Author's Notes:

Ethan Kironus- Balthus! Yay! With regards to the state of Faerghus, the most insight we've gotten is from Caspar at the end of Chapter 23. Check it out of you're interested. Thanks for reviewing!

Chapter 51

Day 2 of Wyvern Moon, Year 1172 (Fódlan Calendar)

Prince James sat on a dusty floor across from a girl named Theodora as the pair played knucklebones. They were in a poorly furnished house illuminated only by a set of candles since the windows were all covered. A group of adults conversed in low voices from the corner of the room. James tried to play along for Theodora's sake, but he was far more interested in the discussion than the game.

"They say Elamite forces have already entered the northern half of the city. Still unwilling to face reality, Phillip?" one of the men said.

Phillip was a haggard man in his fifties that acted as their leader. He replied, "Of course they entered! We should be grateful. The Elamites are here to take command of the operation from the Sentinels. Once they do, they'll lower the boil enough for us to restart honest dialogue."

"Absurd," a woman scoffed. "His Majesty already rebuffed our grievances with prejudice. They aren't here to help us. They're here because they called our bluff."

The first man agreed, "Marcella is right, Phillip. You said the exact same thing about the regent. Philemon didn't care about helping us, and neither does the king. The best thing we can do is return the prince immediately and pray that kindles some mercy. What are your thoughts, Emmelia?"

Emmelia answered softly, "I don't think we can justify holding him any longer. It didn't work, Phillip. Just look at the poor boy…"

James's eyes swung back to the game before they realized he was watching. Theodora knew he was distracted but said nothing. She seemed to be making an intentional effort to only think of the game rather than worry about what was going on outside.

James was of course aware of brewing turmoil between the Sentinels and a group called the Dékhomai, but his tutors and other Meteoran officials had consistently downplayed the risk posed by the situation. The prince was thus entirely unprepared when he and a group of retainers were swarmed during an ordinary visit to the markets of Metanoiapolis. Violence broke out, and his handlers were all either killed or incapacitated while he was taken away as captive. Knowing very little about the Dékhomai, he expected to soon meet his end.

However, the Dékhomai had all treated him well, even if their circumstances left many comforts unprovided. He was no longer scared of them, but he remained baffled and overwhelmed by the world he found himself thrust into. James was losing track of time, but he believed he had been their captive for about a week.

Knucklebones shot into the air when the main door swung open without warning and three people pilled inside. One woman was limping, while a man cradled another woman in his arms. Everyone cleared space as he rushed to set the body on the table.

"It's bad, but she's still alive! I could feel her breathing on the way here! Please, jus-."

"Gracian… she's gone," Marcella said gently.

There was a bit more arguing before Gracian slumped into a chair. "… We were careful that no one followed us. We took several detours and made sure to not leave any blood."

Gracian indeed seemed to have kept the blood securely off the ground, as his stained shirt glowed in the candlelight.

"Where were you at?" Phillip asked.

The woman with Gracian explained as she healed her own leg, "Atticus's safehouse. Gordius and Comito came to check on us, but they must have been followed. Troops soon barged in and interrogated us about where they could find more. We didn't say anything. I managed to cast as a spell as a distraction, but most of us didn't make it out."

"Even Comito and Gordius?"

"… They're gone," Gracian answered in a low voice.

The adults all glanced towards the children. "Oh, Theodora…" one of the women muttered. She quickly moved to Theodora's side and said, "I think it's about time for bed, wouldn't you say? Come on, Theo, follow me."

"You were talking about my parents. Where are they, auntie?" Theodora asked after listening just close enough to recognize their names.

The woman offered a fake smile. "At another house, dear. They're… safe now."

Theodora was taken to the other room, but James was not sent to bed with her as usual. It seemed the debate about his future was not yet settled.

"Who raided the house? Just Sentinels?" Marcella asked.

Gracian shook his head. "No. They were paired up with Elamite troops. I know no one wants to hear that, but there's no question that's what we saw."

As Phillip buried his head into his hands, Emmelia told him, "We have to let Prince James go. What if this house is also raided and the prince is caught up in the fighting?"

"I know, I know!" Phillip exclaimed in frustration as he realized everyone was against him. "It's not safe for direct negotiation… not after what happened last time we tried. We'll just have to release him and hope for pity. This was my idea, so I'll see it done."

The woman shook her head. "No, you'll be too recognizable. I can do it more discreetly. Don't worry about me."

"Okay, Emmelia. Just be safe… for both your sakes."

As someone wrote a letter for James to carry that explained their actions, Emmelia knelt beside the prince. She was a kindly young woman with wavy hair and a gentle smile. She soothed, "Your Highness… I need you to be brave, okay? I'll have to cover your eyes, and I need to trust that you won't shout for help until I'm gone. Can you do that for me?"

James nodded.

Emmelia smiled tenderly. "Thank you. Let me help you up."

While Emmelia searched for something to cover his eyes, the prince approached the table to get a closer look at the body. He was unprepared when he discovered that the right side of the deceased woman's face was freshly scarred by what appeared to be a hot brand. The wound was in the shape of iconography associated with the Sentinels.

"W-what happened to her?" the prince asked in shock.

While a pair of others covered the body with a sheet, Gracian crossed his arms and shook his head. "Method of torture during their 'interrogation.' Also a way to keep us forever marked as apostates if we manage to escape. Some of us have the same mark on our chests- a reprimand back before things got worse. But… you really shouldn't see something like this, Your Highness."

James looked to the floor and mumbled, "Maybe it's exactly what I need to see…"

Emmelia soon returned with the blindfold, and someone slipped the letter into his coat. He was given several apologies before being led out into the street. It was late, and the city was almost completely quiet. James put each turn to memory despite the blindfold, but he did not plan on sharing that knowledge with anyone.

