She actually smiled back, and I felt bad. Not because I was going to betray her, but because it was so easy for me to do it. She must've known at some level that there was no way she was getting out of this alive, much less with the crown of Bentius, but she jettisoned all that rationality for the comfort of faith.
Oh, Esmerelda,
I thought,
there's a graveyard filled with people who put their faith in me.
FIELD MARSHAL SHORDIAN
Cavalry General Krakis had been giving me his report from South Fort, distracting me from thoughts of my impending long and boring retirement spent in insufferable luxury. After the bloodshed was finally over, I'd settle into my chateau, and become a connoisseur of wine. I always thought it was funny how the amount of money spent on alcoholism was the determining factor in whether it was pathetic, or cultured. A homeless man chugging cheap vodka from a can was more honest than a noble vomiting wine all over his fine silks, and frankly, the former somehow seemed more appealing to me, but alas, I had a family who looked to me, and a name to uphold until it was finally etched into a gravestone.
A disturbance interrupted me from my musings. There was a messenger boy beside me, and he was breathless when he ran to my horse. By the suit of his house, he must've run nearly the entire length of the column to get to me, which meant his message was from the rear. He huffed and puffed, struggling to get his words out. Eventually, he gave up, and just held up the message.
It was a dead eagle, an orc messenger bird by the pattern on its belly. One from the Hektini tribe, if my taxonomy was correct, which meant it was likely one of Gorlok's—or the 'Night Wolf' as he now called himself. It wasn't rare for us to shoot down his birds. He had scouts prowling all over the countryside, and they were in constant communication. It certainly wasn't worth bringing to my attention. That was, until I noticed the makeshift cowl that had been placed over the eagle's head. A ranger cowl? I took the bird from the messenger's hands, and pulled out the scroll that was in its claws.
Field Marshal Peter Shordian,
I would like to offer a belated congratulations for your promotion. I would've sent you a letter earlier, but I was rather occupied with my new duties as governess of Alkandra, and I didn't want to put you in an awkward situation. I no longer have to worry about placing you in such a predicament, as I am no longer the governess of Alkandra. I have been exiled as a traitor for my actions in service to Queen Leveria Tiadoa while I held office. My loyalties to the Highlands never wavered. You are one of the few people who know me well enough to know that I speak the truth. Whatever stories you've heard about me as governess are all true; I am a hybrid elf, and I act accordingly. I cannot be anything but what I am. I never stopped being a ranger.
You may wonder why you're receiving this message from Gorlok Hektini's eagle. It is because I killed him and his dog. By orc tradition, that makes me the outfit leader. Through circumstances I rather not explain in detail, I also became the military commander of Esmerelda's rebellion, and have joined their forces—an unlikely alliance, I know, but desperation makes strange bedfellows. I am now marching both armies to Bentius. We will get there a day before you do, even if you ride at full-tilt. The orcs and wargs will assault the walls, and while they are pinned fighting Ternias's watchmen, the rebels will hit the orcs in the back, and massacre them before the citizenry of Bentius. The grateful people will fling open the gates for Esmerelda and her rebels, and from there, we will storm the castle, and kill all the living nobles and King Lucas Ternias. This is inevitable.
You are a man of great honor, Peter. I was once such a man as well, but I am no longer. It is why I can speak so plainly about my treachery, and also so candidly about what must be done. King Ternias is a weak man, and his reign will lead to disaster. Though I believe Esmerelda is a good woman, she is a foolish ideologue leading a doomed cause. She actually believes that simply taking the castle will make her queen—or whatever title she wants to call herself. I know that you would never kneel to a rebel. You would besiege the castle, and drag her out to be executed, along with all the other rebels. I will save you the trouble. You can say they all died valiantly fighting the corrupt King Ternias if you wish, or you can tell the truth; I recommend the former. A king doesn't need to be an honest king to be a good king, and you will be king. The Noble Court has already been destroyed, and when I kill the last living noble, I will end the line of succession. The throne will be open to whoever can claim it. You have the loyalty of the army, and that is the only power worth a damn. This country needs stability, and you will provide it. This country also needs an ambassador to Alkandra, and I can think of no greater candidate than myself.
