Chapter 1.29

Karson

The doorway was the most fascinating magic I’d seen to date. It was divine magic, an easily an order of magnitude in strength above anything I could cast. But how it interacted with mana at a basic level, and how Chaos was woven in to make a passageway, was fascinating. When I passed through, I found myself in a cold, stone room. The room was massive, like a basketball arena but without the bleachers or gym equipment. Yet despite its size and complete lack of windows, the room was cozily lit from sources I couldn’t find. I had no problems seeing everything around.

The far end of the room held a massive throne made out of giant bones. Thick wolf furs covered it, giving it a primal look. Upon the throne was a dark Titan. It wasn’t that his features were dark; it was more that the figure was permanently in the shadows, making it impossible to make out what he looked like. Surrounding him were souls of all varieties.

“This is the Titan Erebrus’ throne room, in the Realm of the Dead, also called Erebrus,” came Hades’ voice in my ear. “Did you like my little doorway spell?”

“I.. yes, very much,” I replied. “I hope you don’t mind, it’s given me ideas for future spells.”

“Not at all,” said Hades, walking next to me. “Come, walk this way. I have a place we can speak.”

Hades led me out of the throne room where Erebrus was holding court, and up into a tower. At the top of the tower was a much cozier room. The walls were lined with thick carpets of embroidered wool, and rugs covered the floors. A massive bed lay in one corner, piled with blankets, and a small golden throne occupied the wall opposite. Upon the bed lay two of the winged women, undressed and asleep, tangled with each other and under a silk coverlet.

Without a word, Hades took her throne, and it suited her. She was regal and imposing, radiating with power. I stood before her, but was offered no seat.

“So I bring you here, to the heart of my power,” said Hades. “My home is at the heart of Erebrus, yet I am fated to rule in his stead. He knows this, yet does nothing to move against me.”

“Why? Is he so resigned to his fate?” I asked.

“He is one of the Primordial Gods. His power may only be handed over willingly. I will only rule when he chooses to surrender it. I am no threat to him, nor does he care for the wars of Gods and Titans.”

“So your final words to Menoetius?”

“Were meant for Kronos’ spies, as a misdirection. No doubt he searches even now for how he can stop my ascension.”

“No offense, Hades, but why are you telling me all of this?”

Hades smiled a chilling smile. “You and your brother meddle in the affairs of gods. You have Chaos in your soul, and walk the Path. It has been a long time since I’ve had a proper Harbinger to anchor me. Your plans for vengeance mesh nicely with my goals of ruling the mortal realm.”

“Won’t Zeus and Poseidon take issue with that goal?” I asked.

Hades shrugged. “I will let my fool brothers believe what they wish. Zeus doesn’t wield half the strength I do. Poseidon is mighty but loves only the sea.”

“And as a Harbinger, what would I do?”

“Follow your path, but dedicate your victories to me. You will gain in power from this, and I gain a presence on the mortal plane.”

“I don’t understand. You’ll just give me more power?”

“In return for a favor,” conceded Hades. “One of my favorite furies has been captured. She’s the younger sister of my beloved, Tisiphone.” Hades pointed to the bed. “And a dear companion to my beloved, Mageira. Find her and free her, and you shall find me a great ally.”

“So I free Alecto, and we’re allies?” I nodded. I could do this. For more power to fight my enemies? I would need every edge I could get.

“You are better informed than I expected, Child of Chaos. You will be formidable. How did you know of Alecto’s capture?”

“I didn’t,” I admitted. “But my world knew of only three furies, and two of them are in that bed.”

Hades looked at me sharply. I had admitted to being from another world, I realized. “How did you escape the Chaos?” she asked.

“Prometheus fished us out before we were destroyed,” I admitted. “He said we would never meet him again.”

“That only reaffirms my selection,” said Hades. “None have the foresight of Prometheus. If he placed you here, it is for a reason.”

“But isn’t he a Titan, the enemy?”

“And there is the typical mortal mindset,” said Hades with a sigh. “You know that all Titans are gods, as gods of our generation are all Titans? Not all choose sides the same, not all are involved, and some, like Prometheus, will only reveal their allegiance once a clear winner is rising.”

“Okay, so I rescue Alecto, and I become your Harbinger?”

“Indeed,” said Hades.

“We have a deal,” I said. “Any thoughts on where to start?”

“Alecto was last seen near Eritium, between your location and Mount Olympus. I bid you good fortune in your hunt.”

Then Hades held up a purple gem to me, roughly an inch across and shaped like an oval. I took it from her. It was cool in my hands.

“What is this?”

“The answer to a question,” she said. Then with a wave of her hand, a Doorway appeared behind me.

“Hades? Did you find her?” came a sleepy voice from the bed.

“Not yet, Tisi, dear. Go back to sleep,” said Hades in a gentle whisper.

“Come to bed, love. It’s late.”

“I’ll be along shortly.”

I waved goodbye to the goddess, and stepped through the Doorway. I looked back as Hades stood, watching me leave. The Doorway closed, and I was back in the madness of the ruined town of Assos. Ax and the Vanguard were busy shifting rubble to rescue survivors. Exadius, the rescued slaves, and the young family were trying to assist the wounded as best they could.

Zahra came and hugged me, but didn’t ask me about my talk. In fact, no one did. It was as if I hadn’t spoken to the goddess at all. But I had no time to dwell on this. I instead threw myself into healing. Zahra and Antiope acted as triage, guiding me to the most seriously wounded.

I healed broken bones, deep flesh wounds, and concussions. My magic stitched up flesh, healed crushed and pulverized bodies, and fixed failing organs. As midnight approached, we were approaching the point where Ax either had to commit to staying, or had to leave. If he were here in the morning, doubtless that Dadaces, or his replacement if he died, would conscript us, or at least our men, into helping permanently.

