So many lives lost. Nix couldn't really judge who was in the right. The Avarice dragon had been an unusually strong hatchling. Comparable to a human teenager. He was strong enough to take the land. The once baren land prospered under the dragon's blessings.
More than half the population had fallen. The holy maiden's betrothed among them. Then, not even two years later she was forced to become the dragon's first bride. Not only was she denied revenge, but ordered by her own people to bare the murderer's offspring…
It would have been strange if she complied. Nix glanced toward the capital. The young dragon had truly come to regret his actions. Doing everything the holy maiden asked without hesitation. Gifting his dragon heart in hopes of earning if not her love, at least her forgiveness.
Only to watch as three of their four offspring were sacrificed. She used her own offspring's souls to capture the avarice dragon. He was strong enough to break free… but his children's souls would have been crippled for all eternity. No matter how they reincarnated, they would be in agony until their souls perished.
The dragon was forced to endure a fate worse than death. To be alive while they cut out his bowls, drained his blood, severed his limbs, pulled out his teeth, took his scales, tendons… his bones. Finally, after decades of torture, they removed his still beating heart.
Just when he thought death would release the four of them from their suffering, they were bound to the sacrificial enchantment. Their bones spread throughout the land.
Nix gave a sardonic smile as he turned onto his side. Humans…making deals with beasts yet believing they were above them. Resenting the very prosperity beast blessings brought them. Demanding all the benefits, cursing any compromise as humiliation.
Rubbing his face in the soft fox fur, Nix sighed. Humans… so contradictory as a species. Some willing to sacrifice everything for another, others willing to destroy even if it gained them nothing. After spending a cycle among them, as if he were one of them… he still wasn't sure if he'd want one as his companion.
Time had shown him how fickle they were. How easily they were swayed. Nix would finish this cycle… would he keep this lying fox? Would he start his search anew? Would he just return to Ru's side? Nix closed his eyes. He had time to decide, the heart bearer would liv a few more decades. He would listen… if any hearts sang for him… then decide.
Randal stared at the gloomy sky. It had been raining on and off since the snake god left. Rain in itself was welcome. This rain though… each drop was saturated with mana. Not enough to be tangible, but more than enough to be felt.
The rolling grey clouds set his teeth on edge… having been face to face with a real beast god… Randal couldn't help wondering if another was in the area. If Ashton, Nix, was territorial his attitude might give some clues.
The healer shuddered as rain started to fall. "Somethin be hidden in them waters Randy, I donna trust it."
Randal breathed in the scents, "Nor I. Keep an eye on her majesty. Somethin be wrong with her an the lass."
The mage huffed in agreement. "Them an the lil princeling. The concubine still be screamin."
"Can ya ask them fairies ta look inta them? I donna think me sending death soldiers will be getten any new information." Randal agreed as he continued to watch the falling rain.
"Will no hurt ta ask… Randy… ye feelin anything? Ye be tenser than a virgin in a whore house." The mage remarked.
"Somethin be hidin in them waters… I be thinkin… nay. I donna want ta speculate. Just be wary. An donna go anywhere alone. If gods be playin tricks, all the better we prepare fer war." Randal warned. For just an instant he felt something. Something was watching them.
The mage's eyes flashed black at the same moment. "Ai, somethin be watchen… but no us Randy. They be watchen ah lizard."
Randal sneered, "Ah course, keep an eye on their majesties."
Sebastian watched as Concubine Lasvill writhed on the bed. Her blisters were festering. More than that, the mages had found patches of scales on prince Wyatt. The concubine had to be gagged so she wouldn't bite her tongue again.
She couldn't even focus long enough for anyone to see if the salves had provided any relief, let alone answer questions.
Jaxon pinched the bridge of his nose. "Your Majesty, I believe Wyatt is… like me and Monroe. Otherwise Lord Reece should have mentioned it."
Lucian gritted his teeth. A dozen guards, maids, and two lady's maids had all died within an hour of them finding scales on Wyatt. All poisoned right under his nose! The only one left who might have answers was Concubine Lasvill.
"How goes our interrogations of Veronica?" Leonard asked over the muffled screams of the consort.
"They won't say anything. Not even Duke Hammer's daughter. Their minds are warded so tightly it could take weeks to get through without destroying their minds." Devlin said dispiritedly. They needed a specialized mage to get through the wards without killing them. So far, none of his apprentices were up to the task.
