’89. 90. 91’. Stathis counted her sword swings, trying to get precise form for every strike, shifting her stance and footwork as she moved between the training positions, chopping at the empty air. Her shoulders and back were straining from the exercise, sweat soaking her clothing. The apartments they were lodged in this time were up on top of the town, attached to the palace, giving mildly depressing views of the rest of the town setting up for a festival to celebrate the coronation of a new ruler. Which meant that tomorrow she’d have to stand for hours, in the crowd of dignitaries conveying empty feelings to whoever the new lord was. She swung the blade again, anger, frustration and boredom channelled into the strike.

Another day of sheer tedium, pointless etiquette and ritual, all to assuage the ego of Lord something-or-other, who would likely find the entire thing just as boring themselves. There were supposed to be monsters in the hills, couldn’t they go destroy those? That would surely be better for the town than a big, dull greeting ceremony. While she could see the sense in making sure rulers met and mingled, helping them to trust each other, it was a dull nuisance to stand through.

In the mirror, she saw a numinous mist start to form behind her, shedding a pearlescent radiance, a face starting to form within the glowing haze. She spun, quickly double-stepping and struck, her blade disrupting the mist for a moment, before it simply flowed back into shape.

‘Carissia! There’s a thing here! It’s weird and glowing!’ She swung at it again as the face coalesced together, vague features forming into divine beauty, a female face wreathed by elaborately styled hair, ringlets and curls swaying in an unfelt breeze. Stathis readied to swing again, wishing she was allowed magical weapons, rather than boring, simple metal ones that did nothing against random weird divine stuff.

ARREST THINE BLADE, LOWLY MORTAL, LEST YE WOULD STRIKE A GOD

‘It’s a god thing! Carissia, come and sort it out!’ She raised the sword again, the face grimacing as it prepared for another impact.

The door banged open and Carissia stormed in, her priestly regalia flapping, some ritual instrument in her hand. Now that it had form, colour began to bloom within the mist, the divine features of the face animating, perfect, flawless skin, lips of brightest red, vivid eyes framed with brilliant colours. The thing’s eyes were spheres of solid colour, brilliant sky-blue, shedding their own light, blue haze casting odd shadows around the room.

Carissia curtseyed. ‘You must forgive my sister, oh most sacred and divine spirit, she is rash to action and not too bright.’

Stathis shifted her stance, gratified to see the spirit flinch slightly.

I AM DIVINE APHARI. AND YOU ARE MY SERVANT, YET I HAVE BEEN ABSENT FROM THINE PRAYERS OF LATE

Carissia’s attitude changed, deference vanishing. ‘Oh, yes. Um, sorry, I’ve switched over to Tanika of the Seven Thunders. It’s not you, it’s me. I felt it was time for a change.’

To its credit, the divine being was able to react to this revelation of divine infidelity without cursing, although the way it pursed its lips would have sent a more pious worshipper running for some sacrificial animals. Stathis kept her sword up, just in case it got stroppy. At least there wasn’t much of hers that could get broken here if it started blasting things.

YOU WOULD FORSAKE ME FOR TANIKA, THE LOUD-MOUTH BUFFON OF THE THUNDERS, A BLUSTERING FOOL OF WIND AND STORM? HAVE I NOT GIVEN YOU ALL YOU DESIRED? HAVE I NOT BEEN A KIND AND GENEROUS MISTRESS?

‘Well, about that. You’re not great with attack spells, to be honest. The enchantment spells are useful, but I want to go adventuring, and need something to actually attack with. I did ask if you were willing to grant such powers, but was told no; perhaps you could take that up with your head priestess? She was most adamant about such things being unsuitable for your followers – very short-sighted, if you ask me.’

I AM APHARI, BELOVED AND MOST RADIANT OF THE GODS. AND YOU WOULD TURN FROM ME?

‘I’ll still worship you. Well, sometimes. But Tanika grants his followers the fury and power of the divine storm, the lightning that strikes down the wicked, and that sounds more useful than just charm spells. Should I need the radiance of your divine beauty in the future, I shall pray to your celestial grace.’

This appeared to mollify the face a little, although it still looked decidedly grumpy, flecks of darkness appearing across the blue orbs and the light coming from it brightening, enough to make Stathis shift to a one-handed stance, shading her eyes with the other as the face addressed her.

WOULD YOU, SCION OF IRISTARI, PLEDGE THINESELF TO MY SERVICE?

Stathis rolled her eyes and growled in annoyance, before Carissia spoke. ‘Oh most beauteous of all deities, who lulled the great beast Talbranthus to slumber, who charmed even the heartless hordes of Galondwyn, you, who art the true star of the divine court. While I may leave your flock, know that you will forever be in my thoughts.’

The face simpered, accepting the praise, as Stathis started sidling towards the door, not interested in her sister’s gushing (and largely empty) rhetoric. She’d almost made it out of the door when the face shouted at her.

YOU, IRISTARI WHO WOULD STRIKE A GOD. IF THOU WOULDST SWEAR FEALTY UNTO ME, THEN I SHALL GRANT THY DESIRES, AND FORGIVE THY TRANGRESSIONS

It felt a bit rude to just walk out on a god, even a minor one that her sister was in the process of skipping out on, so Stathis turned and bowed, trying to sound vaguely contrite. ‘Sorry, can’t do that. Not really my thing.’

The face looked unimpressed, as Carissia tried to explain. ‘My sister has another calling, one that precludes swearing oaths to another, even one as beautiful and radiant as yourself.’

