The morning after, the victory celebrations were completed rapidly. Relma didn't have ti to join the festivities or funerals. She observed the burning of the dead but didn't participate in the mass drinking during the wake. The corpses of the satyrs and dead were burned in a pile, while the dead of Harlenor were given to their families. Others were burned in Haldrenian fashion, burned on pyres.
The n were assembled from House Gabriel and House De Chevlon. Fayn was with them as well. As Relma approached Estela, however, the greeting was sowhat cold. Relma could tell by Estela's expression that she was not happy. "Well, Relma, how nice of you to tell
about all the secret etings you attended on my mission."
"What do you an?" asked Relma.
"You t with De Cathe, Pandora, Ajax, and Frederick," said Estela. "In that eting, you decided things about the mission. They designed an entire strategy, and I wasn't there."
"I was there, Estela," said Relma, slightly nervous. "But I was just there following Ajax. He got the summons and asked
to co with him.
"I didn't even say anything at the eting aside from asking questions."
"Then what is this about calling Wrynncurth in?" asked Estela.
"I suggested it to Aunt Pan, is all," said Relma. "But that wasn't in the eting, and she made her own decisions."
"Why wasn't I invited?" asked Estela, sounding offended. "I should have been consulted. It is my quest."
Relma could see her point. Estela had always been sensitive about rank and the proper dignity of her family. But there wasn't nothing Relma could say to her other than what she had already said. Fortunately, Aunt Pan arrived. She walked in quickly, clad for travel in practical clothes. "Yes, you should have."
"Lady Pandora," said Estela.
"I would like to apologize, Princess Estela," said Pandora. "The truth is that everyone was incredibly shaken by what happened. A person in my position has the unique privilege of eting with various lords. I should speak to them about the coming of Lucius.
"I was considering only the matter of Lucius, however. It did not occur to
that as this was your quest, to begin with, you ought to be consulted."
Estela seed mollified by what happened. "...Very well. Let's just put the matter behind us." So they gathered at the gate and prepared for the marshes. Ajax was there soon, Anya having returned in the night. Sir Frederick ca to see them off. "Are you sure you don't want to take a larger force than this, Lady Pandora?" he asked.
"I am certain, Sir Frederick," said Aunt Pan. "Lucius' stronghold will not be defended by flesh and blood. And if we fail, you will be needed here to defend this place."
"I understand," said Frederick.
And they were off.
Relma soon realized that she had also been cut out of the loop. Estela had apparently made general plans for the journey with Ajax. De Cathe had been there as the general outline of their road was decided.
"So Ajax, where is this path you an to take us by?" asked Fayn.
"It's a little way into the Black Marshes," said Ajax. "On a little-traveled part of the land." Relma soon learned why it was little traveled when they entered. Flies buzzed around them in a neverending tide. The water was murky, and Ajax led them on a zigzagging road. Varsus had arranged for n with long poles to check ahead of them so no one plunged in. Relma wished she'd had one before; it might have stopped her from taking several falls.
"Ugh, these flies are everywhere," said Estela. "How do you bear this place?"
"It is a marsh," said Ajax. "And Anya bears it because it allows us to contact with the satyr chieftains. There are so drier regions, and that's where everyone lived. This part of the marsh was flooded a long ti ago, though. Father needs this territory. In ti, he hopes to subjugate the satyrs and bring them into the fold."
"Not much to bring," muttered Fayn.
"Actually, I think their way of life is much easier to understand than humans," said Ajax. "They kill people they don't like, devour what they can, and destroy what they can't use.
"It's a bit wasteful but far closer to nature than those castles you make."
"And that's why they are in the marshes, and we humans are building a civilization," said Estela.
"Being close to nature ans your species hasn't grown up."
"Do not belittle nature, Princess Estela," said Aunt Pan. "It beca cruel because we mortals taught it cruelty. Once, it was harmony."
Ajax laughed hysterically, and Aunt Pan turned to glare at him. "Sothing funny, Ajax?"
"Your belief system," said Ajax. "Nature isn't a harmony where all things stand in perfect equilibrium. Nature is hell on earth. It is billions of species scratching and tearing to ensure their own survival. The strong thrive, and the weak are but food.
"We accept this fact and know that it is as it should be.
