Chapter 128: Interlude: Bellarex II

Chapter 128: Interlude: Bellarex II

Erdos is the only loose end. Cairn looked so haggard in the memory that Bellarex barely recognized him. He was slumped over in Ralakoss sitting room, staring at the fire.

Seems rather cold, even if you do see him as your enemy. Ralakos stirred his tea, his gaze never leaving the bedraggled prince.

Cairn put his face in his hand and laughed. The sound was harsh, cruel. You think I want this? Any of it? And you speak of him as if he is just my enemy. Hes your man, Elder. Sworn to your service. What would you do in my place, then?

Ralakos cocked his head, deep in thought. Speak to him. Over a long span of time, perhaps. Until the core conflict that caused him to stray became clear.

And even if you managed to take him without her knowing, what would you do with him? Cairn mocked. Place him in Guemons cells?

The thought had crossed my mind.

After the stink you raised during my hearing, how much political capital would that lose you?

A silence filled the room.

Ephira played all of us. You, the council. Me most of all. She is a master manipulator. And by making Erdos her deadmans switch, she put him in this position. This is on her. All of it.

Bell looked between the man who had taken her in, and the human who gave her new purpose, trying desperately to understand. This wasnt like them. They had never been anything other than good or kind.

Ralakos set his tea aside, looking at it distastefully. I understand the stakes. His gaze shifted to Cairn. I also am perhaps one of few people capable of empathizing with the level of pressure you are under. That is the only reason I am entertaining this at all.

This is the only way to ensure Ephiras schemes die with her. Otherwise, we are simply trading one end for another. One that will come from an enemy we dont know.

And you are certain? Ralakos asked. If Ephira succeeds, the enclave will be sundered.

Cairn sagged a bit, as if somehow, he had been asked this question far too many times. Yes. It doesnt matter who we ask for help. How well we prepare. If Ephira has her way everyone will die. He chuckled darkly. Maybe he wont fight, and you can have your conversation. But if it all goes poorly, my soul will already be damned. Let the guilt and responsibility lay solely on my head.

/////

Bellarex was lost, her mind warring in a horrible conflict. On one hand, Cairn had freed her from her debt. When her father died, she was no longer beholden to anyone. And though it was hard to count either Cairn or Ralakos among them now, she had made friends. Jorra and Maya had known nothing of the plot, and were the truest of companions. Her father had been scheming with Councilor Ephira against the Enclave, and if Ephiras plans came to fruition, many people would die.

But Bellarex was so close to earning her fathers respect. His love. And perhaps, one day, making up for what she had taken away from him.

And now that day would never come. Because of Cairn.

What is your truth? Infaris asked.

Bellarex wept in the crystal chamber. I thought he saw something in me. Maybe some of it was pity, at first. But he wouldnt have taken me into the sanctum with him if it was just pity. It had to be because I was useful. A good team member. I thought he was my friend. But it wasnt any of that. It was just guilt.

Glimmers of a beautiful truth. But you assume too much child. Infariss light shined down, her rays bright, yet comforting. Bonds between mortals are not static. They shift and reform, like a windstorm among the desert dunes. Just because something begins imperfectly, does not mean it cannot one day be perfect.

I dont understand, Bellarex said.

One day you will. Infaris promised her.

/////

After what felt like an eternity of inner struggle, Bellarex decided. She would simply treat what she had learned as if it had never happened. It was what she did with her mother sometimes, when that reality became too much to bear.

But it was not so easy. Cairn seemed to realize, immediately, that something had changed. He might have pressed her right then and there, if Maya did not struggle so painfully with her trial. He seemed so confident, so self-assured, despite all that he had done.

As much as she wanted to hide from it, to tell herself it was nothing, Infaris had crippled her innate ability to lie to herself. And every time she imagined herself returning to Ralakoss estate, living side by side with the men who had planned her fathers death, it made her ill. She wished dearly for the days before the trial. She wished dearly to be purged of the so-called truth that Infaris held in such high regard.

