She was not fast enough. The other person clipped Summer with her shoulder, sending her spinning round and flailing across the road to recover her balance. She stopped just short of falling into the hedge and covering herself in leaves and twigs and probably less savoury things as well, and with a sore shoulder to boot. It ached like someone had taken a hammer to it, and she was forced to roll her shoulder and rub it, wincing all the while, to try and get the feeling into it.
The other person just kept on going down the road.
Summer felt her anger rise inside her, rising past the point of good sense as she stomped into the middle of the road and yelled, “Hey! If you won’t watch where you’re going the least you could do is apologise afterwards.”
The figure, who was at least a head taller than Summer, and broader in the shoulders by half again or more, stopped. Summer felt a slight chill settle upon the flames of her passion, and shifted her feet into something approaching a fencing stance, as she slid one hand slowly to the hilt of her rapier.
I may have just made a bit of a mistake here. The true magic of Dareth did not work in this country, but Summer’s fire-call and wolf-shift did, which was commensurate with the theories surrounding travel between worlds and the way that magic worked from one world to the next that Summer had read up on before setting out. Between her call, her shift and her fencing prowess Summer was reasonably confident in her ability to fend off any trouble, but that didn’t mean that she wanted to go picking fights with someone who was bigger than she was.
The figure sniffed, and as she turned around Summer saw that it was a young woman, around her own eighteen years or nearabouts if Summer wasn’t completely misreading the signs, maybe a little younger, dressed in drab, ill-fitting homespun garb that hung off her in baggy wrinkles, obscuring the real shape of her body completely beneath the shoulders. Her face was puffy and red from crying, but even without the exacerbation of those problems Summer would have to say that the girl was no beauty to look at, certainly not on Summer’s level at all. Her face was pudgy and fat, too round, with a bit of a piggy nose and lips that were too thin to make much of. Her hair was straw coloured, dirty and greasy, and that fact that it was mostly covered up by a headscarf was probably for the best. Her legs, of which Summer could see a little too much from beneath her tunic, were hairy and meaty. Her eyes…her eyes though…if she stopped crying, Summer would have been willing to bet that she had nice eyes. They were green, like Dawn’s, a bit less deep but a bit brighter than, as green as summer grass. Yes…if she stopped crying then she’d have very nice eyes, no doubt.
But she was crying, snorting and sniffling as she looked at Summer through teary eyes. “Begging your pardon, m’lady, a thousand times. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” She had a thick rustic accent, but it was of a piece with the accents that Summer had been hearing ever since she got here, so she could more or less make out what she was trying to say.
It was as if the poor unsightly girl’s tears had been collected in a bucket and poured down Summer’s soul, drenching the flames of her anger and turning it to the smouldering steam of pity. “Don’t be sorry. I shouldn’t have shouted, and you don’t have to call me m’lady either. I’m not one, not really.”
The other girl blinked through her tears. “You’re not? You can yourself like one.”
Summer frowned, suspecting some mockery there. “I can myself?”
“Carry’m,” the girl repeated. “You carry yourself like a lady.”
Summer smiled. “Really? Why, thank you?” She preened herself a little, patting down her hair with one hand. “It’s probably because of how I was brought up.” She abruptly realised how absurd she must look, and stopped what she was doing at once. She coughed twice to cover her embarrassment. “Ahem. Yes, anyway, um, I’m sorry for yelling at you. It wasn’t your fault.”
“It wasn’t?”
Actually it was, of course, but the poor girl seemed to have so many troubles that Summer didn’t have the heart to tell her so any more. Instead she said, “No, I should have gotten out of the way faster.”
The other girl looked confused. “That’s mighty kind of you to say’m, but you needn’t tell no lies. It was my fault. Everything’s my fault.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Summer said. “Who told you that?”
“My Da.”
“Then he’s an idiot,” Summer said sharply. “Say, are you in some kind of trouble.”
