“Zazel!”
She startled out of her sleep next to a snoring Agiel and realized that she was still a captive.
“What is wrong with you?” Agiel grumbled. “I am trying to sleep and it’s already uncomfortably cold in here.”
“Go back to sleep,” Zazel said, but Agiel’s eyes were already closed and his breathing was steady. “Hysteria?” Zazel asked and let go of her aspect that was like glowing embers. The face of Hysteria formed in Zazel’s aspect.
“You and Agiel really have been captured,” she said. “Have you figured out why?”
“No, we haven’t had the chance to talk to anyone. Why hasn’t anyone portaled in to rescue us?”
“It took all of my power to do this,” Hysteria said. “Where you are has very good arcane defenses. Not better than me, of course, but good.”
“Can you get us out of here?” Zazel asked.
“I’m afraid not. Not until you figure out what’s going on. I had a strange conversation with Metatron recently.”
“Every conversation with that man is strange,” Zazel said.
“The mmoatia are back and he seems spooked. He asked me to gather the third sphere.”
“Is he afraid that the mmoatia will take them like they’ve apparently taken us?” Zazel mostly whispered to avoid disturbing Agiel, who would only make it more difficult to converse.
“I think he’s afraid of what they are planning. He asked me to host everyone here under my arch.”
“Sounds like a boring peace summit and he wants us there to observe. The mmoatia will try to curtail Empire expansion in the universe and the archangels will argue that it’s all good. It’ll last forever and we won’t be able to leave until it’s done. Old people are so long winded”
“Peace summit? It seems like things are peaceful now and the mmoatia will just shatter that. I wish there was some way to end this quickly and favorably for Metatron, but he will expect me to be a fair arbiter.”
“You can’t help yourself,” Zazel said. “That’s a good thing. Why don’t the archangels and Metatron just kill the mmoatia?”
“They’re our mothers, Za, that’s a little harsh.”
“Where was your mother when reality was unspooling around you and everyone on Endla except Metatron called for your execution? Probably the same place all of the mmoatia have been, cleaning each other’s wings and being pretty.”
“Do they deserve to die for their apathy? And what will the Vodun Agê do if her Supremes are murdered in cold blood…”
Hysteria stopped talking suddenly and Zazel wondered if their connection was interrupted. The bust of Hysteria’s head that formed on Zazel’s aspect was still for a moment.
“Are you there?” Zazel asked.
“I was thinking of something that Lorv said to me,” Hysteria explained. “The aerphim won’t attack the mmoatia outright for fear of Agê’s reprisal, but if their demise were sanctioned somehow, then Agê would have no reason for retaliation. Lorv said that disputes on Agê’s disc are usually settled with games, not the long winded negotiations that happen on the government arch and in the airie before that. She said that the mmoatia would eagerly agree to a game to avoid all out conflict with Metatron and Archangels. What if that game is lethal to the losers? All will be fair, I will stake my integrity on the fairness of the games, and fairness is what Metatron wants as well. But if the mmoatia are the true nuisance that the Aerphim believe them to be, then their warriors will have the chance to strike them down. Though of course, that opens everyone up to risk of death.”
“Participation could be voluntary,” Zazel offered, but then she shakes her head. “Wait, Lorv visited you as well? The Supreme Explorer Lorv?”
The bust nodded. “Top nears orbit next to Endla and she came to see me alone on a ship.”
“What are the mmoatia up to? Did Metatron come to you because of Lorv?”
The bust of Hysteria shook its head slowly, pensively. “They mean to settle ancient disputes. It can be argued that the aerphim have brought devastation to this universe in the name of beauty and perfection. Maybe this arbitration can be a reckoning for everyone involved. Zazel, I am suddenly overcome with ideas. Maybe one of the Third Sphere can be empowered to plot the way forward. Thank you for your counsel Zazel.”
“You’re really not going to help us out of here?” Zazel asked as the bust of Hysteria began to disintegrate, one burning ember at a time.
“If it is true that the mmoatia have you, then you are safe. I suggest you get a true measure of your captor. A true test of might may be on the horizon.”
Zazel watched the last of the bust of Hysteria dissipate and then she flopped back on the bed in frustration.
“I swear, Zazel, if you keep waking me up I will be very upset!” Agiel said, but he was back to sleep in no time.
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