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Post by pallas on Sept 3, 2024 21:17:05 GMT
The expression that overtook Maylea’s face at Lilith’s words about the prince was one of shock, bewilderment and horror. And she understood it. After all, she was holding the current heir presumptive to a major kingdom. If Adrestia van Windsor dropped dead in that moment, Carlisle would be Wisteria’s king. And right now he was in Lilith’s camp.
When Athena put her hands on Lilith’s shoulders, reeling from the news, and began to question her on it, Lilith took a breath.
”Elena and I did not take them.” Lilith wanted to clarify that right from the start. ”Some business contacts passed through in a Wisterian royal carriage. They work for the Queen of Rajani, she apparently ordered it. A power play against Adrestia. I wanted that carriage out of our territory quick. Too conspicuous. They wanted to offload the prisoners and I knew it could be lucrative if we played it right. Elena… I think she has history with the Verndari boy that I do not understand, so she wanted to take him. Was angry she could not kill him.”
That was based on her reaction when she’d first seen him, and from what she’d glimpsed of how Elena had treated the Verndari boy since.
As for how they hadn’t gotten caught…
”We have been mostly safe so far. I do not think Adrestia has tied the kidnapping to Ernestine yet, and from there she would have to tie it to us. And Elena and I have eyes and contacts everywhere so we would know if the Young Queen put the pieces together and moved against us. And it is not in Ernestine’s best interests to let Adrestia get her hands on her brother and head guard again either, which helps.” They has combined their camps which would also help, pool their resources, but as of right now Lilith could not say she was overly concerned. If Adrestia managed to link it to Ernestine, which would start her on the trail of finding out where they really were, then Lilith might become a little concerned.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Sept 20, 2024 16:57:54 GMT
Minke "Little Mouse" Elena's words about retaliation were a quick flash of water over Minke's rising flame. Elena was right, if they stole Dante from the King, Chadwick would only retaliate. They would make a public enemy before they even had a true form of rebellion together. It would be tapered out quickly. Especially if Chadwick enlisted Drake's help. "We need to do it where Chadwick thinks he's dead," The young girl spoke quietly to herself, voice just barely loud enough to be heard, "If Chadwick doesn't even know, he can't retaliate. Not yet..." There would be time to plan that. Elena continued, saying she was not moved. Minke was not surprised. She didn't expect Elena to accept without a price. She just hated the price Elena stated. Her scowl was obvious at the idea, her grayish-violet eyes narrowing, and she wanted to refuse. But Elea's help was needed, and not even directly. They'd need the guard. Minke had only been in the dungeons, Briseis wouldn't know the layout of the Kingdom, and it didn't seem that May knew it all that much either. Elena was a dangerous women with a reputation, and Minke didn't trust her at all. Elena had brought her to her sisters, but had also threatened her. If it served Elena right, she could utilize Minke like a weapon, just as King Drake had done. Minke refused to place herself in someone else's hands like that. She wanted to give Elena a piece of her mind just for that idea. But if they didn't get Elena's help, if they couldn't get the guard...what if her sisters got caught? What if they couldn't save Dante?As much as she hated it, Elena's help would be needed. "Fine," She spat out, before she could think it through more, "But I will not do whatever you ask. If you want a favor, we must agree on it beforehand. I will give you information on royals, help you take them down even, but I will not harm my friends or my sisters," Which, while the condition may have sounded a bit much, it still left a lot open. She'd do whatever Elena asked, as long as she didn't harm someone she personally cared for. Pretty much anything else was on the table. "I have one more request, however," She commented, approaching this topic more carefully, "None of us know the layout of this Kingdom. However, someone within your hold does; the Verndari Guard. If you'll allow it, his help would likely be essential in securing Dante without drawing too much attention."
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Post by pallas on Sept 20, 2024 18:07:22 GMT
The moment he heard about Dante, Alex had resolved that he would do everything he could to help. He’d tried to stall his father, with little success, though at least he’d bought Dante a trial. A sham trial it would be, he had no doubt, but it might have bought him a little more time. Time for Athena to come back and help, perhaps. He didn’t know how to save his friend on his own.
