The next three days passed by Trillia, mostly in a fog. Her friends were all off doing their own tasks and training, and the Queen was so swarmed by news, negotiations, and nobles that Trillia didn't think the woman had left the throne room once.

  Trillia was happy to sit in on the meetings she was allowed to, but her thoughts had just kept going back to what she wanted out of this life. She knew she wanted to save her friends and family and make sure Alirast wasn't destroyed, but she hadn't given a great deal of thought to what happens after that.

  A family?

  Exploring?

  Or...a ruler?

  A gentle hand on her shoulder disturbed her thoughts. Trillia looked up to see the Queen standing there, looking as radiant as ever. "A coin for your thoughts, little one?"

  "I am just trying to figure out what my place is."

  Alliyah laughed softly and motioned for Trillia to follow her.

  At this point, the throne room was finally empty. "You're not even a woman yet. You have years to figure that out. For now, put one foot in front of the other and push forward."

  "What if I make a mistake? Or choose the wrong class? What if something I do inte-" Alliyah held up a hand behind her, shaking it.

  "You could what if yourself into a grave. What if the eldritch arrives tomorrow, and we're all fucking dead? I'm not saying never prep, but you can't possibly prep for everything, Trillia. You have good traits, good skills, and a decent assortment of classes. Even if you do pick a class that's a dud, let's be honest, there are always dungeons and enemies to clear to level up."

  Trillia nodded but wasn't convinced.

  "I'm going to get something to eat, I haven't had real food in two days. As much as my skills will keep me alive, I love food. After that, you and I will be doing some training in the Aether." Trillia perked up at that and got a little pep in her step.

  "Have you given thought to the Beast Scar?"

  "I have. As much as I am loathe to admit it, I'm more worried about going there myself now than I previously was. Death isn't just a fast track to being at my husband's side anymore. So instead, the two of us will go in together."

  "What if we both die?"

  "It will forever be someone else's problem."

  Trillia paused briefly at the deadpan delivery.

  -=====-

  Six hours later and Trillia couldn't muster enough energy to complain. There was a shipping invoice's worth of text where her debuffs sat.

  "Hmmm, I don't remember being this easy to harm in the Aether. Maybe I was just older and had more experience and resistances. Damn, now I'm really glad you didn't go in there alone. You've managed to move a total of what, six feet?"

  The little orc lay there with her eyes closed. Her health, mana, and stamina were all zeroed out. The only reason she was alive was a skill that the Queen was maintaining to keep her soul from leaving her body.

  "So, on three different occasions, you have warped organs outside of your body. I'm not sure how else I can explain to help you learn other than making sure you're alive."

  Thea stepped into the room they were using. As she approached a table, she pulled out food and drinks. "Forgive the interruption, Your Majesty. There is a dwarven noble here who claims he must speak with you urgently. I had him follow me and wait outside."

  "Send him in, thank you, Thea."

  The elven maid bowed deeply and left the room.

  The stout dwarf bowed to her as she left before stepping into the room. Trillia found his armor to be the most striking. She could tell it existed, but it was only with some strain that her eyes could focus on it, and even then, it seemed almost invisible. Otherwise, he was what she had come to expect from a dwarf. A long grey beard with matching hair, well kept and braided. A heavy mace hung on his back. The man had skin that reminded her a bit of coal with bright orange eyes. She briefly wondered if he was just a dwarf.

  "Lord Claven Emberthrift. To what do I owe the pleasure?" For once, the Queen didn't seem annoyed at meeting with a noble. Trillia did her best to perk up and pay attention.

  The dwarf stepped closer and glanced at Trillia, who was covered in blood and lying perfectly still. "Uhhh....if this is a bad time, Your Majesty?"

  Alliyah shook her head and sat down at the table with the food, motioning for the dwarf to sit opposite of her. "Not at all. She is an Aetherian Mage who is pact-bound to my son. We're just doing some training for an upcoming mission."

  Stolen novel; please report.

  The dwarf paused in his approach of the table and glanced back at Trillia with wide eyes. "An Aetherian mage? She seems so young."

  "She is. Only thirteen winters to the best she can remember."

  The dwarf looked away and shook his head. "Damn deities and their bullshit. The poor girl should have had a childhood and life. To be robbed of such..."

  As if remembering that the Queen was not only married to one but had given birth to three, the dwarf bowed again. "Forgive me for my foul temper and words, Your Majesty. I mean no insult to your family."

  "Ha! I'll be the first in any line when it comes to being angry at the gods, Lord Emberthrift. Fret not, your purpose?"

  "Of course! I am here on behalf of Lord Hammerstone."

  "Oh? I hope Rubious and his citadel are not in danger."

  The dwarf shook his head. "Nay, lass. It's about that damn system message. Lord Hammerstone is worried about some..." The dwarf once more turned to Trillia, who was still doing the world's best impression of a dead fish.

  "It's fine. She is well known and well-loved by Kadessa and myself."

  "The worry is with some of the more nasty beasts we've imprisoned or buried."

  "Worried that they will escape?"

  "Not so much. They haven't all this time, and eternal imprisonment is far worse than ascending or death. It's more that some of those beasts are nearly deific in their own legends. Cultists are an ever-growing problem in harrowing times."

  Alliyah grimaced at the news.

