Ten minutes had passed since we'd been led into this locked chamber, and soon enough the heavy footsteps of armored people shuffling down the hall corresponded with the large group of magickal signatures I was tracking in my head.
"They're here. Get ready." I said quietly.
Hailey shifted in place, planting her staff firmly in front of her. She softly murmured the chant to a buffing spell.
"Shining light, shield us in all directions. In hands divine, embolden our life, Fortitude."
A wave of light washed over the six of us and my runic interface flashed.
» YOU ARE AFFECTED BY FORTITUDE
The doors to the room burst open and a short man in full-plate armor rushed inside, sword drawn, with a dozen armored knights in tow.
Huh? The Baron is leading them?
"You tyrant-loving bastards just don't know when to quit! How dare you show your shite imitation of a face to me. Pretending to be my beloved daughter again when it hasn't even been—wait… Spring Flower!?"
A sharp ping in my mind caused my head to whip to my left.
Magickal power began to swell within Hailey's staff at an alarming rate. A wave of golden light burst forth, slamming all of the attackers against the wall and blasting the old Baron out of the room.
"I told you not to call me that in front of people!" Hailey screamed.
Ouch. That looks like it hurt way more than when she smacked my shoulder.
-✵-
"So." I started, "You decided to use the term respected guests as a code for impostors. But failed to make any effort to follow through and ensure the free-knights could identify your real daughter."
"Ah, yes that would be an accurate summary, Your Majesty."
Baron Haaric Brooks had prostrated himself on the ground before me in his office once we had disentangled and cleared up the many layers of confusion that had led up to him charging at his own daughter with a weapon drawn.
I rubbed my fingers against my forehead in a desperate attempt to stop the aching that had taken root.
"And you can vouch for the identities of free-knights on your estate? You are certain they aren't agents of Renault."
"I will and I am. They are B-rank adventurers out of Axio. Their group was returning from a republic-backed contract when that bastard—ah, excuse my language, that tyrant attacked the city."
"Free-knights working as adventurers? Odd, but not unheard of I suppose. Now, please, Baron Brooks, for the last time. Take a seat. If you make me beg, your daughter will never let me hear the end of it."
Hailey's father was a stubborn old man for sure. Aside from his rather rural etiquette and penchant for swearing, he had been trying to be form-perfect in front of me.
Which, of course, bothered me immensely. Noble behavior might as well cause my skin to rash. That is how uncomfortable it made me.
He finally relented, taking the seat across from me. I breathed out in relief.
"Okay. I'll interro—question your free-knights later. Am I right to assume they're employed currently under a guild contract?"
"They are, Your Majesty."
Goddesses give me strength. I prayed for patience. Hailey's dad calling me 'Your Majesty' was getting old and I just didn't like the idea of my girlfriend's dad having to bow his head to me.
"Baron, I know it is against every divisional protocol, a breach of noble etiquette, and, if my attendants have taught me anything, possibly a crime under imperial law; but you can just call me Airis."
"No, I couldn't—"
"If I make it an imperial order, would that change your mind?"
The Baron looked at me with a strained expression.
"If you'll go that far, I'll yield. Celestials above, what sort of craziness has my daughter gotten into where she's the right-hand of the Empress."
A smirk crept up, and I let it settle onto my face.
Yes! No more nonsense from the Baron! And I'd say Julius is my right-hand. Hailey gets to be my left-hand, since I prefer that hand. But the Baron doesn't need to know any of that.
I chuckled to myself.
"But I'll not have you addressing me formally if I must be informal. Please, call me Haaric."
First name basis with the father-in-law! Double win—ah, wait a minute. He's been out of contact with his daughter for a long time, and I doubt she would've ever expressed her interest in me to him…
Oh no! We did this all out of order.
The smirk on my face faltered for a moment.
"I'd love that, Haaric. Actually, If you have time now there is something rather important I'd like to talk with you about. I'd like to have your favor regarding a few specific things involving your daughter and me."
Our discussion drew on much longer than I anticipated, but thankfully having an attendant sent to me was only a simple finger touch away.
I had called Tomin over the communirune and asked for Beno to be sent to the Brooks estate, who arrived quickly and got to work right away.
Haaric had long dismissed the majority of the estate's servants. Lording over a rural town didn't draw many important visitors and when one did eventually stop in it was proper etiquette to send notice beforehand, so he's always been able to find temporary help through the town's adventuring guild or previous contacts.
My visit, of course, had come as a surprise and Haaric had been caught with no such help. No matter to me though, I have my own zealot willing to man the kitchen and provide refreshments that would suit my tastes.
Having Beno around was really growing on me these days. The others though…
I sighed, drawing Haaric's attention.
"Was there something bothering you, Airis?"
With a wave of my hand, I dismissed his concerns.
"Nothing you need concern about. I was just imagining how nice it was when I had no attendants fussing over me. I'm a bit envious of your estate. Beno is fine, but the others don't give me much room to breathe."
