Bab 23: Arbiter's Verdict
The next morning, Marco awoke feeling rested, refreshed, and utterly pissed off.
After Reina revealed her little trick to make him kneel, they hardly spoke to one another. He didn't have much to say to her (at least not using words that were appropriate to call a lady), and she promptly left him once he got the healing potion.
The apothecary advised him to take the potion with a meal, so he did. He dined in the palace's great hall. Other Heroes, lords and ladies of the court, and visiting foreign ambassadors filled the place. This made it so there were plenty of interesting people to share conversation with, but he found that the potion made him almost instantly drowsy. So he retired to an early rest.
Now, as he slowly rose from his bed, the sun was just peeking over the horizon. He knew this because Terri was already there and pulling back the curtains to fill the room with light.
"Good morning, Sir Marco!"
He grunted in response.
"We must hurry this morning," she continued, unfazed. "You and Princess Reina have your appointment with the Arbiter in an hour."
"Screw that woman and her Artbiter," is what he wanted to say, but he bit his tongue. Terri wasn't at fault, and the poor girl would probably break down if Marco directed his anger at her. So he quietly got up and went over to his changing partition.
Terri had laid out his usual black pants and white shirt, but this time with a deep purple doublet. After Marco put it on, he realized this was the color Reina picked out for him. Purple wasn't exactly a dye commoners could afford, so he never wore it. That thought made him want to rip it off, but when he looked in the mirror he saw that it really did look quite fetching. Part of him had to admit that Reina made a good choice.
"Oh quiet you," he said to the man in the mirror before leaving.
****
An hour later, Terri had led Marco to a tower in a quiet wing of the palace. It was the part of the palace that faced west, and so didn't catch the full glory of the morning sun like the wing where Marco's room was. Instead, it was shady and had a solemn air to it.
Terri contributed to this by walking silently when she reached this wing. Her usual jabber stopped and she walked with her head slightly bowed as though she were worshipping at a temple. When they reached a set of stairs that led up into the tower, she told Marco he'd find Reina up there and left.
"You're not coming?" he asked.
"Oh no, I am not allowed to behold the Arbiter's process. That is a right reserved for a select few. Good luck, Sir Marco."
She then gave a bow and left.
As he climbed the stairs, Marco tried to call to mind all the knowledge he had of this Arbiter. To his shock, he realized he had none. Even with all of the rare books he was privy to during his library days, he couldn't remember any mention of the Arbiter. For that matter, he had also never heard of The Bastion or the Heroes literally receiving the Everlasting Flame. He began to wonder just how many secrets his kingdom had.
The end of the staircase opened up to a room at the top of the tower. There was one window, but it was currently closed by a barred door. The only source of light was a single torch in what seemed to be the center of the room. It cast a dim glow, and in the faint orb of light Marco could make out two figures.
"Approach," called a booming voice.
As he carefully and awkwardly stepped over to the light, Marco's eyes adjusted to the darkness. Looking around, he found the room to be fairly plain. A simple bed rested against the wall, a shelf with books was on one side of it, and a table with some bottles and a water jug was on the other. The only thing of note was in the center area Marco was heading to.
Three large pillows surrounded a cauldron, with the torch on a stand next to it. On one pillow sat Reina. He gave her a dirty look, but she only shook her head as if to say "now isn't the time!"
On the pillow on the other side of the cauldron was a very tall man. Through the faint light, it seemed like he was wearing rather plain robes. He was bald, but had a long, pointed beard of black hair. His eyes were a vivid green and sharp, as if penetrating everything within his gaze. They stayed glued to Marco as he found the third pillow and sat on it.
"Welcome, Marco Flores. I imagine you have many questions, but be warned: I do not answer."
"O...kay."
He looked to Reina, who for once didn't answer sarcastically. "The Arbiter practices a lost magic that is said to allow him to communicate with the gods themselves. The gods give them the true answer to any question they are asked. However, he pays a price for this power. Arbiters take a vow. If they are asked a question, they must use their magic to answer it. Like every kind of magic, this drains them."
"So that's why he lives here, to avoid questions," said Marco with a nod.
"Precisely. As part of their vow, Arbiters agree to live a solitary lifestyle. Their existence is kept secret to protect their powers, and only the ruling king can approve a meeting with the Arbiter."
"If you know this much, you must also know that asking me a question is a very specific exercise," said the Arbiter, giving her a serious look. "The gods answer as they like, and I have no say in the matter. They might even refuse to answer altogether. Whatever answer you receive, you must accept it."
"Yes, Arbiter. I have thought it over much, and I am ready."
Reina took a deep breath.
Then, she opened her mouth. But before she could state her question, the Arbiter put a hand up to stop her. Reina gave a puzzled look.
"I must prepare."
Without elaborating, he reached into the sleeve of his robes and produced a vial. He held it above the cauldron, removed the stopper, and poured half of its contents into the cauldron. When it made contact with the liquid already inside, it glowed with a bright blue light. After that happened, the Arbiter drank the rest.
The blue glow made Marco recognize the liquid.
