Chapter 146: Whitefall III

Chapter 146: Whitefall III

I studied the canopy of dark green leaves for some time before I found what I was looking for. An old tree, full of gnarled branches and bark that felt brittle to the touch. More importantly, it stood taller than any that surrounded it.

Lord Erebus trailed behind me, doubt clouding his features. The Everwood spans a great distance, your grace. It seems incredibly unlikely that the panther has stayed close by. Even if it ventured a minimal distance, the canopy is thick.

I ignored the warning. One must venture to gain, Lord Erebus. And Im not in the practice of breaking my promises. The least I can do is try.

Lord Erebus fell silent.

I released three sparks onto the tall trees trunk. They caught fire immediately, but I clamped down with my magic and kept them small, rotating the sparks in opposite circles, blackening the trunk just above the roots, so it wouldnt spread down onto the grass and require constant management. Then, I allowed the flames to creep up the full length of the tree and spread, creating a tower of flame that cast the camp in an eerie light.

Lord Erebus looked behind us with a bland expression. We have an audience, your grace.

Most of the camp had been pointedly ignoring me. Now a few people had wandered over. There were a handful of mages that were staring at the fire curiously, but mostly, I saw fear in their expressions.

I raised my voice. This flame keeps the beasts of the forest at bay. It will not spread, nor will it harm you.

No one moved.

Shrugging, I turned my back to them and sat cross-legged next to the burning tree. Lord Erebus sat beside me. Despite his elaborate attire, he didnt call for his servants to place down blankets or cushions for him. Every so often, an adjacent leaf or branch from another tree would catch fire, and I had to call on my mana to snuff it out.

In the interim, Vogrin returned to his place in the amulet.

Anything from Thaddeus? I asked.

The man is absurdly careful. Vogrin sounded exhausted. When he returned to the tent, he began to write one of several letters. Long letters. All of them were encrypted, and he had a magical paperweight that checked for augury and scanned for extra-planar presences.

Were you detected?

Ive been doing this for centuries before you were born. Of course I wasnt detected. Vogrin snapped. I also memorized the letters. While I recognize the framework of the encryption, it will require some time to generate the keyword necessary to decrypt the missives.

Part of me chafed at the idea of having to wait, but Vogrin had done an excellent job.

Hopefully, well have an idea of what he intends before he passes them off.

The encampment is not so large that he would be able to send a messenger unnoticed. He will likely bide his time until we return to the city proper. Now, as Im completely drained, Im going to rest.

Well done, Vogrin.

A few people had joined us by the firelight while I was talking to Vogrin. They still frequently looked over at the tree nervously from time to time, but seemed to have accepted my previous explanation.

Lord Erebus was staring through his spyglass into the dark, though I had to imagine between the darkness of the forest and the violet blaze of the tree, he probably couldnt see much.

I voiced a random thought. What should I name him?

The spyglass tumbled out of Erebus hands. He stared at me, aghast. Five years, and you havent given it any thought?

I shifted uncomfortably. Ive been a little busy. And in my defense, I didnt realize how significant it was. But if its one of the last, it seems as if the name should mean something.

Well, Erebus leaned back on his arms. There are a few that crop up in legend. Pearltooth notoriously never found a human hunter he considered worthy, though countless tried. Bazal, who felled many invaders, when the orc ships landed on our shores. And of course, our figurehead, the king of the panthers.

King?

A majestic creature. One capable of bringing others of his kind to heel with nothing more than a glare and snarlwhy are you looking at me like that?

My boyish grin grew wider. Tell me the name.

Erebus expression grew tired. Do you have any idea how many animals in my house share the same damn monikerI was a fool to mention it.

Come now I fell silent. Not at any particular sound, but the utter lack of it. The Everwood, normally rife with hooting owls and the shuffling of small things darting through bushes was completely silent.

Behind the veil of violet flame, a paw stepped out of the darkness. And another. Two golden eyes stared out at me as the panther stepped out into the clearing.

It was larger than I remembered. Smaller than a horse, but only just. There were a series of scars across its forehead that must have come from something vaguely reptilian. Its head came up to my chest.

Gods. Lord Erebus whispered.

I walked towards it, my feet rustling through the dew speckled grass. It took a step backward, sniffing the air tentatively.

Thats right. I had changed a lot since my first passage through the Everwood..

You followed my instructions. I said, careful not to make any sudden movements.

The panther growled, then looked away.

I stifled a chuckle. Sorry it took so long. I dont think either of us knew what we were signing up for.

It gave me a long-suffering look and huffed.

Still, you kept your side of the bargain. Time to keep mine. I glanced back at Erebus. The panther King. What was his name?

Kerai. Lord Erebus answered, this time without argument. He was still staring wide-eyed at the new arrival.

Kerai. I rolled the word around as I spoke it, getting a feel for it and observing the panthers posture for a reaction. Does this name please you?

Kerai roared.

I quenched the fire.

Failing to cap my growing ire, I rounded on Maya. I know exactly what she wanted. Hard to miss, given the hundreds of noble women who have thrown themselves at me with the same doe-eyed expression.

Mayas expression hardened. So you were fully aware, and ignoring my efforts was an informed decision.

Putting aside the revenant in the room because clearly, neither of us are ready to talk about it, you literally just threw the first noble lady who would talk to you in my general direction. I said incredulously. This was not how I imagined my first one-on-one conversation with Maya going. Not even close.

Maya leaned in, furious. You think I sat in her carriage accidentally? That she chose to share a fire with me by happenstance? No matter how deeply you look down your nose at their occupation, House Vasemoux was towards the top of a very short list. Theyre a cornerstone in the Uskarrian economy. Theyre progressive compared to the rest of the nobles, most of whom are still reeling at the idea of empty slave collars. And their only viable suitress is a kind soul.

