Derzina hurried to the palace only to slow when she saw that it was deserted. Neither Mostanto or a single Paladin of Inea remained, leaving the structure entirely unguarded. Confused, Derzina pushed the door open to find Inea sitting on the stairs below her throne. She still wore her armour, though she’d removed her helmet and weapons. The goddess glanced up as Derzina entered, her expression lifeless.

“Have you come to pick the bones of my reign?” she asked. “Because you’re too late, there’s nothing left for you to steal.”

“I’m truly sorry for what happened, this was never my intention.” When Inea just stared despondently at the floor in lieu of replying, Derzina continued, “I know it must have been terrible for you, but the worst is behind us. Now we can work together and defend the city.”

“There’s nothing left that’s worth defending, this city is doomed. Even if you defeat the demons, it will only end up a ruin. Though I doubt you’ll even get that far with that traitor on your side, he’ll stab you in the back the first chance he gets. Just like he did with me.”

Though Derzina had hardly expected Inea to be pleased at losing control of her city, she hadn’t expected her to take it quite so hard. The goddess seemed practically a shell of her former self. Most of what they had done was right and yet Derzina found that she pitied Inea. Even if the goddess’ pride had overtaken her better sense, there was still good in her; she didn’t deserve to be broken like this.

Derzina dearly wished she could comfort Inea, for all the good that it was likely to do, but there simply wasn’t time for wallowing in self-pity. Much as it pained her to do so, she needed Inea to get it together and work to protect the city. If she had been dealing with a mortal, Derzina likely would have allowed herself a gentler hand, but gods had to be held to a higher standard. Especially when there was so much at stake.

“Is that it then?” Derzina asked. “You’re forced to give up control of the city, so you abandon it altogether? The people who live here are still yours to defend; you have a responsibility, just like all the other gods. You can either live up to that or accept that whatever the flaws of Gorthar and Xanathel, you are the worst of them by far.”

“Then so be it. If the people of this city don’t want me anymore, then the ungrateful creatures can burn for all I care. To think that they would turn on me after all I’ve done for them over the years, even my own followers turned their backs on me.”

Derzina could scarcely believe what she was hearing, where had Inea gotten such an impression? “They’ve done no such thing. I can’t speak for the rest of Brtet’s people, but your Paladins still believe in you. They even went so far as to try to stop Gorthar as he approached your palace, one of them nearly died for it.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Inea said, angrily. “I was humiliated out there, no one will want to follow me now. What faith could they possibly have in such a pathetic goddess?”

To Derzina’s dismay, she saw that even after Inea’s defeat their pride still rendered them blind to the world. For all their efforts, it seemed the city’s former ruler had learnt nothing. Anger rose within Derzina, at Inea, the other gods who had brought them to this situation and herself; they had all behaved like fools.

“No one thinks you’re pathetic for being defeated by Gorthar. If there’s anything that will make them think that about you, it’s abandoning your people when they need you most.”

Appealing to Inea’s pride seemed the only way to salvage anything from the situation, distasteful a method as it was. “Even if they don’t respect you now, if you defend them from the demons; I’m certain that they will love you more than ever.”

“I’m sure they will,” Inea said, “for a time. But how long until they cast me aside yet again? I would rather leave Brtet to its deserved fate and seek out a new home, one where I shall be shown the respect I deserve. One where my supposed allies, such as Xanathel and yourself, do not work against me at every opportunity.”

“Do you truly care nothing for your subjects and the city you spent more than a century building with them?” Derzina asked, in disbelief. “You’re content to leave all that to be destroyed?”

Inea’s hands dropped into her lap and she sat there for a while before replying, “No, I suppose not. What happened out there will torment me for the rest of my days, but so would abandoning these people. However undeserving of my help they may be.”

Derzina’s relief was such that she felt a little unsteady at the sudden flood; Inea had seen sense at last. “I thank you for your benevolence on behalf of the entire city. Even if your people forget all else that you have done for them, they shall remember this; I swear it.”

“We shall see. If you misliked my reign, I doubt you shall find Xanathel’s any more agreeable.”

Seeing little sense in putting much stock in Inea’s hateful view, Derzina simply nodded along. “Now that you’ve agreed to defend the city, do you mind we use your palace as our headquarters?”

“You may as well, it’s of little use for anything else now.”

