Apsyrtus had managed to take the ship back to Colchis, where he had gotten help for his leg, explaining the situation solemnly to the Colchis assembly. The main belt alliance that they had had so much hope for in the initial stages was now destroyed, only himself and Fiducius left standing. The enemy had suffered losses, but in his heart, Apsyrtus knew it wouldn't be enough.
Ironically, he felt more motivated now than he had previously, more able to move and handle things, after suffering through the losses of Tynka and Strenua. Fiducius had shut himself up in his room, letting his wounds be treated and refusing to move otherwise. It had to be hard on him, Apsyrtus knew, because he had suffered the same sort of pain himself. This is the last thing I wanted. Everyone's dead except Fiducius and I, and he's dead on the inside. And he blames himself because he didn't go after Thais. Apsyrtus shook his head. I wish he would have left me and gone after her. Even if I'd died, they might have been able to escape together, someplace. Now what is there to do?
Knocking on Fiducius's door, he waited for a response. When he didn't get one, he poked open the door, frowning to himself as he looked around. The room was empty, reassembled back into a classic Colchis design, cool and imposing. "Fiducius?" Apsyrtus questioned, looking around before reentering the hall, frowning as he glanced up and down the hallway.
"Colchis," one of the assembly representatives greeted him, raising a hand. "You're looking for Subamara?"
"Have you seen him, then, Medea?" Apsyrtus questioned.
She shook her head. "The assembly has determined that it's best to send him home. It's where he can do us the most good."
"Then I'll go with him," Apsyrtus said, moving down the hall.
"Leave him, Apsyrtus," the woman cautioned, and he paused at the use of his name. "It's best if you leave him be."
"Why do you say that, Medea?"
"Apsyrtus," another voice greeted, this of an older man, another from the assembly. "No, we will send him to Subamara. It will give our argument weight."
"What argument?" the senshi questioned, starting to get a sense of unease.
Medea turned to him. "Colchis, we're making a deal with the invading army. We will open up Subamara to attack in exchange for our continued safety."
Apsyrtus took a step back, then forward again, expression dark. "So you didn't want me to go with him because you thought I might tell him?"
"This is for Colchis," the older man stated. "Do not forget your loyalties. This is your home, your sacred duty. Have you forgotten the oath you swore?"
"I haven't forgotten." He clenched a fist at his side, body trembling. "So in the end you want me to do what Imperatrix and Thais did. Betray another senshi."
"Are you worried about Subamara, or its senshi? The senshi will survive," Medea told him. "This is to throw Subamara into disarray. We just need time, Apsyrtus. If we can get Subamara to provide a target for a little while, they don't have to be destroyed."
"You are a senshi," the older man repeated. "The senshi of Colchis."
He rubbed at the scar on his hand left by Lithium Irukandji's attack, silent for a long moment. "I'll take him," he said at last. "Don't you dare let that ship leave without me."
"Is it wise to let him?" Medea questioned as she watched Apsyrtus leave, shoulders hunched as he walked at a fast pace. "He might tell Subamara, and then what?"
"He will not break his oath," the older man stated. "He understands that his life is forfeit if he breaks his word with Colchis. He is to live for us."
"But will that be enough? He's never lived for himself. He's always fought for others. He's fought for this man, too. Can you really force him to do this, Aaetes?" She shook her head. "It's cruel of you."
"What's done is done," he stated, turning on his heel. "We will do what we must to preserve our people. That is our oath, Medea."
Apsyrtus was unusually silent on the trip back to Subamara, and Fiducius eventually had to come out of his depression enough to notice. Apsyrtus had said little, but had offered him silent support, letting him cry for nights while keeping the ship on course, cradling the other man's head on his shoulder. And yet, at the same time, he seemed deeply worried about something, and it was that worry that finally motivated Fiducius enough to pull himself up again. I can't give up here. Apsyrtus was right, I have to continue fighting for her sake, he acknowledged at last, letting out a heavy sigh as he looked at the instruments in front of him. "Apsyrtus."
"Hm?" the other senshi mumbled, looking over the controls and making a minor adjustment to their course.
"Is something the matter?"
"Nothing's the matter," he stated, checking their course again.
"Something is the matter," Fiducius stated quietly. "I know you. Something is bothering you. What is it?"
