Politics.
D damn it, Jadis hated politics.
After returning from her jaunt out into the hills, Jadis had of course told her companions everything about her encounter with General Egilhard. As native residents of Oros, they had far more experience and context when it ca to the vaguely unsettling military man, thus Jadis wanted all of their input. She’d also wanted their open and honest opinions, so she’d waited to discuss her full concerns until after both Noll and Sabina had left the guild hall. So things couldn’t be said in front of the smith, who was as of yet uninitiated to Jadis’ origins, and even more so such things needed to be kept from Noll. Jadis hadn’t forgotten about his declaration to be an informant, even if he was doing her the solid favor of giving her so practical combat training.
Once they were alone to talk openly, Thea had revealed her own encounter with Egilhard. Even if she was light on the details, Jadis could easily discern just how uncomfortable the general had made her while pressing her for private information. Thea wasn’t exactly hard to read when it ca to discomfort. Everything she did say just cented Jadis’ opinion of the man as a scummy fuck who was best avoided.
Aila had pointed out that Jadis had, in fact, seen the man once before. Back when Jadis had stord into Magistrate Vraekae’s war room after she’d assigned even more guards to follow her around, there had been a few high-ranking military officials in the room as well. General Egilhard had been one of them. Jadis had to admit that she didn’t rember him except in the vaguest sense. He’d not left much of an impression at the ti, though she had been rather focused on Vraekae.
Aila only rembered him because she’d seen him a few tis before in the past, if distantly. General Egilhard was the highest-ranking mber of the imperial army in Weigrun, second only to the Magistrate in terms of authority. Practically every imperial soldier in the whole sub-continent ultimately reported to him, barring a few exceptions like the Magistrate’s personal forces and the city guards. He was a respected career soldier who had decades of experience under his belt. Even if he wasn’t liked by his troops, he had more than enough victories to his na to warrant loyalty.
Kerr had been more colorful in her description of the general. Most of them were creatively derogatory, but the most saliant of them had regarded his distaste for rcenaries, particularly independent ones. To his mind, rcenary companies were half-baked armies whose mbers lacked the conviction of true imperial soldiers. As to independents, they were no better than shiftless brigands.
When Jadis had asked Kerr how she knew so much about the general’s opinions, she’d explained that in most military engagents, it was common for the Empire to use rcenary companies as reinforcents or for flanking maneuvers, while independents often acted as skirmishers or scouts. Egilhard never used rcenaries for either purpose and had always been openly vocal in his disdain for irregulars. As she had been an independent rcenary for years, leaders like Egilhard were just as prominent on Kerr’s radar as the ones who actively sought out rcenaries for jobs.
Out of all of them, however, Eir had given Jadis the most information on the man. While she was limited in her knowledge of military affairs and had never t the general personally, Eir was from a noble lineage. It was a branch one in her words, but still a noble family, and Vraekae was legitimately her cousin. Even a dedicated priestess like her had training when it ca to politics; it ca with being a mber of an aristocratic family.
General Egilhard had been sent to Weigrun several years before the demonic invasion. Weigrun had, at least at the ti, had only a small standing army and virtually no issues beyond the local wildlife. An odd assignnt for a highly decorated veteran with a history of military success. Eir didn’t know why he’d been sent, but she’d heard rumors that he’d required ti away from the front lines and active duty to convalesce from so serious injury that he didn’t want others to know about.
Of course, Eir had explained, that was a clear and obvious lie. A man in his position would have access to all the best healers the temples had to offer. If the rumor said his post was for injury recovery, that ant he’d pissed soone off that was higher rank than him but they didn’t want the details to be known and had thus purposefully sowed the seeds of a false rumor for the masses to chew on. And considering he was a general from an old and influential noble family, whoever he’d upset was of very high rank.
He'd also been at odds with Vraekae the mont she’d been assigned the governance of Weigrun at the start of the demonic invasion. Her assignnt had co from Second Prince Kestil directly. If she had not been put into her position of power over the sub-continent, Egilhard would have been the senior ranking officer and all authority would have been his. Resentnt was inevitable. Even if not for the reason that Egilhard wanted the power and privilege that Vraekae possessed, then it was the simple fact that the two were on completely opposite sides of the political spectrum.
Not that the Alfhilderunn Empire had politics in the sa fashion as Jadis was used to back on Earth. Instead of political parties, the lines were drawn between who supported which person who was in line for succession to the throne. There were two heirs, First Prince Hraustrekr, and Second Prince Kestil. Hraustrekr was the crown heir and was almost certainly going to take the throne when his father, Emperor Sorulf, passed away. However, if enough of the nobility threw their support behind Kestil, he could be crowned instead of his older brother if for no other reason than to prevent a civil war. And considering how many nobles supported the younger prince, Vraekae among them, that outco was not wholly unlikely.
Then of course there was the possibility of assassination, military coup, divine mandates, or even the Emperor simply changing his mind…
“Have I ever told you how much I hate politics?” Jay muttered as she squeezed Aila a little tighter to her chest. “Like, I really hate politics.”
“It hasn’t co up,” Aila said with a smile in her voice. “But the fact doesn’t surprise . I can’t imagine you in a ball gown, trying to eat those tiny sandwiches aristocrats favor while talking about affairs of state with the nobility.”
“Are you saying I wouldn’t look good in a dress? I can assure you that I would look great in a dress, Blue. Just, no fucking corsets.”
Aila laughed at Jadis’ comnts and snuggled deeper into her embrace. The two were outside in the courtyard behind the guildhall, wrapped up in each other’s arms. Well, Jadis covered a lot more area than Aila could by default, but it was more the thought that counted. It was a cold night, the air frosty enough that they could see their breath as they spoke, but holding Aila was plenty of warmth for Jadis.
