Author: Dais returns! Not like I know when I'm going to update him next.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. ):
Chapter 8
Dais stared fixedly at the map, his jaw clenched. Things were going well, for the most part, which made him nervous.
There's something I'm missing, I know it.
"You're thinking so hard I can almost hear it."
Dais looked over to Kayura. "I need a spy in the Crusaders."
"You already have one."
"No, Tano is a spy in the Army. She's good, but she isn't the same kind of creature as the Crusaders. They won't trust her."
"So capture a Crusader, break him, and make him yours," Kayura said.
Dais shook his head slightly. "That requires a great deal of energy, concentration, and time to do thoroughly and well."
"But you'd do it."
"Of course. But, then there's the problem of communication."
"You think only of everything that can go wrong."
"So that when it goes right I'm pleasantly surprised."
Kayura snorted and rolled her eyes.
Dais looked at the section that indicated the remnants of the Ogres and tapped his fingertips together in thought. "The Ogres have been quiet lately."
"Well, they are the ones the Crusaders beat on when they get tired of getting their teeth cracked by the Dynasty."
"Which means the Ogres will hate them," Dais murmured. "I can use that hate."
"They don't like the Dynasty much either."
"Between the two of us, they hate the Army more," Dais said, "and their 'hidden base' just happens to be in the middle of Army territory."
"So—" Kayura began when a portal opened in the War Room, and Dais couldn't stop his heavy sigh at the sight of the figure who preceded Sanosuke.
"Well done," Dais told Sanosuke, who gave him a deep bow before vanishing.
"Got to admit, Dais, you have some first-rate minions," Sekhmet said as he got to his feet.
Dais wasn't certain how the man could move comfortably in seven-inch stiletto heels and a tight, green, sparkling mini-skirt, but quickly decided he didn't want to know—the gaudy, loose blouse Sekhmet wore was already making his eternal headache worse.
"You had fun, I take it?" Dais drawled.
"Oh, yes," Sekhmet said with a slightly-fanged grin.
"You still have your armor."
Sekhmet buffed his inch-long nails on his shirt and said, "Of course I do. Now, what do you want?"
"I want you to stop being a child and start being a Warlord again."
Sekhmet frowned and his eyes narrowed. "Oh, really."
The inflection in his voice wasn't the 'I'm going to hurt you' one, but the 'I'm going to get to murder someone, aren't I?' tone.
Dais pointed to the map, which drew Sekhmet's attention.
"What's Anubis doing there?" Sekhmet asked after a moment of examining it.
"It's not Anubis. It's Talpa in Anubis' body."
Sekhmet looked to Dais sharply. "Bullshit."
"Nope," Kayura said, wedging herself into the conversation. "And he's leading the Army of the Rising Sun."
"The army of the what?"
"Brief summary: Talpa's back and he wants the Netherworld for his own again. He's recruited a foreign power, which has warriors who can harness elemental energies," Kayura stated and gestured to each Knight. "He's been fighting the Dynasty ever since. We've made him pay for it."
Sekhmet hummed, a grin tugging at his lips. "Oh, this is going to be fun. Where's the puppy? I'm sure he's enjoying grinding them into the dirt."
"Kale has been captured," Dais said mildly.
Sekhmet frowned. "Captured?
Dais nodded.
"Could you use Kale as a spy if you managed to get in touch with him?" Kayura asked.
Sekhmet laughed as Dais shook his head.
"The puppy might be the Warlord of Darkness, but he's completely not subtle," Sekhmet said with a slightly malevolent grin. "Easy target."
"Kale is observant, but brash," Dais said.
"And dumb," Sekhmet added.
"And dumb," Dais agreed.
"Not as dumb as Anubis was."
"You're still bitter about that?" Dais mused.
"What?"
"Better if you don't remember it."
"Wait, what? Dais, what do you—"
Dais ignored him as one of his (Dais') messengers entered the room with a deep bow. "My Lords. My Lady. An emissary from the Ogres wishes to speak with you."
Dais felt a quick spike of paranoia at the Ogres having arrived so soon after he had been speaking about them, but shoved the thought aside.
"Take him to the largest audience hall we have. Make sure he is uncomfortable."
The messenger bowed and made his exit.
"Speaking of the Ogres," Kayura murmured.
"You'll both be coming with me," Dais said as he pulled his armor on him.
"But politics is boring," Sekhmet whined.
"You're there to stop the Army attack that will happen," he told Sekhmet.
"Army attack?" Sekhmet repeated, his armor forming on him.
"Army attack."
"What, are you gonna stage one?"
"No," Dais said. "They are already here. They probably entered with the Ogre ambassador."
"And you just let them walk in?" Kayura asked, the Ancient's staff jingling annoyingly.
"Afraid, Lady Kayura?" Sekhmet sneered.
Dais actually couldn't believe his luck—he couldn't've arranged the situation any better himself. In the largest, most open audience hall, there were few places to hide, and the ambassador would be on edge himself, waiting for the Dynasty to attack or imprison him. Instead, Dais would turn the assassination attempt on his (Dais') or Kayura's life into an attempt on the ambassador's.
