Chronicle 20
“The Fall of Aetheris: Part 2”
The Land Rover rolled to a stop before the towering gates of
Aetheria.
Dust settled around the tires as Ravi cut the engine. For a
moment, the only sounds were the ticking of the cooling motor and the distant
cries of soldiers patrolling the walls above.
The fortress dominated the landscape.
Stone ramparts stretched in either direction, banners
bearing the royal crest fluttering in the afternoon wind. Armoured guards
watched from the battlements with loaded crossbows while a pair of iron-bound
wooden gates blocked the road ahead.
Inside the vehicle, Eldred stirred.
He had slept through nearly the entire journey, curled
awkwardly among crates of food, blankets and spare equipment. Blinking away the
last traces of sleep, he rubbed his eyes.
"We're here?"
Ravi nodded.
"We're here."
The gates creaked open just enough for a squad of Aetherian
soldiers to emerge.
Their commander raised a gloved hand.
"State your business."
Zas stepped forward before anyone else could speak.
His hands remained well away from his rifle.
"My name is Zasaramel of the Order of the Blue
Shield."
The commander studied him with narrowed eyes.
"The Blue Shield?"
"We have travelled from Daral Lake in peace."
Zas gestured calmly toward the Land Rover.
"With us is a citizen of Curgarden. He has asked our
Order to act as neutral diplomats between Curgarden and the Kingdom of
Aetheria."
Ravi watched the soldiers exchange uncertain glances.
Zas continued.
"We respectfully request an audience with His Majesty
King Havin. It is our hope that we may help negotiate a peaceful
settlement."
The commander remained silent.
Then his gaze drifted past Zas...
...and settled on Eldred.
The colour drained from his face.
"You."
Every soldier around him stiffened.
"You are a citizen of Curgarden."
Eldred swallowed.
"I am."
The commander's expression hardened into disbelief.
"Impossible."
He took two slow steps forward.
"No one leaves Curgarden."
Silence settled over the road.
"You escaped."
Eldred said nothing.
The commander looked back at Zas.
"You knowingly harboured a fugitive of the Crown?"
"I knew only that he sought our assistance," Zas
answered evenly. "I was unaware that leaving Curgarden had been declared a
crime."
"It is."
"Then I speak from ignorance rather than
defiance."
The commander laughed bitterly.
"Ignorance is not a defence."
Zas held his ground.
"We came to prevent further bloodshed."
"There need not be further bloodshed," he
continued. "Allow us to speak with your king. If our efforts fail, we will
depart peacefully."
The commander's eyes were cold.
"You presume this matter is open for negotiation."
"It should be."
"It is not."
He turned sharply toward his men.
"Seize them."
Steel rang from scabbards.
Within seconds, the Blue Shield found themselves surrounded
by a ring of spears.
Azamat instinctively shifted his weight.
Semin's hand twitched toward the knife at his belt.
Rahim's jaw tightened.
Ravi froze.
Only Zas remained perfectly still.
"No one resists," he said quietly.
The words carried enough authority that every member of the
party obeyed.
One by one, their rifles were taken.
Then their knives.
Their radios.
Their packs.
Even the Land Rover keys disappeared into an officer's
pocket as soldiers began unloading every crate from the vehicle.
The commander watched without emotion.
"The vehicle and its contents are hereby confiscated in
the name of the Crown."
Eldred stared at the ground.
"I am sorry."
"No," Zas replied.
"This is not your doing."
Two soldiers seized Eldred by the arms.
Another officer drew his sword.
"The fugitive will be executed immediately."
Zas stepped forward.
"If you intend to imprison us, then imprison him with
us."
The commander frowned.
"He is a traitor."
"He is also unarmed."
Zas met the man's eyes without fear.
"A dead prisoner tells you nothing."
For several long seconds, the commander said nothing.
Finally, he exhaled.
"...Very well."
The sword lowered.
"He lives."
Eldred's shoulders sagged with relief.
"…but only until His Majesty decides otherwise."
Heavy iron shackles clicked shut around each prisoner's
wrists.
Behind them, the great gates of Aetheria groaned open.
The soldiers marched the captives through.
As the gates slammed shut behind them, the last glimpse of
open country disappeared.
None of them knew whether they would ever walk back through
those gates alive.
The prisoners were marched through the streets of Aetheria
under heavy guard.
No one spoke for several minutes.
Zas walked with the same measured stride he always seemed to
possess, as though this were merely another mountain trail instead of a
procession toward imprisonment.
Semin quietly studied everything.
Every intersection.
Every guard tower.
Every escape route.
Rahim tried to do the same, though the sheer size of the
capital made it difficult to remember every turn.
Azamat...
Azamat breathed loudly enough that one of the guards kept
glancing back.
"So..." Azamat ventured. "Is this the royal
welcome?"
"Quiet."
"I've had warmer receptions."
"I said quiet."
Azamat nodded obediently.
"...Right."
Three seconds passed.
"So are we prisoners, prisoners, or diplomatic
prisoners?"
The guard closed his eyes.
"Quiet."
"Just asking."
