Chapter 145: Book 3 Chapter 15: Strangled growth

Jemini

For those of you really confused about that little outburst and who didn't read my post about delays, I am a nursing assistant working with a healthcare temp agency. The reason this chapter got delayed by almost a week is because, while I was working at a facility I signed up for a few shifts at, I witnessed some things that suggested administration level problems at the facility and had to file for elder abuse against the entire facility. I was running around having to contact and email three different state agencies, plus also talking with my own agency in order to get this all figured out, and in the meantime the people in charge over at the facility cancelled my shifts.

Well, I've just proven that, as an agency nursing assistant, I am especially hard to unjustly retaliate against and have relatively little to worry about in reporting injustices I see. I had enjoyed the freedom in scheduling that comes with the unique nature of my agency job, but now I've just found another reason to love this particular niche in the job market.

Anyway, that's the full story of my life for the past week or so. Now that you're all updated on my personal issues, let's get back to a far more interesting story. The one you all came here to read in the first place.

Aerien’s POV

I stood atop a dragon’s head, an adjunct of Lord Baltair who had been assigned to me for my continued negotiations with the Cundo associated dryads. They had spread out far wider than anyone in the court had originally thought possible, as I had learned over these past few exhausting years of negotiating with the dryads of each village individually.

This hands-on exposure to the duties of a princess had taught me several things, whether I wanted it or not. One of the more basic among those things were that the forest of the fey was stupidly big, and there were quite a few elven settlements interspersed throughout it. Elven villages were a lot smaller than a human village or township, and they also lived farther apart than humans did, but the total elven population of this kingdom nearly equaled that of some of the larger human kingdoms. It’s just that it took a truly ludicrous amount of land to support such a bafflingly large amount of elves.

This didn’t even get into the lesser fey that lived here, there, and everywhere throughout the forest. It seemed this forest had come to be regarded as some kind of fey holy land, and my adoptive mother was the entirety of the reason behind all of this. A powerful enough fey dragon will attract other dragons of the same type, and together their power is so great that it warps the magic of an area to conform to them. It just so happens that the blue-jade dragons have power over nature, and the forest magically grown by their power is the ideal place for the fey to live.

And here, I have responsibility as the princess of this stupidly large forest that takes up nearly 80% of a continent. I am just glad for Sarafon who has been my diligent co-worker, assistant, bodyguard, and default chauffeur the entire time. I don’t know what I would do without him. Although I’m pretty sure it would involve another dragon from the arbor committee being assigned to me, at this point I have developed such a working relationship that I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. At the very least, it would be headache inducing to get another dragon used to the boys. It seems like they all regard them as creepy ever since they learned my fire meditation, allowing them to actually understand the dragons’ spirit speech.

Honestly, the dragons profess that they hate humans because they don’t understand when they are spoken to, and then the first time they encounter a human that actually can understand them they look at them like a little girl who just got a rat dropped in her lap.

I let out a sigh and absentmindedly knelt down to stroke Sarafon’s eye ridge and then cast a glance back over my shoulder at the two sets of hands clutching for dear life at his mane. I took two steps back and looked at the pair of elves, a spell-singer master and apprentice pair. This had been another part of the reason for all these trips out. All the Cundo associated dryads hated spell singers, so I had proposed the solution. The major issue was with their capture of humans. So, I would take them all to the capital, where the dragons have an aversion to humans as well, and the abundant spirit energy of the great tree and the fey nobles leaves the elves never wanting for human children either. Some were easier to convince than others, but this had been the bulk of my work in this set of repeated excursions out to all corners of this gigantic kingdom.

“Don’t worry, we’re almost there.” I told them in a gentle voice, not concerning myself over the fact I was using English. The wind at this speed would sweep away my words anyway, the only reason anyone would understand me at all was the fact my words were backed up with my spirit speech. “I can already see the heaven’s scar, the encampment where the elven civilians are staying is right at the edge of the scar.”

Both women looked up at me and gave a weak nod. They had nothing like my wind-walker robe, let alone several hundred hours’ experience flying on a dragon. In fact, this is likely the only time in their long elven lives they would experience anything like this. They could not be blamed for not doing well under these circumstances. In fact, they were doing well just to hold on. It was more than just a few times that I have had to jump off in order to rescue someone who’s hands had slipped during all these relocation efforts.

“Sarafon, perhaps you can go a little easier?” I asked. A code-word we had established to mean he ought to intensify the magic stabilizing his passengers while making it sound like I was asking him to fly slower and smoother.

‘I have already established a full wind barrier, and am pressing them into the area they have chosen to cling to my mane your highness. I cannot see where I might be able to do more.’ He said.

“I see.” I said, looking up over the trees before me. It was almost scary that I had gotten to a point where I had become able to differentiate one tree from another from a bird’s-eye view like this, even at dragon-speed which I had identified from rough estimates was likely approaching mach 3 for the higher level dragons, with their wind displacement spells being the only reason they didn’t cause any kind of sonic boom. I quickly managed to identify the treeline for the so-called refugee camp where the elves of the capital had set up due to their being unable to approach the arcane-energy ridden capital itself. “I suppose it doesn’t matter, we ought to be there in under a minute now.”

