GW2 fic, Ch 29-35

[anghraine]

“We need real Seraph here in Queensdale, not politicians.”

Logan considered him in silence, then simply shrugged and strode past him, leaving the man flushed and glowering.

Softly, I said, “Watch your tongue.”

title: pro patria (29-35/?)
verse: Ascalonian grudgefic
characters/relationships: Althea Fairchild, Logan Thackeray, Captain Tervelan; Queen Jennah, Minister Arton, others; Althea & Logan
stuff that happens: Althea and Logan confront Tervelan.
chapters: 1-7, 8-14, 15-21, 22-28

TWENTY-NINE

1

“I need to talk to Tervelan myself,” Logan told me. “Meet me at the Eldvin Monastery. I’ll get there as soon as I can.”

I nodded, and Logan dropped his hand, clenching it into a gauntleted first.

“If he’s responsible for the Falcon Company incident, we’ll make sure he answers for it.”

At that, I managed to summon up a smile.

“Yes,” I said, “we will.”

2

Despite the if, Logan seemed to have entirely relinquished his first shocked doubts. When I spoke to him again before I headed back to the waypoint, he said,

“Once Tervelan finds out you’re alive, he won’t sit around waiting for you to come after him. You should head to Eldvin Monastery now.”

It was abrupt—and abrupt was exactly what we needed right now.

“I’m on my way,” I assured him.

He was right, all the more as I’d taken up valuable time in rushing to Divinity’s Reach first. The gods only knew what Tervelan was up to.

3

I didn’t stop to change my clothes; with one deep breath, I raced back to the waypoint, shoving coins at the guard—I didn’t even check the denomination—and then headed more cautiously towards the monastery.

Logan’s as soon as I can turned out to be very soon indeed; he was already there.

“Tervelan’s a traitor,” he murmured, face somber. “It’s hard to believe; whoever played him really knew how to manipulate people.”

“They played on his weak spots,” I agreed—they must have, whoever they were—”but he made the choice himself.” My jaw tightened. “He should pay.”

4

“He will,” Logan promised me, tone grim. With that, he headed towards the monastery, slowing after a moment to match his stride to my much shorter one.

As we entered the courtyard, my muscles tight as I realized my back was entirely unprotected, one lieutenant looked us up and down with open contempt.

“The queen’s little loverboy has some nerve showing his face here,” he said.

Remembering Shaemoor, I returned his disdainful stare with one of my own. Logan was many things, but presumptuous was not one of them—nor little.

He laughed and went on, “Did you two come in a golden carriage?”

5

My eyes narrowed. I wasn’t foolish enough to draw a weapon based on words alone, but I kept my hand close to my scabbard.

“What do you mean by that, soldier?” I snapped.

The lieutenant glared up at Logan; it was a good ways up. “We need real Seraph here in Queensdale, not politicians.”

Logan considered him in silence, then simply shrugged and strode past him, leaving the man flushed and glowering.

Softly, I said, “Watch your tongue.”

6

The lieutenant flinched, then gave another sneer and retreated to his post. Another guard, however, seemed to have been paying close attention; as I moved to catch up with Logan, this one caught my sleeve.

“Captain Thackeray’s here?” he said, peering over my shoulder. He looked nervous, but sounded nearly hopeful. “Is … is he going to replace Captain Tervelan?”

I tilted my head to the side. “You almost sound as if you’d like that idea.”

7

Raw terror flashed over his face.

“No, no … I wouldn’t do anything against Tervelan … forget I said that—please?”

I smiled at him, reassured that not everyone seemed to be on Tervelan's side. “Noted.”

With that, I ran after Logan, ignoring his faint smile as I clambered up the stairs after him. From here, we could both make out Tervelan, staring us down with his arms crossed.

Logan leaned his head down and whispered, “Ready, little sister?”

THIRTY

1

“Ready, captain,” I said.

As we approached, shoulder-to-shoulder (or, well, head-to-shoulder), Tervelan’s features twisted into a grimace, the expression making him look more weasel-like than ever.

“Oh, look,” he said, “it’s my lucky day. The city kid is back again, and this time”—his eyes narrowed—“you brought Captain Thackeray.”

I was immediately certain that I’d made the right choice in doing so. Following Logan’s lead, however, I stayed silent.

“Two heroes for the price of one!” said Tervelan; pointedly looking around, he added, “Hm, nobody’s smiling?”

2

My well of patience, never deep, evaporated.

“You left me and Bigsby alone at that centaur camp on purpose,” I burst out. “Were you hoping we wouldn’t make it out alive? Was I getting too close to the truth about what happened to Falcon Company?”

