Happy start of the weekend all
I hope your week was far more chill than mine! Way too many projects and not enough time to get everything done in time. Not much else to say. Don't forget to read 
“Where is Sebastian right now?” asked Adiran.
“Stefan took him down to the crypts.” Said Mortis.
“Has any of this been discussed with him?”
“As of yet, no,” said Mary with a sigh. “He knows he has to remain in the crypt for now, but other than that, he’s in the dark.”
Derric laughed at the queen’s unintended pun, and she shot him a withering look.
“While I have you here, young man.” She turned to look at the forest prince. “Take our plan to your keeper and tell him I would like to have an audience with him as soon as darkness has fallen.”
Derric looked like he wanted to argue but Mary only raised a single finger to point Derric on his way. He frowned and a pout was starting so Magna added.
“You can come back a little later if you want.”
“I have a job for you too, young lady.” The queen turned her attention to her daughter. “Since your uncle is insisting on you going with him once more, you have the honour of telling your uncle what is to happen.”
Magna didn’t argue. It wasn’t something she wanted to do, but she knew when she sat on the throne alone, she would have to do many things she didn’t like. She nodded her head.
“You aren’t scared after what he tried to do to you?” asked Adrian.
Magna shook her head, “I lost control too. I guess it runs in the family.”
“Take him a cooked meal.” Said Mary as she pushed Adiran forward to the smith to explain the bracelet design. “Adrian, speak to the servants and have bedding taken to your uncle. Despite what he is, I will not treat him as an animal while he is in my castle.”
The queen then turned to Mortis, “I have work for you too, though I suggest you take a few of your knights and mine to complete it.”
“My queen.” Mortis bowed deeply.
“I want you to waylay the column of people on the way here. Tell them what has occurred. I want those unaffected by the curse separated from those that are affected. There are at least 20 Lifedrinkers we need to worry about. Send the unaffected to the various farms that still request aid. They can work for their keep until I can have a full headcount done. As for the affected, they will need to go to the crypts until Sebastian gives them their orders.”
“While I am all for this plan, why should they listen to me?” questioned the revenant.
Mary thought this over for a little before she indicated the revenant to bend down so she could whisper something in his ear. The undead knight listened intently and nodded his head once the queen was done speaking. Mortis turned to Adiran, who was in the middle of explaining his designs, and asked, “Are one of your rideable abominations in the stable?”
“In my person stables, yes.” The mage didn’t question the request, knowing that normal mounts usually didn’t take kindly to the smell of death around them. “Please bring it back in one piece.”
Mortis bowed and turned, Magna and Adrian fell in step with him.
“What did Mom tell you?” asked Magna, genuinely curious.
Mortis, without stopping said, “When you’re queen, your mother will share her influence with you. Go to the crypts and ensure your uncle isn’t chewing on the bones of our ancestors.”
The princess shrugged and split from the pair and made her way to the kitchen to get some food before heading to the crypts. It didn’t take her long to find Stefan and Sebastian sitting on the large stone coffin, in which her father rested. Sebastian seemed to have found a bottle of wine somewhere and was periodically taking drinks from it while looking around him. He caught sight of his niece and viewed her with fascination.
“I thought you’d be too scared to approach me.” He said.
“I faced down gods, unspeakable things, willingly shared blood with my knight, and nearly died from a fever. You aren’t high on my list of things to fear.”
“Your knight? Oh! You mean the revenant. King Magnus. Well, if his history is anything to go on, you have a powerful ally.”
“Could you two maybe not sit on my father while he rests?”
Sebastian’s face clouded for a moment and Magna pressed on, “You might not think highly of my father, but I loved him, and I’m sure he felt the same way.”
Sebastian shrugged his shoulders and sat on the floor instead. He offered his niece the bottle of wine and Magna came to sit before him.
“Mother has asked Adrian to bring you bedding so you may feel more like a guest. I brought you some food.”
While Sebastian wasn’t particularly hungry, the pig had sated his hunger pangs, he took the bread, meat, and some sort of hard cheese Magna had been carrying. Magna produced a knife and offered to cut the food. Sebastian ignored it and instead tore into the food with his teeth.
“I’ll take my leave, Princess,” Stefan said as he faded to the other world.
For a while, Magna sat in silence as Sebastian ate his way through the food. She was wondering how she would broach the plan with him.
“Tell me, Magna, what does your mother have in store for me? If she truly wanted me wrapped in chains, she wouldn’t have sent her heir down here to talk to me. Not after I attacked you.”
“Adiran…”
“Your brother, the older one?”
“Adiran says there is a way to help break your curse, but there is a catch.”
Sebastian snorted and said, “There always is.”
“He found Lucien’s people once before, but he had help. He has this lizard, dragon thing called Rhys that helped him. However, the creature was taken.”
“And he wants my help to sniff it out. Does the old man realise that I am losing control? If he takes me anywhere, there’s a chance that the thing within me will get loose and kill everyone.”
“He’s got a plan. Mother is reforging your armour and uncle is having magical bracelets made to help keep you and your companions in control.”
“My companions?”
“Well, we need as much help as possible without attracting too much attention. Uncle thought you could bring a companion or two with you.”
“There is only one I would bring with me. They lead the column on the way here.”
“Oh great! Mortis is riding out to meet them.”
Sebastian grinned, “That will be a memorable meeting.”
“Do you accept this?”
“Do I have a choice?” countered the man as he finished the last of the salted meat.
“I guess not.”
He snorted once more and indicated that his niece should take a drink of the wine before giving him the bottle back. Magna did so and grimaced at the bitter taste of a dry red she had never liked.
“Get used to it, Princess. This is what they will likely serve at your coronation one day.”
And now back to Zak!
Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library
Mortis Custos
Sanguifex
| by | by  |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | Part 2 |
| Part 3 | Part 4 |
| Part 5 | Part 6 |
| Part 7 | Part 8 |
| Part 9 | Part 10 |
| Part 11 | Part 12 |
| Part 13 | Part 14 |
| Part 15 | Part 16 |
| Part 17 | Part 18 |
| Part 19 | Part 20 You Are Here |
| Part 21 – Coming Soon | Part 22– Coming Soon |
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