A hulking humanoid wearing white armor walked onto a golden platform and moved to the center where a podium stood prominently. Below the platform, countless people sat ready to listen. But perhaps to call them mere people was a disserviceâthese were gods, one and all. Nevertheless, they stayed silent. They had toâthey were in Lawâs Court, and the ancient godâs Justiciars kept the peace.
The Justiciar held its two gauntleted hands out, declaring, âThe King of Vasquer, Argrave, will give his closing speech, and then we shall take a vote on the proposal.â
The hundreds present came to rapt attention, looking around. Curiosity was etched on the faces of those that actually a face, but it was well obvious that people were eager for this final speaker. They had good reason to beâless than a month ago, Argrave had led forces into battle against the infamous Palace of Heaven. Yet unlike thousands before him that had tried, Argraveâs host didnât break against its wallsâinstead, he slew Erlebnis, mortally wounded Sataistador, and gutted the Qircassian Coalition. All of these events took place within hours of each other. The method and circumstances of the day eluded total clarity, but the fact remained that it had happened.
A golden door on the side of Lawâs Court opened wide and in walked Argrave, King of Vasquer. For a mortal man, he was tall, standing at seven feet. He steely gray eyes and wavy black hair which had been trimmed recently until it was just above his ears. He wore a large black coat, and just beneath it, a golden breastplate bearing his personal sigil: a sunburst, with its rays as snakes. The leather armor elsewhere was of the finest quality and adorned with precious metals bearing enchantments both ancient and modern. It was an attire fit enough for a king, but the gods cared more about the man wearing the clothes.
Argrave walked onto the golden platform, regarding the hundreds of gods without so much as a blinking eye. âWeâve been holding this trial for days, now. Any information that was going to come out has come out. I canât bring you something that would turn the world on its head in the final hours. What I can do, however, is give you a reminder. And something poignant to think about, perhaps, as we decide Kirel Qircassiaâs fate.â
Argrave let his words hang, then put one hand to his chest. âThe other senior partners youâve heard from earlier established that I inherited Erlebnisâ knowledge. Iâve demonstrated the breadth of that knowledge to the senior partners of the union, each of which supported my claim. With that knowledge, I laid bare the misdeeds of Kirel Qircassia. Weâve established the path of reckless betrayal he left in his early years. We outlined countless who were betrayed by the Qircassian Coalition. And we outlined the malignant designs he had on countless present here, today, in Lawâs Court. Half of you here today, Qircassia planned to kill.â He tapped the podium thrice to emphasize that point.
âKirel Qircassia must die. He is someone who cannot be trusted to persist in this world. He will conspire with anyoneâSataistador, Erlebnis, for the barest hope of gaining a mite of power. He has no loyalty, no honor, and I wouldnât dare greet him with any in return. Some here, today, have argued that any agreement made with him could be officiated in the White Planes, just as this Blackgard Union was formed. I argue that he is not worthy of having such power to begin with.â Argrave leaned in. âHe should be broken, stripped down, and his body used for parts to make something greater.â
Argrave leaned back. âBut as I think I just established, Iâm a touch biased.â Those few that had senses of humors left in their divine bodies laughed. âYou junior partners of the Union will have your say. As will the senior partnersâmy kingdom included. With Law as our witness, weâll come to an answer regarding his fate. Then, whatever occurs, weâll abide by the vote. But keep in mind some things as you make your choice. If you were up there as he is, trapped⊠what decision might Qircassia make?â He let them run through that hypothetical. âToday you deal with me. Iâve tried my damnedest to be open-handed, so much so that Law bestowed upon me his blessing. But if you let Kirel Qircassia live⊠tomorrow, you might be dealing with him. Him, and whatever allies heâs managed to scrape up. Heâs not such a saint as little old me. And he has no problem killing anyone who slights him.â
Argrave walked away from the podium without further ceremony, leaving the new junior partners of the Blackgard Union to begin the voting process.
âWe shall begin the vote,â declared Lawâs Justiciar as Argrave made for the door. âThe matter at hand⊠the fate of Kirel Qircassia.â
Argrave returned to where his sister, Elenore, waited for him within Lawâs court. Black of hair and gray of eye, she had the classic Vasquer look excluding exceptional height. She was the shortest of the family, though taller than most women. One such exception to most women waited right alongside her: Anneliese, Argraveâs wife and his kingdomâs queen. She was an elven woman hailing from the icy land of Veiden, and like many Veidimen, stood tale and pale with beautiful white hair that stretched past her knees. Both of them wore the colors of Vasquerâblack and goldâto signify their affiliation here in this trial.
âDid you make any mistakes?â Elenore asked.
