SWNOVELS Chapter Meeting A God
“You had a high fever last night; you nearly went into a fit twice.” The mother said.
“You were almost on fire, we put a wet cool cloth on your forehead and it was practically steaming in seconds…” Paul said in wonder looking at Drathis.
He lay back down trying to even his breathing, his muscles aching, head throbbing.
“I must have had a bad dream, I don’t recall.” Drathis sat up pulling his soaked shirt off, he felt drained as if he had been fighting demons all night, he was beginning to think the Gorgaknights were haunting his dreams.
“Well get ready for breakfast and then we will make our way to the goddess mountains, ok?” The mother said leaving the room.
“Goddess mountains?” Drathis asked, sure he had grown up in this land but the mountain hadn’t rung any bells.
“To get you, your wounds healed,” Paul said buttoning up his own shirt, looking eager for the journey. Drathis had forgotten about it, almost forgotten where he was too.
“You going to have to explain a bit more than that.”
“Let’s go eat and I'll explain all.” Paul beckoned, Drathis followed suit to the kitchen where a fire was going, the mother was humming and the cats gave Drathis one look and darted out the window hissing. Paul frowned at the cat’s behavior and looked as if he was about to say something then dropped it seeming to think better of it.
“So why do you want to help me? I apologize for being so forward but I threatened your life and we didn’t exactly meet under great circumstances.”
"No, we didn't, and not knowing you I still brought you to my home." Paul slapped his forehead at the thought, Drathis gave a little smile, he had wondered the same thing.
“I understand your reserve, but my mother offered for you to stay the night, I guess she just wants to help.”
“And you, why are you going along with your mother's wishes, no offense.” Drathis nodded to the mother bringing three steaming bowls of oats to the table taking a seat.
“None taken deary, I let impulse take over and yesterday seeing your hurt I couldn’t let it slide, we have to help you get healed.”
“How and at what price?” Drathis took a mouthful of oats sitting back letting them explain, he hadn’t had the best experience with humans yet, and the fact that they just wanted to help because they could bugged him deeply. Perhaps Queen Dimas had drummed that into him, no one did something for nothing, they seemed decent enough yet he kept wondering what they would do should they see his ears, tattoos, and power, would they be so friendly then?
He ran his hand through his shaggy hair again grateful it was so thick and long. Paul and his mom went on to explain the goddess of the mountain that had looked over their village since the beginning of time that all good things came from her, that healing was given to those who gave the right offering, she also granted wishes for the right offering but supposedly hadn’t in many centuries. None had seen her but she was the most loved goddess in the realm for being one of the only gods that liked to get involved.
Drathis nodded listening to the tale, they drifted from the conversation speaking about what would happen “when they all come home” and he cringed a little, as much as he didn’t mind them, too many were after him to stay in one place.
“And what offering do you have for this goddess?” Drathis folded his arms curious to see what they deemed his life worth.
“I thought of the white horse you came here with; we can’t afford to feed another and it clearly doesn’t belong to either of us anyways.” The mother winked clearing the bowls.
* * * * *
They packed for the road ahead, Drathis took his sword from under Paul’s uniform jacket and slipped it in his belt, they made their way to the barn and Drathis saw the two white horses from yesterday, one the offering the other Pauls workhorse, and five other different shades of brown ones.
Out the barn window, he had to pause and admire the view: there were endless fields of corn, yellow and green swaying gently in the breeze, the sky was a light blue with a few scattered clouds like pulled white ribbons and in the background quite far off were vast gray mountain range creating a wall effect around them, it was a stunning view, breathtaking.
He climbed on top of a white horse and the other two got on their own personal favorites, peanut, and some other nut.
The mother showed them which mountain they were heading to, it saw half the size of a fingernail, he sighed at the journey ahead but didn’t mind the view it came with. They had a slow start at first and Drathis got the sneaky suspicion that they were being followed or at least trouble was catching up, he galloped ahead through the fields hoping it would help them speed up, he felt bad for the horse’s fate, but if he was to succeed in escaping, his current pained body would just slow him down.
After a while of blissful peace, tweeting birds, swaying trees, and a journey one could leave their troubles behind on, a burning scent caught Drathis attention. He slowed the horse turning back to face the distant village and saw thick black smoke rising high up into the sky from behind the trees. It was no doubt houses and building on fire in Noyta village, he paused looking at Paul and the mom, noticing his change in tempo they slowed looking from him to the sky.
“Something’s wrong!” Paul's eyes went huge as he looked at his mother
Drathis nodded sniffing the air, and then smelt burning flesh.
“We need to hurry,” Drathis said quickly turning his horse away swallowing hard, racing through the fields at top speed, they needed to put as much distance between him and the Gorgakinghts as possible. “Come on!” he shouted back to the two now catching up.
After a couple of hours or so of racing across the land, Drathis slowed them down looking over his shoulder to see how far back the other two were, and saw them half a mile away. He half-rolled his eyes. Humans! They are fragile, slow, breakable twigs, never brave enough to test limits. The smoke was far behind them but left huge clouds in the sky, which would ruin the view of the stars later, leaving traveling at night out of the question. It would also, no doubt attract all non-human creatures, especially the smell of burnt meat.
“We have to go back…” Paul huffed, he was ashen in color with worry.
They pulled to a stop under a thick crop of trees and had something to eat and gave the horses a drink, Drathis didn’t say a thing if they wanted to go back then they were free to go. He wouldn't be returning, whatever caused that fire somehow was linked to finding him, he just knew it.
He listened to them chattering worried about going back or going forward, either way, they were done for the day and needed to rest, it was already late in the evening and visibility was poor.
* * * * *
Starting early in the morning just at dusk, they carried on forward and watched the sun start to rise behind the mountains as they grew in size, starting to cast dark shadows over them, Drathis slowed to a trot looking up to see their tops hidden in the clouds, his mouth opened slightly in amazement.
“Beautiful aren’t they?” The mother said pulling up next to them with a warm smile.
“They the biggest in the land, and famous for it.”
"I thought the titan range in the north was the largest?"
"Well, these are then the souths." The mother huffed
“They called the Shadow Mountains, we just call them the goddess mountain.” Paul said scratching the horse’s neck, it was a suitable name considering their height, no matter the sun's hour some parts would never see the sun's light.
Paul’s mom trotted in front of Drathis and Paul and told them to get in a single line behind her as they made their way to a very tall but narrow cave entrance.
“Sorry sonny but this is as far as we can come, don’t wanna make the goddess mad, and all you know?” said the mom backing up.
"Whatever you do be respectful ok?"
“We will be by at the base of the mountain waiting for you.” They turned and went off.
Drathis frowned entering slowly, it was pitch black inside but every few steps fire burst into flame on poles sticking out of the rock, with each step Drathis got a sick feeling in his stomach, this didn’t seem like a friendly goddess, not that he had experience with any yet.
There was a power inside these walls.
He didn’t like it, not one bit.
Stopping the horse he backed out slowly, his hair stood up on end and his palms began to sweat. Something was in there, and he didn’t want anything to do with it anymore.
Backing out of the narrow tunnel a gust of wind rushed past him, he stopped dead in his tracks staying still, expecting something to jump out at him. He slipped out his sword slowly keeping his eyes on the entrance. What was this a trap? Suddenly dark smoke came out from the belly of the cave, Drathis jumped off his horse backing away, the horse didn't stay it reared and fled out the cave. This was a trap! How could they do this to me? He thought clenching his jaw, hatred bubbling up inside him. Heart racing, he heard a hair-raising voice echoing, Drathis peered in deeper but couldn’t see anything through the smoke.
“You are wiser than any when it comes to listening to your senses small one.” The voice seemed to come from everywhere.“They usually come much deeper into my layer before something, ticksss” she hissed the last word with distaste.
“Not everyone is dumb pray.” Drathis snapped sarcastically scanning all around him for the slightest movement trying to buy time as he backed out further.
“Mmm cocky are we?” The voice seemed close yet miles away, he looked all around him, over his shoulders, up into the sky but saw nothing just thick scentless smoke everywhere.
