Flying from Thracina to Eldingholt within the span of a single day was not unheard of. There were Seraphim who took their duties as couriers for Valtar’s will with such studious seriousness that they would spend years practicing specific modes of flight just to ensure that they unlocked skills that would enhance their flight speed beyond what any of their kin were capable of. Such individuals were few, as not many had the dedication to devote so much of their lives to a single cause. Even the Avatars of the All Father had desires beyond service to the greater good. Those who did achieve such heights were worthy of praise and deserved the honors they received, both in life and in Valtar’s Halls after. As much as she loved to fly, she never expected to count herself among the number who could soar at the speed of thought through His vaunted skies. Her talents and focus had always lain elsewhere.

And then came Jadis…

Severina tried not to let the thought of her… partner distract her. Far too often she found herself distracted by memories of past liaisons and fantasies of future encounters with that foolhardy woman. Technically, there was no bond between them but that of a contract to have two children, one Nephilim and one Seraphim. And yet, they acted like a married couple in every point but title. Most especially so when they were alone, in a bedchamber…

With a frustrated noise coming from deep in her chest, Severina shook her head clear of the unnecessary thoughts flitting behind her eyes. Was this the meaning behind the warning Valtar had given her nearly a year ago when she had first heard the name of Jadis? Not a danger, not an evil, but a change. A distracting, sometimes aggravating, often endearing, frequently life altering force of change. The warning could have been more direct. If Severina had known what she was getting into, she likely would have stayed far away from the Nephilim and let Prince Kestil find someone else to be his representative for interacting with the giant woman.

That was what the Severina of before would have said, anyway. She wasn’t so sure that Severina still existed. In point of fact, she was all but certain that Severina died a long time ago. It might have been when she had first bared her ruined body to Jadis and been met with unconditional acceptance. It may have been before, when she had been struck down by demonic might, yet saved by Jadis’ hands. Severina found it hard to know with any certainty. But it could not have been when she first saw that beautiful face grin with absolute, heartbreaking love at the words of a beloved.

Most certainly not.

Regardless, Severina was changed now. Not just in wing or status, but in her soul. Which was ultimately why she found herself flying halfway across the continent just to check on the wellbeing of a Demon of all things. Jadis felt it was important. So, Severina acted without even being asked. After all, Jadis was right. What happened to Cobbler was important. Because, Severina was quite certain, if the empire allowed injustice to be visited upon the strange Demon, then Jadis’ already tenuous ties to Alfhilderunn would be strained that much further. Those ties were in danger of snapping. If they did, then Jadis was like as not to leave the empire entirely and set her roost elsewhere. Severina could not let that happen. Not when she could do something about it.

She did not wish to be forced to choose her allegiance.

Upon reaching Eldingholt, Severina did not bother with formalities. The guards and the Seraphim who watched the skies from the boughs of the Elder Tree knew who she was and would not challenge her comings and goings. She sped past them all, only slowing her flight from the incredible speeds she had become capable of so that she would not cause alarm. When she landed, Severina set down not at the palace as she had so often done in the past, nor at her own often neglected family manor within the city, nor on the lately frequented balcony of the Fortune’s Favored headquarters; instead, her boots came down on the polished marble of the City Hall front steps, where she knew that a loyal and hardworking magistrate would be found at that time of day.

“Lady Severina of House Lumen,” a civil worker with a bland smile greeted her mere moments after she had touched down. “Magistrate Vraekae has been expecting your visit. Please, follow me.”

Severina didn’t bother wasting her time trying to figure out how Magistrate Vraekae knew that she would be arriving. The elf was like Eadgar in that regard. Trying to pry a secret from their fingers would be a fruitless effort. Better to just accept the efficiency and move on.

The bureaucratic man led her through back halls, avoiding the more populated public spaces, and within minutes Severina found herself ushered through the stately doors of the capital magistrate’s office. The interior was far different from the last time she had visited. The former magistrate had favored personal furnishings that focused on his family and their history. All of those paintings and busts had been removed, leaving the office looking a little barren by comparison. Severina supposed that cold efficiency suited the woman who sat behind the highly polished desk.

“Lady Severina,” Magistrate Vraekae stood to greet her with a slight bow of her head. “I assume you and Jadis received my letter.”

“We did,” Severina replied as she strode across the soft throw rug to stand directly before the elf. “I have letters for you in return. One from Jadis, the other from your cousin.”

Action followed word as Severina pulled the two envelopes from her belt pouch and passed them to the magistrate. They were only two of many; she had several more letters to deliver to various parents at the compound, and her own letters to drop off at her manor house. Those messages could wait, however. For the moment, she needed to focus on the main purpose for her hasty flight back to Eldingholt.

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“What is being done about the Demon?”

Vraekae showed no change in expression at Severina’s sharp question. She merely set the letters down on her desk to be read later. Retaking her seat, Vraekae motioned for Severina to take the chair across from her. She did so, following along at the magistrate’s pace. Severina could feel the itch of urgency tickling the inside of her heart. She wanted to get back to Jadis as soon as possible, and Vraekae’s delays felt practically intolerable.

Which was likely the point of the purposeful slowness, Severina recognized after a moment of reflection. She was being hasty, when calm would serve her better. No doubt the elf was saying as much without once opening her mouth. Begrudgingly, Severina took a deep breath and forced herself to sit serenely and wait while Vraekae poured them both a cup of tea.

