The Forsaken Hero

The next day, I stood before Fate, Arantius, and a half-dozen other powerful remnants, from Emlica to Villie, explaining my offer to the demons. They listened with stone-cold silence, their stares growing darker and heavier with every word.

”And that’s why I think they should come,” I ended up whispering, lowering my head, unable to bear their weight any longer. I fidgeted, my tail rustling anxiously, as no one spoke. I finally glanced at Fate, my lower lip quivering. ”Is it alright?”

I felt more that I was asking whether I was going to be alright after bringing such a proposition to them. But I found no comfort. Her eyes glittered with amusement, not anger or approval.

”A mortal asking to bring demons into a realm of divinity? How bold.” The corner of her lip quirked in a smile. ”I can’t say I’ve heard of that happening, not from the Beginning to now.”

”For good reason,” Arantius said, scowling. At the ground, not me, but it felt like it.

”I think it’s a poor idea,” Emlica said. ”There’s no telling how their souls would react to the divine mana permeating the air.”

”Thus their reluctance, I assume,” Fate said, nodding at me. ”Demons would jump at a chance to invade and consume, but live...? I can only imagine they’re as uncertain of the idea as we are.”

”I hate demons,” Villie muttered, crossing her arms. ”They’re mean and smelly.”

Another remnant, Invika, the mage whom I’d summoned to save me in Incinderus’ demon gate, shrugged. ”It seems like an interesting proposition. Assuming they can properly assimilate. I would be willing to give it a chance.”

”And should it fail?” Gathrin asked.

She flashed a toothy grin. ”Arantius can just erase them.”

”I would rather not risk it,” Arantius said crossly. ”My vote is no.”

”Good thing we’re not taking votes,” Fate said. ”Xiviyah, this is your realm, and we’re sworn to support you. If you believe in the demons, we will as well.”

”We?” Villie muttered.

Fate gave her a sharp look, and the little remnant wilted back, muttering to herself.

”I...I don’t want to force it on anyone. It’s their home,” I said.

”I’m in favor,” Jasrin said suddenly. He sheltered in the corner of the chapel, where he’d remained silent in fear of Emlica from the moment she entered. ”Those mortals you brought have told me a lot about their wars in Enusia. Apparently, they’ve fought alongside these Devoted rather extensively. Many would choose to fight alongside them, given the opportunity.”

”I have a hard time believing that,” Gathrin said. ”Those demons ravaged their world.”

”And yet proved reliable allies,” Jasrin said. ”Our war is not against demons, but against the cycle. If there are demons that fight against it too, why would we not ally ourselves with them?”

”This coming from the commander of the fatesworn?” Arantius asked, sounding genuinely surprised.

”That name belongs to another, but yes,” Jasrin said, much to everyone’s confusion.

”And what do you think of this, Fate?” Emilca asked.

The room quieted again as Fate looked at the mage, a touch of irritation flashing through her serenity. ”I thought I made myself clear. It is the Oracle’s decision, and none other. I stand by her.”

”And you wish to grant these Devoted entry?”

I shrank back as every eye turned to me once more, but nodded, gripping my sleeves to keep my hands from trembling.

”I do,” I whispered, then louder said, ”They are a part of me, every bit as much as Fable or all of you. I don’t want to be fighting myself. I trust them.”

”Then we shall accept them,” Fate said, her tone final.

I had to physically keep myself from sagging in relief as the remnants relaxed, their auras calming. Even Villie stopped muttering to herself. They all looked at me, but the weight was gone. For a second, before they turned away, I thought I sensed approval.

”Then I shall prepare a place for them,” Gathrin said, straightening. ”If you truly wish to unite your forces, it would be best if they were close to the Company.”

”Yes, they can continue training together. I’ll oversee that myself. I’m curious to know how far mortals and immortals can go in working together,” Jasrin said.

”As am I. But inform them that one wrong move will end in their calamity,” Arantius said. ”I do not trust them, nor will I.”

”You don’t trust anyone,” Villie said, rolling her eyes.

