“That is a potent power. I take it that you learned more from this Eziel?” Alserah asked, sitting back in her chair as she considered. “I do recall that four were said to be accompanying Azalea, so the last must be her.”
“That’s right, Lady Alserah,” Isalla confirmed, sitting up a little straighter as she licked her lips, then continued nervously. “I don’t remember everything offhand, but she was a member of a group called the Society of Golden Dawn. They’re supposedly followers of some angelic god they call the Lord of Light, and they think that those currently ruling the heavens are too weak and accommodating to demons. Their goal seems to be the utter defeat of the hells, and they aren’t shy about trying to start the war again. The arrow they were given was originally intended to send Estalia into your courtyard, not Kitania.”
Alserah froze for a long moment, obviously considering what Isalla had said, then spoke softly. “I see. That… would have changed my reaction significantly. A demon lord attempting to breach the palace of a goddess… such would be a flagrant violation of the unspoken truce, and likely would have led to renewed calls for war throughout the kingdom.”
Isalla nodded, and she saw Kitania frown, then the demon spoke. It was eerie, how much Kitania had changed, and yet Isalla could see the deliberate manners of the woman she’d come to know so well, which made her jealousy of the elf a little stronger. “That likely is precisely what they had planned. Worse, if they had managed to kill Niadra and had disposed of my body elsewhere, it’s entirely possible that they could have framed me for everything and provoked war in another way. I don’t like the idea, but it feels like it could’ve been an attack of opportunity. Haral did seem to want to know how I ended up in the palace, after all.”
“Ugh,” Niadra said, shivering visibly, and reaching out to lay a hand on Kitania’s arm. The way she touched Kitania caused Isalla to stiffen slightly, as it seemed far more familiar than Isalla had been expecting. She hadn’t been expecting Kitania to get close to an elf, not in as little time as had passed. Niadra continued, looking at Kitania with a worried gaze. “It was bad enough before but knowing that they were trying to start a war… that somehow makes it even worse.”
“It also seems like something that could happen, with how we’ve had assassins, demon mercenaries, and more attack us,” Rose said, then looked at Isalla as she asked calmly, “Isalla? Would you mind telling everyone about Haral, or at least what you know about her?”
“Sure, though I’ll warn that it isn’t much. She thoroughly tricked me, after all,” Isalla said, shifting unhappily as she tried to focus on the discussion at hand, and not on Kitania and the princess clinging to her.
“Even a little information could help lead to something more useful,” Vinara murmured, watching Isalla instead of Kitania now.
“Well… I met Haral in the Evergardens. It’s a relatively unimportant region of the heavens, where a large amount of crops that feed the heavens are grown. That said, it’s not the only place that produces food, so it was considered a backwater post. I was effectively the constable for the city, and it was in that role I met Haral. She’s a merchant, or was a merchant, and shipped food throughout the heavens and even into the mortal world. She was friendly, unlike a lot of people, and seemed interested in helping me adjust,” Isalla explained, shrugging and feeling a bit disgusted by her prior naivety, but continued onward with hardly a pause. “When I thought there were an unusual number of members of the Holy Council visiting the Evergardens, I started investigating, and eventually I mentioned my suspicions to Haral. She offered to gather information she’d picked up and asked me to meet her and a contact of hers to go over what she’d gathered.
“I doubt that any of you will be surprised that it was a trap,” Isalla said, her tone biting at this point, angry that she’d fallen into such an obvious trap. “She had a group of soldiers waiting for me, and she took pleasure in severing my wings, saying that I was a relic of the old, corrupt order. That if she thought I’d see the light, she wouldn’t have done that. Then she threw me out of the heavens, and the portal to the mortal world dropped me into the portal leading into the hells.”
“She’s a merchant? Interesting. That would match up with what some of my people have said,” Alserah murmured, looking thoughtful. “One of them mentioned once hearing the name from an angelic merchant, and they’re currently trying to track him down. It explains why her name came up at the least, and it also tells me that she’s probably using her status as a merchant to move relatively unnoticed.”
