Chapter 313: The Mechanic Forgives, The Assassin Loves

Daniel finally stirs, gathering his surroundings. His eyepatch came off at some point the evening prior, and he is ensnared by a heavy body. A serpent-like presence flops somewhat slowly on his leg. Daniel looks around to try to find his eyepatch, since he looks like a worse-off version of a certain character from one of his favorite western animations.

However, a hand finds his right cheek, and he flinches. He can’t see anything on his right side anymore, but the hand brings no real pain. If anything, it brings a sort of relief.

Her fingers gingerly pet Daniel’s cheek, particularly where the strange, permanent little handprints on his cheek are, and she turns his head to look at her.

Jeavana is beautiful, and she is rather clingy now that Daniel has accepted and returned her affections. She looks at him with a complicated expression, staring directly at his right eye. It makes Daniel a little insecure, but Jeavana simply studies his destroyed eye.

Daniel has seen it in the mirror, and it’s not a pretty sight. What’s left of his eye is a milky grey-white color with no obvious features anymore, like an unnerving-looking fried egg. The burn-tissue around his eye socket has become a crusty mass of scars, with the two handprints that could belong to a small shelf-top doll remaining clear and distinct.

Jeavana murmurs, “You don’t have to look away from me… I saw it last night.” She smiles sincerely, and her tail curls up to bring a specific article of clothing close to both of their faces. She uses her hand to take the piece of fabric with a trio of flowers and ravens on it.

“May I keep this one?” asks the dragon warmly.

Daniel pauses. It’s basically an oversized handkerchief, but tailored to fit over Daniel’s eye and cover most of his scar in order to minimize the initial gag reflex the sight might give off.

“Why?” asks Daniel cautiously. “My socks were one thing,...”

“And, you have my socks,” jokes the dragon with a grin as she starts putting Daniel’s eye patch onto herself. It makes him a little uncomfortable for hygienic reasons, but it’s extremely unlikely she can get sick from anything Daniel might be carrying. Fortunately, she doesn’t fasten it too tightly, and they did share a lot more germs the night prior, with the blonde having obviously waited for Daniel to wake up.

Daniel sighs, realizing that he has already lost the chance to refuse, or that she just takes it as a default that he’ll agree. “Why that, of all things?”

She smiles, her own right eye covered by the patch. She leans against Daniel’s chest. They got dressed after finally calming down to cuddle for the night, since Jeavana’s clothes help cushion her shoulders, particularly the ‘invisible’ wing shoulders that are still faintly bruised from the injuries she sustained, likely from her bones still fighting to heal properly or a consequence of the speed of healing using magic.

“I had a nightmare a couple days ago…” murmurs the blonde dragon.

“A nightmare?”

She nods against his chest, her hand fidgeting with his shirt. “After… what we talked about last time, I had a nightmare of you vanishing from the world. I… I tried searching everywhere… Every corner of the world… The sky, the Citadel, the moon… I couldn’t…” Her eyes start to water, and she tightens her grip on Daniel’s own leg with hers. “You were just… gone. I… I’m terrified… of giving you my whole heart… to truly give it to you… because…”

Daniel does his best to reach over and cup her cheek with his right hand, gently brushing her messy blonde hair away from her eye. He smiles gently. “If you want to collect mementos, I don’t mind. Just… Make sure you either ask first, or I’m already done with it.”

She smiles softly, knowing that he doesn’t want to say anything about his short lifespan compared to hers, the danger he regularly subjects himself to, or any other possibility. But,...

“Not death… I-... I know I’ll have to prepare for that… But, this felt… too soon. Willow and Clover… they were still babies. And…” She blushes and looks to the side, “I saw… a baby… but I don’t know if it was a boy or a girl…”

Daniel recognizes that part, though not from Jeavana. Doephluev inadvertently gave him a shared premonition-type of dream. The children were indistinct, as if being predicted that they would exist, but undefined because the future isn’t certain.

The mechanic is quiet, stroking her back gently, but Jeavana adds softly, “It felt like… you were just gone… And, my heart ached so much.”

“I’m sorry,” whispers Daniel. “But, it was…” ‘Probably just a dream.’

These words stick in his throat. Zenkon has magic, and the world itself generates powerful ‘pulses’ of foresight in the form of Dawnsights, which can reach even non-Dawnseers through dreams. Even so, that doesn’t mean that every dream is a premonition. And, even those that are don’t necessarily come true.

