Estrelle was an industrial nation, founded and built on Clockwork magic; most of its wealth was centered around its industry and technology. No other nation built things like Estrelle did. Estrellan motorcycles were the best in the world and the Empire competed closely with the small Kingdom of Detroit over which produced the best motorized vehicles, trains and carriages.
Ensla was a sort of mixed bag when it came to technology, horses and beasts of burden were still widely used and in some kingdoms were the primary mode of travel but cars, motorcycles, airships and more weren't uncommon. Roadways in most places now had elevated highways for motorized vehicles while streetside roads had low speed limits because horses and carriages were still abundant everywhere.
There were guns, canons etc but swords and hand held weapons were considered the correct weapons to learn since bullets really didn't work against most demonic beings or magical ones, easy to bat aside and the hides on things like wyverns, unicorns and such were too well enhanced for most bullets to get through. Metal mages could enhance bullets, could make guns work in ways that they worked against magical targets but in general, only hand held weapons worked especially when a normal human was going up against a mage.
Estrelle had grown independently, at first a Kingdom like most others but then expanding, conquering other Kingdoms until it became an Empire in every sense of the word. It rested only a couple of miles from the Northern border of Pergrand, separated from the mainland of the continent by a straight that had fairly shallow waters.
The Empire's Armada was a rumored thing, but, there had been a confrontation only 2 years prior when the Earl of Bismark of Pergrand, who held the seaside lands closest to Estrelle, got into some sort of disagreement with the Empire and the Armada had come, wiping out the Pergrandian forces that had been sent to help the man, wiping out the Earl and the small town near his estate in only a few hours. Forces from both Icefall and Ellisian had been sent, both of the Grand Dukes responding quickly…and those forces were just…gone. Annihilated.
The Armada had withdrawn once their objective was complete and the Empress had warned Pergrand not to cross her again. It had taught them all they needed to know about the Armada. Regular soldiers couldn't stand against clockwork soldiers…
Clockwork soldiers had no morals, no emotions. They were automons and did as they were instructed to do. If they were ordered to destroy, they destroyed;if they were ordered to stand in place? They could do so for months or longer. While living beings would pause, have a moment in the face of killing, the Armada did not. Once a country dealt with the Armada, they tended to leave Estrelle alone because the leaders of countries were intelligent, savvy, understood the threat. Estrelle's Ambassadors were male, their 'leaders' on the whole were male, the Country was Ruled by the Imperial family that would go out to lead the Armada when it was needed. Two decades Prior, the Imperial family seemed to have been wiped out. The Imperial family was not the Royal Family. The Imperial family was the bloodline, while the Royal Family included non-Clockwork mages and clockwork mages both that were adopted into the family. The Imperial Family in its entirety was never fully known, for the exact reason that had transpired. Alziel's Mother, Father and two older brothers had been killed during visit to a foreign country. The Imperial Doctor had come forward, advising of the new heir as well as the two imperial princesses. Alziel, unlike her parents and brothers, had to prove herself to the House of Lords and there had been plenty of political issues until she had established herself. Alziel had been a teenager at the time and she had fought a political war until the House of Lords fell into line.
The loss of her middle sister had made her wary and perhaps more than a little overprotective of her younger sister, so when her youngest sister, Anastsia went missing on a trip to meet the King of Enca? She had very much debated on just razing both Xillia and Pergrand, but waited for official responses.
Now she had her answers, her sister had been captured by Pergrandian slavers at the order of King Raimarc, and Raimarc had had Anastasia impregnated with his seed then locked in a Reproduction center and handled as nothing but a brooding device, fed only nutrition for the baby, given nothing to maintain her own health. The baby was healthy…because they had been maintaining it at the reproduction center, but Anastasia had lost 20lbs. Now, away from the doctors of Pergrand both baby and mother weren't doing especially well. A mothers body wouldn't take anything from the baby…but Anastasia was so run down she couldn't provide well for the baby and the special procedures Pergrand used to maintain a female while they were pregnant weren't known anywhere else because everywhere else mothers were nurtured…
She was officially on the warpath, she'd called in a few favors and the House of Lords had publicly released a statement that the Estrellan Empire would march on Pergrand. She was worried, upset, not even the niggling of her dragon soul could keep her from her anger and she was ready to tear Raimarc apart with her own hands. She'd listened to Sergei for two days…and had agreed to not…raze the entire country to the ground, which had made Claude, her butler, stare between them warily. Right now? She wanted one of the famed Pergrandian birthing pods to throw the child into after having the imperial doctor perform a c-section so that Anastasia could recover.
Sergei stayed on his ship, coming when invited to speak with the Empress, well aware of the soldiers posted at the dock and the canons that had been turned to face it. He kept the engines powered down and had ordered his crew to be respectful and cooperative, keeping in touch with his brothers, especially after Uram told him that the Dark Eagle had died.
Given the fact Ivan had sent pictures of the man to Bosco…it was the worst possible thing to have happen…the odds of Arman Pradesh and the Boscans believing them…that Zen Pradesh had been in a fight with an Icerendian Snowbear and had slid under it during the fight, gutting it and had been killed, his body destroyed so it couldn't even be recovered by the necrotic guts of a damn bear he'd been fighting to entertain during an engagement party… so this time he really WAS dead and they weren't lying…
If Estrelle didn't go to war with Pergrand, Bosco's Archduke absolutely would….he wasn't sure how much more Raimarc could fuck up but they only had two nations they shared borders with left they weren't at war with…Lugregio didn't seem interested in war…and Joya was a matriarchal society that didn't admire Pergrandian men…but maybe Raimarc was working on that? It wouldn't have surprised him at all at this point.
He sat in the galley of his ship, drinking luke warm bitter coffee that had been made that morning and trying to sort out what he could do to save his country from ruin…ruin his brother didn't even know yet that he'd brought, that the Three Grand Dukes, as strong as they were…wouldn't be able to save it from.
"Sir…that coffee is dreadful…" This from Riley, Sergei's chief aide.
"I'm aware." Sergei snorted ruefully, eyeing the cup like it offended him but taking another sip anyway.
"Let me make you something better? Perhaps a hot toddy?" Riley offered and Sergei released the cup to the man, looking out the window at the palace, with the brightly glowing light above it. Two days he'd been here, trying to talk the Empress out of a war when he himself could fully understand her position and that she was well justified in her actions. Enca's King hadn't helped his case at all. King Curtis had been furious, deeply angered over the condition of his fiance and once his relief over finding her had passed he'd wanted retribution. He'd petitioned the UN to take punitive action against Pergrand…and it had fucking agreed just that morning, sending funds and resources to Estrelle to support the Empire's actions and they would be holding a special meeting today that would include Bosco…Arman Pradesh himself who's son was currently nothing but a mess on the floor of an arena in Damascas…and he KNEW that Zen was there now.
"Make that drink strong." He told Riley.
"Sir, the Empress has summoned you…"
Sergei looked at the door where one of his men stood and let out a breath, standing, redoing his tie and buttoning the jacket of his uniform back up while Riley fussed around him to make sure he was back to the usual high standards a Prince had to live up to.
Sergei turned while Riley was pinning his cloak into place, grumbling about the fact it was cold outside and Sergei might get sick…
"Getting sick is the least of my worries right now." Sergei responded, walking from the ship, Riley following him, meeting the men sent to escort him to the Empress. It all just…was so frustrating. The Empress was a beautiful woman, proud and strong with her blonde hair and fierce eyes, even the growls and very draconic behavior because she was a dragonkyn mage, all of that was right up his alley. He was the first born Prince of Pergrand, the patriarchal society he came from more than frowned on men who favored women…and he did. Sergei had taken male lovers over the years but he hadn't enjoyed them, had made excuses, worked longer hours to avoid being alone with them, he'd taken business trips to other countries and hidden his "depravity" the fact he liked women, preferred them.
He wanted a woman…another reason he'd walked away from the crown, sitting on the throne he'd be expected to marry a man, to have relations with men, and he just…didn't like it. He liked strong women, women who could stand toe to toe with a man and make them doubt they could really overpower them…women like the Empress.
It was a vice he'd tried to overcome but spending so much time with Alziel had just driven it home more. Though…if Pergrand fell, he wasn't sure what would become of him. The sitting royal family of a fallen nation never tended to fare well after that fall.
He still held his head high, didn't show any of his worries, he had a lifetime of never showing weakness under his belt and he wasn't less of who he was now. He wanted to save Ivan and Uram, get them out of Pergrand if possible, but send them where? He had no idea where they would be safe, especially not with the name Karadin. He'd already played his final card…the birthing pod…and he'd even lined up Atticus Mortimer himself to set it up and work to save Anastasia from what the reproduction center had done to her. It was the last thing he could think to offer to show he was sincere, that Raimarc really didn't represent
The Empress was waiting in a private sitting room, her butler at her side making tea.
