The Blood of a Traitor
The City of the Gods…
George sat at a large desk in a room full of ancient manuscripts. He waited as Numair finished reading over the scroll. The mage sat back and rubbed his eyes with a sigh.
"Well? It's true isn't it? What my man told you is true." George could hardly contain his excitement. Numair nodded his head.
"It seems that we have a Goddess for a neighbour; Isa the Goddess of Immortals no less." Numair said, concerned at what this might mean for Tortall. He went over the details of the manuscript in his mind. The Goddess, having annoyed her older sibling, the Great Gods, by taking the mortal ruler of Scanra as her lover and consort was punished. She was imprisoned in a large mountain deep in the north of the country she loved so well. Her lover was turned to stone, black opal, as a warning to others. It seemed that Isa had escaped her stone prison and now wandered the world masquerading as a mortal. "Have you told the King?"
"I sent messengers out a few days ago. They should reach Jon by tonight. But I don't know why I bothered; there is nothing we can do against a Goddess." George replied.
Persopolis…
Isa kept Randell at her heel as she strolled around the assembly hall talking with the Lords and Ladies of the Tortallan court. She pretended not to notice the weary messenger that handed a note to one of the King's servants who, in turn, handed the message to Jon. A small smile crept its way across her face; they knew. That was fine by her; by now her people were hours away and heading towards the border. She could feel the magical connection between her and the black opal ball. The stone would warn her if anything threatened her people.
Jon read and re-read the message, unwilling to believe it. But George would not joke about such things; the Empress was actually a goddess… He handed the note to his wife and directed his manservant to keep a close eye on the servants that the Empress had brought with her. He then conferred with Thayet, both deciding that the best thing to do was to be upfront with the Empress. Jon prayed that George and Numair had been mistaken.
"Cousin Isa won't you come and help settle a dispute between my grandson and Rikash." Thayet asked merrily, more of an order than a request. Isa sat beside Rikash as the Queen resumed her seat beside the King. "Now Adrian here believes that the Great Gods are in charge of the Immortals but Rikash says that they have their own God. We just can't decide who is right, having never heard of an immortal god. Do you know of anything that could help us?"
"That is not the question you really wish to ask me is it?" Isa smiled sweetly. Jon shifted uncomfortably and Isa knew she had them worried. "Perhaps Randell here can fill you in if you are still unable to realise who I am. He has told you enough about me already." Randell started to back away but, with a click of her fingers, Isa sent fiery ropes of magic to restrain the traitor.
"I never would never betray my Goddess!" Randell cried. Isa laughed cruelly. There was a crashing sound as the three Coldfangs came plodding into the room, prepared to protect Isa with their large, poisonous fangs.
"Your Goddess? I have never been your Goddess!" She snapped at Randell. Pietas let out a snarl of laughter.
"The blood of a traitor to awaken the King; sounds like a fair trade to me." Amor snickered. Everyone apart from Isa and Rikash clamped their hands to their ears as protection against the magical venom-rich words that the immortal spoke.
"But you gave back the other spies. Why would you kill him just to wake up a king?" Rikash asked confused.
"Because the other spies were expendable and easy to spot; I could not see Randell true nature until we came here. I, unlike my brothers and sisters, am not so good at reading you mortals. But then my children don't seem so intent on killing each other as you do." Isa replied.
"But who is this supposed king?" Jon asked angrily.
"The king is no mortal being. He once ruled Scanra but, after becoming my mistress's consort, he became an immortal, a God." Caritas hissed, advancing on the young noble. While others around him backed away Rikash stood his ground. "The mortal Gods turned him to stone for daring to become a God of Immortals, for daring to love our Goddess. They imprisoned Isa, Goddess of Immortals, inside of a mountain, leaving her weak and vulnerable."
"But our Goddess was patient and we, her children, were loyal. We broke her free of her captivity and will set her back on her proper throne." Pietas flicked his forked tongue, tasting the fear in the air. He circled Randell. "Shall I finish him now?"
"No, not right away," Isa warned, "we need to get a few things first." The Coldfangs escorted Randell from the room as Isa stared at the Tortallan monarchs and Rikash. This place would make a nice capital," She looked around the room with a wicked smile, "I hope you like bonfires; I think that Corus will look lovely by firelight."
