[41st Year of Foresai, Lower Fire Month, Day 4]

Lakyus raised her gaze, seeing the red glint of arrow points peeking out of Ro-Lante’s turrets. She advanced fearlessly, marching up the road to the gatehouse along with those of her men brave enough to follow her. Raising her free hand to her mouth, she whistled shrilly. A faint cry ‘scaped from behind the walls.

“Raise the gates!”

A moment passed, and then rang the sound of a great clicking mechanism. The first wooden gate swung inward, then the one behind it, Lakyus seeing straight through to the inner wall. Neither of the portculli had been dropped, and she walked in unaccosted. As she was making through, she reflexively looked upward, catching furtive eyes bearing down on her through the murder holes. Levelling her gaze, she watched a knight creep round into view just as she emerged back out into what was left of the night. He was sickly looking, the felflame hanging on the world as did the sun on a cloudy day and ergo lighting him from all angles - though she supposed he was given over to genuine illness as well. Seeing her, he wandered closer, eyes wide and mouth ever slightly agape.

"Lady Aindra-"

"Sir… Recanthort. Where is the Princess?"

"I- uh, the war room."

“Lead me.”

After a moment’s lag, he nodded and powerlessly gestured at a smaller door leading into the keep. Turning round and raising her hand, she gave a quick flick to the right, indicating that her men muster in the space between the walls. They were few, only those Lakyus deemed unfit - either by madness or mazement - to fight. Consisting of four levy, five professionals, and one of her knights, it constituted a significant lack of force. She had scattered the rest around the tower of fire, ordering them to specific junctions, holding positions likely to come under attack - though, in the queer fashion of events this night, this seemed less than likely.

I don’t understand why the enemy isn’t advancing. There’s a city for the taking.

Her ingression into the flame was quick, only enough to catch a glimpse of the demons before retreating. They did not follow, not even to the extent of plucking away her errant bondsmen, fiends seeming content to beat the bounds and nothing more. The violence that was, is, and would not be mindless was a strange admission of scheme on the part of her enemy; demons were wont to merrymake and slaughter without care, and to instead insist on staking out a portion of a city and turning it into an abattoir was a different sort of behavior altogether. Lakyus found no sense in it, but was sure of it to be some dark cause, and that alone was enough to scare her. The one magician - not given over to cowardice, but instead brought for the purpose of communication - broke from the ranks, intending to follow Lakyus into the keep. She held a halting hand, half turning back as she walked.

“Make sure they get fed - bread at the least - and try to get them in order. If any are fit for service after, send them out, and notify their squads of their coming.”

“I don’t know what word I have with the commissary.”

“Say it’s on the princess’s order.”

“Is it?”

“She’ll issue it.”

Probably order them broth too.

Turning on her heel, she followed Recanthort, who had already made it to the entrance where he was now waiting. Ro-Lante’s main keep was not in its inner space; rather, it was built into its inner wall, which she now entered. Bidding her in, he broke ahead, leading her up a spiral staircase that branched off the room immediately inside. She followed, dimming her crown to better make out the way. Thin slits dotted the ascent, the red glow of each catching the knight’s armor in front of her. They went up a flight then slipped through a winding doubleback sentineled by another knight to arrive at a second spiral, where they went up a flight again. At the top, they were met with yet more knights, a pair startling as Recanthort and Lakyus approached. He stuttered something out.

“We’re to see her Highness.”

Neither made any further impediment, and Lakyus approached the chamber door they guarded. As she reached out, it burst open, two footmen scurrying out as she swiftly stepped off to the side. Grabbing the door as it swung, she held it open, coming round it to walk within. Two dozen sets of eyes snapped in her direction: the palace military men set about a map; a cleric and wizard alongside; two haggard-looking representatives of the great six; a librarian with dark bestiaries spread before him; the lords previously present for the action against Eight Fingers; Lord Raeven himself for the same; that second prince who had proven so fruitful an ally; that princess who seemed ever more stalwart by the hour. Lakyus called out immediately, interrupting any reactions to her entrance.

“Renner-”

“Anything and everything. I’ll wrench what I can from my siblings and my father.”

The matter of support settled before she could utter a second word, Lakyus moved onto specifics.

