Otherlife Nightmares: The Selfless Hero Trilogy (15 page)

“I’ll keep in sight of the wagons. If you would, please attend to the camp when we’ve stopped. Be sure to name your sword, Kitten,” Runner reminded her. He tapped her blade with a finger as he slid out of his seat. He popped open the door of the carriage and stepped out and down. The door shut behind him with a clack, and the carriage continued on.

It would give them a chance to talk without him being present. Brunhild, and as many of her deity-level family members that he could persuade to join him, needed to be firmly in his corner if he had any expectations of surviving indefinitely..

Letting the carriages carrying important personages pass him by, he took a moment to inspect the army.

The infantry had been split up and interspersed throughout the column to provide security. Any cavalry available were on wide screening movements on each side and acting as a vanguard. At the rear came the wagons, along with more foot soldiers.

Truth be told, the outfit he led did not even match an eighth of the army that held Crivel. This was all the reserves, holdouts, and personal guards. The very definition of a ragtag outfit.

Perhaps the best advantage he had, maybe the only one, was the very large number of nobility who had elected to volunteer. They were high level, geared, and willing to listen.

Stepping into the next wave of wagons as they came on, he quickly identified the ones that could only belong to that very same nobility he had been thinking of.

He nodded to a soldier, mounted the rear of one such wagon, and ducked his head in. Rifling through the contents, he found nothing that interested him for his current need.

Guards peered at him curiously, yet no one said a word. They all knew who he was and decided whatever business he was engaged in, it didn’t matter to them.

He hopped down and tried another wagon. Treating it like a treasure hunt, he went through each chest. This one was closer to what he wanted: dresses, combs, brushes, and a large amount of makeup.

On the third wagon he managed a minor miracle. A modest black dress with red highlights at the middle and hips. It had a seductive quality that asked for the attention of men’s eyes, all while looking quite modest and proper.

“Perfect,” Runner enthused, snatching the dress out of the wardrobe he had found it in. Tossing it into his inventory, he stepped back out of the wagon. Turning his head to address a soldier, he cocked a thumb at the wagon. “Please inform the owner of this wagon that Runner is in her debt.”

Eyes popping open in a near comical way, the Sunless soldier nodded his head exuberantly.

“Good man. As a reward, think about the last time you went to the crap castle and relieved yourself. Carry on.”

Walking towards the rear of the column, he finally cleared the edge of his soldiers.

He stood in the open without anything in arm’s reach. The close proximity of so many people, wagons, carriages, horses, and everything else had been wearing on him.

“I’m not made to be social. How about you, Brighteyes? Do you find that kind of press of people maddening? Then again, I’m not a drop-dead knockout like you are. Maybe it’s different?” he asked aloud. He began to walk again. He had no desire to keep the wagons further than one hundred meters distant.

“I don’t find them particularly bothersome. Then again, I hear all of their prayers at all times. Including your ‘not prayers’ prayers,” she answered, appearing beside him. She wore the same simple white dress.

“Before we begin, I’d like to offer you the following. It’s a sad thing to see such a beautiful woman in such a poor excuse for a dress.”

Turning his eyes away from her, he opened his inventory and then fished out the dress he had “borrowed.”

Holding it up in front of him, he met the glowing eyes of the goddess.

“Admittedly it doesn’t look so grand held up in front of me. But, if you would please humor me, Brighteyes? I’m willing to bet you could put all your sisters to shame in this,” he promised, giving the dress a little shake with his fingertips.

“You think so, do you? I’m not even sure I can…”

“I’m sure by this point you’re fairly aware of the problems in our world here. I’m more than happy to explain it all, but first…” He paused. Reaching out, he clasped her hand with his own and then lightly laid the garment over her forearm. “Think ‘equipment’ in your head, and then pull the white dress out of the box in the middle, and put this there instead. I promise to avert my eyes, though it pains me to do so.”

He turned his head to view the wagons as they rumbled along. Placing his hand against the side of his face to make sure she knew he wasn’t peeking, he waited.

“That was simpler than I thought it would be.”

Looking back to her, Runner could only smile at the sight of the goddess. She filled out the dress well. It whispered dangerous promises to anyone who looked upon her long enough.

“Forgive me, but I’m taking another screenshot. It’s quite the view,” he warned her. In doing so, he hoped to provoke a response out of her more akin to a human, rather than a goddess.

Sure enough she pouted for a fraction of a second before she smiled brightly, tilting her right shoulder down and angling herself at him.

Damn.

Taking the picture, he shook his head.

“I’d make a fortune if you allowed me to sell these, Brighteyes. You have no idea. Now, as I promised, an explanation if you would wish it. Though I doubt it’ll be pleasant. First, how much do you know? Are you aware of all I say and do, or only when I invoke your name?”

“I…” She hesitated. The compliment had been given in such a way that she was unable to respond to it. “I watch you on occasion, though only to see what you’re about. Before you invoked my name it wasn’t as often. Other than that, it’s only when you call out to me.”

Good to know.

“Starting at the beginning then. Imagine if you will, two thousand years from now, boats made out of metal that travel through the sky…”

It didn’t take as long as he feared for Brunhild to figure it all out. She seemed oddly at peace with the information. As if a weight had been lifted from her.

“So here I am. Surrounded by problems and enemies, trying to save a world on the brink of evolution, and another on the brink of collapse. I’ve also Awakened a goddess, for better or worse.”

“I beg your pardon?” Her question had an edge to it.

“You were of divine origin and bound by your code—now you are not. You retain all your powers despite knowing the truth. You are the single most dangerous being currently on the entire server.” He let that statement settle for a moment. “Now you’re aware of it all. Before anyone else in your family.”

