Chapter 132: Chapter 115 – Conspiracy in Aidenhall

The celebrations ended when the junior knights were too drunk to stay on their feet. Colleagues and peers helped their companions back to their rooms. Reen, who wasn't much of a drinker and didn't fall victim to all of the wine, gave a hand to the drunk Joap back to his room. Meanwhile, Kanae carried Runald, who had foolishly gotten himself wasted in a drinking contest, like a baby to his room since she knew where it was.

The stone halls echoed with the footsteps of wandering nightowls. Kanae was not one of them. She cruised through the corridors in flight until reaching Runald's room and laid him into bed. The urge to crawl in with him was great.

"If only I didn't have more important things to do." Kanae sighed. As she turned to leave, her right arm pulled taut.

Runald was holding onto her hand tight while fast asleep.

"Nnh… One day… I'll become a knight… and protect you, too…" he muttered in his sleep.

Slowly, Kanae peeled his fingers away, tucked him in, and brushed a few strands of hair from his face. Just to tease him one last time for the night, Kanae cast Turn Horny.

The spell's effects hit Runald immediately. A bulge rose between his legs. He let out a cute moan, then a little wet spot formed where his erection was.

Satisfied with her handiwork, Kanae returned to Marwin's tower. The old wizard was still awake in his bedroom, scribbling away at an open tome.

"Ah, you're back! Did you enjoy the feast? Meet any dashing young studs that will take my place?" Marwin asked as he left his desk, but the quill continued writing in his place.

"There's something more important to talk about than my sex life right now. Do you know what this is?" Kanae revealed the strange item that Elizabeth Bedlam had inconspicuously given her. The item was tiny, but the make was clearly magical.

"It's a teleportation pellet!" He took it from her hand, holding it between his index finger and thumb.

"Teleport to—"

A crystal on one end of the pellet lit up, sucking the both of them in. They splashed into a pool of steaming water that drenched them from head to toe. Kanae popped her head out and spat out a mouthful of water.

"Well, well. I didn't expect to see you two so soon. Would you two like a drink?" an amused voice asked not far from them.

Standing naked outside of the pool of water was Madam Bedlam, glass of wine in hand and still smoking from her pipe. Without any clothes, Kanae saw the woman in all her glory. She was a tall, buxom minx with gold floral tattoos all over her umbre-colored body.

Marwin resurfaced next to Kanae and fumed as much as the steaming water. "No, we don't want a drink! By the Supreme One's bushy brows, did you have to be bathing at this time?! It's the middle of the night!" 

"You are the one who chose to activate the pellet when I was about to bathe, and I bathe whenever I want. I am glad, however, that you have decided to visit me sooner rather than later. Firstly, I'd like to apologize to our Amethyst-to-be for this roundabout method of meeting. This matter is very delicate," Eliza explained as she descended into the bath.

"Delicate because it involves Archbishop Gretchen Redbaron," Kanae said.

"Yes." Marwin nodded. "Elizabeth and I believe Gretchen is attempting to stage a coup."

"Against the Grand Eye and King?" Kanae's jaw dropped.

Eliza stared into her glass as she swirled the wine. "Conceit knows no bounds for high elves. We suspect she desires the seat of Grand Eye. If our suspicions prove true, there is actually no chance Gretchen succeeds. Despite being archbishop, she is only one high elf. At best, she would split us down the middle, but the Saint Priests are all on the Grand Eye's side. The problem lies with the chaos that would ensue. Imagine if the demons take notice of a civil war and attack Radevic during our moment of weakness."

An attack on Radevic would mean the demons crawling through the Commonwealth. Everyone Kanae cared about back home would be in danger.

"Sorry to rain on your parade, but there might be a chance Gretchen succeeds. I think the Rown Company and Ortesia are in on it," Kanae said.

Eliza stopped swirling her wine, and Marwin stared blankly at Kanae. Their moderate concern up until now was replaced by deep worry.

"I'll take that offer of wine now. Maybe the whole damn bottle," Marwin said.

"Explain yourself," Eliza demanded while telekinetically levitating the wine bottle to them.

