Remesis wrinkled her nose as she tried to touch her own stomach.
After all the injuries she had received, the girl could barely stand on her feet. She couldn't remember very well how she had gotten back to the tavern. At least none of the villagers had followed them. Asil walked silently just behind her.
Her normally impassive eyes flickered a couple times: when Remesis slumped down in the middle of the road because she didn't have the strength to keep going. But the moment Asil hesitated whether to move closer or not, the girl would get up on her own and they would continue on their way.
Once back, Remesis was afraid to look at her own reflection in the bathroom. She looked just awful. Even though her mistress hadn't hit her face directly, it was still swollen. A streak of dried blood could be seen on the skin next to her mouth. Her hair was a mess.
But worst of all, of course, was her stomach…
Remesis was stunned, to say the least. In all her two lives, she had never experienced such a brutal beating. And it had happened where she hadn't expected it at all. Life really is unpredictable at times.
The girl groaned. Even breathing was difficult for her. She tried not to think about what had happened and just healed her wounds.
Remesis lifted the hem of her dress and turned pale at the sight of her own belly. The wound on her skin was blue. No, even darker… The bruise covered almost her entire stomach. It became terribly painful at the mere touch of it. Despite that, the girl gritted her teeth, going to apply ointment to the wound.
She dabbed the most effective remedy she had brought with her on her finger and gently applied it to her bruised belly. Snake venom ointment. An expensive remedy that was not easy to obtain. Remesis was disappointed that she would now have to use up most of it so soon.
But what else was there left? She obviously wouldn't be able to continue traveling with this much pain.
The application of the ointment made the cold spread throughout her body, but the girl only endured. When the treatment was complete, she screwed the vial back on and lowered the hem. Snake venom was indeed a very effective remedy. Even such a horrible bruise should be better the next day.
Remesis returned to the room.
Asil was sitting on the windowsill subdued. She stared at Remesis with an indescribable expression as she walked in. Remesis looked at her and even lifted the corners of her lips slightly in a smile she found hard to find. She informed:
— Tomorrow… Tomorrow we leave. We'll have to get up early to pack.
«…»
Even though Remesis was hurt, one thing was abundantly clear: they could no longer stay in this village. More precisely, the girl didn't want to linger here for even a moment. It was only because it was late that she had agreed to wait here for one night.
Asil looked at her silently. As always, it was hard to guess what she was thinking.
Remesis got into bed and turned out the light. She hoped she could fall asleep, but in the middle of the night she suddenly cried.
— Woahhhh…
It seemed like the sobs she had been diligently suppressing all this time were finally bursting out. To avoid waking Asil, Remesis clamped her hands over her mouth, but it didn't help.
She was crying and couldn't stop.
Remesis vowed that she would never allow herself to show weakness again. Just as in her past life she could only sob and complain, she was sure that in this life she would not shed a single tear.
Seyla also said that Remesis was not like a normal child at all. If another child fell down and cried, the girl would only look at her bruise coldly and move on. That's how she's been all these eight years.
But now…
No matter how hard she tried to stop, the tears wouldn't stop.
Remesis hated herself for it.
«I promised… I promised I wouldn't be such a wuss anymore!»
Remesis cried like a normal little girl. Soon she heard a rustling in the darkness. Well, it was to be expected that her tantrum would wake Asil. It would be surprising if she didn't hear it from the next bed.
The princess's amber eyes twinkled in the darkness. And the expression on her face seemed puzzled.
— Wha… What are you doing?
The girl briefly stopped wiping her crying eyes and stared at her with equal surprise.
— What do you mean, what am I doing?
— Ahh… Uh… You have water running down your face,» she mumbled.
Remesis was discouraged. Had she never seen people cry before? And never cried herself? Judging by her reaction, though, she had.
— I… I'm crying,» the girl replied confused.
— …?
— J-just ignore it. It'll pass soon…
Remesis spoke confusedly through her hysterics.
— …it'll pass.
