The Queens of Remnant - Chapter 20 (Patreon)

The moment Yang woke up, she groaned and covered her eyes with one arm.  Sunlight spilled through the windows, but her spark’s unrelenting brightness bothered her far more.  Her chest ached worse than the day before, as if the fire never went out overnight.

Her thoughts hardly returned to last night before she lowered her arm and slowly turned toward her bedroom door.  It was still open, but she didn’t dare call out.  Instead, she gritted her teeth, rolled out of bed, and went to check the living room. Unsurprisingly, it was empty.  Sometime during the night, or possibly early this morning, Blake had slipped out without a word.

Deflated by the lack of company, Yang sighed and returned to her room.  Even though she wanted to curl up in bed and wait for her spark to fade, there were too many pressing matters to attend to.  While going through the motions of choosing an outfit and getting ready for the day, however, her thoughts lingered on the night before. From the shock of finding Blake in the passageway, to the resignation that her secret had been found out, to the comfort and consolation Blake offered...she’d never felt more intimately connected to another person.  She had always known, or strongly suspected, that Blake was more than met the eye, but last night proved it.

Blake wasn’t just more than met the eye; she was incredible.  She made Yang feel so normal yet, at the same time, her honesty made Yang feel special.  She had passion, determination, and fearlessness unlike anyone Yang knew.  And, even after everything she’d been through, she held onto the belief that things could change for the better.

Besides Ruby, Yang couldn’t remember the last person she’d felt so comfortable with.  But not even Ruby knew the depths of Yang’s suffering, yet she’d willingly bared her deepest secret to Blake.

After spending too long choosing an outfit, she headed downstairs.  She had unintentionally slept in, so the day was already well underway and the palace buzzed with life.  After scanning the crowd and not finding the jet-black hair she was searching for, she headed to the dining hall to see if Blake was there.

“Your Majesty,” one of the servers greeted her the moment she poked her head into the empty room.  “Would you like breakfast?”

“Not now.  Thank you.”

After flashing a quick smile, she headed to the office next.  If not in the dining room, Blake usually frequented her chambers, the library, or the office.  Considering what was supposed to happen today...the office was the most likely option.

Trying not to dwell on the future, Yang straightened her posture and smiled at the guard stationed beside the door.

“Morning,” she greeted him as he bowed.  “Is she in there?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Her smile grew at the news, and she nodded to him before opening the door and walking inside.  As soon as her eyes landed on Blake, butterflies joined the flames in her chest. Blake was too busy poring over the map on the desk to notice Yang’s entrance.  With her beautiful black hair falling over her shoulders and her shirt revealing the lines of muscle in her back, she looked...stunning.

“Do you ever stop working?”

Black spun around but relaxed when she saw Yang.  A small smile even slipped onto her lips while Yang joined her at the desk.

“There’s a lot to do, especially since I’ve been gone a while.”

“You sure we can’t just have someone pick everything up?”

Yang already knew the answer, but that wouldn’t stop her from hoping to hear something different or her heart from aching when Blake shook her head.

“It’s best if I go.  I know our plan, and...I need to see how things are going.”

Blake held Yang’s gaze and waited for a nod before pointing at a new circle drawn on the map.  “This is where I’ll be first,” she explained, adding meaning to the small number written beside the town.  “Then I’ll go here, here, and here.”

After pointing out each location in turn, she picked up a piece of paper and offered it to Yang.

“I estimated how long I’ll be in each area so you can send messengers if you need anything.”

Yang nearly asked what they might need from the Badlands, but the underlying concern in Blake’s eyes gave away the answer.  This wasn’t for the good of Vale; this was for her.  If she needed Blake…

“I’ll try not to bother you,” she said, but Blake shook her head.

“You won’t be bothering me, and I mean that.  So...reach out whenever you want.”

The offer meant more to Yang than she could express right now, as the desire to hug Blake quickly overwhelmed her.  But she might never let go if they hugged again, and she didn’t want to be the one initiating.  Ruby once pointed out that, as a queen, people might feel obligated to entertain her need for affection, and the last thing she wanted was for Blake to feel obligated to do anything.

“I hope last night was alright,” she said instead.  “Asking you to stay, I mean,” she added when Blake’s brow knit.  “I hope you didn’t feel like...like you had to.  I’m sorry if you did because that wasn’t my intent.  I just -”

Yang’s ability to speak disappeared when Blake stepped closer.  Those amber eyes were so easy to lose herself in...and she hoped she wasn’t the only one whose heart started pounding.

