"Grandfather!" Ava said enthusiastically. Brer smiled as the guard pushed Ava's wheeled chair into his living room.
"Ava, you've finally come to visit me." Brer said. Ava pouted angrily.
"Grandpa! You never call me over anymore!" She bounced a bit, but grimaced as her legs shot painful sensations throughout her body. It was one of the reasons she was in the wheeled chair. Her legs were emaciated due to the pain she felt whenever she moved, so she could barely move around on her own. The fact that she could move her legs and use the chamber pot on her own would tell Brer how determined she was, if it was ever reported to him.
"I know you young ladies do not like spending time with an old man like myself, so I spared you the visit." He said, and watched her cheeks puff up unhappily. "However, you haven't addressed your father yet, Ava." Ava frowned.
"Why should I? He hasn't spoken to me in over ten years." She said, but didn't look angry. She was no longer upset by his behavior, or disappointed. She was used to it. Brer looked at his son.
"Ten years? You nugget of beast shit!" Brer's eyes flashed angrily, while his hand flashed out and struck Kohl in the stomach. Kohl was driven to his knees as he tried to get air into his lungs.
Kohl had forgotten that his father was also a channeler, and had been at the core realm for a long time already. He was not his match.
"Father...huff huff, you know what happened, and now so do I." Kohl said as he grimaced. Fortunately for himself, his father did not aim for his chest, or his heart would have been crushed. Ava frowned.
"Grandfather, what is he talking about?" Ava asked, her small thin brow slightly furrowed. Although Ava was crippled, she took good care of her appearance. Brer snorted.
"Your father finally realized that the queen has been poisoning him slowly, and planned to take over the kingdom." Brer said. Ava rolled her eyes.
"He just noticed? I tried to convince him to be careful ten years ago, but he ignored me after that. His guards tried, but he was too busy having sex with her." She shook her head. "And you ask why I do not greet him." Brer chuckled.
"True. You're just like me, and hold on to your grudges for a long time." Brer sighed. "Things are going to be chaotic for a while here, Ava. I've been thinking about sending you to a place where it will be much safer for you." Ava looked about to say something, but Brer lifted his hand.
"Not only so you will be safe, but also I need you to meet someone and ask her for assistance." Brer said. "Well, not assistance, but ask her to keep other kingdoms from invading while the chaos spreads in Thules." Ava frowned, but soon, her eyes cleared.
"You want to send me to her? At Aros?" She asked. Brer smiled.
"If you had been my own daughter, I could have raised you into a fine monarch, dear child. You're intelligent, and read the situation properly." Brer sighed, and glared at his son who was just rising to his feet. "Unlike some people who take almost twenty years to see what everyone else sees at first glance."
Kohl rose to his feet, and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, the aura of a king came out, which made both Brer and Ava feel a bit of respect for him, but only a bit. This aura was quite a bit weaker than his father's, and the authority that should have been bred into his bones was sorely lacking.
"As your king, and not as your father, I am sending you to Aros. Seek out the Mercenary Union, or the Assassin's Guild, and have them escort you to the manor." He said, his hands on his hips. "The only request we have is that while the rebellion is going on, and the capital is in chaos, she does not let other kingdoms interfere." Brer nodded.
"Yes, a request, not an edict, or decree. We are asking for a favor from a powerful being, not a subject." Brer shivered a bit. "One does not try to force a person to do something when they capable of killing rank fours with their bare hands." Brer closed his eyes and thought silently.
"There is little we can send as compensation, but one of the reports filed by the Mercenary Union said she was looking for spices. Seeds and the like." Brer made a gesture, and a guard put a case on the desk. "The Prime Minister made it a point to make spices exclusive to the nobles several decades ago. This should help ease her frustration with our kingdom." Ava pursed her lips.
"Spices are a simple product of the ground, grandfather. Eventually, she would have found access to them elsewhere. Mabu. Theshele. Or the Queen of Death could bring some from the other side of the mountain." She said, and thought for a moment. Brer thought for only a few seconds.
"That's true." He said. She grinned. "You have something else in mind?"