Meanwhile, Ravi's imagination had abandoned reality
entirely.
He had never been arrested before.
Every story, every movie, every history book he'd ever read
suddenly came rushing back.
A dungeon.
It had to be a dungeon.
Dark.
Cold.
Wet.
Chains bolted into the walls.
Iron maidens.
Thumbscrews.
The rack.
He vaguely remembered a comic strip from childhood where
prisoners had been stretched until they resembled rubber bands.
Another memory surfaced.
A history textbook.
It had claimed that some medieval prisoners were kept in
such complete darkness that they eventually lost their eyesight.
"Oh no..."
One of the guards glanced over.
"What?"
"If it's completely dark..." Ravi muttered, almost
to himself. "Do you eventually go blind? I read that once. Or maybe it was
because they had vitamin deficiencies. Oh no, maybe they're going to chain us
upside down. Can people actually survive hanging upside down? How long can-"
"Will you shut up?"
Ravi jumped.
"...Sorry."
The procession continued.
Finally they reached the prison.
Ravi braced himself.
The heavy wooden doors opened.
Inside...
...was a prison.
Stone walls.
Iron bars.
Cells.
Guards.
A few wooden tables.
It looked unpleasant.
It looked secure.
It looked...
ordinary.
"Oh."
The guard shoved him forward.
"Disappointed?"
"N-no."
"I was just..."
"...expecting worse."
The guard grinned.
"If you don't stop talking, we'll introduce you to the
rack."
Ravi's face went white.
The guards laughed as they escorted the prisoners into
separate cells.
When the footsteps finally faded down the corridor, silence
settled over the block.
Ravi sat against the wall, still pale.
"They...they have a rack."
"They do not," Zas replied calmly.
Ravi looked up.
"They said-"
"They wanted to frighten you."
"They succeeded."
Zas allowed himself the faintest smile.
"The Treaty of Ctesiphon prohibits judicial torture
among its signatories."
He leaned back against the stone wall.
"Aetheria ratified the treaty many years ago. Devices
such as the rack were outlawed as part of those obligations."
Ravi let out a slow breath.
"So...they were bluffing?"
"I believe so."
For a moment, everyone relaxed.
Then Azamat spoke.
"They signed it."
He scratched his beard thoughtfully.
"…but..."
"...will they follow it?"
The cell fell silent again.
Even Zas had no immediate answer.
The iron door opened.
A young woman entered carrying a wooden tray.
The guards unlocked the cell just long enough for her to
step inside before locking it again behind her.
She smiled politely.
"I've brought your supper."
Ravi eyed the bowls suspiciously.
"Is this the part where prisoners get served grey mush
in dented metal trays?"
The woman blinked.
"...No."
She set the bowls on the floor.
"I know it isn't a banquet."
She looked almost embarrassed.
"…but I tried to make something people would actually
want to eat."
She hesitated.
"You are prisoners..."
"...but you're still people."
Silence filled the cell.
Zas looked up.
"You believe that."
She nodded without hesitation.
"Of course."
Unlike many people in this city.
Zas studied her for a moment.
"You are not a prison cook."
"No."
"Then who are you?"
"My name is Elara."
Nothing more.
No title.
No explanation.
Just her name.
Zas inclined his head.
"I am Zasaramel."
"I know."
She smiled faintly.
"The guards have been talking about the Blue Shield all
afternoon."
Zas wasted no time.
"There was another prisoner with us."
"The man from Curgarden."
"Eldred."
"Where is he?"
Confusion crossed her face.
"There was another prisoner?"
"He was separated from us."
Her expression fell.
"I..."
"...wasn't told."
She looked down at the remaining bowl.
"I wish I had known."
"For what purpose?" Ravi asked.
"So I would have prepared another meal."
The room became quiet.
It was such a simple answer that no one quite knew how to
respond.
Zas finally spoke.
"Lady Elara..."
"...do you know the Treaty of Ctesiphon?"
She nodded.
"I do."
"Then you know we cannot be held indefinitely."
"Yes."
"You know we are entitled to be informed of the charges
against us."
"...Yes."
"You know our Order must be notified of our
detention."
Her shoulders sank slightly.
"Yes."
"…and unless we have committed a serious offence under
the treaty..."
"...the Kingdom's proper remedy would ordinarily be
expulsion."
She looked away.
"I know."
Ravi frowned.
"So..."
"...why are we here?"
Elara answered quietly.
"Because my father does not always separate what the
law permits..."
"...from what he believes is necessary."
Zas looked at her carefully.
"Your father."
A long pause.
Then she met his eyes.
"King Havin."
Even Azamat straightened.
Ravi nearly dropped his bowl.
"You..."
"...you're the princess?"
Elara gave the faintest of smiles.
"I've never liked introducing myself that way."
Zas wasn't surprised.
He simply nodded.
"Then I ask one thing of you."
"If I can."
"Eldred."
"If he dies..."
"...our diplomatic mission ends."
His voice remained calm.
"…but the consequences will not."
"The Blue Shield came here seeking peace."
"If your kingdom executes the man we were asked to
protect..."
