RE: Monarch

Chapter 34: Enclave IV

I looked up at the infernal, trying not to gawk. She was tall for a woman, probably at least a half a head taller than I was in my twenties. Her features were similar to Mayas, though they were pulled into a severe frown.

Youre my solicitor for the council meeting?

Nethtari inclined her head, her white eyes unreadable. Of course. My daughter performed the rite. It is only proper. Her voice was a perpetual monotone with the slightest hint of sarcasm.

I bowed to her. Thank you for your help. Im not sure I could have survived in here much longer.

She returned the bow, hers notably more shallow than mine. It is my duty. I am certain my daughter thought things through logically before throwing our family into the middle of a citywide power struggle, and this was not a result of her notorious tendency to act on impulse.

I felt a stab of guilt at that. I apologize for making things difficult for you.

This would not be the enclave if things were not difficult, Nethtari said blandly. That is our way. Come.

I followed her out of the facility. The doors were as sheer on the outside, marked only by a single illuminated line. The glowing strips on the other cells were all red, save one that was blue.

Whos in there? I asked.

Whoever Guemon is displeased with this week, Nethtari didnt break stride. There was something almost noble about her gait, a smoothness between steps that many lacked. The guards leered down at me as we passed. My heart stuttered, terrified that they might change their minds and throw me back in.

I passed through the doors, and the light of the artificial sun flooded over me, blinding me. For a moment, while my vision was washed out, my minds eye went elsewhere. I saw the inside of a quaint room, small and lived in. The perspective shifted, tilting up towards the ceiling.

Then the moment passed and my vision returned. The sights and the sounds of the city were overwhelming. A woman on the back of a dire-mole sped past, nearly clipping me.

Perhaps it is a cultural difference, but here, we generally walk on the sidewalk. Nethtari said.

I sheepishly returned to her. We walked in silence.

Do I have you to thank for saving my life as well? I asked. The constant pain I was in before had faded to a dull ache.

That was my daughter. I am merely her enabler. Nethtari cast a glance over her shoulder towards me. The priests wanted nothing to do with you, but she insisted. Ive heard the words, Rite of Shaliat so often in the last few weeks that they no longer sound like words.

So Im fixed?

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Hardly, a cool irritation played across her face, it would be best if you avoid excessive channeling. Her eyes slid over to me. Including, but not limited to, drawing the mana potential of a dantalion forest fire into your untrained soul and expecting little to no consequences. Also, stop setting forests on fire.

It wasnt a whole forest fire, I muttered, feeling overly chastised. It made sense that Maya would have disclosed the details of what happened in the forest to her mother, but it still caught me off guard.

Indeed. She rolled her eyes. Just take it easy for a while. With a little luck and rehabilitation, things will return to normal soon enough, and if this meeting with the council goes as planned, you will be properly educated on your limits.

You think I have a chance?

Oh yes, Nethtari said, her eyes flashing. Guemon tipped his hand the moment he put you in that cell.

Nethtaris home was little more than two large wooden boxes stacked on top of each other, complete with chipping paint and bars over the windows. The inside was cluttered, wooden floorboards peeling up from the ground. It took several hours to prepare. Nethtari insisted that appearance was tantamount and disparaged mine in a manner that nearly reminded me of my stepmotherbut unlike her, Nethtari was correct. My hair had grown a bit too long. My father never really cared about those things, and my mother was less than focused on appearances, so my hair tended to run a bit long. However, in the time that had transpired between the Caravan and the present, it had grown quite unkempt. She sat me down in a small bathroom and stuck her head out the door.

Kilvius! Nethtari shouted. Her shout was answered with the slow, long wail of an infant. Gods dammit. She put a hand to her forehead. The babys cries grew louder as footsteps came down the hall.

Yes, lovely wife of mine? Kilvius entered the room, holding a crying blue child in his arms. It surprised me that Morthus had meant it literallyKilvius was red-skinned, though I wasnt sure why exactly that was a bad thing.

Nethtari pressed her hands together in apology. Sorry, sorry. Ill take him, can you just She gestured toward me and the scissors on the counter vaguely.

He a good tipper? Kilvius grinned.

No idea.

Guess well find out. Kilvius passed Nethtari the baby smoothly and navigated to me. Nethtari bobbed the baby back and forth, singing in a cringingly tone-deaf voice. It was if theyd done this a thousand times. I was hard-pressed to think of a more frantic introduction

I perked up, hearing Mayas voice from the hallway Mom, Dad, is that

Go back to your room! They said simultaneously in a flash of irritation that dissipated as quickly as it had appeared. Kilvius reached out and took my hand warmly. Cairn?

I shook his hand, relieved more than anything to see a friendly face. Kilvius, I presume.

He looked momentarily surprised, then laughed. I suppose you would have picked that up when I was summoned. He grabbed a fresh towel from beneath the counter and wrapped it around my neck with practiced precision. Two hours putting him down, undone in a moment. Such is life.

