(Note: The following chapters happen from a week to a few days before Ignar's release.)
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The Council gives no mercy. This was no rumor to Vaur'Kou'n. He knew it to the letter. In fact, it had become a thing so clear that all who were unlucky enough to be part of those who "knew things" would hear his name and know, "Ah, you do have to be a fool to think that you can get off with a lie."
An outrageous thing one could now connect to his name... By what right?
Vaur'Kou'n had never lied! Not once! But many times instead. In fact, he had lied so much that he himself had begun believing some of the lies. For why would he want to be that someone he used to be, that someone he had clearly forgotten by now, when he could be this version of himself?
Whatever this version happened to be in the given moment.
Although in this very given moment. He wasn't too happy with who he was supposed to be: apologetic and, above all else, patient, and of course, on his knees begging for A'Daur'Kra to take him back. Not because he wanted to be here, mind you, but because this is exactly what the Council wanted of him. It was either this or to go after Kanrel... into the Veil of all places! He couldn't do that! He wasn't crazy like the Darshi had clearly been! Rest his soul.
Being unapologetic and impatient—and obviously standing upright—were things that suited Vaur'Kou'n rather well, actually. Something he would much rather do. For why would he want to grovel before someone who was less educated, less talented, less handsome, and simply worse than him in every conceivable way? Although if there were ever to be a competition, Vaur'Kou'n wholeheartedly believed that he could be worse than Vaur'Kou'n if that was what they were competing about. He knew that he would be better at being worse than that Veil-touched lunatic.
Surely, he wanted to get up from his knees, to stand face to face with who he'd have to call his "lord" and make him grovel before him instead, but he wasn't a fool. He could do all these things and more, but only a fool would go against the wishes of the Council twice in such a short period of time.
Instead, he would grovel, and he would play the fool, who wished to be taken back by his previous liege, whom he had followed around for years, only as a means to spy on him, so that the Council could receive their weekly banquet of gourmet rumors.
It wouldn't all be too bad. He hoped. It was only annoying that the bastard dared to act so gleeful, grinning and looking down at him, as if A'Daur'Kra had always known that this day would come.
"My dearest friend!" the lord of the City of Creation exclaimed with only venom in his tone. "I have waited for you so long, I thought that I might never see or hear of you again."
"I am glad that my fears were for naught." A'Daur'Kra murmured. He seemed so unnaturally calm for what he truly was. And without a beat, his expression twisted, as if painted by a sudden realization, "You have come for me, have you not?" Like a cat, he tilted his head, "You wouldn't be here for my sister, now would you, dear friend?"
'Ah…' Vaur'Kou'n almost exclaimed in return. He had almost managed to forget that he was supposed to be in love with A'Trou'n. Nothing wrong with that, of course! She was quite beautiful, and there was nothing wrong with her personality or her intellect, per se. There were just... other unsightly things about her. Mostly her beliefs and her somewhat violent tendencies, which she shared with her brother.
Kanrel had once mentioned a proverb that somewhat fit when one talked about the two siblings: "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Although the Darshi had used it about a parent and their child rather than two siblings, it fit, kind of.
If only he knew what an apple was. Or a tree, for that matter. But such minor details barely matter. Instead, he groveled lower, placing his forehead against the cold, stone floor. "My lord, I—I simply wouldn't dare, not after the transgression that I have committed against you!" Vaur'Kou'n said, making sure that his voice would waver a little, and that his eyes were keenly directed at the bastard's feet.
Obviously, A'Daur'Kra wouldn't be fooled by such behavior... but he would find it amusing, and he would still believe that Vaur'Kou'n had some affection toward A'Trou'n, which would mean that he would try to use her against him, but all of that was fine.
What was another lie from the lips of a liar? Could it not soon turn into the truth? Why not? Maybe a lie of love is what he needed! Vaur'Kou'n mused as A'Daur'Kra stepped from his throne. He could feel his gaze on him, and oh, he could imagine his almost bewildered look. Such a weak man, he was. To be touched by the Veil so little and to go insane? Vaur'Kou'n almost snorted out loud. The lordling could never survive a day in the Sanctuary.
A sudden grin reached A'Daur'Kra's lips, but not his eyes, for his eyes remained as attentive as ever, prying within, trying to see which ropes might he pull, and what were the things the kneeling Atheian valued. "Well, she is here, something you might know already, and I am one most known for my sense of... forgiveness? No," he shook his head. "Fairness? Yes."
"Vaur'Kou'n," A'Daur'Kra called as he stepped down from his throne and reached for the Atheian now at his feet, "Do get up! For I believe there to be so many things we might discuss on this day, and of course, people who you just need to meet!"
