Chapter Twelve: In Accord

"The prince is in the hall.
Zeus, set him face to face with the enemy!"
– The Choephori, Aeschylus

Nunnally rubbed her temples as she sat in the war room, wishing that she was somewhere else. Since her plan had been put into motion, she had given up her evenings in the solar, letting the steward do as he saw fit. Defeating the demon was important for securing peace. And then she had to keep that peace.

After the light snow they had gotten, Nunnally had sent three of her letters off, the ones that asked for promises of support. With the birds in flight, she had nothing to do but wait for their replies. Until then, she had to figure out who was against her. Lelouch would have been able to do it with a glance, but Nunnally had to work for the same skill.

Her mother had stacked the shelves of the war room with tomes and scrolls of information abut the noble families of Britannia. If she looked through them, maybe she could find clues about who her biggest enemies would be. The problem was that the books would only take care of the noble families. There were plenty of other families that would make her life miserable, ones that she wouldn't be able to learn about from the library, her own family for example.

What better place to put a smarter, stronger and unwanted brother than as far north as he could be pushed? Of course, there were plenty in Pendragon who would want Nunnally to take the throne once her uncle was dead, but she would refuse. There were equally as many who would want her dead. Better her dead than alive to attempt a try at the throne.

She groaned, ready to give up and call in the servant. Out of the entire empire there were only six families outside of her own that could be trusted, and the small number made her want to hide. She suddenly felt how alone she would be in the world, especially as a young, single lady.

An idea crept into her head, one that had a distinctly Milly Ashford feel to it, but the scope was something that Marianne would have thought of. She was only looking to Britannia when she was far closer to two other countries.

Nunnally raised her head and stared at the map carved into the table. Both Nippon and Circassia were just barley there on the edges, but still far closer to Avalon than Pendragon. She took a deep breath and reached out toward them. From where she sat, she couldn't reach them, but Marianne would have been able to from her chair. Nunnally looked up at it, the chair suddenly seeming less imposing.

It would be a simple matter in the end. They already had open trade with both countries, but Nunnally could easily nudge the gates open a little wider. Increased trade would bring life to little towns like Stowden and lure the merchants up from the south. Even better, both Nippon and Circassia would fight to keep their new source of income safe.

Nunnally smiled to herself, staring at the map. The emperor had shoved his little brother as far north as he could, and it had crippled Charles. The same conditions were allowing Nunnally to flourish. She sighed out a breath of relief, finally able to see some hope in her situation.

As much as she reveled in the excitement, she couldn't get too caught up in the rush. Whatever she did, it couldn't look like war. If her uncle took it into his head that she was rebelling, she would be wiped out. Her first step would have to be to ask for permission, just to be sure. But she knew better than to beg it from her uncle. To him, Nippon was full of magicians that would destroy Britannia and Circassia was harboring the last of the clans from Britannia. She would have to appeal to someone more attuned to the diplomatic situation.

She reached over to drag a wax tablet closer to her. Nunnally wanted to draft her letter first, just to be sure that she was as clear in her intentions as she could be. Even going to the Schneizel would take tact, especially since he was already busy. Nunnally tapped the stylus against her lips before beginning to write.

Lelouch pulled Gawain to a halt as Suzaku flew by overhead. He watched the eagle stoop, probably chasing the few rabbits that were still out. He shook his head but made no effort to call Suzaku back. The eagle needed to eat as much as he could to keep the human going until they could get to safety.

Gawain snorted and threw up his head. Lelouch sat through the stallion's excitement, glancing done the rise he was on towards the castle.

Avalon loomed ahead, hardly thirty minutes ride form where he stood. As excited as he was to push on to the castle, where they were was the perfect place to stop until the sun had set. They still had parts of their plan to prepare.

Lelouch turned in the saddle, watching as C.C. guided the cart through the dip between the rises, heading right to what looked like a muddy wallow. While it wasn't as sloppy as it would have been during the spring, it would serve. They all had water skins if they needed to get the place muddy again.

He turned Gawain and urged him down the rise. Eager to get back to the company of the other horses, Gawain complied. They slid down the last portion of the hill, Gawain sitting back nearly completely on his haunches as they navigated the mix of light snow and grass. Lelouch barely had to guide him to the front of the cart, Gawain trotting up to walk close to Lancelot.

Lelouch ignored the two horses, trying to peer back into the cart. "Is it ready?"

"Almost." There was a grunt as Rivalz lifted a panel of the cage into place. "I've just got the top to go."

