Ja’karis exited communion with his god to find his three closest subordinates and oldest friends waiting for him much as the four of them had waited not too long ago for the divine child to emerge. Though in his case, when he made to cross the water he had to walk like a normal person with no ancient spirit rising from the depths to carry him across like a beloved grandson, making him feel the difference in treatment. Having crossed the pool many times over the years with not a ripple he found the double standard amusing. And appropriate. Of course their lord's child shouldn't be treated like other people.
Once he reunited with the others he shaped chairs for them all out of stone with a thought and motioned for them to sit. They had rooms they could meet in that had the highest grade privacy spells they could manage, but this was, in his opinion, the best place to meet if they wanted to talk. Closed to all but the chosen, right under the hand and eye of their god. Many of their most important conversations had been had right here.
Esther sat down gracefully, her living dress swirling around her elegantly as she did like it knew other people were watching. Rancor sat next to her, the jiangshi’s vision cloth fluttering with the movement but never revealing his eyes. As for Kang Soo, they had to hop up onto their chair and sit with their pudgy legs dangling off the edge. They were an intensely clever creature, whatever they actually were, but to this day Ja’karis didn’t think Kang Soo had figured out that he always made their chair normal sized rather than adjusted to their size just because he found the sight of their feet dangling in the air humorous.
Only once they were all seated did Ja’karis address them. “First off, our lord has named his son Adonik Bright-Eye. His name and birth is to be announced throughout the land and messages are to be sent with envoys to our neighbors and allies.
“Second, it is mandated that his son’s face is never to be seen without his mask expect by the child’s own will when in the sole company of a grandmasters or those of equivalent power. Any of a lower rank who enter his presence or see his face while he is unmasked are to be put to death. I don’t think I need to explain to any of you why this necessary.”
They all exchanged knowing glances. The sudden arrival of the young god's child had left an impression that stayed with them even now, a lingering draw on their attention and thoughts. Powerful as it had been for them, Ja’karis was certain it had left a mark on the hearts and souls of many that would never fade. Lives had been changed forever today, for better or for worse.
“We’ve all heard of love at first sight, but adoration at first sight is a new one. Best to cut off any threats before they have a chance to grow.” Esther mused, Kang Soo nodding their agreement.
“Yes, it’s not hard to see how it could quickly become a problem. It would be dangerous to do anything else.”
“We are instructed not to share this new rule with Adonik himself. He is young, and his nature as yet unknown. Artos sees no reason to burden him with things that are out of his hands.” The mask their lord had given his child did much to protect the young one from the frankly terrifying effects of his soul, but mistakes could be made. And if they were, well, all of them had killed in cold blood before.
Kang Soo spoke then, expression serious. “While we haven’t seen enough of Adonik’s temperament to make a reliable judgment, he was very quiet and his reaction to others was one of trepidation rather than aggression. I do not believe he would respond well to displays of violence. We should all handle this with care.”
Ja’karis nodded, trusting Kang Soo's insight. Adonik had the eyes and attention span of an indifferent person, but not, he thought, a cruel or even callous one. Considering who his father was, he had been remarkably well behaved, not asking too many questions or making any demands. It was an attitude that struck Ja'karis as careless towards not only the world and life in general but also himself in specific, almost as if he couldn’t be bothered to take care of himself. It was an observation that filled Ja'karis with enough concern to make him sigh. Adonik wasn't even his own child and already the Priest King felt like a fretful mother. “I agree. Finally, Artos and Gwenivere have reached a consensus and Evandale will be sending a grandmaster to serve as tutor for young Adonik. They will have a say in his upbringing and what he learns. They have no right to take him from this place or to even be alone with him, but they will be here and have an influence over him nonetheless.”
Rancor scowled, the curl of his lip showing his sharp black teeth. “Are we meant to believe that they won’t be coming here with the express intention of spiriting him away the first chance they get?”
Esther lifted two of her fingers to get their attention. “They say it’s only one grandmaster, but surely this person will come with their own retinue. In which case it won’t be just one person trying to fill Adonik’s head with their drivel. Are we meant to allow them to overrun the place like rats?”
Kang Soo waved their pudgy little arm in the air. “I want to know what I think is on all of our minds. How can young Adonik possibly have two gods as parents? That’s never happened in the entire recorded history of the divine.”
Ja’karis chuckled and the influx of words. “Peace my friends. First, of course they’ll try to take him away. Gwenivere is, according to our lord, very upset that the child fell into his hands rather than hers, and you know how her people get when she gets upset by something. While security is Rancor’s job, we will all do our part to ensure they do not succeed in whatever scheme they cook up. Second, we agreed to accept the grandmaster, that means we shall also permit them a number of attendants within the reasonable bounds that hospitality must allow. That does not mean that we cannot refuse a number of them entry if they bring an excess of people. Regardless, they will be in our territory so we can and will watch them closely for the entire duration of their stay. And third,” Ja’karis sighed. He didn’t want to say this because he knew how bad it sounded, “while lord Artos was vague about the details it seems the child was born as a result of the two of them fighting.”
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There was a pause after his words as he knew there would be as Esther and Rancor thought over the implications of what he just said. Kang Soo looked puzzled at the weighty silence, but then they were always puzzled when it came to the details of reproduction. Even after all these years Ja’karis wasn’t entirely sure what kind of creature his short friend was, but it certainly wasn’t human, mammalian or in any way normal. He suspected Kang Soo, normally so smart, didn’t even catch the uncomfortable undertone of what he just said.
