Chapter 168

The Revari

The fortress of the Tralagian Order of Warriors was located at the summit of a high mountain. Relatively separated from any surrounding heights, the mountain provided a perfect staging ground to control the immediate area for several miles. A single road snaked the base of the mountain and served as the only means of reaching the fortress.

Lush wildlife flanked the edges of the road. Huge juniper-esque trees provided shade for the first few lengths of the trek. Their wavy branches tempted the travelers with lush purple fruits. Shadow had learned the hard way that the delicacies were coated in nearly invisible white thorns.

The lesson had been painful and after an unsatisfying bite of the foul fruit, Shadow set a quick pace up the mountain road. Howl had warned him against running straight to the fortress as a sudden arrival would set the members of the Order on guard.

"It's important we let them see us as we come up the mountain road. We don't want to risk an open battle with the Order."

"And what is the Order?" Shadow questioned. "Are they likely to support us?"

"The Order is made up of the greatest warriors in the empire," Howl said proudly. "It is the highest privilege a soldier can attain. Or at least, that is what it once was. Over the past century the Order began to crumble. In the past, the Order was completely separate from the legions, and would conduct its own affairs. During wars the Imperado would serve at the emperor's request, but was free to dispatch the Order at his own discretion. However, later emperor's began to exert more and more control over the Order. The ranks were once open to any legionnaire who had the skill, but more and more the positions were handed out to those of aristocratic rank. The skill of the Order was diluted as was its influence and prestige. The current Imperado, Gareth, was trying to rebuild the order, to flush out those who had been given titles by birth rather than merit."

"Did you know him then?" The group rounded a turn and watched as the path twisted, dipped and then rose up at a great incline. Shadow paused, momentarily struck by the beauty of the landscape. The lush mountain fauna moved gently with the wind. Beyond the treeline they could just make out a trace of fine white powder. It did not appear that the mountain height was covered completely in snow, but merely drizzled.

Shadow's smile faded as his gaze traveled down the mountain and landed on the huge gate erected directly on their path. Two thick towers were set up at opposite ends of the path with a spikey ironwork gate held between them. The towers were so tall that Shadow knew any posted guards would have already spotted them.

"Don't worry," Howl said. "I don't believe they will hold us up. If they delay our progress, simply tell them that you are here to take the trials."

"Me?" Shadow repeated. "I thought we were here for her?" He pointed at Amara.

"We must not tell anyone who she is, other than Gareth," Howl said firmly. "For now, we can simply say that you are here to take the trial, and the rest of us are here for a pilgrimage. It is not uncommon for pilgrims to visit the Reveri. Besides, if any of them decide to test you, that won't be a problem."

Shadow wasn't fully convinced, but he couldn't think of a better strategy. They resumed their march with Howl continuing his lesson on the Order. "I've never met Garen personally," Howl resumed. "But I would know him from a distance. It was once a dream of mine to join the Order, but I never managed it." At this point, Howl clapped Roran heartily on the back. "Actually, it was a dream I shared with Levi. He was a much better swordsman than me. He would have been able to join the Order easily, but he was never given a chance. Prejudice against Thriteens was strong."

Roran frowned. "It was well that he was never given that chance. We needed Levi back at home to train our Knights."

"What about you Amara? Did you know the Imperado?" Howl turned back to direct his question towards the princess.

Amara stumbled forward with her head firmly directed at the ground. By Shadow's orders she had to stay close to them, but she was doing everything in her power to position herself as far from Shadow as possible.

"I met him," She answered quietly. "My father had named the previous Imperado on my eighth name day. Two years later we heard that Garen had killed him in a duel and was now claiming the title for himself. My father had him brought to the capital to answer for his crimes. I remember Garen standing in the throne room and telling my father that it was the ancient custom of the Order to only be led by the strongest warrior. Since Garen had won the duel, he was the Imperado and by right he did not have to face the jurisdiction of the emperor. No one had ever spoken to my father that way."

Howl chuckled. "I heard that Garen was bold."

"But will he support her?" Shadow insisted.

Howl shrugged. "I cannot say. As far as I knew the Order turned for Robotnik after the Battle of the Viper. Ten legions were destroyed by a small armada of Robotnik's machines. This seemed a fairly deceive blow by many and proof that Zertian was too weak to lead. Even when Zertian managed to rally his forces and stem the tide, the Order remained firmly in support of Robotnik. But I don't think Zertian would have sent us here if he didn't know something. Perhaps he had some communication with Garen before the end of the war?"

Shadow scoffed. "This had better not be a waste of time."

They journeyed on, and as the sun started to dip and turn the sky a fiery shade of orange, they reached the gate. Shadow looked up at the towers and saw the glint of sunlight reflecting off of steel.

Side doors within the towers opened and several heavily armored soldiers emerged to stand resolute on the other side of the gate. These were not arrayed at all like the imperials Shadow had seen up to that point. Their armor was bulky and heavily layered on the shoulders and waist. The metal was dyed a faint blue color and each soldier wore a folded banner across their chests. Each of the sentries carried a diamond shaped shield emblazoned with unique heraldry. They crossed their long spears together to form an imposing fence of sharpened edges.

"Halt!" The centermost soldier cried out in a loud, ringing voice. "You come before the gate of Absolute Resolution, state your purpose."

Howl approached the gate cautiously with his hands held out in a disarming stance. "We are pilgrims that wish to visit the monuments."

