Kao Orn had to know more. She was clearly not on friendly terms with the goddesses if his cousin was so worried. Fortunately, the priest’s ego provided the perfect opening.

“Thank you for protecting me from her.” Orn did his best to sound innocent. “What happen to people who are not safe from K…. her?” Orn corrected quickly not wanting to trigger a lecture for using a forbidden name.

The man smiled, “It does not hurt to say the name. But do not say it a lot, or you may draw her attention.” The priest nodded to himself, “Such discres… discre… “

“Discretion?” Orn offered as Olrich searched for the word.

“Discretion! Exactly!, “ Olrich repeated louder than was necessary. “You are a good student. Maybe you will become a priest after all. Then you can be like me full of the honeyed words of…”

Full of something but I am not sure I would call it honey… Orn managed to keep the comment inside as he listened to his inebriated cousin rattle on.

“… maybe not as good as me, but possible.” His cousin winked at him, “The goddesses see your potential. That is why so many follow their father's paths. Your father is a noble. But fear not! Our family has also boasted many priests, though I am the best.”

Orn was secretly thankful the man was drunk. The wine had apparently begun to overrule whatever force kept the man’s pride in check. When the control went, so too did his apparent ability to keep secrets.

“Most priests do not tell their pupils about this until later. But I am a better teacher. Knowledge is to be given! Especially to students, noble ones, who can handle it.” Olrich nodded to himself at the stressed rationalization he managed.

Then in a voice too loud to be the whisper it was intended to be, “There is one more goddess, the youngest of the goddesses.”

Another goddess? Orn was feeling his hope fade. His last interaction with the goddesses had not gone well. Orn pushed down the memory of the hand squeezing him.

“… but she did not follow her path. She refused to hold the strings. Can you imagine?” Olrich looked at Orn for agreement. Orn shook his head to keep the man talking.

“She got mad and tied knots in the threads. The knots pulled people from their paths.” Olrich shook his head, “She is as evil as the others are good.”

“She changed people’s paths?” Orn sputtered, and immediately hopped his cousin was too drunk to notice the excitement in his voice.

“Exactly!’ Ollrich yelled apparently misunderstanding Orn’s excitement for shock, “Many people got the wrong paths. It caused chaos.” Olrich gestured dramatically.

“She is the goddess of chaos…” Olrich trailed off for a moment before continuing, “The other goddesses stopped her before she could do more harm. Now she can only do bad things when people ask her.”

“So people have to ask for her?” Orn asked trying to keep his voice level.

“Exactly, “ Olrich smiled widely opening his arms before immediately putting them back on the chair to steady himself, “she will sometimes tell them to pick a different path. Not that it matters. No evil goes unpunished.”

“How do they get punished?” Orn did not care, but needed to keep the priest talking before his wine clouded mind could catch up.

“Many get caught for choosing evil paths, doing crimes . Others well …” Olrich absentmindedly gestured at Orn.

“Me?” Orn felt fear welling up, his attention focused on the priest’s every move. Keep calm, there is no way he knows…

Olrich started backpedaling, “No. No, not you… not exactly …”

“My weakness?” Orn hopped to get more information out of the priest.

“It is a big day tomorrow…” Olrich tried to change the subject, but Orn did not want to let it go.

“Why am I being punished?” Orn asked staring at the priest who was trying to find a way to talk himself out of the mess he had made.

“Not you, children are all innocent. It is not your fault.” Olrich back tracked again.

“Then, who?“ Orn struggled to think who could be to blame.

“Nothing you should worry about, “ Olrich said locking down. Then turning for the door he added over his shoulder. “Do not worry about unimportant things. Now sleep, tomorrow is a big day.”

As Olrich closed the door Orn’s mind raced. Who does Olrich think is to blame? The goddesses hate me, but who?...

Orn eventually fell asleep never finding an answer to the question running through his head.