Crisis of Faith by Benjamin Medrano (z-lib.org)

by Unknown

  Her spell completed, and as it did the temperature quickly rose from cold to a nice, even heat like the interior of the palace, and the handful of flakes of snow around the gazebo melted. Wenris nodded in satisfaction, wishing that she had a tea set to make the similarities even stronger, but… it probably was best she didn’t. Diane probably wouldn’t trust something like that.

  Instead she settled into a chair and waited, smiling as she hummed softly to herself. Soon would be the time she’d chosen to demand for herself with Diane, though that wasn’t today. This was her way of being polite.

  The first sign of her guests arriving was the soft crunch of shoes breaking the snow, and Wenris casually glanced over to ensure it was Diane, and when she did she couldn’t help a warm smile.

  Diane was as beautiful as Wenris remembered her being, though the former monarch was bundled up in warm clothing and had a wary expression on her face. Beside her was a taller blond dawn elf, and Wenris’s eyes lit up a bit brighter at the sight of the handsome man. She immediately placed him as Torkal, and inwardly she had to admit that Diane had good taste. Even so, she didn’t let herself react openly.

  “Ah, Diane! How are you doing? Please, take a seat. I warmed up the gazebo, so there isn’t a need to remain cold,” Wenris said, gesturing to the other three chairs set around the table. “As for your companion… is that your husband, then?”

  “Hello, Wenris,” Diane replied, her voice calm, though Wenris could see how nervous she was. “And yes, he is. What are you doing here?”

  Wenris’s smile faded a fraction, especially as her gaze settled on Torkal’s hand, which was resting on the hilt of his sword. Obviously, he wasn’t happy to see her, and she sighed internally, wishing that mortals would learn what they could and couldn’t challenge.

  “You know better than that, Diane. I’m going to forgive you using the wrong form of address where I’m concerned during this meeting, but not afterward,” Wenris said, steel creeping into her voice as she said, “Sit. Down. And if that sword leaves its sheath, Torkal will regret it. While I promised Sistina not to attack anyone during my visit, I will not allow anyone to attack me without responding appropriately.”

  “You can just—” Torkal began snarling, only to stop as Diane laid a hand on his shoulder. When he met her gaze, the elven woman shook her head gently.

  “Please don’t, dear. She’s not one to make idle threats, I know that much,” Diane said, her voice almost a whisper.

  “Precisely right,” Wenris said, and gestured at the chairs again. “I would have provided tea, but I knew you wouldn’t trust it, Diane.”

  “For good reason,” Torkal said, his voice seething with rage.

  “Yes, but there’s no need to be overly rude,” Diane said, and Wenris’s mood improved slightly as Diane approached, moving the chairs so that she and Torkal could sit directly across from the succubus. Torkal followed unhappily, watching Wenris carefully.

  “Good girl. Diane knows what sort of things I do when she’s rude, so you might want to follow her advice, Torkal,” Wenris said, sitting back in her chair comfortably, flicking her tail around so it could lash next to her ankles.

  Torkal just glared, and Diane let out a soft sigh, then murmured, “If I may… may I ask why you’re here, Wenris?”

  “Much better,” Wenris said in approval, nodding as she added, “First of all… thank you for following my directions on the new moon. I checked each time, even if I didn’t come visit, and if you hadn’t… well, I would have been unhappy with you.”

  The instructions for Diane to sleep alone on the new moon had been something Wenris had given on a whim, originally, mostly because she wanted to prove she had some power over the woman, and to create a persistent reminder. From the way Diane’s face colored, Wenris suspected that she hadn’t realized that Wenris was checking on her.

  “I… will admit I have considered disobeying a time or two. I almost forgot once, but I decided to be safe,” Diane said, looking at Torkal uncomfortably. “I’ve been surprised that you haven’t visited.”

  “If you think the wards your magi put up could stop me, I’m afraid you’re overly optimistic,” Wenris said dryly, and Torkal’s face paled a little as she continued. “No, I listened to the advice of my former superior, and she recommended I give you time to settle back into your life before intervening again. That’s why you were left alone for all this time, Diane, but I’m afraid that’s at an end. Tomorrow is the new moon, and I will be visiting.”

