Chapter 11
So Now What?
Lind moved quietly though the ranks of her soldiers, stopping occasionally to nod or return a salute. The operation had been a resounding success for them; in one fell swoop, the Forgotten Army had been defeated, completely wiped out by the force of the Valkyrie attack. So unprepared were they for the assault, that of the five-hundred plus soldiers who had been facing them, more than two hundred had been killed or wounded and the other three-hundred plus had surrendered without a fight. Now, the entire force was outside, kneeling in the snow, under the watchful eye of the Heavy Hitters, those elite Arch carrying Valkyries, each of whom was capable of taking a Praetorian on her own with ease. The other Valkyries were busy clearing the tunnels; checking for traps, doing an inventory on captured gear and caring for the injured on both sides, of which there were a considerable number. In all, aside from the two-hundred Praetorians, one-hundred and seventy Valkyries had been lost in battle; the most of any single operation since the Kronos war. True, it was a minor loss in the grand scheme of things and they could quickly make up the numbers but Lind felt every loss keenly. You see, she was a mother and as such, she knew that one-hundred and seventy mothers would be grieving tonight… to say nothing of the wives, husbands and children. And as was her custom, Lind would deliver the news of each death personally, to each lost soldier's next of kin. It was the least she could do for her girls. And there weren't just the dead to deal with; there were many injured too. Most would recover. Some would not. And it was one of these she went to see.
"OW! Look, is it going to grow back on not?" Jago demanded irritably as a group medics fussed over him. His belly and leg had been healed and now, they were trying to do something about his eye.
"Not likely" one of the medics admitted. "We can repair almost any damaged tissue but to regrow an organ? Possible but not easy".
"Well sod off then! Go and find someone else to pick over, you damn vultures!" The medic looked as if she was about to protest but then thought better of it. With a sigh, she nodded to her assistants and they departed, leaving Jago sitting alone on his back of tricks, fishing hopefully in his pocket for a cigarette.
"You know they're just trying to help" Lind said with a shake of her head. "They're medics; it's what they do".
"Well I call 'em a bloody nuisance" Jago said, giving up his search for a cigarette and turning to face Lind, who gave an involuntary shudder at the sight of Jago's empty left socket. "Nice, isn't it?" he asked. "I should get myself an eye patch, then I could do pirate impersonations".
"They really can't do anything about it?" Lind asked, trying not to stare at her man's now empty socket.
"Not a thing. Looks like you're married to a Cyclops now". Lind shook her head in dismay.
"I guess I'll get used to it" she said. "They didn't find her, you know. Gracious Penitence I mean they're still looking but-"
"She won't be in the tunnels" Jago said and reached DEEP inside one of his pockets, fishing something out from within; a cigar, as long as his finger and as fat as his thumb. "I saw her, just before she went. She used some kind of Gate to escape to… god knows where".
"Well I don't know" Lind said simply and then gave a half-smile. "You know, we're going to have to come up with a whole new set of phrases for people to use".
"I think we've been beaten to that one. "For God's sake" is now "for Lind's sake" for example". He put the fat cigar between his teeth, biting off the tip and then reached into his pocket for a match, striking it on his bag. "Gotta use a wooden match for a good cigar" he said to her questioning look. "Better flavour". He took a deep drag and then groaned softly. "Delicious". Then he paused and shook his head at Lind. "She took my hat, you know? Gracious Penitence I mean".
"Can't you get another one?" Lind asked.
"I could try" he said icily, "but I've had that hat for more than thirty years. It's MY hat. I'm very attached to my hat".
"So you need a new hat and an eye patch?" Lind asked quizzically.
"And a new set of lungs" Jago said. "And blood that isn't infested with parasites. And double steak burger with beans and extra cheese. And a straight shot of vodka. And I could also say something about a beautiful, blue-haired Valkyrie but this is a public place and there are other blue-haired Valkyries".
"Well I can tell you, most of them aren't natural" Lind said, glancing sidelong at one such Valkyrie.
"Carpet and drapes don't match? Hmm…" He paused and then shook his head. "Ok, I'm gonna stop that line of inquiry. We are, of course, in the middle of Jötunheim". Lind nodded. There was a time and place after-all. She paused.
"Have you seen Temeraire? I need to speak to her" she said darkly.
"I would leave the chewing out until we get back to Heaven" Jago said. "Just as a little advice. Besides, she's a little busy right now. She is getting acquainted with Lamb's egg".
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Temeraire gently held the egg by its chain, inspecting it closely.
"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt, over so small a thing" she said softly, admiring the tiny white oval with care.
"So it would seem" Lamb said, eyeing here cautiously as the pair of them sat together, apart from the main group of Valkyries. Following the defeat of Troubadour by Jago, he had been sure that Lamb had had her egg returned to her, for safe keeping. Temmy however, curious as to all the fuss that had been made over it, had asked to see it and was slightly underwhelmed. It LOOKED like a perfectly ordinary angel egg. It wasn't until she actually felt the egg, that she realised that there was something off about it. Something… strange. Something powerful. And she was drawn to that power. Even as the egg hung from its chain, she felt herself being drawn towards it and almost unconsciously, she found herself reaching for it with her spare hand. "Temmy" Lamb said and the girl snapped out of her trance, handing the end back. As she did so, she felt a slight shock; almost like a spark and she jumped a little.
