Veiled Chaos

[[This is a fantasy RP set in the kingdom of Sagna. tw: incest and blood because Red Sisters]]

The soft light of dawn broke over the horizon, bathing the fertile fields of Sagna with its golden glow. The people in the village began to wake and get ready for their daily tasks of farming, fishing, and trading while high up in the castle on the hill, two sisters with striking red hair still slept. The younger of the two had crawled into her sister's bed in the middle of the night, complaining that she couldnt sleep. Haedria, the queen, slept soundly with one hand on a black-bladed dagger, and the other around Sera's waist. The bright light of the morning sun lit the curtains of the queen's four-poster bed, filling it with a soft glow. Sera began to stir as the room brightened.
"Nnh...Haedria?" she muttered, gently patting her sister's arm. "It's time to get up."
In response, the queen tightened her grip and held the younger girl closer. "And break from one dream to find another before my eyes?" the queen's voice was groggy, but Sera blushed at the comment. The younger girl removed herself from her sister's hold and threw open the curtains, flooding the bed with a bright light.

The queen of Sagna, the dignified royal presence of the land, screeched and covered her eyes with a pillow, blinded into wakefulness. Sera laughed with a giddy joy at her sister's expense. An odd sense of calm came over the princess; today was going to be a good day.

Golden light shone down across the land, while unbeknownst to all a pair of grim eyes surveyed the land from upon a hill. A lone traveller eyed the town and it's scuttling peasants working its way up to spy upon the castle. A small flicker of anticipation sparked in its chest as the light caught the cold grey stone turning them gold, yet no warmer. "I wonder what they call this land." a deep voice spoke to no one. The figure stood up abruptly from its perch and began to walk its way towards the town, it had much work to do.

As it approached it began to eye the peasant folk closer noting a thousand different things: their faces, their clothing, their features, their mannerisms and more. Lost in its endless thought a shrill cry pierced its ears, dark eyes went wide as the figure turned towards a women, her face was aghast as she turned to flee screaming "Monster! Monster!" rushing away in terror to find safety. Taking this thinly hidden cue to escape the creature fled towards the hills once more scolding itself on its carelessness. 'Curses I got too close, I always was groggy when first arriving'. It was clear that it could not walk around as it, it needed to blend in.

"A monster, made of darkness? Here?" a member of the village militia asked the woman in disbelief. He was a rough young man with the scratchy beginnings of a beard on his face and a well-loved sword on his belt. "Not sure if you're in your right mind, lady, but rest assured I'll keep an eye out." The young man sent the lady on her way and continued patrolling the main village path. Gravel and dirt crunched under his boots as he scanned the shadows and quaint brick houses of the slums. A monster made of darkness shouldnt be that hard to find in the morning, surely.

The queen let the princess scurry back to her room across the hall as she herself prepared to meet the day. Donning a floor-length gown of forest green, Haedria watched as her dark red hair fanned out behind her. Her hair was the deep crimson color of blood, which was one thing that fascinated her to no end. Servants came into her room to help the queen dress and arrange her long hair into an elaborate twisting braid that cascaded down her back. When all was done, she waved the servants out and admired herself in the mirror. She saw in her reflection poise, grace, and power. She moved her leg slightly, and a slit of fabric moved to reveal a sheath that bore her black dagger. A small smile came on Haedria's face. Things unseen are far more dangerous when hidden behind an unassuming facade.

The dark beast recoiled to a safe and hidden place amongst a grove of trees close to the town. It heard no bustle, no mobilization of guards of any sort. With slight relief, the figure closed its eyes and imagined the townsfolk, what they looked like, what they wore. Slowly the black mist surrounding itself was drawn inward towards a pure black orb in the centre of its being until nothing but the orb remained floating silently in the air. It rocked, it twitched, it pulsed, a soft light emanated from the orb. Images flashed deep within the core, a malignant intelligence calculating.

The orb's light began to shimmer oddly, warping and weaving into shape. A vaguely humanoid figure began to form, male, tall, fair skinned, black hair, blue eyes. Then details began to appear, lines and wrinkles meticulously placed, each detail added intentionally and with purpose. light began layering itself upon this new form: clothing; A ragged grey traveller's cloak with leather waistcoat upon a green tunic and grey breeches with worn leather boats coated in a dry layer of mud.

