Chương 264: 12.9

Adelyne was not intending to end up spending the night under the stars surrounded in the incredibly soft skin of a giant-cat-woman-beast-monster thing. She also had not intended to end up in what it turned out was a very storied and traditional 'hunt of minds' with said monster-beast-woman-cat-giant that entailed them exchanging favors for every question or puzzle 'found right' by the other party.

Adelyne was also not intending the Sphinx' attendants finding her circumstances hilarious come the far too early morning dawn. But she forgave them for that. The way they extracted her by bribing the creature with a basket of freshly caught fish in exchange for its new 'toy' was very much appreciated! And the way they then commiserated with her and swapped stories of their own embarrassing predicaments with the apparently astoundingly ancient but not precisely clever monster helped soothe her pride.

Breakfast was also nice. She never found out precisely where her Lady Jewel had gone off too. But her new found friends among the Menagerie staff were eager to trade coin, gossip and favors for her further assistance with the Sphinx. Although between the two of them Adelyne was only half sure they fully understood one another.

"She mustly like you right good well! Didn't nothing even bruise, scrape or nibble you at all! No maimery! Stranger fools don't often end up so unscathed clean with the darling beast fiend. Good impression work you made." Adelyne was sure there was some duty she had to attend to for her Lady and begged off more time with the terrifying giant monster for it. Which was far more horrifying to witness in full daylight up close then as a vague presence in the dark.

However after finding her way back into the quarters set aside for Jewel it took some doing to actually get the duties she had claimed to have. Muriel finally found somewhere to put her that did not involve anything to do with kitchens. Everyone had found it was best if Adelyne never was involved in the preparation of food. She was among them. And that was how she ended up standing in the utterly astonishing feasting hall of the High King of the Realm of Cantor Reborn.

The touch of all these people's eyes on her skin still felt constricting. But a morning amongst other servants and out in daylight along with the suffocating presence of the Sphinx' own awareness when she woke let her avoid freezing in place. She could force her way into visibility and attention gathering if needed. Make her feet land heavy enough to be heard. Even speaking loud enough others would catch her voice and turn to look at her.

But whatever sorcery Fizzbunches had put upon her did not make any of it pleasant. Like willingly walking through thick cobwebs every time she spoke. Still this was the duty her Lady had for Adelyne (well mostly her Lady's Captain but same difference). She stood to one side, a bit behind Muriel's left. But well in front of the footmen Jewel had brought with her as an entourage. The Count Consort was opposite Muriel on Jewel's right. The Countess and Shining Wyrm of Viznove was ahead of her, and behind her.

The vastness of the dragon spread around in a way that probably disrupted the usual parameters of idiot nobles and honorable seating or whatever nonsense. But the foremost parts of Jewel were at the head of the party. Well into the middle of the vast horse shoe of a feasting table the High King sat behind. Elevated uselessly, the man was on his chair raised upon a platform. Jewel was only below his gaze because of the precise posture she had taken.

He was speaking with some of that weird tone that meant it was a practiced speech of some stuffy noble bullshit. The words also were hard to follow and not all of them sounded right to Adelyne's ear. But still she thought she had the sense of it. The distraction of random glances wrapping over her made it hard to pay attention to him. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. He'd asked a question or service of Jewel?

She was going to give her answer or report or something?

"High King Mathias of House Stein, I can give you my judgment. On the act of Sorcery wrought by the workings of Lord Sorcerer Jaksa the Red, Lord Sorcerer and Court Wizard Erhard Ironhand, the priesthood of Asherah and their god." That sounded like a great many very dangerous people and things who probably did something astoundingly powerful. Just the two Wizards Adelyne had met were terrifying in their own right.

And she had been told plenty by the temples about how dangerous involving gods were, priesthood present or not. It made the High King's Request all fancy-like a bit more sensible and also probably explained what they were doing last night. At the thought of the night it was only by that smug fuck Fizzbunche's boon that she could stifle the yawn trying to tear its way loose out of her mouth. Her duty was to stand here as part of her lady's court.

