Draconic Testament (59 page)

“Let her in, thanks.” Zaxxarius said. The maid opened the door, letting Laer into the room, then shut the door behind her. “Watching Television?” Laer asked, smiling. “Believe it or not, it’s out of date, nowadays. Most people surf the internet.”
“More or less the same on Earth.” Zaxxarius said. “Come and sit.” Zaxxarius was seated on a couch in front of the television. Laer sat on the couch, right next to him, leaving little space between them. “Know what I don’t understand?”
“Mmm?” Laer hummed, questioningly.
“All these animals are similar.” Zaxxarius said. He was watching an animal documentary.
“To... what, the animals of Earth?” Laer asked.
“Yeah.” Zaxxarius said. “Reptiles... dogs... cats...”
“Yeah, that’s something that scientists marvel at.” Laer said. “It’s all connected. The dragon’s don’t have much of a way of changing things up. I mean, take a look at me and you, we’re both humanoids. We have snakes, like you do... Dogs, like you do... Hell, humans and Cazrians have somewhat similar genetics. That baffles scientists... but, in my opinion, it’s just that the Dragons aren’t very imaginative.”
“I see.” Zaxxarius said. “So... Is something wrong? You don’t often visit.”
“Oh, no.” Laer said. “Boring reports of Domini getting slaughtered along our share of the aquatic isles The Isles used to create a bridge between us and Zolka during our primitive ages, and one of the states captured by the Domini is at the end of the bridge that was once. The Domini race down to our section of the bridge and kill off the defenceless residents, but lately we’ve sent airships to deal with them. It’s Childsplay mostly.”
“And what’s the reason we don't take that as an act of war, again?” Zaxxarius asked.
“We’ve been taking it as an act of war from the start.” Laer said, as she said this, she places her arm around Zaxxarius, who awkwardly shuffles, making no move to resist. “At least, the Sylvarin’s have. The Sylvarins are heads of Sanctum, and they sent their forces to quell the invasion. They succeeded in halting the invasion, but Varhaim Sylvarin, being a ‘true’ Metholian, decided he’d let the Legion off by simply telling them to stop taking more of the states.”
“What?” Zaxxarius asked, angrily. “Why?”
“Because, Zolka hates Metholi, and Metholi hates Zolka. Ever since the early ages, we’ve hated each other brutally. That’s another reason we don't intervene. Plus, why should we when Pontaron, Cradle, and Kirall don't? We have no alliance with them. The only assistance we have was feeding them supplies to retake their lands, though we don't openly admit it. Plus, if we invaded Zolka, it would look bad. Not to mention, what would we do when we beat the Domini back? Nobody wants that responsibility. Nobody wants to be the ones to make the choice of whether to close the portal, or forgive them again. What would you do?”
“Well... I...” Zaxxarius began to answer, but Laer edged closer, looking at him seductively. She placed her left hand on his leg. “Erm... What are you doing?”
“Some Cazrians would say it’s wrong to bed humans, like it’s wrong to bed Ispii...” Laer said. “But I think you’re rather attractive.”
“Wait...” Zaxxarius said, but Laer forced her lips on his, and her hand between his legs. Zaxxarius vaulted off the couch, back towards his bed. “What the hell, Laer?”
“What’s wrong?” She sighed, getting up, not the least bit put off. “Something wrong with me?”
“It’s not that.” Zaxxarius said. “It’s just...” Laer began to take off her top. “Wait! I'm taken already!”That made Laer stop. “Oh?” Laer hissed. “I see. So the Council has went ahead and got you a bride behind my back? Wow, that’s sly. That’s really sly.”
“No, I mean... I’ve chosen someone by myself.” Zaxxarius said, relieved that she had ceased stripping.
“Hmph. Who?” she asked, hands on her hips. “Who’s your ever so wise queen, then? Some maid?”
“No...” Zaxxarius said. He looked to the floor, awkwardly, like he was being scolded by a teacher. He didn’t know what to say. “Well? If you don't have her name, she can’t be all that much of a queen, so I might as well force myself on you.” Laer said, resuming.
“No, stop!” Zaxxarius said. “It’s Veronica.” The words came to him, and he instantly regretted saying them, as he was sure it’d bring hardship to their relationship. He bit his lip, looking pathetic in front of Laer. Laer stared at him for a moment, then chuckled. “Hey, that’s alright!” Laer said. “She can be your concubine, if you love her. Nobody has ever forced Overlords to love their queens. They’re merely partners with benefits.”
“But, Veronica is to be a queen.” Zaxxarius said.
“Hah! Oh,
please.