Blue eyes looked down upon slender calloused fingers and flexed, wiggling each individual finger, stretching each muscle. with a swift turn and the snap of his cloak Darkmin walked towards the town.

Sera left her room wearing a dark blue gown with yellow trim. Her bright flame-hair was done up in a simple ponytail. It was passable court wear, and besides no one really paid attention to her. She was just the princess, the late king's extra daughter anyway. She yawned and stretched in the most un-regal way possible just as Haedria emerged from her chambers. Sera's eyes went as big as saucers and her yawning mouth stayed open. The queen strode out into the hallway with impeccable, flawless posture. The way her gown hugged her body and her hair flowed down her back made the princess' breath catch in her throat. She loved everything about her sister and could never find any fault, nor did she ever want to. Haedria fixed her half-lidded eyes on her younger sister in a stare that could hold Sera forever if she wished. The side of her mouth lifted into a smirk.
"Really, Sera. Is that how a princess should behave?" she asked in a delicate tone. Sera caught the faint threat in her voice. The younger sister straightened quickly and lowered herself into a respectful curtsy. "Good morning, my queen."
Haedria nodded once and walked past her bowing sister, pausing only to lift the younger girl's chin with a delicate finger. The subtle touch sent a shiver down Sera's body.
"Come." the queen commanded, and Sera obeyed. The Red Sisters went to the dining hall where the servants prepared their breakfast. A quick, light meal first, then their royal duties would begin.

The queen sipped her tea from where she sat at the head of the long table. Sera sat to her right, never very far from Haedria and taking her place as the queen's right hand. Her older sister didnt touch her flaky pastry at all, instead opting to drink endlessly from her tea cup. Sera squinted at Haedria, trying to see if her half-lidded eyes were unfocused. The queen always looked so stern in the morning, but sometimes Sera wondered if it was just because she was not fully awake.

Darkmin walked confidently through the peasant town, with an aura of authority oozing from his pours. His cloak bellowed in the wind, the light striking his body illuminating him and washing a wave of warmth over his body. Walking past townsfolk he listened to their words and conversations attempting to decipher anything he could use to his advantage.

Eventually a tavern came into view, 'Alcohol, an establishment of gathering, and loose lips, perfect.' He turned to enter the tavern which by the sign was named, "The Ale'ing Wench" Unfortunately it was early morning, which presumably meant that the heavy drinking had not begun. He would have to gather information about his surrounds and perhaps the lands surround these quickly and without raising alarm.

Approaching the bar Darkmin rested himself upon a stool, feigning weariness and a slight physical impairment to the leg as he did so. Language was natural to Darkmin, he could easily understand both the spoken and unspoken word regardless of dimension. "Sir, I would like to rest myself here for a brief spell, if you'd allow it I'm afraid I can only pay in conversation. Tell me what land have I stumbled into?" his eyes looked up to meet the Barkeep's who returned the look.

"Aye, you can rest traveller. The Tavern does not get busy till late, once the trading in the market has done, but don't be expectin' to get any drink or food for the price of conversation, the entire town would drink and eat me into the streets for such charity." He was an older and balding man with a dirty apron and a dirtier rag he used to clean the mugs his face naturally curled into a frown and Darkmin noted his weariness. "You must be a foolish traveller to wander here of all places not knowing where it is you've entered. Quite unlucky for you, this is Sagna the Kingdom of Ash and Blood. It won't take ya' long to figure out why I'm sure."

Darkmin raised an eyebrow, "The volcano is obviously the Ash, and the blood ...." He retreated into thought he saw no displays of gore or a predisposition towards violence or cultism in the town from what he had seen. Blood must come from an outside source like war or a tyrant. Though any assumptions at this stage wouldn't be likely to be right without more information. Darkmin shrugged, "The blood must be the towns but I'm not sure why it spills. I'm a wanderer not a traveller good sir I go where the wind takes me, bothering to learn where I go when I get there I'm afraid."

A grizzled man sitting at the bar stared at Darkmin from out of the corner of his eye. He barked out a harsh laugh that spit bits of chewed meat all over the bar. "You really know nothing, do you? Curse the wind that brought you here. Blood's the town's fer sure, and it flows freely from the castle." he leaned closer to Darkmin so that only he and the bartender could hear. "Best you wander off into another town, boy. You dont want to catch sight of the Red Sisters."