“I stayed because I wanted to,” Blake said before raising her hand and, after a brief hesitation, grazing her fingers across Yang’s cheek. Yang’s eyes fluttered at the soft, cool touch, and her heart beat even faster, sending subtle warmth flowing through her veins.  Her spark had raged out of control for so long that she’d forgotten how nice it was to be this close to someone.  To touch someone, share moments of intimacy, and not worry about them figuring out she was sick.

This was different though.  Still comforting.  Still reassuring.  But the way Blake looked at her right now...was it crazy to think that Blake wanted to kiss her? The feeling was mutual, but Yang could never act on those desires; doing so would be unfair to Blake.

Still, she held Blake’s gaze and wished she could hear the thoughts behind those amber eyes.  What did Blake think?  What did she want?

Yang would never know.  A knock interrupted that moment, and Blake dropped her hand while turning to the door.

“Come in,” Yang said, regret tinging her tone as she looked away from Blake.  When the door opened and Bartholomew rushed inside, that feeling only grew.

“Your Majesty.  Miss Belladonna,” he greeted them with hasty bows before addressing Blake.  “The shipments are prepared.  I told the guards to wait at the gates until you’re ready.”

“Thank you.”

“Yes, thank you,” Yang added, giving him a smile and nod.  “Excellent work, as always.”

He beamed at the praise and bowed again.  “If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to find me,” he said before flying out just as quickly as he’d entered.

A sigh slipped through Yang’s lips at the news, drawing Blake’s gaze her way. “Sorry,” she mumbled, unable to force much of a smile.  “I should’ve woken up earlier...”

“You needed the rest.  I’m glad you got it.”

The response offered clemency for Yang’s late start but didn’t erase her remorse.  If she hadn’t slept so long, they could have had breakfast together, or gone for a walk this morning, or just...spent a little more time together.  Instead, it was already time for Blake to leave.

“Guess we should head out?” she asked, faking a bit of cheer that Blake didn’t fall for.

Blake didn’t say anything, but her mood was somber as she glanced around the office.  Only after doing so did she nod and pick up the small bag sitting by the desk.  It was the same bag she’d arrived with what felt like a lifetime ago, but Yang didn’t mention the past while they walked out of the office.

Unlike when Ruby and Weiss left for Atlas, Blake’s departure garnered no fanfare.  To the palace, this was just another ordinary day.  To Yang, it was another day of mourning.

The Phage wasn’t the only thing making her feet drag across the throne room and through the entryway.  Even though they hadn’t known each other for long, she didn’t want Blake to leave.  She loved Blake’s company and the sharp-witted, intelligent banter that came with it.  She loved being around someone who challenged her views and made her want to be better.  More than anything, she loved how Blake made her feel with just a look, a smile, or one of those rare laughs that made those gorgeous eyes sparkle.

“Sure you don’t want a full escort?” Yang asked as they stepped into the plaza, but Blake shook her head.

“That will be too visible.  The less obvious we are, the less likely we’ll draw unwanted attention.”

“Makes sense,” Yang muttered before sighing at the thought of Blake returning to the Badlands practically alone.  “I’ll just worry...” she admitted, keeping her eyes trained forward even as Blake glanced at her.

It looked like another busy day in the plaza, with people already lined up to speak to an advisor and the guards already standing at their stations.  The warm air suggested that the day would be hot, but the sun hadn’t started baking the grounds just yet.

“There they are,” she said when they reached the top of the palace steps.  Four large, remarkably average wagons waited at the bottom of the large staircase.  She didn’t even recognize them, but she was glad Bartholomew picked the least gaudy vehicles possible.  Several young men and women lingered nearby, hardly recognizable without their armor.  If she hadn’t known what this procession was for, she might assume it was nothing more than a small group of traveling merchants.

Faced with the result of their hard work - hours upon hours of poring over inventory lists and making concessions - Yang’s worry returned.  In written form, the list of supplies looked like plenty.  When packed up and neatly stowed in just a few wagons, however, it looked far too meager.

“I hope it’s enough…”

“It’s more than we’ve had in a while,” Blake assured Yang before walking over to peek inside one of the carts.  Nodding at what she found, she repeated the process with the other three before returning to Yang.  “Bartholomew did a good job,” she concluded.

