CHAPTER FORTY

The Lost Company made camp in a wide ravine within the Altieri hinterlands. King Sasha the Romov stood outside his tent and scanned the high ridges surrounding his soldiers. The location provided shelter from harsh winds blowing across the landscape, biting cold even as summer reigned over the south. It also provided a defense against arcane attack, but Sasha was confidant his excursion east of Ecclesia wouldn't come to that. Hopefully.

Sasha frowned. He didn't like this. Nothing about any of this felt right.

But, he trusted Enfri.

As one of the five people the Dragon Empress brought into the full breadth of her plan to resist the old masters, Sasha knew better than anyone just how precarious humanity's position on the game board truly was. For it to have even the barest hint of a chance to succeed, Sasha needed to play his part. And, he could tell no one of what his actual goal in all this was.

Sorry, old man, he thought. I wish I could've told you, if no one else. Can't imagine what you're going to think about what I do today.

Sasha closed his eyes and let out a breath of regret. A part of him was certain Ban knew of a king's feelings for his oldest friend. Sasha had loved Ban since they were young, and it was more than mere infatuation with an older boy. Bannlyth Karst had always been a hero to Sasha. His salvation. When the world felt to be at its cruelest, Ban was always there to make it seem a gentler place.

Unfortunate, then, that Ban had that most troublesome habit of only being attracted to girls. Unfortunate for Ban. Sasha knew himself to be a singular catch. The old man was missing out.

Placing a confident smile on his face, Sasha raised his head and stepped away from his tent. This time, he thought, I'm going to save you. It's the least I can do for you after all you've done for me.

Idle thoughts were put on hold when Sasha walked up on the Lost Company's command tent. It lay at the center of the camp, surrounded by the tents of his four hundred soldiers. The company had grown since the fall of Altier Nashal. Only a hundred of them were veterans of the Battle of Ecclesia, and the rest were recruited afterwards. They served as Sasha's personal guard, and they remained as stalwart a fighting force as any other on the Continent.

Only the hardest men and women of Ecclesia made it into the company. Those who did were subjected to the brutal standards of their captain, Lord Trent the Urdov. That absolute beast of a man stood ahead in Sasha's path, an all-too-familiar look of frustration on his scarred face.

It was a distinctive mark. The scar cut down the center of Trent's face, through the bridge of his nose, and put a cleft into his upper lip. Sasha heard stories of how Trent acquired it from many different sources, Ban included, and none of them were the same as another. It hadn't been until a month ago when Trent was deep in his vodka that Sasha finally got the real story of where the scar came from. Sasha was a bit disappointed to learn it hadn't come from a life or death struggle against some enemy champion. No, Trent got his scar from his days as a squire, an accident brought on by not maintaining his grip on a blade while he sharpened it on a grindstone.

"Trent," Sasha said in greeting. "What word from the scouts?"

The lord Urdov, never one for decorum, bent to the side and spat out from the cleft in his lip. "What be it ever?" he growled. "Half what they need be seeing and double of what be worthless."

"Holding on to a sour mood, eh?" Sasha chuckled. "Not yet used to holding your house's title?"

Trent curled his lip. "Bah. The title be mine for months since Da turned traitor."

"So his abdication after bringing the Second Legion back to Ecclesia hasn't thrown you off? In that case, you must still be smarting over losing Uwe and Grellin to the Aleesh."

"Bah," Trent said more forcefully. "Arcane Knights now, be it? Grellin a Dragon Lord, even? I be remembering when that pair could no make it to midday before they be halfway to blows."

Sasha raised an eyebrow as he came to a stop in front of Trent. "Word from up north is that they're courting now."

"That be rubbish, my lord," Trent barked, dismissive. "I no be believing that until I be seeing it with me own eyes. Even then, I be suspicious of it 'til their spawn be in the squire pen."

Sasha served alongside Trent for three years now, and he still had times where that Southron accent of his was inscrutable. He needed a moment to mull it over before he understood Trent's full meaning. It became more difficult when Trent got worked up, and Sasha couldn't resist needling him sometimes.

"You sure you're not just miffed you didn't head north with House Karst and become a Dragon Lord yourself?"

"Bah," was the only thing Trent had to say to that.

