Chapter 61: The Plan's Keystone

Perspective: Tyron


"Bad idea. Won't say yes," said Kir.

"Sorry buddy, but until a good idea comes along it's the best we have," thought Tyron.

He and Shadow had split up on the way to meet Warnado - someone would say something if they were seen approaching him together, so he was left alone with his thoughts, and Kir's.

Unfortunately, he could tell this didn't satisfy his sword. He could feel its discomfort like a clammy heat at the back of his mind. Discomfort, and a hint of accusation.

"I don't like this any more than you do. Kay's done his best to do right by us, so we're giving him a chance to step down. You saw those flames. That's Herobrine-level destruction. And the kid's going to be in more danger if we leave him next to that without doing anything."

"Never said coup wrong. Said plan bad."

Tyron groaned and tried thinking about the joy he'd felt not an hour previous. The relief of seeing Glowstar, and her: Rathina. The smell of oak in her hair, her smooth skin, the conviction with which she'd held him…

Unfortunately, he reached the end of the corridor, and had to leave this happy train of thought. For one thing, he'd entered the Coven's section of Shelter, and there were now people in identical robes everywhere. More importantly, he saw Warnado in an unoccupied training room, biting into the mother of all tacos. Shadow stood by the door, subtly gesturing to him to approach. Tyron pretended not to notice her and walked right in.

He opened his mouth and hoped a natural lead-in would present itself, but suddenly he could only think about what might go wrong. What if Kay noticed this? What if Raphoe had him tailed? What if Warnado said no?

"That's what I was saying!" grumbled Kir.

He stared, dumbfounded, as the child ate away. Tyron couldn't see his eyes, so he wasn't sure what Warnado was thinking or feeling, and couldn't help but feel surprised

The door closed, Shadow had come in, and thankfully she proved more decisive.

She quietly said to Tyron: "Nobody followed us." Then, more loudly to her apprentice: "Warnado, there is something we need to talk about. I know it's a little much with what you've been through today but hear us out, okay?"

He sighed.

"Whatever it is, I'm not doing it. I'm not telling, but don't make me part of this. Just, leave me alone, please."

Warnado's head drooped, and he turned to face the far wall, continuing to bite greedily into the taco. Tyron thought back to the hallway, and how Warnado and Amanda had caught him so completely off guard. He should have been paying more attention. His eyes fell to the floor.

"You're the only one he'll listen to," said Kir with solemnity. "Only way to talk him down."

Warnado seemed to rise a little, then hunched over pointedly. He snapped his fingers and the taco disappeared. He cast a glance over his shoulder in Shadow's direction.

Warnado now asked directly: "What is it?"

"Thanks," said Tyron to Kir.

"One second," muttered Shadow.

There was a low droning sound as she finished casting the sound-proofing spell. Soon after, the bustle of the hallway became muffled and distant, then disappeared completely.

"Shortly after you left, several others visited me, all with very similar motivations. I'll make it short. We think Kay has become too dangerous, too volatile to continue leading the Shelter. We have a plan to convince him to step down, in the best case at least. We need you for that plan."

The kid kept quiet.

"We genuinely didn't expect things to go this way. I approached Shadow today with Astro, not sure what to expect. Then the Brines showed up with the same worries… I'll stop beating around the bush, PR is Kay's thing. We need you to ask him to hand over the Book to you."

Warnado whirled around and stood up.

"NO! I agree to talk to demons for one day and suddenly you all turn into Astro. I'm not letting that thing into my head."

Shadow quickly said: "And we do not expect you to. We want Kay to give up the Book, then I will destroy it. It's done more than enough harm already. Though, you could potentially work the inverse of what you just said into convincing Kay."

"It's a ruse, it'll last exactly long enough for us to take Kay out of play. Steve wants to clock him in the head, but I could just freeze him or something. We just need them separated."

Tyron looked to Shadow, asking her to continue. She explained: "The reason we need you for this is because Kay would consider the same question coming from anyone else a huge betrayal. It's different for you, Kay likes you too much for that. Astro even thought it possible that Kay may want to make you a 'Prince in Ash' or something of the sort. The important part is that if he thinks his own position of power is secure, he may pass the Book on to you as a gesture of sorts."

Shadow paused, then continued with a slightly darker tone. "Alternatively, if he's unwilling but the Book wants you as its new host Kay might feel betrayed, which either convinces him to step down or gives us an opening to act. We want him alive, ideally placed under house arrest inside of his room."

"Just until he cools off," added Tyron with the slightest hint of warning.

Warnado started nodding and pacing back and forth, looking like a hyperactive bobblehead.

"Okay, I can see this. We just show him how creepy and untrustworthy that hardcover dork is, and he'll recognise it's making him be creepy and untrustworthy too. He'll understand. You'll hardly need to lock him up at all."

He forced himself to laugh, as though each laugh was bailing water out of his lungs.

"I'll do it. And then we can all go back to normal," he concluded.

"Yeah, back to normal," smiled Tyron.

But of course, Tyron knew 'normal' simply couldn't happen. Kay would deteriorate with or without the Book, and he would drag everyone down with him. But Warnado didn't need to hear that. Not yet.

"Don't lead kid on," scolded Kir.

Tyron felt a chill the size of an earthquake thunder up his spine.

"I need false hope as much as he does," thought Tyron defensively.

Tyron must have taken longer than he had realised responding, because Warnado said with a little impatience.

"So, when are we doing it?"

Shadow said: "Kay is on an excursion off-world currently. You should prepare yourself mentally, think of some lines maybe. Come to my room once Kay's back and you're ready, I'll gather everyone, and we make our move."