  For an instant the other two were quiet, and Diane paled slightly, then a slight flush rose in her cheeks, accompanied by pheromones that Wenris rather enjoyed, while Torkal’s face flushed as well, but his was the flush of anger.

  “Why can’t you leave her damned well alone?!” Torkal snarled, leaning forward as he grabbed Diane’s hand. “Hasn’t she suffered enough already? I—”

  “Enough,” Wenris replied coldly, infusing power into her gaze and voice that brought the man to a strangled halt. He gasped, and Diane paled, but she didn’t say anything. Wenris stared at Torkal for a few moments more, then spoke, her tone as cold as ice. “You seem to be under a mistaken impression, Torkal. Diane is mine.”

  “But—” Torkal began, but Wenris cut him off again.

  “No, you will listen, and come to understand your place in this. Which is that you have no choice in what happens to Diane,” Wenris said implacably, staring the man down in annoyance. “She sold herself to me to ensure Jaine’s escape with her mind intact. Her soul is now entwined with my own, and of all the gods, the only ones with a chance of undoing such would be the primal gods, who rarely pay attention to mortal concerns. I could drag her into my realm today without causing any of the deities to so much as blink, save possibly in pity. I choose to allow Diane freedom, both to associate with you and her family, as well as to live a life of relative ease. I could take that away in an instant… and you cannot stop me. Is that clear?”

  Torkal’s breath hissed out, and Wenris could see the rage in his eyes, but before he could speak Diane’s fingers tightened around his hand, her worry obvious. He glanced at Diane, then visibly forced himself to back down as he let out a breath, speaking angrily. “Yes, you’re clear.”

  “Good. I’m trying not to cause too many issues while I’m here, but if it comes to protecting that which is mine by right, I will do so without hesitation,” Wenris said, allowing a smile of satisfaction to reveal itself, and she let her voice relax. “Now, then. Diane… do you have any questions about just what the freedom I grant you allows you to do? I’d rather be clear about things than spring them on you suddenly.”

  “Well…” Diane hesitated, looking a little torn as she looked at Wenris.

  A tiny part of Wenris couldn’t help her amusement at how Torkal was glaring and grinding his teeth, though. She also knew that he couldn’t help his attraction toward her… but she was a succubus, after all. If he’d been immune, she’d have been far more concerned.

  Sistina looked at the three in the garden and nodded internally, satisfied with her examinations at last. Torkal wasn’t a happy man, and Sistina didn’t blame him, not really. It didn’t help that she remembered being on the other side of things, though, as her memories of being a succubus were… similarly possessive and overbearing, even if she hadn’t been as bad as Wenris was. That made Sistina want to laugh, as she knew that Wenris was being positively benign by demonic standards. Still, she wasn’t going to upset them with a comment to that effect.

  Instead Sistina looked at the three thoughtfully again. Torkal’s mana was much like that of any other elf she’d seen over the years, if a little stronger than most. Like with most mortals, it was a swirling mixture of all six elements, reasonably well in balance, though not as orderly as the mana of a mage.

  Conversely, Wenris’s mana was almost entirely darkness and fire, though air, earth, and water did thread through it here and there. The only source of light mana was that pinprick she’d noticed before,
which didn’t surprise Sistina. Demons were like that, Sistina suspected, even if she’d never had the chance to look at any of them except Irethiel, Serel, and Wenris in her domain before.

  Diane was intriguing, though. Unlike any mortal Sistina had seen save for a couple of priestesses and Jaine, the woman had an overabundance of light mana. In fact, it was stronger in her and Jaine than even any of the priestesses possessed, save for Elissa. Since she’d heard that both had been changed using some of Tyria’s blood, that made sense to Sistina. Still, for the most part Diane’s mana was normal, save for a tiny core of darkness at the center of her soul, and tendrils of darkness that were slowly extending outward from it.

  The sight confirmed Sistina’s suspicions where the connection between Diane and Wenris was concerned, and at last she nodded internally and shifted to her body.