“The Adventurers-”

“I’ve already sent a runner.”

“You’ll need to open your coffers.”

“Emptied and scraped. I’ve put up the sum of my metal for the cause - some jewelry to sweeten it.”

“The Magicians-”

“Settled just the same. As goes for the churches, and all the houses major and minor that dwell here. We looted the palace professionals for the footmen. Lakyus, be it true that our enemies are fiends?”

“Aye.”

The room hushed - the military men having already been silent - catching up to Lakyus’s account. Baron Wager was the first to speak up.

“Fiends, as in-”

“The full and proper reckoning of the word.”

Renner cut off his question without turning to look at him, her eyes focused solely on Lakyus. Her interrupt emphasized its last word, beckoning Lakyus to confirm her suspicion.

“Yes, demons full.”

At this, the room exploded.

“Demons full?! How have things such as that crawled-”

“Shore the defenses immediately.”

“My Lord Benra, there is no time for-”

“Whom do we have ready for action?”

“-debate on the point of-”

“The forces are there on the grid!”

“The grid?! Who's to say who's been annihilated, already dragged down into the earth!”

Renner gave a somewhat exasperated expression, tuning her voice a bit shriller to cut through the noise.

“And that foremost among them is, named as Evileye has spoken, a being greater than those Evil Deities of two hundred years prior?”

“Jaldabaoth? I am afraid so.”

I was not there, but she would not be dazed on that point.

The noise rose to a proper din, words giving way to shouts, proclamations of shock, and a hanging air of doom that nobody seemed to know quite what to do with.

“Evil Deities? The Demon Gods?!”

“Of whom else would she speak?!”

“Lakyus-”

“That’s impossible! They and those things like them were slain in the days of King Andrean!”

“A return though-”

“Return from where?! Were they not destroyed?”

“Banished.”

“-Lakyus-”

“And so they crawl in the underworld just as before?!”

At this last interruption, Renner gave up, instead breaking from her spot, giving an inaudible dismissal to her brother and the marquis. As she jaunted round the edge of the table - upon which was set the battlemap subject to the manipulations of Defense Coordinator Helgrave and Knight Marshal Lazzak - Lakyus mirrored her, commanding her floating blades to find a resting place on a stout weapons rack by the entrance. The pair met and broke away from the main table, slipping away from others and finding space near the wall.

“Did she make mention of the bug to you?”

What’s this about?

“The bug?”

“An insect monster of especial hardiness. Of all things, donned in a maid outfit.”

Ah, that.

The exoticism of certain monsters was something an adventurer learned to accept. That beings the size of a child, in the form of a beautiful woman, or some minute creature more fluff than flesh could be just as deadly - or plausibly, much more so - than some generic horror was a fact that frequently killed those in the learning of it. Adventurers reflected a little of this queerness back, adopting ever more strange methods of combat, garish varieties of gear, and potent quirks to all but alienate them from every other walk of life. Still, a man-eating monster maid was somewhat beyond what Lakyus was typically asked to conceive. The princess’s surprise at this was, of its own, intriguing; not by way of the point’s normality, but by its seeming irrelevance. Her visage was overstill, an aimless expression whose slight curls of the brow and little twitches revealed that it was not the product of an inner deadness, but rather the sum of many extreme emotions coming all at once.

“She did.”

I wonder why she asked.

The princess’s troubled look only grew deeper, stuttered breathing seeming to punctuate it. Her question was - to Lakyus - beyond the immediate, though she knew that Renner would not ask such a thing pointlessly. Whatever she was pondering, the verity of Evileye’s statement was critical to it, a lynchpin fact.

“I’d only ask because it seemed as if Gagaran and Tia were set to be slain by it… before they met their ends anyway. If… and forgive me for my lack of understanding… Gagaran and Tia are only considered ‘Orihalchum’ in your parlance, and this insect of theirs was able to go blow to blow with Evileye - or even exceed her - before being defeated. Does that not make its commander - who so slew your comrade in a single spell - a foe beyond us?”

“There are those above us.”

“Y-yes, but this Momon. I… ah, apologies. I’m deeply away from sense.”

She gave an ashamed nod as recompense, eyes having curled a little further down.

Climb is out there still. I don’t know if Six Arms was at Dalenoc, though I didn’t see any sign of spell fire - or any other fierce battle for that matter. The alleyway Gazef fought in was filled with whip marks and other scars from that armored knight of theirs. I know the monster sent to Hilma’s manor was strong, but I don’t imagine Six Arms would go down without a protracted fight, even against something like the bug. If they weren’t there, they were likely at their compound, and if Climb had walked into that before the demons came…

Lakyus looked at Renner piteously. Her friend had likely figured and then refigured all this out already. Lakyus felt she could not imagine the depth of Renner’s fear, terror, and sorrow on this point. She had sent him there, and though Lakyus - after questioning it herself - had convinced her of that course’s correctness earlier in the day, it now seemed set to shake out in the worst possible manner. Lakyus faced the hand hanging by her outward, inviting Renner closer with an open palm. The princess gave a weak smile, rejecting the offer for a hug with a weak shake of the head and a silent lip of the words “I can’t.” The smile soured, and as it drooped, the princess looked away and wiped her eyes once more, before steeling herself and turning back.

“The fiends accosted Eight Fingers before us.”

“It seems that way. My manor was emptied of everything but the floorboards.”

“The floorboards? I thought- ah, no, I was given over to a misunderstanding. How far have they pushed out?”

“None at all.”

“I received the same from Belenore, though I didn’t hazard to believe it. In sooth, I haven’t an idea for their action.”

Renner pursed her lips before shooting a glance back to her brother. Zanac, along with the rest of the men, were engaged in some argument that the pair of women had already lost; words drifted over about “The Articles of Constitution,” referring to the deeds held by the nobility on land in the capital. Though the lines they shouted at each other were of that arcane sort of speech practiced by the Kingdom’s forefathers two-hundred years prior, she did not find the need to listen and track the specific references, and she blocked out the noise.

I can guess what they’re fighting about. Zanac wants men for defense around the flame - firefighting efforts too; they want their men on their land, defending their territory. This is only going to get worse when the rest arrive. We have forces, but it’s not enough if we’re to retake the encircled area. I- oh, actually, I need to tell her that.

“I went to the wall.”

“Verily?”

Renner’s head snapped back, Lakyus tightly nodding. Renner’s eyes seemed to round a little further as her brow sank lower.

“Of the blaze?”

“It gave no heat;, solid, too thick to see through to the other side-”

“Side?”

“It’s thin, half a span at most.”

“You tested this?”

“I stepped through.”

Renner swallowed, eyes shooting wide. Her expression was beginning to crack, her body growing unsteady on her feet as she twitched more and more.

“What sights?”

“Demons. Many.”

“A force?”

“A large one.”

“How did this happen, Lakyus?”

“Eight Fingers conspired with the olden enemy. That’s the only way to explain this. A ritual. Dark pact. Something. After all, they are Eight Fingers of Divanach-”

“I thought that was just a vanity of criminals who fashioned themselves a secret society!”

“I did too! I- I think they did too. But, I mean, you need only look out a window. Someone got desperate. Someone with access to something dangerous. Eight Fingers has a history that runs right up to that time two-centuries ago. As our forefathers were, so were theirs; in the time of the Witcher, the time of Brog’Drukil. They must have something.”

“The object our foe mentioned?”

“Perhaps, or just dark knowledge. The sort of thing worth expunging.”

“Expunging…”

For some reason Lakyus could not place, Renner had caught on that word, drawing it out in her typical fashion. The princess stilled for a moment then seemed to dismiss whatever she was thinking about with a blink and a nod.

“The flame, it’s centered in the warehouse district.”

“Yes; as far as I can tell, right in the middle of Geyda square, out to a distance of maybe a hundred and fifty paces - three hundred across. It encompasses some stretches across the Southflow into Laroque and just barely swallows the easternmost bridge between there and Utreno.”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“All the warehouses are on the south bank, so they’re within- do they think they meant to lure us away from their objective?”

“What?”

“Gagaran’s target would have been in the flame, Tia’s not too far away. If they had gone and slaughtered those places, they, as per their orders, would have traveled off to Manor Cygnaeus. Assuming a schedule to raise the flame at the time they did, that would give them time to empty out the storehouses, and… and whatever other dark purposes they intended to effect. The insect was slippage. Perhaps our two friends merely beat our foe to their objective, and paid the price for their haste. Lakyus, did you have thoughts?”

Lakyus blinked, the impracticality of Renner’s suggestion coming a moment later.

“They would have needed to monitor us. The palace has divination defense, and Evileye has always been somewhat paranoid on this point, as have I and the twins. And, besides, does that fit a desperate gambit on the part of our enemy?”

“Right.”

“Demons need a breakpoint, a mage circle, or the like. What you’re suggesting would require-”

“Forethought from those creatures. All correct. I cede.”

Though she says that, it doesn’t seem sincere.

“Renner, why ‘creature’?”

“Er… I suppose that it is a little wrong. I admit I loathe to utter that word which you have been using, lest I summon forth the gaze of a wicked eye anew.”

“Our enemies are demons, Renner. Speak of them with the word ‘demon’, and make no alterations to the term ‘demon’. This goes further for Jaldabaoth. Names are power to them, and they have no ability to enter this world and then lie about their names within it. By squeaming around them, you do what they desire.”

“Right. Apologies. All correct again. ‘Demon’ it is.”

Renner’s emphasis on the word still seemed to hint at a lack of understanding, but Lakyus felt no time to make further mention of the point. She opened her mouth to continue, but her words were cut off by a yelling to her fore.

“Sister! Sister!”

Renner pirouetted, and along with Lakyus behind her, set off toward Zanac. They both worked their way to the far part of the room, the pair stepping alongside their exasperated opposites, both the prince and the count red in the face. Zanac moved first, snapping to Renner.

“Talk some sense into Raeven, I can’t convince him to commit to the fire defense-”

“They’re magical flames, my Prince! Dump a bucket of water on them and it’s half liable to freeze!”

“The blaze needs quenching though!”

“That pillar? Luck of the Greed Kings to that! It’s better to let individual lords handle the fire defense for their areas, and scramble the palace professionals to cover the crown-land gap-”

“Our men number- Agh, Chardelon, say something.”

“The flames are a trick, an illusion.”

“What?”

Lakyus gave a sidelong swing of the head, before taking on the burden of explanation from Renner.

“I wouldn’t put it that way, but close, your Highness. They make no heat, and do not burn. It’s likely the border of some unholy magic.”

“Like what? An imprisoning flame, or-”

“A range spell.”

“Range spell, Elias?”

“Er, an area that is given over to some power of bolstering or something such.”

“Ah, and in this case it would be for demons?”

“Right.”

“Or it could be a summoning circle.”

Such terrifying words escaped Renner’s lips. Lakyus turned in shock, the marquis and the prince doing the same. The horrible images that sprouted from the princess felt completely at odds with her demure image, the gentle way she expressed them making their contents more appalling, not less.

“Are you suggesting-”

Could such a thing be possible? Jaldabaoth is a greater force than the Demon Gods, but if he is only a herald…

“No, I’m not, brother. I merely find myself given over to ruin. Lakyus, what of the people?”

Lakyus was caught wrongfooted by the sudden question, still spiraling from her words prior.

“Inside?”

“Mm.”

That can’t be possible. Evil beings that exceed the Demon Gods cannot themselves be exceeded by things worse than them. Only the true Gods of mankind can claim such, and they are only with the forces of goodness.

“I only was in-”

“-You were in?!-”

“My prince, hush.”

“I was only in for a short time, but what I saw... Some killing by the demons inside, but more taking. Dragged people inward-”

As the words escaped her mouth, the sense of Renner’s point stuck her. She struggled to keep standing.

“-To a dark purpose.”

Mass… Gods above.

“I have only suspicion, but to dismiss it outright…”

“What- what are you two saying?”

“I second the Marquis! Chardelon, what is this?”

“Death.”

Sacrifice.

“Mass death for cause, my Prince.”

I can picture it, those thousands. What would they… do to them? What is he scheming? They’re there now, just as we are here. Gods, storehousing is there, but there are just as many domiciles.

“What cause?!”

“Tearing the breach between our place and the netherrealms a little wider.”

Renner’s words seemed to send the prince over the end, Zanac collapsing back into his chair.

“Gods above!”

Plain, simple sacrifice. How many thousands dwell within that flame? How many circles can be drawn from that blood? New breakpoints, new holes through which to reach. More of the great enemy in this world.

“Is that possible?”

It took Lakyus to realize the words had been directed at her, Raeven’s face having turned clammy white.

“I have no idea.”

“We need to push immediately. Gather the forces of houses near under the Black Clause of the Articles and swiftly-”

“My Princess, a charge now would be unorganized, and would result only in death and the shredding of our fighting force.”

“I concur, my Lord. They would be fodder at best, and in their dying, only thicken the air with their anguish. Impurity that, even when we drive back down the demons, would stay and harang this place to the end of its days with the living dead. Renner, it wouldn’t work.”

The princess held still, before wordlessly nodding; Lakyus found the sight as painful as it had been before. She turned her gaze to Raeven and continued.

“My lord-”

“I have no need for pleasantries tonight, Lady Aindra.”

“Aye, the same.”

Renner again nodded, all three of her comrades ceding protocol. Lakyus rushed on.

“Right. Well, then, Elias, scatter your forces about all the city junctions.”

“What? Why not all the way up?”

“They aren’t pushing out yet, and if we layer ‘round the flame line after line of men, they may simply appear behind us.”

“Thank you. She’s right.”

“I see, then the rest of the lords? You still intend to order the Black Clause.”

“‘We’ as in House Vaiself, but if- if we aren’t doing an imminent drill, then there’s no need to invoke such a strong line in our articles. It’s strange… that provision was written specifically for this situation. A way to force the hands of all those present to a kinetic response, and yet using it seems as impossible as cramming the dawn sun back under the horizon. Disconcerting.”

“Agreed, sister. It’s a bitter truth to-”

A bang interrupted him and was promptly followed by the pitter patter of several footsteps. Lakyus turned, seeing none other than the first prince enter, along with several Knight-Officers. Whatever start he had given the group by throwing open the door he received twofold, his face slacking open as he saw both Zanac and Renner.

“Igana, Chardelon- what- what are you already doing here?!”

I’ve known bastards better than you.

Lakyus stiffened. That Barbro would show up was something she felt deleterious to the methods of battle. The booming timbre of his voice seemed to have a similar effect on both Zanac and Raeven, the pair righting themselves fully. Renner was the opposite, silently grabbing Lakyus’s arm, jittering as she turned to face her brother and answer his question.

“Eh? We had lent the space previously for-”

“Crushing the rats of this kingdom underfoot. It’s black coincidence, Ield, that we would be needed here tonight anyway.”

“W-what?”

“The war against Eight Fingers, my Prince. I, Lady Aindra and her band, and the rest of us had already rallied-”

“I knew that! I saw you muster from the window, but this-”

“Father gave us the approval to use this space.”

The first prince gave an exasperated wave of the hand, moving deeper into the room along with his retinue, with the door closing behind him. Looking directly at Renner, a current of venom ran through his next words.

“And you, invested in martial matters?”

“I admit I’m an interloper, but-”

Damn you. Why do you have to be here? You’re already responsible for a great many crimes against the people of this country, and now you choose to show yourself at precisely the time to ruin its survival?

“She’s vital, she stays.”

Lakyus’s words were curt and cool, beckoning no rebuttal. Barbro gave one anyway.

“It’s inappropriate for her to be in this chamber.”

“Brother, our sister is not a nitwit. She is, at the very least, Lord Raeven’s equal in matters of adventurer-kind. She’s fronting everything she has to this cause-”

“She is?”

“Yes! And I have dug deep into my pockets as well. No matter. Have at it.”

“Right- right. Father will be down soon. He’s given me command for this matter of the flaming pillar. Sir Helgrave-”

"Your Highness."

“What are we facing? Some rogue circle of wizards, or-”

“An invasion.”

Barbro’s face froze, the only exception being his eyes, which began to dart between the faces of all in the room once more. Renner’s grip tightened, her friend subtly leaning closer.

“Whom? If this is some work of that damned Paradyne-”

“The netherrealms, headed by an Archfiend, Jaldabaoth. “

“That can’t be possible!”

Are you a feeblemind? Have you not looked outside?!

