The Night of Unshackling

Two days of celebrations, that’s what the tradition dictates since the reform of the Kingdom by the Divine Queen, who sacrificed all for the better of the realm, a realm too vast for a single ruler.

Hence the creation of the Honored Ones.

They hold the power in the different regions of Ellenoria, and the Tertin family, they keep the domain that’s closest to the Ebon Wall pure of unwanted infidels. Yet the Ebon Wall itself isn’t a part of any of the Honored households, it’s an entire domain by itself.

All the Honored Ones must organize and oversee the festivals for their own citizens after each battle to spread the victory, to give the people their wanted due. And the Ebon Wall, it’s ruled by the Honored Generals who comes from all over the Kingdom to assist in its management.

However, not all of the Honored Generals are stationed at the Ebon Wall at the same time, for the Generals and their armies have families of their own. So rotations have been arranged to ease the load on everyone. Those who travel the furthest gets to return the fastest, and those who travel the least must stay longer, while the Tertinum army is always on duty to await for the enemy. But the Ebon Wall’s area contain many families who stay there, both Honored Ones and regular ones.

The Ebon Wall stretches for a couple of kilometers, and below on the back side, an abundant of space for buildings of various variations.

Buildings of war to construct siege engines and armories for weapons and armors; structures of spy networks to get information beyond the Forest of Scarlet so the enemy can’t surprise them; buildings of peacekeeping for the different regions belonging to the Kingdom, and the garrisons for every single of the Honored Ones’ armies.

Countless shops of the common folk, too, reside in the Ebon Wall’s vicinity.

Since yesterday, Maldoran had brooded over the yearly order to enhance the Ebon Wall’s security.

He had to come up with an idea like every other Honored General, yet he had come up with nothing upon returning home. No genius idea to help the Kingdom, yet, from what Xe’Reth told him at yesterday’s dinner table, he forwarded it to his second, Reconon, who’s currently standing affirmed with legs spread and arms behind his back.

He’s gazing out with scowling eyebrows at the city guard that’s being filed out one after the other through a corridor of spears and shields standing guard as more and more of the filth fills it up.

The army has made a second square formation, which is brimming with people.

It has gone on for a while now. The officers and Recina had come back with trunks in hand, carrying the documents that would prove the innocent from the guilty. And that they did.

The names of a hundred have been shouted out, names belonging to the criminals. They who’ve soiled the City with their disgusting ways, while the City Commander have already been sent to prison to wait for the reckoning of those he ratted out. He’ll not survive the night, much less the remainder of the day. A solitary cell isn’t what the City Commander deserves. He’ll share because space won’t be enough for everyone. They’ll be cramped up to experience the darkness together.

He’s indeed taking the fall, the fall that Celyssa ordered him to take, for he’s doing what he must for his family’s safety.

Even the DLO have offered their full support in taking over the sentencing of the criminals that dared to corrupt Tertinum. Rissara, the Inquisitor, too, stands beside Reconon with her head holding high, while the smirk on her lips, tells the tale of someone who enjoys this moment of victory all too much. She has always wanted the removal of the city guard. But this event will suffice.

The disgrace has been thrown at the Tertin household for the utter carelessness of their handling of the City. They’ve let the corruption run rampant while batting an eye away from the crimes committed against their own citizens, yet the one who holds the most blame – Celyssa, she allowed this to happen in the four years since she came into power.

She took over after Matilda Tertin committed suicide over the death of her husband, leaving Ereanna to fend for herself from Celyssa’s onslaught in wanting to take the Tertin household for her own family’s ambitions.

No chance stood Ereanna against Celyssa, for no political power had Ereanna. After all, she was only a handmaiden, and Celyssa, the wife of Maldoran Tertin, an Honored One.

But through the four years that Ereanna has gotten, has sprouted forth such a loathe and such secrecy which has made Celyssa insane. She has almost no power inside the Sanctuary, and if she were to extend her hand to even there, the information that has been gathered throughout the years will be unveiled to the public.

Mere threats, but threats that Celyssa took serious, for if Maldoran were to hear such words – know of the monstrous act which she committed against his family, he would probably draw his sword and cut the neck of the snake himself, the neck of his child’s mother.

Yet, no such words will reach Maldoran because both Celyssa and Ereanna had come to an agreement after their dealings with each other. Their agreement – letting Ereanna tend to the Sanctuary, and Celyssa, the Tertin domain. But their agreement is so thin so that a single misstep can cause a rift so enormous that it’ll shatter Tertinum to the ground.

…

In the dining hall, servants tend to their duties.

They’ve brought ladders to dust off the great painting of the Tertin family; to polish the crystal chandeliers above the grand table, and the tending of Maldoran, who sits slumping in his throne of a chair while drumming his fingers rapidly on the armrest, waiting for his dear wife to finally arrive.

He has waited long, too long for her arrival. His drink of milk that was brought from the icy cellars, now warm. His lunch, eaten to its last piece. And the servants who fiddle with their hands, keep their noise to a minimum. Otherwise, their Lord might lash out at them for disturbing his finger-drumming hand.

A mind-breaking day he has had.

First, the city guard, second, his lost love, and third, Madelyn’s suicide attempt.

“Haaaa…” he sighs out his worries, placing his hand to cover his eyes while he keeps drumming on the armrest. ‘That girl… I must keep her close so she doesn’t try to do something like that again…’

His eyes flicker as the doors behind him open up to declare high heels on the carpet. And with the steps arriving at his seated left side, Celyssa joins him by sitting on her own throne of a chair.

Having her rear planted, she raises her hand as she leans forward to him, “You asked for m—“

“Do not speak – you’ll listen to what I say, nothing more!” Maldoran demands with such sternness, making her recoil with her hand to clutch it together with the other. Even a gulp resound from her throat. She has never felt so wrong as if she’s being treated as a mere child, yet she’s his wife, his Honored wife!

But she remains silent, tilting her head downward as embarrassment strikes her, for the cleaning servants have stopped in their duties while staring with widened eyes of surprise. Gawking, they hurry out the doors leading to the throne room.

Closing the entrance as the last one leave, Maldoran’s face turn into rage.

