Part 11 (1/2)

The G.o.ddess removed a piece of a toe from the hem of her gown. She tossed it beyond the barrier and onto the mound of bodies. Again, she puked. ”Oh, my love ... is our plan worth the suffering these beings must bear?”

After summoning fresh water to appear in the palms of her hands, she swished it around inside her mouth to remove the aftertaste of her vomit and then spit the water to the floor of Grogger's stomach. ”Whom to choose? Whom to choose?” she muttered as she scanned the pile.

Pressed against the wall of her barrier was an elf, dressed for the hunt. His crossbow had been damaged from the force of Grogger's tongue. He wore heavy, leather boots and gloves, with the rest of his body covered from the neck down to keep the leeches out. The only part of his person uncovered was his head, and because of the way the acid worked, the only damage he had suffered was to his long, blond hair, and even then, just the ends were affected.

”His capture must have been recent,” the G.o.ddess whispered as she extended her field of force to pull the elf inside. She touched his shoulder. ”h.e.l.lo. Can you hear me?”

The elf did not move.

The G.o.ddess waved her hand to clear the stench. ”Sir, wake up.”

After many moments, the hunter opened his eyes. His voice was weak. ”Where am I?”

”You're inside the beast-toad,” Celestria replied in a soothing tone. ”We're trapped.”

The elf groaned. ”I suffer.”

”I can imagine. The beast's tongue strikes with force. What's your name, hunter?”

”I'm called Geylyn Jesthrene ... from Hyperia.” The elf tried to sit up, but pain shot through his chest. ”I must have broken something. It appears we're doomed.”

”What brought you to the swamp?” the G.o.ddess queried.

”I came to win the respect of my family. I had no idea the beast had grown so. It appears I've done nothing but a.s.sist in his growth. What a fool I was to think that a miserable crossbow would kill him.”

Unconcerned, Celestria allowed her mind to wander, thinking of future plans while Geylyn babbled on about the details of his encounter with the toad.

”The beast surprised me. My krape was spooked and threw me to the ground. I should've known I was in trouble when my mount began to stir...” The hunter finished his tale by saying, ”...His tongue was the last thing I saw. I should've paid attention to the warning signs.”

Now, fellow soul ... for those of you who don't know, krapes were the mounts for those on Luvelles who were unable to command magic. Their appearance was strange. They were hairy, with a large portion of their body resembling the shape of an oversized kangaroo. Their arms resembled an ape's. A long, heavy tail extended behind them for balance, with a large ma.s.s at the end that was used as a weapon for protection. Their head looked reptilian-similar to a raptor's, but with three eyes. This third eye rested on the back of their head, and it helped them to avoid attacks from behind. It was virtually impossible to surprise a krape.

Krapes were not carnivorous, despite what their sharp teeth suggested. Their diet consisted of fruits, grains, and many forms of tree bark, but their teeth were sharp enough to use them as a weapon during battle. An untamed krape stored food inside a large pouch that covered its abdomen, but once domesticated, the pouch was used to carry their rider's goods. The saddle of the rider was placed on the beast's back, close to the krape's haunches. The beast could cover a large distance in a short amount of moments, running like a velociraptor or hopping like a kangaroo. Fully grown, krapes were nearly twice as tall as a man.

Celestria placed her hands on Geylyn's head. Four ribs were cracked from the force of Grogger's tongue. ”You should not feel bad about misjudging the shapple. Many have underestimated the beast. I'm sure you didn't expect the toad to be so well camouflaged either.”

”Definitely not.” The elf laughed, but he was forced to stop and grab his side.

Celestria cringed. The G.o.ddess surprised herself-she actually felt bad for Geylyn. ”Your ribs are broken. I can mend them if you'd like.”

Geylyn nodded, ”I would welcome the relief, even if it's only a temporary reprieve before I pa.s.s. Are you a healer, my lady?”

The G.o.ddess nodded. ”You could say that.”

”I'm sorry. Where are my manners? What's your name, my lady?”

The G.o.ddess took a moment to heal the elf's wounds, and then she responded. ”You may have heard of me. I have a shrine inside the Temple of the G.o.ds. I am known as Celestria.”

