Midnight Quest

by Honor Raconteur

  She gave him a quick smile of appreciation. “And Baurthan?”

  “Think of a young lord with money to burn, and you got him,” Rialt answered in a slightly disgruntled tone.

  While they conversed, two other gods appeared and joined in on the argument. Sarvell did the honors this time and leaned against her shoulder to whisper, “That’s Thaazan and Morchel. Do you remember what they look like?”

  “Like small boys who are constantly up to mischief,” she whispered back, but she wasn’t really paying attention to what she said. Good heavens, they really were calling on everyone if even Bryn’s gods were here. In fact, only the Moping God and the God of Learning were missing.

  A new presence filled the room, and while each god seemed to have their own ambiance, this one felt different than any other. If Jewel had to put a label to it, she would have said sullen.

  “What is going on here? Why am I always called when I have other things to do?” a male voice petulantly whined.

  That absolutely has to be Corbeird. Apparently his title of Moping God is well deserved. Jewel charitably avoided saying that aloud. But if Corbeird had arrived, then all they were missing—

  “My, I think this is the first time in one hundred and sixty-four years since we were all together,” a mild baritone observed.

  Broeske, the God of Learning and Veris’s deity, had arrived. Baring Cherchez, who couldn’t be physically in Evard anyway, the whole pantheon of gods was in this single room. The spiritual presence alone nearly overwhelmed her. Even though she had been in the presence and spoken to several of them personally, none of them paid any attention to her, for which she said heartfelt thanks. They were clearly in an antagonistic mood right now and who wanted to deal with an upset god?

  “Baurthan, for the love of the all-Father!” Juven exclaimed. “You did what? Have you taken complete leave of your senses?”

  “I got tired of all of the complaints!” Baurthan retorted. “And really, this wasn’t a good idea to begin with.”

  “Not a good idea?” Elahandra parroted in outrage. “It was better than any of you could come up with! And it would have worked just fine if people had left it alone!”

  “That would be Juven’s fault,” Thaazan (or was it Morchel?) observed easily.

  “Now wait a minute, how is that my fault?” Juven demanded.

  “Well, it was your clan that moved the Ramath crystal, wasn’t it?”

  “Like I told those eijits to do such a thing! And your own people were quick enough to do the same, were they no?”

  “We didn’t tell them to do it.”

  Elahandra let out a growl of aggravation, similar to that of a frustrated hunting cat. “And none of you stopped them either!”

  In a way, the situation was remarkable. No one had ever witnessed or been in the presence of all the gods at a single moment in time. This moment would surely be something that Chizeld would love to record for history. So Jewel felt it rather a shame that he couldn’t report something splendid. Instead, they were bickering like children.

  They started to talk over each other, different siblings accusing each other and others denying, and the noise level rose steadily as they had to shout to be heard over each other. As sensitive as Jewel’s hearing was, she could only pick out bits and pieces. As abruptly as it rose, it fell again (probably because at least some of the gods were down to glaring at each other or ignoring each other). Although that certainly wasn’t true of all of them: at least one god still had plenty to complain about.

  “You’re still holding onto that?” Gostrum spluttered in amazement. “Corbeird, that happened over eight hundred years ago!”

  “Yes, and I’m still upset about it. No one properly apologized after all.” The tone made it clear that he had his bottom lip stuck out in an open pout.

  “No one’s going to listen to old grievances.” Broeske, at least, sounded calm. Or maybe he was just indifferent. Jewel found it hard to tell just by the sound of his voice alone. “We should—”

  “Oh, then let’s talk about new ones, eh?” Juven cut in with a clanking sound, as if a hand had just hit against armor. “Let us talk about a certain goddess who steals people that are no hers!”

  Elahandra quickly defended herself. “I didn’t steal him! He volunteered.”

  “Well of course he did,” Morchel (Thaazan?) agreed with a carefree laugh. “After all, it was obvious that if those two ever met they’d fall in love.”

