Godslayer Lysette: Chapter 268

Chapter 268: Zarielle’s Summons

Lysette reluctantly beckoned the man inside, only because she remained quite confident in her ability to forcibly respond to any trouble he might cause.  Though his eyes darted around, surveying the surroundings in the small abode, he remained surprisingly demure, taking the last empty chair in the middle of the table.  Lysette grabbed him a plate and set it down along some utensils and a small glass of ice water.

“I do apologize for the lack of any sort of suitable accommodations,” Lysette said.  “Ours is a small community with scarcely more than a meeting hall to conduct official business of the town.  Without proper notice and planning, all I can offer is to share in our personal dinner.  I hope you will find the lack of appropriate diplomatic protocol acceptable given the circumstances.”

He nodded.  “And I must apologize as well.  Not only did I fail to give any proper notice for my arrival, but I failed to bring any sort of gift for my generous host.”  He turned to Aurie.  “Lady… Aurella, was it?”

Aurie frowned.  “I’m sorry, Mister.  Apparently you know who I am, but I have no idea who you are or what you’re doing here.”  She took a large bite of sausage and ravaged it with teeth which seemed to briefly grow and sharpen as she rent it.  “Besides, if you’re here intruding on a woman’s dinner, isn’t it polite of you to first introduce yourself and state your reason for being here?”

The man smiled.  He turned to Lysette, who only nodded.

“You both are quite right.  Please forgive my rudeness.  My name is Dennell Tvyst, and I am the chief liaison to the head temple of Zarielle in Ereill.  Lady Lysette, I have come to inform you that His Eminence, Grand Abbott Skarillel, has requested your presence on behalf of Her Divinity.”

“And how soon does he want to meet?” Lysette asked.

“I will be frank.  Although His Eminence has cautioned that I am not to cause a diplomatic incident by forcing the issue, I am requested to bring you back with me.”

“Wait a minute,” Aurie said.  “I thought you said Zarielle fired you, Cousin Lysettie.  Why does she want to meet with you now?  And why doesn’t she come here herself if she cares so badly?”

“I suspect for the same reason your mother didn’t come here herself.  Well, I have two potential reasons for this, actually.  First, is that she doesn’t want negotiations to devolve into a physical confrontation as they did last time.  We had a bit of a rocky conversation last time.”

“A bit rocky?” Mirae asked.  “You give Zarielle too much credit.  She ordered you to kill a village of innocent people.  People under your protection, no less!  And now she has the gall to come send a messenger out here to… invite my love to parley?

“Why in the Infernal realm should we trust her?  Why should we trust you, Dennell?  For all I know, you’re just inviting Lysette out to another damned continent on someone else’s whim to lure her into a trap and slay her before she causes more ‘problems’ for your boss’s boss.  I know well enough to know that such treachery is certainly not above the creators of this world.  And anyone who would strike against those under their sacred protection is unworthy of their subordinates’ Devotion.”

Dennell sighed.  “I mean no disrespect–”

“Mirae,” Lysette said.  “My partner.  I expect you will treat them with the same deference that you would treat me.”

“As you say.  Then, L–”

Mirae sighed.  “Just Mirae is acceptable and preferred.  I find titles discomforting.”

“Very well.  Truly, I have no acceptable way to guarantee Lady Lysette’s safety that would serve to her partner’s satisfaction.  While I have been informed that Her Divinity means no ill-intent and merely wishes to speak on pertinent matters, after such a previous encounter, I understand and accept your reluctance.”

Mirae grimaced.  “If it were my decision to make, I would throw you out right now.  And if you refused to turn around and head back whence you came, I would escort you by force.  However, the decision is not mine to make.”  They grabbed a small bite of sausage and chewed.  “Hmm.  Not as spicy as I would prefer.”

“Me neither,” Aurie said.

“Can you share any details?” Lysette asked.  “I understand the need for allies right now.”  And can’t afford yet more enemies when there’s already the possibility for war on two fronts against Terea and Domaria.  “Surely a diplomatic mission would have come prepared with some sort of missive.  At the very least, some way to prove that you are who you say you are.”

“Of course, My Lady.  At once.”

Dennell stood up and took an ostentatious posture with his arms bent, hands on his waist, and feet standing a bit over a shoulder’s length apart.  His body bent and warped as it slowly dissolved into the floor, seeping underneath the table.  A technique identical to the one Lysette had used months prior while she was still in her divine patron’s good graces.  His ability to perform it certainly proved at least that he had Zarielle’s blessing, if not the status that he claimed.

The technique was a flexible one, and one which excelled in matters of subtlety and espionage.  Moving as a shadow was virtually silent and undetectable by anyone who couldn’t directly see the flow of Essence around them.  It also allowed one to bypass threats from physical attacks, while still being able to temporarily phase into corporeality to strike.  With more mastery, one could even attack as a shadow directly, bypassing even that weakness.

There was, however, one critical weakness.  Shadow was dispelled by light, and anyone caught within it would be expelled from it.  Painfully.  Lysette reached underneath the table and conjured a bit of flame no bigger than that of a large candle.

“You’ve proven your point, Dennell,” Lysette said.  “Now please, sit back down before you get any ideas.”

To his credit, Dennell obliged, returning to his physical form and sitting back down without delay.  He turned to Lysette with bated breath, as though he were sizing her up as she dispelled her flame and took another drink of water.

“The display is sufficient to convince me that you carry Zarielle’s favor,” Lysette said.  “However, it fails to convince me that you actually are who you say you are and have the authority to speak on behalf of either Zarielle or her temple.  While I do not quite share Mirae’s disdain for Zarielle, I do have plenty of enemies.  And those I do have would love to take advantage of any mistakes I make to harm the people of Ciricu or otherwise undermine the community I am trying to build.”

