Banished Pt. 18

I shook my head.

"Lead the way," I said.

We gathered up the rest of the stones then headed up the corridors to the main stairwell, but as we got to the second floor and approached Astrid's room, she shot me an uncomfortable look.

"Are you certain this will be to your pleasing?" she asked, and for a second, I began to wonder if she was trying to keep me out of her room.

"It should be fine," I replied, eyeing her as she opened the door a bit nervously, and as we entered the room, I took a quick look around.

To my surprise, however, the room seemed rather plain, with not much to differentiate it from the other rooms where we stayed, but as I moved towards her bed, I noted again that she seemed a little uncomfortable.

"Herr Nathan; unless it displeases you, might we perform this ritual on the floor?" she asked.

She retrieved a padded cushion from one of those sofa-type chairs that were off to the side of her room, and I rubbed the back of my head as I considered the request.

"Sure, but you know... I'm not gonna jump you as soon as we sit on the bed, right?" I teased, and Astrid shook her head.

"Of course, Nathan," she replied, and I shrugged, retrieving the little core as I did, and as I examined it, I wondered again at the darkness which emanated from within.

"Is there anything I need to know before going in?" I asked, and she shook her head.

"I will touch your mind, so that your desires are felt."

I nodded, and as Astrid moved to sit in front of me, placing a hand against my chest, I noted a small flicker in her eyes, and a subtle shaking in her hand.

Was she afraid?

I studied her carefully.

"This isn't dangerous for you, is it?" I asked, and she shook her head.

"No. The task is merely to shake you from your trance-state," she replied, but I quickly noted that her skin was slightly flushed, and her breathing was just a slight bit irregular.

"Astrid... are you afraid of me?" I asked, and she stared at me for a second, before quickly shaking her head.

"Nathan, this is- I mean, I just..."

She was flustered, and I quickly placed my hand over hers.

"Hey, relax. I'm not gonna do anything, I promise," I offered, and she shook her head, taking a deep breath.

"I am at fault, Nathan. I tested your divinity, and questioned the resolve of the one who advises a future queen; but the desires you awoke in me were so powerful. I felt myself succumbing to them, and the loss of control was... exciting, but also terrifying. I fear that feeling... I fear myself," she admitted.

"Come over here for a second," I said, and she studied me, a searching look in her eye.

She seemed hesitant, so I offered her a reassuring smile.

"You don't have to lose control," I explained, and as she studied me, I tugged gently on her hand, guiding her to me.

She studied the hand, eventually moving at my direction, and creeping timidly towards me on her knees until she had nowhere to sit but in my lap, and as she eventually obliged, her discomfort quite apparent, I placed a hand on her hip, from around her back, and taking my free hand, I brought her face to mine.

She was looking into my eyes, a slightly fearful look there, and as I leaned in to kiss her, she shuddered a little, and her skin did that curious fluttery thing, changing hue in wave-like ripples all across her body.

"I'm not going to bend you to my will," I said as we broke the kiss, and she looked into my eyes.

"Yet even so, I bend, Nathan."

"Then I will be your support," I offered, and she stared into my eyes.

"You will?" she asked, and I nodded.

I kissed her again; soft, gentle, just barely brushing our lips together in tender smacks, and as her lips parted, she sighed into me, her hands reaching for my face.

She tried to press into me a bit, but I broke the kiss and tutted at her.

"Easy," I said, and she took a deep breath, nodding.

We kissed again, and this time, I noted there was something inside of me that seemed to be reaching out to her.

Like, the activation of a skill, which in turn extended threads out to her, and as I kissed her, I noted that her breathing seemed to be evening out, and her body itself relaxing in my arms.

We kissed for maybe five minutes before I broke away from her, and she shot me a slightly dissatisfied look.

"This custom... what is it?" she asked, and I chuckled a little.

"Another practice of the gods, I guess?" I offered, and she shook her head.

"And what is the purpose?" she asked, and I gave it some thought.

"It's a bit difficult to put into words," I replied. "When you feel an affection for someone; or a desire to be close to them. This is a way of expressing it; physically, I mean."

She bit her lip, studying me carefully.

