Chapter 120: Escalation
[Kira POV] Year 5, Day 207
Kira walked. The two minotaurs following. Chain stretched between them. Signs proclaiming her failure to everyone who looked.
When she arrived at a more deserted area—away from the main crowds, away from the viewing sections—she stopped.
[Maybe just wait here. Hide. Does this really need escalating? So many things can go wrong. And I already have a surprise prepared for the name removal ceremony later. Maybe just call it a draw. Accept the loss. Move on.]
Then she looked at the minotaurs. At their signs. At the chain connecting them.
At the carefully worded text proclaiming what a risk and failure she was. Each word was legally bulletproof and engineered to maximize humiliation.
[Nah. It's not a draw. And while I didn't start this, I will finish it.]
She opened seed communication to Void in the VIP area. «What's my brother doing?»
Void's voice returned immediately. Worried. Concerned. «Where are you? We're all waiting for you after you got taken out of the race.»
Kira explained the situation. The two minotaurs following her with chain. The signs they carried showing everyone what a failure she was. The legal documentation making it all binding.
Silence on the other end. Void clearly having a hard time processing it.
Finally: «It can't be legal. He can't do that.»
«He can,» Kira sent back, voice flat. «I checked the documentation — it's all in order. Patriarch authority backed by official mercenary contract and race organizers' seal. Every layer of bureaucracy properly stamped.»
«Then coming here is probably a bad idea. It would get you even more attention. Perhaps hide somewhere? Wait it out until the ceremony?»
«I was thinking about it,» Kira admitted. «But if you allow, I would escalate instead. Make brother pay for this.»
Long pause. Then Void's voice came back. Careful. Trusting but uncertain. «Escalate? I trust your judgment, but... how? Through X?»
«No. X already said he won't get mixed in more. Someone with even more authority.»
«Who?» Confusion clear.
«Hob.»
«Who?»
[Right. He's heard the name. Seen the broadcasts. Just not connecting the dots yet. Doesn't realize this is the famous goblin I knew as a child.]
«One of the presenters here. The goblin broadcaster. He offered me a favor before—be his ponygirl. So I'll be his ponygirl today. Can't be much worse than what brother forced on me. Plus I ask a favor in return from the goblin.»
Very long silence. Then Void's voice came back — careful, worried, edging into horror.
«You... really sure that's a good idea? They're freaking goblins. Definition of nasty.»
«Nasty is good as long as some of that nastiness is directed at my brother.» Kira's mental voice carried grim satisfaction. «I can live with it.»
Another pause. Then resignation. «Okay. I really hope you know what you're doing.»
«I hope so too,» Kira sent — honestly, with vulnerability she rarely showed. «Will contact you later.»
Then Kira remembered the catkin from before. The impulse hire. Quick check.
«How's Lala doing?»
Confusion came back through the bond. «Lala? Do you mean Lulu?»
Kira felt confused herself. «The catkin girl I hired before. Azra and Lucio picked her up.»
Long silence. Like Void was talking with someone there. Then the answer came — clear annoyance bleeding through his voice.
«Azra renamed her before she even arrived. Girl introduced herself as Lulu when she got here.»
Then Void continued after a beat, frustration still bleeding through.
«Basically, Azra promised to care for her and teach her. Girl didn't even know how to read properly—she compared the contracts side by side to see they were the same, so clearly not dumb. Just completely uneducated. I offered to send her to school. Girl didn't want to hear anything about it. Azra had already gotten her by that point—new clothes, everything prepared before I even knew what was happening.»
He weighed it for a moment longer, then let resignation settle in.
«So I just agreed. Elves will keep catkin pets, and while I'm not happy about the solution, it's probably best for the girl. Better than alternatives.»
Kira felt from Void's voice that he wasn't really happy about the solution. More like he'd accepted it as the lesser evil. Reluctant approval born from pragmatic assessment.
Kira's thoughts shifted into uncomfortable territory. [Kind of forgot what elves really are. With Void and his slavery trauma, Alpha from servant caste, and 22 just being weird—I've been surrounded by unusual elves. Azra the Archer from Black Wings is a classical elf — definitely on the kinder side, but still very much an elf. Full of herself. Seeing other races as below her. Seeing catkins as pets. And I just gifted her one.]