Still, Daniel knows she’s confessing something important to him, just as the things they both quietly shared on their first night of intimacy. They talked about their lowest points, the low flicker of a flame still willing to burn that is now a fire for the family they now share. The human takes a breath and exhales softly. “It was a warning… So, look out for me, yeah?”

She shifts and looks up into Daniel’s gaze, her own right eye covered with her bangs and the eyepatch. But, their left eyes never leave each other, and Jeavana’s eyes water as her own face crinkles.

“Y-Yes…! Yes, I will!”

Daniel smiles and kisses the blonde dragon’s forehead as she cries for a bit. Many, many things could happen to him at any point. It’s why he has focused so much on trying to find ways to destroy the powerful threats to the Fievegal, so that his family can endure long after his own passing, vastly superior in military might in all of the ways that he can manage to do.

That said, Daniel pats her shoulders after she calms down. “Alright. I have to go see if the things I requested are prepared for our next bout of ‘blacksmithing’.”

Jeavana scoffs. “You don’t even have to be there. Just let Zuzia and Magnir handle it.”

“No. I have to see it. Though, I asked Xyreko to prepare a deflection bunker for us.”

Jeavana pouts, but she replies, “Well… You aren’t one to make the same mistake twice, I suppose… But, I’m not leaving your side.”

“Thank you. I’m counting on you.”

Jeavana grins brightly, and she pounces onto Daniel’s back as he’s standing up. “Carry me, and I’ll protect you from Hekate herself!”

Daniel laughs and just shakes his head. He manages to get her off of his back long enough to put his socks and boots on, but she glomps back onto him immediately after, making Daniel carry her piggyback as she cuddles against his shoulders.

It’s not until he gets several faces of horror from servants and Keepers that they pass when he remembers that his eye is exposed.

That said, before he can ask or return to his room, Doephluev appears just ahead of him.

Daniel pauses. He has been avoiding her until Leiwelles has had time to rest for the interrogation, and she’s supposed to be confined to quarters. Of course, that’s a relatively loose restriction, since she’s allowed to visit the gardens in order to get some sunlight and fresh air for the health of herself and her pregnancy.

Doephluev fidgets for a moment with something in her hands, watching Daniel when he slows to a stop. Jeavana looks, but she doesn’t say anything.

“Darling…” murmurs Doephluev. She looks absolutely delicate and gentle, but Daniel can tell she’s still playing her long game. The archoneldwyn former assassin is a survivor by nature, and she is frighteningly fast at adapting to whatever her current circumstances are in order to pursue the most comfortable survival she can manage. She quickly accepted Daniel’s children because they act as a shield for her while she’s carrying them. She became friends with Hekate because Hekate is easy to befriend and powerful enough to make her loyalty worth earning for even the most cynical person. Even after Doephluev’s two clandestine operations were discovered; the fact that she has been talking in secret to Thymeria to try to learn more about the Fellmother’s ‘friars’, and then the assassination attempt with Cheshyret, which has turned into a gigantic international nightmare, Hekate never took a stance against Doephluev because she cares about both her and Ryuogriar.

Daniel watches as Doephluev cautiously approaches him, wearing a soft smile.

He doesn’t hate her. He knows she had what passes for ‘good’ intentions from the former assassin, but both things were too risky for her to have tried to play ‘plausible deniability’ for everyone else.

Still, he doesn’t reject her when she approaches, looking up at him with a tender affection, but with a sense of caution, since she knows she’s on thin ice. Doephluev stares up at them for a moment, and then her gaze turns to his right eye. Daniel winces his left eye, since the right side of his face is mostly incapable of motion now. Doephluev turns her eyes back to his left, asking, “May I, Darling?”

The archoneldwyn holds up another eyepatch, somehow knowing Daniel was in need of one now that his other one has been commandeered by the dragon still hanging off of his back. Jeavana’s tail sways slowly back and forth, which Daniel can tell due to his center of gravity shifting slightly back and forth.

Daniel nods once, and he leans forward a little to give Doephluev easier access. She has to stretch a little to fasten the cloth bandana so it covers his eye and cheek, ensuring there’s a piece of gauze to help cushion around his damaged eye. The mechanic winces a bit in pain as she does so, and she murmurs tenderly, “I’m sorry, Darling…”

“It’s alright.”

Even Jeavana behaves herself, though he can see Doephluev glance at her a few times.

Having not received instructions to avoid antagonizing anyone else other than Wenlianna, Jeavana teases playfully, swaying her tail a bit more quickly. “You keep glancing at me. Are you worried that I’m now a higher-ranked empress than you?”

