Author's Note: See? Finished today! Reward me! I worked so hard, so please review!
(Also I don't own anything, please see previous disclaimer in Chapter Five.)
Chapter 7: Gods and Mortals
"Absolutely not!" Talen exclaimed vehemently. "Actually, neither of you need to come with me; this trip is insanity."
Everyone was back in Aslade's kitchen where Talen had mistakenly informed Berit that he was leaving.
"Do not be ridiculous Talen; we must come with you. Who knows what challenges you are likely to come against? That sword of yours can not solve every problem," Olet said calmly.
"…and I will say it again. If Olet goes I'm coming as well," Berit interjected.
Talen sighed and threw up his hands in disgust. He turned in askance to Aphrael who, for some unknown reason, had returned with him to Kurik's house. She was sitting sedately on the table, her legs crossed at the ankles. "Can you please tell them that their presence isn't necessary? I can handle this alone."
Aphrael had a faraway expression in her eyes. Anyone who didn't know her would attest that fact that the Styric goddess had not paid attention to any part of the conversation. Talen, however, knew better.
"Are you done arguing with them yet?" she asked sweetly, "Because we will need to get everyone horses and supplies; not to mention we need to pick up Kyyis from the chapterhouse."
Talen glared at the beautiful goddess, his expression dripping with irritation. She in turn, treated him to a slightly smug smile as she hopped down from the table.
"Seeing as this, along with the entire rest of my life has already been decided upon, would you mind telling me who else will be coming on this 'task of great import'?"
"You'll see," she answered cryptically.
A strangled sound escaped from Olet; sounding suspiciously like a stifled laugh. Berit looked over and raised an eyebrow. "One point for Aphrael," he said to Talen.
Talen winced as Berit and Olet began laughing uproariously.
"Aphrael," Olet asked, finally controlling her laughter, "I thought you preferred taking the form of a child. Why do you look like an adult?"
Talen grinned as the smug expression fell off of Aphrael's face.
"Trust me," she said, "It was not my idea. Did I ever tell you that your god is exceedingly tedious and unreasonable?" she added with a pout that Talen found unnervingly adorable.
"Only in every other word," Berit said under his breath. Aphrael glared at him.
Olet quirked an eyebrow. "What in the world do you owe him, Aphrael? I mean he's making you steal your family's secrets, parade around in your true form; and who knows what else."
Talen made a quick mental note to reassess his list. Any one who could make Aphrael bristle and literally steam at the ears should be a contender for the top slot.
"No one makes me do anything." Aphrael said frostily. "I have my own reasons for needing to see the Concordia writ," she said sniffing with an offended air. "And for your information I need to use this form anyway. Flute's busy at the moment."
Talen frowned. "Busy…now? Wait, you can be two places at once?" he asked.
"Of course," she said in her infuriatingly condescending tone. "It's not really all that difficult," she said, looking at her long, slender fingers. It was probably why she was so talented on the pipes, Talen noted absently. To his chagrin, the young knight found himself studying her fingers intently. Hastily, he pulled his eyes away to stare out the window.
Berit had been watching the exchange silently for the last few minutes. He shook his head, suspicion in his sapphire gaze. Aphrael narrowed her eyes at the blonde Pandion.
"What?"
Berit shrugged. "So what has Flute so tied up?" he asked.
Aphrael looked as if she would provide another cryptic, flippant answer; but decided the better of it.
"Flute's sitting in on one of the Thousand's gatherings. The meetings have been going on for the last several weeks."
"Wait, why do you have to be there?" Talen interrupted. "Why don't you have Sephrenia fill you in when they're done?"
"If you would be so kind sir knight, as to hold your tongue, I will be happy to finish…" Aphrael said crossing her arms primly.
Talen rolled his eyes and motioned for her to go on.
"Sephrenia is not in Sarsos. She and Vanion are in Chyrellos at the moment, hence my presence at the Thousand's counsel. And no I will not tell you why Sephrenia and Vanion are there, as it's none of your business," she said causing Talen to close his mouth and scowl. She slid down off the counter with an easy grace and looked at him expectantly.
"Are you ready then, or shall we argue some more?" she said, tapping one impatient foot.
--
The mid-afternoon breeze was warm and scented with the spicy, sweet fragrance of spring. Arcium was a devastatingly beautiful country, its southern location and mild climate giving rise to sheaths of heather and lavender swaying gently in the wind. The day was bright with white clouds set against a perfectly cerulean sky.
Talen reflected, as he did whenever he had the opportunity to come to Arcium, that the reason the Cyrinic knights where the most devout of the four orders was because they had their very own piece of heaven. Cimmuria was perpetually overcast; grey, gloomy and vastly overpopulated. Could anyone blame him for becoming thoroughly corrupt? It was a flimsy excuse and Talen liked to use it as his theological platform. The argument that weather was the basis of the Alcione knight's devotion drove sir Bevier absolutely nuts. Talen smirked. The olive skinned knight looked rather comical when he turned beet red.
