The hall was tarnished, littered with bodies and dust. It wouldn't be like this for long so The Ender decided she had better take it all in while it was still there. It was that damned General according to one of their officers, the dog-faced one. He had gone as far as Astro's cell and then overpowered his escorts. They didn't know whether that was his intent the whole time or whether it was a split-second decision. Either way, they'd released a goodly chunk of the prisoners, who had in turn released more prisoners, who had in turn caused havoc throughout the Tower.
Her arm throbbed slightly. She looked down and saw singed scales and was reminded of David's little trick with the gauntlet. Killed several of her best soldiers. They would not be easily replaced. She could hardly go back to the homeworld, cap in hand, and ask the other generals to reinforce her. She was walking on thin ice with them. They were still intent on conquering the Nether back home and didn't see the startling range of possibilities out here, in the speckled, shifting mass of creation. They had defeated the humans and the other lesser beings. The Overworld was theirs. Going to the Nether was an old pipe-dream of a grudge and pursuing it would yield no profit.
The Entity had arrived and she had seen two paths. Her people could go and conquer all creation, or they could spend the next thirty years baiting pigmen into traps, clearing out castles and melting away into nothingness.
She knew her path was the one which would truly please the Ancestors…
"Need a potion?" Freak asked, drawing up beside her and waving a pink vial.
The Ender smiled and took it and grunted as her wounded scales reshaped and became bright and new.
"Thanks."
They turned around and began to wander toward the huge, open door, which seemed to droop outwards as though ashamed. They'd blinded the guards and walked right through. It was an embarrassment.
Freak spoke first as they walked onward: "The Ape is just about done clearing out the East wing. A few rogue Testificates found their way into the armory, but they should be dealt with. Bul will probably be with us any second now, shrieking wildly no doubt-"
At that moment a man shrieked wildly: "What was that?!"
He looked flustered, his suit all crumpled and covered in dust and blood. This was Marinus Bul, the Entity's steward and/or legal representative. He had been responsible for the negotiation. They should have just taken the Eye and the Crystals.
"The General betrayed us," The Ender answered flatly. "We'll deal with them soon enough."
She hadn't received word from Silver. The Grey Ones had demanded they be allowed to deal with Kay Mandy personally and they proved impotent. She was ashamed they had once been her own soldiers. Age had broken them. Now they were Glibby's problem.
Bul didn't seem to know what to do with himself. For once, absolutely no words seemed even in the vicinity of his tongue.
"Looks like our master's troops are back," sighed Freak. He pointed to a long black line marching along the horizon.
"Good, it'll be more lucid."
She grabbed the arms of Freak and Bul and teleported up to The Entity's chambers.
Sure enough, there it was. Bronze-coated and red-eyed, the Entity sat in its throne. She had tried to gain its attention earlier, but it was spread thin in a raid on World 32. It had manifested five times in that battle and there were several other manifestations Night-knows-where. This was as close to a prime meridian as the Entity had. Was this the first body it took? Who had it been before its influence? Maybe this was someone it had once cherished. Maybe there was no body in there and this was its most pure and undiluted form beneath the armour. The Ender didn't care.
She cleared her throat. Its head lifted and stared right at her.
A voice stripped of emotion and which echoed no matter what volume it spoke at sounded: "Yes?"
"General Mandy's party has departed. They have severely reduced the prison population. In particular, he took the wizard Astro and his former cellmates, leaving us deprived of-"
"It doesn't matter."
"But I thought we were-"
"The raid on World 0032 was a success. The Wizard's college is under our control."
"Oh," The Ender nodded, a realisation creeping through her until: "So, you decided to go ahead with that plan."
"Yes. In spite of your objections."
"And you-"
"We now have procured 527 new magic-users. I estimate 487 will survive the march home. Maybe 500 exactly if you adequately prepare at the primary work-site."
It began to pick at the ends of its white gloves, starting to edge them slightly closer to coming off. It never fidgeted, so this was a calculated and deliberate threat. Its red-glass eyes bore through her and though she'd never seen it show any emotion beyond interest or apathy, she was certain it was furious with her now. As close to fury as this constantly swirling husk was capable. The incoming light of dawn seemed to shake with fury on every part of it. The rubified eyes, the bronze seam. All seemed caught up in the restrained blaze. The Ender struggled not to quake before it, then it twitched and she felt herself released from its gravity.
"Yes, sir," The Ender bowed her head. "I'll be right on it."
"Excellent. After that, you are to immediately set about relocating the General and his fellow escapees. Freak, Bul-stay. Discussions… are necess-ary."
Bul shot her a snide, cruel look as she left. Freak furrowed his brows and became interested in the floor, but otherwise showed no opinion.
She left the room quicker than intended. She teleported away as though an arrow had been fired at her, and even as she walked away and began to bark orders in Endish tongues, she could hear the twang of bowstrings, and the whistle of wind through feathers.
She had to prove her worth, fast.