The sun was directly overhead by the time Mistra seemed to be somewhat satisfied that she had the whole torrid story of her mother’s family. It had taken her some time initially to silently compile her thoughts and feelings, but after the few minutes of her initial silent shock were over she had launched into rapid fire questions ranging from the very personal to the very political about what exactly had happened and what the implications would be for her father and the rest of the family if things were to spiral out of control and the secret got out. I was personally surprised that the secret had been kept for so long to begin with, it seemed strange to me that more questions had not been raised about Mistra’s existence if demonic contact with humans was considered so dangerous. Perhaps there was some nuance I was not understanding, but it now seemed strange to me that Rafe would have an alliance with humans at all if getting too close to them could end up with such a sticky end.

In short, Mistra now had quite a bit of unexpected deep, dark dirt on her father that she could probably use to bend any situation with him to her will. Though, if she were to go through with any promise to expose his secret it would mean her possible demise as well. I couldn't fully understand how the political balance would work since both of them seemed to stress that her father could be justifiably killed for the things he had done if it got out at any point, but it seemed like there was as glimmer of possibility that Mistra could see that might work in her favor.

“That explains a bit, I suppose,” Mistra said with a long, tired sigh. She seemed to have come to some kind of peace with her mother’s past, though I was sure she would need much longer to process it further. “I’m still not sure I can believe that my father was so… cavalier with his actions, though he would be arrogant enough to have believed he could keep something so taboo under wraps. It seems so contrary with everything I've ever known about it, but it seems that I actually only ever knew very little.”

"You, Toria, and myself other than a few very closely guarded servants are probably the only ones who know of his indiscretions and the full story of your parentage. He has be understandably as tight-lipped and careful as one would need to be to keep the secret. His continued reign is probably all the proof we need that none of your brothers have ever figured it out. They would probably trip over each other to be the one to report him first and use their loyalty to the demonic realm as justification as to why they should be the one to ascend the throne next."

Feros paused and cast a sly glance to Mistra to signal that he thought given slightly different circumstances that she would likely do exactly the same. She waved her hand passively and rolled her eyes, of course she would have done the same, she was a smart woman who would not have hesitated to use every trick in the book to take the throne if given the chance.

"He is a bigger idiot than I thought," she mused, "surely there were safer... desires he could have pursued given his vast resources and wealth. I would hardly think he would consider his actions worth it now that he has to so closely guard the truth and pay so handsomely for my mother's family's continued silence."

“Not to come to his defense, but the demonic hatred of keeping human relationships is largely overblown. I know that most demons are of the idea that humans would band together to find ways to destroy demons, but really that is all based off of one extreme example. The Church is really an outlier for human reaction, I’m certain that if the bandage was ripped from the wound and the existence of demons was revealed to the human realm at large that eventually some sort of truce would be reached.” Feros tilted his head to the side, then cast his gaze upon me. “Surely more kingdoms and families would come to ally themselves with the demons, not condemn them and send armies. It is obvious that demons have much to offer and humanity would benefit from having such powerful allies.”

I assumed his sudden shift to pay attention to me was meant to draw me into the conversation so that we could get off the topic at hand. He had seemed strangely uncomfortable the entire time Mistra had been demanding information from him, like much of it had been a secret he had intended to keep from her entirely. There was something about his reaction that did not settle well with me, I had never seen him uncomfortable with the idea of revealing painful truths before, typically he seemed to get satisfaction out of such situations. I supposed that he had a closer relationship to Mistra and her family than he did almost anyone else, though he did not strike me as someone who really put much stock in his social ties with others. For now I was willing to put the matter aside under the idea that maybe I just did not fully understand how the fiend operated as of yet, that felt closer to the truth any way, and it was likely that I would just end up wasting time trying to figure out anything to the contrary.

“I clearly remember you saying that Rafe did not have my best interests in mind not even a few days ago,” I corrected. “You were pretty insistent that I did not go to him to help with getting my kingdom back, that does not sound like you thought he was a positive force in our alliance.”

“Yes and no,” he said with a soft laugh and shook his head. “Humans take everything so literally and yet not literally enough at the same time.”

“That makes absolutely no sense.”

“Perfect example.” He laughed louder and glanced at Mistra like she might agree with him, but she had fallen into her own thoughts and she was not paying attention to our conversation. “I will try to spell it out more clearly for you: I think that Rafe in general has been fairly good about sticking to the letter of the original agreement between Evonia and him, especially for a demon, but overall I do not think he will hesitate to break that agreement once a more lucrative situation arises for the taking.”

“What was that agreement?” I asked. “Leave nothing out, you seemed to be chomping at the bit to divulge the Yser dirty laundry earlier.”

“And there is much of that, I’m afraid.” His face transformed from what little bit of shame he has seemed to ever feel in his life to his damned half-smirk. “The deal they struck was simple, that she would accept a place on the throne in exchange for working for the Draks as their human eyes and ears. Rafe got what he wanted, someone to keep an eye on the Church and Evonia got what she wanted: power, respect, and a life of luxury. One cannot understate how important that last factor was to your grandmother, she came from the womb feeling entitled to only the best in life and I rather think that at the time Rafe held every single card knowing that about her. He made sure that she understood that she would have everything at her fingertips whenever she wanted and that was more than enough to get her to readily agree. However, much about your family connection to the Drak's was kept from her and you will probably be the only Yser living with any sort of understanding of the truth. Have you ever wondered why your family has magical abilities at all? It is not a very common human trait, as you’ve found out by trying to find recruits of your own.”

“What we did find were young girls, I have just assumed that human females are more likely to possess the power. Magic must pass between women in families, even when I was completely unaware of the extent of magic as a little girl I can vividly remember being told about village witches and wise women.”

