Marika
They sat near the small grace that kindled in the middle of the throne room. It was quiet amidst the broken old statues of lords of the past, where cobwebs had as much a home as royal remains in crypts to each side of the throne chamber. Each room aglow with candles that never went out, and this place was sacred. Even drawing her weapon here had proven impossible.
She watched the grace, silently shaking in her core at what they had done. No, what she had done. 'The rage is it's will.' She heard him echo from his cell, silenced with a clutched hand to her face just before a bowl of stew was lowered near her. She turned towards it through unkempt golden locks, still caged in a mix of blood and sweat from battle. "Thank you.." she said softly, tucking some hair back as she took the bowl.
"Still hot. So." The knight reminded her as she sat down beside her. She had let the queen feel for the last few hours. Let her cry, scream, throw a tantrum on the headstones even. It left her drained, but it had also silenced Him. She had to find something else to focus on now, though. It didn't do to dwell this long.
"Say... do you have any children?" Sipping the broth, smiling at the slightly spicy flavor. The knight's eyes seemed to instantly light up.
"Oh yeah! Lots!" Smiling nearly ear to ear.
"Really?" She answered curiously before taking a spoonful of potatoes and beef.
"Mhm! My eldest is Sarah. She's a sweet girl who runs a doll place. She's got all kinds from old victorian style creepy dolls to these fascinating japanese ones where they hand paint them."
Marika smiled slowly. She did not quite understand what exactly these styles she spoke of were, but the glee that had regrown in the knight's eyes had been tok intoxicating to let waver.
"She sounds like she has quite the talent for craftmanship." She said between bites.
"Hehe, gets it from me." The knight responded, wiping her nails on her tunic with a look of pride.
"That so?"
"I run a smithy myself in the far east, but my family and I live in the far northwestern parts of our world."
"Must me quite hard to travel that and run a store."
The knight chuckled as if the notion was as funny as saying fish can infact swim. "Then I have to mention Hazel."
"What a lovely name."
"She's incredible. A natural with magicks and alchemy."
"That right?"
"Not to mention loyal to her core. Her brother and her are practically inseparable besties, Happy."
"Happy?"
The knight smiled and seemed to go on for hours. Marika listened, growing enraptured by strange tales of old riddles, ancient experimentation, and countless little stories of her dear knight's children. She looked so happy to speak of them, to speak of her home. It made this, at times, unnatural seeming person that much more grounded. She smiled, letting herself slowly grow lost in tales of a place where a family known as the FoLD called home.
Ranni
"There can be no doubt now," the dark moon witch spoke to her trio of aids with Melina standing behind her, "that the former queen of the lands between has returned."
Iji slowly stroked a hand under his mask at his chin with a slow, grumbling thoughtfulness. Blaidd nodded, listening obediently as he always did. Her puppet master lay in a corner, skewered on a dozen random spears, and made to talk through a curse that puppeted him now. A fitting punishment after Melina reported finding intoxicant in her tea one day.
"What a fascinating development, your grace. Surely a new piece for your plans, your grace." The grim puppet mimicked. She would have to discard the corpse soon. He had begun to smell.
Iji began to nod. "Then perhaps we shall begin to make ourselves known more evidently. They are on their way to Liurnia, yes?"
Blaidd nodded. "Last I saw, their steed was spotted wmerging onto the plateau beyond Stormveil. Won't take those two long to figure out how to get onto the lake." He had grown fond of the duo after their shared comradery during the Radahn Festival, and she bad to admit that she hoped to use that as a way to wnsure he worked with them more often.
"Which means they will soon approach the Academy, and Mother." She said, a hint of caution in her voice to the thought.
Iji chuckled. "I doubt these two have any intention of harming the peaceful queen Rennala."
"Unless they are seeking to further their collection of great runes. Two, by my count, are in their hands." She said, raising two fingers.
"Two unawoken great runes." Iji corrected, and she nodded her head slowly.
"Ay, can't do too much with them in that state now can they?" Blaidd added, which got a small chuckle out of Ranni.
"No, I suppose not dear Blaidd." She smiled to the wolfman, her beloved brother.
"Well, Marika or not then. I say they may as well be allied with us." Iji said. "They have never harmed our causes. If anything, they furthered our plans, isn't that right, Blaidd?"
Blaidd smiled and held his head high. He had acquired the precious dagger soon after the fall of Radahn deep within Nokron's depths. It had been a moment of true pride for her kin, and she had begun to think of ways now to share in her freedom from the two fingers with him. She feared long they would strike at her through him and underhandedly at that. Now, she had a drive to correct that weakness.
Melina leaned in, whispering to her. "I have acquired the first half of the medal and the key to the academy."
The snow witch slowly grinned. "Then we shall make a test of it. Let them pass through to the academy. Let us see what behavior a world brimming with knowledge draws out of them. If they treat it as a great moment of learning, then we shall make allies of them."
"And if they do not?" Blaidd asked warily, nervous at the potential ramifications.
The witch considered this. Blaidd had grown attached. She suspected Iji may as well, as her spying had tipped her off to a shared love of forging. They had been meaning to reinforce that blade of hers.
She then smiled and began to scheme. To plan the entire journey through Liurnia. She even found herself beginning to hold a candle of hope that things may yet go her way. Perhaps even with those, she held so dear intact.
Melina
She left the snow witch to her schemes, fading into spirit as she made her way to the capital. It had been a while since she had spoken to Morgott. She hoped he had truly considered her words.
Landing near one of the walls, she saw her informants and aids. A pair of seemingly ever intoxicated men, one as tall as a small tree and about as lanky with a thin beard along his jaw and short kept dark brown hair. He had an average look, but there was a fury bubbling in those eyes. The other was more jovial, laughing at a joke they shared as he waved his ale. Scruffy face and average build and height, he had a scruff of feathery hair under his helmet. Both wore helmed cloaks of the guard but were stood far away from the main entrance.
"Boys." The spirit girl said as she landed beside them at the entrance to the sewers that had been hidden ages ago. It was her best way in and out while in this fleshed form.
"Hey! Oh girl, it's so good ta see ya!" The more jovial one laughed and turned quickly to cheer as she set down the keg she brought.
"The usual payment. One barrel of strong spirits from the far north lands and a parcel of giggle weed." Handing the wrapped parcel to the taller fellow who instantly began to prepare its contents.
"Man, you don't kn -"a finger to his lips, befoee she walked through the sewer entrance and left the boys to their fun and games. They were good fellows, a bit silly, but good.
She walked deeper, leather boots slowly splashing old stagnant puddles as she traversed the long depths. She got to a hidden cavern where she knew a ladder would take her back up near the rise to the throne and courtyard when a noise struck her ear. She turned around long enough to see the cloth cover her mouth, and her vision started to fade.