22. The Truth


Why would Dagran kill Asthar?

It didn't make sense. They hadn't met Asthar before meeting him in Lazulis. Unless Dagran had, of course, but…

Zael closed his eyes and tried to remember the last memory he had of Dagran.

Nothing came to mind this time.

"He had good reason to kill me. One of my subordinates…" Asthar heaved a careful breath as Zael looked him in the eye. "He started a rebellion, burning down several villages. It killed many people. I stopped the rebellion myself, but…"

"You took the blame." Zael blurted out. He noticed Therius nod from the corner of his eye, to confirm it, and even Arganan looked mildly disturbed.

"That explains it. But…" Arganan cleared his throat, nose wrinkling as he tried to ignore the stench of Jirall's corpse filling the area. "Does that mean Dagran was from one of those villages?"

"It's likely. I remember him mentioning that when he fatally stabbed me." Asthar nodded lightly, lips twisting. "Of course, I doubt he knew that I wasn't truly the one behind the rebellion, since I took the blame for it. That's why he went as far as killing me."

"That would explain your death, but…" Zael tried to think. There was a letter in Jirall's room, he recalled. One by the Gurak and addressed to Jirall.

He then remembered Dagran, reassuring Zael that things would be fine. The silent admittance in his eyes that he framed Jirall for Asthar's murder…

It wasn't just to make sure I got out of jail for being accused of murdering Asthar, at the time. Zael's blood went cold. It was to make sure he covered up for himself doing the deed.

"What do we do, then? Bring Dagran to justice?" It was Arganan that let out a hollow laugh, and Zael turned to see the older man smiling weakly. "You know that's impossible. It's been a hundred years since most of us here died, Asthar!"

"I don't care about anyone getting vengeance for me." Asthar managed, frowning as he looked towards Arganan. "Not at this point. But Zael deserved to know the truth. As did you."

Arganan's smile vanished, and he looked away from Asthar. Asthar sighed, looking Zael in the eye.

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner."

Zael took a deep breath, letting it out slowly through his lips. Dagran was a lot of things to him. The person who saved his life, in a way. A mentor. The closest he had to family before he met the other mercenaries he knew well.

"I know you don't want to hurt me." Zael finally managed, locking eyes with Asthar. "But…I am glad you told me the truth. That's what I need."

It helped sort through the memories a bit, for sure. But if Dagran was just killing Asthar for revenge, then…where was he?

Where was he during the moments leading up to fighting Zangurak?

Zael couldn't remember that. Not yet.