Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"We know of your spell," the captain took hold of her chin, "and we won't rest until you break it."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"What spell, Stars curse it?!"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"The one you put on our general to force him to love the bag of bones that you are," he spat at her. "No one in their right mind could ever love you!"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"So you would disobey your general? Just because you hate the woman he married?" She hissed. "I if I were a witch, I could make you release me. But I am not. Unhand me!"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Admit it, free him of your curse, and we might let you live."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"I won't tell you again; there is no curse!"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Then perhaps you will change your mind after a few broken fingers," captain Muller nodded to one of the men holding the Ravenness.

----

Fischer brushed off his uniform, and hesitantly knocked on the general's door. It wasn't how one properly met with their superior, but with this information, surely he'd be forgive. He almost didn't catch the summons from the room, so he entered quickly, trying not to trip over himself. He could tell that the general was expecting someone else by the way that he furrowed his brow at Fischer's presence, so the younger man saluted. "What th- You're the young boy from the Koln Offensive, right?"

"Yes sir," Fischer nodded.

The general sat back in his chair, "then what is it, man?"

"There's uh, something I need to report to you, sir." Fischer glanced out the door at the two guardsmen who stood there.

"Then out with it, I haven't all day."

Fischer swallowed quickly, "there's a plot, sir."

Caden shot up in his chair, "who? The serving staff? The village-folk? Has the King been informed? I can't let anything happen to him. C'mon, speak man."

"Captain Muller is attacking your wife, sir."

"My-" The general shook his head, "captain Muller is one of my own, he would never betray me."

"They think it's for your own good, sir. Something about a spell."

"Spell? Stars, where is Muller now?" The general demanded as he rushed towards the door. 

Fischer backed out of the general's way, "I don't know, sir. But he's doing something."

"Come with me," the general ordered. "Wait, no. Gather men you know you can trust, and meet me in the dungeon. Understood, soldier?"

Fischer saluted again, "yes, sir."

"I just hope it's not too late," the general said as he practically ran out the door.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Her eyes widened. "No. Oh Stars, please, no."

She'd been hurt before. Been strapped to a table, forcefed potions, injected over and over again, had her mother carve her name into her back. Even today, a scar that spelled the name Nyx could faintly be seen between her shoulder blades by someone who knew where to look. Yes, Riva had felt pain before. But that had been decades ago. Back then, she'd been able to resist. but no longer. She screamed horribly, her shouts echoing in the stone corridors of the dungeon. 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden increased his speed when he heard the screaming, his heart pounding as he pushed himself to the very limit to get there in time. He burst through the door to see his wife at the mercy of the guard, his guard. "Stand down, men!"

Captain Muller jerked his head to look towards Caden, cursing when he saw him. "You're not supposed to be here, sir."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva was sobbing on the floor, cradling her broken hand. 

[Fallapede]

1 hour ago, The Ward's Guard said:

"I see, then we'll get you on your way."

Jasper followed the guard through the gate, fixing the positions of the other guards in his mind.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"You monster!" Caden drew his blade, his blood running hot. "Step away from my wife!"

The captain just shook his head, "general, can't you see? She has you under some sort of spell. Please, see reason."

Caden shook his own head, "I love her, captain, and she loves me. Stand away from her or I will strike you down."

"I was afraid you'd say something like that," the captain said as he snapped his fingers. The other men of the guard assaulted Caden, forcing him to the ground. The general shouted and swiped at them, but their numbers overcame him. They held him to the ground as a man kicked away his blade. 

"This is treason!" Caden shouted, ignoring the burning which filled his eyes that accompanied the pain in his gut. Despite it all, he kept his teeth gritted and a growl in his chest. 

"Sir," The captain said with an even tone. "You're bewitched, even though she won't admit it. We know you, sir. We know you'd never act like this unless she used some sort of magic on you."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"CADEN!" Riva tried to crawl to her husband.

[Channelknight Fadran]

"That was a nice thing you did for him." Yvonne said.

Ivian sighed. "I'm not cut out for this kind of thing."

"You'll figure it out soon enough."

"I hope so."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

The general spat in the captain's direction, "I'll see you dancing with Maal for this treachery!"

