Chapter 34 – One More Night

That afternoon, Linton gathered everyone around the table for one last meal before the battle. Doc cooked them up a krit meat casserole with a homemade brown sauce which tasted alright despite the questionable ingredients.

Frost still tinkered at the table, barely touching his food as he carved runes into metal with his wand, pieces of some new weapon he was obsessing over. He showered sparks on Aeva’s food in the process, and the wildkin nearly throttled him before he agreed to stop.

Cat reported her success in contacting Tess, and said that with any luck, they wouldn’t have to worry about the ‘blonde bimbo’ getting herself into trouble.

Doc was far more somber. He ate, at least, but the motion was mechanical. There was none of the joy which he usually displayed for food. It didn’t take much deduction to theorize why that might be. Doc abhorred violence, and come morning, the entire city of Northmark would be embroiled in mortal conflict. Whatever the outcome, there would be thousands upon thousands of casualties on both sides.

“Alright everyone,” Linton said, clinking his glass against his plate. “Time to talk business.”

He brought out a map of the city and unrolled it in the middle of the table, using packets of salt and pepper to weigh it down. “First things first. This will not be a straight-up battle. We’ve got Gisa and Imwe on our side, along with their private army, but the goddesses are still weakened, and their people haven’t seen any real combat. There’s only so much they can do against five thousand well-trained, well-armed truthers. That’s not counting the lawkeeper precincts that will no doubt be called in. The rest of our allies will be common citizens. No amount of righteous fury can stand up to that kind of opposition head on.”

“So what’s the plan?” Cat asked. “It’s not like we can just walk past them all.”

“We’ll do what we always do. Strike from the sidelines. We still have two archons to deal with—Storm and Mara. Storm has done his job in tarnishing the MOW’s reputation, but for whatever other drawbacks the man has, he’s a competent commander. He’s our priority. If we can take him down, the truthers’ command structure will fall apart, or at least force Couldess to come out of hiding and personally take charge, both achieving a similar goal. Catching Mara is a bonus, but she’s more of an obstacle to avoid. She’s a vivimancer, and a slippery one at that. She used to be an assassin, before Couldess became so enamored with her work that he decided to give her a promotion.”

“What about the common folk?” Aeva asked. “If they cannot win this fight with us, how will they fare without us?”

“Our job here is to be seen, heard, and felt. The Bluebirds, through our own hard work, have become the symbol of this revolution. We will inspire more to join the revolutionaries, and we will break the command structure of the enemy, keeping the targets soft for our allies. If we do this right, it won’t come to a pitched battle. The truthers will surrender before we reach the Arcanex.”

“And Couldess?” Aeva continued. “You mentioned that he might flee the city.”

Linton nodded, chewing. “That’s true, but I’d say it’s unlikely. Couldess can’t let us take this city, and he knows that. Besides, he’s too stubborn to take a loss like this, too sure of himself. My bet is, he’s going to stay in that fucking tower…” He tapped the Kingswatch district on the map, “…and fight until he’s the last man standing. As such, our biggest obstacle should be in getting to him. Even after we make it through the truther-infested city, there’ll be the 102 floors of the Arcanex. That means we need to stay topped up. We cannot fight Couldess on low anima.” He pointed at Frost. “You work on that gun all you like, but I need you to whip up a batch of nim potions by tomorrow. Those’ll be vital in giving us some staying power.”

“Got it, boss,” Frost said. “So…” He paused and glanced over at Aeva. “Have we just given up on the whole Crown business? That was the reason we recruited the wildkin in the first place.”

“With any luck, Aeva can get it working during the fight,” Linton said. “But you’re right, we can’t rely on that. Just a potential fallback.”

Doc scratched his head. Cat frowned down at the map.

“Still a bit unclear?” he asked, smiling.

They all nodded.

“I’ll go over it from the top, in detail.”

***

Tess rubbed raw eyes as she stared at the document on the desk before her, words and letters blurring together. Her position as CEO of Neontane, a sizeable clothing company, demanded her focus. Focus she wasn’t able to muster.

Too tired to get anything done and too keyed up to get any sleep, she thought.

She had to appear normal so that her father wouldn’t be suspicious, but how could she? It was all too much. She couldn’t help but think how many people had been condemned to death because of her actions.

It’s for the best. If no one stops my father, how many more will die to satisfy his madness?

Though she knew this was the logical way to think of it, the words rang hollow.

Tess went over to a cupboard and fetched herself a blanket, draping it over her shoulders. She didn’t feel safe, not even in her own home.

There was a knock on the door. Tess jerked, then hurriedly composed herself. She took a few deep breaths to still herself.

“Come in!” she called once she had positioned herself behind her desk.

Fummel entered the room and closed the door behind him. His dour, pinched features somehow seemed even more devoid of mirth than usual.

“Oh, hi,” Tess said, putting on a smile. “I didn’t expect you to be here so late. Has my dad got you running errands?”

Fummel shook his head. “Nothing like that, no. In truth, I am here because I have some concerns. I have enough respect for you to bring them to you directly, rather than going over your head.”

“Concerns? What do you mean?”

