Chapter 44 - Desperation

“This is a ridiculous mess,” hissed Ultaf. “I thought we had everything under control.”

Zuken allowed himself a small smile. It wasn’t as arrogant as a full-blown smirk, nor as bright as a grin, just a small twitch of his lips to demonstrate a fleeting amusement at Ultaf’s growing anxiety. It took a while, but it looked like at least one of his plans had borne some fruit.

Not for the first time, Zuken prided himself on his ability to quickly gather information. The moment he had received intimation about Tanya and Lukas stranded in the borderland, he had wasted no time debriefing the svartalfar couple that had accompanied them, and gotten a detailed picture of what had transpired in that place. That Lukas Aguilar had killed a muspel, unintentionally declaring war on the entire muspel territory, was a little surprising but not entirely unexpected. After all, that man practically excelled in attracting unwanted attention.

But even he had faltered upon hearing about the bylestyrs, the apex species among muspels, each of them a fully-evolved Level-3 creature, with powers of fire and force that could stomp leagues of adventurers with ease. The svartalfar pair had described how Aguilar had held them at bay, while Tanya had got the duo to safety, spoke volumes about the Outsider’s integrity. It was why Zuken hadn’t spared a thought in choosing to trust in the man instead of revealing all information to Ultaf in exchange for his freedom. That said, both svartalfars were a bit cagey about Tanya, but Zuken had known better than to press for more. He had a very good idea of who she was and what she was capable of after all.

But the largest surprise had been what had happened post that. Kradir, had described, in vivid detail how the entire borderland had supposedly awakened, and monsters — land and lava and aerial — had migrated in large numbers, with the sole task of eliminating the two, not unlike his own experience in that underground anomaly. Whatever Aguilar and Tanya were up to, the borderland had reacted viciously and sent everything it had to  crush them. And despite such a terrifying prospect, Zuken couldn’t help but think that all hope was not lost. That the two were still alive, and would definitely find a way to get out.

It was at this point that the two svartalfars had sensed the Well flickering, and got to this side instead of further risking their safety. They had tried to  open a Well several times post that, but it kept flickering out. Whatever was going on inside the borderland, it was disrupting the connection between worlds.

Watching Ultaf react to it was a pleasant surprise.

“I don’t understand,” raged Ultaf, as two of his officers cowed before his presence, “I thought we sent our best men into the field.”

“We did, sir,” said one officer. “Every battalion we’ve sent in has had twenty people or more. Apart from our aeromancers, every unit had two healers, a pair of terramancers and aquamancers, and a group of lifeforce-warriors and monster-tamers. But no matter who we send, they just don’t come back.”

“Don’t come back?” snarled Ultaf, furious. His voice bubbled like a teapot. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“The svartalfars can open their Well once every eight hours, sir. In the first couple of days, the rescuers went in and sent flares up for an entire hour, but received no acknowledgement. We thought that maybe they were too far, or maybe they missed the signal. But then, something weird started happening.”

This time even Zuken raised an eyebrow.

“The last couple of times we sent in rescuers, there was an instant surge of mana, and the Well flickered out of existence, trapping the rescuers within. The svartalfars think that tearing Reality at a single point constantly was annoying the Great Progenitor.”

“What bullshit is this!” growled Ultaf. “That borderland has two entire legions of my best men!”

“And we’re trying to get them back, sir,” tried the other officer. “But we can’t do much if the Well isn’t cooperating with us.”

“It must be the svartalfars!” Ultaf grumbled like a thundercloud. “They’re fucking with me! They’ll pay for this in —”

“Ultaf,” Zuken interrupted, “cease your whining.”

He didn’t care for the fact that he was a prisoner sitting in the heart of the enemy territory, or that he was tied in manacles and collars that suppressed his ability with lifeforce and mana. The two officers looked flabbergasted at his lack of self-preservation, but restrained themselves from acting, especially with Ultaf limiting himself to a glare at his person.

“Banksi!” He growled. “You forget your place.”

“My place,” said Zuken calmly, “is in my mansion at Haviskali, which you destroyed. And if you cannot digest a defeat on a war front without whining like a child, perhaps you’re not made for this Lordship.”

The two officers looked at each other, perhaps wondering if they should interfere, before they decided against it. With a jerky nod, they left the room, leaving him alone with Ultaf. Or perhaps it was the other way around. It was difficult to tell with the guy.