Yang smiled at the praise, but any good feelings accompanying it disappeared when Blake glanced over her shoulder.  She was already planning her next steps and visualizing what she had to do.  She was already preparing to leave, and Yang wouldn’t stop her.

Sometimes, they had to do things they didn’t want to do.  That was a leader’s responsibility.  That was their unspoken promise to the people who relied upon and trusted them.  Blake had to return to the Badlands just as much as Yang had to stay in Vale, but that didn’t mean Yang couldn’t wish things were different.

“Well then...”  Yang mustered a smile when Blake turned back to her.  “Looks like you’re ready.”

“Looks like I am,” Blake replied, her steadfast gaze never leaving Yang.  “Will you be ok?”

“Me?”  Understanding the root of the question - the fire burning in her veins - Yang waved off the concern with a soft laugh.  “I’ll be fine.”

Uncertainty flickered through Blake’s eyes, but worry quickly replaced it.

“Please take care of yourself...”

“You’re the one headed into danger,” she pointed out, but Blake’s expression remained unchanged.

“I know how to survive there.”

Blake didn’t need to say more - Yang understood the sentiment.  No matter how much danger Blake was in, she always had a fighting chance.  She was strong, she was smart, and she could use her spark for protection.  The same couldn’t be said for Yang.

“I’ll try my best,” Yang promised.  She might have said more if emotions weren’t clouding her voice, or if her throat wasn’t tightening with each passing second.  If they had more time, she would try to put her turbulent thoughts into words.  Instead, she just smiled and hid her unexpected heartbreak.

When Blake suddenly moved closer, close enough that they were nearly hugging, Yang’s heart jumped into her throat.  She hardly had time to respond before Blake leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

“This isn’t goodbye,” Blake whispered in Yang’s ear before pulling away.  She met Yang’s gaze again, repeating the promise without words, before turning around and motioning the Elites after her. With that, the line of carts moved through the palace gates and onto the streets of Vale.  Blake turned around just before disappearing from view, holding Yang’s gaze for those last few seconds before leaving Yang’s life as quickly as she’d entered it.

Yang didn’t know how long she stood there, but she stared at the spot where Blake had last been until her hands began to burn.  She waited longer still, pointlessly hoping that Blake would change her mind and come back.  That she would rush back to the palace and agree to orchestrate everything from here, after all.

Knowing Blake, the thought was foolish bordering on comical.  Yet that didn’t stop Yang from waiting, and hoping, until it became painfully obvious that her wish wouldn’t be granted.  Only then did she sigh and trudge back up to the palace.

Normally, she would stop and chat on the way, but she wasn’t in the mood.  She kept her gaze on the ground instead and didn’t pause until she made it to the top of the stairs.  Exhausted from the effort, she paused there to catch her breath.  Heart aching and thoughts scattered, she looked out over Vale and lightly touched her cheek where Blake kissed her.

Blake kissed her.  On the cheek, but...if the circumstances had been different...if they’d been in private...could it have been something more?  If Blake was willing, and initiated, Yang wouldn’t be able to turn her down. Unfortunately, that unspoken desire might never come to pass.  With Blake gone and Yang living day-to-day...

“Pining already?”

The smug voice gave her a much different reason to sigh.

“What do you want?” she asked while Cecelia sauntered over.

“She just left and you’re already miserable?”

“What do you want?” Yang repeated.  She wasn’t in the mood for Cecelia’s jokes today, especially not when they were true.

“No need to be snappy.  You asked me to go through your army, didn’t you?  Well, I have a report for you - are you too heartbroken to hear it?”

Yang created the task just to give Cecelia something to do, but she ground her teeth together before motioning for Cecelia to lead the way.  As much as she wanted to spend the rest of the day moping in the office, she knew better than to ignore Cecelia for too long.  Besides, focusing on Cecelia dragged her thoughts away from Blake.

“Don’t know what you’re so hung up on,” Cecelia commented as they headed towards the far side of the palace grounds.  “I could find ten girls just like her if that’s what you’re into now.”

The insinuation was meant to get under Yang’s skin, but she shook her head and focused on where they were going.  The army’s training and housing facilities took up a large portion of the palace’s extensive land, separated by another large gate and more walls but otherwise connected.  Over the course of the war, the space had been alternatively busy or deserted depending on how well things were going.

