In a Whirlwind, Never Look Down

Xyarra looked on as the Duchess, Duke and Marquise were having a lively, yet respectful conversation with their newly proclaimed King.

She thought, “I could not have foreseen this, when I agreed to the Guardians’ request to help Rowen in his endeavor.”

The way she conducted herself over these last months weighed heavy on her conscience as she looked at the still stunned looking King Rowen.

Her Conscience, “You know you will have to tell him the truth.”

Her Consciousness, “But, will he accept the truth? Will he turn me away knowing that I pretended my feelings for him?”

Her Heart, “But, have you? Are not those feelings real?”

Her Consciousness, “They are now. But then…”

Her Conscience, “You know that he’ll eventually find out. I suspect that he will accept it easier if you come forth honestly.”

Her Consciousness, “In 1524 years, when have I ever heard from you, let alone followed your advice? Both of you?!”

Her Heart, “We’ve always been here. In your darkest nights, we’ve whispered to you. Just because we have never been convenient to you, doesn’t mean that we hadn’t had our say in your decisions.”

Her Consciousness, “Damn, my thoughts are beginning to sound like Rowen’s. I have been sharing his headspace for too long now.”

Everyone looked up towards the doorway as Eliarra entered, leading two maids who were conducting carts with several plates of food on them.

Eliarra said, “I think that your discussions and planning will become clearer if all of you get something to eat.” Her tone left little doubt that eating wasn’t optional.

From the other side of the room, Marquis Monroe Foxia, Kit’s cousin said, “Your Majesty, I believe you’re right. I for one am looking forward to something other than field rations.”

Xyarra thought, “The Marquis has shown a great deal of wisdom, despite only being 16. He had been the one who took over the reigns of the Foxia Duchy after his mother was assassinated and his sister was found complicit in the assassination. Perhaps, since Kit will be promoted to Queen Kitarra, he would be a good fit to become duke.”

She was also thinking, “It is funny how the present nobles have accepted Marquise Quintessa’s pronouncement of Rowen being king as true and obvious, without question.”

She suspected that it wouldn’t go as smoothly among the other duchies. But that is a battle yet to be fought.

Her Conscience, “You know you’re trying to distract yourself from making the decision that you have to make.”

“I know damn it!!!”

Everyone looked her way surprised.

If she could blush, she would be beet red because she realized that the last was out loud and very out loud at that.

“Sorry, I am just hungry and trying to agree with my sister wife.” She fumbled through an excuse.

Her Consciousness, “I really need to get ahold of myself!”

On the other side of the city, in the basement of the ruins of the Accolade Temple, six individuals stood around the table with the map on it, also having a debate of things to come.

The Tigris leader said, “I know that many of you are having difficulty accepting this, but I for one believe Lady Quintessa when she says that Lord Rowen is the awaited king.”

The female Dogua said, “My uncle had disgraced my family, so I no longer have a say in the matter, but I’m inclined to agree.”

Both of the Wolfen looked to have their hackles up and the female said, “My brother and I will never accept a human to be our king.”

The cloaked woman with gray hair peaking out of her hood flashed her eyes towards the Wolfen siblings and said, “Do you truly have a choice in the matter? Do any of us? Granted that he’s not our king” motioning to her sister and herself, “But he is anointed as King of Tier, nonetheless. So, unless you wish to renounce your citizenship to Tier, you must accept him or revolt against him.” Her voice was cold and sharp as a blade of ice.

The dark-haired sister said, “That’s neither here nor there, what matters now is the surviving legionnaires in the stadium don’t escape the justice they deserve ”

“Sister, I think that we should wait to see if this supposed king does what he says he’s going to do, before we take an active hand in things. Otherwise, we risk exposure.”

“Sister, you know that the dragon will know we’re here. You left the rune. Unlike the others, she will remember, she will know. She’ll expose us sure as the sun rises.”

“I’m not so sure of that. But you do make an interesting point. I think that we need to pay her a visit.”

“Is that wise? Should we arrange the meeting, or do we surprise her?”

“I would prefer setting up a meet alone with her. Popping out of a crowd to see her would not be good for us nor her.” She chuckled. “And horrible for the bystanders”

The others at the table shrank back thinking, “They talk so casually about going to talk to a dragoness?”

Xyarra had to excuse herself from the talks that seemed to be stalled around the present disposition of where Row will be beginning his reign from.

Rowen insisted that he had too much work here in Stiarra Nor to simply go storming off to Tier City. He also said that he had a greater mission to correct the church and bring the lands of humans under his control. There were greater issues at hand that needed his attention.

