Tania sighed as she followed her cousins, stick to the path, don't wander off, stay with someone, we don't know what's out here. Their constant nagging was making her ears ring. All of them had weapons, enchanted and mundane, all were on horseback even though the horses could barely move…
Rowena plucked passing pinecone and tossed it at Tania, "We'll dismount up ahead, stop sighing."
Tania caught it with a relieved grin, "Finally, we could have crawled here faster!" Lamont was rolling his eyes so Tania tossed the pinecone at him, "Am I wrong?"
Lamont sighed as he caught the pinecone, "Never," then he looked at the pinecone, "I wonder what will happen to the empire when we leave…" he trailed off as they kept him in the middle of their formation.
Tania shared a glance with her other two cousins, then shrugged, "I guess it depends on if they learn their lessons. They are a stubborn bunch. Either way it has little to do with us, just keep your tail and paws clean."
Lamont nodded as he dropped the pinecone, "I like Calix… do you think the Carlos's will be okay?" There was a brief silence before any of them answered.
"… I don't know, but wouldn't get my hopes up Monty, even if Young Song lets them off… the Fae might not." Noelle reminded, better for them to not make any sentimental attachments. They were quiet for a bit until they reached a familiar clearing and dismounted. They didn't tether the horses in case a beast showed up.
Tania giddily jumped off checking her gear. They had decided to break away from the others for a little time alone, so only her three cousins were around. Daggers in both boots, check. Enchanted straps on boots, check. Enchanted leather armor, check. Poisoned dagger up her left sleeve, check. Longsword, check. Enchanted hair band to keep her head safe, check.
Noelle smiled as everyone excitedly checked their gear, then had a second check from someone else. "Okay, we'll keep north. Tania, and I mean it, don't go wandering out of scent. At least not until we know what other Sin Beasts are in the area."
"Yes!" they all chorused, though Tania's was with a huff. All of their gear was fairly similar, leather armor, daggers, only Lamont had a bastard sword rather than a long sword.
"Monty, you can take lead, we'll trail behind. Rowena you take left, Tania right." Noelle ordered sheathing her favorite tiger eye jewel dagger. Monty then quickly made his way off the path and into the forest, the north had the densest foliage making it easier to hide.
Monty traveled roughly a mile before he found something worth hunting, a young adult male moose. It was probably only it's second time growing antlers. Monty climbed a tree and waited for the others to arrive.
Noelle should have been the last to arrive… but once again Tania was nowhere to seen or scented… she'd clearly run off as soon as Monty was on the hunt.
Tania grinned as she darted off just a little east. Everyone was avoiding East because that's where Young Song had looked when Monroe had acted funny and avoided directly south because many felt something off.
Tania leapt from tree to tree so Noelle would have a harder time picking up her scent, she saw several deer, racoons, birds, a few smaller beasts, and even a pack of wolves before she was sure she was far enough away to be found. She leapt to the ground near a stream… meandering along picking fruit.
Zane watched as Alexei and Neolani spoke, while they weren't yelling… the conversation didn't seem to be going well.
Rommel nudged his horse forward, "While this probably isn't the best place… or time. You heard what Young Song said?"
Zane nodded, "Birds that ward off death… I can't think of any to be honest."
"Heralders I could name more than a dozen… maybe we're thinking about it wrong. Sparrows and crows carry souls… maybe he's a crow that can keep the soul?" Rommel pondered thinking back to what he'd seen earlier.
"Crows don't have long tails, or crown feathers. Crows also aren't considered kings…" Zane denied half heartedly.
Rommel crossed his arms as he leaned back, they were going slow enough he didn't really need to guide his horse, "Crows aren't considered pretty either, but I think we can rule out a calandras."
"Caladrius." Zane corrected absentmindedly, "I wonder if he can heal others at all… or even himself… strong attack but no defense perhaps?"
Rommel grimaced, "Or maybe like stone, strong attack and defense, but damn near impossible to fix, you just replace the broken parts?"
"Strong fire… but is he physically strong as well? The Inago have been known for decades for their fighting ability… it's only in the last twenty years that their prowess with spells have become something to be wary of." Zane remarked trying to isolate any of Young Song's racial traits.
"Sighs… anyway the hint has us back at square one. Do you think… Monroe understood?" Rommel asked changing the subject since figuring out what Young Song is would have to wait at least another day.
Zane couldn't stop the sudden shudder, "We don't know who or if anyone helped him. Distant as it might be… he does have dragon blood."
Rommel wanted to scoff, but quickly bowed his head, "True enough, though I'm surprised Young Song didn't pursue the matter more…"
"I think it was a final hint for Monroe to free himself, but his attack has ensured something will eat him." Zane shrugged. "Young Song is magnanimous, though I'm not sure that will continue after today."
