Turning around, I signal the girls to unbind our payload from their wolves and observe them take the deceased Matriarch down. At this moment, it's only our group that knows what the person-shaped mummy placed in a makeshift carry basket is, but the people slowly gathering around are certainly gradually getting the idea, especially with how respectful and sombre my subordinates act.
Miazira comes back to us with someone in tow, and it turns out to be the same male who has accompanied her during the time she commissioned us. Judging by his expression and tone, he seems rather shocked and dismayed as he hastily follows the Acting Matriarch, gesticulating profusely.
"That's enough!" She shuts him down when they get closer. "You'll get the full version with everyone else. Right now, I need you to gather the Elders for an emergency meeting. Everyone has to show up, no matter what they are doing, understand?"
"But, Acting Matriarch, such short notice—"
"I don't care!" Zira whips around at him. "It's called an emergency meeting for a reason! They can be balls deep in each other, and you are still going to drag them into the conference chamber! Anyone who doesn't show up is going to be charged with obstruction of family operation and potentially dismissed! Now move it!"
Eyes wide, the older man gets the message that she's not fucking around and offers a quick bow before jogging away.
"Trouble already?" I raise a curious brow at the short lady.
She brushes a lock of her golden hair behind her ear while exhaling heavily. "Just the usual politics. We've returned much sooner than everyone expected. The Elders most likely didn't have enough time to finish their scheming for both the case of Mother coming back and not."
"But, they do have to listen to you, don't they?" I cross my arms over my chest.
"I'm still only the Acting Matriarch, so they can put a lot of pressure on me if they band together. And that's why they might want to delay us as much as they can, to communicate on what to do." Zira runs her fingers through her gorgeous mane.
"Well, judging by the state of our package, nothing is stopping you from taking the acting part out of it, is there?" I ask, and she gives me a small nod after a moment of consideration. "So, it's only a matter of reaching for what's rightfully yours and setting things right."
"You are not wrong…" The pretty heiress mulls it over. "I just don't know if I can do it… To fit in her place… To be… like her…"
It's clear Zira is worried about becoming just another iteration of her mother more than doing a good job. And she's not to blame after living in that woman's shadow for who knows how long. But, from what we've seen since our initial contact, she definitely has the spark.
Thus, I kneel in front of the hesitant lady and hold her arm. "You don't need to be like her. Just be yourself. That's more than enough already. And how would I know? Well, you've shown how capable you are by seeing through our entire intrigue, boldly coming to confront us directly, and taking the rare and dangerous opportunity to come out on top of everything. So, just recall that moment in our headquarters and do the same here. Can you do that?"
Miazira takes a while to search my eyes before taking a deep breath and nodding resolutely.
"Great." I smile at her. "I'm with you all the way. Don't forget that. I need my puppet leader to be strong, in the end."
The girl who is going to become one snickers lightly at my audacious remark. Standing up, I face my squad. Six ladies await further orders. I roam my gaze over their impressive figures and their beast companions.
"Since the Elders must be walking on eggshells, we don't need to make them even more nervous by bringing the whole force," I begin. "Four people to carry the load is enough. Oniri, Yuru."
At my call, the short pair salutes to their chests, but I don't miss the pang of disappointment on their cute faces. Moving closer, I plop a hand on their heads and ruffle through their hair or fur, respectively.
"I'm not dismissing you two because you aren't capable enough. It's simply a matter of height. The other four will have it easier to carry the casket amongst themselves. But I'm not sending you back empty-handed either. You have an important task of your own." My little pep talk captures their attention. "Find a nearby tavern and take a little break. You've earned it. No one will blame you if you order a beer or two to unwind after this hot mess. You must be dying to chat freely without the presence of your superior making it awkward, aren't you?"
Their clever eyes shine with understanding, and they hit their chest again.
"We won't let you down, Leader!" the sweet leopardgirl exclaims intently.
Shortly after, they take their steeds and depart, heading out to heed my words. Their words should soon spread around the city. And with that happening, the Elders won't be able to easily sweep everything under the rug by changing the narrative, making things even harder for Zira.
