388. Of debts, privileges and a little omen

Arthur Pendragon

As I leaned against the railing, the salty breeze ruffling my hair, the sun warming my ears, I breathed in deeply, savouring the myriad of scents on the wind, listening to the creaking planks and singing sails behind me. I was nervous but, by the Great Fox, I didn't know why. Sure, Cassandra was intimidating, even more so than the absurdly huge dragon I could apparently call grandmother, but she was still my sister. My baby sister. She felt the same, she acted the same, but yet… Maybe that was the problem. She had grown up but she hadn't changed. 

She was still… gods, innocent was probably the right word, except it felt utterly wrong when applied to a creature made of eternity. And I… I just wasn't. But I wouldn't complain. My people lived and prospered. That was my burden, my duty. I'd pay any price to ensure their safety, their well being. And my family, they just didn't see it the same way. None of them. Even Mordred had changed. To them some things were sacrosanct, too precious to barter with, no matter the possible gains. Were they right? I wasn't so sure anymore.

The distant cry of a seagull reached me and when it had faded away I knew she had arrived. I hadn't heard her approach. Her footfalls were more silent than those of an actual fox but I had felt her, the very moment she had come on deck. Like the rising moon her presence sent warm shivers down my spine with my tails tingling and my fur standing on edge. If I hadn't known any better I'd have thought I was starting to fall for her but luckily she was simply powerful enough to make me tremble. Otherwise I probably would have taken the dive in front of me willingly. Goddamn, my life sucked. I should have become a gardener or a cook. I really should have. But there was no point in crying over spilled milk… or shedded blood.

With a forced smile I turned around and spread my arms, waiting to hug her but she utterly ignored my invitation, coming to a halt a few steps away, her silver eyes shining icily.

"What's wrong," I immediately asked, frowning. That didn't look good and if the sparks, igniting in her eyes and along her tails, were any indication she was pissed. Tremendously so.

"A lot," she stated distantly, "and I want to know how much of it is your doing. You get one warning. One. Lie to me once and I'll take the decision about telling the truth away from you. Have I made myself clear?" I swallowed dryly. Her voice had changed, matching her looks for the first time. It had always been beautiful, ethereal, but now… there was just a hint of barely contained fury and power thrumming in my ears, rivalling her divine, immortal appearance. If they were to break free, the world would change. It might sound overly dramatic, but I was certain it was the truth. For the first time I saw a reflection of a shadow of what she truly was. Apparently it was time to pay the piper. I swallowed again and nodded:

"Perfectly. Ask. If I can, I'll answer." Her stern expression softened, but only a smidgen.

"Did you ever kill a single one of your subjects without a trial?" "Yes."

"Children?"

"Once." And there went what little progress I had made. Even her wings whispered into existence.

"Why?" Her inflection made one thing very clear: my answer should better be really good. Was it? I wasn't convinced anymore but I'd know soon enough.

"To protect the flock the sickly need to be culled sometimes. Our tribe was cursed or poisoned back then. I don't know which. I didn't have a choice since I didn't want to watch every single one of us wither and perish over time. I tried, but there was no cure… there was no way." I answered quietly. It didn't take her long to process my words and she immediately asked:

"Did you take the opportunity to get rid of a bunch of humans, parading around the corpse of one of your own? A child whose blood is still on your hands?" How the hells could she have known?

"Yes," I practically whispered. "In for a copper, in for a gold. The boy was dead and the humans had already raped two of our women and killed a soldier. They had to go, one way or the other."

"And your solution was to slaughter them all? Men and women alike?"

"Slaughter them… no! By the Great Fox, what do you take me for? I exiled them. Them and their kids." She cocked an eyebrow.

"You exiled… all of them? You didn't just banish the kids and kill the parents?"

"Of course not. I'm ruthless if I have to be but I'm not a savage."

"Then… you also never invoked the ancient laws? Punishing some of your soldiers for treason without a trial?"

"Never. That'd go against every fibre of my being. To be perfectly clear, when I acted without a trial I didn't seek justice, nor punishment, I sought safety for my people." That was it. The rest was up to her. I wasn't stupid enough to think I'd be able to do anything at all, if she decided to act.