The last phrase sounded uncertain. The girl's voice trailed off under her own sobs. Though she tried to calm herself down, her body wouldn't listen at all. She continued to sob in spite of her own desire.
— Waaaaaah…
«…»
The room was silent for a while, interrupted only by Remesis' cries. And then… The girl was astonished to find something heavy in her lap. Asil's silver hair was like the glow of moonlight in the darkness.
The princess suddenly laid her head in her lap.
Remesis was confused.
— Y-Your Highness… Wh-what are you doing?
Asil didn't answer and didn't move from her seat. Visually, this scene reminded her of a dog that came to comfort its master when he was sad. As a rule, they tend to do the same thing at such times.
Remesis was so surprised that she even forgot that she was crying.
Usually, when someone is sad, people around them would say comforting words or at least give them a pat on the shoulder. But no way this…
Asil just silently walked over and laid her head down. Apparently, it was the only thing she could think of in this situation. But it still looked really funny.
Especially when the girl involuntarily compared her behavior to an animal.
Remesis couldn't hold back her laughter any longer and laughed. Laughter and tears mixed on her face, and she must have looked terribly ridiculous now. Her face swelled up even more and looked like a tomato.
Be that as it may, the main goal had been accomplished. Remesis had stopped crying after all. Which meant that Asil's «method» had worked.
When the girl calmed down a bit, she found the strength to speak up:
— Thank you. Really thank you.
The head that lay in her lap shuddered slightly.
Remesis only now realized that she had forgotten to thank the princess for her rescue. They had only known each other for a short time, after all. Asil could have easily left her and gone off on her own. But she… She had come back after all.
Asil froze in response to her words, and even her breathing stopped being catchable. She must have heard that word for the first time in her life.
— Thank you.
— …
Remesis said it one last time.
— Thank you so much.
Asil opened her mouth silently.
***
Remesis and Asil left the village of Araken at dawn. As they walked through the streets, the locals hid in their homes. Apparently, in their eyes, the children were nothing more than monsters. However, after what the princess had done in the middle of the square, it was not surprising.
As soon as she glanced at a house, its inhabitants immediately froze in horror. Regardless, the princess walked beside her little wife quite calmly. However, the intense bloodlust in her was evident.
Asil wanted to tear each and every one of these people to pieces. That probably would have happened if Remesis hadn't told them to hurry up. She wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. Besides, massacring these people was pointless anyway.
Remesis' stomach still ached, but not as much anymore. The snake venom ointment had really helped. At least she could continue on her way without bending over in pain with every step.
They did not leave the village empty-handed. Despite Remesis' hesitation, Asil had shamelessly taken all the most valuable things from the tavern. Especially the food.
When Remesis saw the landlady's orphaned children, her heart squeezed a little. Even though their mother had done this to her, these children were not guilty of anything. In any case, what had been done could not be undone.
While Asil «scoured» the tavern, snooping back and forth, Remesis decided to leave the children something. They were poorly dressed and looked hungry. But the boy and girl recoiled fearfully from her, their faces contorted with horror and hatred.
— Don't come any closer, you monster!!!
The ten year old boy was covering his three year old sister. He hated them for what had happened to their mother. Remesis understood his emotions quite well. She was about to leave them and quietly walk away when the boy suddenly grabbed the knife lying on the table and desperately lunged at her.
— Aaaaaaah!
Remesis didn't even have time to do anything. Everything happened too fast.
Even though Asil was on another floor, she heard the noise. The boy's knife stopped just a centimeter away from her chest. When Remesis opened her eyes, she saw only a corpse in front of her. The child lay with his throat cut open and bleeding.
— ....
Remesis didn't even know what to say. She was in shock.
At this moment, Asil was shaking with anger and her amber eyes were filled with lust for murder. Before the princess could do anything else, Remesis hurriedly led her away from the tavern. In the end, the three-year-old girl was left all alone.
It was an unbearably pathetic sight.
«I didn't mean to…» — Remesis couldn't find the courage to mutter those words.
