I woke up literally tangled in Giselle’s limbs. Her arms were locked on my chest, her legs were holding my pelvis in check and even her tail was tied on one of my legs. I wanted to get up and leave the room, to start attending my businesses, but to be honest I actually liked it. It was so pleasant to feel her warmth on my back, to wait for her breath that would brush on my neck. Eventually, she would purr with delight making my skin vibrate a little. My body was still heavy and the idea that I share this very moment with her…

Oh, if time could freeze. If I could stay here till sun would burn out, till the last star would fell from the sky. Till…

Giselle snorted loudly completely breaking the melancholic mood, also making me burst in laugh which woke her up.

- “Something happened?” she asked confused, still bit dazed

- “It’s nothing.” I answered twisting myself in the bed so I could face her “… Gis?”

- “Yeah?”

- “I love you, please, never change the way you are.”

- “Why would I want to change? I’m already perfect, am I not?”

As for me? You are more than perfect.

- “Kay sweetheart, I have to go…” Gisele moaned in protest bringing me closer to herself as she grabbed me in even tighter embrace “… So I get you something to eat.”

One of her eyes opened again.

- “Breakfast in bed?”

- “You don’t like that idea?”

- “… what did I ever do to deserve you?” she asked giving me a light kiss on the check. I opened my mouth trying to say something, but she was faster than me “… it was a rhetorical question. I am splendid. Said that to boost your self-esteem.”

I snorted once again while rolling my eyes.

- “I just wanted someone to abuse verbally. The problem is that you don’t understand half of my offenses and you aren’t even aware that the other half was meant to be offensive at all.” I snickered getting up from bed

- “Ha-ha, just because… wait, are you doing it right now?”

- “My-my! Giselle! There is a method to measure someone’s intelligence in points called IQ, when I met you for the first time I thought your score was 0, but now I can proudly say that since you met me your score doubled!”

Still lying on the bed she kicked me. Quite brutally.

- “Zari. I may not be best in math, but I have some basic knowledge. At least about multiplying.”

- “Very well…” I said rising from the floor and getting rid of the dust from myself “… then what if I would say that it had tripled?” her leg was raised again to perform another vicious attack. Yet, using my extraordinary tactic skills I managed to dodge the attack.

- “A-HA!” I yelled with triumph as her blow miss the target. I was so focused on my little victory that I didn’t notice her grabbing a light, wooden cup from the drawer next to the bed that she throw at me.

It was a direct hit. The projectile left a red mark on my forehead.

- “Really, Gis? Is this the only way you can deal with problems? Don’t you know that violence solves nothing? This world could be so much better if we would solve our problems with the peaceful discussion!”

- “Yhym. If you say that violence can’t solve something, it means that you are using not big enough hammer. Welp, hammer, at least for me, solve most of my problems.”

- “Most, so you admit that not all of them!”

- “Yeah, in rest cases I need different tools. Sword, spear, axe.”

- “I give up.” I raised my hands up

- “I accept your capitulation. As your conqueror I demand tribute!”

- “Sure, what will you have?”

- “Eggs and bacon?” she raised her head from the pillow. Her eyes sparkled playfully.

Goddess, I could gaze into those eyes for eternity…

- “Zari? I asked if that would be a problem? Aren’t my demands too sophisticated?”

- “Nope. Will serve you your food, or die trying.” I kissed her one last time on her forehead, before getting myself dressed and going down to the inn section to place an order.

The capital of Neria, few days after princess birthday party. King’s chambers.

- “So, in the end, you learned nothing?” King asked photomancer. His expression was calm, yet in his eyes once could notice that he was let down.

- “Nothing? I learned plenty of things, many will help you, these are just not about connections between grand houses and Church. I learned that head of Redfeathers* house has a lover from lesser nobility. I learned that only because they for a moment. I saw them together on the balcony. If you would like to blackmail him, I don’t mind sharing details with you. Also, I found out that chairman of Senate is avoiding paying taxes, which you can use to increase your position in the decision-making of magic cases…”

- “That’s… actually good one. This will be useful. How did he do that?”

- “You know that he and his wife, pardon me: ex-wife, are living in separation?”

- “And?”

