Chapter Five – Deceitful Nature
"Bishop Sasarai! Are you alright?"
"...Yes... Yes Nash, I'm fine... It is you who is not alright."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault Nash, you've done well. No, don't try to get up, I'll get help.
Darkness.
Nash groaned. Slowly, he opened his eyes, his head throbbing as he did so. He just wanted to sleep.
But he couldn't. He had to get to Harmonia, he had to tell Sasarai about the masked bishop. He had to convince him that joining the Fire Bringer was the wisest choice. He had to-
Wait a minute. The grogginess of sleep was lifting from him and Nash was starting to remember everything that had happened.
He already was in Harmonia. He already did tell Sasarai about Luc.
Luc! That's who the masked bishop was! Sasarai's brother had appeared in the middle of Nash's conference with Sasarai. He tried to tell Sasarai that he and himself, Luc, were clones of Hikusaak, comprised of some weird cellular goo. Then he was going to take Sasarai's True Earth rune. Nash had tried to stop him...
...And then he'd been blasted for getting in the way. Luc had stolen Sasarai's rune, while Nash watched helplessly while struggling to remain conscious. After Luc left, Nash had crawled over to Sasarai to make sure he was okay... Then he must have blacked out... But he had not died, which is why he was here, wherever 'here' was.
He surveyed his surroundings with increasing awareness. His chest had a couple of bandages on him where he'd probably been cut open when he was blasted with magic. Next to him, all his belongings were laid out on a table. He was lying in a bed in a dimly lit spare room somewhere inside the Crystal palace in Harmonia. The crystal like walls that were adorned with various Harmonian pictures and artifacts confirmed this. He turned his head towards the source of dim light, and found a window with the shade pulled down.
Sierra was standing in front of it, staring at him.
"What are you doing here?" he croaked, his voice feeling like he hadn't used it in days. He slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position, his head throbbing in protest.
"What indeed," she replied. "You needn't remind me that I have better things to do than hang around this place."
"What, like sucking the blood of your next victim?"
"You had better start showing me a little more respect, or that next victim will be you."
"I'm not so convinced that I haven't been your victim already," Nash grumbled. "I feel terrible."
"Alas, your injury is not my doing," Sierra said, looking slightly remorseful. "And if it was, you'd be dead. It was Luc, if you recall."
"So now you remember his name. Did you follow me here?"
"I couldn't rely on a mere mortal to tell Sasarai of these important findings. I had to make sure you didn't get into your normal amount of mischief before reaching Harmonia."
"So you were looking out for me? That's sweet Sierra, but I don't need an old Bat like you lurking about in my shadow. It cramps my style."
Sierra's eyes flashed dangerously. "If you don't hold your tongue, you will have no one but the nurse that comes to look after you to answer your questions, and in the state you're in, you can bet she won't be very informative."
"What? My questions? A nurse? How long have I been out anyway?"
"Questions like that," Sierra replied with a sly smirk.
"Okay, okay, you win. Please tell me, how long I've been wasting away in here?"
Sierra smirked. "You've been unconscious for about a week."
"A week!?"
"Yes. Seven, Nashless days. It's been bliss."
"Where's bishop Sasarai? Is he okay?" Nash asked.
"He's fine," Sierra replied. "I'd been hiding outside the palace and didn't really know what happened until I saw Luc leave- then I knew there had been trouble. I went in and saw him getting some servants to take you up to this room to rest. He's now gone to the aid of the Fire Bringer, who are currently fighting Luc's army of monsters near Brass Castle."
"Army of monsters?"
"Apparently so. There have been rumors that since Luc lost the backing of the Harmonian army, he's been using the witch to conjure fearsome monsters. As soon as Bishop Sasarai heard these rumors, he assembled his army and is now assisting them in their battle at Brass castle. He then plans to join the Fire Bringer."
Nash leaned his head back against the headboard of the bed he was in. "Good... Luc is outside of Harmonia's control and the only way to take him down is for Harmonia to join forces with Fire Bringer..."
A thought suddenly came to Nash, and he looked to the bedside table. "Has the bishop left me any further instructions? I don't see any notes or orders..."
