Maerda pushed deeper into the bottle, signalling her frustration. "You have an hour. Do NOT be late, you know the consequences."
She put the cork back in the bottle and replaced it back on the shelf, leaving the room promptly. Now, more than ever, she needed Varsha to lead her officers. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she thought perhaps Varsha was consorting with someone from another kingdom, based upon how the guard's blood was acting, however it was something she didn't want to think about.
"No, I don't believe you ever did your highness," Phoenix responded watching the princess curiously. She was unaccustomed to the princess so willingly undress in front of Phoenix, but Mara's tunic and leggings were still on. So all was well.
"Well…" Mara fingered her hair, before straightening her chin, looking firm. "My mother, shortly before I was born, was sent to Atruxiavir, before she became the Queen. She was supposed to be married to one of the so-called heirs of the place. And then, she met my father." Mara looked Phoenix straight in the eye, the pulled down her tunic slightly to reveal a crimson rune on her collarbone, one that if stared directly at, made the starer's eyes water, and go unfocused. "He was a-."
She choked on the word, and couldn't say it. She shook her head and started to pace around the room, lips pursed. "My mother's infidelity was discovered, and my grandmother died of shock. So my mother was Queen."
She made a face. "Then, my father came back, to visit my mother, shortly after I was born, to claim me. When she refused, he sent several people from Atruxiavir to her, and they - they… they hurt her."
"And now she's dead," Mara said. "She died last night. And I can tell no one who cannot tell others, because of my father's curse. She is dead. That means I am the - "
She gasped suddenly, choking, and fell to her knees, coughing out blood. The branded rune on her collarbone stood out, glowing and contracting, on her skin, and she grasped at it, before jerking her hand away, hissing in pain. The scent of burning flesh filled the room, and she cried out in agony, collapsing to the ground.
As Varsha got the message back from her queen, she got off the bed and left Vincent’s golden pendant and a silver ring that she created using her Ring of Durandal on the bed then walked out of the bedroom. She knew that Vincent was trying to trick the magician in the front of the house. She used her ring to put away her heavy armor and left her with only her inner layers, her vambrance, and the clothes around her waist. She then got out the window from the back of the house, ”This reminds me of those elf rangers training ages ago, it never gets old hehehe” as she said that, she leaped up on to the tree and dashed off to Atruxiavir.
Valerie could tell that was a convincing imitation, but the cogs in her head whirled as she wasn't fooled by the trick. Though she was quite impressed he had done that so well. She gave him a smile and nodded, "Thank you. Though I don't believe that is Vincent, he isn't quite the same as the one I encountered earlier."
Phoenix was still in shock. She couldn't, that wasn't, things started to make more sense. She watched as her princess began to cough blood and rushed to Mara's side. She went to hold the princess and asked her hoping for some response, "I, do you, I'll call for a medic."
"That won't do anything," Mara coughed out, heaving herself to a sitting position and clenching her fists, as if to fight off the pain. "The instant they come, it will all disappear. I've tried."
"Do, do you recover if they come?" Phoenix asked Mara softly. She was kneeling on the ground in front of Mara, "Because if that's the case I will call for them. But may I ask, who did this to you?"
Mara shook her head. "They just don't see it. It's part of your blood to be able to see it." She sighed and heaved herself up, ignoring the twinges of pain that shot through her entire body as she did so. "My father," she said, her voice tinged with so much bitterness you could almost feel it. "My father did this to me."
Phoenix stood and moved to help Mara. Of course it was because of her blood, most of her problems were because of her bloodline. She let out a deep breath, "This is an awful thing for a father to do to his daughter. Allow me to help you your highness."
"With what? How can you possibly help me?" Mara turned away, to hide her face, which she was sure had broken from her usual calm demeanor. "It's no use. Don't bother to try."
"Help make you comfortable," Phoenix responded quietly and respected Mara's wish to hide her face. She knew she couldn't help with the pain, "May I help you in that way?"
"It's fine," Mara said, finally composing herself. "I like the pain. It focuses me." She flexed her hands, clenching them so that her nails dug into her palms. "We should go see the reports for the war. Will you find something for me to wear?"
Phoenix nodded and stepped around the room grabbing a dress for Mara to change into. She looked at the shirt and trousers her princess was wearing, "Of course. Would you like for me to grab fresh underclothes for you as well?"
Vincent had realized that that trick wasn’t going to work as simply as he would’ve wanted. However, it was still worth the try. He sighed under his mask before taking it off. His natural light gray hair faded back into reality and the man was stood there, quite confident was his stature.
