Interlude - Osilliaice & Alustriea

While Xing Lei was exploring the dead lands his mate was settling in, in the new vassal state of Quel'Shalteir, formerly the Kingdom of Ironhand. Fleet Spear had spent much of her time after the rescue of her mate going through the motions of her duty. When an elven messenger had delivered notice that her mate had defected to the dark elven side she had not been too worried, she trusted in her Dull Scale to do what was best. It was the missive later that spoke of how an elite squad of soldiers, lead by the arch mages own daughter, had brought the traitor down.

How she had raged! It took the combination of her trusted men to hold her back from charging out to strangle the life from that two faced bitch, Alustriea. Even still, with her men holding her back it had taken three of them just to keep her from easily bursting from the room, looking to their worried faces she could only sigh and relent, the elvish army had a hierarchy. If she stormed off to threaten the leaders blood at best she'd be in chains, worst would be a summary execution. Still the news that her Zing Lee had fallen to elvish hands are at her.

As much as she tried to focus on getting her own tasks done, the lizard woman still seethed in desire to investigate, yet everytime she finished one task another courier was there with new orders directing her away from investigating the matter. Even worse, Alustriea her supposed 'friend' had not even deemed it within her nature to console the aggrieved Osilliaice. Gritting her teeth she waited, biding her time, as busy as they kept her, she would eventually cycle out letting a fresh commander take over so both her troops and herself could recoup.

As the days past, her anger and surliness grew, even her troops were now grumbling at their unseen superiors for not relieving them of duty, it had been far too long since their last leave. While, to a man, they were prepared to do as ordered it still bothered them that command was similarly pushing them aside as they were distancing their commander. They respected Osilliaice, there was no disloyalty there, but at the end of the day they were still elves and she was not, as respected as her prowess was they still believed in their superiority over her base reptilian nature.

As the days stretched into weeks finally then order had come down that Lady Osilliaice and her troop were relieved and were free to return home. Fleet Spear had charged out, to the amused smirks of her soldiers, her hope to find out what happened half a month ago was a fool's errand. Regardless if the kobold lived or died the matter was done. It did not take Fleet Spear long to charge through the streets, many greeted her in passing, having become the unofficial liaison between the elven command and the subjugated non elves.

Fleet Spears hurried charge took her to the former nobles quarter, while half of the upscale area had been torn down by rioting slaves a few of the bigger manors still stood, approaching one a pair of slender elven guards crossed their spears before her way, "Lady Osilliaice, we have standing orders from our Mistress that you are to wait here until called to enter."

Fleet Spear glared at the female, her reptilian eyes narrowing as she shifted her gaze from the door guard to the nearby manor. A slender figure in a silver robe stood at one of the large windows watching, even at this distance Fleet Spear could see the conflict in the eyes of her former companion, but wether that conflict was unease at having to answer to her or over what she had done weeks ago, Fleet Spear could not be sure, but she was damn well going to get an answer today.

Looking back to the guard a toothy smile crossed her lizard like muzzle, "Step aside, I give you this opportunity only once, I need to talk to Lady Alustriea today and I'm not taking no for an answer."

"Lady Osilliaice... "

A hand snapped up with all the grace of a striking cobra, a strong hand grabbing the womans face in a powerful grip, much to the shock of the other guard who fumbled with her spear, not sure if she should rescue her companion or signal for help, though the choice was stolen from her. Fleet Spears body shifted her tail sweeping along the ground taking the poor womans feet out from under her tossing her heels over tits to the ground with a clatter and groan. The first elf was slapping at Fleet Spear's arm trying to extricate herself from that powerful grip before a solid fist collided with the thin breast plate she wore. The metal gave a groan of protest as the guard grunted in pain.

Releasing her grip, the elven woman slumped to her knees, her spear forgotten as arms covered her indented armor, wheezing as she felt her breakfast rushing up her throat and once more seeing the day. Her second was trying to regain her feet when Fleet Spear kicked out, like the sound of a gong her muscles foot rang the bell of the second elven womans helmeted head sending her into the blissful rest of unconsciousness.

"Father will never stand for this Lady Osilliaice." A tired voice, tinged with both sadness and weary sounded from ahead, Fleet Spear looked noting Alustriea coming down the front walk to stand before the larger lizard woman.

"You know what I'm here for Alustriea, I want to know what's going on." Fleet Spear tried to remain calm, she tried to fight back the indignant rage that this knife earred bitch had spent the last few weeks keeping her from her mate.

Alustriea sighed and waved away the guards that were rushing up behind Fleet Spear, the commotion had attracted the local guard station and seeing two elves down with this supposed ally bearing down on their generals blood had seen them rushing forward with blades at the ready. Stopping a respectful distance they gathered up the two women helping the poor victims of Osilliaice's rage seek treatment.

