Halkegenia Online v2.1 – Chapter 8
As a young girl, Agnes had arrived in Tristania, eyes full of hate, and heart full of an unquenchable desire to visit righteous vengeance upon those who had taken everything from her. She had thought nothing could turn her from her course, until she had stepped through the Southern Gates and been brought to her knees by the obscene stench. It had hit her like a mace.
The product of tanners, and butchers, and alchemists, and the thousands upon thousands of people who lived in the capital and whose waste was washed out into the streets each day to flow, and ooze, and bubble its way down the gutters to the Scheldt.
By tremendous effort, the odor was almost entirely absent from the Palace Grounds, and in the better kept districts it was something one could almost grow to tolerate. But there was not a cubic mail in the Quarter La Villains that was left untouched by the Miasma.
Agnes had seen experienced battle mages, men who had served on corpse burning duty on days old battlefields, fall to the ground and vomit after breathing deeply in a putrid alleyway on a hot summer day.
Which was probably why nobody had noticed before now, she thought as she held a handkerchief, soaked in perfume, over her nose.
"The body has been here at least three days judging by the decay." A raven haired woman noted clinically as she prodded at bloat ripened flesh with the tip of a knife.
There were six of them brought here by the discovery, four crammed into the tiny room, and two more standing watch outside. The members of her Highness Musket Squadron wore the clothes of simple working women, loosely fitted linen blouses and long skirts that would not be out of place anywhere in Tristania in the middle of the day. But in semi-private, they loosened some, and from time to time, a hand touched on a hidden pistol grip, or a sword hilt, a few links of a mail shirt peeking out from their buttoned collars.
"Ambush?" The Lieutenant asked.
"Looks more like an execution, Sir." Frida answered, waving to a dry brown stain of blood that had spread from the cleanly slit throat down the front of the victim's blouse. She stood and wiped her knife clean.
"Tortured and then executed." Agnes corrected as she nudged a wrist where the mottled pattern of bindings tied too tight for too long were still apparent. "Beaten." She nodded at the crusted blood around his nose and his mouth, and what might have been bruises. "Check his teeth, I expect a few are freshly missing."
She looked around the small room. A narrow bed, small writing desk, wardrobe, and a simple pantry of dried foods that would keep even in the Capital's miserable summers. There was a well in the courtyard nearby. He wouldn't have to go far or risk exposing himself. "This was his safe house." One that even Agnes hadn't known about.
Frida's examination uncovered exactly what the Lieutenant had been expecting.
"Damn them to hell." Agnes hissed. Roul had been one of her best informants and this was no coincidence. The man had debs, but not the kind he'd be made an example of like this.
"Could they have gotten anything out of him?" Frida wondered out loud.
Agnes shook her head. "All contacts are compartmentalized and have no knowledge of each other." They could have tortured him all they liked and they still wouldn't have learned anything.
But even so . . .
How had they learned of this place? Tailed him? Beaten it out of him before bringing him here to finish the job?
"Maybe he was getting too close, Sir?" The Sergeant suggested. "Drew the wrong sort of attention?"
"Maybe." Agnes agreed reluctantly. But too close to what? "Roul was always reluctant to take risks. But he was agitated last time we met, deathly afraid of . . . something . . ."
"What?"
Agnes bit her lip. "He wouldn't tell me. Like he was afraid I would act on it and reveal him. He never trusted I would keep him safe." She shrugged. "He was right in the end . . . I suppose. This place, they either knew about it or tortured it out of him. But I knew Roul for long enough. I want this room stripped to the walls and floorboards. Every letter, article of clothing, even the pantry. Take the furniture apart if you have to."
"Yes, Sir." Frida clenched a fist over her chest in salute and started apportioning responsibility to her squad. Agnes turned to leave, stopping for a moment to kneel beside poor Roul. The stench of his decaying carcass was briefly forgotten then as she met the clouded sightless eyes.
Somehow, he looked bewildered.
"I'm sorry." She decided to say. "For a mage, you were decent enough." Then standing. "I'll be heading out now, I have to make the rounds before sunset." This could have been bad luck, or it could be the first of many, she couldn't leave her network exposed.
But before that, stepping out of doors, she found herself looking out over the slanting rooftops of the capital, rolling hills of haphazard shingles and thatch, infested by birds and rodents, all the way to the river packed with barges, before picking up again on the far side of the Scheldt in a far more regal pattern of blue tile.
Someone was waiting for her just beyond the sentries. Agnes' nose wrinkled in a way that even the scent of the city could no longer do.
Form did not dictate character. Agnes had learned that lesson painfully when she was still very young. But there were certain roles that almost seemed to erode the form. Such was the City's dead collectors.
From an already short stature he was stooped over, as if the weight of wrestling corpses had permanently deformed him. But his arms were stout, and the muscles of his neck thick from the work that kept him straining all day. He smiled when he saw the Lieutenant, haphazard features stretching the pale skin of his face.
"You, I assume you are the one who found him like this?" Agnes asked as she approached.
"Ah yes, ah yes." The dead collector nodded vigorously before extracting something from his pocket. "I found this near him, ah yes, slipped under the writing desk, it seemed right to involve the authorities then, ah yes."
A sealed letter, though the wax showed signs of tampering. "You opened this?"
The ugly little man's eyes widened. "Not knowing what it was, ah yes! But once I saw the contents . . ."
"And once you saw this, you did nothing more in the room until we arrived?"
"Ah . . ."
"Yes." Agnes concluded, opening the envelope and scanning its contents. "And how, pray tell, did you know that your services were required?" The smell aside, masked by the city, wouldn't have been enough. Rouls little safe room was tucked away in a ramshackle addition atop a ramshackle tenement. She doubted anyone much came up here.
"Ah . . . I suspected, yes. Mademoiselle."
"Suspected?"
"Rumor, Mademoiselle. People say a man rented out that room, but hadn't seen him of late ah yes. And one other thing, said they'd seen something up on the roof three nights past."
"Something?"
In answer the man extended a hand. Agnes thought to deprive him of it, but instead slapped a silver piece into his palm. "Make sure I get my money's worth."
"Ah yes, I remember now." The dead collector answered, flashing teeth that were too perfect, at odds with his misshapen self. "Rumors of a vampire. One of the lesser ones, you know. I hear they nest in cities don't they? Occurred to me if something like a vampire were around, my services might be needed ah yes, so I came to investigate, round midday, yes."
Agnes grimaced. It had been a while since her anthropology lessons but she did remember this much. Vampires were not such messy eaters. Nor did they waste what they killed.
"A vampire?"
"That's what they say, ah yes. Tall, thin, dark . . . wings." He shrugged. "If that's what they say they saw, that's what they say they saw, ah yes?"
"Ah . . . Yes . . ." Agnes bit at her thumb thoughtfully. "I must be going." As she left, Agnes felt the dead collector's eyes following her and realized what had been so amiss.
Smiling with a mouth full of dead men's teeth.
It was early evening, and the sky above the Capital was beginning to fade. Merchants and Craftsmen, weary from their work and looking for diversion, spilled onto the streets. As the business of day came to an end, the business of the night was just beginning.
Rumor had spread at the speed of gossip. Spilling across the capital, through the back streets and the main, spoken by both commoner and mage.
There was a Faerie working in the Capital.
As a serving girl.
In an inn!
What was she doing in the Capital of all places?
Who knew!
Was she strange?
Yes.
Was she beautiful?
Of course!
Which Inn? Which shop?!
The floor was crowded that night. It seemed like every man in the Capital wanted to see for themselves, the Faerie Woman with cat's ears and tail. In their urgency, many were caught by surprise when they began to notice the other changes that had taken place.
Wine was of course still available, all of the vintages that they had come to trust as old friends. But then, there had been the strangest of things.
Beer!
That Germanian swill?!
Why, no proper Tristanian would ever be found drinking such garbage! Though admittedly, the taste was not so utterly detestable as some had been led to believe and it went rather well with the dark, rich breads and sausage that were being offered by the kitchen that night.
