Bad Apple, Good Tree.

"Edmin, please. It's not even for me, it's for her, it's for Lexie." you try to plead with him again "Put our differences aside and just help me out for once, that's all I'm asking."

"Oh, now he wants to be civil again." he looks down at the tip of your short sword that's still fixated on his torso "Serves you right for defying my word. Good riddance" he takes a step back, moving away from your blade "Now if you'll excuse me..."

"You're making a huge mistake, Edmin..." you glare at him "I won't forget this."

"And...?" Edmin questions into you "I care why?"

You slowly bring your blades back to your waistband, placing them securely as you talk "This is what breaks it, Edmin. This moment, right now, our alliance with you is over. I don't even care that you hate me, that you want to make me suffer, hell, I don't even care that you paid for half the bounty on my head to have me assassinated" he's taken aback from you knowing that "But this draws the line. I came all the way from the Syndicate to ask for help, not even for myself but for someone else and you just spit in my face." your eyes are burning with anger at the man "When you're dying and it's due to my sword sticking out of your chest, I'm going to look into your eyes as the life fades from them and that's when you'll know. It was on this day, at this moment in time, that sealed your fate."

Edmin grins back at you "It's never smart to threaten a King, Darien." he runs his hand through his brown and grey speckled hair "Now get the fuck out of Rathkin before I have you killed for threats against me."

With that you turn around and storm out of the Throne room, completely pissed off from the encounter that just happened. As you blast your way through the doors and make your way through the halls your mind starts to think of the other possibilities. If you can't get help from Rathkin then your only other choice is to go to Loner's Reach and hope Shade knows someone or has something that can help Lexie. You've never been to Loner's Reach but you know the general direction of it, let alone trying to find and hope Shade will be there, if he's gone, and you come up empty handed you'll be screwed.

Before you know it, you are at the entrance to the castle, the two doors get held open by the guards allowing you outside. The instant you touch the dirt ground outside the steps of the castle "AHHHH!!!" you scream out in rage as you kick a stone on the ground causing it to go skipping and flying off into the distance "FUCK!" you yell out.

"Geez!" Zoe catches you off guard "What's gotten into you?!" she's rather cheerful "Guess what!!!" she coos.

"Fucking Edmin, that's what." you groan "I fucking hate him so much. He's not going to help, he's a piece of shit and now" you're pacing around with frustration "Now we have to go to Loner's Reach and hope to all the Syndicate Gods that Shade is there and he knows what the hell to do."

"Umm, Darien..." Zoe tries to talk.

"And then if Shade doesn't know what to do, we're screwed. If Lexie doesn't get over it herself I won't know what to do. I'm so fucking mad!!!" you yell causing onlookers to grant you worrisome glances.

"Darien, what I was trying to say..."

"FUUUUCK!" you rage with agony.

"What's with all the obscenities?" a feminine voice breaks your anger causing you to look up at the carriage to see a older lady stepping out.

"W-What? Huh...?" your mouth parts open as you see an attractive older female walk out. She's wearing a very elegant flowing navy blue dress, has her dark brown locks tied back in some fancy braids and is decked out with all types of jewels.

"What I was trying to say..." Zoe goes on "Look who I ran into? She's super nice!"

"La-La-Lady...err, Queen Bree?" you remember her.

"Darien." she nods "Pleasure to see you again." a smile forms on her face as she eyes over your armor covered body once again "Bring the carriage around to the Infirmary, I believe you remember where it's at? I'll see to it to give her the proper service she needs." she steps forward and touches your arm with her own. "I hear, congratulations are in order?"

How is it, such a thoughtful, caring women is married to such scum. It boggles your mind that one person can be so petty and selfish yet his partner is the complete opposite.

"Y-Your husband though..." you swallow hard, thinking you should withhold this information "He said he wouldn't help. He wanted us to leave Rathkin and if we didn't he'd have us thrown out, or even something worse."

"Oh did he now?" her lip curls up as she has a mischievous look on her face "I guess this will be our little secret then."

"But what if.."

"Shhh." Queen Bree shushes you "She's hurting and she's pregnant. I don't care what my husband says or what he told you to do. I can't, in my good faith, let you leave without me at least taking a look at her first."

"Yay!!!" Zoe squeals from the side.

Quite frankly you can't even comprehend what's going on. "But, why are you...why would you?"

Queen Bree brings her hand up and rubs it along the side of your cheek "I know how much of a pain in the ass my husband can be at times and sometimes, even though I should listen to him, I like to defy his orders every once in awhile." she playfully trails her finger down your cheek until she removes it completely "Sometimes this Queen doesn't always want to be all prime and proper." she throws you a flirty wink and steps in close "Sometimes it's fun to be naughty..." she whispers softly in your ear before giving you a quick little peck on your cheek "But now come on," she steps back raising her voice again "Get her to the infirmary so I can check up on her, I'll meet you there."

"Queen Bree, you rock!" Zoe is ever so cheerful as Queen Bree followed quickly by two Rathkin guards escort her in the direction of the infirmary.

The man that you were just thinking about killing, the man that you just threatened his life because of how much of a piece of shit he is, his wife, the Queen of Rathkin, is the complete opposite and it blew your mind. "Queen Bree..." you shout causing her to stop and look over her shoulder "Thank you. Truly, thank you."

"See you soon, Darien, hurry up now." she smiles once more before turning her head back in front of her to continue to her destination.

"She's so nice. I like her!" Zoe says.

"Yeah...yeah she is..." you mumble out thinking about the situation that just happened, how you can go from pure rage due to Edmin to pure joy from Bree. "Come on, let's get Lexie to the infirmary."