Respite

Barda's first reaction was to ask around, find out what happened. Many of the people he asked were at first, tight-lipped, but he quickly found the gist of the story. After his departure, The Feilin family had continued to make trouble for Markell and his family. Even after the conflict with the Crane's ended.

In their eyes, Markell's grandstanding needed to be pushed so vehemently to dissuade any such behavior in the future. Markell became the chicken that was used to warn the monkeys. Now that he didn't have his protector, he was easier to get to.

It started with small things, denial of materials and market influence. However, Markell was a stubborn old goat who had to make things worse. He took placards to the gates of the city and started badmouthing Feilin family business, claiming that they lacked the basic skills to do anything and hence were undermining craftsmen who knew what they were doing. He made it a point to challenge Feilin family's products, calling them knock-offs.

This would have been a small matter, except that one day, Sir Feilin himself, the Patriarch of the Feilin family happened to pass by. Listening to the man as he spewed venom over his family's precious name, he was so angry he had his guards capture the man and toss him in the dungeon. He also had them take his family and burn their home to the ground.

Barda didn't know that on that Day, Markell discovered just how low he was in the food chain. He didn't even have time to speak. His whole life and everything he loved was forfeit because of his stupid big mouth.

In his mind, Markell even went as far as to blame Barda for it. He never would have challenged such lofty existences had it not been for the young man. However, in his heart, he prayed the boy would return. Somehow he knew that if the boy did return, all his troubles would be gone. He prayed that his family would hold on until then.

[Warning, unprecedented high emotional level detected. Recommending scaling back.]

[Operation failed, emotional level directly linked with critical functions of the Personality Matrix module.]

Barda was seething, and for a moment, he stopped being himself. he stopped thinking and just walked towards the gates.

"Sir ... " The soldier almost lost his head. Had Barda not reacted fast enough to stop his hand, the man would be laying on the ground decapitated.

"Sir?" The warrior asked alarmed.

"Relax, what is it?"

"Is it time to move in yet?" Barda realized he was on an important mission and he needed to keep his cool, at least for the sake of those he was leading.

"No, I needed to check on something, get back to formation," Barda said as he moved on. The warrior breathed a sigh of relief. He had just wanted to speak to the legend, who knew he would be courting death. That strike had been so fast that he had not seen any movement until the blade was inches away from his neck. Looking at the disappearing figure, cold sweat ran down his brows.

***

The discussions had gone well enough. Crane City had agreed to host and protect the Tristanites. In return, they had been given a plethora of promises which all predicated on them winning not just the small battle that was sure to come but the entire war.

King Sahir sighed since he knew he had no other option. Looking at all his options, he couldn't help thinking he and all of Crane City was being held hostage by this new Queen. He had no option but to do as she said. Perhaps if he played his cards well, he could turn this around and gain some benefits.

By the end of the day, Barda was seated at a table in a large hall. They were in luxurious accommodation provided for the Queen and her court. The few adventurers that were left as well as the bulk of the forces and the civilians were also present as they ate delicacies provided for by their hosts.

Seated across from him was Batoo and his new girlfriend, sorry, student. Lady Ellen, Phoenix, Kia, and the other adventurers were also present, but there were 3 new additions. These were an old man with his wife and daughter. The Markells.

Springing them was easy. All it took was a word from the Queen. When the matter was investigated, Markell and his family were presented before the court, heavily compensated for their losses and handed over to Barda. The King even went ahead to reprimand Sir Feilin. However, no amount of compensation or reprimand could satiate the anger in Barda's heart, and the Queen could see it.

However, that night was a night of victory. Of relaxation. They had been through so much in the past couple of days, and while they were not completely out of the woods yet, it felt like a respite. A chance to take a breather from all the hell they were in.

The celebrations went late into the night, and Barda found himself having a good time. There was little more he could do for now, but he was not done with the Feilins yet. However, the smile on Meena's face, the joy in Anna's and the look of relief and shame on the old man gave him satisfaction for now. He loved seeing his new family interact with his newer family, becoming one big happy family.

[20 ounces of ale consumed, simulating Drunken state]

What? That notification almost passed Barda. Had he overindulged, and more importantly, what was that nonsense notification? He noticed his walk was off, and his balance was not as stable as it had been. Moreover, his senses were dulled considerably.

'What is this drunken state?' Barda asked panicking.

[Drunken state is when Personality Matrix undergoes changes simulating effects of heavy alcohol consumption. No major systems are affected since all alcohol consumed is directly converted to energy. The state can be deactivated in case of an emergency or at the host's request.]

Barda thought about deactivating it but then thought otherwise. Why not enjoy being a little drunk for a while? Barda found himself to be louder, less controlled and more impulsive than usual, but nothing overboard.

"My Lord, Her Majesty the Queen requests your presence," Barda had been laughing at some joke or other when some new aide to the queen, a beautiful maiden with an eloquent voice, came up to him. Hearing the statement, the rest of the group started cheering as Barda feigned straightening up his collar and dusting his coat. He then followed the young lady out, as his drunken friends jeered and trolled him.

The Queen ravenously attacked Barda the moment he entered her tent. She had had quite the power trip watching as an entire city bowed down to her. After she left the banquet, she expected Barda would find his way to her, but the fool never did. Were all men that daft or did she end up picking the cream of the crop in that regard? It was going to be a wonderful night either way.

***

"I saw the look in your eyes It's not over, is it?" Lady Maara asked as she traced her finger over Barda's chiseled muscle.

"Not by a long shot," Barda confirmed, "But don't worry, I will not make trouble for you."

"You better not," She retorted with her head on his chest. Barda sat up and looked at her in the eyes, before saying, "Your turn, what's up?"

"What do you mean?" Barda didn't answer, just gave her a look.

"Okay fine ..." She then went ahead and told him all about the note and Lord Branton's involvement in their getaway. Barda was shocked to realize that such a thing had gone on without his knowledge. How smart of her to burn the notes before he could scan it.

"Do you think he is trustworthy?" Barda asked.

"He didn't sell us out and he had a chance to,"

"That does not answer the question,"

"The real answer is, I don't know. I have known him my whole life, and before this whole thing started, my answer would have been an automatic yes. Now, I am not too sure."

"What do you plan to do?"

"Rather than answer that question, how about you answer mine. Is it too much to ask for you to spend the night with me, the entire night?" The Queen asked as she tackled Barda back to bed. Their bodies were young, and they had a lot more in them.