Taking Stock

--Azala--

--Four days later--

“My Queen.” I looked up from the table to find Bloro the Engineer with his head lowered.

“At ease. Speak.”

“We have finished surveying the castle's damage.” He put a stack of papers onto the table's corner, taking care not to disturb the map I was looking at.

I glanced at the papers while making a mental note to study them later. “Summarize for me.”

“Mostly minor damage to the outer walls, but all gates are in need of repairs. The entrance to the servant's passage and the throne room show extensive damage and must be rebuilt. Your personal quarters are untouched. However, I cannot advise its usage until the damage to the throne room has been repaired.”

“How long do you think it will take?”

“Two months, earliest, my Queen.”

“Very well, I will set aside the necessary funds from the royal coffers. Start with the outer walls and the gates. We need to be ready should the skin-walkers risk another attack. Leave my throne room for last. It's for show anyway, but ensure you fix it properly once you get there. I'd rather have you take longer than rush it to please me.”

“Yes, my Queen.”

“That is all. Tell the next person to wait a minute before entering, I wish to drink something first.” The engineer stepped away with a final bow.

I waited a few seconds before allowing myself an explosive sigh. The flurry of activity in the past few days was taking its toll. As was the wound in my hip. With my magic levels close to depletion, I could only stop the bleeding. While healers offered to look at it, I turned them away. There were several other places, one in particular, where their skills were required with more urgency. For now, the pain served as a dull reminder of the fight with the alchemist.

I wouldn't admit it to my followers, but everything up to two days ago was a blur. Only fragments of memories presented themselves. The explosion of a white sphere, the firing of a weapon, and a profound sadness. I asked my followers, but the testimonies varied. All I could piece together was the fake knights vanished when their summoner perished, which allowed my forces to charge toward the castle.

“My Queen?” A knock scattered my memories to return me to the present. “May I enter?”

“Oh, yes, come in.” The owner of the knock stepped in, bowing his head once before closing the door behind him. “Ah, Sondok, I am glad you survived the assault.”

“Death was close, my Queen. I would not be here if not for Clikur's sacrifice.”

“May you find him again in the planes of Xani.” I nodded in respect.

“I await our reunion as brothers of battle. I am here to report.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Per your instruction, our forces have surrounded the city and engaged any spirits who tried to escape. I am pleased to announce no spirits have broken through our ranks, and our casualties were minimal.”

“That is excellent news.”

“Unfortunately, this is offset by the reports from our forces. Our teams have only evacuated about thirty percent of the town populace. We do not know how many fled before our forces moved into place, but the number of casualties reported so far is... staggering.”

“They will be mourned. Let the men know I am thankful for every life they have saved.”

“There is... one other piece of news.” It took a second for Sondok to ready his answer. “I am sad to report the castle staff has suffered total casualties. All staff have been accounted for.”

“I see...” A pang of sadness flooded my chest. “I expected the news, but it's still sad to hear. I had hoped some had managed to use the escape tunnels.”

“They have, my Queen, but the spirits had uncovered the entrances.”

“I see. Do you have any other news?”

“No, my Queen.”

“Thank you, Sondok. You may go. Please send in the next person.” He bowed and turned towards the door when a confused expression overcame his face.

“My Queen, may I ask a question?”

“Yes?”

“There are rumors spreading among the men that you killed the alchemist using a strange artifact. Is that true?”

I resisted the urge to pat my hip. “The rumors are true, but the artifact will remain a secret. I wouldn't want our enemies to investigate a counter to it.”

“Yes, my Queen. That is all.” He left the room with a bow of his head, softly closing the door behind him as he left. Salami... even though you were a traitor, I will mourn your passing.

“My Queen?” A third person knocked on the door.

“Yes, Myaii, enter. What news do you have?”

“Thank you, my Queen.” The scout-master entered with a bow of her head. “It seems the skin-walkers are making some movements.”

“Explain?”

“The Knight has made contact with the king of Ventalip.”

“I assume he's there to ask for men.” I sighed. “I was wondering when he'd go that route.”

“Yes, my Queen, but it would seem time could be on our side. Even if the king were to grant his request, Ventalip doesn't have enough reserves to present a sizable threat to our territories. He would need to contact at least one other kingdom before an assault on our territory would be viable.”

“Which other kingdoms could he contact?”

“I am not sure, my Queen. Nagatar has always shown favor with the goddess' anointed. He might go there.”

“A long trip. Anywhere else?”

“I am not sure, my Queen. Urugesh may be another option, but the other kingdoms have grown weary of repeated failure. They could take some convincing.”

“Would you wager a guess with regards to the timeline?”

“I can't see the Knight posing a significant threat for at least six months, my-”

A knock cut off anything else my spymaster might have said. “Sorry, my Queen?”

The interruption created a spark of irritation. One swiftly forgotten when I laid eyes on the interrupter. “Do you have news?”

“Yes, my Queen. You should come.”

***

The room we entered was as silent as a grave. It was to be expected; no void-born would willingly enter a dead zone.

There was almost no furniture, only a regular-sized bed pressed against the opposite wall and a single nightstand. Yet there was no room in Compolot with more value for me. For sitting on top of the bed, with his back leaning against the wall, was a solitary figure clad in layers of silver metallic plates. A hand covered the hole in the chest, but the horned visor looked directly at me.

A smile crept over my face as two red lights locked with my two yellow eyes.

“Hey, Ms. Queen. What did I miss?”