“Your silence speaks volumes,” Cassus replied as he tried to control his anger. “Ten years may have passed, but we will not forget what you did.”

“Nor should you.” Lucias held his head up high maintaining his composure. “We need not set such an occurrence completely aside. I wouldn’t ask that of you. I would ask, however, for you to hear me out so that we may all flourish in the near future by resolving our most major problems plaguing us this exact minute.”

Kiran felt relieved to see the fury die down a little. It had exploded all of a sudden but quickly dissipated. That was mainly due to Lucias’s levelheaded temperament he imagined. He could’ve easily risen to anger like Cassus and cause this whole situation to escalate to a dangerous degree. Instead, it appeared things would get back on track.

“Fine then. Just get to the point this time around. No more fancy rhetoric.”

“We have uncovered a solution to removing this perpetual darkness. That same solution likely would restore our capabilities to wield magic as well.”

“If you have the solution, then why haven’t you done anything about it yet?”

“It’s not like we’ve been standing idly by. The situation is made difficult due to, rather, particular circumstances.”

“Speak plainly.”

Cassus was the kind of man who wanted everything given to him in a direct manner. There was something to be said about such a thing. The clever use of language can obscure or obfuscate. Perhaps that was why he wanted Lucias to just get to the point and not dress anything up.

Or perhaps it was just because he didn’t like Lucias. That was a more likely explanation.

“I’ll come right out and say it then,” Lucias said. “Lady Meredith is the cause of these interferences with our reality.”

Cassus began to smile. He tossed up his hands in the air appearing ready to leave. “I knew you came here to toy with us. That’s it. We’re leaving.” He began to walk away with each footstep echoing out.

“Wait,” Bridella said. “I want to hear more of what he has to say.”

“What could you ever mean Bridella? All of his words are lies. We cannot trust him. I will not tolerate her good name being besmirched by this venomous snake.”

At least the other three appeared willing to hear him out. The other two including Jonathan and Fredereck remained behind Bridella while Cassus grimaced. He walked out along with a few soldiers leaving just the three of them there. The other two appeared to contemplate what actions they should take for themselves. They ultimately chose to stay.

Bridella looked back over towards Lucias. She held up her hand to her chin pressing her delicate fingers to her skin. “I am quite curious as to this accusation you’ve cast out to our beloved Lady.”

“You’re not planning on leaving like him, are you?”

“No,” she stated firmly.

“It is as I’ve said. In fact, that is why she is quite angry with us. We discovered her dark secrets and she is understandably upset about that.”

Jonathan approached keeping his hand hovering above the pommel of his sword that he kept sheathed. “What dark secrets would that be? And how did you come to learn of them?”

Lucias turned around eyeing Yorais.

“We uncovered a cave of hers near her property,” Yorais said. “There is a place in there filled with arcane roots and an altar with her daughter soundly asleep on it. When we were discovered there by Lady Meredith, we managed to get her to reveal that she is the source of these problems. The darkness. Loss of magic. You name it. It’s all her.”

“I find this hard to believe,” Jonathan said.

“Believe it,” Yorais said walking up to them. “Or don’t believe it. It matters not. It is the reality of things regardless of your thoughts on the matter. But I think it’s important that you at least consider the possibility because if we’re right, then by merely siding with her, you’ll be dooming yourselves and all future generations who are born in this domain.”

“She has been manipulating us all,” Lucias said. “It’s also undeniable that you are all entirely reliant on her. Yet she is the cause of all of our problems. Power is not her primary motivation in this, but it is no doubt a part of it.”

“Why would she do this then if not for power?” Fredereck asked.

“Let me fully explain,” Yorais said.

With her knowledge of the arcane, she explained to them the mechanics of what was going on, particularly with how arcane roots—especially large quantities of them—are known to interfere with reality itself.

“It was never her intention initially for this to happen, but by trying to heal her daughter with that altar, these interferences began to occur. Why it is happening with her, and wasn’t happening with any of her ancestors, I cannot begin to know. But that is what is happening right now. If we do nothing, this problem will not go away.”

Yorais had explained it quite thoroughly to them. Whether they would believe it or not, well, that was a little hard to say. He knew the reality of it, but it wasn’t like they had seen it all for themselves or heard Lady Meredith admit to it.

Bridella lowered her hand from her chin. “If everything you’ve said is a lie, then that would be quite the story you’ve just told us. Yet I have some familiarity with this daughter of hers you speak about.” She began to ponder on everything. She looked over to Jonathan and Fredereck. “I think there very well may be some validity to what they’re saying. I remember her telling me a little about her daughter before this darkness appeared. She had started to get incredibly ill. But she said she had a solution for it if she didn’t start getting better soon.”

“Did she explain how she would accomplish such a thing?” Yorais asked.

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“No, I never asked. I figured she would send her to a healer to have it resolved. She’s been quite tight-lipped about her daughter since then. She’ll make the occasional off-hand remark about her, yet I haven’t seen her in any capacity. If she were dead, I would imagine she would’ve said so by now, but that’s not the case.” Bridella’s own personal experience with Lady Meredith was proving useful. “I suppose this altar you’ve mentioned does explain away some of the rumors the Duvaugn family has long been known for. They’ve always been presumed to live longer lives or exude the appearance of youth for an unusual period of time. What a truly useful little thing for them to have had and keep to themselves. But it sounds like it doesn’t work anymore if what you’re telling me is true. What a real pity.”

“Now you understand why we’re here and why we must work together,” Lucias said.

