Broadswords - 44. The Reversal

Broadswords

Chapter Forty-Four
The Reversal

As they neared the castle's main entrance, Kep was starting to get nervous. He was finally going to see Birten again, after all this time, but he wasn't sure what to expect. He knew there was a chance that Birten wouldn't remember him. Based on what he'd heard about the squire's condition, there was a lot of things that Birten was struggling with inside his head. Considering their interactions had been minimal, Kep feared that Birten might look at him as if he was any other passerby.

On their way to the castle, he'd gained a small amount of insight from his mother. Once he'd stated that he'd leave the kingdom with her if she cooperated, she was a little bit more open with him. She'd asked how he'd come to the conclusion that she was an Oneiromancer. After all, she'd reminded him, she never displayed her powers in front of him or Sal.

He was well aware of that fact. During his conversation with Phërion, it was one of the things that made the pill harder to swallow. There had been nothing in his recollections of the short time he'd spent with his mother to suggest that she was anything other than a regular citizen, a typical innkeeper's wife. She'd helped out in the dining room, she helped keep logs of their sales and room rentals. Never once had Kep imagined that she could have been capable of more. Not because he thought she was weak; on the contrary, he'd always seen his mother as a strong individual. Most of the time, before she disappeared, he felt like she was what kept the family and the business running smoothly. His concerns were more because she never seemed to put on a front – she always appeared to be exactly who she was.

So he only bent the truth slightly in his response. He told her that he was wondering lately if he was a wielder of the same sort of powers. He told her about the dreams he'd had, though not in detail, and how things he'd dreamt were happening in real life. It was nothing major, he admitted, but it made him question if it was just the beginning of something bigger.

That concept seemed to fascinate her. He sensed that it might actually be one of the reasons she was so concerned with getting Sal and him out of there. That she was hopeful that one of her offspring was capable of the same talents she possessed. That maybe if she could hone and develop their skills, she could mentor them to be more like herself.

Then again, maybe he was getting ahead of himself. He was still feeling so much resentment toward her, he could just be jumping to conclusions to continue making her into something worse than she was. But the more she asked him – how often are you having the dreams? – how real do they feel? – how does your mind feel when you wake after having them? – the more he felt that he was barking up the right tree. She seemed far more focused on his potential mancy than everything else that was going on.

It might have seemed like a normal reaction in any other situation. Why wouldn't a mother be excited to find out that her son was taking after her? Of course she'd want to know every last detail. But his mother wasn't like most people's mothers. She'd brainwashed the man he was more or less infatuated with. No, she hadn't directly admitted it. But she clearly wouldn't have agreed (albeit hesitantly) to go to the castle had she not been the perpetrator. She was not only aware of the attack on the kingdom, but was also directly involved. He couldn't help but feel that any interest she displayed regarding Kep's developing abilities was anything more than selfish.

But he still needed her. She was the only one that could fix Birten.

Eventually, after she'd bombarded him with a dozen or so questions, to most of which he gave one or two words answers in return, she finally turned the conversation to something much more relevant. "So why is Birten so important to you?"

He considered sugar-coating his response, but he knew it wouldn't make a difference. In actuality, being honest with her might even help his cause. If there was any sincerity in her wanting to ensure his safety, maybe explaining how much he cared for Birten would spark something in her conscience. So he admitted his feelings.

"I've been lost for a long time. I've been slowly coming into my own over the past few years, finding who I really am. Who I'm supposed to be. And when I met Birten, I just knew… I knew that I'd found someone I want to be myself with. I found someone I want to get to know the real me. Who I'm capable of becoming."

They didn't say anything for a while after that. The silence was somewhat of an awkward one. Still, it was welcomed. Kep hadn't admitted those feelings out loud to anyone, and he'd barely admitted them to himself. It felt good for it to be out in the open.

When they were almost to the castle entrance though, just as Kep was trying to shake his nerves, his mother stopped him. She grabbed him by the arms and made him look her in the eye. "I'll do this for you, Kep. There's no sense in leaving that poor boy in that state, and especially not since it's so intensely clear that he is someone very dear to you. But you must promise me that we'll depart as soon as it's undone."

He watched her face as she spoke, and a part of him felt guilty for the distrust he had in her. But it didn't negate the fact that she was no longer the woman he remembered from so many years ago. She might be his mother by blood, but she hadn't been a matriarch to his family for a long time. It was true that he needed her, but he had far from forgiven her. But she didn't need to know that. Not yet. "I promise."

His response must have been satisfactory enough, for she let go of his arms with a deep breath, straightened her dress, and resumed walking toward the castle. He followed suit, falling in stride beside her.

Upon arriving at the door, one of the guards stationed there spoke up. "Hello, Kep. Elan's left the castle."

