“We can take out that bastard Patriarch and Bishop Wotan!” he said, “Totally blow the shit outta that place! They deserve it for what they did!”

The rising plume of black smoke in the distance told Payne that they’d been enough destruction for one day – but he wasn’t a hormonal teenager.

“Wait!” said Katrina, “Bishop Wotan was fighting the Patriarch!”

“The hell?” asked Theseus, echoing in coarser language what Payne had been thinking.

“I don’t understand it all myself,” said Katrina, “But I think he set everything up to expose the Patriarch as a fraud?”

So that’s what it was all about, thought Payne, just typical Garland scheming. Still sees himself as the anti-hero after all these years…

The students were less-than understanding. Joel was the first to snap with a stream of expletives.

“That bastard! The fuck’s he using us for? He…” He glanced at Kaori. “That bastard put Kao through all that shit, just to get at this Patriarch?”

More shouting followed, as Joel, Doyle, Lyra and Theseus led the cursing marathon, but Payne lost himself in his thoughts as he watched the smoke rise into the grey sky.

You planned this all out from the start, didn’t you? Joining Godhand, becoming a Bishop, relocating to here of all places. I should’ve known it wasn’t just to antagonise me. You were always thinking ten steps ahead. Now what? You can’t go back to Godhand after this.

Yuki Shimomura was calming the students down, while Brian Smith popped up next to Payne.

“You’re lost again,” he said. Typical Brian statement of fact.

“I’m just wondering about Garland,” he replied, “I mean, Bishop Wotan.”

“Sounds like he played all of us for fools,” said Brian, “But we all knew he was plotting something, and that it involved you. Guess we now know why he didn’t obey his cult and wipe us all out,”

“We have to help him,” said Payne, surprising himself as much as Brian.

“You think he’d want that?”

Payne thought for a moment. No, he wouldn’t.

“Mate, you go in there and fight that Patriarch and Godhand will come down on us. If he wanted your help, the bastard would’ve asked for it. Think about it.”

I am, and I know.

“He’s always enjoyed baiting you. We’ve all seen it, even if you haven’t. Right now he’s gonna get the kill on this Patriarch knowing you can’t do jack about it. And not only that, but he gets to save your ass from Godhand!”

Payne knew Brian was right. If they struck out against the Patriarch, Godhand would blame everything on them. If they left Garland alone, he would shoulder the blame – and become the hero.

“Whatever sentiment you have for that guy, you’ve gotta let it go,” said Brian, “He’s given you the chance right now and what’s more important: these kids or your own pride?”

Payne watched the manor burn, and found himself willing his old rival to win for a change. He’d never be able to live it down – Garland would never let him forget that Wotan always surpassed Siegfried – but the alternative was a lonely one.

***

Chapter 23
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