Tervelan stepped closer, the movement infused with menace. I repressed the urge to step back; I’d never backed away from anything, and least of all with Logan at my side.

“You dare accuse a real soldier of treason?”

3

I simply lifted my chin. Tervelan was not at all my idea of a real soldier.

“If you’d seen half what I’ve seen,” he growled, “you’d fall out of your boots!”

Oh, please. The day he fought abominations from the Underworld in Godslost Swamp, we’d talk.

“Just because you run around with the queen’s lackey, her boyfriend, you think you can undermine my authority?”

By his triumphant look, Tervelan expected this to be a winning blow.

4

Logan not only didn’t recoil and run away, or whatever it was that Tervelan anticipated, he didn’t so much as twitch. I glanced up at him, ready to abide by his decision—so long as that decision brought me closer to finding what had happened to Deborah.

It was obedience, for me.

Logan studied Tervelan with steady grey eyes, then said coolly,

“That’s crossing the line, Tervelan. You’re hereby relieved of your command.”

Only my refusal to show weakness before Tervelan kept my expression neutral. I’d gone to Logan because I trusted him and because I was acting as his representative, but somehow I hadn’t really imagined him turning on another Seraph, on my word alone.

5

“I’m taking you back to Divinity’s Reach for questioning,” Logan went on, just as calmly. “I’d prefer you come peacefully.”

Tervelan’s sneer shifted into a snarl.

“Sorry to disappoint you. Gordan! Reginald! Muster the men!”

6

“One hundred gold to the soldier who silences these two, for good!”

I drew a sharp breath. “He’s ordering his Seraph to kill us? Will they do it?”

After all that I’d seen, and all that I’d heard, I still found it difficult to believe. The Ministry were the suspect ones, the Seraph were—they were Deborahs and Logans, they were the soldiers I’d helped and received help from—

“They might,” said Logan grimly.

7

“Listen here!” he shouted. “Anyone who attacks us will be committing treason! I will show no mercy to anyone who turns against Kryta for gold or who protects a traitor like Tervelan!”

Afterwards, I was never sure if I should say that a whole half of Tervelan’s command listened—or that only half did. Regardless, we had to fight a number of highly trained Seraph in addition to Tervelan himself, while other Seraph ran up to defend Logan and me from Tervelan’s loyalists, and the priests shouted and cried at the sudden outbreak.

The battle was one of utter chaos: Seraph against Seraph, captain against captain, and me and all the clones I could muster, swinging the balance. We won; but it was a victory with little joy in it.

THIRTY-ONE

1

“No more!” screamed Tervelan, shrinking away from bolts of aether and Logan’s sword. “I surrender! Enough—I surrender!”

He and his lackeys promptly dropped their weapons, shoulders slumping as their fellow soldiers put them under guard and seized the weaponry. The priests eyed all of us from their alcoves and doorways, not trusting this latest turn of fortunes.

I didn’t either. Shoving my sceptre into its sling on my back, I kept my sword at his throat.

2

So did Logan. And while mine was mostly a conduit for aether, his was long and sharp. It pricked Tervelan’s throat as the man dropped to his knees.

“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know!”

I glanced at the trickle of blood, and felt nothing but satisfaction. Pressing my sword closer, I demanded,

“Did you send Falcon Company into an ambush?”

Tervelan looked everywhere except at the two of us, then squeezed his eyes shut.

3

Finally, he lifted his gaze to Logan and me.

“I didn’t want to do it,” he muttered, then flinched back from our incredulous looks. “My soldiers were starving, our equipment was ruined. I had to do something or the centaurs would have killed us all!”

A shadow of his old disdain returned to his face.

“So, yes, I sold out Falcon Company so that some politician could say the queen was a bad ruler.” Tervelan glanced down at the swords and gulped.

4

“But the rest of my command lived. I got funds to re-equip my soldiers, munitions, decent rations, and a promotion. My command’s killed more centaurs than the rest of the Seraph combined—thanks to Falcon Company’s sacrifice.”

Logan and I drew equally sharp breaths. No, this was no sacrifice. Sacrifice had to be willing, conscious—one thing when a soldier risked their life in battle, and quite another when they were sold out by their own commander. He could dress it up all he liked; it was treason.

5

“Who paid you?” growled Logan. “Give me a name, now, or by Lyssa’s tears, you will never see the outside of a prison cell again.”

Tervelan shuddered. “I … I never met the man,” he said, “but he signed his letters ‘Minister Arton.’ That’s all I know, I swear it.”