"What was that?" she asked as she quickly withdrew her hand, as Lamb clutched the egg back to her chest.
"Sorry" she said. "That was me. Apparently, I'm still broody and a little protective". Temmy nodded and dismissed it.
"I'm sorry too" she said. "It's just that… well, it was strangely attractive. I didn't want to give it up".
"It's the same feeling I have" Lamb said, unfastening the chain and refastening it around her neck, carefully stowing the egg in her cleavage. "In fact, it would seem likely that most goddesses would have the same such feelings; the instinct to protect the next generation. Without this egg, we're screwed so…"
"I guess that makes sense" Temmy said with a nod. "At least we got it back anyway. Do you think they've made any progress in finding her a host?"
"I doubt it" Lamb admitted. "There are VERY few young goddesses without angels and the same goes for demons. I believe most of them have been tested but none of them so far have had the potential to control a Seraph". She shrugged a little. "Perhaps it's time to try some of the other races. I mean, our Master… your father, is the first confirmed case of a non-aligned human successfully controlling an angel but there are others".
"Uncle Keiichi?" Temmy asked to which Lamb frowned and shook her hand in a so-so gesture.
"Sort of. While it's been confirmed that he CAN support a standard angel for a short period, it severely drains his energy reserves. However, as he does appear to have Arch potential, which is what allowed him to look after Damascus during the whole Angel-Eater thing, so while HE wouldn't be able to support a Seraph, I don't see why another human might not be able to… or someone from another race, for that matter. Who knows; we could end up with a dwarf-powered Seraph. Or maybe a Jötunn one… now THAT could be a problem for us".
"I can imagine" Temeraire said. It was then that they both paused, seeing as there was a flurry of activity occurring throughout the Valkyrie unit. They were gearing up again, moving out.
"Looks like it's time to head off" Lamb said and Temmy frowned a little as she looked out across the crowd, to where her parents were just visible, over the heads of the other Valkyries.
"Mum' gonna royally chew me out" she said sourly, to which Lamb just shrugged again.
"What do you expect? Your dad too, most likely. But if it makes you feel any better, I'm on your side... and privately, your dad is too".
"Thanks Lamb" Temmy said. And she meant it. It felt good to know that SOMEONE at least was on her side.
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Lind peered over her steepled fingers at her daughter and her friends, glaring, not speaking. Jago stood close behind her, ready to intervene in the event that Lind exploded. So far however, all that had happened is Lind had stared ominously at the trio, making them shiver, even though the room was well warmed. It had been a tense trip back to Heaven for them, surrounded and escorted by the entirety of the Valkyrie forces. Some had smiled at them or winked, clearly pleased with their success in tracking down Forgotten Army. Others, particularly some of the older ones, had been almost indifferent to them, ignoring them completely, as if this had been just another op. And yet others had shot scolding and evil looks at them; most likely, those who had lost someone during the assault. Together, they had returned to Heaven, where Lind had relieved Belldandy of duty, allowing her to return to Earth, with an apology for having to summon her on such short notice, before summoning the three of them to her office. They had excepted a chewing out. This was worse. It must have been an hour before Lind finally spoke but when she did, there was none of her usual fire and steel in her. She seemed… defeated.
"You know… when I told you about the incident between myself, Jeiko and Tobruk, it wasn't meant to be a "follow my example" sort of thing Temeraire. I meant to try and STOP you from going out, not encourage you". She paused and glanced at Kitara and Yukio. "As for you two, you're just as dumb as she is. From what Jago told me, you almost DID get yourselves killed. I mean, what were you thinking? Going to the Jötunns for information? Surtr especially?" HAH!" Yukio made as if to speak but Lind shook her head. "It was a rhetorical question. And I can't really argue with the results. Sure, you almost started a war with the Jötunns and almost got yourselves killed. BUT, you also managed to find the Forgotten Army… even if all you did was ask Gandamak. And you did help to defeat the Forgotten Army. And this is what makes this situations o damn difficult; you disobeyed a direct order from your Almighty One, not to mention the problems with the Jötunns but it wouldn't do for me to be seen to punish the… heroes of the hour". She sighed and shook her head. "You see my problem?"
"If I might make a suggestion?" Temeraire said, stepping forward and causing Lind to raise an eyebrow. "Sorry; an observation then. The plan was mine and mine alone. The others-"
"Went with you, despite knowing that you were confined to the Bastion, contrary to my orders and were also involved in the incident with Surtr?" Lind offered, to which Temeraire paled. "Well, to be honest, I don't care. I can't punish you… not yet at least. I have a state funeral to organise for Lady Anzus and then, I've got to fight for my life to try and prevent Osiris making another pass at my job". The three girls looked confused, so it fell to Jago to explain it to them.
"One of the consequences of your mother having to come and rescue us; she couldn't be sure exactly how big an army we were facing and so, she deployed the WHOLE Valkyrie core. Unfortunately, Osiris got wind of this and is calling another Parliament meeting; he's aiming on dismissal on the grounds of incompetence, by leaving Heaven undefended. We know it's bull-shit and so does he; we have nothing to fear from a Jötunn attack at present and Hagall hasn't made any moves that would even be remotely hostile but he thinks he can use that to drag a few more people around to his side if he blows enough smoke". The trio were stunned.