"...Aetheria will answer for that decision."
Elara held his gaze.
There was no threat in Zas' voice.
Only certainty.
For the first time since entering the cell block...
...she looked genuinely afraid.
The first evening passed more peacefully than anyone had
expected.
The bowls Elara had prepared were emptied surprisingly
quickly.
Azamat wiped the last of the stew from his bowl with a piece
of bread.
"I don't know what Ravi was complaining about."
"I wasn't complaining," Ravi protested.
"You thought it would be prison slop."
"I expected prison slop."
Azamat shrugged.
"It was good."
Ravi reluctantly nodded.
"...It was good."
For the first time since their arrest, a few smiles appeared
around the cell.
They didn't last long.
Rahim rested his bowl against the wall.
"Something doesn't add up."
Everyone looked toward him.
"If King Havin truly wanted us dead..."
He gestured toward the empty bowls.
"...why feed us?"
No one answered immediately.
Rahim continued.
"We're worth more alive than dead."
Zas nodded.
"I believe so."
"They know who we are."
"They know we came openly."
"They know we did not resist arrest."
"They also know we are registered diplomats."
Ravi frowned.
"…but they arrested us anyway."
"They did."
"So...what happens now?"
Zas folded his hands.
"The Treaty of Ctesiphon is very clear."
"Within three days we must be informed of the charges
against us."
"We must then be brought before a court."
"The court may determine that we have committed no
serious offence."
"In that case..."
"...we are expelled from Aetheria."
"Along with all of our possessions."
"Our vehicle."
"Our equipment."
"Our weapons."
"Our personal effects."
"They cannot simply confiscate them permanently."
"…and if they think we've committed something
serious?"
"Then we remain in custody pending trial."
Ravi stared at him.
"You seem remarkably calm."
"I have no reason not to be."
"The Treaty is explicit."
Semin, who had remained quiet throughout the discussion,
finally spoke.
"The Treaty is explicit."
He glanced toward the corridor.
"So was your invitation to meet King Havin."
Silence.
Semin leaned forward.
"I've been watching."
"The guards."
"They're stretched thin."
He lowered his voice.
"The siege has cost them."
"Every soldier at Curgarden is one who isn't
here."
"There are fewer guards than there should be."
He nodded toward the corridor.
"Just now..."
"...there aren't any."
Azamat looked over.
He was right.
The corridor outside was empty.
Semin continued.
"There are four of us."
He smiled faintly.
"Four mountain men."
"I don't think these cell doors would stop us for very
long."
Rahim looked uncertain.
"You think we should escape?"
"I think we should consider it."
"We're stronger than they are."
"We've escaped worse terrain than this."
Ravi looked from Semin to Zas.
"What do you think?"
Zas answered without hesitation.
"No."
Semin raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because escaping would transform our situation."
"It would tell Aetheria that we acknowledge
guilt."
"It would give them justification to accuse us of far
more serious offences."
"Such as?"
"Sedition."
The word lingered in the air.
"If we assault guards..."
"If we flee lawful custody..."
"If we resist the authority of the Crown..."
"...they could claim we attempted to undermine the
Kingdom itself."
Semin crossed his arms.
"…and?"
"…and once that accusation exists..."
"...everything changes."
Zas looked each of them in the eye.
"The Blue Shield's reputation rests upon honour."
"We are known because we obey the law- even when it
inconveniences us."
"If word spreads that Blue Shield diplomats escaped
prison while awaiting trial..."
"...the story will not become 'they were imprisoned
unjustly.'"
"It will become..."
"'Blue Shield diplomats flee justice in
Aetheria.'"
He paused.
"Our allies would hesitate."
"Neutral kingdoms would hesitate."
"Even Peace would have difficulty defending us."
"The diplomatic mission would be destroyed."
The room grew quiet.
Semin slowly nodded.
"So..."
"...you want us to sit here."
"I want us to follow the law."
"…and if Havin doesn't?"
"Then he is the one violating the Treaty."
Zas's voice remained as steady as ever.
"Not us."
He leaned back against the stone wall.
"Trust the process."
No one spoke for several moments.
Finally, Azamat sighed.
"I preferred talking about stew."
The tension broke just enough for Ravi to chuckle.
Even Semin allowed himself the faintest smile.
Semin was unconvinced.
"I still think we're making a mistake."
No one answered immediately.
He continued anyway.
"If Havin has already decided to ignore the
Treaty..."
"...then we're waiting for nothing."
He looked directly at Zas.
"If he isn't following the law..."
"...why should we?"
Ravi shook his head.
"Because we're still alive."
Semin frowned.
"That proves nothing."
"It proves something."
Ravi counted on his fingers.
"They could have shot us at the gate."
"They could have hanged us."
"They could have made Eldred disappear."
"They didn't."
He pointed toward the empty bowls.
"They're feeding us."
"They're housing us."
"They're guarding us."
"They haven't beaten us."
"They haven't tortured us."
"So..."
"...even if King Havin doesn't care about the
Treaty..."
"...he clearly cares about something."
Semin remained unconvinced.
"Or he's waiting."
