Chapter 160: Within/Without
We didn’t leave the castle until the day after the next. All the while, I pored over ledgers and skimmed old books. Seyari “advised” as she put it, which mostly meant sitting around and complaining that she couldn’t go out flying. I asked her why she didn’t just go, and she glared at me, punctuating the expression with an eyeroll at how I could possibly miss something so obvious.
While I did see my daughter and sister, the former was more curious about Seyari’s transformation than anything, and the latter seemed reticent to say more than a few words. She also refused any form of hugging, which I took to be a bad sign. Worse still, Taava wouldn’t shadow her because she “didn’t want to end up kazzel-cicle.”
So I worked. And worked. Without sleep or food. And without those, time started to slip me by, and I had to be told what day it was when I’d finished. Thankfully, it had been hardly more than one.
Still…
At least I knew enough about Astrye now to ask the right questions about my territory, and I’d learned some of the basics of being nobility. Some information I threw out, and thankfully most of that was reserved for wealthy noble families in charge of rich regions, not frozen valleys with hardly two thousand people.
That was not all there was to Astrye. A few smaller communities existed to the east and west. The operative tense being past. Who knew what was there now—if they were untouched and oblivious, or erased entirely? The runners would return soon—and then I’d fly where I was needed.
It felt odd not doing the running myself, but I was needed here for defense at the moment, and I also had a lot of work to do. An odd notion.
Right now, we had lookout stations to set up to forewarn the city, and a pass to clear. We needed food and other supplies, and a cleared pass was vital for that. Normally, the task would be too dangerous.
Sey and I also had a wedding to plan. Married or not, we wanted a party. Invitations would be going out soon—no reason not to hold it here.
Right now, however, my duty was to address the “city” of Astrye as the region’s new ruler. To assuage their fears and reassure them that, yes, I only killed bad people. As such, I’d worn the purple dress I’d saved the city in. Probably not the greatest image to conjure, but I had no other fine clothing.
I checked my appearance in the mirror one last time, just to give myself a confidence boost, then strode out of the inn and into the town’s main square. There was no platform for me to stand on, but I made do with my natural height.
Arrayed around the square, in windows, and even on rooftops, were the people of Astrye. My people, now—in law but I hoped to get there in spirit as well. A half and half mix of human and lupael, they wore simple, thick clothing, and held bright eyes up against the morning chill. Some eyes were still red around the edges—those who had lost people.
And in some of the eyes, I saw fury—felt it lingering over the crowd like a miasma. I sucked in a breath, and pulled the emotion in with me, marveling at how easy it was. The vestiges I left—some anger was deserved.
Nadya and Seyari stood by the well in the center of the square, dressed in warm clothing that contrasted with my own formal wear. They were now town’s mayor and the marchioness consort. Near the front of the crowd, I spotted my sister in plain clothes standing next to Joisse, Nelys, and Taava. On a rooftop above, Brynna sat with her sister. I even saw the familiar face of Doryn, the young lupael I’d met in a root cellar the day I’d arrived.
His name had stuck with me, somehow.
“People of Astrye,” I began, my voice booming out loud enough to reach everyone. “By order of King Carvalon of Edath, I, Zarenna Miller, have been granted the title Marchioness of Astrye. This, you know.
“You also know that I am a demon.” The words set the crowd to muttering, as if my appearance and outfit hadn’t fully sunk in. “A greater terrestrial wrath demon, specifically, but only one word here is important: wrath. For I am more than most of my kind; I am Wrath’s master. To be a wrath demon is to fight against a river of fury that ever threatens to drown you. To be the Sovereign of Wrath, as I am, is to control that flow, to shape it to my will.”
“We are all righteously angry. Furious and wrathful against the vile hand of Theodric Mordwell, and those with whom he conspires. I will see your—our—wrath realized, but I will not do so at Astrye’s expense. Mordwell and the others who have taken so much should not hold sway over our thoughts or actions such that we lose sight of what we need to survive—and survive well. And for those who wonder how a demon can hunt her own, think. Do not humans war amongst themselves?”
“Right now, we need food for winter.” At that, I got a few cheers, and scattered clapping. A fair few of the angry glares softened, and I felt the motion ebb without my further influence. “We need an open pass that connects us to Edath. And we need leaders who listen and understand.” I gestured to Nadya, who stepped forward.
“I am Nadya.” The corners of her mouth tilted up in a half-smile. “I imagine most all you know of me. Marchioness Miller has entrusted me with the position of mayor, such that I can use my knowledge to best help us heal—and grow.” She repeated the same in lupael, then gave me a nod.
I placed one hand over my chest. “And I as well seek to learn so that I may serve. Once a child of Linthel, I have traveled much to return, and I know how far Astrye is despite its proximity. I do not consider myself an Astryan. But someday, I hope to.
