Chapter 14: Sunset

Lito Laeth was sure she had misheard.

“You think you know what the Carpenter is planning?” she said. Her voice was raw, as if she had been screaming all night. She hadn’t been—had she? Lito couldn’t remember.

“Yes,” her counselor Elaene said, and offered the message again.

Lito took it in, and gave it a quick glance over. There were two papers inside.

The first was written in a coarse uneducated script. It was from an ‘unnamed friend’, a prisoner in the Drain, who warned that the prisoners were going to be breaking out in the morning and that the Screw would be stopped turning that night. The writer advised sending a crew of novitiates down as fast as possible to get the Screw turning again, so that Ard-Abthen wouldn’t go too long without fresh water.

The second note was written in an elegant script from one of the priestesses there, addressed to the counselor of the guard in Caeledonia. It explained that the former note had been sent up the Screw anonymously, and urged haste in protecting the cities in the Island Below.

Lito handed the message back, and turned back towards her quarters.

“Um… aren’t you going to do something about that?” Elaene asked behind her, uncertain.

Lito took a deep breath, and let it out again. “I’m going to do a lot of things, Elaene. And you’re going to help me.”

* * * * * * * *

“We have the Drain for a reason.”

The King Enclosed’s words echoed in the hollow chamber beneath Raven’s Run.

Lito Laeth nodded, trying to formulate a defense.

“We have a very firm policy of mercy,” Altor Caeton repeated. “We don't torture people to death in this city. We make sacrifices, when we must, but we are humane about it.”

“Not always,” Lito said. She grimaced as soon as she heard it, even as the arid smell of burning incense grew to her senses.

“I have made reparations a dozen times over for the events of the farmer’s rebellion, Lito,” the King Enclosed whispered. “Have you?” He reached under his tunic, and untied something behind his back. He then brought out a small and rough rope belt. At regular intervals were bits of glass and metal. The glass had turned a dusty brown, and the metal appeared to be similarly rusted. It was the sign of the followers of Uisce, but on a level of pain much higher than Lito had ever seen.

Lito didn’t respond immediately. She thought of innumerable broken spears and swords, and fresh green vines growing around their rusty exteriors.

“You don’t feed me to make people happy,” Lito said, ignoring the question. “You keep me fed, housed, and paid for my expertise in killing people. And I can guarantee there’s going to be a lot more killing before this is all over.”

Altor frowned. “I do keep you on to make people happy. Lito, don't loose sight of that.”

“I haven't,” Lito said, putting her face in her hands. “I just...”

Altor Caeton raised his hand. “You have a counselor for a reason, Little Lito.” She choked out a laugh at this. “Please talk to her. Not to me. We need to talk strategy. I'm not going to punish you in any way for your behavior. You did what you thought was right, and we don't have time to hash out the consequences of your actions. We may, however, talk again when this is all over. Now. Tell me what you have learned.”

Lito did her best to explain her knowledge of the Carpenter's plan of breaking the prisoners out. “His plan is to empty our guard,” she finished. “I'm sure of it. We only really have a force large enough to defend Invercard here in the city-- and if the prisoners make it through the mountains, they'll burn and pillage Glen-Deoch and the farmlands. It will be impossible to set up a perimeter at that point.”

“Impossible for any force we control,” the Altor Caeton agreed.

“But if we send our forces down, we won't be strong enough to hold back the Carpenter's men. They'll invade Raven's Run and kill you, and the rest of your officials and men,” Lito finished.

“What do you recommend?” Altor asked. He didn't look overly concerned.

“We talk with the Carpenter. I have a couple leads for names, our spy should be able to give us more. The Carpenter is... brutal, yes, but he's not crazy. I don't think he wants the land burned any more than we do. What use is it to rule over a blackened empire?”

“I would agree,” the King Enclosed said. “But from what you have told me, it seems the only hope is to send as many of our forces down to Invercard right away, to have any chance of holding it.”

“I'm hoping,” Lito said, “that the Carpenter will see reason. We both will send forces down, and hopefully that will leave us enough men to hold off his assault.”

“I do not think he will assist you. But have your meeting with the Carpenter, and we can continue to plan after we find out his mind. But first,” he said, kindly, “you should talk to your counselor.”

Lito stood up. “She's worthless,” she said.

The King Enclosed glared. “That wasn't a request. She is not worthless, and you will talk to her honestly. You are stressed, and I cannot have my best guard overly worried at a time like this. I will not ask you to listen to her advice, but you should at least hear it.”

“The king's wish is my will,” Lito said. She gave a short bow. The attendants escorted her out of Raven's Run, blindfolded, as usual.

