7-Happy Little Accidents
-As a Queen… Ex-Queen, Astasha
Entry 35 - The First Day - Year 998
I arrived in chains, sold and broken. I expected a cell. Instead, I was shown a warm bath, clean clothes, and this book. A woman with feline eyes and a gentle smile told me, "Your debt is to the estate, not to a master. Heal first. Work later." I wept for an hour. To be treated with kindness after so much cruelty felt like a physical blow. This place is a cage, yes, but its bars are made of compassion. For the first time, I am not sure if I want to escape.
— Nia, New Arrival
“Never a dull one, is it Nia?” I laughed with a hearty smack to the trainee’s back. She was smart and quick witted, but still green through-and-through. “Come on, don’t let this old woman hold down a youngster like you!”
“Nyah~, you’ll rue the day— Eeep!” Nia’s speed was her greatest strength in her training. Sadly, it was her greatest weakness as she slid back with a great jump, landing right into the river. “Mmasstteerrr! No fair!”
“Are you claiming I moved a river just to make you fall?” My laughter grew, a smile that was once the pride of a nation, now given so freely to those who need it much more. The simple wooden pole I held felt non-existent in my hand, but that was a price I paid when I trusted a dangerous god.
“Nyooo, but you totally meownuvered me to fall right in it!” Nia growled as climbed out, the poor girl soaked to the bone. “Grr, it’s your turn to get into the river!”
She was so quick, so ready to toss me in with her, and it was a glorious feeling as she sprinted forward. “Not so fast when you’re dripping wet!” My voice carried across as I tossed the pole into the air. Perfect, she watched it. I advanced. Oh the look in her eyes as she slowly came to realize her mistake, but it was too late. My arms wrapped around her stomach as I easily picked her up, and threw us both into the chilled river with a boisterous laugh.
Below the deep river, it must have been a shock for all of us when we turned to meet the glowing eyes of a Water Drake so close to us. Placated while in The Hearth’s Wards, unless rustled too much…
It roared, reverberating the water with monstrous strength as I felt Nia scream… My instincts kicked in, as I tossed Nia back up towards the surface as the beast’s maws tried to chew us both. Poor thing doesn’t realize the power of an—Ungh, damn it’s strong…
My grip on its upper jaw was no joke, nor was my foot that was impaled on one of its razor fangs. My strength wasn’t giving out anytime soon, but this big guy was no joke. Carrying me through the water, it slammed on the deep river bed and sides time and time again. I didn’t have my sword, didn’t have my knife… It took some time, but the damn thing finally surfaced, probably choking on as much water as I was as it slammed me onto the river bed.
“Come on, got a taste of royalty ya giant eely bastard, don’t think I’m gonna let ya get away!” Coughing up a bit of water, I grabbed a nearby rock beaming it in the eye. It reeled, it panicked, oh did that just piss it off. It barrelled forward, exiting the watery grave and tried slamming into me with that damn razor-sharp tail it had. “Think that’s gonna get me do ya!?”
Oh was it strong, this beauty was over thirty feet long. I gripped that damned tail, feeling the blood leave from my hands, the wound on my foot causing me to stagger… But I caught that damned beast. “You’re in for a world of hurt now! Not so tough when I got your tail!”
I could hear the distant yelling and shouting, but I was more focused on the big dumb gator in front of me as I yanked it back as it tried to walk away, turning to snarl at me. It couldn’t reach me, with how lengthy its body was. “Oh poor wittle beastie— HEY, I’m monologin’ here!”
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It tried to shake me loose, and quite honestly, I don’t blame it. But never interrupt a Queens Speech. Gritting my teeth, I slowly dragged it back more, mustering all my strength. Either I was out of practice or this thing was way too strong… One, two, three rotations… It’s roar ripped through the the forest, trying so desperately to dig back into the ground.
Five, six— CRRNNCCHH!!!
My hands slipped, the barbs cutting deep and bloodying my hands I fell backwards into the sandy bank of the river as I watched the head of the drake acquaint itself with an Ebonspire Tree, and immediately go limp. Honestly, I felt that damned Water Drake was going to turn around and try to surprise me… But it just laid there next to a nearby tree…
“Attacking… A Queen is treason, ya know…” I laughed, panting… Oh how the world spun so greatly in that moment… “Ah, fuck. Are you venomous too?”
