Campfire Revelations (2/2)

“The ruins are about three quarters of a day's walk in if the reports are right,” Fluffbear squeaked. “And that's assuming that the thing in the ground doesn't attack us.”

“It was a pretty fierce rain a few days ago, so it's probably gonna be dry at least,” Glub said. “You guys won't be slowed down by mud or nothing.”

Threadbare stood on the edge of the platform as the rest of the group reminded themselves of the mission, and things they had discussed earlier.

And to his surprise, the platform creaked as Apollyon joined him, staring down at the fire just below. They'd set it up so they could drop fuel in from the edge, and the bulk of the smoke went under the platform and out the other side.

A few minutes of flamewatching passed without comment, then Apollyon spoke. “I figured out why my Code of Chivalry's still at one.”

Threadbare looked over to him.

“One of my main vows was to do nothing to dishonor my family. But who decides what's honorable for my family, and what's not?”

“Don't you?” Threadbare asked. “You're part of the family.”

“Yes. But my mother's always been the one in charge. The one who decides what's proper.”

“It was the dancing on the tables thing, wasn't it?” Threadbare asked. “Again, I'm very sorry. We would have stopped you if we'd known.”

“What? No.” Apollyon chuckled. “No, that wasn't it after all.” his smile faded. “I got a surprise when I visited the estate. I thought she would be happy that I had such an important mission. And she was... until I mentioned the rest of my companions.”

Threadbare looked down at the flames. “Buttons mentioned that it looked like you had lost quite a lot of family to the wars. I was a part of that. I understand if she hates me.”

“It... that's part of it. But not all.” Apollyon sighed. “She was more upset that I was consorting with golems.”

“Oh? Why?”

“She... she said a lot of things. Some truth, some lies, and I'm not sure whether or not she believes them. But then she suggested that I would be better serving my vows and my nation if... if you didn't come back from this quest.”

Threadbare studied his face. Then turned and glanced back over to the rest of the crew, who were still discussing logistics, and tricks and maneuvers to counter whatever they ran into.

“I'm going to go out on a limb here,” Threadbare said, patting one of the branches supporting the platform. Then he got up and danced out onto the tree limb, then back again.

Surprised, Apollyon chuckled. He clapped a hand over his mouth. The sound was a bit hysterical, but the sadness filling his face DID ebb a bit.

“Now I'm going to go out onto a metaphorical limb and guess that you do not agree with her assessment,” Threadbare said, looking up at Apollyon.

“I don't, no,” Apollyon said, glowering. “The very notion is dishonorable. And while I admit that I had some reservations about working with golems and undead when I entered RAGs, my training and the quests I've undertaken over the last year and a half have taught me that you're people. Not whatever she thinks you are. You're just people. But to her you're a threat.”

“We're trying so very hard not to be,” Threadbare said, sighing. “Golems, toy golems in particular are happiest when they are helping others. When they are making their lives better or easier. As Celia tells me all the time, we're perfect for the support role. And that's what we want to do, is help everyone in Cylvania have better lives.”

Apollyon nodded. “I think the problem is that her life, though it has had its tragedies, gods know, wasn't improved by your existance. Speaking bluntly, she already had a mostly good life before then. And she always had an enemy to blame her problems on. The trai- er, the resistance to King Melos first, then the dwarves later. Now you.”

Threadbare nodded. “So what do we do about this?” he asked, not expecting an answer.

But Apollyon had clearly put a lot of thought into this. “For now, nothing,” the human said, offering a hand. “We finish the mission and I do my damnedest to keep everyone alive. Besides, you're my friend and colleague. We've fought together and your fast response when the airship fell on us saved my life. Seriously, if you hadn't gotten us moving so rapidly and directed us to build the steam cannon, we would have been crushed.”

“Well. Let's just say I have a bit of a phobia when it comes to houses falling on me,” Threadbare said, taking his hand. “It pays to have plans on hand to get around that sort of thing. At any rate I will do my best to protect you, too. And for now, yes, there's nothing we can do about your mother's views, or the other people who share them. But eventually we will need some sort of solution or I'm afraid it will get worse.”

“It already is getting worse,” Apollyon said, his lips thin. “The more I think about it, the more I'm certain I know who those horses on the black carriage belonged to. But that's an issue for when we get back to civilization.”

“Agreed.”

The two watched the flames for a bit longer, staring down until the fire had burned itself to embers.