Daniel can only let out a sigh, especially when Doephluev twitches. She does a pretty good job to hide her own shock, momentary fear, and slight envy. If she was actually in a true role of attempting to infiltrate and murder someone, she might not falter even this much. But, because she does have some sort of perverse sense of love towards Daniel if, for no other reason, than to use him as a liferaft.

Still, Doephluev is gentle as she puts the half-blindfold on over Daniel’s eye.

Sensing the awkwardness of her silence, Daniel makes a joke as well. “Doephluev, if this one says something like ‘Doephluev’s Pet’, I’m making you wear wet socks for the next two weeks.”

Doephluev’s eyes go wide. She’s not horrified, but she glances at the bandana, and Daniel can see the gears turning behind her gaze. He’s a little relieved that it never crossed her mind, but now he knows that he can’t ever trust anyone else trying to hand him one of his eye coverings. It will either be some form of ownership on the side no one else can see, or the side they can; neither of which Daniel can see himself unless he happens to catch it with his left eye.

“I’m sorry, Darling. I’m going to need to…” Doephluev starts to unfasten it, but Jeavana’s hand pops up and catches the archoneldwyn’s wrist.

The dragon’s voice is ‘kind’, but full of a sort of predatory amusement. “Nice try, Doephluev. I’m pretty neutral about your existence myself, but you’re my opponent in the contest for Mukori’s favorite.” The dragon leans closer over Daniel’s shoulder, pressing her breasts against his back and curling her tail forward around his left leg down past his knee. “If you don’t want me to play these games for real,...”

The flirtatious blonde leaves it at that as she releases Doephluev, letting the pseudo-elf back off and put on her defense-barrier smile. “Rather shameless of you to take advantage of me being confined to quarters to make your move on my Darling, isn’t it?”

“My Mukori likes the attention,” teases Jeavana as she cuddles back down against him, still riding piggyback.

The two stare at each other with a growing energy between them that could almost pass for actual electricity.

“Oh! Hekate, there you are!” says Daniel excitedly, and both women immediately flinch. Doephluev whirls and Jeavana lifts her head, scanning the hallway ahead of Daniel, but no one is there.

The two women are stunned for a moment, and the mechanic laughs warmly as he flicks Doephluev’s forehead, startling her. “Doephluev, your questioning will be later this evening. You might still have time to escape if you really tried.”

The archoneldwyn’s face switches from slightly disappointed to a more hopeful relief. The fact that Daniel is joking with her means that she hasn’t made him hate her. He’s mostly calmed down from the anger, but she still needs to be questioned and a formal punishment assigned to her. She has been allowed to behave as an Empress for the most part, but she’s still technically under contract. With how dangerous the process is, Daniel intends to wait until after she gives birth for the removal of the contract on her. It’s limited in function against her anyways because of her high tolerance for pain and relatively docile scheming.

“I do have many things to hide, and I will attempt to continue to do so. But, I have not nor will I betray you, Darling. And, I will confess as much in front of any means of lie detection you might devise.”

“That’s a bold declaration,” teases Jeavana. “Did you momentarily forget the Harbinger of Calamity’s power?”

Daniel rolls his eye, since Jeavana enjoys flaunting Daniel’s ‘power’ more than anyone else.

Doephluev gives an innocent smile, which a kitsune trying to rob a chicken farmer right in front of his face would be proud of. It’s the furthest thing from truly innocent, but masterfully captures the essence of a maiden as pure as untouched snow.

“I haven’t forgotten anything. I have been quite honest about when I am lying and when I tell the truth.”

Both Daniel and his dragon backpack can only laugh at this truly contradictory statement. It’s true. She is quite quick to be honest if only to offset the suspicion towards her words that could be lies.

“How’ve your cramps been?” asks Daniel.

This brightens Doephluev’s mood even more with hope. She remains composed, though, replying sincerely, “Manageable. Even Aramellianna’s doctors and midwives confirmed that it’s almost certainly because I’m carrying triplets.”

Daniel can feel Jeavana’s arms clench slightly on his chest, and her hands grip the front of his jacket. Doephluev notices this and gives the dragon a devilish smirk, not even hiding the greedy triumph.

The human massages his right temple, feeling a light throb of pain behind his eye, though only because he knows how overwhelming his life would be if he didn’t have the support of a literal Empire, since his Empresses are fiends competing with each other as if finding Daniel’s actual limit is their goal.

But, his smile returns. “Doephluev, get some rest until the questioning. Sundenelle will likely have a date for the funeral for us, and I’d like to confirm whether or not I can count your abilities amongst our emergency assets or not.”

The archoneldwyn’s smirk shifts into a more gentle smile. “I will, Darling. Be careful with your little project.”