"She has a lot of women who serve her, right? Ones that she has considered important enough to annihilate the Inaris clan for?" She asked. Brer reached out and pinched her cheek.
"Come on. Spit it out. What do you believe would make her consider the gift more valuable?" Brer asked.
"Fine fabric for clothes, and other material needs that Aros can not access as easily as the Capital."
* * *
Ava shivered a bit, but kept her face clear. She didn't know when it happened, probably at the first city they rested in, all of her guards had been replaced quietly.
After that, her servants had been replaced just as quietly. Although the one in her carriage that served her personally didn't expect that she would notice, Ava was intelligent. She noticed.
'Do not fear, little one.' A soft voice spoke within her mind. It was cool, and surged with soft tones that she could barely follow. 'We have seen what they have done, and why you have come. You will make it safely to Aros.'
'Do not speak out loud.' The voice said after she tried to open her mouth. 'I will hear you if you deliberately speak to me, within your mind.'
'Are you the lady in the forest?' Ava asked, a loud thought directed outward. She heard a soft chuckle.
'Do not yell, little one. I can hear you perfectly. Yes, I am a small part of the whole, and We are watching over you.' Ava felt some comfort from Naha's voice, as that was the one who decided to speak to her.
Aconia allowed Naha to speak as she was the one who transmitted the calmest of tones. Hulda was full of power and strength, while Nuldeir would frighten the poor girl. As Aconia mothered all the sisters, it was her they looked to as a guiding voice. Since Aila was always asleep while they were awake, there was no discord between the sisters when they looked to Aconia.
'Do not worry, or struggle even a little. They will not bring you harm, nor be able to harm us. The weakest of my servants can protect you on her own.' The soft voice of Naha carried the impression of a gentle smile. The carriage lurched a little.
'What just happened? I heard a commotion outside?' She asked.
'Your guards are now ours. Or their guards are now ours.' Naha smiled. Sol was quick to respond, and precise in how she did things. The driver of her carriage, the drivers of the luggage wagons, and the guards were all killed within a few seconds by death elements. Her soldiers took them away, and replaced everyone outside, including the servants on the luggage wagons. It happened so quickly, and bypassed the occupants of the carriage, the assassin inside with her was unaware of the change.
"Open the gate." The guard of Aros called out. Ava heard a creak of wood, and the carriage started to move again.
"Almost to the target." The servant said, without realizing that she had already given herself away with her words. The carriage moved for a few minutes, and stopped again.
"I will get out first, princess. The guards will get the wheeled chair out for you." Her voice was no longer subservient.
Once the maid left the carriage, Ava heard a scream, and the servant turn back. She grasped the door handle, her face reflected pure terror, only to be pulled away a split second later.
"Stupid people. Did they think that my Master is so easily fooled?" The voice she heard was husky, and quite seductive in nature, but was followed by another more dainty tone.
"Sol, the princess is inside, and probably frightened. You can't help but leak, so let me help her." She looked inside the carriage, and saw a young pretty woman with a small case on her lap.
"Hello, I am Ellie, a servant of our Master in the forest." Ellie grinned. "Master has been looking forward to meeting you, even though she is asleep."
'Ellie, you will need to help her down. She has been poisoned for a long time, and her legs do not work like they should.' Naha said, which surprised both Ellie, and Ava.
"Poison?" Both said at the same time. A zombie guard put the wheeled chair down beside the carriage.
'Yes. Poison. Bring her home, Ellie. Your sisters will help her purge that poison. No carriage. Get the soldiers to carry her luggage, and feed that assassin to the wolves.' Naha said, which Ava also heard.
"She was an assassin? What about grandfather, and father?" She asked excitedly. Naha sighed.
'Ava, the Silver King just recently returned to his senses. His hands are short, while the Prime Minister's are long. He will survive. However, my concern is you, and your health.' Naha said, and lightly stroked her cheek.
'Bring her home quickly, Sol. Ellie, stay at her side at all times. Her weakness may make those stupid wolves hungry.' Naha said, her voice soothing and cool.
"There is enough wolf meat home anyway, right?" Elena said with a grin.
