Chapter Six

Unknown Location

The beast falls dead at her feet, the pit fighter had won once more but wasn't thrilled with it. All she could hear was the quick beating of her heart as she tried to playthrough the last few minutes of her life inside her mind. Everything was a complete blur, fear had both consumed and controlled her movements causing her to act in a panic. Now the creature that had been sent toward her was killed. Yes, as the young woman looks around she comes to remember everything. An arena, coliseum if you prefer, filled with a roaring crowd. A pair of lizard individuals drive hooks into the beasts shoulders and drag it away through the sand.

Up in the sky box, a young white haired cat girl watches on with a tight collar wrapped around her neck. From that collar was a metal chain leading to a woman in the most comfortable seat in the entire place. The Goddess. She watches down at the pit fighter, her thumb and forefinger stroking the chain that's loosely wrapped up around her hand and wrist. The two lock eyes as the fighter stands, gripping her blades. She had the tools but not the means to obtain her freedom. She then looks to the cat girl still watching down at her. Aside from the collar, a pendant was visible bearing the insignia of Jennaton University. A feeling of dread passes through the warriors heart as she looks down at the blood in the sand. Soon, the fighter brings up a hand holding her sword high as the crowd comes back alive.

With a smile, the Goddess signals to one of her many guards who approaches the railing and holds out his cudgel. Loud noises erupt from the eastern end of the arena floor as the fighter lowers her sword and turns. Roars bellow out from behind a slowly lifting cage door. This day wasn't over quite yet.

~*~

Slutton Docks

Along with a handful from the Royal Guard, Commander Hayes stands alongside General Whitmore watching out at the sea as the flagship of Alexandria's navy approaches closer. It's still hard to make out but focusing out in the haze Jessica notices several other shapes slowly starting to appear alongside the first ship. It takes a few minutes, but the commander soon realizes that those are other ships. She looks down at the young general astonished.

“General, that's an entire fleet! These aren't negotiations, this is you allying for--”

It hits her the moment she thinks of it. She turns to gaze out at the approaching armada as several more ships come out through the haze. Jessica takes another look at Harriet watching as the wild fire in her eyes begins to burn brighter, a sinister smile slowly appearing across her face. Jessica swallows and turns her attention back out to the sea firmly believing that General Harriet Whitmore...had gone insane.

~*~

Illsvalia, Forest village of Elves

It's night time when the trio is finally able to relax. Their tattered rags exchanged for clothes of a lush green colour. Simple skirts and tops mostly, but better than what they've been wearing the trek here. At the moment, Felicty converses with a few of her friends trying to get the details from the escape that was made just a few days prior as Celes is just leaving one of the rooms up in the trees before spotting Jess standing at the edge of the walkway leaning against a wooden balcony. Celes looks around before slowly joining up beside her.

“Been a while since we could just look up at the sky, huh?” She asks as Jess responds with a mild noise in agreement. Celes still approaches stopping beside the woman so she can look up at the star filled sky. “So...Lori's going to be okay. Looks like we got here just in time.”

“...that's good.” Jess replies barely even audible for Celes to hear standing next to her.

“Yeah.” Celes looks down now over the mountains where they had just come before glancing up again and smiling. “Hey, too bad we didn't have the Star Dragon, huh? With that things wingspan we could just walk from her all the way to Boo--”

“Will you quit trying to make small talk? You win, okay? I concede that your people are better, okay?” Jess replies staring at Celes for a moment not certain she wants to continue. So, she just waves the elf off and turns toward the corner of the balcony.

“Jess...”

“Just stop. Your people fed us, clothed us, they're taking care of Lori...I was smiled at. Okay? The elf who gave me these clothes, she smiled at me. A human!”

“The in school hate isn't that widespread. It took me a while to remember that, but...” Celes sighs knowing she should have sooner. It shouldn't have come to that talk with Felicity, but it did. “When I was growing up in the Five Capitals, it seemed like everyone there got along. Humans, elves, everyone. Even the human Mistress was nice.”

Hearing that, Jess slowly looks over toward Celes. “Really?”

Celes nods. “I don't think there was any day where she never left the central tower. She was always going around, visiting the cities. At first it just seemed like formal visits. Delegates and political figures would just hide her away believing she expected the lavish treatment of their city. Even my mother was guilty of this. Eventually though, the Mistress would sneak her way into the cities just to observe the people as they were.”

“Wait,” Jess backs the story up a bit as she nods along the various points before coming down on one. “It was you that I was after.”

“Hm?”

“The whole reason I got caught on your side of the school, it was to find out about the royal figure attending classes there. You! Everyone thought it was just a rumour, even I had my doubts. But now...”

Jess smiles and nods glad to know she wasn't taken in for nothing. Although considering all that, her smile slowly fades as eyes drop to the floor. Celes realizes what's going on and steps in placing a hand up on Jess' shoulder.

“We'll get them all back, I promise.” Celes gives a reassuring squeeze as Jess looks back up.

“You know, I...I didn't get a chance to properly thank you. If it weren't for you...”

