Alfred channels his inner Elle Woods and the flex makes Arthur thirsty this round.

And Yao exhibits minimal growth, but is still wildly unhelpful - no claps form him.

Enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-One: Where there are Pushes and Pulls

They crossed over into Bulgar without issue.

Crossing the border meant they should reach the Ruthenia border and the KauKhasis mountains in around three weeks. That travel time included a stop in Sofiya, the largest city in Bulgar that was on their route, to restock and make sure they had proper mountaineering equipment before making their final push towards Ivan. However, while there was confidence it would take them a week to reach the city from the Anatolian border crossing, once they departed east for Ruthenia, it all became guesswork as to when they'd reach the border and mountains. Seychelles and Arthur had estimated two weeks based on their maps, topography charts, and the scale they had already travelled through the Byzantium compared to where the border should be, but it was just that, an estimate.

No one had been particularly thrilled with the less accurate timeframe for travel, as it made planning provisions so much harder, but no one, not even Esther or Sadiq, had much experience with either Bulgar or Ruthenia.

Bulgar was somewhat isolated as the western border was lined with the Craggs, their northern with the Axenios Sea, and their eastern with Ruthenia and the KauKhasis mountains. When you took that and the fact no one really traded with Ruthenia outside of Persica in today's age, most folks tended to leave Bulgar alone. The only thing anyone seemed to know and agree on was that Bulgar was an agriculture-based culture and more like Avrupa in terms of religious and societal leanings than their other Byzantium neighbors. If nothing else, Arthur was grateful that crossing into Bulgar meant that Seychelles, Rosa and Esther could ride outside the caravan if they chose, Kiku did not have to wear the ridiculous coat to cover his ears and tail during the day, and he and Alfred did not have to hide any sign of affection between them.

As he had promised Seychelles, Yao's addition to their group had not really changed much for either their routines or their pace. He had ridden on one of the pack mules without complaint, set up his own tent and had his own provisions, and had made no attempts to engage with anyone after that first night. He seemed content to serve as a silent presence on their mission, a part of their group, but apart at the same time. Arthur knew the crew was not complaining about that choice—the face that his motivations were still somewhat unclear, beyond stopping Ivan, and his disastrous trust in Ivan leading to Kiku's attack and so many others left most happy Yao kept to himself.

Arthur was not so sure leaving Yao to his own devices was the best course. He personally did not want to engage with the man, not after feeling like Yao had been literally using him like a puppeteer since Spandow and the fairies. But he also didn't think leaving him to his own thoughts and machinations was the best idea. He took comfort that he was not the only one with these worries though. Kiku always seemed to keep Yao in his line of sight, even if he did not engage with him, and Feliks was doing something similar.

It was no secret Feliks did not believe Ivan ultimately deserved to walk away from their final confrontation with his life. He and Sadiq had made that clear several times while they made their way across Bulgar and towards Sofiya. Their current train of thought was that Ivan had to be kept alive only long enough for Arthur to so something to make him reverse all the Talents and energy and magic he had stolen. Arthur guessed keeping an eye on Yao, who might try and change that outcome, was Feliks' way of making sure his own plans of revenge were met.

Of course, the thought of exactly how Arthur was going to use his Voice to make Ivan reverse what he'd done was still something he was working out. Oh, he had an idea of what everyone presumed he would need to do with Ivan—he would need to use his Voice to compel Ivan to reverse his actions. That part of the 'how' was not in question. No, it was more about his will on using his Talent on another person. Outside of the mob trying to kill him, Arthur had not used his Voice that way before. Kiku kept harping that the energy and act of using his Talent on people should be not any different than with the plants, but Arthur could feel it in his gut that while Kiku may not be wrong, neither was he right.

He had not been exaggerating when he had told Kiku using his Voice on the plants was more like persuading them to follow his order rather than just telling them like he did with other things. Each time he had done something bigger, more unnatural, with the plants he practiced with, he could feel a, not a resistance exactly, but something like it that he needed to push past. It was infinitely easier when he figured out the right phrase, the right reasoning to get the plants, earth, or whatever so they agreed with his order as opposed to just barreling over their opposition. Arthur imagined that this process would be much more involved for a person with more complex thought and agency than seeds or trees.

Not to mention the feeling of uneasiness he had at the thought of robbing someone's will and forcing them to do his own. Especially after all his own crewmates' and his own experience at having some part of themselves stolen away by Ivan against their wishes.