"Then, this is not meant to prepare for the seeding? Or the transcendent pleasure of the sex?"

I shook my head.

"Nope. I mean, don't get me wrong, it certainly can do that. But it doesn't always have to lead to that."

Astrid studied me for a bit, an uncertain look on her face.

"Then... for what purpose did you engage me as such?"

I rested a hand against her cheek, and smiled a little.

"I know I was a little rough on you earlier... with the princess. I just didn't want you to think that that was how I really felt about you. I like you. And I want you to feel comfortable with me. Especially when we're alone. Like this."

She bit her lip a little studying me.

"I know this to be your act, Nathan, but... even so, I find it comforting," she said.

"Does that bother you?" I asked, and she shook her head.

"No. But, maybe... a kind heart is not required for one be a kind person."

At my direction, Astrid eased herself off of me, but as I returned my attention to Jacinda's core, I noted that her gaze seemed to be flickering occasionally to my lips.

"Are you ready?" I asked, and she nodded, reaching tentatively for my chest, but I noted this time as she rested her palm against me, the touch was much more relaxed and steadier.

I shot her a quick smile before turning my attention to the core and focusing on it, but no sooner had I delved into the consciousness therein than an overwhelming presence engulfed me.

"I was wondering when you would be back, my little one," Jacinda said. "And it seems your princess came along this time to watch over you; though, I do not recall her presence being so meek..."

"Princess?"

Fuck, I didn't mean to ask that... but inside of here, words seemed to have a way of just spilling out.

"Yes. She is touched by my presence. The princesses are the only ones with this blessing," she reasoned. "Unless you have subjugated a matron for your own purposes? Unlikely, though. Such a thing, I imagine, is beyond your capabilities."

"This blessing you speak of... is it the ability to peer into the future?"

Jacinda laughed.

"No... even you have glimpsed the future, haven't you? What I have given the princesses is something beyond even that," she said, and while I felt the urge to press her, the playfulness in her tone told me that she would reveal no more.

But it did make me wonder now about Astrid and her past...

I shook off the diversion, returning to the matter of the artifact.

"I found an artifact of yours," I began, and Jacinda made a thoughtful sound.

"Hnn? Ahh, I see. The circle..."

"The circle?"

"Jasper's favorite toy... he did like having his servants," she mused.

"Servants...?" I asked.

Maybe the thing was more insidious than I thought; but laughter echoed to me.

"No, no, my dear. It is not the tool of enslavement. Though your reaction amuses me. Are you not already one who enslaves beings to your will?"

"The pledges? They were kind of necessary," I explained, and she laughed.

A hearty laugh that seemed to chill something deep inside of me.

"Oh? You and I both know that you bend them to your will with far more than mere allegiance. You bend their very souls to you, do you not?"

"I don't," I replied, a little defensively.

"Really? Tell me then; how many of them would risk life and limb to protect you from harm?"

"If they would, then they would do so of their own choosing," I reasoned, and she laughed again.

"Yes, such is the beauty of it... now that I look at you, you might be more suited to domination than even he. Were I a lesser woman, perhaps I'd even fall for you?" she teased.

"The artifact. Will you tell me about it?" I probed, and I felt her presence swirling around me.

"Maybe~," she sang, "but what are you offering me in return?"

I thought about it for a while.

"What can I even offer you?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"How about that girl? She was touched by my energy; she could mantle me easily. All you need to do is force my core down her pretty little throat, and I'll do the rest."

I sighed.

Maybe I could find the information on my own?

I tried really hard to concentrate on the artifact, and conjure up its image in my mind as I dove into the sea of energy that were her memories, until to my surprise, I actually came upon something useful.

There was a man; Hans, or whatever his name really was, and he was holding the coin in his hand while twelve Kobalt stood before him, every one of them clad in armor.

He took one of the stones, then touching it to the coin; a light pulsed out of the stone, and the first Kobalt bowed deeply as Hans bestowed the object to him.

The ceremony had all of the airs of a warrior being knighted by a king, and as I peered into the stone, I noted that the energy seemed to align with that of the Kobalt that received it, and I studied the interaction with some interest.

