“Please elaborate. What is this Judas Group?” Jareth asked.

Ragna eyed Ilias. He didn’t react to Jareth’s lack of knowledge, even though every child knew of these terrorists. Her group had gotten used to Jareth’s behavior, chalking it up to him coming from a secluded place.

But why didn’t Ilias wonder about it, too?

“The Judas Group’s a paramilitary organization that had formed around five hundred years after Great War.” Ilias stretched his arms and leaned against the boat’s hull. “They named themselves after Judas Iscariot, the one Paladin who didn’t abandon Kaiser Wilhelm and remained with him until his suicide. It’s basically a bunch of Wilhelminists.”

Jareth looked at him in confusion, which was rather impressive as his mask shouldn’t be able to express emotions. Yet it seemed as if that bleached piece of hardwood mimicked Jareth’s face with near accuracy.

“Oh yeah, that’s what we call people who wish to bring back the old Vaixian Empire that started the Great War. And that’s what the Judas Group wants, to finish what Kaiser Wilhelm couldn’t: A world for god’s chosen people through the extermination of the undesired.”

“Undesired?” The darkness inside the slits of Jareth’s mask seemed to deepen, and Jareth’s body jerked in a way that reminded Ragna of Elvex’s pretending to short-circuit when she tried to defeat him with a logic paradox. If she had to guess, Jareth couldn’t wrap his mind around the concept of someone being “undesired”.

“It’s basically anyone who isn’t of pure Vaixian blood and those who would dilute it with their so-called deficits. Basically, the unemployed, disabled, or anyone with a mental or physical alignment.” Ilias’ shoulder dropped, and his voice became rougher. “It’s honestly one of the darkest chapters in our kingdom. And do you know what the funny thing is?”

“Excuse me. Perhaps it’s my unfamiliarity with your culture. But I fail to see the humor in it.” Jareth’s voice got harsher as well. “While I have to accept that you follow a logic that is foreign to me, having observed your culture for some years, I cannot see how you could define it within your parameters as a laughing matter.”

Ilias chuckled. “Relax, that was sarcasm. It means you’re saying something you don’t mean to mock it. Besides, you can make fun of anything. That’s the great thing about humor. And for us Vaxians, it helped us deal with our past.”

Did Ilias tell the truth? Ragna couldn’t believe his words. From what she knew, Kaiser Wilhelm’s ideology still reigned within Vaix, and the Judas Group represented a common sentiment. Was Ilias blind to the corruption within his kingdom? Not that she could fault him, given her own ignorance. Or was downplaying the problematic elements out of misguided patriotism? He could be playing innocent, but her instincts told her he wasn’t lying.

“I see how you could come to such a conclusion.” Jareth realigned his tone to its usual smoothness, but traces of disappointment still got through. “Yet, I believe there might be potential consequences. It sounds like a good way to diminish the horrors of the past. Do it long enough, and you start to believe that it wasn’t so bad. It might explain why that group could rise to begin with.”

Ilias jerked at Jareth’s words and looked to the side. “Yeah, well, back to the topic. You basically ruined it. But what I meant to say was that even Kaiser Wilhelm was too moderate for them. They thought he was too inclusive, so they expanded their list of undesired to include those with, what they call, degenerate interests: Listen to the wrong kind of music, believe the wrong ideals, or love anyone but the opposite sex, and you’re on their hit list. Shows that these disgusting bastards know jack about the Kaiser.”

Jareth lowered his head, the mask gazing at the Sceada’s reflection in the water whose lights jumped within the waves and illuminated their group in the boat.

Ragan’s eyes jumped between the two men: Jareth, who needed to process that discrimination existed, and Ilias, who admitted the crimes of the Judas group and denounced them.

How could be Jareth so naïve? In what kind of sheltered village did he grow up to never account for any discrimination and be unable to grasp even the idea. And Ilias. He wasn’t blind to the issues his kingdom exhibited, yet he avoided the narwhal on the ship.

“To get to the point,” Ray said as both men didn’t continue the conversation. “The Judas Group is everyone’s enemy.”

