“You are correct of course, Lord Aziel,” Duren said. “Though I myself find the pact outdated and ill-advised. It goes against the foundational concept of the strong ruling the weak by shackling the greatest amongst us to their places of power. It is one of the reasons I left my position within the Theocracy… I would very much like to discuss the other reasons with you in private, if you would indulge me.”
Aziel made a contemplative noise. “Very well. I will make sure to meet with each of you a soon as am I done with the other arrivals.” He called to the closest female Grauda, “Please, show our guests to the rooms on the second floor, and ensure they have all they require. Also, inform your Queen to check on the other humans settling outside, and take good care of them.” The female Grauda listened intently before turning to the three men and indicating for them to follow.
“Celia,” Aziel said, keeping his voice low so that the humans would not hear as they filed out the main doorway. “Come with me.” He took her hand and pulled her aside, down the tunnel.
“I have just realized, we never made love together in your place of power,” she said, giggling as they exited the tunnel and into the glittering crystal cavern. Her giggling fell silent when Niyela’s tree came into view. “Is that…?” she asked, the awe raw in her voice.
“Niyela’s tree,” Aziel said as he let go of her hand.
“Wait! That third Dryad, the one who couldn’t take her eyes off you—that one?”
Aziel didn’t know if she had been staring at him; Niyela’s gaze didn’t illicit the same physical response Celia’s did. “She was standing with Rosaline and Rhene,” he said, which caused Celia’s expression to turn predatory once more.
“So how was she?” she asked, making no attempt to hide what she was referring to.
Aziel shook his head. “We did not couple,” he said.
“What? Why? The way she was looking at you, she would have let you have her in front of everyone, right there on the throne room floor.”
“The situation is delicate, but this is not why I called you here,” he said.
“Mmm?” Celia said, moving closer to him, but Aziel raised a hand to stop her, causing her to frown. “Master? What’s wrong?”
“I need to you to explain to me why there is a camp of humans forming just outside Soul’s Rest. Tell me everything that has happened since you left. The Wervins, the humans… and don’t leave out the part where you were hurt. I can feel when our link expands to heal you,” he added when Celia looked startled.
She took a step back, her left hand rising to touch her collarbone nervously. “I know my quest had nothing to do with the humans… but the Wervins were attacking them, it would have been a wasted opportunity not to recruit them,” Celia began, and then launched into a full explanation.
When she had finished, Aziel paced back and forth, a stern look on his face before settling down on his seat. “Have you lost your mind, Celia?” he said at last, unable to believe how reckless she had been. “Many of those people are from Maiv! You say they are refugees, but are you certain about that?”
Celia seemed taken aback at first, but then stood firm beneath his gaze. “They are escaping a war. What did you want me to do? Burn a few of them and hope they didn’t follow?”
“For all you know, these people are soldiers, assassins. Have you forgotten that I destroyed a whole town of theirs?”
“No, I have not. But humans are the dominant race here. If the Fallen stands a chance of forging a peace with the other factions, humans need to be a part of it.”
“You are not listening to me, Celia. This is risky, and I don’t trust them. You yourself were ambushed and almost killed. Yes, these people might need our aid now, but what happens when that is no longer the case? What then? When the Jannatins, Maivan, or Odanians contacts one of them to be a spy or a saboteur, would they go against their own race? Would their loyalty to a faction which contains what they only see as monsters stand firm?”
Celia frowned. “You know I cannot answer that.”
Aziel sighed as he rested his face in his palms. He heard Celia come closer, her hand resting lightly on one shoulder. “Master, I think Astrel and the Grauda have spoiled you a little too much.”
Aziel glanced up, surprised. Celia took a seat on his chair’s armrest before giving him a small smile. “Your concerns—they are the concerns of every leader who ever lived, I imagine. Can I trust him? Does she have an ulterior motive?” Celia shrugged. “If you require the people joining the Fallen be loyal to you without question, to the point where you never need to even think about it, then you have been going about this all wrong.”
