Hey, Teris, how’s the caravan coming? I was driving my little personal skiff westwards across the plains of Ildanach, away from the forest and towards the Aldras River that marked the border between Ildanach and Aeron. Just North of Aeron was Tirnaog, but I had a pretty good feeling they’d be coming from Aeron. After all, they were the ones with the legitimate grievance. I wondered if Rufais had even sent them a letter, or maybe just their ambassador’s head in a basket.
They reached the Lorni River yesterday, intend to ford it today. They’ll be in Nechtan then, do you want me back?
I thought about it. Obviously having or not having Teris here would make significant difference in the upcoming events. Even apart from the advantage his eyes gave me, whether or not I could channel an excess of the power of the otherworldly being with whom I had a contract could easily be the difference between winning and losing. But Nechtan wasn’t any kinder to the Turyn than Ildanach was. Lady Death had given me a boon, allowed me to be the only one sacrificing for my decisions. I wouldn’t repay her by forsaking my protection of our people.
No. Stay with them until they reach Morrigan.
I could feel Teris’ hesitation. Are you sure, my lord?
He so rarely called me that. I wondered if he respected what I was doing, or if he just really wanted me to think about it. Either way, my answer remained the same. I’m sure. Don’t come back until they’re across the border.
As you command. Teris fell silent, and I was alone with my thoughts.
How was I going to not die? Not really the question, of course, as I couldn’t die, but how was I going to avoid my immorality becoming a very obvious fact in front of thousands of soldiers? I didn’t really have anything else up my sleeve: I was very good at what I did, my swords were enhanced by demon magic, and I couldn’t die. Usually that was more than enough to get me out of any situation that seemed dire, but I was beginning to wonder if maybe the gods were ready to show me otherwise.
You could ask for help.
It took me a moment to realize it wasn’t my own mental voice suggesting it. Would you listen? I asked the demon, surprised by what seemed to be an offer.
I might.
I figured you’d be mad at me for even agreeing to this.
Oh, I am. You’re reckless and take advantage of our deal with mindless abandon. But, then again, so do I.
I snorted softly at that admission. Can you help me without being dramatic about it?
Yes, but it would require more time than I’m willing to spend.
I rolled my eyes. Right.
It’s your life. Or, rather, more accurately, it’s whether or not you can avoid spending some months or years stuck in someone’s dungeon being poked and prodded, probably by the Chantry.
I made a face. Let’s put a pin in that.
The problem, of course, was that demon energy was identifiable. We all knew what it was now. Demons, or their less intelligent, more monstrous counterparts we called Riftlings, ran off of the same energy that was powering half of our cities these days through riftslivers. I was fairly certain that if anyone else had discovered the upgraded version of lavaslivers that crackled with the same energy that sparked through the Rifts and the sky above, they would have immediately have been burned at the stakes. However, since the mines were discovered on Chantry land behind their capital of Isaria, in the Shattered Mountains, it was heralded as a god-given source of new energy that would be used to counteract the poison of the Rifts when harnessed correctly. Propaganda.
Riftslivers in use on every battlefield on the continent was how I disguised my blades, my occasional “cheating”, but it wouldn’t cover for the kind of mass destructive act that my demon companion was offering.
I parked the skiff hidden a little ways away behind some foliage and went to examine the grounds where I would be fighting. They’d have to ford the river no matter what, even if the Tirnaog troops came from a little further north than the Aeron ones rather than as a cohesive force. That would slow them down, give me time to see them coming, but it wouldn’t offer me much else. The land was unfortunately pretty uniform and flat, aside from a crevice that fell into a steep drop slightly to my south. No mountains or valleys to herd people into, no way to thin out their numbers that I could see.
I sat down on the hard ground and wracked my brain for something, anything that wouldn’t necessitate me having to disappear to the furthest reaches of the continent and change my mask and identity. Hector wouldn’t be able to come with me, if I did that. Maybe I could smuggle Ava out with me, but would she even want that kind of life? I wouldn’t be able to do anything interesting for years, lest we be hunted down like monsters.
The demon in my head was still paying attention to the situation, and he seemed more gleeful than anything else at the possibility of the need to use extreme force.
My brow furrowed, an idea coming to mind. Hey, can you tell me where the nearest Rift is?
Yes. Why should I?
Because you’re clearly not doing anything else right now, or you wouldn’t have answered that fast.
The extraplanar entity offered me a mental shrug to concede the point and then said, There’s one in that crevice to the south. Some beasts down there with it, too, so you probably shouldn’t stick your nose too close.
I smiled broadly. Just what I was hoping to hear. Thanks.