“Ha-ha, I didn’t expect you to be the afraid type, you are brave but very, Mmm what’s the word?” the voice moved about as if circling him. She gave him the oddest reading, she seemed calm, relaxing, peaceful yet laced with a touch of madness, hair raising hatred.
“You not like the rest; you sensed my power before I even released it… how is that possible?”
“A gift, I guess,” Drathis said slipping his sword out keeping his focus on it, being the only thing, he could see it calmed him.
“No! The truth is you, are not a human!”
Drathis heart skipped a beat, he clenched his jaws tighter sensing the voice trying to read his mind, the smoke started turning a shade of dark purple as it swirled around him as if to size him up.
“Yeah! I’m not, so?” he snapped.
He had never admitted it before, he looked human but had faster speed, brain use, muscles of steel, unlimited magical ability, well according to some. He was immortal and turned a year older every ten human years, his wounds healed in double time, his eyes sight was sharper, his earring was ten times better than that of a jackal but his problem was, training to use them to their full potential. He had started his training with his brother, and it ended when he did.
“Thought so, mmm you can possess great power in this land if you really wanted to, you could be a king, you know that don’t you?” She circled him again rising up into the sky. “My names Velda, you are the third in a thousand years of your kind to pass through my mountains… these people and others, travel for years to find me. They call me the healing goddess.” Drathis picked up pride in her voice.
“Uh-huh.” Drathis wished the boasting Velda would show herself, speaking to the smoke was unnerving. “So are you going to show yourself and heal me any time soon?”
Laughter bordering on psychosis filled the air, Drathis knuckles whitened around the hilt of his sword.
“I’m not something anyone would want to really see; most don’t live to see my true form… You brave to cross my path and demand my help; I don’t often let people live after demanding my skills!” Her voice was suddenly dripping anger.
“What stopping you then?” Drathis snarled so dam tired of death threats.
Within split seconds she was inches away from the tip of his blade, he could feel her presence as if she looked passed his eyes deep into his soul, the thick smoke spun slowly over the sword not touching it but gliding over its smooth surface ever so gracefully engulfing it.
Drathis tensed feeling all his hair stand up on static end again.
“This sword!” she whispered. “Its power, it’s greater than I am and, won’t let me touch a hair on your living skin…. Drop it.” She snapped.
He couldn’t help but smile, finally useful protection!
“I won't drop it, not even for a pretty please.”
That was a mistake, had Paul not warned him to be respectful? Yet testing a god had been tempting.
“Drathis do not continue to test my patience, I am starting to despise you.” The intensity in the air was electrifying. “But I have made a deal with these humans to heal you, and the offering will do wonderfully.”
“Aww shame.” Drathis couldn’t resist, testing her was giving him a kick, did she know the horse had run away?
“Watch it, youngster! You will regret not respecting me!”
"How do you know my name?"
"I am a god, was that much not obvious to you?"
"I didn't know you could read me like that,"
"We do not need to explain ourselves to the races on Relangathian, now are you going to drop this stolen weapon of yours?"
Oh yeah, she was fuming, if he let go of the sword for a moment, he had no doubt she would snap him like a twig.
“What guarantee do I have you won’t kill me the moment I let go of the sword?”
Everything started turning a blinding blackness, as if trapped in the clouds above it started rumbling, a deafening rumble and crack!
Doubt ran through him, maybe I should have listened to that dam mother, Velda should not be ticked off.
“You don’t, now let, it, go.” She hissed, Drathis took a deep breath in trusting his gut, he let the sword go.
Instantly it went darker, his own hands were smothered in blackness. A slow-growing glow seemed to pulse out in front of him, battling but gaining brightness with each passing moment taking form, it was his sword, a bright green from its largest Emerald embedded in the hilt vibrating violently just out of reach.
“Don’t bite your tongue, but this will hurt, and I will enjoy it!”
“No doubt you will.” Drathis forced out through clenched teeth, he knew if he had just been respectful it would have been a painless process, but who else could live to tell the tale of pissing off a god.
That was the last he heard before slipping into a painful unconsciousness.