She didn't even dare to turn around and look in the direction of this child. The horror frozen in her eyes was not hard to imagine.
After all, Remesis herself had experienced such a thing many times.
The North… A very cruel place.
No doubt that was the reason why the girl was so desperate to escape from here.
Once out of the village, they wandered for another week or so. Unlike Araken, the next village was quite far from here. It was quite an arduous journey.
Originally, Remesis had intended to hire a coachman in the village to help them move. However, she hadn't expected something like this to happen. After Asil's massacre, people were afraid to even come near them. Obviously, they couldn't expect any help either.
As before, they spent the night in caves or other such hiding places, and continued on their way in the morning.
The supplies made in the village certainly helped them along the way. Once the girls had left the dangerous border area where most of the barbarian communities were located, Remesis had a welcome opportunity to build a fire.
Stopping at yet another cave, the girl gathered all the dry branches and started a fire using a flint. Asil stared at it mesmerized.
A sound of amazement escaped her mouth.
Even though it was the first time she had seen fire, the princess was not frightened in the least, as Remesis had expected her to be. On the contrary, the girl moved closer and even wanted to touch the flames with her hands…
Remesis stopped her.
— Your Highness, fire is not to be touched. You could burn yourself.
Asil looked at her puzzled. But she obeyed and took a few steps away. Remesis struck the flint a few more times. Asil opened her mouth again when she saw the flames erupt. Remesis watched her reaction with a chuckle.
At the same time, she was in a bit of a state of confusion. «Sometimes I really don't understand her… Sometimes she acts completely different, and sometimes like this.» Remesis distinctly remembered with what expression and intonation Asil had said those words to her yesterday. It was as if she had become a different person then. Now Remesis was back with the animal for whom fire was the most amazing thing in the world.
— …Would you like this?
Remesis held out the flint to Asil, and she took it with some excitement. Compared to the recent past, now she didn't falter when Remesis came even a step closer to her. The dark corner was still her favorite place though.
The princess twirled the flint in her hands and regarded it with undisguised interest.
That night Remesis regretted giving her the flint. All night she couldn't sleep because of the rumbling.
Some time later, they arrived at another northern village. Remesis paid for two rooms in the house of an elderly woman who agreed to shelter them. Unlike the previous stop, this landlady showed not the slightest interest in their personalities.
Seeing a handful of copper coins, the old woman was completely indifferent to who they were and where they were from. This came as a great relief to the girl.
They were going to stay here for a few days. At first, Asil regarded the woman with great distrust. After what had happened: every inhabitant of the North was now a threat in her eyes.
Nevertheless, Remesis managed to convince her that this old woman was indeed not to be feared.
She had also shared some useful information with them.
— Ah, so that's how it is. So you're going to the capital?
At breakfast the next morning, Remesis let slip their plans.
In response to her question, the girl nodded. Fortunately, the older woman was quite perceptive, and didn't elaborate on their purpose. Remesis didn't even have to come up with an excuse.
— It's a long way from here to the capital,» she said in a thoughtful, aged voice, «If you get there on foot, it'll take at least a month. Is there really no one to take you there?
— No, we're all alone here.
— Oh! In that case, you're in luck. My brother is a coachman.
— А?
— It's only fifty shellengs one way. What do you say?
The girl was speechless for a moment.
She suddenly realized why the enterprising old woman was interested in their trip. Remesis mentally grinned. She didn't really mind.
— It will suit us just fine. In that case, when can we leave?
The old woman's face brightened.
— My brother is returning to the village tomorrow. So you can go almost immediately!
— Okay,» the girl's expression brightened too, «we agree!
She turned to look at Asil, who was spreading the meat pie with a nonchalant look. The princess frowned.
Remesis was willing to pay fifty shellengs, or a hundred, to stop wandering the North. Living in caves and wandering through snowdrifts every day had worn her out.
The princess, however, did not share her joy. The thought of having to go to the big city was not a happy one. Living in a cave isn't so bad. At least there are no bad people there to harm her.