Don't be foolish.” Laer laughed. “Ever heard the tale of the Metholian war? That huge war that messed up Zolka, and the humans? Do you recall the reason that war started?”
“The Ispii queen, right?” Zaxxarius said.
“To an extent.” Laer said. “There were a few racists that didn’t like the idea of being bossed around by an alien, sure, but the real, cut out, reason was that the heirs to the Elric legacy would have their blood and magic weakened, due to the pureblood Cazrians being tainted by Alien blood. In your case, there will be mixed opinions about your race, but in the end, you’re already Overlord. You’ve been chosen, and nobody is likely to ask to take you off the throne, for religious reasons. It’s heresy to deny the monolith. But that girl? That would be going too far, too far indeed. You and your children will be made to marry purebloods to keep your blood as strong as it can, and the fact that Katrina had Archmagi magic in her means that your blood is not weakened all that much.”
“So why can’t Veronica sit on the throne then? She’s an Archmage like my mother.” Laer said.
“Because Sancterus was a pureblood!” Laer retorted. “You’re not! Katrina, nice woman and all, wasn’t even a queen, she was just a concubine. So, you’re an exception, a bastard risen to the title of Overlord simply because you were the last hope to maintain the Elric legacy of Metholi, the one House that has kept the title of Overlord since the creation of the Monoliths.”
“Veronica will be queen. I’ll make sure of it.” Zaxxarius argued.
“Don't be a fool!” Laer said, losing patience. “Do you want to be an Overlord, or a tyrant? If you do what you want, you’ll only find scorn, and your attitude will be what causes a war, not Veronica. It will be seen as typical human nature, and you’d condemn your human friends as well.” Zaxxarius had no comebacks to that. Laer was about as stubborn as Veronica. “Duty did whatever the hell he wanted, and his whole army abandoned him in the end. Surely, you saw that.”
“But... Veronica...” Zaxxarius said.
“If you love the girl... Take her as your lover. Your concubine. Sleep with her, love her, laugh with her. But give your queen children. Veronica can also have children with you too, but be careful. Bastards are seen as power hungry and full of torment.” Laer said. Zaxxarius pouted at that. “Well... It looks like I won’t be bedding you tonight. Someone else has already seduced you. Shame, it would have been so easy on a young one like yourself.” Laer smiled. “But I'm not the sort to give up. So... watch your back.”
Veronica sucked at Bastion’s wrist, milking blood from the small wound as if It were her mother’s nipple. This was the way she would normally get her fill, keeping her at full health. One odd side-effect of his human heritage that he had not noticed before was how fast he regenerated blood, meaning that exhaustion from the blood loss would never last long. Veronica was on top of Zaxxarius, laying on her back with her face nuzzled into his wrist. His other hand explored her body, as modest as possible, while she was busy with the blood. When she was finished, she healed the wound and wiped the blood off her with a moist tissue, then cuddled into Zaxxarius. This was as intimate as Zaxxarius had dared progress with Veronica. Whenever Veronica was out of Zaxxarius’ loving grasp, she was her old self, condescending and harsh, but whenever she was in his bed, her whole personality turned 180, into a shy girl. Zaxxarius looked at his watch. “28.” He said. The Cazrians spoke of time in a 24-hour clock fashion, only their time went up to 29 hours. “Seems late, but we’ll probably be up early compared the everybody else.” Veronica said.
“Never know. There may be aliens here that sleep shorter times than us.” Zaxxarius replied.
“Maybe.” Veronica said. Veronica turned her head to meet his lips. “I saw Laer go into your room earlier. Was there news?”
“News?” Zaxxarius asked, stupidly.
“What did she want, if not to give you news?” Veronica asked. He didn’t know how Veronica would react to becoming queen, or Laer’s advances. “She came to talk about... things.”
“What ‘things’?” She asked, looking at him intently.
“My coronation.” He lied.
“You’re lying.” She huffed. “I hate it when you lie.”
“How do you know I'm lying?” Zaxxarius said.
“You just admitted it, and you usually break eye contact when you lie, when you say something to make me happy.” Veronica scolded him, poking him in the cheek. “Stop it.”
“Well...” Zaxxarius said. “She wanted to talk about my marriage.”
“And?” Veronica asked. “What’s the part that you think will annoy me?”
“Do you want to be queen?” He asked. Veronica looked at him, puzzled. “I want you as my Queen. I want you to... be the one I marry, have... kids with. Not someone else.” Veronica didn’t say anything, just looked at him, somewhat embarrassed. “Laer, Abaddon, Tyria. They’ve all told me... They’ve all said that my queen has to be a Cazrian.”
