Veiled Chaos

Egales observed the map with a quick wit and a sharp mind, "If the enemy wishes to land on the Western shore then the current set up is inadequate. I propose that the peasant militia be set up to defend the Western shore, it is longer and will require more bodies. A necessary precaution as since we are outnumbered we cannot allow the enemy to make full use of them via a bottleneck." His face continued to remain static, a stern and resolute face, "I will ensure that the peasant force is sufficiently trained, however I humbly request two things from the crown." The council seemed quiet, regaining their concentration from Elysia and focusing on him, Egales could swear he heard their mutters of his foolish boldness on the voiceless air. "The First being that the peasants are sufficiently armed for their upcoming battle, this includes weapons, armour, and supplies. The second request is that I be given permission to promise them a sufficient payment, this will aid in recruiting a much larger portion of them." He knew that recruiting more of the peasants could be disastrous for the economy and the farming, but it mattered little to him, though in all honesty it should recover smoothly enough. Egales held back a smirk thinking back to those peasants, he had even convinced women and children to support the militia, if not by fighting directly by supporting them in other ways, it was truly becoming quite the little nationalist movement.

The queen leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. Her posture was easy and laid back. The assembled council stiffened in fear and silently prayed to all the gods in the pantheon. The last time the queen had acted like this, a foreign emissary was impaled on a pike and set in the courtyard to be pecked by crows till dead.
"Humbly or no, no one simply 'requests' anything from the Red Sisters." Haedria said, looking lazily at captain Egales. "From our father perhaps, although sadly he no longer rules."
Sera glanced sideways at Haedria, and said nothing. She folded her arms across her chest and stared hard at the map while Haedria continued.
"The peasants will be trained. You will make sure of that, captain. Compensation will be given after Theoleas and his men lie dead and bleeding on Sagnian soil. No arms from the royal armory can be spared, as everything will have will be used to equip the army. They will have to make do with what they have." Haedria said.
Silence stretched on for a few seconds which seemed like hours. Sera cleared her throat.
"So. We would need a spy to determine where the enemy fleet will land." she said.
Haedria's eyes fluttered closed as she smiled. "Yes, indeed."

Egales dipped into a bow towards the Queen, she had said and done everything that he thought she would have. As he rose a smile was curled onto his lips, "Of course your majesty as you wish, The Militia will be a fearsome fighting force regardless of equipment, and casualties" He caught a chuckle in his throat before it let loose. His eyes examined the Queen's lay expression, her lethargic form was bored of court and irked by his presence, yet he found it satisfying. When the monarchy was dull of politics it was easier to play them under their nose. The sister was also more sympathetic to the common folk than Haedria and once this meeting concluded he could try and hammer the point in to Sera casually plea the peasants cause and move her heart, he knew she held noble ideals somewhere in the cockles the trick would be drawing them into the light. Of course the peasants could be easily agitated into action against the Queen, especially if they preformed well against the Invader's army. A successful military action would give them confidence against the Queen's men, especially if he leaked false reports to the peasants of the guard's poor performance in battle, or course anger can overthrow logic in a pinch. 'Oh Haedria, you do not know you are playing a game, a very dangerous game.'

Sera continued making plans. She bounced ideas off Hamilcar and Haedria, discussing who could be sent as a spy. None of the barbarians, definitely. Their brash attitude would give them away. Except perhaps Duro the scout. He was a smarter one of the lot, and he knew when to hold his tongue. Sera nodded as she thought. The bulk of the Sagnian army would have to stay close by and continue with their drills and preparation. Haedria mentioned, without opening her eyes, that there was a scout who was served during their father's time. He would be too old by now however. Sera threw her hands up in the air, frustrated.
"How about we send him?" she pointed at Captain Egales.