The sentries did not move. "There are no more pilgrims," The sentry said. "The practice has been abolished."

Howl's friendly smile fluttered in a momentary instant of doubt. He quickly changed tactics and motioned to Shadow. "My friend is here to take on the trials. He wishes to join the Order."

"The Order only accepts warriors," The sentry replied.

"I assure you, whatever you may think of his appearance, he is a formidable warrior." Howl continued to keep up a friendly tone of voice.

"Be gone!" The sentries closed ranks. "The mountain is closed."

Howl's smile faded. "Since when did the Order reject prospective warriors?"

"The mountain is closed-" The sentries all leapt back in shock. Shadow vanished and reappeared directly in front of them, on the other side of the gate. The bewildered guards raised their shields and clustered together like a turtle withdrawing into its shell. "How did you do that?"

Shadow flicked the Reditus and flashed a wry smile. "Like the man said, I'm a formidable warrior."

"You're no warrior!" The centermost sentry broke rank and walked towards Shadow. From a closer view, Shadow could see the Echidna beneath the helm. He had a large toothy mouth and battle scars covered his face. His red eyes were pulsing with rage. "There's no point in letting someone like you through. You'd never pass the trials. Dirty tricks are not real strength."

Shadow shrugged. "Then why don't you educate me on true strength?"

"Very well!" The sentry lurched back and then jabbed forward with his spear. Shadow changed his stance, but did not move. Quicker than the eye could see, he raised his hand and caught the edge of the spear between his thumb and forefinger.

"What?" The sentry let out a cry of shock and dismay. Shadow smirked as he held the spearpoint still. "Why you!" The sentry pulled back with all his strength, but he could not make the spear so much as budge.

"So this is true strength?" Shadow mocked. "It's not very impressive. I suppose I'll stick

with tricks." Shadow released the spear which caused the sentry to fall onto his butt. Before he could recover, Shadow blitzed forward and stomped his foot onto the guard's neck. The echidna went limp instantly. Shadow stepped over the unconscious soldier and stood brazenly in front of the rest. "So, does anyone else want to test me?"

The other sentries slowly stepped backward. "What do we do?" One of them whispered.

"We can't let them through," A second fired back.

"We can't stop him!" A third hissed.

Finally, one of the sentries broke formation. He walked forward and motioned to his comrade. "Is he dead?"

Shadow shook his head. "Just knocked out."

"I apologize for his actions. We have all dishonored ourselves. If it is your desire to come up and take the trials, then we have no right to stop you." The sentry put aside his spear and walked over to the gate. He withdrew a key and unlocked the chain so he could hold it open for the others to pass.

Howl thanked him and they quickly hurried past the other soldiers who were still tightly packed together. No one spoke until they had put the gate firmly out of sight. Once they were safe, Howl exhaled heavily. "That was close."

"You said they would let us through," Shadow snapped.

"And they did. If they were set on keeping us away they might have all tried to kill us, or at least have raised an alarm."

"How do we know they didn't?" Roran asked tremulously. "They could have sent word up to the fortress. As far as we know it is being fortified against us even as we speak."

"I doubt it." Howl said. "Was I the only one who noticed?" The wolf eyed them all and seemed genuinely surprised when no one had an immediate answer.

"There weren't any Sentinels." It was Amara who broke the silence. The princess had seemed to come out of one of her trances. Her eyes were alight and focused. "There would normally be Sentinels guarding the gates. It makes no sense to send troops this far down the mountain when you can have remote machines."

"Exactly," Howl said cheerfully. "If Garen is sending soldiers down to the gates it might mean he doesn't want to use Robotnik's drones. Perhaps he is preparing to defend the mountain, but not against us."

Shadow took a moment to consider this. It wasn't much to go on, but it did lighten the knot in his stomach somewhat.

They resumed their trek up the mountain with the sun dipping steadily behind them. The further they ascended the colder the air grew as a strong wind gusted down the path. Amara struggled the worst in the elements. She still only had the filthy rags she wore back at the prison. The strong gusts blew the tatters into smaller and smaller pieces.

The steep incline and increasingly treacherous footing slowed their progress. Shadow watched apprehensively as the sun continued to fall. He did not want to reach the fortress after nightfall. He gave a signal to Howl and they each took charge of one of the stragglers. Shadow hoisted Amara onto his back while Howl did the same with the priest. Together they managed to pick up the pace.

"Thank you," Amara muttered sleepily. "I…I'm sorry I'm such a burden."

It took less than an hour for Howl and Shadow to reach the second gate. This one was patrolled by even more soldiers in matching sets of bulky blue armor. This time however, their progress was not delayed. It was obvious that word had been sent up the mountain which granted clearance to Shadow and his company.

"You're almost at the top," One of the guards assured them. "Just up this bend and then it's two easy leagues to the Heralds Gate."

Shadow was grateful that the journey was almost over. He was still fatigued from the battle against Mephiles, and if things went south he would need his energy to fight.

"I'll walk from here." Amara climbed down Shadow's back and stood shivering in the cold. Flakes of powdery snow melted on her head. She gazed doubtfully at the ramparts which had just come into view.

As they got closer, they saw more and more of the fortress. The Reveri consisted of several interconnected square shaped buildings. At the center of the compound was a tall keep protected by high walls and a huge steel portcullis. Atop the highest tower flew a ginormous blue flag with a white dragon emblazoned on the center.

