Child of Aidon
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WM [61] Unavoidable
🕑 Added 2024-10-20 20:11:58 +0000 UTCTanisha waited until Thorfinn left the tent to finally drop her shoulders. She let out a long, frustrated groan, running a hand through her hair. Her mind raced with possibilities, trying to piece together what had just happened. She didn’t know how the First Princess found out that she was a greater wendigo since the only people that really knew that were Joha, Bjorn and Svan. Not even Tyr really knew that she was actually a greater wendigo and like most people that knew who she was thought she changed her appearance with maya. The resources of the royal family were not to be underestimated.
She glanced over to her familiar who looked confused at the entire interaction that just transpired. He wouldn’t know, she had just been dragged into a political mess. She was trying to figure out from which angle First Princess Sigrun was coming from. She had to rely on her training as a noble and knowledge of the royal politics to guide her next moves carefully.
“I know, I know,” she muttered, pacing in front of him. “You’re wondering what all that was about, right?” Tanisha sighed and turned back toward him. “It’s not that I didn’t want to meet with her, Bjorn. But you have to understand... wendigo politics are all plays for power. Sigrun was testing me. Giving me the honorary title of Fourteenth Princess wasn’t just a gift. It was a trap.”
Bjorn’s used his claw to write, “How is a trap?”
She corrected his grammar, spelling out the correct words for him before she continued her explanation, pacing back and forth.
“I mean once you think about it doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Tanisha said, rubbing her temple. “The moment I was given that title, she was elevating me, putting me on the same level as the other royals. That means I’m now a threat to the succession. Even if I have no intention of challenging for the throne, others will see me as a contender.”
She heard Bjorn writing again and waited for him to finish. “Why give it to you?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” Tanisha said. “On the surface, it seems like a gesture of goodwill, right? Giving me the title, showing me Thorfinn’s face—since Royal Hands don’t reveal their faces to just anyone. But…but I have to be missing something. Ugh… lets see. By showing me his face, she was acknowledging my new status, but also testing how I’d react. If I had just accepted it all without thinking, she would’ve seen me as weak. Someone she could control.”
Tanisha nodded to herself in realization. “By making me a princess, she’s not just giving me power—she’s pulling me into everything whether I want it or not. If I’d let her, she would’ve made demands, and I’d have no choice but to obey. But I didn’t play along. I refused the audience, and that changes everything.”
Bjorn wrote, “that is why you refused?”
“Yeah, refusing was very-very important,” Tanisha said. “You see, as royalty—even honorary—I’m now in a position where I can oppose her. It’s called the ‘position of opposition.’ Without the Fourteenth Princess title, if I had refused to meet her, I’d have been forced into a duel or worse, executed for defying her authority. But now? I’m in a place where I can say no, and that means she can’t just push me around.” She groaned in contemplation. “But that’s where it doesn’t make sense. Why give me that power in the first place? It’s not like she wants me to be independent. If anything, she probably wants to bind me to her side. That’s what I can’t figure out yet.
“What's the endgame? Is she trying to draw me into her faction? I already am kind of a part of it after she gave me this,” Tanisha lifted her arm to show Bjorn the bracelet that served as her second storage item. “Or maybe... she’s setting me up as bait for the others. If I become a threat, the other royals might target me, thinking I’m trying to challenge for the throne. That could destabilize things—throw the entire succession into chaos. Or maybe she’s using me as a counterweight against someone else.
“All I know right now is that we need to leave as soon as possible.” Tanisha looked towards the tent flap. “I would prefer we didn’t get dragged further into this mess although it was unavoidable that someone found out that I was a greater wendigo at some point. Joha is still out there and we are going to find him. Hey, do you remember which tent was Adelheid’s, we might need an exit strategy.”
***
“Come in.” Adelheid’s voice rang out from within her tent.
Tanisha stepped in first, Bjorn followed right behind. It wasn’t as large as Tanisha’s but it still had all of the necessities. A bed roll, chest for items and a table and chair which she currently occupied. It was modest and functional. The tent smelled of oils and cleaning supplies for maintaining hide and leather armors which had a sharp tang.
The wifwolf was in her casual wear and working on fixing part of her hide armor. Tanisha had never really taken the time to look at her hide armor. As she walked up she appreciated the detail of the armor. It was a patchwork of animal hides and, more interestingly, what looked like parts from monsters. Leather made up the flexible areas, but there were patches of thick scales and bone, especially along the chest where protection was critical. The bones were shaped to fit the curve of her body, giving the armor a natural yet formidable look. It was designed for her wolf form so it always looked too big on her humanoid form.
“Hey, I didn’t expect you to come so soon.” Adelheid glanced up from her work, her amber eyes locking onto Tanisha. “Did you want to come to assert dominance over me again? I want you to know I like you, but not like that.”
“Uh, what?” Tanisha blinked. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Adelheid’s grin widened mischievously. “Oh good, I was worried you might have fallen for me.”
Tanisha’s cheeks flushed in response. “Adelheid! What—no! Why would you even think that? How would that even work? I am female!”
Adelheid burst out laughing, clearly enjoying herself. “Relax, I’m joking! But it’s good to know that you didn’t send out mixed messages on purpose. Werewolves have a different uh, culture when it comes to relationships, and friendships. It is about dominance and submission and how it is displayed.”
Tanisha raised an eyebrow, still blushing. “What do you mean?”
“Well, for a while now you and Joha have had a dominant relationship over me,” Adelheid said. “It’s kind of like being in a new pack, but neither of you did any of the usual displays of dominance. Then out of nowhere you took me by the arm and led me.”
