RD 5 Ch 24

I found myself desperately hoping that time inside the Trial of Kings was not equivalent to the outside. None of these situations or people were moving very quickly. Then again, armies didn't move very quickly. Haste was very costly at this sort of scale. 

It had taken almost a week after my discussion with Circe before we got any actual traction from Simone and Winnie.

Thankfully, Simone did move faster, particularly once Circe sent over a list of individuals. Part of me was excited at the thought that my name had spurred her into action. Though, I couldn't be certain if that held any truth or not. 

"She said she'd be here soon," I muttered to myself, shielding my eyes from the midday sun. One benefit was that it had not started storming. The last few days had been dreary enough.

And Circe's people had begun to grow restless, many of her women started looking at me like they were wolves and I was a lost and lonely sheep. I had desperately wanted to be outdoors, in public and the rain had forced me indoors.

At least we were out now, the hills here weren’t ideal, but then again, neither side wanted to show more than they had to as part of this prisoner exchange. We were on one side of a large field, with scouts on the hills to keep a watch.

"Don't make it sound like you're hard up," Circe pursed her lips. 

"Not hard up at all," I said quickly. "But I can be tired of the advances of your women." 

Circe waved a hand, as if it wasn't a big deal. "You're hot. They're horny. And sex is natural. I don't understand what the big deal is, unless it stopped working," she asked the last, knowing very well it had not. 

I rolled my eyes.

"You're cute when you get all pouty," Circe leaned in and kissed me, much to the delight of her soldiers. The women, of course, cooed after her. 

"Really now?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. 

"Just marking my territory. Now, go get over with the other prisoners so we can make this happen. You said she'll react when she sees you." 

"When she inspects me, if she does, she will react. But I'll make sure that happens. If for no other reason than to get the reaction that I want." I smiled.

Whatever else Circe was about to say died on her lips as someone shouted, "Contact! Look alive!" All thoughts of flirting scattered between the two of us. 

Simone and her Mul Branova came over the hill, their robes swaying in time with their hips. They walked to the same beat as if there had been a drummer behind them, coordinating the whole movement. 

"Really, solid job of selling the whole religious unity," I muttered. It was moderately intimidating. No one wanted to fight another group that was more organized than themselves.

"Simone, lovely to see you again," Circe called over the distance.

Simone drew up short, her eyes scanning through our crowd with a hard gaze. I wondered if she was looking for me among those captured. I shuffled out of the cluster and met Simone's eyes. They rested on me for only a split second in recognition before quickly shifting away. The glance away was too fast; she was trying not to give away that she recognized me.

"Hello, Circe. As you can see, we have your people prepared." Simone gestured to the group that was bound and gagged. I had a feeling it was so they wouldn’t start shouting they had been stripped of their bloodlines.

Circe simply had Simone’s people huddled up amongst the warriors.

"I see," Circe said, her eyes almost shifting back to me before they bounced over her prisoners as a whole and towards one of her soldiers. "Move them to a neutral spot so we can negotiate." Not needing any more encouragement, the woman leapt into action, quickly beginning to herd us, not directly towards Simone, but to the side enough that we'd be ready for what was coming.

"I assume they're all in good condition?" Simone asked.

"Good enough." Circe was playing this far too casually. But it seemed Simone was not picking up on any subversion, and more than anything, she was in a rush to get this concluded.

"I don't know how the clans typically operate," Simone said the word as if it was poison on her lips. "The most civilized people that I know would at least offer some form of compensation."

"Really?" Circe shrugged. "Guess I'm not among them. Your people for mine. It's a fairly simple exchange. And I just want it over so I can get back to far more pleasurable enjoyment in life than having to deal with you and your blood cult."

"I'm glad we can agree on that," Simone smiled, her eyes raking over the group again before briefly locking on mine. The way she looked at me seemed less like wanting to check in on me, and more like she wanted to make sure I was moving with the group. "Tell me, Circe, why do you think that man is one of mine?" Simone pointed.

What game was she playing? Trying to hide her interest? That might backfire though.

