(From Ashes) Chapter 31

Pride: From Ashes
            Chapter 31
            Curses and Blessings

The Royal Chapel of the Castle of Lions lay mostly in ruins, but of course it wasn't only from bombardment. The Drules had plundered it thoroughly. Every gem and scrap of gold had been pried from its place, the artifacts and holy texts taken as trophies. Or destroyed. There was no way of knowing, really. Rumors said that once the planet was 'pacified', the occupiers had—with much sneering—allowed the civilians to practice their 'primitive blasphemies' at the cost of higher tributes. So it seemed unlikely the sinycka had been trying to wipe out Arusian religion; the desecration had been an act of simple greed and malice.

High Priest Teynn had managed to save a few things in the initial evacuation. The sacred texts, he had painstakingly copied from their ornate bindings to whatever scraps of spare paper he could find, and then various makeshift substitutes when paper of any kind became too scarce. Over the course of the occupation he'd been able to create seven full copies, as well as a few extra copies of the most important chapters. There were those who found it silly—but it was his duty to preserve the souls of the flock, and to have the Golden Decree available for any who sought solace in these dark hours.

He'd just finished a new copy of the Chapter of Salutations, and was dropping it by the shelter's makeshift chapel before the Council met… today was going to be interesting. They were finally to be formally introduced to these offworlders who'd been fighting the Drules on their behalf. Teynn was none too sure how he felt about that situation, and the new copy had steadied his nerves, if nothing else.

His nerves remained steady as he nodded to the guard on duty at the chapel entrance. They remained steady as pushed through the first of three curtains—coarse fabric, but effective at granting privacy to those at worship. He was barely even taking note of his own motions as he pushed aside the second curtain, and the third.

And he froze, all steadiness gone. "By the five hells…"

The salvaged altar was no longer covered in its golden cloth, leaving the broken stone visible. And rather than the usual plates of incense, a body was sprawled on its surface. Blood had poured from several wounds, the largest a clean slash across the throat; even from a distance he could tell the body was quite dead.

His first instinct was to yell for the guard, but he didn't dare risk drawing the attention of any of the flock. Absolutely not. Instead he warily approached the altar. He needed his priests here, and the low-tech but effective way they'd devised to summon them required one of the sacred chimes usually kept there.

…Hopefully the chimes weren't under the body…

What he found was that everything which had been atop the altar had been set behind it, the golden cloth neatly folded underneath. A relief, but something more was wrong; one of the ritual candles was burning. Rarely justified under shelter conditions, and certainly never unattended. He stared blankly at the golden flame, but before he could contemplate the new development, a voice rang out through the shrine.

"Hear our words, o children. Hear our judgment passed upon those who proved unworthy." The words were low and scornful, and he knew them well. The final scriptures of the Book of Reckoning. "Those far more noble than the traitorous Children of Arus have sacrificed all, so that you may live. Honor their sacrifice, flawed creations, as you failed to honor your gods. And know that our watch will be sharpened. Do not court failure again!"

"Who's there?" He spun around, prepared to scold whoever was responsible for this. It was not the proper way to serve the gods, let alone trying to invoke their own words—but there was no one.

What in the Exile's name? His eyes went to the candle again. Can it be? Not even he would jump to the Golden Ones themselves as the source of any mysterious voice he might encounter, but a chill was rippling beneath his skin.

Carefully taking the Radiant Warrior's chimes from their place, he hurried back to the entrance.

A corner of the last curtain was bunched up. Had he left it like that? Usually he was diligent about leaving it straight, but he had been confronted with a corpse. He looked carefully for any sign that someone else had just passed through, but there were no signs of life until he stepped out again.

"Guard, your name."

The guard swallowed nervously before saluting; he must be one of the new recruits. "I am Private Dariad, Your Eminence."

"Has anyone else passed through here on your shift?"

Dariad nodded. "Only one, about an hour ago."

Not unusual this early in the morning for few worshippers to be present. Most unusual, indeed unprecedented, for them to end up sacrificed on the altar! Self-inflicted, then? That was even more disturbing, as if it needed to be worse. The Council must hear of this, as soon as…

…Oh. Sage be with me, the Council. The upcoming meeting had just gotten much more difficult. What was he meant to do with this? "Private Dariad, I require your ear and your utmost discretion, in the Radiant Warrior's own name."

That didn't make the guard look any less nervous. Teynn was not without sympathy. "I'm listening, sir."

"I must gather the Warrior's priests and will give them their instructions. Allow them inside the chapel. No one else must enter, yourself included. There's been an incident—I will take it to the Council, where it belongs, but the flock must not stumble across it in the meantime. Do you understand?"

"Of course! The will of the Warrior be done."

"Good." Nodding, he began to ring the chimes, sending an echoing melody through the cavern. Thankfully, few even glanced up at the sounds anymore; it was simply a part of shelter life. Nothing interesting.

High Priest Teynn hated interesting days.

*****

Necromancy was the most difficult of the Dark Mother's gifts. No, perhaps not necromancy, exactly. It was simplicity itself to reanimate a fallen body. But to reawaken a sleeping soul, to return true will and life to a body that could so easily be commanded as a puppet? That was much more complicated.

Haggar turned the phylactery over in her hands a few times, checking it for any flaws. Even the slightest chip in its crystalline surface could lessen its power. And this particular binding was going to be tenuous enough as it was… hardly beyond her skill, of course. What she lacked was materials.

Her necromantic sanctum was a hexagonal chamber. Complex runes and jagged channels in the floor led from the corners to the central pool. That pool was filled with water that glowed softly in shifting colors; the body of the Earthling who'd been most recently tethered to Arus was laid out within it. The other two humans were in opposite corners, the runes around them gleaming.

It was the bare minimum…

Raising a jaivur was rather like building an arch. The individual stones themselves were weak and unstable, useful for little. But once they were properly in place, the pressure of the supports battling against the keystone would give the arch its strength. She'd created jaivurs with only two supports before, but their stability suffered somewhat for it.

On the other hand, stability wasn't the most important factor here. Haggar had no intention of keeping this jaivur. These three had done nothing to offend the Ninth Kingdom; they'd died, as they were meant to. For that they would have been rewarded as few humans could hope to be, offered into the Dark Mother's embrace. It was their friends who were causing all the problems.

Suffering was a powerful tool, but it was a means and not an end. She would use it to break this Voltron machine, yes. When it was done, the weapon could be rewarded with a return to rest.

Until then…

Turning her attention to the runes without bodies, she began to place the other materials. Killing a few expendable slaves to serve as supports did not work—a lesson she'd learned the hard way. Without a link to the keystone in life, they would be useless. Instead, occult essences would fill in the gaps, granting the jaivur increased strength or magical capabilities. Or in this case, both. Stability and power were ever at odds, and this particular weapon would need all the power it could get.

Returning to the center of the sanctum, she took a deep breath. It was time.

"Your champion calls, Forbidden One. Your loyal servant begs for your aid." She knelt in a small ring of runes before the pool, holding the phylactery out in front of her. "I speak your names in reverence. Jaivern of the Domain of Sarga, Beast of Undeath, First Necromancer and First Arisen. Grant me your gift, that I may bring you glory."

A low hiss echoed somewhere deep in her mind. Something dark and frigid, reaching out to embrace her. The voice of the forbidden beast crept down her spine, and she shivered in the dread that was its due.

"So soon, little daughter?" There was a faintly chiding tone. "Was there a flaw in the previous work?"

Haggar grimaced. It hadn't been that long since she'd raised Prince Avok, and not even a witch of her status dared to bother the gods too often. "The flaws were not with the work, Forbidden One. I beg your forgiveness." She set the phylactery in front of her and placed her hands on the floor in supplication. "Circumstances have changed."

"Yes, I see. These subjects bear traces of an unusual power." Shadows gathered around the bodies, as if the deity were inspecting them. "It will not make the final work any more effective, and the materials are few. The result will be highly unstable."

"The power only drew my attention. But their friends are our sworn enemies, and those enemies have proved most stubborn."

The Forbidden One chuckled, and it felt like spears of ice driving through her ribs. "You need not explain yourself further, little daughter. I will grant you this boon once again." The shadows around the bodies were swelling, crackling with a sickly energy that wasn't particularly bright but seared the eyes more than the fiercest flame. "You know the risks of such instability."

"Yes." She bowed her head. "These three do not need to last long; I will offer them properly to the Dark Mother once their task is complete."

The water in the ritual pool began to glow, its gently shifting colors giving way to a harsh pinkish-purple. It hurt the eyes too, and not only physically, as it began to trickle from the pool into the grooves on the floor. Rune after rune began to blaze with the same light, and the phylactery trembled between her hands.

"So shall it be done. Let us begin."

*****

They'd put it off for as long as they could, and perhaps for longer than was wise. Much as the team would've liked to just keep hanging out with the Arusian soldiers, they had to meet the politicians eventually. Apparently it was a point of… well, extreme contention… that such niceties hadn't been conducted when Allura announced their presence to the shelters at large, if not before.

Seemed like a bad sign for this being anything but a disaster, but here they were nonetheless.

Allura herself was, if not expecting a disaster, at least preparing herself for one. That was just common sense when dealing with a lot of nobles in one room… never mind how the team tended to bring just a little chaos wherever it went.

Sometimes a lot of chaos.

It had to be done, though. Rumors and piecemeal information weren't helping anyone. Getting the Council's formal blessing would quell many of the doubts that lingered in the shelter. And she was ready to address the issues raised by her bonding to Black for a final time. They had bigger concerns.

