AO 6 Ch 39

Zuri's plan had worked well enough for the next Chancellor. However, when we went to get our ninth fragment of King Martin's soul, there was a significant problem. 

"Well, that certainly sends a message," Emlyn said from the carriage we were riding in at the moment. We had ventured out to scope  the Lord's Manor where the Chancellor should have been staying.

I checked the compass and it was pointing right at the structure.

"The message is that they are terrified," Zuri narrowed her eyes.

The manor was a fortress and incredibly well manned. There had to be a hundred men on the wall with patrols every two minutes. Which was ridiculous because there was a guard every ten feet anyway. Even if we could do some body swaps, no one was entering the manor itself. Instead, the soldiers were using a nearby inn as a barracks, creating an entire gap in personnel between anyone who is likely working in the manor and the soldiers guarding outside.

No one had even come out lately. Just a cart of foodstuffs being brought to the manor and left at the door.

I looked over at Zuri. "Thoughts?"

"Yeah, we might have to give this one up." She shaded her eyes as she looked out of the carriage at the situation. "Maribelle could rush in at night, but from the looks of it, we are not even going to be able to see what is going on inside the manor until we start the job." She nibbled on her lip. "I don't like going in blind. Without knowing, I can’t plan very well.”

I looked over. “Any chance we just, I don't know, rush it? I’m thinking put the four of you all in a soldier's body, get close enough, and then try to punch through the manor's defense all at once?"

"I mean, we could," Zuri said. "I think the chances of success are low. And they might be starting to figure out that we are somehow using their own personnel against them. If one of these soldiers suddenly rushes through with the strength of an anchor and tries to kill this chancellor, they'll have absolute confirmation. And that's a problem. They already have to have some idea of what we're doing, but suspicions and conclusive evidence are very different things. I say we abandon this one and see if Missy is good to go with eight pieces of King Martin's soul.”

“If we're giving up on this one, she'll have to be.” I crossed my arms. "If you say it's too dangerous, then it simply is. And we'll have to plan around that for our next step." I trusted Zuri completely.

My anchor tried to hide a smile at my words. "Then I think we're done here. Let's pack it up. Where do we need to go for whatever it is you and Missy are going to do?" Zuri asked.

I tapped the side of my head. "We'll launch it from Soulgard. So really, I just need to get somewhere where my body will be safe. And you all can keep me out of trouble."

"I like the sound of that," Emlyn grinned. "Can we have Ard try and keep himself out of trouble more often?"

"Careful," I narrowed my eyes at Emlyn. "You're going to make it sound like I get in trouble often. And if that's the case, then perhaps we should start doing some scorekeeping." I narrowed my eyes in challenge.

Emlyn snorted. "Yeah, because you are the grand authority in staying out of trouble. Besides, you would absolutely lose that one. Even if you combined all of our scores." 

I made a face at her for that remark. But then returned my attention to the road ahead. "All right then. Let's get out of here and see what new trouble I can find." I grinned at my anchors.

*****

Bad Kitty and Ditzy were playing cards when I arrived in Soulgard some time later. 

"Really? Is this what you two do?" I looked at the cards. The deck was far neater than I'd ever seen before. They stacked perfectly. 

"So what if this is what we do with our spare time?" Ditzy challenged with a smirk. "What are you going to do about it?" 

"Perhaps he'll grab us and kiss us," Bad Kitty teased. A tail appeared for just a split second, flicking to the side and disappearing. "Do you want to have me bend over so you can find it again?" The cat-eared goddess smirked. 

"No, that's fine. Last time it seemed to upset Missy far too much. Speaking of, where might she be?" I looked around.

"Oh, she's just getting ready," Ditzy waved dismissively. 

I then looked at the two of them again. Ditzy's clothes seemed to change every time I saw her. Though, this time her hair was less natural and free, and instead was pulled back artfully before cascading neatly down her back.

As for Bad Kitty, she was wearing a few more pieces of gold. Bands were bound around her arms and her thighs, pinching the skin and holding down the cloth that covered her. Where she had previously been wearing all white, there was now a touch of blue mixed into some of it and even in that makeup on her eyes. 

"Did you two get dressed up to go fight Freya?" I asked, my brain short circuiting at the idea.

Both of them looked at each other before turning to me. "One has to look the part. And as goddesses, there are expectations," Ditzy explained. She turned back to the game, slamming down the next card aggressively.

“Do you not like how we look?” Bad Kitty asked, her eyes narrowing enough for me to know there was a correct answer to the question.

