Chapter Two: Let's Turn It On
[Warning:Contains scenes of Mind Break, Mind Control, and Non-Consent]
The morning was a blur of movement, and that strange mix of exhaustion and excitement that came with the beginning of a journey. Talfen didn't need to wake Eliza up, which was fortunate because Talfen appeared to be missing. Eliza guessed that she was helping prepare her things for the horses.
Eliza's travel clothes were hung up on the outside of her closet door. Blue and Grey pants that went just below her knees, a tight shirt that went past her elbows, and a cloak of the same colors. These clothes were no where near warm enough for the mountains, but would work well underneath her coat until they arrived in the warm valley.
Over the travel clothes she put on bulky padded pants and a fur coat. They weren't her nicest ones, but the last thing she wanted was to ruin her favorite clothes on a long journey.
As Eliza made her way out into the early morning courtyard, she was surprised that her parents weren't there to see her off. They had said their goodbyes the night before sure, but it still felt strange. Eliza shrugged it off. She was too excited about the journey to be overthink anything.
Eliza's four bodyguards were already waiting for her. Eliza had known them all of her life, and one that was recently appointed was even close to her age.
Elizas head bodyguard was Syllia. Syllia stood taller then Eliza, and had that seriousness that all bodyguards seemed to have. Being over 400 years old gave her a much more mature demeanor, worsening her serious nature. Syllia's hair was a light purple, so light that it could have been confused for a pale black in a different light. Her bangs hung down over her forehead, with two lengths of hair adorning the sides of her face. The rest was bundled up behind her head in a ponytail.
Keya was the second most experienced, and therefore second in command. Where Syllia's age and experience had turned her dead serious, Keya's age had made her more playful and aloof. Syllia often blamed this on Keya's lineage. Keya was from a long line of desert elves who had moved to the mountains thousands of years before. As such her skin was a tan, almost milk chocolate color. Keyas hair formed into light tan dreadlocks, ones that she was very poud of dispite Syllia's disapproval. She was just barely shorter then Syllia, and the two often bickered due to their differences.
The third most experienced, and the hothead of the group, was Matilla. Though the shortest of the guards, her personality and physique gave her a presence that made her seem larger then any of them. Her most distinguishing features were her teeth and her muscles. Using magic she had made all her teeth pointed and fanged. No one was sure why. And her muscles were even more defined then Elizas. Matilla's workouts were legendary around mountain Elf society, and the results spoke for themselves. In a society of elves with similar body types, Matilla fought to stand out. Even here, she wore a sleeveless shirt cut above her stomach, showing off her well toned arms and abs. The cold was no match for her vanity.
Finally, the guard that was Elizas age, Tisha. Despite her youth, Tisha somehow always looked haggard and tired. Her long brown hair was identical to how it looked when she got out of bed, and bags under her eyes were visible. Still, it wasn't like she had gotten here through luck. Tisha was immensely skilled at swordplay, and seemed to have lost sight for other parts of her life. Sleep and general self care were some of the casualties.
Gerard and his guards looked to be in a hurry. Their gear was packed on the sides of their horses, and their carriage was already at the castle gate. Eliza wasn't going to argue, she was ready to get on the road too. She pulled herself onto her horse, and her guards did the same.
The journey started, and Eliza let Gerard's group take the lead. Eliza motioned for Syllia to move up alongside her. Eliza spoke quietly "Im going to ride alongside Gerard. He has Sunny Day with him, so I'll bring Keya. Matilla can watch Tisha on the carriage. Meanwhile you keep an eye on that Dwarf of theirs."
Syllia nodded "Good plan your grace. I'll tell the others."
They moved into their places. Eliza smiled at Gerard as she pulled up next to him and spoke "You're much more serious now then you were on the way in."
Gerard chuckled "I'm guessing you were watching our little race?"
"Indeed." Eliza said. "We can see anywhere we want within these mountains." A bit of an exaggeration. Sure they could see from wherever they wanted, but a certain type of magnetic rock needed to be placed there first. Misinformation was a good weapon.
Gerard looked around. "Well I thank you for your honesty. Some would have kept that trick to themselves."
Eliza shrugged. "When building friendships between countries, honesty is key."
Gerard frowned for a moment. "In that case, there is something I must tell you. In the name of honesty and further friendship."
Elizas ears perked up "Oh?"
"The Cathrain Empire is a human one mainly, and we've had many dealings with elven species. As such, we've learned of a biological quirk between our kinds." Gerard explained.
It was Elizas turn to frown. She wasn't sure how she felt about the course of this conversation.
Gerard continued, "Quite simply: We humans produce a sort of pheromone that elves find...pleasant. Addictive almost."
Eliza stayed silent for another moment. "So what are the effects of this hormone?"
Gerard looked at the sky. "Overall, submissiveness, arousal, things along those lines. Of course, this is with the valley elves. We have no way of knowing if you, their mountain kin, will feel the same effects."
Eliza was stunned by this admission. If he was telling the truth, then admitting it to her gained him nothing but suspicion. And why would he lie? To throw her off balance? It was working but that couldn't have been it. Keya behind her must have been just has confused as her, saying "So is that how every elven kingdom in the valley ended up on your side?"
Eliza turned and glared at Keyas outburst, but Gerard laughed and took it in stride. "One could look at it like that, but we didn't ask to produce this pheromone. We prefer to look at it as a symbiotic relationship. In fact," Gerard turned and gestured to Sunny. "We humans have a similar situation with Sunny's kind!"
Keya turned to Sunny. "What does he mean by that?"
Sunny smiled, or her best interpretation of a smile. "Well you seeee," she put her left hand up, and it began to morph. It unfolded into strips of tentacles like flesh, dark on one side and pink on the other. "I am what your people call, a mimic."
It was Elizas turn to have an outburst. "You mean, like the kind that pretend to be chests full of gold?"
Sunny nodded and her hand returned to normal. "The veryyy same, though wee have evolved the past that in the last century. Like his majestyyy said, wee discovered that our elders can live off of the sexual liquids of humans, and other beings. "