“As you will,” Dennell said.  “Regarding the missive itself, I have it right here.”

Lysette rolled her eyes as the alleged diplomat reached into his pocket and pulled out a storage charm not unlike the one Kiarra had gifted her a few months prior.  Why not start with that, you dunderhead?

Her first reaction of anger subsided as he fumbled through the small pocket dimension.  He was a terrible diplomat, yes, and probably inexperienced with the role.  A mistake, yes, and one which Lysette would take action against were she in a stronger bargaining position.  But Dennell hadn’t likely been chosen for his skills with diplomacy.

No, he was a soldier— a spy, Lysette corrected.  He was skilled with his Cultivation, as evidenced by his ability to sneak right up to her front door without attracting the attentions of two experienced demigoddesses and their retinues.  This Dennell— if indeed it wasn’t a cover name— was chosen specifically for his ability to handle the missive in as discreet a manner as possible.  And in that capacity, at least, Zarielle and her Grand Priest had chosen well.

“Ah, yes, here it is!” Dennell said.  “I do apologize for my unseemly display, but this assignment was hastily organized with even less time to make proper preparations.”

Certainly a month after Alan’s death is enough time if that were the catalyst.  What changed?

He laid the document— a small scroll neatly wound up around a spool— on the table.  As Lysette opened it, she paused.  The material was no ordinary paper.  It had the smoothness of silk, and yet, when she stretched a corner of the fabric, she noticed it was as durable as a steel plate.  Even more interesting was the text beautifully calligraphed onto the woven vessel.  It wasn’t written in the common language, nor that of the Aestori, but some part of her was able to read it nonetheless.

My dear Lysette,

I do apologize for my inability to contact you of late, as well as needing to do so now through an underling.  They say that in order to deceive your enemies, you must first deceive your allies, and if I were to manifest on Aimarion, I’m sure it would cause no shortage of trouble for both of us.  I trust you understand the importance of ensuring our plans aren’t foiled before they come to fruition.  All in the name of furthering our shared goals.

Lysette scrunched the page in ire.  That haughty, condescending tone was unmistakably Zarielle’s, as was addressing her as ‘My dear Lysette’.  And her mentioning a need for deception was in line both with her nature as the Embodiment of Darkness as well as Lysette’s prior understanding of the situation.

She took a deep breath and relaxed her hand.  Amazingly, the page— whatever artifice it was made of— uncrumpled before her eyes.  It looked as good as new before Lysette continued reading.

I want to congratulate you on your stunning and most unexpected victory over our enemy’s Godslayer.  The world is unquestionably a better place for his death.  Even better, his death has sent ripples through our enemy’s base of power in both your world and mine.  He has weakened as the people’s faith in his power and protection has faltered.  Unfortunately, though, his strength remains great, bolstered by the several gods whom he has slain and absorbed over the eons.

Lysette paused.  Zarielle had mentioned during their first conversation that Asterion had somehow damaged her and stolen a portion of her power.  Something seemed off about that.  The ability to steal the power of other beings was a demonic power.  And demons were those who opposed the gods, embodying the desire of mortals who sought an end to divinity altogether.  Then…  did that mean?  

She continued reading.

And, as I have seen and you have experienced, the other deities have taken notice and are beginning their preparations.  The table is being set, and the players are readying their pieces.  I would like to discuss with you, that we might better coordinate our efforts to both of our advantage.  After what has happened, I suppose I can no longer force your cooperation, but I think a meeting would be in both our interests.

Finally, I want to apologize.

Lysette shook her head.  Zarielle had never been the type to apologize for anything.  She had, every time the two had spoken, demanded and ordered.  At most, she was vaguely receptive to Lysette’s suggestions.  At other times, she asserted her will through vague threats and circumspect commands.  But commands nonetheless.  She saw her subordinates— Lysette included— as mere pawns in some greater scheme, to be moved about, or sacrificed, as she herself saw fit.

Her skin crawled as those memories flooded back.  About how she had ordered Lysette to slaughter all the good people here…  All, because they were–  Lysette wanted so badly to tell Zarielle exactly what she thought of her and where she could take her machinations and her cavalier attitude toward human life and suffering.

But one thing stopped her.  Those words from Bionco from her ordeal with the Lotus Medallion.  That contemptible artifact and those damned words, pointing out that she was a hypocrite and no better than any other deity that walked Aimarion.  That she herself, despite whatever noble intentions she told herself, was also just the same.

Maybe, if she gave herself undeserved credit, she was genuinely trying to consider their well-being as people rather than as pawns, to use Zarielle’s favored term.  But in either case, Lysette did need allies, and knew she wasn’t in a position to sacrifice position for sanctimony’s sake.  She sighed, wondering if she was making the right decision.

She finished reading the missive.

While I did what I did to protect you, I know you will see me as little different than you do our enemy.  I do not expect we will be able to see eye-to-eye on matters anytime soon, and I can no longer expect or demand your trust or allegiance.  However, even knowing this, I still believe an alliance of sorts will serve to our mutual benefit, and implore you to pay heed to my words.

• Zarielle

P.S.  I have an underling who’s mentioned that she is very excited to see you again.

Lysette’s eyes softened and she relaxed a bit at reading a mention of her old familiar.  Sassy and irreverent as Nightshade often was, she was a source of comfort and companionship when she was at her lowest and most vulnerable.  And though she acknowledged that sentimentality was clouding her judgement, she did very much want to see the Celestial crow again.

“We will leave in the morning,” Lysette said.

“As you will, Lady Lysette.  I shall see you then.”  With a nod to each of the three, Dennell stood up and left the cottage.

Chapter 267: https://www.patreon.com/posts/115776381

Table of Contents: https://www.patreon.com/posts/101896170

Chapter 269: https://www.patreon.com/posts/115877057