"Is this true?" Kitara asked nervously. "Could you really lose your job?" Lind shrugged.
"It's a distinct possibility. Leaving Heaven with nothing but the Auxiliaries to defend it was, admittedly, a foolish move. However, I should still have enough support to pull through… provided that you three aren't here". She sighed and shook her head. "For the time being, I'm banishing you from Heaven. It's the only punishment that I can safely inflict on you three without losing the support of those goddesses who are grateful to you for finding the Forgotten Army, while still retaining the support of those who are angry at you". Both Kitara and Yukio opened their mouths to protest but Lind raised a tired hand, silencing them. "Do you have any better suggestions? Because if you do, I'd be happy to hear them. No? Good. Now, as far as you two are concerned, consider this a paid holiday. Yukio, you can go home and visit your parents. I've spoken to Belldandy and she is expecting you. As for you Kitara… I suppose your father will probably be willing to take you pro-tem. I know your mother and Urd are visiting often enough so…" She didn't care to mention how she knew this or why, she simply let it hang. But then she turned to Temeraire. "As for you; consider this an official disciplinary measure. You came THIS close to losing your place in the Valkyries, my girl" she said, raising her hand, her thumb and index fingers a millimetre apart. "As such, your father and I have both agreed that some time on Earth will be beneficial for you. You will continue your training under your father's supervision until further notice. With luck, he'll be able to knock some damn sense into you".
"We agreed this, did we?" Jago asked. "When did we agree this?"
"Right now" Lind said and Jago shrugged.
"Can't argue with that" he said. Lind nodded and turned back to the girls, frowning.
"Ok, you three are free to go. I want you out of here inside the hour. As for Jago and I, we have an interrogation to attend".
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Troubadour lay alone in his sealed room, reclining on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. He and the rest of the Forgotten Army were each being held in solitary confinement, beneath the Bastion, in the most secure cells the world had ever seen; matter-locked, bio-locked, magic resistant and each protected by a nigh impenetrable Jupiter Shield, there wasn't a being in existence who could escape from something like this. Heck, they were even time locked, set so that they were a second out of sync with the rest of time, meaning that if they did somehow manage to break the defences, they would be cast into a null-void, a one way ticket to Ginnungagap, with no way of returning, even if they did acquire a Gate. A perfect prison. So it was with some surprise that the door suddenly opened, admitting a pair of figures. The minstrel sat up, grinning widely as the door slid shut behind them, leaving him alone with the pair.
"Almighty One, Paladin, why this is indeed an honour!" he said mockingly. "Why please, come in and take a seat! Let me offer you some refreshment!"
"Cut the crap Troubadour" Lind said sourly. "We don't have time for your games". Troubadour chuckled softly, turning to Jago.
"Still has a tongue like a barbed-wire fence, hasn't she?" he asked.
"If you say so" Jago replied curtly and Troubadour tutted.
"Now don't be like that" he said with a smile. "It's not like you're in any real hurry and I'm not going anywhere any time soon".
"That may be so" Lind said, "but I would prefer to get this over and done with as soon as possible. I can't stand the stench of traitorous filth". Troubadour's grin faded instantly and his eyes narrowed, glaring at Lind.
"You have a grey hair" he said. "Three inches back, right in the middle of the scalp. I didn't know that goddesses could even get grey hairs… what's the matter? The job too tough for you?" He then turned to Jago. "And you, I hear, aren't doing too well either? What is it, eighteen months they've given you? Well after that trip into Jötunheim, you can shave at least two off for a start".
"Well we're still doing better than you are" Jago retorted. "You look like a dog's arse". And it was true; Troubadour looked like he had seen better days. He had aged considerably since they had last seen him, during the final days of the Kronos War, his once handsome face was now deeply lined and with heavy bags under each eye. His once black hair had faded, now almost to white, becoming wispy and thin across his scalp. His voice too had become weaker; loosing much of its deep melody and becoming more of sharp rasp, no doubt due to the long exposure to the cold of Jötunheim. In all, he was a shadow of his former self, a shell of the once proud plum-tree spirit who they had once known. But his eyes sparkled with malice and he grinned at them.
"My body may be weak but my mind is still sharp… and my magic has increased enormously. I dare say I could challenge Damascus if given a chance".
"I would like to see him try" the devil muttered from inside her Master.
"Shush!" he said back but couldn't hide the grin.
"Something funny?" Troubadour asked coldly.
"Not much. You're face mostly". Then Jago paused. "So where exactly is Gracious Penitence? And how can you support her anyway? I mean, I don't think you have Arch Potential".
"I was fortunate" Troubadour said. "When she came to me, though the cold and the snow, not long after you had banished her from her first Master, she had recently become and Arch once more-"
"We know that" Lind said irritably. "Get on with it".