Scratching at his head, he pressed forward. This part would be harder than explaining the situation.

“Even if I were to convince you to formally join me in an alliance, I must ask more of you, Brighteyes. I believe I’ll need more of your family members to join our side of this fight. And make no mistake, this is a fight. I believe that, eventually, everyone will Awaken. It’s more of a question of ‘when’ rather than how. I have doubts your brothers would be as keen to participate with us or work with others. I believe each would seek total dominion.”

She said nothing, neither for or against. Runner let her think it through. He was getting pretty good at letting silence draw out people’s thoughts. Between Katarina and Thana, he had gotten a mountain of experience.

“I believe you’re right. They would heed no advice and drive the world to ruin through their followers. I’m willing to consider this, depending on who you would include.”

“That’s an easy answer to give. Ernsta and Rike. Rike because she’s diametrically opposed to your brother. I believe that with Ernsta’s help we could work to stabilize things. Many who would war on another worship her since it’s the end result and all. But…I’m unsure on how to approach her.”

A woman in a dark gray dress came into existence sitting atop a pale horse, as if she’d been there the entire time. A striking lithe beauty with deep brown hair and an athletic build. Where Katarina looked the part of the warrior, this woman appeared more like a hunter. Level ???, listed as Ernsta, Lady of Death.

Straight to the grim reaper cliche. Way to go, you hack job writers.

“And why is that? You’ve said one of my titles repeatedly to one of your band. My name is that of Lady Death. After the first dozen or so times you addressed your companion as such, I began to think you were attempting to anger me.”

“Ah, no. I apologize, my Angel of Death. It was never my intention. Though I regret not having addressed you directly sooner. You’re as beautiful as your sister.”

Death blinked once and then turned her eyes to Brunhild.

“Sister,” Brunhild said, inclining her head in a modicum of respect to her.

“Sister,” returned the incarnation of death.

“I believe Runner to be correct, Sister. I plan on supporting him, despite his tendency to blaspheme. Would you consider this a request from your sister? I’ve always tried to be at peace with you, and would ask you to consider this.”

“Angel, I can promise you a country to call your own should you support me. I would also ask, should the end result be exactly as I have explained, would not your own worshipers complete their final duty and be no more?”

“Why do you address me as such? You will stop,” said Death. She dismounted from her stead and walked towards him, her right hand clenching into itself.

“I’m afraid I cannot. You may be the Angel of Death, but you’re still an angel. I’d like you to be my angel. To watch me on the field of battle when I have surrounded myself with you and seek to send others to you. To have you at my side. That I might reap a harvest for you, in your name, but never worship you.”

You use Persuade on Ernsta

Ernsta is not Persuaded

You use Seduce on Ernsta

Ernsta is not Seduced

Ernsta is enraged

Runner’s thoughts came to a halt and he shuddered as Ernsta’s eyes ripped him apart to the very core of his soul. They were dark blue and icy like a frozen ocean.

Inky blackness covered her face and stripped away most of her features, leaving a dark hood with subtle features in its place. Along with a pair of cold blue eyes peering out from underneath.

Her hand shot forward and wrapped around his throat. Slowly she lifted him from the ground. Her fingers closed and began to tighten inexorably.

Gripping her hand with both of his, he didn’t struggle, but he did hang on to her.

Runner tried to order his thoughts and put the situation in perspective before his fear ran rampant. There was a definite chance she would kill him.

Then again, she might agree to his plan. Having two out of the three already would be a magnificent boon. At least he could still breathe.

“He’s a vacuous songbird, isn’t he?” Ernsta growled, her voice taking on a rough edge.

“He is. Yet I cannot detect a lie in anything he has said. As you yourself probably noticed.”

“He would use me.”

“Yes, he would. Though I think we’ll use him more. Have you heard? I’m the prime divine of the Sunless.”

Ernsta shot a look at her sister. Apparently that hadn’t made the rounds yet. Slowly, the black shadow of a mask began to leak from her features, her face becoming distinguishable again.

Taking this opportunity, he decided to try and push it. While persuade almost always failed, seduction had been working for him. What harm could another attempt do?

Already enraged after all. What can she do other than kill me?

Ernsta looked at him once more. Her eyes felt like they drilled into his mind. Smiling at Ernsta over her hand, he casually brushed a thumb along the back of her wrist.

“I’m not sure where this will go, Angel. Brighteyes claims I already have a harem, after all. Whether I have one or not, I’d make room for you.”

You use Seduce on Ernsta

Ernsta is Seduced

The change in Ernsta’s eyes was immediate. From frigid and wintry, to cool and vast. He wasn’t sure if this was the best idea anymore, but he needed the goddesses on his side to survive. He felt like a cheap two-bit villain in a drama.

Not like it matters. As soon as Thana and Katarina figure out I’m about as monogamous as an Earth bunny, it’s over.

Fear of losing his party is what spurred him forward into the realm of the divine. Yet it was this desire that could very well cost him them.

That or when they find out about each other.

Ernsta pulled him in close. Her eyes stared into his eyes from a lover’s distance. Smiling a bit wider, he wondered if he should lean forward and seal the deal as it were.

As if reading his mind, she immediately eased him to arm’s length again.

“Hm. We shall see if you can handle me,” she said, lowering his feet to the ground.

Not releasing her hand from his neck, he in fact held it there. His fingers curled around hers. Keeping a firm hold on her eyes with his, his smile became sad.

“Angel, when was the last time one of your followers used the bathroom?”