"Let us discuss the next forty eight hours for your country," The woman said, watching Sergei, "as the eldest prince of the royal line…your brother is inconsequential to me. I would rip his throat out with my bare hands, after the public decree he'd have me harvested and then kidnapping my sister…" she took a tea cup and sipped from it, "I am well within my rights to raze everything…however, you have stated that the people are not him. After discussing with the Ministry, they have stated that your brother must be removed from the throne. That is a non-negotiable term."
Sergei sat down across from her, nodding to the butler when offered a cup. "It's fair, Raimarc has committed a lot of crimes since taking the throne, Pergrand can not keep shielding him, neither can that throne." he had no argument, he was there to save the people, not his brother Raimarc, nobody had forced Raimarc to do the things he had and Ivan and Uram and even Sergei had all tried to talk him out of these sorts of things, had advised him he was crossing lines, establishing himself as a tyrant instead of a King.
Sergei wasn't a kind man, he'd grown up in a harsh environment, had suffered alongside his brothers all because of being born into the royal family, but he was reasonable, competent, intelligent, educated and responsible, all things he'd developed through being raised to become a King. Something Raimarc, the third born son, really hadn't had, everyone had assumed he'd never get near the throne, so he'd been allowed to shirk his lessons, to be a brat, he'd been spoiled, coddled even at times, even Ivan, second born, had faced harsher expectations and been pushed to do well in school. Raimarc…had never been pushed, by the time the throne fell into his lap it was too late for Gustan to correct any of that, it was get Raimarc through the rites or turn to Uram…and Uram was kind, generous…things Gustan reviled.
"Estrelle will remove him from the throne," Alziel spoke calmly, picking up a cookie and biting into it lightly, she watched him through her lashes, she'd needed time to come to terms with this, the first born Prince of Pergrand…of all the men in the world…her dragon, her goddess, had chosen him, She'd been upset at first, but over the last two days she'd had time to really push the man, to test him, put huge pressure on him and wait to see him buckle, but he hadn't. Sergei Karadin had stood fast, met her anger with honest determination, handled her rage with calm apologies and assurances and he'd not faltered once in defending the common people of Pergrand. He didn't say the nobility had bad seeds, but he didn't deny it, and he readily agreed his brother had flown out of control.
Two days of spending hours talking with him, pushing at his patience, testing his limits, and the man held himself like the ruler he'd been raised to be, and she felt better about what the dragon soul in her had decided about him. Another test…this one the most important to her personally. "however, you will not be returning. I will need you to formally renounce the throne. It is documented that the second young man…though not officially, told your father to…what was it the informant said, Claude? I thought it a nice bit of poetry almost."
"Take your crown of thorns and oppression and shove it up your ass, ma'am," The butler provided.
"It was not a formal declaration, but…Estrelle would acknowledge him as the next King of Pergrand, unless he reounces…and then it would fall to the current named heir," Alziel smiled faintly. "Process and all that."
"You want me to turn from the throne of Pergrand again?" Sergei frowned, confused "If you're removing Raimarc…as long as I don't have to go through the rites? I wouldn't renounce anything."
Alziel smiled, her eyes now turning decidedly predatory on him. He sincerely had no ambition tied to his agreements that Raimarc was the problem, he wasn't angling to put himself into power, he really was here just for his people. She sat back in her chair, sipping her tea and continuing to watch him. The dragon in her liked the fact he never looked away from her, didn't retreat or back down, managing to maintain his presence, his dignity even when he'd been begging her not to kill the people of Pergrand. He was strong, he wore a real military uniform, Claude had told her what each medal was for, that the campaign ribbons were real, he'd served, none of his brothers had, but he had. It checked another important box.
She smiled faintly "There was no public announcement, and you are ours, so..yes, you must. We have laws, regulations. We don't believe our laws allow for you to be King in Pergrand and at our side." she looked at him, studying him and watching. It was a declaration of more than she had meant to do, but…it was the truth and she would not allow a potential to get away if she could help it. Her Father had also been a dragonkyn and had explained it all to her, she had two dragons that lived in the palace to teach her. Her brothers had both been dragonkyn, but they had not been clockwork dragonkyn, one had been a wind element, the other a smoke element. They'd all…talked about what they dreamed their mates to be…Adrianna and Anastasia laughing and teasing as younger siblings were wont to do. Her Mate…would be the next Emperor…and she needed to make sure he could stand with her, and Sergei Karadin, was the kind of man who could, he'd been raised to be a ruler, and he had the right heart to be a truly great one, to stand beside her, handle the political maneuvering and manipulations of the House of Lords, the passions and angers of the House of Commons…and all of the nations within the Empire, he wouldn't be impressed if he had to face a King and bring a nation to heel for the Empire, exactly what she needed. More than that…a nice bonus, he was also tall, built, physically strong and plenty attractive, she liked his dark gray eyes and chocolate colored hair.
Sergei blinked "I…am yours? Are you…claiming me Empress?" he asked, not entirely sure what she meant, was he being named a consort to the Empress? A slave? He could certainly think of worse fates really, beautiful as she was, he wouldn't crawl on his knees but he sure wouldn't fight her.
"We are," Alziel sipped her tea, "you'll be crowned to stand at our side eventually."
Sergei's dark eyes narrowed as he thought on that "I'm a potential mate…" his frown tipped into a guarded smile then, Gregorian had told him about the whole Dragonkyn mate thing, all Greg knew about it, how he prayed he'd find his like his father had…half hoping because of the way their laws were…it wasn't a woman like his fathers had turned out to be. Gregorian had loved his mother dearly…so had his father….but his Father had been forced to retire young…make himself and his mate disappear as soon as Gregorian was old enough to handle Damascas…so that she didn't get harvested…because the king had ordered her to be…and his father wouldn't let any harm come to his beloved mate and wanted to marry her…something he couldn't do in Pergrand…so Gregorians parents had faked their own deaths, telling Gregorian, apologizing…begging him to keep in touch once they could tell him where they were.
"We cannot confirm, nor deny that statement until after Pergrand is dealt with," Alziel sipped her tea. Sergei nodded, silent for a few minutes in thought before he made a decision. Sometimes, life didn't give you time when a crossroads came before you and you had to follow instinct, react with what you believe even when you have little to form a strong backing for that choice and the choice is going to change your life. This was one of those moments for him and he was smart enough, intuitive enough, that he knew it. He was Pergrandian, his life had sadly faced many of these crossroads moments where he'd had to trust himself with little to go on and he was still alive, still strong, and still in a position where he could make his choices. So, he chose to trust how he felt.
"I will renounce my claim to the throne then…when you need me to. The people will be…afraid…when Raimarc is removed, I'm well known, they'll think me or Ivan will come to power and there won't be a panic." He advised, Pergrand would lose their collective mind if they thought they were about to enter a civil war with the nobles fighting for supremacy.
"There are also the Three Grand Dukes to consider, they're also a failsafe of leadership."
"Her Imperial Highness will first remove the current King, then your senate will need to come to order, to discuss matters," Claude said calmly, "which will set the tone for the next few weeks."
Sergei nodded, taking a sip of tea and sitting back, crossing a leg over the other, "The Grand Dukes for leadership? Are the best option, all three are very well liked and respected by the people. They're good men who have little to no loyalty to the King. I would count all three of them as friends, people I would trust under any circumstance to make the choices that would protect and serve the people of Pergrand." he said, his dark eyes on Alziels pale aamber ones. It seemed…he'd made the right choice, it felt right, and the heat he saw in those amber eyes certainly made him feel like he couldn't have asked for more. "Then, it's just waiting now."
"Yes, the official paperwork for the…agreement between the two of you should be here by tonight," Claude said, "and once that is signed, the House of Lords will acknowledge you as the to be Imperial Emperor."
Sergei blinked, taken aback…so, the plan wasn't for him to just be a glorified prisoner to keep Pergrand in line after all?! "You're…willing to marry me?" He looked at Alziel, his name wasn't exactly known for much more than violence, he really had been sitting here feeling just fine with the idea that he would be at best, a consort, a tool for Alziel to use and a companion for her. He honestly hadn't imagined she would offer him more than that, she didn't need to, he'd agreed without any special offers and been alright with the idea of it, there were certainly worse fates than warming such a womans bed and being a quiet power source for her.
"Our mate will not be hidden away and the only one allowed to stand at our side is the Imperial Emperor," Alziel tilted her head, watching him, looking almost curious. "We're not heathens…nor Joyans."
"Whom we do have a decent trade agreement with," Claude pointed out.
Alziel blinked, "of course. Our chocolatiers demanded it, we had to make sure they were happy."
Sergei smiled slyly at Alziels slip, moments ago she'd refused to answer him about him being a potential mate for her. "Your mate…so I was right, I am a potential for you, good…I won't need to justify anything to anyone back home…our society…is pure patriarchy…men who get into relationships with women are…mistrusted. But…people understand mates…I won't have to shove the idea down too many throats."
Alziel quirked a brow, "that will need to be something at least mildly adjusted. Half of the world has female rulers. Trade requires at least acknowledging outside autonomy. It is a requisite for being part of the UN."