“My Celyssa… my wife…” Maldoran says with a slight growl in his tone which only increases the longer Celyssa averts her head away from him. But upon breathing in air, she calms herself, gazing into her husband's narrow eyes.

Completely unfazed by his expression of rage. Those lowered eyebrows, that drumming hand, and his down curved mouth. She experiences nothing but calmness because she’ll handle this as she has handled him over the years.

First, she’ll put up her defense, second, she’ll let out an outburst of her emotions that have boiled to the spilling point. Third and last, she’ll fall to her knees to cry out her sorrows. Her daughter, blind, her failures, unavoidable.

With his drumming hand stopping, he asks, “The City Commander… you know him well…?”

“Only through reports… dear husband,” Celyssa says with eyes not removing from his, but adds, “I’ve never met him. Though I’ve heard that he’s rather… unfit.”

“Unfit you say… Unfit?!” Maldoran shouts, slamming his hand onto the table. “Damn you, woman! Don’t play games with me! You know why I’m here, so just quit it! You’ve disgraced this household enough with your carelessness in handling the City! To actually put such a pig in place to be the City Commander… And through him, he let the city guard run rampant without anyone stopping them! The boy was right, you’ve not tended to your duties well enough!”

“And where were you again?! Playing soldier?!” Celyssa retorts, turning her head and crossing her arms. “If only you opened your damn eyes, you could’ve seen what was happening in the City. But no, you wanted to play with your army! Completely disregarding what is in front of your eyes!”

“Is that your answer? Blaming this on me…?” Maldoran asks, grinding his teeth at his wife’s turned head. “Look at me! I said, look at me!” He raises from his seat to try to grab her, but she winces away in fright.

“Don’t touch me!” she yells as her hand slaps his, making him stop dead in his track. “Yes, I blame this on you, husband! You think it’s easy to take care of this domain?! Well, do you?! Let me tell you, it isn’t! It’s harder than you think!”

Maldoran sits back down, being rather irritated by her sudden shriek as if he has never touched her before. Sure, they didn’t have sex last night because of Merissa’s sudden attack, but the night before the battle at the Ebon Wall, they did enjoy each other’s embrace, trying once more to get another child.

“Do you honestly believe that I sip tea all day every day?! Well, I don’t! All I do is work and work for this household until you get home from that damned wall! So early in the morning, even to late at night sometimes! You know! We’ve many times gone to bed before the other! Politics isn’t so easily handled with a flick of one’s wrist. It requires more than you’ll ever have, you big mindless brute!” Celyssa, this time, rises from her seat to point at him with an emotional finger which shakes.

“So… you are tired… is that it? Is that why you let the City down, let our people down who have suffered worst fates than you can ever imagine?!” Maldoran roars, grabbing a hold of her pointing hand, tightly, not letting go as she tries to pull it free, but succumbs to his power. “It isn’t me who you should throw the blame at, for the one who already has all of it, can’t escape from the people’s wrath. It will come. That I can promise. And you’ll formally apologize to the citizens who’ve suffered the most – the poor.”

“What... What did you say?” Celyssa asks as she stops trying to pull away her hand from his gripping strength. “Are you serious? No—No! I won’t humiliate myself in front of such disgu—“

“Look – finally, your real thoughts escape you, wife…” Maldoran shakes his head in disappointment, letting go of his wife’s hand, to sit down with elbows situating on the armrests while cupping his hands beneath his chin.

“You’ve become too full of yourself since you took over… Never have the City suffered this much over the centuries. Never have criminals of this quantity been in the City. You, my wife, you are a disappointment to my ancestors. Yes, I’m at fault, too, that I know. But you kept everything to yourself. Tried to fix… or just let it be…? I don’t know what your thought process have caused you to not ask for my aid. My mother would be so embarrassed in both of us for letting it go this far.”

Celyssa’s head has sunk low with hands on her lap while her breath, ventilating in and out in rapid succession, having her rear planted again on the chair to sit there, to take in his words to try to counter him. But, she gives up. Celyssa knows of her own fiasco. She has been tired, so sick of this pretending to have everything in control, for she has nothing but the nameplate of failure stamped on her forehead.

‘How could Ereanna ever keep this domain so flawless…? Was it because of Matilda’s aid?’ Celyssa envies. Even with all of her servants and her trusty head-handmaiden, she couldn’t maintain Tertinum of the darkness of people’s minds. Those who try to take advantage of every little crack in the system; those who take from the poor to give to themselves – she has had enough.

Yet she can’t give up, for if she loses her position over the title of, Madam of the City, her family will not forgive her. She has put her nephews and relatives to the most important points in Tertinum. Through her, nepotism has spread in the City.

Even inside the city guard was one of her nephew’s fathers stationed, but removed from the records as soon as she heard of what would happen today. Evidence that she removed with the help of her family, for they pay mercenaries who excel in such activities as cleaning up in absolute secrecy.

Paid they are to keep their silence.

“Y-You’re right… I should’ve asked for your help… But… but I didn’t want to seem useless to you!” Celyssa shouts, rising from her chair to fall to her knees beside Maldoran to beg for his forgiveness.

Her expression so dire with newly formed tears since she had recently cried for her daughter, so squeezing out more is nothing to her. “I should’ve told you, I know. I’ve just been so busy with everything so I let the City down instead of taking care of it. I’m torn to shreds about our daughter… she’s become worse… She had yet another attack when we visited my family. She puked out all she ate! She vomited blood! Our baby! She’s… she’s…”

“W-W-What…?” Maldoran startles with wide eyes while he takes a hold of Celyssa’s hands. “Is our baby all right? Is she?!”

“Yes, she… she’s stable, for now,” Celyssa says with her voice and lips trembling, making Maldoran get off from his throne to sit down on the floor with his wife. To hug her, to comfort her since his squinting eyes know the pain that the two of them have experienced through the years since Merissa became blind. “I-I-I don’t know what to do anymore… please… help me…” She buries her face in his chest as her weeping resonates through his armor to his eardrums, causing him to get a rumbling tone of grief that escapes from his own quaking mouth.