Finishing the tea, the queen closed her eyes and held a hand to her mouth. The brief motion made Sera giggle. Her big sister was never the type to let slip even the smallest undignified motion, except when it came to Sera herself. When Haedria finished yawning quietly, she stood and motioned for Sera to follow. The younger girl bounded out of her seat, stuffing the last of her slice of pie into her mouth, excited for their first task. It was time to wake the prisoners.

The Red Sisters descended a winding stairwell into the depths of the castle. Down in the darkness, the cold seemed to seep into the air from the very stone themselves.
"So dear sister, what game shall we play today?" Haedria asked, ever graceful.
Sera broke out into a huge grin. "Can we play darts? It's been ages since we got to play darts!"
The queen laughed lightly and pushed open the door to one of the cells. Sera took a torch from the hallway and lit the ones inside the cell for her queen. The walls of the room were covered in streaks of dried blood. Several men, all pale and thin, hung by their wrists from the ceiling. Deep cuts scored their skin and the rancid smell of rot from festering wounds mixed with the sweeter scent of blood. For now, the men were silent and asleep from fatigue.
"Hmm. Seems these are due for replacing." Haedria said, leaning in to inspect one man with a crudely cut scalp. Her dress easily moved with her as she crossed the room to gather a selection of bloodied daggers and picks for her and Sera's game. "Here dear sister. Have the first throw." she said with a smile.
Sera took up a dagger with an excited grin, moved to position at the far end of the room, and took aim.
The scalped man woke with a scream as the dagger found its mark in his gut. Haedria's serene expression broke into a mad smile as crimson blood began to flow. She picked up a knife and threw.

Darkmin's eye wandered to the man's face inches from his own, taking note of the peasant breathing putrid breath in his face. Thoughts raced through his head like lightning through circuits 'Red Sisters? Blood from the Castle? Red Blood, Sisters, Castle Royalty, Monarchy, Civil Unrest, Revolution.' Already he could imagine the glorious Chaos that would ravage this land, but he needed more information. "So these Red sister, are the castle royalty? Tyrannical villains who tax the peasants and kill those who oppose, yes?"

The Barkeep backed away slowly from the conversation content with polishing his dirty mugs with his dirty rag for a cloth. Talking about the Red Sisters made him uncomfortable, it was bad for business as well.

"Shush boy! Not too loud! The Red Sisters have eyes and ears everywhere." the patron said urgently. He looked over his shoulder at the the door to the inn and through its windows. "Taxes in Sagna are not the problem. If you keep yer nose clean and yer head down, you can die in peace in this damned place. Them sisters are royalty, aye. They say the queen's hair's as red and thick as blood. Her sister's like fire, burning through everything." he paused to take a big swig of ale from his stein. "Money isnt what they want. Trade's good in Sagna, but the monarchs want tribute in other things. People say they take men and women to the castle at the end of every week. Sometimes when the wind blows from the hill, y'can even hear the screams..." the bar patron's eyes lost focus as they trailed off, the memory of wandering too close to the castle one windy night coming back to him.

A pair of soldiers clad in the chainmail and cloth armor of the castle guard entered the Ale'ling Wench. The patron stiffened immediately at the sight of the red and black heraldry of the royal family on the soldier's uniforms. The two stoic men grabbed the patron, who began to thrash and fight his way out of the soldier's grip.
"Y'git yer hands off me! I've done nothing!" he roared.
The taller of the two soldiers stared at the man with dark, blank eyes. It looked like the very soul was sucked out of him, leaving only his armored body behind. "You have been accused of treason against the monarchy. You are to come with us."
"Go with you where?"
"The castle."
The man visibly paled as the soldiers dragged him out of the tavern.