A part of Arthur was tempted to seek out Yao and all his years of knowledge to see if this was truly what he was going to have to do when it came time to confront Ivan. The other part of him could not shake the feeling that Yao's eyes on him whenever he was not looking for them and that gave him pause. The pause was not because he was worried Yao would somehow betray him and their company if Arthur was alone with him, revealing his colors as Ivan's ally all along and incapacitating Arthur in some way. No, it was more that he felt that Yao was actively looking for Arthur to seek him out. If he had learned anything from his and Kiku's history, it was that Yao had his own agenda for everything he did, and those did not have to line up with his, Alfred's, or anyone else's safety.

The real question, the one he had been asking himself for nearly five days now, was if the risk of playing into whatever machinations Yao had for him was worth whatever insight and knowledge he could offer Arthur. As they got, presumably, closer to Ruthenia, he felt like it may be necessary.

Arthur was still mulling this question over as they set up camp that night, using his Voice to set up his and everyone else's tents with an ease now that seemed impossible back in Stamboul.

Arthur set the quandary aside as he watched Alfred was hauling in their packs into the tent they had officially began sharing to Esther and Sadiq's frustration the moment they had crossed into Bulgar. Arthur watched as Alfred didn't seem to strain himself at all from the heavy packs he was carrying in one hand—in fact, Alfred didn't seem strained anytime he used his strength the past few weeks. He was fairly sure he had seen Alfred lift up the caravan with at least five people inside the other day to help get a stuck wheel out of the mud without even thinking. It had not seemed odd at the time, but he remembered Alfred saying for months that his strength was supposedly like they thought his Voice was, only showing its full potential in stressed situations. Alfred caught his look and set the packs down with a small, confused look on his face.

"What? Did you want your pack somewhere else? They really should be up by our heads just in case robbers do try and sneak up on us."

No, that's—no. Were you holding both packs in one hand the whole way from the caravan to our tent?

"Um, yes? Francis needed help with carrying some of the water containers, so I helped him out." Alfred shrugged and gave Arthur a grin. "It can be hard for him to navigate with those big jugs you know."

So, you were carrying both our packs in one hand and one of the water containers in the other? With no issue?

"Yes, what's with the twenty questions, Artie, it's not like it was hard."

Arthur could have strangled him—he could be so dense sometimes. It should have been hard though, Alfred! Each of our packs weigh at least 40 pounds and the water containers are similar. That's 80 pounds you were hauling with apparently no strain.

Alfred's eyes went a little wider at that. "Oh—I didn't even think about it. I guess that is a little weird."

Come here and pick me up.

Alfred's eyes went wider before his cheeks dusted red. "Artie I, I mean it's not that I don't really want to, but the ground is still pretty rocky in here, even with the sleeping pads, I don't know if that is a good idea—"

No, not for that! Arthur felt his own cheeks heat up as he realized what Alfred thought he was proposing. The terrain where they made campy that night was flat but was mostly loose dirt and gravel. He agreed with Alfred wholeheartedly that while it would be nice to be intimate after so many weeks apart, the threats of rocks jabbing either of them in an inopportune moment was reason enough not to. No I—I think I'm close to 160 pounds, I want to test something. Just—just pick me up.

Alfred was still blushing a little, but he looked eager as he crossed the tent to Arthur. He fit his hands around Arthur's waist and lift him off the ground without any trouble. As Arthur's hands automatically found their way around Alfred's shoulders and Alfred's hands moved to settle under his thighs, he watched Alfred for any sign of strain. He did not see any—he had to stamp out the thrill of heat that went through him at being held up so easily by Alfred because they still had things to test. Just picking him up was not necessarily a major thing, Alfred had certainly done it before. They needed to add weight.

Can you also grab our packs? I can slip one on and you can hold the other one in one of your hands.

Alfred nodded and walked them both over to their packs. He had to kneel down to one knee to grab the packs while still holding Arthur, but he did it without issue, holding one pack out to Arthur with one arm so he could slip it on, using just one arm to hold him up for that exchange. Arthur slipped the pack over his shoulders while Alfred's hand settled back on his left thigh, his right hand holding the other pack. He quirked an eyebrow at Arthur one he was done, still looking no worse for wear. He didn't look troubled at all.

"Well? What now?"

Alfred. You're holding up around two-hundred and forty pounds between myself and the packs. And you're not having any issue with that.

Alfred frowned as he mulled over Arthur's words and without Arthur's prompting, he shifted Arthur over into only his right arm, carrying all of the weight on one arm. His frown deepened. "Huh."

Huh?! That's all you have to say?! Your bloody strength suddenly reappears in full force you didn't notice?"

