Chapter 204: Breaking New Ground

“So let me get this straight,” Paula said slowly, gesturing forward with both gloved hands. “You want to start building something in the dead of winter when half the town’s burned down.” She kicked at the ground. “The fuck are we gonna get through this?”

“That’s what magic is for!” Sonia chirped back, marking off another line from her list. She tapped her chin with coal-stained fingers. “We’ll still need more nails, unless we get lucky in salvaging the wreckage.”

A breeze kicked up and Paula shivered. “What magic? And did you have to build it out in the open?”

“Renna’s daughter’s magic! And yes! I’m certain Astrye will expand with Renna at the helm—Mayor Razz seems to think so too. Already some lupael who’ve suffered or heard tale of the wanton destruction of Envy’s forces are entering the city—you saw the group just yesterday. Plus there’s demon-blooded and non-evil demons and the curious.” She paused and gestured to one of the volunteers who looked part-octopus and was way too strong to be mundane. “Drop those right next to the shingles!”

Paula looked over the construction sight and groaned, rubbing her hands together. It didn’t help “Sure, fine. But still, winter? The nomads came with all their stuff, and their camp looks better than the city.”

Sonia frowned, then brightened when she looked over Paula’s shoulder. “Inva! And you must be Joisse!”

Paula turned around to see the paladin, in a heavy cloak instead of freezing metal armor, guiding a slight girl who looked to be around sixteen. With dark hair and red eyes, she didn’t really stand out, but she—shockingly—bore a resemblance to her demon mother. She was also wearing loose clothing far too light for the weather.

“Hi!” She smiled when she spoke. “Sonia and Paula right? I’m Joisse—but you already know that. “

Paula gave a grunt of acknowledgement.

Sonia beamed. “Pleased to meet you all the same! This is your human form, right?”

Joisse nodded. “Yep!” She looked around and bit her lip.

In response, Sonia tilted her head, the expected jingle missing from her horns. Too cold for jewelry apparently, not to mention impractical and dangerous and Paula absolutely didn’t miss the way it’d shine in the sunlight.

“Well, I—”

“For fuck’s sake.” Paula scoffed. “Your mom’s a demon and everyone’s used to her. If you don’t want to look human, just don’t. S’not a hard fuckin’ concept, damn.”

Joisse blinked and blushed, then nodded as the blush, then her skin, turned crimson. Despite herself, Paula’s smirk faltered as the diminutive girl gained enough height to loom over Inva along with horns, claws… and another pair of arms.

Paula whistled. “Damn, you really are her daughter.”

The demon nodded and spoke in an only slightly deeper voice. “I am, yeah. Not biological though.”

“Right… so the arms and face—”

“Paula!” Sonia stamped her foot. “Sorry, Joisse, she’s prickly but she really doesn’t mean anything by it.”

Paula crossed her arms and frowned, then frowned harder when the should-be-terrifying demon giggled.

“Reminds me of Mom Sey, honestly.” She closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled a slow breath.

“Really?” Inva asked.

“Huh? Oh yeah, totally. Mom Renna’s a softie unless you push her but Mom Sey’s a hardass through and through.” Joisse stepped forward and looked at the marked-off area. “You said you need some ground unfrozen? Big building.”

Inva followed her. “It’s going to be a sort of guild and hostel.”

“For demon-blooded,” Sonia added.

Paula stopped frowning to add, “And a place for mercenary work.”

Joisse tilted her head. “All of those things?”

Sonia stuck her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest. “Yep! Among other things, even, but we’re going to start with offering demon-blooded a place to stay and resources to help them learn trades.”

“I can see why Mom Renna’s helping you. Give me just a few minutes, and I’ll get the dirt ready.”

None of the trio moved.

Joisse turned around and blinked, four arms half raised and hands glowing crimson. “Do you… want to watch?”

“Yes!” Inva and Sonia shouted at the same time. Paula didn’t catch herself before she nodded along too.

Surprisingly, Joisse blushed, this time a deep red. “Okay! I mean, sure, I guess.”

Really is a teenager under all the pointy bits. Huh.

More than Sonia, Inva, and Paula stopped to watch as the daughter of the Sovereign of Wrath worked her magic on frozen soil. Heat washed out in a wave, faint flames flickering as the ice vanished into steam. There was a word for it, but Paula didn’t know what it was.

But she didn’t need fancy noble language to appreciate how frozen soil baked into summer-dry earth in what seemed like just a few blinks. Paula was still staring when Joisse finished and grabbed a shovel.

“Need a few hands with the digging? I’ve got a couple hours.”

Inva was the first to pull her gaze away from the warm, dry dirt. “Oh, uh, yeah. I’m all for it—I mean, if you want to.”

Joisse rolled her eyes. “I’m going to get started. Join me whenever.”