“As you know, the Bluebirds breached the Winter Fort. That facility’s true location and purpose was known only by a few, information the terrorists could not have possessed without an inside leak. Your father launched an inquiry into anyone who knew of the Winter Fort just after Drakemyth’s death. Each and every one of them came back clean. Except for you. You knew, but your father did not inquire into your loyalties.”

“I see,” Tess said. “You think I’m the leak.”

Fummel adjusted his bowtie and raised his chin. “That is the most likely scenario.”

Strangely, Tess grew calmer after Fummel had leveled his charges. The knot in her stomach was untangled, and she felt perfectly at ease. Instinct at work. Around her father, there was no room for doubt or fear. Such weakness was always punished, whether he intended it or not.

“What do you want me to say?” Tess asked. “How can I prove my innocence to you?”

“I am not sure that you can,” Fummel replied curtly. “I have been looking into your movements as of late. Your guards have reported that you departed from them at several points shortly before Drakemyth was murdered. Could you explain to me why that was?”

Tess had already come up with an excuse. She was surprised that she hadn’t already been questioned on it.

“I went out with a male friend,” she said. “I don’t really enjoy having a pair of robot guards stomping behind me while I’m trying to have fun with a man.”

“Do you have any proof of this?”

“I’d be happy to bring him around the house tomorrow if that would put your mind at ease. I also have some lingerie he bought me. Would you like to browse that, too?”

Fummel cleared his throat and looked away. “No, that will be quite alright. However, I would indeed like to know more about this… male friend in the morning. Until then, just know that you are—”

“Not under suspicion,” Septum said, coming into the room. He wore a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, hands in his pockets. “Fummel, would you like to explain why you’re interrogating my daughter?”

Fummel spun around, his face lighting up with genuine emotion. Fear. “Sir, I was just—”

“You know what, never mind. I don’t care about your explanation. This stops now. You decided to invite yourself into my home in the middle of the night and terrorize my daughter. Now, you’re lucky I’m such a kind soul, or I might have taken offense at that. Instead, you’re going to leave immediately, and we’ll never speak of this again.”

“But—”

“I don’t know what gave you the inclination that this was a good time to talk back. Leave.”

Fummel spun on his heel and walked out of the room without another word. Half a minute later, Tess heard the front door open and close.

Septum shook his head, smiling to himself. “Sorry about that. I was sleeping, or I would have taken care of it sooner.”

“Don’t worry about it, Dad,” Tess said.

“Try not to take offense. Fummel’s a good guy, just a little…”

“Intense?”

“That. Don’t worry, though. He won’t bother you again.”

“Thanks.”

Septum pulled out a chair and sat down in front of her desk. “Something up, sweetie?”

There was no use lying to him. Her answer had to contain at least a kernel of truth.

“The whole thing with the Bluebirds just has me worried, that’s all,” she said.

Septum reached across the desk and put his hand on hers. He rubbed the back of it with his thumb. “I understand. It’s rough. Just know that whatever happens, I’ll protect you.”

A terrible flux of emotions rocked Tess. She wanted to pull away, and she wanted to reciprocate his feelings. She wanted to tell him everything she had done to undermine him, and she wanted the attack to happen this very moment so he could face justice for his innumerable crimes all the sooner.

“Actually, I’ve been thinking,” he continued. “It might be best if you take a little vacation until this is all over with. I have some friends in Aqith who could show you a good time, far away from all this madness.”

“No,” Tess said quickly. “I’m staying here. This city—the Concord—needs us. Not just you. I can’t run away while this plays out.”

Septum remained silent for a while. He leaned back in his chair. “Are you sure? This is a big decision. I know you have your convictions, but it’s vital to consider your own safety, too.”

Tess nodded. “I’m sure, Dad. I’m staying.”

Septum got up with a sigh. “I understand.” He walked to the door, stopped, and turned back. “Try to get some sleep, sweetie.”

“I will.”

He closed the door behind him.

Tess breathed out, rubbing her eyes.

I have to see this through.

***

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Doc asked with a concerned frown.

Aeva nodded. “Whatever comes next, I wish to remember what we have done here.”

She sat on the edge of the bed, having stripped her upper body naked. Doc pointedly avoided looking directly at her. She had gathered that humans were sensitive about nudity.

Aeva placed the claw of her index finger against the right side of her chest and took a deep breath. Doc was ready with gauze and antiseptic for when she was done.

She dug in the claw, gritting her teeth as she scored a simple shape into her flesh. Blood trickled between her breasts and onto her belly, but she kept going.

“So… this is normal where you’re from?” Doc asked.

“Shh!” Aeva hissed. “I require focus.”

She completed the ritual mark through growls and whimpers. Once finished, Doc dabbed away some of the blood and cast a weave of simple spells to heal up the wound. He gave Aeva’s chest one last wipe and shuffled back in his chair. A clean, raised scar was left behind, taking the shape of a bird in profile.

My first mark, Aeva thought.

If I am lucky, it will not be the last.

“Finally like the rest of us, huh?” Doc said with a chuckle.

“More than I had thought,” Aeva said.