Chapter 12
Diablos pushed open the heavy oaken door. He could feel the cool night breeze on his face as he glanced around the rooftop of the palace. He didn't see anyone, but he heard the faint strains of harp music and followed the sound. He walked along a crenellated wall until he reached the sloped roof of the main hall. He leapt onto the rooftop and carefully climbed up the slate tiles. Once he reached the top he could make out Siren sitting on the west-facing slope. Carbuncle was sitting on her shoulder listening intently to her winsome singing:
Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously.
For I have loved you well and long,
Delighting in your company.
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves?
Your vows you've broken, like my heart,
Oh, why did you so enrapture me?
Now I remain in a world apart
But my heart remains in captivity.
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves?
Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu,
To God I pray to prosper thee,
For I am still thy lover true,
Come once again and love me.
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves?
Siren gasped and turned to see him. She had picked a good spot. Below them extending off in every direction was a massive city of Tzen. It had once been small and humble, but when the citizens discovered iron in the mountains to the south that led to a large mining operation. They could see the enormous smelters that converted the ore into molten iron. They illuminated the city in an unnatural glow. Wide boulevards connected the castle to the wealthier parts of the city but the rest of Tzen was made up of rows upon rows of ramshackle buildings that were crammed close together.
Carbuncle leapt onto his arm.
(Lord Diablos!)
"Did I disturb you my Lord?" asked Siren.
"No," he replied, staring off into the middle distance. "Enjoy the view while you can. The King has summoned us to appear before him."
Siren saw his look. "Is something wrong?"
"No."
Siren sighted quietly. Carbuncle glanced between them.
(What?)
"I have work to do," said Diablos, dropping Carbuncle on the roof. "Meet me outside the throne room within the hour."
"All right," she said strumming a new tune, which was even more melancholy. After he was gone, Carbuncle hopped onto Siren's shoulder.
(Tell me!)
Siren frowned slightly. "Tell you what?"
(What you do to Lord Diablos?)
Siren picked up a loose piece of slate and threw it over the edge of the roof. "I didn't do anything."
(Carbuncle won't let floozy have Diablos!)
Siren snapped. "I'm not a floozy! And I'm not planning on taking him!"
Carbuncle leaned so close that their noses were almost touching.
(Then Carbuncle take him!)
Siren didn't like where this was going. "What do you mean?"
(So Siren does like him!)
Siren felt like breaking her harp over Carbuncle's head. "Of course I like him! He saved me!"
Carbuncle put her nose in the air.
(Play dumb then!)
She shoved Carbuncle off her shoulder. "Get off me."
After returning inside, they went down a flight of stairs. The servants bowed as they walked past. Eventually they came to a large set of double doors. Beyond was a room decorated in red and gold. In the corners were pillars with a dragon motif. A half dozen people were lounging around on furniture that was plush and luxurious. Diablos waved them over. Carbuncle hopped on his lap and Siren sat next to him.
"We're about to be announced so be on your best behavior," said Diablos testily. He pointed a finger at Carbuncle. "Especially you."
(Hee! Of course!)
A courtier by the door signaled them to approach. "Lord Diablos has returned!"
At that the massive inner doors were opened, revealing an even more splendid room. The walls were hung with elaborate tapestries and banners emblazoned with skulls. The red carpeting led up stairs past ornate suits of armor and displays of weaponry. Sitting on the throne was a man who looked far too young to be a king. He was dressed in red robes over a white tunic. He wore a large crown of iron with yellow gemstones embedded in them. His reddish hair was short and had gray eyes that looked concerned.
"Welcome back Lord Diablos," said the King. "Please give us your report."
They all knelt before the throne. "King Hasdrubal, allow me to introduce two new allies," said Diablos. "Siren and Carbuncle. Both will be of great benefit to Golgatha."
"Very good," said the King. "We appreciate your loyalty."
(Majesty.)
"Your Majesty," said Siren.
"And what of Jidoor?" As a man entering the room from the side. He was tall and austere looking with long white hair despite his youthful face. His flowing black robes had red trim. His glanced at Diablos malevolently, but looked cheerful when he faced the King. "Your majesty, if I may?" he asked.
"By all means Magus Gaspar," the King replied.
Gaspar pulled out a letter with a skull seal on it. "A report from the front. It arrived by carrier pigeon this morning. Care to guess what it says?"
