Realms of Valen - Blasphemous Crusade (War of the Gods Book 2)

by Rickk Berry III

  “Thank you, Kelen-Cess. Though I find myself curious as to how this decision has already been made. I thought this meeting was meant to determine whether or not your people would join in the fight against the army,” she expressed, gesturing around to the gathered dignitaries. Kelen smiled lightly and gestured to them all as well.

  “Given the alarming amount of brushes our people have had with the scouts of this marauding force at all edges of our lands, we all began corresponding awhile ago about ways to prepare and combat them. When our clairvoyant foretold your coming and the reason for your visit, our decision was rather easy. We will, of course, keep enough soldiers to guard our cities should these dark forces decide that they want a war on multiple fronts but the bulk of our soldiers will be put in the hands of you and your new king until the war is settled,” Kelen explained, gesturing to the maps and letters on the table.

  “Thank you again, Kelen-Cess. You will be interested to know that King Rykar has sent out scouts of his own to spy on enemy movements. We will know if any groups split off from the main army and if one looks like it might be headed your way, we will send word. It's the least we can do,” Kaidia informed the gathered kyrians.

  “That would be most appreciated. Setting up an ambush would be preferable to simply going on the defensive,” Kelen said with a smirk.

  “Always,” Kai agreed.

  “A drink to seal the alliance!” Kelen declared. That declaration was met with a cheer. Glasses were passed about the table and subsequently filled with home-brewed kyrian ale. Even the guards behind each dignitary were given a glass of ale. Kaidia leaned back to Tian-Vere with a smirk.

  “I think I'll just move here and live among your people. I'm liking some of these customs,” she joked. Tian just laughed.

  “The kyrians will fight side by side with the humans, and whatever other races come to the aid of the humans, to defeat this bastard army!” Kelen announced. Everyone else in the room, aside from Kai, shouted their agreement and everyone raised their glasses, then downed the ale. Empty glasses hit the table and people started standing up to leave.

  “Mistress Kaidia! A word!” Kelen requested in a raised voice to be heard over the din of the people leaving the room. Kaidia made her way to Kelen-Cess, giving nods and returning smiles along the way, and gave him an inquiring look.

  “Yes?” she asked.

  “If you don't mind, I will be sending a general back with you when you leave to meet up with your king. She's a powerful mage and none too shabby with a sword if she has to be. She has a brilliant mind for tactics and the soldiers of all tribes respect her. They would follow her to certain death. She's my chosen to lead our troops,” Kelen expounded, his eyes on Kaidia, gauging her response.

  “She'll be welcome. We need everyone working together and anyone that can help keep things running smooth and lend to planning our strategy will be ideal,” the god replied.

  “Wonderful. I think you'll like her. You two are very... similar,” Kelen said, giving a smirk.

  “Oh?” Kai asked, prompting the kyrian leader to elaborate.

  “I'll let you see for yourself,” Kelen replied with a smile.

  “Alright. I intend to leave in the morning, just so you are aware,” Kaidia informed Kelen.

  “Noted. Where can I send her to meet you?” Kelen asked.

  “Wherever your best tavern happens to be,” Kaidia answered.

  “Ah. That would be The Roaring Grimalkin,” Kelen said with a hint of pride.

  “Interesting name,” Kai remarked with a chuckle.

  “It catches one's attention, which is the point,” Kelen replied.

  “Indeed. That's where I'll be. Send your general to meet me there,” Kaidia said.

  “Consider it done, Mistress Kaidia. And might I add, it's been an honor to meet you,” Kelen said, extending his hand. Kaidia grasped it firmly and smiled.

  “Likewise,” she responded.

  “May the next time we meet be under more pleasant circumstances,” Kelen said with a wistful tone before letting go of Kai's hand.

  “Indeed,” Kai agreed, then nodded lightly, and turned to leave the room, Tian-Vere falling into step behind her.

