Book 4 Chapter 12: Who?

Isla paced back and forth, shaking her head and constantly muttering to herself in demonic. Joan wondered if she was supposed to say something here, or if she should just keep her mouth shut. On the one hand, she had killed that servant girl.

On the other hand, the girl had tried to kill her first, so she felt it was warranted. But she hadn’t had any time to really explain what happened. She’d answered as best she could while she’d been hauled through the castle to Isla’s study. She had to admit, it was nicer than she’d expected. She’d been in this room a few times when Korgron had ruled and there hadn’t been nearly as many books, instead the shelves had been lined with trophies.

Now, however, each shelf was filled with books, most of which she couldn’t recognize at all. She wondered if it would be rude to grab and start reading one while Isla finished with her freak out.

Joan quickly squashed that idea as she was fairly certain it would earn her a slap at this point. Isla had always been very careful to talk in the more common tongue while in her presence. In fact, most of the demons here had. The fact that she was muttering in demonic now was likely not a good sign.

The door to the room opened and Frisk hurried inside, closing it behind himself. “Your highness, I just heard about--”

“Who was she?” Isla asked, once more switching to the common tongue.

“We’re still not sure, the body was burned beyond recognition,” Frisk said before giving Joan a less than friendly look. “We’re taking a count of all servants in the palace but--”

“How can we not even know who it is working within our walls?” Isla asked, the fury in her voice making both Frisk and Joan pull back.

“Your highness,” Frisk said in as soothing a tone as he could. “We are aware of all who work within the palace in total. But we don’t have a daily register to keep track of each individual member. Our resources--”

“We should have one,” Isla said before slamming her palm down on her desk. “I want to know who she was and why she was there. Joan?”

Joan let out a low yelp and barely resisted the urge to hide behind her chair. “Yes, ma’am?” she asked.

“You said you were poisoned, correct?” Isla asked, her eyes narrowing on her.

Joan gave a small nod. “Yes, ma’am,” she said obediently while unable to stop herself from trembling in her seat. “I don’t know what it was, but it made my throat close and I couldn’t breathe.”

“And then you lit her on fire?” Isla asked.

“No, she lit me on fire, but my sword lit her on fire back,” Joan said. She regretted it, though. She couldn’t have imagined a stupider way to make it sound if she tried. “I mean, it made the fire turn all blue and when I swung it at her, the fire went with it. But it didn’t burn me.”

“Of course not,” Isla said before shaking her head. “Poisons, of course.”

“With all due respect,” Frisk said. “Your highness, may I speak with you privately?”

“What is it?” Isla asked, speaking in demonic once more.

“How do we know she isn’t using this to cover up something else?” Frisk asked back, in demonic.

Joan kept her eyes down and kept her mouth shut. She couldn’t believe it. Did they really think she couldn’t understand them? Then again, had she ever shown any sign of understanding it since she arrived here?

“Like what?” Isla asked.

“Perhaps she was doing something that the poor woman interrupted,” Frisk said. “Whatever flames were used were incredibly powerful.”

“So?” Isla asked.

“If she was poisoned, are we really to believe that she was able to conjure such powerful flames while hindered in such a manner?” Frisk asked.

“You believe she set her bed and the woman on fire to cover up what exactly?” Isla asked.

“I do not know,” Frisk said. “But she is human, in the end. Can we be entirely certain that she isn’t up to something? After all, she has been well for a while now. Yet she still remains here, in the capital, though the other attendant to the chosen goes with him.”

“Because she was hurt,” Isla said.

“Was hurt,” Frisk said. “But is she now? Especially after she intruded on your meeting with the Demon Lord.”

“What are you implying?” Isla asked.

“Demons have long been at war with the other races. Kazora may have been one of the few cities to be on more hospitable terms with them, but that does not make us allies,” Frisk said.

“You think that Joan’s a spy?” Isla asked. “She’s a child.”

“An incredibly well trained child,” Frisk said. “I’ve seen her fight. The way the chosen talk to her, practice around her. No mere child could do what she does. For all we know she isn’t a human child at all. Perhaps she is an elf with minor alterations.”

“Do you truly believe this?” Isla asked.

“It is my duty to examine every possibility, your highness,” Frisk said.

“But do you?” Isla asked.

Frisk was silent for a long while before finally sighing and shaking his head. “No, not truly. But there is something about this child that can’t be trusted. Something strange about her. Something the chosen are not telling us.”

“Frisk, you are over worrying,” Isla said.

