The Ascension

Erir Teshele, the recently enthroned king of the Teshele Kingdom, sat on his recently refurbished throne, and watched his ministers walk into the throne room. The throne was a symbol of power for the king, and instead of continuing the foolish tradition of increasing the gaudiness of his throne, he had it stripped down to its original appearance.  Not only did this return several pounds of silver to the treasury, but also many jewels.

As this was the first time he's called court in his reign, he wanted to quickly solidify his rule, and continue with the plans he's made while his father was still alive.  Many of those plans were secretly enacted while his father tried to hold onto power without the mind to do so.  As a result, many of those plans were implemented right under his nose.

"Rold, our Minister of War, report on our plans for the kingdom of Thules." The king's Grand Secretary called out. Gseg was a scholar, but highly skilled in the arts of war, as well as the financial endeavors that could make an invasion feasible, or impossible.

Rold stepped out of the two lines of ministers, and set up a small table. On the table, he set some scrolls that were labeled and were in order.

"We have some issues with information in Thules." Rold started. "Our scouts recently uncovered some rumors of the king, and his recovery of his strength. As we were unsure, we sent scouts to Aros to investigate. Our spies, the Inaris clan, were wiped out recently." He said. Erir frowned only slightly, but continued to listen to the report.

"This was preceded by the fall of Underground Black, and both were perpetuated by the same being. Someone in the Primeval Forest, and someone strong enough to kill iron tusked boars." Rold picked up a second scroll, while Erir thought about these details, and didn't stop the report.

"Previous reports said that this being brought in valuable materials, dark panthers, river pythons, stone bears, and iron tusked boars. Recently, our scouts returned in a panic. They report seeing thousands of disciplined soldiers, dead zombie soldiers, guarding the forest, and Aros. When they tried to get closer to Aros, they were spotted, and a full squad swept the area. They escaped, only because they crossed the border. Apparently, the soldiers stopped at the border, and turned back to Aros." Rold put the second scroll down, and was about to pick up the third.

"Minister Rold, are you suggesting that these soldiers were thinking creatures?" Gseg asked.

"No, Grand Secretary. I am only reporting the details. If I had to guess is that the soldiers were given orders they could not disobey." He picked up the third scroll.

"The reports continue. These dead soldiers recently had a foray into Mabu, took custody of a criminal, and deposed the king. The scouts were able to enter Mabu unopposed until the Queen was installed as Regent. Once that happened, all scouts and spies either ran, or they died.  We were unable to confirm as the bodies were not recovered."  He took a deep breath.  "The scouts who returned said that they were told to report that the Queen of Death protects Mabu, and if they attempt to interfere again, their soldiers will invade our country." His report was without emotion, either anger, or anything that would impact the reports. He picked up the final scroll.

"The scouts that were able to return said these soldiers were faster than horses, strong enough to uproot trees on their own, and do not tire. They do not break formation. Before they were expelled, they witnessed individual soldiers dragging the carcasses of iron tusked boars, and pythons. They are armored, armed, disciplined, and can not be bribed." He rolled up the final scroll, as though slamming shut a door. The table was folded up and he stepped back into line. Gseg frowned heavily.

"What is your opinion, Minister Rold?" The Grand Secretary asked. Rold frowned, but the king held up a hand to ask for quiet.

"He's already given us his opinion, Grand Secretary." Erir said quietly. He sighed unhappily. "Tell our forces in Thules to retreat, and pull back the spies." He closed his eyes for only a split second.

"The Queen of Death is a force of nature. She is listed in the archives of all kingdoms on this side of the mountain." Erir said firmly. "If anyone is so foolish as to step up and go against the Queen of Death, then they should hand over their head and hope she has some mercy left in her soul." His voice rose in volume.

"Our ancestors were clear. To stand against death itself is foolish! Find out what set her off in the old country, and make sure that is not occurring here! Dismissed!" Erir said with the authority he had earned.

The ministers bowed and left to do their research, while Erir sat down quietly, but the strength seemed to have left his eyes.

"Gseg. Do we do anything that can attract her attention?" He asked quietly.

"No, sire. Compared to Mabu, and Thules, Teshele has lifted up the common people, and make sure they are fed. There are no death pits, nor deep corruption that pollutes our fair kingdom. We are just ambitious, and wish to expand our borders. These are not the crimes that attract her attention." Gseg said and bowed humbly.

"Good. Ensure it remains that way." He put his hand over his eyes. "To think that the Queen of Death herself has come to our lands. The land is in a state of flux, and shifting sands." He thought for a moment.

"Increase the granary size. Strengthen our borders with garrisons, and checkpoints. Make sure our towns and cities do not fall victim to the corruption that was common in Thules." He thought for several silent minutes.

"Bring me a map." He said, and started to smile oddly. "What is to our north and west? Also, sent an emissary to Aros. Request confirmation as to whether Thules is under their protection, or only Aros." He started to smile wider.

"There is no sense in abandoning our plans permanently. We just need to find out who and what these soldiers are protecting."

* * *

'Sol.' The soft voice at her ear made Sol squirm and shiver.

"Master." Sol said in a soft tone that resembled a child talking to their mother who appeared so much larger than their body could ever reveal. Aila's body was not extremely tall, nor extremely muscular, but her voice held power in each word. All of her people had this habit of acting like a little girl when she focused on them.

'There is someone being sent to Aros. From Teshele. Talk to Ava. Find out how she feels about the invasion they have planned, using the Inaris, and her fake mother.' Although this was not from Aila herself, Nuldeir and her sisters still spoke with her voice, and authority.

Aila never took away their authority when she went to sleep, and she didn't directly empower them. They had an inner voice that spoke to their hearts, one that said they had not only the right, but the duty to act in her behalf.

"If she feels like she wants to protect her father, and grandfather?" She asked.

'She is angry at him, and disappointed. Her grandfather is precious to her, and even if she is not their child, the old king still sees her in that way. If she wishes to protect the kingdom, send several squads to the border. When she speaks her heart, if she wishes it, I will send a few stone bears to the border to guard.' Nuldeir said, and lightly blew a stream of black death energy into her ear. Sol moaned as it sent waves of elemental essence straight to her core.

'Grow stronger, my delightful wife. I would like to dine on you in the void, but your core is still too weak to remain here for long.' She lightly sucked on Sol's earlobe, and bit it with one of her fangs.

'Even Salia has a stronger core, Sol. Harden your elemental essence, and soak your bones in it. Stop releasing it into the air. Remember, you are my wife, and the Queen of Death, the first of the Sril.' Nuldeir held onto her hip with an insubstantial hand, and blew another stream into her ear.

'Ask Ava. Show her the respect she deserves as your sister. Then act swiftly. Remember, old age and disease bring death just as easily as war does. We do not require war to fill our ranks.' Nuldeir grinned and returned to the realm above.

"War is just a swift tool we use." Sol said, and nodded. She looked back at the ever changing manor that now looked more like the beginnings of a temple.

"Oh Ava." Sol licked her lips, and started to grin. With a fresh view of her sister, Ava, she had something she wanted to try. Now that she could harden her elemental essence, and refuse to let it escape her body, she could take a nice gentle bite of her new sister.

It was too bad that Ava was not one of the Sril. Her lovely eyes made Sol hunger for something more visceral.

Just as Aila hungered for her.