Year 2: The Gathering Fires - Chapter 2

Life in the Dread Keep was one of work and routine.

At six thirty, all staff that were working the day shift were awoken by the knocks of skeletons at their doors. However, Ivy always woke up at six and then dragged Lisa and Monika out of their respective beds a few minutes later.

Once they were dressed and freshened up, they attended breakfast in one of the dining halls with the other staff until half seven. The grand hall they ate all of their meals in was far bigger than the one the Demon Emperor and his council used, but it was a lot less splendid and plain in design.

The furniture was made of finely carved and crafted wood, though to commoners like Lisa even this sort of extravagance was something they couldn’t usually afford. Their food was of much higher quality than what Lisa had been used to at Monk’s Wood too, which, at first, disgusted her.

Mum and Gwen will probably never get to eat anything this good.

However, as time passed, she became more comfortable in the Dread Keep. Having Ivy and Monika by her side most of the day helped, and she often got to spend time with the other women from Monk’s Wood too, all of whom looked to be doing much better than last she saw them.

“It’s always the same.”

“What is, Ivy?”

“Everyone always arrives looking like they’re about to die, and then.” She smiled softly. “Everyone realises it’s not all bad here.”

“…I’d still rather be at home,” Monika muttered.

“At least you have one.”

“Guys, you’re doing it again.”

“Sorry, Lisa!”

“…Sorry, Ivy.”

“One day, I hope I won’t have to keep reminding you two of your own agreement,” Lisa sighed.

“Lisa of Monk’s Wood.”

“Yes?”

Confused, the trio turned around and found a Gørviligr soldier and a human clerk behind her, with the former carrying a large cloth bag.

“…What seems to be the problem, sir?” Monika asked on her friend’s behalf.

The clerk smiled and said, “Don’t worry, she’s not in trouble or anything. It’s my duty this week to hand out the wages to our latest staff, so I was making my rounds when I spotted you here. Soldier, the purse.”

The Gørviligr nodded, reached into the sack and pulled out a small bag of coins, before politely handing them to Lisa.

“Thank you, ladies,” the clerk said before he left and went up to the next person on his list.

“Oh, right, I forgot you’ve been here two weeks now.”

“Is that how often we’re paid?”

“Yep, pretty sweet, isn’t it?” Ivy laughed. Then, with a gleeful smile, she gestured at the bag. “Open it.”

Anxiously, Lisa undid the string on the bag and lightly spilled the contents onto the table, gasping as she did.

She could not believe her eyes.

“How much is it?”

“If we were talking in Holy Empire of Themis terms, it’d be two hundred Rhams.”

“Two hundred?!” Lisa covered her mouth when she realised she’d yelled that out. “Isn’t that too much for a maid?”

“Not here it isn’t - here, that’s a low salary.”

Lisa couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Two hundred Rhams would have been more than enough for her and her family to live on for six months and she’d earnt it in less than one.

“That’s just your first wage,” Ivy said when she saw the excitement in Lisa’s eyes. “Keep some, spend some - live a little.”

“What would I even spend it on?”

“If you do your job well, you’re allowed to visit the Dread Town a few times a month to go shopping, with an escort of course, and as a group,” Ivy explained. “I’ve been a few times and treated myself to some chocolate and other things.”

“When will we-?”

“I don’t know, but it shouldn’t be much longer, if you did want to go. Oh!” Ivy clapped her hands together. “We could all go together! Wouldn’t that be fun?!”

“…Yeah.”

“Miss Monika, a little enthusiasm please.”

“It’d be really fun!”

“Don’t yell into my ear!”

Giggling at her friends, Lisa turned her gaze back down to the coins in her purse.

Two weeks.

It was only when Ivy had said that that Lisa realised just how much her life had changed in so little time.

I was back home not long ago, and I was so scared of everything when I got here. Now, I can walk down a corridor and see skeletons, demons and vampires as if it’s the most normal thing in the world.

It’s funny just how much you can change in such a short amount of time.

***

At some point, Willa had started waking up on her own.

Willat no longer needed to struggle every morning to motivate her out her bedroom door, nor did he need to help dress or bathe her. Slowly, bit by bit, her confidence was returning and she was becoming the sister he remembered before the Stone-biters took them away from their homes.

Every morning, he would make them both breakfast and they’d talk about their work for the day. Willa was now one of Empress Lilith’s personal maids and she was escorted to the castle early in the day by a Dread Knight, a privilege few had in the Demon Empire.

At first, the empress had suggested that Willa move into the Dread Keep with her, but Willat had politely declined her offer.

It’s not that I don’t trust her majesty, but…He looked across the table at his sister happily eating her eggs and bread. I don’t want to be separated from my family ever again.

***

“Good morning, your majesties,” all eleven maids greeted the royal couple together, bowing politely and smiling as they did.

“Good morning, everyone,” Lilith greeted them cheerfully as she sat up on the bed, allowing the covers to fall from her naked body.

“Would you like to bathe or eat first, Lady Lilith?”