Lelouch nodded, sitting up in the saddle again. He shot a glance over to C.C, watching as the witch pulled Lancelot to a stop. She didn't bother to tie off the grey, climbing into the back of the cart. There was a yelp that must have come from Rivalz before she emerged from the back of the cart. "Hurry up while you're still useful. I want those horses stripped of valuables and tack. Make them as dirty as you can."

He winced with distaste, but dismounted. If they wanted to get all the horses into Avalon, they had to look the part. With the bay and Rivalz's blue roan mare, the task wouldn't be too difficult; they were dirty from travel already. C.C. just wanted another coat of mud on them to make them unremarkable. But Lelouch was in the habit of keeping Gawain spotless mostly so he could play the part of a rich man. Still, C.C. needed to look like a horse trader, one who had made the long journey to Avalon.

Lelouch pulled Gawain's saddle and saddle cloth off, letting both rest on the ground while he led Gawain to the wallow. Gawain stepped into the mud with little fuss, lowering his head to graze while Lelouch scooped up the first handful of mud.

He shivered at the sloppy texture but tossed it onto Gawain's back nonetheless. More handfuls followed in quick succession, Lelouch lining Gawain's top line with mud before beginning to push it into the stallion's coat.

It was slow and disgusting work since Gawain had decided not to take advantage of a chance to roll. Lelouch worked his way over Gawain's body and legs, only then turning to the stallion's mane and tail. He worked mud into the hair, pausing to throw a handful of grass at the horse as well. Lelouch was about to start on Gawain's head when he heard someone approaching.

Rivalz whistled as he looked Gawain over. "That's a work of art."

Lelouch rolled his eyes, choosing to rub mud into Gawain's face and bridle instead of responding. He only looked back at Rivalz when there was a soft grunt. The mare had decided to roll, Rivalz standing away and trying to keep the reins clear of her legs.

She finished quickly, shaking off the excess. Rivalz glanced up at Lelouch and shrugged. "I guess that means its time for the bay." He started to turn the mare, pausing to look over his shoulder. "C.C. wants you now."

Lelouch nodded and looked Gawain over. It was the best he was going to be able to do. He wiped his hand on a clear spot on Gawain's chest before leading him back to their temporary camp. They were passed quickly by Rivalz and the bay, Rivalz having to walk quickly to avoid the horse's anger. Lelouch gave him a passing slap on the neck as a reminder to behave before turning his attention back to Gawain. The stallion had his ears pinned back, and he was glaring at the bay, but he turned his attention back to Lelouch when the reins were wiggled.

C.C. was sitting by the fire, one side of it devoted to cooking the quail that Lelouch had shot with his crossbow earlier in the day. The other side was taken up by a pot that was sitting among the sticks. Lelouch shivered and kept himself from looking inside.

When the process had been explained, C.C. had been very vague about what was going to happen. She had said that there had to be a separate spell laid over them to attract the attention of the magic, apparently the standard procedure for most counter spells. Only then could she work on the beginnings of the particular spell that would break the curse. Lelouch had wanted to demand to know more, but he wasn't sure that C.C. would have given in to him. He also didn't want to know more about magic than he had to; it had caused him enough trouble already.

Besides, C.C. had every right to be secretive about her magic. Technically, it was part of her livelihood, if she had been able to practice it in Britannia. Lelouch was sure that, if C.C. had left Britannia earlier, she could have made a lot of money in the surrounding countries. Every country had a different way of working magic, and experts on the other forms were always needed.

He tied Gawain up to the cart, leaving enough slack for the stallion to graze, before joining C.C. by the fire. She barely glanced at him, her concentration on nudging the pot out of the fire. He hadn't seen what had gone into the pot, but it was a sickly looking green color. Lelouch swallowed, doing his best not to recoil as the pot was edged over to him. He looked between the pot and C.C, listening to her muttering under her breath. At a pause, he took a chance. "Am I supposed to drink this?"

C.C. gave him a scathing glare without breaking her stride. She continued to speak even as she edged forward, holding her hand over the pot. Lelouch expected the color to change or for there to be some sign that magic happened, but there was nothing, not even a stray breeze through the grasses. He glanced around, hoping to see something that would show that C.C. was working magic, only to have his face grabbed by her and pulled back toward her.

He stared at her as she dipped two fingers into the pot, bracing himself for the mixture to be hot on his face. Instead, it was cold. Lelouch couldn't help his flinch, held from leaning back by C.C's fingers on his jaw. She jerked his head back into place, quickly painting symbols on his face.