“He’s already slain two of my women. My patience on this point-”

Renner’s nails began to dig into Lakyus’s skin, the pain snapping her from her budding tirade. She swallowed. Barbro was loathsome; a traitor to his nation, betrayer of his house, and would-be murderer of his sister. He was also the crown prince. Lakyus cooled her words.

“-Has… been strained by the events of the evening thus far. That pillar of flame is the borders to their lodgement. It’s merely a wall, beyond which they’ve set themselves to defend. They’re taking the citizens beyond it; to what purpose, I do not know.”

He looked at her for a time, brimming with visible anxiety, before shifting his gaze to Zanac.

“Brother?”

“This is history we’re living, Ield.”

Barbro looked down and off to the side, visage shaking, furtively balling and unballing his fists. Twitching, he looked to the map, before breaking from his trance with the hint of a nod.

“I’m issuing an order for general retreat. Adopt fallback positions at the nearest junction to the flame. I want men on the north-south thoroughfare. Every junction, alleyway, everything. I don’t want anything getting through.”

“That’s already been achieved, my Prince.”

Barbro visibly balked at Lakyus’s words.

“What? What forces do we have in play?”

“Shy of six-score, my Prince. I have my men on the cross between Laroque and Felthra, and the rest circumventing it around the edges of Utreno, Getha, Windlon, Silfrip, and Ro-Sulethor.”

“What about Vaimark?”

“No confirmation has reached me yet, but I believe my comrade Tia left her squad there.”

“Right… Right. Helgrave.”

“We were in ready condition already, my Prince. Our standing knights and professionals were already bolstered beyond the nightwatch. Like Lady Aindra said, the forces in the command of her and her fellows are set in the needed forward positions."

“And these are your forces, Lord Raeven?”

“I and those aligned.”

“Understood. To the rest of you here, what say you of joining with your independent kin and supporting the effort directly?”

The room went silent for a brief instant, before an impetuous Renner spoke out to quell the coming crisis.

“Brother-dearest, come-round. Some points bear discussing.”

Barbro was broken of his spell, gave a stout nod, and came round. Lakyus caught audible exhales from a few, the lot feeling the evening had almost been blown open. He approached and waved off Raeven and Lakyus, the former of whom stepped away without a fuss and made to his representative in Valencia. Lakyus, however, remained still.

“Lady Aindra, you don’t make to move?”

I’m not leaving her with you. Godsdammed murderer.

Lakyus found herself wholly unable to respond, words lodged in her mouth. His presence was a frustration. Tonight, the world seemed closer to ending than it had since the time of the Kingdom’s founding, and she had to spend what time existed between now and an uncertain next dawn in league with the worst criminal her country had known yet. Graciously, Renner picked up where she could not.

“She is not here as a representative of House Aindra, brother. She’ll make no infringement upon our confidence.”

“I-I second her recommendation. I must say, these past twelve hours have given me a taste for adventurers.”

“Alright, fine. I don’t understand your hesitations. Why not invoke the Articles?”

Houses, major or minor, were in the interest of defending their territory alone. Barbro’s suggestion, akin to Renner’s in her previous mad spew, would be to compel them into service under a two century-old compact. Though, in the immediate, it would swell those forces available for the defense, if those of goodness managed to secure a victory, the resulting strain would result in the worst challenge to the monarchy yet to come. Renner had fallen earlier to that same breed of full-bore sword-and-board vehemence that Barbro was now, but she had not shouted that to the room.

“I’d hazard that not in the best interests of our house.”

“Chardelon is correct. A defense like that would be ill advised.”

“Why?”

“The nobility never wishes to be forced, not to mention the Six.”

It’s outrageous. Re-Estize is a city of nearly a hundred thousand, and they wouldn’t defend it? Yes, they have their patches, but to not join the rest of us... Do they think nothing? Let their fear and self-interest bind them? I wouldn’t be able to stand it. Seeing what happened in the littlest nooks of our demesne. But they just sit and watch, staring dumbly at the flame. It’s not just outrageous, it’s criminal.

“What of Raeven, what of the daughter Aindra here?”

“Elias was already involved. He can’t withdraw now.”

Barbro huffed, turning to Lakyus with a sardonic look in his eye.

“And you? Don’t you have something to say for yourself?”

