The Seven Pillars, Part 3: The powers that be

[Coyote]

The doors to the royal hall burst open and stepped through Coyote along with a half dozen of the Royal Guard, all held at bay by floating swords, axes and arrows that hovered close their their throats, wavering every so slightly to remind them of the deadly predicament. Heads arched back and necks bared, the Guards held their hands up in surrender, unsure of what to do next or how the Ambassador was holding them all hostage at once.

At the other end of the hall, the King of Soarinnae stood up from his throne surrounded by court officials, Lords and Princes of the Realm. His face was a twisted mask of outrage and insult, his velvet gloved finger pointing at Coyote with as much assurance and power as if it was a sword or axe he leveled at him.
"Kill him! Kill the Corrinian assassin!"

Men drew swords and stepped down from the Kings dais, prepared to defend their King with their lives. Coyote didn't want that. If his hopes were correct, then he'd need as many witnesses as possible.
Then again, if he wasn't, it would make an awful mess in the throne room to kill them all.

"No need for that, Your Majesty!" Coyote said with little concern and some levity. "I only wanted to speak with you directly. I've had such a troubling time of it, I've simply lost all manner of decorum or propriety on the manner!"

With a twist of his fingers, he latched onto the armor of his hostages with thin strands of Chakra, magnetizing the armor of those around him. He jerked them in front of him like puppets and put them between himself and the approaching men, who backed off faced with their country men as human shields. One of the Lords who Coyote recognized from before in the Hall spat on the ground in disgust. "You coward! You hide behind defenseless men! Face us like a man!"

"I'd rather not, thanks."
Coyote slowly stepped closer, inch by inch towards the throne, backing the Lords towards the King who again bellowed at the top of his voice, "Kill the intruder! He means to slaughter me!"

"You misunderstand my intention, Noble King." Coyote apologized. "I only wish to stand a little bit closer to you, that is all."

"Don't let him near me!"

"Tell me Lords, how long has the King been planning this war? Since before Corrinae was attacked? You already know from my words and the words of your own Wayfarers that it was Indonditite that killed the King and laid low the Queen of Corinnae. How could your own Master know of the machinations of a Godess?"

"You fools, he's here to kill us all, an assassin sent as a desperate ploy! Kill him!"

"Has your King acted strange tese past days? When was the last time he attended to church or saw his family? When was the last time he took to bed with his wife or played with his children!?"

"How dare you, you monster!"

Coyote edged closer, the Nobles edged back, between them a wall of steel and flesh held as a shield.

"Could it be your King does not want to see them? Have they been shut away? Did he say it was for their safety that he did so?"

"He lies!"

"Did the King send an Ambassador before all of this, to arrive just a few days after Corinnae's King passed?"


"He twists everything! He is a deceiver!"

More and more Coyote crept closer and the Lord backed up. By now they were all huddled around the King and his throne who had been driven back into his seat, nearly frothing at the mouth in rage.

Without warning Coyote nearly buckled, a sharp shooting pain rushing up his leg, Havok's wound screaming in distress. He lunged forward, pushing his hostages into the arm's of the Lords and nobles, toppling them over in a collapse of steel and expensive robes. Coyote jumped forward, paling the Harrier's coin in his hand, reaching out towards the King.

[Coyote]

Coyote felt the pressure as something physical and spiritual at the same time, like the coin and King were on the same side of a magnet. They resisted being brought together, but Coyote's momentum, lunging past the fallen and tangled Noblemen and towards the King of Soarinnae. For his part, the Monarch lurched backward, but found his escape to be blocked, falling back and into his throne. Despite the resistance, Coyote pushed the coin at the King's face and drove it as hard as he could towards the center of his skull, right between the eyes. With only a few inched left before contact, the resistance more than tripled and Coyote halted mid step, leaning against the coin with all his weight, but not budging it in the slightest.

"You are a fool to have tried something so desperate as this, Coarinnian assassin!" The King said, his face twisted in a snear.
"Not desperate, pretender." Coyote said. "Necessary."