“Good, then I and the others shall see you again soon to begin the planning. Araveena should be along shortly.”

When Inea didn’t reply, Derzina simply left the goddess to her thoughts and walked out of the palace. If she stayed much longer, it was only a matter of time before she said something to upset Inea and undo all the progress she’d made. Inea’s arrogant self-centred nature was already getting on Derzina’s nerves, and it could only get worse. Best that she saved her patience for the meditation between gods that was sure to be required if they were all to work together.

Taking advantage of a chair near the entrance to the palace gardens, Derzina sat back and relaxed. There would likely be little opportunity for her to do so in the coming days, so now seemed a good opportunity to take a breather.

Though the path they’d taken to reach this point was far from ideal, it had turned out well enough in the end. All the gods and the wizard working together offered the best chance they had of defeating Meztraxia. As crushing as their ultimate failure would be, assuming she survived it, she could take some solace in having done her utmost to achieve victory.

For the first time in her life, Derzina felt truly satisfied. She had done the memory of Ortesia proud, even if no one else from Ortesion was left to witness it. That her goddess would never know of all she had done after the city fell brought her a pang of sadness, but she refused to let herself get caught up in such thinking. She still had a duty to fulfil, whether she liked it or not.

Taking in the greenery around her, Derzina found the gardens a far more tranquil place without Mostanto pestering her. In hindsight the measures he’d taken to demonstrate Inea’s tyranny felt ridiculous, but she couldn’t fault him for his intentions. The city could only improve from here, now that control was more evenly distributed. For all Inea’s complaints, they were sure to reach an equilibrium soon. It likely meant there’d be fewer places of beauty such as the gardens, but it was a small price to pay for the security and prosperity of Brtet’s people.

Whilst in the midst of enjoying the sunshine and her verdant surroundings, Derzina was interrupted by a voice in her head.

“I have returned,” Atasimon said, quiet and insubstantial like a whisper on the wind.

“At last,” Derzina said, filled with joy. “It’s most wonderful to have you back; I was beginning to worry that you would not return before Meztraxia arrived.”

“It was a near thing, I narrowly avoided not returning at all.”

“What happened? Did you expend too much of your power?”

“That was a part of it, calling out to Meztraxia as I did required almost all of it. In my weakened state I was very nearly drawn to the part of me trapped within the heart.”

“I’m most glad that you were able to avoid such a fate, I would hate to have lost you, and Meztraxia is powerful enough without having access to your full strength.”

Atasimon laughed. “Much as my vanity appreciates the compliment, even if he had all my power it would make little difference given how much he already possesses.”

“Still, Brtet can use all the aid it can muster. Especially your sage advice.”

“I don’t know how much of that I’ll be able to offer, but I shall try. What has happened in my absence? You appear to be having an easy time of things.”

“It has been a most trying time in your absence,” Derzina said. “The conflict between your son and Inea came close to open war within the city. For a time, I feared Inea might even be slain, but we were somehow able to make the best of things. Now the city is united and as ready to face Meztraxia as it can be, especially with your return.”

“It seems I missed much. I would very much have liked to witness how you turned this near disaster into such a miraculous victory, but no matter, I congratulate you on having done so well on your own. Hopefully we shall have the same luck against the Demon Lord and his army.”

Such luck was probably too much to hope for, but Derzina was sure Atasimon knew that just as well as she did. “The gods and Araveena shall be meeting in the palace later today to plan the city’s defence and I had thought to join them, what do you think?”

“I think that wise. You should be able to help keep the peace amongst them as well tell them what you know of Meztraxia and his army.”

“Would you be willing to do the same? You likely have more insight to share than I. Or would that be asking too much, drained as you are?”

“I can handle speech, if required, though little more. Luring him here and advising how best to defeat him is about all I can offer to the war effort.”

Much as Derzina hoped it wouldn’t be necessary, it was reassuring to have Atasimon’s support once more.

“Then that shall have to suffice, you’ve already done a great deal to help. I would have died along with the rest of my city if it weren’t for you.” Derzina’s eyes misted as the gratitude within her overflowed. “Thank you for that and everything else, I’m so glad that you’re back.”

“I only did what I had to, but you’re welcome.”

Pleasure brought a little life back to Atasimon’s voice but not much, she still sounded as if she might vanish at any moment. Not wishing to overtax the goddess, Derzina suppressed her excitement and allowed her partner to rest.