She lowered her eyes. “Me, too. My parents were so disappointed when I dropped out of my medical apprenticeship to become a champion, but the reality is that there wasn’t much more for me to learn, anyway. I can’t use a chanter’s scalpel, I can’t use a skin weaver, antiseptic crystals go dark in my hands. I mean, think about it, who’s going to hire a doctor limited to using plain iron tools and thread? It’s ridiculous. The only medicine I can administer is primitive and savage; might as well hire a witch doctor or a shaman.”
“But you loved it, didn’t you?”
She hid her face. “Yes, yes I did. I love solving equations, and equations of health are the most important kind. You solve those problems and you save lives. You find the solution to those equations and you matter, not just to the people you save, but to everyone.”
“You justify your existence. Your presence alters the world around you. You leave proof that you existed. That’s why I took up painting. Art lets you touch the hearts of others. In a way, you plant a little bit of yourself in them, some small piece of you that will live on long after you are gone.”
“Yeah. Again, you completely understand. I feel like I’m saying the same things over and over again, but it’s so nice to talk to someone who gets it.”
“No, I totally understand. Everyone treats you like you are this novelty, this delicate abnormality that has to be protected and locked away, studied and sheltered. You don’t feel like a person, you feel like a thing, and you find yourself wondering what the point of living is if it means being cold and alone?”
“You feel like a burden. An eternal dependent,” she agreed. “And after a while, you wonder if it were better if you had never been born, so your family would be spared the chore of carrying so much dead weight.”
Storgen looked at her tenderly. “Well, no matter what other people may think, I want you to know that I am glad you were born.”
She smiled back weakly. “Thanks. You’re the first, but thanks.”
“You do plan on going back into medicine someday, right?”
“How did you know?”
“I can tell. Whenever you talk about medicine, your eyes light up.”
“Interesting. I’ve never told anyone, but yes. I’m done moping around feeling sorry for myself. I’m going to grab life by the throat and earn what I need to be happy.”
“If your reality sucks, change your reality. Grab life by the throat and take what you need to be happy.”
“Precisely.”
“And I’ll be there to help you achieve your goals. Anything you need, whatever it is, I’m there for you.”
She chuckled. “What are you talking about?”
“Well, now that we’ve met, my place is at your side.”
She laughed awkwardly. “That’s sweet to say, but you’re my prisoner, you’re a human, you’re from Erotan. You can never be at my side.”
“What does any of that matter? It’s like I told you before. We were made for each other.”
Her laughter slowly wound down. “I really wish you wouldn’t say things like that.”
“But why not? It’s true.”
Her mood darkened. “Look, this was fun but it doesn’t prove anything. Just because we like the same things and have the same sense of humor doesn’t mean anything cosmic. It’s just an interesting coincidence, nothing more.”
Up above, the guards struggled to block their way, but Gáta and Skýlos ran down the steps, yipping and mewing as they played with one another.
“Sorry Knives,” the guard apologized. “They got away from us.
“It’s all right.”
The kitten ran up and settled atop Storgen’s head, while the puppy jumped up and sat down on hers.
Storgen reached up and gave Gáta a little piece of his food. “See? We even carry our pets the same way.”
She pet Skýlos. “So, what? If we carried our pets differently that would mean we we’re not destined to be together? I mean, by your own theory, just the fact that I have a puppy and you have a kitten should refute the idea that we’re the same person.”
“I never said we were the same person. We’re two halves of the same soul. We were born into different races, different families, we’ve had different upbringings and life experiences. It only makes sense that we’re not exactly alike.”
“See, you’re not being logical about this. In your mind, if we’re the same that proves your point, and if we’re different that doesn’t disprove your point. You’ve got a belief system that’s unfalsifiable.”
“This was never about logic. This is about emotion, it’s something you feel, not something you think.”
“How many times have I heard that in my life? You’d fit right in back home in Agadis.”
“Yeah, I never really fit in with the people of Erotan. Everything is math to them.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
He rubbed the scars on his elbow. “It’s really not. The heart needs more than just math. The really important things in life can’t be measured, or even quantified.”
Her long ears drooped. “I disagree. Just the fact that something can’t be measured alone indicates that it’s not worth our time.”
“Wow, it sounds like you are the one that should have been born in Erotan.”
“I know, right? It’s almost like we were switched on purpose or something.”
“See? And that’s another thing we have in common. Neither of us fit in where we were born.”
They both couldn’t help but laugh again. It wasn’t as strong as before, but it was genuine.
“You really are a glass-half-full kind of person,” she commented. “It’s such a strange trait for a man.”
“You realize that says more about the men you’ve known than it does about me?”
“Huh. That was surprisingly logical, coming from you.”
He smiled. “Thanks.”
“I was being cheeky.”
He smiled even brighter. “I know.”
She frowned and brought her knees up. “Look, this has been diverting, I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much, but I’m just never going to agree with you about this destiny stuff.”
