“I what?” Runner asked when she said nothing further.
“Ate me. You ripped the power out of my hands, stuffed it into yourself, and then pulled my entire being along for the ride. Then you latched onto the tie that binds me to my sisters, and ate them, too. All you had to do was ask, lovey, I would have happily arranged a four-way.” Amelia laid her cheek down on her forearms, gazing up at him in that lovingly crazed way of hers.
“I’m afraid I still don’t really understand,” Runner said, getting a touch annoyed. He levered himself up to a sitting position and poked Amelia in the forehead.
“You took me, us, and made us yours. You didn’t join our pantheon, so much as made us your personal pantheon. That compulsion nonsense should be gone, so you can summon me lots again. I’m not complaining either, happy to be under you. In whatever way you fancy. Especially here,” Amelia said, raising a hand and pointing at the sky.
“My plane? My plane was dark, full of shadows, pain, death. This? This is… this is wonderful. It’s alive. I can feel every person who lives here on the mortal side of this. They worship you so intensely and with love. It nourishes me. Feeds my soul.”
Amelia’s voice trailed off near the end, her broken smile shifting ever so subtly into something a bit warmer.
Brunhild sighed and pressed her thumb and forefinger to the bridge of her nose.
“In other words, Runner is whom we serve, and his power pool is ours and vice versa?” she asked, apparently directing the question at Amelia.
“Yep! Though not really. We don’t have his power pool, he has ours. Ain’t it grand? It’s everything we wanted and more. He’s not bound by the rules. He can do so much. So very much,” Amelia enthused. Closing her eyes, she turned herself a bit to the side and curled up around Runner’s legs.
“I missed you, lovey. My sisters were right to warn me away though. It hurt so good. It hurt.” Amelia surprisingly began snoring a few seconds after her voice went silent.
“I’m sorry, Brighteyes, Angel. I don’t even know what happened. I was looking inward at something Sunshine did to me and lost myself. I felt someone reaching for me. I didn’t realize at the time what was going on and leapt at it, trying to get back. I’m so sorry.”
Brunhild lifted her head up, gave him a loving smile, and waved a hand at him.
“It’s done. And she’s not wrong either. I only ask that you treat us well, Runner.”
“I don’t—are you saying you serve me now? Like a lower rank to a higher rank?”
“Amelia, our dear sister, accepted whatever you did and surrendered herself over completely. Which in turn surrendered us to you as well. I can only guess until we start looking into it, but I’m betting she sold us to you as slaves for nothing.”
Runner felt like his brain was finally catching up, and the small piece of his mind that the program inhabited felt like it switched on as well.
“The simple answer is for me to swear a binding agreement to treat you as equals and insure that we work cooperatively as a pantheon, then.”
“That is what you would will? You have three goddesses at your beck and call, for any reason, and you would prefer that?” Ernsta asked, her eyes locking onto him.
Snickering, Runner shrugged his shoulders. Reaching out with his hand, he lightly brushed Amelia’s hair back from her forehead.
“It’ll sound conceited, and pigheaded, but you were all already mine. We were still in the figuring things out phase, but we all knew where it was going. It was fun, at least from my own point of view. I’d like to go back to that if possible. If that means swearing a binding agreement to be equals, so be it. I don’t want slaves,” Runner said. Amelia snorted in her sleep and wiggled her nose. “Well, she can remain my slave. Crazy little broken thing.”
Runner smiled, curling a lock of her hair around her ear.
“She’s only that way around and about you, my precious lamb. She’s quite the little monster otherwise. She loves us as sisters, but to others she is a swift and unmerciful death.”
Ernsta came over and squatted down in front of him, watching him.
“I swear to treat you three as equals, never as inferiors. That my vote and opinion should only ever weigh as much or as little as yours. Finally, I forsake all powers of command over you. These are so sworn until you all three release me from it without coercion or persuasion,” Runner pledged. A flash of light brightened the sky for a second and then vanished.
