Missions

Everyone in the infirmary were disappointed in the news.  To avoid any questioning from the soldiers, Jewels started kicking everyone out who wasn't a patient.  After getting the room cleared out, Jewels saw to the patients one by one.  Checking their wounds, their temperature and checking their dantians to see if they were undamaged and free of poison.  After each patient she checked, she had Chieko give them a cup of gingseng soup to drink along with a stalk of ginseng.  Eating the ginseng whole, would heal their body faster and clean their veins so energy can flow through smoothly.  When Jewels finally finished with all ten patients, a hour and a half had already passed by and her stomach started growling loudly.  Embarrassed by the sound, Jewels excuses herself quickly and had Chieko keep an eye on the patients and visitors while she went to go inside the manor for dinner.  

When Jewels walked into the manor, there were two strangers in her home.  The first one was a tall, middle aged man with kind light brown eyes.  He had brown hair and a straight nose.  His square jaw chin had a dimple on it.  Although he had kind eyes, he had thin shrewd lips.  The second man was still very young and of medium height, with light blonde hair.  His catching sea blue eyes twinkled with mischief.  His lips curled as if he was always holding a secret behind his lips and his high cheek bones could cut through glass.  He knew he was handsome and he knew how and when to use his handsome face to get what he wanted. The both of them wore General uniforms that Jewels easily recognized.  

The two of them stood up and bowed when Jewels entered the manor.

"Please, do not stand on ceremony." Jewels said as she walked towards them. "Welcome to my home."

Stopping beside Raiden, he instinctively wraps his arm around Jewels's waist to bring her closer to him.  

"Princess Consort, this is General Tyler Hillbeck and General Westly Timer."  Raiden said as he introduced the older gentleman first then the second. "General's this is Princess Consort Jewels Brooks of the Brooks of Madewell." 

"Very pleased to meet you." Both General said at the same time.  

"And it's very nice to meet you too."  Jewels said as she smiled at them.  

When Jewels smiled, both Generals were captivated by Jewels's smile and their expression froze on their face.  At first glance, Tyler thought that she was just a beautiful face, one that caught his Prince's attention.  Before the Princess Consort, Prince Raiden had interactions with women, but he was never invested in one long enough for him to consider breaking his engagement and making her, his future Queen.  But when he started hearing rumors about Prince Raiden and his golden gift.  He thought it was a passing phase.  That he would leave his golden gift in Madewell or if he took his golden gift to Redbane, he would buy his golden gift a home and leave her there to grow old.  But when word came back to the Redbane that he annulled his engagement with Princess Anna and right away engaged himself to his golden gift, Lady Jemma 'Jewels' Brooks, it surprised everyone.  Even the King and Queen.  They were furious about it.  They were more furious at the fact that they were not privy to his plans and had heard it from their head guard.  

All anyone could talk about when Princess Consort Jewels sat by Prince Raiden during the welcome celebration was her beauty.  She showed grace and manners which made her very ladylike.  Her presence next to Raiden did not diminish next to him, instead she shined just as bright if not brighter.  The way he treated her and everyone else at the welcome celebration was so bias that everyone saw how smitten he is of her. 

When news came that she bought the Sato property, those closest to him were surprised.  They thought she would move right away into the palace and start staking her claim to the crown.  They thought she would start campaigning for support and when she started, generals and ministers would have to give way to her just because of her status.  But she surprised everyone and bought the biggest property in the city and moved in the very same day.  Any stories about her visits to town and how she treated the Redbane citizens were always very giving and courteous.   

With her beauty and her manners, she won over the people of Redbane quickly.  But that did not mean she won the hearts of anyone who had political standing.  Anyone who had political power brushed her off as a clueless puppet, one that they could use later on to control Raiden should they get the chance of introduction.  But for the time being, everyone left her alone, thinking how useless she was.  The close generals and ministers to Prince Raiden also thought so until yesterday.  It was well into the night, when they found out about the Redwood Forest burning.  There were reports of large amounts of shadow spies in the forest and they were just about to finalize a plan to simultaneously kill the large congregation of shadow spies all over Redbane.  When Ichi came back, in less then 20 minutes, his report said the Redwood Forest fire had already been put out.  While there was a headed argument happening about what happened, Prince Raiden's trusted bodyguard came to report to him and the whole room. 

