Xander picked at the top button of his jacket. It was hard not to worry, it wasn’t on straight. He would have to repair it when he got back to his room. 

“Hand me the Hollanser folder,” Said Princess Azel, “Out of the 3rd drawer.”

Xander looked up. The Princess was sitting at a finely crafted wooden desk in an office she kept behind the throne hall. She had her hand held out, her other hand working furiously on some paperwork. 

“Yes, your highness,” Xander said with a bow, and then turned to the wall of file drawers. It didn’t take a whole evening to learn that princess Azel was a vital part of the operation of the castle, if not the whole empire. She had files and reports on a variety of subjects. By her lonesome, she had a library of data, and dispersed it to those she thought needed it.

When she asked for his help, he worried that there was going to be another episode. It made him wonder how often the princesses discuss matters amongst themselves. Did Dalia say anything to her older sister? Was Galana a gossip? There was no easy way to tell. But Azel only had one purpose for him. Her usual assistant was ill, and she needed someone to ferry papers to and from her file drawers.

He grabbed the proper file, thick with paperwork, and brought it back to her waiting hands.

“Is every day like this for you, your highness?” Xander asked as he dropped the folder off. 

At first she ignored him, pulling the folder forward, opening it, and going 4 reports deep to pull out what she wanted. She checked something off, shoved a paper of her own into the stack, signed another line, and then closed the file before moving it to the edge of her table.

“I assume you mean on average,” Azel said as she moved to a new piece of paper, dabbed her ink, and began writing.

Xander coughed into his hand, “Of course.”

“It is my task, I perform it well. I would think you would understand. I’ve done my research on the Zindu, you take your tasks seriously.”

Out of the princesses Xander had interacted with, Azel had a sense of control that filled whatever room she was in. It was refreshing, but he kept himself prepared for whatever might come. 

“The Zindu are the Zindu,” Xander said, “You are the Queen’s own flesh and blood, I would imagine you are allowed some time off.”

Azel stopped writing, and sat erect in her chair, “That is the problem, isn’t it? To everyone else, one’s own responsibilities seem unimportant, and simple to cast aside. I would ask you the same, Zindu. When do you act for yourself?”

She looked down at him, her face serene. He realized there was no suitable answer. 

“In death,” Xander answered without thinking, “That is the role of the Zindu, absolute service.”

Azel turned back to her paperwork, “Then you are dead already.”

Xander closed his eyes, and let the words slide away from him. Then he opened them again, and nodded.

“Fifth cabinet, third drawer,” She said, “Give me the first file.”

Xander retrieved the paperwork, and came back. 

“Then are you dead as well?” Xander asked as he handed her the file.

She opened it, and signed a list on the inside cover.

“That would be an odd trait for an immortal,” Azel said.

It was difficult to talk to her, she didn’t give emotional feedback like anyone else. She was so close to the Queen herself, and looking at her Xander didn’t know what blood was diluting the Queen’s power. Is that what controlled her, held back a bombastic personality? 

“I can be silent, your highness,” Xander suggested, “If you wish.”

“Far from it,” Azel said, “I cherish every word. You misunderstand me, Zindu. If my mother is any indication, I can look forward to an eternity locked in the fog of my own mind. The past will escape me, my childhood, friendships, love and joy, will slip away into the aether as mere possibilities to recall. For now, while my mind is sharp, I can allow myself a few centuries of death. I can only imagine I will live for some time beyond that.”

Xander took a deep breath. Her words, edging on attacks against the Queen, were also damning of her own future. It was hard to imagine. He expected to live for some time, but Azel was the Queen’s first, and she would look on his aging body with the same youthful expression.

“I’m sorry,” Xander said, “I only thought to help you relax.”

Azel collapsed the file she had, wrapped it in string, and then pulled out a stamp before marking the outside with her own crest. She looked down on Xander, and smiled. For a brief moment, his legs felt weak, and he thought he was in the Queen’s own presence. 

“Xander,” She said, “I appreciate what you have tried to do, for all of my sisters. Don’t think I haven’t been keeping an eye on you. But if you want to help me relax…”

She stopped smiling, and pushed the file into his arms, nearly toppling him, “Take this to Salimyn, and then get her to relax even if just for a moment.”

