Alchimia Rex (098 & 099)

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AN: So Writeathon is coming (I'm guessing sometime by the end of the month), and I've got some plans to start a secondary story (Aetherfall, or whatever it becomes by then). So those of you who liked the samples, look forward to a proper start!

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[098] [Left Field]

"Kiara’s gone."

Rick hadn't thought he’d fallen asleep in the dingy little hole in the ground until he felt Eva’s hand shaking him awake. The last thing he’d remembered was the darkness, talking about some inane thing, stroking her hair, and then… this.

Under the dim red light of the magelight, her eyes glittered like gemstones with a glow of their own. The maiden was practically on top of him, straddling his hips as her hands carefully remained against his chest.

“Run that by me again?” He rubbed his eyes, sitting up what little he could within the small dirt-hole they’d made into an impromptu ‘bunker’ to wait things out.

“Kiara left alongside a human and one of the Orcs.” She was whispering the words, barely low enough for him to catch them. “Everyone else’s accounted for.”

“Who else knows?”

“Just us and the guards.” She replied. “I thought it best to keep it a secret from the prisoner for the time being.”

What she meant was that she thought it was a decision he’d want to make rather than have an outcome dumped on his lap. Rick regarded the Vampire; was this some sort of protocol he wasn’t aware of? Or did she consider this something she didn’t have a say in? It was a weird dissonance; he was pretty sure she had a better grasp of how Embla might react than him.

Ruby eyes thinned, and Eva stopped pressing against his chest. “You’re not surprised.”

He wasn’t.

Rick had made a point to clarify to Kiara that he wasn’t about to slap down some restrictions on her. It was impossible to determine beforehand what might be necessary, and he’d gotten the very distinct impression that she’d go very far for that information. Getting her to accept that the Pinielf would die felt like a pretty large step forward already.

“She’s the sort that prefers to do important things on her own.” It was a sign there were things she didn’t trust them with, but he wouldn’t begrudge her for that. Rick would have rather jumped off a cliff before letting the Succubus participate in his experiments, at least not without several weeks' worth of training first. “She’s alive, that much I can sense.” He confirmed after a moment of focus. “Not in the direction of Dia and Monica.” The distance was too far to tell much more. He hoped that he’d be able to tell if she were in trouble.

“It would certainly explain the message she left.”

Eva pulled out a dirt-stained piece of parchment that contained exactly three words.

“Don’t follow, dangerous,” Rick read it aloud, glancing at Eva. “You waited to show me this so you could see how I reacted.”

The Vampire leaned closer, thumbs caressing his jawline, holding his cheeks in her palms. Her skin was cool to the touch. “Rick, you need to understand how dangerous Kiara is. A charmer like her, with her experience, could ruin everything.” Her hands fell onto his chest. “Dia and I do not trust her, and we cannot protect you if you keep things from us.”

Her concern washed out towards him, the bond surging with warm apprehension.

Rick pushed back against the emotion. “Like how I shouldn’t trust a Vampire?”

The words stung her, he knew, he felt it through the bond as she twitched; she lowered her gaze. “It’s-”

“It’s not different. How much does anyone know what you do? As far as anyone can tell, the evil Vampire lady could be spending her days locked inside the former Lord’s castle scheming to betray me and take over the city.” He poked her forehead. “Instead, what you do is read a bunch of smutty romance novels.”

Eva slapped his hand away. “I do not. Most of my time is spent in research and experimentation with spells. Learning to control my power so it’s compatible with the standardized weave patterns is…” She stopped, letting out a sigh and leaning away. Crossing her arms, she grumbled. “Fine. I get your point.” With a sigh, her shoulders sagged. “Please don’t tell me you expect me to trust her, or…” she gagged. “...like her.”

“That’s between you two. I expect a minimum of trust if only because we’re working together.”

He didn’t like putting it like that; it left a taste of mothballs in his mouth, but it would be absurd to ask for more. Or rather, he couldn’t imagine things going well if he pressured for amicable relationships between them. Not just because of Eva, but from Kiara as well. The Succubus had practically made a point to keep some distance between herself and the maidens Rick had grown close to. The only times he’d seen her “truly” in her element had been when surrounded by people she held control over. He’d seen the behavior before, troubled students in particular.

