16. Divine Retribution

When Lorelai's vision returned, she was disoriented, as though she had been hit on the head and stuffed into an unfamiliar room. After a cursory look around, that did not seem far from the truth.

Lorelai was in a strange but vaguely familiar landscape of dark hexagonal stone forming moving platforms and sparkling mountains. She did not know how she had come here and why she knew this place, but she supposed she had little else to do but explore. Lorelai took her time wandering the place. There were no obvious entrances or exits, and the glowing stone seemed to be floating in the midst of nothingness. There was a clear path to follow, the only path, but Lorelai kept a careful eye out for hidden offshoots. There were none that she noticed.

Her gaze was finally drawn to a bright golden light in the distance, so she hurried in that direction. When she arrived, she was met with an odd sight: a young elven girl surrounded by the golden glow who was standing alone in this place. Lorelai approached cautiously, expecting another illusion.

The little girl tilted her head to the side and stepped towards Lorelai. "…Mama?" the little girl asked. "Mama, is that you?"

Lorelai gazed at the young elf, baffled. "No, child, I am not your mother," she said quizzically. "Is there something… I can do to aid you?"

"Mama, you do not recognize me?" the girl asked, a pleading note to her voice. "They… they said you would not, but you must. You must."

Lorelai glanced around uneasily and took a step back. "Where am I?" she inquired. "Why are you addressing me?"

The little elven girl sighed, and her form shimmered and stretched. The child turned into a short human woman who reached out towards Lorelai. Though she watched the figure with excessive caution, Lorelai remained still and allowed the golden woman to lay a hand on her skeletal arm.

"I apologize for the deception, my child," the woman said in a soft, gentle voice that made Lorelai want to lean forwards and allow herself to be enveloped in the light. She resisted the urge, only staring at the woman in silence. "It was necessary to test you."

"Test me?" Lorelai repeated. "Why? Should I recognize you?"

"No, not me," the woman said with a gentle laugh. "I am Amadia, and you, my child, are my chosen. You are my Godwoken."

"I have… three questions to that," Lorelai said slowly, trying not to show that her mind was reeling with alarm and skepticism. "First… can you prove your claim of being the goddess Amadia?"

"Yes," Amadia murmured. "Feel my power. Know the truth…" Lorelai jerked backwards as a wave of pure Source rushed towards her, more than she had ever felt before. The raw power left her dazed for a moment, and she stared at the golden woman with a new wariness.

"Perhaps… you are Amadia," Lorelai acknowledged, alarm beginning to overtake the skepticism. "Second, where am I?"

"Where else would one meet a goddess?" Amadia asked, a small laugh floating from her lips.

"The Hall of Echoes," Lorelai murmured as curiosity started to envelop her. "I see…" Before she could grow too distracted, Lorelai shook her head and looked to the goddess again. "Four questions," she corrected herself. "I have four questions."

"Ask, my child."

"Third, by calling me your Godwoken, are you insinuating that you wish me to be the next Divine?"

"Yes," Amadia said eagerly. "Yes, indeed."

"I do not want to be a Divine," Lorelai said blandly. "The concept holds no appeal to me."

"I know, my child," Amadia said with overwhelming fondness. "Now, ask your final question."

"Fourth, what did you mean that it was necessary to test me?" Lorelai asked.

"Ah, and now we arrive at the heart of the matter," Amadia said. "As you just said yourself, you are not ready to accept your fate. Therefore, my child, I shall help you."

Since Amadia had not answered the question, Lorelai remained carefully silent.

"I see you are not to be distracted," Amadia laughed. "The form I chose before, did you recognize it?"

Lorelai shook her head slowly. If she had breath, there would be none flowing into her lungs.

"It was not a lie," Amadia stated.

"How do you mean?" Lorelai inquired with false calmness.

"That was a glimpse of what you missed, a life that could have been, a life that you have always regretted not pursuing."

"Speak plainly," Lorelai ordered as she hid her panic behind a brisk visage. "What was that image, and why did you show it to me?"

"That was your little Melody," Amadia revealed with a gentle smile that did not keep Lorelai from freezing in place.

"You…" Lorelai gaped at Amadia, then shook her head. "Lies," she stated.

