Revenant's Resolve chapter 31

“Wh-where’s Bo-te-zatu?” Reznik asked, batting away the hands of the woman with rabbit ears as she tried to unclasp a piece of his armor. 

The tiny woman bounced a step back, eying him nervously for a moment before she gulped. 

“He is being fetched… along with other guests, Master Reznik.” The woman informed with trepidation in her tone, bowing her head and fixing her eyes on the floor. “My mother and I were tasked with getting you ready for the banquet by her grace.” 

Her grace? I wond- no, I know who that is. 

This is the Queen’s doing. Oh well, best I let them do as they will. 

Reznik grunted by way of reply, lifting his arms out to the side to make the servant’s job easier. 

They seemed to take this as tacit approval, and began to skillfully strip him of his armor, setting the heavy plates in a velvet-lined chest. Piece after piece they stripped off of him, even taking his chainmail and the leather padding underneath. 

Reznik was left completely naked after what seemed like less than a minute. 

Standing there, he was passingly aware of a door snicking open behind him, and noted when the young woman with rabbit ears bent forward at the waist towards the sound. 

“Your grace…” she offered in time with another voice, who Reznik assumed was her mother. 

Oh shit! 

Royalty. 

Maybe it’s the Queen - I should bow too, right?

Reznik bowed forward in much the same way as the attendant who had just finished stripping him of his armor. 

He heard a deep, frustrated sigh behind him. 

“Reznik, I beg you. For the love of the gods, please turn around.” Zarah begged in a tired, frustrated tone. 

Not rising back up, Reznik began to take small, shuffling steps to turn around and face her voice. 

He hazarded a small glance up and found the Queen watching him with raised eyebrows and an amused expression, along with a slight pink to her cheeks.

Zarah currently was pressing her palm forcefully into her face. 

“At least he bowed.” The Queen added with her lips twitching at the corners. “But I can’t say I’ve ever had a champion… present himself to me like that before.” 

She tilted her head as she looked down at him for a moment longer, then commanded;

“Please, rise.” 

Reznik slowly stood back up straight, making eye contact with Queen Dzvina the whole time. 

She merely stared back with an odd twinkle in her eye. 

“For all his progress, he still lacks some… context in finer ways of society.” Zarah informed Dzvina with a sigh. 

“You’ll remember, Zarah - in his early years, my husband did as well. It was me that guided diplomacy, and him that secured our power.” Queen Dzvina offered with a small giggle. “Being born into lands of blood and death will do that to a man. 

“Well, anyway. Do you think he’ll be able to manage a banquet tonight with the nobility when we return?” 

“Mmmn, maybe.” Zarah and the queen continued to talk about Reznik as if he wasn’t even there. “If we feed him a pile of meat beforehand. From what I’ve learned, his sanity begins to scatter when he gets hungry.”

“Hmmm, interesting. So, he’s simply a normal man, then?” Dzvina’s voice held a twinge of humor, and her sunlight-yellow eyes sparkled when she turned back to Reznik. “My husband was much the same. If he forgot breakfast because he was planning an invasion or the like, he would spend the whole morning trying to find the cubby he’d left his brain in.” 

Then she sighed sadly, a memory seeming to play behind her now-closed eyes. 

“My husband was the kind of man who listened to wise council, but always went with his gut.” Dzvina explained with a tone that had diminished in brightness significantly. “When I first saw you after you returned from my son’s task, my gut told me I should have laid the charge of his rescue at your feet.” 

The Queen closed her eyes and apologetically bowed her head. “I see now that I should have listened to that instinct.

“All this pomp and circumstance just to end where I should have been at the start.”

Queen Dzvina met Reznik’s eyes again, something seeming to solidify behind them.

“In two days, we will be in Kraikov. We will meet the Czhan there, and you will duel his champion, on his terms. I imagine he has some kind of surprise, a trump card we’re not seeing. He wouldn’t offer otherwise” 

Something behind the Queen’s eyes changed, like a mask being pulled to the side just enough to see the person underneath. 

“Can you do it?” she questioned in a much softer tone, despite the fact that the women who had been undressing Reznik had fled the room, leaving just her, Zarah, and himself. “Can you win - and free my boy?” 

