Lure O' War (The Old Realms)

Princess Heiress, Inis-Mir Aniculo O' Goras

Preteen (or afore royal naming) years' close entourage, bodyguards and ladies in court.

Iskay O' Morn Taras, former slave, royal courtier. The Monarch's paramour.

Memphes O' Morn Taras, former slave, former royal servant, royal courtier. Another rumored paramour of King Arguen Garth.

Atju O' Morn Taras, slave, Head royal servant.

Lady Kilynia, Morn Taras royal chamberlain

Sir Qildor, Royal Rokae. Princess Own.

Leader Maeriel O' Faelar. Imperial Rangers trainer, Princess' Guardian. Fabled ranger Faelar's last known pupil. Eloera, Aeleniel and Lady Aelinole, the other known at this point in time.

Lady Lussiel O' Morn Taras. The Gish scout Whisper Jinx took the imperial name only in official documents. Founding member of the Gallant Dogs mercenary company. Adventurer, known gambler. Token title, although Jinx worked with the princess for years. The Monarch's personal friend.

Priest Feyras, High Priest of the large ruin of Eodrass Temple at Chimera's Mouth Gulf, located across the old Goras city center. Self-inserted himself, but remained a presence despite objections since the princess liked listening to old wyvern stories.

Merchants usually present

Vycaris & Oelinael – Royal Tailors, shoe makers.

Veluris – Underwear, bras, panties and intimate apparel.

Angrein O' Mecatan –Imperial Blacksmiths. Armorers. Zaos was Angrein's talented pupil.

Zaos O' Mecatan

Ryfon & Samblar (or the other way around) – Leather Ammenities. The famed general store owners were away for several years through 194-5 up until 197 IC. They were in the process of testing the Jelin markets and opening a new shop in Regia.

Whisper 'Pretty Nose' Jinx

Lady Lussiel O' Morn Taras

A Ticu's eyes sees all

"The princess' lovely hair!" Memphes screamed rushing towards them and the startled Jinx poked herself in the eye with the drinking straw afore releasing an even louder cry of pain of her own.

Plenty of swear words thrown in the mix.

"Spilt boob milk!" The hurt Gish yelped as chaos unfolded in Eternal Spring's cultivated forest area from the royal court's officials, guards, courtiers and Morn Taras personnel, attending the Princess' daily athletics outing. "Went 'n fucked myself!" She yelped before stopping herself not to draw more attention.

"Sir Qildor!" Kilynia screeched, her face shaded under the large hat with the ever-expanding colorful plumage and the Zilan royal bodyguard was caught between the two human courtiers and the Zilan chamberlain -with the always careful Atju retreating. At the center of it all Maeriel stood back annoyed to get out of the way as Inis -who had her wayward crimson red curl caught on the bowstring- tumbled forward with a squeal, but still released her arrow anyway.

The shot zipped well off target, then whistled an inch above Hagen's shoulder, who had just setup the round target on its stand and was in the process of walking away.

"Plaguing hell!" The shocked Hagen cursed, standing a good five meters away from the target and ducked for the ground. "They are shooting at us! Sound the alarm!"

"Ha! The buffoonery!" Priest Voldomir guffawed snapping awake on his field stool, clearly enjoying what he was seeing and even pointed a crooked finger at the hapless –almost killed- bodyguard. "Shoot him again your highness!"

"Awful," Maeriel hissed amidst the chaos of Kilynia and the two human females fighting to untangle the princess' long hair. Inis Mir slapped Iskay, kicked Memphes in the –barely covered- groin and Kilynia's plumed hat flew off of her head in the struggle.

So the half-blind Jinx went in to diffuse the situation.

"Here," she told the livid Inis who tried to hold on to her gilded bow and not give it up. "Have another arrow Crimson Curls. Twas a fine effort."

"Oi. Stop! My Gish is right," Inis said and grabbed the offered arrow, taking advantage of the breathing room the armoured Rokae had created via shoving the ladies of court away.

Yer a Lady of the court too, Jinx thought and wiped a tear from her bloodshot eye, then sneakily slotted the drinking straw in her mouth to suck her cup dry of all the milky goodness, making plenty of noise in the attempt. It wasn't her milkshake per se, but it was free, since Inis couldn't possibly drink all they had brought for her. Nice strawberry flavor and whole pieces of fruit in there also shaken up by Atju, who was tasked with…well, shaking the princess' milk beverages.

Ayup.

Jinx still kept the goblet behind her back just in case.