That taken care of, the others dismiss their mounts and lift the wooden frame off the ground. Zira begins leading the procession while I walk closely behind her, the girls following after. We enter the main building through the front door and lay our eyes on the rich and extravagant interiors. As expected, the biggest merchant clan in the realm doesn't cut corners when it comes to showing wealth and dominance. Plus, I bet that part of it is the work of the late Matriarch.
Servants and clan members whisper to each other as they clear the path for us, our guide marching forward with grim intent and purpose. A person or two should be smart enough to figure out what we carry and start a rumour inside the house too. The more people know, the better for us.
Soon enough, we reach our destination, and Miazira pushes tall double doors open with gusto, silencing the heated argument previously filling the spacious negotiation room. All the Elders fall silent, their eyes locked on our entourage. I wait until we are all in and close the entrance behind my girls, who continue after our contractor.
"What's the meaning of this?" One of the old men stands up with a deep frown. "How could you bring these things here into our sensitive commune? And even a Human at that."
At Zira's gesture, the ladies drop the casket atop the long, low-standing table with a loud slam.
"That Human is the supervisor of the mercenaries I hired for my protection." She levels him with a glare, stepping closer to the package. "You all better watch your tone because we can't afford to lose the last few remaining allies we can currently rely on."
"Protection?" An older woman scoffs. "There are numerous forces under our command, not to mention the family's troops who listen only to the commands of the Board and the Matriarch herse—"
"And that's where the problem lies," Miazira cuts her off, at the same time, unsheathing a dagger, which she uses to cut the fabrics wrapped around the carried figure. "The chain of command is not balanced anymore."
Gasps and short screams echo around as everyone takes in the sight of the previous clan head lying deceased between them, the fatal wound fully visible on the female's chest. Several people invoke the Goddess' name in prayer, the first inklings of fear spreading through the gathering.
"Everyone, take your seats. Whoever moves from their spot without direct permission will be considered a traitor and immediately cut down." The golden-haired heiress reaches the fanciest chair and plops down, with me taking a spot next to her, slightly to the back, while the girls take one of the four sides of the room each, hands on their weapons. "Let us begin the meeting."
Nearly a whole minute passes in a stunned atmosphere before someone speaks up.
"W-What happened?" A male swallows thickly. "Wasn't this just… a typical ransom kidnapping?"
"No, it was not." Miazira stares daggers at him. "Thanks to the capable aid of Master Carter and his team, we've caught up with these criminals in no time. Expecting what you assumed, we approached them to talk. But their goal wasn't money. It was me."
The Elders exchange glances of worry and disbelief.
"Mother was just the bait to take us both out. As soon as we realised that, Master Carter's squad acted without hesitation. The kidnappers had the upper hand with a prepared ambush, yet they still all fell without fail. Seven against two dozen if not more. That's just how strong these things are." She inclines her head at the girls. "Unfortunately, thanks to that, the captors realised their plan was completely ruined. Amidst the chaos of battle, as one last desperate move, one of them lunged at my mother, who was bound to a tree. A bolt of magic pierced through his skull, but it was too late to stop the sword from skewering her heart. The healer's response was quick, but even the greatest recovery spells can't mend such a wound."
Some more whispered prayers travelled through the chamber, broken by another question.
"But… why?" A female gazed her way, seeking to understand.
"They were no mere bandits." Zira's jaw tightens. "They were blood and kin."
Everyone starts talking over each other at once, and the hall begins buzzing with activity. Waiting a few seconds, the Acting Matriarch smacks the table with her palm, shutting them all up instantly.
"Former family members exiled for their transgressions. Sentenced and jailed offenders who were imprisoned as scapegoats. Slighted business partners and subordinates. Abused servants and slaves. Our family made a lot of enemies under my mother's leadership. And they finally had enough." She folds her fingers into a fist. "Their only goal? To bring down the Stockhawker Household once and for good."
Her statement evokes a round of shouting once more, but it dies down as she raises that fist in warning.