After my conversation convincing Ax to leave, I returned to my healing. I had never pushed myself or my magic for so long or so hard. With Zahra and Antiope’s help, we worked our way through town. Everywhere it was the same story. Building after building lay crushed into rubble, and only rarely were survivors being pulled out. People that had stayed in the street had been victims of the gigantes and cynocephali that had broken through the gate, but those that had hidden in buildings had been subject to the battle between two gods. There had been no good place to be during the battle.

I spotted Dadaces several times, guiding work crews in digging through rubble, sometimes pulling out survivors, sometimes not. There were dozens of dazed survivors, wandering around looking for loved ones or frantically digging in one building or another. Everywhere were injured people. I healed axe wounds and blunt damage from clubs, arrow wounds and talon cuts. The bodies of gigantes and harpies were intermixed with the dead townsfolk, and I had no doubt the field outside the town was littered with the dead, as well. Hades’ army had destroyed the invaders, after all.

Throughout the next day and evening, I worked until I could move no more. As evening approached, Danae and the Vanguard escorted us back up the hill to the house. It was no longer empty. It had become the hospital and temporary headquarters for Dadaces. But the Vanguard had scrounged up enough supplies for a rough campsite out behind the building. A piece of canvas served as a roof, and our traveling cloaks made do as blankets. I slept hard, with Zahra using my chest as a pillow.

The next morning, Zahra led me to the bathing area. Once again, she had me sit in the tub and bathed me. This time, however, she slid into the tub behind me. I felt the soft swell of her bare breasts against my back.

“Karsos?” she said, her face resting against my back.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Would you consider taking me to wife?”

“I would,” I answered. “But why me?”

Zahra sighed. “At first, I was intrigued because you were immune to my power. It was refreshing to let me guard down, even if only for a little while, and be a normal person.”

“And then?” I prompted.

“And then I saw how dedicated you were to your people, even if you were using them as a means to an end. I understand your goals, and know how it might end. But spending time with you has made me happy.”

I turned in the tub, and Zahra moved to cover herself. But I caught her hands and looked her in the eyes. “You make me happy, too. I will gladly marry you.”

Zahra looked uncertain. “Even though I am an Oracle?”

“Why would that matter to me?” I asked.

“Because… never mind,” she said hastily. “Then I shall join your House and be your loyal wife.”

“And we shall work together, for our own mutual happiness, and I shall be your loyal husband.”

Zahra kissed me then, pulling herself fully into my lap with her legs wrapped around me. “Be gentle, I have not done this before.”

And I was. We eased up onto the edge of the tub and slowly, gently made love. We had little time for a drawn out lovemaking session, especially in the midst of everything. But we took time enough to feel our connection grow stronger. I was falling in love with this woman, if I hadn’t already, and she with me. It blunted my urgency for revenge, soothed my anger enough to make it bearable. It helped to know that she would be at my side as I crushed the Cult of Asphalion, much as Ax had Latona.

Some time later, we dressed and went around to the front of the house. Someone had set up cookfires for stew, so we ate breakfast before seeking out the Strategos. He found us before we could find him.

“Lord Karsos, Lady Zahra,” said Dadaces. “I would speak with you.”

“Strategos,” I said with a nod, and the three of us walked off to one side.

“As I suspected when I first saw the damage, Assos is utterly ruined,” he said sadly. “I expect Tekmon to be in ruins, as well.”

“So you think to go to Iolcus?”

“Your brother did make the offer,” said Dadaces. “I intend to continue searching for survivors for the next few days, before switching to a salvage operation. I’ve sent people out to the outlying farms, to bring in the farmers and what harvest they’ve made, and failing that, at least recover wagons and oxen.”

“I never managed to keep count. How many survivors do we have?”

“I would say we have easily lost three-quarters of the townspeople,” said Dadaces, grim lines engraved in his face. He hadn’t seemed so old a few days ago. “So we have around five hundred people, give or take.”

“The granaries in town should still hold significant amounts of food,” I offered. “And likely most of it is unspoilt, if it was in crates and sacks.”

“Yes, that is one of the small favors. Another is that the vault in the Megaron is untouched, meaning we probably have twenty talents of silver and gold to help us when we get to Iolcus. They are unlikely to be friendly to five hundred refugees approaching without appropriate… remuneration.”

“How can we be of assistance in this?”

“If you and your Vanguard can assist in the salvage operation, it would be very helpful. I am organizing work crews, food crews, and wagon teams. My surviving militia will be digging in the armory for weapons. We found a small cache of arrowheads left here in the house that will come in handy, as well.”

He looked at me to see if I’d object, but I said nothing. Instead, I said, “We would be happy to help.”

From down the hill, I could hear the sounds of horses climbing the incline. I turned to see twenty horse with riders making their way up the hill, careful to avoid running into any of the dispossessed townsfolk. All of the riders wore armor and cloaks, and almost all carried swords and spears. Out of habit, I put my helmet on and checked my armor. Zahra did the same, her bow in hand and an arrow ready.

Dadaces stepped forward with the arrogance borne of nobility.

“Who are you, and why are you here?” he demanded.

The two lead riders removed their helmets. The one to the right was a young girl who wore a rich peplos, dyed with purple and red and with a thick purple cloak tied to her bronze armor. The armor itself was inlaid with silver, much like Dadaces’. Her brown hair curled down her back, slightly flattened from the helmet. She was pretty, and probably royalty of some sort.

But it was the one to the right who truly caught my attention. I couldn’t quite believe my eyes. She had short cropped hair and a strong jaw, one I’d seen many times before. I didn’t need to see her out of armor to know that she was incredibly fit, and knew without a doubt that she was dangerous.

Before anyone could say a word, I looked up at her and said, “Cris? Cris Murphy?”