Chapter 143: 2) The queen is looking for something
It was almost past midnight when Queen Ellaria finally managed to pull herself away from the mesmerizing display.
"Come," she ordered Thorne, striding down the corridor with purposeful steps.
The guildmaster scrambled after her, still reeling from her earlier comment, How can the queen say such a thing.
Gulp! He was hard.
"Your Majesty, I don't think it's appropriate to—"
"Enough," Ellaria snapped, pushing open the door to Thorne's private office. "We have much to discuss, and little time to waste."
Thorne followed her in, closing the door behind them. The office was small but well-appointed, lined with bookshelves and the clutter of a life spent in administration like any guildmaster in an anime.
Why would nobles and guild masters have so many books despite the fact that they never read one is a question better left unanswered.
"Sit," the Queen commanded, gesturing to the chair across from Thorne's large desk.
He did so, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern.
"I need to know everything about this Alan," Ellaria began, pacing the room like a caged lioness.
"What he can do, where he's been, how he fights. Everything."
Thorne hesitated, chewing on his lower lip. "Your Majesty, I understand your interest, but surely there are more appropriate candidates for whatever task you have in mind."
Not to mention, the guild has less data because Alan doesn't do any quests and all the information the queen has comes from the receptionist.
He can't pull information from his ass.
Ellaria stopped pacing, her gaze spearing the guildmaster.
"Appropriate?" she repeated dangerously. "There is nothing appropriate about our situation, Guildmaster Thorne. We are on the brink of annihilation. I need someone who can turn the tide, who can fight against impossible odds and win."
She moved closer to the desk, leaning forward until her face was inches from Thorne's. "And from what I've seen, what I've heard... Alan might be our only hope. Truth be told, even I am a little unsure as I haven't seen him in real action but I doubt the report."
Thorne swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly. "But Your Majesty, he's not even from this world! We know almost nothing about him... where he came from, why he's here. What if he's working against us?"
Ellaria's laugh was bitter.
"Working against us? Look around, guildmaster. There's nothing left to work against. Our army is in shambles, our treasury empty, our allies gone. If Alan is here for some shameful purpose, I say let him have what's left. At least then we might get something in return. Plus, what does he need? Women? I can give him plenty..."
Thorne shook his head, clearly unconvinced. "I don't know, Your Majesty. This all seems rash. Dangerous. Plus even if enemies are going to attack, there should be a large movement so, there might be weeks before they attack..."
"Rash?" Ellaria's eyes flashed dangerously unable to fathom the stupidity of the Throne.
"Dangerous? Tell me, guildmaster, what's dangerous about trying to save our kingdom? About reaching for the only lifeline we have left? You don't know how much progress they have made in magic... "
She slammed her fists on the desk, making Thorne jump.
"You've seen the reports, you are an educated person! You know what's coming! If we do nothing, if we just sit here and wait, we're all dead anyway. At least this way... at least this way we have a chance."
Thorne sighed heavily, running a hand through his thinning hair. "I... I understand your position, Your Majesty. But reaching out to Alan like this... It's unorthodox, to say the least. He's not some mercenary we can just hire and send to the front lines. And adventurers are free and they have the option not to fight."
"No, he's not," Ellaria agreed, her expression softening slightly. "He's better. Stronger. More capable than any mercenary, any knight, any mage we could ever hope to find. And right now, that's exactly what we need."
She straightened up, squaring her shoulders. "I want a full report on Alan's activities since he arrived in our kingdom. Every quest he's undertaken, every enemy he's fought, every skill he's demonstrated. I want to know it all."
Thorne nodded slowly, though the reluctance was clear in his eyes. "As you command, Your Majesty. But... may I ask what you plan to do with this information?"
Ellaria's smile was cold and calculated. "I plan to save our kingdom, Guildmaster. No matter the cost."
Thorne shivered slightly at the glint in her eye. "And... and Alan? What will you do with him?"
The queen's expression turned enigmatic. "Oh, I have plans for him. Big plans indeed."
The queen's carriage rattled over the cobblestone streets, the clip-clop of the horses' hooves echoing in the stillness of the pre-dawn hour.
Ellaria sat bolt upright on the plush velvet seat, her back straight as an arrow, her hands clenched in her lap.
Despite the warmth of the enclosed carriage, she felt cold, a chill settling deep in her bones that had nothing to do with the night air.
"Are you quite sure about this, Your Majesty?" asked Lord Ravenswood, her chief advisor and the only other occupant of the carriage.
He was a thin, nervous man with a habit of wringing his hands when anxious, which was often.
"Quite sure," Ellaria replied, her voice firm despite the turmoil roiling in her gut.
"This is the only way, Ravenswood. You know it as well as I... The only thing I trust now is Magic Eye."
One might not know but the receptionist is not only the assassin but also the Queen's shadow.
Ravenswood sighed, his gaze dropping to his hands.
"I know the strategic reality, yes. But reaching out to this... this adventurer? It's unorthodox, and I don't know if he's really that great as the report says."
"Unorthodox? Indeed," Ellaria conceded.
"But let's say what if he does? He seems like a man who likes to worship women's bodies. How about your wife... If he is with our kingdom fighting the enemy and we win, how about sending your wife to warm his night?"
"Assuming he can do what they say," Ravenswood muttered. "Assuming he's even willing to help us... Sending my wife is still unethical, but since Your Majesty says so, I shall."
Ravenswood knew how stupid it was to rely on a man she had never met. To come here at midnight. All but an empty dreams and hopes.
Ellaria looked at him confused. "By the way Ravenswood, why have you never had any kids, do you or your wife have problems?"
"Yes, your majesty... Due to a heavy injury of the past, it seems I am unable to produce any heirs."
"I see... A misfortune indeed. By the way, what about the kingdom of beasts? The weaklings seem to be growing rapidly"
( previously it was mentioned domesticated animals like cats, cows, dogs don't have mana and are cursed but not the wild ones )
"I am unable to say anything. It seems a portal appeared and many have died. The death report based on Scout is 90, 000 but it is still increasing."
"Alas, misfortune indeed... Why do you think these portals are appearing? Is our world going to get destroyed?"
"Forgive me majesty, but I am unable to answer that. Perhaps our world is indeed getting destroyed." Ravenswood closed his eyes.