It was nice to just sit back and be alone with her girlfriend. Yes, her other two selves were doing things inside while in the company of her other companions, but there were many advantages to having a partitioned mind and focusing on alone ti with her freckled lover while not ignoring the rest of her friends was one of them. It was just a sha they were talking about sothing as odious as politics as opposed to sothing more pleasant. Like waste disposal. Or algebra.
“It’s just sothing I think you’re going to have to get used to,” Aila sighed into the crook of Jay’s neck. “Fa brings all kinds of attention, including the kind you might not want.”
“Mm,” Jay humd as she ran her fingers through Aila’s long red hair. “What do they want out of , though? Egilhard and Vraekae, I an. They both clearly want on their side, but what’s the point? What do they get out of it other than, you know, being strong? My ability to trample demons doesn’t really seem like it’s worth the fuss in the grand sche of things. I’m sure it’s got plenty to do with my race, but again, what do they get out of it? Bragging rights?”
“That could be part of it,” Aila nodded. “If the sole survivor of a long-lost race cos forward publicly as supportive of one heir or another, it could have major sway with the people, particularly those who focus their worship on the deity you represent. You know how much Eir idolized you before she even got to know you. I can guarantee she’s not the only priestess out there who would feel just the sa, simple because you are a Nephilim.”
“So if I get out there and say ‘hey, Kestil is the prince for , I’d prefer him to his dumb older brother,’ then a bunch of priests and worshipers of Lyssandria would follow suit? Just because I said so?”
“Basically, yes,” Aila agreed after a second of contemplation. “None of the Seraphim have spoken in favor of one prince or the other when it cos to succession. But if one or more of them were to say sothing, it’d be assud that they were speaking on behalf of Valtar. Most people would follow their lead unless soone of high religious rank strongly opposed those Seraphim, like an Oracle. I’m fairly certain it would be the sa for you, so long as people truly believe that you are a Nephilim, and not a trick.
“You don’t have to even co out and say anything, though. Just standing on one side or another would make an impact on the decisions people make. Most of the people around here in Far Felsen are rcenaries and soldiers, so you’re seeing practical-minded people who are more focused on the war than anything else. But I guarantee you that if you were to go to the capital, your existence alone would stir up a furor with the common citizens, much less the priesthood.”
Jadis could see how that kind of influence would be attractive to people like Vraekae and Egilhard. In a cold war of succession, any little advantage that could be taken would be, she was sure. And if Egilhard could convince her to join up with the military and follow his lead, then she’d be a valuable card to play, one she was sure he wouldn’t hesitate to trade in to garner favor with Prince Hraustrekr.
Not that Vraekae was any different, Jadis was sure. She and the Magistrate had gotten on good terms as of late, relatively speaking, which did not an the icy elf wasn’t looking to use Jadis in any way she could for her political advantage. She just hadn’t asked Jadis to actually do anything yet, not really. She’d convinced her to found a rcenary company, apparently with the intent of giving her a higher chance of staying safe while still allowing her to pursue her adventurous lifestyle. Other than that, she hadn’t asked anything else of her.
Was it a long con? Maybe. Vraekae was an elf, after all. She could afford to cultivate plans that wouldn’t see fruition for decades. In that regard, Egilhard had said sothing of value. It was important to think about what would happen after the demonic invasion was done. There would be an end to it, no doubt. That was the whole problem with the continual cycle that D had sent her to disrupt in one way or another. The threat of demons would end, for a ti, but it wouldn’t be resolved. In the anti, life would continue. Jadis’ life would continue. And so would everyone else’s.
That’s what General Egilhard was really getting at, she realized. Jadis didn’t know how much longer the Emperor was going to live for, but neither did anyone else. But what the smart people were doing was preparing for the eventuality. Egilhard had apparently chosen to side with the crown heir, the man he thought would be his winning horse and take him back into a position of favor. Vraekae had done the sa by showing her support of Prince Kestil. Jadis didn’t necessarily need to choose either side, but she did need to think about what was coming in the future. If she openly snubbed one prince and that turned out to be the one who ascended to the throne, her actions could have serious repercussions. And not just for herself, but for the lives of the people closest to her.
“Ugh,” Jay groaned, leaning her head back against the wall she was sitting against. “Can’t I just kill demons and level up and fuck my beautiful girlfriend without politics getting involved?”
“Apparently not,” Aila snorted in a decidedly unladylike way.
“Fine…” Jay sighed long and loudly. “But I’m done thinking about this shit for now. It’s getting hard to concentrate anyway. Kerr is getting frisky and Eir is totally enabling her right now.”
“Fair enough,” Aila said while wiggling her hips on top of Jay’s growing erection. “It’s gotten pretty cold out here and I could use so warming up.”
Seeking to please her lover, Jay gave her a kiss that soon saw her much larger tongue invading Aila’s smaller mouth. She loved the way the smaller woman sucked on her…
Before Jay and Aila got too carried away, the arcanist pulled back from the kiss to make a breathless announcent.
“I almost forgot to tell you, with all this other nonsense,” she said as Jay planted kisses along her jaw. “My uncles are going to be in town in a few days. I’m pretty sure Volker and Specht will be there too. We should have dinner with them, like we promised.”
“Sounds good to ,” Jadis agreed as she stood, taking Aila with her. “But I really don’t want to think about your uncles right now, Blue.”
“Fair enough,” Aila repeated herself before locking her heels behind the small of Jadis’ back. “I’ve got other things on my mind right now, too.”
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