“That seems likely,” Isalla agreed, perking up a little at the goddess’s reaction. She was happy that Alserah wasn’t focused on Isalla’s failings, and instead on drawing useful information from the explanation.
“She’s also quite ruthless and cold when she needs to be. One of those who doesn’t hesitate to act when she needs to,” Kitania said, frowning unhappily as she reached up to run a finger over her neck. “I expected her to gloat more when she captured me, or maybe try harder to get information out of me. Instead, when I refused to answer she just had them cut my head off. She was crueler when she ordered them to abuse Niadra, but I’m not sure if that was her choice or because they demanded it.”
“I suspect she enjoyed it,” Isalla said bluntly, and Niadra flinched as she looked down at her hands. Isalla couldn’t help wondering what they’d done to her, though she really didn’t want to know.
“That tells me a good deal about her, and it also causes more concern,” Alserah said and glanced down at the box in her hands. After a moment, she stood and looked at Azalea, speaking firmly. “Azalea, attend me. Sindria’s Light is best placed in Ethris’s care to be put to use, and I want you to tell me about your impressions of your journey while we walk. Niadra, I expect you to help our guests settle in for the day. I’m certain that you have plans, but such can wait at least a few hours.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Azalea said, standing quickly and moving to Alserah’s side.
Niadra stood as well, looking between Isalla and the others with a slightly bemused smile, then replied. “Of course. Is that alright with all of you?”
Isalla nodded, standing and watching the goddess leave the room at a brisk pace. Only once she was gone did she turn to Kitania and look at her, then at Niadra. She opened her mouth to speak, but once again it was Vinara who spoke first.
“So, how long did it take you to seduce Kitania, Your Highness?” Vinara asked, her voice bright.
Isalla blushed, and at the same time she saw the princess turn an almost delicate shade of pink.
Kitania resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose at Vinara’s interjection. The reactions of Isalla and Niadra were telling, and she finally realized that she’d gotten herself into a rather messy situation. Rose was looking at Kitania thoughtfully, and Niadra opened her mouth, then shut it, giving Vinara a flustered look.
“Leave her alone, Vinara. Just because you’re upset with me is no reason to take it out on others,” Kitania said tartly, looking at her old friend and lover. “I’ve made a great many mistakes over the years, and I’m willing to admit that.”
“I’m not taking it out on other people. I’m reading Her Highness’s body language, and I’m noting that you’ve grown close to her. I find it a little disappointing since Isalla and Rose seemed so intent on getting here so they could talk to you about their feelings,” Vinara said, crossing her arms as she stared at Kitania skeptically. “I’m a little disappointed that you didn’t wait for them before diving into another relationship.”
Kitania winced, opening her mouth, but it was Niadra that spoke this time, her blush growing a little brighter as she did so. “I’ll have you know that Her Grace encouraged me to grow as close to Kitania as I liked, as she was getting… excessively depressed. In fact—”
“Niadra, please… there’s no reason to defend me. It appears that I made a few mistakes, and it’s my responsibility to sort them out and make the apologies necessary,” Kitania
interrupted, and looked at Isalla and Rose, then at Vinara before speaking, guilt rushing through her again. “May we take a few minutes to get all of you settled in, then we can have breakfast in my room? It’ll give me some time to organize my thoughts, and that will help a little, I think.”
“That seems reasonable. While I wish that we could have arrived sooner, there isn’t much to be done about that,” Rose said, her tone level, and she was giving Kitania an odd look as she smiled. “I just wish I hadn’t mishandled things before you were shot.”
“At least Her Grace isn’t here,” Niadra murmured, shaking her head. “If she decided to get involved, I’m not sure I’d dare speak.”
“Wait, what? Why would she be involved?” Isalla asked, looking startled as she stared at Niadra. Kitania cleared her throat to draw Isalla’s attention, her embarrassment only growing stronger.
“Her Grace has… expressed interest in me. At least partly fueled by me having the advantage of being able to survive assassination attempts,” Kitania said, flushing as even Vinara paused and stared at her. “She’s lost enough people over the years that it prompted a little more interest than I anticipated.”