”For good reason,” he snorted.

I started to back away, content to leave the remnants to their bickering, but Jasrin noticed and cornered me.

”Before you go, Oracle,” he said, ”There is a matter that requires your attention. Would you join me at Starfall Keep?”

My tail stiffened. ”Did something happen? Is Bethiv okay?”

”Yes, yes, fine. Why?”

I rubbed my horn, face reddening. ”Well, um...it’s nothing. I just thought, from how you said it...”

He blinked, glancing at the others. ”Did I say something weird?”

”Which time?” Emlica muttered.

”Just go already. You’re scaring her,” Villie scolded, putting her hands on her hips.

Despite being two feet shorter than the ranger, Jasrin took a half-step back from the little remnant, raising his hands in surrender. ”Fine, fine, no need to bark.”

”Haven?” I asked, holding out my hand.

The realm spirit appeared, placing his gauntlet over my slender fingers. I gave Fate a smile, which she returned with a nod, and the realm twisted. I gasped as the world righted, finding myself standing before the glassy fountain at Starfall keep. A group of soldiers stared at me, startled from where they were drilling across the courtyard.

I gave them a little wave, cringing as they all saluted, the sound echoing off the ribbon-like walls, ringing in my ears. Jasrin appeared a moment later, glowering at something. His face brightened as he fully materialized, and he took my arm, ignoring my protests and dragging me toward the entrance.

”Come, the Commander is waiting inside!” he said.

I gave up and allowed him to tug me through the gates, stumbling to keep up. He only let go as we made it through the narrow hallway at the front and into the grand hall. Unlike my last visit, the hall was warm and cheery. The crystal chandeliers glowed brightly, their harsh light tinted yellow by several braziers burning between the marble columns. The banners hanging from the walls had been restored to their formal glory, a single vibrant golden star on a backdrop of midnight blue. Stone staircases ran up the walls to a balcony curving around the entire hall, with arched corridors tucked away beneath them.

”Lady Xiviyah!” Jackal cried.

The scarred man stood before a raised dais on the far side of the room, upon which sat an empty throne. He’d been addressing a squad of some twenty men and women, all young and fit, wearing the cloaks of rangers. But he turned from them immediately, leaving them standing at attention, and jogged over. I was startled to see that, on his breast, the sigil of the Last Light Company was gone, replaced by the crest of the Fatesworn.

”We didn’t expect you to return so soon! I’m afraid we’re still learning the ins and outs of the place, and don’t have much to offer as for hospitality,” he said.

”If I wanted that, I’d just go back to the Sunsinger Manor,” I said. ”I’m glad to be here, among friends. Just because you have a castle now doesn’t mean you need to adopt all stifling traditions and decorum that go with it.”

”Heh, could you imagine?” He chuckled, shaking his head. ”Never mind that, though. I assume you’re here to speak with the Commander?”

At my nod, he barked a few orders to the rangers, permitting them to relax, while he led Jasrin and me through one of the corridors on the ground level, to a study Bethiv had claimed as his own. It was huge, with a thick stone table enchanted with the same illusory array that the Council Chamber had, only smaller. It showed a three-dimensional map of Starfall Valley, zoomed in on the orchards. Bethiv and a few other officers stood around it, muttering to themselves.

Bethiv looked up as Jackal pushed through the door. ”Did you get the new rangers sorted out? I’d like them to...Lady Xiviyah. What a pleasant surprise!”

I returned his smile with a quick hug. He patted my back, holding me a second longer than I intended, before I squirmed free. My ears turned pink as the other soldiers chuckled.

I looked back at the remnant, then at the Commander. ”Jasrin said there was something I needed to do?”

”Not do, per se,” Bethiv said, rubbing his chin. ”The truth is, we can no longer stand as the Last Light Company. We’ve officially parted from their ranks and become our own body. As we deliberated on the ramifications, the remnant proposed a plan we’ve since considered and accepted. He offered us the name of a group he once led. The Fatesworn.”