I am Lena Wolf, Lena's life as it happens Options

[Lena Wolf]

Pinevale, nice. I'm getting Pinevale. Wow. So we have to remove border restrictions to get there, that's great. They're talking about changing the borders line of code in Oblivion.ini, correct?

Yes. It can also be done with a mod, but Oblivion.ini is better.

How're you able to get it so that Lena's vision is blurry? I'm guessing that's part of the Red Hall. This is a freaky scene! All these NPCs passed out on their beds.

It's Red Hall doing it. Geralt was having a great time apparently, didn't want to leave.

[Renee]

Yes. It can also be done with a mod, but Oblivion.ini is better.

Graci. Asked because Pinewatch's mod author stated he or she used 'a mod' to disable borders but it didn't work. But then he/she never said which method eventually works.

but another question: after disabling borders and then reaching Pinewatch in the game, will the place be surrounded by all of those 'lower-texture'-looking trees & surroundings? Know what I mean? Like, first time I had a character go past a former border the actual landscape isn't as detailed.

[Lena Wolf]

Yes. It can also be done with a mod, but Oblivion.ini is better.

Graci. Asked because Pinewatch's mod author stated he or she used 'a mod' to disable borders but it didn't work. But then he/she never said which method eventually works.

The "mod" method is very simple, really. It sets the same game setting, that is all. However, there have been reports that this method is not always working. If you want to disable borders permanently, editing Oblivion.ini is best.

but another question: after disabling borders and then reaching Pinewatch in the game, will the place be surrounded by all of those 'lower-texture'-looking trees & surroundings? Know what I mean? Like, first time I had a character go past a former border the actual landscape isn't as detailed.

Actually, no, I don't know what you mean. The trees and textures over the border are exactly the same for me as elsewhere. And anyway, Pinevale is only just over the border, so everything should be the same regardless.

[Lena Wolf]

1 Morning Star, 4E204 - A new year, a new perspective

"A new day, a new perspective" was what Scorpio used to say rounding up their party ready to set off again after a night's rest. It was the duty of the Main Pawn to keep an eye on the other pawns in the group and make sure they didn't try to idle, shirk combat or avoid carrying items. He didn't really have much to do in that respect, because Lena would immediately get rid of such pawns, sometimes within half an hour of hiring them, as tendencies usually became evident pretty quickly. She would also get rid of anyone who talked too much, who always wanted to lead, who tried to advise her when advice wasn't asked for, who was being over-protective, who walked too close to her, who ran too far ahead, who kept repeating how devoted they were to her, who constantly needed help in battle, who... in a word, she would quickly get rid of anyone annoying, and for the most part those were women. "All pawns in this party are once again men, I notice," one of the pawns would remark every now and again. "I would not at all mind if that were to change." But when asked who would be willing to leave to make that happen, invariably there were no volunteers.

"A new year, a new perspective," Lena told herself on the morning of the new year. She'd been dreaming of past adventures, of the pawns she walked with, of the friends she made and the worlds she visited, of Lucien, of Scorpio, of Geralt and Hauk... Where were they, she wondered, how did they fare? She looked around the Royal Chamber and it seemed like a prison to her. Her friends had been replaced by the lords and ladies of the court, there was no more room in her life for adventure or freedom. She felt bound, restrained, mired in her royal life, a life without end, for without her heart she was nigh immortal... "Scorpio needs to be found," she told herself sternly, shaking her head. "I've been going about it the wrong way around. I am no queen." She sat in front of the mirror brushing her golden blond hair, her amber eyes glinting in the sun, jewels around her neck filling the room with reflections centered around her person. "Scorpio did not just run off," she told herself firmly. "Someone must know something."

She tried carefully talking to Lord Chancellor about Scorpio's disappearance, but he simply shrugged and declared that Regentkin Sven was a much better companion for Her Majesty anyway, and why worry about a runaway pawn. "Pawns are like people in many ways," he suddenly added. "Wasn't Ser Scorpio enjoying the favour of this court just before he... left?" He looked at Lena as an older parent might look at a child - with regret that the child was about to make an unpleasant discovery. "Perhaps he found someone to his liking? The ladies were very fond of him, from what I have seen, and with Your Majesty no longer engaged with the dragon... his duty by Your Majesty was thus fulfilled."

"You know of the ways of the Legion," Lena said in a hoarse voice. Even though she did not believe that Scorpio simply left with one of the ladies, hearing it like that still hurt.

"Pawns are welcomed in our Kingdom, as Your Majesty knows," Lord Chancellor replied with a little bow. "The ways of the Legion and the pawns' duties are well known to us. A pawn is only bound to remain with the Arisen for as long as the Arisen is engaged with the dragon, and after that it is that pawn's choice. The Arisen no longer holds sway over them once the dragon has been defeated. So Ser Scorpio's disappearance is nothing but his own choice..."

...

"You seem distraught today," Sven touched Lena's arm, startling her. They were taking a walk in the Castle Gardens, Sven was telling her something... she could not recall. Lord Chancellor's words kept ringing in her ears: "Ser Scorpio's disappearance is nothing but his own choice".

"No, I don't believe it," she said aloud and Sven looked at her with incomprehension. "I am sorry, yes, I am distraught today," she pulled herself into reality. "My... pawn is missing," she brought herself to call Scorpio that. "He's been missing for a few weeks already, and it's not like him at all. I am worried."

"Your... pawn?" Sven was even more perplexed. "Don't they just leave after you've defeated the dragon? Why do you worry about a pawn? When the dragon returns, you'll have new pawns to help you fight it again... Father did, that's how it works."

"How many times did your father face the dragon?" Lena suddenly realised that if anyone could tell her anything about the previous sovran, the previous ruling Arisen, that it would be Sven.

"Many times, but it was all before I was born," Sven rubbed his chin. "The dragon only comes every fifty years or so. Father married mother some time after the previous dragon's demise. I remember him saying he'd had enough of being a ruler, and mother... well, you know how she is. She ruled the land in his stead until you appeared..." Sven stopped talking and blushed a deep shade of purple.

"There was an intrigue, I know," Lena tried to put him at ease. "Quite understandable, really. The law demands that the ruler be an Arisen..."

"The most recent Arisen, to be precise," Sven corrected her, regaining his composure. "There are plenty of old Arisen in this land, the ones that failed to kill the dragon and father had to deal with it himself in their stead."

"Wait - what?!" Lena turned to him sharply. "Say that again," a recollection of how things worked in Gransys suddenly clicked into place. "An Arisen who kills the dragon becomes the Sovran of Vermund, replacing the previous sovran, you say? What happens to the previous sovran then?"

"Nothing," Sven shrugged. "I have no idea. They retire, perhaps? They aren't killed, if that's what you're asking. With every new dragon and every new Arisen, father could have been replaced. But when the newest Arisen fails to kill the dragon, then the last successful Arisen - that is, the Sovran - has to deal with the dragon instead. As father always had done... never failed... he was a true Arisen..." Sven's voice trailed off.

"You miss him, don't you," Lena said softly. "You miss your father."

"I do," Sven nodded. "For him to die just as the signs of a new dragon appeared... He was murdered, you know. I just hope it wasn't so that I could be king..."

Lena watched Sven taking control of his emotions and thought that he was no longer a child. Far from it. Grown up in the castle amid courtly intrigue, he could say things by saying the opposite, he saw more than he let on, and he used his boyish appearance to make people forget he was the royal prince.

