The next memories Aggie had were of a lantern squeaking, and its pale light showing a dark narrow hall on a rolling floor, and then the cells with their bars made using all kinds of materials. Some were iron, some were wood, some looked to be made out of stone.

The hands were the same though.

All of them reaching out from people and Beasts, shouting threats, screaming, crying… It was a wonder Aggie wasn’t able to stay conscious given the din they were all making.

Despite the species ranging from human to Beast Awares, what made the hands the same, was that they were all dirty, and all grasping at the two men that were half holding half dragging Aggie down the long passageway.

Everything went black again as Aggie was unable to stay conscious, the spots danced in front of her eyes, and her head rolled forward limply.

*

The next thing Aggie knew was that she couldn’t breathe, and that her face was freezing. She immediately began to struggle against the strong hand that was holding her underwater.

They relinquished immediately, and drew her out coughing and sputtering in the dark cell, the only visible light coming from a lantern in the hand of a Beast Awares leaning lazily against the bars on the right side of the cell.

As Aggie regained her breath and wiped the icy water from her eyes, she could see that there were 2 men in the cell with her. It was a tiny space of 6 feet by 6 feet, with wood floors, a pile of straw with a threadbare blanket tossed over it, and a chamber pot…

A chamber pot that was currently filled with cold water that Aggie had just emerged from.

“Welcome back to the living.” The unmistakable warm voice of Captain James Murphy came from the man holding Aggie’s head back, followed by a soft chuckle.

Aggie immediately threw back her head, effectively smashing his nose as she then launched herself at the open door. Unfortunately, due to the small size of the cell the Beast Awares with mustard yellow fur on his arms, and glowing green eyes, grabbed Aggie by the back of her shirt, and easily threw her back onto the straw pile. He then used his body to casually block the exit.

“Fucking hell! A little more guts than I would’ve thought!” James Murphy sputtered through his bloodied nose. “Fucking Gods- I think she broke my nose!” James said as he stood up from his knes, still pinching the bridge of his nose and staring incredulously at his crewman.

After a moment of silence, and Aggie looking back and forth between the 2 men, they both finally turned to her, Aggie guessed the Captain would’ve liked to talk more, but due to the bloodied nose, the crewman spoke instead.

“We know you’re Lady Agnes Beatha. Your fiancé Lord Sean O’Farrell has put out a Captain’s annual salary as a reward for your return. Alive. Your Servicer- whom we sadly didn’t see, he was less insistent on being intact upon return. Though he will most likely still part with the full amount of the reward just to have you back in his keep. For some reason.” The last part was muttered a little more quietly.

Aggie had been determined not to let any emotion show on her face, but hearing the name of her betrothed threw her off by a league.

“Sean O’Farrell? He wants me returned?” She asked dubiously staring back and forth between them.

“Aye. He does. We are equally as confused. You’re not much to look at, and everyone in the Kingdom believes the Duke to be cuckolded, but he still wants you.” The crewman shrugged.

“You must be great in the sack.” Both James and the crewman laughed briefly at that, though Aggie only continued looking confused.

James Murphy sighed while looking at her pityingly.

“First Mate Ikes, I think this lass may still be wholly intact given her response.” There was a note of disappointment that Aggie wasn’t sure she understood.

“Aye Captain.” The Beast Awares, who was apparently First Mate, agreed calmly, his glowing green eyes still watching Aggie closely.

“Well that limits some fun, but she can still take place in the Bets.” Ikes pointed out crisply, his voice like a warm purr.

“True. We will just have to add a clause about the face and womb. Should the Duke find her less than right in those areas, he may be less likely to part with the money.”

“Aye Captain. Fists only then?”

“Aye.” The two men appeared to be deciding something that Aggie was becoming more nervous to know about.

They studied her in silence for quite some time before finally explaining themselves.

“You see lass, the lads and I we get a bit bored- as does most of the Southern Royalty. With the rise of Beast Awares, and other mixed-blood beings, we like to… test them.”

Aggie frowned, but remained silent. They seemed to be explaining themselves just fine without needing much prompting, though one question occurred to her that she doubted was going to be answered.

After more silence, the two men grew bored of her, and they seemed more than a little puzzled that she was doing little more than stare at them after her explosive escape attempt.