Kanae breathed deeply before continuing. "Runald Aespir received potions that resisted succubus magic from the archbishop. He was asked by his family to sabotage the aptitude test so that I'd fail to become Knight of Amethyst. That potion is currently being manufactured by the Rown Company. They hired Outriders to sell them in bulk to Ortesia and some to people in Aidenhall discreetly."

Marwin shot a worried look at his colleague.

"This potion… is it pink liquid?" Eliza hesitantly asked.

"Yeah! Wait… you introduced yourself to me as a master alchemist… don't tell me you made it?" Kanae questioned in return.

"Indeed, it was. Regrettably so." She sighed heavily. "Years ago when we first learned of your existence, Archbishop Gretchen asked me to concoct such a potion. I made only one for her, and then refused to make anymore when news arrived that you wanted to join the order. I believed making more would jeopardize Radevic's alliance with you and your Commonwealth, but she saw it as a countermeasure. They must have learned how to make it on their own. This is my fault, and I'm terribly sorry…"

"If what Kanae says is true, then Gretchen must be acting on behalf of Ortesia. I can't believe those arrogant high elves would go this far because of a succubus." Marwin took a long swig of the wine and rubbed his forehead.

Not just a succubus. A family of succubus. A religion of succubus. The Commonwealth of Sin was essentially a country ruled by succubi. Ortesia probably didn't like that one bit.

"What can we do? Warn the Grand Eye and have the Saint Priests take care of it?" Kanae asked.

Eliza shook her head. "No. Gretchen will be moving her pieces carefully so long as we do the same. If the Grand Eye finds out and moves to apprehend Gretchen, then all three hells might break loose during a vie for power. Radevic mustn't fall into pandemonium. We need solid proof. Where is Runald? He may be our only link to her lucrative dealings with the Rown Company and the Outriders."

"Runald drank himself to sleep, so I brought him to his room."

"Alone?" Marwin asked.

In spite of being bathed in hot water, a chill ran up each of their spines.

"He might be in danger… We have to find him!" Kanae exclaimed.

"We cannot," Eliza said. "If we are seen racing through Aidenhall at night together, we'll look more out of place than a minotaur selling sex toys. I will send you two back to your tower. From there, Kanae, you must hurry to find Runald and protect him."

The teleportation pellet fired out of the water and levitated between them. The crystal on the other end started glowing, and they were sucked into the portal. Kanae and Marwin spilled back into the bedroom of the wizard's tower.

"Pupil, it's up to you." Marwin helped Kanae to her feet. He summoned a fiery wisp that flew circles around them, drying off their drenched bodies. "Runald is a loose thread that Gretchen will try to snip. Bring him out of Aidenhall and somewhere safe!"

"Okay!" Kanae flew from the tower in the direction of the dormitories. When she got to his room, the door was left ajar. Her blood went cold. Someone had gotten here first.

The room wasn't a mess. His linen sheet was strewn on the ground like someone had dragged him and it off the bed. She placed a hand on the pillow. It was still a little warm. She picked up the bedsheet and sniffed the cum stain from earlier.

Kanae exited the room, inhaling the air like a dog. Semen had a distinct fishy smell. The trail was faint. She wouldn't have detected the scent as a human, but as a succubus who had already tasted Runald's cum…

Without wasting another second, Kanae followed the smell until it led her out of Aidenhall. She wandered into the promenade that led out of the palace and to the rest of the city. The smell went cold out here.

"Master? What are you doing out so late?" Esta asked, coming down the walkway towards Aidenhall.

"Esta! Did you see someone or a group of people pass by here?" Kanae asked.

"Mostly patrolling guards. Though I just crossed paths with a carriage. It seemed to be in a hurry," she said.

"That has to be it! Follow me. We're going after them!"

Loyalty Fixation kicked in, and like an obedient servant, Esta joined Kanae in the pursuit without question. They rushed past the outer palace gates in time to see the carriage making a sharp left.

"I'll fly up to keep an eye on them!" Kanae exclaimed.

"Go! I'll keep up!" Esta urged.

