One of the most interesting things about life in society is the way that all the creatures, every day, force each other towards the precipice and, when someone decides to jump, the same creatures pretends to be surprised with that decision.

Excerpt from the Trial of John Acaccio – The Murderer of the Purple Light

*

-How’s your wound? – Nafaester asks her brother as they walk together on the small trail, between trees and ravines in the middle of the Forest.

-It’s better. It should no longer prevent me from running or fighting, but it can still be a problem if I take a direct hit. – Gaenar replies, placing his hand over the area that was injured in the river a few days ago.

-I am glad you are feeling better.

They walk in silence for a few moments, until he speaks again.

-About the vision you had... – The werewolf says as they move through the vegetation of the land, near to an elven village. – It explains why you offered a deal to them.

-Yes. But none of them were in my vision. I just thought they could help me to get there.

The werewolf nods, aware of all the details about the vision, since he asked her to narrate it three times with all the details that she could remember about the brief vision involving the king of Fiandel.

-What kind of support do you intend to ask Fiandel for? I don’t think they would offer unlimited support, no matter how convincing is the argument we bring to them.

She hesitates. After all, she herself did not know what arguments she used to get to the conversation she saw.

-I will have to believe that they will see the advantages that I can offer in the future, if we end up victorious. If Fiandel gives me the help I need, we can go back much earlier than we thought. We can really challenge the power of mother nymph. – She notices Gaenar’s disbelieving look. – I know it would be very convenient. I also don’t think they would help us directly. That’s why I need you to get the orcs. Do you remember our original plan?

-Do you still want to promise them what they asked for? – Gaenar’s concern is evident.

-They didn’t ask for anything I can’t give them.

-They ask you for a seat in the Council. Remember what happened before the orcs were banned?

The nymph shakes her head in a positive nod. Slowly, she inhales and exhales, as if she needed time to convince herself.

-We will need allies, brother. The reason we stole the jewels and ran away was to go back later and change the future of the forest. To take the nation where we were born from the claws of an Oracle that refuses to change anything without the endorsement of “Destiny”. That allows deaths and sacrifices in the name of the same Destiny.

-I haven’t forgotten our motivation. Neither have I lost my conviction.

-I know that. I saw with my own eyes the sacrifices you are willing to make. – She touches his shoulder and smiles. – But that does not mean that we will not have to make other sacrifices. The real war hasn’t even started yet, my brother.

The werewolf lowers his head. He stays silent for a few seconds and, then, hugs his sister. They remain like this for a few seconds, held in each other’s arms.

After some time, he steps away and kneels in front of her. With his head down, he says:

-I will take the tribe of orcs to the border between Fiandel and the Red Desert. I will do your bidding and leave everything ready for the day the Great Forest will see the beginning of a new era.

“The beginning of Your Majesty’s Reign, Queen Nafaester.”

*

-I see you brought my jewelry back, but I don’t see any prisoners.

The Oracle’s voice is calm. Rinlia, kneeling in front the nymph, keeps her head down. After a dryad had taken the leather bags with the jewels from the elf’s hands, the nymph had thoughtfully analyzed them for several minutes.

-Mother Nymph, the Henco siblings were last seen during the incident with the Arachnes. – The Fiandel’s commander voice is firm and confident. Her effort to hide the nervousness is Herculean.

-Yes, I have been informed about that incident. Lancelot arrived with a horse and two wounded lupines a few hours before you. – She waves from the top of her throne. – Get up, elf. I don’t like talking to someone without seeing their eyes.

-As you wish. – She gets up and looks to the Oracle.

-Tell me: Are they dead?

Lying in such a delicate occasion is not just a task, but an art. Even if the truth is inconvenient, the ability to deal with imperfections in a situation like that can make the lie more palatable.

-We are quite sure, but we also don’t have any hard evidence. I ask for your forgiveness for that mistake.

-What is the reason you couldn’t bring me any real proof? Wasn’t the importance of the mission clear enough?

-Two of my subordinates were poisoned during the attack. We needed to step back to be sure we could, at least, bring the jewels back. Because of that, we were unable to return to the place where they were poisoned before the Arachnes took the siblings. We are convinced that they died, but we did not see their bodies afterwards. Just blood on the floor and bits of fabric from the clothes they wore. The location was handed over to the dryad leader to enable a new, intensive search.

