Chapter 249: Reasoning (1/2)
Hod wiggled in place, ”Was Emperor man like fluffy man?”
I nodded, ”Yeah, I could tell they were related. The Emperor was much more, well, polite than Helios was.” I turned to Althea, ”In fact, he went out of his way to chastise Helios for how he acted towards us.”
Althea grinned at me, and I smiled back. I walked over, through the crowd who parted for me. As I did, she blushed for a moment. I hugged her to me, and she murmured,
”You're embarrassing me.”
I smiled, ”I love you too.”
With that gushy moment finished, I turned back towards the group, ”Any other thoughts?”
Amara spoke up first, ”If we are to join him, would we not be his servants? It bodes ill for wolves such as we.”
I turned a hand to her, ”Think of this as a partnership. Outside of the rebellions on his planets, we'll be helping Obolis raid ancient tombs and whatnot. We'll be splitting the goods, and just from the few minutes we saw the guy, he's got and has found some good stuff.”
Amara lifted her palms, the eyes on them narrowing, ”Such as?”
I thought out my response for a bit, thinking about what Amara would think is valuable. I spread out my hands, wondering why I didn't think of this sooner,
”When we walked up, he was studying a viral eldritch called Plaga Ustus. I'm sure he's found dozens of interesting eldritch like that, and he could help you with his research.”
A grin grew on her face, her jagged teeth unnerving, ”Interesting. We would be among wolves, listening to the echoes of lambs.”
”Uh...yeah,” I turned to the others, ”Anyone want to chime in? I'll listen to whatever you have to say.”
Several of those present took a moment to think things through, none of them wanting to give me some half baked idea. Torix spoke up first,
”If I may, I believe I have an opinion worth voicing on the matter.”
”Of course man, go ahead.”
”As you all know, I carry the ambition of proliferating education throughout Schema's system. Teaching is something of a passion for me, and I need resources to do such a thing. The first order of business would be establishing myself as an academic force on a galactic scale.”
Torix lifted a metal hand with his fingertips pressed together,
”In order to do so, I will require three things. First, an academy with its own grounds. The third floor serves this purpose well. The second requires a consistent stream of students, which we have few of. The last of which is the most cardinal of these issues: safety.”
Torix turned to me,
”I know it is hard to hear, but Lehesion and the Adair Family pose a grave threat to this place and the people therein. Allying ourselves with the Empire would allow us to operate without the need for such secrecy, as they would prove an effective deterrent. Gaining a steady stream of students from their planets would grant us a consistent supply of talent as well.”
I considered his points, each of them well thought out. Before I could reply, Althea walked up,
”I think we should wait until after we've gotten rid of the Adairs first.”
Torix tilted his head, the mage not expecting Althea's defiance,
”Is there perhaps further reasoning as to why?”
Althea turned to the group, and she swallowed before speaking, ”Well, I think there are a few reasons. I mean, we can't guarantee that allying with the Empire will make Lehesion refuse to attack us, right?”
Torix cupped his chin, ”True.”
”Uhm, if anything, it sounds like this Emperor guy really knows his stuff. If we assume that's the case, he might actually want us to relax our security. Imagine if we had our base destroyed. The Empire would look like a pretty nice hiding spot at that point. He could get a lot more out of us then.”
Torix's fiery eyes flared white for a flash, ”Ahhh, he may anticipate us joining him thereafter. While in most situations, I'd displace your thoughts as a mere conspiracy. However, given Obolis's nature, that may not be the case. He's a rather dubious individual, after all.”
Althea spread out her arms, gaining confidence, ”And besides, you want to prove your the best teacher in the galaxy, right?”
Torix coughed into his hand, ”Ahem, perhaps.”
Althea smiled, ”Then we can teach the orphans and gialgathens from the war. They'll be like sponges, and you won't have to, er, get rid of any bad habits.”
Huh. Althea has a soft spot for children. Noted.
Torix saw through her like a window,
”The students from the Empire will be far more receptive and won't require relearning the basics. I may instill advanced magic in them that orphans would likely struggle to comprehend.”
Althea pointed at the lich, ”Exactly. If you don't have to really teach them, then how are you proving you're the best teacher? Besides, you think the Empire's students will stick around after you give them the best education the galaxy has to offer? If anything, they'll go right back to the Empire.”
Torix shrugged, ”I know when I'm defeated. Consider me convinced, young lady.”
Althea stood up a bit taller.
I agreed with her points for the most part, so I turned to the others. As my gaze landed on Krog, I waited for him to speak up. He didn't. I raised an eyebrow,
”You know you can let us know your kin need help, right? We'll listen.”