I kicked off his head and began flying with my wind-walker robe. I had begun practicing with it more. It was really a well designed magic item, it could increase it’s flight speed in accordance with how much magical energy was dumped into it, making me a rather fast flyer myself. I still could not get anywhere near dragon speed, but I suspect most of the reason for that might be my inability to use their slipstream magic. So long as I could ride inside the slipstream Sarafon was creating, I had very little trouble keeping up.

I hovered down closer to the main, having to turn away a bit as the stiff dragon hairs whipped at my face, and eventually came low enough that I was nestled in between the two women and able to place a hand on each of their backs.

‘Thank you, you do not have to be so concerned over us, your highness.’ The spell-singer master said using only the spirit speech. Coming from an elf, it sounded rather weak and quiet. In fact, it was fairly impressive she could use it at all, she must have been quite advanced in her abilities to have the energy to spare for it. I looked over her way and pushed some of my own bottomless spirit energy into her, more than replacing what she had just expended and causing her to gasp as a result.

“I am the one who pushed to bring you to the encampment of the capital, I have taken you into my care and so you are my responsibility until we arrive. Your well-being is paramount.” I told her, somewhat disgusted by the fact that I found myself wondering at whether these kind words were my true feelings or just putting on the face of a princess. Every single move and action was a play of public relations lately, and I needed to constantly cultivate a positive public image, especially if I wanted to accrue the social capital I needed to make demands related to the boys’ fair treatment in this racist society.

The big-hearted princess who saw all as equals. That was the image I had carefully shaped and formed over these years. It stepped me closer to my true goal of advocating for the rights of humans in this society, and the fact that I also treated elves with such kindness, including those who were having a difficult time right now like the spell singers who had lost their place in this society, just lent credence to this cause.

Equality for all, the humans as well as the former slavers. This was the kind of policy that would bring about true equality, even if it was a little hard to stomach. I knew it was necessary though. Dryad’s methods were forceful and thoughtless about the damage they would cause to the society. If they were shown that this radical change would not mean a destruction of their well-being and way of life, they would be more ready to accept it. Or at least, that was the theory.

No, I’m certain a part of me really did want to help these people. I was just having a hard time justifying it with my biases on the issue, and these arguments helped. Emotions really are a complex thing to deal with.

My thoughts were interrupted by a large plume of fire erupting out of the scarred lands. The flames were quickly swept up in a violent swirl of wind, forming into a flame tornado in the middle of the jagged rocky land.

‘It looks as though lady Gaerien is being quite diligent in her arcane clearing duties.’ Sarafon observed with a slight tint of amusement. ‘Such an elaborate display using that unrefined elemental magic, it is not something that can be achieved without a great deal of practice.’

‘Elemental!?’ The spell singer’s apprentice said with a twinge of surprise and fear.

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“It’s fine.” I said. “Gaerien is my sister.”

‘Her majesty also adopted a grey elf!?’ The apprentice asked in shock.

“She did.” I said with a harsh edge to my voice. “Me, in case you missed it.” Evidently, she had, not that she would be the first. It seems the awe of standing in front of the first elven princess with dragons flying overhead causes some people to miss things like a pale discoloration of the skin. “And before you say something that might be interpreted as an insult to my birth mother, we were born as twins.” I added.

‘Twins!? What are twins!?’ The apprentice asked.

‘It is something that happens occasionally in human births. Two children, occasionally identical in appearance, are born at once.’ The spellsinger informed her apprentice. ‘For it to happen with elves though, I think your highness’ case may be the first. And to have so much power as well.’ Her tone had significant awe behind it. In my case though, I had to take several deep breaths in order to get my frustrations under control. I just hope Sarafon can land before I feel tempted to throw these two off myself.

Well, I suppose this whole experience has at least shown me where the Cundo Dryads’ occasionally difficult attitudes comes from. Perhaps the biggest difference between me and them is not my maturity as I’ve always assumed, but the simple fact that they deal more directly with these elves so much more frequently.

“Here we are.” I said the moment I felt Sarafon start to circle. I didn’t want to stick around any longer than necessary at this point, so I let go and flew up once again and promptly left Sarafon’s slipstream and immediately felt my ears pop as the more normally pressurized air slammed into me. Sarafon must have noticed my state of frustration, he’d hardly slown down at all despite how close we were to the encampment. That meant he was taking a rather wide circle compared to normal, and I had to fly a little bit of a distance before arriving.

I leveled myself out next to a giant redwood, with the occasional hole in the side for a window. Despite how famous these trees were for their height, they simply did not have the width that the lakira trees the elves were used to had. For them, making their homes inside these trees qualified as fairly difficult living conditions, similar to a New-York living arrangement in some ways. Each level had a room just barely large enough for a bed and a few personal belongings, and there was hardly any room to sleep at all for a family.

