"Let us talk strategies," Zadione says. The Empress speaks to her people in their native tongue. They clear the room in haste as if they''re running from something. "Kaden, leave with them, please." Ethan shuts the door behind me. The room goes quiet, and I can''t hear anything but the people behind me.


    "Master," a man whispers. When I turn around to see who''s speaking to me, some people in the crowd behind the man bow their heads. "Good, sir. Are you one of Zadione''s paragons?"


    "Oh, no," I say. "I''m... I have no idea."


    "You have no idea?" He says slowly. A few people give me a strange look.


    "Hey," I say and smile. "Where am I exactly? I''m not familiar with your land."


    "Tawaragata, sir."


    "Really?!" I remain calm so I can ask for further understanding without being overly excited. I''m still wearing Rhyndac''s disguise. The people here might start asking questions if I seem too happy about having Kromagia in my reach. If I''m lucky, I can return home. "This city is near a mountain, yes?"


    "Yes. Kromagia''s northern border overlooks us."


    "Interesting. Could you show me?"


    "I have bad knees," he says, trying to best to squat. His knees pop every time he moves them. "You''ll have to find someone else." People come up to me with their hands raised. A young man shouts that he will do it and take me on a tour of the city.


    "I just want to see the mountains." More people open their mouths. Their voices overwhelm my ears. It feels like something is funneling the sound directly into the side of my head.


    "What''s going on out there?" Ethan says. He cracks the door open just enough to peek one eye through. "Kaden, what''s going on out there?"


    "Nothing." The door swings open. He moves me to his side by gently pushing against my shoulder. "All of you, disperse at once. I will not say this a second time." Everyone in the room scatters. They bump into one another and push people out of their way to rush to the nearest exit. "Ugh," he grunts. "Roaches. If they overwhelm you again, show them your steel."


    "I have no reason to threaten them."


    "With that mindset, you''ll regret not standing your ground," he says and then firmly grips my shoulder. Her fingers dig into the space above my collarbone. "Listen here, drow," he says quietly next to my ear. "Zadione isn''t looking for soft men to fight in this war."


    "I''m not soft."


    "Good," he says with a growling smirk. "Stay around here or find the closest inn. This could be a while."


    I''ll do just that.


    I walk to the nearest staircase to find a way out. The civilians are crowding the hallway of the next floor. If I''m going to make my way back home, I need to figure out exactly how far I am from Kromagia''s northern wall and take my chances with one of them to lead me out of there.


    "You," I say, momentarily pointing at a man. "Walk me out of here."


    "Yes, sir," he says. He takes me down several levels before we make it to the front gates of the palace. Straight ahead, far in the distance, I barely see the mountain tops of the Kromagian border. The mountain is covered with fog, including my surroundings.


    "Take me as far south as you can go."


    "South?" He says, raising his brow at me. "Are you looking for the military barracks?"


    "Yeah..."


    "Okay," he says and waves me to follow. "It''s a long walk."


    "Best we run then."


    Unfortunately, the man''s stamina is terrible. He can''t jog for more than five minutes before taking a break. I don''t want to navigate this city by myself, but it looks like I might have to.


    "Thanks for your help. I''ll walk off the rest there," I say.


    The civilians can''t keep themselves from staring at me when I walk past them. It''s nerve-racking. I feel more like a stranger than walking among the succubi. These people are acting more cautiously than the ones at the palace. They whisper in their native tongue to one another. Their voices sound like they''re standing next to me, even though they''re beyond arm''s length of me.


    "How can drows live with being able to hear so much?" I whisper to myself.


    I continue heading south and reach the southern barracks after an hour of walking. There is still a great distance between them. The only thing standing in my way is the soldiers. I see two options. I can rush in, blast anyone in my way, and catapult myself to the mountain. The second option is I wait until nightfall to sneak in. Both options have their problems. Option one will bring all the attention to me. The last thing I want is to seriously hurt the soldiers or cause an incident between the drows and the Empress''s people. Option two sounds the safest, but I''ll have to wait several hours before nightfall. My skin and dark clothing might make sneaking in easy if I stick to the shadows.


