Wendy

The Queen smiled. “Wendy.” She commanded. Wendy stepped forward and turned, kneeling before the Queen. “From this point you are assigned to protect Darx. You will keep him safe, serving him faithfully as you have served us.”

“I will, my Queen.” Wendy said, then stood and moved to Darx’s side. Wendy shot him a smile as she passed in front of him.

Darx could feel the Priest’s displeasure with Wendy joining them. Darx would have to figure out some way to explain this decision, but knowing the Priest disapproved helped convince him he had made the right choice.

There was some more talk, but the Priest dominated the conversation so Darx didn’t need to say anything. Queen Zara and Priest Gabriel spent a lot of words and energy to end up at the exact same place they had been. Wendy would join Neku in protecting Darx at all times, and he had a week to prepare to meet the Dark Elf delegation. Only seven days before he needed to convince them that he was the “Heir to Zrephia”, whether he believed it or not. Everything else was insignificant compared to that meeting.

As they left the castle the Priest was walking quickly and quietly. He was noticeably angry, and Darx was glad Wendy was walking with them, otherwise he’d probably already be getting scolded. Darx didn’t care what the Priest thought, he just didn’t look forward to hearing about it, especially with the Priest’s power.

In the peace the silence afforded him Darx took some time to look around him. Riledo looked and felt much different than it had almost a year ago when he first arrived. It was still reasonably crowded, but before it had been filled with adventurers moving through the city between missions. Now the city was full of people that looked tired, hungry, struggling. He knew there were a lot of refugees flooding into the city, and he knew the Guilds were busy with the war effort, but the difference was stark. He also noticed people staring at him, pointing, talking. He remembered the Queen’s words about the news of him spreading, the stories of who they thought he was. . . he didn’t like it.

“I need to see Darx in my office, in one hour.” The Priest said as they walked through the large doors and into the living chambers of the church. Priest Gabriel hadn’t talked to him or even acknowledged him during the walk back. Now Darx was being shuffled back to his room to wait.

When they reached Darx’s room Neku dragged Wendy and Darx back to his bathroom and shut the door behind them.

“What’s going on Wendy?” Neku demanded.

“What do you mean?” Wendy asked, looking nervous.

“Why are you here?” Neku demanded.

“You heard the queen, my [Null Field] cancels magic. I’m here to protect Darx.” She answered.

“From what? You forget I was there at the Knight's Hospitaler. I was with Darx the whole time. The Queen knows just as well as we do that the explosion was from him, not an attack on him.” Darx couldn’t believe Neku said it so casually.

Wendy glared at her. “You say far too much.”

“Come on, what’s the real reason you are here.” Neku shifted her weight, her hand on her hip, letting Wendy know she wasn’t giving up.

“I think I know, Neku.” Darx interjected.

Wendy looked surprised, and a bit scared.

“When you hugged me, Wendy, I felt different. Your [Null Field] affected the Priest’s ability, didn’t it.”

Now Wendy was scared. “No, it only affects cast spells, not mind control stuff.”

“Wait, so you know about the Priest’s power?” Neku asked.

“Shit.” Wendy said, she was moving toward the door. Darx realized why.

“Wendy stop." Darx said. "You can trust Neku, she’s not with the Priest.”

“What?” Wendy asked.

Neku smiled, “I'm on Darx's side, Wendy. He is going to save the church of Imris, set things right. He’s been fighting the Priests control and I’m helping him.”

Wendy looked to Darx. “Is that true? Are you sure this isn’t a trick?”

Darx stepped to her, put his hands on her shoulders. “Am I under the Priest’s control right now?” Wendy’s eyes met his, she blushed slightly.

“You shouldn’t be.” She said.

“And I’m telling you Neku isn’t either.” Neku took Darx's hint and came to Wendy, pressing into her.

“See, I’m already free of it.” She said.

Wendy looked nervous, but she sighed and relented. “Okay. Yes, the Queen thought my field might cancel the Priest’s influence, your reaction to our hug sealed the plan. That’s why I’m here.”

Darx felt relief, profound relief. He had been doubting everything he thought, everything he felt. With Wendy here, he could know his thoughts were his own. He hugged her.

“Thank you, Wendy.” Darx said.