Maybe he should talk to Alice about it if the chance ever presented itself.

“The tribe will want answers,” Eva interrupted his thoughts. “Especially if either the Orc or human is found to be dead.”

“I know as much as you do right now, probably less,” he shrugged. “So answers will have to wait until Kiara gets back.”

He winced when Eva poked his chest with her sharp nail. “Then make an educated guess.”

“She left with an Orc, but not the human bonded to her. That feels sloppy, not something you’d do if you had the time to plan it out.”

“Yet it happened while both of us were asleep, the exact time when she was likely to get away undetected,” Eva countered. “I might not be useful for much, but I can at least raise an alarm, and my senses are better attuned to the forest than the Orc’s.”

Rick nodded along, but his thoughts were on Eli; the Hound had definitely been on guard at the time Kiara had left. But questioning would need to wait until things were cleared up. He could feel through the bond someone rapidly approaching, someone who was bubbling with excitement.

“Monica’s on her way here,” there was a bit of trepidation in those words. If Dia had succeeded, then it meant it would be Rick’s turn.

“This soon? Things must have gone well,” Eva muttered.

“Does… it usually take longer?”

She let out a snort. “You think someone like Dia would’ve sent Monica after receiving a single ‘no’ for an answer?”

Rick barked out a laugh. “True enough.” The healer was many things, and her stubborn determination was just about the most endearing aspect she had when it came to work. “Time to greet the catty messenger, then.”

Eva tightened her hands against his shirt. “Does… the plan remain? Are we to stay put for the time being?”

“I think so.”

“Ok,” she nodded. “Then I’ll keep an eye on Embla. I do not trust one of Kiara’s pets to be the sole overseer of our prisoner.”

They’d have to work on Kiara sharing details about plans later. He did not expect the conversation to go well, seeing how there would be much that she’d be able to pull up in regards to his own behavior.

With Eva vanishing into mist, he crawled out of the hole. The guards had gathered into a tighter spread, making sure they could keep one another within direct line of sight. None of them looked pleased about the situation, but none of them spoke either. Every member had their weapons drawn and looked just about ready to pounce.

“Monica’s almost here,” Rick informed them. “Whatever the situation is, we’ll handle it once we have more answers. Right now we stick to the plan.”

There were nods all around, but the tension didn’t diminish any, at least not until the first guard called out that they’d spotted Monica. The Sabertooth had shouted out as she got closer, stepping into view while holding a cloth bag of some sort. The maiden was grinning from ear to ear, hurrying towards him.

“Found chocola-”

The next instant, the ground she’d been standing on exploded in a rain of splinters and dirt. Rick hadn’t even grasped what had happened before he found himself face-first against the dirt. Eva had shoved him, he dimly realized, ribs aching from the push.

“ATTACK!” She screamed.

Right there, right next to his head, sticking out of the dirt, was a spear. A spear that was as long as he was tall, made of dark wood and laced with intertwining lines of softly pulsating purple light. The spot Monica had occupied had several similar spears, right in the area she’d been occupying.

But Monica was nowhere to be seen.

The Orcs had rushed to surround him, and he caught a glimpse of a flash of movement overhead. His eyes and ears couldn’t keep up with the chaos unraveling around him, so he did the only thing he could: he focused on his bonds.

Monica, Eva, and Eli were the only nearby maidens bonded to him. Monica was speeding overhead, bouncing between trees like some sort of hyper-focused murder-pinball. Eva was using the shadows in a vain attempt to at least get a glimpse of their attacker, while Eli was moving in to join the guards surrounding him.

He focused on Monica and the pinprick bursts of pain that were coming out of her right shoulder and left knee. Pulling at the agony, her focus only sharpened. Rick tried to make sense of what he was feeling, of the enemy they were facing. He couldn’t keep up with the insane speeds of the combat that was unfolding, but he hoped he could at least gain a broader insight.

Anything that could help. Maybe if he could just…

Monica blocked him off in a wave of anger.

A roar rang through the forest.

