The Greatest Sin

Wissel, Richard VI, Aimone, Artois and Jozef sat in another palace. An Allian Castle this time. The subject of discussion was the Ausa embargo. “We obviously can’t do it, it would sentence millions to starvation. We’d have a refugee crisis in Epa within the month.” Aimone said.

Everyone was of the same mind. An embargo for simply harbouring Olephia and Arascus was a travesty. And it would set too great a precedent for the White Pantheon intervening in modern politics. You give an inch, you give a mile. Splitting from the White Pantheon was just as bad though, Allasaria or Elassa could demand regime change.

“There is a way.” Artois said. “Maisara has finished in Southern Rancais. She’ll be travelling to Rilia now.”

“What are you suggesting?” Aimone asked.

“Rancais will take the hit. Maisara has brought peace, but it cost the White Pantheon its public image. And it has made my government seem ineffectual and weak. We’re not going to break the Pantheon Directive, but we’re not going to follow the embargo. We cannot if we want to maintain any sort of legitimacy and keep the Anarchians from popping up again.”

“It’s a full embargo though.” Wissel said. “I don’t see a way around it.” Artois nodded as he dropped maps and papers onto the table.

“Kirinyaa has reject the proposition already, they’ve told the Pantheon to keep its nose out of Arika. The Kirinyaan embargo affects only companies, not charity NGOs.” Artois continued. “You send your goods to Rancais, we donate them to the Arika Jungle Crisis Fund, they ship them to Kirinyaa, then Kirinyaa ships them to Ausa. I already have channels set up in Kirinyaa, Rancais will already do this, but this way, we can avert a total collapse of Ausa and it keeps the Pantheon off your backs for a while.”

Wissel looked through the notes. It was a genius move of diplomacy. No laws were broken, no embargos were simply ignored. They kept their hands clean entirely. “And what happens when the Pantheon blocks this route out too?”

“What then? Will they sanction charities too?”

“Helenna’s running here.” Kassandora said as she looked south. It was midday, with the Sun beaming down straight into them. Kassandora was sure she had got a tan, she had donned the armour for a mere ten minutes, and it was already starting to get uncomfortably hot, in another ten minutes, she would probably be able to fry an egg on her armour. “What is she carrying?”

“Clothes.” Fer said half-heartedly. Divines did not sleep in the ways mortals did, Kassandora could stay on her feet for months at a time before tiredness began to set in. Fer though was more temperamental, especially after the effort, she needed somewhere cool to lie down in. That had been impossible in the desert, and now she was dragging her feet. Kassandora looked back at her team. Baalka was in Fer’s arms, wrapped in part of Kavaa’s green dress. Kavaa herself was looking ragged, her armour, unlike Kassandora’s, wasn’t a magical extension of herself, it was a physical suit she wore. When they had entered the Jungle, the woman wore a green battledress that hung to her knees, now it ended at her thighs. That pristine silvery-steel chestplate was now battered, bloody, with holes in odd spots and dents in others. Iniri wore Kassandora’s clothes, they were loose and hung low off the woman, but it was better than nothing. Fer had merely grown a light coat of fur to safeguard herself from the Sun.

“I want a drink.” Kavaa said. Kassandora turned back to Helenna. Neneria was in the distance standing on a hill, standing and watching them on her horse. A ragtag band of Clerics, soldiers and Arikans were behind her. All of them needed a rest. Kassandora sighed, they had just trekked through the unending Sassara, until it ended. Then they had turned South, entered Kirinyaa and kept walking the perimeter of the Jungle. Kassandora had kept them a mile or two away. Every so often, they would crest a hill and see the great green sea of flora in the distance, and from the chills it sent down Kassandora’s spine, it saw them too. It wasn’t merely watching now, Kassandora could tell it wasn’t happy about losing two Divines.

“You’ll get one.” Kassandora said. She looked down at herself as she pulled another foot forwards. It was getting much too hot. The only saving grace was the layer of blood and dirt and mud her armour still carried. It fixed itself, but it did not keep itself clean. Every now and then, they would pass by some thin Kirinyaan stream, Kavaa would ask if Kassandora would wash, and Kassandora would deny the request. That thin layer of mess kept her from cooking herself.

“Shade.” Fer said.

