Chapter 36: The Founding of the Alliance Part 11: An Expected Visitor
The mouth watering smell of food was wafting from the kitchen, and the others were already seated by the time they arrived. The higgledies were relaxing on the table and waved as the two approached. Pugnacious waited until they had taken their seats before clapping his hands twice, giving the signal for their drinks to be served.
"What would you like to drink?" He asked, as the attendants entered carrying golden jugs filled with water and juice, or bottles of red wine.
"I'll have some juice, please," said Evan.
"Me too," said Tani.
"I won't be sayin' no te some wine," Batu said with an eager grin.
"Yes, I think I'd like to try some as well," said Aranella.
"I'll just have some water thanks," said Roland. He didn't think he had the stomach for alcohol right now. Or juice. Their drinks were poured and the jugs and wine bottles were placed on the table, and the attendants returned to the kitchen. The higgledies flocked to Aranella and Batu's goblets of wine to peer over the rim at the dark liquid in fascination.
"Dinner should be ready shortly," Pugnacious informed them. "In the mean time, Ya Ya tells me that there was much you were able to learn from the library."
"There sure was, mun," Lofty confirmed as Tani said. "You can say that again."
"We believe we have a better understanding of Doloran and his goals," Evan elaborated.
"Oh?" Ya Ya and Pugnacious exchanged looks. She leant forwards, clasping her hands together and resting her elbows on the table, and her chin on her hands. "Do tell," she said.
"We discovered information on the Kingdom of Allegoria, or Nazcaä as it's better known, a kingdom that fell around three thousand years ago."
"Yes, we've heard of this Nazcaä as you say," said Pugnacious. "It commanded a great era of peace for many thousands of years, before it was brought to end." He frowned and asked. "But what does it have to do with our current predicament?"
"We believe he is trying to recreate the Kingdom of Allegoria after his namesake, King Doloran, who was the last king of that nation." Roland's stomach churned once more at the mention of Doloran's name. He sipped his water hoping to quell it.
Pugnacious frown hardened. "I see…"
"But why?" Ya Ya asked, half rhetorically. "Why would he go to such lengths to do such a thing?"
"We can only guess," said Aranella.
"Well, the world's not in such a great place at the moment," Roland observed. "So… I dunno…" He shrugged. "Maybe he's trying to bring back that "great era of peace", by bringing back the kingdom." He dropped his gaze into his drink as he added. "Even if it's only in so many words."
"I wonder at his methods if that's true," said Ya Ya, one hand raised to her chin and her gaze dropped absently into her goblet.
"Yes," Aranella agreed, her expression a pensive frown. "Even if he were to succeed in his goals, he will have inspired peace through fear." She shook her head as she continued, "And I do not envision a bright future for such a world." There was chorus of agreement at this statement, and Roland frowned. Was that the future he had been brought here to prevent?
"Pray what else did you discover?" Pugnacious prompted, gesturing in invitation.
"We also discovered information on the Kingdom of Ebbswane, a nation that fell around a thousand years later," Evan continued. "Its Kingmaker, Elegia passed over the Crown Prince, Romulus, and forged a kingsbond with his younger brother Remus instead. So Romulus left the kingdom to learn some dark magic, and then used this dark magic to steal Remus' kingsbond upon his return."
"Stole his kingsbond you say!?" Pugnacious and Ya Ya exclaimed in unison.
"That's right!"
"Why this must be where Doloran got the idea!" Ya Ya added.
"That was our conclusion as well," Aranella agreed.
"Yes, and so of course Elegia ran wild as a result and Romulus and Remus both tried to save the kingdom by sealing her away as a statue," Evan continued.
"We were findin' a statue in the ruins where the nation were said te stand the other day," Batu added. "If ye were te see it fer yerselves, ye'd agree that it be no ordinary statue. It be'avin' a strange air to it, and it be untouched by neither time nor the weather. That be why we be reckonin' on it being Elegia."
"So it's true," said Pugnacious.
"Yes," Evan replied with a nod. "And this is what we believe Doloran is stealing kingsbonds for; To use their power to free Elegia from her prison."
"I see."
"We also believe that he means to use Elegia's power to conquer the other kingdoms in order to populate his own kingdom with people," Aranella added.
Pugnacious hummed and twirled his moustache, so Evan asked. "What do you think?"
