I jumped off the wall, making no effort to slow my descent. I was pissed, and this was my version of stomping like a toddler. Mal had the good sense to look worried as I approached him. His soldiers bristled, but I ignored them all. I ignored Grimstrom too. With Eyes only for Joel, I walked over and grasped him in a hug.

“Bloody hell, Clive. It’s like running into the corner of a building getting a hug off you,” he said, laughing and, despite the atmosphere seeming genuinely happy to see me.

“Yeah. There’s been some changes, for sure. Look Joel, I can’t stay long, but I’ll come and speak with you all once I deal with something. “You fancy pulling the council together for me?”

“Sure,” he said. “I look forward to it. What’re you gonna do, though? As bad as that welcome home was, cos of dickhead there,” he said, nodding at the red faced Mal, who stood a few feet away waiting to speak. “Devotion’s people haven’t actually been much trouble at all.”

“Well, sadly for Devotion’s people, all I’ve got to go off is that their guards threatened me on my return, didn’t stop when both Feen and I asked them to. Not to mention that prick,” I said, thrusting a finger at Mal. “Thinking he’s got the power to shit talk me and tell me things have changed in the town we built. So yeah, any good-will that had been built is fucking gone,” I snapped, shouting the last sentence at Mal.

Having wound myself up again. I let myself go in the direction of the towering temple. Even the sight of that being taller than any other building apart from the castle added to my infuriation.

The crowd parted quickly for me, the people looking concerned but not fearful of me.

Mal, Joel and Grimstrom followed quickly behind me, with Mal throwing a stream of insults and demands to know what I was doing.

As I cleared the crowd, Elsbeth was in the process of leaving the entrance of the temple.

Mal sped up to get in front of me. The idiot had a fancy-looking sword out and he was shouting furiously at me to stop.

Others moved to get between us, but they were too slow. As I put on a burst of speed none of them would know I was capable of. With a heavy backhand in the chest, I sent him sailing through the air thirty feet to land in a crumpled heap of arsehole and armor.

“Clive! What’s going on?” Elsbeth shrieked looking between me and Mal. She cowered as I approached, expecting me to attack, I assumed. But I didn’t. I ignored her completely and walked into the temple.

“Stop, Clive,” She shouted after me. “You're not welcome in there.”

With another burst of speed, I reached the altar of Devotion and laid my hand on it. Elsbeth, screamed in horror. Mal was back and he attempted to charge me again. There was a ruckus outside of the door as soldiers of Devotion tried to enter, but couldn’t get past my people.

I felt a buzz from the altar.

Meddling with an artifact empowered by a God that you do not follow is a punishable offense, one which allows the God to directly smite you with a 50% reduction to health. Each subsequent attempt allows for 75% and ultimately 100% reduction in health.

Thankfully, Devotion didn’t smite me. But once the buzzing subsided something else happened. Everything froze in motion. Elsbeth mid shriek, Mal storming forward Mid stride, looking intent on murder and beyond, framed by the doors of the temple was a mass of limbs contorted into creation you’d expect to see in a modern art gallery. Weird. I thought before yelling out loud. “Devotion!”

Silence, but the air seemed to charge with an electric feeling. With a thought, my Neuma vision activated and I saw a deep blue Neuma mist, forming with the altar and myself as a central point of its focus.

“You play a dangerous game, Clive of Creation,” A soft female voice replied in my mind.

“So do you,” I replied shortly, speaking out loud. “But thanks for answering. I know this is a big deal, oh and for not smiting the shit out of me for touching your altar.”

“Believe me, I tried. But your budding divinity protected you,” she replied. It was an odd sensation, but there was a genuine sense of humor from her.

“Damn! Was that what the buzzing was at first?” I laughed back.

“You do realize this intrusion is not considered acceptable? I would be in my rights to order the entirety of Malatia to march here and kill you. So, what do you want, Clive?”