Kanae cast both Heightened Haste and Bond on Esta, then ascended into the skies. The vast streets of Radevic were like a maze. It seemed no less busy than during the day, but a speeding carriage pulled by two horses was easy to spot out. She beelined it for them and landed in front of the vehicle.

"Stop!" Kanae shouted. It took one look into the driver's eyes to know that wasn't happening. She leaped out of the way as it barreled through, then continued to fly after it.

If they weren't going to listen…

Kanae got right up next to the human coachman and cast Charm— but it didn't connect. She tried to charm the horses but nothing happened either. The driver smirked. He pulled out a crossbow and aimed it at her. She dodged the bolt and cursed under her breath.

They must have taken the potion.

The scenery had changed. They entered the lower wards of the city. Citizens dove out of the way as the carriage raced down the cobblestone. Kanae was beginning to have a hard time staying on them. Horses were much faster, and her wings could only carry her so far.

The backdoor of the carriage suddenly swung open. Kanae briefly saw Runald inside, on tied up and gagged. A burly beastman came between them, his crossbow primed to loose a bolt into her.

Then the carriage swerved hard. The beastman tumbled out. His bolt fired past Kanae's face. The entire vehicle lurched and crashed into the side of a building with its wheels still spinning.

Ahead, on the other side of the fallen carriage, Esta wiped the sweat from her brows and gave a thumbs up. They hurried to the back and pulled Runald out from the pile of groaning bodies. There had to be like four other men in there.

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"Thank god you're okay." Kanae sighed, ripping the gag and ropes off.

"W-What's going on? Why am I out here?" Runald asked.

"A junior knight? What's going on?" Esta looked to Kanae for answers, but the streets were beginning to fill with hoodlums.

The martial weapons in their hands were a sign that they weren't ordinary ruffians.

"I'll tell you later. We have to get out of here!" Kanae exclaimed.

The injured driver climbed out of the wreckage, clutching his head. "Get them! Get them now!"

They raced down a narrow alleyway with a horde of cutthroats at their backs. Esta knocked down crates and breathed fire to slow them down, but there were too many.

"Aren't there any guards here?!" Runald cried.

"For a city as large as Radevic? Stationing a guard at every street corner wouldn't be enough!" Esta spun around to let loose another breath of fire.

Their pursuers paused and dove under doorways to avoid the blast, then jumped out to chase them again when it ended.

The trio rounded a tight corner at the end of the backstreet when a door kicked open. Thedia poked her head out.

"In here! Quickly!"

Kanae thanked her lucky stars and dove in a janky unlit room with the others. Thedia closed the door as quietly as possible, then pressed a finger to her lips.

"Down this way! They couldn't have gone far!"

"It's our payday tonight!"

They stampeded past the dilapidated abode. Moonlight bleeding in from the boarded up windows flickered as many people passed right by until it finally went quiet. As soon as the coast was clear, Thedia lit up a candle.

It looked to be an old bar. Chairs were placed on top of tables with their legs facing up. Cobwebs draped down every corner of the room. A part of the front counter had collapsed from what must have been a fight in the past.

"Thedia, I'm glad but how did you find us?" Kanae asked.

"My lady's cautiousness has paid off. We have reliable friends that keep an eye out on anything suspicious. A succubus flying through the city was one such incident." Thedia giggled.

"I don't like it." Esta growled at the feline beastman. "How can we trust you?"

Thedia opened the door behind the counter to reveal a hatch. "By following me to Lady Renya and thus revealing her hideaway. She wouldn't want that for just anyone."

Left with little choice, they followed Thedia down to the underbelly of the city. The long, narrow passage smelled something fierce. Their only respite was the ashy smell from Thedia's torch.

"Those men just now… they were after my life," Runald said.

"Yeah. If they made it into Aidenhall without arousing suspicions, then Archbishop Gretchen had something to do with it. You can't go back now. It's too dangerous," Kanae explained.

"Then my aspirations of becoming a knight… is over?" he asked somberly.

They stopped in front of a wooden and ironbound gate. Thedia knocked at an irregular rhythm. A moment later, a giant minotaur man opened the gate into a rowdy underground tavern.