Although Asil accepted it, the strong disapproval on her face was obvious.
***
Chapter 17 is already available on Boosty: https://boosty.to/meredit
Tomorrow afternoon they and his hostess's brother did indeed set out on their journey. Remesis paid him fifty shelengs for the journey.
Shelengs, small copper coins, were used by the commoners. They were considered an inferior unit of money, so they were paid mostly by the poorer classes. One hundred shelengs equaled one silver coin, a sekel. And ten silver ones — one gold thaler.
Aristocrats usually did not use shellengs, because they were nicknamed «beggar's money» and it was considered something shameful for the upper class to pay with them. Even Remesis, who lived in Duke Carter's mansion, had never seen a single copper coin. The first time she had ever picked up a cheleng was when she had specifically asked Seyla to exchange her silver for them.
Of course, bringing real silver and gold with her to the crime-infested north was extremely reckless. Remesis didn't want to add to her problems and become a target for the local bandit gangs. So she kept only one gold thaler, a few sekels just in case, and exchanged the rest for coppers.
It was much safer to pay in the North that way.
As a result, her few gold coins, a couple dozen silver coins, accumulated over the years, turned into a whole bag of copper coins. Remesis kept them carefully in her possession, and still observed certain safety precautions: such as never showing her money in a crowded place.
The cabman had asked them for only fifty shellengs for the trip to the capital. To be honest, it was rather small. Remesis had expected him to ask for at least one silver, for the journey was indeed a long one. But apparently, in the North, people who were already surviving on the edge of poverty grabbed at any job. So, fearing to lose their rare customers, they charged the lowest prices.
Remesis didn't mind paying the cabman more, especially for the two of them. But if she insisted on raising the price, it would be even more suspicious. Besides, the man was a stranger to her. Who knows what a hungry northerner would do when he found out that his little passengers were loaded with money. The girl didn't take any chances, as their own safety was more important.
Eventually, having «gotten away» with fifty shellenges, they set off.
It was not even a carriage, but an open-topped wagon pulled by two shaggy horses. In one day they traveled about a hundred miles, and the whole journey was not without adventures. As a rule, because of the dangers of the northern lands, any kind of carriages had to be guarded by men.
However, the common people of poor villages could not afford to hire guards. Therefore, they used separate paths that were considered safe for their travels. Allegedly, there are fewer monsters and other creatures on them. However, «safety» in the North, of course, was a relative concept…
Fortunately, they were lucky not to encounter barbarians. However, almost every day Asil had to deal with monsters who came to the smell of human meat like flies to honey. The charioteer just watched with a sagging jaw and eyes popping out of his orbits as a child half his size slaughtered the monsters in cold blood.
Remesis, frankly, was just as shocked.
The monsters held the North in fear on par with the barbarians. However, despite their intimidating appearance, it was not that difficult to kill them if you knew the location of their weaknesses. However, due to the lack of experience in fighting them, few people knew about it. Unless they were experienced warriors or barbarians who had been fighting in the North for years.
Remesis, like Asil, had not arrived in the North that long ago. Before that, they had only had to deal with the wolves they had encountered while living in the caves. Because of this, Remesis was involuntarily amazed at Asil's savvy. Perhaps, since she herself resembled a beast, she could just sense it…?
Remesis tensed up a bit while pondering this. At any rate, she decided to stay out of things she didn't understand. Especially in a place as obscure and unexplored to her as Asil's head. After all, the important thing was that they were alive, right?
After ten days of protracted and undoubtedly arduous travel, they approached the city. Remesis couldn't take her eyes off the long-awaited sight of the iron towers as their days of wandering finally came to an end. In her former life, she had only been able to see this view after six months of wandering more like hell.
A massive, iron-clad gate appeared before them. A sentry standing on the wall spotted them and reported something to the rest of the guards. Soon the drawbridge creaked as it lowered. The greased chains rattled, pulling up the bars. Guardsmen emerged from the gate.
