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The global machinery leasing market is anticipated to grow at a considerable CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period. Machinery Leasing Market research report allows making important decision making essential for business growth. It helps key participants further in applying right business ideas to grow business and choose the right business doing strategy. Having complete understanding of what purchasers are looking for in the market and which factors can influence their purchasing decision greatly helps to make investment in the right product development and launch it accordingly. It is also crucial for major participants to understand the behavior of target customers to bring novel products into the market. This Machinery Leasing Market report serves as a blueprint to get thorough study of market competition, target audience and entire market.
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Major regions are discussed here includes Europe, Middle East, Africa, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific. Target audience has grown fast therefore it is important to understand their needs and nothing is better than referring a good Machinery Leasing Market research report as it covers all the details. Such report allows business owners to well-serve them. Market research also allows enhancing customers’ buying decision and provides detailed information on pricing structure of major regions. Important data collection about the entire market is essential for market growth and Machinery Leasing Market report is the best medium to attain this.
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· Market Coverage
· Market number available for – 2023-2029
· Base year- 2022
· Forecast period- 2023-2029
· Segment Covered- By Source, By Product Type, By Applications
· Competitive Landscape- Archer Daniels Midland Co., Ingredion Inc., Kerry Group Plc, Cargill
· Inc., and others
Global Machinery Leasing Market– Segmentation
By Type
​

• Heavy construction machinery rental
• Commercial air, rail, and water transportation equipment rental
• Mining, oil and gas
• Forestry machinery
• Equipment rental

By Mode
​

• Offline
• Online

Global Machinery Leasing Market – by Region
North America
• US
• Canada
Europe
• Germany
• United Kingdom
• France
• Spain
• Italy
• Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific
• China
• Japan
• India
• Rest of Asia-Pacific
Rest of the World
• Middle East & Africa
• Latin America
The Report Covers
​

• Market value data analysis of 2022 and forecast to 2028.
• Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment.
• Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions.
• Key companies operating in the global machinery leasing market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new product launches, and relevant news is also available in the report.
• Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future.
• Analysis of market entry and market expansion strategies.
• Competitive strategies by identifying ‘who-stands-where’ in the market.

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It was a slow rainy Wednesday.
It was a little before 6 o’clock and the jazz band was just setting up in our auditorium when a woman with dark sunglasses and a guide dog appeared at the entrance to the kitchen.
“Hello! Can I help you find what you’re looking for?”
She looked lost, slightly hyperventilating with each response, but I quickly gathered that she was trying to find her choir practice group but her guide dog had become lost.
I thought it might have been the old globe theater, so she held onto my left elbow and I guided her over that way until we discovered that it was not the right place.
She was quickly falling apart, so I reminded her how easily others have gotten lost as well, and that I do this for others all the time! (Of course, this was a first for me).
I used my phone to use my best judgment for where else we could go, and we had to take a much longer route back to the other side of the park.
As we were walking, I pictured how frantic and vulnerable she must feel on a daily basis, so I continued to give her praise for giving it the effort and commended her bravery.
We eventually found the building she was describing, but it still wasn’t quite right.
We walked around the entire floor, looking for anything that would refresh her guide dog when just as we were ready to give up, a woman with blonde hair stepped out of an elevator and said in the sweetest voice;
“Sarah, are you looking for the choir room?”
She instantly broke into tears and reached out to hug the woman, but instead tapped her shoulder to know where she was standing, and then threw her arms out towards me, giving me the most enormous and tightest hug.
She thanked me repeatedly as I wished her good luck at her audition!
I am eternally grateful to have been there for this person, not just to have been a helping hand along the way, but to be reminded of how good it feels to do so. ❤️

tl;dr 39-year-old trans man seeks romantic connections with other leftists of all genders
Hi there!
I'm a 39-year-old queer, trans man currently living near DC with my dog and cat. After taking some time away from dating--for personal growth, figuring out what kind of relationships I want, and other general therapy—related things—I’m now back to it. I want to find a special someone to build a meaningful long-term connection with. While my primary goal is to find an anchor partner, I'm open to building relationships with already partnered folks. Kitchen table dynamics are goals.
Though new to polyamory, I'm passionate about clear communication, honesty, and mutual respect in all relationships. Consent, empathy, and kindness are values that guide me in every aspect of life.
A bit about me: I've lived in the DMV for almost 8 years, but I'm originally from Western NY. I've lived in several other places in the US and wouldn't mind exploring even more with the right person, so if you're outside of the DMV, don't let that stop you from reaching out. Outside of work as a data analyst, I'm actively involved in queer advocacy and community-building. I'm a leftist, and those I am partnered with must have similar beliefs. Other important things include: sex-positive, not into TERFS, pro-sex work, anti-capitalist, acab (you get the idea). I'm into both kink and vanilla fun. I'm 420-friendly.
In my free time, I enjoy indulging in my love for reading and music, writing, hunting for records to add to my vinyl collection, cooking, and playing video games. I also enjoy baseball, soccer, and role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. While I try to hit the gym, I don't judge others' bodies or equate size with health. I embrace all body types and hope you will, too. That being said, SZA would agree that I'm a big boy, so I hope you're into a big guy made for cuddling.
I'm neurodivergent, so if I take a bit to respond, I just got distracted by something shiny or a cute puppy.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
If you were on the fence about sending me a message, here are some things a few friends had to say about me.
”V passes the vibe check 100%. He’s funny, has the biggest heart, gets involved in the community, and will sing Taylor with you in the car, seriously!”
”You’re a fucking gem of a human”
“V is a delight and a half, all that and a bag of chips!”