Haedria and Sera were doubled over, clutching their sides. The sounds of their laughter mixed with the screams and groans of pain from their unwilling targets. The sisters found it extremely amusing when one of Haedria's daggers sliced one man's penis and testicles clean off. The man screeched the highest note ever heard in Sagna, and the sisters had to hold onto each other or risk falling over.
"You win this round, sister!" Haedria managed to say once she caught her breath.
"Can we have another?" Sera said happily, clapping her hands together and bouncing on her heels.
"Later perhaps, after lunch."
Sera's mood fell and her expression darkened. The queen noticed and smirked. She traced the lines of her sister's jaw and collar bone with a delicate touch. The younger girl shivered ever so slightly. "After lunch, we can play again. Or..." the queen drew the princess closer, wrapping her arms around the younger girl's waist. A blush spread across Sera's face as her queen held her so close, she could feel the elder's heart beat strong and fast through both their clothes.

The door at the top of the stairwell opened with a clumsy bang, and the sisters hastily stepped away from each other. Haedria quickly slipped into the cool, regal posture that made Sera's heart ache, and stepped out of the cell to see who came. A castle guard came down the stairs, leading about a dozen citizens shackled together. When he reached the bottom of the steps, the guard saluted. "Your Majesty. I bring scum convicted of treason and spreading discord in the town." he said in a monotone.
The queen nodded and waved for Sera to join her. "Instruct the servants to arrange accommodations for them. And call the Royal Undertaker. Have him dispose of the contents of this cell." the guard saluted and moved to carry out his queen's command, while the sister's ascended the steps into the brighter areas of the castle. The scent of blood clung to both of them, but Haedria wore it like a perfume that Sera could never ignore. The younger girl shadowed her sister slightly closer than usual.

Darkmin stood abruptly as the soldiers left casting aside his illusion of fatigue like moulted skin. "Oi' ya fool don't stop them they're the palace guard" Spoke a harsh whisper the barkeep's eyes went wide with horror as the curse of the Red Sisters struck his tavern.

Darkmin left without looking back at the bartender or the condemned traitor. It was time for him to enter the palace, and he had now seen the uniform of the Palace Guardsmen, Swiftly brushing past the guard with cocky attitude he loosened his cloak in case of a grab it would tear right off. Darkmin strode with purpose towards the castle. brushing through crowds of tense peasants finding a nice quiet and dark corner of the town he recalled details of the garb of the Palace Guard and a familiar light shone over his clothing, reweaving itself to take on the emblem and armour.A sword formed at his waist, with a helm, and shield appearing shortly after.

Re-garbed Darkmin turned back into the town, his presence was felt by the peasants as they turned aside and cleared the path wherever he walked. As he excited the town his face shimmered briefly features changing to a worn soldier's scars scratched across his left eye which turned white from 'injury' his right a pale green and he strode towards the castle gate.

When the sisters emerged from the dungeons, a half a dozen men, all with downcast eyes, were waiting as they knew better than to interrupt the sisters from their morning torture. They bowed to their queen, and one old man stepped forward. He was wrinkled and balding, and dressed in a red robe that has seen better days. He was the head adviser to the queen, having kept the title even after the king died.
"Apologies my queen, but there are some pressing matters that require your attention." he coughed, and his voice was like sandpaper.
Haedria met the news with a slight nod. Turning to Sera, she smiled. "I know you don't like actual work, sister. This may take most of the day, so go amuse yourself." the queen turned her back on her sister's appalled expression. Sure Sera didnt like the paperwork, but that didnt meant she wanted to be sent away! The queen left with her advisers -who tried very hard to not mind the stench of death clinging to their queen- already talking about recruiting new guardsmen and something to do with festivities for the town.

Sera huffed and folded her arms over her chest. Without Haedria around, what else was she going to do? They were supposed to play with the prisoners some more or maybe retire to their chambers. Sera blushed slightly at the thought, a familiar heat already spreading through her body as she entertained certain thoughts. It wouldnt do to start without her sister, so Sera decided instead to check on the Palace Hounds.

