Chapter 18: Negotiations
I was already growing fed up of the canyon.
I had realised that this was already my third visit here in twice as many months... That fact was enough to make me pause briefly. Six months in this world already?
Our group had stopped nearby, and everyone emerged from the orb. I had spotted a small hill relatively near the fort using Jake's map, and its cover had been vital to our stealth. We made our way around the hill and kept the treacherous drop close by as we travelled the final hour of travel by foot. We had already snuck past Nohrian patrols, so surprise was very much on our side.
Finally, we arrived at the meeting point. For now, Lilith's orb held most of the Hoshidan army in reserve. Walking alongside her was Mikoto, both surrounded by a very small group of guards. The Hoshidan siblings walked mostly together with Corrin and Azura a short way behind, though Takumi seemed insistent on keeping at least Ryoma between himself and them. Myself and Yukimura brought up the rear, with another small group of guards, mainly for appearance's sakes. Omozu, the former captain of this area, had joined us on request for his expertise.
The Nohrians had posted a single guard by Fort Shadowgift. He looked surprised by our sudden, unannounced arrival, but stood to attention dutifully. His wyvern turned too, eyeing us dangerously.
Yukimura stepped forwards, and he, Mikoto and the guard exchanged words briefly. The guard saluted, mounted his wyvern, and crossed the Canyon.
Once we were inside Fort Shadowgift, Mikoto finally spoke to us. "It seems King Garon and his chief advisors arrived to meet with me personally. Due to this, the Nohrians have made camp across the Canyon."
"King Garon himself is here?" Hinoka spoke up in alarm. "Mother, you can't go!"
"I agree," Ryoma nodded. "After how he treatied with father, I would rather you stayed away from him. If it were just his children, it would not be so dangerous."
Yukimura raised a hand, "Naturally, you are both correct. We have already prepared for this scenario. Myself and Derek shall be going to meet with the king as representatives for Lady Mikoto."
Numerous eyes glanced at me, but Mikoto directed their attention again. "However, it seems they have issued a few more conditions for this parlay. They wish to be reunited with Corrin and their long lost sister Azura."
Azura's eyes widened. "They remember me?"
Takumi glared at her, "Of course they do! You're one of them, after all!"
"Takumi!" Mikoto warned, looking at her stepson. She did not look angry, but her expression was serious enough to make him look abashed.
"Of course we expect foul play, so we should be prepared for anything," Yukimura warned. "We cross to their camp at noon tomorrow. Are there any other questions?"
None were raised, so he nodded. "Very well. We shall leave some guards on watch while we inform the rest. Captain?"
Omozu saluted, as did the guards with him, as everybody else formed a line in front of Lilith.
For her part, Mikoto gazed long into the Canyon through a window, before joining the others in disappearing into the orb. The last thing I saw before I entered was Omozu glaring at a Nohrian banner hanging on the wall.
...
I had to be shaken awake early the next morning.
"Sorry," I murmured sleepily at Eldegai. "Time's it?"
"About 6," Eldegai replied. I grimaced, fighting back a yawn. Even after so long here, I still wasn't used to such early rises. "You're lucky Sopheap's not here."
I chuckled. Sopheap had been hard on me for a while, until I managed to get the attention of the royal family. He had mostly backed off since then, preferring to glare daggers at me from a distance when he felt I had messed up somehow.
Still, I sat up, blinking groggily over at the window. Eldegai pulled back the blinds, revealing a black sky.
"You know, I still find that sky weird," Eldegai sighed, leaning onto the windowsill. "I never really thought I'd miss stars."
"Honestly, it reminds me more of home," I shrugged to him, walking over to the wash basin. "There were always too many stars in Hoshido for it to feel like it was ever really night time."
Eldegai turned, giving me a funny look as I wet my wash cloth. "There are no stars where you come from?"
I shook my head into my towel. "There's stars, but you can't see them that well. Too much light pollution."
"Light pollution?"
"It's where... Um... My town was always lit up at night with lots of... Candles... and stuff, so... their glare on the sky above made it so you couldn't see the stars."
Eldegai made a noise. I finished with my washcloth and approached the window.