Today, more soldiers milled around than Yang remembered seeing in a long time, a result of calling back a portion of the troops.  Some were training, but several groups sat around joking and laughing with one another.

“Cheater!”

Yang jumped when a heavy hand slammed on a table.  The man who’d shouted, who looked rather pissed off, then lunged across the table and tackled his card-playing opponent to the ground.

“Stop,” Cecelia ordered in a firm, steely tone.  Surprisingly, they stopped and looked up to find Cecelia glowering at them.

“Clean this mess up,” she snapped, gesturing at the cards scattered across the ground.  “And get started on your assignments.”

Cecelia wasn’t their commander, yet they dropped their fight and scrambled back to their feet. “Yes ma’am,” they both mumbled before putting things away and preparing for the day.

Yang was impressed, but she shouldn’t be surprised that they responded.  Cecelia was a leader in her own way - the type of leader no one wanted to cross, especially when those knives started fluttering in their sheaths as if itching to draw blood.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been out here,” Yang admitted while she and Cecelia moved further into soldier territory.  After taking a deep breath, she wrinkled her nose at the slightly musty air. Her lack of appearances in this area probably explained the men’s stares.  Although a fair portion of those looks were less surprise and more...something else.

“They’re leering at you.”  Cecelia looked at Yang’s outfit and smirked.  “With good reason.”

After glancing at her clothes, Yang sighed and shook her head.  She’d dressed nicely to see Blake off this morning, but try telling that to a group of men who’d spent too long on the frontlines or stuck in barracks with other men.

“I’ll stop it.”

“It’s fine.”

Yang tried to grab Cecelia’s arm, but the girl was already stalking over to the nearest soldier who’d made the mistake of staring at Yang’s chest.  He didn’t notice the tempest of danger headed his way until too late.  By the time his gaze found Cecelia, she’d grabbed his shoulders, jerked him down, and slammed her knee between his legs.

Yang cringed when he yelped and dropped to his knees, but Cecelia wasn’t done.  Having gained everyone’s attention, she leaned down and told him, loud enough that anyone nearby could hear, “Look at her like that again, and you won’t even have anything left to fuck her with.”

When one of her blades zipped through the air and hovered menacingly close to the man’s groin, he hurriedly nodded before crawling to his feet and rushing off, still hunched over in pain.

“What the hell, Cecelia,” Yang said while the knife calmly flitted back to its sheath.  “I’m fine with a little staring.”

“I’m not.”

Cecelia continued their stroll without a second thought, leaving Yang to frown before catching up.  The possessiveness worried her, especially when it was hard to tell what was playful and what was real.  Cecelia’s dark sense of humor provided no clarity, leaving Yang wondering just how concerned she should be.

Cecelia’s methods were effective though.  Brutal and unnecessary, but effective.  Not a soul dared stare at Yang anymore.  Instead, they offered polite, respectful nods and bows before hurrying away with speed and crispness they had lacked before.

“So, what do you think?” Yang eventually asked.

“They’re garbage.”

“Of course you think that…” she sighed, shaking her head at the blunt assessment.

“They’re unorganized, only half can fight worth a damn, your commanders are the worst of the group, and hundreds have the Phage.”

“Surely they’re not that bad.”

“You think so?” Cecelia asked, her smirk implying she’d wanted that response.  “Let’s have a little demonstration then.”

Stopping in the middle of camp, she searched the groups before spotting the person she wanted.  “Parker!” she shouted, and his eyes snapped to hers.  “Come here.”

While the man stood and walked over at a brisk, determined pace, Cecelia scanned the Elites next.

“You,” she said, catching another man’s attention and motioning him forward.  He, however, looked confused about why she was even speaking to him.  “Yes, you,” she snapped.  “Get over here.”

The clipped tone finally got him moving.  Once he joined them, Yang realized the two men were around the same height and weight - a supposedly equal fight.

“Demonstrate your capabilities for the queen,” Cecelia instructed, sarcasm dripping from her voice.  The Elite briefly stood at attention and bowed to Yang while Cecelia’s man gave a quick nod before sizing up his opponent.  When he drew a blade, however, Yang opened her mouth to protest.

“No weapons, no sparks,” Cecelia ordered before Yang said a word.

While Parker obediently sheathed his weapon, Cecelia leaned closer to him and said “Don’t disappoint me” in a tone that sent a shiver down Yang’s spine.  She didn’t want to know what would happen if he disappointed Cecelia, but she imagined it wouldn’t be pleasant.