"And the worst part is… We have no idea how many there are…" Miazira drags her eyes slowly over the Elders. "This was just a small unit from a bigger conspiracy… A conspiracy that is very well informed about our movements… A conspiracy whose agents could be anywhere at any time… Even right now… Right here…"
You can hear a pin drop in the oppressive silence that descends upon the conference. I do my best not to show any reaction outwardly, even though on the inside, I'm whistling in awe. With just a few words, Zira not only grasped a hold of the Elders through fear and anxiety but even managed to pit them all against each other through this fake scenario she crafted so cunningly.
Truthfully, the whole conspiracy is just us. But they don't know that. There's only an invisible threat before their eyes. And a traitor amongst their ranks, who can be anyone.
What a masterstroke.
And this woman was worried about not being adequate?
Nice joke.
"Preposterous!" An ancient-looking guy slams his hands onto the wooden surface as he jumps up when her sharp glare lands on him. "We've been shedding blood and tears for decades to bring this clan to glory! How dare you doubt our allegiances!"
Squinting, Miazira slides off her throne and literally power-walks right up the man's face, her steps resounding through the sizable hall.
"You seem awfully tense, Horanz." He stiffens as she runs a palm up his back. "I wonder… Did you just not hear what I said in the beginning… or is there something weighing on your conscience?"
The moment he opens his mouth, she grasps the back of his head and slams it into the table once, twice, thrice with all her strength. All the other Dwarves still in their seats as the poor grandpa whimpers in pain while sliding off the crimson-stained surface. Zira casually turns her face to me.
"I think I might be in need of your extraordinarily effective interrogation methods once more, Master Carter." She shows a hint of a vicious grin. "May I ask for the cooperation of your talented ladies?"
I bow at the waist. "Consider your words mine, Acting Matriarch."
Humming to herself appreciatively, she yanks the male away.
"Two of you, bring this scum to the room beside us and prepare him to answer some questions." Zira snaps her fingers, and a pair of my girls heeds her call, taking the fallen Dwarf by his arms and dragging him away. "As for the remaining two, you have my permission to follow with the promise I made to these lovely people at the start of our gathering."
They acknowledge the command by readying themselves to draw at any moment.
Miazira returns to her spot, and I adjust the seat for her. The Elders stare at her in trepidation, shown clearly that she isn't fucking around.
"What I'm going to say next is not up to vote. None of you can be trusted not to be compromised, in the end." She rests her face against her fist. "As of right now, I'm taking over the position of the Matriarch. I will not let this family burn while my breast still draws breath. This is the time for resolute actions and decisions. One wrong move and everything will crash to the ground. And do not think that you might miraculously avoid the fall-off. If this ship sinks, I'm taking you all down with me. So, you better take this seriously and work with me to save this hole-riddle wreck. Are we understood?"
They all respond with quick nodding.
"Perfect." Zira straightens up, joining her hands together in front. "You are dismissed. Be ready to receive your directives very soon. And don't try anything stupid. I'm not going to take any chances. You sneeze suspiciously, you join Horenz for his routine health checkup."
More nodding, even more fervent answers her.
"Keep today's matters to yourselves. Our competition won't be sitting idle either. The tiniest leak might throw these blood-frenzied sharks into action. If I hear any details not included in the official statements making rounds through the town, I know who to look for." She points her finger at the entire group. "You are free to go."
I don't think I've seen old folks run away faster, with complete disregard for the chairs and other furniture, just focused on getting the fuck away from whatever this is. When only our team remains in the chamber, the star of the show slumps in her throne with an exhausted sigh. I gently press my thumbs into her shoulders to help the drained girl relax. That draws a tiny moan from our short friend before she clasps her mouth shut with her hands, her cheeks reddening.
Someone is clearly unused to normal touch feeling good rather than painful.
Chuckling to myself, I stop so as not to embarrass Zira further and step into her view.
"That was something else," I compliment her honestly. "I knew you could do it, but I didn't expect you to be this… effective."