Think on it, Peter. When you next see me, you will be shocked by what you see, but remember who I am, and what I have done for our nation. Know that I have sacrificed everything, and I mean EVERYTHING for the Highlands, and I will continue to serve. It's all I know how to do.
With much respect and admiration,
Adrianna Alkandra, formerly Head-ranger Thomas Adarian.
I folded the letter, and frowned. I reached for my communication's mirror, selected King Ternias's sigil, and stopped. I looked back at the folded piece of paper in my hand. I tore it into a thousand pieces, and scattered the pieces into the wind.
"Sir?" The messenger asked, "Orders?"
"Carry on." I said, and eased back into my saddle. Thomas Adarian—or Adrianna—was correct on many fronts; there was no way I could stop her, and there was no reason for me to. Ternias was a weak man, and weak men in power were the most dangerous men in the world. And while my ambitions were never as lofty as the throne itself, I wouldn't toss it away if it fell into my lap. She was wrong about one thing, however: I wasn't a day away from Bentius. I was a very long way from Bentius.
ELENA
The meeting with Feractian's barons had gone well. They had important connections within the city, mostly in the mercantile districts. Ternias had firm control over the banking and investment class, but he'd overlooked the workers, shop owners and tradesmen that operated a ward lower. Those people had thrived under the international trade Leveria and her father had brought in, and Feractian's barons twisted the narrative in such a way as to blame Ternias for the lack of ships in Bentius's harbor.
That night, I had thanked the barons for their service in the only way I could. Mom had to sleep in the guestroom across the courtyard, but I'd kept the drapes open so that she could see me in my element. Six men at once was a treat to be savored, and I savored it all night long. As before, I was the goddess and the whore, playing effortlessly through dominance, submission, sadism and masochism. I never had less than three cocks inside me at a time, and the only hole I ever left open was my mouth, and that was only so that I could either give harsh commands or beg for forgiveness depending on who I was talking to. At one point, I managed to fit all six of them inside me at once, which required much preparation and a lot of stretching. At another point, I managed to fit myself into all six of them, which required ample foot dexterity, and an expert extension of my tongue. Both experiences were sublime, and by the end of the night, I was left wonderfully exhausted. I didn't even have to think to fall asleep.
When I came down for breakfast the next morning, Mom was waiting with a plate full of eggs, and a mouth full of questions.
"How did you get your back to bend like that?" She asked, and attempted the maneuver on her stool. "You had your pelvis tilted forward—one man in your... and the other two in your... I'm not actually sure what was where."
"One in the pussy, two in the ass."
Lady Jonias slammed her plate on the table, and left with a huff.
"Two in the ass?" Mom gave me an appraising look, "I've only ever managed two fingers in there. How the hell did you get two
men?!
"
"Well, you start with one finger." I said, and extended my forefinger, "Then you go to two, then three, then four, then five," I made a fist, "and you just got to
stretch
it out. After that, two men is no problem."
She nodded, processing the information. "And it feels better that way?"
"It's pure bliss. The more, the merrier."
She readjusted herself on the stool, trying to mimic the position. "So, you had one man in your pussy, two in your ass, and they were... here, here, and here."
"That's right."
"What the hell did you do with all their legs?"
"Two of them overlapped their thighs and pressed their cocks together. The third sat perpendicular to them like so," I mimicked the motion, "and he was the one who was in my pussy. I just eased myself down, and enjoyed the ride."
"Uh-huh," Mom said studiously, "but that doesn't answer this question. So, you've got man number four sticking it between your tits, and man number five is getting the full attention of both your hands. Now, your back is like this," she arched her back as much as she could, "but with man number one and man number two in your back door, man number six can't possibly reach your mouth no matter how far back you tilt your head."
"Are you sure?" I grinned, and readjusted myself on the stool. With my crotch bearing my weight, I extended my legs backward, curved my spine, and touched the back of my head with the tips of my toes.
Mom was in awe of me. "Where the hell did you learn that?"
"Ranger school." I giggeld, "Life as a virgin lesbian in the military was a never-ending quest to try and lick my own clit."
Mom smirked. "I bet it's much easier now."
