"Princess Llandra."
The masked elf lowered himself to one knee.
"Your parents have sent us to check on you."
Silence filled the alley.
Llandra stared at him.
Then recognition struck.
"Vaelrith?"
The masked elf reached up and pulled the cloth away from his face.
High Commander Vaelrith Moonshadow.
Head of the Royal Veil.
Spymaster to the Silverbough Throne.
One of the most dangerous elves on the continent.
And, to Llandra, something considerably more important.
"Uncle Vael!"
Vaelrith barely had time to stand before Llandra crossed the alley and wrapped her arms around him.
The four remaining masked figures visibly relaxed.
Vaelrith did not.
At least, not publicly.
His arms remained stiff at his sides for several seconds.
Then one slowly rose.
He placed a hand against the back of Llandra's head.
"There you are," he said quietly.
The words carried months of worry.
Llandra squeezed him tighter.
"I'm sorry."
"Yes."
"I should have contacted everyone."
"Yes."
"I've been busy."
"Ten months."
Llandra winced.
"Very busy?"
Vaelrith slowly pulled away.
His silver eyes moved over her.
Not casually.
Professionally.
He checked her posture.
Her breathing.
Her balance.
The placement of her feet.
The muscle definition visible beneath her clothing.
His expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Llandra knew him.
"What?"
Vaelrith continued studying her.
"Nothing."
"Uncle Vael."
"Princess."
"That means something is wrong."
"No."
"Then what is it?"
Vaelrith's eyes narrowed.
"You've changed."
Llandra smiled.
"I would hope so."
"No."
His voice became quieter.
"You have changed."
The Royal Veil members behind him exchanged glances.
Vaelrith had read the reports.
He had dismissed the first several.
Princess Llandra Silverthorne had become an A-Rank adventurer.
Possible.
She had always been talented.
Her speed had increased dramatically.
Expected with experience.
Her physical strength now rivaled elves who had trained for more than a century.
Questionable.
Her archery had reached a level that senior Royal Veil marksmen openly debated in private meetings.
Concerning.
Then came the raid reports.
The Vixens.
A group of four women clearing gates above their expected rank.
Repeatedly.
Growing stronger at a rate that made traditional progression models nearly useless.
And always—
Always—
There was one constant.
Jax Darquebane.
A man with no history.
No birthplace.
No known family.
No training records.
No guild registration before Solmere.
He had simply appeared.
And wherever he went—
Things changed.
Vaelrith had heard stories like that before.
Old stories.
Very old stories.
He looked past Llandra.
At Jax.
The blond human stood calmly near the end of the alley.
Watching.
Not defensive.
Not nervous.
Two Shadow Knights remained behind the Royal Veil operatives.
Vaelrith glanced toward them.
The shadows had not moved.
Neither had Jax.
Interesting.
Llandra followed his gaze.
Her smile immediately returned.
"Oh."
Vaelrith looked at her.
"Oh?"
Llandra suddenly looked considerably less like an elite adventurer and considerably more like the young princess who had once broken a ceremonial vase and attempted to blame a squirrel.
"I should probably explain."
"Yes."
Nyxian leaned toward Bunny.
"This is going to be good."
Bunny nodded enthusiastically.
Zee adjusted her glasses.
Jax remained silent.
Llandra took a breath.
"Vaelrith, this is Jax Darquebane."
"I am aware."
Llandra paused.
"Of course you are."
"I am the head of your family's intelligence network."
"Right."
Vaelrith folded his arms.
Llandra smiled.
"Jax is my fiancé."
One of the Royal Veil operatives shifted.
Another visibly stiffened.
Vaelrith did neither.
"I am also aware of that."
Llandra blinked.
"You are?"
"For approximately ten months."
Her ears lowered.
"Oh."
Vaelrith continued.
"I am also aware that he is engaged to the bunnykin."
Bunny waved.
"Hi!"
"The Luminari."
Zee gave a polite bow.
"And the succubus."
Nyxian smiled brightly.
"The beautiful one."
Dawnaris Moonshadow removed her mask.
"That was not included in the report."