  * * *

  The Roaring Grimalkin, located on the city's main street, was a grand building, one of the tallest in the city. Inside was lavishly furnished and spectacularly decorated. Kaidia felt a bit out of place among the luxurious rugs and ornate woodwork of the place. However, the ale was damn good and, being a god that even the kyrians acknowledged, she got the first mug for free. The god was sitting at a table that was tucked away in a shadowed corner of the tavern, drinking her second mug of ale, when a female kyrian settled into the chair across from her.

  Kai's brow rose slightly as she looked the woman over. The kyrian was tall, nearly as tall as Kaidia, and appeared to be just as physically strong, if her bare, tattooed arms were any indication. She had jet black hair that matched the fur on her ears and tail. Her sleeveless tunic, soft leather pants, leather bracers, and leather boots were all black. Unlike most kyrians, whose eyes were gold or amber, this kyrian's eyes were a vibrant blue that looked unnatural but alluring at the same time. She appeared to be examining Kaidia in much the same manner that she, herself, was being examined. The two looked remarkably alike. It was as if the other woman were a kyrian version of Kaidia.

  “You must be Kelen's general,” Kai ventured.

  “I am,” the kyrian confirmed.

  “And your name is?” Kaidia asked.

  “Echo-Seras,” the woman answered.

  “That name is... different.”

  “My parents were... interesting.”

  “Apparently.”

  A serving girl stopped at the table and set a mug down in front of Echo. She smiled and dropped a silver coin on the table. The serving girl picked it up, smiled, and walked off with a swish of her tail.

  “They were eccentric, but also quite intelligent. Both were mages. That's how my interest in magic got started. But I also learned to wield a sword without looking a fool,” Echo explained.

  “It's advisable to know at least a little of both, though some just don't see it that way. You know how some see pure magic users as weaklings or straight up warriors as idiots,” Kai added.

  “Ignorance of the highest degree,” Echo stated with a nod.

  “Indeed. You keep using the past tense. Are your parents gone?” Kaidia bluntly asked.

  “Yes, in the war with Adathir, before you managed to kill him. The first time,” Echo answered with an affirmative nod.

  “I know how you feel. I lost my wife in that battle. That's what triggered my... godly awakening, I suppose,” Kaidia shared with a shrug.

  “I'm sorry to hear that,” Echo said with a gentle sincerity that surprised Kaidia.

  “Don't be. Everyone seemed to lose someone in that war. I'm not special in that regard,” Kai said with a dismissive gesture of her hand.

  “While that's true, it doesn't make it any less devastating,” Echo responded.

  “Fair enough,” Kaidia acquiesced.

  “Now, when do we leave for your human lands?” the kyrian general asked, changing the subject.

  “First thing in the morning,” Kai replied.

  “I'll be ready. Shall we meet at the center of the city?” Echo proposed before taking a swig of her ale, bright blue eyes remaining on Kaidia.

  “Sounds good to me,” the god responded.

  “Good. Here's to a good journey and a successful war,” Echo raised her mug. Kai smirked and clunked her mug against the kyrian's with a smirk. The two downed their ale and put the mugs down.

  “I'll see you at first light, then. We'll be meeting the king of the human lands on the way back. Since our capital city is a pile of rubble, we'll be heading to Mehroth,” Kaidia informed Echo.

  “Where is he now, if not coordinating efforts in Mehroth?” Echo asked.

  “He is in Anklis, hoping to get support from their king,” Kai a
nswered.

  “Good luck to him,” Echo laughed softly.

  “He's personable, persuasive. I have little doubt about his ability to get the job done,” Kaidia replied, smirking.

  “I do hope you're right, Kaidia,” Echo said, standing. Kai stood up as well.

  “Me too,” Kai said, dropping a silver coin on the table at which they had been sitting.

  “Tomorrow,” Echo stated simply and held her forearm up. Kai tapped her forearm against the kyrians in an ancient warrior's salute that was common to all the races.

  “Tomorrow.”

  * * *

  Kaidia found herself walking toward the clairvoyant's home again. Tian-Vere, who had reappeared at her side when she had exited The Roaring Grimalkin, tilted his head and gave the woman a curious look.

