The Lady of Shadows

Onto the fallen lands

     “Oh wow… I didn’t expect monsters.” The Princess said. I sighed. I began mentally preparing to act as if I was just serving Celine.

    “Emilia. Mind yourself.” The queen’s silky voice said, “Pardon her, she has never really been out of the castle, and even when she does…” The queen began.

    “Your populous is human. I understand completely, it is no concern of ours if she sees us as beast or beings.” I spared her the explanation. I would rather be done with this ordeal already.

    “You are to the point, as I would have expected from someone capable of all you have done.” The king boomed,     “Tell me, what have you plan to do with the lands you have gained?”

    “Complete honesty, I wish to travel. I have a job offer from a fallen prince to free his people and wish to offer my hands as an adventurer to the cause. If I may be so bold, I was rather hoping you would hear my offer?” I said with a bow.

    “Of course, you seem wise beyond your years, so I will gladly hear what you have.” The king nodded.

    “I have a trusted human leading in my absence. Her name is Celine, and she is working hard to keep the people taken care of along with her own family. If you would agree to give her noble rank, and allow her to oversee the lands on your behalf, I would be willing to surrender the land to your great kingdom.” I explained.

    “And the lands of this fallen prince?” The queen asked looking at Dominic.

    “Once my people are free, I will step aside as the heir and hand over the land and its people to Celine.” Dominic answered, “So you can either make her a noble or she can be a Queen of a vast land.”

    “And why do you seek to make her a noble?” The princess asked.

    “Because she has worked very hard for her family and people. Lady Lilith and myself aside, no one deserves the title more so, but making her queen when she has no desire to marry at this time would ensure that she would be unhappy in the rush to produce an heir, or ensure the fall of the kingdom. With this in mind I see the best option in asking for her title, to ensure her family is taken care of allowing her to focus on the people, and when her siblings are old enough she can teach them to follow her path and eventually the line will continue with good people in place.” I explained.

    “So… These people are not your own, yet you have taken their future into account on a great scale.” The queen mused.

    “My people do not exist. Where I am from is not a home. The only remaining ties I have there is my mother who I wish to free as well someday. If I had to align myself, I would say that my people are all around me. Anyone who needs aid, the good hearted souls who offer it without concern for themselves, the young who can grow up wise and strong. My people are the ones who will shape the future in a brighter way. I am simply one of many in the line of people who will one day make the world better.”

    “So well spoken. You must be from a royal line.” The king beamed.

    “If it matters, I was raised in a palace life, though I was not of royal line. My father is the Vampiric King, Lord Alistair. My mother is an elf he took as a peace offering to spare her home village.” I leveled my eyes at him.

    "Ah the smiling king….” The Queen said with a concerned look on her face.

    “I hear his pureblood children fight over the throne.” The king laughed.

    “The Oldest son is as smart as a cow, the girl is as cunning as a fox, but greedy and immature. Neither is fit to rule, but then the King’s rule is the only one I have known and it has been brutal and cruel in every aspect. So what harm could an imbecile and a snake do?” I asked.

    “You speak freely and coldly.” The princess noted.

    “I always have, I am not one to beat around or allow someone to walk over me. It got me in more trouble as a child, but eventually I gained the strength to back up my words. Since then I speak freely without fear of punishment. However, I would like to point out that I do still hold respect. If it was my father on that throne I would be much more hostile and vulgar.” I admitted. They laughed for a moment before the king cleared his throat.

    “I must say I do like you.” He boomed, “You have no fear that I can see and you have no signs of evil intent. You have faced us head on, even if we did derail the conversation. With that, I will agree to your terms. In exchange for the land, I will have Celine oversee it as Countess Celine. Her family will be named nobles and when her land grows she will be promoted to Duchess.” The king declared, “Likewise you shall be granted a title once the fallen lands are transferred, fallen prince. As for the rest of you, I grant you elite pass as Adventurers. This will ensure you progress smoothly, granting more rank with each successful job. That being said freeing the fallen kingdom will grant you a double S rank easily.” The king laughed. I smiled at how easily this was coming together.

    “In that case, I have a favor to ask.” The Princess spoke up again. She looked determined.

    “Emilia.” The queen warned.

    “I would like to visit your lands when everything is settled. When Celine is Duchess and peace has reclaimed everything.” The princess demanded. I blinked.

    “Why?” Dominic asked, him being a former prince was probably the only reason he wasn’t slapped for lacking respect in the question.

    “I cannot rule my people without knowing the lands, and the city here is so simple, they hate other races and they shelter me. With double S guards I would be safe to travel to the outer lands of the kingdom, taste the culture, and see first-hand how the people live their lives daily.” The princess reasoned. I tilted my head and listened to her heart. It was sporadic, but strong. She was excited and I could since no ill will from her.

    “If you can convince Countess Celine to invite you, I would gladly accept the job to guard you on your travels.” I answered. Princess Emilia looked up with those big blue eyes, almost shocked I had agreed.

    “Well, if things go as you believe they will, I cannot see why trusting you would be a problem, and this is only once things are peaceful.” The king sighed in defeat.

    “I will make sure there is no danger, I will completely free the kingdom and help Countess Celine find order in the new lands as effectively as in her own.” I promised, “And only then will I agree to take the princess there.”

    “Very well, I do believe that concludes our meeting…. I will send the news of the title to the new Countess right away.” The queen said with a small bow of the head before she took her daughter by the hand and left the hall.

    “Lady Shadow.” The king boomed. I turned to look at him, his aura in full effect now, “What is your final goal?” He demanded. I looked at him as he searched my face for answers.

    “To free my mother, which I can only do if I can provide her the same comfort acting as a consort affords her. So I will be back before you one day seeking a title of my own that will grant me that ability. Once my mother is safe, I have only one more goal.”

    “And what would that be?” He asked.

    “To end the Royal line that made my mother suffer so much.” I answered coldly. The king stared back at me, searching my face for any sign of doubt or weakness.

    “That is a long path, and a dark one. I have met the Vampiric Lord a few times and even I cannot think of a way to best him.” The king warned. I smiled in a demonic way.

    “I grew up under him. I know his weaknesses and I know his strengths. That is why I am here, why I have done all I have, why I will continue to do such things. I am growing stronger while he ages. Even vampires are not immortal. You will see, I will sit on his thrown one day.” I turned and let myself out followed closely by my friends.

    “That… was kind of sexy.” Dominic growled behind me.

    “You too?” Lilith asked as she sighed waving her hand at her face, “I thought I was going to melt. Our kind loveable Shadow has a dark side and it is so very yummy.” They laughed. I kept my face hidden as I tried to regain my composure. In the distance I heard the king’s laughter following us.

    “Okay so we rest for the night and tomorrow we make our way to Dominic’s kingdom.” I said once I felt in control again.

    “Straight to business then.” Dominic sighed.

    “We’ll need a hotel for the night, and at first light we can leave.” Lilith offered. I nodded. Finding a hotel willing to accept us proved difficult, but eventually we were allowed one room. I hesitated as it was one large bed. Dominic and Lilith already agreed that I would sleep in the middle and they would take the edges. They all but forced me into bed and as Lilith snuggled against my chest and Dominic rested his hand on my hip I found sleep to be an impossible task.