Now that he was more aware of what to look for, Kellan, felt himself slip inward and insights flared across his mind.
Clotho from the Greek meaning spinner, Lachesis, alotter, and Atropos, inflexible. Each referred to generically as Moira or together as Moirai. Clotho spins the thread of human life, Lachesis dispenses it, and Atropos cuts it. According to Homer, the Moirai were three aspects but one person—“
Kellan blinked and said, “Well Homer sure got that part wrong.” Five pairs of eyes washed over him and he glanced up at Belethane. “I said that out loud didn’t I?” The massive head nodded and Kellan thought for sure he could almost sense a mirthful smile within the vines and leaves that made up the Entunaz’s face. “Well, wonderful.” As he looked around, the young Sentinel could tell that everyone assembled seemed to be doing their best to maintain an air of reserve. “Well, go on then. Don’t let me stop you,” he said crossing his arms defiantly. “Laugh it up. I wouldn’t want to,” he paused for affect, “tempt fate by asking you to do otherwise.”
“Ha! I told you,” said Atropos. “I told you he would figure it out before we told him.”
“ You tell us so many things that one or two are bound to be right. Don’t gloat you old crone,” said Clotho with a frustrated pout.
“Enough you two,” interrupted Lachesis, then focused on Kellan, eyes intent. “What exactly do you think Homer got wrong young Sentinel?”
Kellan sniffed. “He thought you were each simply a different aspect of the same person. That’s not it at all. You are each separate people with each person representing that aspect.”
Lachesis clapped her hands together several times in sincere appreciation. “Very good, but from what you know how could a Mantel be split among three people.”
Kellan looked thoughtful for a moment and then said slowly, “I—don’t think a Mantel could be split. My guess is that every Mantel must bond with a single human.”
“Oh, you did more than guess, boy,” said Atropos, “you intuited.” She pointed at him. “Intuition is far more accurate than guessing.”
“And why must a Mantel be bound to a human, Kellan Thorne,” said Clotho as she tried her best to project complete indifference to the entire discussion.
“Because—,” said Kellan as his mind raced to assemble pieces just ahead of his mouth, “only humans have souls and souls are required for a Mantel to fully manifest.”
“Yes!” shouted Merlin and Lachesis gave him a withering stare. “Sorry,” he said a moment later.
“So,” began Kellan ignoring the two of them, “if each of you are separate people, then each aspect of Fate is its own Mantel.” Kellan snapped his fingers as he looked to each one in turn, “That explains why you are so powerful. You are not just one Mantel acting with three objectives. You are three Mantels acting with one unified goal.” He felt his mouth fall open and said in a whisper, “The goal of beginning, continuing, and ending life.”
At this last all three aspects nodded in unison but it was Lachesis who rose from her throne and walked to Kellan. “Yes, Sentinel of Order, everything that has ever lived, lives now, or ever will live, falls within the purview of our tacit or explicit will.” She motioned with one hand to each of the other aspects and said, “We are Gaia.”
Kellan nodded as additional understanding snapped together like magnets attracting fragments of iron. “And does Lamia know you’re alive?” The Sentinel almost felt guilty at the shocked looks that crossed each of the women’s faces. Almost, but not quite.
“Kellan,” began Merlin in a guarded tone, but Lachesis held up a hand, silencing him.
“Peace Oren, it is clear he knows. The only question that remains to us is whether he can add my secret to yours and keep them both.” She fixed her amber eyes on Kellan and simply asked, “When?”
Kellan smiled, “Well, I suppose that depends on which me you are asking. I suspect that subconscious Kellan figured it out shortly after Oren almost called you by your given name. Conscious Kellan is a bit slow on the uptake as Atropos here was kind enough to point out. Seems my little Intel Core 2 Duo Ape brain can’t multitask well enough to consciously dig out relational facts from the eidetic portion of my brain while simultaneously making those relationship connections. That’s fine. I’m going to work on that.”
“But how?” asked Merlin.
Kellan gave the wizard a wily grin, reached into the side pocket of his hoodie and removed, nothing. He inspected the nothing and appeared to tap it against the palm of his other hand.