And that was why, after the battle and subsequent retreat from the sepulcher, when Bell felt a cold hand grasp the back of her robe before she could enter the portalBellarex did not fight. The idea of death did not frighten her anymore. If the weight of The Truth was not bearing down on her, perhaps she would have tried to enter the void-state, and escape from the mage.

Thoth swore as the portal closed, swiping a clawed hand across the empty space in the clearing where it used to be. She took a step back and pushed her white hair back. After a moment of charged silence, she muttered to no one in particular. Oh yes. Youre dead, Infaris. Whenever I have time and energy to burn, this iteration or the next, youre very, very dead.

Bell, who had been sitting still up to this point, stifled a laugh. Thoth spun to face her, blood still dribbling out of her wounded mouth, the healing not yet complete.

You think this is funny? Thoth hissed.

Bell shook her head vehemently, feeling very small as Thoths black aura washed over her. I dont like Infaris either.

Oh. Thoth said, her aura receding. Fun times in the trial, then?

Bell smiled bitterly. I hoped she might tell me why I was born like this. What the point of it all was.

Because youre a clotted red? The slur hit like a slap. But strangely, the derision sounded more like a mockery of the words themselves. Thoth rolled her eyes. Gods. Why does every Infernal have an inferiority complex?

A clotted red born of violet parents, with only the weakest element to speak of. The definition of inferior.

So let me make sure I understand. Youre saying the weakest of all infernals, the absolute bottom of the barrel, scum of the sub-surface trashwas able to not only stand against me, but an arch-fiend as well? Thoths voice was dangerous.

Youre the most powerful being Ive ever met, Bell said quickly, It was luck. And only a few minutes.

Thoth, to Bellarexs surprise, smiled. If you knew how many have died at my hand, in much shorter times, you would not speak of a few minutes so lightly. And void? Well, lets just say the idea of it being the weakest element is nothing more than petty superstition. One of the strongest mages in Uskar has only one element. Void. And he built an empire off that power.

Why Bell stopped, her mouth dry. Why are you being kind to me?

Thoth shook her head. Some people deserve to suffer before they die. They live easy lives, existing in a cloud of ambivalence, considering themselves above it all. Their greedy souls remain whole, unblemished. It is them I shatter. Others those who live below the cloud? Thoth glanced at Bell. Need no further torment.

Bellarex hadnt been able to hear much beyond the first sentence. Youre going to kill me, then? Bellarex asked.

Bell wanted to explain. But the angry part of her wanted to see what he would do. Would he try to strike first, as he had at the Prime Leyline?

No, Bell whispered.

She got her hooks into you. Offered you something seductive. Something you couldnt say no to. Then she sent you here to kill me.

And if youre right? Bells whole body tensed as Cairn began to move. His hands went to the strap of his satchel first, sliding it off his body and onto the ground. Then his scabbard landed next to it, along with his broken dagger.

Then my path has ended. It was going to anyway. I wasnt ever going to get out of this, Bell. Dont get me wrong, I had no intention of going quietly. I was going to fight to my last breath. But if you decide to take my life, I wont stop you. I will not kill a friend for avenging what I took from her.

Were we ever really friends? Bell whispered.

Cairns brow furrowed. Listen to me. No matter what youve learned, what I told you at the cavern holds true. I went into this owing you a great debt. But I wasnt expecting to like you so much. Youre funny, and clever, and a brilliant fighter. I was proud to call you friend. Cairn looked down. Even if I have lost the right to do so.

The dark anger within Bell drained away. Tension left her body. What do you mean, you were never going to get out of this?

Cairn leaned against the cave wall, seeming to sense the change in mood. My days are numbered. I fucked up, at the leyline. When Ozra broke ranks and attacked her anyway, I knew Thoth would never forgive the sleight. But ultimately, I only made things worse. Its too far gone now. This place Cairn looked around, the tranquility of the Sanctum at odds with his words. Will be the end of me.

