Aphrodite's Acolyte

by J. E. Spatafore

  Fidel couldn't pass up the pendant, the blue-tinted mist striking him with great interest. As they left the booth, Fidel asked Abby if she wanted the pendant. She said she didn't, explaining curses and omens that often surrounded such trinkets. Fidel chuckled at the superstitious woman and placed the necklace around his neck.

  They continued on for the evening, playing a few games and window shopping. They arrived at the amphitheater and decided to watch the play being performed, a play that portrayed the love triangle shared between Aphrodite, her husband Hephaestus, and her lover, the God of War, Ares.

  After the third act of the play, Fidel felt a burning sensation where the pendant was touching his skin. As he pulled the pendant out from underneath his robe, a small flame flared up from the center of the top point of the star, then subsided into a red mist, much like the original bluish tint of the amulet.

  Abby shoved Fidel. “See! I told you it's cursed! You better take that thing off and toss it before it consumes you!”

  Fidel looked at her with fascination. “Or, this is part of the mystery of this unique necklace!”

  Abby looked at Fidel with disbelief. “You're insane!”

  After the play was over, the duo departed, heading back to the house. Fidel pulled out his necklace, looking it over curiously as the red and blue tint-filled star points kept him engaged. In a short time, they were back at Fidel's parents home.

  They headed to bed for the evening, each to their respective rooms for a good night's sleep. Fidel kept his necklace on as he laid down in his bed and drifted off to sleep, the necklace falling and resting on his chest.

  When Fidel woke the next day, he found a mysterious small patch of dirt on his chest and the amulets bottom left star point had filled with a brown mist, much like the red and blue points. The amulet made Fidel more and more curious. He walked to the kitchen and saw Lord Fineal's herald sitting in his seat, Grelin and Asante sitting across from him.

  Fidel stared at the herald curiously. “Good morning. Is something amiss?” Grelin started to speak but the herald cut him short.

  “Good morning, Mr. Austempes. Lord Fineal has requested I fetch you for a meeting as soon as possible.”

  Fidel stared curiously at Grelin and Asante. “Mother, Father, are you aware of the circumstances surrounding this summons?”

  Grelin and Asante both shook their heads. The individuals then struck up conversation, requesting details on what the visit was about. The herald did not reveal the details of the meeting but did reassure the family that Fidel was not in any danger and would be returning. Fidel excused himself to clean up and returned a few moments later, dressed and ready to meet the Lord of Puldechra once again.

  The journey to the palace was short and quick, but the entrance for this meeting did not reside via the front door. The herald led Fidel to the front door and then turned to the left, heading down the pathway about a hundred strides.

  They entered through the left tower of the palace, Fidel thinking this was perhaps the lord's private quarters. As Fidel entered the tower, he noticed it was hollow. An empty tower with no layers, no stairs, he could stare straight up the entire fifty foot length to the roof. The herald quietly slipped out the door they came through and closed the door hard, the thud echoing up the full length of the tower. Fidel suddenly got nervous, reached into his pack, pulled his staff out, and prepared himself for a confrontation.

  The walls of the tower shifted. The stone looked like the distorted rocks of a river bed that would be seen through the eyes of a man fetching a drink of water. Wind rushed in from the top of the tower down to the bottom, filling the room with an invisible matter. The air felt solid under Fidel's feet. He found he had to lift his feet to keep from being buried. The invisible dirt continued to fill the tower. Fidel had to take frequent steps to raise himself higher and higher.

  When he was halfway up the length of the tower, the wall opposite him started to take on a new shape. The shape of a door appeared, first in outline and then one wooden plank at a time materializing. Within a few heartbeats, a full solid oak door was before him.

  Fidel looked down the tower shaft and saw Abigail rush into the tower, looking around confused. She called his name but he could not hear her. The door in front of him opened and Lord Fineal emerged. “Do not worry Fidel, she will be safe, as will you. Please join me in my private quarters, I have knowledge to share with you.” Fidel looked down, watching Abby tapping on the walls. He stepped into Lord Fineal's chamber and the door closed behind him with a loud clanking sound indicating a heavy door lock.

