Blue Lightning and the Bear

by Blue Paladin

Two shadows from the past rise up to confront the New State Army. First they must dispatch the vampire who seeks to make life dance to his whims. But who will aid them against the Dark Knight of Chaos?

58. Chapter 58 The Only Answer

Chapter 58 – The Only Answer

"You shall die in battle. You shall die in vain, never attaining what you desire."

Those had been Tir McDohl's words to Flik two years ago. They had been unasked for, given in a moment of anger. Flik had pondered those words many times since then. He'd never once considered giving up the sword, even after nearly dying at the end of the Liberation War. Whatever the future held, he couldn't see himself taking up any other profession.

These thoughts were in his head as he and Viktor strolled down the street in the direction of the Silverberg mansion. The houses here were gated, lying behind tall walls of white brick. A carriage clattered up the street, transporting one of the rich. Those on foot, including Viktor and Flik, nimbly got out of its way. Flik was glad that his old city reflexes seemed to be in order. He knew that some of the carriage drivers wouldn't hesitate to use their whips on people to clear the way.

In contrast with the rest of the street, the area in front of the Silverberg mansion was quiet. Its gate was secured by a chain and large padlock. Looking beyond the entrance, Flik didn't see any activity on the grounds.

Viktor made an experimental tug on the gates. The chain rattled, but nothing opened. "Looks like they don't want guests."

Flik checked the gate, looking at the gaps in the iron. "I bet we could climb over."

"You are not serious."

"Why not? You used to do this sort of thing all the time."

Viktor shook his head. "First of all, it wasn't 'all the time'. Secondly, I never broke in anywhere on a lark, but only after careful planning. Third, I never moved in broad daylight where people could see me."

Flik ignored him, climbing up on the gate. In truth, he was nervous, but he felt a need to get closer to the house. He heard Viktor sigh and begin hauling himself up and over. Moments later, Flik's feet were on the ground on the other side. No one had shouted out any challenge. He wiped his forehead as Viktor dropped down next to him.

"You see, no problem at all."

That's when the dogs started barking. A pair of large, black, lean dogs were racing towards them. Flik drew his sword, but the dogs didn't leap, instead pulling up to growl and snap at him.

"What've you got there, boys? More of those juvenile delinquents?" A middle-aged man had appeared from one of the old guard buildings and was walking towards Viktor and Flik. Even though he had a limp, he was carrying a Harmonian-style halberd and he had the air of an accomplished veteran. His eyes did widen as he caught sight of the trespassers.

"Grown-up delinquents, then. What're you doing here? Was the chain not evidence enough that visitors aren't welcome?"

The dogs had paced back to join their master, so Flik decided to sheathe his sword and try diplomacy. "I didn't mean to intrude. I just wanted to look around the mansion. It brings back a lot of memories, that's all."

The guard scowled. "We aren't offering tours, you know. Lord Silverberg doesn't want hordes of people tromping through his ancestral home at all hours of the day."

"You do know your lord is working for Highland these days?" Viktor asked.

"I have my duty- it doesn't matter where Lord Silverberg is. Now, if you want a tour, I suggest you go to the palace. I hear they offer a smashing lecture on Tir McDohl, hero of the Liberation War." He rolled his eyes.

Flik decided that nothing but the truth would suffice for this man. "Listen, I'm Flik of the Blue Lightning. I used to…work for Lady Odessa Silverberg in this mansion, back before the war. Maybe it sounds silly, but I'd just like to go in there for a little while, for nostalgia's sake. I promise not to touch anything."

The guard was unimpressed. "You will note that Lady Odessa Silverberg is no longer affiliated with this mansion. This property is under the exclusive control of Lord Leon Silverberg, who has declared that there shall be no visitors. Moreover, this really isn't the place to go searching for Lady Odessa. For that, you should try the sewers under Lenankamp. Go back far enough and I'm sure you'll find some bones."

Flik went for his sword, rage making his vision narrow. The dogs bristled and began barking, the guard- too slowly- started to shift his weapon to meet Flik's attack. Grasping the grip of his blade firmly, Flik drew, intending to take one of the dogs with a slash downwards and then reverse the attack to disarm the guard.

