It's Settled

As you press open the doors with your flock of women behind you, Karisi immediately snaps her head in your direction, seeing all of you walk into the Throne room together. "Holy shit, you're alive?!" she lets out as she stands up from her seat, stepping down the few stairs to meet everybody, "I heard what happened..." she says as she comes to a halt.

"Hello Karisi." Ashe gives a smile, "Glad to be home but..."

"How many?" she immediately asks, "How many were lost?"

"All but nineteen of us." she informs immediately, "Maybe a few others who never made it to Nillix but there was eighteen plus myself that made it out."

Karisi's head goes into her hands as she squeezes her brain through her skull, "Uhhh..." she grumbles out "How could this happen...I thought Edmin would be loyal, that he would stay true to his word..."

"We're going to war, Karisi." you tell her, not trying to sugar coat it, "We're marching the entire Syndicate army south and we are going to completely decimate Rathkin for what they did." you look at her as she pivots in her step but doesn't reply or turn you down, "This is unreasonable, this is pathetic, this is..." you clench your fists and squeeze hard, the anger building inside of you, "We lost so many Sunriders, so many friends and family members who were just trying to help. They are all gone, their lives just taken from them. It can't be forgiven, it can't be forgotten, Rathkin will pay for what they did."

"I agree." Karisi is blunt, "I completely agree." she gives you an affirming look. "The Syndicate is his only threat..." she grumbles out.

"W-What do you mean his?" you ask the Queen.

"Errian has been weakened fairly bad, between Rathkin constantly attacking them, us helping out but also apparently the army from The Wilds has been pushing forward. Errian has been in a constant wage of war between so many kingdoms that they have been pushed back to their own lands, licking their wounds and trying to rebuild." she informs, "Loner's Reach is always a threat but honestly, if push came to shove, Rathkin could march it's entire army into their lands and most likely completely wipe them out, so those scumbags stay out of it." her head is glaring into the marble floors, "Which leaves The Wilds and we all know Errian and them have never really been friendly at all, hence why Errian is always trying to gain more land from the jungle and marshlands..." she mumbles out.

"So it's all a power play? To regain strength of the lands? To make sure they are the top dog?" you question your Queen.

"Most likely." she replies, "Since Edmin became in control he's started to get power hungry. It's why he convinced me to help with your..." she gulps.

"My assassination." you state, causing Ashe and Zoe to grant a questioning look.

After much hesitation the Queen eventually talks, "Yes." she glances between the High Commanders, "That's why I helped fund his plan to get rid of you..."

"No..." you hear mumbles and whispers from Ashe and Zoe.

"So here's what's going to happen..." you grumble out, "In a few days we're heading south towards Rathkin. If we meet them in their kingdom or anyplace else we will demolish them and the entire world will know that you don't fuck with the Syndicate."

"I agree." Karisi nods, "I'll keep my ears open, see if I hear any news from the oncoming war, otherwise just try to relax for a few days, muster up the forces and soon we'll march to war."

"Sounds good, Karisi." you nod at her, "We'll be in touch. It's been a long journey to Rathkin, to Loner's Reach, to Nillix and back here." you tell her, "I'm heading to my chambers, gonna get a good nights rest."

"Thank you, Darien." she replies, looking at you with authority, "Thank you for everything."

"A word, Karisi?" Ashe let's out, stepping forward. "I'd love to catch up with you and relay all the information I attained." she looks at you and gives a smile, letting you know she's finally okay after all this time. You would catch up with Ashe at a later date, for the time being all you really wanted to do was go crash in your bed.

"Of course." the Queen replies as Ashe steps forward, making her way towards the Queen to continue their conversation.

At that moment, Lexie, Zoe and yourself all turn around and leave the Throne Room, making your way out of the castle.

"T-T-That was intense!!!" Zoe exclaims, "I-I'm gonna go see my friends! You okay?"

You grant her a questioning look, hoping that's all she's gonna do, "Yeah sure." you say in a static voice.

"Have fun, Zoe." Lexie smiles with an reassuring nod, "Catch you later!"

You watch Zoe skip away almost playfully down the hallways of the Sicilian Castle and towards the exit, making her way back towards the Villa to check out her room but to also get back with the handful of other Sunrider's she's made friends with, "So..." you mumble to Lexie, "That just leaves us, you have plans?"

"Plans?" Lexie releases a singular laugh, "I'm a pregnant women who can't train, fight or drink and you're asking if I have plans?" she gives you a wink.

"Good..." you tell her as you walk side by side down the castle hallway, "Because I have something I need to tell you, something about a friend of ours..."

"Oh?" Lexie questions, completely curious.

"Yeah, in regards to Zoe." you look at the ground as you step forward, making your way down the streets of the Syndicate towards the mountain. "I hope it's not too late...I should have told you sooner." you begin.

"Darien...?" she whispers.

You begin, "At Loner's Reach she had some of that Snuff. And well, at that point...tell me you've noticed."

"I knew something was up but I was hoping it wasn't that..." Lexie looks at you quizzically, "I have noticed though..."

"I was hoping it was going to just be a one time thing there at the Reach but she kept a pouch of it hidden from me and continued to use it. I don't want her to continue to spiral out of control and lose herself to that Snuff. I don't want her to become another puppet for Shade to control..."

"I completely agree..." Lexie's face scrunches up as she thinks, "Doing it here or there is fine, but to become addicted to it..."

"I need your help to get her off it." you tell your Fiance, "She's young, inexperienced and easy to manipulate. I-I can't have this as a High Commander..." you order, "Hell, I can't have any of my Sunriders or any of the Syndicate addicted to this shit. It's intoxicating and it makes your body crave it. I saw so many wealthy and royal people from Rathkin, Errian and even the Syndicate that were at Loner's Reach just begging Shade and doing whatever they could just to get another hit of his Snuff." you trail on, "No matter what happens, Snuff will not become popular in the Syndicate. If I even catch a glimpse of it getting passed around any type of warrior, I will immediately take action." you stomp your foot on the ground, showing how serious you are.

Lexie steps forward causing the two of you to come to a stand still, her hand goes on your cheek, "Darien, I'll do what I can." she smiles and nods, "I understand about our warriors and in regards to our High Commander, I love Zoe like she's my own daughter...I'll help her, trust me."

"Thank you, Lexie." you smile back as your hands go to her face, caressing her cheeks, "Thank you so much."

The two of you continue to walk through out the Syndicate, making your way back towards the mountain and down the thousand steps or so into the heart of it, "Sooo, I was thinking about..." your Fiance begins up, her voice sounding so carefree, "Well..." Lexie grumbles out, "It's been awhile since I've, well, had a..." her hand squeezes your own in it's grip as the two of you walk side by side towards your chambers.

"What do you have in mind..." you mumble back to her, "I'm always happy to help."

"I know you're tired but before you go to bed, there's something I need from you first."

"Yeah, what's up?"

"I want your dick." her voice trails off.

"W-Wait, what?" you don't believe you heard her correctly, "What did you just say?"

"Just enjoying what's mine..." she tells you, her voice so seductive, her body so tantalizing.

It felt as if your body took over and you start to move a little faster down the rocky pathways of the mountain, trying to make it to your chambers even faster then before. You were tired and ready to sleep but plowing your fiance first before hand, absolutely nothing wrong with that.