And then, silence.

Breathing hard, Rick shoved himself up to his feet. “Whatever that was, it’s over,” he declared, shoving his way out from the encircling Orcs and marching straight in Monica’s direction. Behind him, Eli made some noise of complaint before quickly moving to catch up and stay at his side.

The feline emerged from the thick foliage, eyes focused on him. “We leave. To nest.”

She was hurt; a spear had pierced her shoulder, and something sharp had scraped her knee. There was barely any blood, but that was a Monica thing; her injuries stopped bleeding pretty damn fast.

He stepped closer, Eli right beside him.

Monica’s blue gaze snapped to the Hound, a snarl fresh on her lips.

Eli immediately stepped back, raising both hands in a placating gesture.

“We’re not going back,” Rick ignored the exchange, reaching out to check the spear that had pierced her shoulder. “Do you need Dia for this?”

Monica snorted, reaching up with her uninjured arm and snapping the thing, yanking the whole thing out without even flinching. “Get Dia, then leave to nest,” she proclaimed firmly, glaring down at him. “Not safe. Silence is here.”

Eva emerged out of the nearby shadows, breathing hard and clearly winded as she approached. “Rick-”

He gestured for her to stop, not daring to look away from Monica. “What’s the silence?”

Monica’s jaw tightened; she snarled. “Death.” She cocked her head at Eva. “Look.”

The Vampire had brought something with her. A corpse, large and green, an Orc. The maiden was still, eyes wide and mouth open in horror. There were scratch marks on her neck, ones made by herself, and the reason was clear: wrapped around her neck tight enough to sink into the skin was a wire.

Whatever had killed the Orc had done so through asphyxiation.

“I found her body hidden on the upper branches,” Eva said. “A cleaning spell was used to remove any scents.”

“Death,” Monica repeated, snatching Rick’s arm with an iron grip. “Monica cannot protect Rick, not here.”

He dug his heels in. “You just did.”

“Because you weren’t the target.” It was Eva that spoke; she looked paler than a few minutes ago. “They were looking for either a cheap shot at Monica or to test us.” Her gaze turned to Monica. “How many of them were there?”

“One. Got away.” She growled, tightening her grip on Rick. “There are more. It is not safe here. We go back. Now.”

There would be nothing that could stop her from kidnapping him here and now. Rick had to think fast. “We go get Dia and talk to the knights. You stick to my side every moment of the way. If you think I won’t be safe over there, then we leave. But I need to speak to Captain Deneva first.”

Monica didn’t like it; she growled, snapped, her tail flicked, ears flat against her head. “Fine.” She finally conceded, turning to look at Rick again. “We not travel alone.”

“Wait-”

“No waiting.” She stepped past him, turning to address the Orcs. “Everyone move. Protect Rick.”

“Monica, we cannot just go all there, Eva and Embla will-”

She snarled; this time the sound didn’t come as some half-hearted petulant noise but as a threat, every hair on his body stood on edge under the intense narrowed blue gaze. “Not care.”

Was this the bond pushing her to act? She was making an effort to keep her emotions locked away. He couldn’t be sure. “If Deneva finds out about them then things might-”

“Not. Care.” She bared her fangs at him, whole body tense, arms shaking. “Keep Rick safe.”

“Fuck, fine, just…” Combing his fingers through his hair.

Was the only answer to send her back and hope Embla would behave? He couldn’t just tell them to tag along and try to remain outside the knight’s patrol range either. Their attackers could find them and finish them off.

Eva stepped forward, lowering herself to a knee and bowing her head. “Take me as a prisoner, my Lord. Chain me and explain that I am your willing captive. It wouldn’t be comfortable, but at least I would remain near Embla.”

“What if Deneva demands your execution or some other crazy stunt?”

Her bow deepened. “I trust my Lord.”

Rick grit his teeth, molars screaming at the tension. He turned to look at Monica’s glare, and then at the others. He would be no more successful in convincing them to ignore Monica’s demands than he’d be at winning a fight on his own.

“Fuck.”

He yanked his arm out of Monica’s grasp; she’d relented just enough to let him.