While she held his hand, Emmelia said softly, "I'm so sorry for everything you've been put through. None of us expect forgiveness, but I hope you'll at least understand why we reached a point of such desperation." She sighed loudly. "You have good reason to hate us … but the Sentinels? We're Meteorans. We follow Nabataea. We're set apart by only one harmless theological dispute, but they consider even that unforgivable enmity against the Goddess. If we can't even love our own brothers and sisters, what hope is there for us as a people?"

James frowned as he pondered this. He did not hate any of the Dékhomai. He only hated the sort of person who could justify branding the face of their neighbor. The Dékhomai were healers… physicians with skill that he could not even comprehend. The Sentinels knew nothing but inflicting pain and death.

He remained silent, however, until Emmelia freed his eyes. They stood before a major thoroughfare of Metanoiapolis. The woman told him, "Follow this road to the left and continue straight. You'll find the palace without issue. … Goodbye, little prince. You seem to have a good heart, and I know you'll be a wise leader for Almyra someday."

James kept his head low and began walking in the indicated direction. However, he suddenly stopped and turned around. He announced, "You deserve a place here in Almyra. The Sentinels do not. … I'll make sure they pay."

Emmelia smiled a bit uncertainly. "Violence is not the way of Nabataea, Your Highness. We avoid it whenever we can. But… thank you. I hope you remember us."

James was soon alone as he ambled towards the palace, the weight of each footstep ringing clearly in his ears. He never saw himself as a leader or mover compared to his brothers, but even he could make himself heard in the silence. A city that slept and dined in silence, either unknowing or unwilling to address the atrocities being carried out in its own streets.

"I don't really care about what their Nabataea thinks…" he muttered to himself.

Interlude: The Surgeon of Almyra - Day 7 of the Verdant Rain Moon, Year 1187 (Fódlan Calendar)

James sat deep in thought in the royal majlis of Istakhr Citadel while waiting for his cup of coffee to cool. The majlis was a pleasant area where members of the royal family and important guests could mingle outside of their private chambers without proceeding down to public spaces.

There were a few attendants in the room, but James was alone for all intents and purposes. Such was the life before him.

Juliana was a kind presence, but she still carried herself more like a prisoner than as his betrothed.

Issachar and Amin were dead. Theodora was presumably remained in Khalid's custody.

His mother was from the Mikdash, and despite the Attali family's relative wealth, no one ever forgot its background. The Mikdash did not face active persecution like the Dékhomai had, but its residents were consistently marginalized by the greater Almyran society. Hopefully perspectives would evolve once James was king, but for the time being, his mother could not be a visible part of his life. It was still too important that he kept his hands of any perceived mud.

Shahid was dead, as were the sisters James barely remembered. Khalid and Abbas… well… the news of their betrayal had shattered any hopes of a satisfactory conclusion for the war.

James often spent time with his brothers in the majlis while the king and queen were in important meetings. Such occasions were usually unpleasant when they were all grouped together, but he had worthwhile memories with both Abbas and Khalid separately. It was a cruel irony that the first time those two brothers managed to work in unison was towards an utterly misguided ambition.

Then there was the issue of his father. King Faruq would have no viable alternatives to name as heir once Khalid and Abbas were dead, but he would never forgive James on a personal level for crushing the rebellion behind his back. Their relationship was effectively over.

All of it could have been avoided had Khalid just stopped and accepted the final chapter to the war James had handed to him. Khalid simply never knew when to stop, though. His ceaseless search for answers had been valuable on many occasions, but this time it would cost them everything.

If we can't even love our own brothers and sisters, what hope is there for us as a people?

Those words haunted James often. He was so close to having the power to finally right that wrong, but in the process, he now found himself standing at odds with his biological brothers.

James was still unsure what to expect from Khalid. Khalid's list of accusations against his older brother obviously desired some kind of uprising, but while it likely instilled some doubt over James's actions, no serious opposition other than the rebel army arose in the aftermath. Sardar Lydia journeyed to Istakhr to show her support, as did General Narses of Meteora. Narses came with a wyvern outfit while the rest of the Meteoran army prepared to march.

The proclamation gave very few specifics of what Khalid planned next, so all James had for context was the movements of the rogue army. Khalid's forces had passed through Khoy during their march towards Istakhr after a brief but successful negotiation with the local garrison. The rebel army restocked on dwindling food rations and, in return, agreed to leave peacefully without requesting a surrender or confiscating any weapons. It was the last good prospect for Khalid to collect artillery without a fight, so forgoing the opportunity suggested that Khalid knew that he had minimal time to grasp victory and did not want to be slowed down.

Notably, residents of Khoy claimed that mercenaries from Fódlan were among the dissidents. Some of James's officers doubted that either side could ever agree to work together, but the crown prince fully trusted that the rumors were accurate. Khalid would absolutely attempt such an alliance, and he was capable of charming others into following him when he felt like it. The partnership with Brigid was perhaps Khalid's first step towards preparing his army for such an idea. It was a clever move that had produced results… at least for the moment.

James did not notice that someone was standing in front of him until Juliana placed a hand over her heart and greeted, "Good morning, James."

It took James almost a month to get Juliana to stop calling him "Your Highness", and there was plenty more work to be done. He understood it was not the life Juliana wanted, and she had undergone a deeply traumatic experience. Still… he wished to see her happy.

"Good morning, Juliana. I hope you slept well. Please… sit with me," James requested as he motioned someone to bring another cup. He poured out some coffee for her as she sat across from him.

"You'll forgive me when I say sleep doesn't come easy right now," Juliana admitted. "Are they still expecting Prince Khalid's army to arrive here today?"

"Last I heard, yes. Likely within the next few hours. Khalid will request a parley, so there's no immediate danger. I am still confident we can keep you completely safe regardless of its results, but it's not too late for you to evacuate."

Juliana shook her head. "No… as sardar of Meteora, I have a duty to see this through."