Parker merely nodded at the thinly veiled threat and raised his fists while the Elite did the same.  Chatter in the vicinity died down when everyone realized what was happening, and attention drifted their way as fellow soldiers awaited the battle’s outcome.

When Cecelia returned to Yang’s side and nodded, the two men crept toward each other at slow, deliberate paces, each waiting for the other to attack first.

Once they reached striking distance, the Elite broadcasted his punch so clearly that even Yang saw it coming.  Parker reacted fluidly - grabbing the Elite’s arm, spinning around, and using that momentum to throw him to the ground.  Parker then jerked the Elite’s arm backward and dropped a knee into his back, pinning him to the dirt while he grimaced in pain.

Yang grimaced too - both at how much it probably hurt and how easy it had been.

“Off.”

As soon as Cecelia issued the order, Parker dropped the man’s arm and stood up.  Sportsmanship might suggest he help his defeated opponent up, but he did no such thing.  Instead, he turned to Cecelia for further instructions.

“Good job,” Cecelia told him.  “You’re dismissed.”

Relief flitted through his eyes as he returned to his group.  While he received pats on the back, the Elite pushed himself to his feet and gave Yang a meek bow.

“It’s ok,” she assured him.  “I’m sure you would have won with sparks allowed.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” he agreed before heading back to his friends with a little more pride. After watching him walk away, Yang sighed and shook her head.  Realistically, if Cecelia had allowed sparks or weapons, he would already be dead.

“Ok, you’re right,” Yang agreed while she and Cecelia headed back to the palace.  “So what’s the solution?”

“Get rid of them and let me rebuild your army from scratch.”

Yang laughed at the ludicrous idea but trailed off when she noticed Cecelia’s humorless expression.

“You’re serious?”

“Yes.  With me in charge, of course.”

“You want me to put you in charge of our army?” Yang asked, only to laugh again when Cecelia nodded.  “In what universe do you think that’ll happen?”

“Isn’t that what you want?” Cecelia pressed.  “Why would you ask me to find the issues if you didn’t want me to be the solution?”

Glancing at Cecelia, Yang briefly wondered if that was true.  Then she remembered that Cecelia was one of the most vicious, bloodthirsty people she’d ever met.

“If we weren’t entering a time of peace, I might consider it.”

“Peace is just the period between two conflicts.”

When Yang shook her head, Cecelia grabbed her arm and stopped her in her tracks.

“Yang, you know I can mold Vale’s army into the most fearsome to have ever existed.  You won’t need to fight because kingdoms will kneel rather than face you.  Isn’t that what you want?  Eternal peace.”

Yang would have scoffed if she didn’t know that Cecelia was deathly serious.  She wanted to turn Vale’s army into a force of ruthless warriors like herself and her current men, only much, much larger.  The terrifying idea only made her right - an army like that would be a deterrent to any battle.

But Yang quickly found the flaw in that plan.  At least, she saw it as a flaw.  Cecelia likely viewed it as a reward.

“And how exactly would we achieve this ‘eternal peace?’  How will people know to fear us?”

“Well…”  Realizing that she’d been caught, Cecelia shrugged and smiled.  “We’d have to make an example of someone first.  Atlas, perhaps?  Crushing their army to dust will make people take notice.”

“Peace through bloodshed.”  Shaking her head, Yang leaned against a nearby railing to shift some weight off her burning feet.  “No offense, but I don’t trust you enough to leave you alone in the office.  No way I’m trusting you with an entire army.”

“Yet you trust an assassin in your bedroom?” Cecelia retorted before clicking her tongue.  “I’d expect you to be more cautious.  Especially after what happened to her last partner.”

By now, Yang wasn’t surprised that Cecelia already knew where Blake slept last night.  Cecelia made the palace’s business her business and had strangled the pulse of information flowing through it.  Yang also knew that Cecelia was trying to rile her up, but the words perked her interest regardless.

“What do you mean?”

“Adam Taurus,” Cecelia replied, a smug smile on her lips now that she had Yang’s attention.  “Rumor is he let his...desires...take control.  Invited her into his bed, and she slit his throat while he slept.”