“You’ll get it.” Kassandora replied. “Stop. Helenna’s getting close.” Kassandora had kept them moving every day, through the hot days and the cold nights. At first, the breaks were mere reprieves, now, Iniri, Kavaa and Fer all sighed with relief. Iniri actually sat down as Kavaa went to lean on Fer. Fer patted the woman’s dirty pale-yellow hair and leaned back as Helenna came into shouting distance.

It was all cries of You’re back! And I knew you’d make it And Iniri! And I should have gone. Kassandora rolled her eyes at that last statement. Helenna would have died if they took her. “We’re back.” Kassandora said as Helenna grabbed Iniri in a hug.

“You’re back!”

“I am.” Kassandora assumed Iniri would have had more of a reaction but seeing the woman’s fatigue, that explained it. Helenna noticed it too.

“You’re tired.”

“We all are.” Kassandora said. “I said we’d get her, we got her.”

“I brought clothes, Neneria told me to.” Helenna showed off the bundle in her arms.

“We saw her fairies.” Kassandora said, she hoped there was something in that bundle for her. Helenna gave Iniri loose clothes she threw over the Arikan outfit, and then looked at Baalka. Kassandora watched the woman’s face. It was these first impressions that gave the most away. Kassandora expected disgust at looking at the Goddess of Disease, or fear, or self-interested worry. There was none of that. Helenna looked at Baalka in surprise, then with pity.

“I have something to cover Baalka with too.” Helenna said. She said the name lightly. It was almost odd. Helenna threw a blanket onto the ground. “And something for you Fer too.” Fer’s tiredness seemed to fade away as she put Baalka on the blanket and her ears jumped. Her tail whipped the dirt and her mouth fell slightly ajar.

“For me?” She asked. Helenna nodded as she handed a massive cloak and a huge shirt to Fer. Kassandora looked at Kavaa and tapped the woman’s battered armour with her gauntlet.

“We’re not getting anything.”

“We’re not.” Kavaa agreed as Fer shed her coat of fur.

“That’s much cooler.” The shirt could have fit two Helennas within it and with the cloak. Her tail wrapped around her leg and she looked down at it. “Neneria won’t be happy.”

“Neneria will not happy.” Kassandora agreed, Neneria was a pompous stickler for rules. She’ll get mad that they fed Fer powerful blood without her about. “She’ll ask-.”

Fer interrupted Kassandora. “You can tell her about everything. I don’t want to.” Kassandora sighed as they kept up the slow pace. Helenna had practically glued herself to Iniri and now was crying joyful tears that she had been rescued. Iniri was telling Helenna how good of a job she did that she contacted Kassandora and Kavaa immediately.

“I was just about to tell you that you’re doing the explaining.” Kassandora did not want to waste an evening calming Neneria down. It would be an evening, and then the entire night. Not until Neneria just got bored. There was work to do here anyway.

“I’m not.” Fer said.

“You are.” Kassandora bickered back.

“I’m faster than you and her. You can’t make me.” Fer said. Kassandora supposed that was true. Fer wouldn’t run away… She needed reinforcements. She turned to look at Kavaa.

“Will you explain to Neneria what happened?” The Goddess of Health was staring at them quizzically, pale eyes flicking in between Fer and Kassandora.

“Do you two not like her that much?” Kavaa asked.

“I love Nene!” Fer proclaimed.

“She’s my sister.” Kassandora said at the same time.

“So why do you not?” Kavaa asked and then waved her hand. “I mean… she can’t be that bad?”

“She’ll tell us off.” Kassandora said and Fer harumphed as she nodded rapidly.

“And?” Kavaa asked. What did the woman not get? Kassandora did not want to get told off. That was it! Neneria would stand over her, wag her stupid finger at her, and then drone on and on. It’d be a waste of time, especially since there was nothing to apologize for!

“I don’t want that to happen?” Kassandora half-answered, half-asked. Kavaa shook her head and giggled.

“Alright.” She finally answered. “You lot really are something else.”

“Everyone acts like this.” Kassandora replied. “Keep quiet now, we want to look on the return. There’s a car there. Government probably.” And so they felt silent. The Arikans circled around and looked on. Kassandora saw Arusei and Kimani watch her in awe and wonder, although what they were saying, she couldn’t make out. Kassandora’s own men simply organised themselves into ranks, it was a wonder what a good month of training could do. Kavaa’s Clerics originally started to move, saw Kass’ men remain still, then stayed themselves. That was good too, it put on a good show whoever was in those cars. Neneria eventually did move. Her opaque horse that shined with pale green trotted up the party.