Kilynia hissed and went after her hat, but Maeriel stepped forward to stop Inis from firing another shot, whilst Sir Qildor was busy trying to move the two human females away without causing more of a scene. Iskay and Memphes had too-many moving parts covered with too-little fabric waiting for a happy accident, but Sir Qildor's large professional hands managed not to touch anything somehow.

Oh, well, Whisper Jinx thought and blinked in surprise upon spotting Assara raising her wet head over the surface of the nearby lake's waters -the Ticu had dived dangerously close to the waterfall, before Maeriel's voice snapped the distracted Jinx back to the present.

"This was an awful shot," Maeriel repeated shaking her blue head in despair. "Give me the bow your grace."

"No," Inis replied returning the Zilan Ranger's austere stare. "Step aside Maeriel. I'm going to try again."

"That's the fucking spirit! Haha!" Jinx agreed and gave the stubborn princess a thumbs up with Voldomir agreeing.

"Shoot that vile pagan in the face, your little highness," the priest urged.

"Priest, keep out of this! Your grace missed the target by a lot," a vexed Maeriel insisted.

"What? Almost got me!" Hagen yelled over his shoulder, whilst still trying to find the wayward arrow inside the bushes. "It's no big deal, your grace," he added standing up. "But your arrow is gone."

"I have another!" Inis snapped angrily. "Make me another target!"

"This girl, he-he," Jinx chuckled and Maeriel threw her a glare.

"The target is fine," she told the princess.

"No. Find a sheet," Inis insisted. "Atju bring one here and set it up."

"What are you trying to do?" Maeriel queried trying another approach. Had they been alone, the ranger would have taken the bow from the princess' hands by force.

"Hit the target. I need to know where I'm wrong," Inis replied. "Atju work with Mister Hagen to setup the sheet and paint a target at its center."

"You grace, making the target bigger is not helpful," Maeriel insisted, but Atju and Hagen quickly used two posts to setup the sheet. Hagen allowed Atju to draw up a new round target on the white sheet citing his trembling from the startle hands as an excuse. They each grabbed a side of the sheet to keep it open nervously and Jinx found the time to return her empty goblet on the picnic table, next to the bronze milk jug.

She even burped gently to avoid suspicion.

"Keep it steady," Inis ordered in the meantime and immediately loosed the arrow towards the two flinching men. Jinx narrowed her eyes expecting the worst and Maeriel, upon seeing the aloof Gish sauntering near the princess, told her to go check on the 'new' target.

Inis had fired so fast amidst the bedlam no one had seen whether this shot was better or not.

Jinx –the person tasked with investigating this second attempt- even made a somersault at the end of her sprint and then pointed both hands theatrically at the small tear in the fabric.

"Tada!" The Gish announced with a toothy grin.

"Where's the arrow?" Voldomir asked with a slow blink and then stooped over his staff so he could better gaze at the target.

"Didn't see it," Hagen admitted with a shrug.

"It went through here," Jinx explained putting a finger in the hole and moving it in and out.

Once.

Twice.

Ha!

"Lady Lussiel!" Maeriel barked at her inappropriate gestures.

"What?" Jinx gasped pretending at innocence. "She missed the target by a foot to the left."

"Give me another arrow," Inis demanded and Maeriel sighed.

"Your grace," the ranger protested. "This is enough."

Jinx got an arrow out of her quiver and tossed it towards the Princess' feet, which caused Maeriel to snatch it out of the air furious.

"Stop this nonsense!" The ranger growled at her partner irate. "It's not funny!"

"Speak for yerself," Jinx retorted and leaped out of the way as Inis had reloaded stubbornly and lobbed another arrow to the 'target'.

"Ha!" Jinx guffawed. "She hit Atju's circle! Nice circle by the way. Very round."

"Thank you, Lady Lussiel," Atju replied modestly, still holding on to the edge of the sheet.

"She did?" Maeriel asked surprised and walked the twenty meters to make certain Jinx wasn't pulling her leg. The Zilan Ranger examined the fresh hole on the outer rim of the target. "Your grace, this was a much better shot. But again you veered left."

"The bow is too heavy and big," Inis explained, now satisfied. The little princess stood still for Iskay to repair her hairdo and refresh her forehead with a wet towel. "I need to shoot like the Gish. She's almost shorter than me."

"Yer grace is unnaturally tall for yer age," Jinx retorted a little miffed with Inis.

"I am not. The Gish is lying," the princess declared.

In reality, Inis wasn't too tall for a girl her age.

"No." Maeriel intervened again and then made a face. Inis wore everyone down eventually, despite the number of people tasked with helping her around. "Using the foot to stabilize the bow is useless to you. In a year you'll be much taller than Jinx and it'll be too difficult."