Sierra shrugged. "I heard him talking to the nurse before he left. He told her that when you finally awoke, not to tell you where he's gone, because you'd try to get involved, and he wants you to take some time to recover."
"But I have recovered!" Nash exclaimed, and to prove it, tried to get out of the bed. His knees buckled the moment he tried to stand up, and his head pounded with pain.
He would have landed on the floor in a heap, but Sierra stepped forwards and caught him, supporting him under the arms.
"That headache came on rather suddenly," Nash sputtered over Sierra's shoulder.
"You foolish humans," Sierra grumbled, depositing Nash back into the bed. "You can't even see first-hand how fragile your mortal bodies are."
"I'm not fragile!" Nash protested.
"You're fragile and weak," Sierra retorted. "You also seem to forget that you're not twenty-two anymore. It will take longer for your body to recover." Sierra smirked. "You always make slurs about how old I am, but it is you who is now suffering the effects of age. The irony of that is very sweet indeed."
"I'm not suffering from the effects of age!" Nash insisted. "I'm only thirty-seven! Besides, no matter how old I get, you'll always be older. About eight centuries older, in fact. There's no way for you to outlive your Old Hag status. In fact," Nash continued, rubbing his chin in thought, "as you get closer to your ninth century of demon-hood, you might have to upgrade to being the 'Ancient Hag', or the 'Archaic Hag. Or maybe –"
Sierra grabbed Nash's dagger off the bedside table and brandished it threateningly.
"-Actually, I think 'Old Hag Sierra' should do you for another few centuries."
"I should have let you fall and knock yourself unconscious so I could have a few more joyous days without you."
Nash grinned. "Why didn't you then? It's starting to sound like you're actually concerned for my welfare."
"Don't flatter yourself," Sierra snarled. "There's still work to be done."
"What do you mean?"
Sierra tossed an envelope into Nash's lap.
"I thought you said bishop Sasarai considered my job to be done?" Nash asked, picking up the envelope suspiciously.
"It's not from Sasarai. It's from Albert Silverberg, the tactician who has been helping Luc and the witch."
"What!?"
"He tried to sneak in here while the nurse was out. I recognized him from when I was spying on them at the Cyndar ruins, so I thought he was going to attempt an assassination... I confronted him-"
"-You mean, you sucked his blood?"
"No!" Sierra hissed angrily. "I merely stated that if he didn't explain himself immediately, he would suffer a most gruesome and painful death."
"Wow Sierra, you're really starting to develop a flare for diplomacy."
Sierra glared at him, but continued. "However, he didn't seem interested in killing you, which I must admit, was a slight disappointment. He asked me to give you this letter when you awoke. It seems he plans on betraying Luc by disclosing some important information, but he wouldn't tell me what."
"The seal on this letter has been broken," Nash stated accusingly.
Sierra simply shrugged. "Yes, I read it. I have a right to know after all the trouble I've gone through to help you."
Unable to argue with this, Nash silently opened the letter. There was no addressee, nor had it been signed. It simply read 'Meet with me if you want to stop him'."
"Meet with him where?" Nash wondered out loud.
"Well it's hard to pick a time and place amidst all the war," Sierra replied, obviously having had more time to think about the somewhat enigmatic message. "He has to stay close to Luc, after all."
"Sounds like it could be a trap..." Nash mused.
"Unlikely," said Sierra immediately. "He seemed to be in rather a hurry, as though he didn't want to be caught. Also, you'll notice he didn't care to sign his name, or put any names on the message, for that matter. If Luc found it, he wouldn't be able to accuse him of betrayal."
"I wouldn't trust him based on that. Albert is of Silverberg blood. Cunningness runs in his family."
"Yes, but that is exactly why this wouldn't be a trap. It's obvious from what I saw at the Cyndar ruins that Albert isn't as loony as the rest of them. He's not helping them out of the goodness of his heart. He's definitely got his own agenda. That's why it shouldn't be hard to believe that he'd betray him in a heartbeat if it were of benefit to him. Besides, they have bigger fish to fry than a pesky Harmonian spy."