  Fineal immediately started the conversation, “By now, you must be curious of that amulet you carry.” He walked over and poured a drink. Fidel looked at Fineal curiously, not sure how this meeting was to go. For the second time in the past month, he decided to choose faith over fear and placed his staff back in his pack.

  Fineal smiled and pointed at Fidel's hip sack. “Those are some very clever contraptions.”

  Fidel returned the smile. “Yes, my father gave it to me before leaving Harlow's Hovel.” Fidel chuckled. “I look forward to filling it!”

  Fineal shared in the lighthearted jest and offered Fidel a drink. “In time, Fidel, I believe you will have plenty of opportunity to fill that bag to the brim.”

  Fidel gave Fineal a look of intrigue.

  “Ah, yes Fidel, I should explain that amulet you carry. That will shed some light on the subject.” Fineal moved to a chair and signaled for Fidel to do the same. Fidel complied and sat down, taking a sip of the sweet tea.

  “Fidel, you have been chosen. Or maybe you have chosen.” Fineal paused for a second and considered the ambiguity, “Either way, you are involved. That amulet is like many of its kind, by all appearances. But the amulet you carry is enchanted. It is part of a large design.” Fineal stopped and took a sip.

  Fidel asked sarcastically, “What design would that be? Some grand prophecy that I would save the world like many stories of our realms and our gods?” Fidel took a sip from his tea.

  Fineal's eyes widened as he jumped up excitedly, “Exactly! So you do understand!?”

  Fidel spit out his tea, giving an incredulous look at Fineal. The brown-haired Lord started laughing. After a few moments, Fineal regained his composure and continued. “No, not a prophecy that you would save the world. But there is a prophecy that the world may end. When all the points in that star are filled, the Cascian Knights are to rise under the control of the master of the amulet's power. When the amulet is full with color, the amulet's master will receive the full strength of the gods.”

  Fidel held the amulet up in front of his face so Fineal could see. His eyes widened with concern and his voice was grim. “Two of these star points filled just last night, making a total of three. At this rate, the prophecy should be fulfilled soon.”

  Fineal took a close look at the amulet. His tone was tempered with very moderate concern. “You assume the rate of fulfillment will stay the same, Fidel. Typically, these actions are followed by long periods of silence before the next point gets filled. It's been that way for centuries.”

  Fidel stared at Fineal, confused. “So you have been through this before, Lord Fineal?”

  Fineal returned the gaze. “Oh yes Fidel, I have seen at least three of these such power seekers be put to rest. This is much more commonplace than most people would know. Elven history is full of such battles. In fact, they are usually the only battles we participate in.”

  Fineal pulled his own amulet from under his garb. “There is always some tripe mage involved in these situations. Mages are typically the seekers of power beyond their grasp, and more often than not, they fail to reach their goals by such rudimentary means, such as a sword through their gullet. Remember Fidel, elves live a long time. We are slow to rush into battle, but succeed every time we do. Every elven lord is prepared for this exact situation throughout their fiefdom.”

  Fineal paused and scratched his bare chin, “But we, the elven people
, do have one problem with our approach. Our people do not try to stop these tragedies until they are dangerously close to being fulfilled. And that, Fidel, is why Lord Ias endorsed you and I have summoned you.”

  Fidel's look was full of confusion. Fineal carried on the conversation, explaining to Fidel that the first point in the star filled a few days before Fidel departed Harlow's Hovel. He explained how Lord Ias capitalized on Fidel's departure to carry an important message.

  He continued to explain how Fineal and Ias were members of a secret brotherhood known as the Superstes Deorum, or “Survivors of Gods”. Fineal explained the amulets meaning. Each pointed section of the star represented an element of Mirater.