"I believe your hypothesis has some merit," he replied. "Certainly reversing a spell of such magnitude would explain why he would need the power of a kingsbond, as well as increasing the likelihood of him needing more than just one. And if he seeks to restore a Kingmaker, then it would follow that he would wish to join with that Kingmaker in a kingsbond, as well as everything else that entails. But conquering the other kingdoms? Would Elegia truly be powerful enough to achieve such a goal?"
"Well the other kingdoms won't be'avin' a Kingmaker te protect'em no more," Batu observed. "So the question would be if Elegia an'er King'd be powerful enough te face off with that kingdom's army. And dependin' on'ow much power'e'as left over from all'em kingsbonds what been stolen, then maybe they both just might."
"Don't forget about the Kingmakers rampaging before then," Tani added.
"I haven't forgotten," Pugnacious replied. "But you do make a point. Goldpaw is in much disarray still from Longfang's rampage. And we had you to assist us."
"That you did, mun," Lofty piped up.
"I cannot say how well we would fare if someone were to launch an attack against us now or in the near future. Even if that someone were to be in the form of Doloran and Elegia, if he and his Kingmaker will be as powerful as you fear. But this is precisely why I agreed to join the alliance; So that we may stand together in order to survive. Indeed, Goldpaw would have suffered a far worse fate if you had not been there to give us your aid to begin with."
"I dread to think how much worse," said Ya Ya. "But perhaps that was part of the plan; To have the kingdoms forces weakened by their own Kingmakers?"
"I think that's probably likely," said Roland. "A devastated kingdom would obviously be much easier to conquer after all."
"I wonder what he thinks of our intervention in that regard," Aranella wondered aloud.
"Probably just a minor inconvenience, if he and Elegia are going to end up being more powerful than a single army can handle anyway."
"Yes… I suppose that's true."
"All the more reason for you to continue on your quest to gather more allies," said Pugnacious. "And why I am now beginning to consider sending Ya Ya with you to Hydropolis in order to represent our party in the alliance."
Ya Ya straightened up sharply in her chair. "Are you… are you quite sure about that, Master Pugnacious? I won't deny the lure of visiting a new nation and a new people, but…"
"I think that would be a good idea," said Roland. "Hydropolis won't just be joining Evermore in the alliance, they'll be joining you as well. Which means you'll need to send someone to represent you, and as Second Roller, that makes Ya Ya ideal. Provided she can be spared of course."
"I am sure I can find a way to manage without you for however long it takes," Pugnacious assured her. "And I also believe it will provide some excellent training for your future role as Grand High Roller."
"Very well," she replied, before smiling at the party – though somewhat nervously. "Then it seems that I will be accompanying you to Hydropolis as well." The higgledies clapped for her even though she could neither see nor hear them.
"Does this mean that we would be able to borrow a boat then?" Evan asked.
"I am afraid that – given our location – we do not have much of a presence on the water," Pugnacious replied, shrugging apologetically. "The only sea vessels we have to offer are fishing boats. As I am no shipwright," he shook his head, "I cannot say how well suited they are for transoceanic travel."
"Probably not very well, I'd imagine," said Aranella.
"Right, and besides," Roland added. "Having a ship of our own means we'll be able to fish off our own waters thereby adding sea food to the menu."
"Gosh, I do love fish!" Evan exclaimed unprompted, thumping his fists agains the table in his enthusiasm.
"We've never had fish before," said Tani. "What're they like?"
"That very much depends on the fish," Aranella replied. "You see there are freshwater fish," she held up one hand, "and saltwater fish," she held up the other before allowing both hands to fall back into her lap. "I'd hazard that you would dislike the freshwater fish varieties and prefer the saltwater. They are fuller in flavour with a salty taste in contrast to the milder, plainer flavour of the freshwater species."
"I can't wait to try some!"
"Aye, an' me as well," Batu added in agreement.
"Me too, mun!"
Tani folded her arms at him. "Is there anything you won't eat, Lofty?"
"If there is, I've yet to find it, like."
"If you do find something, I'll be very surprised."
"You are in luck, my friends," Pugnacious informed them with a smile. "The kitchen is preparing some seafood dishes for you to try. Though I am sure you will find them to be very different to the meals prepared in Ding Dong Dell and Hydropolis, we hope you enjoy them all the same."