Unfortunately, he didn't get the blade more than a quarter out before Viktor clamped down on his arm, preventing any further motion.

"What're you doing, Viktor? Let me go!"

Viktor shook his head. "Not the time or the place, Flik. It wouldn't do you any good to hurt him just because he insulted Odessa's memory." The guard relaxed now that Flik was no longer a threat, though the dogs didn't, sensing Flik's continued anger. Viktor's voice was deceptively cool when he spoke to the guard. "You can let us out now. You are right about one thing, though. Odessa probably can't be found here. I'm sure her spirit would never associate with the house's current occupants."

The guard pulled a loop of keys off his belt. "Think whatever you want, as long as you depart." He jammed one of the keys into the padlock and clicked it open, the chains rattling as he pulled them off the gate.

Viktor didn't take his hands off of Flik's arm until they were both safely on the other side and the chains and lock were securely back in place.

"I wasn't going to kill him," Flik seethed.

"Really? You kind of looked it. I don't think a murder would've gone over too well with our hosts."

"How can you be so calm?" Flik shouted. "He insulted Odessa!"

"He did, but she wasn't his intended target. You were." He jabbed one finger right into Flik's chest. "And he succeeded, at least in getting you riled up. We're in the middle of a delicate situation here, and you're the one who's supposed to be keeping a clear head. Leave the excessive emotion to me, okay?"

Flik wanted to remain angry, he really did, but laughter kept getting in the way. "Excessive emotion, huh. You just want all the fun for yourself, old bear."

"Since when am I 'old bear?' I'll have you know that I still have all the vigor of youth. And I'm also the model of wisdom, unlike you."

"Okay, okay, I surrender." He let the remainder of his laughter escape on the afternoon breeze. "I guess we're not going to see anything here. Let's return to the house."

They did. Gremio expressed surprise at seeing the two of them back so quickly, but Tir seemed to catch Flik's mood and forestalled any questions. Flik, for his part, was grateful and went back to his room to rest for the reception. He woke a few hours later to the sound of Nanami returning from her excursion. From what he could hear, she sounded absolutely ecstatic about the results.

When Flik came down to eat Gremio's meal, Nanami was wearing her dress. It was a pale blue gown, with a lot of white lace on the bodice, sleeves, and skirt. He wasn't enough of a connoisseur to judge the fine details, and simply remarked that it made her look "cute." That was apparently not the response she was looking for, because she sniffed and walked away from him in a huff.

"Nice going," Viktor said. "You should've tried 'dazzling' or 'radiant.'"

Flik took another look at Nanami as she retreated into the dinning room. "No way. Dazzling and radiant are for Odessa, not a teenage girl."

Gremio's pre-reception meal was potato chowder with more of his homemade bread. The food was filling, but didn't upset Flik's stomach. That was good, because he was feeling more nervous as the reception came closer.

Someone, likely Gremio, had also seen to hiring a carriage to take the attendees to the palace. Sitting down on his seat, Flik closed his eyes and listened to the conversation of his compatriots as the vehicle began to move.

"I hope I don't mess anything up," Freed said. Flik, even without seeing, could imagine him wiping his glasses.

"I hope they have good wine," Viktor added. "Maybe I can slink off into some corner and get good and drunk."

"You two are no fun at all," Nanami declared. "I can't wait to see what everyone is wearing."

"And after you've seen what they're all wearing, then what?" Viktor asked. "Then you get to stand around for a couple of hours doing nothing."

"You really think it'll go that long?" Freed responded.

"It'll be just like a reception back in South Window," Viktor answered. "You should be right in your element."

"But back in South Window, I knew everyone and where the political pitfalls were."

"Eh, it's no big deal," Viktor said reassuringly. "Politics is basically the same everywhere- just support whatever anyone says, and if something contradicts, deny it all."

"What about you, Riou?" Flik asked, opening his eyes and looking at their leader. "You nervous?"

Riou's outfit was a basic black suit of tunic and trousers. He looked rather out of place without his weapons or normal clothing, though he'd managed to continue wearing his circlet. "I'm fine. Everything's going to go all right."

"Let's hope so," Flik replied.

