As we grew closer to the exit of the tunnel, I could feel a weight lift from my chest. Jorra had clearly matured, and it showed. His gait was confident and self-assured, and he had outgrown that petty twist in his personality that led him to brooding and holding grudges.
Wed regained so of our previous camaraderie in a matter of hours.
One for the lift. Jorra called ahead.
Groups of four or more unless its an ergency, precept. You know the rules. The answering infernal was wearing xescalt armor, his helt placed aside as he leafed through an aging docunt.
I caught Jorras arm before he could bring attention to the obvious. Just one?
Jorra paused, confused, before understanding filtered into his expression. He smiled. Its been years. You expected to just co back after years, and Id follow you like nothing had changed?
I expected nothing. I tilted my head from side to side. Probably more accurate to say that I hoped. Theres no one Id rather have by my side when the cards are down.
Jorra nodded thoughtfully. And I will be. But that wont be for so ti. He gave a curious glance. Where are you headed next?
With the way things were, I intended to fix the dinsion gate and then depart for Molheim. Or Naikolhdur. However
King Gil on the warpath screws with that plan. Jorra mused. Itd be hard to leverage the dwarves for aid if youre publicly on the run. How are you going to deal with your father?
Still piecing it together. I studied him discreetly as he mulled over the problem. Theres nothing I can offer you? We both know Im not above bribery.
Now that you ntion it, Ive always wanted a horse. The crabs we use for transport down here are unsettling.
Done. Runic short-hair, superior bloodline. I imdiately offered.
Jorra laughed. If that ant anything to , Im sure Id be impressed
You would. I interjected.
but no, Cairn. I have to stay. As a precept, I have responsibilities. There are more than a dozen children in my care,and I cant follow youacross the continent. Besides, there are too many resources here that Id lose access to if I left. I wouldnt be able to train and prepare the sa way I could here. I cannot forgive myself ifI find myself lacking ever again. A shadow darkened his face.
The guilt he was feeling was a mirror of my own. I tried to comfort him. Nothing that happened was your fault. We all fought like hell. At the end of the day, Thoth is a grandmaster, and we were just learning the rules .
Jorras lip curled. That doesnt change reality. That weI stood by, helpless, as she tore you to pieces. And I will never let that happen again.
There was a ferocity in his voice that resonated. His determination reminded of a similar drive Id felt after witnessing the desolation of Whitefall. A burning fire that had never dimd.
I clasped his arm. Then I look forward to seeing the man you beco. Whether its months from now, or at the end of all things.
He gripped mine in return, so darkness leaving his expression. Keep in the loop. Ill keep scouring the libraries and the sanctum,and look for anything that might help tip the scales.
I turned away from him, wiping my eyes with my sleeve.
Lord below. The guard attending the lift stared at , gobsmacked. It was an expression Id probably be seeing a lot of, once I entered the enclave.
Do we need to go back and grab three more? I jerked my thumb at the tunnel.
We could talk three of the children into returning to say a second tearful goodbye to their parents, if youre really going to be that much of a stickler. Jorra added dryly.
I uhI didntRight this way. Happy to make an exception for the Bearer of the Sacred fla. The guard extended a hand towards the platform. I inwardly groaned at the moniker. Of all the things they could have called , it had to be that.
Jorra snorted, accompanying to the platform, stopping at the edge. Your legend precedes you.
Dont start.
The guard rang a dark brass bell covered with inscriptions. There was a series of grinding clicks, and the platform began to rise.
As the platform ascended, I waved down at Jorra. Goodbye for now, my friend.
Be well, brother. Jorra tilted his head. As the lift rose ever higher, his features beca harder and harder to make out. Once I could barely make him out in the darkness, he was gone.
***
The enclave was a different place from what I rembered. While the massive, convex cavernous ceiling and faux sun were the sa, much of the surrounding city had changed. It still reminded of the cliffside ocean cities of the far east, but there was a militarization that overtook the once trade and magic focused city, with two new-looking blacksmith shops in sight from the mont the lift ground to a halt.
