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

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Delyth had once seen a mountain lion stalking prey. She’d been in the air, far enough away so that she had not disturbed either cat or goat, but close enough to watch as the lithe creature stepped forwards in silent, coiled power.

Enyo held herself the same way now, all tense, dangerous focus and bared teeth. It was clear what sacrifice she had in mind.

Delyth flung herself across the clearing and wrapped her arms around Alphonse’s small frame bodily. Enyo might be stronger, but she’d at least be able to slow her down.

“Here’s a thought, Taouk,” the halfbreed growled. “Why don’t we avoid attacking traveling companions. You do want to get to the damned temple, don’t you?”

Enyo thrashed wildly, head thumping against Deltyh’s chest, limbs flailing. In this moment, she wasn’t a honed warrior but a wild creature, captured and enraged.

“I will not go! I will not take a single step further. I will never let this body go! I will make her die here. Unless I get proper tribute. Now!” She finally twisted out of Delyth’s encircling arms and spun, facing the warrior. Wrath had contorted her into something… Vile.

And as if to prove her point, she brought her hand, Alphonse’s beautiful, delicate, healing hand, up to her throat. Squeezing it. Squeezing and squeezing until her face started to turn red, and Alphonse’s body jerked in desperation for air. Even as this happened, Enyo’s grip never faltered, her wide, furious eyes never leaving Delyth and Etienne.

Delyth scrambled to grab Enyo’s wrist to stop her from choking Alphonse, but she could do nothing. All of her strength was helpless in this case. She would only hurt Alphonse more.

“Fine!” she shouted into Enyo’s face, her own expression red and desperate as Alphonse’s skin changed hue. “Fine! We will get you a sacrifice.”

She couldn’t see anything but Alphonse fading in the Goddess’s harsh grip, her body failing. Delyth would never— could never forgive herself.

Legends had said when Enyo decided something, it was so.

“There’s a clan,” she gasped. “Aur’draig. It should be near here, on the way to Thlonandras. We can go, get you something worthy.”

Enyo’s grip tightened threateningly but then released.

Alphonse coughed and gasped, while Enyo still stared from her eyes. Unnerving to see the two, so linked. So bonded. One and the same.

“Take me. Now. No more delays. No more denying me. I am Taouk. You are?”

Delyth ignored the Goddess’s question. She was mortal, but she was also keeping them all alive. And she could do without Enyo reminding them all that she was the Goddess.

She looked over Enyo’s head to Etienne and nodded towards the tents. He seemed to get the idea, at least, turning to pack.

“Alright, we’ll go now, but you should know that the townspeople probably won’t worship you in a nightgown. They aren’t used to Goddesses picking up and trying on the bodies of mortals. They’ll likely just think you mad.”

She turned to fling her and Alphonse’s tent into a pack.

Chapter XI

Fifth Moon, Waning Crescent: Thloegr

It had taken the better half of the morning, and Alphonse’s body shivering with cold before Enyo deigned to dress, but they had finally arrived at the Aur’draig settlement. Enyo paced along the southern road, waiting as Etienne and Delyth debated how best to go in.

Just Etienne and Enyo?

Just Delyth?

Just Enyo?

The only thing that kept Enyo waiting was the knowledge that she needed coin to buy the wine she wanted, but Delyth doubted the argument would hold her long. It was not as though Enyo would have any moral qualms about stealing.

“You cannot go into town alone with Enyo,” Delyth told Etienne for the tenth time. “If anything happens, what will you do?”

The scholar was red in the face from arguing. “Well we certainly can’t let Enyo go by herself! We may never see her again! And you— Well, look at you! Is this normal in the Wildlands?”

That stopped Delyth for a moment. No, of course, this was not normal. She was strange and frightening, even in the most strange and frightening places. Had all it taken was a couple weeks in the company of Alphonse and her friend to make Delythforget this?

“Don’t mortal men buy prospective bedmates drinks?” Enyo demanded, the implication clear. She did not need their money. She could go in on her own and get what she wanted.

The suggestion just made Delyth angrier. All she fucking needed was Enyo in a room of men that wouldn’t know or give a damn that the body she resided in could have no say.

“All I need is a disguise!” she barked, her usual stoic demeanor lost to frustration. “Aren’t you supposed to be a sorcerer?”

Etienne blinked. “Oh. Yes. But, there’s not much I can do without the supplies that Enyo burned.”

Delyth growled in exasperation. “Then what can you do?”

“Well… illusion magic requires much less. It only has to work on minds, not the world itself.”

“Then, by the Cursed Realms, would you do something before she goes into town alone?”

Etienne murmured to himself for amoment, eyeing Delyth, almost accusatory.  “At least these woods are teaming with datura leaves. I’ll use them to fuel the spell, and their mild hallucinogenic effects will be amplified by the magic.”

He gathered the supplies, crushing the spiky seeds of a plant Delyth dimly recalled as being useful to seers. He painted the resulting paste onto her wings, chanting beneath his breath in nonsensical phrases. It was cold and smelled faintly herbal. When he was finally finished, she snapped at him again. “Well?”

“It's done,” he said. “And we should go now.”

In front of them, Enyo was already several yards down the road.

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Delyth fought the urge to glance over her shoulders as they walked through the settlement, only half paying attention to where Enyo was leading her. At most, the townspeople gave them curious looks. No one scowled or flinched away.

Her wings were gone.

There