Nida does not need to turn to the dryad beside Rinlia to know that she is telling the truth. The first action the elf took when she arrived was to notify the castle about the inconvenience and to provide enough information, so they could initiate the pursuit.

-I must admit that you fulfilled the mission. I have my jewels back. – Nida holds the ring in her hand, leaving the necklace over her lap. – However, you fulfilled just half of it. Maybe I should give you only half of what I promised.

Prepared for retaliation, Rinlia felt her heartbeat accelerate. She would have objected if the nymph did not immediately spoke.

-However, the jewels are here and that’s what really matters. As for the Henco… - She sighs, looking away, her gaze lost for an instant. – Our futures are intertwined. I will certainly see them again.

In silence, Rinlia notices the look of sadness on the face of the nymph who, in a few seconds, gets rid of the expression and, with the usual elegance, turns her attention to the elf.

-Besides, we haven’t had guests from another kingdom in over a year. Our honor requires that we give you a goodbye worthy of the place we inhabit. – She turns her head to the right. – Ann, give orders for a dinner. – The dryad who, until that moment, had been positioned next to Rinlia, immediately bows and leaves. – Rinlia of Fiandel, you will inform your subordinates that you are my guests to dinner at the castle tonight. And, after that, a convoy will guide you all towards the kingdom of Fiandel, as promised.

The invitation implied two things: The first – and most obvious – was that Rinlia would have to bring her subordinates to a place where the nymph could see them. The second was that the “honor” of a dinner was also an eviction order for them to leave the capital in the same day.

Rinlia clenches her fists, fearing the repercussions of leaving Arthur so close to the nymph. However, unlike Aetna, the mother nymph and her subordinates did not have such deep knowledge of magic. They would certainly be unable to unravel the mystery that was the boy with such ease.

-It will be an honor. – She bows and waits.

-That’s all we had to talk about for now.

Without saying another word, the elf leaves the royal hall.

*

-I don’t like the idea. – Lancelot grumbles, facing the three figures in front of him. His tone is one of disapproval. – However, I already knew that Galaaz would not claim the leadership of our group, even if that is my wish.

Yvanna sighs, feeling deeply uncomfortable that her presence is needed at such moment. Standing in front of the castle, in the central square, Lancelot, Galaaz, Arthur and herself talked about the consequences of the lupine’s decision.

At first, the one who would talk to Lancelot about this subject would be Rinlia, but the elf delegated the role to the vampire as soon as she knew about it.

“I like the idea of Galaaz going with us.” The elf grunted. Although she did not specifically say it, her concern about the possibility that the wolf could decide to tell his tribe about the agreement with Nafaester is obvious. With him in Fiandel, it would be much harder to betray the group’s trust. It was another guarantee, in addition to the promise that had already been made.

-Our group went through problems together. – Yvanna steps forward. If she was correct about Rinlia’s intentions, the best thing to do was to ensure that the wolf could follow them. – We faced together the battles that happened after your group had to go away with the golens, Lancelot. As far as I know, these two – She points to Arthur and Galaaz. – Saved each other’s lives. At this point, we are not strangers. We are companions, who fought side by side.

She looks at the reddish fur lupine. The gesture is a mixture of staging and sincere feelings. She wants him to know that she is helping him.

-In Fiandel, he could not be in better hands.

Lancelot looks at Galaaz once more and, then, tilts his nose towards the ground. It is opportune that no other lupine is nearby to see the state of sadness of its leader. He would not allow himself to be seen that way.

-I knew that this day would come. – He grumbles, approaching his son. – And I knew you would ignore my wishes. Our pack would be safe in your hands, you know? I could rest…

-It is not yet time for you to rest. – Galaaz tries to hide his own sadness with some sarcasm. – Who knows? Maybe I can come back in a few years and give you the rest you want so badly.

Lancelot’s expression seems to get a little better.

-I would be happy with that.

Galaaz lowers his muzzle, and they remain silent for a few moments until Lancelot moves his ears and turns his eyes to the palace.