Kep cleared his throat. "Yes, yes I'm aware. We're actually here to see Birten."

The guard's eyes narrowed. "The prisoner? I'm not sure I'm authorized to allow that visit." He didn't look suspicious, necessarily, but more surprised. Kep had to admit to himself that it did seem a little odd. The guards would have no idea that he had anything to do with Birten, let alone would the woman he was with.

"We've come to fix the state he's in," Kep explained. "My… colleague, here, is able to undo what's happened to him." He didn't look at his mother as he spoke, not caring to see the reaction she'd have at the way he referred to her.

"That's still not a call I'm able to—"

Kep hated how short he'd been lately, but he didn't have time to debate it. There was a battle beginning that could potentially lead to far worse, and arguing over his ability to enter the castle was wasting his time. "Harmon's aware of the issue at hand, if you could just—"

And just as he'd cut off the guard, the guard returned the favor. "I'm afraid we're unable to call the prince to the door. It's security protocol, you see. Especially if the caller is subordinate enough to refer to a member of the royal family in such a familiar way."

Kep realized his mistake instantly, and knew that he wasn't going to get very far being brusque. He regained his composure and threw on a more polite tone. "My sincerest apologies. Prince Harmon, he's at the forefront of getting Birten back to where he should be. I understand that he can't be brought to the door, but if it would be possible for someone to alert him of our arrival, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm certain he would be fond to hear what we have to say."

The guards seemed to weigh what Kep had to say. For a moment he feared that he'd ruined his chances, but finally they shared a nod and the one who hadn't spoken vanished into the castle.

After several minutes, the second guard returned and gave a simple nod. The first turned back toward Kep and his mother. "Very well. The prince will see you." He stepped aside to allow them entrance, and the other guard led them into the castle and to the hallway that bore the staircase down to the dungeons. Harmon was waiting there for them.

There had only been a handful of interactions between Kep and Harmon over the past few weeks, and most of them had been insanely brief. They certainly hadn't spoken at all. And although Kep had thrown himself headfirst into this dragon situation, he was still nervous to speak directly to the prince. But it was essential.

"She can undo it," he said, tilting his head in his mother's direction.

Harmon studied the woman beside Kep, a firmness in his jaw. He didn't acknowledge her otherwise, speaking only to Kep. "So she's the one that caused it. Are you certain?"

"Absolutely certain," Kep confirmed.

"Very well. To the dungeons, then," he said. He led them through the doorway and past the guard stationed there, down the darkened staircase. He grabbed a torch from the wall as he descended. It was narrow, and Kep felt suddenly claustrophobic. He noticed a shortness in his breath, and he tried to keep his breathing steady. He couldn't believe he was seconds away from being reunited with Birten.

However, there was still something he had to do. With as much deftness as he could, he slunk a few steps down further than his mother without being obvious. He leaned forward carefully, whispering into Harmon's ear. He hoped the torchlight casted enough shadows that his mother couldn't see exactly what he was doing. He was also hopeful that the stone walls didn't echo enough that she heard what he was saying.

When they emerged from the staircase into the dungeons, he glanced at her. She seemed uncomfortable being there, and that appeared to be the only thought on her mind. He was convinced she hadn't noticed his sidebar, which was a good thing. "Where is he?" she asked, breaking the silence that had befallen her since they'd arrived.

Harmon led them to Birten's cell, where they found him sitting against the bricks. He was facing the opposing wall, staring straight ahead. He didn't appear to have noticed that they'd arrived. Kep looked at him, almost unrecognizable. He looked the same, sure. But there was something about him that was off. He didn't like it. Whatever it was, it was his mother's doing.

Too nervous to say anything, Kep was glad when Harmon broke the silence. "Birten?"

The squire turned his head slowly, looking first at Harmon, then at Kep's mother, then at Kep. He looked sullen, but he spoke. "Kep… what's she doing here?"

A whole whirlwind of emotions went through Kep. Birten recognized him. He remembered him. He called him by name. There was still something there within him that hadn't been lost. But Birten also recognized Kep's mother. He didn't quite know what to do with that. But once again, Harmon stepped in at the right time. "Birten, do you recognize this woman?"

"Of course I do. She's from Tarragonia. Oestra. I've known her for a long time… or at least… I think I have," he said. Kep could feel the defeat that radiated from Birten. It saddened him. To think that his mother had done something so awful to him that he didn't know up from down.

"You haven't," Kep said softly. "You didn't meet her until very recently."

Birten locked eyes with him, and they shared a look for several seconds. Kep felt goosebumps forming on his arms. He tried to rub them away discreetly, not that anyone would have noticed in the dim lighting anyway. "Are you sure?" Birten asked.

"Yes," Kep answered.

