Page 38 of Fate

“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.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF Helia’s ambiguous command, I make a quick detour to the common bath for the non-officers. It’s small, but a luxury I never had back at Athos. I had been using it every day I could since we made it to Hecalon. An hour later, I show up at Helia’s door hoping I’m not later than she expected.

Helia opens the door to my knock, and I immediately am hit with a waft of rose and pine. Her black hair is damp, but not soaking wet as she waves me inside; she must have taken a bath as well. My second breath is deep as I pass her; I could fill my lungs with that intoxicating scent forever.

A small brazier in the middle of Helia’s quarters provides enough light to feel cozy; more intimate than before. She gestures to my regular spot on the bed before I shake my head. Much as I want to see where that could lead, we need to talk about a few things first.

“Where do you want to begin, Commander?”

Helia slumps down into the chair and sighs before speaking. “Let’s go in order. Coins and the attack on the temple of Solon.” Helia rubs her temples. My hands ache to be doing that instead. I want to take away her pain, her frustration. What an interesting thought; I’ve never wanted to soothe someone before. Instead, I answer.

“Right. According to the Solonite priest, their temple was attacked a month ago by followers of Lunos, proven by the prisoner and the coin with the symbol of Lunos minted on it.”

Helia nods before interjecting. “Which is eerily similar to the coins of Solon on all of our attackers since Athos. It’s as though we’re being pushed into a conflict.”