Except in the most confidential of circumstances, the Council met on one end of the main shelter chamber, in a space partitioned off by moveable panels. It was easy enough to keep people away when needed, but it was also sometimes advantageous to let the people eavesdrop on the meetings. This was not going to be one of those times. As Allura led them in, Keith paused; it felt like there were a lot of people already there. Ten, after a quick count—and that was a lot of people when they were all important alien strangers.

And all staring at you.

"Is this the Council?" he whispered to Allura, off-balance.

"Yes," she whispered back, taking a deep breath and saying a small prayer in the back of her mind.

"No, Keith, it's the lollipop guild," Lance snorted at the same time; Keith shot him a glare. "What? Ask a stupid question…"

"I miss lollipops," Hunk said sadly.

Allura felt she was missing some nuances there; she could ask later. For right now, she was carefully watching the Council as she took her seat. Larmina sat beside her, getting a few odd glances. She rarely exercised her right to be at these meetings, but this one she'd flatly refused to miss.

So far so good. Lord Caysen had snorted and looked away, pretending not to be curious—and she'd expected as much from such an old hardliner. Lady Vana was the opposite, looking quite fascinated. Lady Kavithra had her nose buried in papers, but the princess could see Common lettering on them, so that made sense. Everyone else was just staring at each other with a kind of wary tension.

And then High Priest Teynn bolted out of his seat. "Princess! What happened to your…?!"

That did not seem like a good sign. The team looked at Coran, who'd agreed to come along only to serve as translator. If he was kept busy with that, he wouldn't have to deal with any of the other inevitable tomfoolery. Sighing, he started translating. He'd been bracing himself for just this reason.

Among others.

Allura had been too; she took note that he sounded even more panicked than angry. "High Priest Teynn, I know what you're asking, and it is still being looked into." A wave of surprise rippled through the rest of the Council as they turned to look at her more closely. "I will discuss it with you further when I understand how it happened, but it should not be our priority now."

"Your Highness, with the utmost respect." Teynn bowed deeply before sitting again. "There are matters I did not wish to present to this Council until our guests were attended to, but I think it is necessary now." That got everyone staring at him—even the offworlders who couldn't actually understand a word he was saying. "I made a brief visit to the shelter chapel before this meeting, and found a body on the altar. A dead body! And with it a warning from the Golden Ones!"

"What?"

"What?!"

"How did it get there? Is anyone investigating?"

"You're just sharing this now?" That was Elder Ollar, who would generally be the first to be told of deaths from natural causes. Whereas unnatural causes would usually go to—

"There's a dead body in the chapel," Captain Randel echoed, "perhaps killed as some sort of sacrifice, and you weren't going to inform the guards and the Council immediately?"

Coran was still dutifully translating, and now even more grateful for the task, because what in the world. The team seemed to agree.

"The fuck?" Lance muttered, glancing at the others.

"Holy fuzzmuffins…" Hunk looked at Vince, who was making a mental note to never go into the shelter chapel for any reason. He didn't want to see that ghost. Nope.

Pidge eyed Hunk briefly before returning his attention to the Arusians. "I still don't know what that means. But yes."

Sven's eyebrows had gone up; the tone and the chaos already reminded him of the Senate gatherings he'd been to with his father. Those had not generally involved dead bodies on altars, though. Next to him Romelle was shifting uneasily, touching her gaive'llar. Daniel blinked a couple of times; this was already way more interesting than he'd expected, he'd really thought it was just a horrible idea to bring him here.

Keith was listening intently, and Black Lion growled in his mind. That can't be good.

"No. It cannot. There is much still lurking in this place."

"The wounds may have been self-inflicted." Teynn's usual self assurance was nowhere to be seen. "I had the chapel secured, but forgive me, stumbling across human sacrifice is not a matter I was trained for."

Lady Vana leaned forward, swallowing hard. She'd begun this meeting fascinated by the thought of meeting aliens. A sacrificial warning kind of ruined it. She exchanged glances with the elder next to her, Nuine, who gave a sympathetic wince. "It must have been terrible to see that, High Priest."

"The delay is understandable," Lady Kavithra said calmly, drawing a mild scowl from Captain Randel. He didn't think there was anything understandable about it, but it wasn't the time to make a scene. "But now that it is raised, what was the warning?"

"Yes, what was the warning?" Vana whispered.

"The words of the Golden Judgment were found with the body." He looked at the offworlders and frowned slightly; this wasn't entirely their business, but as they were there and guests of the Princess, it would be rude to leave them in ignorance. "One of our scriptures. A decree of the fate of the Arusian people, after an ill-fated rebellion against the gods." He motioned to Allura. "And then the Princess, with rumors flying all through the tunnels, arrived in this state!"

Allura met his gaze evenly, though she was curling one hand into a fist beneath the table. "Was that all, High Priest?" She did not want to believe anyone would've taken their life over the mere fact of her markings changing. After all that her people had been through? No. We must, and we will, get this under control.

"That is all of the information I have, Your Highness."

Given how quickly things were happening, Coran's translation was lagging a little behind. When he got to the explanation of the Golden Judgment, Lance crossed his arms. "Sounds like some cult bullshit." He was mostly muttering to himself, but hadn't been trying that hard to keep it quiet.

"It does sound very culty," Daniel agreed.

"Self-inflicted sacrificial stabbing sounded culty even without the warning," Hunk pointed out. The hell are we into here?

Yellow growled. "Nothing good."

I liked it better when we just had to worry about the Drules. And the Galra out there somewhere. And the Alliance when they find out about this. Sheesh, we've got some problems.

"What should we tell the people?" Elder Del Alia was one of the few on the Council who'd been silent so far, carefully taking in everything—aliens, marks, and sacrifices. So much complexity added to what had been a simple, if harsh, existence. "Especially the children?"

"Why would we tell the children?" Vana objected.

"Children have a way of hearing things no matter how we try to keep it from them, and if they only hear bits and pieces they won't understand."

Elder Nuine shook her head. "We shouldn't tell anyone until there is more information." Keeping the shelters operating smoothly and peacefully was her area of responsibility, and the last thing they needed was to start having arguments about mysterious sacrifices.

"Surely the people must be told something," Teynn countered. "Have any of you walked among the flock over the past couple of days? I did not know the source of the whispers that the Princess had been forsaken, I thought it was just another doomsday cult to be stamped out—but the absence of the Mark is not subtle!"

Does he know it's creepy when he calls the people 'the flock'? Captain Sarial leaned back in her seat. There was a time she'd been very nervous to be on the Council with so many nobles. Now she mostly found them exhausting. Either way, she preferred to speak only when necessary.

Kavithra looked troubled. "Is that truly a sign of being forsaken? Without better information, it sounds like too quick a conclusion."

"Sounds most likely to me," Lord Caysen scoffed. "None of you listen when I say to keep the old ways intact in the tunnels, and now we have this." That got him a glare from both Kavithra and Larmina immediately, and matching glares from every one of the offworlders once Coran translated it.

"Hey Lord Mustache, who's the scowly old asshole?" Lance whispered, and he just barely held back an extremely impolite snort.

And why not? We can't even do introductions properly without it devolving into this ridiculousness, where are anyone's manners—all the five hells, I'm turning into Lady Hys.

"His name is Lord Caysen," was all he actually managed to whisper before having to get back to translating.

"I know not," Teynn was admitting, shaking his head. "But what explanation is there for their loss?"

"I would like to know more about how the loss occurred." Elder Ollar was an administrator, not a doctor himself. But he'd been adjacent to medicine for long enough to know a few things, and he didn't even see how the Mark changing was physically possible.

"As would I," Vana agreed.

As the others of the Council nodded more or less enthusiastically, Larmina noticed Auntie clenching her other hand around her fist and frowned. "Want me to smack someone?" She didn't whisper it as quietly as she could've.

Allura gave her her best calm down look, then sighed. "I shall explain as best I can." Explaining this had been part of the meeting's intended purpose, before everything had gone immediately off the rails. She waited until she had the Council's full attention—even Lord Caysen finally stopped his irritable fidgeting. Only then did she take a long breath, bracing herself. "I was called by the Black Lion. He wished to have me beside him, to help fight for Arus' freedom, and to do this he would need to create a bond between us. One that allowed us to work more closely together."

Keith was watching the Council sharply as Allura gave her explanation. They had discussed this. One thing she would certainly not be telling the Council was that bonding to Black had also bound her to him in some sense—it just seemed like a complication they didn't need. And truthfully, even though she'd assured him otherwise, he hadn't quite been able to shake the suspicion that the Council would be Captain Sarial and nine Lady Hys clones.

One who was still giving Allura a very skeptical look was the stocky, grizzled-looking man in Royal Guard armor. Captain Randel, Keith thought was the name. There would be more objections to this news than just the religious ones, no doubt.

"Black Lion did warn me that bonding to him would carry a price, but he couldn't tell me what that price would be. The Great Lions have slept for a long time, and forgotten much. But I accepted regardless of the cost." The princess reached up and touched her markings. She could still remember the sensations, the lightning and the shattering. "When the bond was made, I felt the Mark break apart and saw golden dust fly about me. Neither of us expected any such thing to be the price."

Silence reigned for what had to have been the longest ten seconds in history. Most of the Council was now just gawking at her. More than one member of the team could sympathize; answers only ever led to more questions. The Arusians were just getting the slightest taste of what they'd been dealing with for weeks.

