Maledictus Terra Book 3: Vetitum Nemus Part 78
Introduction
Welcome back to Maledicturs Terra. This is a Chain Story between myself and @lex-zaiya, meaning that we each write the parts alternatively.
If you have not read Maledictus Terra Book 1: Mortis Custos yet, it starts HERE at Part 1 and ends at Part 101 HERE. At the end of the Part 101 post you will find links to all 101 Parts!
Maledictus Terra Book 2: Sanguifex started HERE with Part 1 and ends at Part 111 HERE
The previous part by @lex-zaiya can be found here!
Part 78
Queen Mary looked to Magna and Letulah and to the now lone Orc woman. She had looked like she might have wanted to go with Adrian but she could only imagine that it would be boring for the Orc Warrior. Not to mention distracting to Adrian and in turn annoying to Adiran.
"Gorma. I have need of your fighting strength." She said suddenly. "I do not have command over you, so I ask you this as a favor as one of our allies."
The Orc woman started and turned to Mary on her throne with a kind of wonderment on her face. This look resolved itself into a look of determination. She nodded. "I shall do what I can to assist you Queen. You have my word."
"While my son and Adiran are administering to that dangerous acquaintance I will need someone to help Magna watch over Letulah." She held a hand up to forestall the rogue from speaking. "Who is quite capable of looking after herself I am sure she was about to tell us. However, these are not normal circumstances. There is a target on Letulah now and your link to Barakus makes it irresponsible for me to leave you to live or die on your own merit. Thus I make this an instruction. Magna, you and Gorma will spend most of your time with Letulah until further notice. If one of you needs a break, then the other needs to be there at all times. Understood?"
Usually Magna would have argued but her mother had just entrusted her and the foreign ally with the protection of a life. She couldn't speak at that moment as she realized that her mother was trusting her with a lot. She nodded deliberately.
"Now, Letulah, do let Magna take you to my personal physician. You are used to needing to hide your curse. But the man is very used to all the strange company I keep." She waved her hand generally over Mortis and Gorma. "He helped us when my brother was here and his curse was far more violent than anything I have seen from you. There was blood on the walls half the time during his visit and he nearly killed Magna. So can you stop your nonsense? Its only stitches."
Letulah grumbled under her breath but then said clearly. "Yes your Majesty." She said almost sardonically but her tone changed and her voice became more firm. She sketched a short bow. "I meant no disrespect. You have a lot on your plate and I did not want to be a burden."
"Thank you. We are old friends but it is good to remember who you are addressing." Mary knew her voice was hard, but it was necessary to take command. "You also might not realize how much importance you carry on your life right now. You have become the target of a person of interest and this new... asset of ours might become an absolute danger should you fall. You cannot put yourself into danger's way. Therefore, it is my order that you three women work together to ensure Letulah's safety."
There were murmurations of assent from the three women and Mary stood. "Now, I leave to to carry out those orders. Mortis, if you would accompany me. We need to go see Noxus and Gorox off. At least one of the parties that I have delegated out are able to act on my orders."
Mortis said nothing but he followed. It was a strange thing, at one time he would not have obeyed neither a suggestion nor an order from Mary. She was not the blood of the family which he swore to protect.
However, Adiran and Adrian were now ensconced in the Mage's Tower apartment. There would be no force in this world that the two of them would not be able to handle together. Similarly, the trio of women that Magna formed was hardly a point of weakness.
Mortis followed this Warrior-Queen. She did not go armed in her own castle. To do so might show others that she feared attack in her own home and that either the situation was dire or that she was paranoid.
Mary found Noxus in the woman's apartments. She had packed to travel. She did not seem to be wearing clothing for horseriding however. When Mary looked her up and down the dark-haired mage smiled. "The way to the Isle will be by boat. Gorox and I could use a portal to a port city and go from there. However, the portal would not allow our other companions through. So we are planning on taking a river boat down to the coast and from there, a larger craft to the Isle."
"That makes sense. You have thought of everything." Mary said.
"It is my job to do so your Majesty." Noxus bowed her head.
"I am going to miss your council here in the castle." Mary said and realized that she was sad to see Noxus leave. This woman had been her companion when all others had left the castle and she had become an integrated part of her court. She now needed to push aside her own feelings and the emotion that threatened to bubble out of her.
Instead she painted on a face and graciously inclined her head. "Go well and return to us safely. You go as both a returning Adept of your Temples as well as my ambassador. I wish to establish and maintain good relations with the Temples of Hiral Kai."
Noxus bowed, deeper this time. "It shall be as you command my Queen."
Over to you Lex!
Thank you for reading!e
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Vetitum Nemus
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STOP25k replies seems enormous.... Thanks... onwards to the next 500!
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