The Goddess Quest

by Clara Hartley

“It’s a beautiful color, isn’t it?”

  Not really. Not unless Axies was referring to Hansel’s eyes. Then again, Hansel could make any color look good. “Um, yeah?”

  “I’ve been experimenting with different types of beans. Cooking is a wonderful pastime.” Not a hobby I’d expect a king of mythical creatures to have, but to each their own. Wrinkles, on top of the ones he already had, formed around Axies’s eyes because he was smiling so hard. “I like you, Valencia.”

  “Just because I like coffee?” As a king, he ought to be more discerning. I wondered how he managed to keep a court together if that was the only requirement for getting into his inner circle.

  “On top of something else.” Axies waved his hands in front of him. “There’s a certain aura. A familiarity. Like I’ve known you from somewhere else before. Have I met your parents?” Axies cocked his head. “Is your father Ares, perhaps?”

  “How did you know?” I asked, unable to hide my shock. “At least, that’s who people tell me is my father. I can’t say for sure. You shouldn’t be able to tell just by looking at me, however.”

  “Like I said, us centaurs are discerning creatures.”

  “You can see into a person’s past?”

  “You carry the same aura he used to.”

  “Do I?” I frowned. “And what is that?”

  “He was a bit of a dumb nut who sometimes got violent.”

  I hadn’t expected anybody to call Ares dumb. “That actually does sound like me.”

  Axies scratched his chin. “He was someone to remember, all right, but it’s also been hundreds of years since I’ve seen him, so I can’t say for sure. Bad memory comes with being old and all that.” He folded his arms across his chest. Axies had a weathered physique, unlike Benjie, who had perfect muscles, both horse and human-wise. “As much as I like you and your father, I cannot give you drops of the elixir without anything in exchange. You see, us centaurs believe in an eye for an eye. Reciprocity is an important element of our culture, and it’s too much to hand you something so valuable if I have nothing in return. What is your purpose for the elixir, anyway?”

  “We want to save our friend.” Or boyfriend. Could I say that Devon was my boyfriend now? Was it strange to have three boyfriends, by the way? Oh, of course it was weird. Most people did the whole one-man, one-woman thing. But it was okay to be weird, right?

  I drew my racing mind back to Axies, who looked pleased with my answer. “Saving a friend,” he said. “That is a good cause to fight for, but still, us centaurs are not keen on charity, and I need to see what you have to offer. We are open to having slaves. Would you like to offer one of your vassals to years of indentured servitude, perhaps?” King Axies smiled warmly at Liam, which gave me the creeps.

  Slaves? Goddesses, no. I nudged Theo, who stepped forward with the blade. He knelt before the king, then raised Ares’s blade above his head. “The goddess of flora asked us to offer this to you,” Theo said. “She believes it is worthy for an exchange.”

  King Axies studied the wrapped blade. He took it from Hansel and unwrapped it before appraising it with an unreadable expression. My stomach pitched as I tried to gauge his reaction. Did he like it?

  “The Blade of Ares,” the king said, raising the weapon with awe. “I saw Aphrodite wield it once. I wanted it for myself, but, of course, Ares sacrificed part of himself to create this for her. It’s said that with the right wielder, it has the ability to invoke great morale amongst armies.” A flicker of red flashed across Axies’s eyes. I thought I sensed bloodlust from him, but it withered as soon as it came. “Where did you get this?” Before I could answer, the king added, “This is a fitting exchange. You will have drops of the elixir by the morn.”

  “Morning?” I asked. “Can we have it now?”

  Axies frowned at me, and for a second I worried I might have spoken rudely. Benjie’s axe looked menacing, and we were surrounded by an army of centaurs. I probably shouldn’t offend them, even though it was highly probable I might do so accidentally.

  “There’s a great cause for celebration today,” the king said. “The hundred-year fig will ripen, and we shall feast and dine to acknowledge its coming. Surely, you’ll want to stay for the festivities.”

  “I kind of really want to just save—”

  Liam coughed, interrupting me. “Of course.” He shot me a warning glare, as if to say, “Don’t mess this up.”

  “Great,” Axies said. “Then let’s have you all dressed for the occasion.” He cast his gaze to the blade again, admiring it. “Today will be a good day.”

