285. Of gambles, uncertainties and a little party

Cassandra Pendragon

Heavens, I was drained. It had been worth it, though. With a tired smile I rose from the last artefact, the elves had prepared, a single silvery spark dancing through the tightly woven strands of energy until it dissipated. With a sigh, I dropped the enchanted, blood red gem into the clear, blue waters and watched it sink to the bottom. How long it would last was anyone's guess but I'd have put my money on… eternity. Long enough to outlast Free Land, at any rate. Now all I had to do was face the crowd, most of us had been trying to whip up, ever since last night.

"You've done well," Ahri mumbled at my side, her eyes drooping. She was just as exhausted as I was.

"We, we have done well… I wouldn't have managed without you." I pulled her closer and kissed the dome of her head gently. "One last effort… will you stay with me?"

"Until the end. You'll simply have to carry me, should I fall asleep." I chuckled softly.

"If you start snoring, I'll follow suit. I can't remember ever feeling this tired."

"Mental exhaustion," she slurred drowsily. "We've been using our powers for hours on end." Bleary eyed she looked around, a faint smile tugging on the corners of her mouth. "But so help me, we've created a paradise, haven't we?" Indeed we had.

What had been a desolate, charred square with crumbling houses a few hours earlier had turned into… sluggish as my mind was, I couldn't come up with a proper simile, but it sure looked like a place from a fairytale to me. Under the rising sun, lush emerald green grass spread out around an azure pond, overshadowed by a ring of tall, ancient looking cherry trees. The sweet and earthy smell of herbs tickled my nose while I watched stands of rosemary and thyme, cilantro and feverfew rustle in the gentle breeze. They had grown overnight, quite literally, the waters of the pond easily potent enough to coax a healthy plant from a seed within a few hours.

Which should also explain why the both of us were this close to keeling over. While our friends had spent the rest of the night searching for the wounded and the desperate, inviting everyone from malnourished slaves to maimed soldiers to come to the square at midday, Aspera, Astra, Lyra, Aurelia, Viyara and Erya, alongside the most capable spell casters my brother had brought along, had toiled away, creating the shells for a myriad of artefacts to produce… well, water. It wasn't exactly the garden variety, though. With a bit of ingenuity, hourlong discussions, the combined knowledge of kitsune, fey, elves and dragons, the deep blue liquid, lazily feeding the plants around the pond, had become something more. It could heal and invigorate, restore and cleanse, almost like the fabled elixir of life. It couldn't bring back the dead, though. None of us were knowledgable enough to even guess what kind of magic would be necessary for such a feat. Maybe one day. As long as the soul hadn't rejoined the cycle, it should be possible.

Anyways, after a longwinded explanations of dos and donts, which had been even more tiresome, thanks to the copious amounts of alcohol most of us were still dealing with, the verdict had been unanimous. Creating a structure to theoretically facilitate what I had had in mind was possible, but there wasn't enough magic on this continent to fuel the artefacts needed for any extended period of time. Even Viyara had been forced to admit that the hunger of such a creation would devour her within minutes. Luckily, Ahri and I were a bit more… resilient. Hence, while our friends had prepared the spells, we had provided the necessary energy, which, in turn, had also meant that we had been forced to douse the materials in our blood. Otherwise they would have shattered the very moment we'd have tried to activate them. Long story short, we had spent the last hours either being cut to the quick or pouring our considerable stores of power into one gem or the other. By now, all of them rested safely at the bottom of the pond, imbuing the waters around them with fantastic, almost unimaginable properties. Now, all we had to do was wait until it had spread far and wide. And make sure the rules we had in mind wouldn't be ignored.

My idea had been a simple one, really. If the Captains weren't willing to play fair, than we'd have to change the game. If they weren't needed anymore, they could go swim with the sharks, for all I cared. In my mind, emancipating the subjugated people of Free Land, giving them a chance to survive and fight on their own, would be enough. For that, they'd need food, water, a way to cure their diseases and a chance to grow. The grove we had created would provide all that and more. 

Unfortunately it'd be worth squat, if someone simply took over and utilised it as another leash to get the people to heel. Someone would have to guard it, protect the source. Luckily, I knew just the woman, old, wise, tough as nails and without scruples to shed blood, should it ever become necessary. And, with more than half of Madame Sinis' boys and girls, lining up with a pretty smile to be turned, Alassara had everything she'd need to make it happen.