"I'm sorry," Apsyrtus said, and the words seemed to bother him all the more, the older senshi putting a hand to his forehead. "I can't really talk about it."
Fiducius frowned as he checked their approach venture to the port. "Are you sure? If it's something that involves me, I want to know. I don't want to leave here with the air cold between the two of us. What's the matter, Apsyrtus?"
Apsyrtus looked over at him at last, and Fiducius could easily see the pain in the other man's eyes. Without saying a word, he walked over to Apsyrtus, hugging him. "I know. The alliance has failed, but we'll do what we can, Apsyrtus. I promise you we'll meet again."
"Oh, Fiducius," Apsyrtus got out, clinging to the other man. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
Apsyrtus didn't respond, only clinging tighter for a brief period, finally letting go. Fiducius sat back down as the ship pulled in to its perch, coming to a rest. "Apsyrtus. Is there something else you want to say to me?"
He looked up at Fiducius, then turned away, biting his lip. "Then, farewell for now," Fiducius said quietly. "We'll meet again."
"Fiducius," Apsyrtus spoke his name as he turned to open the hatch. "Don't go out there."
"Don't go out there? Why?"
He looked over at the younger senshi. "Come with me, Fiducius. Come with me and we'll run away. Far away from this Galaxia menace. We'll find a place to try again. Maybe we can even try and revive our friends. We'll--"
Fiducius put a finger to his lips. "Don't talk like that," he said solemnly. "We can't bring back the dead. We can't run away. We have things that we have to do here, for everyone that came before. Thank you for thinking of me, but...I have this world to protect. The world that Tsaria," his voice caught on the name, "taught me to love. Did I tell you? She gave me a meaning to my name. She told me I was full of love. All I can do now for her is try and live up to that precious name she gave me. I am going to protect Subamara, Apsyrtus. You do the same with your home. We'll meet again."
"Fiducius!" he cried out as the man opened the hatch, jumping out neatly. "Fiducius!" The hatch shut after itself neatly, and Apsyrtus began to cry, dropping to the floor of his ship as he sobbed in agony, the knowledge of what was going to happen overtaking him.
The port was quiet, only the occasional clanking of machinery heard throughout the area. Fiducius puzzled at it momentarily before he exited the port area, setting off toward the keep. Someone must have mentioned the foreign ship's arrival, for the king had come out to meet him. "Where's Pribram?" he asked, looking around. It wasn't like her to not be there when he finally returned.
Aleron's expression was dark as he looked at Fiducius. "How dare you come back here."
"Huh? Why?" Fiducius took a step back at Aleron's expression. "What's the matter, King? Did something happen while I was gone?"
"What happened is that you betrayed us," Aleron stated, guards leveling weapons at the senshi.
The word "betrayed" was like a slap in the face, and he took another step back in shock, eyes wide. "What... What are you talking about, King? How have I betrayed anyone? I came home to protect all of you!"
"Liar!" Fiducius winced at the shout. "We know of your treachery. We've seen the evidence. We know that you made a deal with the enemy to level this world, all to save your own skin!"
"But I didn't!" Fiducius shook his head in disbelief. "It's true that the alliance fell apart. Everyone was killed except for me and Colchis. Ask him if you don't believe me! He--" Fiducius looked back at the port, and his eyes widened as he watched Apsyrtus's ship launch off into the sky. And then realization hit him. He knew. He knew he'd set me up. He left me here to be labeled a traitor. He knew.
His legs gave way and he sank to the ground, trembling from shock. Apsyrtus had betrayed him. Apsyrtus, who had been his friend, who had relied on him, who had cared... No. He hadn't. Had any of them? It was a lie, he thought to himself as the guards hefted him to his feet, taking him away. He was barely conscious of the fact, able to only focus on the fact that even the person who had been his friend had lied to him, betrayed him, just as Imperatrix and Thais had.
Senshi...are not to be trusted.
Pribram was in her house, doing a reading to see the future. Despite the fact that Fiducius's card had kept turning up, she could discern no change in the future from the bleak and terrible outlook that she had seen. "He's home...?" she murmured as she looked at the one in her hand before setting it down, pulling out the next one.
The card she laid down told her what she worst feared, and breaking her own advice, she quit the reading before it was finished, standing up. Going for her door, she opened it only to find two guards at her door, weapons drawn. "What is the meaning of this?" she asked calmly, looking from one to the other.