Kerza, the Royal Undertaker, was probably the only one in the entire castle who liked his job. Aside from the Red Sisters, of course. He was a tall man with a lean but strong frame. Brushing aside a stray lock of lanky black hair, he continued his work. He stood in the kennel room, hacking apart the sister's prisoners with a heavy cleaver. Sure, there were some that werent dead when he started, but it wasnt a problem now. He deboned the chunks of meat, removing femurs and wrangling lungs and muscle away from ribcages. He kept the bloodied bones in a series of buckets. The princess opened the wooden door with a loud bang, which caused the large hounds to erupt into loud barks.
Looking up slightly annoyed at the interruption, Kerza broke into a wide, happy smile. "Princess Sera! We werent expecting you today. Pardon the mess, m'lady." he bowed slightly, cleaver still in hand.
Kerza was the only one in the castle who didnt shy away from her or greeted her stiffly and with downcast eyes, so Sera enjoyed his company immensely. "Its not a problem. I do love a chopping." she waved at the dismembered body parts strewn on the floor and in buckets. "You havent fed the hounds yet?"
He bowed again. "Apologies m'lady. I've only a pair of arms and still so many bodies to prepare. Have ta cut out the rotten parts, lest the hounds fall sick."
Sera stooped to pick up a bucket full of entrails and pushed open the kennel cage herself. The large black and tan dogs jumped about happily, snapping their powerful jaws and wagging their tails. The princess let out a hearty laugh as the dogs jumped at her and pawed at her dress, each of the heavy beasts trying to get at the food in her bucket. She finally upended the bucket into the blood-stained feeding trough. Immediately distracted, the dogs left Sera and allowed her to slip out of the kennel.

"Those mutts favor you, princess." Kerza said with a smile. The princess laughed and pulled up a stool to sit by Kerza's table.
"Bloodthirsty little mongrels, thats what they are." she chuckled. Sera sat and watched Kerza's cleaver sever a man's arm from his torso. Then he took a smaller knife and dug out the bones with a practiced hand.
"Kerza, why do you remove the bones? Surely the hounds would enjoy something to chew on." the princess asked.
"Some years ago, a pup choked on a bone and died. Death doesnt bother me in the slightest, of course, but I took pity on the wee pup." the undertaker chucked a bunch of bones into a nearby bucket. "Besides, I do fancy bones m'self. I fashion knives out of them, file the shards down to points, even make decorations. S'long as the bodies are disposed of, Her Majesty never cared for what happens to a few parts."
Sera perked up at the thought. "Weapons made of bone?"
"Aye, m'lady. Brittle at times, but wicked sharp."
"Can you make me one?"
Kerza set his cleaver down as he thought. "A bone weapon fit for the princess..." he mused, thinking over the many kinds of weapon he fashioned out bone. "Aye, I can. I'll deliver it to m'lady once its finished."
Sera bounded up out of her stool with joy, and hugged the undertaker's side. "Oh thank you Kerza! That sounds wonderful!" the man let out a startled laugh. The princess left the kennel room, chattering about how she smells like dog and how she'll be waiting for the weapon.
Kerza pursed his lips together, his brow furrowed in thought as he picked up his cleaver again. The princess never touched anyone with affection other than the queen. He wondered if his years of dutiful years of service to the crown could protect him from the queen's wrath. His cleaver fell to the chopping block with a heavy thud.

As Darkmin approached the castle gate his gaze turned serious and dour. Up ahead was a contingent of Guardsmen protecting the front entrance to the Castle. Darkmin strode forth towards them, "Reporting back from patrol." Giving a stern voice the guards simply nodded and opened the gateways to him. Darkmin strode inwards to the courtyard of Sagna castle.

Quickly Darkmin searched the grounds for any indication of the royal court, all royals had a court except on rare occasions. In his search Darkmin heard a chattering, eyes darting towards the sound. 'Red Hair, Royal Garb, Female, Red Sister?' His eyes hovered over her, both despite the appearance of blindness in his left he could see. Analysing and studying her every feature, the way she carried herself and even the sound of her voice. Darkmin almost felt like smiling, but that would be suspicious.

Sera emerged from the kennels muttering to herself about dogs and having yet another dress stained with blood. She walked absentmindedly into the courtyard, trying to wipe the blood off her hands and trying to think of what else she can do. Horseback riding? Not in the mood. Candle-making? Boring. Raid the pantry? Just ate. She was about to slouch off to the baths and spend an hour in hot water when her eyes fell onto a palace guard. A grin came on her face. She hadnt had the chance to practice her sword play in a while. She strode by another guard and took the sword off his waist without question.

The princess leveled the sword at the guard with a blinded left eye. "You! Draw your sword." she held the sword in a ready position, feeling the familiar heavy weight of the steel.

