannot undo what has been done.”
“Íforn is in better hands now, and I am in yours,” Líann stared down into her lap as she finished.
To say that I was stunned or in shock would not capture even the slightest fraction of my surprise. Líann had surrendered everything she had… for me. More than most could ever dream of accumulating in a lifetime, and she’d willingly thrown it away to remain by my side.
It was true what she’d said—Líann and I couldn’t leave each other for any real length of time. Our previous time apart had nearly been devastating for both of us, but to simply wave off her title, the role she’d literally been born to assume, was an act of devotion I’d never expected. I reached across the table and pried Líann’s hands from the cup she was nearly worrying to pieces and held them in mine until she finally looked up and met my gaze.
“You were born to be a Queen, Líann,” the words seemed to flow from me without any thought or intention on my part. “And when the time is right, I will make you a Queen again. My Queen. You will sit by my side and help me rule Arrika. You’ve lost nothing—you’ve only given away a small thing so that you may gain something even larger.”
“You will not go without a title in the meanwhile,” I finished. “You’ve been my unofficial advisor for a while, and now I’ll make that an official Cabinet position and name you Chief Advisor to the Empress.”
Neither of us were in the mood to eat after that, and we lay down together for a while instead. Líann rested her head on my shoulder and I held her as she cried every few minutes. She’d given up everything she’d ever had and ever known for me, and the pain of that loss weighed heavily on Líann. Unsurprisingly, we shared no tendrils of darkness or passion that morning, but Líann did ask me to send her one of my softer threads. She wanted to feel the simple basic nature of its influence once more, a reminder I assumed, of just what she’d done.
Although Líann had taken in that thread before, that morning was the first time that she truly understood it. The subtle nature of its simplicity, the way it embraced the unadorned aspects of life, finally connected with her and Líann recognized its inner meanings and full importance. Only once she’d felt herself fully disarmed from the heights of her position did the impact of those threads register with her completely.
I stayed with her far longer than I should have, offering Líann reassurance in her state of discomfort, but we both had much to do to prepare for the conference that was to be held the next morning. Meetings to attend, final briefings to review, and so much m
ore. Finally, Líann kicked me out, putting on a brave face as she sent me on my way.
Thoughts of Líann’s sacrifice continued to run through my mind, but with the conference the next morning and all that I needed to do to prepare for it, I couldn’t afford their distraction. Many thousands of lives potentially hung in the balance of what was decided the next day. I needed to focus my mind on what I had to do to preserve as many of those lives as possible before I set out to extinguish the others.
I had individual meetings with all my Ministers, and then we ended the evening with a full conference together. By then, news of Líann’s abdication had spread like wildfire, and the shock of it, along with the abrupt coronation of King Taeren, had likely thrown a great many of our opposition’s plans in disarray. An oddly convenient side-effect of Líann’s timing that did not pass unnoticed during our own discussion of the issue.
“I made the decision some time ago, that is true,” Líann confessed with a wry smile as we discussed the implications. “But only once I’d made up my mind did the matter of timing enter into things.”
The internal strength required for Líann to plan such a momentous event with such calculation filled me with awe. Even though Líann was certain of her choice, the decision she’d made still devastated her. To carry on with that burden inside her and keep it secret, even from me, spoke of a reserve within her that I’d never known before. I wasn’t sure whether that was because I’d underestimated her or if it was due to the growth she’d undergone, but it was quite obvious that Líann was far stronger than I’d given her credit for.
Although the dramatic turn in events would likely affect how the other Realms approached our discussions, we eventually decided that it hadn’t really changed anything for us. Our appeal would essentially remain the same—join us or be forced to join. There would be no third option offered. With our course of action confirmed, we concluded our planning for the morning summit and headed off to rest for the night.
Second Skin: Unified: A litRPG Adventure (Second Skin Book 3) Page 95