“D-Do not worry… I’ll… We’ll… find a way to get through this… I promise you, my beautiful wife. So don’t cry, it’ll only cause me more pain to hear such sorrow,” Maldoran pleads with arms around her body, but he is careful to not hurt her since she’s a rather frail woman at heart. A mother with an ill daughter. A woman who hasn’t trained.

“You have disappointed me, Celyssa. But I’m here now. I’m here to help you get through this. And I’ll ask for a leave from the army to tend to our domain so it can become prosperous again. Would you like that? We’ll be together, while Malinda, Madelyn, and the boy, Xe’Reth, will tend to the army. It’ll give them experience, and give Xe’Reth some exposure to the Honored Ones.” He sighs, flowing with his gauntleted hand down his wife’s back, causing her to shiver as her eyes travel to her husband’s azure globes that beam at her.

“Yes… Yes, I would like that…” Celyssa responds while coiling her arms around his neck to give him a long and awaited kiss. She puts everything behind that kiss, causing her to give him her tongue.

After a minute, they unlock while smiling at each other, but Maldoran goes alert, forgetting that Madelyn is waiting on him in the main courtyard, yet remains there to relax his face with a sigh breathing out his worries.

“Much have happened since you were away…” Maldoran says, shaking his head to remove any unwanted tiredness, for he must still deal with the moaning lady that awaits him. “Did you know that Madelyn fancies Xe’Reth…? She… She tried to commit suicide over it…”

“W-What?!” This time, Celyssa howls, gaining such frightened eyes for Madelyn’s safety. “Is she all right?! Is she fine?! Tell me everything that has happened!”

……

…

Out in the main courtyard, Madelyn sits on the stairs that lead up to the giant double doors, wearing her heaviest full plate armor. She’s currently opening and closing her gauntlet, having a rather curious tilt of her head as she gazes at her fingers that rolls up and down, up and down.

Her two handmaidens stand guard on either side below the stairs, also in their armor of darkness like Madelyn. But they don’t have their bodies turned to their Mistress, for they’ve humiliated her dearly, and she’s punishing them for their uselessness in winning over Taryna.

A helmet lies beside Madelyn on the granite step because she won’t let anyone witness her reddened cheek when she leaves the Citadel. No more embarrassment will she suffer today, that is what she promised herself. She has already caused enough trouble. And much more trouble will still come when midnight emerges around the corner…

…

……

“What’s taking you so long?! Hurry up for the Divine Queens’ sake! I don’t have all day for your fucking irresponsibility!” Madelyn yelled with grinding teeth. She had cleaned up her face of the blood that she gained from Xe’Reth when she bit his neck. It had given her such a burn in her throat, but it was still his blood, so she felt a somewhat joy from injuring him in front of her traitorous sister.

“Forgive us Mistress for our poor performance…” Velyn and Verelin said in unison while having their heads low with armor pieces in hand. Ready to fasten them on the bracers that had been put on Madelyn’s body. A leather skeleton to be clothed by the plate in their hands.

They begin with the heeled sabatons as Madelyn lifts her one foot up, then the other.

They continue as they fasten the two greave pieces on both sides of her lower legs with hinges closing to keep them in place. If she were to kick with her knee, she might do some damage since it’s a rather sharp edge that points outward.

Next, the cuisse must be fastened on her upper legs to cover them thoroughly. It’s like the greaves, they tie up her thighs then cover the behinds as the hinges clutch shut.

She was now covered up to just below her clothed perky butt.

“What are you waiting for?! Continue!” Madelyn barked, slapping the back of Velyn’s head.

They did continue while an unwanted presence was pleading with knees and head pressing on the square carpet which was the same carpet that Cerinn was on when she experienced Madelyn’s wrath.

As the twins continued, Madelyn gazed with narrow eyes at the pathetic girl in front of her. Liriana, the head-handmaiden’s daughter. She had returned with tail between her legs. But she, a traitor. She told her father of what Madelyn did to her, and that, that was unforgivable. To betray her own Mistress.

“What is this rat doing here again…?” Madelyn asked but got no response from her handmaidens.

Only Liriana, she had the bravery to speak with her tremoring voice, “P-Please Mistress—“

“Be quiet, swine! You speak when spoken to! Not when you wish to give me your irrelevant drivel,” Madelyn yelled, whipping her pointing hand at her. “What is with these sudden traitors that reveal themselves in my wing. Tsk, how could you two let people like them into my service, huh? Tell me, Velyn, Verelin, say your excuse!”

“We have none…” they answered, continuing with the bulging breastplate that weighed a lot.

Putting it on their Mistress and fastening it, they prepare to support her if she was to fall down. But she stood there unfazed with glaring eyes directing at Liriana, who shriveled beneath her gaze. Even declared hiccups from her throat as tears began anew.

“Pleeeease… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Liriana begged while banging her head against the carpet. A begging that yielded nothing but anger from Madelyn.

With Velyn shutting the hinge of Madelyn’s left pauldron, her Mistress took a step forward, then another as she stomped toward her screaming handmaiden upon hearing those banging footsteps coming closer. And arriving at the pathetic girl, Madelyn bent down to grab Liriana’s neck to lift her up so she stood straight.

“You are nothing to me anymore, you hear me?! Nothing!” Madelyn shouted as she flung Liriana backward so she landed thuddingly on the floor with a cry sounding out. “I'm currently lenient to you, traitor. So leave now and never return to this wing ever again. I want nothing from a person such as you.”

“I would never betray you, Mistress… it was my father who told my mother! I was only there to get my…” She stopped her voice from continuing since it was Madelyn who gave her this patched up face. “I… I made a mistake! I won’t ever do it again! Please! My mother went too far, I know! She had nothing to do with how you punish me, so, please! I won’t ever go to my father again! I’ll do anything you want!”

“Mmm-hmm, anything I'd like, you say?” Madelyn asked with a smile. She so enjoyed this past time of watching the pathetic beg for mercy. It always got her in the mood somehow. The feeling to go into the bedroom to enjoy herself, for her fantasy, know no bound. Even at that moment, the heat in her body was unimaginable as if she could lift a boulder above her head. “Come here, stand in front of me.”

