Crimsoncrest (The Weirkey Chronicles Book 10), page 37
"At last! Patrons, I summon you to fulfill your side of the bargain!"
As the patriarch of House Crimson spoke, he broke some sort of sublime metal that sent a call across worlds. For several seconds, everyone on the battlefield was staring at Wiltur... then the call was answered. A group of figures emerged in midair, many wearing silver Deuxan robes.
The Salebrante. They weren't broadcasting their full power, but Theo could tell that they had aeon-class soulcrafters. For the first time, Plutalgion shifted his stance in preparation for movement.
"Well done," one of the group said. "We will take the Crimsoncrest and grant you what was promised."
"The deal has gotten more complicated." Despite staring at a group that far outclassed him, Wiltur seemed entirely confident. He gestured in another direction just as a new force emerged.
This time it was the massive Eternal Spectrum ship, appearing in the sky and displacing so much air that a shockwave swept over everyone. From below Theo couldn't see who was seated atop the throne, but he heard a different voice from before resound over the battlefield.
"This was not the deal," a man said sourly. "You promised us a crest, Wiltur."
"Let me be clear about the terms." Wiltur flew to stand above the peak of the mountain, projecting his voice to all sides of the battle. "House Crimson has infused the greatest sublime material any of you have seen in years, but it is incomplete. If I die, or if you act against us, my allies will destroy the crest. Is killing me worth that?"
All of the Salebrante members looked murderous, though they said nothing. By contrast, the voice from the Eternal Spectrum ship sounded only amused.
"Are you truly trying to negotiate with your superiors?" it asked.
"Why not?" Wiltur gestured down at the crimson glow beneath him. "For the first time in my life, I have something that those superiors truly want, so I intend to sell it to the highest bidder. Eternal Spectrum, Salebrante, even Plutalgion... give me the best offer and the Crimsoncrest is yours."
"You think we'll let you live after this?" one of the Salebrante asked.
"Really? Are you going to unite to put me down?" Wiltur waited several seconds, then chuckled. "No, I thought not. The truth is that all of you neutralize one another, so you need new organizations to work for you. Well, House Crimson stood in the face of the world with nothing but a few resources. How much more could we accomplish if we had your full support?"
Theo glanced between the factions involved, wondering if this gambit could possibly work. He couldn't see anyone on the Eternal Spectrum ship, but it seemed plausible that they would actually respect this. Plutalgion was as impossible to read as a statue. The Deuxans in the Salebrante appeared angry, but some looked like they respected the audacity.
And then, in front of everyone, the crimson glow began to fade.
Even the aeon-class organizations looked surprised at that. The light around the mountaintop flickered, then died away strangely, dissolving the barrier with it. Suddenly everyone could see the great marble slab... which had formed into a crest of black and silver.
Nauda stood beside it, apparently as shocked as everyone else. She gripped the side, trying to project confidence, but Theo could see that she was using the slab to help herself stand.
"This is the Blacksilvercrest," she announced. Quieter than the booming aeon-class soulcrafters, but they were all listening to her now.
"Impossible." Wiltur stared down at the mountain, at first in shock and then disbelief. His eyes kept flickering around it, as if searching for some answer, but there was no one there except a few injured or dead Asplundat soulcrafters. "This can't... I felt..."
Theo had no hypothesis about the false crimson light, but he spotted the drained shadowlamp beside Nauda, so their backup plan must have worked. Problem was, it could still get them all killed. This was too many twists for most of those watching, but some of the Asplundat Strongholds who had followed looked more than a little angry.
Fighting was suicide, but so was retreat. No choice but to lean in. Theo cleared his throat and flew closer to the mountain to address the gathered powers.
"House Blacksilver protected the crest," he said, "shielding it with our own cantae. Of course it remains in the ownership of our allies, the Asplundat Movement. If anyone feels otherwise, they will have to fight us all for it."