He’d also been unable to put the thought of Dante alone in those dungeons out of his head. Suffering and probably terrified, all because he’d tried to help Alex and Athena. He wished he’d been firmer with him at the ball. He’d much rather have fought with him about this and have him safe now than the situation he’d ended up in.
For a while visiting him had been out of the question, partly because of Alex continuing to make efforts to stall matters and partly because he didn’t want to alert his father too much to him going to talk to Dante. That meant he couldn’t slip out of any of his duties as he normally might if he wanted to do something; word would get back to the king.
So he’d waited until a quiet opportunity arose, and slipped down to the dungeons. Of course, there was no sneaking past the guard standing sentry outside the dungeon door. Alex was greeted with the guard blocking the doorway with his spear.
”I apologise, but I cannot allow you to pass, Your Highness.” there was no real regret or apology in the tone. ”Nobody is to see the prisoner. It is for your own safety.”
Right. Because Dante was apparently a traitor so he obviously meant Alex harm of some sort. It was funny to think of him being seen as dangerous. The man was the least dangerous person Alex could imagine. At least to him.
”I rather think I shall be fine.” Alex countered dryly. ”You will let me through. Unless you want to inconvenience two people who far outrank you by making me wait while you bother my father to confirm with him.”
That made the guard squirm, clearly uncertain about what to do. But after a moment of hesitation, they opened the door and allowed Alex to pass through unimpeded.
”If he tries to stab me, I shall scream.” Alex called back up to the guard sarcastically as he began to descend the steps.
It wasn’t long before he was face to face with Dante, and the man looked so rough it made Alex stop in his tracks. Any confidence he’d felt while dealing with the guard, any bluster, died when he laid eyes on him as all Alex’s words died in his throat. And the fear he’d felt that he could not save him became more solid than ever, sharpening like a blade in his chest.
What if Dante couldn’t be saved? What if Athena couldn’t help and Alex was not able to do anything? He felt helpless, and still not half as helpless as Dante must have been feeling in that moment.
”Dante…” Alex managed to get out as he approached the bars, closing the distance between the two of them as much as he was able to. He knew they didn’t have much time, that he should be talking more already, but he had no words now. He was assessing Dante as best he could in the dim light, trying to get a sense of how hurt or mistreated he had been. The answer eas going to be ‘too much’ regardless. ”I don’t have much time.” Alex cast a glance over his shoulder back at the way he’d come in, before turning back to face the advisor.
He’d wanted to ask if he was alright, but it was a stupid question. And he didn’t have time to waste on stupid questions they both knew the answer to. His voice was tight when he spoke. ”I’m so sorry.” Sorry for his father, sorry for the situation Dante was in, sorry he hadn’t succeeded in helping get him out of this or done more to stop him getting into it in the first place.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Sept 28, 2024 6:43:14 GMT
A hum sounded in Elena's throat at Minke's quiet muttered words. It almost sounded like approval as her smile twitched higher. But she didn't let anything past that show.
The conditions on which Minke would not faulter for brought a dark chuckle from Elena's lips and she pressed the tip of the blade to her own bottom lip as she spoke. "I may be cruel, Rat, but I'm not a monster for no reason," she mused as she pouted her lips. Her next words were spoken as a very careful promise.
"I wouldn't ask you to harm those you consider friend or family. Therefore, whatever I ask still stands."
Her smile dropped as she remembered the final request to come out of the girl. She heaved a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes. "As for your request..." the Siren hesitated as she thought over what she wanted to do.
If she were to lend the Verndari to the sisters for their little rescue mission, then there was a chance he'd take that as an opportunity to run or would be let go by this thieving rat. She couldn't have that. On one hand, she would be delighted to finally take over Lilith's territories by getting rid of her. But she didn't want to lose the men to do it. However, she doubted she could squeeze another favor from this already desperate and willful child.