Celia stroked a hand through his hair before she began to gently knead the back of this neck, a sensation so pleasurable that Aziel immediately felt himself beginning to relax under her care. “The Grauda are mostly drones. Only the females—which make up a very small percentage of the entire race—think for themselves, and they all worship you and take their lead from Astrel, who of course would die for you if you asked her to. None of the other races are the same. Even without knowing much about them, I can tell that the Arachne will look to what is best for their race, and so will the Ogre’i, just like the humans. If you fear the humans might have mixed loyalties, then do something about it. Build a faction for them to be a part of, a place they think of as their home so they wouldn’t even consider supporting another against it. A place where they see the Grauda as countrymen and would protect them even against someone from their own race.”
Aziel took a deep breath as he processed her words. Then he took her hands in his, kissing the backs of them as he did. “When did you get so wise?” he asked gently.
Celia grinned. “It’s not my fault all you think about is pleasure. I’ve been talking sense from the very beginning.”
Aziel’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Me? The Succubus is telling me all I think about is—” Celia kissed him, cutting off his retort.
When she eventually pulled back, Aziel chuckled. “Very well, I concede your point. I will speak to Issac and create a place for the humans within the Fallen. It’s not as if I can send them back at this point.”
“Good,” Celia said, but her joy evaporated a moment later. “What’s this about a duel?”
Aziel winced. “I suppose Astrel couldn’t keep her objections between herself and I.”
“No, she couldn’t,” Celia said, giving him a questioning look. “I’m assuming this Khan you are dueling is the female in the throne room. It’s too dangerous. Have you seen the size of her? And you want to fight her without magic or enchanted weapons?”
Aziel sank back in his chair, tiredly. He’d had this conversation with Astrel already, many times. “Celia, this is my decision. I will fight her, and I will beat her.”
“How?” Celia raised a skeptical eyebrow.
“I am not weak, Celia. I don’t need toys and magic to beat my enemies,” Aziel said curtly, finding her lack of confidence in him troubling, even if he knew it was born from concern. She grimaced, realizing how he had interpreted her objections.
“I didn’t mean it that way, I—”
“It’s alright,” Aziel interrupted. “I understand. I am also not so foolish as to think I could fight someone at their own game under such handicaps without a plan of my own.”
“Oh?” Celia said, leaning forward. “What plan?”
Aziel grinned. “Everyone seems to have forgotten that I have twenty skill points to invest. Which reminds me, where is Vhal? I wanted to discuss this with him.”
A few moments of silence passed as Celia’s gaze dropped to the ground.
“Celia?” Aziel asked, suddenly concerned.
“Um… there were a few things which happened in the Underdark I may have left out,” she said slowly.
“What few things?” Aziel asked, a sinking feeling forming within him. So far, nothing good had come from the Underdark.
Celia began explaining the change in Vhal’s behavior an
d powers: the way his eyes had turned black, the green eye which formed from the black orb atop his staff, the strange way he spoke.
Aziel listened. This change was interesting, yet another thing he wanted to discuss with the lich.
“Vhal left,” Celia concluded as she pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to Aziel.
“What do you mean, ‘left?’” Aziel asked, dumfounded. He unfolded the sheet of paper and read its contents. Release me from my oath of service… a matter of personal significance… a bargain I made in my darkest moments… the words were a shock.
As soon as he reached the end, a notification appeared.
Vhal’nuel Novaul, Head Researcher of the Fallen has submitted his request to resign from his appointment.
Do you accept? Yes or no
Aziel glared at the runes as if his vehemence might make them go away. They remained, however, and Aziel let out a tired sigh before reading the letter once more.
Vhal was going to the Ejani Empire. As an officer, even a minor one of the Fallen, any action of his there would be attributed to his faction. Even so, Aziel would not have accepted his resignation, and Vhal knew it. That was why he had used his one request. The one request Aziel would be honor-bound to uphold, as it was the one condition the lich had asked for before joining the Fallen in the first place.