The High King said some more things in words that were only somewhat legible as anything spoken in the Ridgetail's valleys. Stars and fortunes damn her Adelyne was so tired. It was short though and was mostly along the lines of asking for Jewel to continue. Probably. Honestly, why were so few people in this place able to speak plainly? Even most of the local servants spoke half nonsense. Jewel was far more understandable.

Well, besides her accent sounding like some grass stained sheep herd imitating a noble, But that was normal. Adelyne blinked hard to try and stay awake.

"My judgment of the working is such, those touched by it are no more or less loyal or commandable then the men or women they once were. They are no more safe or docile than any other subject of the High King." The way that the High King on his throne was smiling made Adelyne think despite her best efforts the lady Jewel had failed to win whatever this exchange was. Adelyne didn't frown or fidget, but only because she could feel how that would drag the crowd's eyes all over her if she did.

This awful pit of Nobles, many of them wearing more finery and baubles than a simple little street child like her had ever seen in her entire life combined and doubled. The rich fucks. She could have fed every child in Kaeketeh on just the pearls around that one woman's neck. Fed them for a year even! The High King then said something that sounded mostly like he was bringing up what the payment for this service Jewel had done to him would be.

And that was when Adelyne reassessed who precisely was getting out the better in whatever business this was. She knew her Lady Jewel, she knew the tells the wyrm mostly failed to hide because she didn't seem to quite understand she even had them. The way that her scales would tremble and stick out from the roots, the way the hairs of her mane could move. How her eyes could shine. Really everything but her face could scream the mood of the Wyrm if you knew her.

Sometimes her tufted tail would flick in excitement while the rest of her went utterly still! Adelyne could see most of the people in this room besides the High King himself seemed unaware. But she saw some small worry entering his bearing, and could feel how he would jump if she just shouted. Her Lady spoke softly.

"The Boon I ask is a simple one, The County of Viznove shall remain a vassal of the Realm of Cantor Reborn. All debts once owed to the Late Countess Bathory shall transfer to my own person instead of being voided by her death." There was a wince from the High King at that, a visible wince. There was also a murmuring of the nobles around the table and room, Adelyne was not sure but it sounded like perhaps quite a lot of coin had been owed to the bloody countess.

Enough silver that it made these opulent peacocks take note.

"Furthermore on the trade of Wyrmspun Wool in fabric or thread from the Barony of Rochford a simple request is made." That drew much confusion among the rich nobles present and the High King as well. Only a few faces showed shock and the High King was not one of them.

"I request that the High King decree all tithe, tax or tariff within the Realm held directly by the High King or indirectly via vassals shall be annulled for such goods. No silver to be paid on its transit into or out of such lands except that claimed by honest merchants selling their wares. Excepting of course the local tax owed to Viznove as a good of my County." The puzzled looks on most of the faces continued.

Although that one noble that was wearing far too many colors and the pearl wearing Lady looked stricken with something curse-like. Most of the rest were still murmuring about Jewel's first declaration. However despite whatever troubled the rainbow noble and the pearl woman over the matter nothing was done to stop the High King. He peered over the other guests at his table then turned to Jewel and nodded solemnly. Adelyne had seen fraudsters work the crowds.

The High King Mathias was acting like he had understood the situation. But Adelyne could practically smell how clueless he was.

"For your service I find this a fair boon and welcome. With that I acknowledge you as my vassal, Lady Jewel of House Rochford, Countess and Shining Wyrm of Viznove! May you remain the bulwark of the Realm against its southern enemies." Again Adelyne held back a yawn. Just barely avoided being smothered by the glances it would bring. Scribes were writing furiously, then parchment was offered to the High King to seal as a proclamation. Jewel bowed low now, actually bringing her chin to nearly touch the floor.

To the other nobles it looked like a supplication to the High King's authority. But Adelyne could see how hard her lady was struggling to keep her tail still. And she was failing to keep the very tip of it from flicking. This was somehow a victory for her lady. Although Adelyne had no idea how. She needed a solid night of rest in an actual bed!