"I'm sure we will!" Evan exclaimed.
An attendant appeared at Pugnacious' elbow. "We are ready to begin serving now, Master Pugnacious."
"Excellent," Pugnacious replied. "I believe we are all ready to eat."
The attendant bowed. On his signal, numerous other attendants streamed in from the kitchen, wheeling in trollies laden with covered dishes of food. The higgledies moved out of the way as the dishes were placed on the table and the covers removed, revealing a variety of meat and vegetables, cooked, seasoned and prepared in a number of different ways to choose from, as well as a selection of sea food dishes, as promised. As the higgledies examined them, Roland eyed them all with interest, grateful once again for the opportunity to distract his thoughts from Doloran and the concept of soulmates. He couldn't deny that everything looked delicious, and that he wanted to try everything, and was surprised to discover just how hungry he was, though it was not as much as he usually would be at this hour.
"Gosh, everything looks delicious," said Evan, voicing their thoughts aloud.
"The finest cooks in all of Goldpaw are employed amongst the kitchen staff of the Grand High Roller's Hall," said Ya Ya. "So we would hope that you find everything to be as delicious as it would appear."
"Let's find out, mun!" Lofty declared. Aranella scolded his impertinence, but he ignored her and began loading his plate with food from every dish, as much as he could fit on one plate.
"Honestly, I do apologise for his behaviour, Master Pugnacious," she said as Evan cringed, Tani and Batu both face palmed and the higgledies shook their heads, but Pugnacious chuckled.
"On the contrary," he said. "I implore you to follow your Kingmaker's example, and dig in yourselves."
"Well, all right," she conceded. She began heaping food onto her plate from a selection of dishes, and the others were quick to follow her example.
Pugnacious and Ya Ya waited for them to finish loading their plates and begin eating, before helping themselves.
Roland filled his plate with as much food as he thought he could manage, while trying to stay away from anything that looked like it might be too spicy for his current taste. He took a bite, allowing the flavour to wash over his tastebuds, distracting his thoughts from Doloran once again. The mouthful of food didn't arouse his nausea, so he swallowed another mouthful, and then another. As he ate, the others conversed but he tuned them out, instead focusing on the act of transporting the food from his plate to his mouth with his chopsticks in a repetitive and mechanical motion, as if he was a robotic arm on an assembly line, until eventually there was no more.
He placed his chopsticks down on the plate and was surprised to discover that he was the last to finish, despite having less to eat. The subject of dessert came up and his stomach churned at the thought of eating something sweet. "I'll pass on dessert, thanks," he said.
"Would you like some tea instead?" Ya Ya asked.
He considered the offer, evaluating if he could stomach some tea right now. "Uh, sure. Thanks."
She listed off a number of herbal teas for him choose from. "What would you like?"
"Uh… Camomile?" He'd heard it was a soothing tea and he could certainly do with something soothing for the conversation ahead. Tea and dessert were soon served, so he sat there, sipping his tea while the others ate their dessert. He wasn't much of a tea drinker, preferring the harsh, bitter taste of coffee, so the first sip of camomile was a curious yet not unpleasant surprise. It had a silky, sweet taste to it, but the sweetness was subtle and just the right amount. It soothed his stomach, loosening the knot and taking the edge off the constant churning. After they had finished admiring the dessert, the higgledies approached him. "Higgle pig?" Runcible asked, pointing at his cup.
He blinked. "You… want to look at the tea?"
They nodded. "Higgle."
"Sure," he said, and lowered his cup to allow them to peer over the rim.
Once their curiosity was satisfied, they stood back. "Higgle," Runcible nodded, then lead the others away to the other end of the table, where they sat and listened to the others talking. Finally, eventually, they had all finished eating thus drawing dinner to a close.
"Alas my duties are not concluded for the day, so should you have need of me before you turn in for the night, find one of my attendants and they will escort you to my office," Pugnacious informed them.
"Thank you, Master Pugnacious," Evan replied.
"Very good." He stood. "Then I will bid you all a good evening and safe travels."
"Good evening, Master Pugnacious," they chorused in turn and then he was gone.
"If you are ready, I will escort you back to your rooms," said Ya Ya.
The others got to their feet. "We're ready," said Evan.
