------------- Chapter 16 - COVE's Payment

Ashley's stride did not break. She kept strolling right out the chamber and down the hall, heading for the upper levels. Eris watched her leave and turned back to Pentelikon with a grim face.

"She's testing you, obviously."

Pentelikon raised one eyebrow and smirked. He took a few steps to one side and picked up a carafe filled with pale, pink wine. He held the carafe out as if asking Eris if she'd like some. Eris responded with a simple nod and a bit of a sideways smile.

"Yes, I know. She's has a fire that I do so love to stoke. But her ill manners are not my concern. Let her think she is superior if it gets me what I want."

Eris raised both eyebrows in an expression that said, 'I wouldn't let her hear that kind of talk', but she herself said nothing. Pentelikon poured the first glass of wine and stopped, watching her face.

"If I underestimate the powers of a Witch, let that be my problem as well. I may come from ancient time, but let me assure you, I am fully aware of the here and now. I know the powers the Coven of Fenris still wields, and her position in that Coven. I would not make the mistake of Keido, the one you called Anti-Paladine. He underestimated the Coven of the Menea to his undoing. I may find Ashley amusing, but I do not think her skills small."

Eris was not convinced, but decided to let the Prince have his delusions of superiority anyway. She took the wine in one right hand and changed the subject.

"Your payment is greatly appreciated, Prince. I am amazed at how much wealth and position you've managed to collect in the years since your freedom. Having been out of circulation for better than eight thousand years, I'd think you all but impotent from confusion. The fact that you adapted so well speaks volumes for your capabilities."

Pentelikon knew Eris' mind. He could see the maneuvering behind her eyes.

"And I thought your reputation was one of brutish mercenary. Wherever did you learn to lie and flatter like a senator?"

Eris smirked.

"I've learned many things in the years of peace since we both faced the Silver Gryphon, Prince. Though I'll admit your encounter with them was less painful than mine. We do, both of us, have reasons for seeing them and their progeny punished."

Pentelikon poured the second glass and turned to sit in a large, plush chair in the study where their business was being conducted.

"I have no reason to join your coalition, Eris. I will not go out of my way to see the Olde Silver Gryphon brought down. They are retired. They are old. Their children are no threat to me. I have bigger issues to deal with, as you well know. Only those who settled in the Symballan Empire and accepted avatars are of any concern to me. They will be dealt with. In fact, their ultimate downfall is foremost in my mind. So, in a way, I will do some of your task for you. Those of the western kingdoms are not my concern. I'll leave Carellon to you. But I'll hold that discussion for a later time. Think on this, for it is all I shall say on the subject. When this war spreads, there will be need of a general in Carellon, one who knows the terrain, the opposition, and the secrets of the crown. When that time comes, we will have more business to conduct, you and I."

Eris narrowed her eyes and sat in the chair opposite. Pentelikon continued.

"But as to my understanding of this new age, it is not entirely my doing. When brought out of stasis, the Silver Gryphon had in their possession a scroll of powerful magics. They used one of the spells thereon. It flooded my mind with knowledge of the modern world, the languages, the customs, everything I would need to know to interact with them. It saved me, in a manner. Without it, we would have been immediately at each other's throats. In my condition at the time, I would not have prevailed. So their mercy and compassion, though it will be their undoing, was my salvation. You can see, I will not, on my honor, make targets of them unnecessarily. You can understand honor, can't you?"

Eris gave him a sideways frown and furled her brow.

"Prince, please. I'll not underestimate your honor, nor belittle your definition of the word. I would ask you do the same. I would think us past challenging one another's honor."

Pentelikon seemed genuinely confused, as though he'd been gravely misunderstood.

"No insult intended, my dear. Though I know many things of this time, I still find certain motivations unclear. In my day, mercenaries had no honor. But in my day there were no Weaponsmasters as you call them, nor such beautiful warriors to challenge a man's sensibilities."