[Well. Getting mentored and taught and cared for by a six-hundred-year-old elf isn't that bad. And Void will probably keep an eye on it—make sure nothing too strange happens. Given how paranoid he is about elven customs and all kinds of ownership of persons in general, Lala—Lulu—should be fine. Mostly.]
Then Kira remembered. The original question she'd asked. «Wait. What's my brother doing right now?»
Void's response came back, disgust audible. «Opening champagne for celebration. He literally jumped from happiness when you finally went down.»
The image settled in her mind — perfect motivation, fuel for what came next.
«Thanks.» Kira's grim satisfaction came through clearly. «That was exactly the motivation I needed.»
She closed the seed connection and continued walking.
Direction: presenters' booth.
[Ponygirl time. Brother's about to pay for his chains with interest — let's escalate this properly.]
She tried to reassure herself, with limited success. [This probably isn't the biggest mistake of my life. Probably.]
The minotaurs followed. Chain stretched. Signs proclaiming her failure.
Let them follow and watch — see what happens when the passive one stops caring about collateral damage, including to herself.
After some walking and way too many looks from everyone, she was ready to scream.
Some people were literally running after them to fully read the text carried by the minotaurs. Like it was entertainment. Like she was a show.
Kira actually tried to run at one point. Just speed up. Get away from the stares.
The chain yanked tight. Stopped her cold.
Lecture from the minotaurs followed immediately. "Running is not nice. Not proper. Please walk calmly, Lady Razorclaw."
[Even they're mocking me. "Lady Razorclaw" said while holding my leash — professional cruelty at its finest.]
Finally, they arrived at the area where the presenters' booth was located.
Guards stood at the gate, watching every approach with practiced attention.
Kira introduced herself. "I'm Kira. I would like to meet Hob."
The guards looked at the text carried by the minotaurs. Read it. Expressions shifting from professional to something like concern.
Then one of them asked carefully, "You sure you want to meet Hob?" He pointed at the text on the minotaurs' signs. "With this kind of badge, you could easily end up on the large screen." He gestured toward a massive holographic display visible from here. "Broadcast to everyone. Permanent embarrassment."
"Yes," Kira said. Firm. Resolved. "Can you please let him know? He should be definitely interested."
One of the guards sighed. "As you wish. Don't say we didn't warn you."
The guard went inside, returning some time later. "Please follow."
Kira did. The minotaurs followed too, chain connecting them. She noticed they had smug expressions now. Anticipation visible. They were probably waiting for something interesting to happen. For the entertainment to continue.
They were guided through various corridors until they arrived at some kind of meeting room.
Hob waited there. He was using a different ponygirl now—not the one from earlier. All his servants—ponygirls or not—seemed to wear some kind of black suit. Uniform. Professional gear. Quality that didn't seem to differ from their own maid dresses. High-grade enchantments. Expensive materials. Serious investment in appearance.
Hob watched Kira arrive. Watched the minotaurs. Eyes clearly reading the signs they carried.
Then he started laughing — a good minute of uncontrolled, genuine laughter.
Even the ponygirl made a small puff of laughter. Suppressed but visible.
Kira didn't want to expose her full plan to the minotaurs. Not yet. Let it be a surprise later.
She approached the goblin. Close. Then whispered to his ear.
"You offered me the ponygirl position before. I can be one today—no need to wait or come to Borderwatch. Of course, you need to help get rid of those two." She glanced at the minotaurs. "Can't do it while they follow me with chain everywhere. If possible, don't let them know right away. Let it be a surprise display later."
She'd been thinking about maybe adding a request. A favor for later.
But decided to skip it. She wasn't really in a position to make demands. And she didn't really know this goblin other than ten minutes in childhood and a few sentences they'd exchanged before, plus this ponygirl talk.
[Better not push it. He's already helping. That's enough. Be grateful. Don't be greedy.]
Hob watched her, clearly surprised — he hadn't expected this. Now calculating and processing the implications.
