Alfred's thirst is real in this folks. #Arthur'sFrecklesAreLifeRuiners
Enjoy!
Chapter Thirty: Where There are Revelations and Storm Clouds
For all the fuss Seychelles and Sadiq and Esther made about needing to be careful in leaving Stamboul, Alfred thought their departure was all anticlimactic. No one seemed to even give two shits about their group as they departed east out of the city and back onto the route that would take them to Bulgar. Frankly, he was starting to think that Sadiq and Esther were paranoid worrywarts. Well, that, or their group was just lucky—he didn't mind that theory, as if lady luck was on their side now, maybe it would last when they faced off against Braginski. Alfred could not wait to see his smug face twist into dread when they showed up, bust down his door, and they thrashed him! A few weeks ago, that probably would have been wishful thinking, even he could admit that, but with Arthur finally figuring out how to use his Voice and Feliks joining, and if their luck held, it was definitely a possibility.
Speaking of Arthur, Alfred looked back behind the caravan where he saw Arthur riding and couldn't seem to stop the goofy grin that spread across his face at the sight. Weeks of travel had built up his stamina in the saddle and the blisters from the reins had turned to calluses, so he wasn't confined to the caravans anymore and riding in the sun had done things to Arthur. Things that Alfred found entirely distracting. Things like his pale skin darkening just enough to make him look peachy all over, or his blonde hair lightening to a bright goldish-yellow. Or the freckles across his nose.
Gods, the freckles.
Arthur, sensing his stare, met his eyes and gave a shooing motion for him to turn back around. Alfred grinned—nope, not doing that. Instead, Alfred turned his horse around and headed towards Arthur, smiling winningly at Feliks, who had been riding beside Arthur. "Hey Feliks, switch places with me? You can annoy Sadiq to your heart's content better from my spot."
Feliks rolled his eyes at him. "You two are like, way disgusting, it's a total miracle you haven't been made by the locals yet. Still, all this dust is totally getting up my nose, so fine. But no canoodling back here, we're still in heathen-hating-country."
Feliks guided his horse with his knees and headed off to take Alfred's spot in the front group anyway. Once he was gone, Alfred pulled his horse into a cantor beside Arthur, who gave him a supremely unimpressed look that Alfred could care less about. He could see the smattering of freckles way better now—mission accomplished. "What?"
Arthur rolled his eyes now, but Alfred could see the pleased grin he was trying to hide as he ducked his head down. Subtle, aren't you?
"There hasn't been anyone on this road for days, we're like four days out from Bulgar which isn't nearly so touchy about all this stuff according to Esther, and it's not like I'm holding your hand or anything so 'unseemly'," Alfred affected his best offended tone at the last, which inspired a private chuckle from Arthur in his head. "I think we're safe if I just ride next to you."
Fine, you can deal with the inevitable disapproval from our compatriots then.
Alfred knew Arthur-speak well enough by this point to know that what he actually meant was, "oh all right, you brilliant man," if the teasing lilt Alfred could 'hear' was any indication. Well, maybe he didn't mean that exactly, but he definitely didn't want Alfred to leave.
"So, how is it at the back of the caravan? Does Basch make for good company?" Alfred shot a grin over at their fellow rear-guard. Basch looked distinctly grumpy and unamused to be the subject of anyone's conversation.
Dusty, Arthur lobbed back. And Basch never makes for good company.
Alfred chuckled and didn't disagree. "He is pretty cranky."
He has good reason, I suppose. He and Lily are close, I doubt they have been separated for this long before. Arthur paused and then shot an apologetic look his way, thought for what, Alfred wasn't sure. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply—I know you and your brother had a hard time being separated as well.
Ah. Right. Alfred shrugged but gave Arthur a small smile, to let him know he wasn't mad or anything.
The past few months hadn't been great for his track record of staying cool whenever Mattie was brought up, he guessed. Constantly thinking about his brother being held captive made him angry and queasy and spilled over to everyone else, so he was trying his best to not let it consume him like he had before. He wasn't always successful, but he was doing better, he thought.
The freckles helped distract him for sure. "It's ok, Artie. It was different for us, I think. We were older and Mattie hadn't been left super vulnerable, like Lily. I'm also two years older than Mattie, Basch is like twelve years older than Lily, the protective thing works a little different, you know?"
