Czarina of the Polar: Mila #1 (complete)

The liches were coming. My father joked and said that it almost sounded like a poem, but the fact of the matter was that this was not a time for silly or joking things. The liches were coming and I had to get to Dhaval to join him for the meeting. Not just because I am his wife and I love him beyond words, but because as Czarina of the Polar it is my duty to make sure the interests of my people are looked after.

Of course, things never seem to go as planned. My caravan is jumped between the border of the desert and the Lizardfolk kingdom. Drow come out of nowhere, ripping my guards to shreds and dragging me away like I was a ragdoll. I had heard stories of the Drow, although I had never really seen any for myself. They’re everything the horror stories say and more and I find myself thinking they’d be suited for my army.

Papa had told me that Hell was full of Drow. Not the mythical place, but the volcanic island beyond the Polar. He told me that the Drow had been forced violently from their native home and split into two factions. One group escaped, traveling as far from their home as possible in order to forget it and start a new. The second group was forced underground where they wait for a chance to reclaim their homes. 

I can’t say I blame them. I always did like the stories of murderous, warrior women who did as they saw fit as they took care of their own needs. They were my childhood role models really. But Mama always said that you should never meet your idols. Well, I suppose she was right.

The entire time the Drow transported me I fought like a bat out of hell. I couldn’t fight them, not by a long shot. They stood well over two feet taller than me and were built like King Amit, only sexier. I did what I best could, which was use my words. I used every foul word I could think of, even some I learned from the Golems and Dwarves. I couldn’t use my strength, lords know I have none, but I could at least attack them with heated conversation.

Although, I half suspect that it was a kind of dirty talk to the Drow as they seemed to enjoy it. They were always smiling when they were around me and I was yelling at them. So, by the time we crossed the Cobra Strait I just decided to keep my mouth sealed shut. I don’t know who the Drow are working for, or even why they’d want to work for anyone, but I am not going to talk.

Emmeline was captured by Sanguis and his men, so I am almost positive it is him the Drow are working for. But I am prepared to be surprised. Why the Drow would work for Sanguis was another thing, I’m not quite sure what he could offer the Drow besides the chance to slaughter many men.

I was taken to Sothen, once the capital of the Unified Nations now it belonged to Sanguis Rex and his men, specifically Lord Reginald of Veleryn. I am certain is am to be taken prisoner and held captive much like Emmeline is. When she was captured her entire family, save for her husband, fled Culuweth to save themselves and in hopes of protecting Emmeline. Sanguis was slowly working his way into the Culuweth government and taking most of the military there for his own uses. Poor Ishmael has been trying to handle negotiations but after he received word that Emmeline is pregnant he sort of gave up and let control of Culuweth go to one of Sanguis’ men. 

The Drow taken me into Sothen castle which is now lousy with more Drow, Minotaur, and even some Dragonborn. Of course there was no ceremony for my arrival, I was simply dragged down into the dungeons where I was tossed into a cell.

“Mila,” a small voice calls to me.

I look towards the back of the cell where I see Emmeline is sitting on a small bed in the back. I release a sigh of relief and go over to her as she stands. We embrace and I hold her fast. The poor thing has been held her for well over a month now, I can’t imagine what she has gone through alone.

“Are you ok?” I whisper as I touch her face. “Have they done anything to you?”

Emmeline shakes her head. “No. They’ve just kept me here since I talked with Sanguis.” She sniffles and fat tears roll down her cheeks.

“Come on,” I use my sleeves to wipe her eyes. “You’re not crying because I am here are you?”

Emmeline whimpers. “I’m relieved you’re here!” She squeezes my arms tight. “But I also don’t want you here.”

“Hey, the feeling is mutual.” I smile at her and tap the tip of her nose. We sit down on the edge of the bed and I stare at the wide iron door in front of us. “So tell me everything,” I whisper to her. “What happened when you spoke with Sanguis?”

Emmeline takes in a deep breath and places her hand over her stomach. “He’s terrifying,” she whispers. “But at the same time he’s charming.”

