Black Horns, Mountain Shadow [High Fantasy, non-LitRPG]

"I know you and Synthias have an alliance strong enough that you have loaned her the services of your new brother in law. My assumption is that you have traded information for her physical might - and that she and the Pentarch have been amassing troops on the eastern border, primarily driven by a mix of mercenaries at this point."

Sylus paled slightly, Dorius drove on to strengthen his position, "I know you have spies here among the pilgrims. I know you have been watching the Second as well. And I have told you enough of what I know, for now we reach things that I am aware of, and that you are not, and I have not decided what I will share yet. Now it is your turn." The final declaration was potentially a bluff, he was certain he was the only one other than those within the Second to know the Citrine Snake Prince had ascended, and that the Carmine Snake was definitely dead, but he needed Sylus to reveal some of his hand. And there were still forces at play he did not know, it was new information to him that Synthias had a magic user at her disposal. There was a nervous thought in the back of his head that immediately turned towards Val, and now Bastian.

His need for them as tools only grew, and complicated.

"Well done cousin, you have certainly masked your activities well…" said Sylus, with a surprising candid turn to his tone.

"The longer I could buy myself to amass my power, the easier it was, you understand. There are still positions I need to hold in reserve," replied Dorius, taking a sip from his wine.

"Like the whereabouts of your two closest retainers - where is that brute and the red-haired one that charms my women?" Slippery as usual, always turning questions back upon him.

"Not for you to know. I have asked you a question. If you will not answer, this meeting is over and I will not help you with your summit. I have disclosed as much of my position as I am willing."

Sylus turned his own cup within his hands, then gave Gustave a nod, who removed his plumed helmet, "Well. I dislike this intensely cousin, but it seems you have me at an advantage. War is coming, soon…"

Dorius gave no answer, letting the silence between them grow, but Bryer shifted slightly.

"The Second is nearing collapse - the Queen of the Second will be the last of the Snake bloodline. Assimilation must be swift if the throne is to be captured, and stabilized, and the worst of war averted," continued Sylus.

"Averted?" hissed Dorius, "You cannot believe that surely? You seek war by greedily coveting the throne that you could never take from Synthias."

"I have no aspirations to plunge the common folks into chaos. I am not some monster. What do you think will happen if the power vacuum is not filled rapidly? All four remaining arms of the Pentarchy may set upon each other."

"I think a power vacuum is best averted by preventing its creation. By supporting the Second to maintain the Peace that has given the Pentarchy such strength for hundreds of years."

"Pure naivety. There is no supporting a failed line without also being dragged down with it. Your allegiance must first be to your own people," replied Sylus, his manner more serious than Dorius had ever seen from him.

"I would try at least," spat Dorius, "There still lives children and grandchildren of the Second's Pentarch."

"But none female," replied Sylus, narrowing his eyes, "I think you know that. You are too close to this cousin. You see a hope for yourself in their circumstances, but it cannot be. What respect can be given to a bloodline that is all but extinct?"

"I am not cut off as a Prince -"

"Not yet!" interjected Sylus, "You are not yet cut off as a Prince. Thanks to our Uncle's and Synthias' whims at best. You think if he knew you could ride a winged horse, if he knew you had more Fae at your command than just your brute, that he would not sniff the possibility of instability? Or that Synthias would not move to treat you as a greater threat? You have been tolerated. Did you not realize this when you played your game?"

Dorius almost rose to his feet, his hands shaking with adrenaline, "As if you do not agree with them too? I have tolerated nothing but contempt from you all!"

Sylus laughed. "There is the cousin I know."

Dorius bit back his words suddenly, and felt his stomach turn. Sylus tossed back his cup of wine and handed it to Gustave to fill another, then levelled a gaze in return that was growing in confidence.

"This is not about you, Dorius. This has nothing to do with whatever I or Synthias or our dear Uncle thinks of you, because the truth is that it does not matter. We are talking about war. We are talking about lives lost on a scale that has been forgotten. We are talking about our duty as Princes to care for our dynasty, our people and our nation first. If you cannot see that, you are too young to be here."

"You seriously believe your own words. You are the ones who have already decided this war is inevitable before even attempting to prevent it!" challenged Dorius, his control over his voice slipping.

"And you are naive if you think prevention is even possible," sneered Sylus in reply, his manner perfectly controlled, "What, you think propping up the Snake Throne another generation will miraculously make this problem go away? The foundation is already rotten, the floor crumbling beneath our feet, the patient sick with a malady that will not heal. Only pain remains. A conscientious surgeon would know to end it swiftly now, and mitigate the damage before it spreads to another. This is the Peace."

Dorius trailed to silence, turning his cup within his hands. "The summit then?"

"To secure swift agreement across the other Pentarchs for this plan. We will take upon ourselves the burden of stabilizing the Second."

"Burden?" sniffed Dorius, glaring at Sylus, "Awfully odd way to frame your greed?"

Sylus leaned back in his chair and narrowed his eyes, "I do not deny that it is both if you insist on it. I, like you, cannot breed our next generation. I, like you, have a duty to our sisters and cousins to lay the foundation for their children. I will not be ashamed of chasing power for the Dragon Throne. The Pentarchy should remain intact, but an alliance of two thrones, joined by blood, will mark a return to something alike the Monarchy of old, before it so pitifully collapsed itself."