"Well, enough of this serious stuff," Lena said cheerfully. "It's the first day of the New Year! We should be celebrating! I feel completely cooped up in my Royal Chambers amid our most pious gentry," she winked at Sven. "I hear you know a place or two where one might have fun... Perhaps you'd let me in on a secret? With all that dragon slaying business I never had the chance..."

"But of course!" Sven grinned ear to ear. "Say no more and follow me..!"

And with that he leaped out of the window with the ease and assuredness of someone who'd done it many a time before. The narrow balcony outside opened onto a ledge wrapping around the building, and a few minutes later they stood in a sparingly lit corridor covered in carpets and tapestries that muffled sounds and gave the impression of luxury and comfort.

"Welcome to The Rose," Sven smiled. "Madam Wilhemina should be here somewhere. I shall need to introduce you... even though you're quite well known in the land," he winked. "But you haven't got one of these," he pulled an elegant card out of an inner pocket. "Officially you've got to have it. So come along."

They walked along the corridor, Sven knocked on a few doors, and eventually Madam Wilhemina stood before them. She welcomed Lena with an unexpected cordiality, vowed to personally see to her every need, then she sent Sven on his way (and it looked like he knew where he was going), and ushered Lena into a luxurious bedroom that far outstripped the Royal Chamber in taste and comfort.

"Coffee?" Wilhemina brought a silver set. "Or do you prefer champagne for breakfast?"

"Coffee would be fine," Lena smiled, wondering whether Wilhemina understood the reason for her visit. "This is a lovely room."

"Indeed," Wilhemina was sizing her up with a glance. "And so very secure. So, speak freely, Your Majesty - what is your desire?"

"Scorpio," Lena said without thinking, then regretted it the moment she said it, but it was too late.

"He is not on our books, I am sorry," Wilhemina replied after a short pause. She did not seem surprised. "We do have other pawns though, both male and female... Perhaps Your Majesty would care to choose..?"

Lena was leafing through a thick ledger with pictures of some of the most attractive men and women presented with taste and care.

"This is quite a selection," she looked up at Wilhemina. "Why, this is... Lady Nel, surely? I remember her from some of the soirees..."

"Nel is one of our agents, yes," Wilhemina smiled. "Very sophisticated. She is mostly in charge of recruitement. But even she could not get Ser Scorpio to join us... So I don't know where he is. Because this is what you wanted to know, was it not, Your Majesty?"

...

The conversation with Wilhemina proved most fruitful indeed. While The Rose was eyeing Scorpio as a potential recruit, there were other forces at play as well. The Rose never insisted on anyone joining, for a good service could only be rendered if the person was willing to do it. With the wages that The Rose was paying, they never had a shortage of personnel. So when Scorpio refused their offer, they left him alone.

"It is not uncommon however for people to change their mind," Wilhemina smiled slyly. "Our offers do not expire that quickly. He'll be still welcome to join when he returns..." Lena looked up at her and blushed - she did not like the idea. "It isn't the first time we've arranged things this way. The Sovran is not permitted a consort of their choosing."

"That... is interesting," Lena said slowly. It dawned on her that The Rose might well have been offering other types of private services too. Such as spying. However, she felt that Wilhemina's good will had all but run out, and some contribution to the establishment's prosperity was expected. She briefly considered to simply offer money for the information that she received, but then thought better of it. She was in a brothel. A brothel that was very keen to be regarded as such. A brothel that definitely did NOT want to be seen as a place to buy information. And so Lena smiled pleasantly and asked for another cup of coffee. "And if I may look through that wonderful book of yours," she smiled radiantly. "I think I spotted someone I would be glad to get to know..."

She took her time leafing through the pages. She recognised a few "lords" and "ladies" from the social gatherings, but for the most part the faces were all unknown to her. And then suddenly...

"What about this fellow?" She pointed at a picture of a skinny mage looking at her from the page. "He seems nice."

"I see Your Majesty prefers the gentle type," Wilhemina smiled. "His name is Rook and he will be summonned for you presently. Please help yourself to the refreshments while you wait..."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We do not have the picture of Rook that was prepared for the ledger of The Rose. We understand it was most flattering. However, here are a few pictures from Lena's adventures, when she was still free to go where she pleased.

Camping for the night (here is the entire picture)


At the docks on a rainy day


Dressed for the desert (here is the whole picture of taking a ride on a cable car)

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Apr 21 2024, 05:39 AM

[Lena Wolf]

2 Morning Star, 4E204 - Never thought I'd meet you here

"Your companion for tonight is here," Madam Wilhemina ushered Rook into the room Lena was in. "This room is yours for twenty four hours, or longer if you wish it," she smiled. "We do not skimp on time. Do ring for room service for refreshments."

She left, with a glance of encouragement towards Rook. He gave her a curtly nod and turned to Lena. "Good evening, My Lady."

...

"I never knew you had an alternative occupation," Lena was looking at Rook with interest once they were alone. He wore his usual mage's coat and had his staff at the hip - not the look she had imagined for an escort. "I am not lecturing or complaining, but I am surprised, to say the least..."

"Surprised?" A slight offence in Rook's voice made her sit up. "Should I demonstrate?" He started unbuttoning his coat, not taking his eyes off her, and she blushed to the roots of her hair.

"I didn't mean it that way..." she managed to say. "I... please forgive me." She jumped up from the bed and hugged him. "I've seen you naked already, so I know what's underneath," she pulled away, still blushing. That had been very awkward of her! "Please sit down, there's fresh coffee..."

"Alright," Rook smiled, sitting down and proceeding to load his coffee with cream. "Why am I here?"

"Scorpio is missing," Lena said in a near whisper. "Been missing for weeks."

"And naturally you came to a brothel looking for him." It was Rook's turn to tease.

"Rook!"

"Wolf?"

"Umm... yeah, I know how it looks."

"No, you don't," Rook was watching her, sipping his coffee. "It looks like you should have called me as soon as he disappeared, but instead you tried to solve it on your own, and as a result we lost a good month to your obstinence. When you didn't make contact within the first week, I enlisted here because sooner or later I knew you'd come looking. Fortunately, there wasn't much work for me in the meantime... This isn't really what I do."

"I am sorry," Lena knew he was right. But then, something he said... "How did you know that Scorpio disappeared?"

"Word around town," he shrugged. "He was popular with the court, so the gentry and mostly the guards were talking about it all day long. Then he vanished. That didn't go unnoticed. As well as your friendship with Sven. Word is, you are engaged to be married."

"WHAT?!" Lena's coffee went flying.

"No? Well, one shouldn't take rumours at face value," Rook grinned. "But everyone thinks it is the logical thing to do, you two being of the same age and standing..."

"Rumours are getting out of control," Lena said grimly.

"As rumours always do, pay it no mind." Rook sat his cup down. "Tell me what you've found out."

"Not much," Lena sighed. "I learned that the Legion releases the pawns once the dragon is slain, which means that Scorpio is no longer bound to me. He can come and go as he pleases... he could be anywhere."

"Which also means that he could be abducted and forcibly held somewhere without the Legion coming after the perpetrators," Rook looked at Lena with significance. "They couldn't do it while he was in your service, they'd have the Legion to answer to. But now it's another matter. They could kill him and the Legion would not respond. There are always more pawns. You'd just have to pick someone else when the dragon next appears."

