by Marie Brown
*Silly mortal,* she chided. *Get off the floor. Here in My chapel we are all family. You have not yet offended Me, although had you continued to ignore My Call, there would have been a problem. To set the record straight, before My other self grows too impatient over there, the goddess you were raised to worship never answered your call when you needed her because she knew you were Mine, and I do not take kindly to others meddling with My chosen people.*
"Would you get to the point, girl?"
*Settle, dear Iona,* the Maiden said, and Sylvan swallowed hard. Iona! He'd been speaking to the Warrior! She was real! As in, physically present there in the chapel, not just a projection from the spirit world. Or whatever the Maiden actually was.
*Now, Bard. The first thing I need you to do is bring your lover's soul back from where it has fled. Then, the two of you need to release Iona from her bonds.*
"I think you've got the order backwards," the Warrior growled.
"How can I help Kirel?" Sylvan cried from the bottom of his heart.