"Well, you both look wonderful. I'm sure if Freya summons Thor, we can use how beautiful you are to make him even more jealous," I grinned at the two of them.

"How men always seem to always be in charge is beyond me," Bad Kitty shook her head, even as her tail reappeared and playfully slapped my thigh before disappearing underneath her clothes.

At this point, I was fairly convinced that the tail actually appeared and disappeared, a phantom limb that she was using to tease me.

But before I could get too engrossed in examining the tail, Missy reappeared, decked out in a shimmering purple dress that cascaded rippling silk over every one of her curves. Chains or bands of gold edged most of the cloth. It looked wildly uncomfortable, yet by some miracle, she wasn't choking. A pair of earrings with her emblem dangled from each ear, and I knew exactly what any woman walking into the room dressed like that wanted to hear. 

"You look incredible," I said, drawing out each word and shaking my head. "Whatever god manages to snag you, Missy, will be the luckiest one in the world—no, the universe." I had to keep from grinning as I continued to pretend to be oblivious in front of the other two goddesses.

"I'm glad you understand, Ard." She had significantly more confidence as she strutted out to join the group, her thighs broke free of the dress with each stride like a tease to remind you that she was bare underneath.

It might look uncomfortable, but it was also hot enough that I needed to loosen my collar.

The beauty mark at the corner of her lips betrayed her as she tried not to smile. The other two goddesses looked a little miffed at my reaction.

Missy came over and linked her arm with mine. "Well, now that we're ready, we should probably get going," she said.

Up close, I noticed that she had done something different with her hair. It had a little more bounce to the curls than usual. I was sure one of my anchors could put a word to it, but women's fashion was far beyond my expertise.

"You two are coming, right?" Missy asked, turning around to check with the other two when they didn’t respond right away.

"Of course," Ditzy grumbled, slamming the remainder of her cards down on the table. "Why wouldn't we? After all, we're all going to work together for the Pantheon. We’ll share everything in the end."

"Oh, right, for the Pantheon," Missy echoed, squeezing my arm against her. "Of course, other aspects may still need to be negotiated."

I struggled to suppress my laughter. Missy was being territorial in front of both of them, completely oblivious to the game the two of us were playing. Then again, why would we play fair when it was far more enjoyable to just win?

Bad Kitty and Ditzy were looking us both over, trying to figure something out. Curiosity seemed to be the cat-eared goddess’ weakness, while competition was Ditzy’s vice.

Missy ignored all of that and focused on what needed to be done. She opened her hand and eight little glowing fragments appeared, swirling around.

They rose up into the air, spread out in an arch, slowly growing and connecting until they formed a neat, glowing top of the arch. Her magic pulsed as a portal ripped open, using those fragments as the anchor.

"Really was unwise of her to go after you, wasn't it?" Bad Kitty observed Missy’s magic.

"You can’t do that?" I asked the other goddess.

"No. Souls are Missy's domain, not mine." Bad Kitty answered. “It’s a powerful domain. I’d have to find something else to make a connection.”

"Oh, okay, that makes sense. She gets souls. You get cats. Seems fair." I grinned, trying to keep myself from laughing.

Bad Kitty rolled her eyes, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "I do not know what's up with you and your obsession with pussies," she teased as Missy continued to build the portal. Bad Kitty was watching Missy for a reaction out of the corner of her eye.

"I mean, they're fun. Soft. Enjoyable. Once you get to know them, you are able to pet them," I replied, repeating the last sentence for emphasis. “I’m talking about cats of course. You two seem to let your minds wander into the gutters far too often.”

Ditzy giggled, Bad Kitty chucked, but Missy was focused on her portals. 

I decided to cheer on Missy as she created the start for our fight. "Go Missy! Go Missy! You can put Cowtits in the dirt. Go Missy!" I managed to make Missy chuckle. 

Bad Kitty turned to Ditzy in question.

"He calls Freya Cowtits. He's not wrong." Ditzy shrugged.

"No, it's just that level of disrespect. I'm surprised she hasn't sent a whole army to kill him yet." Bad Kitty answered.

Missy cleared her throat and gave my arm a swift tug to get me moving through the portal and away from the other two.

I wasn't one to let my goddess down and puffed my chest out as I followed and walked with her lockstep through the portal. Much like the first time, we passed through an indeterminable space that was King Martin's soul. My senses expanded and I dropped a few mental hooks in here to try and drain King Martin.

Missy stepped out with me in the same gilded hall that we had seen before. Though, I noticed that there were two cracks in the nearest column of the many that spanned the enormous space. She hadn’t come out completely unscathed.