My gaze follows the scarlet trail made by the man my ladies escorted outside.
"It was all just for show." She waves me off. "Although that man was Mother's closest confidant. I'm fairly sure he deserved it. We'll learn soon. I have no doubt he will sing without us even trying. He is a coward."
"The interrogation was a good idea." I grin at her. "Paired with the suspicion you cast amongst them… They will happily share dirt on each other, thinking they are exposing a spy."
"That's what I hope for." Zira smiles back faintly. "And that no one from outside interferes, as I said to them. If I'm to take over this family and actually fix things, I need all the time and peace of mind to handle things thoroughly."
Sitting down on the armrest, I pat her head a bit. "You focus on doing just that, and we will ensure nothing bothers you. Myself, my girls, or even the Forgegraver Household. You are not alone anymore."
She leans more into my fingers, closing her eyes as she allows herself to enjoy this brief moment of respite. I might be looking at a badass mature woman who is a born leader, but that doesn't mean she is undeserving of the more delicate and sweeter affection. It might take a while, but I'll do whatever I can to let her experience all that she's missed out on due to her troubled circumstances.
When I take my palm back, those golden doe eyes open again and track my face adorably, jumping to my hand a few times. "I'll leave the girls in your care. They should be of some help to you. And provide adequate safety. Not to mention, you can contact me through them."
One peek at the duo lets me know that they are eager to help. So, I get up and walk around the long table while the remaining pair matches my tempo to meet me in the middle for a quick debriefing.
"Wait!" Zira's voice reaches my ears as I arrive at the crest.
We watch her jump onto the surface, run along its length, skipping over the deceased body, and come to a halt in front of me. With the furniture's general scale, she stands as tall as I do. Her cute mouth opens and closes a few times as she attempts to find the correct words and fails repeatedly. With a hand halfway reaching out, she sneaks glances at me and the ground in turns.
"Ummm… Thanks… For everything…" Finally finding her courage, she grasps my collar gently and presses a short kiss to my lips.
Yet, just long enough to evoke a faint wolf whistle from the side, which in turn makes the courageous lady back off with a massive blush. I look for the culprit and find the lupine-in-question avoiding my gaze.
Deciding to ignore Ressia's involvement, I turn back to Miazira with a smile. "You are welcome."
Before any more incidents follow, I excuse myself from the chamber. Memorising the path earlier, I find my way back without an issue.
Near the end of the last corridor, I slow down a bit. "Hecate."
My unseen operative winks into existence right by my side. "Master?"
"I'm sure you already know what I'm going to say." I give the dazzling Arachne some loving pats.
"I'll keep my eyes and ears peeled, Master." The alabaster-skinned assassin nods. "If any clan starts planning any moves, you'll be the first to know."
"Always so dependable." I smirk cordially and pull her into me for a warm hug, which she enjoys so much. "Don't forget to take breaks. My lap is always open."
Three pairs of pure black eyes skip to my waist as if considering the offer now, but ultimately, their owner slightly raises her chin and closes them all. It's obvious what she's after, and I lean in for the kiss.
Because, of course, she was there. Watching.
We share a much more intimate exchange for a much longer time, then Hecate simply vanishes mid-kiss and somehow slips out of my grasp without me noticing.
She's gotten sly, that quiet girl. Using her lips to distract me. Her career as a spy might have limitless potential.
But, I'm glad she's showing some more character other than just being an emotionless mute. Even if that comes at the expense of playing little tricks on me.
Exiting the Stockhawker grounds, I summon Diana, and we ride home together. The Forgegraver girls definitely know I'm back and must be waiting to hear about the operation. Thus, I show up at Pleasure Queen a few minutes later, show some appreciation for our grass-skinned bouncers, and slip into the shop.
It's the middle of the day, so the place is still fairly busy. After one inquisitive glance, I swap my clothes back into my favourite suit and join Niel behind the counter to lessen her load a tiny bit. She lets me handle the payments while providing the customers with more feedback wherever necessary, now able to leave her post without worry.