Merlin watched him warily for a moment then lowered his voice. “What are you—”
Kellan lifted his free hand, the one not occupied with the invisible object and then proceeded to sprinkle invisible somethings into it. The wizard cast a furtive glance to the three fates and back to Kellan as the young Sentinel finished what seemed to be a packing motion with his thumb. Recognition dawned for Merlin and he gave a subtle shake of his head even as the three women craned their necks a bit for a better view.
Kellan affected a supremely satisfied look as he pretended to light, then smoke, an invisible pipe. “Why, that is elementary, my dear Oren.” The Young Sentinel ignored Merlin’s pained expression and continued. “Let us start with what is abundantly obvious to everyone. First, Lamia believes all her children to be dead. She told me as much at the Council of Havilah in Eden, not three months ago. Second, you are the most powerful form of Nephilim, and all such Nephilim are born without souls. As you, yourself, explained, only those with a soul may experience transcendent death—all others, a destructive one. It follows then, that your two sisters, Shaylee and Nissa were not born soulless and thus could die. However, number three, when we were at Adels’s and you mentioned them, you said, and I quote, ‘not since my sister died.’ Sister, not sisters. Who might that sister be then? That brings us to the fourth piece of information when, just minutes ago, you almost referred to Lachesis as Shaylee before she stopped you. This, of course, led me to the inescapable conclusion that the aspect of fate who measures threads,” Kellan gestured expansively toward Lachesis, “is none other than your sister Shaylee.” Kellan pretended to relight his imaginary pipe. “As I said, elementary.”
Atropos cackled dryly. Clotho clapped and bounced on her throne in a decidedly distracting manner, and Lachesis gave her brother a long suffering sigh. For his part, Merlin shot the young Sentinel a withering look and growled, “You, Kellan Thorne, are an ass.”
Kellan affected his best “who me,” expression then turned to the Fates and flashed his most winning smile. He lowered his voice and rasped, “Dost thou not suspect my place? Dost thou not suspect my years? Oh, that he were here to write me down an ass! But mistresses, remember that I am an ass, though it be not written down, yet forget not that I, am an ass.”
People could say what they wanted about Kellan Caufield Thorne, and people did. However, one thing that could not be said of him was that he misread his audiences.
All three Fates stood as one and applauded. Kellan bowed low, bending his knee behind him and spreading out his arms. Lachesis fixed her eyes on Kellan’s and spoke with laughter in her voice, “Shakespeare would be proud, young Sentinel. Thank you. We rarely get visitors and I cannot recall ever having been so entertained.” She glanced left and right while Gaia’s other two aspects showed agreement by shaking their heads, “And now if you are finished with both your rather impressive Dogberry impression and torturing my brother, let us retire to someplace more comfortable.”
Kellan leaned forward and accepted the offered food with a smile. He popped it in his mouth and nodded to the server with appreciation, then leaned over to Merlin. "Did you try one of those? They’re amazing."
"I've had them before."
"Yeah, but it's kinda like a frittata, but, I don't know, I guess a frittata if they were made by God.”
“Well, that makes sense then since everything that exists here does so by the tacit will of three goddesses.”
Kellan frow
ned. “Are you still pissed about the Sherlock thing?”
“You made me look foolish, Kellan.”
“I make myself look foolish all the time.”
“—and you acted beneath the dignity of your station.”
Kellan shrugged, “I do that all the time too. Speaking of which, these servers are adorable. They look like baby Groots.”
Merlin glared at the young Sentinel. “Don’t do it Kellan. I am warning you. Do. Not. Do—”
“I am Grooooot,” said Kellan as he watched the old wizard’s jaw flex.
Belethane had been standing quietly to Kellan’s left, but now leaned over and placed a massive hand on the Sentinel’s shoulder. Kellan looked up and smiled innocently. The Etunazian shook his head and spoke with even more of a rumble, “I am not Grooot!”
Kellan nearly spit out part of his frittata as his laughter split the room. The vines that made up Belethane’s face twisted and gave it the vague impression of a smile, then he shook with a rhythmic cracking sound.
