Revalynd dashed into the bridge. His eyes first went to the ship’s core and Sapphire standing by it, tracing her fingers across its surface, before locking onto his gore-covered son. Wyrlynd and Paco were taking turns chatting with Chrys. Wyrlynd glanced over just as Revalynd was clamping his hands around his thin shoulders. “Son,” he growled, the tiger coloring his voice, “You acted brashly, and strayed too far out of sight-”
“Father,” Wyrlynd interjected warily, “I think that I’m old enough to be able to ignore you when it’s important enough. This wasn’t like the bite. Helping them was the right thing to do. I know it. And I know Mom would agree.”
…Got me there, Revalynd sighed mentally. His eyes flickered to his son’s neck. The cord necklace seemed to be intact. He released Wyrlynd and stood to his full height. “I’ll need time to adequately think up a proper punishment for you.” He looked around. The tiger retreated inside of him, allowing the scientist to step to the forefront. “Meanwhile…”
Everything was sleek. Efficient. Clean. The exact opposite of his life here in the jungles of Asana. Even the laboratories back on Sovyrian hadn’t been this advanced. Whether or not his home nation had upgraded to this level of technology, he did not know. But if this level of resources was being utilized by a simple transport/reconnaissance vessel, than he shuddered to think what the upper tiers of the Forces armada were packing. Feeling a mixture of frustration and envy, Revalynd took in a deep breath. The time for fighting was over. Right now he had to think. Plan.
“Chrys,” he said. “Will you please translate for Paco’s sake.”
The dragon perked up. Yes. Whenever you are ready.
“Thank you-Wait.” Revalynd walked across the bridge and then hunkered down. A dark saber and matching pistol lay feet from each other on the floor. He picked them up, holding the saber a bit higher. He didn’t notice Sapphire flinch.
But Paco did. Tension filled the air. It was the variety that came from an animal caught in a trap. One on the cusp of attacking…
Wyrlynd coughed into his fist regaining his father’s attention. “What you got there, Dad?”
Kid’s picked up on it, too, Paco noted. Whatever “it” is.
“The Forces’ Prism weaponry,” Revalynd answered, rejoining them. “Their coloring is significant, actually.”
“Can I see?” Paco asked through Chrys. Revalynd handed the weapons over. The pistol felt lighter than Paco’s and didn’t seem to be packing any kind of bullets. Gears turning in his head, he asked the dragon, “Chrys, what flavor are these?”
Revalynd is correct. Each color is associated with a particular “flavor” of energy. Onyx equals force.
“You want to keep them?” Revalynd asked.
“The gun, sure.” Paco returned the saber. “But swords aren’t really my style.”
Do you want to register the weapon to your personal ID, Paco? Doing so can protect against theft.
“Sure. Go for it, I guess.”
The pistol’s grip lit up, making the tips of the gunslinger’s fingers tingle. In contrast, Revalynd’s registration was more than just a tingle. He winced as a needle popped from the saber’s grip and pierced his palm.
Blood registration complete for Revalynd Yggdrafield, Chrys notified helpfully.
“Some warning next time would be nice,” Revalynd replied dryly. “Sapphire?”
Sapphire abruptly walked past them. “Do not worry. Simply getting some air.”
“But what about making this place home?” Wyrlynd began.
“Chrys will continue the process in my stead.”
The trio watched her go before exchanging looks. “…I will remain here to keep an eye on things,” Revalynd said. “Wyrlynd, tell both Nomi and Zahir that I’m calling a council meeting. Paco, you and the others are invited to attend. We have many, many critical decisions to make.” He placed a hand upon the gunslinger’s shoulder. “Things have turned out better than I ever would have dared hope. And that hope terrifies me.”
“Okay, man, sounds good,” Paco replied, shrugging out of the elf’s grip. He turned to Wyrlynd. “Come on. kid.”
Outside the ship, Sapphire was nowhere to be seen. Paco had expected as much. But there was a sleeping Turtle. Paco flashed him a smile before looking towards the jungle. Of similar mind, Wyrlynd had shifted back into tiger form and was tiptoeing towards the trees. Paco followed close behind. They were just in time to catch a glimpse of pale blue hair before they lost sight of their “captain” entirely.
