The Forsaken Hero

”Lady Whitemarsh,” Elise said, sitting across from the elderly elf. She folded her hands neatly in her lap. ”Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. Even so, I didn’t expect it would be...alone.”

I nodded, glancing around the empty room again. There weren’t even any scrying enchantments, though that didn’t stop me from keeping Silent Stars active. I’d never make the mistake of dropping it again.

”Please, there’s no need to be so formal. I tossed those church bastards out last week, right after we managed to sneak a scout through their blockade.”

Elise tilted her head. ”Blockade?”

”Ah, forgive me. I grew suspicious when the envoy from Blacksand still hadn’t arrived, so I sent some men to investigate. Turns out, the church stationed soldiers on the borders and has intercepted every traveler.”

”They killed them!” I gasped, covering my mouth.

She shook her head. ”Fortunately not. They’re using the excuse of the dangerous travel conditions to restrain them, claiming they’ll let them through once they can guarantee the safety of the roads. They’re not free to return to their lands, of course.”

”How terrible,” Elise said softly.

”Indeed. And while I can’t confirm your story of the role the church played in the Blacksand Empire, I’m inclined to hear other opinions.”

”And did you inform the other houses of this discovery?” Elise asked carefully.

She shrugged. ”I sent word, but they don’t have the benefit of seeing the integrity of your actions firsthand.”

”You mean at Sangra,” Elise said.

”It’s as you say. Erran debriefed me on just how helpful your allies were. Apparently, the Risen offensive far exceeded our initial intelligence, striking at the many vulnerable towns and villages up and down the border. I understood that you’re demons–” she directed her gaze to me, ”fended the monsters off. The estimates are somewhere between fifty and sixty thousand.”

”That many?” Elise gasped.

I frowned. ”There should have been at least a hundred thousand Risen.”

”Oh, no, not Risen,” Lady Whitemarsh said with a chuckle. ”Lives. That’s how many lives your demons saved that day.”

”It’s as she says. Ironic, I think,” Commander Whitemarsh said, stroking his beard. ”That demons, who the church claims have come to eradicate us, should have saved more than our own army.”

”You fought valiantly. The elves have nothing to be ashamed of,” Elise said, hiding a pleased smile. ”But when compared to the host of demons under the Oracle’s name, much less the hordes assembling under the apostles, no force can compare.”

”Strange. If you boast so much power, why offer to spare our kingdom? It’s clear to me now that the infernal hordes really could annihilate everything, just as you claimed before,” Lady Whitemarsh mused.

”Just as I told you the truth about that, I didn’t deceive you when I said that the apostles were willing to show mercy. Surrender the sovereignty of your borders, government, and movements, and you’re people will be spared,” Elise affirmed.

”A threat, yet not one at the same time.” Lady Whitemarsh’s lips drew in a thin smile. ”Such claims are only made in absolute confidence or arrogance. I believe I could be persuaded to believe it’s the first. Tell me more about Blacksand. What kind of terms did they accept? How did the demons behave when crossing through their lands? Were their cities truly spared occupation?”

I let out a breath as Elise leaned forward, beginning to discuss details in earnest with the ancient elf. The weary lines on her face had faded, replaced by a shine in her eyes. It was rare that I got to see her this excited, especially in such a tense situation.

”Forgive me,” Aerion said in my ear, allowing the talks to continue undisturbed, ”But there are matters I must attend to elsewhere in the manor. Some of my old acquaintances requested a meeting. I’ll be done well before these two finish chatting.”

He left the room, nodding his thanks to the servant who eased the door open for him. To my surprise, Commander Whitemarsh slipped after him, hailing him in the hallway. The sounds of their voices muted as the door closed. I stared after them, wondering just what ’acquaintances’ meant. Old military contacts? A soldier trained by Selena in a cross-garrison program? Or perhaps...I thought back to his interest in the elf I’d noticed, and shivered. Did he really have that much faith in my words?

As Aerion predicted, the talks dragged on for hours. Lady Whitemarsh launched question after question, digging into the heart of the Empire’s affairs. Elise, to her credit, never hesitated or wavered. It finally made sense why she spent so much time researching, writing, and preparing for these meetings. But how she could remember all that information, let alone phrase it correctly when asked, was beyond me. I had too many spells and runes spinning in my mind to remember a tenth of what she shared.