“You have been busy, haven’t you?” Vinara murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly as she stared at Kitania.
“It isn’t my fault if a goddess takes interest in me,” Kitania said, looking back at the succubus coolly. “Now, Niadra is the one who knows what we’re going to be doing, so I suggest following her instructions.”
“Alright…” Isalla said, looking mystified instead of annoyed now, and Kitania let out a breath of relief as Niadra stood up straighter and led the way out of the room.
A few minutes to get her thoughts in order would be wonderful. Kitania had to wonder just how she’d gotten herself into a situation where she had multiple relationships at odds with one another.
But as she’d said, it didn’t matter how it happened. What mattered was that it was Kitania’s responsibility, and she needed to help resolve the problem.
Chapter 38
“Lady Kitania, I have wronged you more deeply than I can imagine, and I am the one at fault. I will do anything that you ask of me and serve you to the end of my days,” Eziel said, kneeling and bowing so deeply that her forehead brushed the carpet.
Kitania stared for a long moment, her blood chilled at the sight of the angel in front of her. It wasn’t that she was angry or feared Eziel, because, in truth, Kitania had been so busy in the battle that she probably wouldn’t have remembered what Eziel looked like if she’d met her again, but the change of her attitude was startling.
They were in Kitania’s room, and Vinara had brought a couple of things with her, including what looked suspiciously like a shortened cloudpiercer to Kitania, but she didn’t say anything about it, instead focusing on the angel. Most of the others had complicated expressions when looking at Eziel, and Kitania didn’t blame them, especially considering the surprise on Niadra’s face. At last, Kitania let out a soft sigh, wishing that her mother hadn’t dropped Eziel in her lap.
“Stand up, Eziel,” Kitania said, watching as the angel quickly stood, then looked at Kitania with a depressingly rapt expression. Kitania asked softly, unsure of what to do with her, “You’d do anything for me, is it? Anything at all?”
“Yes. If you directed me to kill myself I’d be unhappy, but I’d do it in a heartbeat. Lady Estalia told me to serve you loyally to my last breath,” Eziel confirmed quickly, looking a little nervous.
“I see. In that case, I suppose I’ll ask you to serve me as a maid,” Kitania said, sighing again as she shook her head, a headache beginning to form. “I don’t really want a maid, but Mother didn’t exactly give me much of a choice in the matter.”
“Why are you accepting her service, then?” Niadra asked curiously, nibbling on a slice of toast. “If you don’t want her around, wouldn’t it be better to refuse?”
“No, because she’ll do whatever it takes to carry out my mother’s orders,” Kitania explained, glancing at Eziel as she asked, “Isn’t that right? If I refused, you’d likely constantly hover nearby to attempt to be of service, even hiding if that’s what it took.”
“Most likely,” Eziel agreed promptly, frowning as she added nervously, “I really hoped that it wouldn’t come to that, though. If it did, I was going to decide what to do at that point.”
“Ah,” Niadra said, nodding in understanding, though her eyes were slightly wide.
“Well, let’s get on with this, shall we?” Kitania murmured, taking a seat, which she noted had been left between Vinara and an empty chair. That relieved her, since it’d make it easier to look Isalla, Niadra, and Rose in the eyes. There was a rather sumptuous breakfast laid across the table, and she slipped a pancake onto her plate for the moment, suspecting it’d be a little while before she could eat.
Most of the others were eating, including Vinara, and Kitania noticed that her old friend was holding back from eating even more quickly, though Isalla and Rose were being a little less polite. She didn’t blame them, considering how much better most food was in the Forest of Sighs. Finally, Kitania spoke.
“I’m sorry, Vinara. I truly am,” Kitania said, glancing at the succubus in chagrin. “I didn’t realize you were trying to make me jealous and was mostly relieved that you weren’t in Rosken when the end came.”
“I’m glad you have the courage to admit your mistake. Between your apology and the slap earlier, I think I’ll forgive you, at least mostly,” Vinara replied, and smiled thinly as she added, a bubble of amusement in her voice, “Fortunately for you, I did find a long-term relationship about a century later, and I have grandchildren now.”
