“The Gratian Shakeup

  Diplomatic missives and messaging from both parties have signaled warming relations between the once frosty Traxian Empire and Gratian Republic. With the advent of the Principality of House Montroi rising to the forefront in recent times. The Republic has begun attempting to thaw relations with the neighboring Empire. Likewise, with rumors of the Empire aiming to back the Republic, the Kingdom of Gratia has begun making diplomatic inroads to the Lucurian Sultanate. Given that the Empire and Sultanate are also engaged in skirmishes across the entire border. Many fear that this will inflame already present tensions and draw the nations of Gratia into escalating their local conflict into a regional one for the nations along the Trannoire.”

  - Trannoire Times, Second Page, “The Gratian Shakeup”

  Wooden rustic walls brought about a strange warmth to the study that fought to keep the stone cold pragmatism of the castle outside its boundaries. Under any ordinary circumstance, Sophie could imagine a tired lord or lady, sighing deeply as they nibbled on a snack, leaning backwards in their chairs and washing it down with a sip of something pleasant. A quiet hum of contentment and then they would close their eyes to nap a little, the fireplace on the far end of the room acting like a lovely blanket to keep them company even on colder days.

  Not that such luxuries would be found here. Nothing more than an idle fantasy in the back of her mind. Instead, what was present was the same comfy looking room. But almost everything was too eerily pristine. There were no cracked panels or rot, not even worn furniture or flecks of ash in the fireplace. In fact, there were no signs of usage or any activity at all. Only a thin layer of dust after whenever they had last used the area.

  Annalise had dragged them here without any explanation. Only the heavy thunk of her crutch against the castle floors followed by the clatter of boots and shoes behind her. The ranger had dismissed most of her guard detail, only the four silent undead warriors from before and Sir Lyran. The only staff related attendants Anna kept with her was the barmaid and a slightly older court servant. One who disappeared down a servant’s corridor after Anna whispered, ‘Nourishment and refreshments’ to her.

  A u-shaped meeting table greeted them upon entry. In between the wings, a small map table remained unused in the center of the room, the small dioramas of forests and buildings detailed the greater Gratian landscape as a whole.

  At the head of the table, Anna sat, looking like a princess about to be advised by her councilors. In a court setting this might even appear to be a routine courtly gathering. Unfortunately for everyone involved, Sophie had little doubt that things would end as smoothly as those would’ve. After all, just a glance at Anna and she could already tell that something was wrong, an observation that she had no doubt most of the others would’ve picked up on as well.

  It didn’t help perception much when Anna seemed to scowl at the air beside her, the ranger’s gaze growing increasingly frustrated before gentle taps from her maid would calm her. Sophie could tell this behavior concerned Mila and Philippe most of all. The odd behavior uniting the inquisitors beyond their rivalry to handle the situation presented before them.

  Anna eventually bade the others to sit down, but to Sophie’s surprise, Runebound did not do so. Instead, the other three members kneeled in supplication with only Arnold remaining standing. The rogue opting to cordially bow instead.

  “My lady.” He greeted.

  “Arnold.” Anna sighed.

  In her voice, Sophie heard the same tired annoyance that was familiar to her. A reminder of the friend she knew.

  “It is done then, Anna.” He answered with a heaviness in his voice.

  “Indeed. They are here. We are satisfied.”

  We? Sophie frowned. She wasn’t the only one to notice, and Mila’s eyes locked onto hers. They were both a little more wary.

  “I am glad I can provide this service.” He bobbed his head.

  “The agreement was made, now fulfilled. You may seek gainful employment here, should that be within your group’s whimsy. But you are now hereby released from service. The steward will arrange the last round of supplies as well as payment.” Anna declared.

  “Many thanks, my lady.” He stood back up and smiled, “Take care, Anna.” He bobbed his head one last time then turned away.

  The other members of Runebound rose up and joined him, each giving Anna a deep bow before leaving the room as well.

  There was no fanfare, no acknowledgements or murmurs. Just a silent procession that exited without a fuss. Then the clunk as the double doors to the room slammed shut once more.

