Chapter 136: Pyrrhic VI
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 some of our previous camaraderie in a matter of hours.
One for the lift. Jorra called ahead. Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)
Groups of four or more unless its an emergency, precept. You know the rules. The answering infernal was wearing xescalt armor, his helmet placed aside as he leafed through an aging document.
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 come 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 some time. He gave me a curious glance. Where are you headed next?
With the way things were, I intended to fix the dimension 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 mention it, Ive always wanted a horse. The crabs we use for transport down here are unsettling.
Done. Runic short-hair, superior bloodline. I immediately offered.
Jorra laughed. If that meant anything to me, 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 same 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 me of a similar drive Id felt after witnessing the desolation of Whitefall. A burning fire that had never dimmed.
I clasped his arm. Then I look forward to seeing the man you become. Whether its months from now, or at the end of all things.
He gripped mine in return, some darkness leaving his expression. Keep me 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 me, 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 flame. The guard extended a hand towards the platform. I inwardly groaned at the moniker. Of all the things they could have called me, it had to be that.
Jorra snorted, accompanying me 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 became harder and harder to make out. Once I could barely make him out in the darkness, he was gone.
***
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 moment 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 came 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 sentimentality 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 name. Persephone hissed.
From the woman launching accusations of sentimentality. 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 moment we act against his heirs. Even if he backs down for the moment, there will be no quarter. He will not stop until we are eradicated.
Surrounded by mewling women. 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 someone to intercept.
Uncharacteristically, Guemon dropped the bluster. King Gil has a history of killing messengers. 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 come to that. If he kills you before youre able to impart your message. Hes done it before.
Then you and your regiments can still ambush the humans before they emerge 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 memory 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 me.
Towards the end of our time 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 became in the original timeline, 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 time. 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 time to sort through it.
But as was so often the case, time wasnt on my side.
Ralakos threw the doors open. Look who I found, darkening our doorstep.