Jinx narrowed her eyes. "What you mean?"

"What do you mean," Kilynia corrected her and Jinx snarled at the hat-wearing court official.

Nobody likes grammar constabularies.

"She's not as agile," Maeriel explained. "Nor she will ever be dear. She's not a Gish."

Jinx puffed out and then stared at the pouting Inis. She gave the princess a wink and Inis grinned deceitfully.

"Lunch break," Kilynia announced. "The Princess shall have her milk. Mister Hagen bring it from the table."

"Drool, you need to stop this," Maeriel whispered returning near them. Jinx had approached the little princess.

"I didn't do nothing!" Jinx protested, while Hagen asked from his spot.

"What about the sheet ma'am? Do I keep it up?"

"No, Mister Hagen. Atju will take the sheet," Kilynia retorted very annoyed. "Leave it… eh, just help him out. Memphes bring the milkshake here," she ordered the Cofol former slave instead.

"It's empty Lady Kilynia," Memphes replied and Jinx furrowed her pink brows as if stunned at the revelation.

"Eh? Atju didn't you prepare it?" Kilynia asked the servant folding the sheet.

"I did mistress," Atju replied, very worried he was going to be blamed out of the blue.

"Oh, for the love of the Goddess," Kilynia hissed. "Do not worry your grace, I'll prepare a goblet for you and then you'll sleep in your tent for an hour."

"I prefer a steak before sleep," Inis argued much to the mirth of those present. Half the palace was out to enjoy a day in the nearby forest. "I want to grow stronger."

"Too much meat will make ugly hairs grow on your legs," Kilynia warned and Inis stood back in childish shock.

"Oh, no! I don't want it! Iskay has so much, she sharpens the razors after each session!" Inis blurted out and Iskay –much to her credit- managed to ride it out without a flinch despite everyone turning to look at her exposed legs and slightly flushed face.

Um. There ye go girl! A professional courtier must know how to take a punch in the face without protest, on top of sucking a mean blasted cock! Jinx decided with a stupid leer letting her eyes roam on the uncovered flesh.

To the point she completely forgot herself.

"God damn it," a distracted Jinx cursed interrupting everyone's thoughts. "Girl, you know how to handle them razors fer sure!" She told Iskay appraisingly, which earned the still grinning Jinx a solid shoulder punch from Maeriel that catapulted her two meters away. "Ouch! Watch them big hands Maeriel! Ye know what they say, big hands, and big tongue—"

"Oh, shut up," Maeriel snapped cutting her off. Gets ye a mouth full of dung! "I know what you did."

Maybe today, but I did plenty more that you don't know the day before that.

Hehe.

Jinx blinked her way innocently and Kilynia was heard murmuring as she was preparing a fresh beverage for the princess.

"Eh, I'm certain I witnessed that fool Atju prepare the milkshake when we arrived… this is very strange. Very strange."

The princess herself secretly exchanging looks with Jinx knowing this was the time to slip away to visit the shy Assara.

-

Twenty minutes later

Jinx yawned, taste of milk and strawberries in her mouth and ducked behind a bush when no one was looking, rushed down a path parallel to the paved one leading to the small stream coming from the springs -less than a hundred meters away, and stopped behind a large sycamore tree after leaving back the noisy campsite.

She checked that the main path was clear, not to get mud on her boots and grimaced seeing Rimeros discussing with Priest Voldomir in the middle of the opening. They had walked some distance from the royal camp to avoid eavesdroppers. A problem with so many Zilan around.

And Gish she supposed, half-closing her right eye to make her right ear listen better. The grimace needless and probably not helping, but Jinx was weird like that.

"I appreciate not seeing Feyras," Voldomir was saying to the listening Castellan. "But syphoning funds towards rebuilding Eodrass Temple doesn't appear wise."

"Master Luvon and the Bank are in Garth's ear, which means Master Rybel is sucking coin like a bottomless pit for his ships," Rimeros retorted sounding depressed. "So I'm not exactly happy to wrestle in every council session with Master Cinna about the expenses, but I can't exactly up and cut the divine wyvern out of all considerations!"

"Why not?" Voldomir grunted, stooping on his staff.

"Priest, one would think you would support the gods in this matter," Rimeros pointed out.

"Nesande, bless her heart," Voldomir retorted crooking his wrinkled mouth. "But Feyras can go fuck himself with my staff!"

"Eh, don't worry. Garth is notoriously slow to make decisions," Rimeros assured him with a sigh and stared towards the tree Jinx was hiding behind, but the Gish had retreated in time, so he didn't see her.