Then he simply floated there, under the gaze of multiple beings who could annihilate him. But none of them acted, because the political calculus had changed drastically. They didn't want the crest badly enough to fight the other major powers for it, so he expected they would retreat. If they didn't, he would have to hope that the Orphic Cabal was willing to take action in honor of their agreement.
In the end, Plutalgion acted first. He let out a snort, stepped away, and vanished into a weirkey. Soon after, the Eternal Spectrum ship lifted into the clouds and vanished. That left the Salebrante... who were turning their gazes on Wiltur.
"Wait-" He tried to shout justifications, but they were on him in a silver flash. Wiltur only had time to let out a scream before he vanished along with the group.
Which meant that the battlefield suddenly only had one side remaining on it. Many were still too stunned to accept what had happened, but there wasn't a single Tymetronese soulcrafter left fighting. Even as they started to realize, there were few shouts of celebration, the citizens of the Asplundat Movement simply began to gather the wounded and investigate the damage.
For his part, Theo felt too wrung out to do much. He flew down to check on Nauda, who immediately leaned on his arm. She might not have been in the main battle, but the haunted look in her eyes suggested she had waged one of her own. Fiyu should still be alive as well, though she was likely waiting in the shadows with Guchiro.
As he waited, Theo spotted Homez seated on a rock lower on the mountain. He intended to greet the other man, but Homez looked shattered. Physically just a bit battered, but he sat and stared at nothing. His hands fumbled with rocky fragments.
The first person to approach was actually someone Theo hadn't expected: Citizen Dominion. Before this point, the top soulcrafter of the Asplundat Movement had never deigned to speak to him directly. Facing down the powers of the Nine Worlds had a way of changing things.
"I respect what you said," Citizen Dominion said, "but the fact remains, you essentially took the material from us."
"We tried not to," Nauda said wearily. "Ask the others if you don't believe me. It got desperate."
Theo gestured toward the slab, which still burned with power. "I meant what I said: it's yours, if you want it. But after seeing how many forces are willing to kill for it, do you think it's something you can just shove into your soulhome?"
Citizen Dominion rubbed his face with both hands. "No, I suppose not."
"There are other organizations that would treat fairly with you, and I can introduce you to one. I strongly suggest that the Movement doesn't keep the crest here. Everyone is wary for now, but if we keep it, our enemies will start sending more subtle agents."
That only got another nod. Hopefully Citizen Dominion was just exhausted after the battle that had expanded so far beyond what anyone had expected. Theo felt like he was walking through deep water, the world slow and distorted. He heard himself speak clearly enough, but his mind was still reeling with plans and potentials.
Even though it seemed irreverent, Theo sat down on the stone slab that had caused all of this chaos. He was too tired, and maybe too old, to care.
This was the first time he had really stepped onto the stage of the Nine Worlds, gaining the attention of the aeon-class organizations. Was Vistgil watching, or did he only weave games from the shadows? Did he recognize Theo, or was he just another threat to eliminate? What would ultimately come of any of this?
Theo stared into the blank sky and found no answers.
Chapter 40
There had been too many people lately, so Fiyu observed from the shadows. It was her duty to monitor the situation and prevent any slides back into chaos, but she could do that without speaking to anyone.
In the wake of the battle, everyone clustered together as an instinct against unknown threats. Fiyu understood part of this, since it was reasonable to maintain formation in such circumstances, but she did not share the apparent desire for interaction. So many were talking or embracing simply to recover, not as a precaution. After seeing the aeon-class organizations, she could not relax enough for such things, not yet.
For one moment she had been forced to engage with others: the Asplundat Movement wanted to acknowledge her role in the battle. They meant to praise her for standing against three Dominions, even briefly, and helping Citizen Dominion, but they only stressed her. At the end, however, they had given her a Fithan weirkey, then allowed her to escape.