James was quite torn over what was the best choice for her. On one hand, he did not want Juliana in any danger, nor did he want her subjected to whatever manipulations Khalid might have in store. However, he needed the suppression of Khalid's rebellion to appear as the combined effort of the legitimate government rather than an even quarrel between brothers. Evacuating prominent figures would also inform the public that James did not have firm command over the crisis. He ultimately relinquished control of the decision, and everyone had chosen to stay.

Juliana's decision was likely influenced in part by Sardar Lydia, who was quite adamant that she remain and better understand Khalid's intentions. Lydia and Juliana had immediately grown close since meeting in Istakhr. It was easy to understand why. Both were recently thrust into the same role after losing the last of their family. They were also close in age- Juliana was several years older, but this was offset by Lydia's bolder personality. James did not love the fact that Juliana now trusted Lydia over him, but he understood that she needed a friend completely divorced of the drama that unfolded in Metanoiapolis. The sardars now representing a pair also helped mitigate the fact that Lydia would otherwise prefer Khalid over James.

It was not long afterwards that he and Juliana were joined by the sardar of Shomal for coffee. His betrothed's face brightened some to see Lydia. Lydia similarly inquired about the status and location of the rebel army, but she moved on and tried lightening the mood some after that. James was too distracted to pay much attention, but he admired her efforts. It could not have been easy given the circumstances.

Whatever levity Lydia injected promptly vacated the room when Grand Vizier Izemrasen and Kamran al-Bazargan entered together. Kamran had tainted the war effort with his presence for quite some time, but Izemrasen became a new addition after Soraya's death. The grand vizier presumably worried that Lydia might be less predictable than her mother and needed extra supervision. His fears seemed mostly unfounded. Though she greeted them with as much joy as James did whenever his father said it was time to get dragged around by a horse again, Lydia usually deferred to the advice of the council. The only significant disagreement was her decision to journey to Istakhr, but even then she had the full support of both James and Senusret.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, and… Your Highness," Izemrasen greeted awkwardly with a bow.

"Good morning to both of you," James said in return. He then asked Juliana and Lydia, "Are you fine with them joining us?"

"Yes, of course," Lydia lied while Juliana nodded weakly. James did not particularly enjoy their company, either, but it always prudent to keep loyalists happy.

James explained the latest update for the third time as he poured coffee for the new guests.

"As tragic as this is, at least we no longer need to be polite regarding Prince Khalid," Izemrasen observed. "He was always too volatile to be king. He's responsible for the death of my son, and now he may well take my daughter down with him."

"I'm afraid you may be right," Kamran agreed. "I spent several months working with him closely. I did my best to cooperate with Khalid, but how anyone could ever support him over Prince James is beyond my comprehension. He reaffirmed every bad thing I ever heard about him."

Lydia finally spoke up, "I know you're worried about your son, but Prince Khalid did save Farjad's life back at Sous River. Surely that merits a little bit of appreciation…"

Kamran shook his head. "Your Highness… Khalid told me himself- such events happen all the time on the battlefield. Besides, he probably recognized my son as someone he could easily manipulate. Farjad should be at home working a respectable practice. Instead, he's marching to his doom."

Kamran's tone was strikingly different from James's memory of the conversation between him and Khalid back in Astane. The council members were all predictably fraudulent.

Lydia did not seem pleased with the response, causing Izemrasen to ask, "You… aren't reconsidering your support, are you, Your Highness? Your mother entrusted Shomal to our care, and it is in her honor that we strive to aid you in the same way we aided her. We only want what's best for you, and that is here with Prince James."

"I-I still stand with His Majesty and the truth, of course. But… I think we should at least listen to what Khalid has to say. Don't believe everything you've heard about him. He was always kind to me, and my mother always maintained that he was a victim of mistreatment and accusations that were mixtures of falsehoods and exaggerations… even from members of his own family," Lydia muttered. Her eyes widened as she clarified, "By that I primarily mean Prince Abbas. I meant no offense, Your Highness."

James nodded. "It's alright. You are correct- Abbas did abuse him. And yet… Khalid has now partnered with both him and Darius. That should tell you that Khalid is not challenging us over principles. It's about his ambitions and him utilizing anyone and anything he can find to realize them." He turned to Kamran and said, "I fully understand that Farjad is a victim of Khalid's manipulations. If we are able to capture your son alive, I promise you that he will be freed without punishment. You have my word, Kamran."

Kamran bowed his head graciously, but Lydia was clearly still torn by the castigation of her old friend. Juliana noticed this and pulled on her sleeve. The elder sardar told Lydia gently, "I could use some fresh air… would you like to join me?"

Lydia nodded thankfully, and the two women left the men to speak alone.

"I'm concerned about how equally matched our armies are," Kamran admitted once they were gone. "Is there no hope of reinforcements other than the Meteoran army?"

"Not from Elam. We've already recalled about ninety percent of our troops here, leaving only enough to put up some resistance should Khalid try to pillage any other cities for supplies. If you're asking me this, then I assume Shomal has nothing to offer, either."

The only other place to seek help would have been the Tabarzin. There were other communities in the western territories besides the Mirza's Citadel, and some of its smaller cities had garrisons operated by local nobles and retired generals. They had been loyal to Ghalib and Darius, but some of them possibly could have been swayed to James's side. Khalid and Darius's purported new alliance with Fódlan was surely unpopular. James ultimately decided not to reach out, however. Khalid had already bypassed them, and the humiliation of getting publicly turned down outweighed the value of adding a few banners that would likely arrive too late to help, anyways.

"It's too dangerous for Sardar Lydia to remain here, even with the defender's advantage. I blame Senusret for pressuring her into it. I'm not sure what he's trying to get at," Izemrasen complained.

James set his coffee cup down more harshly than intended and pointed out, "You've both complained to me about Senusret multiple times, and yet he's still in charge of your army."

