EPILOGUE: A SECRET RENDEZVOUS

***The Black Tower, a few days after the coronation ceremonies…***

It was a few minutes after the hour for the ‘long sleep’ came. While most of the citizens of the city of Malvette—as well as the servants of the Black Tower— were now heading for their beds, for the newly-crowned queen of the Beastmen, Ursura, it was her opportunity to go outside and have some fresh air.

“…”

Only the guards remained awake, and they were busy patrolling the castle grounds and hallways in pairs. Whenever they’d meet the queen, they’d quickly give their respects and move aside for her to pass. A few moments later, Ursura was now at the battlements, feeling the cool wind gently blowing through her skin. Her eyes looked towards the horizon, where the skies and land meet, and she marveled at the beauty she’s witnessing.

“So, what shall I say to you, Your Majesty? Is it congratulations, or best wishes?”

“!!!”

Turning around, Ursura was surprised to see the Beastman Saint, Ruro of the Wolf, sitting on the roof of one of the towers of the fortress. The Saint waved at her before she got down from where she was.

“What are you doing here?” the bear-woman asked, alarmed.

“What’s the harm? There’s no guard around, or whatsoever,” the Saint replied, “Or are you afraid that my master, Kuro, would find out about your duplicity?”

“I was never your friend, Lady Ruro!” Ursura reiterated, “We’re only working together because we have the same goals.”

“Indeed, and I’m surprised you attained that already, while I’m looking away,” there was a hint of melancholy on the Beastman Saint’s voice, “My master and your beloved, Kuro, is now the king of the Beastmen and Humans of Cherwind…all going according to our plan. Well, I guess it deserves a congratulations from me. You tricked him into becoming what he is destined to be.”

“So, what now?”

“Isn’t it obvious, bear-woman?” Her Holiness chuckled, “Of course, you need to eliminate that accursed Konka, and then ‘defeat’ me. However, I must warn you, that Insetus woman isn’t easy to defeat, especially that she now has the support of the Wessen Ursus.”

“The Wessen Ursus?”

“Yep. Konka may be a fool, but it’s not a dream that she is getting stronger. See, that bitch and her lackeys ambushed my armies and nearly killed my beloved blood-sister, Telis. I wanted revenge; however, after our defeat, my time is severely limited now.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s none of your business, Your Majesty,” the wolf Saint smirked, “I’m your enemy, remember? Do not concern yourself about my affairs, or I might come biting you in the end.”

The queen of the Beastmen nodded, before remembering something, “By the way, Your Holiness, Kuro got some friends from Chersea. I was wondering how they crossed here.”

Suddenly, the smile on Ruro’s lips disappeared, “What do you mean?”

“Well, they say that they crossed into Cherwind using a portal or something. The woman is named ‘Lady Henristone’ and the old man was a ‘chancellor of Calabria’.”

The Beastman Saint fell silent. At first, she couldn’t believe what she had heard. But when Ursura mentioned the identities of Kuro’s ‘friends’, as well as when she read the Beastman Queen’s mind, she immediately recognized that those people were indeed the Duchess of Henristone, and Chancellor Sir Dane Bellingstein of Calabria.

Maddie has caught up to her!

“I need to go,” Ruro told the bear-woman, “Remember what I told you. Remove Konka; she’s the most serious threat to your rule as the queen.”

And then the elusive Beastman Saint vanished as quickly as she appeared.