Sergei nodded, setting down his empty tea cup, noting Claude moved immediately to pick it up and refill it, placing it right back in his hand "I happen to like women, I always have, I'd love to see Pergrand get onto the world stage…join the modern world, Raimarc has this…odd revulsion where women are concerned, more than just simple homosexuality…he's always been hostile toward anything female, he wont even ride a female horse…my father was that way too…so was my grandfather."
Alziel shook her head, "that…is beyond sexism..beyond a phobia almost.." she looked thoughtful, "perhaps we are dealing with a mental illness…"
Sergei shook his head "No…Raimarc was always a brat, and father spoiled him because nobody believed he'd ascend to the throne…there are rites the Kings of Pergrand went through, beyond the lessons, the tutoring and prep to rule, I didn't learn about them until it was time for me to assume my role as Crown Prince fully, I was 18 and my father took me to…the old ruins of the capital of the Otho Empire, told me I had to undergo rites to become King, rites that were specifically for Karadins, that he couldn't allow any child of his to ascend the throne until they had gone through them…it was…so important to him, more important than anything else I was put through to prepare me to rule. I don't remember what happened there, but I remember…knowing, deep down…I would never accept whatever it was and I told my father I wouldn't agree to the rites, I don't even remember what it all was, when we left he was furious, demanded I reconsider and while I couldn't and still can't remember what exactly happened there…I held fast to this deep revulsion…like those rites were something horrible, and I could never agree to them. So…he turned to my brother Ivan, started him into the lessons and sent me off to Icefall to serve in the military. But Ivan refused the rites as well, father packed Raimarc up the same day Ivan refused and took him to the ruins…when he came back, Raimarc had agreed to whatever the rites were…had gone through them…and he was…" Sergei shook his head "It's difficult to put it into words…but like something dark had risen in him and taken a spoiled boy and turned him into a sadistic man."
"Oh, good, I was mildly worried," Alziel smiled, "we're not allowed to just…kill a mentally ill person..they may not know what they did..so if you are saying he's competent…" she paused, "...but I would assume you do not want your brother killed.."
"I've seen the things he's done…he ordered my niece harvested…killed, he ordered innocent babies murdered because they were born female. Raped a good and innocent person when they were just a child…" Sergei shook his head "Who would defend someone willingly active in circles where people under the age of 16 are raped for sport, forced, coerced into sex against their will…someone who themselves has raped someone under 16…I barely even think of Raimarc as a human being anymore after all he's done, I wonder if he even has a heart inside of him…death would be a mercy. Whatever the rites were…they ruined him…turned him evil, truly." He shook his head, regret and real grief there, he'd never liked Raimarc much, he'd been a mean child, but Gustan had caused that, not Raimarc, had Raimarc been raised right…he'd likely have been more like Ivan and himself…whatever the rites did…they had blackened a person that was already dark hearted.
Alziel sipped her tea and nodded, "alright. Then he shall be executed….that is one of the things that the empire does frown upon. We have one country that allows pre-16 marriages but the bride is to live at a separate domicile until they are of age of majority…and we do have a special enforcement agency in that country."
"Wales…right?" Sergei asked, he wasn't un-educated, he knew about the Empire, had even traded and formed some business partnerships with nobles in the Empire. Alziel smiled over her tea cup.
"Yes, that's right." She confirmed and pursed her lips, Wales…a problematic part of her Empire and one she really needed to look into more soon, she'd just been very busy this last year, Raimarc, Pergrand, a burr in her side, a threat at her doorstep, and then Anya disappearing almost 5 months ago now. Wales had taken a back seat to it all…she had it and the Magic Control Council in Sweorta that was flexing far too much for a foreign seeming religious cult behind a leader who she personally found truly disgusting…Donagen Trumpell with his orange skin and skin crawling behavior, his penchant for lusting after 13 year old little girls…yes her plate had been heavy it was so full.
"I shall prepare the proper outfit," Claude bowed and turned, "would you prefer the black boots or the brown?"
"Black," Alziel said as she smiled faintly. "Your input will always be taken into account."
"I will be a good husband to you, your majesty…I'll do all I can to give you plenty to hold your head high for." Sergei said, feeling like he hadn't really told her…he really was grateful…even happy with all of this.
Alziel blinked slowly, "you are the first born son, and you belong to us. We have no doubt at all that you will be perfect at Our Side." she was still studying him, trying to be as careful as she could. The Paperwork and announcement…would trigger a dark mark if they started mating, making it so that the two would be good to be out among others. A show of possession and claiming worked just as well as weeks of seclusion. Dragons were all about power, in all its forms and manifestations and the mating mark a dragon placed on their mate was a show of it, a show that they were strong, healthy, whole. A dragon complete because they had found and claimed their mate was vastly stronger than one that was unmated and that was a simple fact of their race. Showing that mark, letting the world know, other dragons know that you have completed yourself, fully embraced who and what you were, the respect that came from it was as potent as ether, flowed like a strengthening agent in mana among dragon kind. Lifeblood, the spark of life itself, was fed by the One Magic at its very core, to pull the One magic within yourself and show it to the world, was to fully embrace Life, magic, and real strength. She felt the dragon within her practically purring at the idea.
Sergei smiled "A far happier fate than I had expected to be honest…when I came here I was ready to lose my life for it." he admitted
Alziel shook her head, "your brother? Yes, his fate was sealed already. You and the rest of your family has not been judged."
They were quiet for a minute, both deep in thought watching each other.
"How is your sister?" Sergei asked, concern real in his tone.
"The child is taking everything," Alziel admitted, "that is why we need one of those pods you spoke of. The child is…in the end an innocent, but we can…remove the child safely if we have one of those pods." she took a breath, "I won't lose her…I've lost everyone else but her and my nephew." it was a moment of the mask breaking, the woman beneath it all. "I…would…find a way to break into the Anubian halls themselves before losing her."
Sergei nodded, his eyes softening, he understood…he felt that way about his brothers, Ivan and Uram, and, about his nieces and nephews and Raimarcs reported musings and half baked plans around them…thoughts Uram had caught that he'd shakily told Sergei about, plans to kill Uram, adopt Tylan and Pyter…send them to the Quincey family so they could be taught how to be the sorts of future leaders of Pergrand Raimarc wanted instead of the soft hearted people Uram was raising. Sergei knew…and if Ivan knew, caught wind of the things Raimarc had been toying with doing…he had no doubt his younger brother would take harsh action, Sergei knew how their father had died, and it hadn't been a sudden unpredictable medical thing. Ivan had reached the end of his rope with their father. If Ivan knew Raimarc was toying with plots and schemes that involved killing Uram and destroying the good young men Tylan and Pyter were…he'd act, and this time hiding it wouldn't be possible, there were too many suspicions about Ivan already…whispers behind hands about what sort of magic he had, that he wasn't a simple normal human, Gustan had been ready to put him on the throne, and Gustan had been vocal about the need for mage kings.
So Uram didn't tell Ivan about all of these thoughts he caught, most of them went nowhere with Raimarc, just cruel ideas he'd have too close to Uram for Uram to miss them. But sometimes they came up again, and Uram knew if they did, Raimarc was doing more than just having his usual dark cruel thoughts. Taking Tylan and Pyter and getting rid of Uram had become a serious recurring through ever since Uram had refused Raimarc access to the Dark Eagle, since Uram had called him out on the Senate floor for forcing owners of gladiators to allow him to use them for parties, then returning them wrecked and unable to fight, in a couple of cases, for entire seasons. It had sparked the Ownership protection act where nobody, regardless of noble rank, could demand the use of another person's legally owned slave for any reason. A law Raimarc hated and blamed Uram for (rightly, it had been Uram's idea.) Sergei had a lot of reasons for not protecting Raimarc anymore, seeing Princess Anastasia in the damned cell at the reproduction center…listening while those doctors had scrambled to justify her condition to him, described his brothers orders around her…her body was to be delivered to the Empress…once the baby was safely out of her…Raimarc had told the doctors to make sure she wouldn't survive the pregnancy, and he'd wanted her to suffer…had written it right into the orders. Sergei had killed every person in that reproduction center…drawn his gun and just started shooting until he felt like everyone who had agreed to do this to an innocent woman…had been complicit in allowing it…was dead on the floor. It still hadn't made him feel any better, his own brother had done this horrible thing…and it wasn't even the only atrocity he'd committed but he felt like it really needed to be the last.
Atticus Mortimer would be able to save Anastasia…he felt very strongly about that…and he desperately wanted the woman saved. He stayed calm, though the passion to fix all of this had surged up in him again. "It's…how birthing is done in Pergrand…the doctors isolate the baby, the mother is kept alive but only enough so the baby can stay healthy, there are even hormones they give the mother so her body won't try to help her." he pressed his lips together and finally reached a hand toward Riley. His butler moved to his side silently and gave him the file from the reproduction center…a file he'd been sickened to read, that had triggered him to go on the killing spree he had…he'd been hesitant to hand it over…because it wouldn't help anything, it didn't offer answers that would help Anastasia, but it offered clarity about why things had happened…and how bad his brother really had become.
