Book Two Chapter Seventy Two: LT_PW_Speech

Book Two Chapter Seventy Two: LT_PW_Speech

The party walked together to the bottom of the stairs leading up to the dais the Akela was lounging on. The others seemed hesitant, which Qube understood. It was mildly uncomfortable to be stared at by a bunch of mummies, but she worked hard not to let her unease show.

So, is anything about this striking you as odd? the Chosen One asked her casually. For once he wasnt leading the way, instead keeping step beside her and watching her face.

Qube coughed lightly.

Well, I dont really know what the SandBright people are like, she said, so I really couldnt say. Its certainly some very interesting infrastructure.

Dont you want to talk to one of the people? the Chosen One pushed.

After we talk to the Akela, Qube said. She wasnt sure why the Chosen One was so insistent about wanting her opinion on the place oh, unless he was trying to see if leadership had changed her? Or he was feeling awkward about being surrounded by mummies and didnt know how to mention it in front of them?

She laid a calming hand on his bicep as they reached the bottom stair.

Dont worry, she whispered, if something goes wrong, I know we can deal with it.

The Chosen One looked thoroughly confused by her support.

Wait, so you do realise something is wrong? he asked at a normal volume.

Welcome to our finest work, the Akela said, sweeping their arm dramatically to encapsulate the whole settlement.

Sewer Bard was staring at the Akela.

I thought the pharaoh said the Akela was a woman? he said very, very quietly to the others. This individual sounds exactly like the pharaoh. Could he possibly have deceived us, and managed to teleport here?

Qube bit her bottom lip as she tried to think.

Hold on, she whispered to the others. I have an idea. If its the pharaoh, I think I can trick him into revealing himself. She stepped forward, and swept a bow based purely on witnessing Sewer Bards efforts. It was a little awkward and jerky, but she thought shed managed to conduct herself quite credibly.

Oh great pharaoh, she said grandly. We have a gift for you!

Then she waited.

Not by so much as a twitch did the figure indicate theyd heard Qube.

It is a great gift, capable of helping you take over the entire world! Qube said louder. All I ask is your permission to give it to you!

What are you talking about? Definitely Bad Guy asked her in a low voice. Did you spot something in the tomb with abilities that I missed?

Qube ignored him, instead watching the being in question like a Fire Hawk. But there was nothing. No movement. No acknowledgement of any kind. Qube relaxed, and tugged on Sewer Bards sleeve, drawing his ear towards her mouth.

Sewer Bard, she whispered quietly. Ask them if theyd like to hear about our adventures.

The Bard gave her a sharp look, his brow furrowed as he tried to figure out what the Healer was up to.

Undisputed leader of this realm, he said, giving a bow much more elaborate than Qubes.

Show off, Qube thought.

We have had many adventures, and travelled far to see you. May we regale you with tales of our efforts?

The gold-dipped figure waved away his offer.

While we are grateful to you for assisting us in our plight, we have no need to hear the minutiae of your toils.

What?

Yes, its a great pity, Qube said cautiously. This wasnt like the Chosen One at all! Why isnt she giving us the gem and flail?

Had Qube not done what the Temple wanted? Or was the Akela just being difficult? Was she even allowed to refuse to give them their reward? After all, this was to save everyone! Was it because they hadnt gotten the Bestowals?

The Chosen One scratched his nose.

Ah, well, um, he stuttered, frantically looking around. Well, why dont you check and see if shes hiding it from us?

Qube was about to reject this idea out of hand when she paused. While the pharaoh had obviously been in the wrong to murder his people, the Akela was also in the wrong to refuse to give them her gem and item. With her newly flexible understanding of Good vs. Evil, Qube would see that, while the Akela was obviously on the side of Good for stopping the pharaoh from slaughtering people, she wasnt being Good by refusing to help them. Because that was hurting everyone.

Therefore, the Good thing to do would be to steal from her.

Qube snuck up the stairs and peered around the sandstone throne. Close up, the Akela looked even more like the pharaoh. The resemblance was really quite uncanny. The idea stirred in Qube that, while the pharaoh had done wrong in all the killing, he might have originally been driven to become pharaoh by the Akelas refusal to do the right thing.

Could someone have Good intentions, but end up doing Evil?

A scary thought.

Carefully searching the area, Qube couldnt find any sign of the gem or the Akelas version of the flail. They must be held within her inner pockets! Would Qube have to shove her head into her body, like shed once accidentally done with Sexy Screamy Spider Lady, and wrench the items out of her? What would that do to the Akela? Would that kill her?

Would Qube have then done something Evil for the sake of Good?

No. She couldnt do it. Not even to get their rightful reward. She couldnt deliberately violate and endanger someone just to get what she wanted. Qube swallowed hard against the bitter disappointment that rose within her.

Stepping away from the Akela, Qube noticed that the leaders hand, which had been languidly waving back and forth, seemed to stutter for a second, before resuming its rhythmic movement.

How odd.

Returning to the Chosen One empty-handed, Qube gave him a worried look.

I didnt find anything, she said, deciding not to mention her theory about accessing the Akelas inner pockets.

Thats fine, the Chosen One said easily. We dont actually need both. It would have been cool, but this was also pretty fun to watch.

Oh. Of course. The Golden Prophecy had never explicitly said that they needed to acquire two of each gem and item. It had just been the way theyd done every other Temple. And, Qube supposed, if they really got stuck trying to defeat the Evil Emperor, maybe they would be able to come back, and talk the Akela into giving them her gem and item?

It wasnt the perfect ending to the Light Temple, and the rest of the partys first foray into trying to do things their own way, but itd still been an amazing experience.

Now they only had Definitely Bad Guys personal quest, and the final Temple, then they could take on the Evil Emperor and save the kingdom! With their powerful team cohesion, top-notch puzzle solving skills, and ability to face down any problem as a Golden Prophecy approved group, theyd be able to restore the king and queen to the throne and ascend to the realm of the Devs in no time!

After all, how hard could it be?

END OF BOOK TWO

Authors Note:

Book two is done! Aaaa! There is an epilogue coming next week it is DONE!

Originally this was planned as a two book series. That uh, well, that didnt happen (obviously). This is gonna be a trilogy. I got distracted by side quests.

And, as always, this wouldnt have been possible without Steven, best of bros and long-suffering housemate, who would go on hour-long walks with me while I ranted about the world of PAC, and offer suggestions that only served to enhance my work.

ANYWAY SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!