It was Esther who first gave voice to their hidden thoughts. “Did he…? Surely, he wouldn’t do something like that, not even to his eternal rival.”
Rancor’s murmur was more confused in tone. “Why would he even need to? Everyone knows that’s not how things work for the gods. You’re letting your imagination run away with you.”
Esther nodded her somewhat hesitant agreement while Kang Soo listened in with bright, clueless eyes. Ja’karis, thinking back to his recent conversation with his god, personally didn’t believe that anything that shouldn’t be done was done. In the thousands of years of his service he had seen many sides of his lord. Grim faced and brooding, angry, indifferent, mischievous, teasing, triumphant, languid and even cheerful. Yet this was the first time he could remember ever seeing Artos Void-Eye, bringer of Calamity, look so… gleeful. Absolutely, shining out of his pores, child-like rainbows of giggling happiness kind of glee.
It had been… bizarre.
He could tell that his lord was genuinely happy about his son, the interest he had taken in discussing the practicalities of how his child would live among them and the seriousness with which he chose a name were genuine. Yet he was certain there was more to it. Esther called Gwenivere Artos’ eternal rival, but Ja’karis had known for many centuries now that that was not in fact the way in which his lord regarded his traditional enemy. It seemed something had happened to bring the two of them closer together. It was about time too, considering all the mooning Artos had done over her. Ja’karis idly wondered if he would have to start referring to the god of an enemy faction as Madam.
-
Grandmaster Evridere thought herself a person possessing significant emotional self-control. She had to be given her esteemed position as the high war priest of the temple of Gwenivere Kind-Spear. If someone with her power and influence were to easily jump to anger or outrage she could potentially cause trouble and unrest for hundreds of thousands of people. Yet, sitting before the reflection pool, the enchanted sheet of water that hovered above the ground and displayed the visage of her goddess, she had to do everything in her power not to tremble with rage. Her goddess did not need her anger, she needed her comfort and support.
From what she had managed to piece together, her goddess had gotten in a fight with Artos, her enemy through the ages, and from that she had begotten a child with him. She knew that gods did not beget children as mortals did, yet she also knew that gods did not need another of their kind to beget a child to begin with. So for this to happen with an enemy and in a manner of violence… had her goddess been forced in some way?
The War Priest stared at Gwenivere with concern, wishing her counterpart, the High Benevolent, was here. He was always better when it came to matters of comfort. Too bad he had been away when their goddess called. Her goddess’s chestnut hair was loose and in as much of a disarray as she’d ever seen, her golden eyes blazing with suppressed emotion and her cheeks flushed from whatever was in the large mug she had been swinging around since before their conversation started. Having known and served her goddess for many years, Evridere could tell that Gwenivere, lauded goddess of protection and retribution, was already drunk off her ass.
“…my little Lancel has to stay with that bastard. At least until I can figure out how to get him out of there, because I am going to. Get him out of there, I mean. He can’t stay there! He’s so young and they’re all so terrible!”
Gwenivere slammed her mug onto a table Evridere couldn’t see before a thought occurred to her and she blinked. “Oh right. I made a promise with Ar- art- um… shithead. I can send one of you tippity tops,” Evridere recognized her goddess’ drunk-speak for grandmaster. She practically had an entirely different vocabulary inebriated compared to when she was sober. “to go and help teach my baby the good stuff. Send one of your best ones, okay? You have to make sure they don’t fill his head with all of their power-tripping nonsense.”
Gwenivere swirling her drink, her gaze turning a touch wistful. “You should’ve seen him Evri, he was so cute and quiet, just looking around like everything was new. You know I only got to be near him for a short time before…” The drunk goddess suddenly looked like she was about to tear up, her eyes getting red. “…before he was taken away. That guy,” Evridere realized the conversation had taken a turn back to Artos, “is being such a jerk about the whole thing too. Because the child is in his territory I can’t even see him without his help, which he won’t give me unless I agree to watch over Lancel with him. With him! Every day! You know he won’t even let me talk with him?!”
With each new word Evridere burned with outrage. Not only was her perfect goddess insulted, but her precious child was taken from her as well. This was an atrocity that would not stand.
Gwenivere sniffled. “I just want him back. I want to show him around and dress him up and teach him stuff... and eat cake.”
Evridere wasn’t sure if her goddess understood how mother-son relationships usually worked, but if she wanted to play dress up and eat cake with her son she would do her best to make sure it happened. Based on the weepy tone the conversation had taken, she could tell that things were winding down based on past experience. Soon her goddess would be sleeping with her cup in hand, lightly snoring until the enchantment on the reflection pool ran its course. Still, she placed her hand over her heart and swore to her goddess as solemnly as she would if she were sober.
“I, Evridere Angar, high war priest of Gwenivere Kind-Spear, swear I shall I do everything in my power to return your son to you.”
Gwenivere smiled at her even though she still looked like she was about to cry. "Thanks Evri, you're the best."
Evridere nodded her acknowledgment and settled in to watch over her drunk goddess until the enchantment ran out. While she treasured the trust that came with being allowed to witness such a state, it would not do let Gwenivere's moment of vulnerability be seen by unfit eyes. Soon the sound of snoring filled her ears and she let her mind ponder over her plans. She had already sent out the news. Of the grave insult their goddess had suffered and of her innocent child held captive in the clutches of his nefarious sire. Gwenivere had forbade a holy war for the sake of her child’s safety, but that did not mean there would not be legions ready and waiting to do whatever must be done to set things right upon hearing of this travesty.
As for who she would send to Travangar, she knew just the person.
