After watching Agusta make his way through the doorway with Maddox in tow, I let out a somewhat relieved sigh for the better outcome of this chance meeting and a chance to settle other matters which needed to be dealt with. I felt arms wrap around me as a soft sensation was pressed against my back only to move to the side. Nyxis had her head down with strands of hair covering the emerald eyes that I longed to see since awakening. Though her face was hidden, I sensed sadness coming from her jerking body as she tightened her grip around me which was even more tighter than being in Fang's massive limbs. I stroked her hair as she wept silently in my chest like she always did.
She wasn't the only one that seemed on the verge of tears as Veronica made her way to stand in front of me forcing her tears to be held. I smiled and motioned with my head for her to approach and join in on the weeping fest taking place in front of a potential enemy but that could wait. In turn, I kissed each of their heads hoping to help reassure them that they couldn't get rid of me so easily. Though to be honest, there were times when I felt like giving into the chorus of past voices beckoning for me to join them in blissful darkness. Voices that stepped to the side as a faint light made its way closer.
[(Was the light mother trying to tell me my time has not come yet? Was it her voice that fell upon my dazed ears before coming to?)]
Putting those thoughts to the side, I turned my gaze to the Little Bat and Jack who made their way to stand before me. Each had a sly smile if relief stretched wide along their faces but I could tell they too were concerned about my predicament. I saw that their eyes wandered to my missing limb with some hope that it would magically appear once more. They had seen me at my lowest during the time vengeance controlled my actions but now it was time for them to see me at my highest. Now was the time to repay them for guiding me, even if involuntarily, to become who I was now.
I leaned down a little and whispered, "Enough tears, we have many things that need to be discussed before the time is too late."
Nyxis looked into my eyes with her emerald gems freshly retrieved from the crashing seas, "I… I thought we lost you several times in these past weeks. Many times I held you when your body held an icy chill and many more have I given you potions to help stabilize your body."
She seemed about to continue but stopped when I placed my hand on her chin and kissed her before gently resting my head against hers. I felt her take a breathes calming herself as she released her hold around my waist. She had a small grin on her face as I turned to gaze at Veronica whose head was bowed still and body shuttered as tears silently trailed the contours of her face. Just like in Ironclad, I pulled her into my chest and allowed her to weep to her heart's content like any sibling should, younger or older. Blood ran deeper than any blade could pierce nor could it be uprooted without consent.
After she was done, Veronica nodded her head letting me know she was once again her usual self and ready to continue. "You are right," she said while wiping the remnant tears from her eyes, "we have lots to discuss in so little time."
"Lord Udreth, we must do what he wants," a brown haired Ursa advisor dressed in all light green finally spoke out when his time came, "especially now that our honored guest has insulted the Baron."
I shrugged when his eyes fell upon me and continued to roll the small black orb between my fingers. His eyes were like two coals that lost their smolder after being extinguished from prolonged use and held a defeated yet defiant gaze within them. I watched as the edges of his brows furrowed at such carelessness coming from me which was quite amusing to look at especially because of the thickness each brow had. The thought of an entire ecosystem living among the strands and using them like we do from day to day was quite amusing in its own right. Unfortunately, the advisor found my smirk to be the last straw and found himself standing over me like some shepherd to a lost lamb.
"You may have cost everyone their lives and homes," he spat, sending spittle on the side of my face, "yet you act like the matter doesn't concern you. I don't see what everyone does but the only thing held in my gaze is a stubborn fool to stupid to understand the possible problems caused by his act…"
The advisor's voice was cut short by Kuval's clawed fingers wrapped around his chin while his feet dangled, "Finish your sentence, Worm!"
"Kuval," I muttered the vampiress's name as the black orb continued to dance in my fingers, "let him go."
"But," Kuval began to protest but stopped when her eyes found my cold gaze, "as…as you wish, my Lord."
