Herald of Shalia 5

by Tamryn Tamer

  “We’d have gowns?” La said excitedly.

  “Colorful gowns?” Vee asked.

  “Really?” Sha timidly asked while fluttering her wings. “We would get our own pretty dresses?”

  “Of course,” Frost confirmed. “Don’t you think that you’re worth all of this effort Ka?”

  “A-absolutely, yes,” Ka mumbled while looking at the ground sheepishly. “B-but we’ve already mated. Everybody will believe that I’m easy for mating with…”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Frost said while reaching out and grabbing her waist. He pulled the slender harpy toward him. “Nobody would think you’re easy. You are a dignified lady.”

  “Very dignified,” Fi confirmed.

  “The most dignified,” Sha nodded. “That is why you deserve a beautiful partnering ceremony.”

  “The most beautiful,” Vee agreed.

  “V-very well,” Ka spread her wings and the other harpies quickly moved to give her room. “I have decided to accept this engagement, yes!”

  “Outrageous!” several harpies said while covering their mouths with their wings.

  “You already mated with him,” another harpy said.

  “Of course, I mated with him,” Ka said defensively. “I needed to secure him for myself, yes. Now that he knows how amazing I am he will forever be unable to resist me, yes.”

  “Daring!”

  “Brave!”

  “Bold!”

  “Are we good?” Frost asked. He looked down at the harpy and smiled.

  “You still must apologize, yes,” Ka insisted. “You have been very misleading, yes.”

  “I’m sorry,” Frost said. “So, are you okay staying here then?”

  “No,” Ka replied without hesitation. “I will be coming with you to your village and live amongst your other partners.”

  “Frost,” Priscilla gestured at the irritated priest and his villagers discussing things amongst themselves. “You promised them that the harpies would be able to work off their debt. They’re not going to be happy.”

  The villagers had been standing back while mumbling insults as Frost conferred with Ka. Several of them men had their weapons drawn and were clearly trying to intimidate the harpies. The priest looked at him and smiled as his followers gripped their weapons.

  “There’s been a change of plans,” Frost said to the crowd. “The harpies are going to be returning to Pluma Village with me.”

  “That is unacceptable!” the priest said as he stepped out into the square. “These thieving vermin stole from us and need to be punished! We will not be treated as second class…”

  The ground beneath Frost’s feet cracked as he launched himself toward the priest. In a blink his hand was around the man’s neck and he was lifting him off the ground. Frost reminded himself of the demihumans that were killed while passing through Mawth. Frost showed the villagers mercy when he took control of the village because those responsible were already dealt with and Frost wasn’t the type to hold people accountable for the actions of others. But he was holding the priest accountable for his own actions.

  “Herald Frost!” Priscilla shouted. “Not in front of the children!”

  “Predator,” several harpies mumbled while taking several steps back.

  “Then somebody should take them away or cover their eyes,” Frost said while staring into the gasping man’s eyes. “I’m beginning to grow concerned that my preference for peaceful solutions has been mistaken for weakness. Has it, priest?”

  “N-no,” the priest managed to get out despite Frost’s tightening grasp on his neck.

  “I say kill him,” Ena said while glaring at the man. “Humans like him never change. It’s better to just be rid of them.”

  “Ena,” Shael snapped. “Do not encourage this behavior. Nobody likes seeing Herald Frost like this.”

  “I think he’s sexy when he’s like this,” Renna said loudly while straddling a rooftop. “It reminds me of the moment I fell in love with him. Just thinking of him caving in that man’s chest to protect us,” Renna playfully shivered, “So sexy.”

  “Pleas…” the priest gurgled.

  “Herald Frost,” Priscilla approached him slowly, as if she were attempting to calm a rampaging beast. “I have no issue with killing him but at the very least do it somewhere else.”

  Frost tightened his grip as the priest attempted to pull the hand from his throat. His legs flailed wildly as Frost held him there, debating on whether or not he should just kill the man and be done with it. He’d certainly killed people for less.