Logan’s eyes widened, his sword giving a slight jerk. Tervelan squeaked.

6

“Arton’s one of the queen’s advisors. We need to warn Jennah—and fast. She may be in danger.”

I nodded.

“Tervelan,” Logan announced, “by my authority as a captain of the queen’s Seraph, you’re under arrest.”

With every appearance of little effort, he hoisted Tervelan to his feet, and bound his hands behind his back with a piece of rope offered by one of the loyal Seraph. I shoved my sword back in its scabbard, glaring at the traitor.

7

“You can’t put me in prison,” Tervelan insisted. “I’m a Seraph captain!”

“Not any more,” said Logan.

“I did what was right for Kryta! Someone had to do it—let me go!”

“Falcon Company deserved better than this, Tervelan,” I said coldly. “Deborah deserved better.”

THIRTY-TWO

1

He flushed. “Don’t you understand? This was how we drew enough attention to our cause to get aid! Supplies! Weapons!”

“You sold them out, Tervelan,” I told him, my free hand clenching. “That’s all I see—a traitor, and a disgrace to the uniform.”

2

I turned my back on him and walked away without regret, leaving two of the Seraph to lead him into one of the empty ale carts. Logan kept an eye on them, his expression grim.

“I’ll take Tervelan back to Divinity’s Reach and lock him up,” he told me. “Meet me at the palace—we’ll warn the queen about Minister Arton together.”

I hesitated, then said, “Tervelan’s slippery, and someone has a vested interest in not letting him talk.”

“No visitor, no ministers,” Logan assured me. “I’ll make sure of it.”

3

I thanked him, and trusting his capabilities, headed towards the main entrance, my heart still pounding in my ears. Several of the priests were starting to creep out; I reassured them as well as I could, silently thanking Faren for my years of smiling on cue.

At the main gate, I paused to catch my breath, and heard the jingle of armour silencing just behind me. Someone was following me. I cautiously dropped my hand to my sword—and felt a tap on my shoulder.

It was the nervous Seraph from before.

“Tervelan commanded my unit,” he said earnestly, “but I serve Kryta; my loyalties lie with Logan and the queen.”

4

He was looking for approval, I realized—approval from the woman who had repeatedly blasted Tervelan off his feet, at that. I summoned up one last smile.

“Glad to have you on our side, soldier. Carry on.”

It was odd, to think that Seraph could be as unsure of themselves and their choices as anyone else, as hesitant or eager, as loyal or confused.

I glanced back at the cart.

As corrupt.

5

Foolishly, perhaps, I detoured to Salma upon my return to Divinity’s Reach. I had worn these stained and dirty clothes so far, but before the queen? One had to draw a line somewhere.

My mother arrived just as I was rushing out in fresh silks.

“Althea!”

“Hello, Mama,” I said. “And goodbye—I have to go see Queen Jennah.”

6

“The queen?” she exclaimed. “Althea, what are you up to?”

“It’s a state secret,” I told her, and kissing her cheek, hurried through one of the free waypoints to the palace, nearly tripping over my own feet on the way out. Hopefully I wouldn’t before the queen herself.

I took a deep breath before the gate to the throne room, looked at the Shining Blade guards, and demanded entrance.

“By whose permission?” demanded one of them, looking me up and down.

“Captain Logan Thackeray’s,” I said proudly.

7

With much more reluctance, I added, “I’m Lady Althea Fairchild, the … the hero of Shaemoor.”

The guards’ expression cleared.

“He said to expect you,” the second one said, and both stepped aside, pushing the door open for me.

I entered as quietly possible, and nearly walked right into Logan, who steadied me but seemed otherwise preoccupied in surveying the room. I did the same, searching for anything suspicious or dangerous—but I, at least, found nothing. Queen Jennah, looking as healthy and lovely as ever, stood beside her throne, deep in conversation with Anise, while several ministers milled inoffensively around.

At a gesture from Logan, I followed him towards them, and knelt before my queen.

THIRTY-THREE

1

Queen Jennah, with a surprised look, told us to rise, and something in her soft voice had me doing so without thought.

“Sorry to intrude, your Majesty,” said Logan, clattering to his feet while I dusted off my skirt, “but this can’t wait. There’s a traitor in the Ministry.”

I had no idea if she reciprocated his devotion or not; either way, her voice and gaze remained steady.

“That’s a serious accusation, captain. Can you provide the required evidence the back up your claim?”

I had always felt loyal to her, as a Krytan citizen and one of her nobles; now, I decided that I liked her.