Merlin rubbed his temples and said weakly, “Belethane, please do not encourage him,” but it was already too late because Kellan needed no encouragement.
“So, are the baby Groots just smaller versions of you?”
“In a fashion, Sentinel,” answered Belethane. “They are my children and serve the court of Gaia. In the fullness of time, one of them will take my place as guardian to the Queens.”
Kellan’s eyes widened. “You have kids. I want to meet them. They are adorable. Do you have a wife too?”
Lachesis approached them and Belethane regained his formal composure but not before confirming that yes, obviously he had children, that he appreciated Kellan finding them so adorable, and that perhaps there would be time to meet his wife later.
“May I join you?” asked Lachesis.
“Of course,” said Kellan. “You needn’t ask, after all you are Queen here not me.”
“Yes, you would make a poor Queen,” she said with a smile as vines burst from the floor to form a delicate chair on which she settled herself. She turned her gaze to Merlin and frowned slightly. “Oh, Oren, do relax a bit. You are always so rigid.”
“Shay, don’t tell me to relax. You know how important this is to me.”
She patted his hand. “Of course I do, which is why we are all here helping you. Still, it doesn’t mean you need to walk around like there is a thorny vine shoved up your arse.”
Kellan barked a laugh and she gave him a wink.
Merlin sucked in air though his teeth and said, “I was trying to have him treat you three with the dignity, your roles deserved.”
She waved dismissively, “We get plenty of deferential treatment. What we don’t get much of is real conversation.” She turned her eyes to Kellan. “And that is why my daughter and mother have sent me to collect you. Are you refreshed enough to join us for a rather involved conversation. There is much to discuss.”
Kellan brightened. “I’m good. Where are we going?”
Lachesis reached up to cup Kellan’s cheek. “We need not go anywhere. I will bring the privacy to us.” The matron’s words still hung in the air as Kellan felt the world shift around him. It was almost as if the three of them sank into the floor with leaves, vines, and branches forming all around them until they were in a completely new room.
Kellan looked around and whistled softly. “That’s a neat trick. How’d you do it? Didn’t feel like either a portal or a circle.”
“That is because it was neither,” came a voice from Kellan’s left. He looked over to find Clotho fading into view, still wearing her gossamer nothingness and stretched out on a living chase lounge.
Kellan smiled wanly and gave a half wave then leaned in to Lachesis. “Can she put on a sweater, a shirt, anything really?”
The middle aspect of fate patted Kellan’s hand affectionately. “She could, but she won’t. Just ignore it.”
Kellan sighed. “I’ve been trying.”
“Try harder,” growled Merlin.
“Fine.”
“She’s only recently become that aspect of Fate.” Kellan twisted his head at the unexpected voice. Atropos stood behind he and Merlin, a look of grandmotherly acquiescence on her face. “She knows that someday all that will fade and she will need to take up the Mantel of Allotment. Given that, who can blame a bit of exhibitionism. We all went through it.”
Kellan shook his head. “Whoa! Hold up a minute. You all went through what?”
Atropos circled around and reclined into her own manifested chair. She steepled her wrinkled hands and peered over the fingers.
“Questions, questions, my very young Sentinel. You want answers, but answers are not free.”
“He has already agreed to help, Oren,” said Lachesis
“Agreements can be broken, daughter. We need a vow of permanence between us.”
“Oh,” purred Clotho, “I’ve never seen one performed.”
“And you will not be seeing one now. You will be doing one,” said Atropos.
“Even better,” replied Clotho.
“Hold up a sec,” said Kellan. “What exactly are we doing?”
Lachesis fixed her eyes on Kellan “You agreed to find Oren a soul, correct?”
“Well, I agreed to try and help him. That’s true. I also have no idea what’s involved so don’t even know if I can help him.”
“You can help him,” all three aspects said in unison, then Lachesis continued.
“The vow of permanence is simply a way for any of us ensure a bargain is made in good faith. I’m sure you understand, Kellan.”
“Not really, no. Who is the ‘us’ in that sentence.”