"The Dragon of the East," Howl explained, following Shadow's eye. "That was the family crest of the first Imperado. He founded the Reveri and christened it as an eternal training ground for the greatest warriors of the empire."

Shadow's attention shifted from the flag and towards the last gate which separated the mountain path from the rest of the fortress. Dozens of soldiers had gathered near the gate and this time it was obvious they were not going to simply let Shadow and the others through.

When they were about twenty yards away from the gate, the hinges swung open and the huddle of guards broke open. Six rushed forward to intercept Shadow. The one in the middle did not wear armor, instantly signaling him out as the leader.

"This is not the Imperado," Howl whispered, hardly moving his mouth. "Play it cool, but do not mention the princess."

The soldiers formed a line ten yards in front of the gate and held out their shields and spears. Shadow and the others took this as a cue for them to stop as well. The leader stepped forward. He was a lizard with a long rounded head. His scales were an oily black and his yellow eyes burned like lanterns. He had a perfunctory smile and elegance to his movements that suggested his lack of armor was no accident. This was no soldier.

"You have come to the Revari at a very auspicious time, strangers." The lizard's tongue whipped out of his mouth while he spoke. He had a slippery voice that drolled with a tinge of self importance.

"My friend here has come to take the Trial," Howl offered in a friendly tone. "We were given to believe that we would be allowed up the mountain." Howl clutched his arms and pretended to shiver. "Could we not go inside? It is getting quite cold out here."

The lizard smirked. "Yes, we had heard that there was a challenger." He turned his slanted eyes on Shadow. "You made quite the impression."

"I've been waiting for this day for a long time," Shadow replied casually.

"Of course." The lizard's smile stretched as his eyes swept over them. They lingered for half a moment on Amara, and Shadow thought he saw recognition in his gaze, but it was hidden instantly. "Unfortunately, we are not having trials at the moment, and since pilgrims are forbidden here…there is very little we can do for you. We have an inn where you could warm yourselves for the night, but come the morrow, we must insist that you go back to where you came from."

"Not having trials?" Howl repeated, unable to keep the scorn out of his voice. "Since when did the Order refuse would-be champions?

The lizard folded his hands together and spoke with practiced diplomacy. "We are at war. Traditions must sometimes be lifted during times of crisis."

"War?" Shadow blurted before he could stop himself. "With the Thirteens?"

The lizards' eyes flashed and Shadow felt Howl shift uncomfortably beside him. "With the emperor's home world," he corrected.

"Where is Garen?" Howl interjected. "Let us speak to the Imperado and see what he thinks."

The lizard smiled, the gesture made no impact on his eyes which were narrowed and focused completely on Howl's reactions. "The Imperado is not here. He went down the mountain on a training exercise. He may not be back for a few days. He has left me in charge until he returns."

"And who are you?" Howl snapped.

"I am Verlo," The lizard answered with a humble bow. "Acting Grand Master of the Order."

Howl growled in obvious frustration. "The Order cannot simply turn someone away. Give him your tests, he can pass any of them."

Verlo glanced at Shadow. "I do not doubt your companion's ability. But as was said before, the mountain is closed."

"Then at least let us wait for Garen to return," Howl insisted.

"This mountain refuge is reserved for members of the Order. Seeing as you are no soldier, then you may not be allowed to stay here. I offer you the night only as a courtesy."

"And what about for me?" Amara strode forward suddenly. Her legs were shaking and her face and hands were turning a bright shade of blue. "Do you recognize me?"

Verlo attempted to turn up his nose against the humble condition of Amara's rags, but he could not altogether hide his expression. He glanced sideways at Shadow and seemed to realize that there would be no point in lying. Verlo took a half step backward and made a sufficient pretense at being shocked.

"Princess Amara? Can it really be you? I…forgive me…I did not recognize you."

Amara could barely keep her feet. The cold wind rocked her back and forth, but her expression was equally icy. "Will you refuse my request then? I ask only for refuge until Garen returns."

Verlo looked back over his shoulder. The howling wind made it impossible for their voices to carry. "The emperor demands your capture," He muttered. "If I take you in, then I risk killing us all."

"Not yet," Amara pointed out. "We will be at your mercy. You can call the emperor if you wish and have me arrested, all I ask is that you wait."

"And how do you know that we haven't already called him?"

Amara smirked. "I would be dead already. But you have no Sentinels here. Garen has already ensured that the empire doesn't have direct surveillance over the mountain. You are not sure what you want to do."

Verlo looked down at the princess. Her frail body trembling like a leaf probably didn't inspire much hope. A glint of empathy bloomed in the lizard's expression. "Very well. You may come in and warm yourselves, but that doesn't mean you can stay." He glared at Howl and Shadow as if to make the point crystal clear. "I must consult with the elders."

With that Verlo turned and walked back towards the arrayed soldiers. He waved his hand and the soldiers quickly withdrew, but they left the gate open.

"I can't-" Amara lost her footing and would have fallen into the snow, but Shadow caught her around the middle. She was so light that Shadow could throw her over his shoulder with the faintest effort.

"Do we risk it?" Roran asked. "Once we are behind that gate, we may never be allowed to leave."

Howl scratched behind his ear. "Dammit. This was the worst case scenario. If Garen were here I would feel better. I get a bad feeling from that Verlo. He is no warrior and yet he is among the Order. I wouldn't be surprised if his loyalty was to Robotnik."

