The fighting around the city became increasingly dispersed. Scattered battles popped up all around the noble district, leading to destruction that had thus far not been present in the upper district. Bodies lay in the streets, blood pooling around them and running down the gutters. This was the ugly side of things that most don’t consider when they hear about war. Everyone likes to imagine it as some glorious thing, but no matter the reason for it, at the end of the day it's just people killing each other.

I meandered up the street, trying not to disturb the bodies as I went. Something stood out to me while I moved. There was a decidedly lacking number of civilians in the city. Everything felt eerily empty, and that beggared at least a little investigation.

Taking a slight detour, I went up to one of the homes and attempted to open the door. It was unlocked, and it swung open with a slight creak of the hinges. The lighting inside wasn’t the best, but the daylight reached far enough that there was no danger of ambushes in the dark. Still, I proceeded with caution inside.

It was empty, and not just of people. Every scrap of decoration, silverware, jewelry, and even much of the furniture was missing. We were still in the part of the siege that consisted mostly of fighting, so there was no point at which our own forces could have looted this place. The only other explanation was that they had evacuated and took all their valuables with them. I wondered how much that slowed down their evacuation efforts with them carrying a bunch of nonsense.

Well, it seems they did have time if they were all gone at this point. Hopefully, the regular people got out as well.

That helped to relieve some of the burden on my conscience knowing that the civilians were given the opportunity to escape before we arrived. I exited the empty house and started on the path to the cathedral of the Lord of Light once again. However, my plans were interrupted by a fast-approaching runner.

“Sir Samuel!” The man got our attention as he closed the distance at a sprint. He arrived slightly winded, but after taking a breath he shot off his message. “Sir, we have a problem. It’s... it’s hard to put into words. We found people, a lot of people in the prison and we aren’t sure what to do with them. We need your help to come to a decision.”

I was torn a bit between my duties as a leader and my desire to claim my revenge. My mind bounced back and forth between the two for a moment before I came to a decision. Turning to the commander of my personal guard, I gave some orders.

“Take a dozen men and watch the cathedral. Don’t take any risks or get too close until I get back but make sure that no one tries to escape from there.”

“Yes, my lord.” He replied before fulfilling the order.

Now that that was taken care of, I focused on this new situation. “Alright, lead the way. The sooner this is resolved the better.”

The man nodded in affirmation and began to speedwalk through the city with me and my guards following close behind. We passed by some of the other soldiers searching through houses. Sometimes there was a commotion from inside one of them which gave me pause, but soon they went quiet, and then either corpses or prisoners were removed from the inside. At least they were taking prisoners. Things might have become more complicated if executions started taking place.

It didn’t take too long to arrive at the prison. The building was tucked away into a corner of the noble district just by the border of the divide between this and the merchant district. Its design was plain, mostly consisting of just a large stone box that looked almost as sturdy as the walls of this city. There were no windows, except for two at the very front just next to the door. It looked like a miserable place, which was probably by design.

When we went inside it wasn’t any better. Plain stone with no decoration and only the bare minimum in terms of furniture, which consisted primarily of a desk and chair in the entrance room. I didn’t have long to critique the design choices of the room because we quickly moved into the main holding area. What I experienced in that next room was an assault on every aspect of my being.

When the messenger said that they had found a lot of people here, that was an understatement. Every cell block was filled to bursting with humans, and only a small portion were any other race. There were so many people crammed into those confined spaces that there was no room for anyone to even sit or lay down without being on top of another person.

That wasn’t even to consider the conditions. The smell in the air was thick with unwashed bodies and refuse. Many of them were gaunt from malnutrition and pale from either exhaustion or illness. I wondered how long they had been there. Days? Since we started the siege? Maybe even before that.

The desperation in their voices as they called out, pleading for release from their imprisonment, was made all the more visceral when punctuated by the cries of an infant or child who was hungry and in pain. There were already soldiers trying to work on opening the doors, keys evidently missing or destroyed before we arrived. I felt physically ill witnessing all of this.

The man that led me here approached from the side. “We are trying our best to get the cells open, but it’s slow going with how unprepared we were for this. What should we do with them once they’re out, sir?”

That was an easy enough decision to make. “They need food and water immediately. In fact, get all that ready right now so they can eat as soon as they are free. We will also need medicine as many of them look sick, and I'm not sure if there are injuries or not, but it’s better to be prepared for that.”

“Yes sir! I’ll bring your order to the quartermaster and get some of the medical corps to treat them.” With my orders acknowledged he turned and ran out the door to collect all those things.

I looked around at all the people suffering in these cages. One thing that I now noticed that now led me to believe they had been in here for a long time was the fact that they didn’t even appear to be particularly fearful of the few undead soldiers that were in the room with us. They just wanted out, and they didn’t care who was responsible for their freedom.

Walking down the rows of cells I could see that they viewed me with some hesitation that was probably born from the way my armor was decorated. Maybe I appeared as an aspect of death to them, coming to take them from their mortal coil. One of them even tried pleading as I passed by.

“Please, have mercy.” The man’s voice was weak and dry sounding, a testament to the fact they had not received enough water since their confinement. He probably would have cowered away from me if he hadn’t been pressed up against the bars by his fellows who could not move so much as an inch in any direction.

“It’s alright, we’re not here to hurt you.” I reassured them. “Everything will be fine. We’ll get you out of these cages and see your needs taken care of.” A question popped into my head that I felt the need to ask. “How did this happen? Why did this happen?

The man still looked nervous being the focus of my attention, but he managed to answer me. “Th-there were protests about the war. Mostly it was complaints about the sudden nature of it, but then rumors began to spread, about plots and secrets kept hidden by the followers. There were demands for answers, unrest grew, but then the soldiers came down like a hammer upon us. It didn’t matter if you weren’t involved, every human they could get their hands on was thrown in these cells, and if anyone spoke up against it, they suffered a similar fate.”

That certainly explained a lot, including why there were non-humans crammed into the cells alongside them. It pissed me off. There was no level that they wouldn’t stoop to. If we hadn’t stopped them, if we didn’t stand up against all of this, would this just have been the future of every human? Herded into cages and used like cattle?

My jaw was set firm in an angry clench, and my pocket god concurred with my feelings as a feeling of pained wrath came from them. “Don’t worry, I’m going to make sure they can never do anything like this again. You all just stay calm, and we will have you out of there as soon as we can.”

With that I marched out of the building. My face was probably projecting killing intent on it as all the soldiers between me and the exit quickly got out of my way. Once outside I quickly stormed off in the direction of the cathedral, my personal guard falling in behind me with no hesitation whatsoever.

Now it was time to confront the cause of all this, and with no more distractions pulling me away from that goal, I made it to the cathedral quickly. The building was surrounded by soldiers, and not just those that I had sent ahead of me. When I arrived, I quickly got a rundown of the situation concerning the building. Apparently, some of the splintered enemy forces had made their way into the cathedral which was barricaded. What amounted to a miniature siege was now being staged on the large doors that were holding against the might of our army.

While large and sturdy, the doors were designed as a display of power and not for the purpose of holding back a concerted effort in destroying them. Bit by bit they were hacked away, wood chunks being ripped out and discarded. Windows were also broken, and attempts were made to use them as an entry point or attack angle. Their narrowness made such prospects difficult, so the focus remained on the main gate.

It only took a few more minutes, but the door did come down. Troops flooded through the entrance, pushing aside the furniture and other blockages that were placed in front. Painfully bright light flashed from inside, destroying a few undead soldiers which made me wince. Living soldiers took the lead after that, meeting resistance but making steady progress into the building. There were several minutes of yelling, banging, and frantic movement inside as steel blades clashed with one another. After things quieted somewhat, the call was given that the entrance was cleared for entry.

Bodies from both sides littered the entrance hall, staining the normally spotless floor with blood. The interior looked significantly different from the last time I had seen it. All the furniture had been moved and piled up around the door, and there was hardly a single window that wasn’t broken. Compared to the majesty and splendor that it once projected, it now looked positively desolate.

My opinion of the cathedral’s current state didn’t matter as I'd be just as displeased with it even if it were to be set on fire. Suddenly the urgent voice of my god entered my head, cutting off my thoughts about my surroundings.

He’s here, I can feel him.

You’re sure?

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Yes. He isn’t hiding from me and is in fact calling out.

Could that mean a trap?

Possibly. We will have to proceed with caution just in case.

I did as much, following the direction of my god while keeping an eye out for any sign of foul play. Our soldiers were sweeping rooms one by one, but my small group ignored all of that and forged ahead deeper into the building. My guards were on high alert, keeping an eye on every door we walked by. The one time we encountered an attempted ambush it didn’t last long.

The door was thrown open only for one of my guards to ram a shield into the face of the first elf to attempt to leave that room. What followed might as well have been an ambush of our own for how little the enemy was prepared for the aggression leveled against them. With strength, finesse, and skill they cut down the would-be attackers, turning their little hideout into corpse storage in short order.

The delay barely lasted three minutes before we were moving again. I recognized the path we were taking as one I had walked, or skittered, through before. We were on our way towards the bastard's private office.

There was a growing tension that I could not decide if it was the very real presence of a pair of gods that were posturing at each other, or imagined because I found myself in the middle of a pair of gods that were posturing at each other. Either way the situation was dangerous and would likely lead to the destruction of one or both of us. I had to prepare myself for a life and death conflict, and one that I would most likely have to face alone.

