...eight.

  Nine.

  Ten.

  Logash lunged forward, and Aven’s dual bodies reacted in tandem. The mistformed body moved first, exploding into ropes of shadow and mist that seized the ogre’s arms and neck. Thunder cracked, sending snow blasting out around them. Bolstered by his rune, Logash ripped the shadowy tendrils away.

  Just in time for Aven’s voidclaws to burst through the mist, stabbing into Logash’s neck. Or, at least, into the layer of rocklike armor formed by his mountain rune.

  Logash stepped back, letting the mist dissipate, “Ten seconds. Good. You’re moving the second body much more smoothly now.”

  Aven sucked in a breath, drawing the ambient voidmist back into his body. Maintaining the split bodies was no longer a strain. Not on his void essence, at least. The Battle Mind still struggled with the split. If anything, controlling both bodies was a greater mental strain than before achieving 3rd circle. This newfound power let Aven shred through lesser voidspawn and even penetrate vis defenses like Logash’s mountain rune far better, but not all Aven’s power had increased equally.

  He massaged his temples, trying to ease the reunification of split minds, “Still feels...off.”

  “You are unbalanced,” Logash brushed snow off his shoulder and glanced over to the adjoining field where other vis of Hellfrost Legion were training. Or supposed to be. A fair number were instead watching their sergeant and captain, only jerking back to their exercises at Logash’s glare. “I’ve seen it happen often with those of new power, especially those who advanced too quickly. The blood Sunshine gave you forced a rise to 3rd circle in your void powers before the rest of you was ready.” Logash chuckled, “Still, even unbalanced, I think other 3rd circles would not find you an easy opponent.”

  Power alone wasn’t Aven’s concern. The greater issue was control. So far, the void remained under his command. But the voidmist bodies proved...volatile. Prone to collapse. Or explosion. Or lashing out at anything nearby.

  A sudden thought struck Aven, and he left Logash with a thanks. While the ogre went to check on the other trainees, Aven found Katrin. Not alone, so that was progress. Instead, Katrin was coordinating with some of the caster vis, using her nature spirits to mark targets for the others to fire at. In the field, the spirits were enough to distract or leave openings for stronger casters to blast through defenses.

  Dashul was at the back of the group barking out the order to launch their vis. At each command, a wave of light, fire, and ice blasted out, pummeling the rocks that Katrin designated as targets. In the space between waves, half dropped to fill their palms with the vis energy, souls transforming raw vis with their individual essence to prepare new projectiles while the other half rose to unleash their own wave.

  “Cousin!” Vili chirped, flitting over to perch on Aven’s shoulder. “You have to say something to these shriveled rat-eaters! Not one of them has complimented Sister Katrin’s grace and skill! Rude! They are treating her as an equal.”

  “Good,” Aven said. Far better than fearing a maledictus. “We’re all equals in the fight against the voidspawn.”

  Vili’s lack of eyes prevented her from rolling them. Instead, her entire tiny head rolled. “Of course, you say that, but some are more equal than others.”

  Vili’s chatter, though incomprehensible to others, still brought their attention.

  “Captain!” a dozen fists pounded over their owners’ hearts in salute.

  “Good work, soldiers,” Aven said. “Dashul, how long between waves?”

  The swarthy skinned veteran answered quickly, “six seconds, sir!” He’d recovered from Teja’s arrow remarkably well. Not enough to be on the frontlines, but enough to assist with training. “Three for a quick volley.”

  Right at imperial standard. Not bad for a ragtag group of former prisoners, guards, and an additional couple Hravast and Kvormskaja.

  “And your progress on combat maneuvering?” Aven asked. Ouron had been the one to note that fighting a broad incursion would require different tactics than the pits. With the pits, the voidspawn were largely confined to a small cluster, one that the Hellfrost Legion could easily outmaneuver. Easy for frontlines to pin the spawn down while casters and archers slaughtered them from afar. In a pitched battle, casters and archers would need to be more mobile. Trying to keep a coherent formation, aim properly, and move on the battlefield was no easy task.

  Dashul hesitated, “A...work in progress, sir.”

  “This lug keeps stepping on my boots,” a tattooed Hravast flame-caster elbowed the Kvormskaja ogre next to her.

  “Move your feet faster then,” the ogre grunted, not bothering to look down.

  The team laughed at the bickering, but Dashul’s lips compressed into a thin line, apparently unimpressed at the failure.

  “I’ll talk to Breton about getting coordinated drills,” Aven said.

  Dashul shook his head, “I’ve seen his lot train. They’re no better.”