  He noted the already present colors: Light blue was for air, red for fire, brown for earth. The remaining colors were dark blue representing water and gray representing faith. When Fidel commented that faith was not an element, Fineal corrected him. “You would not think so, would you? Yes, faith is an element. It is an element of life. Without faith, you have no purpose. Without purpose, no passion. So faith is very much an element. And it is the only element that ever conquers fear.”

  Fidel smiled at Fineal's explanation, knowing himself to have chosen faith over fear two times within the past month. “How do these areas get filled? What triggers this?”

  Fineal nodded. “Yes, I should tell you. The stars fill by unnatural events large enough to send at least one thousand souls at the same time to Hades front door, no small feat. As you can see by our stars, at least three thousand souls have been turned into Hades, fulfilling the requirements. Furthermore, this means that one person has murdered over three thousand people on our planet.”

  Fidel sat back in his chair thinking about the power a person must wield to take the lives of so many at the same time.

  “Fidel, you also must know. The people must die by the element being fulfilled. Considering the order the star is filling, this means the first group died by air. The second group by fire. The third by an event involving the land. This means we can narrow the start of your search, if you choose to get involved. We would start with the seas and oceans of Maserun, or have you focus on the faith capitals of our good land.”

  Fineal stopped for a few heartbeats. “I must ask you Fidel, are you willing to help in this battle of ascension? If you are not willing, I completely understand. The dangers in getting involved are high and life threatening.”

  Fidel thought about the offer for a few minutes, looking to the wisdom he had been given over the years. He remembered Shar's words before he departed Harlow's Hovel, “I'm telling you to listen to your heart.” He considered his newfound peace in Puldechra, united with his birth parents, and with a female companion now in tow. A life every Mirater-born citizen dreams of having.

  Memories of his time on the road, with his merchant companions then filled his head. How free he felt, the fear induced adrenaline rush of the fight with the bandits, the pride of the success of the struggle. The excitement of the open road. He rose from his chair and approached Fineal, holding out his arm offering a handshake.

  “Fineal, I do not know what Lord Ias said about me, as I have only met my lord once. But to you, being the Lord of Puldechra and member of Superstes Deorum, I do hereby accept the request to aid in the task of purging this evil from our land.”

  Fineal smiled ear to ear and grasped Fidel's hand with a firm grip. “You are a most welcome addition to the group!”

  Fineal walked over to his table, pulling a map out of the folds of his robe on the way. He unrolled the map and motioned for Fidel to join him. Fineal went over several details of the map, providing contacts in every city and seaport. He showed Fidel the several places to visit and verify. He looked up from the map.

  "So Fidel, what is your fancy?”

  Fidel stared back, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

  “The sea or the land?” Fineal clarified.

  Fidel searched inside himself. Both choices were equal in his heart and mind. “Could I get back to you on this decision?”

  Fineal stood back and scratched his cheek. “Yes. Please return to me when the sun sets for the day, and bring any other members you plan to bring with you. After all, you will probably want to bring your female companion on this mission. The roads will be long and boring, sometimes dangerous.”

  Fidel nodded and agreed to meet Fineal at sundown to make his choice.

  As he exited the tower, he noticed he was not exiting the same way he arrived. His exit from the tower placed him right behind Lord Fineal's throne. He turned around and inspected the wall, which showed no evidence of the door he just walked through. Fidel shook his head, always admiring the wonders of his world.

  When Fidel returned home, Abigail, Asante, and Grelin were sitting at the dining table. Abby was visibly upset. Asante and Grelin were trying to comfort her. Abby relaxed when her eyes set upon Fidel, as did Asante's and Grelin's. However, their looks turned to concern when Fidel's expression showed he had something to tell them.

  Fidel took a seat and explained the story to his family, specifically leaving out the details of the Superstes Deorum as Fineal had requested. After many moments of the talking and uncomfortable pauses of silence, Asante decided to cook breakfast.

  Abby asked Fidel if she was to go with him and he responded that was her choice. Grelin and Asante started to strike up conversation about their days of being rangers in the Puldechran guard, both considering a return to service at the news.