-It is not yet the time for sadness. We are going to the palace as guests to the Oracle. Few leaders of our pack had such an honor, even less could go as a pair. This is a matter of great honor, and we cannot appear to be sad, my son. Let’s go.

*

Queen Aetna relishes the terrifying silence that invades the meeting room. No one dared to even breathe loudly in her presence. Neither the generals, nor the nobles, the merchants of even her husband.

They have all been standing around the table for several minutes, gathered on the left and right side. Only the Queen remains seated at the head of a huge stone table, on which the design of a world map is engraved.

This is the first time she decided to leave her son’s room to talk. It is the first moment she does not dedicate to grief and despair. It has been just a few hours since she took the first shower, changed her dresses, ate something and gave orders about what to do with the deceased body.

This is the second day since the death of her heir. The second day since the beginning of the greatest pain she had ever felt in her life.

And, on the second day, she brought together all those who could oppose her command. The ten big shots in the city of Vivre: 3 warriors, 2 nobles, 2 bankers and 3 trade leaders. As a defense strategy, she decided it would be better to deal with the hard part now, since the impossible part could be somewhere in the future. She also knew that she would not be able to keep her plans completely hidden from them. Doing so would be like asking for future complications.

-My usual representative will be sent to Fiandel. – She points to her right, to a nobleman with a pointed nose and a smug smile. – Venedir Raenelsen Julius Phaendeller has been doing diligent services for me for years, so he will have the responsibility to arrive at Njalmar’s court in a few days after the report of the lake’s event will be delivered by our messengers. His mission is to deliver an updated report, which will have my seal, notifying recent discoveries about how the incident was caused by the presence of the magic of the Boy from the Prophecy of the End, the one who calls himself Arthur. Venedir will report that survivors of the ship and some of our soldiers saw the way in which the destruction occurred and how the beast emerged due to the magic of the incorporeals. The details will be written and delivered to Venedir, who will leave the city with the best security we can provide. We will also make demands, such as handing over the prisoner and the official who helped him escape. That is all. Venedir, make the preparations for your trip. You will leave tomorrow.

Although surprised, the messenger immediately bowed to the queen and left the room. The queen did not even notice his movement, since her attention, once again, was on the figures around her.

-The message to Fiandel is partially true and, also, a little speculative. – She admits. – I was thinking a lot about what happened at the lake and, from the fragments of reports that where handed to me, it seems obvious that it was Rinlia and Arthur who commanded the defense of Fiandel’s forces. Since nobody knows who the monster is or where it came from, Fiandel cannot blame us for the attack. Therefore, we can freely accuse that elf of helping the escape of a fugitive, causing the death of innocent people.

King Orlov waits until she stops to breathe before speaking:

-With all due respect, my queen: Wasn’t the plan to put pressure on Fiandel little by little, gaining support from neighboring nations, to know the best way to gain something from the situation in the future?

-The plan changed the moment our son was killed, my husband. – The ferocity overflows from her words. – I no longer have any interest in small victories. I want their heads. Rinlia and Arthur’s. As for Njalmar, I want to see him on his knees, asking for forgiveness. Anything less and I will move the entire continent against Fiandel.

-My Darling, we should talk about this. – He whispers beside the queen.

Aetna punches the table.

-I believe I was not clear. This is not a meeting to discuss the plan. I’ve already moved more pieces than all of you can see. – She faces the traders, aware of the pride they have in their information network. – Look for the signs and you will notice. You will understand the days to come. The things I will do if Njalmar refuses to give in. And don’t think that this is just some act for revenge, because I know what you think about endeavors that have no monetary value. You should know that the things we wanted to achieve with slow conversations after lengthy investigations and years of pressure will be achieved in a few months and with the support of all kingdoms. We will not leave this place before you all understand my plan, who are my allies and how we will shift the balance of power across the continent.

She looks at her husband.

-Do you remember the question you asked me, husband? About our kingdom?

He, frightened by the queen’s impulsiveness, fumbles.

-No... I... I don’t remember.

-You asked me if Vivre was afraid of Fiandel.

She turns to the other members of the room, looking up and saying:

-It will be Fiandel who will learn to fear the power of Vivre.

*

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