Marrying a human would be pointless. I hissed, looking around to make sure no one was in earshot. It took five years to lock down an alliance with your people. Marrying, or even entertaining an engagement, spends political capital I may need later to solidify an alliance if theres no other course.

Mayas eyes narrowed. You dont have to marry Lady Melody. Just be friendly, string her along, exploit her connections and house, then discard her when she no longer of use. Or after you find a way to weaponize her grief.

The words cut deeper than any sword. I took a half-step back. Is thatis that what you think of me?

A painful silence followed. Maya looked away first, and I followed her lead. Yet another raccoon was waddling into the camp. This one awkwardly clambered up onto the wagon that housed the armory and wandered in, searching for food.

Why do I get the sense this political marriage will end up being with an elf? Maya gave me a sidelong glance.

I snorted. Because youve grown profoundly cynical in my absence.

Maya made a nondescript grunt.

I crossed my arms and sighed. In truth, I care little. Elf, dwarf, hell, even a pixie if the situation calls for it.

Any port in a storm? Maya chuckled. Though I hesitate to imagine the mechanics of how that would work with a pixie.

Any alliance that places us in the best possible position against the adversary. Preferably a queen who has little interest in me other than that of a political nature. I hesitated, before deciding to voice the rest. So I can have a life with the person I love. Assuming she even wants that, anymore.

Oh. Maya studied the ground. Her tail twitched from side to side, eventually wrapping around her wrist. You may want to reconsider.

I felt myself deflate. Is that so.

Im not Maya checked behind her, and lowered her voice. Im not sure the King fully understands the political ramifications of what hes done. He is accustomed to taking decisive, often extreme action, and having others fall in line purely from fear of reprisal. Its effective, only because the ultimate outcome tends to shower the nobility with greater rewards than theyd attain in the off-chance theyd successfully rebelled.

But now hes hit them in their coffers, with little reward to speak of. I mused. Shed reached the same concern I had.

Maya leaned in and whispered in my ear. From my short time among their wives, I can say with certainty that the nobility is angry, Cairn. Dangerously so. Theres open talk of sedition. As cavalier as your father appears, Whitefall is on the brink of civil war.

My chest ached and it was obvious why. Despite the grimness of the topic, Id missed this. Maya always managed to provide a fresh perspective, and had the uncanny ability to point out blindspots that Id either been too harried to see, or completely missed. On some level, Id thought shed turned to the diplomatic core as an avenue of running away, building distance from the sadistic version of herself that wielded the demon-flame to obliterate my home and family in her first life. Maybe it was, but it was clear that she held great promise as a politician.

I bowed to her. My apologies. I was overly hasty in my response. What would you advise?

Assuming you cant find another path towards resolving the tensions? Reconsider marrying a human noble. Maya said easily, with a practiced tone that conveyed shed thought on this for some time. A marriage to a powerful house would solidify your hold, and reassure the human public that while things are changing, there is still some semblance of the normalcy theyre accustomed to.

I winced. That doesnt feel right. Bending to the peoples whims and relinquishing a valuable asset, simply because theyre too backwards to know better.

Refusal to compromise is what led to this state of affairs. Maya shrugged. And no, its not right. Its politics.

Would you

Have dinner with me. Tell me about your experiences in the Enclave after I disappeared. Let me show you around the secret places of my home, the small gems that glitter in a wasteland of snow?

Would you advise me again on this matter? When we have more time. I finished, leaving everything else unspoken.

Of course. Maya said. If you agree to make amends for the insult you dealt to Lady Melody. Even if you hold no interest in her as a suitress, Ive already detailed her houses potential value.

I rolled my eyes. Ill make nice. Right now, even. Whered she go?

Maya pointed. Third wagon on the left, where I suspect shes balling into a silken pillow, cursing the name of the infernal who tricked her into making a fool of herself. Your grace.

I started making my way passed the mobile armory, looking at up at the sky as I went.

Will the blasted sun ever rise?

Thaddeus nearly tackled me. Perspiration dripped from his forehead as he clung to my arm. Pardon my intrusion, prince. But your father is missing.

What? I asked. I must have raised my voice because Maya turned around and began to walk towards us. On the mountain across the valley, the wolves began a chorus of howls. From the sound of it, there were more of them. I grabbed Thaddeus by the damp fabric that clung to his neck. What happened?

The rangers scouting behind us disappeared nearly a day ago, shortly after we departed the enclave. Several among the guards have also gone missing, before and after that.

And youre just telling me this, now? It was all I could do not to shake him until his teeth rattled.

Thaddeus looked more unsettled than Id ever seen him. I informed the King before you arrived in camp. Desertion on the road is common. Disgruntled soldiers often use mobilization as an opportunity to part ways. But never the rangers. When the rangers vanished, I went straight to him. He

Spit it out. I hissed.

He swore me to secrecy. And now hes left camp without an escort.

Of course he did, dammit. How long I trailed off, eyes trailing to the mountain overlooking the valley. Among dozens of wolves, a lone figure stood. He was bare-chested and thin, almost emaciated, wearing what appeared to be an animal pelt on his head. Both his long arms stretched skyward, a crooked staff held between them.

Utterly motionless.

Around us, the sky darkened. The hair on the back of my neck prickled. I spoke quietly, tamping down on my fear. Theres no cover. Rouse the soldiers. We need to use the carriages as barricades Halfway through my sentence, the mobile armory exploded.

The first detonation knocked us flat. I barely managed to raise an aegis before several detonations cracked in a deafening cacophony, barraging the shield with wood and metal shrapnel.

A chorus of screams cut through the ringing in my ears.