Brunhild sent her dark hair to and fro as she shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her lips.
“Captured and released in the same day. Should I be insulted?” Brunhild wrinkled her nose, her smile widening.
“No, not in the least. Now, I really should be going back. Satomi and Hannah might do something rash. How long has it been?”
“An hour. No more. We will remain here since this is now our plane. I’m… glad to be here, Runner. I may jest about the situation but I feel it to be the best outcome for all parties. It speeds up my timetables for you considerably, but it’s an outcome I would have chosen if given the chance,” Brunhild admitted, her eyes traveling to the distant city of Eden and its stone buildings.
“A lovely place. I feel all of our departed here. They’re restful. Happy.
“Amelia was right. This place is warm. It nourishes me in a way I did not expect. I shall enjoy dwelling here. There’s even a breeze.” Ernsta lifted her head as the wind pulled at her hair.
“As for our sister, have no fear, we’ll care for her. I imagine you emptied her of her personal divine power before you moved on to our pool. She merely needs rest. To leave, focus on leaving. That you desire to return to the mortal plane. Or if someone is calling to you, you can focus on that.”
Runner didn’t hear anyone calling out for him so instead focused on opening a portal home. To leave and return to Norwood. To his bedroom specifically.
Brunhild and Ernsta looked on as a portal unzipped itself from nothing and opened a way to the mortal plane.
It opened a few feet from him, and on the inside he could see the bedroom as he remembered it. The edges of it looked like an electrical current. Or static on a screen.
Tousled sheets, book in the alcove, not much light. A true disaster.
I wonder if I could channel this into a spell.
Lifting his eyebrows at the thought, he promised to put some time aside later for it.
“Right, then. Apologies, Minxy,” Runner said, shifting out from under the sleeping Amelia.
“I’ll see you soon, ladies. We’ll need to discuss this further I’m sure. For now, I need to get back. Always more things to do.”
Runner bowed to them and then walked through the portal. Glancing around, he found all as he’d expected.
Moving to the door, he checked his minimap. Both Hannah and Satomi were in Hannah’s room.
He opened the door to the hallway, padded across, and opened the door to Hannah’s personal room.
Inside he found Satomi and Hannah sitting side by side on her bed. Both had turned their head to the door as it swung open.
“Morning. I think? Probably. Thanks for the assist, Vixen. Minxy took care of me.” Runner grinned at them as the door clicked shut behind him.
Hannah blinked, her face a mask of anger and annoyance. When she walked over to him, he figured he was about to get hit, but she hugged him fiercely instead.
She patted him on the back and then left, the door closing quietly behind her as she left her own room.
“That wasn’t odd or anything,” Runner said, looking to Satomi.
“Give her time and space. She is a stubborn woman. She knows her own thoughts, simply not how to follow them.” Satomi stood and walked up to him.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Oh, you know. Almost killed myself when I went deep diving into a computer program in my head. Then I kinda dominated the Triumvirate, turned them into my personal goddess slave harem, and burnt their planes to cinders and forced the
m to live in mine. They’re now waiting at home for me to come back while I take care of work.”
Satomi’s gold eyes blinked slowly. Then she nodded.
“Good. A messenger arrived while you were out. There is news from Tirtius and the mainland. None of it is good news, I am afraid.”
Runner rolled his eyes and nodded.
“Of course. Fix one, two break. Lay it on me, beautiful Vixen of bad news,” Runner lamented.
“The mainland grows ever worse. A fourth force has taken the field. We have no details except that they have won two battles and lost one. Rike is in possession of the port of Norman and holds it. The others attack her constantly and keep her on the defensive.”
“Alright. Definitely news for the worse. What else?”
“Rike launched her navy a few months ago. The human kingdom has been breached. The southern port of Dover fell to Rike a month ago. Thana and Katarina left to battle them with a coalition force to reclaim it. That was two weeks ago.