Around , a small crowd of children were gathered at the lift. Like the group Jorra had escorted, they were all incredibly young. I spotted a few toys and stuffed animals clutched in their hands, as they bade panicked goodbyes to their families.
After my reception in the sanctum, I was expecting to make more of a stir. It was more anxiety than ego. A fear that the infernals would simply stop their preparations and turn to for answers, answers I had yet to ascertain.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the fear was naive. A few gawked, while fewer still followed behind with bewildered expressions. Most only spared a montary glance before they returned to their preparations.
So markedly less friendly than others.
It was simple, really. The enclave was preparing for war.
I passed a long line of infernals queued before a wagon. A military officer stood atop the wagon, passing out the contents. Weapons and armor. Arming the masses wasnt uncommon in tis of conflict, but what surprised was the gear itself.
From the chest-plates to the variety of swords and spears, every weapon was a dark, honeyed gold.
Xescalt.
It was the sa tal that augnted Mayas staff. Aside from its strength and toughness, the tal conducted magic extrely well, which was perfect for a magic-centered race like the infernals. Despite the upsides, it was exceptionally rare, and ridiculously expensive as a result. At least, it used to be. Sothing must have happened in my absence, if they were arming the populace with gear of this quality.
Fifty soldiers in Guemons armor jogged passed by . They were too disciplined to break formation, though I felt their eyes.
I watched with a frown as they hurried through the winding streets, heading towards the portal that served as the enclaves main entrance. Several equally large groups followed behind them.
Theyve already begun deploying troops.
Deploying a defending force too early was an amateurs mistake. A commander wanted his defensive regints sharp and ready, not bored and ntally fatigued. And the infernals were anything but inexperienced. Which ant either Nethtaris tiline was off, or my father had picked up the pace.
If it was the latter, I wasnt sure what to think. It wasnt like King Gil to be reckless. He was ruthlessly efficient, wringing the maximum effectiveness out of even the simplest strategies.
Had it been anyone else, I would have read it as an emotional miscalculation. A grieving king, pushing his troops at a foolhardy pace to avenge his fallen son. But this was my father we were talking about. He didnt give a damn about his children. Only what they could offer him, in life or in death. And my death had given him leverage.
Why the hurry?
I shoved the question away from the mont. Regardless of reasoning, judging from the troop movents and air of barely restrained panic around the Enclave, we had a matter of hours rather than days.
If father succeeded, and his assault on the enclave prevented the repair of the dinsion gate, everything drop of blood and sweat Id poured into mastering the fla would be for naught. An outco that could not be allowed to co to pass.
My heart raced in my chest as I broke into a jog, leaving the trade district behind as I navigated the crowded road towards Ralakoss estate.
***
The towering violet infernal wrapped up in a bone-crushing embrace and swung around in a circle. The fla-bringer returns!
The worry lines that creased his forehead had multiplied ten-fold in the interim. I grunted. Surprised you didnt retire to the Sanctum while I was gone, old man.
How did you do it? Ralakos asked, ignoring the jibe. Another deal with a demonic legion? Did Infaris herself shine her light upon you, touched by your sacrifice? You must tell everything.
An embarrassed warmth trickled into my cheeks. Id picked up a few more followers every on the way to the council district, who now collectively ford the curious crowd arranged on the street and were watching Ralakos swing around like a lost bride. When we have ti, Ill fill you in on the details. Mind putting down?
Ralakos released imdiately, and I managed to land on my feet, his brows furrowed in regret. Of course. Now isnt the ti for pleasantries, much as I wish it was otherwise. Then, he smiled mischievously, Though there is soone Id like you to et. His servants pushed the large double-doors open, and I followed him through the sprawling expanse of the estate.
There was plenty I wanted to ask. What happened while Id been gone, what hed heard from Bellarex. But we needed to stay focused on the matter at hand. How long until the humans get here?
He raised an eyebrow. You an your people?
Yes.
Theyll arrive by nightfall.