Before Ravi could answer, Zas spoke.
"We are not here to speculate."
"We are here to accomplish a mission."
He folded his arms.
"Nothing that has happened so far is, by itself, a
violation of the Treaty."
"We were detained."
"We were disarmed."
"We were imprisoned."
"Those actions are lawful."
"So long as they remain temporary."
He looked around the cell.
"Our circumstances are unusual."
"They are unpleasant."
"…but they remain..."
"...legal."
Semin exhaled through his nose.
"I still don't like it."
"I did not ask you to like it."
"I asked you to trust the process."
The conversation ended abruptly.
Keys rattled outside the cell.
A guard rounded the corner.
Everyone instinctively fell silent.
The guard barely acknowledged them.
Instead, he leaned against the wall opposite the cell.
His attention was fixed entirely on the glowing screen of
his mobile phone.
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
Brightly coloured candies exploded across the display.
Ravi blinked.
"Is he..."
Azamat peeked through the bars.
"...playing Candy Crush?"
The guard glanced up.
"What?"
"Nothing."
The guard shrugged and returned to his game.
Pop.
Pop.
A few seconds later came a frustrated sigh.
"Oh, come on..."
He swiped again.
Failed.
Again.
Failed.
He muttered something under his breath.
Zas watched quietly.
His eyes followed every movement of the man's thumb.
Every hesitation.
Every mistake.
The guard wasted a striped candy.
Matched the wrong colour.
Ignored an obvious cascade.
He wasn't very good.
Zas filed the observation away without a word.
For now...
...it was merely another detail.
The Royal Court of Aetheria assembled beneath the vaulted
ceiling of the palace audience chamber.
Generals.
Ministers.
Judges.
Advisers.
All waited for the king to speak.
King Havin rested one hand upon the arm of his throne.
"The prisoners."
A minister stepped forward.
"They have been secured, Your Majesty."
"The Blue Shield?"
"Confined in the eastern prison."
"The man from Curgarden?"
"Held separately."
Havin nodded.
"Good."
Silence settled over the chamber.
Finally, one of the generals spoke.
"Your Majesty..."
"...why is the Curgarden still alive?"
Several councillors shifted uncomfortably.
Havin answered without hesitation.
"Because dead men possess no value."
The general bowed his head.
"You intend to negotiate."
"I intend to win."
He rose from his throne and walked toward the great map
mounted upon the wall.
His finger rested on the city of Curgarden.
"They have refused my terms."
"They have resisted my authority."
"They believe these walls make them untouchable."
His hand remained motionless.
"They are mistaken."
Another minister spoke carefully.
"…and the prisoner?"
"Eldred remains...useful."
"As leverage?"
"As proof."
The minister frowned.
"Proof of what?"
Havin turned.
"That rebellion has consequences."
His voice remained calm.
"If Curgarden accepts reality..."
"...Eldred lives."
"If they continue this foolishness..."
"...his fate becomes their responsibility."
The room fell silent.
One elderly councillor finally broke it.
"…and if they never surrender?"
Havin's expression did not change.
"Then the siege continues."
"For how long?"
"As long as necessary."
"Our grain stores can withstand it."
"Our treasury can withstand it."
"They cannot."
He looked once more at the map.
"If Curgarden must perish..."
"...then it will perish."
No one interrupted him.
"The other provinces are watching."
He let those words linger.
"They wonder what becomes of those who challenge the
Crown."
"They will receive their answer."
No one mistook his meaning.
Another councillor cautiously changed the subject.
"There is also the matter of the Blue Shield."
"Yes."
"They entered peacefully."
"They declared themselves openly."
"They surrendered without resistance."
"They are diplomats."
"They are."
The councillor hesitated.
"…and Zasaramel..."
"...is registered with Peace."
"I know."
"You know his name?"
"I know a great many names."
The councillor chose his next words carefully.
"Then Your Majesty also knows the requirements of the
Treaty of Ctesiphon."
"I do."
"The three-day limit."
"I know."
"The requirement that they be informed of the
charges."
"I know."
"The requirement that-"
"I know the Treaty."
The interruption was quiet.
Not angry.
Merely final.
Silence settled over the chamber again.
After several moments, the Chief Justice finally spoke.
"Then..."
"...does Your Majesty intend to follow the law?"
Every eye in the chamber turned toward the throne.
Havin looked from face to face.
Then, slowly...
...he smiled.
"I have a plan."
No one dared ask what it was.
The smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
"For now..."
"...the prisoners remain exactly where they are."
The meeting moved on.
Yet long after the discussion had shifted to supply lines
and troop rotations, more than one councillor found themselves wondering the
same thing.
What, exactly...
...was the king planning?
The locker room buzzed with the familiar energy that always
accompanied a pay-per-view.
Production assistants hurried through the corridors.
Referees reviewed match finishes.
The arena beyond the walls was already beginning to roar.
The opening contest was next.
The Total Babes.
Sugar Cane.
Cotton Candy.
Magnolia Wine.
Georgia Peach.
Against...
Courtney Gilmour.