It was evening before I saw troop movement, which was honestly earlier than I had anticipated. Maybe Rufais had sent a drone with the letter he’d promised. I had been correct about their location, however, and the fact that Tirnaog and Aeron troops had gathered together in Aeron’s Territory and would be fording the Aldras River together. They set up camp along the embankment on the Aeron side, and I stood up from my meal consisting mostly of foraged food, missing Berd’s stew.
I walked leisurely over to the riverbank and called across it, “My name is Elyon Kazere of Ildanach, and I would like to speak to whomever among you has negotiation power.”
A murmur stirred throughout the general troops at my name and the informal method of beginning negotiations, particularly while they weren’t even in our territory. I didn’t feel like being more patient, though; I’d been waiting around all day.
It took several minutes, but eventually three officials gathered along the riverbank opposite me. Two were generals, one with Aeron’s insignia, the other with Tirnaog’s, while the third individual standing in the middle was dressed in a full suit of armor, including a helm, concealing all features. All I knew of them from the armor set was that they clearly came from Aeron.
Setting aside the mysterious individual’s identity for the time being, I smiled at the gathered individuals. “Hi. I’m Captain Kazere, as I mentioned, here on behalf of Ildanach.”
“I was under the impression your talents lie on the battlefield more than off of it,” the Aeron General said. He seemed somewhat bemused by my manners and the fact that I was standing out here all alone, which I could work with– bemused was good. The Tirnaog General, on the other hand, had his mouth set into a thin line and was glaring daggers at me. I wondered if he had been present during the last battle of the last skirmish, when I had been the cause of a somewhat humiliating defeat for his side. Not the greatest impression to have going into a negotiation, but I’d worked with less.
“I’m versatile,” I said, grinning. “Do you mind if I come over there so we don’t have to keep shouting?”
The Aeron General waved a hand, welcoming me. “Feel free.”
“Jervas,” the Tirnaog General hissed, clearly disapproving.
“What’s he going to do by himself?” Jervas rebounded, remaining bemused. “I don’t think someone who lived through the Lorni Offense will commit another himself.”
The thought had definitely crossed my mind, but, for reasons almost beyond me at this point, I was still trying to save Ildanach somehow. Violating the War Laws wasn’t the way to do that.
I took a breath and then walked across the water.
A few eyebrows arched, and I could see the way the Aeron Generals’ eyes narrowed, how he was looking for the slivers on me, the sign of armor that had allowed me to do that.
It was a bit risky to do such a thing freely, but it wasn’t beyond current technological ability to both give me the capability to do that and hide it. I could have had slivers implanted into my boots. The point was, I wanted them to realize I had tricks up my sleeve– that was important.
Also, I didn’t want to get my coat wet.
I smiled at them broadly again once I reached their side of the river, watching, from the corners of my eye, the expressions of the ordinary troops, noting the way they shied away from me, particularly the Tirnaog ones. Perfect.
“Once again,” I said for the third time, finally permitted to be in a normal speaking register, “I’m Captain Elyon Kazere of Ildanach. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
The Aeron General held out his hand. “General Nyle Jervas of Aeron.”
I took it and shook it warmly, as though we were friends rather than about to meet on a battlefield that would result in the deaths of hundreds. Then I turned to the Tirnaog General and arched an eyebrow.
He did not offer his hand, his tone gruff and clearly reticent. “General Benji Coyle. Of Tirnaog.”
“Most excellent to meet you both. And may I inquire as to your stoic friend?” I gestured to the suit of lava armor, complete with face-hiding helmet.
There was a pause, as both generals looked to the helmeted individual, and that’s when I realized that the armor wasn’t for intimidation, it was actually there to hide the identity of someone they considered their boss.
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The helmet came off and long red hair flowed down from it. I felt a bit of a sinking feeling in my gut. “A pleasure to meet someone of such renown, Hand of Cyren,” the woman said smoothly, reaching out a gauntleted hand. “I am Lady Seria Aeron, General and Princess of the Aeron Army. Tell me, were you familiar with Ambassador Elrick Cathain?”
“We met,” I said briefly as I took her hand for just a moment.
“Mm. He was my cousin. You will understand, then, how displeased my father and I were when we received a letter this afternoon sealed with his Ambassador seal that contained his severed, bloodstained fingers along with notice of his execution.”
“Apologies for your loss. A few hours is an awfully short amount of time to amass such a force.”
“We’re both soldiers; I don’t think we need to play coy,” she said mildly. “We were planning to attack regardless after your lord’s treatment of the negotiations. I just didn’t expect to be quite so motivated. Your lord is a barbarous monster.”
