Chapter 86: Elias, Alias: kidnapper.
After having lunch, Senna received a call from her husband. Elias was in a great mood, laughing immensely and the cause, was Numia once again. "I can’t believe that idiot went through with it. What was she thinking?"
Sienna didn’t even flinch when he called her aunt an idiot, because he was not wrong. "Her ambition clouded common sense. I am assuming you saw the security footage."
Elias nodded, not wanting to admit that he had asked all the guards to call him if Numia ever crossed paths with the princess. He didn’t want to admit that the king’s gossipy spirit had possessed him for a short moment. "Yes, the security footage. I spilled tea all over myself when I heard that first Princeeeessss." He barely finished the word before exploding in vigorous laughter again.
Sienna laughed along.
Elias paused and took a deep breath. "I called to let you know that I have already handled the matter. I filed a complaint with the royal office for grievances of nobles against the royals. By the time the princess started crying to her brother, my paperwork was being stamped. Bureaucracy beats tantrums every time."
Sienna chuckled, "You are the only man I know who treats legals forms like battle victories."
Elias grinned "When it comes to royals, documented evidence like paperwork is a true weapon of war since we can’t settle grievances through physical battle. The princess can swing her tears and I will swing my ink."
Sienna burst into small chuckles. "You know, if aunt Numia hadn’t dragged out Princeeesss like a dying goat, she probably wouldn’t have been beaten!"
The trio of older women in the kitchen, and servants erupted in laughter.
When Elias caught his breath, he replied, "No, she would have been beaten either way. She tried to marry her son into royalty and__"
"And ended up serving herself as a punching bag for the princess." Sienna chuckled.
Snorts and laughter came from the kitchen, as did the smell of honey, oat and milk cookies.
"And the princess thinks that this will hurt me." Sienna sighed. "She doesn’t realize that Numia’s schemes embarrass me more than her bruises."
Still, Sienna couldn’t ignore the cruelty. The Princess had crossed another line, turning spite into violence. If she couldn’t hurt Sienna, she could hurt her loved ones. Sienna knew this wasn’t the end--it was only the second act of the feud that was quickly becoming legendary. What would act three bring?
When she ended the call, she moved to the shade under the hive and relaxed with Honey Thunder, feeding the bee a fruit strip. As it ate, she stroked its wings and whispered, "Patience. If they come for you and I can’t protect you, just sting them and run back to the forest. Anyway, no matter where you are, I will always find you."
The children recited numbers up ahead, under the watchful eyes of three older women and one stern grandfather. And everyone waited for snack time, because the scent of cookies was too strong.
***
That night happened to be moonless, and cloaked in shadows, Elias led a squad from the fox vanguard to ambush a flying ship that was gliding silently across the skies of his city. Foxes were best at spying, and he had learned that the vessel carried none other than a white snake princess.
Her name was Mija, twenty three years old, pampered and proud. She was traveling with a retinue of guards, on her way back from a night club in the Lost-born city.
The ambush was swift and merciless. Flying beast men from the fox vanguard darted like streaks of fire while foxes used ropes to leap onto the enemy vessel. Their tails whipped through the dark. The guards, though trained, were overwhelmed. The slipped, stumbled and ultimately fell under the foxes’ cunning strikes.
The White snake princess shrieked as her ship tilted, her silken robes tangling around her ankles.
"Really?" Elias drawled, catching her mid-scream. "You though flying above fox territory was safe when our tribes are warring? That’s like dangling cheese over the lips of a mouse beast man."
Mija glared, hissing. "Release me, I command you. Do you know who I am?"
"Of course," Elias said with a grin. "You are the bargaining chip I didn’t know I needed."
Her poison was neutralized and she was whisked away, her ship left smouldering in the night sky. The fox vanguard carried her back to Sienna’s compound, slipping through hidden paths until they reached one of Elias’s cottages at the back that was occupied by guards.
The princess was deposited inside, still fuming. "This is outrageous! How can you put me in this damp? I demand an exclusive suite with silk cushions, incense and at least ten attendants!"
Elias chuckled. "You will get a straw, normal cotton clothing, a blanket, and the company of my men. Consider it character-building."
Meanwhile, Sienna slept peacefully in her cottage, unaware of the chaos her husband had imported. Not too far, a white snake princess sulked, plotting revenge against Elias. Her target was his wife.
She hissed at the guards who were standing at the door of the small room she was now confined to. They responded by offering her a bowl of left over beef and fruit strip.
"What poison is this?" she screeched.
One fox guard rolled his eyes. "If you are poisoned, we don’t get what we want."
Mija rose and stomped her foot. "I demand a six course meal with wine. I will not be treated like a farm animal."
Elias came over and leaned against the doorway, a tail swinging lazily. "Relax, Mija. You’re safe here. Well safe-ish. My wife doesn’t know that you are our guest just yet. I will tell her tomorrow. When you meet her, do your best not to screech or hiss because she is scarier than I am."
Mija blinked. "Scarier than the ruthless six tailed fox lord?"
Elias smirked. "If you think that I am lying, wait and see what happens when you meet her. One hiss and her pan will smash your forked tongue. Or, you will end up as fertilizer for our the flowers which feed our bee."
Mija shivered.
Elias whipped out his phone. "After your dinner, we are going to make a call to your father. I hope you have the tears ready because I don’t want to host you any longer than I have to. Don’t blame me for this. Your snake clan started the war, I am just ending it."