Seven #2
"So it is true, then?"
"She never went back to Prime after that, and the two of them were all but inseparable. The third ring had not yet connected to the rest of the Seven Worlds back then, and it is suspected that she and Shura popped through a gateway to Syzkilmyr more than once."
"Why's that?"
"Because she bore him three Junturan sons and two daughters."
I blinked. "How is that possible?"
"Back before Syzkilmyr became joined, if you traveled there, you became catfolk. When she got pregnant, the child in her womb was catfolk, so when she returned to Juntura, while she reverted to her human self, the child in her womb did not, because it was a catfolk land."
"Then what about Tiru?"
"Oh, that was me," Fel said with a wink, causing me to laugh.
"I should have known!"
"To continue this little story, she brought a lot of peace to Juntura, and she used her leverage to teach people better farming and husbandry techniques.
Those techniques helped address many of the reasons for the constant skirmishes and wars.
It didn't hurt that everyone was quite afraid of Shura, or that she also had the backing of the emperor, who wanted nothing more than peace on Juntura at that time.
So when she passed, that emperor, as well as the next, continued to push the things she'd been doing, and they did it in her name.
Because just as Dani was and still is popular with the orcs, Vikoria was popular with the Junturans. "
"Umm, Dani's not going to end up as a god, is she?" I asked, a little worried.
Fel laughed. "No, but she may very well end up a saint."
"Dani? A saint? I thought saints had to be pious, staid, and well-behaved?"
"Maybe the human ones do, but, William, the orc ones most definitely are not!"
That idea took me a minute to wrap my head around. Dani as a saint? After a minute, I had to laugh. Dani as a saint would be amazing.
"Oh, Fel, before I go. Any advice or guidance on finding an orc to approach about this crazy idea of mine?"
"You want to talk to Khortz, and it's not a crazy idea. A lot of the outlying sheriffs are corrupt because the state is too weak to oversee them. The mayor was most definitely happy with the situation, even if it wasn't his idea, because he was being paid to look the other way."
"So find Khortz and talk to him. Anything else I need to know?"
"Khortz was Guntz' nephew."
I blinked. "So he knew about Dani?"
"Yes, and he also knows Makill; they occasionally do business."
"Wow. So I definitely need to go see him; he's almost family."
"Good luck convincing him of that!" Fel said with another laugh.
"Anything else I need to know before I wake up?"
"You do remember what happens when you sleep with the priestess of a fertility goddess? Especially in one of said Goddess' churches?"
I sighed and looked guilty. "Yeah, I know, I know. But in my defense, she wanted me, I enjoyed it, and I have a hard time saying no to a beautiful woman."
Fel laughed again. "Have fun, William!"
§ §
Getting into the city was a bit more problematic than I had realized.
I got a ride from the co-op into Mulberry, but then I had to find someone who was heading into the city.
There was a train line to make the trip, but those were typically arranged in advance during harvest season, or a once-a-month trip that everyone who had a shop that needed goods planned their shipments around.
On horseback, the trip was around six hours, a bit longer in a carriage, and probably twice that if you walked it.
Sam had asked around the day before, and as far as he could tell, no one was going in, so with his help, I ended up hiring a carriage to take me there.
It was cheaper than buying a horse—which I would have had to find a stable for in Fayette.
There were two men hooking up the carriage when I arrived at the stable we'd be leaving from.
"I thought I was only paying for one?" I asked, coming up.
"Our father figured, as long as we were going into the city, we might as well pick up some freight for him," the older of the two said. "You're not paying us to come back empty, after all."
I had to chuckle. "Wouldn't dream of it. Is your father's shop one of Gomerty's?"
"Aye, what of it?"
"I'm trying to set up something a bit better than that sheriff and his cronies for the town, and for my friends out at the co-op.
When I get back, I'd like to meet with some of the leaders of his shops and possibly one of the local priests to discuss things.
I want to make sure you guys are treated well, too. "
"Why would you want to do that?" he asked, frowning.
I sighed. "You know who I am, right?"
"We've heard rumors. You're supposed to be this big, bad fighter who killed a king and took over his kingdom."
