A Walk in the Dark Chapter 29 by Maggie Finson

“Well, that was exciting.” Evangaline grinned as we neared the Citadel. “I've never been through a sneak attack in the dark.”

“Glad you enjoyed it.” I answered in more of a grumble than a real conversational voice. “Nothing better than a night attack to get the old blood flowing, is there?”

“Well..., she grinned. “There are some things that are better.”

“I am so not going there, Evangaline.” I said with what could have been a blush.

She looked at me, then at Sam, nodded, and laughed. “I see you've already discovered that, sis. Don't be so embarrassed about it. It's just simple life and getting along with it is all. We all have our needs, after all.”

“I know.” I gave her a tentative grin back then had to ask. “If you've done that with a man, what does Reginald think of it?”

“Oh, he usually wants to beat on them for taking advantage of his 'sister' but I manage to keep him from that excess.” She answered with a twinkle in her eye. “Though he is kind of adamant that what happens between me and a man is between the man and me while he has nothing at all to do with it.”

“Maybe the guy is brighter than I first thought.” I mused aloud.

“Oh, Reggie isn't exactly stupid, dear.” Evangaline shrugged. “It's the curse thing. His brain tends to go into shutdown at times. He really finds that embarrassing, by the way.”

“I think I can understand that.” I nodded. “So he knows he's being an idiot but can't stop himself when he does things like when he tried to — umm — smite me?”

“Pretty much.” She let out a sigh. “Daddy has promised to give me my own body once we work through the curse, by the way, so I don't have to share one with Reggie. But you know how things like that work. He can't do it just now because of the way the curse was worded.”

“Just how was it worded?” I asked.

“Ahh, that's the problem here.” Evangaline frowned. “Only Reggie knows for certain, and he can't do the remembering thing all that well right now.”

“Nasty.” I told her with a little shudder.

“Oh yes.” She shrugged. “But little by little, I'm getting into what he remembers, so in time we'll work it out.”

“I hope so.”

We actually made it back to the Citadel without any more distractions.

Okay, once in a while the gods do give me a break. I'll freely admit that one. From what Evangaline could tell me about the Temple of Jupiter in Irris, I'd half expected to be fighting off a horde of temple warriors just to get home. That bunch was well organized and there were a lot of them.

Who, at the moment, seemed determined to kill yours truly. Oh joy.

“So.” I questioned Kae'song and Lord Kevin once I'd filled them in on the recent happenings. “Am I going to have to expect surprise night attacks and ambushes from these bozos from now on?”

“You would do well to be on your guard, Dahlia.” Kevin answered with a shrug. “The Temple of Jupiter pretty well rules Irris, which is one of the larger cities in the world. I don't think the message you sent them will stop them from trying to kill you.”

“Oh, great.” I glared at nothing in particular and both Kevin and Kae'song pulled back a bit from where they'd been.

“Oh, for crying out loud, guys!” I told them once I'd noticed that. “You two are my friends, I think. I don't hurt friends on purpose, so stop looking so, so — whatever it is you're looking like right now. Is this Temple powerful enough to come after me while I'm here in the Citadel?”

“Probably.” Kae'song answered with a shrug and Kevin just nodded.

“So what now?” I questioned. “I can leave and save you the grief.”

“That wouldn't work, Dahlia.” Kevin answered slowly. “The Temple Elders know you think of this place as home, and also who have befriended you. Moving from here would simply give them more places to attack and tell people they were justified in doing so.”

“And that means what?” I asked, genuinely puzzled for the moment.

“We chose you, Lady.” Kae'song answered quietly. “Lord Kevin, Lady Alis, myself, and others chose you to be the agent of change that is needed for this world. We will not back out of that choice.”

“None of us will.” Kevin affirmed then shrugged with a little grin. “I always did think those damned Temple troops were overrated. Now I may be able to find out if they really are.”

“You two are talking about a war, if I catch this right.” I looked at them and shook my head. “I won't be the cause of a war. I'm not here to kill people, or make them suffer, that much I know.”

