I improved my vision so I could see him much better. That man had blond hair pulled back and a robust build. Don't ask me how the hell he flew, because I had no idea.
The man stopped right in front of us, still flying, as if he could walk on air. There he stood right in front of me. He wasn't wearing combat gear, and I didn't see a weapon. Considering he didn't attack me first, I wasn't very prepared for a fight. He was wearing a brown suit, without a jacket. The traditional white shirt was rolled up to his elbows, and he wore several gold rings and chains.
"My name is Gotdes Goldes, God of Kaiserland," the man introduced himself.
I actually expected him to, Goldes was smiling broadly at me.
—My name is Sean Dorvin, godkiller. —I introduced myself.
—That's a pretty menacing title for someone who hasn't yet killed the fire jester; you'll make a lot of enemies.
—I think I'll have them anyway.
He was right: at this rate, I'm going to end up leading an entire nation. Is that what I want? But before I go any further, I have to face the problem right in front of me.
Goldes was very attractive and too eloquent, even for a politician.
"I'm aware of the deal you made with my general, but I need him back before anyone notices. You see, it's not a good sign of prosperity if my general is kidnapped. My deal is this: give me back the general, let's talk today, let's get to know each other, let's prepare the show you want to put on at the conference of the gods. The deal will remain the same. If you're wondering why I acted this way, it's simple: it's a deal too good to refuse. You see, I'm in a territorial dispute with the Fire Jester, but due to current laws, I can't launch an attack without at least three empires attacking me, all eager to tear me apart and divide themselves. But you, my friend, being treated as a rebellion and not an empire, don't play by the same rules. If you make the fire god disappear, it'll be a win-win: you keep your empire and your people, and I keep my gold mine—a very important one, I must be honest."
—It must be very big for you to risk your life and empire.
—Indeed, it is, but it will give me enough gold to control the market and ensure my prosperity. Now see how I see it: if I bet that you win by supporting them in everything they need, but preventing them from declaring war on me, this means I can't declare independence for stupid political reasons. But if you win and form an empire, and I have my gold, you will become a military power, that's obvious. Maintaining good relations with a military power while you're prosperous is smart.
—The truth is, ensuring the well-being of your people, while I destroy your enemies. After the disaster that was Verden, I'm pleasantly surprised you're smart enough, I must admit, to know that I'm bound to be a military power.
—Enough to know that this isn't going to be your last war, godslayer. Sean Dorvin, you see, most gods are idiots, blinded by maintaining control with their brute force. Obviously, they'll be threatened by you; others will want to take your territory because they'll think you're weak. Basically, you're obligated to fight at least one war in which you win so strongly that it puts the others off attacking. But that's just the beginning, because you'll have to mend your ways with the gods' top brass, because if you don't, I'm afraid no one will be able to help you properly. Fighting seventeen empires with at least eighty vassals at the same time would be madness.
— Well, I invite you in. Ashley, please give the order so they can get everything ready while I chat with our guest. As for you, Goldes, I'm afraid I don't have a place or even food to share right now.
Ashley nodded and went to give the order, Jane stayed by my side.
"Don't worry. I know your situation very well, which is why I'm sending the first convoy of resources right now. I don't think they'll have any trouble coming, considering all the work was done extremely quickly and the fire god is still in disarray. I hope we can talk this over quickly; I wouldn't want the other gods to see you with me."
—Right, that's why I prefer to stay on the wall, besides the weather is nice enough to waste, don't you think?
—Vera, I assume you're familiar with the typical political conference table. I don't think it differs much from what you know, except that this one has a leader. Even if he's not recognized verbatim by half the table, the other half supports him. However, he's really an idiot and a bad leader, even with his empire. The only real reason his military forces are superior to the others' is because he has more territory, and by far.
—I understand, but if he's as stupid as he says, why didn't they all attack and share it?
—That's the trick, my friend. When empires were still godless and the first gods were rising, he helped them all rise to power. There's even a law: if a god is born in any of these vassal empires, the empire will gain guaranteed independence.
—I guess that's how he won over his allies; that means the other half of the table hates him.
