Valkyrie's Shadow

Winter's Crown: Act 4, Chapter 5

Winter's Crown: Act 4, Chapter 5

Chapter 5

On their return from the orphanage, they discovered a small crowd in the midst of where the market stands were being set up along the street. A pair of Human females stood at the centre of everyone’s attention, speaking at length to them.

Ilyshn’ish watched them out of one eye as they skirted around the gathering. From the subject matter, these were two of the Humans who had come to take advantage of the state of affairs in the quarter. One of them looked up at her, and she noted in passing that her pupils were red. The Human female offered her a bright smile, and Ilyshn’ish averted her gaze.

The diminutive Human looked so weak, yet she gave her that unflinching look. She wondered what sort of underhanded schemes were in play that gave her the confidence to express herself so boldly to an obviously superior existence. Another detail tempted her to examine the Human again, but she stifled her curiosity to avoid meeting the Human’s gaze again.

“Those Humans appear to be able to see in the dark,” Ilyshn’ish said. “I thought their kind needed light to see. Are there different variants of Humans?”

“The local Humans all appear to be the same basic species. Perhaps they possess some item that confers Darkvision,” Master Tian offered. “It should be one of the many low-level enchantments available in this region.”

“One of those Humans is known to me,” Zu Chiru said. “She is a kind lady that goes by the name of Florine. She does not appear especially big or strong compared to her underlings, yet she commands them with absolute confidence, and they all obey without question. This makes her a Human Lord, I think?”

“A kind lady?” Ilyshn’ish was instantly suspicious of this Human Lord, “What is it that makes her so kind?”

“S-she comes to bring the residents supplies and teaches us the ways of this city.” Zu Chiru replied defensively, “She does so of her own volition, and offers us fair prices for shipments of food – the first one was even free!”

Ah, so it was the Human minion that went around with the Dark Elf. Ilyshn’ish wondered if she should let him know that their freedom was being stolen away from them by this ‘kind’ Human.

Zu Chiru, despite his wariness of overt threats, seemed blithely unaware of anything else. He probably didn’t even realize that the explanation offered by Miss Yuri was no reassurance at all. They would raise their whelps and send them to whoever offered the greatest benefits. Given the underlying relationship between Master Tian and Miss Yuri that Ilyshn’ish detected, any potential students for the Midnight Mole Sect would be sent straight to the Justice Dragon Dojo instead. The games of profit and power being played in this city were merciless to simple, honest folk.

“Hmm…if one of them was Lady Gagnier,” Master Tian said, “then there’s a good chance that the other was Lady Wagner. They are often seen together – good friends, if memory serves correctly.”

Ilyshn’ish shook her head sadly. The entire board was well and truly rigged: you were either one of them, or an outsider to be exploited.

“You…you know of them?” Zu Chiru asked.

“Indeed,” Master Tian nodded, “Lady Wagner was of great assistance some months past, delivering a great quantity of liquor while the city’s trade was at a standstill. The both of them also took the initiative to settle some matters in the west, and they are now actively working to improve the state of the Sorcerous Kingdom in many areas. This activity in the Demihuman Quarter is but one of many projects they’ve spearheaded in the city and beyond.”

Ilyshn’ish sniffed derisively at his statement.

“Do you have some objection to this?” Master Tian asked.

“Rather than any objections,” Ilyshn'ish said, “I fail to comprehend the purpose of these convoluted schemes. The Sorcerer King has so much power at his disposal that it’s entirely unnecessary. In the face of his pure might, all must heed his will or be erased from existence. There is no point in whatever all this is supposed to be.”

“I believe His Majesty to be a kind and benevolent master,” he told her. “Have you, too, not gained many benefits from his rule?”

Ilyshn’ish narrowed her eyes, uncertain whether the words Master Tian said were in jest or not.

“I wonder how many of the residents here respect him for his ‘benevolence’.”

She scanned the street, locating a pair of Lizardmen loitering ahead of them.

“You two Lizardfolk,” she stopped to speak to them, “how is it that you’ve come under the Sorcerer King’s rule?”

They shuffled backwards as her head loomed close, then exchanged looks at her question.

“We were subjugated last year,” one of them replied. “We are currently in the city because His Majesty, um, suggested that we should travel.”

“What of other tribes near your home, or perhaps other races?”

“They were conquered as well,” the Lizardman said “By Lord Cocytus, on behalf of His Majesty. Everyone around our lake was consolidated under his rule.”

“Thank you,” she nodded at them, and they continued on their way.

“I saw what was left of the Quagoa in Feoh Berkana,” she eyed Master Tian pointedly as they went along. “There’s no reason for me to believe that it was some act of benevolence. My family was the same – my father was murdered right in our own home, in front of his three wives. My half brother was killed shortly after for expressing his dissent over matters. I heard they were both taken away to be dismantled for crafting materials. My eldest brother was given away to be turned into a pet, and now the rest of us are slaves of Lady Shalltear.”

