Crimsoncrest: Chapter 3

Okay, here's the plan: I will take it easy posting chapters in March, but only March. As soon as we hit April, back to the normal chapter schedule. I don't know if I'll always do this between books, but I think this will work for me in terms of getting other work done, this time.

Speaking of other work, the paperback for Skyvenom is out. So for those of you waiting for that, enjoy. ^-^

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As cantae smashed against her from both sides, Nauda's wards began to tremble and then collapse. She tried to pour more of her strength into them, but there were stones hammering from one side and flames roasting the other, so it was only a matter of time.

There were four Authorities around her: two from the Ruling Cities and two from the Asplundat Movement. Both of the latter were hurling cantae-shaped stones, which she'd grown used to, but the others should have been her allies. One was even from House Blacksilver, not that it would matter in a second when her wards gave out.

The lines on the ground shattered and cantae burst through, but she had already leapt overhead. She swept her warding gauntlet in a broad arc, forming another line of wards between the combatants, which unfortunately left her vulnerable to attacks.

Some of the fighters, tired of her getting in their way, decided to just target her directly. Both stones and flames were hurtling at her and Nauda decided to stop dodging. She managed to kick the next stone out of the sky while the flames scorched her back.

More importantly, the Authorities who tried to keep fighting one another were blocked by the new line of wards. Some tension along the border was to be expected, but if they caused serious injury it would jeopardize the peace, and if anyone actually died... well, she had to prevent that. By throwing her own body between them, if necessary.

If she'd been using her staff it might have been easier. Then again, perhaps restraining Authorities like they were children would just make them angrier. Nauda stuck with her warding gauntlet on one hand and her nullification glove on the other, and it was time to finally use that glove.

She plunged back down to her failing wards, slamming into the ground with the force of her new omphalos, and combined the shockwave with her glove. The result was that, when she struck the earth with her palm, a shockwave of nullification exploded from her.

Just the backdraft suffocated the flames coming at her back, but Nauda focused the shockwave primarily on the Asplundat Authorities. Their earth armor sloughed away and they fell back a step, stunned but unharmed. That was the best way she had of neutralizing them without actually fighting - because she was technically a Ruling Cities soulcrafter herself, so she could start a war on her own if she wasn't careful.

"Enough!" Nauda shouted into the silence left by her shockwave. "Fighting each other doesn't benefit anyone!"

"Out of the way!" The unknown Ruling Cities soulcrafter attacked her from behind, a bloodstained cleaver swinging overhead.

Barely turning in time, Nauda blocked it with her forearm. All her warding armaments lit up at the impact, because the cleaver was a powerful armament itself, but they held. The cleaver cut a line of blood into her skin but didn't penetrate further than that.

The Authority's eyes widened and Nauda's combat instincts screamed to strike him while he was off guard. Instead she just grabbed the side of the cleaver and plunged it into the ground. That threw the Authority off enough that he retreated, no longer attacking her.

"This isn't Ruling Cities territory," one of the Asplundat Authorities called at her back. "You have no jurisdiction here, and anyone should be able to travel neutral ground. What right do you have, standing in our way?"

They both shouted accusations at her, but once they started shouting instead of attacking, she'd won. Nauda might have spent more time fighting the Asplundat Movement, but she had come to appreciate that they would talk - honestly, the Ruling Cities soulcrafters were more likely to try to take her out. She turned to the two of them with a smile on her face.

"I may live in the Ruling Cities," Nauda said, "but I am here today on behalf of the independent Dustwind Plateaus. If foreign Authorities destroy their farmland, they don't care which side sent them."

"But you serve under the Blacksilver faction," the other Asplundat Authority accused.

"I'm seconded to the independent faction, to make sure they stay independent. You may not believe me, but go ask your superiors."

This finally made them begin to give ground. As far as Nauda could tell, the Asplundat Movement believed that the idea of the Dustwind Plateaus being independent was just a ruse, a ploy to keep the Movement out until the Ruling Cities could take over. The fact that she spent just as much time clashing with encroaching soulcrafters from the Ruling Cities was a point in their favor, honestly.

