Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
T he Bazaar was the biggest and most bustling marketplace in Saeren or, indeed, Vyrica, where magic and commerce coalesced to create an extraordinary shopping experience for visitors and locals alike.
Nestled in the very heart of Saeren, the market was adorned with vibrant banners indicating what each stall was selling.
The air was filled with the intense aroma of exotic spices, enchanting potions, and the hint of cured meats.
As Leander entered through the grand archway marking the start of the market, he found himself looking upon a labyrinth of winding cobblestone streets lined with ornate stalls and fantastical shops.
Each vendor offered an array of wares that catered to the needs and desires of adventurers, locals, mercenaries, and even their horses.
Many of the stalls were adorned with shimmering fabrics, and the marketplace was illuminated by floating orbs of light that would change colours as they hovered above the bustling and loud crowd.
Ethereal music played by unseen minstrels added a magical ambiance, echoing through the market and creating a sense of wonder for everyone, including Leander.
Here, if he so wished it, Leander could find mystical artefacts, such as enchanted swords that glowed with an otherworldly light, crystal balls that could reveal glimpses of the future, and cloaks that would supposedly grant invisibility.
Potion stalls wanted to entice customers with bubbling cauldrons filled with elixirs promising everything from eternal youth to the ability to speak with animals.
Leander believed none of it.
The food section of the Bazaar was his favourite: a feast for the senses. He could see stalls offering fantastical fruits that would change flavour with every bite, and other vendors selling dragon-shaped pastries that sparkled with edible glitter.
The marketplace was ultimately a melting pot of cultures, with beings from all corners of the continent, or at least those not affected by the brewing war, converging to trade goods and stories.
Haggling was an art form here, with sellers employing charms and illusions to try to persuade buyers, and buyers utilising their wit and common sense not to be enticed by the suggestive language and tricks of the sellers.
As the sun was beginning to set, the market seemed to take on a new enchantment, with the stalls illuminated by the soft glow of firelights and the night sky filled with floating lanterns.
The Bazaar was not just a marketplace; it was a magical spectacle that captivated the imagination and left visitors with memories of a truly fantastical experience.
But Leander was here with purpose. He wished he could just look around in wonder, as he always did.
Of all Saeren’s delights, this was one of his favourites and he loved it most at night, sometimes before his patronage at a tavern, and sometimes after, when he was intoxicated enough to imagine sparkling fairies instead of floating firelights.
“I knew you would be here today, but I did not expect it to be this early.”
Leander knew that voice. He tore his attention away from the frying pan of spicy street food to look behind at the speaker. “Good evening, Taskevi.”
The very air around Taskevi echoed with a gentle hum of the euphony of nature, and vibrant colours danced in the air like an ever-changing tapestry.
The Bazaar reminded Leander very much of the celestial court where he used to reside with his mother, and Taskevi, and the rest of his immortal kin.
It was fitting, then, that Taskevi would deign to meet him here.
Leander approached Taskevi, whose presence radiated tranquillity and the essence of life itself. The air seemed to shimmer as the two divine beings acknowledged each other’s presence.
When Taskevi spoke, her voice was like the rustling of leaves in a calm breeze. “Your presence in this world is now a common sight, but it is like you do not quite... fit. Still. Why is that I wonder?”
Leander had a sly grin playing on his lips as he replied. “ It would be remiss of me to not take full advantage of the wonders Saeren has to offer while I am here. Even if I know in my heart that all is not as it seems in this realm.”
The goddess raised an eyebrow, a subtle curiosity in her gaze. “What do you mean, Leander? You told King Caisa of the beauty you found in the Bazaar. Is that not why you come here night after night?”
“You know why I come here, Taskevi, and it’s not for the Bazaar’s beauty and wonder.
” Leander said as he laughed softly, a sound like distant whispers of deceit.
“Besides, is it not true that even the most captivating of flowers conceal thorns along their stems, beneath their petals? There is danger in the most beautiful of treasures of this world, and people should always be wary of that which sings to their very soul. I am the God of Lies?—”
“Not now, you’re not.”
“—and I see the truths veiled by the beauty you weave.”
Taskevi regarded him with no small amount of concern.
“Leander, your perspective, it seems, is tainted. Something dark has slithered its way into your heart, twisting your view of the world. Lies disrupt the harmony of existence. It would be unfair to say that a thorn hidden beneath a flower’s petals is created out of deceit, for everyone knows it is there, and they are to blame if they are pricked by it. ”
The fallen demigod took a step forward, his eyes gleaming with something not far off utter resentment and betrayal.
“Is it not a lie to claim that nature is purely benevolent, then? Hurricanes, earthquakes, the cycle of life that you and my mother weave in tandem with each other… that involves both birth and death. Think of the destructive fo rces at your disposal, and you have the nerve to call me dangerous.”
Sighing, Taskevi shook her head. A gentle breeze accompanied her as she began to walk beside Leander through the cobbled paths of the Bazaar.
People, recognising the goddess’ presence, reached out to her, whispering, “Myracle, your blessings please,” and other such libations.
She touched them each in turn with a serene smile as she continued to speak to Leander.
“Nature is utterly complex and there is beauty in the chaos, and even the storms your mother brings serve a purpose, bringing a chance for life in the wake of destruction. But any immortal domain, Leander, when left unchecked by those sworn to oversee something so volatile, is a force that disrupts this delicate balance we gods are tasked with maintaining. It is a poison that corrodes the very essence of what it is to exist in both Estalian and Cariun. And it is not because they are lies, but because the demigod charged with overseeing them has become corrupted himself… somehow.”
