Private Tales Archnemesis

[Zael]

"I'll take it."

Beggars can't be choosers—Zael heard somebody say that once, and he never forgot it. And right now he was the beggar in question.

Now to get to it.

"Listen, Sable...I don't want to be here. I don't know if you heard about Stenn's rebellion and Vel Kastula, but I was ready to call it quits after that. Been makin a new home of Elbion as of late. I've never been happier, man. I was gonna say to hell with it all, let Vel Anir be, and leave it all behind.

"But Kimble wants me in Vel Anir. Fightin. He took somebody I care about. You don't know her, but her name's Yuna Fairweather, and..."

Fuck it was hard to say this part.

"...he's mutilating her. To make me do what he wants me to do. Just like Proctor Malaneaux did to Sieglilly."

Sable Pembroke

 

[Sable Pembroke]

Sable knew nothing of Stenn's rebellion, but the rest of Zael's explanation clicked fairly well. Kimble had always been a sadist of the highest order, one of the greatest icons of what was wrong with the horrors of the Old Ways. If Kimble had it out for Zael then it made sense as to why he started caring. The odds of the ex-proctor letting his former student off the proverbial string were slim to none.

The revelation that he'd taken someone important to Zael made it far more clear as to the time frame...and Sable knew that Zael wouldn't mention Sieglilly lightly.

Sable's brow creased deeply.
"I...see..." he said slowly as his mind began to race, his hand moving to rub the back of his own head. "...Damn it all."

 

[Zael]

"The only thing she did wrong was get close to me," Zael said, unable to hide the guilt creeping into his tone.

He was in that moment glad for the dark.

"I couldn't do anythin for Sieg. But I'll be damned if I don't try to save Yuna."

And if nothing else, at least he'd make sure he got put into the ground first, dying in the attempt—it was only right.

"And you're the only one I can count on for help, Sable."



Sable Pembroke

 

[Sable Pembroke]

"Right..."
A sigh escaped Sable, the fog trail of his breath ascending in a column in front of him.

"You're putting an awful lot of stock into someone who tried to brutalize you when last we met," he said with a shake of his head. There was only one conclusion Sable could come to.

"Burned every other bridge you have, huh?"

 

[Zael]

Even in the darkness, Zael spread his arms out wider, that sweeping gesture spelling out in one motion the sentiment of Ain't that the truth. But Sable didn't need to see it to know it. Hell, showed Zael's desperation that he was banking on Sable not trying to brutalize him again, didn't it?

"Throwin in with Gilram did a pretty good job of that, yeah. I'm lucky I got what trust I did out of Kristen. Everleigh's unreachable at the Academy. Ollie's pretty much the same I reckon, unreachable. Haven't heard about Henk...but I did hear about Caeso. I never really got know Alistair to the point where he'd stick his neck out like this for my sake. Ral's sure to be a no-go. Ivan's probably off doin Kress-knows-what, and so's Vance I figure. Gaage...he's doin good, man, and I can't spoil that for him. Edric, hell, I ain't even seen him once after joinin the Rogues, and that's if he'd even give a damn. You already know Noel's out. And Lumen, well..."

Zael was quiet for a moment.

"Thing is, Sable, you were there."

At the Bloody Graduation. He saw everything with his own eyes.

Sable Pembroke

 

[Sable Pembroke]

"I'm...on probation here, Zael. I don't know how much you know, but I'm only out of prison on the good graces of Kristen, Lord Pirian, Proctor D'Amour, and Sam...er, Ral," he corrected himself. Most people from the Academy still didn't know about her name change, Zael included it seemed. "Every time I leave Vel Castere I'm putting my future at risk."

And that excuse would have been enough for anyone else to dismiss this request as a fool's errand. Sable had no stake in this, truly. Kimble's grudge was with Zael, and Sable had a life to live. And yet. There was a gnawing, a burning in his heart that simply wouldn't stand for that answer. For this injustice. Sable clenched his fists.

"...But. You're right. I was there. I know what Kimble is capable of, and if he's got a hostage...then I can't just stand by, can I?"

Perhaps that spark of honor within his heart wasn't as dead as he liked to believe. What kind of man would he be if he had the opportunity to do the right thing and turned away? Sable laughed grimly and shook his head.

"Besides...I think I owe you for Zettal."

 

[Zael]

Zael's heart sank as soon as Sable said probation. Damn, that was worse than if Sable had simply dismounted, walked right up to him, and gut-punched him again; because probation meant he probably couldn't help even if he wanted to. And he went on. Yeah, he wasn't wrong about putting his future at risk, and that probably went double for what Zael was asking of him. Even if Kimble might be on the wanted list, so was Zael, and the Army of the West surely couldn't abide that.

...But.

Now there's a word that could raise up low spirits. And here it did. Zael didn't blame Kristen for being so dubious, even insinuating that his stories about Heather and Yuna were made up; and just the same, Zael wouldn't've blamed Sable here if he opted out. But Sable didn't. Thank Kress, he didn't.