She did as her Mistress commanded. She stood up and paced slowly with a limping body since Madelyn’s sudden urge to change her mind had Liriana in complete fright of what her Mistress would ask of her.

“Verelin, bring something to write on, and try not to utterly fail in this duty, okay?” Madelyn sneered, snapping her fingers. But only a sound of metal against metal resounded, which caused Madelyn to go wide-eyed.

Madelyn gawked at her own body – almost entirely armored.

Yet with a shrug of her shoulders, Madelyn dismissed her unexpectant surprise because the little training that she had done finally showed some result was what the Honored Lady thought. For that armor which was on her body was the heaviest in her possession. However, unfazed was Madelyn as she awaited for Verelin to return. Only gazing at the eye-avoiding Liriana, who trembled before her Mistress.

With Verelin returning, Madelyn ordered her to write down what she had told her to write before Liriana arrived, “Remember what we discussed? Write it down and give it to this traitor. She needs to prove her faithfulness. Otherwise, Liriana, I’ll have these two beat you until you can’t walk again, understand?”

“Thank you, Mistress!” Liriana screamed with her body and soul put on the line. Gaining such a smile even though Madelyn said something so horrible to her. Liriana could be oblivious sometimes, not really right in the head. “I’ll complete this task with my life on the line!”

“Yes, you better put your life on the line because if you fail, you’ll know agony. Even your own mother won’t recognize you when I’m through with you,” Madelyn threatened with hands placed on Liriana’s shoulders while grinning in such a perverse way. And with a tap from Verelin, Madelyn snatched the piece of paper and gave it to Liriana. “Steal these items from your father’s house or get them in the City. You have until midnight, or if you can’t attain them, don’t bother returning, for you won’t like what awaits you…”

“S-Steal them from…papa?” Liriana stammered, gawking at Madelyn’s chuckling grin.

“Or get them in the City,” Madelyn said but her hands suddenly glued onto her own cheeks. “But oh no! None of my servants or handmaidens are allowed to leave the Citadel! How can you ever succeed if you won’t steal them from your father’s house?!” She lowered her head as if beginning to cry. Yet she started to laugh it off. “Hehehe, but you’ll come up with a way, won’t you Liriana my sweet, sweet traitorous little girl.” Madelyn thrust forth her hands to grab Liriana’s head, their faces were so close to each other’s. “Remember, if you fail, I’ll kill you myself. Now off with you!”

“Y-Yes… M-Mistress…” Liriana dragged herself out of the chamber, and as the doors closed, another took her place – Taryna, who nonchalantly went to stand on the square carpet, right in front of Madelyn while her handmaidens had drawn their swords.

“Have my sister sent you, wench?” Madelyn asked, clicking with her tongue at Taryna’s blatant disregard of formalities. None of Malinda’s handmaidens or servants were allowed to tread inside Madelyn’s wing, for some of the most loyal ones could want Madelyn’s life. “Here to finish the job since I humiliated your Mistress?”

“Humiliated? No, you didn’t do anything like that,” Taryna said as she shook her head with a chuckling voice declaring. “It is you who’ve suffered the humiliation, Lady Madelyn, not my Mistress. Wasn’t the one who tried to commit suicide over such an ordinary thing, you, Madelyn?”

Madelyn turned around to go back to where she was, to continue with the clothing of plate upon her slender body.

“If you’re not here about that, then leave. I’m busy, and I don’t have time for a traitor’s mere servant,” Madelyn said with a flick of her wrist as her handmaidens sheathed their swords to pick up where they left off. “Well, wench? Leave… now?”

Taryna considered if she were to really do this act which she was preparing to do, since if it would reach Malinda, Taryna would probably be decommissioned from her service as a handmaiden. But with a knee descending onto the square carpet, Madelyn and her handmaidens went wide-eyed.

“What if I were to help you break Xe’Reth away from my Mistress, to let you have him instead?” Taryna asked, gazing up to witness the gleaming eyes of Madelyn as her mouth raised to form a grin.

“Well now…” Madelyn uttered, licking her upper lip in delight. “That would be an excellent idea. But I didn’t think you would betray your Mistress so easily and so quickly… What? Have Xe’Reth taken your love away from you, huh?”

Taryna’s eyes widened.

“W-What, it’s true…?” Madelyn startled herself as she began to laugh uncontrollably. “Hahahaha! You actually love that traitorous whore as a woman, don’t you?”

“Yes, I love her, but only a love for her Mistress, like any other handmaiden,” Taryna answered, switching her gaze to Velyn and Verelin, who turned to stare at each other. With nodding heads, they understood what kind of love she was talking about.

“Mmm… Pity, I could’ve used it against you… But anyhow!” Madelyn shouted loudly to get the attention of the three handmaidens. “What can you offer me?!”

“I… I was listening in on your conversation that you had with Liriana. You ordered her to steal or buy some merchandise? Care to tell me what you’re planning to do…?” Taryna inquired with a raised eyebrow and with open palms directing outward as she stood up.

“You heard huh?” Madelyn asked with pursing lips while her tongue rimmed her upper teeth. Could she use this wench somehow in her upcoming plan? Yes. ‘I will need my sister’s wing cleared of any servants… and handmaidens. Yes… she can arrange that… At midnight I strike…’ Madelyn gained an even more upward curve on her reddened cheek. “Fine, I’ll have you aid me…”

…

“Mistress… how do you feel? Is the armor weighing too much?” Velyn asks with a turning upper body to catch Madelyn’s daydreaming gaze while the smile on her lips tells of what they’ve agreed upon. Now she just needs to wait for Liriana to do her part since she knows her father’s and mother’s house all too well to acquire the necessities for tonight. “Mistress…?”

“Hm? What?” Madelyn flickers with her eyes as she breaks from her longing thoughts.

“Is the armor weighing too much for you? We could ease the load if we were to remove some pieces – like those pauldrons… They’re un—“

With a frown from Madelyn, Velyn shuts her mouth.

“Are you telling me that I’m weak…? Well, are you?!” Madelyn shouts while standing up, throwing out viperous gazes at her retreating handmaiden. “Look!” Madelyn bends her knees to jump forward, down beneath the foot of the stairs to land right between her handmaidens, which startlingly tries to catch her, but with her heeled sabatons crashing onto the cobble, they gawk at her.

