Their strength sapped by the battle, those who remained made for the forest, moving slowly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The battle with the kyrie had been costly. There were only three knights left, not including Francois. Five of the ninjas remained, but Kaori and Sharwin had both been lost. Ana had been able to heal her injuries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The others had survived. Many had insisted on taking the bodies with them, and burying them in the forest, but Gideon hadn\u2019t allowed it. They were too exposed on the open plain. The kyrie would be back, and with more numbers. They had to get under cover, and as much as they all hated it, the dead had to be left. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That seemed to be the final straw for many. Dan saw them all watching him with expressions of distrust and dislike, and the three remaining knights even flanked him, escorting him as if he were a prisoner of war. Only Ana showed the faintest hint that she hadn\u2019t completely turned her back on him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once they had been walking through the forest for an hour, Gideon called for a halt. It would take any kyrie a while to find them: they could spare thirty-minutes rest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan was eager to rest, but Gideon pulled him aside as the others tried to find comfortable positions on the hard ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t trust you,\u201d he began, \u201cbut there\u2019s no denying that you\u2019ve saved us twice. That\u2019s the only reason you\u2019re still breathing. You\u2019ve said you\u2019re on our side. If that\u2019s really true, then I want you to tell me everything: what is Vydar\u2019s plan which Terav spoke of?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glancing beyond Gideon, Dan saw Ana and Francois sitting nearby, listening. They might as well know everything. It couldn\u2019t make things any worse than they were. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan started with Heleer. He explained how all he wanted when he was summoned was to see her again. Both Gideon and Ana seemed to understand. Dan then told them how he had uncovered Vydar\u2019s plan, and how he had confronted the Valkyrie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd he confirmed it?\u201d Gideon said. \u201cHe actually said he meant to betray the alliance?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan nodded. Out of the corner of his eye, Dan saw a look of anger flash across Francois\u2019 face. Gideon looked as if he couldn\u2019t believe his ears. Dan told them everything Vydar had said, including his reasoning that the alliance would never give up their amulets, and what he had said about letting the alliance destroy Utgar for him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt least he hasn\u2019t completely sided with that monster then,\u201d Gideon said. \u201cThat\u2019s some relief. But what part did you play in all this? You said you didn\u2019t know everything.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know what Vydar was planning for us,\u201d Dan said. \u201cOtonashi knew; she pulled me out when the rest of you got trapped, and told me that Vydar meant for you to die. It had been part of the plan all along. Apparently Vydar had been pretending he would join Valkrill, and tricked him into setting up a trap for you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut he didn\u2019t know about your gloves,\u201d Gideon guessed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan nodded. He had explained his gloves shortly after using them in the battle. \u201cNo one did. They\u2019re the only reason I was able to get you out.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo you thought we were going to get Valkrill\u2019s amulet and return it to Vydar just like I was told, and then you would simply wait for the end of the war?\u201d Gideon asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan shrugged. \u201cMore or less. I\u2019m sure Vydar would have found a way to keep me isolated, just in case I did decide to tell the alliance what I knew.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou never did though,\u201d Ana said, speaking for the first time. \u201cYou never told them, I mean. You kept Vydar\u2019s secret.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t loyal to him,\u201d Dan said, guessing where she was going. \u201cI\u2019m not loyal to any Valkyrie. From the moment I was summoned, all I wanted was Heleer. She\u2019s still all I want. At least\u2026 I thought so. I guess I got involved in the war after all.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gideon looked doubtful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat would you have done?\u201d Dan said, noting the look. \u201cWhat if it was Laelia who you couldn\u2019t reach, and Vydar was the only way back? I had no choice, Gideon. I had to go along with his plan.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlright,\u201d Gideon said, throwing up his hands. \u201cAlright. You\u2019ve made your point. You can stay with us. Just remember: we\u2019re still watching you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Satisfied for the moment, he got up. Francois still looked like he didn\u2019t forgive Dan, but after a moment of silence, he too stood and left, leaving Dan with Ana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe believes you,\u201d Ana said, after a moment of silence. \u201cGideon. He believes you\u2019re on our side,\u201d she clarified at Dan\u2019s questioning look. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you?\u201d Dan asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI believe\u2026 I believe you had an impossible choice to make, and did the only thing you could do. I can\u2019t fault you for that. When the time came and you had to make a decision, you made the right one. That\u2019s all that matters to me.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat can\u2019t be true,\u201d Dan said skeptically. \u201cI knew Vydar was going to betray everyone, and I didn\u2019t say anything. If I had been smarter, I probably would have known that he would never trust representatives of the alliance with Valkrill\u2019s amulet. If I had said something, you or Gideon might have guessed that, even if I didn\u2019t. That\u2019s got to mean something to you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt means you\u2019re human,\u201d Ana said. \u201cIt means you did exactly what I would have done in the same situation. Controlling one through the one they love is low. I knew Vydar was one for mind games and deceit, but this\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan shook his head. \u201cI should have known better,\u201d he said. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t have forced him into a corner by telling him what I knew. I didn\u2019t think. If I just hadn\u2019t said anything, I would be off in some corner of Valhalla, and the war would be winning itself. I would be sent back at the end with everyone else. Now\u2026 I don\u2019t know if that will ever happen.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt will,\u201d Ana said confidently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf we survive,\u201d Dan added, a black feeling in his stomach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVydar isn\u2019t infallible,\u201d Ana said. \u201cWe\u2019re living proof that his plans don\u2019t always work.\u201d She stood. \u201cThat\u2019s all we have to do, Dan: interrupt a few more of his plans. Do that, and you\u2019ve defeated him.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She walked away, looking for a place to sleep. Dan supposed she was right. They had survived despite Vydar\u2019s attempts to kill them. If they could just stay alive, there was still a chance Dan could see Heleer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was even a chance they could salvage the war.
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Their strength sapped by the battle, those who remained made for the forest, moving slowly. The battle with the kyrie had been costly. There were only three knights left, not including Francois. Five of the ninjas remained, but Kaori and Sharwin had both been lost. Ana had been able to heal her injuries. The others … Continue reading Chapter Fifty – Survivors<\/span>