The Panagea Tales Box Set

by McKenzie Austin

  Not at all put off by the caution of the soldiers, Wulfgang gestured toward the door. “We’re here to see the Time Mother.”

  “Aye?” The footman arched a brow, tossing a critical gaze to the others who stood in the crowd. “Who’s asking for her?”

  “A feckin’ Eastern footman,” Wulfgang snapped, poking at the symbol on the man’s chest. “A gods-damned brother in arms.”

  Disbelief showed on his face. The footman cocked his head, his focus rising from Wulfgang’s mangled boots, which may or may not have been standard issue. With all the muck and holes that ravaged the damn things, he couldn’t tell. His concentration crawled upward, to the various components of armor that had been stripped of recognizable symbols, to spare Wulfgang’s identity while he dwelled amongst the Underground. “You don’t look the part,” he muttered, meeting the soldier’s gaze with unwavering confidence.

  Witnessing the bulging vein of irritation in Wulfgang’s neck, Nicholai stepped forward before tempers rose higher. “Excuse me”—he held out his mechanical hand—“I’m the form—I’m the Time Father of Southeastern. I’m here on official business, to meet with the Time Mother.”

  The claim was a stretch. Time Fathers could not be outside their division for very long. The footman tightened his jaw and he assessed Nicholai’s exterior. He had heard that the Time Father of Southeastern boasted a mechanical forearm … but a lot of people did after the natural disasters ate through much of Panagea. Unwilling to risk his job, or allow any yahoo access to the division leader who was despised by much of her people, the man held fast to his suspicion. “Prove it.”

  “Of course.” Nicholai patted at his chest, a sinking feeling rising in his stomach when he didn’t feel the weight of his Chronometer beneath his palm. It took half of a second to remember why it wasn’t there. The man frowned. He was going to have to get used to that.

  Without any other shred of proof, Nicholai looked up, flashing a nervous grin. “I don’t suppose you’ll just take my word for it?”

  “Oh, feck this.” Rennington stepped back, throwing his concentration up toward one of the towers that stretched into the sky. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Oi! E.P! Get your ass down here, girl!”

  Before the two footmen guarding the door could react, a head appeared in the open window in the tower above. Elowyn narrowed her eyes, counting the bodies that stood on the ground. That voice—she recognized it straight away, but seeing Nico’s identifiable suit vest and top hat, alongside the distinguishably ratty trench coat belonging to Captain Hidataka, her suspicions were confirmed. “My gods!”

  Tearing herself away from the window, the woman clamored down the countless steps toward the first floor. She skipped whichever ones she could, unable to propel herself fast enough. Her feet flew like winged creatures as she pulled open the door on the main floor, shoving past the footmen who stood outside it, and threw her arms around Rennington’s neck.

  “There she is!” Rennington spun her around, caring little if her swinging feet hit anyone who stood close by. The woman seemed weightless as he pressed her against his torso, squeezing her long enough to convince himself that she was in a stable state of living.

  “It’s so good to see you!” she mumbled into his shoulder, pulling out of the embrace long enough to get a good look at his face. “How have you been? Are you all right?”

  Rennington laughed, squeezing her shoulders before he let her go altogether. “Ah, yeah, you know me. Happy to see you’re not god meat. You had me worried for a while.”

  Elowyn scoffed. “As if they could contain me.” Smirking, she turned toward the captain, unable to hide the thin layer of glassiness that coated her eyes. She reached forward and grasped his forearm, relief spilling out of her mouth. “For a moment there, I thought you were dead.”

  “For a moment there,” Kazuaki replied, unmoving, “I thought the same about you.”

  Peeling her focus away from the captain, Elowyn turned a joyous gaze to Bermuda. Gods alive, the woman looked so pale. So weak. It didn’t matter. Whatever grueling experience she had been through, apparently she had come out on the other side. “It’s good to see you again, quartermaster.”

  Bermuda’s lips tugged into a smirk as she hugged Elowyn. “Good to see you too.”

  “And Revi,” Elowyn turned to the man, her grin shifting into mischievousness. “My gods. You look like absolute shit.”

  Despite his demons, the man’s shoulders shook with a short laugh. “Any other obvious observations you want to make, doctor?”