Alziel took the file, sitting back to read through it. Her amber eyes started churning, lips curling from sharp fangs and a low dangerous sound came from her that had Claude tensing at her side, the butler moved quickly when she spoke. "My letter opener…"
A moment later Claude returned to her, a tall foam mannequin in normal plain clothes placed and braced, hooked into bolts on the floor Sergei hadn't noticed before and then Claude handed her a long sturdy gilded letter opener with a dragon for a handle and moved to Sergei and Riley. "Stand back here please…" he said, ushering them from where Sergei had been seated to a spot across the room while Alziel set the file down and gracefully rose, smoothed her clothes and then turned toward the manekin…a snarl coming from her before she pounced, lunging and attacking the manekin in a flurry of swift lethal attacks that would have killed a knight…a dozen knights…
Sergei watched…the soldier in him finally admiring the womans real skill, the man in him admiring also her unrestrained rage…like he'd felt himself at that reproduction center when he'd seen the condition the princess was in, listened to those men justifying what they had done…read that file…watching Alziel unload was almost cathartic.
For Alziel, this was a release, Raimarc Karadin had been like a thorn in her side since he'd taken the throne in Pergrand, he'd sent a request that she agree to send a clockwork girl to Pergrand…no promises, no reasons given, just a "Send me a clockwork mage female. She will be put to excellent use." It had stunned her, and when they had reached out to find out what the hell that even meant, she'd gotten her first taste of who Raimarc Karadin was. Barely 17 years old, freshly crowned, he'd looked at her through the com screen with open disgust and revulsion, disdain…made it clear she meant nothing. "You're an Empress…a disease…like the Empress of the Otho Empire…no woman can rule, women are an evil visited on mankind, you're nothing but a tool, God said Eve was a gift, a way for Adam to procreate, a tool, a device…nothing more, and she pacted with a serpent, ate of the apple tree she'd been forbidden to eat from, trying to elevate herself above Adam, above males…like Lilith before her, evil…too ambitious, too lost in the hormones needed to make her a breeding and birthing hunk of meat for Adam to use. Send me a clockwork female and Pergrand will work with Estrelle, I will allow people to trade with your Empire even though an evil female claims the title of Empress."
She remembered being..stunned. She'd been disrespected, treated as less than by plenty of the Lords since the day she'd been crowned, but nobody had ever treated her like this. It had set the tone for her rule, the House of Lords not liking she was an unmarried woman. But nobody had treated her like this. She'd cut the com, if she'd spoken a single word she'd have ended up at war. She'd torn up a manekin that day too…this time though…she had the death of her sister fresh in her mind, and the condition of Anastasia as her primary concern and to learn…Raimarc had specifically ordered this, several of the orders written by him openly, blatantly said he wanted Anastasia ruined by the pregnancy, to spare her nothing, only the baby mattered, and after the bay was removed from her body, he wanted her ruined, defiled, husk sent to Estrelle whether she was dead yet or not didn't matter as long as they made sure she WOULD die, right to Alziel, with a note right there in the file that read. "Since you did not send me what I asked for. I took it upon myself to get what I needed. No need to thank me. Raimarc"
Foam flew, cloth, the head came off, Alziel ripped it off with her teeth. Fingers, hands, arms wrecked and finally torn off…so many stabs to the groin a hole formed there. She unloaded her anger, her frustration, her rage that this terrible man had targeted her and her sister, had been willing to kill her sister just to hurt her, his acts of completely unhinged hostility toward women made no sense, no woman had ever hurt him personally, she'd looked into it after he'd made those demands of her years ago and she still couldn't wrap her head around how Pergrand had been dragged so far into their mistreatment toward women by the Karadin family that had once, thousands of years ago…fought a Tyrant Empress who had been slaughtering mages by the tens of thousands, wiping out entire types of mages, enslaving men left and right…a Karadin had been her downfall, had led the revolt to end her reign of horrors after she and the Othorian Church had defeated the demonic invasion…but then become as dangerous and as horrible as the demons they had beaten. The Karadins had been the hope of Ishgar for many generations, some countries had even considered becoming an Empire under the Karadin king a little over 1200 years ago…but the man's disdain for women had ended that.
That disdain had turned into more than simple homosexualtiy, more than Patriarchal social structure…it had turned into a hatred toward women that made no sense. But her sister, Anastasia…had done nothing to this man or his family…was innocent, a good person, happy, excited about her upcoming wedding to King Curtis…who was also innocent in all of this, Curtis and his country had never caused any problems for Pergrand. It infuriated her how just…assinine this all was. It made no sense, and soon she stood, panting, the mannequin ruined, only a few bits of the torso remained on the frame and bits of foam and cloth were everywhere, even stuck in her hair and all over her clothes.
"It's how she processes when something truly aggravates her…" Claude explained to Sergei and Riley. "I keep a store of the mannequins in that closet over there." He pointed to a door "If she ever asks you for her letter opener and has received clearly upsetting news? Select the mannequin size and firmness in accordance to how terrible the news is. The worse the news, the larger and firmer the mannequin …in this case…I selected one with male form…since she's angry at a man…there are female forms in there too." Claude pursed his lips, looking at how little was left.
"I should have brought one of the more durable ones…in my defense I didn't see what was in the file…"
"Raimarcs orders to destroy Anastasia's body with the pregnancy…to assure she died, and orders to send her to Alziel after the baby was removed, dead or dying." Sergei told him quietly.
Claude blinked slowly as he stood there, "....not even you being her potential and asking to spare the people would have stopped her from razing Pergrand at that point…"
Sergei nodded "I killed every man in that reproduction center…even the receptionist…they all went along with that…were all complicit…I still am…angry…it was so wrong…so cruel. Al and her sister have done nothing to Raimarc, Estrelle as an Empire has done nothing…one border skirmish that was Pergrands fault because a greedy noble picked a fight." he shook his head and sighed. "I believe it was the rites…he was a brat before…spoiled, but he wasn't evil…wasn't so hateful as he became after he went through those rites."
"I can't let Anastasia…suffer. This has to stop." Alziel said, her voice was even, almost calm, though it held an edge remaining from the release of so much on the mannequin that Claude stepped forward to clean up, Riley moving from Sergei's side to help at Sergei's nod.
Alziel shook her head, there was barely contained fury beneath the surface. "the child is taking all of her magic…it…I thought, was a well known fact that the child must have touch, the magic of both parents to truly flourish…if we do not fix this? She will fall into Deficiency and…that means death. I recall…each of my younger sisters' pregnancies…I used to sit with my mother and speak to them..family…the touch can be enough so that they can feel the magic of family…"
"Raimarc is a green mage…perhaps another green mage? I'm not sure how it works, or what exactly was done to Anastasia medically to make her decline like she has…but the pods handle the magical fill, they have lacrima banks…Atticus would know, he built the new ones, designed them building off his grandfather's designs but making them better, more efficient, we haven't lost a baby since Atticus's designs went online. I…could call him. If you have a teleport mage who could handle the distance? I could ask Atticus to come…to bring one." Sergei offered.
"We have a few lacrima that are based on the throne room's crystal," Alziel hummed, "many of our mages are…not like that..but which city is he in? We're in a floating palace…we can make a stop…"
Sergei sat up straighter "Do you have a map? I can show you, it is actually between here and Romell."
The woman stood, "come, it would be in the main chambers. Where the controls are."
Sergei moved, setting down the tea cup to walk with her.
Alziel led him through the palace, down hallways and stairways until they came to what looked like a massive screened computer. It showed a map, with the line that was the path the palace was following. "Mm…the main chambers of the Palace…where we move it."
Sergei stepped up to it, pointing "This small town here, Mortim, it's where he's based and he's stayed there for the past few months due to…some bad personal experiences. But Atti is a good man…he'll help, more importantly, he'll know how to help and can teach your people how a pod works, teach them…about what Pergrand does, so if something like this ever crosses your path again…your doctors will know what to do."
Alziel nodded and then typed for a moment, setting a way point and a timer came up, counting down how long until they arrived. "I…will not let my sister die."
Sergei pulled out his com and made a call, holding it so Alziel could see and listen.
"Sergei? I got word to keep my head down but the King wants me in Romell…he says he's missing something and wants me to set up a genetic tracker? Do you know what's happening?" Atticus was a slender man, feminine in appearance, almost willowy in build with doe brown eyes and light brown hair. Glasses he used for magnification while working perched on his narrow nose.
"Don't help Raimarc, Atti, I need you to get a birthing pod ready, everything one will need for a child out of a clockwork mother and a green mage father." Sergei said and Atticus stared
"A clockwork? I could use a metalmake with Kaden's magic…because he's a healer his magic will make up the difference between the types, you know I don't have clockwork magic in the banks Sergei, I know Raimarc wants it and all but…wait…where did the clockwork mother come from? Those don't leave Estrelle…what's going on? I have readings that say the Estrellan palace is moving Sergei, and the Armada is powering up…should you be doing things like this while that's going on?"
"It's ok Atti, I'm fine, it's too long a story, Raimarc did something…terrible and I need your help to make things right ok?" Sergei smiled at the man and Atticus pursed his lips
"Well…ok Sergei, I trust you…you're one of few people I trust…I'll get a pod ready to go."