"I think that priest dude has steam coming out of his ears," Lance said casually. He was staring in as much disbelief as the others, but also sputtering in a desperate search for words that really wasn't going very well for him.

Several of the others nodded; Pidge squinted. "I don't see it."

"Metaphorically," Vince explained as Hunk facepalmed.

"…Oh."

Keith squeezed his eyes shut, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and heroically refrained from shushing his team in front of the bickering politicians.

Though she was well aware of Teynn's sputtering, Allura decided she would politely ignore it until he actually managed to start yelling. "I understand that fighting with the lions does place me in much more danger. But I believe it was necessary, and that between the Great Lions and our own forces, we can work in unity to make Arus truly safe once more."

"I'm all for driving the Drules entirely away as soon as possible." That speaker was an older knight who'd mostly been quiet so far, and his words drew nods from around the table.

"Weren't the lions what this meeting was meant to be about?" Sarial asked. Not that a ritual killing in the chapel wasn't important, of course. But the inside of the shelters weren't her jurisdiction and Captain Randel had glared at Teynn rather than running out of the room, so she assumed the normal order of business was still on.

"Yes, the matter of the lions was on the agenda." Teynn had recovered his voice, though it was squeakier than a space mouse. "Given that we all know the lions were sacrificed to the Golden Gods centuries ago…"

"Guess they missed a few," Larmina snorted. She had her issues with the lions, to be sure, but she had more issues with Teynn.

Lady Kavithra tilted her head. "Perhaps the Golden Ones have seen fit to return them?"

"I doubt that," Caysen scoffed. "We can't just look for a convenient excuse."

Elder Nuine gave him a reproachful look. "We shouldn't just dismiss the possibility. These lions must have come from somewhere. Could it not have been a blessing of the gods?"

What the Council couldn't hear in response to that suggestion was five lions snarling in unison. Allura blinked and snuck a glance back at the others. Even Vince and Romelle looked like they'd heard something, but there wasn't time to ponder it further.

"It… is possible." Teynn considered the scene again, the Golden Judgment. The scripture was, technically, a granting of salvation. But then why the sacrifice? A mistaken fear? Had the words been a warning, or an attempt to counteract an error?

As the High Priest lapsed into thought, Elder Del Alia found her gaze drifting back to the offworlders. They'd been murmuring among themselves as they watched the proceedings, and she was surprised to be the first to point out the obvious—though they had all been thrown off-balance by the matter of ritual sacrifice. "Pardon me, but shouldn't we have introductions before we go any further on that topic? We have guests who seem rather uncomfortable."

Nuine blinked, then her eyes widened with mortification. "Yes, they are under our hospitality and we have been remiss."

Having the whole Council looking at them again didn't necessarily make the team any more comfortable. Daniel, for one, was increasingly certain he didn't want any of these people knowing his name. But it was what they were here for, so…

"I suppose I shall do the introductions." Coran had known full well he'd be doing so; protocol didn't allow for people to just introduce themselves in this setting. Stepping forward, he leaned over his cane and motioned to the Council. "First we have Lord Caysen Marra Parita, Master of Royal Ceremony. On our post-attack Council he handles any concerns with structural integrity and habitability of the shelters." It took a masterful effort to keep the irritation from his voice; Caysen was extremely good at his job. Both of them, in fact. The problem was that he knew precisely how important he was.

Lord Caysen managed to frown even while nodding graciously. He was obviously still in on the Master of Ceremony thing; the clothes he was wearing had been through rough times in the tunnels, but were still about three times as gaudy as seemed necessary.

"Uh, did anyone think to take notes on these?" Hunk whispered. That had been a lot more information than expected.

"Is there going to be a test later?"

"Fuck that, better not be."

Before Keith could silence the group, Sven did it for him… by wordlessly holding up the paper he was taking notes on.

"Next we have Lady Kavithra Ereson." Coran didn't know her well, but she'd rarely specifically irritated him. "She was one of our most accomplished local-sector diplomats before the Drules attacked. She handles communications and intel between shelters."

Lady Kavithra looked a lot like Lord Caysen, both in her formal dress and proud bearing. But she gave a cheerful grin upon hearing her name, and to the team's surprise spoke in Common. "Greetings to you." It came out quite rough; she spoke five languages and Common wasn't actually one of them, but that effort had seemed like the least she could do.

"Then we have Captain Randel Vandelar Seinsha." Coran owed him a couple of favors yet for helping postpone this meeting as long as he had. "He was the Castle of Lions' chief of security and is currently acting as head of the guard."

Randel saluted, though grudgingly. It wasn't really the offworlders' fault. They seemed like good soldiers, trying to help Arus. But their successes made the failures of the Royal Guard sting all the more.

Pidge studied the guard captain with the same sharpness as anyone else, and was surprised to feel a twinge of familiarity. He failed to protect the castle… but he never had a chance.

"High Priest Teynn Shanar Aell, the royal chaplain. Also acting as the overall shelter archbishop at this time." Coran wasn't fond of Teynn, but as long as he was outwardly agreeable towards him, the High Priest's sense of decorum towards the knighthood and nobility kept things friendly. And that made his life easier, so he did it.

Teynn looked over the offworlders more carefully, now that he'd calmed a bit. They were certainly an eclectic group. "An honor, I'm sure." He wasn't at all sure.

"They got some long-ass names," Daniel whispered. Was he going to remember any of this? He was so not going to remember any of this.

"Probably a requisite for being on a royal council," Lance said with a shrug.

It didn't seem likely that Coran had even heard them, let alone chosen who to introduce next based on it. And yet…

"There is Lord Anhel, the royal standard-bearer. He is the Council's representative for the Golden Knights." All five of them. Coran didn't let his face express the way his stomach still clenched at that thought. If nothing else it wouldn't do to have it reflect on Anhel, a close friend who had also helped him postpone this meeting.

The other old knight stood briefly and saluted. He wasn't wearing armor, just the light bodysuit knights seemed to wear off duty—but as he moved, what had looked like an ornate cloak over his shoulders shifted, and they could just glimpse what looked like a collapsible handle attached to one end. Despite it all, at least one royal banner of Arus was still out there.

Lord Anhel… just that. Romelle looked at Sven and whispered, "He's probably like Miralna. One of the knights who gave up their lineage for their duty." Nodding, he marked that down in his notes as well.

"Lady Vana Hanjiel, the royal treasurer." She was another Coran didn't know well, but their interactions had always been perfectly pleasant. "She handles the food supply and rationing for the shelters."

Vana was slightly younger than one might have expected a royal treasurer to be, and quite a bit more relaxed. Her hair was tied back in a messy bun that seemed more like preference than disarray, and she was wearing just a simple jumpsuit. She gave the team a smile and a respectful nod.

"Elder Torne Sawel Ollar, of Dolce Vita—the castle village." Ollar was usually pragmatic and fair, if a bit gloomy when attending to his duties. He was, in Coran's opinion, impossible to strongly like or dislike. "He handles our medical and mortuary logistics."

Ollar gave them a polite nod and nothing more. He was curious to see what more would be learned of these offworlders and these lions once the formalities were out of the way, but until then, noncommittal politeness was best.

"Nope," Vince murmured under his breath. He didn't want to hear or think about mortuaries right now, it was already all he could do to pay attention to this meeting…

Hunk nudged him lightly. "Okay, little dude?"

"Y… yeah." Nope.

"Elder Salba Nuine, also of Dolce Vita. She is our intra-shelter mediator and peacekeeper." Though he'd been trying to remain objective during these introductions, Coran did not quite keep the affection from his voice here.

Elder Nuine smiled warmly at the team, and there were very few questions about how she'd gotten her job. She just seemed nice. So far the others on the Council had been polite, and some pleasant, but just plain nice was a new one.

"Elder Charalna Del Alia, of the Vanderia Lowlands. She's a long way from home, but has gained much respect since being stranded here by the invasion." Coran respected her too, though he also found her a little much at times. Sometimes he suspected she clung to her duties here as a distraction—understandable, but it could make her overbearing. "She handles education and recreation in the shelters."

"Anenyo," the elder murmured with a nod. She had a dignified bearing, but there was something fiery in her eyes—perhaps literally. The sparks of color typically found in Arusian pupils were a particularly bright orange.

Education and recreation. Lance did his best to hide a grimace at that. Children growing up under these conditions was a thought that hit too hard. Something else for the Drules to pay for. He felt Red purring in agreement.

"And finally, as you all well know, Captain Sarial Kadrisse of the Dolce Vita militia. Officially she's in charge of hunting and reconnaissance."

"Nice to formally meet you," she said with a small grin. "After several weeks." Her speaking in Common drew a couple of annoyed looks from others on the Council. Translating it didn't make them any less annoyed, really. She was the lowest ranked member of the group by any pre-attack standard, and it wasn't even close—but she'd been in the loop on the Great Lions before any of them.

Coran lightly tapped his cane on the floor to get everyone's attention back on him. "I'll now introduce the team: Explorer Team 686 of the Alliance. I believe they now also answer to the Voltron Force." He said it both in Arusian and Common, to give the team a heads-up, though he hadn't been doing the introductions in both languages—people could understand their own names. "First we have Black Lion's pilot, Commander Keith Akira Kogane."

Keith took a small step forward and nodded; having them all focused on him specifically was even more unnerving. It reminded him too much of formal inquiries at the Garrison. But duty was duty. "Anenyo."