Haedria's eyes flashed open, at the same time one of the councilor's robes caught on fire. The queen glanced at the ensuing chaos of three old men and the one woman struggle and scream, trying to put out the fire before the old man's heavy robes immolated him completely. The scene ended with two jugs of water emptied over his head. Bemused, the queen turned back to Sera.
"You would send the good captain to spy on Theoleas and his fleet?" she asked.
"He's smart enough for it." Sera answered.
"Wouldnt his eye give him away?"
"No, it couldnt possibly. He would just be seen as a man half-blind. If anything, it would mark him as less of a threat."
"Is he not to be in charge of the peasant militia?"
"Someone else can take charge of the peasants. I could, even."
Haedria raised and eyebrow. Behind her, the councilors were escorting the burnt man out of the meeting room. His soaked robes spontaneously caught on fire again, and a pleased smirk came on the queen's lips.
Sera looked from Haedria then to the commotion and fire, then back to her sister. "Oh, Haedria." she sighed.

Egales looked back and forth between the two royals as they conversed over the possibility of making him a scout against Theoleas' forces. He did not like that idea one but, but decided to hold his tongue as any sign of displeasure and Haedria was sure to order him to scout merely out of spite, and despite his own power he could not, scout and maintain a disguise as Elysia at the same time. Simply impossible, unless he outsourced the scouting to a trusted peasant, perhaps an old hunter was among the peasant folk? If so he would hire him, perhaps acquiring payment sneakily in the form of treasury coins. For future reference he would have to teach Sera that captains simply do not do solo missions.

"Yer Majesty, if I may?" Hamilcar asked hesitantly.
The way he phrased his question, as well as the tone of his voice, made Sera look up from the map and give him her full attention. "What is it?"
The large man's gaze flicked from Sera's face to the queen's closed eyes. He took a shaking breath and continued. "I dont know what yer capable of, M'queen. It seems ye hide more secrets than I thought. Allow me to send Duro and another of th' scouts. They will do their jobs with efficiency, and in your name."
Haedria lazily opened one eye and stared at Hamilcar. The barbarian king shrank back slightly. "I accept. Give them instructions regarding the enemy's movement." she said, matter-of-factly.

Egales couldn't help but note, again the amount of respect the two treated one another with. Hamiclar the Great Barbarian King, and the Blood Mad Princess Sera of Sagna. What an odd couple they were, particularly since Haedria clearly loathed Hamiclar with every fibre of her being, and Sera knew what the man had done to her. It was interesting the way warrior culture affected these two and it would be useful to abuse within them as well. As well, magic seemed to make him nervous, a fine little fact that the handy traveller Darkmin could slip to Hamiclar, in exchange for perhaps more of those wonderful fur pelts he had offered, they were truly quite comfortable. Darkmin's mind wandered to what kind of beast produced such a pelt. Quickly though his attentions became focused once more. He recalled that the peasants had captured some of Thealeos' men skulking about, he would need to find them and speak with them personally.

Sera ran through the plans again with Hamilcar and Egales, with who was left of the useless council wrung their hands nervously at the thoughts of impending war. The queen, however, stopped listening completely. Her breathing slowed to a near stop. Strange swirls of color danced behind her close eyes, accompanying the sensation of falling slowly into a void. It had happened before, whenever Haedria's attention slipped. It scared her to no end, so she had attempted to be vigilant all the time. But now, she let herself fall willingly.
"Haedria?"
The queen's brow furrowed. The swirls of color quickened, coalescing into columns by the end of her table. One of the columns burned with a bright red core. Sera. The column to her left was wider and was composed of cooler colors. Hamilcar.
"Haedria?"
She looked to the other side of the table where she knew Egales was. Haedria wanted to see what colors swirled in his energies. There was a slight outline of gray, but otherwise nothing. She cocked her head to the side in confusion.
"Haedria!"
The queen's eyes's snapped open, startled. The first thing she saw was Sera's dark eyes forming from a cloud of swirling red. "What?" the queen asked.
"Were you listening to....Whats wrong with your eyes?" Sera approached the queen cautiously. A colorful oily slick covered her eyes. Haedria blinked a couple of times, and the colors disappeared.
"I think...This meeting is finished. Get out. Now." Sera said, steel in her voice. Chairs scraped against the the floor as the advisors and Hamilcar shakily got up, and slowly left the room.
"Haedria, gods above, what are you doing?" the princess demanded.
"Mmm...Practicing."