Containing spoilers from Volume 3 and possibly Volume Final
"When a hatchet is buried, everyone wants it to stay that way for the best. Hence, when someone with a burning hatred starts to dig it up, actions have to be taken lest the hatchet turns the peace of Kivotos in and out. All embers have to be stamped out responsibly, and Mika finds herself back into the game of violence and politics two years ago. "
An excerpt from the full chapter:
“You need any help?”
“Mhm?”
“I can help if you want to! You seem to be troubled…!”
Koharu sounded determined. Mika returned with a reassuring smile. Her mouth was about to open but her instinct tripped upon the clacks of combat boots. Her eyes raised up and saw Gore-Tex Girl was already bringing a Gerber combat knife closer to her skull.
Mika quickly pushed Koharu aside, barely dodging the stab of a cold steel blade as both slammed their backs onto the shelf. It was methodical and fast when the blade was turned and went straight into a jab at the pinned Mika. The pink hair’s right hand barely made it in time for the knife to be knocked away, barely grazing her face, cut part of the hood and then jammed into the bookshelf’s frame. Mika lurched her thick skull onto the girl’s face before she can decide whether to abandon the knife or to bring Mika’s face into the knife.
The girl yelped in pain and staggered backwards. Collapsing onto the opposite shelf, Mika wasted no time in grabbing her by the collar and swinging her around. The hilt of the knife was used to morph her nose again when Mika smashed her entire face back into it, breaking her nose completely. Her entire body slumped back onto the cold floor in pain, hands clutching her bloodied nose and cursing wildly.
“Koharu!”
Koharu snapped out from her surprised state upon Mika’s shout.
“Call security! Now!”
Shouts erupted from the other side and the first to reach the scene was Gore-Tex The Second. Her hand reached for the APC at the same time Mika snapped apart the jacket’s zip, revealing her Mars. A quick burst of 9mm was dumped out but Mika dropped herself onto the floor faster. Her hand managed to rack the bolt properly for a round to be chambered and it went blasting the loudest crack the bookstore has ever heard. The 9mm put holes into some books and wood and the .45 Long drove deep into Gore-Tex The Second’s chest. Two more rounds of heavy recoil kicked into Mika’s wrist before the girl dropped down properly. Seeing the APC clattered onto the floor, Mika got herself back up and noticed Koharu was still standing there, confused as to what was happening.
“Koharu-chan!”
She quickly held Koharu’s hand and dragged her away in hurry.
It would be better if they were merely on surveillance duty, gathering intelligence on her behaviour or waiting for some suspicious meetup, but to see not an ounce of hesitant in pulling a knife onto her, there was only one thing they wanted to do right now.
—Someone had put a deadly hit on Misono Mika.
Onlookers looked on with confusion as to why there was shots were fired and the scene of a weirdly dressed girl dragging a midget away in hurry. Mika and Koharu were about to reach the entrance when Slim Michelin appeared in front of them. She stood there, knew she made it in time and was ignorant of the stares around her. There was little room left for subtly when instead of reaching for the Sig Sauer tucked in her waist, she pulled out a glistering long 18-inch blade machete under her coat.
It wasn’t long before she started to close the distance for Mika’s limbs. Her machete stopped inches away from the neck or the left arm when Mika grappled her and threw her onto the nearby bookshelf. The Mars clattered away as her knee jammed into Slim Michelin’s abdomen and her ankle struck the head. The machete loosened onto the floor but Slim Michelin raised the vulnerable Mika up and threw her back up onto the same shelf. It only bought her a second of delay when Mika responded quickly by slamming Slim Michelin against her right knee and bringing her ankles down. The final blow through a punch underneath the grapple loosened the grips a little for manoeuvre when the figures of Gore-Tex started to come back like zombies.
Urgency took over as Mika shagged Slim Michelin further before dragging both of their bodies in an awkward dance towards the entrance. Slim Michelin was too into her attempt in pinning Mika down as she pushed Mika forward, unaware that Mika’s intention. Once they hit the hallway and are being watched by bystanders, Mika saw the railing of the first floor and knew it was seconds away before her back rammed into the aluminium bars. Without hesitation, she grabbed Slim Michelin on her back and threw her off the railing.
Students were only able to watch in horror at the sight of a student flying inches away from the railing before freefalling onto a bench on the ground floor. Her back is definitely broken at that height.
Mika didn’t bother to look at it when another machete loudly clanged against the aluminium bar, missing Mika by an inch. Gore-Tex The Second swung the steel blade around at the chance but Mika jumped back. Gore-Tex The Second was fast to follow up with the machete slashed downward at the lying Mika. It missed its chance in claiming Mika’s left arm when Mika rolled herself away to the right. The next follow-up was interrupted when Mika caught her arm and knocked her over with a well-placed kick on the head, making her the same as her sister in having their noses knocked out.
“Koharu?!”
Mika yelled out and picked out Koharu who just came out of the store with her rifle on hand. She lurched forward and grabbed the confused girl by the hand.
“Come on, we have to go!”
“Wa, wait! What’s going on?! Who are they?!”
Mika wished she knows. Her plan to take the escalator down to the first floor was halted when she noticed two students in black hoodies eyed on her from below. It did not take them long to start climbing up the escalator, pushing against some students with the same kind of machetes in their hands. Mika turned her head and raced in the opposite direction. Gore-Tex The Second saw her coming and reached for the dropped machete. Mika’s foot was faster in kicking her head before sliding the machete far from her reach with it. One more chance, she ran forward with Koharu in tow, but it didn’t take her far.
