Chapter 3: Chapter 2
Nico stood next to Talia on her balcony, his elbows holding him over the stone comfortably as he watched the scene below. They had switched from their now tainted clothes into attire far more appropriate for their new titles within the governing body of Arboros. Talia wore an elegant silken dress the color of her hair which was now neatly tied back up into its usual beaded braids. He wore a suit, though he quite despised it, and a heavy jacket overtop to hold away the encroaching cold.
"I can finally see the smoke rising." She commented idly, a long finger scraping over the granite railing. He peered beyond her to see puffs of almost completely black smoke floating up into the crisp air. Perhaps it was a good thing that the snow was starting to fall in earnest now as the twin moons started their climb over the distant mountain tops. There would be little trouble containing the flames to that building alone.
"Should we prepare for the guards call for aid?" He mumbled. He was already shivering from the biting cold which seemed to all but ignore the thick wool coat he had picked. Talia sighed and tipped her head upwards towards the skies, her horns nearly touching the back of her shoulders. He would never understand why she could face the cold as if it didn't exist and he would freeze the moment the temperatures dropped enough for frost to appear.
"I suppose so, they'll be asking for it here shortly enough. They've come to rely on magic a little too much for my taste." She turned back and lead him into her room. He made his way promptly to her crackling fire where he was relieved to find the temperature perfect.
"Lucky for them Lotus is training up a new generation of mages but I think it'll be quite a while before any are capable of even comparing to your skill or power." He had never taken Lotus as the teaching type but admittedly he also had never given her the time of day to learn about her likes or dislikes. He was just glad she seemed to at least be half competent at what she did.
"Half of them can barely hold a consistent form of mana right now. It could be years before they're able to tame a magical flame. And a century before they can even blow out my candles." She glided around her room tidying it and pulling out various supplies, though for what he couldn't say.
He leaned on the wall beside her fireplace and watched as she pulled papers, quills, and ink wells to set upon her desk. She had a look of pinched concentration as she started to draw complex and intricate sigils on the paper, some with black ink and some with red.
"What are those?" He pointed with a raised brow. Talia was usually not the one to make such constructs, she preferred a magic not bound by paper and ink unlike him.
"These will serve the guards for now, there are a few captains capable of putting enough mana into a sigil to get it to work. These will kill fire of all kinds including magical. I'll make enough that if a jump does happen and another building goes up they can get it under control immediately. It'll also allow us to stay far away from the scene of all that evidence. Of course most of the bone tissue should be ash now there might be a few spots missed. The more time I can give the flames to erase those idiots existence the better." She shuffled five pages of freshly painted paper and hid it with another stack as if she had them made long ago.
"They'll be especially happy to have those with Reezara growing ever bigger." He could already hear the unrest picking up now that Reezara had to be housed outside the city walls. She was far too big to fit even into an empty horse stable so Talia had the engineers build a special home for her where she was free to be herself. It also gave her the freedom to hunt as she pleased and keep the kingdom walls free from pests and attacks.
"They're too worried about her starting a fire, she isn't some uncontrollable animal with no thought or reasonability. She's a dragons for gods sake." Talia's face contorted in annoyance. He had to admit it was a pretty look on her, it suited her. Even with her deep scars and her eyepatch she managed to be a creature of stunning physical prowess and features. He laughed as she slapped everything back into their original places just as a brisk knock sounded at her door.
"Your Highness, may we enter? We have an emergency." The voice belonged to the captain of her guard, a young man by the name of Bennett. He had proven his loyalty time and again with a vigor that befitted a man of his status. Though Nico wasn't quite sure he liked how much Talia liked the boy.
"Certainly Captain Bennet." She called casually while taking a seat on one of her specially crafted chairs which sat in the far corner. Bennet entered with three guardsmen behind him, all of whom were in full uniform which consisted of dark and polished leather armor with a shiny metal breastplate with Talia's crest stamped into it. The lesser guardsmen wore helmets but today it would seem Bennet had forgone such measures.
"My Lady." His voice was deep and formal as he dropped to one knee and held a clasped fist over his chest. The other guards followed suit, all of them closing their eyes and bowing as deeply as their armor allowed.
"What is it you needed Captain?" Talia asked, a look of demure curiosity burning in her emerald eye. She curled a crimson lock of hair around her forefinger as she awaited his reply.
"My Lady a fire has broken out in Horatio's wine cellar. The entire building has been consumed now and it threatens to overtake surrounding businesses. I have two regiments of guardsmen throwing water onto the flame but it seems unwilling to yield despite the snow and the cold temperatures. I would like your guidance on what to do next should the flames spread?" Once he had said his peace he stood and his underlings followed suit.
Talia did well to ponder the question and make it seem as if she were legitimately running through their options. She even tapped a few fingers onto the chair's arm, her lips pursed in thought. She looked almost concerned, enough so that Bennet started to shuffle nervously.
"I have something that might help, though they're a bit older. You're capable of manipulating mana yes?" As if she didn't already know he was gifted. He was no mage sure but Nico noticed her giving the Captain plenty of opportunities to stretch his magical muscles.
"Of course my Lady." He nodded his head in affirmation while she stood and dug for the now dry and slightly dusty sigils she had just created. She handed the stack over to him and started to speak,
"These are anti-fire sigils. They should devour any active flame in the vicinity of where they're placed with just a little mana pushed into them. I'll leave them in your care, do with them as you will but I hope to hear that the fire is stopped dead in its tracks within the hour. I know you're perfectly capable of getting these to work after all." She offered him a friendly smile. Nico nearly growled, a twisting sense of jealousy rising up in his stomach. He quelled that feeling fast, wondering suddenly why he was feeling so possessive of her attentions.
