Vantaiga threw open the Doorway of the Heavens. The gleaming black portal boomed against the Pillars of the Night. She stormed down the Hallway of Eternity armoured in thick, dark plates of polished camelthorn wood, her heavy boots ringing out sharply on the floor with each stomp.
Zephlyn eagerly flew to her, offering his arm. “May I escort you, Goddess Vantaiga?”
Vantaiga tried not to scowl at him; she was saving her anger for someone else. “Sorry, Zephlyn, not today.”
She burst into the Chamber of the Gods and bellowed out to the attending gods, “Where is he?”
The few gods in the chamber sat up with a start. The council was not in session, but there were always some gods chatting in groups around the World Table. Vantaiga bellowed again, “Where is Festor?”
The gods looked at each other, some with shock, some amusement, and some with annoyance. Festor peeked his dirty face out from behind a throne. When Vantaiga saw him, he giggled and darted away from her.
She started after him and yelled, “Get over here!” But Festor dashed around the thrones and jumped onto the World Table. He descended down to Earth, out of Vantaiga’s reach. Vantaiga growled at the spot where he had vanished and then glared at the gods present around the Table. “What does he want with us? Why did he attack Syffox?”
The gods shifted uneasily amongst themselves. A few began making their way from the Chamber. Vantaiga saw Hydar on the other side of the World Table. He was with Silhlotte and Styiock, the God of Herds. She stomped to Hydar. “Why does he bother us? What does Festor want with me?”
Hydar waved dismissively. “He’s a madman. There is seldom any reason to the things he does.”
“He cursed Syffox!”
“Festor curses everything he touches. It isn’t pleasant, but it is his way. You know this.”
Vantaiga brushed away his condescension. “There is more to it than that. He is always interfering. He is always watching. He said, ‘All my trees will be his forest.’”
Hydar laughed. “He’s insane!”
“His paradise is the Forest of Bones, Hydar!”
Hydar’s smile dropped. Silhlotte nodded subtly at him and slipped into the shadows. Styiock had already escaped the confrontation unnoticed. Vantaiga became uncomfortably aware that she was now alone with Hydar in the Chamber of the Gods. Uneasiness crawled up her spine and made her hair tingle. She crossed her arms. “What is going on?”
Hydar sighed. “Festor wasn’t always the God of Death and Decay.”
“What do you mean?”
“He wasn’t always mad, and he didn’t always destroy everything he touched. During the last battle, when Hubris and Avarice tried to overthrow the gods, Festor’s realm was ruined. All that was left was the death and decay he has now become. He lost his mind trying to save his domain.”
Vantaiga glowered at him. He wasn’t telling her everything. “What was his domain?”
Hydar drew in a breath before reaching out and holding Vantaiga by the shoulders. “If you want to know why Festor watches you, you will have to go to his paradise. When you see his Forest of Bones, you’ll understand.”
She pushed his arms away. “Why won’t you tell me?”
“Because you won’t believe me.” He took a long pause before continuing, “And because it’s the only way you’ll come to understand why you must give up Syffox.”
Shocked, Vantaiga took a step backwards while shaking her head. “No.” With a curse, she stepped forward and pushed the rain god. “You bastard! No!” She shoved him again. “You won’t do this! You will not use this to get between us!”
She moved toward him once more, but Hydar grabbed her wrists. “I am trying to help you. If you can’t accept what I say about Syffox, then you certainly won’t accept what I say about Festor. If you wish to understand, then you have to see his paradise.” He let go of her hands. “There is no point in telling you more than that. We can talk about it when you get back.”
Vantaiga scowled at him. “You’re wrong. I will never give up Syffox.” She stormed from the room even louder than when she came in.
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Hydar only shook his head as she left. “That’s not up to you, Goddess of the Forest.”
*** bonus scene ***
Vantaiga soothingly stroked a patient, if not amused, camel. She had only been out in the desert air a few minutes and already she could feel herself baking. She clad herself in the light coloured bark of the desert rose tree; with an arrangement of strategically placed blooms across her body to give her some modesty. It protected her from the stinging sand and drying air but it did little for the heat.
There was not much she could do about that. Out here in the wide open even being in the shade was hot. It was the late afternoon when the real heat of the day had already waned and she still found it unbearable. And this was only the beginning; the real heat and challenge still lay before her in the grand expanse of golden sand called the Desert Ocean.
