Betrayal had been at work since 'Vye' had attacked the Servant Branch. In fact, the mere deception of 'Vye' had greatly displeased the Law of Fae. Kane had taken the face and the Name of another, to lay in wait in ambush.
But after the betrayal, the Law of Fae was alight and abuzz with ire and fury.
No matter the lens or the narrative, the Law of Fae disliked it.
One narrative, Servant and Squire Branch of the Sky Court, had joined his companions in their quest. Therefore, the attack of 'Vye' was inner court betrayal, and therefore against the oldest covenants.
In the second scenario, Hall Attendant Branch of the O'Tells was assisting the coming Enforcer squadron. The attack from Commander Knight Kane against a loyal and faithful servant of the house was not only shameful, it was completely against the code of honor of the King's Enforcers.
In the third scenario, jaded former lover stalks and plans acts of revenge for their own betterment against one who has been cast upon troubled times. The Law of Fae despised that scenario the most.
But the Game was in play. And according to the Game, this was one team working against a rival team. Vying for control, struggling to establish dominance.
The Law of Fae swirled and shimmered, violet and cold black waves of color unseen to most in the waking world. Only the most exhausted and desperate could perceive it, and often only in part.
The Game allowed Kane to attack Elswith, but the Law of Fae protested at every interval.
Bad faith. Actions spurn from anger, collapsing trust. Broken promises, unfulfilled debts.
But the Game was in play. The Game cared only that the players of the teams move forward, onto the next match, the next round, the next session.
THIS IS THE WAY. BETRAYAL. INTRIGUE. THE VYING FOR POWER.
And brokenness. So much brokenness.
"You chose the human over me." Kane said, unaware of the great powers musings. The Fae child's amber eyes were glowing in anger. She had chosen to talk now that she had the dominant position. Her words were barbed and cutting.
ANGRY. MISUNDERSTANDING. The Game Thundered. LET HER CONTINUE.
Why does misery please you? The Law of Fae opined. Very well. These are the players at work. But. No take backs.
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Daniel was struggling against Kane.
He never had very much hope of beating her. She had the power of a Middling against a newly established Harbor name that was less than a day old. She was fresh, and he had been dragged through so much. He didn't even want to remember the Dungeon.
How much his life had changed. He had almost loved her. They had grown up together. They had almost fallen...into deep respect. He couldn't love anyone until he was free of his Lordly Father. He had too much responsibility. This morning Kane's betrayal seemed too...otherworldly, unreal. He had believed that his friend had some endgame in mind for everyone's betterment.
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Now, watching Esra and Marrin struggle below and him barely keeping up with Kane, he was just felt tired. He was so tired. He was so hungry. If he stopped moving he feared he would fall asleep on his feet. He hurt everywhere.
All the romanticism of Kane's actions were completely washed away. "I have never betrayed you or your interest. I tried to help you."
"You would only have helped me if I stayed in the middle of the pity circle. You never supported me away from it. And you waited until after I left to achieve great things! Like you were saying I was holding you back!"
"GRAVITY WAVE!" Esra called from the ground below, running around the abject chaos of the ruined servant room. And for the second time, nothing happened. If Esra was moving around to avoid getting directly struck, it meant that he was low in power.
Daniel himself was panting, hurting, shaking. If he had anything to eat, he may have thrown it up. Fighting in a body with no power, no Authority, no Favor...was difficult. The recovery was longer, and never complete.
"He is getting tired. Did I finally beat you? Reveal your real power, Elswith." Kane said, grinning darkly, leaning on her sword. "Show me what you have next. Show me something that would have given you the confidence to betray me and act against the Senate."
"I don't care anymore Kane." Daniel said. "I didn't do it on purpose. The mandate of the Senate was wrong."
"The Law of Fae did not protest it!" Kane cried in justification. Her eyes alight with anger, she clutched the pummel of her sword and began attacking the weary Daniel.
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I protested it. The Law of Fae said. But she has closed herself away from my wishes. Only what I forbid. Even that...she pushes against me.
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Daniel hurt.
He couldn't stop Kane, he was just losing ground.
He had overcome so much.
He could not allow his kindness to be the thing that killed him.
He had to live. He had to win. He had to, to show that...right was right.
If he was not strong enough to prove it, what authority would anyone have to demand goodness?
Or was he a fool? Should he have not resisted? Should he have lost himself in the Red Sword, and been consumed by its desire for battle and war, and always the searching for red blood?
What reward was there for Daniel pursuing goodness? Did his good actions matter? Or was he just a fool?
A fool who had traded everything to find his true name.
A fool who had bet his freedom on winning the Game.
A fool who thought he could champion the human Witness.
A fool who may die a meaningless death as entertainment for uncaring High Fae Lords.
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I am pleased with you.
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Daniel almost missed blocking Kane's next strike. He must be crazy, because the Law of Fae communicated directly to him.
Not the far away banter he had heard on and off between the Law of Fae and the Game. Most sensitive creatures could do that slightly. It was well documented in the great libraries.
But he felt as though the Law of Fae was standing behind him. Around him. Before him. Speaking directly to him through words, images, scents. Daniel felt overwhelmed and awed and nearly stumbled through a window.
Warmth from a sunny day on cool grass. The scents of pine needles and woal tea. The sensation of a warm embrace of Mathias, his steward, when he was young.
There are more powers than you know. whispered something to him in his broken state. Higher powers. And Daniel felt and saw the cold and vast array of the stars, the endless flowers from the sea of roses, and the sparkling diamonds of the deep earth.
And they are well pleased.
"What do I need to do?" Daniel asked, stumbling over the old trim of the window.
Kane paused in her attack. "What?"
He wasn't talking to her though.
The warmth and the presence of the Law of Fae was withdrawing.
"WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?" Daniel raised his voice. "Just tell me what I need to do! Did I waste my life stupidly?"
"You did!" Said Kane, and came in for a brutal, swift exchange...
Which Daniel met.
And overpowered.
The clocktower was ringing.
It was ten o'clock.
The Servant Branch had survived and overcome the first trial.
And a rush of power flowed into him.
Kane stumbled backward, as a cold wind of power entered from the destroyed windows.
Continue what you are doing. Came the very soft and thin voice of the Law of Fae. Instead of the full and vivid sensations, almost sights and almost smell, it was just a lingering light touch, as though he was standing in sunlight. Continue striving for justice. Even in a world so blind. You are not alone. And even the things that hurt you, that you don't understand...
Even they will be stepping stones to greater and kinder works.
And then the Law of Fae was gone.