…and her partners, Jayla, Alicia Lynx and the current Empress,
Reika.
Joanna sat quietly before her locker, slowly wrapping the
tape around her wrists.
Her gear was immaculate.
Her makeup perfect.
Everything appeared exactly as it should.
Everything except her thoughts.
They were thousands of kilometres away.
Somewhere beyond the mountains.
Beyond Daral Lake.
Beyond Aetheria.
She had no idea where Zas was.
Whether he had reached the capital.
Whether negotiations had begun.
Whether he was even alive.
She closed her eyes.
"Don't worry about me."
Easy for him to say.
She remembered the look on his face before he had left.
"Keep fighting."
"Don't stop because of me."
"The people here still need you."
She let out a slow breath.
Pretending everything would be all right wasn't the same as
believing it.
…but it was better...
...than believing everything had already gone wrong.
A knock came against the open locker-room door.
Joanna looked up.
Courtney Gilmour stood there in her ring gear.
"Mind if I come in?"
Joanna blinked.
"Sure."
Courtney stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
"I wanted to check on you."
Joanna couldn't hide her surprise.
"You did?"
Courtney smiled.
"I know."
"I have a reputation."
"A little."
"A backstage politician?"
Joanna laughed quietly.
"I wasn't going to say it."
"You were thinking it."
"Maybe."
Courtney leaned against the lockers.
"Politics are part of wrestling."
"They always have been."
"…but so is looking after each other."
"My family taught me that."
Joanna nodded.
The Gilmours.
Wrestling royalty.
Generations who had built the business.
Courtney continued.
"Out there..."
She pointed toward the arena.
"...we compete."
"In here..."
"...we make each other better."
Another moment of silence passed.
"How are you really doing?"
Joanna looked down at the tape around her wrist.
"...Not great."
"It's Zas."
Joanna nodded.
"I don't know where he is."
"I don't know what's happening."
"I can't call him."
"I can't help him."
"I just..."
She swallowed.
"...have to wait."
Courtney listened without interrupting.
Finally she said,
"That's probably the hardest thing anyone can ask you
to do."
Joanna gave a weary smile.
"He told me to keep wrestling."
"Sounds like him."
"He told me not to worry."
Courtney laughed softly.
"…and has that worked?"
"...No."
"I didn't think so."
The two women shared a brief smile.
Then Courtney became serious again.
"You know..."
"...Leah will probably be the one to next take the
Imperial Crown."
Joanna looked up.
"I've thought about that too."
"She's ready."
"She is."
Courtney nodded.
"…but that's not what I wanted to tell you."
She met Joanna's eyes.
"I've been watching you."
"Not just your matches."
"The way you carry yourself."
"The way the locker room responds to you."
"The way younger wrestlers already look to you."
Joanna looked confused.
"I don't see that."
"I do."
Courtney smiled.
"I think one day..."
"...you're going to wear the Imperial Crown."
Joanna stared at her.
Courtney continued before Joanna could protest.
"…and when you do..."
"...I think you'll be one of the finest Empresses this
company has ever had."
Joanna almost laughed.
"You really believe that?"
"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't."
"You care."
"You listen."
"You make people around you better."
Courtney shrugged.
"The wrestling is the easy part."
"It's everything else that makes a champion."
The arena erupted beyond the wall.
The opening video had begun.
Courtney smiled.
"Looks like we're on."
She reached the doorway before stopping.
"Oh..."
She looked back over her shoulder.
"Bring Sugar Cane."
Joanna smiled for the first time all day.
"I always do."
Courtney nodded.
"I know."
Then she disappeared down the corridor.
Joanna sat in silence for another moment.
Her worries hadn't disappeared.
They couldn't.
…but somehow...
...they didn't feel quite so heavy anymore.
Joanna stood just inside the Gorilla Position.
The roar of the Buffalo crowd seeped through the curtain
with every passing second.
Production staff hurried around her.
Someone counted down the opening video.
"...Thirty seconds!"
Joanna closed her eyes.
Just one deep breath.
She could do this.
A hand rested gently on her shoulder.
She turned.
Jasmine Kyler smiled nervously.
Jayla.
One of the Academy's newest call-ups.
Still trying to prove she belonged.
"Hey."
Joanna smiled back.
"Hey."
Jasmine rubbed the back of her neck.
"This is probably weird..."
Joanna laughed softly.
"I've had weirder."
"I just wanted to say..."
"...I'm really proud to be sharing the ring with you
tonight."
Joanna blinked.
"Me?"
Jasmine nodded enthusiastically.
"I grew up watching you."
"I know I'm probably the one taking the pin..."
She laughed.
"...actually, I'm almost definitely the one taking the
pin."
Joanna couldn't help smiling.
"But that's okay."
"This is still my biggest match."
"And I get to be part of it."
"Thank you."
Before Joanna could answer, another voice joined them.
"She's right."
Alicia Lynx stepped beside Jasmine.
"You've become someone people want to wrestle."
Joanna looked almost embarrassed.
"I don't know about that."
"I do."
Alicia folded her arms.
"You make everyone around you look better."
"That's rarer than flashy moves."