Arthur stayed quiet and kept his eyes on Alfred, encouraging him to keep talking, if he wanted to. He found that he did. "When I first joined up with Seychelles, I had to basically force Mattie to stay behind—I only succeeded by promising to send him letters and visiting when we could. Columbiana is pretty inland though, and it can be hard to get to by boat as there's only so many port towns to dock at. A lot of the time, Mattie would travel to Bruxels in Lotharingia, meet us halfway. Once when we docked in Lotharingia, we took that new steam-powered train they got to the Columbiana, which was cool. I love machines and fixing stuff."
Alfred leaned forward a bit with his horse until he was practically flush beside Arthur's own horse. Neither animal looked all that pleased with the arrangement, but whatever. He had things to share with Arthur, things he had shyly kept to himself whenever the crew did their 'what are you going to do after' game. Because they had been his alone—but he wanted them to be shared with Arthur now too.
"I actually want to build things once we're down with this whole thing, with Braginski, like new things. That train in Lotharingia is only the beginning and soon enough I bet it's gonna spread throughout all of Avrupa, maybe even here too. Because I think, for all our differences, technology and advancing things, that's what makes us alike, you know?"
He looked up and nearly melted off his saddle at the soft, private smile Arthur was giving him. Arthur had his own things he gave to just Alfred. What do you want to build?
Alfred grinned. "Everything! I mean, just look at how fast the Lotharingian train goes on steam power alone? Or solar energy, or the waterworks we saw in Herzliya? Not even folks with Talent or magic have the energy to keep up with it, not alone. I think you can adapt that same principle to anything mechanical. We've got this old, rusty tractor back home and I almost had it running on solar energy before Braginski showed up. That would have cut down our field work in half and saved the horses for other things!
"But what I really want to do is figure out how to get up in the air. Can you imagine how much faster all our travelling would have been if you could get something like the Evangeline up and in the sky? Plus, I mean, you'd be flying, which is awesome." Alfred chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck, a little self-conscious he kind of geeked out all over Arthur.
But Arthur was still watching him with that same expression, the one that made Alfred feel like he could do anything because Arthur looked at him like he could. Arthur looked at him like flying wasn't some impossible, half-cocked idea in Alfred's head that would never get off the ground. He looked at Alfred and knew he could do it.
If he wasn't riding a horse and trying to not act like they were together, he would have dragged Arthur's face over and kissed the living daylights out of him.
That, honestly sounds brilliant. Arthur's eyes looked even greener with his face not so pale. I've never heard you mention this before, with the crew.
"Nah, they only like to talk about using their Talents, not hobbies and stuff," Alfred took a deep breath, trying to stamp out the nerves he felt. "Plus, I've never really shared that with anyone outside of Mattie before. I think most people expect me to want to do something else, once we beat Braginski, with my Talent, you know? Something to do with my strength. Not tinker around with machines all day."
Arthur nodded and Alfred could see his blush reach the tips of his ears, giving his newly tanned skin a pink, rosier look than before. The freckles seemed to stand out a little more when his face was flushed. It was nice. Everything about Arthur was nice. Thank you then, for sharing with me.
They lapsed into an easy kind of quiet before Alfred cleared his throat. "So, what about you? Any, ah, big plans once this is all done?"
It was a loaded question. It was something he'd been dying to ask since Spandow. Since Vindobana. Since that night in the cave. Hell, he only had the guts to even ask it by being bolstered up from Arthur's support of his own dreams and aspirations after he'd shared them. He could feel his palms sweating against the reins and resisted the urge to wipe them on his pants. He hoped his voice didn't sound as vulnerable out load as it had in his head and was grateful Basch had decided to hang further back so as not to eavesdrop on their conversation.
They had talked about the 'after', but never about what that looked like for them. For Alfred and Arthur.
Alfred desperately wanted there to be a future where it was him and Arthur. Mattie too of course, but not in the same way, obviously. He had felt this same true, immoveable fact when Arthur had first kissed him in that inn in Spandow. He felt it again when they fought and laid everything out in that cave. He felt it watching Arthur using his Voice with the kind of carefree joy Alfred remembered feeling the first time he rode his pony as a kid. Arthur Kirkland was amazing, and bossy, and a pain in the ass, and he knew without a doubt that he was Alfred's future.