Some curious students were more engrossed in talking to each other about the situation or just whipping out their smartphones to get more tweets out of this fight. Mika heaved her breath as she waved her hand at the crowd.
“Excuse me! Excuse me!”
“He, hey!”
“Aren’t you that witch from Pater?”
“You got yourself into another fight, huh?”
“Damn witch!”
“As expected of the blasted traitorous. Still harming other students as well.”
She nearly threw a punch into one of the Trinity students that gave Koharu a threatening look when gunfire took off. The crack of a .357 faded away slowly as Gore-Tex Girl lowered the Chiappa revolver. Blood from her broken nose still dripped down but she wiped it away with her sleeve, not caring about the pain and the stain left on the sleeve. Gore-Tex The Second got herself back up and staggered with the machete recovered. The two hoodies had reached the first floor and were about to charge at the trapped Mika before being stopped by Gore-Tex Girl. Her machete raised up, like a referee waiting for the match to start.
Mika sighed, knowing well what this entitled. She was discovered, broken her promise, and is now trapped like a mouse in a cage. A cage filled with idiots who are only interested in a fight not related to them, and the suffering of a witch. The tea party at four is off now.
Koharu raised her rifle but stopped halfway by Mika’s hand. Her pink eyes looked up at Mika’s stoic face.
“Mika…”
“Call Nagisa. Tell her I won’t be attending the tea party later. Also, sorry for dragging you into this.”
“No, no, no, I can help you in thi—”
“Just go!” Mika urged softly. “These aren’t your regular hoodlums.”
“Even so…!”
“Are you done, princess?” Gore-Tex Girl interrupted Koharu, groaning from the pain. “It’s awkward to be hanging around here like this.”
“… Any particular reason for this?” Mika asked.
“All loose ends should be tied up properly, don’t you think so?”
Mika might be an idiot, but that was enough. Unarmed against four armed, in a roughly open space. What’s the odd? Mika took a deep breath and steadied her nerves.
“You know what?”
Gore-Tex Girl waved her Chiappa revolver upward.
“This kind of thing… It just doesn’t work on a monster like you.”
She flipped it away onto the floor, not caring about the fact that it was loaded. She turned her machete towards Mika instead.
“This works.”
Gunfights are common and civil, melees are rare and barbaric. One can be disregarded as a normal squabble, one meant business and blood.
This was certainly the latter. Mika unzipped the jacket and took it off. All disguises she had were forgone. The capelet was in full view, her fists tightened and her chest relaxed.
“Go.”
A single word and both Mika and the freshly arrived machetes rushed forward.
You can read the full chapter in AO3: The Hatchet's Burial [AO3]

Thought about them for a while, but I have my first hog show coming up soon and figured now’s a good time to invest in a good pair of boots.
But I have no idea what to look for. My one friend looked on Ariat with me. She said fatbaby’s we're nice, Ariat’s good, square toe is good but round isn’t bad, don’t want fashion.
I figured I wear them for showing, stuff like that, working with my dogs, casual wear (is that okay?), etc. Not really sure, where else can I wear them?
I honestly have no idea what to look for. I looked at tractor supply, but they had like nothing. I remember Coastal had a huge selection, so I’ll check there. And I have a boot barn near me. But I’ll also look online.
Any advice for what to look for? And how to choose?
Thank you so much! 😅

For starters, may aso yung jowa ko and I stayed with him for a week. I love how the dog just brightens up my day. Mapipilitan akong gumising ng umaga at kumain sa saktong oras kasi andun si doggie nagseserve as live alarm clock. I'm clinically diagnosed with depression and doing these things can be really heavy for me. But when I was hanging out with my bf's dog, napaisip ko ang sarap niya alagaan. It's like the more ko siya aalagaan, the more rin niya ako inaalagaan. I needed that kind of love in my house.
So gusto ko mag adopt ng puppy. May nakita ako sa FB na may pups na fully vaxxed na at na dewormed. Nagrequest ako sa papa ko na bilhan niya ako ng aso, hihi! Kaso ayaw ng mama ko. Dami niya reklamo, yung ihi daw, yung tae, etc. Gusto niya ipa train daw muna yung aso before namin iadopt, while ang gusto ko naman is ako yung makakasama niya from the start.
The moment my mother said gusto niya ipa train muna, bigla ako nag overthink. (Sorry.) Adopting a dog is similar to being a parent for me. The dog needs love, nurturing, and attention just like we do. Yes, di nila alam saan saktong umihi o tumae kasi di pa sila na trained. Diba tayo rin di rin tayo marunong magluto at maglinis nung bata pa tayo? Not until we are guided by our parents? Yan ang gusto ko sa magiging aso ko. Ayokong ibang tao yung magtetrain, gusto ko ako. Pero opposite yung iniisip ng mama ko
The fact na ayaw magtrain/mag guide ng mama ko means there's a big chance na ganyan din nafifeel niya saming mga anak. She was almost absent when I was young. We never had a real memory or quality time. Hindi niya kami tinuruan maglaba or magluto, self-taught kami halos. I remember 14 y.o. ako pinagalitan niya ako dahil di raw ako marunong magluto ng lugaw when in fact nung bata kami halos ayaw niya kami palutuin kasi masusunog daw yung pagkain or yung bahay. Like...di mo kami tinuruan? What do you expect? Just because 14 y.o. na ako automatic mag iinstall yung knowledge sa utak ko? Ganern? Hanep na yan.
It made me realize my mother never had any patience when it comes to training or nurturing someone, even if it's her children or pets. Yung mentality niya is iiwan niya sa ibang tao para sila na magtrain tapos she wants to reap the good results. Walang kahirap hirap, walang kaeffort effort. She wants a great result pero di man lang mag-eeffort to accept the flaws.
