Chapter 267 – First Wife to Find Out

*** Shyla ***

They took her. My Lady. My sweet, poor Lady is gone. Her patients were killed or are now dying without a healer to help them as the cold air seeps in through the cuts in the tent.

The rules don't allow for this.

I'm a pregnant tailor; what could I do? The last time I held a sword was with a bunch of other nobles, looking for some easy levels. Beasts half-dead were all I've ever fought. So what could I do to them?

I was just starting to show my Lady that I liked her. A little more than a maid normally likes their Lady, I think. Mother was always quiet about that kind of relationship, but I do know being one with my Lady felt right. My position should obviously be to serve her greatness completely, but that damn collar messed it all up!

Are my Lady's last thoughts going to be about that? How her stupid maid couldn't do anything because her maid wouldn't serve a slave. And I did say that; I said I wouldn't risk my life while she had a collar on. But now it's because I'm pregnant with our children. Will she know that? I'm willing to die for you, my Lady. I'm just pregnant. Please don't abandon this useless maid. I have more pretty dresses to make for you.

No, why am I worried she'll think poorly of me? My Lady, are you even going to survive being taken so far from your owner? Are they going to take her to the capital? Surely, she'll die if that happens. And yet, I did nothing. The greatest Lady I could dress, and I let her leave like that? Just spitting out some empty threats.

"Shyla," Petra says. "Get up. I've sent word about Alzi, and, well, to put it simply, we can use the rest of the potions to save the women here. I need your help; I'm not the best at handing things out, as you can probably guess. Everyone else is either hurt, not a noble, or running around trying to keep them alive until the potions get passed out. You're the only one right now who fits none of those categories."

"The army?" I ask. Surely, one of them can handle the situation instead of a stupid maid. I let my Lady get taken; who would listen to me?

"A mess. Besides, you have the potions."

"Oh, right. Another slight to my Lady," I say. I wipe the useless tears from my eyes and force myself to my feet. I need to help my Lady. Even if this would hardly be worth a thing to her, it's all I can do.

The ring has a passcode so the army will know when it gets opened. I've hidden the fact that it existed from my Lady so she wouldn't get mad that Elora has kept yet another thing from her. It was stupid, as she would figure it out eventually, but I was trying to keep her spirits up in the short term. I'd planned on her being happy enough when she could finally hold it that she wouldn't care about me not sharing its existence. But if she comes back, I doubt she'll care much about the silly ring.

"Show me who I need to go to," I say. I'm sure she's figured out everything already, which is probably the only reason I had time to cry in the corner. Mother used me as an example of a noble having to kill monsters, and yet I went hiding as soon as they pulled a sword. I'm so pathetic.

"Good. We'll get those who defended the Healing Dragon first. Then, the standard order after that. I doubt the Princess will find fault with that ordering," Petra says.

"Yes, Princess Elora likely won't care much about it."

*** Vanya ***

Why am I out here? Inanos and I should be near Alzi if we must fight. Same with Elora, really. Geta is hiding something under that mask. Shimmer probably is, as well. Geta has only gotten more attention after the disaster that almost got Inanos killed, and despite the increased number of nobles responding to her presence, nobody gets seriously injured around her. It isn't luck that she's able to match the enemy's strength so well after apparently having a barrier to her abilities. Why doesn't she take all the work off those of us who are pregnant?

And anyone who hasn't figured out Shimmer at this point must be in utter disbelief. Only the royal family has that much control over fire, and she is not part of that family. The Queen would be parading her around if she had any attachment to their family, rules about fatherhood announcements be damned.

So I don't even really have to be out here. Most of the combat is two versus one in our favor already. Elora just loves that I can run around so fast. Just help everyone, Vanya; please don't think about how I had to trick Alzi into impregnating you so much to save you last time. Azula isn't around anymore.

Exactly! Our greatest enemy isn't here. So, let the pregnant ladies rest a bit.

At least she said it was up to my discretion if I joined a fight or not. So now, I can just run around and watch for the most part. I'm not risking these kids and getting Alzi to pump me up with a few more in revenge for risking them on Elora's orders. Nobody wants more kids that badly.

Though, maybe that dragon Alzi had her way with would? The mess Alzi came out in showed she really did a number on that girl, and yet she came back to the party and eyed Alzi the entire time with lust.

I suppose I should find a fight to join for a few minutes. I have to be able to say that I did something in my time out here, even if it would be better if I did nothing but run around. It's a little too late to appeal to the Queen over this plan.