"Are you certain? Because he up and flew away the moment word came about the witch. Seemed pretty eager to me!" Voldomir argued. "Which witch one might wonder?"

Yeah, Jinx thought, since she didn't know this part.

What are you up to Glen? Hmm?

"There's a rumor, but I haven't verified it yet," Rimeros replied. "You remember what happened at the villa. Berthas almost killed himself and Keya appeared pretty rattled from the encounter."

"That fool habitually risks death, so it came as no surprise," Voldomir retorted. "Might be the boy sucks at magic? I mean he looks four hundred years old already, which is bad for a Zilan with his genes. I don't see him keeping it up for much longer!"

"He's the best I've seen in a while," Rimeros argued and the priest snorted.

"A lame rabbit can hop away faster than a turtle," he told the Castellan, who shook his head.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"I have to meet with Lord Fikumin this afternoon," Rimeros said tiredly and Jinx moved away from her tree to continue towards the stream.

She had let the matter of Glen relocating them aside, since Jinx had received a more pricy central apartment facing Taras' main square, but it appeared there was more to this than Glen's sudden and come to think of it suspicious generosity.

Damn it.

Jinx strolled down the paved path, gathering her pink hair en route and then fashioning a tighter ponytail out of the original mess. She didn't see Assara anywhere, but unless the Ticu had lost her way and went tumbling down the sharp slopes of the waterfall to land in Taras, it wasn't too concerning.

Assara could pop out next to you in no time, Jinx thought and finally noticed the small figure of Inis-Mir standing at the edge of the clear stream in her sleeping tunic. The Gish grinned at the clever princess who had managed to slip away from her wardens, but Inis had her back tuned to the path and didn't see Jinx approach.

"Hey there, 'Crimson Curls'," Jinx yelled and Inis turned around with a small finger on her rosy mouth to stop her from making noise. "What is it fool?" The still grinning Gish queried and a big part of the façade of the woods across the stream stirred. Branches crackled, an old Ash tree danced sideways and four blushing Laurel Maple trees heavy with samaras –their winged achene fruits or wingnuts- shed most of them on the ground.

The dry fruits hit the grass and the bushes underneath the tall trees in a rattling sequence, a cacophony that covered all other sounds and there were plenty of them as if something huge was moving inside the tree line.

"Young Ticu's perky nips," Jinx panted with a comical grimace and plenty of intense gawking. Inis also glared at the Gish in turn to stay quiet. As it happened, Jinx lost her voice immediately after, not because she had turned obedient out of the blue, but because a giant horned head had emerged out of the branches a boat's length from the banks of the four meters wide rivulet, and almost twelve meters from the princess who had stood still across it. The beastly head was followed by a scaly thick neck, an even thicker body that seemed not to end as the giant monster came out of the woods moving as fast as a heart attack.

Red stripes on sandy yellow with touches of white.

Oh, no… no!

Please.

Jinx got her bow out and used the tip of her boot to set its lower arm on the ground. She notched an arrow in, the procedure taking less than a second but by the time Jinx aimed at the awkwardly advancing on all fours Wyvern, the elongated beast had crossed the stream.

"Princess," the deathly scared Jinx grunted a hoarse warning at the back of Inis-Mir, who had turned around to watch the three-horned beast approach. The water made the Wyvern's scaly skin gleam under the sun as it dripped and the wedged head –much bigger than the Onyx Wyvern's and this wyvern had a less stout tubular torso about twice as long- towered over the tiny princess. Large moist nostrils expanded, gnarly jaws crackling half-open and the mauve tongue moving copious amount of saliva out.

Pieces of flesh and torn hide also.

We're fucked, the shaking Gish thought and pissed a little down her right leg.

Darn thing went in her boot.

"Inis," Jinx hissed not wanting to shoot at the beast with the Princess standing between them and quite certain the arrow would probably do nothing to stop the winged beast. From which Hell's depths did ye emerge? Fuck me arse for half-a-copper!

LEEAARRR?

The wyvern roared at the petrified princess sniffing at the small hand Inis had extended before Jinx's red-rimmed gawking eyes.

"You are so pretty," Inis-Mir giggled and the wyvern blinked probably as stupefied as the mouth-gaping Jinx.

Ugh?

"Princess!" The Gish snapped and the wyvern noticed her standing with a bow drawn five meters away with those huge, hungry dragon-eyes. It released a low guttural growl and fresh piss poured out of the scared Jinx. She wanted to run away –per the teachings of her Gish elders- but couldn't leave Inis behind.