  “Daddy!” a boy screamed as the priest’s wife struggled to hold him and a young girl back.

  “H-herald Frost,” the priest’s wife dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around her son and daughter. “P-please…”

  Frost threw the priest on the ground and the man immediately curled into a ball while gasping for air.

  “You will leave my territory and never return,” Frost said while staring at the man and his family. “Be thankful that I don’t want to scare the harpies off by killing somebody in front of them.”

  “It wouldn’t scare us,” Vee said from a rooftop. “We see dead humans all the time while flying around.”

  “Yeah,” Fi nodded. “Dead humans don’t scare us.”

  “I like you,” Renna said as she smiled at the two harpies and held out a pair of colorful gemstones. “I think we’re going to be good friends.”

  “Definitely good friends,” Vee said while staring at the gemstone.

  “Priscilla,” Frost said while staring at the brown-haired woman. “Make sure the priest is gone by the end of the day. Anybody that wants to go with him can. I’m also approving you to use any method you want to make progress on the village. If that means boots up asses, it means boots up asses.”

  “How I’ve longed to hear those words,” Priscilla chuckled. “So, are you going to stick around for a bit to make sure everybody falls in line?”

  “I’ll leave that up to you,” Frost said. “I’ve already been away from Pluma longer than I said I would. Lysandra gets antsy when I’m away for too long.”

  “Better not keep her waiting then,” Priscilla said with a malevolent grin. “I have things handled here. Just remember our agreement. I fix up this village and I officially become the Baroness of Serino.”

  “I said I’d give you a title,” Frost said. “I never said what it would be. Technically governess is a title.”

  “No, governess is a job description,” Priscilla said. “There’s a difference and you know it.”

  “Everybody,” Frost yelled at the demihumans. “Pack up and prepare to head home! We have a long trip ahead of us and I want to make good time! That means less sleep, more riding!”

  “You heard the herald!” Shael shouted. “Let’s go!”

  “Yes ma’am!” they shouted back.

  CHAPTER 8

  Lysandra’s office was located on the first floor of the newly renovated temple. It was larger than most of the other rooms and well-furnished since she wanted her followers to be comfortable when they came to talk to her.

  There was a large desk in one corner and an entire wall dedicated to filled bookshelves. In the center of the room was a large sitting area with two massive sofas, two comfortable chairs, and a large bed-like seat that larger demihumans used. In the center of the sitting area was a table that Lysandra kept stocked with fresh tea and sweets.

  Fresh flowers were placed throughout the room and an entire corner of the room was devoted to toys in case she was meeting with children. In the same corner was a web that went up the wall and to the ceiling since many Arachne children felt safer playing on the ceiling than they did on the floor.

  There weren’t any windows since she wanted to make sure the walls were completely soundproof so there was no natural light. Instead, magic candelabras were set up to provide plenty of light for her guests. It was a very quiet, calm, and a safe room for followers that needed support. And
there were a lot of them.

  The village had grown significantly and there were more followers than ever, although they weren’t all followers of Shalia. But all that mattered to Lysandra was that they needed help. Whenever somebody came to her she made sure that they got the help they needed. At least she tried to.

  “Lysandra,” Desdemona poked her head around the corner and looked nervous. “Can I come in?”

  “I’m supposed to be meeting with Brynn in a few minutes,” Lysandra said, setting out some pastries she purchased earlier in the morning. “But we can talk until she arrives.”

  “It’s about Brynn,” Desdemona said. “She said that she’s busy with paperwork and didn’t have an hour to sit through another interrogation.”

  “Well, you find Brynn and tell her that I’ll be adding another week to her bedroom ban if she doesn’t sit down and talk to me,” Lysandra said. “That should get her in here.”