"I will send someone to collect you for breakfast tomorrow morning," Ya Ya informed them, once they had returned to the guest wing. "Considering we will be needing to leave Goldpaw at our earliest convenience, this breakfast will be served earlier than usual, so it will just be the seven of us. I would therefore ask that you consider the people that may still be asleep at this time and to conduct yourselves as quietly as you can manage."
"Of course," they chorused.
"What time?" Roland asked.
"Since you will be needing instruction on how to ride a manticore before we can depart, I would suggest six o'clock."
"Fair enough," he replied. "Although we may be needing a wakeup call."
"Of course," she nodded, "one can be arranged for you. What time would you like to schedule the wakeup call?"
Roland looked to the others for their input. It was Aranella who answered. "Somewhere between an hour and half an hour before breakfast is being held."
"What about forty five minutes?" He suggested.
"That sounds reasonable."
"Aye," Batu agreed. "Ye'll be findin' that me'n'Tani be fair used te risin' in the early mornin'." Tani nodded wordlessly. "Forty five minutes te prepare will be plenty o'time."
"Very well," said Ya Ya. "Then I will arrange a wakeup call for a quarter past five o'clock tomorrow morning."
"Thanks," Roland replied. "We'll see you tomorrow then."
"Indeed." She inclined her head as she continued. "Good night, everyone, and pleasant dreams."
"Good night, Lady Ya Ya," they chorused in turn as the higgledies waved goodbye despite the fact that she couldn't see them, and turned to each other after she'd left.
"I suppose we should turn in for the night," said Aranella as she hovered before her door. "Considering what tomorrow will bring."
"It be a little earlier than what we be used to but aye," Batu agreed.
"But I'm not tired yet," Tani whined, becoming petulant in both posture and expression. She turned to Evan for support. "What about you?"
He shook his head. "I'm not tired yet either."
Aranella heaved a sigh, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "All right. I suppose I shall have to tell you both stories until you fall asleep."
Lofty hopped off the floor in delight. "Tidy mun!" He exclaimed. "Count me in!"
"Higgle pig!" The higgledies agreed.
Even Batu's face had lit up. "Stories, ye say? We pirates be lovin' us a good story."
"And Aranella tells the best stories," Evan added, his fists raised in both enthusiasm and insistence.
Aranella chuckled and placed a hand on his head between his ears. "Well thank you kindly for the compliment, Evan." To Batu, she said. "But these will be entirely in the realm of flights of fancy just so you know."
"The flightier the better!" Batu declared with an undiscouraged grin.
She chuckled again before turning to Roland. "What about you, Roland?" she asked, gesturing towards him. "Will you be joining us for story time?"
"Uh, no thanks," he replied, one hand already on the door to his room. "I'm gonna call it for it tonight actually."
"You have been a bit… quiet since the library. Is everything all right?"
His expression became wry. "You noticed that, huh?"
"It be a bit hard te miss," said Batu.
"Higgle," the higgledies agreed.
"I'm fine," he said, once again the lie slipping out far too easily for his liking, though he had to avert his gaze to say it. "I just have a bit of a headache is all. But it should be fine if I just sleep it off."
"We won't keep you then," said Aranella. She smiled. "Sleep well, Roland. And good night."
"Niight," the others chorused, lowering their voices so as not aggravate his invented headache.
"Higgle," the higgledies added doing the same, and waving him a a good night.
He smiled at their kindness, despite the lie. "Night, guys. See you tomorrow." He opened the door and stepped in, closing it behind him carefully. Well this was it. The moment of truth had finally arrived. He took a shaky breath and swallowed, trying to quell the whirlpool within his stomach now churning with renewed vigour, but when he turned to face the room, Doloran was nowhere to be seen. He was only mildly surprised by this as he had reasoned that there was a good chance that Doloran wasn't going to appear to him the moment he stepped into the room depending on where he was at the moment, and what he was currently doing. Either he had to wait, or he had to first give some kind of signal or indication that he was ready. So he alternated between sitting on his bed with his elbows resting on his knees and pacing the room, until he could bear to wait no more. He stood. "D-Doloran?"
At first nothing, then Doloran appeared in a flash of purple. Wordlessly he traced the rune for the anti-eavesdropping spell in the air with one finger once again. It pulsed and then he spoke. "Roland," he said, inclining his head. "I see you are ready to resume our conversation."