Vaur'Kou'n almost sighed, but a professional would never show his true emotions, and as such, he braced himself and got up. At last, he met eyes with a man who held such deep sadism within their eyes. Indeed, as he had expected. There would be something that he would find to torture him. Be it through his "supposed beloved" or through other means. Which might it be? He wasn't too keen on learning, but he couldn't deny that he was somewhat curious.
Vaur'Kou'n accepted the hand that reached for him, and he could feel how he was pulled up from his knees, but not just to his feet, he was being pulled even closer, he could feel A'Daur'Kra's breath near his ear, and the whisper that did follow it: "How's our mutual friend? I heard that you let him go... Have you grown... soft?"
They parted what from the outside might have looked like a hug, reaching a point where they were still far too close to comfort, even if at an arm's length. A'Daur'Kra smiled widely, his eyes gleaming with complicated emotions, too difficult to read, even for Vaur'Kou'n.
"Shall we?" the Lord of the City of Creation almost purred. He didn't say anything else after the fact; instead, he just walked past Vaur'Kou'n, making his way toward the stairwells to the higher levels of the Spire.
And, begrudgingly, Vaur'Kou'n followed suit, under his breath, cursing the fact that he had ever been selected as Kanrel's "guide" during his stint at the Sanctuary. For this, somehow, he would make the Darshi pay... but then again, Kanrel was most likely dead by now. Such an unsatisfying realization. Vaur'Kou'n wouldn't even be able to torture the man for himself. Surely, the Veil had done enough of that. He was certain of it…
They climbed the stairs, around them the very history of the Atheians carved into the walls of the Spire. Vaur'Kou'n had walked these steps too many times to count—always with the same dull familiarity. Nothing had changed about them. There hadn't even been more history added. And he imagined that far above in the higher levels, the walls would still be bare. Unless, of course, A'Daur'Kra had decided to fill them with his own delusions.
"Old friend," A'Daur'Kra suddenly called. They had just reached the same level where they had almost fifteen years ago spend many hours together in the company of Kanrel, learning about the world above.
Their eyes met, and a strange smile appeared on his lips. There was something amiss here, something very wrong. It felt like he was walking into a trap. Had the fool decided that now was the time to enact petty revenge because of a thing that had happened such a long time ago? Surely not. But... if it did come down to it. Who would walk away from such an encounter, alive and well? Vaur'Kou'n was more than certain that the Lord of the City of Creation, even if they had considerable power when compared to the average Atheian, would never be able to compete against him.
Vaur'Kou'n returned the smile, although managing only a sheepish one. He reached A'Daur'Kra, and they continued on, now walking side by side, making their way toward a room, for what seemed like a meeting of sorts. And as they walked, A'Daur'Kra spoke once more, "Curiously, I have also found myself a closer subject to the Council; it seems that they have placed some trust in me. They seem happy with how I have managed the city, and how I have more or less kept my wits about and not killed anyone since that one tragic day," he chuckled, "One could even claim that I have changed for the better." His words and his tone remained sarcastic.
"But one thing above all else has kept the Council pleased! You see, my sister and I, we've brought our hands from behind our backs and realized that some things have to be done together, for the greater good, as they say."
"She has found the will to work with me, and I have found... the forgiveness to do the same. After all, we both have been burned and hurt by those most dear to us far too many times."
"We both have let our pride become somewhat scarred, so that we might create something greater, together."
"Of course, not all of it out of our own will. The Council did force it a lot."
"But now, at last, they have chosen to crown our efforts, as they used to say during the old empire," he said as they stepped into the familiar circular room, the same one where that one scholar lost their life because of a poor choice of words. But instead of meeting eyes with more blood or death, on the other side of the room, sitting upon a couch, A'Trou'n met Vaur'Kou'n's eyes.
She smiled a shy smile. Something that never really fit her personality. She is a powerful woman, and never before had she seemed so coy about something. Surely, they had not met for a long time, but even then...
Vaur'Kou'n came to a stop at the doorway and stared at her for a long while. Something emerged within him. And he had to examine this thing, which was like a memory or perhaps a feeling he had not felt for a long time. His eyes widened slightly, and soon a bitter, long sigh escaped his lips as a question arose within: 'Had he grown into the lie? How long ago?'
He stepped inside, unable to form a smile, he greeted the woman he had betrayed long before Kanrel's arrival. So much he had done in the name of the Council, and of all the things, good and bad, what were the things he most regretted? Had that been one of them? Or was this emotion as false as were the moments spent groveling before her sadist of a brother?
