"Milady." Aerell extended her arms and dropped into a deep curtsey. I'd never seen or heard her be deferent before. It took me aback.

When I didn't do anything, Aerell grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a bow.

"Rise. Both of you." The noblewoman sounded impatient.

After standing upright again, I looked Elise over. She looked different from how I remembered her. When I'd first met her, she'd seemed mousy and plain, but now she radiated confidence and, while I didn't think anyone would ever call her gorgeous, she had a powerful, feminine beauty about her. Her long blonde hair was arranged in an elaborate style that framed her thin face perfectly, and her dress was made of a deep blue silk that accented her hazel eyes. She was still small and delicate, still reminded me of a mouse in some ways, but that mouse had grown into something new. And, by the look in her eye, I was a tasty-looking bit of cheese.

"Are you quite done assessing me, Templar?" Elise's voice had a hard edge to it. The guards had withdrawn after leading us into the room. Well, all of them except for the guard captain. That woman's armor creaked in response to Elise's tone.

"I don't mean to stare. I just haven't seen you in some time. I'd forgotten the details." I gave her my best smile, but she didn't budge.

"Amira, take the handler away from here. I have no need of her, and I can tell that she sours this man's mood terribly."

The guard captain stepped forward, and I realized she was Amira. "Gladly." The armored woman took several steps toward us.

Aerell held out her hands to stop her. "As you well know, I control him. Remove me, and I cannot guarantee your safety."

For the first time, Elise cracked a smile. "Do you think that my most loyal servant, a woman who fell into my service directly through your actions, would be incapable of handling him? I've seen him fight. While our first meeting entertained me, and he is somewhat impressive, he is no great power. Amira would end him in an instant." She pointed to the far side of the room, where a person in thick mage's robes, a woman by the shape, stood, hood drawn and head down. "Also, I have my own court mage. I have no need of your powers."

I looked at Amira. Underneath her helmet, the woman had a strong jaw and sharp brown eyes. Her cheekbones were high and prominent, her nose broad, and her skin dark as night. Most striking of all, however, were the white tattoos running along the sides of her face in intricate, swirling patterns. I hadn't seen tattoos like that before.

Aerell shook her head. "I remember, milady. I've always treasured the times our paths have crossed."

"Do not flatter me, Aerell. Remove yourself, or be removed."

After all the time I'd spent fucking with the woman, I knew her tells. While her face remained impassive, the veins in her forehead were bulging, and she was practically vibrating with anger. "With all due respect, I simply don't understand the current distance between us. I was under the impression our relationship was strong, considering our past."

The small noblewoman leaned forward in her chair. "Do not pretend to be unaware of what's occurred, woman. I know your organization was involved."

That set Aerell back. Whatever it was, she wasn't aware. Her face told me everything. I'd never seen her crack like that before. "I... I don't understand."

Elise frowned, then flicked her wrist. A small pulse of energy rippled outward from the small woman's hand and into Aerell. "Tell me what you do understand, Aerell."

My handler strained against whatever skill Elise had used. First, her face grew red. Then, she sputtered. Finally, her lips began to twist, and a soft gurgle escaped her lips.

"You've grown stronger, Aerell. You should be proud. Not many have resisted my will." A glimmer of pleasure flickered behind Elise's eyes. With another flick of her wrist, Aerell was pushed back a step.

How was she doing that? It was like what Aerell did, but there were no black tendrils, and she didn't need the collar. It was crazy.

"I heard..." It was like the words were being pulled from her lips one by one. "... I heard... your uncle... gained... the disfavor... of the court. That..." She choked and began shaking. Clearly, she was trying to resist the magic. "... Your father..."

"My father, what, Aerell?" Elise's tone was sharper than any sword I'd faced. One wrong word, and Aerell was dead.

"Your father... asked us... to help secure Highcliff... after... your uncle..."

"Go on..." Elise's teeth glinted in the scattered light of the room. She was straining, and beads of sweat appeared on her brow.

"He... He had... us..."

"Who was your uncle?" I hadn't meant to say it, but the moment was so tense, I couldn't help myself.

Elise's predatory look turned on me. For a brief moment, I thought I was dead, too. Then, the look vanished, replaced with a soft, impassive mask. The pressure vanished, and Aerell fell to her knees, gasping. "Do you not know who I am?"

"Not at all."

"My uncle, one of the three Dukes of Istaera, fell ill last year. He lingered on for many months. We thought he might recover, but he did not. As he grew sicker, he leaned on his brother, my father, who graciously took on his elder brother's role in the court. Unfortunately, despite the best magics and alchemy known to this world, my uncle, the Lord of Broken Banners, the Duke of Calvareth, drifted into the Goddess's light. That was one month ago."

Ennel was a duke's son? And Elise was a duchess? Or something? What were the children of dukes called?

