Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!

{Aria}

The reports blurred together, as usual.

Aria set down her quill, rubbing her temples. Supply requisitions from the northern garrison. Tax disputes in the merchant quarter. Another complaint about nim "disturbing the peace" that roughly translated to "existing while looking attractive."

[Same trifles, different day.]

Her eyes drifted to Captain Fenris's letter, still sitting on her desk where she'd left it three days ago. She'd read it enough times to memorize every word.

"Your Majesty, I write to inform you that Melisa Blackflame was captured by darian raiders during a skirmish near the eastern border. However, she has since escaped and is returning to Syux. No serious injuries reported. She should arrive shortly."

Aria picked up the letter, running her thumb over the broken seal.

[Kidnapped.]

Aria didn't like how hearing that made her feel. Still, she'd gotten what she wanted, hadn't she? Melisa had helped the army, even if it was for all of two days before getting herself captured. And in exchange, Aria had kept her word about Koros. No execution for the nim terrorist.

A fair trade.

[So why does this feel wrong?]

She wondered what those two days had been like for Melisa. What the darians had—

"Your Majesty?"

Aria looked up. Her new advisor, Lord Tarrett, stood in the doorway looking vaguely constipated. His default expression.

"Yes?"

"There's someone here you need to see. She claims to have vital intelligence about the Rhayan tribes."

"The Rhayan tribes?"

"A darian woman. Missing her left hand."

Aria's eyebrows rose.

[Interesting.]

"Send her in."

The darian who entered looked like she'd been chewed up and spat out by the world. Tall, scarred, with the kind of muscles that came from a lifetime of violence. Her left arm ended in bandaged stump.

But it was her eyes that caught Aria's attention. Mildly murderous and just a little bit desperate.

[What the hell...?]

"Uh... your Majesty."

That was the most stiff thing Aria had ever heard.

"You are?"

"Sirah. Formerly a Rhayan Blood Sister."

Immediately, Aria paused.

[Formerly. That word is doing quite a bit of heavy lifting.]

So, this person was a "former" darian warrior? Here? Standing in front of Syux's queen?

Aria had half a mind to execute everyone who let this darian get this far, if she wasn't assassinated before then.

"And... what? You've come to sell out your people?"

Sirah's jaw tightened.

"I've come to trade. Information for... considerations."

Aria leaned back in her chair, studying the woman. Everything about her screamed "trouble". The way she held herself, ready to fight or flee. The way her remaining hand kept twitching toward where a weapon would hang if it hadn't been taken off. At least the guards got that part right.

"What kind of information?"

"Patrol routes. Supply caches. The location of three hidden camps. Weaknesses in their command structure." Sirah met her eyes. "Everything you'd need to cripple their raids for the next year."

Aria narrowed her eyes.

[Too good to be true.]

"And in exchange?"

"Two things." Sirah held up one finger. "First, I want papers. Legal right to walk through Syux without being arrested or executed."

"Reasonable." Though Aria would be stupid if she gave her full rights. She had no intention of doing that. "And second?"

Here the woman hesitated. Just for a moment.

"I want to meet Melisa Blackflame."

Aria blinked.

[What?]

Of all the things she'd expected, gold, land, revenge against enemies, this...

This wasn't on the list.

"You traveled all this way, betrayed your clan, to meet the nim mage?"

"Yes."

Okay.

"Why?"

"That's my business."

Aria drummed her fingers on the desk.

The pieces weren't fitting together. A darian Blood Sister doesn't just abandon everything to meet—

[Oh.]

Understanding hit like cold water. That's right, Melisa had been kidnapped.

Then...

"You're the one who captured her."

It wasn't a question. Sirah's flinch confirmed it.

"It was, uh... what's the word," she muttered to herself. "Temporary custody?" She said it like a question.

"Is that what we're calling it?" Aria's voice could've frozen flame. "And what did she do during this 'temporary custody' that makes you so desperate to see her again?"

Sirah's remaining hand clenched.

"Nothing she didn't—" She stopped. Started again. "I need to speak with her. To explain."

[Explain what? Why you kidnapped her? Why you... what else?]

The reports hadn't mentioned specifics. Just that Melisa had been captured and escaped. But looking at this woman, at the desperation radiating from every tense muscle...

Aria stood, moving to the window. The city spread below, afternoon sun painting the rooftops gold.

[This is insane.]

But the information... if Sirah was telling the truth, it could save hundreds of lives. Prevent countless raids. The kind of intelligence that armies spent fortunes trying to obtain.

All for the low price of letting a kidnapper speak with her war prisoner.

[Personally, I don't want to agree to this. But, logically...]

"How do I know your information is good?"

"Test it. Send scouts to verify before you grant my requests."

[Smart.]

"And if Melisa doesn't want to see you?"

Sirah's eyes widened a tad. She clearly hadn't expected that question.

"Then... I guess I'll have traveled a long way for nothing."

Aria turned back to face her.

This darian had seemingly thrown away everything to come here. Betrayed her people. Walked into enemy territory with nothing but hope and information to trade. And Aria didn't know why. Not really.

But...

[It's not my business to know why, is it? As long as Melisa doesn't get hurt.] She closed her eyes. [No, all of Syux would spit on me if I declined this.]

"I'll consider your proposal," Aria said finally. "You'll remain under guard until I verify your claims. If they prove true, I'll arrange your meeting."

Hope flared in Sirah's eyes.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Don't thank me yet. Melisa may very well take that other hand of yours when she sees you."

Aria called for the guards. As they prepared to escort Sirah out, she added:

"One more thing. If this meeting should come to pass and if you harm her, if you so much as make her uncomfortable, I'll have you drawn and quartered in the public square. Clear?"

She nodded eagerly.

"Crystal."

After the guards led Sirah away, Aria slumped back in her chair.

[What have I just agreed to?]

She'd essentially promised to deliver Melisa to her kidnapper. Dressed it up with conditions and guarantees, but that's what it boiled down to.

But the intelligence... she couldn't ignore it. Not with the northern settlements begging for protection. Not with the body count rising every month.

[The greater good, right?]

She hated that phrase. It justified too much.

Lord Tarrett appeared in the doorway again.

"Shall I have her questioned more thoroughly, Your Majesty?"

"No. Just hold her until we can verify her information." Aria picked up her quill again. "And send word to Captain Fenris. I want confirmation on those patrol routes within two days."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Alone again, Aria stared at the blank parchment before her. She should write to Melisa. Warn her. Prepare her.

But what would she say?

"Dear Melisa, a darian woman you met, or more likely who kidnapped you, is here and desperately wants to apologize. I'm considering allowing it in exchange for tactical advantages. Please don't hate me."

[She's going to hate me.]

But that was the burden of the crown, wasn't it? Making choices that saved the many while failing the few.

She dipped her quill and began writing orders instead. If Sirah's information proved good, Aria would keep her word.

And if Melisa chose violence when they met?

Well.

That would be Sirah's problem to survive.