Though, judging by how this purple-haired minx finds ways to brush her plump behind into my front when we are behind the cash register together, she wouldn't mind carrying more of a certain load instead.
They decide to close the store a few hours earlier, just eager to hear the recount of the events straight from my lips. We gather on the upper floor, finding comfortable spots atop our decently wide bed. Besides Sirgia, Niel, and Mevana, Cecil and Daisy join in too, already waiting patiently in our bedroom when we arrive, sipping on some tea.
Noting how excited they all are, I immediately delve into the tale, from start to finish, avoiding no details. Half an hour later, we get to the end of the recent meeting.
"That's pretty much all. A real mess, but hopefully not one we can't endure." I spread my arms tiredly. "I still worry about Zira a tad, though. Perhaps I should have stayed behind longer in case she needed some support again, like that night."
My precious artificer mate exhales softly while rubbing her eyes. "You did amazing, as always, Master, but… Must you really act like this once more…"
"What?" I blink at her owlishly.
"I thought we managed to get over this, but it looks like it's not that simple…" She peers at me with an amused smile. "Your old habits are resurfacing again."
"You are just confusing me more and more." I huff at her, which draws a few giggles from the girls.
"Perhaps due to the aligning circumstances, you are viewing Miazira through the prism of your old world. Maybe because you see part of yourself in her. But, she is a full-blooded Dwarf, and she's shown that to you already when you stopped her to make sure she isn't acting blindly on her emotions," Sirgia explains patiently. "You came forth to help with her issue, trusted her explicitly not to deceive you, supported her from the side the whole time instead of taking control, healed her scarred body, reaffirmed her that she is still an attractive female, and then… stepped away. You were going to distance yourself from her again to give her time, were you not? Because she couldn't possibly have already processed everything to make a well-thought-out and intentional decision, could she?"
"Ugh…" I cringe a bit as my tiny lover points it out.
"I knew it. Even if I believe you've been doing it subconsciously." She sighs again. "Zira doesn't need space or time. She needs validation. You've told and shown her that she is capable and desirable, and that there are people who see her real worth, but you haven't acted on it the tiniest bit. It's no wonder she hesitated so much to kiss you."
"Hey." I squint at her.
"Master, this is serious." My lover pins me down with a firm gaze. "You've already pushed her back twice. The first one was understandable. The second could be chalked up to a coincidence, as you accidentally turned it around with your story, and she fell asleep feeling sad for you. Once more, and it might be too much. She might already be harbouring seeds of doubt in her heart. Please, at least tell me you ran your hands over her curves while she was pressing into you earlier."
"Well…" I wrinkle my nose.
She just shakes her head in slight disappointment. And the other four join her like one man.
"As I said, I'm not blaming you, Master. This was a delicate situation. But, we Dwarf girls are tough. Just look at Mev and her dedication to her craft. Or Niel and her sacrifice over the years. Or Cecil and her drive to move forward, no matter the opposition. Or even Daisy, whom, my sincere apologies, I don't know well enough yet, but I'm certain also experienced a lot of difficulties in her life," Sirgia adds, causing the person-in-question to duck her head a tad. "Do you know what else connects us? We almost always know what we want. And we never regret pursuing it. In some cases, that thing might be… you."
To emphasise her words, my lithe genius crawls into my lap and steals my lips rather decisively. Her petite hands guide my palms to her supple butt and soft breasts as she all but offers herself up to me, despite the audience we have around, even allowing herself to let out a few quiet moans. I can tell she's deeply embarrassed, but that doesn't stop her. Her point is that important to make.
Drawing back and watching her flushed expression as a string of saliva connects our lips, I brush her cheek fondly. "Okay, I get it. No need to get this drastic. A lot simply happened very quickly in the last few days, and I might have gotten sloppy. A man can stumble once in a while, can he not?"
"And I'll always be there to offer you my shoulder, Master." Sirgia links us together with one more kiss before settling down in my lap.
When we turn our attention back to the others, eight rosy cheeks greet us, the result of the unintended show of affection we've put on. A bitten lip here and there and a pair or two of clamped thighs.
