Chapter 116: Aether, Fortune—and Attributes

"You’ve done so much for us," Tobias said admiringly, "and you don’t claim the credit, boast about it, or ask for anything back. That’s what makes it impressive."

"No claiming credit, no boasting, no asking for rewards," Rowan said. "That’s a three-part motto. We should send it to the Legion for their account of you."

They had even made him a motto now.

Cassian opened his mouth.

"I—"

He gave up.

"I’m done talking. I’m going to hunt Ballots."

Nessa looked thoughtful.

"Even now, you’re thinking about getting more votes for Darian. I think I understand."

Cassian disconnected the call.

——

The hunt was in full swing.

More than ten thousand Lords crowded into the coastal waters. Strong Lords like Darian had several warships, making encounters even harder to avoid. With so many old enemies hunting the same monsters, arguments over kills quickly became fights between fleets.

Cassian ordered Riftward’s participating Lords to form fleets of ten Lords each. It would reduce their hunting efficiency, but keep them much safer.

His core officers were less of a concern. With Epic troops or the Eclipse line behind them, they were more likely to make trouble for an enemy than suffer it.

Cassian himself was far out in waters filled with Level-55 to Level-60 monsters. Finding another Lord out here would take some effort.

Late that night, he stood on the deck, enjoying the sea breeze, and opened the live standings.

[1. Sable March — 303,366 votes]

[2. Ironwake — 230,420 votes]

[3. Thornfield — 60,158 votes]

He read down the top twenty and smiled.

Black Banner’s public plan was straightforward. Secure command for Varek, then spread enough votes among the remaining Wardens to put them into the top twenty according to their strength and funds.

To its supporters, everything was proceeding beautifully.

Cassian thought his own plan was going even better.

He opened the betting pool.

[Sable March — Aether staked: 38,320,000]

[Ironwake — Aether staked: 9,800,000]

Ballots could not be transferred. A seller had to cast the votes, then provide proof to receive payment. With votes spread among thousands of Lords, leaving everything until the last moment would invite mistakes—or give a rival time to buy someone off.

Most of the votes were being cast as the arrangements were made.

That made the race seem clear. Sable was favored. Ironwake still had a chance. Everyone else had fallen out of contention.

Only those two Regions had attracted bets.

The pool was approaching fifty million already. Cassian expected considerably more before it locked tomorrow.

Darian’s video request appeared.

"They’ve finally learned," Darian said as soon as the call connected. He stood on a ship’s deck, dragging a hand through his hair. "Varek’s coordinating all their votes."

He looked thoroughly frustrated.

"Ironwake still has thirty thousand uncast. With Seraphine’s, that makes forty thousand. But my information says Sable is holding a reserve too."

"Don’t worry," Cassian said. "I’ll make up what you’re missing."

Darian’s eyes brightened.

"You haven’t cast yours?"

"I can guarantee you’ll finish ahead of Sable."

Cassian drew the view farther back, showing half of Ghost One’s immense hull behind him.

Darian stared.

"That ship is enormous."

Size did not always indicate Quality. There were Legendary ships only a few meters long and Rare ships hundreds of meters long. Those were exceptions, though.

"Don’t tell me it’s Legendary," Darian said, half joking. Then he grew serious again. "If you’re sure, I’ll place a bet. That should improve the odds for anyone backing Sable too."

Exactly what Cassian wanted.

"Make it a good one. A hundred million would help. A billion would be even better."

The point was to use Darian’s money to make Sable’s return look more tempting. Whatever Darian put in, Cassian intended to return it in full afterward.

"I trust you." Darian nodded, then frowned. "Why aren’t you betting this time?"

Cassian spread his hands.

"Most of my money has already gone into ships and troops."

Darian stared at him.

"You’ve spent that much?"

"Look at what it’s bought me."

That caught Darian’s interest.

"Everyone says you pour money into developing your own troop line. Have you worked out how to produce its Sigils yet? Or even a recruitment Building?"

Cassian sighed.

"You haven’t visited Elara’s Domain for a while, have you?"

Darian paused.

"Wait."

He contacted Elara. When he returned to their call, disbelief was written across his face.

"You really did make the Building. A Building that recruits Epics? If I put a billion behind you, how far could you take this line?"

Even in the higher Realms, Epic troops formed the backbone of powerful armies. Cassian had turned his line into something a Domain could keep recruiting.

He smiled.

"Give me the billion and find out."

Darian rolled his eyes, but he ended the call in a much better mood.

Cassian was pleased too. He looked across the moonlit water and spoke.

"Take us home."

Mina answered at once.

"Yes, Lord."

——

Ghost One brought Cassian back to the Goblin harbor. From there, he returned through the existing Gate to Forgotten Shrine.

At 11:45 the next morning, only five minutes remained before the betting pool locked. The election would close at noon, ten minutes after that.

Sable had reached 410,000 votes, a full seventy thousand ahead of Ironwake.

Darian had asked Cassian several times that morning whether he was really certain. Each time, Cassian had given the same confident answer.

At last, Darian committed five hundred million Aether to Ironwake, sending people to place it in small amounts over several rounds. For a while, Sable’s odds climbed above five.

Black Banner’s Lords went wild.

They knew Ironwake might have votes in reserve. That did little to dampen their greed. The news from Sable was reassuring too: Varek appeared completely certain of victory, as though he still held plenty of Ballots of his own.

Rich heirs and ordinary Lords alike began piling in.

The stake on Sable climbed to 756,000,000 Aether.

Then Cassian noticed a small entry under Riftward.

One thousand Aether.

He opened the Regional Channel.

[Cassian Vale: Nessa. Is that thousand yours?]

[Nessa Fenwick: No! Then everyone would say I was betting blindly.]

[Tobias Reed: That was me.]

Cassian had nothing to say to that.

[Rowan Ashford: The pair of you—backing Cassian is fine, but look at the timing!]

[Elara Vayne: If you’re going to bet like that, you’d better have luck on your side.]

[Nessa Fenwick: I haven’t even placed one! Can you leave me out of it?]

[Tobias Reed: All right, all right. It was only for fun.]

[Nessa Fenwick: If you’re going to say it anyway, I might as well put a thousand in too. I can afford that much.]

[Elara Vayne: I’d forgotten how well you’re doing now.]

Another thousand appeared under Riftward.

Cassian shook his head. He knew what they were doing. In a few minutes, the future of the Marches would be decided. A little teasing gave them something else to think about.

The last five minutes passed quickly.

With only seconds left, Cassian placed ten million Aether on Riftward.

He was not trying to reduce Tobias’s and Nessa’s shares. He had allowed for other Lords deciding to back an unlikely winner at the last moment.

As it turned out, he need not have worried.

[Betting locked.]

[Sable March — 796,000,000 Aether]

[Ironwake — 517,000,000 Aether]

[Riftward — 10,002,000 Aether]

Ten million of Riftward’s stake was his. The other two thousand belonged to Tobias and Nessa, who had only meant to join in for fun.

His bet was in place. Cassian did not linger over anyone’s reaction.

He led his waiting force straight through the portal.

Sable March lay on the other side.

Aether and Fortune were only part of what he wanted.

There were attributes to take as well.