“Ah Ikes, she’ll learn soon enough. Come, let’s have our nightcap.” Without another glance, the men turned, and locked the cell door, and they took the only source of light with them.

Leaving her in the dark, in the cell that reeked of urine and other bodily fluids she didn’t care to think about, Aggie began to sort out the events, and her surroundings in her mind.

To Aggie’s left as she face the barred front of her cell, was a wooden wall, but to her right, she could make out other bars, and as her eyes adjusted to the dark she realized the cell beside her had a small window where moonlight poured in, but it too had bars on it.

She saw the sleeping form of a woman with long silvery blonde hair, and in the cell beyond that she could make out a Beast Awares stumpy form, and some tusks.

She lay back on the straw and stared at the ceiling, trying to think about how scared she should be.

They were talking about fists, so something to do with fighting…?

Oh Gods.

Aggie closed her eyes as she felt like a prize idiot for not piecing it together sooner.

"They were talking about blood sport."

The most common kind of blood sport for sailors was called 'Bets', and it involved individuals from all races fighting each other. It was used for fun, and to gauge strength and ability amongst humans, Fey, Beast Awares, Beasts, and anything else that could be made to fight. She remembered her father talking about pirates that partook in the Bets, and how he had liberated a few of these individuals whom then went on to work for her father.

Cold fear made her stomach clench painfully.

To what end would she be expected to fight?

Would she have to kill?

Maim?

She knew that her opponents wouldn’t be allowed to kill her, but she didn’t like the idea of having to kill anyone again.

Aggie closed her eyes.

How had he taken her without anyone noticing?

The Queen could’ve easily dispatched him and most of his crew- had one of the Minkies betrayed her?

How did no one realize when she hadn’t returned? Jed was a mind magicker who kept tabs on everyone…

Had he betrayed the Queen?

The kind face of Jed, mate of Nola, flashed through her mind, and she found herself doubting that possibility.

Aggie let out an aggravated sigh, right before something bit through her pant leg. She flailed her leg out, sitting upright and panicking, then watched horrified as a plump rat skittered away through the bars.

“I’m fucked.” Aggie covered her face with her hands, trying to guess how long it would be until she would be returned to Sean O’Farrell.

Then new questions popped into her mind.

Why was the Captain treating her so poorly when she could so easily report everything he did the minute she was back on land?

Would the Minkies come for her?

Would Arlen come for her?

How long until she would be dumped onto Sean O’Farrell’s lap?

What would he do to punish her?

All the possibilities of her near future whirled around in her mind, and drained her of her limited energy reserves.

Then the question she had hoped they would’ve answered rang out in her mind before she finally let herself fall into a fitful sleep;

How had he recognized her?

***

Arlen sat completely still as the Queen removed her hands from his shoulder. She had managed to minimize the pain, but it was still there in the background thudding away dully with each passing moment.

“The pain is what happens when you are not actively helping your Mistress when she feels afraid- even if you are performing a task that serves her. As long as you are not physically lessening her fear, there is pain.” She explained matter-of-factly as she sat back on her haunches with Keynan at her back.

“You seem to know a lot about Servicers.” Arlen ground the words out. He was still in a rage over the Minkies losing Aggie.

“A few Servicers crossed the paths of our elders, and they informed us of certain details about your kind. I can also sense what is happening in your body, and why. It is part of my magick.”

“Servicers do not share secrets about our kind.” Arlen’s eyes cut up to Keynan who shrugged casually, his face its usual mask of calm.

“Servicers weren’t always governed so… strictly.” The Queen explained slowly. She was clearly aware that Arlen was a hairsbreadth away from losing his composure with her and the tribe.

“How did she get taken when she was so close to you?” Arlen demanded locking eyes with the Queen.

“We had suspicions for a while that Captain James Murphy was a Seer- as he is full-human. However, the only way he could have evaded detection from Jed and stopped Aggie’s thoughts as well, would be if he were a Shield.” The Queen explained without moving to acknowledge Keynan who knelt down beside her slowly.

“How could you not know he was a Shield?” Arlen's tone was more than slightly accusatory at the question.

“A Shield can allow their thoughts to be heard if they choose. Jed was always able to hear his thoughts when he was near him, so we had ruled that out. Especially given that he was never hiding his true nature in his thoughts, exposing all your thoughts means he is very controlled, composed, and confident. Perhaps foolishly so.”