"It will prove to be your undoing." The King's voice lowered to a whisper that only the two could hear, Coyote just barely. "You could have been the greatest among us! Mayhem was a conniving little monster, but with you, he had an edge over all of us! Couldn't you have been satisfied with doing the will of our Goddess?"

"I don't serve any God against my own will. Hell, I don;t serve any God at all."

"Then why run errands like a good little boy for Cannocus? Your fulfilling his will, aren't you?"

"No, not at all. You mistake my intentions. I couldn't care less about this little divine squabble your Mistress has gotten herself involved with. As far as I'm concerned, Cannocus can go to hell with he. I'm here becasue a lot of people, mortals, are going to get killed in the process of this spitting match and I aim to put an end to it once and for all."

The King threw his head back and laughed out loud, drawing the strange looks from his inner circle away from the coin floating between him and Coyote. "You think so? Your arrogance is astounding! What could you possibly do to stop Gods from warring?!"

"If they don't play nice," Coyote shrugged, "I guess I'll just have to kill them both."

At first the King was going to laugh again. Seeing the look on Coyote's face and the tone in his voice made him pause. "You...you actually believe that, don't you? You think you can do it?!"

Coyote smiled wickedly. "If anyone can it would be me. I've survived the worst this world and it's Gods could throw at me. Maybe seeing things from Mayhem's view changed me a little. Maybe I'm sick of your Gods playing games with people's lives. Maybe it's time they paid for their carelessness and abandon with the lives of their worshipers. Ya, I think they need to be set into place once and for all. I'll start with your Lady Inconditite and if Cannanocus doesn't shape up, he's next."

"You are mad!" The King declared.
"No. Just fed up."
Coyote pushed the coin towards the King and it budged slightly. The King forced it back with pure concentration, resuming their stalemate. "You cannot kill me. I am too deeply entrenched within this soul. Only true faith could drive me out and as you have shown, you have none."

"Your wrong!" Coyote shouted, driving back and forcing the coin closer. "I do have faith! In people, in myself, in my family! Damn the Gods and damn you, Spirit! I name you Bloodthirsty! I name you Warmonger! I name you Red War! I spent enough time with Mayhem to know a thing or two on how you Spirits think and react to being named! He was king enough to have left behind a few tidbits of info on you when he vacated the premises. I know your Name, Unclean Spirit! I name you Avarice!"

With a sudden buckling the coin rushed forward and drove into the King's head, right between the eyes! The King roared in anger and pain as flashes of white and red light streamed out from the wound. The chamber shook and the chandeliers rattled and fell to the ground, shattering in crystal and glass.

Soon it was ovr and the King was slumped in his throne, breathing shallowly. Standing over him was Coyote, holding the burnt out remains of a tiny coin in his hand. He clenched it tightly and let the ashes fall from his hand.

"No more games." He said to no one in particular.
"No more sacrifices. No more fooling around. Inconditite dies. She'll be the first."

[Coyote]

The King of Soarinnae lay crumpled in his throne, slumped back, crown tipped on his head, his eyes rolled back and breathing raspy breaths through a mouth of chattering teeth. In Coyote's hands was the burned husk of the Wayfarer's Coin, infused with Cannocuss' divine will, enough power to drive the Unclean spirit from the soul of the King. Immediately Coyote was set upon and tackled to the ground. He didn't fight back even as the guards and Lords began to pummel him with kicks and punches, driving him to the marble and smashing his face against the tiles. He fully expected them to run him through at any moment, but amidst the yelling and screams for his blood, one voice hissed in protest. It took some time for the feeble noise to garner enough attention, but soon the blows stopped coming and Coyote was left bloodied on the floor, a circle of shocked attendants around him. Looking up, Coyote saw eye to eye with King Pelelease, his gaze weak and his eyes shaking in his skulls. The man looked as if he had aged decades in the moment it took Coyote to be dropped to the ground.