She, and the two camels she tended, stood at the edge of a gathering of worshipers, at the edge of a village, at the edge of a grassland, at the edge of her forest. It was the furthest point south that still remained within her domain. From here on forward, into the desert realm of Aridus, she would become further and further away from her people, and her source of power.
Syffox made his way through the worshippers towards her. Behind him, two villagers followed carrying the last of their needed supplies. In one of his hands he held a forked stick. She gave him a scornful sideways look, “what is that?”
Syffox fended off her look with a diffusing smile, “it’s a divining rod.”
Vantaiga shook her head. “No! We don’t need that. I’m the goddess of the forest. I can produce any water we need. It’s bad enough you made me pack clothes.” Her scowl deepened, “but we don’t need to bring along a carnival trinket.”
“We are going to be a long way from your domain Goddess. Your power will be stretched thin, and I don’t know how much magic I will have access to out there.”
Vantaiga leaned in more closely and spoke through clenched teeth, “you’re embarrassing me in front of the followers.”
Syffox replied with a teasing smile. “You’re riding a stinking grouchy camel off the edge of the world and I’m embarrassing you?” He continued with a soft chuckle, “just wait till you try to get on that thing.” He stepped back and spoke loudly enough to be easily overheard, “it’s just the fears of a foolish mortal. If we don’t need the rod, you can say how wrong I was and we can give it back when we return.”
His explanation did not impress her. “Your faith in me is astounding.”
Syffox leaned in and gave her a kiss on the lips. “My faith is unshakable my beautiful Goddess, but perhaps you should have more faith in me. Where we are going is not to be taken lightly, even for the divine.” Still not convinced, Vantaiga turned with a “hmph”.
She faced the crowd of followers that kneeled and prayed around her. She let their prayers flow into her. It filled her with a giddy mix of love and magical power; two forces that could be easily manipulated. But she had no desire to manipulate anyone. She wanted only that her followers find peace; the peace that she still found so elusive.
She spoke kindly to the crowd, “children of the Forest, look to me.” Her words were gentle but still a command, forcing them to raise their heads to gaze at her. They were too overwhelmed by her presence to look at her on their own. She found it frustrating that she could no longer have a normal conversation with mortals without disguising her presence or forcing them to address her.
Once she held their attention she continued. “The gods are keeping secrets from us. Festor is keeping secrets from us. Syffox and I will journey beyond the Desert Ocean to find what they are hiding. Beyond the horizon we will find the River of Skulls and follow it to where it flows to Festor’s paradise, the Forest of Bones. There we will demand answers from Festor and make him leave our people in peace.
“So be at ease my children, and with my blessing, take care of the forest till I return. With faith, the Forest will provide.” She waved her hand and passed back to them a portion of the love and power they gave to her. It was only a small gesture on her part, but it was an experience that would inspire their minds and bodies for months.
Syffox and Vantaiga looked out over the desert to watch the great, fiery, ball of Coronus’ eye touch the horizon; fading orange and red with the fatigue of the day. As the light drained away and Coronus slipped beneath the shimmering horizon, he briefly left behind a small glowing green drop. It was a tear from Coronus for all those the world had lost that day. The only show of compassion he gave for those astute enough to know why he was so cruel.
Syffox raised his bow, and with his magic pulled back and fired a roaring, blazing arrow after the green flash. The arrow left behind a streak of flame that scorched their path into the sand. The crowd cheered as the flames smouldered into the distance.
Vantaiga whispered to Syffox, “ that wasn’t necessary.”
He replied back with a coy grin, “I know, but the followers love it.”
She smirked with him as she faced her camel and contemplated riding it. It dawned on her she had no idea what she was doing. In all her centuries she had actually never ridden a camel. She looked over the animal and its handler for a moment. Then a devilish thought came to her as she flashed a smile to Syffox. She reached in to his mind and channelled his experience with camels. Syffox gave a quizzical wince at the intrusion. He was powerless to stop her from infiltrating his mind.
Vantaiga pushed Syffox aside with a dismissing wave of her hand. She then clucked her tongue to bring the beast down to its knees, straddled it between the humps and commanded it up again. As the camel rose she shifted her weight to follow the awkward jarring motion.
Syffox stepped his camel next to hers. “Very impressive for a first time. Who would have thought you knew so much about camels.”
She leaned down to give him a kiss. “Well you have to know these things when you’re a goddess you know.”
Syffox nuzzled her cheek and smiled back, “of course my Goddess.” He mounted his own camel and the two set off beneath the darkening tapestry of the night sky.