You arrive safely

You trek through the forest for several days. Tara leads the way through the thicket as you slowly sink into the deepest part of the wooded realm. Each day that passes seems like the sun dims a little more. Adel spends most of the trip quietly taking up the rear. She carefully follows along and watching her steps as neither you or Tara had an extra pair of boots. Other than her Tunic, she has donned a pair of trousers from Tara and a belt to hold it up from you. This leaves her clothing as looking very unusual and mismatched. However, it's the best that either you could do. Any attempts to get her engaged in a discussion results in her answering in short, quiet tones. It would seem as if she is preoccupied with her own thoughts and considering what she's been through...what she is going through. That isn't surprising.

"We're here," Tara mutters reverently as she steps onto a path that's much more clearly defined than whatever invisible trails Tara was following along before.

Stepping out onto the path, you get bathed in a pale blue light. At first, you think that it must be light from the moon. It must be around twilight now although it's difficult to tell in the dense wilderness. However, looking up immediately derails that theory. The dense forests around you bows over the pathway and the light appears to come from a small orb about the size of your fist. A quick peek down the path reveals these small orbs follow the center of the path around the nearest bend.

Adel steps out of the forest and gawks at the orbs above her head and whispers"Wow...That's beautiful."

"Come on. She'll already be expecting us. It'll be rude for us to be late." Tara continues down the path without even looking at the magic orbs.

You quickly step up the pace to catch up to her just as She walks around a sharp bend in the path. "What do you mean she'll be expecting us? you haven't spoken to anyone but us since we...started this...journey." Your eyes widen in surprise at the view that beholds your eyes. Immediately around the bend, the path continues over a small stream via a small wooden footbridge before fading into a large field. The dense forests around the clearing stop abruptly but seem to lean over to create a massive canopy that covers the entire clearing. Their limbs stretch hungerly to block any light attempting to intrude upon this place. High above at the roof of the canopy, the very same small blue orbs which lit your trail also bathes the clearing in a substitute moonlight.

Lush grass flows up a slight incline to a mansion with architecture that you've never seen before. The base of the mansion is built out of an elegant wooden base. Deep red in color that raises up the rest of the structure off the ground. A set of low stairs connect the platform with the ground. The building is quite square and layered. The first floor is the largest. Followed by the second. Then the third floor is about the size of a large bedroom on top. Its walls are made of the same elegant red wood and the door frames are painted black. A curved, tiled roof overshadows each floor. Also on each floor is enough room to stand and walk around the structure with railing to prevent you from falling. You have read about the uniqueness of eastern-style construction, but have never actually seen it.

The entire building has a thin veil of mist surrounding it which seems to be coming from somewhere behind the mansion.

"This place is incredible!" you gasp as you follow Tara across the bridge. Adel follows along behind staring around in wonder.

The mist that seems to be creeping around the building gets heavier with each approaching step."The Queen of the Forest has been here for centuries. Her magic protects the forest and that is why they are so ancient and wild. I would not doubt that even if all of Itheria's armies marched on the forest. They would have a difficult time claiming it for their king." Tara whispers to you and Adel quietly. Although she's quiet, the sheer vastness of the quietness makes her voice seem much louder.

You ponder whether Tara is speaking factually or simply being reverent when a deep womanly voice calls from the beyond the building, breaking the general silence. "Tarasynora, bring my guests around back and do not dally. "

"She sounds angry..." Tara mutters before releasing a sigh and stepping up a set of short stairs to the first floor of the building and leads you around back to where the voice came from. You take a moment to peek in one of the windows. There doesn't appear to be anything lighting the interior of the building, but you see a few mats and a kind of short table. It is quite long with several cushion's lining it and one much larger cushion near the head of the table.

Walking around the side of the building behind Tara, the first thing you notice is a large porch in the back. It's circular with wooden guard rails to prevent you from falling to the ground. In the center of the circular structure is a large depression filled with water. The center of the water is bubbling and creating the misty steam that shrouds the building. It almost reminds you of the hot springs in the depths of your home, but this appears to be entirely artificial. The sole occupant of this 'artificial spring' appears to be a large wriggling mass of deep red fur. At first, you aren't entirely sure what you're looking at, but as your eyes take in the sight more clearly; you can tell that what you initially thought was a massive wall of fur is actually several tails. You count nine in total and you get glimpses of a bare back of a feminine form. Of course, she's a beastfolk. A fox. However, you never heard of a beastfolk having more than one tail...

