Reborn From the Cosmos

Arc 8-27

Despite having spent the night with murderers and thieves, I enjoy the rest of dinner, or really, the drink-fueled story time. My guests have lived interesting lives. A more virtuous person might say scandalous lives, but I’m in no position to pass judgment. Well, I am, because I could crush them with a pinky, but I won’t because I’m a magnanimous woman. Also, they’re funny. It’s incredible how many things can go wrong in the tight confines of a ship.

But all things come to an end. By the end of their drinking spree, the pirates are in no condition to see themselves home so I task Gajin and Nomad with seeing them to the Feathers. Rey and Maxine remain, both set up in the last guest room, the unconscious woman bound to her chair.

As for the rest of the table, the tired snow bunny is the first to retire, before the pirates are sent off, scooping her little bunny in her arms and bidding the room goodnight. Orum is the second to depart, announcing a desire to ‘drink in the moon’ before bed, whatever that means. If it was anyone else, I’d assume they were simply taking a night stroll but knowing him, who knows. I’m sure I can trust him not to crater what remains of the city so I pay him no mind beyond wishing him well.

As for everyone else? They follow me to the study to scheme. I only expect Kierra and Geneva but when the others learn what we’re up to, they invite themselves along. Morgene, I’m not surprised by, I thought of inviting her myself, but Alana and Talia are a surprise. Regardless, they’re more than welcome and we all find seats in the study. Shortly after, Earl enters, pushing a cart laden with steaming mugs, which I’m grateful for. There’s been enough shroom juice imbibed for one night and we need clear heads for this.

Once everyone’s settled, I stand before the large desk, grabbing their attention with a soft clap. “Welcome ladies, to our night of dastardly deeds in the making.” I grin as Rolly chortles somewhere out of sight. Heh. Knew she was hanging around. A large group of connections like this is like putting fresh meat before a stray animal for the story-craving lightfly.

“As you all know, I want out of this city and out of this mess, but a little unresolved issue called the Authority is keeping us here. Ah, mother-in-law, that would be an ancient cache of artifacts, enchanting materials, and alchemical reagents. Powerful ones.”

“Your spoils of war,” the older elf says with a nod.

“Eh.” I don’t why but that turn of phrase makes my skin itch. “Anyway, we’re not going anywhere until we get it. That requires dealing with the hunters guarding it and there’s been a development. Geneva, give them the short version.”

I step back, leaning against the edge of the desk as the succubus recounts our earlier conversation, watching the room’s reaction. Everyone’s interested, though in amusingly different ways. Alana, who had been relaxed all throughout dinner, straightens up, her spine resembling a pole as her lips press into a familiar thin line. I think Talia is less interested in the story than she is in Geneva. Seriously, our poor flower’s fascination is perhaps unhealthy. I haven’t seen any worrying behavior, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s only a matter of time. As for my lovely wife, she’s excited by the prospect of violence, as always.

I step forward again once she finishes, bringing the room’s attention back to me. “We’ve got the night to come up with a plan to keep the Traditionalists and the Idiots from colluding. And while I have my own ideas, since you’re all here, I want to hear what you think. So?” I gesture for them to speak up at their leisure, curiously moving my gaze around the room to see who will be first.

Unsurprisingly, it’s Morgene who responds first, a thoughtful hum proceeding her suggestion. “Subtly takes time. You must make more of it. Sabotage the meeting. Make it look like one of these clans betrayed the other? Of course, you would have to reinforce such a notion before it was used as a reason to rally against you. Oh! If you want to be particularly delightful, you could implicate the Hall. It’d be fairly simple with their branding. Robes matching affinities. Uninspired, at the very least.”

I struggle not to gape at her…and fail. She’s only amused at my incredulous suggestion. “You shouldn’t leave your mouth open or that lovely little light might try to put a literal shine in your eye.”

“Hey! That’s not a bad—"

“Don’t even think about it!” I snap at the invisible elemental, casting my glare about the room, a smile curling the ends of my lips. It is funny to imagine. I mean, it’s not like she’d ever do it…

…

Eh-hem. Best not to think about it too much. “I was just surprised you mentioned something so…restrained.”

“Oh, it’s not my first choice. If I were in your position, I’d assault both camps. The Traditionalists first, of course. They sound like the stubborn and devious kind that will take any chance to put a knife in your back while these rebels are rats, scavengers that will let the predators pick each other off before slinking in for the scraps. Capture the leaders alive and have the pet pour their minds into a wineglass, so to speak. Truly, what good is a key to all the locks in the world if one never uses it? Or don’t. So long as they are not there to swipe the treasure from underneath your nose, you can take your time searching this continent corner to corner for your treasure.”

“Your enemies cannot plot against you if they are dead,” Kierra says.

“Precisely.”

There we go. “You think restraint is a bad idea?”

“Bad? Certainly not. A boring and unnecessarily lengthy strategy? Yes. I could never imagine wasting days of my time and who knows whatever resources out of courtesy for those who dared to raise a hand against my family, but if that’s what you want to do, I won’t waste your time pushing for a solution you won’t accept.”

“Ah, well. Thanks for being practical? Buying more time would be good but I’m not sure about trying to pin it on anyone. I just don’t think they’ll fall for it. Would they really be picking each other off when they’re both down on their luck? The Traditionalists know about succubi and the rebels are looking for enemies everywhere. Too easy to see a setup, especially if we drag the Hall into this.”

“You underestimate what people will believe, especially in times of great stress. But very well. There is also the option of bribing them. Make the deception truth, pay one side to attack the other.”

I open my mouth to say it’s not that easy, that I’m the last person they’d take gold from but that’s not true. Gold is one of the absolutes of the world. Throw enough of it at a problem and you can accomplish miracles. “We’re well-off but that’s a lot of money.”

“Potentially. Scarcity gives things value. If everyone has nothing, even trash can be a treasure. Simply offer them more than whatever the Traditionalists have. Or put a bounty on their heads, a little competition always brings out the savage ambition in the soul. Or is that too bloodthirsty for your budding empathy?”

“Yes, actually,” I hiss through clenched teeth. “Not assassinating in a general but in this particular situation. Most of the Traditionalists’ have nothing to do with the Authority. Those poor bastards getting knifed while they’re taking a piss at the edge of the camp just to inconvenience their bosses is shitty. As for said bosses, I doubt the rebels can go toe-to-toe with the elites. Even if they could manage it, I’m trying to avoid more killing. I could kill everyone myself.”

“Rather than money, I think a piece of the Authority would be a better bribe,” Alana suggests. “These rebels. Claiming to drive out all others is just another way of saying they want to be in control, isn’t it? But they can’t stake a claim because they’re too weak. Not to mention they have no claim. A few artifacts gives them both.”

“They help us find the artifacts and in return, they become the new guardians of a significantly diminished Authority?” I muse. “The current Traditionalists aren’t going to be happy about that.”

“Which will give them all the reason they need to fight one another.” She crosses her arms with a smug smile. “Nothing makes idiots of warriors quite like prestige and honor.”

“Speaking from experience, star?” Kierra asks.

“Of course I am. Think about why we’re even in this room.”

The elf chuckles. “Agreed. If nothing else, such a blatant temptation will hide our intrusion into the rebels.”

That’s a good point. “Make them think we’re coming from the front while we sneak in through the back. I like it.”