Lena shuddered at the thought.

"What about you?" She was trying to get her head around it. "You have no master."

"Except for the Legion, of course," Rook smirked, rubbing a glowing mark on his hand, the mark of a pawn. "I could be recalled to guide a new Arisen, for that is my job... There's always a new Arisen somewhere..." He looked wistful. "But until then I'm yours to command, My Lady."

He leaned back in his chair waiting for Lena to decide their next move.

"It's late and my head is spinning," she suddenly realised just how tired she was. "I don't want to go back to the castle... Stay with me, please..."

"Of course, that is why I am here."

Rook got up and started incanting a spell. Lena fell back on the cushions and breathed a sigh of relief. She slept without dreams that night.

...

Lena was woken up by a sun ray streaming through the gap in the curtains, the morning seemed to be well underway. She looked around, shaking off the sleepiness. Rook was lying next to her, reading a book. Neither of them wore any clothes.

"I don't remember undressing... What happened?" Lena rubbed the back of her neck - she had not been knocked out again, surely?

"You fell asleep and I had to make sure we didn't look out of place here," Rook shrugged. "You remember where we are, right? This is a brothel."

"But I thought Wilhemina had said this room was secure..."

"Meaning that it has fewer peepholes than the others," Rook smirked. "Plus, there's the maid. We've got fresh coffee." He got up to pour Lena a cup. "But worry not - for Wilhemina knows what's good for her. I simply wanted to ensure that the maid would not be wondering about Her Majesty not making use of her escort. That would have looked suspicious."

"But the fact that Her Majesty's escort is actually her old friend - that wouldn't look suspicious?"

"Nah, they've seen all sorts." He took Lena's cup from her as she finished her coffee, set it aside, returned to Lena and kissed her. And before she could utter any surprise or protest, he whispered into her ear: "Remember the peepholes..." A minute later she had no wish to protest.

...

"What do we do next?" Lena was watching Rook fussing with jugs of hot water to ensure the bath was of exactly the right temperature.

"Next I take you out for a walk," he put down the jugs, satisfied. "After the bath. You need to get some colour into your cheeks."

"Oh, I think you've managed that already," she grinned, seeing this entirely new side of Rook. "Is that standard practice for an escort to take their clients out for a walk?"

"It may be... it depends," Rook answered matter-of-factly. "It depends on the client. We aim to please."

She stared at him for a moment, then sank deeper into the tub.

"It's not that different to walking with an Arisen," Rook said softly. "Pawns are the ones who know what needs doing, yet it is the Arisen who calls the shots. We are here to serve, yet we are often superior to our masters... Many masters scorn that. Not every Arisen treats us well... but I think you have an inkling of that."

"I think you are superior to most people, to be honest," Lena mused. "And not just in combat... Do you like being an escort?"

"I might have liked it if I got to choose my clients... but it doesn't work that way," he smirked.

"We need our freedom back, both of us," Lena said through clenched teeth. "We need to find Scorpio too... but I have no idea where to start..."

"You started already, this is the right approach," Rook objected. "It is all in the royal court. The Rose caters only for the gentry, every person of standing comes here sooner or later. And now that I got picked by Her Majesty herself, my fee has been doubled. Oh, have no illusions - the word has already spread," he smirked, noticing Lena's surprise. "Your patronage here brings more clients to Wilhemina, and she in turn may reveal a thing or two to you when she trusts you enough. She has an eye for people, you cannot buy her trust."

"You seem to respect her."

"I do," Rook nodded. "She runs a business, to be sure, but she treats us well... and doesn't stand for... well... certain practices that some clients are fond of. I wish the Legion cared for pawns as much..." His voice trailed off, then he caught himself. "But you don't want to hear those tales, I'm sure. I am glad to have met you. Friends are rare among us pawns."

Finding Rook employed as an escort specifically so that she would stumble upon him when she ran out of leads in her search, had a sobering effect on Lena. Just how far was he willing to go for friendship? For Rook was married, his heart belonged to Benita, yet instead of returning to her, he linguered in this world in order to help his friends... Had he expected that Scorpio would get into trouble once Lena was established as the Sovran? He probably had. Had Scorpio himself expected that? Yes, for certain. But still, neither of them could prevent it. It was now up to Lena to act. "Pawns know what needs to be done, but it is the Arisen who calls the shots." Rook's words resonated in her mind.

...

"Am I permitted to walk in the town outside the castle walls?" Lena looked at Rook with uncertainty when he suggested a walk along the pier. "I was under the impression that the Sovran was supposed to stay put..."

"Well, yes, but there's no law against walking in town either," he winked. "Besides, you have escort, My Lady. Walking alone might have raised eyebrows, yes, but not when you're being escorted."

"I shall never understand these practices..." Lena rolled her eyes, accepting his arm. "Sven has been running off to town all on his own for years."

"Sven is a young man," Rook objected. "He can walk on his own... But on the flipside, he could not have anyone from The Rose escort him in public - that would be a scandal. While for a lady it is a perfectly natural thing to do..."

It felt good to stroll through town again and not be caged in the Castle Gardens. They went to the market and to the armoury, to the Pawn Guild and to the inn, greeting the shopkeepers that they used to frequent in the Times of Hunting the Dragon. Heads turned and glances followed them around, whispers were exchanged behind their backs, but Lena didn't care what was being said. An illusion of freedom tasted sweet, too.

"I wonder what the talk of the town will be on the morrow," she said when they sat down for a drink at the tavern. "That Her Majesty dropped Regentkin Sven in favour of an escort from The Rose? Or that the escort from The Rose was in fact one of Her Majesty's most loyal pawns?"

"Probably both," Rook shrugged. "And also that Her Majesty took as long as a month to find herself a new escort since her previous one disappeared..."

"No one had any illusions then, right from the start."

"Of course not."

Returning to the castle grounds, Lena fully expected that Rook would have to turn back since pawns were generally not allowed beyond the castle gate. And indeed, a guard on duty watched their approach, but instead of stopping them, he gave a nod to Rook and allowed them to proceed.

"I shall accompany you to your chambers," Rook said to Lena. "The word had already been sent. You can call for me whenever you wish, or come to The Rose... I should be glad to see you."

They walked in silence for a few minutes - Lena felt stunned.

"I don't understand... You have been assigned as my consort..?" The suddenness and absurdity of it completely confused her.

"Your escort," Rook corrected her. "You can have another, if you prefer."

"No, I don't prefer!" She cried, then hushed herself - raised voices were frowned upon on the castle grounds. "I don't prefer another," she repeated in a hiss. "It's just... this is so strange... you are my friend... but also... and no one thought to ask me on the matter..."

"Your actions were clear enough, My Lady," Rook smirked. "I am to be your escort until you pick another. If you were pleased with my services, that is..."

They were walking through a colonnade flanked by rows of rose bushes dense enough to hide anyone from view. Lena quickly pulled Rook behind the bushes into an alcove of the castle wall.

"I may be confused by the courtly intrigue but if this is how the game is played, then you'll find me a willing player." She kissed him and got a kiss in response. "You got yourself a client, you can tell Wilhemina that. I don't want to find you engaged when I call."

"Exclusivity will be expensive."

"Lord Chancellor will have to foot the bill."

...

"Such passion!" Rook wiped his brow, still panting. "You're a fury not just with goblins. And you're the coldest assassin, too... I never imagined..."

