“Let us proceed to forge a lasting peace between these two sacred orders of knights, united in their shared mission to safeguard this world,” Relias proclaimed loudly, motioning for me to walk beside him as we headed toward the pavilion.

“Ugh, I hate when he talks like that,” Vernie muttered from behind, loud enough for the entire party to hear. “It takes him three times as long as it should to say what he needs to!” Don’t start anything now, for the love of…

I glanced at Relias, trying to gauge his reaction. To my surprise, a slight smirk tugged at his lips. Without turning his head back, he mumbled, “You’ve been timing me? Shows that you’re paying attention to my words…”

“How could I not?” I could feel her bristle. “Your declarations get louder and more tangled every time I see you...!”

“I missed you too, Vernie,” Relias replied softly, casting me a sidelong wink.

“You don’t… normally speak so eloquently?” I asked in confusion.

“I only orate when outsiders may be listening,” he whispered, barely moving his lips. “I find my words bear a greater weight with them that way. But I genuinely appreciate your flattering insight into my idiosyncrasies.”

“Oh,” I felt my face turn red. “Um, you’re welcome.”

“Corwin has agreed to allow me to act as a neutral third party,” Relias continued in a louder, more serious tone. “I don’t consider anyone on either side an adversary at our table. Our discussions should proceed smoothly today, but we must be prepared for challenges in the future.”

“Challenges?” Nora inquired. “What sort of challenges are we talking about?”

“Any accord we reach will need to be ratified by the Council,” Relias clarified. He hesitated momentarily before admitting nervously, “Ironically, I might be the biggest obstacle to our success.”

My eyebrows shot up. “You? How so?”

“I’m not… exactly supposed to be here,” he admitted. “I didn’t receive official permission to leave Chairo.”

“The Holy Sage of Euphridia… needs permission to leave the house?!” I almost screeched. “Wasn’t your penitence or whatever voluntary?”

He flinched some at my harsh words. “I did not follow protocol, though I found the situation urgent…”

“Who’s most likely to impede us? Pravum?!” I felt my right hand close into a fist.

“The very same,” he nodded. “I believe Procul may also be at odds with anything suggesting an alliance, seeing as we did not invite him to join us.”

“We’re a little busy to be passing out RSVPs to a corrupt councilman,” Nora retorted.

“Corrupt?” Relias straightened. “Procul is many things, but to suggest such a terrible offense without evidence is quite extreme…”

Nora let out a smug snicker. “Does testimony from the Chosen One herself count as evidence?”

I interjected, “You were the one who got the most information about the bribes from Dolus. You should be the one to talk about it.”

“Bribes? Councilman Procul… accepted a bribe? From another man of the cloth?” Relias stopped walking abruptly.

“Well, don’t worry, he’s not a man of the cloth anymore,” Nora cackled. “Rae saw to that right away.”

Even though Nora was dropping the drama, Relias focused on me. “We really do have a lot to talk about…” His look was somewhat intense, causing a more significant wave of guilt than ever before. I scanned my mental list of transgressions, but I couldn’t pinpoint which one might have caused this reaction from him specifically. “Oh!” He smiled then, and the look was gone. “I certainly look forward to our discussions, Captain Lightbringer.”

It took me a moment to realize we had come close enough to the pavilion that others could now hear us openly.

“Captain Lightbringer,” Captain Corwin hailed me. “If you and your advisors would be so kind as to join us at the table, we’ll get started.”

We started with shared sadness, an awkward pause, and customary pleasantries that led to vague peace pledges. The devil’s really in the details, though, especially when you have to outline what peace looks like. You know, terms of mutual acceptance, getting out of each other’s way, promising not to backstab someone as soon as they turn around…

“The Order of the Silver will harbor no animosity towards the Order of the Blue,” Captain Corwin stated at one point. “The Order of the Silver will withdraw entirely from the boundaries of Turri within the next three weeks to escort Captain Lightbringer and her retinue to Chairo—”

“I would like to send some of my men as well,” the newly appointed Captain Armand interjected. “As a show of support and goodwill.”

