A Dream of Empire Ch. 025

Talos nodded as if he agreed with her, but he needed to turn her opinion. By all accounts, Remilla was marching to war under the leadership of her brothers; a war that would see no end, at least in Talos' lifetime. He needed Faranya to play a part in this.

"Maybe you're just not trying hard enough," he smirked. "Alanna bore a child. Why can't you?"

"A child with the handsome Talo'nir, the most virile of the gods," she playfully retorted. "But, perhaps you are right; the opportunity to produce just hasn't availed itself to me."

Talos rolled his incredulous gaze her way. "Faranya... if you're telling me you're a virgin with ninety-some-odd years..."

"No, I most certainly am not! How dare you, Talos," she blushed, tucking a blonde lock behind her ear. "No I um, I have been keen on someone before. Not even two decades ago, in fact."

"Anything special?" Talos inquired. She nodded.

"Mhm. He was my everything. Everything I ever wanted. Noble, strong, and handsome beyond belief. Well, actually, I suppose my true disbelief stemmed from the fact that he had reciprocal feelings at all. It did not last, in the end. We parted ways when he decided to travel to Tor Dia, to join with the short-lived revolution there. You know, the same revolution where you killed my father? Who knows; perhaps you killed him too."

Talos squinted, returning his gaze to the canopy of leaves. "I damn-well pray I killed him. Leaving you to join such a hopeless cause? You deserved better."

Faranya snorted. "Arcarion left with little more than a 'goodbye' that day. No warning at all but for a vow that he would return once the fight had been won. That is the problem with my kind, really; we are romantic, true, but we romance the struggle more than we romance each other. To fight and to suffer is the greatest honor one can attain... but it is also our curse. We dream, Talos, but we do not appreciate the now. Do not appreciate what is before us."

"Mm. Know a couple humans like that too. Usually it's the ones with the most to lose."

"Hm. It is what makes a coupling between an elf and a man so fascinating to me; the compromise," Faranya continued, rolling onto her side to face him. "You know, like you and Casiama? To attain your love, she had to decline to entertain the greatest struggle of our time. And you? What did you compromise on, Talos?"

Talos rolled to meet Faranya face-to-face. "Nothing... and everything," he seriously replied. "Love, in the form of the sweetest girl I'd ever met 'til then. Life, in the form of exile from the closest thing to a home I'd ever had. And happiness, I suppose, in knowing I'll never be perfect in her eyes."

"Stop it, Talos. You are perfect," she frowned.

"Mm. And if I were elf, I'd be even more so," he smirked. "But don't look at me with those sad eyes, Faranya. Asking for pity was not my intent."

"And yet I still desire to hold you," she smirked in turn. "Come here, little babe. Everything will be alright."

"Fuck off," Talos laughed, throwing himself onto his back again. Faranya wasn't having it, and she playfully wrestled with Talos for a time until he chivalrously let her win. She pulled him onto his side once more, and the two of them only silently gazed at one another for a moment. Talos soon broke the silence, but not out of discomfort.

"Answer me this, Faranya; you said elves are so focused on romancing the struggle? Then why are Cass' elves so calm? Why's everything so relaxed here? The last time I saw the people of the Mossy Tree, they too were marching to war."

"And they won that war, Talos. They found a place to call home, and helped their fellows escape the tyrannical clutches of man. They believe their struggle is now over, and Casiama's recent speeches seem to imply that we should not burden ourselves with the fights of other tribes. Look to your neighbor and to family first, she says."

"Speeches? Really?" Talos smirked.

"Every other Sunday," the elf shrugged. "Just after drills."

"... Drills?"

Faranya chuckled. "Drills. Every other Sunday she has the entirety of Cindervale take up arms and train for war. Not for long, mind you. Only for the morning."

"Smart. Damn, that's actually really smart," Talos pondered. "I can't believe how much she's grown. The elf I lost in the summer was... barely more than a dreamer, really. Hard to believe how far she's come."

"You really love her, don't you Talos?"

He smirked. "Mm. Yeah. Jealous?"

Faranya pursed her lips. "A little. Not specifically of you - you disgust me. If you had come to me with another lover, I would have simply banished you for eternity," she adamantly declared. "However, I do wish I had my own strong and handsome human. Sometimes. Or an elf. I am sure there is an age where you cannot be too choosy, and I fear I may have passed it."