The blue eyes glowed, a whisper of power penetrating into Stathis’ soul. Stathis rolled her eyes in irritation, as a soft lullaby sounded from empty air. Stathis felt a force intruding into her mind, soft and seductive, trying to draw her closer. She shook her head, shaking off the intrusion, feeling the force snap away, before drawing her sword again. The face was sensible enough to look worried as Stathis advanced, ready to give it a walloping if it tried anything else.

I KNEW NOT THAT SUCH WALKED THIS EARTH AGAIN. The eyes shifted back to Carissia. GUARD HER WELL, MY ERRANT CHILD. I WILL DEPART THIS LOWLY REALM FOR A TIME. WHEN THOU WOULD RETURN TO MY SERVICE, SIMPLY SPEAK THE WORDS. AND WARD YOUR SISTER WELL

‘Yes, oh divine Aphari. I do but pray that our parting will be swift.’ Carissia was unable to keep the slight boredom from her voice, as the face flickered and vanished, mist swiftly boiling away in the afternoon sunlight. As soon as she was sure it was gone, Carissia sighed. ‘Yes, you don’t need to tell me, she was a mistake. Good parties, but hardly any major temples. And she doesn’t have the power to grant decent spells. Tanika at least has shrines in most towns, and I’m looking forward to getting some lightning spells, something direct to attack with! A bit more direct than charms. Although you should be more polite to her – she is a deity, even if a minor one, and a bit ditzy. I know you can’t really worship properly, but a touch of courtesy wouldn’t go amiss!’

Stathis groaned. ‘Eugh, gods are your thing, leave me out of it! And just pick one, rather than switching all the time.’

‘It makes sense to trade up while I can. Tanika’s promised me the use of the Orb of Black Thunder! You just have to sweet talk them a bit, send them off happy. Your problem is that you’re always too honest and straightforward. Just lie a bit, make people happier, it’s easier for everyone. Although I appreciate that you have certain limitations, at least in the divine sphere.’

‘Isn’t that the third this year?!’

‘Fourth. I think?’ Carissia started counting on her fingers. ‘There was Blackrazor, Skarrith of the Dawning, Aphari, and Tanika. Tanika is a full god, so that’s a definite step up.’ She stepped around the sword Stathis was still holding ready, smiling up at Stathis. ‘Now, when are you getting changed? We are going down to the town tonight, aren’t we?’

Stathis stepped back, keeping the sword between them. ‘No. Gods no. Remember last time? With the fish monsters, and that giant crab monster? No.’

‘Oh, be reasonable. How was I to know that would happen, just because it was a full moon? And this is Redcastle. With the festival happening! No-one recognises us here, and there’s all sorts of things to see. What’s the worst that can happen?’

Carissia kept advancing, forcing Stathis back against the wall. ‘Then why don’t you go? I have other things to do.’

‘Another night all alone, swinging your sword? Come out for some fun and meet some people! And I would go on my own, but the guards are irritatingly adamant about not letting anyone leave. Mother has raised… concerns. Some noble girl vanished a few days ago, and there’s the usual mutterings about that. But as long as we’re back for the coronation tomorrow, no-one will ever know. So that means we simply need to be back by dawn. I’ve even prepared some potions of wakefulness for us!’ She smiled, Stathis trying to remain resolute in the face of her sister’s charm. ‘But, o darling sister, your strong wings are needed to get us from here down into Redcastle.’

‘I’m not doing it. It’s awkward, and someone might see.’

Carissia gently pushed the sword aside.

‘When else are you going to get the chance to go to the Redcastle Festival? They only hold it when they’re crowning their ruler, the next one won’t be for decades! And the place is packed, no-one will recognise us. It’s a short drop down to the town, and no-one will be looking up. And there’s a few adventurer bands in town as well, don’t you want to meet them? You can’t just stay in your room forever.’ She smiled at Stathis, sensing her weakening, then pressed the attack. ‘It’s just going to be a simple trip into town, watch the festival, have some fun, and then sneak back. No-one will ever know! And you must be going crazy cooped up here – let’s get out there and meet some people. We can sleep it off during the ceremony tomorrow; it’s about eight hours, and we’re in the crowd of dignitaries, away from Mother, so no-one will ever know. There’s a fighting tournament going on, we can go and see that! And I promise, nothing will happen, we’ll just drop into town, have some food, have some drink, and then come back. Nice and simple.’

A fighting tournament? That would be interesting to see, some fighting styles other than sword and board or dual-wielding, and she had been training diligently recently. Mother was trapped in some tiresome trade negotiation, and wouldn’t be done for hours, so they wouldn’t be missed at all. Stathis sighed, desire to see something exciting outweighing her good sense. ‘OK, but you better not get us in any trouble!’

‘You always worry too much, Stathis. This is Redcastle, not some demon-infested border town; it’ll be fine. I need to go get changed out of these robes, and you might want to scrub off that sweat. This is a festival, not a tourney. A sword is acceptable, but no armour!’ She tapped her chin, obviously planning something, before Stathis pushed her out the door.

A night out could be interesting – educational, even. Different and more interesting than another evening of bored servants bringing some fancy food, and more training. Although she wouldn’t want to draw attention to herself (doubtless Carissia would likely be flashy enough to help with that) – something simple and plain, although she would definitely want her sword, just in case. At least her travelling chest was amply stocked for that; after washing herself, she picked out a plain tunic and trousers, adding a well-crafted leather belt, and some hopefully-martial looking steel bracelets. And an additional knife, just in case.