Rommel watched Neolani kick her lion dashing into the forest, "How long do you think we'll wander these unkept paths?"
"Longer than I want to be out here with possibly more than one beast of sin roaming around." Zane remarked as they kicked their horses to keep up.
Neolani wasn't sure what Alexei wanted her to do. Melia needed live combat, not more training. While Melia was an excellent protégé, she'd only ever sparred or been hunting beasts. Human enemies were different, they were unpredictable. Killing a beast and killing a man were also… very different.
Melia was chasing after her mother quietly on her own lioness. Mom wanted her to start hunting bandits or mercenaries, but dad wanted to start with ruleless combat… either way she had to do better.
Neolani found a relatively large clearing and dismounted; Melia close behind. She turned to her daughter waiting for her to dismount, "Melia, this is your journey. Ultimately the choice will be yours to make. Think seriously… and tomorrow I want your answer. Not as your mother, but an answer from a priestess candidate to her Regina."
Melia placed a hand over her heart bowing her head, "Yes Regina."
Alexei sighed… of course he wanted his daughter to succeed. But the tribes weren't at war or being hunted down anymore. Unlike when they were children, being forced to take human life before they were even ten years old or die.
Alexei looked past the trees to the sky, these years of prosperity and peace… he didn't regret anything. None of his brother's had survived their late teens… but if anything happened to Melia or Azarius because they hesitated to take a life… he would never forgive himself.
Azarius kept his head down, his parents had never argued about their training, or pushed them to do better before. He knew his father had two older brothers, and even a younger brother who had died before he was born… but… but none of the tribe had died from anything but beast attacks or old age all his life.
"We'll split into five-man teams, see what we can hunt and bring back here within the hour. Then we'll return." Neolani announced glancing over the royals. Their discussions had not gone unnoticed.
Alexie motioned for both children to follow him while Neolani moved with her personal guards. When the groups had all separated he fell into step with Melia.
Melia kept her gaze forward and her expression light, she had worried enough people today. "I'm fine daddy, it was a good lesson. One I needed."
Alexei put a gentle had on her shoulder, "I love you."
Melia blinked hard, refusing to cry. "I know daddy. I love you too." Her voice didn't waver. She would not waver.
Alexei tightened his grip, "You make me proud everyday, so take each day at a time, we'll all grow together."
Melia nodded as she bit the inside of her lip. Her throat swallowing from the effort to not break down here.
"Now, let's see what food we can find for our little bird yeah?" Alexei teased glancing around the solemn group. They all raised their weapons with a shout of agreement then they darted off in earnest.
Zane offered to bring Princess Hazel with them, but she declined repeatedly as she clutched a basket.
"Highness Zane, many thanks! But… I'm just… going to look for berries and flowers…" Hazel's voice trailed off as she quickly glanced around.
"We've never been much for hunts, don't let us hold you back!" The Gippsi priest Howe exclaimed waving the Adarians away as if they had the plague. He then clung to his staff as he coughed so hard his whole body shook.
Zane couldn't help flinching away, honestly the priest should have just stayed in the campgrounds and sent the mage. "I see, I'll leave two guards then, just to help carry anything you find."
"N, no thank you. We'll just wander around here, don't mind us highness." Hazel promised ducking her head so her hair covered her eyes as she fidgeted repeatedly under their gazes.
"We promised Young Song to keep you safe, at least one guard who can call for aid should a beast appear." Rommel objected before Zane could concede any further.
Hazel flinched and stepped back. Howe stopped coughing and started hiccupping as he stumbled back.
"Oh-okay… so sorry…" Hazel whispered.
Zane felt like he was pulling teeth, "Then, may you enjoy the fresh air princess." Zane politely stated, a moment later both scurried away as if he'd eat them… "Am I that scary?" he asked dumbfounded.
Rommel's lips twitched, "Follow them, but just enough to keep them within sight." Rommel ordered one of their guards who slowly followed them. "They're… so timid… I've heard rumors but… by the beast gods it's a wonder they've remained a power at all."
Zane sighed, "I can't even believe it's a hoax… even acting isn't so… pitiful."
Rommel sighed as he mounted his war horse, "Let's be off, maybe we'll find something interesting."
Zane mounted his own war horse and they left with Lucera, Jantje and a mage. He didn't miss that Terrence had refused to leave with Alphonse or Theodore but took a personal guard, his mage, and two Inago warriors.
Theodore was silently raging as he watched Terrence leave. Not only had all his men been detained, the beast had taken Alphonse's journal, the Smyrnaean's were constantly watching him, and now Terrence didn't even pretend to respect him as an older brother.