A shitty hand and fate had brought them together, but now Alfred couldn't imagine a world where Arthur wasn't at his side. He wanted to bring him home to their farm and home. He wanted Arthur to meet Mattie and for Mattie to be a better kind of brother for Arthur. He wanted to watch Arthur's hands get dirty with grease and dirt as they built things and gardened and farmed. He wanted to watch Arthur read every book he wanted in the big bay window his dad had built for their mom to knit in every morning. He wanted to watch Arthur's freckles spread across his face, shoulders and the rest of his body all laid out in the Columbianan sun.
He wanted to wake up to Arthur's stupidly green eyes every morning and watch them light up when he smiled and darken when he was mad. He wanted to learn every noise, breath, moan, and whisper Arthur made when they were together, pressing over in and around one another in a tangle of limbs that he really needed to stop thinking about if he wanted to avoid an uncomfortable situation on his horse. He wanted to watch Arthur's hair go gray alongside his own.
He wanted Arthur to want all those things too.
Arthur looked over at him, started to respond before his mouth snapped shut and ducked his head down. It was one of those ticks he did that Alfred had learned to recognize what they meant. This one was Arthur wanted to say something he wasn't sure how it would be received, and he was nervous. He took whatever time he needed to sort through his thoughts before he looked back up at Alfred, his face falling into the one that tried to make like he was all nonchalant and didn't care when he really wasn't. Well, I can't very well go home to Britannia with my Voice now, can I? Now that I bloody well figured out how to use it, I'm not about to stop.
"It is pretty awesome," Alfred agreed. Arthur's face tipped into a more honest one, his more playful grin stretching across his mouth.
It rather is. He tilted his head to the side, his eyes a million miles away. I don't know if I've given much thought to it, what I'd do or where I'd go once this was all finished. I could open a new bookshop somewhere. I've certainly amassed a collection in Seychelles' ship that she has been vocal about me taking with me when I depart.
Alfred forced a grin, not sure what he was expecting, not sure if he was brave enough to ask what he really wanted to. "Ye-yeah, for sure! Books are, well they're awesome, yeah."
Yes…though I have had quite a lot of them over the last several months. I could do with a change, maybe. Arthur seemed to steel himself before he looked over at Alfred, a rare open expression his face, like he was about to jump off a cliff into an ocean below. I—I don't suppose you'd mind help with your inventions? I do have a bit of a way with words that might help.
The smile that overtook his face was slow, like the curl of warmth spreading through his whole body. Alfred didn't give a shit about pretending, he reached over and took Arthur's hand resting on the pommel of his saddle, squeezing it with everything he couldn't say or act on right then, probably nodding way to much but fuck, he didn't care. "Yes! Yes I—I'd like that. You too, I mean, you'll like it too."
Arthur's smile was the most gorgeous damn thing he'd ever seen. Right, then. Good.
"Yeah, good," Alfred breathed. He hated to let go of Arthur's hand, but he did, knowing there was only so much Sadiq and Esther would put up with before he got yelled at. Again. He didn't move away though, further annoying his horse, not when now he had so many other ideas and thoughts bubbling up and practically exploding out of him.
"It will be so awesome, Artie, and you'll love it. It gets a little humid in the summer, but it's not that bad. Oh! And with your Voice, I bet we can totally get the engine for the airship plans I have to work properly! And once we have my baby built, then you and me and Mattie can go adventuring without the whole 'mission' thing to worry about. Actually enjoy it, right?"
Yes, yes we could.
Arthur ducked his head back down and away. Alfred knew that meant he was done talking about all this stuff, had had enough talking about feelings or whatever, but Alfred didn't care. Because Arthur wanted to leave with him when this was over. Live with him. Be with him. And that was one more damn good reason to get to Braginski as quick as possible, kick his ass, save the world from his stupid cronies, all that junk.
"Hey," Alfred said, knowing he needed to say one more thing, pitching his voice low so it was just for them. "I love you, Arthur Kirkland. And when this is all done, we're gonna be fucking awesome."
Arthur blushed, those damn freckles going dark again as the flush of pink covered his face. Yes, I love you too. Now, would you please back up just a little, at least pretend that you give a care about our cover? I can practically feel my skin sizzle from the death stare Esther is sending us through that small slit in the caravan covering.
Alfred chuckled but did as directed. He didn't care who they annoyed or who made stupid comments. All he cared about was getting to Ruthenia as fast as possible, getting Mattie back, and knocking Ivan Braginski off his dumb mountain. Because he had things to do once that was all done.
