Chapter 48: The makings of a plan

Givontair:

We collect Erik, and go back to our room. The place is aired out, and the sheets have been changed. The boy blinks, as he looks at the bed. Yet, instead of asking us questions, he just shrugs.

When night falls, Norrix and Elias come to our room. The two look at me for a while, before Norrix speaks.

"You could have killed the Dread Lord," Norrix says, as Elias nods along. I shrug.

"He was not hurting anyone. Just robbing graves," I say, but both of them look ready to argue. "I know his type. He leaves the unsavory things halfway through. I bet; he was just looking for an excuse to stop with doing as the Dread tells him to."

"What about all the dead he stole?" Elias asks me.

"That can't be helped. I doubt that he knows from which town or village his minions are," I hold up my hand, when Elias tries to argue. "It is for the best if we don't become murderers. Besides, Sorix could be a useful ally."

"Against whom?" Norrix asks, his eyes narrowed.

"Ajax the Bold," Nathaniel says from behind me. Both Norrix and Elias share a look.

"Just why do you want to bag him?" Elias asks.

"As long as Ajax is alive, there will never be peace in the world. He will do his best, to try and get his throne back. I think you can both see how the death toll will pile up," I tell them. They still don't look convinced.

"I became what I am now because I wanted to kill Ajax," Nathaniel says. "Do you know how hard it is, for someone, to become a necromancer? The pain that comes with it? Do you doubt my conviction?"

"What of my conviction?" Elias asks, his eyes narrowed. "I was promised that Sorix will pay for what he did. Where is my justice?"

"And he will. Fighting Ajax will leave us all scarred," I say. Erik sucks in a breath behind me. I turn to him, and give him a reassuring smile. "Don't you worry. You won't be there, when we fight Ajax. The last thing we all want, is for you to have to resort to the powers of the Elder Dryad."

"So, what are we going to do?" Norrix asks. "Do we hunt for Ajax now?"

"Why are you letting go of the plan to destroy Sorix? He lost an honor duel? Does that mean, in your minds, that he is harmless now? Dare I say it, an ally?" Elias is still not entirely onboard. Yet, I can't help but think he can be swayed to our cause, if we simply use the right incentive.

"Think about it this way. If Sorix comes with us to fight Ajax, then you can challenge him to an honor duel, right after the battle," Nathaniel says. I was thinking about offering something along these lines. We are mates indeed.

"What good will that be? I will be banged up, just as he will be," Elias protests.

"You are a fire mage, and fire can harm Sorix," I counter. "Out of all of us, perhaps you can pack the biggest punch. Well, if we exclude me."

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"We can't invite Sorix to join our party, with the intent to betray him," Norrix says. Elias glares at him.

"You are all insane, if you think that Sorix is going to become our ally," Elias tries to storm out of the room, but Norrix takes a hold of his arm.

"What about you?" The vampire snarls. This is the first time; I have seen him like this. "Will you turn your back to the ruins that Ajax leaves behind? That bastard burned my home. One of the few villages in the grasslands, which accepts vampires!"

"Sorix desecrated my mother's grave," Elias yells. I can see that for him, this is just as personal.

"Hundreds die because of Ajax every day," Norrix yells back. If I allow for this to continue, they might end up in a fight. I move, so I can stand next to them. Calmly, I place a hand on each of their shoulders.

"Sorix is no longer a threat," I say, much to Elias's chagrin. "But Ajax is. Elias, we can't ask you to help. But ask yourself: how long are you going to hold up, once Ajax flies this way?"

That seems to make the elf pause. He looks first at Norrix, then at me. His gaze travels even further, to Erik.

"Are you ok with this, Erik? Your mother died because of Sorix," I snarl at these words. I can forgive many things, but if someone upsets my cub, I simply can't stand idle.

"Giv, calm down," I hear Erik say from behind me. I turn towards him. He looks lost, and more than a little bit sad. Yet, he also seems to want to say something. I nod at him. "I don't want to murder anyone, if at all possible. Sorix was controlled by a deity. As someone who can hear the whispers of trees, I can relate. Think of the Dread Lord as a sick person, who just got his medicine."

"You can't compare being a champion to a mental disease," Elias snaps. My grip in his shoulder tightens.

"Can't I? And what is the difference? Someone who you don't see talks to you. Asks you to do things you don't want to. So, I ask you: why should we kill a sick person?" Erik sounds wiser than his age would suggest. I just know that he will be a good man, one day.

"I will never accept Sorix in this party," Elias doesn't seem moved by Erik's words. Then again, he is not a champion. He can't understand.

"You will turn your back on people in need?" Norrix asks. He looks as if someone has slapped him. Elias looks down at his hands.

"I didn't say that," the elf mumbles. "Isn't there another way?"

"Not if we want to stop Ajax," I say. Then, I let go of both Elias and Norrix. As I make a step back, I watch Elias closely. His shoulders are slumped. His fringe is covering his eyes.

"This better work," Elias says finally. Then, he moves to the door, and looks pointedly at Norrix. "I need a drink. How about you?"

Norrix grins then, and follows Elias out.      

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