Chapter 95 – Bloodied, but Unbeaten

Arascus has brought a living weapon into Igos and now he wants to stay?

And?

What do you mean and?

Are you going to be the one to tell him to leave?

Conversation within the Igos government.Helenna sat with Neneria. “It’s been seven weeks now.” Helenna said. The life of the two Goddess had devolved into little more than sitting on that hill and waiting for Fer, Kassandora and Kavaa to return with Iniri in their arms. Since two weeks ago, every single time the wind would brush the treetops, Helenna would keep up hoping it was Kassandora moving a tree. Or Fer. Whichever of them was actually stronger. Every shout from one of the nearby camps, her head would pop up before she realised the sound came from the wrong direction.

“Seven weeks was yesterday. We’re on a straight fifty days.” Neneria said.

“I didn’t count the first half-day.”

“I did.” Neneria said. And so they sat. Neneria in that long black dress with a collar of raven feathers, Helenna in a simple shirt and shorts. An hour went by as the Sun gently wandered across the sky. Helenna had grown comfortable of Neneria. The Goddess of Death was terrifying at first, but she wasn’t too bad when you got to know her. Quiet, with an odd way of speaking that seemingly killed conversation, but it was just direct.

“What did you get the reports for?” Helenna asked. Several had arrived to Damian Sokolowski from… somewhere. Helenna did not know. She had slowly built up a spy network here, not out of malice, but rather it was just how she got around. A servant would talk here, a maid there, soldiers and guards would complain and Helenna would be there to listen. But the men blessed by Kassandora were different, they had been in the past, they were now. They seemingly never got tired, and when they did, they would go and sleep.

“They’re for Kassandora.” Neneria replied. It was the same reply again. Helenna did not want to push the issue, she had talked with Neneria, but she had not seen the woman get angry, nor happy, nor show any emotion. Neneria simply sat there, sometimes went for a walk, and then returned to sitting and watching the Jungle.

Helenna turned and leaned against Neneria. The woman was taller, her dress was soft and her arms were pleasant to lean against. Kassandora’s men were holding drills again. They rarely had combat drills, now, they were shovelling holes, in the evening, they would start burying them again. The Arikans rarely came now, twice they appeared to ask for assistance from the Clerics when someone was injured, once again when the Jungle stole someone again. That person was never found even after a search party entered the woods for a day. The Clerics themselves were training marches.

A new camp had appeared, representatives of the Kirinyaan Government. They wanted to talk with Kavaa and Kassandora, but with neither of them about, now they only stood and monitored the situation. Helenna had supposed they would, Kirinyaa now had over a hundred Clerics in its borders. That was a foreign army, it would be foolish to let them go unmonitored. They had the sleekest tents of the lot, ones that extended from cars and vans and buses to create cool, air-conditioned rooms. They would send inspectors to the various Cleric Orders, and Kassandora’s army, but largest let kept their noses out of Divine politics.

The wind brushed the treetops again and Helenna jumped. Neneria was sat there, her eyes unfocused, as ghastly opaque fairies soared from her. This activity, she started two weeks ago. At first, it had been done twice a day, in the evening and the morning, then three times a day, again at noon. Now, Neneria would spend do it on the beat of every hour. They flew into the air, scattered in all directions and flickered above the Jungle. Helenna saw the Arikans come out to watch, they always watched the ghosts and talked with each other.

A minute went by. Two. Ten. The fairies started to return. One that had travelled North flew to Neneria’s ear and whispered something in some incomprehensible language. The rest of the fairies disappeared in an instant. They were there, and then suddenly they weren’t. Neneria’s eyes grew sharp and she chuckled to herself. “Helenna, stand up.” It was the first time Neneria had actually given a direct order to Helenna, in a cool tone that simply demanded a person act.

“What is it?” Helenna brushed the red Arikan dirt off herself.

“North. They are back.” For an instant, Helenna did not hear the words. Her ears caught the sound, but her mind simply did not register them. Then it did.

“They’re back?” Helenna half-shouted, half-spoke in excitement.

“They are.” Neneria said. The woman spread her legs, her ghostly winged horse appeared underneath her, and it hoisted her into the air. “Come. I’ll keep pace for you.”

“They’re back?”

“Five of them.” Helenna jumped up in excitement, took a step and then faltered.

“Five?” There was only Fer, Kavaa, Kassandora and Iniri. She counted them twice to make sure it was four.

“Five.” Neneria said definitely. “Baalka is the fifth.” There was an inkling of a smile on Neneria’s lips as Pegaz started to trot. Helenna faltered. Baalka?ThatBaalka? The Goddess of Disease? The woman with a list of titles longer than them all? None of them good:The ScourgeandThe Walking Plaguewere only the kindest.

Helenna stopped for a second as Neneria’s horse trotted into the air and walked a foot above ground. The Clerics had already started to look. Kassandora’s men ceased their hole-digging. It was the first time the horse had appeared since they left, so of course they must have noticed. “Do you have clothes?” Neneria asked. Helenna looked down at herself and touched her shirt.

“Excuse me?” Helenna asked and Neneria sighed.

“Spare clothes I meant.”

“I do.” Of course she did!

“I assume you know Iniri’s size. Bring them something to cover themselves with. Bring a blanket for Baalka too and something large for Fer.” Neneria sighed. “If you don’t have anything for her, then I have a box in Kassandora’s camp, there’s cloaks in there that should fit her.”

“I’ll find something of mine!” Helenna shouted as she ran off. “Wait here for me!”

“I’ll be moving north, you’ll see me, I’ll be slow. They’re far away anyway.” Helenna did not respond. She ran off immediately back to her own tent in Kavaa’s camp. They were back! They were back! She couldn’t believe it! Kavaa and Iniri! She knew they’d return! They had taken Kassandora with them! That woman could do anything! After planning an escape from Olympiada, of course a little Jungle like this would be nothing for them! Why did she worry anyway?

Helenna burst out in laughter as Clerics stopped to look at her. The Goddess of Love did not care whatsoever what they thought of her. Men were starting to organise, Neneria’s horse and her reaction must given away what was happening at this point. Kassandora’s army had formed a team of a dozen men, led by Damian Sokolowski and were slowly following Neneria, the Clerics had organised several teams. Even the Arikans, both the government and the nomads, had sent people.

Helenna burst into her own tent and tore her wardrobe apart. A dress like this could fit Iniri. It was slightly oversized, but light enough. The woman would be tired no doubt, she wouldn’t want to be cooked in some thick jumper. What else? Something for Baalka! Helenna did not even care she was fetching a cloak and a light blanket for the Goddess of Disease, someone she had fought against a thousand years prior. It was meaningless anyway! They had rescued Iniri! Of course she’d help! It was the least she could do. She spun with the clothes in her arms, and then spun again. Fer! She had almost forgot.

Fer was much more difficult. She found the biggest dress she had, and even that would be too small for Fer. Kassandora, it would fit, but not of Beasthood. A cloak would have to do. Fer didn’t seem to have a problem with strolling around naked anyway. A cloak, and the biggest shirt she had. It may as well have been a blanket for Helenna, but it should fit Fer. She had only worn it when something had to be thrown on and she knew her privacy wasn’t going to be compromised.

With the clothes in her hands, she ran out. Neneria was slowly trailing along the ridge of the hill that block view of the Jungle, Kassandora’s men behind her. Then the Clerics. Then the nomadic Arikans. Then at the end of the convoy, a modern offroad-car was slowly following them. Helenna did not care, she ran to Neneria. They slowly walked forwards until Neneria extended her hand and brought the company to a stop.

Five figures slowly appeared from the horizon. Neneria did not send out a ghost to confirm, there was no need to. Fer’s towering stature and then Kassandora’s great blade and black armour made silhouettes that were impossible to mistake.

Helenna burst out in joy and ran forwards.