James privately shared their concerns over Senusret's loyalties. He was close with many of the generals among Khalid's rebels, and he had gotten to know the youngest prince quite well during their time together at sea. However, Soraya allegedly reaffirmed his command of the Shomali army in her final minutes, and Lydia was insistent that her mother's request was honored.

Kamran argued, "The sardar won't change her mind on this, and we need to maintain the illusion that she still has some measure of power here. If Senusret is to be removed, it needs to be done under your authority, Your Highness."

James declined, "I'm sorry, but me interfering with Shomali leadership would set a bad precedent, especially when we have no evidence of wrongdoing on his part. I've kept close eyes on him since his return, but there's nothing to work with."

Their conversation was cut short when Senusret himself appeared in the doorway and awaited their attention. If Senusret had overheard their conversation, he chose to pretend otherwise. The army commanders that fell beneath the Almyran gentry such as Senusret, Narses, and Sarina did not use the majlis for leisure, so his presence implied an important update.

"Your Highness… they're almost here," Senusret announced.

The room hushed under the weight of the words. James gathered his wits first and replied, "Thank you. Find Sarina and Narses and get them ready for a parley. We'll be down there soon."

As Senusret bowed and exited, James turned to Izemrasen and Kamran to tell them, "I'll inform the sardars. It will take time to get everything in place, so don't feel the need to rush your coffee."

The two men said their thanks, so James stood, stretched his legs, and proceeded to the staircase. The floor directly below contained one of the most essential rooms of citadel. It paled in comparison to the Dunya's throne room, but a divan sat at the far end so kings and queens could still receive guests while in Istakhr during peacetime. During battle, however, the room was well-equipped to transition a headquarters for the army's leadership. It included a triplet of balconies from which flags and instruments could be readily used for rapid communication across the complex. As James expected, Lydia and Juliana were standing together on one of them. He did not need to share Senusret's news, as they were already watching the approaching forces. Despite its diverse composition, Khalid's army was of formidable size and cohesion.

"I remember overhearing cannons and siege equipment during the siege of Astane, but it never felt this real," Lydia said aloud once James joined them.

Juliana muttered, "I wish I could say the same…"

James nodded. "We'll all be up here together if it comes to a battle. It will be plenty safe. Even if we find a better way to settle this, though, parleying with them will be a draining experience. I've attended several during this war, but I had no particular affinity to most of the people on the other side. This… will be different." He turned to Lydia and said, "I'm sorry if what Izemrasen and Kamran said about Khalid was uncomfortable for you. It was for me, too. Khalid means well… he just has his ideas of what he wants Almyra to look like, and he won't accept anything less. I'm not so much angry with him as I am heartbroken."

Juliana overcame her timidity to put a hand on her betrothed's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, James. I can't even say my brother meant all that well, but… it still wasn't easy. No matter what happens, we'll find a way through it together."

"I'm… really glad to hear you say," James replied with a genuine smile.

Another twenty minutes passed before Khalid's forces reached their destination and began to set up camp. The rebels swiftly hoisted a flag to request a parley, so the gate to the citadel was raised in acknowledgement. Once all participants were gathered, James led his entourage into the rolling hills of grass beyond the walls.

Istakhr Citadel was built into the southern rim of the curtain walls surrounding the capital. Sentries were posted along the entire circumference of the city, but Khalid's choice of camp made it clear that only James's stronghold was being targeted. Even so, James had already ordered some of the nearest neighborhoods to be evacuated for good measure. The Custodian of Istakhr, Noora al-Hakimi, promised to oversee any other evacuations should the battle overflow into the city.

Curious civilians had convinced some of the local guards to let them atop the bulwarks to spectate. James felt it was a bit pointless to stand under the glaring hot sun that long to watch a conversation they had no chance at actually hearing, but he did not order them to be stopped.

James and his companions were all solemn as they marched towards the white flag and the renegades waiting underneath it. Most of the opposing attendees were predicted, including Khalid, Abbas, Dimitri, and the leading commanders of Saba, the Tabarzin, and the rebelling Elamites. The only surprises were Farjad and a man James did not recognize, though it was easy to make sense of their presence.

"I'd say we could skip introductions, but it appears the rumors of Fódlan mercenaries joining the rebels are true. What is your name?" James asked the newcomer once everyone was gathered.

"Balthus von Albrecht, Fódlan's King of Grappling," the man said with a smile. "And I'm assuming you're James, Almyra's King of Lies?"

James almost smiled. "I see why you get along with my brother. You both have a predisposition for the outrageous." He looked at the generals before him. "It goes without saying that all of you have committed treason. If you felt compelled to follow Khalid against your will, now would be the time to step over to our side."

Khalid's subordinates exchanged very quick glances, but there was no real interest in the offer.

"Not even you, Abbas? Do you mean to tell me your convictions lie with Khalid now?" James queried. Abbas looked away but remained quiet.

Kamran used the silence to ask his son, "Farjad… what are you doing here? Have they made you some kind of commander?"

"Something like that. Trust me, I'm almost as surprised as you are," Farjad admitted.

"Come on… come over here. Enough of this," his father said as he held out his hand. James found it unusually tender for the man, especially considering his tendency to avoid physical contact.

Farjad looked almost tempted by Kamran's tone, but he eventually replied, "I've made my choice, father. I've been doing so for a long time now."

Kamran's eyes closed in frustration as he withdrew his hand limply. Izemrasen then requested, "And where is Satiah? I want to see my daughter."

"She made it clear that she has no interest in seeing you, grand vizier. Simple as that," Nousha quickly answered. She pivoted by pointing to Sarina and observing, "I guess they made you grand agha since Demetrius and I are apparently traitors?"

Sarina shrugged. "Acting grand agha, that is."

"Hmm. That can be a bit of a dead-end job. Just ask Demetrius. He spent the better part of the last year and a half there without ever landing the real thing," Nousha said with cheeky smirk.