At the palace, an attendant guided them up several levels towards the Hanging Gardens. Flik noted that the route was different than the one that they had climbed two years ago in the final battle of the Liberation War. Of course, the palace had been heavily damaged in the fighting.

There was already quite a crowd as Flik and the others emerged up the last set of stairs and onto the rooftop garden. Lepant stood out amongst the guests. He was wearing orange and seemed not the least bit self-conscious about it. Seeing Riou, he smiled broadly and walked over to greet the new arrivals.

"Welcome, all of you! Tonight, you shall hobnob with the most eminent citizens of the Republic." Flik thought he winked on "eminent." Lepant continued, "And, of course, my beautiful wife, Eileen."

Lepant's wife was very striking, with long blonde hair that framed a pale face and dark, recessed eyes. Her dress was maroon, and its modesty served only to heighten her beauty. Flik knew that, as with Lepant, looks could be deceiving. She had joined her husband in Tir's service two years ago and had learned enough of the dagger to be capable of defending herself.

"So this is Riou," she said, smiling. "My dear husband, look at him. You should be giving him twice the support, don't you think?"

Lepant suddenly looked very surprised. "I'd love to, dear, but I'm sure the Senate would go into conniptions."

"You could always dissolve the Senate."

Lepant seemed to be trying to figure out whether that was in earnest. "I never took you for the type that liked tyranny."

"Oh, it needn't be tyranny," she replied. "Absolute monarchy has such a nice ring to it."

"Yes, but not where the Senators can hear you, please." Lepant glanced at Riou. "See, this is what I have to put up with."

"If you rogues are done plotting how best to undo the liberation, there are some other people who'd like to see the honored quest." One of the senators was walking over to join the group around the president. It took Flik a moment to recognize the man as another member of the old Liberation Army.

Lepant introduced him. "This is Warren. The scoundrel just happens to be the Chairman of the Senate. You may ignore him at your leisure."

Warren laughed. Before the war, he'd been a minor noble in the Senan region, personally leading patrols against bandits to make the region safer for travelers. In those days, his brown hair and beard had been much scruffier, but he'd had them trimmed slightly, making him look more respectable. "Such disdain, is it any wonder the Senate is against you, when you treat your allies like this?"

"I'd say they're against me on principle, more than anything else."

"Well, the principle of divided government, anyway." Warren turned his attention to Riou. "It's my pleasure to make your acquaintance. I see you've got some old friends in your entourage."

Viktor shrugged. "Thanks for smuggling us out last time."

Now Lepant looked genuinely upset. "So you knew they were alive and didn't tell me?"

"Now, now, I asked him to keep quiet about that," Viktor said. "It made things easier for all of us."

"I've half a mind to offer you a desk job simply to see the look of horror on your face, Viktor," Lepant threatened.

Meanwhile, Warren extended his hand to Freed. "Lord Yamamoto, I've heard about the speech you gave the president the other day. As a representative of one of the border districts, I'd like it very much if we could talk a bit."

"Y-yes, of course." Freed and Warren walked away, disappearing into the crowd. More people came up to meet with Riou. After a while, Flik got some feel for the politics of the situation. Many of the senators were former nobles who'd used their wealth and connections to get elected. These men seemed to be universally opposed to action in the north. However, a handful of the younger nobles were quite eager to help.

One of these nobles in particular was very effusive in making his opinions known.

"My dear friends Viktor and Flik! How could you two run off and find another noble cause without informing me?" The speaker was a man in a green doublet, white tights, and a dark red cape with a rose embroidered on it.

"Uh, Vincent, I hate to tell you this, but we're not friends," Viktor answered.

With a gesture of his hand, Vincent De Boule swept some of his blond hair out of his eyes. "You are quite right. 'Friendship' cannot describe the bond between us. Viktor, do you not remember those long hours of our captivity in Moravia Castle?"

"I'd been trying to forget."

"Truly, only the deep bond between our souls sustained us during that darkness."

"Actually, it was the gruel that kept me going."

"That bond, forged in the fires of bondage-"

Viktor gagged. "Let's not go there."

"-confirmed in glorious victory, is now renewed in another call to arms. Even had Simone not told me of your plight, rest assured that I would've flown to this challenge with all my might. Come, we must make plans to topple the vile Luca Blight and his evil ambitions."

