Back To The Tower

The rest of the trip to Corona was quiet. Not at all shockingly we saw no sign of more bandits. If the survivors had stuck around they wisely stayed clear. I had everyone on high alert as we came to the Capitol, if King Triton's goons were going to hit us a city surrounded by ocean seemed a likely spot.

All was quiet though as we rode up to the gate, the same gate captain came out at our approach that I had seen before. He yelled back into the room behind him, probably sending a runner for the Captain of the Guard, before making his way over to me. "Good morning my Lord. Quick journey then?"

"Good morning to you as well Captain. I'm shocked you haven't heard yet but a major storm did quite a bit of damage to the celebration fleet while at sea. Put quite a dampener on things and I need to get back to Germonia to report tidings to the Queen. You've sent for the Captain of the Guard?"

He nodded. "Soon as I saw you, I knew he'd want word on Lady Cassandra. If you feel like luncheoning at the Sundrop Flower again I will see that he meets you there."

Cassandra had spent the trip talking with Hilde, going over her training. I waved the glowing-haired woman forward as we rode through the city and Hilde came with of course. Flanked by them, I turned to the guardswoman. "Your father is going to meet us at the inn. Tell him about the trip, but nothing about your new loyalty or changes. You will tell him that you've decided to travel with me more, you should find that he finds the idea a perfectly normal thing for you to do. Also be sure to let him know that we need to hurry on after lunch, a city surrounded by the seas is a very bad place to spend the night right now. Understood?"

She saluted me, not sure if that was sarcasm or enthusiasm. "Understood Master. I've no wish to see the city attacked by merfolk. But won't he ask about my hair?"

"Triton might just decide to level the place with a tidal wave, the sooner we're in a landlocked kingdom the better. And he won't notice, you will seem perfectly normal to him."

She nodded, looking pale. I looked over to Hilde. "So how is the training going so far?"

"Quite well. She can already feel the potential of her gift but is quite level-headed and has had no problem restraining the need to lash out so far. Back in the forest we can let her loose on some trees for practice." Well, that should be interesting.

The stable hands remembered us and for a good-sized gem promised to keep the horses ready while also seeing to their needs. I kept everyone with me in the dining area this time, which didn't cause a stir at all. Normality was damn useful at times.

We hadn't even gotten our food yet when the Captain himself showed up. Cass got up and greeted him formally, then he bowed his head to Hilde and I. "Greetings again my Lord, my lady. And it is good to see you looking well daughter." He turned back to me. "I understand you are in something of a hurry your Lordship?"

I nodded and gestured at him to have a seat while Hilde poured him a goblet of wine. "Indeed, I have with me a politically sensitive prisoner that I must get to the Queen of Germonia soonest. Cassandra can tell you all about it, her assistance was invaluable." She beamed at my praise.

"Indeed Captain, the Prince had information that Prince Eric would be attacked on his birthday and we were able to thwart it. Though not until after the fleet was set upon by storm. We also happened upon bandits along the road on the way there, they'd set an ambush point for travelers but weren't prepared for us."

The Captain looked suitably impressed. "And this prisoner?"

I gestured back at the oilcloth bundle lying along some chairs behind me. She'd been much subdued when Ruby and Ella had tended to her needs at camp and wasn't struggling now either. According to my device, she'd dropped over fifty hours since her capture, the fight draining out of her faster than the time ticking down. "I'm not taking my eye off of her. She's apparently cursed, so her sorcerous attack upon the fleet isn't really her fault. The Queen said she can do something about it, so we are heading there."

He shook his head. "Back through darkest wood, not a route I'd fancy but I understand the need."

"Also Father, I'd like to continue to accompany Prince Guy."

He roared in laughter. "Haven't got your fill of adventure yet my girl? Well I can hardly blame you. Did my fair share of traveling in my youth. If the Prince will have you, you've my blessing."

"She is more than welcome, of course." He seemed to have been expecting the request, well one didn't become the Captain of the Guard by being stupid. Normality probably hadn't even been needed for him to accept her wanting to go.

The Captain joined us for our meal, the kitchen had been expecting his order. Apparently he lunched here normally. It was good to be Captain of the Guard.

.

We left as cautiously as we arrived but there was still no sign of trouble. Excellent. I really hoped the two coastal cities wouldn't see any fallout, it wouldn't be my problem once I left this world, but I had no idea if I might be back through here again. Once Ariel was fully captured I might even see to the kingdom across the sea while she reassured her father that all was well.

Once a good ways into the Enchanted Forest, and well away from the ocean, Hilde stopped us, "This is a good place." She dismounted with Cassandra and they walked over to a small copse of young trees. "Try to drain the middle tree, leaving those to either side untouched."

Cass nodded and took a deep breath before gesturing at the tree in question. Her hair gleamed brighter and a wave of darkness swept towards the tree, leaving it withered and blighted afterwards. "Oh wow. I feel incredible!"

Hilde smiled. "Yes, you just absorbed the tree's lifeforce. If you had been injured, you'd quite likely be fully healed now. Now try to release some of that energy you feel as an attack, same tree. Try to limit the damage to just your target."

Cassandra hopped up and down a few times, looking giddy, before focusing on the dead tree and making another gesture towards it. This time a beam of blueish white light lashed out, blasting clear through the deadwood, and the trees to either side... One of the felled trees came crashing back towards the women and without thinking Cassandra threw up a hand, creating a glowing white shield of light that blocked it.

"Well done on defense, not so much on a focused attack." With a sweep of her staff Hilde hurled the fallen tree to the side. "If you had been trying to pick off an attacker holding our Master hostage, you would have killed both."

"Still really good for a first try." I said, quite impressed, as the shield of light faded. Hilde had more utility but Cass was definitely the heavy hitter of my group so far. And to think I'd only nabbed her on a whim. "Don't forget to work on less lethal attacks too, drain to weaken not kill. Though overwhelming fear or sadness might work better then.

Hilde grimaced. "I was loath to let her practice emotional manipulation on the girls, my Lord, you don't want them damaged after all." That was a good point, and props to Hilde for thinking that way.

"Once we get back to your castle I'm sure you can rustle up some criminals for Cass to practice on worry-free."

She nodded her head, looking smug. "Oh yes, there are always some who think they can flout my laws at hand for experimentation." She laughed, sounding every inch the evil villain she was. The other girls looked nervously at me like they were wondering if she was really on our side.

"Once we get to the tower we can be a little less careful on the training. Rapunzel will be able to undo any damage."

Cassandra rushed to my side. "Rapunzel?! That's the lost Princess's name!"

Yeah, better to get this out now before she had a target. "Yes, it is. Because it's her. I found where she'd been held all this time and captured her much the same as you. And the woman who was holding her captive. Your mother."

Cassandra's hair flared, and a blue-white fire formed about her hands. "MY MOTHER!" Yeah, she looked pissed. Best be very careful.

I nodded, trying to look calm. "Yes, the Queen located Gothel and her tower, so I dealt with her on my way to Corona. She will be punished for abandoning you all those years ago."

The fire faded, as did the glow of her hair somewhat, though she still looked angry. "Punished how?"

I laughed. "Why, I'm giving her to you. She will be your servant to do with as you will."

Cassandra's anger just melted away as she burst out laughing along with me. "Oh, she is just going to hate that. I can't wait to see her face."

"You and me both, Cass."

Hilde and her remounted and the glowing-haired woman urged her horse up with Ruby's, eager to reach our destination.

"Was that wise?" Hilde asked, having ridden up next to me.

"Far better to let her know now than her seeing Gothel's face without warning. Just because Rapunzel can bring back the dead is no reason to strain her powers without need."

Hilde looked shaken. "She can what?"

"She's the opposite of Cassandra, where one rips life away, the other can give it back. I'm sure you can see why I insisted on capturing her." The Queen just nodded solemnly, obviously still in shock.

The tower would be a good stopping point for a bit to get things organized. According to my device between Cass and Gothel I'd gotten ten credits, putting me at twenty and I had decisions to make.

I could grab Libertine Service now and have a few credits left, or splurge and thanks to rebates get Advanced Runes: Body by spending all twenty.

It was a really tough call.