“You can’t blame the svartalfars,” said Zuken mildly. “It’s hardly reasonable to expect hundreds of people to put their heads down and  follow your orders smoothly, when you killed so many of them, despite the Empire’s protection of their kind. If anything, they’re being rather cooperative.”

“Cooperative?” Ultaf spat. “I have two entire legions of my men trapped in that waste of space they call a borderland. For all I know, those men are dead.”

“Then they shouldn’t have advanced without prior knowledge of what to face out there.”

“They had NO knowledge!” He shrieked.

Zuken replied without passion or uncertainty. “Which should have been an excellent indicator that it was not safe to go into a dangerous environment without proper knowledge.”

The air suddenly crackled with mana.

“Why do you insist on fighting me, Banksi?” said Ultaf, a weary tone underneath his usual angry baritone. “What reason do you have for this insouciance?”

This time Zuken actually smiled. “Oh I don’t know, Ultaf. Is it because I was attacked out of nowhere, or because my people were mercilessly slaughtered in an arrogant demonstration that served no purpose? Maybe I’m just finding it funny that despite all your power, you’re still nowhere remotely close to getting to Tanya.”

“It’s her!” Ultaf hissed. “I know it’s her! She’s hiding in that borderland, and killing my best men.”

“Well then, your best requires work, doesn’t it? A battalion of over twenty, all hunted and butchered by a single girl. Wonder what that says about the might of the great Shimizu army.” Something terrible shone in his eyes. “Unless of course, you can only kill people who cannot  defend themselves?”

Zuken’s voice turned cold in an instant as unease spread across Ultaf’s face. “You see, Ultaf. I’m unlike the other bootlickers you’ve interacted with that cower before your grandfather’s might. You’ve destroyed my property, killed my men, and bound me in shackles, despite this being the heart of your territory. Your psions have ravaged my mind for every bit of information they could find. And yet, here I am, sitting in front of you.”

“Do not pretend, Banksi,” growled Ultaf, standing up. “Several of my spies were killed in Haviskali. It’s obvious your men are looking for you.”

Zuken didn’t allow the surprise to appear on his face. His directions to Elena were straight-forward. If anything happened to him, his men should follow her orders, and most importantly, leave Haviskali. There was no saying what the political situation was there, in his absence.

“They are my men,” he said proudly. “Obviously they’ll start upturning every rock under which you might be hiding me. That said, I’m surprised they didn’t start with the most promising rock out there.”

“The…” Ultaf began.

“I mean the Shimizu settlement in Cyffnar. With you here, and your battalions getting massacred by Tanya inside the borderland, who’s there to protect them?”

“You —” the man hissed, before he restrained himself and smiled back. Do you think this is funny? I came to you with a job offer, and all you had to do was fulfill it. You didn’t, and when I came to you again, you lied to my face. No doubt you’re cursing that decision. But it isn’t too late. Not even now. Despite your poor ECR, despite the disdain the Earth King has for you, you’ve grown formidable. It’s why you had my respect.”

You have an odd way of showing respect,” said Zuken, raising his chained arms.

“You have accomplished much in our world. Only a fool would not respect your strength. And yes, you could think of your current position as a compliment.”

“You’re too kind.”

“But for all your accomplishments, you’re being a fool, Zuken Banksi. All that you’ve lost, you can get them back. Everything. You can have the support of Clan Shimizu, and by extension, Clan Banksi. Maybe you’d even want to go home? Meet your mother?”

Something within Zuken stirred at his words, but he didn’t give away.

“All you’ve to do is help me out here. Help me, find Tanya, and you’ll be rewarded.”

Both men met each other’s eyes for a moment, beforneZuken let out a cold, unforgiving laugh.

“You find my offer amusing?”

Zuken shrugged. “Somewhat. I just find it ironic how you’re lambasting me for being a fool when you’re the one sounding rather desperate to get me to agree to this subpar deal of yours. Really, it sounds like you’re more afraid of this situation than anything else. Sure, supporting Tanya cost me dearly, but at least, I’m not the one pretending to lord over others while clearly being a beggar.”

“...a beggar?”

The killing intent in the air was palpable. He had clearly struck a nerve.

That brought a smile to his lips.

