The Court of Souls?_Volume 2_Agent of the Realm?

by Andur

  “And they found a way to counteract that weakness. I bet that their plan was to draw all your troops into the capital. Once their terror attack went down, our troops would have been busy with saving civilians. The perfect opportunity to open a portal in a rural area and start sending troops. By the time the army has regained its mobility, they face a force which outnumbers them.”

  His assessment of their strategy makes sense. But if he is right, then why hasn’t Charles heard anything about the portal? “Is there a possibility that they managed to inform their homeland of their failure? If not, then the second part of their plan must still be in the workings.”

  Charles shakes his head. “I doubt that they haven’t heard about what happened. The terror attack on the capital hit the news right away.”

  I grin. “Yes, but if they had opened a portal anywhere close, then your people must have sensed it. So if they haven’t, apart from Zhon’s portal, then their army is still waiting on the other side, without an update regarding the situation. After all we slightly deviated from Zhon’s plans. Maybe they haven’t sent word, since they thought that Zhon got through anyway.”

  Marcus’s expression turns to a wicked grin. “And if that’s the case, then we just have to find the place where they prepared the portal. And once we open that with a little preparation of our own, we have a straight gateway to their base of operations. Wherever it is.”

  I smile at him, not caring to hide the malicious intent in my expression.

  46. ~Who.~

  “I already gave you my daughter, so don’t expect any more presents… ever!

  -Shade”

  The Journey to the Afterlife

  Kingdom Newerth, Capital City

  Seria

  “It would fit with the information which we got from Zhon. The only thing we have to do, is to verify his story. But I think he didn't mention the location of the portal in his tale. Too bad that we can't ask my Dad.” I ball my hands into fists, cursing myself for the negligence. It was such an obvious thing to do and now it bites us in the ass. A little more planning and our task would have been that much easier. “I guess we will have to search the surrounding land the traditional way.”

  “Don't fret. I highly doubt that he knew the exact location of the portal. It would be stupid for an agent who is operating behind enemy lines to know such mission-critical information. If he had been caught, the whole mission would have failed,” Marcus comforts me.

  I nod, seeing his point. If Zhon had that information, Dad would have given it to us. Father is very thorough when it comes to interrogation. Vital information such as the location of an enemy base would have been pointed out. Zhon probably didn't even know about the attack on the city. He was in charge regarding the palace and that's it.

  “So we are back to square one, unless one of the search parties gets lucky. We have to wait for the arrival of my parents and secure something that allows my father to locate the enemy.” I turn towards Charles. “Have you secured the stone which Zhon used to open the portal? The remaining energy signature should be enough to follow it to wherever Zhon wanted to go. I want to be on the attacking side for once.”

  Charles nods. “Of course we have it. We wouldn't let such a dangerous artefact fall into the wrong hands. But first...” His attention turns to Marcus. “We have to address the lies in your story.”

  Marcus forces a cringing smile into his expression. “Lies? Which lies? I never would have the audacity to lie to you. I know that you recognize such things immediately.”

  The king squints his eyes at Marcus and purses his lips, considering something. “Ok. Let's not call it lies, but things you haven't said. You are very good when it comes to manipulating the truth, Marcus. I couldn't help but notice that your story was very thin regarding Seria's realm and her parents. Of course, your explanation on Dedessia and Dedessian culture was detailed enough, but you didn't mention why you trust them so much. What makes you think that Seria and her people are any better than the spirits?”

  Oh, I know the answer! “We don't eat people?” Though you will probably have to pay tribute in chocolate. I better don't mention that.

  A glare from Charles causes me to drop my hand, admitting the hypocrisy in my statement. Dedessian history is full of cases of cannibalism. The old practises are almost completely gone since my parents started their reign. Spirit meat is still standard food though.

  And to be honest, my parents never really forbade eating our foes.

  Marcus stares at his father, considering his options. Then he shrugs. “You may know them under different names. Like Angrod and Celes, or Ascathon and Celestial? The Ascended?”

  Clarity's eyes widen and her attention switches to me. “The goddess of death!”

  “The Executioner!” Charles calls out. “Now I understand how she was able to close a portal almost on her own and slay a divine beast while doing so!”

  Charles and Clarity are looking at me as if I am dangerous. I decide to use Marcus as a shield. Their gazes are making me uncomfortable. I've no problem with standing naked in front of a crowd, but being looked at in such a manner is troubling me. Is that what Marcus felt when he had to endure the inspection of my parents? “Goddess of Life and Death! Please remember that. The 'Life' is important, though I admit that I lean towards the latter subject.”

  It's much easier to 'off' people, than to put them back together.

  Marcus sighs. “Seriously? Now you have objections against her? You know that her parents are ten times more dangerous? Be happy that Seria and her parents are on our side. And she even is a true princess! The complaint that her standing is too low doesn't count.”

  Charles raises an inquisitive eyebrow. “Are they? And her social status was never a question. You know that. Shouldn't I be more worried about the fact that you invited such people to our realm?”

