Chapter 21 – Peace Unto War, War Unto Peace.

“You think that’s all?” Fleur shouted at her three friends. “It’s just fine for you to play along with her!?”

“Good enough for me.” Lyca said and rubbed where Eliza had devastated his chest. “I don’t bother asking questions. I’m just here to be taught.”

“We already have this.” Edmonton lifted his hand, the water in his cup flew up and danced and pranced along his fingers. “Who else has that?”

“Honestly, I’m just scared of her.” Eliza said quietly. Fleur silently boiled in her own anger.

“Well it might be good enough for you, it’s not good enough for me!”

“I’ve already tried finding out who she is.” Edmonton said.

“But you’re not me.”

“Goddess Allasaria has forbidden all entry into the Lower Prison.” Allasaria’s Seekers refused to step out of the way for Fortia. They stood before a black door, all steel, like terrified statues.

“I wasn’t asking.” Fortia leaned on her spear. The Seekers took shared a nervous glance between themselves. They were all golden armour, with white capes, longswords on their hips, bows on their backs. Talentless hacks, children who played dress-up. Capes were useless in war, sword and bow but no shield? Who did they think they were? One of her own Guardians or Maisara’s Paladins was equal to ten of them.

“I…” The taller Seeker’s tone faded.

“I told you to move.” Fortia growled. She towered over them. Humans trying to stop her? Who dared stand in the way of Peace?

“But Goddess Allasaria specifically named you and Goddess Maisara.” The Seeker was forcing whispers out.

“Then go run toGoddessAllasaria and get her to stop me.” Fortia lifted the spear and tapped the end on the marble floor. “But right now, the only decision you have to make is whether I will be washing blood off myself.”

The Seekers moved and Fortia walked through that black steel door. Pathetic. Humans trying to stop her? She was a damn Divine! She shook her head and turned down one of the corridors. The marble had faded away to only be black slate down here, every inch reinforced with enough steel to make a breastplate. How times have changed, in the past, men would avert their eyes because they weren’t worthy of looking at her. Now? Now they dared block her passage? What a joke.

The corridor grew narrow. Fortia had to lower her spear and use the walls for support. It was specifically designed to hold the sole occupant of the cell at the end. You couldn’t swing a greatsword in such tight a place. By the time Fortia made it through the passage, she was breathing heavily. When she arrived at the door, she had to take a rest to recover. This effort added another day of recuperation for her leg.

She stood at the door and knocked. A woman’s voice answered, deep yet warm. “Come in.” Fortia entered the cell. It was plain, only with a bed, a table and two chairs. A single magical lamp in the corner. In the middle of the room stood one of Saranael’s inventions, a dark crystal ball. The key to the prison, the binding stone that made leaving this room impossible. Everyone but the subject could touch it.

Something deep in Fortia’s heart admired the woman in simple grey garments lying on the bed. After being locked away for a thousand years, those dark eyes have not lost an inch of their fire. She had grown shorter, all of them did, but she was still as tall as Allasaria, her movements were slower, but they were still deliberate. Still sharp. Even that hair hadn’t faded, still crimson and bright enough to put Helenna’s to shame.

“So we meet again Fortia.”

“So we meet again Kassandora.” The Goddess of War sat up from her bed and looked over Fortia.

“Seems like things haven’t gone your way since our last talk.” Kassandora sighed and stood up. “I’m not going to insult and baby you but sit down.” Fortia wished she had those few extra inches so every conversation wouldn’t be with her being looked down on. She merely clicked her tongue and sat down. “So what do you want? Advice again?”

“I have a proposition and a problem.” Fortia said. Kassandora sat opposite her, put one leg over the other and crossed her arms. Fortia leaned back and let her spear drop to the floor with a heavy sigh. That was how a Goddess should act: Kassandora spent the last millennia in this room and she still carried herself better than most of the White Pantheon.

“I assume it’s more serious than just being your injury?” Kassandora asked.

“It’s related.”

“Get Kavaa to heal it then.” Classy Kass, always direct.

“Allasaria forbid it.” Fire flashed within Kassandora’s eyes and she bared her teeth in a smile.

“Oh my my my.” She cooed. “Allasaria forbid it? That’s never stopped you before.”

“Before was different.” Kassandora nodded.

“Was it now?”

