#godbind

Before her, Enoch felt very small and mortal. He was taller than her current form by nearly a foot and twice as broad,but her godliness seemed to fill in and gaps of space between them.  “No, my Goddess.” He cleared his throat and pulled a parchment from his cloak. It was difficult to ignore the call of her presence. Her flesh called to him, like a river to the thirsty. “There is word of a revolt in the south.”

“Is it Koul’s kin again?” Isata turned from him and towards the tower winder. They were in the meeting room at the top of the Crown of the Sky, the setting sun throwing ruby and viridian shades across the chamber.  The shades lit up Isata’s beautiful face. Her silver hair was alight with color and her green eyes where almost jewel-like.

“Yes,my Goddess.”

She sighed. “Squash them.”

“Pardon?”

She turned back to him, sadism a cruel edge in her eyes. “Send a company or two and destroy the usurpers. “

“Of course my Goddess.” He bowed at the waist.

“Now,” She moved like tulle in water towards him, arms reaching out. “I tire of speaking of blasphemy. How have you been, my Enoch?”

He let himself smile as he straightened up. “I’m exuberant in my Goddess’ presence.” Enoch gathered her in his arms, marveling at how a God could feel so fragile.

Her hair smelled of saltwater as she leaned into his chest. “And I am glad to be with my favorite disciple.” They stayed like that for a moment before she tilted her face up to look at him fully. “Are you anxious about your devotion ceremony?” She traced his lips with a fingertip.

“The pain of sewing my mouth shut will be nothing if it is for you.”

Humming, Isata smiled. “Then perhaps we can put you mouth to some use now?” That expression was wicked in the most delicious way.

The man that had flung those words at her was someone she had one loved dearly. Alec had been her friend, one of her first in fact. He had approached her years earlier when no one else had. Back then she had been the strange mage girl. She was much too young. Her eyes were too wide, devoid of an innocence that those her age had inherently. But he had sat next to her in the Tower’s library and read some sort of sordid romance novel..

After Alec came Edmund. He loomed like a six feet tall shadow, following at Alec’s heels. He did not smile at first, his expression as stoic as the never shifting stone tower they called home.  But then he changed. But it was only around Alec that that cold exterior melted. Adela had tried not to think of the half smile she was designated from him or how it had become larger and more comfortable with time.

That face did not hold warmth or affection now. Edmund’s blue eyes were frozen over, like a pond in the winter.  His hand rested on the hilt of the sword at his hip. Though he had not drawn it yet, the threat hung like smoke in the air. “Do not bother trying to reason with her,” he practically snarled ,”Snakes have no feelings.”

Adela flinched like she had been struck. “I’m being t-truthful.”

“Truthful?” Alec rounded on her, the hand gripping his bow going white with rage. “You left us to die! I..Ed nearly bled out on the steps of the Crown and you-.” He bared his teeth, feral in his words.

Adela knew this look. She had seen him make it many a time after putting an arrow through one of his targets. He wanted her to hurt. The pain she had caused oozed out of his words, the venom aimed at her.  Though what was new was the distinct thick air of magic that shimmered around him. When had he become a mage?

“You turned and walked away, right into Isata’s arms,” Alec cried, taking a shuddering breath as he finished. “Trust is something you will have get from me.”

The pain in Adela’s breast left like she had sewn her lips shut all over again, though the scar were long sealed. Like back then, she could not speak. The words would not come. What could she say to make Alec smile? How could she bring back the boy she knew?

Venc nodded, burying his face his his hands. Though he could not hide the red blush threatening to overtake his ears. The message was as chaste as one could be between lovers,but that did not stop Ryr from teasing him.

A grin grew on Ryr’s face. Any response from Venc was always an accomplishment. “Wonderful. I was wondering if my skills were inadequate.” He pressed his brown hands against Venc’s back. There was a map of scars that shimmered like water spread across his flesh. Each carried a story. This one was from a knife fight. This one was from a nasty fall. Venc had told him a few of the tales, scratching a quill across a parchment to serve as his voice.

Ryr had never asked about the one across the back of his neck. That scar was an angry silver, thick and jagged. Usually it was covered by a turtleneck or collar. It’s weight was bore by Venc like a hangman’s noose.  Ryr had not realized his finger were ghosting across that scar until Venc turned around to look at him.

“I apologize,” He snapped his hands back to his sides.

However, Venc did not look angry. He studied Ryr with narrow blue eyes for a moment. If he could speak,perhaps the words would have came easier. Venc pressed his lips to Ryr’s.