The Northern Guardsmen were stabbed in steel from head to toe. A sturdy collar covered their throats, and on their heads was a helmet with a white wolf adorning the visor. The crest of Fortress Nord and the North.
Several of the guards looked closely at the faces of the unknown travelers. Although they recognized the coachman at once, they were suspicious of the travelers themselves. In the North, they were extremely wary of strangers.
The older man came forward. Tall and stout, he towered over the others like a boulder. In some ways he looked like a barbarian. His beard, coarse and black as iron wire, covered his cheeks. The guardsman spoke threateningly:
— Your identification? If you don't show it, we'll assume you're from a barbarian tribe and won't allow you to enter the city.
Remesis took Asil by the arm and led the way. The princess did not resist as the girl led her towards the guardsmen and declared:
— We have come from the capital. This is Princess Asil Nara Asheloth, the new Lord of the North. I, her wife Remesis Rania Asheloth, accompany her.
Remesis showed them the ring of the Northern Lord that was worn on Asil's finger. The man, dazed at first, slid a wary glance at it.
Then, recognizing it, he shifted his gaze to Asil. Apparently he was surprised that the new ruler of their lands was… A child. Although he had heard that it should be someone from the imperial family. However, he hadn't expected that the lord wouldn't even arrive in an imperial carriage, and… In such a form. However, one way or another, the sign of the northern lord forced him to fulfill his duties.
Without much pleasure, the guard soon dropped to one knee, and primly said:
— We have been informed that the new lord is due to arrive shortly. Greetings, Princess.
— Greetings, Princess!
All the other guardsmen followed suit.
Remesis sighed. Even if they were doing this under duress, at least they recognized Asil as their lord. Though it was no secret that the northerners hated the Imperial family, and regarded the lord sent to them as more of a mockery. It would be a long time before the princess established herself in the eyes of these people.
In the meantime, Remesis turned her attention to the girl herself. Asil was always nervous in the presence of new people. Right now her amber eyes were twitching, a hint of confusion in them.
Remesis took her hand firmly in hers just in case. Asil stared at her.
— Your Highness, it's all right. Let's go.
— Ahhh…
— You're hungry, right? There's definitely food in the castle.
— …Food?
— Yes.
At first, Asil resisted, anxiously looking towards the nearby forest like an animal that longs to break free and run away. But after the words spoken by Remesis, she magically calmed down. Her eyes lit up.
— Food. Food. Food.
Remesis laughed softly.
— Yes, food. So come with me.
The guards escorted them outside the gate as Remesis continued to hold the princess' hand. Soon she felt the fingers in her palm move and slowly grasped it back. Thus they walked hand in hand.
The coachman who gave them a ride looked at the children's backs with his mouth open. Of course, he had no idea that the personalities of his little passengers would turn out to be so… But it was too late to ask anything as the gate closed.
The Iron Castle, which represented the main residence of the capital of the North, was quite small. A single fortified tower, a wooden house, and a stable sheltered under a low wall of rough stone. The castle itself was old and shabby.
Remesis sighed at the sight of the grounds. Honestly, the view before her was depressing. It didn't look like any lord's domain at all.
Once upon a time, this castle was huge and majestic. But after decades of neglect, it was certainly far from that. The fortress was subjected to numerous barbarian raids, and then was «cleaned out» by local brigands. In the end, all that was left was this pitiful semblance, which no one had looked after for thirty years.
In that life, for the first few years, Remesis and Asil suffered from cold and poverty. Often they starved or ate scraps, because there was simply not enough money to maintain the castle. But then… Things changed.
As Asil's influence grew day by day, everything else couldn't stay the same either. The Iron Castle transformed and grew larger before his eyes. Eventually, after a few years — the place was unrecognizable.
The dilapidated poor residence had grown dozens of towers and changed dramatically, now fully reflecting the name of the Nord Castle. And this majestic castle became for Remesis like a big cage… The girl involuntarily shuddered from not too pleasant memories.