Nousha was likely correct in this case. James offered Sarina the position since she was well-regarded by the loyal faction that returned from the Tabarzin and because there was a dearth of higher leadership due to war losses and betrayals. However, Sarina was not as qualified for the position as James would have liked. If Nousha or Demetrius survived the war, the king's heir would potentially offer one of them clemency and the title should they demonstrate remorse.

James sighed. "Speaking of Demetrius… I expected the rest, but I actually hoped for better from you. My father looked past your reputation and gave you an army. He trusted you to do the right thing. And yet, you now lead that army against his chosen heir."

"The same chosen heir that apparently refuses to inform the king of what is happening here?" Demetrius scoffed.

James was unsure how Demetrius even discovered that, but he replied, "The heir trying to not to break his father's heart while he's fighting for his life, yes. It's an uncomfortable position to be in, but it's for the best. I hope you can see things the same way."

Abbas's face scrunched in a visceral reaction to James's comment. Had they not actually heard about that choice? Perhaps Khalid or someone else had deduced James's intentions, and Demetrius was fishing for confirmation.

Demetrius smiled grimly. "Yeah… that's the thing, Your Highness. I don't much like it when people tell me I need to set aside what I believe is right and true for the 'greater good.'"

"And how many lives are you willing to sacrifice for that?" Narses asked the fellow Meteoran.

"Not one more than is necessary to see Prince James removed from power. And… unfortunately… not one less, either."

Lydia shuddered at the reminders of possible bloodshed. She finally asked with downcast eyes, "Khalid… why… why did you ally yourself with Darius? How am I supposed to believe you when you're willing to do something like that?"

Darius was about to speak up, likely to apologize, but Khalid motioned for him to stop. Khalid told the young sardar, "I can't apologize enough for what happened to your mother, Lydia. We tried hard to save her; we really did. Dimitri carried her on his back for half a mile through a burning forest and it still wasn't enough. Yes, Darius was responsible for that attack. However… and I know your grief doesn't want you to hear this… but Darius was only fighting for what he believed to be true. So was I, and Dimitri, and yes… even your mother. We were all wrong, so in a sense, we all bear some guilt for what happened. Sardar Soraya was just unfortunate enough to be the unintended victim. But if you're looking for someone to offer your anger, direct it towards the man responsible for the mess we're all in. That would be the prince standing on your side of the field."

Lydia only stared at the ground.

Khalid did not give up. He entreated passionately, "You know I would never do anything to insult your mother's memory, right? I thought the world of her. Do you remember the time we-."

"That's enough, Khalid," Kamran interrupted. "An appeal to emotions has no place here."

Khalid looked ready to continue anyways, but Lydia shook her head and said, "Sidi Kamran is right. I… came here for truth, not reminders of happier days."

As much as James hated Soraya's council, they did have their uses. He silently exhaled in relief that he did not have to interfere and play the role of an inimical moderator.

After his brother backed down, James announced, "If you want truth, I wouldn't look to Khalid. I received a new report just before meeting with all of you. Khalid… is it true that your humble retainer Dimitri has, in fact, been a prince of Fódlan from the very beginning? Seems like a small detail you overlooked sharing with us."

The "report" did not actually exist, for James actually pieced together Dimitri's heritage all the way back in the Channel of Eirene. Khalid's second retainer possessed unnatural strength and a unique lance. Suspecting that Dimitri was more important than was let on, James asked Helladius during his interrogation if there was anyone of rank in Fódlan named 'Dimitri.' Helladius said there had been a prince with that name but that the famous Dimitri was dead. James knew it was no coincidence. However, exposing Dimitri as a prince and Khalid as a liar would have been remarkably detrimental at the time. After the embarrassment of confessing that King Faruq was not being informed of the coup, however, James was ready to return the favor.

The reveal resulted in a flurry of questions with Dimitri eventually summarizing, "Yes, I am a prince. Khalid and I kept this secret to avoid any instability in Fódlan should the news of my survival reach there, as well as to keep an additional target off my back. Simply deceiving all of you was certainly not the intent. I willingly revealed my heritage to my allies here, and the rest of you would have been told in due time."

Just as James had expected- Dimitri's background had been necessarily uncovered after connecting with new allies in Fódlan that might recognize him. Khalid and the others now likely feared that someone had leaked the information to James. With any luck, that paranoia could create a consequential divide.

After a moment of silence, Grand Vizier Izemrasen declared, "Say what you will, but this still damages your credibility, Prince Khalid… not that anyone of importance believed your accusations to begin with. You stand against the legitimate representatives of Elam, Shomal, and Meteora. What do you have? Some dregs from Saba that didn't care about this war until it benefited them and a few friends from Fódlan? There isn't even a comparison."

An insulted Ridwan fired back, "High talk for a noble who hid at home until he started worrying that the new sardar might actually make some decisions of her own. You and the other vultures on your council have no purpose here."

James, Senusret, and Dimitri had to calm both sides as insults were rapidly exchanged. It was Juliana who finally asked quietly, "Is there no way to resolve this peacefully?"

"A fine suggestion, Sardar Juliana," Khalid cheered. "I'd like to think that's still possible, which is why we bothered to bring the white flag. The best option would be for James to exonerate himself of my accusations. We'd like to enter the citadel and search his possessions for any possible evidence regarding the attack in the Mikdash. A lack of evidence does not necessarily imply his innocence, of course, but it does change the equation for us."

James's companions immediately began to whisper their opinions all at once, prompting him to request a pause so they could privately converse in an organized manner.

"He's a traitor. Granting such a request would look weak, and he's sure to spin something he finds as 'evidence' in spite of all logic," Izemrasen argued.

Senusret dissented, "He could try, but his generals are intelligent enough to realize what he's doing. Many of them still care about the truth. Leaving without any evidence will weaken his bargaining position. We should agree, Your Highness."

Senusret's argument would have been sound in different circumstances. However, there were a few items that James would rather not be discovered. He would have considered disposing of them earlier, but because the citadel was fully staffed and at high alert, they were safer left in their current location. Anything dumped elsewhere could be found, and he did not want to be asked any questions while moving materials.

