CHAPTER TEN: The man and the goddess
A lady sat on the ground in her circularly shaped chambers lined with tall bright white columns that towered up for seemingly forever. The floor of her chambers was translucent and emanated a blue hue. The sphere of Terrianus could be seen, almost as an image, through the translucent floor, along with all the other realms the lady had created. She sat with her legs crossed, head hung low and unmoving, in a meditative state. Her bronze like skin glistened in its stillness and her golden hair fell all the way to her lower back.
“How long do you plan on contemplating your decision, Lynda?”
Lynda slowly raised her head and looked behind her. A man stood behind her with his arms folded and leaning against one of the columns. His skin translucent skin was a teal - greenish color and when one looked at him, it seemed as though one could see all that is through his skin. His very essence was dissolved into the space about him, his eyes were a glowing white with no pupils and his hair was the same color as his skin. The teal skinned man wore a white top with a golden chest plate above it, white pants and golden metallic boots. He also had golden gauntlets on either arm, as well as a cape the same color as his skin and translucency. He unfolded his arms and began walking towards Lynda. When he got there, he sat down beside her in silence for a while. They both looked at each other and smiled.
“You look worried.” He finally said.
“It is painfully obvious isn’t it Arthros?”
Arthros nodded.
“So to what do I owe this visit from the father of void and all that is?”
“I am a concerned brother.”
Lynda smiled and looked down at Terrianus and then at Hovan.
“Have you come to dissuade me then?”
“I have merely come to make sure you are sure of this.”
Lynda nodded in understanding.
“And what do the others think?”
“My twin Barthros thinks you were crazy to involve yourself so directly, decades ago. But like the others, he preoccupies himself with his own duties. What about your twin?”
“Feona? You know her. She is unpredictable as always, but... I think she means well.” Lynda recalled Feona’s words to her during Balek’s hunt for Davydd.
We all steer the hand of fate one way or another, gods and humans alike. What are you prepared to do?
“I know what I have to do Arthros.”
“I know... that if you go... there’s a chance you won’t come back... in time.”
“I am needed.” Lynda said as she got up. She reached out her hand in front of her and a long sword in a white sheath floated into her grasp. When she held it, it dissolved into a bracelet on her right hand. Arthros laughed under his breath.
“What amuses you?” Lynda asked.
“I almost pray the dragol attacks with an army. It has been a while since I witnessed you ruthlessly lay waste to our enemies with your two swords.”
Lynda smiled.
“Alas I shall have one. King Vitalis has the other after all.”
“I am sure you will find a way. Besides, it would seem you have a successor. You must be proud.”
Lynda walked to Arthros and wrapped her arms around him. She pressed a kiss on his cheek.
“Thank you, brother.”
Arthros nodded.
“Remember, the more you interfere, the more you lose your godly nature, until you eventually will become mortal. If you do, you will not regain your powers till...”
“I know Arthros... You worry too much. I’ll be fine.”
“Take care of yourself Lynda.”
Lynda nodded as she used her fingers to open up a shining, pulsating tear much like the one Feona and Jaynea used. She looked back at Arthros one more time and he nodded slowly, reassuringly. She returned the nod and walked through the tear. It closed behind her.
“Are you fine, with letting her go this way?” Arthros said after the tear had closed.
“I couldn’t have changed her mind even if I tried.” Feona walked in from the shadows.
“You know what I mean. You didn’t say goodbye.”
“Who says this is goodbye? You forget whom we speak about. My twin is the goddess of life for a reason. I won’t be leading her over the sea of lost souls anytime soon.”
Arthros nodded.
“A war is coming Feona. If she turns mortal...”
“She intends to.” Feona interjected.
“What?”
“What is a human, Arthros? Humans are merely us without our powers, and our immortality. However, they have immortal souls though still human by nature. When she turns mortal she won’t be human, merely a mortal god, but a god nonetheless.”
“So the dragol would be fighting us directly instead...” Arthros shook his head as the realization sank in. “She’s offering herself as a sacrificial lamb.”
“No. She is merely steering the hand of fate. Do not underestimate our sister. Let us go brother. It is as you say. A war is coming, and we have much preparation to make.”
The front door to the house located high up on a hill opened up. The house had a short fence that went all the way around it in a wide perimeter, forming a fairly large compound. There was a separate building – which served as a barn – in the compound. The main house was made of wood and had two floors. A man walked through the front door and watered some flower pots that were sitting on the front porch’s fence. He was tall and strongly built. His muscles rippled with every move he made, a product of a highly trained body ready to uncoil into action when need be. His long brown hair and layer of brown beard seemed to accentuate his looks, and his deep-sea blue eyes were piercing. As he bent low to water the next flower pot, he caught sight of a figure standing at the fence, from the corner of his eyes. He turned to see a lady open the gate to his compound and slowly make her way towards him. Strands of her golden hair flew in the wind, and her bronze-like skin glimmered in the early morning sun. As Lady Lynda made her way to the man’s home, her lips parted unconsciously and she breathed in a tad bit heavier. She could feel her godly essence erupt and swirl inside her and her skin prickled from the heightened heat. When she got to the steps that led up to the porch, she looked up at the man who was standing there to receive her.
