Orn stood frozen in confusion. “But you said…”

She made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “I was messing with you. Do not worry over such small matters.”

Orn struggled for words. How do I respond to that?

Seeing his confusion she smiled playfully, “To answer your question, I do want to mess with my sisters’ work. The pattern they are making is one they want, not the one mother would make. It is forced. I tried to help, but…” She trailed off leaving the words hanging.

Orn hazarded a guess remembering what Olrich had told him. “They did not approve of your efforts.”

“Basically,” she replied with a shrug. “Now I’m kind of, what was the word … Oh that is it ‘grounded.’”

“A goddess can be grounded?” This was too much; his head was reeling.

“Yes. I have to follow some rules and they limit what I can do.” She rolled her wrist as if waving something past. Then her expression suddenly changed onto one of pure mischief. “But that does not mean I cannot keep trying.”

Smiling almost predatorily at something in the distance behind Orn she added, “They cannot make me behave.”

Orn listened to the young goddess. Internally he felt numb from being emotionally pulled around so much. Will she… Can she help me?

“That is also why I am here. They are about to make a major change in this world, and it will start here. They have been making changes for so long this world is nearly stuck on a path of their choosing. The best I have been able to do is give some the option of another choice.” She nodded in Orn’s direction, “However, they have to call or pray to me before I can show up. An act of faith, no mater how small, is required. I can do nothing unless I am given at least that much.”

“So you can give me another path?” Orn asked feeling the hope rise in his chest.

Her smile became a bit wider at his question; then nodding, she stretched her hand toward him. Orn’s breath caught as he watched her hand slowly reaching towards him.

When her hand was a hair’s breadth from him her eyes went wide, and she snatched it back. She clutched the hand to her chest and stared at Orn as if he had bit her.

“What happened?” Orn asked startled by her reaction.

She nodded toward Orn, but kept her hand clutched to her chest. “You are marked.”

“Marked?” Orn asked concerned. “How? Does it mean you cannot help?” Orn heard the fear in his own voice.

“I want to help.” She leaned forward to examine him closely. Her eyes seemed to read something as she stared at his forehead. Sighing she stood upright again, shaking her head. “My sisters have marked you as theirs. I cannot just do what I want.” Her expression seemed caught between frustration and sadness. “But you offered me your prayer and I will reward that. I cannot give you a path or remove their blessings, but I can give you one of mine to make theirs a little lighter. They will be annoyed with me though.”

Orn was shocked to see she seemed genuinely upset that she could not help him. He considered his circumstances and numbly replied, “You should not risk their anger. If I take the path they gave me I will be helpless, regardless of any blessings.”

Kao waved his comment away. “I am not overly concerned with their mood.” A mischievous smirk appearing on her face. “I am just sad that it is all I can give for the prayer you offered.”

Orn’s mind raced as her words sank in. More for the prayer given to her. What if I give her more? She wants to oppose her sisters as well, but she did not talk to him until he asked her to. So what if I give her…? Orn placed his right knee back on the cloth and bowed his head to Kao. “Goddess of Will, I offer myself to you.”

There was a moment of silence. “You want to belong to me?”

“Yes.” He replied glancing up to see her expression. She was staring at him, shock and confusion warring on her face.

“Do you understand what you are saying?” For the first time sine appearing Kao was the one reeling. “My sisters claimed you, so they can choose your path. But if you do this I will OWN you. You will be bound to me, body and soul in this life and every one after. I could physically control you. Not to mention my sisters will direct their anger at you.”