The Queens of Remnant - Chapter 15 (Patreon)
Content
Adjusting to life in the palace would take time, if Blake ever adjusted at all. After spending the last few years living on edge, constantly in danger, the implied security behind the palace gates felt too surreal to be true. There was no war here. Rival armies didn’t crash through the walls in the middle of the night. Groups of bandits didn’t break down doors and steal everything they could get their hands on.
It was...safe...yet she couldn’t relax. Part of her felt guilty for being out of harm’s way while so many still suffered. Part of her still couldn’t believe that this was happening. But a much larger part of her discomfort stemmed from the extra attention she received from everyone around her.
A sign above her head must label her as an outsider, and that must be why everyone cast her a second glance or stared at her for a moment too long. Maybe it was her borrowed clothing, which was nicer than anything she had worn in years yet felt uncomfortable against her skin. Maybe it was the bags under her eyes, even though she had been sleeping better on the new mattress brought in just for her. Or maybe everyone sensed something about her, something that didn’t belong.
She didn’t belong here. Even if she was in charge of the Resistance, that title was taken rather than earned. What right did she have to speak on behalf of the Badlands? What right did she have to be here working to restore peace and prosperity? If she could think of anyone better to handle the task, she would gladly cede the privilege. In the absence of that person, she could only do her best.
Just like she did her best to ignore feeling like an imposter while watching the plaza hum with activity. Everyone seemed to know where they were going and what they were supposed to do when they got there. Elites strode through on unspoken missions. Commoners waited in their designated area. Advisors rushed every which way - some to speak with the civilians, some to other parts of the palace.
Blake had learned a lot over the past few days, but there was still so much she didn’t understand. This world was vastly different from her own - faster, busier, more formal - that it was equal parts exciting and overwhelming.
How did the guards know where to go and at what time? How did the advisors coordinate with each other? How did they know when an issue could be immediately resolved versus when it should be saved for future discussion? And how did Yang factor into all of this? What was brought to her attention and what was solved without her input? Just how involved was she, and how involved did she want to be?
All new questions that Blake wanted to ask and would ask if presented the opportunity. Until then, she sat on one of the benches, basking in the warm sun, waiting for Yang. Today, like the past few days, she had no idea what to expect. What would Yang suggest they work on, and what would Blake learn in the process?
Her understanding of Vale’s government had grown much clearer already, helped by Yang’s willingness to share and explain what Blake considered to be sensitive information. But Yang didn’t treat Blake like a Resistance fighter who once had a mission to sow discord within the royal families. Yang didn’t bring up Blake’s past at all. They spent most of their time discussing their respective homes and strategizing how to help everyone - a monumental task that Blake hadn’t understood the difficulty of until now.
When they took breaks from that important work, Yang wanted to hear about the books Blake had read or was reading. She seemed to enjoy any story Blake brought up, but she especially loved when the main character redeemed themselves in the end. Her violet eyes always sparkled as Blake recounted those tales, and that infectious smile was never far behind.
Blake wondered why Yang connected so much with that particular concept but was too scared to ask. They all had their reasons for seeking redemption. She was no different, but delving into that past was something she avoided at all costs.
A glimpse of blonde hair drew her out of those thoughts, and her gaze automatically sought out the owner of such beauty.
Yang had just stepped through the palace doors, looking regal and gorgeous as ever, but she wasn’t alone. Another young woman - this one with long, wavy brunette hair, exquisite black armor, and far too many knives to count - exchanged several words with Yang before motioning to the plaza. Yang offered a few words in return before smiling when the girl spun around, flipped her hair over one shoulder, and walked off with a casual wave.
The lack of formality piqued Blake’s attention, and that curiosity grew when her gaze met this new woman’s. Striking green eyes matched the green accents in her armor and embedded in the hilts of her many blades, but it was her smirk that threw Blake off. They had never met, yet the expression suggested Blake just lost some competition she hadn’t even been aware of.
The fleeting glance left her with more questions, and she glanced over her shoulder as the woman joined a small group of equally well-armed soldiers near the top of the stairs. After exchanging several words, they left the plaza together.
Blake didn’t know what to make of the strangely cavalier sequence of events. The Elites wore gold armor, so who were those people? How was that girl on such friendly terms with Yang? And what had Blake done to earn that look?
In the midst of those thoughts, she noticed Yang walking over to her.
“Good morning,” Yang greeted her with another disarmingly genuine smile. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“That’s fine. It’s nice out.”
