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Authors: Kasey Mackenzie
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to his position as Warhound patron deity, even the distant cousins who had actually sprung from Epona’s Celtic line. I’d thus far managed to conceal how far I was in the immortal doghouse (ha) from them because, hey, it hadn’t come up. But it damned well
would
if I accepted this Mandate to drag Anubis before the Triad currently out for his figurative blood.
Assuming I survived.
And you talk like you have a choice here, Marissa, like you physically
could
turn down a gods-given Mandate. Even one they’re nice enough to discuss with you ahead of time.
Then I remembered that Nan was somehow a puppet in this whole mess, and I steeled my spine again.
As if you
would
refuse if you could.
Because, when it came right down to it, I had enlisted to serve as the arcane version of a soldier, not been forced into it. One thing to be said for the immortals: They were completely honest and up front about what could be asked of you as a Fury
before
you pledged those unbreakable vows. Until that point, you could always choose to go back to being 100 percent mortal again. But I hadn’t made that choice, and I wouldn’t change my mind if I could. Because, as they were now proving by recruiting us to serve as Nemeses, they heldeach other to just as high standards as they did their arcane children.
Again, Kamanu nodded. “We are well aware how dangerous the Mandate we would place upon you shall be; thus, why we propose to make you Nemeses. You shall be true demigoddesses until you fulfill the Mandate, and have the special powers that coincide with that title.”
Wait, we would continue as full demigoddesses while fulfilling this suicidal mission of a Mandate? And get special powers with the gig? Suddenly, it didn’t sound
quite
so suicidal. True demigoddesses shared one particular attribute with full gods and goddesses: namely, they couldn’t be killed.
Of course, that didn’t mean Anubis couldn’t capture and torture our asses, but hey, small favors and all that.
Mom took another deep breath. “If we do agree to this Mandate, agree to serve as your Nemeses, we’ll be going up against sister Furies of our own class, not to mention possibly against my mother, Marissa’s grandmother. Neither of us will kill her should that be asked of us.”
Epona cut in. “It will not be asked, not of you, hopefully not of anyone. We believe she is being somehow manipulated by Anubis; thus, she has not committed any crime that cannot be laid directly at
his
feet.”
Mom relaxed slightly. So did I although I hadn’t realized until then that I’d become just as tense as she. Epona had basically pardoned Nan for any crimes she might have committed—or would commit—while acting as a pawn of Anubis. Now, we just had to prove she
was
one of his pawns and not a willing participant.
Ala’s expression grew slightly more sympathetic at the mention of going up against sister Furies, including Nan. “Even those who pledged to serve Anubis willinglymay find forgiveness if he coerced or threatened them into serving him. Mere arcanes cannot be expected to stand up to the full force of an immortal’s commands.”
“That is exceedingly merciful of Your Graces, and I don’t mean to cast doubt on the wisdom of Your choice, but …how exactly can two demigoddesses prove Anubis’s guilt against the combined might of his arcane and immortal subjects? While stealth and strategy can make up for superior numbers, in this particular situation …”
The Megaera spoke for the first time in several minutes. “It will not be you two alone, Allegra. Several of my sisters will pledge to serve you as you fulfill your Mandate, up to and including giving their lives so that you might succeed.”
I had the sneaking suspicion that my least favorite of her sisters would count among that number, but it was a generous offer, one we couldn’t afford to refuse.
Kamanu bestowed an approving smile upon the
would
if I accepted this Mandate to drag Anubis before the Triad currently out for his figurative blood.
Assuming I survived.
And you talk like you have a choice here, Marissa, like you physically
could
turn down a gods-given Mandate. Even one they’re nice enough to discuss with you ahead of time.
Then I remembered that Nan was somehow a puppet in this whole mess, and I steeled my spine again.
As if you
would
refuse if you could.
Because, when it came right down to it, I had enlisted to serve as the arcane version of a soldier, not been forced into it. One thing to be said for the immortals: They were completely honest and up front about what could be asked of you as a Fury
before
you pledged those unbreakable vows. Until that point, you could always choose to go back to being 100 percent mortal again. But I hadn’t made that choice, and I wouldn’t change my mind if I could. Because, as they were now proving by recruiting us to serve as Nemeses, they heldeach other to just as high standards as they did their arcane children.
Again, Kamanu nodded. “We are well aware how dangerous the Mandate we would place upon you shall be; thus, why we propose to make you Nemeses. You shall be true demigoddesses until you fulfill the Mandate, and have the special powers that coincide with that title.”
Wait, we would continue as full demigoddesses while fulfilling this suicidal mission of a Mandate? And get special powers with the gig? Suddenly, it didn’t sound
quite
so suicidal. True demigoddesses shared one particular attribute with full gods and goddesses: namely, they couldn’t be killed.
Of course, that didn’t mean Anubis couldn’t capture and torture our asses, but hey, small favors and all that.
Mom took another deep breath. “If we do agree to this Mandate, agree to serve as your Nemeses, we’ll be going up against sister Furies of our own class, not to mention possibly against my mother, Marissa’s grandmother. Neither of us will kill her should that be asked of us.”
Epona cut in. “It will not be asked, not of you, hopefully not of anyone. We believe she is being somehow manipulated by Anubis; thus, she has not committed any crime that cannot be laid directly at
his
feet.”
Mom relaxed slightly. So did I although I hadn’t realized until then that I’d become just as tense as she. Epona had basically pardoned Nan for any crimes she might have committed—or would commit—while acting as a pawn of Anubis. Now, we just had to prove she
was
one of his pawns and not a willing participant.
Ala’s expression grew slightly more sympathetic at the mention of going up against sister Furies, including Nan. “Even those who pledged to serve Anubis willinglymay find forgiveness if he coerced or threatened them into serving him. Mere arcanes cannot be expected to stand up to the full force of an immortal’s commands.”
“That is exceedingly merciful of Your Graces, and I don’t mean to cast doubt on the wisdom of Your choice, but …how exactly can two demigoddesses prove Anubis’s guilt against the combined might of his arcane and immortal subjects? While stealth and strategy can make up for superior numbers, in this particular situation …”
The Megaera spoke for the first time in several minutes. “It will not be you two alone, Allegra. Several of my sisters will pledge to serve you as you fulfill your Mandate, up to and including giving their lives so that you might succeed.”
I had the sneaking suspicion that my least favorite of her sisters would count among that number, but it was a generous offer, one we couldn’t afford to refuse.
Kamanu bestowed an approving smile upon the
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