- “They are still living together.”

- “Tis not a crime.”

- “But when he donates most of his income to her in order to dodge being put into higher taxed group?”

- “… Is he paying fee for money transfer?”

- “Yes.”

- “In that case we can’t do nothing…”

- “… but he has full access to her bank account.”

- “… In this case, at least part of those funds, are supposed to be treated as his property.”

- “Exactly”

- “Which he forgets to write down?”

- “Precisely.”

- “… Damn. He is a good man. It will leave a bad aftertaste to fuck him right in the ass so badly!” despite his words king smiled widely “… You may not be aware, but are talking about few dozen gold coins annually. But that will only help me to improve my position within my country. What I am concerned about is…”

- “Attack from the Holy Kingdom.”

- “Indeed. They have agents here. If they would know our strategy, plans of attack, cargo routes, patrol’s location… this war would be finished before it would start. This is why we are happy that they are still preparing.”

- “Do you know the reason of their delay?”

- “It’s just my guess, but they are probably waiting for Demon Empire’s situation to clarify.”

- “Royal games?” mage asked raising his eyes

- “Royal games.” King Arthur nodded “… if I was in their place, I would probably do the same. Kept preparing, making allies and scouting on enemies. Then, when their eastern border would be secured, they would attack their western neighbor.”

For a moment both men became quiet.

- “… There is a lead I may follow. What if grand houses aren’t willingly participating in supporting the Church’s actions?” Jasny started rumbling with his fingers at the board of the desk.

- “You mean that even they are being used?”

- “I saw lot of dirt and corruption, but… they would prefer maintaining status quo. In the end situation of nobles in Church is…. Well, weaker. They are forced into supporting prophetess, either by tributes, supporting their army or by taking care of the citizens to ensure the people that the Church is taking good care of them. And tell me, how many nobles would like to share their wealth or send their family members into army?”

- “That’s… well, if they would bargain being exempted from such tributes…”

- “They would be lying to themselves. That’s the end of the deal that Church would never hold up to. My bet is on either lower noble that is working on some bigger army-related project, or on member of branch of grand house. The one that wishes to improve his position, for paying taxes from owning a treasury is better than no taxes while having not even a single coin. There may be also other reason, for example – faith. If someone would become indoctrinated, became a fanatic, he or she would do everything possible to help the cause that he believes to be just.”

- “You said you had a lead…”

- “Indeed. I will check if lately someone significant in army didn’t become… more worshiping then usually, also if Sun temples didn’t get lately any greater donations. Ending on people whose carrier bloomed out of blue.”

- “That sounds like a lot work to do.”

- “Before I ended in inquisitor's prison I have been hiding too, so I know where to hide in order to avoid someone’s gaze. Still, possibilities are infinite. Yet now my enemies are bolder! They are staying in visible spot, among the crowd, basking in the sun…” Jason inhaled deeply “… unfortunately, things that are visible right before you are also these which are hidden best.”

Photomancer raised from his chair and stretched his body.

- “Will you be all right? Do you need some extra resources?” the king asked finishing his glass of whiskey.

- “No. I am more than fine with all I got. I am just… a bit too excited. You know, for me it’s personal.”

- “I heard. Your wife was a witch, right?”

- “Yeah. You know, most of my life I thought that the world was black and white. Light magic was good, any other was bad. Then she showed me that all these things are merely tools. That all that matters is the heart of the caster, not the very magic he uses. When they… took her away, I taught them the same lesson. As I burned them in the holy light they worshiped so much. Oh, their cries surely were unholy.” The man turned one last time before leaving the room “… fear not, Arthur, I will have them. This way or another. I will not stop until they would stop this barbarism… I will contact you next time I will have something to report. Until then, Arthur.”

- “Yes, be safe…” King said watching door closing themselves. Then he cursed quietly.

He was really in deep shit, being forced to ask for help one fanatic to deal with another one wasn’t the best possible way of solving problems. Because Jason for sure was one broken fanatic.

Back to the Main Character

Giselle eventually got up from the bed.

- “You know, I was pretty sure that you would pull some trick on me again.” She said putting aside empty plate that used to contain her breakfast.

