Redemption Arc

A new variable had entered the equation: Belcourt Asheford. Lucian stared at him as he was given a place at the table opposite the Golemancer, who sat at the head. He had intended for this meal to be one of great progress into securing something of an alliance—or at the very least, guaranteed neutrality—from the Golemancer. With Belcourt here…

Why the hell is he here? Lucian asked. Am I being sandbagged? But then, he wouldn’t have shown his hand like this—he would’ve just ambushed us, killed us. He invoked the same hospitality that we did. Was his aim only to learn our goals?

“Did I interrupt your conversation? Please, don’t let me butt in. Continue with whatever you were talking about before,” Belcourt urged.

The Golemancer placed his arms on the table. “Lucian gave me your arm for deconstruction. I was discussing what might be proper payment for such a favor.”

Belcourt’s eyes looked like that of a dead fish for a moment, but they regained their playful vigor in seconds. “It’s rather shameful to welcome thieves into your home.”

“That was war,” Lucian said. “There are no thieves in war. Especially not a defensive war, as ours is. What you lost, you lost fairly. Regardless, I’m not here to debate that.”

“And what, pray tell, are you here for?” Belcourt pressed.

Lucian surveyed Belcourt, weighing his options. Should they abandon their plan and come up with another one for the final meal? He had no doubt that Belcourt would simply appear again, impeding them in the same fashion. Ultimately, he must know what they were there for. It wasn’t hard to guess. He had merely come to try and prevent it—and if not, they could smoke out his intentions.

“You say that you’ve extracted abilities that interest you,” Lucian said, looking back to the Golemancer. “I happen to know the value of those abilities well. They come from the likes of Belhazek, Ruminian—powerful demonic powers, all. You could mimic them with your golems. They would become more powerful than they already are. If you want them…” Lucian looked at Belcourt. “I would ask that you allow us to use this citadel as a base for a counter invasion against the Hells.”

Now that Lucian had gone ahead with the plan, the others spoke up to contribute their parts.

“And this doesn’t need to be a onetime arrangement,” Ruth said. “It could evolve into a continual trade. Many of us sitting here at this table have deep connections within the Republic of New Riverra. Obtaining quality supplies to craft your golems must be a hardship. We could alleviate some of that burden.”

The Golemancer rubbed his hands together. “You’ve clearly given this some thought. Belcourt, what do you think?”

“I think that it’s a dicey proposal at best,” Belcourt said. “The portal that they’ve gone to is deep inside the jungle. The notion that they could deliver quality metal in large quantities to an overgrown jungle… it’s laughable. Miriam is one woman in a small clan, and the others have their power bases in Valmere alone. They can’t, and won’t, ship orichalcum or other such valuable metals through miles of untamed jungle.”

The biting logic felt like water on fire. I get the Golemancer’s motivation, Lucian thought. He wants to use Belcourt to undermine our offer at every turn. He’s trying to pressure me into offering more. He’s still angling for his original proposition.

“One should only offer something that they have,” the Golemancer said. He looked back at Lucian. “I had a different sort of partnership in mind.”

That confirmed Lucian’s guess. He was caught between a rock and a hard place. With Belcourt here, any pressure that he could leverage would easily be relieved. The Golemancer was playing both ends against the middle.

I got all of Belcourt’s demonic energy, Lucian reflected. I could go a little crazy with the Inquisitor’s Mark. Do I jump ship, try and take out both the Golemancer and Belcourt in one? But then… this place would just become a wall of rock, not a heavily-manned fortress. It’d be that much more difficult to maintain.

Something drastic needed to be done to break the logjam. Words were just words. Saying something didn’t make it true, not even to a devil. It took an act. Promises could be broken, and he wouldn’t feel guilty about tricking someone trying to possess him.

“Suppose I was interested in inheriting your powers, in having you… possess me,” Lucian said, leaning in. “I’d need a hell of a lot more from you than vague assurances. I’d need war—war against Belcourt and his idiotic, constantly-foiled master. And long before I let you in.”

The Golemancer immediately grinned so wide all his teeth showed. People were unsettled, but they didn’t freak out, to their credit.

“I don’t think I can adequately put into words how ridiculous that would be,” Belcourt said. “The Master has been expecting that something like this would be tried.”

“Does that mean you have people ready to assault this place?” Aurelia asked. She was the most adaptable for schemes like this, and she could instantly tell that he needed to put Belcourt on the defense. “That’s hardly behavior befitting a guest.”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“I came in peace for the time being,” Belcourt said. “But I can’t be expected to sit here without saying anything while you plot war against me and mine, can I?”

Lucian and Aurelia shared a glance of understanding. She raised a brow and glanced at Belcourt, and he nodded at her. They had similar ideas, he was sure. The Golemancer would keep to his word. But Belcourt’s presence offered an opportunity as much as a danger.

If Belcourt could be provoked into a preemptive strike, then the Golemancer would be dragged into this war whether he liked it or not. Then, they’d come out more than ahead.

