Floored, indignant, embarrassed and ashamed. They flow over me quickly.
I can't help but be stilled and remain quiet as I stare wide eyed at Bavarthos who just poured a bucket of ice cold truths over the both of us.
'He's not perfect, but he's right. Majority of his actions that we're aware of do not make him to be a villain we should treat with contempt.
John is the first to speak. "What about the girls in Turkey? Someone who sacrifices others for power recently doesn't seem very good to me, regardless of your past good deeds."
Barvarthos snarls, "That is a situation that you don't know the whole story. I am well aware that my good deeds do not make amends for certain actions and choices I have made, you both act like there's never been innocent blood on either of your hands. What makes your hands so much cleaner than my own, John?"
'This is going to get ugly quickly.'
"You know what, you're right. Bavarthos, we owe you an apology for not trying to take certain things into consideration. We have been acting like asshats to you when you've been trying to be more cordial with us. None of us are innocent and for us to continue to judge you like we are saints is indeed frustrating. So we will do better at treating you with more respect." I try to diffuse the situation and put my hands up in surrender to emphasize it.
"I'm only going to ask the same question though that John did, because we know that Emir is an associate of your father."
Barvarthos snaps his eyes to me quickly and through tightly clenched teeth, vehemently commands, "DO NOT EVER CALL THAT THING MY FATHER AGAIN!"
I pull my head back intimidated by the sheer malice that rolls off of him. My heart started beating faster and I could feel the cold sweat running down my back from the rage that he just now expressed. I nod wide eyed confirming I understood.
He huffs and looks away taking a few breaths to calm down.
"Yes, Emir is an associate of the Erlking. He's also an associate of mine, one of my informants. The deal is, I protect him from the Erlking, he gives me any and all information I want, including giving whatever information I want to the Erlking. I did not ask where or whom he would use for the necessary rituals to create the protection barrier. It's not something I'm proud of, but I didn't have a choice on the matter if I was to receive his cooperation in this. That occurrence also sealed the deal, much like a blood oath contract would that he wasn't willing to sign. Before you ask, no he didn't know that the ritual would do that." He takes a breath and remains still looking at us.
"It's not an excuse nor am I looking for either one of yours validation for what I did by explaining it. I am the one who has to live with it and you both should know what I mean by that."
We're all a little quiet for a minute, processing and reflecting on what he just said when he huffs once more.
"Anyways, I have to go right now. You can use this...." He tosses a pen to us and I catch it after it bounces off Johns hands. "....to contact me. Good save, Sin. Just write on anything, I'll get the message."
With that he snaps away and we're left standing looking at each other.
"So, now what do we do?" John asks looking at me frustrated.
"How about we get some sleep?" I suggest weariness still plaguing me.
"Sounds good." John snaps us back to our tent and I happily pull him down to sleep next to me.
"Do you believe him?" John asks me, running his fingers through my hair.
"I think so. He seemed pretty genuine to me. Thietian even confirmed what he said was true about bringing back you." I squeeze him tighter as my eyes get heavy. "I'd have given the world just to hold you in my arms one more time and now I get to hold you forever because of him."
He sighs and and kisses my head. "Yes. Sleep now, Mary."
"Yes, sir." I giggle, relaxed I drift back off.
....Barvarthos POV...
"...can't believe she would call him that...." I'm livid still as I walk down the stony path, grumbling to myself as I go.
Behind me Viekar (Vee-car) shakes his head at my obvious foul mood. Continuing behind, he picks up some courage and speaks.
"Master Barvarthos, is there anything that I can do to help aid you?" He asks timidly.
"Just tell me of any information that has come through already, Viekar." I wave my hand to the side of me for him to carry on as usual.
"Yes Master Bavarthos."
I can hear the rustling of paper as we walk.
"As you already know, the use of your..." *clears throat* "pets... in the American continents was highly successful. As well as the mixture of your pets and the hired shadow legion in the Malaysian regions. Then all the devices in Europe have been doing a splendid job at keeping his forces back as well. They unfortunately made some more headway on the African continent and we're just waiting on you're approval to release the next batch of devices in the Sahara and give the troops a reprieve from the desert."