And then there had been the tea.
Tea? In their shop?!
Tea had no business in a place like this!
What was needed was alcohol, proper drink with which to enjoy the girls and unwind after a hard day. But the scent was quite nice, and some of the new customers, the quieter, more scholarly fellows that were leaving as the night began, seemed to enjoy that sort of thing.
But, as the evening progressed, the tea gave way as it should to wine, and the delicate tea cups and coasters were returned behind the counter to be replaced by bottles and tankards. The girls, friendly as ever.
And through it all, moved the inn's namesake, shrouded in maid's attire, moving lightly as air. She was radiant, not just beautiful, but beautifully alive, all vibrant tawny skin and supple limbs. It seemed true what they said, that Faeries were made of magic.
Plates clanked as the Faerie woman easily let four orders slide from her arms with nary a rattle. "That's two omelets, four pork sausages, and two loafs of bread, will that be all . . ." She tilted her head. "Meeeeowster?"
"Y-yes, ah thank you . . . Miss . . . I mean KoKo." The man paying for it all spluttered, face going red. "But also, perhaps we could ah . . . uhm . . ." The bigger man at his side gave the poor young fellow a jab, chuckling with the casual meanness of a mellow drunk.
"Another bottle of wine?" KoKo held her smile.
She accepted the spent bottle and returned to the counter, humming happily to herself. Why not? She had every reason to be pleased. On the board set behind the counter, it was shown that over the past three days she was easily in leading place.
What was surprising was who had overtaken the second position.
"A bottle of our Tarbes wine for you, Master."
The girl gave a small courtesy before her own client, a massive blacksmith still smelling of soot and oil as he leaned over the table, what was visible of his face behind his beard was already turned ruddy. Compared to him, the girl was nothing but a porcelain doll.
"Ah, my favorite, you knew!" He laughed, slapping his hand against his knee. "What are you waiting for mein Petite Mademoiselle? Sit here so I can enjoy the company!"
The girl did as he asked, setting herself delicately on his knee, pouring his drink, and listening with small nods of her head and soft murmurs of agreement as she was told of his day, the horridly high prices he was being gouged for on raw iron, and the 'wealthy bastard' who had come in expecting miracles while wanting to pay almost nothing.
"I tell you, the working mage has it hard these days. War coming to the country, troop levies, tax increases, trades all a mess right now while the merchants get that sorted out. Where'm I to get iron if not from Germania? What about coal for the furnaces eh? I'm not a triangle by thunder! Can't fire'm all day on my own."
"Master is truly in hard straits." The girl said with sympathy. "But this is a place to be happy.." She smiled serenely. "So be happy and enjoy what life has given you."
"Enjoy?" The man nodded. "Enjoy!" He barked, grabbing the remainder of the bottle and swallowing it in deep gulps. Half rising, he took a deep breath. "Live for today Lads, for we might wake up dead! God save the Queen!" He laughed deeply, and then, as if a candle had been blown out, crashed back into his seat before doing a faceplant into his empty dinner plate.
The other customers and servers fell silent and stared only long enough to hear his snoring before returning to their own merriment. Mademoiselle arrived, giving the man a small pat on the cheek before slipping an arm beneath the burly smith's armpit and hoisting him into a carry.
The girl turned back to clear the table and pocket her reward, then smiled, Mademoiselle had mentioned that Franz was always a generous tipper.
"Treis bien!" Scarron cried as he clapped his hands together close to his cheek. "Our Petite Louise has come into her own, I'm so proud!"
"You can say that again." Jessica nodded.
"See how the traditions of our splendid shop have molded even this difficult child into another Charming Faerie?!" Scarron proclaimed perhaps a little too proudly, and much too loudly.
His daughter gave him the slightest narrowing of eyes. "And it doesn't have anything to do with Gimi and I giving her pointers? Or Miss KoKo taking her under her wing?" The flamboyant innkeeper spluttered.
Louise had to try hard not to let her serene smile turn too prideful as she overheard. She had taken Koko's advice to heart, and in doing, Jessica and the others had become her saving grace. Once they'd realized how oblivious she was, of what to do and how to behave, everything had begun to turn around as they taught her what they had assumed was only natural.
That too had taken some getting used to. If this were the academy, every one of these girls would be tacitly acknowledged as her competition. If they couldn't be overcome, they'd have to be knocked down. They'd think the same of her too.
But no, that was not how things were done here. They competed, but they competed against themselves. And Scarron allowed neither feud nor grudge beneath his roof.
Her mother would say not to trust it. According to the Duchess, the only one she could rely upon was herself. But she had to admit, it made the hard work a good deal more fun.
"Louise, Koko needs you for that." Gimi called as she bustled by, wine bottles in hand.
"Coming!"
"Lookin good tonight, Louise." Jessica dodged her, arms full of soiled plates bound for the kitchen.
"You too. And table twelve is going to run out of garum soon. I'd get it, but I have to do that!"
"Got it!"
Cheers rose up from the crowd as she and KoKo bumped hips and spun around each other, placing index fingers together before their lips and drawing whiskers in the air.
"Marry me Miss KoKo!" One of the customers, a slender nobleman, called out as he stood tipsily atop his seat.
"Shut up Hansen, you're already married!"
Twisting lithely, KoKo turned about and blew the man a kiss.
"Aye, if you can call it marriage!" The laughter bubbled up around him as his friends helped him back into his seat.
"Oy, Miss KoKo!" A harsh bark came from the back of the room, loud and clear enough that it briefly drew everyone's attention to a big ape of a man whose very visage made Louise want to grimace.
Like Franz the blacksmith, Renee was a mountain of a man, but compared to the smith's solid girth, he was still lean, and young, and quite obviously a good deal meaner. But he tipped well, very well, and kept his hands to himself well enough. It was other ways that he found to harass.
Upon hearing about Renee's exploits, KoKo had likened him to a troll though Louise didn't think he was quite that big, and he certainly wouldn't turn to stone in the sun, unfortunately.
"Nyah?" KoKo turned, tilting her head mischievously as the crowd leaned back to form a path between her and the table where Renee sat, drinking back a bottle of wine with his meal.
Renee let out a satisfied exhalation before smiling. "Now, now, KoKo, haven't you been working hard? You must be getting hungry."
Everyone watched to see where the conversation was going, even Louise, though, eying the plate, she was shamefully certain she knew. Damn spending so much time around Kirche!"
"Neh, I'm a bit peckish." Koko blinked innocently.
"Well then my Dear KoKo." Renee hefted a swollen pork sausage from his plate. "Why don't you come here and enjoy it?" A small flick of the wrist sent the sausage wagging back and forth.
Behind the counter, Scarron was already getting ready to act. Louise wrinkled her nose in disgust and a few shouts of protest among the guests were quickly stifled.
"What's the matter?" Renee goaded. "I thought cat's were carnivores."
KoKo's expression remained blank for a moment before a small smile spread across her lips. "My, it certainly is a bit big, wouldn't you say?" KoKo observed the sausage. "I think I'd have a hard time with something that thick and long!" The tension in the room turned to expectation.
"Oh come now Mademoiselle! That is a mark of its fine quality!" Renee laughed lasciviously.
He stopped laughing a moment later as, with a skillful swipe, KoKo batted the sausage out of his hand and into the air where it turned end over end, describing an arc that would have landed back on his plate if the Caits arm hadn't blurred once more, leading with a silver flash.
-Tunk!-
When the hunk of meat struck the plate, it was neatly sliced in two, lengthwise.
KoKo reached out and carefully cleaned grease from her knife on the front of Renee's shirt as the man sat frozen, before grabbing a table knife and skewering one half of the sausage, taking a small bite before replying casually. "You know, I've always found the ones that are more discerning with their meat tend to be a lot better."
The bar broke into roars of laughter at the expense of Franz, now looking ever so slightly emasculated. Louise didn't miss the way that the shy young man that KoKo had served earlier took her aside and pushed another coin into her hand with a warm pat on the back.