Darkmin outwardly showed no change in expression. 'Princess, Duel, Warrior Culture? Bloodlust? Comparing, Red sisters, Blood, Bloodlust.' Unfortunately Darkmin had yet to see swordplay in Sagna, meaning it was very likely he would give himself away as a foreigner by duelling. Although perhaps if he played defensively he could observe the Princess and copy her style? There were many unknowns and that made Darkmin uncomfortable.

"Yes your Highness," He spoke in a grave voice as he drew his sword, held in a defensive posture he was constantly examining the Princess' form looking for subtle movements. It was very likely that she would be fighting with the intention of causing damage, while he was at a handicap of being unable to do so to a royal.

Sera grinned. This guard didnt hesitate. She liked that in her sparring partners. She charged at the guard, going for an overhead blow. It was a risky, wide strike, which the princess was expecting to be parried. Instead the guard kept up his defense, causing her borrowed sword to clang against his. She swung at him with wide, easily blockable strikes, baiting the guard into striking back. Maybe it was because she was the princess that this guard didnt risk fighting back. If that was the case, Sera needed a practice dummy anyway. She rained down precise blows to the guard's head, elbows, chest, and legs, twirling her sword about expertly.

Darkmin's eyes never left the Princess' fighting form. Her style was precise, but with much superfluous twirling. He was getting the hang of it, but couldn't help but want to deviate from it seeing the flaws and openings in her style. As a swing arced towards his head Darkmin lashed his sword outwards parrying the strike and Lunged his blade forward to the left of her chest, his desire to have her dodge to the right allowing him follow up quickly with a right swing.

Sera dodged and blocked the guard's sudden attacks. A light giddiness spread through her, with adrenaline focusing her mind and body. 'Finally, this fight's getting interesting! she thought. Now that the guard was fighting back, Sera's attacks became sharper and more controlled. Swapping out the wide swings for quick slashes and lunges, she thrust her sword to the guard's right arm, angling it at the last second in hopes of catching his wrist and disarming him.

Darkmin's constant observation allowed him to see the Princess' sudden increase in pace. however, his body could not keep up with his eyes as he was forced to drop his sword. Despite being struck in the arm Darkmin did not cry out in pain, merely standing up straight, "You have defeated me, in real combat after such a strike you could easily behead me hence forth I am impressed your highness." With that Darkmin gave a courtesy bow, eyes never leaving the Princess' form.

Sera lowered her sword and put a hand on her hip. "After taking a blow like that yet not flinching once, you must be so used to pain it no longer matters to you." she studied the defeated guard a bit more closely and took note of his blinded eye. "And you've deduced what my next possible move would be." The princess tossed her borrowed sword back to the guard she took it from. The man caught it by the handle and returned it to its sheath on his hip.

The princess circled the guard playfully, looking him up and down. His armor was the same as everyone else's, with her family's heraldry on the chest and regulation sword, shield, and helm. She squinted into his face, not entirely sure she has seen him before. "You must be quite the strategist. I'm impressed." she smiled cheerily and bounded off across the grounds, leaving the defeated guard behind.

'You have no idea,' Darkmin thought to himself maintaining his bow. "Thank you for the kind words you highness I am truly not worth such ....." She was gone. Grabbing his sword from the ground and sheathing it Darkmin turned immediately away and began to wander off towards the castle. Entering the structure his eyes began to dart looking for any sign of nobility, courtiers, or the other sister. He had already been learning some valuable information. First to find a dark and abandoned spot for which to shed this guardsmen disguise and assume the form of an enigmatic foreign noble.

While Sera was off having fun, Haedria was slowly slipping out of her queenly poise. Leaning onto the table, she rest her forehead against her knuckles. Her head was already pounding as the advisers kept going on and on and on. She already shot down and approved some ideas, signed into effect a new trade route, and arranged a meeting with the leader of a nomadic tribe of barbarians that have been bothering the northern boundaries of Sagna. Her work was finished yet the old men kept talking and talking and talking. With her blood boiling in anger, the queen slipped the black dagger out of its thigh-sheath and set its tip against a spare piece of paper. Twirling the pommel with her finger tips, the blade spun slowly, tearing the paper and marring the wood underneath. The advisers fell silent and paled at the sight. The presence of the black dagger was a silent warning that the queen had had enough. If provoked further, the black blade would whistle through the air as it flew and stuck down one of them.