“It is, isn’t it?” After looking up at the sky, which was sunny and cloudless this morning, Yang gestured to the palace doors. “Want to get started?”
Blake nodded and followed Yang to the office, where they spent most of their time poring over information and making notes. While they walked, Bake considered keeping quiet about what she just witnessed. Ultimately, curiosity got the best of her.
“Who was that woman?”
“Hmm?” When Blake gestured behind them, Yang frowned that way before understanding dawned in her eyes. “Oh. You mean Cecelia.”
“She’s carrying more weapons than necessary.”
“Well, she’s a mercenary, so she should be,” Yang said, lightly chuckling while waving Blake into the office. “Since the war’s on pause, I called her and her men back. Last thing we need is her getting bored and ruining our temporary peace.”
“A mercenary?”
“Yeah, a sword for hire -”
“I’m familiar with the term,” Blake interrupted while settling into the seat across from Yang. “I didn’t realize Vale was using them.”
“We didn’t want to, but we needed help. It was either call in the people who want to fight or force people to fight. Seemed like an easy decision at the time.”
While Yang sat down with a sigh, Blake tried and failed to come up with a response. It had never occurred to her that Vale or Atlas might hire mercenaries, yet it made sense. As soldiers dwindled, why not bring in fresh swords to turn the tide?
Then she remembered why the black armor looked so familiar.
The day she decided to kill the Queen of Atlas. The explosions in the settlement. Running from the Atlesian Knights only to be surrounded by soldiers she had assumed to be Elites. More skillful Elites who wore black armor rather than the traditional Vale gold. She had written it off as a change in armor, but those weren’t Vale’s soldiers. Those were men and women paid to fight. Bloodthirsty, vicious warriors more interested in making money than saving lives.
“They’ll probably hang around the palace until they find something better to do,” Yang added, drawing Blake back into the conversation at hand.
“You trust them here?”
“No,” Yang admitted, and Blake’s brow rose. “But I’ve known Cecelia for a long time. I know what to expect from her...mostly.”
“How do you even know a mercenary?” Blake asked while Yang searched the large desk for the papers they worked on last.
“We met back when I’d go hunting. Turns out, mercenaries love killing things in general.”
“You hunted?”
“Believe it or not,” Yang replied with a light laugh. “Before the war started, I actually got to leave Vale from time to time. Used to blow off steam hunting dreaders.”
“Wow. I...wouldn’t have expected that.”
“Why?” Yang asked, her gaze warm yet curious. “Think I’m too weak? Too scared?”
“No. Too important.”
To Blake, that was pointing out the obvious, but Yang sat back in her seat and waved one hand.
“It’s not that dangerous if you know what you’re doing. Besides, it’s not like I went alone. I always brought some guards with me, or Cecelia and her men whenever she was around.”
When Yang gave a small smile and returned to sorting the papers on the desk, Blake let the momentary silence extend while processing the unexpected information. Vale using mercenaries in the war...Yang being friends with those mercenaries...Yang hunting dreaders…
According to the stories whispered throughout the Badlands, giant creatures roamed the deserts beyond Vale. Creatures that went beyond imagination - monsters in size, power, and ferocity. Only the strongest or most daring sought out such a battle, and few lived to tell the tale.
Yang was strong - Blake felt it in the radiant heat of her skin - but she was also the Queen of Vale. Putting her life at risk for a thrill seemed reckless but also completely unlike her. Everything she did held a measure of care and consideration for the future.
Except for allowing a group of mercenaries into the palace. Not just into the palace - Cecelia was alone with Yang without any guards in sight. Yang’s explanation suggested they were only friends, but...
“Why do you keep her around?” Blake asked, but Yang shrugged.
“She’s useful. Plus, they say to keep your enemies close.”
“Close, yes, but in your bed is probably a little too close.”
When Yang froze at the insinuation, Blake wished she could grab the words and stuff them back into her mouth. That feeling disappeared, however, equal parts amusement and bewilderment filled Yang’s eyes.
“Is that your way of asking if I’ve slept with her?” Yang asked.
“No…it’s my way of implying that you already did. Or do.”
Blake wished that she hadn’t brought it up at all, but she was positive that she was right. What else explained how friendly they were? At least, she thought that was the case until Yang laughed.
“You’re feisty. I like that.”
That wasn’t an answer, which Blake was about to point out when Yang’s expression grew serious.
“Please be careful around her...she’s as dangerous as she is beautiful.” After a brief pause, Yang chuckled and added, “Though I suspect the same applies to you.”
“Are you calling me dangerous?” Blake asked, bristling at the term.