  I nod... then I shake my head... then I nod again. Aw! How should we answer that. It feels like lying to Charles would be a bad idea in this situation. “Mom and Dad are, per definition, always on their own side. Everyone else can stay out from under foot, or be squashed.”

  “I don't think that was the correct way to put it,” Marcus grumbles.

  “But it's true! I just tried to show them the way which involves the least pain,” I counter.

  Marcus sighs and raises his hands, with their palms out, in a calming gesture. “Look, I've met them in person. I've even lived one of my previous lives with them. They aren't as bad as one might think. It's just that they overreact when someone threatens them. They aren't people who take commands from anyone.”

  Except from each other, but I better don't mention that. “Yes. And the spirits and their minions are pissing them off. So you only benefit from working together with us. We have a common enemy after all.”

  “You never mentioned that you lived with them!” Clarity calls out. “Why did you never tell me that you had such a harsh life? Am I not your mother!?”

  Marcus bites his lower lip and the corner of his left eye starts twitching. I think I remember that behaviour from our previous life. Nathan always did that when his brain was one moment away from frying.

  “Look, Mom. I am sorry that I didn't even try to go through an eternity of memories with you. If we did that, this version of the multiverse would probably end before we are done. So why don't we return to the important issues. Like mad spirit beings who are about to take over our dimension, a war between two multiverses and traitors wherever we look?” He spreads his hands and gestures wildly.

  “You forgot that there seems to be an evil version of my father,” I add.

  His expression turns sour. “We already established that this isn't a mirror-verse. For all we know your father might be the evil one.”

  I tilt my head, considering the possibility. “No. He is batshit crazy with a total disregard for human life, but that doesn't make him any more or less evil than a force of nature.”

  Charles raises a hand. “Just stop. P
lease... just stop. I can't take it any more. So when are your parents due to arrive, Seria? And what can they do to aid us? Will they help out with troops, or technology, what do I have to expect?”

  I open my mouth to answer, then I close it again. We indeed forgot to discuss the topic. At least my parents didn't feel the need to tell me what they will do once the pathways are open.

  Marcus sighs and answers for me. “They said that they will follow with their capital city. Shade said that he wants to go directly after Moonray if he finds any hint of his whereabouts.”

  Now it's my turn to look baffled at my husband. “When did he say that?”

  Marcus shudders, carefully avoiding eye contact. “He arranged for a little discussion in private when I was alone. It was shortly before our departure. There were some things he wanted to clarify with me. From father to son-in-law, or so he said.”

  47. ~Arrival.~

  “Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless.”

  The Journey to the Afterlife

  Kingdom Newerth, Capital City

  Marcus

  I follow Seria into her shop. After we cleared things up with my family, we left my parents and let them take care of the army and issue orders. We also ensured that the portal stones are ready once Seria's parents decide to show up. I hadn't thought about it before, but my father had the bright idea that the cornerstones which were used to summon the portal at the university grounds could also be helpful. Once Shade arrives, he will have more than enough artefacts to work with.

  My eyes wander involuntarily to Seria's backside and I hum in appreciation. One day that woman will make me lose my mind. At least she decided to have a quick battle with me. We used a small closet to get some privacy before we came here. Though I am not a fan of doing it in odd places. Gods, I am also beginning to fear that our sexual relationship might develop in the wrong direction. We are doing it in too many random places, instead properly in a bed.

  Seria's staff is hard at work when we enter. Adea is in her usual place, but when she sees us, she jumps up and hurries to Seria and hugs her. “We heard that you fell through a portal! They all said that you have to be dead, but I never believed them. I am so glad that I was right!”

  Seria pats Adea's head while she greets Jimmy and Patricia. “I am happy that you folk are fine. And I see that you followed my instructions regarding the shop.”

  Jimmy's expression turns to an uncomfortable smile. “I am glad that I didn't have to give my life in protection of the store.”

  Patricia furrows her forehead, but decides not to comment on the subject. Instead she serves come coffee and chocolate cake for all of us. “You gave my daughter a real fright. And me too. Please try to inform us in case of future absence. We think of you as family.”

  Seria chuckles. “I am sorry, but I think I can't predict when I'll fall through random portals. At least I got to see my parents. My mother sends you greetings, Adea. She says that she will be coming to visit you soon.”

  Adea stiffens with her arms still around Seria. “I thought they were far, far away?”

  “That's still the case. But they decided to pay this realm a visit when we asked them for help.”

  My comment was intended to clear up the situation, but Adea lets out a shocked gasp. “They are coming here? When?”

  “As soon as they are able to. Don't worry, Adea. Mom didn't sound as if she is angry with you.” Seria returns the hug and squeezes Adea.

  The girl turns even paler. “No. I didn't mean it that way. It was just... this life. At first it sucked and then it got so much better. I thought that this might turn out to be a genuinely good lifetime. But now I am becoming involved with your parents again... and... and...”

  “Oh, please. They aren't that bad,” I try to appease her in order to comfort the girl, but it has the opposite effect.