All around me are fights; it isn't hard to find them. The hard part is picking one of them. The other side has extra women as well. Pick the wrong battle, and you'll get the woman you're trying to help killed by whoever joins on the opposite side. Then I would be stuck in that fight, and I really don't need to get into a two versus one. And that's the other problem: if it's too close, I won't be able to convince my mirror to back off, and I'll get stuck again.Joining the commoners and their lines isn't an option. Sure, I could kill a few hundred before a noble came to stop me, but I'm not going to get just one noble. All the nearest nobles will come right at me, and both sides will just lose all the commoners in the nobles' brawl. Elora was reminded of that fact when Alzi had to run out to save her. Nobles only attack the commoners during a retreat. Otherwise, you're just slaughtering everyone.

I've got two options to join. One is two warriors. They're evenly matched, but I think my addition would back them up enough that everyone would just break off the fight. For us, it would be to keep from getting flanked, while for them, it would be to stay alive and avoid being flanked. It would start to consolidate some of these fights, which should work out better for us. The other option is a mage fight, where the enemy is getting a little too close to our territory.

But first, I take a look at our camp, hoping to see a flag signaling our retreat or something. Instead, I see my maid waving around with her little bit of show magic. She wasn't the strongest or the right choice at all for a maid, but she was sweet and cute. I'm sure we can find a use for that magic of hers, and right now, she seems to be using it to get my attention. She's flashing a red light around at the edge of the camp. Normally, she uses an array of colors, so something must be up for her to be in this much of a panic. Looking for an excuse to get out of here, I start running back. It'll only take a few minutes to sprint back there, and then I'll take my time getting back out to the fight.

"LADY ALZI!" my maid shouts. "TAKEN!"

They're trying that again? They have to know she'll just pass out. What man is going to get hard while knocked out from the pain? What are we facing?

"How and when?" I ask. "Can I catch them?"

"No, they had too many spells and enchantments on their horses. Some of the maids are fighting near the prisoners. You need to help them."

"Why wouldn't they break that rule as well," I mutter, sprinting off yet again.

Arriving at the prisoners, I find nothing. Well, not nothing, just that there is no fight. The prisoners are still tied up. Even the poison piece of shit is here, broken and mangled.

"Where is Alzi?" I ask a guard.

"Missing, Petra reported the attack and got emergency permission to use the potions. We're trying to get to Elora, but she's still fighting."

"Why is the camp so calm?"

"Most are out fighting, and the rest are just depressed, knowing they took our healer without us putting up a fight or being able to stop it. I'm not going to do anything stupid and lose a prisoner."

"And you didn't think of telling me that when I came sprinting over?"

"You didn't give us a chance."

"Has anyone seen Sedriresa? She should be telling everyone."

"She is the one spreading the message. You should've passed her."

That fucking bitch!

"You're going to have a new prisoner," I say, sprinting yet again. I hope all this running doesn't hurt the kids. Alzi has enough reasons to kill me already; there's no need to add to the list.

I don't make it far before bumping into my maid.

"Show me your magic!"

"Yes, my Lady," she says. A dim light appears on her finger, shifting between green and red.

"How long did I cry?"

"After your impregnation? Um, three hours," she says.

"Stay by the prisoners. Nobody. And I mean, no one is to enter without two wives giving permission in person."

"Yes, my Lady."

Now, how do I catch someone who can look like anyone? How blind is Elora? We had three women that could've and should've stayed by Alzi. How did none of them do that job? Any one of us should've been enough to keep Alzi safe and alive. Instead, I have to find a damn changeling. It'd better not be a fucking Kitsune; I'll kill Yuki if their people are behind this. She's probably back in her realm, never to be seen again if it is her. But I'll find a way.

Maybe the changeling is still posing as my maid. She has to be smarter than that, but that is my best guess. Just move slowly.

"HELP!"

But fast may be the better option. I get to sprint yet again to the prisoners. This time, there is at least some kind of fight there when I arrive. My maid is holding my maid hostage. But she isn't facing the right way to see me coming, letting me easily take the knife out of her hand and capture the fucker. At least this one can't be a Kitsune. They wouldn't have any reason to free the prisoners.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"I'm just a servant. I didn't have a choice. I'm sorry. I surrender. Please, don't kill me. I'm pregnant with Alzi's child. I promise. I'll slit my own throat if I'm not pregnant."

"Damn it all! You even raped her! You spying bastard. Elise, go get everyone. We need to retreat and figure this the fuck out."

"Yes, my Lady."