Chapter 55 – The Last Time We Meet

Of Beasthood and Of War, I dare admit I have some fascination with. I have always had a fascination with them, in the same fashion that Of Food & Bounty has a fascination with me… …With all said and done, I do not fear Of Pride, but there is some caution and hesitation I have. The same people that created that wicked Pride created the Love that gave existence to me…

The first time I ever felt fear was during the Great War. It was an odd sensation, because the situation wasn’t particularly, how should it be put? “Traditionally spooky” is a good way to phrase it. I remember the moment clearly, it was me, Iniri, Kavaa, Maisara, Fortia and Atis. We were planning to breach the fortress city of Koranstin. An elven messenger brought us the news. My first instinct was to flee.

“Neneria has appeared, she’s heading here.”

- Excerpt from the autobiography: “Roses, Blades & Blood”, by Goddess Helenna, of Love.

Maisara watched Kassandora with pure fury. She was angry, but there was no reason to take it out on the Goddess of War. Of Order nursed the burn on her arm as Fortia took a heavy sigh and sat down opposite the Kassandora in her tiny cell. They both wore their armours, once again charred silver and darkened gold. “So you’ve been wounded again.” Kassandora said. “And I suppose it’s because she’s sent you off somewhere since you’ve come here.” Was the woman ever wrong? Did she read minds?

“She’s declared Anarchia as an existential threat!” Maisara shouted. Who did Allasaria think she was? It was a move so dirty there was no way she could take it! It was downright tyranny! And what happened later? Would Allasaria find another Divine to declare as an existential threat if Anarchia was killed? Would she simply circumvent a millennia of tradition and precedent?

“I assume to get rid of you two?” Kassandora said lazily, her eyes dull but her hair still bright red. Did she not even care? They were in this together! What was the promise she had made worth?

“She’s sending me to the location of Atis’ disappearance and Maisara to quell the unrest in Rancais.” Fortia said. “After I’m finished, I’m to go and help Doschia fix their economy.”

“Well I suppose it’s time to start reading economics then.” Kassandora said idly as she leaned back. The Goddess closed her eyes and thought about something.

“Do you have any ideas on what to do?”

“When does Leona have to go visit Olephia?”

“The date is unknown but…” Fortia and Maisara looked at each other. “Within four months’ time. Five would be pushing it.”

“And how long would this Rancais issue take?”

“Dealing with them?” Maisara said. “Years. Two at the least.”

“I thought you could do it faster than that.” Kassandora said.

“I could fix it in a month if the Paladins are granted deployment. But they won’t be, it’s an Epan country, they have their own national mascots.”

“What a lovely way to punish you for misbehaving.” Kassandora said. “That was the risk indeed, but you’ve driven her into a corner now.”

“Have we?” Maisara leaned forwards. It was Kassandora, of course she would see an opening they would have missed.

“It’s not without risk, but it gives you leverage.” Kassandora began after another minute of silence. In that moment, her face was a hawk hunting a rabbit. Maisara could only imagine Allasaria as that rabbit.

“Tell me.” Maisara said.

“Maliciously comply.” Allasaria said. “The issue is you can’t make the first move because that will give her justification to kick you out of the Pantheon. Then it’s over, you as independent Gods.” Kassandora gave them both a grimace of a look. “Well, you’re not the most popular are you? You have a base of support from the sterner part of the population, but that support will whither if you leave the White Pantheon. People who like Order and Peace won’t suddenly become independents whilst the world is still functioning smoothly.”

“You’re telling us to do as she says then?” Fortia asked, her voice cold.

“Do you want to fix a market? Or do you want a month-long camping session with your Order?” Kassandora asked.

“I’d prefer neither.”

“Neither is something I can’t offer you.” Kassandora said. “But you’re acting as Allasaria’s hands right now.” Her smile bared teeth. “It doesn’t matter if the hand is the one holding the knife that went through someone’s back, the head still rolls.” Maisara narrowed her eyes. Sometimes Kassandora sounded like Helenna with her theatrics. She looked to Fortia, that Divine was staring with pure awe at Kassandora.

“What? I don’t get it.” Maisara burst out angrily.