"Brave knights, he thought them to be, but fools they were; every last one. Not a single bloodline endured," Jacinda bemoaned. "Do you think your chosen will do any better?"

I thought about it for a bit.

"Maybe; most of my chosen might be others like me," I said, and she made that thoughtful 'hm' sound again.

"Others like you, huh? Jasper tried this as well, but they made for more miserable failures than even my kind. Never mind that, though; I will instruct you nonetheless."

"Really? Why?"

"Because... watching young mortals like yourself trying to succeed where Gods have failed is always so... interesting," she admitted. "And I sense that even if you fail, my little one... it will be a spectacular sight to behold."

The sentiment made me feel somewhat uneasy, but I wasn't about to turn down her offer.

"Watch closely," she instructed. "The artifact and the stones are irrelevant in their own right; what matters is the bond between the one who bestows the power, and the one who uses it."

I watched as Hans took a stone into his hand, and as it touched to the coin, something from inside of him poured into the stone, and an engraving slowly formed on the surface.

He uttered something as he bestowed the stone onto the Kobalt warrior, and as the energy flowed from the Kobalt into the thing, it seemed to come to life, as a thing with a core of its own.

"An aspect; given name by you, and put into practice by the one to whom it is gifted. It takes form as what your kind refers to as a 'skill'."

"I see. Then are there skills in all of the current stones?" I asked, and the energy that swirled around me seemed to indicate a negative response.

"The energy between the user and the stone is linked to them on a fundamental level. Not even another with a compatible energy pattern may use the stone belonging to another."

"Then, what happens to the energy inside of the stone, and the skill which manifested, if the one who carried it perishes?" I asked, and she chuckled a little.

"Those things would remain locked into the stone, only to dissipate when the stone is again bestowed upon a new subject. There is, however, one exception; the offspring or descendent of one who carried a stone may again wield the skill, and access the energy contained within, provided that they carry on the tradition of the aspect tied to the stone."

I thought about it for a bit.

"So, the stones currently possess such skills?" I asked, and this time, the energy indicated an affirmative response.

"More powerful energies than you might imagine; but sadly, for naught, as no descendants of any previous bearers exist in this world."

I rubbed my chin as I considered the possibilities.

I mean, just the tracking ability alone was worth using these things in my mind.

But having them develop skills as well that could be passed on for generations?

This was a fantastic boon.

"Are these the only stones existing, or are there others which have been lost?" I asked, and Jacinda chuckled again.

"The stones can be easily replaced; the technique used to create them is one which you will master in no time at all, little king. It is suitable bearers that you will perhaps find a bit more difficulty to acquire."

I took one more look at the process used to bestow the stones onto bearers, before retreating from Jacinda's core and back into my own mind.

As I left, however, I felt a strange sensation tugging at me, and emanating from her core... but it was an unfamiliar feeling, and with no visual cues to help me, I couldn't quite discern what it was.

Astrid let out a long sigh of relief as I came to, and I noted with interest that her brow was wrinkled with concern.

"Has your endeavor been met with success, Nathan?"

I nodded.

"Were you worried?" I asked, and she shifted uncomfortably on the floor.

"Her presence chills me in a mysterious way," she admitted, and I nodded.

As I studied her, however, I recalled her assertion that Astrid had been touched by her presence before.

"Jacinda seems to think that you're a princess," I said, and Astrid stared at me, her surprise quite evident in her expression.

"A princess? Why would she think that?" Astrid asked, and I shrugged.

"I'm not sure, but she seems pretty certain. I mean, didn't your father also say that your skill was one of the skills that the princesses are known to possess?" I asked, and Astrid bit her lip as she considered the question.

"There are others who manifest these skills, Nathan. It is unusual, perhaps, but not uncommon. The existence of multiple princesses however would be an anomaly. Such a thing is unknown to my people."

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.

"Do you know if the matron ever came to you as a child?" I asked, and she shook her head.

"There was no selection during the seasons of my conception," she replied, and I studied her.

"And what about your mother? Do you think she had something to do with it?" I asked, and Astrid shrugged.

"My mother passed as my seed burst forth with life," she answered. "She was a distinguished Kobalt, and former councilor of Grenze, but nothing else of note."