He and Arthur had a whole life to get started on.
Kiku watched Arthur practice after they made camp that night, perhaps a day away from the Bulgar border and wondered if he was there to truly 'teach' Arthur, or if that was a mere formality at this point.
Arthur certainly did not seem to require much instruction as he used his Voice to set up their tents, build a fire, and store all their unused gear in the caravan for the night. He had even shaped the earth into table and chair like structures for them to eat dinner at, collapsing them back to the earth once they were done. He had only ever seen the command of the earth with that much ease from Tino Väinämöinen and his predecessor before. When Kiku had asked why he had not left the earth as he had changed it, Arthur only shrugged before he replied that that was not how the earth had been shaped before.
Kiku thought briefly that if Yao had been there to hear that response; he would have laughed himself hoarse before chiming in with a pithy response about the Balance's sense of humor. Before also making plans on how best to use Arthur for his own aims.
Kiku knew the thought was not precisely fair to his old teacher. The rest of the crew, who were either friends or at least respected Arthur at this point, looked on at the things he could do with their own agendas as much as Master Yao would have. Or did when he met Arthur briefly in Spandow. Kiku had no illusions that his friends were free from thoughts on how Arthur's Voice could be an advantage to them. Whether it was in the coming fight against Ivan, in making their travel across the Byzantium easier now, or even how it could help them in the long sought 'after' they felt they were all getting closer to. Kiku knew which category he fell into, Alfred too. Though, Alfred tended to watch Arthur use his Voice with more honest awe and appreciation first, and how it would benefit their mission second.
The benefit of being in love, Kiku supposed. It colored one's perspective.
Kiku watched as Arthur was planting various seeds in the ground, using his Talent to cycle them through various growth patterns. After growing a batch of apple trees to full blooming height, Arthur knelt in the dirt and frowned at the plants he had grown. "What is it, Arthur-san? The trees are fully grown and producing apples. That was the goal, correct?"
Yes, Arthur mouthed, still frowning. But they don't belong here. This type of apple tree does not thrive in this sort of climate. They are rooted in, but they will not live on their own.
"No, I suppose not," Kiku replied. "You could change them into something else that could survive here. Lemons thrive in this climate."
Arthur nodded but didn't say anything, just looked at the apple trees he'd grown and frowned. Then he placed his hand on the trunks of each tree and used his Voice for something. He was not facing Kiku, so he had not been able to read his lips. However, when he was done, he looked satisfied and grinned at Kiku.
Now they won't.
"What did you do?"
I convinced them to change to an apple tree that would survive here. The tree won't need quite as much rain and will produce less apples each season in exchange.
"Convinced?"
Arthur gave a sheepish sort of shrug at his wording but nodded before explaining. Yes, essentially. Sometimes things, like living plants, are stubborn and don't want to just change or do something not designed. So, I have to convince whatever it is that the order is a good one. In this case, the apple trees liked the idea of being a brand-new type of apple and, well, surviving.
A new type of apple, Kiku marveled. "Not all your commands are so involved though."
Arthur shook his head. No. Tents and the like are easy. It has only been with living things, like the plants, that I need to be more persuasive. With specific phrasing or just—more will, I suppose. I don't know, I can't describe it better than that.
Kiku nodded. "Yes, I would imagine anything that lives within the Balance would have its own magic or energy to contend with, as opposed to something manmade. Did you have to 'convince' the branch from the almond tree back in Stamboul?"
Arthur nodded.
Kiku watched the apple trees in silence for a beat before he gave a rueful chuckle, drawing Arthur's attention back to him. "I admit, Arthur-san, I am not sure what more I can teach you about using your Talent. You have gained skill in wielding it, even in the short time you have been practicing. I believe you will master it further by simply using it in the coming weeks."
Arthur did not look convinced as he brushed his hands off and turned away from the new apple trees. But what about Ivan? I don't—I've not really used my Voice on a person before, besides that mob.
"I imagine it's not much different than using it on these trees," Kiku responded. "Though, I can understand the hesitancy, and am frankly glad that you are not one to look forward to imposing a command on someone."
Yes, but—
"Arthur-san," Kiku interrupted, holding up his hand to stop any further denials. "I will always be here as a resource to you, but I believe you understand how your Talent works within yourself to use your Voice as needed. Any further skill or expertise will only be learned from you using it."