It took a moment for him to catch himself. He stood straight, bowed, and said, “Yes, your highness.”

He left her office, and took a moment to let his breath settle. It wasn’t a long walk to the offices of the High Guard, and typically you could just follow any Galan you saw in uniform that weren’t at a post. They walked in and out of the area, some acting as secretaries, while others were making reports for recent work. It was a lot of paperwork compared to what Xander was used to seeing come from guards, and he had a feeling that over the years, Azel had a hand in creating more and more bureaucracy across the castle. 

Xander moved to the back, dodging the Galan women he was sure only noticed him half of the time. He knocked on her office door, and waited for her to call him inside.

She was sitting at a desk in the middle of the room. It was a simple space, cold, with metal fixtures that made sure no one there could actually be comfortable. A pile of paperwork sat at the edge of her desk, and her brow was twisted up as she read over a report in front of her.

When she remembered he was there, he could see her feet shift beneath her desk, swishing her dress around as she pushed her chair away from the desk.

“I’m guessing that’s from Princess Azel,” Sali said.

Xander held a hand up, “I will bring them over ma’am, and yes.”

Sali stopped in mid motion to stand, and sat back down. She took the file from him, unwrapped it, and took a read of the first reports inside.

“We’re cursed,” Sali grumbled, “That is the only explanation for why so much must go wrong in so short a time.”

“Ma’am?” Xander said, his hands behind his back. He could tell that Sali was actually troubled. While he usually saw her in control, or brooding, it seemed that an assassination attempt inside the castle strained her behind closed doors.

Maybe Azel’s words were true, Sali was who really needed a moment to relax.

“Now that the story is spreading,” Sali continued, tapping the piece of paper in front of her and lifting her eyebrows, “More and more servants and dignitaries are coming forward to say they have seen the same cloaked person as you.”

Xander’s mind returned to the stabbed woman in the halls, and the assassin in the black cloak.

Sali narrowed her gaze, “You’ve stayed silent about it?”

Xander bowed, “I haven’t spoken to anyone about it.”

“The reports are all different, and they make no sense. It is becoming hysteria,” Sali said as she rifled through the papers, “Between you and this mystery assailant, there is no relief in sight.”

There was no easy way to approach her on the subject. While he wished to help, he knew that she was the most adamant he didn’t help at all. It was his task, and as he said to the princess, that was all he was. He couldn’t just give up because Sali thought it made her life easier. 

Xander took a step forward, “My offer to help is still open.”

Sali looked at him, “Yes, don’t remind me. On top of that, Yalle has recently become your greatest advocate, though I know she is hiding something there.”

“She confronted me on why I wished to help,” Xander said, “I can be rather convincing.”

Her face went hard, and she shifted in her seat to point toward him, “Here is the problem, little man. There are a number of people in this castle that don’t like you, and don’t trust you. You have no status to do anything but clean and serve the princesses, it isn’t your place to help. If anyone thought I gave you permission to, if they even thought I didn’t hate your very existence, it would undermine my work.”

Even having Xander in her office was a danger for her, that was what she was living with. No wonder she was stressed. 

He kept his eyes off of her, let her have the victory, “I understand, madame.”

“Finally,” Sali said with a shake of her head, “though word from Yalle herself says you could have your uses, and I trust her with my life. So if we can keep it quiet, maybe you could have some use.”

That surprised him. He avoided smiling, and merely puffed his chest out. It seemed his actions with Yalle were paying off. He had an advocate inside the guard, though it wasn’t the one he expected.

Sali opened her mouth to say more, and there was a knock at the door.

“Who is it?” Sali snapped. Her expression told a different story, was she worried?

The voices sounded similar to hers, other Galan, “Meva and Geil, Guardmaster.”

“Damn,” Sali whispered, she looked to Xander, and then her eyes darted around the room, “you need to hide. These two are high on the list of those I mentioned earlier.”

Xander swallowed. Hiding was no problem for a trained Zindu, when given proper places to hide. On the other hand, this room was bare. There were shelves along the bare walls, and the ceiling had no escapes. He had one option, and even that would be idiotic in any other circumstance.