Turning from the meeting room Egales marched out, wondering the meaning behind the look the Queen gave before they parted. 'Strange, Normal Hate, Now Confused, Magic, Eyes gleaming, Magic sight! Danger." Egales turned a corner quickly placing his fist under his chin deep in thought. If that really was magic sight he couldn't let her use it on Elysia, lest she reveal him and his plans become obsolete here. The spell books had to go, she couldn't be allowed to continue learning from them. It wouldn't have been a problem, if her abilities didn't involve magic sight or true sight or whatever. The question was, how could he do it without drawing suspicion to either he or Elysia? A dark smile spread across Egales' lips, "The Prisoners." he muttered quietly. For now he hid, and shed his disguise putting on Elysia and heading to the Queen's room, more information was needed.

"Haedria, I do not think you should be doing that."
"Doing what? Practicing my powers?"
"Well..."
"Sera, I can do whatever I want. I am the queen, arent I? Unless..."
Haedria lifted the princess's chin and stared deep into her eyes. At her touch, Sera's body slackened and calmed as it always did when in the presence of her queen. The side of Haedria's mouth lifted into a smirk.
"Sera, if you're afraid, you need only tell me. I am still your sister after all."
"Yes. Although now, you can spontaneously set people on fire." Sera broke into a wide smile.
"I thought you'd find it amusing."
"What else can you do?"
"Let's wait and see, shall we?" the queen's hand moved to her knight's nape, pulling them into a kiss.

A few minutes later, the Red Sisters emerged from the council room and walked through the castle towards their chambers. Sera talked animatedly and asked many questions about Haedria's new powers, while the queen answered with a demure smile and patient explanation as best she could.
"How about...How about imbuing my swords with power?"
"What do you mean? Power within the blade to do more damage or enchant them to swing faster or strike harder?"
"No, I think I can manage well enough with the strike. I mean..." Sera waved her hands, grasping for words. "Something on the blade that would cause more pain."
Haedria grinned. She loved that idea. "When I return to my books, I will find something for you."
The two reached the queen's chambers and pushed open the door. "Elysia? Are you in here?"

Elysia's eyes were dimly lit watching the old wooden door creak open. A small smiled spread slowly across her face as the royals walked into her domain. "Welcome back your majesties t'was the meeting as boring as you presumed?" Lying comfortably on the bed wearing a loose robe her red hair splayed out wilding covering the sheets like roots rushing every which way to find purchase in soil, like vines to climb up and engulf and surface they came across. She had memorized the room and all of its contents.

The Red Sisters were silent for a few seconds, simply standing in the doorway. Headria pushed Sera's jaw up to close her mouth and stepped into her room. "It was as all meetings usually are." the queen said. Sitting at the edge of the bed, Haedria reached out to gently stroke the soft skin of the slave girl. Her composure was calm, relaxed. In control. Elysia was hers, Sera was hers, the kingdom was hers. And soon, her enemies would be burned by the mountain's fire.
Sera raised an eyebrow at her sister's mood. She had sensed the surge in confidence as they were walking back to the queen's chambers. "And how are you, Elysia? Feeling better" she asked.

Elysia shivered at the touch of the Queen. Her skin felt warm to the touch, a thin veil against the burning swirling mass of powerful emotions that was the queen of Sagna. A coy smile to the Queen as Elysia lay dominating the bed. She would not bow to the Queen so easily, her hand grasping the Queen's firmly and pulling her down so that lips could meet unhindered by distance. As Rose lips met Sanguine lips the reds danced and swirled together in harmony lead by the Rose the Sanguine would find itself assailed by an ever graceful dancer. As The Princess' words reached the ears of Elysia gently she parted from the Queen and turned her head to Sera. Elysia's eyes gazed over Sera, "I'm afraid I'm of a weak constitution Mi'lady, healers have assured me that years of brutally sub par conditions have done my health sins and atrocities, I will not lye but I will have to find occasions to rests now and again." Her smile gleamed with sincerity and her entire face seemed to radiate with a gentle light that illuminated the Princess, tilting her head in such a way so the Jealous Queen could see not her full face. "You're consideration for my well being warms my heart Mi'lady I." Her eyes spoke to Sera, like and arrow to the heart delivered by fair cupid they held Sera, 'I Love You' They said and her smiled confirmed it.

