Tanya's Third Life as a Barbarian Queen, Chapter XL

I will have the chapter as links to download at the bottom of the post. As well as a link to the Google Document page.

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Kontia, Brothel.

Nalia of the Yutoi, Lieutenant of the 115th Company.

The air was thick with richly smelling smoke and cloyingly sweet wine that fought against a desperate coating of perfume to cover for sweat and debauchery. Tables were scattered around the dimly lit interior, separated from each other by thick rugs and sheets hung from rafters and carefully hidden nails offering a sense of claustrophobic privacy that was at odds with the sheer mass of Lepus who offered this place patronage.

But it wasn’t the popularity of the establishment that brought me and my companions here, beyond the desire of my sworn sisters to indulge in menfolk claimed by our right of conquest. We were attended to at the door by a little Felis girl with a fair sized chest who had likely been a whore just weeks ago and now had to settle for a job that likely paid much less.

It was a shame I supposed, she was a pretty thing with yellowed catlike eyes that were bright and expressive. Her’s was a race that had been subjugated by the Humans for so long that it was all her people knew. There were no tales of cities or nations in forgotten places ruled only by the Felis. Not like the great Sand Snake republics in the distant west ruled by the sexless Naga, nor the untamed wildwoods still claimed by the Elves or the vast underworld where Dwarven and Goblinoid kingdoms still warred against each other ignorant of the Saderan dominion of the surface world. 

Not even like the servile Wolven to the north who had no true culture of their own, but found some measure of freedom in selling themselves as whores of battle as the Mercenary clans. No, the Felis were Saderan though and though, with a history lost to time. Perhaps once I would have thought that pathetic. But I could no longer muster up the disgust, not when my own people had brushed so closely against the edge of the same precipice.

We were sat into a nook, the six of us, respected and celebrated officers of the ‘United Tribes Army’ as some had begun to call us. Sweet words of respect were offered, discounts, encouragement, so perfectly it could not be genuine.

Without Tanya, this little slip of a cat would be on her back for a Human Legionary and would sound just as sweet. It made no difference to them what master they served, who took taxes from them. 

“Girl.” I said as the Felis took the orders for food and drinks from my companions.

“How can I help you, beautiful?” She offered with an easy twang.

“I will have you after my women have their selections.” I told her, making her composure crack just slightly before she evaluated the situation and offered me a carefully prepared smile.

“Of course we are here to serve our gallant liberators. As for the rest of your table, we will be presenting your selection soon, but in the meantime please enjoy the atmosphere.” I kept my expression neutral, taking out a pipe and filling it with a blood red Orcish tobacco to settle my nerves after the days of battle.

“A toast.” I offered, settling the pipe into the corner of my mouth and taking a mouthful to taste the unusual blend. It wasn’t my favourite, but it did have a pleasantly mineral quality. “To Tanya and her Cannons.” I was quickly joined by my companions as Breha began hacking and coughing at the pipe. She was Tanaoi, an unusual case of being old enough to spend just a few months as one of Tanya’s Cadets years ago before being old enough to join her ‘army’ proper.

“You are not meant to breathe it in too deeply.” I chided the girl. “Just keep it in your mouth, taste it.” I demonstrated and filled the air with more smoke.

“Tastes like shit.” The girl wheezed as her eyes watered and her antics elected a light chuckle from the table. 

“Well, it’s Orcish.” Another shouted and our table laughed. I could almost feel myself relaxing for the first time in months.

“The wine is much better.” Breha offered and soothed her sore throat with the Human swill.

“Why fuck the cat?” Zara asked while jabbing an elbow into my arm.

“See if she would.” I admitted. “Saderans are horrified by it apparently.”

“Saderans would do anything for silver.” Zara chided me. “But if you just wanted some fun any of us would have bedded you without begging silver out of you Nalia. You set yourself up with a girl who knows only how to lay on her back for Human men. She will break before you’ve had your fun.” 