Worst of all for them though, there were no tree spirits in any of these trees. They were shaped by Isanil with her roots that reached this far out by now. Her connection was not the strongest at this distance though, and it often took the efforts of me, Gaerien, the boys, or one of the dragon nobles to feed enough mana and spirit energy through the soil and stone in order to reshape a tree out here.

It really amounted to a little loss of the convenience they were used to, it was about the same as a person from Earth living in a tent. Better even, these trees were a lot more sturdy against the elements. And, several of them were already adjusted to hardship from the long treck they had taken to get here, but they were filled with a great deal of frustration at having to sit in view of their old home without the ability to approach. Keeping them under control, that was another one of my new princess duties.

The forest floor was already a mass of activity, it seemed they’d heard Sarafon’s approach. They were looking toward the direction he had gone, attempting to spot him circling back, but there were a few others also scanning the sky in random directions. No doubt they were looking for me, this would not be the first time I had leapt off before Sarafon’s final approach. Of course, it wasn’t long at all before they spotted me as I proceeded with my controlled descent. One mother with her child pointed straight in my direction with a cry of [the princess,] and in the next second everyone cast a flicker of a glance at her pointing finger before they all turned in my direction, a few of them who realized they were close to my landing site clearing out and making room while the rest made various gestures of reverence.

Well, at least they stopped completely prostrating themselves. I suppose frequent visits and practically living here half the time would do that. Although, I’m quite certain my standard response being [You may rise, this is not a formal appearance] had more to do with it.

I kept some height, hovering around 3 to 4 feet off the ground so that my head would be slightly higher than the tallest among them. They seemed to get very uncomfortable with the idea of looking down while greeting me upon arrival. The crowd parted as a small contingent of better dressed elves pushed their way through.

[Your highness.] The lead among them said.

[Master Baidriar.] I greeted him in turn, using Elven to indicate I was not interested in keeping this formal. I had been advised that the “otherworldly” sound created by using English along side the spirit speech tended to have an impressive effect which I ought to capitalize on during more formal appearances, but I was in no such mood right now. To add further emphasis to this, I immediately dropped to the ground as soon as that bare minimum of a greeting was over with.

[Has everything been well?] I asked, schooling myself not to look up at them and behave as though looking straight ahead as their waist level didn’t bother me in the slightest.

[Indeed it has, your highness.] Baidriar, the head magus among the elves, responded. [Your… I mean… Levin and Rolwen’s combined energy has left all the children incredibly healthy, and lady Gaerien’s purging of the arcane in the area leaves us with few concerns even being this close to the battle ground that the space beneath our home has become.]

[That is very good to hear. I can feel Sagel nearby though, I will have something to discuss with him.] As if on cue, a man slipped out from the crowd as his features quickly morphed, his hair growing whiter and his eyes growing larger as the black of his pupils overtook the entirety of his eyes, all the while his skin turned a soft shade of blue and his clothing became more formal.

[Yes, your highness. You wanted to see me?] He said immediately. I was unable to respond right away, and simply stared back at him as a tried hard to keep my face hard and “dignified” rather than show my confusion or amusement at his actions. [Ah, I apologize.] He said. [I was assisting Rolwen and Levin in a training exercise to sharpen the sensitivity of their new spirit sense they had developed through the method you’d taught them. They have yet to approach the the sensitivity you have demonstrated yourself with that ability, and thought they could use some training.]

[So, their task is to find you in the crowd you have blended into?] I asked him. [I believe you had best rethink this training method somewhat. Your aura changes every time you change your form, I believe they would likely have an easier time finding you by recalling the faces of everyone in the camp and finding the one that is new to them.]

[Also a worthy skill-set to have.] Sagel stated in complete confidence. Well, I suppose that’s certainly not something I can deny.

[Well, there he is.] A defeated but happy sounding familiar voice spoke out from the crowd. The crowd of people made way for the two waist-height human boys walking confidently through the sea of legs. They were somewhat well dressed, and both had wooden training swords at their hips. Rolwen was taking up the front with smooth and confident strides that were completely unnatural for the 5 year old child he was physically and bore testament to the rigorous neuro-muscular training they had been going through for the past 3 or so years.

[I guess this means we lost.] Levin said, bringing up the rear with slightly more hap-hazard steps that made Sagel glare at him. Levin jumped into form when he noticed the look he was getting, and immediately tried to shape up.

Eyes glanced up to the sky again as Sarafon was making his final approach. He seems to have done a complete circle of the village and was now approaching from the exact same direction I had. His two passengers were already lifted off by his magic, and were now being gently floated down to join us.

[Well then, your highness.] Baidriar gave a nod of his head. [Please allow us to concern ourselves with integrating our new arrivals. I do not wish to keep you from your business.]

I thanked the man for his consideration and then left off with Sagel, Levin and Rolwen. I did want to talk about something, but before that I wanted to see how these two were coming along.

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