"You'll see it one day, I'm sure," Lena smiled, cooling off. "Scorpio discovered it quite early on, way before we became close. I expected him to leave, but he stayed... for some reason..."

"He couldn't leave - he was bound to you."

"I offered to release him but he refused."

"Interesting..." Rook pulled her close and kissed her again. "I see what Benita meant... She said your heart would burn the dragon from the inside for swallowing it... You're not just another Arisen."

"How could she have known? I am not from that world."

"Perhaps this is something we'll both discover one day. Come, I'll take you to your chambers. It's time to return to the Courtly Intrigue, My Lady. The world has changed today."

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Apr 21 2024, 05:39 AM

[Lena Wolf]

4 Morning Star, 4E204 - Engagement

"Word is - Her Majesty the Sovran and Regentkin Sven are engaged to be married!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"I heard others say the same!"

"Happy days!"

The rumours spread like wildfire, and within a day or two of Lena's outing to The Rose, the town was talking about her being engaged to Regentkin Sven. Which made no sense what-so-ever, apart from it being the logical thing to do.

"Do you really believe that they went to see different people at The Rose?!"

Even the fact that Lena appeared with Rook around town, could not change anything.

"Of course Her Majesty needs an escort on her walks," people would say. "Someone older than Regentkin Sven. A pawn is most appropriate."

Some went further, considering the services of an escort from The Rose, but even that was found "most appropriate" - much more appropriate than having Regentkin Sven appear in that role. People were happy because a union of the current Sovran and the child of the previous Sovran could only mean improved prosperity and stability of the kingdom for years to come.

...

"This is getting worse by the minute!" Lena was lamenting the rumours to Rook. "They'll have me marry the nipper before I know it! This cannot be happening!"

"Calm down, calm down," Rook was trying to diffuse the situation. "No one can force you to marry anyone! It's just talk, pay it no mind."

But Lena took the rumours to heart and was very worried, especially since Sven seemed to have vanished from the royal court.

"Where could he have gone to?!" She exclaimed for the fifth time within half an hour. "Perhaps his mother is getting him ready?"

"Ready for what?" Rook was trying to be patient, but Lena's worry was overwhelming. "Snap out of it, Wolf! It's only been two days! He's probably still at The Rose..."

"But what am I supposed to do??? He's almost under-age!!"

"He is not, he's twenty!"

"A baby!"

"An adult, by all accounts..."

"Two hundred years my junior!"

"Well, but people here don't know that..." Rook held the door for the maid in their room at The Rose. "Here, have some coffee. And some of these..."

"Chocolate unicorns and marshmallow bunnies..?" Lena stopped in her tracks staring at the tray. "Where on Nirn did you get these from..?"

"Wasn't it the first complaint you made when you realised which world you landed in?" Rook grinned. "That you would have preferred to be in a world with chocolate unicorns and marshmallow bunnies? It took some work with the court kitchens, but The Rose is very persuasive. I thought it might cheer you up."

"In a word, you had enough of me complaining..." Lena smiled, nibbling on a unicorn. "Thank you."

Rook breathed a sigh of relief while Lena got to work on the unicorns and bunnies, after all, someone had to. When half a tray was cleared, she fell back in her plush chair, her mood markedly improved.

"We could use those rumours to our advantage, you know," Rook said cautiously, half expecting the complaining to restart. But Lena remained calm, and he continued. "You will have to revoke your exclusive rights on me, too. You cannot be courting Regentkin Sven and have an exclusive escort at the same time. Besides, I might hear a thing or two from the other clients, but not if I can't have any."

"You are right, of course," Lena sighed. "Our goal is, after all, to find Scorpio. But what do you want me to do with Sven?" She looked up at him and he grinned.

"Well, I think you have a pretty good idea..."

"No!"

"I am not saying drag him into bed," Rook shook his head. "He's too smart for that. He is really not a child. And... no offence... but I don't think he wants to marry you either."

"But that's the thing with royalty," Lena pointed out. "They don't marry for love but for politics. If his mother thinks it's a good idea - and I bet she does - then Sven may not have any choice."

"Talk to him, you might be surprised."

"Hmm."

As sceptical as Lena was regarding Rook's suggestion of talking to Sven, she still followed up on it, mostly because she couldn't think of anything better. So when Sven reappeared at courtly gatherings a day or so later, she put on cheerful airs and invited him to join her at the royal luncheon, the royal soiree and every other royal event on the agenda. To her great surprise, Sven gladly agreed. They also resumed their walks in the Castle Gardens.

"I hear you enjoyed your time at The Rose," Sven smiled at her when they found themselves in a quiet corner of the garden. "Met an old friend, too?"

"News travels fast," Lena smirked. "Yes. It seems he was in need of coin," she lied. "But actually... oh, never mind," she smiled brightly. "It is a nice place, The Rose."

"Lady Wilhemina does run a tight ship," Sven nodded. "Not like some other places, there're no strange goings on at The Rose! But if you wanted something more exotic, I could mark a few spots on your map," he grinned.

"Err... not right now, thanks."

"Hmm... that's not what I imagined."

"What did you imagine?"

"Well, you being a true Arisen... walking with pawns all this time... mostly men, I hear..."

"Yes..? And..?"

"You must have... you know!"

"Really? We mostly were busy fighting monsters, to be honest. Then treating our wounds. Romance under the dragon's wing is not my preference... or atop a unicorn, for that matter..." she added absent-mindedly and smirked to herself, remembering Geralt's complaining about Yennefer's preference.

"Atop a unicorn..? Wow, you really do get up to things!" Sven whistled.

They walked in silence for a while. It was nearing lunch time, and the garden was getting quite empty.

"My mother wants me to marry you," Sven said suddenly, making Lena jump. "So that I could be Regent King."

"I heard."

"Look, I like you and all, but..."

"You're too young for me," Lena said quite firmly, facing him. Sven stopped too. "Do you know how old I am?"

"Not twenty."

"Smart," Lena nodded.

"That makes no difference to mother, though. She says a royal marriage is for politics only."

"What are we going to do?" Lena wanted to hear Sven's take on the matter, especially since he brought up the subject himself.

"I don't know..." he sighed. "You look in your twenties, you are the Sovran, you are unmarried. You won't be able to stay that way."

"Your father was unmarried for a long time," Lena objected.

"No, he wasn't," Sven said slowly. "It is all rather hushed up, but I read the archives... Father was married several times, to various princesses of the neighbouring countries... They each died under mysterious circumstances around the time the next dragon appeared... He had no children with any of them. Arisen cannot sire children."

"So you know."

"Of course. Don't know who sired me, but father was the one who raised me." He turned away for a moment. "Do you think it strange?"

"No, I do not," Lena replied, and bit her tongue. Her own child was being raised by a man who wasn't his sire. But speaking of children was dangerous for a Sovran, and pointless too, seeing how it was in a different world. Sven was not a friend, she reminded herself. Confiding in him had to be avoided.

They resumed walking, the Castle Garden was now completely empty.

"Your mother has connections in Battahl," Lena said softly, making sure that no one would overhear. "I know, I found some documents... I wonder whether your sire hails from there."

"You think they are still in touch?"

"I would not be surprised."

A long pause followed, and each of them knew that the other had something important to say.

"We shall have to trust each other," Sven said in a near whisper. "I cannot help you find your pawn if you don't tell me what you know about Battahl."