“Because assassination attempts are so classy.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Surely you're not believing that pedaled propaganda of us sending assassins into the Ildanach Highcity? It’s nothing but lies and rumors, Captain.”
“I thought we weren’t playing coy, Princess.”
“I prefer General.”
“I’ll use the title when you act like one.”
Jervas didn’t like that one very much; his hand strayed to his blade, but Seria held out a hand to forestall him, lips pressed in a thin line as she regarded me for a moment. Then she smiled. “Are you alone out here, Captain?”
“Right now.” I pressed ahead, hoping not to give her time to think about that, “I must admit, no one was expecting someone of your station. I do apologize that you’ve been forced into a conversation with a humble Captain.”
“Oh, you are many things, I think, but humble isn’t one of them,” she said mildly.
I smirked and didn’t deny it.
“Besides,” she continued, “as a military commander, you fascinate me. So consistently bringing home victories, and yet never elevated within the House’s standing, continually fighting to champion a place that hates the religion you espouse. What brings a man to such desperate measures?”
“Maybe I’m just bored.”
“Bored enough to fight for a land that doesn’t appreciate you?”
I wavered, but her desire to recruit me wasn’t going to make her turn around here. I needed to scare them. I needed them to believe what was true– that they wouldn’t be winning and that I wouldn’t be dying. Giving her hope that she could get me on her side wouldn’t do that, and it would derail the conversation. So I was honest. “I followed a friend here, a good one. He’s a Captain too, though he unfortunately hasn’t gotten my renown. I’ll be here as long as he is.”
Predictably, her expression fell slightly. People saw a mercenary in me and thought I could be bought; it wasn’t an illusion I had ever cared to dispel, but now she knew better, for better or worse. “Fine then. Tell me, what is it that you think you can offer? Is this simply a show, to indicate that Ildanach tried peace? Where is the rest of your army hiding?”
This would have been so much easier if I’d been dealing with Jervas, I thought resignedly. “There’s no one else here,” I said truthfully, and waited for that to sink in for a moment, watching the expressions.
Coyle, the Tirnaog General, actively leaned away from me. I didn’t need to convince him of anything; he’d seen me fight, and he’d believed every rumor that had followed. Fear was easier to cultivate than true faith, and he was very afraid.
Jervas had narrowed his eyes on me suspiciously. He wasn’t sure if it were some kind of joke, a strange play, or if I were telling the truth. More importantly, he wasn’t sure which one he was hoping for, I could see it in his eyes. He didn’t know if it would be better to face an army or face me; he thought they would win either way, but he truly thought he might take more losses from me. He believed the rumors too, or at least enough of them, and he’d been around enough to see what one heavily augmented person could do. He was wary.
Seria burst out laughing.
Jervas didn’t relax or stop looking at me, but his expression did soften a bit, amusement dancing in his eyes. If I could have kept him with the suspicious Tirnaog General, if I had only had to deal with the two of them, who had experience with impossible things on the battlefield, I could have done it.
Seria was the wrench in the plan for which I had never accounted, and she was going to make us go to war.
“Just you?” she said, still laughing as she asked the rhetorical question. “You most certainly are not humble. Suicidal, though, it would seem.”
“Perhaps you should ask your generals first, Princess.”
Seria’s eyes flashed. “I am a General. You can’t stop an army, Hand of Cyren. You’re not a god, even if you think you are, and I look forward to riding into Ildanach with your head on a pike for all to see what happens to Ildanach’s heroes,” she spat. There was real venom there, not just performance. She hated us and everything we stood for– or maybe she just hated things in general, and we were a convenient target.
“No,” I agreed and then smiled coldly. “I’m better than a god.” Rift energy crackled around my legs and body, and all three of them took a step back as I levitated a few feet into the air.
Murmurs of “how” and “not possible” started flying around the camp; a few soldiers went for their guns, but I just waited.
“Do you think a parlor trick is going to scare us so easily?” Seria demanded, but her hand was gripping the handle of her ceremonial blade very tightly.
I shrugged and then turned to face the army. “My name is Elyon Kazere, the Lion of Ildanach, the Hand of Cyren. Some of you may have heard of me,” I announced. “Tonight, your leaders are going to tell you that you have an easy fight tomorrow, that you have nothing to fear. You’re an army, and you will be going up against one man– nothing but a man, no matter how augmentations, no matter how many enhancements, no matter what stories you’ve heard. And it’s true, I am just a man.
