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Thanks to the reviewers: CajunBear73, Guns Knives and Napalm, Michael Howard, Sentinel103, Katsumara, screaming phoenix, bigherb81, Isamu, Wanderer3, keth1 and BlueEyedBrigadier, our Warrior Princess appreciates the company.
Now my lord knew the lengths to which Kim Krimson would go for revenge upon her enemies, but how far would he go for a friend?
Chapter 11: Theology
Brown eyes narrowed as Ronman of Actuaria took in the sword's challenge. The wild heart within him answered its cruel mockery.
I've never seen anyone as deadly as Kim. But cold? There's nothing cold about her.
Indeed, the sigh of the one beside him could never come from anyone cold. "Vivian told me about herself that night on the mound. She was a sorceress of Old Boulder, robbed of a great discovery. No one would listen to a woman, so she made a pact of vengeance. After she killed the man who'd cheated her, she simply waited for the City Guard to come and arrest her. The judge asked her why; she gave him no answer. Since she was a sorceress they put her to death in such a way that no one could ever resurrect her. It took four days but she never said a word or cried out. 'No heart, no pain.' She said."
The soft green eyes looked into his. "I would do it all over again. Make the same pact, plunge that dagger into my heart, offer my soul. I'm willing to become a Tear of Vengeance if that's what it takes to free my people. But I want to remember life, love.
"Yet when I listen to Vivian, when I see her in my dreams, I know. My humanity will be stripped away a little at a time, until I'm just as cold and heartless as she is."
"Not if I can help it." Ronman stepped away from Kimila and up to the ledge. His sword rang as he drew it over his head.
"Shrom!"
The call echoed from the hills around them. He looked to see bewilderment on Kim Krimson's face. It only strengthened his resolve. Again he turned and called out.
"Shrom! Your servant has triumphed over the odds and now someone tries to deny him what he has rightfully won!"
"I'm not a 'what'!" Kim snapped.
"Gods kinda see us that way. But if the sagas are clear on one thing, gods love telling each other what to do. Shrom's one of the big dudes, He'll make your Moon Goddess see reason."
"She's not a Moon Goddess. She's…" The Warrior Princess rolled her eyes. "Go ahead, but this is a bad idea."
Kim's caution did nothing to dampen Ronman's confidence. He smiled broadly as clouds gathered in what had been a clear night sky. They formed the shape of a great mountain. A beam of light broke through and a massive figure emerged to stand beside the moon.
Ronman the Actuarian looked in awe upon his god. Shrom was of powerful build, mighty arms rippled with muscles as they folded across a chest covered with the fur of a thousand cave bears. His face was strong, his hair and beard were two shades of brown. A patch covered his left eye, while the great right hand was made of steel.
*WHO CALLS ME?*
Be bold. "I, Ronman, son of Dean and Barbara of the Stoppable Clan of the Fearless Ferret Tribe, call upon you for justice!" He made an open handed gesture at Kim. "I defeated this woman in open combat, which by her own vow makes her mine. She was about to give herself to me when her sword went and played steel blanket."
The single eye glowered. *NO ONE DENIES THE CHILDREN OF OLD BOULDER THEIR RIGHTFUL SPOILS! WHERE IS THIS GODDESS BLADE?*
Kimila stepped up beside Ronman. "I am Kimila Possible, Warrior Princess of Middletonia. What makes you think a goddess is behind this?"
*EVER KNOW A GOD TO DEMAND CELIBACY?* The god looked upon her approvingly. *SHE IS INDEED WORTHY OF AN ACTUARIAN: HER COURAGE OUTSHINES HER CONSIDERABLE BEAUTY.*
Kim found herself blushing furiously.
*NOW, WHERE IS THIS IMPUDENT BLADE?*
Kim drew her sword. Vivian immediately left the blade to float defiantly in the god's face. She did not flinch before His baleful gaze.
*GHOST, SUMMON YOUR MISTRESS!*
Vivian raised her arms and gave a cry as piercing as any Banshee.
"ELISTHAR!"
*OH, SNAP.* Shrom mumbled as quietly as a god could.
A second figure filled the night sky. She was slender yet powerful. The frost covered face was beautiful, marred only by a patch over Her right eye. As she stood to Shrom's right, Her good eye glared into His.
*YOU. I SHOULD HAVE KNOW. WHAT'S THE MATTER, NO REAL PRAYERS COMING YOUR WAY SO YOU'RE OUT TRYING TO GRANT SOME GUY A MULLIGAN?*
*THIS IS NO TRIVAL MATTER! YOUR SLAVE WOULD DENY THIS BOY HIS VICTORY! YOU HAD YOUR BLIND EYE ON THINGS AGAIN, DIDN'T YOU?*
"NO, AND EVEN IF I HAD, WHOSE FAULT WOULD THAT BE, BROTHER?*
Ronman and Kimila exchanged glances. "You're related?" he gulped.
"And you put her eye out?" Kim asked.
*I AM THE ELDER BROTHER.*
*BY FOUR MINUTES!* Elisthar turned to her follower. *AND THE CLUMSY OAF DID PUT MY EYE OUT.*
*I WAS RIGHT ON TARGET! WE WERE PLAYING 'SMITE THE BLASPHEMER' AND YOU FLINCHED!*
*I NEVER FLINCHED!* Elisthar snarled. *YOU JERKED YOUR HAND AS YOU THREW THE DART! MAYBE YOU HEARD UNCLE KNOR'S CHARIOT DRIVING BY AND GOT STARTLED. THUNDER ALWAYS MADE YOU JUMP, DIDN'T IT, SHELDROM?*
"Sheldrom?" The mortals asked each other.