"Thank you Atticus, oh…and pack a bag, you'll be staying with me for a little while."
Atticus frowned "Why?"
"Atti…pack a bag, everything you'll need for a few weeks." Sergei said more firmly and Atticus sighed.
"I've been working on a project though…and who's going to feed the berserkers? Half my staff left to help your brother Ivan with whatever he's doing…"
"I don't know…can't you make them hibernate or something?"
"You are our royal guest. We will provide the clockwork magic needed," Alziel spoke, bringing attention to her, it was technically her com signal boosting Sergei's com. "because if our sister perishes…it will be more than Raimarc that pays."
Atticus gasped "Sergei…is that…You…You're the Empress of Estrelle! Sergei…what are you doing with a woman?! Your brother is going to have kittens!"
"Making it so that we do not raze Pergrand to the ground and salt the earth," Alziel said calmly. "also..he's ours."
Atticus's eyes looked 4 times bigger than they really were because of his glasses "He…meaning Sergei…you…ohhhhhh, I'll have the pod ready!" The call cut off and Sergei sighed, shaking his head.
"He's…a scientist." Sergei said apologetically but..amused, because Atticus, for his quirks, was also reliable, a genius who would help, would push himself beyond every limit he had to help once he saw what Raimarc had done…sergei knew that about his friend.
"Yes, I can tell," Alziel smiled, "many clockwork mages do the same. Some of us just do not get to…invent our entire lives. Adrianne…wanted to open a toy shop before her death."
"Your sister…a toy shop hmm? My brother runs a club…has singers and dancers and assorted performers put on shows. A toy store would be pretty wholesome."
"She liked to make little…clockwork animals and such…we lost her…years ago," Alziel shook her head and sighed. The loss of Adrianna had been a heavy blow. Alziel had never felt the weight of her position as much as when that had happened, when her little nephew had been blamed for it, though he'd been implanted with a damned lacrima that had been responsible for the reaction he'd had, she'd been hunting for the source of that lacrima for years. It was illegal, declared inhumane by the UN decades ago, rituals to extract the magic of a mage and place it within a lacrima the size of a tiny bead that could then be implanted into anyone to infuse them with magic, to turn a normal human into a mage.
Few survived the process, the body had to be paved with magic flow pathways and when the lacrima was implanted, the magic burned those throughout the body in an agonizing process that usually sent people into shock and killed them. Only the strongest survived it, though people with weak magic ability did better than average humans…and her nephew Thomas had survived because he was already a mage, already Dragonkyn when the lacrima had been implanted, though it was clear the maniacal doctor who had done it didn't know that when he'd implanted the lacrima.
"I'm sorry to hear that, and I'm sorry my brother did this to your sister, you've been through a lot." Sergei frowned. He didn't know her…yet…he would, if he was her mate he'd know her better than anyone once they were mated if what Gregorian had said about dragonkyn matings was true. Two days of prolonged talks, negotiations…and their meeting today had given him a lot of insight into this woman, who held his future in her hand. He wanted to help her…to lift her up, and to see the pain and struggle that was there behind her eyes…lessen so she could really smile and it would light those amber eyes.
The woman furrowed her brow, "...I am…the Empress, such is life." she shook her head, "I am the third born…I should have…" she paused, "...would have been exactly here. I am…the only child that was a clockwork dragonkyn…and a clockwork is needed for the Armada." she gave a wane smile, "that is why I..always envied my siblings. My brothers formally denounced the throne when I was born…stating they were going to be ambassadors…an irony that they were killed on a trip to work on trade."
Sergei winced, she'd lost a lot. He knew, since losing his niece, the pain was terrible. Grief could be a deep influence on a life.
"Maybe you would…but losing family is a burden on the spirit. One I'm sorry you've been through so many times." Sergei said, not backing down…grief was grief, loss was loss, maybe it didn't change anything circumstantial but it changed everything in the person who suffered it.
"The gods…made us in a way that we can weather what we are given…maybe not Apollonites…they're a bit odd that way…" Alziel smiled faintly, "I do not dwell. I do not have the time, nor liberty, the twin dragons are too annoying to allow me to stay depressed, they remind me that Estrelle needs me in view and looking strong." she pursed her lips, "because…our biggest national secret would destroy me if I dwelled in regret." She took a breath and looked at him, "...the armada is…not something Estrelle built. They are…former clockwork mages, who..got lost in their magic. Who did not understand, did not get training…we have not added to it…in centuries…but that's a very good thing."
"The clockworks of the armada used to be people…" Sergei rubbed at his chest, it was hard to get to him but that was grim.
Alziel nodded as she turned and moved to start walking "yes, people that the Imperial Family failed…so we…now adopt every child that is born with the magic, to teach them..so they do not add to the Armada."
Sergei eyed her "My family's worst was done by our father…but…we couldn't fix it. Something happened to a good man's wife…his toddler son survived…instead of giving the boy back to his father, who had just lost his wife…my father let the man believe his son had died with his mother and gave the boy to our laboratories to experiment on him…like they had been doing for more than 75 years with a fallen Archangel mage…when the child was 7 he was given to my brother Uram…became a gladiator, grew up in the pits…I wanted to send him home…my brothers Ivan and Uram did too…Ivan even worked out a way to let his father know his son was still alive a few weeks ago…then…the son died in the arena three days ago…and…Bosco will want answers…won't believe us now when we say this time…the man is truly dead…the hope they had…is really gone…" He shook his head "My family has done terrible things, Empress, you failed to teach people…but you did not actively hurt them."
Alziel blinked, "well…alright…that is significantly worse…my nephew likes a Boscan. I can send him there…see if he can get information." she gently pat his arm "we will help where we can, but…well…Boscans can be very…understanding.."
"Ivan wanted to help…but he may have made things worse…" Sergei sighed, shaking his head but smiling at her, appreciating the comfort. "It's odd…I am happy to be here…just not happy about the reasons."
Alizel hummed in thought, "the best intentions and all…"
"Do you like cats?" Sergei asked, wondering if he was going to need to give his cat to Ivan.
"...The Imperial palace has dogs…corgis," Alziel replied calmly, "so…I don't know. I mean… I suppose Claude could be considered a pet that borders on feline…the corgis are…not exactly fully canines…they're an ancient line of shapeshifters, from the pre-Holy War era."
The butler eyed the woman as he came to fall into step with them, "ma'am. Really."
Sergei blinked, he had heard some barking a few times the last couple of days…but hadn't known where it was coming from. "So…they have human forms as well as corgi." he smiled a bit "Easy to hide in plain sight."
"Yes," Alziel shook her head, "They are cheeky little things, but…faithful companions…"
"I have a Sevenese cat…I found her in a temple in Seven while I was withdrawing forces from there…she's quite smart…can…speak her mind rather bluntly, so…fair warning, but she's a very good cat."
Claude blinked slowly, "I shall make sure we have supplies…" he handed the garment bag to Sergei, "Please assist Ma'am with dressing while I go make calls."
Sergei took the bag and chuckled "I…have never helped a woman dress before…I have undressed a few though…just need to work in reverse…" he said, more than willing to help Alziel with whatever he needed to, figuring it would all be things he was going to need to adapt to anyway.
Alziel rolled her eyes, "I believe we shall be prepared for your feline." she took a breath, "I do know how to dress myself, I need only a bit of help…but we'll start with my chambers so that I can change and be ready for our arrival."
"As you wish." Sergei smiled "Me being in my uniform is probably best."
"Well, whatever would make your people most comfortable?" Alziel said, looking up at him as they walked, "I am sure they are going to already be up in arms with a woman walking." As they walked into her chambers, she started to strip without really thinking as the doors closed and moved towards a large set of mirrors.
Sergei was fine until she got farther undressed, then…with literally a couple of years since he'd last seen a woman, a healthy one…and Alziel was already the type of woman he gravitated toward, he loved blondes, liked women who stood up and weren't afraid to be themselves…and here she was, more than just a strong woman, the Empress who ruled a long standing Empire…he stalled, just watching her, holding the garment bag his brain unable to produce movement of any kind while he watched her.
Alziel looked at herself, pursing her lips as she tried to figure out how she wanted her hair done. She fiddled with it up and looked for a few moments, "I don't know…up? Down?"
"You're beautiful any way you wear it." Sergei said quietly, remembering how to move he crossed to where he was figuring she'd need the garment bag. "I like…a woman's neck, the curve into the shoulder, I don't think there's anything more beautiful…but…so I can concentrate, it would be better if you wore it down." he admitted
Alziel stared and blushed a bit, "well…I don't know what is best decorum for this…" she didn't seem bothered about being half naked, she was more trying to figure out small things like her hair. "Do you have a preference?" She watched him, "up? Down? Half up?"
"Half up…practical, keeps your hair out of your face, and still lets you show off your lovely hair and I'll be able to focus." Sergei replied, loving the soft blushes he got, tough and strong as the woman was, that he could get a blush out of her showed him…she hadn't had anywhere near the amount of positive attention she deserved.