Well, this will leave a mark…
…
…
Oh, the voices are closer now… That damn eel is still unmoving, well that’s good…
“Ugh… Haven’t been laid out that badly since—”
“Mmmaaaaasssstttteeeeeerrrrr!” Nia yelled as she sprinted from the riverside in the distance, several others behind her… Can’t let them see a Queen so dishevelled, now, can I?
“Aah damn…” I winced, pushing myself up off the sandy, rocky riverside. I glanced around, noticing my trail of blood across the shore to where I was now. “That’s what I call a fine work of art…”
Even as I felt woozy, and I could barely move my hands, I couldn’t help but laugh. Loud, proud, this damn little scaled beast thought it got the best of me….
Just one damn step at a time Astasha, come on now… I finally reached the head of the River Drake, oh boy, was that thing dead as a doornail.
“MASTER!” Nia jumped towards me… But a simple step back, and the poor gal ended right on top of the drake’s body. She was crying, her face red as she turned around and glared at me. “SO MEAN! WE WERE WORRIED!”
“Hah! You thought a little eel could take down me? Looks like I have much to teach you still.” With a hearty laugh, and a bit of blood, my hands barely usable and planted them on my sides, I roared, letting my victory be heard throughout the forest. But that didn’t stop little Nia from standing up and firmly planting her head on my chest, hugging me tightly… Nor the Hunters and Sentinels who accompanied her rushing to my aid. “Come now, if I knew I would have had so many helping hands I would of tackled a bigger one!”
“Astasha! What happened!?” Zelra asked as she looked over the scene. “Good heavens, you killed it!?”
Nearby, a bird-folk landed with a heavy ‘THUD’ as they strolled up.
“I brought medicine, you need to take this now.” Sky spoke, holding a vial of tablets. I lifted my hands, wanting to take them but…
“Master, your hands!” Nia cried as she lifted one of them up. Gods did it hurt, but I winced and smiled.
“Just toss it in bird-folk, I feel my hands are on vacation for the moment.” I chuckled, opening my mouth as they uncorked the first bottle. There was no hesitation as they placed the several tablets into my mouth.
“Chew, Swallow.” Sky spoke, and I had no reason not to.
“Mmm. Tastes like sun-dried chalk… And Mr. Gul’s first stew.” I chuckled between the chews, oh was it horrible. But I immediately felt the pain killers kick in.
“Nia, hold her hand open, Zelra hold her other. This will hurt.” Sky spoke as the two did exactly that. Still, I couldn’t feel my hands and the world was still way too wobbly. But as they uncurled my fingers back it was clear the extent of the damage.
The others who joined the retrieval for me were now at the head of the River Drake, stunned if I had to guess.
“You all ready to eat like royals tonight? Might want to—” I had to pause as I felt a cleansing agent being poured against both my hands as the two made me cup the liquid. “—to… Get a cart or two so we can wheel it back in.”
“Looks like the venom didn’t get deep. We need to—”
…
…
…
“You’ve come to…” A deep rumbling voice spoke to me as I slowly lifted my head, oh gods the migraine… A large clawed paw held out...
“Is that… An apple?” I asked, I’m so confused. I was clearly in the medical wing, sheets covering my body, my clothes folded neatly to the side… Nia was sleeping in a chair next to me. But on the other side, who was holding the apple… “Fethrblaka?”
“I believe there was a saying… An Apple a day keeps Doctors away… It was meant to instil ‘Good Health’.” The massive dragon rumbled….
“Tch…” I snorted, the laughter just… Flooding forth. “If I’m ever at war with a nation of Doctors I’ll know what to stock up on.”
Oh how he tried, and I was ever grateful. My hands rose and cupped the cold, crisp delight from his massive paw…
“Oh… I see my hands work again.” I mused, noticing the bandages. But my wellbeing wasn’t my true worry as I glanced over to Nia. She had a bandage on her cheek, something… Something I failed to notice earlier… “Is she—”
“She ran into a tree while they were hauling the River Drake.” Fethrblaka spoke, his voice as quiet as can be. Nia shifted slightly, her hands clinging onto something so desperately…
“And, who do I owe for the medicine? For… Assisting me in getting here?” I asked, feeling my voice grow… A bit tired… Nobody was around, it was just me and the Master of The Hearth here, and a sleeping Nia…
Yet, he just tilted his head, looking at me for a moment. I could see the faint smile cross his lips as he let out a slow, deep breath. “The feast will be in a few hours. I’m sure Nia will wake you before then.” He simply spoke as he slowly stood, a massive paw coming to rest on my knee. “We owe you a debt for saving Nia… But remember, every Hearthbound’s soul is irreplaceable. Even yours.”