Whats his name? Its hard to say why I asked. It just seemed like the polite thing to do.

Agarin, but we just call him Rin. Hell be four months old in a week.

Kilvius chattered on about Rin as he proceeded to cut my hair, lifting rows of it confidently and competently. It was by far the quickest and most efficient haircut Id ever received.

Another child stuck his head in the door, closer to my age. Dad, I need to use the bathroom.

Well be done in a minute, Jorra. Kilvius said.

He scowled. His light blue face turned to me briefly in curiosity, then immediately dismissed me as he walked away.

A family of this size, with only one bathroom? How did they all get ready in the morning?

We take turns. Kilvius said, shrewdly. I blinked. Hed either read my mind or my expression gave away far too much information.

You have a beautiful family, I said, trying to steer the conversation away from the awkwardness.

The best, he said immediately. He put the scissors down, applied some sort of conditioner, and I realized we were done. I looked like my old selfbetter, even. My strawberry-blonde hair was practically gleaming.

Before Nethtari steals you away. I understand that you saved my daughter. He wiped down the back of my neck with the towel.

It was more like we saved each other.

Kilvius chuckled. She said youd say that. Then his smile disappeared. We thought wed lost her. The tribe scoured the Everwood, but we could never find him.

Barion?

Damn dragon-oil salesman. Kilviuss face turned dark for just a moment, before returning to normal. Regardless of who saved who, I am forever in your debt. So is my wife, though shell never admit it. Ill do whatever I can to help. He dabbed at his eyes.

Nethtari slipped into the bathroom silently. Hes down.

Ill never understand how you do that. Kilvius gave his wife a wry smile.

Ive said it before, youre too stimulating for Rin, you have to go out of your way to be intentionally boring Nethtari trailed off, looking at me. Dammit Kilvius.

What? He said. I checked myself in the mirror to make sure I didnt have a random patch of missing hair.

I said clean up, not makeover. It needs to look at least somewhat plausible that he just walked out of a magus cell. She walked to my side, studying me. Then to my horror, she placed a hand down on my impeccably styled hair and pressed down, mussing it savagely.

Kilvius yelped in protest

To her parents displeasure, Maya was waiting for me by the door. She crossed the room and threw her arms around me fiercely. You scared the hells out of me, she whispered into my ear.

I returned the hug, more happy to see her than I would have expected. Im fine. Promise. Whats a couple of near-death experiences between friends?

When Guemons men took you, I thought Her breath caught.

I patted her on the back. A little solitary confinement isnt enough to put me down. They were honestly civilized about it. Didnt even rough me up in the meantime. Over her shoulder, I saw Nethtari giving me a look that could only be described as poignantlyhostile. Nervously, I let go of Maya and took a step backward.

Nethtaris face softened, and she put a hand on Mayas shoulder. Ill take it from here, nilend.

Moms good at what she does. Maya wiped her sleeve across her face. Just do exactly what she tells you.

On the walk over, Nethtari had drilled an endless litany of information into my head. The proper greetings. How to bow. When to stand. Of the five prime council members, two were effectively empty chairs that would follow whatever the majority decided. The council members of interest were Guemon, Nephira, and Ralakos.

Guemon, unsurprisingly, headed up the hostile faction and controlled the military and security of the enclave. He would do everything he could to get me killed.

Nephira was head of trade and neutral, not particularly invested in either side, but she was anything but an empty chair. She could be swayed, but it would be difficult and take considerable effort.

Finally, Ralakos would be my best friend. He was the magical authority amongst the enclave. More than anyone, he wanted the dimensional gate repaired. He had been lobbying against Guemon for my release over the last few weeks, and speaking on my behalf. He was still a politician, but in this particular instance, he had firmly planted himself on my side.

He had even sent robes of his colors, a regal blue-silver, and Nethtari had instructed me to wear them.

Speak when directly addressed. Do not interject. Nephira is the key to this, and she has a rod the size of a tent-pole up her ass when it comes to manners, Nethtari droned. You have some experience in the royal court, yes?

Yes, I said, though it was likely less impressive than she thought. My father often took me there when I was young to see the so-called realities of ruling. I didnt mention the fact that I typically made it about ten minutes before falling asleep, and that habit followed me even as I grew older.

Good. Nethtari nodded. Remember, if you are unsure whether or not you are being called upon, simply look to me.

Now, I stood before them in the center of a ring, Nethtari at my side, hands folded behind her back.

Every council member looked exhausted. I had the feeling that when I was told me the council had been deadlocked for weeks, it wasnt an exaggeration. Interestingly enough, every council member was a varying shade of violet. There seemed to be some sort of class element at play.

Morthus sat off to the side and gave me a little wave.

Guemon, one of the only chubby infernals Id seen, sighed over-dramatically and leaned backwards, extending out a hand towards me palm up in frustration. His voice was nasally and snide.

For the love of all that is low and unholy, can we please just kill this motherfucker already?

As of that moment, the Infernal Court held more of my attention than the Royal Court ever had.