  Sistina was in Phynis’s office, and her wife was busy reading reports and doing paperwork, as she often did these days. Considering for a moment, Sistina fluidly stood, drawing Phynis’s attention as she stepped over and leaned down to give her beloved a gentle kiss. Phynis blinked but returned the kiss eagerly.

  After a long moment she broke it off and Phynis caught her breath, then smiled and asked, “What was that all about, hm? I thought you were going to be busy most of the day.”

  “I will be,” Sistina replied, taking care to speak properly this time. She wanted to be clear, and Phynis deserved a proper explanation. “However, I have something I wish to address. Diane and Wenris.”

  Phynis’s eyebrows rose, and after a moment the queen bled her ink pen and set it aside, looking at Sistina speculatively as she spoke. “Coupled with how you’re speaking, that makes me wonder what you’re thinking. For you to interrupt your work on your projects… well, it isn’t something you usually would consider. What’s going on, dear one?”

  “Diane is bound to Wenris. You know this,” Sistina said and paused for the queen to nod before she continued softly. “It is not fair to her. She does not deserve to be pulled to the lower planes when she dies. I know what it is like there.”

  “No, it isn’t. However, you’re the one who agreed that the bond wasn’t something that could be broken, even if Wenris agreed,” Phynis said, looking at Sistina even more curiously. “Unless you’ve found a way to do that?”

  “No. However, I believe I have found a possible solution. A difficult one, but possible,” Sistina replied, and she smiled. “The link does not go in a single direction. It is the privilege of mortals to shape the future, and they can make changes that even the gods are not allowed.”

  “Sistina… you’re being cryptic,” Phynis said patiently, her own smile wry now.

  “My apologies. If we cannot break the bond, I see one solution to prevent Diane from being dragged into the hells,” Sistina said, shrugging and glancing in the direction of the gazebo, even if there were numerous walls in her way. “We give Diane the means to drag Wenris to the light.”

  Phynis stared at Sistina for a moment, her mouth hanging slightly open. Sistina waited patiently, knowing Phynis would get over her surprise soon enough, and braced herself for the inevitable incredulity. Of course it just figured that Phynis would surprise her.

  “I see. You don’t think small on anything, do you?” Phynis murmured, a smile slowly growing on her face. “You truly believe it is possible?”

  “Yes. Not easy, but possible,” Sistina confirmed, then glanced away as she added, “However, I need to speak with her and others tonight if we are to have a chance. May I go have messages sent?”

  “Go ahead. And if I’m not there when you explain everything, I expect you to tell me how the conversation goes!” Phynis said firmly.

  “Yes,” Sistina said, grinning a little as she leaned down and gave Phynis another kiss, then stepped away as Phynis laughed.

  Sistina was already making a list of people she wanted present, and she hoped that Diane wouldn’t be annoyed with her interference.

  Chapter 21

  Diane looked up and blinked, confusion rushing through her as the door to the sitting room opened and four women stepped in. Diamond, Elissa, Lirisel, and Nadis stepped inside, and each of the women looked at her and Torkal in confusion as well.

  “Ah, did we come to the right place?” Lirisel asked, looking perplexed as she looked at Diane. “Sistina sent a message asking us to meet her here.”

  “Ah, that explains why you’re here, then. I did wonder… she didn’t say that she was going to be inviting other people as well,” Diane said, relief rushing through her, even as her confusion grew deeper. “She asked me to stay for a meeting this afternoon, along with Torkal.”

  “Hm… odd, that,” Diamond said, tilting her head as she looked at Diane speculatively. “Do you know why she asked you to stay? Her message to us was quite vague.”

  Nadis sniffed derisively, muttering, “Vague is putting it mildly. No sooner had we finished with the conference for the day than she sent us a message. ‘Meet with me for a matter of grave import’ indeed.”

  “I… can’t say that I know, not for sure. I suppose it might have something to do with my meeting with Wenris earlier,” Diane said, shying away from her mixed feelings where the succubus was concerned. As much as she hated to admit it, Wenris had her thoroughly wrapped around her little finger, and it was essentially impossible for Diane to deny the succubus. Beside her, Torkal’s expression darkened, but it was Elissa who looked up abruptly, as did Diamond and Lirisel.