“Again, yes but no. Women in this realm do seem to more easily tap into their innate magical abilities, though I’ve found men are just as capable but more likely to overlook the signs. After watching humans for a while I think I’ve settled on the idea that it all largely comes down to your folklore and old wives tales. Women are just expected to be more magical so your little girls dream of being so one day where boys tend to think they have to be more logical and practical. It’s a shame really, many more kingdoms could have access to magic if their male lines awoken to their latent powers.”

“I think I prefer it the way it is,” I replied with a grimace. I had thoroughly enjoyed the idea that women were more magical in general, the knowledge that it was more equal than that took some of the wind from my sails.

“Of course you do,” he said with a wide smile, “men having any power around or over you is an uncomfortable idea for you.”

“No man will ever have any power over me,” I snarled. Just the idea of it made me want to spit in disgust.

“Do I not hold power over you right now?”

I gave him a withering look, anger rising in my chest.

“I knew that would strike a wrong chord in you.”

“Then why play the sour note?” I snapped.

He gave me an appraising look, one that I found myself particularly hating and I generally was never a fan of how he looked at me. It seemed like he was assessing if he should reveal a great truth to me or keep me in the dark. The look gave away that he felt like he was going to teach me a great lesson about the world and I did not like that he thought so highly of his knowledge. I was the monarch, he was the subject, he should never feel so bold and superior around me, yet I could not deny that I was well aware that he could strike me down if he felt so inclined. I could perhaps hold my own for a short time, especially if Mistra came to my aid, but even the two of us would not be able to hold back the dam of power that would crash over us. It was a bitter thought and I sorely wished he would have some decency to at least pretend like he truly believed in my regency and wasn’t just humoring me.

“The biggest downfall of your grandmother and aunt was trying to cloud the past and hide it from you,” he answered, “you have been led to believe that all three of you are big fish in a small pond, when that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I do not even think I would put that blame on Rafe’s shoulders, Evonia came up with the idea of Yser magical superiority on her own and it was fostered a bit by the fact her skills were particularly unsettling for others. She felt powerful enough to make up her own version of family history and present it as fact knowing that no other human who might know better would keep their mouth shut and not dare to defy her interpretation. It was not like Rafe was going to squeal on himself for his part in your family’s strange history, he really has a sordid history with humans that any of his opponents would love to uncover.”

“What is the history then? Out with it,” I demanded. I needed control back over the conversation, I couldn’t stand him dangling things over me and feeling superior any longer. “You’ve stalled long enough and I’ve been more than patient with you.”

“Of course, my liege.” I knew it was a tongue-in-cheek jab at my clutching to authority over him, though I was going to choose to ignore it for now. “It’s not hard for you to extrapolate from the unfortunate business I discussed all morning that Rafe has heavily dealt with the illegal trade of human slaves before. However, I perhaps have left out that he is not an anomaly for his family line, his father, and grandfather at the very least were inclined for the same… proclivities.”

“Be very careful how you word your next sentence,” I warned.

“Ah,” he laughed, “no, I’m not going to say that your close family members were utilized in that manner per se, though I cannot say that it was not the case somewhere through the centuries. However, your ancestors were very much amongst demon slaves and were for quite a while, though where that path began and exactly why is something even I have not been able to uncover. Any records of conquests or purchases of the very first of your ancestors to be demon slaves must have been destroyed long ago or very carefully never recorded at all, a shame really, I have always been curious how the Ysers ended up as secret demon slaves. Almost every demon royal line has a secret human slave or two hidden from common knowledge, but for some cloudy reason the Drak’s have kept a continuous line and even after they were released Rafe found a way to round the same family back to him.”

“Perhaps we simply possess more power than the average and are powerful allies.”

“You desperately want some noble reason and to distract from the ugly truth that you descend from the lowest of commoner blood.”

I could not stop the angry huff from escaping my lips. I did not think anything could mar the day where I rode towards taking back my rightful kingdom, but he was certainly bent on finding a way.

“No, I’m afraid that even what power your family possesses was not even originally a part of your blood. When I peer into your magical core all I see is demonic influence, I do not sense the weak human magical charge I would expect to find. I am certain that at some point in the line of slaves the influence of the demon realm implanted in one of your ancestors and grew, eventually blossoming into the magical potential you possess.”

“That is possible?” Mistra interjected. Her eyes were still distant and distracted, but something in the conversation had peaked her interest. "I have never heard of such a thing."

“Improbable, but possible, yes,” Feros confirmed. “Given enough time a being in another realm could pick up powers beyond their original capabilities.”

She gave him a look that was serious and meaningful, though I could not figure out exactly what she meant by it. The fiend looked slightly sheepish and mischievous in response, though was quick to wipe the expression from his face and return back to peering at me.

“In essence your magical power would not exist without the Draks and they are to thank for what you are today.”

“Because my family was their slaves.”

“Yes and Evonia simply found herself re-integrated into the Drak’s influence.”

I felt completely certain now that coming on this conquest without informing Rafe beforehand was the correct move. It was not just an oversight that he had failed to ever explain his connection to the Yser’s, it was another glaring instance where he made it clear that he did not respect my family’s authority and from his perspective, he probably never could knowing that his family owned mine for generations. Things were becoming very clear about why Rafe had always acted like we all should bow to his will despite our position of power, he deep down had no reason to respect our seat on the throne. We were nothing but a bunch of commoners that had lucked out then made sure to cement the right allies to keep our position of power. That ended with me though, I would not allow myself to bow to Rafe or any demon any longer. While my ancestors might have not had a choice, I did, and I would forge a new Yser legacy, one that would make up for the dismal past.