  "Right. Worried that they will infiltrate the prisons and release the beasts? By all that is sacred, why are people so fucking stupid and gullible."

  "They are hopeless, Your Majesty. Young folk who are worried the world is coming to its end. Who cannot find comfort and solace in an old man's reassurances. I'm not saying they are right, but I don't blame them for being desperate for salvation."

  "Ever the man to look at things and give everyone the benefit of the doubt. What is it that Rubious needs from me?"

  "We were hoping that you'd ask one of the Generals to maybe check in and help with our enchantments and defenses."

  Alliyah picked up some crispy strip of meat that smelled absolutely divine and chomped down on it, looking over at Trillia as she did. Trillia was quite sure this was some form of torture.

  "I have a better solution. How do you feel about flying, Lord Emberthrift?"

  "Uhhh..." The dwarf seemed to have grown pale at the question. "If it is required of me."

  "I fear it will be. I have a young minotaur in my city right now. He is pact-bound to a deity I've never heard of that specializes in ancient enchanting. I'd like to bring him and an armorsmith to check on your enchantments."

  A frown crossed the diplomat's face. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I'd rather...experienced eyes look into this."

  Alliyah laughed again as she grabbed another strip of the crispy meat. "I intend to come with them. Well, myself and the young Avatar over there."

  "Oh! Are you certain that won't cause any rifts?"

  "You mean like me showing blatant favoritism to Lord Hammerstone and the dwarves? The same dwarves who have been my dearest friends and allies longer than most humans have been alive?"

  The dwarf looked as if he wanted to protest but thought better of it. "We would be honored to have you, Your Majesty. I take it you and the others will be flying there?"

  "You as well, Lord Emberthrift. I wouldn't dare leave such an important diplomat behind."

  "Damn devil of a woman. If I die because of this flight, I'll find a way to haunt you, Your Majesty."

  That got a hearty laugh out of Alliyah as she slapped the dwarf on the shoulder. "It will get worse before it gets better, I promise. Let's carry our little eavesdropper with us."

  The Queen extended her hand, and the food and drinks vanished from the table. Walking over, she lifted Trillia and tossed her over a shoulder. "Meet me on the front steps of the palace, I'll be there shortly. Thea!"

  The elven woman stepped into the room with another bow. "Yes?"

  "Go and fetch Malor and Frederick. Maybe Amara as well. Layla is on her own, I won't interrupt Stas' training."

  "As you wish." The maid turned and ran off to do as she was instructed.

  -=====-

  Alliyah had carried Trillia around like a sack of flour for about twenty minutes before some of the debuffs had worn off enough that she could move on her own. Despite the many odd looks the Queen got for carrying around what looked like an orc corpse, no one was really brave enough to stop and question her.

  As they exited the palace, Trillia heard Claven cursing up a storm.

  "Are you bastards trying to kill me? Oh, by Rubious' beard, this is how my life ends. I won't even get to say goodbye to my wee ones." The dwarf was pacing back and forth near Honos, who was watching the little dwarf's panic attack with near-endless amusement.

  "I promise, good dwarf, I will do as few barrel rolls as are required."

  The dwarf paused and outstretched a hand, leaning on Malor, who was the closest large object to him. "If there are any merciful gods left, please strike me down now and give me an honorable death."

  Alliyah had an absolutely evil grin stretched on her face. "Honorable Honos is the fastest way to reach the citadel. I fear I can't carry this many people with me in the Aether to move us quickly."

  The dwarf spun at the Queen's voice. "Your Majesty, I assure you I can write out a missive explaining your purpose. I've already prayed to Lord Hammerstone, and he knows that you are coming. I can find my own way back."

  Alliyah walked past him with a smile to check on Honos and make sure Thea had gathered everyone.

  "Besides! I...I uhhh...I have more errands to run! While I am here in the Capital."

  "I've already spoken with Lord Hammerstone about your other errands, Lord Emberthrift. In such dire times, I would never keep my greatest ally waiting for such trivial items. Honorable Honos has been kind enough to agree to carry a large cargo shipment as well as all of us. Lord Hammerstone is expecting me to get you and the cargo back home in record time."

  Trillia was almost positive she heard the dwarf whimper, but his complaints stopped.

  It was only a few minutes more until everyone but the Queen was on the back of Honos, a cargo-net from a merchant vessel had been expertly wrapped around a few dozen crates.

  "Malor, you've enchanted the net as I have asked?" Alliyah briefly glanced back to Malor, this being the second time she asked the same question.

  "I have, Your Majesty. The net will hold unless something quite large attacks us."

  Alliyah laughed again as she climbed up onto Honos' back. "Attack us? Oh, my dear boy, we do not have to go slow on account of letting people follow us."

  As Trillia glanced over at the Queen, she was sure that Honos had a wicked grin as well.

  Trillia sat as close to the front as she could, Lord Claven had wrapped a cloth around his eyes and was hugging Honos' back spike with all his might. A soft mumbled prayer was being repeated. Trillia would had to ask him why he was so deathly afraid of flying at some point.

  A few last triple-checks from the Queen and Honos lifted off, leaving the large crowd of people who had gathered to stare up at the dragon in awe.

  Then Trillia did her absolute best not to throw up as Honos took off at full speed.