She's right. I might be unintentionally torturing some of the ladies.
Just as I'm about to address them, a message comes through the Whispers.
~Boss.~ Ressia's voice bounces around in my head.
~What's up?~ I give her my full attention.
~Your friend needs to speak with you,~ she informs me.
~Did something happen?~ I tense up a tad.
~She said the Dwarf Sovereign heard about the incident and summoned her to explain,~ my Beastkin captain shares.
~Already? Not even half a day passed. The rumours reached him faster than we thought.~ I stroke my chin. ~I'll be there soon. Thanks for the report.~
Bringing my focus back to the bedroom, I find all the eyes glimmering with the need to know. Save for Sirgia, who dared to listen in on our conversation and is already up to speed. So, I give the others a quick update.
"Oh. That might be my fault." Cecil chuckles awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head. "I gathered the Tempest Wolves shortly after you guys left and started intentionally talking about what might be happening while strolling through the entire city. It must have put the crown on the lookout, and when the rumours from your girls reached them, they were prepared to make a move."
"Hmmm. That's not necessarily a bad thing. You did well." I reach out to reassure her with some ruffles.
A silly smile adorns her fierce visage as she soaks in her reward.
"I wasn't slacking either!" Daisy pipes up and hops off the bed, sprints to the nearby desk, takes hold of a stack of papers, and flies back onto the mattress. "I visited most, if not all, slave houses in the city and reviewed them from top to bottom! Here's a ranking I made by using criteria that I thought you would find appropriate, asking your mates here for their opinion. It also includes interviews with a few worthy individuals from each establishment, so that you don't need to waste your time browsing. Of course, you still can if you want or don't fully trust these reports. Even then, these should make it easier to navigate the market."
She holds the packet up to me with hopeful eyes, perhaps slightly uncertain about the whole thing. I receive it openly, giving the documents a brief look, and not hiding my reaction.
"These are extremely detailed. You must have spent a lot of time on this. Thank you." I offer the rusty-haired girl the same treatment as her kin-sister received.
"It's not that much… I simply flaunted my status and asked a few questions…" The bookish lady fixes her glasses shyly.
"Nah. I can recognise hard work when I see it. Comes with territory. A few years of grading assignments teaches you a lot about effort." Sliding my palm to her cheek, I pull Daisy in to place a grateful peck on her forehead. "You did great too."
Releasing her, I scan a few randomly chosen bits once more before throwing the entire thing into my spatial store for later study. In the meantime, it seems that Cecil has started glowering at her very happy kin sister, who, after noticing, is now showing her tongue in return. That soon devolves into their usual vocal spat, because of course it does.
While Niel and Mevana watch the pair with some amusement and pity, Sirgia gazes upon them with her mouth scrunched, deep in thought. Whatever might be going on in that brilliant head of hers, I leave it to its own devices and extract myself from our arrangement. Waving at the non-combative women, I swap places with Hecate, appearing in Zira's bedroom. The owner is standing before the window, most likely trying to catch me slipping in through it.
"You called?" I announce myself with a noticeable smirk in my voice.
The Stockhawker Matriarch jumps at the sound and whips around with disbelief.
"Seriously, how are you doing this?" She waves her arms in playful frustration. "I even asked our best mages to install alarms all over the room in case assassins tried to break in!"
I better not tell her that one of such skills has been regularly checking in on her in this very bedroom then.
"Magic." I twirl my fingers. "What's the situation?"
Calming herself down, Zira comes closer. "I've been summoned and have to answer. I wondered if you could accompany me. That would make things consistent with the rumours that our clan relies on your protection. And I would be extremely grateful for your assistance if things don't go according to plan."
"It would be my pleasure, Matriarch." I grin at her and snap my fingers, bringing out my mercenary gear once more. "Your hand, please?"
The blonde doesn't hesitate, even if the display makes her pause. As soon as I hold onto her, Diana emerges from the floor, and I hoist the tiny woman atop her back with a surprised squeak. Getting into the saddle myself, I ride the dark wolf into the shadows. We pop out in front of the household and start a trot towards the main stronghold.