The look Elysia gave her made Sera's heart ache. How such beauty, such sincerity could be captured in a smile and deep blue eyes, she would never know. The slave girl's face was one Sera would wage war upon the worlds to protect. The princess raised an unsteady hand to her chest. It had clenched, seized with unknown emotion so strong, it physically hurt. Love. She was in love with Elysia. Sera turned to the door, away from the bed and the beautiful vision upon it, to lock the chamber door and hide her face. Her sister still claimed Elysia.
"Your wellbeing..." Sera cleared her throat as she slid the lock through. "Your wellbeing is important, of course. You will find nothing short of the utmost comfort in this castle. You'll want for nothing." she said, her voice measured. Haedria musnt know.

The queen was stunned speechless by the sudden kiss. The way Elysia stubbornly refused to bow before her queen excited Haedria. It ignited a fire of passion inside her, being for someone with the gall to have more authority than the queen of the kingdom. Ignoring Sera, Haedria cautiously slid the fabric of Elysia's robe away from her shoulder.

"Mi'lady I thank you for everything you have done for me. I will give you anything in my power to give." Elysia tilted her head back to the Queen who just began to slide her robe off. She had done beautifully in infatuated the young Princess, a vigour, an ecstatic joy pumped through her veins, a giddy delight at the simple pleasure of tugging on heartstrings. 'Oh the poor dear look how she hurts, the aches in her heart are the perfect places to sow seeds between these sisters. I believe next I'll initiate a classic medieval courtship between the two of us. I will not allow Haedria to think she solely owns my attentions without a fight.' Her hand snakes its way unto the Queens lap grasping the Queen firmly asserting her dominance, her smile beamed a different light, one of mischief this time.

Sera trained her eyes to the chamber's stone floor as she crossed to Haedria's desk. Spellbooks still lay open, their blank pages taunting her. Her sister had always been smarter than her, more clever, more refined. Being unable to share in her magic made her feel like a useless, bumbling moron. Haedria had everything she could ever want since birth, and was raised to be the the queen. And Sera? She was just the second. Her father the king raised both of them with love and respect, but always favored Haedria. The even-tempered one, the sharp logical one, the artistic one. Sera had only the dogs and her swords as her own. The princess blinked, snapping out of her reverie. Her hands had gripped the pommels of her swords so tightly, the leather wrapping creaked in her grip. Behind her, she could hear the rustling of fabric and the light creak of the bed's wooden boards. She closed her eyes and sighed. Haedria continued disrobing Elysia, while undoing the laces of her own gown. Sera reached out to the table and flipped Haedria's spellbooks closed. The twin swords went beside them, blades out of their sheaths. Sera's surcoat and mail were tossed onto the chair.

The princess rounded on her sister, who was now half undressed. "Did you plan on inviting me?" she asked playfully to keep any accusation from her voice.
Haedria rolled to Elysia's side and looked up at Sera with half-lidded eyes. "You were taking so long to get ready."
"You're not known for patience."
"Mmmm, yes." The queen beckoned Sera closer and winked. Sera's doubt and reservation against her sister threatened to disappear under the rush of emotion and lust only Haedria could evoke. Sera joined the two on the bed.

Every moment was captured, watched and recorded, rewound and reviewed a hundred times. Every little motion, Elysia's eyes caught it all the heartbreak, the books followed by the tight grip. It all had so much meaning, so much bitter pent up resentment washing away because Haedria bid it so.

Elysia outstretched her arms waiting to embrace Sera as she approached, "Sera," she cooed happily as she leaned in and embraced the Princess running a hand through her hair and resting her mouth next to the Princess' ear, "Sweet Sera, please I .... I want you to meet with me after, to talk, just us." with sweet whispers quiet Elysia gently bit down on her neck to make it look like it was all she was doing. Slowly Elysia pulled back giving Sera a longing look before leaning back into the arms of the Queen, "Well your Majesty," Elysia let out a light sigh her arms wrapping around the Queen's upper body, "I suppose we Three Reds shall mingle until we're exhausted?"

Sera stared curiously at Elysia. She wanted to talk? About what? Well if she wanted privacy, the queen would have to be otherwise distracted to enable the two of them to have their space. The princess smiled as slyly as she could manage.
"Why yes. After all, we must serve our queen to the extent of our abilities. A show of gratitude for her prowess in the court." Sera's voice dropped to huskier tones as she leaned in to peck Elysia's cheek before sliding a hand between Haedria's thighs. Darker thoughts danced behind the princess's half-lidded eyes. Gods above, they would mingle till Haedria was dead tired.