If only she knew how wrong that statement is, Talos thought.

"Look, Faranya, you have two-hundred years yet to produce offspring. Heck, some Emperors have historically even adopted sons, ones that they've groomed to rule in their stead when the time comes. And if all else fails, succession can still fall to another branch of your tree."

"But why me, Talos? Why do you care?" she seriously asked.

"Because you're wise, Faranya. But your brothers, or whoever's in charge of the Remillans now, are marching to war. A war they cannot win, yet a thousand thousand souls will die figuring that out unless you do something about it."

"And that war, Talos, is what all Remillans have dreamt of for three-hundred years. For you to say I could convince them otherwise-"

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Talos growled. "Fuck, that's why we don't let peasants choose their own kings, Faranya. They don't know what they want. They need someone to guide them onto the right path and save them from themselves. There won't be a Tor Remilla otherwise."

Faranya rolled onto her back, pouting. "You just do not understand our ways, Talos."

"I understand them well enough to know you're wrong. And if you do nothing, the guilt of those thousand thousand lost souls will be on your hands. And, trust me on this, that will ruin you."

"I am already ruined," she quavered, holding back her tears. "I, a granddaughter of the High King of all Elvendom, am considering advice from a human."

Talos looked on her for another second before rolling onto his back, grinning.

"Yeah, that's actually pretty funny," he chortled. "The world works in mysterious ways, huh?" Faranya gave him an exasperated sigh, and the two of them only stared up at the leaves for a while.

"How do I do it, Talos? How do I get them to follow me?" she softly asked just two minutes later.

"Love," he answered. "Of the true kind on their part. Yours can be faked, so long as it's convincing."

"Confessing now, are we?" the elf teased through her sniffling.

"Nah. But when I ran my mercenary company, I had to pretend I cared about the common man. Now, men are easy, and those who joined up were simple to understand. I purchased them whores, I ensured their pay was generous, and I kept to the road as often as I could. Lust, greed, adventure; all a mercenary desires in the end."

"I fail to see the comparison," Faranya softly replied, surreptitiously sliding a hand towards Talos to stroke his long, wavy locks.

"What I'm getting at is that you have to give them what they want, Faranya. And if what they want is total war, then you need to change their desire. My advice? Give them spectacle instead. A caravan of rainbow pavilions, an endless flight of doves, nights of poetry, song, dance, every splendor you can imagine. Beauty. Be so beautiful that they daren't turn elsewhere. Casiama has the right idea I think, although she did it accidentally. But you, Faranya, can do it one better."

"How is that?"

"You're intelligent. You're calm. You're logical. And, don't tell Cass this, but you're naturally more regal than her. Just think through your actions on the day-to-day, and you'll do fine. Be visible, but unobtainable. Magnificent, but relatable."

"Hmm... I like it, Talos. I will let all my subjects ogle my breasts, but none may touch them," Faranya jested.

Talos chuckled. "Hells, just limit yourself to donning only jewelry."

"Now now, I think a High Queen would require some level of modesty."

"Says the elf who wore nothing but panties when I first met her."

"Says the man who was hard as stone when he gazed upon me."

"Pretty sure that was morning wood."

"And I'm pretty sure 'morning wood' wanes when one's in danger," Faranya retorted. Talos' cock was now straining against his pants, so he decided it best to end their exchange here.

"Yeah, well... I don't like where this is going, Faranya," Talos groaned as he lifted himself to his feet. "Let's stick a fork in this conversation, yeah?"

Faranya gave him a quizzical look. Talos rolled his eyes as he helped her up.

"Gods. You elves made such a practical language, then you never had any fun with it," he smirked.

"And you humans defiled it with forks, goose chases, and broken legs," Faranya sneered in jest. "Walk me home, Talos. It is the least you can do in recompense."

Talos bent over to retrieve his cloak from the grass, then casually arched his elbow for the princess. Faranya daintily slipped her hand onto his bicep, and couldn't help but giggle when she saw that childish grin on his face.

"Just think it over, okay?" Talos chuckled. "You're not alone in this, Faranya. I'm here to assist you in any way I can. I'll even set out with you, if you wish for it."