Before I knew it, we had arrived at the door leading to the private office of Valder, champion of light, murderer, and tyrant. I stopped before the door and gathered myself to enter. One of the guards noticed my pause and figured this was the room we were going to. He made to open it, but I quickly stopped him with a hand on his boney shoulder.

“I don’t think that’s a great idea. I’ll go in by myself, the rest of you wait out here.”

That came as a surprise to them, and they voiced their complaints. “Sir, I must protest. It is our job to keep you safe.”

I understood their thought process, but it was too dangerous for them. “I know, and while you are certainly great at your job when it comes to handling your average soldier, I’m about to head into a room with the champion of light. If a regular priest could reduce any one of you to ashes, I imagine that the champion wouldn’t even need a talisman to do that. If he wished it, he could probably destroy you all the moment you stepped into that room. What would come of you sacrificing yourself just for me to have to fight alone anyway?”

The look on all my guards' spectral faces was that of begrudging understanding. “Your words have wisdom to them, my lord. Still, if you need assistance, just call out and we will charge in to aid you regardless of if the action is doomed or not.”

“I would prefer it if it didn’t come to that, but I appreciate your commitment to your duty. Stand guard and make sure that no one interrupts us in the meantime.”

“Yes sir.”

There was no more waiting. I stepped forward with as much determination as I could muster and opened the door. There he was, standing with his back towards the door and looking out the window that held a view of a part of the city that currently had several plumes of black smoke rising from it. Not being foolhardy, I made sure to look around the room before entering it officially. It appeared to be empty except for him, but I kept my sword at the ready as I walked in.

Nothing happened during my first few steps in, and the door slowly swung closed behind me, sealing us in the room with one another. Things were quiet for a moment as I glared at the back of the bastard's head. I resisted the near overwhelming urge to run up and stab him in the back.

Controlling my baser desires, I took a breath and started to take in the situation. There was that very ornate desk between me and him, creating only a small obstacle that was easily overcome. Valder’s attire was not what one would expect from someone in a combat area. He wore a very fancy looking suit that projected a regal air. Upon closer inspection, however, I noticed just a slight shimmer of metal around his collar, betraying the presence of chainmail underneath the clothes. Still, it was obvious that he never intended to become involved in the fight personally. Damn coward.

I was almost done getting over the seething rage that burned inside me enough to speak more than an incoherent shout but was beaten to the first word when Valder started to speak.

“This is what I had always feared would come to pass. Watching my city, my home, burn. Seeing good soldiers cut down in the streets. I had hoped my vigilance alone would have been enough to safeguard society from the dangers lurking in the dark.”

My expression soured. He talked like it wasn’t his direct actions and sanctions that caused all of this. I was just about to explode into a rant about just that when the voice of my pocket god filled my head.

Let me speak to him.

That gave me pause and stopped the angry rant in my throat. Now that I wasn’t so focused on my own emotions, I paid attention to those of my god. There was obviously anger, but it was cold, not the fiery kind that I possessed. Beneath that there was another emotion that surprised me. Nervousness.

I could feel clear hesitation to interact with the champion, and more importantly, the Lord of Light. Considering how their last interaction went it was no surprise that there was some reluctance. A thousand years was a long time, but I was sure that the memories from back then were as fresh as the day they happened. While my desire to finally get my revenge and tell the bastard exactly what I thought of him was strong, ultimately my pocket god won the right to have the first word by virtue of a millennium’s worth of waiting.

Alright. Will you be okay talking to him?

To be honest, I'm not sure. But I know that I must face him.

I’ll let you have control then. Say what you will, but don’t get distracted.

A regrettably familiar sensation took hold. I still don’t like the feeling of not being in control of my own body, but I pushed that aside and let myself be moved about somewhat stiffly. The first words that came out of my mouth sounded different than my own voice. I could still tell it was me, but there was a projection of energy with every word that signaled the presence of something more than myself.

“Brother... I’m here to put a stop to this.”

Valder went slightly ridged at the words that came out my mouth. I could guess that his god just took control as well. He turned around, and his gaze was very sharp, significantly different than the normal look of superiority that I was familiar with him. When he spoke, his voice also contained that projected power that I felt from my god.

“So, it’s finally come to this, Twilight.” The clear refusal to acknowledge the familial ties between them stung my god’s emotions. “I’d always imagined that you would show up with a sword at my throat one day. Perhaps it was hubris to assume that simple imprisonment would be enough to dissuade you from this path.”

Indignation flared from my god. “Path? If I am on a path, it is because you forced me onto it! The sudden aggression, the destruction of my followers, my children! YOU did this, not me!”