“M-Mistress…” both of them says, being absolutely stunned by her performance of strength.

“You’ve been training in secret!” Velyn shouts in joy, clutching her hands together under her chin.

“Why didn’t you tell us? And when did you have time to do that?” Verelin asks as her whole face is beaming at Madelyn.

“I… Uhm… Well…” Madelyn mutters while confusion hits her hard. Why are they so surprised by her just jumping down? The armor weighs nothing. She isn’t fazed by it at all. She too doesn’t know why she has gotten this sudden life in her. “I… I’ve been training at… at night… Yes, at night. Did I surprise you two?”

“Of course!” they shout in happiness, moving closer to show their awe of proudness to their Mistress. But a lie is a lie. Madelyn couldn’t respond with anything else, for why does she have this sudden life in her? “Next time you must let us show you how to train correctly, otherwise, you might strain yourself.”

“Wah…? Well… alright…” Madelyn sighs out, not being prepared for this backlash. To actually start to train. ‘Ugh, I shouldn’t have said anything… I’m just letting them get too full of themselves.’

The three of them stand there on the cobble, one holding her helmet between her arms, the other two, ready for combat. They’ll protect their Mistress with their life as always, but from the southwest comes Maldoran galloping with his stallion that has been fitted again with its horse armor, while three riders follow him.

Stablekeepers, for Maldoran obviously can’t bring those animals along all by himself.

“Hooo!” Maldoran roars while pulling the reins, coming upon the three armored maidens as he goes wide-eyed at Madelyn’s stone-cold gaze, for her stance, impeccable with arms crossed and legs spread. She has waited here for far too long. And she would like to hear his excuse for making her wait in this sunny weather. “This is the second time I’ve seen you in that armor Madelyn, my dear. And I have to say, I didn’t think you would be able to wear it because of its weight. Since last time… well, you know.”

“Well, I can! Happy now?! And where in the Divine Queens names have you been?!” Madelyn yells, turning her head to the side while pouting with her lips like the spoiled girl that she is.

“Seize your filthy tongue!” Maldoran booms as he dismounts from his stallion to land on the cobble with a bang then stomps to stand right in front of his little sister to inspect her armor more closely. And with a finger thrusting forth to tap on her shoulder rather hard, she stands firm, taking that finger unfazed.

That causes Maldoran to go even more wide-eyed. But he bursts into a chuckle, “You wear that armor well. It suits you.” He treads to Madelyn’s side as he puts his plated arm around her shoulders. “Come, let’s leave for the training grounds!”

“What have gotten you in such a good mood?” Madelyn whines, shrugging her shoulders because he acts as if nothing happened between her, Xe’Reth, Malinda and him.

“Nothing, nothing!” Maldoran rattles Madelyn in a tease. “Come, ladies, your horses have been fetched!”

……

…

Xe’Reth, he had taught Annettria and the servants who had come to make their introductions to their new Master, servants of ages ranging from twenty and upwards.

They first watched with glued eyes at every little detail that Xe’Reth performed using the various ingredients to make his mother’s mixture. And after they tried and failed, they finally were able to make it sufficient enough for his mother.

Sure, ingredients were wasted, but Xe’Reth wanted his mother tended to with such conviction, which Annettria oversaw with eyes so critical of any mistakes because if something were to happen to his mother, both Xe’Reth and Maldoran wouldn’t spare the guilty one.

After Xe’Reth and Annettria had spoken with each other long enough to see to it that everything was in order, Xe’Reth returned to Malinda’s chamber, to watch over the beauty of his life…

…

Sitting at the bedside with lower legs dangling, Xe’Reth has a turned torso while exhaling in exhaustion. He would also like to fall asleep, but his restlessness will not allow it. Xe’Reth must keep his mind busy. Otherwise, he will become insane from this peace. The peace that Malinda is currently experiencing in her sleep. She has almost no clothes on, only her underwear which reveal much of her flawless skin complexion, making Xe’Reth, trace his hand on her exposed thigh.

Smooth and so warm.

‘She knows how to sleep at least whenever she wants, and so deep too. Though from all her crying and the sight of Madelyn trying something so foolish, it isn’t a surprise that her mind is tired,’ Xe’Reth squints while giving her a smile, liking the sight of her body.

Fully exposed for a ravaging night, but with a chuckle, he climbs on the bed to join her, to lie next to her as he positions her sideways, to press his chest against her back and to coil his arms around her waist to pull his crotch against her buttocks. He's rather daring with handling Malinda how he wishes, but, with eyes closing, he too slumbers away the remainder of the day… Well, for a couple of minutes at least.

The scent of Malinda, so intense, so enjoyable that Xe’Reth falls into his sleep immediately…

His clothes, removed, only his black underwear remain. They sleep with no cover on, though, the warmness exuding from both of them, keeps them heated. Especially from Xe’Reth’s body, since the healing of his neck wound does raise his temperature in his body by a degree or two.

………

……

…

A shuddering gasp and wide eyes of horror are what Malinda awakens to.

Her body is drenched in sweat, her breath accelerates in and out quickly. Her hands gripping onto her sheets as she shivers. A shiver of terror. She had the same dream, exactly the same; surrounded by her slain enemies; she drowning in blood; the dark entity pulling her out of the crimson water. A being that just might be Xe’Reth somehow.

With her shaking, she starts to cry as she wraps her cover around her whole body, only her head is visible. However, the drapes that hide the bed area have been shut. It illuminates a soft and gentle light. Multiple lights even.

Flickering her eyes in curiosity and wiping away her tears, she crawls to the foot of the bed, then puts her slender legs over the side as she heaves herself forward. Her strength is as formidable as ever.

With one hand going between the crack of the crimson drapes, she drags it to the side to reveal an opened door, candles spread around the room and a table filled with drinks.

The balcony shines in the darkness of the two moons, and Xe’Reth sits casually as he reads a thick book, lounging on a chair, the same chair with the same small table beside it which Malinda sat on when she returned from getting the confession from Xe’Reth.