“I don’t know yet.” Yang shook her head then studied Blake so intently that she fought the urge to shift in her seat. “Definitely beautiful though.”
Blake’s cheeks warmed at the compliment, which flowed easily from Yang’s lips. As Blake had already learned though, flattery and Yang went hand-in-hand. What she hadn’t yet learned was how to respond when Yang deserved even greater praise. Should she admit that Yang also struck her as dangerously beautiful, though dangerous to one’s heart rather than physical well-being? Or should she stay quiet and pretend the words had no impact on her even though they did?
A knock on the door followed by a messenger striding into the room made the decision for her.
“Your Majesty,” he greeted Yang with a bow. “A visitor has arrived for Miss Belladonna.”
“Who is it?”
“Mr. Sun Wukong. He’s waiting just inside the gates.”
“Thank you,” Yang replied while Blake smiled and stood up.
Blake had only been in Vale for a few days, but in some ways it felt like an eternity. She had so much to tell Sun - most of which she probably couldn’t even get into today - but she also had to give him directions to take back to the Badlands.
“Why don’t you go on ahead?” Much slower to her feet, Yang rested both palms on the desk and nodded to the door. “I’ll meet you out there. That way you two can catch up without me.”
Appreciating the courteous gesture, Blake nodded and hurried to the front of the palace. Out of the office, through the throne room, across the entryway, outside and across the plaza. By the time she reached the top of the regal staircase leading down to the palace grounds, excitement had joined the happiness in her chest.
“Sun!” she called out as soon as she spotted the blonde-haired boy chatting with an Elite near the palace gates. He spun around at the sound of her voice and, the instant he found her, dashed up the stairs in a gust of wind.
“Holy hell, Blake!” was the first thing out of his mouth as he hugged her. “When you said you were going somewhere, I thought you were going to do something stupid. Last thing I expected was to find you in Vale’s freaking palace!”
“Neither did I, believe me.” Beaming at his exuberance, she pointed at the bag slung over his shoulders. “Is that for me?”
“Yeah! Grabbed the stuff you asked for.” After handing it over, he looked at Blake’s outfit and grinned. “Don’t think you need it though. You already look great.”
Rolling her eyes, Blake swung the bag around her shoulders without checking the contents. Her regular clothing would make her stand out even more, but at least she would feel more comfortable.
“How’re things back home?”
“Well, you disappeared, so everyone started freaking out. Then you send a message that you’re in Vale working on a peace treaty, and everyone started freaking out even more. Other than that...fine, I guess?”
“Any skirmishes recently?”
“Nothing all week. It’s weird and...yeah, just weird.”
The response confirmed that Vale and Atlas did what they said they would: cease all fighting until they signed the treaty. Knowing that Yang, Ruby, and Weiss were following through on their promises filled Blake with relief.
“But how did you end up here?” Sun asked, raising his arms toward the large, extravagant palace.
“It’s...a long story. We’ll go over it once this is over.”
“Did they seriously end the war? And say they’ll help us?”
His eyes hoped for a positive answer, and her heart warmed knowing that she had one to offer.
“They did, Sun,” she answered, nodding as a grin crept onto his lips. “I still can’t believe it, but...I heard straight from their mouths. They agreed to end the war. They agreed to work together to help the Badlands. They were...cooperating.”
“Sounds too good to be true.”
“It does, but…I believe them, as stupid as that sounds. And if the fighting has stopped, then we’re already making progress.” When Sun chuckled and shook his head, Blake patted his shoulder and added, “Come on. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
If the news felt too good to be true, meeting Yang and hearing her assurances was sure to blow his mind.
“Is this what you rushed off to do?” he asked while following her into the plaza, nearly tripping over his feet trying to walk and look at everything at the same time. “Stormed in here and demanded they stop fighting?”
“Not even close.”
Regret accompanied that memory. Fortunately, he didn’t follow that train of thought since the entryway gained his full attention.
“Woah.” Head tilted back, he spun in a circle to see everything. “This place is awesome.”
Even after staying here for several days, Blake found the opulence and grandeur impressive. The towering ceilings, the intricate carvings gracing the banisters and moldings, the gorgeous paintings and statues...everything celebrated the Kingdom of Vale in its red-and-gold glory. No one epitomized that resplendence more than Yang, with her golden hair, regal dress, and untouchable beauty. Her presence added to the palace’s radiance, making her difficult to miss even amongst the activity.
Yang’s gaze had already found Blake, but she didn’t approach until Blake waved her over. Only then did she leave the bench behind and walk toward them with that calm, perfect gait.