The Asplundat Authorities spoke to one another, then retreated. With them gone, the Authority with a cleaver shot her a dirty look and then fell back. That left the Blacksilver Authority, who looked uncomfortable as Nauda rounded on him.

Tumast was one of the new Authorities who had joined while she was traveling other worlds. He was a middle-aged Fithan man who had moved to Norro Yorthin from somewhere else, so Nauda still didn't know him very well. She'd done her best to meet all the new Authorities, but there were a dozen now and it was hard to keep up. The only reason she remembered that he had a fire-based soulhome was that he'd been throwing those fires at her.

"I expect the others to cause trouble," Nauda said, "but you? Blacksilver is here to help these people."

"I was just defending them." Tumast shifted his gaze like a naughty child even though he was twice her age. "The Asplundat Movement is encroaching, it's obvious. If we just let them do whatever they want, they'll suck up the Dustwind Plateaus like everywhere else."

"Maybe it looks that way, but think about what they said. To them, it looks like we're the ones trying to take over. We need this area to stay independent so we don't start a war again."

"I know, I... I'll go back and help the farmers."

"That sounds like a good idea."

Nauda remained in the damaged wasteland for a time, extending her life senses in all directions just in case some of them tried to return for a rematch. It looked like they'd actually learned their lesson, though, which meant she'd held off violence for another day. And a good thing, because she'd burned a lot of cantae on her wards and she was feeling a little bit scorched.

Could she actually have fought the four of them? No, not successfully. Even though that would have seemed like an absurd goal not long ago, Nauda was a little disappointed in herself. Theo or Fiyu would have tried it, and even Krikree newly ascended to Authority would have given them a good run for their money.

So Nauda returned to her camp and to her soulcrafting. Ever since they'd split up, she felt as though she'd spent all her time either fighting or soulcrafting, pushing hard in a way she never had before. Now that the bridge between her two leg towers was complete, she needed to finish soulcrafting the remaining bricks for her Authority level. Simple enough, except these needed to be curved in different patterns than usual in order to follow her statue blueprint.

She found herself in a strange position these days, both strong and weak. For many of those she fought, the Authority tier was their end goal in life, the point where they stopped accumulating power and started using it. For those beyond, it was just a stepping stone to far greater power, more the entry level than an accomplishment.

As she worked, Nauda reflected that the Nine seemed to divide themselves into different tiers that created entirely different social environments. Even though she didn't spend much time in them, she reminded herself that for the majority of locations, a Ruler was a regional power and a single Authority could become a tyrant overnight. Even most parts of the Ruling Cities and Asplundat Movement were like that, their resources funneled to locus points of power.

Norro Yorthin represented the second major type of region, where Authorities were somewhat common and Strongholds were dominant leaders. There were variations, of course: some were merely gatherings of Authorities from large regions, others had sublime materials that made the Authority ascension easier, and a few simply had a higher level of competition. Theo or Navim might have wanted to develop a complex classification system, but Nauda wasn't interested in splitting hairs.

No, her attention was focused on the next tier: regions where Authorities were nothing special. She actually had more experience with such places than the others, from her childhood in the lower side of Tatian. Back then she had been unclear on the tiers, but she strongly suspected that some of the warlords were Dominion-tier soulcrafters, like a nightmare version of the Ruling Cities.

And beyond that... Theo had introduced them to the term "aeon-class" that still sent a chill through her. Not simply that there were tiers beyond Dominion, but that there were regions where such insane power needed to be differentiated. They couldn't even dream of venturing to such places yet.

Well, Theo would dream of it. Nauda would just have to focus on Stronghold. Her central chamber - the omphalos within the corporealbottle - was the only highly polished room she had. All the chambers in her staff tower were filled but needed a lot of work, while the two largest rooms above her life and death towers still needed materials. She had yet to decide if she continued the themes or merged them, as this level was meant to bridge her power in multiple ways.

The strange thing was that she thought she could actually rush to Stronghold without too much trouble. It would be a test of willpower, sure, but she could ascend and instantly be a powerful force in this war between the Ruling Cities and Asplundat Movement. And yet she hesitated.

Even her companions had taken their time at Authority, making sure the transition was done flawlessly. Theo soulcrafted like a mad genius, and Fiyu was perfect, and they still took time. For them it wasn't growing stagnant, it was a critical step of priming their soulhomes to vault even higher. She had to make sure she did the same instead of rushing and making mistakes.

Hopefully. Sometimes, as she continued her careful work, she worried that she was just spinning her wheels, producing bricks because she couldn't manage more.

Something triggered her life senses: a soulcrafter was crossing the empty zone between sides. That wasn't illegal, and it might just be a traveler, but Nauda still got to her feet in case it was another aggressor. That seemed likely as the intense life force shifted to move directly toward her.

She rolled her shoulders and fiddled with her glove and gauntlet, just to be prepared. When she saw the figure flying toward her, however, she was surprised that it was actually someone she knew. Homez was a short Fithan man with thick eyebrows and a normally gentle smile, who she hadn't seen since the Battle of the Dustwind Plateaus. Of course, it was possible that he was here to fight anyway. But when he got closer he his smile returned and he hovered at a distance.

"Homez!" Nauda waved at him cheerfully. "You made it to Authority!"

"So did you, it seems." He executed a stiff Asplundat bow. "I was granted an ascension as a reward for my service, but it seems you made it there yourself."

"I could tell you all about it, but are you here to reminisce?"

"Sadly not." Homez dropped to the ground and walked the remaining distance to her. "Two of our Authorities reported their clash with you, though they noted that you were careful not to attack directly. This is over a dozen times that you have stood in the Asplundat Movement's way."

Nauda deliberately removed her gauntlet and returned it to her soulhome, even though her hackles were up. Homez was a good man, so she had to keep this peaceful. "I don't think I started any fights," she said mildly. "Are you going to tell me that none of your Authorities are coming to the Dustwind Plateaus to distribute propaganda?"

"I wouldn't call it propaganda. If it's a neutral region, shouldn't we be allowed to give them any information they ask for? More than a few here are interested in the Asplundat Movement."

"Of course you can, but your people have been doing more than that. You know how the Ruling Cities feel about your Movement."

"And what about you, Nauda?" Homez examined her with a somber expression, eyes earnest. "You are a member of House Blacksilver, which is claiming to be a neutral party. How do you feel about what the Ruling Cities are doing across the south?"

"The Ruling Cities I can take or leave, but I stand by House Blacksilver." Nauda gestured back to the plateaus and their farmland. "I know some of your people are spies, so you should know what we're doing. We've almost eliminated the worst poverty here and farm yields have almost doubled. Isn't that good for everyone?"

"And you're telling me those gifts won't turn into debts one day?"

"You should come to Norro Yorthin sometime. House Blacksilver has been helping people for as long as it existed, even in the Ruling Cities. We want allies, not subjects."

Homez smiled sadly. "Not everyone on your side is so magnanimous."

"You have a point there." Nauda rubbed her arm where the cleaver had struck it, which had fully healed but still felt a bit sore. "I'm honestly not trying to make either side win a war, though. Didn't we agree that we have real enemies in Tymetron? Their demon artifact almost started a war before and I bet they're trying to do it again."

"You are partially correct there." Homez's expression became grim and he took several steps closer, which she mirrored. "I suspect there is no conspiracy to these conflicts on the border, simply human nature and greed. And yes, I will admit those exist on both sides. But you are absolutely right that we have greater threats."

"Do you know something specific?"

"Know? It is more a matter of suspicions and fears. I want to ask your trust, so let me extend some first by entrusting you with a secret."

"What is it?" Nauda had subconsciously lowered her voice and they were almost side by side now.

"Tymetron has sent representatives to the Asplundat Movement," Homez said in a near-whisper. "They claim that their only aim is to punish the Ruling Cities, so they treat with us as a gesture of good faith. But I can see them for the tyrants that they are, and I fear what they may be doing."

"Can't your superiors see that too?"

"Of course, but they fear Tymetron's power. This delegation is a display of force: it includes several Strongholds and a Dominion. Perhaps if the entire Asplundat Movement gathered its forces, we could defeat this delegation, but they would only send another. Tymetron wants us to believe we cannot possibly stand against them, and some in the Movement are wavering."