I keep in mind everything I saw in Bastat. I had sheltered the children in a cave and watched as hell fire rained from the sky. I heard the screams and anguish coming from the village below. I can still smell the overwhelming scent of blood that buffeted on the winds to this day. Sanguis did that, I don’t care how charming he is. That man is a monster, he’s vile and wretched. He took Amon, he took Emmeline, he took Gravelmeuse, and now he’s after me. Well I can guarantee he can try to hold me, but he will never get his hands on me. 

“The Drow knew I was pregnant,” Emmeline’s voice trembles. “That’s the only reason I’ve stayed alive this whole time.”

I grasp her hand tight. “Oh Emmeline.” I kiss her knuckles and sigh. “But it sounds like you and I had the same exit plan,” I grumble. 

She shakes her head. “You can’t do that Mila, you’re so important right now.”

I throw my head back and laugh. “Oh please. If I am gone my father will step back into place like that,” I snap my fingers. “I am not worried. The Polar will be taken care of, even if Dhaval has to take it over for me.”

“No, I mean-” Emmeline gives me a pitiful look. “We all see you as number two beside Dhaval. I’ve always admired you, all the nations do.” She places her hand over mine. “You’re the second most looked up to ruler in the entire empire. We need you. More than that, Dhaval needs you more than anybody.”

It is a gut punch to hear her say that. I know how I would feel if Dhaval was in my position, i would know the rage and agony I would feel. I wish he did not have to feel that now. I close my eyes and take in a deep breath. “Lords know that vanilla custard cup needs me.”

Emmeline tilts her head in confusion. “Dhaval?”

I let out my breath and squeeze her hand. “Fine. I’ll stay alive. But at the first threat he makes to any of my family or people, I’m gutting myself. I will not be used that way.” I look at Emmeline. “But I will look out for you as well. I promise, I won’t let you down.”

A bed is brought for me later that evening along with a meager dinner and water. I give most of my food to Emmeline, who needs it for her baby. I am happy to sup on water and crusts as long as she is protected. 

I am there several days before anyone comes to the cell beside the Drow guarding us. The door opens and I am pulled out. I stand before a Drow who looks taller and stronger than any of the others I have seen. She looks like she has seen better days. Her head is bandaged, mainly covering the back and her left eye.

“Well, well, are you my fairy godmother?” I growl at her.

She smirks. “You’re cute.” She takes me from the Drow guard, grabbing me by my arm and walking me along. “Sanguis is waiting on you,” she says. “But I wanted to have a talk with you alone before he arrives.”

“That’s ballsy. Are you a queen or something?” I grumble.

“Or something,” she laughs. “Viovrouh.”

I glance up at her and have to look away. For a moment I understand how my father feels around King Amit. Even banged up, Viovrouh is far too beautiful to be real and it makes me nervous. “You clearing your throat or is that your name?”

She laughs like an oncoming storm. “Too bad you are so tiny,” she says. “You would make a perfect playmate.”

“That’s flattering, thank you.” I reply as she leads me into a meeting room. I sit down and Viovrouh locks the door. She then pours wine and hands me a an almost overflowing goblet.

“I don’t think that’s wise,” I say but I take it. “I’ve only had bread and water the passed few days.”

Viovrouh downs more wine than my father does. “And why is that? They have been feeding you properly, as was my command.”

“Yes, but the other girl with me is pregnant, she needs more than I do.” I look into the goblet and push it aside. I know they wouldn’t poison me, even just to make me sick, but if I drank anything now I would make myself sick. My stomach is not prepared for any form of alcohol no matter how much I long for it.

“And you care about her?” Viovrouh asks with a smile.

“Look, I’m not a sucker. Ask anyone in the empire. I’d rather kick someone than look at them kindly. But facts are facts and that girl is pregnant. If you were pregnant and in that room with me I would do the same.”

