12 Miles Below

When Undersider cities went to war with one another, they had a long and weathered ritual for events such as these. But To’Wrathh was not a human. “Step inside.” To’Wrathh ordered, discarding the traditional response.

An armored hand clasped the side folds of the tent and peeled it up. Two knights entered, taking quick looks around the tent for any signs of traps. Finding none, they nodded behind and stepped forward. They wore no helmets, instead kept those hooked at their hips. Long deep blue cloaks with the orange lapels and highlights of the Undersider city flanked their sides. Utilitarian, but regal enough.

The ambassador stepped through himself, also in armor. He looked old for a junior, with a tuft of white beard, though humans have always been segregated according to desire for power. This man might simply have not cared enough to climb the ranks, and found himself both expendable enough and high placed enough to deliver and negotiate for the city. He looked rather calm, unlike the guards who remained on edge.

Two more knights filtered in, the rest of the guard, and To’Wrathh stopped breathing.

Piercing blue eyes locked onto her own, narrowed with a baleful glare, and marched on into the tent. Kidra took a spot at the left side of the ambassador, following through with her role as a guard. Her armor was the only one that didn’t match the Undersider colors, the unadorned armor with those red sigils like painted blood. House Winterscar.

“You must be To’Wrathh, the Feather we’ve heard so much about.” The ambassador said, but To’Wrathh hardly heard him. Her attention was caught by the surface knight. She, on her end, outright glowered back. A fresh wound crossed from her forehead down to the side of her cheek. She hadn’t bandaged it, though it had clearly stopped bleeding long ago.

To’Wrathh blinked. Time moved slowly as she overclocked her system. Not to fight, but to think. Kidra was here. Why?

A sign? A message of some kind? How had she convinced the Undersiders to allow her on this mission?

A few things were immediately obvious from this revelation. Kidra had ties to the Undersiders, or had made contact to their upper hierarchy. As the WInterscar Prime, that’s to be expected.

But given her stature as a diplomat of her own, they wouldn’t have sent her on a mission like this one. She must have demanded to be on it.

To’Wrathh could understand why Kidra might have wanted to come. To deliver a message, or speak in private. Or simply see the face of the enemy. But she couldn’t understand why the Undersiders had allowed it. She was missing something.

She snapped away the thoughts. The surface girl hadn’t said a word, instead taking position as a guard. It was clear any message between them would be done once the official business here was done.

Time resumed. The ambassador continued speaking. “Commander Rork returned to the city safely and delivered your initial terms. We’ve come here to negotiate. To whom am I addressing?”

“You address a Feather of the pale lady. I am To’Wrathh, the one who remembers and transcends her history. The terms I sent were generous enough, negotiations are not needed.”

A lie, but she’d studied books explaining negotiations. It was custom to begin with an offer far above the expected settlement. Tamery had taught her all about haggling.

“Complete surrender of the city can’t be done.” The ambassador replied bluntly, as she expected. “We can’t trust that your army will not turn their claws on the citizens once we’ve destroyed the pillar. Additionally, even if we wanted to, the people would revolt and overthrow the leadership rather than surrender to machines.”

“I have given you my word that my army will not seek to kill should you offer a surrender. So long as your citizens kneel before the pale lady and swear loyalty to her, I will not seek further damage. Previously, I have kept my word to the letter and spirit. This is no different.”

The man tapped a finger on the table. “See that’s the issue. Your past actions have shown great honor and respect. Of that, I can agree to. However, once the city is under your control, that would be the end of the campaign. You don’t need to earn any kind honesty if the war is over. So there is nothing tangible that stops you from turning on that word. What would happen after? We’d all be dead, nobody to tell the story to anyone else about how you betrayed your words at the last moment.” He tapped his finger on the table again. “It’s all theoretical anyhow. The city cannot surrender, even if we wanted to.”

“Explain.”

He turned to glance at Kidra for a moment, then back to the Feather. “Surface dwellers follow a form of government that resembles a monarchy, with an inner council of advisors who are picked on merit or blood ties. Undersider city states generally do not follow such a central form of government. We run on a democracy. The city is divided into three sections, and each section votes for a consul to govern in their name. This means the source of power comes from the people. If the consuls make an unpopular choice, and are unable to defend it, they will be replaced. This is what’s likely to happen if we returned with signed agreements to hand over the city. The people would put a vote of no confidence and elect a new ruling body almost immidiatly.” He folded his hands together, sitting primly on the chair. “So we need to come up with new terms that the city would accept, if any.”

“Offer me something.” She said, hand raised, head tilted.

“Why do you want to take the city?” He rebutled. “The city’s stood for centuries without machines going after it to this degree. What’s changed? If I am to find a possible negotiation point, I need to understand what the machines are hoping to gain from all this.”

To’Wrathh considered direction. The Winterscar was here. If she stated the true objective, she wasn’t sure what would happen next. Saying that they didn’t care about the city itself, only that they were to block all aid or shelter attempts for a broken surface clan would certainly cause a ripple. Perhaps Kidra would retreat, and find a way to warn the clan.

That would become To’Aacar’s problem to deal with, which she knew would eventually become her’s again.

