AN: Well so much for my notion that a review goal that high would net me about week away without people wondering if I'm dead or something. :D Y'all really piled on there. I guess that also puts to rest the idea that I was going to lose readers if I didn't update on my usual rapid pace, or that I needed to keep putting out chapters to get more reviews. :) Looks like a good chapter does generate reviews if that is the price that is asked for. I'm not even mad. :D Nice to know you're still enjoying the story so far, of course reviews feed me, but I AM taking a few days off from this story to work on another project. Not long, just a few days or so, discorders and beta readers already know, everybody else will just have to enjoy the suspense. I think you'll be pleased though. So just stand fast and let me work. The 'easier' stories like Bone Daddy's Daughters & Desires of a Demon, will get some short chapter updates. The former because it is just fun, the latter because it is a commissioned piece...and is also fun. Other than that, well if you want to help out with my charity goals to show your appreciation for my work, you can donate to bdgiving dot org, or to support the audio book project, to p atreo dot com slash godrising. OK, ON with the show! :)
…Kedyn…
Vanysa got up the next morning, cleaned, dressed, ate, and went outside. She did not disguise her nature, she walked the streets as an erinyes. She drew some unusual looks, but by now, word had spread that the Sorcerer King had sent a representative, and she was correctly assumed to be it. All day, criers and riders had gone hither and thither spreading word that those adherents to His Majesty's will were being called on to volunteer in the defense of Prart. This was the fruit of that effort. She stood atop the gate and looked out over the massed ranks. There stood thousands upon thousands of soldiers arrayed in simple square groups. They stood ten deep and ten wide, and there were ninety squares, making for a total of nine thousand, plus volunteers, and there were more coming in from surrounding villages even as the Viscountess and her adviser, Ulthis, climbed the steps to join her on the battlements.
"Good morning, Your Grace. Good morning, sir." She said, inclining her head to the Viscountess and the priest.
"And to you, Vanysa." They said almost simultaneously.
"They're impressive, aren't they?" Cercei said proudly.
"They are." Vanysa replied, "I didn't expect so many…" She trailed off as another square finished forming up.
"His Majesty paid out of his own treasury for adventurers to protect villages from raids by Astrakian loyalists and Slane Theocracy fanatics. I've spoken with some of the villagers in the last few months as part of my duties, a group of iron plates held off some of that fallen paladin's fanatics during an attack, saved a woman from being burned alive, and got the village out. Most of the iron plates died, but the villagers got away and fled to another one. That one was prepared for the attack as a result, and that village had a gold ranked team. Combined with both groups, when the attack came , they crushed the fanatics. Without the adventurers paid for by His Majesty, many would have died. Nobody has forgotten that yet." He said gravely.
Vanysa nodded. "I would imagine there were many such stories out there." Cercei added, "Kedyn is not a huge city, we were 'almost' undone, were it not for the efforts of His Majesty and providing us Blue Rose, and without a little timely help from his pope, things could have been much, much worse. This is a debt of honor that we repay, I can't swear everyone out there is party to his faith, but they are party to the debt to his name nonetheless. My people are proud, villager or city dweller, they won't sully their dignity by failing to repay the kindness and generosity shown to them. Anyone who isn't here in the next hour, is either too old or too young." The Viscountess' voice was the pinnacle of confidence and pride as she spoke.
They stood there, the three of them; two vampires and an erinyes in front of a small army of humans. Their hands were folded patiently behind their backs as ranks continued to form. Their feet were shoulder width apart and they projected an image of power and authority. Vanysa's wings quivered behind her with excitement. "Did the two of you settle who is going to Prart with them?" She asked curiously.
"Neither of us is willing to give in on that particular point." Cercei said with some measure of frustration. "Ulthis insists that it is my duty to rule and he will act in my name while in Prart. I say that as the Sorcerer King put himself into the fight, I can do no less. Not less than he, not less than my husband, not less than my people."
Ulthis rolled his eyes, "And I continue to point out that the Sorcerer King is a god, her husband ended up dying by his noble choice, and her duty to her people is to rule well and survive. I can fight at least as well as she can, probably better due to more practice, and we can't just replace her, while I can be replaced by writing to a temple and informing them of my demise."