The question felt like a dam holding back a sea of emotion that swirled just beneath the surface, and cracks were beginning to show. 

“I will go.” Reznik answered, staring levelly into her eyes. “I w-will sssave him.” 

Dzvina exhaled raggedly, her eyes dipping from Reznik’s for a moment as her shoulders slumped. She took in one more steadying breath, and looked back up to him with a polite smile, the mask of the Queen returned to its place. 

“Wonderful. Now, If you’ll excuse me, I have a rescue to prepare, and a war to plan.” 

  *

Reznik rode in the back of a carriage with Zarah, and oddly enough, Luminita. 

The night before, he’d had dinner with the Queen, Botezatu, Zarah, and Luminita, and had done his best to stay out of the back-and-forth that seemed to jump around the table. 

There had been food for him to focus on, after all. 

Though, he’d been surprised when Luminita advocated for herself to be brought along with them as part of his entourage. 

The woman had argued, respectfully, to Queen Dzvina that as both Zarah’s handmaiden, and Reznik’s friend, that she should be allowed to accompany him - in no small part so he’d never have to be alone with strangers and cause a major diplomatic incident. 

Counter to the worry on Botezatu’s face and tone, the Queen seemed amused by her bold nature, and allowed it. 

Now the carriage trundled along to their destination; the neutral city state of Kraikov, which was sandwiched between the borders of Bessarba, Prussany, and Wallach. 

“So.” Zarah broke the silence with a playful smirk at the edges of her lips. “Luminita tells me you gave her a rather… opulent gift the other day.” 

Zarah pointedly looked down at Luminita’s chest, the necklace clearly visible above the low cut of the garment. 

“I… I th-thou-ght it w-w-was p-pretty.” Reznik admitted, looking down to his feet. He was worried that Zarah would rebuke him for using the silver coins she’d given him for emergencies. 

“And pretty it is. I would almost imagine it’s a courting gift.” Zarah quirked a brow and steepled her fingers. “Is it a courting gift, Reznik?” 

Reznik felt a weight pressing down on his mind, and it wasn’t Zarah’s telepathic presence. Though she was clearly there, the weight was the press of making a snap decision with major consequences, and making it fast. 

His mouth opened, then closed, then opened again several times as he tried to wrap his mind around just exactly how to respond.

Why is Zarah pressing this issue… in front of Luminita no less?

What is she going for?

“It is a courting gift.” Luminta answered for him, wrapping an arm through his. The gesture startled Reznik completely out of his thoughts, and he passed a concerned glance over to her before turning back to Zarah. “I know that he still has a while to go before anything more will be true, but…

“I’ve felt attached to him in a way I couldn’t describe since that night in the woods. He protected me then, protected me in Carcal, and I don’t have any doubt that as time goes on, he will grow into the man I know he is inside.” 

Luminita’s words carried a finality behind them that indicated she was sure in her belief. 

Zarah smirked. 

“I see.” 

Though Zarah’s tone was teasing, and her smile looked genuine, something about it still gave Reznik pause. 

Just the faintest flash of an emotion behind her eyes.

She looked as if she were about to reply for a moment, before the carriage rolled to a halt. 

Zarah rested her hand on her saber in a way that looked reflexive to Reznik before a knock sounded from the door.

“Open it. What is it?” she demanded before a liveried footman opened the door and bowed. 

“Dame, your champion is requested to attend the Queen.” 

“Ah, very well.” Zarah nodded, beginning to rise from her seat along with Reznik. 

“Just… your champion, Dame.” The servant added a moment later.

Reznik was thoroughly confused why his presence was requested, instead of Zarah’s, or even Luminita’s. 

He wasn’t exactly a conversationalist, though at least he could talk now. 

Why on earth the Queen would want to see him, alone was a mystery to him. 

Reznik exited the carriage slowly, stooping to climb out the door before dropping to the ground. Behind him, the carriage shook side to side as it adjusted to the sudden lack of weight. 

He allowed himself to be led up to the equally opulently decorated carriage, being watched pointedly by every one of the large contingent of guards. 

When the door opened, he found the inside of the carriage to be redesigned from his. 

The seats had been stripped away in favor of a large and plush futon spread over the floor, giving just enough space for the Queen and her massive rear end to sit, or lie, comfortably. Which it was for her, he wasn’t sure. 