"Figured it out, did you," Lena smiled. "What gave it away?"

"Your choice of escort."

"Well, he's an actual escort, it's not a fraud..."

"I know, I saw it."

"You what..?" Lena laughed. "Oh yes, the peepholes."

"And rose bushes."

"Alright, but why? What difference does it make what I choose to do with my escort?"

"It shows intent, commitment, trust," Sven stopped to face her. He suddenly looked much older than his age. "He enlisted after your pawn disappeared, I checked. Next to no calls on him, considering his looks. Then you appear, request exclusivity at first, then revoke it, and suddenly he's the most requested escort at The Rose. Still the same looks, but if what I saw was real... wow." He smiled at Lena. "Are all pawns like that?"

"Pawns are people, Sven," Lena shook her head. "They are all different. That was just... Rook."

"And you think your pawn was forcibly removed, you don't think he just left... And after what I've seen, I tend to agree..." Sven paused. "So then, shall we help each other?"

"Come to my chambers tonight," Lena smiled. "Make sure you're seen. There's a peephole, but we can cover it up. I've got something to show you. The game is on, Sven."

[Lena Wolf]

Sun's Dawn, 4E204 - Strands in a web

It took many weeks collecting every little piece of information they could find - both about Battahl and Queen Regent's past and present connections there, and about anyone with designs to remove Her Majesty's personal guard, that is, Scorpio. Between Lena, Rook and Sven they figured out that it was all connected, but were still uncertain about the particulars. The three of them could not be seen together, so Lena acted as a link, courting both of them. The rumours of her liason with Sven were growing stronger with every passing day, and people were openly speculating when their engagement would be announced.

"They will allow it to mature for a year or two," some were saying. "It is a matter of wealth. Is the Arisen wealthy? She is, as our Sovran, but was she wealthy before she was crowned? That needs to be assessed."

"No, they won't wait that long," others disagreed. "Just look at her armour and that of her pawns! Of course she was wealthy! She owns a mansion in the Noble Quarter, besides. And a house in town. There is no question of wealth!"

"Does she still command pawns?" Yet others wondered. "With the dragon slain, does that power wane? They want to make sure she remains in control, dragon or no dragon."

But the most salacious remarks were about her and Sven, as could be expected. That was on purpose, for people were most likely to focus on something saucy. Sven would visit Lena's chamber on a regular bases, noises would be heard, and some would swear to have seen action, too... What they really heard and saw however, was a performance not unlike the performance that Lena and Ser Maximilian put on back in Gransys so many years ago. The peephole in Lena's chamber had been securely blocked, and glimpses through a half-opened door could be easily manipulated.

"Why do you not put on a performance with Rook?" Sven asked one evening.

"We meet at The Rose, it has to be real. Too many experts would know the difference," Lena shrugged. "Rook never stays here."

Sven thought there was more to it, but didn't ask. They still weren't friends.

"Here, have a look at this," Lena and Sven were sitting in a blind corner of her chamber, certain not to be seen or heard. She put an old letter on the table. "That's a Battahli crest."

"The letter speaks of a 'service' to be rendered to mother," Sven read. "But the person to render it is only named as 'His Lordship'," he sighed. "That doesn't help at all... Although... The service appears to be of intimate nature."

"There is no date on the letter, although it is old. But is it old enough?" Lena thought that the 'service' might have been that of ensuring that the Sovran of Vermund had a child.

"Hmm..." Sven wasn't sure. "But look at this," he produced another old letter from his pocket. "This is quite intimate, and it is signed."

"Lord Allard," Lena read. "But not nearly old enough... the paper isn't discoloured. Lord Chancellor mentioned something... that he never intervened. The 'service' might have been repeated. Lord Allard still lives in this very castle."

"I wonder if father married mother for love or was it... Hmm..."

"Only she can tell us that now, I fear." Lena sat back in her chair. "And I am not about to ask."

This was a typical conversation between Lena and Sven, with each of them producing one or the other letter of more or less intimate nature and trying to figure out whether it was of any importance at all. The royal court seemed to have an infinite number of such letters, and everyone of the gentry seemed to have been involved with everyone else at some point in the past. Considering how easy it was to find these letters, just left behind in desks and drawers, unlocked and unguarded, they didn't seem important. Unless of course one of them was...

"If someone wanted to hide an important letter in this castle, they would just put it in some old drawer along with all the nonsense," Lena shook her head. "To find what we seek among all of this... seems nigh impossible."

"We need to start discounting people," Sven looked up. "Like this Lord Allard, for instance. He's been around the court for ages, well before I was born. But this letter is recent, and means probably nothing... We need to know more about him. And who is this 'Lordship' from Battahl? Keep every Battahli letter, as there are not many of those..."

Considering such goings on, Lena's visits to The Rose hardly attracted gossip - it was, after all, a common thing to do.

"Her Majesty is still frequenting one and the same escort," people would say. "One of the pawns she used to walk with... I wonder if there's anything more to that."

"Her Majesty likes a man with experience," others would shrug. "She found one she likes, and that's that. Mayhap she knew his worth from before he joined The Rose..."

People would grin and move on to more juicy news of the day.

Rook was doing well at The Rose. He was in constant demand. His fee rose above most others. As such, he was assigned a room of his own, with all the luxuries and conveniences of that. But with all this, alas, information was still not forthcoming. Instead, he was being asked more than he was told.

"What does Her Majesty like?" His clients would ask. "Show me, I want to know."

"Your Ladyship would not want me to show Your Ladyship's likes to others," he would decline with a smile. "The Rose guarantees the clients' privacy."

One day as the maid was serving coffee and the door stood open, they heard loud voices from the lobby.

"I want the Sovran's escort! He is not in this book!"

"These are all the escorts that answer Your Lordship's preference," a much quieter voice of the receptionist tried to calm down the client.

"Nonsense! I just said what I wanted!"

"That's Lord Allard," Rook's client sat up, listening in. "Wanting you... I would not recommend it."

"Lord Allard seems to have quite a temper," Rook noted, also listening in.

"A temper and a name in the court..." the lady nodded. "Everyone avoids him now. Everyone. Even Queen Regent... and they were close once."

"He served the court for many years, I hear."

"Since he was young..." She got up to look at him from behind the door. "He isn't what he used to be any longer... There's been talk that he fathered Queen's child, Sven. If you can father a child after it's born!" She chuckled. "No, he was with me when the Queen... you know. She'd been away for a time, then Sven was born half a year later."

She stepped back into the room as Wilhemina walked past the door towards the lobby.

"I must ask Your Lordship to keep your voice down," she said firmly. "The Rose is a peaceful retreat. Kindly select your escort from the ledger."

"The Sovran's escort isn't in it!" Lord Allard replied angrily, but in a lowered voice. "What game are you playing?!"

"You are confusing us with similar houses in the Lower Town," Wilhemina answered evenly, but with an undercurrent of disdain. "Our agents determine what services they provide. The Sovran's escort does not cater for your preference."

"Whores! All of you!!!" Lord Allard bellowed, there was a sound of steel against steel, then all went quiet.

"Escort His Lordship outside," Wilhemina said to someone in the lobby. "His membership is thus revoked."

"You are lucky to work here," Rook's client accepted coffee that he handed her. "Wilhemina understands what makes for good service... for pleasant times... unlike Lord Allard down below."