"Father? Should we… just stay here?" Alphonse asked hesitantly, the idea of going back and seeing that beast again… he'd rather just go home. At least his Grandmother Queen could keep them safe… not even Smyrna would take on Seibel to kidnap them.
Theodore took a deep breath, then another, "We'll stay close by, but we should go catch something." There were only Inago left… none of the other delegations had remained. Better to try pleasing the beast a little… if only to ask for the journal back. Maybe if the beast was in a good mood his men would also be returned.
Sebastian watched as his grandson organized their mages to help… clean the area. He then followed Jaxon who was carrying the unconscious Monroe into the hunting palace. It was only two stories with a bell tower, but with over a hundred rooms, servants courters, a lake in the rear, and two large storage rooms on the north and south wings. The cathedral had once been directly beneath the emperors room and between the two main stairwells, a silent welcome to all who might wish to attend mass… now sealed away after the purge.
Jaxon had rushed inside with his limp brother, kicking the door to his personal quarters open as mages followed him in. Katherine was right on his heals though she looked ready to collapse already.
"Put him down and step back, the longer we wait the worse it will be!" Katherine ordered before she could even catch her breath. If there was any hope of reattaching what was left of the arm… and possibly healing it... time was of the essence.
Jaxon practically threw Monroe down leaping out of the way, Katherine was already pulling a dagger, several mana stones, and a cross with a dragon head on the center out. He watched as she sliced through his shirt already chanting.
Katherine also pulled out a bag of blessed water and started to draw on Monroe's stump… the wound had been frozen to prevent blood loss and to hopefully reattach the arm instead of cauterizing it close. Healing frost bite was possible, but burns would be permanent.
Lucian had followed them in, Charmaine had gone to comfort the children, Natasha who had soiled herself. The room was filled with mage light, and Monroe's screams.
"GHHAAA!!! AAAHHHH!!!"
Jaxon leapt in to hold Monroe down as Katherine held the bloody, burned stump and tried to attach it back to Monroe. Unfortunately, the ice spell had been removed so blood was gushing onto the bed… while the stump crumbled away.
"UUGH! AAAHHHHHH!!!! AH, AH!"
Katherine saw the futility, "Cast the healing spell now! The arm is lost!" She roared at the two mages who'd been preparing for this possibility. Two leaf green spells replaced her white spell circle as the stump started to wriggle as new skin grew.
Jaxon was almost choking Monroe in his efforts to still the boy. "I'm here, I'm here Monkey."
Katherine added her own calming spell to help ease the worst of the pain. As Monroe stopped struggling she started to cast healing and rejuvenation spells over what was left of Monroe's left shoulder.
"Fetch a new bed, and a blacksmith. One who can make a prosthetic, Monroe's a mage, he can learn to control it." Lucian ordered over Monroe's sobs as he lay limply in Jaxon's arms. They'd seen worse on the battlefield…
Two guards immediately bowed before leaving as the mages continued to work.
Two hours later the wound was healed, now all that was needed was time. Katherine stared at the crookedly healed right shoulder, "Your Grace… it must be rebroken…" she explained as she collapsed into a chair. Growing skin, sealing blood vessels, safeguarding nerves, mending the chipped bone from the cut, replenishing lost blood… spell after spell had been cast.
Jaxon was cradling the unconscious Monroe in his lap, he was covered in half dried blood and worse. Monroe had calmed, but the prolonged pain and stress had him vomiting twice between sobs.
Lucian hesitated, then stepped forward, "We will do it."
Katherine was barely able to lift her head, "Majesty, we need a break… perhaps another mage healer."
Lucian glanced down at the seven used mana crystals, "Can you keep Monroe asleep? Until it's finished?"
Katherine took a moment, "I don't dare with drugs… he's lost too much blood. But there's so much mana running through him he might reject the healing. It's partially why it's so hard to heal any from the imperial family. You're all resistant to mana to some degree."
Jaxon lifted his head, teers had been running down his face, "Luc… what do we do? His arms…" it wasn't uncommon for wounds like this to never fully heal… while being descendant of a dragon had its perks… this was not one of them.
Lucian's stomach lurched, he'd never seen Jaxon look so… helpless. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, when he turned back Ashton was leaning on the frame with his arms crossed lazily.
"What to do indeed. Much longer and he'll lose both arms. What a shame, what a shame." Ashton stated stoically as he walked in.
Katherine placed herself between the beast and the bed, "What do you want… Lord Beast?" she added belatedly as the boy's blue eyes flashed.
Ashton ignored the female as he walked around, then stared down at Jaxon's teer stained face, "I could heal him. What's left anyway."
Jaxon's heart raced, but he forced himself to calm down as he continued to clutch Monroe protectively, "Your price?"