He couldn't figure out what she was writing there, it felt like loops and swirls, something far different than written Britannian language. Lelouch gave up on trying to guess what it was, tensing when she made a large mark on his forehead.

The mark was repeated on his neck before C.C. moved down to his arms. Lelouch opened his eyes to watch C.C. decorating his arms. He couldn't tell if the marks on his arms were the same as the ones on his face, but he was sure that there were more dots on his arms.

She sat back on her heels, her fingers still dripping with the foul mixture. Lelouch almost went to get up, stopping when C.C. narrowed her eyes. He settled back down as C.C. held out her free hand. "Palms."

He presented them to her, C.C. painting a strange v-shaped symbol on them. She leaned over to stare at the mark before nodding to herself. "Now stay still, we need those to dry."

She didn't bother to watch him to see him nod; she just pushed the pot back into the fire and went to tend the quails. Lelouch sighed and rolled his eyes, trying to find a comfortable position on the ground. With nothing to do but sit, he glanced around their camp.

The three horses looked contented enough, although all three of them looked up when Rivalz led the bay over. The bay was now covered with mud, although he didn't look any happier. Rivalz dodged ahead of him, tying the horse to the front of the cart, far away from where the other horses were tied. He lingered long enough to brush some mud off the bay's back before tacking the horse up again. Then he scurried into the cart, Lelouch hearing Rivalz grunting as he hauled the cage into position.

Lelouch nodded to himself, glancing up the sky. He didn't need to; he could feel the start of the twisting in his stomach that signaled that sunset was coming. He scanned the sky for Suzaku. The eagle would be coming back soon enough, but it would be up to Rivalz to catch him, Lelouch didn't want to risk messing up the marks on his arm in case they had to do the whole affair over again. He didn't think that it would work as well when he was a wolf, even if C.C. did manage to paint the symbols on him again. Then again, it wouldn't be too hard for her, since he would be confined to the cage.

He sighed and closed his eyes, just listening. Everyone else was busy and he was feeling useless. He was used to be the only one available to set up his camp for the night, so he was usually busy until the last minute. What Suzaku did after he was a wolf, Lelouch didn't know, but he assumed that Suzaku kept himself busy.

A particularly viscous twist in his stomach had him opening his eyes and looking over where C.C. poked at the birds. "What happens when I'm a wolf?"

"You should be good by then; it only takes a few minutes to work." C.C. huffed and glared at the birds like they had personally offended her. "Everything else after this is a matter of you following my instructions."

"No killing the bishop until he's seen Suzaku and I in the presence of witnesses. Then I can do as I wish." Lelouch paused for a moment before nodding his head. "But don't get myself killed."

"And I thought you would never learn to take orders."

"I don't take orders from witches." She made a soft hum in response, the kind that she usually made when she was tuning Lelouch out. Lelouch huffed, sitting up on his knees so he could peer into the pot. It was back on the fire, but not bubbling. To him, it just looked like a solid mass; one that had a peculiar rotting scent. Lelouch glared at the offending concoction before looking up at C.C. "I know what this is for, but why do we need it? Suzaku is magic, if what everyone has told me about Nippon is right."

"He does and they haven't lied to you. But you both are the same in one thing, neither of you can use magic." She sighed and rotated the quails. Lelouch thought he saw her roll her eyes, but she was moving around the fire and talking so he let the sign of annoyance slide. "If I was under this curse, I would only need the words and those symbols." She gestured to the weird v-shapes on his arms and palms. "The words set up the counter while their concentration on the symbol weakens it to the point where actions taken in a certain order will break the curse. For you and Suzaku, I have to nudge the magic awake. It exists in him, but telling it to work would be like telling Suzaku to concentrate on his lungs when he breathes. Magic is that involuntary with him. For you, I just need it to stay there to break the curse. And it will last long enough for the curse to be broken, even if you change forms."

"Why?"

"Because the wolf is you whether you want to recognize it or not." From the way that she snapped at him, Lelouch guessed that he had used up her goodwill in explaining magic. The rest he didn't care about anyway. If he had his way, it would never get the chance to affect him again. There was one more thing that he wanted to know.

He cleared his throat, not surprised when C.C. ignored his attempt to draw her attention to him. "What does Suzaku's magic do?"

"You never asked after living with him for so long?"

"It never seemed important."

C.C. stared at him before flopping back to the ground, glaring at their dinner again. "I don't know, but I can guess. He's a good fighter, probably better than half the knights in Britannia."

"That's because he's practiced."

"Yes, and that's probably what his magic does. It doesn't make him better, but it helps in small increments. Maybe he's just a bit faster than the others, maybe he can sense when an attack is coming, maybe he'll be able to survive a wound longer than another man could. It's all personal and none of my business."

"I thought you said you talked with him."

"But never about that. It's personal and it was never the issue." She rooted around in her pocket before throwing Lelouch a scrap of cloth. "Now wipe that stuff off and get ready to eat fast. You'll have to go in the cage soon enough. I'll be there in the morning to get you out."

Lelouch fumbled the catch, ignoring the smile on C.C's face as he scrubbed the mixture off his skin. To his surprise, it came off easily, leaving just the barest smear of green behind. He rubbed at the smear with his fingers, wondering if it would appear when he changed back from being a wolf. Lelouch drummed his fingers against his arm, ignoring the way that his stomach twisted again. Contrary to what C.C. said, he didn't have to rush to get into the cage, but they were beginning to run out of time.

He looked up as Rivalz came back to sit with them. The man glanced at the pot still on the fire, making a face. "I'm glad I'm not cursed."

"I'm sure C.C. will make an exception."

Rivalz gave C.C. a panicked look, which the witch did not return. She just lifted one hand and flicked her fingers in Lelouch's direction. "Pay no attention to his majesty. He's just annoyed."

Lelouch didn't bother to respond. She was just trying to rile him up, and he was not going to rise to the bait. There were more important things to worry about than the petty arguments that he and C.C. carried on. He rubbed at one of the marks on his skin again, not sure if he imagined the slight tingle. Lelouch shook out his fingers anyway, looking up at C.C. "Where will I be in the morning?"

"As close to the church as I can get you. And your precious horse will be cleaned up for you as well, if you want to make a big show of charging in." He shot a glare at C.C, knowing that she was right. She had been the one to tell him that he needed to be seen, after all. As long as he made a big distraction, C.C. and Rivalz could work on whatever they needed to do. C.C. grinned at him, passing him a wing of the quail as she took one of the others for herself. "And the other horses will be ready to run as soon as you and Suzaku get out."

Lelouch nodded, picking at the meat on the wing. The plan was solid, he trusted C.C. to make sure that it was. She wanted to finish their deal as much as he and Suzaku did. They had a way in, but not a way out, not that he knew of. And, considering why they had stopped him from going in alone, he was surprised by the failure to figure out how to leave Avalon. Then there was another important piece of business that he had to take care of before he changed.

He swallowed his mouthful, glancing over his shoulder at the horses. "You'll be leaving your cart behind."

C.C. shrugged. "Anything important will be packed and ready to go."

"And when will you be going?"

"If you intend to confront him inside of the church, then as soon as the shouts start that there has been an attempt on the bishop's life. The guards will run for the church and I will ride for the gate. Rivalz can escape the way that he came and I will have a horse waiting for him. The two of you can get to Gawain and Lancelot quickly, especially since I think you'll be taking them with you. In all of the confusion, no one will try and stop you, not until they regroup. You've escaped from Avalon once; you two can do it again."

Lelouch rolled his eyes. It was an escape plan, but one that he wasn't sure he agreed with. There was too much that was left up to chance. Then again, from this point on their plan was all chance. Lelouch was fine with the circumstances, because he could trust everyone in their group to look after themselves. There was one person's safety that he didn't want to leave to chance.

"Rivalz," the man started when his name was called, nearly dropping the quail that he was holding. Lelouch leaned closer, not bothering to lower his voice. C.C. knew his priorities well enough, and Lelouch was surprised that she hadn't brought it up already. "I need you to watch out for Nunnally."

"Your sister? Why?"

"If things start to get bad, I want you to make sure she gets out. There are enough places where you can lead her to get free. Just make sure that she isn't hurt in the panic or the fight."

Rivalz stared at him for a moment before nodding. "I'll get them both out before locking the doors."

Lelouch didn't bother to ask who the other person Rivalz was talking about was. He would let Rivalz choose when the shut the doors, just as long as the bishop remained inside the church. Anyone else Lelouch didn't care about. He just needed enough people to count as witnesses so the curse could be broken and then they could run.

He turned his attention back to his dinner, eating quickly while he kept an eye to the sky. The sunset was closer, but not too close that he had to worry. Lelouch glanced at the cart, shivering at the thought of the cage. It was too much like the cell that awaited him if he failed completely, if he was lucky enough. At least he wouldn't remember most of it, just getting in and waking up inside of it. It was enough just to get inside Avalon without being spotted.