"What about the necromancer? Surely an assassins guild would have such an expert on retainer." Leonard reminded as they left the cell.
"If they do, they aren't sharing. Not that we can trust them anyway." Jaxon retorted as he locked the door. It would take his majesty, and another of the bloodline to open any of the cell doors.
"We need to find out how Lady Chloe and Winston Darnings faked their deaths. We checked all the mausoleums and graves. I personally checked Lady Chloe's, and Randal's father's bones. Their bones were entered into the ducal mausoleum when he regained his noble title." Devlin groused.
Leonard wanted to curse for the thousandth time today about Ashton rejecting the snake god's offer. As they left the underground chamber a maid was waiting for them.
"Your majesty, a guest as arrived for you." The maid said with a curtsey, she then held up a tray holding a calling card.
Devlin accepted the card, checking for wards or traps. Confirming it was safe he handed it to his Majesty. "I don't recognize the seal."
Jaxon glanced over it, "Neither do I. It's ancient though." The older the seal, the more intricate. As a rule of thumb, for every decade a seal was in use, another line, or minor detail could be added to the house symbol. For every century, a small symbol or design was added to the edges.
This crest was of an ornate castle. Intricate windows, minuscule flags, and even grass were depicted. Each cardinal direction was divided into the four main elements, dozens of tiny crests they'd circled around the castle. The crest had to be well over a thousand years old… yet none of them recognized it.
"Who is awaiting us?" Lucian demanded before he broke the seal.
The maid remained bowed, "Please forgive me your majesty, the party of three is cloaked, and no spells could penetrate their wards. They only insisted you would want to see them."
Lucian sneered as he walked past the maid. There were few who could boast such crests. A particular fish came to mind.
The maid remained bowed until the imperials turned the corner. Then her body dissolved into a puddle of bubbling water. The clothes traveled along the floor until it came to a cell at the far end of the dungeon. Slipping through the bars, the clothes haphazardly draped themselves over an unconscious maid.
The maid roused, sitting up she realized she was naked… and couldn't remember how she'd ended up in the dungeon. She quickly dressed, seeing the cell unlocked, she pretended nothing had happened as she went to tend her majesty.
Nix didn't bother to acknowledge the familiars. More than a dozen muted songs traveled along the streams of water. This was not a battle of wits. At least not on his part. He merely awaited the choice.
This poor attempt at sneaking around was rather insulting. Nix debated letting the familiars know that they were no less obvious than bright blue candles in a dimly lit corridor. Not to mention… they sounded like claws on stone. Not exactly conducive to sneaking around.
To be fair, they were hiding from more than just him. Nix decided to ignore them. He had no interest so long the gods kept to the terms of the agreement. Nix breathed in the damp air. It was so cold…
Caius glanced around… something felt off. Not a surge in mana… more like an absence of it. Caius tightened his tails around his Pretty Birdie. Whatever was hiding in the rain sent shivers up his spine. Aiya! His fur would never settle at his rate!
The ranger dropped the two death soldiers. "Ye heard Randy, donna go dyin on me. Now, ye stay here an catch any mice. There be a head or two calling me name."
First and Third knelt. "Yes My lord."
The ranger snorted, "I donna expect to be long," with that said he strung his longbow. The bow drew little attention, it wasn't fancy. Looking like he'd just pulled a random branch off a tree and shaved it down. It didn't even have decorative carvings like most Fae.
The string might not look impressive, but it was made from dragon tendon. The ranger grinned as he prepared to use his new toy. The lil birds be trading treasures for mere coppers. Now, it was time to see who dared play them for a fool.
Without baggage holding him back, the ranger sped through the catacombs. His passing little more than a blur. He took no prisoners, shooting mana arrows long before his victims even registered they were under attack.
The ranger glanced at his shoulder where a small bird was dropping flames on the bodies. Burning away any evidence of their passing, and smoking out any trying to hide.
"Ye be so convenient lil bird, are ye sure ye donna wanna keep me?" The ranger teased as the bird huddled into his hood. Accidentally brushing his ear. The illusion was good enough to fool humans and even dragonkin… but these little chicks pecked at his pointed ear. Often dangling from his black crescent earring.
Mitt peeked out of the hood, then burrowed back inside with a chirp of refusal.
The ranger let out a laugh that was more maniacal cackle. As the sound reverberated throughout the catacombs it only became more eerie.