The first big information was how the Princess Consort protected her servant.  Believing her servant, she defended him and charged the aggressors with false charges and failing to greet royalty, even if she is royalty in name only.  The last charge alone, is punishable by death, with out a trial as long as there were more than 20 people who witnessed the event.  In her situation it was her whole neighbors, her neighbor's servants, the accuser and his servants, along side the Brooks servants and guards. There was no refuting how many people that were there. Any of them could step up to be witnesses should there be inquiry of the incident.  After charging them, she suppressed everyone, including her people, with her killing intent and made everyone kneel.  She then killed the accuser's servants and the accuser with out mercy.  Everyone who came out to watch the commotion was forced to watch the brutal killings.  She put fear in everyone's heart when they heard.  She put fear and admiration in their hearts, but mostly fear. 

Then San told them about her missing grandfather and uncle.  How she forced her uncle's men to tell her where they went and she, Roku and San along side her animals to call were able to annihilate the shadows and rescue her family and guards.  How he described the fighting and the powers that Princess Consort and her animals possessed, the whole room was terrified and amazed, but she scared them even more.  Their future Queen is not one to underestimate. Especially with three animals to call and her fire element energy.

Prince Raiden on the other hand had a smile on his face.  His face showed pride as if he chose the right women to be the future Queen of Redbane.  To Tyler and Westly, they were surprised when they were summoned to Brooks Estate to talk to Prince Raiden. They have never seen the property when Merchant Sato lived there, but when they walked through the front gate, they could see it's beauty and know why one would want to buy and live on such a beautiful estate. 

When they sat down with Prine Raiden to talk, the servants were efficient and orderly.  Neither staying too close to hear their conversation, but close enough if they should be called to serve them.  As the Princess Consort walked in, she stole everyone's attention and when she smiled, it was as if the sun shined just for you. 

"Are you guys done staring at my Consort?" Raiden said icily as cold air blew at them.  

"Sorry, we did not mean to offend, Princess Consort."  Westly said first. 

"No offense was taken." Jewels said. "Shall we sit? Dinner should be ready soon. General Hillbeck and General Timer, should stay and have dinner with us."

Tyler and Westly looked at each other for an answer but Jewels made their decisions for them.

"I didn't say 'if you would like to stay for dinner', I said you 'should stay and have dinner with us'. Besides, it would be my pleasure to have the both of you join us.  Eating is a more joyous occasion when we eat with others don't you agree?" 

"Of course, Princess Consort." Tyler said. 

"And please, do call me Lady Jewels, calling me Princess Consort every time is a mouth full." Jewels told them. 

"As Lady Jewels insist." 

"I do." Jewels said as she raised the cup of tea that Zeze poured and handed to her.  A small butter biscuit was also placed on to the side of the tray.  

"We heard about what happened yesterday, I hope your family and your guards are okay?" Westly said. 

"Thank you for asking, they are all healing well and recovering at this moment. They should be in full health within three days." 

Both Westly and Tyler looked at Prince Raiden in disbelief. Four days to heal poisoning and tortured bodies should take more time than the four days that she claimed. 

"Who is the miracle doctor you hired to heal your family?" Westly wondered. 

"No doctor was hired or called." 

"Then a genius healer than?" Westly questioned. 

"I wouldn't call myself a genius, I just dabble here and there in the healing arts." Jewels told them. 

Both Generals looked at her in disbelief.  Their future Queen is not only strong physically, but she is also possess a  strong will.  Her cultivation level seemed average, but no animal would make a contract with someone who is weak, let alone three animals.  Her fire element energy was rare within the 4 Kingdoms and now she dabbled in the healing arts. She, who they heard was called a waste and trash.  If she is considered a waste and trash, then what would Madewell Kingdom consider someone who is strong? 

"When you said you heard about yesterday, what exactly did you hear?" Jewels ask curiously. 

When they explained to her everything that happened to her yesterday, even making direct quotes of what she said, her face lit to a pink hue that she did not know could happen before. 

"Are you embarrassed?" Raiden teased.

"Who's embarrassed?  The tea is just making me hot." Jewels denied. 

Tyler and Westly froze.  To hear anyone speak to Prince Raiden the way she just did was an instant death sentence.  However to their surprise, Prince Raiden chuckled and pinched her cheek as if she was a child.  Jewels swipes his hand away from her face and rubs her cheek.  Tyler and Westly was even more afraid for Lady Jewels when she raised her hand to Prince Raiden.  Surly, this time Prince Raiden would punish her, they thought.  Instead, he grabs hold of her hand that was rubbing her cheek and held it in his.  

"Dinner is served, Lady Jewels." Zeze announced to Jewels as she leaned down to tell her. 

"Gentlemen, dinner is ready, shall we?"  Jewels said as she stood up quickly. 

