Enough of Goddesses

CHAPTER TWELVE

“From what you’ve told me,” the First Servant of Souls said, “the boradain could have been locked in a transdimensional space. There’s the living world, the afterlife, and then this…in-between space. The crystals could have acted as anchors.” She bounced the three cleansed talismans in her hand. “Though, this is all highly improbable.”

It was early in Iramont, but Divine had already told their tale to the Third Level Soulsage before being granted an immediate visit with the highest servant of the Goddess, and acting member on the Iramont’s Holicratic Council, the First Servant.

“Let’s entertain the idea is true. Each crystal from a different deity to keep this boradain Elder—let’s call him the First Soul—neither in the living nor passing to the beyond. Likely, the talismans were from our Goddess of Souls and the God of Storms, his original Elder creator. The third one is anyone’s guess. Over time, he must have gathered enough water to create a portal through the power granted at his creation by the Goddess of Standing Waters. This is all speculation, of course. Regardless, he must have sent the crystals in the box your lady friend found to the bottom of the lake.”

“She’s not my friend,” Divine grumbled. “You knew about the Elders being real?”

“Not this one, but of course I know of them. All First Servants are aware. However, we no longer create Elders. It is forbidden.”

“No wonder,” Saph muttered.

If the First Servant knew of Elders, what else did she know that the other ranks of servants did not?

“When we talked afterward,” Divine continued, “Leafy said he remembered some of what the deities said after they had exiled this First Soul. And it aligns with your theory. I got the impression from Leafy that they sealed the crystals with the boradain because they couldn’t be used there—only where they were created. Our world. The First Soul couldn’t let himself out, and no one would have access to let him out. And the boradain’s soul-gem-given magic could not be used in the talismans’ presence.”

“Yeah, but wasn’t Leafy a sapling then?” Saph raised one hand, palm up. “It would be like trusting the memory of a toddler.”

“Non-human souls are…different. It’s why a Soulshaper cares for only human souls. We servants have no power over creatures.” The First Servant motioned with her crystal hand at Divine, eyes narrowing. “Though, you were able to send him back to his in-between prison. How is that possible?”

Divine shrugged. “After remaking my talisman, my well felt…almost wall-less.”

“Making another talisman is also…curious.” The First Servant scratched a pencil over a parchment, the Goddess symbol tattooed on her wrist visible as the dark sleeve of her robe fell back. Divine decided to keep Listhinci’s gift and what it did secret. “And the soul gem was sent with him?”

“Yes. Maybe I should have tried to heal it, but everything happened so fast. Do you think Madeline could use the gem somehow in that…place?”

“This is beyond me, but if the First Soul couldn’t influence our world before then I doubt the gem could be used now. But it is better to have the opinions of the Arosian temple than wild speculation. I’ll send this on the next courier to Arosia. And petition they reinstate you as a Soulshield. Perhaps you’d be interested in seeing if your well is deep enough to become a Soulshaper? You’ll need to provide evidence of some of these claims, of course. Repeat your displays, as it were.”

“I’ll have to think about it.”

The First Servant nodded, scrawling further notes. “And you think the Goddess of Condemnation’s agents are stealing other talismans. This is concerning. A war is coming.”

Divine leaned forward, trying to catch the last mumbled statement. “What did you say?” Surely Divine had misheard.

“Anything else I should report from your encounter?” the First Servant asked, ignoring the question.

Divine crossed her arms. “Do you know what an ‘Old Soul’ is? Leafy called me that.” Then, thinking of the Goodly One she added, “I think I’ve heard it somewhere before.”

The First Servant sat her pencil down. “A vague reference.” She tilted her head, seeming to think. “There are some who believe in what they call Old Magic, but I think I read ‘Old Soul’ in something unrelated. Really, just cultists and superstitions.”

She picked up her writing implement and seemed to transcribe something fervently. Divine almost thought she and Saph were dismissed when the woman spoke again. “The temple at Arosia may have the true origin story of this First Soul in the archives. If our Goddess helped create and imprison it, that is. It is quite the claim of this Madeline. The soul our Goddess saved from Condemnation at the beginning of time was nothing but a creature? The capital is responsible for all of the other city temples and records and our order of servants. If anyone can corroborate the details, it is there.”

“I’ve got something. How did Madeline know the chest was in the lake?” Saph asked.

Divine shrugged. She felt the First Servant was hiding something and no longer felt like being forthcoming herself. “She followed some clues to the lake and found it. She was hunting for the source of the black spot.”

“Some luck! I could have used that earlier in life.” Saph threw up her arms.

Divine felt tired, like she’d been awake for days. She walked from the desk and stepped through the doorway, feeling Saph follow.

“Did this Madeline say how her, uh, tattoo worked?” the First Servant called after her. “Or why she thinks you have powers over creatures?” The First Servant’s laugh sounded forced.

Without stopping Divine replied, “She did not.”