Now she roamed near the center, where Friend Theo and the Asplundat Movement had requested the presence of the Orphic Cabal. Their representatives, who had been so fearsome before, were now something of a comfort since they might ward off enemies. It was strange to see Fithans and Arbaians meeting like this, with Friend Theo near the center.
"The issue is not market forces," one of the Arbaians was saying, "but sublime epistemology. Given your unfamiliarity with superlative sublime materials, any estimate of its value will by necessity be skewed. Some level of trust will be required, no matter what precautions you insist upon."
"And we're just supposed to take your word?" Citizen Dominion answered. His injuries had been healed first of all, though the muscles under his tunic still trembled at times. "You have leverage over us here, but we won't become a vassal to some inter-world empire."
"We are not an empire, only a consortium."
Friend Theo stepped forward and, despite the power of the group, they listened to him when he spoke. "I can bring in a neutral aeon-class arbiter, if necessary, but I don't think that's the right path. Can't we frame this as an ongoing relationship? First we exchange sublime materials, the Blacksilvercrest for materials suited to Strongholds and Dominions. Consider this an initial investment that supports continued study of the infusion process."
"Rational," the Orphic Cabal representative said.
"You're using collective terms," Citizen Dominion pointed out. "I won't deny that we couldn't have won without the Ruling Cities, but do you expect us to share everything we've gained with all of you? For many in the Movement, we are still trapped between two empires."
"Do you think you can defeat Tymetron without us?" Friend Theo asked. "I'm not here trying to grab resources for Blacksilver, I'm advocating for further cooperation against a greater threat."
"Well... it would be unfair of us not to pay House Blacksilver, given their contribution. And perhaps the House of Coin deserves to be compensated as well..."
They continued the discussion, making no mention of House Crimson. It seemed that it had been truly eradicated - not the people it contained, but the idea of it as an organization. Perhaps that was what failure on such a grand stage meant.
Fiyu noted that the Orphic Cabal watched these arguments with only mild impatience. She judged this to be good: they considered themselves entangled with these Fithan organizations, so they would serve as some defense against greater enemies. Until the Blacksilvercrest was actually removed, Fiyu would remain nervous, but this was a step in the right direction.
Wandering on, Fiyu observed all of the Asplundat soulcrafters recovering. Friend Nauda was assisting with the healing, and Fiyu longed to go directly to her, but she made herself analyze the others more carefully. Were there more betrayers who had been paid off by the Eternal Spectrum or other organizations? She understood why the Asplundat Movement would be so nervous, after being deceived by one of their own.
Ally Homez had no healing abilities, but he still took a key leadership position in the aftermath, guiding the removal of debris. Even Strongholds, who should by all rights outrank him, listened to his instructions, so it seemed that his prestige in the Movement had risen once again.
The House of Coin had also set up operations, offering support free of charge. Yet not truly without price, since they fully expected to receive organizational compensation for their role in the battle. Fiyu spotted Associate Kathina in the middle of things and felt that perhaps she should say something, yet she hesitated. Associate Kathina was Friend Theo's associate, not hers.
Finally Fiyu allowed herself to go and be near Friend Nauda. She remained hidden for some time, merely watching her future lifemate tend to the injured. When the other woman finished, however, Fiyu emerged and took her hand, guiding her to sit on a broken boulder.
"You cannot work forever," Fiyu told her. "You must tend to yourself as well."
"Thanks." Friend Nauda smiled and squeezed her hand. "I wish I could have done more to help you. I mean, our position turned out to be important, but I would have preferred to be fighting with you out there."
"You will soon, Nauda. Now that the immediate danger is past, we will help you ascend to Stronghold."
Friend Nauda smiled, but that didn't ease the tense muscles in her back: apparently her worry had another source. She was silent for a time before speaking. "There hasn't been any sign of Tythes since the battle, not unless you've spotted him?"
"No, I have not."
