Vassal by Sterling D'Este (ebook reader computer TXT) 📕

back so that he could watch the Goddess’s face.

“A friend to rogues?” He drew out his words, long and languorous even as he tightened his hands around Enyo’s hips. “I know of many friends of rogues. Are you so certain I haven’t met him?”

Something snapped to focus in her gaze, and Enyo looked up into Tristan’s face with eerie intensity.

❂

She leaned in to sniff him and— “You complete bastard.” Despite her harsh words, they might have been loving compliments as Enyo yanked his face down for a ravishing kiss.

Releasing him, she laughed, face bright with joy and excitement.

“You look ridiculous!” She raked her gaze over his strong body, cocky features, and tattooed arm. So mortal. Hiding so well in plain sight. She hadn’t seen him until now—until her senses restored.

He’d never been able to hide that scent.

Va'al shrugged, though it was impossible to keep his grin from his face. The cocky prick.

“You work with what you’ve got. Besides, my transition was decidedly more painless. Tristan was perfectly willing.”

He sounded smug, but he kissed her again anyway, gripping her chin with a strength that matched her own.

She scoffed. “The dice worked?” He had always been a gambler, but even she had thought it mad to hide his artifact away in a cave with dragons. He could have been locked away for a millennia before someone ever came across him. Released him.

And yet somehow, he had gotten out sooner than she—the first to return to their world.

“Shut up,” she ordered before he could gloat at the brilliance of his trick. Instead, she wrapped her arms tightly about his neck and devoured him.

⚀

For once, Va'al obeyed without any jokes or tricks.

He leaned into Enyo’s ferocity. Tugged at her lips. Sought after her tongue. He wrapped one arm around her waist and bound her intimately to his body. Freed the other to trace a slow path up her exposed thigh.

This was what he had been waiting for.

Centuries in blackest prison. Decades bound within mortal flesh.

But finally. Finally.

Enyo was back.

And he would have her.

Chapter XXIX

Eighth Moon, First Quarter: Thloegr

The moment Delyth landed, Etienne rounded on her. “What have you done?” His voice was desperate, cracking. “You left her! They’ll— He’ll—”

He cut off, unable to go farther.

That was still Alphonse’s body, and Enyo had already demonstrated that she meant to bed Tristan. She had commanded Delyth to watch.

“I left her?” Etienne didn’t think he had ever seen the priestess so angry. She might have yelled, but as it was, she could barely speak. There were bruises splotching her neck and her voice seemed caught at the source. “Like you did?”

He deflated immediately. She was right. If he had only stayed…

But then again, there was no telling how long Enyo had known how tobind his magic.

Perhaps there had never been any hope at all.

Delyth buried her face in her hands. Her breaths were whistling out past her fingers, but they were even. Her shoulders were moving down away from her neck.

“Alphonse—Alphonse is still in there,” she said, letting her hands fall. Every word sounded like agony. “I ran because staying wouldn’t protect her. And I need you alive. To fix this.”

“Fix this?” Etienne’s voice was incredulous. “How, Delyth? Didn’t you see what happened? Hear the explosion? I couldn’t use magic against Enyo. You can’t fight her. Alphonse is lost.”

Not like he had thought before, but entirely within the Goddess’s power.

Delyth’s hands clamped down hard on the mage’s shoulders, and she shook him viciously. “You are not giving up. Understand?” She shoved him back against a pine. “Because if you do, I will leave you here. Find a mage that will help me. And when I free her, I will tell her you gave up a second time.”

Etienne’s head was hanging when she released him. He didn’t know when he had started crying, but tears were coursing down his cheeks. This would be a fool’s errand. Doomed to failure. Two desperate people hunting for a lost soul.

But they would hunt all the same.

Translations

Rhosan

aderyn bak: little bird

annwyl: darling, beloved, dear

Bak un: small one

Brig'ia: ice peak

Bykhan: little one

Caer: fort or stronghold

Dewr: brave

Dilynwr: He Who Follows

Draig Bak: little dragon

Fford: road

Mynydd: mountain

Tref:  town/village

Un Cyntaf: First One, swiftest

Old Gods

A: to

Ahoint: here/now

Ba’oto: priest/priestess

Beste: you/your/you’re

Ca’at: can’t, won’t, don’t

Crael: posessive pet name

Eet: who

Es: is

Et: or

Fa: with

Fein: believe, think, know

Ja’alt: fear

Karak: call/summon

Kran: choose/choice

Krin: fight/defeat/battle/war

Ma’oh: home

Mandi: human

Meste: me/my/mine/I

Monan: man/male

Taouk: god/ruler/master

Tein: has

U: of/ for/to

Wyt: deserve, earn, win

Yuk: consume

Pronounciation Guide

Characters:

Alphonse: Al- fonz

Anwen: An-win

Brande: Brandy

Branwen: Brahn-win

Cerys: Kair-iss

Delyth: Del-ith

Emhyr: Em-ere

Etienne: Eh-tee-en

Rhys: Rise

Tanwen: Tan-win

Tristan: Trist- an

The Gods:

Aryus: Ar-ee-us

Enyo: En- Yo

Esha: Eh-sha

Iluka: Ill-uke-ah

Kirit: Keer-it

Maoz: Ma'oz

Ruyaa: Rue-yah

Tha’et: Thah'eht

Va’al: Vah'all

Places

Aberdwir: Ah-ber-dweer

Aur’Draig Peaks: Our’draeg

Bwystfil Hilion: Bwist-fill Hil-lee-on

Caerthleon: kair-thlee-on

Glynfford: Glen-ford

Gwynhafan: Gwen-hoff-an

Ingola: In-gol-a

Moxous: Mox-us

Morpentre: Mor-pen-treh

Mynydd Gwyllt Clan: My-nid Gwilt Clan

Thloegr : Thlo-ger

Thlonandras: Thlan-an-dras

Tir Maru: Tear Mar-oo

Nyth’draig: Nith-draeg

Treffin: Treff-in

Rhith Gwerin: Rith gwair-in

The Fundamentals of Magic

An Essay by Etienne d’Etoile Required in Punishment for Speaking Out in Lecture


There is no agreement among scholars as to the origin of magic. Some believe that it was a gift made to humanity by the gods, others that it lies in another plane of existence altogether. The only thing that is absolutely certain is that magic is not of Illygad. It is not a resource produced within the confines of this world, nor an element appearing natively therein and so must be torn from beyond the walls of our very reality. This paper does not make so bold a claim as to determine the hazy wellspring of magic, but rather to outline its practical use. These methods, devised and much tested by Moxous scholars, must encompass the best and most efficient magical practices within the world of