“Okay.” Wendy said awkwardly, not returning the embrace. “But I didn’t really do anything.”

“You didn’t see Darx earlier today, Wendy.” Neku kissed Wendy on her cheek, she looked happy enough to cry.

“Okay, so that at least is good news." Neku said, but her smile faded as she continued. "The Priest is going to go hard at Darx in a few minutes. He’s angry at you being here. Do you think he knows why you are here?”

“You mean if he knows about my power? I can’t say for sure.” Wendy answered. “He shouldn’t.” She said shrugging.

Darx thought for a moment. “We’ll find out in the meeting, by how he reacts. For now though, I need an excuse for why Wendy is here. I can’t sell the protection side, we all know that’s largely fake. And Wendy doesn’t help me at all against Kase.”

“I wonder if her [Null Field] would reveal what that thing that looked like me was.” Neku asked.

“I’m pretty sure that was a demon Neku." Darx stated. "If I’m right, her name is Namy. Wendy might be able to cancel it, but do we really want the Priest thinking about [Null Field] cancelling the effects of abilities?”

"Wait, a demon? Like, a real demon?" Wendy asked.

"A demon impersonated me at the Knights Hospitaler and tried to get Darx to go with her." Neku answered Wendy, then turning toward Darx. "But how do you know her name, Darx?"

Darx sighed, it was a lot to explain, and they didn't have time for the whole story. "She visited me after we. . ." Darx cut himself off, he was about to mention rescuing Sunshine, but Wendy didn't know about that. "After Syvis and I returned, the day before. . ."

Darx's mind recalled that night vividly. Namy telling him about Syvis and Kase. He remembered yelling at her, trying to attack her, all to defend Syvis. But after she left he couldn't shake her words. They haunted him the next day at Oliver's party. He was on edge, put his fist right through Fabe's chest. . .

Darx did his best to sit down on the bed as his mind reeled. He had pushed that day out of his thoughts. It was too much to deal with; it hurt so much. But Namy, a demon who killed Caroline and Marques Darren, she tried to warn him, she had tried to help him. . .

"Darx. . ." Neku said softly as she put her hand on his shoulder.

Darx pushed his thoughts away, wiped the tears out of his eyes. "I'm sorry, what were we discussing?"

Neku and Wendy looked at each other before Neku spoke. "Uh, we were talking about Wendy's [Null Field]." She lied, letting Darx avoid whatever it was that affected him so strongly.

“So far the only things that are out about my ability is that it fully disrupts focused mana projection.” Wendy stated, a fancy way to say attack and healing magic.

“Yeah, then we don’t want to make anyone think beyond that. We need as much time as we can get before the Priest finds out he can’t control Darx at all.” Neku was thinking, her voice distracted.

“I mean, we did spend a week together in training. We could just say we were friends and Darx wanted me around.” Wendy offered.

“Or. . .” Neku said, looking at Darx apologetically.

“No.” Darx said after she explained her idea, it didn’t take long.

“What? Look at Wendy and tell me you wouldn’t.” Neku countered.

Darx looked to Wendy, hoping for support. Instead, “Do you think it would work?” Wendy asked, she didn’t seem fazed at all by Neku’s idea.

“Oh yeah. Darx is **** because of the betrayal of women he loved. The Priest sees women as Darx’s chief weakness. I mean, why do you think I am here, dressed like this?” Neku gestured to her outfit.

“Seriously?” Darx asked.

“Yeah, he knew if I was around, you’d put up less of a fight coming to the church, and be more willing to stay.” Neku stated mater-of-factly.

“I. . .”

Neku smiled at Darx. She shifted her hips, leaned forward slightly into a seductive pose and bit her lip. “Are you saying it didn’t work Darx?”

“Shut up Neku.” Darx said, looking away, his face red.

“I’m sorry Darx,” Neku laughed. “I know it wasn’t the only reason, but it helped. The key thing is the Priest will buy it.”

Wendy looked to Neku, “Okay, I’m in. How do we sell it?”

“We just show them." Neku said as she stepped towards Darx, bit her lip a little bit. "Everyone get naked.” Neku commanded with a smile.

