Headed by a Snake

While the humidity was comfortable, Tycondrius' military coat and undershirt had grown damp. Because of it, he keenly felt the bite of the still-wintry season...

Conversely, his aquatically-inclined companions did not seem to share his silent distress.

"Hmm hm hmm~" Imperia was humming to herself while tightly re-braiding a lock of her hair... "I trust those villagers even less than regular humans."

"Hey, LT," Krysaos nudged Tycon with his elbow, "I bet you it's the village elder."

"Concerning what?" Tycon raised an eyebrow... "Also, no. I would not take that bet."

"Figure of speech, guy," The Captain shrugged, "--but whatever weird-ass thing is happening in the village-- I bet you that Elder Thorne guy's behind it all."

"The elderly human reeks of treachery," Imperia agreed... before adding: "I should know."

"Indeed," Tycon nodded in thought... "The strange events occurring in the village... it is certainly probable that the gentleman most-connected to the population is complicit. Even the four families recently integrated into the village may be withholding relevant information... whether purposeful or not."

"We might be able to use the human boy... perhaps as bait for the Swamp Monster? Maybe?" Imperia mused. "Funny name he has, Sprig? Is his mother a gnome?"

"From what the kid said," Krysaos groaned, "his sister was kidnapped just the other sun. That means it'll be another, what-- four weeks until the next sacrifice, you. dumb. b*tch."

"You!!" Imperia shrieked-- leaving her one braid undone, "I am a Princess of my people! You will treat me with the respect I am owed, human!!"

"Imperia, Krysaos... manners," Tycon sighed... then glared at the two of them. "That goes for both of you."

"He started it," The spoiled dark elf brat muttered, crossing her arms.

The equally immature human pouted, "Would ya quit lookin' at me like that?"

"Looking at you like *what?*"

"Lookin' with your beady-eyed, flat-chested--"

"--Brother-Captain," Tycon interrupted, his frustration seeping into his voice, "focus on the topic at hand, if you would."

He was beginning to regret not overturning the Captain's decision to leave Mina with the ships. There were far less problems with her in their company.

Imperia seemed to be influenced by Mina's propriety and was more mindful of appearing more mature and more... noble.

Krysaos seemed to enjoy showing off his traits as a courageous and just Captain to the mermaid Sea Witch. When doing so, he was far less likely to antagonize the Elven Cleric.

"Here," Krysaos kicked his foot at a rock formation.

In front of the group for several hundred fulms was not marshy soil, sparse plants life, and algae-ridden water... but porous rock.

"You sense that, LT?" The Captain asked.

Tycon felt the vibrations underfoot long before he sensed the water mana.

He knelt down, placing a palm to the rock to better sense the going-ons underneath, "Flowing water... rapids."

"Underground river," Imperia explained. "There's some sort of cavern underneath... probably connected to sections of the marsh, too."

"Most likely monster we got..." Krysaos puffed his chest out, "is an aquatic beastie that can travel the waterways."

"And it's most likely a species of dragon," Imperia added.

""Dragons don't exist,"" Krysaos and Tycon responded simultaneously.

The elf girl retracted her hands to her chest and stepped back in surprise, "Wuh?"

"Stars and stones, young lady," Tycon furrowed his brows. "Why would you believe the creature behind the villagers' disappearances is a dragon, of all things?"

A human's ignorance, he could more easily tolerate... but the young dark elf? She should know better.

"Yeah, *young lady!*" Krysaos added... before turning to Tycon, "Egh... How come it sounds weird when I say that and not when you do, LT?"

"You are imagining your awkwardness, Brother-Captain," Tycon said dismissively.

"No, it's definitely weird," Imperia agreed.

Krysaos crossed his arms, "Yeah-- I'd rather you not agree with me, girlie."

"I'd rather you not--"

"Miss Imperia," Tycon scolded, "focus on the topic at hand, *if you please.*"

"Well... um," The young woman began to play with the ends of her thin braids... "the humans... they said... y'know..."

Tycon took a deep breath through his nostrils, "Confidence, Princess of the Vulkoori."

"I... I know! Sh-shut up!" Imperia coughed into a fist before puffing out her chest, "The humans have stated that the creature that comes for them in the night-- it is a long serpentine creature with scales. And probably wings. And... and..."

As she spoke, her entire body slowly began to lower. Her shoulders slumped, her chest fell, and even her ears drooped until she was staring at the muddy ground, "You know what-- yeah. It's pretty stupid that I believe in what humans have to say."