However, both the Duchess and Duke at the table insisted that he needed to return to Tier city first and call for Quorum de Duchies. Five of the twelve duchies were allied to Duke Rex and are supporting him to be appointed regent.

She needed to debrief Jade as to what really happened to General Tallough.

She wanted to have Rowen along for this debrief but after she saw the rune on Jade’s hand, she was happy about the distraction.

Now she stood out on the balcony of the room given to her for an office. All of Rowen’s Queens were given personal space within the palace.

Yet, they all planned to sleep in the king-sized bed that used to belong to Lord Rex within the lord’s apartments.

She looked out on the city to the south and then she turned towards the west to see the setting sun and she thought, “I still have a decision to make. But do I tell him the truth as to his true origins and why I’m along for his mission, our mission.”

She turned to Jade who was standing by and said, “Jade, dear, you are not to tell Rowen about this new development.”

“Mistress, I don’t wish to be defiant, but I believe he should know about this.”

“Yes, you’re right Jade, but I will be the one to tell him and how much he is to be told is up to me.”

“As you wish Mistress.”

“In the meantime, I want you to try to seek out the individuals that disabled you and tell them that I wish to meet with them.”

“As you wish, Mistress.” She bowed and left.

Xyarra turned back to look out over the city again and said to herself, “I will tell him some. How much will depend on…” she then shrugged and turned and left her apartment.

Rowen finally excused himself from the meeting saying, “We seem to be spinning our wheels here to no avail. I think that it’s getting late and there are other, more immediate issues at hand.”

“Of course, your Majesty.” From Duchess Marcia.

Rowen made his way to his apartments, so that he can think before dinner. His apartments were on the west side of the palace with a large terrace with a table and lounge chairs on it.

He ignored the furniture and made his way to the rail, so that he can have an unimpeded view of the sunset.

After a few minutes, he sensed that he wasn’t alone. He said, “I want you to know that if you’re here to kill me, then you’ll find that I won’t die easily.”

He turned towards the shadows cast by the large parasol over the table, holding onto his revolver.

The shape appeared out of the shadows, draped in black wings.

Rowen was having problems making out any details about the creature’s appearance, but he suspected that it was either a female or a very slight male. He was certain that this was a Black Crow Harpy that stood before him.

Her voice confirmed that she was female when she said, “I need you to confirm what happened at Dragon’s Jaw, over two months ago.” Her voice hard and set like iron.

Rowen cocked his pistol and said, “Ah, so you come for my wives, yes?”

“Not necessarily. I must first ascertain…”

Rowen shot her in her shoulder, preventing her escape.

However, though wounded, she erupted into a whirling dervish with coal black feathers flying this way or that.

But before she could get close to Rowen, she found herself locked up in an iron hard full Nelson by Jade.

Jade disarmed her and took away her suicide capsule before she knew what was happening.

Rowen calmly walked over to them and said, “Thanks Jade, I always know that I can count on you.”

“Thank you Master.”

He then looked at the harpy and said, “Alright, you and I are going to have a talk. Your survival, and that of your people will depend on the honesty of your answers…”

Jade was on her way to tell her master that she was going into town to investigate something and she brought two of the best cavalry golems to watch him in her stead. Luckily, she had, because as soon as she arrived, she sensed the presence in the shadows.

In that moment, She also saw Queen Kitarra entering the apartment and silently ordered one of the golems to intercept her and see to her safety. She then heard the report of the pistol and quickly went to intervene on her master’s behalf.

She knew that she had to assist in the interrogation, but she also decided to inform her mistress about the intruder.

After capturing, disarming, and preventing the suicide of the intruder, she bound her wound and secured her to a chair with curtain ropes. Strong, devil spider silk ropes at that. Duke Rex obviously spared no expense on himself.

After binding the prisoner, she pocketed another length of rope for herself.

Rowen sat across from the prisoner and said in his mild voice, “I don’t know if you realize this or not, but I have just been anointed King of Tier. That makes my wives, Kitarra Foxia and Danara Eilon Queens. Since you’re a harpy that most likely makes you a subject of this kingdom. Thus, your actions are no less than treason.”

The prisoner just stared back at him, quiet.

Jade twisted the rope slightly near her wounded shoulder and the prisoner gasped in pain.

Rowen said sharply, “We won’t be resorting to torture here, Jade!”

“Sorry Master!”

He turned back to the prisoner, took out a pen from his pocket and began to write runes on her bandage, “We can’t have this becoming infected, so I’ll heal you forthwith.”