Viovrouh takes my goblet and drinks from it. “You would fit in very well with the Drow. Too bad your skin looks like a map leading nowhere.”

“Oh what? My patches?” I pet my palm down my arm, admiring how the brown and pink mingle together like oil and water. “You don’t like skin conditions in the your little underground paradise?”

Viovrouh sneers. “Not at all. I just don’t like you so much.”

“It’s my armor,” I glare up at her as she drinks. “You may want to rethink that.” I look her over. “Why do want to talk to me?”

Viovrouh smirks at me and sets the empty cup aside. “I wanted to know why you seemed so important to Sanguis and Reggie.”

I snicker. “Reggie?”

Viovrouh slams her fist down on the table before me. “You are short, fat, patchy little creature. Your eyes-” she waggles her fingers at me. “They are creepy.”

“I was just thinking that about you!” I laugh sarcastically before returning to a scowl. “The Polar has a Navy that would destroy worlds if I let them,” I growl at her. “Not only that the Polar is a defensive safe haven. Should we chose we could separate ourselves from the entire world and you could do nothing to break in. Of course Sanguis wants me because he’d be an moron to not covet the Polar.”

“That is what the traitors said,” Viovrouh smirks.

“The Drow that reside in Hell?” I ask and tilt my head towards her. “They were the smart ones. Your Drow cling to a memory.”

Viovrouh’s lip curls and she glares down at me. “Sanguis promised us that memory. Soon, we will have our land back.”

I scoff. “Anyone can promise land. I can promise you that.” I grin. “That’s it, you and your girls come join me in the Polar. I’ll give you any land you want!”

Viovrouh snarls at me and turns as the door opens. She steps aside as Sanguis comes into the room. He’s tall but not as tall as Viovrouh is. He’s wearing a robe made entirely out of gold and black feathers. The collar hangs low, showing off his clavicle and chest. I notice he is wearing a rather simple necklace with a tiny tooth attached to it.

“Czarina Mila,” he smiles as he walks in. “It is a pleasure to see you.”

“Cut the bullshit,” I sneer at him.

Sanguis chuckles. “You’re every bit as blunt as rumor says.”

“Even more. Rumors hardly do me justice.” I lay my arms on the table as he sits down across from me. “I know what you want.”

Sanguis has a pleased smile on his face. “Do you?”

I don’t like how he blinks slowly or how calm he seems to be. “You want the Polar, it’s obvious. If you have our defenses and our Navy, you could anything and everything you ever wanted.” I sneer at him. “Well you can forget it. My father knows that the Polar means more than just me alone.”

Sanguis is quiet and he looks down at his hands.

“I’m not stupid,” I sneer with a curled lip. “Anything I have tucked away in my head is vital to you too.”

He looks up at me with those cold black eyes.

“I have secrets you want. Secrets about Dhaval and the Rakshasa that I know for a fact you want.” I then shake my head. “I know my role in this empire and where I stand for a lot of people, and I will not betray it. Do what you will to me, I can take. I am not speaking a word to you. I’d rather die than give you any sort of satisfaction.”

Sanguis sighs and looks out the window. His hand grips hard on the arms of the chair. I’m shocked I may have already gotten to him. I figured him for someone much cooler headed than even I. “Well, you’ve got me all figured out don’t you?”

“No,” I jeer. “I don’t want to. I’m just saying things that any enemy to me would want to know or already have in their tiny little brains.”

Sanguis tilts his head to the side. “You think I’m that simple?”

“I don’t think about you,” I growl. I then scoff and shake my head. “No. That’s a lie,” I sigh. “I think about you a lot. Especially after what happened in Bastat.”

A smirk spreads across Sanguis’ lips and he extends his hand out towards me. “Then share, Czarina. I’d love to hear it,” he murmurs

“I like to think about all the ways I’d like to kill you,” I answer. “All the ways I’d want to seem you maimed and dead. I day dream about the dead of Bastat rising up from the ground and dragging you down into the hellfires where you belong. More than that, I imagine you fading from existence, your soul and memory vanishing and you’re forgotten. You get no afterlife. No heaven. No hell. You simply cease to exist. Because you are a waste of a good wardrobe and a waste of life on this earth. You deserve nothing so I imagine you becoming nothing!” I hiss.