  “And Granite,” Elowyn turned away from Revi long enough to wrap her arms only partway around the giant’s torso. “I’m so happy you’re here! Where’s—” She stopped herself when her mind filled in the blanks. Only one thing would separate Granite from the beast, and she ventured it was something he did not wish to be reminded of. “Where’s Brack?” she asked, saving herself from putting her foot in her mouth.

  “Ellie …” The Rabbit’s voice punctured the crowd as he stepped out from behind Granite, arms outstretched. “Ellie-Ellie-Elowyn. Miss Saveign.” He curled his fingers together, beckoning her into his embrace. “Come give ol’ Rabbit a hug, mate!”

  Before the medic could steady herself, she was swallowed by the eager arms of Brack Joney. He pressed her against his chest, wiggling her back and forth before he put the short woman back down. “Ah, shit, I missed you!”

  “I missed you too, Rabbit.” Elowyn laughed as soon as she was able to catch her breath from the aggressive embrace. Smoothing her disheveled hair back, she turned to Wulfgang, catching his eyes. The liveliness of her appearance fell victim to a sudden onslaught of nerves when she stopped before the soldier. Time apart from him had afforded her far too many opportunities to think. To reflect. To analyze the time that they had spent together as soldiers in the Underground. It left the woman with far too many muddled emotions. “Wulfgang. Uh … thank you,” she said, tucking more strands of short, black hair behind her ears. “For seeing to the captain. For coming. I mean, not for coming—for bringing them here. For bringing everyone here.”

  The man had a hard time making eye contact. His gaze hit the ground, and he focused on her footwear. “Right. Sure. Soldier’s duty, to do as the division leader asks.”

  Elowyn ran her tongue over her lips. They suddenly felt dry. “Well … I …” She cleared her throat, holding out a hand. “I appreciate it. Thank you.”

  Wulfgang’s focus flitted to her waiting hand. His fingers dug into the sides of his hips. He reached out awkwardly, grasping the offering and giving it an uncomfortable shake.

  In a hurry to free herself from the whirlwind of emotions invading her, Elowyn sucked in a breath and turned to Nicholai, ending her handshake with Wulfgang. “And Nico,” she said, grinning, “It’s good to see you, as well. I assume you cannot stay long—you must have to return to Southeastern shortly, yes?”

  The former Time Father offered a gentle smile. “That’s … what I’m here to talk to you about, actually.” He glanced at the footmen before tilting his head and looking to Elowyn once more. “Is there somewhere we could talk in private?”

  Thin brows shadowed her eyes as Elowyn adopted a look of concern. “Of course. Come on in.” She indicated for the footmen to stand aside. As soon as they obeyed, she led everyone into the spacious front room of her home.

  As they fanned out into the entryway, Wulfgang came up beside the Time Mother, coughing once into a closed fist. “So … how have things been?” He shuffled his feet before anchoring them to the tiles below. “Was it an easy return?”

  Elowyn sighed, shaking her head. “No. There was a lot of balking when they saw me again.” Coercing a wry grin, she hitched a shoulder. “They were all very hesitant to give up their newfound power.”

  Having eavesdropped unintentionally, Nicholai nodded. “That sounds about right,” he murmured to himself.

  “There wasn’t much they could do though.” Elowyn reached down into he
r clothing to pull out the Chronometer that rested between her breasts. “Not after I showed them this. Hard to argue with concrete proof.”

  Nicholai watched the Chronometer swing back and forth in her grasp. It was strange to see one again. It felt as if it had been seconds and years, at the same time. He lifted a finger, pointing. “The Chronometer. That’s … actually why we’re here.”

  The Time Mother stole glimpses of the others’ expressions before she returned her attention to Nicholai. Subconsciously, she brought the Chronometer closer toward her chest. “What do you mean?”

  A muscle twitched in Nicholai’s jaw. He stared at the flooring of her home. It felt strange to make such a confession, and for that, it lacked any sentiment. “Edvard Addihein of Western is dead.”