“I’d like to bathe first.” Just as she was about to step out of bed, the Demon Emperor grabbed her and pulled her on top of him, kissing her gently. “A-Allaric, not in front of the staff.”

With a wicked laugh, the Demon Emperor sat up on the bed, kissing his wife on the forehead. “I can’t help it when I see my lovely wife.”

“S-stop it.”

“Should we return later, Lord Allaric?” Eva asked.

“That won’t be necessary, Eva. Oh.” He smiled when he saw Willa among the crowd. “Eva, I’ll wash and change in the other room.”

“As you wish, Lord Allaric.”

Six maids left Lilith alone with the other five, Willa included in their number.

Gracefully, Lilith put on a light dressing robe and followed her maids to the couple’s private bathroom, where a rose-scented hot bath was awaiting her. The maids each scrubbed and cleaned different parts of her body, with one focusing on the empress’s hair, another on her arms, one on her back and chest, and the other two cleaned her legs and feet. Willa was handling the left leg, though she was much more awkward and slower than the other maids.

Once the empress was clean, she soaked in the water for a while, chatting casually with her staff about everything and anything. After ten minutes, Lilith stood up and stepped out of the bath, where the maids quickly cleaned her body of moisture.

Then, they returned to the bedroom and began changing Lilith.

“Illya, what’s on my schedule for today?”

“You have a lunch time appointment with Lady Rebecca, for official and unofficial matters, followed by a late dinner with Lord Ruthven and Princess Theodora at Castle Bathory, your majesty.”

“I take it Allaric wasn’t available to make it to either of those.”

“Unfortunately, not today, your majesty. He has, however, appointed Lady Scylla to be your escort for the evening.”

Lilith sighed softly as the maids painted her nails and braided her hair. “At least it’s not both of the Twins at once.”

“Have they done something to upset you, your majesty?”

“No, but they’re often quite quiet unless they’re together.”

“Perhaps, your majesty, the emperor is trying to be considerate of you as you haven’t had many chances to speak with Lord Ruthven in recent weeks?”

“I’d like to think so, too, but it’s probably just because he’s too busy these days. Honestly, I want this war to be over and done with already.” She lightly placed a hand on her stomach. “It’d be difficult to raise a child in such a world.”

“…Your majesty, does that mean-?!”

“Shh, it’s not official yet,” Lilith smiled. “One missed cycle isn’t unheard off and I don’t want any rumours spreading before I tell his majesty - clear?”

“Of course!” Four of the maids cried out at once.

Willa, however, remained silent as she continued to awkwardly do Lilith’s left fingernails.

***

Dame Chelsea’s new life in the Dread Keep was freer than she’d imagined it would be.

Not only was she permitted to wear her armour and carry her weapon, but she was also allowed to roam freely through the halls of the Dread Keep as long as a Dread Knight accompanied her. Even when she went to the bathroom, the Dread Knight would follow her and monitor her from the outside.

Still, it was liberal enough for her to observe the day-to-day operations of the Dread Keep, and to evaluate her and Aeila’s current situation.

Everywhere is heavily guarded and has constant patrols, both during the day and at night. Undead, Machai, Hysminai and Gørviligr are spread throughout the Dread Keep, as are the Dread Knights. Dozens, if not more, Dread Knights, with a few personally escorting some of the most important people in the Demon Empire.

Lady Rebecca, Lady Lilith, Lady Eva and the Demon Emperor himself.

The servants are much more varied in personalities and attitudes than I initially imagined. More than half seem content or happy with their current lives, but there are plenty of others who look miserable and in a constant state of fear.

It’s like they think that one wrong move will make them lose their head.

I wish I could sneak out into the Dread Town and get a better picture of what the mood is like there, but there’s no way I could make it past all of these eyes undetected. Chelsea frowned a little as she walked. Even if we did manage to kill the Demon Emperor, taking the castle would most likely be impossible without a sizeable force. If we did manage to assassinate or inflict a heavy wound upon the emperor, then that would be enough.

It’d probably be the strike that ignites the fire across Aangapea.

Maybe, maybe that’s all we can do.

“By Themis herself, I do not believe what I see before me!”

“…Huh?”

Chelsea knew that voice - she had often spoken with that man multiple times at grand balls while escorting the princess.

It was the voice of a man she despised, a voice that brought back nothing but painful, agonising memoires - the voice of the former Divine Paladin, Lawrence himself.

“It’s been far too long, Dame Chelsea! How have you been?”

When Chelsea didn’t answer, he laughed and asked, “Care to catch up over a drink?”

“No, thank you.”

“Do you have any idea how happy I was when I learnt you’d survive?” Lawrence asked. “I thought you’d perished at the Battle of Atryus and I was heartbroken. Worse, I couldn’t even find your body so I imagined all the terrible things the Machai might have done to you.” Lawrence put a hand on her shoulder. “Truly, from the bottom of my heart, I’m glad you’re alive.”

“I wish I could say the same, traitor.” She forcefully pushed his hand off.