    "What am I going to do in the meantime?" I say while looking around for something to kill time. Two women with white-painted faces catch my eye. They wave down anyone walking by, telling them to come inside. Their soft, playful voices pique my interest. One of the women spots me looking. At first, her eyes shoot open, but then she grins. I look away to pay her no mind. She, alongside her friend, approaches me. "Listen," I say without looking at them. "I''m not interested in your service."


    "We offer other services, sir," the woman says.


    "Food, shelter, company," the second woman says. "Are you with the army?"


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "He''s not," Ethan says. A gust of wind hits me in the back. It''s strong enough to make me inch forward and make the women''s dresses sway.


    "Ethan?!" I say.


    "Where did you come from?" The second woman says. "You weren''t there a minute ago."


    "Step porting," he says. "I can move in an instant while taking a step."


    "Wow!"


    "Come," he says in my ear. "Zadione wants us. We''re heading to Tranquilith."


    "What?" I say.


    Ethan teleports us four times. We head back inside the second-floor palace in a matter of seconds. Penny and Theo stand outside a portal. Zadione and the Empress are on the other side of it.


    "Let''s go," Ethan says. His hand gradually pushes against my back, guiding me in with Penny and Theo. The bright sunlight coming through the open holes above the hallway stains my eyes. I squint until my eyes can adjust.


    "Ah, there you are?" Zadione says. "Where did you run off to, Kaden?"


    "Brothel," I say, keeping my eyes squinting. She hums with a chuckle. I look around to see where I am. To my right are six royal Kromagian guards in gold-plated armor. "Wait a second," I say, slowly opening my eyes.


    "Zadione," Bearbolt says, descending from the steps of King Menassah''s throne room. "My King is ready to hear you."


    "Excellent," Zadione says.


    "Before you enter, everyone must leave all of their weapons." The royal guards surround us with their hands on the ready to draw their weapons. I''m the first one to surrender my weapons. I tie my dagger to my sword so I won''t lose it. Penny, Ethan, and Theo hand their weapons without causing an issue. When the guards look at Zadione, she lifts her arms.


    "I''m unarmed," she says.


    "Check her." The guards frisk every inch. Ethan frowns angrily and depends on his breathing. Penny and Theo watch the guards closely.


    "So feisty. You do realize weapons are the least of your worries."


    "We''ve considered all measures."


    Once the guards thoroughly check Zadione, they walk with us into the throne room. The first person to meet us at the top is a sight for sore eyes. My wife is back in her original, glorious human appearance. She''s protected from neck to toe with black padded reinforced leather except for her hands. Her right-hand grips her belt buckle with her thumb behind it and index finger pointing down her leg. I nearly crack a smile once I see she''s still wearing her emerald ring.


    Ulrika stands about an arm''s length to my right. She takes a few glances at me. I''m hesitant to look her in the eyes while being in the presence of Paragons and Zadione. I give in when I see her eyes move to me. We briefly look at each other. Standing behind her along the wall are more royal guards, Haleema, Rhyndac, and Zadock. They have their eyes facing my way.


    "Tell His Majesty that Zadione and Empress Tan Da are here," Bearbolt says. The closest guard to the backroom next to the King''s throne opens the door. The second the King steps out, Zadock stands in the middle of the room.


    "Zadione, Tan Da," the King says after taking his seat. "Step forward." Zadock points to an empty spot for them to stand. Haleema spwans in her staff. Penny lets everyone know how she''s feeling by letting out a grunt.


    "Hello, Menassah," Zadione says, smiling. "It''s been a while."


    "Yes, it has," he says, slowly spacing out each word.


    "I remember when you were just this tall." She taps the side of her knee. "You must''ve been five."


    "What do you want?" He says, barely cutting her off.


    "Fine," she sighs then points both of her fingers at the walls to her left and right. "My war is coming. Submit to me now and you''ll see no harm fall upon your kingdom." The King stares at her without blinking or moving a muscle.


    "What is truly you''re end goal out of this?"


    "She wants to war with the gods!" Haleema says.


    "I did."


    "You did?"


    "Plans change," she says, gradually walking towards Haleema. "I''ve changed." She stands about a foot from her.


    "No, you haven''t."


    "I have," she says, dropping her voice down a pitch. "I don''t want my start a war with Xanlos anymore," she says, addressing the crowd. "I found a more... wiser choice. Less... revengeful."