Joanna searched for something to say.
Nothing came.
A few feet away, Reika quietly adjusted the sleeves of her
entrance robe.
She caught Joanna looking.
For a moment...
...the reigning Empress simply smiled.
It wasn't dramatic.
It wasn't theatrical.
Just a small nod.
One champion acknowledging someone she believed might
someday stand where she stood.
Then Reika turned toward the curtain.
"Places."
Everyone moved into position.
Joanna felt strangely lighter.
Her teammates had already encouraged her.
Marcy Carter (Magnolia Wine).
Leah van Dahl (Georgia Peach).
Carly.
She had expected that.
They were family.
This...
...was different.
Her opponents.
Women with every reason to want the spotlight for
themselves.
Instead...
...they had spent the final moments before a match lifting
her up.
Joanna shook her head.
Don't let it go to your head.
…but another thought quietly slipped in.
...Maybe they see something I don't.
The opening notes of Magnolia Wine's music hit.
The crowd erupted.
One by one, The Total Babes made their entrance.
Buffalo welcomed them like heroes.
Their first match together as a complete unit was everything
they had hoped it would be.
Not perfect.
There were moments of hesitation.
A tag reached a heartbeat too late.
Leah and Carly briefly reached for the same opponent.
Joanna and Marcy nearly collided after a double-team
sequence.
Nothing disastrous.
Nothing experience wouldn't solve.
For a team wrestling together for the first time...
...they looked remarkably polished.
The Buffalo crowd sensed it too.
By the closing minutes, every near fall drew louder
reactions than the last.
Bodies lay scattered around the ring.
Reika.
Alicia.
Courtney.
Outside.
Georgia saw her opening.
She sprinted toward the ropes.
"REF!"
The referee instinctively turned.
"What?"
Georgia pointed wildly toward the floor.
"I think Reika's hurt!"
The official rushed toward the ropes.
That was all the distraction Magnolia needed.
She hoisted Jayla onto her shoulders.
"Sorry," Magnolia whispered.
Jayla grinned.
"Make it look good."
Magnolia drove her into the mat with a thunderous Rock
Bottom.
The arena roared.
Before Jayla could even roll over-
CRACK!
Sugar Cane's Blue Thorn connected flush against the side of
her head.
The enzuigiri landed perfectly.
Jayla collapsed back into position.
Cotton Candy was already climbing.
The crowd rose to its feet.
She balanced herself atop the turnbuckle.
One heartbeat.
Then she flew.
The Swirl.
She crashed across Jayla's chest.
Leah abandoned her argument with the referee.
The official turned.
Dropped to the mat.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
The bell rang.
The arena exploded.
The Total Babes embraced in the centre of the ring as
fireworks burst across the stage.
Jayla remained on the canvas for another moment.
She wasn't supposed to smile.
She knew that.
…but lying there...
...listening to fifteen thousand people lose their minds...
...she couldn't quite stop the corner of her mouth from
curling upward.
We just made something special.
Around the arena, the chant began almost immediately.
"TOTAL BABES!"
"TOTAL BABES!"
"TOTAL BABES!"
For the first time...
...it truly felt like they had arrived.
The prison had gone quiet.
Moonlight filtered through the narrow windows high above the
cells.
Semin slept.
Rahim slept.
Even Ravi, despite everything that had happened, had finally
drifted off.
Zas rested peacefully against the stone wall, seemingly
capable of sleeping almost anywhere.
Azamat, however...
...couldn't.
He rolled onto his side.
Then onto his back.
Then sighed loudly.
Across the corridor, Prathor glanced up from his phone.
Another failure.
He groaned.
"So close..."
A few more swipes.
Another defeat.
He noticed Azamat staring.
"You can't sleep?"
Azamat shrugged.
"I should."
"…but?"
"...Something's bothering me."
Prathor locked his phone.
"What?"
Azamat hesitated.
It sounded ridiculous.
Then again...
...everything about today had been ridiculous.
"The Bash in Buffalo."
Prathor blinked.
"The wrestling show?"
Azamat was stunned.
“You watch wrestling too?”
“Of course.”
That made Azamat smile. Then his mood soured.
"I wish I could watch it right now. I've been looking
forward to the Bash for weeks."
He let out another sigh.
"…and I'm sitting in prison."
Prathor chuckled.
"I still think it's ridiculous you're in prison."
Azamat looked up.
"I do."
He gestured toward the cells.
"You're diplomats."
"You came peacefully."
"You surrendered peacefully."
"You should be guests."
"Not inmates."
He scratched the back of his neck.
"…but..."
"...I'm not the King."
Silence lingered between them.
Then Prathor smiled.
"I was hoping to watch it too."
"You were?"
"Couldn't afford it."
Azamat frowned.
"The pay-per-view."
"It's expensive."
"So..."
He shrugged.
"I figured I'd catch the highlights tomorrow."
Azamat's eyes suddenly widened.
"...Wait."
Prathor looked confused.
"What?"
Azamat snapped his fingers.
"Zas!"
Prathor glanced toward the sleeping warrior.
"What about him?"