"Lieutenant Sven Holgersson, the team's second in command." He'd gone over everything with the team before they got here, just to be sure. "He pilots the Blue Lion."

Sven did not take a step forward, because drawing the attention of politicians was no more attractive here than on Earth. He did give a polite half bow; it could be good enough for them or not. Wasn't his problem.

Blue purred in amusement.

"Lieutenant Lance Charles McClain, Red Lion's pilot."

Lance looked over the Arusians and fired off his most charming smile. "Anenyo, most esteemed Council." It might be just as well none of them could understand that—none but Sarial, anyway, who bit her lip against a short laugh.

Yes, he's definitely Daniel's person.

"Senior Specialist…" Coran paused for half a beat. He had practiced this one, and could only hope it had stuck. "Tsuyoshi 'Hunk' Garrett, the Yellow Lion's pilot."

Hunk gave a thumbs-up and a big grin. "Anenyo, dudes!" It got him several bewildered looks, which was about what he'd expected. No sense not being himself.

"Specialist Darrell 'Pidge' Stoker, Green Lion's pilot."

Pidge just gave a silent nod. He was used to getting weird looks from alien strangers.

There was a lot of full-naming going on here, Daniel was noticing. Middle names seemed like a bigger thing for Arusians. He was not a fan, but he'd never told anyone here his, so he should be safe—

"Cadet Daniel Augustus Brennan, copilot of the Red Lion."

His thoughts short-circuited briefly, and he managed to wave to the Council while fighting the look of murder from his eyes. How had—no, there was only one way that could've happened, and he turned the glare on Keith. "You."

"Augustus?" Lance repeated before Keith could answer, snickering. "Augustus!"

There was nothing he could say here without drawing any more attention to it, so Daniel just made a face and shook his head. Whyyyy?

Coran looked at Keith, who shrugged, and decided he was best off just continuing. "Then there is Specialist Vincent Samuel Hayes, who does technical and engineering work for the team."

Vince gave the tiniest of waves and absently wondered what Coran had said about him. He'd made it clear when they were briefing for this that he was not involved with the lions at all, and trusted Keith to have respected that, so at least he was probably doing better than Daniel right now.

"And the final member of their team is Lady Romelle, who normally handles the interpreting tasks."

Even knowing it was coming, Romelle startled a little upon actually hearing her name. She straightened and quietly nodded. It just felt so… incorrect, so bizarre, to be standing before a group of important Arusians like this. To be representing only herself and her team, not her planet or her people…

Though from the looks they were giving her, representing her planet and her people was about to happen regardless.

"So it's true," Lady Kavithra murmured under her breath. This close it was unmistakable. For the first time in many years, one of the runaways stood on Arus. "Interesting."

"Why is there a Polluxian on our soil?" Lord Caysen demanded, narrowing his eyes.

High Priest Teynn nodded. "I would like to know how one of the heretics came to be here in the company of Earthlings, as well."

Even before Coran translated, the team could read the tones just fine, and pointedly shifted into a defensive formation around Romelle. She swallowed and bowed her head, appreciating their support—but this, too, was something they'd known must be formally addressed at last. So she looked over the whole Council; some glares, some wide-eyed surprise, and a couple of them just seemed confused. I can do this. I must do this. "The same as the rest of you. Trying to stay safe from the Drules."

"Has Pollux fallen to them as well?" Elder Ollar knew much about the history between Arus and Pollux, but it seemed like the least of their concerns right now. The enduring dream of reconciliation could never come true if the Drules got in the way.

"I don't know. I was on Korrinoth trying to prevent that." She took a long, slow breath. The question, and the fact that she lacked an answer, was never going to get easier…

"On Korrinoth?" Randel echoed, raising an eyebrow. Of course, the Princess had explained the basic provenance of the offworlders to the Council. They all knew the Alliance soldiers had been captives there. If this Romelle had been there under different circumstances, it might change the threat calculation considerably.

"For a worthy cause," Elder Nuine pointed out gently. "Despite our differences with Pollux, would we call them untrustworthy for seeking peaceful coexistence with their neighbors? We conducted diplomacy with the Drules for some time before they attacked." Vana and Ollar nodded in agreement, and Kavithra seemed to silence a protest she'd been about to make. Even Teynn seemed mollified by the point.

Lord Caysen had accepted the point, too, but he didn't have to wish anything good on the traitors. "Since you're now here," he sneered, "I suppose it's safe to say that such diplomacy ended in failure."

"Yeah, no idea what he said but I fucking hate him," Lance muttered.

"What a dick," Daniel agreed. He didn't need to speak the language to know when someone was being an asshole.

Coran waited for them to be done before translating, and Hunk crossed his arms. "Well that didn't make it any better."

"Yeah, I fucking hate him."

"Does he have anything useful to say?" Pidge asked icily, stepping up a little closer to Romelle; he kind of doubted it. Sven moved up on her other side, shooting the Arusian a death glare; she slid her hand into his without even noticing she was doing so, and he gave it a reassuring squeeze.

Allura gave Caysen a disapproving look, and Larmina scooted forward. "Want me to smack him yet?" She was even less quiet this time, and Auntie took a little longer to tell her to hush.

Not even Caysen would actually get into verbal sparring with the Princess' honorary niece here, but he gave her a glower with a clear enough message. Know your place, girl. The idea that that illegitimate provincial royalty belonged at these discussions at all was absurd.

Even if Larmina hadn't been familiar with Caysen—which she was—she'd had experience with those looks her entire life, and just smirked back at him. I know my place. I'm sitting next to the Princess, and you're not.

Allura noted the wordless exchange, then focused on Caysen. "That will be enough." Exalted Father help him if she had to say anything more, but he backed down. Getting called out by the Princess in front of the Council was an embarrassment enough; getting called out in front of offworlders would keep him quiet for at least a little bit.

Lady Vana cleared her throat. Heretic or not, that really had been uncalled for. "I believe we have larger issues than a Polluxian being among the offworlders."

"I agree with Lady Vana." Teynn was willing to accept the answers at face value; he didn't have to like her presence, to be sure, but passing judgment on heretics was above his station. "The lions and the possible displeasure of the Golden Ones seem far more concerning."

Lord Anhel shifted uneasily in his seat. "I don't know. Harboring a Polluxian could be a large security problem." Randel nodded in fervent agreement, and both looked to Sarial. The three military representatives of the Council agreed more often than not.

This time, though, the militia captain had other input. "Romelle was quite helpful at the Radiant Fortress. She fought alongside my scouts, and if she meant us any harm, I'm certain that was the time to do it."

Tightening her grip on Sven's hand, Romelle looked at Anhel herself. It was difficult, facing another knight… "And you can ask the Knight of Light, Miralna. I was entrusted with the interrogation of one of those prisoners, and acquired information your diplomats could not." A soft chill from Blue countered some of the nervous heat gathering in her cheeks, and she found herself thinking about what she'd just said. Why would she have to tell the knight, of all people, about that? Didn't they talk to each other?

Had her secret been kept so tightly by people she hadn't even known, when spreading the word might have seemed safer?

Anhel was thrown a little off balance by that; Miralna had mentioned something about an 'unconventional interrogation asset' at one point. He'd been careful not to ask what that meant, but now… "Princess, is this true?" Allura nodded, and he sat back with a thoughtful frown.

"There are ways other than personal malice that a Polluxian, or anyone, could be dangerous," Captain Randel pointed out. "I would like to know more about this business on Korrinoth, Lady Romelle, if it gave you such useful insights."

A couple of the other Council members nodded. Elder Ollar cocked his head. "How did you come to be traveling with these soldiers, Lady Romelle?"

"And why," Caysen scowled, "would we trust you not to sell us out if the situation changes, the way your ancestors did?" Though nobody quite nodded in agreement, several seemed to feel it was a fair point. Obviously the divide didn't just run deep from Pollux's end.

Even so, Sven nearly said something extremely undignified, but Romelle nudged him before he could get it out. The rest of the team would have to defend their own positions soon enough. She could defend hers. She had to.

"I was on Korrinoth," she repeated, swallowing hard, "because my father sent me to be married to the Drule prince. He believed it would protect our people. But I could not…" So many things she could say here. But she heard Blue growling encouragement, and nodded. "I couldn't tolerate their dishonor, their abuses. So when I encountered the team making their escape, I joined them." She narrowed her eyes and speared Caysen with a scornful look. "Sell you out, Lord Caysen? I promise that the Ninth Kingdom wants me personally dead or enslaved more than they care about any of you."

Even Caysen, unpleasant though he was, looked taken aback by that; Nuine and Ollar looked particularly horrified. Elder Del Alia finally asked the question everyone else was thinking.

"Who are you? To marry a Drule prince?"

Enough of this! Letting go of Sven's hand with a quick nod of gratitude, Romelle stepped forward with her most regal expression. "I am Romelle Asira of the noble house of Lachesis," she said coolly. "Daughter of Queen Ansala II and King Kova, Princess of Pollux."

With those words, everything seemed to freeze.

*****

Everything hurt.

That was the first conscious thought Flynn had had for… how long? It felt like he'd been sleeping for weeks, maybe months. But the pain wasn't from inaction, or at least, the crushing pain in his chest surely couldn't be. That felt more like, well… blunt force trauma. He tried to reach up to see if there was a wound, only to find his arms restrained.

Where was he?

How did he get here?

