PART XII: BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY

Starting to panic a little, Callie smacked the shoulder of the person hugging her. "I've … got … to … breathe!" she gasped out. She was sure she was about to pass out before the squeezing slightly relented. Gulping for air, she hoped the blue color on her face started to fade.

Blushing a bit, Lady Winafria fully released Callie, using a hand to wipe away tears from her face. "I don't know how I can thank you," she said, before pulling Callie into another, thankfully less aggressive, hug.

"We both thank you," Lord Cessel added. "Truely, we owe you."

Wincing while she tried to will her ribs back into place, Callie laughingly retorted, "I think you owe me more than once."

"As many times as is necessary," the Lady said as she stood.

"Ahh, don't worry about it," Callie said, waving her off. "I'll probably just make you buy me a drink whenever I make it to Imor or something. Maybe bring me to your old bar?"

"I'd love to," Winafria said, her eyes glinting in a smile.

"I must admit," Cessel said, "I had my doubts you could do it, I don't think I've ever been so happy to be wrong in my life."

"I owe it all to this one," Callie said with a grin, pulling Pixyl close and kissing the top of her head. "She's my real inspiration." Pixyl just blushed..

"Assuming she keeps her word, it will be so different without Ingris in committee," Winafria mused. "I have no idea who from her district might be appointed in her place, but I can't think of anyone that could be worse."

"What happens to her open Assembly position?" Callie asked.

"The two week election starts tomorrow, so her vacant position will actually be filled by the person who comes in second, and they serve out the remaining five years of her term. It's honestly a foregone conclusion that the incumbent in her district will win again, but as for who will come in second, I know him. A Dwarf that used to ask me out from time to time when he came in for a drink. I think it eventually became a game to see how creatively I could say no to him. A mason by trade, and a good person. He's been going on for years about trying to run for one of the open seats, so I'm glad he'll make it in. Maybe we can do more good."

"As long as he minds his manners. You're married now, after all," Cessel said. "I'd hate to have to fight him for you, as I'm quite sure he could lay me flat!" This elicited chuckles all around and Cessel kissed his wife's head much like Callie had Pixyl's.

The conversation continued, and Callie quite honestly just wanted to exit it as soon as possible. She had hoped to check in with Jasryn to see how her interviews went, or even join Ambria and the twins, Jesca, and a few others that had decided to go sit in a group and watch the streaks in the sky together. It felt like a nice way to cap off the evening.

Before that could happen, however, Vanis stepped up and joined the group. "Congratulations, Lady Winafria. Quite the victory to savor, yes?"

"Quite so, Your Highness. I owe it all to the Little One, here."

"Plus her strange music was simply quite fun," Lord Cessel added with a laugh.

"That it is," Vanis agreed. "She's quite the Ranger, too. I foresee her being quite formidable when we arrive in the south."

Callie couldn't help but feel warm from the praise.

"Lady Winafria," Vanis said, his tone shifting to mark a change of subject. "I wished to inform you and your husband that I'll be recommending my father propose new legislation. I was hoping, perhaps, to enlist your support."

"New legislation?" Winafria asked, surprised. "Bypassing the Assembly?"

"He's never done that," Cessel added. "Nor did his father, er, your grandfather."

"I understand," Vanis said. "But in light of what you shared with me earlier, I was moved by the implications. I believe, for the sake of expediency, avoiding the initial political mire of the Assembly would serve the realm better."

"You have my attention," Winafria replied, her smile fading as she shifted into a more business-like demeanor. Even Cessel toned down his usual jovial air.

"My father may change some of what I propose, but what I say now will at least serve as a starting point. The idea is to create a new organization attached to the monarchy, a ministry, as it were. It would be charged with investigating and rooting out corruption within the Assembly and Parliament. With the authority to follow the evidence wherever it may lead, they would be able to act independently, and thus not be beholden to the whims of Assembly politics."

"And what of enforcement? Who does that fall to?" Cessel asked.

"This ministry would be empowered to mete out punishment, ranging from expulsion to harsher verdicts, depending on the depth and seriousness of their findings."

