Whoops, sorry for not updating for so long, but I've been having writer's block. Well, I hope you like this chapter.
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When Kris woke the next morning, she found Skyleth sitting at the table, staring into a fist-sized glass ball in front of him.
Curious, she got up and went to him. He seemed not to notice her. Kris looked into the glass ball and was startled to see a group of stormwings and hurroks fighting in the sky. Two mountains towered on either side.
The immortals were attacking each other furiously. Tiny shrieks and squeals could be heard, but Kris knew the noise at the scene itself would be much worse. The battle stretched a long way.
As Kris watched, Skyleth waved a hand over the glass ball and said calmly, "Stop fighting this instant."
The stormwings and hurroks broke off from each other, hovering in two separate clusters. A middle-aged male stormwing screeched crossly, "Skyleth, you have no right to stop us from fighting. Our disputes are no concern of yours."
"I do not usually interfere with immortals' battles, but some of the animals who pass through my skies have complained that you are blocking their migration path with your brawling, and are forced to take a big detour to avoid getting killed. Predator birds are lamenting their loss of their hunting grounds. Furthermore, you have been fighting for more than three days, your din unbearable for the People. Now leave immediately."
"Surely it cannot be that serious, Skyleth." The stormwing cawed scornfully.
"I will not waste my time arguing with pests like you. Now leave my skies and stop chittering before you annoy me."
It seemed the immortals, however rude and bold, did not dare to risk the wrath of a god. The immortals left immediately, amid rude comments about gods.
The image in the glass ball dissolved, and a new one appeared. Skyleth leaned in, gazing at the image intently.
Deciding not to disturb him, Kris changed and headed to the mess hall for breakfast.
Along the way to the mess hall, she came across a woman blocking her way.
"What might you want now, Lady Regina?" Kris said coldly. Lady Regina of Bright Peak was a court lady who had come to court half a year ago and never missed a chance to pick on Kris.
"Keep quiet, you unclean worm. You're not even fit to talk to high-class ladies such as me. You're just a village brat who's trying to pass off as a noble lady." Lady Regina spat.
"Really? If I did try to pass off as a noble lady, I would never try to impersonate you, Lady Regina. I would choose someone with better qualities. As it is, I'm perfectly happy to be myself." Kris flapped a hand lazily at her, "Now why don't you just run along and go find someone who will care what you're blabbering about?"
Lady Regina snapped at her, "Besides being an unclean worm, you're also a thick-skinned witch who glues herself to the most handsome man in court and uses spells to deceive him!"
Kris grinned, "If you mean Lord Nyleth of Falcon's Oak, then you must be much more ignorant than I thought. In fact, I almost thought the 'thick-skinned witch' you described was yourself, except you don't have the Gift. Even if you did, I doubt you would be capable of even lighting a candle, Lady Regina."
"You...you..." she spluttered. Lady Regina seemed to be on the verge of slapping Kris, but at that exact moment, Windclaw came swooping along the corridor and started to screech and flap his wings at Lady Regina.
Lady Regina screamed and flung her arms around, then turned and fled. "I'll get you for this someday, bitch! You just wait and see!" Those were her last words before she disappeared round a corner.
Windclaw settled onto Kris's outstretched arm.
"Where have you been these days? You're one odd falcon, Windclaw." Kris stroked his neck fondly, "But thank you for chasing her off, anyway."
Windclaw crooned, then extended his wings and began to glide away. "Don't tell me you're leaving again!" Kris called after him, but Windclaw had already flown out of view.
Grumbling about weird birds who came and went, Kris entered the mess hall.
Clutching her tray of food, Kris tried to find a seat in the crowded mess hall. Daine waved her over; there were two empty seats across from her and Numair.
Kris sat across from Numair warily. Her teacher eyed her for a moment, then returned to his food.
They ate silently for a few minutes, then Kris spotted Skyleth entering the hall. He weaved his way through the ladies who were trying to get his attention, got his food, and settled himself beside her with a cheerful "Good morning!"
Kris beamed at him, and then whispered, "Done with your glass ball?"