"Well, I didn't think about it before! Back before Braginski and I fought, I just did things because I knew I was strong enough, and after, well, I could feel that I had limits, so I didn't." Alfred, still holding Arthur, walked around the tent, looking for something else he could pick up. "I've been kind of busy thinking about facing Braginski and getting Mattie back the last few weeks, all right? Not like I stopped to think about stuff I was doing around camp!"

Fine but—oh put me down! We've proved my point, you don't need to carry me about anymore.

Alfred dropped the pack in his hand but did not drop Arthur or the pack he was wearing, just shifted him back so he had a hand under each thigh. Arthur had to practically will the blush on his face from darkening. "No way! We need to see what else I can do!"

Alfred! But alas, Arthur's protest went ignored as Alfred carried him out the tent and into the camp proper. Oh, fuck it all. Alfred, if you do not put me down this instant, I swear to all you hold dear you are going to regret it.

"You're the one who asked me to pick you up, quit your bellyaching," Alfred volleyed back with a mischievous lilt to his grin. Alfred jerked his head back from Arthur's attempt to swipe it off his face, laughing loud and bright, drawing other's eyes to them both as Alfred headed toward the caravan.

By the time they got to their caravan, several other crew members were either following them or watching them from what they had been doing before Alfred had marched them past. Alfred shifted Arthur and the pack over to his right arm only again, freeing up his left arm. "Ok, let's see what I can do, yeah?"

His grin was so hopeful that Arthur felt himself nodding even though he was annoyed at being part of this whole spectacle. Alfred took that as his permission and gripped under the caravan with his left hand and lifted. The caravan could not go too high with the angle he was lifting it up at, but it still came right off the ground. Alfred laughed and set it back down gently before he finally dropped Arthur just as gently until his feet hit the ground again. Arthur shrugged off the pack, rolling his sore shoulders once they were free and watched as Alfred got both hands under the caravan and lifted again—it came right up and he flexed his arms again, lifting the entire thing up and off the ground.

The shocked gasps and exclamations from the crew were entirely justified as Arthur watched in amazement as Alfred literally lifted the entire caravan up and over his head from lifting it up from one side only. Strain was showing now, but not in any way that suggested he was going to drop it. He laughed out loud in a joyous, incredulous manner before he bent his knees and slowly lowered the caravan back down until all wheels were again touching the ground. He was still laughing when he picked Arthur back up and spun them both around, the sheer joy exuding from him contagious as Arthur felt his own face break out into a huge grin.

"I did it, I fucking did it, Artie! I haven't—I don't know how, but it's like my strength was never gone!"

"Alfred! You—what happened?" Seychelles asked as she hurried over.

Alfred set Arthur back down for a second time, his arms still around his waist and shrugged helplessly. "I have no idea how, but I've been using my normal strength for the last few days, maybe weeks! Arthur pointed it out so I tested it and—it's like before Braginski. And not that half-assed strength I was using sometimes before, but my strength, my Talent. All of it!"

"That's—that's wonderful, Alfred!" Seychelles grinned, clapping Alfred on the shoulder. "Perfect timing too."

"Fuck me, Ivan ain't gonna know what hit him when Hero here punches him," Gilbert exclaimed.

"Oui, truly fantastic," Francis said with a wide smile, his eyes unfocused but bright.

Most of the rest of the crew nodded and all came up to congratulate Alfred, even Sadiq. Feliks held back but nodded and gave Alfred what looked like an honest smile before going back to sharpening his knives. Arthur was still tucked into Alfred's side, but he turned his head and sought out Kiku, who was watching from his tent with a small smile of his own. He ducked out from Alfred's hold, who let him go without a fuss, and headed over to Kiku's tent, ready to share what he had started noticing and what they had tested in the tent to see if he had any insights as to what could have triggered Alfred using his full Talent.

However, on his way over, he saw Yao behind Kiku and off on the outskirts of their encampment, separate from the rest but watching Alfred with a knowing smile. His steps faltered as Yao turned his old, golden gaze to Arthur, arresting him with an expression that said he not only knew why Alfred's strength was back, but what it meant and if Arthur wanted answers to everything, to seek him out. And then, he was gone, back inside his tent as if he had not even been watching.

He founds his steps again and focused back on Kiku, whose eyes had gone dark as if he knew who had stolen Arthur's attention. Arthur shook his head to brush off any words of concern Kiku was about to share. He knew Kiku was only going to try and warn him off from seeking out Yao and Arthur did not want to lie to him that he was not going to.

