Chapter 256

Calca approached the carriage with Aurelion in her arms. One pace back at her side walked Kelart Custodio. They were clad in dresses of blue and white with the bright symbol of the Roble Holy Kingdom on their chests. It wasn't lost on Gustav that the pair were dressed to match, but it was only because he was aware of the closeness of the pair that the meaning of their matching dresses was clear.

The carriage, a large golden rimmed and white panelled conveyance, was drawn by four white horses whose flanks were painted with the insignia of the royal house in a bright sky blue. Atop the carriage, pennants of the same waved in the breeze. He held the door for the trio and allowed them to pass.

"Paladins! Form! Up!" He shouted each word alone, and from their places a dozen mounted men in full runecraft armor began to canter into place, three at the front, three at the back, and three to each side.

Gustav then got in behind them, his own armor didn't clink, runecraft armor for whatever reason, seemed to be quiet, at least his own was. Unlike most, he preferred scalemail over plate, trading a little defense for a lot more maneuverability and greater endurance. Over his armor he wore a tabard to match their own.

In the time since the civil war and the invasion by the Frost Queen of Demalbion, the Holy Kingdom engaged in a period referred to as 'The Grand Renewal'. The Principle Movement's relentless and incorruptible crusade against crime and injustice, backed by the crown, made the once nearly toppled royal family more popular than it had been in generations.

So when the carriage rolled out over empty streets, it was to the sound of stupendous cheers. With Calca's older brother acting as the regent for her in her absence, there wasn't one mind in ten thousand who doubted the secure future of the Holy Kingdom. Not least of all thanks to the trade ties with the Kingdom of Nazarick and the growing… ironically friendly relationship with the demihumans to the East.

It still struck Gustav as if it were all some strange dream. "Are we really going with… her?" He asked, glancing out the window as the city rolled past the thronging.

Calca's arm was out the window while she waved to the people, her smiling face in all her radiant beauty was at its best.

It was Kelart who answered for the distracted Queen while she attended to the affection of her admirers.

"It's the practical thing to do, Gustav, you know that." Kelart said and crossed her arms in front of her chest. She snorted, "I know you're still not fond of their types but-"

He cut her off with a snort of his own. "No. That's not it. Don't forget, I had a hand in making that one what she is. Being around her is a reminder of the worst mistakes of my life. Maybe she's let go of her resentment toward me, I don't know, but even if she has, I haven't stopped resenting myself."

The shame on his beardless face was obvious, he could not look at the woman to whom he spoke and his hands formed meaty fists that were tense and tight. "It'll be a long time before I let myself grow a man's beard again… it's a small penance, keeping it cut, but it's not nothing at least."

When the carriage rolled out of the city at last and the gate began to close behind them all, Calca turned her gentle face toward Gustav, then reached over and patted him on the knee. "You worry too much. A lot of harm was done by everyone, and we've all tried to get past it for the greater good. Things are going fine, all we have to do is keep them going that way, and travelling together with my…" Calca coughed a little into her hand, "Royal Sister… may seem strange, but it will go a long way toward showing both our peoples that we're united in our desire for peaceful coexistence."

"I suppose, but this will still all be lots easier to deal with when it's not just us. At least we don't have someone personally fighting in this tournament… Do we?" Gustav asked at last, and Calca gave him a long, steady look.

"Thank you for volunteering, Gustav." She gave him a sweet little smile as he flopped against the back of his blue fabric covered seat.

"I should have known. But… Your Majesty, you aren't actually expecting me to win are you?" Gustav asked, "I'm no hero of legend…"

"No, just put on a good show, a reminder that our Kingdom is nothing to mock, that is all we ask of you." Calca said to him with an indulgent air, "Do well, and make us look good."

"I can do that, at least." Gustav said with confidence, and relaxed as the pressure eased off of him a little.

The Queen of Frost sat on her throne and listened to the kneeling elf woman, she was a stunning jewel, one of those from the Southern Holy Kingdom's darkest cities, and acted sometimes as a liaison every now and then between the peoples close to the border and the Kingdom of Nazarick's trade envoys, and her concern on this occasion was a particular project of Neia's.