Flik edged to the side. "I'm going to get something to eat. I'll talk to you later, Viktor."

"Hey! Get back here! You can't leave me to suffer like this."

Flik did. He pretended not to hear and made his way towards the buffet. Before he got there, he had to exchange pleasantries with a dozen people who wanted to shake his hand and thank him for his service to the republic. That got tiresome quickly, especially when his stomach started to growl.

With one last handshake, Flik managed to get to the food. An array of pastries filled with various pastes awaited him. He took one and experimentally deposited it in his mouth. The paste was of meat and quite delicious. He popped several more of the pastries into his mouth before he noticed the chef regarding him with disapproval.

"Psst."

The voice startled Flik into dropping the pastry he was holding. He glanced around the room before he heard it again, coming from the other side of the table. Without hesitating, he hurdled it, earning him another glare from the chef. A stand of tall flowers was beyond the table.

"In here."

Why would anyone want to speak with him here? The thought of a romantic interlude popped into his head, but he dismissed the notion. He'd made sure to respond coldly to the noble ladies who wanted to flirt with him. He shook his head and plunged into the flowers, black orchids, he thought.

The voice belonged to Kasumi, who was not dressed for the reception but still in her battle robe. Though she was smiling in a friendly manner, her voice was tight when she spoke. "Is he here?"

"Riou? Yeah, he's over by the president."

Her response came out in a harsh whisper. "Not Riou. Him, is he here?

Now Flik was confused. "Who?"

Her face became even more tense as she said, "Tir. There's a rumor that he's back. Is it true?"

Flik wondered if he ought to tell the truth. Tir had expressed a desire to remain hidden, but Kasumi certainly didn't have any political designs on him. He didn't see any harm in telling her. "Yeah, he's back. You can visit him in the mansion, if you want. He'd probably like that. Just don't go telling everyone-"

She was gone.

The reception lasted for a few more hours. By that time, Flik was thoroughly tired of shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries. He wasn't the only one. Riou and Nanami were practically asleep on their feet as Flik tried to chivy them into their carriage. Viktor had a glazed look in his eyes that suggested too much to drink. As he climbed into the cab, he nearly smashed his face on the overhang, and then proceeded to lie down across one of the seats, snoring.

At least Freed was still keyed up. Flik could hear him repeating, "I hope that went well," as the carriage began to move. He didn't stop until they rolled up to the McDohl mansion. Pahn and Cleo were there to help Riou and Nanami to bed. Flik, with Freed's help, rolled Viktor off his seat. This roused him sufficiently for them to guide him into the house, where he found a chair and started snoring again.

Flik carefully climbed the stairs to the second level and the bedrooms. It was late at night and the mansion was extremely dark. By feel, he found the door to his room and pushed it open.

A voice caused him to stop in the entrance. It was soft and indistinct, and Flik couldn't make out the words that were spoken. He glanced up and down the hall, finally seeing a thin strip of light at the end of the hallway, coming from Tir's room. Curiosity made him creep down the hall. The speaker was definitely female.

One of the floorboards creaked under Flik's boot. He froze in place, suddenly feeling very guilty. Whatever this was about, he had no right to intrude on it. He turned about and retreated back towards his own room. By the time he got there, the conversation in Tir's room had ended, not that Flik had heard Tir speak. Flik closed the door, undressed, and got into bed. He could hear the sound of someone pacing in Tir's room. After a while, even that ceased.

The following morning, Flik discovered that Tir wasn't present for breakfast. Gremio mentioned that "the young master is feeling a little indisposed" and said nothing more on the subject, but he clearly looked concerned. Tir's disappearance set a tone for the day. The weather became stiflingly hot and there was no summons from the palace. Most of the people in the mansion were prepared to sit around and do as little as possible.

Except Flik. The restless excitement that had gripped him yesterday returned in full force, and he wandered from room to room, heedless of the heat. Eventually, he found himself in the foyer of the mansion, pondering the front door.

Viktor, who was sitting in the same chair he'd been dumped in last night, asked, "What's gotten into you, Flik? It's too hot to do anything. Look at me, I've probably sweated twenty pounds off sitting here."