“You aren't the cause, dear lady.” Kevin gave me a reassuring smile. “This has been brewing for a long time. To use an alchemist's analogy here, you are simply the catalyst, it isn't your fault or anyone's plan, it just happened.”

“You two and others conspired to bring me here.” I countered. “I know you protest about the me being a female thing being unexpected and all that, but the point is still that this wasn't an accident. I know that much about how things work here at least.”

“No, Dahlia, it wasn't an accident.” Kae'song answered slowly and with a rueful smile. “Your Mother and Father and other gods orchestrated it. It is time for change, they all know that. Better, in their opinions, to be the start of the change than victims of it.”

“Oh, that's just great!” I shouted at them. “So what am I supposed to do now? I'm not a damned general, leader of troops, strategist or tactician. What am I supposed to do?”

“Continue with your given purpose.” Kevin told me, not at all disturbed by my outburst. “Bring change to the Dhro'aaa. We will handle the other battles until you achieve that.”

“But people, a lot of people, are going to die because of me.” I protested.

“Those would have died anyway.” Kevin countered. “This war has been building for a long time. The Temple of Jupiter has wanted to rule this world for far longer than your civilization has existed on your home world, Dahlia. It's adherents have been trying for many generations here and so far have failed. There is no reason to think they will succeed now. This fracas is simply another in the many they have precipitated. It is not, and never will be 'your' fault.”

“Continue with your own quest, Dahlia.” Kae'song added. “We've fought the Temple many times before this and will likely be fighting them far into the future. You do your part to maintain the balance, we will do ours.”

“But isn't Jupiter Good, and standing for law?” I asked.

“Yes.” Kevin nodded then shrugged. “But unbounded good can be harmful too. Picture a bunch of old ladies so bound to do good that they don't care who gets hurt to get it done.”

“And Law without understanding, compassion,” Kae'song continued, “is tyranny.”

“I need to go think about all this.” I told them.

“Yes you do, dear.” Alis entered the room and gave me a hug. “You have far too much to think about, to worry about, for one so young, but like it or not, it has fallen to you. Go. Think, get roaring drunk, have your way with your husband. But consider this through all that.

“We chose you, with your Mother's help, because of the strength of your soul, your spirit.” She let me out of the hug but still held me by the shoulders and looked me right in the eye. “You are our hope, the world's hope, but you have to do what needs to be done in your own way. We can't tell you, or show you how to do that. Neither can the gods. In the way your people say things, you are the wild card in this very dangerous game. But don't try to control things, just do what you have to do as you have to do it.”

“Oh, that makes me feel so much better.” I grumbled.

“See?” Alis actually laughed and looked to the others. “I told you she would not be overawed.”

“How can I be even awed if I don't get the whole thing in the first place?” I shot back.

“It doesn't matter, dear.” Alis told me with a little smile. “You didn't try and crawl into the nearest hole once you'd heard all this. You don't need to 'get it' to do what you must.”

I didn't answer that one, or any other questions they threw at me. I just wanted to get back to the relative sanity of my own chambers and a decent nights sleep for a change.

A decent nights sleep.

I guess I wasn't supposed to get one of those. Dammit.

Sam had done really nice things with me once I got back to our chambers. And no, I'm still not going to describe them. Girl needs some privacy, you know.

The afterglow was really nice. Then I fell asleep.

Crap.

“Daughter.” A very familiar voice interrupted that blissful loss of awareness.

“Hi Mom.” I answered, not even trying to protest the fact that Llolth was my mother in this world. I also gave the spiders rubbing against me pats and pets while I looked up to see the dreaded goddess watching me from her throne.

“I see you aren't protesting that fact any longer.” She smirked.

“Kind of pointless right now, isn't it?” I questioned while rubbing one spider's belly. The critter had actually come up to me then went on it's back as if expecting that like a cat would. “I know where I came from and not from that other world, so yes, you're Mom. What can I say? Oh, I met Dad the other day, too.”