  A silence filled the room. The guests mostly uncertain of how to proceed and what to do now. Anna just leaned back in her chair, sinking into as something seemed to cloud her mind even more. Sophie wanted to ask what was wrong, still seeing Anna as just her friend despite knowing that there was something else there. But her mouth would not move, even now that she had so often railed agains the ills of the world, she felt a part of her hold her back. She was technically still in court, and a courtier shouldn’t speak out of turn, much less one who used to be a maid. Furthermore, Anna was also her friend, and Sophie didn’t want to add anymore pressure upon her shoulders if she could help it.

  Seeing Mila gritting her teeth and frowning, Sophie guessed that the inquisitor was going through the same mental process that she had been. They both wanted answers from Anna, perhaps to different questions. Yet neither were bold enough to confront the princess directly in the moment. Nor did it seem, would any of the others rise up to question the princess. In this matter, Philippe and Marduk differed to Mila, just as the Lily Knights differed to Sophie.

  So they waited until Anna was ready. The princess massaged her temple and a frown made its way across her face once more. She then grunted to herself before finally looking up to glance at Sophie and the others.

  “Sophie. Hello.” She addressed her.

  “Hey, Anna. I uh… I hope you’re well.” Sophie awkwardly fumbled.

  Of all the words that ran through her head, the ones that came out were far less elegant than she’d envisioned. Still a soft, warm little smile emerged from the girl.

  “Hah. Been better.” Anna gently snickered.

  There was something different about her. Despite the obvious pained movements and labored grunts, she was also more refined, more elegant. Her reactions a little more meticulous and her gestures that much more lady-like. Similar to what Sophie saw back in her service under Eva.

  With that gentle utterance, Sophie felt a small amount of relief flood across the room. Things were still tense, but there was a human that was still there. Somewhere.

  “So… I suspect you can tell we all have some questions.” Mila spoke up.

  Anna just grunted at her, though Sophie saw a hint of sadness flash across her eyes.

  “I… I think it’d be best if we start with yours, considering you’re both the princess and the host.” Mila offered a chuckle.

  Anna smiled dejectedly but nodded. The two then looked at Sophie. Sophie just shrugged, suddenly finding any questions that she might’ve had prepared just vanishing into the void.

  “Hah. I guess… I guess it makes sense…” Anna mumbled.

  Behind her, the maid placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, one not typically seen by attendants of royalty. Ah! I remember now! Kimmie! That’s her name! Sophie came to a sudden realization.

  “The obvious, I think… the main… the main question…” Anna’s mumble turned into a growl, the princess twitching a little before calming down.

  “Anna?” Sophie hesitantly queried.

  “That is…” Anna paused and snarled, “Princess Annalise to you, miss… Kastiane.”

  The way Anna enunciated the last few syllables made Sophie feel uneasy. It was barbed, pointed. It wasn’t the Anna she knew, it was her voice but not.

  “Yes?” Sophie finally acknowledged.

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  “Why… Kastiane?” The princess muttered with gritted teeth.

  “What do you mean?”

  Anna slammed a heavy fist down on the table. The thud rattling the room and frightening Sophie. Gone was the kindness and soft eyes, replaced by a maddening anger and anguish.

  “Why… do you call yourself… a Kastiane?!” Anna roared.

  Marduk seemed ready to spring into action. Mila and Philippe both readied themselves to face the soldiers. The others were alarmed, although still looked to Sophie to decide on how they should proceed, even Elaria, despite her calm demeanor.

  “I… huh?” Sophie quickly stammered in an attempt to calm things down.

  “You are Sophie Kastiane, yes?” Anna snarled.

  “That… that’s me.”

  “Fool of a bitch. The question is simple. Why do you call yourself a Kastiane?”

  “I… because that’s who I am? I uh… think?”

  “Confidence, Sophie. We are who we are.” Elaria offered her support.

  Sophie stiffened her back as Anna seemed to now turn her glare upon the bard.

  “And who are you to interrupt?” Her nostrils flared, “Ah, the rumored minstrel, I presume.”

  “Elaria Kastiane, at your service, my lady.” Elaria tactfully lowered her head.

  “Tch. Another one of you. So mayhaps you can answer better where the other could not. Why Kastiane?” Anna’s hostility dropped, the princess, or whoever she was right now, choosing to try a ‘kinder’ approach.

