The Trial: Journey's End

Written by: AtheistBasementDragon

Edited by: The Usual Gang of Drunken Perverted Idiots

Chapter 33: Bargaining

...Argland Council State...Government Chambers...

Ainz stepped through the gate and found himself in front of the Dragon Lords.

"I was told you wanted to speak with me?" Ainz asked, doing his best to keep his voice neutral. 'Play to the undead angle, they're going to use Neia to manipulate me if they can, I can't let them do that, at least not much.'

"Yes. I will be blunt, your daughter is as good as dead." The Platinum Dragon Lord replied from his seat at the center of the half moon shape of their positions.

Ainz feigned ignorance, "I see you've been watching the trial, do you think their move against her was that effective? That they'll really have her put to death?" Again his voice remained neutral, but his mind raced, 'I must make sure they devalue the worth of their assistance themselves, if they think she'll be executed, then knowledge of prophecy and prophets will lose all value that it has. I can't let them play the long game.'

The Dragon Lords traded looks with one another as they contemplated their only leverage being thrown away within a few weeks or so. Despite their very different faces, he caught the twitches in some of their eyes as they suddenly understood the time limit that might erase their bargaining chip.

"Ah, yes, but assuming she survives the trial, we assume you don't want her to die the way prophets always do." The Worm Dragon Lord said hopefully, leaning in slightly as he spoke as if seeking to gauge Ainz's reaction.

The Undead King remained unmoved, "It is no secret that I value my servants, inordinately so, sometimes. Sacrificing them, even my own nearest ones, may be a necessary thing, but it should not be done without reason, or without gain. If you are offering some way to preserve her life, I am listening."

Their attitude was subdued as he seemed barely interested in saving her. He didn't respond to their tantalizing offer with the eagerness they'd expected out of an undead that broke the mold. Now, in that instant, the unmoving being seemed the image of the tyrant that powerful undead always were.

"What value is her continued life to you?" The Blue Sky Dragon Lord asked in turn.

'Clever, force me to make an offer, fair enough, but I'm not as easily caught as that.' Ainz thought to himself as he recalled his days as a salaryman.

"I could offer you treasures that will make the world envy you. I could offer you a favor, bestowed by my matchless magic, when your nation comes to a time of crisis. I could offer favorable trade that would enrich your kingdom beyond measure. I could offer the fruits of our learning, the likes of which I have not even begun to unveil to the world. I could even offer all of that. Or... I could offer you something far... far more valuable to you, in ways you cannot yet even dream." Ainz said, raising a hand and holding up one finger to give them pause.

The Dragon Lords could not restrain their innate draconic greed, and all but frothed at the mouth for the prospect of all those things, until he offered the last thing as a mystery, a tantalizing mystery, and they leaned forward in their avatars... "What is it?" The Platinum Dragon Lord finally asked.

"My friendship. As father, as god, as king. I will treat you as dear friends, and not forget that you valued my goodwill and my daughter's life, more than gold and power. I will leave the choice in your hands, which do you ask, in my loyal servant's time of need?" Ainz asked with warmth in his voice for the first moment since his arrival.

'Oh... that clever... clever undead.' The Platinum Dragon Lord thought, and saw the same looks on the faces of his comrades. A simple exchange had become a defacto alliance and it had cost the undead... nothing. 'So this is what Jircniv spoke of.'

"Well, if it is to help a friend in the south... what else can we do? The first prophet I remember emerged numerous centuries ago, he served what was, at the time, regarded as a great king. That prophet was destroyed because the king did not like his prophecies. The second was a generation after the first, he died in riots because he avoided the king and gave prophecy to the people. It went about as well as you can expect, if you're going to tell the truth to the people, you have to either be too powerful to hurt, or be ready to take to the sky to escape." The Platinum Dragon Lord said with a grave and sonorous voice that echoed slightly through his avatar.

"The next beyond that, lived older, but was driven mad by visions, and pain, so it went, either they were all destroyed by the ones they sought to save or serve... or they were consumed by their own curse as it tore at their mind." The Worm Dragon Lord said in a voice that was almost sympathetic, as he recollected his time 'undercover' exploring the Sorcerous Kingdom's city of E-Rantel, and finding himself fond of the way the King ruled... and of the set of magic toy soldiers he kept in his quarters for games played with his peers.