Not that you can outrun a Wyvern, Jinx thought in despair and a lanky Zilan hurried inside the stream to cross it right behind the scaly beast. The scarred, intense male had braided long hair, was clad in an assortment of Zilan armour pieces and weapons that were matched with other pieces of Issir type armor, some custom leather add-ons in the mix. Pants made out of scaly leather that looked like it belonged to a Hydra and a pair of handmade boots patched up with the same exotic material.

The strange Zilan came out of the stream, splashing water everywhere, tapped the wyvern's left foreleg once with an intimacy Jinx had only seen in Glen and wore a mostly intact smile before addressing the matter in a professional voice.

"Rikkusa stand down," the Zilan said… to the glaring at Jinx wyvern, and then leaped to a stop with a flair she hadn't seen since the late Dante Blackwood. "We seek the occupant of the big castle to the west," he told them speaking with a strange accent in Common, half in some archaic Imperial or other and half with the sterile, pompous tongue of the Issir priesthood.

"Ah?" The still shaking Jinx queried, shifting a little embarrassed on her squelching boots to get a better angle for a shot.

"Lower your bow Gish," the Zilan warned in his semi-friendly manner.

"It's my father's castle," Inis said and the newcomer whipped his head towards her. Paused as if having an internal monologue and then said weirdly.

"Kin's blood? But are you certain dear?"

LEEAAAR

The wyvern roared.

Rikkusa is a female name, Jinx thought and lowered her bow.

Let's talk it out… sure.

"A Princess in Goras, makes sense," the Zilan continued with a glance at Jinx. "Humans rule in Wetull?"

"Not humans. Hardir O' Fardor," Inis corrected him and the stranger stared in her pouting face unsure for a brief moment.

"There's another wyvern dear. Yes, you were right yet again. Intriguing," the Zilan said exchanging a look with Rikkusa. "What of the old citizens?"

"A lot of them are still around," Inis replied and Jinx gulped down feeling the wyvern's eyes following her moves. She could hear the camp reacting to the beast's earlier shrieks, the forest hadn't managed to completely muffle.

"Hardir you said?"

"My father is away, but he'll be back tonight," Inis said and Jinx frowned unsure with her conviction, shattered when the little princess added losing some of her courage. "Or the day after morrow?"

The Zilan nodded and then extended an arm out initially before he caught himself. He bowed instead earning a loud snort of derision from Rikkusa and introduced himself, taking his time since Zilan had all the time in the world.

"To the heavens above our greetings Princess," he told her.

"Our thoughts and prayers," Inis replied elegantly with a blushing look at the taller Zilan. "I'm Princess Inis-Mir Aniculo of Goras," she added.

"And I'm Ivasaar of Elauthin," the Zilan told her with a smile. "An Aniculo Rokae, among many other things. Pleased to meet you Princess Inis."

"The Gish' name is Jinx," Inis added and Whisper cracked a nervous smile.

"I hope we have none of that," Ivasaar jested with a glance at the tensed Jinx.

"Where did you come from Ivasaar?" Inis asked, completely unbothered from the encounter that was still keeping Jinx rattled.

"I flew over the Isles to explore them," Ivasaar replied politely, pausing as he heard a lot of nervous people approaching. "Then over Mussel's Port, before I reached Goras proper. Whatever is left of it that is. But I was in Kaletha Triarchy afore that."

"Where is that?" Inis queried curious.

"Mistland," Ivasaar deadpanned.

Bullshit.

Then again… hmm, Jinx narrowed her eyes.

"The town below us is Taras," Inis explained whilst Ivasaar gestured for Rikkusa to retreat beyond the stream again, in a preemptive attempt to diffuse the onrushing to the scene royal guards. Ivasaar had the instincts of a seasoned adventurer. "My home is Tenebrous Castle, the one you mentioned. There is no greater castle than Morn Taras," she continued and the tensed Ivasaar nodded with a glance down the now noisy paved path.

"Have you ever been to any other castles Princess?"

"I haven't," she admitted. "But I want to."

"I'm sure you shall. Know that you are probably right anyway," the anxious Ivasaar assured her.

Inis noticed his nervousness and perked up. "Gish," she told the awkwardly standing in a pool of her own piss Jinx. I ain't gonna apologize for getting scared! A now angry Jinx thought. "See to explain our situation."

Wyverns scare the piss out of me!

Ah… ye mean…

"I don't think we can… what am I to say princess?"

There's a big unknown wyvern in the King's Forest, but we talked it out?

"It's an order Jinx," Inis told her with the conviction of a six year old royal spawn, who knew her father would side with her every decision in the end.

"Secure the princess!" An alarmed Rimeros yelled and Sir Qildor approached with his sword drawn, sober eyes set on the watching them wyvern from beyond the small stream.

