Heirs to a Nothing Throne

Chapter 30

Theta was right, a small group of Chevaliers were camped near the staircase. We caught them off guard, or to be more specific, Theta caught them off guard, flying in and knocking a good portion of them over the edge. We'd learned to ignore her slight change in personality to one favoring brutality, considering it fine as long as she was only fighting Chevaliers. She spared one Chevalier, disarming him and demanding he lead us back to their fortress. He quickly submitted. This was a relief, as I worried Eva might pity him if Theta had to be harsh. We could only hope he was leading us to Timore and not to a trap, although I had a sinking feeling the result would be the same either way.

We talked quietly when it fit our mood while vigilantly keeping an eye on him. Our run-ins with Chevaliers were becoming more frequent, and it had now become Angelique, Eva, and I's job to keep our guide where he was while Theta fought, occasionally picking off any who got close to us. It amazed me how natural it felt now, aiming at the head and dispatching them.

I wonder if we'd adjust as easily if they were human. Truth was, the inhuman appearance of the Chevaliers was an effective counter to piteous emotions, and one I imagined even Angelique must be grateful for.

I quickly realized we truly would have been without hope if I had tried to lead the way. It was all unfamiliar forest, thickly wooded and creepily silent. As we marched on, it slowly became more humid, the air thick and hard to breathe.

Finally, with no apparent indicators as to why, the Chevalier stopped and turned to us.

"There's a main entrance to the fortress about twenty meters ahead of us." He pointed ahead. "There will be guards." Theta nodded and turned to me.

"I'll go check. Don't worry, I'll be quiet," she said, rising a few inches off the ground and hovering away, the presence of her power making my skin tingle. After twenty seconds, she reappeared, taking the Chevalier who'd guided us all this way from behind and offing him without words.

I smirked. She gets things done. A bit like Angelique, but with more grace.

She stood on the ground again, her hair settling back to its normal position. "He was right, it's there. Several Chevaliers as guards, maybe a dozen. It's just a single doorway." She turned to me now. "When do you want to attack?"

"Tomorrow," I said, kicking aside the Chevalier's helmet absentmindedly. "Let's keep in mind where the fortress is, retreat a short distance, and we'll prepare for an attack tomorrow."

Angelique disagreed immediately. "No, we should attack in the night. Less waiting, and makes us harder to see. We'll surprise them."

"Um, I don't really function that well at night," Eva said, twiddling her thumbs. "You know how that... I mean, my whole thing..."

"That's right, we'd all be tired. And the Chevaliers probably don't sleep anyway," Theta said. Angelique sighed but gave in.

"I can take first watch," I volunteered. "Tomorrow, one way or another, this'll be over with."

In the evening, Angelique and Eva went off on their own for a while. I beseeched them to stay within eyesight, for safety's sake, and they agreed. I guiltily watched from a distance, making it look as though I were doing something else.

At first, they only sat and talked for a while, their backs to me. Angelique let out a hardy laugh at one point which contrasted Eva's soft chuckling. To my surprise, they shared a hug. Angelique had Eva take out her gun and demonstrate her posture. She corrected it in a few places and steadied her aim. She never fired; we were too close to the fortress to risk it. Even from here, it was notable how much Eva had improved. Angelique only corrected a few things.

Afterward, Eva holstered her gun and Angelique put her hands on her shoulders. They glanced my direction, but didn't seem to notice my attention. She said some words to Eva, who nodded a couple of times. I thought I felt an aura of pride wafting my direction, like a teacher and student. Eva nodded once more and Angelique smiled. They embraced once more before returning, saying nothing to Theta or I.

After my two hour watch finished, I silently shook Theta, not planning on sharing many words. It's not that I was satisfied with how that left things, but I didn't want any emotional stress keeping me awake. That's what I told myself, at least.

But after I'd settled myself in, Theta said my name with gravity. I sat up, reluctant but only coming across as sleepy. "Yeah? Theta?"

She paused, and I wondered where she was going with this. "About tomorrow... and... everything else..." I waited quietly, barely able to make her out in the darkness. "If we kill Timore like we want, even if we win, it might kill Verwarr. And me." I thought about this silently.

"I'm sorry... about what I let out that time. And I'm sorry for how it changed things between us. And I'm sorry about... Jasmine..." Even in the darkness, I could see the glint of moisture in her eyes. "And I just needed to say... that how I feel hasn't changed, even right now, after all of this. But I do understand it more. And I better understand you and what you're going through more. That's all I want to say. And I'm sorry. If killing Timore means I have to go... I didn't want to go on a bad note."

For a short few seconds, thunderous silence sat in the air. It was filled with my own thoughts as I too came to my own understanding. The chaotic emotions revolving around Theta and Jasmine suddenly became orderly, fitting together and sorting themselves out, a peaceful compromise. I could see her clearly now, and nothing else.

I put my arm around her in comfort. Her eyes sparkled faintly. "That's okay, Theta. All of it. It's okay. And I'm sorry, too, for every mistake and misgiving." I looked at her and smiled. "The end doesn't seem as daunting with that settled."

We slept in indescribable solace that night.