"You don't owe me for nothin, man," Zael said, smiling in the dark. "You saved my life at the Bloody Graduation, and I reckon that, in some kinda way, it was for this."

He didn't want to sound too much like Kristen, calling on Kress or Aionus in more than just a figurative way, but this felt larger than just the two of them, him and Sable. Like they had been drawn into this together. There was a debt to be paid, and they were the ones who had to pay it in order to set everything right. Everleigh liked to talk about fate and destiny, and scoffed at the notion of the first. So did Zael for that matter. But now had come some reason for doubt about the potential of fate, like having scoffed at thunder and lightning and now seeing a storm brewing and rolling your way.

"It's been a long time in comin, hasn't it? Maybe if I didn't go and burn down Ganfarred, Kimble'd be dead already."

Sable Pembroke

 

[Sable Pembroke]

Another chuckle escaped Sable. Fate, for whatever it was, was a fickle thing, ever entertaining with how people and life intertwined in all their twists and turns. That after everything Zael bore not a shred of malice in his heart towards Sable, that the fire mage might let bad blood run off him like water off a duck's back...perhaps there was more light in the world than Sable had let himself believe.

Or perhaps it was up to men like Zael and, gods willing, Sable, to bring that light to bear.

Sable's chuckle escalated into a hearty belly laugh, the likes of which he'd not felt course through him since before graduation. Levity, even in the face of tribulation. Honor, even in the face of iniquity. Before Sable had even registered that he'd done it, he scooped Zael into a great bear hug, laughing all the way.

He set his friend down only a moment later.
"It certainly has. Though if there's anything that I've learned over the past several weeks it's that mistakes can always be atoned for," he said with a stretch, his smile barely visible in the dim light offered by the moon. "So let's get atoning, shall we?"

 

[Zael]

Holy shit, Sable had one hell of a grip. Zael felt his feet rise up off of the ground for a moment there before he was put back down. Well hell, if he'd'a known that was coming, he would have at least stretched his own arms out to give him a hug back. Wouldn't be anywhere near as good a hug as the big man himself was capable of, but it'd be something better than his arms caught at his sides.

But anyway.

Damn. Zael hadn't felt this good in the long time. He felt like he could hold up the sky, or go to war with a volcano and win.

"Anythin you gotta do before we set out?" Zael asked. "I got a plan, somethin of one at any rate, and it'll take you away from Vel Castere for a while."

Sable Pembroke

 

[Sable Pembroke]

"Aye. I'll need to grab some supplies and...probably make some kind of excuse to my lieutenant. I'm less likely to wind up back in Vel Salvus if I do, I think," he answered. A hand slipped absentmindedly into the pocket of his slacks, fingers trailing the paper within.

"Actually...I think you might've already given me the perfect out," his grin returned once more. "Good work on the forgery, by the way. Your handiwork has gotten a lot more convincing since last time."

 

[Zael]

Zael grinned back. "I can trace letters about as good as any first year Initiate," he said. And for a brief second there, he was reminded of his old joke he used to tell when shit looked grim: at least the Academy taught me how to read—and write, in this case. Well look at the monster they created, using the very powers they taught him for the forces of good. Ha!

"Just don't have your lieutenant look at it too closely."

Zael made ready to step off, to go tuck himself away in one of the few hiding spots available in the rough land while Sable took care of business, and in this effort he turned halfway before pausing.

"And Sable? I can't thank you enough for this." His grin returned, this time even larger, and threaded through even in the dark with a warm affection. "I've got room for another brother."

Him, Sable, and Gaage. What a family.

Sable Pembroke

 

[Sable Pembroke]

"Something tells me Sam won't bother to look at it too closely if she knows it's from Kristen anyways," Sable replied. Kristen had a knack for being overly flowery with her words, even by Sable's standards of reading, and Samantha had little patience for that sort of thing. She'd come out here to get away from the nobility.

Zael's next words hit Sable in the chest like a burlap sack full of mortar. "Brother." That wasn't a word he'd expected to hear in reference to himself for the rest of his days. Sable nodded after a few quiet moments.

"I'm just happy to have the chance to make things right," with that, he turned to leave. "I'll be back soon."

 

[Zael]

THE HIDDEN CAMP AT MORNING​

Sleep clung at Zael's eyes, but it was nothing he hadn't dealt with before in the Academy. All through the night he and Sable rode, Zael on the back of Sable's horse, what for lack of his own mount, of course. They made good time while darkness lasted, crossing the rough Casterean country far from any of the well-trodden roads.

Finally with the eastern sun risen and the sky painted a light morning blue, they came to a stop. Only to rest for a little while and eat. Sleep would have to wait until they made more progress into the south and east, into country more thickly populated with trees and hills, and broken sightlines aplenty. At present, they had found a small cleft in the earth, like a tiny crescent shaped cliff that came up to about Zael's shoulders, to rest within the shelter of, for it shielded them from view of all things to the west and north. There was even a small watering hole nearby, how about that.