"As much as I hate to admit it, you have a point," Nash replied.
"I know I do." Sierra turned and walked to the door.
"You're not coming with me, I take it."
"Not a chance. I've had enough of you for one day."
"Does anyone besides Albert know you've been lurking around here?"
"No. These days I like to go unseen."
"So you've become reclusive again."
Sierra sighed impatiently. "The nurse will probably be here shortly. If I were you, I'd rest that frail human body of yours before pursuing Albert. You shouldn't have any problems finding him around Brass castle; for wherever Luc is at large, he can't be far behind. Ah yes, and take this." Sierra tossed a small mirror onto Nash's bed.
"Why are you giving me this? Are you frustrated that you can't see your vain vampy self in it?"
"It's called a Blinking Mirror!" Sierra spat. "It will get you back to Budehuc castle the instant you gaze upon it. I don't think you're weak, feeble, inferior body could handle another long horseback ride to the Grasslands."
"Well, well, you just seem to be just full of answers. I guess there's some truth to that saying, 'with age comes wisdom'. Of course, that would make you the wisest person on the planet."
Sierra flung Nash's dagger at him, missing his head by inches. She then stormed from the room, Nash calling after her.
"Hey, don't you know how to take a compliment!?"
Nash consumed several portions of the medicine the nurse left him to bring back his strength. He rested for only a few hours after Sierra left, and used the mirror as soon as he was able to stand on his feet without collapsing. As Sierra had claimed, the Blinking Mirror returned him to the castle the moment he looked into it.
He found it was a very odd feeling, being in a palace bedroom one moment, then walking out of a mirror into Budehuc castle's drab hallway the next, but he shook off the feeling quickly and got his bearings. There was no one in sight. Nash figured they must all be battling at Brass Castle.
He went outside and then to the castle's ranch. He saddled up a fast looking horse (feeling only a slight wave of guilt as he remembered that Borus' stolen horse was still in Harmonia) and rode off quickly for Brass Castle.
He reached the castle by sundown from the West side, the opposite side from where the battle must be taking place. The absence of all knights and citizens by the West gate verified this.
He dismounted his horse and quickly made his way to the castle's entrance. He needed to get to the other side and find Albert, but amidst all fighting, it seemed impossible. He wouldn't even make it through the front line. What he needed was a way to get around the battle...
Nash smirked as the solution suddenly came to him. The secret passageway through Chris' room! It led right to the East side of the bridge! It would be easy enough to get to as all the knights that usually guarded Chris' chambers were out fighting.
Sure enough, the hallways of the second floor of the castle were completely deserted. He turned the knob of the door to Chris' room, and let out a vast sigh of relief when the door was miraculously unlocked.
It took him only a moment to figure out how to open the passageway from behind the cabinet in the room, and he hurried down the dark tunnel. It was only when he was nearing the door at the other end that he wondered if this was really as great of a plan as he thought. Once outside, he'd be right in the thick of the enemy's troops... He was stealthy enough, but if the monsters spotted him... Well, Nash was pretty sure they weren't the kind of monsters to take prisoners.
However, as he reached the end of the tunnel, he saw the door to the outside being blocked by a tall man with purplish hair and a long white coat.
Albert Silverberg.
Nash stopped a few feet from him, and Albert regarded him in unsurprised silence.
"You knew I was coming. You made sure Chris' door was unlocked... How did you know I'd come through here?" Nash asked finally, impressed.
Albert smiled very slightly. "I'm a tactician. It's my job to predict what my opponent's next move will be."
Nash put a hand on his hip and narrowed his eyes at Albert. "Opponent? So is this a trap then?"
"No, no trap."
"Why is there a battle going on here?"
"Luc came here to collect the True Fire rune from the Fire Bringer leader, Hugo. He has succeeded, and now he has them all. Brass Castle has been fighting against him," Albert replied.
"You mean, he has the True Lightning and True Water rune as well?"
"Yes. The Zexen knight Chris, was dealt with by Sarah in the Kaput forest, and it was all to easy to lure Geddoe to Le Buque to save the villagers."