"Sir Qildor," Inis intervened, nobody had even paid attention to Jinx when she had tried to explain to them what was going on. Kilynia had all but run the Gish over and several of them crumpled their noses when they past her by.

Rose-smelling cunts.

"Princess come here," Kilynia ordered the frowned Inis-Mir.

"Sir Ivasaar of Elauthin is a visitor," Inis told them and Sir Qildor eyed the pretending to be relaxed Ivasaar.

"Fellow knight of the mask," Ivasaar said to the uncertain armoured Zilan. "I salute you. Your presence is balsam to the soul. All of you," he added turning to the disbelieving, very alarmed Morn Taras officials that had surrounded them. "My friends and compatriots. It is good to see friendly faces again. I had all but drown in despair at the thought to start anew drawing from Coal Isle's cesspool. I thought us doomed."

"What did he say?" One of the Zilan locals asked. "Is he from the provinces?"

"Coal Isle was that colony of criminals no?" A Zilan merchant pondered aloud.

"Good grief! Goras is the colony! He's talking of the Mori mines," Voldomir corrected them. "Dudrina's kin survived. Thank the Goddess' mercy!"

"Oh, goodness me!" The first one retorted in astonishment and not sounding pleased at all. "What else? The barbarians have their own wyvern?"

Rimeros, one of the 'friendly' faces stepped forward while Sir Qildor got his body between the wyvern and the princess protectively. "Sir Ivasaar. We of course recognize a gallant Aniculo Rokae," he started. "And in the same vein, welcome you to Goras, whilst we stand puzzled at your unexpected presence."

Ha! Go Rim. Tell him, Jinx thought. Fucking confident bastard scared the shit out of me!

"He came from Mistland," Inis elucidated and a collective murmur erupted by the onlookers. Around fifty of them had gathered near the stream.

"I don't recall a Sir Ivasaar sent beyond the Unknown Ocean," Rimeros noted diplomatically. "Perhaps, I need to ask Vulreon to dig into the archives. Was it before the war?"

"Your name?"

"I'm Rimeros, the King's advisor and the Castellan of Morn Taras."

"I remember a Rimeros in Elauthin," Ivasaar said and grimaced. "I found the wyvern in Mistland and the journey happened after the war," he continued examining the faces of the Zilan officials present. He paused on Priest Voldomir and then returned his eyes on Rimeros. "Captain Nevarth, led the expedition. Old Nevarth can vouch for me. He better that is."

Who?

Rimeros stood back. "I haven't heard of Nevarth since the Fall. He had moored at Elauthin for years but I don't believe he made it. Nevarth had attempted some wild things previously though."

"Bah. Nevarth's expeditions were pretty shady," Voldomir added and a Zilan that had arrived late from the campsite asked.

"Hey. What did I miss? Who's responsible for the wyvern?"

"Ivasaar controls her," Inis intervened and Rimeros sucked on his teeth still mulling over the previous topic.

"Aha. Who is Ivasaar?" the curious newcomer asked.

"Shut up vile Verulis!" Voldomir snapped and the merchant stood back with a nervous smile.

"Priest, I donated to your cause!" He protested.

"This is it, your grace," Kilynia interrupted their argument decisively and signed for Sir Qildor to get the princess back to the camp. "Time to get moving."

"Sir Ivasaar," Rimeros finally said. "You could… stay in the castle obviously."

"What about my wyvern?" Ivasaar queried. "We could use the Den and I'll sleep at the shelter above it."

"Eodrass Temple is no more," Voldomir replied. "The place turned into a wilderness. You can use the Den here… in Taras that is."

"What about Morn Taras?" Hagen asked. "The rooftop?"

"That's for the Monarch's wyvern," Rimeros retorted with a glare. "We don't want Hardir finding the spot occupied upon his return."

"You are darn right," Hagen agreed with a slap at his own forehead. "Forgot about that."

"I'll stay with Rikkusa near the springs. Clear water, nice day and plenty of game. We hit a deer earlier as fat as a cow," Ivasaar told them.

"Wait… isn't hunting reserved—" Hagen asked but Rimeros cut him off.

"It's a good idea Sir Ivasaar. We'll see to provide you with supplies from the castle," he offered the newcomer. Ivasaar shook his head.

"We are good," he paused to think about it briefly and then pursed his mouth in a sad grimace. "I'd like to have some wine. Any wine. I haven't had a decent drink in almost two hundred and fifty years. Other things too, but a bottle of wine will suffice."