—Correct, the other half is extremely loyal and refer to him as the emperor, the only one of them who differs from his peers is Salamander, a god who uses fire as a weapon. In particular, Salamander's fire is extremely powerful, which elevates him to a much higher level than the god of fire. Salamander is a benevolent god, he is quite a good person. In fact, he detests the jester with all his might, and he is a defender of the rights of the people. His problem is that he swore loyalty to the emperor, since the latter helped him gain power once he became a god. Because his honor and pride are everything to him, he is unable to attack the emperor even if he disgusts him.
—What a person to be a leader, rarely does a person like that stay in power, everyone plays dirty, in the mud with the rest of the shit.
—One of these days they'll kill him, and their emperor won't lift a finger. By the way, if you're even asking whether the emperor will guarantee your freedom, you're mistaken. Being born into this empire means there are now two gods. The problem is there are no laws for this, so they simply treat it as a rebellion and little else.
—Having said that, it's more complex because I wasn't born here.
Goldes looked like an idiot for a while.
—So why do you help them? Where do you come from?
—I come from a faraway place, to which I cannot yet return. I help you because I am as stupid as Salamander, except I am willing to lose my honor and pride if it allows me to save these people.
—Yeah... yeah... I'd like to say I understand, but I really don't understand you or Salamander. But where the hell do you come from?
—I come from another world, Goldes, as if I were chosen, something dragged me to this world, to help these people, that's my theory.
—Honestly, it's something I'm interested in, but only when we're calmer and you've won. Of course, if you win. If you don't, it was a nice attempt to get rid of the fire jester.
— Completely understandable. Now what information do the gods have about me? —When I asked him that question, Goldes gave me a weary look.
—The cries of the fire god, my God! He sent us at least nine letters to each of us until we agreed to hold the emergency conference. He claims you're a false god and that you tricked him, but he still needs help. I don't know if you heard, but when you conquered this city, you left them without an army. If the emperor hadn't intervened, they would have declared a war of conquest.
—While what I did here was a massacre, is that all I had?—
"The guy doesn't have enough men willing to join the war. He tried to force them, but they rebelled. That's why he uses puppets, as they're the closest thing he has to an army. However, while he controls the puppets, he becomes considerably weaker. For this reason, he hires mercenaries. According to my informants, after your victory, he nearly spent all his gold stores hiring a gigantic army of mercenaries to destroy you. Even so, it seems to me he's terribly afraid of you. He doesn't want to send you too few puppets, as you would destroy them and it would be a waste of time, nor does he want to end up in a one-on-one confrontation."
He was silent for a moment and continued.
—However, there is something wrong with your plan.
—What's wrong?
"You need much more strength, much more power than you possess now. The god of fire may be underestimated, but even so, he is far stronger than I." His gaze changed, and the atmosphere he had created disappeared with it. The air felt more depressing, his gaze drifting off into the horizon.
Of course, that's why he needed my help. That's why he came personally. If the god of fire is considered the weakest god, yet Goldes is weaker, he's playing a game with predators after him. Forced to lose, he's cornered. That's why he focuses on a strong economy, why he defends his gold, and why he wants the metal.
I didn't need to study it in depth or send spies to confirm it. As part of the Goldes army, he must be frightening. The problem is his magical power. That's what I realized when the fire god almost ended my life.
I put my hand on his shoulder.
"I will seek whatever power it takes. Goldes, it's time to change the food chain. If I must kill all the gods to ensure the safety of my people. Of these people." I offered him a grim smile. "Then let the long night's hunt begin-"
—Words with a lot of weight behind them. The question that keeps me up at night: Will you be able to live up to it?
"I'm not going to fail again..." I said in a low voice.
The wind hit the wall. In that moment, Goldes and I understood each other without speaking, we connected without needing more words. We were two men trying to survive. We fought to bring our people forward. The weight of life was on our shoulders.
My eyes felt heavy as the wind whipped against us, reminding me that I'm still a man. I looked down at my scarred and calloused hands. I couldn't help but smile as I accepted the tingling throughout my body.
"I'm tired of playing other people's games," Goldes blurted out.
-Me too.
I'm exhausted, of course I am. I can hear my body complaining with every damn step I take. But I'm more tired of not being in control. Of not being able to create the future I truly want to fight for. In that moment, we didn't even have to look at each other. Goldes and I were on the same page. It wasn't god or human. It wasn't god and god, either. It was simply a leader's burden.