Some tiers had shifted in Nauda's absence, but the heights of power hadn't changed: each major power on the Norron continent had a single Dominion at its head. Tymetron had multiple Dominions and at least one aeon-class soulcrafter, likely more, so if they truly went to war, they could devastate the continent. All that prevented them from doing so was the fact that they needed their strongest forces against other aeon-class powers.

Still, reinforcing those fears would only hurt them, so Nauda made herself smile. She didn't need to emphasize the gulf of power, and in fact she didn't even need to lie.

"We've seen their power as well," she said, "but remember that this is a bluff. They want you to believe that they could crush you effortlessly because they don't actually want to fight you. Even if Tymetron is a powerful empire, such empires have borders and obligations. If they could afford the losses from fighting everyone here, they would have attacked years ago."

"That may be true, but how many are willing to sacrifice the Asplundat Movement in order to help defend the Ruling Cities?" Homez spread his hands helplessly.

"Are you willing to bow to them, though? Submit to tyrants from another continent just to see the Ruling Cities destroyed?"

"Others have argued that very thing, but all arguments are warped in the face of such power."

Nauda sighed and rubbed her eyes. It felt a bit odd, with her glove poking into them, but she'd grown used to it. "So the situation is bad all around. I assume you didn't come here to tell me that there's no good solution."

"You mean you aren't overjoyed to see me?" Homez widened his eyes in mock-surprise, then smiled wryly. "No, I am here because you once fought for the truth, even trusted me. I hope that I can trust you again and we can do something about this."

"Now we're talking. You have something in mind?"

"I am here with a formal invitation from the Asplundat Movement. You and a few companions - are they here, by the way?"

"Not this exact location, but close." Might as well hedge her bets, plus it was true that Theo and Fiyu were just a weirkey away.

"You are permitted to venture into our lands, provided you do not attack or spy. The official reason is for you to be tested for neutrality: if all goes well, you could be granted some status to settle disputes. Perhaps that way you could stop Authorities from the Asplundat Movement without everything devolving into a fight."

"I wouldn't mind that. When?"

"I'd like to begin now, if possible."

That sounded a bit suspicious, but Nauda only considered a moment before she decided that she trusted Homez. He could have delivered the demonic artifact to his superiors, but he'd done the right thing and broken it. If someone didn't extend trust here, the conflict would go on forever, and he'd already taken the first step...

"Sure, let's go." Nauda pulled off her glove and flew into the air. "I'll need to send a message so that my allies know nothing nefarious is going on."

While she did so, she contemplated whether this was a drastic change. The fact that Tymetron was moving directly was concerning, exactly the sort of thing that Theo had been worrying about ever since they came back from Deuxan. In a way, talking to this "Emperor Dave" had made him more paranoid, but he might be right in this case.

Once she'd dealt with minor matters, Nauda flew north with Homez. She'd already been north of the Dustwind Plateaus, so with every moment she was further north than she had ever been. Out of the neutral territory and into the lands ruled by the Asplundat Movement.

"I hope this will encourage cooperation between sides," Homez explained as they flew. "Our public purpose isn't a lie, as I believe it would actually help. However, I hope that you will be able to assist me in uncovering Tymetron's manipulations."

"I don't know how much I can do," Nauda said, "but I can try."

"And... to be perfectly honest, I hope that after seeing the Movement itself, you will think of us as less of an enemy. Up close, we do not seem so fearsome."

She regarded him curiously, unsure what to say. Any potential questions or arguments were swept aside when she saw the grand wall ahead of them: an enormous earthen fortification that stretched across the horizon. The line between Ruling Cities and Asplundat Movement could not be clearer, in this case an armed wall studded with soulcrafted defenses. None that would keep out an Authority, but still an impressive display of national resources.

"If you want to seem friendly, maybe don't build the giant military wall?" Nauda suggested.

"It's purely defensive." Homez paused as they flew overhead, letting some soulcrafters check him, but also giving her a chance to look it over. "Raiding groups from the Ruling Cities have long been a problem, so the wall was built to defend our humblest citizens."

"I'm not seeing a lot of gates. If those humblest citizens want to get out, are they allowed?"