“I was worried about you.” Neneria said from on top of the animal, how did the woman bear a black dress in this weather? “But it’s good that you’ve returned.”

“We have.” Kassandora replied. “Kavaa will tell you the story.”

“Mmh.” Neneria said, then her voice became quiet. “I’d prefer you do it.”

“Who are those people who have arrived?” Kassandora pointed to the dark men and women in suits and clean shirts who had gotten out of the cars.

“Kirinyaan Government overseers over this situation. They came because of you and Kavaa’s army, to make sure we’re not up to no good.” Neneria said, then she asked again. “And I want you to tell me it, not Kavaa.”

“Kavaa’s a sweetheart.” Kassandora said, she felt Kavaa’s armour click against hers as the woman elbowed her. “And these people have to be dealt with.”

“Kass.” Neneria used that tone specific tone that meant Kassandora was in trouble. Fer slowed down until even Iniri and Helenna were ahead of her.

“We rescued Baalka. You should check up on her.”

“I’m not going to be happy, am I?” Neneria asked.

“Make you unhappy sister? Me? I would never do that.” Kassandora approached the hill, she had managed to drag the conversation on long enough for Neneria to simply fall quiet because there were too many people about. She had always proclaimed how much she didn’t care about her public image, how she would do anything and everything irrespective of who was around, but she did care. Neneria cared far more than most. Kassandora picked out Sokolowski from the crowd and waved him over, they were all dressed in the same matching uniform, green shirts and shorts. The troop moved with him, almost as one. That was good, organisation like this always made a good impression.

“We are reporting for duty!” Sokolowski said loudly and pulled a salute. The rest of the stamped the ground and pulled their own. Kassandora returned the salute to relieve them. With the Kirinyaan government here, it would be better to seize the initiative, go to them, and take charge of organisation immediately.

“Sokolowski! By my side! The rest of you follow.” Kassandora left her fellow Divines to deal with their own troops. Fifty days had been wasted! Fifty! Now that she was back, she felt the loss of almost two months. “Was anything re-arranged in my tent?”

“Nothing at all!” Good. Someone’s head would roll if things had been rearranged.

“I assume Iliyal is not here?” There was a noticeable lack of the elf, he would have been the first on the hill if he was here.

“He’s been recalled, along with Duchess Sara and Ilwin Tremali.” Kassandora kept on walking back to the camps. They were much in the state she had seen them when she left. More of Kavaa’s planes had landed. Helicopters too, but it was just a mass of tents, if a larger one. Her own forces were still there, in that clearing between the Arikans and the Clerics, and there was a new camp.

“That’s the government?”

“Kirinyaan Internal Affairs Bureau. We call them KIAB for short.” Damian Sokolowski replied. “Also I think you should know, Arascus is in Igos in Ausa. Along with Olephia. She was coming to destroy the city but then he stopped her. It was in every headline for two weeks.”

“He succeeded?”

“Yes. They’re staying there even though the Epan Community put Ausa into an embargo. He’s been helping them fix the damage.” That was indeed to know.

“Good job for telling me. Anything else that happened?”

“We’ve been given instructions on how to manufacture the fire you wanted, they’ve called it napalm. Iliyal sent us the recipe, a plane arrived with one shipment but we can’t request anymore from him.”

“Why not?”

“He said Arascus told him not to because it would risk exposure of his own airstrips.”

“Is it difficult to produce?”

“I’m not a chemist, I can’t say.” Sokolowski admitted his own ineptness without even thinking about it. That was good.

“Do you have it?”

“It’s in my tent.”

“Bring it to me, anything else?”

“There’s designs for a vehicle which can shoot it, apparently they’ve built one in Karaina but again, there is no way to transport it.”

“Collect every paper, and wait for on the edge of camp, towards where KIAB has their camp.”

“Understood.”

“How is the training going?”

“On schedule.” Sokolowski replied so flatly that Kassandora smiled. They were indeed ex-Clerics. The regimen she set was difficult, with constant hikes and digging. Back-breaking endurance work that was far more important for soldiery than basic strength training was.

“Finish today’s training early too, the men can have a rest day tomorrow.” It would be bad if they associated her with extra work. They would have enough of that soon enough anyway.