This, of course, reminded him of his own religious experience, complete with a lovely goddess who just happened to be riding behind him, her head leaning against his back and arms wrapped around his steel-clad waist. Talen turned his head back to study her, something he wouldn't have dreamed of doing had she been fully conscious.
As it was, she was drifting in the semi- comatose state she had been favoring for most of the trip. Her dark eyes were half lidded her small face framed by thick dark hair that fell in long waves past her waist. When Talen had asked why she needed to come with him to the Alcione chapterhouse she shrugged and said they needed to get there quickly.
Talen had never gotten used to the way Aphrael manipulated time while they traveled during the previous journeys in Eosia and Daresia. To Talen it seemed that they were moving at a snail's pace, only to arrive at their destination days, or even weeks, earlier than scheduled. He found it difficult to process how the half-sleep goddess managed to pull it off. Talen smiled, Aphrael reminded him of a snoozing Danae at the moment.
"She's so small." Kyyis' statement interrupted Talen's thoughts.
Kyyis had been bringing up the rear, while Berit and Olet rode abreast several yards ahead of Talen. The Pandion thief lifted an eyebrow at his brother's observation.
"Well, she is," Kyyis pointed out.
"So?" Talen asked irritated for some reason he couldn't identify.
"So? So what?" Kyyis snorted "You expect me to believe that this tiny woman delivered ultimatums to those hideous troll gods and insulted not one, but two elder gods? That she bossed around the Bhelliom?"
"She did!" Talen countered. "And for the record she looked like a six year old child at the time."
"I don't know Talen; I just thought that she would be, you know, a little more imposing?" Kyyis said, scrunching up his face. "Or at least a little bit taller…" he mumbled under his breath.
"Keep talking Kyyis," Talen warned. "You might inspire her to prove how powerful she really is." he continued.
Kyyis scoffed. "Excuse me if I'm not threatened by a miniscule little girl."
Talen glared at him. Kyyis returned it with an insolent half- smile. "Looks like a certain princess might have some competition; you're rather defensive of your goddess."
Talen groaned. He didn't really want to argue with his brother but he could not let the last comment simply pass.
"She is not my goddess. And for the last time, I am not getting married to Danae. Not now; not ever." Talen hissed through clenched teeth.
"No need to get angry, Talen." Kyyis said shrugging. "I just call it like I see it, and right now there's a beautiful woman using you as a pillow. What should I think-" he commented dryly.
Aphrael chose at that moment to open her eyes fully. "Can you two ever stop fighting? You boys sound like a pair of honking geese."
Both Pandions sputtered at the same time.
Aphrael sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Elenes."
--
They made camp that evening in a small clearing beside the road. Talen had volunteered to take the first watch, leaving the others to sleep. Underneath a sky partially obscured by wispy clouds, Talen sat in front of the crackling fire feeling restless and full of questions.
"You know, when you think really hard your forehead wrinkles up," said Aphrael as she leaned forward and pressed her fingers lightly against Talen's brow.
The feeling of her soft fingers between his eyes made Talen jumpy and he quickly brushed her fingers away with his own. Aphrael leaned back and smiled at him tilting her head to one side as she studied him. The firelight played in her eyes, wide and dark and fathomless.
"Can I ask you a question?" he said to her tentatively.
She nodded. "You're free to ask anything you like."
"Anything?" Talen said, his eyes glinting mischievously.
"Of course. But then again, I may or may not answer." Aphrael said giving him a small grin.
Talen leaned back, putting aside his original question for the time being. There was always one thing that he wondered about.
"Alright," he started. "Here's my question: What was the first thing you ever stole?"
Aphrael continued to study him. "I could tell you," she said, "but what will I get in return?"
Talen looked up sharply; the earlier conversation with his brother echoing in his head. Maybe he should be more careful with the goddess? Talen knew from experience that she was devious. After a brief battle, Talen's curiosity got the better of his common sense and a lazy grin spread over his face.
"Will the usual payment suffice?" he asked.
A smile lit up the goddess' face causing her to glow with exquisite radiance.
"You first." Talen said, suddenly very nervous.
"Of course. The very first thing I stole was…a baby." she said.
"A baby? Why did you steal a baby? Was he important? What was his name? When did you steal it?" Talen asked, her answer elevating his slight intrigue into full blown prying.
She simply shook her head laughing at his response. "It's a long story, Talen. I might be persuaded into telling you, but that will cost a lot of kisses."
Talen simply returned the grin as he stood from his perch in front of the fire. He slid one arm around the Styric goddess waist and leaned in. He brushed the outline of her ear with his upper lip causing Aphrael to flinch.
