Does the control of two cities make an empire?

  It was a thought that occurred to me as I walked the road. I’d used the footfield after departing Boston, but it had shortened the journey too much. It had been bringing the conclusion too soon, and I wanted a little more time. So I’d simply dropped the footfield, and walked the road. It was a moment to be alone, the first in some time where I could simply be with my thoughts instead of racing from critical action to critical action.

  The fields stretched around me. It was late summer again, almost a year since my Choosing, and the fields were growing ripe. Wheat yellowed in the fields, a rippling ocean of gold. The grass was dark green and vibrant. The brambles grew berries that dotted the hedgerows with unripe but lovely pinks and reds.

  The bundle I carried on my shoulder shifted uneasily. It had wriggled at first. Writhed even. It had mumbled and pleaded incoherently through the cloth gag. It seemed to have exhausted itself. Maybe it was even accepting of what came next. It may as well have accepted it, because what was to follow was inevitable.

  I tried to slow my mind from a churn to a conveyor belt. I tried to let the thoughts slide past me rather than cascade over me. I tried to see each one, realize what they meant.

  Lauren was dead.

  Perdinger was captured.

  The Penaculum was returned.

  The city of Buffalo was a vassal. The Griidlords of Buffalo, the armies of Buffalo, sworn to us. And we were sworn to them too, promising a better future and more Flows. I was stronger than I could have imagined in a thousand dreams.

  ANUBIS waited, if I wanted it.

  Racquel was to be the Arrow of Boston, not the Arrow of Buffalo, we would be side by side forever now. That was exciting and scary all at once.

  We faced the possibility of sanction or even punitive war from an alliance of the surrounding regional powers. We were nearly stronger than we could have hoped for. We wielded the power of two cities, 9 Griidlords (given that Perdinger was done). We had an army of tanks. We were still healthy with Order despite the withering of Danefer’s actions.

  But what would we face? Indy for certain. And at least one, if not two New Yorks. Minneapolis was enraged by Racquel’s defection. Would we be confronted by the forces of two or ten cities? I felt there was a place between those two numbers where we could succeed, and a place where all of our efforts to now would spell doom.

  Castle Oakcrest grew closer in the distance. It had been a long time since I’d walked at a mortal pace. I’d forgotten what it was to see a destination in the distance and not simply be there a few moments later. I possibly didn’t have this time to waste, but I also didn’t think I had the option of not taking this time. What was to come next would dwarf the fighting and beating of Danefer and the Green Men. What would come next would dwarf everything I had achieved in my life. I needed to have a single clear vision. I needed my mind set.

  And of course, in this moment I chose for my own solitude, the voice from the ether intruded.

  “Wow. I can’t believe you pulled it all off, kiddo. Danefer’s in the dirt, Buffalo’s in the bag. It’s like two birds with one stone. The start of something beautiful.”

  I was alone in the countryside, I spoke my answer. “You’ve been very quiet for a while.”

  Enki said, “I’ve been working on things. Had some stuff to take care of.”

  I said, “Does it take a lot of energy and focus to dismantle an entropy storm after you set it in motion? There was a little one, I heard about that, to the west of Buffalo. Folks said it was building though, growing larger. Wiped out a village. 83 people died. It was heading east, for the city. This would have been around the time that Olaf and I were fighting the old Sword of Miami himself. You didn’t think I could do it.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Enki’s voice was thin, “I don’t think I’ve ever confirmed any control over storms to you, you’re making assumptions.”

  I waved at the air, dismissing the words, “I’m beyond needing confirmation of it. I can see the pattern. I know at least something of what you can do. So, is that where you’ve been, dissipating that storm once you didn’t need it? After I killed Danefer and stopped the relic, the danger passed and you didn’t need to destroy a million people to ensure your own survival.”

  Enki was silent. I walked on, unperturbed. The sweet scent of honeysuckle drifted to me and I admired the delicate flowers as I passed them. In that moment they were more interesting to me than the voice.

  Enki said, “I had a lot of things to do. You’ve upset the world order with what you did in Buffalo. Not a lot, but a fair amount for a boy that didn’t even have a suit a year ago.”

  I said, “I’m doing what you wanted. Growing stronger. Have you seen I’m level 47 now?”

  A pause, then an impressed tone, “Shit… In a year… that is… heck, kiddo, don’t know how else to say it, but that’s impressive.”

  “I know.”

  Enki snickered, “Growing a little arrogant are we? Don’t know if I mind that.”

  I said, “I’m a level 47 Griidlord. That alone would put me on the lists of the best in all the lands. I killed Danefer and conquered a city. I have a plan that can only be made successful by overwhelming ego. I was thinking I should lean into my self-belief.

  Enki said, “that you should… that you should…”

  I kept walking. The walls of the castle were closer now. Soon I would be too close to speak out loud. “I’m busy myself, Enki. I don’t have much time for you.”

  “Ouch.”

  “I do have something you could do for me.”

  “Oh, yes?”

  I said, “Get me Lucius.”

  “What?”

  I shifted the weight on my shoulder. It wasn’t heavy, not to me. But it was sliding, it kept shifting about. “There’s another war coming. Another, and then probably another again. There might be a lot of war. I know you won’t mind that. Your chosen have always been empire builders. I’ve noticed that. Joel did it. I’m doing it now. I wonder sometimes if you planted seeds and pushed me here. It doesn’t really matter, this is what I want. But you can help out, it serves you better to see me succeed. Buffalo is without an Arrow. We can’t afford the time it would take to choose one and have them grow strong enough to be worth a damn. Lucius is okay already and if he’s one of your chosen he’ll only grow faster. Danefer recruited Griidlords from several of the nearby cities and I’ve killed them all. Others have lost Griidlords during the last Choosing. They might want to do war with me, but they’re weakened and I will do better with ten Griidlords than nine. The Falling is coming again and I expect they’ll act before that rather than after. I need a good replacement and soon.”

  Enki hesitated, “What makes you think I can get him for you? He’s sworn to the empire.”

  I said, “They’re mercantile. And you have sway over him. You got him to go on the hunt for Julia. You can get him to retire and join us. If money will make a difference then let me know. Anyway, it seems I have company of my own now…”

  I could see two figures standing outside the gates of Castle Oakcrest. The short round form of Cornelius, the slightness of Katya.

  Enki whispered, “Are you… dismissing me?”

  I didn’t respond. I waved a hand to the two of them as I approached, and they responded.

  Cornelius looked at the bundle on my shoulder. His face, once so jovial and full, now withered and joyless, focused on the bundle with a hunger that surprised me. Katya’s eyes focused with a hunger that did not surprise me at all.

  I dumped the bundle on the ground before them.

  Perdinger, armless and legless and gagged with a strip of cloth, twisted with pain as he hit the ground, but he made no noise beyond a dull groan. His eyes were fearful though.

  Katya looked down at him and smiled. It was the smile of the devil himself, thin and savage in imagined tortures. “You did it.”

  I said, “You made me promise. I made the promise. Here you are.”

  Her expression did surprise me then. The darkness, the murder, flared enough to scare me and then seemed to extinguish like a candle in a storm. Her eyes grew wide, wetness springing suddenly to the corners. Her lip trembled. I thought I understood.

  I said, “It won’t bring her back.”

  Katya sniffed, turning her face from me. “No…”

  I said, “Do you still want him?”

  Her voice was without doubt, “Yes.”

  I took a breath. Considered saying more, but then thinking better of it. “Do you want me to stay?”

  “No.”

  “Will you see me again? Call on me? Send for me?”

  Katya nodded, still not turning to let me see the emotion there.

  I smiled, not happy, but satisfied. “That’s good enough for me.”