Chapter 1 - Part 1 of 2 (Patreon)

Lord Salyn marched across the polished floors, armored knights opened a grand door ahead of him. He lowered his eyes, looking at the red carpet fringed with silver. His pace didn’t slow as he felt the sharp knight’s eyes on his body.

He stopped himself from gritting his teeth, looking at his muddied riding leathers and boots. But, he hadn’t dared to be slow in meeting with his monarch.

“Queen Ikku of the Shikoshi Kingdom, I have come as summoned.” He dropped to one knee and bowed his head.

“Lord Salyn, I am told that the group that you returned with is much smaller than you promised it would be.” Queen Ikku sounded confused at the discrepancy.

All of the hairs on the back of his neck raised as he heard the thinly veiled steel in her voice. His life teetering on the edge.

“The conspirators fled into the Beast Mountain Range, to a place called King’s Hill. They recruited the help of a group, called the Alva Healing hHuse, to make good on their escape.”

Queen Ikku was silent. Salyn wanted to look up to see her expression. If I can deflect her ire, I can destroy the Alva Healing House in one move and remain clear of any blame.

“This Alva Healing House, are they independent?” Queen Ikku asked.

“They have close ties to the leadership of King’s Hill. I do not know if they are by themselves or connected to others. I returned to personally tell you what I have found, And, I request your permission to return and carve out the Alva Healing House and question their people. Drawing out the rest of their organization and tracking down the conspirators!” Salyn’s nerves drained into his words. He half raised his head before ducking back down and swallowing hard.

Silence dragged as Queen Ikku tapped her finger on the armrest of her throne.

“King’s Hill, that is the new outpost in the middle of the Beast Mountain Range? The heart of the outpost leader’s alliance?” Her words were light as Advisor Vesair cleared his throat.

“Yes my queen, the outpost leaders of the Beast Mountain Range created two alliances. One wanted to control all of the Beast Mountain Range as a Kingdom and harvest the beasts within to increase their power. The other group wanted to stabilize the area and increase trade with one another and the outside world. The trading alliance won.”

“What is their temperament? Do you think that they were behind this?”

“I dare not make any conclusions,” Vesair stated.

“If I was to ask you to guess?” There was a cold playfulness in Ikku’s voice.

“As the Queen commands. The trading alliance, while they are focused on creating connections with the surrounding nations, they are not simple. They made use of spies and tactics to strike their enemy without having to employ their complete military. They are reaching out to other nations to secure their position. They are newly formed, a small disturbance and it might come apart. They are just outpost leaders after all. They have not run a nation. Their military is divided. Though they do live in an area of powerful beasts. While they might not have many soldiers, they have to be strong to deal with the many mercenaries in the area.”

“A healing house is not a small power to be annoyed. Are they linked to the major healing houses?” Salyn felt Queen Ikku’s gaze on him.

“They are only located in Vermire and King’s Hill. The leader of the alliance, Aditya was the leader of Vermire first.”

Salyn felt his leg cramping up, the tension in his neck-waiting.

"Raise your head Lord Salyn," Queen Ikku's voice removed all of the pain of his body as relief flooded in.

His upbringing didn't allow his expression to change as he looked up at Queen Ikku.

She looked like she was in her early thirties, wearing a fine gown made of silk with detailed needlework depicting dragons and tigers fighting one another.

She had a graceful beauty that came with a life of practice, her lips as easily giving out a death sentence as praise.

Her eyes were unreadable as she snapped her fan together, tapping it against her chin.

"Vesair, you will craft a letter in my name demanding that this Aditya hand over the members of the healing house, or he will be forcing us to act. Lord Salyn, you will find out the location of these conspirators and bring them to me or bring me their bodies. I will not accept any less."

"Yes my queen," Salyn bowed his head deeply again.

"This alliance of outpost leaders grows too bold, if they think that they can step over my head. They have grown quickly. They should remember who the true leaders of the land are." There was heat in her words as she tilted her head to the side. "Tell this Aditya to submit to me and I will think about not pursuing the connection between him and this healing house. Suggest that if the conspirators were to reappear it would make things much easier. Also, send word to people in the alliance.Say that if they are willing to remove this Aditya from power then we would be interested in trading with them."

"Yes my queen." Vesair bowed his head.

Such actions would destabilize the alliance, pull them into chaos and could take down what they've worked on. Even if I don't find the conspirators, just bringing her a reason to take over a new territory should be enough. Right?

"Lord Salyn, you will leave tomorrow. I will send a group of my Red Falcon Knights with you."

The Red Falcon Knights have a great amount of power. They have the best training and gear; and are completely loyal to Queen Ikku. She sends them to remote locations across her kingdom to assert her rule. They act in her name and there is no power greater than them.

If they figure out who the Alvan people are, find out about the village I created in secret.

The chill on his neck returned before it had truly faded.

"Yes my queen, I will make preparations right away." I'll have to make sure that they don't find out anything. I’ll need to put on a good show.