“Really?” Kitania asked, her eyebrows rising in shock. “I thought you didn’t want children!”
“I changed my mind,” Vinara said, sniffing airily. “It made continuing my studies difficult for a long time, but I think it was worth it.”
“How many grandchildren do you have?” Isalla asked curiously, a piece of sausage halfway to her mouth.
“Four, from three children,” Vinara said, smiling happily. “Fortunately, they’ve all found decent positions, and I haven’t lost any of them to violence. That’s something to celebrate in the hells.”
Kitania nodded, but she also noticed the concern on Niadra’s face. She considered, then explained gently as Eziel silently refilled Rose’s teacup. “The hells are a dangerous place, Niadra. The cities in Estalia’s domain are safe enough for the most part, but a small group of travelers will commonly find themselves attacked by wildlife twice a day or more. Losing children who go exploring is unfortunately common, so Vinara has been somewhat fortunate.”
“I see,” Niadra said, looking even more troubled by the explanation.
“Now, then. I need to apologize to the three of you as well. At the least to Isalla and Niadra, as I don’t know how you feel, Rose,” Kitania said, looking at them and swallowing nervously, then letting her gaze drift downward as she continued. “Until you arrived, I thought that your feelings would have changed, Isalla. I believed that as close as you were to Rose, that you’d have fully entered a relationship with her and allowed our relationship to… fade. That’s why I dared grow close to Niadra, and instead I’ve been unfair to both of you.”
“Did you not get my message?” Isalla asked suddenly, her voice vaguely reproachful, and Kitania looked up, blinking.
“You sent a message?” Kitania asked in return, frowning. “I don’t remember any message, though Alserah said that you and Rose were coming, and that she thought I’d have been told.”
“Drat, that’s annoying. I said that I was coming for you in person, and that explains why you never sent a reply,” Isalla said, scowling as she set down her fork, obviously unhappy. “I wasn’t sure how likely a reply was, honestly.”
“I don’t blame you, Kitania. You told me that you weren’t sure if you had anything to go back to, and we both chose to believe that,” Niadra said, glancing at the
others before she added. “Not that I’m not envious… you’re beautiful, Rose.”
“Thank you, though a large part of my appearance is the result of magic,” Rose said, smiling slightly as she raised a hand and explained without prompting. “I had a lot of scars and other imperfections before my visit to the hells, and I also didn’t know how to make the most of my appearance. I had a rather lot of help learning to make myself beautiful.”
The angel paused, then looked around the table before speaking further, her voice calm. “Now, that said… I’m sorry as well, Kitania. Our presence brought down a group of assassins on you, and if you weren’t immortal, you’d be dead. I regret that beyond measure, and it made me realize that while we didn’t know one another for long, I truly do like you. Whether romantic or not… that’s another question, and not one I can answer. I know Isalla likes you in a romantic sense, and I’ve learned that I’m not possessive. An awkward morning after meeting your mother taught me that much. I’m not going to begrudge what you’ve done.”
Kitania found some of her tension easing, and she saw Isalla’s lips purse as the angel looked at Kitania for a moment, then at Niadra. Isalla seemed to be debating something, then she finally sighed and shrugged.
“I don’t know what to think. This is all so sudden, and I guess I just got my hopes up, thinking that everything would magically fix itself once we were together again. It isn’t going to, though,” Isalla said, looking faintly disappointed. “I don’t blame you, Kitty. I shouldn’t have thought that what I wanted would be what happened, and I don’t blame the princess, either.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Niadra murmured, visibly relaxing as she looked around the table.
“As am I. I’m also not going to think you’re at fault for what happened at my home, Rose. It was the fault of others, not you,” Kitania said, taking a bite of the pancake, which was a bit cool by this point. She hesitated, then admitted, “As for relationships… I don’t know what to do. This is a mess of my own making, and it isn’t going to be easy to untangle. I do want to track down the angels who betrayed the two of you, but beyond that… I don’t know what I want.”
Mortal Gods (Mantles of Power Book 2) Page 33