Coyote realized the King was commanding him to rise in his breathless voice. He did so, kneeling first before the weak old man.

"You..." with great effort the King spoke. "You have done a great thing for me this day. For so long I was a prisoner within my own body. Years ago I made a deal with a powerful creature who promised me untold power and victory in war. He offered me a kingdom which would never fall in battle. I offered my self and throne to this spirit and it took both from me. If only I had known it had been sent by the Goddess Inconditite, I never would have agreed. This was my greatest error, made in my brash youth. Years I wasted away within this shell, seeing but not controlling what happened around me. More and more the demon took it's own ideas rather than following my example till it had no use for me. It's claim on my body become more powerful than my own. Without Avarice now, this body does not know it's own soul. Without the hatred, this heart cannot beat. I will leave this life soon. Now, though, I am still King, even as I die."

He hacked and coughed, staining his royal robes with blood. One of the Lords rushed up and wiped the red spittle from his lips. The King turned to him and all gathered. "Listen to me!" He gasped with as much conviction a dying man could muster.
"Let there be no war on Corinnae! Let there be peace for untold ages! Make whatever concession, make whatever compromise! There will be no war!"
The King Pelelease looked down at Coyote still bowing before him. "Let this young man's deed go unpunished! Nay, let he be rewarded! Riches, fame, all! Even my crown is his if he is but too demand it! He has done for us what we could not! Done what I could not! He had freed your King from untold torment! Honor him as such!"

Several gasps and rattles emitted from the King and loyal subjects drew near to hear his fading voice. Even Coyote stood to stand in the presence of the passing monarch.

"Tell it all through the land! Let there be peace for this is so little time for it left! In Havok I saw what was to come! Fire! Death! War! Destruction un-fortold! Let every man and woman live their life free and happy for they will soon lose both life and happiness!"
Another gasp and the King began to fade.
"Let my words be followed. So says your King, Pelelease the Eighteenth, last of his line. I go now to be with our Lord Cannocus. May he judge me fairly despite my weakness."

His eyes clouded over a moment later and King Pelelease faded from this world into Cannocuss' arms. The effect was immediate. Grown men wailed and clutched at the stiff hand of their King and kissed his feet. Coyote stepped forward and gently lowered the man's eyelids.
"Go with your Fathers, Great King. You died as any man should; just that. As your own man."

------------------------------

The days passed swiftly. Throughout Corinnae and Soarinnae the promise of peace spread to every corner of the twin kingdoms. The shadow of Inconditite faded from the world and was replaced by a new feeling and surge of hope within the heart of both peoples. The Council of Lords decalred that, as the last command of their King, was with Soarinnae was placed out of the question. Batallions stood down and the state of war was averted. Corinnae did likewise and it was with great fanfare that new relations were opened by the two neighbors which would lead to a new and lasting peace.

Coyote waited.

With the sudden vanishing act of Inconditite, Cannocus' faithful expected a great sign of their Gods exalted victory. They were sadly left wanting as no sign appeared to show their God's favor. In fact, a streng thign began to happen. Wayfarerer's all over Corinnae and Soarinnae began to awaken with a new word on their lips, Risseous. The Wayfarers began preaching that in total victory over Indoncitite, Cannacus destroyed her once and for all, elevating and assending to a new and higher form of divinity, a God of Balance that would lead a new age of light and understanding, a banner for both Corinnae and Soarinnae to gather under.

Coyote had his doubts.
Still, he waited.

Returning to Corinnae, Coyote recived the first good news he had heard in a long time. The Queen had recovered from her possession, awaken from her coma at the exact moment Coyote freed King Pelelease from Avarice. Still weak and unable to rule, she was expected to make a full recovery and was rumored to be in retreat with her son. The Reagent continued to rule in her stead, but the old man looked forward to returning to his retirement.

Coyote waited.

Honors were heaped upon him, hailed as the Hero of Coarinnae and Soarinnae. King Pelelease's words were heeded and the Council of Lords bowed to Coyote in subservience if he would take the crown.
He polity refused to their shock.