The sound of Viktor's voice galvanized Flik. "I'm going out," he answered. "I need to speak to Varkas."

Viktor raised his head, a small concession to his interest. "Varkas? Is he hoarding ice blocks or something?"

Flik hardly heard him. "I've got to get out; there's a place I need to see." He opened the door and walked out into a solid wall of torrid air. It didn't sap his energy at all; rather, it seemed to give him more. He walked briskly past the other pedestrians, not seeing the bewildered looks they gave him.

Arriving at the palace, he hunted down Varkas and explained what he wanted.

The ex-bandit frowned in reply. "You sure you want to go there? It's going to be a lot of trouble to set this up."

"It's important to me."

Varkas nodded. "I understand that. No disrespect, but, do you really want to go picking at old wounds?"

"I'll be all right," Flik said impatiently. "It's been two years, and I need to see that place."

"Okay. I'll see what I can do. Be at the Gates of Kranach tomorrow morning."

Returning to the McDohl mansion, Flik felt both nervous and elated. Viktor was waiting patiently in the foyer as he stepped through the door.

"I'm going with you," he announced firmly.

Flik's mood didn't change at all. "No problem." Feeling hungry, he began walking towards the kitchen.

Viktor got up and followed him. "So, where are we going?"

The reality of his situation finally hit Flik. He stopped in the middle of the hall, considering if he really wanted to undertake the journey. Viktor overtook him and turned around to look at his friend's face. Flik quickly put on a smile, to reassure himself if nothing more, and answered in one word. "Lenankamp."

Flik hardly slept that night as different emotions warred for supremacy in his psyche. He tossed and turned, wrapping the sheets of his bed around him, then kicking them off completely. It didn't help matters that a thunderstorm came up in the middle of the night, the thunder rattling the windows and making his rune react. Still, when dawn arrived, Flik was fully awake.

He dressed and went to pound on Viktor's door. It took his friend a little longer to get ready. The house was completely quiet, except for Viktor's yawning, as the two of them descended the stairs and walked to the front doors.

Tir was waiting for them, a pair of box lunches in his hands. He smiled at Flik's surprise. "When Gremio told me about your plans, I asked him to prepare these for you two."

"You're feeling better?" Flik asked.

Tir sighed, his smile disappearing off his face. He brought the Soul Eater up to eye level before he answered. "No one is ever permitted everything he desires. It's even more important for the bearer of a True Rune to respect that rule." He shook his head. "I just never imagined that it would hurt this much." He handed over the lunches. "Good luck, Flik. I admire you for being able to face your pain." Flik nodded in response, too keyed up to think about the implications of those words.

Outside, the early morning was cool and misty. The two men trudged along cobbles that were wet from the rain, heading down the main boulevard until they got to the great gates at the south of the city, the Gates of Kranach. Flik was dismayed at the crowd that awaited him. Varkas was there, along with a minister of protocol from the palace, a carriage, and several squads of mounted infantry.

The minister greeted them before Flik could speak. "Welcome, gentlemen. If you would please enter the carriage, we can escort you to Lenankamp posthaste."

Flik shot a look of annoyance at Varkas. "What's going on here?"

"It's the best I could do." He shrugged his shoulders.

"We don't need the escort," Flik responded.

"That simply won't do," the minister said. "We would be mortified if honored guests of the Republic were to come to any harm."

Flik was prepared to argue some more, but Viktor grabbed his shoulder, catching his attention. "Let's do what they want. You don't want to stand here all day, do you? Besides, it's not like they're going to go down…all the way."

"I don't need any minders!" Flik said harshly. He shrugged Viktor off and walked towards the carriage. He climbed in and took one of the seats. Viktor entered more slowly and sat across from him. Neither man said anything as the carriage lurched forward.

Initially, the ride south was made in silence. Flik was upset, not only because of the hassle, but because he'd yelled at Viktor. He felt foolish for rebuking his friend that way. Meanwhile, he was also on edge at the prospect of returning to Lenankamp.

"Hey, this is pretty good. You want some, Flik?"

