Chapter Eleven: A Narrow Escape
"But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive"
– Romans 7:16
Rivalz adjusted his hold on the stack of branches, glancing up at the sky before rushing back to where Suzaku was still working. They still had an hour before the sun rose, and Rivalz was sure that Suzaku would work until he ran out of time. While they waited for Lelouch to return from wherever he had disappeared to as a wolf, Rivalz could finish off what he could of the cage before loading it in the wagon. Between the choice of riding all day or working on the cage in the wagon, Rivalz preferred to rest his sore legs.
He nodded at Suzaku as he walked to the smaller wood pile, dropping his armload off before sitting on the ground. Suzaku didn't look up from where he was chopping up another branch that had been pulled down. To Suzaku's left the base and two sides were finished. There was another half finished side by Rivalz's wood pile. Rivalz stared at the pile and sighed. It seemed like a lot of work still, and he would be working on his own instead of with another. Lelouch would want to ride ahead, and stay away from any suggestion that his plan wouldn't work. C.C. would be driving the cart and trying to convince Lelouch to go with their plan.
He flopped onto the ground, pulling the half of the side over to him along with the last of the ribbons. The basket was running low, but there was still a whole length of rope to use. Rivalz rubbed his back before bending over to his job again.
Over the course of the night, he had gotten good at eyeing the length of wood that he would need, and most of the sticks that he had brought matched. There were a few that he needed to snap the end off of, but he also had the knife that Suzaku had run back and taken from their camp earlier in the night. Any grossly uneven sticks would be taken care of later, Rivalz just wanted to get all sides ready.
Rivalz worked his way to the end of the panel he was working on, setting it to the side and wiggling his fingers to get some feeling back into them. Manipulating sticks with cold hands wasn't helping him any, he had little cuts all over his fingers from where he had caught himself. At least it had stopped snowing, not that Rivalz had really paid much attention to the sky other than to judge the time.
He looked over at Suzaku as the sound of his soft grunts stopped. Suzaku drove the point of the sword into the ground, bending over to grab the sections of the branches he had been cutting up. He carried them over to where Rivalz was sitting; beginning work on what could be another side or a top. Rivalz just nodded, reaching for sticks to start the next panel.
They worked in silence, Rivalz glancing over every time that Suzaku flinched. His friend was just reacting to the oncoming sunrise. Suzaku was sure to go off before he changed, even if he worked until the last minute. Rivalz paused long enough to glance at Suzaku, getting a nod in return. That was all he needed to continue working.
Rivalz was halfway through his panel again when they ran out of the ribbon. He sighed and looked over at the coil of rope, about to stand up and get it when Suzaku laid his panel aside.
"You cut lengths and I'll tie. It'll move faster that way."
"Right." He stood up and stretched, glancing at his pile of sticks. From what he could guess from the other panels, he would have just enough to finish what they needed, if the rope held out long enough. Rivalz wiped his hands on his pants and walked over to the rope.
He was just crouching down beside it when there was a howl from across the river. He froze automatically, turning slowly to face the river. There was only one wolf that he knew that would be approaching them, but he had lived long enough in the north to associate the sound with something bad heading his way. Rivalz got a better hold of his knife, readying for an attack the best he could before turning around to look across the river.
As he had expected, it was only Lelouch. The black wolf was pacing the other shore, looking between the distant forest that started close to the border with Nippon and where he and Suzaku were. For a brief moment, Rivalz was afraid that Lelouch had found a pack. He wasn't sure how many wolves were in Nippon, he had personally never bothered himself with what was in their neighboring country. But he couldn't imagine Lelouch just leaving them for long, at least not by the time he became human. But walking back from where he had been as a wolf would take time that they didn't have. He tightened his grip on his knife, taking a deep breath. Rivalz was sure that they wouldn't be able to keep Lelouch from losing his patience if they missed the eclipse. Rivalz didn't even want to think about what Lelouch's desertion would do to Suzaku.
The moment of fear passed quickly, Lelouch giving himself a shake and then started across the frozen river.
Rivalz breathed out a sigh of relief and sunk to his knees, shifting his hold on the knife again. Lelouch wouldn't harm them, not while Suzaku was around. As long as he made no threatening moves toward Lelouch or Suzaku, Rivalz could continue to work. He sank down onto his knees, pulling the rope into his lap and beginning to measure out the lengths that they would need. Rivalz paused, just about to cut the rope, as he watched Suzaku inch closer to the frozen river.
"Careful, Lelouch. Careful."
Rivalz wanted to say that Lelouch would be fine, but the attempt to calm Suzaku down probably wouldn't be paid attention to. Suzaku wouldn't relax until Lelouch was safely back on their side of the river. Rivalz wasn't quite sure that he could blame him, not when it was all too easy to imagine Milly in Lelouch's place. If that had been the case, then Rivalz would have never been able to let the other go like Suzaku did with Lelouch.