Daniel nods. “Thanks. And,...” Daniel looks to his right, pointing. “Thanks for this as well.”

She grins, folding her arms behind her back as she tries to entice Daniel with her chest. “Have I done well enough for a kiss, Darling?”

Daniel smirks, particularly when Jeavana growls right into his ear, and he rolls his eye again. “Get some rest. Don’t make me make that an order.”

He walks past her, and though Doephluev is a little disappointed, she is content that Daniel’s anger at her self-imposed clandestine missions did not devolve into apathy or hate.

“I look forward to proving my lies were for you and my truths are true, Darling. I’ll see you soon.” Doephluev bows politely and watches as Daniel carries Jeavana away.

Once they’re a little further away, Jeavana squeezes her body against Daniel a little more firmly. She grumbles, “Mukori… I wish you would fear that woman more…”

Daniel is quiet for a moment, and the dragon becomes a little insecure. “Daniel?”

“I heard you. And, I understand your concerns. She does all of that knowing it’ll provoke us and that I’ll let my guard down. It’s how she got away with these two things so far…”

“Do you intend to punish her?”

“I need to, but I’m still working out what would actually work on her. Wet socks would actually make her feet rot if it lasts too long.”

Here is an unapproved copy from where the author publishes; visiting the source chapter supports their ongoing work.

Jeavana scoffs, and Daniel adds, “If she wasn’t pregnant, it would be easier to figure something out right away… probably. I don’t want her to be too stressed, though.”

Jeavana takes in a big breath and sighs directly into Daniel’s ear. He can smell the smoky-sweet ignityal on her breath, and she grumbles, “You’re such a big softie, Mukori.” With these words, she hugs him more firmly again, relaxing on his back. “But, I suppose that’s the best part about you…”

Daniel smiles softly, continuing on his way. He feels a little guilty, but he knows that he needs to become more firm in general if he’s going to survive as an Emperor. His Empresses and Queens won’t always be so cooperative with him or each other as time goes on, and the people of the Fievegal will need more than just magic tricks and luxury comforts.

And, to help him with the next stages of his plans, Daniel has to prove that the metal crystalline grains of sharmelkolle can be refined to find a near perfect balance between individual grain size for hardness and the grain boundaries to absorb shock for strength. Since the fantasy metal is already impossibly strong, likely bound tighter by its mana conductivity as much as any normal metal is bound by its electron conductivity in addition to any other atomic-level forces at play.

Hopefully, round two will go much better than round one.

***

Ryuogriar, Reignleif, Gwenesphia, Treia, and Veiranoei are the ones to meet Leiwelles with the dragons holding Samael, Fel and Gyualen, catching the immediate notice of Leiwelles.

The official Second Empress of the Fievegal smiles warmly as she sees Leiwelles’s eyes study each of the two tiny dragons present. However, the Commander doesn’t forget herself for a moment. She bows politely, saying proudly, “Your Imperial Grace Ryuogriar gur Lawson, Commander Leiwelles kos Morglodston humbly greets you.”

Her own escort, which is mostly a few fellow officers and a couple of maids, which is a little surprising at first, but Leiwelles is a noblewoman, given her full name.

Ryuogriar steps forward, saying sincerely, “Please, do not bow, Lady Commander Leiwelles. I treasure you as my Mukori’s precious friend, and I hope I do not trouble you to say I value you as a friend of my own.”

Leiwelles is stunned for a moment as her fellow officers twitch and glance up at them. The Fievegal operates on a completely different set of rules from the territories of Stoerykame. This much has been sweeping the continent since the Fievegal’s devastating power started to rise out of the unknown shadows of the Demon Wildlands like a mountain rising slowly out of the ground itself.

In normal common sense, an Empress so openly declaring a friendship would be an immediate trigger for cascading schemes that would endlessly plague the ‘friend’, as well as the friend devising their own ambitions and using this title of “Empress’s Friend” to their own advantage. To say it so casually, the gossip will churn even more vibrantly from the maids and officers alone.

Leilwelles finally clears her throat, replying, “You honor me, your Grace. I would not dare to have proclaimed myself your friend without your blessing, but I am thankful we feel the same. And, I thank you for welcoming me to the Citadel.”

Ryuogriar nods warmly, and Reignleif steps up. “We have been expecting you, and it is we who should be thankful that you came all this way for our petty matters.”

Leiwelles knows enough to know that it’s far more than ‘petty matters’, but it also regards one of the self-styled Empresses, so it’s not as simple as merely releasing the information to the world.

