"In accordance with our ancient customs, north and south, let this truce be concluded in peaceful accord.  ...May peace find not just you, but all of us."

And they retreat into the trees until they're well out of sight.

"Well, that's over with. She seemed pretty tough for a Tidecaster; I'd heard they were a bunch of artists and diplomats."

Ophelia takes a moment to contemplate this.  "War changes people.  Maybe it changed her.

"Incidentally, that's the second time someone's known where I'll be before I do.  I really need to make sure there won't be a third...

"Let's keep moving; I don't want to be later than we already are.  Not that I told anyone my precise itinerary, but.  The less Nerat has reason to ask about the prisoner trade, the less chance he finds out and is annoyed.  Probably."

"They may just have known you were traveling between the camps today. It's not like there's that much other traffic."

And they get going. They can talk on the way.

"Sure, but how?  Not to mention that Eb all but said it was not a coincidence that she was present.

"I find myself rather concerned by that implication.

"Still...It's already done.  Can't change the past."

They can indeed talk on the way to the Chorus's camp.

She rather wonders what petty bullshit she'll find there.

"The primary barrier keeping us from assaulting Ascension Hall is the Matani River. In holding that - which has been unreasonably effective - a Tidecaster would be extremely valuable. So why deploy her out here? Some cause."

Verse gives Barik a brief surprised look, slightly impressed that he thought of it that way. "They would have had to start marching a couple days back, so... they got a bird about the Edict coming? Did they look to either of you like they'd been in the back country for two fists, like if they were expecting you not to delay? I'd say probably not."

"Which means they knew about my travel plans.  Ugh.  I really do need to start disguising myself on the road.

"If they had encountered me alone, and not offered a truce, I expect I would not have had many options.  I'm not that good a fighter, though I try."

"Much better with someone screening you who you can buff up," Verse agrees, "Fortunately you have two of us."

"I imagine traveling disguised with others - and particularly myself - is considerably more difficult. Three is an awkward number, there; it would be better to have a larger escort."

"We could have fought them off just fine."

"Certainly... if we survived the initial magical ambush. I saw a Tidecaster wrap an Iron Walker's head in a bubble of water and hoist him into the air by it - he was three days recovering from the near-drowning, even with the General's protection."

"That sounds rather unpleasant.

"Anyway, it is - unlikely that I will benefit from hiding myself now.  My presence must be felt if anything is going to change, which means it must first be known.

"Though, when I am measured against Archons...

"I feel no less a mere mortal than I did before Cairn was condemned to whatever fate he suffers.

"On the one hand...I am, at least, not Nerat.  On the other hand, what can I be?  I am much too used to the mantle of Fatebinder to doff it now, not without extreme need, and yet - should an Archon I seek to be, however absurd the thought may seem - the Archon of Law, of Justice, is Tunon, because Tunon is the law embodied, and to displace them from their post would be absurd.  But what else is there?  Mercy?  The Orphan Midwife tried that, and I cannot say it ended well for anyone!

"...and yet, to - fight on the field of myths and legends - to win wars not for land but for hearts - you need a tale of your own.  That much is evident.

"The question is, what should it be?  What story can I tell of myself, that will - stand against the monster of children's nightmares who steals the minds of men, and the general who almost defeated Kyros?"

"A good question. Not a wise one. ...not usually, at least. We're in a fairly unwise situation, so maybe it's the time for it."

"If I was wise, I'd have run for the hills long ago.  Unfortunately, I'm cunning instead."

"Archons don't pop up overnight, do they? Well, Sirin, I guess, but who knows what was up with her as a little kid. So maybe what you want isn't an Archon's story, it's... something else. Something that uses Archon's stories?"

"...Quite a lot, or so I've heard.

"Something that uses Archons' stories..."

"It sounds right.  I have absolutely no idea what it means, but it sounds right.

"There is - a pattern, to Archons.  Verse is right.  So what stories...

"...oh, but stories are nothing without the telling of them!  Ha!"

"Neither do I. I was just thinking, like - a big guy tries to trip you, you don't push back - well, if you're Barik you do, but we're not - you roll and try to bring him down with you, but so's you're ready for it and he isn't. Can you - we? - do that with stories? With the Archons?"

"I think we can.  I think we almost must," and there is a spark in her eyes, as she contemplates the subject, "because my plans are already staked on telling so many different stories to so many different people that I'll need an Archon's mind to keep them straight!  ...And look how neatly it aligns with the nature of the words conjoined in Fatebinder..."

"An Archon's mind... I'm not sure I like that. The General is an brilliant strategist, of course, and a good and grounded man, but I haven't met another Archon who seemed entirely sane. Some more than others."

"...oh, auroch's dung, that would be flying a bit too close to the sun, wouldn't it.  I don't want to end up being Nerat.

"Thank you, Barik.

"Still.  I think I know the sort of role I seek, should I find one waiting for me."

"There was something there in my metaphor, I think. You... herd Archons. Sirin in the Crossing, Cairn before he rebelled, our two yesterday morning. And you don't get gored by a raging bull while you herd them."

Ophelia nods.  "There really is something to that.  Good eye."

"Ophelia Vaudelle, professional Archon wrangler," she tries on the title/job description like it's a new coat.  "I could see it.  Get used to it.  Live it like a duty.  Because it really is something that needs doing."

"...Above and beyond what Kyros does," she mutters, before deciding that she may as well lean into it.  "Cairn should not have been a thing that happened, and then the cure was worse than the disease for the people Cairn actually hurt!"

"He was never very stable. ...Nor loyal, I think. They say Kyros caught the 'Wild Man of the Hills' and named him Cairn, as I recall. Bound him as Cairn, might have been more accurate, though while he was our ally we tried to assume more charity toward him."