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Dorius felt a thread within his heart grow taut, and a swelling rage as the line snapped, "You have no idea what you are talking about. There is no going back, there is no reclaiming what has diminished. We should forge a new future instead, unclouded by the legacy of the past."

"We?" laughed Sylus, "What would you know of it?"

"I guarantee you I would know more of it than any current living man," said Dorius, spitting his words for emphasis.

Sylus raised an eyebrow, "Ah so? You seem to have grown fond of the Vigil's little cult?" He gave a pause as he shifted, his strategy unravelling. "There may be a place for you in it?" he offered slowly.

Dorius' heart suddenly paused, a wave of cold coming over him.

"When Synthias takes the Fourth Throne, I will take the Second, and Uncle will leave a legacy unlike any Pentarch. My youngest sister, we have named Celadon so she may remain on my current lands in my place. You could fold within her colors, shed your grey and step truly into our family."

"You are so sure of this plan?" asked Dorius cautiously.

"Synthias' mage comes here to secure it. By the time the summit can be called and the Pentarchs assembled, we will already hold the Second. They will have no choice but to agree."

"It could be three against two?"

"I am not denying that there won't be some tension. But it can be managed politically, no one starts a war that is too evenly matched to be uncertain of victory."

"How can you be so sure you will…" Dorius almost gasped as he drew his breath, "You seek to kill the Second?"

Gustave narrowed his eyes, Sylus lowering his palm to call for hushed voices despite them being alone. "Be very careful what you say so directly, cousin…"

"That is the only way you can be so sure of this. The surgeon ending it swiftly, putting his patient to rest. You think this is mercy?"

"This is a mercy. Have you heard none of the words I have said? Ambiguity fuels instability. While a chance remains that a male line could be supported, that another Pentarch may agree like you to push this matter down the line, danger will follow. We will be swift, we will make the decision for them. We will cut off the head of the Snake, and be sweeping their lands before they even know it. By the time the other Pentarchs learn of it, there will only be two choices - support what has already happened, or painfully try to unravel it."

"And if the Second escapes?"

"Synthias' mage will guarantee they do not. Between my own people and the mage now that the gate is open, we will finally clarify the situation of the Carmine. The Citrine is here with us for easy capture when we are ready, and our preemptive advance on the Second after will ensure the capture of the rest of their bloodline. We must leave not a single drop alive. There is just one piece that now remains…"

Gustave lowered a hand to his sword, Dorius snapping his eyes to Sylus' face as he realized where his cousin was going.

"You also now have two choices - you can support us, or you can remain Cinereal?" The threat was spoken with such calm Dorius had no uncertainty it was serious.

The Laon soldiers shifted position, hands coming to the poles of their halberds. Dorius drew a breath, attempting to gather together his courage through his racing fear. This was too much information, too quickly. He did not have time to know what choice he should make.

"And the Vigil? Now we know your plans?" asked Bryer. Dorius could have hugged them for buying him some time.

Sylus shrugged, "If you continue to remain out of things, I am not bothered by what your cult does. This is a business for the Pentarchy only."

"And if we object to you bringing bloodshed to our chapel?"

"You can object all you want, as long as you don't actually do anything about it," sneered Sylus, "it is not your cooperation I am interested in…"

Dorius stared into his wine still, his words caught in his throat. He wanted no part in this. They were completely unwilling to consider something novel, to discard old ways that served them no longer. As long as the Peace could be preserved, was there not other ways they could be free to function? If the diminishing was so certain to tear from them what had already been, why not at least try to swim to shore instead of against the current? Despite what they proclaimed, their path would still lead to the slaughter of many in their storm of the Second, not just what remained of the Second's bloodline. He was right, not a single member could be left alive if their plan was to work, even babes in their cots.

Bastian's voice spoke into his mind, scattering his thoughts. Do not be foolish. Say whatever words he needs to hear you say, and say them convincingly. This is too risky.

Where are you? asked Dorius back.

On the roof, I've listened to most of it through the window. Until… If Val returns, you are in far too much danger to make an enemy of Sylus right now. We know what he is capable of.

I do not know when that will be.

There was a pause, as Bastian seemed to gather his thoughts. She loves you, whether it is good for her or not, she will return. We might have a chance against Sylus alone, but not a mage, not without her.

You are on my side for this?

You are a stupid prick. And if I know you, you are thinking of supporting the Second. You would have very few friends left if I didn't stay.

Thank you. I'm sorry, Bastian.

Fuck off, and answer him.

Dorius took a breath, returning his attention to his cousin. Anything except explicit agreement would not be satisfactory to Sylus. Half words that promised support but left him open to other interpretations would be construed as the loopholes they were. There was no option but outright dishonesty. It felt like a line that his previous deceptions had never crossed. Just as he was shedding one skin, he was forced to wear another.

"Very well. I will make the request to the Vigil to hold your summit, I will do my duty as a Prince of the Fourth and choose my family. I will not stand against you."

It was not the first lie he had ever told them, but it was the greatest and it hung like black chains on his heart.

"That is all well and good cousin, but I will need more evidence than your word that you will cooperate?"

Dorius lowered his eyes and wet his lips with his wine to moisten his mouth. He was right, he had to give him something. "The Carmine is already dead."

From his robe he withdrew the red crystal snake broach Val had bought him on the mountain, and placed it between them for Sylus to see.