Janaxia’s clothing continued to flutter and shift, altering itself between more-or-less armour, a grander, more overly impressive version of her silken dresses, and a dull and dowdy robe of faded black. The others they passed in the ornately decorated passages looked away without comment, the servants keeping their heads bowed. As they approached the skywalk, Stathis grabbed Janaxia from behind and she jumped, clothing vanishing for a moment before reappearing, a stubby spike of metal scratching against the armour of Stathis’ gauntlet.

‘Slow down! What are you doing?’

Janaxia turned, her face ashen and pale, bereft of her usual makeup. Then she made a sudden dash for the edge of the skywalk and vomited, spew splashing off the stone. She leaned against the balustrade, heaving in breaths, before spewing again.

Stathis carefully stroked her back, her dress opening up to reveal a diamond of bare skin. ‘Are you poisoned? Do you feel alright?’

I… I think we should leave this place. As swiftly as possible.

‘Yes, once we’ve got this sorted. If we run now, your mother will definitely hunt you down.’

Janaxia’s body heaved and choked and spluttered again, dry-retching now her stomach was empty. Stathis tried healing her, a shimmer of magic appearing, but without any effect, without any physical wounds to heal.

I can’t stand up to her! She’ll hurt me.

Stathis pulled Janaxia up, trying to comfortingly rub and stroke her, to find her face streaked with tears, makeup trying to form around the trickling water, immediately running and then fading away.

‘We’ll get through this. You just need to try and stay calm, and then we can keep her distracted, and then maybe your older siblings will deal with her. Or get one of the other rulers here to deal with her – Zarazonnia doesn’t seem very fond of her already.’

Janaxia didn’t seem reassured by this, turning around and pushing herself against Stathis, her breath smelling faintly of bile. She mumbled something Stathis couldn’t make out, the tone of her mental voice anguished. I don’t want to be hurt. Cold and dark and lonely, locked away… She pressed herself tightly against Stathis’ breastplate as Stathis rubbed her head, trying to calm her, ignoring the odd looks the passing servants were giving them.

A loud slithering sounded, scales-on-stone, Zarazonnia sliding down the hallway that branched onto the skywalk, her humanoid torso swaying slightly as her serpentine rear undulated to push her along. Stathis hurriedly pulled her helmet on.

‘Have you time for a conversation, Janaxia?’

Janaxia tensed in Stathis’ arms, pulling herself away, face cleaning and composing itself, makeup suddenly pristine, hair tidying itself into a long braid.

‘Queen Zarazonnia. Of course, I am at your service.’

Stathis glanced over the edge to make sure she hadn’t imagined the whole thing, but she could see Janaxia’s vomit pebble-dashing the stone, as Janaxia pushed her away, back now straight and poised.

‘I was just walking to my apartments.’

‘Very well, I shall accompany you. I do hope I wasn’t interrupting anything? You appeared to be having something of a discussion with your guard.’

‘Oh, just some trifling matters to pass the time with.’ In contrast to her light voice, her mental broadcast was slower and more serious. Thank you. I… will speak more, when we can.

The two of them started to move away, Zarazonnia having to drop her torso low so that it was on level with Janaxia to let them converse, Stathis having to keep quite far behind them or risk getting buffeted by Zarazonnia’s tail, moving in smooth curves to propel her forward. She was far enough behind that she couldn’t hear more than snatches of their conversation, but followed behind them, trying to look obedient. Janaxia’s mask of decorum, if she was pretending, was excellent, any sign of the emotional turbulence she had been showing now absent. She gave a polite laugh at some witticism, Zarazonnia moving up high and gesturing before lowering herself back down to get into the tower.

The guards all saluted as Zarazonnia passed, two of her arms making gestures of acknowledgement. Before they could move to block her, Stathis had also stepped through, narrowly avoiding stepping onto Zarazonnia’s tail. There was no sign of a poison stinger, at least, but even the tip looked like solid muscle covered with scales, fatter than her arm. The long carpet down the centre of the hallway was getting distorted and pulled askew by her hissing advance as well, the material getting rucked and settling untidily.

A servant emerged from a doorway, and immediately ducked and started pulling it back into place, Stathis stepping aside onto the bare stone strip on either side, trying to stay out of their way. In the smaller interior of the tower, Zarazonnia had to stoop low, squeezing herself around the curves, moving carefully and even then sometimes her blades scraped against the walls, rattling against stone.

When they reached Janaxia’s chambers, Janaxia opened the door, Zarazonnia moving to the other side, blocking the passageway entirely, gesturing at Stathis. ‘You doubtless wish to attend to your mistress.’

Stathis ducked her head, before entering the rooms. Sen and the other servants were there, Sen looking surprised as she ducked into a curtsey, the other servants following her lead. The bodyguard looked at them, still wearing the same tattered cloak, tensing before forcing themselves to relax.

