Delvers LLC 5, ch 1

I began working on book 5 before book 4 was even published.  Unfortunately, there was a lot of new world building to do, but now I think I'm mostly finished!

Past this chapter, I have a few in different states of completion.  Please be patient with me as I get the machine rolling again.

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*One day before the events at the end of Delvers LLC 4, Golden Handcuffs*

Dolos grimaced.  Allowing true-demons to exist on Ludus, his pleasure planet for so long had been difficult to tolerate, but he was glad he’d done so.  He was truly a visionary.  The signs of something major happening soon between the Mutineers and Host had been there for anyone with the skill and intellect to read them.

He hadn’t expected the Enemy to return, but at least he hadn’t been caught completely unprepared.  A true tactician prepares for the unprepared.

But the coming days would be some of the most important.  He’d thought he’d have another five hundred to five thousand years at least, but now a repeat of the First War seemed to be on the horizon.  Everything he’d worked towards, all of his research would either bear fruit over the next two Terran years, or he’d likely wind up being officially excommunicated from the griseus.  The Host had already rejected him.  If he ever was removed from the protection of the other griseus, the Mutineers might find him, recruit him.

He didn’t like to think about what would happen then.  The Work was a gamble, the greatest gamble of his existence.

Dolos stode through the sparkling-clean halls of his command center.  This place was totally inaccessible to the standard inhabitants of Ludus, built on one of the planet’s largest islands.  A high rank Artifice holder would have no problem getting here, but orb-Bonded just weren’t on that level yet...which was a problem.  Most of them were still far too weak.  The Work wasn’t done.  He needed more time!

There was something missing.  For the Work to ever be complete, he had to figure out how to take the orb-Bonded to the next level.  He hated to admit it, but Hephesiel really was a genius, even among the Host.  Damn him for refusing to teach Dolos any of his secrets!

A thick polysteel door irised open as Dolos approached, and he swept his gaze over the game room monitoring center.  A single High Priestess, Amago, stood in the center of the room, overseeing the lower level technicians.  The techs were still Holders for longevity, but not trained as fighters.  Different stations around the room corresponded to the various continents on Ludus.  Screens in real time showed the second continent which included the Fideli nation of Berkash, already overrun and being rebuilt.

That situation had been annoying enough to tolerate as it was.  But then after Asag had failed to take a foothold on the new arrival continent, he’d just begged his brother to open a portal to Brecken in Halil.  Now there were two Mutineer princes invading Dolos’ wonderful Ludus.

Asag likely thought himself clever too, especially after how Dolos had outmaneuvered him in the past.  Fool.

“The lengths I go to, all to save these pitiful creatures,”Dolos said out loud. All around the game center, the technicians were startled out of their skin and hurried to spin and prostrate themselves.  Dolos ignored them and made his way to Amago.  She naturally hadn’t been surprised at all.

“Lord Dolos,” she greeted neutrally.

“Status report.  I want to know the status of our promising groups and all the abnormalities that have been observed.  Any updates as well.”  Dolos was a traditionalist in some ways.  He loved efficiency, too.  This way the techs would hear what Amago had to say.

“Yes, Lord Dolos.”  She hit a button on her holo screen and began to read. “First group is Henry Sato, Jason Booth, and Nora Hazard, all Terrans.  Jason overcame limits in a way he thinks of as a ‘limit break’ while fighting with Biivan.  Due to unit cohesion, similar environments, and shared experiences, new abnormalities may still manifest in Henry Sato or Nora Hazard.  The long-term effects of their exposure to Asag’s realm of Brecken are still unknown.  Their companion Mareen seems to have stabilized and begun mastering her blood magic.  The Deepwater Rose is still watching from within her, but we have your order on file to let that situation play out.

“Nora Hazard is betrothed to the new king of Berber, Aodh O’Breen.  Henry Sato has just been bonded as our new High Priestess Philana’s totem.  Jason Booth is married to Areva nobility, a woman who was transported to Ludus by mistake.  So far, Jason Booth has developed the most and most beneficial anomalies, but both Henry Sato and Nora Hazard have come to possess weapons made by the Host.”

