Chapter Nine
FLOATING; A LEAF on a lake. Gentle waves lap against my body.
Warm water; comforting, consoling, caressing.
I blink several times, slowly at first, struggling to drive the weariness from my bones.
High above me in the night sky is a brilliant full moon, showering silver light.
I achingly sit up, buoyed on top of the water.
Wait, what? I shake my head, and look out in front of me. Black water stretches in all directions for several lengths before ending abruptly at a shore of silver sand, olive and pine trees lining the perimeter behind the sand. Olive and pine? What is this place?
I push onto my feet, somehow standing on top of the water. A cool breeze blows from over my shoulder, weaving around my body, causing me to turn swiftly. There before me stands Lunos, in resplendent glory.
Just like last time, she stands tall, long black hair cascading down her bare chest, silver lines of power pulsing across her body.
“Greetings, Skion.” Her musical tone washes over me again, a shiver running through my body. A coy smile tugs at the corner of her mouth before she steps closer and runs a finger along my mark. “You’ve finally awakened my power.”
I nod, remembering the pain. Remembering the power.
“It was like nothing I could have imagined.” Lunos continues to trace my mark languidly, her silver eyes locked on mine, nodding at my words.
“I know it likely took a toll on your body. You will learn, though refusing to accept who you are is going to make things much harder.” My eyes widen.
How can she know? A musical laugh ripples across the water.
“I know a great many things, young one. No one who matters will care, and perhaps you might just find someone who will love you for your true self.” Before I can even think of something to say in reply, Lunos steps back and places two fingers on either side of one of the rivers of light and power coursing along her body.
“Here, this will help your body once you wake.” With a pinch, she grabs the silvery thread and tosses it toward me.
The tip touches the mark at my throat, immediately absorbing into my body.
Tension I wasn’t aware of releases from my shoulders as warmth sinks into my body and mind.
Satisfied, the goddess takes a few more steps back, and stretches her arms wide, slowly spinning.
“This will be your refuge, your sanctum and training grounds. For you do need to train, Skion. You must become strong, readying yourself against those who would do us harm.”
“You mentioned a war before. Who are you fighting? How am I supposed to help?” Lunos lowers her shoulders, sighing. Such an odd noise to come from a goddess. Who knew the gods felt emotions like we do?
“We will have plenty of time for that later. For now, all I know is that divine forces are at play. Ones that are hungry for power; my power.” A twisting passes through us and Lunos looks up at the night sky.
“Looks like you are beginning to wake. Our time is brief.” She closes the distance, her feet sparking silver ripples across the water.
“You can return to this place in your mind. Focus on it as you sleep and you will find your way back.” I shoot down into the blackness of the water with a twisting, the image of her outstretched hand fading into nothingness.
***
I blink with weary eyes, staring up at a night sky.
Again? At least there isn’t a weird lake of water and magical goddess this time.
The crackling of a fire and the sounds of a camp come into focus, muted, but there.
A quiet, melancholic humming reaches my ears and I lay there, soaking in the soothing sound. It sounds ancient and full of tragedy.
“Oh, you’re awake.” The humming stops and is replaced by a sweet voice that can only belong to Helia. She sits with her back against a tree, armor on, spear leaning against the pine next to her. We must still be in the Nolphi forest then. “How are you feeling, Skion?”
I slowly stretch my body, a sense of soreness here and there. Whatever Lunos did, it worked well. I sit up, a blanket shifting off of me, the dull ache of a distant headache pulses briefly.
“I’m in one piece. What was that you were singing?”
Helia pauses, and for the first time since I’ve known her, she looks uncertain.
“Ahh, you heard that? It’s an old song. One of power, love, and a destiny defied.
” There’s more to it than that. No song, however tragic, carries the emotion Helia gave it.
A question for another time. I look around slowly to gather my bearings.
We are in a small clearing off the trail, wagons arranged to block gaps in the trees that lead deeper into the forest. The band goes about their nightly routines, chattering here and there, but a mist of quiet lay among their shoulders.
I recall the hilltop and snap my head to Helia, the question unspoken.
The feeling of Olena’s body stuck by an arrow, keenly on my mind.
“She’s alive. The quartermaster removed the arrow and patched her up as best they could. Her shoulder will be sore for a while, and her sword arm will be weaker, but she’ll live.” Relief floods my body, fleeting in its kindness. The screams!
“I remember screaming; d-did anyone get hurt?” I swallow the dry lump in my throat; Lunos had given me a gift, but it’s one I clearly did not control.
“Yes, but only the enemy. The Archon was right; there was an ambush waiting for us. Whatever you did killed all the bandits nearby; all thirty of them. We would have been out positioned and overpowered, if not for you.” My eyes widen as Helia pushes off the tree and grabs her spear before walking over.
She looks me over, uncertainty in her eyes.
“We have a lot to talk about tomorrow; privately. For now, remember the kindness you showed in Ionos to that beggar. Remember what those with power are supposed to be like.”
“Now, you need to get some more rest. Before I go, I’ll tell you this.
Only myself, Bellius, Andra, and Olena saw what happened.
They will all keep silent. For the rest—” she gestures to the camp.
“They believe that the gods favor us.” Helia gazes down at me, eying the mark around my throat.
“Perhaps, they are more right than they know.”