"So you're at an impasse." Vanysa said succinctly.
"Yes. I am most especially disturbed that he continues to devalue himself so. I can get another priest, but that does not mean he can be so easily replaced. I cannot get another Ulthis." Cercei said, her voice was frustrated, but betrayed a measure of additional anxiety beyond the simply professional.
"Would the Sorcerer King have some wisdom on this matter that you could pass on to us, what do you suggest?" Ulthis asked, eager for some solution.
"Well, she's the viscountess, she can just tell yah to shut up, be a good boy, and stay here." Vanysa snickered, and Cercei laughed. Ulthis looked at her, deadpan.
"Or," she shrugged, "Just flip a damn coin and be done with it already."
The pair blinked at her in a stupor. "That's it? That is your suggestion?"
Vanysa looked at them both, "What do you want from me? I'm a peasant turned monster, I torture predators and extract information, I like to think I'm pretty smart, but you want divine wisdom, go talk to God, this one will answer you. You want a practical solution on the spot, that is what ah got for yah." She said and she reached down and took out a coin.
"No hard feelings, no arguments, one flip and the way it falls on the stone is what you do. You both want to go, only one of you can, and you both have equally good reasons for both sides of the argument. Since neither is better than the other, let chance decide." She replied.
Ulthis and Cercei shared a glance at one another, it was… unconventional, but there were worse ideas. "Fine." The two said in unison.
"I'll flip." Vanysa said and set the coin with the Sorcerer King's face on it looking down, she considered it proper that he always be looking down at the world rather than up from it. She flipped, the coin spun, end over end, and she stepped back. "Call it Cercei." Vanysa said as it reached the peak of its altitude.
"Heads." Cercei called.
It came down and struck the stone, wobbled, and landed flat. "Tails for the win." Vanysa said and picked it up. "Ulthis, looks like you're going to visit Prart with them."
He rendered his salute to Cercei, who lowered her head in disappointment, but then returned it, fist over heart, and said, "You'd better come back alive."
He laughed; his blood red vampire eyes met hers.
"I think I'm a little late for that." He said.
She rolled her own eyes in return, "You know what I mean you stubborn oaf, but next campaign, if there is one, goes to me with no arguments."
"Fair enough." He said, and stuck out his hand, she took it, and they shook firmly.
"Would you like to address the soldiers? It looks like most of them are here now. I'll let Ulthis go inform his wife of his departure, then use the scroll and send them through. That leaves time for you to say a few words." Cercei asked politely.
"Shouldn't they hear from you?" Vanysa asked hesitantly.
"I'm their viscountess, they've heard from me a hundred times, but how many times in a life does a representative of the Sorcerer King come calling?" She asked.
"Alright, if it'll help." Vanysa said.
Her wings popped out wide, and the low conversations beyond the wall stilled to nothing.
She flapped them slowly and allowed herself to rise above and then beyond the wall, she hovered before them as the specter of vengeance.
"Hiya!" She said with a wave, "Yah don know me, an ah ain't exactly a big speaker, so ah ain't gonna say much or for long. Yah probly know ah come from the Sorcerer King. His Majesty, he made me this, ah used ta be prey to whatever someone else done wanted to do to me, ah ain't had no power, ah ain't had no say, ah couldn't do nothin bout nothin. All ah could do was jus cry. He done made me different, he taught me somethin, lotsa thins, but most of all he done taught me ta have some god damned self-respect!" Her voice carried over the crowd, her folksy peasant speech targeted to the audience she faced. She had their attention.
"Now there's a lotta people, they don't want that fer no one but themselves, ah hear some of em came here an tried ta kill yah, an ah hear not a one of em got past yer walls but as a dead damn corpse or a prisoner, that right?" She asked with a sweet tilt of her head.
Cheers rang out, spear butts struck the ground, and she raised her hands to call for quiet.
"Well, think yah can teach Prart a thing er two about how ta hold walls? Seems ta me they've had some trouble learnin that over the years, yah gonna help em out?" She asked wryly.
