Juliana

Just a few months after developing the “alliance” with Count Axten, I received many letters from Lady Trishia, General Phylx, and Sevrus for all sorts of business including invitations to tea, progress reports on the building crew for the new cities, complaints with Axten’s annoying guards, and more invitations to tea. However, I found one letter among the group that did not belong.

“Hello Rytus,

Ever since I heard about your rise to power after the Arkan War, I was apprehensive of the idea of you. Why had a noble who merely served the King deserved to take someone’s hand in marriage as a reward? And to what end can the praises continue for you? The commonfolk all worship your presence like a new god. Your existence irritated me.

That was when I began observing you and your land from the shadows. Your sleepless nights, the cries of pain and anger when no one seems to be around. The fact that you walk to your town on your own feet without using a carriage. The fact that you invite your servants for dinners and sit together with them. You do not live as a noble, you live as a decent person. It kept my mind at ease knowing who my little sister married.

I wished to all the gods that I was able to attend your wedding. I would have been so happy to see my parents at peace for once. It was my mistake to continue hiding myself away during that time if I knew that it was my last chance to see Laila and my father.

We both lost our precious family due to this nobility.

I propose we work together. I will be waiting near the tunnel entrance 3 days after this letter is opened.

Juliana Veraxus”

I rapidly searched around my chambers and outside my window to hopefully spot a glimpse of Julianna. Perhaps I had just missed her, since I noticed an uneven shingle on the roof of my keep.

For years, I had heard little about Juliana Veraxus. Since she was betrothed to Britis when she was 12 years old, she had practically disappeared from the nobility’s scope. Laila had rarely mentioned her as well, since she was too young to remember much of the details, but she still loved her and longed to see her again. I had also heard rumors from some nobles’ whisperings during the Royal Court sessions that she was exiled for beating Britis nearly to death early in their marriage. That would have been a sight to see.

Even if she was a family member, there was no telling what type of scheme or trap this could be, especially if S.T. was involved with the current war, and that Juliana decided to appear to me so suddenly after these events. I could not readily trust anyone I had not met and worked with for years. To meet with her, I decided to have a patrol look after me from afar. I did not reveal who she was, with the excuse that I was seeing if I could court this woman and I would not appreciate any interference.

As I approached the entrance of the tunnel, Juliana tried to sneak on me from behind. I drew my sword, and she drew a dagger in response. I glanced over to my patrol, and they were readying their horses to engage. I held my hand out, signalling to disengage and retreat.

“That was quite a unique greeting. I would usually say hello, but trying to assassinate me is intriguing to say the least.”

“I didn’t feel comfortable with your patrols. I’m sorry.” Juliana sheathed her dagger and brushed off some dust on her brown leather armor. “So we meet at last. You seem fit for combat, and your senses are superior. You have strong command over your soldiers. You also seemed like you took a bath before you rode here. Had my sister not beaten me to the punch, I would’ve taken you for myself.”

“You are very forward and you speak your mind. I want to know what you have in mind in working together.”

“I joined many expeditions that allowed me to hone my assassin skills during my exile. I learned how to talk like a normal person. Nobles were hated where I’ve been. Speaking of which, I heard you accepted an alliance with Count Axten. I want to help you gather information from him as your consul.”

“What would you hope to gain in return with having you as a consul? Also, are you fine with returning to the place you were exiled from?”

“I want that keep for myself. I want to walk into that building and burn the paintings of those shit brains. Those weredogs don’t deserve to be remembered.”

“Forgive my curiosity, but what was it like to beat Britis close to death? I wanted to do that myself, but I wanted to jam a sword into his chest after having my way.” I sounded too excited to hear the answer, but I had a feeling her testimony would be disturbing.

“When I was 12, the same day the fucking King forced my father to sell my body to this slime and his rottbreath of his father, they tried taking turns with me. I remember their greasy sausage hands grabbing all over me. Thanks to being a Veraxus, I defended myself. After those early days, I promised myself that I would never be afraid ever again. So a couple years later, when Bitchis tried to lay with me while I was asleep, I made sure every single rib was snapped, every toe of his foot crushed, and his jewels smashed so he couldn’t bear any children.”

She smirked genuinely. “It felt fantastic. They tried to capture me, but not even their Captain-at-Arms could reach me with his expensive glaive. I was too fast. So I was ‘banished’, and if I returned to the castle, they would have executed me for assault and treason against a noble. I told that sackless shit of the father that if I were to return, I’d bring their heads to the King on a golden platter and make him eat their rotting eyeballs.”

