8. The True Culprit
Summary: Arganan checks in on Dagran – and learns a terrifying truth.
After Arganan got some rest, he eventually checked in on Calista by the next day -and she'd been absolutely worried for him and Zael after hearing of the assassination attempt.
He assured Calista that he was fine, that things would be fine and he would make sure to be vigilant, and he warned her to be just as careful – and to make sure Jirall never cornered her alone. The Count suspected that Jirall could be behind the assassination attempt the other day, but he couldn't just immediately start accusing him without evidence. Despite his best attempts to look into the matter, the assassins still were not found.
In the meantime, the Count figured he should check on Dagran – he hadn't exactly talked to him much sign assigning him and Zael as new knights-in-training. Was he fine? Was he alive?
Was he targeted by assassins, too? Arganan shuddered at that thought. Considering that Zael almost got killed the other day, what if someone tried that on Dagran?
Since Dagran was now a knight in training along with Zael, he also had his own chamber in the castle (said castle seemed to never run out of rooms, in Arganan's opinion). However, Dagran rarely used said room as far as he was aware, since he was otherwise out doing a few other tasks for the other mercs or sleeping at the rooms in the tavern.
Maybe that would change once he became a full-fledged knight, Arganan mused. After all, knights rarely left the castle. Since Zael and Dagran were still in training, they still had the freedom to go in and out most of the time.
Even though it was likely Dagran might not be in his room in the castle, Arganan figured it wouldn't be bad to check. He found Dagran's room, looking around quickly to make sure he was completely alone in the hall, before knocking on the door quickly.
The door opened, and there was Dagran.
"Count?" The younger man's golden eyes stared at him. "I wasn't expecting you."
"I just thought I'd check in on you." Arganan swallowed lightly. "Zael was…almost assassinated, the other day, so I was concerned that you might be targeted as well."
"He what?" Dagran's eyes widened. "Zael didn't tell me anything about this. Is he…?"
"Really? Well, he's fine – I stepped in to try to help. We defeated those assassins, but they escaped before we could get answers out of them." A sigh left Arganan as he recalled the deadly encounter. "I'm just glad that you still have your head on your shoulders. I was concerned that they'd go after you next!"
"I intend to keep it on my shoulders, Count." Dagran smiled wryly, and Arganan. "I appreciate you speaking with me, though…"
Arganan paused, noticing something laid out on the table further into the room – an open letter? "What is that?"
"That..?" Dagran's gaze snapped towards the letter, and Arganan immediately pushed a little past him to take a closer look. This writing – it wasn't necessarily in the language that Arganan knew, but he was aware that the Gurak could have spies. Could it be–?
Wasn't there something Zael mentioned not long ago?
"Dagran tried to go after Zangurak alone."
Surely Dagran would have had an idea of what power Zangurak already had beforehand. After all, he and Zael went together to initially go rescue Calista before they ended up being stuck on that Gurak ship!
Dagran is a wise man. He wouldn't be so impulsive as to…?
"…Dagran managed to run ahead to try to slow down Zangurak while the rest of us fought…but by the time we finished with the beast and caught up with Dagran, Zangurak was already gone."
Arganan sucked in a breath as he looked Dagran in the eye. The letter, the secrecy – it all clicked together in the Count's mind, and he couldn't stop himself from putting together his best guess aloud.
"You're working with the Gurak…you want to kill General Asthar, don't you?"
Dagran's the one that did it? He's the one behind this…or will be? Arganan swallowed as he faced the mercenary leader. How did I miss that?
He tried to think back to the visions he had – Dagran, running ahead of the group just before he, Zael and the others had to face more monsters from the Gurak troops, only for Arganan and Therius to get separated from Zael thanks to falling debris. Learning of Asthar's death afterward, of how Zael was imprisoned…
Oh, no. Arganan's stomach twisted into a few knots as he looked towards the open letter, then towards Dagran as he processed the letter and what he knew from his visions – Dagran ran ahead to the Turret Control Room, because it was the best opportunity for him to kill Asthar! Zael just happened to be thrown in prison because he got to the scene of his murder too early after Dagran did the deed and fled...didn't help that Jirall was there to throw him in prison at the time, but still…
Dagran's eyes widened, genuinely stunned, before his brows furrowed, eyes narrowing along with them, and Arganan realized that he was horribly right.
"So," Dagran's voice lowered, "You figured it out. You know, Count, you're a lot more perceptive than I thought you'd be. Makes my job more complicated."
I was right? This was not how Arganan wanted things to go at all. But now that I know – I have a chance to stop him. Could I persuade him not to go through with this?
But how do I make sure he doesn't go through with it?