"Come inside and sit down, I'll fill you in on what I know, what I suspect and what it has to do with our dear Xing Lei." Waving the lizard woman in, Alustriea turned back to her new abode guiding her former friend through a once resplendent noble home, now alot of its wealth was gone, the house was still impressive but no longer bore the tacky displays of wealth that humans favored. Retreating to a study, Alustriea bade Fleet Spear to sit and rang a bell. A young human woman in a plain maid ensemble appeared at the door, "Tea for myself and my guest please Angela."

Bowing briskly the young woman rushed off as the two former companions sat opposite each other on a pair of soft couches. Fleet Spear fidgeted, this whole display was making her antsy, she always preferred the elven military bleakness over the refinement of elven nobility, her brutish frame was just not built to be a dainty lady in wait. Staring at Alustriea she frowned, "Is he at least still alive?"

Alustriea nodded, "Mostly due to my own foolishness. Had I not hesitated Xing Lei would have died the night you two saw each other."

Fleet Spears eyes widened, rage tinged her gaze red, it was happy news that her mate lived yet the revelation that their 'friend' had been part of his attempted execution had her blood boiling, her fists clenched and clenched as she tried in vain to draw back the savage rage building in her evolved body, while it had been a boon to be larger and more powerful, the Blackscale lizardfolk seemed prone to a berserker state when angry, for one who fought smartly this condition was something she actively fought against.

Alustriea sighed, smiling to a nervous looking Angela who scurried in, a wary eye on the trembling lizard woman as she quickly set out the tea before retreating from what might well be the attempted murder of her Mistress. Alustriea sipped a cup waiting for Fleet Spear to calm slightly before reaching under her couch and tossing over a suit of mangy boar hide armor to her former friend.

Fleet Spear caught the old armor of her lover inhaling his scent, hugging it to her body as she felt just this simp,e act dispelling the maddening rage that was cousing through her blood. Looking to Alustriea she blinked as the elven woman motioned for her to look at the kobold sized armor. Glancing down instead of hugging it like a smelly teddy bear her eyes narrowed noticing scratches inside, studying the shape she blinked and looked to Alustriea. "He says trust you."

Alustriea blinked and wetness rimmed her emerald eyes, dropping her head to hide her tears she grimaced, "Gods damn you you insufferable lovable bastard..."

Fleet Spear watched her friend with narrowed eyes, "Did you and my mate..."

Alustriea sighed and shook her head, "That day I wanted to, like back in your village I desperately wanted to go inside with you all. That day I wanted to go with him but I couldn't, I'm not brave nor strong enough." Sighing sadly the elven woman broke into her tale, her voice tinged with sadness telling her friend how she had lead their Xing Lei to the ambush, her own assault upon his body and his choice to leave them behind.

A mix of emotions crossed Fleet Spears reptilian visage. She wanted to cry, rage, shout out against what she was being told. When Alustriea moved on to her suspicions on what was going on Fleet Spear shook her head, no wonder her mate went ahead alone, the elven nation was about to get swept up into a civil war. On one hand the battles would hone the two women but there was a risk, this coming storm would be an epic level example of nobility scheming and backstabbing, she would need Alustriea to survive. While Alustriea would need a force that was loyal to her safety.

As the pair sat in silence, digesting the discussion there was a commotion from the front door. A few moments later a troop of elven soldiers appeared at the study door, a slender elven man entered without waiting for Alustriea to acknowledge him, "Lady Osilliaice, you are charged with dereliction of elven duty, assaulting your fellow soldiers and threatening a noble with bodily harm, you are commanded to follow us for disciplinary action."

Alustriea was about to rise in anger, to refute at least that she had been threatened but Fleet Spear rose and stopped her, "I have heard the charges and submit to disciplinary action." Glancing to the elven mage she shook her head. Xing Lei intended for his mate to protect their elven friend, not the other way around, she would be fine so there was no need to tarnish Alustriea's name defending the 'non elf'.

The troop marched the lizard woman away as Alustriea watched from her window, she felt like she was back in the goblin camp waiting for her turn to be defiled. Surrounded by her kin she felt so utterly alone as both her trusted friends were forced away. Looking to the horizon she prayed Xing Lei would return soon, she truly didn't know if she had what it took to survive the coming civil war that would see her father striving to depose the Silvertree clan was their rulers.

Hugging her suddenly cold body she cried softly, missing the simpler days surrounded by crazy kobolds when she felt protected and cared for rather than this cold bird cage with serpents slithering just beyond her unlocked door.