“Please don’t make a fool of yourself,” Blake whispered while Yang neared, knowing Sun could put his foot in his mouth without even trying.
“Is that -?” he asked, his gaze locking onto Yang and finally staying put.
“The Queen, yes.”
“If I’m dreaming, please don’t wake me up.”
“Good morning,” Yang said then, extending a hand to Sun and giving him a warm, welcoming smile. “You must be Blake’s...lieutenant? Second-in-command?”
“Uh, yeah? I mean, I dunno -”
Suddenly tongue-tied, he turned to Blake for help.
“This is Sun,” Blake introduced him. “He’s in charge of the Resistance in my absence.”
“Yeah - Sun. That’s me.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Sun.” When Yang dipped her chin and Sun responded with a hasty, somewhat-sloppy bow, Yang’s smile widened. “I’m Queen Xiao Long. I suppose you could say I’m in charge of Vale in my sister’s absence.”
“Oh, yeah! Queen Rose - she’s wind, right?” Excited about the subject, Sun bounced on his toes and stuck a thumb to his chest. “Me too!”
“She’ll be happy to hear of another windwalker around here,” Yang replied, her smile growing at his enthusiasm. “Maybe you two will have a chance to race one day.”
“But...they say she’s faster than anyone alive.”
Laughing at Sun’s mystified expression, Yang leaned close, lowered her voice to just above a whisper, and said, “She is.”
While Sun looked stunned by the idea of racing the fastest person in Remnant, Yang appeared delighted by the conversation as a whole. Delighted...enjoying herself...but also, she just went out of her way to put Sun at ease. She must understand how intimidating she was - not necessarily through her personality, but through her title and position in their society - yet easily mitigated it with her inherent charm and that easy smile.
“You must be tired from your travels.” Eyes still sparkling, Yang straightened her shoulders and gently clasped her hands behind her back. “You’re welcome to stay if you need to recover.”
“You realize it’s not that far, right?” After glancing at Blake, Sun chuckled and swept a hand through his hair. “And I’m wind, so...it didn’t take long to get here.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Yang’s playfulness was lost on Sun - or he was too nervous to pick up the cues she gave him - because he nodded emphatically.
“Yeah! It’s like...well, I dunno how far, but it only took like an hour to breeze over here.”
“Well, I guess that’s not too bad.” Yang caught Blake’s gaze and smiled, clearly enjoying their new company. “Regardless, if you’d like to stay, feel free. Any friend of Blake’s is a friend of mine.”
The comment shocked Sun just as much as Blake, but Blake hid her surprise. Considering they could count the number of days they’d known each other on one hand, Yang couldn’t actually mean that. There was also the small matter of Blake’s original intentions leading her here, which had been...less than pure.
“Then I guess we’re new best friends!” Sun said before giving Blake a hesitant smile, silently asking how he was doing. Considering Yang was enjoying the conversation, he was doing just fine. “Blake said Vale’s going to help out the Badlands,” he added, bouncing on his toes now. “That’s awesome.”
“Ah, yes. Well, she’d already convinced Atlas to help - no way were we letting those frozen hearts show us up.”
“You convinced Atlas to help??”
Blake shook her head at his dismay, but Yang nodded.
“She did. I don’t know how, but the Queen of Atlas walked in here already determined to help. How could we possibly say no?”
“That’s not what happened,” Blake tried to explain, but Sun was already looking at her as if she worked a miracle. “It’s not,” she reiterated, though the way Yang smiled suggested the praise wasn’t simply for Sun’s benefit.
“I don’t know, Blake…” After a short laugh and shake of his head, he gestured at Yang. “Think I’m going to believe the queen on this one. You’re way too modest.”
“Isn’t she?” Yang agreed before sending Blake a wink that made her blush. “She has no idea how people respond to her drive and passion.”
“You should see her back home. Everyone knows she’ll know what to do. They look up to her a lot.”
“I can see why she’s in charge then. Good leaders are hard to find.”
Yang’s gaze returned to Blake and, when she smiled, Blake turned away and nudged Sun so that he would change the subject.
“We’re lucky to have her around,” Sun said, clearly not grasping the silent request. “And we’re not super lucky these days.”
Yang’s expression softened at the reminder, and she haltingly nodded.
“I’ve heard things have gotten pretty bad…”
“‘Pretty bad’ wouldn’t be so rough,” Sun replied with a chuckle. “I think we’d be happy with pretty bad, but like...well, I mean, you can’t really understand what it’s like unless you’ve lived through it.”