He held a hand up to calm her, then went around her desk. From the front, he ducked under, grabbed the hem of her dress, and ducked underneath.

“What are you…”

“Guardmaster?” Came a voice from outside.

Sali cleared her throat, “Come in.”

The door opened, and Xander slowed his breathing. Despite Galan hearing, he didn’t want to risk anything. Plus, the air under her dress was thick with scents that Xander didn’t immediately want to think about.

“Hm,” Said the same voice from outside, it sounded like she was looking around, “Sorry Guardmaster, I was worried.”

Sali shifted her hips, and one of her knees knocked Xander in the shoulder, “No need. There is a lot of paperwork, I was merely finishing up. Report.”

A new voice, softer, quieter, entered the conversation. From the distance and the tone, it was also Galan. 

“The analysis you requested was just finished, the doctor believes the poison is local.”

Sali squeezed her knees together, and Xander gripped them, and pushed them apart. He knew she was in thought, but he didn’t like the idea of being crushed during a conversation. Her legs squeezed again, and Xander realized something more could be at work. He adjusted carefully, turning so he was facing Sali. The scent from before increased in strength. 

For anyone but a Xin, the darkness would make the space between her legs impenetrable. Xander could see straight to her groin. Her panties were not what he expected. They were lace, a dark red with black that made Xander immediately wonder if she was wearing a bra to match. It was the sort of underwear you wore to feel full pride in how attractive you are. In retrospect, he wasn’t surprised Salimyn was wearing it.

“Meva?” Sali said, “What do you think?”

The gruff voice responded, “If it is from the North, that means it could come from as far West as Nodru.”

The other voice, Geil, spoke up, “Or the attacker wants us to blame the Nodru. That isn’t an impossible plan, especially for an assassin trained in exotic poisons.”

The Nodru, just the mention of the Queen’s lost children made Sali’s thighs tense. 

This conversation was making her worse. At this rate, there was no way for him to help Sali relax. Were Azel’s words an order? There was no other way to see it. With where his eyes were focused now, he could think of one way to help her. Though now wasn’t the best time. 

“I need an idea, not a conspiracy,” Sali said, “We should start with what we know.”

“What we know,” Geil said, “Is that we have a conspiracy. They didn’t just attack someone at random, this wasn’t a butcher’s work. It was exact, and we must believe they will strike again. If that is the case, they let us know they exist, attacked in the middle of the day. That means they believe they have the power to strike again without difficulty.”

Then again, he had both Sali’s permission to help, and a command from a Princess. If he knew anything about the Galan, then the best time to assist them was when they were incapable of refusing out of stubbornness or pride. 

Xander hand touched Sali’s inner thigh, and he heard her take in a sharp breath. 

“I don’t know if I’m convinced,” Sali said. Her thighs pushed together, but from his position, he could keep her knees apart. The only way to escape, was to roll herself away from her desk and reveal him, or push him out from under her desk completely. Both were impossible for her at the moment.

He walked his fingers up her thigh, and waited for each chill to run through Sali. She understood her position, and she had an idea what was coming. That’s all he wanted. His fingers touched against the outside of her panties. 

Sali stomped against the floor, and Xander heard both women shuffle in place. “This isn’t a game, we need something we can work with. We don’t have time for foolish actions that will only cause trouble in the future.”

Xander understood her, but his mind was set. He swiped his fingers up her panties, rubbing from where she met the seat, up to her pubic mound. When he started to repeat the action, he could feel Sali’s legs trembling.

“I have increased patrols,” Meva said, “The guards know they are on high alert, and I have spoken to Lostra about keeping up on her paperwork.This building is more servants than those who are served. It is impossible to keep track of them all. Anyone can vanish by putting on a uniform.”

“If it was a woman,” Geil added.

Sali shifted again, pushing herself toward Xander. At first he was afraid she was going to try to push him away again. Instead her pose relaxed. With her stomach against the desk, her knees spread further. 

“The majority of the sightings have been of a woman,” Sali said, tapping paperwork in front of her, “Our closest eye witness says it was a woman.”