He sighed, lowering his head to focus on the work he still had to do. Suzaku would be too focused on Lelouch until the wolf got to the other shore, and then it would almost be too late to continue to work. Suzaku would have to leave to change and Lelouch would hover nervously on the edge of camp until the sun was up. Maybe, since Lelouch had returned early, they would reach the place they could stop for the night earlier than just before the sun set and Rivalz could finish up his work. They could even take a moment to breathe, the first that they had gotten since Suzaku had been injured.
Rivalz glanced up at Suzaku, making sure that his friend was not going to charge across the river to get Lelouch. He had been warned away from the thin ice all night, and he was not about to let Suzaku cross just to get to Lelouch. The wolf could manage on his own. Sure that Suzaku would stay put, Rivalz looked over at Lelouch, trying to judge how long it would take the wolf to cross the river. He was about to go back to his work when he heard the ice crack and saw Lelouch fall into the water.
He stood up with a curse, dropping his knife as he stared at the spot. Rivalz didn't get the time to process what he had seen, running over to grab onto Suzaku before his friend rushed onto the ice.
It was a struggle to hold Suzaku in place, Rivalz grunting as Suzaku elbowed him in the gut. He let go and stumbled back, rubbing at his stomach and looking at Suzaku. He had never thought that Suzaku would hit him or even attack him, either as a bird or a human. Rivalz sucked in an uneven breath, rubbing at his stomach. In the few seconds that it took him to recover Suzaku was already running toward the river. To Rivalz's relief, Suzaku stopped on the edge of the bank.
Suzaku stood up on his toes, trying to see into the wolf. Rivalz couldn't see much at all, just a brief bit of black as Lelouch tried to scramble out of the river. Rivalz took a step forward to make sure that he wasn't seeing things, jumping when Suzaku grabbed his arm. "He can't get out."
Rivalz strained to see more than just a black shape, but he was willing to believe Suzaku. The ice wasn't thick, but it was smooth and there was a deceptive layer of snow over top of it, making it slick. There was no way that Lelouch would be able to scramble out of the hole in the ice without help.
He took a deep breath, grabbing a hold of Suzaku's shoulder and shaking it. "What do we do?"
Suzaku stared at him for a moment, Rivalz afraid that he had lost Suzaku completely over his worry about Lelouch. Then Suzaku blinked, shaking his head. His eyes focused on Rivalz, no longer frightened and at a loss, but something more like the captain of the guard that he had been. Suzaku gave him a shaky nod, turning away from the river and staring at their set up.
Before Rivalz could ask what they were doing again, Suzaku lunged for the rope, snatching it up. He pivoted and grabbed the sword, attempting to tie the rope to the hilt of the sword even as he walked back to the bank of the river. Eventually, he had to plant the sword in the ground again, finally managing to tie the rope around the grip. Suzaku gave the knot a couple of jerks before looking back up at Rivalz. "One of us needs to get out there. Just crawl along the ice and then plant this in. One of us goes into the hole and pushes Lelouch out while the other keeps the sword steady and pulls Lelouch out. The rope is there to help pull the one in the water out."
Rivalz nodded, glancing out to where the wolf was before making a quick decision. Suzaku's arm might have been better, but he had been working with the sword all night; it was bound to give out on him soon. But Rivalz was fit; he would be able to haul a wolf out of the water where Suzaku might fail. He glanced up at Suzaku before grabbing the sword and rushing to the water.
He placed a foot on the ice, hearing it crack beneath the weight that he put on it. Rivalz winced and quickly knelt down, using that position to get onto his belly. When no new cracks were heard, he breathed a sigh of relief and began to wiggle his way across the ice toward where Lelouch was still struggling. Rivalz thought he heard a shout from Suzaku, but he ignored it, intent on reaching the wolf quickly. After hunting all night, Lelouch would be exhausted, and the cold water wouldn't help. Rivalz wasn't in the water himself and the ice was already chilling his stomach.
Rivalz pulled himself closer to the hole, hesitating before tossing the rope out. The length slithered out, almost reaching the hole but not dropping in. He winced, inching forward again until he was sure that the rope would be far enough into the water that he could use it to haul himself out. Sure of himself, Rivalz reared up onto his knees and drove the point of the sword into the ice. He closed his eyes and held onto the sword, listening for more cracks. When none came, he took a deep breath and slid back to his stomach.
A touch to his leg made him turn his head, Rivalz staring back at Suzaku. His friend reached up to lean on the sword, nodding permission to Rivalz. Suzaku remained by the sword, leaning on it to keep it straight in the ice as Rivalz wiggled forward again.