  “Then we’ll show ‘em how it’s done, won’t we?” Aven grinned. “Who’d like to see the legionaries’ faces when we pull off their own tactics better than them?”

  Cheers met that pronouncement. Competition was something they all could agree on.

  None of that was why Aven was here, though.

  “Katrin. A moment?”

  The maledictus nodded without speaking and left the others to return to basic drills.

  “I think you should find stronger friends,” Vili fluttered up beside Katrin. “All of them are going to die.”

  “They are our comrades, not friends,” Katrin replied. “It is our job to keep them alive.”

  “Of course, Sister,” Vili said. Before fluttering over to Aven to scoff, “If I was supposed to herd mewling weaklings, Mother Shadow would have made me a sheepdog.”

  “Mother Shadow?” Aven asked, intrigued by the unfamiliar title. “A goddess? I’ve not heard of her.”

  Vili’s whole head rolled again, “It’s an expression, void-brain. There isn’t actually a Mother Shadow. That would be silly.”

  No more unbelievable than Aven’s own experiences with the divine.

  “You were asking about something other than theology, I imagine,” Katrin redirected the conversation.

  “Right.” Back to the important topic. “I’m struggling to control the extra body with my split mind. I was hoping your experience on controlling spirits might provide insight.”

  Katrin considered this.

  While Vili spoke up, “Oh, controlling those stupid spirits is easy. It’s like controlling men. You just give them a taste of want they want, and they fall head over heels for you.”

  Neither Vili nor any other spirit Aven had seen had heels, so Aven wasn’t quite sure where that expression applied. It also raised rather deep questions about Vili’s view of men.

  “To be more...precise,” Katrin gave Vili a side glance, “I offer spirits blood and vis. In exchange, they follow my will. It is...a contract of sorts. The secondary body is not a separate entity but an extension of your will, yes? I am not sure if similar principles would apply.”

  Perhaps not. But there may be something to it. As of now, Aven was resisting the void. Trying to leash the voidmist body with his will. But it didn’t really have a will of its own. Perhaps a dead end then.

  “I’m sorry I could not be of more help,” Katrin said.

  “No, no!” Vili objected. “Your words were beautiful as ever! If Aven can’t make use of them, he is just an idiot.”

  Aven laughed, “And an idiot I might be. Still, there may be something in there that I can apply. Thank you.” Another thought struck Aven. They hadn’t really had chance to talk one on one. Or, rather, Aven hadn’t chosen to create such a chance, “...how have you been? Since Gretchen left, I mean. You two were...close.”

  “Very observant,” Katrin’s voice was flat. The same dispassionate tone she used for nearly everything.

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  Vili bobbed up and down vigorously, “I keep telling Katrin she should-“

  “Vili,” Katrin cut the spirit off, her voice sharp enough to actually startle the small creature. Whatever argument the shadow spirit was about to make was clearly one Katrin was already exhausted of hearing. She looked back at Aven, “I am...well.”

  “She spends all evening moping,” Vili burst out, words rapid fire as if pushing them out before Katrin could rebuke her again. “I mean, she did that with Gretchen too, but at least then there was someone to mope with!”

  Katrin glared at Vili a moment longer, then turned to Aven, “...my personal life does not need to concern you.” The words were a dismissal, but her shoulders slumped just a bit. She wasn’t just upset, she was...tired.

  Frankly, had Aven known that the topic was this much of a voidpit, he’d have stayed well away from the beginning.

  “Right. My apologies. If you need anything, just ask,” Aven retreated. That was clearly enough awkwardness for one day.

  Besides, he had a much more pleasant appointment waiting back at Hellfrost

  * * *

  Aelia discovered that an executor’s work could be essentially never-ending. No matter how hard one worked or how efficiently one planned, every problem solved simply revealed increasingly numerous, minute problems. Concerns over rations, and the distribution thereof. Housing next, accumulating concerns over the scarcity of space within Hellfrost. Creating hundreds of new homes in the dead of winter was not an instant process. Often, it felt as though everyone in Hellfrost assumed Aelia had a magic wand that she could instantly wave to conjure two hundred new fully formed homes and enough food for everyone in Hellfrost.

  Managing such expectations and her own stress required rest, and Aelia gave equal priority to such rest as she did to all other necessary portions of her schedule. All research on imperial administration practices confirmed the importance of such rest.

  Forced into confession, however, Aelia would be forced to admit that her methods for relaxation were not among those recommended by imperial administrators.

  “Sorry I’m late,” Aven whispered into her hair.

  The murmurs that came in reply weren’t any conscious words. Thinking wasn’t her purpose at the moment.