"He knocked me unconscious, so I'm not sure about the last step." Friend Nauda rubbed her chin as she spoke. "House Crimson had some sort of device that created an illusion around the crest, so Tythes must have repurposed it to undermine his father. But I woke up while the crimson illusion was still in place, and I never saw Tythes leave."
"It likely worked at range, so you could not have." Fiyu tilted her head as she examined the other woman more carefully. "This is a source of deep concern for you."
"Yeah, I guess so. It seems like Tythes did all of this solely to destroy his father... at least, I think? I admit, House Crimson had deeper connections than I expected, and it could have been a real problem if Wiltur had pulled off his plan."
"But...? There is more you have not said."
Friend Nauda shook her head slowly. "I don't know. Maybe I was hoping he wanted more than that, maybe I'm just worried because I don't understand. Is he going to pop up again and try something different?"
This was a reasonable concern, but Fiyu was far more worried about what had been described. "You said alarming things about his transformation... could he have been replaced by a fleshmasker?"
"No, I don't think so, it was completely different. And I got a good look at his soulhome... it was the one I saw before, I just hadn't understood what I was seeing. So... I don't know, maybe it won't matter at all. Maybe he'll run off to some distant bar and drink for the rest of his life."
Fiyu remained there for a time, both to enjoy Friend Nauda's presence and to prevent her from throwing herself back into healing too soon. Eventually, however, they both needed to return to their tasks. As soon as Fiyu slipped back into her stealth technique, she was reminded of how much still needed to be done around them.
She continued on, through the wreckage, and discovered that another group was scouting: Ally Krikree patrolled around the perimeter with Associate Senka hovering beside her. Unexpected.
"You gotta help me convince Theo to find the rivers now," Associate Senka was saying. "I was out of luck, but if anyone knows their locations, it's the Orphic Cabal. If we want to survive against Tymetron, we need more than local alliances."
"Not!" Ally Krikree said. "Senka-food too small to help."
"You little gurfoop... you've seen my attack, you know better!"
"Not. Senka-food too small. Needs eat, become big food." Ally Krikree drew a spear to poke at her playfully and Associate Senka bit off the tip.
Those two also appeared to be... functioning. Fiyu passed by them without letting either know of her presence, seeking something else. Everyone sought out companions in the wake of the battle, and Fiyu had enjoyed her time with Friend Nauda, but now she required the presence of a relative.
She found Relative Guchiro standing far from the center of things, floating in the air hidden to all but her. His injuries had been addressed, yet she felt even more concerned for him than during the battle. All his muscles hung loose except for his jaw, which was set in a tight frown.
Fiyu flew up behind him and their stealth techniques merged seamlessly. For a long time they did nothing but float together, staring out over Fithe.
"Is this not a good outcome?" she asked eventually. "Our allies are intact, our enemy is diminished, and even you can benefit from sublime materials granted by an aeon-class organization like the Orphic Cabal."
"I admit there are positives," Relative Guchiro said. "But this is not an unalloyed good."
"Whyever not?"
"I spoke to my contacts... the divine ice has melted. It should not have done so, not for years, but the process is never exact. The problem is opportunity cost. No matter what we gain, we sacrifice other potential benefits. You can return to a path you previously chose against, but you can never take the journey you might have chosen as a younger traveler."
"I see." Fiyu lowered her head, more hurt by the news than she had expected. She had been assuming that the divine ice would wait for her and she could take all her companions to Ichil to seek it.
"There will be other opportunities. The Jukkean Ice is still a higher priority to me than this continent." Relative Guchiro put an arm around her shoulders, however, and she felt his expression soften. "But do not worry, this is also a priority. I admit that this place is... more entangled with everything else than I had believed."
"Then you will help in the war? "
"If I can." Once more, his jaw set and the muscles around his eyes tightened. "We killed one Dominion from Tymetron, but how many do they have? I spoke to the others and they don't even have an accurate estimate of the empire's strength. Worse than that, this Plutalgion is well beyond Dominion..."