He was just at the hole when Lelouch cleared the surface again, the wolf managing a strangled sound as he clawed at the ice. Small bits of ice around the hole came free under the struggling wolf, making it impossible for the wolf to get out. Rivalz remained still until Lelouch slipped back into the water again, pausing only long enough to knock the end of the rope into the water before slipping in himself.
He was not prepared for the shock of the cold water, Rivalz sinking into the river before he could do anything. He opened his mouth before he could stop himself, drawing water into his lungs. He clawed his way back up to the surface, slinging an arm onto the ice and coughing up the water. Rivalz leaned on the ice, shaking his head to clear it. He wouldn't be able to stay in the water long; his body was already aching from the cold. It had to be worse for Lelouch, because the wolf had been in the water longer than he had. Rivalz gave his head one last shake before turning to look at the wolf.
Lelouch had gone under again, Rivalz seeing the black shape of the wolf. He winced and reached down, grabbing onto fur and pulling up.
The wolf surfaced with a growl, Rivalz almost afraid that Lelouch would turn on him. Instead, Lelouch just turned for the edge of the ice, clawing at it again. Rivalz released his hold on the wolf's back, going for a better hold. He wrapped his arms around the wolf's stomach, grunting as he pushed the wolf even further up onto the ice.
The move earned him a snarl, Lelouch turning his head to snap at Rivalz before he realized that the human wasn't going to hurt him. Lelouch's attention went back to trying to climb out of the water. Rivalz grunted as he was kicked in the stomach, feeling Lelouch's claws through his shirt. He felt a bright spot of pain, probably where Lelouch had gotten past his shirt, but he ignored it, focusing on where Suzaku was lying on the ice.
He gave Lelouch another push, Suzaku reaching forward to grab onto Lelouch's forelegs. Suzaku ignored the wolf as he snapped at him, ducking his head and pulling at Lelouch as he wiggled back on the ice.
Rivalz had no idea how long he remained in the water, frantically pushing at Lelouch to try and get the wolf out of the water. The ice kept crumbling under the wolf, not thick enough to hold the his weight. Everything that had broken off floated around in the hole with them, bumping into Rivalz and Lelouch. He lost his hold of Lelouch two more times, having to dive back under the water and grab the wolf again. The many claw marks on his stomach stung in the cold, more added as Lelouch scrambled at him in a panic.
They both went under again, Rivalz gritting his teeth under water and kicking towards the surface again. This time, he nearly threw Lelouch's front half onto the ice. He heard it crack, but the ice didn't break off. Rivalz breathed a sigh of relief, having to stop and cough to clear his lungs again. He felt Suzaku get a hold on Lelouch, leaning out around the wolf before pushing Lelouch forward again.
With the ice holding, they were able to slide Lelouch further up onto the ice than before. Rivalz looked up in time to see Suzaku lunge forward and grab Lelouch by his scruff and the fur on his back. Suzaku grunted and rocked back onto his kneels, Rivalz pushing from behind as they hauled Lelouch onto the ice. Rivalz yelped as Lelouch used his chest as a push off point, the wolf's claws tearing his shirt and scratching his chest as well. A final push, more from Lelouch than himself, had Rivalz thrown back and going under again.
For a brief moment, Rivalz saw Lelouch dangling in the water before Suzaku finished pulling him out of the hole. Rivalz closed his eyes, tempted to just let himself drift for a while and rest; but his cuts stung in the cold water, and he knew what would happen if he stayed in much longer. He already couldn't feel the cold water anymore, couldn't feel parts of his body anymore. Rivalz lazily turned himself upright and pushed toward the surface.
He grabbed at the rope, missing his first swipe when his fingers wouldn't close around the rope. Rivalz gritted his teeth and grabbed the rope both hands with his next attempt. He didn't waste time in hauling himself, pulling himself out of the water with his arms as he frantically kicked. The ice under him creaked with the addition of his weight but held, making his escape from the hole much easier than Lelouch's hand been.
Rivalz kept his hold on the rope until his entire body was clear of the hole, keeping himself spread out on the ice. He didn't want to be going back into the water, now that he was out and shivering. All he wanted to do was to crawl back to the fire and wrap himself up in his blanket, but that would take energy that he didn't have. Instead, Rivalz just rolled over onto his back and stared up at the sky, panting for breath.
Beside him, he could hear Lelouch and Suzaku gasping as well. Rivalz rolled his head to the side, staring at where Suzaku was draped slightly over Lelouch, still holding onto the wolf like he was afraid that Lelouch would slip away again. His face was even pressed against Lelouch's back, muffling the sound of his breathing. Rivalz frowned and reached out to slap weakly at Suzaku's shoulder, offering his friend a smile as Suzaku looked up. "We did it."