Alziel smiled softly as she grabbed a brush and started working on her hair, "good, I'd like to make a decent impression….especially given…the upheaval that I'm going to be bringing."
"Some of the nobles will resist, and might rise to fight the changes, to try to seize power for themselves, but I know which families will try that…and what their weaknesses are." Sergei said
"We will be escorted by the Armada…so," Alziel finished pinning her hair up, "if they do not bow…we can make them." Her voice was firm. The Armada were relentless, non-sleeping…and they could bring a man to his knees easily.
"You look lovely." Sergei smiled
Alziel blushed a bit more as she moved to the garment bag to get dressed, "silver tongued devil." She slid on a pair of riding pants and then a shirt and then a corset, sliding it on and then looking over her shoulder, "hold the loops? So I can get it properly tight? Hold tight." She took a carefully adjusted breath once he held onto the loops and started walking forward as she held her breath. After six steps, she reached back, keeping the tension and then grabbing the ties taking two steps back and starting to tie the corset. Once it was tied, she was putting a jacket on and then sliding into a pair of riding boots. She looked at herself in the mirrors, "mm. I feel as if I'm missing something.."
"Spurs?" Sergei offered, he wasn't wearing any himself but then his horses didn't tend to need them.
"I don't have any," Alziel admitted "Griffons will put you on the ground if they see them on you, testy things. I got rid of all of mine when my nephew became bonded with one…"
"I don't wear them either…I don't think you're missing anything either, but…like I said I haven't helped any women dress before." Sergei admitted
Alziel looked at herself and then looked thoughtful before she moved to grab a walking cane, "Right…this will have to do. It's got a sword in it."
"Ah..I've two in reqiuip, between the two of us we should be alright." Sergei said not sure what to do with himself, but he was put together, he hoped, Riley usually wouldn't let him embarrass himself.
Alziel smiled as she moved to straighten his clothes, "good." she took a breath "I have this feeling of danger approaching."
Sergei narrowed his eyes, glancing north. "There's plenty ahead…and a blood moon next month."
"Those are normally a bad omen," Alziel admitted.
"Gregorian, that's my friend who is a Dragonkyn, said he could feel when the moon wasn't right, that dragons were sensitive to them in the southern continents because Nuremstrasza…the Dragon of the Moon and one of the Founding Queens is in this hemisphere…so the dragons in this part of the world…feel the moon more." Sergei said then pursed his lips
"I…don't know if that's true or not…but Gregorian has been my only exposure to Dragonkyn lore…Duke Hesha…also a Dragonkyn…never talks about it."
"We can," Alziel admitted, "with the founding queen close, we feel more." Her lips drew into a thin line. "Going to the north lessens the pull, and each element that each kyn has will of course notice differently."
"You're a clockwork right? That seems more tech oriented than Lunar or elemental." Sergei asked "I'm a storm mage…so I'm tuned into the atmosphere."
Alziel smiled as she shook her head, "it's..the magnetic field that I can sense. It's actually affected by the tides, which is linked to the moon."
"Blood moons are rare…the one approaching will trigger a lot of things I'm sure." Sergei said, not sure what all might come but he knew he'd originally planned to hole up at his manor outside Damascas through that week.
"Very likely, we have set aside a week to close almost everything in the Empire…" Alziel pursed her lips, "...and increased security at the Asylums…"
"Not planning to be out and about is wise…I wonder…where we'll be in a month?" Sergei mussed, more positive than he usually was, surprised by how happy this was all making him. He hadn't known what he'd do with his life when his father had taken the throne from him because he wouldn't go through with the rites, being shipped off to Icefall to serve in the military had been his father sending him away in "disgrace" but really, Sergei had cemented great friendships, learned how to be more than royalty, how to be a man, how to have deep rooted integrity…Wolfgang Hesha was young then…and fierce as the new Duke back then, his father had "died" which for a Dragonkyn…meant he'd passed the responsibilities to his son and gone looking for his mate. Young though he was…Hesha was an impressive leader, an impressive fighter, facing off undead and the vicious ice giants without fear and inspiring his troops to have courage and to protect themselves and each other while they took out the threats.
Sergei had learned how to command men, and he'd enjoyed the freedom there of working alongside women and had further developed his taste for female companionship. Wolfgang bought women in Damascas, brought them to Icerend, cleaned them up, got them healthy and let them earn their passage out of Pergrand…or…they could work to live in Icefall, establish themselves in the small city beneath the Heshan Palace, run a business, or work for one, whatever they wanted, many served in the armies and were damn good at what they did, Sergei knew he'd been sent there to regret his choices, but he ended up enjoying it, grateful he'd gone…and emerged stronger than ever, much to his fathers disappointment. He looked at Alziel, watched those beautiful amber eyes of hers, the color was stunning, made his breath catch when her expression would change.
"It depends," Alziel looked thoughtful, "most likely in Enca, making sure Anastasia is settling in."
Sergei nodded "Then I'll need to read up on Enca. King Curtis is still here…I don't imagine he'll be leaving until Anastasia is safe."
Alziel moved slowly with him, leaving her chambers and he matched his stride with hers. "we should discuss the next stop with him, so he's aware of what is going on."
Sergei nodded "I wish I knew more about the pods…I had half planned to use one some day…I didn't plan to marry but I still wanted children." he said mildly "My brother Uram has had three, and…I've loved them all, being an Uncle though showed me I wanted to be a father…but I hadn't sat down and talked with Atticus about them yet…planned to…just…haven't. I think I was hoping Raimarc would mellow out."
Alziel nodded letting him talk as they walked. They needed to stop into Anastasia's wing. Let them know that there would be a delay in getting to Romell, but there was a reason for it, to make sure that Anastasia would survive.
The younger woman was propped up in bed, still looking wane and gaunt but she was holding herself with dignity as she did so. Her hair was pulled back in a very simple ponytail at the nape of her neck and she'd been given food every few hours, nutrient rich food and had two healers watching over her, both looking over progress and looking less than pleased overall.
Curtis Misericorde sat at her bedside, the newly crowned King of Enca he'd been on the throne for less than a year but he'd made waves coming in and had made a lot of changes in his home country, most of them just cleaning up the messes a corrupted interim government had made while keeping him off of his rightful throne. At 24 he was a young King and he'd dragged several of his people with him, including the pale haired healer working alongside the royal healer of Estrelle.
Curtis was a dark man, typical of Enca he had a sunkissed complexion, his hair was ink black and so were his eyes, dark curls had been neatly trimmed in an effort to tame them but they'd gotten a little wilder in the dryer air. He was in yesterday's clothes, loathe to leave Anastasia for anything. Like her, he'd chosen her from stacks of offers, a connection happening with thousands of miles and zero in person contact.
"Az," Anastasia smiled softly, "you two shouldn't be here." her voice was light, chastising, "you should be getting ready to make points."
"We are making a stop," Alziel smiled faintly, "to get a birthing pod…and hopefully medicine to stop what they did to you…we're picking up a scientist at the very least."
Curtis glared at Sergei, recognizing the Pergrandian uniform. "If this is some trick…"
"I am not my brother, It's not a trick…Atticus Mortimer designed the birthing pods we use…he's our top scientist, he voted against the hormone treatments used on women in Reproduction centers…the very things making her sick right now, if anyone can help her? It's him." Sergei said
Anastasia looked between the two and then moved to gently squeeze Curtis' hand, "If it will help, get him. Please."
Alziel took a breath, "he is ours." She looked between them "he is of a good heart, that is the only way it would be possible."
Anastasia stared for a moment and then let out a laugh full of irony, "oh, Lady…" she shook her head, "only you, Az. Only you." she smiled a bit.
"Yours? Wha' wha' does tha' mean?" Curtis asked, confusion making his accent thicker
Anastasia smiled softly, "Every blood ruler of Estrelle is a dragonkyn."
"Don got Dragonkyn in Enca…they ran em out if they were born…somethin bout their matin thin." Curtis admitted, he knew nothing about the magic except that it was banned in Enca.
"They take mates, the magic making it so that they..don't get a full choice," Anastasia smiled, "typically…male coded for mates, simply more male than female dragons…so…gay. Unless it's a lass…then.."
"..we really need to speak about you and your yaoi agenda," Alziel pursed her lips, looking stern.
Anastasia looked at her sister, "Az..let's be honest…most of the men of Estrelle are bi…let me have my little…hobby."
"...you wanted to have a parade two years ago," Alziel's eyes narrowed.
The younger woman sat there, then looked away from her sister, "...i still want one…but I know it will not be socially acceptable.."
Curtis looked between Alziel and his fiance "Yaoi….what is that?" he asked carefully.
"A Stellan word for male relations," Alziel smiled, "it's really taken off in Estrelle….due to the popularity of the gentlemens' clubs…and the tea houses…"
"Oh…tha' is still illegal in Enca…" Curtis looked at Anastasia apologetically "Only fer natives though…folks don' give foreigners trouble fer it."
Anastasia smiled softly, "It's alright. I understand it's not for everyone…"
"Obviously I can understand the appeal, though I'd rather watch it than participate, I may be Pergrandian but I prefer women." Sergei said honestly.