...

"So Lord Allard isn't your sire," Lena related this information to Sven next time they met. "The lady said your mother had been away, then you were born. Away to Battahl, perhaps?"

"It certainly looks that way," Sven agreed. "But to meet whom? And could Lord Allard still be involved in your pawn's disappearance?"

"I think not," Lena shook her head. "He seems out of control. It isn't easy to abduct a fighter such as Scorpio... They failed at the coronation, so they planned better this time. This job was served cold."

...

The next piece of the puzzle also came from Rook. He had a new client, and as soon as she entered, he felt dizzy and somewhat confused. He felt compelled to do what she asked, going far beyond his normal bounds. When she left, his head cleared. His body was scarred and burned in places, a practice not endorsed by The Rose.

"What happened to you?!" Lena gasped when she saw it. "I thought The Rose didn't allow..."

"It doesn't," Rook nodded. "I don't understand it myself... It is as if I was in a haze..."

"We have to tell Wilhemina," Lena was adamant.

"Godsway," Wilhemina concluded with disgust. "A substance that controls pawns. There's been talk of it in recent years... but this is the first time we had it in our house!" She added with anger. "You are off duty for the rest of the week! I won't stand for this! We have a lot of pawns!" She stormed off.

"Godsway," Lena repeated, examining Rook's bruises closely. "Tell me what you remember."

Godsway appeared to have clouded Rook's judgement and suppressed his will but not affected his memory much. He knew exactly how he got every bruise, yet could not oppose the hand that inflicted them.

"I do remember resisting somewhat," he looked apologetic. "Perhaps that's what she wanted..."

"I wonder if the dose you got was only little," Lena mused. "Since you could resist. But what if it was increased? May be that's what they used on Scorpio?"

...

"Godsway is prohibited in our Kingdom!" Sven exclaimed with indignation when Lena told him about the incident at The Rose. "Exactly because it affects pawns in this way, and pawns are welcome here. It is imported... I don't know how it is made. It's used... well... the way it was used on Rook. He got a standard dose. We'll catch the smugglers, but I wonder... What if the dose was increased? What then?"

The smugglers were caught, a quantity of godsway was recovered.

"This was a medium size operation, Your Majesty," Captain Brandt was delivering his report at the Chancery. "The substance will be incinerated."

When he finished, Lena quietly followed him out of the Chancery office.

"Captain," she spoke softly. "I wonder if I could have a word."

It wasn't too hard to convince the Captain to hand over godsway to her. She wanted to know its effects when given in larger doses, and Rook reluctantly agreed to test it. The Captain too wanted to see the effects. It required some preparation, but eventually guard training was arranged out in the fields, thus leaving the barracks free.

"Don't make me fight you, I am not that bad of a mage," Rook joked nervously as they were getting ready to start. "There is no telling what it will do..."

The effects were astounding. Rook remained conscious throughout, he could walk and talk, and indeed fight, and he executed every order to the letter, even though they had agreed that he would try to resist. But as soon as the crystal was moved a distance away, he regained full control of his will.

"It's strong but of limited range," the Captain concluded. "Dangerous stuff. This will be incinerated. I shudder to think what it could do if it was refined..." He gathered up the crystals. "And you should know... it is imported from Battahl."

The pattern was becoming clear. The strands of the web led to Battahl.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Apr 21 2024, 05:54 PM

[Lena Wolf]

Sun's Dawn, 4E204 - A grain of sand in a desert

"This is like finding a grain of sand in a desert!" Sven shook his head when Lena told him they had to look for clues in Battahl. "How to tell which one is the right one? We have a stack of letters from Battahl, intimate and otherwise, signed and unsigned, old and new... Which one would point to 'His Lordship' that is my sire? Which one would lead us to your captured pawn? Is the same person behind both? Twenty years apart? That seems unlikely..." Sven sighed. "Yet at the same time I sense it is exactly the case... But why..?"

"There is something else at work here," Lena mused, looking through the letters on the table again. "Something that we are yet to uncover. I too feel that the same person may be behind both... I just hope that Scorpio is still alive..."

"I haven't considered that," Sven looked up with sadness. "It's been... what? Four, five months? If he is being tortured... strong as he is, that's a long time... assuming they didn't kill him directly..." He stopped talking, noticing Lena's heartache, but she got the distinct feeling that he said those things on purpose. Perhaps in order to see her response.

"Yes, I miss him, if that's what you wanted to know," she said with rebuke and Sven blushed slightly. "It isn't an act."

"But you have Rook now..."

"Rook is my friend. Scorpio is... more." She kept her eyes on Sven trying to figure out why he was asking these questions, and what it was that he wasn't asking but wanted to know.

"I've watched you and Rook," Sven met her gaze without blushing. "You seem completely at ease with each other. He's not guarded with you as he's guarded with his other clients, you are not a client to him. I do not understand... And you say there can be more?"

"Rook is married, did you know that?" Lena smiled. "Not to me, that is. But we are old friends, we've been through so much, I trust him with my life and more... But yes, there is another level... more than one level, in fact..."

"But if he's married... Why did he become an escort?"

"To help me find Scorpio." Lena paused, watching the puzzled look on Sven's face. "Or do you mean to ask why Rook is such an excellent escort? Because that's Rook. When he decides to do something, he does it right. He doesn't skimp, doesn't shirk, doesn't try to fake it. He took the job for a different reason, but it is now his job, and he does it well. His clients can sense it, which is why he is in demand. Not just because he's the Sovran's escort."

"I never imagined that slaying the dragon could bring people together like that," Sven said softly, still puzzled.

"It wasn't the dragon..." Lena thought of the times she would lose a battle in order to save her pawns, of the times her pawns would keep fighting for her and die when she could not save them, the times she really lost a pawn, not merely sent them back to the Rift... "Pawns are not completely immortal," she smiled at Sven. "Yet they do not falter, and not all of it is driven by duty or their magical bonds to the master... I've had pawns that..." She stopped talking, suddenly realising that speaking of that would be betraying their trust. Not all pawns were equally loyal, despite the common belief. "It wasn't the dragon that brought us together," she closed the topic. "But it is between me and them."

...

One evening Lena slipped into The Rose from a particularly boring soiree - there seemed to have been secret passages from every part of the castle. She didn't know whether Rook was with a client, and didn't want to go barging in. She linguered in the corridor, trying to make up her mind.

"Your Majesty," she heard Wilhemina's voice behind her. "Your escort will finish shortly," she smiled. "But until then, please come with me."

Wilhemina led Lena into an empty room, closed the door and kissed her.

"Not interested?" She stood back, surprised. "Not many clients get my attention."

"Forgive me, Lady Wilhemina," Lena smiled. "But..."

"Say no more," Wilhemina smiled back. "It is unusual, but not unheard of. But may be I can still please you with something else..."

She walked to a framed picture on the wall and flipped it aside, revealing a peephole. Lena looked in.

The room on the other side seemed empty, but then she noticed movement in the curtains. A masked man silently stepped forward, and a masked woman appeared from another corner of the room. Lena recognised Queen Regent, because, let's face it, masks didn't work for people who knew each other well, such as members of the same court. The man, however, was unknown to Lena, and his mask would indeed prevent her from remembering his face.

"Disa..." he said, taking Queen Regent into his arms. "You wanted me to stay away, and I did. It's been a long wait... but you look just like you did twenty years ago."