Sasha could stop himself from laughing, but he couldn't stop himself from grinning. He gestured for Trent to lead the way into the tent. "As you say, Knight-Captain. What say we go over the plan one more time before it starts?"

Trent scowled and ran a hand through his scarlet hair. "Aye," he grumbled. "We can do that."

Sasha eyed him sidelong as they entered the tent together. "Still not agreeable to all this?"

"I be following my king's command," Trent said sullenly.

"That's not what I asked."

Trent's scowl deepened. "It be my answer."

Sasha grabbed Trent by the shoulder to stop him. "I need you to understand, Captain," he said firmly. He used his king's voice, the one reserved for wartime and foes. "We do this, or we lose Aleesh support. We lose Aleesh support, the Valdars will be inside Ecclesia's gates within a month. Sooner, even. The Djago's are Kadmus' puppets in our city, and we don't have the influence with the houses to root them out."

"Aye, my lord," Trent said, his tone even. "It be nothing new. The swine you be fighting to save your city from one day be the swine you join with on another. I do what I be told, my lord, but I no need be liking it."

Sasha sighed. "Aye. Aye, I no be liking it either."

Trent raised an eyebrow. "Mind your tongue, my lord. It no be proper for a highborn to be talking like a Southron."

Sasha gave him a half-hearted glare, to which Trent responded with a hearty laugh.

"Waves take you, Trent," Sasha muttered. He removed his gloves as he came to the map table and set them beside a mug of heated wine already waiting for him. Sasha took a small drink and felt the warmth of it fill his stomach. "Kadmus the Valdar," he said with some disdain. "He's the uncle of Knight-General Kastus Valdar. He's proclaimed himself king and has gotten most of the eastern lords to pledge to him."

"Wasn't easy, either," Trent added. "The last six months saw more bloodshed in the south than the last six decades, Southron raids and Horde invasions included. One by one, Kadmus bullied and conquered his way to the top of his Lord's Alliance."

"An alliance in name only," Sasha muttered. "What's more, he's garnered foreign support by lending the Third Legion to the defense of Gaulatia."

"Knight-General Mensc," Trent snarled. He leaned to the side and looked ready to spit on the floor before he reconsidered. "She be the youngest of Altieri generals. She no be on the same level as Kastus was, but she no be stupid."

"House Mensc is right beneath Valdar in terms of power," Sasha mused. "Rumors are Kadmus plans to marry his son to his premier general. It was going to be the younger Mensc daughter, but Lady Kora is sworn to Shan Alee now. An Opal Knight, if I recall."

"The empress' own first officer," Trent clarified. "May be there's the connection we missed about Aleesh and Valdars being in bed together."

Sasha glanced up but didn't comment. Best not to throw doubts where he didn't want any. There was no telling what ears might be listening. He took another sip of wine and set the mug down on the table corner.

"It's immaterial now," Sasha said. "The Aleesh surrendering to the Jade Empire has altered the state of every alliance on the Continent, and we must change along with it."

"That means we be with the Jades, too," Trent growled. "Floundering foreigners. Their business here be none of ours."

"If only that were true," Sasha sighed.

"My lord?"

Sasha gave his head a shake. "Call it a gut feeling for now. We both know the situation, Trent. What new can you tell me?"

Trent grunted, a rumble from deep in his chest, and stood at the table across from Sasha. He jabbed a finger to a point on the map not far from their current position. "The Valdar camp be here. Their scouts and ours be crossing paths. No be exchanging words or bloodshed, but it be tense. The company knows those swine be wanting to take Ecclesia since Rodrik's Rebellion."

"They won't get it, Trent," Sasha promised. "That's why we're here."

Trent scoffed. "Favorable terms, was it? You bend the knee to Valdar, say you recognize him as... what, highest lord?"

"Highlord of the Alliance," Sasha said. "First among equals, or so they say, but in truth I'll be recognizing Kadmus as the king of Altier Nashal. He may lack the royal title, but he'll have the same power."

Trent's tone dropped an octave. "You no can be doing this, my lord. Even if the dragons leave the city, Ecclesia can be defended. The Lost Company alone can hold it against a legion. We be doing this once before."

"And if those same dragons turn against us?" Sasha asked. "Rodrik couldn't hold Ecclesia against two of the mighty. How can we hold against all of Shan Alee?"

