Goddess Rising

She rewarded the couple with gold. One coin was more than enough for their trouble, so she gave them two. The wife’s eye shone with joy, but the man’s held an equal amount of skepticism. Why had a goddess slept on his shoddy mattress? What had she rewarded them with paltry gold rather than magic? Who was she?

He accepted the money, however, and tucked it securely into his purse. When he was certain it would not disappear, he spoke again.

“Your generosity is overwhelming, Great One. And, if I may say so, you have guests.”

She knew no one in Yopidasi. The prince had ascertained that before dumping her in the middle of the city. Reaching it from her hometown required a ship and three months.

“Who are they?”

A mysterious expression crossed the man’s face. It could have been a smirk, snuffed before it was full-grown, or a veiled query “Servants of the Jewel of the Sun.”

Aria bit her lip.

“Stay away from deities.” The prince had repeated that. “Even if they cannot recognize you, where they are, my father will eventually be.”

But Evera could recognize her.

The man’s expression grew more mysterious.

“Did you send for them?”

His face immediately filled with terror “No, Great One! I would not! I would never…”

“Settle down!” He was either terrified because he was lying or terrified because he was telling the truth. Neither fact would alter her situation. She looked around the room again, but no window had appeared during her rest. His wife kept her eyes down and her lips closed.

With one last offer of thanks, she pushed past them. The dining hall was now devoid of customers. Its only occupants, two women in white, stood at attention with hands folded over their middles. Their eyes met hers as she walked in.

She stood at the doorway, uncertain of the protocol. After a tense moment, the taller woman spoke.

“The jewel of the Sun requests an audience with you.”

Requests?

Aria made her tone stately.

“Thank you for the message. I will meet her as soon as I am able.”

The shorter woman looked stunned. The other. The other raised an eyebrow while her lips lengthened in amusement.

“You will be leaving with us now. We have a carriage outside.”

Aria remained in place. Evera could recognize her. Following these women was death.

“Did she ask for me by name?”

The taller woman replied. “She asked for the newling who is invading her territory.”

Aria opened her mouth to deny the charge, then shut them impotently. Even Evera was fooled by a coat?

“How did she learn of it?”

The woman gave her an incredulous look. “Do you believe our mistress is blind? End this stalling.”

She stepped aside, clearing a path for Aria to go ahead. It was a rude gesture, as if Aria, a goddess, could be ordered about by a servant. Yes, their goddess was one of the most powerful deities in the world, but Aria could still have killed them for the disrespect.

She almost laughed at herself. Here she was, feeling offended on behalf of her fictional persona, when she was minutes away from doom.

She ran.

She was at the door before they reacted. She threw it open, avoided the carriage in front of it, and took the first street leading away. Bodies still filled the way, requiring her to push past them in her haste, but she hoped that they slowed her pursuers as much as they did her. She had no plan and no destination. She took streets at random, aiming only to get as far from the eating house as possible, but each turn brought the sinking worry that she might be going in circles, that they might suddenly appear in front of her. One cannot run from the gods, but can you run from their helpers?

Her legs grew tired almost as soon as she began, but she made it through five streets before she was forced to stop. Hands on her knees, gasping for breath, she threw a glance behind her and saw no one in pursuit. Several people watched in curiosity, but they neither attacked nor offered assistance.

After several minutes, her enemies had not appeared, so she dropped to the ground and pulled her knees to her chest. Almost immediately, a passing man almost tripped over her, then stopped to scream insults at her. She replied in kind to the blind fool, but she her heart was not in it. When their exchange was over, she shuffled over to one side of the street and leaned against a house. Its corrugated roof cast a shadow that ended a few inches beyond her, forming a dark pattern beyond the ridges formed by rain.

As her breathing settled, she wondered what to do. She had to leave Evera’s territory, but where would she go? Where did Evera’s territory end, and what deity would she encounter there? The men at the eating house had spoken of Garo’s punishment. Restrained as he was, perhaps he had no ability to bother trespassers.

She settled on that option; there were no others. If she was not safe in Garo’s territory, she would not be safe anywhere. Now, all she needed was a map. As she rose, another thought came to her. Perhaps Garo’s territory was not her only choice. Not every deity had Garo and Evera’s power. The minor ones would probably be wary of antagonizing a newcomer. Before leaving for Garo’s territory, she would find a map, identify the weakest God with the nearest territory, and decide if he was the rash sort.

With a silent chuckle, she thanked Garo for allowing her years of service. Perhaps in another deity’s service, she would not be so conversant with the politics of godhood, but, in Garo’s service, considerations of strength, weakness, and rank were as important as food. She had been the best serving girl in her local temple, but pouring wine had earned her nothing until she learned who to please and who to shun.

With her plan prepared, she suddenly found that she was lost. Left and right both held the same ramshackle buildings. She turned from one to the other, debating which to choose, and debated for too long. Just as she came to a decision, she was treated to the sight of a white hole flaring into existence beneath her. She only had a moment to wonder why she was not falling when the hole rose up and closed over her.