"You flatter me, Phaz," she smiled. "But the wait is nearly over. Sven will marry the Arisen and then..."

"How long do you plan to let her live?"

"Just long enough to calm the waters," she shrugged. "Her pawn does complicate matters, though."

"Her pawn? But we removed him, surely?"

"Her other pawn... her escort here at The Rose. We cannot touch him here."

"That is most unfortunate."

"But equally... he's just an escort," Queen Regent made a gesture of brushing off an annoying fly. "Not a bodyguard, as was the one before him. And he's just a mage... Not a match for you, Phaz."

"You want that I kill him myself..?" The man she called 'Phaz' sounded surprised.

"If need be..." She sighed. "Just send him back to the Rift, that will do."

"Easier than killing him outright," Phaz agreed. "Her main pawn is still alive... somehow... we've done all we could think of... it's been five months."

"Alive?" Disa pulled back, surprised and worried.

"We could have sent him back to the Rift, but that would have served no purpose," Phaz explained. "She'd get him back right away. No, he needs to die a proper death, there are ways... he seems unconsious and his body is ailing, yet he still lives..."

"That is enough," Wilhemina covered the peephole with the picture again. "Your escort awaits you, Your Majesty."

Lena followed her to Rook's chamber and didn't come out until the following afternoon.

...

"Sven has been watching us," Lena told Rook when she finally stopped crying. "He's been asking me about your... skills," she grinned. "Whether all pawns are like you."

"And what did you say?" Rook smirked, pouring coffee.

"That all pawns are exactly the same, of course, powered by secret magic, just like golems," she laughed. "What did you think I said? There's no one quite like you, Rook."

"I wonder why Wilhemina lets him watch," he mused, settling down in a large plush armchair with his cream-laden coffee. "I didn't think it was a part of a standard service."

"Education? His mother does want him to marry me."

"For political reasons, yes," Rook objected. "Besides, he's been running around brothels long enough now not to require any further training..."

They didn't know what to make of it, but ultimately it wasn't important and they didn't care, so they spoke of it no more.

...

Hearing about Scorpio's condition gave an increased sense of urgency to their investigation, but still they could not move any faster than they did. The man named 'Phaz' was in the centre of it all, but his identity was unknown, and although they surmised that he must be the mysterious 'His Lordship' from the old correspondence, it didn't actually help them to figure out who he was. Lena thought he was a sorcerer, but Rook pointed out that Queen Regent's words would have worked just as well if the man was a knight.

"Any vocation is stronger than a mage when it comes to battle," Rook objected. "He could even be an archer, for all we know. Although I would probably be able to deal with an archer..."

"I still think a sorcerer is most likely," Lena was being stubborn. "And anyhow, we have a register of noteworthy sorcerers, and there are exactly three of them in the whole kingdom, as opposed to literally hundreds of knights."

"Let's start with sorcerers then," Rook grinned. "Except... aren't you looking in the wrong kindom? He's supposed to be from Battahl."

"With so few sorcerers around, they all are bound to know each other," Lena was pouring over the map of Vermund. "We have a court sorcerer here at the castle... An old man with his nose in books. I don't think he's involved in any plots - too busy reading. There's an Elven sorceress up in the Sacred Arbour..."

"As if Elves ever minged in human affairs!" Rook shook his head.

"True. Then there's Magister Myrrdin living in a small town near the border with Battahl. I think I shall pay him a visit."

"Hold it - hold it!" Rook pulled the map out of Lena's hands. "Your Majesty cannot go visiting some random sorcerers in small border towns. I'll go. You stay put."

...

"Magister Myrrdin is not receiving visitors," a stern-looking maid answered the door. "State your business."

"I thought he wasn't receiving visitors?" Rook smiled at her. "I heard much about Magister Myrrdin's learning and was hoping to discuss ways to improve my battle spells... I am but a mage, you see, battle is not my speciality."

"Then you've come to the wrong house!" The maid barked at him. "Magister Myrrdin does not teach dilettantes!"

She slammed the door in Rook's face. This matter required a different approach.

...

"I saw you trying to get into Myrrdin's house," a shady character in dirty leather armour sat next to Rook at the tavern that evening. "We've been trying it for weeks. Best give it up, mate, that house is a fortress."

"I wasn't actually..." Rook started saying when another unsavoury character interrupted him.

"You lot will never get in!" He said to the other thief. "You ain't got class. Stick out as a sore thumb... This fellah on the other hand, he stands a chance... If dressed right... I reckon... may be..." He took a step back, eyeing Rook head to toe. "I'll tell you what you need to do, but we take half the cut."

"There won't be any cuts, so there's nothing to take," Rook said firmly. "I daresay I don't need your help."

"You won't get past that door without us!" The thief retorted angrily. "And I have a rush order on an opal orb from that house, so you WILL go in!"

"Not for you, I won't."

"We'll see about that!!"

Daggers flashed from several directions, an arrow flew past Rook's ear, someone even tried to stab him, but Rook was completely unharmed.

"That does it, really!" He pushed away one of his attackers and quickly cast a spell. A lightning bolt hit in the middle of the fighting crowd, the sparks latched onto the weapons, jumping from fighter to figher, some people fell to the ground, others were still standing, shaking. Either way, the fight was over, and the barman was quick to throw them all outside. The crowd dispersed as quickly as it had assembled, out of sight and out of reach of the city guard.

"It's always the same here," a guard addressed Rook and spit. "They start the brawl, but they are too quick for us. You, on the other hand... In the name of Her Majesty the Sovran, I arrest you for disturbing the peace in this town." He put wrist irons on Rook who didn't resist. "It's this way to the gaol..."

...

Stripped of his coat and staff and dressed in prison garb, Rook woke up in the morning on a pile of dirty straw in a rat-infested gaol of a small border town. His head didn't hurt and he remembered everything that happened, but he felt empty and hollow. The wrist irons - they sapped his strength and magicka, leaving him defenseless.

"How do I get out of here?" He asked the guard who brought him bread and water. "If it's money you want..."

"Aye, there's a fee to pay," the guard grinned. "But not yet. You are a pawn, are you not? You pawns get a different treatment."

He checked the lock on the bars and walked off, leaving Rook with a feeling of foreboding. His trip was not going according to plan.

[Lena Wolf]

Sun's Dawn, 4E204 - Pawns

"That's enough, this cargo is worth more than your lives taken together!" A sorcerer with an unusual staff barked at the guards beating up prisoners. "Count them and load them into the cart! And if any of them is seriously injured... I'll have your heads!"

A dozen or so prisoners were manhandled into a covered cart, but the beating stopped. The back of the cart was barred and the ox resumed pulling it up a mountain road.

Rooked looked at the prisoners, they were all pawns. All cuffed in wrist irons like his own, all wearing prison garb in various states of disrepair. "So, we're to be slaves... But what kind?"

The cart slowed as the ox was struggling to pull it over rocks, and the sorcerer overseer walked past the cart. A splitting headache pierced Rook's brain, he squeezed his temples... and saw the other pawns do the same. He felt empty and hollow, more so than ever before... he felt his will drain away... "Godsway," he thought. "But stronger..." The headache was overpowering, making him faint.

...

"Well, which of you was it?" He heard an angry voice. "Which of you started the rebellion?" The overseer stomped his staff on the ground. "I'll know who it was, you cannot hide it from me, pawns!"