"The captain no be letting that happen," Trent said, raising his voice. "Whatever that girl he follows be telling him to do, his blood be as much ice and salt as ours. The Karst would never turn his blade against his countrymen!"

Sasha smiled sadly. "Ban's done so before. So have we. It has to end, Trent. My heart can't bear shedding more southern blood." Sasha leaned forward, his hands on the table. "Which land do you call home, Captain?"

Trent narrowed his eyes. "My home be Ecclesia, my lord."

"No, Trent. What is held sacred in your heart as your one true home?"

Trent swallowed and took in a deep breath. "Altier Nashal."

Sasha nodded. "Our home was broken. We can't let her stay that way, even if that means surrendering the throne, my crown, and our pride. Our land must be made whole again."

Trent turned at the waist to look out of the tent. The echoing call of a horn sounded through the cold air.

"They be here," he said, subdued.

"Aye," Sasha breathed. "Let's get this over with."

As he came around the table, Sasha bumped against it. The mug he'd left behind teetered over and spilled. The inked lines marking the former borders of Altier Nashal faded and were eclipsed by a tide of red. Sasha chastised himself for clumsiness and continued on.

They left the tent together, and a small cadre of armsmen appeared at their sides. A chill wind blew onto the mainland from the south, and it brought with it heavy clouds and a light snowfall. It was said to be a good omen to see snow in summer, especially after a punishing storm season like the one Ecclesia recently endured. But, as Sasha raised a hood over his scarlet hair, he couldn't find much hope in pleasant weather.

I would feel a little better if Her Highness was still on our side, he thought. Won't be long before Aleesh and Althandi go to war, and there's only one place Jin could place herself. It's tragic.

Even so, Sasha mourned the idea of Jin as his enemy, and not only because there were few he feared more in battle. Sasha had been acquainted with nobles and royals all his life, but he'd never known anyone quite like the second princess of Althandor. So high above all around her, yet she placed herself among them. Battle-hardened, but soft-hearted. She was both a terrifying royal assassin and a sensitive young woman. Sasha admired her above even Bannlyth Karst.

Ban could make the world seem gentler, but Jin had made Sasha believe the gentleness could become real. She knew how dark and terrible the world really was, but strove to be righteous despite that. Perhaps because of it. That took a strength Sasha could only dream of possessing.

Wherever you are, Sasha prayed, to no god in particular, be well. Do right. Maybe then, there can be hope for the rest of us, too.

He stopped at the edge of camp, staring down the bottom of the ravine towards a small group of riders. There were seven of them, all in full plate lacquered a dark violet. The paladin behind the lead position carried a standard, a nude selkie upon a black and violet field. Sasha could only imagine how Pacifica and Reyn would react to such imagery.

Sasha could hear Trent grinding his teeth. He gave the captain a light tap on the arm to settle him before taking a step forward out of camp. Raising a hand in greeting, Sasha lowered his hood and called out.

"Hail from Ecclesia, my lord."

The riders reined in a dozen paces from Sasha. The lead knight dismounted, the rest remaining on horseback. None of them raised the visors of their helmets.

At least they haven't pulled steel, Sasha thought ruefully. He took a step closer. "We offer you food and quarter, should it be needed."

The standing knight approached as one other dismounted to join him. The two knights came within arm's reach. Both were a full hand taller than Sasha, both armed and in armor while Sasha had only a half blade on his hip.

After what felt like far too long, both of them raised their visors.

The lead man had a swarthy complexion and a dark red beard left unkempt from weeks on campaign. His eyes were a mottled lavender, not as pure and bright as the famously lovely eyes of his nephew. Lord Kadmus the Valdar had a disapproving frown as he glowered at Sasha.

The other was a touch more groomed and much more familiar. Sasha knew Knight-Captain Atrus Valdar well. The old knight was a veteran of the First Legion, one of the late General Kastus' most trusted officers, and also, the man who was largely responsible for keeping a young prince embedded within the legion safe.

Atrus was an older man, in the latter half of his sixties. His red hair had gone white many years ago, and he no longer possessed the solid build of his youth. Still, Atrus remained an imposing figure in full plate. Any intimidation in his bearing was belied somewhat by the brief but fond look that passed in and out of his eyes when they landed on Sasha.

"I just need to know one thing," Kadmus said, his voice stern and hard like iron.