Skyleth started eating his food without answering, but his voice replied in her head, "Yes. My job as god of the skies includes listening to the People's complaints, then act on it, if I think it necessary. Mostly I deal with rude immortals. I used to argue with them, but now I barely listen to them. I learnt that as a god, you have to flaunt your authority. That's the only way you can get immortals to obey you, however grudgingly."
Kris grinned, and turned her attention to her food. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Daine throw a warning look at Numair, who seemed to be gritting his teeth.
In an overly forced polite voice, Numair said to Skyleth, "So, Lord Nyleth, you come from Falcon's Oak. I thought you lived in Carthak? What brings you here, to the royal palace of Tortall?" He seemed to want to add something else, but Daine elbowed him.
"Oh, my godfather, Duke Gohane of Falcon's Oak, invited me to come stay permanently in Tortall. I obilged, and since he is currently in the palace, I came here also, Master Salmalin."
"I see." Numair muttered.
Kris, her voice almost inaudible, murmured to Skyleth, "Are you sure you can get away with that story? Does that fief and duke even exist?"
"Certainly. Duke Gohane is another of my chosen. His fief is in eastern Tortall. I have informed him of my disguise. He will give the same story I have told." His voice answered in her head.
"Are you a mage, Lord Nyleth? I can sense your strong Gift." Numair asked, and for the first time there was a hint of real interest in his voice.
"Well, you can consider me a mage, though not an official one. I studied all the mages' arts from teachers in the Carthak University, but I never took any tests to obtain mage status, Master Salmalin." Skyleth responded steadily.
"Would you like to try to pit your skills against mine?" Numair asked almost eagerly.
"Numair, no." Daine spoke up. "I'm not going to let you take the chance to 'accidentally' kill Lord Nyleth."
"More like Nyleth kill him, Daine." Kris said.
"What?" Numair glanced sharply at Kris.
"Nothing, nothing." Kris mumbled, then hurriedly stood up. "I think I'll go down to the gardens for some fresh air, Numair. I'll see you later."
"And I shall escort Lady Kris." Skyleth said gallantly, following her out.
They strolled down to the gardens, and selected a bench in a secluded part of the gardens to sit on.
"I have some important issues to discuss with you, Kris." Skyleth began, winding his arm around her shoulders. Kris snuggled happily against him.
"Have you ever considered how our relationship will... will end up as?" he said softly.
Kris straightened. Her thoughts whirled in her head. She had been thinking about this topic for some time. Skyleth was a god, but she was a mortal. Kris had entertained thoughts of Skyleth marrying her and staying in the mortal realms with her, but she knew it was impossible. Skyleth had his duties as a god. He couldn't remain here all the time. She would not be happy with a long-term relationship like that. And there was Mithros, who would prove an obstacle between them.
"I've thought about it, Skyleth. But all the endings to our relationship I imagined are impossible." Kris whispered glumly.
"I have a solution, Kris. This solution will allow us to stay together for all time. But you will have to give some things up."
"And the solution is...?"
"Become a goddess, Kris. Become a goddess and come live in the divine realms with me forever." Skyleth offered quietly.
Kris withdrew from his hold, staring at him. Such a solution had never occurred to her before. When she made no respond of any kind, he continued.
"If you become a goddess, Kris, like the Wildmage's parents, you will be able to stay with me. All our status problems will cease to exist. But Kris, you will have to sacrifice some things. As a new goddess, you will stay bound to my lands for a century. You will only be allowed to make casual visits to your friends here during holidays like Midsummer's day, and only then with Mithros's permission. By the time one century is over, most of your friends will be dead. You will have to take up some tiring duties. Are you ready to give up so much here to be with me?"
Kris stared at Skyleth dazedly. After several moments of silence, she whispered tearfully, "Is there no other way for us to be together, Skyleth?"
Skyleth shook his head silently.
"I'll think about it." Kris finally croaked.
Skyleth leaned forward and kissed her passionately, then gazed into her eyes. "That's good enough for me. I'll understand if you choose to stay here with your friends. I'll wait for your decision, no matter how long it takes for you to make it."
He leaned forward to kiss her again, then left her alone to think of the whole web of possibilities he had opened up for her.
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For some reason, this chapter was by far the most difficult to type out. Please review!