The obvious answer would be getting Dagran arrested immediately. But deep down, that likely wouldn't work. Dagran was smart. He wouldn't just sit in a cell so easily after being exposed. What if it only spurred him to fully side with the Gurak? And what would that mean for the rest of the mercenaries and Zael, too?
But if he didn't do anything right now– Asthar could die.
"Why?" Arganan breathed. At the very least, he wanted answers – even if it might send him hurtling straight to his own doom at Dagran's hands. There was no way Dagran would let him off the hook so easily, now that Arganan knew of his plans. "What did Asthar ever do to you that would make you want to kill him?"
"His men destroyed the only home I had." Dagran's voice came out breathy, momentarily, before he kept speaking. "After my family and my village were destroyed, I did all the research I could. Eventually, I found out that the man behind my home's destruction was named Asthar."
Asthar…? Arganan's good eye widened at that. He did know that General Asthar had stepped down from his positon as Imperial Supreme Commander, but….
"I think there's been a misunderstanding," Arganan started, but Dagran cut in, brows furrowing.
"With all due respect, Count, I've covered my tracks fairly well. How could Asthar not be behind it?"
"Have you seen him in battle? Outside of it, too?" Arganan found himself snapping back. "You two have barely worked with each other for long – he's a fine warrior and a knight, but he is incredibly kind beneath that intimidating figure he maintains in battle. He's one of the most considerate men I know, and – it's hard for me to believe, based on his honorable reputation and his actions, that he could truly be behind such a tragedy."
Dagran's golden eyes flashed in the light of the room, but Arganan kept talking. I can't let this tragedy happen! "Do you really believe that a man like him could randomly cause the destruction of a village and many people so carelessly? That doesn't add up to me!"
"You have no clue what I've been through all these years." Dagran breathed, and his voice shook just slightly as he did so. "Trying to find a way for myself and the others to survive – I've wanted this revenge for a long time. And just because you know doesn't mean I'll back down. Even if you want me dead over this."
"I don't want you to die, nor do I want Asthar to die! There has to," Arganan shook his head, "There has to be another way. Dagran, you don't have to go through with this."
"And why shouldn't I?"
"Because how are you supposed to find the truth behind anything," Arganan managed, "If you don't look for the truth from the very people that were involved? Have you even tried talking to Asthar about…any of this?"
Dagran faltered in that moment, and Arganan knew that this might just be his chance to stop him.
"If you kill him, you'll never have any sure proof. You'll just be known for murdering one of the best-reputed Generals in the entire Empire. And not only will it hurt you, but it'll hurt your own friends' chances at having a life here in Lazulis, even if they had nothing to do with Asthar's death. Do you really want that?"
Dagran opened his mouth to argue, but closed his mouth, biting the inside of his cheek. His gaze tore away from Arganan's own, and a sigh left him.
"What are you going to do now? Arrest me?"
"No." Arganan found himself speaking immediately. "But I'm not going to let Asthar die, either. And again, you don't have to go through with killing him and I certainly don't want that, nor your death. You're both too important to me – and not just because of this damn war."
Dagran's eyes widened, and Arganan swallowed.
Fuck. Did I just…well, too late now, I suppose. It was impossible to weasel your way out of a genuine love confession, accidental or not.
"You…?" Dagran started, but stopped himself. "You seriously…?"
"I know that's surprising to you. Probably will be to him, when I tell him of my feelings. But I'm not letting either of you meet your doom – whether it be at each other's hands or someone else's. There has to be another way, and I will be sure of that."
"And yet here you are, confessing your love towards me and him in the same conversation where you're confronting me about my plans to kill Asthar." Dagran's lips twisted lightly at that. "I was hoping to get to you before he did."
Was that jealousy he saw in the other's eyes? Arganan wasn't sure, didn't know if he wanted to know. All of this – the letter, the knowledge that Dagran was going to be Asthar's killer, would become Asthar's killer if Arganan didn't make Dagran consider otherwise – this was all too much.
"If I were you, Dagran," Arganan finally managed, looking Dagran in the eye, "I'd reconsider this. All of it. I can't imagine the pain you went through after you lost your village. But, I don't want you strike out at Asthar without knowing the full story, either. And I'd rather not have to throw you in jail over this, but the moment you attempt taking his life, I'll do everything to stop you. For both your sakes."
"Count–" Dagran started, taking a step towards him, but Arganan forced himself to take a step back, shaking his head.
"Just…think about it." He breathed back. "Please."
And with that, Arganan forced himself to leave. He wasn't sure if he could make himself look Dagran in the eye after this – at least, not for now.
Did I persuade him?
Did I make the right choice, trying to?