Sasha mastered his expression and gave the Valdar his full attention. "My lord?"

"Will you finally fall into line, or will the Alliance have to march on Ecclesia?"

It was a testament to Sasha's restraint that he didn't snarl. "That's why I'm here. To negotiate terms."

Kadmus scoffed and looked past Sasha, as if he were beneath notice. "Let's get this over with."

Without anything resembling pleasantries or manners, Kadmus stepped past Sasha and stalked into the Lost Company's camp. His riders dismounted but otherwise remained where they were. It looked like they didn't expect this to be a long visit.

A heavy sigh preceded Atrus stepping up to Sasha and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Don't mind that lout cousin of mine," he said quietly. "Putting on airs, because he thinks that's what a leader looks like. You've gotten worse than that from better men than him."

Sasha turned towards Atrus. "Isn't he your king?"

Atrus blew out his lips and rolled his eyes. "Kings are a thing of the past, or so he likes to say. Even gave up the crown he claimed in the east. All very sudden, but not too far from the wild fancies that often take the men of our house." He met Sasha's eye with an appraising look. "Even so, he's the head of House Valdar, and that makes my duty plain. You know that as well as anyone. But, setting that all aside for a moment, it's good to see you again, Sasha."

It was a little easier to breathe. Sasha inclined his head. "And you, Captain. I always valued your training."

"Didn't stop you from deserting the First Legion," Atrus growled, but it had no real bite behind it.

The old knight was as cantankerous as a medhved bear with a thorn in its snout, but he was level-headed and always a patient instructor. Sasha had learned much of what it meant to be a paladin at Atrus' feet.

Atrus gestured towards Kadmus' back. "Well, my lord, might as well get this sorted. Must say, I for one am glad we'll be putting this ugliness behind us and finally getting our nation on the right track. Will be an honor to fight beside you again."

"Agreed, Captain," Sasha said.

He signaled for Trent and the armsmen to form up and follow them into the camp. As they walked, Sasha looked ahead at the lone figure of Kadmus, striding through the camp of an— until now— hostile force as if he already owned it. It was frustrating that he more or less did.

For the moment, Sasha thought darkly. He let his eyes narrow as they followed his soon-to-be liege.

That was the plan, after all. Enfri had a task for Sasha that only he could carry out, one of a number of similar plans taking place throughout the Five Kingdoms. Sasha, Enfri, and four others knew the true plan for Kadmus the Valdar.

Vega, Sasha thought, seething with the hatred of knowing one of the most deadly enemies of humanity was within his sight. We know you for what you really are, demon.

What Atrus said only confirmed it. There'd been a change in Kadmus' actions, one that came with the new drive to unite the former Altieri houses. Sasha knew, just as he knew the assistance lent to the Gaulatians was only a performance, a ploy for gaining influence and power. Kadmus' true motivations, Vega's motivations, were obvious to anyone who knew that demons walked among mortals.

I will expose you to your Alliance, Sasha resolved, and then...

The old masters wanted to destroy the world Sasha lived in and loved. To save the world, the demons needed to be stopped. That was the task Enfri asked of Sasha. It was what Sasha was going to do at any cost.

And then, I will kill you.

oOo

"Jin, how kind of you to come."

Vintus turned from the overlook above the boulevard and smiled. A viper's smile, bereft of any trace of familial warmth. His skin was deathly pale, near white, and his eyes gone black as sin. Dark veins traced the contours of his face and down his neck, like they were filled with something more foul than mere blood.

He was a corpse. Undead. A revenant.

A shiver threatened to trace up Jin's spine at the thought of such a creature existing. Undead were a myth. Lifeless abominations were never supposed to exist, not while a god of death shepherded departed souls towards the Beyond.

The god Hasanvor was a lie. He was Antares, a demon ascended to godhood. His saint was the final statement of how utter his betrayal to humanity really was.

Jin came to the top of the stairs. Her sword was in hand and held at the ready. She looked from Vintus, to Algol, to Kai, and then to Tarim before coming back. "Uncle. You've looked healthier."

The viper's grin widened to show his teeth. Vintus chuckled, then threw back his head to roar with laughter. "Oh, Jin, I have missed you. Everyone thinks you come across like a block of stone, but I always saw the dry wit behind your words." His eyes narrowed, but the smile remained. "Shame I sent killers after you. It broke my heart to do it. It truly did."