Grabe, pag aadopt lang ng aso yung napag usapan namin pero super deep na yung naaalala kong childhood neglect. Di pa ata ako fully healed as I thought.

Cover Art!
Just because you’re transported to another world, doesn’t mean you’ll escape from your pain.
Abused by her parents, thirteen-year-old Frances only wants to be safe and for her life not to hurt so much. And when she and her class are transported to the magical world of Durannon to fight the monsters invading the human kingdoms and defeat the self-titled Demon King, Frances is presented with a golden opportunity. If she succeeds, Frances will have the home she never had. If she fails, Frances will be summoned back to the home she escaped.
Yet, despite her newfound magic and friends, Frances finds that trauma is not so easily lost. She is dogged by her abuse and its physical and invisible scars. Not only does she have to learn magic, she has to survive the nightmares of her past, and wrestle with her feelings of doubt and self-loathing.
If she can heal from her trauma, though, she might be able to defeat the Demon King and maybe, just maybe, she can find a home for herself.
Teaser: Hattie finds out about blessings and curses, whilst Janize and Leila have a... development
[The Beginning] [<=Chapter 182 part 1] [Chapter Index and Blurb] [Chapter 183=>](https://www.patreon.com/vren55) ]
The Fractured Song Index
Discord Channel Just let me know when you arrive in the server that you’re a Patreon so you can access your special channel.
It was taxing being so close to Queen Janize and not being able to do anything about it. Elizabeth had to admit to herself that she had at some points, wondered about just wringing the woman’s neck. However, there was no way to do so.
If Elizabeth had one word to describe Queen Janize, it was that the woman was intriguing. As one of the maids directly attending Janize, she was mostly standing nearby, fetching pen and paper and drinks. The woman was rarely alone, usually accompanied by multiple servants, guards, and Leila. She also attended meetings directly with Earl Darius that Elizabeth coudn’t attend, and would often have private meetings with her Otherworlder shadow.
Ayax, however, using a nifty spell that Frances had invented to eavesdrop in magically unprotected rooms, could actually listen in on the queen.
It was in one of these conversations that Elizabeth and Ayax were quietly discussing in their rooms with Martin and Ginger attending through mirror.
“So you are now certain she’s working against Darius?” Elizabeth mused.
Ayax pursed her lips and nodded once. “I believe so. She definitely doesn’t tell Leila everything, but I am more inclined to think she’s preparing countermeasures against the Earl. Not that that changes anything. I think we need to kill them both.”
Elizabeth blinked. “But she’s pregnant, Ayax.”
Her lips twisted in a grimace, Ginger sighed. “I don’t like it either, Liz, but I get what Ayax is saying. If Queen Forowena’s cannot bear children, Janize’s child will become a threat to whoever succeeds King Jerome. It might be better to kill a traitor and rebel than kill her child.”
Martin coughed officiously, his eyes narrowed. “I personally don’t really see the difference, and I doubt most would. Both are very unenviable options.” The knight drummed his fingers on the table. “This is going to sound off topic, but what’s the mood in the castle?”
Ayax glanced at Elizabeth, who frowned in thought. “Downcast. They aren’t willing to surrender, but since the Erlenberg navy has cut off all sea resupply, they’re rationing food.More importantly, Ayax just told me that it doesn’t sound like the city is going to be relieved anytime soon.”
Martin blinked. “Really? I thought the traditionalists still had remaining troops?”
Shaking her head, Ayax’s tail swayed back and forth. “From what I heard these are their last remaining troops. We’ve dealt too many defeats to them, destroyed too many of their castles, killed or captured too many of their mages. They’re waiting for us to make a mistake, but they don’t think we are going to make one. We can conceivably just hold our siege here until we starve them until starvation.”
“Of course, that’s not really an option. Too many things can go wrong with such a long siege,” said Elizabeth, recalling a lesson from Igraine. She wondered how was her mentor doing.
It was then that Elizabeth and Ayax noticed that Martin and Ginger were exchanging grim looks their lips pressed into thin lines.
“It’s no longer an option,” said Ginger. “A little over a week ago, Timur found out that Thorgoth is training six dragons, the children of Telkandra. He learned this from the eldest of Telkandra’s children who had fled her siblings. However, while trying to get this dragon and Goldilora away, Timur was captured by Thorgoth’s forces.”
Martin, noticing Ayax and Ginger’s widening eyes, piped up in a firm tone. “Frances is heading with Morgan and Hattie to rescue him and I think they have a chance of succeeding, but the fact remains that we now know why Thorgoth was so passive. He was amassing his forces to perform a final attack with dragon support. We cannot maintain a prolonged siege and so I have an idea.”
Ginger scratched her head, trying her best not to scowl. “I hate it, but I think it works. Liz, Ayax, can you meet with Janize in private and offer her terms of surrender?”
Elizabeth blinked. Ayax’s jaw dropped open. “I thought you wanted to kill her, Ginger?”
“I do, but I…” Ginger closed her eyes and rested her forehead against her clasped hands. “Look, as much as I want the bitch dead, you all spent a long time pulling me out of the shitty place I was in. I feel like if I ask you to do something so cold-blooded, even if it is the ‘practical’ and ‘logical’ decision, it would mean all of us would be going to that place. I don’t want that.”
“Are you sure about this? I agree with you, but I have…strong feelings about preserving life, especially unborn life,” said Elizabeth, her eyes focused on Martin.
The knight sat up straighter and gave a short nod. “I am sure that we need to at least offer Queen Janize terms. If she refuses then so be it, but if she agrees, then we must explore that option.”
