Fortia scrambled and threw a letter onto the ground. Who did these people think they were?! And to have the gall to underli! What? Did they think she couldn’t read now?

  “The Arikan Iional gress formally decres the results of White Pantheon attendae. Twenty six to eight. The AIvokes the official Decree of Divine-Mortal Separation and formally asks the White Pao not send Divio the meeting.”

  Fortia rang the UNN. It was obvious at this point, Kassandora had always been a better general. Even though Kirinyaa should have been overwhelmed in a month, it somehow mao put up a fight for thrice that at this point.

  Did Kassandora think she was the only oh access to modern teology?

  “In regards to military expansion. The volunteer program provides enough recruits already. I would rather acquire the excess pnes KAL has in stockpile rather than push more into ground troops.” Arascus said as he gauged the expressions of everyone in the room. Outside, sunlight beamed over the ring-city of Nanbasa and this building was tall enough to give sight of the massive zoo in the tre. Lions prowled about as people on tall walkways took pictures of them from above. Pnes were nding, helicopters too, iies north. That airport had been built retly, it wouldn’t pass the safety standards for a civilian structure, but the military didn’t o abide by sueedless bureaucracy. And ihe rge room was Arascus with some twenty men. Everyone in a dark suit, with the green-red-blue tricolour of Kirinyaa hanging on every wall.

  Today was an easy iation indeed, one of the easiest Arascus has had yet, although everything had been prepared to make the Kirinyaan officials ready to be caught like fish from a barrel. Helenna had left a hint here, a here, a word out of p a versation, a wink and a smile to someone of some importance. And suddenly Kirinyaa’s upper echelons had grand ideas in their heads about Arascus wanting to introduational scription, to force every man into the army.

  They would have agreed to scription, but no one would have been happy about it. The man most against national scription in the room was Arascus himself. Kassandora’s army had begun as mainly Kavaa’s Cleriow it had doubled in size and half was Kirinyaan nationals. They joio fight, they joio get revenge for Melukal, they joined because they had no other option, but rgely, they joined for Kassandora herself. The Goddess which had given Kirinyaa a sprawling future across Arika, and not one locked behind the great firewalls of Ausa.

  And they joined for Kassandora, they would go where she pointed. Currently that finger pointed north, so no one had any issue. But when this war was finished… if that fiurned south, towards Nanbasa. They would go too. That was another be of the slow-war strategy, although Arascus was the only oo see it. Expose a man to war long enough, and war became all he knew. If Kirinyaa’s fight for survival dragged on for another year, awo, then Kassandora would be left with an army of fanatics who would scoff at the idea of beating their swords into ploughshares.

  And then, there wouldn’t be any need for meetings like this anymore.

  But that was the future and this was the present. So Arascus had to sit and talk politely to mehan half his size. “You don’t want to introduce scription?” One of the men asked. Dark, as all Kirinyaans were, with close cut hair and a white undershirt for the suit. Other than the gsses, he faded into the crowd of politis.

  “No.” Arascus said. “There is no point, we don’t have the industrial capacity to supply them.” These people had e in expeg tue for scription, and all Arascus had asked was to retool old phe God of Pride looked around the room, men started to smile, some let out heavy breathes, shoulders rexed and people fell bato their seats.

  And it was done. And they had just agreed, no one had simply vocalized the agreeme. But it was obvious from their reas, they were all extremely happy with how things had turned out. Of course, they’d have to maintain and pretend that there was some issue, something to make it seem like they weren’t just giving up. One man raised a hand and spoke. “In regards to the phey do belong to KAL.” Kirinyaan Air-Lines. “It’s a private pany, we don’t have the jurisdi to force them…” He looked around the room arailed.

  There it was, Arascus had expected a better ter than simply this. “KAL doesn’t get permission to scrap the phey’re currently operating at a loss because of the upkeep costs for them.” Arascus said. “I think they’d be more than happy to get rid of them.” And if they weren’t, then Helenna would spend some time ving them. With how effective the Goddess was, Arascus would give them a week before the pnes were under Kassandora’s and.

  “It’s said most of them don’t work.” Another man spoke up.

  “We have our own engineers.” Arascus replied. The man that. Just as Arascus had expected, it’s not that they didn’t want to, it’s that they simply wouldn’t allow themselves to look as if they were giving the pnes away. “The only issue-“ Arascus stopped as the entire room jumped. A eyes widened in shoa out a funny little squeak.

  Anassa appeared o Arascus. The God of Pride could feel her presence, although that wasn’t impressive. At a step’s distance, every Divine could feel the presence of another. But more than that, he could smell her. Roses and sweat, vender and oil, perfume that failed at maskiiourned and looked up at her from his seat.

  Her bck hair was messy as if she had just gotten out of bed. Her eyes had dark rings underh them. Her hands were dirty with what looked to be oil and soot. That red dress g thtly as if it had been stu, the fabric was darker than usual, as if it was wet. “I’m in a meeting.” Arascus said.

  “I know. I’ve finished.” Anassa said coldly.

  “Wait outside.” Arascus said. Anassa tightened her fists, took a heavy breath, and hen she disappeared. Men turo look through the window behind Arascus. The God turned, Anassa was stood there silently h the air, arms crossed, obviously angry. From the movement, she was clig her tongue. “Family issues.” Arascus said as he turned back. “If you have children, you’ll know what it’s like when they get rebellious.” The men all shared a chuckle. “As I was saying, the issue of army expansion would be the creation of an air force.”

  One of the men stood up. “No issue at all!” He shouted and got a series of cheers. “It’s the least we do.”

  “I’d like to formalize and bring it into Kassandora’s and.”

  “Of course, of course.” Arascus brought out a piece of paper, he didn’t bother to tain his smile. These men didn’t realise what sort of power they were giving Kassandora, she had been pressing for the creation of an air force sihe start, this was simply the best opportunity to get it. The title at the top read: K.A.F. These people would most likely read it as Kirinyaan Air Force, although it stood for Kassandora’s Air Force. Why else would there be aire se dedicated to standardized call signs and symbols to use in pce of different nguages?

  The men all looked at it. “As fast as possible.” Arascus said. “And we will be able to stem KAL’s bleeding coffers as well.” And that ent was for the easiest type of man to bend, the self-is. A few eyes lit up with greed and mouths twisted into smiles that obviously tried to hide the fact they were hungry for profit. Today, or tomorrow at the test, KAL’s shares will be bought up. “Thank you, that’s all.” Arascus said. “Now if you could excuse me, I have…” Arascus feigned a heavy sigh. Seeing Anassa was rarely unpleasant, but if rumours started to spread about them disunity among the Gods, that could only lead to fuelling uimation. “Family business.” Arascus finished.

  “I wish you luck.” One man said.

  “They grow out of it.” Another man said and the room ughed as people started to shut up. Then they silent when Anassa knocked on the window and shook her fi the man who spoke. Arascus let them think whatever they wanted, fear was a sword that o be sharpened every now and again, he simply could not pick up the whetstone when he had to maintain this charade of equality between him and the Kirinyaan parliament.

  The moment the st mahe room, Anassa once again appeared within. “I am angry.” She said it so ftly Arascus could holy believe she was furious. She looked around, found o sit on, so sat oable. “I am furious in fact.” More emotion this time.

  “What happened?” Arascus asked as he leaned bad looked the Goddess up and down. Some Divines, Fer was the best example, did not… what was the word? ‘Embody’ Divinity. They were crass, loud and put little thought into their looks. Kassie was another one, she’d only dress up when there was a reason for it. Anassa was usually the opposite extreme. If the only other living in a room was a damn fly, then Anassa would make sure that fly would kly on what level of perfe ay Divines operated on. “Frankly, you look terrible.” Arascus added before Anassa could start.

  “Oh I know!” Anassa said as she kicked her legs in the air. “Oh I know! Did you tell Kassie to do it?”

  “To do what?”

  “To charge bubbles?” Oh. So that was what happened. Anassa hated doing that. That easant’s work. Arascus sighed, well that expined why she was so fatigued. Arascus shook his head and chuckled.

  “I didn’t even knoere building them.”

  “Oh this you didn’t know about?” Anassa said sarcastically. “How fortunate for you! You know if I’m reading a book but you don’t know I’m sent off to serve as a battery! Lovely!” Anassa’s voice got louder and louder until she ractically shouting. This was usually how it went with Anassa. Arascus had gotteo it before she had even been grahe title of being family.

  “How many?” Arascus asked.

  “TEN!” Anassa threw her hands up in the air, lost band fell backwards onto the table. “OW!” She rubbed the back of her head. Goddess of Sorcery, Mistress of the Red Moon, and this is how she acted. Arascus sighed as he stood up ao a et. Vodka and Whiskey for Kassandora and Neneria. Sweets for Olephia. Fvoured drinks for Fer. Wine for Anassa. He pulled got two gsses and poured Anassa a full gss.

  “Here, you .” Arascus slid the gss over to her.

  “I don’t want it!” Anassa said, still lying oable, her legs kig the empty air. Arascus rolled his eyes, she did want it, but this was how she was.

  “I’m not going to feed you.” Arascus said, keeping Anassa happy was a challenge in itself. She could sulk for months at a time, although all Divines could. “I actually had something to tell you but I don’t know if you want to hear it.”

  “I don’t.” Anassa growled a on kig her legs. Arascus stood so that he could look down at her face. An upside-down Anassa stared up at him angrily as her stink invaded his nose, did the woman not even wash? He sipped the red wine from his gss, then tio gaze down at her. A minute passed.

  Two minutes.

  Three.

  And Arascus ran out of patience. “Do you want a drink?” He asked as he swirled the wine in his gss. Anassa didn’t ahis time, she merely opened her mouth. “You are a child.” The God of Pride rolled his eyes, he tipped his gss and spshed some wiween her lips. “Child, Anassa. You know this?” Anassa swallowed the wine and ughed.

  “That is good wine.” Anassa said. Immediately happier. Of course she was. Of damn course.

  “Southern Rancais.” Arascus said. “So, happy now?”

  “No.” Anassa replied immediately, but her tone had ged to a light joking one now. Arascus rolled his eyes as Anassa parted her lips again. Arascus poured more wio her mouth. She did it again.

  “You’re an adult Anassa. Drink it yourself.” Anassa rolled her eyes and sat up. She snapped her finger and the ss flew into her hand without spilling a drop.

  “I want an apology from Kass.” Anassa’s voice was stern even after she had emptied the wine gss. “A proper one.” Arascus shook his head. It was easier to ask Olephia to sing a song, and just as practical.

  “We both know that’s impossible.” And knowing Kass, her apology would go something along the lines of ‘I apologize for your ziness.’

  “Well then I’m not happy.” Anassa snapped her fingers, another Anassa o Arascus, grabbed the bottle and passed it to the ohat was sitting with the empty gss. Arascus sighed and thought of what to say to the woman. Arascus quickly thought of what to do.

  “Are you the front?” Arascus asked. Anassa raised her arms and made a show of looking at herself.

  “I’m so here I’m here.” Her voice was flooded with a storm of sarcasm. Arascus smelled her again, peasantry didn’t smell so bad. Arascus circled the table and sat dowo her, it creaked uhe bined weight of two Divines.

  “When was the st time you washed?”

  “They don’t have running water at Zalewski’s front.” Anassa said bounced closer to him. “And I refuse to wash in reused water.” She put her head on his shoulder and poured herself a third gss of wine and giggled. “So I don’t know, a month ago?” She smelled fingers and shrugged. “I don’t smell it.”

  “You got used to it.” Arascus said and Anassa pulled a sour tone again.

  “Well I’m sorry but I was staying with Fer, you think she doesn’t stink?! When was the st time she washed?! A thousand years ago?! Two?!” Arascus ughed at her retort and put his arm arouo pull her close.

  “Do you know where I’m staying?” Arascus asked.

  “Of course I do.”

  “I have a bath, you wash there.”

  “Thanks.” Anassa said. A lightbulb lit up in Arascus’ mind. Sinassa was here already…

  “I’d prefer if you washed today.” Arascus said.

  “Do I stink that bad?” Anassa quietly from o him. Half of the third gss had already gone.

  “Tomorrow is the AIC meeting. Neneria and I will attend. Do you want to e?” Anassa’s throat made a low chuckle. Iliyal was going too sihe elf would be the actual iator. Arascus was simply turning up to make sure all eyes were on him and the elf would have free reign to talk to Artois and the other Epan leaders. Neneria was going to scout the Epan mascot Divihat would be turning up, i whether they were like Maisara or whether they were like Ciria. And Neneria had little to do.

  “I’m offended you’re even asking me if I want to. Of course.” Anassa said as she kicked her legs in the air.

  “There’ll be Epan Divihere.” Arascus said. “The national mascots.”

  “Ahh.” Anassa cooed as she finished her gss. She tried p herself ahe bottle was empty, so she pulled the oill in Arascus’ hand out of his grasp. “So?”

  “I’d rather you not make a se.” Arascus said.

  “Have I ever made a se?”

  “Do you want an ao that?”

  “The answer is I have never made a se.” Anassa said. Arascus let the statement stand, this wasn’t a hill worth dying on. He’d lose the argument anyway.

  “Call Helenna the a dress from her so you’re not turning up in this.” Arascus poked her stomach where the red fabric was matted with dirt and sweat.

  “Alright.” Anassa said, she put Arascus’ empty gss down. “ we stay here for a minute more? Just like this?” Arascus had another meeting that was starting soon, but frankly, the meeting could wait.

  “We .” He replied and hugged her tighter.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”