Getting Down to Business

DATE: IMMORTAL REIGN 1023 MONTH 5 DAY 25

Susie, Lyrica, and the other Blackmoon sisters gaped at Ruxian’s map. Some of the girls prodded the hologram with tentative fingers, as if expecting the moving pictures to bite. Naya flared her nostrils.

“I told you we don’t need scouts,” said Naya smugly. “Sisters. I’ll be the first to know if anything happens. Therefore, it’s only natural for me to assume command.”

“Lord Ruxian. Only a true leader can fully leverage your strength and Naya has no leadership experience,” Lyrica countered. “To better our chances, I’d like you to report to me instead.”

“I proposed this,” Naya snarled. “Mother sent you as support. Know. Your. Place.”

“Lord Ruxian will have the final say,” Lyrica sang. “I’m sure he’ll choose correctly.”

The other Blackmoons trailed Lyrica as she walked away. Naya glowered and gnashed her teeth. While she had expected this, allowing Lyrica to take command would slam shut the door to succession. The thought of becoming a piglet cowering behind its mother from the approaching meat cleaver made her skin crawl.

“Dramien, Susie,” said Naya. “You are here, knowing exactly what that entails. I need your assistance. If you feel conflicted over old loyalties, leave now. I have no use for you.”

“Lady Blackmoon promised me revenge,” Susie breathed frost. “We have a common enemy.”

Dramien turned his hardened eyes north towards the open plains. The fields he knew some intimately from the frequent patrols and skirmishes now seemed foreign. After all, he spent all his life looking south at the forests that concealed Dracon raiders. Somehow, he suspected it wasn’t just the direction that had changed.

“Fighters only,” said Dramien. “And Vera is paramount. Do that, and you have my spear.”

“Good,” Naya cheered. “And Ruxian? Surely you don’t intend to ally with Lyrica.”

Ruxian conjured a big red cross. I just want the fat priest. Let’s start planning.

Though it churned her stomach, Naya extended a stiff but diplomatic invite for Lyrica to join their war council. Together, they huddled around the holographic map, gesturing for Ruxian to draw and erase lines and circles, all while the two Dracon rivals found every opportunity to disagree with each other until the sun went down.

“The strike commences before first light,” concluded Dramien. “The local militia consists of glorified farmhands with minimal training and equipment.” He pointed to several circles around Sothrend. “These are the three stables of the 42nd. We’ll stampede them and destroy the crippled cavalry. Once that’s done, the only stronghold left will be the church and its templars.”

Leave the subterfuge to me. Ruxian erected an ethereal wall of faces. I already have these men under my control by tonight. Ruxian then drew several arrows to the various wheat fields. The militia will be very busy.

Lyrica cast a glance at Naya. “Worry not,” she sniggered. “Our sisters may be in the killing fields, but I’ll be there to fight off the templars for you.”

Naya drew her garash and jingled the chain. “Let’s test that protection.”

“You sure?” asked Lyrica with a dangerous grin. “I’m not a hog in daddy’s pen.”

Rooted to the ground, Naya flung her left blade in a straight line, emulating a spear thrust. Lyrica cried out, teetering back as she parried the unusual form. Naya pressed, feigning a downward slash before darting into the flank, spinning into a leg sweep that floored her rival.

Though confused and winded, Lyrica’s warring instincts kicked in and she scrambled to her feet. Her wild and errant strikes forced Naya to halt her advances. Having caught her breath, the larger Dracon charged forth, slamming both her blades down at Naya.

The two young women traded a flurry of thrusts and slashes. The close quarters reduced both fighters to only their blades. Having reach and power, Lyrica soon gained initiative, slowly driving Naya back. The smaller girl, despite losing ground, continued to pivot and parry the ferocious blows.

Our girl not looking to hot. Ruxian opined.

“Naya has this,” said Dramien.

“She’s on the defensive,” dissented Susie. “The big one will flatten her.”

Within a few more exchanges, Naya stopped meeting each strike with both blades. With Lyrica catching her breath instead of raining down blows, the smaller Dracon began sneaking ripostes between the growing gaps. Before long, she nicked Lyrica several times.

Roaring, Lyrica stepped into a lunging thrust. The slow, telegraphed motion gave Naya the time she needed. Sidestepping and flicking her wrist, Naya coiled her chains around the extended arm. Lyrica yanked on the steel noose with her free hand, pulling in Naya as she prepared a headbutt.

Then Lyrica dropped to her knees. Head spinning, she fell flat on her face. It took her a while to realise she took a hit to the jaw. Though she felt no pain, her vision swam. Before she could rise, Naya pressed a knee on her and brought a blade to her chin. The gallery of Blackmoon sisters, having recovered from their shock, clapped at the splendid victory.

“You were right,” Naya sneered. “Papa’s pigs had more fight in them.”

A disturbance from town pulled Ruxian away from the spectacular conclusion. He cycled through his spies and found one missing. Poring over his map, the wraith found the icons around the church had stopped moving. Fearing for the worst, Ruxian summoned a neighbouring wisp into the vicinity and to peek through it.

Groups of templars had strayed from their patrol routes. From his height, Ruxian saw them fanning out like blue ants. Moving in trios, they shouted orders, evidently agitated. It was apparent now. They found one of his watchers.

“Have you alerted Brother Lucius?” one warrior bellowed.

“You’d think a man with his girth would be easy to find!”

“Ha! Let’s see if you can keep that stupid smile when the archbishop rips off your face.”

“Just find the fat bastard and have him ward the streets. Those ghosts sound exactly like the ones His Excellency found further west and we cannot let them roam unchecked.”

Cursing, Ruxian directed his probes to the sky. With the entire town in a furore, it was only a matter of time before the torches led the hammers into one of his partitions. Before long, the ruckus became background noise, slowly fading into silence. No longer fearing detection, Ruxian split off even more pieces and sprinkled them over the Sothrend night sky.

My bad. Ruxian apologised upon returning to camp. He took another glimpse through his nebulous proxies. Great. Now the cavalry is patrolling the outskirts. The silhouette with a familiar bloat riding a horse had Ruxian glowing a ruddy red. And there’s that fat priest.

“None of my scouts could’ve gone this long undetected,” said Dramien. “Apart from the stables, Lord Ruxian, does this interfere with your other schemes?”

They're set to act tomorrow. Ruxian replied. Even if I could delay the attack, I want Vera freed without delay.

“I can’t keep the children waiting,” said Naya. “I need them back with the horns on their heads.”

The Blackmoons nodded in agreement while Lyrica folded her arms and looked away, refusing to publicly agree with Naya. Even without his heightened perception for emotions, their body language told Ruxian all he needed to know. With her stunning blow to the jaw, Naya had shattered their consensus.

No plan ever survived contact. Ruxian expanded his body into a giant that pulled all eyes onto him. Gathering his magic, he made a booming announcement. Tomorrow, we breach the church and rescue the prisoners. Good night, and good luck!