  “You have more business with the clairvoyant?” he asked.

  “Possibly. You can accompany me inside if you wish,” Kai answered.

  “No, thank you. Her home is a little too warm for my tastes and she, while beautiful, is a little too strange for me. I will wait outside,” Tian declined with a chuckle.

  “Suit yourself, friend,” Kaidia replied with a smirk. A moment later, she opened the door and slipped inside the clairvoyant's home. Tian settled himself onto the wooden walkway that ran in front of every business and home in the main part of the city. He closed his eyes and let out a breath, slipping into a calm, meditative state.

  * * *

  Even though she expected the heat inside the clairvoyant's home, Kaidia still found it difficult to breathe once she'd stepped inside. She walked into the center of the spacious front room and eyed the blaze in the fireplace with disdain.

  “Clairvoyant?” she asked of the seemingly empty room.

  “I do have a name, Dragon God,” a silky voice purred out of a dark corner of the room. Kaidia's head turned toward the sound just in time to watch the kyrian woman step from the shadows as if she were materializing from them.

  “You have yet to tell me what it is,” Kai responded.

  “You have yet to ask,” the kyrian retorted, a crooked smirk curving one side of her mouth.

  “So what is your name?” Kaidia inquired with a soft huff of exasperation.

  “Valis-Eve,” the clairvoyant answered. “Now what do you need of me?”

  “I do not suppose, with all of your strange talents, that you have a way to facilitate face-to-face communication with someone who is quite far away, do you?” Kai questioned with an arched brow.

  “Of course I do,” Valis-Eve responded indignantly, as if offended that her ability was ever in question. Kaidia arched a brow as the kyrian walked off to the corner of the room and opened the doors of a tall cabinet. Inside was a large mirror. Kaidia stepped over in front of the mirror and gave Valis a questioning look.

  “It's a mirror,” she stated flatly.

  “Not just a mirror. Look into it and think of who you want to speak with,” Eve instructed.

  “Surely it cannot be that simple,” Kai asserted, doubtful.

  “It is,” was Eve's response. The god gave the kyrian a long look, then turned her blue eyes toward the mirror and began to concentrate her thoughts on Rykar. The mirror darkened to a pitch black before an image came slowly into focus. Kai had to bite back a laugh.

  * * *

  “Rykar... Rykar... Rykar!”

  Rykar groaned and sat up. He glanced over to where Sage lay in bed next to him. She was asleep. He frowned. He could have sworn a woman had said his name. Assuming it to be part of his dream, her glanced around the room. When his eyes met those of a floating upper half of a body, he shouted and damn near fell out of the bed.

  “What the fuck!?”

  Sage bolted upright in bed and looked around, heedless of the fact that the sheet had fallen down and she was utterly nude.. Rykar fought to bring his hammering heart under control as he stared at the laughing upper half of Kaidia, floating in some rectangular window that shimmered with magic. Sage simply arched a brow at it. Either she'd seen something akin to it before, or she wasn't easily startled by halves of bodies floating in her bed chamber.

  “Morning, Rykar,” Kaidia said, her voice clear and undistorted by the sorcery that carried it into Sage's bedroom.

  “Damn you, woman! That is not how you wake someone up!” Rykar responded with some venom. Kai only laughed again.

  “It's past midday, what are you still doing in bed?” Kai asked. Rykar glanced to Sage, then looked back to Kaidia.

  “I had a lengthy evening,” he responded. Kai looked to Sage as if seeing her for the first time.

  “Hell, I would too. She's lovely,” Kai complimented with a smirk. This made Sage suddenly rather self-conscious and she pulled the sheets up over her breasts.

  “She is,” he agreed. “Now what is it you've come calling to tell me?”

  “Ah, that. They kyrians have agreed to go to war with us. They'll be leaving troops behind to guard their own borders and cities, of course, but the rest will be sent to Mehroth,” Kai explained.

  “I would expect that every nation that helps us will keep enough of their forces to themselves to guard their own interests. Zathias has agreed as well. Though gaining his allegiance was a bit of a task. I'll tell you of it later,” Rykar returned.

