Discordant Note: Crescendo | TBATE

Chapter 186: Severing Ties

Toren Daen

We stepped into the cavern, the transition from morning light to glaring darkness leaving me slightly cold. I immediately missed the open sky as rock stretched overhead, blotting out freedom.

I think Aurora is rubbing off on me more than I thought, I mused as I stepped after Seris as she strode with purpose into the bowels of her hideout.

"Or perhaps," my bond thought back, "You simply see the truth of things. We should not be caged underground, Toren. The sky is ours."

I sighed lightly. There was something amazing about an open sky that I'd only begun to appreciate upon coming to this world.

"Considering the fact that Elder Rahdeas has been compromised," Seris' pure voice echoed in front of me, "It is high time we changed locations for this hideout. I will be organizing our planned route shortly."

I nodded. Arthur had pinpointed exactly where our base was. It was about time we moved.

"And you will escort Lance Olfred to the dwarven leaders," Seris said, turning over her shoulder to look at me. "If he refuses to follow my orders, perhaps he will be more amenable to those of his father, if far removed."

A ways behind me, Olfred stiffened from the callout.

"I can do that," I said, nodding. I raised a hand imbued with mana, brushing it against the symbol of Named Blood Daen on my mask. In a moment, my armor and mask reverted back to their pendant form. "When I'm done, do you want me to report back to you?"

"You have your own subordinates to organize, Lord Daen," Seris said dismissively. "That will be your task."

I blinked in confusion. "The dwarves I work with aren't my subordinates," I said slowly.

"Lusul of Named Blood Hercross was appointed to his position by you," Seris said, her pristine lips twisting into a wry smile. "He–and by extension, his unit–are under your command now. Are you going to avoid taking responsibility for your actions, Lord Daen?" the Scythe asked, looking at me through silver lashes that could split light. "I thought you a better man than that."

I noted her particular wording with uncertainty, coughing into my fist. She did enjoy her wordplay. "No, Seris. I'll make sure everyone is organized and ready for evacuation," I said, moving forward. The Scythe's onyx eyes trailed me until the twisting corridors blocked her from my sight.

Olfred followed behind me mutely, a quiet irritation simmering across his intent. That emotion quieted my own, centering them on the task ahead. As we walked, Alacryans and dwarves alike stopped to stare at us. The reactions were mixed, to say the least: some of the dwarves looked on with pride as their Lance strode behind me. Others with contempt.

"You'll probably be put in charge of the dwarven rebellion here," I said absently to the Lance behind me. "Or have to work aside Jotilda Shintstone."

Olfred's lips flattened with dissatisfaction. "That old bat is here?" he asked. "Shoulda known that. But I'm not a part of her rebellion, so I won't be leading anything."

I looked back at the dwarf with a raised brow. "You literally built a bunker for Alacryans and tried to help assassinate Lance Arthur," I said, my skepticism radiating from my voice. "That puts you squarely within rebellion."

Olfred puffed out his chest, staring at me as we continued to walk. "I answer only to Rahdeas, Daen," he said irritably. "His orders were to deal with the boy cleanly and to clear out that cavern. I never performed any action of rebellion."

I snorted, turning back around. "Well, that's a matter of perspective," I said. "Perhaps you never held true loyalty to the Greysunders and their regime, but you've been made an accomplice regardless of what you want. Rahdeas is the figurehead of this rebellion, and his capture will be seen as a major blow." I sighed. "Or maybe he'll be a martyr of some sort. I don't know."