“And how are you going to convince King Jerome and Queen Forowena this?” Ayax asked, arching an eyebrow.
Ginger allowed herself a smirk. “Leave that to us. You and Liz think of a way to offer the following terms without getting caught. We need to send a clear message.”
Elizabeth crossed her arms. “What are the terms you plan to offer?”
Her arm wrapped firmly around Janize’s waist, Leila guided the queen to her bedchambers. “Come on, let me carry you at least once.”
The queen hid her smile with her hand as she let herself be guided. With her servants dismissed, it was now alright to play coy with Leila. “Are you sure you’re strong enough for two, Otherworlder?”
Janize blinked when Leila leaned in, pulling her close. The Otherworlder gently stepped in. Her eyes wide, the queen found herself starting to lay back onto the younger woman’s arms.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” drawled Leila.
Her heart pounding, Janize held onto Leila, wearing her smirk like a shield. “I expect you to carry me to my bed, Leila,” she rasped.
“Well then…” Leila dipped one arm underneath Janize’s legs. The queen held her breath as she was lifted into the air. The younger woman’s grip was incredibly gentle and steady even as Leila fumbled with the door.
Janize opened the door with her gloved hand. “Allow me.”
“Thank you.” Leila kicked the door open and sashayed herself and Janize into her bedchambers. The queen watched the Otherworlder through half-lidded eyes, revelling in how Leila’s eyes were glued to her.
“Are you already undressing me with your eyes?” Leila giggled.
Janize arched an eyebrow. “Unless my eyes are magic, I don’t think—Ah, you mean it metaphorically. I was thinking you should take my dress off.”
“Oh? You would like to be at my mercy…” Leila’s voice trailed off . Janize felt ice seep into her heart when Leila’s grip tightened around her. Her dark brown eyes now stared at something on their bed.
Their bed? Oh dear. She was really growing rather fond of Leila wasn’t she?
Janize took a deep breath and reached up to touch Leila’s cheek. “What’s wrong?”
The Otherworlder carefully set the queen down. Once she did, Leila gripped the hilt of her long dagger. Janize had to turn around before she saw what had killed the mood.
“Hm, rather menacing isn’t it?” Janize muttered. She narrowed her eyes at the dagger planted point first into her mattress. “There appears to be a note attached to it. Can you be a dear and get that, Leila?”
“Yes, but give me a moment. Can you stand back?” Janize swept behind her protector, who drew her wand and muttered several spells. They made the dagger, bed, and even the sheets glow. After several different spells, the Otherworlder finally went forward, yanked the dagger from the bed and unrolled the letter.
Janize peaked over Leila’s shoulder, not hard to do considering she was what Leila had called her, a few “inches” taller.
To Queen-Claimant Janize of Erisdale,
We, Sir Martin of Conthwaite, Ginger of Conthwaite, Ayax “The Blackgale” Windwhistler, and Lady Elizabeth Hae-won Kim, would like you to know that we could have killed you and Leila as you slept, but circumstances compel us to offer you terms.
King Thorgoth of Alavaria has recruited purple dragons to his cause. You know what he intends to do with them. In the interest of ending this civil war that has taken so many lives, we request on behalf of King Jerome and Queen Forowena that you surrender under the following offer, conditional to their Majesties final approval:

1. Your life and that of your unborn child is guaranteed
2. Presuming that your child lives to their majority, they will be first in line to the throne of Erisdale, not to be superceded by any adoption or newborn children.
3. You are to be confined for life on Greyrock Island with a hundred retainers you may choose
4. Earl Darius and the other nobles who supported you are to submit to a trial by the high court for war crimes. All but his life is guaranteed, along with a steady income, but their lands and wealth will be confiscated from their persons, but not necessarily from their families and children

If you wish to discuss with us further, have a courier send a message out to the siege lines under a flag of truce.
Leila murmured the contents of the letter to herself. A snarl warped her lips. “What a load of bullshit. Are you done, Your Majesty? If so, let me burn it.”
A gloved hand held Leila’s wrist, whilst another set of hands plucked the letter from the Otherworlder’s grasp. Janize stepped away, pacing across ther room, and studying the letter intently.
Leila stared at the queen. “Janize, what are you doing?”
Janize tapped her hand with one finger but continued to study the letter. “Shh. Silencing spells on my room please.”
Leila spluttered, shook her head and started to cast several privacy spells to block out any eavesdroppers. She then sent a burst of magic toward the smoldering fireplace and levitated into the rising flames.
“Alright, now can you explain what’s got you so rattled.”
“I am perfectly calm my dear.”
“Bullshit. You’re rattled and you have no reason to be. They can’t possibly be telling the truth. I mean, dragons?” Leila rolled her eyes. “And why would they offer to save the life of your child?”
Janize did not look up from the letter. “It is precisely because the information is so unbelievable that I am somewhat concerned.”
Leila threw her hands up into the air. “And I thought you said you weren’t rattled.”
“I am afraid that I lied.” The queen hissed those words through gritted teeth. Taking a short breath, she turned to face the Otherworlder. “Leila dear, I quite enjoy your company, but I think you should take your leave.”
Blinking, the Otherworlder grimaced. “You don’t trust me.”
Janize fingers tightened around the letter. “I need to be alone. Truly alone.”
Her arms crossed, Leila gave the queen what could only be described as a flat stare. “I say that’s a horrible idea given that they can get into your bedchambers without anybody noticing.”
Janize opened her mouth to retort, but quickly closed it. Her lips a thin line, she closed her eyes.