Bridella didn’t quite nod her head. “Maybe. This is all at the very least plausible. If it’s entirely fictional, you’ve done quite a great job of it. Sadly for your sake, I am not yet convinced. What say the two of you?”

Jonathan squinted towards them a little. “It matters little. We owe our allegiances to her. Without her, all of our people would have starved to death. That also includes your people and Fredereck’s. We cannot turn our backs on her.”

“Even if what they say is true? Tell me truthfully. If you knew without a shadow of a doubt that they were telling the truth, you think we should owe our allegiances to her even then?”

He struggled to come up with an answer. Turning your back on someone you’ve been loyally allied with wasn’t an easy decision to make. It was a necessary one under certain circumstances, however. Those who commit themselves to egregious actions like this don’t deserve to have any followers. All they deserved was some form of punishment that fit with the scale of the crime. The scale of hers is immensely high.

“You’ve been awfully silent Fredereck. What about you? Would you not reconsider things if you knew for certain that she was the cause of these problems?”

“I would,” he said.

“As would I.” She redirected her gaze towards them. “Since these problems are quite severe, I will investigate this matter further. I will directly confront her about this and see what she has to say for herself with several other lords or ladies in attendance.”

“I appreciate it,” Lucias said.

“We will reconvene in a short while. For now, let us part ways.”

“Before we go,” Rinas said. “I’d ask about our people.”

“Oh yes. I imagine you would be concerned about them. Don’t worry. No harm has been committed to them. They’ve behaved themselves quite well since we’ve surrounded them. I promise they won’t be harmed unless you were to stupidly attack us or something like that.”

“We’re not here to do that,” Lucias said.

One corner of her mouth went up. “I never would’ve thought I’d say this, but I strangely believe you. Cassus never would, but I do. Farewell for now.”

They began to leave with their soldiers as well.

A heavy sigh escaped Lucias’s mouth as everyone appeared somewhat relieved. “I can’t imagine this turning out any better than this. Let us just hope that she finds whatever excuses Lady Meredith comes up with unconvincing.”

* * *

Their own forces gathered around a strategic position outside. They could see Lady Meredith’s own forces across the horizon to the west. A warm flickering glow made their positions quite obvious. Theirs was as well.

Despite their sides’ current state of peace, they still played things as carefully as possible. They had multiple familiars that could fly keeping an eye from up there with plenty of scouts on the ground as well.

They could hope and pray for some of the Lords or Ladies to turn against her and side with them instead. The odds weren’t terrible, but they weren’t guaranteed to get any support. As a result, they remained ready to take action if required.

It was the last thing they wanted to experience though. Their own people were being held as hostages effectively. They might not have actual knives, spears, swords, or bows pointed directly at their backs, but they could within a split second.

They were brought here to give them salvation. If they were allowed to just die after surviving the horrific destruction in Liall, he wasn’t sure how he would handle it.

As the days passed by, they all waited for a messenger to come from the west. They weren’t sure how long it would take for Bridella to give them a response or any other Lord or Lady over there.

That day did eventually come. A man on a horse rode quickly across the hills. They carried a torch as they came towards them. “There they come,” Silvy said beside him.

They made it to their side becoming enveloped in light. Lucias came outside of his tent and observed the man hop off his horse.

Halmond approached him and took a sealed letter from their hand. “It comes from my lady Bridella.”

He opened the letter, unrolled it, and began reading it. He nodded his head and appeared pleased. “She has sided with us.” With looks of relief on everyone’s faces, it quickly faded as Halmond’s grew more dire. “According to this, all of the others are remaining allied to Lady Meredith. She asks for us to meet with her at the earliest convenience.”

Rather than meet at the ruins again, they ended up meeting with her with her own forces. Compared to when they first viewed the many tents all strewn around, there were noticeably fewer around. If he were to estimate, there was maybe a third of the total amount left behind and it was entirely her forces. Everyone else had left to fall back.

Bridella approached their entourage appearing quite displeased. “I’ve learned the truth of it,” she said to Lucias. “But the truth it seems cannot get through the rest of their skulls. They’d rather stick to allegiances than anything else.” She scowled a little appearing quite frustrated.

“What did she reveal to you?” Lucias asked.

“It’s more like, what she wouldn’t reveal to me. Nevertheless, I’ve reached the conclusion that your side is right, otherwise, neither I nor you would be here together right now. The rest of them, however, cannot be relied upon. They will fight against us with every fiber of their being. Even Fredereck that rotten liar. He said he would reconsider if he knew the truth of it and yet he fled with the rest of them.”

Abigail began poking Frederek who shook his head at her knowing full well, that she was talking about a different person than him.

“I imagine you all be happy knowing your people won’t be held as hostages any longer. I do hope that some will be willing to fight that will commence within the coming days.”

Rinas crossed his arms. “I imagine some would be willing. Some of them aren’t exactly fond of us, but I don’t believe they’re quite as much of a problem anymore from what I’ve learned.” He was referencing the Green Cloaks who had tried to betray them the moment they crossed over into the fourth domain. When the monsters began pouring through, that betrayal immediately failed as everyone was forced to reunite and fight against them.

That embarrassing and awful maneuver pretty much put them in complete disfavor by the survivors. Even their leading commander disappeared and left out of disgrace.

As a result of all of this, they didn’t have to worry about them trying such a maneuver again, especially since most of them had died during that conflict. At least if some were willing to help fight for their cause, they could try to rectify their pasts a little.

“Bridella,” Lucias said.

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

She appeared pleased to hear him say that. “I want this darkness gone as much as any of you do. I fully intend to see this through to the end. You shall have my sword and my people.”