Wyrlynd turned to Paco, gestured to himself, and then after Sapphire. Paco nodded and the boy took off. “Since he’s busy, guess I’ll fill them in on the council meeting or whatever,” the gunslinger murmured. He returned to Turtle, reached into his coat, and placed his ever-reliably ugly partner in crime, Shivers, atop the lizard’s head.
“If anything happens, send Shivers my way, Turtle.”
Turtle simple snored.
#
Back in the hidden map room, Zahir all but collapsed into a chair by the table. He’d had a few of his hunters slide the door closed, leaving him, Lilian, and Belkross hidden away in the dimly-lit room. He looked upon the pair, searching. “I never thought I’d see the day that the Forces-even a small faction of it-was repelled,” he said. “Thank you.”
Belkross positioned a second chair at the table. With a murmur of thanks, Lilian took it, sitting across from the grizzled elf. “It was all of us on the line this time. They will return.”
“Oh, I know. They will seek retribution.”
“Your people aren’t ready for that.”
“…Of that I’m also aware.”
Lilian tented her hands together and rested her chin upon them. “But what if you could be?” she asked. “Properly prepared, I mean.”
Zahir’s brow furrowed. “You mean with the dolls’ weapons and those of the ship?”
Lilian allowed a smirk. “Those pathetic things?”
“Pathetic? Those same weapons have ruined entire cities! Kingdoms! Murdered thousands of innocents.”
The girl shrugged. “They didn’t seem all that powerful to me.” She gestured to Zahir. “What if they didn’t seem all that powerful to you?”
Zahir’s expression darkened. He leaned forward in his chair. “I don’t tend to get along with those who speak in riddles, girl.”
“Okay then. Let’s put it all out into the open. I know people who can give you power. Real power. And not just you. Any who wanted it.”
The elf sneered. “So this was all a ploy? You ‘save us’ and then you…what? Recruit us into the Force’s ranks?”
“Oh no! Kill them, or don’t. I don’t care. I’m just offering power.”
“From who exactly?”
Lilian pointed at Belkross. “People like him.”
“Mercenaries?” Zahir said skeptically.
“No.” Lilian didn’t know how well-versed the elves on Castrovel were on the workings of Hell, Heaven, and the Abyss, so she tried her best to dumb it down. “There are those who are the enemies of demons. The Forces, from what we understand, one of their leaders is likely a demon lord or something akin to it. And there are those who would give you power to fight something like that. If you want it badly enough.”
Zahir considered her words before pointing upwards. Lilian snorted. “Trust me. I tried that one. They never answer.”
He cracked a bitter smile at that despite himself. “Don’t I know it…So…if not angels, then who is supposed to help us against this demon lord?”
“Have you heard of Hell?”
“There are days where I firmly believe that I am in living in one, but yes, I’ve heard of Hell, little girl.”
“Well, I may know some people who work down there. They may be able to grant you some power.”
Zahir didn’t miss a beat. “At what cost?”
“You’re right, nothing’s free,” Lilian conceded. “Of course, they would grant you this power and you would owe the one who granted it a favor. I would make sure that the favor is reasonable.”
“But I am sure that you’re not doing this out of the goodness in your heart,” the old elf pressed. “What do you get?”
“Nothing from you. But I put you in contact with these people and perhaps one day they owe me a favor.”
“And how would you contact these people?” Zahir’s words remained skeptical, but there was an edge of hope to them. “And can you do it quickly? We have a day at most, if we’re lucky, before retribution falls upon us all.”
“Indeed,” Lilian replied. “If I can get them here, are you willing to hear the offer?”
“…If I say yes to meet them, the option to say no is still on the table?”
“Yes.”
“I am not damned by granting invitation?”
“Correct. I simply bring them here, they discuss the terms with you, and you either do business or walk away. Please understand that I want everyone to be happy with this. You have some assholes you want help dealing with. You get that power, assholes get dealt with, everybody wins.”