Fifteen minutes later, when servants arrived to take Darx to see the Priest, it had gone well past a show. The two women were alternately teasing each other and fighting for a better position sucking Darx’s dick. Wendy wasn’t shy at all about sex, she jumped in with enthusiasm, and she seemed to really enjoy teasing Neku. More than once Neku had to remind Wendy that Darx needed to be involved.

The ladies insisted that Darx wasn’t allowed to do more than lay there, and when the door opened that’s what he was doing. Laying back, his arms behind his head, with two beautiful women sharing his dick between their mouths.

“Excuse me sir, the Priest expects you in five minutes.” The voice was stern, and when Darx looked to see the speaker, it was one of the Battle Nuns. She looked familiar, but he couldn't place where he had seen her before.

“Oh goddess,” Neku squealed, “I lost track of time. I’m so sorry.”

Neku started scrambling for her clothes.

“Your presence is not required, sister.” The nun stated dryly. “The Priest will speak with him alone.”

“Oh, okay.” She said, then she smiled at Darx. “I’ll just have to play with Wendy till you get back Darx.”

“Could you find me a shirt, first? You ripped the one I had on.” Darx responded, trying to remember this was all an act, it was their cover for Wendy being here.

Neku bounced over to a dresser and pulled out a fresh shirt for Darx, playing up the part. Wendy came over and helped Darx get dressed. The way Neku and Wendy touched him as they helped him was intense. Both of them naked, both smiling and teasing him. After she tied his pants for him, Wendy kissed him on the cheek. Her soft lips, the smell of her hair, the warmth of her skin, Darx could get used to this.

“Come back to us soon, Darx.” Wendy said as Neku pulled a shirt over his head. Damn, the girls did a great job selling the plan. Darx had to remind himself they were doing it as a distraction, they were just acting.

As the Battle Nun led Darx through the church, his thoughts stayed with Neku and Wendy. What they had done, how fast it had happened. He hadn’t even kissed a girl before Amelia, the only one he’d done more with was Syvis, and he had loved . . . He pushed those thoughts away, he couldn’t think about her, especially not right before seeing the Priest.

The nun escorting him stopped outside the Priest’s office. “He will meet you shortly, Darx. You should wait inside.” Her voice sounded much **** than it had in his room, and she looked at him with what looked like sympathy.

“Thank you.” Darx said, then entered the room as the guard posted outside the Priest’s office opened the door for him. The guard stepped inside and closed the door, motioned for Darx to sit. The Priest wasn’t there, it was just his empty office. Darx sat in the chair opposite the Priest’s empty chair and waited.

He knew this was a power move, letting him sit in the office alone and sweat the Priest’s disappointment. But Darx was grateful for the time. He thought through the plan, worked to convince himself it wasn’t just something he was saying, but the truth. He needed Wendy. She was important to him at a deep level. He’d need to convince the Priest that she was useful, someone that could hurt Darx, make him more ****. The Priest would understand, thank him later, when they saved the church. Or at least that’s what Darx was telling himself. He hoped he believed it enough to survive the Priest’s power. When the door finally opened, Darx was so absorbed in his own thoughts that he didn't hear it.

“Darx.” The Priest said, standing behind his chair. “You know I want to trust you, Darx.”

Darx could feel it, the room shift slightly, the words bypassing his ears. It was subtle, but he could feel it.

“I want to believe you wouldn’t betray me Darx. That you aren’t that kind of person.”

Damn, he could feel the impact already. He started to feel guilty for planning to deceive the priest. He felt an impulse to tell the Priest everything. Tell him about Neku and the secret passage, about Wendy's ability cancelling his [Voice of Command]. Darx focused his feelings. He could only last so long. He needed to get control of the conversation if he could.

“Yet you bring a pawn of the Queen into the Church, into our home.”

Darx saw the opening and struck. He left the chair, knelt before the Priest, nearly bowing to him. It was what he needed to do.

“Please, sir, I haven’t betrayed you, It’s just. . . I need Wendy.”

“Yes, the guards told me of your ‘needs’." The Priest's tone was disdainful. "I already told you all the church’s disciples are available to serve you. Yet you choose this whore from the Castle.” The Priest was clearly angry about Wendy. But in that anger he stopped using his ability.