  Of course, a moment before, she’d been frantically pacing the office, accursed imagination conjuring all sorts of possibilities of what awful fate had kept Aven from arriving at their scheduled time. Fears that proved superfluous given the delay came just out of weather. The snow was deeper, the deepest it had been since Aelia had arrived in Hellfrost, even though the new year ostensibly brought the onset of spring with it. As if winter was determined to give them one last vicious dying blow. Weather that back in Northstar would have demanded everyone remain indoors. Not an option in Hellfrost, unfortunately.

  They could, however, take advantage of the moment of rest to curl up by the fire in Aelia’s office.

  Until a knock interrupted.

  Aelia rose with a reluctant groan. The hourglass on her desk showed there could be nearly a quarter of an hour left. The one outside the office should have given a similar signal that they were not to be disturbed. An emergency, then.

  “A moment,” Aelia said to the door. She quickly adjusted her clothing, making sure everything was as it should be. She looked to Aven seeking confirmation.

  “You look wonderful.” He grinned.

  Not the present concern. “But do I look presentable?”

  “Absolutely,” Aven gave a final quick peck on her cheek. Then he was behind the chair, leaning against the wall, trying to look innocuous. It wasn’t an entirely convincing look for a third-circle vis with veins as black as night writhing across his arms, but the effort was appreciated.

  Aelia opened the office door. Tanya, bearing a grin Aelia was pretty sure someone more emotionally intuitive would describe as cheeky.

  “Not disturbing anything, I hope,” Tanya winked.

  “You were,” Aelia nodded to the hourglass on the table outside. “An emergency, I assume?”

  “Someone dying?” Aven guessed.

  “Oh, quite the opposite!” Tanya said cheerfully.

  Opposite?

  “Akra?” Aven guessed.

  Tanya hopped in delight, and Aelia understood. The sergeant had indeed been quite far along in the pregnancy. Enough that even her stubbornness hadn’t been enough to keep working full hours overseeing the quarry.

  “A girl!” Tanya crowed. “A beautiful little girl.”

  A joyful occasion, to be sure. Though Aelia was unsure why the news of it could not have waited fifteen more minutes.

  She forced a smile that was genuine, just slightly buried by frustration, “My congratulations to the sergeant. Is she well?”

  “Oh, you know, as well as can be expected,” Tanya waved a hand dismissively. Aelia did not, in fact, know. The process of birthing was, logically, one that millions of women completed without issue, but it boggled Aelia’s mind that anyone could be well after producing and squeezing another living being out of them. Aelia suddenly remembered the diminutive minari had, what, a half-dozen children? Statistically, likely multiple failed births as well. For her, the process that was horror in Aelia’s mind was probably routine.

  “I am very happy for her, of course,” Aelia said, “and the father as well. I’m sure you have others to deliver the news to.”

  “Oh, I didn’t mention!” Tanya slapped her forehead. “Dear me! I’m all a-flutter! Danys asked for you to give the baby’s benediction.”

  Aelia froze. Technically, it was proper for a head priest to give such a blessing. In the absence of a full priest in Hellfrost, the duty would fall to whatever other official was present. It hadn’t ever occurred to Aelia that she might be requested for the role.

  “Surely...one of the diakons would be more appropriate?” Aelia asked.

  “Don’t know anything about ‘appropriate’,” Tanya patted Aelia’s arm. “You’re the one Danys asked for.” Her eyes flickered to the side, to where Aven was not-very-nonchalantly leaning against the wall, “Wanted you as witness too!”

  Aelia glanced to Aven. Refusing would be serious insult. Besides, this was an honor. Just an...unexpected one. While she usually classified “unexpected honors” as “burdens”, this did not have to be.

  Tanya led the way out to the barracks that still served as infirmary even after months. Given that one of the town healers was there constantly supervising the place now, Aelia doubted its original purpose would ever return. A small crowd formed outside, but the group parted at Tanya’s approach, cheering at Aelia and Aven’s presence. More a general expression of joy than anything to do with her specifically, Aelia assumed, but still surreal to experience.

  Sergeant Danys Akra lay on a bed, propped up with pillows. She looked tired, pale and sweaty, but her face held a soft, beatific expression Aelia had never seen on her before. Her husband, a sandy-haired farmer whose name was escaping Aelia, held her hand, sobbing as he gazed at the bundle currently latched to Danys’ chest.

  “Executor,” Danys said weakly, giving a smile.

  “I am...glad to see you are well,” Aelia tried, unsure what on earth the appropriate pleasantries were for a woman who’d just squeezed an entire person out of an orifice that was, in Aelia’s opinion, ill-designed for the task. “And your daughter.”