"Of course." Homez looked at her, almost hurt. "We maintain fewer gates because they each need to be carefully defended."

"That's a good excuse."

"In the Ruling Cities, walls protect only the elites. In the Movement, the walls protect everyone."

Nauda shook her head and sighed. "I don't want to talk politics with you, not now. If you think seeing the Asplundat Movement will convince me, maybe let it speak for itself."

"Reasonable enough, but you'll have to talk politics soon." Homez gestured for them to change direction and they began descending. "The plan is to have you meet with the local Council of Ministers, who will interrogate you. I know that sounds bad, but I don't want to lie: the ministers are ideologues who will be suspicious of you. I hope that if you're honest, that will convince them."

They flew toward a settlement, and at first Nauda felt like nothing had changed. North or south of the wall, the wastes were the same Fithan red, the buildings the same stone. As she got closer, however, she admitted that she could see differences. Everyone in the Movement wore similar full body tunics with similar cuts - not as fancy as back in Norro Yorthin, but she didn't see anyone dressed poorly either.

Most of the buildings were modest and well-kept, without any of the extravagance or House complexes that she would have seen in Norro Yorthin. Several buildings loomed over the others, but they were all utilitarian and open, not guarded against the populace. Homez guided her down toward one of those and gestured inside.

"Give me a moment to speak to the Council of Ministers," he said. "Please wait here."

"Sure." Nauda glanced around her and spotted a bench beside the entrance. "Is it okay if I sit there?"

Homez gave her a strange look. "Why wouldn't it be?"

Satisfied that she wasn't going to unknowingly start a feud like Fiyu had, Nauda took a seat. At first she leaned back and just enjoyed the atmosphere of the peaceful community, expecting to be approached. Having her wait seemed like it had to be planned: perhaps she would encounter prearranged people who would show only the best sides of the Asplundat Movement.

Instead, she seemed to be mostly ignored. Those adults who dared glances at her seemed apprehensive, probably because they were on the other side of a massive wall to protect them from fearsome Ruling Cities raiders. One child stared at her, apparently not having seen someone from Tatian before, until the girl's father swept her away.

It probably wasn't going to help their impression of her, but Nauda settled into soulcrafting while she waited. No sense wasting time.

Before too long Homez emerged from the entrance, waving for her to approach. She followed him and the guards, who seemed peaceable enough, didn't stop her from entering the building. The interior was simple but pleasant: the design was highly regimented, with windows and doors at precise distances, yet it seemed designed to be practical to move in. Along the way she saw local people, soulcrafters and civilians, going about their business talking to representatives of the government.

They swept past all of those to an inner chamber. Nauda was startled when they entered, because the door looked exactly the same as all the others, nothing grandiose or defended about it. The room on the other side was only a little larger, dominated by a broad half-circle table.

Nine Fithans sat on the other side, five men and four women alternating. They wore tunics the same as all the others she'd seen, but they also wore smooth masks that completely covered their faces. Even though Nauda didn't think any of them were powerful, the effect was somewhat intimidating.

"This is the soulcrafter I spoke of from the Dustwind Plateaus." Homez stepped to the side, gesturing in her direction while encouraging her to step in front of the gathered elders. "I hope you will all greet her."

Three of the ministers bowed politely, while five only stared at her... which left one who pointed both hands at her for some reason, fingers and thumbs extended. Nauda wasn't sure what to make of any of that and so just bowed politely in response.

"You aren't Fithan," one of the old men said.

"Kind of you to notice." Nauda responded sarcastically on instinct and realized that was probably a mistake, but her instincts had also made her smile and speak in a friendly fashion, so the Fithans didn't seem insulted. If anything, they might have thought her dimwitted.

"She's from Tatian," another councilor said. "The Movement does not list it as a dangerous world, but they are also known to be... pliable."

"How long has she been controlled by a House?" one of the younger women asked.

"Unclear, but some time. She definitely serves Ruling interests."

"I must disagree with your statement." Nauda spoke up and interrupted one of the councilors, but they didn't seem offended. "The people of Tatian may be peaceful, but we are not pliable. Lack of aggression should not be mistaken for lack of strength."

