Rise of the Godking - Chapter 173

Chapter 173 - Return To Athwarf

The next day, their departure was swift and silent.

As Daneel stood in front of the teleportation matrix that would take him away from the island he had come to with so many hopes and dreams of a joyous homecoming, Daneel paused and looked back. He still remembered that moment when he had stepped foot on Graiton and detected the hints of destruction the Garbonors had left behind. It was hard to believe that only two days had passed since then, but in just those two days, a lot had happened.

Before leaving, he had only talked with Reese and the members of the council that had been erected by the healer, apparently, to advise him on all matters of the island. It was comprised of those who had led the revolution before and a couple of others who held the best interests of Graiton at heart.

Daneel had felt glad to hear that before the arrival of his companions, things had been going great. Many slaves had picked up new skills which they were far more interested in, and the general mood of the town had also been growing happier day by day. It might take a long time to get back to that state, but after his demonstration, the journey had already begun.

He had decided not to give any long speeches this time around as the people already knew that he was always working for them, risking his life on the islands beyond so that he could keep his promise, and give them what they deserved after suffering for so long. He didn't try to conceal the news of his departure, either, and many had come to the borders of the town and watched him leave with eyes that shone with the trust they had heaped on his shoulders.

This had helped Daneel in ways they could never imagine. He felt ready once more, now, to get back to what he did best: scamming or dominating his way to the goal he had created for himself.

The Larefans had also joined this crowd, with Selene in front of them. The old man who had led them to the Will was nowhere to be seen, giving Daneel no choice but to decide that the questioning session would have to wait. Along with Selene, all those who had followed him to Graiton had looked at them with unreadable eyes, but as Alex had already been told to communicate to the ex-leader that they should settle in while the three of them left on a scouting mission, he wasn't really worried.

His companions had taken his advice and gotten some rest, but he could expect that their minds must've been filled with troubling thoughts even though they had been completely relaxed, on the outside, following his proclamation. He was almost sure that this applied to Alex, at least, who was repeatedly finding himself out of his depth as Daneel took him ever onward, ever upward to fulfill his aspirations which kept growing in scale. The elf was more subdued, and from the way the ancient being's eyes had been closed on their way to the matrix, Daneel had guessed that he was thinking about something that he would soon give voice to.

Without dallying too much, he sighed and touched the crimson crystal, letting it take him away. The path they would take to the capital of the Ushanbos had already been mapped by the elf, and for a few hours after the departure from Graiton, they walked in silence, each lost to their own thoughts.

They would be taking a new route that would take them through islands they hadn't tread on before, but paths in each section of the islands were apparently designed to always converge at a few focal points. One of the main focal points was the town where they had made such a ruckus before, so when he found himself back on it, Daneel felt wave after wave of memories emerge to the forefront of his mind which made him chuckle, then look around warily for signs of that deceptively frail old man.

Athwarf showed no signs of the damage that had been inflicted on it before. They were using new disguises this time, and they hadn't opted to go for the fake companion as a similar group to the one they had come in before might elicit alarm, or lead to people being reminded of the four who had run away so ungracefully just a month or so ago.

As they sat in the inn beside the one that had been destroyed due to them, he pondered on what he had seen so far. A new one had been constructed in its place with a different name and a different proprietor, and when he had glanced at it, he had been forced to recall how distraught the female innkeeper had been when they had been fleeing the old man.

She was another casualty on their path. With a sigh, he swore to make things right in her regard while also ensuring that there wouldn't be many more who would have to suffer as she must have. At the moment, though, freeing all the islands took precedence, first, so after a hearty meal during which they gorged on roasted chickens, stewed mutton, and smoked fruits and vegetables, they sat looking at each other in a private booth, waiting to see who would be the one to broach the topic first.

The elf had already cast a spell to prevent anyone from eavesdropping on them. Taking a deep breath, he opened his mouth to finally speak his mind, and with his hands steepled below his chin, Daneel waited to find out what had been occupying the ancient being's thoughts that had led him to remain silent ever since they had left Graiton.

"Your plan has a fatal flaw. Just like everything you've done so far, it's ambitious, yes…but I can't help but say that it veers in the wrong direction. I'm not talking about the part where we're going to check on the Ushanbos. I'm talking about your zeal to crush the Garbonors. Putting aside how impossible that is…what will you do after? I say this because I know the state of politics in the Mainland. In this, I gather that I'm more knowledgeable than our resident historian, right?"

Alex nodded. He had only ever professed his knowledge on matters relating to the islands. The Mainland was clearly out of his depth, and hearing the elf, Daneel unconsciously leaned forward, his interest clearly showing in his eyes that were wide open.

Something strange happened, then. When the elf turned in Daneel's direction and saw the intensity in his gaze, he recoiled for a bit and almost raised his hands in what seemed like a defensive gesture. It was extremely odd as Mors had never seemed even the least bit cautious so far as he had always been of the opinion that he was the strongest in the group, so with narrowed eyes, Daneel wondered what the matter was.

With a nervous chuckle, the elf shrugged casually and continued in a flat tone.

"Apologies. I'm slightly jumpy due to our previous experience. Causing trouble with my identity hidden is one thing…but if someone recognizes me here again, I risk being forcefully recalled by my master. Anyway, that's what I was thinking about. If you truly wish to free the islands—"

"—which is already extremely farfetched. Hey, don't look at me like that! I'm just putting this out there 'cos the both of you seem to have forgotten it!"

"—you must find a way to ensure that the status quo remains the same on the Mainland. That…simply means that no islander will be given a position of leadership by the Grand Council. I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is."

Alex's interjection had been met by a frown from the both of them, but after the elf was done, Daneel's frown remained on his face as a facet of the Mainland that he hadn't thought of before had been exposed to him. He could see the truth in the elf's words, and the warning that hadn't been put into words. His plans needed to be changed, but as he had always prided himself on his ability to do so on the go, if required, he simply smiled and said, "Thank you, Mors. I'll think about it. Meanwhile…the Ushanbos are reportedly powerful enough to kill the three of us without a trace, so let's plan our approach. We must enter silently, find what we need, and leave with none of them even being aware of our presence. It's easier said than done…but as always, I have a plan, and Alex…you're going to hate it. Frankly, I don't like it all that much, either, but we are heading into a stronghold with a ton of mages who can rip us to shreds if we cough wrong.. So…buckle up, boys, 'cos it's time for the ol' bait and switch."