“It’s more than that, my Priest,” Darx continued. “I know Wendy. We trained together before she joined the Royal Guard. We were. . . together then.”

It was hard to put innuendo into that phrase. Darx struggled with the words. It was hard to lie to the Priest after he had used his power. Darx had to find ways to speak the truth while still selling the lie.

“I understand that you are weak Darx. But the Queen will use that to . . .”

Darx cut him off, “Forgive me, my Priest, but there’s more. Wendy is the weak one. She grew up on the streets of Riledo. She was poor, thieving, ****. She joined the Royal Guard looking for safety, for family. The Queen may be trying to plant her here, but soon Wendy will be loyal to me, to the Goddess, to us.”

The Priest smiled. “You think you can do this?” He asked.

“It’s not me alone, my Priest. The way Neku. . . manipulated her. She will be ours very soon. And think, your eminence. The Royal Guard, Midnight Dawn, The Church, all working together.”

The Priest’s face changed, his back straightened. “What do you mean Darx?” He said, walking around the desk to his chair. Darx had to hope he had set it up enough.

“We show the people our strength, the Royal Guard, Church and Midnight Dawn fighting together, saving them.” Darx stated.

“Why Darx? Why would we involve your former guild?” The Priest queried.

“Neku and I are still members, sir. And that could be very useful.”

“We have no need of that guild, Darx." The Priest said with disdain. "It is weak, it will collapse soon.”

“But what if it didn’t?" Darx countered, getting to the meat of his plan. "What if instead Midnight Dawn grew stronger? Right now, Oblivion is growing in power and will surpass the Dark Dragons soon. They are the only ones that could oppose us. If they united with the Queen and the Royal Guard we would have little hope. . .”

“Even then, we would prevail.” The Priest interrupted, but Darx could see the Priest's doubt.

“But consider, my Priest: I stay in Midnight Dawn, I convince the Dark Elves who I am. The tide of adventurers joining Oblivion would recede, they would flock to Midnight Dawn. They would go to the guild that worked with the church. To a leader who fought alongside members of the Queen’s own guard.”

“You could pull recruits not only from Oblivion, but from those likely to join the Guard as well.” Priest Gabriel stroked his beard as he spoke.

Darx hid his smile, it was working. “Picture it my Priest: us marching out, you blessing us personally, welcoming us back, telling of our victories.”

“Build up Midnight Dawn while the war depletes the other guilds.” The Priest mused. "Your idea has potential."

“Even the name, sir, Midnight Dawn. The light that arrives in the darkest of times.” Darx was proud of himself, that was a spur of the moment thought, and it was a good one.

“Yes.” The Priest said as a smile started to spread across his face. “Yes, of course. Imris’s chosen one would come to bring light in the darkest of times, the Midnight Dawn. . .”

Darx could see it working. The Priest imagining his sermons, seeing the chance to shape and wield the thoughts of the public. To build an army of fighters not in the church, but still loyal to Darx and he.

“I underestimate you Darx." Priest Gabriel said with a smile that looked almost sinister. "I knew the Goddess had plans for you, but I thought you were naïve to the way the kingdom worked.”

“I learned far more in my time in the castle than anyone thought.” Darx answered.

The Priest laughed. “Good. Good, Darx. We shall do as you say. You will need more for your party, though. People you can trust, people that will be strong and yet defer to you, people that will be loyal to our cause.”

“I understand.” Darx answered.

“Good.” The Priest said again, his voice a twisted sort of joyful.

Quiet fell over the room. Each second ticking past felt like an eternity to Darx. The plan seemed to be working. Darx could only pray he hadn’t slipped up, given away too much.

“Go Darx,” the voice was back, the Priests words humming, going straight into his brain. “Enjoy your women. Win over this Wendy of the Royal Guard. You will ensure that she is in love with you, loyal to you above all else. Tomorrow you will visit your guild. Neku will, of course, go with you.”

“Always, my Priest.” Darx said, bowing his head even further.

“I will speak to this Wendy soon, Darx. I expect to see your progress.” He stated.

Darx was fine with that. He would make Wendy love him. “I will not fail you, my Priest.”

“You are dismissed, Darx.” Priest Gabriel said, still smiling.