A general round of laughter and affirmative calls of 'Hell, yes!' answered her.
"Well alright then, whatcha standin around listenin ta me for, yah gots a thing ta do an yah know what it is, do yer best, come back alive, come back proud, an show the whole damn world that ain't nobody can take a wall what been held by Kedyn folk!"
She rendered a salute to the crowd, and moved back to the wall. She looked over at the Viscountess, "They're all yours, Your Grace." She said.
"They'll die on those walls for that reputation, after that little display." Cercei said, visibly moved.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Vanysa replied.
"It will." Cercei said softly.
"I know." Vanysa said in the same tone. "Good luck. I have to go back." She saluted the Viscountess and received one in return. Then, they shook hands, and Vanysa called for a gate, through which she passed with a farewell wave to the soldiers beyond the wall, and vanished.
…Nazarick…
Vanysa knelt before the throne beside Demiurge.
"…And that is what happened, Your Majesty. Last count there was nearly ten thousand ready to move to support Pope Baraja and they'll be there today." She said as she described the events of her short visit.
"Demiurge, do you have anything to add, does this meet your expectations after preparing her for this?" Ainz asked from atop his throne.
"It does, Your Majesty, she performed exactly as you required of her." Demiurge said confidently.
"I disagree." Ainz said, and for a moment the demon was flustered and Vanysa looked about to cry.
"I say she surpassed expectations." Ainz finished, and they visibly relaxed.
"A few years ago, she was nothing but a peasant, the sort, Demiurge, that you would have thought nothing of stepping upon and scraping off your shoe. Then she was an educated girl with a zeal for knowledge, then she built a business empire, then an agent of vengeance, and an able research assistant to you, and now she's performed as a diplomat and brought ten thousand soldiers to defend our goals. All of that," he said, pointing to the beaming erinyes, "far surpasses what we would call 'normal expectations' Did you not say yourself that she had proved to be a great and insightful asset to your work on more than one occasion? Do you take my meaning, Demiurge?" Ainz asked gently.
"I think I do, my lord." The demon said thoughtfully.
Vanysa remained silent, but she was shining with pride, and her heart fluttered a bit. Demiurge had praised her to the Sorcerer King? It was the first she'd heard of it.
"Good, a small seed may look like nothing, but who knows what might grow from it when properly nurtured. Well done, both of you, why don't the two of you take the afternoon off and relax. Go, have some fun." Ainz suggested.
"As you wish, my Lord." Vanysa said happily.
"As you command, my Lord." Demiurge answered.
"Drinks, then books, then music?" She said, looking over at Demiurge.
"Drinks, then music, then books." He replied.
"As you like… Demiurge." She said as they walked away, and Ainz suppressed a sense of envy as they vanished from sight.
A day later, Ainz was in the throne room with Tuare, Yuri Alpha, Gondo, Aura and Mare kneeling at the base of the steps leading to where he sat. "Aura and Mare." Ainz said, looking to the twins.
"Yes, Lord Ainz?" Aura asked.
"Y-yes, my Lord?" Mare asked.
"Today you are being dispatched to visit the dark elves, you are to win them over to us. You may use any means necessary, whether it be by combat or diplomacy, I leave the means to you, but the end must be the same. They must not bar the way of our allies when they march." He said.
"Does that include exterminating them, my Lord?" Aura asked, her childlike voice giving a stark contrast to the brutal question.
He tapped his fingers patiently on the arm of his throne as he thought, and then said, "That would be the very last resort, and I do not think it will be necessary. The ideal end would be their willing submission to us as a vassal or a province. However, trade deals are acceptable, as is temporary submission after a show of force. What you need to do, you may do, but exercise no more brutality than absolutely necessary to achieve the desired end. Remember that the Lizardmen have proven their worth to us with their submission, as did the dwarves with their continued research progress. What gifts may come of friendly ties to the dark elves may not be known yet, but that does not mean there will be none."
"As you wish, my Lord." Aura said.
"I-It will be done, my Lord." Mare said softly.
"In the meantime, Tuare, Yuri Alpha and Gondo will be accompanying me to the mountain kingdom of the dark dwarves. This will not take long, so continue the march of victory in my absence." Ainz said to the rest of Nazarick. First one gate opened, and then another.