Flik looked up, startled. Viktor had popped open one of the box lunches and was eating a tuna sandwich. He stuffed the whole thing into his mouth, apparently without a care in the world. Flik couldn't help himself, he started laughing.

"What so funny?" The question was muffled by the fact that Viktor's mouth was full, but Flik heard it clearly. "If that's what you think, then I'll have yours, too." He pantomimed opening the other box and eating the sandwich there.

Flik lunged for his lunch. "Oh no you don't, you big ogre. You've been eating too much lately. Remember Doctor Huan's instructions? You ought to go back to the all-salad diet."

Viktor put on a mournful face. "You can't make me do that. It would be cruel and inhumane. I'd waste away to bones." As if to prove the point, he grabbed at his stomach. He came away with a healthy roll of flesh.

Before Flik realized it, they were in Lenankamp. To an outsider, there was little difference between this town and any of the others that ran up and down the length of the Tolna Canal. It had the usual assortment of rich and poor, shops, and wharves. That was why Odessa had picked it to serve as the headquarters for the Liberation Army after Barbarossa openly declared war on them.

In those days, the residents would have cleared the streets any time a detachment of soldiers arrived. Flik wondered what the people thought now, with the escort of mounted men riding through the town. As instructed, the carriage pulled up to a modest inn. When Flik stepped out, he noted it's sign- Keyaki. His excitement pulsing in his veins, he ran for the doors, leaving Viktor behind. Underneath this building, this was where the Liberation Army's leadership had gathered and made their plans. This was the place where Odessa-

"What's this?" Flik asked.

He'd just stepped inside the building. The interior was completely different than two years ago. One half of the building had been converted into a shop, calling itself "The Liberation Army Gift Shop." Moreover, there was a huge crowd of people milling around. Flik muscled his way forward, ignoring the protests as he tried to figure out what was going on. He was moving in the direction of the passage underground.

A woman dressed in the outfit of a Liberation Army soldier intercepted him. "I'm sorry, sir, but the next tour isn't for another half hour. Please be sure to have your tickets ready."

With an indignant squawk, she jumped aside, rather than be trampled by Flik. All of his outrage from earlier was back, redoubled. This place was sacred to him; he wasn't going to wait for some tour. Did she not realize who he was?

"Sir, I must ask you to step back." This was a man's voice, a bouncer, who had blocked his path.

For a moment, Flik stared dumbly at this obstacle. The bouncer was nearly as big as Viktor. It didn't matter, nothing was going to keep him from his goal. He lunged suddenly, using leverage to drive the bouncer aside. He was only partly aware of gasps from the onlookers. He continued on, finding that they'd replaced the ladder leading down with a set of stairs, which he took several at a stride.

They'd changed the headquarters, too, cleaned it up and made it brighter. Flik hardly noticed. His feet were carrying him forward, down corridors that he'd traveled habitually two years ago. He'd not been here since that day, but he'd been told where Odessa died. This was his destination now.

Turning a corner, he was there. It was a small side-room off to one side, completely unadorned. Even the bloodstains had faded in the dampness. Yet, this was where she was slain, Flik was sure of it. This was where she'd been betrayed, and he had been absent from her side.

"Odessa." His eyes began filling with tears, there was no helping it. He squeezed them shut, trying to fight back. He could hear his own voice creaking. "I'm sorry."

His legs gave way, dropping him to his hands and knees. "I'm sorry," he repeated, louder. A sob wracked his body, then another. All he could do was cry, hating himself for his weakness.

People were approaching him. Through the tears, he could hear voices.

"Hey! Flik, where are you?" Viktor's voice, followed by, "Damn!"

Flik wanted to get up, but couldn't. He was still crying, his stomach in agony. Viktor knelt down next to him, putting his hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. Take your time, buddy."

Flik coughed wetly. He couldn't speak for several minutes, trying to get control of himself. He finally spoke, in a whisper, "Why did it happen? Why did she have to die? Why couldn't I save her?"

Viktor shook his head glumly. "I don't know, Flik. You can't blame yourself for it."

Flik pounded his fist into the stone floor in frustration. "Why aren't there any answers? Is Odessa's death meaningless?" He looked up, at Viktor, and saw that there were tears in Viktor's eyes.

"Sometimes, tears are the only answer."