  “Wenris? Didn’t she inherit Irethiel’s demonic mantle?” Elissa asked sharply, the intensity of her gaze startling as she focused on Diane. At Diane’s nod she asked, “What is she doing here?”

  “Making demands of Diane, of course,” Torkal grated unhappily, the venom dripping from his voice. “She couldn’t leave her alone.”

  “What? Why would she be making demands of you? For that matter, how is she even in this world?” Elissa asked, stepping toward a chair as she frowned, watching the others sit. “Demon lords or queens cannot enter our world unless they’re summoned, at least not under any normal circumstance.”

  “Ah… hadn’t you heard that Diane made a bargain with Wenris in order to protect Jaine’s mind?” Diamond asked delicately.

  Elissa’s head whipped around to stare at Diamond for a moment, then she looked at Diane, and what startled Diane more than anything else was the sudden guilt that she saw in Elissa’s gaze. The woman didn’t speak immediately as she sank into her chair, letting out a soft sigh.

  “No, I wasn’t aware of that. If I had been… oh, Goddess… I’m sorry, Diane,” Elissa said, her voice filled with pain. “I know we didn’t exactly get off on the right foot, but I never wanted something like that for you. What price did you have to pay?”

  “It isn’t your fault. I… well, belong to her. It’s something that can’t be undone, I’m afraid, and apparently she can visit me whenever she pleases. Though at least she’s wary of coming onto the palace grounds, which makes me even happier we came to Beacon for the winter,” Diane explained, sighing softly. “This is the first visit she’s made since taking her new position, and I’m… worried.”

  “For good reason,” Sistina’s voice wasn’t too audible through the door, but that changed after a moment.

  The door opened again and Sistina stepped in, accompanied by a confused-looking Jaine, and Diane blinked in surprise, looking at the gathering of women in even more confusion. The gathering was an odd group, she realized slowly, but she could see the pattern thus far. Aside from Diane, Sistina, and Torkal, all of those present were priestesses. Well, she supposed that Jaine wasn’t a priestess yet, but that was liable to change in the near future.

  “Sistina? What’s this all about?” Diamond asked, far more forthrightly than Diane suspected anyone else would be. “It’s been a long day, and you’re talking… well, you aren’t dropping words.”

  “This is important enough that misunderstandings are something I wish to avoid,” Sistina said, and
Diane’s jaw almost dropped, as the sentence was likely the single longest thing she’d heard the dryad say in the time she’d known her, but Sistina wasn’t finished. “I should not have called everyone here without speaking with Diane first, but time is in short supply.”

  “If time is in short supply, might we get started, then?” Nadis asked, looking at Sistina warily. “As Diamond said, what is this about?”

  “We are still waiting on Tyria. Possibly on Zenith as well, but I’m uncertain if Tyria will be bringing her,” Sistina said, politely pulling out a chair for Jaine, who took a seat, looking around the room with wide eyes, but she didn’t say anything, which was only appropriate, as Diane almost choked.

  “Tyria?” Torkal’s eyes went wide as he almost spluttered. “You invited a goddess?”

  “Yes. I did not command her to come, I simply asked,” Sistina said, shrugging as she added, “I could command, but I will not. It is up to her to break the bond between us. She has declined, thus far.”

  “She what? How could she break the link?” Nadis asked, and most of the room was looking at Sistina incredulously, Diane included.

  Warmth suddenly radiated through the room, and from above a figure slipped through the ceiling and directly behind Sistina. The dryad didn’t so much as twitch as Tyria landed behind her, her hands coming to rest on Sistina’s shoulders as the goddess gave a gentle smile.

  “I’m the one who chose to sever the link between myself and Irethiel, and to forge it with Sistina. If she chose to grip the link tightly, I wouldn’t be able to sever it, however. She is powerful, in some ways more powerful than Irethiel was, yet she hasn’t,” Tyria said, breaking the sudden silence as she looked around the room more. “Yes, I could sever that link. However, some of the changes Irethiel made have had… side effects. If I severed it, I would suffer the full consequences of those changes, and I’m not ready to risk that, not yet. I’d far rather let Sistina be in a position to stop me should I lose control of myself.”