Winafria's expression turned skeptical, and even Lord Cessel no longer looked supportive. "The monarchy is meant to remain apolitical," she said after a long pause. "And even if I could support the idea of an independent body to investigate and collect evidence, granting that body enforcement powers..." Her voice trailed off. "It creates a potential path to influence the workings of the people."

"The evidence would still need to support any action," Vanis countered. "I'd have thought I'd get your immediate support, given what you've said of Lady Ingris."

"No, no. I believe I agree with the intent," Winafria said, glancing at her husband. "But you see the potential for abuse, don't you, Cessel?"

Lord Cessel nodded. "She's right. What if, for argument's sake, the Crown fabricated evidence to remove a political opponent? Who would be the check against them? Corruption can occur on both sides of the coin. I'm not saying your father ever would, just that there's that potential, and that mere potential will lead to resistance in the Parliament."

"Ah, I see your point," Vanis said thoughtfully.

"You need a third group," Callie interjected, thinking of back home. "Set up a panel of judges to hear the evidence, determine guilt, and decide punishment. Make sure it's an odd number."

"That could work," Winafria said. "But we'd need a mechanism to determine who serves."

"Members of Parliament?" Cessel suggested. "Drawn at random by lottery to serve? Maybe a group of seven? They'd only be assembled when needed, so the makeup would always be different."

"You'd still risk a biased draw," Winafria said. "It needs to be judges outside of the Assembly, or if any of us are used, only a few are chosen to be one of these judges. There will always be reluctance to expel one of our own."

"Two appointed by the Crown, two drawn by lottery from the Assembly, and three randomly from Imorian magistrates?" Vanis suggested in passing as an alternative.

"Why not add two more from the general populace, at that point?" Cessel said with a chuckle.

"Why not?" Winafria added, much more serious. "Is that not who we ultimately serve? It seems only fitting, after all. I'd even argue that there be more representatives of the populace. Regardless, no matter who judges us, everything needs to be public. At least the evidence, the findings, and the rebuttals. The fear of exposure would be as much a deterrent as the punishment. Reputation is everything in what we do. If I had hard evidence on Ingris, she'd likely leave the kingdom in disgrace, assuming she's capable of such a feeling."

Vanis smirked inwardly at the 'leave the kingdom' remark, since Ingris apparently agreed to do just that. Then, refocusing on the topic, he nodded. "I can see wisdom in that. It would also implicate anyone they were in league with."

"If those implicated are not elected, those others would have to be referred to civilian courts to try them for any criminality, " Cessel said. "But the evidence would go with them. We can strengthen the laws against bribes and payoffs and the like."

"But you support the general idea?" Vanis asked.

"I do. But Your Highness, you could do much of this even without our support, or at least the investigatory piece," Cessel said. "We couldn't stop you from gathering evidence, at least not without crafting new law. I think what you really are looking for is legitimacy for these, let's call them 'wardens'."

Vanis hummed in thought. "Perhaps you're right. And also ultimately, a clear path to actual justice. Minor corruption will always exist, but at the level of Lady Ingris? That can't be tolerated. It needs to be exposed and expelled."

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"Here's what I'm willing to do, for now," Winafria said flatly, straightening as if to make a statement. "I'll support your proposal in principle. I believe the intentions are good. Cessel and I will work some ideas on our journey home to lay out how this might function. Most resistance will focus on the enforcement details, not on how the investigations happen. Hopefully we can polish that enough to head off objections."

"Thank you," Vanis said. "I know the Legacy Kings have always remained neutral, but after what you've shared …" He looked at the Lord and Lady. "I'd like to think there's room for oversight. Members of the Assembly take oaths to serve the people. Ensuring those oaths are upheld feels like a good duty for the Crown."

"They need a name," Winafria said. "Something to identify their duties."

"You're right. What do we call them?" Cessel asked. "The name should reflect their integrity and duty to the people. I do like the term 'warden' for some reason. They do need a good name."

"Wardens of the Crown," Vanis said offhandedly. "No, that's dreadful."

"The People's Wardens?" Cessel offered. Then he winced. "Nope, that's even worse."

"Ministers of…" Winafria began, sort of waving her hand as if looking for the words, but everyone quickly interrupted in unison: "NO!"