"Looks like we're getting shown up again!" Gimi lamented as she bustled past Louise. "Hurry up Louise or we're going to fall behind!"
Louise was just about to follow when a voice at her back caused her to turn. "Interesting, I can't say I don't like her style." Agnes noted as she pulled back the hood of her cloak, expression as severe as ever.
"Ah . . . Ag . . . I mean . . . Sister!" She corrected quickly. "What brings you here at such an hour?" Yes, what did bring her? Wait! Terrance de'Martou! Was he here tonight?!
Agnes gave a small shake of her head as Louise began to look about frantically. "No, that isn't it. I just needed to check in with you two . . ."
"Ah, Mademoiselle!" Scarron cried as he came up to Agnes and Louise. "Wonderful that you would join us this evening! Come, sit, sing, drink, Eat! That is to live is it not?!"
"I'm afraid I can't stay long." Agnes said quickly. "I am merely here to check up on Louise, and to assure father that she is being treated fairly."
Scarron gave a small, indignant snort. "Are you implying, Mademoiselle, that I would treat my waitresses poorly?" Never had Louise seen Scarron look so incenced. He looked, well, he looked like what he was. A very big, very strong, and if he wished, very humorously man.
"Not at all." Agnes backpedaled, that is to say I . . .
"She merely worries for me Mademoiselle." Louise came quickly to the rescue, giving Agnes a small nod to play along. "Can't you understand such sisterly love?" Spoken in a voice so saccharine that Jessica would be proud.
Scarron paused as if mulling this over before his expression transformed once more to one of magnanimous acceptance. "Tres bien! Yes such things are to be cherished mi Petite Louise! Now, go, go on and spend a few minutes with your sister! It is almost time for you and KoKo's break, I shall call her over as well!"
"Thank you, Mademoiselle!" Louise sang as Scarron hurried off.
Agnes watched him go with a bemused expression. "I don't know how you manage to deal with that man."
"He's not as bad as he . . ." Louise said. "I mean, he's much nicer than . . . He's not so bad once you get to . . ." She shrugged helplessly. "KoKo says the world takes all sorts."
Speaking of which. "Agnes-chan, what's up?"
Agnes gestured silently to a secluded table in the far corner. Only once they were seated did the musketeer explain.
"I'm sorry I didn't come around soon." Agnes said as eyed both of them warily. "A man was found murdered. One of my informants."
Louise paled. "M-murdered!" Agnes and KoKo both raised fingers to their lips to silence her.
"Yes." Agnes confirmed. "I'm checking in on assignments to be sure he was the only one."
"Could it have been a coincidence?" KoKo asked cautiously. "You know, maybe he got mugged or something?
"I doubt it, he was a veteran. Not the best battle mage, but he wouldn't have gone easily, not to some street thugs." The musketeer sighed wearily. "I shouldn't need to remind you to stay alert." Agnes looked over her shoulder as if to assure herself that she really was positioned safely in a corner. "Though, you two shouldn't be in any danger so long as your identities remain a secret."
"We might not be." Louise said. "But what about Botan and Tabitha?"
"What about Kirche?" KoKo asked.
"She's too obnoxious to die." Louise dismissed.
"I received a report back from them today." Agnes answered. "Miss Zerbst was able to infiltrate de'Martou's home and ingratiate herself with the men staying there. She and Botan also discovered a large stockpile of contraband beneath the house and an escape tunnel that we believe is being used to come and go from the grounds. We've tentatively marked it as some sort of base of operations."
"Tunnels?" Louise asked.
"Yes. Unfortunately, Miss Zerbst was not able to probe their full extent. They appear to branch off for some distance."
"We wish we had better news." Koko supplied. " But there's been no sign of de'Martou here just yet."
"I know." Agnes said. "Official business took him away from the Capital, but he should be back any day now. Expect him soon." Faerie and Mage had nodded as one before saying their farewells as the night wound down.
"Ah, ahh!" Louise moaned faintly as she sank her feet into the bucket of hot water that KoKo had brought up from the kitchen. She let out a soft sigh of relief as she began to wriggle her toes. Determined as she was, she simply wasn't used to this sort of work. She hadn't the callouses for one.
KoKo only seemed mildly better as she flopped down, bone weary. She stretched, back arching sinuously with a purr of satisfaction and a faint popping of vertebrate.
"Thanks KoKo." Louise said as she leaned back atop her bed, closing her eyes and listening to the night sounds through the open window.
"It's not a problem." The Cait Syth said with a smile. "Believe me, I know that feeling, when I was in high school, some friends and I went hiking in the woods once and I ended up getting really awful blisters because I didn't come prepared." She looked down at her own feet, wiggling her toes curiously. "Heh, I guess now I'm just made of tougher stuff . . ."
Turning over on her side, the Cait woman looked uncharacteristically sober. "Say, Louise-chan?"
"Hmm?"
"Would you mind it if maybe you quit and let me handle the rest of this job."
It was like a slap to the face. "W-what?!"
"Un." KoKo nodded, seemingly speaking to herself. "That would probably be for the best. Louise-chan?"
Louise was now fully upright, leaning over her bed, face well on its way to turning livid. "H-how d-dare you say something like that. Y-You cat!" She tried hard not to stutter, tried even harder not to yell. "I've been doing better, haven't I?"
"Better?" KoKo wondered out loud before shaking her head. "Louise-chan, I'm talking about what Agnes-san told us today. I didn't realize when we started how dangerous this could be. If something happens, I'd feel a lot better if I didn't have to worry about keeping you safe . . ."
"Safe!" Louise snapped, rising to her feet. "I can keep myself safe! I don't need you to . . . toooo . . ." Neglecting the tub of water, Louise nearly fell face first into the frame of KoKo's bed before the Cait caught her deftly. She fell silent as KoKo held her to her chest.
"Careful, Louise!" KoKo said quietly.
Louise pushed away, refusing to look her in the eyes. "It's because I can't protect myself, isn't it?"
"You heard Agnes. Her informant could protect himself. It didn't do him any good. I worry for you."
"And I worry for you too!" Louise said quickly, catching herself only after the words had left her lips.
"That's very sweet of you Louise-chan." KoKo whispered. "I know it's a little different here, but where I'm from, you would still be the child and I would be the adult. I should be the one doing the dangerous stuff, just in case something happens"
"You're not being fair." It most certainly wasn't fair for her to act so nonchalantly with her own life, especially because, because . . . "Don't you have a son to worry about?" KoKo went stiff and the joy vanished from her eyes."I won't let you be the only one in danger." Louise said firmly. "But I'll also be extra careful."
"Extra careful?" KoKo looked contemplative. "If one of us gets caught, there's no reason that it would reveal the other, right?"
Louise frowned. "KoKo, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying." KoKo said. "That if we're going to keep doing this, if something happens that puts me in danger, I think you should try to pretend you don't have anything to do with me and get away. Do you understand, Louise-chan? If you want to say, you have to promise me."
Louise was stricken dumb. If something happened, then KoKo wanted her to abandon her! "A-absolutely not! I . . ."
"This isn't up for debate, Louise." KoKo's voice was quick and decisive, and very nearly as forceful as her mothers. It obliterated the tirade that Louise had planned to unleash in barely a heartbeat.
"Then . . . the same goes for me if I'm the one in danger!" Louise decided. She just refused to surrender without some sort of concession. She hadn't really expected KoKo to relax so suddenly, or for her to agree so easily as she looked into the Cait's eyes.
At that time, it never occurred to Louise that KoKo would lie.
Somehow, it had gotten worse.
"Of course, we have no desire to interfere in your affairs." Cardinal Mazarin spoke from the far side of the pool of quicksilver.
"Of course." Sakuya replied, keeping the bitterness from her voice.
The graying regent had taken to the concept of Teleconference like a duck to water. Although the windows behind him attested that it was midday in Tristania, the chambers of the Faerie court were swaddled in shadow.
