Sixteen #3
"I want to go visit Kani and bring you and Darlene along."
"For how long?"
"I'm thinking a week."
"That's a long way to go for a week."
I smiled, rolled over, and kissed her. "Fel told me I should be able to gate through to Tiru's temple—that is, the temple of Feliogustus' she built."
"Really?"
I nodded, smiling. "Yup! That'll cut almost a month off our travel time."
"What about the temple being built to honor Dani?"
"That's going to be a while yet. Nine months? A year? Also, while I won't take you there, I can gate through to Stepheen's now, so again, that's less time spent traveling."
"So, less time away from home," Rachel said, smiling at me.
"I'll still be doing some traveling. I need to help build up my myth so I can be there whenever Fel needs me, but it'll be a lot less."
Rachel nodded, looking incredibly happy. "So how long until you have to deal with Jordon?"
"A few hours, why?"
"How about showing your queen just how much you love her?"
"I think I'd rather show my wife," I said with a lusty growl.
"Oh, that'll work, too!"
#
It was a lot later in the day when I went to see Jordon.
"So, how're you feeling?" I asked coming over to Jordon as he woke up. Fel had told me he'd keep Jordon asleep until I arrived. Jordon was in bed in a small room, where he'd been moved from the bench I'd originally set him on, of course.
"Hungry, thirsty, and I need to go to the bathroom."
"Bathroom, then food. Let's go," I said and helped him up. I hit him with a cleaning cantrip before he went to the bathroom; he definitely needed it.
"What was that?" he asked, blinking.
"There's a whole bunch of stuff you get as a champion that your former boss, being an evil asshole, never told you about."
Jordon stiffened as I said that.
"Son, I've been doing this for a while, I have friends that have been doing this for centuries.
Working for an evil god is just stupid. They're going to use and abuse you and you're not going to get any kind of reward for it.
Their afterlife is pretty much some version of hell and you're not going to enjoy it.
"Honestly, it's a hard job, and you're by no means ready to do it yet."
"Feliogustus explained a lot of that to me," Jordon said with a sigh. "He also showed me some things about my life and myself that I didn't like."
"Not my business," I said, holding my hand up as I took him to the bathroom.
After he'd finished, I led him to the small cafeteria to get him some food.
"Again, I'm sorry I wasn't there sooner.
I'm sorry for everything you went through.
But understand, I'm your father, and I expect you to not do certain things or associate with certain people or beings, and that I will not hesitate to show you my displeasure if you ever do anything like what you just did again. "
"So now what? What happens to me now?" he asked as I led him to a table.
"Well, first, let's get you fed. But for the long term? I know these people—you've got a half-brother living with them—a race of nomads who live out on the plains."
"So, you're exiling me?"
I laughed. "Jordon, these people live a hard life by choice.
They're amazing warriors, fighters, hunters, all of that.
Their women are incredibly hot, as well as dangerous, and they live by a rigid code that's all about duty and honor.
It'll be the hardest thing you've ever done if I send you there, but if you can make the grade, if you can become one of them, you'll have done something to be proud of that few men can achieve.
You'll also be able to become the kind of champion any god would happily take, if you decide you still want to become one. "
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Because it's not all fun and games. There's a lot of duty that comes with this job, and sometimes you have to do things that are so hard, they almost destroy you.
When I finally decide to retire, I'll probably end up living with the Mowoks for a while.
I've lived with them before, and I really do admire them and their way of life.
Which is why your half-brother gave up the life of a prince living in a palace. "
"He did?"
"Yup, and I've never seen him so happy."
"Is that where you learned to fight like that?" Jordon asked, looking at me ruefully.
"Oh, I learned that long before I met them, which is one of the reasons I appreciate them. They're good. Now you don't have to make a decision today, but I want you to think about it."
"Why? Are you saying I have a choice?"
"Jordon—" I sighed "—you're my son, I want you to be happy. I think going there would be good for you, and Fel agrees that it's the kind of challenge you'd embrace."
"I… I'll think about it. I thought you'd want to punish me more for what I did."
"That's in the past; leave it there. Though if you ever do it again…" I warned with a hint of a growl.
Jordon blushed a little and gave a faint smile. "Thanks… Dad."
I reached over and ruffled the thick hair on the top of his feline head. "Now, eat your lunch."