He took a few minutes to draw the runes on her bandage then closed his eyes and empowered the runes, causing a bright blue light to erupt from the bandages.

The prisoner writhed in pain then let out a gasp. There was a clink as the spent bullet fell to the floor to land at the prisoner’s talons.

She stared down at the bullet in disbelief then she moved her shoulder, realizing that the pain was gone.

In that moment, Xyarra entered the room and said, “So, we have an uninvited guest, do we?”

“Yes, this party crasher now has a choice to answer my questions and spare her clan from punishment for treason, or answer to you, where all bets will be off by that point.”

Xyarra was surprised. She never thought that Row could be that cold. This was the man who, not very long ago, tried to argue against the execution of another Black Crow Harpy who actually went after his wives.

She suspected that he had gone through a re-genesis of his attitude about those that would go after what was his.

The prisoner spoke, “What is meaning of, ‘All bets are off’?”

Rowen chuckled and said, “Sorry, I forgot that that idiom isn’t used here. But I think you know what it means. So, I’ll be clear. The life of your clan is in your…um…hands? Anyway, the life of your clan is in your hands now. Choose wisely.”

“My name is Dalilah. I am second to our Dalia. She is mother to our clan. To be fair, we did not know that a new king had been chosen, let alone that our…prospective were queens.”

“To be honest, that’s a recent development so you couldn’t know. However, that being said, you did know that they were still royalty and thus still treason. However, for the right concessions, I am willing to overlook that.”

“Concessions?”

“Yes, if you will cease and desist on targeting my family and be willing to work for me when needed, I will allow you to continue to exist. But know this, if any of my family die, and I even suspect foul play…” he trailed off with a coldness in his eyes that made his meaning clear.

“Your majesty. I cannot answer this question on my own. I am not in that level of authority within my clan. All I can do is promise to deliver your message.”

“Jade, untie her.”

Jade looked at him with the unspoken, “Are you sure, master?” in her eyes.

He just nodded and she untied her.

The prisoner/assassin moved her shoulder, testing the range of motion and such, “Never had I seen a healing spell fully repair a shoulder wound. Even with the best tier two healing spell, a wound like the one you gave me would have permanently prevented me from flying ever again.

“I will deliver your message, your Majesty. Know this, we’re likely not the only ones contracted as such.”

“That’s not my problem. If something happens to any of my family, there will be no end to my wrath.”

“Then I make a counter proposal. When I arrive at my clan, I’ll send you some of my best sisters to protect your family. Who better than an assassin to stop an assassin?”

Rowen looked to Xyarra who nodded at him and he then said, “Very well. Send your sisters, but be sure that they don’t…let themselves in. I won’t be responsible for what my protectors will do to them. I’ll decide once I meet them, whether or not to trust them individually.”

Jade knew how he would know.

After getting Dalilah’s word that she would head back to her clan forthright, Rowen allowed her to leave via the terrace.

He was amazed as to how the harpy disappeared into the darkness no sooner than jumping off the terrace.

Jade said to him, “Master, I have to go into the city to investigate some things that came up in my intelligence gathering. I was in the process of letting you know when your guest so rudely appeared.”

“Right, so that’s why you brought the two trooper golems?”

“Yes Master!”

“Very well, be safe out there.”

“I always am, Master.” As she was bowing to leave.

Rowen watched as Jade did her own disappearing act then he turned to Xyarra and said, “Ok, wife, what’s up with you tonight?” his tone gave no doubt that he wasn’t asking about the weather.

Her Conscience, “Told you.”

Xyarra said to Rowen, “What I have to tell you, may have a profound impact on you. So, for your sake, I will leave certain facts out until later, when I feel you’re able to handle them. I hope that you’ll trust me to do so?”

Rowen thought about it then said, “Alright, I will trust you. I have so far, and you haven’t betrayed me yet.”

Xyarra looked around and said, “Now, where do I begin? Let me first confess the one implied lie. Back on Dragon’s Jaw Ridge, I only confronted Dana and Kit because of viewing you as a possession, not as someone I loved.”

“So, when did you really fall in love with me?”

“How do you know that I have?”

“Because you wouldn’t be telling me this now if you hadn’t.”

Xyarra looked shocked. She seemed to compose herself then said, “I can’t really say specifically when. I think it was when you showed me total acceptance of both of my forms I guess.”

“And here I thought you thought I was a pervert for that.” He said winking.

With Rowen’s relaxed air, a huge weight seemed to fall off her shoulders and she began to tell him what she was prepared to say at this point.