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

“The Arikan International Congress formally declares the results of White Pantheon attendance vote. Twenty six to eight. The AIC invokes the official Decree of Divine-Mortal Separation and formally asks the White Pantheon to not send Divines to the next 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 managed to put up a fight for thrice that at this point.

Did Kassandora think she was the only one with access to modern technology?

“In regards to military expansion. The volunteer program provides enough recruits already. I would rather acquire the excess planes 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 centre. Lions prowled about as people on tall walkways took pictures of them from above. Planes were landing, helicopters too, in the cities north. That airport had been built recently, it wouldn’t pass the safety standards for a civilian structure, but the military didn’t need to abide by such needless bureaucracy. And inside the large 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 negotiation 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 note there, a word out of place in a conversation, 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 introduce national conscription, to force every man into the army.

They would have agreed to conscription, but no one would have been happy about it. The man most against national conscription in the room was Arascus himself. Kassandora’s army had begun as mainly Kavaa’s Clerics, now it had doubled in size and half was Kirinyaan nationals. They joined to fight, they joined to get revenge for Melukal, they joined because they had no other option, but largely, 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 finger turned south, towards Nanbasa. They would go too. That was another benefit of the slow-war strategy, although Arascus was the only one to 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, another two, 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 men less than half his size. “You don’t want to introduce conscription?” One of the men asked. Dark, as all Kirinyaans were, with close cut hair and a white undershirt for the suit. Other than the glasses, he faded into the crowd of politicians.

“No.” Arascus said. “There is no point, we don’t have the industrial capacity to supply them.” These people had come in expecting to argue for conscription, and all Arascus had asked was to retool old planes. The God of Pride looked around the room, men started to smile, some let out heavy breathes, shoulders relaxed and people fell back into their seats.

And it was done. And they had just agreed, no one had simply vocalized the agreement yet. But it was obvious from their reactions, 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 planes, they do belong to KAL.” Kirinyaan Air-Lines. “It’s a private company, we don’t have the jurisdiction to force them…” He looked around the room and fell trailed.

There it was, Arascus had expected a better counter than simply this. “KAL doesn’t get permission to scrap the planes. They’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 convincing them. With how effective the Goddess was, Arascus would give them a week before the planes were under Kassandora’s command.

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

“We have our own engineers.” Arascus replied. The man nodded at 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 planes away. “The only issue-“ Arascus stopped as the entire room jumped. A eyes widened in shock, one man let out a funny little squeak.

Anassa appeared next to 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, lavender and oil, perfume that failed at masking exertion. He turned and looked up at her from his seat.

Her black hair was messy as if she had just gotten out of bed. Her eyes had dark rings underneath them. Her hands were dirty with what looked to be oil and soot. That red dress clung to her tightly as if it had been stuck on, 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 nodded. Then she disappeared. Men turned to look through the window behind Arascus. The God turned, Anassa was stood there silently hovering the air, arms crossed, obviously angry. From the movement, she was clicking 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 can do.”

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

“Of course, of course.” Arascus brought out a piece of paper, he didn’t bother to contain 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 since the 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 an entire section dedicated to standardized call signs and symbols to use in place of different languages?

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 comment was for the easiest type of man to bend, the self-interests. 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 latest, 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 underestimation. “Family business.” Arascus finished.

“I wish you luck.” One man said.

“They grow out of it.” Another man said and the room laughed as people started to shut up. Then they silent when Anassa knocked on the window and shook her finger at the man who spoke. Arascus let them think whatever they wanted, fear was a sword that needed to 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 last man left the room, Anassa once again appeared within. “I am angry.” She said it so flatly Arascus could honestly believe she was furious. She looked around, found nowhere to sit on, so sat on the table. “I am furious in fact.” More emotion this time.

“What happened?” Arascus asked as he leaned back and 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 know exactly on what level of perfection and beauty 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 was peasant’s work. Arascus sighed, well that explained why she was so fatigued. Arascus shook his head and chuckled.

“I didn’t even know we were 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 was practically shouting. This was usually how it went with Anassa. Arascus had gotten used to it before she had even been granted the title of being family.

“How many?” Arascus asked.

“TEN!” Anassa threw her hands up in the air, lost balance and 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 and went to a cabinet. Vodka and Whiskey for Kassandora and Neneria. Sweets for Olephia. Flavoured drinks for Fer. Wine for Anassa. He pulled got two glasses and poured Anassa a full glass.

“Here, you need it.” Arascus slid the glass over to her.

“I don’t want it!” Anassa said, still lying on the table, her legs kicking 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 and kept on kicking 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 glass, then continued to 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 glass. Anassa didn’t answer this time, she merely opened her mouth. “You are a child.” The God of Pride rolled his eyes, he tipped his glass and splashed some wine between her lips. “Child, Anassa. You know this?” Anassa swallowed the wine and laughed.

“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 changed to a light joking one now. Arascus rolled his eyes as Anassa parted her lips again. Arascus poured more wine into 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 other glass 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 glass. “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 laziness.’

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

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

“I’m so needed there 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 down next to her, it creaked under the combined weight of two Divines.

“When was the last 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 glass 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 last time she washed?! A thousand years ago?! Two?!” Arascus laughed at her retort and put his arm around her to pull her close.

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

“Of course I do.”

“I have a bath, you can wash there.”

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

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

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

“Tomorrow is the AIC meeting. Neneria and I will attend. Do you want to come?” Anassa’s throat made a low chuckle. Iliyal was going too since the elf would be the actual negotiator. 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 Divines that would be turning up, inspect 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 Divines there.” Arascus said. “The national mascots.”

“Ahh.” Anassa cooed as she finished her glass. She tried pouring herself another, the bottle was empty, so she pulled the one still in Arascus’ hand out of his grasp. “So?”

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

“Have I ever made a scene?”

“Do you want an answer to that?”

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

“Call Helenna then, get 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 glass down. “Can 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 can.” He replied and hugged her tighter.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep