Liam stood tall next to Medusa, experiencing the sort of star struck awe he might experience if Chuck Norris walked up to him and said he was Liam’s biggest fan. Confusion, admiration, and a deep sense of ‘this can’t be real… right?’
“Medusa, I have to ask, how old are you?” Asked Liam, keeping his eyes forward as the progenitor of all gorgons stood beside him.
Together, elf and gorgon were facing a quartz wall, observing a ‘nursery’ for the Queen’s most recent clutch. Eggshells were heaped into a corner, or ground into dust by the sporadic coming and goings of dozens of odd looking vipers. To the uneducated, they would appear as rattlesnakes with a harlequin of colors and unusually robust skulls, easily four times the size of a normal serpent, but to Liam’s shock, these were infant gorgons. After all, the gorgon’s physiology was mystical, brought into being by Athena’s curse, entirely skipping the evolutionary process. Often mocking it simply because it had the power to do so.
“It’s rude to ask a lady her age.” Began Medusa, her lips twisting into a smile at Liam’s laugh.
“Maybe for a mortal, but for a Queen? Age is a mark of your Queendom’s endurance, a testimony to the wisdom of your continuing reign.” Said Liam, his eyes never leaving the lighthouse full of vipers.
One of them moved a foot forward, slithering past another gorgon to reach a particularly vibrant beam of sunlight. Quartz glass allowed light into the room, creating a sunroom for the gorgon infants to pseudo-photosynthesize within. Easily the strangest component of their already baffling anatomy. Though there was a constant stream of bird poop accumulating on the glass roof. A downside of the Argos was the proliferation of enormous eagles, beings that nested within crevices of the Argos’ protective rock walls. Though what they ate confused Liam, and he suspected they preyed on the land below as often as they preyed upon lost gorgon infants.
“I lost count after a few thousand years. But if you follow Therun’s journals, then I’ll have passed seven thousand years… hmmm.” She tapped her finger against her chin, “Last century I think, or maybe next century. Hard to keep track really, the older I get the less important the years seem to become.” She said.
Seven, –thousand–, years? Thought Liam, leaning against the glass as he listened to her.
“Oh, wow… There is a legend where I come from, about Athena cursing three sisters into ugly monsters… That… Uhm, that wouldn’t happen to be about you?” Asked Liam, realizing he just called a seven thousand year old queen ‘an old hag’.
A dozen snakelocks turned towards Liam, looking him up and down with new interest.
“This world does not speak of Athena, because she was the first god Taloc replaced. Her mythos never crossed the divide between the two fragments of our earth. For you to speak her name, means you are a fragment from the side I once called home.”
Liam swallowed, displeased that he had disclosed something so personal to the gorgon Queen, and intensely intrigued by her answer. “I take it that you are from earth as well?”
Laughter twinkled in his ears, as medusa let out a genuine sound of mirth, purely human and without the rhythmic hissing noise Phaedra had made. “I can’t remember my age, let alone where my human life ended. Though I’ll never forget the pain of transformation, or how my own family drove me away, how men beat me with sticks and children threw stones at me until I discovered my gorgon eyes. Took me a week before I dared look someone in the face… Til a hoplite thought he could ‘ride’ me. Ha, he’ll never have to worry about a soft cock again. Ah, but this curse has become a gift.” Said Medusa, confirming everything Liam had ever suspected about the two earths.
He knew Baron Green had referred to this world as Earth, after all, earth was the word for dirt. It was as fundamental a name as could be believed. Civilizations did not name planets until they understood the nature of multiple planets, which could only develop alongside scientific advancements. Something magic seemed to retard. So Earth was the name of both worlds, hinting at shared heritage in the distant past. Though, when or where that divergence began could never be answered. In this earth, magic was real, making a mockery of astronomy and curtailing its development. Since magic could solve all problems that astronomy promised it might be able to solve, in addition to solving every problem astronomy could not. Both fields were restricted to the realm of nobles, and well beyond the common man’s understanding of the world or heavenly bodies. Taloc had mentioned this world wasn’t the only one, and that William Wilson’s earth was extremely far away, hinting at some kind of spatial distortion or transient cosmos. Like an elliptical orbit, where two planets could be locked together but constantly varied in the distance between each other.
Maybe when the two planets were closest there was some sort of convergence or crossover. Thought Liam.
Half the nursery seemed to move, only for Liam to blink, pulled out of his thoughts by the sight in front of him. Stretching from wall to wall, there was a singular serpent. Its body looped back upon itself, at least twenty feet long, if not already thirty feet.
“Is that one of yours? Do you all grow that large before uhm… sprouting the human- uh- half?” Said Liam, trying to buy time for him to digest Medusa’s history.
