SS [47] Our New Servants

There was something about traveling for days being stuck in one place that just made Bjorn antsy. Drakes were the common pack animal here which meant until he got control of King of Reptiles he had to stay hidden. It wasn’t just that, he had to constantly be on guard against his own mind. He didn’t want his thoughts about Failsafe to be known by the construct and constant curation was difficult when there was nothing else to talk about.

He was unsure if the construct could normally hear his thoughts. There was always a separation between his thinking and his mental communication. However, if Failsafe was always a malicious actor then even that was not a guarantee. With Failsafe silent and Isin gone, his head was empty of passengers helping him pass the time. He didn’t realize how much he actually spoke to them until recently. 

Anasuya spent most of her time asleep, and while she did know more than a creature her age should, she was still a child. Not really someone to talk to about magic theory and figuring out animal magic with. Aurelius was a swordsman that used techniques not spells. Tanisha was the best option but she couldn’t be with him all the time. 

“Am I actually socially high maintenance?” Bjorn questioned no one.

***

Time passed quickly and they were through the front gate of Highhall without much fanfare. The Princess they were following seemed like they were being as inconspicuous as possible. No traveling guards or royal insignia present on the outside of their carriage which likely meant this was a secretive visit to the city.

To Bjorn it smelled of politics that they shouldn’t get involved with. Although he wasn’t too sure how dwarven royalty acted. Maybe traveling around with minimal protection, and lack of any outwardly expressed royal regalia was normal. Though he doubted that to be the case. They were in the middle of something and he just didn’t have the full picture of what yet. 

A royal audit perhaps?

The thought did cross his mind and it would be the least troublesome answer. A more worrying answer would be if they were being used as a posturing tool in whatever the princess was planning. The suspicions just kept rising the further they went into the city he couldn’t from his position in the wagon. 

Not all of the suspicion was his, he realized he was being influenced by the emotion sharing from the bond. Tanisha was a swirl of emotion ranging from awe likely at the scale of the city to anger, suspicion and perturbation. The later emotions were likely because of the druid, Soren. 

Bjorn couldn’t blame Tanisha for her hostility towards them. He didn’t have the same level of blind hatred towards their species. He was cautious of them and if Soren turned out to be an enemy he would kill him without a second thought. That didn’t translate to the entire species at least not for him.

“Dad dad!” Anasuya hissed as she bounced around and the front curtain. “Look at the big mounds! They are tall and not underground like the other nests!”

Rolled over to his feet and walked over to the excited hatchling.

“Those are called buildings, not mounds.” Bjorn responded in the hissing language. “We are in a city not nest sites.”

“Look over there.” She said as she hopped over to the other side of the entrance. “What is that? It's so tall.”

Tanisha popped her head in before he could look out. 

“Oh, Bjorn, quickly look at that.” Tanisha said, waving her hand for him to follow.

The city of Highhall sprawled out before them. Not at all like the deep towns or cavernous settlements. The familiar hissing of streamlines were gone, the roads were smooth concrete not the carved or cobbled stone. The building rested on tall terraces some stretching taller than Bjorn had seen any building outside of Helmforað. The road they were on cut through the city like a knife, wide and full of traffic going and coming from the central plaza. 

It was there in the distance where everyone’s eyes were drawn. Even from their distance they could see the immensity of an arch which dwarfed all other structures. As they drew closer Bjorn still could not tell if it were carved from a dark stone as though a mountain was hollowed. The main boulevard traveled towards the structure and the more Bjorn looked the more he noticed that the city was built around this structure. It was the spine of the city. The inevitable point all roads turned towards.

“That is the Worldspine Gate.” Aurelius eventually said in awe. “One of the thirteen wonders of Alderdeorn.”

“The thirteen wonders of the contenant,” Tanisha questioned.

“It is the third one I have seen,” Aurelius said. “The first one was The High Isle of the Crown which is the capital of the Force Isles, the second was a mana storm and now we have seen this one.” He paused for a moment taking in the view. “You know the capital of Yuhia has one too. The big mana tree there.”

“Yggdrasil?” Tanisha questioned. “I have never actually seen it. Only painting of it.”

“I am surprised, your highness.” Aurelius chuckled.

“Stop. I am only an unofficial princess.” Tanisha pushed his shoulder playfully. “Never had the chance to visit Hjalmardalr.”

“We will have plenty of time when we go back to Yuhia.” Bjorn said.

Tanisha petted his closest head as he poked out of the carriage. 

“Yeah… that’s true.” Tanisha said somberly.

A bouncy Anasuya quickly stole the attention of one of his other heads.

“Dad dad! Can I fly on it?” Anasuya asked.

“No, Little One, we have to be respectful of their large gate,” Bjorn said. 