* * * * * * * *

Dane Wrickon lounged in her stone chair. Lito tried very hard to keep her face impassive as she talked to him.

She wanted to apologize to him for her actions, to rage at him the instant he should become upset. The back of her mind was racing in endless circles, alternating between sorrow and anger. Lito did not allow any of this to surface.

“We received word from the waterfall last night,” she said.

“The waterfall? Ard-Abthen?”

“It is unusual, but not unprecedented to receive messages from them,” Lito said. “The Carpenter has been sending aid to the prisoners, in the hopes that they will break out.” She held her hand up as Dane bubbled with questions. “The Elders in Ard-Abthen told us this themselves. Apparently one of the prisoners had the good will and good sense to send a message up the Screw that Ard-Abthen wouldn't be receiving fresh water for some time. This prisoner warned the Elders to send a crew down to start turning the Screw. The Elders have done this, but they warned us of the prisoners' intentions as well.”

“Why would that be helpful to him?” Dane said. He moved in his chair. “That's crazy. I haven't heard anything like this.”

“You're not far enough in his circle of confidence that you would, I suspect,” Lito said.

“And Salva Santori? Did he.. did he collaborate the story?” Dane asked.

Lito's heart skipped a beat. “We have not asked him,” Lito said. “We haven't brought him in for questioning yet. Hopefully he can tell us a little more about their plans once we do. But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about.”

She leaned forward. “There are two things I need to tell you. First, I need to set up a meeting with the Carpenter as soon as possible, or one of his men. He needs to see reason; those prisoners will burn and destroy the farmlands. I'm certain of that. He needs to help us defend Invercard and the valley.”

“He won't,” Dane said instantly. “This is his chance to kill you and the King and take over. There's no way he will help. This his whole plan. Why would he help?”

“I have a couple ideas,” Lito said. “Leave that to me. I just need some contacts.”

Dane nodded. “There's a cloth seller in the Tiered Square. His name is Kopak Arthem. He can set you up with the right people. But Lito,” Dane said, leaning forward. “Don't go. They won't listen to you, they'll capture you and kill you. Horribly.”

“I won't, Dane, fear not,” Lito said.

“You can't send your men either,” Dane said. “He won't meet in good faith. The Carpenter will kill anyone of yours, given the chance.”

“I know who I will send,” Lito said. “You can stop worrying. I need to talk to you about one other thing. I'm taking you out of play.”

Dane sat up straight. “What?”

“I'm sending you out of the city,” Lito clarified. “I don't yet know how many men I need to send to Invercard to hold it, but I know I need to send some. I want you to lead that group.”

Dane stood up. Anger passed over his face, but, to his credit, he was able to keep it in. “That's not fair,” he said.

Lito raised an eyebrow.

“I know life's not fair, you can stop with that crap. You promised me a method of attack, you made me believe I was going to win in this city.”

“You can win in Invercard just as you can here,” Lito said. “And I need you there, Dane. I need you and other members of the guard, at least. I'll try to let you know by the end of tomorrow-- and don't tell anyone about it in the meantime. We need to keep this absolutely secret.”

Dane brought his fist down hard upon the table. He said nothing for a moment, and then strode forcefully towards the door.

“Are you going to the taverns, Wrickon?” Lito asked. She put as much venom in it as she dared.

“Maybe I could use a drink,” he said. “After you pull this gods damned stunt on me.”

“You should know better than that,” Lito said. “You put all your hopes for salvation on this job? You're a fool. You should know better than to put all your hopes on one method.”

Dane rested his head against the door frame. “Don't speak to me.”

“You're leaving tomorrow, Dane, and I'm putting you in charge. Whip yourself into shape by then, however you have to.”

As he left, Lito felt an ache tug at her heart. Would Dane forgive her, later on, for the lies that she had told? Maybe not.

Dane could be great, she knew. He was endlessly inventive, charming when he was in a good mood, and capable of real leadership. None of her other soldiers had anywhere near the creativity that Dane Wrickon possessed. If anyone could work with the tinkers and come up with a fool proof defense, it was him. She only hoped he could stay sober on his journey down.

* * * * * * * *

It was the last conversation of the day. Lito had traveled from the depths of Raven's Run to her own barracks. She had finally summoned her counselor to her, both out of obedience to her King's orders, but also out of desperation.

“How are you feeling?” Elaene said. “I.. I know you probably don't want to talk about it. But I'm hear to listen, if you want to.”

“I'm feeling pretty gods damned awful,” Lito admitted.

“If there's anything I can do to help, I will.”

“There is. And I will ask it of you once I am fished,” Lito said. “There are some things you need to understand, first.”