I brought two hands in front of my chest and swept the others around the hills behind me, to the south. “Right now, we need volunteers to help construct, and man, hidden watchposts to forewarn us of dangers. I need people to advise me regarding clearing the pass. And we need servants at Castle Astrye. For the latter, just a few knowledgeable folks who can serve as liaisons and help return the castle to its former glory. The castle wall will need rebuilding, but for now I mean to make a symbol. Clean halls, open windows, and a sense of life.” I reached one lower hand out to my side and Seyari found it, grasping tightly.
“In turn, I aim to grow into my role as Marchioness while my family and I make Astrye our home.” I glanced down at Sey, bending a little at the knee. She rose up with a gust of wind and her lips met mine, briefly.
At our kiss, scattered applause drifted through those assembled, never fully catching into an ovation. When I looked up, I saw Joisse running toward me. I caught her with two arms as she ran headlong into me. No words were needed, as I patted her hair. Family.
I looked up and gestured at my sister. All around her, I saw faces in varying states of emotion. From some, I felt anger, and others simply looked shocked. To my immense relief, a fair few looked contemplative, or even pleased.
Kartania, on the other hand, looked guilty.
I waved at her again, and she seemed to realize what I was doing. She bit her lip and looked down at her legs, and I gave her a push from behind—just a small gust of warm wind.
Startled, she stumbled forward enough to fall out of the crowd. Thus exposed, she flushed red, then walked over to me, chin held high. Tania tried to stand stoically next to me, but I whipped my tail around and pulled her close.
“And this,” I said with a broad smile. “is my family. My wife, Seyari.” She startled, then turned and gave a shallow bow. “Daughter Joisse.” Without fully turning around, Joisse waved. “And my wonderful little sister Kartania.”
“Renna!” she hissed.
“Sorry!” I whispered back. “It’s a big sister thing—I had to!”
“No you—”
“I thank you all for your hospitality so far, and while my sister’s occupation may take her elsewhere from time to time, I look forward to all of us—and perhaps some of other my friends besides—joining your community.
“Now…” I widened my smile to show all of my teeth, an effect lessened by my family around me. “Does anyone have any questions for the Demon Marchioness of Astrye?”
***
It turned out, people had a lot of questions. Even as the shadows from the mountains started to lengthen, and the crowd dispersed, I was giving answers. Unsurprisingly, a lot of people wanted to ask a demon questions—often about demon things. Surprisingly, no one was openly antagonistic.
It wasn’t that no one held me in that low of an opinion, rather the attitude of the crowd was overall positive, and those who were clearly against me were among the first to leave. I paid them no mind, but I knew Sey, Tania, and Taava would. By tomorrow, I’d know exactly who’d shown up, who’d stayed home, and who would be a problem. My job would be to act on that information without paranoia.
Tania. I needed to talk with her, about the future—her future specifically.
So, when the relative warmth of the afternoon faded into evening chill and the last few stragglers left with Nadya for home, I gestured for my sister to walk with me. Seyari, with a knowing nod, took Joisse, the pair of them leaving for the castle.
Tania hesitated, then followed me, as I walked out of town toward the forest’s edge, up what I knew to be the main hunting path that ran west. Through snow-covered buildings lit with candles and oil lamps, past sleeping or deserted farms, we walked until the first of the trees plunged us into deep shadow before Tania spoke.
“I can’t see.”
Oh, right.
***
Kartania followed her demonic sister into the dark of the evening, with the words she wanted to say stuck in her throat. On the one hand, she was glad to have her sister back, and to see her happy—ecstatic even. More than that, Kartania suddenly had a family again.
On the other hand… Mordwell got away, again, and she was going to lose everything she’d spent the last decade working toward. She stared at callused hands, noting that she needed to trim her nails, until the trees closed in and her vision blurred into nothing more than vague dark shapes.
One of those shapes, the languidly moving demon who could level a city, looked down at her. Twin glowing blue eyes, backlit by black sclera somehow nearly distinct from the rest of the darkness, regarded her with concern. Slit pupils lent an air of inhumanity, but the shiver down Kartania’s spine stopped at her neck.
Something about Zarenna always did that—and not just to her. Kartania already knew her sister would never hurt her—had a hard time hurting anyone—while she still always somehow managed to take the edge off what she was.
However, that didn’t stop her from forgetting the limitations of the people around her sometimes. “I can’t see,” Kartania said into the darkness.
“Sorry!” Zarenna replied. Moment later, twin crimson orbs of fire flickered into life at the tips of her horns, casting the demon under them in twisting light. “Better?”
“Sure,” Kartania said.
Zarenna rubbed the back of her neck with a clawed hand. “I’m sorry for leaving you after you married me and Sey. And then for staying gone for over a day. I… don’t have an excuse.”
Kartania sighed. “I… that’s not what’s on my mind.”
“Oh? Then what is?”
You. “I… I’m worried about the future, I guess. How much longer will I be a Paladin of Dhias? What will I do if the last almost ten years have been for nought?”