“It is no trouble at all, your Grace. In fact, it is nice to get a bit of a vacation from the Garden for a change.”

The Empresses giggle, and this lets the officers and maids accompanying the Commander relax.

Gwenesphia greets the Commander, “Commander, it’s good to see you again.”

“Lieu-Your Grace,” replies Leiwelles with a smile, almost slipping back into her own familiar tone with the gatonine, but she quickly corrects herself. “Forgive me for that, your Grace. A foolish habit…”

Gwenesphia smiles graciously, since it’s an easily understandable mistake, and Leiwelles is one of the last individuals who would do so intentionally. However, the Commander’s eyes momentarily flick towards Gwenesphia’s waist, and then to Treia’s and Veiranoei’s. Treia is the only one present not wearing a dress, but all five of the Empresses are wearing clothes that allow their respective tails to be comfortably visible, either low below the drape of her dress in Reignleif’s case, middling for Ryuogriar’s and Veiranoei’s cases, or from the back of her pants in Treia’s case.

And yet, Gwenesphia is the only one whose tail isn’t visible, nor a distinct curve behind her dress where a tail might be.

Seeing this, the gatonine Empress gives a self-deprecating smile. “I had… a near-miss. But, I am alive. And, soon enough, I shall join my fellow consorts in the greatest wealth.” She rubs her own rounded belly as she looks affectionately at Samael, Fel, and Gyualen.

Wanting to desperately avoid the sensitive topic, since Leiwelles is educated plenty well enough to know about the stigmas that can follow a gatonine who has lost their tail, the military Commander clears her throat. It happens in combat, and like a woman losing her husband in battle, can generally be ‘forgivable’, in a sense, but always carries the old seeds for unfounded rumors and gossip to sprout.

Leiwelles turns her focus on the children, restoring her smile. “Indeed. The last time I saw two of these children, they were still hidden away in their eggs. I was thankful to hear of their safe and healthy hatching. Their Highnesses are truly beautiful treasures, your Graces.”

Reignleif steps up with a subdued grace and elegance. If Ryuogriar is an opulent sunrise wherever she goes, Reignleif is the gentle light of the moon. She holds Gyualen out towards Leiwelles, every motion delicate and gentle in spite of her true state as a dragon. The officers behind the brunette human twitch in surprise.

Reignleif says gently, “If you’d like to, Commander, please do.”

“Uh… Y-Yes, if you don’t mind, your Grace.”

Leiwelles takes the baby dragon with the the practiced skill of a mother, mindful of the child’s head and neck, while also being careful of her tiny wings, pudgy little tail, and slightly-rounded claws. The Empresses file the claws of the hatchlings down carefully just to be safe, since the baby dragons don’t really need claws when they don’t have to fend for themselves with three of the most powerful helicopter mothers hovering over them almost all day long every single day.

The brunette human smiles as she holds the baby dragon, gently tickling Gyualen’s belly for a happy gurgle. Gyualen and Clover are the two most passive dragon hatchlings so far, with Gyualen being almost the opposite of her mother in terms of shyness, but still possessing the same moonlight-like gentleness.

“She’s… warmer than I thought,” remarks Leiwelles with a sudden gentleness that touches her battle-scarred face. She has only been a part of a few serious battles, one of which left the large, distinctive scar on the left side of her face.

“Are you familiar with many dragon hatchlings?” teases Reignleif happily as the baby dragon happily grabs the Commander’s hand, trying to move as if to nibble.

Treia warns, “Be careful, Commander. She can draw blood with her teeth.”

Leiwelles nods as she smiles, letting Gyualen have her way right up to the point where she tries to actually nibble, in which case, she carefully moves one of her scarred fingers in place so that her tiny, sharp teeth come down on a knuckle. The Commander winces, but the smile never breaks. Gwenesphia and Reignleif move as if to help, but relax when the mature woman allows it.

Ryuogriar asks softly, “Forgive me if this is out of line, my Lady Commander, but I suppose I didn’t know ahead of time. Forgive me if my invitation’s wording was… insensitive.”

Leiwelles smiles softly. She knows immediately which lines of the invitation she’s talking about. She never takes her eyes off of Gyualen, continuing to play with the dragonling in her arms as Reignleif patiently watches. Leiwelles lets her shoulders rise and fall slightly as she takes a breath and exhales. She looks at Ryuogriar and says softly, “After I recovered from the wounds you can still see,... I have been a solitary woman watching over a flower garden at the edge of the world.”

Everyone is quiet, including the women who have been following Leiwelles in hopes of boosting their own military careers and potentially finding important civil stations in the Imperial Capital.

