I approached the four Griidlords. I felt a strange hostility. Maybe it was the interference I suspected. If they wanted to be here to offer support, then that would be fine. But I doubted very much that they intended to tie their cities up in a conflict without greater cause. No, I sensed I knew where this was going.

Morningstar took a step ahead of the others, extending his hand to me. I took it, but I think he paused at the tension in my posture.

My helm was still in place. I applied ASSESS to Kestrel.

Subject: Kestrel Crowthorne Status: Chosen Sword Level: 32 **Skills: Greater CUT, ***, ***

I felt my brows rise behind my helm. I was stronger than he was. Maybe not by much, but it was a nice feeling to discover I clearly outgunned another Sword. It felt especially good in this world where all I wanted to do was take my aggression out on another human.

Morningstar said, "Good to see you, kid. We still have an appointment, in case you haven't forgotten."

I said, "I hope to make it. We're kind of busy now... as I'm sure you know."

Morningstar said, "Yeah. I heard. That's why we're here, but you probably figured that out already. This is heavy business y'all are getting into."

As he spoke, I cast ASSESS on the New York Arrow.

Subject: Alistar Tomb Status: Chosen Arrow Level: 26 **Skills: ***, ***, Body-Bolt

Wow. I was stronger than this guy as well. I had a vague memory of there being some terrible disaster among the Griidlords of New York. The Towers of the North and South, on either side of the river, were close enough together to brew constant tension between the two kingdoms. They were always fighting. Their Griidlords had short life expectancies, when death was more likely to come from the hands of their neighbors than from the Falling.

Still, these two had worn their suits for years at least. I wondered how it felt to them—if they knew—to be weaker than a yearling.

I said, "We didn't get ourselves into anything. Buffalo got themselves into this and dragged us in with them. They didn't clean up their own mess when they left Perdinger loose. They're sheltering him now after he killed a... an elected official, a noblewoman. And so many others. He slaughtered soldiers and knights when he stole the relic. Don't tell me we're getting into anything."

I tried not to think too hard about the knights I had killed in defense of Dirk.

I turned my head to ASSESS the Indy Axe, but Morningstar put a hand on my shoulder, turning me to face him. He let his helm melt away and, with a sigh, I felt compelled to mirror the action. He looked into my eyes—concern there.

"We've got a lot to talk about. You're a good kid. I know what happened. I've heard the stories, how you were sweet on the girl that died. But you can't let this take hold of you. A man can get warped."

Kestrel spoke from behind him. The man wore a tightly trimmed beard and spoke with an air of superiority I didn't care for.

"You should listen to him, youngling. Morningstar hasn't become one of the most feared Griidlords alive by force of strength alone. He's lived years longer than any of us present. He's seen what you've seen—worse, I'd wager. You killed a friend of his not long ago, and yet here he is to share counsel with you. You could do worse than emulate him."

Morningstar's eyes flicked to a point over my shoulder and then back to me. I didn't need to turn my head. Balthazar would be approaching. I expected he'd have the other Griidlords in tow, and probably a quickly gathered retinue of knights.

I said, "That was different. He said as much. The Falling is the Falling, and business is business. I didn't mean to kill him. But the fact is, he came onto the field knowing that could happen. Lauren was at home. Her family home. Celebrating a political victory. She did nothing to provoke what happened."

Morningstar said, "I heard she picked up a sword to fight him."

I said, "He was the aggressor."

Kestrel said, "She was an unarmored mortal trying to slay a god. She had as much hope of dominating the ocean by throwing herself from a cliff as she had of stopping him."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

I snapped my head between the two of them, feeling my emotions building, knowing the outrage was painted on my face, and not caring. "You can't be serious. She was defending her home, her property. Are you trying to say this was somehow her fault?"

Morningstar took his hand from me and held both up in a gesture of pacification. "No. Nobody's saying that, kid. The whole land, from coast to coast, knows what happened here. We know the shitshow that Buffalo's turned into. But it's not for nothing that she could have avoided what this has turned into. And… we just want to talk about a way to avoid the situation mutating again into something worse. She wanted to speak for the people, didn't she? Do you think she'd want her death to be a flag raised, causing a war that would see more die? Nobody suffers worse in war than the common man. Death in combat, famine, disease. We don't need this, and I doubt your friend would have wanted it."

I stepped back, jabbing a finger toward him. "You're not going to stop us from doing this. They give him and the relic over, or we take their walls down."