“Leila. You make a good point and so you should stay here. That being said, you ought to know your place.”
Leila looked up at the ceiling and exhaled. Her breath almost spitting out between her clenched teeth. “I know my place, Your Majesty.”
“You have a very strange way of showing it.” Janize narrowed her eyes at the younger woman, studying her posture. She’d gotten to know Leila quite well. Her stiff, crossed-arm posture was a way of holding herself in check when she was frustrated about something.
After a long moment where Leila just gazed at the ceiling, she suddenly shivered and wiped her eyes.
Janize blinked. She tried to keep her expression serene, but the Otherworlder started to sniffle. Before her eyes, Leila’s stiff pose crumpled. She buried her tear-stricken face in her right hand, whilst she gripped her shirt with the other.
“Leila? What is going on? Are you alright?”
“No. I’m definitely not alright. I’m very, very fucked up, okay? I’m probably more of a freak than Frances.” The Otherworlder wiped her eyes with the back of her arm. “But I know my place. Oh, I know my place. I’m your disposable fuckbuddy. Your dumb hunk of muscle with boobs for you to squeeze. I know you are going to kill me once the war is over and after you’ve dealt with Darius. I also don’t care, so long as you do so after the Demon King is dead.”
Janize blinked, her mouth trying to form words, excuses, anything to try to deny what Leila was saying. “Excuse me? When have I—”
“Don’t lie to me. Please, don’t lie to me anymore.” Leila sniffled, and shook her head. “I mean, I don’t care if you do. Hurt me all you’d like. Use me as you wish. Just…promise me that you’ll get rid of me after Thorgoth dies. I don’t want to go back to Earth.”
“But if you die in Durannon after Thorgoth dies then correct me if I’m wrong, but the spell that returns you to ‘Earth’ won’t be active because you would have chosen to stay in Durannon. That means you’ll…” Janize’s voice trailed off. The letter slipping out of her grasp, she reached for Leila, but the Otherworlder stepped back. “Leila dear, you cannot be serious.”
Leila’s laugh was without mirth. It rang in the room softly, and yet it shook the queen’s hands like the howl of a wounded animal. “I am. You don’t need to pretend anymore, Your Majesty. I know you aren’t really lying to Earl Darius about getting rid of me. I’d have outlived my usefulness to you after he’s gone. Besides, you have the pick of the kingdom once you win the war. Why would you choose me?”
Janize briefly pinched the bridge of her nose. “Why would you be alright with being disposed of, Leila? You’re a fighter, and a tough young woman. I’ve never known you to give up like this. Why fight for me when you think I’ll get rid of you?” Despite her attempt to control her tone, the queen could hear her voice rise in pitch.
Leila’s shoulders fell, and she bit her lip. Swallowing, the Otherworlder croaked, “I love you. I love how you smile. I love how you lie to those around you and play them for fools. I love how you stand so tall despite the chaos around you. I love how you play your cards—your schemes—so close to your chest. I love your ruthlessness, your pitiless glower and just…everything about you.”
The queen, her jaw agape, stared at the Otherworlder and the desperate smile on her lips. Janize pinched herself with her long nails, drawing a red mark on her knuckle, and found that she was still awake. “Even when I hurt you? Even when you think I am going to have you killed?”
Leila coughed into her fist, and nodded. “Yeah. I mean, it hurt when I figured it out. But it’s what I deserve and what would happen to me anyway if I went back to Earth. At least you let me be me and made me happy. At least you pretended to be my friend and lover.”
“Pretended? You’re alright with—” Janize shook her head. “Leila, what happened on ‘Earth?’ I know your parents were horrible. I know they just buried you with schoolwork, activities, and never let you choose what you wanted to do. That does not explain why you want to die rather than go back!”
Leila shrugged helplessly, her eyes glancing off to the side. “I mean, it’s a pretty stupid explanation.”
“Enlighten me. I will decide whether it’s stupid or not.”
The Otherworlder bowed her head. “It’s nothing like say Frances’s reason. I mean, fuck, her parents wanted her dead or near dead. I could see the bruises.” Leila smiled again, without mirth, not even bothering to wipe her tear-filled eyes. “My parents just told me that I needed to be better, to try harder, and to let nothing stand in my way. They drilled it into me, until they started to just ignore me for my little brother. I tried even harder. I tried so hard I didn’t even care who I hurt. But then they stopped talking to me no matter how hard I tried. Eventually they started to be afraid of what I had become. I’m a monster, Your Majesty.” Leila looked up at Janize. Her gaze was dead. A broken, unnerving smile was glued across her tear-stained cheeks. “If…if you’d like to run screaming. You can do that. I’m used to it.”
Janize stared at the young woman. Frozen, one foot forward, the queen allowed her trembling hands to drop to her sides.
Suddenly, the woman picked up her skirts and marched up to the Otherworlder. Before Leila could step away, Janize threw her arms around the Otherworlder and pulled her into an embrace.
“Don’t run. Don’t run. Your queen demands you hear her out first!” Janize hissed, burying her face in Leila’s neck.
“Okay but why are you—” Leila blinked. Something warm, and wet was dripping on her neck. “Janize? I don’t—”
“You were not entirely wrong. I was planning on getting rid of you at first.” Janize loosened her embrace, her hands moving to cup Leila’s cheeks. Slowly, she pulled the Otherworlder to face her. They were so close, their noses were rubbing against each other. They were so close that Janize knew that Leila could see the tears that were filling her eyes. “It just appears that despite my best efforts, Leila, I have grown very very fond of you, in spite of your flaws.”
