Conjoined Lives

But master... the meeting is on Browntail turf. This is clearly a trap.

Hmph, you think I don't know?

A Paleroche never runs from a fight!

Just because it's her turf doesn't mean a Paleroche is helpless there!

You know what? Seeing that gauze on your head is making me doubly-mad!

I don't care how mad you are, master! I'm sitting right here at the door and not budging an inch until you change your mind!

And what does any of that have to do with you?

It's my own fault I got hurt and couldn't protect you. All I can do is stop you from putting yourself in danger.

Uh... I'm not angry at you! I'm angry at those bloody Browntails.

Don't worry, I'll settle the score for you. I'll show them nobody messes with Clan Paleroche.

Get out of the way, brother.

Master...

Warriors, take General Gulo back to his room.

Hmph.

I'm not afraid of them. But I won't go unprepared.

Fy faen. Prepare a few more cars, boys.

Dinner is ready, Madam Sciurus.

What about the matriarch? Will she not join us?

Matriarch Ratatos just left. She says not to worry about her.

I remember the matriarch saying she had a meeting with Clan Paleroche today. But it's so early...

Did she go alone?

We're not sure...

Something doesn't feel right, Yucatan.

Go after her.

Alright...

One moment, please, Madam Sciurus and Master Yucatan...

What is it this time?

The matriarch left orders before she left...

We are not to allow the two of you to leave home tonight.

Under any circumstances.

...

Saintess! Get down!

Drat... Who are these people?

How dare they attempt to murder the Saintess on Kjerag soil?!

Maybe they're not from Kjerag...

They're dangerous...

Don't worry, Saintess! I'll protect you with my life!

They won't get in so easily... Don't underestimate the hunters of Kjerag!

Hit.

Careful, there are a lot of them!

We can't just stay here. We need to get out...

What do we do—

Calm down. Listen to me...

...

Hit. Not sure if she's down.

Units Two, Three and Four, hold position. Unit One, with me. Approach with care. The intel says there are two of them.

What...? This... It's...

...A wooden sculpture?

They fell for it! Just like you said!

You'd better repent for damaging a sculpture of Kjeragandr!

Now! Run!

Alpha, report.

The Paleroche convoy has cleared the third checkpoint.

Confirm target position—back seat of the lead car.

Shall we engage?

Affirmative.

Wait, there's a change in the situation!

The target's stopped moving. No direct line-of-sight. I can't see what's going on.

Browntail warriors? What are they doing here?

Stand by. I'm calling Number One.

What's the meaning of this?

Your matriarch told us to come to meet her, then sent you to stop us?

The location of the meeting is just ahead, Sir Arctosz. This will only take a minute of your time.

Please allow us to search your vehicles, in the interest of safety.

What a joke. You're afraid of a handful of boys when your people picked the location? You people are cowards.

The orders came from Matriarch Ratatos. We request your cooperation.

Hmph. Do what you want. I've got nothing to hide.

No issues. You may proceed now, Sir Arctosz.

Not so fast.

You searched us. Now, we search you.

Search every nook and cranny from here to the Browntail manor, the road and everything around it.

You find anybody suspicious, take them in!

Yes, sir!

Report on the target's location, Alpha.

Come in, Alpha.

Alpha, can you hear me? Report!

What's going on...?

Command, the target car has entered our surveillance zone and is approaching the final point of action. Should we move?

When did he... is there any movement from the target?

No, the target hasn't exited the vehicle. I can't see inside from here.

Stand by. Engage once you have visual on the target.

Bravo reporting.

We have visual on what we believe to be an armed Kjerag patrol.

Have you identified them?

Unclear, possibly Paleroche guards.

Charlie reporting! We've spotted Kjerag warriors too. They're searching nearby buildings.

Our position may be compromised. Should we make a move now?

Negative, stand by.

We've been compromised! Engaging!

They found us! We've been exposed, repeat, we've been exposed!

Permission for final action!

Bloody hell...

Affirmative—

The north winds blow, over the mountain road...

The tuskbeast hides, among the rocks he bides...

Take your bow, swing it low...

...By the little wood window.

Hit.

There's at least one more... where are you...?

Missed?!

—!

...Degenbrecher?

Who are you?! What do you want with the Saintess?!

Stop, Joanna! Degenbrecher is a friend.

Degenbrecher...?

