Three days after Tlaloc

My hand shook slightly as it ferried a spoon up to my mouth. My left hand, meaning the otherwise dead arm. A few days after Tlaloc decided to join my expedition, I made a small discovery. Well, credit where it’s due, Eris had made a suggestion. Following through with that had led to this.

Namely, while I still lacked any and all feeling in my left arm, not to mention fine motor control, I could still move mana around it. Though, it wasn’t easy.

“Damnit.” The spoon had slipped out of my hand again.

Benji raised an eyebrow at my rather bland curse whilst Sasha leaned over my side and efficiently removed the small stain of my soup.

“All things considered, I don’t think many people could even move their arm like that in the first place, but what do I know? I’m not a mage.” Benji quipped at me in a tone that demonstrated a degree of irreverence for my station, but as we were unaccompanied save for my guards, it was… tolerable, in this case.

“Yes; not many. In Drakas, perhaps five people, and only two of them human. But I need to be better; I can hide the injury if I grow skilled enough to eat at least. Though, fighting will be out of the question.”

Benji shrugged, “I don’t see the point, an injury like that shows you’re a fighter; wear it with pride.”

In response, I raised one eyebrow and tilted my head pointedly while directing a little bit of mana at him; it should cause him to feel some pressure from me, “Perhaps if I were one of your men, but do not let yourself forget whose point it is that you fail to see.”

The captain froze briefly, then tensed before nodding sharply, “Aye, point made, your grace.”

His tone still had a bit of bite to it but as he said, I had made my point, again.

Considering I executed his colleague less than a week ago, he’s become remarkably lippy. I suppose it might have something to do with me saving his ship from Tlaloc, but then wouldn’t he be even more respectful…?

I released the mana directed at Benji and watched him suppress a sigh of relief. Ruling through fear was not the point; I really, truly didn’t want to resort to such methods. But over the past few days I’d found it impossible to control this man without resorting to light intimidation.

He’s fine in public, but in private he’s started treating me more like an equal… I did tell him not to stand on ceremony when we first met, but he’s pushing things a bit far. …Or maybe I’m just reading too much into it.

Putting that aside for now, my main concern was with control. Moving the arm was easy enough, but when I split down to the wrist and fingers, things got complicated. Once again, moving them was easy. The problem came from my lack of feeling; use too much force and I would break something. It looked like the arm would still heal, at least the small cut I’d made was healing up nicely. But it would be extremely awkward if I broke my wrist at a ball and didn’t realize until a guard or, gods forbid, a guest, pointed it out.

I shot the spoon a glare before picking it up with my fully functional dominant arm, “That aside, how goes our course?”

Benji finished chewing then swallowed, “Excellent. Especially with Lady Tlaloc manipulating the currents for us…” He looked like he had something else to add, but was trying to hold back.

He’s worried I’ll snap at him again… Damnit, this isn’t what I wanted.

“Captain, if you have anything else to say regarding the mission then say it, just choose your words; and refrain from commenting on my own affairs.” I gave him a nudge; if he had input on the overall mission or upcoming operations than I would hear it.

He hesitated a moment longer then spoke, “...Only that some of the sailors remain hostile toward her. Someone leaked her identity as our attacker. So far, nothing has happened but…”

He trailed off again. His effort to avoid crossing the line and commenting on my personal affairs (in this case, Tlaloc’s role) was commendable. If only he wasn’t so unsure of himself about it.

“Right, well there’s a quick solution to that. At least so far as preventing any serious damage. Frieda, please bring Lady Tlaloc here… She’ll assume I’ve asked for her, but… Just say whatever you must.” I grimaced as I gave Frieda her instructions.

After drinking some water (and spilling a bit on my neck), I returned my attention to Benji, “By ‘nothing has happened’ I assume you mean that some people tried something, and you had them detained? If that is the case, have them released. Then, make it clear to the crew that Lady Tlaloc operates under my authority, she has a general directive not to cause problems, but that she likewise has my permission to act in self defense. After that, wait a few days and the issue will solve itself.”

Benji winced, but before he could say anything, the doors swung open. Tlaloc barely waited for enough space and even turned sideways to get through sooner. Shortly behind her and more refined, if not a bit frazzled, was Frieda.

“My child, this one doth tell me that thou hath requested mine counsel?” She was grinning ear to ear as she proclaimed her case. Behind her, I could see Frieda signing her apologies.

“My lady, I encountered Lady Tlaloc in the passage just outside… It seems she was heading back to her chambers.”

Bullshit. She probably overheard the conversation and started coming this way in advance.

As far as spirits were concerned, you could never be certain of anything, but this one was as powerful as she was difficult.

Unaware of my inward cursing, Tlaloc jumped into the conversation, “Yes, this one was on my way back to my domicile when that one approached mine self; ‘Thy daughter hath requested thou grant her council.’ Of course, this one dropped everything to help at once.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Frieda blanching white while vigorously shaking her head to deny having said that. I believed her; though Tlaloc had probably played deaf until our “relationship” was mentioned.

“That’s nice of you.” I cut her off, “But it is not your ‘advice’ I need right now, instead, I have a favor to ask.”

Tlaloc tilted her head but did not reply to my unspoken question. Instead, she was eyeing one of the dessert cakes curiously, “My, this article has a most delectable aroma, does it not? Pray tell, what doth it contain?”

I could already feel a headache forming behind my eyes, and my arm was starting to throb.

I know exactly what she wants, and it’s easy enough, just… Ugh.

“Sasha, please give… mother… One of the shortbreads, and something to drink.” To my credit, I didn’t choke on the words even if I did hesitate.

Tlaloc seemed not to mind, “This one thanks thee, now child, what is it that thou needst?”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“In a few days, some of the sailors may try and do something to you. I did say that you should defend yourself, but please do not kill them; a bit of rough housing should suffice. Then, when I order their execution I would like for you to speak up and ask me not to.”

Benji had by this point caught on; crass as he was, he wasn’t a fool, “Hmm, but does Lady Tlaloc know how to control herself? She might go to far and kill my men by accident.”

Tlaloc glaired at him before swiftly erasing any and all expression from her face, “This one most certainly can measure her own strength. If anything, this one fears going too easy.”

Right, I’m not the only one struggling.

While I had lost my arm, Tlaloc had entered a corporeal body; she had confided that she wasn’t capable of wielding ‘nearly as much mana as in my true form.’ Granted, she was still stronger than me without using any of my hacks, but for someone who may as well have been omnipotent she had definitally experienced a rather rude awakening.

“Be that as it may, if you just target the extremities, they should survive; humans can take a lot of punishment so long as their internal organs are spared.”

Benji gave me an odd look, but everyone else save Tlaloc knew me well enough that my declaration raised no eyebrows. In the aforementioned spirit’s case, she took my words in stride, “This one will defer the subject; thou have far more experience in this subject.”

“Good,” I bowed slightly, “That was everything. Will you return to your cabin now, or would you prefer to sit-in for the remainder of my lunch?”

Tlaloc waved her hand and the air became dryer as the moisture left it; she had used it to form a chair of ice for herself. She would be joining us, then. A quick wave of my hand later, and Sasha had prepared another setting and changed her position slightly. Ordinarily, I would have assigned someone to serve her exclusively; she was technically my guest. But the irksome woman had rejected the offer wholesale.

“Now, Captain, please continue your report.”

Benji glanced at his cup of juice, then at a cabinet on the far wall. After mulling it over for half a second, he shook his head and slapped his cheeks, “Right, well we’re making good progress, thanks to m’Lady Tlaloc as I said. Your grace has already addressed the issue with her and the crew… Then that just leaves the issue of morale; from what I can tell, the sailors are starting to whisper about mutiny.”

“And in your assessment, what are the odds of them actually trying anything?”

Benji leaned back in his chair and produced a pipe, though he refrained from loading or lighting up. Instead, he opted to fidget by twirling his fingers around the body.

And the cabinet earlier was where he keeps liquor. Well, sorry I guess.

He exhaled, “How likely are they to try? Fifty-fifty. At least on the Might of Man. This ship? No way, I know better.”

“Well, how smart of you.” I replied dryly, but my mind was racing through calculations.

We need to hurry then. I trust his judgement; if he says fifty-fifty, then the man I installed on the Might of Man has probably already broached the subject with him. That’s faster than I expected.

If we took too long before reaching the diversionary pirates then things would probably escalate. Hells, if it was already that bad then they might try something in the midst of engaging the enemy; back on earth, a lot of pirates were in reality defected naval vessels of various sovereign states.

I can’t afford to remove the new captain, that would just escalate this. No, I’ve already demonstrated the stick, and based on how Benji is acting now I may have demonstrated it all too well. What I need now is a carrot…

“I have my faith in you, Benji, do your best to contain the situation. In the meantime… Tlaloc, could you do me another favor?” When she frowned, I rephrased myself, “...Mother, would you help me?”

That got the desired reaction, “Of course child, anything~”

“Good, thank you. The pirates are still in the same general area, yes? I would like for you to move ahead of the fleet and try to slow them. Don’t engage, but manipulate the ocean around them; hold them in place or, better, push them this way.” Even without her full strength, Tlaloc was still unmatched upon the waves. Ideally, by having her go ahead we would be able to meet them sooner. This idea stemmed from the assumption that the pirates were aware of our presence and the pursuit. As such, they were moving away.

Our ships are better; we’d catch them in a few more days, but this should shave some time off.

Of course, doing things this way meant that the amount of drilling my soldiers and knights could do would be reduced; there would be more casualties than the plan originally called for.

“...Yes, they are still ahead, in the same place as the last time I found them.” Tlaloc’s speech had changed, and she had a glazed over expression. Evidently, she had used her connection with the sea in order to look ahead and confirm things for me, “I should be able to push them this way…” She frowned, then shook herself, “This one would inform thee, there are no humans on the ships, and there art more of them now than the last time.”

Benji and I shared a look but it fell on me to ask. I chose my words carefully to avoid playing games and get an answer the first time, “...Mother, what race helms the enemy ships? Demons? And, how many reinforcements?”

Tlaloc shook her head, then reach her hand out towards me. It came to rest on my shadow, and a moment later one of Felicity’s tails flicked out and batted it away. Ever since Tlaloc had joined us, or more accurately, ever since I messed up and scared her, Felicity had been practically living in my shadow at all times. On one hand, it seemed like very little had changed. On the other, it had gotten to the point where she left only to eat, care for her hygiene, and allow her mana to replenish. Claire would say that she had become a Hikikomori.

Tlaloc seemed to find the action amusing, and if it weren’t for my concerns over her mental health, I would have found it extremely adorable, “The vessels this one saw are helmed by the family of thine sister… They are of the beastkin races. As to the reinforcements, they have increased from four to seven ships. And this one has seen three more on a course to engage.”

I grimaced, “Are any of them larger than the Will of the Gods?”

The ship we were on was the smallest of the three in our convoy; it made a decent reference point for Tlaloc as the spirit lacked the technical knowledge to properly discern a ship’s class.

“No; none are larger than this cursed vessel; the largest of thine foe is roughly half and half as long.”

Benji had set his jaw tight; we had both come to the same conclusion. I cast my gaze to my shadow before muttering it outloud so that it might sink in.

“Then, they are either the descendants of escaped slaves, or sympathetic to the plight of them. This… complicates things.”

If they were just pirates, I could just destroy them. But these might have backing from the beastkin nations… Privateers or some such. And god forbid they’re actual commissioned naval vessels.

If that was the case, then I was screwed; we couldn’t sink them for fear of declaring a war. And I couldn’t afford to negotiate, it would take to much time. Likewise, surrender wasn’t an option either. Of all people, it was Benji who came to my rescue.

“Your grace… This makes it simpler.” He was chewing his cheek as he spoke.

As amusing as it was, the fact that I was part of the reason for his nervousness was getting to me. In the end I wound up snapping at him, “Just light it, and then explain!”

Benji started with surprise, then hurriedly stuff some dried tobacco leaves into the pipe, lit it, and took a deep breath of smoke, “...Sorry about this.”

After a few more puffs, he had calmed down a bit, “Well, the way I see it; we just sink the lot of them unless they surrender. If they do surrender, we take them with us after disarming and garrisoning the ships. That spreads our sailors out into smaller groups. Be that as it may, they’re beastkin. Our lot appreciate are stubborn, but if we respect someone, we’re loyal to a fault… as long as our liege is worth the service.”

That last line was a bit more heartfelt then the rest. So, which side of the line does Benji, half beastkin fall on?

My gut told me that he was still loyal. Stubborn and infuriating as he was, he was honest. In the short time that I’d known him, that much had been made clear. Even the way he kept trying to offer his input on things like the state of my arm; he was just being upfront.

“So, in your professional opinion, we don’t alter our operational objectives?”

Benji nodded, “Aye. Offer them a chance to surrender. When they refuse, blast the fleet with magic and swarm the remaining ships. If we change anything, perhaps more focus on prisoner taking after we board.”

I gave my assent, “Then I will advise Lord Alriss of this. I entrust the naval matters to yourself.”

This time, instead of nodding, Benji stood up abruptly, “Then, by your leave.”

He saluted me and then left without waiting for dismissal. Benji’s reception room was left with only my people in it.

…I think that a lot more just happened than I recognized.

“Sasha, please send word for Lord Alriss and Franklin to transfer to the Will of the Gods; we should plan in person.” My maid nodded, and stepped away from the table clearing.

Benji was probably more conflicted than he thought, and for better or worse this meeting led to him making up his mind.

I could only hope he had decided to be loyal to me. But, considering his intelligence, he would not have left like that if he planned to betray me.