Chapter 93

The border guards allowed them to roll through. The guards still had hope, but Lebende's influence remained a dark cloud over them. They did thorough checks of the cargo. When they found the ornate urn, A rat-faced guard held it up, "What is this?"

"A gift for the emperor. It is an exceptionally rare urn. I traveled the world to find it," Aurelia's regal tone held the guards in thrall, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have diplomatic relations to establish," Aurelia motioned for Zinjo to take the urn.

"How do we know you aren't here to assassinate the emperor?" Another guard asked. He approached Aurelia with his hand on his sword-hilt.

Zinjo's partisan barred him access, "I would think twice about drawing your blade. You might make us nervous," He gestured to lord Nian who brandished his curved blade. He obscured his face with a silk cloth.

The guard caught sight of Nian's fierce anger-filled eyes and took a step back, "Forgive me, your majesty, things are bleak in the empire. I know not what our emperor does, but I trust he knows what he is doing," the words rushed from the soldier's mouth with a hint of insincerity.

"We shall be on our way then," A single motion from Aurelia's hand sent Ayasu and Tang Sai back into the carriage where they waited. Aurelia carefully packed the urn in a thick protective cloth and closed the chest. "Can we expect trouble on our way to the capital?"

"There have been reports of strange beast-men roaming the woods. Hideous things too, all twisted and contorted..."

A warning bell went off in Aurelia's head. Her battle with Issac played across her mind, "We will keep our eyes peeled," She reached into her coin pouch and gave both guards a generous amount of gold, "Do keep our presence under your hats."

The guards pocketed the gold and returned to their posts. Zinjo whispered, "Can we depend on their silence?"

"I have no idea," Aurelia shrugged, "We don't have time to dwell on that. We will take our animal forms the moment we are out of sight. The beast people of Larylia are here."

Nian raised an eyebrow, "Beast people?"

"They are people who have been experimented on, using the power of an Al' Miraj, and living darkness blood. Nyo and Kuende were encased in it back in Kivuli's lab," Aurelia removed the Lion's Fang from the Cargo area.

"Tell me you put the abominations down," Nian seemed alarmed.

"They were living beings with the right to choose between good and evil. It is not my place to decide for them. I killed their leader Isaac." Aurelia prepared her armor.

Ayasu chuckled, "Where was my Zinjo in all of this?" She glared at the male lion.

"I openly challenged the jerk. The fight was mine," Aurelia grinned wickedly, "I was thirsty to prove myself."

Tang Sai hopped in the driver's seat. We are not going to get any closer if we stand around talking."

***

They came to a heavily forested road. Aurelia and company quickly dropped their formal wear for armor and weapons. "We should call them the Twisted Ones," Aurelia remarked.

"Hmmm," Zinjo tapped the butt of his partisan against the ground, "Twisted suits them."

Tang Sai Shifted to her fox form and smiled, "You didn't tell me we'd be having fun on this trip. It's been ages since I've been in a good scrap." her tails whipped around excitedly.

Nian looked around at his furry companions, "Why did you need me?" his facial expression said he felt a little left out.

"We will talk about changing you once this adventure is over," Aurelia promised, "We brought you along for your military expertise. I am still young in the ways of war, as is Zinjo."

A great smile hit Nian's face, "I suppose my experience is invaluable," he beamed with pride, "Let us press on."

Zinjo and Ayasu's attention snapped to the tree line, "Do you hear that, Pride Mother?" Zinjo's eyes did not leave the side of the road.

"Yes, my son," Ayasu levitated a large group of stones.

The Lion's Fang roared from its sheath. Tang Sai readied balls of fire. Nian took to the carriage roof and knocked an arrow. He nodded at Aurelia.

"I suggest you show yourselves. I am not feeling particularly merciful today. I am on a deadline, so either attack or wait for easier prey." Aurelia's conversational tone carried the threat effectively.

"Aurelia," A familiar unseen voice said.

"Mshindi?" Zinjo bellowed, "Is that you?"

"Mshindi?" Ayasu seemed surprised to hear the name.

"Who's Mshindi?" Tang Sai asked.

"A friend of the queen, I guess?" Lord Nian and the Huli Jing had no context for the werehyena

"I have Mashek and Redford with me. We are coming out. Hold your Fire." Mshindi shouted. The Hyena came out in his animal state, the wicked grin permanently pasted on his face, "We've learned a great deal."

"We know most of it," Aurelia said, "We know Lebende is behind the fall of Larylia and the Twisted ones. We also know he was behind the clockwork guild in the far east. He obtained the information from Kivuli."

"So you know about the shipment coming in?" Redford asked.

"We were there when it left port," Zinjo remarked, "What have you learned?"

Mashek seemed proud of himself. The thief held up a key, "We asked around about Lebende and discovered the place of his origin. You are not going to believe what we found."

Lord Nian crossed his arms, "Color me interested."

"He wasn't a dark wizard at all. At one time, Lebende was nothing more than a common baker," Mashek bubbled with excitement.

"You're joking," Ayasu scoffed, "How does a baker become a threat to an entire country?"

"I was getting to that," Mashek seemed unbothered by Ayasu's disbelief. He produced a small journal from his pocket, "His name wasn't Lebende either. His real name is Dietrich Wagner. He came from Venmere and even knew Lord Bathory."

Aurelia listened with her head down, "So how does the baker start to dabble in Magic?"

"I was getting to that," Mashek flipped through the His wife was a victim of a demonic horse. The locals call them "Le Cheval Mallet. They appear to be beautiful mounts from afar. Once someone decides they'd like a ride, the horse shifts into something nightmarish, and the victims vanish."

"Our foe lost someone to such a creature?" Ayasu asked.

"Yes. According to legend in Venmere, Lebende grew obsessed with finding the creature. His bakery fell into disrepair as he delved deeper into magic. Revenge consumed him. He ran himself into the ground. The guards found him after a neighbor reported a terrible stench coming from the bakery," Redford held up a scroll, "It's all in here."

"Do you think Lebende would want the Cheval Mallet still?" Aurelia asked, "and is there a way to trap one?"

Mshindi revealed an ornate silver bridle, "I found this in the bakery hidden in a pot of flour. His journal doesn't mention it, but I'll assume he planned to capture the phantom horse and make it pay."

Zinjo studied Aurelia's face, "What are you thinking about, dark princess?"

"I think we might be able to get Lebende to come without a fuss if we can catch this phantom horse. Obsession is the weakness of living darkness." Aurelia seemed hesitant at first, but as the idea settled in her mind, it felt right. She paced and opened and closed the parasol.

"Carmen was obsessed with the man she loved and was willing to do anything to hold on to him. Kivuli cursed the people of Kiazangi into lions and hyenas and is obsessed with finding the cure. Their obsessions become a prison of their own making. The horse must be Lebende's obsession."

Zinjo grinned, "Lets figure out where it was last seen, and get to work."