“Haha, no, that is a rare cousin. Every now and again, one of the first sisters gives birth to a daughter of the other’s line. That is one of Euryale’s. When she comes of age, Calypso will portal her across the oceans to Taloc’s homeland of burning forests, where she may rejoin her sisters. Though she will always be welcome in my home. Well, as long as she can fit, Euryale’s line is known for growing large enough to call mountains their pillow. It makes visiting her terribly difficult.” Said Medusa, almost pouting at the admission.
Liam’s attempt at gaining time to process his thoughts, was flattened harder than a steamrolled tortilla.
“That’s insane- incredible- Are you screwing with me?” Stammered Liam.
Medusa’s laughter echoed through her palace for several moments before she wiped a tear from her eye.
“No, I love my sisters, they are the home that Hades restored to me, when the pantheon I once devoted everything to, abandoned me on a vengeful whim.” Her fangs slipped out, exposing themselves across every one of her snakelocks as well, “Taloc gave those fucking cunts what they deserved.” She whispered.
Liam swallowed, glad Medusa was his ally. Medusa’s legend involved her getting raped inside Athena’s Temple, but when Medusa went to Athena –her goddess– for comfort Athena had cursed her into the gorgon she was now. A venomous, hateful thing that terrified men, and made them hard in the least desirable way. A literal pun from the goddess of wisdom. Liam closed his eyes, trying to parse all the thoughts within his mind. He had no desire to prompt Medusa further, and let the silence grow between them, turning their attention forward to the gorgons. Long minutes passed before Medusa spoke again.
“Once upon a time my daughters would scatter, they would seek prey or become prey to the great eagles that haunt Argos’ peaks. We would take up our bows and hunt them in return, but many daughters would be lost, no matter how many eagles we slew. Now our daughters can mature, become sentient and join us. A fate that gives me high hopes for the Kheresh colony.”
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“The Kheresh colony…? You say that as if you’ve had colonies fail before?” Said Liam.
“Indeed, no Medusan colony has persisted for more than a few hundred years, Euryale’s hydras found their mountains, and Stheno’s naga their oceans, but I am the most cursed of all, able to inhabit only rocky wastelands like Argos. I do not wish this fate upon my family.”
Liam was very quiet, thinking through his next words carefully. “I’ve lived with- I mean, Taloc has given me visions of living with Phaedra, uhm, mankind fears you because of your appearance, but if you could alter your form, or use an intermediary colony, then the gorgons could be reintegrated into the wider world.”
Medusa nodded, “Truly, this was Therun’s promise to me, the condition upon which we sailed the Argos across the oceans to this land, yet where is Therun now? Why has he sent you, a child, to negotiate on his behalf instead of granting what was promised?” She asked.
Oh… shit… ‘Quetz! Why didn’t you warn me about that?!?’
‘This is the best way for you to find out–’
‘Bulllshit!’
‘Well, look. You, Nyota, and the third all have keys to Taloc’s prison. If you can free him, then all his promises shall be fulfilled. Medusa’s promise will be fulfilled by the tools you will manufacture.’ Answered Quetz.
Liam pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling the migraine that was his serpent familiar.
“Medusa, in this aim, your goal is my goal. I’ve been working on it for the past five years or so.” Said Liam, not entirely sure why he was trusting the first gorgon with his innermost thoughts. “My most sincere desire is for felinid slavery to end, and for them to rejoin humanity as equals. This cannot be done without Taloc’s interference, and his altering of the species…” Said Liam, his words trailing off as he left the rest unsaid.
The gorgon licked her fangs, making sure none were still exposed before speaking.
“Quetzalcoatl, you cannot hide from me, old friend. Join us.” Said Medusa.
The gold feathered serpent slithered into the room, joining them through an open window.
“Hail Queen Medusa, may your reign endure and our oaths stand fulfilled.” Said Quetz, his tone shifting from formal, to friendly as he continued. “He speaks the truth. Long has Taloc been bound, and longer still has he been forced to counter Pandora on the back foot. But no more. Liam won a battle that has finally given us the upper hand, all while Pandora’s power is being spent across this nation. In her bid to conquer humanity the bitch has overextended herself. One or two more victories and we may be able to exchange her for Taloc! Permanently, just as we did with Hades. Soon he shall fulfill the promises made to you and I both.” Said Quetz.
“You speak as though the portal monsters won’t be plaguing us for centuries to come, and we’ve already lost thousands of people in Greenwood. If surrounding baronies are similarly plighted then tens of thousands or maybe even hundreds of thousands have been slain. Another decade of this and… Extinction is what waits for us if we falter.” Said Liam.
“You’ve grown severe in your old age, where is your mirth? A Lightning Child like yourself should be wondering if the wind is still whoosh shooshy?” Said Medusa.
“It’s whooshy whoosh!” Hissed Quetz, floating over Medusa to arrive at Liam’s side.
Medusa broke out laughing, all pretext of severity vanishing from her body.