At any rate, things would be different now. Remesis was determined to treat the northern fortress truly as her home. At least until her revenge was complete.
Inside, they were greeted by a knight. A sturdy man in his forties with an honest and open face, a broad nose and disheveled red hair. He seemed like a friendly man, and as far as Remesis could remember, he really was. In all the time she'd lived here, she couldn't remember a single bad remark about him.
He was the only person who had truly treated Asil as his mistress from the beginning. And served her faithfully until he was killed by her.
— Greetings, Her Highness! I, Commander of Fortress North, Hannes Reitli, am hereby ready to serve Your Highness faithfully.
— ....
Asil didn't say anything.
Remesis was a little embarrassed. If Asil didn't give the order, he would continue to kneel like this, right? So she decided to do it instead.
— Please stand up, knight.
The man shifted his gaze to Remesis.
— And you are…?
— My name is Remesis Rania Asheloth,» the girl introduced herself, «You may have heard that our families were joined in marriage not too long ago. That is why I have also come to the North as a consort.
A look of surprise flashed across the knight's face. He had never thought that this little girl could be someone's wife… At first, Hannes had even mistaken Remesis for a maid accompanying the princess. But then, realizing his mistake, he hastened to kneel before her as well.
— I beg your pardon! — I apologize for not recognizing you at once… Initially, I was only informed of the arrival of the Princess. Greetings to the Princess of the North!
Remesis coughed.
— Thank you… But you can still get up.
The knight hesitated for a moment before standing up. He looked at Asil once more. But the princess didn't care. She was more interested in looking at the rocks under her feet than talking to the knight.
— Uh…
There was a slight pause.
— In that case, allow me to escort you to your chambers. Your Highnesses must be very tired after the journey.
Remesis nodded hastily.
— Thank you, sire.
— Call me Hannes, Your Highness. I am always at your service!
The knight led them down the long corridors of the castle, which looked more like abandoned corridors due to its neglected appearance. The rare servants looked back at them with suspicion and apprehension. Remesis hesitated for a moment before asking.
— Hannes, how many people work at the castle?
— Uh… There are about seven maids in total. And another fifteen laborers.
— And the guards?
— There are twenty men in the castle defense. There are fifty in our army.
Remesis pressed her lips together as she pondered on the road. Indeed, not that many… In the past, when she was not interested in the affairs of the castle, the girl could realize from the situation that the situation was deplorable. But she didn't realize it was that bad.
There were only fifty men in their troops right now. After learning this data, Remesis was even more shocked at how in twelve years Asil had managed to increase this number to a hundred thousand…
She inadvertently glanced at the princess walking beside her and couldn't believe her eyes. If the girl didn't know the future, she would never have believed it. A brute who couldn't write or read would lead such a large army in the future… Anyone would have thought it was nonsense.
But Remesis, who had seen everything with her own eyes, only grinned grimly.
The knight led them to the master bedroom, which was located in a separate tower. It had been the personal bedchamber of the lords of the northern castle for centuries. The room looked large and bright, and not as poor as one might expect at first.
In the center of the room was a large double four-poster bed. A few armchairs and a marble table with a lamp stood next to it. Flames burned in two hearths, filling the room with a stifling heat. There were even a few paintings hanging on the wall.
Remesis hesitated. This was Asil's bedroom. The same one she had died in… Though it had looked many times better and more luxurious then than it did now. Expectedly, she didn't have the most pleasant impressions of the place. Besides, the girl wasn't going to share a room with her anyway.
Now that they had arrived at the castle, sleeping together for security reasons was no longer necessary. Remesis was going to ask Hannes to take her to another available room. She even knew which one already.
But Asil, as if reading her mind and realizing what she was thinking, suddenly grabbed her arm. Remesis flinched and looked at her in surprise. Her golden eyes burned with a strange fire.
— …Stop.
For some reason, Remesis felt like it was an order.
***
Chapter 18 is already available on Boosty: https://boosty.to/meredit
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