Tales of the Pearly Kingdom (Pearly Tales Vol. 2)

140. Standing Before Lord Perilous

"So what am I going to do about you two?"

How did he move so fast?

Ves'rigand and Alvidan stared down the purple eyes of Lord Perilous right in front of them. Ves'rigand's heart caught in her throat as the person she'd heard so much about stood right in front of her. He had a smug grin with the attitude of a being who knew that he could do whatever he wanted. And that scared her.

She fell into the gold-framed purple windows into the destiny of an uncontrollable force. The God of Peril, could such a god really exist? Even looking at him now, she wondered that. Everything about him was absurdly Impossible, extremely improbable, and completely factual. He was the incarnation of unpredictability. A Trickster god of a new caliber and danger. She didn't know which part scared her more. That he could do whatever he wanted, or that he would.

She was scared... so scared. Even as the demons threatened her own home after crushing the dwarves, she had never been this scared. Was he friend or foe? Mother Gaia said to work with him, and she trusted him but... he was a slayer of Pantheons... a slayer of groups of gods. Could she trust him? Could anyone?

She swallowed hard. Gaia trusted him.

Gaia trusted him.

Gaia trusted him.

"Take a deep breath." Alvidan whispered in her ear.

Ves'rigand took a deep breath and recalled everything she'd seen and heard about Lord Perilous, Brother Calloway, and the Guildmaster. Just beyond the frighteningly powerful being, she saw the small girl curled under a blanket that hadn't been there a moment ago. Had he placed it before he appeared in front of them? The druids claimed brother Calloway was fun. The residents loved him and the Guildmaster. The Sword Queen was in love with him all this time. Looking around at all the druids still bowing it showed that they reverenced him as a benevolent being.

She gathered her courage and spoke. "I trust you." It was a wish. A wish to survive this encounter, a wish for a better future, a wish to be a part of it.

"A good answer." Lord Perilous answered and as he smiled, she could swear that she saw the fangs of a seasoned predator. "But I'm not convinced, and I don't have a lot of time. So tell me, if I ordered you to die for my cause, would you?"

Ves'rigand's blood chilled. This is exactly where she didn't want the conversation to go. "Y-yes." She answered fearing the worst, and Lord Perilous frowned and narrowed his eyes at her.

"You're lying." He said lowly and Ves'rigand wondered how many heartbeats she had left. Then he sighed and crossed his arms. "So that's how this Trickster title works. I guess I'll ask this." He looked up at Alvidan. "Man-to-man, what cost would you pay for you wife's life?"

Panic overwhelmed Ves'rigand she tried to scream and thrash and demand that Lord Perilous leave him alone. But she couldn't. Alvidan held her tightly against him and cast [Silence] on her while he covered her mouth. He was trying to protect her. If he tried to trade his life for hers, she couldn't say anything. He was totally vulnerable to Lord Perilous.

"My life, and all of my worldly possessions." Alvidan proclaimed and Ves'rigand shuddered and cried. It was made even worse when Lord Perilous smiled.

"I see, but what if I asked for more? What if I asked for your soul?" Lord Perilous asked.

"If there was a way, I would." Alvidan answered.

"No hesitation. I believe you." Lord Perilous smiled. He leaned in close to Ves'rigand. "Yes or no. Would you do the same for Alvidan?... or the baby?"

Ves'rigand nodded her head as quickly as she could.

"... the baby?" Alvidan whispered.

"Then you understand..." Lord Perilous stood straight up and looked at them both with no guile or glee. "... If you can't trust me then trust that feeling. This city, these people, my family. They are all precious to me. I'm awkward and don't make friends easily. I have enemies in the city holding daggers at the throats of my loved ones and enemies outside the city that are pointing their swords at me. Defending my family is my cause. If Gaia trusts you then I trust you. Become my friends. Help me defend my family and I'll defend yours with the same dedication."

What?

... was that... it?

"Yep, it's just that simple." He replied.

Was he reading her mind!?

"The war is already started. Soon the world will be split in two and only those that pick a side will be strong enough to survive." Lord Perilous stated. "Regardless of what side you choose, I plan on winning."

So... that's what this has been about. Lord Perilous needs to get his house together before he can truly fight an enemy that's already united. He stated very clearly that the conflict her people ran from, was one that Lord Perilous was running straight into. If mother Gaia was in his corner, he just might be worth betting on.

She had to think like a queen. Lord Perilous invited them, strangers, into his city. He was going to fight the monsters that took her home. He was going to protect her family. Did she need anymore reason to join forces with him?

All the apprehension and fear inside Ves'rigand was gone. A new emotion filled her.

Anticipation.

Lord Perilous snapped his finger and the [Silence] debuff was removed from Ves'rigand.

"How can we help?" She asked with an eager gleam in her eye.

Lord Perilous smiled once again. "That is what I wanted to hear. Report to Shayley before you talk to any other soul. Tell her, the Architect sent you. She'll know what that means."

"Hold on. What about the baby is it going to be okay?" Alvidan asked.

"Uh... so about me being awkward..." Lord Perilous scratched his cheek.

It turned out that there was no baby. The Trickster tricked them.