The last thing he remembered was being on… Arus? But he'd never been to Arus. He'd never heard of Arus. Yet he knew things about it, about what the team was doing there.

The team… where were they? Why wasn't he with them? Or was he? He tried to sit up a little and look around.

"Lie still. You'll need a few minutes to adjust to your reanimation."

Reani—what? He sat bolt upright, immediately regretted it, and squinted through the waves of dizziness at… an old Drule woman in a tattered cloak? "Who are you supposed to be?" Nausea bubbled up with the words, and he doubled over while gritting his teeth. Faex.

Haggar sighed condescendingly; they never took that advice. "My name is Haggar. Witch of Sarga and her Domain, grandmaster of the occult sciences. And your name?"

She spoke the most flawless Common he'd ever heard from a Drule, and he still had no idea what she was talking about. "…Flynn Kleid, Alliance Explorer Team 686. I'm not obligated to tell you anything else."

It felt off. He'd been captured by Drules before, they hadn't done this. They'd…

They'd…

In an instant, everything came flooding back, a crushing wave of pain and chaos that ripped the breath from his lungs. "What the fuck?!"

"Ah, there we are." Haggar paced around him, still calm. "You have been raised into a jaivur, to serve the Ninth Kingdom. I have a task for you, and once you complete it you may return to your rest."

…Who the actual fuck does this bitch think she is? He started to say that out loud, then blinked. It felt even more off. His mind didn't feel quite as sharp as it ought to be, fogged with thoughts that weren't entirely his own.

What the hell was a jaivur?

Had she just told him he was undead?

"Well I'm not doing any tasks for you," he finally snapped, "especially seeing as your kingdom killed me."

The witch eyed him pityingly. "Oh, that was not a request, my pet."

Her what? A wave of anger flashed through him, and he thought he could hear voices on the leading edge. "I told you my name."

"And I told you your purpose." She held up a large, jagged crystal, glowing with a sickly-bright purple light. "You have no choice in the matter, but I am generous enough to bring you to terms with it."

Maybe her Common wasn't so good after all. "I don't think you're using that word correctly—"

The crystal flared, and he fell silent. Not because he'd wanted to. Except he had wanted to. His intentions had changed in an instant. And much as he wanted to snarl at her again, it was as if some better judgment were physically overriding his instincts.

Wait. If I'm undead, can she… nausea hit again, and this time the source wasn't physical. The voices surged and ebbed, still outside of his grasp.

"Good, very good." Haggar nodded. "Now, what can you tell me about the rest of your team?"

"Nothing." She'd have to force him. He would not give her the satisfaction. "My friends aren't your damn concern."

"Your friends." She chuckled. "The ones who escaped immediately after you and the other two died for them. The ones who left your bodies here to rot. Those friends?"

"Yes?" It felt increasingly like he was trying to think his way through wet concrete, but he was sure of that much. I died… we died for them so they could escape. "That was the point—" He choked on the words as the crystal flared. "Faex, do you want answers or not?!"

"Answers? I don't need answers, my pet. You need answers, and I am guiding you to the truth."

He glared, and felt that odd sensation yet again. Voices murmuring somewhere just beyond his perception, voices he'd know if he could only—

Fuck this bitch.

Don't listen to her!

Eyes widening, Flynn snapped his head around to look at the rest of the room, which succeeded in very little but giving him more of a headache. He did know those voices. "Jace, Cam—where are they?" he hissed, shifting one hand a little beneath the restraint. "Leave them the fuck alone. Treaty of Galunde, authority clause. I'm the officer here, you don't fucking touch my people."

Absurdity followed on the heels of indignation. But they're already dead. Then an even worse thought. They'd best still be dead.

The witch didn't respond to that immediately, seemingly consulting the crystal instead. Finally she murmured, "The officer, are you? Fitting that you were made the vessel, then." She held the crystal up in front of him. "Look, and find your answers."

Despite himself he squinted through the toxic glow, the facets in some unsettling alien pattern. A swirl of a deeper violet energy lay within it, surrounded by oddly warped tethers of light—one white, one a green-bronze that reminded him vaguely of camouflage.

They felt so familiar. And the more he struggled against the realization trying to form, the more rage surged up to muddy his thoughts even further.

"Yes," the witch murmured. "They are with you. They will help you. The three of you will put an end to those truly responsible for your deaths."

No. None of this was right. His stomach was twisting, his mind was flailing. "I won't obey you." She'd have to force every move. Jace? Cam? Fight this, we have to—

A dizzying wave of rage surged up immediately, as if in response, and Haggar smiled as he cried out in shock. The supports were well awake now, performing their designed task.

Chaos. Fury. They could make the mind easily bent to another's will, even without a phylactery to aid the process. But of course, she could do even more to move things along.

"I believe you are ready for the next phase." She patted his shoulder and bared her fangs in a smile. "Take some time with yourself and the spirits within you, and think about what I've said. Think about who truly brought you to this place… and what punishment they deserve."

She was gone before he could snarl anything else at her, and he shook his head in frustration. Better than anything else he could have been feeling—he did not want to think too hard about what the hell she'd just said. The spirits within you. What the fuck did she do to me? Us? The voices were still murmuring, and the more he strained to hear the more indistinct they became.

Suddenly, the restraints on his arms snapped up, coiling like serpents into a cage that crackled with that toxic violet light. Bolts of energy poured into him, bringing with them awareness—he could feel the others more powerfully with each strike, and hatred began bubbling up as well. Blind rage too relentless to fight, and the others were fighting too, but it only seemed to make it worse…

Then the energy became constant, and all three of them screamed as one.

*****

For the second time in this session, the entire Council had been rendered speechless. Keith had the feeling that didn't happen too often. He looked them over, trying to take a mental inventory. Randel, Anhel, and Sarial were exchanging looks he knew well—did that really just happen? Nuine looked stunned but also sympathetic, and the rest just plain looked stunned. To be fair, even with his tenuous grasp on the backstory, that was probably the correct reaction.

Romelle herself gasped softly and quickly stepped back, trying to fade into an anonymity she knew wasn't there to be had any longer. WHY did I just blurt that out?

"You did well," Blue purred. "It is not easy to face your own history."

Well, at least she knew the second part of that was true.

And there it is. Allura spoke up as the silence got truly excruciating. "I have known this since shortly after their arrival, but I'm sure you can all understand why I wished to let her keep it to herself. Romelle has every reason to oppose the Drules beside us, and Arus needs every ally we can get."

As much as Romelle seemed to have had that handled, Keith could only stand by while one of his team was singled out for so long. So he nodded his agreement with Allura. "Without Romelle we may never have gotten off of Korrinoth, and we certainly wouldn't be here flying lions on your behalf. She's one of us. Period."

The issue of flying lions was, of course, why they were all here to begin with. But not a single member of the Council was going to argue the point without more information, so a slow round of nods went around the table. The Princess was surely correct, in any case; they couldn't afford to turn down help.

"Well…" Lord Caysen even managed to clear his throat haughtily. "If things on Pollux have become so much more dire, then yes. I feel we can only agree to welcome a wayward daughter of Arus home."

"Yes, I agree." Ollar didn't really enjoy agreeing with Caysen, but the man was unpleasant, not incompetent. "There's been enough death."

High Priest Teynn nodded. "Indeed. The fate of any heretics is for the Golden Ones to decide. They would not approve of us failing to shelter even the farthest-removed noble blood from alien invaders."

"They wouldn't," Del Alia agreed with a frown. "They would probably also not approve of being so rude."

"Yes, she should be sheltered and welcomed." Nuine gave Teynn a reproachful look, but her tone was warm. "As Captain Sarial says, she has proven an ally. And as Elder Ollar says, the Drules have killed enough already."

The rest of the Council nodded with varying degrees of enthusiasm, and Sarial couldn't help a wry grin. "Royalty that doesn't want to admit to being royalty is becoming a traditional militia asset."

Larmina somehow gave her a death glare and stifled a laugh at the same time. Allura grinned, too, then allowed herself a small sigh of relief; at least that was one issue firmly settled.

"So, do we have other preliminary matters to discuss, or should we move on?" Anhel asked. He really wasn't a fan of Council meetings, though this one was proving far more eventful than most.

Lady Kavithra frowned. She wasn't enthused by any of this either, but she also had a perspective only one other on the Council could claim: she'd seen the results of the lions' work up close and personal. It had been her duty to oversee the Drule plunder from the Radiant Fortress being returned to its rightful owners. She had seen the wrecks of their massive war vehicles strewn over the ground, monstrosities only Arusian air power could have countered even at their peak. She'd seen the casual cruelty of the occupiers in a way those in the castle shelters rarely encountered.

For that alone, they owed these newcomers and these lions a debt of gratitude. Like any other diplomacy, her personal feelings about the players were irrelevant. What mattered was the good of Arus…

"I think yes, actually. It may inform the discussion on the lions. As Captain Sarial brought up the Radiant Fortress, did we not have another guest of noble blood who is nearing the end of his stay?"

The team exchanged looks; even they knew who that had to be about. Among the Council it was Elder Ollar who said it first, his lip curling with contempt. "Del Seva."

"Lord Byrom," Teynn corrected. The Golden Ones demanded propriety, why did he have to keep reminding people?

"Yes, forgive me." Ollar barely managed not to roll his eyes. "Lord Byrom." He hadn't been to the fortress himself, but he'd seen the state of the prisoners rescued from there. No one who'd turned a blind eye to that deserved propriety, in his mind.

