A Sister's Questions (Laraganus's Story)

King Shreo was dead, the war was on the verge of ending, Zephren had been crowned queen, and to make everything worse, rumors of Princess Zera killing her own child had been confirmed by Kamos in a devastating letter. All in the span of a few months. Lady Laraganus couldn't keep up with all the political shifts going on. The stress of helping manage the houses had been getting to Lady Laraganus. Every day was a constant back and forth on where to send troops to punish Kamo to avenge the death of Zera and Kamo's child. Laraganus was tired of the lack of effective logistics and the very obvious poor strategies that were being employed against the kingdom of Kamo.

All these thoughts swirled around her head as she feasted with the other heads of the houses, generals, powerful merchants, and other elites in a feast on the night of a retaliation attack against Kamo. Every bite felt painful, every chew was slow and uncomfortable. Everything tasted bitter and ashy. Meanwhile, the other elites and higher-ups were drinking, smiling, singing, and eating without a care in the world. Laraganus then looked at her sister, Queen Zephren. She wore a simple black cloth skirt with red stripes near the bottom. A small black leather top that wrapped around the upper half of her chest, leaving her midsection exposed. She wore long red gloves and had her hair in a long, tight braid. She cracked a smile, seemingly enjoying seeing her minions enjoy their celebration of ruining their alliance with Kamo, until the queen turned to her. Lady Laraganus contrasted by wearing a long, light blue and white skirt and a light blue top that connected to the skirt on the sides, leaving a hole around her midsection as well, and left her hair down. Laraganus never felt so out of place before, and never felt so alone. "Lala, why do you look down? You afraid we'll lose or something?" asked Queen Zephren. "My queen, I am afraid that we are attacking a nation, not the leadership. We are sending soldiers to kill others who had no part in the death of Zera's child. I guess I just...I just don't see the justice. Plus, won't this make Kamos, Shan, and all the other half-orcs living in Kamo targets for Kamo's own retaliation? Won't this incite a race war on both sides? Won't both sides suffer greatly, and for what? What do we gain?" asked Laraganus. The Queen placed her head into her own hand. "'What do we gain?' Well, if Kamo attacks our fellow people in Kamo, then we gain more support for the war. Since Kamo doesn't trust our kind. What we gain is a chance to purge Kamo of its evil corruption by humbling it. Oh, and I almost forgot, but I have sent an order that all the low-ranking soldiers are to be spared, only high-ranking military, nobles, lords, and other notable officials of Kamo are to be killed," answered Queen Zephren.

Laraganus's stomach twisted into more knots as the feast continued; no amount of wine seemed to soothe her. She thought that by the third cup, she would feel something, but it took until the fifth one to begin feeling anything. She also continued to eat slowly. Queen Zephren, though, was calm and delicate with how she ate. "I have another question, my queen. Why send an army when assassins are available?" asked Laraganus. She began to feel dizzy from the wine and very full. "Well, dear sis. Truth be told, I've already sent them. Though many ended up getting killed or captured, so I was forced to call them off," said the Queen as if it were a casual thing. "You actually did that? When and why was I not informed? You know my position and influence. So why hide this until now?" said Laraganus as she stood up in a drunken state. Several nobles noticed but didn't care. "Well, to answer the first question, it was after my poor Shreo died. I didn't tell you because you were too busy doing other things," answered the Queen as she chuckled at her sister. "I wasn't too busy. I am never too busy. Especially when you need help making decisions," said an aggravated Laraganus. "I don't always need your help, you know. I much prefer your presence rather than your mouth anyway; it makes me feel safer. Even in this drunken state, you're still more than capable of killing a dozen Kamo soldiers without taking much damage," said the queen. "What kind of backhanded compliment is that?" asked Laraganus. "The kind only you get, because I know you better than anyone. I've known you since I was born. I've known you before you were even called the "Seducative Slayer". I've known you for almost a century," said the queen as she gulped down more wine. "You...really...suck...sometimes," said Laraganus as she sat down and slammed her face into the table, and passed out. "Guards! Take my sister to my room, on my bed, and guard it until I arrive," ordered the Queen. The guards followed her commands. Nobles watched, whispered, and then went back to normal within just a few minutes.

After a couple more hours of feasting and drinking, Queen Zephren drunkenly stumbled back to her room. The guards opened the door, closed it, and walked away. Queen Zephren saw that her sister was sound asleep in bed. She looked peaceful and calm. The queen slumped into a chair and fell asleep as well. The next day, the Green Swamps went to war with Kamo.

The assault on Kamo's outer defense went smoothly. The Green Swamps split the allied forces in the White Valleys from Kamo. The split left the allied forces trapped in enemy territory. Leaving them exposed to the necromancers. Lady Laraganus stayed behind and reinforced defenses in case of a Kamo counterattack. Shortly after another dinner party, she slipped away in the cover of darkness into a self-exile.