“Fine, we head out.” He pointed at the Sabertooth. “But you’re keeping everyone safe, not just me.”

“No.” Straightening out, standing at her full nine feet of height, she turned to look at the others. Every maiden present nodded back, reaching out to their collars and removing them. “Just Rick.”

“I’m not more important than everyone else.”

“We will keep the other humans safe, Father.” One of the Orcs declared, raising her metal-plated shield and slapping it loudly. “But the Chieftess is right, and Spear also said as much. You are our priority; without the Father, the city might lose everything.”

“I hadn’t meant just the humans.” He answered through gritted teeth.

The green-skinned maidens shared looks, chuckling as if he’d made some humorous joke. Each of them gave him a shrug and a nod before moving to gather up everything for a hasty departure.

Right.

This was another maiden thing.

Monica reached out to him, pulling out a bag and placing it in his grasp. “Chocolate helps,” she declared, keeping her paw on his shoulder, her tone shifting to something softer, even conciliatory.

Rick recognized it for being the exact same tone he’d used to coax her out of a foul mood. Though he’d normally offer dried jerky since that was more easily available.

Inwardly admitting defeat, he peeked into the bag. Within there was a fist-sized block of black chocolate; it had a missing chunk, one that had been bitten off. Rick knew the peace offering was important to her but wasn’t exactly in the mood. Still, he made a show to break off a small chunk and eat it.

The chocolate was unsweetened and bitter, the texture coarse, almost like sand.

The stuff had all the signs of having been made by hand rather than have come from his world. And the ball was too large; there was no way one of the students had just brought this much high-concentration chocolate. He knew the Earl didn’t have chocolate, or he would’ve offered it way back during the visit. Had Barry and the wildlings figured something out? Something to consider later.

He took a second bite, and Monica’s grip relaxed a little, pulling him into a fuzzy hug he didn’t fight against. Even in this moment of tenderness, it was impossible to miss how tense she was.

“I know, I know,” he mumbled, caressing her furry arm.

Him being here was a liability, a selfish request in every way. If not because they needed to negotiate with the knights, then he might have proven to be dead weight entirely. The feeling gnawed at him like a prickling in his chest.

“Come on,” he muttered, urging Monica on once the tribe had finished preparations. “I’ve gotta convince Deneva to make life easier for us.”

---

Eli: A Hound, former Hunter of Sinco, betrayed by Thorley. She was boxed off and kept feral by the Vampires, until Kiara helped Rick bond her. Now back among the sane, her family had been destroyed by the former Lord. With Rick having fulfilled her desire for revenge, she now serves the new Lords of Sinco. As a Hound, her main power relies on hunting down prey, capable of great feats of stamina as well as leaving bits of her energy within those she injures, making it possible to far more easily track down.

The Prisoner (Embla): A Malumari, daughter of the Warlock Dagmar. She was the unofficial strong-arm of the rebel group, and its most powerful asset on the field. Her specialty lies in her physical capabilities combined with her power to disrupt an enemy’s elemental energy.

Golden Elf: Highly capable combatants, the power they’re most known for is being able to make their arrows travel straight through a tree unhindered.

--

[099] [Bond Friction]

The travel deeper into the woods was tense, and just about everyone present looked ready to jump at the first sign of trouble. While the humans and weaker maidens were carried in their “ride-chairs” at the back of the Orcs, Rick had the “honor” of being bridal carried by Monica. The feline was the worst one off. She was practically vibrating with the anxiety coursing through her. Eyes kept darting this way and that, ears operating like hyperactive radar dishes in search of any threat.

Any attempt Rick made to calm her down or take the edge off was rebuffed. Her fuzzy arms remained tightly holding him as if her own life depended on it. Meanwhile, Eva and Embla trailed behind the group, both restrained barely enough to ensure they could keep up with the march. Fortunately, nothing happened along the way; they made it to the Orc “outpost” where Urtha had set up alongside the vast majority of the fighters they’d brought along. The instant they were spotted, the guards sounded their horns.

Urtha, Dia, and Sheel practically ran to greet them. Their expressions turned from surprised to concerned once they saw that they’d brought everyone. “Explain,” Urtha spoke up first.

