Iliyal raced through a grand corridor. Olonia had mao patch herself back together, she was no longer g at the very least, but the elf still had his doubts. Training could be done quickly, but people rarely ged over the span of a night. Divines even more so. He heard a shout from the rearguard, followed by gunfire and a scream. “THERE’S MORE OF THEM!”

  “MORE OF WHAT?” Iliyal shouted back.

  “MORE DIVINES!”

  Kassandora looked down on that wooden ptform from her own. The storm of Worldbreaking died down around them as clouds of dusts fell with the failing winds. The ground stopped shaking, it’s fractures stopped expanding as rocks and dirt started to fall and close the ravihe only fires that remained where the bzing trees in the distance. She moved and as she did, she sed the envirohrough the eyes of her men.

  Fer’s beastmen were pulling themselves up from the ground, past that rocky pin which had been dragged up to protect from Iniri’s underground roots, it hadn’t done much, but it did serve to dey her offensive during the battle. The mages were gone. Killed by gunfire or swept up by Essa’s storm, a few small groups, like tiny flocks of oversized birds were visible in the distaheir blue shields of mana like dles in the night sky, they had mao put enough distaween them and CR to be out e, and with how little remained, Kassandora removed them from her list of priorities. They wouldn’t return, and if they did, there was more than enough here for them not to be a danger.

  Kassandora turned and saw Essa. Lying in that blue battledress, the ruhat had been pulsing and re-writing themselves now simple adors of fabric. She curled up into a ball and clutched at her knees, g. Fer was oher side of that ptform, standing tall, covered in matted hair, faended from her mouth, nails turned into cws, tail whipping from side to side. Hunched over, hungry golden eyes dang about as they searched for an opening. Kassandora was almost proud, that was the way the Goddess of Beasthood should look.

  And Anassa was stood iweeall and noble, with all the majesty not a queen but an empress should carry herself with. Straight packed, her dress flowing onto the wood around her as beads of sweat burst out on her head. She stood there, grim-faced, scarlet eyes locked on Fer.

  And as she fell, Kassandora ied the damage doo tral Requisitions through the eyes of her men. If the structure had been made of stone and brick, it would have crumbled already, but Iniri’s trees held and walls stood, the many braill remained now unmoving and silent without a storm to blow them about. Where the ground had split, roots were spreading as Iniri was handling the damages. A few men were hanging off ledges, ging on for dear life. Vines slowly crawled down walls and ed around their torsos, rabbed hold of hands and pulled them back to safety. Some of the warehouses had been ied, Essa’s mana had ighe treetops, and anything not bolted down had fallen into the ravines, but the fortress still stood.

  Impressive.

  Kassandora’s feet touched the ptform and she let go of her army. War’s Orchestra came to a close, there was no reason to involve her men in private family disputes. Anassa aared at each other, unmoving and silent, both challenging the other to make the first move. Children. Children, the lot of them. There was Arascus, there was Kassandora, and then there was a band of children. She had not signed up to be there damn mother. “Calm yourselves, both of you.” Kassandora said, she took a step and her armour disappeared.

  The air was refreshing with how cool it was. Her undershirt and shorts were both wet with sweat, she had not taken that suit of bck metal off sinassa’s barrier had gone up. She gave Joyeuse a casual swing, and the bde dematerialized mid-way through its pirouette. “Essa is too dangerous to be left alive.” Fer growled, her eyes settled ba Anassa. The Goddess of Magic groaned from the ground as Kassandora took a step iween her sisters. Both were taller than her, Anassa by a meagre amount, Fer by so much it wasn’t even funny.

  “She did not kill me, I will not allow her to be killed.” Anassa said. Kassandora sighed. Lovely. She wished Arascus was here. She had to reason with these fools, Arascus could just speak a over with.

  “It is not my fault she made a mistake.” Fer growled. Kassandora leaned forwards and looked past Anassa, at Essa on the ground. What a miserable little girl, was the breaking of a mere staff really that important to her? “A us not pretend that she kept you in luxury.”

  “She kept me alive.” Anassa said. “I pay my debts.” Kassandave ion oside, but her mind started to work. Anassa liked havis repaid to her, but since when did she start g about repaying them herself?

  “Your escape proves why she must die.” Fer said as Kassandora took a step around to Essa. She k down by the Goddess. “It is ohing to find a solution.” Fer said. “But it is arrogao think you imprison a Divine for eternity, she will break free eventually.”

  “I will not allow it.” Anassa said.

  “Move Anassa, or I will move you.” Fer growled, her cws clicked against each other.

  “You are not capable of that.” Anassa said.

  “Am I not?” Fer said haughtily. “Arrogance I haupidity is cute. But together they are a thhly bitter bination.”