“It's okay. Though, to be honest, not all of them were noble ambitions to keep you going with us.”

“I know, but Slutton...you didn't have to rescue me there. You could've just left me to my fate.”

Celes giggles a little trying to keep things from getting too down.

“I paid top dollar for you, I'm not going to let anyone take you away for nothing.”

Jess muses out a little laugh as well before looking over at Celes' hand still resting up on her shoulder. Celes quickly moves it away and blushes a little.

“Sorry.” Celes says turning her head away herself now.

“It's okay.” Jess now reassures with a smile.

“So you two aren't gonna kiss.” The two look over and spot Felicity in the doorway with her own smile. She steps back and gestures for them to follow. “C'mon, Lori's just about out of that suit. Figured she'd want to hear your plan.”

The elder elf disappears back inside as Celes and Jess share a quick glance and begin on their way to follow.

“You also called an elf by her name.” Celes says.

“I did?”

“Mm-hm. You said Lori.”

“Oh. Guess I did.” Jess laughs a little as the two step inside the room anxious to see their friend's face again.

~*~

Throne room, Slutton Capital building

It was truly a marvel to behold, Harriet had thought she would one up on power by inviting the Queen of Alexandria, the self anointed Goddess of her lands, to her own realm. But instead, even from her heightened throne, the Queen of Slutton was forced to tilt her head up. For before her was a human pyramid of gold. Steady slaves mounted on top of one another before a series came up on top to form a place their Queen may sit. All slaves were kept anonymous, hidden behind masks, and all were well trained as to not shift. From the top of this perfect heap, Cleopatra looks down.

“Thank you, young Queen of Slutton, it is truly an honour to be within your presence.”

“The pleasure is mine...Queen of the West.” Harriet replies through gritted teeth. Her hand grips tightly to the arm of her throne in a way noticeable to Jessica who glances over toward her General to see her use every ounce of humility to keep that smile going.

“It is.” Cleopatra eventually agrees. “My armies, while camping outside your walls, all mutter the same thing.”

“Our target is where they went. As my terms stated, any slave found within that forest bearing the mark of Slutton shall be returned to me. The rest are yours to take.”

“And Jennaton? They will not involve themselves?”

“It's expected they will.” Jessica responds stepping up from her place beside Harriet's throne. “It won't take them long to figure out that our armies massing in front of them and with your navy we'll have them surrounded. Therefore, they'll attack while they still have allies with the elves. This is why...” Jessica glances over to her General and then back to Cleopatra speaking with a softer tone. “This is why we called for your numbers.”

She puts the emphasis on the “we” part knowing she had no part in this decision, but to save face she claims a part in this. The Goddess looks between the two and nods.

“Very well,” Cleopatra responds resting her hand down over the armrest of her own throne. Which, as it happens, is the head of another woman. “War is what I came for.”

~*~

Illsvalia, Hospital

The procedure had been a success, all of the dark material had been wiped away from Lori's body. Save the soles of her feet and for a couple of small patches along her hand where Celes had been keeping hold of her. The pressure from the reassuring squeezes only hastened the bonding of the suit to Lori's flesh. Therefore, Celes remains silent inside the room as both Jess and Felicity stand off to the other end of Lori's bed.

“Don't be upset, Celes. I'm glad you were there guiding me the entire way.”

“Had I known...”

“Had you known I would have bumped into everything along the way here. In fact, I probably would have just wandered off and we never would've gotten here in time. So don't look so sad, Celes, you did the absolute best you could and I'm proud of you.”

Celes nods her head feeling the warmth from Lori's smile as Jess tilts her head.

“Can't you just cut off your flesh and just heal it?”

Lori shakes her head. “I can only close wounds, not fill in gaps. Besides, I'm not ashamed of these marks. Not that I need to be reminded, but it'll be nice to look at them and see just how far Celes will go for a friend.” Again Lori smiles toward Celes as Jess looks across the room to her. “But at the same time,” Lori turns toward Felicity and smiles. “Thank you for helping her.”

“Oh. It was no problem.” Felicity says with a smile. “Infact, I--”

Felicity pauses when she looks over finding a guard standing by the door looking directly toward her. What strikes Felicity as odd isn't that the guard is there but that she has a worried look about her.

“Felicity, Lady Lilandra wishes your attendance in the main chamber.”

“Of course.” Felicity says nodding her head as the guard hurries off. Felicity looks around the room shrugging her shoulders. “Probably just a debriefing about the escape. Excuse me.”

With all eyes following her, Felicity departs the room mere moments before another enters inside watching the white haired elf. In the womans' hands is a plant holder with nothing but dirt inside.

“Becky!” Lori exclaims happy to see her friend. “I'm so glad you were able to make it out of Slutton alive.”

“Yeah,” The young mage responds with a smile coming up beside Lori so she can place the holder down on the table beside her. “Thanks to your elf friend, that is. As a matter of fact, thanks to everyone here I've really been allowed to let my powers grow. Watch.”