Ilias shook his head. “If only it were so easy. Many Vaixians aren’t happy with the current government or our mainstream culture. It’s mostly those from the tundra side or, if they’re from the cities, lower-class losers, but there are also others. Politicians in high ranks; defected and dishonorably discharged extremists from the Reichsherr. So, getting rid of them is kinda difficult. It doesn’t help that they sometimes help the Kaiser.”

“Please, elaborate,” Jareth said.

Ilias exhaled. “Honestly, it’s like a curve. Sometimes, they’re allies. Sometimes they’re enemies. Of course, you shouldn’t go in bed with people like that.” Ilias blew his nose. His voice became dry, revealing what he thought about the topic. “But for money and backup, integrity’s such a small price to pay.”

“That sounds like an excuse.” Ray crossed his arms. “Pretending powerlessness to keep a comfortable status-quo.”

Ilias nodded. “Not that it currently matters. They loathe Kaiser Nal Ende Salva. Her policies, ideals, personality, and that she’s an openly bisexual woman. From their perspective, it’s like she’s spitting at their faces.”

“That’s a bunch of crap,” Ragna shouted. “You were in cahoots to kill Princess Aurelia.”

She had seen Vaix attack them, yet Ilias word seemed sincere. These two statements couldn’t be mutually true, or perhaps they weren’t mutually exclusive. As much as she would love to trust her judgment, her journey had taught her that the truth could take complex forms. Her voice should have sounded like she had snapped at Ilias and accused him of lying. Would that bring him out of his shell and reveal what was going on or lead to more lies?

“And do you have any proof of that?” Despite the accusation, Ilias remained calm.

“What d’ya mean?” Ragna huffed. So much for her plan. “I saw you guys attacking the princess.”

“And what did you see?” Ilias asked. “Let’s assume you really didn’t try to assassinate her. Did you really see any Vaixian soldiers?”

For a moment, Ragna became silent. She had forgotten that most people believed she had tried to assassinate Aura. From his perspective, she might be trying to find excuses. It took her a second to find the right words to continue her query. “I saw Rory Skyfrost and that assassin with the bird mask.”

“Bird mask? Are you sure?” Ilias gleamed at her, but then he sighed, and massaging his eyes, he shook his head. “No, there’s no reason for you to make that up.” He opened his eyes. “Still, does that really prove Vaix’s involvement?”

“There’s also Skyfrost. I mean, they have Vaixian blood.”

Ragna answered immediately. She already had given him enough pause to collect his thoughts. If he wanted to pry the truth out of him, she couldn’t let him keep his cool. And so far, she had failed.

Ilias seemed to know something about the assassin, but his surprise seemed genuine. Perhaps the Vaixian government kept secrets even from the Paladins?

“And were raised by two Valkyries. Not to mention, a Paladin killed Skyfrost’s parents. They’ve no reason to like Vaix.”

Ragna raised her eyes. “But…Then why did Skyfrost …?”

That didn’t make sense. Skyfrost had betrayed Midgard. She saw how they tried to kill Aura, Altera, and her. And now, Ilias told her that Vaix had killed Skyfrost’s parents just like her mother. How could they then work for Vaix? She could never … Or was she wrong? She was supposed to get the truth out of him, and now she had to question her own?

“Look.” Ilias exhaled. “I don’t know what Skyrost was doing that night or in the castle. But if they were there, I can tell you they weren’t working with us. Vaix had nothing to do with the assassination. I mean, why would we? What’s the point of killing princess Aurelia? To start a war? What would her Majesty gain from that? I’ll be straight, I don’t always understand her, and she’s ambitious. But she would never enter a war and risk countless people dying for maybe achieving a goal.”

Ragna gulped. She was about to open her mouth when Agravaine’s Sceada growled. Ilias’ and Ragna’s heads snapped towards the serpentine creature.

“Finally, you two shut your mouth.” Agravaine groaned. “We’re about to reach the facility, so don’t speak unless I tell you to.” He looked at Ragna. “That goes especially for you.” He raised his scarf to his nose and mumbled into the cloth.

Ragna couldn’t hear his words, but she was sure he was insulting her. She had to concentrate on the mission and swallow her argument with Ilias and her annoyance with Agravaine. She could think about her worldview once they had dealt with the danger from the research facility.