Chapter Twenty-Eight
AFTER LAYING LYRAS down on the bed, I leave at Helia’s bidding to gather some water for him. Stepping back out into the temple proper, I take the moment to look around, empty pitcher in hand.
The central open dome casts moonlight and starlight into the center of the temple, reflecting off of a multitude of polished silver plates.
I hadn’t noticed when we entered, but now that the light of the night is in full force, thousands of reflections reach every corner of the circular temple.
A reflection of the starry night itself.
“Hello. May I help you sir?” I jump at the voice next to me. A young person stands at ease next to me, the purple vestments of Nia swathing their small frame. Short, wavy black hair frames their face well. I push down my surprise at the sudden appearance.
“It’s not sir, actually.” I pause, bracing myself to deal with whatever their reaction is.
I remember Helia’s words about cities being different than Athos, but that doesn’t help in the moment.
The priest smiles placing a hand over their heart before bowing in apology and acknowledgment.
That’s it. Simple, easy. What a different world than what I grew up with.
I gesture with the pitcher in one hand to answer the question.
“If you could help me get some water, I would be grateful. Lyras could use it.”
The priest nods and signals for me to follow.
We work our way around the dome to a doorway on the opposite end, avoiding any disturbance our passing may have on the worshipers in the center.
Entering the room, I realize this is a kitchen of sorts.
Makeshift, yet functional. A short well sits in the back of the room; unusual, but given tensions between the pantheons, I suppose it makes sense.
I stifle the urge to snoop around the place, my inner cook eager to find hidden seasonings and recipes scrawled on stained scrolls. The young priest places a wooden bucket on a rope in the well and lowers it down into the depths.
“What is your name? I’d like to thank you properly for your help.” The priest smiles without slowing down.
“It’s Nythesus. You can just call me Ny. Fitting for a follower of Nia, huh?” I snort at that. Fitting indeed; yet how often does Ny have to say that joke?
“Thank you for helping Lyras and the other Lunites. I know that puts you all in danger.” Ny’s hands still before starting the slow climb up, bucket now laden with water.
“Nia willed it; they have always been a partner to Lunos and would not stand to see Lunite priests massacred. Besides”—Ny grunts with a full pull bringing the bucket all the way up—“we would have helped regardless. We’re not the kind to watch helpless people be slaughtered.”
I nod absently. I understand that feeling now; it’s what I felt back in Athos. The burning itch to do something. To not just stand by and watch as people were being murdered in front of my eyes. Even if it meant my own life was forfeit.
Nythesus gently tips the bucket’s contents into my pitcher, filling it to the brim.
The remainder of the water gets tossed back to the well.
They lead me back out to the main room and we once again make our way around the edge of the circle.
We walk slower this time though, each lost in our thoughts.
About halfway there, an idea strikes me.
“Ny, why do you think the Lunites were attacked?”
They rub their chin, eying me sidelong.
“Honestly, I think there is a struggle taking place between the gods. Sure, they always jockey for position and power, but this seems different; desperate.” Ny stops in place, forcing me to do the same.
I can see the door to Lyras’s room, but this is more important.
“Nia is indeed always a friend to Lunos, but even that has been strained as of late.”
My eyes widen at that. That’s not what I expected. “What do you mean?”
Nythesus looks around warily, making sure no one could overhear. A marble column obstructs us from the view of the worshipers in the center of the dome, their prayers reaching a fevered pitch. Breathing slowly, Ny closes their eyes. A moment passes. Then, another.
Suddenly, Nythesus throws their eyes open to reveal pools of the deepest black. Pinpricks of light breakthrough those depths of darkness, akin to the stars themselves. They reach out and cover my mouth before I have a chance to shout the obscenity on the tip of my tongue.
“You are safe with me, Conduit of Lunos.” An ethereal tenor controls Ny’s words now, their voice and body no longer theirs. Understanding floods my body as they slowly withdraw their hand.
“Pantheons…you’re Nia, aren’t you?”
They nod, a shudder running down my spine.
“For a brief moment, yes. Nythesus carries my blessing, but we do not have much time. You must be careful Conduit. Lunos has changed these past years; she is not the same goddess I once knew. Other machinations are also in play. There are those of the lower pantheon that covet the seats, the power, of the upper.”
My mind reels at what is happening. I have to tell Helia. As if reading my mind, Nia leans forward and gives me a final warning. “Be wary of your Aspect. She is Lunos.”
There is truth in their words, but Helia has shown she is more than what Lunos originally intended. More human than goddess. Still, the direct warning of a god is not something to ignore. With a violent shake, Ny’s starry eyes roll backward, bringing their pale blue eyes back to normal.
“W-what were we talking about? I feel, fuzzy.” I steady them with my free hand. While Nia had said they blessed Nythesus, perhaps Ny was unaware. Not my place to broach that subject.
“Go lie down Ny. You have been immensely helpful. Nia’s goodwill goes with you,” I say in parting. They grip their head in one hand and nod.
“Lunos be with you.” Ny disappears quickly as their words end our brief interaction. I’ll likely never see them again. Perhaps for the best, but a part of me wonders if the path I am treading is one I wish to.
My sigh comes unbidden, the weight of the evening heavier than stone. I finally make my way back to Lyras’s room, the door cracked ajar just as I left it. My free hand hovers, about to push open the door, when I hear quiet yet urgent voices inside.
“We…reach Askepollo…” Helia’s voice drifts in and out as I strain to hear more.
“Do you know…sacrifice to Lunos?” That must be Lyras, but a sacrifice? What does he mean? My ear is right next to the open slit, voices clear now.
“I am aware of the sacrifice, priest. I will be ready.” Heat laces Helia’s words.
She’s angry. No, not angry; seething. Is this what she was hinting at before?
This sacrifice to Lunos? Helia said that oblivion awaited her in Askepollo; is she the sacrifice?
Water spills on the stone floor as my hand tightens on the handle of the pitcher.
The voices inside still immediately at the noise.
“Oh good! Lyras you’re awake. Sorry about the scare.” I push into the room immediately, covering the spill with my words and speed. Hopefully neither will see through it.
Lyras nods from the bed while Helia avoids looking at me. I pour water in a cup for him before placing the pitcher on the small table. Helia finally acknowledges my presence. Standing, she gestures toward the door.
“We aren’t staying Itho. Lyras and a few remaining priests will travel with us to Askepollo. We have what we need.”
***
The walk back to the estate of the Spears is quiet. We both know we need to debrief; in more ways than one. Too much has been revealed tonight, too many possibilities to pursue. Helia stalks ahead of me with heat in each step. It’s a wonder the ground isn’t cracking with each one.
All I want to do is to thread my arm in the crook of hers.
Tell her, we’ll navigate the future together.
The set of her shoulders wards me off; she’s not ready to calm down yet.
Any effort to do so will just make things worse.
My hesitation has absolutely nothing to do with Nia’s warning. None at all.
We make it back to the estate, guards snapping to attention. Based on their sighs of relief, they have been waiting for us for a while. Helia stops to address one of them.
“We’ll report to Pellax in the morning.” Helia looks over her shoulder at me, an unreadable look plastered across her face. At least the rage is starting to die off. “We need some rest after tonight.”
The guards let us pass with a salute as we walk into the central courtyard. A small area of peace envelops around us. We’re safe here and no one can overhear us now. Helia runs a shaky hand along her head, catching a few loose strands of hair and curling them around her ear.
“Go get cleaned up, then meet me in my quarters. We need to talk about a few things.”