"Surprise me," said Diablos grinning.
Gaspar broke the seal and read. "'Odin's forces approaching by water from east. Captain ordered retreat north around mountains then south along lakeshore. Captain leading rearguard. Jidoor expected to fall by sunset.'"
The King tapped his fingers on the armrest. "What exactly did the invasion accomplish?"
Diablos made an expansive gesture. "The town was beside the point Your Majesty. What we wanted were the Espers."
"And how will driving these Espers from their homes endear them to our cause?" asked Gaspar.
"They have no choice. If Asgard stands alone against Eboshi and us they will fail. They need to ally with one of us," explained Diablos impatiently. "The invasion was too minor to provoke a full scale war. But if we want one, Jidoor will make a convenient pretext."
"An alliance of Asgard and Eboshi is unlikely," said the King. "But then again, so is an alliance between ourselves and Eboshi."
"It's like I said Your Majesty," said Gaspar. "We need a political alliance with Asgard. Their goals are compatible with ours."
"Is this the will of Doom?" asked the King.
"It will be," replied Gaspar airily.
"Always hedging your bets Magus," said Diablos, smirking. "We cannot avoid a war if the goddesses demand it."
"Doom demands retribution, to be sure," said Gaspar. "But I believe that a war will not be necessary. If we forged an alliance with Queen Lethe through marriage, then Eboshi would not be able to stand against both of us."
"She's never been interested in marriage," said the King wistfully.
"That's only because she does not know you, Your Majesty. I'm sure you'd be able to win her with your charm," Gaspar said.
"I agree with the Magus on that point," said Diablos. "But if diplomacy fails we must resort to force."
"Diplomacy will fail if you keep baiting Asgard!" said Gaspar angrily.
"Perhaps you're right," said the King. "We will issue a formal apology to Queen Lethe. We will entrust this to you Magus."
"As you wish," said Gaspar, bowing.
"But Majesty! If you give my plan some time.." protested Diablos.
"Lord Diablos! You will continue to recruit Espers. In addition you will formulate a plan in case force is required. Can you do that?"
Diablos bowed his head. "Of course."
"Excellent," said the King. "Now leave us, all of you."
Diablos pushed open the heavy oaken door. He could feel the cool night breeze on his face as he glanced around the rooftop of the palace. He didn't see anyone, but he heard the faint strains of harp music and followed the sound. He walked along a crenellated wall until he reached the sloped roof of the main hall. He leapt onto the rooftop and carefully climbed up the slate tiles. Once he reached the top he could make out Siren sitting on the west-facing slope. Carbuncle was sitting on her shoulder listening intently to her winsome singing:
Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously.
For I have loved you well and long,
Delighting in your company.
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves?
Your vows you've broken, like my heart,
Oh, why did you so enrapture me?
Now I remain in a world apart
But my heart remains in captivity.
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves?
Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu,
To God I pray to prosper thee,
For I am still thy lover true,
Come once again and love me.
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady Greensleeves?
Siren gasped and turned to see him. She had picked a good spot. Below them extending off in every direction was a massive city of Tzen. It had once been small and humble, but when the citizens discovered iron in the mountains to the south that led to a large mining operation. They could see the enormous smelters that converted the ore into molten iron. They illuminated the city in an unnatural glow. Wide boulevards connected the castle to the wealthier parts of the city but the rest of Tzen was made up of rows upon rows of ramshackle buildings that were crammed close together.
Carbuncle leapt onto his arm.
(Lord Diablos!)
"Did I disturb you my Lord?" asked Siren.
"No," he replied, staring off into the middle distance. "Enjoy the view while you can. The King has summoned us to appear before him."
Siren saw his look. "Is something wrong?"
"No."
Siren sighted quietly. Carbuncle glanced between them.
(What?)
"I have work to do," said Diablos, dropping Carbuncle on the roof. "Meet me outside the throne room within the hour."
"All right," she said strumming a new tune, which was even more melancholy. After he was gone, Carbuncle hopped onto Siren's shoulder.
(Tell me!)
Siren frowned slightly. "Tell you what?"
(What you do to Lord Diablos?)
Siren picked up a loose piece of slate and threw it over the edge of the roof. "I didn't do anything."
(Carbuncle won't let floozy have Diablos!)
Siren snapped. "I'm not a floozy! And I'm not planning on taking him!"