"I understand but... what can be done about it?" The Sorcerer King asked, releasing his staff and allowing it to float beside him as he folded his hands into a pyramid in front of him.

"We can answer that... but... 'if' her curse, is your blessing, are you sure you want to do anything about it? A powerful prophet, assuming she grows into one, can foretell great events, victories and defeats, challenges to be prepared for, for centuries. Surely that's more useful." The Diamond Dragon Lord proposed halfheartedly.

Ainz shook his head, "A god that casts aside its servants so lightly, is not a god worth following in the first place. In first world... there were many like that, veritable gods who ruled over the lives of the weaker. My friends, back then, were badly harmed by the actions of those petty and destructive rulers who considered themselves gods. I would think myself a poor king and a poorer god, who needed mortals to bewail their agony in order for me to thrive."

The statement hung in the air between them all, his words echoed off the dim chamber walls that had only the light of a single window streaming through to where Ainz stood in front of them. In the past, such a position had been meant to wreath Argland's leadership in shadow, to intimidate by putting the visitor in the light and the voices of the avatars in shadow would throw off the minds of those who came to them unprepared.

But now, it seemed to wreath him like a god, as if the light were something holy, sacred, and it troubled them sorely.

"The treatment is this... the curse cannot be lifted. Not by any power we know... but that doesn't mean nothing can be done, it means that she must be deprived of the means by which the curse is activated. Yes, we saw the trial, the pain she was in, it is because she was attuned to the divine. Moments of great emotion or memory, or reaching for the power of her god... will call up prophetic moments. One prophet I remember could call on it at will when he put himself into bursts of ecstatic seizures through wild motions, another through deep meditation, but both were exceptionally powerful in that regard." The Obsidian Dragon Lord explained patiently, "However they were bedridden and unconscious for long periods afterward.

"So I can minimize this to the point where she could live a mostly... normal life?" Ainz asked, "But it can't be removed."

"As normal as the life of anyone who has come too close to kings can be." The Platinum Dragon Lord replied somewhat sardonically.

"And as long as she is not exposed to anything too intense... and as long as she does not have to call on my power, she can manage." Ainz reiterated, looking into the dark from one Dragon Lord to the next for confirmation that he understood.

"Tall order. But... that is all there is, more than that, we don't know. Our nation has never produced a prophet, they are exceptionally rare, appearing only a handful of times over the centuries in different places, and only once did two live at the same time, and then, far apart. As far as I can recall." The Worm Dragon Lord added, somewhat apologetically.

"That will do. I will not forget it." Ainz replied and took his staff in his left hand again, the gate opened behind him a moment later, and he inclined his head politely, then turned and walked out, vanishing as if he hadn't been there.

"Did we... did we win?" The Diamond Dragon Lord asked as he looked around at his comrades, they looked around at one another, uncertainty couldn't appear on an avatar's face, but nonetheless... none felt any of the others had an answer forthcoming.

...Menowa...

'Food and money make you popular with those who are hungry and poor.' Nua thought to herself as she approached Mu'Sula, his friendly and gregarious personality had her smiling again as he waved from the cart of supplies he was bringing once again.

"What's the story for today?" He asked enthusiastically, "Or are you out of them now?"

"Oh, goodness no. Today it'll be a story of betrayal and atonement, of course this particular story spans over a hundred years, so it will take me a number of days to tell, and of course there is how it pertains to the glorious service of His Majesty." Nua grinned as she reached up and hefted down a sack of flour over each of her shoulders, then moved aside and waited as Mu'Sula grabbed a few himself, and they walked together across the street to where the storage area was coming into form at the back of the temple.

Mu'Sula was conflicted... as soon as he heard the story, his blood pumped hard and he couldn't wait... on the other hand... 'Damn it, every single time I think I can finally get around to robbing her, she's got something new for me.'

"I'll make sure to attend." He said as he looked over to where the workers were already busy and the food vendors were already out in force, but to his surprise, there were others there as well clearly selling nonfood materials.

"What are those?" He asked just as they were about to move out of sight beyond the building, she stopped and looked to where he'd turned his attention.

"Other vendors. I invested some silvers into them to buy supplies to make goods for sale here, and gave the workers and artisans a little bonus, have to kickstart things here or nothing will get any better. Next step, I need your help again." Nua said as she started walking toward the storage area.