“The Demon named Cobbler is currently being held within the palace dungeons.”

“The palace?” Severina repeated with some surprise. “Not the city gaol?”

“They city gaol was determined to be unsuitable. The killing of a man at the hands of a supposedly non-hostile Demon within the city walls has proven to be controversial. There have been protests.”

An understatement, Severina assumed. Reading between the lines, there would be no reason to move a single prisoner to the palace dungeons unless the public disturbance was so great that the security of the city gaol was in question.

“What are the people saying?”

“Many things,” Vraekae said as she stirred her tea with a delicate silver spoon. “Enough in common that a guiding hand is most certainly at work.”

“Hraustrekr?”

“Unlikely. He has, in fact, made a public statement on the matter. Specifically, he has denounced the protests.”

“Truly?” Severina’s brow furrowed in confusion. “He is not using this as an opportunity to stir sentiment against Jadis?”

“While our first prince has many unpleasant qualities, self-destruction is not one of them,” the red eyed elf stated before taking a sip of her tea. Frowning, she added another spoonful of sugar. “He knows just as well as his brother what benefits someone like Jadis can bring to the empire. If nothing else, he does not want any further disruptions to the manufacturing of airships. Which is why he has ordered one hundred imperial guardsmen to patrol the streets surrounding the Fortune’s Favored compound.”

“I hope that number is as excessive as it sounds,” she commented before taking a sip of her own somewhat bitter tea. “Or is the danger truly beyond my expectations?”

“A show of force rather than necessity,” Vraekae explained. “One that has worked out well, in so much as the city has calmed down in recent days.”

“Fine then. Not Hraustrekr. One of his loyalists? Perhaps Duke Colgrave? Not General Egilhard. He would not have the influence to act from so far away, even with his increased station.”

“Duke Colgrave has been wisely silent since his plans were made known to Jadis. I can make no connection to him on this matter.”

“Then who?” Severina demanded, her impatience showing its feathers again. “Vraekae, I do not have time to dither about on speculations. We are preparing to move a force of nearly forty thousand men against Kastoria in the next few days. I am needed back in Volto, and the news I bring must be the kind that can settle Jadis’ mind, not disturb it. Her focus cannot be distracted by the petty politicking of some ambitious lord or lady. Please, let us skip the guessing games.”

The magistrate took another sip of her tea before setting it down and leaning back in her chair. She regarded Severina with the same cold gaze that she used on everyone. Honestly, she couldn’t understand what Jadis saw in the woman. That she should have a child with her Jadis was—

Severina immediately squashed that thought before it could go further. Petty jealousy was of no more use than petty politicking. Besides. Vraekae wasn’t a lover. She was… a friend that Jadis favored with a child. Not the same.

Maybe Severina should swallow her pride and just ask Vraekae which fertility rituals she had been using, because clearly, they had worked better than the ones she had tried, and—

Again, Severina put her boot down on her errant thoughts. She truly was having trouble keeping her mind in line when it came to Jadis.

“I suspect outside influence.”

Severina blinked, her brain taking a moment to fully process the magistrate’s implications.

“You mean a power from beyond the empire’s borders?”

Vraekae nodded, her expression no less severe.

“Please, do not convey this information to Jadis. I have not yet pinpointed a source. However, I have traced lines of communication that lead to the sea and to merchants who travel beyond areas where I can easily gather information. Cultists may be involved, or not. Volto may be involved, or not. The threads seem to lead me to that part of the world, but until I can say with certainty who holds the other ends of those lines, I would not tell Jadis. She may react in haste.”

Once more, Severina heard what was not said. Vraekae suspected the source was a legitimate one, not the cult. If the cult of Samleos was behind the attack, then that would almost be a relief. A known enemy who Jadis was already fighting moving against her in an underhanded way would not be a surprise. However, if one of her new allies had stirred up trouble to interfere with her friends and family…

Severina did not need to be an oracle to see how that plan would end.

“I will tell her that you are still unraveling the knot,” Severina nodded her head.

“Thank you,” Vraekae replied in kind.

After a moment of thought, she inclined her head while shifting her wings against the back of her chair.

“What of Maeve? Perhaps she could be of some use in this matter?”

At her suggestion, the magistrate’s lips curled up in a rarely seen smile. Opening a drawer on her desk, Vraekae withdrew a sealed envelope and held it out to Severina.

“Let no resource go untapped,” she said as Severina took the letter from her. “Do not read what is within, unless you wish to disturb your own peace of mind. Eadgar sends his regards.”

“Thank you for the warning,” Severina said as she tucked the letter away. Some mysteries she was happy to leave in the dark. “Now. What can you tell me about Cobbler’s trial? I will need to bring Jadis some good news.”

“I may have some,” the Magistrate said as she stood up from her seat. “Come. We will visit with her and discuss the situation.”

“I am shocked you are including Cobbler in this meeting,” Severina said as she got to her feet. “I would not think that she would have much input.”

“You would think so,” Vraekae mused as she walked to the door and stopped, waiting for Severina to join her. “However, I have taken the opportunity this unfortunate circumstance has provided to speak with Cobbler at great length. I have discovered several insights into the mentality of Demons that I find both interesting and useful. In some ways, I might even say relatable.”

“…Why do I not feel comforted by your remark?”

“Because it was not meant to be comforting, simply the truth as I see it to be.”

Severina still did not see what Jadis saw in Vraekae. But she had to admit, the woman had her virtues.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep