Interlude 5

David could not remember the last time he had seen Eris genuinely angry.

Perhaps it had been as long as when they’d first met, when he challenged her power and she tried to kill his sister. She had pretended to be upset after Rebecca’s proposal to spare the people of Cliff’s Edge before Black Port’s destruction. There were other times where it seemed like he had angered her, but not like this.

However, David had been preparing himself for such a moment for a very long time; it just so happened that it occurred after Loki deceived him and her.

The Greater Goddess responsible for Eris’s fury was not present. She had managed to slip away, leaving David and his newest general alone with her, trapped inside the grey space. Strangely, the female general didn’t seem uncomfortable or confused at all by this, nor that her master was, in effect, the servant of another.

“David Athelward, remind me - what was our agreement after you summoned Hermes Trismegistus?”

“That I wouldn’t be allowed to summon another general for six months.”

“How many months has it been since then?”

“Roughly four months.”

“Roughly four months.” Eris nodded a little, her arms folded and her trademark smile was nowhere to be seen. “Have you forgotten how to count since we last spoke?”

“No.”

“So, why?” She suddenly appeared right before his face, her eyelids wide open, and the red fire within burnt ferociously. “Why did you fall for Loki’s obvious trick?”

“…You’ve often changed the terms and rules of our agreement, and I assumed-”

David felt invisible hands wrap around his throat, tightening ever so slightly with each passing second. He kept tight control over his muscles and refused to show any sign of discomfort or pain.

“The emperor who burnt Rome but not literally like Nero, the man who fanaticised France from a bathtub with his writings and the woman who brought down an empire with just her looks and mannerisms? What do you think they all have in common, David Athelward?”

“…They all manipulated people or facts to suit their own causes. But I thought-”

“I know why you picked her.” Eris glanced over her shoulder at the general in the hanfu who smiled back at the Goddess. “You thought she was the most normal one out of the lot, just as Loki hoped you’d think. You chose the wrong one, David.” She released him from his chokehold, landed on her feet and slowly walked towards the general. “This pure looking maiden is second only to you in terms of strength and ability, and is far stronger than your other generals.”

“Seriously?!”

Eris glared at him, before turning back to the general. “Tell me, who do you serve?”

“The great Demon Emperor, Lord Allaric,” she replied with a gentle, soothing voice.

“Not Loki?”

The general shook her head. “Loki is merely a benefactor - I am bound by the rules you set, Goddess Eris, and will follow them as such. If you’d prefer, I can enter into a contract with you to ensure I do not violate my oath.”

After an intense staring match between the two, Eris smiled and said, “No, there’s no need for that. If you turn out to be lying to me, I’ll simply destroy your entire being and Loki too.”

“Oh? I thought Goddess Loki was your greatest friend.”

“Everyone has their limits; Loki simply hasn’t reached mine yet.” Eris glided towards David on her wings, her usual smile returning to her lips, and embraced him from behind. “I’d treat her carefully if I were you, David Athelward. I don’t know why Loki decided to give you such a big advantage, but it has cost you dearly. You’ll never get to choose another general now - that woman before you are what you’ve traded the next six generals I would’ve given you.”

“What?!”

“That’s right. I was going to let you choose six more times before I finally pulled the plug,” Eris said, bringing her lips close to his ear. “I hope Loki’s gift was worth it.”

She giggled before vanishing into a cloud of feathers, leaving David and his final general alone.

She’s worth six generals? David eyed the woman up and down, eliciting a bashful laugh from his general. Sill. David grinned. I can’t say I’m upset by this outcome, Loki.

***

“Good morning, Bill.”

“Mornin’, Curtis. Get a good night’s sleep?”

“As good as one can get in a cheap tavern. Even the Demon Emperor’s precious Dread Town has its fair share of slums.”

“For now. I imagine he’d turn this whole area into the White Manor district in a few months. A shining beacon of how much he’s stolen from the people of Themis.”

“Shh! Keep your voice down. We don’t want to-”

“I know, I know. Didn’t mean to…just can’t help it sometimes.”

“It won’t be much longer that you’ll need to help it.”

“Yeah…you’re right about that, my lad. Come on, let’s get a move on before the line gets much longer.”

“…I honestly don’t remember the last time I saw her face, Bill. Do you think she’s been eating well, or has she fallen ill or-?”

“Worrying won’t do you any good, not now at least.”

“Rich coming from the drunk.”

“Steady now. I’m sober this week. Don’t want to worry Monika on the only day in months that we’re actually allowed to see each other.”

“…It’ll be the last time we have to do this.”

“Don’t say that even as a whisper, lad. The Demon Emperor’s eyes and ears are everywhere in this place.”

“…I know.”

“Heh, you just told me off for it and all.”

“Shut up.”

As Bill laughed at his young compatriot, Curtis’s eyes naturally rose to the grand keep before them, with its blackened walls, its spiked walls and its hundreds of nightmarish defenders.

Even at the break of dawn, the line leading into the Dread Keep was long and it grew longer as families trekked from all across the empire to see their loved ones and as those with official business had no choice but to wait alongside them.

Little did they know that some of their fellow brothers and sisters in arms were hiding in the barrels and crates of merchants, some of the bravest of their rebellion who would be crucial to the success of their grand plan.

In six days, we’ll be ready.

Just wait a bit longer for me, Lisa!