  Aven slapped the man on the back, “Congratulations, Ciarhan.” Ah, that was his name.

  The sandy-haired man wiped a tear, “Thank you, Captain. Thank you, Executor. She’s...perfect.”

  Danys stroked the daughter’s nearly-hairless head and pulled the infant’s head from her breast to offer the bundle to Aelia.

  “May I...ask why you chose me to give the benediction?” Aelia hesitated. The bundle was so small. So fragile. Not something for someone like Aelia to handle.

  “I want my daughter to be raised in a way that truly honors the Ideals,” Danys said seriously. “Whether her path leads her to battle like me or to cultivating the land like Ciarhan, or another path entirely. And you...you believe in the Ideals more than anyone else in Hellfrost. Not just as laws and rules, but as something to strive for. If anyone’s blessing will make her a good person in service to those Ideals, it’s yours.”

  The weight of that declaration fell on Aelia, and she looked at the baby in Danys’ arms. The responsibility of shaping a young life was the greatest burden one could bear. To instill the virtues of civilization, the Ideals of the Empire, in a child? That was the foundation of everything Aelia fought for. More than the law, more than the bureaucracy.

  Aelia gave Tanya a pleading glance, and the minari matron helped her take the bundle, showed her how to position it. It was...surprisingly light.

  Aelia cleared her throat, the entire barracks quiet now. The little baby girl whined, a soft, pleading noise. A simple request, probably for more feeding, from a mind that knew nothing of the empire, nothing of the Ideals, nothing of the world in which it was born. Every day, Aelia made decisions that affected the lives of hundreds like this little child.

  “Have...you decided upon a name yet?” Aelia asked. The official naming would happen days later, in the church. A task that Aelia might be asked again to perform.

  “Eva,” Ciarhan whispered as if scared to speak too loudly.

  Named for the Paragon of Harmony, Evara, no doubt. A good name. Aelia’s heart swelled. The baby girl whined again.

  “May the blessings of the Paragons be upon you, little Eva,” Aelia began, voice soft, uncertain at first, but gaining strength. “You are born to two of the most loyal, hardworking, and honorable souls in the empire. May their love be a blessing to you. May you grow to know the Ideals and their light in whatever path you choose. “

  She paused. There were benedictions recounted in the seminal texts of the Empire. She recalled specifically one from the Word of Harmony that came to mind, given by the Paragon Evara. Fitting to give this child a benediction from her namesake.

  “May your hands learn Discipline, steady in labor and true in purpose.

  May your heart hold Courage, to stand tall before hardship or fear.

  May your spirit hold steadfast to family, comrades, and Empire in Loyalty.

  May you find strength in Industry, turning each day’s work to the good of all.

  May you bow in Piety, honoring the powers that shape our world and the order we serve.

  May you deal in Justice, weighing fairly between self and others.

  May you grow in Wisdom, discerning proper action from vanity.

  May you seek Harmony, finding your place among others as all things do in their right measure.

  May your heart burn with Ambition, not to grasp, but to rise by worthy striving.

  May you behold Beauty and remember what is pure and worth preserving.

  May you uphold Truth, in thought and deed.

  And may you know Joy, the triumph of life over emptiness.”

  Aelia paused, then added her own line: “And may the Empire serve you as faithfully and truly as your parents have served it. You are the future, and our work is for you.”

  She returned the baby to her mother. Danys wiped a tear from her eye, clutching Eva close.

  “Thank you,” Danys sobbed, with far more emotion than Aelia had ever seen from the sergeant as she took the child back.

  Distantly, Aelia heard applause. Cheers. Aelia stepped back, her part done. The words...they felt almost as if another had spoken them. As if some ancient voice had spoken through her.

  “Was that so terrible?” Aven whispered, taking her arm and guiding her out of the room as others came in to congratulate the new parents.

  “Possibly the most terrifying thing I’ve ever done,” Aelia replied. Her hands were shaking horribly. How she’d managed not to drop the poor child was a mystery for the ages.

  Aven’s laugh accompanied them back to the office. Where the last sands ran down into the bottom of the hourglass, indicating times of rest and joy were at an end. Already, Cascia of Frostwood was waiting, no doubt eager to voice the latest complaints from the survivors of the village.

  Speaking the benediction, though...it was exhausting in one way, but in others invigorating. Aelia was not merely shuffling papers and checking numbers. She was building a world. A world for children like little Eva to grow into. Aven would ensure that world survived the voidspawn. Aelia just had to make sure it survived the winter.

  Renewed for the fight, Aelia marched back into the office to do battle.

  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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