Roland swallowed. "… Yeah."
"Am I to assume that you have discovered the true meaning of soulmates since we last spoke?"
He nodded. "I have."
Doloran smiled. "So now you understand, Roland. You and I," he gestured to Roland and then himself, "are one and the same. Our souls are entwined. If harm were to come to either one of us, so too would it come to the other."
"Should I just take your word?"
The smile dropped away as he tilted his head, puzzled by the question. "What do you mean?"
"That we're soulmates. Should I just take your word?" He asked, gesturing towards him. "Assume that you're right?"
"Surely you feel as I do, Roland? That you know me, as I know you, because you and I are the same."
He frowned. "The book I read speculated that it was possible for someone to get a sense of familiarity from anyone their soulmate is well acquainted with." He shrugged. "So how do you know it's not that?"
"Because it extends beyond a simple feeling, Roland. Observe." Doloran waved a hand and his golden headpiece vanished in a flash of purple, revealing his face for the first time. He was a young man of around twenty years of age, and had short white hair and red eyes. At first Roland couldn't tell what he was looking at, as his brain simply couldn't process what he was seeing. Then Doloran spoke. "The resemblance is striking," he spread his hands, "would you not agree?"
Recognition followed these words, then realisation. He had been thrown off by the different hair colour as well as hair style, and the different coloured eyes at first, but now he could see what had initially eluded him; He was staring at his own face. And that could only mean one thing. "Oh god…" He uttered, stepping back and sinking onto the bed in despair. "It's true…" He clutched his head as his mind and stomach whirled.
"Indeed," he nodded. "And now you understand why I wished to send you home, or otherwise bring you to Allegoria; To ensure your safety, as well as my own. But alas," he shook his head and shrugged, "it would seem as though the Conductor has other ideas."
Roland took a deep, calming breath and shoved all of his thoughts aside to focus on what Doloran had just said; Ensure your safety. "I'm afraid you're a bit too late for that," he said, his gaze in his hands which were now resting in his lap.
Understandably Doloran looked confused. "I do not follow."
He raised his head to look Doloran in the eye. "Doloran, the entire reason I'm here is because I died in my world."
"What?" His confusion deepened and he shook his head in denial. "But that cannot be…"
"I told you before that my home was destroyed, didn't I?"
"And I told you that could not be possible. As you are already aware, our two worlds are connected and no such catastrophe," he shook his head, "as that of the one you have described has happened here in this world. This can only mean that anything the Conductor has told you otherwise is a lie," he gestured dismissively. "He is deceiving you."
Roland heaved a sigh that saw him hanging his head. "Fine. Sure. Maybe the world isn't in as bad a shape as I've been lead to believe," he shrugged. "Maybe even my country. But the city at least? That much is true. Everyone in it was blown away by the biggest explosion you can think of, which also included me," he placed a hand on his chest. "And as far as I can tell, only the intervention of the Conductor is what saved me. He plucked me from my world at the moment of my death, and brought me here. So if not for him, I," he indicated himself with a thumb, "would've been fried to a crisp, and you," he gestured to Doloran, "would be dead along with me."
"And you are… certain of this?"
He nodded. "It all happened before the Conductor even showed up, so at this point," he spread his hands, "it's pretty much the only thing I am certain of."
Doloran stared at him for a moment, his expression indecipherable. "I… I see…" he uttered weakly. He raised a hand, and the chair stored away under the writing desk responded to his summons, drawn across the wooden floor by an invisible force. He sank into it and rested his elbows on his knees in a manner so eerily similar to his own. "So that much is true at least…"
Roland dropped his gaze into his hands. "Yeah…"
There was a moment of silence before Doloran raised his head to ask, "Are you so certain it was the Conductor who was the one who brought you here?"
"Well…No one else has come forward to take the credit," he shrugged, "so if it wasn't him then…" He shrugged again. "I dunno who else am I supposed to thank."
Doloran frowned. "You did not see the one responsible for your rescue?"
"No?" He shook his head. "Like I said, I got swallowed up by the explosion. One minute I'm lying there in a world of pain, the next thing I know I've been dropped in front of Aranella and Ratja in Ding Dong Dell moments before the coup kicked off. And also nearly thirty years younger I should probably mention."