"C'mon Mare, c'mon." Aura said hurriedly and dragged her brother by the ear, straight through the gate.
Ainz descended the throne, and one by one his kneeling party stood and fell into step behind him as he walked past, and without a backward look, they went through the gate. As they did so, Sebas felt a swelling of pride within his chest. Tuare had not flinched, she had not hesitated, and she had not looked back at him when called on to do her duty and follow their lord. She had acted as a proper servant of Nazarick, an enormous step forward, and one he was sure had not been lost on those who lined the walls watching them go.
When the gate vanished, Albedo mounted the stairs and stood beside the throne. "Our master has set himself to the task, now we must do the same. Get to work."
The guardians, maids, and other attendees bowed politely and began to walk away.
…Dungeon of Crossroads…
Moira rubbed her head as she came to.
"You're awake." A man said from a few feet away.
She looked around from her position on her back. There were stone walls, a stone floor, straw was underneath her body, not much, but a little at least. Her armor and weapons were gone, but she wasn't naked, she was wearing a bright orange tunic that was more like an oversized sack, as well as chains on her wrists that secured her to the wall.
"I was starting to wonder if you were ever going to open your eyes." He said, and she looked towards the source of the voice.
"Melkan?" She asked hesitantly.
"So you remember my name, that is something at least. Yes, it's me." He replied.
"Where are we?" She asked as she forced herself to sit up. Her head felt like it was being split open.
"In the dungeon of Crossroads City. Where did you think we'd be, other than maybe 'dead'?" He asked.
"I… I don't know, what happened?" She asked nervously.
"What is the last thing you remember?" He asked with concern, his chains rattled as he repositioned himself to sit up.
"We were leaving General Enri's army, all of us. We'd set up a phony force as a decoy to draw that bigger army away from Ikari, the last I remember is seeing them closing in… then there is nothing." Moira said softly.
"Well, we lost." He said with a dry sense of humor in his voice. "Yes, eighty thousand soldiers came crashing down on us, we cut the bonds of our little fake army and charged out to meet our deaths, and most of us did exactly that. But you, me, and a handful of others are the exceptions. I was stabbed through the gut, you took a blow to the head. I woke up the next day chained to a cart with a bandage on my wound and a cheap herbal potion being applied to heal it. You were unconscious on the other side of the cart and haven't moved since. A few more days and they might have just put you down so you didn't starve to death and go the slow way." Melkan replied.
"How long has it been?" She asked cautiously.
"Weeks, I think, but I can't really say. I haven't been out of here since, and time doesn't really mean anything. Most of us are isolated, we're only together because I was allowed to look after you while you either recovered or died." He added with some bitterness in his voice.
"Well… Thank you." Moira answered. "What have they been doing with us?" She asked.
"Well, the rest of us were interrogated as soon as we could move around, which means you'll probably be interrogated too pretty soon." He said with a sigh of resignation.
"Am I… am I the only woman?" She asked, drawing her knees up to her chest protectively.
"I think you can relax about that." Melkan replied, reading her thoughts. "The general in charge was fairly strict about the treatment of captives, nothing was done to you while you were… asleep, and they didn't use magic simply because they didn't have healers to use on us at the time. Seems like the entire city has been in a panic. I have heard a little bit here and there from a jailer or two. It seems General Enri captured Ikari shortly after we left, so… what we did wasn't for nothing. More recently, I've heard that Fortress Alaf has fallen in the west. We're winning the war so far." He said with a hint of satisfaction.
"So, what about us? What now?" She asked.
"We wait." He said. "What else?" He asked, shaking his chains for emphasis.
"We escape, we resist, we evade." She said, "I have a son to get home to, and every day I'm here is another I'm not doing my damned best to end the war sooner and get back to him." She said emphatically.
"So, what do you have in mind?" He asked, "Other than a head injury?" He joked. She stared daggers at him.
She looked around, "I don't know. There has to be something." She said thoughtfully.
He looked doubtful.
"There is always a way. Always." She said confidently, and she continued to look around her cell thoughtfully.