Freya, sitting on her throne, opened her eyes. Her cheek had been pressed against her fist as if she'd been dozing off in the giant chair. Given the structure was solid gold, it was hard for me to believe that position had been comfortable. 

"Gosh," I said, staring at her. "You couldn’t make yourself a bed?" Realizing that the goddesses' minds kept going to steamier thoughts, I turned to Missy to reassure her, my eyes roving her up and down. "You are far more beautiful than her."

"Oh look, you brought the jester again." Freya heaved a sigh as she lifted her body up straight, poised far more regally in her overly large throne than a moment ago.

"Well, he's been having quite a bit of fun chasing around all of the fragments of your little monster's soul." Missy waved back towards the portal.

"Oh, I'm aware," Freya grinned. "I've been preparing for you to return ever since I've noticed that they've been going missing. Though I will say," she glanced over at me, "King Martin is terribly upset with everyone you've killed. His rage is going to be wonderful for you to experience."

I frowned at her words. She seemed so sure that King Martin and I were about to meet.

Missy's eyes flickered to the side and then back towards the portal we had come through. As soon as Bad Kitty and Ditzy stepped through, the portal moved across the room as Freya waved her hand. It now rested about halfway down to the side of the hall.

"It would be a shame if you were able to just come and go as you please," Freya grinned. It spread into a wide smile as if she had already won. "Not to mention, the connection you've created with me will allow my monster, as you called him, the perfect connection to track your little mortal down."

As she finished, Freya began to draw upon her magic, making her seem larger than life as it billowed out of her in every direction.

Missy cursed under her breath. "Ard, please tell me you're somewhere safe."

I shrugged helplessly. "Safe enough? Don't worry, my anchors are guarding me."

Freya laughed hard enough that she actually made her giant mounds move. Though they moved in a sort of grotesque wiggle, it was impressive in and of itself. 

"Don't fret. I know you've come up against some of his lesser supporters before. However, I must inform you that King Martin was molded by my own hands. A monster created by a god. He is far superior in every way to an anchor. If you had a small army of anchors, they would simply become more fodder for his transformation. For in truth, King Martin is more like a caterpillar fattening itself up before it puts itself in a cocoon only to transform into something brilliant and take to the skies that the caterpillar could never dream of." Freya's red lips parted as she looked beyond us, as if seeing her grand plan unfurl in a brilliant tapestry.

"Well, I think we should hurry this up. Don't you?" Ditzy turned to Missy. 

"Oh, we will." Missy began her assault, similar to the first time, drawing complex runes around her, building up a magical power that crackled in the air. 

"I see you've brought one more into your motley crew." Freya continued to taunt. "Another one who I will eventually get to has come my way already. But I think you've all joined a fool's errand, along with Hecate. The game of gods is further along than you realize." 

She snapped her fingers as Thor appeared far more bedraggled than the last time I had seen him. There were shackles around his neck going down around his wrists. Beside him appeared another man, his hood up as eerie green glowing eyes peered out. He looked out from beneath the hood. The cloak he was wearing seemed to pool when it touched the ground, spilling out around him. 

"Hades, pleasure to see you." Ditzy said with a laugh. "Get tired of Persephone? Enjoying old Cowtits here?" Ditzy gestured at Freya. 

"I go where my service is needed." He answered in monotone. 

"Sounds like he's whipped to me," I said, turning to the two ladies who had joined me as I disconnected myself from Missy to let her do her thing. It was probably best that I didn't distract her.

Bad Kitty decided to be naughty, grabbing my arm as I walked over and leaning against me only for Ditzy to sandwich me on the other side. 

"That poor Thor. It looks like he was not a very good little boy and he's being punished." Ditzy wagged a finger while talking to Thor like a child.

The red-bearded man went to open his mouth, no doubt to shout across the room at us, only for Freya to reach over.

She touched his chin and it closed before he could utter more than a growl. "Behave," she said, only sparing him a glance. "And you too, Hades, otherwise you will end up just like him." 

Freya turned her attention back to Missy, ignoring the rest of us, which wasn't ideal.

"Last time using Thor to distract her had worked quite well," I whispered to Ditzy. "So who's Hades' weakness?" 

"Not good news," the blonde goddess said to me, "he's always been very fixated on Persephone and no one else, but perhaps we can still get to Thor." She winked and grabbed my hand, boldly putting it against her rear and then squeaking like a surprised woman. "Handsy, aren't you? Well, you can touch me anytime. You're certainly far preferable to that collared dog over there." Ditzy cast a dismissive glance over at the red-haired god.