“Not worth the silver.” Breha agreed. “None of them are.” She lamented.

“Blame your Queen. It’s a flogging and we pay silver to a man’s wife if we don’t get her permission.” I pointed out as Breha sighed. Clearly tired of my complaints of her Queen.

“Soft on men she is. She would do anything her husbands ask of her and of course they are sympathetic to the menfolk of the city.” Zara complained. “That old human too, doubt he can fuck at all, no idea why she dotes on them so.” 

“She is taken with the Empire.” I pointed out. “How the Humans do things.” I said between mouthfuls of smoke. “She would make herself an Empress so that the Humans would consider her ‘Civilised’. Spit on tradition.” 

“How can you say that?” Breha snapped with a frown, eager to defend her Queen.

“The words she uses, they are Saderan, not honest Lepores words.” I insisted.

“Like what?” Breha asked, her ears flopping forwards lazily as she toyed with one of the silver bracers she had taken from the dead Legionaries in the recent battle. 

“They don’t speak to the earth, to Hardy, as we once did, but of airy hard to grasp ideas.” I began, explaining what had occurred to me as I had listened to Tanya’s long lectures on ‘military theory’ “She would says she has been a ‘wanderer’ who has ‘traveled’ across Sadera, without the Saderans, without their language polluting our own, she would say she is an earth stepper who has walked in their lands for a time.”

“It’s the same thing.” She contested.

“It’s not, not even close.” I grumbled into a tankard.

“People have not spoken like that in a long time.” Another commented. “You can’t blame the Tanaoi Queen for making the change more rapid. 

“She smashes the Ninth Legion and here you are moping about it.” Came an exasperated complaint from Breha.

“Don’t mind Nalia.” Zara said, wrapping an arm around Breha and pulling the taller girl close. “She won’t like our Queen tell her majesty puts her head between Nalia’s fat fucking thighs!” She laughed in my face and downed a clay cup of sickening Saderan wine.

“Our Queen?” I snapped.

“Aye, High Queen. I am with you Nalia. Her ‘reforms’ need to be checked but when even Tyuule bac-.”

“Who cares what that traitor thinks!” I screamed, sending my pipe bouncing across the cramped table and jabbing a finger at Zara. 

“The Pomi do.” The drunk woman said with deadly calm. “She was tricked. Shameful if she had not submitted to the rightful High Queen.” Zara argued. And I settled back into the chair as the silence that had fallen over the brothel at my outburst slowly faded.

“Tanya has not claimed the title of High Queen.” I said at last, quietly.

“Does she need to? She is the only Queen left.” Zara said into her empty cup.

“I don’t contest that she is a great warrior. She also has great magic. But the humans are not endless, not inexhaustible. What need is there to remain under her thumb after we counter attack and reclaim the steppe?” I argued.

“What happened to words that honour Hardy?” Breha glared at me. I wanted to snap at her but her question hung in the air.

She was changing us, via whip and word. With deeds too. I thought back to her walking before the corpse of a Wyvern. I looked to see a party of whores approaching. Men that should be ours by right of conquest who instead were paid for in silver.

“I can’t fight every battle. Especially when I’m on my own.” I stood up and grabbed the chesty catgirl and threw her over my shoulder before marching up the stairs. She did not squirm or scream, she did not curse me and my ancestors.

No, she whispered encouragement and directions to my room.

Regardless of her masters, Saderan or Lepus, she would do the same thing for the same reasons. For her, the war that destroyed my people forevermore, was just a change in scenery. 

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Imperial road to Sadera, South of Kontia

Diabo El Caesar, Prince and Tribune of Sadera 

The imperial road was clogged by miserable wretches, half starved and trudging onward in crumbling shoes and sandals where footwear had not been entirely abandoned. Clothes, once rich silks and velvet, had lost their luster in the exodus south from Konita. 