"You have it." I halt in front of the doorway and touch it unlocking the door before walking through.
"Bavarthos! What took you so long?!" A well dressed, dark haired man with olive skin opens his arms in welcome from his plush cushioned chair. A drink in one hand, whose watch glittered more than the glass, a cigar in the other.
"Apologies, Emir. I was held up but am here now." I walk over pour my own drink and take a seat.
"You were held up. That doesn't happen very often. It put you in a foul mood as well... It must be a woman..." Emir smiles over the rim of his glass with a high questioning brow.
I merely huff and take a long swallow of my glass, enjoying the warming sensation as it slides down my throat.
He chortles at me, "It IS A WOMAN! I knew it! HA! Listen to me, friendly advice... If she annoys you this much and you're not getting laid or paid.... it's not worth it."
He grunts a laugh taking another drink before adding, "Hell, even when you're getting both, some are not worth it."
I give a grim smile and nod of affirmation and toast him in the air to that statement.
"Enough with things that don't matter, Emir. Let's get to business, we're both busy men after all." Putting my glass down on the table next to me, I remain nonchalant but make sure he knows I'm not here for idle chit chat.
"Correct you are. You're aware that the old bark bastard is now aware that he has a mole in his ranks? Yes."
I give him a gentle nod to go on.
"So now he's trying to root out who it is. I can't exactly give you everything to counter attack and end up leading to me. That's not profitable to either of us, now is it."
'Oh really.... you can't.... we'll see about that' I don't let my displeasure and annoyance show on my face as he tries to actually think he has the upper hand in our deal.
"I can see how you would be concerned... what's your proposal then?"
Smug, he sits up and leans forward, like a salesman about to cut me a deal.
"For the next two attacks, I don't tell you anything more than can be explained from your normal intel that the worlds military can acquire. Throw him off, make him think that they were just well prepared for his armies after the initial loss in territory. Then I can start giving you the information again, but only enough to make sure you don't fail in defeating him on the major battles. Make it look more like luck is on your side." He leans back like he's a genius and has it all figured out.
My blood begins to boil and my ears start to ring.
I stand and grab the decanter, pouring myself and him a full glass first.
After a nice long silence and few deep swallows of amber liquid, I finally tell him my thoughts.
"That's not a bad plan, Emir. Except that you're forgetting one major detail."
I set my empty glass down, it clinking against the stone surface making the melting ice slush down.
"Bavarthos.." Emir starts but I stand up cutting him off with a hard, cold, steeled look.
"You are under MY protection, he can not kill you. That was part of the enchantment and agreement that you agreed to. Your word was your blood when that ritual was performed and has the same binding attachments that a blood oath contract does."
His face contorts as he grows offended at his newly acquired knowledge.
"You tricked me into a blood oath?!" Emir points a finger at me and goes to stand up.
"SIT. AND. LISTEN."
Firmly enunciating every syllable, I infuse some magic to the command, gesturing with a finger to sit and zip his lips. He will hear me first before he begins to pitch a tantrum, which I'm in no mood to listen to anyways.
"I WILL NOT BE BETRAYED, DOUBLE-CROSSED, STABBED IN THE BACK, AND LEFT FOR DEAD AGAIN BY ANYONE! NOR SHALL I EVER LET THE ERLKING RULE LIFE HERE OR IN FAERIE THE WAY HE INTENDS TO. I OMITTED THAT THE RITUAL AND CONTRACT SHARED THE SAME EFFECTS AND CONDITIONS, BUT ....."
I go and fill up my glass once more before sitting back down more calmly.
"those conditions, they will keep you alive. If you are unable to fulfill your end of the agreement, Emir.... The Erlking will be the least of your concerns. SO... tell me everything you know so I can get on with my extremely busy itinerary and not waste each others time huffing over something that's not going to change, no matter how pissed off you are."
The broad, animalistic and merciless smile that shows absolutely no warmth or pity, spreads from ear to ear on me.
I see the puzzle pieces forming together in his mind to make the bigger picture finally be seen. I see the defeat and annoyed acceptance of his predicament settle across his features before I release him.
He sighs heavily and begins to tell me everything.