Yang should have known better than to ask, but she cringed at the elaboration.  She knew that Blake killed Adam - Blake admitted as much last night.  How it happened though...that hadn’t come up.  If pressed to believe in Blake’s inherent decency or Cecelia’s provocation, however, Yang knew who she would choose.

“It’s a rumor.”

“You know what they say though - in every rumor is a kernel of truth.”

“In this case, that she killed him,” Yang replied.  “We already knew that.”

“Really Yang?”  Frustrated now, Cecelia shook her head and pointed toward the walls of Vale.  “You’ve been public enemy number one in the Badlands for years now.  Suddenly, that’s all water under the bridge?  Because you send some supplies and make some promises?”

“Promises I intend on keeping.”

“If she lets you keep them.”

Unfortunately, Cecelia made some good points.  The Badlands weren’t exactly fond of Yang, for good reason.  With the toll the war and Phage had taken on Vale, the Badlands had been last on her list of priorities.  If Blake wasn’t so noble and honest, Yang might be worried.

“You’d think the two of you would get along,” she said, determined to steer the conversation in a different direction.  “If you’re both killers, I mean.”

“Please,” Cecelia scoffed.  “She’s an assassin.”

“So?”

“‘So?’  An assassin slits your throat while you sleep.  A mercenary stabs you in the heart while you’re awake.”

When a blade flashed into the air, Yang stepped back and knocked it to the ground with a gust of flames.  At least, she would have knocked it to the ground if Cecelia wasn’t so damn fast.  Instead, Cecelia just laughed while grabbing the weapon, flipping it in the air, and catching the tip between her thumb and forefinger.

“Skittish, are we?” she asked, her eyes sparkling dangerously.  “I’m just saying you should watch your back.  Or at least, watch your neck.”

Annoyed now, Yang clenched her jaw and tried to think of a response that wouldn’t piss Cecelia off.

She wasn’t afraid of Cecelia - at least, not right now - but sometimes she questioned her decision to befriend Cecelia in the first place.  Not only to befriend her, but to let her get so close to Vale and to Ruby.  During the war, asking for Cecelia’s help felt like the only option that might save them.  But there was always another choice.  There was always another option.

Having already made the decision, however, Yang could only hope that it hadn’t been the wrong one.

“Tell you what,” she said while watching Cecelia’s eyes, still hoping for a glimpse of anything good.  “If you convince Ruby it’s a good idea, we’ll let you do it.”  Cecelia scoffed and rolled her eyes, but Yang continued.  “Otherwise, we’re waiting to see if this peace treaty comes through.”

“So either I corrupt your sister or hope Atlas keeps playing games?” Cecelia restated before her lips curled with a smirk.  “I have no problem waiting,” she said before leaning forward, and Yang did everything in her power not to jerk away when Cecelia whispered in her ear, “I’ve already waited this long, haven’t I?”

When Cecelia pulled away, still smirking, Yang had no idea what to say.  Cecelia took the lack of response positively, eyes flashing as she flipped her hair over her shoulder and walked away.  Only then did Yang’s mouth unstick itself.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you want to keep me alive!” she called after Cecelia, who offered a flippant wave before disappearing from view.

Only when Cecelia was gone did Yang realize how fast her heart was racing and how clammy her palms were.  She understood what Cecelia was trying to say: according to rumor, Blake was dangerous.  But Yang never felt like this around Blake.  She never felt a hint of unease or uncertainty about Blake’s intentions.  In fact, Blake’s intentions were almost too obvious: she wanted to save and heal the Badlands.  Cecelia, on the other hand…Cecelia wasn’t above getting her hands dirty to get what she wanted.

Realizing the mess she’d gotten herself into, Yang sighed and hung her head.  She missed the days when she and Cecelia weren’t tied up in politics.  Back when they only met up to hunt dreaders, spending several days tracking down the monsters before a few epic hours to bring them down.  That was the best form of their relationship - seeing each other every so often, some meaningless flirting, finishing a hunt or two, then parting ways.

Once upon a time, she thought she could be a positive influence.  She thought she could put Cecelia in positions to choose good rather than evil.  For a while, it worked.

Then the war started, and Cecelia went right back to being who she’d always been.  Now, Yang faced the reality that she would never change.  While disappointing and disheartening, that was life.  Not everyone could be saved, especially if they didn’t want saving.