- “Do you really have such a bad opinion about me? I merely fetched a breakfast from a lower floor. It’s not a big deal, also... I actually like spoiling you a little.”

- “Aww! How mindful of you! So, I was wondering if you could…”

- “Don’t push your luck. I said ” I raised my finger threatening her with a gesture.

- “It was worth trying.” She snickered “… but I would have just a little, tiny, favor to ask.”

- “What is it?”

- “Could you… get rid of your clothes?”

- “Gis, I love you but don’t you think that lately we are overdoing it a little? I mean…”

- “Just do it.”

There was something in her voice, no actual arousal, just irritation as if she was wasting her time.

- “Why do I think that I won’t like it?”

- “Stop whining! It will last just a couple of seconds.”

- “I usually last longer…”

She rolled her eyes.

- “Ok! Ok! Fine. See? I am stripping… perhaps you want me to dance on table while…”

- “ZARI! And you can keep your underwear.”

Last part of my clothes sent on the floor.

- “Now, turn around.” She demanded.

- “Whoa! Whoa-whoa-whoa! Easy there, girl! I mean, I like you and all, but there are some specific situations when my trust is limited, and I think this is one of them!”

- “Whatever is on your mind, I assure you, its something completely different.”

- “You would ease my mind if you would just tell me what is this all about!”

- “No, if I tell you, you will struggle!”

- “So in the end, it was exactly what I had in mind…”

- “NO! For fuck sake! We can do it the nice way, or the hard way!”

- “See?! Exactly my point of view!”

- “Zari, you have officially brought that on yourself.” She moved from her place heading my direction.

I quickly looked toward the door. She captured t my gaze.

- “Don’t even think about it!” she yelled “… I mean, you are wearing barely anything! You couldn't possibly ran off the room while being pretty much naked!”

- “Man in desperation lives by any means necessary!”

She cut off my escape route by standing on the way between me and the doors.

- “… still, you never learn that I am smarter, do you Gis? I have you exactly where I wanted to!”

I turned around while starting running toward the window.

- “ZARIEL OUT!” I yelled as I jumped.

Or wanted to jump.

- “I will learn that in the very same day you will learn I am faster and stronger. Now, don’t… Struggle!”

- “… my safe word is peanuts. Please, be gentle.”

- “Moron.”

- “Ho?! Are those handcuffs? Gis, you kinky girl!... No, wait… These are not handcuffs! TAKE THEM AWAY!”

- “DON’T STRUGGLE, I SAID!”

Yet the deed was done. I tried saving myself from cruel fate that my lover prepared for me, I tried jerking my body in all possible directions hoping to free myself from her iron grip.

- “Stop shifting!” she yelled

- “Oh, by-passer, tell our brothers in Lacedaemon, that here we lie, obedient their laws till very last hour! NEVER SURRENDER!”

Yet I was doomed to fail. Eventual,ly she raised up from the ground and me.

- “See? Done. But you had to make it awkward!”

- “… Your forced yourself on me. You stole my innocence. How could you?”

- “Zari, that’ just…”

- “Eternal shackles!”

- “… training gear. Same ballast you were caring for past week.”

- “THESE ARE ETERNAL SHACKLES!”

- “Come on! I increased the weight a little. Should make your training bit more effective.”

- “I hate you. Also, why do I ever have to wear these?!”

- “Because I want you to get stronger!”

- “Don’t you love me the way I am?”

- “Well, you could grow some more muscles. “ she poked me in the chest

- “Are you trying to say something?! Look at me! That’s body is perfectly suited for survival! Slim like a panther! Graceful like a tiger!”

- “Smaller than your girlfriend!” she tried teasing me

- “Then maybe you should lose some weight!”

Her smile vanished in a second.

I shouldn’t have said that. I should not have said that.

*Previously in the story when I was writing names of ground houses I used name Redwing (mostly because I didn’t pay much attention to naming them). This could lead to the wrong conclusion that Gisele may got a position in the noble house and became lesser noble herself (which is the case with quite a few most recognizable adventurers, which are becoming part of houses for a reason that may (or may not) be used and showed later in the story. I decided to change the family name to avoid possible mistakes. Not that anyone actually bothered to learn names of grand houses, but still.