Valder’s fist struck the surface of the table. “Do not think me blind or foolish, Twilight! I know of your machinations; of the grand betrayal you had in motion.”

It took me a second to realize the feeling of confusion was not just my own. My pocket god was stupefied, utterly and completely. “What?! Have you truly lost your sanity? I held no animosity towards you. You are my brother!”

Valder made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “Try to obscure it all you want but I found the truth of your deception.”

“Brother, I... I don’t understand.”

“Don't you!” The look in his eyes was almost feral in intensity. “I suppose I should have seen it earlier, should have known that it was only a matter of time before you turned on me. What is a long life compared to an immortal soul? Your gift was always a honeyed trap, and eventually you would have stolen from me my own creations.”

“You’re not making any sense!” My god protested.

“Then let me be clear about it so this façade may finally come to an end. You intended to entice my children with promises of an immortal soul, and once they abandoned me, you would deliver the final blow.”

There was a moment of stunned silence that fell over the room before a reply finally came. “I understand now.” My god began slowly. “Somehow a divine parasite seems to have found its way into your mind and eaten what consists of your sanity!” There was utter disbelief in their words. “How? How could you possibly come to anything even resembling that conclusion?”

“I found your conspirators, your sects that were pulling my people in with your promises of everlasting souls only to turn them into slaves.”

“How can I possibly conspire with people whom I do not even know? I have no memory of ever discussing anything of that nature with anyone. How did you even come across this group of deranged individuals?”

“It wasn’t easy. Whispers in the streets, finding the remnants of clandestine meetings, and intercepting missives detailing plans to undermine my influence and bolster your own. It was only after I called in the aid of one more skilled in investigating that I caught them in the act of binding the foolish of my children into their mindless servants.”

“You can’t possibly believe I would be partner to any of that? I dissuaded those people with curses wherever they were found!”

“Publicly perhaps in order to hide your intent, but those missives I found bore the mark of your champion, and the signet of your sect. They contained instruction to expand and move your schemes to avoid any investigations.”

“Those letters were never written by me or any champion of mine! Where did you even come upon such false documents?”

“A hunter found a raven that appeared to have been shot down by poachers. It was delivered to us as it was near our territory, and that was when I realized the depth of your betrayal and called in the aid of the Mistress to uproot the truth.”

“Raven? The Mistress?”

“Yes! Her skills were invaluable in finding all your secret meetings and hideaways. After a while I realized that this was too far to forgive, and punishment must be doled out.”

I could feel the racing thoughts of my god as their mind moved at unimaginable speeds. “Brother... after the Mistress got involved with this investigation, did you ever find one of these ‘meetings’ yourself, or did she always come to you with news of them?”

Valder’s expression changed slightly, and I noticed his eyes looking downward in thought for a minute before snapping back at me. “What is the point you are trying to make?”

“Did you ever confirm for yourself that these meeting areas existed?” My god started to push.

“There were detailed reports given, and your undead servants always destroyed them when they were discovered. Now what is your point?”

“Rituals for binding souls require reagents and proper constructs. Were you ever presented with any evidence of these things?” They started to get faster and more frantic with the questions.

“Your point!” Valder finally shouted.

“How is it that she found all these supposed locations and they all conveniently left no evidence other than what she told you? Brother, if you even have the smallest amount of trust left in me then listen to me when I say that I never plotted against you and would never think of doing anything to your children. Something is wrong here, and I think it is likely that we have been manipulated.”

A look of deep concern crosses Valder’s face as his god takes in those words. “You are insinuating quite a lot, and if I am hearing you correctly, you think the Mistress was responsible for all that has happened? What would she even have to gain from pitting us against one another?”

“I am not entirely sure.” My god admitted. “But the question does beggar an answer at the very least. Will you agree to reserve your judgments until after these questions are resolved? I will do the same for you.”

There was a scoff and sneer from Valder as he made an offhand gesture out the window. “Not like I could deny you. You’ve killed my armies and torn down my city. Do what you will. I will see where you go with this if only to confirm that things are as they seem.” The look on his face then dropped to something more pensive. “You have raised suspicion in me despite my best efforts to suppress it. I may have to confirm a few things myse-”

Suddenly his words were cut off as it sounded like all the air was driven from his body. Choked sounds were the only thing that came from him, and we watched in stunned horror as Valder coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground. Crimson life stained the back of his robes, and it looked like he had been stabbed. Before we could even react to anything, a voice echoed out in the room.

“Couldn’t have just stabbed each other, could you?” The shrill voice seemingly came from nowhere, but then a form began to appear like it was being painted into reality before us. Small stature, angled features, sickly green skin, and sharply pointed ears. The champion of the Mistress of Shadows appeared in the room. “It would have been so much easier.”