Chairo. I had considered trying to get out of ever setting foot there since somehow Relias had come to us, but I had promised my friends I would address the Council personally, and I intended to keep it. I sighed slowly, upset I couldn’t just work on getting to Paradise. There’s always another step to these complicated main quests.

“A small squad should be sufficient,” Corwin conceded.

“At least two dozen knights,” Armand declared.

Corwin countered, “No more than six.”

“One dozen of my choosing,” I ultimately added. Why did I want more of my past captors coming with me? Well… I would need enough witnesses to pull off the half-baked idea brewing in the back of my head.

Armand, Corwin, and I looked expectantly at Relias, who nodded, fighting off a frown of confusion. “I believe all find this fair and just,” he agreed slowly, taking notes on a large parchment.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Oh,” I exhaled loudly, trying to catch their attention. “When we get there, I think we should all have a nice little chat with the Council about this military financial crisis that will destabilize Turri as a whole.” I’m not clairvoyant, but not paying your employees only ensures the wrath of all involved.

Relias dropped his quill pen, splattering ink on the parchment and table. “What… what did you just say?”

“I might not have said it right,” I admitted, trying to word it more like he would. “I request the presence of all named representatives to accompany me in negotiations with the Holy Council upon our arrival. It is imperative that they reevaluate the funding of the Order of the Blue to ensure the proper protection of those they serve, including not only citizens of Turri but all those who call the Northern Wastelands home.”

“A-a truly noble endeavor…” Relias spluttered, trying to clean up the ink as best he could. “However, today’s deliberations are focused on maintaining good relations between the Orders… I’m afraid that such a budgetary discussion would only increase tensions…”

Nora turned to face Captain Corwin, fixing him with her most intense gaze. “Can you honestly say that the Order of the Blue is adequately outfitted to protect the Northern Wastelands and Turri from an invasion by the demons?” When there’s doubt, drop the d-word!

“There’s no demons left in the Northern Wastelands,” he responded automatically.

“We fought off two not even a month ago,” I countered. “Trying to recruit hybrids specifically.”

Aleph stood up. “I attest to this. They appeared before us, offering to free us from our ‘human masters’ in exchange for joining the Demon General’s army.”

Tetora slammed a fist on the table. “Does anyone here want to tell us we’re wrong!?” he shouted preemptively.

“I would not dare to call any of you a liar,” Corwin responded slowly, a flicker of doubt tracing his features. “But two demons, even if recruiters, hardly constitute an invasion…”

Aleph’s voice deepened. “That Sergeant’s going to hold a grudge for what we did to her, and it will be the innocents here who will pay the price.”

“A Sergeant?” Corwin turned to me. “Do you know which one?”

“Um…” I paused. “They said their names…” What were they again? Started with Bs…

“Pen and parchment,” Nora demanded of Relias. “You can give me the scrapped one.”

“Yes, Lady Nora,” Relias hastily handed her the requested implements. Lady… No matter how I wrapped my head around that term of respect, I just didn’t see it as something to call Nora unless I wanted to insult her.

Nora penned ‘Sergeant Bodil and Private Beigaldi’ in flowing black ink.

Corwin grew pale upon reading their names. “The Order of the Silver immediately agrees to lend a force of no less than one full battalion to Captain Armand to bolster ranks for the imminent attack from the Demon General’s forces.”

“A battalion?” I turned to Armand and Balor, hoping they’d answer my unspoken question.

“Seven hundred and fifty soldiers in total, including no less than one hundred holy knights,” Armand explained. Why so many for those two?!

“I’ll send more as soon as possible,” Corwin promised, his clenched knuckles turning white. “I just need time to prepare. I also agree to testify on your behalf before the Council.” I wasn’t expecting the level of dedication Corwin displayed.

Nora looked up at Relias as she relinquished the quill pen. “You recognize the names too?”

Relias dabbed the sweat off his brow with a cotton cloth. “Yes. Don’t be deceived by their rank; the General holds them both in high regard.”

“I don’t think recruiting was their priority,” Armand added. “Those two are, at best, his informants and, at worst, his heralds. We can’t discount the possibility he’s now targeting the Northern Wastelands and Turri.”

