He just laughs.

Well, whatever. I can always drain him later if he’s a nuisance.

…Or just because I feel like it.

“Why exactly are you here, anyway?” I ask.

The humanlike narrows his eyes. “And why the hells should I tell you?”

With a grin, I partially release both my form and aura of malevolence. “Because this is my plane, and I’ll be the one to determine if you belong here. You’ve already done enough to attract my attention, and now it’s time to talk.”

“Oh,” he quickly replies, blanching white at my oppressive pressure. “You’re Demon Lord Nemesis, then?”

“Correct. Now, answer. Who are you, and why are you here?”

The humanlike is still visibly off-balance but he bows shakily anyway. “Tathra, bound of Sekhmet, here to offer a message and council to one Demon Lord Nemesis on behalf of my benefactor.”

I glare at him for a moment for effect and then nod, to which he visibly relaxes. “Fine. We aren’t talking here. Arty, would you please?”

My fox wife nuzzles my shoulder for some reason before enveloping us in her usual flash of blue flames, and a split second later we stand in my receiving hall. I’m already reclining on my divan by the time a complement of maids along with the head maid herself gracefully enter and take their places.

“Well, sit down. I may not be particularly busy at the moment but that doesn’t mean I’ll spare time I don’t need to.”

Tathra quickly sits down across from me, and then seems almost confused by the teacup promptly placed before him. Maybe he’s not used to this treatment?

“Let me guess, the others don’t treat messengers as guests. Personally, I don’t particularly care; you’re here, and it’s an excuse for tea. You’re welcome to tell your master how hospitable of a host I am – really. You should tell them of my impressive magnanimity.”

And there’s another brow furrow. “I… I suppose I will then.”

“Good. Very good.”

…

We left the others in the Darkwell entry square, but Artemis is obviously with us… though she’s just kind of aimlessly standing behind my divan like she’s one of the help…

So I reach behind myself with a half dozen feelers to scoop her up and move her to sit on my lap. I know she like that anyway, but it certainly doesn’t stop her from confusedly squirming at first. I drop my hand gently on the back of her head, causing her to immediately relax.

“There, much better. Anyway, you’re a messenger, so what’s your message?”

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before saying, “We know who has Lord Sahura in their possession, and you are to facilitate his return. My Lady’s patience wears dangerously thin, and inaction on your part will be interpreted as opposition.”

…

Tathra just, continues to sit there with his eyes closed for some reason.

…

…

“So, uh. Is that all? That’s the entire message?” I ask, at least partially dumbfounded.

…

A sigh escapes me. “Are you just, not going to talk anymore? Are we done here? Why did we bother moving our discussion here if it was just going to be, what, two sentences? I don’t really get what your boss lady wants me to do here. She’s a god, right? Or goddess I guess?”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Finally, the messenger cracks one eye open, and then the other as muted surprise slowly spreads across his face. And then he cautiously says, “She… Yes, Lady Sekhmet is in fact a goddess. And… well. Lord Sahura is her… her… someone she views with value, and insists on his return.”

“Alright, and? What am I supposed to do about it? I’ve never met this Sahura, I don’t even know who he is.”

…

Tathra seems to be fighting some internal conflict from the look on his face.

“Also, why do you still look so surprised? You can speak freely, you know; I’m not going to kill you. You are literally a messenger of one of my peers, it’d be in terrible taste if I broke one of her possessions when she hasn’t done anything to… Arty? Has Sekhmet done anything to me?”

“No,” she says quietly. “Probably.”

“Alright, then there we go,” I continue. “Not my enemy. I’m not going to kill you. Seriously though, why does she expect me of all divines to do something about a missing persons report? I’m not exactly well ingratiated to the pantheons, try asking them.”

His shoulders slump slightly. “The pantheons don’t have him….”

…

“You’re really not going to kill me?”

“Nope,” I flippantly say.

“Then,” he relaxes, “I guess I’ll just be direct… Uh. The pantheons don’t have the young ma-AHEM, Lord Sahura. The one who currently holds him is Lamashtu.”

…

“Oh. I get it.”

I’ll admit that my gaze hardens a bit as I lean toward the messenger.

“She’s threatening me, sure, but she’s also threatening to use me as leverage against Grandmother. I assume everyone knows how we’re related by now, because nobody keeps their gods-damned words to themselves. Am I right there?”

Tathra nods.

“Does your boss realize that Grandmother literally let me get soul-eaten by a freespawn? Does she think threats against me are really going to work? I’ve already declared basically the entire light pantheon my enemies. I’m not going to weep tears of blood over one more on the list… Ah, is Sekhmet light or dark? Or neither like me?”

“Dark,” my fox wife on my lap mutters.

I nod. “Alright. Yes, one more to the list doesn’t matter. I’m already going to kill Erebus, and Dolos too if he ever stands fucking still.”

“G’luck,” a voice says behind me, but by the time I turn my head that bastard god of betrayal is already gone.

“There,” I whine, “see what I have to deal with?”

Tathra… actually chuckles.

…

Huh.

“Wait, is Sekhmet going to kill you if I don’t?”

And he just sighs.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Are you bound to her?” I ask.

The messenger furrows his brow… And I smile back.

“Tell me what you’re good at.”

***

One headache heavier, I have myself a shiny new subordinate. I’m pretty sure Sekhmet is already pissed at me, so I may as well get something out of it.

(Are you really picking fights? You’re a fucking newborn still,) Nyx chides.

And you’re right! But I also have a strong support system. I kind of wonder too, what kinds of alliances does Arty have? If I get attacked and she’s involved, will any of the other light pantheon gods step in to assist, considering she’s not hiding her identity anymore?

My former Assistant projects the equivalent of a shrug. (I wouldn’t count on it.)

Yeah, that’s about what I thought.

But that’s fine. The next time someone decides to mess with me or my plane, I’ll be ready for them.

Or ready enough, I guess.

At least I have one problem neatly under control…

I’m reclining in my throne as usual, watching my both favorite and least favorite show… the “how Tathra disposes of the True Hero for me while I don’t lift a finger” show.

Yeah, I found the perfect use for the former messenger. It turns out he was actually pretty strong, and the only reason Sekhmet was disposing of him was his role in failing to defend his old charge from being kidnapped by Lamashtu.

Which, in his defense, is pretty much impossible to begin with.

Anyway, I learned my lesson after the fiasco with the vampires, so I decided to put him in a useful role with minimal opportunity for betrayal: creatively disposing of True Hero Dipshit every time he inevitably comes back for more punishment. And I certainly haven’t been disappointed! Tathra has only chosen to act personally once, generally just using the limited trap generation privileges I’ve given him to redirect his target to a grisly death over and over.

I also figured out that I can link to one of my kin nearby, and then reproduce its vision and hearing with ash on the audience floor in front of my throne, so all present can enjoy it as well. Granted, the audio is kind of grainy and hissy since there’s only so much sound I can reproduce by moving it around. Maybe I’ll come up with a remote viewing Skill or spell or something later.

(Or you could just, you know, buy the runic tech. It already exists, you know.)

Wait, really? Oh hang on, you mean like the… what was it, hologram things I saw on the Sand Sea?

(Yes, literally those.)

Hmmmmm.

Can I afford that stuff though?

Nyx sighs. (You do realize that you have both a thriving economy and a pretty packed war chest from even before the vamps turned, right? At this point you could practically just throw ennis at any issue lower than divine.)

I do?

(Yes.)

…

I think I will then. Not that this costs much mana.