God of Eyes

By the time Ulia and the refugees had gotten a few miles from the city, they had slowed their panicked flight and begun to mill around aimlessly. It was unwise, of course, but there was no sign of the city's leaders, and there were only a few people who really understood just what was going on--the four Candidates and Muir, and the ones they'd told, not that any of them really knew what was going on so much as they trusted. There were many strange things going on, not the least of which was a strong, urgent wind that had suddenly kicked up, coming from the south, which was gathering clouds over the city of Balant to block the stars and the shining Arch high above.

There were only a handful of city guards at the front of the retreat. They were upset, and although they clearly did not know what had happened with the Goddess, Ulia was sure they felt something was off. As Ulia spoke with them, she discovered they intended to continue following the north road out of town. That would work, after a fashion--it would lead them to a trade road, and there were small towns along the road, the closest less than a day's travel. Yet Xethram had advised them to flee to a sanctuary to the southwest, and Ulia had to wonder how much to trust that advice. She did not know Xethram well enough to trust him, not wholeheartedly, but he had certainly known what was coming, and done what he could to save them... so far.

Yet he was an unknown, no leader of hers, and for all that he claimed to be an ally of the Goddess, there was no cause for her to take him at his word.

Instead, she knelt and searched her heart, hoping to find the voice of the Goddess of Blades within her. It felt... odd. No, it felt off. The feeling she got from her goddess was all wrong; instead of a feeling of silk and cold steel, she felt what was simply and obviously a woman on the other end--fleshy, sincere, scared, hurting.

Miana.

Miana, can you hear me? Ulia was tentative at first, but she felt relief flooding her goddess in response.

Ulia. I am sorry, I am not sure what I can do to help, but speak to me. What has happened?

We are fleeing north, to avoid the troops. If I am to push us to travel southwest, towards this sanctuary, it must be now, but I am not sure. What should I do?

There was a pause. He would bring you here, to the place where I am. He believes it is safe. I... do not know. I have no doubt that they brought an army to kill our people, and they will follow you. I did many patrols through the northlands, and if you could get to Ji'am, the Clans would protect you. I... should contact them. But that is three times the distance from here, and I do not know what efforts the God of Eyes intends to use to protect you.

Ulia considered this only a moment, instead putting her faith in her friend and goddess. Do you trust him?

It is clear to me that he was working with... the goddess. My predecessor. It is clear to me that he intends to help the people. But I think he is also selfish. He wants our people as his own, of that I am sure. To trust his every word would be foolish. For now, I think that leaving the road behind will be safer, but there is much I do not know. Come towards me for now, and we will see.

As you will, ...my Lady. It was strange for Ulia to say that to her friend, but she put it out of mind quickly, and rose to her feet.

"We must get off the road," said Ulia, standing. "The enemy will follow us, and they intend to kill us all. There is as place we must travel to. I... do not know the place, but the Goddess will guide me. Come."

Three guardsmen, quickly conferring with each other, stood up to Ulia suddenly. "No," the leader of the three said. "We should stay by the road. Your Goddess could not keep us safe in our own homes. You don't get to pretend that she is guiding you now."

Ulia snarled, but it was the weapon in her belt that answered for her. It slipped out on its own and hovered in front of the three, glowing with an unearthly pale white light in the darkness.

"We've seen hovering swords before," snapped the guard, but before he could say more, motion caught all their eyes. Behind them, more white points of light rose into the sky.

"The Weapons of the Fallen are artifacts of the goddess, containing the fallen souls of warriors who died in Her name. The Goddess has kept you safe. That is why you are here and not dead in your own homes." Ulia snarled at the man, as the weapon came back down to her hand. "We move to the southwest. Keep the people together. Keep them calm. We have a long ways to march, but the Goddess will see us through."

Even so, when Ulia looked back over the city, over the column of refugees in the dark, she doubted. She wanted to hate herself for doubting, but... with the goddess dead, wasn't faith, now, a lie? She bared her fangs into the darkness. Her prayer had quickly confirmed that the God of Eyes had spoken the truth, or else bewitched her somehow: Miana appeared to be the new Goddess of Blades. And he was the one who had bestowed that on her, given her power that Ulia had to assume that he was capable of stealing, if he had chosen to do so.

But he also wanted these people for himself, or so Miana believed. And to Ulia, that seemed very real. After all, he had known that the army was coming before anyone else, didn't he? Had he had a hand in it? Could he really be trusted?