“You don’t mean—but that’s impossible—” Janize leaned forward, capturing her lover’s lips. She left Leila speechless, jaw agape, fresh tears in her eyes.
“It has already happened, my dear Leila. Is not a healthy relationship by any measure, but I do find myself enamoured with you and it has become my desire at this moment to spend my life with you.” Janize smiled, watching as the young woman in front of her splutter, blink and then just cry. Leila sobbed, leaning into her as she broke down. She cried so hard, for so long that Janize had to guide her love to the bed they shared, where the Otherworlder cried some more.
“Why?” Leila finally croaked, as her head lay on Janize’s lap, whilst the queen gently stroked her hair.
Janize pursed her lips. “I’m not entirely sure why to be honest. I suppose I can say that you make me feel…alive. You rouse my anger, my passion, and my ambition. You don’t bullshit me, which makes it quite easy to talk to you. You make me think, question, laugh…and feel. When I’m with you, I feel like I can be me.”
Leila blinked, her cheeks coloring. “Oh. I’m…I’m glad.” She gave the queen a small, shy smile. Janize mirrored it, relief filling her heart as she continued to stroke the young woman’s hair.
“So tell me now, Leila my dear. Do you know your place?” Janize asked, leaning down to poke her lover on the nose.
Leila beamed. “I do, Janize.”
Janize grimaced as she caressed Leila’s cheek with her bare hand. She’d long ago pulled her gloves off. “Then listen carefully because you’re not going to like what you hear next. I think we ought to accept the Lightning Battalion’s offer, but we might not be able to do so safely.”
Leila frowned, but continued to lay on the queen’s lap. “Alright, but why? And why do you believe this isn’t one of their sneaky tricks?”
“Two reasons. One, we’ve lost this civil war. Two, I think they’re telling the truth, though, not the whole truth.”
Leila sat up, gently brushing Janize’s hand off her cheek, as she shuffled to sit next to the queen. Her scarred fingers intermingled with Janize’s slender, perfectly manicured ones. “But wait, that’s preposterous. I mean, dragons? And then there’s exile. Why would you be willing to go to this Greyrock Island?”
Janize chuckled, hiding her wide grin with one hand as Leila frowned. “Greyrock Island actually has a very nice palace. It’s the private getaway of the Erisdalian Royal Family. It was built by an overindulgent Erisdalian Queen to stow away her lovers and while isolated, the island is self-sufficient. We won’t be able to escape, but considering that they could have had me executed for disobeying my father’s will, it’s not a bad option.”
Mouth forming an ‘o,’ Leila took a breath. “Wait, so you believe them?”
“Yes, they have been quite upfront without being blatantly obvious. They’ve offered to let my child be heir. This means that the rumor I’ve been hearing from our remaining spies is probably true. Earl Forowena must be infertile. And even if this rumor is false, the fact that they are willing to even entertain the idea of allowing my child on the Erisdalian throne is significant. They badly want to negotiate, even when they have significant advantages. Something must have changed and what else could it be but them finding out Thorgoth has dragons? If they knew about the dragons from the start, or lied about it, they wouldn’t want to end the siege with such a significant concession after taking so many casualties and time to set it up. It could be a delaying tactic but we are the ones being besieged, not them.”
“But we haven’t lost the war yet. We—” Leila’s voice trailed off. Janize’s smile had quite suddenly faded. “You know something that neither Darius nor I knows, or that we’re unwilling to admit.”
Janize drew herself up, her free hand placed on top of her growing stomach. “Not quite. You see, as queen, I have the most complete picture of what our faction knows. It’s a picture I hold very close to my chest and while someone can deduce it, or mislead me, I believe what I have analzed of the strategic situation is correct.” The queen closed her eyes. “As you know, we were planning to muster an army in the east to try to relieve the siege. You also know that that attempt has been unsuccessful and we’ve been forced to wait this out. It’s a losing strategy already. The greater problem, though, is that it doesn’t really matter if we win or if we lose this siege. If we win, which is likely to be in a battle against well-trained and disciplined troops led by veteran commanders, we’ll lose a significant amount of our remaining offensive power. They will lose combat power as well, but given the record of the Lightning Battalion, there is a good chance we’ll have nothing left even if we do hurt them. At that point, King Jerome and Queen Forowena can march in with their forces and destroy us. Sure the war will be prolongued, but by how much?”
Leila frowned. “But if we win the siege, we’ll have bought time to recruit and train another army.”
Janize shook her head. “And I’m afraid that that’s no longer an option. Erisdale City itself was a significant supplier of our tax revenue which we used to fund our army. It’s been under siege for months at this point. The city’s commercial potential has been indelibly damaged and even if the damage from the siege is repaired and the city returns to normal, Erlenberg has shown that they have secured the northeastern sea from Thorgoth’s Alavaria enough so that their fleet can now raid and blockade us with impunity. Add the fact that our war chest is now well and truly exhausted, well, I’m scrambling to maintain the troops we have on the field.” The queen glanced at the Otherworlder with a wry smile. “And that’s not considering the fact that if Thorgoth does have dragons, after he deals with his rebellion and the Reformists, we’d be next, and as I’ve just told you, we are far weaker than the Reformists right now.”
Leila’s eyes widened. “Shit.”
The queen nodded, bowing her head. “It pains me to admit, but a great deal of fault for this war and its outcome rests on my shoulders. I…I gravely miscalculated years ago when I aligned myself firmly in Earl Darius’s camp. I thought it was the obvious choice. Alavaria was maniacally anti-human from what we heard from Archmage Star. We needed to present a strong anti-Alavari front after the war with Lapanteria and Darius was a popular and established noble with significant support and resources.”
