Chapter 76 - Benefaction - Pt.1

Xiana sat in the shadows on the trunk of a fallen tree, angrily watching the camp being dismantled. Her green-webbed eyes narrowed in frustration as Antrandis entered her sight. His posture straight, helping to load the wagon she had been strapped to throughout the night. She was free now, no longer bound by a leather thong, elven ropes or even Antrandis’s belt. He had even returned her daggers to her without any show of concern.

She grimaced slightly, Telios was no more. Her creator, the one she called ‘Father’, the god she had served was gone. Antrandis was correct, the moment she woke Telios’s presence could not be felt, it was as if he had never existed, only her memories of him remained. Instead, there was something, a dark, ominous, pulsing undercurrent of power. It was there, like a rip under gentle waves, threatening to drag her under without warning. That threat was overwhelming, beyond anything that Telios had ever mustered.

She closed her eyes and concentrated, wincing again. It was inescapable, a silent whisper at the edge of her thoughts, rasping at her consciousness. She gritted her teeth, twisting her grip slightly, drawing a sharp intake of breath. She could feel the presence coiling, drawing on itself, the current growing disturbed.

“That’s right. Acknowledge me, Toth. Your new plaything is not happy.” she said, her voice an angry whisper.

She thought back to the clearing, Antrandis close as he untied her hands, the look in his eyes, the faint tumultuous glow in their depths.

His words returned to her, echoing in her ears, “Can you not feel his presence, Xiana of Toth?”

She stood there for a moment, whispering to herself in a mixture of fear and confusion, “His presence? Xiana of Toth?” she said, questioning his words.

Then she understood, reality striking with a closed fist to the stomach. Her eyes wide in terror, feeling the undeniable flood of divine power welling inside of her.

“The Absent God, no, I. Gods.” she whispered.

Without warning, Xiana slipped inside Antrandis’s reach. Drawing his dagger and twisting out of his grasp. Her eyes afire, she switched her grip on the blade and skipped back.

“Xiana, don’t.” Antrandis said, his eyes on hers as she lifted the blade above her head.

With a sudden jerk she brought the blade down, screaming as she stabbed herself, her eyes disbelieving as she withdrew the blade. Again, she impaled herself violently, repeatedly; screaming, watching the wounds rapidly healing the moment she withdrew his blade.

“Gods, no. Toth? Why? The Three were meant to? Oh gods.” she whispered brokenly through the pained expression.

Antrandis stood, watching her while Winter approached, her voice strong, “Telios knew that you would be cut loose, you know why you were sent here with the token. Telios was securing your life through Antrandis in the hope that his word would hold sway in some way. Regardless of which god or goddess was to be your benefactor, his creation would survive.”

Xiana levelled her gaze at Winter, her eyes wild, “It was meant to be one of the Three!” Xiana screamed brokenly, tears streaming from her face, “Toth, the Absent God… no… no… not him. I have seen what he has done to others, how he has destroyed them, twisted them.”

She stabbed herself again, screaming as she plunging the dagger into her chest to the hilt, “I am better off dead than be a puppet under his hand.”

She drew the dagger back out of her chest, feeling the tearing pain lessen as what would be a mortal wound quickly healed.

“Fuck no.” she said brokenly, looking at the untouched flesh through the new holes in her clothing.

Dropping the dagger, she held the sides of her head as pain lanced through it. She looked at Antrandis, sudden fear behind her eyes.

“I must obey, you? What fate is this? Toth has taken ownership of the mare and hands the reigns to you, and tells you to drive?”

Antrandis looked at her, concentrating, his head tilted, listening.

“You do not obey me, Xiana. I am just a messenger. Toth is called the absent god for a reason. He mostly asks for nothing, his subjects live, their power intact. He grants his strength.”

Antrandis watched her, stooping to retrieve his dagger, “There are truths and in time you will come to know of them. Toth has no physical form like you or I, he can not manifest like the other gods, he is an unbound entity. He in an ally to and shadows the three.”

He looked at her, “Did you not wish to ally with Meliandra in secrecy? Did you not want my protection? For the most part, he will not guide you. But at times you may feel his will. Open your mind, listen to the whisper of the wind. He will not give you instruction, nor guide you like Telios. Largely you will have your freedom to do as you will.”

She watched him turn as he nodded slightly to Winter.

“His message is that you will come with us to Meliandra and meet with the Three. They will channel his presence. You will be able to talk to him directly.”

Xiana glanced at Winter, her eyes widening as she saw a strange copper flash in the valkyrie’s eyes.

“But why you, Antrandis? Why are you the one I must…”

“You will find out soon enough. Just know that he speaks through the three and in extension, me.” he said calmly.

“What of Auryl’s child, does he?” Xiana asked.

“Yes, he also hears the will of Toth. But I would not expect him to travel half way around the world to discuss the Absent God’s will. He has troubles of his own to attend to.”

Xiana turned from him, staring absently into the forest, her eyes grew wide as she thought, “Gods. Kali, she… It’s not you. Toth is her benefactor!?”

Antrandis glanced at her, “She is, she also sought my help, though she never attempted to stab me in the back.”

She whipped around, her wild eyes on his, “How many? How many of us are his?” she asked.

He smiled, shaking his head, “I can not say, I am only an occasional mouthpiece for Toth. I do not know how many bend to his will.”

Xiana stared at him hard, “Apart from yourself, who vouched for me?”

Antrandis’s eyebrows raised, “You assume too much. I did not vouch for you, Xiana of Toth. I only agreed.” he said, looking past her.

Xiana drew in close, her hands grasping at the air, “Antrandis, who vouched for me?” she pleaded.

“I did.” said a smooth and low feminine voice from behind her.

Xiana turned, fear churning in the pit of her stomach, with her abilities returned she could sense the power in the small clearing. It made the hair raise on the back of her neck, a shiver run down her spine. It was Antrandis, but not, it was one she did not know, one she did not know existed. Unlike Antrandis, the voice was not obscuring or concealing it from her. The owner of that voice stood leaning against a tree, her arms crossed, her startling emerald-silver eyes on Xiana’s.

“I vouched for you, Xiana of Toth. I requested that you survive.” she said evenly.

“Who are you? You are not known to me.” Xiana spat defensively.

“Antrandis’s pet. The mage from Knocht that may not last a thousand years before she is snuffed. Those were your words.” said the emerald-silver eyes as they approached.

Xiana’s eyes narrowed.

“I think I have proven to you enough times, Xiana. I am incessantly hard to kill.”

Xiana backed away a step, “Snowshadow?”

“That is one of my names. I do not think that my titles from before the fall of the world would mean much to one such as you. Just remember that Antrandis’s consort vouched for you. I expect your cooperation when it is called for.”

“Fuck you. I have stuck my knives in you enough times, I don’t need your pity.” said Xiana aggressively, still taken off-guard.

Sian laughed, “Pity? I did not vouch for you out of pity. Or would you rather that I didn’t stay my champion’s hand last night when you slept?”

Xiana stared at her, fear behind her eyes in sudden understanding.

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