    "And that is?" The King says.


    "I will take over Inaubira and be its supreme ruler." Everyone except the Paragons reacts with disdain and shock.


    "What?"


    "That''s right!" She says, giggling.


    "You don''t want to war with the gods anymore?"


    "Why take out my frustrations with Xnalos when I can take over his pride?" When she mentions the gods'' pride, she opens her arms out to the king, his people, and the Paladins.


    "You''ve got to be kidding," Rhyndac says.


    "No, my child. I am not. Get on your knees and kiss the hand of your supreme." She puts her right hand out for the King. "Or suffer the hell I will unleash." The King slowly approaches her. My heart rate beats faster the more he gets closer. He stops, looks down at her hand, and spits on it.


    "All of the tribes of Kromagia will stand against you and your allies." The spit on her hand starts to steam. It boils until it evaporates from her skin. Haleema points her staff at her seconds before all of the guards aim their weapons at us when Zadione''s mana spikes.


    "You disappoint me, Menassah. You could have made this easy on yourself."


    "Get them out of my sight!" He says, firmly pointing at the hallway behind her.


    The guards close in around Zadione. There are more weapons pointed at her than around the Paragons and I. Haleema walks behind us and points to an open spot in the wallway. A portal opens.


    "Leave," Haleema says. Zadione looks at her Paragons and nods to signal them to enter the portal. She gets behind them. I stand behind her when she walks by me. They enter through except for her because Rhyndac holds her hand out to me.


    "Yes?" I say.


    "Ready to come home?" Rhyndac says. Ulrika watches Zadione like a hawk. She''s gnawing on her molars. I can see her jawline flex and shift.


    "What''s going on here?" Zadione says.


    "Take my hand, now."


    Ulrika looks at me and tries to hold in her smile. Her lips are tight and somewhat puckered. It finally dawns on me why Rhyndac is offering me to come home. I hold her hand, and my drow disguise morphs away. My skin ripples away, revealing my true identity. She suddenly yanks me into her body with enough force to throw us on the ground. Zadock blasts Zadione into the portal, and Haleema shuts it.


    "Damn," Zadock says and chuckles. "That''s going to piss her off."


    "So," Rhyndac says, inches from my face. "How was life being a drow?"


    "Overwhelming," I say and roll off her body and over Ulrika''s boots. "Oh! Hey!"


    "Don''t you hey me," Ulrika says and gets on her knees to hug me tight. "I missed you. Did Zadione harm you?"


    "No."


    "Did she threaten you?"


    "No."


    "Did she torture you?"


    "No," I say, laughing. "She was quite... friendly."


    "Friendly?" Haleema says. I tell her about my time with Zadione and the things she''s looking for from me. "That''s... odd."


    "You have to remember, Haleema," Rhyndac says. "We were created by her. Drows are her children."


    "Same as the orcs, yes?" I say. Rhyndac nods. I mention how Zadione interacts with children lovingly. The King scoffs. He shakes his head like he is displeased. His frown bends into his chin.


    "She''s sadistic," the King says. "There is nothing friendly about her, boy. Bearbolt!"


    "Yes, my King," Bearbolt says.


    "Send word to our allies that the Empress has aligned herself with Zadione."


    The King sends emissaries to all of his allies. He sends word to King Braman, the brother of the former King Andodon, to ready his men just in case Zadione attacks Shemor again. Oraya receives additional Kromagian troops. The free elves around Thaa Alora, Rainor, and the mixed multitude get a few hundred Paladin agents for extra protection. One nation that piques my interest he doesn''t warn is Thubet''s.


    "Why not her?" I say. "She''s not with Zadione, right?"


    "She cares for no one," the King says. "Her kingdom will come under attack unless she seeks help."


    "If I remember correctly, Kaioson, didn''t she falsely imprison you and your wife?" Haleema says.


    "She did more than that," Ulrika says. "Screw her."


    "Hmm... Your Highness, I recommend keeping the door open."


    "I''ll keep your suggestion in mind," the King says. When he stands up from his chair, all the guards stand to attention. "This hearing is adjourned," he says and walks back into the backrooms.


    "Well," I say, looking at Ulrika, Rhyndac, and then Haleema. "What''s our next move?"