“My fellow citizens of the Magi Kingdom and all those listening around Hera, this is Diana Primrose Orchidrin Scholar, royal princess by birth and Druid Elemental by education,” she began into the microphone. The lack of any other masteries hurt to mention, but she was far from them being condensed into the title of Archdruid. Still, Angelina stressed that she mentioned it. The Pirate smiled from across the table at her, the shutters open behind her to let in the light of her glorious success.

Diana cleared her throat as gently as she had been taught, it was a while since her last speech. Her mother didn’t force her to make any after Luann, she hardly gave one then. The next one Diana expected to give a month before was an eventual wedding announcement.

“I have been traveling with the Heroes on the Pirate’s ship for a little over a week now,” she went on, maintaining her most regal tone. “I have spent my time in practice and constant vigilance, as have the other Heroes with me. Not a moment has passed that I have not fought towards my eventual goal of apprehending Blodwyn as my grandfather did before me. As you might have seen in the papers, we retrieved the remains of Ash Makers in Rowoak.” She took a deep breath, this part she wasn’t comfortable with, but Angelina loved. The whole thing had been penned by her within half an hour and debated, unsuccessfully by Diana. “The villains stood no chance against the Watchdogs of the gods, nature knew they didn’t belong. I have no idea why they were there, but I feel sorry for the poor sods.”

The Pirate furrowed her brow at the improvisation of the last line.

“After our successful disposal, sightings around the world were investigated much faster than before. The armies of Blodwyn had to dig in deeper than ever. Not a single one was sighted without being swiftly investigated. We have them running scared.” She took another pause, the sounds of celebration muffled outside. She could smell roasting fish and feel the pounding feet through the floor. “Just today we received an alarm that Blodwyn was sighted in the town Grayhill of the Obsidian Isle. It came from an emergency line, so we sped here with haste. Fearing that the wretch had taken advantage of the great town in the middle of a hurricane. Our magnificent Magi army were here within thirty minutes, and the Heroes arrived within the hour. All that was found however were the town's doors thrown open, an immature message left by the Order, and the hurricane still raging forth. Our army quickly resealed all of the houses before any damage could be done. Let it be known how fast our response time is, for our scout force was some two hundred strong, but we had thousands ready to swarm the Isle.”

The princess straightened out the paper before her, glancing up at the repaired rafter in the ceiling. The one that the Guardian had broke the last time she saw him. Returning to the diner, Angelina had gone around with a Wizard fixing all the little bits of evidence to the Heroes’ poor response.

“Let it also be known that Blodwyn sought to trick us, but we are the victors today,” she continued. “Not only were we so fast in our arrival, but in trying to rile us, she rallied us to do good. It is common in such extreme storms for seals to break, on homes, on storefronts, and even on the mines here in Grayhill. The damage is usually minor, the Magi Kingdom is among the best in magical seal production and our construction techniques are renowned. However, seeing the town in the midst of a storm, my fellow Hero, the Pirate, could not stand idle. So she brought her mermaid kindred together and the Oceanic Druids communing with the storm to divert it off course. Now it is projected to die out before it touches land in Grunhir, at most our northern ally can expect a windy day from a level five hurricane failing to reach its shore. The people of Grayhill, and the entire Obsidian Isle, are able to sleep in their own beds tonight, and wake to clear skies tomorrow. So remember citizens, that Blodwyn and her Order of Ash stands no chance, when given a few hours we are able to move the will of the gods.”

There was a smug satisfaction on the Pirate’s face. The clear skies spoke louder than Diana could. All of Grayhill was grateful outside, people were flooding in from the nearby towns and erupting from shelters everywhere at the news. The magnitude of this celebration would echo for generations, over a hundred thousand people populated the Isle, all raising a mug or glass to the Pirate. They might even erect a statue in the Hero’s image for it. Now that two more were gone from the public eye, it was only her to get the praise.