My house was on a hill, and from my bedroom window I could look past my neighbours' houses to miles around. The town had stretched on before me, outlines of the shopping centre, library and hospital faintly visible in the town centre. There was the ring of lights indicating what I had always suspected to be the local football stadium, and that crooked L of yellow lights I suspected was the swimming pool and gym. The view from the other way led down the hill itself, towards my old primary school. And if I squinted, I sometimes thought I could make out the confusing mess of a roundabout which separated my village from the town. The McDonald's next to the tile shop under the unused train bridge...
That had been my view for over 20 years from my bedroom. My sanctuary in my home, looking over my life. Then we had moved out... And now... Now, I'd never see that view again.
I looked at Jake in my hand.
For the most part, I had escaped the delusion that this world was just a game. My mere presence in this world was probably enough to dissuade me from that belief. This was my new reality, whether I had wanted it or not. But, from time to time, it still helped to look at things as this was all some elaborate dream. And Jake was more than willing to supply my escapist fantasy by providing information in a familiar format.
"Derek Gruff. Born Sheffield, 1995 CE.
Class: Fighter, Level: 5
HP: 21/21
Strength: 7
Magic: 9
Skill: 8
Speed: 2
Luck: 3
Defence: 11
Resistance: 13
Movement: 5
Weapon Ranks: Axes-E, Clubs-E
Skills: Zombie, HP+5
Inventory: Brass Club"
My irregular training at Castle Shirasagi had evidently provided me with some advancements, though I could tell that if I were a game unit, I would probably be benched rather quickly with those stats and growth rates... Basically, I wasn't strong enough yet. I certainly wasn't going to be tackling Anankos any time soon.
Nor did I entirely see why I should be so invested in that goal. It was true that the Vallites had helped me when I first came to this world, but had I not already repaid them by helping to save Mikoto and providing her with my knowledge? Looking at the map screen again, what was really stopping me from crossing the Canyon and searching for the Dragon's Gate to return home?
Eldegai moved away from the window to put his boots on.
Deep down, I knew that he was part of the reason. I still owed Eldegai, and Araksi. Without me, they would never have come to surprise me at Fort Shadowgift. They would never have become so involved in this war. And Araksi would never have fallen into the Canyon.
Besides, I just couldn't leave everybody here. Despite not having spoken to Corrin as much as I could have done, her natural charisma had already warmed me to her. I already cared too much about her to leave her. Then there were Mikoto and Azura, who knew the truth about Valla, and desperately needed my help...
Was I always such a selfless person?
"Shouldn't we be going?"
I nodded, coming out of my own head, and followed Eldegai from the room. He was to stay in the Astral Realm with the rest of the army, as he had done since we left the capital. Other than the royal family, with their small group of guards and advisors, amongst whom I was apparently counted, none of the rest of the Hoshidan military had left the Astral Realm in over a week. Already, Eldegai was looking at the portal across the fields from Corrin's castle with wistful eyes as he lined up alongside the squad he'd been assigned to.
The formation was ostensibly merely a formality to watch the queen's representatives leave the Astral Realm. But everybody knew that in the event things went wrong, they would emerge from the portal to surprise the Nohrians with the full might of Hoshido.
I bid farewell to Eldegai, and stepped forwards, beside Yukimura, Corrin and Azura. The latter two were in the midst of an embrace with Mikoto, while the former gave only a curt nod in greeting as he turned back to the queen.
She heaved a heavy sigh, and stepped away from her children. "I suppose it is time."
"It is, milady. And if all goes well, then we shall all be reunited before too long," Yukimura responded, his face grim. He stepped towards the portal. "Farewell, Mikoto."
Mikoto waved, and then he was gone.
"See you soon, mother!" Corrin smiled, though even her usual cheer was filled with the severity of the situation. "We'll make father- I mean... We'll make Garon see sense! Count on it!"
Mikoto's eyes filled with tears, and she held back a bitter sob as her daughter vanished through the portal.
Azura said nothing, but exchanged a knowing look with her adopted mother, before stepping resolutely forwards.
And then it was my turn. Like Azura, I said nothing. But I took a big breath. What would happen at the Canyon was sure to determine a great deal. War would be costly on all sides, and if Corrin were presented with the choice here, at the most vulnerable location, I was sure to be left with only my last resorts. Plans which, if enacted, could spell even worse disasters than the war.
