Chapter 51: Ch 51: Goddess.
August left the void room shortly afterward, with a mumbling from Kadria about how she’d think of some way to help deal with the other Messengers.
She offered no help for his current predicament and instead gave him a look that suggested he needed to dig his own way out.
As much as he wanted to complain, knowing that he had inadvertently attracted the attention of a pair of Messengers bothered him. He welcomed Kadria’s help, even if she would be busy for a while.
It ate at him that he didn’t question help from a Messenger. Had he really fallen so far that he accepted Kadria’s presence in his life? Part of him even felt unhappy that she hadn’t pulled down his pants when he had visited.
August shook off his discomfort and left his office. He stopped by a window. The night was moonless and overcast. He couldn’t see anything outside, other than the lamps on the walls and lights carried by patrolling guards.
The civilian inhabitants of the fortress surely knew something was wrong. First the soldiers had all piled into the keep, which was a surefire sign of a demonic invasion. Then the men had all come out and cracked open barrels of ale and wine.
At some point after the commotion had started, the tavern opened. People who couldn’t sleep, or spouses worried about their significant other in the guards had gathered to wait there. Then the soldiers joined them. The celebrations were ongoing, and August could hear their raucous cheering.
But some guards patrolled the walls, and more than a few had noticed that the scouts were busy. Keen-eyed officers ushered their troops into the barracks and began closing up the kegs. Only a few had been briefed, but word spread fast. All the officers would learn the full details when their companies were back in the barracks.
August wasn’t too concerned about the celebrations. He doubted he would need his soldiers at the crack of dawn, so any hangovers could be dealt with.
Although he had to remind himself that these soldiers were relatively green. He was used to men and women who could win a battle, knock back their booze into the early hours of the morning, have a quick nap, and then fight another battle as soon as they woke up.
Kadria was right: this timeline had yet to turn into a pit of despair and destruction. The soldiers had yet to train themselves into boozy warriors. Maybe they wouldn’t need to.
August stepped away from the window and made his way downstairs. Few guards patrolled the keep at this time. Those that did saluted him as he passed them.
Eventually, he spotted who he was looking for. Anna and Vera stood outside of one of the receiving rooms.
"We’ve known each other for years. Once Leopold is here—" Anna tried to say.
"If Leopold comes here," Vera interrupted. "I appreciate your concern, Anna, but I lost my tower due to my own failings. And given Leopold’s general inaction, I doubt he’ll be saving me from my own missteps anytime soon."
"Don’t say that, Vera. Vera!" Anna shouted after the retreating sorceress. She let out a huff when Vera continued to walk away in the opposite direction that August came from.
"I’m assuming she’s taking the loss of her tower hard," August muttered.
Anna turned to face him and curtsied. "Bastion August. My deepest thanks for providing me safe harbor during this time of crisis."
August stared at her.
She rolled her eyes. "Goddess, you’re really not one for formalities, are you? The least I can do is thank you for protecting me. From the sounds of it, the Federation means business."
"They do. They have a Champion whose gem ability allows her to specialize in assassination," August said. He nodded in the direction that Vera had retreated. "So, she’s taking it hard?"
"Why don’t we take a seat and have some tea?" Anna suggested and walked into the nearby room. "I think talking about Vera is the least we need to cover. I hear you used so much magic that you nearly collapsed?"
August followed her inside. Hopefully, this turned out to be a friendly chat, and not an interrogation.
Anna straightened out her skirt before sitting down. Her clothes were much simpler than normal, consisting of a frilly collared shirt, a black pleated skirt, and stockings. No jewelry and minimal sign of makeup. Not that Anna needed much.
Then again, it was past midnight and August had sent a message to Anna to travel here as quickly as possible.
If she had arrived in her nightgown, he wouldn’t have batted an eye.
Instead, she had put in at least some effort to appear like a countess.
Two empty cups sat on the table in the middle of the room.
Like most of the receiving rooms in the fortress, this one consisted of several plush sofa chairs around a single coffee table.
This particular coffee table had the universal emblem of the Watcher Omria engraved into the glass.
In the corner sat a long table where coffee and snacks could be prepared.
Kuda stepped out from that corner with two fresh cups of coffee, then whisked away the empty ones.
"Thank you, Kuda," Anna said with a smile. She fixed August with a glare. "I’m regretting lending him to you. I haven’t had a good coffee since he left."
"You were here not that long ago," August replied.
"Then I haven’t had a good coffee in my manor since he left," Anna corrected. "Maybe I should move in."
"Right now, you don’t have a choice, so feel free to assess your new lodgings against your manor," August said drily.
Anna shot him a sardonic smile. He didn’t grace it with a response and instead sipped his coffee.
After a few moments, Anna raised the topic from earlier, "Yes, Vera is upset over her tower. More than that, she’s upset that she defended it alone. No reinforcements from the Empire. Nothing from Leopold. Nothing from me."
Anna grimaced. "You had demons to deal with, so you get a pass. But I don’t, even though most of my private army is partying outside and calling themselves demon slayers."
Suppressing a sigh, Anna drained her cup and asked for another. Kuda was already there and exchanged the cups. A slice of chocolate cake appeared from somewhere as well. August eyed the beastkin, wondering where he hid the dessert. The table behind Kuda was bare, besides a coffee percolator powered by a built-in fire enchantment and a handful of empty cups and plates.
"I don’t blame her for being upset, but I don’t see it being productive," Anna said.
"Give her time," August said. "I pulled her out of the fire. She’s still processing things."
"I would, if we had time." Anna bit her lip. "And if you didn’t need her. I’m supposed to be the countess who supports you, but the distinct impression I get from my officers is that..." she trailed off, her eyes wandering to a corner of the room.
August waited patiently for her to finish her thought, or for her to change the subject.
Anna sighed. "I find it difficult to believe that I am, in any way, your superior. My officers told me how the battle played out. They stood behind a wall, unable to see the enemy, and fired catapult shot after catapult shot into the distance. By contrast, you and your Champions flooded the portal, defended a breach in the wall, created a tornado made of fire, and still found time to save Vera."
"That’s normal in demonic invasions. There’s a reason trigem Champions become legends," August said. "The gap between ordinary humans and Champions is significant."
"Of course. But where does that leave me?" Anna raised an eyebrow. "I can gain the wealth and power that my father felt our family deserved, but all I’m doing to earn it is asking you nicely. I felt that my agreement with Vera would help you, as she would assist you, but she’s been less than cooperative."
"You asked for my help precisely because she wasn’t cooperative," August pointed out. "Besides, she did help me out."