As Miazira said, we should let ourselves be seen to create more evidence backing up our story.
The massive keep that is the residence of the Dwarf Sovereign comes into sight fairly quickly. It's an architectural wonder to behold, and I can already tell from a distance that it might share some features with the ancient abandoned tunnels we've gone through with Sirgia. Which isn't that surprising, as the capital might even predate those passageways.
We are forced to go through three separate gates and checkpoints before we find ourselves in the inner area of this fortress. Thankfully, there are no issues with identification, and no one makes any trouble for either of us. Even if Diana gets a few fearful looks occasionally.
To not cause a bigger commotion, I have to dismiss my loyal partner and enter the building proper alone with my client. Flaunting corridors lined up with lush carpets and glass display cases set up along the walls build an awe-inspiring maze. It's somewhat different from the rich vibes coming from the Stockhawker home. Here, it focuses more on decorations carved in stone and general artisanship.
A knight in full plate guides us to our destination. Seeing a Dwarf encased in armour is quite a comedic sight, but I do my best to remain respectful. Even as our escort hops forward in the clearly impractical ceremonial set that most likely won't ever see a serious battle.
Before we enter the room guarded by two more of his brothers, they demand that we hand over our weapons. Zira doesn't carry any, which is easily acceptable, but they can't believe there's none on me either, her supposed guard. I've hidden away the draconic hilt ahead of time, not wanting to spend hours waiting for someone to decide if it's dangerous or not.
Still, they are convinced by my explanation that I rely on magic more and activate some additional arrays in front of our eyes. I briefly wonder what those do and if I should test them, but that's easily a bad idea. Thus, we are ushered into an old-fashioned office that's kept in perfect shape.
A textbook definition of a regal Dwarf sits behind a mighty black marble desk, wearing a thin crown atop his hazelnut-haired brow. He bears the face of a wizened warrior, keeping his hair relatively short, including a sharply cut beard set in a triangular shape. As for his attire, he has donned decently casual but still visibly royal, form-fitting robes.
Miazira falls to a knee immediately after entering. As for me, I offer the man a light bow and incline my head, returning to keep vigil behind her. His fierce gaze drills into me as his brows descend a tad, and I swear the pressure in the air intensifies.
But, while I do intend to be respectful, I don't plan to be a pushover. I'm here to protect, and protect I shall. Unbothered by the pressure, I leak out some of my own, which clashes with his until my female companion is no longer affected by it.
Zira gives me a worried glance, but I just smile at her cordially. After a moment, we hear a deep chuckle, and the force recedes.
"You have found a strong backer, Young Lady Stockhawker." The Sovereign smirks, gesturing at her to stand up.
"I apologise if his actions offended you, Your Majesty. Master Carter takes his job very seriously." She curtsies once more. "As a proper mercenary should."
"A mercenary, huh?" He eyes me carefully again. "Is that how far things have gotten? For it to be necessary to hire Humans instead of our own kin?"
"Most likely much worse than what Your Majesty has heard. Without meaning to belittle the royal intelligence network, of course." Zira sighs heavily. "I assume that, at the very least, Your Majesty is aware that the previous Matriarch has passed away."
"Previous Matriarch implies that there's a new one already." The man hums.
"We did not mean offence by not reporting the change just yet, because it's a recent development. I returned home a few hours ago and had to dive into securing the future of the household without any delay. There are forces at work that we believe are actively aiming to remove our clan from the registry entirely," she explains bravely. "If you would permit me to share the whole story from start to finish, which is what this summons must be about, I dare assume."
His gaze skips to me for a second before he nods. "Go on, then."
Miazira recounts a few more things other than just our last expedition and gives the full picture of her troubles. Naturally, she goes with the version we crafted when she reaches the main point.
Her story concludes, and the monarch rubs his hands slowly. "You do not give the impression of someone who just lost the last of her family, my dear."
Zira takes a deep breath, as if preparing herself for something.