Alziel smiled "well that's good. Otherwise we'd be having a very long talk about finances." she moved to put her forehead against her sister's, "a few hours and we'll get this started on being fixed."
Anastasia brought a hand up to rest it on Alziel's wrist and murmured, "Thank you, Az, you and my new brother both."
Alziel smiled, "Indeed…we have Sergei to thank for returning you."
Sergei smiled faintly "Really thought I'd be paying for doing it in the worst ways…not finding where I belonged…"
Anastasia grinned a bit, "well, you kind of bloody are, going to have to get married…to some, that's a horrible fate."
"Oui…I been anullin marriages…since I took my throne, and some of em really were…worse than death." Curtis acknowledged, still watching Sergei warily but his hopes for his fiance outweighed his mistrust of a Karadin.
Alziel rolled her eyes as she stood back and drew herself up, "well, he's not going to be miserable." her lips curled "he'll be the one that puts boots up arses of blokes that don't want to listen to a lady." she paused, "oh, and we've a cat."
Anastasia arched a brow, "of course." she made a shooing motion, "go, we'll see you later."
Curtis watched Sergei, relaxing more when the man made his turn to leave. He'd spent months worrying, terrified that when Anastasia was found she'd be found dead…he was elated that wasn't the case but still more than a little upset about what had happened to her, it was why he'd petitioned the UN, why he'd called in every favor and friend…Raimarc had to pay for what he'd done…Curtis's inclination was to wipe Karadin from the world as a bloodline…but Sergei was clearly claimed by Alziel and Anastasia didn't seem upset by that…Sergei didn't worry her…and he was going to follow that lead even though he had his own feelings, he was willing to admit he could be wrong.
Anastasia smiled as she moved to squeeze Curtis' hand again, "it will be alright." she was half hoping, she didn't feel like it would be alright, she felt very weak and was doing her best to not actually do something bad. She watched him and took a breath, "Az's dragon soul would look for a person that would complete her…help her, assist her, not bring her down. We grew up trusting the Twin dragons, and the dragonkyn of the rulers, Curtis. My biggest want…was always Az to find someone before I grew old."
Curtis smiled at her, leaning closer "Ya ain gonna do that too fast…nature o' ma magic slows tha' way down…an I ain gonna let ya get old before me." he said
Anastasia smiled softly, "just have to get through this." she leaned her head on his shoulder, "and not let Az realize I'm bloody exhausted."
Curtis climbed onto the bed beside her, she was too thin…and his magic couldn't help, for about the millionth time in his life he wished he had been born the White version of his magic instead of Black, maybe he could help more…but Sirius and Stuart both held strong healing magic, regenerative…and were doing all they could…whatever Pergrand's reproduction center had done…was responsible, and that scientist…he had to help her. He wasn't one to kill unborn babies…but he'd kill this one to save Anastasia if it came to a choice of which life to preserve…his beautiful young fiance, so full of life and with such a big future ahead of her…she deserved to keep her life, not lose it to a baby Pergrand had forced on her. Beside her, he pulled the blankets over him so he could tuck her against his side and get an arm around her, share his warmth…be there. Half of love was being present.
"The scientist…hopefully that prince is right and he can help." Curtis said. She meant too much to him, if he had a weak spot, it was Anastasia, he didn't know when or how that had happened, him coming to Estrelle for this was the first time they were meeting in person but somehow….she was everything to him. Seeing her so gaunt, so clearly mistreated and neglected had his blood boiling…the idea that Raimarc's child was doing this to her..had been doing this…well…he reminded himself, it wasn't the baby, it was what Raimarc had ordered, what the doctors at the reproduction center had done to her…that was causing this.
Legally, if this ruined Anastasia's ability to have children, the law of Enca said he couldn't marry her, but he had every intention of burying that, no matter how this turned out, he would marry Anya, love her, make her the Queen of Enca…even if they had to find another way to have children.
Anastasia took a breath and closed her eyes, mumbling, "bloody idiot, that's what that man was…" she curled into him, arms curling around him as she let out a soft sigh, letting herself feel as fragile as she looked for a few moments. She was doing her best to not allow her sister to see how fragile she was, but this man, she'd let him know. There was part of her that allowed herself to let him know, to let him and and she smiled softly against his shoulder, "Thank you. For not turning away."
"Whatever 'appens, I ain given up on ya…ya gotta stay with me Anya…jus be strong, an we'll fix everythin. Ain nothin I won' do…no mountain I ain gonna move if I need ta." Curtis soothed, arms around her, a hand coming up to stroke her hair. If he met Raimarc Karadin…he was going to deliver the worst possible death he could create to that man…
----------------
Raimarc was walking, scowling, Romell was a ghost town…a city of 4 million people…almost empty when he had returned from Damascas. He'd had a good time, no he hadn't gotten the Treasure he'd met, but he'd nailed a Fairstar the night of the party and had the pelt off the silver bear that had killed the Dark Eagle…he planned to make a small set of wings wrapped in that pelt and send it to Arman Pradesh, the rest of it would adorn his bed because that was where Zen Pradesh should have damn well been. "Where are the people?" He demanded as he came into the throne room.
"Sire…people have evacuated…because the Armada of Estrelle is active, the palace even left the capital of Estrelle and its projected course has it…coming here." The knight that met him reported and Raimarc frowned.
"Why? Have they sent any communications?" He asked and the Knight blinked, because…of course there had been communications, there had been dozens of them since two days ago but the King had refused all communications, had issued orders not to be bothered, he was enjoying the parties Ephraim VonVoss was throwing celebrating his engagement and while the Black Guard of the palace had been scrambling receiving threats from Estrelle, promises of war not just from them, but demands from Bosco about their Archduke's son and threats of war from Enca, sanctions and the ban on trade routes from the UN, the Magic Control Council of Sweorta working with the Apollonite church of Pergrand demanding access to Damascas, wanting to arrest Palance Fairstar and his brothers….it had been a constant onslaught and their King had…refused to even hear any of it for two whole days and now he was asking if there was communications?!
The sheer volume of everything had the officer blinking unsure of where to even begin and Raimarc glared at him.
"Answer me! Why the hell is this happening?! Why wasn't I notified?!"
"Sire…we've been trying to reach you for two days…we were told you refused all communications and were not to be…bothered…until the parties were over and you got back…" The Knight said, narrowing his eyes…he was Captain of this shift of the Black Guard, but his General was Garrion Ellis, and his loyalty was with the Duke…not the King, he served here because he'd won commendations for valor, and service at the palace was considered a "Vacation for the patient" you had to suffer the Kings behavior but the work was simple and rarely dangerous, so…for his valor in the field, he'd been assigned here by Duke Ellis for 6 months but he had no real respect or loyalty toward King Raimarc, just what he had for his country, for the crown of his country…the man himself really did little to inspire men like him.
"Watch your tone, Captain…if something this important was happening…you should have come to Damascas, presented the information." Raimarc snapped
"We DID, I sent a teleport mage and he was refused…by you, your majesty…told to and I quote "Fuck off unless you're going to join the fun." The captain said, drawing himself to his full height, Raimarc wasn't a small man but the Captain was a battle proven soldier of Ellisia, had the seal of Ellis right on his collar, the hammer of Haphaestus.
Raimarc waved a hand "You didn't try hard enough, obviously…now tell me what's going on since I'm here and we can't go back and fix your incompetence…and make this report good, Captain…your punishment for this hinges on how you act from this point forward." Raimarc warned, the guards with him looking uncomfortable…they were a mixture of men from the forces of the Three dukes, some had Ravens on their shoulders, some had Ice Dragons, a couple had the same pins as Captain Mason who drew a breath, calming himself and leveled the King with a cold look.
"Your Majesty…two days ago Estrelle sent word they were going to raze Pergrand, that we should get our affairs in order…that you should be ready to die. It was a message from the Empress herself…" The captain turned and the message was played for Raimarc, the time stamp from two days ago clear on the screen.
Raimarc sucked in a breath and turned to his aide "Contact the southern Reproduction center right now…find out where my baby is!"
"Sire…Prince Sergei killed everyone at the southern Reproduction center, every single member of their staff was shot dead…" The Captain reported, holding out a report on that. Raimarc took the report, rage starting to redden his face.
"And where is my son? The Baby? Where?!" He demanded
"Sire…Prince Sergei collected Princess Anastasia, we don't know where he went." The Captain replied.
"Continue…" Raimarc hissed and the Captain told him, filled him in on everything that had come to light over the last 2 days, including reports on the news, clips taken from Bosco where their news network reported on Archduke Pradesh's son being discovered alive in Pergrand and meetings of the Steel Council and the royal family of Bosco being so heated the Princess of Bosco had ended up arrested and dethroned for some unknown reason.
The UN had levied trade embargos, Pergrandian merchants couldn't fly over UN allied nations…which was every nation on their continent except for Pergrand itself. All Pergrandian trade had come to a grinding halt. Prince Ivan had issued quiet orders that the people be evacuated, and that had been done, without the King to oppose that order, Ivan had the authority to make it.