Carbuncle leaned so close that their noses were almost touching.
(Then Carbuncle take him!)
Siren didn't like where this was going. "What do you mean?"
(So Siren does like him!)
Siren felt like breaking her harp over Carbuncle's head. "Of course I like him! He saved me!"
Carbuncle put her nose in the air.
(Play dumb then!)
She shoved Carbuncle off her shoulder. "Get off me."
After returning inside, they went down a flight of stairs. The servants bowed as they walked past. Eventually they came to a large set of double doors. Beyond was a room decorated in red and gold. In the corners were pillars with a dragon motif. A half dozen people were lounging around on furniture that was plush and luxurious. Diablos waved them over. Carbuncle hopped on his lap and Siren sat next to him.
"We're about to be announced so be on your best behavior," said Diablos testily. He pointed a finger at Carbuncle. "Especially you."
(Hee! Of course!)
A courtier by the door signaled them to approach. "Lord Diablos has returned!"
At that the massive inner doors were opened, revealing an even more splendid room. The walls were hung with elaborate tapestries and banners emblazoned with skulls. The red carpeting led up stairs past ornate suits of armor and displays of weaponry. Sitting on the throne was a man who looked far too young to be a king. He was dressed in red robes over a white tunic. He wore a large crown of iron with yellow gemstones embedded in them. His reddish hair was short and had gray eyes that looked concerned.
"Welcome back Lord Diablos," said the King. "Please give us your report."
They all knelt before the throne. "King Hasdrubal, allow me to introduce two new allies," said Diablos. "Siren and Carbuncle. Both will be of great benefit to Golgatha."
"Very good," said the King. "We appreciate your loyalty."
(Majesty.)
"Your Majesty," said Siren.
"And what of Jidoor?" As a man entering the room from the side. He was tall and austere looking with long white hair despite his youthful face. His flowing black robes had red trim. His glanced at Diablos malevolently, but looked cheerful when he faced the King. "Your majesty, if I may?" he asked.
"By all means Magus Gaspar," the King replied.
Gaspar pulled out a letter with a skull seal on it. "A report from the front. It arrived by carrier pigeon this morning. Care to guess what it says?"
"Surprise me," said Diablos grinning.
Gaspar broke the seal and read. "'Odin's forces approaching by water from east. Captain ordered retreat north around mountains then south along lakeshore. Captain leading rearguard. Jidoor expected to fall by sunset.'"
The King tapped his fingers on the armrest. "What exactly did the invasion accomplish?"
Diablos made an expansive gesture. "The town was beside the point Your Majesty. What we wanted were the Espers."
"And how will driving these Espers from their homes endear them to our cause?" asked Gaspar.
"They have no choice. If Asgard stands alone against Eboshi and us they will fail. They need to ally with one of us," explained Diablos impatiently. "The invasion was too minor to provoke a full scale war. But if we want one, Jidoor will make a convenient pretext."
"An alliance of Asgard and Eboshi is unlikely," said the King. "But then again, so is an alliance between ourselves and Eboshi."
"It's like I said Your Majesty," said Gaspar. "We need a political alliance with Asgard. Their goals are compatible with ours."
"Is this the will of Doom?" asked the King.
"It will be," replied Gaspar airily.
"Always hedging your bets Magus," said Diablos, smirking. "We cannot avoid a war if the goddesses demand it."
"Doom demands retribution, to be sure," said Gaspar. "But I believe that a war will not be necessary. If we forged an alliance with Queen Lethe through marriage, then Eboshi would not be able to stand against both of us."
"She's never been interested in marriage," said the King wistfully.
"That's only because she does not know you, Your Majesty. I'm sure you'd be able to win her with your charm," Gaspar said.
"I agree with the Magus on that point," said Diablos. "But if diplomacy fails we must resort to force."
"Diplomacy will fail if you keep baiting Asgard!" said Gaspar angrily.
"Perhaps you're right," said the King. "We will issue a formal apology to Queen Lethe. We will entrust this to you Magus."
"As you wish," said Gaspar, bowing.
"But Majesty! If you give my plan some time.." protested Diablos.
"Lord Diablos! You will continue to recruit Espers. In addition you will formulate a plan in case force is required. Can you do that?"
Diablos bowed his head. "Of course."
"Excellent," said the King. "Now leave us, all of you."