Elise's eyes trailed back to Aerell. "That being said, Aerell. What else do you know?" There was another wave of force, and Aerell started shaking on the ground next to me. "Specifically, how did the Crimson Kingdom orchestrate the murder of my beloved cousin? How did you convince so many loyal retainers to betray her? And why did you people do such a thing after all the grace and leniency my family has shown you?"

Aerell gasped. "We would never act against your father's wishes!"

Elise scoffed. "Are you implying that my father wished for this? For her death?!" Elise lifted her hand, holding it like a claw. As she squeezed, Aerell began choking.

"N-no!"

"Your grace." Amira stepped between Aerell and Elise. "That's enough."

Elise's face twisted. "It's enough when I say it's enough."

"Then say it's enough." Amira stood tall against the noblewoman.

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Elise glared. "Fine." Once again, her face faded into a flat mask just as fast. She dropped her hand.

Aerell gasped and coughed next to me.

I couldn't help but enjoy what Elise was doing to the woman. I'd never been one to watch people suffer, but if anyone deserved it, it was the woman next to me.

"If I knew anything—"

"You'd keep it to yourself for use in future schemes. Trust me, I know the ways of the world. I am not so naive as I once was." Elise flicked her wrist, and Aerell was dragged to her feet by invisible hands. "Now, begone. I have business with the Iron Sentinel, and I don't wish to look at your face any longer."

Amira grabbed Aerell's arm and pulled her out of the room as if my handler were nothing more than a child. I watched as the captain practically threw her through the door like a heap of garbage.

"You are dismissed as well, Amira."

"Your grace." Without hesitating, the dark-skinned woman turned and exited the room through the same doors.

After the doors shut, Elise looked at me for a long time. I got the distinct impression that she was studying me like I was a piece of merchandise... which, I realized, was exactly what I was.

Not knowing what to say, I said the first thing that came into my head. "Hello again."

Elise sighed and deflated a little. "I'm sorry for that. Much has changed since we first met. I've been on edge lately." She ran her hands over her face. "I've learned much, but I'm still adjusting."

"I see, ma'am. How has her majesty been learning of late?" What the fuck was I doing? I had no idea how to speak to a noble.

"Excuse me?" She giggled through her fingers.

Not knowing how to continue, I decided to be up front. "Sorry. I'm not from this world. I don't have any idea how to speak to you people or what I should be doing. Do you mind if I speak simply? Or do I have to bow and milady you? Because I'll do it, but there's only one woman I enjoy saying milady to, even if it makes us both cringe."

Dropping her hands, she said, "Your honesty is refreshing. I get the sense that you're the sort who is infuriatingly direct."

"That's me."

She smiled. "I like that." With a wave of her hand, she added, "Speak to me as you would this woman you speak of. I'd like to get a taste of her experience."

I shook my head. "Sorry, can't do that."

"And why is that?"

"You're not her. But I can treat you like everyone else."

"I'm willing to take that compromise."

Nodding, I said, "I'm sorry to hear about your cousin."

"I appreciate that." A sad look crossed her face.

"Were you close?"

"Very. Aside from Ennel, she was my dearest friend in this world." Elise wrung her hands in her lap.

"That's hard. I was close with my sister, too."

"Was?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. She's in a better place." Maybe? I liked to think so.

"My cousin is with the Goddess now, as well." She looked at the floor. "I must admit, though I miss her dearly, to my eternal shame, I have another, selfish emotion tied to her loss."

"Which is?"

"I believe she would have been far better suited to this than I."

"This what?"

"Power."

I could see a small glimmer of insecurity in the otherwise regal woman. "How so?"

She sighed. "I never wanted power, and I didn't want to rule. I only wanted to spend my days with my loved ones. To marry a good man. To start a family. Unlike me, Sophia..." Elise's eyes swam. "She had the temperament for this. I'm only a pale imitation of a far greater woman who no longer lives."

"I'm sure that's not true."

"It is." She spoke simply, as if she believed her words to her core. "She was amazing. Kind. Gentle. Generous. Compassionate. I am none of those things."

I shook my head. "I'm sure you're great."

She laughed. "I'm fine."

Something didn't make sense, though. Ennel had brothers. "Why you, though?"

"What?"

"Ennel said he has three brothers. And now, I know he has a sister. But you don't seem that old. Certainly not older than Ennel. Why does the responsibility fall on you?"

"He does not have three brothers. He is one of three."

"Ah." He always irritated the shit out of me. I must not have been listening closely. "Why not them, then?"

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "My eldest brother, Maelor, is an incredible swordsman. Truly, he's second to none. Only Amira can keep up with him, and just barely. As such, I've orchestrated excursions to get them more comfortable with one another. If only they coupled, I'm certain their children would be the strongest in the land. As of yet, it hasn't happened, but still, I have hope."