"King Aleron has requested that we not allow you to leave," one of them spoke, keeping his weapon up, though he seemed more interested in simply keeping her inside than actually detaining her. "The traitor has returned and the king does not want you to interfere with the punishment."
"Traitor?"
"Subamara, of course," the other said. "He sold us out to the enemy."
Pribram shook her head. "You are mistaken. You have been deceived by a serpent, all of you."
"He told us you would try and come to his aid," the first said with a shake of his head. "You're too soft on him, Pribram. Now this disaster has come upon us. We need to procure a new Subamara."
"You mean to kill him, then. Does Aleron realize that he won't be king anymore if he does that?"
"Of course. It's the only way. The king has accepted this course of fate," the first said with a frown. "It is the way it has always been. What are you getting at, Pribram?"
She sighed. "If you were wanting to kill him, you should just let me tell him the meaning of his name. This way, you may destroy Subamara itself."
"What are you talking about?" the guard snapped.
She looked at him, and then without a word, she took off her shoes, standing in her dress and robes, bare feet visible under the skirts. Then she looked at the pair, and leapt, balancing neatly on the spear of the first before she jumped over his head, moving toward the keep. "Hey! Come back!" one of the guards yelled, going after her.
Fiducius, she thought to herself as she ran lightly on her bare feet, robes trailing behind her as if they were made of gossamer. Fiducius, the name I gave you is confidence. I wanted you to have courage in yourself in order to face the trials ahead. Fiducius...I fear you may break the meaning of your name. If that should happen, Subamara's bitterness will swallow you.
And that, I must prevent from happening, if it is still possible to change that fate.
Fiducius said nothing, had no strength to resist as the guards tied him to the pole jutting out from the roof of the keep, setting the kindling around his feet, dousing it with accellerant so it would burn hot and long. The senshi was barely aware of his surroundings, the roughness of the ropes and the stench of the accellerant's fumes barely making an impact on his mind. I've been betrayed. By everyone. First the senshi, and now even my home has turned against me. I am truly alone, now.
The last thought echoed in his heart, producing a dull, throbbing pain, and he raised his head as he saw the crowd below, waiting to see him burn. Normally the keep's pole was used to burn the bodies of the dead senshi, to release his starseed swiftly to the new Subamara. Now it was being used to burn him alive, not even bothering to kill him first. I'm alone. I'm on my own. Tsaria, you lied to me, he thought bitterly. How could I have ever cared for this place? It cares nothing for me. It wants me dead. I'm all alone.
He could faintly hear the words of Aleron from nearby, and then the kindling was lit, Fiducius jerking his head back from the heat, crying out as it began to eat at his clothing, scorching the flesh underneath. I don't want to die because of these people. Why? It's not fair. Why should I have to die for them? I...hate them. I hate them. I will not serve them anymore!
I'm leaving this place. I go...to be alone.
A gasp went up from the crowd as the flames around Subamara turned black, still eating through his body just as readily as before. Aleron took a step back from his place below as the flames spread, catching the building itself on fire. "You've done something you must not do," came a voice from beside him as Pribram landed softly on the lower balcony, looking up at the stake with a pitying expression. "You have committed a taboo."
"A taboo? What are you saying, Pribram?" Aleron demanded.
"The pyre is not for destroying a senshi who can still bear ill will toward you, Aleron. Do you know, Aleron? The name Subamara means 'bitterness'. That bitterness has always been held in check by a child who is raised with love and understanding. You've betrayed him, Aleron, and now his bitterness, the bitterness of Subamara, runs unchecked."
"What was I supposed to do? He turned us over to the enemy!"
"Do you really believe that?" She shook her head. "If so, then you should have let me tell him the meaning of his name. That would have saved the starseed of Subamara."
Another gasp came out from the crowd as something shot out of the black flames, up into the night sky. "It's not coming down," Aleron said with a worried frown, putting a hand to his eyes. "I can't see it."
"The starseed of Subamara has been lost," Pribram said with a shake of her head. "It will not return here."
"That can't be! We have to retrieve it somehow. Send up the ships, scan everywhere," Aleron ordered, then turned as Pribram jumped back onto the balcony's railing. "Where are you going?"
"To live out the rest of my days in peace," she stated, "before the end comes."