“We were-”

“Can’t keep Rick safe alone,” Monica cut him off, squeezing his face against her chest to ensure her voice would ring out. “Silence attacked.”

“Enough!” In a flare of annoyance, Rick shoved himself off, squirming his way out of her grasp just enough to land on his feet. He didn’t bother to try to move away from her, not when her claws had laid a firm grip on his shoulders. “We were attacked by a Golden Elf; she got away. Monica insists it’s impossible to stick around without putting my life seriously at risk. I need to talk to Deneva before Monica decides time is up and kidnaps me back to Sinco.”

“The bond is pushing her this quickly?” Dia paled, eyes widening.

Urtha’s jaw set, thick eyebrows lowering into a singular fuzzy line as she looked at Monica. “How serious is this?”

“Rick will die,” Monica’s declaration came loudly, halfway to a roar.

Urtha pulled out her metal-coated shield and spear. “We-”

“Not enough,” She cut her off. “Slow. Cannot see, cannot smell. Easy kill. Dead.” Her grip on Rick’s shoulders tightened.

“They got one of the guards,” Eva stepped up, hands chained to her neck in what couldn’t have been a comfortable position, but she somehow made it look regal. “Asphyxiated her with a wire of some kind; no one so much as heard a thing.”

“Dead,” Monica nodded.

“Also-”

“As I said,” Rick hastily spoke up, interrupting Eva before she talked about Kiara’s disappearance. “I need to meet Deneva before Monica snaps.”

Sheel stepped forward, giving Urtha and Monica a slight bow before placing herself directly in front of Rick. “The Chieftess’ command takes precedence during a battle, Father, and right now we were attacked.” The Hobgoblin spoke slowly and carefully. “Is this meeting truly a matter that pertains to the tribe?” She glanced at Embla. “Or only one pertaining to your prisoner?”

It was clear she wanted to make things official; Monica’s barely restrained panic from the bond was putting everyone against the wall. Rick was grateful for Sheel’s question; it was probably the only way that his voice would hold weight for the tribal maidens under the current circumstances.

“Captain Deneva represents the Earl. He is powerful enough that, with his aid, we could guarantee no noble would come to our gate. But by the same token, without his aid, or worse, his anger, we would be crushed.”

Sheel gave half a nod. “You promised us that Sinco’s walls would give us protection, a home.”

“Do you build a house and expect it to just stand forever if you don’t give it maintenance?” Rick called out. “Do you plant a field once and hope it’ll provide you food forever without any other work? This is work, my work, to keep the tribe safe, to hold this promise. If things don’t work out, it could potentially unmake everything.”

With a slight nod and a bow, Sheel stepped back; the older maiden relaxed as she turned to Urtha and the other Orcs. “You heard the Father, what do you say? Should we allow him to be put in danger?” She glanced at Urtha. “You are bonded; you cannot vote in this.”

Urtha was grinding her teeth. “I know.”

Sheel raised her spear. “Chieftess.” Then her shield. “Father.”

The Orcs began raising their arms; some raised their shields, others their spears. Rick didn’t have a good vantage point. The average Orc was a full head and shoulders taller than him, so he could only see the first row. But the crowd began to split up as each side gathered to make counting easier.

It was a full five minutes of silence.

“One hundred and twelve for Chieftess,” Sheel declared before turning to count the other group. Another five minutes passed before she raised her voice again. “One hundred and forty for Father.”

Urtha looked despondent at the claim, her eyes taking a sudden edge as she looked at him with what could only be fear. She turned away as soon as Sheel squeezed her shoulder, the Hobgoblin approaching Rick. “Your mission will be our priority, Father.” She looked up at Monica, and then, with a sigh, turned back to the crowd. “If Spear and Chieftess are overwhelmed by the bond, then my voice will lead us in battle. Does anyone fight this claim?”

None spoke up.

Sheel turned to Monica. “I would never harm the Father; you know this.” She stood firm. “If we have to fight because the bond has taken over, I ask only that you pull your punches.”

There was no growl, no threat, no snarl. Monica’s grip on Rick’s shoulders merely stilled.

