Chapter thirty-five: Reunited
"They broke the rules," a livid Valkyrie snarled. "They helped him!"
The humans and mobs had gone to the throne room, accompanied by a small group of Valkyries of various ranks. Assured that the Valkyries weren't going to attack, Jack hadn't taken any other weapons. Andr had kept her own weapon however, and so had the Hunters. The two Hunters who'd been hurt were back, apparently healed by the Valkyries.
"That isn't his fault," said another—one who wore a cloak with a few decorative pieces of armor. "The duel was finished honorably. You said it was still in effect when the human struck the Queen down."
"We should keep them imprisoned!"
"We say otherwise," the second Valkyrie patiently said. "With Herskagul's defeat, they've been granted a pardon. I cannot necessarily say the same for all the Valkyries who chose to follow her." She glanced at Skotur, who sat nearby, gaze unreadable as ever. From what Jack could tell, she didn't seem torn up about Herskagul's death.
It had been two days since the fight against Herskagul. The humans and mobs had slept in a cave outside the Sanctuary, with Andr guarding them. Meanwhile, Herskagul's former followers had contacted the Valkyries in Brexul. Herskagul's death had left the Sanctuary leaderless, and apparently their protocol was to fix their broken Order by reconnecting with the others. The Valkyrie in the cloak—an ambassador who had come all the way from Brexul—was apparently the highest in rank now, giving her full authority until the next Valkyrie High Queen was born.
"Would the Sun Sect accept that?" demanded another Valkyrie.
"They've got no say in this matter. But, speaking of the Sun Sect, we've decided that your device is to be torn down, and the artefact kept in the Sect's care." She turned to Raulyn, who stood at the front of the mobs and Hunters. "Captain Raulyn, was it? I advise you don't seek contact with us again for now; you attacking the Sanctuary has earned you some enemies here, despite the circumstances."
"I understand," Raulyn said.
She looked at him. "Perhaps we will be willing to work with humans in the future," she said slowly. "But that's a long way from where we are now."
"One day, perhaps," Raulyn said. "For now, we are thankful for the pardon you have granted us."
"What about Brigul?" Jack interjected. "You going to let her off the hook?"
All eyes turned to him.
"That…" the ambassador said. "Is yet to be decided."
Jack huffed. "What is there to be decided?! She gave up everything to try to keep that artefact out of Herskagul's hands!"
"She betrayed her Queen," the ambassador said sharply. "No matter her intentions, such signs of disloyalty can't be ignored. She'll be just as likely to turn against us."
"Bullshit…"
"Jack…" Raulyn said.
Jack glared at him. He was about to retort when Andr gently grabbed his shoulder. Jack hesitated.
"Can we go?" Andr asked softly to the Valkyries. "You said we've been pardoned, so…"
Raulyn turned to the ambassador. "You will ensure Karthuul remains dormant?"
"Yes," she said.
"Then our business here is concluded."
They bade their farewells, and two Valkyries led the group to the Sanctuary's entrance. Jack trudged along with a bitter huff. Herskagul would still be alive now, were it not for Brigul.
They stepped outside onto the Cloud, and Andr teleported him and the others to the island below. The two Valkyries followed. They'd stay with them until the portal. They were probably to be trusted, given that they'd accompanied the ambassador…
"I see you have returned."
Jack started and turned to see a man sitting on a log.
"Tristan," Raulyn said, surprised.
Tristan glanced at him. "Hello, Raulyn. It has been a while." He stood. "I have told Brigul of your endeavors. She had difficulty believing that a human was able to kill the Queen."
"I had some help," Jack muttered.
"Her surprise was gone the moment I told her that."
"Of course it was." Jack fell silent. "You're not going to bail her out, are you…"
His eyes turned serious. "You know that I cannot. She will likely be kept imprisoned for years to come, and her loyalty tested until the Valkyries are satisfied."
Jack sighed.
"Do not worry; with Herskagul dead and the device being disassembled, Brigul has made peace with her future. She wishes you well. She even suggested you become an Honorary member of the Valkyrie Order."
"Ha, no. That's too much."
"I suspected you would say that." He paused. "Still, for her to make that recommendation, I think you earned some kind of respect from her."
Respect from Brigul? That was something. "What about Karthuul?"
"He will not appear soon…but some of the effects of Herskagul's plans remain active. The days are too long, still."
"Will destroying the device fix that?"
"It needs more than that to undo the damage done. If given time, balance may be restored. Then we have only the Blight to worry about."
That was the one drawback; this Blight would grow back to full strength. Herskagul's plan may have been insane, but she had had a point in some way. Jack sighed quietly. He'd fought Herskagul mainly to help Brigul, but now he was actually starting to wonder if he'd gone too far. Had he interfered with things he didn't know anything about?
Tristan turned to Raulyn. "I assume Karles has told you the truth?"
Raulyn glanced to the two Valkyries that escorted them. "Yes," he finally said. "Yes, he has."
"Good. And I see you have made some new friends." He nodded to the mobs.
Raulyn hesitated. "A…necessary alliance."
"You may wish to make it a permanent one. It may just be the start of a peace."
Jack started at those words. A peace.
A peace between humans and mobs.
Seemed they were fulfilling the rest of Herobrine's plan after all.
"I…assume Drake is not here?" Raulyn asked.
Tristan shook his head. "No. It is for the best. After I turned against him, he became…angry."
"You are not the one to blame," Raulyn said quietly.
"Drake and I are both to blame," Tristan said. "No one else. We made our choices. I made mine because of what Karles told you."
Raulyn glanced towards Jack. A silence fell.
"Very well," the captain finally said. "I suppose…this is the end of that, then."
"I suppose it is."
Raulyn nodded. "It was good to see you again, Tristan."
"Likewise. Perhaps we will meet again, someday."
They both gave a nod. Then Tristan disappeared.
Jack turned to Andr. Over the past days, he'd almost grown used to seeing the masses of dried blood on her clothes, face and disheveled hair. She'd been so determined to watch over him and the others that she hadn't taken the time to wash herself. Her old meek personality had partly resurfaced though, and she seemed to be getting more and more horrified by what she'd done in the Sanctuary.
She teleported them all to the portal.