  “I told her that you would say that,” Desdemona sighed. “And then she said to remind you that if you…well…she said some not very nice things I would rather not repeat. I suppose the nice way to put it is that if maybe you spent a teensy-weensy bit more time governing and less time talking with people about their feelings she wouldn’t have so much to do.”

  “Okay,” Lysandra grumbled while thinking how best to respond. Brynn certainly knew how to twist a knife when she wanted to. Lysandra was well aware of her failings when it came to governing a territory. But the emotional wellbeing of the villagers was just as important as building new things, posting jobs, and keeping records. “You tell Brynn that if she doesn’t want to be spending an hour with me when she could be having drinks with Herald Frost then she’ll come this instant.”

  “Isn’t that a little harsh?” Desdemona asked.

  “It’s the only way she’ll come,” Lysandra sighed.

  “Okay,” Desdemona said. The scarlet-haired demoness glanced at the doorway and then back at Lysandra like she wanted to say something. “I was just thinking that if she didn’t want the time then maybe we could talk…”

  “Is there something that’s bothering you?” Lysandra asked while staring at the nervous demoness. “I suppose we don’t have to get Brynn right this second.”

  “I mean, it’s nothing and I probably shouldn’t even bring it up,” Desdemona said. “It’s stupid. I should be grateful. I mean, I’m so happy here and everybody is so nice to me. I really shouldn’t complain.”

  “Did you want to sit down and have some tea?” Lysandra asked while gesturing at a small chair.

  “It’s just,” Desdemona sat down and took the tea Lysandra offered her. “You know I love Herald Frost and I am so happy.”

  “I know that,” Lysandra said while taking a seat across from the crimson-eyed woman.

  “It’s just,” Desdemona sniffled. “I feel stupid even talking about it.”

  “What is it?” Lysandra asked while reaching out for a small basket that she kept clean handkerchiefs in. “I promise that it’s not stupid.”

  “D-does Herald Frost not want to have a baby with me?” Desdemona asked while fighting back tears. “It’s just, it’s just…” Desdemona took several deep breaths while trying not to cry. “W-why did he t-tell Dari that he would give me a b-baby if he wasn’t going to?”

  “Oh, Desdemona,” Lysandra reached out and wrapped her arms around the crying woman. “It’s okay…”

  “I know I-I’m already s-so l-lucky,” Desdemona whimpered as she cried into Lysandra’s shoulder.

  “There, there,” Lysandra gently patted Desdemona’s back. “Let it all out.”

  Desdemona continued crying into her shoulder while repeating the same few lines about how lucky she was and how she shouldn’t be complaining. Lysandra had been pregnant for months and Herald Frost wasn’t showing any signs of keeping his promise with King Asmund.

  “Is it because I’m a demon?” Desdemona whimpered after crying for several minutes.

  “Of course not.”

  Both Lysandra and Desdemona jumped as Brynn came walking into the room with a stack full of papers.

  “Brynn!” Lysandra snapped. “You’re supposed to knock!”

  “You left the door open,” Brynn said as she sat down on the couch and set her paperwork down on a small table. “Handsome hasn’t gotten you pregnant because he’s terrified of children. He physically cringes when small children approach him. He’s gotten much better about it in recent months but he reacts to them the same way that people react to the Arachne. It has nothing to do with you.”

  “R-really?” Desdemona grabbed a handkerchief and began wiping her eyes. “It’s not me?”

  “Obviously,” Brynn said, holding up her hand to display the green glow of her Truthseeker Ring on her middle finger. “He loves you to death but he’s not going to put a baby inside of you unless you ask him.”

  Brynn said that she wore the Truthseeker Ring so that the villagers would trust her but that was a lie that Brynn told herself. Lysandra knew the actual truth. Wearing the ring was just an easy way to avoid dealing with her feelings. If she could prove that she was telling the truth, she didn’t have to worry about earning their trust again the hard way.

  It wasn’t anything that Lysandra hadn’t dealt with before but Brynn was remarkably intelligent which made dealing with her slightly more difficult than one of her followers. In fact, the smart ones were always the most problematic.