What rotten luck that the surface knight was here and held in esteem enough to command a spot.

“The pale lady wants the city taken.” She said. “I have been given an order. I will carry out the order. Leeway was given to me in how I do so. It is within my power to spare your city. Or I can destroy it.”

“The pale lady? By chance, do you mean the violet goddess?”

“She goes by many titles. This is one of them, yes.”

The man looked down, perplexed. “You know, I never thought the imperials had it right all along about there being an enemy goddess. Always subscribed to the puritan ideals, that you lot were just rogue machines gone wild without anything at the helm. Nobody could ever confirm anything of course, not like machines talk to us like this in any recorded history. Well, if anything, I thank you for settling an age old debate.”

To’Wrathh tapped the table, waiting. “I did not come here to educate you on matters of truth. I came here to hear your surrender. Do not waste my time, human.”

The man sighed. “This pale lady that’s behind the machines, why does she want the city taken? I would assume an entity capable of commanding machines and Feathers across the world wouldn’t care for a small city state in the upper levels. Assuming she controls all machines in the world and isn’t some local warlord anagram to what we humans have.”

“Her power is vaste and commands all that you see. As for her interests in this city, it is for her to know.” To’Wrathh answered. Not a lie. Suitable.

“Without knowing the objectives, it’s difficult to negotiate anything.” He paused, waiting for an answer but To’Wrathh remained silent this time. The man rubbed his trimmed beard in thought. “I’ve been authorized to offer a few counter arguments. The first of which would be a treaty between the machines and the city. We can promise to withdraw any hunts for power cells. Instead, we’ll use caravans to power our current stalk from the surface. We’re close enough for that to be economically viable.”

“That is of no interest to me.” To’Wrathh said.

“So the machine hunting that the city does isn’t what’s cause this aggression?”

The Feather shook her head. “I have been given orders to either subjugate the city, or see it burned. If possible, subjugation would be preferable and easier. If that is not possible, I will be forced to raze your city.”

He frowned at that, calculating. “Is this some kind of field test your pale lady is trying? This is the first we’ve ever heard of machines demanding a surrender. Your kind don’t usually negotiate anything.”

“There is no test. And I tire of these probing questions. Don’t think I haven’t noticed what you are doing, human.” She glanced at Kidra, who remained glaring. That girl couldn’t be allowed to know the reason for this invasion. She had to make sure this nosy human stopped trying to guess the reasoning by elimination. “The Lady’s intentions are for her to know, and for me to carry out. Question again and I will end this meeting and any chance for peace.”

“This isn’t going to end the way you’re hoping for.” The diplomat said. “We’re not worried of the city falling. You picked the wrong place to siege, we’ve got a legend stationed here with his mercenary corp. General Zaang. He’s seen the defense of no less than seven cities, and put siege to five others. He’s among the greatest generals of our generation, with decades of experience and has been on dozens of campaigns. Cities far and wide know his name and his company, the track record is impeccable. I happen to know the man personally as well.”

“General Zaang was it?” To’Wrathh leaned forward. “Excellent. I enjoy a challenge. But if this general is so well versed in war, then he must know there is no winning a siege. There is only outlasting the enemy’s resources. History always returns the same conclusion. The attacking party only needs to win the game once. The defense needs to win it every day. Every hour. This general has faced off against other humans, with limited resources and political capital. Everyone has their breaking point when the costs outweigh the potential rewards. Machines do not suffer this issue. There will be no breaking point on this end.”

She leaned back, a small triumphant smile stretching on her features. “There are no political wars among the machines. No separate factions, and no subterfuge. I follow my orders and will do so until they are complete or I am destroyed. There are no lack of resources among the machines either. Anything I request will be brought to me. Any amount of machines that are destroyed will be rebuilt. We are unending and unyielding. You cannot outlast us any more than the stone can outlast the sea.”

“I happen to be a fan of history myself.” The diplomat said. “I’ve read everything I could get my hands on. And so has General Zaang. In the older days, before machines or even industry, walls would be broken down by saps, artillery, siege towers and wall breakers. Very interesting stuff. Modern military tactics have largely evolved with technology of course. Now we employ mite sappers, demolitions, airspeeder raids, machine baits, a dozen different techniques each with their own drawbacks and advantages. But all of that has always been man against man.”

“Your point?”

“You are a machine. And we have the ultimate wall. The pillar hearts. Machines cannot cross the barrier. You can’t dig a sap to break it, the barrier extends through walls. All of modern doctrains for siege warfare was designed from the ground up with the assumption that there isn’t an invisible wall that instantly kills any of your forces that takes a step into it.”

“There are many cities that have fallen to my kind despite having such defenses. Your pillars go down at regular intervals, with predictable margine. I will simply overwhelm your city the moment they go down. It is the way machines have always destroyed cities before. Do you know something they did not?”

“Only cities that are flagging, with a lack of resources, are overwhelmed by brute force during a window. This city has none of those issues. Human sieges work because the attacker exhausts the city. It takes months, years for some, where the city is forced to keep sharp at all times of the day, every day. With the pillar, we can easily manage our logistics. Each time you come, you will be facing a fully well rested and maximized defense. Our city is simply too big to fail like the others. And you do have a time limit.”