"I don't understand."

"Put plainly, he's an idiot. His only use is through his muscles."

"Ah." Like me. "What about your other brother?"

"Rhael? His talent is incredible: He has a beautiful face. The speed at which he falls into bed with women, and men, is unmatched by any other in Istaera. Possibly the world."

I was getting it. "And Ennel?"

"Sweet Ennel. My twin brother. The kindest of Count Hiberna's—" She shook her head. "Excuse me. The Duke of Calvareth's children. Ennel is passionate, idealistic, and intelligent. He will be a great man one day."

"Okay? So what's his failing?"

"He's naive, and simple. Far too trusting and idealistic. He lacks the temperament for rule."

"And you have it?"

"I do." There was no hint of arrogance in her voice.

She certainly had the aura of a ruler, but... "And this is what you think you should do?"

Her eyes flicked up to meet mine. "It's what I must do."

"Our lives are ours to choose."

"Not a noble's. We do what we must."

We were in different stations in life. I couldn't know what her experience was. No use in convincing her otherwise. "So, why are you down here? What could a noblewoman and future Duchess be doing in such a shitty place as the Dregs?" And why were any nobles here at all? Why did it exist if they knew where it was?

She smiled. This time, it was cruel. "It's necessary. I'm here to mingle."

"Mingle? But there's crime here. Poverty. Corruption. If you know it's here, why not fix it?"

She laughed. "Why would I?"

That knocked me back a step. "What do you mean? Isn't that your job?"

"No. I exist to bring stability to Istaera. I can't act on behalf of every mistreated peasant. There are more important duties for me to fulfill. Sometimes, good people suffer. It's the Goddess's job to bring them relief."

"You..." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "You really believe that?"

"Yes."

"But..."

"Do you even know why we allow this place to exist?"

"No!" I shouted.

She smiled. "It keeps the commons compliant and the nobility complacent."

My experiences of the past four months flooded into my mind's eye. I felt a fire rise up in me that I'd never felt before. No one else down here had the power to change anything. Even the Pit guards and handlers, even fucking Aerell, simply existed in a system that was bigger than us. They were fucked up, but they didn't cause it. They were pieces of fucked up in a sea of shit. But this woman... Elise... she had power. She could change things. And she knew? She let it exist?

That made me angry.

Furious.

"So you're saying that you get off on seeing innocent tortured people fight to death? Oh, and you like to stand over the poor and weak as you shop for fancy bullshit no one needs! And it's a fun pastime to see orphaned children eat half-eaten candy off the ground, huh?!" I pointed to myself. "Why not skip the middlemen? Why don't you torture me yourself? At least then you'd have to look me in the eye as you beat me to death!"

"Mind your tongue." That sharp look returned. "You sound just like Ennel. All fire and idealism. You don't understand how the world works."

"No, I don't understand it. Not one bit. But I'm struggling to find any justification for allowing people to suffer like this. Do you have any idea how much torture I've been put through? Do you know how hard it is for us? I watched a guy die! His body was thrown into a pit to be eaten by rats!"

"Regrettable."

"Regrettable? That's it?! Did you know that they're aware I'm innocent?!" My voice was getting loud now. But fuck it. She should hear me. I deserved to be heard. "I've been beaten, starved, sleep deprived, worked to the bone. I've been magically drowned, burned alive, eaten by ants, and had my fucking liver devoured by imaginary ravens! I'm merchandise for you fucking people to buy! Do you know what that's like? Huh?!" Spit was flying from my lips, now.

Fuck it.

Behind Elise, the mage standing in the far corner of the room was shaking. I'd completely forgotten she was there.

Fuck her, too. Come at me.

"I do not know what it's like. Nor do I care to."

That left me stunned. "You don't care to? You don't care to?!"

"Silence." She flicked her wrist, and that same force that had hit Aerell rippled out and struck me. It felt like my mouth was sealed shut with super glue. Except... I could resist it... "I won't... be silent..."

Her eyes widened. "You're stronger than I thought."

I took a step forward. "Yeah. I've gotten pretty strong... After an endless stream of shit..." A wave of power washed over me, but I managed another step. "You say you're here to mingle?

"I am."

Another step. "And you won't change anything for us peasants, will you?"

"I will not."

"Fuck you."

She smiled. "You clearly don't understand the complexities of this world."

I stopped. Maybe there was something I was missing? I needed to calm down. Think rationally, Alex. You won't accomplish anything this way. "Okay, say I believe you. Why don't you try to enlighten my feeble peasant mind?"

"Judging by your actions and words thus far, you wouldn't understand if I tried."

"I promise you, if you try to break it down for me like I'm five years old, you'd be surprised what I can understand."

She laughed. "And you'll be calm?"

I nodded. "I will."

She flicked her wrist, and the pressure around me faded. "Okay. I'll try."

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