Lelouch wiped his hands on his pants, reaching forward for more of the quail. He managed to snatch more from C.C, smirking at her as he bit into the meat. All he got in return was a huff, Lelouch shaking his head and turning his gaze back toward the sky.

Milly paced her room, considering her next course of action carefully. If she decided to go through with her plan her mother would never cease to complain. It was a nice enough match to a nice enough man, or so it had seemed when they had met. The problem was money.

The Ashford family didn't have much to start with, and marrying Earl Asplund would just decrease the amount. Milly had heard about his fortune, but she had also heard about his hobbies. Breeding horses and tinkering with his inventions was expensive, since only the former brought in any new income for the earl himself. That kind of spending would kill Ashingford, even with the addition of the funds from his lands. Milly could not be content with that. Her grandfather had worked hard to raise the family back from obscurity and disfavor, and she would not disgrace his memory.

Privately, she thought that Earl Asplund would be just as pleased with the break. The man had seemed more interested in his machines and horses the one time they had met. The earl would probably be the last one to complain if she broke off the marriage.

There was a baser reason she wanted to break off her betrothal. She wanted to prove that she could look after Ashingford herself, like Nunnally had managed Avalon. No more losing herself in parties to forget that she wasn't as rich as she was pretending to be or as fancy as she imagined. No more just watching her parents waste money. Rivalz was just the first step, but she couldn't just stop there.

There were things that she wanted to do, improvements that she wanted to make to Ashingford, and she was not about to let herself be distracted; not even by her parents' anger. Nunnally had already shown up most of the lords in the north just by holding on to her position. Milly, with her competitive nature, could do no less. And she was not about to get dragged down by her parents.

Decision made, she strode out of her room and into the hall. Out of habit, her feet took her to the balcony. Milly took a deep breath of the cold air as stepped out. She wasn't properly dressed for the weather, so she couldn't stay out for long. And, with people below her, she couldn't shout and jump like she wanted to.

Milly leaned forward, bracing herself on the balustrade. She looked over the walls, towards the mountains. Rivalz was out there somewhere, in the mountains or somewhere closer to home. But she would bring him back no matter what, because she had promised his mother.

She remained staring into the darkness until she began to shiver, unable to stand the cold any longer. Milly gave the balustrade one pat before retreating into the warmth of the castle. She had a letter to write.

Suzaku tugged the borrowed cloak up over his head, hoping that he just looked cold instead of suspicious. Considering that he was approaching Avalon after nightfall, Suzaku thought that he was failing to do that. But there was a line of people waiting by the gates, all of them clergymen by the look of them. Why they were all trying to get into Avalon so late was beyond him. Suzaku was badly out of touch with the comings and goings of the nobles in the north. With so many clergymen in Avalon, there could be a trial going on, with more magicians to be convicted. How they were going to get Calares alone and witnesses if that was going on, Suzaku had no idea.

He tensed when he heard movement from the cage behind him, Suzaku staring at the gate. He was the next in line to be looked over by the guards, two men that he didn't recognize at all. Even the badge they wore was unfamiliar to him. He didn't want to give away what he had in the back under the cover of blankets and saddles, not when he had no idea what to do about the wolf in the cage. If Lelouch started to make a fuss, then Suzaku would have no story to explain the caged wolf. He had no idea if he would be let in at all with his cover. A trader from Nippon while there were rumors of the demon running rampant wouldn't be welcome into the city, not unless he wanted to be added to the lists of those waiting for their sentence.

"Next."

Suzaku flinched at the sharp order, waiting until the priest in front of him had pulled his donkey forward to urge Lancelot along. The grey snorted, striding up to the gate. He was probably eager to get home after being gone for two years. Suzaku would have to be careful not to allow Lancelot to take their accustomed path to the stables. He would have to allow them to wander the streets and back allies, like they were lost or taking the obvious route instead of the short cuts he knew.

As it was, the stallion almost walked right through the gates. Suzaku made a harsh noise, that enough to stop the grey. He wanted to reach out and patted Lancelot for responding well, but he couldn't, not while he was under the eye of the guards. Suzaku settled for a nervous smile, fumbling for the thickest accent that he could muster. "Sorry, We are just eager for a place to sleep."

To his relief, the guards started at him in confusion for a moment. Then, one walked up to the side of the wagon, shouting at him like it would make it easier for him to understand them. "Where are you from and where are you bound?"

"Kasagi. It is a small village in Nippon. And I've come here to trade some goods. Saddles mostly." He turned his head as the second guard began to circle the wagon. Suzaku shifted nervously on the bench, flinching as the guard tapped against the wagon. He glanced back towards the first guard, jerking his head in the direction of the gate. "Can I go in?"