“Wait, wait, you mean holding your hand?” Tanisha questioned. “That’s just a childish thing for wendigo, not a display of dominance or anything. Friends do it sometimes and-and family too.”
“Ah, I figured as much. Especially when you didn’t do other displays and seemed like you were unaware.” Adelheid said, her tone was casual as she focused back on her work. She pulled a needle through a tough seam, fixing a piece of leather in place. “Anyway, welcome to my humble setup. Did you have something you wanted to talk about?”
“Uh, yeah.” Tanisha’s playful embarrassment faded quickly, her voice turning serious. “I need a favor. So, a lot has happened actually and I may have to flee into the Chaos Lands if things go badly.”
Adelheid put down her supplies and looked at her. “What happened?”
“Politics.” Tanisha said with a sigh. “I don’t want you to get involved though. The sort of it is, I am a greater wendigo. Apparently that technically makes me a princess—an honorary one—but still, the Fourteenth Princess. And Sigrun...”
Adelheid raised a hand and cut Tanisha off. “Hold on. You’re a princess now?”
“It’s an honorary title, but... yes,” Tanisha admitted, her voice growing quieter.
Adelheid leaned back in her chair, eyes wide. “Alright, I need the long version of this. What’s really going on?”
Tanisha looked at her for a moment, weighing how much she should reveal, but she trusted Adelheid. She gave a small nod to herself and began. The more she knew the more likely she could be dragged into things. Tanisha didn’t know how the werewolves handled wendigo politics. They seemed to be indifferent to anything outside of their packs. They were mainly a group of monster hunters that traveled around to hone their prowess.
“Okay. But I need your help,” Tanisha said. “I’m going to be summoned by Princess Sigrun soon. While that’s happening, I need you to secure me a guide through the Chaos Lands. I also need as many supplies as will fit in this.” She took off her necklace and placed it on the table, alongside six gold coins. “Food, water, alchemy equipment, ingredients—I’ve written a list and stored it in the necklace. If you can find another storage item, even better. Keep whatever money you don’t spend. There are plenty of human traders going through the border so I am sure you can find some eager to trade.”
Adelheid’s eyes widened, staring at the amount of gold Tanisha had laid out. Her gaze flicked back up to Tanisha, meeting her determined expression. She gave a curt nod.
“Okay. I’ll take care of it,” Adelheid said. “Now tell me what’s really going on.”
Tanisha exhaled deeply. “Sigrun is playing a dangerous game. By giving me this honorary title, she’s elevated me into the royal family’s succession…”
***
Koll had been the one to retrieve Tanisha the second time. He led her and Bjorn to the First Princess’s tent which was the largest one by far. Thorfinn and Signe stood outside of the entrance and the feeling of hundreds of enchantments on the ground and structure of the tent felt dizzying. It reminded her that the Mountain Fortress, though still standing after the siege, was now uninhabitable until the massive repairs and fortifications were complete. For now, this enchanted stronghold was the seat of power.
Tanisha decided to wear her full armor aside from her helmet as it was ironically the most regal outfit she had since Joha absconded with her wagon and all of her supplies and outfits. When she approached she could have been mistaken for a Knight. However, it wasn’t lost on her that her black and gold armor happened to also be the same colors of the Royal Family.
As she approached, Thorfinn and Signe gave her curt bows and greeted her with a single word: “Princess.”
Koll, standing nearby, blinked in surprise. He clearly hadn’t been aware of her title. Seeing Thorfinn and Signe’s respect, he quickly dropped to one knee, his eyes wide with realization. Before Tanisha could respond, the Hands opened the tent, and she and Bjorn stepped inside.
Signe followed close behind, her voice announcing, “Entering, Fourteenth Princess Tanisha Scalebound and Royal Familiar Bjorn Scalebound.”
Inside, Tanisha was immediately greeted by the scent of kingburrow dew. It was a flower, the fragrance was rare and luxurious, favored by royalty and nobility. The smell hit her harder than she expected. It was the scent she had always associated with the Salstar estate, her former home. Memories of her family swirled in her mind, accompanied by the old longing to make them proud. But that desire was gone now, replaced by a hollow ache. The scent no longer invoked any warmth or comfort, just the sterile fragrance of something that had once mattered, but no longer held any meaning.
The tent itself was functional, without unnecessary extravagance. The largest area was set up for strategic meetings and planning, with a round table as the centerpiece and Sigrun’s throne elevated at its head. One side of the tent was closed off, likely serving as her private quarters, while another area was filled with books, arcane tools, and workstations for more practical work. Every inch of space was utilized efficiently, without the ostentation that characterized the council in Birchgrove. There, the display of wealth seemed like a mockery, a caricature of wendigo values—function over form exaggerated to the point of absurdity. Here, in Sigrun’s tent, there was balance and purpose.
Only one person was inside the tent—Sigrun herself. She wasn’t sitting on her throne but rather in one of the chairs at the round table, her posture relaxed, though her presence radiated authority. She too wore her armor, which pulsed with a faint sorcerous glow that beat in rhythm with her heart. The crystalline flowers in her tiara emitted a soft, fluorescent light, adding an ethereal touch to her formidable figure.
There was a kind smile on her face as she motioned for Tanisha to take a seat across from her. Signe excused herself quietly, leaving the tent as smoothly as she had entered. Tanisha hesitated for only a moment, then tugged lightly on her bond with Bjorn, letting his calm determination to fuel her own drive forward. This was the moment of truth.