"With what?" Mu'Sula asked with interest as he looked down at the little elf beside him and they tossed their sacks of flour down.

"Frankly the flour is expensive for the amount we're getting, I need cheaper produce, I want to visit a few farms, if you're able to help me. I'd pay you for the trouble." Nua explained hopefully as she hefted another pair of sacks onto her shoulders.

Mu'Sula gave her another look as he grabbed a few himself, the way she moved seemed different, her walk had been confident, but the way her shoulders rolled when impacted spoke of some combat training, and she seemed comfortable moving under heavy weights relative to her size. He filed it away for later inquiry with others, and turned his thoughts to her request.

"What will you do there?" He asked doubtfully, "They already produce as much as they can."

"Probably so, with their current methods, but His Majesty introduced a number of new methods in other places he's ruled, and provides the best possible labor for the task, allowing for much expanded harvests. If I can improve their production, I'm hoping to get a discount for temples here in exchange for knowledge and resources." Nua relayed the answer with the smooth confidence of someone who seemed certain they had something to offer.

"Fine, when?" He asked with interest, and added, "And how much do you offer?"

"Five silver, two if I keep you entertained along the way?" She proposed pleasantly.

"I'm a sucker for a good story..." He admitted, and shrugged, "Fine, it's a deal."

"Good, finish up the rest, can you? I need to get this going." Nua said as she jabbed her thumb toward the gathering crowds.

"More today." Mu'Sula said noncommittally.

"More every day." Nua said with pride in her voice and in her bright, smiling face, "When the temple is completed, I expect it to be quite crowded."

Not far away, as she headed to the now somewhat improved platform that was 'several' stacked crates creating a sort of stairway for her use, she heard the sound of the trial beginning. 'Raymond will be over there... I should, no, I 'want' to go see him.' She hesitated in midstep, and looked over her shoulder, then forced her head around to look ahead of her again and continued walking, the black cloak fluttered behind her, the fine boots clicked over the stone, her uniform made perfect through means magic and mundane so that she would bring no shame on her lord, she brushed her blond hair back to allow the rising breeze to catch and carry it behind her.

'Get over yourself Nua, you had your moment, and right now you've got a job to do, you can't run off every time you hear his voice. What are you, some fairytale damsel to run off from her duties every time a man you like happens to appear? How stupid would that be?' She mocked herself, but a wry and pleasant smile formed on her face as she caught, with sensitive elven ears, the sound of absolute conviction in his voice when he got briefly loud. 'Good to know he's here though, maybe I can do something about it later.'

She then put those thoughts from her mind as she ascended to speak as the minotaurs of the capital, now well over a hundred of them, gathered to listen.

...Re-Estize...

Lakyus sat with her sisters in silence. "So... what do we do?" She asked.

"You were right." Evileye finally said, looking humbly at Gagaran. "I... look the guy deserved it, but she brought that down on everything at once. What if it had been worse? But still... that doesn't make anything better. The religion she started lets you look me in the eyes again. The God-King brought in a year what I haven't seen in over two hundred... peace, real peace."

"You know..." Enri said sullenly, "It isn't as if she didn't bring this on herself, do you really have to tear yourselves up over it?"

"I was 'there' Enri. Don't talk like you know what it was like." Lakyus said with quiet calm, "I watched what she did, I was with her from Prart to Kami Miyako, nearly nonstop. You don't have to remind any of us of that. You had it easy."

Enri pursed her lips. "Perhaps I did."

"No 'perhaps' about it. You were given instructors to make your common soldiers into uncommon ones, you had nearly unstoppable goblins, dragons, heteromorphs, demihumans... you had the single strongest army in the war. There was never a chance of you losing, not really. And while you had a dangerous enemy, he's a basically good man. We didn't have that in the west, we didn't have that when we moved south. The brutal measures that were undertaken were frequently a weapon unto themselves. And we had to fight demons like Suchala, Yuri, and Remedios. Those three would have fit right in under Jaldabaoth's banner. And there were a lot of fanatics under them." Lakyus's frown deepened.

"A lot was on our shoulders, all of us, but we were on her shoulders too, because she was in command, she made mistakes, but... we came back alive, a lot of people came back alive. Couldn't you have just let the dead rest? To me, being there was punishment enough for a dozen lifetimes." The blonde adventurer shuddered.

