novelzi Chapter 123 – The Music Stops When Heads Roll
Chapter 123 – The Music Stops When Heads Roll
Kassandora sat in her hotel room in Nanbasa. She had taken over the entire top-floor and the hotel had been more than happy to acquiesce hosting the Goddess leading the Reclamation War. It was spacious, it was large, and it was one of the few places that had been rich enough to order furniture specially made for the size of Divines. Outside was a wonderful day, with the Sun reaching its zenith in the brilliant blue sky above Nanbasa.
She poured over her papers. Diagrams upon diagrams. Flowcharts, lines, boxes and circles, some crossed out, some in black pen, then marked over in red. A new system for military organization, made up of teams, then platoons. Those composed individual companies that would be assigned to regiments, which themselves would fall under brigades, then to divisions. Auxiliaries could be attached and moved around as the situation required. Quick communication destroyed the utter reliance on self-governing armies and generals with far too gracious amounts of autonomy.
There would be no need to placate the leadership with expensive gifts and dreams of palaces. Disloyal generals could simply have the divisions and brigades under their command be transferred to other chains of command. It was a centralized system, with her at the top. Kassandora leaned back and made another note. Arascus talked about something called a machine gun, too heavy to be wielded standing, it had to be set to be used, but it could apparently put out firepower that dwarfed even the AAM1. The question was whether individual squads of infantry would support that, or whether that would support squads.
Her buzzing phone broke the planning. It was Iliyal. Kassandora answered. “What is it?” She asked.
“The Atny branch has confirmed Elassa has left the Pantheon with mage and Divine support. She’s bringing a full cohort.”
“So it’s started?”
“I’ve already given orders for the snipers to set up.” Iliyal said. “But yes, it’s started. Neneria will arrive in Nanbasa in thirty, Kavaa will take two hours more to arrive with her Clerics.”
“Do we have time?”
“It’s a tight fit but they’ll make it as long as there’s no jams on the motorways. Arascus is going too. And Olephia.”
“Understood.” Kassandora said. “I’ll get to the Parliament in thirty minutes then.”
“I’ve told Ilwin that today’s the day for Operation Sovereign. He’s been given the green light.”
“Good.” Kassandora replied. “Is that all?”
“That is.” Iliyal replied promptly. Kassandora shut the phone off and leaned back. She extended her arm and Joyeuse materialized into her grip. If only she better aim back in Olympiada, this trouble would have all been avoided. The Goddess of War smiled to herself as the blade disappeared. Honestly, she did think that the attack would have killed Elassa back then, Elassa had never been especially tough body-wise. Stronger than a mortal of course, but among the Divines? Well, she was downright delicate.
Kassandora re-organized her papers and shut them in a safe. She stood up put her earpiece in. There was chatter on it from snipers who were setting up. Kassandora let them talk among themselves. A quiet tune started to play in her head. It always did when she enjoyed herself.
Kassandora felt the fire in her eyes as she stood. She heard the drums in her head. They were roaring now, each one impacted like a hammer crushing steel plate underneath her. Mwai walked past her to the Parliament. He nodded to the Goddess and smiled. “Pleasant day, are you here for anything?”
“We’ve received news someone is coming.” Kassandora replied. Mwai raised an eyebrow.
“Should I do anything about it?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Kassandora said as another chorus started to blare in her mind. A war-horn of a trumpet, an army of a choir, a sword drawing was a violin. Kassandora kept that orchestra playing as she looked to the skies. She hated waiting usually. She had always considered herself a woman of action. Waiting was simply letting time pass by, as others acted, you stood still and stagnant, rotting in whatever situation you were currently in.
But sometimes, the wait was a tantalizing domino. Sometimes, the wait was the enjoyment all in itself. Never did a plan go fully to plan, there would always be hiccups to come across. A car always needed a driver because there was no such thing as a perfect road. But sometimes, the road was straight and damn smooth. Mwai looked up at her as blood wanted to flow into her cheeks, she kept the blush down. “How’s the situation with Army Implementation?”
“We’re looking for a location to build your command quarters.” Mwai said and Kassandora nodded.
“Good, go on then.” Kassandora replied. For once, she did not care how she looked. Elassa was coming, and Elassa was going to die today. A countless years, before even the invention of the calendar, Elassa had existed. A hundred years they fought against each other in the Great War. A thousand years after when Kassandora was imprisoned. The Goddess of Magic was one of the immortal pillars of this world. And today, a series of dominos had been crafted large enough to finally topple that pillar. Kassandora, Goddess of War, licked her lips as all the instruments of battle crescendoed into an orchestra in her mind.
Sometimes, the wait as tantalizing as a precious finger sliding up her thigh.
Kassandora looked up at that gorgeous blue sky. The Sun was starting to recline from its zenith. She licked her lips again as Arascus spoke into her earpiece. “I am here, with Iniri and Olephia.” Arascus said.
“Hello!” Iniri’s pleasant voice came over the headset.
“Olephia writes hello too.” Arascus said. “Eyes to the sky, from our reports, Elassa has crossed the northern border.”
“Understood.” Kassandora said. She heard walls topple in her mind, a castle fall, the population cry as they were cut down. She blinked the thoughts away. They were pleasant, but they were too pleasant if she wanted to command. “Iliyal, are you in position?”
“I am.” Iliyal replied.
Kassandora raised her voice. Arascus, Olephia and Neneria knew Iliyal from the War, but the other Divines? She doubted they had ever received orders from mortals. “Kavaa, Iniri and all other troops.” She made sure to pick the two Divines out by name. “Orders come from Iliyal, he is in charge of this operation until the end. Don’t argue with him. An order from him is as good as an order from me.”
“Understood.” Kavaa replied promptly in her cool voice.
“Got it.” Iniri said. Kassandora smiled to herself as she kept on waiting. She didn’t know what it was, but today, the wait was pure bliss.
Kassandora looked up at the specs of darkness in the sky. Tiny black specs that grew close. The percussion in her head tore down a fortress. The strings culled a country. The strings stormed across the world. The brass tore it apart. Elassa had arrived. Waltzed right in to take centre stage at Kassandora’s theatre.
Today, War was playing a tune with an orchestra behind her.
The music would not stop until heads rolled.