  Chapter 4

  “So,” I said, regarding the human slave who had dressed me in an elaborate satin robe, “how does it feel like to be a slave?” I’d learned that her name was Jasa. I felt sorry for her, considering she was forced into years of indentured servitude and all, though the calm on her face told me she didn’t mind her fate much. She was dressed in a drab brown dress and had her hair tied up in a simple ponytail.

  “It’s all right,” Jasa said. She clasped a silver bracelet around my forearm before reaching over to the dressing table to pick up some makeup. “Manageable.”

  “Just all right?” I asked. “Surely, there’s more to that.” I didn’t meet slaves very often. “How did you end up as one, anyway?”

  “My mother had too many children, and when the centaurs arrived, they promised food for work. They didn’t mention that bit about never allowing us to leave. Mother had fourteen kids, anyway, so it wasn’t a huge loss for her, and frankly, my masters treat me better than Mother ever did. I’m thankful.”

  I widened my eyes in surprise. “Didn’t think I’d hear that.”

  Jasa smiled. “I get fed three times a day, have a good night’s rest. We have off days, too, and I have a husband who keeps me company and two little boys who are allowed to play as much as they want until they’re required to pick up duties. For someone lacking ambition, this is a pretty good life. I’m happy with what I have. That’s enough.”

  “But you can’t decide what you want to do.”

  “I’m satisfied—that’s all that matters. I have a roof over my head. What more could I ask for? Not everybody in Haven can experience the luxuries I’m provided here.”

  I would never be content living life like Jasa, however. I needed to choose my own life. Freedom. Autonomy. The lack of it would be akin to torture. Maybe it was because I liked to do things my way, regardless of how dumb I acted sometimes. The mistakes were what made things fun.

  Jasa took a step back, finishing with my makeup. “There,” she said. “All ready for the festival.” She passed me a small mirror with leaves and tiny vines wrapped around its edges. I looked at my reflection, inspecting her work. I thought Hansel was better with makeup, but Jasa had done a pretty good job.

  “It’s pretty,” I said.

  “I had a good canvas,” Jasa replied. She set her brushes in a finely decorated box. With a warm smile, she said, “Now you’re all ready for the festival.”

  They called the coming festival the Fruition of Athena. “So, why the fuss over a fruit? Is it supposed to belong to Satan or something? Will the person who eats it gain knowledge of everything and everyone?”

  Jasa’s brow crinkled. “Satan? Who is that?”

  I found it strange that the servants around here had no concept of churches and stuff. “Some guy who nobody likes.” I waved my hand dismissively and stood, straightening the dress.

  “Ah,” Jasa said. “I feel sorry for him, then.”

  “You really shouldn’t.”

  She refocused our conversation on the festival. “The tree the fig grows from was planted by Athena herself. It gives the Great Centaur the ability to control the animals in the forest, and that is how we thrive, maintain order, grow here. The crown prince will eat the fig in place of the king today. The first step of his succession. It is a momentous occasion.” When Jasa brushed a lock of hair away from her mouth, I noticed how slim and dainty her finger
s were. “Everybody in the Garden is excited.”

  I tried to join in the excitement of the festivities, but all I could think about was Devon and how this party seemed like a waste of time.

  “Your vassals are waiting outside,” Jasa said. Earlier, just like me, they’d been led away to be dressed by the slaves. I wondered how my vassals might look.

  Jasa led me out of the room they’d given me and into the corridor. The first vassal I saw was Hansel. I paused, fighting through the mental glitch that made me stop in my tracks. I almost didn’t recognize the three of them.

  They usually dressed casually, in jeans or plain pants. Now, however, my vassals were in costumes, looking like princes ripped out of a fantasy book. Hansel’s loose locks had been clipped back with bronze accessories, revealing more of his chiseled features. Theo’s exotic skin contrasted with the body-hugging crimson uniform he wore. His gorgeous green eyes matched perfectly with his outfit, and they shone more than usual. They’d even given him a sword that he hung around his waist, and he reminded me of a knight.

  Liam was dressed in a uniform, too, but his was a deep purple color. They’d painted makeup on their faces, and Liam’s gave him a shadowed look that complemented the coldness he portrayed. Whoever had dressed him had let most of his straight, long raven hair down. The brooch of a stag clipped on his chest matched his ocean-colored eyes.