Aziel could not know if Vhal had always planned for this, or if it was merely a matter of circumstance. Right now, it hardly mattered. Aziel could feel Celia watching him, her hand still resting on his back.
“He said he would rejoin,” she said, trying to make the decision sting a little less.
Aziel shook his head. “That is assuming he does come back at all,” he said, before focusing on the notification and choosing yes.
Vhal’nuel Novaul, Head Researcher of the Fallen has resigned from his appointment.
Minor officer position, Head Researcher is now open.
“Come,” Aziel said as he got to his feet, taking Celia hand’s again. He was intending to return to the throne room, but then he sensed Astrel’s vessel, accompanied by a group of Grauda, escorting one more vessel toward him. It was familiar, but he couldn’t place where he had sensed it before. All he could tell was that whoever it was, they were a fire weaver.
“My king,” Astrel said, as she entered his place of power. Behind her, three Grauda males and two females restrained a woman, their weapons at the ready.
Aziel stared at the young woman before glancing at Celia, who was also looking at the captive with wide eyes. When she noticed Aziel’s attention, she licked her lips.
“I would love to hear your explanation for this,” Aziel said, unamused.
“Well…” Celia said, before clearing her throat.
The Grauda pushed their charge to the ground. She grunted before straightening with dignity and announcing, “I am here to talk.”
“I am sure you are, Princess Lucienne,” Aziel replied dryly, recognizing the blond princess he had met in Whiteridge. She looked much worse for wear now; her clothes were muddy, her hair matted and dirty, with the exception of a red and black feather she had worn in a nod toward style. Overall, she looked tired, beaten down. “Hiding amongst your faction’s refugees to infiltrate this place is below even you, don’t you think?” he asked.
Lucienne’s head dropped. “I did what was necessary to get here,” she said through gritted teeth.
Aziel gave Celia a disapproving look. “It’s one thing to not know exactly who you brought with you, but to not know that a princess is amongst them?”
Celia shrank even further into herself in embarrassment.
“Astrel, place her in a room under guard and give her a small dose of the anti-weaving concoction. Enough to limit her ability, but not actually put her to sleep.”
“Wait!” Princess Lucienne said, as the Grauda grabbed her arms. “I wish to talk terms, please!”
“I will come to you when I am ready to hear what you have to say. Smuggling yourself into my home doesn’t give you the right to make demands on my time,” Aziel said as the princess was dragged from his place of power, kicking and screaming.
“You shouldn’t have brought her here,” Aziel said to Astrel. “She has now seen my place of power, my Capital Crystals. Even if she did not react now, once she calms down, she will realize what she has seen.”
Astrel frowned, her antennae drooping. “I was careless…” she murmured apologetically.
“It seems today is a day for the careless,” Aziel said as he took the Grove Heart Celia had delivered to him from a side pocket. Still feeling the sting of Vhal’s departure, he couldn’t help but feel bitter.
“Master, I’m—” Celia tried to say, but Aziel only shook his head.
“What is done is done,” he said. “I will deal with the Princess soon enough. For now, it is time the Fallen’s family of races grew.”
Chapter 25
“Rosaline?” Aziel asked as he rose and walked to the edge of the dais. Celia, Astrel, and Niyela flanked him.
The Blossom of the Rosa Grove glanced at Trikk, the Arachne Queen, before looking at her sister. Then she smiled and knelt.
“Lord Aziel of the Fallen,” she greeted him, formally. “I, Rosaline came to you in a time of need with the hope of finding you worthy of my service. I am pleased to say that you are. Keeping to my word, I swear myself to you as my Ascended, and request you to allow my Rosa Grove to join the Fallen.”
Quest completed: Webbed Madness
By bringing the Arachne within the embrace of the Fallen, the Leader of the Rosa Grove has confirmed your completion of her task.
Reward: The Leader of the Rosa Grove has kept her word and has asked to join the Fallen.