Bell was shocked. I thought youd have a plan. Some scheme to beat her. Something.

No. If theres a way, I havent found it yet, Cairn admitted. Honestly, Ive been trying to wrap my head around a way to get Maya and Jorra out of this alive. There are a couple of places we could hide themVeldanis, perhaps, or somewhere on the lower strata. But I have a feeling that Thoth would keep looking. Even after Im dead. A normal enemy doesnt bother with hostages after the target is dispatched, but Thoth is anything but normal.

A vision of the Bird Bell had lost so many years ago flashed before her eyes.

Theyre taken care of. Maya and Jorra.

Cairn leaned forward slowly. Tell me everything.

/////

Bellarex focused on her breathing. In and out. In some ways, it was not so different from her days in the arena. Rain poured down in torrents, and she did not bother to shield herself. The ceaseless water pressed down her hair and obscured her vision. Enough that she could barely see the boy, bleeding and broken before her.

It was hard to remember that Cairn was a child. He didnt carry himself like one. Nor did he share any of the childish impulsiveness common among children his age. Perhaps it was an aspect of his race, but Bell doubted that.

He gasped for air, his breathing a wet rasp.

If you care for him, its your responsibility to end his suffering.

She heard him as if he was sitting standing beside her. This is the only way.

Cairn hadnt asked her to reject Thoths offer. Hed encouraged her to take it. To observe the womans methods for herself and make her own decisions. And if she found them too despicable to stomach, she was to serve as a spy, reporting Thoths movements to Ralakos.

It didnt take her long to decide. No matter what Cairn had done to her father, it had been out of necessity. This wasnt necessity. This was hate given form.

Bellarex raised her sword. The crowd roared in anger.

A voice screamed out. He trusted you! You fucking coward. You were our friend. He trusted you! Bell turned and saw Maya, being dragged away by her mother. Ill find you, Bellarex. You will pay for this. Youll pay in blood!

And Bells debt grew. She bowed her head. Cairn insisted the others remain in the dark. That if anything was off from their reactions, anything suspect, Thoth would know. He said he would find a way to clear her name after the fact, with letters given to Maya and Jorra. But Bell knew the truth. They could never forgive her for this.

But that was alright. Bell had always been alone.

Cairn coughed up blood, wheezing, moaning as his organs shut down.

If you care for him, its your responsibility to end his suffering.

Bell raised her sword and brought it down hard. The cut was as kind as she could make it. The artery in his throat severed, vertebra in his neck pulverized.

The sword slipped from Bells hand.

Cairn shivered once.

Then died.

The crowd roared.

I did it Cairn. I did what you asked.

A rock hit Bell in the temple. She swooned on her feet from the blow, barely feeling the pain. Another struck her in the hip, the thigh.

An errant glow covered the clearing as a shield erected before her, covering her from further assault. Thoth embraced her. The hands that felt so gentle before felt like iron.

Well done, child. Thoth whispered, before she positioned herself before the crowd.

Silence.

The cries of anger ceased.

And with this death, you now see the truth of your savior, Thoth droned on, beyond Bells sight. There is no one left with the demon-flame. No one who will restore your precious dimensional gate. No one but me. Thoth paced before them. You are angry now. But that anger will soon shift to something else. Desperation, ambivalence. One day, I will return. And you, along with your parents, and the rest of the infernal throng will join me. Just as this one has. A hand clasped Bells shoulder. And on that daydespite the many transgressions that have come to passI will make you whole again. For now, the barrier is gone. And you may all go home.

A bitter murmuring ran through the crowd as they dispersed. Thoth made a slow, casual retreat. Bell paused, trying to make sense over the expression on Cairns face. Maybe it was just wishful thinking, or a trick of the light. But he was almost smiling.

Come child. Thoth called to her. Your new life awaits.

Bell followed the arch-mage into the darkness beyond.