Inferno Ascended

Mors didn't stay to explain further. 

Should Glax blame the gods or just his stupidity for not noticing this sooner?

The valosian was uncomfortable with Chriseis Fist, so he just glanced over, and closed the box back then. He didn't pay as much attention as before. Glax didn't want to think she was attached to that object, that it had been ripped from her dead body.

Ugh.

And then he spent all that time chasing that asshole, and all he had was a piece of useless prosthesis.

But… where was the orb? Where was his wifey's fucking orb?

As he drove the tricycle back to where he had left his friends and the remaining prisoner, Glax had only himself to blame. At least he had rid Stygia of a bizarre guy like Mech Eye. He was pretty sure the same person who gave Doros the mechanical eye also told him to go after Chriseis. 

This person was beyond Leto.

And another thing that occurred to him now. Chriseis Fist was corrupted, he remembered that. And every implanted part he had seen so far was able to revive an implanted one and place it at the service of the 'Machine'. 

But that hadn't happened to Chriseis. Or had it?

Was she walking around?

With no logical answers to his thoughts, he reached out to his friends. 

"Where is the prisoner? I want to ask you some questions." It was the first thing he said as he got out of the vehicle.

"Where's Chriseis' Fist?" Ras asked hastily, not answering him. His friend looked a little better, at least his face was returning to normal color.

"Bottom line, if that was the real artifact, something strange happened. I found Mors, and he assured me that there was no soul in that object." Glax folded his arms, embarrassed. 

Alexandre explained, "That suits our suspicions, master. The prisoner told us before he died… spontaneously." Alekos scratched his head, lying blatantly. "Well, when he woke up he told us that when they found Chriseis' Fist, the prosthesis wasn't in her corpse."

"Hmmm. You who know your uncle Nikandros best, do you think he made a copy of the prosthesis?"

"Well, if he had the plan to hide her… I don't doubt it. My uncle is a strange man. I avoided him whenever I could. But he's an outstanding Warlord."

"Sorry, but your uncle is batshit crazy," Glax spoke. "He tortured the horologist and ripped his legs with no other reason than having the power to do so, and…" Glax remembered Alekos didn't know about this story and shrugged. "Let's get out of here. I don't want to spend another minute in this place if I can help it."

Glax knew he would eventually return to Erimos. But he was in no hurry for that.

Alekos and Rasmus were thrilled to ride the tricycle, and getting back was not half as difficult. As they moved fast, they could move before cacodemons appeared. Also, they were going back the way they came, and they remembered most of the places where they sprouted.

When they could see Rusa on the foggy horizon, they heard sounds of combat.

"HM! If there is combat, there are humans!" Glax went out of the way to find combat. They might need help!

To his surprise, he found Captain Tarsos, Uniq, Zotikos, and two Furies fighting cacodemons. They were doing very well and the help of the newcomers only accelerated the outcome favorably for the living.

"What are you doing here?!" Glax asked as the apparitions dispersed.

"No clue?" Tarsus laughed, wiping his face. "Lord Alexandre ran away from us on the ship. How could we go on and get to Echelion without him?"

Uniq grinned at the sight of them, bending down at the same time to tie her sandal laces, and as she lifted her face, she pushed her red mane away from her face. 

'She is a warrior… and a model.' Glax saw all the men react as he did. The Valosian tried not to blink or let the jaw open at her beauty and provocative pose. He could hardly believe such thoughts were passing through his mind at such a time, but he forgot what he was going to say to Tarsus. 

"So this is what you guys do up north?! It's more fun than the south! Although I have to admit, I'm shivering!" She rubbed her arms. Uniq wasn't wearing the minimal clothing she wore in the south, but the armor Chriseis had given her, and the same pieces of clothing the army provided.

"Oh, I understand you, pal!" Lord Tarsos nodded vigorously. He still hadn't acclimated himself. "Uniq volunteered, as did Lord Zotikos, who thought he might be helpful," he said, introducing the other companions as well. 

Alexandre was quiet, knowing that they had come to Erimos only because he had caused it.