2

“We’re working on it, your Majesty,” I said, meeting her dark eyes directly. “Captain Tervelan confessed that a minister ordered him to reveal patrol routes to the enemy. The Screaming Falcons died because of it.”

She paled.

One of her advisors said, “Impossible! A minister would never betray our soldiers.”

I nearly rolled my eyes, remembering Zamon; at this point, I wouldn’t put anything past anyone.

3

“I wish this matter investigated immediately, your Majesty. The Ministry’s honour is at stake,” the advisor went on. He squared his shoulders and looked around at all of us, seeming more tired than anything else. “Captain Tervelan’s command is within my ministerial jurisdiction. I’m the one who works directly with him; I’m the one impugned.”

Arton, I realized. I had not expected so convenient an acknowledgment; we hadn’t even needed to mention his name.

4

“I’m not guilty of these crimes, your Majesty,” he said quietly. “I’m loyal to you, and to Kryta. As a show of faith, I place myself completely in your hands.”

I felt rather uncomfortable; a denial must be expected, of course, but I was used to … defiance, bravado, insults, not this sort of meek acceptance.

“Thank you, Arton,” said the queen, her manner gracious, but revealing nothing. “The Shining Blade will take you into custody, and you’ll be kept under house arrest while we get to the bottom of this.”

He nodded.

5

It didn’t feel right. Maybe that was the idea, but I’d never seen anyone apprehend a culprit so easily as the Shining Blade did Arton; they had only to step forward, and he held out his wrists.

Once they led him away, Anise stirred. Her usual sly smile was entirely absent.

“Logan, I remember that one Seraph transferred out of Tervelan’s company just after the Falcons were ambushed—Sergeant Hal. He might know something.”

Logan and I both brightened up; maybe the trail hadn’t ended here, after all.

6

“Hal?” Logan said, recognition in his face. He and Anise really did seem to know everyone. “As I recall, he patrols the eastern edge of Divinity’s Reach. Hero”—he smiled slightly at me—“why don’t you find out what he knows? I’ll guard the queen.”

Anise sighed, but I could not imagine him doing anything else. Just as Faren would be Faren, Logan would be Logan.

7

I was more surprised that he pulled me a little aside, as Queen Jennah spoke to the remaining ministers and Anise. Lowering his voice, he said,

“Maybe Hal transferred out of Tervelan’s unit because he found out what Tervelan did. See how much he can tell you about the Falcons’ disappearance.”

I thought of Deborah, perhaps slaughtered, perhaps enslaved. And I thought of the others, too, and of Tervelan’s shrill, pathetic justifications. I might be running Logan’s errands, but they could hardly be less of a burden.

“If he knows something,” I said, “I’ll get him to talk.”

THIRTY-FOUR

1

“Good,” Logan said, looking rather like a proud parent. “I want to make sure Jennah’s safe, so you’re on your own. Find Hal at the eastern edge of Divinity’s Reach, and see what he knows.”

I gave a crisp nod. “I’ll check in soon.”

With a quick (and somewhat painful) shake of hands, he turned back and clanked his way towards Anise.

I breathed in, and thought—oh, why not?

2

I walked over to the queen, not daring—presuming, my mother would say—a smile.

Now, away from the rest, she did look anxious. “Arton served as a minister under my father, the king; he’s always been supportive of my rule. Could he really be working against me?”

I’d rarely felt more out of my depth.

“Captain Thackeray and Countess Anise will ensure your safety, your Majesty,” I said at last. “I’ll look into this.”

3

She lifted her eyes, seeming to really see me for the first time.

“Thank you, hero. I’m glad to know that this matter is in good hands.”

Logan had once spoken of my name reaching her ears; it evidently hadn’t happened yet. But then, she had rather more pressing matters on her mind.

“You’ll be safe, your Majesty,” I promised, glancing over at Anise and Logan, “and I’ll discover the truth of this. I swear it.”

4

Anise caught me as I headed towards the door. She looked vaguely amused once more.

“Accusing a minister in front of the queen? I knew you were bold, but I didn’t realize you were fearless.”

Hardly that.

“Not fearless,” I told her. “Determined.”

5

“I see,” said Anise, which could mean anything. “Well, hurry on; we’re all quite fascinated.”

Minister Caudecus, when I approached, looked more irritable than fascinated. But well he might be; I remembered Anise’s suspicion that he’d orchestrated Zamon’s death.

“You’re stirring up quite a fuss with these accusations,” he said. “Let’s hope you find evidence to justify this commotion.”

“I will,” I told him, “and I look forward to presenting it to the queen.”

6

Logan spoke to me one last time, now looking almost fretful. He said,

“I’ll be standing by if you need help.”