"Your daughter, the daughter that you left behind, lived on without you," Amadia purred. "Would you like to know more?"

Lorelai's mind fell blank, and she stared uncomprehendingly at Amadia. "You… can tell me about Melody?" she asked dumbly.

"Yes, I can."

"You know what… happened to her?" Lorelai asked, dazed with incomprehension. "Did... was… was she happy? Please, tell me she was happy!"

"If you wish to know more, you must—"

"Of course I bloody wish to know more!" Lorelai yelled, stepping forwards so that she was nearly passing through Amadia.

"Calm yourself," Amadia soothed, but Lorelai waved her hand sharply.

"You cannot simply offer that knowledge and expect me to sit passively!" Lorelai shouted. "Tell me what you know!"

"If you wish to know more," Amadia began again, "find a man named Fane."

"A what?" Lorelai snapped. "No, tell me now!"

"Fane is still in Fort Joy," Amadia continued without pause, "searching for a mask to hide his true face. Present him with such a gift, and he shall help you. Bring him the next time you return to me." Amadia smiled kindly. "But before you go, child, I shall teach you something important."

"Wait, what do you mean?" Lorelai shouted in a panicked voice. "Explain!"

"I bless you so that you may Bless others…" A rush of power consumed Lorelai just as Amadia's form began to fade. "Goodbye, my child…" her voice echoed.

"No, no, do not dare to bloody leave!" Lorelai cried as her vision cut out for a moment. Amadia disappeared to be replaced by a familiar statue. "You absolute inconsiderate piece of goat in—"

"Lorelai?" Ifan's voice interrupted carefully.

"—testines!"

Lorelai looked around rapidly for Amadia, but the goddess was no longer present. Instead, she was surrounded by the rest of her companions, outside of the Hall of Echoes.

"I…" Growing overwhelmed with incomprehensible emotion, Lorelai rushed to the statue and hit it as hard as she could. She felt her bones crack at the contact. "What happened?" Lorelai shrieked to the silent statue. "Tell me what happened to her!" Lorelai raised her fist to slam it against the stone again, but someone caught her arm and pulled her away. "Let me go!" Lorelai shouted. "I need to get back! I need to get back!"

"Lorelai, stop!" Ifan's deep voice rang through her skull, and Lorelai's distress faded slightly, enough that she could think. "Lorelai, what's going on?" he asked urgently. "You just froze! Did you see something?"

"That matters not," Lorelai breathed, still gazing at the statue. "She said… she…" Lorelai took a deep breath and forcibly instructed her nonexistent muscles to relax. She took another breath and gently shrugged off Ifan's grip. "I… I need to find Fane," Lorelai murmured.

"Who?" Ifan asked, still hovering.

"I need to find Fane," she repeated as though in a trance. "I need to. I need—"

Sebille swept in front of Lorelai and placed her hands on each of Lorelai's cheekbones. The elf's gaze was steady, unyielding, and held Lorelai's eyes intently. "Explain, dear one," she ordered in a low voice.

Lorelai's body trembled uncontrollably, but she managed a stiff nod. Sebille smiled and released her face before slinking away. Lorelai slowly turned around to her two expectant companions.

"I met with… Amadia," she said hoarsely. "She appeared in a form I… I did not recognize. A child. When I inquired to its origin, Amadia said…" Lorelai trailed off and fought back the hysteria threatening to dictate her mind. "She said it was… my daughter," she choked out. "I… did not know… my daughter. I died before I could… I… I always wanted to know… what… what happened to her, and… I… I must… know. I must."

"A daughter?" Ifan repeated, shocked. "And—wait, Amadia? The… goddess? What else did she say?"

Lorelai shook her head, then glanced back at the statue, hoping for a hint, anything at all. "She said that… that I was Godwoken and that she knew I did not want the power of a Divine," she said hesitantly, "that I must be given the incentive to pursue it. She said… she said I needed to find Fane to start me on this path. And… she said that… she would tell me more about my Melody if… if I did so."

"Beware of gods bearing gifts," Sebille said gravely. "Nothing is given freely or even out of benevolence."