"You'll be thanking me when I'm done," captain Muller corrected. "We just have to break the curse." The captain nodded to the men, and they picked up Riva again. "I will tell you once more, break. The. Curse."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva wriggled in their grip uselessly, wishing her boots were easier to kick off so she had a projectile. “There is no curse!!! I love him, why can’t you imbeciles see that?!”

Edited September 7, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

6 hours ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Riva wriggled in their grip uselessly, wishing her boots were easier to kick off so she had a projectile. “There is no curse!!! I love him, why can’t you imbeciles see that?!”

"Keep your lies behind your teeth, no one could ever love someone as horrible and filthy as you!" The captain slapped the Ravennes, "if you won't break the spell willingly, then perhaps your death will!"

"Muller, stand down you fool! There is no spell, I do love her of my own free will!"

The captain spat towards his superior, "do you even hear yourself?! The general I know would never fall for something so obvious!"

20 hours ago, Fallapede said:

Jasper followed the guard through the gate, fixing the positions of the other guards in his mind.

"You wish to be taken directly to the king, then?"

[Fallapede]

"If possible, yes. However, I'm sure he's quite busy, and if he cannot see me immediately, I'd be quite happy if you could just take me somewhere where I can wait comfortably."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Just now, The Ward's Guard said:

"Keep your lies behind your teeth, no one could ever love someone as horrible and filthy as you!" The captain slapped the Ravennes, "if you won't break the spell willingly, then perhaps your death will!"

"Muller, stand down you fool! There is no spell, I do love her of my own free will!"

The captain spat towards his superior, "do you even hear yourself?! The general I know would never fall for something so obvious!"

Riva sobbed and stopped struggling, going limp in the guards' arms. "What happens if you're wrong? And you kill the general's love?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

2 minutes ago, Fallapede said:

"If possible, yes. However, I'm sure he's quite busy, and if he cannot see me immediately, I'd be quite happy if you could just take me somewhere where I can wait comfortably."

"You will wait until you are summoned." The guard strode forward, "follow. I shall take you to an audience chamber to await him."

2 minutes ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Riva sobbed and stopped struggling, going limp in the guards' arms. "What happens if you're wrong? And you kill the general's love?"

"I can't be, you don't deserve the general. So he would have never fallen for a wretch like you." The captain scoffed, "even disregarding the fact that you're the Ravenness, there's barely anything other than skin on your bones, so forget your chest being desirable. I'd sooner face a battlefield than the thought of what you force the general to do in bed!'

Caden growled, "watch your tongue, man, or I'll rip it out myself."

"And now you've made him your valiant defender?" The captain said, forcing Riva to look at him. "You're a monster, Ravennes. Now break the curse or I will take off your head!"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"THERE IS NO SPELL!!" Riva managed to shout between sobs. "I kn-know I am ugly. Know it... se-seems impossible. But he does love me. Despite everything."

Edited September 7, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Enough!" Muller shouted with a slap, causing Caden to shout in anger. The captain ignored his general and drew his blade, "I always thought I'd have to wait in line to kill the Ravenness."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Go ahead," she spat. "I didn't... deserve a happy life with him anyway."

[Fallapede]

2 hours ago, The Ward's Guard said:

"You will wait until you are summoned." The guard strode forward, "follow. I shall take you to an audience chamber to await him."

Jasper followed behind the guard, checking behind himself every few paces as he continued refining his mental map. "So, how did you get into this line of work?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

2 hours ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

"Go ahead," she spat. "I didn't... deserve a happy life with him anyway."

He scoffed, "you won't get any pity from us, wretch." He lifted his blade as Caden shouted, trying to shove away the men who held him down with no success. Muller was going to kill his wife, and he could only watch.

-----

"Slow the blazes down, man!" Sergeant Nowak shouted at Fischer's rushing figure. "We shouldn't be loosing our heads!"

Fischer shook his head, "can it and move your feet!" He paused, "uh, sir."

Nowak only chuckled, "I get it, I get it. Just try not to trip on the power, man."

"C'mon," the younger man stopped right outside of the door that led to the dungeon. "You flank left," Fischer pointed at the two men behind Nowak, "we'll go right. Let's move." He silently open the door, and he had to force himself to keep moving, despite the shear shock that struck his gut at the sight he beheld. 

1 minute ago, Fallapede said:

Jasper followed behind the guard, checking behind himself every few paces as he continued refining his mental map. "So, how did you get into this line of work?"

"Needed money."