We return to Astri along with our new Cornutese friends. Against my better judgement. Then again. Ella wasn't out of the woods yet and Devona's Cleanser abilities are probably the best in Noxanda. Didn't seem like there was much of a choice... Besides. Seeing Devona so determined again brings me hope that perhaps she'll snap out of her slump. That would be a great help for us. We get the Cornutese set up in the Palace. Devona has appointed herself Ella's personal healer, so I decided to keep them close by. Perhaps we can find some use for them... I tell Lyma what happened with Carniran and we make some preparations accordingly, just in case. My special ops team return from Repperi empty handed. No surprise there. I send them, along with the Changes to the Treaty to Cobalus next.

The only way I could think of how to keep the Joint Task Force at bay, was to issue fines for impersonators and con artists. With special badges forged here in Astri. A diamond shaped crest, divided equally into four parts. Every officer will require to have one made here. The trick is to make them into Anchors, so they shrink in size when removed from the wearer. Anchor's take high skill and materials to craft. No third-rate bandits and thugs will go through the trouble of forging one. Plus. With Noxian longevity and memory - we'll have no trouble keeping a clean record of the officers appointed. That should prevent wannabes from playing hotshots too. Fines up to 1000 gold coins for Abuse of Power should keep the officers themselves in check plenty. Death being the last resort, just in case. I did make it weekly reports, instead of once a month, just to spite the old Geezers back in Cobalus. I realize it's a bit much and it won't last long, but that new War Chief really pissed me off. I'll keep it up for six months and change it gradually to once a month... Maybe. Or not. I'll think about it.

Next on the list is the bottomless pit of problems on the desk in front of me.

“Venatus has responded.” I hear a voice.

“How many?”

“How many what?”

“Men. Soldiers. How many?” I lift my head up.

“None. Just a letter.” Lyma hands it over to me. I open it and read it. “They agreed to let us through. With the condition that they will be keeping an eye on us as we investigate...” Well. Better than nothing, I guess.

“So?”

“Send a team over. Tell them to take their time just to spite them. Sharden said that there were reports of a handful of bandits stealing a boat. Look into that. Spread the search through the islands near Maris too just in case. Find me any sign of the scum.”

“Understood.” Lyma nods and walks away.

“Ah! Hold up a little!”

“Yes?”

“Can you draw?”

“Pardon?” Lyma stares at me.

“Can you do sketches like of things or people?”

“Ah, a little? Haven't done so since my teen years, why?”

“Well start practicing. I want to have a statue of the King build in front of the entrance.”

“What a... Great idea!”

“Thanks. I got it from the Balli on my last visit. I'd do it myself but I suck at arts.”

“You mean besides killing?” Lyma gives me a childish smile.

“Really?” I glare lightly. It's good to see him smile even for a moment. I really need people I can trust.

“I'll see what I can do.”

“Thanks. Oh, just don't forget his axe and sword, you know.” I raise my hands in his signature tilted parallel swing with both blades in tow.

“Of course.”

“Thank you.” I nod. I feel my eyes glaze over. I shake my head and rub my neck a little. Perhaps I do need a break... I take a quick look around and dive under. I emerge in the Heir's room. The child is sound asleep in her cradle. Why isn't anyone here? She might cry if she wakes up all alone. I hover over the creature. She's looking less ghostly. Good. Whatever the maidens are doing, is working. With everything happening so fast since I got back, I barely had the time to take a good look at her... She looks so peaceful...

“I'm sooo sorry, lovely... I know I shouldn't be the one watching over you...” I whisper. “I'm so, so, sorry you ended up with a dead fool for a father... Try not to hold it against him, though... He loved you dearly. That - I am sure of...” Such a fragile creature... Tiny... Powerless... I brush the back of my fingers across her puffy cheek... Warm and soft. I smile lightly...