The first guard held up a hand. "Later. We have to make sure that no one is trying to sneak in. There's a wanted man about."

"Who?"

Suzaku flinched away as the second guard rapped his knuckles against the side of the wagon. "That's none of your concern."

The man was about to continue the lecture when Lelouch snarled. Suzaku turned around in alarm, barely stopping himself from reaching back and quieting the wolf down. The guards were bound to check the noise, which meant that his disguise would probably be prodded at. There were still too many in Pendragon that knew his face and he would be hauled off as soon as they got a good hold on him. And that was only if he was lucky. Suzaku had no idea what rumors there were about him suddenly being alive again.

He swallowed, and scooted over in his seat as the second guard climbed up. Suzaku was roughly pushed aside as the guard settled down, the man reaching back into the cart and tugging off the blanket that was draped over Lelouch's cage.

Lelouch snarled and lunged at the man, the cage rocking. For a moment, Suzaku was afraid that it would come apart, but it held. Lelouch backed up, curling himself as small as he could get into a corner, still snarling at the man. On his part, the second guard was staring at the wolf in shock. It was the first guard that reacted.

Suzaku jumped at the sound of a sword being drawn, automatically scooting to place himself between Lelouch and the guard. The man didn't seem to notice, his full attention on the one corner of the cage he could see from where he was standing on the ground. "What is that thing?"

"It's a wolf." The second guard spoke up, his own sword out. "A black wolf, just like the one that Jeremiah told us to watch out for."

Suzaku stared at the second guard, barely processing what had been said. He just grabbed onto the chance to explain away the wolf. He swallowed and shifted on his seat. "This is where they want the wolf? The men just said to take it, someone would want it."

"They gave it to you."

"They had more important things to do than worry about a wolf. Something about a demon…." He shrugged. "Anyway, I was told to take the wolf back but sent off before I knew where. There is no city I know of that would just take a wolf, what city would let me?"

The guards looked at each other before nodding. Suzaku relaxed as the second guard clambered down from the cart, returning to his place behind Lancelot. He reached back and tugged the blanket back over the cage, glad that Lelouch quieted down. Suzaku rested his hand on the cage a moment longer than was needed, turning back to look at the first guard. "Am I free to go?"

"The rest is just saddles and blankets, like he said." The second guard came back around, obviously staring at the rest of the line. Behind him, Suzaku could hear C.C. beginning to make a fuss. He hid a smile at the insults that the witch was shouting, almost tempted to linger as long as he could just so the witch could exercise her vitriol on the guards.

He schooled his face into a more acceptable expression as he looked back over at the guards, watching as they conferred. Finally, the first guard looked up and waved him on. "Go on then. Head on up to the castle barracks and keep your cart away from the barn. Someone will come and see you about the wolf."

Suzaku nodded and clucked to Lancelot. The grey didn't need more urging than that, Lancelot trotting through the gate and heading for the castle wall. Suzaku let the horse carry on, only correcting him when they were out of sight of the gate. Lancelot snorted and shook his head, trying to continue up his usual route. Suzaku corrected him with another harsh sound before pulling him over to the side. He wasn't going to wait for C.C, that would look too suspicious. They had already agreed on a meeting place, one close enough to the castle but one that wasn't visited often. They would be able to hide there until the sun rose and it was time to act. It would also give them the chance to figure out what was going on in Avalon.

He stood up, trying to figure out the quickest route through the lower town, the one that wouldn't get him noticed easily. Between the rumors about Lelouch and what was going on in the town would make it easy enough, no one would be out this late. And certainly not when it looked like it could snow.

With his route decided on, Suzaku sat back down. Lancelot took off at an eager trot, probably thinking that he was going back home. Suzaku shook his head, leaning back in the seat as he guided the horse carefully through side streets. They wouldn't be coming back to Avalon again, not any time that he could foresee. He was not about to risk Lelouch's life in another one of his crazy plans.

He slowed Lancelot when the horse's hooves started to echo in the empty streets. He didn't want to announce his presence to the entire castle. It was enough with Lelouch growling in the cart. Suzaku wanted to reach back and comfort the wolf, but Lelouch would be more likely to bite his hand off than accept a pat. Knowing the wolf, Lelouch wanted to be out running and looking for others of his kind. Suzaku was sure that the wolf still remembered the trapper that had tried to kill him, and probably thought that he was in danger again. He just wished that Lelouch would be quiet.