"Jinx! You owe me a cup of wine." Kim smiled.
Shrom was angered, and the earth shook, and fire and wind swept over the ledge causing Ronman and Kimila to dive for cover behind the log.
*IT'S SHROM NOW! AND I HAVE AN ENTIRE NATION OF FOLLOWERS. WHAT DO YOU HAVE? A BUNCH OF BITTER LITTLE MISSIES ON THEIR WAY TO BECOMING GHOSTLY OLD MAIDS!*
Behind the log a princess grimaced. "He did not just call me 'little missy'. Ronman grabbed her before she could confront an angry god.
"Family issues. Maybe we should stay out of this."
Elisthar's cheeks heated enough to melt the frost on them. *I AM THE GODDESS OF UNIVERSAL VENGEANCE!*
"So, you put his eye out?" Kim called from their safe haven.
*NO, I CHOPPED THE OFFENDING HAND OFF!*
Now Ronman stood up. "What happened to your eye, Shrom? Thousands of Actuarians want to know."
*I LOST IT AT A FIRE JUGGLING FESTIVAL, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU PEOPLE STILL HOLD THAT INSANE THING.*
"Mom's said that a few times herself."
Shrom turned to Elisthar, His smirk one of divine proportions. *MOM AND DAD NEARLY MADE YOU THE GODDESS OF NIGHTLY SHOWERS, DIDN'T THEY, BETSTHAR…*
Actuarian and Middletonian flattened themselves to the ground as Elisthar brought a glowing silver-white sword down toward Her brother's head. Shrom caught it on the haft of His great double-headed axe. The skies filled with clouds threatening the storm of the millennia. Before it could break another voice thundered.
*STOP IT, KIDS.*
A third figure towered over the struggling pair. His craggy face was framed by shaggy blond hair and a full beard. Dark eyes held power but seemed almost expressionless. He shook His head and sighed. *NOW WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?*
Brother and Sister knew better than to try to do anything but obey their Father, the Head of the Pantheon. They pointed to the log. He gave a tired smile.
*COME ON OUT, KIDS, IT'S SAFE NOW.*
Red haired princess and blond barbarian peeked over the log. They stood up at the god's urging. He pointed at Kim.
*HE DISARMED YOU?*
"Yes, sir. Nobody had ever done that before. Vivian said it was my call. I started to undress but I thought about Drakken."
*AND FOUGHT ON. HE DIDN'T BEAT YOU, KID; HE JUST HAD YOU AT A DISADVANTAGE. HE EITHER HAD TO TIE YOU UP OR RUN YOU THROUGH TO WIN. GLAD HE DIDN'T DO THE SECOND ONE; YOU TWO MAKE A CUTE COUPLE. BET YOU COULD TURN OUT SOME GREAT LITTLE HEROES OF YOUR OWN.*
Great arms pulled Shrom and Elisthar close. *HOPE THEY'D GET ALONG BETTER THAN THESE TWO. BOY IF YOU EVER GAIN THE ADVANTAGE AGAIN, PRESS IT! THIS IS A GIRL WHO'LL NEVER THROW A FIGHT.*
Next He looked at Kim. *AND REMEMBER, PRINCESS, IT'S NOT VENGEANCE YOU WANT, BUT JUSTICE.*
Next he looked to His own children. *COME ON, KIDS. IT'S MIDNIGHT AND THESE TWO NEED THEIR REST.*
Elisthar cleared her throat. *DAD, IT'S NEARLY DAWN.*
For the first time the craggy face was all smiles. *HONEY, I DECIDE WHAT TIME IT IS.*
The clouds cleared and darkness returned to the horizon. Two youths stood alone.
"I told you it wouldn't work." Kim shook her head as she sheathed her sword.
"No, you said it was a bad idea."
The Warrior Princess' sharp look dissolved into laughs. "Right you are, Mr. Barbarian. Now, let's go break camp."
"Excuse me, but it is midnight. Wouldn't want to insult the gods by not getting some sleep, would we?"
"No." a sudden yawn reminded Kim how tired she was. "I think Ol' Viv here won't mind us sharing a tent, would you, girl?"
The sword at her side sulked. Smiling, the two walked back to the quiet camp. They nodded to Wadelin as they headed for the tent. Once they were inside the Alchemist resumed puzzling over the night sky.
A second pallet went down on the tent floor, a cubit's distance from the first. This time she slipped on a short tunic before doffing her armor. He watched her settle in under her blankets. Green eyes fluttered as she looked over at him.
"Good night, Ronman. Tomorrow you meet the fam."
"Coolio." He smiled. "I can't wait."
"You say that now." She breathed. In a moment she was asleep.
He watched her sleep for a while. Dreams came to her quickly; at first she smiled, but soon there was concern on her face. Her hand crept out from under the blanket as though searching for something. Without thinking he took it into his. Fingers wrapped around his just like Hana used to do. And like his little sister, Kim sighed and relaxed.
"Goodnight, Kim."