"How do you think my brothers and the dwarfs fared," I asked while we allowed ourselves a few minutes of rest beneath the blooming branches. When I closed my eyes, I almost felt at home. The verdant earth beneath my fingers, the rustling leaves overhead, the peaceful, quiet atmosphere and the smell of magic and nature, it all reminded me of Boseiju. Tired as I was, I couldn't quite suppress the melancholic warmth, tinged with sadness, rising in my chest.

A lazy smirk appeared on Ahri's face as she replied: "I imagine the better question would be how those fared, who tried to deny them." She was referring to the slave owners. While most soldiers had been lost, either when the fleet had been destroyed or during the ritual, the rich and powerful still kept uncounted men, women and children in chains. Not anymore, though. In the middle of the night they had been roused from their sleep, either facing a disgruntled wall of mithril, looking for an excuse to vent some of their frustration, a result of having been called to duty in the middle of a celebration, or bushy tailed kitsune warriors, all too eager to discuss the finer points of morality and mortality with them. I laughed softly.

"You're right. Do you think they had to kill some of them?" She shrugged uncaringly.

"Probably. Not too many, though. I'm sure most understood the position they are in without excessive use of force. I'm more curious how your newest lady friend fared. It couldn't have been easy for her. I was quite surprised you allowed her to return back home on her own."

"She volunteered and if I had gone with her, there wouldn't have been a chance in hell for her sister to listen. As it is, she might convince her."

"And if Serena decided to blame her? She's got as much of a temper as you."

"If she had touched a single hair on Emilia's head, she'd have been in for a rude awakening. She didn't, though. She loves that girl. More than her own life, maybe. Which makes me wonder how she could even consider Asra's proposal. Something doesn't add up… we'll find out soon enough, though. The Captains are bound to have heard what we're doing. They'll come calling long before the sun reaches its zenith."

"And you'll tell them to return right back to the holes they've crawled out of, won't you?'

"It depends, but most likely I will." I sighed, the tension gradually leaving my limbs. "You know, I had toyed with the idea of visiting the bat tamer, you know, the one who has worked with Amon's alchemist. I just don't see myself getting up in the next hour and by then it'll be too late."

"Your bracelet is still with him, isn't it? He won't get away from us. No need to rush."

"Actually, there is. I don't have that much time left. Three days, provided we can reach the Emerald Island within one."

"You left a bit of your power behind, didn't you? If push comes to shove, we can just go there on our own while everyone else either uses the gates, Captain Dawn mentioned, or simply takes a ship. You promised to return, not to bring an army. We've enough problems as it is, there's no need to conjure them from thin air." She leaned against me, her silky hair tickling my cheek. "What do you think will happen now?" I leisurely caressed her back and took my time to answer.

"We've done the best we can to spread the word. They'll come. Everybody will. I never thought I'd say this, but it's actually a stroke of luck that the Captains mistreated their own people… badly. If they're faced with the choice of returning to how things were or live by themselves, with enough food, medicine, water… and power to last for several lifetimes, I don't think they'll willingly accept their shackles, once again. And there aren't enough warriors left to make them, even if we weren't around. Truth be told, I even expected some to have arrived, already." She chuckled into my shoulder.

"Once they were done with the templates our friends closed the streets leading here. Otherwise we would already have been swarmed by your sister and her friends… or your personal entourage. I think they mean to give us a couple of hours to recharge."

"Do they, now? A pity I'm too tired to take advantage. This much, I can manage though." With an Herculean effort, I manifested my wings and pulled her head into my lap. "Better," I asked.

"Much, but I don't think I can keep my eyes open like this." Indeed, I could already feel her breath deepening, her heartbeat slowing down.

"Then don't. Sleep for a while. You've earned it." She managed to turn her head and open one heavy lidded eye. 

"And you haven't? They'll call for us, if it becomes necessary. Morgan will be here soon, as well. She'll be the first. Join me, Cassy." Almost as an afterthought, she added: "I love you," before she buried her face against my stomach. A moment later she was fast asleep.

"I love you, too. Always have, always will." Against my better judgement, I allowed my head to sink against the trunk behind us and closed my eyes. Only for a second, I reasoned, but before I even knew it, my surroundings melted and changed. The cool darkness turned into swirls of light and sound as I quickly slipped into a world of dreams and memories.

A godsdamned frat party? For the love of god… what was that muscle headed demon up to? First, a bar in space and now… And why the fuck was he on earth again? Admittedly, I owed him for coming when I had called, but this felt like a slap in the face. With a gauntlet.