“Very well, if anyone else had remained stagnant for so long, I would consider them a fool or a liar, but I see you are honouring your oaths. So I shall give you a parting gift, use it well.” Said Medusa, handing a transparent crystal to Liam.
It was warm, uncomfortably so, as if medusa had been sitting on it, or as if pulled from the chest cavity of a living being, mana emanated from it, radiant power that made the hairs across Liam’s neck hairs stand on end. Whatever she had given him was the single strongest focus he had ever seen. Greater than King Aldric’s crown, or all his tower-shielded knights combined, greater than the spent staff of Avignon, and greater still than Rhendal’s life.
“Medusa, thank you. I will see Therun Perun Taloc’s oath fulfilled, or I shall die trying. This I swear to you.” Said Liam. Hoping his life would not be required this time around.
“I name you Hecate, son of Therun. May my heartscale serve as a badge of your station, and protect you when mana fails.” Said Medusa, slithering into the grand palace of Argos.
Her dismissal was expected, and in a way it brought peace to his mind. Cause who could speak on even footing with a woman who was older than the stone she walked on? In truth, it was a relief. Liam exited the palace, leaving Argos entirely to rejoin his Paladins in the Crystal Palace 1.0.
—
“Thaddeus, I’ve dallied in peaceful lands long enough. How long until the vanguard can depart? I expect to leave as soon as possible, with that in mind, what is the total headcount?” Asked Liam, entering the central sanctum that served as the Crystal Palace’s headquarters, or command and control center.
For a brief moment, Liam wasn’t sure if the man was going to respond, then the nervous man opened his mouth slowly.
“Our count is eight hundred and forty one paladins in the Kheresh Fulminonimbus, but two hundred of those are deployed on missions across the nation. Two hundred combatants are currently stationed in the crystal fortresses we’ve created, and another hundred are in administrative roles. Ah, serving as judges or scribes and keeping the peace since they represent a neutral faction.”
Liam was already not liking his tally. He hadn’t expected Thaddeus to dispatch the entire core to Greenwood, since the felinids were still training, the militia would be needed to rebuild Khereshetal, and many paladins had families here, but he had hoped for five hundred men to fortify whatever was left of Greenwood! Yet he was already approaching half that number.
Thaddeus continued to speak, “Then there is the road building orders you gave, and the demand for water that your uhm, reforestation plans demand–”
“Dude, just give me the number.” Interrupted Liam.
A lump formed in Thaddeus' throat, one he tried to clear and failed. Trying again he managed to gasp out a number that made Liam cock his head in confusion.
“Ahem, ack, ahem, thirty six sir.”
“Thirty… Six… Do you mean wagons? Surely that doesn’t represent the total number of people a thousand strong paladin legion can muster?” Said Liam.
Blood drained from Thaddeus' face until the man made Quetzalcoatl look tan.
“Thirty six can be mustered for the vanguard my lord, with a relief team of one hundred and eighty following a month behind. Should we increase that tally we will have to alter your previous commitments to Kheresh or Lady Calypso…”
Inhale, hold the breath for five seconds, then exhale. Was all that entered Liam’s mind. This was his fault after all, reforesting Kheresh and the Argos wasn’t a task that could be performed by mortals, it required magi, and the magi could not be left unescorted. That was the accord of the fulminonimbus, the mortals protected the magi, and the magi did what mortals could not, mirroring the Noblesse Oblige. Magi watered the desert, or turned rocky soil into farmland, or burned the enemies of humanity away. The stronger the mage, the greater the pact between mortals and nobles.
“Fine, Taloc has made his plans clear. I must head north with all speed. I’ll need a few water magi, just enough that we won’t need to stop for water, even if half of them are incapacitated. Then I require Velena and her apprentice, any other battlemages you can spare as well. But after that, everyone else should be an earth magi. We will not be heading to Greenwood directly, but I will leave you a trail that is crystal clear. For that to be done I’ll need the best. Gather everyone who has leveled up during my time here, interview them on the events of the day they increased their level, and then assign those who are most likely to level up again to my vanguard.”
Thaddeus’ palor began to return, surprised at the patience, and now he spoke with the strength of his memory, and the expertise of his station.
“The entire inner circle desires to escort you, Velena and Owen are already assigned to you. As is a suitable contingent of knights templar and supporting paladins, primarily Owen’s corps of battlemages. If you can delay until the end of the week, I can arrange a few more men, twelve total magi, and an armed escort of at least twenty four knights in addition to wagon drivers, scouts, or so men.”
“Fine, you have a week, and don’t think I failed to notice that you weren’t coming with me Thaddeus. I expect you to run things so efficiently that all of Khereshetal is paved upon my return. Oh, once you finish that, lay a brick road all the way to Greenwood Keep. This is my order to Kheresh’s Fulminonimbus. I have spoken.” Said Liam.
“Ah, Yessir.”