Leiwelles clears her throat, adding quickly, “I have two sons and a daughter who are healthy and well. They live in the southeast region of the Empire.”

Again, everyone is quiet. That’s essentially as far away as possible from Fort Peony over which Leiwelles is the commander, and she has been there for years. Her subordinates constantly shadowing her could someday take over Fort Peony, but she has continuously petitioned to remain at the Flower Garden and to keep it as it has been long before her own command started, as if she’s running away from her past.

The five Empresses briefly share glances with each other, but none of them speak. That said, they all seem to agree on something. They intend to give Leiwelles a position in the Fievegal’s ranks if she wants it. After all, Daniel speaks highly of her as a woman of principles, but no favoritism. Knowing everyone’s biggest and smallest lies all the time must make her weary of dealing with people in any capacity other than organizing them for drills or defensive battle formations.

Ryuogriar clears her throat and speaks as graciously as she can. “Yes, it would have taken a great deal of time to contact them and transport them to the Citadel. Forgive me for putting you in an awkward position, Leiwelles. And, for any time when we are in privacy comparable to now, you, Leiwelles, may refer to me simply by Ryuogriar or Ryuo. If you do not object, I shall address you as Leiwelles, since we are friends.”

“Thank you, Y-, Ryuogriar.” Leiwelles can tell when someone is lying, both from experience and from her innate skill, so she knows that Ryuogriar is being sincere. And, if it’s a sincere request, it’s only respectful to comply.

“Please, come inside. We’ll show you and your retainer to your quarters. Please understand that your quarters will have formerly belonged to feldroks in ancient times, so it has been restructured into a private suite. It is large enough for all of you to stay in, but it may feel like one room partitioned into smaller rooms for each of you.”

Leiwelles replies warmly and dismissively, “Please, pay it no mind. That you have provided us accomodations in the mighty Citadel, I believe this is a story we will be able to share for the rest of our lives. We’ve all spent time in cramped barracks and tattered tents. A castle this magnificent is a luxury.”

“Thank you for saying so. Please allow me to guide you.”

“If you have other business, Ryuogriar, please don’t let us keep you.”

“Nonsense!” replies Ryuogriar with a warm dismissal. “I would not so openly call you my friend and then hand you off to servants. Empress or not, I would not treat my friends so shamelessly.”

“I’m flattered.” As they walk, Reignleif falls into step beside Leiwelles, not yet asking for Gyualen back, since the baby dragon has gotten cozy against the brunette’s modest dress. It’s many steps below the ‘casual’ wear of the dragons, which glimmer with pieces of mollusk shells, particularly the ‘Mother of Pearl’ of any of the bivalves from the pearl farm that don’t survive, which has been a significant number as they work to find the perfect balance of water conditions and feeding methods to keep them healthy and alive.

While heading for the guest quarters prepared for Leiwelles and her entourage, Ryuogriar remarks, “Leiwelles, if it’s not awkward for me to ask about, I was surprised that you keep a retainer of maids. I’m not from the East, of course, so I’m not entirely familiar with how aristocratic standings work.”

Leiwelles scoffs a little self-mockingly. “Indeed. I may be all but banished from my own family, but it is I who holds the Morglodston bloodline. They must at least keep up appearances, particularly when I return to my townhouse in the Mattarglos Capital. I asked a handful of my retainers to attend to me while I’m in the Fievegal.”

“And, you didn’t bring any guards?” asks Reignleif a little playfully. This makes the other officers glance at each other awkwardly, but Leiwelles simply chuckles.

“It is as you see. With exception of the officers who chose to follow as a loose escort and to learn, I brought no significant defensive forces. I may be a simple Commander of the United Forces at Fort Peony, but I do receive some limited military reports all the way out at the border.” She smirks, adding, “Only a fool would make military movements on the Fievegal. And, certainly not while the Harbinger of Calamity is residing in his castle.”

Everyone shares a warm chuckle, and Lieutenant Phrea is the one to speak up politely, “Your Grace, we are honored to have been allowed to accompany Commander Leiwelles to the heart of the Fievegal. I hope we won’t be any burden.”

“Not at all, Lieutenant,” replies Ryuogriar. The Empresses got a brief introductory note from Shek and Skloe during in-processing, which was expedited for Leiwelles and her entourage. That said, Xyreko is monitoring the entire entourage closely. The Fellmother and the friars seem to have an ancient network of infiltrators well-established throughout the entire continent, if not the whole world. If any of them attempt any sort of magic, Xyreko will try to identify or neutralize it as necessary.