His confusion deepened. "Thirty years younger?"
"Yeah, you see I'm uh… I'm actually forty eight."
Doloran could only blink. "I see… how… curious." He raised a hand to his chin in thought. Once again Roland was struck by how eerily alike their mannerisms were. "From what you have described it would appear that you were brought here by no ordinary magic. To my knowledge, the only spell that allows one to travel between our two worlds, is the spell Gateway. But the casting of this spell is…" he spread his hands, "hard to miss. And additionally would require someone to physically cast the spell and then step through in order to come to your rescue."
"Yeah, that definitely didn't happen."
"Yes, it would appear that you were instead pulled from your world, and into mine." He shook his head, "Such an accomplishment is no simple feat, and well beyond even my capabilities."
Roland quirked an eyebrow at him. "So what are you saying?"
"That no mere sorcerer saved your life – saved our lives that day, but rather a being of great power. The Conductor would certainly appear to be one such individual, so perhaps…" he gestured hesitantly, "there may be some truth to his claims after all."
Roland dropped his gaze into his hands where they rested on his lap, fingers laced together. "Yeah, well… I'm not so sure I agree. He didn't exactly mention the whole you and I being soulmates thing, so… I'm kind of wondering what I'm really doing here…"
"What did he tell you?"
"He said he wanted me to heal both our worlds by helping Evan, and that he'd send me home once I was done, but…" He shook his head. "Now I'm not so sure I can believe anything he's told me…"
"Those were his exact words?"
"Well no," he shrugged in denial, "not exactly. But definitely in so many words at least."
Doloran hummed, hand once again raised to his chin in thought. "I cannot say what reasons the Conductor had for bringing you here, but it need not be our mutual destruction, Roland." He gestured towards him. "You wish to save your world, do you not? Then you and I are not so different."
He frowned. "What do you mean?
"If you discovered the true meaning behind soulmates, then… perhaps you may have also discovered the fate of my home? Of Allegoria?"
Roland batted his eyelids in disbelief. "Wait. Hold on. You mean to say that King Doloran of Allegoria, is you? That you're actually over three thousand years old?"
"So I discovered…"
"Well…" He was momentarily stumped for something to say, other than "How the hell is that even possible?". But instead of speaking the question aloud, he found himself channelling Tani to snark. "You look pretty good."
"That is because I too was imprisoned in the dimension to which Allegoria was banished," Doloran calmly explained. "But about twenty years ago I escaped, only to discover that I was now three thousand years into the future." He dropped his gaze as he continued. "Time has not moved for me ever since."
Roland frowned. "So what? Now that you're free, you're trying to bring it back?"
He nodded. "That is correct."
Roland threw up his hands as he objected, "By tearing the rest of the world apart?"
"Did you not say yourself, that you would do whatever it took to bring your world back?"
He sat back on the bed and gulped. "I… I did but…" He shook his head. "But not like this."
Doloran quirked a skeptical eyebrow at him. "Is that so? Are you not using little Evan as a means to an end?"
He shut his eyes and looked away. "That's hardly the same."
"But you do not deny it? That you plan to use a little boy's hopes and dreams for the purpose of seeing your home restored, and then once everything is said and done, discard him once his usefulness has come to an end?"
Roland's expression soured at Doloran's choice of phrasing. "Well I wouldn't put it like that."
"No of course," he smirked. "But is it really so different to what I am doing?" He asked, placing a hand on his chest.
"I'm not hurting anyone," he countered, folding his arms in protest.
"Not in a way they are aware of, Roland. Tell me, how do you think your companions will feel when they realise the truth?"
He dropped his gaze. "I… I dunno."
"No? I cannot imagine they will be terribly pleased with you, Roland."
"I…" Roland hung his head. "I guess not…" He reluctantly admitted.
"Indeed. But you need not fear for that future, as I have an alternative suggestion for you."
He quirked an eyebrow. "What's that?"
Doloran rose abruptly from the chair and crossed the room to stand before him. He held out a hand. "Join me, Roland. Help me accomplish my goal."
Roland glared at him, both alarmed by his sudden proposal and offended by it, and his tone was flat as he simply replied, "Why would I do that?"
"Consider this possibility if you will. That perhaps the destruction of my home was visited upon yours? And by helping me to restore Allegoria, you would consequently restore your own?"