Because in the wake of Alfred's Talent resurging, Arthur had just made-up mind regarding that question he had been asking himself and he had decided the risk was worth it, especially if Alfred was now involved.

Later that night, after the crew had all toasted to Alfred with a bit too much of the spirits Alejandro brewed for them from the sugarcane stalks he picked up in Herzliya, it was quiet. Arthur had only one drink and stuck to water the rest of the night, knowing he would want to keep his wits about him when confronting Yao. Once all the crew had slipped off to bed, and Arthur heard Alfred deep asleep besides him, he slowly crept out of his tent and made his way across the campsite to Yao's tent. Both his tablet and quill were gripped tight in his hands as the red silk came into view, sticking out amongst all the taupe and brown canvas, and the man in question was outside as well, looking at the night sky.

"I admit, I was not quite sure if you would seek me out, Mr. Kirkland." Yao's voice, as ever, was calm and collected. His eyes did not stray from the night sky as until Arthur came to stand alongside him. His eyes looked like quicksilver in the limited moon and starlight. "I am pleased you did though."

Arthur met his stare as impassively as he could and scrawled on his tablet. I am only here because you may have answers. I don't trust you.

"Yes, that is the common sentiment among you and the rest of Kiku's friends. Tell me though, if you do not trust me, why do you think I will give you truthful answers?"

Because Kiku believes that ultimately you want to stop Ivan. And you seem to think that relies on me.

"Perhaps. I cannot read the future," Yao answered, his face enigmatic. It made Arthur want to toss his tablet at him. "But yes, I do believe you have a role in that, perhaps the most important one, only time will tell. So, ask the questions you came to have answered."

I know you think my Voice can command someone to do something, but it's not that simple. Is that what you're hedging your bets on, when we confront Ivan?

"Yes, and it is not that I think that your Talent can do this, it is I know it can. It is a simple matter of your own will being stronger than Ivan's."

Arthur sighed, annoyed. But it isn't simple! I told Kiku this, living things don't just—

Yao waved his hand dismissively, stopping Arthur's writing mid-thought. "Arthur, I will be frank. You are the strongest Talentborn in an age and I believe you were born with your Talent as a direct response to Ivan's interference with the Balance. As his balance, so to speak. You are as powerful as he is, you can command him to reverse the actions he has taken just as you have been growing plants and setting up tents. All you must do is have the stronger resolve of the pair of you when you do."

Arthur snorted and though Yao could not hear it, he still got the sentiment. Stronger resolve? Are you saying I need to believe in myself more?

Yao shrugged. "It's your magic, Mr. Kirkland. You would be the better judge of that than myself. I am simply telling you that in terms of the theory behind how Talents reveal themselves, it is typically less complex than spellwork. If you can command a plant to grow, you can command a person to jump, the only difference is the will you exert."

Arthur was still not sure how that could be the case when one stopping Ivan was so much large than growing a few trees and flowers, but he now had two different people telling him the same thing so—maybe he needed to just trust what they were saying. It was not like he learned about any of this in Britannia.

Why do you say I am Ivan's balance? And if I am, why didn't he just kill me if I was such a threat?

"I doubt Ivan views you as his balance, he has always taken a more literal view of things," Yao replied. "In fact, if I had to venture a guess, I would say he probably views Alfred as his mirror—Alfred's Talent is also quite unique, like Ivan's or yours. And powerful."

Arthur's brows furrowed. His strength?

Yao shook his head. "His Talent is not strength. He absorbs energy and magic around him, like a siphon. The strength you see? That is simply how he chooses to use the energy he collects. He could choose to use it in a different way if he wanted to, though I doubt he would. Alfred likes to help people and play the 'hero' and back home, having incredible strength is how he could."

Arthur was still confused, and now reeling a little at the insight into what Alfred could really do. I still don't understand. How you described Alfred's Talent, that sounds like what Ivan does.

"Similar yes, but not the same," Yao answered. "Ivan must make a conscious choice to take in energy and magic, makes it his own, but he cannot change it into something else and he has a limit of how much he can intake. Alfred is drawing in and expelling energy and magic naturally, more akin to breathing than anything else, and once it is his, it takes whatever form his wishes it too. But as I said, the similarities between their Talents are likely why Ivan views Alfred the way he does and his focus on him, which I have no doubt you've experienced."

Arthur nodded, unfortunately familiar with Ivan's obsession with Alfred. And Ivan is wrong and you think I am his 'balance'?