"I know," Lorelai said, "but I need to find Fane. I do not care if this is some sort of… trap. I need to… I need—"

"I understand," Ifan interrupted when Lorelai felt herself beginning to babble. "This is important to you. You've been helping me, so it's my turn to return the favor. We'll find Fane as soon as possible." He clapped her firmly on the shoulder and gave her a warm smile.

"I will offer the same," Sebille said briskly. "Do you have any idea where he is? Or, who he is for that matter."

Lorelai clasped both of her hands in front of her and dipped her head into a small bow. "My sincerest gratitude," she said, feeling choked up. "Your kindness is unexpected and without parallel." She took a deep breath to calm herself before speaking again. "Amadia said that Fane remains in Fort Joy for now," she explained, "searching for a mask to hide his true face. She said that if I met him bearing such a gift, he would aid me."

"We just escaped Fort Joy," Ifan pointed out. "Are you saying that we need to go back?"

Lorelai nodded sheepishly. "I would gladly make the journey alone," she offered. "There is no need to put yourselves at risk for me."

"Oh, darling, it's far too late for that," Sebille said dismissively. "If we must go back, so be it. We have already escaped once, and practice makes perfect."

"Aye," Ifan agreed gruffly. "Now, what gift was Amadia talking about? Do you know?"

Lorelai laughed, certain only of that detail. "Well, my friends, we finally have a spot of luck. I know exactly how to make a certain mask that hides one's true face." She cupped her chin playfully, and Ifan smiled. "There are few things more delightful than ripping faces off corpses, yes?"

Sebille gave Lorelai a dark grin while Ifan's smile turned pained.

xXxXxXx

"And… how do we know who Fane is?" Ifan asked as they looked around.

It was strange to Lorelai, being the only one of the group with her face uncovered. Since the magisters were likely searching for them all, Ifan and Sebille were hooded, but Lorelai had her mask. She was unrecognizable. All three had affixed their broken source collars around their necks, and no magister had looked closely enough to notice the deception.

"If Fane is searching for a mask, one would assume he is an Undead," Lorelai stated, "or at least hiding his face. I am quite practiced in recognizing—oh, that may be he."

Lorelai had spotted a shrouded and hooded human talking animatedly with the blacksmith near the entrance of Fort Joy's Ghetto. As she approached, she grew certain she had the correct target.

"—rips off faces," the human was saying casually as he mimed a savage tearing motion with his hands. "It is a handy little tool that I—"

"Get away from me, you butcher!" the blacksmith snapped in reply. "There's no way I'm makin' something like that."

"What?" the human asked, clearly befuddled. "Why not? I will only rip off the faces of corpses, I assure you. No little mortal still in possession of its pathetically tiny life will be harmed." He hesitated. "Er, probably. Drastic times and all."

"Ugh," the blacksmith scoffed disgustedly. "Leave."

"Do you at least know where I can find one?"

Lorelai was now close enough to tap him on the shoulder, so she did. She smiled as she felt nothing but bone under her touch. The Undead gasped and skittered away with his hands held protectively over his face.

"There is no need for such a reaction," she scolded him with a smirk. She nodded to the blacksmith. "Forgive my friend," she said courteously. "He has a curious mind that can occasionally get him into trouble. He means no harm." She gestured with two fingers that the Undead follow her. "Come along, Fane," she said casually, and he jolted. "We have much to discuss."

"How do you…" Fane glanced between the blacksmith and Lorelai before huffing out a sigh. "Fine, fine," he muttered. "These creatures and their misguided morals astound me," he said under his breath as he followed Lorelai. "Now, you," he stated once the blacksmith was out of sight. "How do you know my name?"

Lorelai chuckled. "So cruel," she sighed. "You do not know who I am? I recognized your voice immediately."

"Enough games," Fane said. "This day has been irritating enough as it is."

"Mm," Lorelai mused. "I do apologize for tapping your shoulder back there. If I remember correctly, one must request permission from the other party before initiating physical contact."

Fane stopped short, then turned to her. "Oh… oh!" he gasped. "From the ship! Yes, yes, I remember now." He looked her up and down. "You were a bit more… skeletal at the time," he noted.

"And you were more elven," Lorelai countered. "It seems we reversed our situations quite nicely."