"However, I cannot ignore the reports of this murdered . . . informant . . . Here in Tristania. It sounds far too much like the handiwork of your assassin. Especially with these witness accounts. The Lord Justice is pressuring that this is no longer an internal matter of ALfheim. He wishes to intervene."
The Sylph Lord bit her lip. It had not, decidedly, been the news she'd wished to wake too. "Tell the Lord Justice that we will, of course, abide by all facets of the Treaty of ALfheim. And that we welcome the participation of his office."
"He will no doubt wish to question your investigators. Dismiss some. Appoint his own." Mazarin warned. "I believe this is in order given recent events."
"Y-yes." Sakuya admitted, cursing Mortimer again silently, his foolishness had weakened more hands than his own.
"And I believe he will wish to take into custody this . . . Guild Master who spoke out at the Lord's conference."
"That . . . We will not do." Sakuya glanced across the table to where Mortimer sat, stock straight, still as a statue, eyes closed. It was as if he hadn't spoken at all.
Mazarin squinted, peering into the dimmed room. "Richmond will insist. He believes this . . . Rio is privy to knowledge of value to the investigation of his office. Knowledge, he suspects, the Faerie court wishes to remain hidden."
"He may insist as much as he wishes." Mortimer answered. "Rio has done nothing actionable under either the laws of ALfheim or Tristain."
"The Lord Justice doesn't see it that way."
"Then he may question Rio, under oath, if he desires." Sakuya rallied, surprised to find herself and Mortimer on the same side. "But he will not be detained without giving cause. Even the Lord Justice is bound by the law."
To which the Cardinal pinched the bridge of his nose and smiled tiredly. "I will be sure to relay your decision to the Lord Justice. Speaking confidentially to all of you, this is of course politics by other means."
Sakuya smiled coldly. "Call it what it is, Richmond hates us."
"Richmond hates that the Counties of ALfheim have special priveledge." Mazarin corrected. "Though, that he hates the Fae is also true."
"A radical." Sakuya murmured to herself. Arguably the most powerful in the land. They'd been lucky that most of the Crown's closest allies were moderates.
"Can the Faerie Court offer any insight into this 'RipJack', his motives?" Mazarin pleaded. "Anything that speeds the Crown's own investigation could close this before Richmond can use his office to do harm."
"Unfortunately, if we understood his motives, we would have captured him by now." Mortimer reasoned.
"What's to understand?" Morgianna deigned to speak out from her perch just at the edge of Mazarin's field of view into the Chamber. The Spriggan Lord leaned back in her chair, boots kicked up on the table. Her features signaled that she was 'taken by a mood' as the Princess would say, and that it was an ill one. "RipJack's a hateful little shit. Clearly he didn't get the memo."
"You really think it's that simple?" Sakuya asked.
"He's taking out highly placed Lieutenant's of the Faerie Court." Morgianna picked at something under a fingernail. "Y'know, people who work for us. The Lords who had the power to banish."
"You're his Lord, Morgiana." Sakuya said. "Why didn't he start with one of your Lieutenants?"
"Beats me. Maybe he thought he'd stay anonymous going after Sylphs, Salamanders, and Cait Syth. Or maybe . . ." She kicked her feet down, leaning forward. "Hell, maybe he just thought you're all weak."
"But why appear now in Tristania?" Thinker chimed in. "This doesn't make any sense. Murderer or not, he has no reason to travel there. And why this man? He's not an official of the state, he was an informant. How does RipJack even know who he is?"
"That is easy enough to Comprehend." Mazarin looked unhappy. "After all, you Faeries are very useful. Even our enemies know that."
"He's still gotta eat." Morgiana reasoned. "Still gotta keep a roof over his head and lay low. I figure, how he's paying for it all as a murdering criminal? Answer, doing what he did in ALO but for realsies."
"But that's insane." Sakuya shook her head, her sense of decency rebelled against it, foreign to everything she thought she knew, but then the historian inside of her spoke up and urged her to examine the long arc of human history, and it did not seem so impossible.
"All it takes to buy away loyalty is disilusion and a favorable offer." Mazarin warned. "We thought that our Captain Wardes was of unimpeachable integrity until he was not. And RipJack was never loyal at all. Lady Sakuya?"
"What? Oh . . . I apologize." Sakuya realized she had half stood when she had protested, and only now sank back into her chair. "It's simply difficult to take in." She'd been able to accept RipJack as a murdered, so why not a traitor as well?
"Be that as it may," Mazarin nodded, "We must proceed as if all of this supposition is true. Richmond will certainly attempt to use this opportunitty to turn the terms the treaty against you. He's preparing over a hundred of his men to comb Arrun as we speak."
"Over a hundred?!" Thinker's brows rose.
"The Lord Justice sees this as an opportunity to display his authority." Mazarine shrugged. "However, we need not be helpless ourselves."
"Oh, what do you recommend?" Sakuya asked.
"Richmond demands to take part in your investigation. I simply invite you to take part in ours."
"Because Tristain's criminal element is harboring RipJack." The Sylph Lord realized. "That could work."
"Turn about is fair game. Richmond can hardly refuse." Mazarin gave a ghost of a smile. He was a devious one for sure, Yamada Sakura realized, no wonder Sakuya liked him.
The Regent and the Faerie Court agreed to make arrangements, Mazarin pausing before ending the call. "There is a saying that I heard when I toured your city, Sylvain, I think it is appropriate now. I believe it was . . . the ball is in your court?"
Sakuya blinked, then she smiled for real. "Of course, Regent. Thank you."
Mazarin nodded one last time as the quicksilver mirror faded away into nothingness and an attendant at the door dialed back up the intensity of the chamber lights. Six of the nine Lords sat around the table, the four who had spoken, as well as Zolf of the Imps and Rucks of the Gnomes.
Sakuya's smiled faded as she regarded each of them. What had just transpired would probably have given pause to even seasoned members of state back home. But they weren't back home. They didn't have any seasoned heads of state. They had Mortimer, and Alicia . . .
'And me.'
That thought paralyzed her as Mortimer stood calmly to address the table. "Originally, I wished to call this vote before a full assembly of the Faerie Court, but as time is of the essence, and we have a quorum, I believe a unanimous vote will suffice. I would like the support of my fellow Lords in instructing the Arrun Watch to place Guild Master Rio under observation and surveillance."
There was silence at the, Thinker leaned back, and Zolf stroked at his crucifix, the dark eyes of Rucks peered out over his laced hands and beneath his heavy brow.
"You know what you're suggesting there, son?" The Gnome representative asked.
"You justt spoke in Rio's defense." Zolf pointed out. "Now you want us to place him under Watch surveillance?"
"Surveillance is not detention." Mortimer reasoned. "And while I loathe the interference of the Lord Justice . . ."
"Interference you may have brought down on us!" Zolf snapped, standing to glare across the table.
"Enough, both of you!"
There it was again, Sakura realized, that strange thing where her voice spoke without her. The Sylph Lord was standing, arms folded and gaze set, first on Mortimer and then on Zolf until slowly both men backed down.
"Mortimer has placed us in a difficult situation, that is true. But I cannot disagree with him. Rio had knowledge of the investigation. He certainly won't tell us how he came to have that information. It may be innocent, then again, there is a possibility that it is not. With lives on the line, I am willing to support Mortimer's proposition. So long," she added emphatically, "that it remains only surveillance."
"And what if the surveillance is sussed out?" Zolf protested. "Then we'd all be in the same boat as Mortimer."
"If you're so worried," Mortimer murmured, "then lend us the Hogei-sen."
The two men locked eyes so long tthat Sakuya was sure she'd have to intervene again before, touching his cross, Zolf simply said "They don't exist."
"You . . . Are a terrible liar."
"Even if there was such a thing as the Hogei-sen, I would not lend them to you for this." The Imp's voice fell to a growl, daring Mortimer to challenge his decision. "Besides, you have Morgiana's Kurotaka, they'd be just as well suited . . . Morgiana?"