Coyote had had enough of being a pawn of the Gods. That's why he was waiting.

Eventually he was rewarded, just as he expected. A few months after returning to Corinnae, he was walking through the beautiful gardens of the palace when a flash of light came from behind an ancient oak. Stepping from around it, surrounded by an ephemeral glow, was a creature shaped of metal and gold, featureless and genderless but possessing a beauty that would awe anyone.

Coyote was not impressed.
"It's about damn time you showed your face." He shrugged. "So to speak."

The wise would be in terror of standing before this new God, flushed with it's divine ascension and replete with unlimited power. The wise would show deference and humility before this one."

Coyote sneered but with good humor, showing teeth to the supreme being before him.
"I'm not like most people, Risseous. I'm not afraid of you Gods."

[Coyote]

The glow of the newborn God was enough the drown out the sun, a glaring flare of new life that dimmed creation around it. The rays which reflected off of it's smooth flesh were more brilliant than any light Coyote had ever seen before.
Despite himself, he was impressed.

"It's about time you showed up, Cannocus. Or should I call you Inconditite? Or Risseous? What do you prefer now?"

The Godly being before him judged Coyote with barely perceivable yes, only patches of brilliant color that flared where it's face should be. "We are all these things now, Coyote. We are Law and Chaos. We are Balance."

"You couldn't have done this earlier? 'Can't beat the Goddess of Chaos, join her?' Why waste the time if you could have just gone ahead of it? If this was the end result, what was the point of it all?"

"Birthing pains, Coyote. This process was not as easy as you perceive. This One had great difficulty adapting to It's new form. Even then, it was done against It's Composite wills."

Coyote moved down the garden path, drawing closer to the entity. He could feel the heat coming off it's skin, but he didn't balk or back down. "You mean Cannocus and Indoncitite were made into you against their will? Some sort of half way for a greater God?"

"Yes. This one's Composites answered to higher Gods them Themselves. This One was formed by Their will to stop This One's previouse aggression towards Itself."

"Play nice or else, right?"
"Indeed."

Taking a look around, Coyote watched some birds flutter through the sky above, squinted his eyes through Riseouse's light to see the tops of the palace towers. "What now? What do Corinnae and Soarinnae do now?"

"We will rule both in Balance. Without This One's Wills fighting, there will be prosperity for all. at least for a time."
"What do you mean, 'for a time'."

"We said that the war were birthing pains. This one can see a time of great destruction ahead for this world. There will come a time when all creation will be wiped clean. It will begin soon. Already it is beginning in some places."

"Why? What's causing it?" Coyote demanded.
"A Great War. A God's War. As God of Balance, This One can feel the tremors as the Blance shifts, becomes unstable."

Coyote hesitated before speaking. "Is there a way to stop it?"

Risseous shook it head. "No. It is inevitable."

They stood a long time together, both not speaking. Finnally Coyote broke the silence. "What can I do?"

Risseous looked up at Coyote and for a moment the two locked eyes before Coyote had to turn away from the God's brilliance. "Survive. Endure. Weather the storm. Make a difference in any way you can."

"I've always vowed to help people, even if it costs me my life. I will do all that I can."

Risseous nodded in agreement, then lifted it's hands. Within it's palms a glow formed, shaping itself into a long shape, finally settling into a magnificent blade. Forged from black and gold metal, the blade had two edges that weaved through one another, two blades twisted into one weapon. The black blade was ugly and scarred, filled with malice and shedding smoke, it's surface covered in cursed runes. The gold blade was perfect and smooth, shedding a pale, steady light, it's surface etched in regular patterns and symbols which looked like mathematical formula. It's hilt was a balanced scale and it's pommel was a star burst of purist diamond.

"This is Tantamount, created from the weapons of Cannocus and Inconditite, Law Giver and Shudder. It is This One's, but We give it too you for the coming age. Use it well, Coyote. It will bring Balance to the world. With this blade, any foe, no matter how powerful will be brought to your level."