I reached for the teacup with an odd brew I'd never heard of before in it—something that Beno and his middling alchemy skills had come up with.
It was a yellow-orange color, blissfully tangy, and delicious.
Haaric laughed heartily.
"It was like that here not so long ago—well, maybe it was a bit longer than I imagined. When Ilyiann was still with us and Hailey was just a little budding thing, there were very few quiet days."
"Oh, I didn't mean to bring—"
"Don't worry," Haaric reassured me, "I rather enjoy reminiscing about Ilyiann. One day in the future when we're not planning the demise of tyrants, I'd like to share many things with you considering—"
"I do hope you keep my request to yourself for the time being," I cut him off just in time as a knock at the door sounded, followed by Hailey entering with Beno in tow.
Haaric smiled and nodded his head, "Of course."
I greeted Hails with a smile and patted my hand on the couch seat next to me.
Hailey gave us both a pensive look before seating herself.
"We all set out there?" I asked her.
"They all seemed way too eager, but yep!" Hailey cheerfully responded.
After she had been embarrassed by her childhood nickname in front of a band of rugged free-knights, soldiers, and me, Hailey took it upon herself to go rally the town's soldiers to see if they were willing to be inducted into the Imperial Army.
Well, I suppose that could fall under her duties as High-Commander but I'd have delegated it to someone else.
Hmm. Probably Tomin.
Haaric smiled at Hailey, "The people of Brookshaven have long been loyal to the Vanixian Republic. Many of us still remember the times of the Empire. I had little doubt the soldiers here would hesitate to fall in under your banner."
He shifted in his seat, his expression tightening.
"Ah, I do have a request though," He began again, "I would ask that a small garrison be kept back in the town. We have built a strong defensive perimeter, but it would be useless without a handful of soldiers who know how to use the magick defenses and traps."
Hailey turned to face me as I began to answer—I expected that she had already worked out a garrison troop to remain in the town, so unless I wanted to see both Brooks upset I readily agreed.
"Of course, I wouldn't dream of leaving the town defenseless. We'll take only those who have volunteered, and I will leave the arrangement of the garrison forces for Brookshaven to my High-Commander. If there are too many willing to march to Axio, she will ensure enough remain behind."
Haaric's posture relaxed and he slumped in his seat.
We continued to discuss minor details, my role in the conversations growing evermore faint as Hailey and her father bargained over which senior officers would stay and who could join us with little impact on the town.
A quiet knock sounded at the door and Beno intercepted whoever was in an instant, as if he was waiting for it.
Hailey and Haaric kept chatting away, oblivious to the visitor.
Beno spoke with someone for some time before slowly closing the door. He walked around the room and dipped his head down close to mine.
"There is a gentleman here who wishes to speak with you about a matter he claims to be of great importance."
I parsed his words for a moment, knowing that if Beno hadn't believed the man he wouldn't have even bothered to bring it up to me.
"Details?"
"Aestori from his looks. Blue hair, which isn't common, so he's probably a nobleman. I'm confident he's an advanced scholar or at the very least book-learned. He lacks musculature entirely. He won't present a physical threat to you. I have a pair of anti-magick rune-imbued bracelets we could use to ensure your safety."
Beno's long-winded response gave me pause.
When did we get anti-magick bracelets?
I'd been shackled before—when the Renaultian divisionals had caught Julius and me. Before being sentenced to death for 'treason' and hauled away to a cell in Axio's central spire tower, I'd been deemed a safety risk and given a pair.
Luckily enough, Julius had the keys when he came to free me and I didn't suffer in them long.
Losing all control over one's magicka makes their whole body feel ill. It's not a pain like feedback from a failed spell-cast, instead a severe bout of nausea but just as jarring.
I briefly recalled the awkward mental episode I'd experienced a while back—he must have snatched them from the Renaultian legionnaires he beat up during the Maarin's failed power grab.
Waving away both my disturbing memories and Beno's absurd implication to shackle a noble requesting an audience.
"I'll meet with him. Don't bring the shackles. Escort him to the drawing room—the proper one. I'll be there shortly."
Beno dipped his head lower, shifting away from me so that his bow wouldn't intrude on my personal space.
"As you command."
He slipped out of the room, Hailey and Haaric still none the wiser that there was a guest and that I'd been engaged in a completely different conversation.
I stood up, finally drawing their attention.
"Don't mind me. Seems as though someone in the estate wanted to speak with me so urgently he'd risk coming up here uninvited. Beno's preparing a meeting in the drawing room. Hails you can join me there whenever you and Haaric catch up."
"Oh, are you sure?" Hailey's response was less than enthusiastic, a worried tone in her terse words.
Haaric reassured her, "The only people the guards would allow up here are the steward and the equites themselves."
Hailey's expression lightened and I excused myself.