The comment unintentionally insulted Yang’s knowledge of the Badlands and, based on the way her expression fell, she felt it.
“What he means -” Blake quickly began, but Yang shook her head.
“No, he’s right. I don’t know what it’s like. The last time I was there, an entire battalion of Elites escorted me. How could I understand what it’s like to live there? Hearing reports only goes so far. That’s why I need you - both of you.”
Yang motioned to them, and Blake opened her mouth yet found no words. Simply put, that wasn’t the response she expected. Most leaders - most people - hated being told that they didn’t know what they were talking about. Yet Yang accepted it as if she understood the limits on what any one person could learn.
“We’ll definitely try,” Sun replied, oblivious to what he just uncovered. “And Blake’s the best person to help. She knows the Badlands better than anyone.”
“Good.” Regaining a hint of a smile, Yang turned to Blake and offered a set of papers that Blake recognized from their prior conversations. “I brought these for you,” Yang explained while handing them over. “I thought they might be useful for Sun to take with him.”
“Oh, thank you. For thinking of that.”
“You’re welcome.” Unperturbed by the thoughtful gesture, Yang smiled and stepped away. “I’ll leave you to discuss, but take your time. No rush.”
Once Blake nodded at the blanket permission to spend as much time catching up as wanted, Yang smiled at Sun.
“It was nice to meet you, Sun.”
“Nice to meet you, too! Maybe we’ll get to hang out again someday.”
“I’d like that,” Yang replied with a light laugh before walking away, her posture straight and tall as ever while her golden hair flowed in gorgeous waves down her back. The people waiting in line stared at her, but she just smiled and waved as she walked past.
“So...the Queen of Vale’s really hot.”
With Sun nudging her side and grinning like mad, Blake sighed and shook her head. Yang might be out of earshot, but she had stopped just across the entryway to speak to a man in armor. From a distance, he appeared to be delivering an update, and he treated Yang with a healthy amount of respect. But, just like with Sun, she quickly put him at ease with a few words and a smile.
“But you already knew that, didn’t you?”
Finally tearing her gaze away from Yang, Blake found Sun grinning at her like he just found money on the ground.
“What’re you trying to say?”
“Look at you! You can’t take your eyes off of her.”
“So she’s attractive,” she admitted, albeit begrudgingly as her gaze flitted Yang’s way and Sun’s grin widened. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“It has a lot to do with a lot of things,” he cryptically replied. When Blake threw an elbow in his direction, he dodged out of the way and laughed.
“Can we talk about something important?”
“Like you being cooped up in a castle with a hot queen who’s totally flirting with you?”
The blush on her cheeks grew, and she stared at him for a second before shaking her head.
“She’s not flirting with me.”
“She totally is! She’s winking at you and complimenting you and clearly digging everything you do.”
“That’s just...who she is.” That was the best answer Blake could come up with, but Sun’s laugh confirmed it was as unconvincing as it sounded. “You’ve heard the rumors,” she pointed out.
“I know what I’ve heard, and I know what I saw,” he teased. “She must be fire because there’s some serious sparks flying around here.”
Blake rolled her eyes as he twirled one finger through the air and somehow caught Yang’s gaze yet again. And earned a smile yet again, this time as Yang headed further into the palace.
“You’re delusional,” she told Sun, who accepted the term with a shrug. Realizing he wouldn’t let this go so easily, she shook her head and changed the subject. “Do you want to stay? You could rest up before heading back.”
“Not tired. Besides, you probably have a ton of things for me.”
“I do.”
“And you probably won’t relax until everything’s done.”
“Probably not.”
“Plus, I don’t want to get in the way of you and the hot Queen.”
“Sun...” she sighed, so he raised his hands and gave up his teasing.
“You owe me the grand tour next time,” he said. “What do you need me to do?”
“I need you to set up communications in every settlement.” As her focus returned to what she knew best, her blush faded. “Get updates from each one. We need to know how many people are living there, how many are sick, wounded, or have the Phage, what’s been damaged, and what their most critical needs are. Basically, anything determining how much help they need.”
“Got it. Guessing that info comes to you?”
“Yes. Yang and I will use it to plan a distribution strategy -”
“Oh, Yang and you will do that, huh?” he joked. “What do I have to do to be on a first-name basis with the Queen?”
“You have to do what I say -”
“But I already do that!”
“Good. Keep doing it.” After a brief pause, Blake smiled and shook her head at their banter. Being in familiar company was nice, as was knowing things would move forward even in her absence. “Thank you, Sun.”