“Honestly.” Veronica said. “Honestly, you should have spoke with me about it first, before preaching your love for me to everybody. What were you thinking?” Zaxxarius was taken aback.
“Veronica, I want you as my wife!” He blurted. “You don't want to be my wife? What... What is... this then?” Zaxxarius asked.
“I love you.” Veronica said. “You love me. We don't need some ring and words of faith to bind us together. I’ve known I couldn’t marry you since I found out you were Overlord. It was the first thing that went through my head, and I’ve gotten over it by now. I knew you’d be slow to realise.”
“I’ll tell them otherwise.” Zaxxarius said. “I’ll wed you whether they like it or not.”
“No.” Veronica said. “If you wed me, I’d be queen. I’d make a horrible queen. Do you see people taking orders from me? I was raised to be a killer, not a leader. I was separated from the outside world for years, and you’ve seen how I am with other people. I can’t tell people what to do at all, I’d rather nobody talked to me.”
“But...” Zaxxarius said.
“I'm not bothered about being queen or being your wife. In fact, I don’t want to be queen. How do you feel now?” Veronica asked. “When me and you are here, alone. How do you feel?”
“Happy.” Zaxxarius said.
“So do I. I belong here, protecting you, and keeping you warm. That alone is fine with me.” Veronica said. “What about... What about my queen? You know what I’ll have to do with her...” Zaxxarius warned her. “I know...” Veronica said. “You need only spend a couple of nights with her... more, if you want. I don't mind...”
“I don't really want to.” Zaxxarius said.
“You have to give her children.” Veronica said. “There’s not really much choice in that.” Zaxxarius gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, burying his face in the pillow. “I’ll still love you. I’ll still... be here with you. Make me your concubine.”
“You’re not a whore.” He moaned.
“I don't care what they call me.” Veronica said. “I care what you think of me. And how I think of you. You don't have to worry about it anymore. It won’t be as hard as you think.”
“Wont it?” Zaxxarius asked, not satisfied.
“Listen to me.” Veronica said, seriously. “Really, listen. You are going to pick a proper queen who can rule her people, and you are going to be a good dutiful Overlord. Don't fall over and make mistakes, and mess everything up, because you were ‘thinking’ of me. Remember, you’re the last of the Elrics, act like one.” Zaxxarius rolled on his back, and Veronica crawled into his arms. “It will be alright. I promise.”
“You don't seem all that bothered.” Zaxxarius said. “How do you feel about it?”
“I’ve spent my life disappointed. A long time ago, I learned to accept things that were out of my control.” Veronica said. “It’s not like she’s snatching you away from me. Being your Paladin, I’ll constantly be here, with you.” Zaxxarius didn’t say anything. For a while, it was silent, until the silence annoyed Veronica, to the point where she couldn’t take it anymore. “Say something, Bastion.”
“I don't know what to say.” Zaxxarius said. “I don't like it, and you want me to. I can’t help how I feel. If I could flip a switch to get over it, I would.”
“I don't need you to like it.” Veronica said. “Just do it. Then, come crying to me. Alright?”
“Alright.” Zaxxarius said, kissing her forehead. “Alright. I’ll do it. But...  I still love you, no matter what.”
Zaxxarius woke up in the morning, rubbing his eyes. He had gotten used to waking up in this place, then getting up for sword practice with Abaddon. Veronica had gotten practice wielding a double-bladed Zaranyte glaive, since she couldn’t have an Arcana. Stark had his guns, and Vander had his Arcanum Longbow, which he was allowed because he was seen as a reincarnation of Sesorai. However, this morning was not for sword practice. It was for his official coronation, in front of all of his subjects who were waiting to see the face of their new Overlord. Rumours had been spreading through Metholi that a new Overlord had been chosen, and had risen to take the seat of Sancterus in secret. Others that it was a Jackobi, an Ispii, a Human, and some even said he didn’t have Elric blood. However, a few days ago, the council announced that a new Overlord had been chosen, and he was an Elric, but they hadn’t told them what race he belonged to. He wondered how they’d react. If they’d accept him or not. He never thought that he’d be this nervous. He wanted to help Metholi and the rest of the world, if that was something he could do, but would they accept his help? Veronica wasn’t in the bed with him, this morning. She likely thought it best to slip out unnoticed. Zaxxarius sat there, rubbing his eyes when an important, familiar knock came to his door. “Come in.” He said. Abaddon slipped into the room, dressed in fresh clothing fit for someone of his birth. “Are you alright?” He asked.