Arthur still did not look convinced, but before he could attempt to argue with Kiku more, they both heard a sharp whistle from the outer edge of the camp perimeter, where Rosa was keeping watch tonight. It was late and most of the crew were either sleeping or at least retired to their tents, so Arthur and Kiku were the first up to respond. Arthur grabbed his tablet and quill after strapping on the short sword he'd been favoring since the bandit attack and headed off to see what Rosa was reporting. Kiku put away his seeds and wards first before following, grabbing no weapon as he went, letting his claws fully extend from their nailbeds.
Kiku approached Rosa and Arthur a few moments later, looking out at what Rosa had spied, his eyes sharpening in the dark to see better than either of his friends could. "What is it? Another caravan?"
Rosa shook her head, "No, mijo, there would be dust. I can see the rustle of plants, but nothing else. It may be a smaller party, or a singular person."
Kiku could see the trees and bushes that surrounded them parting, but it was too dense to see more than that, even for him. "Rosa, go get the captain. Arthur, can you smell anything? Like horses, spices, anything?"
Rosa headed off and Arthur took a deep inhale through his nose, able to smell where Kiku and Rosa could not. If it was a late-night merchant wandering off the path, Kiku could relax, but if not, the rustling appeared to be making a beeline for them. He looked over at Arthur, who had a confused look on his face. "Well, anything?"
Yes, but…Arthur trailed off before he furrowed his brows at Kiku. It smells like something burnt, like the air after a lightening strike.
Oh dear. "Like the ozone, if you had to give it a name?"
Yes!
"Ah. Well, it's not a merchant then," Kiku responded. Arthur noticed he did not retract his claws at his statement, dropped his tablet and quill to the ground, and unsheathed his sword.
Who then?
"A sorcerer, powerful one." Kiku said grimly. "Your Voice will be of better use here, Arthur-san, than that sword."
Arthur nodded, his face hardening and his eyes resolute, even if just before he had been nervous at the thought of using his Talent against another person. He wanted to protect the crew, his makeshift family, and if there was one thing Kiku had learned about Arthur Kirkland in the now seven months they had been traveling together, was that he was protective over what he cared about. Kiku felt a tension between them grow as they waited for the sorcerer to approach and Rosa to come back with the captain when suddenly, that tension snapped within Kiku as he recognized the magic accompanying this sorcerer. If he still had his smell, he would have recognized it early. He relaxed his stance and retracted his claws, both actions noticed by Arthur.
What, do you know who it is? Can you see them?
Kiku couldn't see him, not quite yet with the dense vegetation around them, but he nodded. He knew exactly who it was, as if called by his own fickle memory that very evening. "Yes, I know who it is. It is Master Yao-sama."
It was funny watching a camp full of people try their level best to keep their voices down while also simultaneously clamoring to speak up at once. Arthur could not judge any of them too harshly though—if he were not forced into silence, he was sure he would have been right alongside them demanding answers out of Yao. Like where he had been, what was he doing here, and how had he found them. Each of those answers had a vague reply of 'elsewhere' and 'helping' and 'magic', said with an enigmatic smile that Arthur frankly just found grating at this point. Understandably, the crew had not found those answers helpful either.
"Yao, it's not that we're not happy to see you," Seychelles started.
"But also, what the hell are you doing here?" Alfred interrupted.
"How long have you been tracking us?" Gilbert demanded, somewhat off topic. He had been having trouble following the conversation with so many people talking, so he had given up reading lips and was focusing solely on Yao.
"Sure, yes, that, but also what the HELL are you doing here?" Alfred shot Gilbert an annoyed look.
"I do not know this man; how do we not know he isn't in league with our adversary?" Sadiq asked, staring at Yao with dark eyes.
"We know him, mon ami, do you not see us talking to him?" Francis said, exasperated.
"I think saying you, like, know him is a stretch. You visit his stall every now and then to see if he has information on Ivan," Feliks chimed in.
"It's more than I know you," Basch interjected, glaring at Feliks. "And you don't see me brandishing my guns at you."