“You’re under Allasaria’s orders are you not?” Kassandora explained. When Allasaria explained, she always used the tone that talked down to you. When Kass explained, it was more akin to rephrasing something, that was another thing Maisara liked about the woman. “Now let’s say youaccidentallyexecute the wrong person. Youaccidentallydon’t save hostages. Youaccidentallylead men to their deaths. You’re responsible no doubt, but you’re the Goddess of Order,everyoneknows that mighty Maisara is…” Kassandora stopped. “Excuse the phrasing, but rather blunt.”

“You mean I put a stop to criminality where I see it.” Maisara corrected her.

“Others don’t see it that way, but Allasaria knows you, and she knows how you act. Why would she send you to Rancais if she did not want you to…put a stop to criminality.” Maisara blinked and understood. “Likewise you Fortia. Are you the Goddess of market economics or the damn Goddess of Peace? Sending you to manage an economic crisis? It willobviouslynot work.”

“Of course it won’t.” Fortia said, she smiled like a wolf out for blood. “Only a fool would send me to manage markets.”

“This happens all the time in war. If men go on a rampage and rape and pillage through the villages, it’s the captain that takes the blame for losing control of his men.” Kassandora said lightly. “It is like sending Zerus to clear out the dwarven tunnels, like sending Elassa to improve a country’s birth-rates. It is simply stupid.”

“And then-” Fortia said. Kassandora finished for her.

“And then, if a leader cannot manage their men, the leader should be replaced, removed. This rule applies to businesses, to wars, even to the White Pantheon. It is simply the natural law of responsibility.”

Maisara looked to Fortia and Fortia looked to Maisara. Maisara knew the expression smear over her closest’s face. She knew she carried the same one. “Allasaria won’t survive this.”

“She may.” Kassandora cooled their excitement. “But she won’t the leader of the White Pantheon anymore.” Maisara stood up. It was exactly why they had come to Kassandora.

“Thank you.” Maisara said. “This is the final move.” Kassandora nodded.

“This is indeed the final move, unless something happens, this is the last time we meet when I’m a prisoner.” The Goddess of War brushed her hair. “I hope you don’t forget your end of the deal.”

“Of course.” Maisara said.

“We are honest, we said we would free you. You will be freed.” Fortia added. Kassandora looked as if she wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

Sara rolled out of bed and answered her ringing phone. “This is Edmonton Weaver speaking.”

Anassa did work fast.

Helenna, Kavaa and Iniri sat in silence in Kassandora’s cell, all three of the guests were dressed in black, a dress and two suits. Helenna on the chair opposite Kass, the other two the bed, hands clasped tightly together. The Goddess of War nodded to the report Helenna had just given her and thought over something. Helenna wondered how much the woman had planned, and how much she was actually working out now. Anyone else, she could buy that they needed to consider. But Kassandora?

Eventually, the Goddess of War stood up, grey garb somehow making the blood-red mane on her head more brilliant. “Unless something big happens, this is the last time we meet.” Kassandora said suddenly. Helenna felt her own hair go white, she saw Iniri’s eyes widen and Kavaa’s grip around her friend’s hand tighten. “From my side, everything I could do is done. Unless you need more advice, there is no more reason for you to come here.”

“Excuse me?” Kavaa asked. “You’re done?”

“Today, I have removed Fortia and Maisara from the picture. Their Orders are shut down too, they will not assist the Seekers when we make our move.” The other Goddesses looked at each other in pure shock.

“Excuse me?”

“Are you sure?”

“Really?”

“The chance of them staying out of the conflict is greater than the chance of them going in. That’s the best we can hope for.” Kassandora said. “And I would like to discuss my escape plan.”

“Your escape plan?” Kavaa asked.

“Am I supposed to lead from this cell?” Kassandora asked. “You came to me for help, I told you what I wanted in return.”

“But the Pantheon…” The others looked at themselves. Helenna’s hair went into a pale shade of ivory. They had agreed but… But the Pantheon had not collapsed yet. Leona was still alive. This wasn’t an act of survival, it was treachery.

“If you wait until after Leona dies, then it will be too late. Maisara and Fortia will return the moment they hear the news to issue their challenge to Allasaria.”

“How?” Iniri asked. “How did you even get rid of them?”

“Maisara will be dealing with Rancais’ Anarchian issue, Fortia is sent to fix Doschia’s economic malaise.”

“But…” Kavaa asked, her green eyes narrowing. “How? What?”

“You told Allasaria what to do.” Helenna said accusingly. She already knew Of Light had visited, that was partly their reasoning for coming here today. But this? If the decision was made today, then it would take until dusk to confirm it from her own spies.

“I told her what she wanted to hear.” Kassandora said. “And threw in a little of my own words too.”

“What did you tell her?”

“I asked her for a seat on the Pantheon.” Helenna gawked.

“SHE WOULD NEVER!” The Goddess of Love shouted. Allasaria would never, should never, could never let Kassandora have a seat. If that happened… what happened to them? All this scheming for nothing?

“Of course she would not.” Kassandora said. “But it will leave her thinking and the more she thinks, the less she does.”

“Are you sure that Maisara and Fortia will play along?” Kavaa asked again.

“They’ll be going off today. I’m sure Helenna will confirm this information. Fortia is heading to find Atis’ death site, then to Doschia.” Kassandora said. “But I have said that already. It is good that you came, I want to talk to you about the plan.”

“You mean to free you?” Kavaa asked and Kassandora nodded. She took a step forwards, practically beaming with energy. Helenna wondered if every meeting she had in the Great War was like this too. She could see how it managed to last a century, when Of War spoke of battle, her tone was simply untouchable. She practically glowed like a Divine among Divines.

“Your men, I would say ten thousand is enough.” Kassandora said. “Bring Orders that deal with the regions in Arika, they should have the best men among them.”

“Arika is facing a malaria outbreak right now.” Kavaa said.

“Then send the Epan Orders to replace them, your troops are the only ones with real combat experience that isn’t chasing criminals Kavaa. Ten thousand will be enough, even against Allasaria’s Seekers.” Kavaa took a heavy breath, she looked to Iniri, then to Helenna, then down at her knees.

“Are you sure this will succeed?” Kavaa asked.

“Ten thousand Clerics is not a force the Seekers will want to move against, even if it is to stop me. Especially if I have their back. Make sure they know I’m here.”

“I…” Kavaa once again looked to the other two Goddesses. Helenna had always been attuned to Kavaa’s feelings and today it felt like the woman was about to throw up. “This is war, proper open war we are talking about.” Kassandora stepped towards the woman, around the containment crystal in the middle of the room and grabbed the woman’s white shirt. She pulled her off the bed and forced her to stand.

“Did you think this would be bloodless? I told you so much at the start, I will be your gladiator. Gladiators fight and kill and die. Why do you think Maisara has barricaded her quarter? Do you think it’s simply theatre? Or a show of force?”

“It’s a show of force.” Kavaa replied sadly.

“There is no greater show of force than spilling blood. If you want to be treated equally, you will have to show that you’re equal to them. That is simply the way our world works.”

“What about the other Divines?” Kavaa asked quietly. “We can’t… I would be sending ten thousand men to their deaths.”

“That is my responsibility.” Kassandora said put her hand on her chest. “How far away can you be to heal?”

“The closer the better, physical contact is best.”

“If my arm were to be blown off, how long?” Kassandora asked, Helenna’s eyes bulged. It was one thing to play at plots, it was another entirely when Kassandora was talking about wounds so casually.

“If I laid hands on you…” Kavaa bounced her head from side to side. “A minute? Thirty seconds?”

“You can’t do it faster?”

“It would hurt.”

“I can take it.”

“Then it could even be five seconds, maybe even faster, but it…” Kavaa’s voice trailed off. “The pain is unimaginable Kass. It’s not something…”

“You come back to me personally with a blade, we will test it later then.” Kassandora said, she looked to Iniri. “You will stall.”

“Stall?”

“Can you not command plants? Grow vines to block corridors, make trees go on a rampage? The Goddess of Food & Bounty was once considered a jealous Divine who took as much as she gave.”

“That’s not me anymore.” Iniri said looked down at her hands. “But yes, I can stall. But I made a vow not to harm people.”

“Vows come and go, I’m sure your vow never accounted for you going against Allasaria, Maisara and Fortia. It will understand.”

“But…” Iniri said quietly.

“And me?” Helenna almost bounced on her seat. “What about me?”

“Kavaa will take over the entrance to the prison, her clerics will clear a path to Olympiada’s airport. You Helenna have the most important task.” Kassandora turned to the Goddess of Love, her hand raised to the containment crystal, a single finger pointed forwards. “You will break this.”