I watched as Kuval turned her attention to the weeping Ursa who silently apologized through groans of pain. For a moment, it seemed Kuval was about to go against my command but did as asked when my aura erupted through the air around her. Her shoulders rose and fell with the deep breath taken into her lungs followed by the clatter of the Ursa falling onto his knees before her. Rising from my seat, I made my way over to the broken Ursa and Kuval who simply held her head low to her chest awaiting my decision for such an attempted act. Her eyes lit with shock when I simply patted her head and nodded for her to return to her brother's side before continuing to the sniveling Ursa.
[(They're scared of the possible future. Scared that their families will be seperated and forever broken until Death comes for them. Fear that can be shaped into courage to stand against a larger foe and strength to move the mountains themselves.)]
"Tell me," tilting my head, "what do you see when you stare deep into my eyes?"
I watched as a trail of snot dripped from the Ursa's snout as his bloodshot eyes filled with uncontrolled emotions. "I see," his complexion paled even more than it did when Agusta was present, "an endless void of darkness."
"I am not the fool here," I replied, returning to my seat.
After a few moments, the Ursa got to his feet after regaining his dignified composure and returned to stand next to Thirteen who simply smiled with resentful eyes at the scene which transpired moments ago and the defiance shown to the Vaniel assness. It seemed that he enjoyed such a blatant insult to the parlay holding his tongue in check and ire at bay. That being the case, I still saw discomfort deep in those eyes as the situation once again made itself the center of attention. Everyone present continued to stare from one another as the bickering once again commenced regarding a desirable outcome for all present and allowed Vusta to still prosper without collars. The bickering continued as it grew into shouting matches between scared runts waiting to be slaughtered.
"Fine then," the Vaniel princess spoke as she moved her eyes between everyone including me, "since we are having trouble deciding how to handle the issue of my brother's invasion, I say we leave it to chance. All in favor of giving into my brother's commands for now and strike when our strength is greater will raise their left hand while those wanting to take the fight to him will raise their right."
Within seconds the number of left hands hanging in the air outnumbered the few rights waiting to crumble away like a distant memory. My heart ached at seeing that my uncle and Freya had their left hands raised in the air while each turned to gaze at me with damning tearful eyes begging forgiveness. The pain continued when I noticed Veronica herself had joined them like a willing sacrifice to ensure that Vusta would have a slim chance at coming out alive towards the end. I was surprised to find that Izras held her right hand high in the air while Thirteen and Queen Udreth unreluctantly held their left hands up. Zeke and those I knew would fight back held their hands high with pride.
Taking a breath, I watched as all limbs once again found themselves residing on the table or tucked away underneath. "I'm sorry Einor," Freya whispered in a sorrow filled tone, "it's best we do as he asks or risk losing not just Breura but a powerful ally."
I didn't say anything as my eyes gazed at the vibrant table cloth draped before me upon a calm surface resembling that of a lake during the early morning sun. Thoughts of killing everyone who held their left limb high in the air and taking the metaphorical sacrificial pawns with me back to Siegfried danced like two circling fish locked in the eternal struggle of devouring one another. Those thoughts however subsided when the vows spoken within the Grotto echoed in my cavernous skull. Placing a hand on my left arm, I stared diligently at the small floral arrangement sitting at the center even more so at the withered rose ready to be trimmed yet held a beauty which only it could obtain. It always amazed me how often nature elegantly strolled beside beauty's side even when the object, the rose in this case, had seen better years yet clings to life awaiting one to see what was held within.
Sighing, I had made up my mind and decided to bring ruin upon the Vaniel forces that threaten Vusta and her people. "I cannot and will not agree with such terms," giving a sideways glance to Thirteen who sat forward with hands under his chin, "especially if they were coined while I slumbered, unable to voice my objections. A state that I was placed in after helping hold back a horde of undead ready to turn the oasis that is Vusta into a wasteland of rot."
[(Akroq would more than likely laugh at such a saying if she were here.)]
Queen Udreth spoke in a sincere voice, "I understand what you must be feeling right now. The feeling of betrayal is such a cruel thing destined to make itself known time and again in the darkest hours of war. You must understand however, that I and my King take part in the sorrow that is to befall not only our heir but our daughter as well. Please understand that we are also unwillingly sacrificing something we hold very close to our hearts, Sir Jackal."
"To hell with sacrifices," I muttered.