Arthur rolled his eyes at the squabbling and rubbed at his temples. This was getting ridiculous. Yao watched the chaos around him and had no apparent interest in trying to calm it down and Kiku was the only person, aside from himself, who was not making a sound, just staring at his former friend (teacher/brother/whatever they were). Arthur knew then that if they genuinely wanted to be productive here, Kiku was their best bet—Yao was watching the crew with amusement, but every now and then, his eyes would dart over to Kiku and that amusement would falter. Arthur bet gold to buttons that if Kiku asked these same questions, they would probably get a more forthright response out of Yao due to whatever bad blood there that Yao seemed desperate to fix.
But first, he needed everyone else to shut up. Arthur put his tablet down and pushed off from the caravan he'd been leaning against, walking around to the front of the group to where Kiku stood off to the side. He knelt in the dirt, placed his hand on the ground, and brought forth his Voice.
-Rise up and churn like the sea until they quiet-
And the earth between the crew and Yao did just that. Just as he had envisioned in his head, the earth rose and rolled, like churning water spouting from the ground, creating an Arthur-height barrier between the crew and Yao that was perhaps a foot in width—nothing too showy, but effective. The crew did quiet down and Yao turned his eyes to Arthur as he rose back to standing height and quirked one eyebrow back at the sorcerer. He wanted to play games, fine then, Arthur could play them right back. Yao turned his attention back to the rolling earth which continued for only a moment or two longer before settling back down into the ground as the crew quieted into silence. Only the loose dirt gave way to the fact it had been there. The crew, almost in unison, turned towards Arthur, their faces a range of impressed to annoyance at being interrupted. They were getting used to wat Arthur's Voice could do but it still gave them pause when he did something new or flashy.
Arthur looked at Alfred and spoke to him, not wanting to bother with his tablet. Can you please tell the crew to calm the bloody hell down? Yao isn't answering anything you all are yelling at him with any kind of helpfulness. I suggest a different approach.
Alfred watched Arthur cock his head over at Kiku, understanding lighting up his eyes, and he nodded. "Uh, Arthur says all of us yelling at once isn't helping so, um, Kiku! Why don't you take the lead, yeah? You're way calmer than all of us!"
Clumsy, but it would do. Arthur looked over at Kiku, who stood still, staring at Yao impassively, before he took a breath.
"Yao-sama, we are not here for your amusement." Arthur could not recall ever hearing Kiku's voice sound so—tense was not the right word, but he also did not think angry was either. Still, it was a low, chilled tone that captured his frustration with Yao's behavior clear for them all. "You took the time to not only locate us, but to travel to us as well and undoubtedly have determined who we are heading towards. We do not have time for your games, so allow me to repeat what my crew has already asked, why are you here?"
Yao did not respond at first, just stared back at Kiku in a similar, dispassionate manner Kiku had stared at him with before. But then, just as Arthur had thought he might when faced with Kiku's cold disappointment, he sagged slightly, and his countenance turned apologetic.
"I apologize, it was not my intent to deceive any of you," Yao said first to Kiku and then turning to the rest of the crew. "I am here to help you. I know you march towards Ivan Braginski and believe I have something that may help you."
He held up his hands in a placating measure before reaching inside his robes and pulling out what looked like a piece of paper with a compass inked onto it. Seychelles stepped forward, looking at the ward intently. "A Guiding Spell? That takes a lot of skill and magic to create."
"Yes, well lucky for you, I have an abundance of both," Yao replied, a light tease to his voice. "I made a stop to your home, Alfred, to obtain something of your brother's, as I understand Ivan has taken him prisoner."
Alfred stepped forward now, pulling up alongside Seychelles. "Yes, months ago. Back when we were in Spandow, according to Nikolai and Tino. Why did you—?"
"In order to craft this particular Guiding Spell, I needed something of your Matthew's to infuse with the ink. Your neighbors were kind enough to allow me entry to your home so I could obtain a few strands of his hair. Guiding Spells, as your captain pointed out, can be difficult to make and they work best when there is an anchor. In this one's case, I used your brother as that anchor."
Alfred reached out and took the paper from Yao, who let it go without a fuss. "This will guide us to Mattie?"
Yao nodded. "It took time to create and by the time I was done, I had learned your crew had already discovered where Ivan has made his home and were making your way there. This may not be as needed as I once thought, but it should still be helpful once you reach the Ruthenia border. The KauKhasis Mountains are a large range, this should provide a more accurate entryway and map through the range to where you seek."
Alfred smiled and the rest of the crew looked grateful or at least appreciative of the gift. Arthur could admit he also felt something similar, but Kiku was still tense beside him and that gave him pause.
