My skin tingled, the pain unexpectedly lessening. Frostbite kicking in? She’d definitely accelerated that process by opening my pantleg. I watched curiously.
Of all of the potential deaths I’d faced, this one was rather pleasant. She was being kind. And although my vision was fuzzy,I was captivated by the soft features I could distinguish, pink from the cold and softly rounded. If this was the end, she was a lovely final vision.
Had I done enough positive work to offset the damage I’d once caused? Probably not. After all, if I died here, my knowledge from a decade of research expeditions died with me. But I was too far gone to really feel the weight of that regret now.
“Does this hurt?” She pressed into the leg.
I winced on reflex, but no pain came. It felt surprisingly normal.
“I know someone nearby; they may have something we can use to move you. Then we can get you to Drifael tomorrow,” she declared, crouching to get up. “I’ll be back with help.”
A strand of pale-yellow hair fell from her winter cap.
My heart stopped.Of course.My leg wasn’t numbing from frostbite.
She’dhealedme.
I’d found a free goddess.
Freefor nowat least.
A fresh urgency had my mind racing. She knew people nearby? That wasn’t good. I needed to warn her about the dangers of interacting with this world. There was evil out there thatwouldprey on her if given the chance. And if she was running around with golden hair, she probably had no clue about any of it. She needed knowledge to protect herself.
I tried to get my mouth to cooperate as I mumbled unintelligibly. This was a conversation I’d practiced in my head countless times for when the moment arrived. A moment whereI met a goddess I could actually help. And now that it was here, I couldn’t form the words with my frozen, numb lips.
“Just hang in there.” She stood up. I reached out for her wrist to stop her, but she was already stumbling off into the snow.
I rolled to my hands, forcing myself to stand. I had to follow her!
I stumbled the moment my weight was on my feet. The excruciating pain in my shin was gone, but my anklethrobbedlike it may crumble under me. I hadn’t noticed that injury while laying down. Now it was too late to get it healed by the female who had just disappeared into the snowy woods.
I tried stumbling after her, supporting myself with the trunks of taller trees, but it was no use. The incline was too steep. There was no way I’d be able to run uphill after her.
Icould trystaying put. Wait for her. But I’d probably freeze to death or be eaten alive by whatever beast was howling in the distance. As much as I wanted to talk to her—help her—I was as good as dead if I didn’t find shelter. And I was no use to her dead. I’d have to leave before she returned.Ifshe returned. I hoped she wouldn’t try.
Going down the mountain was easier. I could grind my teeth through the pain and let gravity pull me from tree-to-tree to safety. There would be less snow and beasts on the lower altitudes.
Get to Drifael. Grab food. Grab car hidden in the brush. Drive home. Regroup.
I would survive. Recover. Come back during summer with a healed ankle and a better shot against the elements. I was on a mission. For one, I finally found a goddess after all these years oftraveling aimlessly—hoping I’d find a way to make a difference that didn’t involve more killing. But also, I owed her.
She saved my life.
Theo
“Dad? What’s happening? Dad, I’m scared.”
I could barely hear the voice over the sound of his father choking on his own blood.
Another restless night of bad memories behind me, I limped from my home to my pub with a heavy bag full of books slung over my shoulder. My sprained and overworked ankle throbbed.
The pain was my constant reminder that I would soon be returning to Cyciciah to finish what I’d started. The goddess who saved me mentioned Drifael; she’d probably visited the local town. Maybe she was reliant on them—not having everything she needed to stay in her field.
Sure, the goddess of life’s blessings would provideenough. Her mother wouldn’t send her to a field with no means of survival. There’d be a nutritious crop, clean water, and a border to keep the local predators out. But this female probably wanted access to shelter, clothing…normal things. The daughters of the goddess always had that trade-off. Be safelysequestered within the borders of their field without comforts or face the dangers of being outed when seeking additional resources.
That’s where my help came in.
I could offer two things: help get her comfortably established in her field and bluntly explain the dangers of being a deity on Trebianna. I was more than capable of building her a modest homestead—having four arms had its manual labor perks. And, there weren’t many people who knew more about her situation than me. I was an expert on the topic.