Kavithra nodded. "Our last meeting, Lord Anhel, you said the debriefings were complete and a report would come soon. I'm sure there is a tale to be told here?"

"I'm eager to hear it."

"…In front of offworlders? What business is it of theirs?"

"They captured him, and liberated those he should have been protecting!"

At that point the discussion devolved into enough bickering that Coran stopped even trying to translate. He just shrugged at the team and muttered, "More of the same."

"Sounds familiar," Sven said mildly. He'd leave it to the others to decide if he was talking about them or Senate meetings. The answer was, of course, both… his teammates were just exponentially more entertaining than the Senate when they did it.

Closing her eyes, Allura focused fiercely enough on calm that she could feel static gathering in her fingertips. Which… would be exactly the opposite of what this meeting needed. Tapping her chair quickly to ground the charge, she looked up again. "That's enough." About half of them jumped, and all had the decency to look at least a little sheepish. "Lord Anhel, what can you report?"

The knight nodded and stood. "Very well. Lord Byrom has remained adamant that he was only in temporary discussions with the Drules. But Lady Miralna provided a report from an 'unconventional interrogation' indicating he was much more directly involved. I believe this must have been the report Lady Romelle assisted with." So much more bizarre than he'd imagined. "When we confronted him with that, he denied it… but when pressed, he admitted he was the one who shot the Drule overseer, and suggested the source of the intel was lying for some kind of payback."

Nuine's eyes narrowed, though more thoughtful than angry. "He admitted to the overseer's death?"

"And I'm sure he had some excuse about 'the good of Arus' or 'being in danger' for shooting such an important source of information in the back?" Ollar scoffed.

"…Essentially yes, Elder." Anhel sighed. "He was rather reluctant to admit it at all, until he thought it would get him out of worse trouble."

Hunk shook his head and muttered under his breath. "He's Lord Shady and he's super shady, all the other lords lately are just imitating…" Pidge didn't know what any of that meant either, but elbowed him on principle nonetheless.

"Fucking coward, too," Lance agreed. He was all in favor of shooting Drules, sure—but shooting Drule bureaucrats from behind as a coverup? No, he wasn't gonna be approving of that one.

Larmina heard the muttering behind her and took particular note of it. She knew things about Byrom Del Seva. A lot of things. Some she kept to herself because it made her life easier… more she kept to herself because her mother's life could've been ruined. But offworlders wouldn't care about old court nonsense, would they? Maybe she would give them some background later on, it could be fun.

…Probably not. Why would she even consider that? And why was there a lion purring in her head about it? No you don't. That was nothing but a minor lapse in judgment because I’m stuck in a room with a bunch of stuffy aristocrats! Go away.

Green Lion chuckled and fell silent.

Elder Nuine exhaled slowly. "Is there any other evidence it wasn't as he claims?" She didn't really want to defend Lord Byrom's questionable behavior, but even he deserved fairness.

"A couple of my people, along with Danor from the castle workshop, were able to crack the sinycka communications relay recovered from the fortress." Sarial made no effort to hide her irritation. "Nothing but routine communications, and nothing implicating any particular collaboration beyond 'meetings'."

"Other than the word of the Drule, we have little." Anhel shook his head. "None of the locals can vouch for him having any authority, though those forced to labor at the fortress say there must have been a great many meetings." He turned to Allura. "Being that he is of noble blood, the knights lack the authority to pass judgment, which leaves us uncertain how to proceed. Do we keep him in custody, or release him to his home?"

"No son of Arus would truly betray his people to the invaders," Teynn said confidently.

Ollar shook his head, Anhel rolled his eyes, and Randel gave a derisive snort. "In my experience, being a son of Arus doesn't stop people from vying for power." There were always a few—else there wouldn't be much need for a Royal Guard at all. It was assassins and possible coups they were actually meant to deal with, not hostile aliens with warships.

"And it isn't his first time doing so." Elder Del Alia was, in fact, from the same province as Del Seva. Not from the same district; they were on wholly opposite sides of the Vanderia Lowlands. But she was old enough to remember when Lord Byrom had inherited his title, from a brother he himself had accused of treason… and connected enough to hear the whispers that the case had been a little too tidy.

It was all Larmina could do to keep herself quiet.

"…The evidence in this case seems weak," Lady Kavithra murmured. "And for such a serious charge."

"I don't see what can be done without more information," Nuine agreed.

Allura frowned. She didn't like any of this. Didn't Arus have enough problems right now? "It would seem we must return him to his province." They couldn't hold him on these slim threads, and his presence could be a liability. But the threads couldn't be ignored either, and just cutting him loose could be a threat. "I would like it if he does not return unaccompanied, to assure us there was no cause for concern."

Keith fully expected someone to object to that. No way was such a suggestion in keeping with the appearances some of the Council clearly valued. But to his surprise, no one spoke up; Lord Caysen was actually the first to nod his agreement.

"He shouldn't be trusted."

Nuine was next. "It does seem wise to keep our eyes on him."

"Indeed. He's gotten in trouble once." Sarial shrugged. "He requires protective custody."

"I wish I could offer a knight, but we're spread much too thin already. Some guards, perhaps?" Anhel looked over at Captain Randel. "I'm sure we could pick the correct people to send with him."

"Perhaps not a guard." Randel was rubbing his chin in thought. "Should we not send someone more… unassuming? Give him no reason to think we're watching."

"Perhaps the militia?"

"We have very little information on the Lowlands. I could spare a couple of scouts."

Elder Del Alia shook her head slightly at that. The militia was very good at what they did, and often underappreciated by those of higher status. But this would not play to their strengths. "Whoever you send needs to know what they're doing in political settings. He's known to be crafty even in his legitimate dealings."

"One of my priests could accompany him," Teynn offered—he was still a little irked by everyone's dismissal earlier, but this was his people's specialty. "Those pledged to the Exalted Father know courtly protocol like the scriptures themselves, and I assure you they would not tolerate treachery from one of noble blood."

This time nobody rolled their eyes, and Randel nodded as he thought it over. "The problem is he would surely know that. No one is going to openly sin in front of their priest."

"Is it such a bad thing if he knows he's under suspicion?" Sarial asked. The corrupt noble not sinning because his priest was standing there seemed like a perfectly good solution to her.

"It is if we want to catch him."

Lady Vana tilted her head in thought. "Perhaps knowing we are watching will be enough to deter future misbehavior."

"It won't make him answer for what he's already done," Ollar countered with a scowl. "I think a more unassuming spy would be best."

In the brief pause that followed, Pidge found himself whispering to no one in particular, "You know what the Arusians need? They need ninjas." A few of the others snickered, though he hadn't been joking. Or had he been? He was still working on the whole concept. What he was certain of was that Arus could use some ninjas right now.

"I think you are too busy to volunteer, Windseeker."

Oh, you think?

Once it was clear nobody else had any further suggestions, Lord Anhel bowed towards Allura. "A decision must be made, Princess."

Yes, it must. Allura had been weighing the options while the others debated, jotting a few notes on a scrap of paper. "If he's been working against Arus, I want him caught, and with proof enough to stick. But in our current situation, preventing him from doing more damage may be what we have to settle for first. High Priest Teynn, send one of your priests home with Lord Byrom to make sure he's behaving."

"As you command, Princess."

Nodding in acknowledgment, Allura slipped the paper she'd been writing on to Captain Randel on her right. Send a guard in some guise that Lord Byrom won't suspect. Let the priest be a distraction.

He gave her a barely perceptible nod, and she smiled. It was the best they could do, and she hoped it would be enough.

"Figures," Lance muttered, shaking his head. "Shady dudes always get away with shit." He probably shouldn't be surprised to find it on Arus, it happened everywhere else.

"Politics," Sven agreed quietly. He understood what had just happened and why, and had no doubt Lance did too. But it didn't make it any more satisfying.

"What a pity," Blue agreed. "He seemed like such an upstanding cub."

Snort. Funny, I remember him cowering on his backside. Knowing politics as he did, Sven really couldn't help but suspect they'd run into Del Seva again someday. But compared to Drules and cult things, he couldn't be too concerned.

Keith was thinking something similar. But he was more interested in the behavior they'd just witnessed; he recognized what was going on now. The Council may have been a political body, and they may have sometimes been infuriating. But they were also the people who'd kept the refugees alive and protected for months, against all odds and overwhelming enemy force. Presented with questions and potential threats, they bickered. Given something more concrete? They got it together… not unlike some others he knew.

For maybe the first time since they'd arrived, he had hope for the next part of this meeting.

"Speaking of going home." Elder Del Alia looked down at the table for a moment. Her side of the province was rather less accessible then Del Seva's, filled with jagged canyons and overhangs. Getting ground troops there was tricky in the best of times, and aerial scouting all but impossible—the captured Drule transports weren't nimble enough to have a chance. There had been no word from that district through the entire occupation. But now she was faced with something that could, perhaps, get her answers about the status of her home. They just needed to figure out… "The Great Lions. Are they good or bad omens?"

Lady Vana gave her a sympathetic look; they all understood the Elder's predicament. "I believe more information is needed before we declare them one or the other."

Teynn sighed heavily. "They are surely more complicated than omens."

"I think they're less complicated," Sarial countered. "They can fight the sinycka, the way nothing else we have can."

Omens. Allura bit her lip in frustration. She had no way to really explain to the Council what the lions meant to her, to her family. No way to convey what she knew in her heart to be true. Whether to trust them or not was a non-issue for her, and it always had been. And whenever the topic came up, she had to remind herself that they had none of that certainty.