"I was" Troubadour said with a touch of annoyance. "Anyway, when she came to me, she still had a touch of Empty in her… in fact, she still has it now. It wasn't much but it was enough for her to overcome my lack of Potential". He held up a pale, wrinkled hand, inspecting it casually. "It cost me my immortality, much to my dismay but in the end, it was a small price to pay, for I control the most powerful angel in existence; more powerful even than Lamb herself". He grinned wolfishly at Jago, knowing that Lamb would be watching and listening form within. "You hear that Lamb? I control your twin… and rather a lot she has told me too. Remember… Striking Twilight?" Jago felt Lamb's rage surge and had to fight to stop her from appearing, goaded as she was by the use of her original name. Nobody called her Striking Twilight anymore and for good reason. She had earned the name in battle, when she was less than an hour old, taking down a score of powerful demons, following the death of her Mistress's tutor. Lind however was unfazed by this psychological warfare and decided to draw some of the flack onto herself, before the powerful Arch did something she would regret.
"Is that why you killed Anzus? So that there would be no-one who could challenge your power?" Troubadour shook his head, looking genuinely upset.
"Anzus's death was regrettable; I had nothing personal against her. However, her death WAS necessary if we were to complete the Oracle's plan…"
"That being?" Lind asked.
"You think I am fool enough to reveal my plan to you?" Troubadour said. "It is still on-going. My capture was an… inconvenience certainly. But nothing more. The Oracle escaped and even now, she works to bring about the end of your time. Between us, we will destroy those who have done wrong by us; you Jago and your friend, Lord Sukaru".
"Now I still don't understand that" Jago said. "I mean, I can understand me being on Penitence's hit-list but… Jeiko? He never did any wrong by either you or her". With that, Troubadour leapt to his feet, his eyes burning red.
"Sukaru has been my bane for years! He was always the favourite of Lord Buddha and we fought like demons! And then I discover that not only has he married my beloved Urd but he is the father of her child?! He will suffer as I have been made to suffer… as shall you Jago! You forced Urd and myself apart, tricking her into becoming a demon! For this, I can never forgive you! So you will suffer also!" He turned on Lind, glaring. "And you see here? Your woman shall be the instrument of your destruction! Before this ends, I will turn Lind against you and you two will fight to the death once more!"
"Yeah… fat chance of that" Lind said sourly, folding her arms across her chest. "Jago and I are solid… more fool us, I guess. But there is no way you can turn us against one-another. We accepted each-other, warts and all, many years ago. YOU on the other hand, rejected Urd as a demon, something which may have been Jago's SUGGESTION but not trickery and so, you turned your back on us, going so far as to attack us in the Jötunberg. No Troubadour, Jago and I will not be turned against each-other; not like you and Urd". Troubadour glared, grinding his teeth but he sat down, not speaking. "Now, let me tell you exactly what IS going to happen; you and the rest of the Forgotten Army are to be confined here until you are deemed fit to stand trial, at which point, you will almost certainly be found guilty and from there, you can expect one of two fates; the lucky ones will be either executed or have their physical bodies confiscated and you will be imprisoned in the Lunar Dungeon until the end of time. The unlucky ones will be imprisoned in the Incubus Jail, again until the end of time". She gave a little shudder. "Pray that they take mercy on you and let you die fast… either that or you're going to need a butt-load of lube. No pun intended". Troubadour grinned, making Lind feel uneasy.
"We'll see" he said simply.
"Well I think that just about wraps up this interview" Jago said. "However, I still have a question for you Troubadour. And please remember; you don't have to answer because I will find the answer soon enough. However, it would certainly be useful to both of us if you do".
"Well go on then".
"Where is Gracious Penitence?" And he told them. It wasn't good. "Are you fucking kidding me? She's THERE of all places?"
"What's the matter Paladin? Scared?"
"No… but it's a bloody inconvenience. I guess that's why you sent her there, right?"
"Something like that" Troubadour said with a shrug. "Now, if you would excuse me, I think it's time for the two of you to go". He turned away, lying back down on the bed, signalling the end of the interview, making Jago and Lind turn away and head out. And he grinned to himself.
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"I want the guard on this floor tripled and an under-cover Valkyrie team watching Hervar, Kitara and Peorth's girls at all times" Lind said, turning to one of the guards outside the cell. The guard saluted and hurried away, as Jago and Lind started to make their way towards the exit.
"So how did he strike you?" Jago asked.
"Cocky, EXTREMELY confident and ruthless" Lind said coldly. "Even though he's been captures, he still thinks that he can win… and that worries me". She paused and turned to him, frowning. "Do you think he can really pose a threat to us? I mean, I know we have him sealed away for now but-"
"Him? I doubt it. Gracious Penitence? Almost certainly. That's why I'm going after her myself". Lind sighed and shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"You don't have to do this alone, you know? Just say the word and I can have a force of Valkyries to support you… heck, give me a five minute heads-up and I can be there myself".
"You know how I feel about that" Jago said calmly. "I have to do this myself, before I become too weak to do it at all. It's not like any other bugger can get the job done". Then he paused, cocking his head at Lind, frowning slightly.
"What?" she said and then yelped as he reached out and plucked a hair from her head. "OW! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!" she snapped, clamping a hand to her head.
"Well would you look at that?" Jago said, holding the hair up to the light. "You did have a grey hair". He snorted in mirth and then grinned down at her. "Must be getting old".