Not wanting to be outdone too badly, Paula pulled herself out of her stupor and grabbed another shovel. Four arms were cheating anyway.

***

The next evening, foundation stones were already being laid and Paula was learning how to do mortar work. When Joisse was around and her hands weren’t frozen into twin blocks of ice, it wasn’t so bad. She’d always thought work like this to be a boring waste of time, but she found herself sinking into the motions and her own thoughts.

Not as bad as they used to be. Stupid impossible demons.

She was still in the pit when she heard shouts from outside. One of the voices was Joisse’s—in human form it sounded like—but the others were unfamiliar.

Trouble. Not a question, a fact.

With one last mournful look at her simple day’s work, Paula flaked some of the mortar off her hands and climbed up into the worksite proper. The moment she reached the rim, she froze between cursing and diving right back in.

Flanking Joisse and standing across from Sonia and Nelys were two paladins from the Church of Dhias, decked out in shining armor. Even if their tabards weren’t on, Paula could tell. She’d seen too much of their ilk not to be able to recognize the posture and armor. One was a woman with black hair and unnervingly familiar blue eyes, and the other was a brown-haired, tall mustachioed man.

Bastards. Too much work stopping the actual problems, so you wanted to come here and stir up shit with the demon making a mockery of you?

Neither had their weapons drawn, but any second they’d—

“Tania!” Nelys shouted, running forward.

“No!” Paula shouted.

Half a step from trying to hug the woman, Nelys stopped and turned their head. “What’s up, Paula?”

Paula blinked. The woman wore a smile. She was holding Joisse’s hand. The man looked more awkward, but his posture was relaxed and almost demure. Both of them hid it well, but the bags under their eyes hinted at exhaustion.

“Tania?” Paula asked, looking to Sonia for answers.

“Didn’t you hear the shouts?”

“Not the words—I was focused. What the fuck’s going on here?”

“This is Renna’s sister!” Nelys replied cheerily.

What?

Paula watched Nelys and this “Tania” woman embrace like old friends. The man coughed politely and gave them space.

“So… demon daughter that looks blood-related and sixteen. And a human sister who’s my age? Anyone want to explain that? ‘Cause I’m fuckin’ lost.” She chanced walking closer so she didn’t have to shout.

“Renna told us she had a sister, remember?” Sonia said with a giggle.

“No? Maybe. Look, those few days were a lot for me, alright?”

“I’m not trying to shame you!”

Tania pulled her arms out of the embrace; Nelys clung on. “I don’t want to be rude, but we’re exhausted and bring dire news. It would be best if we spoke to my sister or her wife immediately. You can call me Kartania.”

“They’re not here,” Joisse said.

Kartania’s nostrils flared. “I… see. Then who’s in charge?”

“Razz is,” Nelys answered.

“Brynna’s sister?”

“Yes, she’s the mayor since Nadya died,” Nelys continued. “With Zarenna and Seyari both gone, I’m standing in for them I believe.”

“When will they return?” The man spoke for the first time, his voice gruff. Clearing it with another cough, he continued, “Sorry, I’m Gareth Warren, for those who haven’t met me.”

“Hi Gareth!” Sonia chirped. “How do you know—”

“Sonia, right?” Kartania stepped in. “It is imperative that we share this news with Razz and Nelys. Now.”

“Oh.”

Nelys left the hug and stood up as tall as they could. “I’ll go tell Razz! Joisse, could you let Taava know so she can inform the castle?”

“I can, yes.”

“Great!” Nelys clapped. “We can wait in the tavern until Razz is ready. We’re low on food right now, but we can at least get something in you two—you look dead on your feet.”

That earned a surprisingly warm smile from the man, but Kartania hard glare didn’t soften. With barely another word said, the two paladins walked off with Nelys as Joisse ran back to the castle.

“Do we”—Paula looked down at her frigid hands—“just go back to work now?”

Sonia clapped her hands, loudly. The other workers who’d mostly been staring snapped to attention. “Let’s take the day off here!”

With the absence of Joisse’s heat, the announcement was met with no resistance, and the workers dispersed. Paula watched Sonia look at the group retreating back toward the town and walked to stand next to her.

Sonia sighed. “Wish I could be a fly on the wall of whatever meeting they’re having.”

“It’s definitely bad news,” Paula whispered. “And all the flies are frozen anyway.”

***

“Are you certain,” Razz asked for the third time.

“Yes,” Kartania replied. Stop asking. “I am certain. I do not doubt a punitive force from the Church will arrive here shortly.”

“I’m still reading too damn many laws, but isn’t that against the Treaty of Gedon? You know, the one that ended the civil war and established a truce?” The lupael was growling, but not at those assembled.

Around the room, eyes turned stony. Gareth’s jaw quivered, and he met eyes with the lupael with the short-haired tail who seemed to be Razz’s second. Nelys had gone still and Taava.. Taava had a faraway look in her eyes. The ‘bard’ had insisted she attend at the last minute and Kartania had no idea why.