"You mortals are the ones' who gave plants and animals nas. You put out a neat little chart and said, 'This is how things are.' Or, alternatively, 'this is how things should be'. The universe is eternal chaos, and only the individual's will may define it."
"The will of the individual is why nature beca cruel," said Aunt Pan. "Mortals chose to separate their will from the path of good. In so doing, they set a chain of events that led to things falling away from the right road.
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"What you call the natural state of things in a fallen world. Devoid of the glory it once possessed."
"Spare ." scoffed Fayn. "There is no glory save through triumph. No victory except through the defeat of your enemies. Without the weak, how would one asure the strong? Hardship and struggle are how virtue is attained. Without it, we are nothing."
"Maybe there has to be a balance between good and evil," suggested Reginald. "If one grows too strong, the world suffers."
Everyone stared at him.
"What?" said Reginald.
"That's got to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard, Reginald," said Fayn.
"What's so wrong about it?" asked Reginald.
"First of all, evil is not a natural state of being that provides so essential service," said Aunt Pan. "If it did provide sothing humans needed, it would be good. Evil is corruption, taking sothing great and wonderful and twisting it. Usually into sothing that only harms."
"Then why are demons so successful?" asked Reginald.
"Diabolus, the Demon King, never accomplished anything alone," said Aunt Pan. "To do harm, he had to corrupt Lucius. From there, he created the Seven Demonic Archons. But the Demonic Archons are dangerous for their virtues, not their vices.
"Zigildrazia possessed the ability to forge new and beautiful things. She used it to create devices of tornt. Baltoth is a master strategist who can inspire others to do great deeds, and he made Calisha. Fortenex is courageous and cunning. Typhos holds excellent loyalty to her children. Lucius is a highly talented scher without whom much evil would have never happened. Coinfurth's talent for managing finances allowed him to create one of the richest nations.
"And Amysta... well..."
"Yes?" said Relma. "What about Amysta?"
"I can't actually think of any virtues Amysta had, but I'm sure she must have had so," said Aunt Pan. "And she was the first of them to fall, so in a way, it helps my point.
"Evil creatures that triumph do so because of the good aspects of their natures. They are rely turned to a vile purpose. It is a parasite, and destroying it would be better for everyone without downsides."
"I have studied so of the tales of Amysta," said Varsus, breaking his silence. "She was very creative in a great many horrible things."
"The point is that the Demonic Archons are dangerous because of their good aspects," said Aunt Pan, "Not the bad. A being wholly consud in sin would be a fat, lazy hedonist. One who spent all his ti looking in mirrors and making plans for revenge for apparent slights. Plans that would never go through because they would need to be more active and competent to achieve them.
"Diabolus only beca a threat when Lucius joined him."
"Quiet; I need to focus on this next part," said Ajax, striding ahead.
They had co to a part of the marsh where the water had a strange, purplish color. The plants here were misshapen with many vines. There were beautiful flowers on the water, of yellow color. But as they floated, a strange vapor seed to rise from them.
"What is this place, Ajax?" asked Relma, feeling uneasy.
"The Black Heart," said Ajax. "It's where most of my poisons co from. No one can navigate it except for . And perhaps my wolves. Anya never cos here."
"Why are wolves the only ones who can go through here, Ajax?" asked Estela.
"There are a lot of dangers here that you can't see with your eyes," said Ajax. "I can sll them, though." He sniffed a bit. "Follow ."
And so they began again. As they walked, the water got deeper and the heat worse. Ajax led them on a winding path, changing routes often. The flies disappeared, but Relma wasn't sure that was a good thing. Though it certainly felt like one.
"Why are we taking such a route?" asked Varsus, who had hardly spoken on the journey except to give orders.
"Within this place is where the entrance to the Road lies," said Ajax. "Lucius hid it well. Now co, follow in my footsteps. And don't turn away to either side. If you fall in, you may never get out."
So they ford up into a single file line and marched. Soon, the water was up to their waists, and the heat was unbearable. They went, drinking from their waterskins and wiping sweat from their brows. Then Ajax halted suddenly and raised a hand. "Stop."
"What is it?" asked Varsus.
"Back up," said Ajax.
"What do you-" began Varsus.
"Back up now!" said Ajax.
They backed up frantically, and several people almost fell in. They hadn't gotten far before the water where they'd been exploded upward in a geyser. Clouds of green rose into the air as Ajax looked on.
