Marching at full speed, even on Mavrosa, was a strain, the sound of hundreds of pairs of feet slamming down against the ground in almost-unison filling the air, the luggage train creaking along behind. Stathis nudged Mavrosa over towards Janaxia, who was being carried aloft on her disk, supported by a throne. Janaxia looked up at hair, a ruby dangling from a horn, catching the low light. Parth was walking along beside her, keeping up on foot, an arrow nocked in readiness of combat.

She nodded her head at Stathis. ‘Borne on wings of light.’

‘Not right now! I want to keep my strength for the battle. Anything to report.’

‘Thrice-Queen Tel-Qasar has found the corruption.’

‘Are we being formal now? Do we have to?’

Parth shrugged. ‘The elders attend.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘The forms must be attended to.’

‘You don’t seem very enthusiastic about it. Although if it helps distract attention from me, then that’s all to the good, I suppose.’

Janaxia settled into her throne, making herself comfortable. ‘Should I attire myself for battle, or diplomacy? It is important to know these things!’

‘Could you tone down the, uh, everything? Maybe loose the spikes, and the floating black throne? There’s going to be some… awkwardness. It’s going to be awkward not being dead, you being, uh, you, and basically everything else. Quite a few people are going to probably want you dead, because of what happened last time. Remember? When you killed me?’

It seems rather unfair and impolite to bring that up! It was scarcely intended!

‘Well, it didn’t do much to make you any friends. So if you could maybe tone it down? I don’t suppose you could do anything with the horns? They do look a little demonic. And, while I’m sure any allies will be gladly accepted, but it sounds like Zarazonnia survived and has an army herself. So there might be some questions of loyalty?’

‘I’m sure that won’t be a problem. Well, I would hope so, at least. It would perhaps be best not to deploy them directly against her.’

‘Spirits, wrenched from their rest, bound and chained. Revered bodies, desecrated into soldiers.

‘Undead as well? Well, great. Janaxia, this is probably your family. I just really hope your mother is dead.’

Janaxia’s clothing rippled, despite the lack of wind, her forelock throbbing. ‘Yes, I concur. It would be problematic to have to defeat her again. Although with several armies, it might be easier?’

‘Zarazonnia probably isn’t dumb enough to ally with her. So we’ve got her and whoever she’s got with her. Or whatever, if she’s been summoning up demons. I mean, the savage, unthinking ones, not the people-type ones. Plus undead, plus us. Oh, and whatever weird magical stuff that might slip through from outside of the world.’ She took a deep breath, trying to focus her thoughts. There was so much damn stuff to think of all the time! ‘So, firstly – Janaxia, it would be very much appreciated if you could dress yourself in a more military fashion. You’re a spellcaster, so you can get away with robes, but maybe a little more armour, or at least something less… tight? Not that you don’t look good, but if you look more like a soldier, it might help you not stand out quite as much. And maybe tone down the reds and blacks a little?’

‘They are my colours, and well-suited to me.’

‘They are, but they also make you look pretty suspicious. Especially with the throne! At least throw some blankets over it to make it a bit less dodgy-looking.’

Janaxia’s clothing twisted and shifted, the silk dress reshaping itself into trousers and shiny black boots, a tight tunic forming itself over Janaxia’s chest, along with a wide leather belt. It was high-collared, although still quite tight – definitely closer to a dress uniform than a field one! And not one that would pass muster to any drill sergeant, especially with the horns spiralling from her head, still wound about with jewellery.

‘Thank you, that’s better than before. If anyone asks, you’re a sergeant. That should help keep you out of trouble.’

‘That seems rather… low. Considering that I do have command over soldiers myself. That should be at least a major, should it not? Does Parthenelle have a formal rank?’

Parth said something that, by elven standards, was quite brief, before pausing and tilting her head. ‘Major-General?’ She had a look of distaste on her face, the term probably missing a lot of nuance compared to the original elven.

‘I’m not giving you that much authority! You can be a captain, but please don’t actually order anyone in the field. You’ve not got much experience outside of fighting with just us.’

Rank-marks appeared on her epaulettes – surprisingly, they were correct, although the usual golden swirls were silver, with ruby gems at the centre.

‘Well, I suppose that will do. Looks good, and a bit less eye-catching. Just get something to cover up the chair, please? I’ll keep the Sethans at the rear, to try and prevent any confusion in the field. Anyway, Parth, what else did you see? You mentioned another town?’

‘Built around ancient stones and ancient bones. Pulled from their rest. And recent work.’

‘Manufacturing lots of undead? And making them from elven corpses, by the sounds of things? So we’re going to be fighting probably enhanced and customised undead. Pajaran can hopefully help do something about them. Are the other elves going to be able to fight against undead elves?’

‘Ill-fated. But it must be done. A cleansing to be performed.’

‘Good. Uh, Parth, have you been able to speak to the other elves then?’

‘A battle. A war, from the heavens to the earth.’

‘Yeah, the end times, apocalypse, I get it. I’m rather more concerned with things immediately happening though – I’d rather not get sucked into a three-way battle! Especially if some of the people technically on my side might end up siding with someone else.’