  The four of them sat around the table, talking about all the options, and eating what could be their final breakfast together. While the news hung heavy in the air, they still managed to enjoy their time together and even shared a few laughs. Asante's tale of her tracking a giant was particularly humorous. She explained how she confused a large man's footprint for a giant's, followed by the embarrassment on the man's face when he was found under a waterfall with no clothes on.

  After breakfast, the group moved to the family room to finish the discussion and decide their course of action. Then came a knock on the door. Asante answered and Fidel could hear the voice of a man, “Hello Mrs. Fidel, can Delly come out to play?” A flood of memories entered Fidel's mind, the same memories he had upon first laying eyes on the picture of himself on the dresser.

  Fidel jumped up from his chair, looking at the front door in anticipation. An elven man, slightly shorter than Fidel, strolled into the house. He glanced at Fidel and gave a huge smile, his golden hair unrolling as he removed his fedora, his blue eyes locking on to Fidel's green orbs.

  Fidel's face twisted with slight recognition. “Cap? Is that you?” Fidel walked toward the door, tripping over the foot stool on his way.

  Cap laughed. “Yes, Delly. Welcome home!” The two grabbed each other by the shoulders and then pulled each other in for a manly embrace.

  Fidel pushed Cap back giving a very serious look and using a fake but threatening tone, “It's Fidel now.”

  Cap laughed at the comment. “Well, I'm still Cap. But welcome home, Fidel!”

  Cap pulled up a chair to join them in a little reminiscing, explaining he was part of the Puldechran guard and very much enjoying life. He explained how he always thought of Fidel as his long-lost brother and their short time together were some of the best memories he could recall.

  The conversation went back to point. Cap's face turned serious. “I have a confession, Fidel, Lord Fineal has sent me to collect your answer and offer my services as part of your decision. He had something come up and needs your answer sooner than expected.”

  The group went silent again, but only for a moment. Fidel declined his parent's assistance, stating he would like to have a reason to return as well as not wanting their last memory, if it would be so, being one of him screaming in agony. Abby chimed in, insisting she would not leave Fidel's side, a proclamation of loyalty to Fidel and a comforting gesture to Asante and Grelin.

  Cap placed two small chests on the table and asked, “Water?” he poi
nted to the chest on the right, “or land?” he pointed to the chest on the left.

  Fidel looked at Abby for her choice. Abby quickly chose land, almost too quickly as-if there was a story Fidel would surely press for later on.

  “Land it is.” Fidel stated with a voice of finality. Cap nodded his head and retrieved the box representing the water.

  Cap asked one more question. “Will you have me join you on your journey?”

  Fidel nodded with a wide smile, “Of course we will. We have a lot of catching up to do. No better place to do that than on the road to adventure!”

  Cap smiled with anticipation. “You will find the contents of the box will carry all we will need. I will bring this chest to the king and will return once I am dismissed.” Cap paused for a few moments, “Delly, I can't wait to share our stories! See you in a few hours!” Cap, or Capi Advor as he was formally named, took his leave and smiled as he considered his intentional reference to his friend by his childhood nickname.

  Once again, the four of them were alone to prepare for Fidel's second departure from Puldechra, this time by his own accord. They rummaged through the chest that was left. It contained a few maps, some lists of contacts, a sizable satchel of coin, and seven rings. The rings contained the same symbol of the gods Fidel wore around his neck.

  A note left in the box explained the usage of the rings. They contained a magical power which allowed all who wore the rings to talk to each other. Fidel immediately handed out three of the rings. He gave one each to Grelin, Asante, and Abby. They practiced on their magical rings for a few minutes, making sure they worked as intended. Satisfied with the results, Fidel and Abby both packed for their trip through the land of Mirater.

  Abby and Fidel stood on the porch of the elven home, waiting for Cap's arrival. Abby looked at Fidel, locking her gaze deep into his green eyes. “You do know we can die right? This is not some easy adventure across a desert to your homeland. This is serious, where the destination will surely be wicked and vile.”