unprophesied_of_ages (
unprophesied_of_ages) wrote2015-01-15 11:18 pm
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A forest that was not there yesterday
The Lord Ruler is in his palace, when he sees a sight he hasn't seen in centuries. Trees, sunlight...is he hallucinating? The fact that there's a forest in his living room isn't the surprising part. The fact that there's a forest on his planet is. As soon as he walks through the door to where his living room isn't, it's definitely not a hallucination.
His stores of Allomantic metals abruptly disappear. They're still physically there, but the power is completely gone. He immediately turns to go back, only to see more forest.
At least his Feruchemy still works—he can tell because he's still alive—but that won't last him forever. He only has so much stored youth, and without both sets of abilities he can't replenish it. He hasn't been in so much danger since the beheading that one time. Returning to Scadrial is the highest and currently only priority. If spontaneous forests are a thing, he needs to find someone who can explain them and more importantly how to get back.
The next few hours are spent walking in an essentially randomly chosen direction, with the sun to his right. He's quite certain that suns are supposed to be moving across the sky, but that's not a pressing emergency. He already knew he wasn't on his own planet when he saw proper trees and plants instead of ash-covered monstrosities. Whenever he calls out, nobody responds. If it's an empty spontaneous forest, he's probably doomed.
After some time, he hears his stomach growl. He hasn't seen much that looks edible, but possibly that's just because he's not used to real plants. Berries. Berries used to exist. Those berries look tasty, and if they're poisonous it's not like he needs to worry about it. As always, he has a truly ridiculous amount of stored health in his gold jewelry. Tapping gold just in case, he eats a handful.
His stores of Allomantic metals abruptly disappear. They're still physically there, but the power is completely gone. He immediately turns to go back, only to see more forest.
At least his Feruchemy still works—he can tell because he's still alive—but that won't last him forever. He only has so much stored youth, and without both sets of abilities he can't replenish it. He hasn't been in so much danger since the beheading that one time. Returning to Scadrial is the highest and currently only priority. If spontaneous forests are a thing, he needs to find someone who can explain them and more importantly how to get back.
The next few hours are spent walking in an essentially randomly chosen direction, with the sun to his right. He's quite certain that suns are supposed to be moving across the sky, but that's not a pressing emergency. He already knew he wasn't on his own planet when he saw proper trees and plants instead of ash-covered monstrosities. Whenever he calls out, nobody responds. If it's an empty spontaneous forest, he's probably doomed.
After some time, he hears his stomach growl. He hasn't seen much that looks edible, but possibly that's just because he's not used to real plants. Berries. Berries used to exist. Those berries look tasty, and if they're poisonous it's not like he needs to worry about it. As always, he has a truly ridiculous amount of stored health in his gold jewelry. Tapping gold just in case, he eats a handful.
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"Oh, and you should probably pick a nickname, your former Majesty."
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"She can call herself whatever she likes," says Promise. "We will not win ourselves any points with any fairies, even ones who hate her, if we try to call her something else. Even Thorn lets his vassals self-nickname."
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"But if there's a lot depending on it, accuracy isn't that important."
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And presently Promise and the Queen have hashed out airtight versions of these orders, delivered them to Arcane and Veracity, and seen the relevant fairies streaking off towards Thorn on the wings of Arcane's spell. (Promise looks like she may have a crush on Arcane.)
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"To the gate to Thorn's court, then? Since that's where the Flight and the Nine can deliver him."
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When they get there, all of the vassals who were in the court near the waterfall are lined up neatly in the garden, blinking and breathing but otherwise still, and Veracity is standing watch over them. Thorn is not among this set.
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"Make them answer our questions," Alendi orders the ex-Queen. "Truthfully and without tricks."
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"Where is Thorn."
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Promise giggles.
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Er, pass that on," he directs to Veracity's master.
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Arcane streaks into view with Thorn in tow. They land in the garden. Thorn is still and silent and has his eyes closed.
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The queen whispers, "Syracerix."
Promise relaxes.
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"When Promise or I ask you something, answer honestly and without trickery.
Now, to start with. What would you do to me if our positions were reversed?"
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"And a good thing, too, why do you want to listen to that? I can guess what he'd do if our run on the Queenscourt had failed and he'd just collected us after the attempt, for example," says Promise. "You'd probably die slowly, you wouldn't be worth the risk after surviving and escaping a go at the Queen."
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"If commanded to," says Thorn, "or if within sight of a loophole, or possibly if being tortured is more unpleasant than I currently expect."
Promise glances at Alendi with a raised eyebrow.
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Would you like to hear my suggestion for dealing with people like you?"
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