"There's nothing we can do about that now," Shadow said. "Amara will die if we stay out here much longer." With that, Shadow turned and walked towards the open gates.

Once they were within the compound, the gates were closed and locked behind them. Shadow couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of dread when he heard the locks. There's no going back now.

At the center of the fortress was a kind of open market that branched off towards the various buildings. The centermost road led up a flight of stairs and towards the main keep. Verlo stood at the center of the marketplace flanked by more soldiers. These wore simple leather jerkins instead of armor and were each clad in sweeping black capes. Verlo pointed at Shadow and four of the caped warriors came striding over.

Shadow hesitated as his eyes instantly glanced towards the swords bouncing at their hips. However, when the warriors reached him they simply crossed their arms over their chests. "Hail, warrior," One of them, a hedgehog with extremely spiky hair and a damaged eye said. "We heard about your battle at the Resolute Gate. It isn't often that someone puts one of our warriors to shame. My name is Tommen and I am to direct you to your lodging."

Tommen led them to a brick building on the eastern side of the compound. Smoke billowed out of its two chimneys and Shadow's stomach let out an involuntary growl as he caught a whiff of cooking food.

The tavern itself was more of a glorified barracks complete with a dining hall. Warriors of the order took up most of the tables, but there did seem to be a few civilian servants among the crowd. Long hearths were dug into the floor and spikes of roasting meat turned on the spit. The room was full of smoke, but not just from the cooking fires, as many of the patrons puffed on strangely shaped pipes that sent clouds of colored smoke into the ceiling.

Shadow felt instant relief as the warmth flooded through him. Tommen motioned for them to proceed and he escorted them to a table in the far corner of the room. Dozens of heads turned to watch the newcomers. "If it's all the same," Howl told Tristen. "Would we be allowed to eat in our room?"

This was a shrewd display of tact, as Shadow realized that Amara's face was still a light shade of blue. Tommen went over and talked with a heavy set mole wearing a soiled black apron. This appeared to be the ruler of the tavern, who, after speaking with Tommen, came over and offered to take them to their rooms.

Shadow and Amara were given one room while Roran and Howl were shepherded to the one adjacent to them. Their lodging was spacious and comfortable with wood floors and walls. The room had an entryway solar complete with a sofa, hearthfire and desk. "There is a shower and bath over there," Tommen added. "If you would prefer to eat first. We can have food brought up."

"Food first," Shadow said.

Tommen bowed curtly and left. Once they were alone, Amara limped over to the fire and collapsed on the carpet. She lay in a fertile position shivering violently. Shadow took some loose blankets off the sofa and covered her. "Thank you," She said weakly.

Shadow ignored her. He took a moment to look around the room. He knew that they would not have been brought here for no reason. His eyes wandered to the unnecessary extravagance and comforts. Why would a room like this have no occupants? He turned back towards the door and felt his stomach twist. The locking mechanism was far more complex than necessary. Shadow rushed over to it, but there was no knob to twist. The room was obviously locked from the outside. This was no comfort suite, but merely a well disguised prison.

Damn it all! Shadow tried the door's handle and sure enough, it was locked firmly in place. We walked right into their trap. He folded his arms and paced in a line back and forth. Breaking the door down wouldn't be difficult but doing so would immediately open up hostilities. There was still a chance things could be resolved but that hope was dwindling rapidly.

He glanced at Amara who was huddled near the embers of the fire. If I were in their shoes would I choose the side led by a weak child? Even if Shadow could convincingly argue that Robotnik was a threat to everyone, strength would always prove the stronger motive. Rationality always dies when confronted by fear.

Shadow flexed his hand and accepted the inevitable reality that he would have to fight. The only way to swing the loyalty of warriors was to demonstrate one's own prowess. Amara was a convenient cover, but as she was now, Shadow wondered if she did not in fact hinder their cause instead of aid it.

Before he could come to any final decision there was a knock at the door. Locks turned on the other side and the door swung open. Shadow was surprised that Verlo was here already. The Grand Master was followed by two cooks who came with trays laden with dishes of all sorts of food. Shadow's stomach let out an involuntary grumble as he was assaulted by the smell.

However, he pushed his hunger away and glared vengefully at Verlo. "We will not be held captive here," He snarled.

Verlo waited until the last of his company had entered the room. The newcomer was a squirrel wearing a long black robe. His clothes were plain and black, and he was unadorned except for a myriad of golden chains he wore around his neck. The symbols were instantly recognizable to Shadow, who saw the crescent shaped blade that Black Doom also wore. Anger flared in his face, but Verlo quickly stepped between them. He held Shadow silent with a stern look until the cooks had left the food on the table and closed the door.

Verlo did not speak until the locks clicked. He bowed politely and motioned to the squirrel. "This is Ziham Yran, an arch proctor of the Imperial Cult."

Ziham lowered his head. He had a tangled mane of white hair that completely encircled his face. His eyes were twin blue diamonds set at extreme angles. Verlo smiled sardonically and indicated for them all to sit down at the table.

Shadow sat before a plate filled with smoking meat. The aroma made his eyes water. Next to his hand was a blood red cup of what he assumed to be this world's equivalent to wine. Amara left the fire and took a seat beside Shadow. Unlike him, she did not have the caution to wait. Ignoring all proprietary and manners, she dug into the food with a relish similar to that of a starving animal.