  “Brynn,” Lysandra growled. “Why don’t you let me give the advice?”

  “You know that I’m right,” Brynn said smugly as she grabbed one of the pastries from the table. “You were about to tell her the same exact thing. I know! How about this,” Brynn said as she straightened her posture and smiled as sweetly as she could. “Desdemona, I think it’s very important that you sit down and tell Herald Frost exactly how you feel. I’m sure that if you tell him, he’ll respond to your words. You just need to remember that as long as you love him everything will work out. Through love, anything is possible!”

  “I don’t sound anything like that,” Lysandra said, blushing as she crossed her arms. Although, she couldn’t help but smile a little when she noticed Brynn’s ring pulsing green light. She might have been making fun of Lysandra but she also believed the words. It made her feel a little victorious.

  “You kind of do,” Desdemona chuckled while wiping away the last of her tears. “But it is really good advice. I should tell Herald Frost how I’m feeling instead of coming to you. It’s just that he’s made me so happy and I shouldn’t ask for anything else. I don’t want to pressure him…”

  “If you let him avoid the subject, he’ll avoid it forever,” Brynn said and Lysandra found the words to be slightly ironic given Brynn’s own avoidance of difficult subjects.

  “You really should bring it up with him,” Lysandra said supportively. “Herald Frost loves you very much. We all do. I’m sure he wants you to be happy. Just let him know how you really feel and I’m sure he’ll respond to your feelings.”

  “Or you could always write a letter to your brother,” Brynn said as she gulped down some tea and began filling out paperwork. “I’m sure Darius would be happy to give him a little nudge.”

  “Brynn!” Lysandra snapped.

  “It was a joke,” Brynn rolled her eyes as she did her work. She scribbled some notes on a small parchment before tossing it one of the four piles she set up in front of her. “My point is that you need to be more confident. Like Renna.”

  “Renna is not a role model!” Lysandra said.

  “When it comes to confidence and making dreams come true, she’s a role model,” Brynn chuckled. “Once she reaches level thirty-five, she’ll have satisfied all of the requirements we set for becoming eligible for marrying Frost. She’s also drummed up enough support that handsome won’t be able to refuse her. If he does, there’s going to be a revolt. All she’s missing is the endorsement of a second wife.”

  “Is that why she’s been so nice to me late
ly?” Desdemona asked.

  “Don’t act like you have nothing to do with her campaigns,” Lysandra said. “You’ve been giving her advice ever since you moved in with her.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t have kicked me out of our bedroom then,” Brynn said. “Personally, I think it’ll be nice to have another wife that’s on my side.”

  “I am on your side!” Lysandra snapped. “All you had to do was agree to talk with me and you never would have been kicked out!”

  “You mean be interrogated by you,” Brynn said. “All you do is ask me personal questions.”

  “I am trying to help you!” Lysandra snapped back.

  “Maybe I should go,” Desdemona said nervously as the two women glared at each other. “It is Lady Brynn’s time after all.”

  “I’m sorry Des,” Brynn said while calming herself down. “I really don’t mind if you’re here. Maybe you should be running these meetings because I’m much more comfortable talking to you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Lysandra asked while gritting her teeth.

  “It means that Desdemona treats me like a person, not like some torn dress that needs to be mended,” Brynn replied.

  “I really should probably leave,” Desdemona said while hurrying to her feet. “Thank you both though. I think I’m going to try to tell him how I feel. Maybe. Probably not right away. I might give him a bit. Or should I do it right way?”

  “Do it right away,” Brynn and Lysandra said simultaneously.

  “Just rip the bandage right off,” Brynn added.

  “You must tell him,” Lysandra said. “Trust in your love for him and his love for you!”

  “I like that,” Desdemona said as she slowly backed out of the room. “Thank you again. I’m just going to close this on my way out. Bye.” She vanished through the doorway, closing the door behind her as she left.