Nyxian's eyes immediately locked onto her.
Dawn stood slightly taller than Llandra.
Long silver hair fell from beneath her hood, framing sharp elven features and equally sharp silver eyes.
She was beautiful.
Not delicately.
Not softly.
Dawn had the controlled beauty of a drawn blade.
Nyxian stared.
Dawn noticed.
"No."
Nyxian blinked.
"I haven't said anything."
"You were going to."
Nyxian smiled.
"I like you."
"I assumed."
Llandra covered her mouth.
Bunny giggled.
Vaelrith ignored them.
One of the other elves did not.
His expression tightened as he looked between Jax and Llandra.
"The Princess of Etherevalis," he said quietly, "engaged to a human."
Dawn's eyes shifted toward him.
Vaelrith's did the same.
Neither spoke.
They did not need to.
The elf immediately straightened.
Llandra noticed.
So did Jax.
Vaelrith returned his attention to her.
"Your choice of a human does not concern me."
Llandra relaxed slightly.
"Thank you."
"Your choice to become engaged does not particularly concern me."
She relaxed further.
"Your decision to share that engagement with three other women is unusual."
Nyxian raised one finger.
"Efficient."
"No one asked you," Llandra said.
Nyxian lowered her finger.
Vaelrith continued.
"But you are an adult. You left Etherevalis specifically to discover who you were outside the Silverbough Throne."
His expression softened.
"I would be a hypocrite to demand you return simply because I do not understand every decision you've made."
Llandra smiled.
There he was.
Uncle Vael.
The man who had once personally tracked her through three forests after she ran away from a royal banquet.
Not to bring her home.
To make sure she had packed enough food.
Vaelrith stepped closer.
"But your mother."
Llandra's smile disappeared.
Vaelrith stared at her.
Llandra stared back.
Dawn looked away.
She knew what was coming.
"Ten months," Vaelrith said.
Llandra swallowed.
"I know."
"Engaged."
"Yes."
"Ten months."
"Yes."
"To a man."
"Yes."
"Who is also engaged to three other women."
Llandra glanced toward the Vixens.
Bunny smiled.
Zee looked apologetic.
Nyxian gave her two thumbs up.
Llandra looked back.
"Yes."
Vaelrith leaned closer.
"And you did not tell your mother."
Llandra's ears slowly lowered.
"I was going to."
"When?"
"Soon."
"Define soon."
Llandra hesitated.
Vaelrith waited.
"Before the wedding?"
Dawn coughed into her fist.
Vaelrith closed his eyes.
Llandra immediately reached for his arm.
"Uncle Vael—"
"No."
"I can explain."
"I have interrogated Imperial spies who produced more convincing answers."
"I've been busy."
"You established sixteen trade routes."
"Yes."
"Cleared multiple raid caves."
"Yes."
"Helped establish an entirely new political alliance."
"Technically, that was mostly Jax."
"You have a statue."
"I didn't build it."
"A fountain."
"Also not me."
"Your face is on clothing."
Llandra glanced down.
"That one is actually a little strange."
Vaelrith stared at her.
"You had time to become a continental fashion trend."
Llandra said nothing.
"But not enough time to send your mother a Tele-Stone message saying, 'Hello, Mother. I am alive. I am also engaged.'"
Nyxian raised her hand.
Vaelrith looked at her.
"What?"
"Would mentioning all four of us in the first message be too much?"
Llandra turned.
"Nyxian."
"I'm trying to help."
"You are not."
Vaelrith rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Dawn smiled.
Llandra saw it.
"Dawn."
Dawn immediately straightened.
"Princess."
"Don't you dare."
"I said nothing."
"Your face did."
"My face is professionally trained."
"Not with me."
The two women stared at each other.
Then Dawn smiled.
Llandra smiled back.
And they embraced.
For the first time since entering the alley, the tension disappeared completely.
"You look good," Dawn said.
"So do you."
"You look strong."
"I am."
"I heard."
Llandra pulled away.
Dawn studied her.
"You surpassed Captain Elowen's speed record."
Llandra smiled.