The guards probably wouldn't report the wolf to their superior, or even remember him if C.C. did her job right. Maybe they would tell Jeremiah in the morning, but then it would be too late. But, judging by their manner and the fact that they didn't have the Avalon eagle on their uniform, they probably wouldn't bother. Their lord wouldn't care about a wolf troubling the north, which would leave them in the clear. Suzaku could only hope for that. They didn't need to have to deal with a group of guards coming to try and kill a wolf.

He shook his head, turning Lancelot aside from a road that they had usually used. There was another street, one that ran along the wall. It let out at what used to be a break in the original wall surrounding the castle, the break turned into a gate that had never been kept shut. No one used it except for deliveries, because it led around to the back of where the barracks and castle stables were. It was secret and tucked away, just a small corridor between the walls and the beginning of the back of the storage sheds that were behind the barracks and stables. No one would look for them there before it was too late. And, by the look of the spacing on the walls, they would be in luck. The guards were spaced out far more than usual, meaning that they wouldn't have to fight off too many. Most of the guards must have been on the road.

Lancelot snorted as they entered the small alley, tossing his head at the close quarters. With only a rider, it wouldn't have bothered him, but the horse was already excited about being home and from the smell of the wolf at the back of the cart. Suzaku urged him into a trot, the grey eagerly picking up his pace and making his way to the front of the small alley.

They stopped just before the alley ended, Suzaku slipping from the wagon and leading Lancelot to the back of one of the storage sheds. Like he remembered, there was a series of metal circles set in the walls for tying the horses. He quickly tied Lancelot to one, busying himself with unhitching the horse. He would worry about tacking up Lancelot closer to the morning, or even leaving it to C.C. Suzaku was sure that he wouldn't have the time to help much as soon as the eclipse happened.

Once Lancelot was taken care of, Suzaku shoved the cart over, making room for C.C. and Rivalz when they arrived. With nothing better to do, he slid into the cart and pulled the blanket off of Lelouch's cage.

The wolf snarled and lunged forward, his muzzle slipping through the bars. Suzaku watched as Lelouch snapped at the air, the wolf giving up quickly. Lelouch huffed and retreated to his corner, flipping his tail over his face. Suzaku sighed and rested his arm on the top of the cage, only relaxing when Lelouch didn't move. "Lelouch, you're going to have to stop sulking some time. You're the one who agreed to the plan. Not that you'd remember."

There was no answer from the wolf, and Suzaku supposed that there would be no answer from him for a long while. Lelouch was bound to sulk for obnoxiously long periods of time. At least Lelouch would be more reasonable come sunrise. And he would be infinitely more reasonable once they had killed Calares.

Suzaku looked away from the wolf at the sound of horses approaching. He peeked his head out, prepared to act the part of a lost foreigner. Instead, he got a wave from Rivalz as the man led Gawain and his blue roan mare closer. Suzaku smiled and slid out of the cart, taking the black stallion. "Any problems?"

"Dragging C.C. away." Rivalz looked back over his shoulder toward where C.C. was working with the fussy bay. "She kept shouting at the guards. I thought we were going to end up spending the night in the cells or get killed on the spot. But those guards had no idea what to do either."

"They're not from Avalon, or from any of the other nobles around."

"They're from the archbishop of Pendragon." Suzaku ducked under Gawain's neck to look at Rivalz. The man just shrugged, patting his mare's neck. "I was talking to the priests behind us. The archbishop is only going to remain one more day, and he will be occupied with a mass and confessions. Those are his guards."

"And Calares will be there?"

"He should be. I can't imagine why he wouldn't." Rivalz shrugged, quickly smothering a yawn with his arm.

Suzaku shook his head, taking the mare and nudging Rivalz back towards the cart. The man had to be up at first light with the rest of the initial surge of people that would leave the town. He wanted Rivalz to be in top shape, for fighting or running, Suzaku didn't know which.

He tested the mare's tie, giving her a pat on the neck before he retreated toward the cart himself. After two years of being awake all night, Suzaku didn't think he would be able to sleep at all. He hoped that he had the sense to sleep as an eagle, because he was sure that it would carry over. The excitement of an upcoming fight could probably do wonders, but Suzaku didn't want to depend on that alone. As soon as they were out of Avalon, he was sure to crash, and he needed to be able to ride as long as they could to reach the border. The guards would be shocked by the attack from the inside, but Jeremiah wouldn't remain shocked for long. He would be the one to worry about.