“I... should have believed him about the damn demons!” Captain Corwin sat in his seat, putting his head in his hands. “He was so angry about the pay; I thought he was just making it up!” You mean… he was telling you all this time there were demons afoot, and you ignored him?!

Lieutenant Balor, looking worse for wear, once again burst into tears. “Someone finally believes us, Captain! We finally achieved our mission…” He continued to cry, his head bowed and resting on Captain Garvith’s helmet.

“Perhaps we should take a break?” Aleph suggested, appearing slightly confused.

“No,” Balor disagreed between sobs. “I don’t want to hold up deliberations, but if you would excuse me, Captains,” he pleaded as he stood. We barely uttered our agreement before he ran off, leaving a trail of sooty dark vapor behind him.

I glanced at the others, but no one else seemed to notice anything amiss. I couldn’t quite get Relias’s attention as he was busy recording Corwin’s concessions. “On second thought, I need a break as well.” Jumping up, I bowed to everyone and started after him.

He didn’t manage to get far. Peering behind a few nearby bushes, I caught him just as he had finished propping up his sword in a few twisted roots.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I screamed, startling him.

“J-joining the Captain. My Purpose has been fulfilled!”

I drew my sword. “You still owe me for shooting my horse.”

He flinched, then stood straight. “Make it quick.”

Could it be this easy? “Close your eyes. I don’t want you staring at me!”

He obeyed, twitching as the air about him clouded from the dark miasma leaking from his body.

I dropped my sword and delivered an angry right cross into his unguarded gut. I confess I took great pleasure in landing that punch. The negative energy that clung to him disappeared as I successfully knocked the wind out of him with a healthy dose of amity. But don’t get me wrong, it was no act of altruism alone. I get you’re upset and that you lost someone important to you, but that doesn’t mean you’re not accountable for the actions you take!

With a certain sense of satisfaction, I watched him moan and groan. “Have you come to your senses?”

“You… were supposed to block the bolt,” he gasped, curling up on the ground.

“Excuse me?”

“It was just to distract you. It wasn’t meant to connect with your horse. We’re all terrified of your powers, at least the ones you used to have…”

“Used to?”

He gradually sat up, sporting a snarky smile that seemed eerily out of place. “You didn’t even make me cough up blood. When we used to spar as kids… you couldn’t prevent it.” He laughed hysterically then, tears spilling. “You’d apologize afterward and hide for hours. I hated you all the more for that, stealing my sympathy after beating me to a pulp!”

Spar as kids…? Balor… the belligerent! A little snot of a kid that always followed Garvith around like a lost puppy… My sparring partner I always pitied…

“We used threats and Volker to keep you in check,” he explained with an awkward shrug. “But we didn’t think it would harm you. We didn’t know how weak you’d become!”

But… Aleph and Tetora said I was doing well! Were they just lying to me? Suppressing my declarations of denial, I picked up my sword from the ground. “Don’t underestimate me.”

“You don’t remember us, right? But we remember you,” he sighed and shook his head. “You’re not even a sliver of your former self. Make sure Relias does everything he can to heal you. The world will look for you soon, and not everyone’s your friend.” Ha, like I needed to be told that!

“Am I supposed to take all this garbage as thanks for saving your life?”

“I’m not going to thank you. Sure, I owe you my life, but I am little more than irritated about that now.” Guess discharging one’s over-accumulated animus doesn’t fix one’s personality problems…

“Everything alright?” Captain Armand called from behind us.

Turning, I saw that, thankfully, he had come alone. “He tried to kill himself. I was able to stop him this time, but I wouldn’t discount him from trying it again,” I explained, taking a moment to temper my temper. “To be fair, I believe he was under the influence of animus, but he’s also been through a lot lately.” Haven’t we all…

Captain Armand stared at him, but Balor’s eyes never connected. “I’ll escort him to Mother Sorine,” he eventually replied somberly, offering him a hand up. “I’ll meet you back at the pavilion shortly for the signing.”

“We’ll wait for you,” I said with a nod and headed back slowly, permanently striking Balor from my mental list of escorts to Chairo. Would I even find a dozen soldiers I trusted to travel with us?