“Course. You know I’m happy to help.”
Heart warming at the support, she gently tapped his shoulder before handing over the papers Yang brought for him.
“These are lists of Vale’s most common production timelines. You can use them to give estimates to whoever asks.” As he took the pages, looking just as surprised as Blake initially felt upon being handed such sensitive information, another thought crossed her mind. “If any settlements seem raring to start rebuilding, see what they need to get going. If they can plant some of the fields right away, we could actually have a harvest soon.”
“That’d be awesome.”
“And get us back on our feet that much sooner,” Blake added. “As great as it is to have their help, I don’t want to take from them forever. The better we do getting started, the better everyone does.”
“You know how it is though,” Sun said while storing the papers in his bag. “Once people aren’t scared, they’ll be working nonstop.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for.”
Hard work had been their way of life long before the war. Fields didn’t plant themselves, after all, and none of their small villages had the bottomless resources of the kingdoms to draw upon. Once fear faded...hopefully, they went back to helping each other rather than looking after themselves.
“Alright, don’t worry about anything,” Sun added with a grin. “I’m going to send you so much info, you’ll get tired of hearing from me.”
“Looking forward to that -”
“But before I go,” he cut in. “I need to teach you how to flirt.”
When Blake tried to slap his shoulder, he zipped out of the way and laughed.
“You better start running,” she warned, though he knew better than to take the threat seriously.
“At least compliment her or something! And bat your eyes - that’ll work for sure.”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that and walk you out of here.”
“You know I’m right,” he teased while falling into step beside her. “At least play along so I have something to tell everyone when I get back.”
“Don’t you dare say that to anyone,” she said, though she knew he wouldn’t do anything like that. Not without her causing him a great deal of harm, at least. His laugh assured her of that, as did his smile and the way he swung his arms while they left the plaza.
The large, open area had grown hotter and busier as the day progressed, but she paid no attention to the crowds. With every step, she became more aware that she and Sun would say goodbye soon, and she suddenly didn’t want him to go. They had become close friends over the years, and she had missed his company just as much, if not more, than being home.
“Take care of yourself, please,” she said while they neared the top of the staircase, and looked over when he scoffed.
“I have to take care of myself without you around. You’d be proud, too. I’ve survived all of like...five days by myself.”
“You should make it to ten before bragging.”
Smiling at his laughter, she followed him down the steps and all the way to the palace gates. She might have walked him all the way to the edge of Vale, but she knew they had to go their separate ways eventually.
“Will you be alright?” she asked as they stopped just outside the gates.
“Yeah, of course. Will you be alright?”
There was no tease in sight this time. He genuinely wanted to know whether or not she would be fine staying in Vale while he returned without her.
“I think so.” Glancing over her shoulder at the palace towering above them, she nodded. “Yes, I will be. This is just...something I need to do.”
“And you’re the best one for it,” he added. “I’ll send updates as soon as I have them. And if you have updates on…” When his gaze moved pointedly to the palace, Blake rolled her eyes.
“Keep dreaming, Sun.”
“Oh, I will.” Still laughing at the idea, he gave her a quick hug before backing away and playfully saluting. “Remember to smile!” he added before dashing away, leaving nothing but a laugh and trail of wind in his wake.
Shaking her head at his teasing, she stood at the palace gates, wrapped her arms around herself, and smiled. Yang once asked if she had someone in her life that she trusted, and she did - she trusted Sun. Sometimes, he joked too much or didn’t take things seriously enough, but she knew that he would do his best in her place.
Regardless, part of her wished that she was returning to the Badlands with him - that was her home, after all - but something compelled her to stay. Her greatest value was in Vale right now, making recommendations and discussing end-of-war strategies with Yang. Once more details were solidified, and the treaty was signed, she could go home and help rebuild.
Sun was long gone, probably to the edge of the city already, when she dropped her arms to her sides and sighed. The melancholy only lasted a second, however, before tension took its place.
The black armor was instantly eye-catching, especially amongst the sandstone streets and buildings of Vale. The vivid green stood out even more, drawing attention Cecelia’s way with ease.
Blake’s instinct was to hurry back to the palace, but she hesitated. She didn’t want to appear intimidated, but she also had nothing to say to a mercenary and doubted a mercenary had anything to say to her. So, holding her head high, she didn’t budge from her spot near the gates as Cecelia stalked toward her.