Aziel smiled down at Rosaline. “I had no doubt your word could be trusted,” he said as he placed a hand on her head, noticing that her lush green hair was just a smooth as Niyela’s. Another string of notifications formed before him:
The Rosa Grove led by Blossom Rosaline have asked to join your faction. As Faction Leader, you have final say over whether or not to officially admit this racial guild.
Do you accept? Yes or no.
Aziel didn’t waste any time in choosing yes.
The Dryads of the Rosa Gove have joined the Fallen.
Warning: the full scope of the Rosa Grove’s contribution to the faction cannot be accounted for until all major officer positions are filled.
Aziel closed his eyes in relief as he felt Rosaline’s contribution pour in, though it was far less than he expected. Perhaps the scale of Niyela’s contribution, due to the unique location of her tree, had skewed his expectations.
Rosaline stood, then bowed to him. “I hope the Rosa Grove will be of great service to yourself and the Fallen, my Lord,” she said before taking her place to one side of the throne room. Not a moment later, Rhene stepped forward.
Aziel smiled at her stiff demeanor. He opened his palm, and the Dryad’s gaze focused on the small brown Grove Heart which lay there. “As promised,” he said.
Rhene took a step closer. Despite her stern expression, there was no hiding the relief washing over her as she slowly, carefully, picked up the Heart and held it against her chest. The orange-skinned Dryad let out a breath, her hard and unyielding front beginning to crack as tears formed in her eyes. Before they could fall, however, Rhene quickly wiped them away and knelt before formally reciting the same words as her sister.
As soon as she had, a notification formed before him.
Quest complete: The Missing Heart
By retrieving the Grove Heart stolen from her grove, the Leader of the Crimson Grove has confirmed your completion of her task.
Reward: The Leader of the Crimson Grove has kept her word and has asked to join the Fallen.
Knowing what to expect now, Aziel placed his hand on the proud Dryad warrior’s head as the same gray runes formed before him, and he once again chose to accept her Grove’s request to join.
The Dryads of the Crimso
n Gove have joined the Fallen.
Warning: the full scope of the Crimson Grove’s contribution to the faction cannot be accounted for until all major officer positions are filled.
As Rhene stood to join her sister, Aziel once more closed his eyes to enjoy her contribution to his regeneration. However, he again found himself disappointed. It wasn’t that Rhene’s contribution was unsubstantial, but Aziel realized with a sudden flash of insight that Celia was even more right than she had thought: the Grauda had indeed spoiled him.
Aziel took a seat on his throne, holding back a self-deprecating chuckle. “Astrel,” he called.
“Yes, my king?”
“Please summon Issac.”
Astrel bowed her head before making her way to the levitation platform.
The Dryads’ contribution was less than he expected, Aziel had realized, because he was only receiving what the two Blossoms could provide. While they could make political decisions for their grove, such as joining the Fallen, they could not swear the other Dryads to him as they had themselves. Aziel had forgotten that Ascended erected shrines to help with this very issue—otherwise, each and every person would need to come before him to swear themselves as his followers.
The Grauda were different, however, in that the vast majority of the race did not think for themselves. Therefore, when Astrel had sworn herself to him, it was as if the whole race under her had also done so.
When Queen Trikk swore loyalty to him, he had not even noticed, since while each individual Arachne provided a higher mana regeneration then the Grauda did, it was still miniscule, and they were fewer in number. What this meant was that Aziel needed to create his own shrines so his people would be able to declare themselves his followers.
The only problem was, how did one create a shrine?
As he was thinking this, Issac entered the throne room, led by Astrel. As she joined him on the dais, the aged human glanced nervously at all the races present. His eyes settled on the Ogre’i and their Khan, Kavali’s stature making her the most intimidating figure in the throne room by a significant margin.
“Do not fear, Issac. No harm will befall you,” Aziel said in what he hoped was a reassuring tone.
Fallen Ambitions Page 40