The Rules of Blood-Volume Two ; Chapter 17 (233) - The Grace to Fall Forward
“I see…” Mera muttered, a sad smile on her lips after hearing Blanc’s explanation.
“Are you certain this is what you wish for, Blanc?” Auren asked, worried, “Opportunities will come and go, no need to jump on the first one you see.”
“This one is too good to pass on, mothers.” Blanc shook his head. “If I, who overthink the meals I eat, say that, I assure you, no such chance will arise again. We need to bring Sera back.”
“I know,” Mera nodded, “But just as you, Sera is a Noble Blood who understands the way our life is. Is it wise to endanger your-”
“I will not abandon my sister if I can bring her back, Mother,” Blanc interrupted, conviction overflowing from his voice, “Father-in-Law has the tools to allow us to go, take Sera, and be on our way back here.”
“But it will still take months,” Auren sighed, “Months in which every day you are in danger.”
“Was I not in danger for months now, and still succeeded?” Blanc countered.
Mera slapped the table, her sadness now a sharp anger. “Do not take one singular success as something you can recreate with ease, Blanc. If life were as easy as you make it to be, we would be Gods already.”
Auren placed a hand on Mera’s shoulder before she continued in her stead, “Listen, Blanc dear, no amount of preparation could give you the insight into the minds of others, and as you had seen already, over these past months, people are unpredictable, dangerous.”
“I had known that for years, mothers,” Blanc sighed. “I’ve been taught enough to understand that, even if I am not the heir. But that does not change either the situation we are in as a family and as an Empire. We need all the help we can get, and remove all that can get in the way. And Sera remaining hostage to Blood Seraph is a liability we cannot overlook if we can solve it by having me go there and take her back.”
“You are overestimating yourself, my son.” Mera shook her head. “Do you think I, her own mother, do not wish her to be here? I have True Vita in me, and I still could not take her back. How could you, without even a Bloodshard, speak so confidently of such madness?”
“What Mera wants to say is that it would be wise to wait a bit longer, a few months even, until we can gather allies.” Auren took the lead before Mera could say something she would regret. “We have Blood Maroux, the Order, and maybe, if Kael succeeds in becoming Bezel Domini’s pupil, even the Archivum Civitas as allies. Not even mentioning that, slowly, the Noble Bloods that were unaffected by the Iron Line would soon flock like a murder of crows to us if we made such a strong alliance. Just give it a few months, and we will have the power to get Sera back, safely.”
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It was a solid argument, one that Blanc could not deny would be maybe even more effective than the one he was about to embark on. But there were gaps in their understanding, not understanding the threat of Velakia, the Iskahul princess meant for them all.
They also did not know about Blanc’s alliance with the Metamorphs, even if he did not know how to get to them, besides what Allegra gave him in secret before they left. That was a last resort, but one that Blanc kept in mind, hidden from even the rest of his Blood, besides his wives.
So while they had allies now, they had plenty of enemies as well, enemies that were set to destroy them, and enemies yet to become one.
And Lucien made it clear that a threat from the sea while fighting on land would be devastating, a thought with which Blanc agreed wholeheartedly.
“I am sorry, mothers,” Blanc got to his feet before bowing. “I came to tell you how things stand, for I have agreed to do this already.”
“Will you abandon your pregnant wives for such a risk?” Mera hissed, anger spilling out of her voice, “I did not raise you to act foolish, my son. You have worked valiantly to get your wives and siblings to safety, yet now that they are safe, you jump back into the fire.”
“Yes, Mother,” Blanc nodded calmly, despite her anger. “I am afraid and uncertain. Believe me, in many ways, I know this feels suicidal. But no matter how I turn it over in my head, no matter how much I dwell on the worst outcomes, I still see no reason to wait. I don’t fully understand it myself, as I’ve always been cautious, but in my heart it feels like this is the only chance we’ll get. And if we don’t act now, we might come to regret it.”
“Why do you think so?” Auren asked, curious more than angry.
Blanc sighed, closing his eyes for a moment, deciding if he should lie or tell the truth. “Many things are moving, and even Lucien fears what is to come if we do not act in haste now, that the Ulveth Kingdom has given us that opportunity. Also, *sigh* I miss my sister, and I want to see her return to the people who really love her. Is that so bad?”
Mera stood silently, her disposition and anger a facade to a heartbreak no mother should have to feel. A choice between heartbreak and even more heartbreak.
A fear so deep, so primal in nature, that no being in existence might be invulnerable to it. She would gladly give her life for her children, yet she was stuck in place, unable to do anything, as her and Auren’s presence here meant more to their Blood than venturing outside could ever mean.
But for her, as a mother, forced to watch her daughter, flesh of her flesh, held captive by those she once prayed would love her, and now to see her son, returned to her by the loving grace of the Vita, willing to throw his life away to bring his sister back when none of them could do anything to help her… it was devastating.
She made peace with the idea that she would not see some of her family ever again, as hard as it was, but to let go of those already here was difficult to say the least.
She had to do it once. Why does she have to go through this a second time?
She hoped that anger, curses, and hatred would deter him from doing it, or at least postpone it for a while, but it seemed he was set on attempting it, even if it meant he would be face-to-face with the uncertainty of death.
She did not even notice the anger melting away, replaced by tears as she hugged herself.
“So be it, my son,” Mera sniffed, trying to stop herself from breaking down. “Do what you have to do.”
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Volume Two ; Chapter 17 (233) - The Grace to Fall Forward
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