Verlo watched her with a coy smile. He caught Shadow's eye and took a drink from his cup. When that wasn't enough he took a hunk of meat from the center of the table and ate it, making sure to chew slowly and swallow with obvious relish.

Only when he had seen the others eat, did Shadow risk having a bite. The flavor was immense and he had to constrain himself not to be distracted by the food.

"Let us go," Shadow repeated, this time with his voice calm. "Your locks cannot protect you."

"Nor are they meant to," Verlo said patiently. "We have you here only as a precaution. To welcome you here as a guest would constitute an act of treason."

Shadow shot a sideways glance at Ziham. "You work for Black Doom? Are you one of his fanatics?"

The so-called arch proctor steepled his hands and gazed meaningfully back at Shadow.

"Ziham is no fanatic," Verlo interjected. "He is the voice of the Imperial Cult here on the mountain. By Imperial decree the shrine that was once dedicated to the god hero Salvayno was to no longer be received as a place of worship. Dozens of cultists were sent here to ensure that the order was followed. For a time, there was much tension here on the mountain. This training ground had always been reserved for warriors with only the occasional pilgrims. Ziham took it upon himself to ease this controversy by leaving us and joining the Imperial cult. He rose up the ranks and became an arch proctor. This allowed him to return here and take up the command of protecting the shrine so the other cultists could be sent away."

Verlo's reptilian eyes narrowed as he tried to press more meaning into his words that he felt comfortable speaking openly. Shadow felt that he understood some of it, but was still confused. He looked wearily at Ziham and wondered what this unspoken revelation could mean. Shadow bought himself some time by eating some more of his food and sipping the wine.

"If you won't help us," Shadow started. "Why bother with the pretenses? "

"Helping you would mean to risk everything," Verlo answered. "The Revarii has managed to separate itself from the changes of the wider empire. We have worked hard to achieve that relative isolation. But that stasis cannot last forever. Our next step will decide all our fates."

"And you want to pick the winning side?" Shadow watched both of his opponents to see how they would react. Verlo merely continued to smirk, while Ziham leaned forward in his chair.

"This is the last war." Ziham spoke with a raspy, charcoal-like voice that sounded as if his words were being mixed through a blender filled with rocks. "The last that really matters. Violence will persist, cities and kingdoms will change names, and crowns will pass from hand to hand. But this war, this is the blade that shall cut all existence into two distinct halves. There can be no wrong moves, no noble defeats, only victory or annihilation."

Verlo chuckled awkwardly and took a hasty sip from his glass. "To speak bluntly, we are at an impasse. It is obvious that we cannot go on as we have done. Either this Order commits to the emperor and all his works, or we make a desperate, and likely futile resistance. All signs pointed to us moving in the former but recent events have tipped the scales."

"What recent events?" Shadow asked.

"You haven't heard?" The lizard's tongue flashed out of his mouth as if to taste's Shadow's uncertainty. "There has been a major shakeup in the empire. Suddenly many lights went out at once. The secret fuel source that powered the emperor's most potent machines have all gone dark."

When Shadow still looked confused, Ziham leaned forward and said, "The Sol Gems are gone."

Verlo chuckled faintly. "You do know what Sol Gems are, don't you?"

"Yes," Shadow said quickly. "But what do you mean gone?"

"Gone." Ziham snapped his fingers. "Just like that . Poof. One moment here, and the next they were erased from existence. There were explosions and disasters in almost every major city."

"This is quite the change," Verlo said. "The loss of the Sol Gems cripples the legions. Without them, the emperor has no super weapons."

"But he still has the legions," Ziham clarified. "And most of his mechanical armies don't require Sol Gems. It is a loss, but not great enough to turn the tide."

Verlo sighed. "And we reach the heart of the controversy. The loss of the Sol Gems is the largest cloud, but events in Province Thirteen have casted their own shadow. If the most meager of all the provinces could resist and put up such a stern fight, then perhaps the emperor is not as invincible as he once seemed."

"A fire's last gasp is its most fearsome," Ziham growled. "The spirit of the people of Soleanna has been getting squeezed and squashed for centuries. This is the final point, and just before they are crushed together they will writhe with the violent lashing of the final throes of death. The flames of the Phoenix are burning hot, but once they are quenched not even the embers will be left."

Amara sputtered as she tried to swallow the wine she was drinking too quickly. She spat out the dregs and coughed.

"What do you know of Black Doom?" Shadow asked Ziham, deciding he had better change the topic.

"He is the most powerful necromancer this world has ever seen. The arts of the emperor have magnified his abilities far beyond what anyone could have ever dared believe. What was lost with the ruin of the Sol Gems can be regained by Black Doom's magic."

"And how does the Order feel about reanimating dead soldiers? Does that fit into your codes of honor?"

Verlo frowned and lowered his fork. "The practices of the cult are unappealing. Yet faced with the terror of deathless torment many would prefer that the devil work on their side than against them."

"To what end?" Shadow pressed. "If Robotnik wins this war. If he stamps out the Thirteens and finishes with his invasion of earth what do you think will happen next? There will be no final victory for the empire. The only one who will win is Robotnik. He will destroy this world."

"Liar," Ziham spat. "Robotnik will change the empire. By the end of his work we will hardly be able to recognize this world. Perhaps he will mechanize it, perhaps he will let Black Doom have it and transform it into an undead world of darkness, but the empire will live on."

"And is that what you want?"