"I believe we are finished here. Court will be held in the afternoon." Haedria said curtly, rising from her seat and taking the dagger with her. She called for a hot bath to be drawn and tea and honey to be delivered there. "Gods, where is Sera." she muttered to herself, as servants opened the door for her. She saw the younger girl running around the courtyard and called to her. Sera came quickly, like a loyal dog called by its owner.
"Is work done for today?" the princess asked, following the queen.
Haedria sighed deeply and pinched the space between her eyes. "It is, for now. Court reconvenes later in the afternoon, trade routes, guardsmen, barbarians, meetings..." she trailed off, lost in thought. She pulled Sera close to her and ran a hand through her orange-red hair. Looking into Sera's eyes, the queen managed a small smile. "That will be saved for later. For now, lets to the baths."
Sera's eyes widened and she held a hand to her mouth to try and stifle her excited smile.

Silently Darkmin crept through the halls of Sagna Castle a silent and stoic guardsmen ever vigilant for the slightest helpful detail: Ears perked, Eyes peeled, even his nose drawing scents in. All information was valuable, could be used and moulded to one's advantage. The scent of blood hung heavily in certain parts of the castle, and if he listened closely Darkmin could hear the scratching and scraping, and occasional pained moan. It seemed to him that the rumours, thus far were true. The Red Sisters did indeed employ some form of bloody torture.

He had not yet tossed away his guardsman form in hopes of gaining access to some of the more sensitive areas of the castle, it had thus been a good decision being a guard was like being a near unquestionable authority, but that had its own set of problems. Courtiers hushed and averted their eyes when he was noticed, he had gathered that the Queen in a fit of rage had silently threatened her council and that the Sisters had retired to the baths. Hygiene Darkmin supposed was important to them. Though he could not get much more information, his 'fellow' guardsmen where horrendously unsociable, it seemed like some form of indoctrination, or spirit breaking, or perhaps simply this form was just distasteful scars and a blind eye it seemed do not make for an attractive individual.

Attraction, this art took a variety of forms with each from having merits in different locations and settings. Darkmin was (and is still) very much a fan of subtlety not brash and openly flirtatious but exchanging hushed whispers and letters of false affection.

These thought were short lived as Darkmin found himself coming across a group of conversing statesmen, his ears sharp and mind sharper made it a prioirty to become as invisible as possible not wanting to stifle conversation. Eagerly he listened for any information he could devour.

"Are you certain its wise to let the queen invite barbarians into the castle, let alone the town?" one of the younger members of the council asked. The young man picked repeatedly at the hem of his robe. It was a nervous tick that had worn the poor fabric to frayed shreds.
"It is not whether or not it is wise. You know that." one of the older men answered. "If the queen wishes it, it must be."
"I am aware, but the barbarians! Would it not be wiser to rout their camp with the army?"
"You dont understand." a lighter voice said. It came from the lone woman on the queen's council. She wore a dress that laid her shoulders bare, and knew the queen approved. She could see it in the sparkle of her eyes when Her Majesty's gaze fell upon her. "How long have you stood at this council, and yet you do not understand her Majesty's mind?" she smirked, eyes half-lidded, in an eerily accurate imitation of the queen. "She invites the barbarian king into the castle, her house. Here she has the advantage, and here she can drag the black dagger across his throat." she slowly pantomimed the action.
The courtiers thought in silence, till the young man spoke up. "What if he doesnt come alone?"
"Oh, he will never come alone! That is like asking her Majesty to walk about without the princess. No, the barbarian will have his entourage, and shall bring gifts. Mark my words, gentlemen."