"Yeah." Suzaku gave a weak nod, lowering his head to rest on Lelouch again. "We saved him. Thank you."
Rivalz nodded, finding himself staring at the two of them. He licked his lips, wincing when the motion made his lips crack and sting. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, worried about how it made his lungs ache. He ignored the pain, taking another deep breath, just to remind himself that he had air to breathe. But, instead to holding the air in, Rivalz found himself speaking. "I don't want him to die." When Suzaku just stared at him, Rivalz amended his statement. "I don't want either of you to die."
"Thanks."
"I mean it." Rivalz narrowed his eyes, slowly curling his fingers in to point at Suzaku and Lelouch. "Don't either of you die when we attack Avalon. I've nearly died too many times for that."
Suzaku managed a weak salute. "I'll try my best."
The answer was enough to satisfy Rivalz. He let his hand uncurl and he went back to staring at the sky. They would both have to move soon, Rivalz didn't trust the ice to hold all three of them much longer, but he wanted more time to catch his breath. Suzaku didn't have much time until he changed and neither of them would be useful in continuing work on the cage, not with their fingers slow from the ice. But at least they hadn't cut up the rope.
He turned his head to share the thought with Suzaku, only to find that his friend was slowly easing away from Lelouch and back towards shore. The wolf was quick to follow, walking with shaky legs. Rivalz sighed and flipped over onto his stomach, dragging himself over to where the sword was. It took far more effort than it should have to pull the sword out of the ice, Rivalz not bothering to coil the rope up again as he dragged the sword behind him back to the bank.
His first step onto the bank was more of a stumble, Rivalz using the sword as a crutch to keep himself steady. He took a deep breath and carefully picked his way around the roots, walking over to where Lelouch and Suzaku were sitting.
The wolf and the human were just looking at each other, Suzaku still holding tight to Lelouch like he was afraid that the wolf would just disappear again. It was their own little world and Rivalz was just left on the outside. He looked away and picked at the knot on the grip of the sword, not wanting to interrupt. Suzaku had nearly lost Lelouch after all; he was entitled to his privacy.
He managed to get the knot loose, enough for him to consider it good work. While he really just wanted to lie down on the ground until he was warm again, he had too much to do. There were panels of the cage to be loaded and a fire to be built up. Rivalz thought he knew C.C. enough to know that she wouldn't bother, not until she was suffering from the lack of breakfast and source of heat. Until then, she could deal with his inability to move faster than a shuffle. Moving around would do him good.
Rivalz shrugged, about to start his first load back across the road when he saw Suzaku jerk suddenly.
He dropped the sword and turned around, staring at Suzaku as his friend shot to his feet and stumbled back a few steps. Rivalz hurried as much as he could over to Suzaku, catching him by the shoulder. He ignored the part whine, part snarl that Lelouch gave, instead staring at Suzaku. "What's wrong?"
"Sunrise." The word was whispered so quietly that Rivalz nearly missed it.
Rivalz held him steady and looked up at the sky. He had only seen one transformation and not even much of that one. All he remembered was Suzaku going over the side of the mountain. He wasn't sure just what the transformation entailed, or what he could do. Suzaku looked like he was in pain, and Rivalz was stuck being useless again.
Rivalz looked back over his shoulder, wanting to shout for C.C, but that might bring any guards that were around which would be the end of all of them. He shut his mouth, returning his attention to Suzaku. "What can I do?"
"Nothing." Suzaku sat on the ground, leaning back up against a tree. "It looks worse than what it really is." Suzaku unfastened the clasp of his cloak, passing it over to Rivalz. "Lelouch will need this."
Rivalz clutched at the fabric. "What about you?"
"I won't need it soon. Just be ready for me to fly off in a panic. It's a little disorientating," Suzaku frowned, "I think."
There was a growl from behind him, Rivalz giving way so that Lelouch could move closer to Suzaku. Nervously, Rivalz shook out the cloak, watching the two carefully. As soon as Lelouch was fully human, he intended to drop the cloak over him, because Lelouch wouldn't be protected against the cold like the wolf. With Suzaku unable to do his duty, it fell to Rivalz to look after Lelouch.
Although, considering what he was about to see, he wanted nothing more than to be able to leave at the moment. Rivalz turned his head so he was watching them out of the corner of his eye.
Suzaku had his hand out for the wolf to sniff, but Lelouch seemed to decide to forgo that nicety. The wolf sat between Suzaku's legs and thrust his muzzle into Suzaku's hand. The move drew a chuckle from Suzaku. "So now you decide to be tame."
The wolf gave no sign that he understood, just staring at Suzaku. Rivalz wasn't sure if he imagined it, but the wolf almost looked like he was trying to remember something.