Sanguis looks down at his hands then back up at me. “You certainly cut to the bone. Nothing after death is certainly something I fear greatly. That is why I seek immortality. That way, I do not have to worry about it.” He stands from the table. “And yes, Czarina, I do need the Polar. Their military and defenses are the best in the entire world. Frightening really. For eons the Polar had no master. They served no one in all the empire. Then Demir happens and somehow the Polar changes their tune. And now?” He laughs. “You’re damn well smack in the center of it. Why-” he chuckles and shakes his head. “You’re now basically shoved up the ass of the entire Raksahsa Country. Your ancestors must be rolling over in their graves.”

I keep my coal by digging my nails into my thigh. “They are, but it’s for a lot of different reasons. Most of them were buried alive you see.”

“I know the tradition,” Sanguis smirks as he circles the table. “You and Dhaval are close are you not?”

Give nothing away you stupid girl, I snarl internally to myself. You react to nothing he says. Your eyes will not widen! Your teeth will not clench. You will remain as cold and immovable as ice! You may melt but you will only melt when the heat is on.

The door opens and Viovrouh brings in Emmeline.

I go cold inside, colder than i ever was in the Polar. “Why is she here?” I snarl.

“To watch,” Sanguis smirks. “Pay her no mind. I just wanted to let you both know where I stand.” He looks to Emmeline and smiles at her. “Keep a hold of her Viovrouh, please.” He turns back to me.

“He goes to the Polar often and you visit his kingdom just as much.” Sanguis nods his head as if he’s proud of that assessment. “Not to mention your brother and his sister are engaged! Congratulations by the way.”

“Fuck you,” I roll my eyes.

“Your family and Dhaval’s family have become quite close.” Sanguis stands behind me. I don’t look at him, I barely even breathe. “It is a wonder that you and Dhaval are not the ones who are engaged.”

I’ll kill him if I have to.

“Then again, neither one of you would let go of your kingdoms would you. Despite everything, you’re both very stubborn.” Sanguis turns and puts his hands on the back of my chair. “You both are so well loved and respected in your kingdoms. It would be a betrayal if you two chose to marry.”

“Marriage is a distraction,” I reply cooly. “It makes you weak.”

“Have you ever been in love, Czarina?” Sanguis whispers. “Even for a moment? Or is your heart all ice as they say?”

“Oh wow, they say it’s ice?” I laugh. “I was told I didn’t have one. I guess you and I are the same there. Obviously, if you ever loved anything you wouldn’t be the bitch that you are.”

Suddenly I am on the ground and Emmeline is screaming. Sanguis has toppled my chair and thrown me out of it. He tosses the chair aside and as I try to regain myself he kicks me in the back. 

“Please stop!” Emmeline cries.

“Shut up!” I roar at her. “Keep your crying to yourself! Stay strong!” I cry out in pain and Sanguis grabs me viciously by the back of the neck.

“I have loved more deeply than you will ever understand!” He snarls in my ear. “I have had my heart ripped out countless times by the people I have given my love to.” He slams my head down on the table. “My daughter and son are my entire world. But you would know nothing of that would you?” He growls directly into my ear. 

“Amon-” I strain as a searing pain shoots through my head, “is not your son.”

Amon throws me onto the table. “He is my son,” he whispers low. “He and my Therea will rule the world one day. Their powers united will make them gods.”

I whimper as I sit up on the table. “Your gods aren’t real,” I wheeze. “Neither are you. You’re a pathetic piece of shit.”

Sanguis raises his arm and I feel and lurch in my body. Every fiber is me is stretching and pulling in different direction. My skin goes tight against my body and I can barely breathe. 

