So tired

Sebastian and his grandchildren followed the imperial family out, the sun was slowly sinking west, the capital was southwest of the hunting grounds… so much could happen in the capital but they were here… hiding from all their problems once again.

Ashton barely glanced over the imperials as they took their seats, typically all would rise to greet the host… but most considered Ashton the host.

Charmaine wanted to protest, at the very least the delegations should have stood to greet them… but neither her husband, nor anyone else even hesitated to simply sit down. If she hesitated any longer she would draw unwanted attention to herself… and her children.

Charles brushed his hand down her arm as he passed Charmaine taking his seat. While it was considered cowardly… he still vividly remembered the pain of having his heart clenched and burned at the same time.

Charmaine bowed her head while biting her cheek as she took her seat, she kept both children close. Their whole table was as silent as a graveyard… an apt description for where their pride had gone.

Zane glanced down the table at the subdued imperial family, a slight sense of schadenfreude manifested itself as a slight smile, "Young Song, are there any pressing plans for tomorrow?"

Jaxon glared at the Adarian prince, if looks could kill surely the man would have been sliced a thousand times over.

Zane realized a moment after the duke's glare what he'd implied. While he'd genuinely been asking if Young Song had plans… knowing Monroe's fate wouldn't go amiss.

Ashton knew Zane hadn't meant to ask about Monroe, "I will see what the morning brings, while I'd like to say I have plans… they are not so strictly bound by time."

Zane nodded, "The forest is unusually full, last year we spent several days without running into anything larger than a rabbit. Is there anything in particular that interests you?"

Ashton rested his head on his forearms while he laid on his stomach. "Hmm, nothing comes to mind… but it would be a shame if any decent hunts went unpraised."

Several of the warriors glanced up with expectant grins. They watched as a silver flame burst in Ash's right hand, then a red down feather landed in his palm.

"Each day the being that brings the best catch can earn a feather. Each feather will… hmm increase a random attribute. So, a mage might widen their conduit for mana, a warrior might become a little faster. A poet might find their thoughts a little more flexible." Ashton explained as everyone eyed the feather.

Rommel gave a short cough, "When you say… the being. What does that mean?"

Ashton grinned as he crushed the feather, "That means if Kira made the catch, the feather would be hers. While you can save the feathers or give them away, only the one who makes the catch or kill can get the feather from me."

Everyone shared a glanced, while Young Song didn't say how much of an increase… any increase would be beneficial.

"Also note… I do not like kill steals. Do hunt with pride." Ashton added with a glance around the tables.

Jaxon jolted, then glanced at Lucian who gave a shallow nod.

"If we went out hunting right now… can the feather be earned tonight?" Leonard asked glancing over the catches from earlier… the best seemed to be a live moose.

Ashton tilted his head back and forth, "No, not for today. And the time to present your spoils will be… dusk of each day." Ashton stated glancing past the hunting palace.

"Its not yet dusk, there is still time for today." Leonard tried not to sound pleading, but if Monroe only had until dawn…

Ashton glanced at Leonard losing his smile, "I said no." He then turned his gaze to Jaxon, "I'm done handing out chances when you refuse to listen."

Lamont glanced around, then tugged on Noelle's sleeve… tugging on her pants would be awkward. "What is considered the best though?" he whispered uncertainly.

Ashton grinned as he turned his gaze to Lamont, "I will biasedly decide which is my favorite. Though I won't ask you to hand anything over, think of it as just a bit of fun."

Lamont flushed, "Do you have… any preferences? Like… feathers over fur?"

"Hahaha! How sly, hmmm. I am do like feathers… but I image I like feathers the way people like hair. Not sure if I would want someone to just hand them to me. I am not particular on any kills, though I prefer catches. It will really depend on the options unfortunately." Ashton sighed dramatically.

Lamont nodded, face still flushed. "If you had to pick one today though… what would it have been?" He pressed with a rueful grin.

Ashton grinned, "Personally, I would have picked your moose, a skilled catch prince Lamont."

