The Coffin Club Presents

They ambled through the forest on a stolen cart. The city burned in the distance behind them as they rode in silence, lit by the light of the moon. The strider was nervous, but Argenta would click her tongue in such a way that it would listen and continue without fuss.

The first time she did that, Nia stared at her in surprise.

Her goddess smiled. “I grew up on a farm.”

Questions on questions on questions bubbled up. What farms are there on a moon? What gods were that beyond her goddess? Why was she so capable with a gun?

Argenta had her own questions. What was the relationship between Roden and Djartola. Why was the Roden army attacking Djartola. What was going on across the continent. In fact, what other countries were there, what was even going on?

Nia answered as best as she could. Roden was forming an empire, Djartola controlled the trade lanes, a contract had been broken between them. Better to annex a neighboring country. The continent was afraid of Roden. There had been many smaller nations once. Now it was Roden, Djartola, Paraleaux, Svatkopt. Soon, one nation less.

They rode on, beneath a shooting star. Argenta nodded up at it. “Extra supplies. We’re going to need them if we’re going to kill the Emperor of Roden and his Inner Council.”

Nia’s blood turned to ice. “What?”

“From what you told me, if we kill the Council, it’ll spark a war of succession strong enough to tear the empire apart. Fastest way to protect your nation with the least collateral damage.”

Nia thought about the soldiers in the streets. The hands on the citizens as they fled in fear, of hiding and staying quiet as the troops burned the city.

“Are you sure?” she whispered.

Argenta sat up at the reins, cleared her throat. “I have done this before. I will do it again. You have called down the power of the Moon to protect your chosen people. It will be done.” A smile, a wink, a hand on a shoulder. “It’ll be okay, kid.”

Nia didn’t respond. All she did was nod and stare at the stars.