"Of course your Majesty, I'll have the fire dead and cold in no time." He bowed then and turned quickly, his underlings followed quickly and closed the door behind them.
"He sure laid it on thick." Nico grumbled bitterly. Talia looked at him only to burst out laughing.
"You don't have to be so jealous, he's only doing his duty with that ginormous sense of honor he carries around with him. He's a good kid."
"He's the same age as us." Nico snipped. But his ire dulled as she continued laughing.
"Alright I'll concede. Either way now that that's taken care of we should probably start getting things prepared for the winter. I know Bromyr wanted to meet with us and discuss a few things. I can't put that off forever." Her eye rolled in irritation as she dug in her armoire for a different dress.
"I suppose not. That bossy little bastard will find you and make a scene if you don't eventually give in to his petty little demands." Nico still hated the fact that Hephatus had ordered them to see the man safely back to his home. That mission still loomed heavy over their shoulders even if they wanted to get Arboros back on its feet. He knew sooner rather than later they'd have to saddle up and be off again, probably once the snow started to melt away and give in to spring.
"He's been busy lately getting the blacksmiths up and running. I've gotta say he's got some serious skill with leather and iron. The armor he's made for the royal guard is stunning." Nico nodded along, he did have to give the fussy prince that much credit at least. He was good at doing what dwarves did best.
"At least it gives him something to focus on, it keeps his pestering ass away from us." That was the only thing he was thankful for. Talia pulled a much more demure wool dress from her armoire and slipped to her bathroom to put it on.
"Perhaps he'll be at dinner, we can talk then." She called. His stomach growled in response. At least he could ignore the dwarf while stuffing his face if it came down to talking there.
"You're changing into something less extravagant for dinner? I thought Madora told you that you should dress like a true royal for social things." He wasn't complaining of course but the dress she was about to put on was more for travel rather than a social event like dinner.
"I should also dress like the weather affects me. Everyone's going to be bundled up even with the fires stoked to their maximum. They'd feel off-put if I showed up looking like a summer jewel." He sighed, of course she was right but he wasn't so keen on admitting it.
"Besides, Madora never shows up to dinner anyway!" She laughed as she exited the bathroom, glittering red dress draped haphazardly over her arm.
"Alright I'll give you that one." He laughed with her then. Suddenly his dark and brooding emotions melted away to relaxation and comfort. He hated winter, he hated the cold and the snow and the reminder of their adoptive mother. But Talia always made it feel like home even though he was usually miserable.
"Lets get going before we're missed. I don't want Midnight hunting around for me, she gets too aggressive and things get out of hand." Talia lead him once more through the castle halls, her pace quick and clipped as they rushed towards the large dining hall.
The castle as usual was abuzz at that time of evening. Torches crackled with lively vigor, servants bustled about with light and hearty voices as they called to one another. Fires all around the castle were being stoked and lit for the coming night, windows were being closed and locked, everyone was preparing to settle in like doves into their nests.
The dining hall was no different, the tables were being set with quick agile hands. First they'd spread the table-cloth and then the next servant would dance around and set plates, silverware, and cups. The cooks and their understaff danced about as well with carts laden with food. Nico's stomach growled again.
"Hail!" The head chef called out causing the entire staff to stop dead and bow deeply as Talia passed.
"Hail to the Queen!" They'd call once they'd drawn even to them. Once they passed the servants would stand again and return to their business, faces flushed with excitement and joy. Talia certainly had a way with people despite her inherent nature. He'd never understand how or why the humans had taken to her so quickly or strongly.
"My Lady, tonight I have prepared you a succulent roast that has been aged and seasoned to perfection for the past thirty days as celebration for the turning of fall to winter. I have paired with it a mountain of mashed potatoes slathered in your favorite gravy. Next to that is an assortment of vegetables and sweet potatoes, then a few freshly baked rolls gently bathed in butter. For dessert I have a delectable cream cake with sugared honeyberries glazed over the top." The head chef spoke the moment they got to their table and took a seat.
Talia looked to the man who was now placing a giant platter in front of her. The chef was named Antonia and was a rather portly man. He had a bald head that had long since lost the last vestiges of hair. His face was always kept neatly shaven though, and even now he glowed with light sweat to mark his toils in the hot kitchens.
"This is truly marvelous, I shall sleep quite well tonight with a belly full of your finest." Talia complimented the man warmly eliciting a bright gleaming smile from him. He then pulled his cart forward and sat an equally large platter in front of Nico.
"And for you my Lord, an assortment of finely cut and cooked meats all placed upon a bed of grilled vegetables. I've paired with it a bowel of fresh fruits and then some cheeses. I'll have my second hand bring out the wine and water posthaste." He bowed deeply and retreated, though he left his cart for the time in which Talia's remaining party would show up for dinner. By now the rest of the kingdom who wished to attend were streaming in for the usual dinner festivities.
"Well, I think this is one thing I'll never get used to and I'll miss dearly when the time comes for us to leave." Nico lamented as he pulled the top from his platter. Dinner as usual looked far too marvelous for its own good, and it smelled even better.
"If there's one way to this queen's heart it is surely through her stomach." Talia moaned gleefully as she stuffed her mouth with a large cut of meat. At least it would seem that the turning of seasons would be a festive and enjoyable night for once.
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