Loi had more or less taken command over that part of the rearguard that was still in the city, when Chibal brought her expedition group back. Together with four senior guards and three senior Disciples of Blades, they discussed the strategic situation.

It was not good.

The goblins that Chibal's group had fought were many, but unguided, and they were burning the place to ashes around them. As far as Chibal had been able to tell, they were not going near the other invading forces--perhaps allied, or perhaps just being used as a weapon. Loi's group had only skirmished with them; the majority were deeper in the city, but according to Chibal, seemed to be slowly organizing.

Chibal had also caught sight of Xechi leading a group to the east. The group was too obvious to be able to escape, with their wagons full of supplies actually daring to have flags posted prominently. Although Loi did not really understand Xechi's reasoning, she felt immediately that the woman was leading a group to distract the invaders, and that would give them all more time.

The guard did not agree with that assessment.

"If she was leading the Selmonts east, then we need to meet up with them," said the most senior of the guards. "They still rule this nation."

Loi pursed her lips and appraised the group. Chibal did the same, and after thinking it through, the other woman gave Loi a nod. Loi hesitated a moment longer, then nodded as well.

"Take two squads and follow them, but try not to be seen. Nio, take one of yours, too. They're being obvious enough that the enemy will follow them, and I think you'll have better odds if you can ambush whoever comes after them."

The guard seemed to bristle for a moment at being ordered around, but nodded and gave a savage snarl. "Aye, ma'am. We'll catch em unawares and make them pay."

Nio, a scarred veteran who had received a Fallen warhammer, just nodded, immediately retreating to her group.

"We also still need to reinforce the guards protecting the citizens." She glanced between the guards and the Blades, wondering how to split them up. The two remaining guard captains and two remaining senior disciplines simply waited for her to make a decision. After a moment of contemplation, she let out a breath. "We might as well split that duty evenly--some guards, some Blades. I know we're all itching to fight, but this whole situation rubs me wrong. And..." she stopped, swallowing back a comment about the goddess. "...we need time to get a clearer picture on what exactly is going on."

"What about the storm that's coming in?" Jari, one of the other senior Blades, gestured up at the sky.

Loi turned to look at the clouds that were gathering. She had not been focusing on it, but the winds that had suddenly sprung up did strike her as unnatural; not hostile, somehow, but not natural. Perhaps the gods were offering some assistance?

"We have to assume the worst," she replied. "That it will slow us down more than it will them. If we find that isn't true... great. If nothing else, it should bother the goblins." The creatures seemed made of fire, so anything that cooled them was bad for them, right? Loi had to hope so. "We also have to make sure that the rear elements can track down the rest of the group when we have to retreat."

"Can't we just follow the road?" Jari squinted at Loi, suddenly suspicious.

Loi shook her head, then reconsidered. Was any of their group leading the refugees? She would need to find out, quickly. "Perhaps at first. But we need to get off the road, or they will just run us down. There is... a place we were told about, a place we might be heading. I don't know where it is, but if we are led there, won't be following the roads, of that I'm sure."

"Off-road? In a storm, with no certain destination?"

"I have faith that the Goddess will guide us." At least, I hope so. Oh, Miana...

Loi felt a strange sense of acknowledgement from her goddess. There was hesitation there, but also resolve. We will survive this, Miana seemed to reply.

Loi put a hand to her heart, and nodded, firming up her own resolve. "Alright. Whoever is going to meet up with the civilians, go. The rest of us will search for anyone who has been left behind, delay the army if they start moving... and then follow."

The group started to scatter after that, but before they got too far, a heavy, fat rain started to come down. Loi looked up to the sky, wanting for a moment to curse the heavy clouds that were making her night even more miserable than it had been. But... there was something off about the rain. It was just as heavy, just as chill as she expected.

It was many minutes later, when she was very nearly soaked to her skin, before she realized that the rain did not obstruct her vision at all. And somehow, she knew that this was the work of a God--no doubt, the God of Eyes. But how had he called the rain? Or had someone else?

"Alright, ladies," she snarled at the group of disciples waiting for her to lead them. "Let's go find ourselves some fresh meat. This is our town, and with this rain, there's no way they'll see us coming."

The Blades gave a warlike grunt, and they all stalked into the strangely clear, rainy night.