Basilisk's Gambit

Chapter 3: Brewing Storm | Qiyana

(For context: The setting is in Ixtezuma, in which Qiyana is the Empress. For clarification or information regarding the nations, please go to the Preface chapter. Thank you~)

I have nightmares nearly every night about the loss of my mother. I can only hope to one day measure up to the strength and grandeur that she possessed. Ixtezuma used to be a nation of mercy, generosity, and forgiveness... I have no forgiveness left within me, my people have no forgiveness left within them. I've been urged to practice self discipline and not fan the coals of revenge but this war never ends till I have that tyrant's head on a pike.

The Primordian War was the darkest time in Ixtezuman history. The crops we grow on our fertile soil is nourished by the blood of those who paved the path of freedom for today's generation, I will not let their sacrifice be in vain...

I run my finger's along the edge of my mother's old garment, the same (now rusted) armor she died in. "Empress Qiyana?.."

I quickly step away from the armor stand and turn to face the strange voice addressing me.

"Yes, Nenetl?" It's the blue oni girl I sent to deliver my 'gift' to my dear friend Za'Karra.

"I delivered the shipment and I j-"

"Tell me, did she like it?" I interject between her sentence. She looks at me puzzled and takes a moment to recall the events.

"I didn't see her reaction ma'am, but I did hear screaming from outside the palace." Nenetl says nervously, pacing in place as she's clearly eager to tell me something. "But, Miss Qiyana, Milintica has informed me that an Aponian ship crew invaded Tefiti a few nights ago.. They took almost all of the griffin's there among other commodities."

Those bastards...

I begin to arouse hatred and anger within myself before taking a moment to calm down again. "Nenetl... Do you understand how hard it is for me not to sail the west sea and burn that infernal country to the ground?" My words don't come out as calm as intended unfortunately...

"Yes ma'am, your anger is not misplaced. However we should keep in mind the advice of Xin Li Min and Za'Karra, yes?"

Pretty Za'Karra and that devilishly cute Xin Li, how am I supposed to refuse the advice of such beautiful guests?

"Yes... Nenetl." I reply, rubbing between my eyebrows in frustration. "What would I do without you keeping me placated..."

Nenetl smiles softly and walks to stand behind me before massaging my tensed shoulders. "You're very good at that y'know?"

"Good at what?" She asks, a lingering hint of tease in her voice.

"Making me feel good." I reply shortly, leaning into her fingers as they dig deeper into my rock hard shoulder muscles.

Suddenly the remembrance of all my tasks and duties interrupts my fleeting moment of blissful pleasure. "Please inform Milintica that I will not tolerate any more incompetence from the coastal guards, if he should fail to heed my warning, they can all go home with the Aponians as souvenirs." I say, pulling away from Nenetl's grip and approaching the doorway to my living quarters. The sound of scurrying footsteps tells me my ever-dutiful Nenetl has already begun her travel to Tefiti.

Such an oversight of me to leave griffins in the care of those blundering fools. It's likely Aponia lacks the needed climate to raise Griffins long term, thus my poor children have long since died over seas... However, Aponia needing griffins can only mean one thing, Illyria should be wary of visitors this anniversary.

I pray that when my mother looks down from the clouds she is proud of the woman I've become. I know she wouldn't agree with my beliefs and ways of dealing with the tyrannical forces out west, but I lack the soft interior that she had, the same softness that became her eventual downfall. The people of Ixtezuma have adopted the ways of anger and distrust, an unintentional side effect of my irate grief period. And I'm aware I haven't set the best moral example for my people, but I will exude the strength and power of even a thousand dragons as long as it ensures the safety and preservation of my people and our culture.

With the fast approaching centurial anniversary, it is more than likely that a second war is brewing beneath our noses, waiting to bubble over and scorch the land once more. I can only assume that dark times are sure to ensue, so for the sake of the world I can never allow myself to let my guard down or falter my confidence in ruling Ixtezuma.

Za'Karra has already told me many times she refuses to lose yet another generation of young soldiers, but I pray that if the time comes she will understand the importance of sacrifice during times of war. Somehow, despite Aponia entering a new era under a new ruler, their goal is the same as ever, eradicate the opposition. It seems that hatred and violence runs in their blood, being passed down generationally and instilled in the mind of their impressionable youth. If only they knew the destruction and calamity that their ancestors brought upon the world...

---
(Night)

"Empress Qiyana!!!"

I jolt awake and see Nenetl looking especially scared and nervous, which isn't out of the ordinary for her but something is exponentially wrong if she wakes me up in the middle of the night.

"What is it Nenetl??"

She takes my hand and leads me out of my room and through the many palace hallways, hastily making her way towards the exit. "Come with me to the watch tower, you need to see this."

I follow Nenetl outside to the guard posts where generals and militia groups are messily scrambling for their gear and weapons amidst the darkness. What could be going on right now?...

I climb the ladder of the watch tower, fear stricken by ideas of the worst case scenario. After what feels like an agonizing eternity of negative thoughts and climbing this endless ladder, we reach the top of the tower. I peer out into the darkness, not seeing much besides trees and the stars overhead.

"This way, Qiyana..." Nenetl says forlornly, pulling me to the other side of the watch tower. Upon looking out over the island, the horrifying revelation comes into view. Across the south west waters is a seemingly infinite sea of fire torches upon huge Aponian boats, there has to be at least six dozen ships. In this very moment I feel my blood run cold, have they come back to finish what they started?

"Are they approaching land?" I ask Nenetl, trying to hide the shakiness in my voice. I fear not for myself but for the innocents that might shed blood on Ixtezuman soil.

"No... They're sailing south east ma'am, towards Lejuani shores, Milintica believes they are going around Lejuan to reach eastern Guyun and Illyria."

Another wave of ships? Even larger than the last? An indescribably strong feeling of relief washes over me upon hearing Nenetl's report. As long as Aponia stays off Ixtezuman shores, I can't risk engaging on them during such a vulnerable time in the night. We would surely lose the battle.

"Sail east with with Zaniyah and Quetzal, inform Lejuan, Guyun, and Illyria of more incoming forces. Even if it's too late, we can't risk the possibility of Lejuan not intercepting their path, the southern border is further away from the capital than even we are, and it's not heavily fortified either." I warn, Nenetl eagerly nods before beginning her descent to gather Zaniyah and Quetzal for their voyage.

Ixtezuma has dodged calamitous situations for now... I can only extend my prayers to the eastern nations, and when the time is right... Aponia will writhe beneath my feet, there will be no mercy.