Coyote reached out and took the awesome weapon, feeling the power course through it and up into his fingers. He could feel the power flowing through the blade, could sense the wills of Cannocus and Inconditiote held within, keeping each other in check.

"You now hold in your hands the most powerful weapon ever forged." Risseous continued. "Not even Black Inasanity possessed such power in it's prime. With this you may slay God and Mortal, carve and shape the destiny of this world. Do so in the hopes of Balance, Coyote. It has always been you desire to do so. Do it for yourself and your fellow man."

Coyote couldn't take his eyes off the blade. It glittered and hummed with power. He felt it through his entire body. A weapons forged by two Gods, in his hands. He had wanted a weapon like this for so long, and now he had one. Black Insanity. Cabdalgo. Xirculk. Now Tantamount. He could take his place among legends with this weapon.

"You say I can kill a God with this?" He asked finnally.

Risseous nodded.

Without warning, Coyote whipped the blade around and brought it full bore through Risseous chest, causing a brilliant shard of light to blast from where the sword contacted. Risseous screamed in pain and burst into a thousand shards of gold and brilliant sun rays which hovered in the air for a moment before winking out of existence.

Coyote knew he wasn't dead. It could never be that simple to kill a God. Still, he had gotten his point across to the new Divinity. He would accept it's gift, but that meant nothing. He wasn't beholden to anything Divine and he never would be.

Fingering the blade a little, feeling it's weight, Coyote couldn't help but smile. If the Gods wanted to wage a war on his world, they would have to learn that mortals like Coyote would not stand idly by as the Apocalypse raged around them. If they intended to bring war to this world, Coyote meant to give them the exact same thing.

He had a feeling that Tantamount would be tasting more divine blood very, very soon.

[Coyote]

The next few days were spent preparing for the task of heading home to Albion. Coyote looked forward to finally returning home, both to see San Umbra and also, more especially, his son Loupine. This task he had been sent on in Corinnae had interrupted his time alone with his flesh and blood and he looked forward to catching up on lost time, no matter what disaster seemed to loom of the horizon for Albion and, from what it sounded like, the world at large.

He spent his time at the palace, the city of Corinnae in an almost celebratory state. The pall of war and chaos had been lifted and the hearts of Corinnae's people were lifted along with it. The streets were filled with happy people now where before Coyote had only seen sadness and despair. From the walls he could look down on all of them taking to the streets. The festivals and celebrations were still going on in full force such was the relief the people of Corinnae felt now that peace had returned. The flag of Corinnae was held high in extravagant parades at the head of it's people alongside the flag of Soarinnae. Perhaps a lasting peace would turn into something more for the two neighbors. Until then, peace would reign between the two and Coyote felt very assured that it would last for a longer time than he could imagine.

His thoughts were disturbed as a pair of Corinnian guards approached and halted behind him, shooting off sharp and precise salutes to him. He turned and nodded for them to stand at ease. The men of the castle, and most of Coarinna for that matter, knew of his part in the peace process and he had been hailed as both a savior and a hero of Corinnae and afforded the respect that deserved. In fact he had heard some fairly ridiculous rumors surrounding him from the soldiers when they hadn't realized he was within earshot. Some were fairly accurate, such as the claim he had been sent by Cannocus himself, which was true, partially. Others were laughable, like he was Cannocus' son or that he would become the new King. Others were disturbingly truthful, like that he had become the Queen's new lover.

"Saint Coyote," the Guard on the left said with no small amount of pride, "the Queen requests an audience with you."

Coyote flinched.
Speaking of the devil...

"The Queen is up too it?"
Adelias had woken from the coma Madness pout her into soon after Coyote had driven Avarice from the King of Soarinnae. Still, she had been left deathly weak and Reagent Simon had remained in power until she would be able to rule over Coarinnae properly. Her making a request to see someone was a good sign that she was on her way to recovery.