A baffled frown. "But that happened three thousand years ago."
"And I was imprisoned for that amount of time."
Roland squinted at him as if trying to bring into focus the source of Doloran's logic. "Yeah but you escaped that imprisonment twenty years ago. The destruction of my world – or at least the city happened last week." He shook his head, "The times don't match up. How do you explain that?"
"I do not know, Roland," Doloran replied, shaking his head even as he shrugged in protest. "I am merely trying to offer an explanation as to why the devastation that befell your world does not appear to have been reflected upon mine. But whatever the reason, the fact that you and I are connected, and that we have both lost our homes to forces beyond our control," he shook his head for emphasis, "cannot be a coincidence."
Roland's mouth fell open. "I…" He dropped his gaze to the floor, frowning hard as he turned over the suggestion in his head. Was it true? Was it possible? That if instead of helping Evan build his kingdom, he helped Doloran with his scheme, his home – and more importantly Will – would be returned to him? That if he joined Doloran, he would see them again?
"Do you not see, Roland?" Doloran asked, his hands spread in invitation. "You wish to restore your world as I wish to restore my home." He raised a fist. "Our goals are aligned! We are the same! Join me, Roland and together we can realise our ambitions!" He held out his hand, his expression begging Roland to take it.
No, Roland, a voice in his head cried. You cannot do this! Consider what it would mean!
Roland stood, his gaze going to Doloran's outstretched hand. He felt a pull towards the man that he could neither explain, nor deny and his arm moved of its own accord. But just as his hand was hovering over Doloran's a thought stopped him. He raised his head to look Doloran in the eye, his expression becoming a frown of realisation. "You would happily tear down Evermore to obtain Evan's kingsbond if it would advance your goals."
"Roland. Please. My home is gone. Everyone I have ever known, everyone I have ever loved, they are all. Gone. You are the only person in this whole world who understands."
"No." Roland pulled back his hand, clenching it into a fist as he did, and allowed his arm to fall to his side. "I'm not." He shook his head. "And I'm not gonna help you inflict your pain on anyone else."
Doloran gripped his shoulders. "Roland, please! You said you would do anything!"
"I guess not," he replied evenly. His expression became resolute as he continued, "Besides there's no guarantee that you're right, and that if I help you I'll get what I want."
"So you mean to blindly trust the Conductor then?" He angrily demanded, removing his hands from Roland's shoulder. "Hope that he will keep to his word if you keep playing his games?"
"Should I blindly trust you instead?" he snapped back in irritation. "Anyway this isn't even about him," he continued with a shake of his head. "You said so yourself," he gestured towards him, "that our two worlds are connected."
"You need not remind me."
"So don't you see what this means?" He half asked, half demanded, throwing his hands wide in frustration. "The way you're going about this – about bringing Allegoria back – it's doing more harm than good! So even if you are right, that by helping you I get my city back, that I get my son back, the mess you've made in this world is going to be reflected on mine, so all I'd be helping you do is make everything in my world worse off than when I left!" Doloran was speechless. "So no, Doloran," he shook his head, "I'm not gonna help you. I'm gonna stop you instead."
A shadow passed over Doloran's face and he hissed. "Even knowing what that will entail?"
Roland swallowed and his expression became troubled. "Yeah…" He averted his gaze. "I guess so…"
Doloran's expression became enraged. He stepped back and waved a hand, his golden headdress reappearing in a flash of purple. "So be it," he snarled, before teleporting away in another flash of purple.
Roland let out a shaky breath and sank onto the bed, clutching his head in his heads. He was surprised to find that instead of a whirl of emotions, a wave of nausea or even a lump in his throat, he just felt numb. Drained even. And he couldn't quite process what he'd just committed himself to doing. He'd said he was going to stop Doloran, but… had he meant… permanently? Doloran had certainly thought so, hence his question. But if he did that, then he'd die along with him, and consequently would not be able to return home or see Will again. So then why had he said yes?
He dragged his hands down his face. A tiredness was washing over him and he just couldn't think. So he decided to do the one thing he could do, which was turn in for the night, and process it in the morning. He robotically pulled off his greatcoat, polo neck and boots, slipped into bed and closed his eyes. Sleep came to him not long after.
A/N: The continuation of the plothole plug from Chapter 26.