"Speak for yourself" she said coldly. "Wasn't it you who said you were a fifty year old sack of bad habits?"
"Marinated in tobacco smoke and alcohol" he added with a quip. "Gotta remember that bit… Now how can you have a grey hair? You look like a twenty-five year old super-model".
"It's one of those things. We may be immortal but it doesn't stop us going grey with stress. Don't worry though; so long as things get better from here, I should be able to stay blue". Remember what my father looked like when we met him?" Jago snorted. When he had first met the former Almighty One, he had had a black beard and a head of shockingly grey hair that would have put Einstein to shame. It was then however, that they were interrupted by a nervous voice.
"Lord Jago, Lady Lind?" The pair of them turned to see Yukio approaching them from the far end of the corridor.
"Yukio?" Lind asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you. I needed to speak to you before we left for Earth".
"Which reminds me; I'd better get going" Jago said. "Lind, could you fill me in whatever this is about. You know what's going on so…"
"You do what you have to do" Lind said and she kissed him on the cheek. "Good luck… don't get yourself killed".
"I love you too" he said with a wink and headed back out, while Lind turned her attention back to Yukio.
"So Yukio, can you walk and talk?" The young wish-granter nodded and they set off at a brisk pace, heading back to Lind's office. "So what do you want? I assume it's fairly important".
"It is" Yukio said. "I've been thinking about Temmy and-"
"If you're going to try and convince me to change my decision, then I'm afraid you're wasting your breath".
"No, it's not that. No, I've been thinking about Temmy's problem with self-control. I think… and this is only a theory but… well, here it goes; the reason that Temmy has no control is that she has little to nothing to care for. I mean, she has you and she has Lord Jago and Hervar but… well, she doesn't have an angel, she doesn't have any real friends, beyond myself and Kitara and she's firmly against having a boyfriend… or girlfriend even".
"Are you suggesting that I try and convince my daughter to hook up?" Lind asked and Yukio blushed red.
"What? No! Well… sort of. It's a little hard to explain".
"Well explain then". Yukio gulped and took a deep breath.
"I'm thinking… that we find Temmy an Apprentice". Lind stopped so suddenly that it was several paces before Yukio realised that she had left the Almighty One behind and so, she had to stop and hurry back to her.
"Ok Yukio, I would ask whether you had gone completely insane but as that appears to be the case, I won't bother. So, care to explain?" Yukio nodded sheepishly and cleared her throat.
"Well my thinking is this; Temmy needs someone to care for and to be responsible for but without some kind of partner, that would be difficult. However, an Apprentice WOULD most likely fulfil this need, hopefully curbing Temmy's recklessness in battle. Now, I know that normally only a full Valkyrie of the rank of Corporal or higher can take an Apprentice, as only they have the skills to manage one but I'm thinking-"
"It's a nice thought Yukio" Lind said. "But it has one glaring flaw; I can't force anyone to become the Temmy's Apprentice; she has to make it known that she is available to train new Valkyries and then new Apprentices have to approach her. And there are precious few who would be willing to train under her, especially after Copenhagen and doubly so now, with the whole Jötunheim thing. Besides, few mothers will want their daughters training under a known Valkyrie killer".
"I know" Yukio said. "But I've been thinking about it and I MIGHT have found someone who would be willing to work with her". Lind narrowed her eyes, not sure she was going to like what Yukio said next.
"Who?"
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Temmy grunted as she finished tying the final knot on her bundle, slinging it over her shoulder so that it sat comfortably beside her pack. She had completely cleaned out her room… what little she processed anyway. Her entire wardrobe consisted of a dozen Valkyrie uniforms and a single civilian robe of bronze and green, now several sizes too small for her. The last time she had worn that, it had been her… she couldn't remember. It was a birthday of some kind, she thought. Or perhaps a Christmas party? She couldn't quite remember. Either way, she hadn't worn it for years. Why she had kept it, she wasn't sure… Apart from that, it was all she had. Her cloths, her halberd, her khukuri, her bedding. That was it. No memorabilia, no nick-knacks, no posters, no battle trophies. Her room had even less in it than her mother's, back when she had been a full Valkyrie. Nothing to lose, nothing to regret... She started at a knock at the door and turned to see Lind stood in her doorway, her face grim. She had changed out of her battered Valkyrie leathers, back into her pale blue business-suit and heels, although she still had her seax knife strapped to her belt, as it always was. The pair stared uncomfortably at each other for a few seconds, each waiting for the other to speak. Finally, it was Lind who broke the silence.
"So? Are you going to invite me in or not?" Temmy shrugged.
"You're the Almighty One. You can go wherever you damn well please".
"True… but it's still best to ask". Temmy just shrugged and Lind sighed, stepping inside and closing the door. "Well will you at least hear me out? I mean, I am trying to help". Again Temmy shrugged. "I'll take that as a yes" Lind said. "Look Temmy, I know what you are trying to do; you want to be a Valkyrie. That's fine. But at the rate you are going, no-one will ever work with you. You are far too impulsive and reckless for your own good. To be fair, I shouldn't complain as I used to be just like you… but that's why I'm sending you to Earth. Your father is just about the only one who can possibly break you without getting either himself or you killed. But there is also another reason". Temeraire raised her head a little, giving her mother a cautious look. "As much as your father needs to look after you, I need you to look after your father". Temmy… actually laughed.
"You're joking right?" she said. "Me? Look after Dad? Why would he need me? Isn't he the Paladin? Shouldn't he be able to do that himself?"
"Your father tries to do too much. He thinks he can take on the world… but even with his immortality, he is not a young man. His power is weakening… I assume you know that Lamb and Damascus have lost their ability to go Prime?" Temeraire nodded. "Well do you know why?" She shrugged.
"Something about that last battle with Deaderuss. Apparently they were both injured and-"
"That's not even half of it" Lind said, shaking her head. "Temmy, your father is dying". The young demi-god felt her blood run cold. This was the third time she had heard this but the first couple of times, she had thought it was nothing but bluster. Coming from the lips of her mother, the Almighty One however…
"How can that be?" she asked. "Dad's… he… he's the Paladin! Not to mention that he's immortal!"
"Immortality doesn't mean invulnerability" Lind said sadly. "It's difficult to explain but to put it simply, your father's lungs are failing. Human medicine can't help him anymore and using magic will just kill him faster. That's part of the reason I want you to go with him; I can't be certain but it seems likely that his powers will begin to fail soon… and when that happens, I want you to be there to pull him out of the fire". She grasped Temeraire by the shoulder, squeezing hard, her piercingly blue eyes filled with an icy intensity. "This is a direct order from both your Almighty One and your mother; for your own sake, for mine and for the greater good, keep your father alive. Do not let him fail. He thinks he's invincible but really, he's a loony. He tries to do too much, thinking he can change the world on his own… and that's just going to kill him faster". She paused and relaxed a little, releasing her grip on Temmy's shoulder. "He's aiming for eighteen months... keep him alive till at least sixteen have passed".
"What will happen when he dies though? Who will replace him?"
"That would most likely be Weth. She's strong and has proven her loyalty, despite her past affiliations with Lord Deaderuss. But I think we will both agree that she is not even in the same league as your father". Lind paused and shook her head. "I'm afraid that's all I have to say. Any comment?"
"Not really" Temmy said.
"Good. In that case, I have to be at the Parliament meeting soon. I'll tell you whether I'm still the Almighty One in a few hours. First however, I need to introduce someone to you".
"Who?"
"Your traveling companion".
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Temeraire was shocked when she saw the man or rather, the boy, she would be travelling with. She recognised him alright; he was the Forgotten Army guard they had captured just before entering the caves. The one with the angel known as Bloody Thorn.
"Him? He's my travelling companion?"
"More than that; he's to be your Apprentice" Lind said. Temeraire turned to her in dismay.
"My what? But mu- Almighty One, I'm not even a full Valkyrie! How can I possibly-"
"You will do as you are told" Lind commanded sternly. "I want you to reform this man and keep him alive. This is your main task while you are staying with your father; to turn him into a loyal supporter of Heaven, preferably a Valkyrie. Now, you may ask why I chose an ex-Praetorian as your Apprentice. Well, my reasoning is this; he's yet to be trialled but he would most likely receive the death penalty for treachery. Also, he was only an Apprentice himself when he changed sides, one of the few non-Praetorians to side with Deaderuss. As such, he is expendable so if he DOES end up being killed, then it is no great loss to us. But like I said, YOUR job is to ensure that he ISN'T killed". She clapped her hand to Temeraire's shoulder and looked her daughter in the eyes. "Don't trust him, don't get attached to him, keep him alive. Nothing more. Think you can manage that?" Temmy nodded nervously. "Good". With that, her mother turned away, heading back towards the Bastion, leaving Temmy standing awkwardly with the young god.
"So…" she said cautiously. "It looks like I'm your Mistress then".
"So it would seem" the man said with distaste. "But make no mistake, I took this deal to save my own skin. You heard that whore; I either said yes to you training me or I faced having a nail driven into my skull. I have no intention of being your friend, never mind your Apprentice. In fact, I daresay, I am more powerful and skilled in a fight than you are".
"You do realise, that the woman you just called a whore, is not only the Almighty One but also my mother" Temmy said, her voice suddenly becoming icy as she glared at him, flashing her short fangs.
"Well I guess that makes you a whore-daughter". Temeraire struck so fast that god would never have had chance to react. She struck him full in the stomach with her fist, swivelled and round-house kicked him in the side of his head, knocking him flat. He tried to struggle up but she landed on his chest with both knees, knocking the breath out of him and then pinned his hands with her knees, straddling his chest, her khukuri in her hand.
"Don't you ever insult my mother!" she hissed, pressing down almost hard enough to break the skin. "Now, I have no choice over whether or not I train you; I have to. As such, I'm going to try and make the best of this situation, as I suggest you do too. Do you understand me?" She paused. "Blink twice if you understand". He blinked twice. "Good". She rolled off of the top of him and scrambled to her feet, before turning and holding out her hand to him. "They call me Temeraire or Temmy for short. What about you? You have a name?" The boy nodded, carefully reaching up and taking her hand.
"Well you know my angel, Bloody Thorn" he said. "As for myself? They call me Beregond".
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As a trio, Temmy, Kitara and Beregond stepped through the Gate and into the Guardian Corp base. Jeiko was waiting for his eldest daughter and she waved goodbye to them as she followed him from the building.
"So… is there somebody supposed to be meeting us?" Beregond asked.
"My dad… I think" Temmy said, looking around the atrium that served as the public access to and from the Bifrost Gate. "He should be here. I mean, he knows we're coming so-"
"Temmy!" They pair turned to see not Jago but Damascus hovering across the chamber from them, waving to them over the heads of the crowd.
"Damascus?" Temmy asked as they approached her. "I wasn't expecting to see you here. What are you doing here? And where's Dad?" Damascus frowned.
"Sorry Temmy, but your father is err… unavailable at the moment. Both he and Lamb are on a mission at the moment, trying to sort some things out but they sent me to pick you up". The devil then paused and jerked her head at the nervous looking Beregond. "Who's he? Is he with you?"
"He's my Apprentice, apparently. Mum sent…." Her voice faded away at the look of confusion of Damascus's face. "Let me guess; this is the first that you've hear about this".
"Yes" Damascus said with a grim nod. "It looks like your mother has been up to stuff behind our back again". She paused and leaned forward, inspecting his face. "Isn't this one of the douche-bags we captured in Jötunheim, a little while back?" she asked and Temmy nodded.
"Yeah. Mum doesn't want to risk me killing anyone who might actually be useful the long run. As such, she's given me an expendable Apprentice, so I can learn to control my recklessness".
"Is it working?"
"I've known him less than an hour and I've already tried to kill him".
"I'll take that as a no then". The devil straightened and turned back to face Temeraire. "Well there's no point in hanging about. Come on, I'll take you home". Temmy nodded and hefted her bag.
"Ok, you lead". Damascus turned away and started to drift towards the exit. "Umm, if you don't mind me asking, where is Dad?" she asked cautiously.
"To be honest, I'm not sure. He said something about meeting up with Nyeusi Chui and then he had to head off to speak to someone about the Seraph. Apparently, he thinks he's found a way to see whether the host will be a human or not…"
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Jago grunted as he stepped through the Gate and into the Land of the Dead, shaking himself a little.
"Eww… why is it that Gate always makes me feel slimy?"
"Maybe it's because she spent thousands of years at the bottom of the ocean?" Lamb ventured, hovering beside him.
"Yeah, maybe" he said and then straightened himself, adjusting his eye-patch. "So, what do you reckon?"
"We follow the wisps" Lamb said, point out into the fog, to where a pale blue flame burned at about head-height. "They always seem to know the way". Jago nodded and the pair set off, following the trail of Will-of-the-Wisps through the gradually thinning mist, until at last, they reached the ancient jetty from which they could summon the boat to cross the river Styx; the river that separated the landing place and its marsh from the Land of the Dead proper. As before, Lamb ducked back inside so that they wouldn't be double-charged for crossing the river and Jago tugged the cord of the summoning bell. And from the distant shore, they heard the sound of the mighty drums beating.
"Looks like they're on their way" Jago muttered, straining to see through the fog, which boiled across the surface of the river, like smoke across a mirror. And through the mist, their came the unmistakable shape of the great long-ship. A hundred feet long, its prow was carved into the face of a snarling dragon, sitting high and proud of the water. The great banks of oars swept the water with barely a ripple, rising and falling in beat to the drums, while the great sail remained lashed to the cross-beam, high up the mast. And slowly, the ship began to turn, docking against the jetty. A handful of the skeleton crew, composed of actual skeletons, leapt down and started shout orders in thick, Jamaican accents and they proceeded to tie the ship up against the dock. And it was then that Charon, the Captain ship descended, gave Jago one look and said;
"Oh no! Not you again!"
"Well that's not very nice" Jago said to the hulking Viking. "I thought we were friends".
"Friends? Hah! You caused all kinds of trouble last time you were here! And the time before that too! I ask you; going into Ginnungagap to rescue a goddess who's been kidnapped by Gleaners? It's the stupidest thing I ever heard of!" He paused and glanced around. "Where's that other one? The human?"
"Keiichi? He's not here. Just me today". Charon glared and folded his arms.
"Fine. So what do you want?"
"I need to speak to D. I need some help from a friend of mine".
"A dead friend? Not likely. But I can carry you across, so long as you pay me".
"You know the deal; not until you carry me across". Charon glared but he nodded and soon, Jago was once more on the sandy beach of that made up Death's inner domain. But there was no sign of Death anywhere. "Yo! D! Where are you?!" he shouted into the jungle, cupping his hands to his mouth. "Where is the daft bugger?" he muttered, scanning the beach but not seeing him.
"He's not here" a voice said and they turned to see a figure emerging from the river. "But maybe I can be of assistance?" Jago wasn't sure whether to be shocked or confused, so he settled on a mixture of the two.
"Anzus?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm dead, remember? I had my brains blown all over the wall, in front of a crowd of millions".
"I didn't mean that" Jago said. "I mean what are you doing out of the river? Especially dressed like… well, that". Anzus looked down at the sparkling blue and cream bikini and shrugged.
"What can I say? D has a liking for pretty women".
"But what about Tyr? What would he say?" A moment of guilt flashed across the former Seraph's face.