“But I will not and cannot die tomorrow, and that’s just a fact. So while you comfort yourselves with the reassurances that, ‘it’s just one man’, remember– this one man was sent to defend a whole city, knowing I would be facing an army alone. What does that tell you? I look forward to seeing the foolish ones of you on the battle field tomorrow.” I gave a mocking bow and then descended back to the ground.
“My men are not cowards,” Seria spat.
“You sure? I don’t think you can know that; I don’t think they can know that. You haven’t fought a war in years. Training really doesn’t compare to the real thing, Princess. You’re about to find that out, unless you swallow your arrogance awfully fast.” I smiled and shrugged. “But I don’t think you will, so I look forward to seeing you with the stupid ones on the field tomorrow.”
Ignoring Seria as she began to slightly splutter, I turned and inclined my head to both generals. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Generals Jevas, Coyle.” I let my gaze linger a bit longer on the Tirnaog General. “Word of friendly advice– letting one man single handedly slaughter your army twice doesn’t usually go over well. But what do I know? I’ve never lost.” With a jaunty wave, I jogged back across the river, walking on top of the water again with very little fanfare and returning to my side of the bank.
It wasn’t very long before Seria’s yelling could be heard carried across the plains on the wind, and I smiled in a self-satisfied sort of way while I looked up at the sky. When tomorrow’s dawn came, I’d see how effective I’d been by how many troops were left.
In the meanwhile, however, I went and sat down to spend the rest of the night with my back against a rock, hidden by some brush, looking at the sky. It did not take very long for the boredom to return.
Hey, Teris. How’s it going?
I felt a substantial amount of confusion through our telepathic link. Fine? You must be very bored.
However did you guess. What’s it like working for a demon?
You’d know just as well as I, wouldn’t you? the familiar snarked in return.
I scowled lightly. I don’t work for him. We have a deal.
Employment contracts are deals, Teris pointed out.
It’s a partnership. Equal exchange.
Like money for work?
I rolled my eyes and leaned my head back against the rock, though I also didn’t keep the smile off my face. Fine, fine, you win. What’s it like working for me then?
Oh, that’s awful, Teris said immediately. Never asks how I am, how life is going, ignores me half the time and sends me off on horribly boring missions the rest of the time. Just the worst.
I refused to feel guilty for potentially mistreating the demon bird. I also send myself on boring missions?
I think it’s fair to say that you are the only person you are less considerate of than me, yes.
I snorted. Well, if you want me to take an interest in your life so much– how are you?
There was a short beat. Well, that really backfired on me, didn’t it?
I breathed a laugh. Too late to backtrack. You actually started to make me feel bad.
I spend my days either snooping around the city or doing as you request. I don’t think I have anything new to tell you about my life.
I shrugged. Then tell me about before you were sent to keep an eye on some kid.
Teris paused for a long time, and I began to think he was going to tell me to mind my own business, or some variety of that, the same way his boss always avoided talking about his existence before our meeting. But, surprisingly, after several long seconds of silence, he did actually respond.
I don’t remember a whole lot. It’s kind of fractured. I think someone told me once that that’s one of the consequences of entering a Rift. Memories are tied to your body, and when your body is ripped away from you, it makes it hard to hold onto everything else. I think I had a brother, though, a long time ago. I can never remember his name. Whenever I try, I just come up with my own, and, well, that doesn’t make much sense.
You don’t remember anything before your assignment to me? What about other jobs?
Oh, I remember some stuff before I met you specifically, but it’s pretty boring. Hammering out arrangements and deals, things like that.
Are you a Riftling? I was surprised that I’d never asked before, although I supposed it did feel a bit weird.
I don’t know. I came from a Rift, or was in one for a while, but you were in one for a while and we don’t call you one.
I think I might be a little bit of a weird exception, I pointed out somewhat wryly.
I think the term is ill defined, Teris countered, and I couldn’t really argue with that. I remember a lot of red, he said suddenly.
Red? Like blood?
You have a morbid mind.
I kill people for a living. A lot.
Teris snorted. Not like blood. A little brighter, more orange and pink, like a red sunset captured in crystal. Wherever I was, there was a lot of that. He paused. It’s just little things like that that I remember. I think I’d take that over what you have though.
I scoffed softly but didn’t deny that I’d been thinking exactly that. At the same time, though, it was hard for me to imagine not having the nigh perfect recollection that I had, hard to imagine losing all of what had made me who I was. Memories are only in the body? I questioned.
Most of them. It takes a big memory to imprint on a soul.
I wondered how many of mine had crossed the threshold. Thanks for the conversation, Teris.
Anytime. I really don’t mind working with you.
I smiled faintly into the growing darkness as the connection drifted. We’ll see if you still have a job at this time tomorrow.