Chapter 402 (1/2)

Chapter 402

Chapter 400: Choices Already Made

ARTHUR LEYWIN

Spells burst in the air in showers of blue, green, and gold, trailing sparks and popping to an accoround below The breeze carried the sound of hundreds of jubilant voices and the sirl, no more than five or six, sprinted past us, her face red and her grin groider with each step Right behind her, a one-eyed ave chase

A sed at irl off her feet, eliciting a delighted squeal from the child He plunked her on his shoulders, where she continued to giggle and laugh, tipping farther and farther back to watch thein a near-constant display high above the city

“I haven’t seen people this happy since before the first attack on Xyrus,” Helen Shard said froazebo that housed Blackbend’s only teleportation gate

Angela Rose was sitting in a patch of grass, Regis sprawled in her lap with his head resting on her chest “It’s sort of like a veil has been lifted, isn’t it?” she said, absently scratching Regis beneath his chin

“Beautiful and wise,” Regis said, giving Angela a quick lick on her cheek “Why haven’t we been acquainted before? It seems like a crih “I don’t know about this beast of yours, Arthur Are you sure this isn’t you pantoh your summons?” She raised a brow coyly at me

“If it was, I wouldn’t be nearly as crass,” I said, shooting ht listening froaze no doubt tracking the h the streets around us Absenters, she turned around “This isn’t exactly a favor you’ve done for us, you know”

I shrugged “I know But I trust the Twin Horns to e some kind of city-state controlled by the Adventurers Guild Besides, it won’t be for long, if things go well, and you won’t even be here”

This caused a stir a toin Blackbend, suddenly spoke up “What do youfrom Jasmine to Helen, “that Jasmine would coave no indication of surprise but instead shi+fted into so

Helen, on the other hand, frowned deeply as she pushed away froainst “For what purpose? I can’t i all the Twin Horns, or even all the forces in Vildorial, for that matter, would have iveit, Arthur, but the sort of battles you’re likely to have…are you sure you want anyone that you care about by your side?”

Of course, Helen was right I didn't, not really If I could have had it my way, I’d have stuck everyone I cared about in a hole somewhere deep in the Relictombs to keep them safe But I also needed so—that could ground me as my own station continued to rise Perhaps if I had known this before, in ed in a war that cost millions of lives as retribution for Headmaster Wilbeck's murder

But I didn’t say any of that “I’ll keep her safe,” I told Helen Then, to Jas, that is”

Jasht the reflection of a distant burst of ice shards “Of course”

Helen looked between us, her fingers fidgeting at her bowstring, then she let out a sigh and nodded “Fine, but I swear”—she threw her arm up over my neck and tried to pull —”

Effortlessly, I swept her off her feet, cradling her inher squeal in surprise “You know hair falls out naturally, right?”

Her hand hammered on hing, I set her back on her feet, keepingeye contact “I understand your worry This is a war, and none of us are truly safe, not even me, but I promise I’ll keep her as safe as possible”

Helen hrined smile

‘Well, you have fun, I think I’ll just stay here with Angela Rose and her—’

Not a chance, I shot back Co a coela Rose, I entered the stonework gazebo and began calibrating the teleportation gate to the flying city of Xyrus Jasmine folloordlessly

When the portal hummed to life inside the frame, I stepped up before it, but turned around to face Helen, Durden, and Angela Rose before passing through

Regis drifted into ave a cheery wave Durden scratched at the stuht

“Good luck, General Arthur,” Helen said, her knuckles knocking against the carved stone pillar “We’ll be waiting for word of your success”

I nodded to Helen and gave a look to Jash

The world blurred around me, and I had a brief moment as I was disassociated from time and physical reality to consider the next step

I had only spent hours in Blackbend, total Success required a feverish pace on my part, and Xyrus was even more important than Blackbend

As the most prosperous and defensible city in Sapin, it had becohbloods who had been drawn to Dicathen—or at least those who hadn’t dedicated their resources to building holds in Elenoir only to see them decimated by Aldir

It was also home to many of the wealthiest Dicathians, especially turncoat houses like the Wykes

My fear was that I faced less a battle andout the Alacryans from the city like ticks from a wolf’s pelt And the more time I spent in any one place, the iven Agrona far too much time to react and counter my victory in Vildorial

The world lurched to a halt as I arrived at one of a row of identical teleportation gates

A squad of Alacryan soldiers stood at attention nearby The rest of the street was entirely empty

Jasmine appeared behind uard with a heavy Truacian accent stepped forward “Welcome to Xyrus City, General Arthur and”—he looked pointedly at Jasmine When neither of us answered hiuest”

I considered for aThe fact that he kneho I was and had clearly been prepared forme, meant that someone in the city wanted to have a conversation

“I am Idir of Blood Plainsrunner,” he continued, and this tiht tremble in his voice “My men and I are to escort you to the Courthouse to meet with the heads of Xyrus If you please”

And if I don’t please? I almost asked, but refrained “And ould that be?” I asked instead

“The ranking iven stake in this city are Augustine of Highblood Raht, Walter of Highblood Kaenig, and Adaenn of Highblood Unition at the naht, because the soldier added, “Powerful bloods on both continents, as you know”

“And ill this ave a huer I know you’ve come from a battle and are weary, but I can assure you, no Alacryan in this city wishes to cross blades with the man who slew Scythe Cadell Vritra”

I didn’t doubt his words, but they didn’t exactly put ht didn’t iven

“Fine,” I said at length “Lead the way, Idir”

Although the streets were ainst the s of the s we passed Of the very few people that re class folks A few even called out questioningly, but arned away by our escort It wasn’t until a man in a sweat-stained, colorless tunic shouted out “Lance Arthur!” that I intervened

A heavy-set worabbed it Everyone froze

Jasers half drawn in a blink, but I gestured for her to stand down “I won’t have you bullying Dicathians in my presence,” I said, directed at the Alacryan soldiers, then released the woed with shoulder-length hair that was receding at the tenized him “Jameson?” I asked, certain he was one of the men orked at the Helstea Auction House for Vincent

He nodded excitedly, wringing the front of his tunic He kept opening his mouth to speak, but stopped every tigest you return to the manor, Jameson,” I said firhtly, a nonverbal coave me a blank, startled look, but didn’t o with hiets home safe?”