‘I’m sure that Sen will do what she can to keep them on-side. And I can be quite persuasive myself as well. Although massed battle does seem rather risky, and scarcely my forte. Is there not some way to better leverage our strengths? Perhaps a daring raid or suchlike?’

‘That might work. I don’t think anyone likes the undead much, or the rest of your family – don’t make a face, Janaxia, you mother was trying to destroy everything and didn’t really seem to care about anyone else. So it’s not really a surprise that everyone hates the faction now! Zarozinnia might be possible to negotiate with though? She seemed a bit more reasonable.’

‘Queen of Emerald and Steel.’

‘That seems a fitting title – I wouldn’t want to fight her in battle! And she seemed to have some idea of tactics and logistics, which makes things worse. Undead might be a pain to fight, but at least they’re normally commanded by wizards that have no idea how things work outside of magic, which limits their effectiveness. Uh, no offense, Janaxia.’

Hmph.

They passed into the shade of a stand of trees, scouts running out and quickly exchanging messages with other soldiers, before heading out again. Stathis sighed, wondering how long it would take a summary to percolate up the chain of command to her! She’d lost count of how many people were notionally under her command, trying not to wear herself out by thinking about it too much.

‘I assume you’re happy to deal with the rest of your family if you have to?’

‘Oh, of course. Although some assistance may be required – they are rather more proficient at magical combat then protecting themselves against getting stabbed.’

‘Or punched – has anyone seen Semari?’

‘Heaven’s Fury, dozing amidst steel.’

‘She’s napping somewhere? Well, as long as she wakes up for the battle! I suppose there’s not much for her to do at the moment. As long as she’s not bothering the soldiers. Parth, is there any diplomacy stuff I need to know about? Elven territorial claims or something? Or any of the other leaders that are going to be problems to deal with?’

‘War brings haste and certainty. Quarrels can wait.’

‘Well, that’ll make things easier. And, uh… are you actually in charge? Or is there a general or something somewhere that makes all the needed decisions?’

Parth’s hair ornaments clicked and clacked as she shook her head. ‘Authority flows like water, from high to low. Arrows will fall like the rain, swift and sharp.’

‘Right. Lots of scouts and skirmishers? Well, that makes sense, I suppose you don’t really have the numbers for mass infantry units or anything. Just keep me posted on whatever you find. And, uh, is there anything you can tell me about the other forces? Other than the Sethans and the undead?’

‘Silver-blue, dappled by sun.’

‘Very poetic. And yes, I know it’s probably an Iristari core force, back by reservists and whatever allies and mercenaries Mother’s been able to gather. But thousands? Tens of thousands? Without communication or transport magic, the logistics must be a pain!’

Parth shrugged. ‘Significant, but other forces lay scattered.’

‘Well, I suppose if the expeditionary forces were gathered, sent out and then everything went to shit, then a lot of people are going to be scattered all over the place. Probably doing something to help keep things stable, but working out who’s where is going to be a pain. We’ll have to try and quell the magical weirdness and then get everything sorted out afterwards. But that will have to wait until we’ve survived! So, Parth – you going with the elves or staying with me? It makes sense if we try and attack this town directly, I suppose. Deal with the undead, and then we might be able to try and talk things over with Zarozinnia rather than having to fight it out.’

‘The wood shall aid the sun.’

‘Great. Janaxia, you’re coming with me, in case there’s any magical weird shit you need to blow up. If Hakara’s actually had any sleep, then she might be useful as well.’

‘Should there not be some diplomacy with our notional allies first? It might create friction if we were to launch unilateral action. Especially if any confusion were to arise as to our allegiances. And I, myself, seem particularly at risk of such mis-identification. It would be regrettable if I had to waste my energies fighting against notional allies, would it not?’

‘Yeah, that’s why I want you to stick close to me. So if anything does go wrong, I can hopefully sort it out quickly. Before anyone gets pulled into your freezing darkness or something!’

Hmph. ‘I will try and refrain from overt displays of arcane power then. Although it does seem a most unjust bias.’

‘Just try and look regal and stuff, you’re good at that. And having someone less demonic looking than Zarozinnia in charge of some Sethans might help allay some fears there – if you don’t know her, Zarozinnia is a bit scary-looking. I’m hoping she can be talked down, or at least negotiated with. Has anyone seen Pajaran? She might be useful for when undead show up.’

‘Smite with heaven’s fury.’

‘Exactly.’

‘I believe she was helping some of the injured.’

‘I hope she’s not used too much of her power already. She’ll be needed for combat duties.’

‘Well, she seems sensible, I’m sure she wouldn’t be too reckless with her gifts.’

Stathis squinted at Janaxia, wondering if she had been replaced – hearing her not being catty about Pajaran was strange! But Janaxia just stared coolly back at her, green eyes contrasting well with the blue uniform.

‘Hopefully.’

Horns blew, two different sets.

‘Dammit. Looks like we’ve met up. Time to go and be in charge again.’ Stathis kicked her heels against Mavrosa, who whickered and surged forward, glad of the chance to run. Janaxia made her throne accelerate, at least as much as it could, not able to manage much above a stately walk. Parth moved into a jog, easily keeping up, the greenery seeming to shift and bend around her, not daring to impede her progress.