The Spriggan Lord had risen and walked to the door. "Yeah, well, I don't have anything more to add to this and it's just pissing me off. If I leave, you still have quorum thingy with five of you so . . . just count me as a yay since it might get us RipJack. And yeah, I'll lend out some Kurotaka, just tell me what you need. Kay bye."
"Morgiana, the meeting isn't over yet!" Zolf called. "Morgiana!" The door swung shut.
"She's already made her position clear." Mortimer said.
"You . . ." Zolf glared.
"I don't like it." Thinker interupptted. He'd definitely been living up to his namesake, waiting until he'd had time to work out the angles. The Undine sat with his arms crossed and his legs apart, more like a thoughtful grandfather than any sort of Lord. "Yeah . . . I don't like it. But I think Richmond changes things. If we aren't willing to stand up to him, then our protest might as well be a strongly worded letter."
"So you're arguing it's for his own good?" Rucks frowned. "That's dangerous precedent."
"For what it's worth, I agree with both Thinker and Mortimer's reasoning." Sakuya announced. "The Watch may intervene if Richmond's investigators violate the treaty."
"Well then," the Gnome's voice went soft and low, "Supposing I agree to this . . . It's the least bad of a barrel of bad choices. Count me as yay."
"Yay." Sakuya agreed.
"Yay." Thinker raised his hand.
"Yay." Mortimer stared down Zolf until the man ceased stroking his cross.
"Under protest," the Imp said, "Yay."
"The Yays have it then." Sakuya announced. "Instructions will be sent immediately, along with new orders for the investigators."
"That is another problem." Mortimer added. "Removing Vakarian has a made short handed investigation even worse."
"Then we will pick someone to replace him." Sakuya decided, biting her thumb. "A Salamander, that will matter to some people, but not one personally loyal to you. That should satisfy everyone."
More arrangements were made and more matters addressed, but the rest of the meeting seemed tortuous with all that was hanging over their heads. By the time it ended, the sun was setting on the horizon as seen from the top of Arrun tower, the city was already turning into a beacon to banish the night from its streets.
"Sakuya." The Sylph turned as Mortimer entered the elevator that would take them back down to the public levels. A moment of silence between them as the doors closed. "Thank you, Sakuya, for . . ."
"I didn't do it for you, Mortimer." She was pleased the civility didn't leave her voice.
"Of course not."
"Honestly, I expected you to agree with Richmond. Detaining him, you'd get what you wanted." And he wouldn't even get his hands dirty.
"It . . ." Mortimer hesitated, "Would make us look weak, if we allowed him to arrest one of our own without probable cause."
"I see." Sakuya nodded, that made sense in a vert Mortimer way.
"And also . . . I . . . was . . . rash last night." She looked up to see Mortimer staring fixedly at the elevator doors. A cold statue again.
Somehow, the admission, and nothing else, rather than soothing her, only made Sakuya more angry. In the silence the anger built until at last. "You know what pisses me off about you, Mortimer? Despite all of this, despite every asinine thing you've done . . . I've thought the things Rio said on that stage . . . But when I heard them said out loud I didn't believe a single one." The elevator chimed as they reached the ground floor. "How can someone so brilliant be such a damned fool?!"
If he had an answer, she didn't hear it, the door opened and Sakuya strode into the lobby where she was greeted by Ephi and her attendants.
"That will be a goat cheese salad sandwich and an iced barley tea. Will there be anything else?"
"Coffee to go." Argo requested, rubbing at her temples as she tried to acclimate to the morning light. She poked Suisen's head back into her coat pocket as the Nav Pixie beckoned. "Oh, and one of those. Like last time sa."
The Imp waitress nodded her head, and turning on her heel, hurried off in a bustle of frills and ribbons that would have put any theme cafe to shame.
"Tis quite popular with the clientele." The Cait murmured to nobody in particular.
"Well that's one way of putting it." A wholesome voice answered, prompting Argo to look up at the proprietress looming over the street side table. "Although to ask my stingy husband she's another mouth to feed."
To look at her, Eda of the Gnomes was not too different from her earthly self, at least from what Argo had gleaned when tracking Agil down through his social media, she was simply a gnomish incarnation, a bit more in every direction. A tall and earthen skinned woman, black hair falling to her waist, with a wide and generous smile, wrapped in a long yellow sundress.
"Must be tough." Argo answered, nodding when the Gnome gestured to a chair.
"Business isn't so bad recently." Eda took a seat, reposing in the shade of the cafe's awning and watching the people pass by. "Besides, it's nice having at least one person around who knows even less about this stuff than me." Eda paused as if remembering. "By the way, have you had a chance to look into what I asked about?"
The Cait shrugged apologetically. "I've been busy, but sorry, nobody is looking for anybody named 'Rin'. I'm afraid your waitress is as you found her."
"Right." Eda tried not to look too glum. "I suppose I shoulda been expectin that. The people with close family are the lucky few, ah, sorry hon."
"Don't be." Argo replied. "You and Agil keep me fed and remind me to go to bed before the sun rises sa. Tis like family in my book."
As for her blood family, after waking from Aincrad, she'd made it her policy to keep her affairs settled. No telling when you'd wake up dead after all. As much as this all sucked, she hadn't left many loose ends.
"Hmm? And what about friends?"
"Excuse me?"
"You and Bleep have been joined at the hip since this whole investigation business started. But I haven't seen hide or hair of him today."
"Bleep?"
"Y'know, Black Sheep, Kirito?" Eda frowned. "Isn't that how this whole nicknaming thing works?"
"I . . . Think I'll stick to Kii-bou." Argo muttered, ears drooping as her mood soured. "And as for Kii-bou . . . tis moping at the moment."
"Oh, what's he got to mope about?"
In reply Argo extended a hand as if beckoning for coin. It was a sort of unofficial gestured between them. Argo would never give the information for free, with the full knowledge that Eda would never pay for it.
"Anyways, he'll snap out of it when he must sa. But I'm not gonna push him while he's in a foul mood." Otherwise, they both might say things they'd regret. Not that that she blamed him, or, was blameless.
All because she'd thought it could be like the old days. But this wasn't like the old days.
In the old days, it had been her and Kirito and Asuna. Not always, but when it happened, they were a natural team. That's where the problems had started. In Aincrad, they'd never told each other everything, but they hadn't lied to one another.
'Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!'
This was why she kept a little distance, even with friends, she needed to keep a clear head.
But before she could beat herself up too much, something wafted under her nose as Rin returned, balancing a quartet of orders upon her arms. Argo's plate slipped onto the table with a muted 'clank' complete with a second tiny sandwich made of scraps and crumbs and held together by a toothpick splinter.
Suisen scampered down to the table and sat herself cross legged, tearing big bites out of her personal meal. Her antics brought Argo a reluctant smile. The Nav Pixie was the companion she hadn't known she needed. But helpful and earnest as Suisen was, she made a poor confidant.
"Say, Eda." Argo pinched the bridge of her nose. "Tis a personal question, but have you ever lied to a friend?"
The gnome woman pursed her lips and turned her eyes skyward. "Hmm . . . Big lie or little lie?"
"Tis a pretty big one, I suppose sa." Argo sighed.
"Well . . . I don't know what's brought this on. And I suppose you're not gonna tell me." Another hand beckoning confirmed it. Eda took a moment to compose her thoughts. "The problem about lying for a good reason, is that the only person who can tell for sure that it's a good reason, is the person you're lying to. Take this whole hoopla with Mortimer."
Argo groaned to be reminded.
"Well, I'm sure he believes he did the right thing for the right reasons, even if he's wrong, he believes it. But then, who am I to say? For every Sylph who says Mortimer needs to step down, there's a Salamander who stands up for him." She smiled as she saw Argo's eyes widen. "Don't be so surprised, one thing I'll give these Faerie ears, they're plenty sensitive, and we get all sorts in the cafe."