"I know they didn't lie to me," she mumbled as if to an invisible bystander, taking me entirely by surprise, "and neither did he. Which means the soldiers they bribed… had been bought before? Were an illusion, a trick? Damn it, I should have asked how the slug could bribe a kitsune from a distance. Something is rotten in the state Denmark." She raised her gaze to meet mine. Her mouth was still set in a harsh line but her eyes had lost their threatening fire. So had her voice.

"One last question. You did invoke the ancient laws after a trial, didn't you?" I nodded solemnly.

"Three of my people were found with a foreign communication crystal on them. That wasn't the problem, though, only the reason to investigate properly. They had been marked with a soul sigil… willingly and long before we had ever left Boseiju. What could I have done? We didn't even know whom they were shackled to." She shook her head, as if in denial, but then her ears perked up and she tilted her head like she was listening to a voice I couldn't hear. After a few moments she finally sighed tiredly:

"I'm not enamoured with your choices and I want to hear the whole story as soon as possible but for now… I'm sorry. I underestimated your character and I shouldn't have. I've always trusted my family but, despite my words, I haven't given you the benefit of the doubt. For that I'm sorry. Maybe it's time to tell you what has brought about this tribunal. In case you even want to know. I'd understand if you felt like… pouting," she added as a wry smile finally broke through her harsh expression and her wings vanished. I chuckled exhaustedly.

"I guess I've deserved it. For what I've done, as well as for… putting spiders in your closet when you were three. So… no pouting."

"That was you," she exclaimed, her eyes going wide in disbelief. "I've always thought… oh, brother mine, we're far from even. Did you know that I found small ones in my clothes for weeks?" Her voice sounded a bit strange, a bit taunt, but I gladly took the invitation for what it was.

"No, no I didn't. A pity, really. Were they also crawling through your undergarments?" She puffed up her cheeks and playfully stepped closer, fists raised.

"Indeed they were," she growled. Her hand landed on my shoulder gently when she added in a low whisper: "you have a problem and you need to get your house in order. Immediately."

Taken aback I stammered: "what do you mean?" Her ebony tresses dancing, she shook her head, the single, silver streak amongst them glistening in the sun.

"Not here. Come with me. I… we have to get to the bottom of this mess. Now."

"What about the others," I breathed into her ear. When she shook her head I felt it rub against my cheek like the fleeting touch of spider silk.

"Only our family. Viyara can keep an eye on the rest. She'll listen in anyways."

"What is it with you and that dragoness, anyways," I couldn't help but ask as I stepped back, the planks creaking underneath my sturdy boots. She shrugged nonchalantly and turned around, leading the way back across the ship. As we passed through the massive doors the guards saluted us, or rather her, as it they had just seen their mistress.

"We love each other but not in the same way," she explained as we made our way through the surprisingly empty, meandering maze below deck. "Don't worry, she knows my boundaries… and Ahri's. You know I saved her life, right? She's a young dragoness. Is it really that much of a surprise that she chose to cling to the strongest being she's ever met?"

"And what if she meets someone even stronger?" Her laughter wasn't forced, it was genuine and full of mirth.

"Oh, I'd love to see that. Pray tell, whom do you have in mind?" It was my turn to shrug.

"No one in particular, but there's always a bigger fish in the sea."

"Very true," she chuckled, "but I am no fish. One of these days, or rather hours, we really have to sit down for the talk about the birds and the bees, or should I say angels and demons? Arthur… none of you are ever going to meet anyone stronger than me. You literally can't, at least not when I'm going to reach my full potential. Usually I'd warn you about my other family now, but by now I'm quite convinced that even amongst them there's only one who could truly challenge me. But I've faced his magic before and I'm still here, aren't I?" The heat of the furnace was getting stronger and a faint, acrid smell was tickling my nose, the smoke invisible but heavy.

"Cassy… I have to ask, are you really… unrivalled?"

"Unrivalled? Gods, no. Somehow every hedge wizard with a smidgen of strength seems to be determined to ruin my days around here, but I truly am capable of beating the whole bunch. Doesn't mean I'll always find a way to succeed, though. Potential and power aren't the same… I'm not like you. Believe it or not, I once was but I've changed. It's actually pretty easy to bring me to my knees. You just shouldn't focus on me to do so." Her tails trembled anxiously, sending a wave of dancing sparks across the walls, and I could practically smell her reluctance to go on but in the end she chose to trust me. "Put a knife to Reia's throat and I'd become as meek as milk."

"Not Ahri's?" Her laughter this time reminded me of refined steel.

