Chimera woke to the sound of the shuttle landing, the hissing of the compartment opening to allow the humid air rush inside. It also carried a rather musky smell of something that had stayed out in the sun for a bit too long, and was probably dead.

  “W-What is that acrid stench?” Iaos spoke before Mera could say something, to which both Bargo and Arrose laughed.

  “Not used to dead things are you?” Bargo chuckled as he pushed the prisoners forward with his silver sword staff.

  “It’s not pleasant, but monsters often stink after they die. Best get used to it, Miss Iaos.” Arrose followed behind, pulling a line of Hood soldiers behind her.

  Chimera couldn’t keep the grimace from her features though, the smell was just that overpowering.

  “Here Iaos, let’s get back to the ship, the sooner we get away from that smell the better.”

  “I… agree, it is most unpleasant.” The diminutive Elfari tried to help get the harness off herself, but Mera could tell she didn’t understand the straps. It made sense, this pod vessel was based off of her starpod designs, and the harness was an old Asta arrangement and set up that went across the chest and legs.

  It made sure you were secure, but unless you knew where the latches were, it could be a problem getting out yourself.

  Freed from the harness, Iaos took Chimera’s hand as her eyes wandered around. It reminded Chimera that not long ago this woman was blind so these sights were all new to her. Sure, she could sense things with her abilities, but Chimera could tell that the Elfari was enraptured by all around her.

  Seeing was really different to someone who was blind.

  The Meras was docked nearby, with the crew working around the hangar bay as they took samples from the beast. Bargo and Arrose began the transfer of the prisoners while setting up the quarantine arrangements with Tessa from what Chimera could see.

  Lysandra the High General was already heading toward her, her face pointed at Iaos with a very concerned look.

  Chimera held up her hands, “before you go nuts, just know that you won’t have to worry about ‘certain’ things happening. I took care of it with Iaos here.”

  Lysandra turned to face Chimera, “you know of the secret then?”

  Mera smirked, “hard not to yeah? Especially considering the Hood was after her.”

  “How can I be certain that what you say is true? Despite your status, this is an Imperial secret, something even the nobles that follow our Empress do not know.”

  Chimera gave her a deadpan stare, “It’s not like I can ‘unlearn’ what I’ve already figured out. Besides, this frees her up to help out too, so it's not a bad deal.”

  Iaos squirmed under the gaze of the general as she eyeballed Mera.

  Lysa shook her head, “that’s not the point. If our people knew what you did, it would shake the faith our people have in the Empress. Knowing these secrets means that you have to be sure not to share it with anyone else other than the Empress or myself.”

  “Or the Harriers right? Don’t be harsh on them, Lysa, it was an emergency situation.”

  The general huffed, but her face was less intense, “perhaps some additional training is in order to teach them to better keep secrets.”

  Chimera didn’t envy those two, but at least the matter was settled for now.

  Iaos moved forward as she let go of Mera’s hand.

  “I have failed my duty to protect her majesty’s moon, princess. I will accept any punishment for my transgressions.”

  Clicking her tongue Chimera tried to speak up but Lysa held up a hand, her face stony once more.

  “You realize your error then?”

  “Yes, princess.”

  Lysa shook her head, “I have not been a princess for a long time Arch Druid Iaos. It is High General Lysandra Elderbloom now.”

  “High General.”

  Lysa held up her staff sword, the stony gaze replaced with a profound sadness.

  Chimera’s voice rose over just as Lysa spoke, “wait a fuc-”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  The staff activated, freezing Chimera in place, but leaving her head unaffected.

  “Enough! Do not interfere with a royal decree, Amicus, it is not your place to decide this.”

  “She didn’t do anything wrong though! How was she supposed to-,”

  “Please Mera, be silent.” Iaos spoke with a sort of conviction that made Chimera pause.

  “I accept, High General.” lower her head as she knelt, her long hair flowing over her face as she bent over.

  “Very well. By the Empress’ decree do we carry out the sentence. You are relieved from duty henceforth Arch Druid, and your station is revoked. You can no longer be considered a part of her majesty’s army, nor her Empire. I hearby remove your oath and carry out the sentence.”

  A light burned with intensity as it scored a mark on Iaos’ hand. Where once there was a tattoo of the Mother Tree, now only a nasty burn remained.

  “It is done, your duty is over.”