"I'll grant it this once. But the dog does not leave my sight," she hissed as she finally let go of Minke and turned her back on her again to shuffle through some paper work on her desk. She waved a hand over her shoulder without so much as a glance backward as she dismissed the little lost princess.
"Fetch your sister, pequeño ratón. We apparently have much to discuss."
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Sept 28, 2024 7:17:17 GMT
"You're working for Ernestine? Oh Bri..." Athena whined as she leaned forward and pressed her face into her sister's shoulder. She stayed there holding onto her sister as she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Please tell me it wasn't two idiots that delivered a kidnaped prince and a Verndari to you-"
Snapping her head up, Athena started shaking her head with her eyes closed. "No. Do not answer that."
Stepping away from her sister, Athena crossed her arms and started grinding her teeth together as she thought over what to do with this new information.
Just because the Queen maybe hadn't figured out her sister and her sister's rival where involved didn't mean that the Queen didn't know that another kingdom was involved. She could be planning, or biding her time, or simply trying to wait out the offensive action taken against her.
But if she knew that her brother and Captain of the guard where right under her nose she'd come for them. She adored her brother, especially after the murder of their parents.
"You need to kill them and we need to move from here as soon as we get Dante." Athena blurted out. She turned her head to her sister, wide-eyed and nervous. "You have a small army but Adrestia has a kingdom. And I don't trust Ernestine to protect you or her investments. Why are you keeping them alive anyway?"
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Post by pallas on Sept 28, 2024 7:59:45 GMT
Maylea did not seem pleased in the least about the fact that Lilith had gotten mixed up with Ernestine. Which Lilith understood; she didn’t trust the queen as far as she can throw her, though she did trust her self-interest. And she trusted Atlas and Ress - as much as anyone could trust anybody in her line of work, anyway.
”I don’t work for Ernestine, May.” Lilith clarified, ”I take what jobs I please. I owe that woman nothing.” Maybe a feeble counter if she were honest, but she didn’t have a better one.
Her sister started suggesting they should run. The idea did have some merit, Lilith had to admit, because a part of her had been thinking that the smart decision might be to cut her losses on this deal at this point. But no.
”I am not afraid of that witch, or the little girl. Do you think this is the first time I’ve had people more powerful than me calling for my head?” It was far from the first time. ”Besides, Elena and I are in this together. She’d be a loose end. She’d be only too thrilled to get rid of me if I gave her the chance, and trust me when I say she is very difficult to get rid of. If we could kill one another one of us would have done it by now.”
She wasn’t running anywhere. That much she was sure of. Even if she could, she wouldn’t.
”Anyway, I have plans for Ernestine.” Lilith had deliberated for a moment on whether to share this with her sister, but if May was with them on their plan to get the advisor she might as well let her in on her wider plan. ”She is hated, even by those who work for her. And I think they would easily turn on her. The idea has already been planted. Her, Drake, Chadwick. They all need to go, and I think it can be done.”
It would need perhaps a little delicate manoeuvring. Some politics, some diplomacy. Some secrecy. Those things they could do. Lilith preferred brute force when it could be used but she knew the value of other strategies. And this was one of the times where she may need to use a different way of handling the situation.
Then May was asking why they kept the prisoners, and Lilith could only half answer that. She didn’t speak for Elena. ”They are valuable hostages, we can use them for all kinds of leverage. You need only ask that friend of yours, Alex, he is more than familiar with the concept.”
Perhaps Maylea didn’t remember that deal, and perhaps Alex had not mentioned it, but Lilith remembered. A fascinating strategy on the part of his mother, she had to concede, and with just the kind of cold calculation that Lilith respected. Nasty for the boy, of course, but what had happened with the prince had held kingdoms back from further war.
”They know we will kill the hostages if either queen attacks us. Adrestia wants them back safe, and Ernestine too wants them alive for now. We are safe for the moment.”
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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