Or she is just struck by his rather tactless comment.
"Permission to speak clearly?" she requests.
"Granted." The man gestures with his finger.
"With all due respect, Lord Jergam, but we both know Mother was closer to a devil than a saint. And she could get away with so much only thanks to the dealings between the two of you. I might not have been her confidant in those relations, but I'm not some stupid young heiress who only stays in her fancy room and lives a worry-free life of a rich noble girl. I can connect the dots. Especially when those dots are missing from official ledgers and accounts," my new golden-haired friend shoots out in almost one breath.
The Sovereign blinks at her slowly, straightening up.
"You called me here to see where things stand. To probe how much I know. Then, I can honestly admit that I know nearly nothing. But, as I've claimed the position of the Matriarch, I will soon learn everything I can. And that includes anything my predecessor might have tried her best to hide and obfuscate," Zira states with her chin held high. "At this moment, I can tell you one thing, Your Majesty. I'm not going to agree to every previous accord secured between our clan and the crown by default. I shall decide myself what is and what isn't signed for the good of our people and our nation. However, while my goal is to restructure and rebuild the family from the ground up, that does not mean I'm some selfless paragon of justice. That is where opportunities show up. Opportunities to continue our relationship on new grounds and with new rules. And I believe both sides should be interested in making the best out of those opportunities. Isn't that right?"
Damn, girl.
This one has some serious cojones.
Though I can see her hands trembling behind her back from my angle.
Still, for an act, this is a real one.
It all depends on how this Lord Jergam takes such a direct challenge, however.
The answer comes with a vicious quirk of his lip. "Those are some bold words, Young Matriarch. Are you sure you can back them up with actions?"
"I will do whatever it takes to protect my clan from threats both internal and external. With the backing I secured myself, it's not just an empty oath." Miazira tightens her fists by her sides. "I do earnestly hope that the royal family is not part of the latter."
The man's brows crawl up his forehead as silence falls upon the office.
Damn, girl.
This one has some serious trust in us.
I guess I can't disappoint now.
Lord Jergam snickers openly, waving a finger at her. "I like your guts, Mia. You have—"
"Zira," she cuts him off. "Matriarch Zira Stockhawker, Your Majesty."
That makes his jaw clench slightly, but he doesn't immediately voice out his displeasure.
"As I was saying, you are lucky I like you, girl. And that I have already decided to call for the High Hierarch to officially recognise your claim over the family," the Sovereign exclaims firmly. "Not many tend to be this direct and honest these days. Perhaps it takes one to stare death in the eyes for such strength of character to awaken. Whatever it is, I'll take a gamble on you. Just make sure you don't let me down."
Miazira's response is nigh on her lips when loud and heavy footsteps reach us from behind. The two of us turn around just in time to witness the entrance of a portly Dwarf male dressed in magnificent priestly vestments. The long-white-bearded old man helps himself traverse the halls with a ceremonial pastoral staff, a golden incense burner swaying in his other hand. He even has that kinda funny, tall, triangular hat, whatever it's professionally called.
"My deepest apologies… Your Majesty… I've shortened the evening… sermon… as much as I could… Why is the chapel… even so far in the corner of… the keep?" The bishop wheezes between his words. "Please, allow me to… catch my breath… and we can begin the ceremo—"
He freezes in place when his silver eyes fall onto me. In the next second, he himself falls right onto his forehead, the staff and incense burner immediately forgotten. As he slams into the ground, the scented coals and burned ash spill onto the expensive carpet with a clang of metal.
"Blessed be the generous Goddess for gracing her humble servant with this divine sight!" he chants as he repeatedly bows ahead. "This lowly attendant is unworthy of basking in the light of the divine! Yet he listens! Speak, My Holy Lord, what does your celestial spirit seek in this unsuitable land?"
One of the heated coals rolls into my shoe as we all gape at this man in stupor. The furry carpet starts to light up, so I slowly press my sole down on it, filling the silence with the faintest hiss of dying flame.
Excuse moi, but…
What the fuck?