Narses pointed out, "Allowing them inside would give them too much intelligence about our strategies- number and position of troops, new defensive fortifications, and so forth."

"That's my concern as well. I also wouldn't put it past Khalid to leave some kind of trap behind for us," James decided, needing a reasonable excuse. They turned back around in unison when no one disagreed.

"… Request denied, Khalid," James answered simply.

"I thought you might say that," Khalid said with subtle disappointment. He brightened again as he held up a pile of pages. "Thankfully, we brought an alternative. We've put together a list of demands that, if met, would be enough for us to drop our accusations against Prince James as well as any other objections against his nomination."

Khalid was met with distrust as he handed out the lists, shortly followed by perplexity when most of the attendees were not offered anything.

"Where are the rest of the copies?" Kamran asked as he powerlessly held out a hand.

"Oh! Yeah… about that…" Khalid eased with a smile. "I only wrote up enough for the people that really matter- Prince James, Sardar Lydia, and Sardar Juliana. If you wish to know the details, you may ask for them from your liege."

"This is… long," Sarina stated accurately as she watched James flip through the pages. "A lot longer than the one I gave you."

"Hence why I only provided three copies. I don't have that much patience… or parchment. It's enough for the decision makers, anyways."

"Pardons for your entire army… guarantees that their posts will not be interfered with for at least five years… these seem reasonable," Senusret observed as Lydia allowed him to read.

"It gets worse the further you go," Izemrasen complained. "What even are some of these requests? You want James's old quarters at the Dunya Palace turned into your personal library?"

"Sounds like you read it correctly," Khalid confirmed. "Ariella has been complaining that will be impossible to keep my sitting room tidy if I try cramming any more books on my shelves. If you think I'm being annoying about the whole 'who started the war' thing, try standing between Ariella and a clean room. You'll find the former much preferable."

Kamran looked unable to believe what he was reading. "That's not even the worst one. Abbas wants his favorite bathhouse in Istakhr named after him? Balthus wants a crate with all varieties of Almyran liquor? Engy wants a few of our steppe camels to bring back to Saba as pets? And a special facility to house them, too?"

Dimitri explained on their behalf, "We recorded the requests of everyone in the army without casting judgment on which ones were plausible or not. We chose to leave that delineation to your discernment."

"It will take hours to review them all, though," Narses griped.

"Then we can talk about them again tomorrow. Prince James and the two sardars shouldn't be rushing into such important decisions anyways, right? We all want unambiguous closure for this war," Nousha pointed out.

James had read enough. He looked back up and asked, "Khalid… can we talk alone for a minute?"

Khalid nodded and told the others, "I recommend that the rest of you figure out a schedule for when to meet again. Try not to strangle each other while we aren't looking, alright? You'll have your choice of being reprimanded by either Dimitri or Balthus."

As the two brothers strolled along the field together, James watched Khalid from the corner of his eye. Khalid had presented his standard smile and flippant attitude to the larger crowd, but he clearly recognized that there was no point putting on a show for his older brother.

"How are you feeling? Angry? Confused?" James asked.

"Hah… a little of everything, James," Khalid answered honestly. "You do realize you started a war and got our father paralyzed, right? And you knew all those peasants you hired to do it would die on your behalf."

The brave individuals who sacrificed themselves for the raid's success did it not just for the money, but also with the hope that a son of the Mikdash would soon sit upon the throne and usher in a new era. Still… James could almost feel the cold hands of the dead reaching up and grasping his heart upon the reminder. Not that he particularly needed it, of course. The knowledge stayed with him every living moment. He understood it better than anyone.

James frowned as he justified, "I'm sure whoever called the attack weighed the consequences and deemed the guilt worth shouldering. War was inevitable the second you came back from Fódlan alive without any prize, Khalid. If what you are accusing me of is true, we at least got to begin the conflict on our terms. Would you rather Ghalib and Philemon have had time to fully put their plans in motion? A fully matured stratagem from that pair probably would have ensured the worst outcome. As terrible as what happened to our father was, it's still preferable compared against his death. You don't have to like it, but is anything I said untrue?"

"If you were that worried about Ghalib and Philemon, why not start with killing them rather than an elaborate ruse that put us at risk instead?"

"Fine, let's assume again that the attack was my doing. Even based on your claims, I didn't have the resources or connections to go stage assassinations across Almyra. I would have had one shot at this. It's a shame that the war couldn't be prevented, but the setup ensured that the bad actors all exposed themselves for what they are. We did a good job working together to clean up the rest."

"Not buying it, James. You set it up the way you did to put a black mark on the name of every contender for the throne but you. It's as simple as that," Khalid argued.

James sighed and said, "Let me tell you a story, Khalid. Have you ever heard of a doctor named Yaqub?" When Khalid shook his head, James continued, "I assumed not. He lived a couple hundred years ago, and he didn't do any research on your favorite poisons. His work was relatively obscure and ultimately discredited. He had some interesting ideas, though. He was convinced it was possible to replace a sickly organ from a patient with a healthy organ from someone else, and he made it his life goal to master the technique. It was a daunting task, though. He tried and tried, but the patients kept dying in surgery. After years of practice, though, he claimed that he finally managed to complete several successful surgeries. Incredible, right?"

"Must not be that incredible if his work was discredited," Khalid mused.

"Indeed. Everything seemed to go well at first, but for some reason, the patients would later take ill and die. Do you know why?"

Khalid shook his head again.

James continued, "Yaqub couldn't figure it out, either. For whatever reason, the body just wouldn't accept the organ in the long term. There was nothing wrong with the surgery. There wasn't even anything clearly wrong with the organ. But the body recognized that it didn't belong and rejected it all the same. His peers said he fabricated the research and did their best to bury it, but I'm inclined to believe him." He then cleared his throat. "Do you understand why I'm telling you this? It's not your fault, Khalid. But this land… this body… it decided that you don't belong. It believes that you aren't truly Almyran. The way you've been treated isn't fair, but the body has to survive… and that means surviving without you."