  “Then I apologize for how bitter I am.” Anassa argued back. Kassandora put her hand on Essa’s shoulder and rolled the Goddess onto her back. She coughed and spat some blood out of her mouth, then rolled away from Kassandora. Utterly defeated, she had seen it in soldiers before. Damage that left the body intact but scarred the will, she had always thought the major Divines were immuo it.

  “Kassandora will agree with me.” Fer shouted. Kassandora only rolled her eyes, she knew she’d be dragged into the argumeually, she always was.

  “I do not care if all of yainst me. I will not plead Fer. Essa will not die here.” Anassa said coldly and Kassandora looked up at her sisters. Fer was right. Fer was correct. Anassa may be the more intellectually gifted of the two, but only fools called Fer stupid, she was far smarter than most people gave her credit for, frankly, Kassandora held Fer’s advi higher regard than Anassa’s. Anassa had knowledge but… that was the issue here. Anassa had knowledge and Anassa was cold and bitter and arrogant. Anassa wouldn’t lift a finger if she didn’t get some self-indulgent pleasure from it. And Anassa now was standing on the side of a White Pantheon member as if it was Irinika, or Olephia, or Kassandora or Fer herself lying on the ground behind her.

  Anassa had knowledge she did not share.

  “No.” Kassandora said as she stood up. What Anassa knew could be gleamed ter, it would be gleamed ter. But not now. “Essa is stopped.” Fer cracked a smile.

  “Stopped?” Fer asked. “Stop-start-stop-start-stop. Kill and be doh it.” And Fer was correct again. Essa should die because Kassandora would o spend a thousand years with Essa before she would willingly py trust in that woman. But then…

  “Essa is done.” Kassandora said. There was no point arguiy moralities here, the evil of killing and so on. All of them had lived long enough to be doh such trite. And maybe someone like Mam or Baalka would care for principles. But Anassa? But Fer? But Kassandora herself? What did they care about such things? There was defeat or victory; death or survival. War, Beasthood and Sorcery had little in on, but they all followed the w of the jungle.

  But that was why Kassandora was so curious as to why Anassa would go to such a length now.

  Anassa arguing her way out of a paper bag was impossible. The woman had strength, and that was all she had. Kassandora sighed as she took a step iween them. And Anassa was stubborn, there would be nothing to gain from questioning her now. Anassa, like the petunt, annoying, childish little girl she was, had to be aodated. “Fer, we do not have to kill her yet.”

  “Do we not Kassie?” Fer’s expression softened. “Do we not? How long until she wakes up and recovers her power?” Essa moaned from the ground as if she was in agreement with Fer trying to kill her. Kassandora wao skewer that woman, didn’t she realise she was making herself harder to defend?

  “She’ll be useful for diplomacy.” Kassandora quickly replied. That was true, there was no one who would deny such a cim. Fer smiled sweetly, her fangs revealed themselves and her eyes grew rge.

  “Her death will set a better example to the Pantheon and the world.” Fer said. “Sparing her is not mercy, it merely makes us seem weak. Will you let her go? What will your troops say when they have to repeat this theatre again?”

  And Anassa, like the moody little teenager she was, answered before Kassandora could get a word in. “I’m gd you’re on my side Kassie, but there-“

  “Shut up.” Kassandora merely growled, Fer gave Anassa a taunting smile but the Goddess of Sorcery did, in fact, shut up. “What do you want Fer?”

  “What I want is her death.” Kassandora sighed as Fer took a step to the side. Anassa moved with Fer. “Everyone here knows I am correct. Unless you give me a proper reason, then…” Fer trailed off as her ears shot up and turned. Iniri and Kavaa slowly rose from behind the edge of the ptform, carried by a massive branch that moved them up. Kassandora stared at the two. What did they think they were doing?

  Kavaa was a nice girl, but she was a healer. Kassandora treated her nicely because she was o be treated nicely. Iniri had been excellent itle, but her of the two were part of the leadership. This wasn’t some farce at diplomacy, this was Kassandora’s army. If she wao see them, she would have called. “I overheard the versation.” Iniri said. Kassandora’s eyes sed the ptform, theamped her foot on the wood. Good to know that the woman could listen even if sunflowers weren’t about. Kassandora wouldn’t have given information like that away. “And I agree with Fer.”

  “Iniri.” Kassandora said, then ged course immediately. Treating her in the way Alsaria had treated her would only result in morale breaking. A turn-cloak once, a turn-cloak forever. As long as the Pantheoed, Iniri had a way out as a spy. “Kavaa.” She made sure to include them both. “This is a family discussion.” Kassandora made sure her tone ologetic even though there was nothing to apologize for. “I appreciate the se, but…” She made the tone on purpose and crushed her pride. “Well, you must uand all three of us are rather defensive about this.” Fer smiled and took aep. Anassa once again matched her, to stay iween of Beasthood and Of Magic.