  Jewel and Rialt choked at the same time. Jewel could feel her face heating up with a vivid blush. Oh. So the gods knew that things like that could happen? So part of the reason why Rialt had been chosen to go to her rescue was because Elahandra was playing matchmaker?

  Instead of being embarrassed, Rialt apparently found this amusing, as he chuckled openly. “Remind me to thank herself later.”

  Jewel reached back and found his hand, tangling her fingers with his. The blush hadn’t faded, yet she couldn’t help but smile too. Yes, she’d have to thank Elahandra for that bit of manipulation later.

  “You can afford to lose one man to keep the whole clan safe!” Elahandra erupted in a voice loud enough to set everyone’s ears ringing.

  Assuming, of course, that the gods ever stopped arguing.

  Tamarra, standing beside her, let out a long groan. “Shards, this is ridiculous. They’re just going in circles. They’re not even arguing about the right thing anymore!”

  “Someone’s going to have to step in and mediate,” Sarvell observed.

  “Ye gods, man, do no be reckless!” Rialt protested. “Have you ever been in a family fight like this? Especially with sisters in the fray. A man be like to lose his head, he be.”

  “True,” Chizeld agreed. “But a parent or someone of authority is always needed to break it up.”

  “Well, I can no argue with that, but the only one that fits the description be the Father God himself. If you have a line to his ear, Chizeld, feel free to use it.”

  “Er…”

  “I thought as much.”

  While the men behind her had a point, Jewel couldn’t help but feel that Sarvell was right. Someone needed to step in and break this up. Gods or no, they were still family and arguing like one. Jewel normally wouldn’t dream of interfering, but every minute that they let pass was another minute that the Daath had free access to Evard. The very thought left her heart cold.

  She squeezed Rialt’s hand once, just for courage, before letting her hand slide free. Then she lifted her chin, squared her shoulders, and marched forward.

  “Alright, that’s enough!” she had to shout to be heard over the overlapping arguments. “Will all of you start acting like gods and not squabbling children?”

  The tumult ceased. Jewel could feel incredulous stares boring into her from every angle of the room, but she kept her face serene even if her heart was beating in a crazy rhythm. “You need to focus back on the issue at hand,” she continued with forced calm. “The crystal was removed from this room. It needs to be brought back.”

  “Mortal woman, you’re quite daring to face down eight gods,” Broeske acknowledged in quiet pleasure.

  Err… Jewel’s head jerked back a fraction when the full force of his approval centered on her. She’d never been on the receiving end of approval from any god before except Elahandra. While pleasant, the sensation also felt somewhat…odd.

  “Indeed she is,” her goddess responded proudly.

  “You’re too brazen,” Corbeird informed her, feathers obviously ruffled. “Really, what makes you think that you have the right to chastise us? Ela, really, how can you condone such outrageous behavior?”

  To Jewel’s surprise, Juven came to her defense. “What be wrong with it? The lass has spirit, which is more than I can say about you.”

  “Juven!” Corbeird spluttered in a half-whine. “You always side against me!”

  “Oh, stop whining,” Broeske ordered in exasperation, sounding weary of the whole argument. “No wonder this
mortal girl can’t take you seriously. What god pouts?”

  “You’re all against me!”

  Elahandra cleared her throat in a meaningful way. “Corbeird, if you have nothing to add, go away. I don’t know why you’re here to begin with as this problem doesn’t have anything to do with you.” Pointedly ignoring Corbeird’s gasp of outrage, she continued, “Thank you, Jewel, you are right. We did get sidetracked by old disagreements. Baurthan, let me ask you again and this time I want a proper answer. Why did you remove the crystal?”

  “Eh? Ah, well, I had a great many prayers complaining about it,” Baurthan responded. “Something about the re-dedication of it being expensive, or messy, or some such. I thought, since it’s causing so many problems, why not just remove it?”