"Grandfather!" Ava said enthusiastically. Brer smiled as the guard pushed Ava's wheeled chair into his living room.
"Ava, you've finally come to visit me." Brer said. Ava pouted angrily.
"Grandpa! You never call me over anymore!" She bounced a bit, but grimaced as her legs shot painful sensations throughout her body. It was one of the reasons she was in the wheeled chair. Her legs were emaciated due to the pain she felt whenever she moved, so she could barely move around on her own. The fact that she could move her legs and use the chamber pot on her own would tell Brer how determined she was, if it was ever reported to him.
"I know you young ladies do not like spending time with an old man like myself, so I spared you the visit." He said, and watched her cheeks puff up unhappily. "However, you haven't addressed your father yet, Ava." Ava frowned.
"Why should I? He hasn't spoken to me in over ten years." She said, but didn't look angry. She was no longer upset by his behavior, or disappointed. She was used to it. Brer looked at his son.
"Ten years? You nugget of beast shit!" Brer's eyes flashed angrily, while his hand flashed out and struck Kohl in the stomach. Kohl was driven to his knees as he tried to get air into his lungs.
Kohl had forgotten that his father was also a channeler, and had been at the core realm for a long time already. He was not his match.
"Father...huff huff, you know what happened, and now so do I." Kohl said as he grimaced. Fortunately for himself, his father did not aim for his chest, or his heart would have been crushed. Ava frowned.
"Grandfather, what is he talking about?" Ava asked, her small thin brow slightly furrowed. Although Ava was crippled, she took good care of her appearance. Brer snorted.
"Your father finally realized that the queen has been poisoning him slowly, and planned to take over the kingdom." Brer said. Ava rolled her eyes.
"He just noticed? I tried to convince him to be careful ten years ago, but he ignored me after that. His guards tried, but he was too busy having sex with her." She shook her head. "And you ask why I do not greet him." Brer chuckled.
"True. You're just like me, and hold on to your grudges for a long time." Brer sighed. "Things are going to be chaotic for a while here, Ava. I've been thinking about sending you to a place where it will be much safer for you." Ava looked about to say something, but Brer lifted his hand.
"Not only so you will be safe, but also I need you to meet someone and ask her for assistance." Brer said. "Well, not assistance, but ask her to keep other kingdoms from invading while the chaos spreads in Thules." Ava frowned, but soon, her eyes cleared.
"You want to send me to her? At Aros?" She asked. Brer smiled.
"If you had been my own daughter, I could have raised you into a fine monarch, dear child. You're intelligent, and read the situation properly." Brer sighed, and glared at his son who was just rising to his feet. "Unlike some people who take almost twenty years to see what everyone else sees at first glance."
Kohl rose to his feet, and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, the aura of a king came out, which made both Brer and Ava feel a bit of respect for him, but only a bit. This aura was quite a bit weaker than his father's, and the authority that should have been bred into his bones was sorely lacking.
"As your king, and not as your father, I am sending you to Aros. Seek out the Mercenary Union, or the Assassin's Guild, and have them escort you to the manor." He said, his hands on his hips. "The only request we have is that while the rebellion is going on, and the capital is in chaos, she does not let other kingdoms interfere." Brer nodded.
"Yes, a request, not an edict, or decree. We are asking for a favor from a powerful being, not a subject." Brer shivered a bit. "One does not try to force a person to do something when they capable of killing rank fours with their bare hands." Brer closed his eyes and thought silently.
"There is little we can send as compensation, but one of the reports filed by the Mercenary Union said she was looking for spices. Seeds and the like." Brer made a gesture, and a guard put a case on the desk. "The Prime Minister made it a point to make spices exclusive to the nobles several decades ago. This should help ease her frustration with our kingdom." Ava pursed her lips.
"Spices are a simple product of the ground, grandfather. Eventually, she would have found access to them elsewhere. Mabu. Theshele. Or the Queen of Death could bring some from the other side of the mountain." She said, and thought for a moment. Brer thought for only a few seconds.
"That's true." He said. She grinned. "You have something else in mind?"