The decision became a mistake when Cecelia’s right hand dropped to her side and moved back towards one of her blades. Blake’s spark roared to life at the threatening action, and she tensed when Cecelia’s hand inched closer to the weapon’s hilt.
There was no warning other than a flinch. Suddenly, that blade sprang from its sheath and flashed toward her. She barely raised her arm in time, calling upon her spark to harden her skin and deflect the weapon flashing toward her shoulder. As soon as she felt the impact on her arm, she lashed out with a forceful blow that caught nothing but air.
Cecelia leapt away from the attack just as quickly as she attempted it and chuckled to herself while the blade slipped back into its sheath as if it had a mind of its own.
“Earth, huh?” she quipped before flipping her dark hair over one shoulder and heading toward the barracks at the far corner of the grounds.
Stunned by the sequence of events, Blake could do nothing but watch Cecelia walk away. The adrenaline started wearing off, her heart began to slow, and her annoyance grew when she realized what just happened.
Cecelia forced her to reveal her element - information she wouldn’t have surrendered willingly to a mercenary. The short interaction hadn’t revealed the extent of Blake’s spark, but now Cecelia knew what to expect. And losing that bit of an upper hand, no matter how small, was...aggravating.
“Are you ok?”
Surprised, she looked over and discovered the nearby guard watching her.
“I’m fine,” she muttered, forcing a small smile.
“Be careful with her. She’s dangerous.”
Hearing those words from a man in full armor, whose job was to protect the palace and the Queens with his life, sent a shiver down her spine.
“Thanks for the warning,” she said before hurrying back up the steps. As much as she wanted to put the moment behind her, it bothered her. They didn’t know each other, yet Cecelia’s demeanor was openly confrontational. What had Blake done to deserve that attention?
Making it into the palace, she set off in search of Yang. Yang was the only person she knew here, so it made sense for her to seek out the Vale Queen. Besides, they had more work to do, especially in preparation for the information Sun was about to send them.
After peeking into the throne room and finding it empty, Blake frowned and tried the dining room next. It was a bit late for breakfast, but Yang seemed to hold an irregular eating schedule that had her skipping or eating very little more often than not. That irregular schedule continued today, as Blake glanced into the dining hall and spotted Vale’s eldest Queen just about to sit down.
Realizing that Yang hadn’t noticed her yet, Blake ducked out of the doorway rather than walk into the room. The reaction was an instinct that she scolded herself for, but she didn’t leave her hiding place. If she wanted to know more about Yang, including what Yang was like when no one was watching, this was the perfect time. So, while Blake had the opportunity, she peeked around the corner and watched Yang all but collapse into a seat.
Her food sat on the table in front of her, but she didn’t look interested in eating. She didn’t look interested in doing anything, actually. She just sat there, staring off into space and absentmindedly rubbing her right knee. The day had only just begun, yet she looked exhausted. Emotionally exhausted from meeting Sun and dealing with Cecelia possibly, but also physically exhausted, as if picking up her fork required too much energy.
Blake must be reading into it too much. Maybe Yang hadn’t slept well. Or maybe she had an eventful night. There were more than a few gorgeous women around the palace, a certain mercenary included, and rumor had it that Yang wasn’t opposed to spending a night with any of them. Maybe she just overexerted herself.
This looked worse than overexertion though.
But Blake couldn’t make sense of it, so she stopped trying. Shaking her head, she left those thoughts at the doorway and entered the room. Yang noticed her almost immediately and smiled, but her eyes reflected weariness that Blake tried not to dwell upon.
“Want something to eat?” Yang offered when Blake sat across from her.
“I ate earlier, but thank you.”
“Ah. I’m the only one whose eating schedule is messed up then.” Chuckling at the comment, Yang finally reached for her fork. But in that brief action…Blake could have sworn that Yang’s hand was shaking.
“Did you sleep alright?” she asked, but Yang frowned. “You just...look a little tired.”
“Pretty sure I haven’t slept well since the war started.” The response felt like avoidance, but Yang moved on as if it answered everything. “That’s the first thing I’m doing once this is over - sleeping. What about you? Any post-war plans?”
“I’ve...actually never thought about it.”
“You should start thinking about it.” Resting her hand on the table, Yang met Blake’s eyes with a warm, confident smile. “Because the war’s going to end sooner than you expect. You should have something special in mind to celebrate.”
The thought of the war ending was enough to get Blake’s heart racing, but the way Yang was looking at her right now made her skin tingle. Why was it that when she thought about celebrating, she imagined celebrating with Yang? Was that what Yang wanted her to think? Or...was that what Yang knew she was thinking?