He smiled at her and extended his right hand towards her. She returned the smile, taking his hand and he led her inside his home. They walked through the dining area and sat together on the lone sofa in his living room, facing the fire place. They sat in silence for a while, before the man spoke.
“I know why you are here.”
She looked at him and observed his strong facial features. She beheld his form and his aura and it took her back to days long placed in a box of memories. She could also see the anxiousness on his face, though he tried his best to conceal them.
“I know you don’t want to be here... right now.” She finally responded.
He looked at her and smiled.
“Have you come to put me at ease angel?”
“Not just that.”
“You know you don’t need my permission.”
The goddess snuggled up to the man and laid her head on his chest. She could hear his calm strong heart beat and it soothed her, as it always did.
“You are after all, the goddess of life. Creator of all that we see, all that we are.”
She smiled as she ran her hand up and down the side of his arm.
“All that is true... But I am also yours as you are mine, and he needs me. But I had to consult with you first.” She looked at him lovingly. “I have to aid him in discovering his true self.”
“I know... If only your sister had not been so greedy, this would have been over long ago.”
“You know Feona and her nature, as you know me and mine.”
The man looked at the goddess and beheld her beauty. He took in the sight of her bronze skin and beautiful golden hair, her full lips and beautiful face. He observed her curves and womanly features. How long h
ad it been? In this place where time seemed to collapse in on itself, it could have been yesterday or it could have been decades.
“How old is he now?”
“Two decades and three years.”
“Ah. He is a young man.” He smiled.
“He is in your image.” The goddess said smiling as well.
“Does he ask a lot of questions like you?” The man asked.
“I know not what you speak of.” She said as she sat up and folded her arms. The man laughed and leaned forward.
“Is Lady Lynda, the all-powerful goddess and creator of all that is, pouting?”
Lynda glanced at him and then back at the fire place.
“He’s in love.”
“Oh really now. With who if I might ask?”
Lynda took a deep breath.
“Vannera Vror.”
The man sat back and ran his hands through his hair.
“And she loves him back dearly.”
“Of all the girls in Terrianus...”
“Love makes no distinctions... You didn’t fall in love with a girl from Terrianus.”
The man looked at Lynda realizing she was right.
“I worry about how his love for her...”
“He will do fine; as you did... he’ll figure it out... with a little guidance.”
“You are excited aren’t you?”
“I am.” Lynda laughed. “For centuries I’ve been mother to all humanity, but this... this is different.”
The man sighed.
“I only ask one thing of you. Stay...”
“Alive? To whom do you think you are speaking? You have nothing to worry about.”
“There they are. Questions.”
Lynda laughed.
“Alright Lynda. Go.”
“Thank you. I wish you were still in the world of the living. They could use a man like you right now.”
“They have Davydd and soon you. They have all they need... but if it be necessary, I will strike a pact with Barthros and...”
“No. You’ve lived and you lived well. You are resting. No more wars for you.” Lynda got up.
“I have to go now. There is little time.”
She reached out her hand and began to draw open a tear when she felt the man’s touch on her other hand. Contact was made and there it was. A spark and a flame erupted. She whirled around as their lips met in a kiss so powerful it made both bodies tremble with desire. She pulled back and beheld the man she loved.
“R... Rik...”
He put his hands to her lips cutting her off.
“We have some time.” He said smiling.
She attacked him with another sensuous kiss as they spun around slamming each other into the wall next to the fire place. Their lips kept interlocking and Lynda reached out her hand quickly swiping down and pushing Rikard through the tear that opened up. On the other side they both fell out of the tear unto Rikard’s bed upstairs, lips still interlocked and rolling on top of each other, while kissing and groping frenetically. Lynda’s clothes dissolved into nothingness revealing her form and full non-obscured beauty. She tore away at Rikard’s clothes and felt his strength move inside her. She gasped and moaned.
“When... this is over, we’ll have for...”
“Forever can wait. Now Rikard. Now.”
Rikard smiled and from then on no words were spoken, only sounds and movements of the moment.
Matilom, Baximus, Davydd, Segmiatus and Vannera sat silently behind the huge desk, as the man sitting across from them, examined the old brown crumpled paper that had been handed to him. On the front of the paper, was a graphite image of a gauntlet. It was very similar to the gauntlet worn on the right hand of the goddess Feona. The old man examined it for a while and looked up at the four, who were staring intently at him, as they eagerly awaited his response. He put down the crumpled piece of paper in front of them, and his glasses came off next, resting on the desk.
“I’ve never seen this before.” He finally said.
“Are you sure?” Matilom asked. “It is very unique.”
“I know. That is why in more than fifty years of trading precious metal and prized possessions, a gauntlet such as this would have burned itself in my memory.” He glanced over at the graphite drawing of Feona’s gauntlet once again.
“Alas I cannot remember seeing one such as this. I am sorry I could not help you more.”
