Realm of Monsters

Unpleasant.

  That was the word, the emotion, the thought that encompassed all of Stryg’s being as he sat on the plush velvet couch.

The villa’s foyer was fairly large, yet it felt small thanks to endless trophies, shelves, and furniture that were spread about the room. Stryg glanced up at the see-through ceiling and made a look of disgust.

Whoever thought of making a glass roof for this damn room should be stabbed. 

The sun shined down on them with a belligerence that disregarded the well-being of any light-sensitive individual who might so happen to be forced to visit this stupid house.

“Welp, I hate this. Can we leave now?” Stryg asked, peeved.

Maeve patted his shoulder, “There, there. It’s only been five minutes, Lord Katag will be here any moment now.”

“We will at least hear them out,” Ismene said between sips of her steaming tea.

Stryg stared at the tea dubiously, “Are you sure that’s safe to drink?”

“Unlike the Thorn’s, the Katags are an honorable family. They would never poison their guests.” Ismene offered him a cup of tea, “Care for some?”

“No thanks, I’m not in the mood,” Stryg squinted at the glare of the harsh sunlight refracting over the room.

“Why don’t you just stare at the sun and get it over with? Your eyes will adjust,” Maeve said.

“I don’t want to,” Stryg crossed his arms. “This place sucks, my vision won’t change that.”

“Gods, stop being such a baby,” Maeve rolled her eyes.

“Is he always like this when he’s mad?” Ismene asked.

“Only when he can’t do anything about it,” Maeve said.

The foyer’s doors abruptly swung wide-open. A towering orc ducked beneath the door frame and strode into the room. He wore a sleeveless marine-blue tunic that exposed his bulging muscles. His arms and neck were covered in small scars from hundreds of battles in his youth. A well-oiled and trimmed beard almost succeeded but ultimately failed in hiding the perpetual scowl etched across his rigid features.

Lord Krall Katag looked over the three guests with an air of judgment that made Lady Thorn seem kind. His amber eyes finally settled on Stryg.

“Hmm…” Krall grumbled. He suddenly broke into a wide smile and laughed, a deep brilliant sound, “Did you like the tea? I hope it’s to your liking! I still have yet to perfect the right ratio of milk. These Undergrowth tea leaves are quite tricky.”

“Wait, you made the tea?” Ismene asked, surprised.

“Hehe, guilty,” Krall grinned.

“My dear husband has always had a soft spot for the art of tea, he prides himself in his brewing skills,” a husky voice said from behind the giant orc.

Krall stepped aside and revealed an elegant orc in a pale deep green dress. For a brief moment, Stryg forgot about the unpleasant sunlight and simply stared at the beauty. Evelyn Katag looked nothing like Ophelia Thorn, but not even a blind man would dare suggest Evelyn was anything but beautiful.

Where Ophelia was slim, tall, and wrapped in an air of cold elegance, Evelyn was curvaceous and exuded a warm charm, a confidence that was quiet but undoubtedly there.

Evelyn’s lips curved slightly in a smirk, “Welcome to our home, dear guests.”

“Thank you for having us, Lady Katag,” Maeve bowed her head. “Your villa is quite lovely.”

“Thank you,” Evelyn sat down on a sofa across from them and gestured towards the room. “My husband’s grandfather, the late Lord Katag, loved visiting Undergrowth. He found Glimmer Grove Forest soothing. In fact, he loved the forest so much that he built this villa and spent his last few years here.” She looked at Stryg, “I’ve heard you grew up in a forest. Have you enjoyed your stay in Undergrowth so far?”

Stryg narrowed his eyes, “...Glimmer Grove is nothing like Vulture Woods.”

“I’ll take that as a no,” Evelyn chuckled. 

Krall sat down next to his wife and smiled, “So you really are one of the Sylvan folk? I had heard the rumors, but our daughter refused to tell me anything about you.”

Stryg said nothing and just stared at them coldly.

Evelyn stared back at him with playful amber eyes, “When I sent out that invitation to you I didn’t expect you to respond; you doubtlessly had hundreds of invitations from countless families. After a few days passed I was quite certain I wouldn’t be hearing back a response. So imagine my pleasant surprise when one of my servants told me the Tempest Archmage, the Ebon Aspirant, and his right hand, Lady Mora, were at our door.”

“You were the one who sent the invitation?” Maeve furrowed her brow.