“To survive, to thrive. To protect people from these stupid fucking wars as best I can. But then that much is obvious I reckon. The question is, what the fuck do you want, Devotion?”

She seemed genuinely taken aback by my response and took a short moment to form a response. “Very much the same as you.”

“So, are you going to stop fucking around with me and my town, then? I’ve got enough enemies and I thought we’d gotten over this shit. But your people are just niggling at me all the damn time. It’s gonna end up with us at odds again, and I don’t think either of us need that.”

“You want to work together?” she asked surprised.

“Sure as long as you accept me for me and don’t try to manipulate me. Obviously, your people stop dicking around, too.”

“This is… unexpected. You entered my temple with such anger directed at me.”

“Oh, I’m fucking seething, but despite appearances, I‘m not stupid. The more reliable allies I can get, the better chance at success. But hell, you’re making it hard for me to trust you. I get it you're not happy with me, I’m probably not your ideal partner in all of this, and hell I get you don’t like me coming in here and touching your altar. But after what I’ve just gone through up north, to come home after months and be faced with your soldiers pointing spears at me on my own goddamn fucking walls…”

“I never said I didn’t like you touching my altar,” she replied in an unnervingly seductive way for a disembodied voice, before laughing again. “But I understand your anger and you’re right. You, Clive, are extremely hard for me to deal with. Almost everything you do is at odds with what I stand for, but only in regard to temperament. While it is hard, even for me to see past that, I know you to be caring, kind and compassionate. At least with those you care for.”

“You better fucking believe it,” I said, slumping a little. I couldn’t articulate why I slumped from her words. But they hit some deep seated part of me.

“But it is that abrasive, swift to anger, erratic behavior that makes you such a dangerous ally to trust.”

“Oh yeah, but Darkness isn’t dangerous? At least I’m bloody honest.”

“You do not trust Darkness?”

“Of course not. I don’t trust anyone. You're all double dealing back stabbers.”

“Don’t forget you're talking to a god, Clive.”

“Ah, right, so does talking to a god mean I have to lie and blow smoke up your arse to flatter your massive god sized fucking ego? I literally just told you I’m honest.”

She laughed again louder and with more feeling. The sound was intoxicating, beautiful even, and I felt my anger with her begin to melt away. Which because of my specific mental makeup brought a fresh surge of anger as it felt I was being manipulated.

“You might be onto something,” she replied, once her laughter had subsided. “Would you like to try doing that? See how it goes?”

“No, I bloody wouldn’t. I’m getting sick of this back and forth with your people. Now I have you here for a minute. I want it straight from the horse’s mouth. “Why are you really in my town?”

“This is where the fate of the North will be decided,” she said flatly. No humor this time, making her tone hard to read.

“Whether I wish to be or not, I am intrinsically linked with that fate.”

“Alright, I can see there’s possibly truth in that. So what outcome do you want?”

“All I want is to keep the gods in balance. To each offer what were we created for. The god’s could be working together in harmony as Creation planned. It serves no one's interests to see Justice or Destruction to gain too much power.”

“And Darkness?”

“Nor Darkness either, though our goals align in preventing Justice and Devotion from gaining power.

“Until they’re both dealt with. Then what happens? Does Darkness let them run back home with their tails between their legs? Or does he put them both down when they’re weak?”

I felt the air crackle at a higher intensity than before. “You insinuations are dangerous Clive.”

“Can Darkness hear me?”

“No. Nobody can hear within my temple but those I actively choose to let hear.”

“So it’s not that dangerous then is it?” Unless you’re going to tell him what I’m insinuating?”

“I shall not.”

“Do you have the same fears?”

She didn’t reply at first, but the air continued to be charged at the higher frequency. “What do you propose, Clive of Creation?”

“Nothing. I’m just trying to keep my people alive up north. But should we be right?” I said intentionally including her. “Then this little town is going to be Malatia's first line of defense when Darkness turns. At the minute, you’re not helping Justice. That’s Darkness’s only plan with this alliance.”