"We'll see to it Sir Ivasaar," Rimeros assured him, very relieved and Jinx caught sight of Kilynia exchanging a look with Iskay. The latter stooped to speak with Memphes in a series of whispers.

"Can Memphes approach Sir Ivasaar?" Kilynia asked respectfully, because you better be giving extra care in your words, when you talk to a man controlling a big wyvern.

Any wyvern.

"She can," Ivasaar replied and set his eyes on the comely former slave. Memphes walked near the wyvern-rider and offered him a wooden box. "What is it?"

"Strawberry cake," Memphes explained opening the box to show him. "We grow our own fruits, but we prepared too many and the princess won't eat but a bite."

Ivasaar stared at the well-made dough very moved and then reached to take it. Memphes smiled and stepped back. "The caramel dressing is made with boiled cane-sugar," she added with a deep bow.

"I appreciate the gesture slave Memphes," Ivasaar said, tears running down his scarred face. "You are very kind."

"I'm a freedwoman in the service of Morn Taras and its Monarch," Memphes corrected him, taking the opportunity to showcase her premium Imperial and training. "Tasked to offer solace to our valued guest. We welcome home the Aniculo Rokae, Sir Ivasaar O' Elauthin."

"Hey, stuck-up dude," Jinx taunted Rimeros on their way back to camp, rushing to walk next to him. "I'll be heading back to Taras. Alright?"

"Lady Lussiel. Is there no work for you in the palace?" Rimeros asked in an acerbic manner, annoyed she had interrupted his thoughts. "What is it you do exactly? Everyone wonders."

"This 'n that. Ehem… Anyways, I did my part for today."

"Which was what? Walking back and forth to the camp?"

"Saving the princess from a wyvern," Jinx corrected him and then blew a pink curl from her eye crooking her mouth. The whole tension with the winged beast earlier had undone her ponytail.

Rimeros paused to stare at the disheveled, smelly Gish, tired eyes quickly noticing the soaked pants and his mouth pursed tightly. "You wish to change clothes?"

"The thought crossed me mind," Jinx replied although it hadn't and Rimeros' face crumpled showing his incredulity.

"Just… go away, Lady Lussiel," the official finally said with a sigh.

I was going to, whether you agreed or not.

Thirty minutes later, Jinx guided her horse to the west side of the broader road that sloped down towards Taras. While the others had taken the route to Morn Taras, she had chosen the opposite direction but paused before beginning her descent to quickly change her clothes since the road stood deserted in a stroke of rare luck.

Of course, no sooner than she had bared herself fully, a carriage did pass her by, probably bringing the alerted about the new wyvern Fikumin to the castle, but the Gish half stood behind and half under her large horse and they missed her. Or noticed her boots under her naked bits and didn't want to ask those kind of questions, what with a foot of girthy horse-cock dangling over her forehead. Long lewd story short, Jinx got out of her pants and chemise, wiped her moist legs and arse with a towel, and then put on a pair of shorts without an underwear, adding a loose open shirt with missing buttons to the 'new' outfit.

It wasn't some weird fetish. Whisper had a limited amount of clothing to choose from and owned no other underwear but the one she had used as a towel. Ehem. Like Assara, who only had a green tunic, the one Jinx had discovered inside the saddlebags. The aforementioned now naked Ticu, because Assara had somehow found herself on the saddle -whilst the busy Jinx rolled on the asphalt between the horse's legs in order to put on her shorts, blinked her large eyes once in greeting.

"Damn it girl," Jinx protested puffing out. "Almost gave me a heart attack!" She yelled at the indifferent teenager who reeked of raw fish despite probably spending most of her time in the water. "I knew you were following us. Couldn't you come out earlier? Although I understand Rimeros is a dirty and haughty bastard—"

"Bad wyvern," Assara interrupted her drivel.

"Yep that too," Jinx replied with a grimace. She took the horse's reins to lead it down the slopes. "Just stay up there for a while, but wear your tunic to hide those titties eh?"

"So," Jinx told the now dressed Assara five minutes later, "How do you like the new apartment? It's smaller than the other place sure, but nicely furnished."

"Near lake," Assara replied with a burp. "Many fish. Good food. Music."

"Music?" Jinx chuckled. "Ah, ye mean the festivals during the summer. Ayup, it was a blast. That's city center for you!"

"Sing."

"You like sneaking up close and sing along? Of course you'll do that. Someday you'll sing a Ticu's song for me. Ha! A Ticu's eyes sees all," Jinx translated. "There's my perceptive fish girl. Hehe!" Jinx crooked her mouth amidst her smile and glanced at the misty lake from above, with the expensive buildings of Taras emerging in the hazy distance at its shores.