"No race can choose its future. If we have to evolve in order to survive, to flourish, then what difference does it make?"

Shadow frowned. He could not simply come out and tell them about the Realm Lord. How could he prove what he was saying? "Did you know about the Solaris Project?" Shadow asked.

Verlo shrugged. "Just rumors. The Emperor's Space Station was it not? It was meant to run on the power of the sun?"

Shadow shook his head. "Not from the sun. He wanted to absorb the energy that was dormant inside this planet. The Thirteens call it the Flames of Disaster, but that doesn't matter. Robotnik wanted to harness that power for himself and doing so would have destroyed Arvana. The princess of the Thirteens…she…she stopped him." Shadow finished his wine. "So you see, your choice isn't much of a choice at all. Help us and you might die, help Robotnik and you will die."

"Words," Ziham grumbled. "Is that all you have to offer? Repeating the same drivel as the Thirteens will not sway anybody."

"Then what do you want?" Shadow asked crossly.

"Armies. What forces have you been able to muster, what communication do you have with the rebels of province Thirteen? Where are they held up, how many soldiers do they have? Who is leading them?"

"As if i'd tell you that!" Shadow's quills bristled with feigned rage. He had to pretend that this was information that he actually knew.

Revlo imposed to stem the hostility. "Take a look from our view then. We see a hedgehog whom we do not know coming to our mountain with the daughter of a dead emperor. Should we put all our lives in that basket?"

"I told you already, there are no other choices. Help us defeat Robotnik or you will all die anyway."

Revlo's fake smile faded. "So you say," He sighed. His yellow eyes flickered over to Amara. So far, the princess had practically ignored the conversation. Her greedy gouging had caused her obvious discomfort so she was now resting her head on the table. "And what say you, princess Amara. Why should we take your side?"

Amara turned her head to stare up at the lizard. Her expression was almost completely blank. "It doesn't matter," She said faintly. "Like Shadow said, you'll all die in the end anyway."

Revlo's face turned. He lost all semblance of the composed politician as his lip curled with disgust. "Very well. If you excuse us, we will retire for the night. There is much to think about." He and Ziham both stood up from the table and made for the door.

Shadow was quicker and managed to get there and block off their escape. "What about Howl and the priest? What have you done with them?"

"Your friends are safe. They are sharing a room just like this one down the hall," Revlo snapped. The lizard took a step to get around Shadow, but he stretched out his arms to prevent them from leaving.

"I could hold you hostage," Shadow threatened.

This time it was Ziham who laughed. "Go ahead, it won't make any difference. The Order will not surrender themselves to you in exchange for our lives. Such a brazen act of violence would only make our decision easier. We still have means of contacting the imperial legions if we should choose to do so."

Shadow lowered his arms. "Very well, but when you take your councils remember this; if you think you can hand me over to the empire without shedding blood you are gravely mistaken. I'll paint this place red before I am taken."

Verlo and Ziham exchanged dubious looks. "What was your name again, warrior?" Verlo asked.

"Shadow, Shadow the Hedgehog."

Verlo offered him a half bow. He then swept aside and made for the door. After opening the locks and sending Ziham through, Verlo waited. "I will send attendants to wait upon the princess. We have not forgotten all the expectations of duty."

The door closed and Shadow stood still, his heart thundering in his chest. What do I do? To sit and wait felt as conclusive a choice as to break down the door. He had a sudden horrible recollection of the sealed doors at the Space Colony Ark, how he and Maria had thought themselves safe, Shadow confident that he could defeat GUN's soldiers, and how the room had been flooded with toxic gas.

Subconsciously, Shadow paced around the room searching for vents. There were more knocks on the door and the latch turned. Three hedgehog girls in pink robes tiptoed into the room and bowed low to Shadow. They then moved past him and went over to Amara. The princess had made herself sick from eating too much and too quickly. The attendants lifted her from her seat and carried her into the bathroom. Shadow heard the sound of rushing water and knew that they were preparing her a bath.

Shadow sighed heavily and sat down. The choice had been taken from him, but for once he did not mind. They could do nothing while Amara was so weakened. For better or worse, he would need to wait out the night at least. But I will not sleep. The circumstances of this internment were too horribly familiar.

He sat back at the table and helped himself to more of the food. It felt like it had been ages since he had last had an opportunity to eat. Half an hour later, the attendants left the room and Amara emerged from the washroom. Finally cleansed from the filth of Black Doom's prisons she looked almost unrecognizable. Her fur was a fluffy white with lighter patches near her face and eyes. She had replaced the horrid rags she had been wearing for a fluffy grey gown with a trim made of white fur.

She stood taller now, and walked without the hitch she had born since leaving her cell. By every visual indicator she looked the picture of a princess. However, there was still an aura of darkness that encircled her. Her eyes were downcast and a grim expression was permanently etched on her face.

Amara's bright eyes flickered towards Shadow, but she said nothing to him as she took a seat on the sofa near the fireplace. "Are we prisoners here?" She asked disinterestedly.

"For now." Shadow stood up and stood over by the door. He listened intently, wondering if there was anyone outside listening in.

"It can't be helped," Amara sighed. "Handing me over would curry favor with Black Doom."

"And you think this Imperado will share the cowardice of his comrades?"

Amara shook her head. "It is not cowardice to want to preserve your own life. If the choice was between violent death on one hand, and serving a monster on the other, who would call it cowardice to choose life?"