“No’m,” the girl said at once. “I don’t want no trouble.”
“I didn’t ask if you wanted trouble I asked if you were in trouble,” Summer said.
“No trouble.”
“Your tears say different,” Summer remarked in a tone as dry as her throat. “Listen, I know we got off to a rough start but I might be able to help you.”
The girl squinted at her in suspicion. “Why’m? Why would you want to help me’m?”
Summer was wondering the same thing. This person was nothing to her, a complete stranger. If they hadn’t bumped into one another Summer wouldn’t have given her a second thought. And yet here she was, standing in the middle of the road offering to help this complete stranger and…why? Because it was what Lady Aurora would want her to do? Why was she interrupting her own destiny for this person?
“Because,” Summer said. “Because I think it’s what my best self would do.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Honestly? Me neither,” Summer said. “But if I can help you, I will. I’m Summer Phoenix, pleasure to meet you.”
The other girl said nothing.
“This is the part where you give me your name in return,” Summer prompted.
“Lump,” she said.
“Lump,” Summer said flatly. “You’re telling me your name is Lump?”
“That’s what my Da calls me,” she murmured.
“I’m beginning to want to sing a special song for your Da,” Summer growled. “Is that really all he calls you?”
“Sometimes he calls me useless lump,” she said, her tone low and trembling. “Other times fat cow, dozy cow-“
“I can guess the rest,” Summer said. “What does your mother call you?”
“I haven’t got no ma’m,” she said.
“Do you want me to call you Lump?” Summer asked. “Or would you rather be called something else?”
She hesitated. “I think…I’ve always thought…Gloria’s a pretty name.”
Summer smiled. “Nice to meet you, Gloria. Now what’s the problem?”
“Nothing’m,” Gloria murmured. “I’m just…I’m on my way to Acamoconium.”
“Why would you want to go there?
Gloria shrugged. “It’s the nearest town.”
“You’re running away from home, aren’t you?” Summer asked.
Gloria recoiled as though Summer had suddenly turned into a snake. “N-no. No I’m not, I…I…please’m, please don’t tell my Da, please don’t-“
“I’m not going to tell your Da anything, except perhaps what a monster he is,” Summer said. “You might not believe this but I’m a bit of a runaway myself.”
Gloria frowned. “Really’m?”
“Yes, really?”
“But you’re clothes and-“
“Yes, I look like a lady, you’ve said,” Summer said casually. “And I’ll admit I’m not running away from anything as awful as you are, but still…I wanted things that I wasn’t allowed, so I’ve come here to look for them somewhere else.” Summer hesitated. On the one hand, this poor girl, on the other hand she might do more to slow her down, but on the third hand she was lonely. She missed, though she would never admit it, having someone to talk to, to bounce ideas off, and to feel superior to. In the last respect especially Gloria seemed quite promising. “You don’t have to go to Acamoconium, if you don’t want to. Your Da might look there, too. You should come with me, to Eternal Pantheia. I’ll belt no one will ever find you there.”
“Eternal Pantheia?” Gloria ask
ed sceptically. “What’s in Eternal Pantheia?”
“I don’t know,” Summer said. “That’s what makes it an adventure. Come on, you’ve left the farm at last and you don’t want to go any further than the nearest market? And do what? Sell apples? Come on, I’m talking about the big city here, the biggest city if what I understand is right, a place where you can be anyone, do anything. A place where we can help each other, take care of each other, look out for one another. Doesn’t that sound grand? Doesn’t that sound better than being alone in a little town in the middle of nowhere, having to look over your shoulder for your Da until you realise he isn’t even bothering to look for you?”
Gloria hesitated. “It sounds…it sounds wonderful. But-“
“But what?”