“Without having seen the face,” Geil said, “He saw a pair of legs, and says it was a woman just that easy.”

With her closer, Xander gripped her thigh with one hand, and teased Sali with the fingers on the other. When he dug his fingers against her, he could feel her heat beneath the thin material. He circled near the top of her slit, slid down over one side, rose back on the other. The material was starting to feel moist. The smell under her dress was increasing. This close, it was hard to deny her musk, her body reacting with confidence. Now, whether Sali wanted this or not, her body acquiesced to Azel’s request.

“We have to take what evidence we have,” Sali said, “If this attacker is using disguise, we need to… shit…”

She stopped in the middle of her sentence, and her legs squeezed together. He could hear her breathing changing, her heart-rate increasing. She was having trouble hiding what was happening to her. It meant she was definitely enjoying herself, which was the important part.

“Guardmaster?” Meva said.

“Nothing,” Sali replied, “We may need to create more checkpoints, not just at vital locations. Is that viable?”

The two other women in the room let the words hang for a moment. Were they pondering the question, or maybe Sali’s expression was odd.

Xander gripped the front of her panties, and slid the gusset aside. She womanhood almost seemed plump, juicy, like a fruit begging to be bitten into. He slid his fingers against her lower lips directly, noted the warmth, the juices left on his hand. Two of his fingers were slid just inside, and he could feel a mix of panic and desperation go through her body. Her thighs flexed, and wavered. She cleared her throat loudly. Her womanhood itself, it held around his finger, gripping the fingers as best it could.

“I don’t know why we’re even going through these motions,” Geil snapped, “Guardmaster, we all know who is the greatest suspect for this plot. He walks the halls as if he is some infant-sized master of women.”

His fingers slid into her, slowly. His thumb made a small pattern where her thigh met her body, calming her as he made his slow entrance.

Sali’s voice came out strained, as if she didn’t want to sound like she had been running, “I don’t want to discuss the man.”

“And why not?” Geil continued, “You said it yourself when he arrived. A man cannot be trusted with the hearts of women. He took the trust you gave him, and shattered it for some plot against the crown. As far as I’m concerned, all of Xin is forfeit.”

“Trust that I feel the backlash of his every action,” Sali practically growled, “But I was direct with you.”

Geil huffed.

His fingers slid in as far as they could, and Xander hooked them within her, sliding over sensitive weak points every woman wished they did not hide so well. He swept his fingers toward himself, as if beckoning her crotch closer, and then slid his fingers out, before sliding back into her smooth warmth.

There was a tapping sound, Sali’s right leg jiggling up and down with each curl of his fingers. Sali let out a huff of her own.

Meva took the chance to speak, “In that case, I can organize 10 points in the castle, not counting those already established. Shifts will be increased, and the girls won’t like it.”

“Good,” Sali said with a short adjustment Xander assumed was a nod, “Details.”

“Nothing unusual,” Meva said, “I want to box in the center of the maid quarters, again with the dignitary center, that is eight. Then we can add one by the dining room, and one for the kitchen in particular.”

Sali’s thighs pressed inwards again, but now Xander was sure it was against her own will. When she finished the involuntary twitch, her knees spread out again, further than before, her legs fanned out beneath the desk.

“What about the furnace?” Geil asked.

“Why the furnaces?” Meva replied.

“Winter is coming in a few months,” Geil said, “I want the furnaces functional when that time comes.”

Xander could feel Sali’s pleasure coming off of her like waves of heat. With her body pressed so far forward, he was close enough to almost taste her. In fact, her body was scooted forward, reaching for his every touch. At this point, it wouldn’t be impossible.

His fingers slid free, and he put hands on both of her thighs, and leaned in. He took a deep whiff of her smell. If he said he wasn’t also excited, he would be lying. Not even his training could keep him as fluid as the Zindu required at a time like this. His tongue drew over her lips, the acrid and unique taste spilling over his taste buds as he drew over her sordid places.

“Ho!” Sali squeaked.

There was a silence, and Sali continued, “You’re right, Geil. We need to protect vital castle infrastructure. For all we know, we are already, uhm, under attack.”

