“Essentially, the one person you thought as your lifeline was the one with the most comprehensive designs to take your throne,” Argrave told Ji Meng. “He really only had one condition, other than the standard marriage pitches. And condition that was to sideline you, keep you out of everything.”
“My daughter wouldn’t tolerate a marriage with the family that ended her father.”
“Your daughter was sitting right beside him when Governor Zen said that your death would be a desirable outcome,” Anneliese stated bluntly. “She remained silent.”
The words made Ji Meng feel physically ill, but he tried his damnedest to let none of that shine through in his face. He couldn’t even verify it was true, but the fact King Argrave and his wife had come here personally to say it made him think that this was no mere bluff. And if it wasn’t a bluff... the implications of that set his stomach churning further. His own daughter had come here? She had witnessed this meeting and said nothing?
Ji Meng felt like a plant growing on a rock, subject wholly to the whims of passersby. He had all the power of a newborn.
Argrave rose to his feet. “I’ll let that play out in your calculus. That thing you did with the commanders, having them duel me... I respected that move. But you ought to think very carefully about everything you do, henceforth. With things as they are, you’ll be making a few more public appearances. And after...”
Argrave deliberately didn’t finish his sentence, then helped his wife up for them both to leave the room. Yet even once they’d gone, Ji Meng could show nothing. The walls had eyes, his guards were neutered, and elven giants stood vigil over him at every moment. These were bright, dangerous fires, threatening to consume him if he stepped one inch off the path. Yet from their light, he could see the whole path ahead.
Ji Meng was a fruit plucked from a tree. This fruit was to be wrung dry of all its juice, whereupon its drained carcass would be composted and used as fertilizer for another empire to flourish. The idea made bile rise to his throat, and he grabbed for the nearest drink. He found it—the Ebonice tea given to him every day.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
He drank deep of it, not leaving a single drop.
#####
Their discussion with Ji Meng proved to be surprisingly fruitful, according to Anneliese. Their declaration had rattled the emperor far greater than either of them had expected. It seemed that, while Ji Meng was a master of the calculus of power, he was utterly without staunch allies outside of the military that idolized him. His own daughter would prefer to side with her grandfather over him. Argrave imagined Sophia doing such a thing, and felt a small amount of sympathy for the emperor surface.
But the coming days set them on a busy path. The day after, Elenore summoned Argrave and Anneliese alone to a secluded room in the Sea Dragon without windows or more than one entryway. Once they were there, she paranoidly commanded Anneliese to make a ward to block any and all sounds.
“I’ve eliminated all possibilities of where the leaks might originate, and I’ve come to an answer about where they come from,” Elenore informed them, looking between Argrave and Anneliese with dark bags about her eyes.
“Seems to have kept you up,” Argrave gestured at her face. This room was meant for storage—he shuffled a crate and sat down upon it.
“Shadows at home tend to seem far darker than those beyond it,” Elenore rubbed her tired eyes. “I’d take care of this on my own, ordinarily, and with great pleasure. But I think there’s a huge problem.”
“Do tell,” Anneliese urged, leaning upon her staff.
“Our leak is divine. Or divine-adjacent.” Elenore crossed her arms. “The Blackgard Union is compromised, not our people.”
Argrave cradled his forehead as extreme annoyance crept up like a geyser through the wrinkles in his brain. Anneliese patiently indulged, “How do you know?”
“Because everyone who knew our plans, outside of the gods, I have complete confidence of their loyalty. Not instinct, either—cold, hard, logistics. I can account for them all, always, through my networks and our guardsmen. Unless you sleep talk secrets out your window, all of our inner circle? We’re fine.” She looked at Argrave. “You divulged a great deal about everything in that trial you did at Law’s Court. Now, that information is disseminating through either a god themselves or their direct servants. Disseminating to Governor Zen.”
It made sense. Argrave felt it was all but certain Governor Zen had been partially, if not totally responsible for the disappearance of key commanders here in the south. Everything beyond that... a god could plug that gap in his information. The gods had envoys in Blackgard. They had information from the trial in Law’s Court. It was viable—no, likely.
“We should call for a trial in Law’s Court at once, then,” Anneliese suggested.
“They would all need to leave the warfront exposed,” Elenore shook her head. “Law most of all. We can’t afford that. Kirel Qircassia would send minions to overrun us in moments. We can fight some gods with our armies, but only temporarily. I don’t want the casualties, though, nor the tremendous loss in already-thin unity.” His sister clapped her hands together once as she declared, “No. We need to find them, isolate them, expose them, and tear their guts out as a message to Zen and others. My hands aren’t strong enough to tear guts. I’ll have to call upon you.”
Argrave nodded. “Puppeteer me.”
“I’ve seen a lot of people without limbs,” Sophia said quietly. “My dad showed me. And he... tried to make me do it, too. I wish I could’ve helped those people, then. But I was too...” she sniffled.
Argrave gave Sophia a hug. “I don’t want you to think about that anymore, Sophia.”
Sophia clutched his coat as tightly as she could, then asked muffled behind his coat, “So... can I do it?”
Argrave pulled away and looked at her. Her request brought with it a lot of other considerations. If word spread that Sophia was capable of true healing—restoring limbs, eyes, and broken minds—she would become a target. And the nature of such healing meant she’d need to travel far and wide to find these people. They would have to make certain arrangements for her protection. Yet even despite all of that...
“Sophia, I’m extremely proud of you.” Argrave smiled, then looked to Anneliese. “Aren’t you, Anne?”
“Of course I am,” Anneliese walked up, kneeling down.
“It might not happen today,” Argrave explained to her. “It’ll take some time. And you have to keep in mind two things.”
Sophia nodded intently. “Okay. Anything,” she promised.
“Listen to it first.” Argrave lifted her off his leg and set her on the ground. “If you ever feel uncomfortable with this, you have to tell someone. Okay? Don’t keep anything inside.”
Sophia nodded.
“And two...” Argrave hung his head a little. “I think it’s time for you to be brought into the bigger picture. You’re family—I mean that, Sophia. But all of us came to Sandelabara for a reason.”
“Argrave, is this the right...?” Anneliese interjected quietly.
Argrave looked at her, then said, “Given the maturity she just displayed, I think it’s warranted, Anne. I don’t want to keep secrets from her.”
“Rich, coming from you,” Anneliese whispered, but nodded. “Alright.”
Argrave refocused on Sophia. “Let’s talk about Gerechtigkeit.”
“Ger... Gereck...” Sophia’s eyes widened.
“Gerechtigkeit,” Argrave repeated.
“Gerektikeit?”
“Gerechtigkeit.”
Sophia closed her mouth, fearing to speak.
“Gerry,” Argrave shortened it.
Sophia brightened and said clearly, “Gerry?”
“That’s right.” Argrave nodded. “Gerry, destroyer of worlds.”