Enter Abyss

Chapter 25; Lies.

"I'M GOING TO BLOODY CHOP HIS BEARD OFF AND FEED IT TO THE KEEPERS!"

Pip was screaming, her face red. Archer was crying without realizing it, Galen holding onto him as if he were the only solid thing in the entire library.

And Cogs could only stare in shock.

For a moment, he thought about joining in with Pip's mad raving, but he decided it was best not to get in her way.

That is, until things got violent.

In truth, he was simply... numb. Numb with shock, grief, and confusion.

He had known Thaddeus for years-- and while they had never been close, the man had always welcomed him. And, once, he had even given Cogs an old aviator's helmet, goggles and all.

He had always seemed so kind, so trust worthy. It was hard to believe that he had been sent by the Keepers to kill Archer's family. And yet, he hadn't, had he? He had taken pity on young Archer-- or Ember Everwinter, apparently-- and had raised the boy as his own. That had to count for something, didn't it?

Looking at Archer now, Cogs' heart nearly broke at the sight of his friend's face; destroyed, void of its usual, easy grin, the sparkle gone from his hazel eyes. He looked miserable and... angry.

Archer never got angry.

Cogs stepped closer, putting his hand gently on his friend's shoulder.

"Arch? Are you all right?" he asked.

"How do you bloody think I feel?" the other boy spat, shaking. "The one man who I had thought of as my father for years told me both my parents were only missing. Missing in the Abyss. He lied to me for so long. He-- he never loved me or Pip. If he loved either of us, don't you think he would be here by now? Looking for us?"

"I...." Cogs didn't know what to say. He looked helplessly at Galen, but the king was staring blankly at Archer, his face expressionless.

"I'll tell you what I think we should do!" Pip raved, her face filled with a black fury, her eyes ablaze. "We should march on Maufaria-- take down the monarchy, destroy the Keepers, bring Thaddeus to justice! We have an army-- bloody heck, we have MAGIC-- we could end their tyranny now."

Galen looked up then, frowning, "What you ask is ludicrous. I will not lead my people into war simply because of one man."

"That man killed my father," Archer cried out, pain twisting his face as he looked pleadingly at the king. "Pip is right, we have the resources, we could lead your people to the surface. To a life of light."

"To a war," Galen growled, his voice suddenly hard. Cogs thought that he sounded like an actual king for the first time since they had met him. "People will die, all because you wish to seek vengeance."

"Don't you?" Pip retorted, "This man hurt your friends."

"Not enough that I wish to go to war over it."

There was a beat of silence.

Finally, Pip growled, "Mordren was right. Your people are dying in this pit, and you will do anything to keep them from getting out. You ARE a weak king." Then she whirled around and stomped out of the library, fists clenched.

Cogs watched her go, sighing heavily. He would probably have to talk to her about that later on.

Beside him, Archer stood, grabbing his mother's journal off the library table and snapping it shut with a bang. "I thought you cared about me, Galen." he said, his voice cold and flat, so unlike the usual Archer. "I thought... I thought you would understand, of all people--"