“Is this pain real, Czarina?” He whispers. “I went easy on Emmeline just so you would let your guard down.” He lifts his hand and I levitate of the table. “Not just because she is expecting.” He then grins. “That baby will be mine as well.”

“Please stop!” Emmeline cries out. “This torture is unnecessary! Please! For the love of God! Please let her go! This proves nothing!”

“Shut up!” I scream.

“Oh, but it proves everything, my dear girl,” Sanguis chuckles. “This is everything I needed her to know.”

“Kill me,” I snarl. “Go ahead. Do it.”

“When I’m having this much fun?” Sanguis laughs. “No. Because you are still of use to me.” He closes his fist and I crash down onto the table.

Tears run down my face and blood gushes from my nose. I cough and sputter, trying to claw myself to the foot of the table. My vision is blurry and separating as I fight to stay conscious. 

“You can put on a front all you want, Czarina,” he growls. “But you have a breaking point just like everyone else.” He then chuckles and a smile spreads across his face. “I have a feeling that you will be Dhaval’s.”

I vomit at his feet and glare up at him. “I will be yours-” I wheeze and my voice cracks. “I will be yours!”

Sanguis laughs and cups his hands around my face. “You don’t scare me little girl.” He kisses my forehead. “None of you do.”

I feel a cold breeze wrap around me. I then see Sanguis’ expression shift and he glances up as a vorpal wind feels the room. Black and blue streaks fill the air and as I turn to look behind me I see a gaping maw hovering in the air. Cold wind topples the chairs and rattles the table. I fall to the floor as Sanguis steps backwards away from the freakish anomaly. He looks terrified so I savor his expression while I can.

Emmeline rushes to my side, having been released by Viovrouh who is watching in awe at what is happening. 

Something then steps from the strange opening. It is a massive figure wearing heavy robes that glow like opals. Their body is striped blue and black, but beneath that visage there are bones that show through. Their great head is surrounded by a hood encrusted with opals and silver. The head is a monstrous skull that was once a Rakshasa. It is a a lich.

“Impossible,” Sanguis breathes. 

The lich tilts his head and he lets out a low growl. “You know who I am?”

Sanguis gnashes his teeth. “Amit the First.”

“I have heard much about you Sanguis Rex.” His voice is low and soothing. He reminds me quite a bit of Amit. The lich tilts their head up and it shimmers. “It took much effort but I finally tracked you down, Sanguis.”

“What?” Sanguis laughs. “To kill me?”

Amit the First steps towards Emmeline and I. He helps me up and guides us behind him. “No, young man, just to warn you.” He looks down to Emmeline and me. “Go on through, they’re waiting on the other side.”

“Wait-” Sanguis snaps. “Wait! He has you and Theodred?” He rips through the fallen furniture but he is tossed back by a wave of Amit the First’s hand. “This isn’t fair!” Sanguis screams as Emmeline and I walk through the vortex. “This isn’t-” Sanguis’ voice is cut off.

I look up, seeing Dhaval and Mythri and Nadeem standing before us. 

“Dad!” Emmeline cries as he races up to embrace her.

Dhaval grabs me, holding me tight to him. “You’re here!”

I cling to him and breathe in his wonderful scent. I try to hold back my shaking and steady myself for his sake.. “You moron, what’d you do?” I whimper.

Amit the First collapses to the ground as the gaping maw closes. He breathes hard and his visage wavers even more to where he only looks like a skeleton. His robes and clothes hang off him, nearly falling off completely. 

“Thank you,” Dhaval tells him. “You have no idea what you’ve done.”

Amit the First wheezes and grasps his chest. “I almost didn’t make it,” he replies. “It will be a long time before I can accomplish such a feat again.” He shivers as he rises to his feet. “Or any feat.”

“You saved them, I wouldn’t dare ask for another favor so big,” Dhaval clutches me and looks at my face. “Let’s get you to Himnak so he can look you over,” he whispers to me. He picks me up from the ground.

“You don’t need to carry me,” I whisper but I make no argument to be put down.