I can only ask them to trust, and hope meeting the team makes it easier.

"Their presence might be more problematic than seen on the surface," Lord Caysen said, waving Sarial off. "They help us now."

"Surely their protection is a good thing?"

"But piloted by offworlders?"

"They may yet be a deal with the devil."

"Always good to be talked about like you're not there," Lance grumbled as the debate continued, eyes narrowing. Keith didn't even consider shushing him now; he was absolutely correct.

Stepping forward to get everyone's attention, he said firmly, "If the Council has concerns with us they can ask us directly. We're standing right here."

"And no offense, but it's not like you guys can fight off the Drules without the lions, so what are we even talking about?" Daniel knew he'd hit on what everyone else was thinking, because—well, first because it was obvious. But also because nobody told him off for doing so.

Lady Kavithra looked stunned; that had definitely been a breach of protocol. Lord Caysen, on the other hand, seemed eager to take them up on it. "Very well." He looked over the team with a pointedly skeptical eye. "When the Drules are gone, just what will you and these lions demand in return?"

Black snarled, and Keith met the noble's hostility with icy calm. "The lions aren't demanding anything."

"Justice is all I need." Lance's eyes narrowed further. "The Drules have to pay for what they've done, to you and to us."

"The lions have been here longer than any of you," Pidge pointed out. Maybe they weren't native to Arus—mostly—but they'd still been sleeping there for centuries. "Why wouldn't they protect this planet willingly?"

Hunk nodded. "Yeah, pretty sure we're the only people they were makin' deals with." And they'd known they were committing to this planet then, but what would this guy understand about their reasons?

Sven also nodded, but didn't say anything. He would've if necessary. But he felt the others had covered it nicely, and well, if he didn't have to deal with the politicians…

It was all Daniel could do not to respond with maybe a really nice toaster. But apparently his desire to not be talking to these people could outweigh even snark on occasion. Who knew?

"I have read several of the children's stories of the Great Lions," Lady Kavithra said with a frown. "They never mention the lions asking for anything in return. You're being paranoid, Caysen."

"It is true… the lions sacrificed themselves freely to the gods." Teynn wasn't sure how much that meant, given these lions seemed rather not-sacrificed, but facts were facts.

"They sacrificed for Arus, as would our own people," Anhel pointed out. "Now that the lions have been awakened, can't anyone else fly them?"

"Yes," Elder Ollar agreed. "We have our own pilots." Nobody had explained why they had to rely on offworlders for this. Randel nodded in agreement, and everyone but Sarial at least looked very interested to hear the answer.

Daniel's answer came out first. "Um, fuck no." From the way several of the Arusians' eyes widened, it seemed like Coran had translated that accurately, and he bit back a sheepish laugh. Sorry not sorry.

"It has to be us." Lance knew that already. Knew the practical reasons, that the lions couldn't bond to… well, non-princess Arusians, apparently. But what struck him was the hostility he was feeling from Red at the suggestion.

"Our bonded are precious to us, Firestriker. They speak too casually of stripping away something they do not understand."

From the way the others were shifting uncomfortably, he suspected he wasn't the only one with an angry lion. Pidge in particular had taken a couple steps back as Green snarled. You're giving me a headache. …To be fair, so are they.

Finally Keith stepped forward again. There was so much about the lions they still didn't understand, but the Arusians did deserve what answers they could give.

"No, not just anyone can fly them. There is a deep bond created between the lions and their pilots. They can't be taken on lightly—each of us had to face our own test. Nor can they be discarded easily, if at all." A shiver went up his spine at even the thought of the bonds being discarded; it was unthinkable, really. We made a commitment to them… and they made a commitment to us.

Ollar seemed to accept that, nodding slowly. If that was how it had to be… Randel still looked irritated, but nodded as well. They can do what we can't. So be it.

What the commander said sounded familiar; Anhel remembered something from earlier. "Is that what the Princess meant when she said she was 'called'?"

Allura nodded. "The lions choose and call to those they would take as their pilots. And as Keith says, the bonds aren't undertaken lightly."

"Then you truly must be part of this?" Lady Vana leaned forward, looking worried but quite a bit less judgmental than, say, Nanny. "I can't help but have concern. I mean this with no disrespect, Your Highness, but we have so few royals left at all. It feels reckless to place one of our most valuable people into such danger. You have no traditional heir—who would take your place if, Goldens forbid, you were to perish fighting in these lions?"

"No faith," Hunk muttered, though he couldn't really blame her. There had been some close calls already.

Allura had been thinking extensively on that, and the options were very few. But she'd come to a couple of conclusions. First was that it was simply too early to make that call. They didn't know how many surviving royals there were on Arus, and wouldn't until lines of communication were reopened. The best choice for a standby might be hiding in a hole somewhere, presumed dead by the rest of the world. Second, rushing the decision didn't serve Arus. Leaving it in the hands of the Council, should the worst happen, was safer than making a hasty choice of successor just to have a name.

Third was that, the more they forced the issue, the more she might just let them think it was Larmina.

"I am working on that," she said finally, "and would like you all to be part of that plan. I want more information on who may have survived elsewhere first. I don't wish to say who I'm thinking of at this moment, in case things should change… but I hope, should it come to that, you will all give your best to my choice."

"Of course, Princess."

"We can hardly give Arus less than what you're giving."

"May there be wisdom in your choice."

Larmina eyed her suspiciously and whispered—in Common. "I see what you're doing, and it's working." Half the Council was already giving her looks again. Allura just winked, and she shrugged. Sure, I'll play decoy. Not like the lions are a me problem.

Green was laughing again.

Though Vana was one of those who'd eyed Larmina, she didn't hold it long. Knowing there was a plan, even a tenuous one, was enough for her at the moment… plans had been hard to come by for a while now.

"Perhaps the Golden Gods will grant us a sign, should it be needed." High Priest Teynn was not going to be baited by the glances at Larmina; what he was more concerned about was why this was necessary in the first place. "I do wish to know, though. Why is it these lions would 'call' only the Crown Princess, alone among a group of offworlders?"

"This guy's fucking annoying," Daniel decided; Lance would have elbowed him, but opted not to because he was in complete agreement.

Coran decided not to translate it this time.

"Annoying, but it's also a fair question," Sven pointed out. This High Priest being a pain in the ass didn't change how many times they'd asked the same thing.

"May as well tell 'em, yeah?"

"I think so."

"Yes." It served nothing to keep that answer—such as it was—to themselves. Keith looked at Allura, who nodded for him to go ahead. "The lions weren't able to call to any Arusians while they were sleeping. We still don't know why. Waking up enabled them to call Princess Allura, but it seems to be a unique situation." He winced a little as he said it; it still wasn't much to go on.

Allura bowed her head for a moment. "From what Black Lion has told me, it may be because the House of Raimon has history with the lions." She didn't think it was wise to mention how long they'd known they were sheltering the lions; it would probably just cause more arguing. Instead she settled on, "He wished to continue a partnership that had its roots in the past."

It really wasn't the lions' perspective the Council was interested in, and she supposed she ought to have anticipated that. But what she had not anticipated was Elder Del Alia wringing her hands and looking at her with even greater concern. "Your Highness…" Shaking her head, she turned her attention to Teynn. "She isn't meant to be a martyr, is she? Surely not?"

It took Pidge a few moments to remember what the word 'martyr' meant, and he made a face. "I have a whole new appreciation for my people's gods not really caring what we do."

"No kiddin'."

"Fuck yes."

Even Vince nodded emphatically, and Romelle reached up to touch her own cheek markings. She had a whole new appreciation for their utter lack of significance on Pollux.

"It is possible." Teynn was looking thoughtful again. "The noble children of Arus do carry the Golden Ones' blessing at its strongest. Perhaps only she could withstand the… spiritual complications of the beasts."

"Perhaps the Golden Mark is a light receptor," Sarial said dryly, "and the lions gave her a mystical sunburn."

"Captain, you know that is rank heresy you speak." It turned out the High Priest had a pretty good death glare at his disposal, and possibly had steam coming out of his ears again. "I suggest you ask the Shining Sage's forgiveness, and immediately."

Shrug. "I think magic is complicated. You're debating the fate of the Crown Princess' soul with no particular evidence. I wonder which of us is more offensive to the gods."

…And again the High Priest lost the use of words, sputtering for a few moments before shutting his mouth.

"I love her," Daniel said cheerfully.

Elder Nuine shook her head, exasperated. "I think we can resolve this without bickering and blasphemy. The Princess says these lions have forgotten a great deal, and we have only speculation—but that they are gifts from the Golden Ones seems be the most likely explanation."

"I certainly prefer it to any others," Del Alia agreed. "In the absence of proof otherwise, we should assume them to be a positive thing. The people need to maintain hope."

Nuine nodded. "I agree."

"As do I," Vana seconded.

"Yes…" Even Teynn couldn't think of any reason that had to be false. The gods did work in mysterious ways. "The lions who once saved us have returned in our darkest hour. We must believe that this is all part of the Golden Plan."

Yellow Lion definitely did not agree; whenever someone suggested the Golden Gods were linked to the lions, he roared his annoyance in Hunk's skull. Hunk himself was thinking something else, though… "Everyone else got ticked off lions?"

"Very much."

"To put it mildly."

"Red's growl is on repeat."

"Blue's input does seem to have an extra helping of bite to it."