“X-Xe’Reth…?” Malinda asks quietly, almost sniveling from her flow of tears.

With a poof, the book closes and Xe’Reth turns his attention to his beauty, “Had another nightmare?”

She nods, lowering her gaze and head while she pouts her lips to get his attention more, which Xe’Reth responds with by putting the book on the table as he stretches out his arms for her to come to.

Malinda hurries with tiny but quick steps to get into his embrace.

As her butt lands on Xe’Reth’s lap in a sideways position, she lets go of her cover to coil around his shoulders to give him a hug and a peck on his lips, while Xe’Reth only chuckles, for her body is widely exposed. But she doesn’t care, he has seen her before, even naked.

“Let me stay like this for a couple of minutes, okay?” Malinda says with their lips unlocking, rubbing her cheek against his to gain her strength of the mind back.

Xe’Reth squeezes her against him as her bosoms press, making him kiss her cheek in arousal.

He has held himself back from his urges for when she wakes up, and now, he wants to spoil her until she reaches the Divine Sky in bliss. She must get addicted to him more than she already is. So much so that she can’t spend one night away from him.

Feeling that wet sensation on her cheek, she goes in with closed eyes seeking his mouth. And with Xe’Reth taking the initiative, his tongue finds her forbidden fruit that slumbers in her own opening. Since the chair is relatively large, she switches her position while not removing her mouth from his as she lifts her leg over to sit with knees hitting the backrest’s bottom.

It becomes rather steamy with Malinda making sucking noises because she’s kind of new to all this kissing after all. She needs more practice to make their mouths sound less, but the noise is somewhat arousing for Xe’Reth. It causes him to grip her butt on either side with both hands, pulling her untouched flower closer to his private part. But it breaks off their kiss abruptly as she gazes down with flustering air escaping from her rose petals.

“N-Now…?” Malinda asks, being in total anxiety. She thought she ready, but waking up has made her rethink. Also, what happened with Madelyn, has her in a sorrowful mood. Can she truly take Xe’Reth away from her? Her face grimaces while her lips start to shake. “I’m… I’m sorry, Xe’Reth… I shouldn’t have…” She averts her head with downcast eyes. “I’m worried about Madelyn… She will hate me forever for what I’ve done to her…”

“And what have you done…? Did you steal me away from her? No, you did not. Even if she were to confess, I wouldn’t have accepted her. For… For she isn’t someone that I can love. It’s a love that can’t be matched by my love for you Malinda. She is nothing to me, and you are everything to me, only you,” Xe’Reth drags back Malinda’s eyes to stare straight into his, which are so gentle to her sight. “Malinda, it has gone many hours, and much have happened while you were sleeping.”

“W-What has happened?”

“Well, Tanya and Cerinn have returned. They’re at the moment tending to their own duties since you were sleeping. But I had sent Tanya out on another errand to demand that the bear cubs shall be turned over to you because you felt sorry for them. You want to give them a better life than a life of captivity, which I said to Tanya. I’ll handle those bears myself, of course. However, they’ll arrive tomorrow. The Inquisitor sends her most esteemed regards,” Xe’Reth explains with a chuckle. “It seems that the Inquisitor was in a bright mood to feel generous. She’s giving the bear cubs for free, telling Tanya to inform you that it’s for her not being there in person to greet you.”

“While on the other hand, Maldoran and everybody else has returned. Recina and Taryna are in their own offices, I think. Though I heard from Recina when she came to check up on you, that your sister passed out from exhaustion right in front of the entire army. Nasty business since she was wearing armor that was way too heavy for her to wear.” Xe’Reth shakes his head in pity but also with a slight curve on his one cheek.

“Is… Is she alright?” Malinda asks with an opened mouth while her flickering eyes display her worry.

“Oh, yeah – she’s absolutely fine. Must’ve been too much sun,” Xe’Reth comforts Malinda with his hand tucking hair strands behind her ear. “And the Sanctuary has kind of calmed down is what Annettria told me... Those little girls can be feisty. Wanting Madelyn hurt. Whew, they’re indeed little beasts. But she also said that it will probably become worse when night time arrives. They think the younglings will try something because they stopped all of a sudden as if a little leader was ordering them around...”

“Thank the Goddesses…” Malinda exhales in relief. A phrase that everyone uses in the Kingdom. Or more like different versions to praise the former Queens and current. Malinda doesn’t believe in them, though, throwing out such words isn’t anything special, which Xe’Reth chuckles at. “W-What?”

“I thought you didn’t believe in such nonsense…”

“It-It’s just a saying…” Malinda too chuckles while slapping his dark-clothed chest in a tease. Though she returns to her sullen self immediately. “H-Have anything else happened?”

“Recina was furious at Madelyn after I told her… For it seems that your brother didn’t tell her anything… While he and the army have cleansed the city guard from the filth. Almost half of the city guard was sent to prison. Even the Inquisitor was generous enough to take over all of the procedures of convicting them to their punishments,” Xe’Reth says with a victorious smile on his lips. He’s rather pleased by Maldoran’s effectiveness.

Only a few words caused all this, words that should’ve been said long ago. “Maldoran had come by to check up on you, but I told him to let you rest your worries away. We had sat down and talked about a couple of important things regarding the City. He and Celyssa will now handle it together, instead of letting Celyssa being in charge alone, for she did indeed let the criminals run about the City without batting an eye at it, knowingly.”

“I knew it! She was so defensive about that topic! I knew it!” Malinda shouts with a turned head to not yell straight at Xe’Reth’s face. Her frown and clenching teeth cause her to get off Xe’Reth’s lap, throwing the cover to the side as she stomps to the middle of the room, being only in her underwear; laced bra and panties of scarlet color. “Xe’Reth, don’t just sit there in awe! Come, let us drink! I need to unwind! And what better way than to drink my sorrows away?!”

“Heh, as my beautiful Honored Lady commands of me,” Xe’Reth rises from his seat, to tread with black shoes on the floor, going closer and closer to the smiling Malinda, who has uncorked the wine bottle.

Turning her head to the grandfather clock, Malinda’s eyes widen at the late hour. “Xe’Reth, have you been awake all this time?”