  “If you don’t mind clarifying a little, what did you mean?” Elaria asked, glancing at Sophie for confirmation. Sophie nodded.

  “How simple can it be? Why do your call yourselves by the name Kastiane?”

  Sophie motioned to Elaria that she would answer and the bard complied, ceding the floor to her.

  “Like I said. Because that’s who we are, Anna.” Sophie replied.

  “And how the hells did you come to that conclusion? Huh?” Anna glared daggers at her, “Just taking up a name like that?”

  “Anna!” Sophie growled back, “What the hells did I do to you? There’s no need for this… this… anger?” Sophie squeaked.

  She knew it wasn’t her, she could practically feel the energy radiating off the girl as belonging to something or someone else. But she couldn’t help but bite back, couldn’t help herself from trying to stand up for herself against someone who seemed very much like a dear friend in pain.

  Anna didn’t answer, just continued glaring at her. Sensing that at least she wouldn’t yell immediately, Sophie relented.

  “Look. It sounds… silly, alright? I’ve already told Ary but I… I…” She weighed her options, the absurdity of the discovery only now coming to haunt her.

  “Have faith. For we find strength in the absurdities of life.” Elaria leaned over a whispered to her, “For all, is nothingness.”

  Sophie just stared at her sister for a few moments before nodding.

  “I came to a realization of who I was in a dream.” She mustered up the courage to publicly declare, “Like-like a vision. I saw a dream of… something… of my past, I think. All I heard what I assume to be my parents. They wanted me to survive.”

  The inquisitors muttered something amongst themselves, with even Mila frowning at the sudden revelation. Anna cared not for the distraction, the princess’s gaze continuing to hound Sophie. She practically startled cackling.

  “A dream! How absurd! A dream? That’s it? That’s your claim to heritage? What proof is there? What remants of this idiocy remains?” Anna balked at the declaration, “Preposterous.”

  “No. It’s true.” Sophie defended herself, “I saw it clear as day. There was no mistaking it.”

  “And you would trust a random dream? Perhaps you’d then declare yourself king of the world because the wind whispered it to you.”

  “No, Anna.” Sophie growled, “I… I see dreams differently. I walk the waking nightmares and horrors. Of that, I swear upon my life.”

  Her resolution gave the princess pause. The momentum of questioning briefly faltering as she considered what to say. To Sophie’s relief, upon this line of defence, Mila seemed to understand at least. Given what the two had shared and the prominent role Mila’s own nightmare had warped Sophie’s mind, there was some comfort in mere acknowledgment alone that she was not going insane.

  “Then what did the dreams say, specifically. Do not skimp on the details.” Anna warned, “My… tolerance for mysticism wears thin.”

  “I…” Sophie sighed.

  She closed her eyes and tried her best to recall what she could. Memories that remained unvisited for almost a year if not more.

  Her mind was a mess, a scarred remnant of what it once was. An uncountable number of horrifying thoughts and spine chilling possibilities crossed her immediate examination. Beyond them the doubts and fears, the stomach churning violence that her failures could lead to and have led to even at some points. The faces of the dead, the dying, the ones who screamed in rage and agony as she promised them hope back in the barrows, only to sacrifice them all for a rescue attempt that failed anyways.

  Then the gut twisting rage. Her unbridled fury at the injustice of Arteria, at how those who suffered so much only to die shunned by those who were supposed to protect them. How Sophia had also been violated so thoroughly and that there was nothing they could do to rectify it.

  All that pain, pain that then she could finally untangle to unearth the few nuggets buried within her. Panic, fear. The utter confusion and hopelessness. The soft, questioning tone she uttered the words ‘papa’ the way it felt so alien to her now.

  Finally she was there. The darkness giving way to a moment of clarity.

  “I’m sorry. I misspoke.” She announced after a moment.

  “Misspoke? Explain.” Anna demanded, the command on a knife’s edge from becoming a threat.

  “I was not as clear as I could have been. Yes, I did once dream of things in the past. A palace, a father, a mother. We… they were attacked by…” She frowned, trying to piece what she could together, “Soldiers in green finery. Then I… I survived.”