The Guard nodded, trying to keep a little smile off his face. "The Queen is eager, if that's what you mean, Saint."
Coyote let out a little huff. He didn't need his nose to tell what the Guards thought and their stance on certain rumors.
"Very well, lead on."

The two men turned sharply and escorted Coyote into the Palace, half way to the other side of the castle towards the recovery room of the Queen, thickly protected and watched by squads of men. Coyote was led to a thick wooden door lined with steel bands, flanked by two Royal Guards who let him pass. The door led to a small sitting room with only one door within it. In the anteroom was the Royal Harrier, Alice, her staff of office and pendulum symbol lustrous in the light that shone through the window, her back towards him.

"How is she?" Coyote asked in barely more than whisper.
Alice nearly jumped when he spoke and she whirled to face him, one hand over her frantically beating heart, her own voice a whisper. "By Cannocus, your quite when you move! I didn't even hear the door open!"

Coyote smiled in a slant wise direction, closing the door and entering the room. "I have that way about me. How is Adelia, the Queen." He corrected himself.
Alice smiled, a genuine expression. "She's doing very well. A few more days and she'll be up and about, maybe even able to take the throne again. She's been asking for you for the past couple days, but I've only just today thought she could handle it."

"I promise, I won't keep her long. In fact I plan on leaving soon."
"You are?" Harrier Alice sounded disappointed. "Do you have too? I think you should stay, at least for a little while longer. There's still so much left to do and you've done so much for us. I feel like we owe you more than we've paid you back."

"First off," Coyote said, "you're right, you do owe me more than you've paid me back. In fact, barring giving me the Crown of Corinnae and Soarinnae, I don't think there's much else that could be worth the trouble you've put me in these last few weeks."

Alice laughed, a gentle sound that came easy to her. "I believe it. In fact, I'd kind of like that. King Coyote. Has a nice ring to it."
"Don't get ahead of yourself. If I end up King of anything it'll be my own homeland, not this backwards hayseed fiefdom."
She laughed again, making Coyote smile.
"The truth is, Coyote, we can't thank you enough. You've given us not only peace but also hope. I only wish there was something we could do to pay you for the help you've given us."
Alice stepped forward and kissed Coyote on the cheek, her hand cupping his face gently.
"Cannocus bless you, Coyote. Bless you and all you do."
"I don't need any God's blessing, Alice."
"Then just accept a 'thank you' from a grateful woman and her people."

The two embraced warmly, Coyote enjoyed the feeling of her arms around him. Nothing to it but friendship and warmth. It made him feel good and was worth more to him than all the titles he could be given in his entire life. Simple gratitude for his accomplishment.

They separated and Alice left giving him one last nod of thanks before shutting the door behind her. Coyote turned to the door to the recovery room and took a deep breath. He wasn't sure what was waiting for him on the other side, just how much Queen Adelia remembered from her time under the thrall of Madness. He certainly remembered every detail of his time with Mayhem, every excruciating detail, including what he and Madness had done with their bodies together.
He hoped, maybe even prayed, that the Queen would be ignorant.

[Coyote]

Coyote gently, if a bit reluctantly, rapped on the door leading to Queen Adelia's private quarters, her sick room since she first ell into the coma Madness had left her in after being driven out by Harrier Coyle. He hoped that perhaps she would be asleep, too weary for the strain, to be able to talk. Her voice on the other side of the door made both glad that she was doing better and apprehensive towards the possibilities.

"Come in, please."

Coyote turned the decorative, silver knob and entered slowly. The room was bright, with several windows thrown open to allow sun and fresh air to circulate, making the room a better place for recovery. White drapes danced in the playful breeze and Coyote could smell the gardens far below the windows and hear the calls of the birds that perched on the roof. A large bed dominated the room, two windows on either side. Sitting up, covered din a white sheet, Queen Edelia had a small pair of gold framed reading glasses perched on her tiny nose, a leather book resting in her lap. She looked up from her reading and smiled when she saw Coyote enter.
"My hero." She said.