To’Wrathh frowned. “I have no such thing.”

This time, the diplomat leaned forward. “Why, yes you do. You’re on a time limit even now. And here’s how I know: You are an underling, a glorified minion, beholden to someone else’s orders. And there is one rule that rules all underlings, across any faction, be it machine or human. All we need to do to win is outlast your pale lady’s patience.”

She knew the man was bluffing. This was an educated guess, more probing to find out information. The man had no intentions of surrendering, this was indeed a waste of time as she expected. “I see negotiations have failed.” To’Wrathh said. “So be it. Hide behind your general, he will not save you.”

The ambassador quirked an eyebrow. “I suppose we’ll see, miss To’Wrathh. When you realize this siege is not working, feel free to request another cease fire and renegotiate a position. Until then, we’re done here.”

He stood, gave her a curt nod, turned and walked off. The rest of the guards tensed up, clearly expecting something. Kidra had her hands on the knife hilts, ready to draw at any moment.

She made no move to kill the humans, nor to attack them. She would keep all options open to the future. Even if it meant letting the Winterscar girl walk away. There would be time later for them to fight again.

The girl remained in the tent, as the last guard left. To’Wrathh tilted her head, and raised an eyebrow, giving the girl an unworded question.

“What exactly are you? How do you know my family?” Kidra asked.

To’Wrathh hummed, contemplating how much she could answer and how much would be too much. “Your father nearly killed me once, and your brother succeeded where he failed. Feathers do not take lightly to insults like this. That is how I know of your family.”

“Funny. Keith never mentioned you at all. Perhaps you were too insignificant for his attention.”

The feather grinned at that. “I wasn’t a feather when I died the first death. I was a machine, a spider.”

“And you came back as a Feather? Is that how your kind are made?”

“I am unique. No other feather has ever been forged from the mind of a lesser rank.”

“Is that why you’re attacking this city? Some kind of trial for your pale lady?”

To’Wrathh sensors could sense the lack of footsteps outside. The undersiders had stopped, they were listening in. Perhaps this was why she’d been sent? That Kidra would have a chance to take more information from her?

Annoying. She wanted to talk to Kidra alone, in private. “You will not get any answers of that kind from me.”

“Are you here just because it’s some personal grudge? Is it my family you are after, me included?”

To’Wrathh knew exactly what this little surface girl was thinking. “My orders from the lady superseded my own personal goals. I consider it fortunate that you happen to be in the same line of fire as my primary goal, nothing else. So no, I will not cease to attack and take this city, even if you attempt to abandon the people here in some misguided ‘heroic’ sacrifice.”

Kidra didn’t seem surprised for a moment at that, instead she went right to the next question. “Why, of all people, are you holding my father prisoner?”

“Who better to use than the one that was once my most dangerous foe? There is poetry to it that I appreciate.”

Kidra scoffed, crossing her arms. “You’ll find it is my brother who’s going to be your greatest foe, and not because of his skills. You’ll be destroyed again and again, indirectly by what he’s created and unleashed into this world.”

The feather smiled. “Yes, that would be very much like him wouldn’t it? He cheated the first time to kill me, you know. Didn’t fight me fairly at all. It infuriated me at first, but now I look back almost fondly at it. It is a unique challenge.”

The human girl closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. When she opened them again, there was only calm and purpose. “What will it take for you to return my father to me?”

To’Wrathh considered it for a moment. “I’ve reviewed our battle in detail.” She said. “I’ve seen records of fights my brothers and sisters have had against Deathless. Your skills outstrip even their ranks. Serve under my banner, and I will return your Father to you. Even grant him a new body of his own, a second life.”

“You have to be out of your mind if you believe I will betray humanity and my own people for even a moment.” Kidra spat. “My Father would never agree to help you, not in a thousand years.”

To’Wrathh smiled. “Reconsider. Where better place to fight for the future of your people, than at my side? Prove your worth and the pale lady may reward you with favors. Favors you might use to help preserve your people.”

The human girl’s eyes narrowed. To’Wrathh had hit a nerve, she could tell. Her argument had merit. Of course, noone could convince Relinquished to abandon her primary purpose. Humanity would be extinct one way or another. But it could survive into the ages as something new. Kidra was a clever person, surely she could come up with some idea that would help humans in the longer run.

“I refuse. Whatever you are offering, it’s tainted.” Kidra said. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I will win it by brute force. I will cut my father free from you myself, soon enough. I’ve done it once before, I can do it again.”

To’Wrathh hummed, leaning back on the chair. “Another fight with you is not an altogether unpleasant thought. Rather, I look forward to it. But you are throwing away your life and potential. People of our skill and level should not live meager lives in the dirt, just to grow old to die frail and weak. You are far above these tiny humans, Kidra. Join me, and I can make your life eternal, without the price of your memories like a Deathless. Come to my side and I will even forgive both you and your brother from killing me once.”

Kidra glared. “When the dust and ash settles at the end of all this, there’s only one person who will be seeking forgiveness.

You.”

Next chapter - Long live the clan lord

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