“It is,” Kartania answered simply when she felt the silence had lingered long enough.

“Then that means Ordia’s breaking the truce!”

“They’ll try to get out of it. The Church is a party in the treaty but not a belligerent. Plus, they’ll make something up about a demonic infestation and how needs must.”

“King Carvalon won’t buy it,” Gareth contradicted. “He’s no friend of the Church.”

“I know that!” Tania snapped. “I just… if he moves to stop the Church, then…”

“There’ll be war,” Razz finished.

“Worse,” Taava said in a small voice, her usual jaunty accent nowhere to be found. “In Raavia, it wasn’t the first war that broke us, it was the moment one side decided the rules of war mattered less than winning.” She shuddered. “If this comes to pass, Ordia will be torn apart.”

Silence reigned, this time even heavier.

“We’ll have to rely on Zarenna, then,” Razz said.

“She’s got her own war to fight,” her second countered. “Keran’s the name, by the way—someone knocked on the door when it was my turn to introduce myself.”

Taava looked at him and blinked. “Apologies.”

That made Kartania swallow. Taava? Apologizing? Her mind was spinning. The timing of all of this was just too—

“Could we block the pass?” Nelys asked. “Joisse and I could cause an avalanche—no army’s getting through that.”

Razz shook her head. “The first caravan of food from Gedon is on its way. If we block the pass, we’ll starve. Especially with the nomads staying here and the refugees from outlying towns. Worse yet, we’ll give more food to the army if they try to push through. Shit, this is bad. How long?”

It took Kartania a moment to realize the question was directed at her. “I’m not sure… Gareth?”

He frowned and exhaled, long and slow, closing his eyes. “They probably mustered and left no more than three days after you escaped, if we’re lucky. Since you detoured to Norgath and back… And accounting for marching speed in winter but on good roads… If they’re not waylaid, they’ll be here within three days.

“They’re probably already on the pass.”

Brazz hissed out air between her teeth. “Renna just left two days ago. She’s not due back for at least two more. Maybe four or five.”

Kartania’s blood chilled. “We’ll have to set up a defense.”

“With what wood? Half the town burned down and we’re only just recovering firewood stores. The castle wall’s got a huge hole in it—and a smaller one, too.”

“The castle’s still our best bet, I’d say,” Keran added.

“I agree,” Gareth said.

“Same for me,” Tania agreed. “Nelys?”

They blinked. “Yes.”

Taava sat up, still glassy-eyed. “We’ve lost enough people, they should all fit if the nomads stay outside.”

Nelys gasped. “Taava!”

“She’s right.” Razz leaned forward and cradled her head in her hands. “The nomads have no obligation to aid us, and we’ve no space to shelter them in the castle if this goes more than a few days. Nor do we have food.”

Kartania growled. “If only we could contact my sister.”

Nelys blinked, and their eyes lit up. “I might be able to! M-my contract, if I hurt myself enough—”

“You’ll be useless if the army comes over the mountain today.” Taava hissed.

“I’m not going to cut off a limb!”

Kartania leaned forward. “They can regenerate, Taava. Right, Nelys?”

They nodded. “I can do it now, if that’s alright.”

“Kid–er, sorry.” Razz looked up. “We’ve all seen enough shit.”

Nelys nodded and in a swift motion pulled out a gleaming dagger and plunged it into their abdomen. They grimaced, twisted, and pulled with a gasp. Kartania watched blood seeping between fingers and they all heard it drip-drip onto the floor.

In time with the drips, a clapping joined in.

“Now that’s dedication,” an unfamiliar, high-pitched voice chirped.

In an instant, weapons were drawn and magic flared to life in the room. Kartania sensed the voice and held ready three lances of ice toward the back corner of the room.

“Don’t shoot the messenger! I’m on your side!”

“She is,” Taava said slowly, reaching for something in her cloak. “Here.”

On the table, a letter lay unfolded, penned in flowing script. Everyone read it slowly, eyes not leaving the empty-looking corner of the room. The contents were unmistakable, the sender obvious by context: the Sovereign of Lust.

Obvious to Kartania at least, who had the unfortunate task of explaining just what the letter meant to not only the others, but Gareth as well. He took the news on the chin with a shallow nod, although everyone at the table doubtless saw the “talk to me later” look he shot Kartania’s way.

“She’s also a colossal jerk who dodges outta all the chores she’s supposed ta do. Funny how it’s Taava two, cheatin’ demon three, though.” And like nothing had happened, Taava slid back into her usual easygoing accent. But her shoulders still held an obvious tension.

“Shut it, cat,” the voice hissed. “Can I come out now?”

Razz and Kartania shared a glance.

