Derzina watched as the first light of the suns swept across the city, highlighting and reddening the white marble. With the dawn came yet more of the city’s people, joining the growing crowd within the town square. None of them seemed to know quite what to do about Inea’s broken statue, Xanathel’s flag or his defiant presence.
It was a strangely peaceful scene and Derzina took some solace in the tranquillity, especially as she knew it couldn’t last. The crowd soon parted like water before Inea and her retinue of Paladins. Both god and followers were armed and armoured, their steel glittering beneath the suns’ rays. They advanced to the edge of the square and halted. Inea’s cold expression would have looked perfectly at home on one of her statues, like the one which had so recently stood within the square.
“Am I correct in assuming that you’re responsible for this senseless destruction?” Inea asked of Xanathel, loud enough for everyone present to hear.
“I tore down your monument,” Xanathel replied, “though I would hardly call it senseless destruction. It was more of an act of kindness really, removing an eyesore from such a public place.”
“And you?” Inea asked, disregarding Xanathel’s glib reply and addressing Derzina.
“Xanathel alone undertook the destruction,” Derzina said, “but I endorsed his actions and take full responsibility.”
Inea drew her sword, holding it down by her side.
“You have both admitted your guilt, do you have anything to say in your defence?”
“Only that I acted in the interests of Brtet’s people,” Xanathel said. “All I wish is for them to be free.”
“This is how you try to benefit the city?” Inea demanded. “By the wanton destruction of its property? Especially now, when we are all under threat.”
She pointed the tip of her blade at them. “Xanathel and Derzina, you are hereby sentenced to death. In deference to your status, I shall carry out the sentence myself.”
Derzina froze, dumbfounded by the goddess proclamation and utterly defenceless before her. Shocked as she was, she was quite aware of unfazed Xanathel was. As if everything was going according to plan.
“You would butcher your fellow gods over a mere statue?” Xanathel asked, sounding appalled at the idea. “Do you truly have so little concern for your people that you would rather defend the city alone?”
“Better alone than with traitors at my back,” Inea said. “At least we’ll be free to plan the defence without worrying about who might decide to side with the demons over humanity. I had my concerns about a visitor from the blighted lands beyond our walls, and it seems I was right to be cautious.”
Inea approached slowly and purposefully, each armoured footfall ringing throughout the square. Breathing rapidly, Derzina retreated behind Xanathel. Though she was still unsure of what to do, she was certain she wanted no part in any violence that might be done here. Only a fool would stand between gods intent on killing one another.
Unarmed and dressed only in his dirty cloth, Xanathel hopped down from the pedestal to face Inea. “I am no traitor. I have only broken this statue to demonstrate to our people they don’t have to live in fear of you any longer.” Ignoring Inea completely, he turned to the people around them. “Her tyrannical reign has lasted far too long, it is past time that we take a stand. Will you not join me in opposition, that we might win freedom for yourselves and your children? Only then shall—"
His speech was cut short by Inea crossing the remaining distance in a series of rapid steps and attempting to cut his head from his shoulders. Leaving a trail of white light through the air, her blade missed his neck by less than an inch as he swayed aside.
“Do you see how—"Was all he managed, before Inea pressed her attack and he was forced to defend himself. A spray of darkness enveloped Inea’s sword for an instant, long enough to stay its momentum and give Xanathel time to scramble out of the way.
More of the same inky blackness spewed forth, covering Xanathel from head-to-toe.
“Lady Inea please,” Derzina pleaded, “can we not talk about this? There’s no need for anyone to die.”
Inea paid no mind to Derzina’s words, thrusting her sword straight through Xanathel’s barrier. The darkness flowed around the point and shot toward Inea, forcing her backward to avoid being enveloped by the other god’s magic. Cutting apart the darkness with a few quick slashes, which reduced them to nothing, Inea was stepping in again as Xanathel brought forth more of his power when a hoarse, booming voice called out.
“What do you fools think you’re doing?” shouted a man as he shoved his way through the collected mass of humanity. Strips of faded cloth concealed all but his head, the features of which were largely obscured beneath a thick layer of dirt and his unkept beard.
Both of the gods halted, turning to the newcomer. “I am working to execute a traitor,” Inea replied, completely calm despite having been locked in mortal combat but a moment ago.
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“For the crime of breaking one of your ridiculous statues?” the interloper demanded. “A life ought to be worth more than that, especially that of a god.”
“Do not presume to judge me, Gorthar. You know my laws.”
“I know them better than I’d like, and they bear little resemblance to anything sensible. Is a statue truly worth so much to you that you’d kill one of your fellow gods over it?”
“Thank you for interceding,” Xanathel said, dismissing his protection. Though he still kept his distance from Inea. “It is wonderful to hear someone speaking sense at last.”
“Shut your idiot mouth,” Gorthar spat. “You knew exactly what would happen but you still went ahead and provoked her. And for what? Your own petty amusement?”
Returning to his place atop the pedestal where Inea’s statue had once stood, Xanathel adopted an expression of injured dignity. “I am trying to improve the lives of our people by bringing Inea’s injustices to light. Something I asked you to aid me in for many years, though you have finally seen the truth.”
“I see nothing more than squabbling children. I had hoped to stay out this matter, that you both might eventually see sense, but it appears you would rather risk the city than move past your differences.”
“If you would interfere with me enacting my rightful judgement,” Inea said, pointing her blade toward Gorthar, “then you are as traitorous as the ones you defend.”
Glaring at the naked steel, Gorthar approached until he was well within striking distance. “If disagreeing with the garbage that comes out of your mouth makes me a traitor, then I’ve been a traitor since the day we met. What do you intend to do about it?”
Moving her sword into a guard position, it seemed as if Inea would strike at any moment. Yet she merely continued to stand there, staring at the impudent god before her. Overwhelmed as Derzina felt, she took it upon herself to step in and try to stop this madness before it got any worse.
“I understand that you all have your grievances, and I don’t mean to make light of any of them, but we cannot allow ourselves to descend into violence. You can ill afford to weaken your city in this time of crisis, and the people deserve better from their rulers.”
Lecturing a pair of gods poised on the edge of battle was the scariest thing she’d ever done, even more so than facing off against Meztraxia’s army. At least Atasimon and the people of Ortesion had been with her in one way or another back then, now she was all alone.
“I will not be chastised by you or anyone else,” Inea said, focusing on Derzina over the other two. “The people stand behind me now, just as they have always done.”
“Is that so?” Xanathel asked. “Then why don’t we ask them?” Raising his arms, his amplified voice rung out through the square and beyond. “Do you truly think it is just that a god should die over a mere statue?”
There were a few muttered replies, but for the most part the crowd remained silent, and for the first time since her arrival, Inea looked uncertain. She opened her mouth to speak only to apparently think better of it and sheath her sword. “If the people wish to overlook your crime in deference to your status and the coming war,” Inea said, “then I shall heed their wishes and allow you to walk free. Do not test my patience further, they shall not be so merciful next time.”
She marched off along with her Paladins, the people around them wilting from their presence and beginning to disperse once they realized the spectacle was at an end. Noticing Gorthar shuffling off with the rest, Derzina caught up to him. “Thank you for your assistance, I fear things would have escalated even further without your assistance.”
Gorthar grunted and kept walking. “Just wanted to stop those idiots killing each other, there’s nothing to thank me for.”
“Well,” Derzina said, keeping pace with him, “regardless of your intentions, I still appreciate your assistance.”
“Appreciate away, it doesn’t make a lick of difference to me.”
Seeing that her presence only seemed to be irritating the already irritated god, Derzina cut her losses and let him be. Xanathel was still standing there looking dazed when Derzina returned. It was only now that she noticed the bloody tear in his clothing.
“Are you alright?”
“Hm?” he replied, blinking.
“You’re bleeding.”
He looked down at himself, apparently seeing the wound on his chest for the first time. “So I am. Don’t worry about it, it’s nothing serious.”
Though Derzina suspected he was just trying to play it off, he wasn’t bleeding that much and she decided it wasn’t all that important. “You could have told me she would try to kill you.”
He shrugged. “You’ve met her. It never occurred to me that you might not expect such an outcome. Still, even if I had, what would you have done differently?”
“To be frank, I don’t know if I’d have agreed to do any of this. As important as your cause is, I’m not sure it’s worth either of us dying over. We still have a city to defend.”
“I thought you understood the danger Inea’s tyranny posed to that very defence; has this encounter sapped your resolve?”
It had certainly dampened Derzina’s desire to oppose Inea, though it ashamed her enough that she’d rather not admit it. “I still believe what she’s doing is wrong, but it seems a terrible risk to take.”
“You need not concern yourself with the risk, I had the situation perfectly in hand. This is not the first time Inea and I have come to blows, and I suspect it shall not be the last.”
She dearly hoped he was wrong and this was a one-time thing, though seeing the depth of enmity between the two she held little faith that her hope would become reality. That two people who ostensibly worked toward the same purpose could be so at odds with one another boggled her mind, let alone two gods.
“Maybe you’re right, I shall have to consider this further. Would you be willing to halt your plans for the time being, that I might have more time to think?”
“I suppose I can wait a little while; I’ll relay that to my men. Those of whom are still alive at least.”
“What do you mean?” Derzina asked. “Why wouldn’t they be alive?”
Xanathel gave her a puzzled look. “You saw what Inea nearly did to me, what do you think she’s going to do my followers who defied her?”
“Then what are we still doing here? Do you mean to just leave them to die?”
“Their deaths shall serve our cause even better than our little confrontation; a perfect illustration of Inea’s flaws.”
“That’s awful,” Derzina said, open-mouthed.
How could he be so callous toward his own followers? Well, whatever his feelings toward them Derzina would not let them die for this if she had any say in it.
“Where are you going?” Xanathel asked, as she was in the process of leaving.
“To see if I can still save their lives. I would not presume to tell you what to do, but if you will not help me save them then I can no longer support your cause. If you have any regard for your followers, you cannot allow them to sacrifice themselves. Not like this.”
Without waiting to see if he would follow her, Derzina strode out from the square.