He looked like he was frothing at the mouth, wanting to shout, only to be completely unable. As for the other god, Hades' face could barely be seen under the hood of the cloak, but from what I could make out, he was completely expressionless as he watched what was going on in front of him.

I pretended to be an absolute cad, grabbing both of the goddesses by their hips while they took turns complimenting me and insulting Thor.

But I whispered to them, trying to collect more information. “What is Hades a god of?”

Ditzy answered me. “Souls, death, and more specifically, the process of death and those who are already dead. Sometimes, he's associated with rulers because of how he rules over the underworld. But the truth is, he's kind of an outcast amongst the gods.”

I searched for something I could really dig into and use.

“He is one of the oldest of the gods. It was his youngest brother, Zeus, who used to lead the Olympian pantheon that Missy and I had joined.” Ditzy said.

I made a noise of understanding. “Little brother got all the good stuff, and big brother got in charge of, what, death and souls? That doesn't sound very fun. I bet he's at least passingly bitter about that," I mused.

“He tried to join the Egyptians at one point, and it did not go over well for him." The cat-eared goddess said.

I shifted my focus back to Bad Kitty as Ditzy began haunting Thor.

“He didn't have enough to bring to the table. As the ruler of the underworld, he kind of needs the underworld in order to function. Otherwise, he doesn't have much value. By leaving one pantheon and joining another, the whole system in which he was in charge of wouldn't move with him.”

She paused, continuing when I nodded. "Worshippers go to where they believe they're supposed to go, except in a few odd cases. If they don't believe in anything, then it's sort of a potluck.”

“That's not concerning at all," I said sarcastically, before shifting my eyes back to Hades. "He seems rather disconnected from it all.” Hades just looked bored to death.

“Probably true if what I've heard is accurate." She answered. “But we can't be entirely sure. Despite him being rather lackluster, he's also a little mysterious. He spends most of it in the underworld, managing that system. He also stays off everyone's radar fairly effectively."

"Not giving me a whole lot to work with," I whispered. "But perhaps we can start with Thor. Hey, tiny dick," I shouted across the room, causing both goddesses who were locked in a flashy magical battle to flinch. "Did she put a cuff around it, too? Let me guess, you can only get it up when she says so." I let loose a full-on belly laugh as I pointed at him. "What does that make you? The god of cuckery? Who was the one? Zeus?" I said, turning to Ditzy. "He was the lightning bolt guy, but for your group. And this is the lightning bolt guy for the other group. I bet if he made little lightning bolt godlings, they weren't his. They were probably this Zeus'."

It appears I finally found a point that struck true. Thor was frothing red foam where he'd likely bitten his tongue while thrashing about. His eyes were begging to rip me apart.

"Whoa, calm down there, Fluffy. You might break your leash if you pull too hard," I teased and also encouraged him. I was really hoping he would break his leash.

His arms were straining against the cuffs, his eyes turning bloodshot with rage.

Hades glanced casually to the side, watching Thor losing his absolute composure. "Are you really going to let that mortal upset you to the point that you damage your mistress' plans?" Hades said in a slow, bored tone. 

Thor whirled on him, muffled froth continuing to spill from his lips. 

"Perhaps you should put this one down and absorb him next," Hades offered. "Or perhaps you could sell him to me?" Hades asked, his eyes shining with a certain sort of glee. 

"How does Hades overlap with Thor?" I asked Ditzy quickly. 

She shook her head. "No idea, but apparently Hades thinks there’s a tie." 

I gasped. "Wait, if Thor has Odin's power, Odin was in charge of death, right? The afterlife too? You told me about the big halls with barmaids and immortal men?”

“Oh, oh fuck." Ditzy broke her act for a second, speaking loud enough even for Hades and Thor to hear. “He could get control of the Norse realms and go after Zues.”

"Problem?" The cloaked god turned back to our group, his smile becoming visible under the hood as his teeth gleamed white. "Or are you realizing that you come into a fight unprepared?” Hades laughed. 

"Maybe catch me up quickly?" I whispered.

"If Thor has Odin's power, and Freya is going to give it to Hades, then he’ll have a line on Zeus. More so than he's had before.” Ditzy answered. “I don’t know the situation with the rest of the Norse, but there are a few realms of their dead and Hades could be after them too.”

“It's not like we care about Zeus, is it?" I asked. 

"No, but the last thing we need is for anyone in Freya's camp to grow stronger. So far it seems she's started consolidating power far more than we expected." Ditzy answered.