Rook opened his eyes. He was lying on the ground in a cavernous cell, occupied by several pawns; he saw more such cells along the corridor, each with several people inside. He could not remember how he got there; he could only remember the cart and the splitting headache from the overseer's staff. And yes, he could remember the gaol in a small border town, then being beaten and loaded onto the cart. Why was he in that town? To visit a sorcerer... with the purpose of finding a man named 'Phaz' in Battahl. Yes, his memory was intact.

"Which of you was it?!!" The overseer bellowed, stomping his staff again, but Rook did not get a headache from it. Instead, he felt compelled to get up. "Ah, so it was you!" The overseer stared at Rook. "Have I seen you before? Hmm... You do seem familiar... I never forget a face! Follow me!" He signalled the guards to unlock the door and let Rook out, locking the other pawns in. He led him through some corridors, and guards pushed him up every time he stumbled. He felt weak... the wrist irons were sapping his strength.

The overseer led him to a large pit where half a dozen prisoners were moving stones from a freshly blasted cavity. "Get to work!" He barked. "I shall not stand for another rebellion!" The guards pushed him on. Manual labour. It could be worse.

Miners were opening up a new passage, blasts were heard every minute or so. That alone was making Rook ill, but he focused on moving stones and tried to avoid getting hit by debries and rocks. Another blast, and the whole side of the pit came crushing down, burying pawns and guards alike. Puddles of bluish light appeared under the rubble - pawns killed by falling rock were returning to the Rift.

"Idiots!!!" The overseer bellowed at the miners. "Their lives are worth more than yours! You let them escape!!!" He did not care for the guards that were killed along with the pawns, for their lives weren't worth as much.

"I must not be killed by falling rock," Rook told himself. "That would return me to the Rift, but I must stay here and learn what is to be learned. That staff has a godsway crystal. This is a pawn labour camp. This is the same labour camp where I found the current Arisen oh so long ago... The Arisen that is now waiting for me in Vermund. The difference is... last time I was here on purpose. This time I am just a slave."

Operating without the protection of the Legion was infinitely more difficult than guiding a new Arisen. Rook didn't lack a will of his own, but it wasn't a matter of will. With only the overall goal being clear - to rescue Scorpio - the immediate goals of what to do next were up to him to set and pursue. "This is a lot harder than hunting down the dragon," he thought, carrying rocks from one corner of the excavation site to another. "Where do I go from here? I cannot see a clear path... is it because I am a pawn?" He wondered. The Legion had always claimed that pawns needed an Arisen to give them direction. Rook never believed it, until that moment at the labour camp when he started doubting himself. "Wolf would know what to do, she is an Arisen," he thought. But then... "Have you forgotten something, Arisen? You're looking rather lost..." "You're staring, Arisen!" "Shouldn't we get going, master?" "What are you doing, Arisen? The path is that way!" All those times when pawns had to remind an Arisen what needed doing; all those times when he or the others had to lead an Arisen to their goal; all those times when... "...when an Arisen had no clue what to do," Rook smirked at the memories. "No, there's nothing wrong with us pawns. I just need to focus."

He tried to think what Lena would do when she was unsure how to proceed... "She would do nothing..." he thought. "Sleep on it... Perhaps I'll see things clearer tomorrow."

It had been several days, all the same, all filled with labour of moving rocks from one side of the pit to another. Rook wondered what the purpose of the excavation was, as the miners seemed to be blasting tunnels in every direction. So many explosions often caused cave-ins that had to be cleared with more explosions... There didn't seem to be a plan. "They are searching for something," he finally realised. "They don't know in which direction to proceed. Perhaps it's time for me to look around."

And so, instead of just carrying rocks from one spot to another, he started paying attention to the rock formations, noting different structures, veins of ore, slabs of basalt, pieces of polished marble... "Pieces of polished marble?" He grinned. "Oh yes, it's this way." It didn't take long for the miners to notice polished marble too, and they redoubled their blasts in that direction. After a few days, they blasted through a wall of an arena.

"Inform Lord Phaseus!" The overseer was excited by the discovery.

A day later several richly dressed mages came to the site, examined the arena, talking excitedly among themselves. If anything, they looked like tourists visiting an ancient site. "Perhaps that's exactly what they are," Rook wondered, watching them. "Their spells are so weak... These are mages in name only, nothing more."

More mages came the following day and the day after that, and Rook stopped paying them much attention. Then the tours stopped and a single mage with a half a dozen guards came to the site. He commanded the overseer to clear the site, moving the pawns and the camp guards back into the caverns. Rook hid among the rubble, resisting the headache caused by the overseer's godsway staff, just hoping to wait it out until the staff was out of range... He persevered. He could now watch the mage in the arena.

"Come forth, I command you!" The mage - or rather, the sorcerer, as Rook noted - raised his staff that sent a beam of light into the sky causing a vortex to form. A dragon descended from the vortex, circled the arena and hovered over the mage - or may be the mage's staff. "I command you to land!" The mage proclaimed and the dragon landed, waiting for further orders. "Ha!" The mage looked smug. "It worked. So far, anyway. Now kill it!" He shouted to his guards who started attacking the dragon.

It didn't take long and the dragon lay dead. It didn't resist, it didn't fight back, the mage's staff was controlling its will, it appeared. "Collect all the crystals, we'll need them for later," the mage told the guards. "Now to get to the heart..." He put away the staff and drew a long dagger, walked up to the dragon's chest and cut it open. Foul viscous liquid erupted from the cavity, but the mage continued widening the cut until the dragon's chest lay wide open. "But... it has no heart!" He was taken aback. "How..?" He walked around the dragon several times, made several more cuts but alas, there was no heart to be found.

"This is a lesser dragon," Rook noted to himself watching the mage's disappointment. "They have no hearts... It would have been more amusing to watch him summon a drake and find three hearts inside," he smirked. "This isn't THE dragon. That dragon cannot be controlled with a godsway staff."

Just as the mage was ready to leave the arena, another mage walked in. He had a commanding aura about him. He examined the dragon, lamented the lack of a heart, exchanged a few words with the other mage, then proceeded collecting the viscous liquid oozing from the dragon's chest.

"Take these vials to the lab," he told the guards. "Perhaps this foul slime will finally kill that pawn..." He watched the guards fill a chest full of vials. "Whatever keeps him alive... Never had a subject quite like him."

"Are you certain that he is no longer bound to his Arisen?" The other mage asked.

"She killed the dragon, that always breaks the bond..." he mused. "Unless there is another bond between them? But no matter, she hasn't long to live. Once she is dead, the pawn will surely perish. And even if not... He will no longer be a threat to us. Pawns have no will or purpose of their own."

...

When the mages and the guards left the arena, Rook cautiously climbed out of his hiding spot and approached the dragon's body.

"Lesser dragons have no hearts but they are not entirely useless," he smirked. He reached deep into the dragon's liver and pulled out a blueish stone. "Vernworth!" He said, throwing it into the sky. There was a flash of light and Rook vanished.

...

"What was that?!" The overseer saw the flash of a ferrystone being deployed on the newly unearthed arena. "Who did that?! Who escaped?!! Ooh, it's that pawn from the latest shipment! The one that escaped a year ago as well, and with another pawn! Don't think I don't remember! I never forget a face!" He ran to the arena but there was nothing to see there apart from a dead dragon covered in foul slime.