"What do you mean, 'dealt with'? Chris had better be alright!" Nash was surprised to hear the urgency in his own voice. He had nearly sounded like Borus for a moment!
Albert raised an eyebrow. "Better than alright, I would say. She ambushed us from behind and trapped us between the two armies with the help from the Alma Kinan villagers. Now Sasarai has joined the battle and it is only a matter of time before we'll be forced to withdraw. Therefore, if you want to know what I wish to tell you, it would be best to cut the idle chat and get to business."
"Very well," Nash replied, "On with it then."
Albert nodded. "I suppose you're wondering why it is that Luc wishes to collect the four True Runes, Water, Fire, Lightning, and Earth, in addition to his own True Wind rune?"
"The question had crossed my mind, yes."
"I'm going to tell you. Luc plans to use those four runes to destroy his own."
"Destroy a True Rune?!"
"Yes. Luc has gone mad from the truth about his existence, and feels that man does not stand a hope against the tides of fate while the True Runes command it. He wishes to 'free' himself from the cursed world he feels he's imprisoned in, and the only way to do this is to destroy his True Wind Rune and himself with it. I hardly need to tell you what a devastating effect this will have on the world."
"That's mad! To unleash such fathomless power... Countless people would die!"
"Will die," Albert corrected, his face expressionless. "Unless someone is able to stop him."
"And you've been helping this madman?!" Nash exclaimed angrily.
Albert smirked slightly. "While I hardly support his motives, working with Luc has provided me with what I want."
"You would help him kill millions of people, just to gain status in Harmonia? You're as mad as he is! There might not even be a Harmonia left if Luc succeeds!"
"I don't particularly wish to see Luc succeed," Albert replied, inappropriately nonchalant. "Which is why we are here, talking."
Nash crossed his arms and listened.
"You see, Luc cannot easily destroy the True Wind Rune, even with the other four True Runes in his possession. He has to go to a special place and conduct a type of ritual. The process takes time, but this will be the Fire Bringer's last chance to stop him."
"So I suppose the question is, where does this ritual take place?" Nash asked.
"Indeed. This is what I've come to tell you. Luc is performing the ritual at place called the Ceremonial Site. It is a secret ruin located North of the Great Hollow." Albert presented a map. "I have drawn it on this map. Follow the directions and you'll find it."
Nash took the map, but his eyes did not leave Albert.
"I suppose you consider this to be a noble act on your part," Nash stated, not hiding his disgust.
"I don't do this to salvage my dignity, nor to ease my conscious. But as you say, my status as a tactician is meaningless if there is no Harmonia. I know I am a deceiving man, but I am also a man of great ambition. And don't lecture me on nobility, Nash Latjke. From what I have learned about you through my sources, you are no more honorable than I am. No doubt you've had to lie and deceive as Sasarai's spy. You are no different from me."
"You can't compare yourself to me," Nash replied in a quiet voice.
Albert smirked. "I suppose not. You haven't the ambition, which is a shame because I've heard that you can be quite resourceful and clever when you need to be."
"If having no ambition means not being willing to risk the lives of millions of unsuspecting people, then I suppose you're right."
The tactician strode towards the door, and paused with his hand on the doorknob. "You possess a sarcasm that could rival my little brother's. By the way, say hi to dear little Caesar for me, will you? He, like you, is another who would waste his talents on trivial tasks rather than use them to become what he could be. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to tell Luc that it would be wisest for us to withdraw from this absurd battle." He left.
Nash did not move for a quiet some time after Albert left. He was half- tempted to chase after him and strangle him. Finally, he realized that the battle would be ending soon and he'd half to get back to Budehuc castle to tell the others of what he'd learned. However insulting and aggravating his meeting with Albert had been, he had come out of it with some important information. He turned to leave, ignoring the little voice in the back of his mind that was telling him Albert was right to say that he was equally deceitful.
A/N: I guess there wasn't as much fun stuff in this chapter as in previous chapters, but I tried putting some in the scene with Sierra at least. I hope I didn't butcher Albert's character too much, and I hope you all liked it! Thank you so much to everyone who posted a friendly review, I really appreciate it!