The rodzanicas sit together on his side of the table, the triplet sisters nearly identical with only their ribbons setting them apart. Dola wears red, Niedola blue, and Odola yellow.
I stand at the head of the table, taking them in. The sight of my allies gathered here doesn’t inspire much confidence, and I still don’t feel like I can win—not without Jaga’s soul in my hand. But there’s nothing for it. I must try to make her believe in me, and this is what she wants.
To see me fight a losing battle.
“We’re doomed,” I say with perfect seriousness, trailing my gaze over their faces. “Perun must already know you have joined me since you have left Wyraj, your tasks, and your domains. He’s probably plotting revenge for disobedience and treachery. Maybe in a few days, maybe in a week, he will crush Nawie with thunder and fury, and we will be lost.”
Jutrzenka trills, and Nyja watches me with her teeth bared in anger, certain I’m about to fuck up this alliance. But Jaga’s eyes glitter with curiosity, and Chors huffs with amusement, looking at the smooth, black surface of the table in front of him.
“That is what he thinks,” I say softly, stepping back from the table as I make the map of Nawie, Slawa, and Wyraj appear on top, a miniature of our world. “Perun has been undefeated for centuries, and it’s possible that his pride is justified. Maybe we will fall as soon as he blows on us. But I wouldn’t have brought you here if I agreed with him. I think we’re going to fight and make him very surprised when we defy his expectations.”
“Because you have a secret weapon that will defeat him,” Niedola says in a dull, reedy voice, pointing at Jaga. “Only, how, exactly? What is she? Is it true? You promise us a victory, but all I hear are empty words. Words do not win wars.”
“Some do,” I mutter, because Perun won with words and beliefs, once upon a time.
“Apparently, whoever claims my soul will win,” Jaga says, looking boldly into Niedola’s eyes. “Which rodzanica are you? The one of misfortune or changing fates?”
“Misfortune. Has he claimed your soul?”
Jaga braces both fists on the table, letting go of Chors’ hand. “He has not, and he won’t. So if he brought you here with false promises, that is unfortunate, but not my fault. I am a guest in Nawie and chose to fight on your side, because I despise Perun.”
“No one made us promises,” Odola murmurs softly, her voice colorless, expression neutral. “What are you?”
“A freak,” Jaga says with a bitter twist of her lips.
Both me and Chors speak in unison. “A goddess.”
Jutrzenka leans in to watch Jaga around Rod. I only see the back of her head, but Jaga’s gaze flicks up to mine.
“She’s unsettling.”
“She’s creepy as fuck and I regret bringing her here,”I reply.
“A freak or a goddess, or maybe both?” Rod asks seriously, tapping his fingers on the table. “Are there refreshments, Father? I’d rather enjoy my time of freedom since it looks like it will be brief.”
“Not a freak,” I say, shooting Jaga a warning look as I knock on the table to call for wine. “A young goddess with yet untested power. But I never promised you a secret weapon. All I said was that I will fight, and it’s true.”
“Wewill fight,” Nyja confirms, standing up. “I have an army of nawkas who are well trained and eager to be tested on the battlefield. As you know, Perun’s gods command various bieses. We will not have to concern ourselves with those since my nawkas will deal with them. We, as the most powerful, will fight gods.”
“What if Perun comes? Who will fighthim?” the King of Bees asks in his susurrating voice.
“We’ll retreat.” Nyja’s answer is so much calmer than mine would have been. Running from my brother is an endless source of shame.
“But I have a few reliable sources that confirm Perun is busy doing something in the mortal world. It’s hidden, whatever it is. We tried to find out, but mortals don’t know anything, and he left no traces. We’ll keep looking. In the meantime, the goal is to weaken his allies and deplete his resources.”
“So we’ll be slaughtering mortals?” Jutrzenka asks with an excited giggle.
I snort. “Ah, because Perun’s power is fueled by mortal belief? Well, let’s see. Over four hundred new mortals are born every day. Reasonably, we might kill a few hundred a day if we try very hard. However, Perun will definitely send large forces to stop us, slowing us down, and more importantly, we will weaken ourselves, as well. Most mortals who believe in Perun pray to Jutrzenka every morning, do they not?”
She shrugs with a small titter. “Of course, silly me. But you are so wise and experienced. I can’t wait to hear your ideas, wonderful Weles.”
“Chors looks nauseous. What happened between him and her?”Jaga asks, worry tracing through her thoughts.
“I don’t know. We’ll talk to him after.”
“Actually, I don’t have many ideas,” I say, put out because Jutrzenka inadvertently made me look bad. “My hope was that we could figure out together how to…”
I break off when two tiny, black birds materialize by Nyja’s side. In an eyeblink, both turn into young soldiers, a brown-haired girl and a bald young man.