"That's… a little difficult to explain. There are two choices when you come here; you either stay in the river until you reach the confluence, at which point you are either swept left, in which case, you go to Paradise or right, in which case, you go to the Bad Fire… think the traditional versions of Heaven and Hell but for EVERYBODY, even gods and demons, although they are generally judged on their own species merits of good and evil, rather than via some grand, overall definition. However, you can also choose to remain here on the island with D, in which case you will remain here for a certain amount of time and then you will be given a chance at reincarnation".
"And you took that?"
"Yes… as did Lamb's Mistress, if you remember". Lamb appeared slowly form Jago's back, looking nervous.
"My Mistress?"
"Yes" Anzus said. "She was reincarnated, not long ago. I couldn't tell you as who or what but Lady Serenity has passed on". Lamb looked dismayed and hung her head, giving a deep sniff. But then she raised it again, giving a weak smile.
"Well, so long as she's happy" she said.
"Oi!" Jago said, wiping the tears from his own eyes. "You're making ME emotional!" Lamb chuckled and then turned to Anzus.
"So, we originally came to see D but as you're here, would you be able to help us?" she asked. Anzus cocked her head and pursed her lips.
"Well that depends; what do you need?"
"We came to ask about the Seraph. The… new one that is" Jago explained awkwardly. Anzus nodded calmly and closed her eyes.
"I'm not the one to ask. You want my girl". And then she called her out; the third Seraph. "Come forth… Alpha and Omega".
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Both Jago and Lamb gasped as the mighty angel appeared behind Anzus, shining and brilliant, so bright that they could not look directly at her, instead having to shield their eyes.
"Fear not" she said in a voice like a crystal melody, spreading her wing wide. "I mean you no harm".
"Well it would be nice if we could see you" Lamb said, shielding her eyes.
"Oh… sorry" the angel said and the light faded, revealing herself in her true form. She was beautiful; tall and slim, with an elven face and hair the colour of spun gold. Unlike the simple wraps of most angels, the Seraph wore a flowing robe that looked white but constantly rippled, in a mesmerising way, not so much showing, as suggesting an infinite number of other colours, including several that should not usually be visible to the human eye. Hey eyes were deep green. Her skin was fair and free of blemishes. And her wings… oh, wings! She had three sets of them, two of which grew from the sides of her head, one set about a foot long, the other closer to three. And her shoulders, there sprouted a pair of wings than spanned from horizon to horizon, too large to measure. All were as white as snow and seemed to shine with inner an inner light of their own, even though she had now turned down their intensity. Lamb had a set of truly beautiful wings and at twenty feet across, they marked her as one of the most powerful beings in existence. However, she paled in comparison to the angel before her. Here was one of TRUE power, far surpassing even Hades in strength. If Anzus had been fully unlimited during the time of the Kronos War, she could have defeated Kronos, Deaderuss and Gracious Penitence with a wave of her hand… and then probably extinguish all of creation with a careless sneeze. But now, the angel chuckled, her face filled with smiles. "You have nothing to fear from me" she said softly. "I have no power here. But you may call me Alpha and Omega if you wish".
"Um… ok" Jago said. "So… you were the Seraph?"
"Yes" Alpha and Omega said. "And now, I'm guessing that you want my help in locating the new one, correct?"
"Partly" Lamb said. "We have already located her egg. In fact, I have her with me". She reached to the tiny chain around her throat, unclasping it and holding up the tiny oval.
"May I?" the Seraph asked, holding out a hand and Lamb nodded, carefully handing over the egg. "So this is my successor?" she asked. "Well she's not much to look at now, is she?" She chuckled. "But she'll grow. If I may ask, who was the mother?"
"I was" Lamb said. "That is to say, the egg is mine".
"Yes, that would make sense" Alpha and Omega said. "I too was born to the most powerful angel of that time, apart of course, for my previous Seraph. It seems to be a recurring pattern". But then the angel frowned, handing back the egg. "But if you already have the egg, why would you come here? Would do you hope to achieve?"
"We seek a host for her but after thorough scanning, we were unable to discover anyone with a Seraph Potential, in either Heaven OR Hell. We were hoping that if nothing else, we might someone here who could help us".
"Well I'm afraid WE can't" Anzus said sadly. "Both Alpha and Omega and I are prohibited from providing any information on our successor".
"Well that's ok" Lamb said. "We weren't expecting to find you here, although it was a nice bonus. No, we've come up with a theory… sorry, a hypothesis, that the next Seraph may in fact be born to one of the other races".
"And so you came here because…?"
"We want to speak to someone who knows the ins and outs of humans. Plus, he might be willing to help us". Both Anzus and Alpha and Omega shook their heads.
"You don't mean…"
"Yes" said Jago. "We want to speak to Prometheus".
Authors Note: Sorry for the wait. It's hard to keep going at the pace I was. But don't worry, a chapter a week is about what I was doing when I started writing this stuff and it's still manageable so that's what I'm aiming for. Oh and a couple of other things; Archfall has just reached 3000 hits (actually, 3010), so that's something good. Also, happy Halloween and… in case I don't have a chapter done by then, best wishes on Guy Fawkes Night and Poppy Day.