"He has the Family Pass!"
Prathor blinked.
"The...what?"
"The WFE Family Pass."
"He can stream every show."
Prathor looked toward the sleeping Blue Shield.
"I'm not waking him up for wrestling."
"You should."
"No."
"You really should."
Prathor folded his arms.
"I don't think that's a good enough reason."
Azamat grinned.
"I do."
After several seconds...
Prathor sighed.
"You are unbelievably persuasive."
"I've been told."
The guard approached the sleeping warrior.
"...Master Zas?"
Nothing.
He tried again.
"Master Zas."
One eye opened.
Then the other.
Zas looked around calmly.
"What is it?"
"I'm sorry to wake you."
Prathor suddenly felt rather foolish.
"It's..."
"...about wrestling."
Zas blinked once.
Then his expression changed.
"The Bash in Buffalo."
Azamat pointed dramatically.
"See?"
Zas rubbed his eyes.
"I completely forgot."
"I've been thinking only about Aetheria."
"The event..."
"...is tonight."
Or perhaps already finished.
He instinctively reached for his pocket.
His phone.
No signal.
He looked toward the barred window.
"Of course."
Prathor hesitated.
Then quietly held out his own phone.
"You can use mine."
Zas looked surprised.
"You trust us?"
Prathor smiled.
"I trust you."
A few moments later...
The three men sat near the bars with the brightness turned
as low as possible.
The stream loaded.
Azamat immediately rewound it.
"There!"
"The opening match!"
The Total Babes' entrance music filled the tiny speaker.
Prathor smiled.
"I'll admit something."
"What?"
He pointed toward Sugar Cane.
"She's very hot."
Azamat burst out laughing.
"I'd absolutely ask her out."
"I mean..."
"...if I ever met her."
Azamat laughed even harder.
"You should probably know something."
"What?"
"She's dating him."
He pointed directly at Zas.
"...His wife."
Zas calmly corrected him.
"My girlfriend."
Azamat waved dismissively.
"Same difference."
"It is not."
Prathor's face turned crimson.
"...Oh."
He looked horrified.
"I'm..."
"...I'm so sorry."
Zas chuckled.
"There is nothing to apologize for."
"I didn't know!"
"I know."
Prathor rubbed the back of his neck.
"Actually..."
He laughed awkwardly.
"...that's kind of incredible."
"What is?"
"You actually know Sugar Cane."
"I do."
"The real one."
"I do."
Prathor shook his head in amazement.
"...That's so cool."
The match continued.
The Beautiful Disaster drew an audible "Whoa..."
from both Azamat and Prathor.
"Told you it'd work," Azamat whispered proudly.
Prathor nodded.
"That's a fantastic finish."
The celebration played.
Then Azamat leaned forward.
"Come on."
"Goldstein."
"Show up."
Prathor laughed quietly.
"I'd like that too."
"…but..."
"...he usually saves appearances for the really big
shows."
"I'm not sure Bash in Buffalo is quite big
enough."
"I know."
"A man can dream."
The stream continued.
Then-
Footsteps.
Both men froze.
Prathor's head snapped toward the corridor.
Someone was coming.
Immediately he paused the stream.
Locked the phone.
Slipped it back into his pocket.
"Quick."
Everyone moved.
Azamat lay back down.
Zas returned to his place against the wall and closed his
eyes.
Within seconds...
...the cell looked exactly as it had before.
Only then...
...did the approaching footsteps reach the bars.
Someone stopped outside the cell.
…and remained there.
Watching.
The footsteps belonged to more than one person.
Prathor immediately stood at attention.
"Your Majesty."
Every prisoner looked toward the corridor.
King Havin entered flanked by members of the Royal Guard.
He looked around the prison without saying a word.
The cells.
The locks.
The prisoners.
Everything appeared in order.
Only then did he speak.
"My apologies for the hour."
His voice was calm.
"I wished to inspect the prison personally."
He paused.
"…and..."
"...I wished to finish watching the Bash in
Buffalo."
Azamat blinked.
Havin looked almost disappointed.
"No Goldstein."
He sighed.
"I was rather hoping he would make an appearance."
Azamat's brain struggled to process what he had just heard.
The King...
...watched wrestling?
For the briefest moment he wanted to talk about the show.
Then reality returned.
This is the man who imprisoned us.
Havin turned his attention to Zas.
"Master Zasaramel."
Zas inclined his head.
"Your Majesty."
"I have considered your situation."
"…and?"
"I believe there is a simple solution."
The guards remained perfectly still.
"So long as you remain in Aetheria..."
"...your presence complicates matters."
"You came here for Eldred."
"You came here for Curgarden."
"I understand."
"…but I cannot permit foreign diplomats to interfere in
affairs of the Crown."
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"So I will make you an offer."
"If you and your companions agree to depart Aetheria
immediately..."
"...your detention ends tonight."
"Your vehicle will be returned."
"Your equipment will be returned."
"Your personal effects will be returned."
"You will be escorted safely to the frontier."
"No charges."
"No further consequences."
Silence.
Then Havin's expression hardened.
"If you decline..."