"I shouldn't have even asked you," Shadow growled. He folded his arms and rounded on Amara. "If you're so eager to lose, then I should just hand you back to Black Doom myself."

Amara didn't so much as blink. "You'll do what you will, but spare me your judgment. I do not know you, and don't know anything about me."

"I know you have a choice," Shadow pressed. "And that is more than most ever get."

"My fate is sealed. As is the end of the empire. All the choices that were made have led up to this point. The end cannot be averted."

Shadow scoffed. "And who decreed that? Your gods?"

Amara shrugged. "Who knows? But you are wasting your time, stranger. This is not your world. You cannot change it. We set ourselves on this path, and it is up to us to face the consequences."

"That's nonsense," Shadow sat in front of Amara, blocking her view of the fire and forcing her to meet his eyes. This was not difficult for her. She stared blankly back at him without a hint of intimidation

"I told you already, I don't care what you think," She said, her voice completely void of emotion. "You care as little for my people as the emperor. You want us to rise up so you can use us as a shield to protect your own world. I do not judge you for that. Your world is lucky to have heroes like yourself. But Arvana-" For a moment, her voice trembled. "We have dug our own grave. The tidal wave of our sins has come home to swallow us whole. There is nothing we can do about that now."

"What are you trying to say? That you deserve this then?"

Amara's eyes drifted down to her hands. "We were not good people, Shadow. The empire subjugated thousands. Millions have died in our wars and millions more have died under our rule."

"And that makes you deserve death?" Shadow's quills stood on end as his anger mounted. "What about those two at the temple? That old man and his daughter? Did they deserve to die like that?"

"If that is the price," She whispered.

"I don't believe you." Shadow glared at her. He knew that he had to get past this point or Amara would never be of any use. "Black Doom, the emperor, Mephiles, they are far more evil than anything the empire has done. If we all sat around counting our sins to find out who is more justified than the other, where would that leave us? Pacified, unable to move, just as the emperor wants."

Amara cupped her face in her hands. "You cannot know. I saw the bodies piled up after numerous battles. I watched as my father crucified hundreds for the crime of rebellion. We are violent, evil people, and this is the fate we made for ourselves."

Shadow said nothing. He watched as Amara trembled and hunched over. Her grief transitioned rapidly to rage. She seized tufts of her sweeping feline mane and yanked. "Everyone I have ever loved is dead! There is nothing in this world for me anymore. How dare you try to judge me." She lifted her head. Amara's eyes swam with tears, the pupils narrowed into slits which burned like shimmering white diamonds. "You just want to use me, to spend me out and discard me once I've served my purpose. There is nothing left for me to save. My world is already lost."

Amara reared back and struck her hand forward with the speed of cracking whip. Shadow deflected the slap easily and held firmly onto her wrist. "Get over yourself," He snarled. "You aren't a little child. No one gives a damn about your sob story. Everyone has lost someone they cared about, and stand to lose much more than that."

"Go to hell," She said, her voice dripping with venom. "When I was the emperor's daughter I sentenced dozens of would-be heroes like yourself to death. I laughed when they screamed as the executioners pulled them apart, set them on fire, or hung them up to choke in front of their families."

"That pathetic priest spared my father because he's too frail to remember what my father had done. Thousands of Thirteens were butchered, and tossed into unmarked graves. Families were torn apart, children butchered, and most of the carnage served no real purpose. With all the civil wars plaguing the empire, my father turned the building animosity and hatred onto the Thirteens. Why turn one's frustration on the empire that was subjugating them, when they could focus on beating down the hapless Thirteens?"

Amara's voice rose with every word. She seemed to be working herself into some kind of hysteria. "We brought Robotnik on ourselves. The other governors turned on my father because they hated him, they hated us. When Mesto cut my father's head off, no one shed a tear. A crowd of thousands watched and cheered." A crazed smile stretched her face, distorting her undeniable beautiful features. "Don't you see, Shadow the Hedgehog, we are the villains."

Shadow released Amara's hand and she withdrew from him. She breathed heavily and watched Shadow, clearly eager for his response, waiting for him to try and continue the argument. He remained silent, and Amara steadily collected herself. Her eyes drifted back towards the ground. She remained frozen in a state of nearly complete stasis for almost three minutes.

They each sat there listening to the faint crackle of the fire. Shadow watched her, a strange, uncertain feeling had settled in his heart. His anger towards Amara had vanished as quickly and mysteriously as it had arrived. He felt oddly affected by her words. There was a tragic beauty to the princess that made her sorrow hauntingly resonant. If Blaze had burned with an inner power comparable to that of the sun, then Amara reflected a grief as dark and blue as the moon.

Shadow found himself wanting to reach out to her, to comfort her. His hand even moved forward, hovering uncertainty in the air as though to take her by the shoulder.

"I killed my own mother," Amara said. She spoke so minutely that Shadow hardly heard her. By the time he had puzzled together what he had said, it took him another couple of moments to register the meaning.

"The love between my parents had grown cold over the years. She protested my father's treatment of the Thirteens and his constant use of the legions to push down any and all dissent. For a time, I was caught between them. My mother implored me to try and speak sense to my father, but I didn't listen. I thought she was just too weak to understand how to rule. One of my father's advisors incited a plot to steal the throne away, and my mother was accused of aiding him. Arrests were made and on the day of the trial I denounced her. She was to be taken away from the capital and placed under house arrest in one of the outer provinces. Later, that same province erupted in civil war. My mother's estate was attacked and she was killed in the battle."