Khalid tried to act unaffected, but the words cleanly stung. He prodded weakly, "Ghalib and Justinian and all the others… were they not part of the body, too?"

"Yes, of course. But they were vicious, insatiable… a cancer that had to be cut out before it could consume everything else."

"And like any tumor, it just comes right back. Yaqub may have failed, but he was right to try something new. Maybe with enough time-."

"Time never helped you, Khalid. I've seen how you've been treated since the very day of your birth. Shahid said the announcement of Tiana's pregnancy was an unofficial day of mourning. It meant a royal annulment that much more unlikely, and going forward our people had to worry about a possible heir with Fódlan blood. Things never got better for you. Hated by Shahid and Abbas. Shunned by our nobles. Always blamed for our missteps and never credited for your successes. People were ready to go to war over you and your mother not once but twice. Must I really go on? You'll tear Almyra apart whether you want to or not, and your behavior is only making matters worse. Father likely would have let it happen even if no one else actually wanted you."

Khalid pointed over his shoulder. "In case you hadn't noticed, I've got an army out there every bit as big as yours."

"For the moment. Are Abbas and Darius truly your friends now? Do you think Ridwan or anyone else from Saba gives a damn about making friends with Fódlan? You've pieced together the best coalition possible given the circumstances, but it won't last. If you become king, most of them will start looking for alternatives just as soon as the inevitable crises start arriving."

"Sure, there are some tenuous elements, but I've also got a group of people that genuinely believes in me. Most people in your army don't believe in who you are; they're just happy for who you're not. Not Khalid. Well, I'm not sure that's a winning formula in the long run for you, either."

"I don't see how emphasizing your lack of popularity supports your case," James observed with a bit of humor.

"Lack of popularity in some circles for now. I'll admit that there's a few nobles I should have treated with your level of forbearance, but most people will get over their dislike of me if I become king and their lives see tangible improvements. What do you think will happen if I'm either lucky or skilled enough to prevent these scary 'inevitable crises?'"

"Even if your reign is an age of unprecedented prosperity, you'd just be remembered as 'one of the few good ones.' Nothing will really change how they feel. They won't warm up to Fódlan, and any internal unrest will just be delayed to your heir."

Khalid sighed. "… You really believe change is impossible, huh?"

"It's impossible on the scale you want. We still haven't figured out how to stop Almyrans from killing other Almyrans yet, Khalid. Do you really think we're ready to bring our worst nemeses into the mix? No. Our people will choke on the magnitude of your ambitions."

"Did you ever consider that the best way to stop them from worrying over the small differences is to expose them to even bigger ones? When truly confronted with languages, religions, histories, and cultures that are completely foreign to Almyra, would people still worry so much over what Nabataea thinks about magic?"

"The reactions to you and your mother haven't acted as promising examples. Only shear arrogance would convince you that you can reverse the course of two thousand years of history. You're clever, Khalid, but not that much smarter than everyone else."

"Say what you will about our inability to change, but I've gotten to watch people grow on a daily basis. My generals… my friends… even you and myself. I don't need an unnuanced history book to tell me what is and isn't possible." Khalid shook his head. "What exactly did you call me here for, brother?"

James wavered some. "… To apologize. Despite whatever this… garrulous list of demands I'm holding right now is, I don't see this ending without one of us dying. That's just the reality of the situation you've created, and for the sake of Almyra, I can't let it be me. I don't want unsaid words influencing my resolve to finish the mission. So I wanted you to know that I really am sorry, and in whatever life comes after this, I hope you'll be ready to forgive me when I join you. Maybe we can find that fairer world you dream of up there in the stars."

Khalid smiled sadly as he replied, "I'm sorry, too, even if I'm not as convinced that the ending has been written. We'll see how it all plays out."

There was no point to contest him, so James simply nodded as the two returned to the others. The parley was ended with an agreement to meet again at noon the next day after everyone reviewed Khalid's proposals.

For his part, James was not interested in their details. He handed his copy to Izemrasen and left to pace the citadel grounds in peace.

Khalid was stalling for time, not trying to have a legitimate discussion. Why, though? Khalid surely knew the Meteoran army would soon arrive, which is why James was not surprised by the rapid march on Istakhr. To turn around and waste time seemed… counterintuitive.

Was Khalid's plan to persuade Lydia and Juliana onto his side? He had as much of a role in saving Juliana as James did, and he was much closer to Lydia. Some of the comments made by Khalid and his allies emphasized that the sardars truly held the strings, not their more obstinate advisors.

It seemed likely an uncharacteristically feeble strategy, though. The two young women would stick together, and Juliana needed much more convincing than that. Surely Khalid had something more in mind…

"Your Highness," a voice said from behind, startling James.

"Yes… what is it?" James asked as he turned. He recognized the courier as a recent recruit to the Shakiriyya. This group was more amenable than a few of the older guards like Khatereh, who also needed to be stationed at the Dunya and left uninformed.

The recruit was embarrassed to have interrupted the crown prince, but he restarted, "Your Highness, I've just arrived from the Dunya with an important update."

"Speak, then."

"Last afternoon, Khalid's retainer Marianne arrived at the palace claiming that she was sent by Prince Khalid to look after His Majesty's health. Allegedly, your brother was worried that you would divert resources away from the king's care in preparation for conflict here in Istakhr."

James's brow wrinkled. He was worried that his father's health had taken an unexpected turn for the worse, so the news at least came as some degree of relief. Still… it was a surprise. He asked, "And did you allow her to enter?"