"...the Crown will proceed as it considers
appropriate."
He let the words linger.
"I will allow you twenty-four hours to decide."
He expected questions.
Arguments.
Negotiation.
Instead-
"I accept."
Every head in the corridor turned toward Zas.
Azamat stared.
"What?"
Ravi looked as though he had misheard.
"Zas..."
Semin stepped forward.
"We're just leaving?"
Rahim looked equally stunned.
"…but Eldred—"
"I accept."
Zas's voice remained perfectly steady.
Havin studied him carefully.
"So quickly?"
"I have made my decision."
Azamat grabbed the bars.
"We came all this way!"
"We're abandoning him?"
"No."
"We'll explain later."
"There isn't time now."
Semin frowned.
"There had better be a very good explanation."
"There is."
"I give you my word."
Ravi looked between them helplessly.
"We're seriously doing this?"
Zas turned toward each of them.
"I am asking something difficult."
"…but I need your trust."
"Do not resist."
"Do not argue."
"Do not create another problem."
"Please."
The cell became quiet.
Azamat was the first to sigh.
"I hate this."
"I know."
"…but..."
"...I trust you."
Rahim nodded.
"So do I."
Semin held Zas's gaze for several long seconds.
Finally...
"...I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"
"I sincerely hope not."
Semin exhaled.
"...Fine."
Ravi simply shrugged.
"I was never going to overrule you anyway."
Zas bowed his head toward the King.
"Your Majesty..."
"...I apologize for the inconvenience my companions and
I have caused your Kingdom."
Havin regarded him for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"So noted."
He turned toward the guard.
"Prathor."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Return everything belonging to our guests."
"The vehicle."
"The equipment."
"The weapons."
"Escort them safely from the city."
"See that no one interferes with their departure."
"At once."
Prathor unlocked the cell.
The iron door swung open.
For the first time since their arrest...
...the Blue Shield stepped back into freedom.
The prison door stood open.
No chains.
No guards with drawn weapons.
Only King Havin.
Zas stepped through the doorway and bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty."
Havin regarded him.
"Is there something further?"
"There is."
"My companions and I have travelled a very great
distance."
"We have slept on prison floors."
"We have eaten prison meals."
"We depart your kingdom tomorrow."
He paused.
"I ask one favour."
Havin folded his hands behind his back.
"Speak."
"Permit us one night's rest in proper beds."
"…and a proper meal."
"Nothing extravagant."
"Only the sort of hospitality one would ordinarily
extend to travellers."
"We will not leave our quarters."
"We will not interfere with your government."
"We will not attempt to influence your affairs."
"I merely ask that we be treated as fellow human beings
before we depart."
The corridor fell silent.
Several members of the Royal Guard exchanged brief glances.
Havin considered the request.
It was...
...remarkably modest.
No demands.
No bargaining.
No attempt to negotiate for Eldred.
Simply a bed.
…and supper.
The king finally nodded.
"Granted."
Relief washed over Ravi's face.
Havin continued.
"It is a reasonable request."
"…and..."
He looked toward one of his ministers.
"...it ensures no one may truthfully accuse this
kingdom of mistreating its guests."
Zas inclined his head.
"My thanks, Your Majesty."
He hesitated.
"There is..."
"...one final request."
Havin raised an eyebrow.
"You are becoming ambitious."
A faint smile appeared on Zas's face.
"I would like to speak with my wife."
Azamat glanced sideways at him.
Wife?
Then he understood.
Of course.
Explaining "girlfriend" to a king whose worldview
was rooted in dynasties and formal marriages would only complicate matters.
Havin frowned.
"She is not in Aetheria."
"No."
"…but she is expecting news."
"I believe she deserves to know we are safe."
Havin remained silent.
Azamat quietly cleared his throat.
"Your Majesty..."
"The woman he's talking about..."
"...is Sugar Cane."
Recognition flickered across Havin's face.
"The wrestler."
"The very one."
Havin looked back at Zas.
"So."
"You know Sugar Cane personally."
"I do."
The king thought for several moments.
Finally-
"Five minutes."
"No more."
"A telephone call only."
"No discussion of Aetherian affairs."
"No attempts to relay military information."
"No coded messages."
"Five minutes."
Zas bowed once more.
"That will suffice."
Havin nodded.
"Very well."
He turned toward the end of the corridor.
"Elara."
The princess stepped forward almost immediately.
"Yes, Father."
"Our guests will not remain here tonight."
"See that suitable chambers are prepared."
"Provide them with supper."
"They are to be treated as honoured visitors until
their departure tomorrow."
Elara looked pleasantly surprised.
"Of course."
She smiled warmly toward Zas and the others.
"If you'll follow me..."
Ravi looked from the prison corridor toward the doorway
leading out.
He still wasn't entirely convinced this wasn't some
elaborate trick.
Azamat leaned close to him.
"I have absolutely no idea what Zas is doing."
Ravi whispered back,
"...Me neither."
Ahead of them, Zas followed Elara without the slightest
hesitation.
Whatever his plan was...
...he had not yet shared it with anyone.
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