I stepped through the portal.
...
The Nohrian army stood proudly in formation behind their lords. Princess Elise, the youngest, sat astride her small horse next to her two retainers, under the shade of a rotting tree. Her eyes were filled with curiosity, and she moved forwards upon seeing us approach the bridge. A dark gloved hand stopped her, and her mouth shut with a childish pout as she looked up at her brother.
Prince Leo, the second youngest, sat beside her small group on his own horse, a dangerous black beast. His hand moved back to the tome at his side, which even from this distance hummed with raw power. It took great magical ability to wield the legendary tome Brynhildr, and even his young countenance was filled with a stern expression. He surveyed the scene calculatingly, and with an air of caution.
Curiously, Prince Xander, the eldest, was absent. His retainers, however, were not. They hung around Leo's own two retainers with a distinct feeling of absence. Three of the retainers – one of Xander's, one of Camilla's and one of Leo's – spotted me amongst my group, and the familiar mage at Leo's side whispered something into his ear. The prince blinked at this, his expression morphing into surprise and confusion.
I stopped moving. In front of me, Yukimura, Corrin and Azura stood with varying levels of nerves and confidence. Corrin, in particular, was gazing uncertainly across at the Nohrians. Whether it was a lie or not, she had been raised believing these people were biologically her siblings. She had loved them, thought they were good, honest people... And still did. Truthfully, I felt as though I could relate to that, in part. I was still nervous that her deep-seated feelings for them would overcome her newer, less developed love for her Hoshidan family. Even now, she was staring at Princess Camilla with an air of longing.
Camilla, for her part, looked remarkably composed from this distance – there was still about the width of a football pitch between us. The sight of her there, beside her two retainers, reminded me of the last time I had seen her. That time, she had been so desperate to rescue her beloved adoptive sister that she had almost fallen into the Canyon...
Actually, on second thought, her composure was a front. She sat astride her large wyvern, eyes fixed on Corrin, and her hands clutching her wyvern's reins, her back straight, as though ready to pull up and take off at a moment's notice. Her face set in stony determination, not even watching her father.
He was moving now, his large, intimidating frame stepping out from the ranks of his army to approach us. His scarred flesh was greyed with overexposure of powerful magic, though the white of his hair came from age and experience. King Garon of Nohr had once been a loving man, by all accounts. A doting father, loving husband and even a benevolent ruler amidst the hardships faced by Nohr. His four surviving children each came from separate mothers, who had each genuinely loved him for his brilliance.
Any such brilliance had long been tainted and corrupted by the infighting of his lovers, whose jealous squabbles had cost him many children. And, after seeking Anankos's power, there was little left of King Garon Krakenburg. Now, more monster than man, his masquerade did not seem to be aided by the company he kept. He brought no guards with him to our meeting, though at his side was a repugnant specimen.
This was Iago, the gaunt wizard, whose dark clothes clung as reluctantly to his body as anybody would be to be near him. He played sycophant to Garon, loyal in his own guise as a refined sorcerer, and as intelligent as he was talented.
"Let me speak for us," Yukimura said. His voice was low enough that it did not carry across the Canyon, but we heard, and Corrin and I both nodded. She fell back, leaving Azura with the strategist.
"Derek..." Corrin murmured beside me. "I'm not sure about this."
I looked to her, stood wringing her hands. Her eyes remained fixed on the siblings – Camilla, Leo and Elise. If she chose them, Garon would most likely lead her down a path of Conquest. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Hoshidans would die. And then, Garon would claim the Hoshidan throne and Anankos would win. If she spurned them too much, declaring her loyalty to Hoshido, the Nohrians would never forgive her. She would be forced to claim the Birthright path as her own, and similar numbers of Nohrians would suffer. Garon's power would only be able to be defeated by a sacrifice. A sacrifice that would let Anankos win.
Anankos could not win. Not the mad dragon, who would lay waste to both continents, killing anybody in his path. The only way to end his misery was to unite both kingdoms and use the power of the five legendary weapons. Ryoma's Raijinto, Xander's Siegfried, Takumi's Fujin Yumi and Leo's Brynhildr. And... the Yato. Which hopefully Corrin could still claim at some point.