One of the older councilors snorted and spoke. "We aren't concerned that you're weak, we're concerned that you're another aggressor trying to destroy what we've built."

"I'm not interested in destroying anything here." Nauda forced herself to smile and lowered her head again to the group. "Let me try again, as we would in my world. I am Nauda, once of Nlukoko but recently residing on your world. You wanted to speak with me?"

The group was silent for so long that Nauda grew nervous. She glanced back at Homez, who gave the tiniest of nods she thought was encouraging. One of the elders winked at her - the same one who had been strange before, what was going on with him? Nauda kept her face neutral and was relieved when one of the councilors removed her mask.

"Forgive us for our concern," the old woman said. "My name is Jeliat, citizen of the Asplundat Movement, currently serving as Minister of Agriculture. We welcome you and hope that this meeting might be the beginning of greater cooperation."

"Pleased to meet you." Nauda bowed again, committing the name to memory.

All the other ministers began to introduce themselves as well, some more reluctantly than others. They appeared to be the local administration, most of them dedicated to practical affairs, but they did have a Minister of War and a Minister of the Wall. Well, no one had ever accused the Asplundat Movement of being pacifists, so at least they were putting a peaceful foot forward.

The introductions went smoothly and Nauda memorized the names until the last councilman, who removed his mask to reveal Tythes. He looked like a generic red-skinned Fithan instead of his usual purple, but his facial structure was unchanged.

"Tiberionius, Minister of Tubers," he said with extreme gravity. "Most pleased to make your acquaintance."

For the first time Nauda faltered, just staring. How could it possibly be Tythes? House Crimson was one of the most vicious Houses in the Ruling Cities and had to be a mortal enemy of the Asplundat Movement. She almost wondered if it could just be someone who looked the same until he smirked, and in that moment she knew.

"Pleased to meet all of you." Inwardly Nauda was reeling, but she managed not to drop the conversation. "As I told Homez, I truly want peace between the Ruling Cities and the Asplundat Movement. What can I do to put your minds at ease?"

She had expected a few platitudes, but to her surprise the ministers began to grill her about military matters, Norro Yorthin, and the environment of Tatian. Since she wasn't playing any particular game, Nauda simply responded honestly, trying to ignore Tythes. All his questions were entirely serious and he didn't misbehave, except that he sometimes licked his lips in a way that made her wonder if he was sticking his tongue out at her.

The questions themselves seemed to be trying to determine her true feelings about the philosophical matters the Movement cared about. It was easy to be honest there, since she was no fan of soulcrafters dominating others. Everything she said about the spirit of community found in Tatian seemed to resonate with the council and the environment grew increasingly relaxed.

"Thank you for your answers," Jeliat eventually said. "You have been very patient with us, but I fear we have no immediate answers for you. We hope that we can come to an agreement for you to work with us in a neutral role, merely give us time to speak to other citizens."

There was no official closing signal, but that seemed to be the end of the meeting. Some of the ministers departed immediately, the Minister of War went to speak to Homez, and some of the others came to her. Since they seemed much friendlier than before, Nauda reflected the same emotion to them, hoping that this was actually a step closer.

If they could work together with the Asplundat Movement, that would be a huge step toward preventing Plutalgion and his empire from destroying everyone. But from what Homez had said, they were already trying to infiltrate the Movement, so this couldn't be the end. Nothing but a first step in some larger plan she didn't know.

Before she could find any answers, Nauda found herself face to face with Tythes.

"Some may approve of your insouciant manners," he said gravely, "but you should treat this place with more respect. There is no space for such antics."

"Apologies if I gave offense." Nauda barely managed to keep her tone neutral as she stared into those familiar eyes. "Minister Tiberionius, was it? Have we met before?"

"I cannot imagine how that would be, as I have served as the Minister of Tubers my entire life." Tythes placed his mask over his face and, at the very last second, winked at her. Then she could see nothing but his eyes and he faded back into the group of other ministers.

Homez came up to stand beside her, putting an encouraging hand on her shoulder, but Nauda found herself staring after Tythes and the others. Whether or not this was a positive step toward a peaceful resolution, she felt as though she'd just realized that the race started a long time ago.