  Iaos held her hand over the burn, and Mera could feel a sort of despair settle over the smaller druid. Once the mark was burnt off, she felt the binding from Lysa’s staff release her.

  “Lys, wait! This isn’t right. You can’t just-”

  “Mera, again, this was never your decision to make. I cannot say what your people would do, but in the Empire our duty is to the Empress and what she has entrusted to us. If we fail our duty, we have failed her, and the punishment is appropriate to such a crime. Arch Druid Iaos failed her duty to protect the charge she was assigned, and has been punished accordingly.”

  “Then what about our failure to protect her?” Mera was seething at this stupidity.

  What was she supposed to do, when the enemy she was facing had your freaky ass pheromones messing with her thoughts?!

  Lysa grimaced, as if she could read Chimera’s thoughts, “We are not responsible, our duty is to the people and the protection of this moon. Our orders were to defend this moon from the Verdant Hood until reinforcements arrive.”

  “She’s a person, she counts. You can’t just wash it away with bullshit rhetoric and say she doesn’t matter.”

  “I never said she didn’t matter, Mera.” Lysa’s gaze bore into Chimera’s own, “I said she failed her duty to protect the Empress’ secret. Normally, this would mean death, and to protect such a thing, she should have given her life. She did not.”

  Lysa turned to face Iaos, “rather, she almost allowed herself to be captured by the enemy. Could you imagine Mera? The world around you actively trying to kill you? The only thing that would be close to such betrayal would be a Dryad Core turning on its own druid captain, and kiling its crew.”

  The High General ground her teeth as she spoke, “such a thing would be abhorrent to those who chose to serve and protect our people. It is the height of selfishness. We are her sword and shield, and if we fail it is not just we that die. It is our people, our civilians, who suffer for our failures!

  Chimera didn’t like it, in fact she downright hated the reasoning that Lysa gave regarding Iaos’ sentencing.

  Yet, she couldn’t argue against it.

  Not without knowing more, but I wouldn’t hesitate to give my life to save my loved ones…

  Is this the same?

  Chimera shook her head, “then I'll take her as my own. If your Empire won’t keep her, then she can come with me.”

  The High General, rather than look upset, gave Chimera a smirk.

  “Are you certain?”

  Mera was a little confused by the response, but ultimately nodded.

  “I won’t abandon her for something that wasn’t her fault.”

  Lysa sighed, a face filled with relief.

  “That is good to hear. I’m glad that’s settled.”

  Walking away, the High General waved back at the two, “make sure that she gets quarters and a sitrep on our current situation Captain. Also, we need you for the quarantine procedures, the sooner we finish up, the faster we can report to the Empress. Hurry now!”

  Chimera stared at the general, that sense of earlier confusion overwhelming her as she tried to piece what the hell just happened.

  “What just…”

  Iaos thankfully was the one to answer her confusion.

  “She really is as kind as I remember. Though perhaps a bit too manipulative. Imperial blood is surely in that little one’s veins.”

  Mera turned to stare at Iaos, “the hell do you mean?”

  Iaos held a gentle smile as she grabbed hold of Mera’s hand, pulling her towards the ship.

  “Duty compelled me to remain here, and abandoning that duty has terrible consequences. It is true, what the princess said. Abandoning duty is less honorable than death, as it is not just your life that ends if you fail your duty.

  But it is still the case even if you had no control of what took place. I could not leave my duty unfulfilled, so the princess gave me my freedom from my duty.”

  Mera tried to piece it together, and she could hear Iaos giggle at her attempts.

  “Wait, so she exiled you… as a means to free you from the death penalty?”

  Iaos smiled warmly, “she is kind, is she not? She also had a great deal of faith in you it seems, as you are not of the Empire, but an Amicus, yes? You can offer asylum she would be unable to provide.”

  Iaos bowed to Chimera, “thank you for your kindness as well. Please take care of me.”

  Mera couldn’t help but sigh.

  “Freaking politics and duty bullshit. Just say what's on your damn minds instead of all this double speak!”

  She pulled at her tendril hair as the giggling druid began to laugh cutely at her freak out.

  “I hate all of this. Fine! I get it, she played me like a fiddle cause she knew I wouldn’t abandon you. So she worded it like that so I would help you with my status. Let’s just get back to the ship, I wanna introduce you to the Meras and get this all over with.”

  They both walked towards the vessel as Mera grumbled, the arch druid besides her still holding her hand as she laughed.