Since learning of my role in this mission just yesterday, as a representative for Mikoto, I had been questioning her logic. Yukimura, too, had glanced at me uncertainly several times on the short walk out here. I had assumed his trepidations were still with trusting me in general, but perhaps he had been just as uncertain as me as to my role here. Why did his lady trust me so much? Perhaps it wasn't his place to question.
But now, seeing Corrin's uncertainty, I had perhaps a better understanding. The dragon princess was now attached to both Hoshido and Nohr, and her choice was now.
In the game, this choice had been made on the Hoshidan plains. Mikoto had been killed in the capital, when Garon's cursed Ganglari sword had exploded. Corrin had blamed him, and herself. As did Takumi. With her loving mother dead and Hoshidan siblings grieving, she had felt a duty to them. They had called to her when she stood in the centre of that plain, asking her to remain with them. But her Nohrian family had been there too. All four of the beloved siblings she had grown up with, but without Garon's sinister presence. Without seeing him, she still thought there was some good in him. Perhaps Ganglari had been a very unfortunate accident? How was she supposed to turn her blade on the people she had loved for more than ten years when she felt she did not yet know the truth of the situation?
With Mikoto still alive, Corrin's connection to her Hoshidan roots were stronger. But with Ganglari still intact (and safely stored in the vaults of Castle Shirasagi), Corrin had not yet witnessed Garon's true evil nature. Mikoto, in her odd logic, had thought this more balanced. The Hoshidan siblings were not present to call her back, and her mother was in no danger.
That was my role here. I was here to push her away from both countries.
"They'll always be your family." She tore her eyes from the Nohrians and turned to me, mouth twitching as though she wished to respond. "Both of them." She stopped, fists clenching in resolve at her sides, then offered me a final smile before stepping forward, next to Azura.
I looked ahead too. Garon had stopped, as though waiting for something, while I had been lost in thought. A tall pink haired Nohrian knight hurried away holding a large metal ring as Garon started moving again, finally stepping onto the bridge. The sight made my stomach turn.
"Damn..." Yukimura cursed under his breath. I didn't blame him.
We had come to this meeting unarmed, though Garon had evidently had other ideas. A huge thorned battleaxe was slung over his shoulder, made of black metal. Iago was beside his king, holding a chain which he tugged when it became taut behind him. A group of thin, dirty peasants were unceremoniously thrust forwards, their wrists and ankles bound. They wore Hoshidan garbs, and their features were distinctly eastern. One of them, a teen girl no older than Sakura or Elise, stumbled as Iago stopped before us. He did not bother to order her to stand, so she laid there injured, seemingly dead.
Finally, it was time. Garon was close enough for us to see every wrinkle on his cracked face, and every bristle in his permanent scowl.
"I requested the queen. Not her lackeys," he spoke, voice deep and menacing as he glared at Yukimura. He swept a critical gaze over Corrin and Azura then, his face twisting into a cruel smile. "Has she abandoned the two of you? Offering peace by returning my children to me?"
"That is not the queen's intent," Yukimura retorted, standing up straight before Garon. "I am Yukimura, personal advisor and representative to her majesty Queen Mikoto of Hoshido. This is Derek, another of her majesty's advisors, who is also here to represent her interests in this negotiation."
"Representatives," rumbled the king, turning his glare back on Yukimura. "Perhaps I should have simply sent Iago in my place. Had him send a message."
"Are you not doing that now anyway?" Yukimura frowned, gesturing to the king's axe, seeming to tactfully ignore the Hoshidan prisoners. "I believe you also requested we arrive unarmed. Perhaps we are both guilty of something in this meeting, and we should simply proceed with the negotiations."
Garon waved a heavy hand, turning to the side idly, as though bored by the conversation, and Iago stepped forward, rattling the prisoners' chains behind him. His lips curled into a sneer as he spoke, his voice oozing like black oil, "Lord Yukimura of Hoshido. It truly is an honour to finally meet the man I have received so much written correspondence with. I am Iago, and, as you are aware, a humble advisor myself." He turned his gaze towards the two princesses, his sinister smile turning into a mock pout. "Much of that introduction was for you, of course, my lovely Princess Azura. I regret that I was not yet in his majesty's service at the time of your kidnapping from Nohr. But I am delighted to see you seeming unharmed and returned to us finally."