Amara did not try to hide her face. Her grief and guilt was palpable as more tears streamed down her cheek. "I hated those rebels, and I cheered when my father's legions massacred them. How many innocents died in those purges? I never gave it a second thought." She closed her eyes and allowed the tears to flow freely. "You should have left me in that cell. It's where I belong."

Shadow sat back and felt his heart pull itself into knots. He could not understand why he couldn't stomach watching Amara suffer. With a great force of will, Shadow pushed down the bubbling nerves and trembles that rocked his body. "I tried to destroy my entire planet." Shadow's voice did not falter in the slightest. "Nothing held me back. No last second reservations stopped me. I used one of the emperor's superweapons and would have pressed the button had I not been physically prevented."

Amara raised her head. She blinked and her long lashes wiped away some of the tears. "I wanted every person on the planet to die for the sins of a handful," Shadow continued. "I had been hurt, and the only response I could think of was to transfer that pain onto others. There was nothing quite as intoxicating as righteous fury. I was drunk on my own pain and sense of justice. By the time I reached the end of that road, I had far eclipsed the evil of those who I hated so much."

Shadow opened and closed his hand, gazing fixedly at his fist. "A real hero stopped me, and in a moment I was forced to see just how depraved and foolish I had become. All that I had done, everything I was about to do had nothing to do with my hatred of humanity. I did not have such strong feelings for nameless, faceless beings I had never met. All that hatred was directed to myself. I had been the one who had been too weak to protect my friend. I had lived while she had died, and I couldn't bear to exist as myself. But I couldn't escape myself so I turned that hatred outward. I would have killed billions."

Shadow exhaled slowly and turned his gaze onto Amara. She was looking at him with an indefinable expression. It could have been amazement, or perhaps it was disgust. "You are guilty for the evils you've committed," Shadow told her. "But that doesn't mean you deserve what happened nor that it is too late for redemption. The emperor, Black Doom, all the rest, they will destroy countless lives. It doesn't matter to them what you did in the past. All that matters is what you choose to do now. For all we know, what you've gone through has made you the perfect person. Your father believed in you, and it doesn't matter what I, or anyone else on this mountain thinks, it matters if you can find something to believe in."

The faintest semblance of a smile threatened the corners of Amara's mouth. "Are you saying that some higher power has placed me here?"

Shadow shrugged. "No, but I am saying that there are forces in the universe other than evil and regret. If you can't believe that there is something good that has kept you alive then perhaps you can believe in poetic justice. Black Doom should have killed you, you were the heir to the empire and a threat. Instead, he made you his plaything. By his own hubris you are now free and can prove that greatest threat to him who thought you were nothing."

Amara shivered. Shadow instinctively took one of the blankets on the sofa and wrapped it around her shoulders. Amara reached up and their hands touched. Shadow felt a small jolt of electricity shoot down his arm. He missed a breath and could tell that Amara had felt the same sensation. She turned away quickly. "I'm sorry," She said faintly. "You risked everything to save me, and I've been nothing but a burden. I feel as if I never really left that dungeon. I can see the walls all around me, my body still pressed by the weight of the heavy chains. Only now the walls are made of my own fear, and the chains locked together by my self hatred."

Her hand slid across the sofa and reached for his. Shadow wanted to withdraw, but mastered the reflex. Amara squeezed his hand, and he allowed himself to return a reassuring amount of pressure. "I know we need to rest," She whispered. "But I dare not return to my dreams. Will you…will you stay up with me?"

Shadow looked back at her. For a fleeting moment, he was painfully reminded of Maria. Before Shadow's blood had fully healed her, Maria would often struggle through the night in terrible pain. On those nights, she would ask Shadow to sit at her bedside. Against Gerald's wishes, Shadow would keep Maria up, hoping to distract her from the disease ravaging her body.

However, that similitude shattered in an instant. Amara was no child. Her eyes were not soft and kind like Maria's, but angled and fierce. This was not a face that inspired pity, but devotion.

Shadow did not answer right away. He returned to the table and brought back some of the drinks. He poured a glass for himself and Amara and took a seat on the floor with the couch propped against his back. Shadow gazed into the flickering embers of the fire, and was just able to catch Amara's reflection as she smiled to herself. Amara stretched out on the couch and sipped her drink. "So you've heard a few legends from my world. Why don't you tell me something about yours? Whose this 'real hero' you mentioned earlier?"

"That's Sonic," Shadow answered gruffly. "He's a hedgehog like me."

"Does he have any stories or legends?"

"A few, they're all exaggerated though."

"Could you tell me a story? Please?" She added innocently.

Shadow folded his arms. "Fine. Years ago, before the emperor came to this planet he was a scientist and he was called Doctor Eggman."

"Doctor Egg Man?" Amara repeated dubiously.

"That's what Sonic called him. Now don't interrupt, there are plenty of weird names in this story. Anyway Doctor Eggman studied some ancient prophecies from earth's prehistory and managed to awaken a primordial beast named Chaos…"

"...So Sonic was able to transform into Super Sonic using the power of friendship or something and reverse the negative energy of the emeralds. Chaos was subdued and the city was saved. Or as saved as a city that was completely submerged in water could be."

With his story over, Shadow took a final sip from his drink and looked back. Amara's eyes were closed and she was snoring softly.