“I’ll try to come up with something,” she hedged, trying to escape those thoughts.
“Let me know if I can help.”
Yang’s wink made her wonder even more, but she turned her gaze elsewhere and wished her butterflies away. Yang flustered her sometimes, and Sun’s comments hadn’t helped. Now, she was overthinking the banter when it was merely playful, not flirtatious. If Yang wanted to flirt with someone, she had plenty of options, most of whom would be more suitable than Blake.
Remembering one such option, she realized now was the perfect opportunity to learn some information of her own.
“What’s Cecelia’s element?”
“Air. Why?”
“Just curious.”
Blake shrugged and tried to play it off as nothing, but Yang frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?”
“Did something happen?” Yang pressed. Confused by Yang’s sudden concern, Blake looked at her arm to see if Cecelia managed to hurt her. Finding nothing, she met Yang’s gaze and shook her head.
“I don’t understand...nothing’s wrong.”
For several long seconds, Yang watched Blake closely. It didn’t take long for Blake to realize that Yang was reading her. Not just looking at her - Yang was reading her emotions through her eyes, posture...every little tell she gave away. And the results were shockingly accurate - something had happened, but she didn’t want to add to Yang’s worries.
“I just...miss home,” she offered.
“I’m sorry…” Yang replied, guilt replacing her worry. “Maybe you should go back? I don’t want you to feel like you have to stay. We can always use messengers to get everything done.”
“But what about you?”
“What about me?” Yang asked with a laugh. “I’ve been alone before, you know. Pretty sure I’ll survive.”
The response flowed so easily that Blake couldn’t say why she felt like it wasn’t true. Yang was strong but also fragile in a way that didn’t make sense. Her slow, deliberate footsteps...low energy...lack of appetite…
Something didn’t feel right about leaving Yang alone for an extended period of time, but Blake couldn’t admit that.
“But then I won’t know if you’re fulfilling your end of the bargain.”
Blake regretted the excuse as soon as it left her lips, but it was the only thing she could think of. Unfortunately, it also hurt Yang’s feelings, as evidenced by the way she blinked before frowning at the table.
“I made a promise, and I intend to keep it…” she muttered softly before picking up her fork to begin eating.
Feeling horrible now, Blake opened her mouth but couldn’t think of anything to make the situation better. She believed that Yang was honest and had integrity. She believed that Yang wanted to help. But admitting either of those things invalidated her excuse for staying in Vale rather than going home.
She had never felt like a prisoner here, and Yang’s willingness to let her leave only made it that much easier to stay. The choice was hers, but the choice was easy. She wanted to go home, but she also wanted to stay, and she felt like she should stay.
“I don’t mind it here,” she added, hoping to offer some reassurance. “It’s different, but...not in a bad way.”
Finally, Yang lifted her gaze, and relief filled her lilac eyes.
“Really?” she asked and smiled when Blake nodded. “That’s good because...I’m glad you’re here. I’d miss Ruby too much otherwise.”
The unguarded answer was everything Blake hadn’t given, and made her wish that she could rewind the last few minutes and try again. Unfortunately, she could only focus on Yang’s admission rather than her remorse.
“You two are really close,” she commented, having noticed the special tone Yang used whenever discussing her sister.
“She’s my best friend.” Managing a small smile, Yang looked around the room before meeting Blake’s gaze. “All of this...everything I do...is for her.”
Faced with such a heartwarmingly earnest sentiment, Blake again confronted how wrong she’d been. The Queens of Vale weren’t cold, callous rulers. They were two of the kindest, most caring people she had ever met. Yang, especially, seemed to care about others more than herself - at the expense of herself, even. She was smart, hard-working, and impossibly sweet. She loved her sister. She loved the people of Vale. There was so much more to her than met the eye.
“How about we talk about infrastructure some more?” Yang asked, seemingly content to move on from that topic. “I know we can figure out some sort of compromise. Something that helps Vale and the Badlands at the same time.”
“Sure,” Blake agreed but, before switching her train of thought, watched Yang take another small bite to eat.
If they lived in different times, when there wasn’t so much conflict, it would be easy to fall for Yang. She was the magnetic, alluring leader everyone was supposed to fall for, so it was unsurprising that Blake felt that draw. They worked well together, they could talk about seemingly anything, and they just...clicked, in some unexpected way.
She had fallen for that charisma once before, and it hadn’t worked out for anyone involved. But this time felt different - Yang was different. At least, Blake hoped so...because the future of the Badlands rested in those slightly trembling hands.