And all the while, A'Daur'Kra observed it all, his eyes peering into both of them. "I see that even when years race past, and we change as people, some things remain the same."
"But either way... Even though you failed the Council, I must congratulate you, now don't I? It isn't every day one finds all of a sudden that they are to marry into a powerful family!" A'Daur'Kra's voice was filled with joy, with bliss brought by victory, becoming more apparent as Vaur'Kou'n's gaze moved from A'Trou'n and met with his.
Vaur'Kou'n managed not to hide his shock. Not his confusion, nor the unsettling dread within him. For that one moment, he must have looked visibly afraid in the eyes of the Lord of the City of Creation.
Surely, this wasn't something that he had ever wanted. Or was it?
Again, his eyes met with A'Trou'n. Her eyes glittered. A deep longing within them, if only she'd know all of the complicated emotions that ran through his mind, then would her voice have been so loving?
"We can be together at last. With the blessings of the Council, with the blessing of your grandfather, and with the blessings of even my brother."
She barely sounded like herself. What had happened since they last met? Where was the woman he had once known? Who was this... stranger?
But even with such doubt, Vaur'Kou'n's heart still beat a strange rhythm unlike himself. He swallowed at the thought of what might not be so bad. But not knowing if he was afraid above all else. He glanced at A'Daur'Kra, who smiled that earlier smile of his; unable to read it, unable to know what the play here was. What was the lie, and to what end?
But he was a professional. So Vaur'Kou'n steeled himself. He found a place of forced peace from somewhere within, and said the first few things that came to his mind: "Great, I would've loved to know beforehand, but I suppose the Council failed to mention it to me in advance."
"But that is beside the point," he then managed and walked to A'Trou'n, reaching his hand toward her, saying: "Let's sign, or at least review the papers."
She looked up at him, her smile widening ever so slightly. A'Trou'n grabbed his hand, and he pulled her to her feet, replying loudly: "The Council send us the signed papers a week before your arrival," but then she leaned closer, she whispered into his ear, "A lot has changed, let us at least pretend that we still love each other…" the whisper ended as her lips kissed his ear, sealing the words away, as if they had never been uttered out loud.
And as they became a secret only they shared, a feeling washed over him. It wasn't relief. It wasn't that he was no longer afraid. It was clarity in the form of disappointment. He, or the lie that he had become, had for a moment, but ever foolishly believed that such love might still exist between the two.
Her lips departed from the skin of his ear, a smile hid away the emotion felt earlier, and Vaur'Kou'n smiled as he lied: "Then I am glad."
Again, he could only damn the very existence of Kanrel... Why had he grown so close to him? Why had Vaur'Kou'n given him such mercy, when before he would have never done such a thing... Yet he knew what the Darshi would say in this very moment to him, 'Isn't it obvious? You're on council business... They tell you what to do; you do the things they tell you to do. You get paid, they are happy, you're happy, we are all happy!'
If only the bastard would be here to see him now. Just how much glee would he have in his fake smiles? Or how genuine would his words be as he would congratulate him?
Damn it all. He missed that bastard of a priest. From Kanrel's boring existence, Vaur'Kou'n could still draw some strange comfort. He could look at the man and remind himself: even if his own life had gone to shit, someone else had it worse.
Kanrel, in the end, had found something—an ending. Vaur'Kou'n, meanwhile, was still here. And some fates, he now suspected, were worse than dying in the Veil.
- - -
A'Trou'n had given so much to get here. She had to give so much more than her brother, so much more than Vaur'Kou'n could ever imagine. Yet, in most ways, it remained minute to what she was bound to gain from everything.
She peered at the man she was to marry. Through him, she would have all. The stones around him, the empty walls of the higher levels of the Spire, would tell only the future that she would carve. She glanced at A'Daur'Kra, who held on to that same disgusting smile he always had, the same one that believed to hold knowledge and insight into the secrets of others; when in reality, he knew nothing. Her brother was a violent fool who never had the right to rule.
A'Trou'n feigned a smile, she pulled Vaur'Kou'n with her, and proclaimed as they marched past her brother: "I will show him to our rooms."
Once, she might have loved him... but it had been far too long. People move on from such things, especially those who have higher aspirations for life than simple things like love. For what she had in her mind was the whole damn city and the lands beyond it; from here till Blue Stone Village, all would be hers. Even if it meant that she could only rule it all through her offspring. Even if it meant that she would have to bring her brother to an early grave. All of it, in comparison, was a small price to pay...