I snorted, smiling. "Not exactly. I'm also the one who took care of the goddess Par during the war in Rossiya.
Anyhow, not to stray too far from the point, I met a number of Gomerty's high priests or whatever you folks call them, as well as his champion, and I learned that there are a great number of things we see eye-to-eye on.
So, as he helped me and my god, Feliogustus, it's only fair I return the favor. "
"So what brought you here?" the younger of the two asked.
"One of my cargo ships, which I was deadheading on to Rossiya, had a large shipment for the co-op.
They're all followers of Vikoria, whom my god Feliogustus and I are friends with, and the two agents who came to pick up the shipment told me about their problems. So—" I smiled "—I figured I'd come and help deal with it for them. "
"Well, ain't nobody gonna miss the sheriff or that boss guy. They were making life hard on the shopkeepers like our father, as well as the tradesmen."
"And that's why I'm going into the city to talk to some folks," I said, passing over the money for my trip. I then climbed up into the back of the carriage and stretched out on my back.
They finished up with the horses, and we headed out of town. The ride in the back wasn't all that rough. The road wasn't bad, and from what I'd heard, the local government kept them safe.
I spent a lot of the trip just staring up at the sky and trying to figure out where my life was going.
After I caught up with Tia and saw Tabitha, who'd had my child, as well, I'd check out those two churches, spend a little time with them, and then I'd be off for home.
Rachel's and my home. After a few months, I'd make a trip to Hillshire to visit Suzona, maybe even stop and check on the kids in Riverhead.
After a week or two of that, I'd definitely go back home.
I'd have to see about visiting Evean or have her visit me.
I'd need to ride out to the Mowoks for a while to check on Diament, probably bring Rachel along so we could tour some of the kingdom.
Then, come the winter, Rachel and I could leave for Suffolk for a few months, or maybe I'd go with Darlene, Laria, or even Evean.
I didn't know how often Rachel would want to go to Suffolk.
Whoever did go, I would have some quality time with them.
Then, when I was done there, I'd send everyone home and see if I could find someplace else that Vikoria could use a hand. I should probably visit Solenne, and while I was sure Lillis would understand if it was a while before I came by again, I'd have to visit her at some point, as well.
All that would probably take two or three months, then back home again.
It would be nice to stay home more than that, but I needed to work on my myth and my mythic aspect, because it would help Feliogustus, and, yes, the descendants of all the children I had or would be having. I'd also need to go to Stepheen's every second or third year for some time, as well.
Things were calm right now, and hopefully they'd stay that way for the next few decades.
The gods all knew I was a threat, and most of them would figure I was just trying to ingratiate Fel with them and all the other gods by being the kind of helpful person Vikoria was.
They believed they'd pulled my fangs, or at least put them under lock and key for now.
Once they discovered I was a mythic—or were allowed to act on that information, if they already knew—it would be too late to do anything about me.
Fel's tiger would be sitting in the cage, a constant warning to leave him alone or suffer the consequences.
I could see how it also played into Fel's long- game.
Still, I couldn't complain. I'd be away from home for maybe three months of the year straight, and Rachel and the girls would probably be with me for half of those three months.
True, there'd be a few weeks here and there that I'd be gone, as well, but for the foreseeable future, I'd be home more than away.
Or at least home until Rachel came up with something for me to do when I started getting bored and underfoot!
Still, if I could open portals to Fel's other churches, and maybe Vikoria's, as well, I'd be home even more than that.
I liked that idea.
When we got to town, I climbed out of the carriage, said, "Good day," and headed into town.
Fel had provided me with a map of the town when I'd taken that nap the other day, so finding my way wasn't hard.
As Vikoria's temple was marked, I suspected she'd been the one who'd pass it on to him, so I headed there first.
"Can I help you?" one of the priestesses asked as I walked up to the door.
"Hi, I'm William, and I'm looking for information regarding where I might find an orc by the name of Khortz?"
She nodded. "We were warned you would be stopping by. After you've talked with him, if you need a place to stay, you are more than welcome to come back here."
"Why, thank you."