“I'm so sorry, cuteness... I can't bring your father back, but I'll try to keep your mother for you... That. I promise you.” The little one squirms a little in her sleep. Her face frowns a bit. A weird sound, neither a cry, nor a groan escapes her tiny body. Suddenly, the frown disappears of her and peace returns to the little one's face. Her breathing goes back to normal too. Only then I notice my own hand on her belly. Strange. When did I? I try to move away, but the child squirms again. I stand there for a bit longer. Mesmerized by the quiet warmth...

“How can anyone dare to hurt such a creature?” I let go and return to the Throne Hall through the shadows. No time to rest. I dive back into the piles of scrolls and books with papers and parchments all over...

I keep going through the mountain of papers. This is too much for one of me... Damn it. I hoped we could handle it... I sigh over the desk.

“Lyma?”

“Yes.”

“Are you busy?”

“Not at all.”

“If it's not too much trouble, may I have some assistance, please?”

“Of course. Be right there.”

“Thank you.” I sort the reports as I wait for Lyma.

“Sir?” I raise my head and wave over to the man.

“We need help.” I tell him pointing to the never-ending problems.

“What do you have in mind?”

“As much as I hate to say it and I really hate to say it, but we need a Council.”

“You mean like the one you dismantled?” Lyma mocks me lightly. I give him a look.

“Not quite. I was hoping for something smarter, less annoying, younger, perhaps? And well versed in the matters at hand.”

“I'll ask again. Like who?”

“That's just it. I have no clue. As far as I understand, we need experts on, well, every area you can think of. There is so much I alone can do and frankly, I'm suited for something more strategic, rather than economic...”

“Yes, well, I can see why.” Lyma takes another jab at me.

“Ha ha.” I roll my eyes again. “I'm thinking we need to screen and select carefully most suited candidates.”

“Screen?”

“Yes.” I nod. “Check backgrounds, make sure they aren't radical, you know, interrogate. Or something.” I shrug my shoulders.

“Or something?” Lyma continues to stare at me slightly confused.

“We have a ton of living, breathing lie detectors - shouldn't be too hard.”

“I see.” He nods. “Well. A list of questions and something to focus on what to look for would help us out. If you can give us some guidelines, we can take it from there.”

“That's exactly what I want to hear.” I smile. “I'll get on that right now and have you the list ready by morning.”

“Perhaps you should take it easy, Master? I'm sure we can afford another day or two without the Council. The people are managing.”

“Yes. Our people. But the Treaty needs to be kept on a tight leash right now or we'll be back to blood baths soon enough. I appreciate your concern. Thank you.” I yawn. “But I'll rest when I'm dead. Right now, I have work to do.”

“As you wish. Then is there something I can help with right now?”

“Actually, yes. Here.” I hand him the reports from the Balli and the Cornutese. “See if our men found anything over there. Though I doubt it, but still. The sooner we finish with our pretend investigation, the sooner everyone will put their spikes down. We started the whole mess, we need to make sure we finish it properly.”

“Roger that.” Lyma takes his pile and begins sorting them on the other table. With everything going on we had to add more work space here. The Throne Hall looks like an obstacle course now. How the Hell did He manage all this by himself? He really did make good on his promise to study and learn, huh? I smile a little again at the memory of my dear friend...

“Got a minute?” Huh? I turn around from one of the tables.

“Blain! Yeah! Sure! What's up?” We shake forearms.

“Not much. I got word from the Land of Exile.” His tone tells me there isn't anything to tell... He sighs. Yeah. "Nothing suspicious over there. They said that bandits know better than to steal from dead men...”

“I was afraid of this. This only confirms the worst for me.”

“We were the reason for it all.” Blain finishes my thought for me. I nod. “Well. Is there anything you wanna do now?”

“No. We already have everything we need. Well. Kind of. Tell your guys to come home if they haven't yet.”

“Will do. Anything more I can help you with?”

“Sure. Here.” I pick up the pages. “Take a look at these. Blain takes the papers from me.

“Oh. Nice. You make these?” He looks over the drawings.

“Nah. Lyma did.”

“Cool. I like these two. But you can't really see his face in this one.” He holds up the swinging blades one. I smile.

“Yeah. I had the same thought just now.”