The princess leaned into the microphone a final time. “So, keep a watchful eye for any Ash Makers of the Order, and don’t hesitate to report. We and our allies will rush to help as soon as possible. Today we have proved that almost anything is possible, and that one day we will have Blodwyn back in her tomb, where she belongs. This is your royal princess Diana signing off, I will be here every week with an update on our hunt.”

A Paladin, not of Whittaker’s descent or Psyin’s faithful, stopped the recording. Diana stared at the reels, a wild mix of emotions swimming about her mind. Public perception was important, like the Ranger had said. It felt wrong to sell such a positive message when no battle had taken place. Had she sold her soul in giving the Pirate what she wanted? She wanted to talk with Jonah about it, he knew about these things. He was a balance to her thoughts in Rowoak, and she wanted him again now. By the time they entered the diner he was gone from the filled streets.

Old Bill sat at a table by the door, not so subtly pushed away from her by the Pirate upon entering. As the Pirate came to Diana, praising her reading of the speech, the old man smirked at her. The scars of his face shone with ridged shadows in the afternoon light. His paternal presence made her feel better.

“No, we’ll put that out in a few hours,” Angelina was telling the other Paladin.

“Why not as soon as possible?” Diana asked.

The mermaid waved off the idea. “Oh, I think it would be better to wait until after we have a chance to relax here,” she said. “There could be a bad response, who knows?”

“You wish to celebrate? Is that why you’re delaying it?” Diana asked, standing up and gripping her staff to her.

Angelina held her arm, shaking it. “Come on now, this is good for you too. You get to meet with all those experienced Druids and talk to the people on the ground,” she said with a smile.

“I would like to fetch Jonah,” Diana stated. “Where is he?”

Old Bill made to speak.

“Don’t worry about him, he’d probably curl up into a ball with this crowd,” Angelina interrupted.

The older Paladin rose loudly from his seat with a scraping sound, straightening out the heavy maul on his back. “He’s off with my nephew and daughter, so don’t worry, yer highness,” he said. “He’s plenty safe, ain’t any danger at all.” He threw a side glance to the Hero, his hand still loosely on the weapon's handle, making as if his neck itched.

Angelina flared her nostrils, but put a smile back on. “See, no need to worry at all, Diana. Come on, we have some important people to rub shoulders with,” she said, putting her arm around the Druid’s shoulders. “Allies in the war, of course. We can’t win it by ourselves.” She led her to the door, Aiko slowly keeping up.

Diana wanted to send her familiar out to find Jonah and Kalyah, allies for her personal war. However, the Pirate seemed to guess at that as well.

“Imagine how many people have yet to see the Druid princess’s white tiger,” she said, pushing the door open wide. The cacophony of a celebration hit a high painful note as Angelina called out to the masses, the flowing waves of her voice projecting over thousands of people. “Citizens of the great Magi Kingdom! Your princess and Druid Hero has recorded her first message for all of you! A record of our success! Now she is here to celebrate her first week of being a true Hero!" She raised the princess's arm like a fighter in a ring, plucking it from her staff with some force.

"It was she that helped slay the Watchdogs in Rowoak, slicing the rats from their bellies! And while I swam out to stop the hurricane, it was her that helped the army to repair this town of Blodwyn’s stain!” Somehow a mug of wine found its way into her other hand and she raised it high in the air too. “To the Magi army! To the Druid Diana! To the Druids of the sea! To my fellow mermaids! To the clear skies of Graycliff!”

The thousands of tankards and glasses were hoisted up in hurrahs.

Diana’s mouth hung open in shock as she stood limply beside the Pirate, her arm slipping free of the woman's grasp. Her ears were assaulted by the shouts congratulating the truth tainted by flat out lies. Before she could yell to the Pirate, no one else could hear with the din, the woman whispered harshly in her ear, “I'm telling you the truth Diana, but the public needs to hear the spiced up version. The monsters are gone, this is the only fiction we need. It’s alright, just smile and wave." She gestured out to the legion of smiling faces, and a sharp point grew in her voice. Spit flecked into Diana's ear as she stabbed the next lines in, "Don’t you want to stop the war? We can’t do it without the people behind us. If we don't have them, we won’t win, then your sister will have been murdered for nothing…”

The brutal words brought up the images of Luann’s slit throat and cold face. The chill of her sister’s corpse was icy over her. Her gorge rose as well, forced to relive her failure of killing the assassin. This was the price, she thought, swallowing her pride. She raised her hand, waving to the crowd. They roared with delight at the gesture.