Krog took a deep breath. An internal war waged in his head, different thoughts fighting for control. As one side won, the grizzled general's eyes gazed far into the distance,
”You're guild...it has done more for my kind than I could have ever have asked of it. I treated each of you without honor when we met. It is a mistake I regret. Even though I wish for us to continue waging war until the Adair Family has been erased, I will continue to serve you regardless of your choice.”
My eyes widened from shock as I heard the guy talk. I raised my eyebrows, ”You're sure?”
Krog nodded with a bit of struggle, ”We've saved enough of my kind that my species may continue here on Earth. More are left being Hybridized, yet I cannot force you to continue to fight for us alone. In the end, you must fight for what you believe is right.”
Damn. My respect for this guy went up as he spoke.
I scratched the side of my head, ”Well, shit. How am I supposed to say yes to the Emperor after that?”
Krog grinned, a wily look crossing over his face,
”You're not supposed to.”
I scoffed, ”Ok, so that's how it is. I'll keep that in mind.” I turned to everyone else, ”Anyone else have something to add? I'm all ears.”
Hod lifted a wing, ”Harbinger not made of all ears though? Hod confused.”
I raised my hands, ”It's an expression. It means I'm listening.”
Hod shook his head while crossing his arms, ”Hod think phrase make no sense. Hod know listening start with brain, not ear. Hod ear only hear. Should be Harbinger all brains, not all ears. Hod believe new phrase make more sense.”
I stared at Hod in awe as he spoke with absolute confidence. In its own way, it was kind of incredible how he just...believed in himself like that. There was something to learn here.
And something not to learn too, but hey, I was trying to give credit where I could.
I frowned, ”Yeah. Noted.”
Kessiah walked forward from beside Krog. She turned a hand to everyone, ”So uh, let's talk about something, I don't know, less stupid?”
She got a few nods, even from Hod. A bit flabbergasted, I listened as Kessiah spoke,
”I know I haven't been the most reliable person in the past, but I just wanted to say something.”
She patted Krog's side, ”This guy right here has been a damn fine companion. A lot of these big, ugly bastards have shown me what it means to go to war and fight for something. I'm still fighting to prove myself, but they gave me another reason to go to war. For my brothers and sisters out there. If we run now, who will help them?”
Shit, at this point, I felt bad for even bringing up the Emperor's deal. I put my hands on my hips, looking towards everyone, ”Noone if I guessed right.” I turned towards the group, ”Anyone else want to voice an opinion?”
Hod walked up, scrawny as ever. He raised a winged arm, ”Hod wish to speak to group.”
With everyone's attention, Hod raised his taloned hands,
”Hod know what losing home like. Hod lose home after all. When Hod arrive on Earth, Hod gain new home. Hod want same for big salamanders. Hod not just want new home for big salamanders though.”
Hod squeezed his hands, his scrawny arms shaking from the effort,
”Hod remember Yawm. Yawm scary, big plant man. Yawm threaten Hod new home. Hod know all us want help, but no help come. We fight alone. Gialgathens, they fight against Adair. Without us, gialgathens fight alone.”
Hod pointed off at where the world tree once stood over the horizon,
”Hod believe the Adair like Yawm for gialgathens. Hod know it hard, but Hod want help against Adair. Hod want us be help us never had.”
I raised my fists, ”Alright then, it's settled. We'll wait on the Emperor's deal until after we've taken the Adair Family out.”
The atmosphere lightened as I peered back and forth,
”But, uh, that doesn't mean we said no, does it?”
Amara and Torix shook their heads. Althea and Hod looked more in the middle about the issue. Kessiah and Krog seemed peeved that I even considered accepting the deal in the first place. I raised an eyebrow at Kessiah and Krog,
”Why don't you both want to accept the deal? You can be honest, no hurt feelings here.”
Kessiah grimaced, ”The albony treats everyone like 'commoners.' They're complete dicks.”
Fair enough.
I turned to Krog, ”What's your reason?”
”Those that speak honeyed words are the least trustworthy. My gut tells me that Obolis intends on more than he let on, like a beautiful grail full of poisoned water.”
I took a deep breath, considering what he said. As I did, I mouthed, ”Huh.”
I gave a slow nod before turning towards everyone, ”Alright then, we won't make any clear decisions right now. We have until a day after Giess has been glassed anyways.”
As I mentioned the glassing, Krog winced. I noted his reaction, making sure to remember a different way of wording the event for later. The group began chatting with a few mentions,
”Seems reasonable.”
”We trust your judgments.”
”Sounds good to me.”
I turned towards Torix, ”When's the next battle?”
The lich steepled his fingers, ”Two days time. Our forces need rest and time to heal their wounds.”
”Alright then. We'll meet back in Elderfire at 9:00 in the morning, Giess time. Until then, prepare yourselves for war, everybody.”
The crowd gave me a cheer, my friends and allies having a warm reception. Well, except Amara, but she gave me a tiny fist wave. For now, it was enough.