“I know.” Llolth nodded and smiled. “Did you like him?”

“What's not to like?” I asked. “He was pleasant, not overbearing, and he actually talked to me.”

“Danaan is good with his children.” She nodded. “Did he give you anything?”

“Well, yeah.” I was still tickling that spider's tummy but managed to look a little embarrassed. “He gave me a pottery cup.”

“Then he truly loves you, daughter.” She answered.

“What good is an uneven, poorly fired, pottery cup?” I asked.

“You'll find out out about that in time, dear one.” She told me. “But it is a very precious gift. Don't lose it.”

“Is this whole world, and it's gods, insane?” I glared at her. “I just learned that Jupiter wants me dead, by the way.”

“Oh, that.” She waved it away as if it meant nothing. “He wanted to be your father. He is rather spiteful when he doesn't get his way. Don't worry about it.”

I suddenly had this image of Llolth, my mother in this world, as being one hot mamma that the male gods all lusted after. Let me tell you, that didn't help my frame of mind at all.

“I won't go there.” I told her and shook my head. “My question is what can I do about it?”

“You have allies and friends to take care of the mundane things, dear.” She answered. “You did well at Caet'he Og. You have to get other enclaves of our people on your side. That will be the deciding factor in all this. Continue what you are doing now.”

“Oh, thanks.” I grumbled.

“Your father wishes to speak with you now, love.” Llolth told me and with a wave from her, I was somewhere else. I really hate it when that happens, you know?

“Dahlia.” A voice I'd heard before greeted me and actually sounded happy to see me.

This time the surroundings weren't a simple cottage with a nice fireplace. Oh no. This place was a very opulent throne room and the being who had greeted me was seated on a throne that appeared to be made of golden sea mist.

By then I'd given up protesting all the improbabilities and looked at the fellow on the throne and actually smiled. “Hi. I guess I should be calling you dad, but don't be insulted if I don't fall down and hurt my head by beating it on the floor.”

“Wouldn't be you if you did that.” He acknowledged and actually grinned at me. “Welcome to my hall, daughter.”

“Thanks.” I answered, wondering when the men in white coats would show up with a 'nice, form fitting' jacket for me. “Did you want to see me for something in particular?

“Only to warn you about your uncle.” He told me.

“Uncle?”

“Jupiter.” He told me. “My brother.”

“I know, he wants me dead.” I told him. “I found that out already.”

“Your mundane allies can handle his worldly troops and whatever magics they bring.” Danaan nodded. You need to be aware of the immortal things he can throw at you and be ready for them.”

“Ahh, I see.” I closed my eyes, opened them, and glared at him. “No I don't! I suppose it would be too much to ask if you have any information that could help with that?”

“Not much.” He admitted, then grinned. “But I have sent you allies who can counter divine attacks.”

“Evangaline.” I nodded.

“Yes, my beloved daughter Evangaline.” He agreed then waved to one of the tapestries on the walls to his right. “But someone else as well.”

And who walked out from behind that tapestry? Well it wasn't 'The surprise star of the evening' that a lot of talk shows do. Oh no. It was Reginald.

I was looking for places to hide or at least use for cover when the idiot knight blew what was left of my mind into little bitty pieces.

“Peace, sister.” He told me. “I will not, ever, offer you harm. My word on it in our Father's presence.”

“Really?” I looked at him with narrowed eyes and absolute disbelief in my expression.

“My earthly form isn't all that bright.” He actually looked embarrassed. “But when I am back there I will be your staunchest defender, sister.”

I looked at him, then at Danaan, sighed, sat down and muttered. “I know me saying 'I don't believe this' isn't such an unusual thing for me lately, given some of the things that have happened. But thank you for small favors. I think.”

Then Reginald just about drove me insane. He walked up to me, looked at me, and hugged me.

Gah!

Well, I guess I had enough enemies as it was.

I hugged him back.

So what would you have done?

I'm telling you, if the 'normal' stuff didn't drive me insane, my family on this world was going to.

Sheesh.