Coyote was struck by just how beautiful the Queen really was. The white around her seemed to make her glow and the color of health gave her an attractive flush that painted her cheeks.
"Your Majesty." Coyote replied, making to bow within the doorway.

"None of that." She said, setting the book and her glasses on a nightstand. "I don't deserve your deference. Not after what you've done for Corinnae and myself."
Coyote stood, feeling trapped in the doorway.
"I...I didn't know you wore glasses." He said as a pathetic attempt at conversation and not seem nervous, which he was.
She gave him a comforting smile in consolation. "Only when I read and ever since I was very young."

She looked him over for a moment before saying, "We should talk."

"Damn it."
"About what?" He bluffed.

She smiled again which made Coyote shrink to the size of a gnat under her gaze. "We both know."

Coyote could feel the heat rising in his cheeks and the burning of a deep seated hatred for himself rumbling in his chest. "Adelia, I am so very sorry for what happened between us."

The Queen didn't react at first, but she looked almost as if she was disappointed. "Coyote, you shouldn't be apologizing to me. If anything it was all my doing. I was the one under Madness' thrall that sent you to Red Point in the first place. Had I not done that, Mayhem would never have taken possession of you."

"It is my fault, Adelia. We both may have been controlled, but I'm the one responsible."
"What exactly makes you more to blame than I, Coyote?"

Coyote sneered and turned away from her, looking out the window, at anything else. "I should have been in control."
"The same can be said for me."

"It isn't the same. It's different with you."

"Why is that?" She asked. "Because I was controlled longer? It was only a few weeks difference. I doubt that would matter."
"No, it's not that. I should be able to control my actions."
"You were not yourself!"

"That doesn't make any difference!" he shouted. "I lose control, people die!"

Adelia looked at him very hard, but compassionately. "I lose control, a nation goes to war."

"You're...different."
"How so?"

Coyote took some time looking outside at the city below, at the thousands of people who, just a few days ago, were on the edge of anarchy.
"You're normal."

"And what, pray tell, does that mean?"

Again Coyote paused for the right thing to say.
"I don't have the luxury of being able to lead a normal life. You may be a Queen, but your happy here. You have people who love you, people who can take care of you. Everyone close to me ends up dying. If I lose focus on that, I could fail them. They'll be the ones to suffer for my failings."

Adelia watched the man before her with the beginnings of tears in her green eyes. "Do you have family, Coyote?"
"Yes. A son."
"How old?"
"Heh. That's a special case. A child, very young."
"He depends on you?"

"No." Coyote said. "I depend on him."
"It takes a strong person to admit that to themselves."

Coyote turned to face the Queen and saw she had shifted from the bed. She sat on it, her feet dangling over the edge, her nightdress shifted back over her legs revealing her pretty calves.

"Coyote, Cannocus teaches that everything that happens to us is a test to endure. You endured this test and came out from it stronger. Whatever happened during it is consequential. You passed. Now you must move on and forgive yourself."

"But what I...we...what I did to you."

She shook her head. "What? Think of it as you will, but Madness and Mayhem made a grave error in that. I was so weak after losing my husband, I thought I would never feel anything ever again. I was dead inside and Madness clawed her way into that emptiness and took hold in it. What the two of them did, with us along, I felt it, but I also sensed you, Coyote. I felt the pain you feel and the incredible self loathing you have for yourself. That made me weep in bitter tears for you. I gained ground on Madness and was able to drive her away because of the compassion I felt for you."

"I don't need anyone's pity."

She stood from the bed and walked over towards him, her bare feet making no sound against the stone, her dress trailing behind.
"Not pity, compassion."
She placed her hands on either side of his face.
"I know you miss Nigrify. I felt how much you love her when we were together. I know how hurt you are that you feel you betrayed her."

Coyote's skin burned under her touch and her felt searing hot tears in his eyes. "Please, don't" He pleaded.