The demigod barely managed a smile, because he knew in his heart there was no arguing with the goddess who sentenced him to this living hell. Even without his divine gifts, Leander suddenly became aware of the weight of deception, which lingered in Cariun as it had done as well in Estalian.
A woman with her swaddled infant wrapped in her arms presented herself pleadingly to Taskevi, who blessed the babe with a kiss.
Tentatively, Leander began to speak again.
“Taskevi, I am grateful you have sought me out in the Bazaar this evening. I have been the God of Lies for only a fleeting time in your eyes, but even so the burden of my deceitful actions weighs on me. I seek redemption for my crime, as you have decreed I must in being sent here to Cariun. I am ready now. Please, you must have come to me for a reason, and I pray that reason is to offer guidance.”
Taskevi had been examining an interesting blue-petaled flower in a wicker basket which had purple filaments and anthers. It was rather striking, Leander could admit, though he still worked hard to keep his anger in check that her attention had drifted away from him.
She looked up to meet his watchful gaze, regarding him with dark eyes as if she were measuring his worth right there and then.
“Your statement surprises me, Leander. You’ve spent your recent months with no consideration or remorse for the damage your lie inflicted when told without care. What makes you seek redemption now?”
With true sincerity, Leander looked down, abashed. He was keenly aware that other shoppers were pretending to go about their business but surreptitiously got closer and closer, as if their accidental brushes against the goddess would bring them good fortune.
“I want to mend, the wrongs I have committed. I’ve seen the beauty of your creations”—he picked up one of the blue flowers and brought it to his nose to smell, making his point clear—“and I believe there is a way for me to contribute positively to this world.” Leander finally said, “This lie… I see the damage it has wrought in its wake. This cannot go on; this cannot be my legacy. Vyrica does not deserve war through my misdeeds. ”
“But you are, and will forever be, the God of Lies, Leander,” Taskevi said after a long pause.
“I think you yourself said that lies in and of themselves are not evil, nor are the people who tell them. Are you saying you feel differently about your domain of lies, child? Do you not want your gifts restored to you?”
“No. Yes. I mean… I now know that I have a duty. I understand now the weight of my responsibilities as a god, and the burden that rests on my shoulders.... the destructive nature of both truth and lies. I would be more vigilant, cautious.”
Taskevi considered the demigod’s words. “The road to redemption is not an easy one, Leander. It requires genuine remorse and a commitment to change. Tell me, why do you think you deserve forgiveness from the Nine? Or the rest of those in Estalian? Or even those in Cariun, for that matter?”
“I have caused pain and suffering with my lies, and I understand the gravity of my actions. More than just Prince Jarryn have been hurt by my lie. I want to use my domain and abilities for good, to bring forth truth and harmony instead of this discord, this… chaos and suffering.”
And he meant it.
Leander wanted to find a way to undo the lie he had whispered into Nevari’s ear all those months ago. It would not be easy, and no doubt Jarryn would cast Leander aside, but he had to do this, he understood that now.
Taskevi nodded thoughtfully. “Nature thrives on balance, and perhaps, in your redemption, a new balance can be found. If you are sincere, I am willing to help guide you on this journey. But know this: the path will not be smooth and simple, and you must prove yourself through actions, not just words.”
Leander, grateful for the goddess’ words and offer of assistance, grinned. “Thank you, Taskevi. I am ready to embrace the challenges ahead and prove that even the God of Lies can find a place within the pantheon, and I can guide those who would appeal to me to tell their lies without judgement.”
Offering the demigod a small and encouraging smile of her own, Taskevi spoke. “Then let us begin, Leander. The first step is acknowledging the truth within yourself and facing the consequences of your past. Only then can the process of absolution truly take root.”
“I—wait, what?” Leander blinked once, twice, confused. “I do not understand.”
“I said I would guide you, Leander, not hold your hand in mine. This is your path. You must walk it alone.”
Leander stared at the goddess for a moment, though he was not staring in disbelief. He could appreciate what was being said. “I must walk alone?”
Goddess of Nature nodded. “For now, yes. No one else can claim what you seek on your behalf. I was the one to send you here, don’t forget that. And I know best how you may return to us.”
“But you won’t tell me how?”
“I already have.”
Leander scowled. “A version that is not so… enigmatic?” he asked hopefully, though he already knew what the answer would be.
Taskevi smiled again. “I’m afraid not, Leander.
I will say, however, you are to be warned of overstepping your bounds.
You are not the God of Lies anymore, and you shouldn’t meddle further in the work of the Nine to damage what little stability there is.
If there is to be a war… then it will be so. You are not to interfere.”
Leander blinked, surprised at how clearly Taskevi spoke, and took the warning to heart with a quick nod.
“Now go. The night is young and you have many mortal delights to explore. I will be watching to see this conversation through to fruition.”
Watching as Taskevi turned and made her way through the thick crowd of shoppers, Leander could not help but smile. Properly.
He had a way home. Taskevi was going to help him, even if she wouldn’t tell him exactly what he needed to do, he knew she would be paying attention. Next time he saw her, Leander was confident that it would be so that she could restore his divinity.
A grin still plastered across his face, Leander paid a silver piece for the blue flower, thinking of how it would match Jarryn’s eyes, and folded into the crowd of the Bazaar in search of those mortal delights Taskevi was clearly so keen for him to experience.