At 12 years old, a child should only have had to worry about their books and their tea parties. However, it was all too common to see young maidens abused and assaulted by noblemen.

“Before you say anything, don’t apologize or sympathize with me. It made me stronger. It made me fearless. I can do anything I want, and no man can ever hold me back.”

“Very well. Then I will say this: I appreciate you sharing your story with me. I am a nobleman myself, but as you stated in your letter, I do not behave like those animals. If you work with me, you will be under my protection, even if it is not necessary, for as long as you stay true to yourself.”

“Thank you for your offer of protection. As you said, I don’t need it, but if I’m ever cornered by wood orcs or sandworms, I’ll call for you.”

Wood orcs? I thought they were extinct.

“And I will heed that call when needed. Now, what shall we do with Count Axten?”

“I’ve seen him sulking and fondling those refugee girls with his grimey little pincers. I’ve spent enough time in the sun to darken my skin. Not as dark, but I doubt he'd notice the difference or even care. I can gather information by seducing him. I have a suspicion that he is allied with the person behind this usurper war.”

“I will support whatever methods you choose, as long as you are comfortable with those methods. When we next meet with Axten, I will bring you along as my consul, and I will introduce you as Helena. Axten is young and is not familiar with my long dead wife’s name. Your name will also serve as a code for all of my patrols, in the case where they need to pull you out.”

“I’m honored to be trusted with an important name. Are you sure? If he’s young, I can still use my own name since he probably wasn’t particularly close to Lucius or Britis.”

“I would rather take little risk. You are precious to me. I will trust you with my beloved’s name. My main concern is your safety. I will fight with all of my might to keep you safe and far away from danger, within your comfort of course.”

“I see why my sister and my parents were so enamoured by you.”

She clutched her necklace with some sort of symbol unknown to me, possibly from a land beyond the ocean.

“I have someone waiting for me from a far away land. She’s never had a safe place to call home for herself, but with this castle under my command, I can provide her what she needs. I promised her that. And you trusting me with this task will help me keep this promise. Thank you.”

We had not met before today, but I was glad that we had talked. I loved her as a sister. She was the dear sister of my beloved Juliana, and I would do anything to keep her safe. It seemed that the gods had given me a second chance for House Veraxus.

***

A new meeting took place at the Wechia keep with Count Axten and myself. He had his Captain-at-Arms with him, and his younger brother, Tazen, to serve as consul. With me, I brought along Juliana, for now named Helena, and General Phylx. The table was tense, as if both sides knew that we were scheming against each other. I had never experienced political intrigue, but I found myself necessitating it for the protection of my people.

“Lord Ryuts! Again, welcome! Let us start, shall we?”

“Thank you, Lord Axten, for having us at your keep. I have brought my consul, Helena Issac. She is willing to lend an ear for you on my behalf, and she is an excellent diplomat. Please keep her safe. If you fail to keep her safe, I-”

“It’s quite an honor to meet you, my Lord Count Axten. I’m willing to do anything you ask me, on behalf of my Lord Rytus, of course. I’m quite taken aback by such a handsome young lord as yourself.”

“Why, thank you very kindly for your compliments, my Lady Helena. After this meeting, I do have some matters to attend that require your service. Perhaps we shall meet at my study?”

It seemed to Juliana that this was child’s play at best. She proved to be skilled with the blade, both in weapon and in tongue.

“Hm, perhaps your study is too open for our conversation. May I suggest your chambers?”

“Alright, I have to interrupt here before you copulate with my brother during a political meeting.” Tazen was reasonably uncomfortable and mostly disgusted. “My Lord Rytus, I will serve as your consul, but not in this manner. No matter how complex your requests are, I will be able to accommodate within my brother’s jurisdiction. What say you?”

Tazen was around 16 years old, but seemingly much more mature and much more elegant than his elder brother. Why was Tazen not the ruler of Wechia?

“I accept your service, Sir Tazen. There will be no shortage of complex projects that I will require your assistance, with your brother’s extent of power.” I noticed that Tazen was visibly irritated by the statement about his brother. It seemed that I was finally learning how to sharpen the blade of my tongue with Juliana’s example.

After the meeting, I watched Juliana follow Axten upstairs, probably to his chambers. I worried for her sake, knowing what she was subjected to in those very halls. I also worried for Axten’s safety, to a certain extent. One false move and his head would roll down this same stairwell, and I would lose precious information.