Jin felt blood rush to her head, threatening to make her dizzy. The anger was sudden and undeniable. How much had she lost because of Vintus' scheming? By sending Garret and Elise to kill her, by letting her believe it had been her father behind it, Vintus destroyed almost all chance Jin had of being with her family. Even if his sins against her ended there, it would be enough to want to drive her sword through his cold, dead heart. But it didn't end there.

"Roan," Jin whispered.

Vintus leaned forward and cupped a hand to his ear. "Hmm? What's that? Speak up, Niece."

Algol turned his hooded head to look back before returning to his gaze to the carnage below. The demon didn't care for any of this. Kai had weapons bared and stood facing Jin, watching her every move. Tarim seemed torn between doing the same and hiding her face, but there didn't appear to be even a glimmer of recognition, like she couldn't remember comforting Jin when she cried as a girl or laughing in seamstress' galleries while choosing gowns. A stranger.

"You have something you want to say to me?" Vintus asked mockingly.

So much to say. Jin had no memory of her brother, because Vintus' henchmen botched their mission and killed him in his crib. There was a hole in Jin's heart where a brother should have been.

"Irrelevant," Jin said. "You know already."

"Hmm... I suppose I do. Anything else, or shall we finish this right now?"

Jin's eyes flickered to Kai. If it was just him or Vintus alone, she wouldn't be worried. With both, it was another matter. Tarim was a threat as well, and none of them likely approached the danger Algol himself posed.

Maya is coming, she thought. Stall.

"There is one thing," Jin said. She subtly drew out her words, took advantage of the pauses between sentences. She bought every moment she could. "I would like to know, Uncle, in your own words, why you have turned on your family. Why have you sold yourself to the old masters?"

Vintus waved a hand, dismissive. "The question is wrong."

Jin hated that she sometimes said the same thing. "Explain yourself. You owe me that much."

"You think I've turned on my family? Who do you think I'm doing this for?" He spread his arms to indicate the city around them. "All of this... everything... was for House Algara."

Jin advanced a step and kept her sword raised. "You must understand I would be skeptical."

"True enough. It hasn't remained that way, I'll admit, but you must believe me when I say I began my crusade to save our family. When Hasanvor first whispered to me as his saint, I didn't want to believe. I liked things the way they were, Jin, but you should know better than anyone that nothing mortals create can last forever."

Jin sidestepped so that her back was no longer to the stairs. More room to maneuver her footwork, less chance of suffering a fall. Dashar favored using unstable terrain to his advantage, and Kai would fight like him. Best to minimize the chance he'd shove her down a flight of stairs.

Vintus watched her reposition with an amused look. He allowed her to do so while he continued to justify himself. "The doom comes. That is what Hasanvor told me, again and again. I had a choice, Jin. I could fight futilely against it, as you are doing, or I could serve him and ensure my loved ones a place in Paradise."

Jin felt her lip twist in disgust. "I am to believe you betrayed us all to save us?"

"Well, yes, actually." Vintus nodded. "That's exactly right."

"Even Josy?"

Finally, the smile faltered. "Not everything goes as we want it to. Sacrifices are necessary."

"You groomed her to be your berserker," Jin snarled. "You left her with men who would as soon force themselves on her as kill her, and still you say it was for her own good?"

Vintus' tone darkened. "Just look at the results. She is a fine warrior, now."

"She is your daughter!" Jin shouted.

"And she fails to live up to that," Vintus sneered. "Her brother, also. The boy was always more than a touch off, but I had hopes for the girl. Imagine my despair when both sided with my idiot brothers. Lacking vision. Lacking foresight. Lacking resolve!" He thrust a finger forward to point accusingly at Jin. "I can do what is necessary to preserve a portion of humanity into the final era. I will save what can be saved. Get on your knees and thank the old masters for allowing such a mercy. They are the true gods of this world, and I am blessed to receive their love!"

"Antares made you into an undead corpse," Jin growled, "but you were already a monster long before you ever heard him."

"You are the only monster here," Vintus snarled. "You have the gall to say I am a traitor when that's all you've done for the last year. There's not a soul on the Continent you haven't turned on in some way, but please, go on and tell me more about how I am a traitor."