At the servant’s beckoning, he entered, carefully avoiding the legs of the spider-woman which looked almost delicate. 

A moment later, two different servants brought two trays into the cab, setting them in recessed holders by the door. 

One held a small pile of dried meat, and the other held bread and a large cup of steaming, fragrant tea. 

“Thank you. The journey may resume. We are not to be disturbed until we reach our destination or I call for it, understood?” Dzvina commanded authoritatively, but not impolitely. 

“Yes, highness,” both servants bowed in unison before shutting the door. 

Reznik decided he should probably sit, so he flopped down onto the opposite side of the cab from Dzvina. 

The carriage rattled to life again as the journey resumed, the royal spider seeming to watch him and wait. 

Her six golden eyes were all focused on him, and he wasn’t sure which he should look at. 

Dzvina opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again.

“I feel as though you are… not one for political backstabbing.” Her statement also seemed to be a question in and of itself. “Nor are you one for useless words. The kind of person I can talk to openly”

Reznik gave a slow, cautious nod.

“Then please, eat. All the jerky is for you.” Dzvina smiled brightly, waving an open palm at the silver tray piled with dried meat. 

Reznik stared at the food for a moment before glancing back to the Queen and her kind smile. 

Then, he grabbed several strips and put one in his mouth. It melted on his tongue, the taste of delightful spices greeting him. 

Quickly, he finished the handful. 

“W-why am I h-here?” Reznik asked after putting his thoughts into a manageable order. 

“This is the first I have left the capitol in over five years. In part, I wished for some company - and the kind who won’t twist what I say into rumors for other nobles.” Dzvina answered with a weighty sigh. “The ability to speak freely is a… luxury to someone of my station. Even nobles like Zarah and Botezatu, being raised from the commoners hold risk to speak with. 

“Additionally, I wanted to get to know the man whom I have selected as my champion more. Zarah told me precious little about you, and what little she did reminded me much of my husband.” 

Reznik cocked his head thoughtfully.

Her husband?

Was he undead too?

“W-wasss he u-u-unn-dead too?” Reznik’s words mirrored his thoughts a moment later.

“Hah, no. No he was just a human.” Dzvina smiled sadly, all of her eyes seeming to glaze over for a long moment as if lost in a memory. With a small shake of her head, she returned to this world. “But he was born to a barbarian tribe in the mountains, and lacked much of the tact required for ruling a kingdom. Even if it was one forged by his conquests.”

Reznik shrugged. He hadn’t known the man, but from all he’d heard, the late king sounded like he was a good man and a good ruler. 

Either way, it wasn’t really Reznik’s problem. 

All Reznik wanted was his friends safe, and food in his belly. 

At least he could be sure of one in this carriage, he imagined as he devoured another strip of the spiced dried meat. 

Then he froze, with the meat halfway to his mouth and frowned. 

There had to be more to life than that, just being safe and fed. 

Memories of Botezatu’s talk about choices, about not letting his destiny be controlled by the changing river of fate. 

If the Queen, the single most important person in the country, wanted to talk with him for a time, he would let her, and -then- eat. 

“It’s not poisoned.” The Queen looked confused as he set the handful of jerky back on the tray. 

“W-wouldn’t mat-ter.” Reznik smirked back. 

He wasn’t lying either, as far as he knew. 

Many of the corpses he’d feasted on in the past were well beyond what could be considered “rotting” and would likely have been the death of most other living things. 

Moving with his own thoughts, Reznik asked a question that had been bothering him. 

“W-w-why co-me with us-s?” he asked the Queen, his head rolling to his shoulder. “Y-you’re the Q-Queen. You shou-ld b-be in the c-cast-le.” 

Dzvina inhaled deeply, her lips turning down into a scowl. 

“The Czhan’s offer to return my son was balanced down by an equally weighty cost if my champion lost.” Dzvina stared at Reznik with hostility in all six of her eyes. “Myself. 

“To become his concubine, and surrender my kingdom to his empire.”