The servants had been busy, the room now immaculately tidy, everything that could gleaming bright. Zarazonnia loomed outside, the servants all looking nervous, before a certain amount of awkward shuffling occurred, Zarazonnia having to move back to give them the space to leave, but then they had to go through bowing and curtseying in the narrow doorway, before they were gone from sight. Zarazonnia looked at the other guard and hissed. ‘You are not needed here. Begone.’

They nodded, before making their own exit, having to step carefully to avoid Zarazonnia’s body. The room wasn’t large enough for Zarazonnia to enter fully, and she had to twist awkwardly just to get her torso in, her serpentine rear extending into the hallway outside, probably blocking it off entirely. Hopefully no-one needed to get past – climbing over would probably get them in trouble, so they would have to wait until the conversation was done. Zarazonnia looked around, unable to move far into the room, before settling herself down as best she could.

‘I hope you are enjoying your stay. You certainly seem to have wasted no time in finding servants! Although I do wish the ones with scales wouldn’t refer to me as an “ancestor”. It may well be true, but it does make me feel far too old. And there’s too damn many of them.’

‘Well, it must be flattering to have that many respecting you. You certainly seem to be stamping your mark on the place.’

‘It is hospitable here, yes. Although getting here was something of a challenge, after I was transported into the ocean. And there were a few attempts on my life, although they were more in the nature of tests rather than full attempts. Flattering to be taken seriously, I feel. At least it gave me a chance to acquire some more blades - I have quite the collection now. Many are poor examples of the craft, but there’s a few treasures amongst them.’

The snake-tail tensed, the torso suddenly twisting forward, moving back towards Stathis, a pair of hands feeling her armour. ‘You certainly have excellent taste in equipping your followers, Janaxia. Or do you allow this one to choose their own equipment?’ She peered at Stathis in interest. ‘You carry yourself well, and endure your armour with impressive fortitude, given this climate. What is your name?’

Stathis tensed, trying to think of an answer she could give without lying. Zarazonnia turned to Janaxia, hands tapping against her armour still.

‘You really do have them well trained, if they will not even speak without permission. I assume you are kind enough to permit them a name?’

‘Oh, yes. This is Spathi. She has served me for quite some time. Occasionally troublesome, but skilled in what I need her for. Could do with perhaps being a bit more friendly at times though.’

Zarazonnia moved back with sudden speed, moving back to face Janaxia. ‘I imagine you would be unwilling to part with them?’

Janaxia looked taken aback. ‘She is… of use to me, I would prefer to keep her around. She has proven her worth on many occasions.’

Stathis rolled her eyes behind her helmet.

‘They appear rather more disciplined than what I have to work with. Are they obedient?’

‘Mostly. Although they can sometimes be rather stubborn.’

‘That can be fun to work with, although you do have to make sure that they know never to disobey you.’

There was no sign of the broken and nervous Janaxia anymore, as she engaged in courtly discussion, expressing her sympathies for the difficulties of rulership, even laying a comforting hand on Zarazonnia’s shoulder, her nails rattling against armour.

‘Yes, keeping matters organised when in charge can be such a trial. I’m forever having to take my followers in hand and ensure they can accomplish their tasks. They would be quite lost without me! But do you not have important things to do? I would have thought that running this city would demand your full attention.’

‘There are certain matters that I wish to discuss with you.’ Serpentine eyes glanced at Stathis, the great tail flicking about as though probing for anyone standing in the hallway, before her torso moved even closer to Janaxia, the size disparity making the two of them look strange next to each other. ‘I can sense ancient power on you. Similar to that which Poratia is working with, but more focused. A power I had thought long since vanished or sealed.’

Janaxia couldn’t entirely hide a nervous squirm. ‘I have spent a certain amount of time amongst various tombs and dungeons, seeking out ancient treasure. It is possible that some old relic or other may be responsible for anything that you can sense?’

Zarazonnia moved even closer to Janaxia, making her step backwards. Stathis stepped forward herself, half-drawing her blade, as Zarazonnia slid one of hers partially out of a sheathe, blue fire flickering from the metal, stick keeping her eyes fixed on Janaxia.

‘They are impressively loyal! I mean your mistress no harm, but it is not your place to speak. Down.’ Magical force assaulted Stathis, trying to force her to her knees. She strained to keep standing, as Zarazonnia spoke, her voice measured and even. ‘They really are strong! But remind them to not interfere with the affairs of their betters. Now, onto more important matters. I sense ancient power on you, Janaxia. The tattered shadows that Poratia uses, the spikes and shards she uses to create her pawns, they are but minor shades, of which you seem to be a true shadow. For all her boasts and proclamations, she knows not what she deals with. I have seen the Triad in the height of their power, and even she cannot compare.’

Janaxia’s hair-lash gave an uncertain throb. ‘There are certain family matters, you understand, that I cannot discuss, even with one such as you.’

A hand reached out and took Janaxia gently by the chin, another brushing her hair aside. ‘You do not have the same feeling as them. They are almost feral, power running uncontained, taking a toll on their flesh. You appear for more stable. And this is rather fetching.’ She stroked at Janaxia’s forelock. ‘Red does suit you.’