I walked, my armour still silver and gleaming as slaves and nobles alike who had clung to life watched me with tired eyes even as the men under my command distributed bread and wine. I had taken a modest host of three hundred men with me and had scarcely supplies for the two thousand we had encountered upon the road.

At the head of the survivors from Kontia was the old and wizened form of one Senitor Graci, patriarch of the Graci line and master mage. His hair was thin and unkempt, his skin papery and brown from the long weeks of exposure. His cheeks sunken from taking only meagre rations. But his eyes were stark and brilliant, calculating and resolved.

His were hardly the eyes of a coward who had fled.

“How can you know my Brother has been defeated.” I interrogated the man.

“I don’t.” He replied stiffly. “Not for certain. But without the Wyvern Knights, he has little hope of victory.” Graci explained. “The supply situation was dire when I left and Kontia has fallen.” I looked behind him at the survivors from that most distant of cities. The borderland city of Kontia was a place of little interest or wealth, that it had fallen did make access to the steppe complicated however. 

“This tribe can defeat an entire Legion?” I was beginning to think I had neglected magic somewhat if such power can be wielded by mages. But Graci himself was a potent and respected mage. That one barbarian would be so powerful beggared belief. When something seemed unbelievable it was often because it was. 

“The Ninth Legion was defeated before the battle began. This entire expedition has been a failure, one I fully intend to have our people learn from.” Graci reached into a leather back at his hip and produced a book with care one would have with a child. “I go to Rondal, I suggest you guard me on my travels to the city, there is no way your retinue would make a difference in the war at Kontia.” 

“I have no intention of joining the war. I go to take my brother into custody.” I explained. “The Senate has voted that his invasion of the Steppe was unlawful as it did not receive senatorial approval.” My words seemed to surprise the old man.

“Truly? I did not expect... Perhaps this is for the best, let peace slow the Tanaoi where war failed.” Graci ran the nail of his thumb across his lower lip as he mused upon the news of the Senate's decision. 

It was needless to mention my Fathers involvement in that decision, Graci was a Senator, he would find out about the newfound tension between my Father and the great families of the Empire when he reached the great city.

“It would be best if you joined me-”

“No.” Graci replied instantly, cutting me off as I glared at the man. “No, I will do you no good before that Queen. Nor do I believe she would give up your brother without a great ransom.” 

“If you will not join me then speak, man.” I grit my teeth in frustration. “Tell me about this Queen. I go north now and all I have are the rantings of an old coward to go on in terms of knowledge on what is going on so far from Sadera.” I pointed out.

“She can slay Wyverns with ease.” Graci said, before smiling as I did not feign surprise fast enough at this news.

“So one survived, fled south and informed the Emperor.” Graci nodded.

“Are you well known as a man who assumes everything?” I snapped.

“How am I to help you if you keep such things from me?” The Senator snapped right back. 

“By answering my questions.” I sighed. “I would not waylay you further Senator, but I expect you to tell me everything you know before you continue on to the wall, I want a full report on this expedition.” I explained.

“I will tell you what I can, but there are other people you should listen to, my Prince.” Graci suddenly became respectful when the threat of me conscripting him to join me on my way east faded. 

“Who exactly?” I asked as Graci glanced behind him.

“Excuse me.” A voice called out from the band of desperate men, soft and honeyed. I looked to see an inhumanly handsome man of clear Demihuman stock with his ears standing tall upon his head. “My master told me that you requested my presence? There are things I can tell you about the Tanaoi. My name is Aief of the Pomi.” I glanced at Graci who nodded at me before I turned to the Demihuman.

“Before that, tell me about my Brother, what do you know about Zorzal?” Aief the Lepus, as well as Graci the Senator both looked confused at my question. 

“It began when my Sister heard news of a great Saderan army passing through Goblin territory...” The Demihuman began.

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JQixT7iHS8WdcKSzGqrAsmmuOZuD2jIiSzwIxs6aFC8/edit?tab=t.0