Slowly walking back to the palace, Yang gently rubbed her heart and wished it would stop burning.  The small burst of flames she’d used when Cecelia scared her had aggravated her spark.  Now it was angry, suggesting another long day filled with spats of agony.  These were the days best spent hiding in her room.  Unfortunately, as much as she wanted to go back to bed, she had too much to do.  She headed to the office instead, keeping a slow, deliberate pace while focusing on deep, even breaths.

“Barty,” she called out when she spotted him in the entryway.  “Can you prepare a new inventory of the palace reserves?  I want to start planning our next shipment to the Badlands.”

“I’ve already created one, Your Majesty.  I’ll bring you a copy at once.”

While he rushed off to complete his task, ruffling the tapestries in his wake, Yang made it to the office and dropped into her chair with a heavy sigh.  Being off her feet was nice, though her heart still burned.  Her feet burned, too.  And her hands.  Everything, really.

“Your Majesty?”

Unfortunately - or fortunately, perhaps - she couldn’t rest yet.  The palace’s head of staff, Lola, stood at the door.  The pitcher of water and empty glass in her hands looked heavenly after the trek around the palace grounds.

“Lola,” Yang said, masking her pain while waving Lola forward.  “Come on in.”

“I thought you might be thirsty.”  Lola filled the glass with water and pushed it to Yang before setting the pitcher aside.  “It’s hot out there today.”

“It is.  Thank you, Lola.”

Yang wanted to drain the cup in one go, but she only took a few sips before setting it down.  She had expected Lola to leave by that point.  Instead, Lola wrung her hands and lingered.

“What is it?” Yang asked, knowing Lola wouldn’t bother her for no reason.

“It’s...bonus time, Your Majesty.  But I’ve been told there’s no money for the staff’s normal bonuses.”

Faced with yet another unpleasant quandary, Yang sat back and sighed.

“That’s probably true.  There isn’t much to go around these days.”

“I understand,” Lola replied with a reassuring smile.  “But could I send everyone home with an extra meal or two?  Anything to keep morale high.”

“Absolutely.”  Extra food was an easy solution, but there had to be other options to reward the palace’s hardest workers.  “And I’ll think of something else,” Yang added.  “Give me a few days, and I’ll let you know.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.  Any small gift will be appreciated, I assure you.”

“We’ll do our best.”

Lola smiled and bowed again before leaving.  She passed Bartholomew in the process, who gave her a genial nod before approaching the desk.

“The inventory you requested,” he said while handing Yang several sheets of paper.  “I also updated our expected inflows and outflows so you can make a more informed decision.”

“Thank you.” He nodded and took his leave, but Yang dropped the papers on the desk before he made it to the door. “Barty?” she said, and he quickly turned back to her.

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

Lola was right - anything was better than nothing.  They weren’t at nothing yet.  So Yang reached up and slowly removed her earrings.

“How much do you think these are worth?” she asked, holding them up so that their purple jewels glittered in the light.

“Probably not as much as before the war, but still a substantial amount.”

She’d always liked this pair - the purple matched her eyes - but she reached out and dropped them in his hand.

“Please have them sold and use the proceeds for the staff bonuses this year.”

“But Your Majesty -”

“It’s fine,” she assured him.  “We’re all living with less, remember?  And I can live with a lot less.”

After staring at her for several seconds, he nodded and hurried out of the room.  Finally blessed with a moment of peace, she leaned back in her chair and sighed.

Realistically, she didn’t need personal possessions anymore.  She wouldn’t even have time to wear everything again, so she might as well put them to better use.  Ruby wouldn’t want half of it.  Besides, Ruby spent most of her time giving away her things already; Yang might as well get a jump on it.

Before doing that, she picked up the new inventory and stared at the numbers. The pain made it hard to focus as its intensity ebbed and flowed.  She’d learned to write down her thoughts, otherwise she would forget when a particularly bad wave crashed over her.  So, after picking up a pen, she tried to make the numbers work so that they could send meaningful aid to the Badlands without emptying the cupboard in Vale.

Her gaze slipped to the map on the desk multiple times, always landing on the circle Blake drew that morning.  She hoped Blake was safe.  More than that, she hoped Blake returned soon.  It hadn’t even been a day, and Yang already missed her.  Tomorrow would probably be worse.

Just what her heart needed right now...another reason to hurt.  Yet the only thing she could do was find as much as possible to send.  That would be her way of letting Blake know she was in Yang’s thoughts. And in that case...Yang would be liquidating her jewelry collection much faster than expected.