So, it was true then. Father was rushing this. Voices echoed through the estate as we approached Ralakoss drawing room.
We should attack before they exit the Everwood. Guemons voice rang out.
Another voice, coy and feminine. Persephone. Quick to violence as always, surprising absolutely no one.
Its the most strategically sound option.
For simple minds, perhaps.
Oh, please, tell us. The floor is yours. What would the common criminal propose? Guemon scoffed.
Anything but common, though I accept that stooping to personal attacks is the only manner in which your unexacting ego can negotiate. My operatives within Whitefall can be signaled in a matter of hours. The queen is unreachable, but the potential heirs are a simpler matter.
There was a mont of silence before the room exploded.
You have spies inside the castle walls? Guemon sounded like he was choking.
Take a wild guess where the early warning ca from. Persephone shot back.
Another voice spoke. If I hadnt just left her behind in the sanctum, I could have sworn it was Nethtari. Calm and collected, with just a touch of monotone. We are not taking the late princes sisters as hostages. Or anything worse, for that matter.
Shocking. The bleeding-heart emissary couldnt leave her sentintality at the door. Persephone mocked.
You dare to command your betters? Guemon snarled.
The voice snapped back. As my betters, you should both be intimately familiar with potential consequences of what you are proposing. King Gils son died in our care. Whether that care was negligent or otherwise is besides the point. He wants recompense, but he likely desires the truth beyond all else. That is our leverage. I imagine you would pay almost any sum to know the truth of why the adversary chose to kill Bacchus
Do not speak his na. Persephone hissed.
From the woman launching accusations of sentintality. Perhaps it would be best to tend your own garden first. Returning to the point, human royalty died in our care. That is bad enough, but as I said, we have leverage. That leverage disappears the mont we act against his heirs. Even if he backs down for the mont, there will be no quarter. He will not stop until we are eradicated.
Surrounded by wling won. I could almost hear Guemon rolling his eyes. Fine, emissary. What is it that you propose?
The emissary paused. I intend to take a small advance caravan to open negotiations with King Gil.
Persephone snorted. More death warrant than plan. Theres a reason the diplomatic core advised against sending soone to intercept.
Uncharacteristically, Guemon dropped the bluster. King Gil has a history of killing ssengers. To the point its a near certainty.
Yes.
Yet, this is the course youre advising?
I have several pieces of information that are invaluable to him. A detailed account of the princes final days, a first-hand chronicle of the adversary, as well as a proposition he cannot overlook. All of which may be enough to stay his hand.
And naturally, you refuse to tell us what that gilded arrow is? Persephone sighed.
When the emissary didnt answer, Guemon picked up the slack. It may not co to that. If he kills you before youre able to impart your ssage. Hes done it before.
Then you and your regints can still ambush the humans before they erge from the Everwood. They outnumber us. If negotiations fail, that may be our best hope. There was no doubt or fear in the womans voice, even as she took the possibility that my father might kill her in stride. Based on what she was saying, it had to be Maya. But she sounded so different, I could barely connect the voice with my mory of her.
The thought of dying doesnt scare you, emissary? Guemon sounded genuinely curious.
If we dont unify and keep the corruption at bay, Im already dead, councillor. We all are. Maya said, matter-of-factly.
The weight of realization bore down on .
Towards the end of our ti in the Sanctum, Maya had pulled back. The discovery of the leyline corruption leading us towards the inevitability of Ragnarok, coupled with her revelation of the monster she beca in the original tiline, would have been too much for anyone. Learning the darkness she was capable of had scared her so badly shed planned to stay in the sanctum permanently.
Only after I died, her plans had changed.
Maya had taken my mission on her shoulders. And shed been preparing for it all this ti. What does a person even say about that? Thanks and appreciation werent enough. All the apologies in the world werent enough. Suddenly, I wasnt remotely ready to see her. I needed ti to sort through it.
But as was so often the case, ti wasnt on my side.
Ralakos threw the doors open. Look who I found, darkening our doorstep.
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