In the Dark

Chapter 15

"We need to do something about this," Arthur huffed as he paced back and forth across his living room. "I still can not believe the gall of Mahvash to bring a fae here! Here of all places! What was she thinking? I know she was complicit in the ruin of the fae, but she agreed - told Archimedes to his face -" He turned around and pointed at Odsar who sat quietly watching him from Arthur's plush, brown couch, "- Because I was there when she did - that she would help restore the natural order of the world. And she knows! She knows all too well that Demetri Tenepri has no interest in doing anything of the sort! So why in heaven's name did she bring a fae here to him? Lord knows I love the boy, but it was such a gamble for her to give him to Riccardo, too! She had no idea if he was following in Demetri's footsteps. Why, she should have expected Riccardo to be! I have half a mind to go tell her off!"

"A river does not stop for a rock, but merely goes around it," Odsar advised in his soft tone.

Arthur huffed. "Then I need to be a big enough rock," he grumbled.

"Enough rocks create a dam," was Odsar's response.

"Enough rocks." Arthur sighed and rubbed at his face before going to join Odsar on the couch. He sank down besides his brother. "I have never had enough rocks to stay this river, Odsar. So many letters I send to Archimedes go unanswered, and I have few allys here, and none I would want to ask to put themselves in danger to try to make Demetri see reason."

"Then maybe you become the river," Odsar said.

"Become -" Arthur looked up at Odsar with disbelief. "You realize Demetri Tenepri is a very large rock and he also has many rocks with him, do you not?"

Odsar did not answer, but held his gaze steady on Arthur instead. His gaze was soft, and anyone might have missed the subtle dare that Odsar held in his eyes for Arthur to continue to deny it.

"You are serious, aren't you," Arthur asked, still as flabberghasted as before. "I'm not sure what you expect me to do." He shook his head and leaned into the back of the couch. "If I'm the river that goes around Demetri, I... Well... Hm..." He crossed his arms and stared at the wall across from him. "He won't change his mind, so going around him... Perhaps you mean literally? It's not as if there's anyone above Demetri to go around to. Not in this region. Unless... Oh goodness."

Arthur sat up straighter, and turned to face Odsar again, eyes wide. "Unless going around means to... Oh, but how could I -" Arthur sighed heavily again.

"You are the river," Odsar encouraged.

"The logistics of getting anyone out of this palace would require quite the mental feat. As I said, I don't have any allys here I could ask to put themselves at risk for Leon. Demetri was quite cross with me just for disagreeing with him. I can't imagine what he would do to anyone who took action." Arthur frowned. "There's been a lot of inaction in this palace that has allowed things to get to the point that they have, though." He looked down into his lap, shame filling him. "The things I've sat by and allowed, I could not even tell you."

"You are not the only one," Odsar assured. "You have only been one rock." Arthur watched as his brother's hands came into view and took Arthur's into his own. "But you do not have to be one river. Rivers can join and feed each other."

Arthur nodded once, and looked up at Odsar again. "I do not know where to begin to go around Demetri. I will need time to think." He sighed. "And we do not seem to have a lot of time. We can not let Leon die, or even be studied the way Demetri wants. His army already grows in number all the time, we don't need him to create a breed of super soldier, too."

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Arthur's ears turned up at someone rapping their knuckles at the door to his apartment. "Oh goodness..." He wasn't usually bothered after he'd retired for the night unless there was some kind of an emergency. "I must be needed in the clinic, Odsar," he said as he scurried to the door. "Just stay here and make yourself comfortable." He wasn't surprised in the least to see one of the nurses standing in wait for him. "Evening, Nora. Has something happened?"