”At least that was an attempt” he snapped his fingers as the ‘Vincent’ in the woods fell onto the forest’s grounds. The real Vincent took out the pistol and fired at the two scouts, both went through their heads.
”So, I’m aware that I’m wanted by everyone, is that true?” the assassin asked before doing anything else. His gun was still at hand but it didn’t look like he was going to use it on Valerie.
Valerie nodded as she saw Vincent transform back into is original appearance. She silently congratulated herself on not falling for the tricks even though it hadn't been particularly difficult, "If the Cershestin Scouts and myself don't say enough already, but yes you are wanted by everyone to my knowledge."
(I'm going to back out. It's been like 8 pages since I've posted. And I have no idea what's going on.)
"Yes," Mara said, rubbing her face with her hands. "That would be nice." She pushed her hair from her face and went to go grab a brush.
Phoenix nodded and went to grab a new set of shirt and trousers as well. She walked back over to where Mara was now brushing her hair, "Here you are your highness. Would you like me to leave while you change?"
"Yes." Mara waited until she had left, then yanked her bloody tunic over her head and examined the brand on her collarbone in the mirror. It seemed more vibrantly red than ever. Sighing, she pulled the new clothes on, and her robe, before striding from her room, chi up, looking for all the world as if nothing in that room had been out of the ordinary.
Phoenix waited outside the door and bowed her head slightly at Mara when the princess exited. She gave her highness a smile and gestured her head, "Shall we gk now?"
Vincent sighed under his breath, giving Valerie an annoyed glare.
”And you are from Setriutan? You’re with that psychotic sorceress?” he asked simply, not hiding the fact that he had weapons on him as his knife was present in his right hand.
"My lady is not psychotic," were the first words that flew out of Valerie's mouth. However agitated they might have sounded, the actual magician herself was quite calm, "But yes I am from Setriutan. I suppose it would also be smart to mention my orders are to kill you, but I would like to give you another chance."
Vincent raised a brow.
”Care to explain?” he requested, not holding up each of his weapons just in case what the girl said was true. He did not want to start making enemies soon.
“While I trust my sorceress’s judgement completely, the call to kill you on sight seems off even for her,” Valerie responded calmly. She still had her restraining spell at the ready, “I want to know why she is so insisting on killing you, besides the obvious reason, before I cast judgement upon you. Or preferably take you to her so she can do it herself.”
(Heya people— I’m going to be taking a break from notebook a bit. I’ll be back in a few days ;3;)
(Guess who’s back from being dead for a week)
Vincent sighed with rolled eyes.
”Say I’m overreacting but you can kill me here and now and I would be happier than if you were to take me to that ‘Great Sorceress’ of yours. Besides—“ he flipped the knife like he was playing with it ”—that dress wouldn’t have been hers if it wasn’t for damn magicians back then. And now she treasures it like it was something a special someone gave to her… nonsense…”
While contradicting to his usual manner, Vincent was clearly annoyed with the situation he brought up. The dress he was referring to was mostly likely the one the Sorceress wore to royal events.
Valerie raised an eyebrow realizing which dress he was referring to. Even then his words made no sense to her. Her eyes glanced at the knife he was toying with before looking back at him, "The dress? Is all of this over some dumb dress? I highly doubt it."
”No, not just the dress—“ Vincent was quite relaxed with the conversation, even being able to lean against a tree while talking ”—it’s more about her messed up fantasy that one of yours told me about” he continued.
”Like, if she wants me to be with her, she could just tell me and not send some magicians to get my dead body to her only for her to resurrect and reimagine my mind, that’s fucked up”
Valerie scrunched her face up as Vincent continued to talk. She couldn't believe her lady would do such a thing, yet at the same time it sounded like something she would do. She quietly cast a truth spell on herself causing her eyes to glow though nothing happened physically other than a sigil appeared on her arm, "That, that is quite, as you put it, 'fucked up'. I don't believe my lady would do something like that though."
Vincent shrugged without much thought.
”I’m not here to debate, now tell me—“ he shot himself from his leaning position to stare at Valerie in the eyes ”—what are you going to do now? Kill me? Let me go? Take me to your so-called Sorceress? Your choice dear” he gestured to her, giving her true freedom in her choice. He had something in mind as to he wanted to do, whatever the choice was.
Valerie stared right back at him. Her mind fought with itself as to what she should do and as far as she could tell he was speaking the truth in giving her the option to choose. She kept her book open and let out a sigh, "I haven't decided yet. Though I, personally, am not going to kill you."