Coming forward and putting his fist to his chest, Alekos apologized to the group. "I apologize for the inconvenience I caused. I found it necessary to come. But my attitude wasn't the best. The Archigeos will punish me when he finds out."

"The Archigeos is in Klasidos and received the message of your disappearance quickly. He sent this message to you," said one of the Furies, reaching for a small parchment, which he handed to Alexandre. 

Upon reading what was written, the boy's face transfigured. Turning to Glax, he asked. "Master, my father wants to see me. Or rather, see us."

The Valosian was sure that the message contained a promise of HOMERIC punishment.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Back in Rusa, they had a long conversation with the military council to explain Briaxis's death and why they never arrived to go to Rhenum. He told about the confrontation with Doros. 

Seleukos and the other veterans were shocked to learn that Doros was still alive until the confrontation and had been the person to violate Chriseis' tomb. And very relieved to know he was no longer a problem.

Unfortunately, under Echelian law, the tricycle was seized. Glax had wisely removed the power source as soon as they arrived.

Zotikos had healed Rasmus, who was profusely grateful. He wanted to know if they could leave out of the report that he had been hit by a bullet. 

Glax knew the big guy didn't want his wife to know.

Commander Seleukos advised Glax and his pupil to follow the Archigeos' order and leave the next morning, with Tarsus and the Furies, who had come for Alexandre.

So the group happily made the trip to Marbium, which was closer to the port. 

Glax found that not all Fury was assholes like Proctius. The men who came were good-natured. They even regretted it had been so easy to find Lord Alexandre and his Master, and that the experience at Erimos had been so easy and unchallenged.

The Marbium Fort celebrated the trio's return with extra food and beer for dinner.

Glax and Rasmus told Parin about Doros' death. The girl wasn't totally pleased, muttering with a snort that 'it was too little of a punishment.'

She hoped the Furies in Old Hades could keep punishing him.

"Parin. I have been thinking. Doros didn't have the real Fist of Chriseis. But from my memory, it was possibly a perfect replica. Do you know anything about this?" Glax asked.

Parin thought for a moment.

"My master had made some replicas very close to the original, for study… But even on the day Doros was there he saw them and didn't care. He knew about them and was interested only in the original thing. I don't remember if he caught…"

"No. He wouldn't die for a fake item, or at least I don't want to believe he was that stupid." Glax recalled the defining moment in his life. "Besides, he left Master Arsaces' house empty-handed. But that's not to say Nikandros didn't send for the copies when he realized they were actually trying to steal the artifact…" Glax thought Nikandros was hoping his daughter would rise from the dead. How he probably got up too every time his mortal body failed him. The divine machine in him imbued him with immortal strength.

Glax thought he was now understanding the Great General's mind better.

"Maybe he wanted to question the Emperor why Chriseis was taking so long to get up," he spoke his thoughts aloud, and his friends glared at him. "I also wonder if just the Archigeos' brotherly love for his older brother makes him pretend not to see that Nikandros is a crazy son of a bitch."

No one had an answer for that at the moment, but Glax knew he might soon have the opportunity to talk about Nikandros with the Archigeos.

He said goodbye to everyone, knowing he would return soon. He had things outstanding in Marbium. 

His promise to Lady Aiops figured at the top. The divine Hesperides that provided ichor were essential items in his project for an incorruptible mecha.

Thersos and his complicated family life. Glax had promised to be his patron and was actually helping out financially. Thersos was officially kicked out of his home and without a wife. The armorer's knowledge would be useful to Glax soon. 

Parin and her brother would also be here for the time being, and Glax also knew how much the horology apprentice could help him.

And his friends and fellow soldiers, Pydna, Tychos, Zotikos, Kal, were also stationed in Marbium.

To his surprise, Uniq volunteered to accompany them, and no one objected. 

Glax couldn't help noticing a pattern there, but he chose not to question it. He had enough problems already.

The next morning, the group was arriving at the port of Marbium to embark when they spotted a flotilla with white and red sails entering the River Ileum. One of the biremes stood out from the others by having the colors inverted.

"What does that mean?" he asked apprehensively.

"Oh. It's my dad.. I think I'm really in trouble," Alexandre said as the color drained from his face.