Yao chuckled ruefully at Arthur. "Come now, do you not see it? Ivan, someone who was born in a barren land with a powerful and benign Talent who has twisted it into something monstrous and you, from a country that once was rife with magic and now made barren of it by deliberate choice, born with a powerful Talent that could be monstrous with little effort and yet, you chose to make it benign. The juxtaposition between you both proves the Balance was nothing if not deliberate in the actions it took to bring a Talent like yours into this world."

Arthur could not respond to the idea that his whole fate had been seemingly engineered to provide a foil to a megalomaniac, so he let Yao's suppositions lie and switched gears to a different question. He could afford an existential crisis over his role in the universe later if he actually was able to provide said foiling to Ivan.

So, why did Alfred's Talent kick back on then? He used it today after not being able to fully for years.

"Ah yes, I did see the excitement today with the caravan. That too, I believe, is tied to Alfred's Talent. When Ivan 'took' Matthew and Alfred's Talents, I don't believe he actually took Alfred's, like he didn't take yours or Toris'. What I think he did instead was establish a connection with Alfred and through that connection, he siphons off the magic and energy Alfred is still absorbing. But the connection was forged while Ivan was carrying Matthew's empathy, so it is only as strong as the emotions that tie Alfred to Ivan."

Yao paused and gave Arthur an almost playful smile before he continued. "As silly as it sounds, I believe Alfred being able to lift the caravan today is a result of his emotions to Ivan being, ah, pulled shall we say? By his feelings of friendship and comradery for his friends, for his love and worry for his brother. For his affection of you, I think, most of all recently. All of that lessens that emotional tether as less of his mind is occupied by Ivan. And if the connection is not as strong, due to how strongly Alfred may now feel for someone else, there is less for Ivan to leech off."

Arthur felt hot and unsteady at Yao's answer, his hands less stable in their grip on the tablet and quill than before. His chest felt almost heavy with the emotion that rushed through him at the thought of Alfred literally overpowering the grotesque connection forged by Ivan through simply caring and loving him and others. It was like something out of a children's tale. Where the 'power of love' conquered all the wrongs and perils the heroes and heroines had to fight and overcome or a kiss from 'true love' broke the spell.

Yao was right, it did sound ridiculous—wonderfully ridiculous.

He had to shake the ludicrously giddy feeling he felt under his skin off because he still had one more question he needed to ask Yao before he snuck back to bed. One where he was afraid and dreading the answer. One that had been rattling in his brain since he last saw Nikolai and was reminded of the deal he had made with the Fey in Spandow. One that was in forefront of his mind once Yao reappeared and Kiku's accusations of duplicitous actions laid at his feet, Arthur's mind going back to a conversation he had with Yao months ago where he assured him using the pendant to speak to Alfred would be fine.

In Spandow, you told me using this pendant was safe, that the fairies I had met were to be trusted. Arthur gestured to the pendant around his neck, covering the red mark left by Ivan and continued writing. Nikolai was worried when he learned I made this deal. Told me maybe I was fortunate, but he didn't look convinced.

Arthur took a deep, steadying breath while he let Yao read his recent message before he finally arrived at his question. Were you lying to me then, in Spandow?

Yao was quiet in the wake of Arthur's question. Arthur felt like he had a lead weight in his stomach and clenched his fingers tight around the tablet as he stared angrily at Yao. Finally, with a face as impassive as stone, Yao met his stare and responded. "Not in the way you think. But I also was not honest with you either."

Arthur's words were jagged and mess on the tablet his hands shook all through writing. So you lied. You pushed me to use the pendant and told me it would not require anything else from me than I was already doing in looking to stop Ivan!

Yao sighed and shook his head. "It is not so straightforward as that, but—but yes, I did mislead you. You relayed to me the wording the fairie used was that once 'you and others have your magic back' you then would 'help give the Earth back her magic'. Ivan is doing something to subvert the Balance, so it would make sense he is doing that by taking energy and magic from nature forcibly, not just from people. The deal you made—you agreed to use your Talent to help reverse those changes too, whatever they may be. The fairies could sense your power, even when you could not, and knew you had the means to do this. The Fey seek to preserve the Balance as well and are not strong enough to counter Ivan on their own—so they chose you."

Arthur felt as if he had been punched in the gut. He could feel his hands shaking, different than before when he was so angry at being lied to, and had a hard time stringing together thoughts in his head beyond one. That there was always a cost to magic and the cost to something like reversing changes Ivan had been making for years to the whole world—well, it certainly would be high. Much higher than reversing Ivan stealing Talents. Higher than he could—no. No, he was not going to go down that road yet.