  Hansel snapped his fingers in front of my face. “I think we’ve lost her.”

  “I, uh, am…” Crap. They looked so good that they’d knocked the words out of me. “You’re hotter than usual,” I said to Hansel. “I like it.”

  A crooked smile spread across Hansel’s face. I had the sudden urge to latch my mouth over his and kiss his face off, but we had a party to attend.

  “And what about me?” Theo asked, adjusting the hems of his sleeves. His features grew more intense with jealousy, and I enjoyed being able to rile him up like that.

  “I could lick you all day.”

  Liam arched a brow. Unlike Theo, he didn’t fish for compliments, and was quick to turn away, stalking down the corridor. “No licking, for now. We have a party to attend, and King Axies doesn’t like latecomers. We haven’t gotten the elixir from him yet, and the centaurs are known to be violent when they’re offended, so we should really refrain from offending them.”

  Liam, despite his questionable sense of direction, knew the layout of the centaur temple better than most of us, and he led us to the banquet hall.

  I strode next to him, wanting to strike up conversation. “You’re different when around the centaurs,” I said.

  “How so?” Liam replied. He looked bored.

  “You act like less of a dick.”

  “You irritate me, that’s all.” Only Liam could say that with a straight face. The careless way he acted made my fist more attracted to his jaw. “Way more than the centaurs do. Benjie and I used to hang out all the time whenever I visited. We’d play hide and seek in the forest, and the entire time, I didn’t feel an ounce of hate toward him.”

  “Hate. You hate me?” Hearing that hurt me for some reason. It shouldn’t.

  “You’re trouble,” he said. Finally, he decided to give me the decency of some eye contact, and the intensity of his expression only served to confuse me even more. “I don’t know what to do with you.”

  I shrugged. “I have an idea that might make things easier. You don’t have to think so hard about it. Just treat me like a queen.”

  He snorted. “Tough luck. I’ll serve my duty, but if you expect me to bend to your every whim like the two suckers behind me, then you really don’t know me very well.”

  “Hey,” Theo said, “we’re right behind you.”

  “I’m not afraid of hurt feelings.”

  “Oh, really? If you didn’t mention it, then wouldn’t have guessed,” Hansel replied.

  Liam’s cocky exterior faded abruptly when his gaze fixed on something in front of us. I looked ahead and saw a young centaur woman in a flowing dress. She was the definition of gorgeous, with blond locks that almost verged on white, pale and creamy skin, and a curvaceous figure—the part of her that was human, anyway. The rest of her body was pure horse, her coat a sleek black. She peeked at us while attempting to avoid eye contact.

  “Who’s that?” I asked.

  Liam groaned.

  She flitted her eyes to us hesitantly once more, before tearing them away the moment she met Liam’s.

  Liam dragged his hand down his face. “She’s always like this, looking at me strangely from the sidelines and never daring to approach. It makes the whole thing awkward.” Softening his voice, he muttered, “I want her to confess to me already so that I can reject her nicely.”

  “Is that Benjie’s sister?” I asked. I recalled Liam mentioning something about her being obsessed.

  He sighed. “Yep. She’s an odd one.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me along with him. “Her name’s Raie.” It was the first time he’d reached for me, and I had a suspicion that he only did so to ward Raie off. The moment Liam touched me, Raie’s expression turned venomous, and I got an inkling that Liam had unknowingly given me an enemy. I wrinkled my nose. I didn’t need any unnecessary drama with any of his crushes. I had enough troubles to deal with.

  Liam led me to the banquet hall where they were holding the feast. I had high expectations for the centaurs. They were, after all, magical creatures, so they must celebrate in fantastical ways.

  The centaurs guarding the entrance pushed the doors open the moment they saw Liam. They greeted him with gentle bows, and Liam returned the gesture.

  “What exactly did you do to make them treat you so nicely here?” I asked. “You seem to always be stepping on toes.”

  “I’m not always a prick,” he replied.