I nodded thoughtfully, though something inside of me told me that I should press the matter further.

I made a mental note to bring it up with Gisela at a more suitable time.

As I retrieved the stones, I headed for Astrid's bed, and again, she stopped me.

"If it pleases you, Nathan, might we instead seat upon thedivan?"

I rubbed the back of my head, studying Astrid with an amused expression.

This woman was trying her hardest to keep me off of her bed; now I was certain of it.

Yet I could not understand for the life of me, why.

Was she still fearful of me?

Or of the temptation to use the bed, perhaps?

It was strange, but I quickly shook away the thought as I began to focus on the stones which we'd brought along with us from the basement chamber.

Twelve stones, huh?

Most likely I'd have to give one to everyone who would be coming along on the rescue mission, though that list itself wasn't finalized as far as I could tell.

I mean, even if Leanna were combat ready by then, I wasn't entirely certain that her psychological state of mind was stable enough for her to handle the rigors of fighting.

As I studied the stones, however, something came to mind, and a smile crossed my lips as I began to work out how best to put the plan into action.

"Astrid?"

"Yes, Nathan. What is your desire?"

I smirked a little, before shaking myself back into focus.

"I'll need to arrange a meeting with my group. Sometime around the fall of darkness," I explained, and she nodded.

"Will the final segment of light suffice?" she asked.

"That'll work," I said. "Is it alright if I stay here?"

She took a tentative look around, eyeing the bed with a reluctant look.

"I'll stay away from the bed; I promise," I said, and she let out a sigh.

"If it pleases you, Herr Nathan."

She bowed slightly, before heading out of the room and down to the others, and as I set to work, that smile crept onto my lips again.

***

"Nate?"

Casey poked her head into Astrid's room, and I yawned a little as I stood up and stretched out some aching muscles.

"Here," I said.

"Astrid said you wanted to gather everyone together for something? They're organizing a communal meal right now," she said, and I nodded.

"That's perfect," I said. "Did you make any considerations on who's going on this rescue mission yet?"

"I have a team in mind, but I figured you'd want to have a say on it."

"Gimme the names," I said, cracking my knuckles a little.

"Francesca, Bianca, Jordan, Jeannie, Molly, Blair."

"Jeannie and Molly, huh? They haven't developed superpowers by any chance since I was out, have they?"

Casey shook her head.

"They're much more solid now, though. I think their participation in that last battle really gave them some much needed experience."

"I see," I replied. "I want Lucia as well, though."

Casey raised an eyebrow at this.

"You're probably gonna have to kill humans on this mission. Otherworlders? Do you really want a child, much less a Kobalt child, possibly doing that?"

I shook my head.

"There's a lot of things happening here that I don't want. But taking her improves our chances of success."

Casey bit her lip, then nodded.

"What about hunters?" she asked, and I shook my head.

"They'd slow us down, and probably just die."

"Astrid, then?" Casey asked. "I want you to have a proper navigator. Francesca gave me the bumbling in the woods rundown of how your scouting mission went, and we can't have something like that happening here."

"If I have to take someone, Astrid is preferable, but only if she volunteers," I said, and Casey nodded.

Her eyes flicked to the stones, and as she noticed the newly formed patterns on them, she moved closer, taking one up for inspection.

"You figured out what they do?" she asked, and I nodded.

"With help," I said, gesturing to the core, and she frowned.

"Well... I hope she didn't trick you."

A definite possibility, I thought.

Although my own examination of the stones didn't really pick up anything particularly insidious at play.

"So, that's what this gathering is for? To hand them out?" she asked, and I nodded.

"Yup. Now we just need to name it something cool. I know I've thrown around the idea of a king's guard before; what do you think?"

"-that referring to you as my 'king' is going to cause me serious psychological turmoil," she answered, and I smirked a little.

"Well, if you just accept my offer to be my queen, that wouldn't be a problem."

She scoffed.

"Can't fool me. You're going out there to rescue your queen," she replied, and I rubbed the back of my head as I chuckled nervously.

Can't argue with that.

"What's wrong with 'King's guard'?" she asked, and I frowned.

"It's so basic... and white. I want something... cool," I said, which prompted Casey to roll her eyes.