Suzaku didn't seem bothered by any imagined intelligence. He moved his hand so he was stroking Lelouch's head. "I forgot that you got like this. Maybe that was a good thing."
The first rays of sunlight were drifting over the river. Suzaku stared at the one that fell across his hand blankly for a moment before shaking his head. He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against the top of Lelouch's head. "Take care of yourself and take care of me. Don't let me leave you side, because that's where I belong. I want to be there." He paused for a moment, kissing the top of Lelouch's head before sitting back with a rueful smile. "You won't remember any of this, will you?"
Rivalz dropped his gaze to the ground as Suzaku rested his hand against Lelouch's cheek. He felt like he should leave them to have their single moment together. It was the only time the two of them were even close to human at the same time. It was intimate, secret and something that he shouldn't ever be witness to.
He rocked up to his knees, intending to go hide behind one of the trees when the light bathed the river bank.
Rivalz squinted against the glare, turning immediately at the choked sound that Suzaku made. His friend was fine, but he was staring off in the direction of the sun, like he was enraptured by the sight.
Rivalz had expected the transformation to be a grotesque thing, something out of the stories that he women in the kitchens told. Instead, Suzaku just looked like he was standing in direct sunlight, glowing slightly brighter than the area around him. Rivalz scooted closer, glancing over at Lelouch. The wolf looked the same, although Rivalz could already see that the dark brown of the wolf's eyes were already back to Lelouch's lighter color. A quick check confirmed that Suzaku had already been affected, his eyes unnaturally yellow.
Suzaku looked away from the rising sun, meeting Rivalz's gaze. Already there was nothing of the human there. It was the stare that he had gotten used to over the days of travel.
Then Suzaku was gone, human one moment and the eagle the next. In the surprise at the sudden change, Rivalz missed the moment Lelouch became human again. Rivalz shook his head, scooting forward and throwing the cloak over Lelouch's naked body.
Lelouch didn't seem to notice, save for the way that he reached up with one hand to clutch at where the clasp was. He didn't even notice Rivalz, his full attention on where the eagle was settled on the ground. "Suzaku?"
His voice was hoarse, probably from when he had been howling all night and then his struggles in the ice, not that Lelouch would remember it. Lelouch just cleared his throat and reached out for the bird. The eagle jerked at the first touch to his feathers, hissing at Lelouch. Lelouch just made a calming noise at the bird. "It's alright Suzaku, just calm down. You're safe here, there's no need to fly off. Just stay-"
Lelouch didn't get to finish what he was saying. The eagle screamed and took to the air, flying away even as Lelouch lunged forward to grab him. Lelouch quickly got to his feet, turning to track Suzaku's flight. For a moment, Lelouch looked like he would just shout for Suzaku, but then he slumped, staring at the distant shape of the eagle.
Rivalz reached out to touch Lelouch's shoulder, hesitating for a moment before jerking his hand back. It wasn't his place and Lelouch wouldn't welcome the intrusion. Rivalz ducked his head, backing up toward where the supplies for the cage were. He picked up two panels, intending to get started on what he should have been doing. With one last look over his shoulder at the lonely figure that was Lelouch, Rivalz walked back to their camp.
Lelouch retreated back to their camp as soon as he was sure that he was completely in control of himself. It had been over a year since he had witnessed Suzaku's transformation and he was regretting watching this one. He wasn't sure what had made Suzaku want to stay. It couldn't be an accident, because they could both tell when the sunrise or sunset was coming, long before the sky changed color. It was just part of the curse, just like the hazy recognition of Suzaku he had gotten before he had changed and the knowledge that Suzaku hadn't recognized him at all. By the time Lelouch could think and reason, Suzaku was already long gone.
He paused to take a deep breath, forcing the hurt and anger down. None of that mattered, they were close to Avalon and then the curse would be over. That was what he should have been worrying about instead of how it hurt to watch Suzaku fly off. The eagle would return and they would continue on. He tugged the cloak more securely around him and walked into the camp.
As he expected, C.C. had caught up to them. The witch's cart was tucked under the cover of a tree and the woman herself was sitting by the fire. When he walked past her to retrieve his clothes from Gawain's saddle bags, she just raised an eyebrow.
C.C. managed to keep her mouth shut as he dressed and saw to Gawain, a welcome change. After his rude awakening at sunrise, Lelouch wasn't in the mood for her wit.
With a final pat to Gawain, he went to sit down by the fire, still cold despite the layers he wore. To his surprise, C.C. passed him bread and cheese, offering the food to him without having to make him work for it. Lelouch took the food and picked at it, still full from whatever he had killed the night before.
As he expected, the silence didn't last long. "I heard you had quite the adventure last night."