“Don’t look so glum, this is the first step to avenging her,” Angelina urged. “The celebration will be even bigger when that wretched bitch is in her tomb. This is one of many battles… and we have won.”

Diana's lips curled up around her gritted teeth. At her feet Aiko sent her waves of shame, piling on top of the immense mountain she already felt.

The rest of the night Angelina kept by her side, her best friend to innumerable people they met. Their names alone swarmed her head and she felt like it might explode. She was offered enough drinks to kill a hundred men. She drank more than she felt comfortable having within her and ate more greasy fish and meat than she could stand. For a second time she heaved up all she had in her stomach down an alley. Still, Angelina and the troupe of nearly naked mermaids that followed her around were her best friend, holding her hair.

As the night grew darker, Diana’s mind fogged and her cares dulled. The fires became indistinct orbs of orange and red. People were like blades of grass in a grand meadow, varying in their tan shades, their voices the rushes of a breeze. Her cheeks were dry from the kisses of mermaids. Her ears would hurt if her mind wasn’t wet clay, unable to perceive anything. By the time she changed to water, it was already too late, she was drunk. Even the restroom held no relief, as her loyal band of Angelina and her mermaids had followed her in there as well. They had supported her staggering footsteps.

Head against a bathroom stall, her throat dry no matter how much water she drank, her worries sharpened themselves again. The tiger, fully sober, glared at her, running her mind against a whetstone. How many people had she talked to? What the hell had she said to any of them? Aiko had roared as a spectacle to many crowds, the people rejoiced, but Diana knew deep down it was fury with her. Where was Jonah? Where was Kalyah? Where was anyone that was actually her friend?

She wanted to go home. She wanted her mother. To be tucked into bed and to be sung a lullaby again. Angelina cared little, taking her out into the dying celebration, where the people sang of her victory in the darkest part of the night. The Hero had remained rather sober and free of temptation, but failed in her resolve as the dawn started to show, ushered away by a score of mermaids and townswomen. By that time she could be free, Diana couldn’t move. She collapsed on one of the tables, face first, the exhaustion of her body too much to take.

Diana awoke held in the arms of someone, their footsteps stomping across woodwork. The orange rays of sun glared into her eyes and she hid her face. As if she were babe, she turned into the chest of the person holding her. She smelled wool and the musk of an older man. She knew it couldn’t be Jonah, and the thought of him made her furious. So did every breath though, her guts turning horribly inside her being.

“Don’t worry your highness, you’re safe,” drawled Old Bill as he held her.

“I want to die,” she mumbled.

“I’ve been that drunk before, I understand,” he replied, chuckling. “Let me make it a little better.” He stopped momentarily, his hand set on her forehead, the metal cool and smooth. Magic flowed into her with a prayer, and she was able to open her eyes without them throbbing in agony. Misery still filled her and so did the mental anguish, but the jagged edge was sanded off. She was conscious of her surroundings and the guilt was thick in her being.

“I’m a disgrace,” she said pathetically.

“Aw, you ain’t nothing of the sort, sweet girl, nothing like that,” he replied, shaking his head as he kept walking on.

She looked up at him, lips trembling.

“Yer playing along, which is the safest thing to do, it’s what--”

“AHHHH!” came a great wheezing cry with a collection of thuds.

Diana squinted, turning to see Fia sitting up from the dock that held the Pirate’s ship. The Witch was completely naked, her milky skin appearing sickly in the dawn light, the various constellation tattoos on her legs and belly standing out wildly. Around her eyes were thick rings of violet bruising, a mask that made them sunken, darting around bloodshot and insane. There were pulsing veins up her elbows and knees, and she stood up with a scrambling of her limbs. She swung around, a vial clutched in her hand. Her once ample breasts were deflated, the nipples raw and red.

