“You ever hear of the mystery of the Jade Queen? She sits atop a lake, when it rains she bleeds, and when her blood touches the lake there is a magic released. Some talk like she releases angels or demons, while others speak of lost wrecks coming out of the very bottom of the lake itself to greet you. ‘The Jade Queen sings and Aerith listens.’” - famous playwright Arther Pendril 1674

Unknown

Kelly’s veins burned, she couldn’t open her eyes. She could hear a voice feminine but clear and strong and then felt another burst of burning originating from the inside of her elbow and she could finally hear herself whimper involuntarily as a new wave of magic and sound was being reverberated earlier. Kelly felt life being cast into her now.

“Try not to move,” Kelly didn’t recognize this voice either but her limbs were in no shape to really do much anyways that much she knew.

“Be a dear, help our new guest sit up please.” The woman’s voice was direct and plain, seemingly the hesitation was ensuring Kelly still had a pulse before she was pulled up to sit. Kelly didn’t feel quite right as she was left sitting and sort of leaning against the wall unable to get comfortable.

“Well well well if it isn’t the deserter Neophyte herself.” Kelly felt cold, this woman clearly knew her somehow.

“No one’s called me a Neophyte in about half a century or more, those that do are usually shit stains looking to collect.” Kelly could feel something in the back of her throat, like a dry throat that won’t quite go away.

“Poor dear… Slave fetch me my knife and a bowl please won’t you.” The man only responded with a grunt and quick dash away.

“Lip will only get you more lashings you mongoloid, do you want to end up like the other dolls.” Silence was her only response. Kelly finally was able to see now, purple grey lights hung on the walls here. Black lanterns emitted the light and there were pitons nailed there to keep them aloft.

“Now lets look at you… Ah yes an Imperial elf, I’d call you by your traditional name if your people hadn’t forsaken our traditions.” Kelly felt revulsion in her throat.

“I do like your face though I might like to keep you. Much better then what left our little palace I’ll never understand why they suffer the half breeds to still be around. Much better to be left to the Empire to deal with its trash right?”

“Adversity has made you strong hasn’t it young one.” The woman was clearly waiting for a response. Kelly eyed the Elantran that knelt before her and she dragged the blade of her knife across Kelly’s face. This was probably the tallest dark elf she’d ever seen, something of an anomaly amongst their kin.

“You won’t break me, witch.” Kelly’s mouth was too dry otherwise she’d spit in her face. The black garb the elf wore had ornate lacy and filigree seemingly made out of gold, even through the dull purple light its colour showed through.

“I don’t have to child, I just need your blood.” Kelly felt somewhat mirthful now. Something in her body moved and felt excited.

“Oh fuck!” Kelly knew what this was, the woman was using her knife to collect what little blood left the cut on her face to attune to the rest of the blood in her body.

“See just a pinch now see, don’t you feel better now?” Kelly did though she’d loath to admit it, she silently tried to test her strength against the back of the wall and started to feel a bit more confident.

“Well just wait until I am standing with a sword in my hand, you’ll see then.”

“I mean we could do that…” Kelly felt her body stiffen

“I do like playing with my toys before I am done with them.” All that Kelly could think was how much she hated this woman.

“But first I need those little honeyed lips to tell me where her friends went off too.” Kelly knew this wasn’t going to be good.

“Oh my look at your face! We have already found your little caravan and your plans. Seems like little Atalar didn’t want to pay its tithe after all right?”

“Your people’s days are numbered!”

“About as numbered as the Empire’s is it not” The Elantran then touched the blood to her face only for it to disappear in some kind of sickened osmosis. The woman then motioned for her human servant over.

“Get the bag, tie it over her head. We have some time to travel first before we make it to the Blood Palace.” The Elantran pet Kelly’s head and she felt her body being commanded internally to move on its own. Muscles following some invisible force in her body. Kelly searched the room as well as she could before the bag was tied, it seemed she was allowed some degree of autonomy over where she could turn her head.

I am sure that the only reason I was allowed that much was because she’s trying to conserve energy… What is she planning? Kelly fumbled with her binds, there must've been some enchantment on the bag because she couldn’t hear anything other than her own laboured breathing.

“Mistress Sol’Dae, I have done as you have requested.”

“Did I say you could speak worm! Get the new toy to my cart for collection, it was best we left this place.” Mistress Sol’Dae began mark out in white waxy chalk on the wall they had entered from, as it came down there were a dozen guards left waiting with another two dozen naked skeletons. A robed figure was waiting outside the wall immediately to her left.

“Neophyte Gauhst! I need you to investigate the magical trails in the cave, bring Captain Tae’Li and her squad to ensure you don’t end up dead.” In the acrid dim light of the distant white sun you could finally get a full picture of what Mistress Sol’Dae looked like. She had donned on her ornate robes that two belts overlapping around her waist that carried many different pouches that also had filigree embossed into the leather. She had armour of course, mostly ceremonial apart from the breastplate that covered her chest with pauldrons attached to protect wrists. The metal of the armour didn’t have a steel metal hue, seemed to be brushed with a dark bluish hue that refracted what little light was here having a mild pearlescent effect.