Anasuya pouted like Bjorn had just taken all of the wind from under her wings. She sat down with force and her tail slapped against the floor in displeasure.

“We will go see it closer up later.” Bjorn nudged her with his snout.

“Promise?” Anasuya questioned.

“Of course.” Bjorn said.

“Yay! Then we can look all around the big dwarf hive!” Anasuya's excitement returned to her hisses. “I hope they have sweet potatoes and carrots!”

“It is called a city not a hive.” Bjorn corrected.

***

Yrsa had always been treated as a liability within the Runecrown household. She was a fragile piece of lineage rather than a true heir. Her body required constant reinforcement from the runes layered beneath fabric. She had protective sigils stitched into her garments like a second skin. A noble forced to live like a relic encased in glass. Beautiful, but breakable.

Worse than that, she could trust almost no one. Not her father or mother, not her brothers. Not the court. Not even the guards that were supposed to be assigned to her. Power in the capital was not loyalty-bound, that would be too simple. No, instead it was purchased, redirected, and repurposed. She had learned early that survival was less about strength and more about who decided you were worth keeping alive.

There she played the game well but not well enough. So they had exiled her here after one little mistake. Her banishment was not done formally. But it was done definitely. No public declarations, just a self imposed sabbatical to the countryside.

It would be a distant posting. Making her effectively a political shadow. Far from succession games, far from the true leverage points of the Runecrown seat.

Her gaze lingered out the carriage window as Highhall rose into view. 

The Worldspine Gate loomed above the district like a measured scar across the sky. Most called it a wonder, she saw it has a tombstone should she not escape. She didn’t believe in luck but she did believe in opportunities. New variables had entered her path.

These people were unknowns. And unknowns were valuable before they became liabilities. Before they become pawns to one of her siblings. She could not allow that to happen.

She looked across and saw Bromm; he looked like he wanted to say something.

“Speak,” Yrsa said at last.

“We are nearly there, your highness.” Bromm said in his usual calm baritone.

She had been so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t even noticed the smooth ride of the Highhall roads. She looked out of the carriage window and saw the large Worldspine Gate high over the surrounding building as they made their way to the manors in the upper districts. 

“What did you think about the strays we picked up?” Yrsa questioned.

“An elf swordsman, an unknown demon-adjacent being and a hydra.” Bromm said analytically. “They are an eclectic mix, dangerous and likely not to be handled lightly.”

Her eyes sharpened, “Is that all you noticed? Continue.”

“The elf Aurelius is definitely the leader. He had a valuable sword and recent repairs done on it likely had to replace the hilt and crossguard. The way he carried himself didn’t seem like he would be negligent with his weapons. The way he carried himself would indicate that he is just as capable as what we saw with the woman, Tanisha. As for her… the skill she displayed was impressive. A hydromancer is rare, but she seemed volatile. More worrying was the hydra. I am not sure of the species but a large terrestrial hydra like that is not something most people would be capable of taming.”

Yrsa nodded along then added. “They are a small band of mercenaries who are probably like Soren and would be easy to convince they should stay in Highhall. Aurelius spoke for our not-demon girl, but wasn’t around during the attack. That could mean they were traveling apart even if it was only for a short time. Or they were watching from just out of sight. I didn’t see her use any signal to alert a team or call for back up. When they arrived they looked like they hadn’t planned it. So my guess is that the hydra is her familiar, not Aurelius’s. He sensed the attack through their bond and came running.”

“I have never heard of anyone successfully bonding with a hydra, milady.” Bromm said.

“It takes special constitutions. Their bonds and magic are poisonous. It is a terrifying creature,” Yrsa said but a smile crossed her lips. “She has to be far more powerful than she displayed to us in the attack.”

“That could be why she seemed so hostile.” Bromm said cautiously. “Perhaps the berserker madness is because the bond is affecting her mind?”

“No, I offered berserker madness because they didn’t want to talk about the real problem.” Yrsa said as she waved away the comment. “They needed an out so I gave them one for now. She was not upset with us. She was looking at Soren with deadly intent. Though they don’t seem to know one another. First, we need to find out exactly who they are. If we can use them even better.”

“You want to make sure people see them under you? Then if they like it or not they are bound.” Bromm said.

“In Highhall we are lacking influence. The oligarchs know that I am without backing and strong aid. The royal family has all but abandoned me out here to see if I am a hammer or nail. Soon we will have enemies on all sides if they are not already circling. We need assets and power. I see tools ready to be used.”

“That is not how most people would phrase alliance-building,” Bromm said carefully. 

Her fingers tapped once against the interior of the carriage. 

“I am not building alliances,” Yrsa said. “I am organizing outcomes. When we return to the capital I will make sure my family regrets who they exiled.”