"Imorian Bureau of Investigation?" Callie said, then grimaced. "Wait, no, forget that. That's awful." It just popped into her head from back home.

"Just call them Oath Wardens," Pixyl mumbled.

"What was that?" Cessel asked.

Pixyl's eyes widened. She really hadn't meant to speak, and had been mostly quiet ever since Callie dragged her over. Being surrounded again by a Lord, a Lady, and the Prince, was overloading her nobility meter just a bit, so she was trying to be small.

"Go on, tell them," Callie encouraged. "It's a good one."

Pixyl swallowed nervously. "Oath W-W-Wardens."

"Ohhhh, I like that," Cessel said, drawing out the first word as his eyes lit up. "Oath Wardens," he repeated, savoring it.

"I also like it," Winafria agreed. "It's noble. Imposing. It doesn't sound like some secretive cabal hungry for power. And that sense of duty you mentioned comes to mind."

Callie nodded in agreement, not that her opinion mattered for much.

Vanis raised his cup. "Then, to the Oath Wardens! Guardians not of power.

"Guardians of promises!" Callie added, suggestively.

"That could be their motto," Cessel said, smiling as he raised his own cup and looked to his wife.

"You're right," Winafria said, lifting hers. "To the Oath Wardens!"

"You go on ahead," Callie said to Pixyl, gesturing toward a group of about a dozen people seated in the darkness, gazing up at the night sky. "I'll join you in a few minutes."

Pixyl looked conflicted but eventually nodded, wandering off to join the others.

Spinning on her heel, Callie scanned the area, spotted who she was looking for, and jogged to intercept him. "Hey, you," she called out.

Vanis turned to face her, eyes flicking downward. "Callie. Was there something else you needed?"

"Yeah. Can we talk for a bit?" She gestured vaguely into the darkness with a tilt of her head.

"Now?"

"Please."

"Lead on, then" Vanis replied, motioning with his hand.

Callie led them to the edge of the field, to a quiet spot beneath a tree, and they both sat. It was a pleasant night, almost as nice as the one before. The air was just as warm, though tonight a few clouds drifted across the sky, occasionally veiling the stars and the single visible moon.

"You want to talk about Lena, don't you?" Vanis asked, his tone flat.

"What? No!" Callie replied quickly. "Something completely different. I mean, if you want to talk about it, we can, but I assume you two are mature enough to work things out yourselves. Not like I'm great at relationship advice anyway."

"You seem to be doing fine with Pixyl."

"I am," she said, smiling faintly. "But it's new, and it'll be over in a few weeks, at least for a while. I'm trying to stay grounded. Failing spectacularly, of course, but trying." She shrugged. "Who knows the future, right?"

"That's very true," Vanis agreed. "Still, I'm glad you're happy."

Callie twiddled her thumbs, hesitating. She wasn't quite ready to dive into the real reason she'd pulled him aside. Instead, she deflected, working up to it. "So… what did you think of the music?"

"Quite raucous. Especially last night."

"But… did you like it?"

"Of course. It was different, but fun. And I could tell some of those songs meant a great deal to you."

"Yeah, they all did," Callie said softly, a hint of sadness creeping into her voice. She missed her dad. And her mom.

"Your use of the Inspiring Melody spell seems to come naturally. I'm genuinely impressed at how effective you are with it."

"It's still only Iron tier, though. And I don't really control it. It just sort of ... clicks on. I can tell when it happens, but I can't really make it do anything. Is it supposed to be like that?"

"For the most part, yes, at least at lower tiers, I believe. I am able to influence mine a bit, mostly by willing it to activate. It becomes more versatile as you grow."

"I'm still pretty weak with it, huh?"

Vanis hesitated before nodding. "You are. But that will come in time."

"I know," Callie said, her tone sharpening a little. "But tell me this, if I'm so weak, how did I make Lady Ingris cry?"

"I suspect your music somehow struck a chord. As I said, you've been …"

"Bullshit," Callie snapped, cutting him off. "She's a stone-cold bitch who hates me because I'm ren, because of the Lady Winafria thing, and who knows what else. She wasn't even paying attention to me. Definitely not enough for me to move her like that."

"Um…" Vanis faltered. He clearly knew something. His poker face was awful and he wouldn't even meet her gaze.