Zarazonnia looked around, staring at a patch of shadow on the ceiling. Two of her hands came up, fingers flickering before she spoke a single word. Cool energy washed over the room, the mage-lights blinking out for a moment, the shadow rippling before vanishing, as Stathis caught a glimpse of Skotadi’s face, looking surprised before blinking away. Janaxia’s clothing vanished, except for her golden choker.

‘I do dislike unwanted eavesdroppers. Although I am not sure who that one was. Oh, my apologies, I do not realise your clothing was enchanted. Please, resummon it.’

Janaxia wasted no time calling up her clothing again, wrapping her body in silks. ‘A peril of your position, I suppose.’ Her hair-lash flickered with colour for a moment. ‘It must be inconvenient.’

‘Indeed. But we were discussing you.’ She stared again at Janaxia, her eyes suddenly flickering yellow. Janaxia tilted her head and nodded, the two of them staring at each other, although Janaxia looked rather more timid than usual, as her clothing continued to swirl into being around her body.

Were they conversing silently? Occasionally Zarazonnia would laugh, or shake or nod her head, while Janaxia continued to cover her nervousness, playing with her hair, looking like she would rather be elsewhere. Whenever Stathis moved, Zarazonnia shifted her stance slightly, aware of her presence and ready to move in case of violence.

After some time, Zarazonnia rattled two of her hands against her hilts, jerking Stathis from her boredom. ‘Is that so? Well, that is interesting. In the interests of your own safety, I will be assigning you a personal guard as well. Not that I doubt the competency of your personal guard, but for extra security. You interest me enough that I think you’re worth keeping an eye on.’

‘Of course. I sincerely hope that their services will not be needed.’

‘And they will help to round out your numbers. Although I would prefer you return them to me relatively intact, they were hard to acquire.’

‘Yes, I can imagine. I will do my best to return them uninjured.’

Zarazonnia suddenly withdrew her torso, having to awkwardly duck back out of the room, her body slapping against the floor and walls as she tried to turn herself around, the passageway not large enough to make it easy. Janaxia went to the doorway, delicately ducking her head and bowing. ‘My thanks, Queen Zarazonnia. I do hope we will be able to talk again?’

Zarazonnia’s head bobbed back into view. ‘As do I, Janaxia. It has been most pleasant.’

Scales slithered and scraped as Zarazonnia managed to make her way away, through the passages not large enough for her. As soon as she was out of sight, Janaxia sagged, stepping away and falling in an overly-melodramatic swoon onto a couch.

That was draining. It seems that some overly-complex political game is afoot, although I do not know the full details.

‘Right. That doesn’t surprise me, but how much danger are we in?’

Sen returned, leading the other servants back in, looking around and immediately directing them, setting them to moving back anything that Zarazonnia had knocked side with her bulk.

It would be best not to discuss this publicly. This really would be far easier if you were to learn to communicate silently. Zarazonnia can manage it, you should be able to manage to as well!

There wasn’t much Stathis could do beyond make a gesture of annoyance.

Janaxia gestured at one of the servants, going to her bed and laying out, letting herself be massaged, apparently content to explain while being pampered.

The usual palace politics, although somewhat more… pointed than you may be used to. Zarazonnia is able to keep matters somewhat under control, but finds it bracing. However, my Mother represents something of an outside factor. In her pursuit of certain artefacts to do with the Black Triad, she is something outside of the norm. Too powerful to directly control, but apparently useful to channel elsewhere.

‘Mmmm, yes, that’s just the spot.’ She twisted her hips, clothing peeling back, letting herself be more properly massaged.

A certain amount of chaos is normal, of course, but Mother’s followers are distinctive enough to have caused trouble. Whatever empowers them apparently bears some resemblance to the powers that Zarazonnia used to serve. She seems to believe that I bear similar powers as well.

Stathis nodded.

Zarazonnia wishes to ensure that matters do not become too unstable. And for a display of force, to reassure others that she retains power and control.

Stathis made a “carry on” gesture.

It seems there is a task required of us. Which I’m sure won’t be too hard…

One of the disadvantages of the helmet was that it made it hard to properly glare, but Janaxia still seemed to get the idea, that getting to the point sooner rather than later would be appreciated.

Well, there is some form of fighting tournament, to keep the masses entertained. Zarazonnia wishes to sponsor us in order to raise her own prestige further. She is very impressed by you! And seems to feel that showing off the benefits of your armour might help encourage others to adopt it. So it seems that you and I, as well as both my guards, will be participating. It may be a little dangerous, but nothing that cannot be handled, I’m sure. This is to be kept quiet though – there are apparently some political considerations, and so it is imperative that she be seen to back a winning team. There’s no need to look so dejected!

Stathis must have shown some part of her opinion in her stance. But a fighting tournament? So much for keeping any sort of low profile!