“And you think a primary alliance with you is better? You hold divinity, but you are still a very long way away from being a god.”

“Exactly. Which means I can actually directly affect what happens on the planet. You guys can’t. That’s why Natom was such a problem for everyone, wasn’t it? Well, I guarantee that over this next year I intend to be as strong as Natom was. I’ll need to be when the mad bastard returns. You want us both set against you?”

“It matters little. I cannot turn on Darkness.”

“Sure, not yet,” I said smiling into the blue mist.

“I thought you were honest Clive?” I sensed some satisfaction as she said those words.

“Damn right I am. Hell I’m hoping Darkness isn’t going to fuck me over, and if he doesn’t, then we can be best friends for life. But I have doubts, and if I’m right, you better believe I want to be prepared.”

“Again, our situations align… Are you allied with Light?”

“Not as such. Though I’ve touched base with one of their top people and we’re certainly not enemies. But there’s nothing they could do here, anyway. They’ve got their own problems haven’t they?”

“Peace and War,” she replied without any further information.

“So basically, we both have concerns about Darkness. Neither of us can afford to piss him off yet, but if he does make a move like we fear, then we’re both fucked.”

“So this conversation is worthless.”

“Is it?”

Devotion sighed. “I can’t read you Clive. You suggest a true alliance, yet you came here in anger, ready to remove my church and people from Far Reach. You’ve already killed Paladins of mine and you continually undermine my followers.”

“They were being dicks,” I said with a shrug. “And I don’t want an alliance.”

“You don’t?” She asked. “Clive I don’t believe I have met a more confusing mortal than you.”

“Am I a Mortal still?”

“No. You are not. But you confused me before your stage one Ethereal development.”

“Good to know. I like to keep people guessing.”

“Even now, I am not sure if you are good or evil.”

“You know what, Devotion? I believe I can answer that question for you finally.”

“Oh please do. I am intrigued.”

“Simple, when I first arrived in Falritas, I was neither. Now I am both.”

She laughed loud and long. The sound made my skin tingle and for some reason, to my mild embarrassment, the old soldier stood to attention. I didn’t think she noticed as she replied. “I believe you. But if you don’t want an alliance, then what do you want?”

“For starters, I want you to not get at me directly with Mal. I’ve known him my whole damn life and he’s not acting like himself. I know that’s down to you.”

“Only partially,” she chuckled. “Most of his behavior is borne of his defensiveness about Elsbeth and your early relationship. He is devoted to both her and me, which is how he has managed to grow so much in such a short period. You must address that issue first. And perhaps stop speaking ill of Elsbeth. She really doesn’t deserve your ire. I know her mind and your animosity towards her is ill founded. She carries much guilt over your trials and tribulations since arriving here.”

“Can you free him from the bond?”

“Yes, I can. But I will not. He swore to me of his own free will and as I have said, he is incredibly devoted. I cannot make people pray, yet Mal prays three times a day without fail. The rest of his time, he diligently follows the spirit of my essence, apart from with his relationship to you. Yet I confess to encouraging him with that.”

“That’s pretty shitty Devotion, and I don’t like it. But I can understand it. I’ll back off Elsbeth if you back off Mal?”

“We could make that deal, but I would hear what else you have to say. As you don’t want an alliance.”

“Sure, sure. So here’s my take. Alliances are delicate things and I don’t trust them. If I was in an alliance with Mal, I would have broken it now. But I’m not. I’m his friend and he is mine, despite acting like a mega dick. So if we’re gonna continue. What I want from you isn’t a deal or an agreement. I want to attempt a genuine friendship with you.”

Yet more laughter. “You want the friendship of a god?”

“A god with good hearing, I see.”

She scoffed at that. “Oh Clive, you are actually quite hilarious. Now I’ve had the opportunity to speak to you directly. I must say I am warming to you. But Gods don’t really have friends, it’s part of the territory.”