Suzaku trudged toward the cart, listening to the familiar sounds of Avalon. He had missed them, the quiet of the country strange to him after having grown up in the bustling town around the castle. But, as in all things, he had gotten used to the relative quiet of the country and the wide open spaces. He had also gotten used to the solitude, knowing that he could ride on his own for a mile and there was a high chance that he wouldn't see anyone. It was why he wished that he had tamed Lelouch, kept him like a dog for company. Of course, that would have been more noticeable, and Lelouch would have been dead far sooner than that trapper's attempt. A wolf without a fear of humans was a dead wolf.

He paused to drape a blanket over Rivalz, the man already asleep under the cart. Suzaku shook his head and continued around to the front of the cart, curling himself up in the seat. Lelouch growled from behind him, the sound turning into a whine. It was almost enough to get Suzaku to reach back for Lelouch, but he stopped himself. The wolf was still on edge and there was nothing he could do. Lelouch was far beyond reason, and Suzaku would just have to be a familiar presence. Suzaku huffed and hauled a blanket from the back, wrapping himself up against the cold.

His cloak, the blue and gold of the Avalon guard, was bundled up on seat beside him. He hadn't been able to wear it in for fear of being recognized and the same fear kept him from wearing it now. When the time came, he would put it back on, despite it being stained and patched. It wasn't as bold as it had been, but it was recognizable enough, and that would keep any guards at bay for the first few moments that he was spotted. If the eclipse came at all.

Suzaku tipped his head back to stare at the moon and stars, frowning. He knew that there were ways to predict their patterns, but he had never bothered to learn how to. He had been the son of one of the provincial leaders, at least until Genbu had run to Britannia. His education had been training to take over his father's position, and then to become a guard of Avalon. There had been no time for frivolities.

The cart rocked slightly as C.C. clambered up beside him, the witch already wrapped up in her own cloak and blanket. She settled next to him, leaning against his side. Suzaku let her have the closeness, sure that she was just as nervous as he was. Of course, if he asked her, she would just say that she was looking for body heat.

They had found her in the castle of a noble, and going back to one wasn't easy on her. There were always people on the look out for anything that looked like magic, or any stranger that they could turn in for the reward. Suzaku wished that he could say that Avalon wasn't like that, but he only knew what Marianne had done and Avalon had been ready to kill Rivalz for magic when he had none. Instead, he sighed and stared up at the stars. "When will it come?"

"Who knows. But I will try to hold Lelouch back for as long as I can."

"And then?"

"Then the whole plan either works or fails. Either way, we run away from here as fast as we can."

"Kaguya will help us." Suzaku was sure of it. The villages along the border between Nippon and Britannia were always on the look out for fleeing magicians. Cursed or not, they would be willing to take them in for a time just as an insult to Britannia. He had no worries about how they would escape. It was the breaking of the curse that still made him nervous. "But what if the eclipse doesn't come?"

C.C. shot him a look. "Then the curse will not break. I would say that I would have to find you two idiots, but I don't think that Lelouch will just give up so easily. He's going to charge in there no matter what."

"Then I have a favor to ask you." Suzaku pulled a small knife out of his belt. He passed it over to C.C, watching as she examined it in the dim light. "I'm not going to leave Avalon without him and you know that I would just run back here as soon as Rivalz fell asleep. He can't guard me forever and I'm not going to make him. If Lelouch doesn't kill Calares, then I'll come back and finish the job."

"I expected as much." C.C. sighed and tucked the knife away. "You and I are alike, but you're the only one who's hurrying to die. For your sake, boy, I'll make it quick."

He nodded his thanks, sure that C.C. would just ignore him if he spoke. She wasn't happy with his decision, but she had no right to judge him on it. Everything rested on Lelouch now. If he couldn't save his best friend, then there was no reason for him to try and start again somewhere else. He had sworn himself to protect the vi Britannia family, and he would die doing it if he had to.

C.C. tucked the knife away, Suzaku watching as it disappeared into one of the folds of the blanket. Then she turned away from him, nearly pushing him out of the cart as she settled into a comfortable position. "Don't bother me. Some of us have to sleep at night."

Suzaku shook his head, listening to the sounds of her shifting around before she finally went to sleep. When he was sure that she wouldn't be woken up by his movements, Suzaku turned his head to peer into the darkness of the cart. Lelouch had stopped growling, which probably meant that he was curled up in the cage. Suzaku craned his neck, spotting Lancelot's saddle and his own sword near the front of the wagon. The sword was in reach, which meant that he could easily defend them if some guard got curious or the news of the wolf spread faster than expected.

Sure of their safety, Suzaku leaned back in the seat, listening to the quiet shifting of the horses and the sounds of the city at rest.