“You let her in,” Kartania said to Taava.

“She said she’d owe me, and Renna trusts her about as far as she can throw her.”

Surprisingly, Gareth was the one to reply. “I… don’t believe that’s how that saying goes, unless you mean—”

“Have ya seen how far Renna can throw stuff?”

“...Good point. And well made.”

Razz sighed. “Alright. Enough dramatics. Come out and we’ll talk…”

“Shyll,” the voice answered.

Kartania dismissed her lances, but held her magic at the ready just in case.

From thin air, a short demon emerged. Slight of figure and straddling the line between pink and red, she had the stereotypical wings, whiplike tail, and striking features of a greater demon of lust. An instant later, she looked like a small lupael woman in a maid outfit, with pitch-black hair.

Then back to demon. “There. I’m sure most of you have seen me.” She jumped up and sat on the edge of the table, looking over her shoulder at the assembled group. “Mom sent me to this backwater hole to aid the ‘so-called’ Sovereign of Wrath. And… it turns out this gig’s not so bad, and Zarenna’s got some fight in her.

“Before she left, she told me to call in the cavalry so to speak. That’s the good news. Bad news is that all we’ve got is a wimp of a librarian who snuck in with the nomads. More are on the way, but Mom’s stuck sorting out Navanaea’s dumb war.”

Kartania frowned. “So all we have are you and one other greater lust demon you have little faith in?”

“Better than a bunch of humans! Or can any of you turn invisible and watch the pass all night long?” She shot a smug look at Taava.

The kazzel chuckled. “Sure, get outta latrine duty again. Go freeze your tits off on a mountain, sounds great.”

Shyll stuck her tongue out. “Anyway, that’s all from me. One and a half greater lust demons added to the pile. Makes the sad little castle feel a little more like it’s got a fighting chance.”

“Will you listen to orders?” Razz asked.

“Are you the Sovereign of Wrath?”

“I am the acting leader in her absence along with Nelys.”

Nelys!

With sudden appearance, Kartania had forgotten about her friend who’d just stabbed themself. Stupid! Thankfully, aside from a grimace and a hand over their abdomen, they looked a little better. No, they looked fine. It didn’t matter; such a mistake on a battlefield would spell death. And the injury was uncannily like the day Seyari had lost her hand. Kartania hadn’t done enough there either.

Not good enough.

She must have been staring, because they gave a thumbs up with their free hand. “Uh, sure. I’m fine, just a little warm and—” They cut off, eyes going wide as a pale crimson glow surrounded them.

“Nelys?” Several people asked all at once, drowning out the “Not me!” from Shyll.

“It’s… Renna’s heard me just now. Surely she has. I think?”

“Does that mean she won?” Razz asked, and Kartania guessed she chose her words for Shyl’’s sake. That demon knows everything, though. Surely.

“What was she fighting?” Kartania asked, ignoring her desire to probe the demon. “Unless it was another demon who challenged her title, she shouldn’t just ‘get stronger.’”

Nelys shrugged. “I don’t know, but I feel fine now! Maybe there was fury sent with the power, but I also stabbed myself, so I don’t know.”

“If I’m not needed, I’m going to go check the pass.” Shyll cocked one thumb and one wing toward the door. “If I come back screaming about an army, that means there’s an army, got it?”

Razz set her jaw tightly. “Please don’t sow panic.”

Shyll rolled her eyes. “Fine, I’ll find you and scream at you. Aren’t you packing everyone into the castle anyway?”

“Yes, but it’s important to maintain order,” Keran said.

“Boring. But smart. Fine. I’m out of here.” Shyll slid off the table and disappeared. A moment later the door slipped open and then closed silently.

“Shall we move on to planning for our defense?” Kartania asked, just to keep things moving.

Razz growled again. “I suppose we ought to. Damn, now of all times…”

***

Shyll always loved flying. Freedom and exultation away from responsibilities and overbearing people. Much better than work, even if it was still technically work.

Frigid mountain air had different currents than the desert, and she rode them up the pass. For the first hours, she didn’t see any signs of an army. No travelers either, but that wasn’t unusual.

And then she saw them, by the smoke of their campfires against the darkening sky. Worse yet, they had mages—spells warded their camp.

Not a real problem—human magic was typically piteously weak—but it’d slow Shyll down. She circled, worked her own magic, and eventually got in close. Sure enough, on red banners was a familiar ring with three marks at the bottom: the Church of Dhias. The Church looked to have gone for quality over quantity with hardly five hundred people.

Of them, all had magic in some form. Probably enough to fight with.

Oddly though, there was a second army behind the Church, in camps all their own. Shyll didn’t recognize the coat of arms, but she did her best to memorize their banners. This one was smaller, more ragtag, but still probably dangerous.

To anyone blind or immobile. Or to a human. Well, this just got even more interesting.