Zael as they sat and ate reminisced some to Sable about his time in Elbion. He talked about Yuna and how he met her, and how he had made good with her and Gierliadel and Herrim, two of her friends and fellow students, all of whom he and Olvir Weiroon had betrayed "a bit" on an Academy mission. He talked about his wild night with a man named Ruslan Gildal, going from brothel to brothel looking for someone of interest to the Rogues—not that it came to anything fruitful for Gilram's lot. And he talked about bumping into Kristen and Zinnia there in Elbion too, having a chat which...well...didn't go as poorly as it could have, so that was something.

All that prompted something Zael had been wondering about, and, before he would get into his plan concerning Kimble, he asked Sable:

"Hey, I thought you were still in prison after what happened in Zettal. I had a hard time believin Kristen when she said you weren't anymore." He set down his wrap of travel rations in his lap. "What happened? How'd you get out?"

Sable Pembroke

 

[Sable Pembroke]

Time trotted onwards, and so did the vengeful duo. Sable was thankful that at the very least his horse was of the largest stock the Knights had available. "Big horse for a big fucker," they'd told him. The stallion did well in handling the extra weight of Zael and his kit.

The conversation was good; Zael was as nonchalant as ever and it did wonders in helping Sable to believe that no time had passed between their graduation and now. They two could really be brothers once more.

He listened to tales of old comrades with vim and shared his own (much less interesting) stories in turn.

Then came the question.
"Huh? Oh, uh...I guess I sort of assumed that it had come up in your talks with Kristen already. Miss Evangeline, Proctor D'Amour, apparently decided to do some digging when she heard that I'd been incarcerated," Sable began to explain as he worked a whetstone over the blade of his broadsword. "She found some things that...didn't add up in the reports. Miss D'Amour told Kristen, and Kristen told Lord Pirian. Then Lord Pirian had Samantha--formerly Ralene--come out to Vel Salvus prison to release me into her custody."

It occurred to Sable that there was actually quite a lot that Zael would've been none the wiser about, but Sable was an open book.
"To make a long story short, Lieutenant Sam got me into the Anirian Knights, on the promise that if I messed up I would go right back to prison."

 

[Zael]

Heh. Shit. Zael was lucky to get what information he did out of Kristen. And she told him only what he strictly needed to know, and no more, and this only on account of Kristen believing Sable could put him six feet in the ground if—as was her suspicion—there was any trickery afoot. But Sable did fill in all the relevant details. And, well, no wonder Kristen knew where Sable was. Zael was also about to ask who the hell "Samantha" was, but then that got explained. Huh. Probably one of those "best if you don't ask" sort of situations. Well, whether she went by Ralene or Samantha, she likely still had a chip on her shoulder from Zael's outburst at the infirmary, way back when. One of those heat of the moment regrets of his there.

All told, Zael was glad Sable was out of prison. Vel Anir really needed more people like him, and sure as fuck not locked up behind bars.

"Here's to hopin me and my horseshit won't mess you up," he said, chuckling a little. "You got a good thing goin now."

Zael wrapped up his rations and stuffed them back inside his back, and then rested his arms on his knees as he sat. He looked to Sable. Time to solidify the plan to take down Kimble, once and for all this time.

"Ready to hear what I got?"

Sable Pembroke

 

[Sable Pembroke]

"No, I'm sure I'll be fine," he hoped aloud. Satisfied with his work, Sable sheathed his sword back in its scabbard. "But even if it wasn't, this is a cause worth fighting for. And hell, I suppose I could always head to Elbion with you if the Guard decides they've had enough of me. My college magic is certainly good enough to fit in!"

Sable laughed with gusto, eyes closed and head back. Humor at his own expense and the ridiculous circumstances he'd created. Perhaps he was more like his story books than he thought. After a moment he refocused, ready to listen to Zael's next intended move.

"Hit me with it."

 

[Zael]

Zael smiled when Sable mentioned Elbion. It was what he himself was planning on doing, keeping his word to Kristen and listening to Yuna and leaving Vel Anir behind for good. No ifs, ands, or buts about it this time. He'd been sold a false bill of goods his whole life: Vel Anir was that, the Academy was that, the Rogues were that. He dared to dream but it was a raw deal too. So he had to get out.

Maybe Sable could hang on in Vel Anir. But if he ever left, yeah, Zael bet he could fit in elsewhere more than he knew: because he was a good man, and Vel Anir didn't deserve him.

Hit me with it.

And so now came the plan. It had a few distinct parts, so Zael had it arranged in his head, and hopefully bouncing it off of Sable could help refine it as best as could be.

"Alright." Zael cracked his knuckles. "So I don't know where Kimble is. Don't have the faintest clue where his hideout could be. But I think I know how we can draw him out. I...'talked' with him up in Elbion. He threatened me with hurtin Yuna, but he also told me some things.

"He doesn't want me to die. Not anymore, at least. He wants me to keep at this dream of mine until I break. I think, more than anythin, he wants to hear me say that he was right, that the old way is best. And more than that, I think he wants me under his heel, completely against everythin I'm fightin for now, and servin him instead."

Zael smiled grimly.

"This is how we gotta get at him. We gotta turn me into prime bait."

Sable Pembroke