Lelouch looked up at her, not sure what to make of her amusement. There were two ways of dealing with C.C. that he found worked. One was to ignore her completely and one was to engage with her on an equal level, exchanging what barbs he could. Both were only guaranteed to work half the time and both frustrated Lelouch to no end. He was too cold to really compete with her. He hung his head and sighed. "I wouldn't know, I don't remember anything from last night."
C.C. smiled at him, leaning back on her hands. "You took a little swim in the river before sunrise . Apparently, the ice is only thick along the bank. Thank you for saving us the trouble of having to figure that out ourselves."
"Happy to be of service." That explained why Suzaku had remained close. The rescue had cut into his escape time and Suzaku had been worried. It also explained why he couldn't seem to get warm. Lelouch wrapped Suzaku's cloak more tightly around him. "Where's Rivalz?"
He could see the blue roan mare tied by the cart, staying away from where Lancelot and Gawain were grazing side to side on what little grass was left. Lelouch vaguely remembered seeing Rivalz by the river bank earlier on, but he had been long gone by the time that he had shaken himself out of his wallowing.
Lelouch almost missed the jerk of her head that C.C. made to her cart. "He's finishing something up so you might not have him to ride with today. Guess I'm your only company."
"No. You're not coming."
"You're no longer my better, you can't order me around." She smiled. "I can go on to Avalon if I want. Besides, how are you going to get in without Rivalz? You'll be recognized at the gate, unless he lets you in."
"That's the plan."
"Make a new one."
Lelouch narrowed his eyes, considering his reply when there was a curse from the cart. He leaned to the side, tracking the handful of small sticks that were thrown out of the cart. Lelouch got to his feet, stepping around the fire, glad for the chance to change the subject. "What's he working on?"
"A cage. One strong enough to hold a wolf."
Lelouch froze, staring at the handful of sticks on the ground. He was being betrayed by the people he trusted again. He could run, neither C.C. nor Rivalz could stop him. C.C. needed time to work magic and Rivalz had no idea how to fight. But as soon as he became a wolf he would be defenseless. They could catch him and do whatever they planned. The only way to avoid them would be to ride away from Avalon as fast as he could, which would play right into their hands.
He reached down for the sword that he wasn't wearing, his fingers curling toward his palm. "No."
"To what?"
"To what you have planned. I'm not going to wait for an impossible miracle, because-"
"Because you are the only one that has ever suffered." C.C. snorted. "I'm just repaying my side of the deal."
"I don't care. You're free to do as you wish, our deal is off."
"It takes two to break off a deal."
Lelouch waved his hand dismissively. He was done with the witch. He had appreciated her help, but he could do without her meddling now. Gawain had to be saddled before he could make his escape. Lelouch hoped that Suzaku would be back before then, but the eagle would be able to find him. There was a brief moment when he thought that Suzaku would remain behind. He had already chosen to fly to Rivalz over him a couple times and Rivalz had started to look after Suzaku now that he had been given the job. But Lelouch pushed the thought away. Suzaku would always come back to him, Lelouch believed that.
He paused to look over at the cart, frowning. Rivalz would have to be stopped from wasting his time. He still needed the man to get him into castle. Lelouch walked over; about to order Rivalz to come out and get ready to ride when there was a shriek. He looked up, spotting Suzaku approaching.
Lelouch went to reach for his gloves to call the eagle down when Rivalz jumped out of the cart. Lelouch got a glimpse of a cloak wrapped around his hand and arm. Rivalz thrust his arm into the air. "Suzaku!"
The eagle dove, pulling up soon enough to land sedately on Rivalz's arm. Lelouch was relieved to see that Suzaku's flight was steady, although his bad wing hung open longer before being folded. He sighed and pulled on his glove. "Pass him on."
To his surprise, Rivalz backed away, holding Suzaku close. "Not until you listen."
Lelouch stared at Rivalz, struggling to connect the behavior of the man now to what he had known of the man before. Rivalz would have never argued with him before. Lelouch dropped his arm and stepped forward. "Pass him over, Rivalz. You don't have to look after him until later."
"I don't want to!" His shout made Suzaku start, Rivalz quickly whispering to the eagle to calm him. He still moved away when Lelouch stepped forward again. He gave Lelouch a baleful look. "I don't want to look after him when you've gone off and gotten yourself killed. I don't want to have to watch him die as well."
"Your job is to make sure that he doesn't."
"He's going to, because he wouldn't have saved you. Do you even remember what he sounded like when he talks about you? He wants to save you."
"We agreed to this."
C.C. snorted. "So you haven't been listening." He swung to face her, stopping when she glared at him. "Suzaku wants to die, Lelouch, but his duty to you keeps him around. You do know that you have given Rivalz an impossible task."