  She paused, licking her lips and fumbling with her ponytail. She looked at the other people in the room to gauge their reactions. Anna was fuming, obviously. Elaria had likely already known everything. Raylani was more focused on the threats around them whereas Lucinia was trying her best to not appear curious. Mila show doubt but understanding, Philippe just doubt. Marduk was impassive, the orc couldn’t care less about her.

  Anna made a move to speak and Sophie rushed to cut her off before she lost her nerve.

  “But my name, the reason why I call myself Sophie Kastiane. It was because I learned it."

  "From who?" Anna snarled.

  "Down in the dwarven depths… near… Druzara? A dwarven city. I travelled a... a great length, even stumbling upon an abandoned dwarven city, overrun by the creatures of the dark depths. There I conversed with a titan, a stone guardian of the earth. And with them, upon the battlefield outside Druzara, I spoke to the Lady of Shadows herself.” Sophie tried to make sense of her jumbled thoughts, the events slowly growing clearer with every word.

  Raylani was now completely taut, the dark elf frozen in place. Her ears perked up attentively, soaking in every word.

  “Well?” Anna gestured impatiently, “And then?”

  Sophie almost chuckled. There were still parts of her that seemed so familiar.

  “We fought against the forces of the Dark Tide in the underground. Then with the titan’s help, I spoke with the Lady of Shadows, and there she… she granted me a boon, a-a wish to be extracted in return for a deal I made with her.”

  She paused, only for Anna to motion for her to continue.

  “The contents of that pact I cannot share with anyone.” Sophie carefully considered her words, “But what I asked for in return, was to know who I am. And thus she dug into my mind, my past. And there, she told me my name, our name.” Sophie grabbed onto Elaria’s hand.

  Her sister smiled appreciatively at her.

  “Saphyre a-ar? Kastiane. I apologize, I barely remember most of it now.” She sighed in relief, the information now out of her mouth and into the room. The burden a little lighter, “I was already Sophie and well, it sounded close enough to the same so…” She allowed herself a tiny chuckle, “Sophie Kastiane. That’s what I decided.”

  So her tale came to an end and she waited.

  In her seat, Anna’s face was contorted between a grimace and scowl. The princess was silent at first, and considering none of the others were seeking her ire, they remained silent too. So they waited, every little creak and squeak of their wooden chairs the only sounds to interrupt the silence.

  “You two, stay. Everyone, out.” Anna hissed menacingly.

  The princess’s hands were balled into fists, her eyes unfocused but frantic. She was disturbed by something that Sophie had said.

  “Wait but-”

  Mila hardly had a chance to begin when the princess slammed her fists onto the table, stunning the room into silence. The princess glared at the room and pointed at the door.

  “Save your questions for the morrow. An audience I shall grant you then. Now all of you, out. Out!” She screeched.

  “That’’s-”

  “My castle, my rules. Unless you want to die here. Out!” She roared, “I will not warn you again.”

  The others looked towards Sophie. But she was confused, just as startled and frightened by the sudden outburst as the rest of them. Only a glance to her left brought her back down. Elaria was alarmed, to be certain. Yet she wore an air of calm like no other. She caught Sophie’s eye and just nodded. With Elaria's approval, the others backed down.

  Lucinia was the first to stand up after seeing this gesture. The traxian likely in no hurry to put her life at risk if given the chance to deescalate. Raylani followed along after Elaria gestured for her to guard the girl, though as the dark elf left, Sophie could feel her gaze on the back of her neck.

  Seeing the Lily Knights compiling, the inquisitorial contingent reluctantly acquiesced in full. Mila however, made sure that Anna knew this was only temporary.

  “Tomorrow, I’ll hold you to that.” She growled.

  “Go.” Anna made a final utterance, her hand now rising, ready to command the undead in the room.

  Philippe had to practically drag Mila and tug at Marduk to get the two to leave.

  Then Anna motioned for the warriors to go. They of course, obediently obeyed and marched out of the room. Conveniently acting as an iron wall to usher out any who were a little more hesitant.

  When the door finally swung shut behind the last warrior, only five of them remained within the room. But out of them all, it was her that Anna's eyes were boring into. Then the princess snickered, her face twisting into an almost pleasant smirk. Then she cackled and embodied very much the moniker that people had given her, the mad princess.