Talos walked the blonde princess home in no particular rush, meandering through the trees and under the colorful canopy of the Vale. They talked of little else on their way back, mostly just enjoying the sights and the pleasant chirping of birds. When they arrived, Faranya twirled towards him and embraced him tightly.

"My gratitude for the conversation and flattery, Talos. I may not look it, but I really am quite pleased. You have given me much to ponder," she half-smiled, holding him at arm's length. "Did you speak true with your offer to join me on the road? Or was it mere kindness?"

"Let's call it both. I'd happily spend many a week in the cold to see this through, Faranya."

Faranya took a deep breath, gazing over Talos' shoulder as if she were lost in thought.

"Okay," she exhaled. "I will do it."

Talos' eyes lit up. "Huh? Really?"

"Yes. If you swear to set out with me, I will do it. I believe your presence would... inspire me. We must not go directly to my peoples, however. I will require items of legitimacy before I show myself. The tombs of my forefathers, nestled deep within the human Empire, would hold such things. We would need to travel there first."

"Tomorrow, then," Talos said. "Come to the palace and formally request leave in the morning. Cass will grant it. I'll talk to her tonight, and we'll make use of a teleporter to hasten the journey."

Faranya tried her best to smile. "Very well. On the 'morrow, human." Talos hugged her again in gratitude, then let the elf retreat into her cottage.

He'd done it. There was a chance to avert this great war, after all. He sighed contentedly, then took a short stroll away from Faranya's house and leaned against a tree.

"Alright. You can come out now," he gruffly hollered to his shadow. Someone had been following him for more than a half-hour now, that much was clear, but as he investigated the forest around him he couldn't find a trace of-

"Hey."

Tanya disabled her enchantment and walked out from behind a tree, only ten yards before Talos. She swayed towards him when their gazes met.

Talos threw up his arms. "Seriously? Again?"

"I'm allowed to spy. I'm your sorceress, Talos. And your betrothed," she asserted with a pout, leaning in to plant a kiss on his cheek. Talos couldn't resist her, or her face.

"Sure, fine, but you could've just joined us," he complained anyway.

"She appeared receptive enough to your solitary advances," Tanya shrugged. "She fancies you, you know."

"Yeah," Talos sighed. "But I need her. Lots of people need her. She's agreed to my plan, praise the fucking gods, though it sounds like I'll have to be her minder. Anyway, there's something I want of you."

"Anything," she smiled.

"I want you to come with us."

Tanya's smile instantly waned. "Anything... but that. Cass has already invited me to a function for the 'morrows eve. It would be foolish to cancel now."

Talos displayed just a hint of disappointment. "Alright. Then I want you to look into those moon towers again while I'm gone, Tanya. I need to know what they do. Only us and Alanna know that we disrupted its true intentions."

Tanya nodded. "As you say, but... you do recall that I've exhausted all available literary sources on the matter, right? I'd need to visit another tower to learn more."

"Then find us one that wouldn't be crawling with soldiers, I guess. Something outside the Empire."

"Yessir," she murmured, puckering her pouty lips. Talos sighed.

"Thanks. And uh, what do you think my chances are of clearing my name with the Inquisition? Seeking shelter with elves can't be doing me any favors."

"Or marrying one, for that matter," she added. "Personally, I'd advise that you just keep your head down for now. The Inquisition simply doesn't have the womanpower to pursue you indefinitely; eventually they'll have to move on," she reasoned. "Why, there has to be more pressing concerns than a vagabond noble and a love-struck sorceress."

"You'd think so, anyway," Talos chuckled.

"And, who knows," she continued out-of-breath, "perhaps they'll be more open to reconciliation once you've helped avert the great war. A thousand thousand souls has to count for something."

Talos nodded in agreement; Faranya was the key to everything, just as he'd thought on his lonesome.

Tanya smiled at him in the ensuing silence, and soon started to bounce on her heels. As disconcerting the news was of Talos' departure, she'd originally wanted to find him to speak of something other than work. She blurted out, "um, Talos, may I show you something?" while offering him an open hand.

Talos adored the excited look on her face, and Tanya knew there wasn't a task in the world that he wouldn't do to sate her. He clenched his eyes shut and clasped her hand, feeling the flames of time consume them before snapping them back into existence in an instant.

They reopened their eyes to find themselves standing on a bare, grassy hill, deep within the Vale. The bay and the town of Cindervale were about two or three miles away, the sun glinting off the calm waters there. Talos looked around, finding no trace of civilization here, but still many a tree and clear streams to be had nearby.