"You did nothing of the sort, Coyote. Your Son's Mother may be gone, but the love you feel for her, the same feelings I feel for my husband, can ever be turned away from them or turned into something ugly."

She pulled Coyote into an embrace and buried his head into her neck. "You don't have to let her go, but you do have to accept that she is gone. The world dies away Coyote, everything will pass, but the love we have for those who have gone continues on beyond our own lives."

In her arms, Coyote wailed in anger and pain and Adelia felt the tears on her neck and her own run down her face.
"Now we can both mourn our losses."

[Coyote]

Coyote had all his belongings packed up and ready to go. He stood before the full length mirror, looking himself over in preparation for his final audience with the Queen before leaving Corinnae and returning to Albion. While he was eager to get home, he felt a great unease about the trip ahead, especially it's final destination. Strange news had been filtering back to him about his homeland and he was eager to see if the dire rumors that had reached his ears were actually true. Just as well, he was beginning to feel he was overstaying his welcome. He was healed well enough to travel and he was becoming uncomfortable with all the pomp and circumstance surrounding his presence in the castle. He couldn't go anywhere without being stopped by someone, a castle servant or guard, who wanted to share their thanks with him. He appreciated it all, but he hadn't done it for the accolades. Sometimes having done something right was it's own worthy reward.

He gave one last look around the room that had been his home for several week, making sure he had not forgotten anything behind. Everything he had brought was accounted for, and in fact he was leaving with a little extra. The blade Tantamount at his side felt good and he could almost sense the power the blade had. It thirsted with a barely there presence for more blood, blood of the Divine, to lay low those who thought themselves higher in station, to make all things equal in death. Coyote appreciated that sentiment. If his instincts were right, Tantamount would soon have plenty of god's blood to feed upon.

Leaving the room, Coyote quickly hustled down the winding stairs towards the front grand hall of the palace, towards the same doors he was led in through over three months ago. Waiting for him was Queen Adelia, the Royal Reagent Michael and the Royal Harrier to see him off.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Coyote bowed to the trio and they did likewise.
"Saint Coyote," Queen Adelia, beautiful in her white and red robes of royalty, "Corinnae cannot fully thank you enough for what you've done for us in our darkest hour. Many were called, but you alone persisted in your loyalty and service to Corinnae at the call of our God, Cannocus. You have suffered greatly for your task and we are eternally grateful to you and yours for the efforts you have put forth."

From her hands she held out a brilliant blue ribbon, at the end of which hung a silver pendulum. Coyote recognized it as being identical to the badge of office that Elias had worn around his neck.
"I would be greatly honored if you accepted this, the Sentinel's Badge, as a mark of the trust I have in you. From now on, so long as Corinnae stands, let you be the one who acts in our will. Whenever you wish to again visit our shores, let it be in the full office of the Queen's Sentinel."

Adelia stepped forward and wrapped the ribbon around Coyote's head, him leaning down so she could reach. When she did, placed both hands on his shoulders and kissed him on the cheek, her lips leaving behind a feeling of warmth on his skin.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm honored."

The four of them exited through the door and down the marble stairs of the palace. The sun shone brightly overhead and at the bottom of the stairs, Kurama waited for Coyote patiently, the horse watching him descend with maybe a bit of pride in his eyes.

With a single leap, Coyote lifted into the saddle and looked back at three. He took from his pocket a small black and white tile, a rune of the double lightning bolt.
"If ever Corinnae needs a friend, call and my armies will answer."

Adelia took it from him, her hand lingering for just a moment as the two locked eyes, an unspoken understanding passing between the two.

"Goodbye, Saint and Sentinel." The Reagent said. "May you always have a bright future ahead."

"Cannocus bless you and watch over you in the darkest of times, Coyote." The Harrier spoke.

"All of you as well."
Coyote waited for just a minute more before whipping Kurama around and galloping off, a dust storm behind him as he vanished through the palace gates.

-End Saga-