Lamont kicked the ground under the table, at least now he had an idea of what to look for.

Zane and Rommel shared a glance, catching was always harder than killing… especially if the foe was strong.

Jaxon wanted to protest… but he knew it was futile. He had until morning… what could he possibly do by morning to save Monroe?

"Can We barter for Monroe?" Lucian asked as the last of the food was served.

Ashton gave Lucian a disinterested glanced, "It would take something very interesting to sway my decision, but I will entertain you while we eat."

Lucian glanced down at his plate, some vegetables and a steak, along with a goblet of wine. "We could swear any favor, that would not sacrifice another."

"Such as?" Ashton asked as he selected a baked potato from his platter and sliced it into bite sized pieces. The meat was… well meat. It had more mana than any of the other foods but… but as a starving beggar he couldn't exactly be choosy.

"Name your price." Lucian offered glancing over the table.

Ashton half smirked, "I recall a time I made a similar offer, and not to be petty… but at this point you don't have anything I want or need. You never have."

Leonard's blood went cold, he stared at the youth… "If you could return?" he asked apprehensively, if Ashton left… there could be other dire consequences.

Ashton sighed, "Well that would be pointless now, I'm already ascending, everyone is already aware of my existence. I am now a walking beacon for any beast guardian grade and above."

"You must want something… every being wants for something." Leonard countered, desires were eternal… that's why there were no forever enemies… just eternal interests.

Ashton shrugged, "I am rather simple, I want a full belly, to sleep in a warm nest, and to watch those I cherish be happy. The empire has not fed me, has not sought to my comfort, and has harassed those I claim. We do seem to be at odds."

Leonard thought about everything Ashton had done so far, "You want the souls free… you've brought them to our attention…"

Ashton raised a brow, "You are mistaken, whether they perish, enter eternal rest, or are reincarnated is not my goal. I merely brought the situation to light since Lucian was ignoring them."

"But you wanted his Majesty to see." Leonard persisted, he could argue semantics all day.

"The injustice is not mine to correct… yet. And Leonard… if I must claim justice the empire will burn." Ashton informed narrowing his eyes.

Leonard paled… all his arguments swallowed back into his stomach. Then Ashton glanced back toward the others as if the conversation had never happened.

"Now, I'm sure many will be setting out shortly after first light, so perhaps groups and destinations should be planned tonight." Ashton added as he started eating this practically minced potato.

Zane took the lead to explain where he planned to go hunting, Rommel and Lucera planned to follow but Jantje decided to stay back as she awkwardly learned she was indisposed. Several maids had already prepared pads and pain killers as her menstrual cycles sometimes left her bedridden.

The obvious divide between the delegations and the imperials was more than just a table… Jaxon had been discussing any possible plans with Leonard with the occasional impute from Lucian. What they did agree on… was trying to smuggle Monroe out would probably be the worst decision possible.

Serafin glanced at his mother who was sipping her wine without expression. She hadn't said a single word since they'd arrived. When Natasha was going to pull on mother's sleeve Serafin shook his head.

Natasha looked down as she fiddled with the skirt of her dress, Mom had been very upset… she'd even broken several tea sets.

Lucian's gaze bore into Leonard, willing him to find an answer. There had to be some hidden meaning… food, nest, cherished… "Is there something the Inago would want from the empire?"

Leonard took a deep breath, "Regina Puana, is there anything the empire can provide you, that you would speak on our behalf for Young Monroe?"

Neolani glanced over the imperials with such disdain she may as well have been looking at rats eating from her plate. "After he attacked our future priestess, and my daughter? No."

Jaxon was gripping his fork so tight it was bending, "Horses, the tribes often barter for horses but have never able to get a true war horse or battle chargers. I have both destriers and coursers."

Alexei sipped his ale, true… they had been trying to get better horses but… he glanced over the gryphons and lions… that had been more than ten years ago.