I… I need to say something. What? I have no idea. Just, stall, try and… find something.

“I-”

“She’s merely standing by me, brother. And it’s no matter. To the topic at hand, we do this ourselves-”

How does she manage to speak to him? I don’t understand it.

“-It will be a major victory - not just for the Royal Faction - but for House Vaiself.”

“Mm, I wouldn’t put it in such cold terms, Igana, but something to that effect. Ah, brother-dearest, a point.”

“What?”

“I hazard the wisest choice to be you staying and commanding from this war room, and keeping your forces here.”

The conversation paused briefly, with both Zanac and Lakyus giving Renner a look. Barbro seemed caught wrongfooted, so thrown off by the words that he issued a stuttered question.

“You believe so? W-why?”

“Yes. With the lack of support from houses major, I chance that the common way of thinking here would be to deploy your forces along with the rest to make up for the gap. But I believe that to be a mistake. If retribution comes for our counter-assault, a ‘counter-counter’, if you will, it will come here. I have no doubt in the ability of our sentries… though, well…”

What is she doing?

“You want me here to protect the palace?”

“Mm.”

Lakyus mouth fell just a little open, the faintest tinge of summer air seeping in to tinge her teeth. Renner’s deception hadn’t been simply convincing, it had been flawless. She recited it over again in her mind, for a brief moment wondering if Renner had been struck a blow to the head and merely forgotten the affairs of the Black Night. The only sign that this was not the truth besides her memory was a gentle squeeze of her forearm, she still in the grip of the princess. She slipped back into speech.

“Besides, the thought of anything happening to you in the city… I don’t know how I would react.”

How can she stand to say that? I don’t understand what this is about.

“So… so goes the tide of battle, Chardelon.”

“Though perhaps not even that is enough. Brother-dearest, would you commit the whole of your efforts to defending Valencia and Ro-Lante?”

“What?”

What? Is she trying to eliminate him from the defense all together?

The entire conversation clicked for Lakyus. Renner was being methodical, gently placing a lead over her brother’s head and now making to tug it.

She’s already decided he’ll be a detriment to the battle. She wants him out of the way. All this is designed to get him to stand aside, and think better of it.

“The enemy may slip from the black counting ten-fold any previous knowledge, and if your attentions are divided…”

Zanac seemed to catch on too, pressing in his own way/

“Defend the crown, brother. Defend the throne. Defend this place that has stood with our house for two hundred years.”

“As Igana said. There is no one who may look down on you for that!”

“Right… right, I think I will.”

In a sight she wished never to see again, Barbro cracked a smile. Suddenly came a great whistling, sharply rising behind Lakyus, who snapped around just in time for it to break into a sound akin to a thousand metal drums being struck at once. Green unlight bathed the space, the air turning thick and disgorging Evileye with a thin hiss.

“So it’s a two-hundred and forty pace spell… two-hundred forty-”

“What is that?!”

“A demon?!”

“I wonder… something of the seventh? Or perhaps eighth? That which was recovered the last time would suggest otherwise.”

Evileye seemed not to have taken notice of anyone, continuing her mutters while rubbing the forefingers of her dexter hand together.

“No, you two. That’s Aindra’s witch.”

“R-right.”

Evileye ignored the commentary, insteading raising her hand and issuing a spell after the other, throwing a sequence of glowing runes out into the air - at one point holding her finger straight up and watching a shower of red sparks sprout from it.

“The edges around that cast, they’re ideal. Perfect arcane construction… like the spells of that condensate golem in Feoh-Burkana.”

“Evileye.”

“Perfect construction… Hm? Ah- Lakyus! Yes, sorry, what is it?”

“What happened out there?”

“Nothing I haven’t told.”

“You hadn’t given me difficulty-”

“Right, that. The maid demon was difficulty rating one-fifty, at best. Had its master not shown up, I would have killed it with Vermin Bane. Jaldabaoth was higher.”

“How high?”

“I- I’m not sure.”

“Guess.”

“I’m not sure! I- He cast a spell, something I hadn’t seen before. Well, multiple, but this one... It was an anti-teleportation abjuration, one I know doesn’t exist at the fifth tier.”

“Why not?”

“Counter-spells are fickle; the meta-transform of a spell’s pseudomorphologic-dynamo is always a more complex structure-”

“It would have needed to be a higher tier.”

“Eighth, I think. A greater teleportation spell exists in the seventh. I know that. I was able to imitate that at a lower tier. But the information I got from that gave no indication of an abjuration that existed below, or at that geometry. I believe he’s at least an eighth tier spellcaster.”

The dialogists froze for a second time; Barbro with mouth wholly agape, Lakyus and Zanac given over to some kind of terror, and Renner to mania - she bursting into a wholly inappropriate laughter before suppressing it a moment later. Somehow, Lakyus found the strength to talk.

“Of Tia and Gagaran.”

“We have their bodies. They took a few blows during the fight with the insect, but the flames thrown at them by Jaldabaoth left no mark. Some kind of unnatural heat.”

“I see, and they’re with-”

“One of Raeven’s wizards, I believe, or someone he hired. Should be here soon.”

“Right. Renner.”

Her friend snapped her eyes up from the ground, a wild look of surprise akin to an apprentice suddenly called on.

“Eh?”

“Hold. That is a much too informal a tone for my sister.”

“Ield, it was by my request.”

“The same from me, brother.”

“And mine as well, your Highness.”

“R-right.”

“Renner, I need you to send someone trustworthy to our warehouse to retrieve something.”

“What? Some radiant weapon?”

“When we ask that He of the Dust and Diamond give back to us one who has passed on, we must provide Him with that latter aspect of himself in exchange.”

“A diamond?”

“Yes.”

“R-right… right. Igana- well, I suppose the both of you, who strictly was Sir Brendel’s replacement?

“He doesn’t have one yet.”

“H-how Igana has it.”

“Oh, that matter was never resolved, was it? Well, then. Well, it’s a tad improper, but I’m sure we can send Jelka.”

Lakyus cocked her head slightly.

“Didn’t he resign?”

“From the position of defense coordinator. Father refuses to release him from anything else, however… Ah, this is much too severe. A spellcaster more mighty and terrible than anything our kind has ever dreamed. Pray tell, what do we do now?”

“Lord Momon will save us. He will.”

…Lord? I thought he was a commoner.

“You’re so sure?”

“I am!”

“I suppose he did have that eighth tier sealing crystal he unleashed on that-”

“No! Nothing of the sort. I have no reason to believe that here. I’ve never seen swordplay like- like- Lord… Mister Momon has skill with the blade unlike anything I’ve seen.”

Mister? So, he’s a commoner after all?

An odd streak of passion ran in Evileye’s voice, one Lakyus had never before heard. It was strange to say, for Evileye’s voice was always that of a mature child, but here she sounded downright young.

“Verily? In excess of the Warrior-Captain?”

“Yes!”

“Still, are swords much use against spells? At this juncture, it seems the world will be alway lit crimson.”

Evileye’s rejection was of double the ferocity Lakyus had expected.

“I’m certain beyond a doubt! Lord Momon fought evenly, fending off the demon and- and driving him back!”

“Eh? I apologize, I did not mean to lay claim to a superior knowledge of adventure-craft to you.”

“It’s- it’s fine.”

That’s what this is, it’s infatuation. She- she’s infatuated with Momon!

Lakyus went positively wide eyed, and before she could help it, her mouth had crept up in awe. Evileye noticed.

“What is it?”

You’re in love! That’s what-

“Lakyus, why are you looking at me like that?”

That’s proper embarrassment too!

Even in the worst moments, when the world seemed soon to be torn apart by foul powers, when monsters had stepped straight from nightmares and into the bright dark of night, when the chance of a sunrise the next morning was scant to none, the Gods found not only opportunities for light and goodness, but for humor. Lakyus’s curl turned into a warm smile.

“Nothing. When is Lord Momon arriving?”

“He should be here about now. I was just jumping ahead… Oh, and speaking of arrivals.”

Evileye dropped her statement, a few seconds passing without event. Then, on the eve of confusion, the door to the room opened once more. Lakyus turned, seeing that white armor and blond hair she thought surely to have been lost to the night.

“C-Climb! Y-you’re-”

For the briefest of moments, Renner seemed to hitch.

“You’re alright!”