"He was kidnapped from your castle, wasn't he? Must have been important. But if you don’t claim him, why don't I take him out of the offerings for now?" Circe asked.

I scowled at Circe, even as she physically came up and pulled me back.

"Oh, now we're going to pick and select which ones we give away. One moment, please," Simone scoffed and plucked several of the strongest soldiers, not allowing them through.

I did my best to glare at Circe as if to say this was not part of the plan.

"Don't say a thing. This is part of the game," Circe hissed into my ear.

If I had been in another position, I would have fought to understand what exactly she thought she was doing. Yet, at the end of the day, I had some trust that Circe’s intuition was right and she had a broader plan. I just hoped that the plan was for my benefit and not her own at my expense.

"I see I can't hide it anymore now, can I?" Simone said, her eyes narrowing across the distance between her and Circe.

"You've captured our Lord Bran." Simone shook her head. 

Circe raised a questioning eyebrow towards me as if I had left that little detail out. But in the plan, she was more than well aware of the facade I had been playing with Simone. “I had wondered if he bore a resemblance, especially after some of his stats shot through the roof.”

She didn't even get to finish that before my focus fell to Simone, whose eyes narrowed and glowed with ability.

Even if I had the spirit now to resist, I did not. I wanted her to see my current stats, and I got the reaction I'd hoped for. Simone's eyes went from suspicious to shock, to absolute determination.

"Now that you know, what is it going to take for me to get him back? I assume the price just went up." Simone stated.

"It could, or it could go down. After all, at the end of the day, we're all here for the same thing, are we not? And now look at me." Circe twirled and gestured at herself, though there was nothing in particular that she was referencing, just a vague gloat.

"I understand. What will it take for the return of my Lord Bran?" Simone looked like she was barely swallowing her pride to spit out those words.

"At least you're asking the right questions," Circe leaned forward. "What is it that you're willing to trade for the safety of your Lord Bran? How about your complete and total surrender? Oh, and if you could throw in something to make up for all the effort, that would be nice too."

The smile on Simone's face was chilling to say the least. "I've forgotten how pleasant it is dealing with you, Circe.”

“At least you know what you want, unlike that bitch Winnie." Circe said.

Simone tapped her lips in thought, only for her to glance over her shoulder as a small army flew out of the trees.

Each and every one of them possessed the deadly grace that Winnie honed in her people.

“Damnit.” Circe shouted before turning to her people. “Ready yourselves for a trap.”

"You're not the only one who can lay a trap," Simone burst out. "And quite frankly, you're not well-liked amongst the other two. Princess Almeria is overly cautious of us all, but Winnie just wants something to smash." 

I grunted at that thought. Almeria very well may have been raised to complete the Trial of Kings. It wouldn't surprise me if they tried to bake in the sort of suspicions and general skills needed to deal with the trial. It seemed before she ever arrived she had some knowledge of it. When this was all over, I was going to see if I could meet her people. It would certainly be enlightening.

"So I've been caught," Circe said lightly, not seeming nearly as concerned as I expected.

"Tell me you have a plan," I muttered out of the side of my mouth.

"The beginnings of one. You said if Winnie came, you could deal with her?" Circe asked.

I narrowed my eyes. "This seems like a very bad situation to take that particular task on. Right now it's two against one."

"What are you, chopped liver?" Circe smirked, before glancing back at Simone and raising her voice. "Well, since you're so excited to get your boy Bran here," Circe gestured at me, "He told me if I got Winnie alone for him, he could prove to me that he really was your Lord Bran. Perhaps you'd want to see that proof just as much as me?"

Simone's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"What she says is true, Simone. I just need your help for a minute getting Winnie alone." I met her eyes, waiting for her answer.

Simone exhaled a breath of hot air and turned back to her Mul Branova. "The plan is to isolate Winnie and let Lord Bran deal with her."

Circe's smile morphed into that of a shark that had found its prey. "Do remember me when you're all done with those two. Unfortunately, I don't make a very convincing nun." Circe smirked, stepping back and signaling her people to engage with Winnie's.