------------

After dinner the four of them sat down to talk.  Raiden had invited them to the Brooks Estate to tell them of his recent development.  Tyler like the person he looked up to the most.  Tyler was one of the soldiers who looked for him when he was kidnnapped when he was 4 years old.  Tyler was also one of the soldier's who was captured and tortured in front of Prince Raiden and he was the only soldier there, who saw what Raiden could do to a human, that could still stand to treat him the same.  After the incident, Tyler became a mentor to him, closing looking after Raiden and his progress, teaching him, guiding him, and giving him advice.  Tyler had always worked hard to go up the ranks and not through other means.  

Westly, grew up with Raiden.  Born a bastard in a noble house, his father wanted to give him a future, placed him in the army at a 7 years old.  No longer wanting any more to do with him, Westly's father changed his last name before giving his son to the army, so he wouldn't shame his family's name.  When Raiden and Westly were of similar age so they got along very well.  The Queen, wanted Raiden to have friends, gave Westly the same education and lessons that Raiden had to go through.  Westly was the only person who could convince Raiden to break out of his serious shell and be a child once in a while. Westly was also the only person who could convince him to get into trouble as a teenager and the one who introduced him and forced him to the red light district in the city.  

As they grew older, the more successful Westly had become.  By always standing next to Raiden, he had more opportunities to show his skills and talents.  With the number of times he had saved other soldiers as they killed shadow spies and the number of missions he went on, he quickly made a name for himself and his father's shameless nature tried to claim him when he became General at the age of 18.  Westly denied the claim and denied any acknowledgement from his biological family.  

"The reason why I called you here, is because Jewels was able to capture the shadow spies when they were in Redwood Forest." Raiden began.  "Her animals to call are overseeing the interrogation and guard of the shadow spies.  Unfortunately, where they are being held is a secret that even I do not know for security reasons.  Here's what we know so far.  The shadow spies do not lie, they only know how to speak two ways.  They speak the truth or not at all.  Even when they do not understand, they will tell you they don't understand, is that correct?" 

"Yes." Jewels said. 

"Jewels's animals were able to find out that their master is a young woman with black hair and black eyes." Raiden told them. 

The room became deathly silent.  They knew what that statement implied.  To accuse someone of the royal house as a traitor is a huge allegation that would need a lot of evidence. Tyler looked at Gina, Chieko and Lieko standing near them.  His hand went for the hidden dagger he carried with him, but before he could Jewels stilled his hand with her words. 

"You don't have to worry about my servants leaking any information.  They took a poisoned pilled called Betrayer's Death.  Should they communicate to someone who is not of this household, they will die a painful death."  Jewels told him. 

"Is that how one of your servants died after a couple of days of working for you?" Raiden asked. 

"I'm surprised it took you that long to figure that out."  Jewels said nonchalantly. "Did you think I would hire a bunch of servants and let them run their mouths to just anyone?"

"Of course not, I just thought--" Raiden tried to clarify but was interrupted by Jewels. 

"Thought what?  Thought that I wouldn't be so ruthless? So merciless? So unfeeling? Thought that, I would let my new reputation in Redbane get to my head and I would turn over a new leaf and be benevolent?"  Jewels said as she drank her tea while looking at the Generals.  She wanted to see their reactions to what she was saying.  "As if I could be so generous and forgive those who cross me and those who I care about." 

Tyler did a better job at hiding his thoughts.  The only thing that gave him away was the twitch his eyebrow made and how his jaw clenched harder.  With Westly, his eyes bulged out quickly and his movements stopped as he stared at Jewels with trepidation.

"I've always known that you never had a forgiving nature to your body." Raiden told her. "If you did, you wouldn't have killed or injured so many people in your young life." 

She smiled at him dangerously, "All this talk about killing is making my hands itch."  Jewels joked. 

"Well considering how you didn't kill anyone today, of course it would be itching to kill someone." Raiden joked back.  When Raiden looked at Tyler and Westly's faces, he laughed at them and decided to put them out of their misery. "Jewels, didn't your animals tell you already that you were scary when you joke like this?" 

Jewels smiled and said. "They did however, that still doesn't deter me from protecting what's mine." 

"As you have every right to." Westly said as he pulled his shirt collar away from his neck.  

"So this death of your servant was because he tried to speak about your business to someone outside?" Tyler asked. 

"Yes, I all gave them a chance to bow out, but the job was too enticing for them to deny my request."  

