Page 99 of Inkpot Gods

BOOK VIAntimony

When you go, take your nettles and flowers.

When you go, take the girl with no voice.

When you go, take your long hair and your tower.

You are going; you say it’s your choice.

As you go,

I’ll be watching and waiting.

As you go,

You’ll be walking alone.

As you go, there’s a tale they’re relating.

You are leaving the stories you have known.

—Dr. Mary Crowell, “When You Go”

This night, stay home

Don’t go out alone there’s

Blood on the Moon and the river is running with

Sweet sweet wine.

Stay put—don’t stir

Gods’ sakes don’t run out after her

Blood on the Moon and the sky is ringing.

Sacred this night (the gods are hunting)

Sacred this rite (they are not always kind)

Sacred this fever (blood on the Moon and the sky is ringing)

Burns on forever! Bacchanal!

—Talis Kimberley, “Bacchante”

Freedom

TIMELINE: AUGUST 23, 2018.

“Hello, Asphodel,” says Kelpie, and Artemis stumbles where she stands, balance shocked away by the simple truth of her companion’s words. This figure—this construct—this flensed horror out of nightmare is Asphodel Baker, long dead and buried, yet somehow here returned.

“You’re dead,” says Artemis, and her lips are numb, the words lightly slurred by the effort of forming them.

“I was,” says Asphodel. “As I told you, I’ve been walking along the graveyard path. I would have returned sooner, but Dionysus wanted to have words with me over a friend of his, who I’d treated poorly but with the best of intentions. I understand his anger. I still say I did only what I had to do.”

“Why have you restrained our friends?”