"You remember," she continued after some thought in a much more sober tone. "How Glen came to give us all that coin after we were gifted the new apartment as compensation?" Jinx shook her head, as Assara just stared at her blankly with those large fish-eyes. "Yeah. At first I was pretty happy with it, given that the old place had just collapsed, but then today I got a bit suspicious someone is hiding something from me. Maeriel not searching for Moira should have been the first clue. Aye. Blame the summer drinking for that part. Uhm. Anyhow, I understand Moira is a big girl and a bit of a sneaky slut between us, but still, just when our Glen got involved she just up and disappeared?"

"Magic," Assara said in her alien voice and smiled comfortingly showing a lot of small, sharp and very pointy teeth. It wasn't a comforting smile at all, Jinx thought with a shiver. More like an ominous leer.

"She had a bit. All healers do," Jinx explained and the Ticu shook her black mane right and left in fierce disagreement.

"Magic. The Wyvern came after the Shadow, and the Witch brought half the house down."

Assara had a limited vocabulary and usually condensed larger stories into a single sentence, while reusing some important words to describe different things.

Or persons.

Jinx smacked her lips and brought the horse –she was still leading it by the reins- to a full stop. She stared at the Ticu for a long while and Assara make a croaking sound with her throat a little uncomfortable with Jinx's scrutiny.

"You were at the villa," she finally said and a membrane opened and closed in Assara's large black eyes that missed the common human and Folk people sclera. "Is that what you saw there? Is Glen the Wyvern? Was he there during the earthquake?"

"No quake. Just magic," Assara replied.

"Who is the shadow?" Jinx asked narrowing her red-rimmed eyes.

"The killer usually visits before dawn," Assara announced gloomily. "But not that day."

Jinx licked her dry lips to make sense of what the Ticu was saying. "Why didn't you tell me about any of this?"

"The Wyvern came to see Assara. And Jinx likes the witch too."

Son of a bitch.

"Glen threatened you?" Jinx crooked her mouth annoyed. "The witch is Moira right? Did she use magic to bring down the house?"

Glen had hinted about it when he'd kept her in Morn Taras that night.

It all started to make more sense.

Although Jinx couldn't tell what manner of sense that was.

"Moira got away," Assara said.

"Yes. She did?" Jinx blinked. "Glen tried to hurt her, is that it?"

"Not on purpose. This Zilan, the Wyvern wants."

Jinx grimaced trying to decrypt the Ticu's words. "The killer tried to hurt… ahm, the witch… and then Glen arrived, stuff happened and the house came down."

"The male witch attacked the witch. The Shadow protected her. A Zilan of the shades."

"This Zilan troglodyte… is Moira's friend?" Jinx painfully pieced together the Ticu's convoluted story.

"Moira is a Zilan too," Assara deadpanned and Jinx raised her pink brows in shock.

"Get the fuck out of here!" Jinx blurted out and immediately extended her arm to grab Assara's hand to prevent the confused Ticu from leaping away. Good luck trying to find her afterwards! "Stay."

Glen was right. Of course.

That conniving bastard knew all along!

"Nela knows too," Assara whispered.

Oops.

Here's the traitor's unoiled fist up the shithole!

"Lithoniela?" Jinx grimaced at the level of deception revealed. You snobbish, sneaky and royal blue cunt. "Are you sure? Where is Moira now?"

"Follow the Wyvern and you'll find her," Assara replied.

Jinx puffed out audibly. "Fuck. You are confusing me girl. Why? How?"

Glen had gone away also.

Could it be?

"The Wyvern hungers for the Witch," the Ticu repeated in a husky voice and blushed fiercely. "He might hunger for Assara too."

Oh, shit. No.

You greedy motherfucker!

"Don't ever go there Assara," Jinx warned the Ticu. "Stay away from that lying fool," she added with a deep sigh. "I need to get to the bottom of this conspiracy," Jinx noted and then smacked her lips. Still tasted milk on them. Nice. With a grunt the Gish nimbly climbed on the saddle in front of Assara and wrapped the Ticu's arms around her waist before reaching for the reins again. "Hang on tight. I'll go fast now. Where is Lith by the way? Do you know?"

The Ticu nodded. "Lith sleeps at her father's old place."

"Where the fuck is that?" A stupefied Jinx asked feeling silly for missing so many clues, somewhat justified given the secretive character of most Zilan.

"The Phalanx," Assara replied. "But she doesn't know it yet."

Our good 'n holy sire. Find the fucking hose, a fascinated Jinx thought and clicked her tongue to get the horse going. My tits are on fire!