Bit of an oversimplification, Belkross mentally murmured to Lilian.
Hush you. To Zahir she said, “Or you stay here. Living under the boot of the Forces for eternity. That is, if they allow you to keep living.”
Zahir sat back, studying every detail of her face. “…Do you know what it is to be cucked, little girl? To sometimes live not fifty feet away from power. Power that could save your people.”
Lilian didn’t know where he was going with this, but she gave herself a moment to gather her thoughts before responding, “I know what it’s like to know that the power exists but that no one will give it to you.” Heat entered her voice as she went on. “I know what it’s like to watch someone you love murdered while you can do nothing. To scream and beg for the gods to save them. All it would have taken was one angel. But it never came.” She leaned in. “I was six. And the gods wouldn’t answer a child.”
If Zahir was in any way moved by her story, he didn’t show it. He remained all business as he said, “As you’ve likely noticed, there are no children here. None except Revalynd’s boy.” He raised a finger. “I will do this. I want power. Power to save my people. To help them save themselves. But there is hate burning inside me. Hate that burns brighter and hotter than that which I hold towards the Forces. Because the Forces are monsters, evil. They are as they are. But I cannot stand a man who allows monsters to thrive.”
Venom practically dripped from Zahir’s mouth as he snarled, “I want you to help me kill that coward wretch beast who dresses as a man. Help me kill Revalynd. His son can live on, but I want the tiger dead.”
Lilian considered it. “I can’t guarantee that my group won’t interfere. So you’ll have to arrange a time and place where they won’t be able to aid Revalynd. Yet Belkross and I have no qualms killing him.”
“Then present your saviors to me.”
She immediately snapped her fingers and Belkross disappeared into thin air. They passed a moment in tense silence before the air directly overhead shimmered and a creature appeared, floating downward, slowly, like a feather. It was clearly male, and slightly larger and rounder than Lilian had been expecting, especially around the belly. The devil’s skin was bright red and bat-like wings protruded from his back. He was naked except for a satchel slung across his chest (likely made of some damned soul’s skin) and a makeshift crown made of mismatched fangs upon his bald head. His glowing eyes fell upon Zahir as he landed upon the table, clawed feet digging carelessly into the map.
“Zahir, I assume,” said the imp in a wheezy, high-pitched drawl. “I hear that you’re…fucked? How can I be of assistance?”
“P-Power,” Zahir stuttered out. Belkross reappeared at Lilian’s side. She gestured for the elf to pay them no mind and carry on. “This girl says that you can save me and my people.”
“I can,” the devil replied pleasantly. “Will I? Up to you.” He scratched at his chin. “How many people are we talking about?”
“Little over fifty if we include myself, my son, and Nomi-No. Not Nomi. She’ll never go along with this. But my son…I am sure that I can convince him. For his own good. But the power that you’re offering, what does it entail?”
“Resistance against most poisons. Enhanced regeneration and your flesh will harden, making you resistant to blades and fire. Never again will you fear fire or those who wield it.”
Hunger filled Zahir’s eyes. “I will require proof of purchase. Give me this power so that I may know its legitimacy. Proof that it will fuel the success of my goals here on Castrovel.”
Lilian raised a finger. “Put a pin on that.” Belkross whispered something in her ear. She nodded and addressed the imp. “Imperion, Xaphan has told you my take from all of this, but I also want Zahir Ormingun’s favor so that I may make sure that it is a fair and reasonable one. You can take the rest, I just want the favor.”
Imperion tapped a finger to his chin. “Hmmmm…Well, alright, since you’re asking for comparatively less than the usual deal.”
Lilian turned to Zahir. “Sound good to you? I give you my word that your request will be honored.”
“As long as you keep your group out of my way so that what must be done is done I see no reason to refuse you.”
“I should be able to keep them distracted.”
They shook hands across the table while Imperion pulled out one of many yellowed rolls of parchment from his satchel. He gave Zahir time to review its contents. With a heavy sigh, Zahir bit into his thumb, drawing blood. He signed his name, rolled the contract back up, and handed it back to the imp. Imperion smiled and pulled out a fresh roll. “Alright, send in the next customer.”
