Once More 5

Once More

Vasilis

Vasilis hadn't noticed the appearance of the latest anomaly until he heard Tern speak. "This is ridiculous," the young Prince muttered. "Trapping us and then setting the Listener to work on removing us, honestly."

"It makes sense from a security point of view," Vasilis said, taking a seat on the edge of Tern's bed. "We used to do something similar in the Goblin tunnels. Cruder, certainly, but similar. My father—"

He broke off and made a face. He hadn't slipped and called the Goblin King his father in nearly four months. Old habits, it seemed, were still very hard to break. "The Goblin King," he corrected, "made the Goblins construct tunnels that could be collapsed with little effort. Then there would be a single tunnel left. When the prey followed the tunnel, it would take them somewhere… unpleasant. Sometimes it was the Pit—the place where the Goblins came to feed. Sometimes it was the King's Chambers. In a few cases it was the Kelpie. In every case, it was to make sure the prey ended up exactly where it was supposed to."

Prey. Amazing how he'd been able to ignore the fact they were people back then. "Your father's trap is similar." Vasilis gestured to the anomaly. "He's closed off all exits and has provided us with only one outlet. Where does it lead?"

"If the smell is to be believed, the Listener wishes to lead us to the library."

Vasilis sniffed, but he couldn't detect much of a scent. Perhaps it was something natives learned to recognize after constant exposure to anomalies. Or maybe he just had no idea how a library smelled, and he wouldn't recognize the scent anyway. Either way, it was clear he couldn't use his nose to determine their chosen path.

"I imagine there would be a number of soldiers present in the library," Vasilis said, closing his eyes in thought. "Your father likely wouldn't be present, not if they haven't determined the threat level of the intruder. If you passed through first, they'd grab you to pull you out of the way. If I came in first, they'd likely attack. To restrain or to kill, I can't be sure. There would be no way to escape once we've sprung the trap."

He probably wasn't saying anything Ternnath didn't already know, but it was comforting for Vasilis to speak his thoughts out loud. Strategy was something he had always been good at, and it was something he hadn't had much use for since he'd gone to live with Ramona and Ivy. Anticipating movements and decisions had been one of his few strong points as the Goblin Prince; it was comforting to note the presence of repeating patterns even here.

"We did not bring you here to consider strategic disadvantages," Tern said sharply. "We brought you here because you are in need of rest and this may be your last opportunity for it before we find a way to return you home."

"I can't sleep now," Vasilis said, opening his eyes. "There isn't time. That anomaly—" he flicked a careless hand towards the swirling thing, "—is meant to be our path. When we don't take it, we will be hunted here. A lack of progress forward will cause your father's soldiers to sweep back."

"If that is the case, why has my father not sent guards back already?" The impatience was showing in Tern's tone. "Would it not be easier to end this now?"

"It would if he knew I wasn't dangerous," Vasilis said. "But he doesn't know if I'm holding you against your will. If I was, and I was stupid, I'd rush into that anomaly, desperate for a way out. My capture would be swift. If you're not my prisoner, your father is hoping you'll come to your senses. He's giving you a chance to end the game yourself and explain why you're doing all this. Besides, sending the guards back could be dangerous; if I decided to fight them, it would not only be a waste of resources, but it could also put you in danger. He won't risk sending anyone in after us unless he's sure you won't be harmed."

Vasilis stood, the beginnings of an idea forming in his mind. "There is always a flaw in defenses," he muttered to himself. "No matter how well one plans for everything, something is always left out. What has been left out here?"

Escape into the tunnels was out of the question now that they had been eliminated. Exiting the room by way of the door was foolish, as it was likely guarded as well. He could examine the room for other exits, but they could just as easily be false-paths designed to send them exactly where Tern's father wanted them. What could be left, except the anomaly?

The anomaly…. Vasilis's eyes swung back to the swirling thing. "Tern?" he asked.

"You have thought of something?"

"Is there a chance that your father didn't put this thing here?"

Tern took his time answering. "It would be most unlikely. If he closed the tunnels, it would seem he knows our location to be this room. If he knows where we are, it would be logical for him to send the anomaly as bait."

"Normally I would agree, but I think there could be a chance he didn't."

"On what grounds would you make such an assumption?"

"Leto is still in this castle, isn't she? Couldn't she have sent it on her own?"

Ternnath made a noise that Vasilis was tempted to call a snort of contempt. "As if she would send aid to us!" he said. "She is bound to serve our father as his Listener. She would have sent the portal at his command."

"Maybe," Vasilis allowed. "But not necessarily. She was capable of disobeying royal orders, if I remember correctly. She never did exactly as your cousin instructed, even when she was bound to. I'm sure she's none too fond of me, but she might have sent the anomaly to help you."

"That is most unlikely." Despite his words, Tern seemed to be considering what Vasilis said. "But, we suppose there could possibly be a reason Leto would feel indebted to us."

"Then we have three options at best," Vasilis said. "We wait here for your father to move in. We go out the doors to the hallway and face what we see there. Or we go through this anomaly and hope it's only Leto on the other side. Which decision sounds the least crazy to you?"