"It would have felt wrong to turn down the aid of a valued healer, and we did not want her to leave and rejoin Prince Khalid's rebels. We permitted her to enter on the strict condition that she not speak of the ongoing revolt to anyone, especially the king and queen. She has held to this requirement without issue. I set out early this morning to ensure you were consulted on the matter. Did… we make a mistake, Your Highness?"

"No, I think that was the right decision," James agreed. "How was her presence explained to the king and queen?"

"We had to act as if Marianne was sent ahead to bring news of the victory at the Mirza's Citadel and see the king. Khalid and everyone else were still marching with the main army and that we would all celebrate once they arrived in Istakhr."

"Well handled. Did Marianne come alone?"

"Yes, Your Highness," the messenger said confidently.

"And has she ever been without guard since her arrival?"

The young man's poise was shaken as he answered, "W-well… in a manner. Guards are of course posted in most areas of the palace, especially in the royal quarters. We kept one outside the tunnel to Khalid's courtyard, but it would have been uncomfortable and suspicious if we watched Marianne sleep. She took her belongings to her old room and spent some time studying possible ailments and treatments. She also asked to briefly leave the palace around dusk so she could search for some herbs she thought might be growing in the vicinity."

James's eyes widened at that. "You let her leave the palace unattended?"

"We did not think she posed any risk out there, Your Highness. We were also quite certain we would have been of no assistance at identifying any of her herbs," the messenger said with weak chuckle in hopes of downplaying the error.

James was not amused. "Nothing like that should ever happen again. You don't need to stand outside her room while she's sleeping, but under no circumstance should she be allowed outside the Dunya unattended."

"Y-yes, Your Highness."

"Now tell me… just what kind of treatments was Marianne providing His Majesty?"

"Some basic healing spells… trying to treat his fever, for example. Some traditional medicine, too. That herbal treatment she worked on, some bloodletting… seemed like a bit of everything. I'm sorry that I can't be more specific."

James sighed. "That's good enough, thank you. If you don't have anything else, you're free to leave."

The young man bowed. "Of course. I promise that the security around Marianne will be tightened."

James had even more to consider when he was left to his own thoughts again. Was this Khalid's true plan? To accuse James of ignoring the king's health while Khalid sacrificed his best mage to do the right thing? It was not exactly an accurate assessment of the situation since James did have physicians at the palace, but the bit of propaganda might have some effect on someone like Sardar Lydia. Maybe that was why Khalid was stalling- he wanted to make sure Marianne actually arrived at the palace before announcing his choice. If he said something too early, she could have been captured en route.

Still… there had to be more to the story. This was Khalid, after all.

James could divert time and resources to the Dunya for a full investigation, but perhaps that was precisely what Khalid wanted. There could just as likely be another development somewhere else of an entirely different sort.

Marianne leaving the palace opened the possibility that she passed something to someone waiting outside. It could have been an object of interest or simply a message. This "second person" could reach Istakhr as early as the next morning by horse, even if they only rode at night, and it would be incredibly difficult to capture them without a deploying a massive search with wyverns. Again, this would dilute his defenses at the worst moment and raise many questions from his allies.

Whatever the case, Khalid was planning something other than a straightforward assault, and he needed a bit more time for it to develop. Without knowing what that plan was, James's only countermeasure was to force the single scenario he knew Khalid did not want.

James did not desire or expect a battle against Khalid when the army departed to defeat Darius, but even back then he knew he needed to prepare for all possible developments. Most of the Meteoran army was dispersed across its homeland in peacekeeping operations at the time, and James could not simply summon them to Elam without due cause. Doing so would have cast significant suspicion on him for something that would hopefully be unnecessary to begin with.

He was, however, able to make a subtler play. Shortly after the army moved upon the Tabarzin, James privately expressed concerns to General Narses that disorder might break out in cities across Elam should King Faruq pass away. The Elamite cavalry was left in tatters after the Battle of the Pinnacula and thus could not respond to any such crisis in an efficient manner. With that in mind, James requested Meteora's aid to create something he called the Rapid Response Force. Rather than demanding the entire Meteoran military, this would be a division consisting of Narses's mostly intact elite cavalry.

Narses approved of the plan and clandestinely organized the force as requested. It was stationed in Arrajan, one of the nearest cities to Istakhr. If its existence was ever exposed, James would simply justify the privacy on the grounds that he did not want to induce a panic by virtue of admitting an uprising was possible. As far as he knew, though, Khalid and his allies remained entirely unaware of the group. Arrajan had seen minimal interest from rebel scouts.

With his mind settled, James tracked down General Narses. The Meteoran commander was surveying exercises at the archery grounds.

After taking him aside, James said in a low voice, "General Narses… I need the Rapid Response Force mobilized immediately. Ensure that they arrive here by dawn tomorrow."

"Why the urgency, Your Highness?" Narses responded with surprise.

James sighed. "I fear my brother is planning something, and we need to be prepared. I want the rebel forces encircled. I'm aware the response force is not large enough to prevent a breakthrough if Khalid launches a full attack, but I want to prevent them from receiving any outside aid and communication. … Am I clear, general?"

"Of course, Your Highness," Narses complied. He could not help but add, however, "Just to be clear, you do understand that this is a significant escalation, correct? Should the rebel forces make a move to escape or seek support, my cavalry will be obligated to engage without waiting for an order. Prince Khalid may see its presence as an act of war in of itself."

"I know the implications. I'll speak with the other commanders to ensure they are also of the same understanding."

"Very well, then, Your Highness," Narses said as he put a hand on his heart and set forth on his mission.

James knew it was the right decision, but it still felt like someone was heaving an additional weight over his shoulder with each step he took up the keep. Despite its frequent brutality, he had organized a war that had kept his immediate family alive throughout its entire length. That run of success was almost at its end.

If we can't even love our own brothers and sisters, what hope is there for us as a people?

James bopped his head against the wall in frustration. When he opened his eyes, he peered out a balistraria that offered him a view towards the renegade army outside the walls.

"Alright… your move next, brother," he whispered.