I blinked. “But you said—the queen—”

We both glanced over at Jennah and Anise.

“I’ll do my part to protect her,” he said, “but she has other protectors, and you don’t, so … just let me know, all right?”

Rather touched, I said, “All right.”

7

I’d rarely felt anything but safe in Divinity’s Reach. It was my home. But my shoulders itched as I made my way to the eastern edge; a minister did not act alone, and who knew what agents might be at liberty in the city?

It didn’t slow my steps, but my mind darted between fear and resolve, between I’m going to find out the truth and desperately trying to distract myself with wondering about Faren and Yolanda and the rest, telling myself I needed better shoes, and I really should cut my hair or grow it out, it kept getting in my eyes—frightfully impractical, really—

I asked some guards along the eastern wall of Rurikton (of course it was Rurikton), and thankfully, Sergeant Hal was both on duty and nearby. I followed their directions, and braced myself.

It was now or never.

THIRTY-FIVE

1

Sergeant Hal, an amiable-looking Ascalonian with brown hair bound at the back of his head, seemed an unlikely source of answers to all the mysteries confronting us. Nevertheless, he was our only lead, so I cheerfully abused my authority as an Ascalonian noble to interrupt his watch.

“Sergeant Hal?” I said, and lowered my voice. “I need to talk to you about Captain Tervelan.”

Hal recoiled from me, his mild eyes turning panicked.

“Merciful Grenth, I knew this day would come!” He was a good few inches taller than me, but he cowered as if I were a giant.

2

Taken aback, I just stared at him.

Almost whimpering, he said, “Did Tervelan send you to kill me?”

What the—

“No,” I assured him, smiling, “calm down. Thackeray sent me. But tell me: why would Tervelan want you killed?”

Hal heaved a great sigh, and though hardly calm—he kept glancing over his shoulder—the immediate terror receded from his face.

3

He dropped his eyes to the ground, a flush creeping up his cheeks, and mumbled,

“I delivered Tervelan’s private messages to the ministry and”—his gaze flickered up, and then down again, his shoulders hunching—“to the woods. I didn’t ask who the notes were for, but … oh gods, I knew. I transferred out the moment I could. You have to believe me!”

I could almost hear another piece clicking into place.

“So that’s how Tervelan communicated with the centaurs.”

But there was another piece left—too many pieces.

4

“Who was his contact in the ministry?” I asked sharply.

“I don’t know,” he said, but before I could press harder, he finally looked straight at me and said, “but Dansky might. She was a Falcon before transferring to the Lionguard. She’s stationed at Black Haven now.”

Frustration built in my throat, though I refused to voice it. I knew of Black Haven—one of the main Lionguard forts down south, supposedly keeping the trade routes safe—but it was past the swamp, beyond Queensdale altogether. I’d never been so far in my life.

5

I didn’t feel like arguing with Logan about going all the way to the Delanian Foothills; sometimes this older-brotherly thing was more trouble than I cared to deal with. Instead, I went to bathe and change into more practical clothes, sent a vague note, very definitely did not tell my mother where I was going, and headed off once more.

I’d decided that the journey wouldn’t be too difficult. I could take the Salma waypoint down to Godslost Swamp—it’d be worth the expense to avoid fighting my way through Queensdale—then make my way south through Sojourner’s Way, and down into the foothills.

It was easier planned than done. I had scarcely set a foot beyond Queensdale when I found a child whose mother had been abducted by bandits, assorted Lionguard soldiers under attack, and just—bandits. I’d never seen so many in my life; by the time I reached the haven, my new leggings were as stained with dirt and blood as my last.

6

I’d scarcely arrived at Black Haven when I heard yet more bandits just behind me. I raced inside only seconds before the doors slammed closed.

“I’m here to help,” I said hastily, before any Lionguard could stab me (or whatever it was that Lionguards did).

They were, it seemed, in no position to turn down another set of hands. One soldier who seemed to be in charge of those near her sent me up on the walls to help pour oil, while other soldiers launched cannon balls at the mortars beneath us. Taken altogether, it was one of the nastiest battles I’d ever participated in. I could only think,

Welcome to Kessex Hills.

7

After we’d driven the bandits off, I got directions to Danksy; she was keeping watch up by one of the towers.

“I don’t have time to talk right now,” she said brusquely.

I considered my options, given that I was neither particularly charming nor particularly threatening. Then I straightened up, and said in my most official manner,

“Your help could clear up an important legal matter.”

It seemed the right answer. Looking concerned, she turned back towards me and said,

“In that case, I’ll do what I can to help.”

I smiled.