“But…my Da said that I could never-“
“Listen to me,” Summer said firmly. “Your Da is a liar and a lout and if I knew where he lived I’d burn his house down. Listen to me: there will be times when people will tell you that you can’t do something, can’t be something; they’ll tell you that you have to settle for less than you want or deserve. You know what those people are called: cowards and liars. They aren’t happy so they try to make you unhappy too. But you can’t let them. You can be whatever you want; you can have everything you want...if you’re willing to risk everything you have to get it. So, Gloria, are you willing to take a risk for what you want.”
Gloria nodded emphatically. “I am’m, I am. Only…”
“Only?”
“I don’t think I know what I want.”
Summer let out a loud bark of laughter. “Don’t worry about that too much, I’ve only the vaguest idea myself. Let’s start with fame, okay? Everyone wants to be known and adored by everyone. Would you like that?”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“What did I tell you, you can have it all if you want it badly enough,” Summer said. “I believe that with all my heart and I’m going to prove it, but I’d like you to prove it with me, if you want to.”
“Yes,” Gloria said. “Yes, that’s what I want.”
“Then dry your tears, Gloria, because you’ve got Summer Phoenix looking after you now,” Summer said, beaming broadly as she placed an arm around Gloria’s shoulder. “Stick with me and we’ll shock the world.”
Gloria giggled. “This feels exciting. I’ve never felt like this before’m.”
“That’s because you’ve never been free before,” Summer said. “But you’ll never be trapped again, I guarantee it. I promise you this: we are about to be something.”
And so they set off, arm in arm, heading west towards the setting sun.
Appendix: Gods and Immortals of Pelarius
The Eldar, the old gods
Riate, Eldest and Highest, King of Heaven and Conqueror of demons; creator of ogres, cyclopes, harpies and woodwights; maker of the first sun and the first moon, now known as the Eldest's Lantern and the Eldest's Mirror; creator of sorcery; currently imprisoned in the Black Abyss alongside his demon host. His name is rarely spoken, he is instead referred to as 'The Eldest' or 'Eldest One'. The demons acknowledge him as their king, and the races he created, known collectively as the Riatian races, revere him as their god. He is worshipped by some Eldar-worshippers as part of the pantheon of the old gods, though other Eldar-worshippers refuse to acknowledge him as part of said pantheon. The Novar Church claims that use of sorcery will release Riate from his imprisonment, and proscribes sorcery on pain of death upon that basis.
Turo, Lord of the Oceans and creator of the naiad race; originator of water magic; currently believed to reside in Ocean's Heart as King of the Seas. As lord of the oceans is worshipped singly by naiads, caedans, merfolk, henta'i. Eldar-worshippers revere him as part of the pantheon of the old gods, but he is also honoured alone by the Coronim, and by some other communities of humans long the south coast of Pelarius. These worshippers, along with Turo's ocean subjects, are known collectively as the Turonim.
Arus, Master of Fire and creator of the fire drake race; originator of fire magic; currently wounded and comatose in the care of his brother Turo. He is worshipped singly by fire drakes, who sometimes call themselves the Arunim, and by human Eldar-worshippers as part of the pantheon of the old gods.
Kinos, Queen of Spirits; originator of spirit magic; slain in battle. She is part of the pantheon of the old gods, but receives little worship even from Eldar-worshippers.
Dala, Lady of the Woods and creator of the dryad race; originator of wood magic; currently wounded and comatose in the care of her brother Turo. She is worshipped singly by dryads, who sometimes call themselves the Dalrim, and by human Eldar-worshippers as part of the pantheon of the old gods.
Mithrok, Lord of the Earth and creator of the troll race; originator of earth magic; currently wounded and comatose in the care of his brother Turo. He is worshipped singly by trolls and by human Eldar-worshippers as part of the pantheon of the old gods.
Thanates, Mistress of the Skies and creator of the aestival race; originator of air magic; currently wounded and comatose in the care of his brother Turo. She is worshipped singly by aestivals and by human Eldar-worshippers as part of the pantheon of the old gods.