Geylyn knew the name. He quickly moved to his knees and bowed his head. ”I didn't know your face, G.o.ddess. Forgive me. I wouldn't have expected you to be in the stomach of a beast.”

”It is quite all right, Geylyn. Given your current situation, I shall extend forgiveness. I would wager that you'd like to earn your freedom.”

”I'd pray for the opportunity, G.o.ddess.”

”Then it is settled. I shall help you find your way out of the toad's stomach.”

”I don't understand. Why would you help me? My family's prayers are heard by Alistar.”

”I don't need your devotion to care about your wellbeing,” Celestria responded. ”You're a creation of the G.o.ds. You may not speak my name in your prayers, but my eyes do look upon you as a cherished being.”

Geylyn smiled. ”My service to Alistar has been misplaced. Why doesn't he come to my aid?”

Celestria cradled the hunter's face. She would use Geylyn's comment to her advantage. ”Alistar is a selfish being, but my love is all-encompa.s.sing. It is given without boundaries or expectations. You do not have to help me in order for me to help you, Geylyn, but I would appreciate it.”

The elf nodded. ”I'll do anything you ask.”

Celestria presented her softest smile before she continued. ”I've come to this miserable place to ask you to deliver a message when the moment arrives. It is against the laws of the G.o.ds for me to remove you from the beast's belly, but there is a way I can save you. While you wait, you'll feel no pain, nor will you smell the stench of this prison. I will also leave you with enough food to keep you satisfied until freedom arrives.”

Geylyn lowered his head. ”What would you ask of me?”

Meanwhile, Ancients Sovereign The Hall of Judgment Lasidious addressed the G.o.ds. ”I've called you here to establish the rules for retrieving the third piece of the Crystal Moon.”

”Where's Celestria?” Mosley interrupted, taking note of the G.o.ddess' absence.

”She's coming. Don't worry yourself about such things, Mosley. We have much to discuss about the continuation of our game. The third piece of the Crystal Moon has been hidden.”

Yaloom responded. ”Our game? We haven't played your game for many Peaks now.” The G.o.d of Greed stood and adjusted his burgundy s.h.i.+rt. As he did, his rings that were filled with a.s.sorted gems complemented the cloth. He moved to a more powerful position behind his chair and placed his hands on its back. ”You haven't given us any information about the next piece of the crystal's whereabouts for more than 100 Peaks.”

Of all the G.o.ds in the room, Lasidious hated Yaloom the most. ”As always, you've managed to annoy me, Yaloom. But despite your aggravating attributes, your team has managed to capture the first two pieces of the Crystal Moon. If you succeed in retrieving this third piece, the worlds will fall under evil's control.”

Mosley stopped licking himself long enough to interject again. ”I imagine this conversation will include the location of the crystal?”

Lasidious looked at the wolf and winked. ”It may. I haven't decided yet, my friend. First, we need to discuss the rules.”

The Book of Immortality floated over and lowered onto the table. He had a mug that was filled with freshly-squeezed nasha in his hand.

Now, fellow soul ... allow me to explain what nasha was. This pear shaped fruit only existed on Ancients Sovereign. It could be harvested from the Collective's version of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil-similar to the one used by the G.o.ds of Earth when populating that world, only this tree had an additional benefit. Nasha fruit was also capable of restoring life.

Gabriel took a drink and swished the liquid around inside his rosy cheeks. ”It's your game, Lasidious. I'd love to hear the rules that you would ask us to play by.”

”As would I,” Mosley confirmed.

Lasidious took a deep breath. ”Each team will need to pick one being to go after this third piece of the Crystal Moon. This being can be anyone on the lower two worlds, but they cannot be one of the three brothers in control of Luvelles. There's no need to start another war over the crystal's whereabouts.”

The Mischievous One leaned back and put his feet on the table. ”Of course, we need to live by the laws that are written on Gabriel's pages and observe the sacred right that all mortals have free will, but other than that, there are no more rules. You now have the moments necessary to determine your choice. I will call another meeting to divulge the crystal's location.”

”Why not tell us now?” Yaloom snapped.

Mosley shook his furry head. ”Because you want him to. He's doing this to anger you.”

Lasidious watched Yaloom reclaim his seat in a huff before he turned his attention to the rest of the G.o.ds. ”Are there any other questions?”