Alright. I finally decided on a year for this story. It is currently 204 H.E.. I actually really like this chapter. The end finally gave me a story. (I usually come up with a character and setting then just go from there.) I hope I did a good job with Kyprioth. He's my favorite God so I tried to do him justice. Tell me what you think.
I'm dedicating this chapter to Raine of Terragen because I told myself that I couldn't read chapter 27 of her story until I finished writing this chapter.
Review and tell me what you think!
~Roki
Gods
It took Denna a few moments to realize where she was. Everything around her was blindingly white. She racked her brain, wondering why the emptiness looked familiar. She had entered the Temple of the Goddess and spoken with a priestess before falling asleep on a bench. Now she was in the emptiness.
"My daughter," a voice said from behind her.
Denna spun around to see a woman dressed as a warrior. She was tall, with white skin, black hair, and full red lips. Denna knew this woman, it was the Great Mother Goddess, her mother.
Denna bowed her head in response to the Goddess. After a few seconds, a hand lifted her chin up and she found herself looking into the Goddess's emerald eyes.
"You look so much like your parents," the Goddess said affectionately. "Except your eyes."
"Goddess," Denna said, jerking her chin out of the Goddess's hand. "My parents are dead and my home is gone. I have come to you for help."
The Great Mother Goddess smiled. "Did your mother not tell you? They were raising a goddess."
Denna shook her head, not really taking in what the Goddess said.
"You are my daughter. You are a goddess, Dennari."
It was the use of Denna's full name that made her pay attention to her mother. "I'm a goddess?"
The Goddess nodded. "You are, but I placed you in a mortal body and gave you to your mortal parents. They raised you well."
Denna was confused. "What does that mean for me?"
"It means, you will live out your mortal life. When you die, you will join me here instead of going to the Peaceful Realms."
Before Denna had a chance to ask any more questions, the Goddess was gone. Frustrated, Denna closed her eyes and took a few slow breaths to calm herself down.
When she opened her eyes again, Denna found herself laying on the bench she had fallen asleep on. By the way the moonlight shone on the wall and the condition of the candles lit around the room, she knew that she hadn't been with the Goddess for long.
A young woman in the robes of a priestess walked up to her with a cup in her hands. "Here my Lady, drink this," she said, giving Denna the cup. "It's just tea, but it's supposed to help after a visit from Gods."
Denna nodded her thanks and took the tea. She sat up and took a sip of the drink. It was a strong herbal tea, too strong for her taste, but Denna drank it anyway.
"Do you have a place where I can stay for the night?" Denna asked the priestess. "One of my friends said he will be here for me tomorrow, but I don't have a place to stay tonight."
"Of course my Lady, you may stay as long as you need."
"Just the one night, thank you."
The priestess lead Denna to one of the many rooms in the temple for women who had fled their homes. Once inside the room, Denna sat down on the bed, relieved.
"If I may ask your friend's name who will come for you my Lady. We do not allow men who are not Mithrin priests back here; your friend will need to give his name in order to take you."
"Yes, it will either be Joshua Lerren or Sundiata Kane. Joshua also goes by Josha and Sundiata goes by Diata, incase they don't give their full names."
The priestess curtsied to her before leaving the room.
Denna made herself comfortable on the bed and tried to fall asleep.
"Lady Dennari of Legann, it's a pleasure to officially make your acquaintance."
Denna looked around. She was back in the emptiness, but she was standing on what felt like grass. On closer inspection, grass did begin to appear. It spread from her feet out for several yards until she stood at the center of grassy field.
"I wish I could say likewise," Denna said, spinning slowly on the spot, trying to see who had spoken.
"Back here."
The voice had come from behind her. Denna spun around to see a man sitting on a boulder that she knew wasn't there a second ago.
The man appeared to be middle aged, with salt and pepper hair and beard. He wore an outlandish amount of jewelry and clothing similar to those worn by Diata's part-raka mother. Denna knew who he was by the look in his mischievous brown eyes.
"Kyprioth. I suppose I'm supposed to say it's a pleasure as well.
The God smiled. "I see you've inherited your mother's prejudice about me."
"And she wouldn't be happy about you being here, Trickster. Especially not after your recent banishment from your own home. You're trespassing."
"That was 30 years ago," Kyprioth said, waving away her words. "I just want to talk to my niece."
Denna sighed, "What is it?"
Kyproth created another boulder for her to sit on. "Please, sit." He gestured to the chair with a mocking bow and they both sat on the boulders. "Now, don't you think it's unfair that my sister is making you wait?"
"Wait for what?"
"To become a god, of course."
"I'll wait if that's what it takes. I have a life here."
She didn't like the look on Kyprioth's face as he laughed. "You don't have to wait. Think about this for a second. I can help you shed your mortality and become who you were born to be."
"Why would you even consider helping me?"
The God opened his arms wide, as if he were to hug her. "Family helps one another."
Denna scoffed at him. "Why don't I believe that?"
"Alright, you win. My brother is trying to rid me of my last position her on the mainland." At Denna's confused look he added, "Your lovely friend, Sundiata.
You see, almost every Rogue is mine, even in the smallest way. But Diata is part-raka. My divine brother wants to put his man on my throne. I can't allow that to happen, not after my loss of the Copper Isles."
"And why does this concern me?" Denna asked, through she felt she knew the answer.
"Diata needs to find this man and kill him, but I know that without your help, he will die in the attempt and then my brother will have won anyway."
"I take it my current abilities aren't strong enough to help him the way I am."
A smile played across the God's face. "Not at all." He stood up and clapped his hands together. "So, what will it be: Do I get to kill off your mortality or do you let your friend die?"
Denna fell silent. She knew what her only choice was, but she didn't want to face it. She couldn't let Diata die, but she didn't know how much she could trust the Cooked God sitting in front of her.
"I can't let Di die," she finally said.
They both stood up and Kyprioth walked over to her. "I didn't think so," he said, kissing her on the cheek.