  Elahandra let out a pained groan. “Baurthan. Please, for the love of all that is holy, will you pay more attention? The same people that were complaining to you are the ones that have kidnapped, incarcerated, or threatened my priestesses. They’re also the ones that have been the source of all my barrier problems for the past two decades.”

  “…oh. Really?”

  “Yes, really. Now, put the crystal back. Once you’re done with that, go deal with those louts before I’m forced to do something.”

  “Ah. But are you sure that the crystal is necessary? I mean, there must be a more orderly way to—”

  “Baurthan.” Elahandra sounded like she had a stranglehold on her temper.

  “Er…yes?”

  “Who is in charge of the protection of Evard?”

  “You,” Baurthan sighed.

  “And who was it that said it was too troublesome to keep track of, and he didn’t care how it was done as long as it worked?”

  Baurthan gave an even longer sigh. “Me.”

  “Have you changed your mind? Because the only way that you’re going to create a different system of protection is if you take on the task.”

  “Ah…no. It’s fine. You can keep doing it.”

  “Good answer,” Morchel approved with a mischievous laugh. (Jewel felt almost positive this one was Morchel.) “Ela, how about Thaazan and I go and oversee the crystal’s dedication for our Bryn?”

  “I suppose that you want me to forgive you if you do so?”

  “That would be excellent, dear sister,” Thaazan chimed in sweetly.

  Elahandra muttered something under her breath that was too low to catch. Fortunately. “Oh, off with you, scamps! Just make sure it’s done properly.”

  With suspicious chuckles, the twin gods disappeared.

  “Jewel,” Elahandra reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I promise you that Thornock’s crystal will be back in place and dedicated before the day is out. Now, hurry home to Ramath and see to your crystal, alright?”

  Jewel gave her a sweet smile. “Certainly.”

  Chapter Thirty-six

  They arrived in Denzbane without mishap or any other problems. With the Belthain crystal back in place, the barrier had perforce been restored, although it still remained weak. Just having the barrier back eased some of the strain for Jewel, and while she still wanted to get her crystal re-dedicated and charged as quickly as possible, she no longer felt the need to drive the party so ruthlessly forward either.

  When they finally did arrive in front of Rialt’s—their home, late in the evening, they were greeted by the townspeople as if they were conquering heroes returning at the end of some grand quest. They had been traveling for three straight days, so three days of travel dust, sweat and grime covered her skin. Not being able to sleep in a proper bed for two of those days had not helped ease her sense of exhaustion. But somehow she didn’t mind any of that when she heard her name called out in excitement.

  Someone—she had no idea who—started to pull her off the horse, asking a thousand questions at lightning speed. Rialt just chuckled at the enthusiasm and handed her down. “Ease off, now, ease off!” he admonished in humor. “You will squash her.”

  Some large, heavy hand landed on her shoulder. “Priestess, we be very glad you have returned.”

  Finally, a voice she recognized! “Master Broeske, you have no idea how glad I am to return!” she responded truthfully. “Did you get the message from Chizeld?”

  “Did, and acted on it,” he assured her with open satisfaction. “We do no have your building finished yet, as we had a snag here and there, but the walls and roof are up. In two days, mayhap three, you can move in.”

  She felt like kissing the man. “Wonderful! I suppose with all of that work, you didn’t really get a chance to prepare for the dedication.”

  “No,” he corrected, “the preparations be what held us up. We had no place to buy so many paper lanterns, you see. So the women and children put their heads and hands together and made them.”

  She went very, very still as that last statement penetrated. “Made them. But it would take hundreds, if not a thousand, to cover that crystal!”

  “Almost two thousand,” Calio corrected from nearby.

  Jewel turned to her new mother-in-law, feeling people shift this way and that to make room for her to approach. She didn’t know how to react to this woman anymore. Calio had been less than pleased at her appearance the first time. Rialt had given her no real indication of how he expected his parents to react to his elopement, and Jewel didn’t know them well enough to make any predictions. So she stood there, mouth dry, stomach clenching, and prayed.