"Tis true, accurate information isn't always the same thing as the truth."
Then, Eda reached over the table, placing a hand atop Argo's own and giving a comforting squeeze. "From what Andy has told me, you and the other kids had to do a lot growing up fast when you were trapped in that . . . whatever you want to call it. But you're still not grown-up, if you know what I'm saying. It's okay to still need help. It's always okay to still need help . . . What . . . Are those?"
Argo turned to follow Eda's gaze, what she saw set her tail bristling. "Hey Eda, can you flag down your waitress, I need this to go."
The invasion of Arrun began at dawn.
A column marching four abreast and twenty five deep arrived by the highway and passed through the gates of the city, meeting no resistance. For they came bearing a weapon mightier than any sword, a piece of parchment stamped with seals of the Crown and the Lord Justice
Heads turned as they parted the morning traffic, Faerie and Tristin alike, eyes drawn to their brilliant livery of orange and blue, the heraldry of the Legal Collegiate as they made their way along the spiral of the Grand Promenade, slowly circling Arrun tower until, at last, they arrived at the gates of a squat and unassuming Guild Hall.
Smoothly, the men had rearranged themselves from a marching column into a parade formation as their leader dismounted from his horse and confidently approached the doors. The battle had been lost before it had even started. But that didn't mean the defenders would go quietly.
"I am Cyril Coulin of the Collegiate Serjeants," the leader of the troop barked, "On official business, step aside!" His eyes narrowed as they ran up and down the figure of the young woman barring his way. He made to move past her, and then stopped as she settled into a read stance, hand on the hilt of the wooden sword, like slender curved cudgel, at her side.
"And this the records room of the Arrun Watch." Kirigaya Suguha, the Sylphic Watch Woman Leafa, shot back. "Admittance by anyone not authorized by the Captain is absolutely forbidden."
This was bad, Suguha thought. They'd been briefed the night before that Tristain was sending investigators. But this was closer to a military operation. They'd burst through the Watch House doors like they were making a bust and stormed through the entire first floor, securing it room by room and holding up the offiicers and Arrun denizens that had been going about their business. The Sylph couldn't imagine what they were thinking, but nothing good would come of letting them do as they pleased.
Coulin's featured twisted through a series of emotions before settling on open irritation. "Tch!" He gestured for a squad of his men to approach. "I warn you that the full power of the law is at my side."
"Mine too." The Sylph inhaled, held, and exhaled, steadying her nerves.
But before the tension of the standoff could break, it was broken for them by a sound that started soft and grew deeper and more menacing with each passing moment as it rose to full throated growl.
Coulin and his men turned and were confronted by something they clearly had no experience with. Approximately, it was a wolf, if there had ever been a wolf the size of a small bear, and if that wolf had been covered in rust red fur that smoldered with worming embers.
"Sorry, are we interrupting something?" A woman riding casually side saddle upon the Wolf's back asked with disarming nonchalance. She was a salamander, a bit taller than Leafa, dusky skinned, with with a head of vibrant red hair framing a heart shaped face.
"Are you threatening an Agent of the Crown?!"
"What are you talking about?" The woman slipped down from her perch, straightening the crease of her black slacks and deliberately emphasizing the badge worn on her belt. "We're all officers of the law, on the same side here. Isn't that right, Leafa?"
"Right!"
"Officer Kirigaya, Officer GiNo, that's enough." A gruff voice announced the arrival of reinforcements.
GiNo held out for a moment longer before sighing. The Salamander placed a hand on the flank of her Wolf and the embers in his coat began to cool. The growling ceased and he sank into a sitting position with a 'huff' as if to say he could start again if need be.
Stepping around Wolf, Leafa could see Coulin's surprise as he was confronted by a mild rarity among the ranks of the Fae. She could imagine what he was thinking, that he'd been told that Faeries were uniformly youthful and beautiful. Calmly girls and boyish young men.
The Spriggan in front of him wasn't exactly ugly, but his gaunt features, gnarled as a hearty old oak, and skin the color of a freshly exsanguanated corpse, brought to mind the more ghastly folktales that had inspired the legends of Faeries. However, when he spoke, it was with diplomacy and tact befitting an Officer of the Faerie Court.
"Monsieur Coulin, was it? I am Captain Ittetsu, commander of the City Watch and the County constabulary. I apologize for the zeal of my officers, but Kirigaya is not wrong. While you are in your rights to launch your own investigation, you have not been granted permission to storm this Office and do as you please." Coulin made to speak. "You will, of course, be permitted access to our records, and all files regarding the RipJack investigation, under supervision by officers of the Watch."
"Tch!" The Serjeant glared before finally relenting. "As you wish. Only a few of my men are passingly versed in that moon script of yours anyways, so your officers will be of use to us, and of course, we shall be watching them in kind."
Suguha was surprised that there were any. But then, the Legal Collegiate had helped to draft the treaty of ALfheim. They must have worked closely with the Lords and their legal experts during the negotiating process. So maybe it wasn't so strange.
"Of course. Officers Kirigaya, GiNo, a word." Ittetsu beckoned for them to follow.
"Thanks for back there." Leafa whispered once she was sure they were out of earshot. "It's, GiNo right?" She'd only met the woman during her introduction, and in passing, before now. But she certainly stood out for her Wolf companion now padding obediently beside her.
"Eh, don't mention it." GiNo shrugged. "Those guys are scummy. Besides, I'm the new girl, freshly transferred from Gaddan, gotta show my new coworkers I'll have their backs in a jam, right?"
"Right." Suguha smiled as she mentally filed GiNo in the same place as Klein, Salamanders that weren't too bad. Then Captain Ittetsu rounded on them and both Faeries were frozen in place.
"S-Sorry, Captain." Suguha stammered, beginning to bow. "I was out of line . . ."
"Don't be." The Captain growled.
Like GiNo, he was a new addition to the City Watch, replacing Captain Jormo, a jovial Gnome who had reveled in playing the part of a cigar chomping police chief, but once the nature of Rip Jack's targets had become known, their old Captain had seemingly lost his nerve. Unlike GiNo, everyone in the watch was already well acquainted with him.
He reminded Suguha of a diligent Kendo instructor. When he didn't have his officers patrolling or investigating, they were training and drilling. He kept everyone too busy, or too tired, to worry or doubt.
"I want you two to start spreading the word, quietly, to keep an eye on these bastards while they're crawling around our city."
"Sir?" GiNo gave him a look. "That doesn't sound very appeasing."
"It isn't." The Captain confirmed, crossing his arms, his nostril flared like an irritable bull. "But they don't plan on being appeased. A city can't have two opposing authorities and stay in one piece. They're the law, so don't be foolish, but they're not law here, so if you see them harassing citizens or snooping around . . ."
"Sir?" Leafa stood straighter.
"You shut them down."
"Sir!" Both Faeries barked before being dismissed.
"Oh and GiNo, are you getting the lay of city?"
"Still working on it, Sir." The Salamander answered. "Lot of new smells around here for A-kun, and Arrun is damn big compared to Gaddan."
"Kirigaya, Ermin is still banged up after that indecent exposure incident up in the floating island."
Leafa's face turned red as she remembered. "Y-Yes Sir."
"Well then, meet your new partner. Make sure she knows every inch of this city ASAP. That's all, now you're dismissed."
"Oh . . . okay." The Sylph said in a small voice before remembering her task.
She felt GiNo fall in beside her, stretching languidly in a way that emphasized her figure. Not that her clothes didn't do that well enough, loose black slacks that accentuated already long legs, and blouse left strategically unbuttoned in a way no earthly police force would ever allow. She guessed the Captain let it slide because they were always shorthanded.
"Just be sure to take care of me." Gino said as she followed, Wolf in tow.
They were in the process of spreading the word when Leafa first witnessed exactly what the Captain had been talking about.