"I saw you talking to her," Callie said. "While I was playing."

"I asked her to abandon the wager. She refused."

"Again? You'd already done that, so why did you go back? You offered her something, didn't you? Money?" Her voice sharpened. "If you bribed her to go, that would make you just as bad as her, Vanis. And you're better than that." She caught the offended flicker in his eyes and quickly reeled in her disappointment. "That's not it, though, is it?"

"No. I didn't offer her money," Vanis confirmed flatly. "I appealed to her…"

"To her what?"

"Her greed. And perhaps her sense of self-preservation."

"But if you didn't offer her money…" Callie trailed off. Then her eyes widened. "Did you threaten her? With the Oath Warden thing? Vanis!"

The Prince ... coughed absently in deflection.

"You did! What did you say?" When he didn't answer right away, she reached out and shook his knee. "Seriously. What did you tell her?" She was trying to wrap her head around the idea of Vanis threatening someone. At least threatening Ingris enough to force her into a corner.

She pressed harder for an answer.

Then, his face began to darken, a vein on his temple starting to throb. The air seemed to grow heavy.

"Vanis?"

"Yes, I did! You're damn right I did!" His voice cracked with fury. Not at Callie, though, maybe not even completely at Ingris, but at something. "I told her I'd make it my personal mission to destroy her. That I'd use this new law to dismantle her life and her family's. That I'd send them to the ice mines for the rest of their lives if I had to."

Whoa! This was a far different Vanis than she was used to, and Callie couldn't help but let out a bit of a gasp. She'd never seen Vanis really get angry, and certainly never threaten someone.

"She was going to get people killed, Callie" he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Her petty vendetta against Winafria was going to cost lives. Cost the lives of my people. I couldn't let that happen. I wouldn't let that happen! I had asked nicely, and she refused. I even asked as a favor, and she refused. So instead I gave her a choice: win the wager and have her life torn apart, or shed a few fake tears and get out of my Imoria. If she did the latter, she could keep her tainted riches and just walk away."

There was… a lot to unpack in that. It was, in fact, a little scary. Threats were one thing, but Vanis was angry. Beyond angry, actually. So angry that his eyes practically burned with green fire, and an oppressive aura of shadow seemed to build and roll off him. You could tell that he wasn't exaggerating a single bit about what would have happened to Lady Ingris.

But then again, he'd said 'my people' and 'my kingdom'. He was still the Prince. Even if he wasn't destined to rule anymore, that responsibility had been hammered into him his whole life, including by the recently-dead Regents. His sense of duty to Imoria didn't simply vanish just because the crown would pass him by. The more she thought about it, the more Callie almost respected him for his actions.

Still... he was sort of scary as hell at the moment!

The overpowering dread lasted all of about ten more seconds, before Vanis took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, the tension easing from his shoulders as the sense of shadowy and heavy darkness receded.

Callie just sat there, watching him; seeing him differently now. Ingris was gone. The camp would get the support it needed. Because of that, lives would be saved. Could she really fault him for doing what needed to be done? She didn't think she could. But his actions also seemed to betray something in him, something dark, angry and vengeful that she'd never seen before.

"My apologies," Vanis said at last, letting out another slow breath. "I suppose I got a bit … passionate for a moment."

"It's okay," Callie replied. The words were a little wary, but she found she meant them. Then she remembered something one of her therapists had once told her. "Anger's allowed. It's how you channel it that matters."

Vanis let out a weak chuckle. "A Listener once told me the exact same thing. Hearing it from you… maybe I need to take the advice more seriously."

Callie reached out and rested her hand on his knee again. "Vanis, if you ever need to talk, about anything at all, I'm here. I can't promise good advice, but I'll give you all the bad advice you want."

"I wouldn't want to be a burden," he said lightly.

"Vanis, it will never be a burden." She held his gaze. "Never a burden," she repeated.

Standing up, Callie shook out her leg, which had gone a bit numb. She looked at him, trying to convey just how much his friendship meant to her.

He nodded, the two of them reaching an unsaid understanding.

Then, brightening a bit, she added, half teasing and half sincere, "You Warlocks really need to work on that whole 'creepy and evil' thing, though. Just saying."

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