He was apparently the world's best hope and given his magic by an all-encompassing force so he could be its champion against Ivan and all that rot, so that was what he needed to focus on. Not the fact that he may have doomed himself with an ill-made promise to Fey creatures he had not understood. All because he was too weak to just deal with not being able to communicate outside of the tablet.

The fact that he felt like a puppet being used by Yao, the Fey, the fucking Balance.

He closed his eyes and wiped at his face with his free hand, wanting nothing more than to just lie back down in his tent, next to Alfred and the memories of the futures they had excitedly talked about and planned only days before. He had nothing more to ask or more importantly say to Yao and started to leave before Yao's voice called out, halting his steps.

"Arthur, I meant what I said when I said you are the most powerful Talentborn in an age, and that is why the Fey singled you out. I do not believe they would do that if they did not think you capable."

Arthur did not look back or acknowledge Yao's words. He left Yao to his lies and cryptic bullshit and headed back to his tent, his thoughts buzzing like a thousand bees in a hive with all that he had learned and the new questions he could not shake.

Toris had a new appreciation for Matthew's patience and perseverance.

Only nineteen and captive for nearly five months and the most Toris could really see of that trauma was a short temper and unkempt appearance. He'd been confined to his cell for maybe two or three weeks and he felt like he was spinning out of his own skin with the solitude. He was not built for captivity, especially with his Talent so tied to his connection with other people, but he felt a bit ashamed of just how badly he was handling his isolation in comparison. He pushed is long hair out of his face and continued staring at the wall, forcing the self-pitying thoughts away as much as he could. He was not very successful, he thought ruefully, shivering as the ever-present winter on the mountain sent a bitter breeze through the barred window of his cell.

Before he could go too far down the rabbit-hole of self-pity, he heard the telltale shuffle of Oksana outside his cell with his dinner. He wiped at his face hurriedly and rose off the ground where he had been sitting curled up against the wall with the blanket he had been given and waited for Oksana's kind face to appear with his dinner. However, it was not Oksana who greeted him. It was Eduard.

Toris could feel himself begin to ask what Eduard was doing there, but he held himself back when the other man placed a finger to his lips. Eduard set down his dinner and a warded spell Toris recognized as Asmin's handiwork, a soft buzzing filling the space between them. He felt so relieved at seeing her work his knees went weak and he had to steady himself against the wall. Oksana had not been very forthcoming as to the state of anyone after Ivan imprisoned him and he'd been sick with worry for them all, but mostly for Asmin and Raivis. Seeing the spell told him Asmin was, at the very least, well and not kept in a cell like he was, for which he was grateful.

Seeing Eduard out and about was encouraging too. For as angry as Toris' collusion with Matthew's 'scheming' had made Ivan, Toris knew that anger was barely a candle to what Eduard's involvement had likely burned in their captor. However, his relief at Eduard's relative freedom was diminished by the dark circles under his eyes and the haggard expression. Toris motioned to the spell, silently asking if it was safe to talk and after another few moments of silence, Eduard nodded tightly.

"I know you are here for a reason, but first, is Raivis ok? Asmin?" Toris asked hurriedly. "Oksana doesn't say anything to me except about how I need to find it in my heart to believe in Ivan's Vision."

"They are both fine," Eduard replied. "Asmin was scolded but did an admirable job at playing as if we had tricked her. She said Raivis had been tricked as well. Ivan placed Natalia in charge of them both for the time being, but I am sure Oksana has been offering her assistance. Natalia has no patience or interest in children."

Toris grimaced at the thought of Natalia being even remotely in charge of watching over Asmin and Raivis and made to share that when Eduard held up his hand, halting Toris' words again. "I am sorry, I do not have the time, Toris, there are things I must tell you, things you need to be ready for if—if the opportunity presents itself."

Eduard stepped close and lowered his voice, taking additional precautions over being overheard even with the spell. Toris felt a thrill of foreboding and anticipation him through him as Eduard's frantic eyes met his own. He had never seen Eduard so unsettled. From the time he had been brought to Ivan's keep up until their discovery a few weeks ago, Eduard's quiet and steady presence had been a balm to Toris' nerves. Seeing him so shaken and uneasy did not make Toris feel great.

"Ivan is making his final moves for his Vision. I told Matthew this when I was able to visit him, like I am with you now. He has a trip planned next week to the Barrens and he is going to do something bigger than he did last time, something more and—and I don't know what it will do, but it will be worse than we feared. He is subverting the Balance violently; it cannot continue to maintain itself under the stress he is placing on it and the Barrens."