"Look, fair is fair, we show your ours so you show us yours." An Undine who Suguha didn't know well, she thought he was part of the Rip Jack task force, was arguing with one of Coulin's men, a high ranking one judging by the ornate helm held in the crook of his arm. "This investigation is supposed to be a two way street."
"And yet we are only here because you Faeries have failed so completely at your obligations that we have had no choice but to intervene. And we were told your homeland was a place of law and order."
"In our homeland, I was a cop." Jensen, Suguha remembered his name, said.
"Ah yes, a city watchman." The Serjeant sneered. "But we are Serjeants of the Collegiate. You do best to concern yourself with drunkards and cut purses. We will concerns ourselves with the exalted matters of state." Then, turning on his heel, the man departed.
"Hey, we're not done here!" Jensen called.
They were done here.
The Undine cursed under his breath and rubbed his temples.
"Well, we were coming to warn you about that." GiNo offered lamely, getting a look from Jensen that seemed to say 'this day can't get any worse', but then he looked past GiNo to the doorway where cloaked figure had precipitated holding a paper bag and a wax paper cup.
"You must have enjoyed that." Even behind his sunglasses, Suguha could sense the glare.
"My parents taught me I shouldn't lie." Argo took a sip of her coffee.
"So you've come to gloat then?"
"Not really a lot to gloat about." A strangely unhappy look crossed the Cait's face. "Tis not enough to be right if it doesn't lead to success sa. We've been working against each other."
"Well that's obvious."
"All of us sa." Argo clarified. "This too. Tisn't working."
"So you want try it differently?"
"I want to try again. Tis a do over."
Jensen rubbed at his temples, then sighed. "Sure, why not. What's this?" He asked as the paper bag was tossed into his hand.
"Half a fried goat cheese salad sandwich. We won't have time to stop for lunch. What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just . . . didn't ask for this.
Befitting a peaceful and prosperous Kingdom, the Palace of Tristania was no crenolated stronghold of warrior kings. Instead, a stately compound of manicured gardens and guest houses sprawled along the northern bank of the Scheldt, embraced in the sweeping wings of the Palace proper. Its walls and moats meant more for privacy than protection.
Not that the Royals or their guests were the least bit insecure, Kirito thought. Their party of Faeries had been met and challenged before they had even crossed over the roofs of the city, a flight of manticores beating their way into the sky on bat-like wings, and commanding them to land along the river, where they had been interogated and their business determined.
The Royal guards had conducted themselves with a military efficacy, complete pros, Kirito thought with relief. There could be no place in Tristain where Asuna and Yui would be safer.
Asuna . . .
Kirito felt a nudge at his shoulder.
"Oi, you still there, Kirito?" Klein looked at him wryly.
"What? Oh . . . Y-yeah . . . It's nothing . . . Actually . . ."
"This way, good sirs." They were lead by a primly dressed palace servant, who took them down one of the great hallways, the ranks of tall and narrow windows looking out on verdant spring gardens.
"Sure thing. Sure thing!" Klein waved him off. "These are some damn nice digs, y'know? Hey Kirito, you and Asuna hung out here before, right?"
"After we got back from Albion." They'd spent a few days recuperating as guests of the Prince and Princess. But his mood made the halls feel very different now.
Slowly Klein's gawking subsided, and rubbing his chin, he gave the young Spriggan a fraternal look. "I mean, how mad can Asuna be, right?" Kirito averted his eyes, he sighed. "Oi, Kirito, I thought you'd decided the sullen thing wasn't you anymore. Y'know I got your back."
"I know. It just . . . shouldn't be this hard." Kirito muttered. But it was. Honesty would have been the best policy with Asuna, but he'd stumbled somewhere. And then got swept along until it was almost too late.
Maybe it already was.
They hadn't talked much before the Lord's Conference, just enough to know that things weren't getting better on their own, Asuna had curtly informed him that she and Yui would be going to Tristania. Kirito had balked. He couldn't protect her there. But there'd been no chance of convincing Asuna otherwise.
Coming back to an empty house had left him cold inside.
At least he'd been able to convince Sugu to stay at the Watch barracks. The thought of his sister, alone at night, while there was a Killer picking off officers of the Faerie Court, had knotted his stomach.
"Chin up, man. It's not the first time you two have been on lowsy terms." Klein insisted. "This is the perfect chance for you to talk it out with her."
"That's . . . Not the voice of experience talking."
Klein's grin cracked. "Ow, low blow."
"Yeah, sorry . . . I didn't mean it like that." He really hadn't. "But maybe I should have asked Agil for advice . . ."
But then he might have run into Argo, and then they both might have said things they'd regret. And he didn't think he could handle messing up again so soon. A persistent grip on his shoulder brought the Spriggan back to the present. "My score card with women may be zero." Klein agreed. "But that doesn't mean I don't have any wisdom to give, young man."
"Oh?" Kirito tried to smile. "Is that so, old man?"
"Yeah, it is." Klein rubbed at the back of his head. "Like, it's natural to want fix things as fast as you can, I get that, but sometimes you gotta let'm sit and cool down. There's no way Asuna wants to leave things like this either. So . . . like . . . don't be afraid if it's not perfect, I guess?"
"That advice started off really solid, but it ended kind of lame."
"It did, huh." Klein grinned.
"Yeah, but I'm thinking you're probably right . . . "
A pair of great doors were opened and their guide bowed corteously. "Good sirs, right this way."
As they stepped across the threshold, Kirito's eyes caught the faint glimmer of runic geometry, finely etched into the back of the door. Even knowing next to nothing about magic, he could guess the enchantment's purpose. Voices, totally impercetible from outside the chamber, suddenly broke out in mid sentence.
"-times I think you are on their side, Regent."
"I am on no side but the side of Tristain, Lord Justice." Mazarin speaking with a strategically measured amount of hurt. "Surely what is good for the mage is good for the familiar. You will have the Faerie Court's full cooperation."
"You say, as they are allowed to pry about here in the Capital."
"Nothing in the treaty of ALfheim forbids the Fae their own investigation, Lord Justice. Nor the Crown from inviting them to observe."
The arguing echoed from the walls as the two Faeries climbed a broad flight of stairs to a wood paneled room looking out through great windows across the Palace's Northern grounds, towards the House of Peers.
"The Peers will be hearing about this, I assure you!"
"I'm sure they will, Lord Justice."
"They won't stand for it!"
"That remains to be seen."
"And you . . . What are you doing here?"
Kirito froze. "The Prince asked me to attend." The level and determined voice of the Vice Commander of a prestigious clearing guild wafted down the steps. "If RipJack is in this city, then who knows who he could be a danger to next."
"The Lady Asuna has volunteered to be Prince's shadow for the time being. Owing to the diminished state of his own retinue." Mazarin went on, Kirito listening as the the tempo of his own foot steps rose, the summit of the stairs finally yielding.
"Surely, that is like setting a wolf to watch the sheep!" Kirito was finally able to put a face to the voice arguing with Mazarin, a mirthless looking gray haired man. Not that the Cardinal was mirthful either, but Kirito could at least imagine what a smile would look like on the old regent's face.
The room was some sort of office, Kirito assumed it was the official office of the Regent, the staircase acting as a sort of foyer that double back and emerged into the center of the room as if from a well. Besides the Cardinal, and the unpleasant person he was speaking with, there were a double handful of people in the room. Some of which Kirito hazily recognized. Soldiers of Prince Wales, and Knights of Tristain, and standing among them, like she perfectly belonged, was Asuna.
Kirito froze again, suddenly pinned in place by a test he wasn't ready for.
Beside her, Paris, advisor to Prince Wales, murmured something into Asuna's ear. She meditated on it thoughtfully, before whispering something back. Turning her attention to her critic she spoke with the calm and firm voice that had made unruly gamers listen and fight like a well oiled machine.
"Please do not compare me to a murderer like RipJack, Richmond-sama. Just like the people of Tristain should not be judged by their criminals, the citizens of ALfheim are law abiding and most of all wish only to live in peace. This killer is an abberation among our people."