"No. I know I made mistakes too, I was too kind, I underestimated the fanaticism of their peasants, the influence the temples had on them, I assumed they were more like peasants from my home. I didn't think the Agante could really get people to act against their own interests in such a destructive way just by appealing to the gods... but even so, even so... too many is too many and too much is too much and too far is too far. I didn't know this would tear you all up so much, I didn't know Skana would get pregnant and go through what she has, but even so... all I can say is that I'm not doing this out of spite, jealousy, hatred, or revenge. I'm just doing what I think is right..." Enri answered with a low, gentle voice as she stirred her beer with one finger, unable to bring herself to drink it at the present.

"So how do we resolve this...?" Gagaran asked, "Do we resolve this? How do you and Evileye feel?"

"This is... hard." Keeno replied, "But... you're my sister, no matter what, I know you weren't driven by some resentment against 'my kind'. But still... I think I need some time to myself... I want to go somewhere for a while, and just... just be by myself and let all this blow over. I can't do anything more to help her, or hurt her. At this point I'm a spectator, same as you two."

"And you?" Gagaran asked of Lakyus.

"You know... as a priestess of water, back when that is what I was, I spent a lot of time giving spiritual guidance and helping people through their problems. But nobody ever offered that to me, until the priestess of a religion I should have despised, put herself out there and asked me if 'I' was OK. You have no idea... no idea, how hard it is to erase a lifetime of bigotry, hatred, and fear. The day in the woods of Kedyn... you don't know how much this hurts to say... but Keeno, I could have killed you that day. I wouldn't have survived doing that, I would have just stayed there in the woods, holding your body until death took me... but I could have done it. It was only having my entire worldview shaken that let me shake it off entirely." Lakyus's voice was quiet, her eyes were glassed over, she couldn't look at any of them, but she went on.

"Maybe you were trying to protect us by turning on her, Gagaran... but why do you think we're even here to be protected? I... I understand what you were thinking, but this was wrong. As far as we go... I think... listen, it isn't for me to forgive you. And if she already has, this will take awhile for me to get over, but I'll do my best." Lakyus snatched up her mug and drank it to the bottom with uncharacteristic gracelessness.

"Great. You know, it'd have been easier if she hated me." Gagaran grumbled, "She told me when I arrested her that she was glad I kept my justice. I'd have preferred anger, instead it was just... resigned, sad and resigned. Thank you... but maybe some time apart would be best for all of us. But... we'll be OK, right, after a while at least?"

"Longer if they sentence her to hang." Lakyus said, and the table collectively stiffened as the very real possibility struck home. "If they do that... well... will 'you' be OK, Gagaran?" Lakyus asked gently.

"No. No, I won't be." Gagaran replied as she chugged and slammed her beer down.

"What a mess." Enri muttered, and said calmly, "I'm going to get more rounds, I think we'll all need them."

Nobody argued when she got up to do just that.

Skana sat up in the bed. It was comfortable enough as far as it went. Expensive, soft, rich maroon blankets, light still coming through the window, but it was fading into the orange glow of evening. She quietly read the sacred text of her faith, drawing comfort from it as she tried to understand why this was happening to her life, her wife, again.

"Food." CZ said, as she reached out and touched Skana's shoulder.

Skana shook her head, her auburn hair swaying behind her, "No... I can't eat right now."

CZ placed her hand over Skana's belly and looked at her with a rare intensity that, even for the sea beneath it, was still only knowable because of their long association and close friendship. "Food." She said in answer to Skana's refusal.

"F-Fine." Skana said, accepting the implied rebuke, and CZ pulled the rope beside the bed, summoning room service.

"I don't want to eat in this city though, not while those traitors are here." Skana said with annoyance and her face twisted in bitterness.

CZ didn't reply with words, she simply, with gentle pressure, drew Skana down on her side and began rubbing her hands over the skin of the warrior woman.

"Where did you learn this?" Skana asked as she felt her body start to relax.

"From Pestonya." CZ said, "To help with the baby."

"Who could ask for a better friend?" Skana said with a sweet sigh. "But what happens next?"

CZ didn't answer immediately, but after Skana let out a deep sigh of relief, she finally replied, "Tomorrow."