“But Arthur—”

“Please Ensure that all is well, then co her

Jas “I’ll be there soon”

Then, she grabbed Ja hi, and he bowed clued, before turning and following swiftly behind Jasmine in the direction of the Helsteas’separated from Jasmine after I said I’d protect her, I reached for

As if my shadow itself had co heavily, his claws scraping the ground and startling the soldiers We shared no hts as he trotted quickly after them, since we both understood what needed to be done

Jais fell in beside him, but Jas them walk away, I leveled a cold look in Idir’s direction He cleared his throat, spun on his heel, and began the h I would have preferred to have Jaset to the Helsteas that I was in the city According to Jaset out of the city ever since the Alacryan occupation began That meant they had contacts, a network, people who should know that things were about to change

It wasn’t a long walk froates to the Courthouse I was somewhat surprised to find the cobbled square in front of the building—an ornate courtyard coardens, fruit trees, and several statues of fahout Xyrus’s history—entirely empty I had expected a show of force, at least A hundred battle groups would have filled the space nicely, and given it an appropriately militaristic air

“Our soldiers within the city haveive you the wrong impression”

We moved quickly across the courtyard, but the soldiers stopped at the base of the ray lines of the huge edifice that was the Courthouse seemed to dominate the city skyline

Five impeccably-dressed Alacryans walked in a stately line out fro archway that opened into the Courthouse beyond, each one oozing highblood authority and groo woht black curls stood a half step in front of the others “Ascender Grey Or…Arthur Leywin, is it?” She batted her thick eyelashes at randfather found you to be such an interesting and complex problem as a professor I’m interested to better understand why”

As she spoke, her words crisp and sharply enunciated, the fahblood Ramseyer, then? Valen’s sister?”

“Cousin,” she said with the slightest shrug of her thin shoulders “Though ere raised raduate of Central Acadereat shame, since my tian Seeing your performance at the Victoriad, I’”

“You seem to know a little about me, Lady Ramseyer, so I’ the five highbloods

She raised a delicate hand “Please, do you plan to discuss business here on the stoop, as if ere shady accolades dealers?” Her thin eyebrows rose, and there was a sparkle in her dark eyes “Let us retreat to ht discuss your purpose in Xyrus like civilized people”

The other four highbloods led the hile Augustine stood aside and gestured for me to follow I took a moment to scan the courtyard and what I could see of the Courthouse building The squadron of guards led by Idir aiting at the base of the wide steps, but there was nothing else—no one else—to be seen

As I ustine reached out and slipped her arh mine She was a head shorter than me, and her slender arms looked like frail sticks next toconfidence to her movements that revealed no fear of rand halls, I foundback to Central Academy I hadn’t had much time to consider the chaos I had left in my wake Those kids, the ones I’d had the most impact on—Valen, Enola, Seth, Mayla…

Did I dothem trust me only to break that trust and disappear? I wondered

Who knohat kind of propaganda Agrona and his minions had spread after the Victoriad

“The kids froan, then hesitated, unsure exactly what I wanted to ask—or if I even had the right to ask given our situation

“No blaiven austine confirrandfather may be a hard man, but he is dedicated to his academy and its students”

That, at least, was a relief I knew Alaric would have no such protection, but I trusted the old drunk to be able to look after hifrom the same well of impassivity that had helped h several short corridors before we arrived at a large lounge Like the rest of the Courthouse, the floor was of polished granite, while the carved walls were all brilliant white ht, which only hter Dozens of fine chairs and couches were carefully arrayed through the rooreenery One as dominated by a massive marble bar, behind which were shelves and shelves of bottles

At the center of the lounge, I noticed that a table had been ed to ns Quarrel board Two high-backed, velvet-cushi+oned chairs had been set on opposite sides of the table

The four silent highbloods stood aside, and Augustine led me to the table I pulled one chair out and offered it to her She veiled her surprise well, s her head in thanks as she took a seat I pushed the chair in slightly, then sat down er tracing an ornately carved striker

“I’ve played,” I answered, exa the board The pieces were exquisitely carved, each caster, shi+eld, and striker unique Her pieces were crafted of blood-red stone, while austine You know that”

Her same board and didn’t meet my eye “Blackbend City fell to you in—what?—twenty ers caressed the outline of her lips “Clearly strength of arms is a poor counter to your power, Arthur—can I call you Arthur?” she asked, interrupting herself as she looked at me for confirmation

I nodded, and she continued “But Xyrus is a different beast Hundreds of Alacryans have made the city their home, and there are five soldiers posted here for each civilian Many Dicathians have already sworn allegiance to the High Sovereign Do you plan to go street by street, house by house, kicking in doors and dragging away fa up a striker, she ressive move

“Usually soldiers surrender after I’ve destroyed their leadershi+p,” I said evenly,a caster to counter her striker