“Yes,” said Dolos. “Such things are far too precious to be wasted on Terrans, but they have been helping generate excellent data.  But Philana has bonded Henry Sato?”  He dove into the vast amounts of data always being uploaded to his mind and reviewed the matter himself.  He could have just used this method instead of asking for a situational report in person, but that would be far less stylish.  “Never mind, continue.”

Amago kept reading, saying, “It is worth mentioning that other than Philana, there are two more High Priestesses attached to that group--both Keeja and Enheduanna.  They have both been maintaining a perfect record of service for their core responsibilities while watching over their charges.”

“Of course they are,”Dolos said, waving a hand.  “Those two may only be Areva holders, but they are experienced.”

“And they are two of the most powerful High Priestesses on the planet,” said Amago.

“That too. Whatever.  Tell me about the next group.”

The High Priestess paused.  For all of her power, she was still just an enhanced mortal.  Dolos rolled his eyes.  She had a direct connection to a true supercomputer in her head.  There was no reason for such a long pause other than she’d let her emotions get the better of her.  Dolos thought about addressing it, but the silly thing would probably waste even more time.

Finally she said, “There are three more notable groups on the starter continent, Continent One.  Of course, these are groups that show high promise for advancing The Work, not necessarily the most powerful.”

Dolos made a shooing motion with his fingers and she stammered, “Ah, yes.  Uh, there is Thato Jacobs. Since he has come out of hiding and began moving again, I have added him to the list.”

That is a strange mortal, Dolos thought.  Thato the Terran had received one of the least individually powerful orbs ever created, but had done well with it.  Dolos held up a finger and said, “If he could learn the truth about what happened to his simple Terran wife, it might lead to good data.  You should assign him a High Priestess.”

“We don’t have any field operatives left, Lord Dolos, at least none available for a task like that.”

“I am a flexible god. Send someone from the research facility. A non-essential worker.  You may choose--you have my authority in this matter.”

“Lords Dolos, didn’t you let us know earlier that you are going to lift the restrictions from field operatives from fighting?  Any of the research staff, even those with Artifices would not stand a chance against someone like Enheduanna, Keeja, Sidonia, or Fallano.”

“And? The data is everything.  Sacrifices are acceptable.”

“Yes Lord Dolos.” Amago licked her lips.  “The third group is in Jallen. John Tonewt and his woman.  They haven’t done much of note for a while, but they still have High Priestess Yulustume keeping tabs on them.”

“Ah, the merchant.” Dolos made a face. “So much potential wasted there.  We got good data before they decided to become shopkeepers.”  He practically spit the last word.

“The situation should correct itself soon, Lord Dolos,” said Amago.  “As you know, you have allowed several...undesirable elements to take root and grow in Jallen.  John and Kari won’t be able to keep their peace much longer, I am sure of it.”

“You are likely right,”said Dolos and nodded in approval.

“The fourth group is the only Areva-led, high potential data source group on the planet.  They are still resisting the Fideli occupation of Hanana, but that is a losing battle.  It is unlikely that Kenshan will die, but some of his team might.  The techs and I predict that this group will escape overall, though.  At first we believed they would head to Jallen, but now it looks more likely that they will move to Berber.”

“Oh?  But they ‘know’ that Berber has very little military to spare to repel invaders,” said Dolos.  “It seems uncharacteristically sensible for them to travel to Berber.”

“Yes Lord Dolos, but there has been enough time for rumors to spread of the technological revolution contributed by Henry Sato, and of the corruption in Jallen.”

“Ah, that is as it should be.”

“Lord Dolos, those are the only official groups on the starter continent, but there are also other individuals.  Liangyu has just recently been killed.  Surprisingly, Sesasi is still alive.  There is also Riggs-tam, the Terran engineering student who was adopted as Mo'hali similar to how Henry Sato and Jason Boother were.”

“That Terran with the weak Enheduanna orb?” Dolos rolled his eyes.

“Lord Dolos, forgive me, but doesn’t Nora Hazard also have a Duanna orb?”