“You are not worrying enough,” Frisk said. “You allow her too many privileges, as do the chosen. There are already so many rumors about who or what she is. Some even believe her to possibly be one of the chosen, just without her weapon yet.”

Joan had to struggle to keep her face straight at that comment.

“Rumors?” Isla asked. “What kind of rumors? Why are there rumors?”

“Is it not obvious?” Frisk asked. “Many evenings she dines with you alone. Whenever the chosen return they meet with you and her.”

“And Bauteut,” Isla said.

“And the other human. There are some that fear that this is all an attempt of some kind upon the dynasty,” Frisk said. “That--”

“It’s not,” Isla said. “The reason she attends, as well as the chosen, is that the matters discussed are only to be spoken of with the chosen. It is the fate of the world, not Kazora, that she is privy to.”

“Lady Isla,” Frisk said. “While I may accept that answer, not all will.”

Isla sighed before leaning against her desk, a hand reaching up to her forehead and holding it as if to help suppress a headache. “The chosen are not a part of any country, kingdom or dynasty. They are the will of the gods alone.”

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“A privilege that not all are willing to accept,” Frisk said. “How many kingdoms have fallen due to their intrusions? Even the beginning of our dynasty’s fall can be traced back to them. When--”

“The plague?” Isla asked. “It was the chosen who stopped it. Were it not for them, there would be no dynasty left. No Kazora.”

“If not for them, would there have even been a plague?” Frisk asked. “The chosen, the Hero, the Demon Lord, are they responses to these disasters? Or are they the cause?”

“My sister is one of the chosen now, Frisk,” Isla asked. “Or do you think that Korgron is a threat to us now?”

That, at least, seemed to silence Frisk. His gaze lowered and he didn’t respond.

“Well?” Isla asked. “Do you believe she is a threat?”

“Your sister would never threaten Kazora willingly,” Frisk said. “But you know as well as I do how reckless she can be. If this human is a threat, then she may very well be--”

“And my husband-to-be,” Isla said.

“Excuse me?” Frisk asked.

“Andreas is a chosen as well, or have you forgotten?” Isla asked.

Frisk looked as if he would have rather swallowed his own horns. Well, if he had any. “No, I have not forgotten. Your betrothed as well. He--”

“Do you not trust either of us, now?” Isla asked.

“Your highness?” Frisk asked.

“Korgron or myself, do you trust neither of us?” Isla asked.

“Of course I do,” Frisk said defiantly. “I have watched over you two since you were born, my loyalty is--”

“Do you think I am unfit to rule?” Isla asked.

Frisk sighed and shook his head. “No. While you are reckless at times, a trait you share with your sister, I know you will make a fine ruler. Kazora will thrive under your rule once you feel fully prepared to take on the responsibilities.”

Isla nodded before glancing back to Joan. For a moment she wondered if the princess knew that she could understand what the two were saying. Finally, Isla looked back to Frisk. “I still need you, Frisk. While Joan is important, what is between her and the chosen is just between them. It does not involve Kazora. If it did, I would not allow it.”

Frisk sighed and glanced back to Joan before turning back to Isla. “Then you do know what makes her special to them?”

“Korgron is my little sister, Frisk,” Isla said. “You don’t truly believe she could hide anything of importance from me, do you?”

“No, I suppose not,” Frisk said. “Your highness, please be careful. The child is not the only one they speak ill of.”

“Oh?” Isla asked.

“You are betrothed to a human chosen and your sister is a chosen as well,” Frisk said. “There are many who are already calling for your abdication.”

“That’s why I have you, is it not?” Isla asked with a small smile. “To put out those embers before they burn. Speaking of which, you will try to find out what happened in that room. Correct?”

“Of course,” Frisk said. “But if there was no poison, what then?”

“I do not know,” Isla said. “But Joan is many things, but a good liar isn’t amongst them. If she says she was poisoned I am willing to believe her. What concerns me the most is that it seems she is drawing attention. Perhaps it is time we move her somewhere better protected. I trust you can prepare such a place?”

“As you wish, my lady,” Frisk said before bowing his head and turning around, leaving them behind.

Once the door closed, Joan gave a soft sigh. “What was all of that?”

“Politics,” Isla said, once more switching to the common tongue and giving a soft sigh. “How much of it did you understand?”

“Most of it,” Joan said. “You knew?”

“I suspected,” Isla said. “Most humans can’t, but well, most humans don’t have a thousand lifetimes of memories to dwell on.”