"Why are you helping us, Yao-sama?"
Alfred frowned. "Kiku, he's helped us before."
"No, he has given us cryptic clues and rumors before. Nothing like this. You have known others who were taken as well, Yao-sama, you knew Toris and could have created this spell then if you had wished too. We had Toris' belongings left behind then, I'm sure some hair would have been present, so I ask again, why now?" Kiku's tail was bristled and his ears flat against his hair.
The air tensed as everyone waited for Yao to respond. The sorcerer's eyes were dark as he looked at Kiku, his youthful face marred with worry lines as his brows creased.
Arthur had a sinking feeling he already knew the answer to Kiku's question.
"You are right, Kiku, I could have created this before, but I did not. I waited until you had the means to face Ivan Braginski. You have that now." Yao gestured to Arthur with his statement and Arthur felt an involuntary flush creep across his face, even though he had guessed that was what Yao was going to say.
Kiku was still not satisfied. "No, we could have faced Ivan without Arthur-san. It would not have been easy, surely, but we still could have."
"Not with any chance of success, Kiku."
"Maybe not by your definition."
"I will not apologize for not placing your life, or that of your friends, at greater risk by waiting until it was confirmed Mr. Kirkland's Talent was not taken and he still had control over it."
"Stop lying!" Kiku's voice was raised, no longer calm and filled with distrust and anger. "Arthur-san only recently began using his Talent with any kind of purpose, you did not for sure until his display with the earth just now. It was not my life or that of anyone here you were seeking to protect. As ever, you are still only worried about one life. Ivan's."
They all waited for the denial to come, because surely Kiku had to be exaggerating, but none came. Instead, Yao faltered and could only offer back, "Kiku…"
"Do not lie. Not anymore. It is only now that we have a more likely means beyond death to stop Ivan you are here and offering your assistance." Kiku choked on his words for a moment, a helpless laugh catching in his throat, before continuing, softer, but still just as angry and hurt. "I should not be surprised at the lengths you are still willing to go for him. Even after all the people he has hurt and maimed and destroyed, you still only see him as he was. Even what he did to me and your other apprentices, you still want to see his life spared and are only helping us now that there is a higher possibility of that outcome."
Silence was not quite the word to describe what followed Kiku's words, but Arthur didn't think there was a word that quite covered the desolate quiet that fell over their camp as Kiku's history with Yao was finally laid bare. It was oppressive, the way Kiku's accusations lay out in the open and how Yao did not refute any of them. Arthur found himself moving away from Kiku and closer to Alfred, strangely relieved when he felt Alfred's arm tug him back into his chest.
No one seemed to want to speak, or know what to say, but it was Seychelles who found her voice first, putting on her best captain's face as she stepped forward and closer to Yao, her had resting casually on her hip where her weapons were more accessible. "I have no reason to doubt Kiku, Master Yao, but I will ask, is this true? Are you only here, offering help, in some roundabout way to help Ivan?"
Yao's age was pronounced on his face now, despite the youthful features. "Not in the way you think."
"Then explain it. If you truly are here as an ally, make me believe it. Make us believe it." Seychelles' voice brooked no sympathy, her eye fixed on Yao.
Yao sighed, sparing Kiku one final glance before he turned to face solely the crew. "Kiku was not wrong. I did know Ivan in his youth. I recognized an unparalleled Talent, at least at that time, and sought to nurture it for the benefit of the Balance. Ivan was only a young boy when I first met him, an orphan in the streets of Ruthenia, starving and alone, one of many destined to not last the long winter. I took him in, saved him, and taught him how to use his Talent and came to care for him as I do with many of my apprentices.
"He was a bright boy and mastered his Talent before long, learning how to call magic and energy to him, store it and use it as his own, and like most young students, he left to find his own place in the world. I did not see him for many years, centuries even, and when he returned to me, I thought we wanted the same things. I thought he sought to tip the Balance for good, to help people suffering in this world."
"You were an arrogant old man who only saw what you wanted to see," Kiku interrupted, still angry.
"I don't deny that," Yao responded. "Nor do I deny that I should have heeded your caution Kiku. If I had, things may be different today. All your lives may be different today. But I did not. I did not and my trust in him allowed Ivan to murder my new apprentices and take your magic, Kiku, I know this and can never apologize enough for it. I can only try to correct my mistakes the best way I know how, and I do not believe simply killing Ivan will reverse what he has taken. In fact, if the sickness I feel in the Balance now is to be believed, I fear killing Ivan may unleash more harm than good."
