Living on a prayer

“Just wait here for a bit grandpa and I will bring you a meal. There is plenty left!”

Loirra sat the ancient demi at one of the wooden tables hastily set up in the plaza. An impromptu dining area for the village, raised in the morning. A busy day . They had to clean and portion the meat the stranger brought, then cook and distribute it. One of the warriors that fell from the sky alongside the odd man, gave out healing potions alongside the meal they cooked.

Truly, a gods mercy.

She scraped the cauldron’s walls with the ladle filling one final bowl. A portion for a tiny child. Not enough for a grown man. Perhaps the outsiders will spare some more of their supplies if she ask them?

“Here you go. Eat while it’s still warm.”

She pushed the bowl before him, her kindness as broad as the starry sky above them.

“Will you eat with me? My old bones long for some company.”

“I… I am not hungry right now grandpa, thank you. ”

Cooking the stew, peeling potatoes, handing out meals and stopping people from fighting each other over the food consumed her whole day. She hadn’t thought even for a moment to put something in her mouth, now… Nothing else left for her. She smiled kindly and prayed in her heart.

All the blessing to you grandpa, let the gods add to that bowl whatever it is lacking and keep you in good health for I have nothing else to give you.

“But if you desire, my ears are all yours.”

She sat across him and waited. Old people of this village lost so much that many of them cursed their wretched life, begging for death. All she could do for them… she always had ears for their words and a prayer for their soul.

Kunfayo took the offered wooden spoon, stabbed the stew like the mortals did then hoisted a mouthful before his eyes. It looked, bland and tasted not much better. With a deep frown marrying his face, he put the spoon in the bowl and looked at his priestess. For all the effort Loirra put into her work, her cooking… left much to be desired.

“Very well then. You asked, and you shall be given.”

He spoke and sprinkled the stew with shining dust then pushed the bowl back towards the woman.

“Eat child. You’ve been living on a prayer alone for far too long. What will people say when they’ll see you and your bones? They will tarnish my name saying, Look that god does not even care for his children and those serving him are left to starve.”

Loirra’s eyes grew larger as understanding filled her mind. Her lord… sitting before her… just a while ago she… she casually dragged him to that table…

“Eat.”

The god ordered once more.

How could she? Her master just used that spoon and ate from that wooden bowl meant for her and beggars alike. She was unworthy…

“Child, you are testing my patience. Eat or I shall spoon feed you.”

No! She would not allow that! She was mere dirt unworthy of such blessing.

With trembling hands she gripped the spoon, scooped the stew and guided it into her mouth. Then she took one more. And another.

Tears welled in her eyes.

So good it was.

Spoon after spoon she ate yet the bowl remained full until she sate her hunger. Until all she gave out came back to her twice more.

“Eat child and then rest. Long road lies ahead of you.”

He hid himself from her eyes yet remained where he sat, watching over the golden soul of his servant. Thousands of years ago he swore he would never again play games with mortal lives.

And he wouldn’t.

But nothing forbade him from equipping his pawn with the best he could give her. She would need all the help to survive the game they put in motion.

***

“YOU CAN NOT DO THAT.”

“Why?!”

“AS I SAID THAT IS AGAINST THE RULES…”

Death and the slimy one quibbled in a corner while the olden god refused to play with them and went to the mortals. That was of no consequence. No.

The woman in red let her fingertip rest atop the pawn.

It was… a magnificent pawn.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Not so unfamiliar from her favorite pawn of times of old. Had he been born in this world she would make sure to claim him as hers but… she took away her finger and wiped away the slime against the table. Such a waste. With a pawn like him, gone would be the days of boredom.

But…. Perhaps…

Nobody was looking her way. Nobody took notice of the board placed before her. She reached for the dies and gathered them into a crystal cup.

No one paid her any attention. Not even when her palm traveled over the board.

If they did pay attention, perhaps someone would notice that one of the pawns now stood on a different rectangle.

The lady shook the cup and cast the dices with an ominous thud resounding throughout the darkness.

Death raised her eyebrow.

Times have changed.