Downtown Druid

Dantes walked through Uptown boldly with Jacopo on his shoulder and a bouquet of flowers under his arm. Men and women weren’t sure how to react to him as he walked through the wide and clean alleys of that part of the city. In the past he’d only come into Uptown in a disguise of some sort, and even then he wasn’t as well known there as he had been in Midtown, but now, everyone knew him. His actions in the war had been too widely seen by too many people for him to remain in the shadows, not that he’d been trying to be subtle, there wasn’t much of a point to that anymore. Some people crossed the street to avoid him, others gave respectful curtsies or bows, and a few were even bold enough to exchange nods with him. He was particularly impressed by those that were so arrogant that they ignored him.

“Did you hear their building a statue of you?” sent Dantes to Jacopo as he stopped to scratch stray behind the ears.

“Not of me. Of Jacopo De Fosse.”

“Apparently his statement to the council as he left, and the subsequent sightings of him on the front lines have made him a hero to the nobility. A representation of everything that the nobles of Rendhold should aspire to be.”

Jacopo laughed. “They should build a statue of me as I actually am. If there’s anything these people should want to be, it’s a rat.”

“I think that’s too far beyond their ambitions.”

“True. It may be better that they know their place.”

Dantes laughed a bit at that, drawing a few confused stares that he ignored. They reached Argenta’s manor shortly after, and Dantes opened the gate and walked boldly up to the front door, knocking twice, though he was certain she already knew he was there.

Gren opened the door and bowed to him, gesturing to allow Dantes to come inside. He looked a little wispier than he had in the past. His smoke was diffuse enough that he could actually be seen through a bit. He must’ve still been recovering from his fight with Godfrey.

“They’ll meet you in the parlor shortly.”

Dantes nodded and headed that way.

Alby was the first to arrive.

“Dantes! It’s good to see you.” she approached almost as if she was going in for a hug, but held back at the last moment.

“Alby, I’m glad to see you looking safe and well.”

She eyed the bouquet. It was made up of a mixture of Midnight lovers, and Dawn’s Grace, a white and black combination that he’d felt Argenta would enjoy given her aesthetic inclinations.

“This is for your mother, but this,” he reached out a handful of seeds, channeling his will into them to cause a bouquet of wildflowers to bloom before his arm was extended. “Is for you.”

Alby took the flowers with a smile. “It’s nice to see some color for a change.”

Dantes pulled a letter out of his jacket. “I also have this for you. It’s an invitation to my aunt Vera’s wedding.”

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Really? I don’t even know her.”

“She knows that you and your mother helped to keep Jacque safe, and we lost… Let’s just say we have some more seats to fill than expected.”

She nodded solemnly. “What am I meant to wear?”

“Well it’s an old elvish style ceremony, so technically even nudity is allowed, but I know my Aunt would want everyone dressed as lavishly as they can while still being able to dance.”

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“I think I can manage something like that.”

Argenta stepped into the parlor wearing a simple black dress with a white belt and not a single hair out of place.

“Dantes, welcome.”

Dantes gave a slight bow to the lady of the house and held out the bouquet of flowers to her.

“A gift for you, and an invitation.” He reached into his pocket to hand her an envelope.

“Your aunt’s wedding?”

Dantes nodded, not questioning how she knew. It was her job to know what was happening in the city, particularly when it involved the man who now rivaled or perhaps eclipsed her in power. ᚱã₦ộᛒЁș

She peeled open the seal expertly with a sharp nail, and looked over the writing inside. “Who was her calligrapher? This handwriting is perfect.”

“Me, actually,” said Dantes. He hadn’t done all of them, but for the most important people he’d taken the time to handwrite them himself.

“I’m always discovering new talents of yours.”

“We need steady hands in our line of work.”

She nodded, and eyed his shoulder. “Hello, Jacopo.”

Jacopo nodded at her and squeeked a hello. She must’ve figured out who he was in the aftermath of the battle. That also didn’t surprise Dantes.

She finished reading. “I’ll be there.”

“I was hoping to discuss some business with you as well, if you don’t mind.”

She nodded. “Come with me to the study.”

Dantes nodded to Alby. “I’ll see you later, try to get those in water.”

She nodded, shaking off a sullen look.

Dantes and Argenta entered her study and sat down. Gren appeared and poured each of them a glass of water with a squirt of lime. Dantes took a sip, clearing his throat, and Argenta watched him patiently, waiting for him to speak.

“I’ve been thinking about the future,” said Dantes, placing the glass back down. “About Rendhold.”

Argenta nodded. “As have I.”

Dantes smiled. “I’m fairly certain that’s always what you’re thinking about.”

“True.”

“I came to an unfortunate conclusion. We are going to come into conflict with one another.”

Argenta tilted her head a little to the side, like a hawk sizing up its prey. “Oh?”

“I’m ambitious. I want everything. I want this city. You have met your ambition, you have this city. I’m sure you’ve already been considering what risk I pose to you, what danger I might bring. Even though I ended an invasion, who's to say I don’t become a threat from within.”

Argenta stayed silent, taking a long slow sip of her water before carefully placing the glass back down.

“Why bring this up? Why invite me to Vera’s wedding?”

“Because I like you.”

She coughed a bit. “Excuse me?”

“I had plans to beat you. I’d discovered that Gren is controlled with a Grimoire and that he’s weak to objects touched by the gods. I befriended Alby because I sensed that she was a weakness of yours that could be exploited. I had plans to gather holy items from the church, and to trick Alby into a fey pact through a changeling friend of mine.”

Her eyes narrowed, and Dantes could sense Gren’s presence return to the room, though he didn’t see him. He assumed he was hiding in one of their shadows.

“Then, you saved Jacque. You kept him safe while I fought Godfrey, even slaying one of his copies to keep him protected.” Dantes shook his head. “I found I no longer have the stomach to take those actions against you. I don’t want to fight you, to take what’s yours, I don’t want to rule over you and the city, I want to rule with you.”

“And why would I want that?”

“Aside from the fact that we would destroy one another otherwise?”

She nodded.

“You have a demon at your beck and call, the respect of both sides of the city, and the skill to manage it all, but together our control would be complete. I offer muscle beyond anything else you could muster, I can protect the city from almost any threat as I’ve just shown, and I have eyes everywhere. What I lack is your skill. I delegate, I take advantage of things in the short term, but I lack foresight, or a deep understanding of politics, I’m starting to see that now. That’s something you offer in spades.” He shook his head. “Each of us alone can rule this city, but together we can rule it perfectly.”

Argenta leaned back in her chair, letting out a sigh. “I don’t have the stomach for conflict with you either. I watched you slay three armies. One of gray, one of black, and one of gold. You terrify me Dantes. You have from the moment I called you into a meeting with the Fingers. I could tell then that the only thing that's keeping you from taking everything for yourself was that you were limited to rage and revenge. Your worldview was set in the confines of Midtown and nowhere else.” She shook her head. “If you wish to rule with me, I’ll accept that. I’d be a fool to challenge a druid in his own locus anyway.”

She stood and held a hand out to him.

Dantes resisted spitting in his palm first, and took hers. They shared a firm shake, and a large amount of tension that had been floating over the room seemed to dissipate.

They both sat back down, their postures a little less stiff.

“With that resolved, there is one particular thing I’d like your help with first.”

Argenta actually cracked a small smile. “Of course there is.”

“I want the council to revisit its treatment of changelings.”

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