“I’ve dispatched several ships laden with supplies, primarily food and water, to serve as surplus for them. I suspect this is not over.”
Runner felt his heart skip a beat. He cleared his throat, then swallowed.
“I see. Anything else?”
“Their majesties, Helen, Vasilios, and Basile, have arrived. I have sequestered them in the finished royal apartment wings of the keep. I dispatched a messenger to Faye requesting her immediate return along with every soldier that she can muster.”
Runner grunted and laid his hand on Satomi’s head, stroking one of her ears lightly.
“Thank you, my bonded Vixen. Even when I can’t perform, you take care of everything. I’m going to go greet our guests, see if there is anything they need, and maybe drop by to see Lobu. Do you have any needs?”
Satomi nodded her head once, her ears fluttering a little under his touch.
“You will not repeat what you did earlier. Ever. You will not allow yourself to fall into such a state that you were in this morning. When I entered your mind I found you to be… not good. You will seek me out next time. I will do whatever I must. I will not neglect you again, bonded. I apologize.”
Runner flicked her in the forehead and then gave her ear a light tug.
“Stupid. You did nothing wrong. I promise to seek you out sooner. Please feed and care for Sunshine for me. I need to get a leg on.”
Runner let the conversation end and fled the manor. He would be “returning” as it were today. Time to get his costume on.
Twenty minutes later he was dressed in a resplendent black-and-red surcoat. There was no coat of arms and not a stitch of decoration. He wasn’t trying to appear as their equal, but more as a knight or chevalier.
After belting a long sword at his hip, donning his leather gloves, and drawing on his boots, he felt ready.
Runner went to the royal apartments in the keep, intending to pay his respects first to Queen Helen. If his plans came to fruition, she’d be someone he’d have to contend with on a regular basis. Better to greet her first.
Straightening his shoulders, he knocked twice with a firm hand.
The door opened smoothly, and a Barbarian he didn’t know stared at him.
“Greetings, I am Runner Norwood. I’ve come to pay my respects to Queen Helen,” Runner said, betraying no emotion other than respect in his address.
“Norwood!” came a deep yet feminine voice from inside the apartment. “Let him in, fool, get out of the way.”
Runner felt a grin light upon his face and he lightly shouldered the Barbarian in front of him out of the way.
Moving to the back of the rooms, he found the queen. She was standing from a table she had been sitting at. Every other person in the vicinity found a convenient excuse to be elsewhere.
She had features that ran similar to Katarina’s in nearly every way. She was older and more mature, yet still beautiful, with a stately air about her.
She’s young enough to remarry. Would she? Would she try for another child? Her court is so very different than what it was.
“Queen Helen, it’s a blessing to see you.” Runner came before her and started to bow, but the queen wrapped him up in a firm hug.
“Ah! It’s good to see you as well, Norwood. Since you visited my realm I swear I’ve been blessed by fortune ten times over.”
“Oh? I’m glad to hear it,” Runner said, truly grateful to hear that. “I’m surprised. I thought you might be upset over how many of your people I took.”
Queen Helen laughed and stepped back from him. She was taller than he, as most Barbarians were.
“I would trade thrice that number to you, for what you did. Come, come, sit. I’m sure you’ve heard the news?” Helen gestured at a chair at the table.
“Indeed I have. My general has been recalled. I shall be moving to engage once we’re prepared for an extended engagement.” Runner sat at the table, setting his hands down in front of himself.
“I knew you would. Worried for your Kitten?” Helen said it casually as if she were only prodding at him. The wolflike grin and her eyes said otherwise. She knew he worried for her and trusted her at the same time.
“Hardly. Between her and Thana I have no doubt they’ll succeed. My concern is the counterattack after that. Our opponents are not entirely mortal. I fear that I’ll need to invoke our Triumvirate at some point.”
Helen nodded her head at that and looked him over once more. Runner felt like she wanted to ask him a question. This might be the best chance she’d have to open a deeper, and private, dialogue with him.