“Mistress! First Prince wants to know our progress on finding the escapees!”

“You can tell the prince that we know which direction they went but seemingly what I have detected of the magic used there is quite the panicked retreat after about half an evening's rest. We also know they carried the tribute with them.”

“Of course mistress, the First Prince needs the tribute before the end of Varsh. There are only so many sleeping moons, the first of Dolster is when it needs to be prepared for the Blood Tying. His lordship desires loyal dolls and this day is most prestigious for that.” Mistress Sol’Dae snorted.

“Well if his lordship is so concerned about the timing he should prepare an investigation for his own Captain. Please now make sure Gauhst isn’t laying on the floor dead.”

“Oh and tell Neophyte Gauhst that he needs to prepare my ship for a trip to the city of Engles. The sick Empire of Aerith will fall, but we must ensure that the seeds we planted are going to bear fruit.”

“Of course Mistress!” The Captain then took her troop and followed into the waiting darkened maw of the cave entrance.

_________________________________________________________________________

1509.03.40 Du’vesstar, Saister

“I’m sorry Ada, we can spare some supplies for the trip north but that was not the agreement we came to when you moved to our town you also agreed to follow its bylaws.”

“And?” Ada felt the rage bubbling inside of her, she knew in her heart that the villagers wouldn’t usually care but something understandably made them more afraid. The Mayor, Calkem Rex, only really enforced these bylaws when the town had existential threats like the impending invasion.

“The invasion was going to happen regardless!”

“You do not know that, plans do not mean they are made so concretely! What if this was a counter invasion plan based off of an Imperial invasion?”

“The Empire can barely garrison what it has right now!”

“My decision is final Ada, the County of Atalar has to formally put you and Oakarn under house arrest until we can at least complete an investigation of what exactly happened on the border.”

“You can’t do this!”

“I am within Imperial authority to do so, on top of that are you sure the Empire will be so forgiving for escalating an already tense political situation?”

“There were children in those camps! There were more dead than alive! You can ask Oakarn himself, how can you not have a heart, Calkem!”

“Atalar is too close to the border to not at least try to ensure that our town is fine through some kind of negotiation.”

“Wait… You plan on selling us out to those bloody elves don you!”

“They’ll know you were here Ada I am making sure that this town still stands!”

“You piece of trash… You call yourself mayor, all you seek to do is protect your own self interests.”

“Hardly call it self-interest when it's the town that would suffer instead. Look Ada, I can talk to the Elantrans, I can negotiate you and Oakarn’s release if we turn your other friends in.” Ada looked at the letter opener on the end table of the living room the two were arguing in for the last couple of hours. Ada knew she was going nowhere in this conversation but she also knew Calkem would try to keep her here until he could call for the guards to come and arrest her. There was a brass bell by the Mayor’s desk meant to call them but the two sat on the couches a few metres away with a small fireplace that was dying out.

“This town isn’t worth saving if it can’t protect the people in it without sacrificing other people that live within it. Your son and husband aren’t the ones getting sent to some kind of sick death fort!”

“Allegations one and all you have no physical proof.”

“Of a fort? I do, if you want to do some marching!” Calkem simply waved his hand and stood up to move towards his desk while shaking his head. Ada snatched the letter opener quietly while Calkem had his head turned.

“Look Ad-” In a fluid motion Ada plunged the knife into the back of the Mayor’s neck, she stabbed him a few more times to make sure he couldn’t gurgle loud enough to alert the yards outside. She silently prayed she would have somewhat of a running start before they found Calkem’s body. Ada swiftly moved towards the window. She attempted to open it but to her surprise it was actually blocked with glass.

“How can you afford polished glass Cal…” Ada mumbled to herself while looking for a different exit, then she saw the large heavy chair behind the desk and had an idea. Ada went to grab the large piece of furniture when she noticed an unfinished letter on the Mayor’s desk. It read.

To Her Majesty Victoria J’Starr Sol’Dae of the Evening clouds of the Midnight Court

My greatest and most humblest of apologies, First Consort to Night King Dal’Stas Julius Eld’Coz, First seperatist and final arbiter of the Blood Palace. Hera’s Blessings on you and your kin. Your tribute will be found, the mage has backstabbed us with a plan of his own. Even the boy’s tribute’s mother is gone and we were sure she hadn’t known of our deal. Please I implore y

The letter is cut off there with bits of ink.

Oakarn has much to answer for… Ada’s thoughts ruminate darkly, she then snatched the letter and headed towards the window. She then threw the chair with all of her might smashing the window to bits. Trying to keep as much of the glass as she could she heard the door suddenly open on the other side of the room.

“Ada? What are you-” The guard then noticed the Mayor on the ground still gurgling his final death throes. Ada dove through the window in hopes of not cutting herself on the remaining glass hanging in the window.