  “Of course they aren't that bad! But there is always something going on with them! Isn't there? Once, we had this night and we got really drunk. Then we had this contest and talked about our previous lifetimes. Ascathon and Celestial are always involved in something! From rampaging gods, to soul eating monsters. And if they aren't being attacked by some monster, they try to take over the multiverse! I had my fair share of power hunger, but even on my peak I only ever thought about taking over a world, or two!”

  At that moment, Adea realizes that she had an outburst. She turns around to peek at her mother who is looking at her with new eyes. “Hahaha... not that I ever subjugated a world. I would never do such a thing.”

  Seria snorts. “Yeah. Just a continent or two. Don't deny that you aren't much better. And right now you are snuggling up to one of this country's princes, setting yourself up for a position of power. I wonder who is the one with power hunger.”

  Adea pales and opens her mouth like a fish, but I step in. “Why don't we stop this and enjoy our time while we wait for new information. Without any leads, all we can do is to wait.”

  Seria sighs and lets the subject go, instead she sits down at the bar and digs into the chocolate cake. Then she takes a sip from the coffee and groans in pleasure. “Ohhh. I really missed this. Just a few days without coffee and I felt like some addict on withdrawal.”

  While Adea opts for a silent retreat, I take the seat next to Seria and forego the fork. Instead I pick up the cake with my fingers and indulge myself. Yep, I never complained about Dedessia's food, but this is definitely better than salted meat strips and bread.

  I wasn't in Dedessia for long enough to really feel the lack of different food-stocks. But from what Seria told me, their entire food industry stands on just two legs. The first one is spirit meat, mostly salted or cooked. The second one are the fruits of Yggdrasil and some wheat from the safe zones. Spices and sugar are rare. There are projects to create them artificially, but without the proper plants to mass produce them, people have to do without.

  Seria's mother already started a revolution in creating sugar plants and industrial methods to recreate what many remember from other worlds. But those projects can only be executed in a limited quantity. Things are a lot better from what I heard, but there still isn't much room for luxury.

  A sudden explosion stops my daydreams. I blink and look around, noticing that a lot of people outside the shop are pointing at the sky. I get up and hurry to get outside where I join the crowd of spectators. They are all watching the sky, where a large, blue rift of energy was formed.

  Only then I realize that the explosion wasn't so much an explosion, as more a very loud 'crack'. As if lots and lots of air was suddenly displaced from one moment to the next.

  And that's exactly what happened. Somehow, someone tore a hole into our dimension. As I eye the spectacle with suspicion, I am joined by Seria and Adea.

  “It seems like Dad couldn't wait any longer and went for the brutish method,” Seria comments on the scene with a raised eyebrow.

  As if on command, the large, central disc of Dedessia's capital city shoves itself through the widening rift and reveals a network of glowing pathways in the netherworld between the worlds. I force my attention to the people around us and realize that the whole city stopped moving in order to watch. “Great. Your parents could have given us a little more warning,” I complain.

  Seria tries to downplay the situation. “Aw, you know how they are. Sometimes I have seriously considered hiring a PR-manager for the sole purpose of limiting their stunts to manageable levels.”

  As Seria ends her complaint, the last part of Dedessia's capital floats through the rift which promptly closes behind the city. Once that's done, I watch the gigantic construct as it hovers above my city, blotting out the sun. I hope that nobody overreacts. With all the recent attacks, all we need is one trigger happy person to cause a panic.

  Then the rippling effect of a teleportation spell influences the air in front of us and Shade and Elona appear out of nowhere. “Butterfly! I was so anxious about letting you go back alone.
I simply had to speed up the process. I hope you stashed away some chocolate for me.” Shade raises a hand in greeting, hugging Elona's waist with the other.

  Errr, yeah. A guy with golden, glowing eyes and horns on his head. And a woman snuggling to his chest with horns, wings, and a tail draped around him. This isn't going to work.

  “Kyaaaaa!” It starts with one hysteric scream from a woman who was sitting close to Shade and Elona. In the next moment all the civilians are running, emptying the street in record time.

  Shade doesn’t seem to notice the chaos around us. Instead he strolls forward and plucks the chocolate cake out of my hand. I didn’t realize that I was still holding it.

  He takes a hearty bite and a smile which covers his face blooms while he is chewing. Apparently that’s all it takes to appease this invader.

  Seria huffs and places her fists at her hips. Then she slowly looks around, taking in the scene. Her eyes stay for a moment at the now empty shop. Well, except for Jimmy and Patricia, who are still holding their positions at the bar. The latter one with a broomstick in her hands. I wonder what she thinks she can do with that against the godking. Adea must have also fled the scene at some point, since she is hiding behind her mother.

  At last, Seria returns her attention to her parents. “You two are bad for business!”

  48. ~On a counter.~

  “The stuff I build always works as intended, which doesn’t mean that it works as you wish it to.”

  The Journey to the Afterlife

  Kingdom Newerth, Capital City