“Ask it. I’ll answer. I won’t lie to the mother of my Katarina,” Runner said simply, opening one hand to gesture at Helen.
Helen shifted her weight a fraction. His direct approach threw her off.
Letting out a slow breath, Helen smiled at him, a bright smile much like her daughter’s.
“I can definitely see why she chose you. So be it. What are your intentions?”
“Towards what? Your daughter, the country of Norwood, Tirtius, or the mainland?”
Helen’s eyebrows went up.
“If you’re willing, then all.”
“Marry, expand, consolidate, conquer.”
Helen’s eyebrows drew down to the tops of her eyes. She had an expressive face.
“I approve of three of those. There is one that concerns me.” Helen didn’t look upset. There was a clear curiosity there though.
“Tirtius needs a unified government. I believe the three nations should come together and elect a governing body to rule over them. Something that can be enacted easily and respond to emergency situations. This port situation is a good example of the problem, and the need for an answer,” Runner clarified.
Helen’s fingers began to lightly tap against the wood of the table. Runner had no doubt she was as quick as her daughter if not more so. The problem he’d detailed out for her was obvious. When it was laid bare under the context of recent events, perhaps doubly so.
“Your statement has merit. A lot of merit. I will consider it. What would your role be in this?” Helen asked. Her question felt like an open pit to him.
“None. I am personally not part of Tirtius nor is the isle of Vix. If you wished me to be a part of it, I would be delighted to discuss the opportunity.”
Helen weighed that statement carefully before slapping her palm onto the table and pointing at him with the same hand.
“I shall hold you to that, Norwood,” Helen promised. “Forgive me, having heard this I believe I would like time to discuss it with my court.”
“I understand completely, Queen Helen. We can speak again later. I need to pay my respects to your neighbors anyway.”
Helen’s mouth turned into a frown at that.
“Vasilios is a prideful man. Strong and fair, but prideful. He also seems quite attached to that beard of his. Even if it does look refined, it does little to hide his character. He may not receive you as well as you would hope,” Helen warned.
“I will keep that in mind. I thank you for your time.” Runner bowed his head to her and excused himself. The door guard opened the door and closed it firmly behind him.
One down. Two to go.
If he could get them to all work together and decide on a council or anything of that nature, he would have less to worry about. They’d be hard-pressed to war on one another if they shared a collective administration.
And that’ll leave me free to conquer the mainland.
Sighing at the scope of his plan, Runner made his way across the hall to the next slot for visiting royalty.
Shaking off the successful visit with Helen, Runner focused his mind once more.
He knocked twice against the door, then abruptly found himself staring into the face of the Sunless Knight he’d been captured by.
“Runner Norwood. His majesty is expecting you, and welcomes you,” the Knight said, standing to one side of the door.
“I appreciate his majesty’s courteous reception.” Runner stepped past the Knight and found Vasilios holding court in an adjoining study.
He was seated, and around him gathered quite a few of his nobles and advisers.
“Ah! Master Norwood. Come, come,” said the king, gesturing to Runner. “You’re all dismissed, thank you.”
Runner stood casually before the king, wondering if he would be greeted as an equal or an inferior.
Then the king stood up and held out his hand, which Runner grasped firmly.
“It is good to see you, man. Very good to see you. Since you left, it would seem nothing but goodness has sprung up around us. The Damalis family became a rock for us. We had never known of them before you rose them up before ourselves. A fool are we to have had such a thing in our ranks and never seen it.”
“Your royal self had no idea, as this world had intended it to be so.” Runner released the man’s hand and scanned his face briefly.
He had aged a bit since he’d seen him last. Though executing your wife, many of your trusted council, your daughter, and a good portion of your guard would do that.
He still had the look of a middle-aged man, though his beard was new. New and liberally sprinkled with gray.
Otherlife Awakening: The Selfless Hero Trilogy Page 20