"Lets get back to the topic, shall we?" Raiden said directing them back to the reason they were there. "Tyler, Westly, I want you guys to work together to gather all the names of all young Osamu women, ages 13-40. Legitimate or illegitimate, I want a list of them all. Once the list is complete, the three of us along with my shadowed bodyguards will investigate each one to find the culprit. Anyone who you think is acting suspicious, we will have someone follow them."

"I can cast Watchful Eye onto them and see what they see."  Jewels told them. 

"Watchful Eye?" Westly asked. "What is that?" 

"Watchful Eye is an enchantment that can let the caster see what the other can see. It would be as if I was looking through their eyes." 

"Will this work?" 

"I've only tired it a couple of times, but those couple of times drained my body and made me weak.  I am only able to cast the enchantment for a couple of hours only."  Jewels told them. 

"How did you learn how to cast such an enchantment?" Tyler asked.

Jewels just stared at them, not saying anything.  She didn't want to tell them where she got the book, so staying quiet was the best option.  The book was actually one of the books she stored in her grey space that she got from Sky Ship.  It was a book of enchantments that held the knowledge that have been long lost. She would be the only person who would know how to cast such old enchantments, she wanted all the power to herself. 

"We'll let you know when you can help us when we narrow down the suspects." Raiden told her to end the awkward stare down. 

Jewels looks at Raiden and smiles as she nods her head once.  

Once they finalized the plan and knew their mission, both Generals left.  Jewels and Raiden went to bed.  

-----------------

Three days later

Everyone who got hurt in the ambush had healed properly and been discharged from the infirmary. Pop pop's blacksmith workshop was completed and the final designs for the extension of the manor was approved by all three of them. In her busy days, she was able to find time to go visit her Master. It was during this visit that she sat down with her senior disciples that Master Doku came to them and told her the news.

"Aku, did you hear the news of your sisters?" Doku said as he sat down on the chair across from her.

"No, what about my sisters?"

"Your eldest sister has locked herself in her room and refuses to come out. While your second sister came back to the Brooks Manor when you left, she became obsess about becoming beautiful and bought beauty potions to make her look more beautiful. Being unsatisfied with her looks, she kept drinking the potions every day. With all the different potions in her body, her body had not had time to detoxify itself and now she has ruined her looks. It is said her face is melting and has to be wrapped up to keep it together." Doku said as he told her.

"Serves them right." Fudo said.

Jewels did not have a reaction. She did not care for them or her family in Madewell. When Jewels did not have the reaction that Doku wanted, he pouted and gave her a job that was offered to him that morning.

"Aku, you have a mission."

"What's the reward?" Jewels asked.

"In three days, the pirate merchant group Squall will be docking to unload and resupply the ship. They will be staying in Redbane for a week. In that week, you are to kill the whole crew. On one of their journey's, they ran into a competitor's ship. They attacked the ship, pillaged it and sunk it to the sea with its crew. It is now up to you to kill everyone who is involved in the incident."

"What's the reward?" Jewels asked him again.

"30,000 gold coin and whatever you find on the ship."

"How many crew members?"

"30."

"So 1,000 gold coins for a life. Who is the cheap person who hired you."

"You get to keep whatever treasure you find on the ship." Roku told her.

"Which would mean I have to hit them before they dock the ship."

"And?" Doku challenged her.

Jewels looks at her Master knowing that he gave her this mission to test how strong she had become.

"Very well," Jewels said. "This disciple will do as her Master wishes."

Three days later

The Squall could be seen coming towards the dock, slowly moving towards land. Doku and his two oldest disciples were having breakfast in a nearby restaurant to see how Jewels would handle her mission. As the ship came closer and closer, it did not slow down and it looked like there were no crew members on the ship. The ship crashed into a docked ship and caused chaos. There were seamen running to go help and running for safety. It was only after the dock master went on the Squall did he come back on the dock and threw up. The authorities were called for and the dock was blocked off. Witnesses where questions and made statements while Doku, Nobu and Fudo wondered how the youngest disciple pulled off the kills.

News of the accident quickly spread around the city. After the authorities went on the ship, they could not describe the horror on the ship. According to the report, there was blood splattered everywhere on the ship. The bodies of the crew were nowhere to be seen and the cargos that they were sent to get where all gone. Everyone knew that the real identity of The Squall and knew how much treasures the captain and crew hid on the ship. When the ship was searched from top to bottom from the company that employed them, nothing was found. No cargo and no crew. Only blood. The mystery of the missing Squall crewmembers and its cargo became a legend that theoretical stories came forth filling the rumors even more and making it sensational.

When the three of them came back to their home, Jewels was already sitting in the courtyard sipping on the tea she just brewed.

"How did you do it?" Doku asked.