“This one works.” He holds up the one with the sword in the ground and the axe above the head. “This for the statue, right?”

“Yeah.” I take the picture again. This could work.

“He'd hate it, you know. He never did get used to the attention.” Blain says.

“Good things he isn't here to complain.” I try to joke, but it feels weird... That's a lie. There is nothing good about him not being here...

Blain cracks a strange smile. “It'd be fun to see him pout about it, though.” That, I can see. “I'll leave you to it. Still got some responsibilities left.”

“Thanks. Hey, do me one last favor. Have the guys started on this.” I hand him the picture. “Ask the Primerians for help. I want this perfect and a block of stone is delicate work.”

“Roger that.” Blain nods.

“Thanks.” I stand there for a moment, watching the two empty chairs again. I hesitate for another painful moment. Screw it. I take his chair and take it down a few steps, placing it next to smaller desk. I come back up and center her chair. Whether we want to admit it or not, but we have only a Queen left... No other King will ever sit there again, not till Zarri wishes for it...

I was hoping that having Ella and Amana around would spark some of the motherly instincts back into Devona, but this mother is nowhere to be found... I sigh and go under again, leaving the munchkin in her cradle.

“How long do you plan on wasting away?”

“Leave me.” A muffled answer.

I sigh. “My job is to protect you from the shadows. I can't do that if you become the shadow itself.” I tell her. “He wouldn't want to see you this way...”

“He wouldn't have to see me this way IF HE WAS HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!!” She shrieks. Tell me about it...

“You can't wallow in that misery forever.”

“Watch me.”

“I am. Sadly. You're missing out on her. You won't even hold her... She lost her father. Don't take her mother away from her too.”

“I can't...” She peaks out. “I can't look at her...”

“Does it hurt seeing him in her so much for you?” Devona sits up in the bed. Her light blue hue was gone to a sickly grey again.. Her hair has lost its shine too...

“I can't... I don't deserve to hold her...” Come again? “All I can see is my own weakness and guilt... I... She's better off without me...” Of all the idiotic!

“You know what your problem is. You're too full of yourself. You think that you're weak and pathetic now that Wykren isn't here to hold your hand anymore. As far as I remember, you were plenty a badass before him! All you're doing now is just hiding behind a convenient excuse as to avoid your responsibilities as the Queen and the mother. Pathetic. All you see is your own weakness and guilt? Spare me! What the hell do you think I see in her?!” I smash my hand into the bed post.

“I was the one who swore to protect you two and failed miserably... All because...” Words get caught inside my chest... “All because I wasn't... I couldn't... I can't replace him! I'm not as strong as him to do what he did for me! I knew that from day one! I'm not her father! I'll never be! Wykren's gone! We know that! She doesn't! Not yet...” I grip the post tight...

“All she has left in this world is you, but you're too busy being a selfish brat and throwing a forever-tantrum! The least you can do is have her near you! Have him near you! She will grow up and leave here and you won't even see it happen.” I calm myself again and straighten out.

“You'll regret it if you miss it.” I leave her and walk out the room again. I return to Zarri's bedside... Sound asleep... How strange... I feel... Calm near her... Not cold or empty, rather relaxed and at ease... Such a pure and innocent little creature... I reach out to her tiny fist and poke it with my finger. She wraps her fingers around it and holds onto it. I smile. I never once saw myself having one of these, but now... Who am I kidding... An assassin in the truest sense like me cannot possibly... I slip my tainted hand out of range of the stainless soul...

“Can I hold her?” I turn to where the frail sound comes from.

“She's your daughter.” I step aside the cradle. Devona walks over closer. I put a chair down for her, pick his child up and give her to her mother. Devona carefully takes her daughter into her arms. I hold on to her a moment longer and let go.

“She's so tiny..." Devona's breathing heavy. She's weak... "Hi, baby... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry for being a lousy mother for you... I couldn't...”

“Don't start now. You'll wake her. Just hold her. You don't need to do anything else.”

“Mh...” I stand watch over the broken mother, as she struggles with the reality in her arms...