B4 – Chapter 20: Preparing to return

Felicity practically skipped in her step. “You know marriage hasn’t actually been a thing between fairy dragons and Elves . . . but it could be if you wanted.”

Tristan blushed and suppressed a wide grin. “I don’t want to break tradition, but I’m yours wholly and no one else’s.”

Felicity made a happy squee noise and gripped his arm tightly. “Good.”

The duo spent the rest of the day indulging in each other in Tristan’s chambers. Experiencing the delights they brought to one another, their passionate sounds doubtless audible through the thick, wooden door that split his quarters off from the rest of the underground complex. Tristan lost himself in the joys of Felicity’s presence and love, and he made sure to give her everything he possibly could. Their souls practically sang together in harmony at their exultation of the most intimate act.

Hours passed in rapturous bliss, and Tristan lay back in bed, an exhausted Felicity snuggled up on his chest. Tristan reverse-spun his crucible to rejuvenate himself, not wanting to sleep that night, and a familiar voice echoed in his head.

That was quite a performance, Zeltana said in his mind.

Tristan grimaced. I forgot she was watching everything going on in the Fey Realm. Well, I’m not going to change my behavior because of a voyeur.

It has been a while since we’ve talked like this. I listened to your Court meeting. She laughed, You are a devious one. Faking another Winterbloom to marry off? One who would be able to take over the empire once the empress dies? And even better, they cannot produce offspring. Genius plan.

Tristan whispered, “I would anticipate that the empress would take other partners once her marriage did not bear fruit. That means there would be other claimants to the throne. But, if their . . . adopted father, shall we say, in the form of this volunteer fairy dragon were to be their advisor – who would turn down a knowledgeable and long-lived guide to their rule?” He sighed and pushed himself back into the soft mattress and pillows. Staring at the ceiling, he continued to ruminate. “I still need to actually go to the empress, make the introductions – Obadai can help with that – and possibly even help the empire take over swathes of the Mortal Realm. There is a lot of legwork to be done, but only after the Demon Realm situation is dealt with.”

I have been looking through your memories, Zeltana advised. Two more Demon Houses to visit, to ally to the cause, and then the actual stoking of the uprising against the Demon King. What is the game plan?

“You’ve seen my thoughts.”

Yes, and I know that you haven’t thought the whole situation through. You are going to be preparing an uprising, sure, and the Demon Houses you align will assist – but what about the strike force from the Fey Realm? You have not given real though to the tactics you will employ.

“That’s Krik’s domain to deal with.”

Zeltana groaned. If you are going to war-

“We aren’t,” Tristan thought back with anger. “This is just a focused strike, nothing more.”

That is what it will be, sure, but how will the residents of the Demon Realm respond to a foreign military invading the heart of their capital and toppling their king? Even if you pull back immediately, there will be a lingering fear that they need to prepare for future assault. They will militarize, regardless of who takes the mantle of Realm Protector.

“What is your suggestion, then?”

Zeltana’s satisfaction dripped through her words like honey out of a jar. You will need to be very precise. A tiny force that will accompany you. It must be quick, like a bolt of lightning. In and out, with no collateral damage, or flashy displays of power. It must be as if the Demon King was assassinated by someone within the realm.

“That’s simple enough. Krik won’t like it, though. He wanted me to have an escort force when we go to topple Duberceix.”

You’re the Fey Lord. Do what you see fit. They’ll listen.

“Fair.”

Also, you should really consider using fairy dragons as assassins. Their shapeshifting capabilities and invisibility would make them incredible assets.

Tristan saw the wisdom in those words. “One problem. They don’t have the requisite language knowledge.”

Ah. True. And they are not fans of study. You could make them fluent in languages you are fluent in with a simple change to the Realm, though.

Tristan grinned, and both-direction spun his crucible, connecting his essence to the Fey Realm. He put a hand up above him, holding it against the root wall behind him. Surging the essence flowing through him into the roots, he willed it to spread across the whole of the Fey Realm. “I command the fabric of the Fey Realm to change. All who live here, who reside here, who are born here, or who originated from this place, will be able to read, speak, and understand all languages that I, the Fey Lord, know.”

There was a pulse through the roots, and Tristan saw the silver essence burst out from him as the magical power churned through him, constantly refilled by the ambient essence of the Realm. Felicity shot up in bed and looked at Tristan, “What did you do?”

Tristan spoke in Dragon’s Tongue. “You can speak any language I can now. You’re welcome.”

Felicity gasped, then let off a profound litany of curses in Demon’s Tongue and then Dragon’s Tongue. The level of vulgarity caught Tristan off-guard, and when she ended he was flabbergasted at just how raunchily she could insult someone now. She clapped her hands, “This is amazing!”

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Tristan chuckled and brushed a strand of hair behind her small, shrunk-down antlers. “The only downside is that we can’t talk about Bertram, Gisele, Grandfather, or the permanent residents in Elvish without them being any the wiser.”

Felicity pouted for a half second, but then that vanished as she giggled, “I need to go and see what type of creative hijinks we can get up to now!” She transformed to her fairy dragon shape and flew to the door, ripping it open and zipping out with many insults thrown at some other fairy dragon in the hallway outside.

Tristan chuckled and leaned back with a sigh, “Done.”

That will help. Now you can task Thallia with preparing some fairy dragon spies in the Demon Realm and every Elemental Realm. Build up that intelligence network. And if you really wanted to, they could eventually take out local rulers and occupy their place.

“No,” Tristan replied feeling a righteous indignation rise up in his chest that brought a flush to his cheeks. “I’m not going to allow for that. Intelligence gathering, yes. But not assassination and usurpation through guile. My mother would not approve.”

Ah. . . well . . . fine then.

“Is that all you wished to discuss?”