“I wait all night, I nurse the spirits of the Moon’s lovers, I regain my strength enough to walk here! Where is that fucking man!?” she screamed from a dry throat.

“Holy shit, I ain’t never seen a Witch in such a state,” Old Bill remarked, shaking his head.

Fia whirled on him. “I am no common Witch! I am one above all others! I brought the people together, I stopped the fucking hurricane!” she raged, licking at her cracked lips. “Angelina told me I was too unsightly to join the women in celebration! There should not have been an inch of me without a tender kiss laid upon it! Where is that fucking man?”

“Who are you looking for?” he asked.

She blinked her bruised eyes, rubbing at them with a howl of suffering. Her tongue kept licking like a snake, there was foam at the corners of her lips. She focused in on the Paladin and the princess in his arms as if she saw them for the first time. Her stare was beady without her glasses. The sun rose past some limit and the light hit her brightly over the mountains and the shimmer of the ocean. Her arm shielded her as she cried like she was going to dissolve.

“Fuck you! You stupid masculine ball! Fuck you!” she continued raging, flipping off the sun. Her staggering steps and unsteady hold fumbled the vial she held.

The Paladin pointed his finger and thorny golden vines pressed into the wrist holding the item. With a yelp the Witch dropped it and it shattered by her bony feet. Avoiding the glass shards she nearly fell back into the ocean, but landed hard into her tailbone instead.

“That was special!” she screamed, coughing as her dry throat caught.

Old Bill scoffed at the black liquid bubbling on the dock. “I’m aware,” he said. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

Diana was horribly exhausted, but also terribly curious about what was happening.

“Get him! Get him!” the Witch commanded.

They crossed the gangplank and saw that the majority of the crew lay face down on the deck. The people didn’t stir and Diana fought to get down. The Paladin held her firmly.

“Don’t worry, they’re alive, a cruel existence, but they’re living fine enough,” he grumbled. “I’ll put them to bed before I leave. It’s the least I can do.” He stepped around the unconscious Lucy as he lifted the door below with a commanding flick of his finger. “We kept the boy from their fate, that’s all I can say with her hexes in place. Keep doing what yer doing, sweet girl, and don’t judge the boy too harshly for leaving ya, yah hear?”

“What’s going on?” Diana pleaded.

“A lot, a whole hell of a lot,” he said, folding the scars with his frown.

Despite the feelings of betrayal she had felt earlier, when they passed Jonah’s door, she reached out for it.

“He ain’t there,” Old Bill remarked with a sigh. “This is hers, wise cat?”

Aiko was pawing at her door, Diana’s staff in its mouth. The link between them was fractured in her state. She hoped not for long, on account of her actions.

Laid on her bed, the Paladin helped to remove armor as her fingers numbly pinched the straps. He left her in the Weaver clothing. She removed her sweaty socks, tucking her sore feet under the blankets. She was so tired, but her bed was uncomfortable and she was still aching. Aiko hopped on the bed, laying against her back as a begrudging barricade to her rolling over.

“Get to sleep, yer highness,” the Paladin said, bringing up the covers around her.

“Charm me, please, I can’t be awake another second,” she begged.

The old man chuckled, pushing the waste basket closer. “Ya can’t rely too much on magic, you’ll forget how to live without it.”

“I want to go home, I can’t do this,” she said, tears welling up. “I want to speak with him, he kept me from leaving last time…Where is he?”

Old Bill shook his head again. “You’d do best to listen to yer elders, yah hear? At least until we can figure out a solution to get you out of here,” he said with a sympathetic grin, petting her head. “Rest, sleep will come.”

“I’ve betrayed everything I stood for…” she whined, tears falling on her pillow.

“No, yah haven't. You made a lot of people happy tonight, yah did fine. Everyone loves their princess,” he said, making his way to the door.

“I don’t…” She hid her face with that.

“Yah will soon, yah will soon.”

The door closed and she wept until the pain and drink took her off to sleep.