Page 10 of Shadows of Air and Earth (Remnant Archives)

P awns…we were all pawns but if one stepped off the board, then they became an unknown, an oddity—dangerous. That was where I liked to play and Riley Dragoon just stepped off the board to play with me.

I felt the shift just moments ago, his acceptance of who and what I was given by the subtle nod he gave me, his eyes changing from fury to understanding.

"You have no power here, General. Only the queen passes out verdicts of death," Rory Dragoon snarled, attempting to hide the flicker of fear in his eyes at the crawling of my shadows.

Giving the commander my fullest attention, my eyes bored into his putrid soul. His aura an oily sludge, smearing over his essence that reeked of nefarious acts and villainous corruption.

Fae like him made the bile rise from my stomach.

No honor, no morality, no empathy. As the queen’s newly favored fae at court, he had been given the title of Commander of the City of Light.

Nothing but a lackey for her own amusement and boredom, but the twisted air elemental had a thirst for power and took sadistic pleasure in torture even more so than the queen herself.

I had voiced my concerns regarding him many times but Deirdre would not hear of it. No doubt sending him here as an insurance policy and a reminder of where my loyalties lie.

But fae like Rory Dragoon were one of many, Deirdre knew he could be easily replaced…and well…fae died in the plains all the time, especially with beasts of origin possibly roaming these lands. I just needed to make sure not a single one of his company survived.

Which would be difficult considering the two fae flanking him were no better, earth elementals with the very stone they wielded for a heart. Soulmates, Fuchai Chin and Xizi Chin, measured close second to Rory in their cruel ways. It was no surprise they were sent along with him.

Granted none of the other fae were innocent either.

Faerie far from it. Rory coveted finding his warriors from the bowels of the City of Light where the most corrupt stole, cheated, murdered, and abused the fae around them.

It was a goddess damn boon they were all gathered here today, it made my duties to extinguish them an easier task.

Coming here was a mistake, one they would never come home from.

I snorted inwardly. Seeing Deirdre’s game. Either they found what she wanted or died by my hand, making her look like the valiant queen, eliminating the corruption within her court. Both endings resulted with a triumph for her, such was the boredom of a queen.

"Who said anything about judgment?" With a flick of my wrist, shadows sprouted upwards from their dark flood surrounding us all.

"One, two, three, four, now you are no more," I said calmly, my hand rising with each word, sharp spikes of darkness stretching into the cobalt sky, swallowing the fae I had chosen.

An executioner of darkness, like the death god himself.

" Lex Talionis , the law of retribution," I drawled, "for the four fae you murdered here today in their own homes," I added, bringing my hands back to my chest and sucking the darkness inward, I united them into a small swirl of shadow that lovingly draped over my shoulders.

The commander's soldiers converged on themselves, no longer able to save face with death standing before them. They were huddled together like the pathetic fae they were, ready to sacrifice one another to save their own skins.

Riley snickered and I felt the flicker of admiration from his companion who had been silent beside me—understandably so.

Rory Dragoon gurgled, his face turning a satisfying shade of purple and red before outrage bellowed deep from his broad shouldered chest. His fury taken out on the poor shifter he manhandled, throwing her down at his feet, his dark green hair practically vibrating with each word, "You fucking bitch!

Those were my warriors, you have no right! "

Forcing myself not to look down at the fae he abused with her big light brown eyes imploring us to help her, I stepped forward, the shadows fanning out from me, my voice calm.

"I have every right, Commander . This is the fae law of the plains, honored by the queen herself and if you had even an ounce of intelligence you'd know that.

Choose your next words to your general very, very carefully. "

The tall and elegant air elemental standing nearby, Xizi Chin, laughed softly, "Well played Dark."

She smoothed back the fly aways from the tightly knotted bun on the top of her head. A style that accented the beautiful but deadly angles of her face where the dark brown eyes narrowed, "Daughter."

"Xizi." Xi Chin replied calmly, stepping closer beside me in solidarity.

This was…good. I needed Xi Chin on my side. I needed them both. More than I cared to admit. I had been at this for far too long on my own and I could feel the brewing of destiny churning. Something was coming and my task could no longer be done alone.

Five years. Five years , I watched them. Xi’s aura had drawn me in first but then it was their companionship, their loyalty to their people, and their resilience even when everything seemed broken that awed me the most—the markings of true leaders.

"You will address your mother as is her due, Xi Chin." Fuchai Chin, raised his head towards his daughter, his own brown eyes glaring coldly, splitting the earth between us.

The ground rumbled under my own feet, responding in kind to her father’s threat, sealing the threatening cracks he had made, Xi glared, "In that case, greetings to you birth bitch, queen of cunts."

My lips twitched and Fuchai's olive skin burned into dark shades I had never seen, his rebuttal sputtering upon thin lips.

Opposite, his wife Xizi stood coldly unaffected, the more clever one in the relationship, it was clear she expected this type of greeting from her daughter.

A fact that made her dangerous. The commander alone was a nuisance, the commander with Fuchai and Xizi on his side was more than problematic… it was a Faerie fucking disaster.

"I see your vocabulary has not improved, Xi Lanora Chin.

" With a wave of her hand the earth beneath us calmed, turning towards her sputtering husband, she gave him a soft smile, no love in her eyes.

"Do not fret, pet, our daughter has simply forgotten her place.

" Her gaze sharpened, "She will soon repent for this day. "

"I’m not sorry to disappoint you Xizi, but that’s just not going to happen.

" I replied just as smoothly, twirling the shadows between my fingers, "Xi and Riley have been contracted to serve me and my needs until I decide otherwise. Here’s hoping you fall into a pit of poisonous dragon plants before then.

" Shifting my attention back towards the still red faced Rory, I winked at him.

"I assume you have been sent for the relic as well.

Of course having some competition may require you to use your brain more often…

perhaps it will be a good thing for you although you will still lose. "

"This isn't over Dark," Rory Dragoon scowled. Snapping his fingers, the shifter cried out before being forced to transform back into her beautiful chestnut mare form.

I smirked, "Oh I am betting on that Commander."

Mounting the horse, he jerked the bit in her mouth hard, the golden collar around the shifter fae's neck glowing again from his control.

"You'll regret crossing paths with me, General.

" He shot over his shoulder, then taking one last look at the air elemental next to me he added, "Next time I see you it'll be on the end of my sword nephew. "

Riley Dragoon snorted, "Better make sure it's the sharp pointed end, uncle. I know that confuses you sometimes."

I snickered loudly, my laughter infuriating the commander more, his face as red as his blood I would one day spill.

Barking out orders in his fury, the fae scrambled around him, disorganized and still terrified at what I would do next.

One dared to look directly into my eyes and I smiled sweetly back, blowing her a kiss, mouthing “You’re next”, and then laughing at her fearful retreat. She knew I was not playing.

Xizi and Fuchai did not scurry, their retreat made to look more like a choice rather than a necessity, giving us all one last parting look, the air between us stilling with a haunting chill from their combined gazes. Marking us for death.

I snorted loudly, rolling my eyes—it was a futile threat, death was mine to wield and I did it well.