  “It took us weeks, but we be ready for you,” Calio continued and her voice sounded…oddly warm. “Goodness, daughter, but you be a sight! Did that son of mine drag you through every mud puddle along the road?”

  At the word daughter, Jewel relaxed and smiled sheepishly. “It’s actually my fault. I was pushing hard to get here.”

  Rialt dismounted behind her with a creak of leather and a loud thump. “Phew, there be truth! Many an officer can take lessons from this wifey of mine.”

  “Oh?” Calio responded in open challenge. “So be it her doing that you married so far from home?”

  Rialt responded mischievously, “No, ‘twas mine. You always said no woman would be daft enough to marry the likes of me. So when she said yes, I thought: marry quick, afore she changes her mind!”

  The crowd around them snickered. A few of them made comments to each other about actually hearing Calio say that over the years.

  “Eh, I suppose I had that coming,” Calio drawled, but it was clear from her tone that she saw the humor in the situation. “Well, we will do a proper dinner later to celebrate then.”

  “That be fine. Mam.” His voice abruptly became serious and strangely formal. “I present my wife, and your daughter, Jewel Axheimer.”

  “We welcome her,” Calio responded with equal formality.

  Jewel half-started when the other woman reached out and brought her in for a close embrace. It took a moment for her to gather her scattered wits enough to return the hug, but when she did, it was heartfelt. Jewel had no memories of a mother, so this embrace felt foreign to her, but she quickly decided she liked it.

  “Daughter,” Calio said as she stepped back. “Do no take this wrong, but you need a bath.”

  Jewel laughed outright. “I agree! In fact, I think we’re all due for one.”

  “The crystal can wait one more night,” Calio said firmly. “For now, let us see to all of you. Husband! Draw some baths!”

  “Two steps ahead of you, wifey!” Colben called from somewhere in the back of the crowd. “Son, take care of the horses.”

  “Eh, that we will do.”

  ~*~*~*~

  After everything that had happened, Jewel truly wanted to sleep in. But the dedication went from dawn’s first light until sunset, so…reluctantly, she dragged herself out of bed at dawn’s twilight.

  She wandered down to the kitchen and fixed a hearty breakfast for herself and her armsmen. All three men had a healthy appetite, so eating this amount would be normal for them, but for her it felt uncomfortable. But she forc
ed herself to eat every bite. One of the other parts of the ritual required that the priestess fast during the day. Her only chance to eat or drink anything was right now.

  The men stumbled into the kitchen one after another, like a set of badly controlled finger puppets. They dressed and got ready to leave in a similar fashion, as if they were operating through sheer willpower and habit. Jewel felt rather bad about it, as she was partially to blame for their exhaustion. But after this day, they could all rest for a few days. They just needed to last this one more day.

  After a quick cleanup, she left the house, walking through the front yard. The streets were not as empty as Jewel assumed they would be, given that the sun wasn’t properly up yet. She heard people walking and talking in hushed voices from every corner of the square. Ella Crossbear, local Priestess of Elahandra, had assured her last night that they had arranged for people to help her set up all of the lanterns. (Jewel had frankly been relieved to hear this. If it had been left to just her and the men to light everything, it would have taken the full day to do it.) Perhaps the people she heard were the ones designated to help her this morning?

  She soon got her answer, as people spied her stepping out of the house and immediately came to her. “Priestess!” a young man’s voice called to her in excitement. “I be Ronan. I—well, all of us—be here to help with the lanterns.”

  His voice sounded oddly familiar, although it took a second for her to place it. “Thank you, Ronan. If I remember, you helped hack the crystal free, didn’t you?”

  He sounded pleased that she remembered. “Eh, so I did. Well, everyone here did. We thought, might as well finish the job we started.”

  “A good thought,” Rialt endorsed from behind her. “Alright, now, let us get to the shrine quick-like. We have only a short time to light the lanterns.”

  Everyone obediently fell into line behind her and Rialt. She smiled as she heard their enthusiastic questions and comments. “They sound so energetic. I’m envious.”