Lelouch wanted to deny what she said, but he couldn't quite process the idea. There was no reason for Suzaku to want to die; no failure, no embarrassments. He had gotten nothing but loyal service from Suzaku. Lelouch swallowed, trying to clear the idea from his head, but he couldn't, not with Rivalz still glaring at him.
He held out his arm again. "Rivalz, please."
"Not until you hear me out." He plunged on before Lelouch could answer. "C.C. can break the curse, I know she can. She's already figured everything out, more than enough to convince Suzaku. And you know that he would never agree to anything that he could hurt you. If you can't trust us, then how can you trust to me get you into Avalon?"
Suzaku hissed, apparently tired of their shouting. The eagle beat his wings, lifting off from Rivalz's arm.
The two of them flinched back, Rivalz leaning against the wagon. Lelouch pivoted to stand so that Suzaku could land on his arm. The eagle ignored the offer, choosing to land on a tree branch and glare at all of them. Lelouch sighed and lowered his arm, turning back to Rivalz. If the man wanted him to listen, he would, if only to get them to move. He would need time to think if he really was expected to change his mind.
Lelouch went to urge Rivalz on, freezing when he noticed the red spots on Rivalz's shirt. He stepped forward, grabbing Rivalz and pulling him close. Rivalz had been working with sticks to build the cage so it was likely that he had just caught with one of them. But something in Lelouch's gut told him otherwise. Lelouch pushed aside a piece of ripped fabric, staring at the livid scratches on Rivalz's chest. "Where did you get those?"
Rivalz glanced over at C.C, Lelouch following his gaze. He narrowed his eyes, about to snap that the witch when she beat him to him.
"Don't look at me like that. Those are your fault."
Lelouch turned to stare at the scratches. "How?"
"Your little adventure in the river." C.C. laughed. "I don't have the whole story; I was asleep at the time."
"And they didn't call for you?"
"She didn't know." Rivalz pushed Lelouch's arm away. "We had to act quickly. Suzaku pulled and I pushed you out. You weren't helping much."
Lelouch stared at the scratches, trying to piece together what had happened before sunrise. He couldn't get beyond the fact that Rivalz had just into the ice to save him. "I could have killed you."
Rivalz shrugged. "I couldn't let you die. I still won't, which is why I want you to listen to C.C. Then you and Suzaku can go off and be happy."
"You can't go home." Lelouch saw Rivalz flinch, but he kept going. "The people won't let you and the emperor won't let you."
"I know and I'll run if I have to. What I don't want to do is to be left alone in a foreign country with a pining eagle if you do die."
Lelouch sighed and scratched his neck. He had promised Rivalz that he would get the man home, a lie from the start. There had never been a way out for Rivalz. For that alone, Lelouch owed Rivalz the step down he would have to take to listen to C.C's plan. Rivalz had already saved his life. If Rivalz had already been ready to save his life once, no matter the cost to his own, then Rivalz would attempt it again. Strategically, it would be better for him if he could use all of his resources. And, deep in his own thoughts, ones that he had pushed away for months, he wanted to live.
If he lived, then all ties that he had over him were gone. Nunnally was lost to him, it had been too long and he had never gotten to explain himself. To her, he was lost as well. In the two years that he had been gone, she had moved on. Lelouch had paid close enough attention to her to know that. Nunnally was nearly consumed by her work as the lady of the castle. He was free to be his own person, far away from the shadow of his father. He was free to have what he wanted, and what he wanted was Suzaku. He wanted to be far away from the empire that his father had planned. It was a heady and dangerous idea, one that he could finally contemplate.
He sighed and stepped back, looking between the two. He already owed Rivalz so much, far more than he could repay, especially since he could never fulfill his promise. Rivalz was the one person he didn't mind owing; he was a friend and one worth trusting and proven like C.C.
Lelouch sighed and went to sit down by the fire, relieved when Suzaku glided down to rest on his fist. He would have to attach the jesses to Suzaku's legs, but that could wait until later. His focus was on his sudden chance to have nearly everything he wanted. "Tell me how you'll break the curse and then," he looked over at Rivalz with a smile, "I'll show you how to cage a wolf."
Calares watched the rush of the alter boys as the clattered around to finish cleaning behind the alter. He had been watching over the preparations since after the first mass that morning, trying to get the church clean between masses. With the archbishop the one presiding over the mass instead of just delivering the sermon and with most of Avalon coming to witness the mass, he had to be sure that his church was in the best shape that it could be in. After all, it was the church that had part of the royal family had used for years, one of the jewels of the north.