“Someone catch her and fetch the witch or someone!” Ada landed rough and belly first into the grass and bushes by the windows. She scrambled to her feet, she felt a deep cut on her side, the glass caught onto her tunic as she had jumped through the window and she’d stabbed herself landing. Blood dripping through the glass Ada looked for a place to hide to deal with the wound but as soon as she heard the bell in the distance ringing Ada knew she had to run to Oakarn. She made a mad dash through a longer route behind some of the shacks on the western side of town before heading to its outskirts. Ada was losing a lot of blood but she did finally make it back to the wizard’s home.

“Oak!” Ada couldn’t shout too loudly, unfortunately she could feel her body getting quite cold but she managed to push her way through the door.

“Ada! What happened is we are under attack.”

“The town… The mayor made a deal.. You knew!” Oakarn got her to sit down in Nico’s study chair while he started to remove the glass shards and attempted to close the largest gash with magic.

M’Ortalis Daetus

“Come on let’s get you patched up, I knew about the town’s deal with the Elantran’s yes but your son was never in any danger of becoming one of their tributes. Not if I have anything to say about it.” Purple translucent bandages wrapped themselves around the exposed wound.

“You knew…” Ada fell silent, she felt so dumb and lucky and while it was true that Nico was safe she felt betrayed that they would’ve left her there to suffer the consquences she not left with their group.

“The less that everyone knew the better.” Oakarn finished up removing the last of the glass then there was a knock at the door. Oakarn noticed some curious blood splatter on Ada as well, suggesting that perhaps not all of this blood was hers. The old wizard then moved towards the door.

“Coming, coming! Let me get dressed, it is the middle of the night dammit!” As another knock came more insistent than the last. Oakarn finally opened the door and left Ada alone in the house.

“Oak! Have you seen either Ulima or Ada?” A man in a chainmail shirt and a spear held it as sort of a walking stick. “Hells things at the mayor’s office got out of hand!”

“Oh? I hadn’t seen either of them recently, most recently would’ve been when Ada had left to talk to Calkem.”

“She fucking stabbed him through the neck!”

“Alan calm down lad, describe what happened.”

“They were talking for some time and she started shouting but it seemed to calm down. I didn’t think something might be wrong until I heard the window smash. At first I thought there might be an animal or something but his body was just laying face down on the floor in a pool of his own blood! Right through the back of his neck!”

“Ada did this?”

“Yes, Oakarn! I am at least thankful we found you, we might have a chance to bring him back!”

“Well you need to find Ulima if we are to bring him back. I also need to gather some supplies and we need to find a big enough monetary sacrifice.”

“Monetary? Why?”

“The gods require sacrifice if we wish to claim a soul back from the ether”

“Okay.. Okay Oak we can do that we will try to have everything ready for the morning.” The old wizard nodded and turned to leave, to re enter his home.

“Well I guess I know why you are the way you are,” Oakarn’s had a ring of anger and disappointment.

“He was going to arrest us Oak, he was going to betray us and our friends.”

“Well now we need to leave, its disconcerting that Ulima isn’t anywhere to be found, they would’ve definitely tried to find her above me since she knows more parts of the rituals. We need to pack up and ;eave but you also need rest.”

“I am sorry Oak”

“Cal was looking out for himself over his town, that much is certain from what I know about him. The only reason he agreed to let me teach your boy was so that Nico could become one of the royal court dolls”

“What even is that?”

“The Court Dolls are different from the other dolls, the Elantrans have turned them into sort of a sleeper agent I think.” Oakarn paused to sit down. Ada was feeling tired in spite of the pain and the need to move on.

“Rider is leading them back. Kelly and I found all kinds of horrific new magic they’ve been able to divine from the suffering and torture of their slaves. I regret even lying to the mayor or making the deal at all, I am unsure if they can track him or not. The farther he is from here the better though.”

“How long do you think we have?” Ada couldn’t get comfortable but her side felt somewhat better, the ever so soft glows of latent magic humming softly underneath the dressing.

“They weren’t too far but still the better part of an hour.”

“Wish I hadn’t killed him..” Ada stared past the old wizard something bubbling in her thoughts

“I can’t believe I killed him!”

“Well I know you didn’t know he was a coward but I can assure you he did deserve it.”

“I would constitute selling my son out as a killable offence but I hadn’t known of that at the time.”

“It means Ada that you are more capable than you think you are, you may not be a magician but I would say you have the makings of a fine warrior.” Ada looked up and half smiled.

“Don’t think I haven’t fully forgiven you either, I understand keeping a secret but I am the boy’s mother.”

“The risks were too great Ada if they’d found us out any earlier then Nico would've been able to get to safety though as you could imagine we barely did that too.”

“I know the problems that would’ve been involved with knowing the information. You are right that I would’ve tried to live in Fort Julius instead even if the Empire is a little too eager in 'educating'. I was hoping for a different life for you two.”

“Well options are waning and while we wait for the others I am not sure just hope far I can go.”

“Ulima might be able to help but we would have to find her and even then that doesn’t guarantee your safety, every hour wasted here is another hour the enemy prepares. We are going to intercept the others, let us pray we find a healer on the road.” Oakarn inspected Ada’s wound again though it looked the same as it did before.

“Come on we should try to intercept them then if we can. Next will be trying to get the kids awake.” We that the two left with haste, with a mission in mind and without a moment to lose.