Dolos made a face.  “Yes, yes, I will admit that Enheduanna’s research is not useless.  But still, only four legitimate focus groups on Continent One.” Dolos shook his head.  “We are almost out of time.  How many groups are left on Continent Two?”

“Three, but one is overwhelmingly powerful and influential,” said Amago.  “This is the group leading the attack on the first continent.  They are on the same level as Henry Sato and Jason Booth’s Terran group for sheer potential and unpredictability.  Of note is that they have a number of High Priestesses with them, too, including Sidonia.”  Around the tech center, a few of the researchers couldn’t control a shiver as Sidonia’s name was mentioned.

Dolos noticed but didn’t care.  Sidonia may be ruthless and powerful, one of the three most powerful High Priestesses on Ludus, but she was still just an Areva with an Artifice.  Still mortal.  “Yes, the demon allies.  I gave them power, and they repaid me with loyalty to my enemies,” complained Dolos. “Typical.”

Amago looked at her notes.  “Queen Frasmi, Andrew Raspeche, aka the Mad Tinker, and Cynthia Smith are the core of that group.  As you know, if we had more time, it would be interesting to see how the two different approaches to magical technology would change the planet long-term.  Matthew Andrew Raspeche’s innovations versus Henry Sato’s.”

“It would not be a fair comparison,” said Dolos.  “Raspeche has adopted elements of the new, tainted Fideli tech that was smuggled onto Ludus.  I find it all highly annoying and would prefer to raze their entire country to the ground, but this is actually exactly what we need for The Work.”

“I agree, Lord Dolos,” said Amago.  She inclined her head.  “The individuals residing on the monster continent are too far away from the upcoming war to participate, and might not care, so wouldn’t it be logical to say that the groups of interest on the starter continent are our last, best hope to complete The Work in time?”

Dolos ran a hand over his face.  “Yes.  It is not enough, though.  We need more conflict, more fire!  I think I will begin lifting all of the field High Priestess restrictions over time.  First they will be able to fight each other.  Then priests.  Orb-Bonded after that, and eventually all the rest.  I may change my mind, though.  Being a thoughtful, wise god is a great deal of work.”

“I see you are still a self-absorbed fool,” said a sudden voice.

Dolos didn’t move his body.  His senses had already detected the sudden intrusion, and he knew who it was.  The technicians around the room were only Artifice holders, though.  A few of them actually gasped as they spun.

After turning very slowly, Dolos inclined his head.  “Sister.  Apate.  What do you want?”

“Why do I need a reason to visit, little brother?  Perhaps I just wished to gift you with my presence.”

Dolos ground his teeth.  He was a just, clever god, but he knew his limitations.  Verbal sparring with Apate would likely just keep her around longer, and he wanted her out of his facility and off his planet as soon as possible.

She almost never wore the same form, nor looked the same.  This time she’d chosen to appear as an attractive, heavyset dark-skinned Terran woman, with a layered orange dress, and a sequined mask.  Her hair was up in an elaborate tower, with pins stuck seemingly haphazardly in it.  Dolos knew better.  Those pins were items of incredible power.

Only the most wily griseus had survived this long without being destroyed or seduced by the Dark, after all.

“Do not use True Speak here, sister.  The last time you did, you killed two of my research staff.”

“That sounded suspiciously like an order, brother.  Say please.”

Dolos ground his teeth again.  “Please.”

“Oh good.  Let us walk.  Let us talk.”

“This is my research facility on my planet,” reminded Dolos.

“Yes, and as a good host, you should be accommodating.  Besides, I have sensitive things to discuss, and I doubt your little automatons here are supposed to hear.”

Dolos kept his face smooth.  Most of his research staff actually did already know many of his plans, and he did not go through great lengths to hide things, in the name of efficiency if nothing else.  He was not planning to give that information to Apate for free, though.  “As you wish.”

He followed her out of the room, down the tunnel-like hallway and to one of the bigger enclosed gardens in the facility.  The last time Dolos had visited this garden with his sister had been over a thousand years ago.

The center of the circular area sported a rare, crystal blossom elder tree, one of the last in existence.  All the other carefully tended areas of the garden paled in comparison.  Apate said, “You should really give me that tree.”