"No Aphrael," he corrected, "Trust me, it will only cost one," he whispered against her ear.
He captured her lips with his own, feeling her softness and a distinct taste he couldn't identify. The kiss started softly enough, the brief meeting of lips, a shared breath. Talen slid his tongue over her bottom lip, his desire gentle but clear. Mingled breaths heated, he leaned in pressing harder, sucking on her bottom lip, demanding entrance. Aphrael's lips parted slightly, and Talen slid into her mouth.
Talen almost broke the kiss as her taste sent his mind reeling. Dizzy, images came to him, color and sound and memories vivid enough to step into. He sensed his awareness expanding and his body felt light and weightless. He could hear the hectic drumming of his own heartbeat but it sounded distant and far away. He pulled her in closer, drowning in her ambrosia, kissing her deeper even as his lungs clamored for air
Suddenly, Aphrael pulled away, her eyes desperately wide. Still feeling a little dizzy, Talen warily shook his head and gave the goddess a slightly wobbily grin.
"Will you tell me the story now, or do I need to kiss you again?" he said, attempting to dredge up a cocksure attitude he didn't really feel.
"Story…definitely…story," she said, looking a little lightheaded herself. Talen dropped to the ground as the knots in his stomach slowly untied themselves. The fact that Aphrael was reduced to one word sentences was somewhat comforting.
The Styric goddess took a deep breath, lost in thought. Unconsciously she slid her slender fingers into her long glossy hair and drew them out at an angle fanning the locks out as the silky tendrils slipped through her fingers. Talen's breath hitched at the sight. He caught himself and shook his head again to clear it. He really needed to stop kissing pretty goddesses. It was wearing on his common sense.
After a few minutes of gathering her thoughts the Aphrael knelt next to Talen and began her story.
"Well it all started because we were bored. Epallus figured it might be fun to pretend to be mortals; at least it would pass the time."
"Whose Epallus?" asked Talen.
"Another member of my family." Aphrael shrugged and continued, "So that's what we did. It wasn't really serious, and at first we didn't interfere with anyone while down there. We would just go and wander around. There were fairs twice a year when the larger clans would meet up and trade…"
"Clans? Like the Peloi?" asked Talen.
"Yes, but the clans were more widespread, not like it is now. This was a long time ago."
"How long ago?"
"The numbers wouldn't mean anything to you, Talen. Now can you stop interrupting?"
Talen nodded and leaned back making himself comfortable.
"Well, we were at the fair and a young woman was abducted by a bunch of cutthroats. They wanted her for obvious reasons. Epallus decided to interfere and managed to rescue her."
"He had been…fairly creative with the rescue. He sort of gave himself away, so we had to leave. Epallus got in trouble with the rest of our family for wandering around mortals. Back then, we had strict rules about that."
"Unbeknownst to any of us, Epallus periodically checked up on the woman he saved and eventually they became friends, and then more."
At this, Talen raised an eyebrow. A god and a mortal? The thought was more than a bit unnerving to him.
"Apparently he covered his tracks well, because none of us suspected a thing until Epallus' lover became pregnant," Aphrael continued.
"What? That…that can actually happen?" Talen said sitting up.
"Yes," Aphrael answered, "Epallus was the first, though. It had our family pretty shaken up."
"What happened?"
Aphrael looked down. "After his son was born Epallus' lover was executed."
"You let them do that?" Talen exclaimed.
Aphrael's eyes filled with tears. "I found out about it too late," she said softly. "I was busy trying to figure out how to get the child back."
"So that's the baby you stole." Talen said, comprehension dawning.
She nodded. "They took the child to the Hall of Maescul, the same place where the Concordia writ lies. Epallus begged me to get his son back for him."
"The Hall can only be opened with the agreement of the five, or the two ciphers. The first time I used the form of a child was then. After much persuasion I was granted permission to see the baby alongside another one of my family members. I was supervised of course, but I did a lot of planning before hand."
"In order to divert attention, I threw a temper tantrum in the middle of the hall. While everyone was distracted I set off an illusion of a shadowy imposter grabbing the child and running out the Hall. Needless to say everyone went after the shadow, so I stole the baby and left."
"My family was so distraught they didn't realize the whole scene was an illusion. Everyone assumed Epallus had taken the baby back, but I was actually the one who swiped it." Aphrael gave herself a smug smile and continued.
"Instead of leaving the child with him, Epallus insisted I take the baby to his mother's family, so I did. Epallus must have done something to throw of the rest of my family off because they never found his son." Aphrael finished.
"Well? Did Epallus do anything to get revenge?"
"Yes," said Aphrael. "Yes he did."
"What happened?" Talen asked.
Aphrael shook her head. "I'll tell you another time. Go get Kyyis. It's his turn for watch."