“Who next?” Lilian asked Zahir.
“Let us get the difficult one out of the way,” he grunted. Maybe it was Lilian’s imagination, but the gray in his hair was already darkening, the lines around his eyes fading. He pointed to Belkross. “Have your man bring in my son.”
#
Lilian settled outside, resting one one of the makeshift cots positioned near the entrance to the secret room. The boy, Tyr, had been a hard sell apparently. She watched him leave, wiping tears furiously out of his eyes. Regardless of his feelings, he’d still signed. Once his infernal powers manifested fully, he was sure to change his tune. Absolute power corrupted absolutely. Lilian had yet to meet a single exception.
Zahir and Imperion were already going to work on the next elf, Tavo, when Lilian spotted Paco walking over. He wasn’t riding atop Turtle, which she found strange. Troubled, she hurried over to meet him halfway, just outside the building.
“Hello there, Paco,” she said. “Any more progress made with the ship?”
Much to her surprise, he stepped in and whispered, “Sapphire’s been corrupted.”
Lilian’s brow furrowed. “Corrupted? Why do you think so?”
He pulled out the prism pistol. “She reacted weird whenever I held this up. Like an animal ready to attack.”
“…That doesn’t sound like her.”
“And that dragon toy of hers is acting funny. Malfunctioning. We need to keep an eye on them.” He holstered the gun and then pointed over his shoulder. “She went into the jungle. The tiger kid’s trailing her now. I left his dad up on the ship, looking after the core.”
Why is it impossible to have a fully good day? Lilian sighed internally. Aloud she said, “Good. Keep an eye on her. But we need to get more evidence.”
“Remember what the core on the other ship did to Alton?” Paco pressed. “History repeating itself?”
“Perhaps. Unfortunately we still need her to pilot the ship to wherever we’re going next. But if there’s no other choice,” her eyes hardened, “we put her down.” She took a step back, folding her arms over her chest. “Let’s settle on a signal now. Something we’ll both know…Chrys can speak any language, so we need something that can be disguised as mundane conversation…” She snapped her fingers. “I’ll just ask you about Shivers.”
Paco tilted his head. “What about Shivers? He’s back by the ship, watching Turtle.”
Lilian laughed. “No! That’s the code if Sapphire gets out of hand. I can ask you how Shivers is doing. And that way you know to back me up. It’ll look completely normal to anybody who doesn’t know that I’ve never asked you about Shivers in my life. To the point where I forget he exists.”
“Alright,” Paco said with a shrug. “Oh yeah, I came over to give a message to that Zahir guy.”
“Oh?”
“Revalynd wants to call a meeting. Supposed to happen around dusk.”
Lilian nodded. “Have you told anybody else about it yet?”
“No. I can’t really talk to any of these people off the ship.”
Oh. Right.” She raised a finger. “Um, Paco, then that would have been an issue anyway since you and Zahir can’t understand each other,” she pointed out.
“Damn. Forgot about that.”
Lilian smirked. “How about I pass the message to Zahir for you?”
Paco gave a nod of thanks. “Cool. Bye then-”
“Wait! This Sapphire situation…We should keep one of our own posted by the ship at all times just in case she tries anything.”
“Turtle’s there.”
She gave him a skeptical look. “Yes, but likely napping. Not watching.”
“You’re probably right,” he conceded. “But if anything happens to Turtle, Shivers will come find me.” Troubled, he massaged the back of his neck. “Trying to find out what’s up with Turtle, actually. That Sir Andres guy did something to him, I think.”
Lilian nodded sympathetically. “I can take a look at him later. Once I’m done here. Oh, and one more thing. When you walked over, did you happen to see how far along Nakoda and Sir Rupold are with burying the monster?”
“Body was in the hole, last I checked. Big guy stole his buddy’s armor, too. I can respect that. Winner takes all, you know?”
“Indeed. You said that the boy was tracking Sapphire. You should look into that-”
“After a quick nap,” Paco interjected.
“No.”
“But-”
“I said no.”