  Paleness invaded Elowyn’s cheeks as she squeezed the Chronometer’s chain. “Oh, Nico … I’m so—”

  “I gave his Chronometer to the goddess, Epifet,” he said, interrupting her sympathy as kindly as he could. He pulled his concentration from the floor and found her eyes. “She destroyed it. Western is free from absolute rule. The people have chosen to elect leaders that they feel are fit, rather than someone who happens to … ‘inherit’ supreme authority.”

  It was a lot to absorb. One piece of Nicholai’s admission leaped out at her the most. “A goddess?” Her lips lifted as she clenched her teeth. “You’re in league with those butchers?”

  “Well, technically, we all are.” Brack laughed, smacking Kazuaki in the chest with the back of his wrist. “Cap’s one of ‘em, now.”

  No one’s focus could have jumped any quicker to Kazuaki than Elowyn’s did. “Excuse me?”

  Kazuaki rolled his eye as he shuffled his feet across the floor. “It’s true. Bartholomew initiated a … a resurrection, of sorts.”

  The woman lifted a hand to her forehead, hoping it would help to keep all the new revelations from tumbling out of her skull. After regaining her composure, she shook her head. “So …” Turning her attention to the captain, her gaze darted back and forth across his face, “you truly were dead?”

  Thinking back to the time he had spent trapped aboard the cockboat Mimir had stolen, Kazuaki’s focus blurred. So many days, lost on the ocean. Days he should have savored, as it was his first time touching mortality again in hundreds of years. Instead, he was a prisoner to a psychotic lesser god and a commander who had spent more time as an enemy than anything else.

  He wondered for a moment, what had become of Jernal …

  “Whatever happened to me,” Kazuaki shrugged, “I’m back now.”

  “As a god,” Brack reiterated, grinning as he held up his index finger.

  Flooded with far too many revelations, Elowyn puffed out her cheeks. She ran her fingers through her hair a second time, pacing. “I … I still don’t understand …”

  Nicholai stepped forward, clasping his hands together. “It’s a lot to absorb, yes.”

  Elowyn glanced at him as he approached, a realization slowly overtaking her. He was in no hurry to leave. Glimpsing the skin around his neck, she spied no chain hiding beneath his collared shirt. Her spine became rigid. Her muscles tensed. “You destroyed yours too,” she accused, her eyes narrowing, “didn’t you? That’s why you’re here. You’re no longer bound to Southeastern.”

  Nicholai pinched his lips together. “I wanted to believe in the Time Fathers, Elowyn. My whole life, I wanted nothing more than to trust that they existed for the benefit of others; but no man, or woman, should lay claim to such absolute power. It … infects people.” He forced his eyes shut as he thought back to Ganther; how the blue blood’s obsession with supremacy dragged him down a path created from the bodies of countless victims. Of Umbriel. “Objects like the Chronometers … they grant too much power to one person.” He stepped forward, holding out a hand. “They need to go back to the gods, Elowyn. To be destroyed. I am here to abolish yours, as well.”

  The woman’s fingers wrapped tightly around the device, and she took a subconscious step back. No. She had only just returned to power in Eastern. Only just resumed a place of leadership, where she could further correct things. “But … I am not corrupt,” she choked out. “The people do not see it yet, but I am a good leader.”

  “Yes,” Nicholai agreed, nodding. “You are. For that reason, I hope you join us in destroying the other Chronometers.”

  Elowyn’s heart thundered inside her ribs. Her concentration bounced across the floor. She couldn’t possibly leave now. She had worked tirelessly to cure what ailed the people of Eastern. Her efforts brought emotion back to the people, while still maintaining their safety. There was still so much damage that she needed to repair. The methods that she and the others deployed were questionable, to be sure, but—didn’t she deserve the opportunity to show what else she could do for them? To show them that great leadership could come from someone they least expected it to?

  “Or,” Wulfgang interjected, witnessing the anxiety in her eyes, “you could stay here. Try to get the people to see that you should remain Eastern’s leader, with or without the ability to stop time.”

  “Feck that,” Rennington spat out, slicing a hand through the air. “Come with us, E.P. Back to your family.”

  Brack grinned, stretching his arms out. “Would be good to have ol’ Elowyn back, aye?”