Argrave sighed. âMost people ask, âhow did it go?â Itâs a more polite way of asking the same question. Come on, try again.â
As Elenoreâs face scrunched in annoyance, Anneliese studied Argrave with her amber eyes. âIt went well, Elenore. Heâs pleased.â
âOf course it went well.â Argrave held out his arms, striking a slight pose. âItâs just words, right? I know words, and I know how to put them together in a way that pleases people. I didnât exactly get a standing ovation, but it was a tough crowd in a tougher venue. I think itâs illegal to cheer here, anyway.â
Elenore rubbed her forehead. âWell, when youâve put in as much legwork as I have making sure this vote swung the right way, youâre much more concerned about someone elseâs mistakes than anything else. Your head is still a little scrambled. I donât want to have to apologize to yet another parliament member because you forgot their name.â
Argrave walked toward the two of them, and they joined him in walking to their destination. âYou wanted the vote, remember. You said it would look good to all the newcomers.â
âIt would. It does.â Elenore nodded. âMore than that, it gave me ample opportunities to get some connections to these new junior partners. Theyâre much more⊠pliable, shall we say, than the other gods. A lot easier to bribe, to blackmail.â
âAnd what about the connections we need to fix Raven?â Argrave looked at her.
Anneliese answered for Elenore, explaining, âWe have the names we need. All we need is a distraction. Ideally, if this crusade against Kirel Qircassia goes through, weâll have the opportunity to contact the person that can help him without drawing any attention.â
Raven. The Alchemist. The Smiling Raven. If people knew what he was, this entire alliance that theyâd built could crumble. The Smiling Raven had destroyed an entire continent, and vanquished countless gods. Argrave had promised to fix the Alchemist after heâd helped him inherit Erlebnisâ knowledge, but it was proving a difficult task to find the help he needed without drawing undue attention.
Argrave lowered his voice and asked, âCan this person be trusted to see the Smiling Raven and not flip out, try to kill him, then spread the word that weâre all psychopaths?â
âMaybe not. But you killed the god of knowledge and the god of war naked, bare-handed, and within three minutes of each other, so you can probably manage the odd lesser god or two,â Elenore responded drolly, eyes facing forward.
âSo, this is quite the risk weâre taking.â Argrave shook his head. âI donât know. Maybe we keep looking.â
âIâve looked in every single continent, Argrave. There arenât many people that handle minds and souls well. There are even fewer capable of repairing a mind as vast and complex as the Alchemistâs. Thereâs basically only the Alchemist himself, and this man.â Elenore looked at him. âTo be blunt, if you want to fix the Alchemist, we have to take the risk. Take a huge risk. Maybe a risk not worth taking.â
âThe man saved my life.â Argrave tapped his forehead. âAnd gave me the gift of knowledge, besides. Without his help, youâd be standing over me while I drooled in a sickbed, ranting deliriously about being the god of knowledge and taking my revenge on that pesky Argrave. A little gratitude is in order.â
âI know I canât dissuade you from taking the risk,â Elenore sighed as they turned a corner. âBut I can remind you itâs there. That counts for something, at least.â
âWhatâs this godâs name?â Argrave asked her. âIâll look him up in the wiki.â
âLindon.â
Argrave thought on it. âNot ringing any bells...â
Elenore snorted. âMight be some of those bells arenât working anymore.â
ââŠbut Iâll catalogue it for later,â Argrave finished, then stop her just before their door. âNow, the vote shouldnât be long. Letâs see what Rookâs got thus far, even still.â
Argrave put his full weight into pushing aside both of the gargantuan golden doors to another of the chambers in Lawâs Court. There, a black-clothed figure wearing a hood that concealed any identifying figures looked at them. Rook, god of deception and subterfuge, awaited them.
âHere comes the boy prodigy.â Rook had been toying with a dagger, and he slipped it away into his clothes so expertly Argrave couldnât track it. âHow did your second trial in Lawâs Court go?â
âNot finished yet,â Argrave greeted, shutting the door behind him. âAnd neither were really trials.â
âI have to sayâyouâve handled this all very shrewdly.â Rook leaned up against a stiff-looking golden chair. âFrom what I could gather, youâve got the vote of every senior partner. But then, we were already committed to killing the roosting pigeon anyhow.â
âTraugott.â Elenore stepped in front of Argrave. âWhat do you have for us?â
Rook held up his hands. âItâs been two weeks since you asked. A god needs time, even with one as slick a kick as me.â
Argrave joined his sister in confronting Rook. âAnd you didnât ask at all when you took it upon yourself to steal the kill.â
Rook pointed. âHey now. When people think, âwho killed Erlebnis?â They sure as shit donât think me of me. They think of you, tall man, not me. I havenât heard any thanks for that, by the way.â
âThanks? That could be considered yet another disservice. Another target, painted on Argraveâs back,â Anneliese argued. âYou owe us, andâ"
âAnd Iâll pay,â Rook interrupted. âBut for now, I assure you, Iâm doing my best. Iâm not stringing you along because itâs expedientâIâm doing my best to be expeditious. But tracking one man around the whole world? A man that might be in the Shadowlands, where no gods walk? Even with my newfound power, and all the newfound friends a deceptive fellow like myself could ever ask for, itâs quite the task.â
Argrave wanted to demand more of Rook, but the manâs excuses didnât sound implausible. Rook wasnât alone in searching for Traugott. Elenore had been expending significant resources and clout to the same end, with similar results. Subterfuge was Rookâs specialty, but if even he couldnât dredge up any information, it was sounding more and more like a hopeless task. They might need another route.
âWhat does Erlebnis say about the man?â Rook questioned.
âToo little. Way too little,â Argrave lamented. âJust some stuff aboutââ
The door opened behind them, and one of Lawâs Justiciars entered. âA vote has been reached regarding the Blackgard Unionâs response to Kirel Qircassia.â
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