Goddess by Liv Savell (autobiographies to read txt) 📕

against the Gods. He has trapped Enyo twice—” Meirin said, watching the Goddess scowl, the lines in her new face turning severe. “And Mascen. It would be foolish to leave him behind.”

“So slow

a paltry load

to go, you’ll guess a riddle.” Aryus landed with a graceful bow. “I have seas with no water, coasts with no sand, towns without people, mountains without land. What am I?”

Delyth eyed the God with decided unease. “I’ll carry him. We want him there in one piece.”

Aryus managed to look affronted. “Angry little dragon warrior.”

Etienne snorted as though he found the idea of Delyth as little just as absurd as she did. “You’re a map, Aryus. And I don’t care as long as we get there.”

“Finally, something we can agree on.” Va'al’s arms were crossed over his chest, his foot tapping. “The sooner we can get there, the better. Then we’ll be free to fix the mess the humans have made of our land.”

“Then this is goodbye, I suppose.” Meirin struggled to get to her feet, leaning on Delyth’s strong hand to brace her up. Gratitude welled up inside Meirin. She would not consider them friends, but they were comrades. They respected one another, and that was, somehow, better. To have earned the esteem of someone as highly trained and brave as Delyth was the type of approval Meirin had always wanted. She was Delyth’s sister-in-arms, not a baker’s wandering daughter. Not just another clan girl, playing at being a warrior.

Surprising herself and Delyth alike, Meirin pulled her in for a tight hug. “Don’t forget who you are, Delyth. And—Thank you.”

“I—” Delyth stiffened at the sudden contact but warmed enough to hug Meirin back. She didn’t seem able to promise anything, but she nodded. “Thank you. For what you did and for your help getting here.”

After a moment, Delyth stepped away, her shoulders tense and her eyes a little sad. “Safe travels back to the Mynydd Gwyllt.”

“And safe travels to you too.” Meirin gripped Delyth’s arm one last time. This felt more like goodbye forever than it did for the others. Would Delyth make it out of this battle alive? “Oh. I nearly forgot.” Meirin reached for her hip, unlatching the dagger from her belt. The highly decorated handle shone in the morning light, and not for the first time, Meirin smiled. It was amusing that Delyth had such a pretty weapon. Everything else the warrior owned was exclusively practical. The dagger, though, had a mother of pearl inlay and gems on the top of the pommel. It had been in Meirin’s things since the destroyed town. Delyth would have left it behind after killing the child, but they had already lost most of their weapons, and the folded-steel dagger was as sharp as it was fine.

Holding it out, her arm shook slightly. So blasted weak. “This is yours.”

Delyth’s face tightened, and she gently closed Meirin’s fist around the thing. “Keep it. Or give it back to Tanwen.” She turned away and moved to tear down her tent.

That left Etienne and Meirin more or less alone by the edge of the clearing where they had made camp. She could see the priest stirring in his tent. He would be up soon enough, and then she’d have to construct some sort of litter to transport Gethin between herself and the priest.

Maybe they would camp for another day or two.

If the Gods won against Mascen.

If not, it wouldn’t matter where they were when Mascen recreated Thloegr. Pushing aside the thought, she smiled at Etienne, who looked somber.

“Guess you’ll get to see Caerthleon before me.”

“Better to see it later, I think,” he said, obviously going for optimism, though his smile didn’t quite meet his eyes. “After Mascen’s been gone for a while.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly awkward, as though he wasn’t quite sure what to say, his ears red and the toe of his boot scraping on the ground. “Look, I, uh, like you quite a bit. Maybe we’ll see each other again? In my city or yours.”

Meirin laughed, the sound not as bright or joyful as it once had been. “Maybe. You’ve inspired me, mage. I don’t think I’ll stay in Mynydd Gwyllt for long. I want to travel. I want to see more of Thloegr, Ingola. Esha’s tits, all of Illygad.I’m no longer happy in my tiny corner of the world.”

She held out her arms for a hug. She felt close to Etienne. They were friends and had shared a bed the night before she offered herself up as a Vassal. He’d been attentive with her survival even as he mourned the death of his dearest friend. She was happy to see him, and her heart felt warm, but she was equally as excited to start her own new life.

If Mascen didn’t destroy it first.

Maybe she was a fickle creature, or maybe whatever they had was precisely what it needed to be to get them through the terrors of their journey. Rather than feel ashamed, Meirin only held Etienne tighter, and when they pulled apart, she kissed him one last time.

Etienne just blushed a little darker. She felt sure that he had understood there would be nothing more between them. “Safe travels then. I hope you see all that you long to.”

He glanced over his shoulder, and Meirin followed his gaze. Already, Delyth was almost done packing her things. He’d have to get his as well if he didn’t want to be left behind. Any moment, Va'al would reappear to urge them along, evidently unsatisfied until he could put the whole affair behind him.

Etienne stepped away. “Goodbye, Meirin.”

“Goodbye, mage.” She smiled again and watched as Etienne squared his shoulders and hurried to pack up so he would not be left behind. Meirin fought the urge to sigh and instead came to stand by the Priest who Esha had inhabited. She never knew his name.

“I’m Meirin,” she murmured, and the man nodded politely.

“Priest Arawn. Of course, you can simply call me Arawn. I’m not sureI