“Us,” repeated Clotho, then pointed to Atropos, Lachesis, and Merlin before making a more expansive gesture. “Any being who channels Ordered, Chaotic, or Belief fueled power can be bound by such a vow.”
Kellan nodded as a new piece to his ever expanding puzzle fell into place, “Belief fueled? You are referring to Mantels like yours and Ares?”
“And many others, Kellan,” said Atropos gruffly. “Now, let’s get on with it.”
“No,” said Lachesis, “we should want the Sentinel to be in full command of the facts. Don’t look at me that way, Clotho. The vow is only as strong as the knowledge with which it is made.” She turned back to Kellan. “You are correct, Sentinel. While Order and Chaos represent two foundational powers of creation, human belief forms a third. It is this third power that animates our Mantels and all others such as War who you’ve met and Revenge who you banished.”
Kellan’s eyes widened and he looked furtively from Lachesis to each of the other aspects. “You know about that, huh. Well, in my defense that was some sick shit those guys were up to and—”
Atropos held up a hand, cutting off Kellan’s explanation. “Sentinel, you need make no defense to us. We are well aware of the Mellville’s depravity. While we are only tacitly aware of many human threads that are spun out or cut, those threads which are interwoven with a Mantel, well, those get our personal attention.”
“So, you aren’t pissed about what happened to Váli?” Kellan asked hopefully.
“The world is better off without him in it,” said Lachesis.
“He is awful,” added Clotho.
“That is beside the point,” said Atropos, a frustrated edge creeping into her voice. “It wouldn’t matter if we were upset by your actions. Here’s some free advice. Don’t worry about pissing people off. You are the Sentinel of Order and more powerful than any one Mantel.” The eldest aspect paused a moment, then added, “And that is before we bequeath our gifts.”
“Gifts?” said Kellan smiling. “I love gifts and it’s almost Christmas!”
“No gifts yet, Sentinel of Order,” admonished Lachesis. “One must give before one can receive.”
“The vow?”
All three aspects nodded and Clotho added, “And the thread. Don’t forget the thread, Lachesis. He must let us see the thread.”
&n
bsp; Lachesis nodded indulgently to the youngest aspect. “Of course, Clotho, I did not forget.”
Kellan leaned back and waved his hands in negation. “So, what are the terms of this deal again. I don’t mean to be standoffish, but lots things try to either kill me or just generally screw me over.”
Merlin stood and stretched, then looked back to Kellan. “No, it is perfectly understandable. I’ll explain but let me say this first. I would never do anything to harm you Kellan. I owe you my life twice over as I’ve said before. In addition, you saved my mother and sisters. That being said, the terms I’ve negotiated are very straight forward. In exchange for your vow to procure for me a soul, each aspect of Fate will bestow a gift from the combined Mantel of Gaia. I cannot tell you what those gifts will be, but I can tell you that they will serve you, and those you love, well.”
“Beyond that,” added Lachesis, “you will be a friend of our court forever more and I will answer your remaining question about how our Mantel is manifest. In case you forgot about that.”
“Oh, I didn’t forget, I was trying to be polite,” mumbled Kellan mostly to himself as he considered. He looked up and flashed an embarrassed smile, “Sorry, that one was supposed to stay inside my head.” He composed himself and frowned, “But what if I cannot get the Soul, what happens then?”
“Any willful breach of a Vow of Permanence causes the Mantel of such a person to shatter back into the void,” said Atropos with more glee than Kellan found appropriate.
Kellan frowned and said, “Well, that doesn’t sound good at all. I’m pretty sure that bad things would happen if my power were suddenly relegated to the void, whatever that is. It seems too big a risk to take on a task I’m not confident I can complete.”
“No, Kellan,” said Lachesis, “you misunderstand. It must be a willful breach to shatter a Mantel. If you genuinely try to fulfill it but fall short, the Vow is not broken.”
The young Sentinel nodded at this, but still seemed troubled. “Why are you so sure I can do this? I know nothing about souls. Well, almost nothing. I know Shannon’s was somehow imprinted with Sentinel power when she was born.”
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