Chapter 17: The Traitor of Order

It was a strange kind of standoff.

Utred and Mavora stood wreathed in spectral blue and transparent. Wisps of white fire sparked off them both as if their spirits were candles, quietly consuming an invisible wick.

Meanwhile, Riley and Tobias stood ready underneath the rose window with sword in hand and magic at paw, ready for war.

“If you trust not our oath, at least trust our actions, son. We mean you no harm,” Utred held up his hands but otherwise remained still as a statue, with a strange, sad smile across his face.

“Your companion killed my Granda and Zorna,” Tobias seethed through clenched teeth.

“And many more over the ages. They were not my first, but they were my last. There is no defense; I am guilty. I made my choices freely because the alternatives were worse,” Mavora’s voice dripped with millennia of regret.

“Spare me your utilitarian ethics bullshit. I’ve seen Star Trek II. The needs of the many do not outweigh the needs of the few. Life isn’t a game of majority. Each life is one life. They’re all irreplaceable. You can’t bring them back or make it right,” Riley intoned as Tobias briefly turned his head and looked at her with surprise.

“Correct, but would Dairus have laid down his life so that all life on Calaria might continue? Would it be worth it then?” Mavora challenged, her voice small and quiet.

“You never gave him that choice!” Tobias roared, bracing to strike.

“I did not, but if you refuse to listen, if you seek only to accuse, why let this go any further? Be done with us. I will not fight you. Oblivion is no less than I deserve,” Mavora’s head twitched and then drooped as she again hopped off Utred’s shoulder, laying out her wings, pressing her head to the stone.

‘Tobias, I know you’re angry. I feel your anger, but we’re missing something here. Don’t let your emotions get in the way of the truth. We should listen. If they wanted to fight, this would already be over. It seems clear they rescued us, the question is why, ’ Riley projected to him alone, parroting Cid.

Tobias quietly nodded while a snarl marred his face as he attempted to restrain the bubbling rage within.

Utred looked toward Tobias, then slowly lowered one hand, going down on one knee, attending to Mavora, “My dear one, you have never spoken with such weight and sadness.”

“There was a cost Utred. A cost you never had to bear. You have slept while I have committed sin after sin against the balance. My fall was only the beginning of my hell. I remember now every black act. Venosicipher, The God of revenge and regret indeed. All I have left is regret and the pain of knowing there was no better choice,” Mavora sighed, her voice exhausted.

Tobias looked to Riley as he stood up straight, breaking his defensive stance, “I have no quarrel with you, Utred, so give me your guarantee once more, and I will listen.”

“I swear on my eternal spirit, my magic, and the honor of the Greyblade Knights that we mean you no harm and will speak only truth. May oblivion rise and claim us both if I speak falsely,” Utred said, letting his right hand fall across his chest with a bow as a strange surge of magic flashed.

A prompt flared to life.

Utred and Mavora have both sworn on their eternal essence. Should the terms of their oath be broken, this magic compact will be released, erasing their sacred spark from existence and condemning them to true death.

“Holy shit,” Riley blinked in surprise at the words floating before her eyes.

“That magic felt like what we encountered at the door of Avalon...” Tobias’ eyes went wide.

“Because death curses are all related and among the most primordial of magics. Fear not for your oath; we have both taken the same and have looked upon the ghostlights of Castle Cinder,” Utred assured.

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Tobias only nodded while his eyes danced to the left and right, watching for prompts.

After a few moments, he let out a deep breath as his sword flashed away, “Very well, I will listen, but as I said, first you will answer my questions. That is our bargain, and I intend to stand on it.”

His lip twisted up with a restrained snarl once again as he looked at Mavora.

“Is this how it feels from your angle when I run into a demon? All I’m getting from you is rage. You’re burning up inside, but I strangely don’t feel anything,” Riley reasoned.

“All Celstials react to infernals with hostility. It is instinct, much like how you react to hawks. It is a primal element of our nature, and I felt much the same when I was on your side of the balance,” Mavora explained.

“Past tense... and I’m a mortal spirit, a confluence,” Riley corrected.

“Which is why the dark master had such interest in you. He saw a path to his revenge in you that I denied him. You would not be able to make the same choice I did to forestall him, but you still defeated him through surrender. The wonders of the Weavers never cease to amaze, even now. I feel their fingerprints on the strands being woven; this is not mere chance,” the hawk tentatively rose, drawing in her wings as Utred remained on one knee, his ghostly hand resting across her back.

“But you were mortal too right? ” Riley prompted.

"I was, so much of what I remember before my mortality is obscured, but I incarnated here, for the Weavers, I know that much. I had to choose to fall, but to deny the Dark Master his victory, my mortal body had to die first," Mavora's head dipped as Utred looked away, bearing an ancient pain.

"Oh Gods and stars above. The Dark master, is he?" Riley asked, looking on the hawk with pity for the first time.

“Venosic...” Mavora began, only for Tobias to clear his throat.

“You owe me answers, and to start, explain the rose window. Why are there fifteen Gods, and why is Galdor not at the center where he belongs?”

“That may be an answer you are not prepared to accept,” Utred deflected with a sigh.

“Nevertheless, you will answer, sir,” Tobias demanded.

Utred raised his hand toward the window as if in offering, “The fifteen Gods of Damar were once led by Feos, God of balance and magic. To his right, we see his brother, Vey, God of Justice, and to his left, Galdor, God of Power and Order. Damar thrived for millennia until Galdor, covetous and greedy, murdered Feos, conspiring with the traitor Oswiu condemning Calaria to the Ashen War. May his name forever be a curse, ” Utred, for all his spectral nature, spat upon the ground.

“What?” Tobias blanched pale, disbelieving his own ears.

“Galdor is the Traitor of Order, who condemned Calaria to the chaos of the Ashen War. He murdered Feos and assumed his place, working with Oswiu, General of the Greyblades of Damar, and my former commander,” Utred confirmed, mindful of the weight of his words.

“You lie!” Tobias shook and stumbled back as if slapped.

“What is he on about? You’re all jumbled up... I feel fear. Tobias, what’s he saying that’s got you so stirred up?” Riley’s voice rose from worry to panic like steam erupting from a geyser.

“Oswiu was the first king of Ashes, the hero and founder of our Kingdom, and Galdor’s chosen. He speaks in treason and blasphemy. It must be untrue,” Tobias shook his head, staring down at the stone.

“My oath prevents me from speaking anything but the truth at the cost of my very being, yet I am still here, so you know at least that I believe it utterly. The question is, can you?” Utred challenged.

“I don’t know,” Tobias’ voice shook as he stared down at the stone.

“An honest and fair answer. Take a moment. I know not what you’ve been taught, but I can see how much my words have affected you,” Utred offered.

Riley set a paw on Tobias’ knee.

He startled, his head tracking towards her slowly, almost like he couldn’t see it. “Oh, hello, Riley.”

“I’m worried about you. It’s all noise on your side. Talk to me,” Riley begged before pressing up against his legs.

“Tea, I think I need some tea,” Tobias said in non sequitur before his eyes rose to meet Utred’s.