“No.”

“Why are you speaking so little?  You should talk to me the way you talk to others of our kind, or even the mortals.  Be all haughty, Dolos.  Reprimand me.”  She laughed.

Dolos really hated dealing with Apate.  She didn’t even live in the same reality as others, obviously.  He was nothing if not magnanimous and well-loved.  Her barbs had no effect on him and he knew better than to spar on her turf.  “What do you want?”

“Oh, stop being that way.  You take everything far too seriously.”

“You don’t take anything seriously enough.”

“Really?  You think so?”  Apate produced a heavily decorated ivory fan from nowhere and pointed at the crystal tree.  “That really is a beautiful tree, you know.”

“Yes, it is.  If you do anything to it, I will be highly annoyed and I will visit your planet to do as much damage as I can.”  Dolos sent a mental command to the stone crown on his head, warming it up in case he would need to protect himself.  He really did not want conflict, but enough was enough.  Dolos really liked that tree.

“Was that a threat?”

“Of course it was.  Have you gone senile with age?”

“Open threats among the griseus, Dolos?  That is definitely not your style, either.”

Dolos shrugged.  “Things have changed.  You are not getting to the point and I have much work to do.”

Apate’s eyes glittered.  “Yes, things have changed.  Look at you, Dolos.  I like this fire.  You are actually acting like one of the most powerful beings in the universe now, not just a...scientist.”  She spat the word.

“Why are you here, Apate?  You already sent your message earlier, which was very disruptive, I might add.  I will honor our silly little bet.”  Dolos looked at her in distaste.  Before she’d issued her challenge, he’d been sure that she’d created her own research planet just as an elaborate way to annoy him.  Over the millennia, anything he’d done, she’d usually copied and perverted.  He’d been sure she didn’t understand his drive, or The Work, much less had taken anything like it seriously on her own.  Maybe he’d been wrong.

It hadn’t hurt to maneuver a few groups of stupid mortals into being prepared to deal with Apate’s creations.

As if she’d been listening to his thoughts, Apate said, “I have come about our bet.”

“Yes?  I am very busy,” Dolos reminded her.  “These sorts of interruptions are not acceptable, no matter how important you may think you are, sister.”

“Interruption, is it?  Dolos, I know what is happening.  Word travels fast.  The Aetherkin have returned, or are returning.  By way of covenant between griseus, this means prior agreements are subject to change, do you agree?”

Dolos stared at her, trying to predict her angle.  He’d never met another quite as slippery as Apate.  “Yes,” he said slowly.

“Then I am here to inform you that I have changed the day of our challenge!  It will happen in six to eight days, as mortals measure time on Ludus.”

“What?”  Dolos felt a growing righteous rage building.

“You heard me, ‘Great God Dolos.’”  Apate smirked.  “Since I am the challenger, I randomly chose the date and a time before, and you agreed without reservation.  Now that the First War is returning, it is my right to change our agreement as I see fit.  It is most convenient to me for our contest to begin in six to eight days, and I am choosing what I believe your mortals call the Wild Lands.  South of the Inland Sea.  This is what you call the Third Continent.  Of course, if you have no warriors to oppose my representatives, they will be free to do whatever they want.”

Dolos shook his head.  “You moronic, scheming creature.  I expect this from simple mortals, especially those dreadful Terrans, but our kind should know better.  The Enemy has returned and you are still forcing this bet, and even pushing this far?  Have you fallen to the Dark, Apate?”

She frowned.  “I have a hard time believing that even you would say that, little brother.  You are the one with demonspawn and followers of the Dark crawling across your world.  I’m sure you’ll give some excuse about your work, but it does not look good to allow such filth to exist under your nose.  How do you think these things would look to the Host?”

Dolos had to privately admit she had a point, there.  He desperately hoped none of the Host came to visit while he was allowing Asag and his ruinous brother to run amok.  “The Work is everything, and you are attempting to disrupt it.  What did they offer you?  Did the Lightbringer promise you something?  Rank?  Rewards?  How much did it take for the Mutineers to buy you, sister?”