“Shame. Because that’s what I need. A devoted friend, not a questionable alliance. At least I know where we stand with each other.”

“And where is that?”

“Grudging acquaintances,” I replied, about to pull my hand from the altar and end the conversation.

“Wait!” she said quickly. I did. Leaving my hand where it was and standing patiently for a few moments.

“You hated me because I sent you to Natom. Then for trying to remove you from Malatia. When you return home, my guards threaten you. And though I had nothing to do with that, I know how your mind works. You blame me.”

“Maybe. Once upon time. But I know that followers have free will now?”

“Ah, so you fully understand that now, do you?”

“I just said I did.”

“So you don’t blame me for every bad thing to have happened to you since coming here anymore?”

“Does it matter if I do? Gods don’t have friends.”

“I might be willing to make an exception.”

“Really?” I asked surprised, wishing she was tangible and in front of me so I could judge her facial expressions.

“Yes, but you would have to do something for me to prove this is a two-way street with no deception. Are you interested?”

“Depends what it is.”

“I want you to make a Soul Mate bond with you.”

“Whaaa?” I squawked, sounding a bit like a parrot to my ears at least.

“This transcends the terms of friendship and if I am tying myself to an unpredictable demi-god, I need to know, I can trust you completely. That will, of course work both ways.”

“But why? That seems insane. Are you linked to any other gods?”

“A very good question, Clive. You have good instincts and no, I’m not bound with any others. I can’t trust any of the other gods and none of them would be willing to create this union. If I thought Malatia and myself could survive what is coming alone, then I would not suggest this. But we cannot defend against the wave enemies set against us.”

“So why not join with Justice?”

“Because they seek to dominate others. What hope is there for me down that path?”

“And I won’t?”

“No, Clive, you really won't. You don’t actually have extreme views, just an extreme personality. From what I can see, your views appear to be quite balanced.”

I shook my head. “Still doesn’t make any sense. I’ve got one foot in the grave all the time.”

“Devotion laughed. Not so anymore. You have a small but very powerful group of followers and you are immortal for all intents and purposes. You are fair and you are also the protector of the north. When you came in here, I wouldn’t have imagined I’d be saying this, but having considered all of the options. If I had to choose who I would want to rule over the lands to my north, I would choose you over Justice, Destruction and Darkness. Do you understand?”

“Can you control me if we Soul Mate?”

“No. Nor you me.”

“Shit. I’ll have to think about this.”

“I’m afraid not, Clive. It’s a one-time offer only.”

“Then no. If someone tries to get you to sign something without giving you time to read the small print and consult with a lawyer, then they're hiding something bad.”

“I cannot fault your analogy. Do you have a Lawyer, Clive?”

“Sure I do. Danivra and Sania.”

“You need their approval to do this?”

“Damn right I do. Sania’s my Soul mate, so this affects her and Danivra is like my top Cleric and stuff. And she’s way smarter than me. She’ll see things I never would.”

“I will give you one day to decide, then.”

“No. Stop pressuring me. You need to realize I have ODD. Literally, no amount of pressure is going to work.”

“ODD? I don’t know this power,” she replied curiously.

“Oppositional defiant disorder. I’ll let you work it out. If you want the bond, then I need to talk to my people. I’ll get back to you when I’m ready. Deal?”

I sensed humor from her, though not laughing this time. “We will see. But I am pleased with how our interaction has gone. Surprised even, and it is no mean feat to surprise a god, Clive.”

“Yeah, I’m surprised too. You actually seem alright, Devotion. You need to get some of your followers to yank the sticks out of their arses, but otherwise, yeah. I think I could work with you.”

“My followers are fine just the way they are, thank you very much. And please try to be pleasant to Elsbeth. You will see a marked improvement in Mal’s behavior towards you.”

“Thank you for saying please,” I grinned. Looking at the frozen image of a screaming Elsbeth. It goes a long way and I’ll try.”

The connection ended abruptly, and my hand came away from the altar of its own accord as the world burst into action again.