"Did I?"
"You know you did."
"I might have heard."
"You also supposedly split an enchanted target at nine hundred meters."
"Eight hundred and ninety-seven."
Dawn stared at her.
Llandra smiled sweetly.
"Accuracy matters."
Dawn shook her head.
"Still insufferable."
"And you're still beautiful."
"Still a diplomat."
"Still unable to hide it, even dressed like an assassin."
Dawn rolled her eyes.
Nyxian stepped closer.
"I agree."
Dawn looked at her.
Nyxian smiled.
Dawn stared.
"No."
Nyxian nodded thoughtfully.
Interesting.
In Nyxian's considerable experience, there were many forms of no.
There was playful no.
Embarrassed no.
Public no.
Ask-me-again-later no.
Llandra's no, which occasionally meant absolutely not, but often meant Nyxian had simply chosen the wrong time.
Then there was Dawn.
Nyxian had not yet classified Dawn's no.
That was fine.
A no was rarely a no.
Sometimes it simply meant the other person did not yet fully understand the offer.
Nyxian was patient.
She could improve her presentation.
Dawn looked away from her.
Nyxian smiled wider.
Not yet.
Vaelrith turned his attention toward Jax.
The alley seemed to quiet again.
"We have learned much about you, Mr. Darquebane."
"Jax is fine."
Vaelrith studied him.
"Jax."
He stepped closer.
Jax did not move.
Vaelrith had met kings who shifted nervously beneath his attention.
Generals who overexplained themselves.
Merchants who smiled too much.
Jax simply waited.
"You have no history."
Jax tilted his head.
"I have history."
"Not here."
"Fair."
"No birthplace."
"Not here."
"No family records."
"Also fair."
"No guild activity before Solmere."
"Nope."
Vaelrith's eyes narrowed.
"And within months of your appearance, four adventurers begin progressing at rates that should be impossible."
Llandra stiffened.
Jax did not.
Vaelrith noticed.
"The bunnykin possesses physical strength inconsistent with her recorded progression."
Bunny smiled proudly.
"Llandra has become one of the most physically capable elves on the continent."
Llandra's expression remained neutral.
"The Luminari healer has developed defensive and combat capabilities well beyond traditional healer advancement."
Zee adjusted her glasses.
"And the succubus..."
Nyxian leaned forward eagerly.
Vaelrith looked at her.
Nyxian waited.
He looked back at Jax.
"...is Nyxian."
Nyxian's smile vanished.
"That's it?"
Dawn covered her mouth.
Bunny laughed.
Even Zee smiled.
Nyxian looked offended.
"I am extremely complicated."
"I am aware."
Dawn shook her head.
"I prefer people who are a little more restrained."
Nyxian immediately smiled.
"So do I! You know, nude has no restrictions on movement."
Silence.
Dawn stared at her.
Nyxian stared back.
Still smiling.
Waiting.
Absolutely convinced she had nailed it.
Dawn slowly turned toward Llandra.
"Does she do this often?"
"Constantly."
"I'm making friends," Nyxian protested.
"No," Llandra replied. "You're attempting to seduce my childhood friend."
Nyxian considered that.
"Those things don't have to be mutually exclusive."
Dawn looked at Nyxian again.
Then slowly stepped closer to Llandra.
Nyxian sighed.
"She's playing hard to get."
"I'm standing right here," Dawn said.
"I know."
Nyxian winked.
Dawn's expression did not change.
Nyxian looked toward Jax.
"Beloved, I may have finally met my match."
Jax nodded solemnly.
"Stay strong."
"I will."
Vaelrith closed his eyes.
There were limits to his courage.
And apparently—
His patience.
When he opened them again, his attention returned to Jax.
"My princess is different since meeting you."
Jax glanced toward Llandra.
"She's incredible."
"I know."
There was no hesitation in Vaelrith's answer.
Llandra smiled.
Vaelrith had known her since birth.
He had watched her fire her first bow.
Watched her fall from her first tree.
Watched her stand before the Royal Court and demand permission to leave Etherevalis.
She had always been extraordinary.
But this was different.