Servants removed the Red Sister's bloodstained robes and set out to wash them, while the royals enjoyed their bath. Haedria mused in the hot water, twirling her dagger, while Sera submerged herself near her sister's legs. She came up for air and breathed in a cloud of steam.
"Well? How was it?" Sera asked, a big smile on her face.
"Oh yes, very very good." Haedria smiled and pat the younger girl on the head as if a pet. Sera moved to lean her head on her sister's shoulder and sighed contentedly. Haedria ran her fingers through Sera's bright hair, but she was distracted.
"Haedria, is something wrong? I thought a bath and my attention would lighten your mood." the younger one said.
The queen slipped lower into the water so that only her face was above its level. Her dark red hair fanned out in the water like blood red snakes. "It is difficult to run a kingdom when you wish everyone's head was impaled upon pikes. And there are the barbarian mongrels to the north. I've to find a way to either kill them all or encourage them to seek new prey. I've invited the leader here for a meeting."
Sera clapped her hands together, catching on. "A meeting to negotiate trade for protection, or information on caravans from our rivals, then he'll come and you kill him!"
Haedria laughed and playfully splashed some water at her sister. "You're getting quick, dear sister. There is still the matter of the rest of his band. An army without its leader usually will become demoralized and ineffective. These dogs however, might only rally against us with more ferocity than before." the queen leaned in closer to Sera, and eyebrow raised and waiting.
The princess's mind worked fast. Haedria wanted her to follow her train of thought and follow it she will. She gasped and flailed her arms, grasping at the thought and struggling to form words. "So you'll invite the leader here while the rest of the band are outside city gates then while you kill him here, the Sagnian army will kill the rest!"
Haedria threw her head back and laughed. She grasped the back of Sera's neck with one slender hand and kissed her. "You clever girl."

'A Barbarian King invited to parley to be slain before the Red Queen? Dastardly, basic and obvious, but dastardly. I must account for the Queen's apparent intellect. A barbarian horde is certainly chaos, but too early it is far too early, and it is not a complete enough chaos, besides. I've yet to properly have my fun.' Darkmin felt his blood burning with passion, passion for plots and schemes. He felt a smile trying to crawl it's way onto his face but he restrained it, suffocated it under stoicism. Plotting was Darkmin's lifeblood it invigorated him, Scheming was his food and Manipulation was his drink. Finally he found traces of the chaotic seed that drew him to Sagna.

The Barbarian King would become Darkmin's unwitting tool. He would be walking into a trap he was unaware of, for now. He was also bringing tribute as a sign of good will, perhaps a few honeyed words could convince the King to slip an 'exotic slave' into the tribute in exchange for knowledge of the trap. If the King survived Darkmin could find him of further use, if not then he would have placed an important tool into the court. when was he arriving? Tomorrow? Curses! Darkmin needed to hurry his information gathering, he had to create the most beautiful slave in the eyes of these Sagnians. Perhaps even learning of the royalty's tastes.

Darkmin spend several moments listening to the courtiers gathering what he could, he needed to find out where the Queen was this very moment, and spy upon her. 'Queen, Princess, Inseparable? Princess, Fighter, Blood, Bath, Queen Baths.' He needed to find the baths. Immediately Darkmin set out with purpose and as much haste as he imagined he could afford.

With time Darkmin noted the familiar scent of blood eyeing bloodied gowns carried by servants, not rags as prisoners would wear. Changing direction immediately he began to follow in reverse the servants path.

The queen climbed out of the bath leaving her sister still twitching and moaning in the hot water. The sly smile on her face betrayed her love of baser pleasures. She put on an elegantly soft bath robe and sighed. She no longer wore the scent of blood, but the heat of the water and the memory of Sera's touch on her skin gave her better comfort.
"Aw, we have to get out already?" Sera pouted at the edge of the baths.
In response, the queen just looked at her with the stare that made Sera obey her every wish. The princess came out, slowly so Haedria could see all the curves her body had to offer, and her fiery red hair that clung to her skin, then shrugged on a bath robe as well.
"Court is to gather after lunch. Besides, the baths are so limited." Haedria said in an innocent enough way, but Sera grabbed and hugged her sister's arm at the unspoken invitation.
The two left the baths, not noticing the guardsman that stood stoically outside. The two proceeded to their chambers.
"Do you think the barbarian king will bring tribute?" Sera asked.
"He should. Its only protocol. I hope its nothing so common as grain."
"What if they brought slaves?"
"An interesting thought. Perhaps the long-legged tanned females from the eastern shores. I heard that groups of them dancing are quite the sight."
"Oh did I tell you about Kerza's weapons?"
"What about them?"