"She has a lot of women who serve her, right? Ones that she has considered important enough to annihilate the Inaris clan for?" She asked. Brer reached out and pinched her cheek.
"Come on. Spit it out. What do you believe would make her consider the gift more valuable?" Brer asked.
"Fine fabric for clothes, and other material needs that Aros can not access as easily as the Capital."
* * *
Ava shivered a bit, but kept her face clear. She didn't know when it happened, probably at the first city they rested in, all of her guards had been replaced quietly.
After that, her servants had been replaced just as quietly. Although the one in her carriage that served her personally didn't expect that she would notice, Ava was intelligent. She noticed.
'Do not fear, little one.' A soft voice spoke within her mind. It was cool, and surged with soft tones that she could barely follow. 'We have seen what they have done, and why you have come. You will make it safely to Aros.'
'Do not speak out loud.' The voice said after she tried to open her mouth. 'I will hear you if you deliberately speak to me, within your mind.'
'Are you the lady in the forest?' Ava asked, a loud thought directed outward. She heard a soft chuckle.
'Do not yell, little one. I can hear you perfectly. Yes, I am a small part of the whole, and We are watching over you.' Ava felt some comfort from Naha's voice, as that was the one who decided to speak to her.
Aconia allowed Naha to speak as she was the one who transmitted the calmest of tones. Hulda was full of power and strength, while Nuldeir would frighten the poor girl. As Aconia mothered all the sisters, it was her they looked to as a guiding voice. Since Aila was always asleep while they were awake, there was no discord between the sisters when they looked to Aconia.
'Do not worry, or struggle even a little. They will not bring you harm, nor be able to harm us. The weakest of my servants can protect you on her own.' The soft voice of Naha carried the impression of a gentle smile. The carriage lurched a little.
'What just happened? I heard a commotion outside?' She asked.
'Your guards are now ours. Or their guards are now ours.' Naha smiled. Sol was quick to respond, and precise in how she did things. The driver of her carriage, the drivers of the luggage wagons, and the guards were all killed within a few seconds by death elements. Her soldiers took them away, and replaced everyone outside, including the servants on the luggage wagons. It happened so quickly, and bypassed the occupants of the carriage, the assassin inside with her was unaware of the change.
"Open the gate." The guard of Aros called out. Ava heard a creak of wood, and the carriage started to move again.
"Almost to the target." The servant said, without realizing that she had already given herself away with her words. The carriage moved for a few minutes, and stopped again.
"I will get out first, princess. The guards will get the wheeled chair out for you." Her voice was no longer subservient.
Once the maid left the carriage, Ava heard a scream, and the servant turn back. She grasped the door handle, her face reflected pure terror, only to be pulled away a split second later.
"Stupid people. Did they think that my Master is so easily fooled?" The voice she heard was husky, and quite seductive in nature, but was followed by another more dainty tone.
"Sol, the princess is inside, and probably frightened. You can't help but leak, so let me help her." She looked inside the carriage, and saw a young pretty woman with a small case on her lap.
"Hello, I am Ellie, a servant of our Master in the forest." Ellie grinned. "Master has been looking forward to meeting you, even though she is asleep."
'Ellie, you will need to help her down. She has been poisoned for a long time, and her legs do not work like they should.' Naha said, which surprised both Ellie, and Ava.
"Poison?" Both said at the same time. A zombie guard put the wheeled chair down beside the carriage.
'Yes. Poison. Bring her home, Ellie. Your sisters will help her purge that poison. No carriage. Get the soldiers to carry her luggage, and feed that assassin to the wolves.' Naha said, which Ava also heard.
"She was an assassin? What about grandfather, and father?" She asked excitedly. Naha sighed.
'Ava, the Silver King just recently returned to his senses. His hands are short, while the Prime Minister's are long. He will survive. However, my concern is you, and your health.' Naha said, and lightly stroked her cheek.
'Bring her home quickly, Sol. Ellie, stay at her side at all times. Her weakness may make those stupid wolves hungry.' Naha said, her voice soothing and cool.
"There is enough wolf meat home anyway, right?" Elena said with a grin.