  “Good. I'm leaving here in the morning with a kyrian general. I figured we could meet at the fork in the road where we parted ways a couple of days ago,” Kaidia suggested.

  “That sounds just fine with me. I'll leave in the morning as well. If Malcade is lucky, I'll bring him along too,” Rykar said with a chuckle. Kaidia smiled.

  “Going to bring your blue-haired beauty along too?” she asked teasingly.

  “If she wants to come, I'd have no objections. But she has a business established here so I doubt that,” Rykar replied.

  “A shame. You two are cute together,” Kai quipped and was gone, magical window and all.

  “That woman. Always finding new ways to raise my blood pressure,” Rykar muttered.

  “Who was that?” Sage asked, silver eyes turning to Rykar.

  “That was Kaidia Valengaard, slayer of Adathir, hero of the King's Army, and God of Dragons,” Rykar said tiredly, waving a hand in a mockingly grandiose manner. “Also, my close friend.”

  The last part he said with a distinctly more sincere tone or so it sounded to Sage's ears.

  “Truly? That was her? Now I really wish I could go with you in the morning. I'd love to meet her,” Sage said, a pang of disappointment in her voice. Rykar arched a brow.

  “What? I'm not enough?” he asked in mock indignation.

  “Oh, hush. Though now I am curious about what you said,” the naked blacksmith said with a smirk.

  “What was that?” the king questioned.

  “You said you'd have no objections to me coming along. Sounds like you might like me or something,” Sage teased with a wink.

  “I wouldn't. You're intelligent, humorous, and beautiful. Not to mention, I will need a new forge master in Corrana as it is rebuilt and after,” Rykar said with a shrug of his shoulders. Sage noticed the order in which Rykar listed her qualities and was pleased that the man wasn't just attracted to her in a physical manner.

  “Are you offering me a job, King Rykar?” she asked, unsuccessfully attempting not to grin.

  “If you want it,” the man replied, letting his smile curve his lips freely. Sage just pressed a kiss to the man's smiling mouth as she moved to straddle his lap.

  Chapter VIII: Regroup and Travel to Silver Lake

  Kaidia awoke with the dawn and stretched. She slipped from the bed carefully, not wanting to wake the sleeping kyrian women who had, once more, spent the night in her chambers. The naked god padded across the fur covered floor of her chambers to the washroom in the back. She admired the fact that the kyrians, at least for their permanent cities, had successfully duplicated the running water and plumbing that the dwarves had engineered a few decades ago. It hadn't become common in ever
y household across Valen, but in the homes of the rich and important, as well as major city buildings, and nice inns, it was a must among every race. The Esmera might be the only race to implement running water even amongst its lowest class.

  Kaidia closed the cloth hanging in the doorway between the washroom and the main chamber before turning on the shower and stepping into the heated stream of water. The dwarves used great furnaces within their cities to heat their water when needed but the kyrians were using magic. Kai could sense the enchantment on the nozzle above her head. It warmed when water ran through it, thus heating the water itself. She took her time and enjoyed the warm water, washing herself quietly. After awhile, she turned the water off and turned about, only to arch a brow in surprise. Standing there, staring at her naked form, were three, smiling, just as naked, kyrian women.

  “Enjoying the show?” Kai asked with a smirk. All three of them nodded and there was a general murmur of complimentary purrs. “Well then, help me dress, would you?”

  * * *

  Kaidia was standing in the center of the room, the three kyrians, now dressed, were fussing over the plates and straps of her armor. The god had a rather amused look on her face as one woman batted the ear of another, causing her to hiss a curse in the kyrian tongue in response.

  “Play nice,” Kai admonished in a playful tone. Both of the women grumbled and went back to the armor straps they were adjusting while the third kyrian just shook her head.

  “You must think us silly, behaving like that,” she said.

  “No. Just your feline side taking hold for a moment. I find it quite endearing,” Kai replied. The woman smiled at that, a little blush creeping across her cheeks. A knock at the door brought all four sets of eyes to up. “Come in.”