Hamilcar bellowed out from his tent, summoning the scouts Duro and Sevax. The two lean men scrambled into the barbarian king's tent and bowed to him.
"The two of ye will go on a mission. Under no circumstances should ye be captured or killed. And don' even think about desertin'! Gods, if ye ran and got caught, I swear ye'd be better off dead!" Hamilcar said, pacing around the small area of his tent.
The two scouts shared a nervous look. Hamilcar never used to ramble so much. "Great Hamilcar, what is the mission?" Duro asked.
Hamilcar paused a while to adjust the bearskin over his shoulder. It had gotten its fur slashed in some places during the battle alongside Sera and her hounds. "The two of ye are off on an errand for the Red Sisters."
"Its true then sire?" Sevax piped up. "You've allied with Sagna?"
"Ye saw the younger blood bitch in battle didnt ye?"
The two scouts nodded slowly. It was all the answer they needed. It would have been foolish for Hamilcar to make enemies with the Red Sisters, and Sera had proven her strength a hundred fold with her risky plan, her hounds, and her swords.
"Take what ye need from camp boys. Yer off to spy on Theoleas himself."

(we can time skip over the sex. you can post next that haedria fell asleep from exhaustion)

And thus the trio made love for the duration of the night, Elysia putting forth an extra effort to exhaust Haedria. She forcibly put her though many positions never fully letting her get used to one or giving her a moments respite. Before long the mingling was over and Haedria lay exhausted. Elysia managed to pry herself free, being solid only when she desired to be helped. (She had ensured Sera was not watching)

Elysia slowly dressed herself back facing Sera, the pale moonlight illuminated the patchwork of scars running along the slave's back, mementos of her history. Letting out a drawn out exhausted sigh Elysia turned to Sera finished with clothing. "Mi'lady," She whispered quietly as though the walls were listening or that Haedria may be pretending to rest. "let us to your room, and let the Queen rest." She walked to the door striding confidently and gracefully across the floor like a scarlet phantom he hair flared out with the swiftness of the pace. Without a sound she opened the door and slipped into the darkness of the hallway, an eerie smile cracked through her mask with no one to see.

Skulking the hallway's of the castle Tultrin tried to stay quiet, he hadn't been able to get any sleep, the war was weighing on his mind. It would be a fierce battle and something about its suddenness was off putting. There had been no declaration, nor major incident between the two Kingdoms for sometime. There was also the sudden appearance of Egales, or One-Eye and his ability to miraculously raise a peasant force. The peasants feared the kingdom especially the Sisters and the rumours (truths) surrounding them. What had Egales said to get more than a quarter to flock willingly? The fact that he suddenly became a captain was also worrying. In fact, there had been a few new faces around.

The princess nodded dumbly as she let Elysia leave ahead of her. She ran a hand through her fiery hair, her fingers getting snagged on its tangled ends. 'Perhaps I should cut the whole thing off.' she thought. She glanced at her sister who slept as solidly as a rock. The queen had all but fainted from the attention she received from the two. Knowing her sister, Sera was sure that she would sleep well into late morning. Sera stood and stretched in the moonlight. Her well muscled back and arms were illuminated starkly in the pale light. She knew it was a sight Haedria favored highly, but wondered now if Elysia liked her form just as much. With a quiet sigh, she pulled on her trousers and breast-band, and draped her mail and surcoat over one arm. With the other, she took up her swords. Pushing open the doors as quietly as she could, Sera slipped out to meet Elysia.
"To my chambers, then?" she asked, a small but tired smile on her face.