Jin grit her teeth. "The goodfolk have a saying," she said. Jin forced herself to match his viper's smile. "I believe it is 'takes one to know one', or something along those lines."

Vintus' smile dropped and turned into a mask of rage. "You little bitch. Have an answer for everything, don't you?"

Jin scoffed. "I cannot imagine why you would say that like it is a fault."

"I am Hasanvor's chosen!" he screamed. "The Lord of Bones blessed me as his saint! You are nothing next to me, yet you dare lecture? You're weak! Worthless! A useless child lacking any worthwhile skill in magic, but you think you can stand there and act superior? To me? Know your place, wretch. Hasanvor will..."

A hand with four fingers pressed down on Vintus' shoulder. The ranting tirade stopped as surely as if the demon had slit Vintus' throat.

"Calm," Algol rasped. "Our brother's chosen must calm himself."

Vintus straightened but didn't look directly towards Algol. "As you command, my lord."

"Our brother's chosen is in error," Algol continued. He removed his hand and placed a finger to where his lips would be underneath the hood. "He speaks an incorrect name. A misconception, but we can forgive this one. The chosen was taught to know one name, but the name is the misconception. Our brother is not Hasanvor. Do us a kindness and speak rightly. Speak our brother's true name."

Vintus nodded. His black eyes returned to Jin and burned with fury. "Antares."

Jin didn't have the words to describe her anger. There may have been a sonnet she heard once that fully conveyed her abject hate for her uncle, but she couldn't summon it to mind. But that didn't matter, because it was a pleasure to know when one's wants and duties were in perfect alignment. Jin hated Vintus. She wanted to destroy him.

Not possible, she thought as her mind raced through her training. Outnumbered. Outmatched. Options? Retreat. Only viable course of action. Kai is faster than me. A revenant's abilities unknown. Assume Vintus is faster, too. Algol unconcerned, Tarim inconsequential. Kai and Vintus the immediate threats. Mistake to come alone. Maya is not here. Her power can tip the balance. Not enough without Maya.

Her frantic, mechanical thoughts were interrupted by a second. It pushed through to the forefront of her awareness. I did not come to seek an Eidolon. I came for you.

It was the voice that burned. As it flashed into her mind like embers falling on dry paper, Jin winced with the strength of it. She felt it behind her, its fangs near her nape. Jin saw Vintus narrow his eyes in the same moment, peering at her with incredulity.

"Not now," Jin murmured under her breath.

When else? It must be now. You must listen.

Vintus' eyes widened, and his cruel smile returned. "Oh, I don't believe it. If that doesn't just make everything perfect, nothing will."

Jin tried to force the burning voice back. Failing that, ignore it. She raised her sword into a high guard, preparing to make a fighting withdrawal. An image came to mind, one she had no context or experience to explain.

A single flame. A candle flame, encased within a teardrop diamond.

She now had Algol's attention. The demon faced her, head tilted to the side as if he were scrutinizing a piece of merchandise. Kai looked to Vintus in confusion, and Tarim appeared to be just as much in the dark as the doppler.

"Ah," Algol rasped. "This is that which we never could truly understand. The power our brother turned against them with his chosen. It has manifested yet again." He made a sound that could only have been him clucking his tongue. "Annoying."

Jin couldn't understand. The burning voice urged her to focus, but who could focus with fangs poised to snap her neck? She felt she could hear Gara screaming at her as well, but the words were lost in the rising flames of the intruder.

YOU MUST LISTEN!

It echoed within her skull, and Jin staggered. The voice swelled, splitting off into hundreds of lesser voices. She could hear them tumbling over each other in a bid to be heard above the others. Each one insistent. Desperate.

I never wanted this, one among them said before being eclipsed by others. What do I do? There's so many of them. I'm scared. It's going to kill me. Save me. Let him be alright. Please, don't let it hurt her anymore. I want to see Papa again. Be well. Do right. If it can be done, she'll see it done. Can we beat something like this? Where did they come from? Someone save us, please! HOLD ON, JIN, I'M COMING!

Jin's eyes snapped open, finding familiarity in one of the multitudes. "Maya?"

Vintus stepped towards her, his amusement turning to disgust. "Yes, my lord. Most annoying. Their gods have gone and blessed another saint."