  “Just with me—”

  I stopped mid-sentence when the grandeur of the festivities hit me in the face. A string quartet bathed the surreal interior with melodious tunes. In the center of the hall was a huge oak that grew through the wooden floor, its branches decorated with glass lanterns shaped like jars, their contents lit by fireflies that zipped back and forth. A circle of tables surrounded the oak, displaying heaps of savory and sweet foods that made my mouth water. My expectations had been thoroughly exceeded.

  Centaurs bustled around the interior, all clothed in fine robes and exquisite accessories. I peered down at my outfit. Five minutes ago, I thought my dress was too elaborate. Now, I thought it looked drab. Maybe I should have requested a huge ball gown instead. I looked like a maidservant compared to some of these centaurs. As they danced, the fabric about them floated around, giving them a mythical look.

  “Refreshments, ma’am?” a human servant holding a tray of drinks asked.

  The festivities had begun, and the centaurs danced in the middle of the ballroom, their hooves playing a rhythmic canter that I couldn’t help but tap my foot to.

  Hansel leaned toward me. “This looks fun. It’ll help you get your mind off things.”

  “You’re always on about that,” I said, unable to tear my eyes away from the grand sight. “Getting my mind off things.”

  “I could get you off, too,” he said.

  When I turned to look at him, I saw the sly smile curving the corner of his lips.

  “The elixir first,” I said. “We need to concentrate on what’s important. We can talk about that after.”

  Across from me, a centaur blew into a huge horn.

  King Axies came from behind the large oak tree. He looked more jovial than before. Raising a cup, he bellowed, “To the hundred-year fig!”

  “To the hundred-year fig!” the centaurs echoed.

  I scratched my head. It was the first time I’d seen so many people toast a fruit. Then again, I’d experienced many firsts after coming to Haven.

  Theo put his arms around me. “Let us dance, Cara.”

  I let myself get dragged away by him, loving the way Theo treated me like a princess.

  In the
corner of my eye, I spotted King Axies staring at me. There was something odd about the curve of his lips. His kind expression unsettled me.

  Maybe I was imagining things.

  Hansel held my hair away from my face as I threw up in the bucket.

  “I’m dying,” I said. I’d had too much to drink, and I couldn’t hold my alcohol very well. “I regret everything.”

  Hansel passed me a towel when I sat back up and wiped the vomit from the side of my mouth. The putrid scent added to my nausea and induced my gag reflex once more. I retched, then grabbed the sides of the bucket. Surprisingly, I had no more left to vomit. I’d must have eaten enough food to feed an army. The assortment the centaurs had provided us had proven irresistible, and because I loved free food so much, I had no choice but to stuff my face with cakes, meat, carbs, and everything available there.

  I sat back on my haunches, then wiped the back of my mouth. I sighed. I hoped that was the last I had left to vomit. My mouth tasted bitter.

  Hansel let my hair go and walked out of the bathroom. I heard him pouring something. The sound was followed by the knocking of his boots against the floorboard.

  “Here,” Hansel said. “Have some water.”

  I lifted my hand, rejecting his offer. “Ugh, no thank you. I think I’d just throw the water back up.” There were leaves growing in the washrooms of the Garden, and the smell of foliage added to how sick I felt. Why couldn’t the centaurs decorate their washrooms with marbled tiles like normal humans did?

  Hansel forced the glass of water into my hand anyway. “Drink. You’re losing fluids from throwing up so much.”

  Hansel only sounded aggressive when my health was concerned. I appreciated his care, but I really didn’t need him to mother me. Grudgingly, I accepted the glass and took some water into my mouth. I used the first gulp to wash away the vomit, spat it out, then downed the whole cup.

  “That’s a good girl,” Hansel said.

  Did he really have to praise me that sensually? If I weren’t so shit-faced, I might have been turned on. Instead, I was too busy trying to get over my pounding headache and the annoying ringing in my ears. “Tuck me into bed, please?” I asked, not caring that I sounded like a whiny child. I was in too much pain to care about anything. The centaurs’ drinks were definitely made out of magic. They didn’t really seem that strong. I’d knocked back too many, thinking that they were harmless and sweet, but afterward, the strength of them hit me like a whirlwind. I might have also wanted to drown my sorrows because I was still feeling guilty about Devon. Hansel did tell me to get my mind off things, after all. I might have taken his suggestion too seriously.