The MCC was massing off the coast, airships and naval ships threatening violence if the Fairstars weren't handed over. Those demands had escalated, including a demand for volatile mage types, they wanted Dragonkyn, shapeshifters, storm and fire based magic users handed over. Blood mages…they had specifically demanded Prince Ivan and Prince Sergei submit to testing to assure they were not evil and the Apollonite Church was backing them, the Pope issuing statements that denying the MCC was going against the will of Apollo and light in general, only dark evil people would refuse them because they were defending humanity.
"It's only been two fucking days…" Raimarc grit out 25 minutes later
"We've been trying to reach you, repeatedly I sent Knights to Damascas…without your word we had no choice but to defer to Prince Ivan and Prince Sergei…there was nothing we could do because you refused all contact." The captain said.
"Don't you dare blame this on me…you fucking cur, how dare you…" Raimarc snarled and waved a hand toward the captain "Detain him."
Nobody moved and he looked sharply at the guards with him.
"What are you waiting for?!"
"A lawful order sir…detaining the Captain when he's done nothing wrong would not be a lawful order." The guard closest to him said.
"He just insulted me…is blaming me for this mess when it all happened because he didn't try hard enough to get into contact with me!" Raimarc snapped.
"My apologies, sire, but it doesn't look that way, the Captain made every reasonable effort to contact you…I was there when you refused those attempts so you could continue enjoying the parties in Damascas." The officer said, stepping aside and to the side of the Captain, making it very clear where his alliance was.
"You are the Black Guard, you serve the KING." Raimarc snarled
"I am actually an Ellisian Knight, your majesty…I serve Garrion Ellis and the code of honor of that order." Captain Mason said
"If you would like…you are here, and we will follow orders to handle the problems at hand…but none of us…will detain the Captain." One of the other Knights, this one with an Ice Dragon on his shoulder, a Knight of Icefall, of Duke Hesha, said.
Raimarc narrowed his eyes…he didn't have support…these men would follow orders but clearly only to a point, he needed his more loyal people…but he hadn't seen the Quincey brothers since the beginning of the parties two days ago, they seemed to have taken Austeel Fairstar and run off with the young man and he was a little bitter about that, Gideon Fairstar had certainly been well worth the efforts put into getting the man into a suite at the venue and Raimarc had been pleasantly impressed by the man's resilience, he'd given his blessings to the marriage before he'd left but even he would admit, if to no one but himself, ….cutting himself off like he had…had been foolish.
"Then lets get safety sorted out…I want to know where the nobles are, get my harem out of the palace and to some where secure, contact the Dukes, get forces here in Romell, if Estrelle wants a fight? We'll give them our best, they will not raze Romell." Raimarc said firmly and the men saluted, hurrying to do his bidding now, including Captain Mason though Raimarc was going to make sure the defiant man paid dearly for his lack of respect…but not right now, right now he needed these men following his orders or he'd be facing the Armada alone.
Raimarc Karadin was many things, and he'd admit that. He hadn't had Sergei's lifelong education in how to rule a kingdom, hadn't had Ivan's education either, he'd dropped out of school when he was 12 because he hated it and his father hadn't bothered forcing him since he wasn't expected to inherit a title. He'd gone through the rites though, and those had given him a savage, cold, dark edge that had made him formidable enough he led just fine in his opinion…he didn't have the schooling, the military medals, or any of that, but he didn't need it, people HAD to obey him, they had no choice, he was the King.
So he mobilized his men, his forces grew as he pulled all of the forces from the nobility in the surrounding areas telling the nobles to come to the palace if they wanted to be protected, that outlying areas simply weren't the priority, protecting Romell, the palace, that was what mattered. He sent word to Duke Hesha, demanding more men and that Anja, his personal guard, should be returned to him until things resolved.
Anja, had been in the Karadin family for over 400 years, the powerful shapeshifter had been the last survivor when Raimarc's ancestor had razed the Anubian order, Anja had been taken then, made into a slave, bound through some sort of ritual to the Karadin bloodline and forced to serve them, to protect them. Anubrey where the guardians of Anubis, the God of Deaths elite soldiers, immortal creatures, half man, half beast and Anja was lethal, wonderfully good at his job, handsome, attractive, almost beautiful he'd been a prize every King took pride in…but Anja's contract…Raimarc's father was the last King he had to serve…
So, King Gustan had found a way to hold onto Anja, Damien, the treasure, brought in as an infant Gustan knew Anja had a weak spot with children, so…he'd made a deal, Damien was the ward of the Royal family, and if Anja wanted to raise the boy, have a baby to take care of, a child…he would agree to continue serving for as long as Damien lived.
Anja had taken one look at the baby crying in Gustan's arms and he'd accepted the deal, had taken the infant and curled around him, had diligently raised Damien into a vibrant and healthy child while still keeping up with his duties, still wearing a slave collar even though now…he was well capable of tearing that collar off with his bare hands. There was no slave collar that could control an Anubrey, killing one required immense magic.
If he had Anja there he'd feel safer, he'd seen the man take out whole battalions, there were stories of him being key to turning the tide of battles…he wanted him there.
"No. I will not send men to die. My Apologies your majesty, but I've fought the Armada before, a couple of years ago, the skirmish on the shore…mortal soldiers can not hold their own against those things. I will send no more men to Romell, and Anja has stated he will not leave Damien, his deal was only centered around Damien's safety, and you assaulted Damien, which negated the deal he made with your father…he refuses to leave and I will not force him." Wolfgang Hesha looked at Raimarc through the communications screen, the man's face bland, unimpressed as Raimarc's face turned red.
"This is treason." Raimarc hissed
"No…I am a Grand Duke, I am under no legal mandate to obey your orders, loyalty is earned King Raimarc, and you have not earned mine. You are welcome to contact the other Dukes…but Damien will remain here, my men will remain here, and Anja will remain here." The Duke said firmly. "No man in my service has to serve your orders Raimarc…and they know that. They serve the crown, the country…not you unless you have somehow earned their loyalty."
Raimarc killed the call and called Duke Ellis then, he'd have Captain Mason removed, get more forces…
"Yes, your Majesty?" Garion Ellis said, the area behind him very obviously outside and the sounds of fighting heard. "I'm in the middle of a skirmish with co-ordinated Sevenese and Bellan troops."
"Estrelle is moving, the Armada is heading for Romell, I need you to remove Captain Mason, replace him and send troops here." Raimarc said "The border is less important than the capital." He added.
Garion paused, "Your Majesty. I am a Grand Duke, you don't get to order me around. Captain Mason went toe to toe with Prince Demnos. That is why he is in the Black Guard right now." his voice was calm, "I cannot spare anyone from either border. As I have said before, there are no extra troops, there have not been since Seven started their skirmishes…"
"You would defend a border and let the capital of your country fall?" Raimarc hissed
"I would defend the people of Ellison, yes, Pergrandian people that give their taxes to the crown, who are trying to live and do not deserve to be run over by the troops coming," Garion's eyes narrowed, "and we have already taken in over a million people from Romell when reports came in that the Armada was mobilizing. Apollonites were the only ones that refused to listen and the Black Guard are required to be there."
"Fine…protect the border." Raimarc snapped and cut the call, nodding to the officer who called Duke Rayven, the Duke came to the screen, the sounds of a lot of people in the background.
"Your majesty, home from the parties I see, I've been back since yesterday myself, I had to take charge given everything happening." The man smiled and Raimarc narrowed his eyes.
"You knew and you didn't come speak to me?"
"Sire…I couldn't have if I'd wanted to, you were very vocal about your orders not to be disturbed, once you had Gideon Fairstar you shut doors and didn't speak to anyone unless it was to call for food and drinks and drugs. While I am happy you enjoyed VonVoss's celebration…I take management of my people far more seriously, I never cut off communications." Rayven said lightly.
"I need you to send warships, Duke Rayven, and soldiers." Raimarc said.
Duke Rayven shook his head. "No…I will generously not recall my men serving in the Black Guard, and I feel strongly that is very generous…but you did this Raimarc…you kidnapped Princess Anastasia…did you think with my intelligence networks I wouldn't find out?"
Raimarc grit his teeth, of course the little dark duke knew…his spies were everywhere…
"Estrelle's Empress…you said right on television you would harvest her if you got the chance…then you kidnapped her sister and did what you did to her…whatever happens to you now? Is a fate you have brought upon yourself. I am A Grand Duke…I have over a million people from Romell now sheltering within my lands…I will protect Pergrand…but not you, I am under no obligation to protect a King who chose to become a tyrant."
With that…Duke Rayven cut the call and Raimarc balled his fists, he'd have to figure something else out "My ship…bring it to the palace." he said. Mind racing…Damascas had a large and very strong defensive force, Gregorian wasn't as strongly equipped as the Dukes but he was plenty capable of defending Damascas…he could return to Damascas…his brother Sergei owned a manor there somewhere, he'd find that, and stay there while the Armada did what it would do, eventually the Dukes would be forced to fight while he stayed safe in Damascas.