Her gaze flicked down to the floor as she continued;

“As I have no other heirs by my late husband, I must choose between risking everything I built with him through a succession crisis, or through a hail-mary gamble of a duel.” Dzvina’s eyes came back up to his, the hostility gone, but the iron remaining. “I come because I fear for my son, my kingdom, and myself - in that order.

“I’m using these two days of travel to… reassure myself that I’ve made the right decision putting my faith in the undead madman that one of my inquisitors brought back from the wastes. There will not be a second chance for me.” 

Though Reznik could see and hear the resolve in her words, Reznik knew that this was a moment of incredible vulnerability on her part to him. 

A massive olive branch extended, as Reznik was sure that showing even the smallest hint of weakness and self-doubt was tantamount to suicide among the nobility. 

Reznik considered it for a moment, and then accepted the olive branch by way of grabbing the handful of jerky and stuffing it in his mouth. By the time he swallowed, he had put together his next words. 

“I c-come fo-rrr my f-friends.” He stated bluntly, the words feeling unfinished on his tongue. 

Dzvina watched him for a moment longer, her eyebrows raised expectantly as if waiting for something to happen. 

Then, she snorted and shook her head. 

“Were my late husband still here with us, he would have made a dirty joke from that.” She chuckled absently. “In fact, he likely would have loved you. Honestly, he probably would have gone over my head and knighted you for what you did in Carcal, the other nobles and their opinions be damned.”

Reznik heard a loud pop, likely from a stone in the road. Then a second one came with a shower of splinters. 

A small, finger-sized hole spilled sunlight into the side of the carriage a shouts rang out around them.

“Ambush! Push out!” came a muffled yell before the world devolved into a cacophony of small explosions.

The carriage began to rattle and jostle in earnest, likely as the driver pushed the horses ever faster. 

With a thud, the carriage dropped to the ground in one corner, then stopped moving, spilling the tray of jerky across the carriage floor. 

“Fuck, they hit the wheel!” another voice shouted. “Buy me time to fix it!” 

With a mental sigh, Reznik knew his chance at a peaceful ride to their destination just went out the window. He knew what he had to do, and reached for the door latch as Dzvina looked concerned. 

“S-stay s-s-safe.” He gave her a small nod before throwing open the deceptively heavy door and stepping outside. 

The carriage had come to a stop in the middle of an open patch of field that the road snaked through. A small distance away to either side was a wall of trees, which was where the shooting was coming from. 

A crouched royal guard in the same gold-trimmed black coat as everyone else fired a round back at the trees from just in front of Reznik. 

“Get down!” he shouted, briefly turning over his shoulder at Reznik. 

Instead, Reznik let his instincts guide him. 

He shot forward, sprinting at full tilt across the open field, directly at the muzzle flashes. 

Not only had they interrupted his conversation, they had spilled his jerky - which was actually quite good. 

Not Luminita’s cooking good, but enjoyable. 

It felt like the air around him began to snap and pop, before the pinging started.

Rounds glanced off his armor, sending showers of sparks this way and that as he closed the distance with the ambushers. 

He saw the first one, a stocky woman in a mottled green cloak not far from him. 

Her eyes were wide and fearful as she ran the action of her rifle and fired again, sending sparks from her shoulder.

She didn’t get a chance to fire again as he was upon her. 

He ripped her arm from her socket, twisting the flesh until it discolored, then shredded at the joint. He ignored her screams, hurling her at a nearby tree and cutting her wail off with a crunch. 

Another round pinged off of him, and he saw the pointy-eared man a short distance away, running the action of his rifle.

Reznik leapt and swung the severed limb at his skull, hitting with enough force to pulp the Elf’s head. 

Reznik heard a gurgle behind him, then another muffled bang. 

He turned to find Zarah with a sword through a green-skinned woman’s gut, the barrel of a pistol under the larger woman’s jaw. 

Reznik had a brief moment of confusion, as neither weapon was hers, or at least he didn’t recognize them. 

Nor had she been armed in the carriage. 

When he saw the empty holster at the Orc’s hip, he understood. 

Zarah ripped the sword free and spun to face at Reznik. 

“Shall we?” she asked with a wild grin, pointing the tip of her sword deeper into the woods. “Imagine the meal Luminita will cook tonight if you save her again.” 

The small waggle of the Elven telepath’s eyebrows was more than enough motivation for him.