The only saving grace was the servants. Every once in a while, one entered the room to fill teacups or place a platter of pastries on the table. Nibbling on something sweet was the only way I fought the urge to doze off.

At last, Elise rose. I jumped slightly, startled by the motion, not having realized they’d finished speaking. I hurriedly got to my feet, tail twitching in embarrassment.

”Thank you for the audience,” Elise said, giving a low curtsey, which I mimicked.

Lady Whitemarsh smiled. ”No, thank you. It was quite productive. I would love to speak again some other time. I find your insights and opinions quite valuable.”

”Your words honor me,” Elise said. Despite her composure, she stood a little straighter, curling a strand of long, golden hair around her finger.

As we turned to leave, following a servant’s gesture, I paused, looking back at Lady Whitemarsh.

”Um, my Lady?” I asked hesitantly.

Elise stiffened, grasping my sleeve. Lady Whitemarsh arched an eyebrow.

”Yes?”

I shifted my weight, gripping my skirt loosely. ”I was wondering if, um, you might be willing to give me a mana cannon.”

Her other eyebrow rose to join the first. ”I’m sorry?”

I blushed, hands curling into fists. ”Selena, erm, Lady Sunsinger said that the Whitemarsh house controlled access to them, so I wanted to ask you if you could, you know...”

”Xiviyah!” Elise hissed.

I flinched, unable to meet Lady Whitemarsh’s gaze. Was she angry that I spoke? Had I messed up everything Elise had just accomplished?

”Hmmm, a mana cannon, eh? Those are still rare enough to be considered kingdom treasures. Everyone we have is currently deployed on a skyship or on the walls around the city. So I’m afraid we can’t part with one like that.”

My tail drooped, and she let out a small chuckle, making it stiffen.

”My lady?” I asked, looking up to see her wearing a bemused smile.

”I can see why Lady Lastlight is so adamant about doing the talking. You’re not exactly cut out for politics, are you?”

I shook my head, cheeks turning crimson. I wanted to grab my tail and hide it, but I was frozen on the spot. Wouldn’t that just draw even more attention to it? The elf’s smile widened at the indecision on my face.

”I’ll tell you what, though I can’t give a mana cannon to you, perhaps we could come to an arrangement. In honor of your contributions to the battle of Sangra. Forgetting the demons, I was told you personally defeated an eighth-level Risen Dragon, potentially saving our entire force from annihilation.”

”It wasn’t me–”

I bit my tongue at the sharp pain in my ribs. I glared at Elise, rubbing my side, as she lowered her elbow.

”It is as you say,” Elise said, not missing a beat. ”Xiviyah’s soul-bonded companion defeated it in single combat. It’s extremely powerful and skilled, knowledgeable in mortal, demon, and monster fighting techniques.”

”A soul bond can be that powerful?” Surprise flashed in Lady Whitemarsh’s eyes. ”To have such a beast in your forces...” She shook her head, clearing the awe away. ”I will grant you a mana cannon on the condition that you permit soldiers of my choosing to spar with your soul bond every day it remains in your possession, within reason, of course. Should your stay in our kingdom end, and none of my soldiers are capable of defeating your soul bond, I will permit you to keep it.”

”We accept your offer,” Elise said before I could respond. ”Thank you for your generosity.”

”I’ll have it sent to you tomorrow morning with the rising sun, accompanied by a squad to observe and spar with the beast,” she said.

I dropped a curtsey, even lower this time. ”Thank you, my Lady. Truly.”

With that, we turned and followed the servant out.

”What was that, Xiv?” Elise asked as the door closed behind us. ”We were doing so well!”

I hunched my shoulders, tail curling at her censure. ”Sorry, I just, well...I needed a mana cannon.”

”What for? It’s been a long time since having an extra sixth-level attack on our side would be useful.” She no longer sounded irritated, just confused.

I scratched my cheek. ”Well...Emlica wanted one. She bothers me every time I go to the library.”

”That’s it? Xiv...” Elise groaned, rubbing her head. ”I guess it worked out, but seriously. Be more careful next time.”

”It’s okay, that was all I needed. It’s important. You’ll see.”