Chapter Twenty: Helm
The Heavens, 9 Hammer, 1370 DR
"No! Loviatar! How dare you do this to me?"
Helm's rage scorched through the universe, and in a rage, he lashed out with his sword, striking out at a pillar in his realm. It absorbed the strike, as it was intended to do. Still in a rage, he struck out again- again- again!
"Is something perturbing you, Lord Helm?"
The low chuckle of Loviatar, who appeared in front of Helm, served only to enrage the God of Guardians, who slashed at the Goddess of Pain with his sword. The nine-tailed whip favoured by the goddess intercepted the sword, and Helm shrieked with pain and rage mingled.
"Of course something troubles me, Loviatar! You corrupted my follower with a spell of yours, making him turn from me, even though that was not what he wished! He wanted to be my follower, he lived his life as my follower, and with a dirty trick you take him from me!"
Loviatar sighed, her black locks floating in the air as she said, "He would not have given up your faith unless he was unhappy. It might have had something to do with the fact that you allowed his entire Order to be killed and scattered, and with the fact that his prayers went unheard."
Helm lashed out again, and this time the
lashes of Loviatar's whip snapped. "Do not taunt me, Loviatar! I am of higher
power than you, and should I wish it, I could kill you! It would be my due for
the pain you have caused me!"
She made a flippant gesture. "That's
funny that. Being the Goddess of Pain, you wouldn't really think that I would
cause pain, would you? Be realistic, Helm. I live only to cause pain. I am
proud of my little Velissa. She is proving quite the arch nemesis for de'Arnise
and your Anomen."
The God of Guardians roared, "You will not take him as well!"
Loviatar smiled. "You may not even have to lose Wessallen…"
Helm narrowed his eyes. "What are you proposing?"
The mistress of pain pretended to consider. "Well, if you agreed to let Amn fall into chaos, I would give Wessallen to you… his soul craves for your embrace… he prays for you even while suffering in my realm. Such a depressing story… it makes me feel so delightful… what do you say, Helm? Will you order your followers to withdraw from Amn, so that you may gain the loyal soul again? Or will he languish in eternal torment?"
Helm bowed his head, and then stood to his full height. "I will not desert Amn in its hour of need, Loviatar! Nothing could make me do that! Instead of removing me from this battle, you have only enraged me! Know now, that my efforts will go directly towards defeating you and all your worshippers! Let it be know that we are at war!"
And screaming, Loviatar was kicked again and again by the God of Guardians, who stabbed into her with his sword. Her blood falling onto the floor, she was forced to flee from the god, smarting at how easily her offer was turned aside.
As Helm settled into his throne, he heard the screams of Wessallen echo throughout his mind. A gift from Loviatar- and another burden for him to bear. A single tear fell from Helm's eye, and he did not bother to wipe it from his face.
* * *
And all the servants of Helm in Amn felt his anger, but also his sorrow, and as Helm shed a tear, all his servants cried. They cried for Wessallen, but also for the bloodshed and further heartache that they knew would come.