“You seemed surprised, at our first meeting, when you saw my garden of swords. Those aren't just of people I defeated, those are the weapons of people I've killed. You are familiar with farmer's rebellion?”

Elaene nodded. “I was young, but I remember.”

Lito closed her eyes. “I was young too. I wasn't the Sunset Knight then, I was just Lito. Little Lito.”

Elaene kept quiet, and let her tell her story. Lito recalled the burning of the fields, her first, accidental kill. And her second, intentional kill. And her third. Lito could remember all of their faces, even if she had never learned their names.

“Do you know what burning fields look like, Elaene? If you can get far enough away from the smoke, the ash, and the screams... they look just like a sunset. The thatch roofs light up as bright as the sun.”

She took a deep breath. “I haven't been the Sunset Knight for a while, Elaene. But I was again last night. And I need to be again if we're going to survive this.”

“What do you need?”

“I'm sending Dane to defend Invercard with some soldiers. I don't know how many; I'll know by tomorrow. If you see him... don't tell him about Santori. He doesn't need to live with the guilt for giving me his name. It's better off if he doesn't know.”

Elaene didn't say anything.

“You think that's terrible,” Lito said.

“I didn't say that,” she said in response.

“It's a sacrifice,” Lito said. “I am responsible. Me alone. I can take the guilt, he doesn't need to bear any of it himself. We heard about it in the message from Ard-Abthen. Understand?”

“I understand,” Elaene said slowly. “But what if he returns? What if he returns and Salva Santori is gone? He'll know then, and he won't thank you for keeping it a secret.”

“I don't know if Dane will return,” Lito said, honestly., “I don't know what's going to happen. But that's a risk I have to take. Sometimes.. sometimes you need to do all you have to today, and let the debts come through tomorrow.”

Elaene was quiet. “Do you want my advice? You haven't in the past.”

“I still don't,” Lito said. “Sorry. But I need something else.”

“Anything.”

“I need you to meet with the Carpenter's men.”

Elaene shook her head, a sad little smile on her face. “Anything but that. That violates impartiality.”

“You're in too deep already,” Lito said. “This isn't a time when you can be impartial. You can't sit back and let the Carpenter burn the farmlands, and wreck this city.”

Elaene continued to protest, but Lito overrode her. “I can't send anyone else. If I went, they would capture and torture me on sight. If I sent any of my soldiers, they would capture and torture them on sight. If I sent any of my civilians, they wouldn't be able to treat with any authority-- and that's assuming the Carpenter wouldn't capture and torture them on sight.”

“And what makes you think they won't capture and torture me on sight?” Elaene said.

“You have the mantel of impartiality about you,” Lito said. “You're a priestess, and above this war. But they also know that you represent and support me, so they'll treat with you. As far gone as the Carpenter is... I don't think he's so far gone as to harm a priestess. And I'll be sending you with my finest guards, as protection.”

Elaene nodded to herself, slowly. Lito was surprised she wasn't putting up more of an objection, but decided not to pry into it and push her luck.

“So I will be meeting with the Carpenter?” she asked, deep in thought.

“One of his seconds, more like,” Lito said. She tried to reassure her counselor. “There shouldn't be any trouble. Because it's you, they'll know it will be a peaceful treat. They'll meet in good faith. I'm sure of it.”

“Can I meet my soldiers first, and talk with them?” Elaene asked.

“If it would make you feel better, I suppose we can make that happen.”

“It would.” Elaene stood up. “I will do this for you, Lito. I'm sorry that I wasn't more help as your counselor. I will not fail you again.”

* * * * * * * *

Lito watched the sunset on the Wall. The Wasps were clutched tightly in her hands. He hair was tied back from her face with her headband, which showed her dedication to Fiach.

She had torn up her winter peppers completely, and brought them to the Wall. Her outside garden was bare and torched.

“Lady of the Soil, you know that I've tried to be a good grower. To cultivate and to care for my soldiers, and to keep this city free of those who would do it harm. I'm sorry that it came to this. I'm sorry that my hard work wasn't more blessed.”

Lito sheathed her swords, and dropped the plants off the Wall. She watched them disappear into the waves, lit red by the fiery sun.

“Keep me safe from the Carpenter's knives. Keep Dane save against the prisoner horde. Keep Elaene safe in her trial tomorrow.”

Lito paused.

“And because you did not bless my work as a grower,” she said, “bless my work as an exterminator. Aid me in my war against the Carpenter. Help me bring him down. Help me bring him down, his followers down, and all that stand in my way.”

She turned and walked down the length of the Wall to her quarters, the Wasps shining in the blood red sun.

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