He scratched his chin. “You don’t have to.”
“What, really?”
“Really. I don’t feel any particular need to make you change your mind.”
“Huh. That’s refreshing, actually. When most guys debate, they actually try to win. But you give up before you even start.”
“The point of debate is to win. This isn’t about winning. This is about trying to understand one another, and I feel like I understand you far better than I did before. And I hope that you have come to understand me more as well.”
“You are so frustratingly agreeable, you know that?”
She caught his eyes, and then immediately regretted it. He was looking at her that way again. Not the way she was used to, the way most men did. They looked at her like a piece of meat, something sumptuous to be chewed up, then spat out. Storgen looked at her differently, the way one looks at a sunrise. As if she had some magical light in her that made him happy just to bask in it. Just seeing him look at her like that made her feel differently about herself. Less doubtful, less self-conscious. It made her feel at ease, like she didn’t have to prove anything to anyone, that the hole in her heart would gradually fill if she just let it happen. She found herself getting lost in those strong, deep blue eyes of his.
She forced herself to look away. “Look, I’ll admit I was wrong about you. You’re a fun guy, and while you are insane, you’re not as insane as I thought you were.”
“Para Calo.”
“You’re welcome. But the reality is, I just don’t have any interest in being in a relationship. I wouldn’t have time for it even if I did want it.”
A third guard came down the stairs. “Knives, you have been summoned.”
“Summoned? By who?
“Fovos, the Lord of the Underworld.”
Chapter Twenty Five
“I crossed the border entering his realm, expecting to encounter soldiers, but I found none. No walls or barriers, save for a moat filled with the most exquisite wine I had ever seen. Rich and heady beyond all reason, just inhaling the bouquet made me forget entirely the reason for my trespass, and it filled my soul with such serenity as I have ever known. Before I knew it I was on my knees, tiny sips becoming deep draughts. My lungs called out for air, but the thought of existing even a moment without that taste in my mouth and that intoxication in my soul was far more excruciating than any bodily pain could muster, and so I drank on. As my head and body slipped down into the moat, I opened my eyes and that is when I saw them. The endless collection of bones.”
- Confession of Saburo the thief, caught trespassing in Krasi’s realm
Agaprei could barely contain her excitement as she stood before the tall arched doorway. “This is it! Tell me I’m dreaming.”
Kaia took her hands. “You’re totally dreaming.”
“Don’t tell me that, tell me this is real.”
“This is totally real.”
The two of them jumped up and down and squeed.
“I can’t believe it! I’ve finally made it. A champion to an elder god. There is no higher station for a mortal.”
“There’s only like three in the whole world.”
“Four, now.”
“I’m not gonna lie, sis, when you started all of this, I never thought you’d make it even a quarter of the way this far.”
“I know, right? I mean, I hoped, I dreamed, but there’s a part of me that still can’t believe this is actually happening.”
Kaia clapped her on the shoulders. “You’ve worked your butt off. You’ve earned this.”
“It wasn’t all me. You helped…”
“Yes I did.”
“…a little…”
“All the way.”
“…when you weren’t being all boy-crazy…”
“One hundred percent.”
“…and trying to steal things…”
“Best little sister ever.”
“…and you sure did complain a lot…”
“Enough!”
The doors opened, and the two girls became silent and dropped to their knees.
Inside the small rented shrine within, the bubbling form of black bones and tar took the shape of a man sitting on a throne.
Agaprei put her hand over her heart. “Fovos, god of the underworld, I am honored to be in your presence.”
Fovos bubbled in amusement. “You know, there was a time, when I would have given anything to hear you say that.”
“My lord?”
“You won’t be needing those anymore.”
He waved his dripping skeletal hand, and the waterfall brand on their necks evaporated away.
“You and your family are no longer citizens of any one nation, but citizens of the whole earth, free to travel whenever and wherever you please. No mortal or god may do you harm or bar your path, as per the ancient pact. You belong to me now.”
Agaprei could scarcely stop herself from cheering out loud. “You honor me, great Fovos. How may I serve thee?”
“I have been gone for a long time,” he gurgled. “I have no temples, no followers, and no celestial tree. If I am to maintain my presence outside of the underworld for long, I will need all three.”
She waited patiently for more instructions, but none came.
“You…want me to acquire those things for you?”
“I believe that is what I said. I suggest beginning with the temple. I’ve always found the weather on the Nótos Peninsula to be most agreeable.”
“My lord, that is some of the most prime real estate anywhere in the world.”
“Materials and manpower are easy enough to find, but first I must acquire territory on which to build. I’ve found a property on the coast that pleases me, and wouldn’t you know it, Krasi is willing to sell it to me for twelve and a half million drachmas.”
“That’s…a fortune, my lord.”
“I am told you did wonders with Mónos’ finances. Are you saying you reject the honor of being my champion?”
“What? Of course not. This has been my dream forever. I just…honestly I’m not sure how I can accomplish it.”