"Do… do you have my mask?" Fane inquired eagerly. "Is that what you are implying? You got it back from that blasted old woman?"

"Ehm, I do not have your mask," Lorelai said, and he slumped. "I do, however, have a handy little face-ripping tool and a mask to spare."

Fane instantly brightened again. "Finally, some good news," he said. He crossed his arms and looked her up and down. "Although… I should not say that just yet," he backtracked, "since I assume you want something in return."

"Of course I do," Lorelai confirmed cheerfully, "but I would like to speak about it in a more private location, if you do not mind."

"Oh? How secretive," Fane said, but he followed her. "I do hope that—" He interrupted himself and paused. "By 'private,'" he said slowly, "are you insinuating 'intimate?' I am quite curious about the mechanics of your mating rituals…"

Lorelai snorted with laughter and patted Fane indulgently on the head until he swatted her hand away with an irritated grumble. "As flattered as I am, Fane," she said, "I do not know how the mechanics of two Undead…" Lorelai paused as she considered another possibility. "I suppose the masks would allow…" She smiled slightly and shook her head. "No, Fane, I was not soliciting you for your services," she said. "You did, however, give me something interesting to think about."

"Er, you are welcome, then," Fane said confusedly. "I suppose my notes on the topic must remain incomplete. For now."

"I am certain all the beaus will be flocking to you once I get you outfitted in a mask," Lorelai assured him. "I found a rather handsome human face. It was attached to a magister, unfortunately, but their kind made up the majority of the nearby corpses." She waved to her other two companions, and they approached cautiously. Fane did not spare them a glance. "Fane was on the ship with us," she explained. "He was the irritable elf reading the book in the corner."

"Oh," Ifan said in surprise. He looked Fane up and down. "You're an Undead, then? Huh. Two Undead on one ship. Fancy that."

"I am not an Undead," Fane scoffed. "I am an Eternal, a god to you people, it would seem."

"Ugh, not another one," Ifan sighed. "We just got rid of the Red Prince."

Lorelai giggled and patted Ifan on the shoulder. "Perhaps this one will grow more palatable over time," she comforted him.

"I am starting to think this mask is not worth spending a moment longer in your company," Fane grumbled.

"No need for such animosity," Lorelai chided as she led the way back the direction from which they had come. "We are, after all, about to break you out of this wonderful prison."

"I thought you were giving me a mask," Fane replied, slight surprise coloring his voice.

"Do you not wish to escape?"

"Please, I could escape whenever I would like," Fane scoffed. "I simply have business here."

"Do you really?" Lorelai inquired cordially. "What is this business of yours?"

"Finding… a mask," Fane admitted. "I see your point." He cleared his throat. "Well, I suppose having a guide would be beneficial," he mused, "and having a mask would be even more so." He sighed in resignation and waved a dismissive hand. "Fine, fine. What is it you need from me in return?"

Lorelai glanced around, uneasy with all the magisters and sorcerers about. "…After we escape again," she said. "It could be a long conversation, and I do not wish to remain here."

"Escape again?" Fane echoed. "You have done so before?"

Lorelai nodded. "Yes. We came back to find you, actually, so you ought to feel grateful."

"I am not particularly surprised," Fane said thoughtfully. "It makes sense that mortals would be drawn to an Eternal such as I…" He hummed under his breath and pulled out a familiar notebook. "Interesting," he murmured as he began writing

"You think highly of yourself," Ifan noted.

"Yes, yes," Fane sighed. "Quite infuriating to you, I am sure. Can we get the pleasantries over with now?"

"Ah, of course," Lorelai said. "I am Lorelai, this is Ifan, and this is Sebille. Respectively, we are a free-spirited Undead, a mercenary tasked with killing our delightful Divine, and a former slave bent on assassinating her former Master. Do you have a particular task you would like to complete?"

"As a matter of fact," Fane said, no surprise in his voice, "I do. I intend to find out what happened to my people. There is an excavation site in the Blackpits on the Reaper's Coast that may have some clues. Assuming we manage to get off this infernal island at all."

"There is no question of that," Lorelai dismissed. "I am rather fed up with islands. Let us be off, then."