The air became thick with power; Rick’s skin tingled as every hair stood up straight.

The two maidens stared at each other.

Then, Dia walked up next to Sheel, dressed completely in spiky black armor and staring up at Monica. “He’s doing this for the nest too,” she proclaimed, chin raised, holding the helmet under one arm.

“Monica… knows.” She spoke with a waver in her voice.

Urtha took the opposite side of Sheel. “We will protect him.”

Another heartbeat.

The tension dissipated, but Monica didn’t let go. She bent over, hugging him tightly but otherwise not saying anything. She shared a nod with Urtha, and the Orc turned back to the tribe. “Alright, pack up, ladies, we’re moving!” She roared. “Eli, go warn the metal buckets that we’re coming. Come back either once that’s done or if something goes wrong.”

The Hound didn’t look too pleased at being commanded by her but took a bow and vanished into the shadows.

Rick was left with Monica glued to him like some overzealous backpack, just one that happened to be able to bench-press a bus. Eva and Embla weren’t too far away, mostly appearing deep in thought. It didn’t take too long for Dia to join them, the healer approaching carefully, waiting for Monica to give an affirmation of her existence before getting closer.

“Do not begrudge her. She has no choice in the matter,” Dia said softly. “It is no different from an ailment.”

“I know.” With a sigh, he kept rubbing the fur of Monica’s arms. “Anything I should know about the situation with Deneva? Monica didn’t get a chance to share much and has been like this… well, you know why.”

“The captain’s main goal is finding and ensuring the safety of Barry and May,” she quickly proclaimed. “That, and she might pressure you regarding Kiara. The King has placed a bounty for anyone who can catch the charmer.” She squirmed a little, looking away. “It is an offer for a title of nobility.”

“HE WHAT!?” Eva jumped to her feet, vanishing into the shadows and emerging just a few meters off to the side. She stopped herself before getting any closer when Monica let out a low growl. The Vampire grimaced as she clearly wanted to move nearer but held back. “Rick, do you realize how big of a deal this is?”

“I don’t care.” The answer was simple and direct. Rick shook his head. “Even if they were offering the crown.”

“It would remove the Darktons from the equation, at least for the foreseeable future,” she insisted. “A newly fledged noble cannot be attacked for ten and two years by anyone under the king’s command.”

“And I won’t bother to consider it.” This time his tone carried finality to it. “Anything else?”

Eva was quick to bow. “No, I shouldn’t have presumed your priorities, my Lord.” And vanished into the shadows.

The exchange was not one Rick was happy for; he hoped this whole situation could resolve itself cleanly. With the recent attack and Kiara’s disappearance, there was little doubt where the Pinielf had gone. So currently, the best-case scenario involving Deneva was that she would lend a hand with that.

How she fit into what was to come felt like a gigantic unknown hanging over his head.

If there was one thing he begrudged Kiara, it was that she hadn't made clear the conditions of Embla's compliance. Rick could only guess that part of the reason was exactly that he was a human, thus someone Embla would not trust. Even now, her gaze lingered on him in silent judgment.

Once everything was ready, they set off again, and once more, Monica took him into a bridal carry as they made their way towards the knight encampment and the palace built inside a behemoth of a tree.

They were greeted not by a simple small committee but by a wall of armored maidens standing shoulder to shoulder, each and every one armed to the teeth. Dia and Eva quietly reassured Rick this was protocol. The knights couldn't just idly watch a force approach and not take precautions.

Parley was called, both sides raising a white flag.

On Rick's side, he was the one to approach, Monica holding his shoulders, while Dia, Urtha, and Sheel remained slightly behind. The knights, on the other hand, only sent a single young man and Captain Deneva. The Swordmistress wore her full regalia, two sheathed blades on either side of her hips, and her head contained within the metal helm.

"Greetings, Richard Cross, temporary Lord of Sinco," the young man spoke with a bow, keeping himself at a cordial dozen meters. "I am Lord Harold Vittchat. Though we share the same family name, I am merely the third cousin to the Earl." The man's smile was dazzling. "Or put differently, about fourteen different relatives would need to die before I had a chance at inheriting the title."