Stratos, Lord of Lightning and creator of the tharil race; originator of lightning magic; slain in battle. He is worshipped singly by tharils and by human Eldar-worshippers as part of the pantheon of the old gods.
The Novar, the new gods
Bael, son of Riate and Dala; possessor of wood magic; King in Heavenvault and highest of the Novar.
Silwa, daughter of Riate and Thanates; possessor of air magic; goddess of victory and wisdom. A noted meddler in the affairs of mortals, she was the old Novar god who did not retire to the Heavenvault after the defeat of the old gods, but continues to live amongst mortal men. As goddess of victory, she enjoys some worship amongst the ranks of the army, but not as much as her half-brother Beltor.
Cupas, son of Stratos and Thanates; possessor of air and lightning magic.
Culis, daughter of Stratos and Thanates; possessor of air and lightning magic.
Tanuk, son of Kinos and Arus; possessor of fire magic; god of death and lord of
the shadowlands.
Alectar, daughter of Riate and Dala; possessor of wood magic.
Lenwar, son of Dala and Mithrok; possessor of wood and earth magic; god of mischief, chaos, misrule and borders.
Pen, son of Riate and Kinos; possessor of no natural magics.
Cuuinthan, son of Riate and Dala; possessor of wood magic.
Beltor, son of Mithrok and Thanates; possessor of earth and air magic. As God of War, Beltor is particularly beloved by soldiers, and Beltorian cults flourish amongst the ranks of the legions. To be initiated into such a cult is a great honour, accorded only to the most gallant of the Empire's soldiers.
Syltri, daughter of Mithrok and Thanates; possessor of earth and air magic
Milcar, son of Kinos and Mithrok; possessor of earth magic.
Nis, son of Kinos and Mithrok; possessor of earth magic.
Elyo, daughter of Dala and Mithrok; possessor of wood and earth magic.
Aulo, daughter of Arus and Thanates; possessor of fire and air magic; goddess of medicine, her temples are sanctuaries for the sick across the empire, and her devotees maintain hospitals in many of the major cities.
Ro, daughter of Kinos and Arus; possessor of fire magic; the goddess with the veiled face, she is the protector of the crippled and disfigured.
Sera, daughter of Dala and Arus; possessor of wood and fire magic; goddess of fertility.
Ubis, son of Arus and Thanates; possessor of fire and wood magic.
Working together, the old and new gods combined created the orc race. The Novar working alone created the race of man, and thus it is from men that they draw their worshippers, who are known as Novarians.
Other Gods
Aegea the Great, Who Did Not Die but Rose Again, Divine Empress of All Pelarius, Lavissar, Triazica and All the La
nds that Lie Between or May be Found Beyond, Mother to the Legions and the Minotaurs, Protector of the Empire and All Her People. For the first three hundred years following her death, the worship of Aegea was the state and sole permissible religion throughout the Empire. Religious liberty was granted in 326 FFE (From the Founding of the Empire) by Prince Imperial Romanus III following the ending of the Turonim Rebellion. In 360 FFE the Princess Imperial Thetis denounced the Faith of Aegea, proclaimed herself Empress and was received into the communion of the Novar Church. The Faith of Aegea was proscribed on pain of death, but following the Mother's March the minotaurs won the right to continue worship. Although the proscription was lifted generally in 476, but the minotaur race remains the chief source of Aegea worship throughout the Empire. Amongst humans, the faith is now mainly in army cults such as the Sons of Aegea or the Wolf Brotherhood.
The Furies, oldest of all immortals; older than the Eldar, the origins of the furies are inscrutable to any save themselves, but their mission is clear: to punish wrongdoing and avenge the weak and helpless upon the strong and powerful. For many centuries they roamed the mortal world, until Aurelia banished them to the shadowlands, where their only prey are ghosts and those few unfortunate mortals who fall into the cracks between the worlds. They have no worshippers and are despised by all other gods, though desperate folk of all races may cry out to them for justice when they have no other recourse left.
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