The minotaurs were the same. Hoping for explanation of what was whispered. What was planned. Anticipation visible.
Hob finally asked, voice quiet. Just between them. "You're serious?"
Kira answered. Resolute. Final. "Yes."
Hob thought for a moment. Then turned to the minotaurs. Voice professional now. Authoritative.
"This chain between you and Lady Kira. Do you have permissions for it?"
The leader minotaur handed Hob the same document they'd shown Kira before — official paper carrying patriarch authority and the race organizers' seal.
Hob read it. Carefully. Thoroughly. Then returned it.
"Please wait here."
He left.
After that, they all just waited. Standing in awkward silence. Maybe fifteen or twenty minutes passed slowly.
Then someone massive arrived.
Lionkin. Enormous. Overwhelming presence radiating from him.
Kira's internal dragon literally stirred — recognition and danger assessment surfacing before her conscious mind caught up.
[This guy is strong. Strong enough that the dragon remnant takes notice. Peer-level maybe. Or close enough to matter.]
He introduced himself. Voice carrying natural authority. "I'm Maximus the Roar. I understand you, Lady Kira Razorclaw, want the guardianship ensuring you don't escape before the name removal ceremony transferred from these contractors to Hob of the Mindglow tribe?"
"Yes," Kira confirmed.
Maximus watched the two minotaurs. They had clear surprise and panic on their faces.
[They clearly didn't expect this. Didn't plan for it. Whatever authority Hob just brought in, it's way above their pay grade.]
"Please remove the chain," Maximus said. Simple command. Directed at the minotaurs.
Kira felt the authority radiating from him — the kind of presence that weaker people would mistake for a mental attack, the kind that bent wills without trying.
Both minotaurs almost froze, thinking and processing — clearly uncertain how to handle this.
The leader grabbed the document. Held it up. Evidence. Legal authority. Proof.
Maximus just grabbed it from his hand and tore it into pieces.
"The one who signed this from our side works under me. So this document is no longer valid."
The leader minotaur tried once more. Desperate. "We need to report this. Discuss it. It wasn't—"
Maximus didn't let him finish. "Go discuss. REMOVE THE CHAIN AND LEAVE."
That last part carried so much authority and suppression that the other minotaur stepped to Kira on instinct.
Click.
Released the chain around her neck.
Kira instantly stepped away from those two, creating distance and breathing the first taste of freedom.
A second later, the minotaur also understood what he'd just done. Tried to approach Kira again. Reaching for her.
Something hot and ugly moved under Kira's skin. [Don't touch me again. Break his arm. Break both. Kill them.]
But Kira moved behind Maximus. Using the massive lionkin as shield.
She wasn't sure what was pushing it — dragon instinct, raw humiliation, or just the whole day finally tipping over.
[If they touch me now, I might actually make this worse. Dragon strength could turn one bad impulse into a corpse.]
So moving behind Maximus was half shield, half self-control — anything to avoid hitting those bastards.
The minotaur didn't dare approach. Didn't dare challenge. Just stood there. Frozen in standoff. Eyes locked on Maximus.
Few seconds of tense silence — a staring contest, a battle of wills.
Then both minotaurs turned around and left the room. Fast. Like devils were hunting them.
The guards who had guided them here left after the minotaurs. Following. Making sure they actually departed.
Maximus turned to Kira.
"I don't know what game you're playing here, Lady. Just know all bets made in dragon races are enforceable by Republic law. So if you plan to run—you will be made a wanted person. You understand the seriousness?"
"Yes," Kira said. Clear. Honest. "I'm aware of the laws. I have no plans to run."
Maximus watched her for a moment, assessing. Then nodded and turned to leave.
At the door, his mouth curled into a half-evil grin — the kind people wear when they realize someone's about to do something crazy. "Good luck with whatever you're planning."
Then he was gone.
Only Kira and two of Hob's servant girls were left in the room.
One of them spoke up, all business. "Follow me."
Kira followed into a separate room. Large text on the door read: "THE STABLES."