The squire looked back to Kep's mother, but spoke to Kep. "Okay. I believe you. But there are still these thoughts in my mind that I can't make sense of. I don't know how to fix it."

"That's what she's here for," Harmon added. "She can undo it."

Kep was fully aware that both he and Harmon were pussyfooting around the fact that she had caused everything in the first place. There was no point in angering him, not while he was in such a fragile state. Plus, Birten was a smart man. Once he was back to himself, he would figure everything out.

"Does he need to be asleep for this?" Kep asked.

"And how long does it take?" Harmon chimed in.

She fidgeted with her locket and shook her head. "The reversal is fast. Less than a half minute. Sleep isn't necessary either. To apply the mancy, sleep is required because it's a manipulation of the dreams themselves. But those manipulations weave into the person's memories during their waking hours. To undo it, those memories must simply be restored to their original state."

"What do I need to do?" Birten asked immediately, barely giving Kep time to register what his mother had said. None of this seemed simple, despite the fact that she claimed it was.

"Come closer," she said. He did as he was told, getting as close to the bars of his cell without pressing himself completely against them. She also stepped closer to him, and lifted her hands to his temples. "Close your eyes." Once again, he obeyed, and she followed suit.

She mumbled a few words under her breath. Kep wasn't sure if it was another language or if he just wasn't able to make them out clearly, but he had no idea what she was saying. He watched them as Birten stood there, fully allowing her to take control.

And then it was over. She let her arms fall back down to her sides and stepped back toward the other two men. There was no flashy reaction or mystical ambiance. It was far blander than Kep would have expected. And it was as quick as she had promised. If it worked.

"Was that it?" Kep asked tentatively.

"Yes," she responded.

All three of them looked toward Birten, each with a varied expression upon their face. Kep himself was nervous, while Harmon seemed wary, and his mother was clearly in a hurry to get out of there.

At first, Birten didn't really respond. He blinked his eyes a few times, looking at all of them. He appeared to be a little weak on his feet, and lowered himself into a sitting position on the floor. Once he seemed to regain his composure a little, he looked up at Rea. "How could you do that to me? You tried to turn me against my own people. No, not tried. You did. And for what? To help Elsior destroy this kingdom?"

Kep and Harmon remained silent, and joined Birten in looking at Rea. She didn't acknowledge the question. She didn't respond to Birten at all, in fact. She spoke instead to Kep. "I've done what you've asked. Now it's time for us to go."

"I'm not leaving," Kep said firmly.

His mother's eyes narrowed at him, and her voice got stern. "You made this agreement with me. You cannot back out of it now. Who knows how much time we have before it's too late to get out of here?"

Kep nodded at Harmon. It was his way of letting the prince know to get the guard. As they'd descended the staircase, when he'd whispered to him, he'd told him to alert the guard and have his mother imprisoned. It probably would have been the first thing on Harmon's mind anyway, but there was no sense in not ensuring that it was done.

He kept his mother distracted while Harmon snuck past her and headed back up the stairs. "I don't want to be part of whatever this is, whatever lifestyle you've chosen. You're doing things that are absolutely against who I am. You've hurt someone who's extremely dear to me. You are not the mother I remember. You're a stranger. And you're not a good person."

She glared at him. But he wasn't done speaking. Not only did he need to give Harmon a little bit more time to get the guard down there with them, he had a lot more on his mind.

"You abandoned your children. Your husband. Your home. You still haven't told me what it is about this disgusting plan of Elsior's that has you on board. You've given me no justification to why you'd want this place destroyed."

Though at this point it was unsurprising that she still didn't give him any answers, it didn't make it any less annoying. He couldn't believe this was the woman who'd given him life. They stared at one another in silence for a while longer. Kep couldn't imagine what was running through Birten's head during all of this, and he couldn't bring himself to look over at him.

But it didn't matter. Harmon had returned with the guard. And the king.

"Rea. How am I not surprised?" the king said, monotone.

She turned toward him. "Alright, Kep. You want answers? Here's one. This poor excuse for a man, this is why I agree with Elsior's plan. This so-called king of yours. He's the reason I vanished all those years ago."

"And the reason you're going to be here for a very long time," the king said. Without hesitation, the guard grabbed Rea by the arm and escorted her into the cell adjacent to Birten's. After locking it, he moved to the door of Birten's and did the opposite.

As he swung the door open, Birten stepped forth. Kep couldn't help but smile. Though he had a burning desire to know what happened between the king and his mother to turn her into whatever she was now, he knew it wasn't the right time. Not in front of the king. And it didn't really matter right then. Because Birten was free and Birten was himself again.

Without even thinking, Kep threw his arms around the squire and enveloped him into a hug. He realized that it might be too soon, after everything that he'd been through. But Birten squeezed him just as tightly.