"Pleasure to meet you," Rick replied, wondering what this was about.

"As per tradition, and to keep things… clean, I will be the representative for this knight expedition. Royal Captain Deneva here remains as my right hand." Harold glanced at Monica. "Before we discuss anything, is there something wrong with your maiden?"

"We were attacked earlier today, and she is on edge."

Harold visibly twitched, gaze turning to look at Deneva. She removed her helmet and stepped forward. Her approach was steady and firm, yet the instant Monica growled, she lowered to a knee, bowing her head. "Until this parley is concluded, I will endeavor to keep Rick Cross safe."

The abruptness of it all caught Rick by surprise, leaving him entirely unsure of what to say or how to react.

The shock redoubled when Monica eased off of him. "Fine," the feline stated flatly, taking only half a step back from him. He shot her a look, but she didn't return it, keeping her gaze locked on the canopy above.

Urtha and Sheel shared a concerned glance.

Rick could understand why. The only scenario where Monica did this would be if she trusted Deneva to not just fulfill her oath but also to have the capacity to carry it through.

"This is standard protocol for a parley," Harold waved off as if it was nothing to be concerned about, ignoring the half-knelt Deneva as she remained affixed in place. "Not the first time a maiden's bond has pushed them into being a bit too zealous with the safety of their owner. They cannot help themselves, though usually the better way to address it would be through removing their collar."

"Not exactly an option to us," Rick retorted.

"So I've been told. It appears to be a common trait amongst the otherworlders that came with you." Harold shot them a dazzling smile. "The Earl will be very happy to hear of your well-being. The circumstances of your departure from Balet were less than ideal. After news of the feral rush came, Miss Smith began a small campaign to send aid towards the afflicted settlements."

"That does sound like her." He chuckled, but inwardly felt like he was stepping into a swamp. The guy clearly knew more about him than the other way around. Seeing how this had been an unexpected encounter, it appeared Harold had made it his business to know as much about the otherworlders as he could. What sort of politics were unfolding over there? "I think I'd like to hear more about the others, but that will have to wait until we finish this."

"You seek amicable terms, then?"

"Better than a fight, that's for sure." Rick nodded.

"Oh, splendid." Harold kept that smile as if it was the most natural thing. "Then would you happen to be open to hand us over the Malumari and Vampire currently in your possession? Captain Deneva caught their presence before you arrived."

"What would be the issue if I keep them as my prisoners?"

"Under this kingdom's law, only a proper noble can contain maidens of such a dangerous nature." Harold gave a curt bow. "We do not doubt your capacity in handling such dangerous beings; having bonded White Claw is a grand feat. But the threats these creatures present is a risk the king does not wish to take."

Ah.

So this was how they planned to add pressure. Rick returned the smile with a plastic one of his own. He doubted they could’ve prepared for this opportunity. That might mean he’d have an easier time tearing it down. “Forgive my ignorance, but I take it that a Baron would be a proper noble title, correct?”

“Indeed.”

“And, according to what you just said, a Baron should be perfectly capable of handling dangerous maidens.”

Harold slowed for a moment as he gave half a nod. “Nobles are well-trained, Sir Rick, and were you to become one, I am certain the kingdom would spare no expense to provide you with any tools you might need.”

Rick didn’t doubt that, but he also wasn’t about to jump on the bandwagon. Not without making sure it was under his own circumstances.

“My question was mostly in regards to the Baron of Astunes. You see, he died in early spring while attempting to take Monica from me.” His smile thinned. “Then, Lord Thorley, after having been presented with the option of peaceful surrender, sought to take the maiden I was bonded to from me as well.”

Deneva slowly moved her hands to the hilts of her blades, her emerald eyes slowly moving from Urtha to Sheel to Monica.

“There might be some cultural dissonance here, Sir Rick, but to be blunt, are you making a threat?” Harold’s composure had turned into a carefully neutral one.

“I happen to be bonded to the Vampire, Lord Harold, and the Malumari is bonded to Barry Dodson. Neither will respond well to being taken unwillingly, and I hesitate to believe we are in a position where we could afford to fight them.” He glanced at Urtha. “Would you mind showing what I mean?”