“You ask me to start a war to possess your body. I offer you an immense privilege, and you give me an immense condition. In what way is this fair?” the Golemancer asked.

Lucian looked at him. “My body is worth more than you can possibly imagine, and my mind has many secrets. I can’t give it up so easily. It’s hard to earn.”

“Listen to you,” Belcourt said with a laugh. “You have an ego bigger than I do. I didn’t even think that was possible. I—”

The Golemancer raised his hand, and Belcourt went silent out of respect. “You’re a clever boy. But if you’re sincere, you should have no difficulty making the same plunge that Belcourt did. Before I allowed him in here, I was clear that I would need to search his mind and hear his thoughts.”

Lucian swallowed as the ultimate bluff-caller was put on the table. Mind reading—god damn mind reading. How was he supposed to play around that? Just when he finally thought he was getting good at telling lies, they change the whole meta and introduce mind readers. He’d have to complain to the gods.

In all honesty, the idea of joining his mind and body with the Golemancer repulsed him viscerally. This wasn’t an idea that he was genuinely considering. His mind and body were his temple. Well… more his mind, because that was the only thing that was truly his. That said, he had a scheme. His own scheme.

If his idea failed, it could be very dangerous—not just for him, but for everyone. But he’d grown so frustrated with his situation being Lucian Villamar that he felt reckless, foolhardy. If this failed, it might breed more problems than it solved. But if it succeeded…

Lucian could win it all.

“Alright,” Lucian said. “You want to read my mind, read my mind. If that’s what it takes to convince you I’m serious, so be it.”

The Golemancer’s grin widened to the point it practically extended off his face. “Excellent,” he said with a breathy voice that made Lucian shudder. He reached for his goggles and started to pull them away. “Look into my eyes, Lucian.”

Unlike last time, Lucian didn’t look away as the goggles went away from his face and the pits of darkness appeared before him. He could feel something sucking at his eyes, pulling at them. It felt like he had a vacuum cleaner’s hose nearing his sockets, and it made him sweat. But he didn’t turn away.

Lucian beheld the Golemancer’s gaze, and thought only of War of Four.

Lucian’s mind danced with a thousand ideas and rememberings from his experience playing the game that had become his reality. He remembered Rowan Sumner, protagonist of the game. He remembered Lucian Villamar, villainous side character that had become his life. He remembered the countless hours that he put into playing this tactical RPG. He thought about each of the characters that had become people sitting at this table. He thought about Aurelia, who had changed so much that he was growing to respect, even admire her. He thought about all of the inane details that he could conjure.

And slowly, surely… Lucian realized that he was thinking. And that was sign enough his gambit succeeded. His thoughts hadn’t been stolen from him. They remained inside his own head.

“What are you doing?” the Golemancer asked accusatorily. “Stop it.”

“Stop what?” Lucian asked innocently.

“Your trick,” he spat. “Cease this trick!”

“I’m not playing any trick,” Lucian said. “I’m staring right into your eyes, just like you asked.”

The Golemancer leaned in with wide eyes and clenched teeth. The beckoning abysses where his eyes ought to be sent out dancing tendrils of darkness that crowded Lucian’s vision, and though he felt fear, he didn’t back away.

War of Four. War of Four. War of Four, Lucian repeated to himself again and again, inserting that word into his thoughts without an end.

“Perhaps his mind is so complex that you can’t comprehend it,” Aurelia posed. “Perhaps you’re beginning to understand why Lucian has placed such a high value on his body.”

The Golemancer leaned back in his chair. His abyssal eyes scanned the face of those sitting at the table. They met his gaze but briefly, but what he saw encouraged him to try and peer into Lucian’s eyes again.

“What is this?!” the Golemancer demanded. He slammed his armrest.

“I told you, didn’t I?” Lucian reminded him. “My body is worth more than you can possibly imagine, and my mind has many secrets. I don’t know why your power doesn’t work, but I’ve kept my word. Now, I can’t give my body up so easily. It’s more than worth a war with the First Emperor.”

The Golemancer slammed his fist upon the table, and the plates bounced. He slammed it again and again in a childlike rage that revealed his emotional immaturity and social inadequacy. Moments later, he stormed out of the dining hall aback his golem in a blazing fury.

Lucian couldn’t tell whether or not he’d messed it all up or saved it all. But he exhaled and leaned against the table, some stress leaving him.

“Lucian Villamar,” Belcourt said, and he looked over. “You’ve caught my attention. I had something of an interest in you ever since Villeth claimed you were a strategist, but this? This is beyond the pale.”

“Eager to lose another arm, Belcourt?” Aurelia asked.

Belcourt stood. “I believe there’s one more meal remaining our host is required to serve your party. And I believe it will decide very much.”

At that, the First Inquisitor left. Lucian exhaled, rattled. The last meal. Hopefully this wasn’t a death row situation.