"...So you see, Your Majesty, the elves of your country are deeply concerned that your road will cut through their forest a great deal and disrupt their natural growth. The large road you envision will cut wildlife off from one another, stir up monsters, and make it difficult for my people to perform the tasks you yourself set us to. I realize that the merchants of Re-Estize and Demalbion would both profit from this road… but I beg you to reconsider its course."

"Illyana," Neia said with a weary sigh, "I understand and appreciate your concern, truly." She held out her talon tipped hand, "Go on, rise. After your people endured so much hardship, it must feel like you're being taken from again. I hadn't realized this road would disrupt so much…"

She looked over to her left as Illyana stood up, "Nasrene, how much time will be added to the journey if we shift the road 'around' the outskirts of the forest?"

The white monster's four arms whipped out pads and quills and immediately began to calculate numbers, the sound of scratching tips on papers was the only thing in the expansive hall of the royal palace of Demalbion's capital of Tovijar, until the secretary and advisor of the Queen of Frost finished her calculations.

"Your Majesty, on foot it would add roughly one week, but on a carriage or horseback it would add roughly three days." Nasrene's calm approach was completely neutral, and her blank white face revealed nothing to the elf or the Queen.

"I see. Well we were looking to relocate people to the area… if we build one small town on the outskirts of a road we can afford a diversion of that sort and add a new opportunity for profit. Plus the elves need a new avenue for trade anyway." Neia answered more to herself than anything, and only then recalled that Illyana was present. "That will be our compromise, the road will circle the forest the long way, but we have excess humans waiting for land, and the diversion will belong to them. I realize your people have an aversion to humans, but as a further compromise, not one of them will be from the South where your people suffered so much." Neia offered, and Illyana deeply bowed her head, her golden hair tumbling wild and free before her.

"Your Majesty, I am sure all those I represent will be truly grateful for your understanding. There is only one more small thing… the matter of the monsters, if you establish such a town, surely some will be displaced and invade our space…" Illyana trailed off when she saw the fang filled smile of the dragonid Queen.

"That I already considered, I think I'm allowed to be a little bit selfish at least, and I will have those minor monsters relocated to an area closer to Tovijar that I want to turn into my own private game reserve. When I was a human, I used to love to hunt and it would be good to have that time again." The Queen of Frost kept the grin on her face, it was hard not to, the prospect of an escape from her endless duties was far too wonderful to ignore.

"Thank you again, your Majesty." Illyana answered, and when the Queen waved her hand to brush it aside, Illyana departed.

An hour later, Illyana was kneeling beside her lover in Albedo's office.

"It went as expected, My Lady. The elves let me speak for them, they remembered me well as it turned out, and the Queen of Frost met their needs. She may be a tyrant, but she seems to balance the needs of each race as fairly as she can. If there were any doubt remaining that she would treat fairly with His Majesty's representative, there is none now."

"One less thing to worry about, then. And Skana, were you able to work out anything about the phantom napper?" Albedo asked, and at that the former human female flushed a little red.

"I've found all his favorite places, just like you told me to, My Lady. But there's no objects, no magic items, just the occasional arrow and a few bones from hunted meals. If I may speak freely, My Lady, I have a theory." Skana said and chewed on her lower lip for a moment.

"Go on." Albedo commanded.

"My Lady, I lived my whole life… as nothing but a selfish, lazy human. I lived only for pleasure, happiness… and occasionally… lots of occasionally… sex. And drinking. And sometimes both." She grinned a little sheepishly, "I think that's this man too. I truly don't believe he is doing more than what he seems to be doing. He naps, he eats, he hunts, he sometimes drinks. He's been avoiding any contact with dangerous demihumans, and any demihumans for a very long time. If he hated them, you'd think he'd at least pick fights. My personal belief is that this man from the east is just powerful enough to be confident, but all he really wants is to have a good time. He can't do it at home, so he goes somewhere else… there."

"I see." Albedo said succinctly. "We'll put this to the test then, see that the Queen of Frost crosses paths with him during a hunting trip of hers, and what happens then. If he's hostile, we can eliminate him, and if he's not, he may be useful."

"As you will, My Lady." The pair said with uniform devotion.