“I’m sorry—truly. I put you in that position. You could’ve sided with them. Sey and I would’ve gotten away and—”
“No.” Kartania shook her head. “We both know how that would’ve gone. I’d have been questioned, and probably demoted. You’d have lost out on your noble title, and probably your position in the Gelles Company as well. You’d be on the road again, chasing down Mordwell through a frozen hell. Seyari wouldn’t have been able to heal. Not physically, not emotionally. Your mortal friends would be in constant danger, and your daughter would miss out on what she deserves—a nice family life, if only for a few years.”
“So… you don’t?”
Kartania reached up, almost without thinking and slapped Zarenna. Her hand felt like it’d smacked a velvet-coated wall, but the demon reached up and touched her cheek anyway, a single tear forming.
“I’m sorry, I—”
“Don’t be sorry!” Kartania shouted. “Be… I don’t know—be anything else! I made my choice; I’m an adult. A professional. A paladin.”
“You’re also my younger sister, and…” This time Zarenna trailed off on her own, hurt crossing her features. “I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
“Stop. Being. Sorry!” Kartania clenched her hands into fists, ice magic wicking up around her as her emotions spilled out of the box in her mind. Heat wormed its way in, soothing her anger and clearing her thoughts. “You took my anger just now.”
“…I did.”
Kartania wanted to be furious, but… with a clearer mind she couldn’t see why. Zarenna, Dhias bless her sometimes-dense heart, was just trying to help. And Kartania wasn’t giving her anything to go on. “I… I’m not going to thank you.”
“Good.”
“But. I’m glad I have a family now. Something I literally didn’t think could happen. I just wish that I could have both; I wish that Mordwell was dead and I had more power to fix things.”
“Are you certain you’ll lose your title?”
Kartania nodded.
“What about Yevon?”
She stopped. “He’s not going to—”
“He will.”
“How are you so sure?”
“I’m not. But I know he wants something, and that right now you and I align with it.”
“So what then, I just go back to being a Paladin, and try to chase down Mordwell again?”
Zarenna shrugged. “If you want to.”
“And if I don’t?”
“That’s fine, too. You can stay for a while and think about it.”
Kartania shook her head. “I can’t. I need to know, to be involved. Ever since you and mom and dad died, I’ve helped myself.”
“It’s okay to rely on others sometimes, Tania, you can—”
“I know. I know, but I can’t fully accept that. You’ve helped me take down at least Finley, and to start the process of bringing Mordwell’s true colors to light. But I need to walk that path on my own. You’re an outside force to the Church; you’ll forever be one even if Dhias himself sends them a sign.
“But I’m not. I can change the Church from the inside—make it stand for what it claims to once again. And… as cynical and jaded as I’ve become, I do truly think I want that. I want them to root out the rot, not harbor it.”
“Are you going to leave then?” Zarenna tilted her head down as she asked the question, trying and failing not to look like a kicked puppy.
Kartania bit her lip. “When the pass is clear. I’ve no reason to go until then, but I’m leaving as soon as I can.”
“Will you come visit? You’ll always have a home here—or wherever I, Sey, and Joisse end up.”
Kartania’s next words hitched on their way out. She exhaled a shuddering breath and looked up at the snow-covered branches above. I have a family now. “Yes, Zarenna. Sister. I will.”
“Will you come to the wedding?”
Yes. “Maybe. I already married you, right?”
Zarenna nodded. “But you need to meet my other friends and eat too much and dance while drunk.”
“I won’t do the last one.”
Her sister shrugged. “Suit yourself. Not sure I can get drunk, anyway.”
Another reminder that she’s not human. Dhias, it’s so easy to forget that sometimes. Does… does it not matter?
“Sorry if I offended you; I just—”
“Use levity as a weapon against anxiety. Seyari told me. I’ll see what I can do, but just like you have a demonic war to fight, I have a Church to fix.”
“If you succeed, will you join us?”
Kartania laughed darkly. “I have a bad feeling things aren’t going to be that simple. I’ll be involved almost certainly.” She watched Zarenna’s brow crease. “And don’t you dare think about compromising anything to protect me. What did we talk about relying on your friends for? We can do things on our own.”
“I know that! But… you’re my sister and I’m allowed to worry.”
“And I’m allowed to get mad about that.”
Zarenna nodded, horn lights bobbing up and down. “Absolutely!”
At that, Kartania smiled. “How are you so good at that?”
In response, her sister wore a very convincing clueless expression, an odd thing to see on a statuesque, villainous face with a mouth full of daggers. “At what?”
Kartania snickered. “I don’t even care if that’s part of the joke. Fine. You win. I’m in a better mood.”
“Great! Want to hit up the local tavern? The cultists left a lot of the low-proof alcohol behind because of weight and snowmelt for easy water.”
“I… you know what, fine!”
“Sounds like a plan! Do you mind if Taava joins us? Nelys is spending the night playing cards with Brynna and Doryn and some others, Sey’s out for a night-flight, and drinking with my daughter would be… wrong—plus I think she has some books she wanted to read.”
Dhias, she cares too much. “Sure. I don’t mind.”
A demon, a paladin, and a cat walk into a bar.