“You sound so surprised. It’s a role you’re quite intimately familiar with, after all. Your father rejected you as heir, so you ran to dear old grandfather for support. All these years, you’ve lorded over everyone as the Acting Lord of Shimizu, but even you know that it isn’t you, but your grandfather that everyone fears. You take what isn’t yours. You steal scraps. Holding whatever possessions you have left in a deathgrip that rivals that of a swordsman and his blade. Your attempts to capture Tanya is nothing but a last-minute ditch to maintain your position as a Lord. No doubt you’ll run to my father, begging him to support your request to the Emperor for a little more time to master Ezzeron. Even right now, you’re practically begging me, offering me something that’s mine to begin with, just to help you find and capture Tan —”

The rest of his words died in his throat as Zuken found himself lifted from the ground and slammed against the wall, held up by invisible hands clenched around his throat.

“Do. Not. Antagonize me, Banksi.” snapped Ultaf. “I could snap your neck with just a flick of my wrist before you could get a word out of your mouth. Do not forget your place! You’re my prisoner, in my territory. I could rip your throat out and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

“You… won’t,” Zuken choked out.

“You think I care?” Ultaf snarled. “You think I’m afraid of your men? Your Lord Naowa chose the path of silence. Your own father despises you. What stops me from killing you right away?”

The grip around his neck tightened further, making it impossible for him to breathe. Yet, Zuken’s expression betrayed no hint of fear or panic. Ultaf squeezed a bit more, but when even that failed to elicit any reaction, he just dropped him.

“Your foolishness will be your undoing, Banksi,” said Ultaf. “You’re blinded by your hate for me. I’m giving you one final offer. Accept it, and work with me. You stand to gain magnitudes more than what you’ve lost. This hate will give you nothing but suffering.”

Zuken snorted. Out loud.

“You really don’t know me, do you, Ultaf?” he said, slowly pushing himself back up. It was difficult, with his hands tied together, so he had to use the wall behind him as support. A ruthless smile spread on his face. “You see, Ultaf. There’s a reason I’m the ringmaster, and not the tool. Assassins give in to their hate. Killers allow their hate to rule them. I am neither. My hate is my weapon. It is the sword in my hand, and the strength in my arm. My contempt is my armor. It is their shield I carry and the plate that I wear. Whereas others might bow to their emotions, I will never bend. I am in control here, and I will never falter in my purpose.”

“And what purpose is that?”

“To find power. True power. I had the audacity to walk away from the Earth King, and make my own name for myself. You? You’re just a man-child that pointlessly escalates things, drunk in your grandfather’s strength, acting in blind faith on the words of a woman he has no control over. Lady Kandra said Tanya is out there, didn’t she? So tell me, how is she the one in ṭhe borderland killing your men? And if she is, then admit it that it was your folly to attack my mansion, and beg me for forgiveness.”

Ultaf let out a scornful laugh. “You certainly don’t mince words, do you, Banksi? Very well, stay the fool if you wish. Perhaps your friend Bergott will be more amenable to my offer?”

Zuken blinked. “Olfric? What’s he —?”

“Got to do with this, you ask?” he laughed some more. “He sent me a letter, requesting permission to visit the Peak. Says he has information on Tanya, and he’s willing to barter that in return for letting you go. In fact, he’s currently at the outer gates, as we speak.”

Zuken frowned. That wasn’t supposed to happen. He had trusted Elena to guide Olfric through appropriate channels. And if things didn’t work out, she’d go through alternatives as discussed. Olfric was not supposed to contact Ultaf under any circumstances. What was going on?

“What? Didn’t see that coming?” Ultaf’s laughter rang in his ears. “Here, see it for yourself.”

He pressed an enchantment beneath his desk, as a three-dimensional apparition projected itself upon the table. Zuken watched as Olfric’s face became vivid, standing at the outer gates, surrounded by half a dozen guards, and next to him stood—

“Elena?” Zjuken murmured. What was she doing here? Zuken had made her take away the most relevant of his memories away for safekeeping. Her coming to this place was the absolutely last thing she could do.

Just what was going on?

“I’m indeed most interested in what he has to offer,” said Ultaf. “He even brought your whore, the changeling, with him. Foolish man! If I find he has wasted my time, he’ll be killed and thrown to the igriotts, while handing me over a… what did you call it? Yes, a useful hostage to make you dance to my tune. Quite serendipitous, wouldn’t you say?”

Zuken gritted his teeth. This wasn’t how he saw things going! Elena was supposed to keep Olfric away. She was supposed to hide away in the safehouses and coordinate things with —

The rest of his thoughts died as he registered the third individual accompanying them. Dressed in a thick overcoat falling all the way down to his knees, looking far more tanned than he remembered seeing him before, was a surprising addition.

It took almost everything in him not to smile.

“Who’s that?” asked Ultaf.

“That,” said Zuken, “is my newest employee. Lukas Aguilar.”