“There’s a threat.”

“You know my domain is rather narrow, I might not be of much use.” Kassandora said. Fortia merely gave the Goddess a flat look.

“Your domain is as eternal as mine, don’t insult us like that.”

“If I’m getting fattened up with praise then you do want something.” Kassandora said. “Alright, this measly relic will try and assist, what do you want?” Fortia leaned back and sighed. How should it be said? Would Kassandora even want to try? She shook her head, cleared her mind and simply said what needed to be said.

“Leona has predicted her own death.” Kassandora’s smile dropped. She leaned forward, that red hair falling around her face. Her eyes burning like controlled fires.

“Excuse me?”

“Leona has predicted her own death.”

“Not an assassination? Death?”

“Yes. Leona has said she will die.” Kassandora sat back up and stretched her arms.

“I see.” She said. “So I’m going to be executed finally?”

“What?” Fortia asked.

“It’s over. I’m only part of the status quo because the status quo can afford it. She’s gone and.” Kassandora made a slicing motion along her neck. “You won’t let me join Allasaria, Allasaria won’t me join you, better to remove an unpredictable element than leave it hanging.” Kassandora shrugged. “Eventually, the mess has to be cleaned up.”

“You still talk like you did back then.” Fortia said and Kassandora burst out in laughter.

“There comes a point when the only thing you can against death is laugh at it.” She said, her tone slowly became cold. “Am I supposed to break down and cry Fortia? Beg for my life? Spare me.”

“No.” Fortia said. She still was mulling over how to say the words. Every scenario in her mind told her that Kassandora would simply laugh at her. The Goddess of War finally spoke up.

“Maisara’s in on it, isn’t she?”

“What?”

“You came here to ask me for help with killing Allasaria.” Kassandora said, her tone definite.

“How did you know that?”

“I guessed, it was the only thing that made sense.” She snorted in humour. “If it was my last day, you’d come in here, give me a hug and tell me you’ll be waiting for my reincarnation.”

“Don’t think so highly of yourself.” Fortia said and Kassandora only smiled.

“I’ll help you.” Kassandora said and raised one finger. “Obviously there’s the condition I’ll be freed.”

“Naturally.” Fortia said. “You shouldn’t have been in here in the first place.”

“What I should be is dead Fortia. I lost, you won.” Kassandora interrupted. “But there’s one other condition.”

“What is it?”

“You don’t invite me.” Kassandora said.

“Excuse me?”

“Maisara does. Send her here.” Fortia blinked. Leaned back. Crossed her arms. Sighed.

Worst case scenario.

“Why?” Fortia asked.

“Because I have things to discuss.” Kassandora said and Fortia’s cheeks started to burn.

“Excuse me? Things to discuss? Who am I exactly then?”

“You’re the dear Goddess of Peace.” Kassandora said. “A Goddess who cannot be touched, who will burn the rulebook to get her way. Why else would you be talking to the Goddess of War?”

“You’re making me out to be a scoundrel.”

“Oh no. I think it’s very admirable. You have unstoppable will. You set your mind to something and it’s done.”

“Who’s buttering who up now?” Fortia asked coldly. Kassandora continued her assault.

“But you’re a liar. I am too, so I won’t hold it against you. It just means we’re simply too good for each other. Maisara’s much friendlier to work with.”

“Am I supposed to be overjoyed by that?” Fortia half shouted, Kassandora only spread her arms out to either side as if she was testing weights.

“What I’m saying is that if I was in trouble, I’d call you. But if you and Maisara were banks, only fools would invest in you.”

“A great amount of people would disagree.”

“There’s a great many fools out there.” Kassandora said. “Maisara, here, I’ll negotiate with her.”

“Maisara hates you.”

“That’s why I’m not letting you pair us up.” Fortia shook her head.

“You’ve not changed a bit.”

“I’ve changed a lot. Unlike the rest of you, I have change built into me.” Fortia finally stood up. Kassandora leaned down and picked up her spear for her.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“I’ll talk to Maisara.”

The two separated with nothing but a nod. The door slammed by itself the moment Fortia left the room. Kassandora and Maisara? Fortia clicked her tongue, that was exactly what she wanted to avoid. Those two were antithetical to each other. She slowly started to walk back as her mind told her she was making the biggest mistake of her life.