Chapter 379: Player Unknown

Chapter 379: Player Unknown

That guy whos the leader of the War Guild, I said, what was his name again? I stood in the doorway looking at Grayson in his brilliant white outfit. There was a step up to the house and I liked being almost eye-level with Grayson as we spoke. Made me feel like we were equals. I mean, I was his superior, but Id settle for equal.

Guild leader Geffen, said Grayson.

Yeah, thats right. I had no recollection if that was his name or not but us commander-in-chief types need to exude a sense of knowing who the hell were in command of. Hes your boss, is he?

You are my boss, said Grayson. I take orders from you. Geffen represents the interests of the men under my command.

So, if he tells them to do something?

It depends what it is he tells them. Technically, he cant order them to fight or send them on missions. He can tell them to go on strike or insist on concessions on their behalf before agreeing to let his members follow more drastic commands. He made it sound like drastic commands referred to working overtime on the weekend, rather than riding into the jaws of death, the mouth of hell.

And before I took over?

Grayson shrugged. Then he did set policy and general troop commitments since there was no one else to do it. But guarding the city has never been that complicated keeping order around closing time, clearing broken down carts blocking the roads, the occasional thief to be apprehended, that was the brunt of it. The Pope did the rest. People are generally less disposed towards creating trouble when they get to watch a show every day where they can win prizes.

Religion, opiate of the masses. Gorgoth had been a happy den of junkies until I turned up.

And Geffen, he isnt upset that he doesnt get to calls the shots anymore? He doesnt mind you being in charge of the men?

With the upcoming difficulties, no, I imagine not. If the city falls, it makes no difference, and if by some miracle we survive, he will be ready to resume control. As a soldier, we are treated best when danger is looming and considered least at all other times. Which is how it should be, I suppose.

Grayson was being blunt and undiplomatic, which I liked, but he wasnt resentful about it.

Fairly standard practice. Let others make the tough calls during war. Say thanks very much once the fightings over and take back the steering wheel when it comes to rebuilding (and handing out the lucrative construction contracts).

I expect thats why theyre so keen to have me here, I said. They can blame me for everything that goes wrong, and take over as the new broom, even though they were the broom before me.

Undoubtedly, said Grayson. Its hardly your prowess in battle theyre looking to exploit.

His bluntness was less charming when it was directed at you.

Theres something Ive always I wanted to ask you, I asked as I turned and led him into the house. Back when you first found us in Probet, why didnt you just train all of us to be able to survive here? What was the point of making it sink or swim?

Thats how its always been, said Grayson. He followed me into the large dining room where Arthur (who had really been Joshaya) had occasionally fed us. There were probably more suitable rooms to discuss matters of life and death, but I had never bothered to properly look around. Plus, Damicar was supposed to be bringing snacks.

Just because thats how its always been doesnt make it a good idea. There had to be a reason.

Yes, said Grayson, taking a seat at the long dining table. He took off his hat and put it down on the table where it looked like a box that might contain fancy cakes. If only. But I am not privy to them. If youre asking me to guess, I would think it had something to do with the people who came before you not wanting Visitors running around changing the nature of this world. For whatever reason, they prefer to keep life here as it is.

More likely, they preferred to keep it under their control, which would be much harder if everyone was brought up to speed on modern advancements like cars and guns and making murder illegal. Not that those things made much of a difference back home, but its never the unfairness of a system that people object to, its who gets to be unfair to who. Once you get hold of the conch, suddenly its time to stop talking about progress and change, and start talking about honouring tradition and maintaining stability.

I sat down on the other side of the table, facing Grayson. I almost sat down beside him, but that would have been weird. Like when someone gets on a nearly empty bus and squeezes in beside you when theres plenty of other seats available. That person isnt being friendly, theyre indicating theyre mentally ill and not someone you want pressing against you, elbow to elbow, for the rest of the journey.

You were working for the Council of Four back then, werent you?

Grayson nodded. I was.

Are you still?

He looked at me for a moment. No. But if I was, I probably wouldnt tell you.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

I cant really trust you, can I? I said.

Well done. Thank you, really. Truly impressive work and well-deserved rewards. Now fuck off you jammy piece of shit, we dont need your type around here making the rest of us look bad.

The only problem was finding a suitable candidate.

I know just the person, said a voice from behind me.

I nearly fell off the chair as I scrambled to turn around, my wooden sword in my hand (although what good I thought that was going to do I have no idea).

Arta Aski! said Grayson, standing up with a shocked look on his face. Youre here?

No, I said, putting my sword away. Thats not Arthur, it just looks like him.

A fairy? said Grayson.

Im not sure. This is Joshaya, the One True God, aka the Pope of Gorgoth and a number of other aliases. The Fairy Queen sent him to keep an eye on me, just like everyone else.

Grayson looked even more confused, which I liked. Not so smug now.

Joshaya, in his old man Arthur guise, stood there, eyes gleaming, in a bathrobe threatening to fall open at any moment. I happened to overhear what you said, and I have the ideal man for the job. A great warrior, a mighty mage, a true hero of the people. His name was Caim, they called him the Deathreaper. If only you could see him in his ivory white armour that made him invulnerable and his giant sword, Dreamer, carved out of sentient black crystal no one could stand against him in battle. He was the greatest Visitor this world has ever seen.

Whats the catch? I said. Paranoia, my oldest and truest friend. With paranoia, you are never truly alone (because youre always convinced someones watching).

No catch. Well, a slight one. Hes been dead for a number of years.

Deathreaper Caim Ive never heard of him, said Grayson.

Of course not, said Joshaya. They conspired against him, jealous of his power and the love the people had for him. Once they killed him, they removed him from your collective memories. But if you bring him back, he will reignite that love, and also take your place, I am sure.

If he was so great, how come they were able to kill him? Fair enough they turned on him nobody likes a show-off but if he was the greatest hero ever, how did he wind up dead?

Betrayed by those he trusted. They showered him with affection, vowed to be loyal, and then stabbed him in the back.

He did sound like the kind of guy I could relate to.

So hes dead That shouldnt pose a problem for you. Youre the God of Death, after all. Just resurrect him.

I thought you said he was the Pope, said Grayson.

He is, I said. Your Pope isnt as benevolent as youve been led to believe. They never are.

Its not so simple, said Joshaya. It requires a great power to bring him back, but fortunately you have something in your trousers that might do the trick.

One day Id like to find a form of magic in this world that involved playing cards and metal rings you interlock. Look, I dont make it a habit to have sex with corpses. I told you, that time with you was a misunderstanding. I thought you were dead. I realised what Id just said could be open to misinterpretation. It isnt what it sounds like, I said to Grayson. Actually it is, but for a very good reason. I wasnt making things any better. Lets just agree to never talk about it again.

The thing in your trousers I was referring to is the ball of life given to you by the Council.

Cowdrey had given me a ball he claimed would give me a second chance if I died. I didnt know if it actually worked, but I was already being asked to give it up. Although, if it did work, it could solve my problem.

Revive the hero of legend, set him up as the new protector of Gorgoth, let battle commence. Everyone else might have settled into an uneasy alliance against me, but he would be new to the game and hopefully still ticked off at his treatment. Meanwhile, yours truly is on a beach somewhere, sipping on a cocktail.

This guy, this hero, Deathreaper Caim, wheres his body?

Ah, said Joshaya, in a tone I recognised as the sound of a turd sliding into my cocktail. There is one slight problem. Its hidden in the temple. We would have to get past the Fairy Queen to reclaim it.