He loved it when other people did the work for him and he didn't have to nudge any pieces into place.
"Will you be wearing your armor or the Ogre armor, Lady?" Dais asked.
"There's some irony in meeting the Ogres while wearing the armor of the Ogre," Kayura said as the armor settled on her body, the Ancient's staff remaining in her hand.
"You're using me as intimidation, aren't you?" Sekhmet asked.
"Would you prefer I use the Lady instead?"
"I'd probably be the better choice anyway," Kayura said haughtily.
Sekhmet bristled. "How could a little girl like you be intimidating?"
Dais knew he shouldn't take such quiet pleasure in playing the two against each other, but it had been a while since he had had the opportunity. Admittedly, division in the ranks might be seen as undesirable by the Ogre ambassador, but anyone who knew anything about the Dynasty knew that the Warlords didn't get along. It was part of what kept the Netherworld in the thrall of the Dynasty—fear of what would happen if the Warlords decided to actually work together. They were devastating on their own, what would it be like if they banded together?
I suppose this test will show what we're capable of as a group, Dais thought, finding irony in the thought.
Dais stopped in front of the door to the audience chamber and looked at the two guards waiting there. They were both ones that Dais recognized, and a brief glance across their minds told him that they weren't traitors, and would answer his call if he needed them.
Not that he would. Not with Sekhmet back.
He pushed open one door and gestured that Kayura preceded them. As the last of the Ancient's Clan, she was technically the leader of the Dynasty, and with Sekhmet and Dais flanking her…they were an impressively intimidating ensemble: Sekhmet with his swords, Dais with his scythes, and Kayura with the Staff of the Ancients—all potent symbols of power.
Kayura took a seat in the chair situated at the front of the room, he and Sekhmet flanking her on either side.
The ambassador was keeping his composure, although just barely. Sekhmet's lips spread into a threatening, indolent grin, he having scented the ambassador's anxiety as quickly as Dais had.
The ambassador's glowing, violet eyes fixated on the ground. "My Lady. My Lords. I come on behalf of—"
"Get to the point," Kayura said, her voice laced with disdainful boredom.
The ambassador cleared his throat before saying: "We are tired of getting caught in the crossfire between the Dynasty and the Army of the Rising Sun, and the damage has become extensive enough that we are forced to choose a side. The Dynasty does not ransack our villages and bases and have helped evacuate a few before a battle between them and the Army. The Army has not been so…kind."
Dais heard the softest of exhales from seemingly empty space, and his eye narrowed.
They cannot win against the Warlord of Illusion using illusions, he thought. Especially when the illusions are not made by the person themselves.
Sekhmet's casual threats and Kayura's indifference had the ambassador chattering, which gave Dais the time he needed to set himself up.
The moment Kayura's eyes glazed over with boredom, the assassins—four of them—attacked.
Dais' power broke all of the talismans simultaneously, and the surprise was promptly lost. Sekhmet jumped into the fray immediately, his swords sliding effortlessly out of their scabbards. Kayura was also on her feet, the Ancient's staff deflecting knives sent her way. Dais strolled over to the terrified ambassador, gave him the smallest of polite nods, and then dragged him out of the way of the battle, covering them both with an illusion until they were in a safe spot.
"I would hope those aren't yours," Dais said mildly, looking down at the shaken ambassador.
"No," he said emphatically. "The armor is wrong—that's Army make."
"The Army must see you as a threat to attempt to kill you in a Dynasty stronghold."
"The Army has no sense of honor."
Dais hummed. "And we protect you, even if you are still technically an enemy of the Dynasty."
The ambassador watched the fight progress and Dais leaned down to whisper in his ear. "I will give you the Dynasty's full cooperation…as long as I would be able to expect the same."
The ambassador looked at him sharply. "The Lady—"
"I am the Warlord of Illusion," Dais told him mildly. "Now, I will allow you to keep your autonomy. You won't have to fly the Dynasty banner, but you are…honor-bound…to assist us. Of course, we will help you if you call as well." Dais looked to Kayura and Sekhmet who were having too much fun thrashing the assassins. "Lady Kayura and the Warlord of Venom are demonstrating their strength for you, and I'm sure you've heard of me. We can each take on a Knight and win, and our Generals have held their own against the foreign warriors…as I'm sure you know." Dais' voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "I will even lend you some of my brightest commanders to train your troops to repel Army invasions."
Dais knew the last would be the hook—and it was. Everyone in the Netherworld hated being beholden to another, even more than being used as a punching bag.
Dais would actually be planting some of his most loyal commanders to report back to him on everything happening within the Ogres, but the Ogres were desperate, and the desperate tended to overlook details—like how allowing enemy soldiers into their strongholds could be a bad thing.
"Do we have an agreement?" Dais purred, turning the ambassador's head so he could watch the battle again, Kayura shoving the butt of the Ancient's staff through the chest of one of the assassins, the staff coming out soaked with blood, the assassin dropping to the ground as blood oozed out of the wound.
The ambassador was silent for a moment longer, until an assassins' head rolled to a stop at his foot.
"Yes."
The last desperate death cry of one of the assassins made Dais look to Sekhmet, who was extracting one of his swords from the throat of a Crusader. Kayura was glowing with adrenaline and the high of murder, and Sekhmet's armor was liberally splattered with blood. Each of them had two assassins to their count.
Well, I'm glad they enjoyed themselves.
"I'll have someone find you supplies and send you on your way—with some protection, of course, to make sure you arrive safely at your destination."
Dais handed the ambassador off to an escort of three soldiers, all of whom Dais knew. He wanted to take no chances when it came to the 'alliance' he had forged.
The best part was that none of it was in writing so Dais could ignore it if it became…inconvenient.
"Where were you?" Sekhmet asked, the smallest of sneers in his voice.
"Killing becomes you, Lady," Dais drawled as he brushed past Sekhmet. "I have a harder target to test your fangs on, Sekhmet."
"You better. Those two were worthless. What were these Army people thinking, sending such weaklings?" Sekhmet whined.
Dais' step hitched as one of his alarms in the catacombs tripped and he paused. "Actually, do you care to slither through the catacombs for me? I think you'll find some mice to devour."
"What am I, just some hired muscle?"
"So you don't want to paint the walls red with the blood of our enemies?"
Sekhmet seemed torn between the desire to go against what Dais wanted and his love of mass murder, then eventually snapped: "There had better be more than just one."
"I'm sure you'll find plenty to sink your fangs into."
Sekhmet vanished into the recesses of the Castle, and Kayura turned to look at Dais.
"How would they get into the catacombs?"
Dais crossed his arms. "I have a few guesses."
And I don't like any of them.
"What did you do with the ambassador? Kill him?"
Dais shook his head and started off towards the War Room. "Worse."
"Worse?"
Dais smirked inside his helm. "Yes."
"What could be worse than death?"
"How did it feel, being controlled body and soul by Batamon?"
Kayura's lips thinned out in anger. "Did you—"
"Humans control each other without any supernatural power all the time," Dais said. "It takes no effort."
Dais stopped at an intersection. "Stay sharp, Lady. The Army is trying to actively get at you now. Don't make it easy for them."
He turned and finished his trip to the War Room, slipping inside and lighting only three candles. He stopped in front of the map and pressed his fingers against Ogre territory—it quickly turned the shade that indicated Dynasty possession.
Let them think they're free. If they like the chains, they won't rebel, Dais thought, slightly smug.
Dais quickly drafted letters to two of his most trustworthy captains, giving them instructions that were explicit enough to leave no doubt as to what to do, but which included room for interpretation and expansion. Orders to be followed both to the letter and in the spirit of. He handed them off, then turned his attention back to the map.
The Army will know of our 'alliance' soon enough.
Dais picked up Kale's piece and turned the likeness of the Warlord of Darkness between his fingers. Now...How would I react?
Dais sighed softly and placed Kale's piece next to the Knight of Spirit. I'd wipe out the Ogres and hope to get some of the Dynasty along with it. Preferably using Kale just for spite. Pairing him with the Knight of Light would be a good way to keep him in check, too.
Dais was decoding a report marked 'urgent' when Sekhmet entered the room, reeking of blood and destruction.
"Enjoy yourself?" Dais asked absently.
"How did Kale get captured?"
Dais looked to Sekhmet when the warlord of venom came up beside him, the man's beady eyes oddly solemn.
"My spy is not deep enough into the organization to know the method, but she indicated that Kale has particular animosity towards the Knight of Spirit, so I think that his capture has something to do with whatever power Spirit commands."
"It's not like you to not have all the answers."
"Did you do anything in the Human World besides cause havoc?"
"The Ronin have grown up nicely."
Dais looked to Sekhmet, who shrugged. "What? They have. And they're still fun."
"I'm sure I don't want to know what your idea of 'fun' is," Dais drawled. "Do you know the story behind the new armor?"
"New ar—how do you know about that?" Sekhemt's expression became slightly gleeful. "You went into the Human World, didn't you? I knew you would."
"I had to stem the tide of modern-human grunt labor somehow."
"Liar," Sekhemt said, drawing out the word.
"Well?"
Sekhmet pouted when Dais didn't rise to the bait, and said, "No clue, but I like their old armor better."
Dais hummed.
"So, what was this harder target you wanted me to test my fangs on? The catacombs were a nice warm-up."
"How much clean up are the grunts going to have to do?"
Sekhmet chuckled darkly.
"The Knight of Fire is getting uncomfortably close to the Capital," Dais said, pointing to her figurine. "Care to drive her away? Do try to not die or be captured."
"I just got back and you're throwing me at the heavy hitters?"
"Are you afraid?"
"What?"
"Kayura and I can both defeat Knights. I want to make sure you're not going to hold back the offensive I'm planning."
"Your caution has always been the thing holding us back," Sekhmet snarled. He took a swift look at the map, then stalked away, muttering darkly.
Dais sighed once Sekhmet was gone.
Dais moved the Knight of Light beside Kale, and regarded the two pieces critically.
So…when I finally throw Sekhmet against you, do I ask him to capture you or kill you?