Xe’Reth shrugs his shoulders, arriving next to his alluring lady, “I climbed in bed for about fifteen minutes. Other than that, yes, I’ve been awake.”

“What have you been doing then?” Malinda asks while pouring the wine glass to the brim.

“Talking to your brother, Recina for a bit, Tanya, Cerinn, some servants who arranged all this,” Xe’Reth says with his eyes gazing around the room. It has been beautified for Malinda’s and Xe’Reth’s true union, which he can’t wait for. But he patiently remains calm. “And I’ve read a couple of books about Honored and noble households since I thought it would be necessary to know all of them when the time comes to meet such people. Plus, I’ve read the whole Tertin Dynasty. I didn’t know you had a magician in the family.”

“Oh, you mean great aunt…?” Malinda asks while flickering her eyelids. “I haven’t seen her since… Yes, my parents funeral. Did you know, she can read people’s futures? That’s why she doesn’t have any time to return home. She is always busy by the order of the Royal Family to look into people's futures… She’s highly sought out for, and she brings in so much coinage to the family. She even sends her pay to the Citadel every month… I kind of miss her…”

“She can read the future huh…?” Xe’Reth responds, exhaling in relief since magicians only focus on their innate powers. Because it would take them so much time to learn other people's gifts. It can be of the littlest to the biggest. Conjuring fire from thin air, drawing water to sate one’s thirst. But the words from Those Who Came Before… the words are the component to everything.

Without them, magic is useless.

“Yes! She can now look almost one year into the future. Isn’t that fascinating?” Malinda says with a smile. So proud of her aunt, for she would always give Malinda her time whenever she was in the Citadel. “If oneself dedicates to a single goal, even the impossible becomes possible. Is what she told me at least. Because I stopped training when my parents died. She wanted to cheer me up. And, I knew what would happen before it even happened. For a year at least.”

“She’s on her way here now is what I’ve been told…” Xe’Reth says, taking the wine glass out of Malinda’s stunned hand.

“R-Really?!” Malinda shouts, her eyes and mouth going wide open to display her absolute joy. “When, Xe’Reth?! When is she returning?!”

“In a couple of days…” Xe’Reth answers while bringing the edge to his mouth. With a taste, he gains a smile. ‘Lucky me that I can enjoy such luxury without getting drunk.’

“Xe’Reth!” Malinda yells out loud unexpectantly, startling Xe’Reth as he coughs, “Cough, cough… W-What?”

“You shall ravage me!”

“Pfft,” Xe’Reth stains the floor with wine as he says with a chuckling voice, “Heh, a-are you sure about that…? Thought you were having second thoughts.”

“Don’t make me remember my sister at this moment, Xe’Reth! Focus only on me and you now, okay?” Malinda scoffs with a waving hand while holding her swirling wine glass in the other. “Though… let us drink some more before we begin… And Xe’Reth, should I maybe take a bath before we start?”

“We’ll get sweaty anyways, so why bother? I’m rather eager to ravage you, as you said,” Xe’Reth steps closer, giving her a deep kiss.

But his eyes sharpen, unlocking their lips as he turns to the opened door.

“It’s your own fault Cerinn for not knowing Annettria’s status. You got what you deserved,” Tanya scolds as she enters the room while carrying a large basket filled with clothes while Cerinn, who seems dead inside moves with sluggish movements behind the bun-haired handmaiden. But Tanya’s eyes grow wide at witnessing Xe’Reth and Malinda standing beside each other. One clothed, the other, almost naked. “M-Miss! You’re finally awake!”

“T-Tanya… have you heard what happened…?” Malinda asks as her whole mind descends into sorrow. Which snaps her trusty handmaiden into action; she puts down her basket to run to her Miss, to give her a hug.

“I heard, I heard… Don’t worry, everything will be all right,” Tanya comforts as both their bosoms press at each other. “I can’t believe what I heard… But from all of this… It can only be true.”

“Madelyn will hate me forever…” Malinda whines, hugging tighter onto Tanya.

“She will forgive you, in time. You just need to give her time, that’s all,” Tanya says while patting her head. For someone so young, she has such a warm ambiance about her. Perfect for child caring. But she’s also too trusting of people. That can be troublesome sometimes.

“Yes, time…” Malinda inhales a breath, then exhales as she stops her hugging, to smile at her handmaiden’s calming effect. “Tanya… Xe’Reth and I will soon conjoin. I would like you to remain in the room. Also, summon your sister, but no need to bother Recina. And you too little girl. All of you better get used to this sooner than later. Though of course, the drapes will be shut.”

“A-Are you certain…?” Tanya responds with a rather conflicted expression of a moving mouth side to side and lowered eyebrows. “Don’t you want—“

“—I know, it isn’t something enjoyable for you. But I'd like you close by if something were to happen,” Malinda interrupts, putting her one hand on Tanya’s shoulder while giving her such concerned eyes. “So go fetch Taryna, now. I want everything to be ready and absolutely perfect. And well, the rest is up to Xe'Reth, right honey?”

“Indeed, I’ll ravage her to the Divine S—“

“—Xe’Reth!” Malinda gawks with mouth ajar.

Xe’Reth grins while chuckling, taking a sip of his wine as he goes to sit back down on his chair to continue reading the thick book. Malinda will do what she needs to prepare herself for the time of her life. She only gives him a puff of air escaping from her mouth but smiles at him with a tongue licking her lower lip.

……

…

Everything is prepared in the chamber.

The soft candles lighting on either side of the bedside tables, the various oils to ease the conjoining, the three obedient handmaidens sitting by the table, and the tipsy Malinda, who’s clinging to Xe’Reth.

She gives him kiss after kiss. Malinda was afraid to experience having him inside her, so she drunk too much too quickly, yet not enough for the sickness to come. Just enough for her mind to travel to the Divine Sky, being completely willing for anything Xe’Reth has in mind.

She might remember this night, she might not. But she wouldn’t really care to remember her first time since it’ll be so embarrassing for both of them, hence her sudden lust for drinking. To experience next time with a slightly practiced lover. The training dummy, herself, while Xe’Reth, he will enjoy himself thoroughly.