* * *

Divine plucked a flame-colored fruit from the Iramont tree by the Holy District’s gate, droplets from the morning rain clinging like tiny mirrors on the orange and yellow streaked skin. The apple popped between her teeth, tart juices mixing with a hint of sweet. Hot cinnamon and sugar wafted from the open door of a nearby bakery. Though she couldn’t see it, Divine guessed it was the one two doors down from the Sultry Sapphire. Between the events since setting out, and the ride back to Iramont as the God of Storms wrung the clouds on them, it seemed like forever since Divine sat drinking tarrow root-beer in the Sultry Sapphire.

“What do you think Madeline’s doing in there with old blinky-eyes?” Saph asked.

Divine shrugged, taking another bite of her apple, then held it before her lover. Saph grasped Divine’s hand and took a bite. Shivers coursed down her spine.

“I can’t believe the story has been a lie all this time. The Goddess of Souls didn’t save a man from condemnation. She locked a soul away.” Divine shook her head. “Because she and the other deities couldn’t make the soul suitable enough to return to a new body. Their failure to make the boradain an Elder corrupted the soul used.”

A cart filled with bright orange and white pumpkins clattered past from a conjoining street, splashing through a puddle and breaking Divine’s thoughts. She watched it bump along the main thoroughfare.

With the black spot starting to fade from the leaves it had infected, the harvests next year would be much more bountiful. As they traveled back from Willow Way to Iramont, the women saw the downpour seem to wash the black spot from the vegetation. The burnt ground around the boradain’s prison coalesced in rivers of black, and the peeling white bark looked better attached to the trees in the forest. Even the blackened pumpkin Divine saw in the field looked less grotesque. Its leaves had regained some vibrancy. Their elation that the crops would recover outweighed their discomfort of huddling under a soaked blanket in their feeble attempt to stay dry.

Droplets still fell, but infrequent enough that Divine and Saph could walk leisurely without needing shelter.

“Are you going to find out more about your Old Soul’s power from the Arosian temple?” Saph asked as they reached the end of the street connecting to the Essentials District.

Divine halted and faced back toward the Holy District, tracing her eyes over the violet archways. “It feels good to know I have a power that the great Soulshapers don’t. But…I think I need a break from Goddesses and Gods for a while. Especially those who lie.”

Saph’s fingers entwined in Divine’s free hand as they stepped onto the main street and said, “Not that I’m defending the wench, but the origin tale was spun by humans. A narrative that would endear others to her cause and, dare I say it, elevate her power to be even greater.”

Divine shot Saph a sideways look. “Are you admitting that you believe the deities exist?”

“Do you think your Goddess spoke to you back at Willow Way?”

Divine huffed. “Not sure. Someone’s voice was speaking.”

Saph pursed her lips. “I don’t admit to understanding the new ways. But I promise to keep an open mind.” She squeezed Divine’s hand. “You could try becoming a weather predictor. I’ve seen that in action. Speak to trees. Warn the travelers. Unless a servant already does that.”

Divine squeezed her hand back. “The Anvils create some storms, but even they don’t always know when the God of Storms is going to spread gentle or volatile weather.” Divine paused. “Leafy said the crescent lake was like a scrying pool. Do you think the deities saw what happened yesterday?”

“Madeline said she tried to unlock that four-armed-fur-ball before luring you here, right? That was two seasons past. If they were looking, they chose to not involve themselves.”

“Or they didn’t see. These deities are something…but they aren’t omniscient.”

The deities have eyes and ears in many places. The words from Listhinci came rushing back. “I want to check in on Listhinci. If I can heal trees and banish boradains, I’m sure I could help them now.”

“You care so deeply. And I love that about you. How are you doing, though, darling? Goddess revelations, Madeline betrayals, kicking your ex into damnation…”

Divine took a larger step, avoiding a heap of wet leaves and their slippery surface. Words Madeline had said about researching Divine’s ancestry vied for her attention. Her mother had researched something that had set Madeline in her path. Then there was the Goodly One who knew about the true use of talismans and wells by the deities. Madeline was gone, Divine had a new talisman, and the mysterious quest in a chest was completed. Yet many questions still remained. Divine twisted her rainbow bangles, eliciting a pleasant tinkle.

“My life this last half-year has been a windstorm…but it brought me to you.” A small smile tugged Divine’s lips. “And in that, I feel like I’ve followed the right path.”

Divine halted as resistance pulled against her arm. Saph’s gaze held Divine rooted in front of the woman, as a breeze waved dark strands that had danced loose from her braid. A wide smile plumped her face as she placed a hand on Divine’s cheek. “You sentimental, romantic soul.”

Their heads tilted as they drew closer, noses brushing as their lips parted. Divine’s hands cupped the back of Saph’s head as they pulled their bodies close, their lips pressing gently together.

Saph clasped Divine’s hand and pulled her toward the Sultry Sapphire. The apple core dropped from Divine’s hand and rolled toward the soil at the edge of the street, its core bare to the world, and a seed within ready to grow.