Settling Fate

" Come on, Teach, can't you take it easy on an old student?!"

" Of course not, Sétanta, don't be foolish."

Scáthach replied to Cú Chulainn's plead with a mischievous smile as she sent him flying with a swing of her red spear. While the witch was beating her former student, I mean, putting him through some remedial lesson. Skadi watched her look-a-like with mild interest as she felt an odd feeling looking at Cú Chulainn for some odd reason. It felt like she missed something precious and oddly annoying. The Queen of Snow and Ice then turned her attention to the Master of Red Bazett and asked.

" Bazett Fraga McRemitz, correct?"

The enforcer did not reply as she got into her combat stance and used Reinforcement and Runes to strengthen herself. Skadi was not amused with Bazett's choice of action, but Shuten was as she sashayed forward.

" Ohya? You certainly seem confident in yourself."

The oni grinned as the enforcer tightened her fists to confront the Servants, and the Queen of Snow and Ice sighed as she asked with exasperation.

" Are you truly going to do this, Master of Red?"

Bazett did not reply as she knew she could not escape from the Servants in front of her and instead charged at them. Shuten grabbed the enforcer's fist and delivered a swift kick to her midsection, followed by another kick that sent the Master skidding away. The oni sipped sake from her gourd, then faded into the shadows, causing Bazett to look around with her guard up. Shuten reappeared and swiped from behind with her claws but the enforcer's body was protected by Runes, so the damage was minimal and tried to counter, but Assassin of Black disappeared once more while giggling.

Shuten was simply playing a game of cat and mouse with Bazett as she grabbed the enforcer's head and slammed it to the ground. The oni then kicked the Master while she was down and sent her skidding away. Shuten then asked Bazett with a predatory smile.

" So, do you wish to continue? Not that I mind, as I am certain your bones would make an excellent wine, so do keep on fighting that I may have an excuse to melt you down."

The oni licked her lips and could practically taste the wine made from the bones of the enforcer. Bazett grits her teeth as she sees that she is completely outclassed by Shuten but is not about to go down without a fight. Skadi then decided to try and be diplomatic with the Master of Red.

" If you surrender, I can guarantee your safety and life."

" Why should I take anything you say at face value?!"

Bazett retorted, to which Skadi replied.

" Because I do not have a single need to deceive you as I can easily crush you and your Servant on my own."

The Queen of Snow and Ice looked at the enforcer with a passive expression until Cú Chulainn landed in between the three, looking bruised and battered from his remedial lessons. The Lancer of Red said to his Master with a tired tone.

" Hey, Master, fancy meeting you here..."

" Hold on, Lancer, I will heal you."

" Don't! If Teach sees me fresh and ready for another round, she will kick my arse even harder than she already has and then some."

Scáthach returned and informed her former student that she had heard him.

" Now, Sétanta, is that any way to treat me since I am going out of my way to help you get rid of those unnecessary flourishes in handling your spear?"

" Teach, I know you're a bit of a perfectionist but isn't this more than a little excessive?!"

" In the time we have not seen each other, you seemed to have developed the habit of back talk that can be easily remedied."

Cú Chulainn shivered and seriously considered just staying in his astral form to avoid any more remedial lessons. Bazett saw how her Servant was one-sidedly being beaten by the witch and considered her options. As much as she did not want to lose the enforcer, by acknowledging that she had no hope of gaining the Grail as is, she asked Skadi.

" If I surrender, what guarantee can you give me about my well-being?"

" My word and a Geas Contract with Silva."

" Very well then, Lancer, we lost."

Cú Chulainn wryly smiled as he commented.

" We probably lost the moment Teach was summoned."

***

I looked at the three Masters of Red in my living room and asked while feeling confused.

" Why in the world would Lorelei try to fight me like this by sending you three into the lion's den?"

" Lady Barthomeloi suggested this plan of attack to test the waters but probably did not expect things to turn out as they did last night."

Waver said and was about to take out a cigar to smoke, but I stopped him.

" No smoking in my home."

The Rider of Red's Master put back his case of cigars, and Kairi added.

" There is also the fact the Queen held back the strongest Servants on her side while sending out the weaker ones to see if any new information could be gleaned."

" Speaking which, who are Archer, Assassin, and Berserker?"

" Beats me; the Queen kept quiet on that front, and the rest did the same."

I figured it not be that easy, so I focused on the other two Masters of Red since the necromancer had already forfeited his rights as a Master, starting with Waver.

" Waver, are there going to be any issues between us, considering you lost your king once more?"

Ishtar, Medea, and Medusa dealt with Alexander, while Sakura and Rin captured the older Mage. Waver replied with a solemn expression.

" While I did technically summon my king and even got confirmation that he remembers me, he was not yet the man I swore to and wished to serve under. So no, there will not be any issues between us."

I nodded in understanding, then directed my gaze at Bazett.

" Considering that our Servants are close to one another, I am willing to bargain with you within reason, Bazett Fraga McRemitz. What is your wish for the Grail."

I already knew it, but I wanted confirmation, and the enforcer answered.

" I want to save Lancer from his fate."

" That likely is not possible since the Holy Grail is not omnipotent like many mistakenly think, as its original purpose was to reach the Root, but it is undoubtedly a powerful wish granter. So my offer for you is this, I won't make any moves to defeat your Servant unless you give me cause to, and you can probably make him you're familiar if you so desire."

" I..."

Bazett looked at a loss at what to do next, and I told her.

" You are free to think about it so long as you do not take any further part in the Great Holy Grail War and stand against me."

" I will take heed of your advice, Branwen..."

At the enforcer's reply, I shrugged and told Kairi.

" Come on, Kairi, let's see if we can deal with that curse of yours."