The rank smell vanished immediately, replaced with the scent of alcohol and sweat. Their raucous chattering came to a stop, and every patron and bar wenches drew their weapons.

Esta reached for her greatsword.

"What's a Knight o' Color doing 'ere?" someone asked.

"Relax, relax! They're with me! No one touches a hair on them, you understand?" Renya hollered from a table in the back.

"Wit you? Why din't ya say so!" A man who had too much to drink shoved a stein of beer into Runald's hands, splashing some of it on his tunic. "Friends of Renya, everybody!"

"Here, here!" The others lifted their cups.

As they squeezed past the patrons, someone pushed an empty cup into Kanae and Esta's hands. People parted with some of their beer, and by the time they reached Renya's table, both cups were full to the brim with an ugly mixture of beer, liquor, and wine. Kanae grimaced and plucked a strand of hair out of her drink.

"So, what's got you three skedaddling through Radevic?" Renya asked as she pushed plates and bowls of indistinguishable food toward them.

"It's Gretchen," Kanae said.

Esta gasped and her eyes went wide "The archbishop? What does she have to do with any of this?"

"Archbishop Gretchen Redbaron is the one in Aidenhall buying Rown Company's potions. Anti-succubus magic potions. Just earlier, my magic didn't work on any of those goons," she explained.

"Well, shit." Renya leaned back in her seat and clicked her tongue. "What about the kid?"

Runald was shaking. Being surrounded by unsavory thugs had that effect on people.

"Someone she was giving the potions to. I need you to shelter and protect him," Kanae said.

"You want me to stay here? No! I can't!" Runald cried.

"I can, but you do understand I have to move every other week to stay out of sight, yes?" Renya warned and reached for Kanae's drink after downing her own.

"That's exactly what makes him safer with you."

The high elven boy squeezed Kanae's hand with both of his, making it hard for her to part from him.

"You're going to leave me with these gangsters? We can just go back to Aidenhall and tell the Grand Eye everything. I'll confess to bring the archbishop to justice!" he pleaded.

"It's a lot more complicated than that. Until we figure something out, you're safer down here than up there. Trust me. You want to become a knight, don't you? Because it's not over yet," Kanae said, replacing her free hand over his trembling grip.

Runald let go. When Renya saw that, she whistled for Thedia.

"Fix him up in a nice room. We'll take care of you, kid." Renya nodded.

Thedia came to take Runald's hand. He was unwilling to leave at first, but after looking Kanae in the eyes one more time, he followed the maid out another door behind the counter.

Renya clasped her hands over the table. "Now, onto more important matters. Your discovery that it was a high-ranking Aidenhall official just so happens to clear a few things up. Normally, large cargo moving through the country are scrutinized and vetted. Takes a lot of time and slows down transportation. There is a way to bypass this. Cargo specially stamped by the Church of One or The Many may move freely without being checked. There are several churches outside of Radevic that might be providing such a lucrative service. I want you to check one of them."

"You want us to raid the Supreme One's holy grounds?" Esta rose from her seat in anger.

"I'd like you to… steer them back to the righteous path. After all, what they are doing is illegal. Isn't it, Silver?"

The drakeling knight begrudgingly sat back down.

"This isn't something your crew couldn't deal with on your own?" Kanae asked.

"Too risky. However, I have smuggled someone into the city that could be of help. Are you done bankrupting these poor patrons yet?" Renya shouted to the other corner of the tavern.

"Read 'em and weep, baby. Royal Flush! I'll be taking all your gold and this glass of wine, thank you very much."

The familiar voice tickled Kanae's ears and lifted her spirits. She turned around to find the squirreling sweeping the table of all its gold into a bag while cackling to herself.

"You fucking cheat!" An irate player drew a knife when she went to collect his gold. He lashed out, but a skeletal humanoid picked him up by the neck and pinned him to the wall.

"Edina?" Kanae exhaled in disbelief and joy.

"Yo, Kanae!" Edina Hackett hoisted the satchel bursting of gold over her shoulder, snatched a glass of wine from someone lamenting their loss, and smirked. "The greatest necromancer in the world is in town and ready to wreak some havoc!"

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