Nodding, she made some gestures towards the tribe. After a minute, Embla and Eva stepped forward. Neither of them moved any further than a couple of meters from the tribe, remaining at the edge of the unspoken no man's land.

Rick raised his voice. “Ladies, could you please remove the restraints from yourselves?”

Both maidens shared a glance. Embla shrugged and, with a yank of her arms, shattered the chains holding her. Meanwhile, Eva fiddled with hers for a moment before she turned to black mist, the metal clanging to the ground.

He turned back to Harold and Deneva.

“As you can see, their willing compliance is very valuable to me.” The smile returned. “There is also the matter of the potential group of Golden Elves that attacked us this morning. Seeing how we might have to confront them soon, I thought neither side could really spare the resources in containing them.”

Harold hadn’t looked away from the two ‘prisoners,’ mouth slightly agape. His eyes turned to Deneva as the knight Captain didn’t move from the spot, still holding the hilt of her swords as if prepared to pounce.

Rick was slightly surprised Monica wasn’t reacting to this. Maybe Deneva’s gesture was being seen as one prepared to defend, rather than attack?

“My Lord, I can attest that the Malumari does pose a significant threat. We have crossed blades before,” the Swordmistress proclaimed as if it was the most normal thing in the world. Embla didn’t even react. “I cannot be certain of the Vampire; she appears inexperienced.”

“So it seems,” Harold crossed his arms, cocking his head a moment as he looked at Rick, then at the Orcs. “Do you understand the bind you have put me in, Sir Rick?”

“These are hard times, and I’ve made do with what I had available,” Rick shrugged. “Still, I’ve brought enough gifts to hopefully gain some leniency.”

“So it seems,” he repeated, then let out a long sigh. “I cannot in good faith allow either of your prisoners into my camp, nor can I allow them out of our sight. We will place no less than three knights to guard them; you may determine how many of your own should be part of this task as well.” Rubbing his chin, he looked over at Deneva, and then back at his own knights. “Do you believe these Golden Elves pose a serious threat?”

Monica stepped forward. “Yes,” she declared sharply.

“She knows better than I do,” Rick added.

Harold did not appear too impressed by the interaction, perhaps from Monica speaking out of turn, but whatever his thoughts were, he didn’t add any comment on the matter. “Captain Deneva?”

“I cannot speak for what threat the Pinielf might pose, but seeing White Claw’s current state, I believe the Golden Elves are not something we could treat lightly.”

“It’s settled, then,” the noble clapped twice. “Proper parlay accepted, Sir Rick. We will sit down and have a talk of things. Friction aside, I do think your… tribe would prove to be of great help in our endeavor.” The smile returned, perhaps a bit more earnest this time. “You also mentioned something about gifts?”

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Captain Deneva: Swordmistress and the right-hand maiden of Earl Vittchat. She is known for her strict discipline and open contempt towards cruelty. As a Swordmistress, she can learn techniques from a blade if the weapon was wielded by other maidens before her. Her second ability allows her to summon or dismiss weapons on demand.

Earl Vittchat: The direct ruler of Balet and overseer of the South. He played host to Rick, Monica, and Dia. Currently, he is the one overseeing the bulk of the Otherworlders as they attempt to fully adapt to life in this world while staying in Balet.

Royal Knight Captain: The highest rank a maiden can achieve within the kingdom. There are only four such maidens, each in service of an earl, save the fourth who serves the king directly.

The Prisoner (Embla): A Malumari, daughter of the Warlock Dagmar. She was the unofficial strong-arm of the rebel group and its most powerful asset on the field. Her specialty lies in her physical capabilities combined with her power to disrupt an enemy’s elemental energy.

Golden Elf: Highly capable combatants, the power they’re most known for is being able to make their arrows travel straight through a tree unhindered.

Alice Smith: One of Rick’s fellow teachers who got stranded in this world. She studied psychology. She recently took up the task of managing an orphanage in Ballet, attempting to seek a path for herself that didn’t involve plunging into the kingdom’s human-purity-centered politics.

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