"You think Braginski is just going to work with us then? We rough him up some, take over his castle, muck up his plans and he'll suddenly have a change of heart and reverses all he's taken?" Gilbert asked incredulously.
"No," Yao answered wearily. "No, I don't think he will. What I do think is possible is that he can be forced to reverse what he has done. I think Mr. Kirkland can do this."
Ah yes, they'd finally arrived at the crux of the matter then, what Yao was really looking to help happen now, why he was overtly helping them and looking for resolution to this whole mess. Arthur stiffened as all eyes swung to him; Alfred's hand gripped his tight and he found comfort in both its warmth and Alfred's words. "Arthur isn't some pawn for you to use when it's convenient for you, Yao."
"No, he is not. But he is also here, is he not? Here and looking to put a stop to Ivan the same as any of you." Yao shot back, his voice sharp. He closed his eyes then and took a deep breath, blowing it out in a steady stream, looking to calm himself. "I cannot change the past. It is written and done. I am not looking your understanding, friendship or forgiveness. All I am looking to do now is to correct the wrongs Ivan has done with as little bloodshed as possible and I believe you all, Mr. Kirkland included, are the best hope this world has of that."
He seemed spent, out of words and truths to give, and now simply waited to see if they would accept his help or take the Guiding Spell and turn him away. Seychelles took measure of him for a moment before she turned to Kiku. "You know him best, Kiku, and you know more than all of us about the Balance and how magic flows through it and us. We will follow your judgement on what you think is best."
The crew, Arthur included, nodded along with Seychelles and he watched Kiku's ears flick back and forth in obvious agitation. His tail was not nearly as bristled as before, but it also was not sleek and curled calmy around him either. Arthur did not know how he wanted Kiku to decide, his mind feeling like a whirlwind of dark history, twisted up doubts, and regret that the joyous feeling he had had earlier that day from talking to Alfred about the future was replaced by this mess. All he could think about now were ripples on a pond, spreading and spreading out until they seemed to touch everything. And at its center, instead of Ivan, now he saw Yao.
He was not sure if that was better.
After an indeterminate amount of tense quiet, Kiku looked at Yao and then over to Seychelles before rendering his decision. "I trust Yao-sama with little. But I do trust him where it concerns the Balance. I have long believed simply ridding this world of Ivan would not reverse his past actions and I think Arthur-san is our best hope to reverse those actions, outside of a spell which will take time and magic we may not have time and resources to create."
Seychelles nodded. "So, he stays?"
Kiku met Yao's stare for a long time before he nodded. "For now, he stays."
"Good, then Master Yao, I expect you have your own tent and belongings, we didn't bring anything more for an additional person," Seychelles did not seem concerned with whatever Yao responded with beyond implying none of them would be sharing supplies with him.
Yao nodded, his face listless. "I have all I will need with me."
"Then I think we've all had enough excitement for one night so, take it in. Rosa, you're still on duty until Basch relieves you. Alejandro, do a quick perimeter check with her first before turning in. The rest of you, try and get some rest before dawn – we make for Bulgar tomorrow."
Everyone scurried to follow directions, eager to get some sleep in the scant hours they had before sunrise the next day. Arthur let Alfred tug him, vaguely gesturing to his tablet and quill, which Alfred fetched off the ground before leading him away from everyone and back to the tent he typically shared with Kiku. Arthur knew they should not, not with all the attention they already could have drawn to themselves from any passing travelers while they'd been engaged with Yao, but he also couldn't find it in himself to care. He followed Alfred inside and sagged against him as the tent flap shut behind them, wrapping his arms around Alfred's torso and tucking his face into his neck.
Esther is going to be pissed if you stay here tonight.
"I don't give a shit if she is, I'm not leaving," Alfred whispered back into his hair. "She can bitch at me tomorrow if she really wants to."
Arthur gave a weak smile, imagining she absolutely would the next day, but just pressed it in a kiss to Alfred's neck before they all but collapsed on their sleeping pads. When Arthur shut his eyes and fell into uneasy sleep, the only thought still running through his head was ripples on the pond.
Much answers, such reveal - my working title for this chapter.
*Bruxels - Taken from the French name for Brussels
Next update - Saturday 6/12/2021