"Oh, you could certainly try, but that'd have to a be a pretty special knife. When it comes to magic she's weaker than me but I still wouldn't want to face her in a fight. She's… just better. Potential and actual strength, like I said there's a difference. Also, she's still an angel. Aside from our kin there's nothing and no one that could pose a threat to her and even amongst them she's always been one of the strongest, even though she doesn't know herself." She didn't seem to mind my questions so I dared to pose another one:

"Then how come you know?" I instantly knew that I had hit a nerve. Her expression darkened and the fire in her eyes nearly petered out, turning them into a deep, fathomless abyss.

I was already wondering if I had gone too far when she halted mid step and said: "because I'm the only one who can judge. I am the only one who's ever killed an immortal by my lonesome and that's the last I'm going to say on the matter. Don't ask about my past. Some things should better stay buried if not forgotten." Thoughtlessly I grabbed her arm but she didn't seem to mind.

"That bad, huh," I mumbled before I let go. "Sorry, I won't mention it again. Let's talk about the future, then. You know we've barely scratched the surface back on deck, don't you?" She nodded haltingly, and motioned for me to go on. "What if you dislike the rest of my story even more?"

"Then I'll find a way to deal with it," I was pretty sure she actually meant to say "with you". "Arthur… do you think you're a bad person?" I had known this would be coming somewhere down the line and I had my answer ready. I had asked myself the very same question over and over again, night after night.

"Yes. But I think I'm a darn good leader." A pinched smile tugged on the corners of her mouth as she resumed her strut and I had to hurry to keep up with her.

"So do I, except I don't think you're rotten. Good people sometimes have to do bad things to prevent even worse. And they suffer for it, always. And you, brother mine, you're suffering. Wether anyone can see it or not, whether you can see it or not. Which is the reason why I apologised before. I, of all people, should sympathise." She turned her magnificent head away, her delicate fingers brushing over her eyes. Had she shed a tear? "You've watched children die… I've devastated towns, countries… worlds. In the name of rage and righteousness." Her voice was stable but she still looked away firmly, avoiding my gaze. "Unfortunately I don't have a baby sister who can threaten me to do better." I felt my face split into a warm smile and when I hugged her from behind I surprised us both.

"You do, Cassandra, you do now. As well as a mother, two brothers and a wife half the world would kill for." Unexpectedly I felt her lean back into me.

"Only half," she chuckled hoarsely. "I don't think you give her enough credit."

"Maybe I don't. But I'm married. What did you expect? The truth? Don't be naive." I paused for a moment and my smile turned wry. "She's listening, isn't she?"

"Always." She extracted herself from my embrace and waved at a couple of soldiers positioned a few steps further away. It was the first thing I saw that hinted even remotely at the stalwart guards and hermetic protection we had encountered when we had first arrived. Where had the humans gone? 

With a grunt the pair opened a heavy, oaken door for us and my sister slipped through nimbly, her tails vanishing around the corner. With a growing sense of confusion I followed after her, now actively searching for any trace of our host's people. I found myself in another long, windowless corridor illumined by flame less braziers, two more soldiers standing in silent vigil further away. The groans of the furnace were much louder in my ears down here, but with a little effort I pushed them aside. Movement, the rhythmic impact of heavy boots on hardened wood, the scurrying of bare feet, clumsy under the additional weight they were lugging around and the almost inaudible curses when something heavy hit the floor reverberated through the thick, carved walls. Wherever the Purple Worm's entourage had gone, they were very busy and most likely cursing their luck.

I took another deep breath, trying to ignore the harsh, scraping feeling in the back of my throat, while I trotted after my sister. The smells were laced with the taste of burning wood and scorching hot metal but there was also something… acidic. I couldn't quite place it as first but it was the very same choking smell that had greeted me when I had first arrived in Free Land. Black Powder. Probably pounds and barrels filled with the stuff. Enough to blow up the ship with us on board. I frowned and payed even closer attention to my surroundings, my ears twitching agitatedly.

Soon we were going to reach the end of the corridor, the pair of guards stationed midway not even casting us a sidelong glance. Why were the very few we had met acting like we owned the place? "Cassy… your questions from before, all of this," I gestured vaguely, "what's going on?"

She slowed down and came to a halt. We had arrived in front of a reinforced, massive door and with another sigh Cassandra pushed down the well oiled handle. "You'll find out in a second."