"There is value in not discounting such a possibility," Tycon granted her a polite smile, "However, you must account for the implausibility of certain conclusions... and as you've said, the reliability of our sources."

He leaned forward to whisper, "Consider this, young lady... your vigilance and doubt should be a strength, not a weakness. But for such far-reaching assumptions... the less you speak aloud, the less I or anyone can challenge."

Imperia pursed her lips and bowed her head in thought... "I thank you for your counsel, Maedar..."

"What'sat about?" Krysaos smirked, "If you're tryin' to teach the girlie how to make friends, she's a lost cause, LT!"

"Hmph," Imperia turned her nose up, "I'll show you, human. As a Cleric of the Storm, I can tame any aquatic creature to do my bidding."

Tycon sighed aloud. It hadn't been scarcely thirty seconds since his advice before it was so openly disregarded.

Why did he even try?

"Hah! That just to show," Krysaos placed his hands on his hips, shaking his head, "the only friends you can make, you have to contract in order to hang out with you!"

...Tycon considered giving the human the same advice he gave the elf. However, he was fairly certain it would also be ignored.

"You... Fine! I know when I'm no longer wanted!" Imperia turned about in the waist-deep water and began to slosh away. "I'll just find King! And when I come back with the head of whatever-the-hells we're looking for, I'll-- AIIIIEEEEE!!!"

A loud splash interrupted the young woman's tirade.

Tycon raised an eyebrow and observed where Imperia had disappeared under the marshwater.

She did not resurface.

"Brother-Captain..."

"Y-yeah?" Krysaos grimaced... "What's up?"

"Is there a particular reason you're so insistent on verbally attacking the child?"

"I uh..." Krysaos took off his hat and scratched at his short hair... "I... yeah-- I'll... I'll tone it down..."

It wasn't a proper answer... but Tycon would take it as a step towards a positive direction.

Tycon rolled his head back and sighed, massaging the back of his neck. While Imperia's disappearance and possible death would not affect him in the long-term, the Elven sovereign would certainly criticize him in the coming suns.

"Shall we go after her?"

"Pro'ly not a good idea," Krysaos shook his head. "Besides not knowing what's down there-- we got no idea where we'll come out."

"If the fates are kind-- and they are not, the 'Swamp Monster's' lair should be near the outlet," Tycon shook his head... "Brother-Captain, are you confident in following the flowing river while remaining above ground?"

"Yeah... I'll lead the way."

...

The dragon looked exactly as Imperia thought it would... yet nothing like it.

Its scales were like shields... thick... gleaming white with energy. Its wings blocked out the sky.

It wasn't the sort of thing she could fight-- that was something she understood in the depths of her soul.

Her name was useless-- it always had been.

Her magic was useless... water droplets that did nothing to cool its rage.

She didn't even consider trying to punch or kick or bite...

So Imperia ran. She ran... while she cried... while she screamed for help...

...and she was ignored.

The faceless elves who watched her... they turned up their noses... they looked away.

She knew them. They knew her. Yet... they knowingly turned their backs upon her, ignoring her plight.

Imperia was alone-- not that much had changed throughout her life.

Her mother gave her nothing but criticism... unreasonable expectations... things that-- when she was younger, she was too useless to do, herself.

Her sisters? Any good will she might have had with them, she, herself, ruined years ago with the lies and the backstabbing...

Her good-for-nothing subordinates? They were all but useless. They had no loyalty to her. They had no honor.

They only fought for themselves... because her mother assigned them to serve under her.

"GahahaHAHAH!! Time's up GiRLiIiiE," The dragon's head... the familiar, ugly and fat head of Captain Krysaos cackled as she fled in terror... as she cried... as she wet herself.

Its too long tongue lashed out of its sharp-toothed maw... and wrapped around her ankle.

...

"N...n... Nnnrrrghh..." Imperia stirred awake.

The... sun was out, and the light's reflection on the swamp waters hurt her eyes.

Morning had come.

Her purity... hadn't been taken.

...But she... she had dreamt of the human Captain?

Stars and stones, that was a *nightmare*...

The last thing she remembered...

Ugh.

She had slipped and fallen into the underground river.

Stupid Maedar. He should have saved her.

...from her own clumsiness.

Imperia was, without a doubt, the worst elf in the Realm.