Eris made her best attempt at a flattered smile.

"Now who's been studying flattery on the senate floor?"

*****

Ashley stood on the upper balcony of the Temple of Ares, looking down through the trees at the shadows of the valley below. Secluded high in the Central Barrier Mountains, the temple was mostly an underground complex of dark passages and smoky chambers where smiths clanged away day and night, generals plotted their campaigns, and warriors practiced the arts of sword and shield. Unlike most temples, there were no acolytes, no petitioners, no pilgrims arriving after long journeys. The Temple of Ares was a secret hideout for the leaders of the elite fighting units that would spearhead the war against the Symballan Empire. Sitting on the mainland, it was hundreds of miles removed from the islands of Atheae and the capitol of Raidon on the Raiden peninsula. In the mountains around it was naught but villages of centaurs and elves, the occasional Duergar or ogre outpost, and ruins of the ancient kingdoms. Pentelikon had known this place when it was new, when all the ruins scattered across these mountain glades were temples themselves. To Ashley, it was an ugly place, with far too much of the complex under ground. She despised being under ground. Her heart was in the freedom of the woods, running wild and uncontrolled. The Temple was much like its master, too sure of himself, too convinced of his own importance, rigid and unyielding as the bronze and granite within.

Ashley sighed and closed her eyes in the growing shadows of twilight. Her senses prickled. The use of the fluxstone always had that effect on her. It brought out something in her, that dark side of her that had been growing wilder and more untamed as of late. She could hear the forges deep below, the rhythmic pounding of machinery, the wind in the pines, a deer munching grass several hundred yards to the north, birds' wings fluttering just over the mountain. She thought she could hear the rim of the world tearing with the weight of Apos setting into the sea two thousand miles west. She heard her own heart, her own breathing, the blood in her veins, the steps of an old friend walking slowly up the passage three levels beneath her. She could smell the trees in the next valley, the bees collecting pollen in the shadows of the temple, the snows melting on the high mountains twenty miles away. She knew of his approach long before he started up the stairs; knew his condition, his emotions, his thoughts long before she turned to look on his face.

"Brock."

The General stopped and blinked his one good eye. He lowered his scowl on her, remembering her as something so much less impressive.

"Ashley. You've changed."

"It's been quite a few years, General."

"It has."

"You're not still mad about Blackwolf, are you?"

"I blame Eris, and my own foolishness, not you."

"That's good to hear."

Ashley turned back and leaned on the stone railing, letting the smells and sounds of the coming night in the high mountains wash over her.

"So you've taken control of the Coven now?"

"Yes", she was miles away, not even listening to him, but hearing everything in his mind and heart.

"So what does that mean?"

She looked over her shoulder, but not far enough to let him see her eyes.

"Nothing,... for now."

Brock Uttman stepped to the rail and leaned heavily on massive arms. He looked out into the growing dark, seeing more than any human could, but doubting he could see as much as his old human companion.

"When the time comes, my services will be yours."

She turned and looked at him. He had not aged well. But, despite his graying skin and scars, there was still a hardened warrior before her. He might indeed be of some use when, as he said, the time came.

"We shall see."

She looked him up and down with a coy expression, obviously attempting to deflect the conversation from Brock's intended purpose. She began to take a few steps away, then stopped and closed her eyes. She seemed to suddenly relax. Brock had a second in which he thought to go to her aid, as if she were about to feint. Then he heard her loud exhale and saw the satisfied smile grow across her face.

"Eris has finished her negotiations for our payment. We'll be leaving now. It was good to see you again General, and I'll remember your promise."

General Uttman nodded and bowed slightly. He watched Ashley's demure but curvaceous form disappear amidst the guttering torchlight of the temple. Turning back to look out over the valley, he wondered how long it would be before she called in his marker, how long before all of this came to a very ugly and painful end. Somewhere to the north he heard a lone wolf howl, welcoming the approaching night.