He eyed the paintings that were on the wall. There was enough money in the church's funds to touch them up, or even repaint them entirely. The style of the paintings was completely out of date, in with the old style of the first nobles who had tried to make their way into the north. Calares had seen some of the artwork that was coming out of Pendragon and the southern countries and it was far superior to what had been done by an amateur artist from the north. But the paintings were familiar and comforting and Calares was willing to allow them to stay as they were.
He turned his attention away from the paintings and began to look around the church, searching for other things that needed fixing. The few wooden statues that were in the church needed retouching as well, but otherwise the church looked just like new after a good scrubbing. He'd start with restoring instead of repainting, all in the name of the glory and safety after the death of the demon. The people would enjoy the sense of revival.
He stepped to the side to allow the alter boys to continue their work. From his new vantage point, he could see the people praying in the church. Calares couldn't see Nunnally and her friends, but they had been in the church earlier. They were probably continuing their plotting, leaving the church to the priests and monks that had come to Avalon for confession. The flood of clergy would only last for a day until they would go and grant absolution to their own parishes. Calares had heard rumors that the lady of Avalon herself would have the archbishop of Pendragon as her confessor rather that himself.
He supposed that he should have felt insulted, but he already knew that he had lost favor with Nunnally. Calares didn't worry much on that score. As soon as the demon was dispatched, he would send word to the suitors he had chosen. Nunnally would be too busy to exercise her independence. The pressure to marry would build and Nunnally would give in. Then, she would no longer be his worry. Her other supporters; Jeremiah, Milly and Euphemia, would leave after the demon was gone. Avalon would settle again, and he could return to his work.
Calares eased around the frantic alter boys and made his way up the aisle. He raised his hand in greeting to the few men praying that looked up at him. He would leave them to their prayers while he took a breath of fresh air. Maybe he could begin to plan his appeal to Nunnally to fix up the paintings while he took a walk.
He strolled along the sheltered walkway, enjoying the crisp air. The snow from the night before still hung around, but it was scuffed around in the usual bustle of the courtyard. Calares leaned out from under the roof of the walkway, tipping his head back to look at the clouds. The sky was clear for now, which meant that they had a small reprieve until the next flurry. The archbishop could rush out of Avalon as he had planned.
The sound of hoof beats made him turn, Calares to see his spy in the guard riding in. Somehow, the man had managed to wheedle his way into messenger duty, bringing back the reports from the line of men looking for Lelouch. It was a brilliant move on his part, because it meant that they got to speak as often as they needed. Calares had made the right choice for the new captain of the guards, a man that could clearly think, even as he was completely dependent on him.
He stepped out from the walkway to catch the reins of the horse. The animal snorted and sidled, Calares holding until the horse settled. He stroked the animal's neck, keeping his voice unconcerned. "News already?"
"Birds from the men out beyond Stowden, in the mountains." The man looked around before lowering his voice. "They found bodies on the trail to one of the old villas, the scouts that Jeremiah had sent to watch the demon. Other than that, nothing. We've been watching the border roads carefully. I've been trying to get them to watch the interior roads, but the others think I'm being stupid. After all, why would the demon be riding deeper into Britannia?"
Calares shrugged. "He might be going after the emperor or to the southern clans. His mind is twisted by magic."
Thankfully, the guard swallowed the lie. It was easy to do with common assumptions about magicians. Calares was sure that Lelouch was just heading deeper into Britannia to avoid capture, which would be a major mistake. Even if some of the leaders of the groups were complete idiots, there would be a group that noticed Lelouch and gave the signal to attack.
He looked over his shoulder, spotting one of the stable boys running over to take the horse. Calares let go of the reins, raising his hand and pronouncing a quick blessing. His spy was quick to pick up on what he was doing, bowing his head and nodding his thanks as soon as the blessing was done.
The man led his horse over to the boy, Calares watching them interact.
The news of the deaths of the scouts was not surprising. The two men had not been heard of since they had gone into the mountains. Logically, only the demon could have gotten them. While their deaths weren't surprising, the news that Lelouch was trying to escape was. No sane man would want to stay in Britannia with the effort that was being put into finding him. Lelouch was probably just out of touch with what was going on, which meant that he would stumble right into Nunnally's trap.
Since that was the case, Calares would make sure that the soldiers knew to keep a look out for a black wolf. They would all be glad for the chance to kill a wolf, especially if they came from a herding family. What kind of bishop would he be if he didn't give them the chance to look after their own family?
Feeling better than he had been since the archbishop of Pendragon had arrived, Calares walked over to his spy to add his request before Jeremiah could be notified about what was going on. If Jeremiah refused, then Calares would make sure that all of Avalon knew what Jeremiah thought of the safety of the peasants just outside of Avalon's walls. It would be one more nail on Jeremiah Gottwald's coffin.
Nearly reeling from the heady rush of power, Calares went to set his pawns into motion.