“Where is he taking her?”

“We do not know yet. Keynan is searching, but so far he has blocked his entire ship from our sights.”

“Your tribe knows a lot more than you let on.” Arlen started, narrowing his eyes at the Queen and her mate.

The Queen was silent for a moment, before nodding slowly. Her face was incredibly solemn as she waited for the questions she knew he had wanted to ask ever since the Ghouls.

“Why does your tribe know so much, and why are you living like barbarians in the mountains given your power?” The Servicer demanded.

The Queen glanced at Keynan before answering slowly.

“Our tribe knows so much because we live especially long lives. We keep stories and knowledge guarded, and pass it down with each new generation. However, over a span of 3 generations, that can encapsulate nearly 500 years. Sometimes longer.”

Arlen’s jaw dropped. He hadn’t anticipated that.

“How do you all live so long?” He managed after taking a long slow swallow.

“There was once a Minkies elder, proficient in Body Magick like mine, only he was incredibly powerful. In order to ensure Minkies could continue their duties in the world, he sacrificed his powers- and possibly his life, by imbuing all within the Minkies tribe with lasting youth and life. With each generation, it becomes a shorter time span. However, I myself am closer to 70 years old.”

Arlen paused again from shock, took a deep breath, and then continued his questioning.

“So why do you live in the mountains instead of off on a private island like the Ruling Family?”

“That is not the Minkies way of life. It is our duty to maintain balance in the world, and we can only judge the balance fairly if we remain in tune with it. However, you can imagine how the general populace would respond if our true capabilities came to light.”

“Wars. Power struggles. Fear.” Keynan supplied lightly as though listing his children’s names.

“How ‘in tune’ can you be living hidden in the mountains? If you are just relying on Seers, isn’t it redundant?” Arlen asked condescendingly. The Queen furrowed her brow, but answered his question regardless.

“Seers can only see so much, and sometimes our interference must be more physical. We do also visit towns and cities, though often in disguise. We technically own homes in the King’s Settlement, and in the King’s City in the Southern Kingdom, where some of us will stay for a short period of time to avoid people recognizing us. We are actually due for a visit in another year or two.” The Queen said the last part mostly to herself, seeming to momentarily forget why she was explaining herself.

“What do you know about Aggie’s future?”

That was the question they had been dreading.

Keynan and the Queen shared tense glances before turning back to Arlen.

“We know she is meant to rise to a position of power. We also know she is meant to accomplish, at the very least, 3 massive feats. And from these feats, she will change the world as we know it.”

“So you know she is meant to be the future Queen of the North and South Kingdom?”

The Queen visibly stiffened, and didn’t say anything. There was something wrong.

“Tell me. Now.” Arlen’s voice was ice as his eyes moved from Keynan back to the Queen.

“We cannot tell you everything Arlen. That would disrupt how things are meant to be. However, Aggie will never be Queen.”

Arlen’s mouth opened to protest.

How could they be so wrong? That was her fate, the Seers working for the Ruling Family had seen it!

“You said she would rise to power!” Arlen blundered out loud.

“Yes. She will be a very powerful person, but she is not meant to rule.”

Arlen frowned. They were wrong he knew they were wrong and yet…

There was a strange ring of truth to their words.

Aggie had little interest in politics, and he couldn’t see her developing an interest anytime soon.

She had passion though, and gumption.

She was kind, she was intelligent, she was humble, all features of a great ruler.

Then Arlen thought about how the Ruling Family had told him she would be proficient in politics, and how she would be mild-mannered…

They had been completely wrong.

So there was a chance they were wrong about her future as well.

“You said that the elder that bestowed longer lives and youth to you ‘probably died’. How is that not certain?”

The Queen and Keynan both let out a small breath of air. Arlen was certain there was more that they were hiding, but he was suddenly feeling very drained.

“When the elder performed the ritual, he was off alone in a cave. It required long days and nights of laborious weaving of magic, and while he has never been heard of since, there is the possibility that he is simply resting until he can awaken with his powers.” It was Keynan who provided the story, and even Arlen had to admit it sounded highly unlikely. Even though the Minkies were incredibly powerful, there had to be some kind of limit.

Arlen let out a breath, and relaxed his shoulders, he felt weary in too many ways to count, but his last question burned in his chest.

“So how do we get her back?”