"Where's this?" he asked her.

"This is where I'll build my tower. Right here," Tanya beamed, still bouncing on her feet. "It's perfect. A gorgeous view of the town, far enough off to where none will bother me but still close enough for a stroll, annnd..." she took his hand, spinning him around and pointing at a nearby mountain, "look! Eagles, Talos! Aren't they just majestic?" she whispered so happily. "They seem to hunt just outside the Vale, but they make their nests here."

"They are," he smiled, squeezing her hand as he looked on the birds soaring far overhead. "They'll also think Dusk is lunch."

"Yes, but he's an indoor kitty at heart," she softly replied. "Well, what do you think?"

"It's nice. But I don't understand the whole need for a tower, honey. What's wrong with Cass' place?"

"It's a Redstoner thing - you wouldn't understand," she giggled, shaking her head. "I suppose you can sort of think of it like men comparing the size of their tools."

"You know we uh, don't actually do that, right?" Talos asked, causing her to shrug. "Right. I take it you'll want me to convince Cass?"

"I don't need her help, just her permission," she declared, her voice trembling with unbridled enthusiasm. "Why, it's been an endless dream of mine to construct my own great tower... one far superior to the ones in Redstone. My tower will be tall, sleek, and marvelous, with buttresses and balconies and big panes of glass!"

Talos chuckled, wrapping his arms around her back. Tanya waved a hand towards the sky. "Just imagine it, Talos," she whispered with glee. "Seven stories tall... a sturdy testament to my sorcery. I would be so blissful."

Talos kissed her neck, but he wasn't completely on board with the idea. He appreciated every night he had with Tanya, but for her to sleep miles away...

"B-but it wouldn't be for sleeping!" she stammered out of the blue. "It's just to hold my experiments, my books, and be a quiet, restful place that I can get away to! I-I'd never want to sleep away from you, Talos. I love you more than life itself."

"Oh... 'kay. I'll convince her. Tonight," he promised, squeezing her in a tight embrace. Tanya then pressed her ass against his crotch, slowly massaging his hard-on between her cheeks.

"Well, you're quite stirred. Faranya's doing?" she teased.

"Yours," he coughed. "Anyway, uh, let's head back to the palace," he guiltily replied, noticing Tanya raising her hand. "I mean walk! Let's walk back, honey."

-=-=-

They returned to Casiama's palace by following the main river of the Vale, so-far-yet unnamed. The sun was nearly setting by the time they'd arrived, and the Queen was nowhere to be found. This wasn't particularly unusual; Casiama had been somewhat dismayed of late by the lack of progress made by her architects in constructing the town's sewer system, so she was likely there, 'inspiring' them to do better.

That didn't mean the palace was empty, of course. Tanya felt Alanna's presence as soon as she passed through the palace ward; she felt her actions, her thoughts, her emotions, her everything, and she was so close, and so outrageously distracting. And there were elves, too, a handful of handmaidens that hadn't accompanied their Queen.

It seemed each and every one of the maids just had to speak with Talos, no matter the cost. Their forays consisted of discussing the unchanging weather, or of their latest spar with him, or of the babe Talos, or of the most minute details about Casiama that shouldn't have mattered at all! Soon there was a gaggle of handmaidens around him and Tanya, all eagerly vying for his attention.

But Tanya couldn't wait around for this! An intense warmth had been building in her tummy ever since she entered the palace, and she knew intrinsically its source. She wanted to tell Talos she would be upstairs, but wondered if she could utter those words without moaning.

It wasn't worth the risk. She squeezed Talos' hand and gave him an anxious smile, then bounced away before he could ask her a thing. She bounded up the spiral staircase, her sober thoughts fading away upon every step she took, then turned down the second-floor hall with heart a pounding, spying the closed door to the master bed at the opposite end. She skipped past the rooms to her left and right, nodding to a handmaiden when she greeted her - Cythonia, her name was - and twisted the doorknob to the master bedroom.

Tanya burst into the room with a heaving chest, slamming the door behind her.

"Ohh, fuck!" she thinly cried, slumping against the door as an intense orgasm suddenly overwhelmed her. She panted for breath, tried to regain her senses, then glared at the lone girl atop the bed.