"But I thought his Vision was to restore Ruthenia," Toris interrupted.

"It is, but that is only part of it, and a small part at that, I am coming to understand," Eduard continued. "I think he seeks to, ah, 'undo' the Balance, Toris. Break the world free from it."

Toris blinked, the very idea of undoing the Balance inconceivable. "He—he can't do that."

Eduard shook his head grimly. "I think he can. I think he is doing it, in the Barrens. And I think he's going to take another large step towards that goal when we go back next week with more stones."

"He's taking you with him?" Toris asked sharply.

Eduard nodded. "Yes, me and Vladimir*."

"But why would he need you, he—"

"It doesn't matter," Eduard interrupted again. "What matters is what happens when he comes back and what you need to do when he does. Oksana let slip that once Ivan's Vision is on it's path, he'll release you so you can be part of it—don't fight him, go along with him and assure him you'll do what he needs, anything so you remain free."

Now it was Toris' turn to shake his head. "He's not going to just believe me, Eduard, not after everything."

"No, you'll need to convince him," Eduard said, a small, sad smile on his face. "Say whatever it takes to stay free because you will need to be ready when the Evangeline crew arrive."

"They found us? They're coming here?"

"Yes, and Ivan knows, but not how close they are. I think he sent out Dmitri to better track their arrival. I haven't seen him around for the last few days, but I'd hazard he's been gone longer. Maybe even before I was set free. Ivan would only send him out if he needed to and I think that is because your former crew is making their way here. It would explain why they started using a shielding spell to mask their location."

Toris nodded. "So, you think they'll get here soon?"

"Yes, I do," Eduard replied. "And I don't think he sent Dmitri out to stop them, just track them, which means Ivan wants them to find us. That is why you need to be ready to free Matthew and get Asmin and Raivis to safety so you can help the Evangeline crew against whatever Ivan has planned. Promise me you'll do what it takes to stay out of this cell so you can help them, Toris."

"…all right," Toris said quietly after a time, taking in Eduard's desperation and fear from his request of Toris. It mimicked his own and he did not feel brave or strong enough to combat it.

He had never been the brave one. It had always been Feliks growing up, then the crew of the Evangeline after Ivan's failed attack, and then Eduard after his capture. But if Eduard was right about what Ivan was doing, the very least he could do was try to make sure he was able to help his friends when everything came to a head. Besides, it the Evangeline crew had found them, maybe Feliks had met back up with them and was making his way to Toris. Feliks had travelled the world for him and had faced untold dangers along the way—Toris could do no less for Feliks and their friends. Steeling himself he nodded and continued in a stronger voice, "I promise, Eduard, I'll be ready."

"Good," Eduard exhaled shakily. He looked down at the warded spell and Toris' gaze followed. It was almost spent. "I need to leave."

He began to make his way out of the cell when he paused and looked back at Toris. Then, before Toris knew it, Eduard was gripping him in a tight, almost painful hug; Toris began to return it but Eduard was already pulling away. "I am sorry for any role I played in your capture, but I am not sorry to have been your friend, Toris Laurinaitis, come what may."

And with that, Eduard was gone, the cell door closing quietly after him, leaving Toris with a cold dinner and lingering warmth from his embrace. Toris sat down on his bed and could not shake the sense that part of Eduard's parting felt like goodbye.

It had taken time, but he had finally found them.

His task had not been easy. Brother Ivan had not known precisely where to start, but he had spent weeks searching and pushing his body to its limits through Persica, Anatolia, and Bulgar, and now here was in Sofiya, nestled in a crowded inn and about to march east. He had changed his skin and stood on two legs instead of four for the first time in weeks and debated his chances of success if he were to launch an attack on them while they drank and ate and fucked and slept. In his wolf-skin, he knew he could do it, but he held back and watched as the crew of the Evangeline cavort inside the inn without a care to the damage they sought with their misguided mission. Brother Ivan had been clear that he was to watch and report back to him the group's location and movements. And if the Siren was using his Talent in any way.

He had not truly thought the fools would do be so close to their home, despite Brother Ivan's suspicions. And yet, here they were, only a week from the Ruthenian border, looking ready for battle. He recognized the blond friend of the traitor Toris among the group—he had thought that man had broken off on his own some time ago, but there he was, talking with the hulking Anatolian who had injured Sister Natalia. He felt his blood roil at the thought of his Sister being hurt and had to turn away to keep the wolf at bay. He could not let Brother Ivan down, not now, not when they were so close, and Brother Ivan needed this information. Once calm again, more man than wolf, he turned back to the inn and found the Siren, who was sitting close to Alfred Jones the way a lover would.