The woman standing before him carried herself like someone who had finally discovered exactly where she belonged.
Vaelrith looked at the other Vixens.
They stood close to Llandra.
Naturally.
Protectively.
Not servants.
Not political companions.
Family.
Then he looked at Jax.
The shadows behind the Royal Veil still had not moved.
Vaelrith understood the message now.
They had not been placed there to threaten.
They had been placed there before Jax knew who the Veil were.
Protection.
Preparation.
The human had identified five trained operatives following them through one of the busiest cities on the continent.
Then he had maneuvered them into an alley.
Marked two with shadow constructs.
Prepared the Vixens.
And reversed the ambush.
Without causing panic.
Without drawing public attention.
Without killing anyone.
Vaelrith felt the old stories scratching at the edge of his memory again.
A stranger.
No history.
Impossible power.
Rapid change.
People gathering around him.
Kingdoms shifting.
No.
Not yet.
Suspicion was not evidence.
And Vaelrith Moonshadow did not survive decades as spymaster by confusing the two.
He looked at Llandra.
"Your father wants to see you."
Llandra smiled.
"I want to see him too."
Vaelrith paused.
"Your mother also wants to see you."
Llandra's smile weakened.
Bunny whispered to Zee.
"She looks scared."
Zee whispered back.
"She fought Frost Giants."
"I know."
Nyxian nodded seriously.
"Mothers are different."
Vaelrith almost smiled.
Almost.
Llandra took a breath.
"How angry is she?"
Vaelrith considered the question.
Carefully.
"Your mother is Queen Lysara Silverthorne."
"That wasn't my question."
"She is known across the continent for diplomacy."
"Uncle Vael."
"Her ability to maintain composure during difficult political situations is legendary."
"Vaelrith."
Dawn stepped beside him.
"She knows."
Llandra went pale.
Nyxian's eyes widened.
Bunny's ears stood straight up.
Zee whispered, "Oh."
Jax looked between them.
"Is that bad?"
Every elf in the alley looked at him.
Vaelrith stepped forward.
For the first time, something resembling genuine sympathy appeared in his eyes.
"Jax."
"Yeah?"
"I have faced Imperial assassination teams."
Jax nodded.
"I have infiltrated enemy fortresses."
"Okay."
"I once spent nineteen days beneath a frozen lake breathing through a hollow reed to observe a military encampment."
Jax blinked.
"That's impressive."
Vaelrith placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I would rather do all three again than explain to Queen Lysara why her daughter has been engaged for ten months and she learned about it from an intelligence report."
Jax stared at him.
Vaelrith gave his shoulder one sympathetic pat.
Then walked away.
Dawn followed.
She passed Nyxian.
Nyxian smiled.
Dawn did not slow.
"No."
Nyxian watched her leave.
Then nodded slowly.
"Not yet."
Llandra grabbed Nyxian by the arm.
"We are leaving."
"Are we following Dawn?"
"We are going to Etherevalis."
"So yes."
"NYXIAN!"
Jax watched the Royal Veil disappear toward the end of the alley.
Then he looked at Llandra.
"Husband."
Jax froze.
It was the first time she had called him that.
Llandra's face was perfectly calm.
Too calm.
"My mother knows about us."
Jax nodded carefully.
"Apparently."
"And I have not spoken to her in nearly a year."
"Also apparently."
"And we are going home."
Jax looked toward the direction Vaelrith had disappeared.
Then back at Llandra.
"How dangerous is your mother?"
Llandra smiled.
"My mother is elegant."
Jax waited.
"Diplomatic."
He continued waiting.
"Kind."
Still waiting.
Llandra's smile widened.
"And very, very good at making someone understand precisely how disappointed she is in them without ever raising her voice."
Jax exhaled.
"Fuck."
Bunny nodded.
"Yeah."
Zee adjusted her glasses.
Nyxian smiled.
"I think Dawn likes me."
Llandra closed her eyes.
And for the first time since defeating an ancient entity that had required gods and celestials to imprison—
Jax Darquebane wondered if he had finally accepted a quest above his rank.