Azarius glared at them, "I'd rather walk." He growled under his breath as he stabbed a vegetable on his plate to angrily chewed on it.

Melia held her mother's forearm tilting her head. Her mother glanced down at her, then leaned back.

"It appears Melia is willing to speak, and the Inago will abide by her decision." Neolani stated. Melia had almost as much say as their true priestess, which is why she had her own personal guard and lion. Not because she was daughter of the Regina.

"Unfortunately, unless the empire can return the dead, our stance is clear. We are unwilling to barter on behalf of the disgraceful. Some lessons must be paid in blood." Melia stated coolly looking over the imperials, her gaze deliberately rested on Serafin and Natasha.

Jaxon took a deep breath, he could not lose his temper, "That's true, Monroe acted disgracefully, but there's no reason for him to be eaten. What action deemed him worthy of such savagery?"

Melia smiled, "The same action that caused the empire to wipe out four tribes, and attack more than a dozen others."

Jaxon stared at the young girl, her bearings were not that of a child… but of an equal. "They kidnapped children and attacked a village without cause." Jaxon stated firmly, they had gone back to check the records after Ashton's little performance.

"I wonder… did the priest who reported such attacks… ever find any bodies?" Melia asked with a light smile, then sneered, "Because not a single tribal prisoner was ever found." Melia informed angrily.

Leonard closed his eyes, that's true… most attacks on the boarders were reported by priests through the church relays. Even when guards arrived, they often reported what the priests had seen and took action after confirming attacks had happened… but didn't look into the who or whys.

"Then the Lindorm faith is just as much your enemy as ours." Jaxon stated looking for common ground.

Melia straightened in her seat, "Hardly, the souls of the Inago were protected. Otherwise, I'm sure the attacks would have continued until we were exterminated like so many. In fact… had Regina Puana not fought off the empire thrice in battle where only the Smyrnaeans' perished I doubt we'd even be alive."

There were stares from more than just the imperials, even the delegations glanced from Ashton to Melia… so Young Song could prevent the church from binding souls…

"You should be grateful we do not kick dogs while they are down, now this discussion is over. I have finished eating." Melia stated placing the last bite of meat in her mouth, then standing up.

Alexei wiped his mouth, "As am I, there is much to do before the dawn arrives." Neolani also stood as Azarius scooted his chair back dramatically.

Charmaine continued to sit silently… even after those retched savages had threatened his own children… Lucian was still only concerned with Monroe… did they mean nothing to him now that he had the throne. Maybe it would be better to take the children to flee… they had enough money and connections to escape to the isles… or buy new identities in another land.

Serafin clutched his fork… while mother's face looked calm… her handkerchief wasn't just wrinkled… it was now slightly torn. He glanced to his right where Natasha was trembling.

Jaxon sat beside the sleeping Monroe for hours, something… there had to be something… When Monroe groaned Jaxon quickly picked up a glass of water where he added honey and powered medications to ease Monroe's discomfort.

Monroe moaned, but drank as the cup was brought to his lips. He wished it had all been some horrible nightmare… but the pulsing aches told him otherwise.

Jaxon didn't beat around the bush, "How did you cut your arm off?"

Monroe blinked repeatedly, "Uh, uh voice… offered to help…" Monroe tried to recall, he tried to move his left hand to touch his aching temples… but only flopped awkwardly in Jaxon's grip.

Jaxon adjusted Monroe so he could look at his missing arm. Monroe's eyes went red… but he bit back the threatening screams. "Was a man's voice, or a woman's voice? Did it say anything else?" Jaxon pressed.

Monroe bit his lip, trying desperately to recall but the memory of the pain was almost overwhelming, "Neither… didn't sound… like either." His breathing was coming faster as he hunched up in Jaxon's arms.

Jaxon deflated, then pulled Monroe close rocking him back and forth. "It's okay, it's okay Monkey, relax." Jaxon stared out the window with hallow eyes as he felt hot teers on his chest. Had it only been… a few days? He was so tired…