After some more idle talk among the group, Ryuogriar presents the guest quarters for Leiwelles and her retainers. “Please allow us to show you around.”

The massive door once meant for feldroks has a separate opening for people of oversized human size, which is comfortable enough for even Lieutenant Phrea, a large female boruan, to enter with ease.

The luggage bag of Lieutenant Leirya, a shenwulf woman who accompanied Leiwelles, hits the floor as the room inside is presented to them.

The common area alone, which has comfortable furniture for relaxing, is larger than the central staging yard of Fort Peony, let alone the barracks itself. There’s a dining table, kitchen area, lounge furniture, a weapon-tending bench with enough seats for all of the military personnel, and a pantry for the entire group.

And, attached to the main room are separate bedrooms for each person that is almost half-again larger than the staterooms of Fort Peony, which the officers are accustomed to. Everything is up to the level of royalty, including the staff rooms, with fabrics that are soft and comfortable, an air of cleanliness in every corner of the room, and a separate bathroom for each bedroom, complete with running water with variable temperature and flushing water for toilets, which are tail-friendly in design.

The ladies of the Empire and Mattarglos, including Leiwelles herself, are speechless, following blankly as they follow and listen to the tour being provided by the Empresses, especially the three gatonines who happily explain the upgrades in ways that the Fort Peony ladies can understand.

And, more importantly, that the servants and ladies-in-waiting will also be using right alongside their liege lady.

Ryuogriar teases, “You may use this room as you see fit, and we will retrieve you once preparations are made to interrogate our prisoners. Please, get comfortable in your rooms and relax. If you have any questions or needs, one of our golems are stationed just outside of the room. I will warn you, though, that the Citadel is a sort of omniscient creature when it comes to the golems within its walls, so I would urge you to avoid discussing secrets and schemes, even in the privacy of your own rooms. Daniel has a strict policy of privacy as far as avoiding spying on anyone in vulnerable states, but if you let your guard down, something may be overheard even if you think no one is present. If this is unacceptable, we can arrange a townhouse for you, which is not directly overseen by the Citadel.”

“Please let me add, however,...” interjects Gwenesphia politely. “... that the same continuous observation from the Citadel’s golems is a protection as much as it is espionage. The Citadel’s vigil shall be assigned to protect you and guide you at all times, should you need anything. So, please don’t let ‘espionage’ make you uncomfortable.”

Treia adds, “We won’t stop you from using methods from concealing your conversations, but it’s still the smarter choice not to talk about anything you don’t want us to know, just in case.”

Gwenesphia and Treia, specifically, were once subordinate to Leiwelles on Fort Peony, with Gwenesphia being of equal rank to Phrea and Leirya, and Treia junior to all of them. And, on the aristocratic stage, Gwenesphia is the seventh child of a Baron, meaning she would be outranked by Leiwelles, who is a Countess in her own right and the eldest daughter and true heir of the Morglodston family. Even if she was driven away from her husband and children for any reason, the fact that she is the true blood of Morglodston and the heiress remains the same. That said, it’s also not unheard of for a husband to hope for that exact kind of scenario, such that she can be bypassed when it comes time for the County seat to pass to the next in line, such that his children inherit right away. Likewise, Leiwelles likely never wanted to return to social circles due to her scars and a general exhaustion of aristocratic functions. Gwenesphia never had any hopes of inheriting because of how many siblings she has, so she was always the spoiled youngest who wanted to alleviate some of the burden by joining the military of the Flower Garden.

And, because of her situation, the first question Leiwelles typically asks newcomers other than Daniel is ‘Are you here to assassinate me?’. With her ability, she would easily be able to tell if they are or not, which is how she has avoided being assassinated for her status as heiress. It’s only rumor, but apparently, those few who were intended to assassinate her were assigned to cabin duty, and upon disappearing behind closed doors with Leiwelles, would end up ‘attacking her, for which she defended herself’, unable to launch a sneak attack on her.

Leiwelles, still holding Gyualen, finally snaps out of her trance. “Oh! This… No, I have nothing to hide, and won’t be discussing anything I am worried about getting out. So, it’s fine. In fact, it’s all the more reassuring that infiltrators and assassins will have a much harder time approaching. In fact, I give the Citadel’s golems permission to remain in the common area at all times to watch each of our doors as well, when we are at our most vulnerable. That would put me at greater ease, and we can call out to them more easily without needing to return to the main door. Does anyone object?”

Leiwelles looks at her companions, and most of them are too stunned to realize they’ve been spoken to. But, Phrea and Leirya snap out of it and both reply, “No, that’s fine.”