“Do I have to do your thinking for you? What good are you then?”
“I meant no disrespect. Mónos already had resources and a network for me to manage, you’re asking me to start completely from scratch.”
“You’ve become so small in your thinking. You’re not without resources. You can sell your body.”
She looked up, aghast. “What?”
“And if you lack sufficient loyalty to do that, you do have a prisoner in your care.”
She stared at him, completely at a loss for words.
“You have forty-eight hours, my champion.”
He held up his hands, and the doors closed before her.
* * *
Philiastra could feel the fire long before she could smell the smoke or see the light. The slumbering trees stirred worriedly, their minds recoiling at the growing flames. She jumped to a vine and swung rapidly across a hidden forest river.
“Odelia, help me see.”
Philiastra was covered in blue fire, and her vision shifted, the trees and mountains becoming transparent. Through them she could see the flames of the fire as they drew closer.
She slid along the branches and came to a landing at the edge of the valley floor. A long trail of scrap wood had been tossed into a line leading up to the trees, like an oversized wick, a trio of rough-looking human settlers feeding the flames by tossing on oil and petroleum.
“Wait, stop!” she called out, stepping out from the tree line.
She forgot how camouflaged she was dressed as she was, and the settlers nearly fell over themselves at the sight of her.
“It’s the nymph who slaughtered the town,” a bearded man called out.
“What? No, nymphs didn’t do this…”
She was interrupted by the barrels of steam-rifles being leveled at her. “Take it down!”
“No, wait,” she called out. “I am a citizen of Jenala…”
She reached for her talisman, but realized too late that she was no longer wearing it.
The rifles fired, and she yelped in fright as the balls struck out at her.
There were three meaty thuds, and she fell backwards into the treeline.
Her mind raced with panic as she opened her eyes, finding Wei standing beside her, shielding her with a leaf. Blue fire flowed through its veins as the energy of the shots were dispersed. She looked on in fright at the three indents in the leaf right where her head had been only a moment before.
The three bullets fell to the ground, red hot against the sizzling moss.
“Tch, cursed witch,” the men called out, and opened the breeches on their weapons to reload.
Wei flung the leaf with lethal precision. It sailed across the valley floor and hit the bearded man, taking his head clean off. As his body collapsed to the ground, the second man had his rifle forcibly torn from his hands by growing roots. He stood frozen as the rifle was leveled at his face, rootlets wrapping themselves around the trigger.
“Wei, what are you doing?!”
The man opened his mouth in terror. “No! No, please NO!”
The gun fired and he fell back in a pool of blood. The third man dropped his weapon and fled, running for his life back towards the valley ridge.
“Wei, STOP IT!”
Wei held up his hand and the third man was skewered by roots that grew up like spear shafts, his dead body hanging limply like a grisly scarecrow.
Philiastra jumped to her feet in rage and shoved him as hard as she could. “Why? Why did you do that?”
He stumbled to regain his footing. “Um, you’re welcome?”
“How could you do that? You just murdered those men!”
“Of course I did. They
tried to shoot you.”
“They were startled, they didn’t understand.”
“They were going to burn the trees.”
“They can’t see the trees’ auras, they don’t understand how alive they are.”
“Right, they don’t, and that is why we exist, to protect the forests from those who would harm them.”
“But you didn’t have to kill them. If I just could have spoken to them, I could have reasoned with them.”
“You can’t reason with an enemy.”
“Humans aren’t our enemies!”
Wei looked at her in disbelief. “What did you say?”
She stood there, breathing heavily. “I said, humans are not our enemies.”
He stared at her for some time. “You really don’t know, do you?”
“Know what?”
He squared himself to her. “Tell me, what do you remember when our tribe was destroyed?”
She tried to think past her anger. “I dunno…not much, I was pretty young.”
“Try to think.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Just little bits and pieces, really. It’s not something I like to think about. I remember seeing the centaur armies burning the trees, I remember them hacking and chopping. I remember our people running, screaming. I remember being scared. Next thing I knew, I was on a ship with Grandpa Gasper and his son.”
Wei’s eyes went wide. “Wait, who?”
“Gasper Thavma. They took me in after that.”
Wei looked on her sympathetically and held out his green hand. “Come, it’s time you learned the truth.”
* * *
The knock at the gatehouse to the temple of Mónos went unanswered for a third time. Slowly the vision slit slid open, a pair of dark gaunt eyes looking out at the goddess who stood outside. Her skin was a pale bark like aspen, her hair hung like weeping willows, her long cloak made of living flowers.
The door opened without word, and Desmas floated inside. “Thank you for agreeing to see me.”
Mónos nodded emptily as she closed the door, her long stringy black hair obscuring her face.
The smell of the temple was overpowering, the bitter bite of urine and feces and stale air. The hundreds of cats laid around, their eyes crusted and their fur faded. The younger ones had begun to breed again uncontrollably, dozens of kittens hopping and playing between the growing piles of filth and fur on the floors.
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