“But he was an asshole.”
Janize sighed and rested her head on the younger woman’s shoulder. “Leila, I must admit that I can be quite the bitch as well. It galls me to admit it, but my prejudices against the Alavari clouded my judgement. It made me more willing to condone Earl Darius’s actions when all they did was unite the Reformers against us and turn away potential Alavari allies. Then when my father changed his mind about the succession and was assassinated by Alavaria, I let my bitterness to him, and my hatred of Alavaria take over.”
Leila frowned. “But what would we have gained by allying with those monsters?”
The queen looked up at Leila, arching one thin eyebrow, her grey eyes hammering the Otherworlder with the flattest stare. After a moment, Leila winced and turned away. Janize held her glare for another second before giggling. “Monsters they may be. They are certainly not human. Yet they are not beasts to be put down. No, the fact that the Lightning Battalion has worked as well as it has, the fact that I hear stories all the time of Athelda-Aoun whispered in my halls, those have shown me that perhaps my prejudice was greatly misplaced. They are clearly capable of all the traits we associate with humanity.”
Leila pursed her lips and the furrow on her brow deepened. “Oh. That’s actually a very good point.”
“Coming around to my point of view now, Leila?” Janize asked, smirking just a little. Leila’s only response was to close her eyes and pull back from the queen. Her lips were pressed thin, she coiled the fingers on both her hands together. Her smirk fading, Janize gently reached over to caress her woman’s cheek. “Leila my love? What is wrong?”
Her eyes opening, Leila flashed the queen a brief smile. “You…you could stand to call me that more often. I’m fine. Not really alright, but fine. I was just thinking if I thought about it the way you did, would Jessica and I still be friends?”
Janize cupped Leila’s face in her hands. “Maybe, but then you wouldn’t have me.” Before the younger woman could respond, the queen pressed her lips against Leila’s.
When they finally parted, Leila was smiling and Janize, well she was smirking with smug satisfaction.
“I love you so much,” whispered Leila. At Janize’s wink, Leila couldn’t help but giggle. “So what do we do now? Earl Darius would never surrender, as would several of his supporting nobles. He’s lost a daughter already and that was to Martin and Ginger’s forces.”
“I’m afraid I’m still considering that.” Poking Leila’s nose with a finger, Janize dropped her tone, allowing her words to drop out as sultrily as she could. “Do you perhaps have any ideas how we can confer with the Lightning Battalion? I am still wondering what our counter-offer should be, but we need to find a way to meet with them first.”
Leila, cheeks reddening, coughed officiously. “Um, it would be easier to pass something onto the spies who planted the dagger. I…I might have a few ideas.”
Janize walked her hand up Leila’s arm and across her collarbone. “Well I’d love to hear them, but you know what, let’s leave that for a later time. I think we’ve interrupted what we set out to do tonight long enough.”
There was a quiet cough. Janize stared at Leila, as the Otherworlder’s eyes widened. Both of their mouths had been still.
“In that case, let me interrupt you for the last time.” A tall, slender form rolled out from underneath the bed and stood up. Ayax, in light mail armor, crossed her arms, her staff in one hand, and a magic card in another. Idly she tucked the card into her pocket. “I don’t use these cards as often, but a nice quieting spell is very useful to have on hand. And before you ask, I heard everything.”
Leila, hand shooting to her dagger, sprang to her feet. She didn’t charge at the troll, but put herself between Ayax and Janize. “Blackgale.”
Smirking, Ayax dipped her head. “Leila.”
“Does Frances know about this?” Leila narrowed her eyes at the troll, hating just at how amused she looked.
“No, but you tend to be the last thing on her mind these days. Now if we are done here, magic mirror call tomorrow at noon? Just cast it on myself or one of my friends. We’ll be waiting.”
Janize, sitting very still and straight, cut in before Leila could answer. “An excellent idea, Lady Windwhistler. Will my brother be attending?”
Ayax waltzed to the window and opened the shutters. “In good time, Queen Janize. I would advise you to be diplomatic and we’ll treat you fairly. After all…” The troll faced the pair. Her smirk gone, her fierce black eyes glaring at the queen. “I could have killed all three of you right then and there.”
Janize nodded, not quite able to hide her scowl. Leila glanced at her, lips pursed with worry and in that moment, Ayax leapt through the window. Scrambling after her, Leila poked her head out to find the troll had vanished into another open window above them.
“Shit. Fuck I’m so sorry—Janize?” Leila’s eyes widened. Janize was breathing faster and faster, her hand covering her mouth. The Otherworlder raced over, embracing the queen. Slowly she ran a hand through her hair again and again, trying to calm the woman down. “You’re safe. You’re alright.”
Janize shut her eyes, rubbing her belly with both hands. “I’m fine. I just need a moment. Amura and Rathon. I…she could have killed me, killed us three.”
Leila groaned, kissing Janize’s forehead. “I’m sorry. I should have been more thorough.”
The queen waved her hand. “Think nothing of it. What's done is done and…it does seem that they do not have the stomach for cold blooded murder. At least we know how to talk to them.” Janize exhaled slowly. “I believe, I need some of your magical hands to relax me. The massage oils are in the bedside drawer.”
Leila blinked. “You’re still in the mood—”
Janize fixed her love with a gimlet glare, tempered only by a hungry grin. “I have had quite enough interruptions today, Leila. I am practically craving your touch dear.”
Leila giggled weakly and rolled off their bed. “Yes ma’am!”
Author's Note: One of the few regrets I have for Fractured is that I have too many side characters and want to flesh out their stories too much. Aiya, still I did find this fun to write. What did you all think?