Thread: Queen, Lover, Bitch. (PsionicCuttlefish and MacaronMaven)

Don't you ever... She paused while her sleep-deprived brain scrambled for the best words. Morthain's death terrified her in ways she couldn't begin to explain. When her mother had died it had been sad but not crippling, her father's death was frightening in that it placed the whole empire across her shoulders and condemned her to a marriage she wasn't certain that she wanted. The fear had been only a fleeting thing, though, something unpleasant that required her to grit her teeth and move onward. But Morthain... She owed him everything, even her future. Kaevri simply did not have the strength or knowledge to continue without him. Her fear went beyond survival, however. Imagining her life at the palace, with the war over and everyone safe but without her Knight, filled her with nauseous dread beyond anything the Llarl could do. Kaevri saw his weakening resolve in the way he walked, the weary resignation in his shoulders, and she would have sold her kingdom a hundred times to comfort him. You have fulfilled your oath, Sir Knight, more times than any Queen has a right to demand. I would be dead, or worse, if not for you. Your only duty now is to survive, no matter the cost. A grim smile curled her lips as she considered his assessment of the war that had ruined so many men. My father employed historians and scholars simply to give him insight into the Llarl. One man insisted that because the llarl bear such a resemblance to wolves or great cats, they must have similar behaviors. He thought that giving the Hills to the beasts would placate them for long enough to build a wall sacrificing the northern territories completely. She looked around at the temperate forest and the llarl rope around her own neck. It would seem that he was wrong. I agree with you, this is a meaningless war that they seem intent on continuing. I pity them. How horrible must their lives be to throw them away on something so pointless? The silence dragged on as they marched until Kaevri could hear nothing but the pounding of her own footsteps. The ache had started about an hour after they passed the cart and it grew steadily worse as time went on. Within another few hours, she was simply numb. If not for Morthain's steadying arm, she would have collapsed several times over. Well good. I have had enough marching for today. She offered him the best smile she could manage and stifled another yawn. Perhaps it was undignified, but Kaevri was having serious thoughts about sleeping on the forest floor. Morthain would carry her, without a doubt, but the queen was concerned for his strength as well. She was on the verge of making another snarky joke when the llarl led them onto a well maintained road. Her joke was forgotten as her eyes scanned the woods and road for identifying features. If they knew where they were, escape would be more likely to be successful. The area looked familiar, but she wouldn't have known where they were on a map... at least not until they passed through the gate and she saw the pastures. I think... oh dear. This is the Veylian ranch. They bred very fine horses here. Continuing down the road, the pastures were abruptly replaced with fields being tended by ragged slaves. The human workers looked up at the group with despairing eyes. ... labor camp, you said?