The Siren did not use his Talent in such plain view throughout the evening and into the night, but he dutifully watched for any sign or show throughout the night in case he could report back this finding to Brother Ivan as well. It was only after they had all drifted off to bed as night fully fell that he got up to send a raven with at least the group's location. He slunk silently through the dark streets to the aviary they had planted their own birds some time ago, content in the knowledge he was providing Brother Ivan with part of what he requested, when voices caught his ear in the night air. Mindful to not be caught, he crouched down and changed into the smaller form of his wolfskin before he crept towards the voices, keeping to the shadows.

As he got closer, he found he recognized one of those voices.

Outside of the inn in a dark alleyway, he hid behind garbage bins and peeked between a small sliver of space between the bins to see two figures illuminated by only moonlight. His ears pricked forward to catch their quiet conversation, but his eyes needed no help to see through the dark at who were behind the voices. The first, the Kitsune who travelled with the Evangeline crew and the second, Master Yao, Brother Ivan's former teacher. Master Yao, who had apparently betrayed Brother Ivan's confidences and thrown in his lot with these miscreants. He felt his blood rise again, always easier in this form, but he knew Brother Ivan would want to know of this and any information as to why Master Yao was with the Evangeline crew. He swallowed down the rage and focused on what he could glean from their hurried conversation.

"…not harmful. He asked me questions, sought me out on his own, and I answered as best I could and became upset as, I admit, I was not as truthful with him in the past as I was a few nights ago. That is all. Kiku, I am not here as your enemy, I am only here to help you."

"I don't doubt you want to stop Ivan now, I said as much when the captain asked me if we should allow you to join us, but I do think you have your own agenda, even now." A pause and deep sigh echoed softly before the Kitsune continued. "And that agenda disregards the safety of my friends."

"I cannot change the past, no matter how much I would like to, I can only move forward and stay mindful in the present. I gave him the guidance I should have in Spandow, how he uses it is up to him."

"Arthur is not your pawn in your game with Ivan."

"Nor is he a passive piece on the sidelines, as I told Alfred. His Talent is a testament to that fact. He is paramount to any offensive against Ivan, and now that he is actively using his magic, you should not coddle him."

"Protecting is not coddling."

"No, it is not, but ask yourself, Kiku, is he being protected by only knowing half-truths and pretty maybes, or hampered?" Yao paused and he could see through the bins he made to reach out his hand and place it on the Kitsune's shoulders but stopped midway through. He dropped his hand and turned, about to head back inside. "Take it from an old man who made too many mistakes by living with half-truths, it is always better to know the full scope of a person or a task, so you know what is truly at stake."

Yao left—the Kitsune stared after him in silence for a time before heading in as well. He waited a bit longer before darting out from his hiding spot, not willing to risk the chance to share all he had learned with Brother Ivan with carelessness now. Once the inn was quiet for a stretch, he slinked out from the alleyway and continued in the direction of the aviary to dispatch a raven to Brother Ivan. Once he arrived, he shifted back into his human form and entered the aviary through the back, where the lock on the door was rusted and did not hold up against his shoulder.

It took him some time to get everything down, but by the time the sun started to crest the horizon, the bird was off, carrying three important messages for Brother Ivan: the group's location, the Siren's use of his Talent, and the inclusion of Master Yao in the group. He watched the raven until it disappeared from his view and then left the aviary and headed east out of town. He changed back into his wolfskin and took position behind an outcrop of busses large enough to conceal his form.

He dozed for a spell, but the sound of an approaching caravan jolted him back to awareness and he watched as the Evangeline crew passed by him, heading towards the KauKhasis mountains and Brother Ivan. He dipped out of sight when he saw Master Yao look over in his direction and stayed flat to the ground until the caravan started to fade even from his ears. He needed to keep up with the group in case Brother Ivan sent back any instructions or actions to take, but knew that even with his stealth and cloaking, Master Yao may be able to spot him if he kept too close. He would need to exercise caution until Brother Ivan instructed his next move, and he could not let the wolf's bloodlust take over before the time was right.

Dmitri crept out from his hiding spot and followed the caravan, blood singing in his veins with each drop of his paw.

Things are coming to a head now, folks. Next update 6/13/2021 (double weekend update!)

*Sofiya - Romanized spelling of Sofia, capital of Bulgaria