Evelyn sipped her tea, “Yes. Though I understand it may come as a surprise to you, Lady Mora, after all your father ruled his House alone; but the Katags are of the belief that rulership is a two-person job, always has been, since the day Katag I and his sister Morrigan I stepped into the Ebon Realm.”

Lord Krall nodded, “I take my role as a warrior-mage, and leader of this family and its armies quite seriously, but when it comes to internal politics, my wife’s wisdom is the greatest weapon my family has.”

“Good, I’m glad there is a voice of reason behind the Katag throne,” Ismene said. “We wouldn’t be here if a berserker ruled this family alone, no matter how good his tea is.”

Krall shrugged, “Your words carry the familiar sting of storms, Lady Ismene, but I am glad you like the tea.”

Evelyn placed her cup down, “May I ask why you chose to visit at this particular time? The 3rd Challenge is ongoing as we speak, yet here you all are. Surely you did not come here only to drink tea.”

“We could ask you the same, Lady Katag. You’re the one who invited us,” Maeve said.

“Mm. I sent out that invitation because I wanted to get to know what sort of person the Ebon Aspirant is,” Evelyn said calmly.

“To what end?” Maeve asked. “Are you seeking to kill him? Doubtful, you wouldn’t have come here yourself if you did. So why are you here? Surely you did not come here only to gawk at Stryg.”

Evelyn smiled knowingly, “I can see why you are the Aspirant’s right hand. I’ll be candid with you, Lady Mora. I am well aware of the fallout the Aspirant has had with his patron family, House Noir. I also know that the Aspirant has few allies in this city. So the only reason you would come here during the middle of the 3rd Challenge is because you are desperate for an alliance with my family.”

Evelyn leaned back on the sofa and crossed her legs, “It makes sense, I suppose. We have the greatest military strength among all the Seven Ruling Families. And we are one of the few aristocratic families of Hollow Shade that has a well-fortified home in Undergrowth to keep the Aspirant safe from his enemies, which as you undoubtedly know, are many. My only question is, why should we ally ourselves with you? The Ebon Aspirant has the realm’s biggest target on his back, why would we consciously wade into that danger?”

Maeve chuckled under her breath, “...You know, there was once a time I would have been terrified of you, the voice behind the Katag Throne. Ooh, it sends shivers down my back just saying that. Someone like you could destroy my House if you wanted to, it wouldn’t even be difficult. I should be outright terrified, but you see, I’ve already made enemies far more terrifying than you and here I still remain. So allow me to be candid with you, Lady Katag.”

“Oh?” Evelyn raised an eyebrow.

Stryg glanced at Maeve curiously.

Maeve leaned forward on her chair, “The way I see it, you only have a few options. The first and simplest would be to try and kill Stryg right here and now. But that wouldn’t work. The Tempest Archmage is powerful enough to get us out of here, no matter what you throw at us.”

Maeve raised two fingers, “Your second option is to simply let us leave. And like you said, we’re desperate. So we’d go ahead and join another of the Seven Families. At this point, you have no plausible way to kill us and someday Stryg will become what the Seven fear, an Ebon Lord. Now, would you like to face a rival family who has an Ebon Lord on their side? How do you think you would fare against that? Maybe you might be okay, but maybe you won’t. Is that really a chance you’re willing to take?”

Maeve smiled confidently, “Your third option is the most obvious, of course. It’s the whole reason we’re all here. We join sides and create an alliance to ensure the prosperity of all our families. Together, I’m quite certain we’ll be able to face any opponent that comes our way.”

“Together, hm?” Evelyn muttered with a thoughtful smile. “Interesting that you use that word. I was under the impression you were already together with House Veres.”

“What?” Maeve frowned.

“I know that a Gale has been protecting the Aspirant these last two weeks,” Evelyn said. “Now why would she do that? The Gales are an extension of the Veres family. Which means that they already have a vested interest in the Aspirant. It seems to me you’ve already made an alliance and now you’re simply seeking to cast a wider net.”

“Stryg has made no alliance with House Veres,” Maeve said adamantly.

“Says the woman who is half Veres,” Evelyn shook her head.

“Stryg shares a close relationship with the Gales because of his time in the academy,” Maeve said. “It has nothing to do with an alliance. Gale is here as his sword instructor and friend, not because Stryg has made a deal with House Veres. If he had made an alliance, there would be a Veres army standing guard outside right now.”