My head rose to stare into Uncle's eyes, "Everything comes down to pawns being fodder for the greater good whether it be for a nation or one's family. It makes me sick knowing such actions are planned freely without the consciousness of the pawn's own life. That very reason is the sole reason why I survived that hell so that I could return the favor in kind."
"You sought to kill me and your own sister," Uncle brought to light my unspoken words with a heavy heart, "an action that I fully understand. Tell me this, do you still harbor such feelings towards us for sacrificing you like a pawn?"
I felt the corners of my mouth arch upward as a small laugh bellowed through it, "In a way, yes the thought still plagues me but I have had help from several people, some standing before you, that helped me stray from that path to the best of my ability."
Sighing, I looked to a nearby window and saw a black raven peering in the room with crimson eyes watching over me like they always did. "You said that there are two options present," I looked to Thirteen, "either give in to what is being demanded or risk invasion."
Agusta's sister interrupted before Thirteen could answer, "What are you getting at, Immortal One?"
She said the last two words with a contorted smile as if enjoying the reaction painted among the crevices of her mind. One could only imagine what a noble from Vaniel would possibly find so entertaining besides stepping over people they deemed weak like I did just moments ago when making my presence known. They were sometimes compared to brainless zombies walking around without aim only relying on the basics of instincts. Of course, that foolish comparison is often full of faults when it comes to those that hold power within the Empire just like Agusta and the woman before me. Caution was the best course to take especially since there are still many factors tucked in shadows.
"The Immortal Jackal," I spoke the name given to me long ago, "is just a name in its own right. I am not nor will I ever claim to be immortal. I am merely too stubborn to stay dead to the disbelief of those who wish me dead."
A smile flashed on the woman's face but soon disappeared before speaking once more, "Fair point but my question still remains. To me, it seems you know of another possible solution when only two are present. What are you planning?"
I didn't say anything as my eyes moved to each one present before stopping once more on the woman, "It's simple, fight back!"
Laughter came from the woman and her two guards as if expecting such an answer would come from someone to stupid to truly understand the weight of such words but they unknowingly didn't understand who I was. Ignoring their laughter, I looked to Thirteen who gazed at the table as the inner workings of his mind seemed to be at work figuring out what my words truly meant. The same went for Uncle as he tapped the table with his right index finger like he always did when trying to understand such things until he gazed at me with shocked eyes. I didn't say as Casteilla shook her head answering my unspoken question along with Luca, Xeth, Ulf, and Ruben. The last one to receive my gaze was the little bat who showed her fangs with a dazzling smile.
"Twenty-one," Thirteen spoke, gaining my attention once more, "you must understand that I would very much enjoy standing by your side on the battlefield, but there are certain engagements that Kings must follow especially when dealing with a representative of another nation who willingly came on the principle of parlay. No harm is to befall them unless incur the wrath of the nation itself."
I couldn't help but laugh sending a wave of confusion throughout the room as faces of anger burned. "Forgive me," wiping a tear from my eye, "but this parlay is nothing but a charlatan's trick."
Thirteen's eyes narrowed, "What do you mean?"
It was my turn to smile at the discomfort of seeing Agusta's sister tense under my gaze, "She didn't tell you anything yet holds secret meetings with you and Uncle asking for safety if he finds her treatory."
Leaning back in my chair with a black orb in my palm, "While your attention is honed on dealing with negotiations here, Vaniel troops storm the shores, plucking your people from their homes and taking them back to their ships for transport."
Thirteen's eyes went wide as he turned his gaze on the sweating woman, "Is this true? Was all this just to keep my attention elsewhere? Tell me Tanja Jørgensen!"
"I," Tanja stuttered, "I heard him speak of something similar with one of his lieutenants on our voyage here to reclaim Maddox, but wasn't sure if he'd go through with it."
Breura knights began to close the gap between them and the woman upon Thirteen's signal but stopped when walls of shadow rose in front of them. "I must know," I stood and made my way to the window where the black raven still roosted, "if you fear your brother would find out about your betrayal and go as far to seek refuge from him, why would you willingly hold such knowledge to yourself? Was it fear? Pride?"