He’s lying!
Davydd jerked in his seat.
“Is something the matter my boy?” Baximus asked.
“Did you not hear that?” Davydd asked
“Hear what, Davydd?” Segmiatus wore a look of concern on his face.
“Are you alright?” He continued.
“I’m fine. It seems... we have nothing here then.” Davydd said as he got up.
“This golden gauntlet of power.” Davydd sighed. “It seems we’ll never find it.”
Davydd looked at the man searchingly. Suddenly, like a flash, it was there and then it was gone. It was the look of confusion, not at being uninformed, but at receiving contradictory information.
“Is... something... the matter?” Davydd asked, as his eyes stared piercingly at the old man. The man’s eyes darted up to meet Davydd’s and just as quickly, fell back down.
“I just... hadn’t heard the color... earlier.”
“We never told you the color.” Segmiatus said.
“Yes... yes... you never did.” The man wiped his glasses and put them back on. “But still, I have not seen it.”
“Of course you haven’t.” Davydd said as he leaned forward on the table.
“What do you want?” The man asked leaning backwards instinctively.
“I want the truth. We both know the color of Feona’s gauntlet is not gold. You’ve seen it before... haven’t you?”
The man began to tremble in fear.
“I cannot help you.” He began to clear the contents of his desk into one of the drawers on his right side.
“You should leave. Now!” He bellowed, as his fear gave way to anger.
“Why won’t you help us?” Davydd asked.
The man stopped what he was doing for a moment and looked at Davydd. He sighed heavily.
“It is not that I don’t want to help. It’s...”
The sound of shattering glass through the window, and the sight of the arrow impale itself in the older man’s neck, startled everyone in the room. The man’s shocked gaze at Davydd lasted only a brief moment before his eyes began to roll back into his sockets. He coughed and struggled to breathe before collapsing onto his desk and then slumping to the floor. He would never move of his own free will again.
“Get away from the window.” Baximus said as the group hurriedly got off their seats and pressed against the wall behind the window.
“Dear one, do you mind using your sight to locate the shooter.” Matilom asked, looking at Vannera. Vannera peered at the wall and tried to discern any life auras. However, there were too many and she couldn’t tell who was who.
“Where ever he was, there are many people there. He could be anyone of these auras I see.”
Davydd quickly crouch walked over to the door – which served as the room’s entrance – located on the wall opposite the desk and chairs.
“Ergol.” He called out in a whisper. “Ergol!”
“Yes, son of Rikard.”
Davydd cracked open the door and his eyes found the figure of Ergol standing guard on the left side of the door.
“Did you see anything strange out here?”
“No. What’s happened?”
Davydd opened the door fully to let Ergol in.
“We have an archer assassin. It seems he is alone.” Davydd said as Ergol walked in. As Ergol made his way towards the old man’s body, Baximus put his hand on his shoulder, pulling him down into a crouching position.
“The archer could still be out there.”
“That may be true, but we need to get out of here.” Matilom said.
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Davydd made his way slowly over to the old man’s body, staying low the entire time. He extracted the arrow from the body’s neck and examined the metal tip.
“It is just as I thought... a poisoned arrow.”
“Terrifying.” Vannera acknowledged.
“Indeed. This man would still be dead even if the arrow had struck his limbs or just grazed him.”
“How did you know he was telling a lie?” Segmiatus asked as the group turned around and filed out of the room, and down the stairs immediately to the left of the doorway.
“I don’t know.” Responded Davydd, thinking about the mysterious warning he had gotten earlier.
At the bottom of the stairs was another door that led to the street outside.
“If anyone is out there, we are trapped in here.” Segmiatus observed.
“There is only one way to find out.” Baximus said as he pushed on the door which swung outwards. There was a crowd of people standing outside, pointing at the broken window. When they saw them, they pointed and shouted in anger. Baximus quickly shut the door.
“We are trapped in here.” Baximus said.
They ran back upstairs into the dead man’s office and locked the door. Downstairs, Beathalethean soldiers had begun slamming the door, trying to force it open.
“They’ll be here any moment. What do we do?” Ergol asked.
They heard the crashing sound of the door and the footsteps of the soldiers racing up the stairs.
“We brace for the worst.” Baximus said as they all drew their swords and faced the door. Suddenly, a portal opened up, engulfing everyone in there, just as the soldiers kicked through the door into the room. They all fell into another room. As they regained their composure, they could see the worried expressions of Max, Leo and Sam.
“It seems you found yourselves in a bit of trouble.” Leo said
“They shot an arrow at him.” Davydd responded.
“So that’s why the people in the streets were panicked.” Max observed. “We got worried when soldiers began to barge into the shop.”
“This is an unfavorable situation we find ourselves in.” Baximus said with an air of exasperation.
“How so?” Vannera asked.
“Well, some of these people have seen our faces. There’s a dead man in that shop. I’m sure they will ask questions and we will be hunted. We need to leave Sangwa and move in the direction of the field of brave souls.”
Metal and Magic: A Fantasy Journey Page 76