“Take it back!”  Apate seemed to be sharper, the air around her crystallized, and she used True Speak, Enochian, the language of the Host.  Normally, the effects of Enochian could be devastating and unpredictable among Griseus other than the standard effect of laying truth bare.  But this close to the crystal tree, Apate’s true voice almost sounded like it had before being rejected after the First War.  She almost sounded undamaged.

Since they were in private, by the crystal tree, Dolos responded in kind.  He spoke, saying, “You are truly ridiculous to take offense at such a basic question.  I had every right to ask.  My work is important and directly relates to what may come to the universe now.  If you impede me, you are aiding the Enemy.”

She waved away Dolos’ words.  “Your work is pointless, and selfish.  Everything you do is for personal gain, not altruism, and is likely to never achieve anything of real significance.  I do not know what your end goals are, but imagining that the Host would ever value anything that you have done is delusional!”

Apate’s True Speak was like an attack.  The power of her words and what she said were bad enough, but also the fact she truly believed she spoke truth.  Cracks began to appear in the stone walls of the garden.  The short exchange in Enochian had been heated enough that the crystal tree was vibrating.  Dolos was not going to tolerate his sister invading his sanctum, insulting him, and even risking damage to his precious tree.

“Since you seem to enjoy flirting with the Dark, sister, perhaps I should invite Asag back to my humble home.  I met with him a very short time ago.  If I were to summon him and tell him that you are here, he might come out of curiosity if nothing else.  I think it would be...interesting to tell him in person while you are here what you had just said.  He is a slimy bottom feeder, yes?  What do you think?”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“My dear sister, I don’t have much left to lose.  Try me.”

The powerful trickster griseus eyed him warily.  “If war is truly coming to the universe again, you will need me, Dolos.”

“I will never need you again, Apate.  Leave this place, or I will skip Asag and call directly upon Ereshkigal.  She might wish to be told that you are disrupting my efforts for the greater good.”

She laughed dismissively.  “Ereshkigal? You do not have that kind of connection with her.”

“How can I lie?  I am speaking Enochian, sister.”

“So you are.”  Apate glared at him.  “And so be it.  This has all been fun and games, but if the Aetherkin come, I do not think I would shelter or protect you again, little brother.”

“I would not expect you to.  And I would not shelter you, either.  You may think you have helped me in the past, sister, but I will never forget your betrayal.  The great Dolos does not need your help, not anymore, and I do not trust you.”

Apate looked sad, crushed, but Dolos didn’t believe a bit of it.  He had thought of himself as resolute and solid before she’d fooled him before.  Dolos turned his back on her, and symbolically on their shared history.

“So be it,” she repeated.  Suddenly, there was a flash all around the room as the security systems activated, and Apate made a growl of frustration as she transported away.  Dolos allowed himself a satisfied smile.  Apate hadn’t been able to resist trying to steal his tree on her way out.  He hoped the attempt had burned her.

He turned and examined the spot she’d vanished from and purged any lingering True Speak from his mind.”

“Franstha,” he cursed quietly.  He reached down and touched one of the stone tools on his belt under his incredibly stylish, colorful clothing.  A few moments later, Amago entered the room and bowed.  “You called?  How can I serve you, Lord Dolos.”

He noticed her trembling.  “There is no need to worry, the scheming nobody Apate has left.  Nobody is using Enochian anymore, either.”

“Yes, Lord Dolos.”

He walked to the crystal tree and touched one delicate branch.  “Find out which of the most powerful, or most promising groups of research subjects on Ludus could arrive at the Wild Lands in five to seven days.  Make a list.  Only include groups or individuals that I have leverage on and that I would not have to explain myself to properly.  I need to oppose my sister, but I can’t spend many resources on it, at least not at first.  It would be acceptable if the group I send is wiped out, but they must have enough power to at least slow down whatever Apate throws at us.  Of course, if they survive and provide more data, this is best.”

“I understand, Lord Dolos.”  Amago scurried away.

Dolos sat on a priceless stone bench and sighed.  “It is very tiring being such a magnificent god.  Thankless, truly thankless.  The mortals of the universe do not deserve my magnificence.”