“Slaves…” Master Tian said in a grave voice, “Though it sounds out of sorts for one such as her, I hear that Lady Shalltear has put much thought and care into the aerial transportation network. You’ve been provided much to ensure your good health.”

“What we’ve been provided with is the means to toil indefinitely,” Ilyshn’ish told him, “and no option to refuse. Perhaps it is as you say, and she puts much thought and care into the aerial transportation network itself, but we Frost Dragons are nothing more than beasts of burden.”

They left the main street, walking up the lane towards the Justice Dragon Dojo.

“This is besides the point, however,” she continued. “All of the beings you see here follow the same rule – the unbreakable rule of the world. Prosperity, wealth, and even their very lives will be taken without the means to retain them; benevolence and good intentions mean nothing if everything can be trampled underfoot. They gather under the Sorcerer King because his overwhelming strength permits their continued existence – they did not come to him for his goodwill.”

Ilyshn’ish’s gaze wandered over the quarter until it was drawn by the brightly lit streets beyond the southern gatehouse.

“These Humans, too,” she mused. “I wonder how E-Rantel and its surrounding lands ended up under the Sorcerer King’s rule?”

A steely expression formed over Master Tian’s features, and they followed him back into the hall. He reseated himself at the head of the hall; Ilyshn’ish and Zu Chiru before him.

“It is not a bad thing for the strong to rule with benevolence,” he said after some time, “and it is right to assist those in need.”

She wanted to roll her eyes. It appeared that their views were irreconcilable. Ilyshn’ish looked over at Zu Chiru.

“Zu Chiru,” she said, “what do you think about all of this?”

“M-me?” He looked between them nervously, “My thoughts are as dust to such powerful beings…”

Ilyshn’ish smirked, her tail swishing smugly over the cedar floorboards.

“…b-but is it not better for everyone to be happy?”

Her tail stopped, and she glared down at him balefully. In hindsight, it was a mistake to ask this gullible idiot. Master Tian nodded sagely.

“I concur,” he said. “Strength alone is nothing to be prideful about. If one has power, it is best used for the benefit of all.”

Ilyshn’ish sighed. Debating the matter anymore would only plague her with headaches, so she decided to press on to things that actually held practical value.

“Half the night is gone,” she said, “and I must return to the north in the afternoon. Weren’t we supposed to be undergoing some sort of training?”

Master Tian’s looked from Zu Chiru to Ilyshn’ish, then back again.

“Perhaps this fine gentleman would like to learn alongside you,” he said.

“T-this Zu Chiru?” The Quagoa’s nose twitched.

“I have heard it is more beneficial to have a partner to train with,” Master Tian said. “You, too, have an interest in self-improvement, do you not?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“He’s going to die,” Ilyshn’ish stated flatly.

Zu Chiru nodded empathetically.

“As this is training,” Master Tian told them, “you should not be striving to kill one another. The objective is to achieve mastery over one’s self. Dancers are those who harness the power of their art by weaving it through bodily form.”

“This building probably won’t survive if I start dancing inside.”

“I suppose that is probably true…”

A light knock issued from the door. The three exchanged glances and Zu Chiru, being the closest to the entrance, went to answer it. Seriously…it wasn’t even the Quagoa’s place and he just naturally started working for them. He slid open the door and issued the most piteous squeak Ilyshn’ish had ever heard come from a Quagoa before keeling over.

“Sebas?”

Ilyshn’ish felt a squeak of her own escape when she heard the voice coming in from across the threshold.

“Welcome, Lady Shalltear,” Master Tian rose to his feet.

“I was moving some Demihumans and their goods to the market nearby,” Lady Shalltear said, “so I thought I’d see how things were coming along.”

She stepped around the collapsed Zu Chiru and into the hall. Her crimson gaze swept over the interior, stopping at Ilyshn’ish.

“Oh~ I see that this child has returned without need for prompting,” she said. “This discipline of yours appears to be working wonders so far, Sebas – how long until you’re done with her?”

“Er…we have only just begun, so it should still be some time yet,” Master Tian replied. “If I might ask, is there something specific that you would like addressed? Getting in contact with you has been quite difficult recently.”

“I’ve been wonderfully busy, after all.” Head held high, a note of pride entered Lady Shalltear’s voice, “As for this child…I suppose any improvements would be welcome, but your priority should be placed on her loose tongue.”

“…her loose tongue, you say?”

“Indeed,” Lady Shalltear nodded. “She is the source of the Frost Giant rumours that Albedo has been tied up in knots over recently.”

The air turned deathly still, and Master Tian slowly looked back at Ilyshn’ish. She slowly started edging away.