I've heard your name before... they say you're a strong warrior.

But I've never seen... a man beaten into permafrost like that...

What are you doing here, Degenbrecher?

Enciodes sent me.

I apologize, but now is not the time to stick to the rules.

How did he know I was in danger...?

This is not the only attack in recent days.

There were attempts on the lives of the members of Clans Silverash and Paleroche, soon after you left the Vine-Bead Court. The three clans are on the brink of civil war.

How could this be...?

These people...

Clan Paleroche...?

That's impossible!

Clan Paleroche has always been loyal. They would never think of murdering the Saintess!

But there has to be an explanation for these people.

Th-They must be in disguise! Someone is trying to frame the Paleroches!

Let me see... There must be some gap in their disguise...

Yes! Look at this bolt!

Hmph! These people thought they could fool us wearing Paleroche clothes, but they got a very important thing wrong.

Look, the bolts they're carrying are two-fletched, but the ones used by Paleroche warriors are three-fletched, which are more suitable for battle than hunting.

Dad told me that our family was the best, most loyal warriors of the Paleroches before we split from the clan.

Our shooting skills were passed down from our ancestors, who used them in war, mostly against—

...against the Silverashes.

A logical explanation.

All ancient history now.

The wars between the three clans, Paleroche, Browntail, and Silverash, have long since come to an end, and your family became hunters under Kjeragandr's kind guidance.

Yes... by Kjeragandr...

It's not hard to guess who is impersonating Clan Paleroche.

The Victorians...

Hm...?

Did you make this yourself?

Yes, my dad taught me when I was little. The craftsmanship has been passed down my family from one generation to the next.

From one generation to the next?

The cut of the fletching, the shape of the point, even the etching on the shaft, these are all unique to Ursus.

How's that possible? Dad said it's a mark of Kjeragandr's faithful.

I've seen arrows like these in the arenas of Kazimierz many times, used by those who claimed to master the most authentic Ursine martial arts.

A gimmick, no doubt, but the GCC also sponsors legitimate historians. I've read their papers and seen the artifacts they dug up.

But... but we're all indigenous to Kjerag. We used to be part of Clan Paleroche!

What does Ursus have to do with Kjerag?

...Enya?

'...Some brought flags, some brought drums, and some brought swords.'

'The three outsiders fought constantly, and their blood turned the rivers red, and She grieved.'

'She went to the place of battle and said—'

'Sheathe your weapons and let your hearts be joined, and I will bestow upon you the blessings of prosperity, and protect you from ill.'

'But the three were foolish, and continued to fight even after they heard Her words.'

'So She cracked the heavens and split the clouds, and She brought forth a miracle, and the fighting was stopped.'

'One of them wept: But how could we forget the hatred, the blood that was shed?'

'And She wept as well, and Her tears froze the enemy, becoming three eternally frozen peaks.'

...What was that?

A passage from the Kjeragandr that is often overlooked... now, I think I understand.

Joanna, I believe that your family... indeed, all of Clan Paleroche, originally came from Ursus.

You think so too?

Yes. But it's not just you. The Silverashes and Browntails came from elsewhere as well.

As the scriptures say, our three clans were outsiders who fought incessantly over resources, until Kjeragandr intervened.

The 'three frozen peaks' seem to refer literally to the three mountains surrounding Kjerag, but it in fact refers to the domains of the three clans, which She had demarcated.

The hearts of the three clans must be joined in order to receive Her protection...

The first virtue that Kjeragandr taught us was... forgiveness...

We got them, master!

These guys were hiding in some abandoned houses, clearly up to no good. They had binoculars and communications equipment on them. Victorians, by the looks of it.

Ha. Just as I thought.

Ratatos is plotting with the Victorians to kill me. We'll take these men to her—

No, we'll do it in front of the Vine-Bead Court with all three clans present, and we'll see what she has to say for herself!

Who's there—

We caught the remaining Victorian spies, Sir Arctosz. We are glad to see that you are unharmed.

What? What do you mean?

Matriarch Ratatos's orders were to protect you, Sir Arctosz.

We had been following you, and stopped these men when they attempted to make a move against you.

What in the name of Kjeragandr...?

...Where is Ratatos?

We do not know.

She said she would try to draw out the spies that Victoria has deployed around here. When they reveal themselves, we can—

This is...

...

...Ratatos?

What the hell have you done?!