"I could be convinced to bite a couple of them."

Like I was saying…

Hunk nodded. "And I totally get it." They all knew this was nonsense. "But I kinda think we oughta let the locals believe what they can deal with, yeah?"

The others considered it, exchanging looks, and Romelle could practically see their thought processes all running to the same place. They had a million questions about these lions, a handful of hard facts, and a Council—and planet—who would see those few facts as going against everything in their history and their myths. They could try to force the issue when they didn't know the truth themselves, or…

"…I'm with you, yeah, we better roll with it." Lance winced as Red growled again. "Even though it's hurting my head."

"It would be the most logical course." To Pidge's relief, Green's next snarl carried more resigned acceptance than pain.

"Agreed." Sven closed his eyes for a moment. No snarky commentary unless you have a better idea, Blue. They will keep this silly debate going much longer if we let them. She growled in irritation, but remained silent.

Keith shook his head, uneasy. Were they really going to start their relationship with the Council off with lies? Doesn't seem very honorable.

"And yet sometimes, what is more required is balance." Black didn't sound happy, either. "We can accept it, if we must."

Allura had watched and listened carefully. She felt the unease deeply, but was also more used to this sort of thing. Her father hadn't always liked courtly politics, but given their importance, he'd ensured she learn them well. As the team turned to face her, all having apparently accepted the necessity, she nodded in return and looked over the Council again.

"I want it to be understood," she said softly, "that these are theories. But it would be best if this Council is united behind one theory. If we gain new information, we can correct the errors. For the time being, we offer the best guess we can."

It wasn't the most accurate guess, based on what the team knew. But it was the best one. Whatever had to be done to make her people comfortable with the Great Lions… because without them, Arus may yet be doomed.

"Does anyone have further questions?"

"Many," Lord Caysen said immediately, but then curled his lip in annoyance. "But I'm sure the offworlders would have the correct answers for them. We'll see if their actions bear it out."

"Rude again," Elder Del Alia murmured. "But I think wise, as well. Little more can be learned here from words alone."

When nobody else volunteered anything, Allura stood. "We will call for a vote, then. This Council's formal blessing of the offworlders and the Great Lions, as well as agreement on what information will be spread." She paused, then smiled softly. "And I believe there is one other request to be made. Keith?"

He moved to the front of the group again and bowed his head respectfully. "There were spare flight suits from the Bright Angels found in one of the mountain airbases. We'd like permission to wear them, if it wouldn't offend anyone."

Several Council members exchanged surprised looks again, and then Lady Kavithra nodded slowly. "The full question at hand, then, is whether we will accept these offworlders and these lions as true defenders of Arus, with all the rights and privileges of such status?"

Allura took a deep breath. We can only hope now. "Yes."

Kavithra looked away for a moment, as if staring at something far distant, and finally nodded again. "I feel that would be very appropriate."

"More than appropriate," Sarial agreed.

Captain Randel nodded too. "I have no objection." Bitterness, yes, but he could recognize that was irrational. Losing the planet again out of stubbornness wouldn't help.

Ollar stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Yes. If these offworlders are who we must ally with, for the protection the Great Lions provide, then that is what we should do. Allowing them the uniform of Arus is a practicality."

The knight, Anhel, had actually cracked a small smile. "Agreed. They are not of our world, but willing to help defend it. We gladly welcome them."

"We cannot turn down aid that is offered." Nuine smiled also, looking over each of the team in turn. "And the uniforms should surely be put to use."

Lady Vana leaned forward. "I think it's all very fitting."

"Yes, it would be," Elder Del Alia agreed.

All eyes turned to Teynn and Caysen; somehow nobody was surprised for them to be last, and the team was visibly bracing for another argument. But to their surprise, the High Priest smiled and bowed his head with what might have been actual respect.

"In the name of the Golden Gods, we will always welcome such a wise commitment to Arus."

…He probably considered that being nice. And to be fair, he didn't know he'd just started lions snarling in ten different people's heads.

Again.

Almost mercifully, Caysen stepped in. "Better with our blessing than rogue, and better in our colors than any other. Yes, this seems the best way." There was no doubt he'd wanted to call it the best of bad options, but at least held his tongue a little.

"Then it is done." Allura turned to Keith and gave a small, wry smile. "Saying this to a team I'm a part of is irregular, but… from this moment the Voltron Force officially has the Crown's favor."

"There would usually be a ceremony," Caysen grumbled. "You'll understand the lack."

"We certainly do, Lord Caysen." Keith had a feeling any such ceremony was one his team would've hated or turned into chaos. Or both. "And we should focus on our primary task, anyway."

"Do we have anything else to discuss?" Elder Del Alia asked after a few more moments.

"Perhaps we should disperse." High Priest Teynn shuffled uncomfortably, most of his haughtiness dissipating again as he remembered what else he had to deal with. "So I can show the guards the… scene in the chapel."

"Yes, High Priest. That would be wise."

"Yes, I would like to see this personally." Captain Randel shot him another glare. His irritation with this, unlike his bitterness towards the offworlders, was perfectly rational.

That did sound like something not to put off too much longer, so Allura straightened at the head of the table and bowed. The most proper protocol called for a curtsy, but curtsies and jumpsuits didn't really mix. "I thank you for your counsel, friends. Dismissed."

Coran did not bother to translate the ritual words; instead he just sighed in intense relief. I know the Council likes talking too much, but honestly. His throat was going to be sore for days.

Catching his discomfort, Romelle stepped in to translate when a few of the departing Council members offered them formal farewells. Sarial, the last to leave, didn't need any translation. "Welcome to Arus." Grin. "Officially."

"Happy to be official," Lance said with a wink, and she departed as well.

Hunk grabbed one of the vacated chairs, flopped down in it, and let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "Wow…"

"Are you alright, Romelle?" Keith was the first to ask it, but he hadn't been the only one thinking it, and she blushed a little as all eyes turned to her. Allura came up beside her, and even Larmina looked sympathetic.

"Yes… mostly." She thought she'd stood her ground well, but… shouldn't she feel strong for doing so? She mostly just felt kind of shaky. "I will be. That was… probably unavoidable."

"Probably. But still, you handled yourself impressively." He looked around. "Everyone else?"

"That," Pidge took a seat next to Hunk, "was somehow less and more painful than I expected."

"That's pretty standard when it comes to politics, Pidge." Sven really wished he couldn't speak with such authority on the matter. But he could, and that had more or less matched his expectations… in tone, if not in content.

"They had a whole debate on a dead body." Vince shuddered. "That's normal?"

"Well, no, but also yes? Not usually suspicious religious sacrifices. But murders, war, disease, every other fun and deadly topic that most of them have no business having an opinion on."

Frown. "Touché." He definitely didn't want to go any further down that road.

"Why do I feel gross?" Daniel asked, rubbing his arms and wrinkling his nose. Red was still feeling pretty grumpy, and not setting any particular boundaries about it.

"It's a bit culty, that's why." Lance made a similar face. "That was fucking weird."

"Weirder than sentient robot lions talking in your head?"

"Cult religion bullshit is always weirder than a sentient robot."

Daniel considered that for a few moments. "Yeah, true." Red purred. "Seriously, I'm from Utah and an alien planet is where I end up associating with a cult?"

Shaking her head, Allura touched her marks again and sighed. "It can be a bit… much, at times," she agreed. "But there are reasons. Now that we have an official explanation, it should at least end most of the distractions about it." And hopefully end any further deaths about it. The thought of that still made her feel ill.

"That's the most important thing." Keith looked around, then smiled faintly. They had the blessing of the Council, they ought to act upon it quickly. "Okay, Voltron Force. Let's go see about those new uniforms."

*****

Not every jaivur required the second wave of treatment. Only those who needed to be… convinced to serve their new master more willingly. And each one required a different level of occult power to overcome. This one had been relatively simple, given his instability, and it was only a couple of hours before Haggar returned to the awakening chamber.

He was sitting on the lab table, eyes closed, fists clenched. Outwardly calm, but she could feel the truth through the phylactery. It was done. What sat before her now was a weapon which knew its target, and only needed to be aimed.

"Have you found your answers, my pet?"

Flynn opened his eyes, and they glowed for a moment with toxic energy. "Don't fucking call me that." There was a harsher edge to his words, the voice something slightly more than just his own. "Where are they."

She chuckled. "On Arus. I have an acolyte ready to deliver you there. Are you prepared?"

He paused, one hand going to his side in what looked like a reflexive motion. Then his eyes narrowed, and he glared at her with every bit of the hatred she'd infused him with. "Where's my gun?"

His what? "Excuse me?"

"My gun," he repeated irritably. "You captured our ship, you took our weapons, you have it somewhere."

Haggar frowned. "You don't need it. With the power coursing through you now, they will—"

That power suddenly flared. A bolt of searing violet energy arced out from him, and she raised a hand to stop it; though it harmlessly bypassed her, it was powerful enough not to dissipate entirely. She heard glass shattering behind her as the remnants of the bolt slammed into a cabinet.

"Don't you tell me what I need," he hissed, eyes blazing. "You want me to do your job, give me my weapon."

Interesting. His will was strong. Of course, they always were in the beginning. But why not indulge his demand? It would be so inconvenient if she had to force him to submit; she might break her new weapon before she could wield him. And it really wouldn't do to have him keep ruining her supplies. An hour for some servant to find the gun wasn't asking much in exchange for the elimination of the Voltron machine.

"Very well."