“Hoh…” He said, adjusting his pristine, white gloves, “She claimed that she did not know why she was sent here.”

“I told her quite clearly when she asked,” Lady Shalltear told him, “it was just before we appeared here.”

“I see,” he fixed Ilyshn’ish with his steely gaze. “It seems that discipline of another form is required.”

“Wai–”

Ilyshn’ish’s protest ended at its first syllable. What happened? Master Tian only looked like he had turned to face her. How was she suddenly careening through the air? Her senses were jarred violently as she bounced off a pillar and smashed through the back wall of the building, rolling over and over until she hit the base of the quarter wall.

Memories of the last time she was sent flying in such a fashion flooded her mind with horror. She spread her wings to escape, making it all of two metres off of the ground before she felt something latch onto her tail. Her trajectory abruptly reversed and she whipped into the ground, sending a cloud of dust into the air.

“Lying is bad,” Master Tian’s voice could be heard through Ilyshn’ish’s coughing.

“Bad children get the fist~” Lady Shalltear’s silvery voice chimed lightly through the hole in the wall.

“It appears that the truth is bad for me, as well!” Ilyshn’ish croaked.

She spread her wings again, flapping frantically, then she couldn’t. A sharp pain spread from her shoulder, and a sense of creeping dread sent an uncontrollable shiver of despair through her. She flopped to the ground, landing painfully on her side. Ilyshn’ish raised her head, turning it to look back over herself.

“M-my wing!” She cried, “You–”

“Lady Shalltear’s instructions were to not allow your escape, and Lady Albedo’s instructions were to…well, let’s just say your present circumstances are quite fortunate by comparison.”

Ilyshn’ish pondered why her current circumstances were quite fortunate while the pain ebbed away and the Ring of Regeneration slowly did its work. She tested her wing gingerly, then it collapsed over her back again in an explosion of agony. The only indication that Master Tian had even done anything was the slight shifting of his gaze to her shoulder.

“You evil–”

“Regeneration, is it?” Master Tian said in an unsettlingly calm voice, “Then I shall employ a more lasting measure…”

She had absolutely no desire to find out what ‘a more lasting measure’ entailed. Scrambling to her feet, she bolted forward to climb up the wall. Her left arm went numb, and she went face-first into the stones. Her body grew heavy, and she struggled to move even slightly.

“You may be able to recover from physical injuries,” Master Tian told her, “but regeneration will not save you from the effects of debilitating skills.”

Master Tian lifted her bodily off of the ground, and she zipped back through the hole in the wall of the dojo. Lady Shalltear’s sadistic leer crossed her vision before Ilyshn’ish hit the ground and slid across the polished floor. The building shuddered when she collided with the pillars framing the entrance.

“I knew you had it somewhere in you,” Lady Shalltear smiled in approval.

The sound of crisp footsteps emanated from the hole in the wall. Ilyshn’ish weakly cringed away from Master Tian’s approach, but he turned and reseated himself at the head of the hall.

“You can still do quite a bit more, you know,” Lady Shalltear said. “Though your direct, unarmed attacks easily injure her, her damage reduction is already high enough that all of this bouncing around doesn’t do anything at all. Ah – she goes back to work in the afternoon, however, so don’t do anything that would cause problems with scheduling.”

“I do not derive pleasure from this,” Master Tian said. “I have, however, seen what the people here can turn into, should their immoral actions remain unchecked. Considering her personality, I believe it best to admonish her with a firm hand.”

“Yes,” Lady Shalltear nodded, “I’ve come to the same conclusion about these Frost Dragons: since they seem to mainly function off of the experiences retained in their memory, it’s best to employ corrective methods that they will never forget. Since she cannot recover from injuries directly inflicted by me, however, there is a limit as to how far I can go. You have no such limitations, but it’s a shame that you never seem to enjoy such things. She has a Ring of Regeneration, and, as a Bard, she can magically heal herself. You may ‘train’ her quite thoroughly if you believe it to be a productive course.”

“Is that so?” The strange gleam returned to Master Tian’s eye, “I will certainly keep this in mind. Seeing that you have not delivered her to Lady Albedo, am I correct to assume that this ‘loose tongue’ of hers was not purposely employed in a malicious manner against the Sorcerous Kingdom?”

“I arrived at that conclusion after some investigation, yes,” Lady Shalltear replied. “She is simply an ignorant primitive that does not understand appropriate conduct in civilized society. Fortunately, her kind is easily corrected when the appropriate methods are employed, so it is a salvageable case.”

“That is good to hear,” Master Tian said. “I shall endeavour to instil some propriety into her during the course of our training.”

“I can’t wait to see how she turns out,” Lady Shalltear beamed. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must return to my duties. Ah~ it’s so good to be busy!”