Xander held her close by her legs, pressed in deep. The flat of his tongue spread her apart, flicked over the surface, made her tremble whenever he moved over her woman’s switch. She was tense now, her whole body flexed in defiance against his assault. She had to redouble her efforts whenever he moved from side to side, lapped at her juices, suckled the free flesh. He kept as quiet as he could, muffled the sound in her legs, let her make the only noise.

Meva snorted, “If it isn’t, you know who, then it is likely some rat-folk. Do you really think they have the forethought or patience to wait until winter?”

Sali pressed her groin toward him. He could hear her fingers drumming on the desk, feel her chest heaving.

Then she pounded on her desk, “It is decided!”

“Guardmaster?” Geil whispered in the echo.

Sali’s voice was on edge. Gone was the tough woman that shouted at Xander for every action. Her tone was low, with short bursts of volume, her every word chosen carefully and dispersed as if they might be her last. It made him think, if only for a moment, that he may need to stop.

“This is urgent,” Sali said, “Can’t wait. Set the patrols, we’ll discuss more later.”

Xander sped up, his tongue digging into her moist places, his nose serving as his best implement to stimulate her both outside and within. She was bursting now, unable to keep her thighs from squeezing in toward him. Her juices were nearly drowning him, the taste shifting with her push to the edge. 

“We were also set to-” Geil began.

“Go,” Sali said, “Now!”

Both women stomped, turned, and made a hasty retreat from the room.

When the door clicked shut, Sali let out a mewl of passion as her head collapsed to her desk. Her whole body quivered, her legs extended and wrapped around him, pulling him closer under the table. 

“Oh my,” She whispered, her hips rocking against him in time with some pattern she imagined in his swirls of motion, “In the name of Galana, to the oath of the wall, by the white hills of Oramel, and the sacred sisters of battle.”

She was reciting in rapid whispers, some oath Xander was sure no man was ever supposed to hear. He kept up his focus, pressed in harder, met her rhythm. With the two gone, he could complete his mission.

“To the lady of the first war and last, the shining steel of tomorrow, and the one above all.”

Her whole body squeezed around him. An intense shake overtook her. His mouth was assaulted by a jet of warm fluid on top of the waterfall of juices that came before it.

“In the name of the Queen!” Sali squeaked as her whole body went stiff, and then relaxed through a series of shivers.

She laid her head down on the desk, and let out long heaving breaths.

Xander fall to his butt under the desk, and caught his breath. His jaw was exhausted, and his face was soaked. 

He crawled from under the desk, and came to her side. She didn’t get up for a full minute, then she stretched as if waking up from a nap.

Her face turned to him, and her angry glare returned as if the last incident had never passed.

“What were you thinking you little fool?”

Xander stood up straight, “I was told to help you relax.”

“Relax?” Sali snapped, “Is that what that was? I should have squashed you between my thighs and been done with it.”

Despite her complaint, there was a difference in her voice. It wasn’t softer, just a familiarity. She seemed, kinder? 

Xander pointed to the file on her desk, “It was a request of the Princess, Azel. I’m sorry if it was an inopportune time.” 

She looked at the file, and he could tell she wasn’t buying the whole story.

“Request or not,” She began, “Do that again, and I’ll take your head.”

Xander couldn’t hide his own excitement as he stood there. All he could do is nod, “I understand, madame.”

Sali seemed to think of what she said, and a blush came to her cheeks, “And I mean decapitate you, not, you know the other thing.”

“Of course, madame,” Xander said.

“Besides, if I ever wished for that sort of treatment, I would ask for it,” She said, avoiding eye contact, “Now get out of my office.”


He nodded again, and walked to the door. He had to wait there for a moment, and let his excitement pass. Walking out with such a compromising appearance wouldn’t do. He wiped at his face with his sleeve, and adjusted his coat. 

As he opened the door, he looked to Sali.

“If you ever did need assistance,” He said, “I am available.”

Sali’s face twisted up as if she wanted to look disgusted. Then she looked away, and her cheeks flushed even darker.

Xander left, took a deep breath, and closed the door behind him.