I had barely finished my explanation when Gwyn ap Nudd began to expand his [Domain], his [Aura] flowing to encompass each of the Tuatha de Danann in the room. I would have liked to speak with Morgan and Tia before we left, but it seemed Gwyn had other plans.

“HOLD,” the voice of [Justice] echoed through the chamber, “[Justice] is not yet satisfied. Teigh, God of [Illusion and Glamour] presence is required to see that justice is done.”

Gwyn ap Nudd could not be swayed in the performance of his [Duty], but returning the Tuatha de Danann and I fell outside of his purview. He would have to return me at some point, he had given his word, but there was enough flexibility to allow him to wait. He was closely linked to [Justice], and while not a servant, his divine mandate did include meeting out justice. It was the reason he was so powerful.

Although his determination to see justice done while remaining neutral to [Justice] may seem like a dichotomy between his duty to his role as [Judge], [Jury], and [Executioner], he was able to compartmentalize when his [Oath] and [Domain] conflicted with the cosmic incarnation of [Justice].

Gwyn ap Nudd was imbued with the ability and duty to dispense justice. [Justice] was a primal concept, an idea that the Alpha and Omega had made [Law].

I was happy that I had a small reprieve. I used a second of that reprieve to send Tia a message through our bond, letting her know how events had transpired. I asked her to watch over Caraid’s daughter. Spiriting the young girl away and keeping her safe in [Cait Sith] was the least I could do.

Asking Tia to intervene was the only recourse I had to affect the child’s future. Technically, Tia would have been leaving when I did, but she had formed and tied [Cait Sith] to this Universe, forcing her to leave would undo that work, and [Time] might be irrevocably damaged by [Paradox].

I realized only now why the [Oracle] that had maneuvered Tia and me into joining forces for a reason and was powered by foresight. The [Oracle] must have seen that a second [Cait Sith] would be needed to fight the fluctuation of [Paradox] I would create when I’d changed the fortunes of Odin and Zeus.

The ramifications of today’s events would require constant intervention and course correction if [Paradox] was to be controlled. Intervention that Tybalt, King of [Cait Sith], in my universe, would be unable to affect. Not without changing the time streams across the multiverse and creating a cascading effect that could worsen matters.

“She must be returned,” a female voice screeched, her words loud enough to ring clear across the murmurings and accusations of the Gods at my revelations of what Zeus and Odin were up to. A voice that ignored [Justice] and the ramifications of what her request that we stay for a time might portend.

“That child will grow to become a God-slayer,” Atropos warned. “She has been touched by the Divine, in a place where every Pantheon has expressed their divinity. If she is not dealt with now, she may be the knife that cuts the thread of destiny for all of us.”

“Her very existence touches upon the [Authority] of Fate and Norn,” Skuld, the Norn Goddess of [Future], agreed.

“She has been marked and has gained a small amount of the [Authority] that Gwyn ap Nudd holds.”

“She will be able, to tell the truth from lie, detect [Oathbreakers], and gather followers to initiate a mortal version of [The Hunt]. No one on Urd will be powerful enough to stand against her when she rides, not after she gained the same immunity that Gwyn ap Nudd holds.”

“She is an abomination,” the three Fates and Norns decreed in concert.

It shouldn’t have surprised me that it was the Fates and Norns stirring up trouble. They were most happy when they could play puppet master, and trying to pull the threads of fate to deal with one child is something they are well known for.

Of course, every time they tried these types of machinations, the Karma from such actions came back to harm Olympus and Asgard.

I was glad I had sent the thought bubble to Tia, including everything I knew about the child. That form of conversation was much more efficient, an ability that I had gained when I claimed my Godhood.

It allowed me to encapsulate a great deal of information, information, ideas, concepts, and conversations that I could parse at speeds no mortal could match. It was the last message I could send to Tia across our familiar bond as the braid of astral threads that connected us frayed and snapped.

My divine countenance created an imbalance between us that could have been maintained but would have required Tia to become more than Queen of Cait Sith. A position that could not be abandoned, not if [Paradox] was to be denied.

I felt her agreement and used my God-sight to watch as she crossed planar boundaries to find the child, just as the tether that connected us snapped forever. But at least I knew the child was safe.

“The child is safe and beyond your reach,” I informed the audience. “If she grows to become a Hunter and a God-slayer, then you will only have yourselves to blame. Remain true to your [Oaths], and she will have no power over you, your priests, or your worshipers.

“That seems simple enough, except Caesar and his armies have already proven their perfidy, agreeing to treaties with the Sidhe, parlaying under the flag of truce only to break that sacred covenant and attack.

“If the child grows to reap the lives of those who have broken trust and disavowed their sworn word, then the world will only be a better place for it.”

“Her actions to deal with the mortals that have attacked the Sidhe seem only right, and just,” Gwyn ap Nudd replied. “Because she has accepted part of my [Authority], I will watch to make sure she remains true to that calling.”

“What have you done with her?” Skuld demanded. “She has vanished from my sight.”

“She is beyond your reach, beyond the reach of any who are not Sidhe and claimed by the Tuatha de Danann. Tia, Queen of [Cait Sith], has given her sanctuary. She will remain in [Cait Sith] until she comes of age and can protect herself,” I replied, not even attempting to hide the contempt I felt towards the Norn or the gloating satisfaction I felt at having moved the child beyond their reach.

“Do you think we will let this stand?” Zeus roared. “I will see Caesar wage war on your people until they bow to our demands and return that child.”

“You are in no position to demand anything of us,” Danu replied, her anger lashing out. Only [Justice’s] intervention might have stopped her attack, but she had remained neutral when Zeus attacked me with his lightning bolt; she retained that neutrality for this attack as well.

Zeus’s fury rose, this was the first time he had taken a wound since he had defeated the Titans, and he went to summon another lightning bolt, only to have his greatest weapon ignore his command.

“You forget, Zeus,” I said mockingly, “that I have gifted your weapon to Loki. You divested yourself of your greatest treasure in a fit of pique, and now you stand here no stronger than any of the other Gods of your Pantheon.

Zeus’s horror at what had happened was clear for all to see. That horror was quickly hidden as he worked with frenzied haste to protect his position. He may be weaker, but he had allies to rely on. Or so he hoped.

“Poseidon? Hades?”

The question he asked while calling upon his brothers was obvious. He hoped they remained true to their alliance and would help him strip Loki of the power he now controlled.

“They have more important things to worry about than your attempt to deny [Justice] her due, Zeus,” Nyx, Goddess of Night, interjected. “You no longer rule Olympus, and the magic and seals you commanded as the Supreme God of our Pantheon have failed.

“The Titans are free of those enchantments and magic for the first time since you forced them to surrender. Look what your hubris, your pride has allowed, for even now, the Titans are emerging from beneath Tartarus.

“Your rule is at an end, Zeus. You would do better trying to save Olympus from destruction.”