“Now, that’s harsh. It’s not like I chose to become an Awoken - well, now that I am one, I’m happy as can be that I am.”

“Why?”

“Why?”

“Yes, why. Why are you happy to be serving the monster who took away our homes, ruined our lives and slaughtered our people? What happened to the noble Divine Paladin, just and kinder than anyone else?”

“I’m still all of that, Chelsea, I promise you, I am.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Oh, what? You don’t think I could possibly be after I spared so many soldiers at Atryus when Count Barthlow’s assault collapsed?”

“You killed more, I bet.”

“I didn’t, if that matters to you.”

“It doesn’t,” Chelsea spat.

“Honestly, you’re being needlessly dramatic and cruel with your words, Chelsea,” Lawrence said. “The only thing that’s changed since the last time we spoke is that I have awoken to the truth of this world and you haven’t.”

“And what truth is that?”

“That the Demon Emperor is the rightful ruler of Aangapea, not us, not Rhodes, not Yun or anywhere else - it’s just his, and his alone.”

Chelsea burst out laughing. “What a load of horseshit. To think the man I was admired and even loved would-”

“You loved me?”

“That was a long, long time ago, many years before you became like this. Even after I lost those feelings, I still trusted and admired you - and now, you’re just an empty shell with the same name, the same face and the same memories of the Divine Paladin.”

“Aerion would disagree with you on that.”

“You don’t have the right to speak about the Divine Caster.”

“And neither do you,” Lawrence said firmly. “I was being quite kind and respectful to you because we’re friends, but all you’ve done is disrespect me and my master.” Then, she saw it - the flicker in his eyes, the change in their colour, and the evil aura emanating from his very being. “Lady Mania once asked me if I knew of anyone else that might be good candidates for the Awakening Process. The first name I told her was yours.”

Lawrence’s smile made her skin crawl, but Chelsea refused to let it show on her face. “Tread carefully in the Dread Keep, Dame Chelsea; the bonds of friendship only stretch so far before they break,” he warned her.

Then, he walked off, leaving her alone and bewildered.

It was quite some time until Chelsea continued her walk through the castle, though the steps she took were a little heavier than they had been before.

For an hour, she didn’t absorb any new information regarding the Dread Keep, nor did she think about much of anything.

Until, she saw an opportunity.

Through a small crack in a door, she overheard the sounds of cheerful laughter and decided to take a small peak.

Inside, sat around a metal table covered with fancy doilies and luxurious cakes, five women were having a small tea party.

Four of them were beautiful maids beyond belief, with small fangs revealing themselves whenever they laugh or smiled. The fifth, sat with hunched shoulders, looked nothing like the rest.

From where she was, Chelsea could see the scars, the slightly yellowed teeth, the hair that had been damaged from lack of proper routine treatment, and the way she forced herself to smile.

The empress’s personal maids.

This might be an unexpected opportunity.

***

“That would be Willa.”

“Willa, Lord Hector?”

The prince nodded. “I overheard some of the guards talking about her. A survivor of the Stone-biter tribe appointed to be one of Lady Lilith’s personal maids, quite the honour for a girl of noble birth.”

“Quite indeed. Only the daughters of high-ranking nobles could get such a lucrative position like that,” Aeila noted. “Does anyone know why?”

“At the very least, I don’t. If I started asking around, people would get suspicious of me and of our intentions very quickly.”

“If she’s a survivor of one of the goblin mines, then that means she’s suffered greatly at the hands of the Demon Emperor. Why would someone like that be-?”

“Does it matter, Princess? If this girl, this Willa, can be convinced to join us, then we have a great opportunity to inflict a heavy blow to the Demon Empire.”

“If being the opportune word, Dame Chelsea. Sister, I don’t know if this is the wisest idea.”

“Why not, Hector?”

“With every passing hour, I cannot help but feel that this is all too hopeless to even stress about. Even if we succeeded in killing his majesty, we would surely be executed ourselves. We’d need an army at least to protect us if we wanted to pull this off and escape with our lives.”

“Last time we spoke of this, Prince Hector, you said you were ready to die for this cause like we were.”

“…I am, but…what about Theodora?”

“I…hadn’t considered her fate,” Aeila confessed. Steeling herself, Aeila coldly said, “But I’m sure she’d be willing to give her life to a cause like this.”

“Sister-!”

“I know, Hector! I know…but we have a rare chance to end this war before it begins,” Aeila said through gritted teeth. “We have to take it, no matter how foolish it may be.”

***

“There it is - the Dread Town.”

“That’s…the Dread Keep, over there.”

“Don’t point!” Bill hushed Curtis. “Act natural, like you’ve seen it a hundred times already.”

“…I know”

But how are we meant to rescue everyone from that? Curtis thought.

Disguised as travelling merchants, members of the Banners of Themis entered the heavily guarded gates of the Dread Town, one of the crown jewels of the Demon Empire.

There were less than twenty of them going into the town, but their allies weren’t far away, gathering strength and other brave souls to their cause.

Lisa, don’t worry - I’m coming to get you!