Ponygirl equipment everywhere — saddles, harnesses, bits, reins, blinders, all organized in professional storage. A serious operation. Kira needed a moment to take it all in and understand what she was seeing — thankfully her two guides were happy to give her that time.
And the strangest part of the room — two ponygirls in those same black suits with saddles and harnesses were standing there. Guide ropes connected them to cleats on the wall. Literally like horses on a hitching rail.
Watching those two standing there, Kira wasn't that sure anymore.
[I still hope this is a good idea. It has to be. I've committed too deep. Can't back out now. Let everyone see what a bastard brother is — forcing his sister down this kind of path. Just... please let this work.]
One of the servant girls who'd guided her here started talking, voice professional and clinical — delivering a warning.
"You're untrained. We need to verify first if our lord has any use for you. If you end up useless—we return you to where you came from. To those fine minotaur gentlemen."
The servant girl let the silence stretch, weight building between them.
"Perhaps our lord will at least get some show-business value out of it. Display some fool on every holographic screen in this city."
Kira understood. It was a threat. Clear. Direct.
[They already used effort to get those minotaurs off my back. If I don't play along now, they'll destroy me socially. Broadcast my failure everywhere. Make me a joke across Central. Brother's humiliation would look gentle compared to what goblins can do.]
Kira answered simply. "I understand. I will be a good girl."
The servant girl watched her, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. "A good girl — our lord likes those. Let's work with that then."
She picked up one of the ponygirl kits — the kind of professional saddle-and-harness set you didn't see in amateur operations.
"Hands behind your back."
Kira did as instructed. No hesitation. No resistance.
The servant girl placed the saddle on Kira's back and bound her hands with straps underneath it — locked tight, no escape.
The saddle felt like some kind of strange backpack. Heavily enhanced with a large number of comfort enchantments. Despite her hands being bound there—trapped, immobilized—it actually felt pleasant due to all those comfort spells.
As the straps were tightened underneath, Kira felt some kind of hard shape near where her hands were bound. A button maybe. Something built into the harness.
The servant girl spoke in the same clinical tone.
"There's an emergency release under the saddle. If you need to get out fast, use it."
A brief pause — then her mouth curved into the faintest smile:
"Bad girls sometimes use it too. Our lord has no use for those."
Despite everything happening, she felt fine — the level of professionalism actually scared her more. [Expensive, professionally built gear. The kind of detail you only get when you've put girls in this setup hundreds of times and learned what keeps them docile.]
Then they placed the harness over her head.
It included fancy head decoration. Blinders that only allowed her to see straight ahead. But had movable parts to totally blind her if desired.
And some kind of wooden bit that went in her mouth and pulled it back slightly. Not painful. Not choking. Just controlling. Reminding her constantly of what she'd become. And — disturbingly — the bit tasted incredible. Like the best meal of her life. The bit was clearly a magical item of the highest quality. She actually ended up trying to guess how much something like that would cost — she had no idea.
Like the bit, the head harness also had several comfort enchantments. Again, felt pleasant.
[They want you docile and comfortable — pleasant enough that you stop wanting to fight back. Professional psychological warfare disguised as luxury.]
Once all the equipment was placed on Kira, the servant girl spoke again with the finality of someone reading official rules.
"First lesson is free for good girls: You will not talk. You will not move unless guided. You will stay here until collected. Do you understand?"
Kira nodded. The bit in her mouth preventing speech anyway.
The servant girl led Kira next to the wall. Next to the other two ponies waiting there. Connected her guide rope to cleats on the wall.
Then left the room.
Kira stayed there.
Now this room had three ponygirls waiting like horses on a hitching rail.
[What have I done? What am I doing? Is this really better than hiding? Is this really going to work?]
[Too late now. Committed, bound, and waiting for whatever comes next. I brought this on myself.]
[Brother wanted to humiliate me. Now I'm a ponygirl in the stables. Waiting to be ridden by a goblin. For broadcast. For show. For revenge.]
[And if this backfires — I'm mad enough now that asking Mistress Null to send the Twins for a visit with brother starts to seem reasonable.]
[This better be worth it. Brother better pray this pays off, because otherwise I'll do something genuinely insane...]