“Agreed. I had no intention to act any way other than this being a formal inspection at all times.”

The others finally voice agreements as well, with Leirya being the one to ask politely, “If I may, though, will the golems watching over us be offended watching over us?”

“Not at all,” replies Reignleif. “The golems that will be guarding you will be soldiers. They don’t have the full sapience of golems like Xyreko, but are perfectly capable of defending and providing assistance. If any of them detects a need to, a sapient golem will immediately arrive at your location for further assistance.”

“Thank you, your Grace,” replies Leirya with a polite bow.

“You’re welcome.”

Suddenly, there is a deep, resounding ‘boom!’ that reaches all of them where they are in the guest rooms, putting everyone on guard for a moment. The Empresses glance at each other, and Ryuogriar’s shoulders relax when it seems like they’re all on the same page.

The dragon matriarch finalizes the temporary meeting, “Now then, my dear husband is probably doing something foolish right now, so I must go observe from a safe distance. Please be at ease regardless of what you hear. The Citadel is the safest fortress in the world.”

Leiwelles watches quietly as Reignleif reclaims her daughter, following the other four Empresses as all five of them leave. There seems to be no urgency in their movements, and the three gatonine Empresses say brief and polite farewells.

Ryuogriar told the truth as she knows it. Daniel is doing something ‘foolish’, and she’s genuinely going to watch from a ‘safe distance’, but it definitely does more to instill curiosity instead of security.

But, the moment of unease is melted by Leirya remarking quietly, “So… Is the Fievegal accepting applications for immigration and transfer?”

Leiwelles can only chuckle and sigh. A second boom occurs, and everyone twitches. It’s not loud where they’re at, but as deep as they are in the humongous, mountain-like fortress that is the Citadel, it still manages to sound like distant claps of thunder they all have heard many times from inside villas, mansions, forts, and forests.

That means whatever is producing the sound now is extremely powerful, like up-scaled versions of Daniel’s weapons, which even Leiwelles hasn’t actually witnessed in action.

The brunette commander looks to the golem that has stationed itself just inside the door. She asks sincerely, “Sir Golem?” It immediately looks at her, and she remarks, “If I may ask… Are we allowed to observe the Emperor’s… ahem, forgive me for using her Grace’s words, but… ‘foolish action’?”

The golem stares at her silently for one long moment. Leiwelles wonders if she should be worried or not, but a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ would be plenty for her. The silence drags out for an awkwardly long time, enough so that her retainers have fallen silent to stare at the golem and await the answer.

The golem’s voice is hollow and difficult to place as either male or female, but it replies, “Yes. Though, from the same distance. Empress Ryuogriar welcomes you to join her. I shall escort you when you are ready.”

Boom!

Everyone twitches and glances at each other. The golem continues, “The work being overseen by the Emperor will continue for some time, so there is no rush.”

Leiwelles nods, and she says, “Anyone who wishes to accompany me may do so. Those who wish to remain behind are welcome to settle in and relax. If the golems permit, you may even tour the Citadel. But, do not, for one moment, forget that we represent the Empire, Fort Peony, and the Morglodston family. I will not tolerate any disrespect towards the Fievegal, no matter how peculiar they are.”

“Understood!” is the unanimous reply, even from the ladies-in-waiting serving the Morglodston heiress, not the Fort Peony Commanding Officer.

Though Leiwelles holds an actual rank of Countess of her own, she does not have a County over which she rules. Regardless, she knows when to be the Commander and when to be the Countess. Right now, she is a Countess looking to make connections within the Fievegal and maintain new friendships.

And, she wouldn’t deny that she’s seeking to sate her own curiosity about the many mysteries of the Fievegal, the Citadel, and the unfortunate, wayward ‘soldier-sailor’ from another world. That man alone defended Fort Peony from a dragon and a Class B drake, which are each formidable foes for the normal manning of Fort Peony. The drake might have been held back, but the dragon required immediate evacuation. Instead, Daniel defeated them and their entire escorting force.

I wonder how I should address Empresses Kera’tai, Aoloan, and Vaergraes… Well, I suppose they all survived, whereas, the dragons lost a male. Though, they seem to be doing just fine.

Leiwelles smiles as she prepares herself to go observe.

She didn’t spy on or question Daniel much when he was acting peculiar on Fort Peony, and he used her forge to make weapons to slay dragons.

If he’s working on something that unsettled the dragon Empresses, she almost needs to see it in action.

After all, it will help her with a different decision she has been pondering for a while.

***