“Hmm, I suppose the Veres have always been an ‘all in’ kind of people…” Evelyn tapped her lips in thought.

“So do we have an agreement?” Maeve asked, a slight hint of nervousness in her voice.

“...Not quite.” Evelyn looked at Stryg, “I want to hear from him. Why do you want to ally with House Katag? What makes you think you deserve an eternal bond with my family?”

Maeve glanced at Stryg worriedly.

Stryg sat up and looked Evelyn straight in the eyes. “I don’t want to ally myself with your family,” he said curtly.

“What?” Evelyn blinked.

“I knew it,” Maeve whispered with a sigh.

“The Katags were there 3 centuries ago,” Stryg glared at Evelyn. “They helped the armies of the Ebon Lords attack and destroy Lunis. My people showed you peace and you betrayed us. Why in any world would I ever want to ally myself with you.”

“Stryg, now is not the time for this,” Ismene whispered.

“No, he has a point,” Krall nodded solemnly. “You are a descendant of the Lunisian armies, I understand your resentment towards my House. The Sylvan Folk must think of us as monsters. But things are rarely ever so crystal clear.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Stryg said cautiously.

“The first Katag and Morrigan were the leaders of a warband in the Scarlet Realm,” Krall said. “They crossed a realm bridge into these lands for a job commissioned by Lunis. Back then, like so many other species, orcs had been recruited for one job or another by a Great City... Katag and Morrigan’s plan was simple: do the job, get paid, and leave. But then the Schism happened…”

Krall took a deep breath, “Suddenly, every realm traveler was stuck in the Ebon Realm with no way back. Lunis gave the stranded people plots of land to live in out of sheer pity. But there were too many people, too many species who had been left behind. So when the Ebon Lords offered our warband a way out, we accepted. We slaughtered the other travelers until only orcs were left in the Silent Marshes. Then my ancestors helped the Ebon Lords lay waste to Lunis… And in return, we gained land, wealth, and a place at the Ebon Lord’s side.”

“And caused my people to lose everything,” Stryg said coldly.

“I do not tell you this story because I condone what my ancestors did,” Krall shook his head. “I tell you because I want you to understand why they did it. Greed and desperation are powerful motivators that can warp even the best of men. Katag I was ashamed of his betrayal of the Lunisians, so he split away from his sister, Morrigan, and never returned to the Silent Marshes… he spent his remaining days in Dusk Valley. The truth is the orcs betrayed the goblins, that is a fact, one I will not shy away from. But we are not defined by our ancestors. My House has kept true to its honor ever since that war and we’re willing to do what we can now to amend the past.”

Stryg laughed angrily, “You speak of honor? What has anyone in your family ever done to amend your betrayal to Lunis? I’ve seen how the goblins of Hollow Shade live in squalor! Your House and the rest of Hollow Shade haven’t changed, it just doesn’t have to do the dirty work anymore, you just reap the benefits.”

Krall opened his mouth to retort but Evelyn held his arm and subtly shook her head. She turned to Stryg and nodded, “You’re right, House Katag’s ancestors could have done so much more to help the goblins of Hollow Shade. But we are not our ancestors, none of us are. Their mistakes do not have to be ours to share. We can change our futures, together.”

Maeve’s eyes widened, “Then you mean?”

“We will form an alliance with the Ebon Aspirant,” Evelyn nodded.

“Huh?” Stryg furrowed his brow.

“What made you change your mind, Lady Katag? A guilty conscience?” Ismene asked skeptically.

“No.” Evelyn stared at Stryg, “He did. He is different from the Ebon Lords of the past. More importantly, I now know what he wants… change. I think our city is long overdue for it.”

“Orcs have never been at the top of Hollow Shade’s hierarchy, that has always been left to the vampires and drows,” Ismene tapped her cane. “Could your desire for change involve that?”

Evelyn smirked, “Who knows? But I think it’d be nice if goblins and orcs could rise above their lot in life, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Is that so?” Ismene narrowed her eyes.

“...Are you sure we can trust them?” Stryg whispered to Maeve.

“I think so,” she nodded.

Evelyn smiled, “Well, Stryg of Ebon Hollow, now that we’ve agreed upon supporting one another, we need to discuss your engagement to my youngest, Elena.”

Stryg blinked numbly, “Say what now?”