“Hehehe… Xe’Reth…” Malinda giggles, removing his clothes one by one as they move up the few stairs to be situated beside the bed. She’s completely naked with muddled eyes blinking irregularly. Her breath, like a wild beast in heat. She is the first to climb onto the bed as she lies on her back right in the middle while puffing the pillows under her head. “Xe’Reth…!” she moans loudly in bliss, “Come here… I… I’m ready for a ravaging!”

But before he climbs on the bed, Xe’Reth drags the drapes to cover the sleeping area of the room, yet right as both sides shut close, he catches a glimpse of Taryna’s eyes of complete horror. She’ll hear her loved one being taken from her, and she can’t do anything about it but to obey and sit quietly.

Shutting the drapes, Xe’Reth grimaces as he exhales. But he closes off his emotions from Taryna’s saddened guise, removing the rest of his clothes as Malinda has begun to browse the oils on the bedside table where the lights illuminate shadows upon the drapes, showing their exact movements to the handmaidens.

Lying back down, Malinda smears her private part, even her breasts with oil. She pleasures herself, waiting for Xe’Reth to arrive above her. Her moaning start first. Such a long time since she masturbated. Always locking away to keep such unwanted activities at bay. However, now she can enjoy what she wants, whenever she wants, with Xe’Reth.

As the bed moves from Xe’Reth’s weight, he crawls to oil his own private part up, to coat it thoroughly. But he doesn’t go in just yet. He looms above Malinda as she gazes up with cloudy eyes of ecstasy. She sticks out her tongue which Xe’Reth gulps up.

Their kissing advances to a much higher level.

His hand caresses her vagina, not her own hand this time. He pleasures her, and she continues to drown in his kisses. But Malinda, her hand slowly descends to touch that which is lying above her womb, his cock. She gasps as she holds it in her hand, making their lips break off. And with their eyes staring at each other’s, Xe’Reth asks, “Are you ready, Malinda?”

She spasms her head up and down, letting go to move both of her hands over her mouth to prepare for a scream which she expects to come. Her body shivers as Xe’Reth removes his two fingers from within, being thoroughly soaked by her love juices.

Giving Xe’Reth the go ahead with a last reluctant nod, he flows his arms around her legs to make them ascend up and then down, positioning Xe’Reth above her. Because of her training, she’s as agile as ever.

Her ankles are on either of his shoulders and with him giving her a smile, he commits.

Slowly, he breaks into Malinda as she tenses up completely, which will cause her to experience more pain. But Xe’Reth doesn’t stop even as he witnesses Malinda’s eyes tearing up the further he goes. She begins to whimper out a cry, a cry of pain. Never had Malinda thought it would be this excruciating. Yet, she doesn’t refuse Xe’Reth. No stopping, only advancing awaits them.

She clenches her fists and teeth and curls her toes, while Xe’Reth hasn’t even gotten halfway in yet.

Malinda is bleeding surprisingly. Xe’Reth didn’t think she would because of her age, yet he’s thankful for her purity of mind and body. To think she has avoided men until now. Xe’Reth can only be happy to gain such earnest love from a woman that isn’t worthy of being used, for his love is fake, yet her love is true.

He’s scum for letting it go this far, but as long as he can keep her from finding out his real emotions, why would it matter? As long as she is happy, nothing else is of importance.

With her hands coiling and locking together around Xe’Reth’s neck, her crying becomes clear as day. Rather painful to the ear, but Xe’Reth continues since Malinda is too alluring even if she cries.

A cry of both pain and bliss because she can finally be free from her self-imprisonment.

Her breathing speeds up until she’s panting with tongue slightly out, causes Xe’Reth to thrust forth, to finally hit the deepest part of her body – the opening to her womb. Such a loud gasp escapes from Malinda as her strength drains from her whole body, only her locked fingers that are behind his neck remain, not even caring if she ruins the patched up wound, which has already healed.

“Hang in there my beauty, for we’ve only just started,” Xe’Reth says as he kisses her panting mouth, making her stick out her tongue for him to gulp down. But from a sudden movement from within, Xe’Reth backs out while Malinda shivers as her insides burn with his heat. “Now, let us begin. Are you ready, my love?”

“Xe-Xe’Reth…” Malinda whines in pain, beginning to cry again, “I… I’m ready…” She inhales a shuddering breath, then exhales, “Go ahead…”

However, another cry resonates in Xe’Reth’s ears. A whimpering beyond the drapes.

“Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh,” Tanya shushes quietly as she strokes her sister’s head on her lap. Taryna has fallen off of her chair to sit on the floor with arms around Tanya’s waist. “Everything will be all right, sister. Be strong, it’ll be over before you know it… so be resolute, you hear me?”

But as Malinda’s screaming moans declare one after the other, Taryna tightens around her sister, whimpering out her sniveling voice, “M-Make it… s-stop… Please, make it stop…”

While on the other hand, Cerinn watches the moving shadow of Xe’Reth’s back with an ajar mouth and blinking eyes. She’s actually enjoying the show in a rather perverse way while sipping her poured wine glass.

To actually witness and hear a mere commoner besting an Honored One. It’s too good of a show to miss. Though Cerinn frowns at all the crying coming from Taryna. Here she sits trying to enjoy something, and she’s crying? Cerinn can only roll her eyes in annoyance.

Tanya, however, can only sit and comfort her sister from her pains of hearing her loved one being with another than her. Yet, the pure hatred in Taryna’s eyes ooze more and more loathe for Xe’Reth. She wants him dead, she wants him cut up into pieces and fed to the pigs.

For now, she waits, until midnight arises…

……

…

Mmm-hmm, wonder what gave Madelyn such momentary stamina... *wink*

This is the longest chapter yet, I think, so I had trouble putting it out in time. Though hopefully I didn't mess up the sexy time. xD A maiden who's strong yet falters under inexperienced territory. While Xe'Reth on the other hand, has had plenty of sexy time.

And happy 40th chapter readers! Let's hope for more to come! :D

Though, what Madelyn's planning will kind of bring a whole other storm entirely. Whew.

Remember to share your thoughts! :)

Until... next time.

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