"Is that Godsblo–"
His words were halted by Reina's hand slapping against his mouth.
"No questions! Yes, that does seem to be Godsblood."
Marco had only seen Godsblood in one other place in his life. It was at the Dyon Academy, where Heroes were trained. The substance was extremely rare, said to be the literal blood of the gods. That story seemed further evidenced by the fact that humans never learned to make more.
Whatever it was, it was essential for mages. If not constantly taken, one would eventually lose their magic ability. Of course, its combined rarity and necessity made it very expensive. That was why commoners like Marco could go their whole life without seeing it.
Fortunately, it only took a sip for the average mage to have enough power to last them several months. At least, that's what Marco knew to be true. So to see the Arbiter use a whole vial at once? Of course he was surprised enough to yell out!
After a few seconds, Reina removed her hand from his mouth. He had regained his sense, but still stared on as the Arbiter put his hands over the cauldron and made a circular motion. In response, the blue mixture spun, forming a vortex.
Once it was swirling as such, the Arbiter gazed at Reina intensely. "Speak."
"Prince Bartholomew Irelios," she began slowly. "Is he plotting against me?"
As if in response to her question, the cauldron flashed.
The blue light became so luminous that it revealed the entire room. Then it went dark. The light kept flashing like this, faster and faster. Marco had to rub his eyes because it became too intense for him. The Arbiter, however, seemed unaffected. His eyes actually glowed the same blue as the mysterious liquid.
He put his face close to the liquid, so close that remnant splashes got his face wet. For some time, he started at the flashing vortex.
After several moments of this, his head slowly rose to face Reina.
"No."
Then, the blue light flashed away for the final time. The liquid became still. The room was its dim quiet self once more. One could have even doubted any magic had taken place at all.
There was silence. Marco started to hear heavy breathing, and found the Artiber slumped where he sat. Reina, meanwhile, shot up.
"That can't be right! He has to be up to something. I wasn't specific enough. I need another question!"
Through his labored breaths, the Arbiter looked up at her and said, "I cannot."
"Please! I can come back tomorrow. I will bring gold, exquisite food, whatever you desire."
"You know the rules."
"Damn the rules!"
"Reina!" Marco went to her side and grabbed her arm.
"Release me!"
"Look at him!"
The man was no longer quite so tall, no longer so mysterious and mighty. Even in the faint light, the pained expression on his face was plain to see.
"Fine."
She ripped her arm away from Marco and stormed off. Amid the sound of her stomping down the stairs, Marco turned to the Arbiter.
"Thank you."
That, and an awkward bow, was all he had to give.
****
"Reina! Hey, Reina!"
She was already halfway through the solemn hallway when Marco caught up to her.
"What was that?" he asked when he reached her side.
"I have no time to argue with you Marco. You are released for the day. Or at least until I summon you."
She was walking so briskly that he was practically jogging to keep pace with her.
"Alright, I'll leave you alone. But just tell me this: Why did you ask that question? Why didn't you ask if your brother was behind the Gramtese Dragon?"
"Too specific."
"Then what about if he's committing treason?"
"I don't care."
In the time it took for that to really hit him, they had passed through the hallway and a set of doors, and were leaving the Arbiter's wing.
"You...don't care if he's plotting against the kingdom. The Gramtese Dragon at the border, that doesn't concern you. You only care about yourself. Reina, I–"
"Yield." She said it so plainly, but it made him fall on one knee all the same. "I know where this is going, so I will say it in terms that leave no room for confusion. I want to lead a peaceful and carefree life as a princess. I don't want to win the crown. I don't care about your foolish ambitions. I made you a Hero because you forced me to, but that doesn't mean I plan to go risking my life for king and country. I'm going to find out who wanted me kidnapped, bring them to justice, and them go back to my carefree life. And no one, including you, is going to stop me."
He looked up at her with all the anger and shock he had inside him. No words came, however, because he knew nothing he could say would change her mind.
"Oh my, did I interrupt something?"
A light, sweet voice intruded into their conversation. Its owner, a graceful woman with flowing blonde hair, was none other than First Princess Julia!
The bottom of her green dress was so long it trailed on the floor and covered her feet, so it looked like she was gliding towards them.
"You certainly have changed, little sister. You've become so much more aggressive. Might this be Sir Marco's influence?"
She laughed, but it sounded more like singing. Neither Reina nor Marco joined in.
"What do you want, Julia?" asked Reina.
"This is what I mean! I've come to help you but you act so hostile towards me," said Julia with a pout. Marco actually felt a sorry for her at first, but then remembered how the royals liked to put on airs.
"Help? Help how?"
"You're looking for information on Bartholomew's activities, correct? My Heroes might have heard some very incriminating things. I'd be willing to share them with you, dear sister."
This time Marco could clearly see through that "dear sister" to the teasing tone within. But Reina was drawn in by the promise of information.
"You'd obviously want something in return."
"Oh, you'd be willing to do a favor for me? How sweet of you! In fact, I do have a little job you and Sir Marco would be perfect for…"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone