Things in City Center moved in rapid motion, as Enek’Chok finalized his plan to follow and recapture the Godknight. It wasn’t complicated, really. All he had to do was select the right group of people for the quest force. It pained him not to lead that squad himself, but, despite how important to the Order and the Holy Ascension itself the Godknight was, he could not simply abandon the invasion while it was still ongoing.

He had summoned his command crew, as well as every Master and General currently operating in Safehaven. They stood in a semi-circle at the base of Verity’s Lament, Enek’Chok at the front, facing them.

“Naruza,” he began. “Will you update everyone, please?”

He looked at her expectantly. His adrenaline, as well as his ire, remained high after the unexpected turn of events that saw the Godknight escape. That three ordinary people—one of which sat locked up in the tower behind him, a woman he could not wait to have a word with—had managed to walk right through his army and up to Aetherion’s cages was absolutely maddening.

But Enek’Chok was old enough and experienced enough to understand there had been something else at work there, assisting them. He didn’t think it was expressly magical, or that any of the three thieves would be capable of crafting magic at that level. Not having lived, he presumed, their whole lives in Brightholme, where their knowledge of magic had been severely curtailed. But something had assisted them, whether it was the Godknight, feigning defeat but dipping into unforeseen resources, or, perhaps more troubling, something—or someone—else entirely.

Naruza hesitated. She was a mystic who was more accustomed to practicing alone, Enek’Chok understood, and not used to addressing a group. But Enek’Chok’s patience was thin, and the need for expediency was urgent. He glared at her with uncharacteristic force.

“Yes, Master,” she said, visibly shaken. “Of course.”

Naruza held her hands behind her back and shuffled her feet as she spoke. “The Godknight has stopped somewhere in the north. It is safe to say, judging by how abruptly he stopped flying, he has crashed. The good news is, despite his escape, his strength is not returning. In fact, he continues to grow weaker. I can’t say for sure how he managed to escape, though I now understand he detected my presence and not only hid that fact from me, but also managed to feign unconsciousness. So what I had been reading from him might have been a little… misleading.”

“How can you be sure you’re reading him correctly now?” a grizzled general named Seraphine Warhart asked. She wasn’t one to embrace things mystical or magical, and Enek’Chok wasn’t surprised by the question. But it was a good question, and they needed to hear a response they could trust.

“I’m certain,” Naruza said. “As I said, his weakness continues to grow. And as it does, his ability to hide from me lessens, while my insight only grows stronger.”

“His weakness grows,” Warhart started. “And yet, he still managed to elude you.”

“Enough,” Enek’Chok interrupted.

“Do we know exactly where he is?” Krun Kagle asked.

“North, as I said,” Naruza stated. “Towards, I believe…” She looked to Enek’Chok.

“Crescent Hollow.”

“Oh, wow,” a new voice chimed in from behind them. They turned to see a small, bizarre figure approaching them, and every one of them cringed. “I literally just came from there! But I wouldn’t bother going that way if I were you. Not much happening. In fact, I’d say the whole place is pretty dead.”

“Savina,” Enek’Chok said. “Thank you for joining us.” There was no sincerity in his voice, and he didn’t try to pretend there was. But she was a Master, and, like it or not, deserved to be involved in the discussion.

Savina Frost reached the group and shoehorned her way between Sh’Tera and Krun Kagle. Krun stepped aside, almost timidly. Sh’Tera only growled, like the beasts she mastered.

“So, you let the guy get away, huh?” she asked.

“It’s not that simple,” Tua Aoy said. Her tone was sharp; she recognized Savina’s comment was aimed at Enek’Chok, and was quick to come to his defense.

“I told you, ‘Chok,” Savina started. “You should have let me fight him. He was standing there, right in front of me. Easy pickings. I had the jump on him and everything.”

“Call me ‘Chok’ one more time and I will kill you,” Enek’Chok stated matter-of-factly. He had no patience for her games right now, and to allow her to get away with insulting him in front of his entire command team was not an option.

Savina grinned, and executed a dramatic curtsy, flaring out her torn and dirty dress. “My sincerest apologies, mister Master of War, sir.”

Enek’Chok didn’t acknowledge her any further, instead addressing his crew directly. “I am forming a quest force to track down and recapture the Godknight. They will leave immediately. It will be led by General Kagle. I will need many of you to accompany him: Sh’Tera, to control the kaleese. Orion Fireforge, to operate the Forge Clasp Titan. And Naruza.”

“Me?” Naruza nearly shouted. “But Master… I’m a mystic. I’m no soldier or… or… field agent.”

“I understand I am asking much of you, Naruza. But it cannot be helped. This mission will require swiftness, and your ability to track the Godknight and inform General Kagle directly will be crucial.”

“I can’t go,” Sh’Tera grumbled.

Enek’Chok sighed. It was always more difficult dealing with Masters. “I’m afraid you must.”

“Why aren’t you going?” Sh’Tera asked him.

“I would if I could. But there is still too much to do here.”

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“Exactly,” Sh’Tera said. “I have dozens of beasts other than the kaleese to control. Not to mention the Qembils, who have yet to return.”

“I understand, Sh’Tera,” Enek’Chok said. “But—”

“I will send my Steward, Mara Moonshadow,” Sh’Tera said.

Enek’Chok considered this for a moment. He didn’t know Mara Moonshadow very well; she was a young mute girl who stayed closer to the beasts than his army. But she had reached an impressive level of Ascension, especially for someone so young, with sigils reaching up as far as her ribcage. And for this mission, the only beasts that would need controlling were the two kaleese.

“That will do,” Enek’Chok decided. He turned his attention to Kagle, addressing him directly. “Take what supplies you need. Keep your forces light; no more than two dozen foot soldiers and one battle mage and their shield wardens. You will have to move quickly.”

He turned to Orion Fireforge next. “How fast can Dewpetal’s machine move, Fireforge?”

“Eh, don’t have to worry about that, bub,” Fireforge said. “She’s got a few extra gears in her. She’ll run fine.”

“Good. Okay, then, if there is nothing else—”

“Eh, boss-man?” Savina Frost was raising her hand. Enek’Chok glared at her but said nothing.

“I think I’m gonna be joining them,” she stated. “Nothing really for me to do here anyway.”

“That… won’t be necessary, thank you,” Enek’Chok said, and tried to break away.

“It will be necessary, thank you,” Savina said.

Enek’Chok put his hands on his hips. He could feel his self-control, always so carefully maintained, slipping.

“Look, you’re gonna need a psychic, right?” Savina asked. She took a little bit of the edge off her tone, for once, as if she were making an offer with some sincerity. “You’re sending the mystic chick so she be closer to the situation. And if you’re not sending your personal psychic…” Savina motioned towards Tua Aoy.

“I am not,” Enek’Chok said, a little too defensively.

“Right,” Savina continued. “I get that. So you’re gonna need one, up close and personal. And there ain’t no psychics more powerful than me.” She winked at Tua Aoy, who folded her arms and looked away.

“General Kagle, make your preparations,” Enek’Chok ordered.

Kagle said, “Yes, Master,” and hurried away.

“Everyone else, you have your orders. Master Frost, let’s talk.”

He turned away from the group, clasped his hands behind his back, and began to walk. Savina walked besides him.

“This is not a good idea,” Enek’Chok said honestly. “You know what is at stake. And, let’s be honest. You’re unpredictable and far more interested in your wants and needs than the Orders’.”

“Well, I take great exception to that, thank you very much,” Savina said. “I’ll have you know that I handled the witches flawlessly. And that wasn’t my first command, remember?”

Enek’Chok stopped short. “Command? Surely you’re not suggesting you lead? No, that is out of the question. General Kagle—”

“Is a general,” she said. “Not a Master.”

“I am in charge of every aspect of this invasion. Every aspect. Master or not, I decide who will be in the party, and who will lead it. And General Kagle is my choice.”

“Nope,” Savina said.

Enek’Chok stared at her, his jaw open. He had just defeated a god in combat, and this petulant little deviant dared to deny him? And not just deny him, but disrespect him?

“Or maybe we can just call Malphor and ask what he thinks…” Savina practically sang it.

Enek’Chok made a decision, then and there. ‘I will kill her one day.’

Nobody in the Order of the Holy Ascension was as close to Lord Malphor as Enek’Chok was. For decades they had been of the same mind, their goals perfectly in line. Lord Malphor rarely asked for advice, but when he did, it was the council of his Master of War he sought out first. His trust in Enek’Chok’s decision making on the battlefield was absolute; he had never doubted Enek’Chok’s abilities or questioned any of his decisions.

He had little doubt whose side Lord Malphor would take, should he and Savina reach out to him. His.

But he also knew Lord Malphor had a soft spot for Savina Frost. Why anyone would feel anything other than contempt or disgust for the woman was beyond his ability to comprehend. But Lord Malphor did, and there was no point in questioning that. Yes, he was likely to side with Enek’Chok. But he would not like being forced to make that choice. He would not like that they had been unable to come to an agreement themselves and instead had come to him for an answer. Such a thing might even make him doubt Enek’Chok, possibly for the very first time.

“How about this,” Enek’Chok said with a sigh. “Go with them, but allow General Kagle to lead. Allow him to take the lead should any combat arise, since that is what I have trained him to do. He is young, and perhaps he could benefit from you… guidance.”

“Hmm,” Savina said. “I don’t know…”

“Do you really want to lead?” he asked her. “There are endless details and countless decisions to be made, almost constantly. Aren’t there other things that would interest you more?”

A faraway look crossed Savina’s face. Enek’Chok shivered at the thought of what might be going through her mind.

“Good point,” she said. “The Kagle kid can be in charge. So long as he doesn’t think he can give me orders.”

Enek’Chok smiled and nodded. “Of course not. But I trust the ultimate goal, the capture of the Godknight, is one we all share. And you’ll do everything you can to make sure that happens.”

“Oh, yeah,” she said. “Capturing little piggies? That’s totally my thing.”

“Excellent,” Enek’Chok said. Savina seemed satisfied and instantly lost interest in the conversation and in him. She strode off in the direction Kagle had just gone.

Enek’Chok took a moment, standing silent, alone, at the base of his command tower. Everyone was in motion now, all orders given. The invasion would continue; Safehaven had fallen and soon would be completely under the Order’s control. Already, forces had begun to spread out across Brightholme, striking first at some key locations that might offer some resistance. The rest would be systematic. Systematic and practiced.

He almost wasn’t needed here. If everyone did as they had been ordered, this land would be conquered within a matter of days. And oh, how he craved continuing his pursuit of the Godknight. His moment had been stolen from him—stolen by three children. It was infuriating, knowing someone other than him would be witness to the life draining from the Godknight and saved for Lord Malphor. Saved for the Ascension.

But ultimately, his place was here, in command. It was rare that he felt leadership as a burden. But in this moment…

There was one thing he could do, perhaps, to lessen his pain and disappointment. One of those children was his prisoner, just a few feet away, within the confines of Verity’s Lament.

It was time to pay her a visit.