  “I think Iniri is wele to join, she is a Divioo after all.” Fer said, her face all smiles. Kassandora looked to Kavaa, her eyes motioo Anassa and Essa, and the Goddess of rayed that Kavaa would uand.

  Kavaa did in faderstand. “I do not wish for needless death.” And Kassandora wished that Kavaa had never even opened her mouth.

  “Death is death.” Anassa said. “Essa will stay alive because I wish for her to stay alive.” Kassandora sighed as Kavaa’s tilted her head to the woman.

  “You do uand I’m arguing for you?”

  “I do not need help in this argument.” Anassa said coldly. “Kassandora, Kavaa…” Anassa grit her teeth. “Thank you” She had to force those words out of herself, but Kassandora knew she meant it. “For your support, but your help isn’t needed.”

  “Are you alright?” Kavaa asked and tapped her finger against the top of her grey-silver hair. “In the head I mean.” Fer snorted in ughter.

  “Excuse me?” Anassa said.

  “Don’t pretend you didn’t uand me.” Kavaa said. She stepped forwards and took a stanext to Kassandora, Iniri backed Fer.

  “I did not ask for either of you two to defend me.” Anassa said.

  “Well if you wao list a hundred reasons I think Essa should die, then I !” Kavaa shouted at Anassa. Both Kassandora and Fer looked at her, crimson and golden eyes blinking shock. Kassandora a step iween Kavaa and Anassa, and Fer closed the distaween the Goddess of Health and herself. Anassa’s expression said everything that o be known. The Goddess of Sorcery was a delicate violin you did not force. You could py it to sing a tune, but the strings were delicate, and they had a tendency to snap more often than not.

  “Who are you to speak to me like that?” Anassa said. She rose into the air, Fer and Kassandora quickly shared a look. This wasn’t on, but it wasn’t unheard of either. Irinika had usually do in the past, but sometimes, Anassa really did deserve a kno the head to have some sense beaten into her. Kassandot ready to draw her upon Joyeuse and don her armour. Once she did that, it would be over, someone would end up needing healing.

  And Kavaa stepped forwards, arms on her hips, bent down as if she was talking to a little girl. Frankly, there was something in Kassandora that was extremely satisfied by that. “Am I even going to eain that question?! You kly who I am, Ana.” She said.

  “You do not kno-“ Anassa said and Kavaa cut her off. Kassandora blinked in shock.

  “Oh I know I’m talking to.” She extended an arm to Essa. “A hundred rational reasons for why she should die Ana. A hundred, a thousand even! There is no way tue for her survival. Even a moralist would have to admit she is so dangerous that it would be better to kill her and wait for an ination that wasn’t tainted with Worldbreaking.” She made her tone light. “But there is one reason, they should listen to you.” Kassandora still didn’t see it. Did Fer? What was even Kavaa aiming at? She saw Kavaa’s silver eyes nd ohen shih pure disappoi, thele on Fer.

  “What?” Fer asked cautiously.

  “Because Essa is obviously important to Ana. And because you’re family.” Kavaa said gently. And Anassa, even though she was being argued for, had her stupid little response ready. Kassandora wished she could just cut out that woman’s tongue.

  “That’s two.” Anassa snapped.

  “Did I ask for your input?” Kavaa barked. She didn’t even turn her head to bite back at Anassa, her voice full of snark. Kassandora’s pragmatid tried to find a method of reasoning. She simply did not see it. Anassa o be gently guided through everywhere, every time. She should be tricked for her own good, because she herself was terrible!

  But what Kassandora did not see, Fer must have. The Goddess of Beasthood chuckled for a few moments before speaking. “Well, you heard her Ana.”

  “I will not beg you.”

  “Aher will I reason with you.”

  And Kavaa shouted at Anassa. She actually raised her void wagged her finger! “STOP BEING A CHILD AND ASK! SHE’S YOUR SISTER! I’D SAY FOR DIVINE’S SAKE BUT YOU’RE THE DIVINE!” Anassa dropped back to the ground. She opened her mouth. She closed it. She ope again. She got angry. She calmed down. She let out a sigh. She began with a wordless sound. She stopped herself. She sighed. Her arms dropped to her sides.

  “Will you spare Essa’s life?” She didn’t even have the decy to look at them, instead her stared at her fingers as they fiddled with one another. And she added the quietest “Please” ever uttered on Arda, Kassandora would missed it if she wasn’t a Divine.

  And Fer howled with ughter. The gap between them was closed, and Fer picked Anassa up in a hug. There would definitely be cracked ribs, but Kassandora, nor Fer, nor Kavaa, nor Iniri, nor Anassa herself cared at that point. Kassandora just stared at the dispy in awe.

  To subdue Anassa like that…

  Amazing…