I almost lost it when a pair of steroid munching blockheads stumbled into me, dumb and drunk as they were. Their insincere apologies, paired with mocking smiles, had me itching for my spear, if only to scare them, but I simply waved them off and made sure to bump into them on the way past. While they were still trying to figure out how they had come to know the floor more intimately than ever before, I congratulated myself wholeheartedly. A few million years and I was almost well mannered. Another few million and I'd even learn how to keep my mouth shut and head down. Gods, I hated the third millennium. The Renaissance had been something, but this… even the music sucked. A thrumming baseline with mangled melodies, simple enough that even a drunk chihuahua could have played them, blindfolded. 

Once I entered the… let's call it house for want of a better word, even though pigsty might have been more appropriate, I was reminded why those songs were immensely popular, though. Just imagining a young, pretty girl grinding away to Mozart or even System of a Down was hilarious. Too bad I wouldn't indulge. Judging form the looks, thrown my way, it might have turned into an entirely lovely evening, if I hadn't felt sick to my stomach even thinking about it.

Shrugging, I relieved the closest boy with a bottle of whiskey of his next bad decision, silencing the impertinent pup with a gaze, and allowed my awareness to spread. About 50 humans and one other immortal, hiding in the basement with an entourage of seven, all of them female. Figures. He was hiding, at the very least, so I wouldn't walk in on an orgy. But still… What the hell was Chaleb up to?

"You'll see in a moment," he sent, well aware of my arrival. "I'll give you a countdown, then you can come down. 98, 97, 96…" if I hadn't been seething already, this surely would have done the trick. I took a deep, calming breath through my nose and iterated my new mantra: you owe him. Don't explode. When I looked up again, I found myself on an island of quiet, the crippled instincts of those around me still acute enough to tell them to stay well away from the pissed off angel. 

Grinding my teeth, I made my way towards the stairs, snaking past tables, laden with beer, and flirting youngsters, while the irritating voice in my mind still counted down. Once I passed the flimsy door and it clicked shut behind me I felt better, less… exposed. I had never been a huge fan of college parties, even though I had gained more than one diploma in the past. 

One couple had decided the thrill of exposure was worth more than the comforts of a bed and were happily making out behind the door, their lips parting with a wet sucking sound when I simply pushed the man… boy out of the way.

"Excuse me," I grumbled, prepared to leave it at that, but the young buck had to mark his territory, of course. He possessively placed his hands on his friend's waist and turned to me.

"What the," he cursed. "Who the fuck are you?" 48, 47, 46…

"Someone who's in a hurry. I'll make it easy for you. You have…" the intoxicated idiot didn't even think twice before he was in my face, our noses inches apart. I sighed. "Sorry, lass. You'll have to find someone else to spend the evening with. It's not much of a loss, though, if you ask me." Before my words could pierce the veil of drugs around the brain dead bozo's mind, my eyes flashed pure silver and I dumped enough mana into him to give a unicorn a headache. He crumpled without a word, his eyes rolling back into his head. The girl stared at me, horrified, her mouth working silently.

"Here," I offered her a heavy gold coin conjured from thin air. When she didn't take it, I dropped it on the boy and added: "he'll be right as rain in a day or two. If you're half as clever as beautiful, you'll have found someone else… someone better by then. If not… well, that's your problem." 24, 23, 22… I glided down the stairs, the old wood creaking beneath my feet.

"What about you," she called after me, her eyes wide as saucers. I chuckled quietly.

"I'm taken and way too old for you. Even for your granny. Ask me again in a couple of centuries." Even though I enjoyed her newest rendition of a fish on dry land immensely, I didn't stay. 15, 14… I reached the bottom of the stairs and another lacquered door. This one came with a plaque, which read: beware, the gates of hell have opened. As if. There was decidedly too little screaming, crying and flying intestines around. Still, my curiosity stirred and I listened for a moment. A clear, sweet voice, which made me picture a pretty girl with wire rimmed glasses, recited:

"… from the earth, we ask for the strength to be heard. From the sea, we ask for the protection to guard our immortal souls and from the moon, we ask for the power to grant our wish. Show yourself and enter the light, spirit we command thee!" 2, 1… oh, fuck me! 

"No need to fly off the rails," Chaleb immediately said. "I just want you to pretend to be the summoned entity. At least for a while. See how the other side lives. It'll be fun."