"What was that?" asked Relma.
"A gas released from certain parts of the bog," said Ajax. "It is very poisonous. Co, we'd best take another way."
After that narrow escape, everyone was a bit jumpy. But they had no more adventures, and soon, the ground beca firr. Eventually, they started to walk on little islands of grass. Though they would still end up plunging back in, Relma found this far preferable. It even beca less blistering.
"Once we get to the Road, we'll have to journey underground for a bit," said Ajax. "I should be able to bring us up within sight of Del Gabor.'
And then Relma saw sothing. It was a statue showing a man but with the head of a vulture. The wings of an eagle were above his hands, and a long spiked tail ca from him. Pillars were on either side and looking at them fascinated and terrified her.
"What is that?" asked Estela.
"Don't look at it," said Ajax quickly. "Keep your eyes focused on the ground in front of you.'
"But what is it?" asked Estela.
"A shrine," said Ajax as they walked. "A shrine to lchious. The satyrs have worshipped him for victory in war since the fall of the elven holands. This region used to be all plains. That was before the disaster in the Dusk Lands sent all the water south. Here and there, you can find remnants of the old cities.
"Don't make eye contact. So say that he can see through the eyes of the statues."
"It's familiar, sohow," realized Relma. "I feel like I've t him before.'
"If you had, you'd know, dear," said Aunt Pan.
"What do you an?" asked Relma, not feeling any different. She did know it.
"lchious is not pleasant company," said Aunt Pan.
Estela had seen lchious during the wars in Khasmir, hadn't she? "Estela, does that look anything like he did when you saw him?" asked Relma.
Estela shook her head, putting her hand on her sword. "It doesn't. But lchious takes many forms."
And then they ca to the cave. The mouth was low so they had to bend down to get in, but it seed to get taller further in as it sloped down. Ajax drew out so rope and passed it to Varsus. "Here we are.
"I want all of you to tie part of the rope around yourselves. We'll walk through together." "Is this necessary?" asked Estela, taking it.
"Yes. If we don't-" began Ajax.
Then arrows surged out of the air and landed among them. Relma saw dozens of satyrs scaling up the bank toward them. Everyone drew their swords as arrows bounced off their armor, and the satyrs neared.
"Blood for the Unborn God! Carnage for lchious! Victory for Lucius!" cried a satyr in their own language.
"Raise your shields!" called Varsus. "Defend!"
Their shields were locked as the satyrs ca up after them. Relma took her own place, raising her shield and holding her sword. She hoped she wouldn't have to kill anyone. Reginald was next to her, and Estela was on the other side.
The satyrs hit the shield wall, and Relma warded off a satyr strike from above. The force of the blow against her shield made her arm go numb. Another threw her off her feet, but Estela closed the gap as she fell. Reginald ran the satyr through, parried another thrust, and cut another down.
"For House De Chevlon!"
"For the Golden Serpent!"
"For House Vortegex!"
More satyrs pressed up against them as Relma rose up. She decided she'd stay behind the line and heal anyone hurt. The satyrs' assault was held at bay, and several had been killed already. But arrows were lancing from the trees above.
One of them caught a man in the chink between the armor, and he fell backward. Relma ran to his side, but Aunt Pan was there first. Another man was stricken across the head. He fell backward, and this one Relma got to before, channeling the power of Elranor into healing him. Bodies were piling up, and they weren't rising from the dead.
Then Ajax appeared among the archers in the trees. He snapped one of their necks, tore out two throats, and sent the fourth falling to his death. The others broke and fled, and the satyr advance seed to lose interest. At last, they broke and ran off.
No one had been killed, though Relma had had to heal several serious injuries.
"How could they be waiting for us here?" asked Fayn, whose axe was notched. "I thought you said no one else knew the way."
"No one else does know the way," said Ajax. "But we're not in the Black Heart anymore. Lucius could have had them go through one of the other entrances and co out here to wait."
"We should go on through regardless," said Varsus.
"Varsus, what are you saying?" asked Reginald. "We could be facing an entire army in there."
"Ti is running out," said Varsus. "I can feel it. If we fail in our mission, there could be a full-scale war. We have to get to Del Gabor soon."
"Varsus is right," said Pandora. "We are past the point of finding alternatives."
"Fine then," said Ajax. "Get the rope."
What did they need a rope for?
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