"It is... a pleasure to meet you too," Azura said, her voice strained as she examined the man.
Iago's mock smile flashed back, before he threw himself to his knees before Corrin. "And my lady Corrin! Oh! It is a relief to see you are also safe. We heard rumours of what had occurred here that fateful day and feared the worst! His majesty has been beside himself with worry. But both of you are safe, and Nohr shall surely thank Hoshido for safely returning its princesses."
Corrin looked at Garon, the man who she had thought a father for so long. He did not pay attention to her, choosing instead to gaze past us, his eyes unfocused. "Father does not look worried. Or pleased, for that matter."
"Do not presume to know my heart," Garon said, his eyes snapping back into focus. He glared first at Corrin, then down at Iago, who scrambled to his feet.
"As touching as this reunion between, ah... 'family' is, I do believe there are more pressing concerns," Yukimura interjected. "Indeed, for you to claim we have your daughters prisoners is a hypocrisy when you wield Hoshido's people hostage as a bargaining aid against us. People who have done no wrong. Yet you savagely attacked the Hoshidan capital, threatening the lives of our people and our queen. You have, over two decades, sent millions of monstrous experiments into Hoshidan lands to attack our people, and now you come with your full army with the intent of declaring war on us."
"My lord, I can assure you we know of no attack in the Hoshidan capital. And we do regret those rogue factions who have sent monsters into your lands. We can assure you that as soon as these criminals are captured, they shall be punished most severely by Nohrian law."
"Oh, so you still insist they are rogue factions, as in your letters?" Yukimura shot back. "I had thought you had abandoned that pretence when you showed up here with Hoshidan civilians in captivity, clearly themselves victims of one of these attacks."
"On the contrary," Iago shook his head sadly. "In this event, it was your own countrymen at fault. It is true that their land was attacked, and for that we are deeply regretful. But rather than allowing the king's justice to prevail, these survivors instead crossed into our lands and attacked our people. We had no choice but to arrest them for our people's safety."
One of the more confident prisoners looked very much like he wanted to protest, but a sharp nudge at his side put an end to that.
Corrin stepped forward, halting however Yukimura had been about to reply, as he instead looked at her. "King Garon," she began, looking at the huge man, who stared impassively back down at her. "Or, I should say, father. Because that's what I saw you as for so long. And I'd still like to think you genuinely see me as my daughter. And your other children, even Azura. That you still love us all like Xander and Camilla always said you did. That there is still a hint of goodness within you, even after the awful things you have done against Hoshido." She gestured behind her, towards the east. "Could we not work things out amicably? I have family on both sides, and if you truly love me, why would you make me choose?"
"I have no desire to make you choose," Garon replied, his eyes narrowed. "If this were a question, your answer would be obvious. You belong to me. To Nohr. Now come." He glanced at Azura. "Both of you."
He made a tiny, imperceptible gesture towards Iago, who raised his hands, and with a flash, two glowing gold chains appeared around Azura and Corrin, forcing them to their knees.
"Stop this," Yukimura snapped, reaching for a weapon he knew was not there. "This was supposed to be a negotiation, not a kidnap."
I stepped forward too, and Garon looked at me for the first time. Blazing hatred suddenly raged in his eyes as he glanced from me to my hand, where I held Jake.
"Hoshido has levelled false accusations against us, and has no desire to return Nohr's princesses," Iago replied, coldly. "Let it be known that Nohr sought peace here, but the representatives for Hoshido have made war the only possible recourse."
"You cannot be serious! I will tell the queen what has happened here, and-" Yukimura interrupted himself, suddenly seeing Garon raise his huge axe. "Your majesty! Please don't-"
I looked at it too, and found myself drawn to Garon's face as he glared at me. "You," he growled, he glanced at Iago, adding "Take the tactician." Then, he swung his axe.
I barely had time to react. The metal blade swung down, and I found myself buckling to the floor, a sudden splitting pain in my neck. There was no time to duck. No time to scream. No time to see the world spinning as my head separated from my shoulders, or hear the princesses' cries of alarm.
No time.
I was dead.
…
Author's Note:
Welp, I really needed that ending. I couldn't write it nearly as well as I'd have liked, but there we go.