“What exactly does he do?” Joan asked. “Do you rule, or does he?”

“You don’t know?” Isla asked.

“Politics were never my strong suit,” Joan said. “Remember? I just help people stab things.”

“He is my regent,” Isla said. “He guides me and takes care of things I either am not able to yet, or inexperienced in. Especially during times like this.”

“Like this?” Joan asked.

“Times where the Demon Lord and the chosen have reappeared. Especially without a hero,” Isla said. “Now more than ever my patience will be tested.”

“Are people really calling for you to abdicate? Who would rule then?” Joan asked. “Him?”

“No,” Isla said, shaking her head. “I’m not entirely certain now. Once there was a clear line of succession, but no longer. That fell with the collapse of the dynasty. But don’t worry. I have been called to abdicate for decades.”

“What? Why?” Joan asked.

“Any reason,” Isla said with a shake of her head. “Taking Andreas as my husband to be. My little sister being the ‘superior’ choice.”

“Wait, they wanted you to give the throne to Korgron?” Joan asked.

“Oh, but of course,” Isla said. “After all, the Demon Lord isn’t the only one who noticed how talented she is. Trust me, I am incredibly aware of how it can feel being on the sidelines and watching someone who is just… impossibly perfect at so much.”

Joan’s cheeks turned a little redder and she couldn’t help feeling just a little bit of shame at that. She hadn’t even considered how it must have felt for Isla to be the elder sister to someone who had literally been chosen by the gods. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, Joan,” Isla said. “I do not begrudge her her abilities. Nor do I blame her for what they say. There are always those who desire to tear you down, no matter how much or how little you achieve.”

“If you did abdicate, would that mean Korgron would become the ruler?” Joan asked.

“No,” Isla said. “Not now. Duties of the chosen go beyond the duties to Kazora. Now that it is known, well… it’s too late.”

“So what do you think, then?” Joan asked.

“I think,” Isla said before taking a slow, deep breath. “It’s going to be in my sister’s best interest for all of you to leave soon. You, especially. Especially once word gets out that you discovered the Tomb of the Creator. You just can’t help but draw attention to yourself, can you?”

Joan gave as innocent a smile as she could. “Well, I mean… I didn’t think it was a big deal. Really.”

“You really are a terrible liar,” Isla said.

“Only when I don’t want to be a good one,” Joan said.

“So she tried to kill you and you killed her back? How?” Isla asked. “Do you even know who she was? Why?”

“I don’t,” Joan said. “It was my sword. It did the same thing when I cut through the elemental, turned all those flames blue. They didn’t burn me.” Though, now that she thought about it, her sword had burned Korgron.

“So you’re fire proof now?” Isla asked.

“I’d rather not test that,” Joan said quickly. “As much as I would love for that to be the case, I think it’s just the sword. I’d be dead now if not for it. Which I guess means I owe the key for that too.”

Isla nodded and glanced to her hand. “As much as I have to agree with my sister that putting ancient, powerful artifacts into little drowned mice is a bad idea, I cannot help but wonder if the intention was to keep you safe.”

“Yeah, I think this makes it the, technically, third time it has saved my life,” Joan said sheepishly.

“Not entirely what I meant,” Isla said. “You said the key is needed to open the door?”

“Yes,” Joan said. “I mean, in theory there may be other ways to open it, but it was the method we used.”

“Exactly. Perhaps it was a way for this ‘Nameless One’ to get you to stop being so reckless,” Isla said.

“I wasn’t reckless this time, I’m not even sick! I can walk around and everything,” Joan said.

“My sister literally just gave you that amulet to protect you from poisons,” Isla said. “Then you were immediately poisoned.”

“Okay, so I was a little reckless,” Joan said sheepishly. “I thought it was just water. It tasted like water.”

Isla shook her head. “What am I going to do with you, Joan?”

“Just keep me alive long enough to save the world,” Joan said with a sheepish grin.

“Must you truly make it such an arduous and difficult task?” Isla asked.

“Well, I don’t have to,” Joan said. “But I am very talented at it. I blame the Hero.”

“Oh, trust me,” Isla said with a light chuckle. “If I ever get the chance to speak to him, I’m going to have quite a few words to send his way. For now, however, I’m going to keep a closer eye on you, Joan.”

Joan gave a small nod and tried to keep the exasperation off her face. She knew it was for a good reason, so she couldn’t be too upset. But it didn’t make it feel any better.

There was going to be a lot of boredom in her future, she could feel it. At least it was better than having sudden surprise werewolves.