Tara stops a short distance away from the pool and meekly wrings her hands, "Uh...Mistress?"

In the admittedly short time that you have known Tara, you have never seen her so nervous. The woman in the water turned her head to look past her tails. Her deep red hair was long and draped loosely over her shoulders. A pair of fox ears adorn her head and they turn almost independently towards Tara. Her eyes are a piercing green like you have never seen before. They almost glowed and when they briefly drifted over you it felt as if she was staring right through you. She does not look very happy.

She turns to pull herself up out of the water and your heart briefly leaps into your throat. She is after all fully naked and the thought of seeing her body fills you with excitement and expectation. However, such hopes are quickly dashed. The tips of her tails move fluidly in tandem her body as she climbs up onto the bank and gets to her feet effectively blocking your view of anything important. You can get a good assessment of her body. Her face is slightly angular and pulled up towards her ears a little. Although her only animalistic attributes that you have seen so far are her ears and tail. The build of her face gives her a fox-like and sly expression. She is tall, taller than even you by a few inches and her pale skin is completely unblemished and devoid of hair apart from the hair that lays wetly around her shoulders and on her ears and tail. You cannot even tell if she has a mound of pubic hair thanks to the movements of her tail. Her breasts are quite large. Indeed, they're probably some of the largest melons that you have seen on a person's body. Out of the corner of your eye, you see Adel briefly move up onto the tips of her toes. You wonder if she's interested in women, but the more rational part of your mind tells you that she is simply curious and that clearly the tails are barring more than just your view.

"Yes, I am very angry with you Tarasynora. You should know better!" The woman raises her voice at Tara. She isn't yelling, but her voice is clearly raised and quite piercing in the general silence of the grove. One of her tails moves almost like a hand and lifts a robe by the collar off of one of the wooden posts built into the railing and pulls it back towards her body.

Despite her raised voice, Tara speaks in a quiet and respectful tone. "Lady Kaede, I'm sorry for bothering you like this, but -"

"-No buts!" Lady Kaede abruptly cuts Tara off as she pulls the robe onto her body. Her tails continue to hide the full breadth of her nudity from your sight. The robe is black with golden trimming. The cloth barely covers her massive mammaries as they press firmly against the fabric. It is also quite short and ends just above her knees which leaves much of her long legs exposed. "You know how difficult it is to protect this place. You know that I cannot take every visitor or wanderer who needs my advice. If I did so, I would die of old age before I got through them all. Quite an accomplishment for me!"

The sight of Tara just meekly taking Lady Kaede's scolding for simply bringing you here fills you with irritation. After all, it was Tara's choice to help you, but you made the decision to come here yourself. Once there is a brief pause in her chastisement, you speak up. "It was my fault! I was the one who pushed Tara to come here."

Her piercing gaze turns from Tara onto you. "It is not your fault. Tarasynora should have never revealed my existence to you under the current circumstances. That was not her decision to make. However..." her expression softens and she relaxes and gives you a warm smile. "I'll not have it said that The Queen of the Forest has poor hospitality. You are here now and I shall deal with the consequences of it. I shall offer you what little help that I can. Come along then." Lady Kaede turns and walks towards the entrance to her luxurious home. Her tails, having protected their master's nudity while she dressed now unfold from underneath her robe and drape out behind her like some billowing furry cloak. On the back of her robe is a red emblem of a fox. She slides the door open and enters the building. As if reacting to her presence, the lights of several candles light the window. First the ground floor, then a second later every floor above that in succession.

You and your companions walk in and you are dumbfounded by the decorative choices. The floor is carpeted with a golden rug and the rest of the room is decorated with various adornments of black, gold, and red. It seems so strange and alien to you, but somehow it still feels homely. It takes a moment to realize that this was the same room that you peered into earlier while it was unlighted. Lady Kaede sits cross-legged on the large pillow at the end of the low table. Her tails move and form a protective semicircle around her as she motions to the other cushions. "Please sit. You'll find some tea in the cups that will be to your liking."