  Wulfgang turned toward the others, unable or unwilling to get rid of his scowl. “She has proven to be an asset here. Eastern could use her.”

  “We could use her.” Rennington stepped forward, confronting the soldier.

  “Yeah?” Wulfgang inclined his chin, matching Rennington’s posture. “You think you seven are more important than an entire feckin’ division?”

  Absent of fear, the Southern soldier snorted. He pushed his face inches from his aggressor. “We need her.”

  Wulfgang wrinkled his nose, unmoving. “You think I give a shit what you need?”

  As the arguing between the two men escalated, Elowyn slipped away. Easing away from the others into the nearest room with a door, she ducked inside and shut it behind her. The woman swallowed, pressing her back against the wall, as her head fell against it with a thump.

  Nico was right. She knew it. Elowyn bore witness to power’s ability to corrupt men. She saw it nearly every day she served in Northern’s military. The merciless tactics of Nordjan and those under his command cared little for the lives of the footmen that they thrust into battle with Aggi Normandy’s people.

  A lot of lives were lost over mankind’s thirst for authority.

  Still, it was difficult to part with. Elowyn pulled the Chronometer away from her chest, staring at the object as it sat in her palm. Her face reflected in the glass when she turned it over in her fingers.

  She could do better. She could further help the people of Eastern if she had more time.

  A soft knock at the door tugged her focus away from the Chronometer. Elowyn watched as Nicholai poked his head into the small sliver of light piercing the entryway. “Do you mind if I come in?” he asked, hesitating.

  Her grasp tightened around the object in her hands. “Of course not,” she lied. “Come on in.”

  Nicholai slid his body inside, shutting the door to block out the rising voices of Rennington Platts and Wulfgang Hion. He flashed an apologetic smile and occupied the space beside her. “I’m sure this must be very hard for you.” The man laid a careful hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Elowyn.”

  She nodded, her gaze crawling across the room. It was easier than looking at Nicholai’s face. “I just wanted to prove that …” The woman trailed off, shaking her head.

  Nicholai followed her eyes outward, though he knew they had no point of focus. “I know.”

  Growing frustrated with her display of emotions, Elowyn sucked in a deep breath and forced herself off the wall. She glanced down at the Chronometer as she paced the floor. “They won’t elect me as their leader willingly, Nico. They never wanted a woman to rule their division, much less one who has made
as many mistakes as I have in the last year.” She dropped the arm that held her Chronometer, letting it fall back to her side. “Leaving them. Hiding underground so the gods could not find me. I’m sure they felt like I abandoned them.”

  Watching her movements, Nicholai rubbed the back of his neck. “It sounds like you did what you had to do.”

  “Hm.” Elowyn closed her eyes. “They won’t see it that way.”

  After a moment of silence, Nicholai pushed himself off the wall to join her. “Yes, well … some are quicker to forgive the mistakes we make than others.” He crossed his arms, holding them at the elbows, before gesturing toward her. “Wulfgang told us what you did. Everything you accomplished with the medication. The important thing is that you know you did something here. They can’t take that away from you.”

  Classic Nico. Elowyn found her grim expression shift into a more genuine one. “Speaking from experience?” she asked as she opened her eyes to look at him.

  The man chuckled, his gaze falling to his feet. “No. The only thing I ever gave them was a disaster.” Stopping time. Threatening Panagea’s existence. Opening the doors to bring pissed off gods and goddesses back to the land. Nicholai winced. “Not for lack of trying, though. You know, you did far more in two years than I’ve done in twelve.” He tried to ease her suffering with a smile. “Take the win.”

  Oh, he was good. That standard Nico charisma, somehow it was as inspirational as it was self-deprecating. Elowyn coerced a matching smile out of her unease. “I know you’re right,” she said. “They should be free to think for themselves and operate their own lives, but …”

  Nicholai cocked his head, listening as her words faded away. “So … you actually enjoyed being a Time Mother? You must have, for this to affect you as much as it is.”

  A single shoulder lifted and fell as Elowyn pulled the Chronometer to her chest. “Aboard Captain Kazuaki’s ship, we were always the public enemy. Thieves. Deserters. It felt nice … being in a position to be the ‘good guy’ for a change.”