Becky touches a finger to the dirt and brings it up as a green stem follows along. Soon, she pulls her finger away leaving a bud that opens to display a brilliant flower. Lori smiles as Celes stares in amazement. Jess, however, doesn't appear quite as comfortable as she was earlier.

~*~

Illsvalia, Central Chamber

Having just arrived to the chamber, Felicity is a little surprised in seeing Lady Lilandra standing alongside her council by a map of the continent.

“What's going on?”

“A scouts reported rather troublesome news from the west.” A councilman replies as Felicity arrives next to Lilandra who points over the map.

“Cleopatra's forces have been spotted sailing toward the coast of Slutton and by now they've likely to have arrived.”

“Forces from Alexandria?” Felicity asks. “Why?”

“We believe,” Lilandra explains, “There has been an alliance formed between Alexandria and Slutton. There is no reason Cleopatra would attempt open naval warfare with Harriet. Not to mention, none of those ships were fired upon during their entry.”

~*~

Throne room, Slutton Capital building

Having just finished the meeting, both Jessica and Harriet stand by the massive windows watching down as slaves carry the canopy seat of their Goddess to her temporary holdings.

“Is this really necessary, ma'am? Open warfare against both Jennaton and Illsvalia?”

“My standing will not be put to question, Commander. We'll re obtain our slaves and garner a powerful ally at the same time.”

Jessica clearly doesn't think so as she looks out at the fleet noticing a few ships starting to sail toward the south.

“Where are they going?”

~*~

Illsvalia, Central Chamber

“What troubles me most about all of this,” Felicity says looking over the map. “Is if this is truly about the escape we made, how fast Cleopatra was to respond to this call Harriet made.”

“I had thought the same thing.” Lilandra responds. “Until I remembered the recent coup that happened within Slutton's own boundaries. I'm sure as you've spent time among those on the streets you've heard murmurs, insults even directed toward Harriet from her own people and some members of her military.”

“Slutton is still weakened from that coup...” Felicity says to herself.

“Allying with the troubled mind of Harriet Whitmore would give Cleopatra safe passage onto this continent.”

“Why hasn't Jennaton done anything to stop this?”

“They're facing their own problems. Their royal family hasn't opened the palace doors for weeks.”

“Everything has been set up so perfectly for Cleopatra.” Felicity says shaking her head as she looks back at Lilandra. “What about Genevieve? Has a message been sent to the Queen? The Mistress?”

For this, Lilandra shakes her head slowly. “We tried. Every form we could think of. There's been no response from the capital.”

~*~

Throne room, Slutton Capital building

Now standing by the strategic map of the continent, Harriet points out the sea just south of Jennaton.

“If I'm to force Jennaton into a fight, I want it a fight they know they cannot win.”

“Half of Cleopatra's fleet has sailed that way.”

“Exactly. They'll be creating a blockade. Really, I had expected some form of resistance from Jennaton by now, I suppose their royal family really is locked away from the world. No matter, someone over there will begin taking charge. Unfortunately, by then it'll be too late!”

Harriet laughs as she makes her way back toward her throne while Jessica continues looking over the map, a thought nagging at the back of her head.

“Half of Alexandria's fleet has gone south...” She turns and looks out the window seeing the rest of Cleopatra's armada faced toward their docks. “What are those ships doing?”

~*~

Illsvalia, Hospital

“It smells lovely, Becky.”

Lori giggles taking another sniff of the flower as Becky watches on. Meanwhile, Jess turns away hugging an arm across her chest as she rubs her hand along her other arm. Celes notices this and opens her mouth to speak when Felicity enters inside.

“Looks like your plan just got a lot easier but incredibly complicated.”

“Hm?” Celes asks looking toward Felicity as she continues to the front of Lori's bed.

“Slaver ships will undoubtedly be coming down around here soon.”

“What do you mean?” Celes asks as Lori sits up concerned exchanging a quick glance with Becky.

“Slutton and Alexandria appear to have signed some sort of alliance. Alexandria's forces have already landed outside of Slutton and Genevieve hasn't gotten back to our contacts.”

“It hasn't?” Lori asks quickly looking toward Celes.

“...mother.”

“Lady Lilandra has approved of any means necessary in sending individuals up there, find out what's going on, and report the status of Titanie immediately.” Felicity takes a couple deep breaths after having gotten that all out before looking toward Celes. “Celes?”

Celes collapses down on her rear as Lori jumps from her bed rushing over as Jess steps back.

“Celes!” Along with Felicity, Lori checks over her friend.

~*~

Illingdoon Mountains, East of Jennaton

From this vantage point it's clear to see that finally someone has taken charge of the situation at hand as individuals rush about the city, some of them in organized manner. Alexandria's ships are slowly getting into position as cannons from the docks already begin firing. The city is in full defense but it matters not to one individual seated atop a cliff watching down with her hand extended outward toward the city, her palm pointed up as a slow mist begins to appear up above it. The sorceress Gamma smiles as her skeletal Captain Walker stands idle beside her. Soon, the mist becomes less and less transparent prompting the sorceress to close up her hand and chuckle to herself.

“Death.”