Lady Kaede is already taking a sip of hers as you take a seat. Tara sits beside you between you and Kaede while sits across from you. From this angle, you can just almost see up Kaede's robe, but the shadow of her clothing and tails just barely obscure whatever treasures might lie within. Part of you begins wondering if she is intentionally teasing you. However, her voice quickly brings you back to the present and why you're even here in the first place. "Three of you have come here tonight in order to get counsel from The Queen of the Forest. One is looking for my help, one is looking for my advice, and one...is a glutton for punishment." Her eyes begin on Adel, before moving over you and finally resting on Tara. A wry grin crosses her face when she regards Tara who grimaces in response. Then she closes her eyes for several seconds. The room falls silent and Adel and you exchange nervous glances as you wonder whether you should speak up and say something. "Well then, let us deal with the hardest part first." Lady Kaede's eyes open and drift onto Adel. A smile crosses her lips "Come closer girl." She motions at the cushion immediately beside her and across from Tara.

With an anxious squirm, Adel shuffles onto the seat. Her expression goes from fear to desperation as she finally breaks out and asks the powerful sorceress for help. "Please...Milady...Miss Kaydee. whatever you want to be called. I..." Her eyes well up with tears and her sniffling become quite profound as she chokes out her pleads. "I don't remember who I am. I don't remember anything! Can you help me?"

A gentle hand reached out from Lady Kaede to touch her cheek and you're surprised to see such a soft expression on Kaede's face after how she berated Tara and seemingly still berates her. Her deep ladylike voice is honest, but calming as she responds. "I am sorry. There's nothing that I can do for you. You have suffered for your illness for too long and I know not of why you were cursed with such an ailment or how to retrieve your memories." You have never seen such a despairing expression like you saw on Adel's face at that moment, but Kaede wasn't finished. " However, do not despair. You are alive and have met two companions who will treat you well. Is that not right? Oh King of Itheria?"

Kaede's eyes glance in your direction and Adel's follow. Her expression turns from despair to surprise to fear and respect. "My...my King?"

"Do not worry," Kaede continues. "There is no reason to fear. He is just a man after all. However, I am sure that he will provide you with the comfort, luxury, and time required in order to possibly regain your memories. Is that not right?"

A cavalcade of emotions rushes through your mind. Is she really thrusting the responsibility for Adel onto you for at least the foreseeable future? Possibly life? Yet the expression on Kaede's face and the knowing look in her eyes. It would seem as if she has already made the decision for you. Thus you don't have much choice but to blurt out. "Of course. We're all friends after all."

You're not sure if you have known Adel long enough to make such a commitment, but it seems to have satisfied Adel and Kaede. Adel still has a somber expression on her face, but it is at least not the completely destroyed look of one who has just lost everything she knows. Lady Kaede pulls her hand away from Adel and turns her eyes upon you next. "Donmal." Her piercing eyes gaze right through you once again as she returns to her dignified pose. "I cannot help you in your fight against the demon."

You stiffen in response. Surely this powerful sorceress can help. Everything that you have seen far exceeds anything you might expect from your mother. "But...!"

Her expression hardens as you interrupt her and the look is all it takes to cut off your speech. "I cannot help you, because I believe that you are fully capable of solving the problem yourself. I make it a point not to intervene in matters such as this unless absolutely necessary and even then only in the circumstances of the utmost importance. Neither of these are requirements that your situation falls into. As much as you may disagree; Itheria is only one part of a much larger world and there are far worse things about than a rogue succubus." The candles flicker and nearly go out before returning to their normal state. "I can, however, answer a question that might be gnawing on your conscious. Something that has no doubt been bothering you for a while. Perhaps a certain relative?"

Of course. You aren't the only child of King Bryce. You have had a hint that Anna was taken by your father's spymaster, Akina. However there's no doubt that your mother will be searching for her exhaustively. "How is my sister? Where's Anna and is she okay?"

Of course, Kaede knew that was going to be your question.