"And if decency will not sway you, there is self interest." Mazarin added. "Lady Asuna is trusted by the exiles of Albion, the Prince most of all, and loathes Tristain's enemies as much as any native born daughter . . . Ah yes, Monsieur's please join us, you are the investigators from Arrun, yes?"
This time, Asuna froze as she locked eyes with Kirito. A connection that bridged the room and communicated nothing but ambiguity. The Spriggan fought the urge to avert his gaze, almost losing before Klein, glancing between his two fellow Faeries, stepped up.
"Oi, right." The Salamander coughed into his hand. "Yeah, we're part of the investigation squad. I'm Klein, vice squad commander, and this is Kirito. Some of us are still checking things out in Arrun, but we brought our coroner to check over the latest body, and some illusions masters seconded by Lady Morgiana."
Mazarin nodded. "Sir Hammond hopes that they can help train the Palace Guard in what to expect from a Faerie assassin. Monsieur Kirito?"
"Uh . . . Yeah?" The Spriggan blinked dazedly.
"You are here as part of the investigation, to lias with the Crown Government and share findings. I would also like you to lend your expertise, if possible, to the Royal guards. You are the only one with first hand experience against the assassin."
"It was barely for more than a few seconds." Kirito clarified. "But I'll tell them everything I can remember, Regent-sama."
Mazarin nodded. "Now, you will be working closely with the Office of the Chief Justice . . ."
"In fact, I have a better idea." Richmond interuppted.
Mazarin bade him continue. "If the Faeries trully wish to get to the bottom of things, as it were. Let them go to the source."
"Source?" Kirito murmured.
The Chief Justice seemed to have heard him, nodding, "It was not my office that discovered the killings here in Tristania, after all. Let them convene with the Musket Squadron. Like for like, as I say. And leave my office unmolested to do its lawful work."
Mazarin frowned, "And I suppose the house of Peers would be more amenable to that arrangement?"
"Regent, it is a certainty." Richmond said, and as Kirito suspected, gave a poor facsimilie of a sincere smile.
Turning to Kirito and Klein the Lord Justice gave the distint impression of measuring them both for a noose before making a clucking sound, that might have stood in for kicking open the trap door. "Lieutenant, ah yes, there you are."
Kirito hadn't notice this person before, standing well back from the rest of the attendants, they'd almost melted into the woodwork. A feat entirely devoid of magic. He was a little surprised to see that she was a woman, though not all that suprised, having witnessed her highness musket squadron before. A very beautiful one, if maybe one whose idea of hygiene leaned towards spit-polish and caustic soap. A ragged mop of wheat hair framed hard features that looked tragically incapable of amusement
"This is Lieutenant Agnes. Commander of her highness' Royal Musket squadron. It is quite the accomplishment for a mere commoner to attain such a prestigious station. Perhaps that will make her a good fit for your . . . heterodoxy." Glancing to Mazarin for his ascent, the Lord Justice continued. "Lieutenant, will you have any problem working with the Faeries?"
"The will of the Regent is as the will of her highness." The Lieutenant gave a clench fisted salute over her breast. Her eyes darted to Kirito and then to Klein.
"Excellent. Then it seems we have found an acceptable compromise." Richmond clapped his hand together. "I shall leave them in your capable hands, Lieutenant."
It seems they'd arrived just in time for the tail end, as the meeting began to devolve into disjointed murmurs of conversation as the Lord Justice departed, taking his own retinue with him. Lieutenant Agnes watched them depart with some annoyance before turning her attention to the two Faerie.
"Nice to be -" Kirito began as Klein stepped forward and extended a hand.
"The name's Klein, vice squad commander. Which, y'know, is sorta like a squadron commander I guess." Agnes stared blankly at the offered hand. "Well, anyways, it's a pleasure to be working with you."
"Were that I could say the same." Agnes reluctantly accepted, and then looked like she regretted it as Klein shook vigorously. "The truth is two Faeries are more than enough."
"Huh?" Klein blinked, but Kirito wasn't paying much attention any longer. Whatever Agnes had to say could wait for at least a moment as he navigated across the room, and carefully, so as not to startle her, took Asuna's hand, pulling her attention away from a discussion with Paris and Sir Mason.
"Kirito-kun." Asuna whispered, almost happy before the present caught up with them both. The ease faded, and her gaze grew guarded.
"I uhm . . ." Kirito started.
"Yes?"
"It's . . ." They looked at each other. "We need to talk."
They'd needed someplace private to talk. The Palace was nothing but private places to talk. Private rooms, and alcoves, and more hidden doors than a haunted house.
But it was the Gardens wherer Asuna naturally gravitated too, sitting herself primly upon a marble bench, legs tucked daintily as Kirito wearily plopped down oppossite her, so that they rested almost back to back.
Silence hung awkwardly over them. "Uhm . . ." Kirito searched for something to say. "We've . . . been in this garden before, huh?"
"Un." He felt Asuna nod. "That's the guest house we staid in, over therer, while we . . ."
While the healers had kept them under observation after their battle against the treacherous Viscount.
"Didn't you prick your fingers on that rose bush?" The Spriggan pointed. The flowers were now in full bloom. He remembered it so vividly. "You were . . . kindof surprised even though you knew better. And then you were fretting Yui would . . ."
"Kazuto-kun."
He fell quiet again.
"I'm sorry." He whispererd.
Asuna's back tensed, and then the tension drained away. "It takes more than words to be sorry, Kazuto-kun. I asked if I could trust you. Why did you lie to me? That was the most important thing, and you broke it."
"I told you, I wanted you to be able to heal and . . ." Kirito paused and shook his head. That wasn't right, it wasn't the whole truth. Even trying, sometimes the words came out differently than he expected. The whole world was more complicated than Aincrad. "I was weak and scared."
"You could have come to me. You can always come to me, Kazuto-kun."
"That's why I was faraid. Asuna. I'm supposed to take care of you."
"We're supposed to take care of each other!"
Her breath tickled his neck, so close he was afraid to turn around. He felt her right hand wresting softly atop his, her touch blindly finding the warm silver of the band around his finger.
"Asuna, do you remember what you said to me before the final raid in Aincrad?"
"Kazuto-kun?"
"You don't still feel that way, do you?"
"I . . ." Asuna paused.
"You told me, if I died, then you'd kill yourself . . . But you wouldn't do that now, would you? Because Yui needs her mother . . . " He licked his lips anxiously.
A sharp intake of breath.
"And Sugu, we're the only family she has . . . Its 'just . . . You might die, and you won't even let me stand in the way for you. That's not fair, I don't know if I can take it. That's why I couldn't tell you."
"You're the one . . . who's not being fair, Kazuto-kun." Asuna whispered. "Whatever I decide, it still has to be my choice. You can't make it for me."
No matter what they did, they'd wind up hurting each other. Kirito rubbed at his eyes. "This isn't working." He admitted. "It's not as simple as in Aincrad."
"Maybe it's not supposed to be."
"Asuna?" Kirito blindly grasped for her left hand, and then felt his stomach go all twised as he felt for what wasn't here. He turned to meet Asuna's gaze, but she wouldn't look at him, she just seemed ashamed. "What . . ."
"It doesn't mean anythin,g right now, Kazuto-kun." Asuna insisted. "It's just that this is important, so I have to think clearly about it, no matter how I feel. Please."
Kirito took a breath, held it, and blew out tightly. "Alright."
She leaned close, so that the scent of her hair filled his nose as she squeezed and let him go. "I have to go now, Kirito-kun."
"Yeah, me too."
"We can talk some more later. Yui-chan will be happy to see you."
"Um." He got up slowly, wiping his jacket.
"Kirito-kun . . . You know it doens't mean. I mean I still . . ." Kirito looked at her as Asuna wiped at her eyes, she shook her head and looked around the garden.
"It's just . . . Roses." She said.
"Un . . . right." Kirito nodded. "Roses."
Roses.
What could he say about that?