Duro was relieved to be assigned to the task with Sevax. The man was discreet, cautious, and defaulted to him for orders. The two men left the barbarian camp with small packs containing a few rations of dried meat, and scout uniforms taken from the forest camp.
"How do we get to Theoleas?" Sevax asked as the two of them picked their way to the clearing beyond the forest.
"His kingdom is beyond the seas, to the east of Sagna. From what I saw of the captains room at the camp, they had come by boat exactly from there." Duro answered.
"So we take their boats?"
"We take their boats."
"What if we are caught by more of his men?"
"We pose as scouts reporting to Theoleas of the massacre from Sagnian ambush."
"We tell him the truth? Would that not alert him?"
"It might. But then we would know the full extent of his forces."
Sevax's mouth formed a silent 'oh'. Duro smirked as his companion fell silent. He was still the smarter one and he quite enjoyed being so.

Elysia turned to meet Sera's smile with one of her own, her face showed no signs of weariness. "Aye Mi'lady, I believe we can talk there easily and without any risk of other ears hearing." With a look and turn Elysia made her walk down the hall with slight swiftness, though halfway down she stumbled slightly on her bad leg clutching it in imagined pain her face scrunched and she bit her lip to hold back the cuss on the other side. Standing up she continued into Sera's room as if nothing had happened, although she walked quite a bit slower easing herself onto the bed.

"Are you alright?" Sera asked, brows knitting in concern. She threw her surcoat and mail over the chair of her desk but set her swords in her weapon rack more carefully. In contrast to the neatness of the queen's chambers, Sera's room was littered with pieces of armor and held more weapons than books. Once the door was locked, she joined Elysia on her bed.
"How is it you can still manage to move with such energy?" Sera asked with a light chuckle. "I'm exhausted after all of that. You are truly a wonder."

"Aye, I'm alright Mi'lady, just sometimes I forget I have a bad leg and it simply detests being forgotten." Elysia gave a sad look down to her scarred leg for several moments remembering long years of torment under brutal masters. Placing a hand to her face she wiped away the solitary tear that was forming away, trying to wipe away the past. "Mi'lady," she began voice quivering and with a soft snivelling tone, "I find myself in a troubling situation as I had called you here to discuss something, but yet I am having trouble wording it properly in my head. I fear I will sound like a silly feather-headed girl." Running a nervous hand through her hair Elysia turned her eyes to the side, "Mi'lady, you have been nothing but kind to me since I've arrived in this castle. My other masters have been nothing like this and I feel all flutter around you." Gulping Elysia turned her head back towards Sera betraying her own nervousness. "Mi'lady I am just a slave, and you are the Princess of this Kingdom no matter how much I tell myself that I cannot see past your knightly nobleness and the virtue you displayed when we first met. I .. I .... I" The words became stuck and Elysia breathed in deeply worry plaguing her expression, "I know this is above my station as a slave but please forgive me for my words. I ... I would like it very much if you ....could .... ummm .... court ... me." Elysia's face flushed red and her head tilted downwards into her lap, "Just like the stories, of a Knight ...and a princess....." Elysia stood abruptly, "I I'm sorry Mi'lady this was a terrible idea I'm sorry." throwing he hands to her cheeks to cover the raging fire of embarrassment. " I have gone too far in my girlish desires, I'm sorry." on of her hands drifted over her bosom and clutched at her aching heart.

Sera said nothing. She only stood to face Elysia, then got down on one knee. Smiling sheepishly, Sera held a hand out to the slave girl. "It is true I've take up the mantle of a knight of the kingdom. But in my eyes, you are a princess. It is you who will have to forgive me, however. I'm sadly remiss in the subtle arts of courtship and matters of the..." she coughed to hide a blush. "..heart."
Steeling herself again, she looked up at Elysia with shining, pleading eyes. "Will you allow this foolish knight to win your favor, my beautiful princess?"

A smile spread across Elysia's face and her eyes welled up with tears of joy her heart moved by this simple yet powerful gesture. "I ... I shall permit it noble knight." Reaching her hand out as an offering. "If we are to make this possible we will need several things I'm afraid. Some may be more requests than actual requirements though. I think a Signet Ring for myself so I could send you well versed letters of my undying affections to you." Her face flushed crimson at this, "I am sorry if I'm so bold, umm. Perhaps we should keep this from your Sister I'd hate for her to be jealous after all, I mean she ....owns me, my body not my heart. That honour belong to your dear sweet Sera." Smiling Elysia took and hand and stroked Sera's red locks, "Oh dear, I hope my boldness isn't ruining my silly fantasy."