Kestrel and Morningstar exchanged a glance I couldn't read, then turned their attention to the point beyond. Kestrel took the lead. "Lord Supreme! How fine it is to speak to you again."

I turned and stepped aside as Balthazar strode forward.

"Your Highness," Balthazar said, treating the title with no more reverence than a simple "Mister." "What brings you to our walls on this auspicious day?"

Kestrel said, "The auspiciousness of the day is what brings us. We hear trouble is brewing with your neighbor to the south. We thought we could provide an open ear to help ease your burdens—maybe even, if we dare presume, offer counsel."

Balthazar said, "And you've offered the same counsel to Buffalo as well, I presume?"

Kestrel shifted. "They have not been... receptive."

Morningstar burst in. "Oh, for Pete's sake, we all know what we're dealing with. Can we get this out of the way and cut to the point?"

Balthazar spoke evenly. "I'd like nothing more."

Morningstar said, "Buffalo needs to be weeded. Nobody can argue that. And they've done enough to provoke this—I get that too. But there are stakes here that affect more than your cities."

Balthazar waited, said nothing.

Morningstar said, "I don't know if I fancy your odds, frankly. You've got decent suits and good troops. But they'll have so many numbers on you. There's a damn horde over there. This thing's going to play out one of two ways. They'll run right over you, and then the rest of us are dealing with a spreading plague of the Green Men. Or you run over them, and then that gets complicated too."

Balthazar said, "I don't see what's complicated about it."

Morningstar took his turn to stare without speaking. His expression was one of cynicism.

Kestrel interrupted the silence. "What are your war aims?"

Balthazar said, "I'm sorry, but that's a matter for our chamber."

Morningstar said, "I thought I heard you were the whole chamber on your own during emergencies. You've made some interesting changes to the charter."

Balthazar nodded, his brows rising slightly. "I didn't think you were the sort to keep abreast of such things."

Kestrel said, "What are your war aims? Help us. There are a lot of nervous people orbiting this conflict."

Balthazar said, "Why don't you join the conflict? You said yourself the boil of Buffalo must be lanced. Join us. If we were acting in concert, we could develop our aims together."

Morningstar said, "Oh, stop that. You know we're stuck. We've got no casus belli. And if we move to put them down just because they're the Green Men, then we'll have bloody murder to deal with inside our own walls. We're dealing with Green Men and sympathizers weekly—sometimes daily. Things are badly shaken up."

Balthazar said, "Well, if that's the position you choose to take, then my hands are tied."

Kestrel said, "Yes, yes, but informally, between us, what do you intend to be the outcome if you are successful?"

Balthazar hesitated. He seemed to be weighing his options, as if considering whether he could really trust the man with insider knowledge. I was coming to understand the games our Lord Supreme played. This was charade, to make Kestrel feel like he was being given a concession.

Balthazar said, "Buffalo will need regime change. That will take time. It will take administration."

Morningstar said, "Administration, yeah..."

I watched the men talking and realized, with a start, that the worship was gone. I still respected Balthazar, still respected Morningstar. But there would have been a version of me not that long ago who would have been deeply conflicted. Morningstar had been a hero of mine. He was still godly compared to my power, but at my rate of progression I would match him in years. I had beaten him—twice. Balthazar, only weeks ago, had nearly brought tears to my eyes when he expressed his pride in me. Now though, watching him play the other two, I could see how easily he had played me. He was an ally, yes, but I suddenly felt a void where I had let him fill the position of my father.

It was liberating. It was strangely lonesome.

Balthazar said, "Gentlemen, I'm not really sure I understand the purpose of all of this."

Morningstar said, "Don't 'understand' my backside. You know exactly why we're here."

Balthazar just returned his gaze with an expression of confusion. I don't think Balthazar had ever been confused in his whole life, not since the day he was born.

Morningstar said, "Fine. You want me to lay it out. We've been talking—New York, both New Yorks if you can believe that, Detroit, Cincy, Philly, and my town."

Balthazar said, "Not the Burgh?"

Morningstar snorted. "Hah. Yeah, imagine. Point is, we've been talking, and we need an assurance."

Balthazar said, "Boston is open to its neighbors. What can we do to put you at ease?"

Morningstar fixed Balthazar with a steely gaze. This was a man of nearly incalculable power. Next to Rosegold, this was the most powerful Griidlord I had ever seen. He was a titan among titans. Balthazar did not so much as flinch.

Morningstar said, "You need to commit to us that you won't slave the Tower if you win the war."

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