//------------------------------// // Chapter 22 // Story: Realms of Magic: The Realm of the Gryphons // by TheEighthDayofNight //------------------------------// Sylvanus kept to the shadows, moving without sound through the forest-like godscape. She was still unused to this world’s magic, still fought to keep firm hold of the realm she had carved out for herself. The magical terrain was frighteningly similar to what lay on the mortal plan. Where Faerun’s godscape had been grand plains of amorphous unclaimed magic with brilliant spots where gods fortified their realms and afterlives for their followers, in this new realm it was as if the heavens above were experiments for what existed below. Forests that couldn’t be explored in millennia sat between mountains that stretched upward into infinity. Caves blacker than pitch dwelled in the hills, carved in great chasms in the ground, hiding untold secrets that made even a goddess shiver with a fear of the dark. Even more astounding were the creatures. In Faerun, demons, devils, and monstrosities drifted in the spaces between the godrealms, but here, it was as if she was her champion, a ranger of the forest. She shared the trees with birds and insects, and all manners of creatures, large and small. An elk the size of an oak feasted on the low branches of a tree with leaves of stars. Squirrels with pelts that glowed like elven silk danced in the elk’s horns, and on the ground below, a wolf made of shadows watched, his glowing green eyes staring upward with hungry intent. As she crept by the scene, she found dozens of others, each with creatures exotic and familiar. None noticed her passage. Sylvanus kept her godly light suppressed, not wishing to be driven away before she got close to her destination again. It wasn’t her first attempt to slip into Harmony’s fortress, a brilliant golden realm with towering walls that likely housed the souls of all her deceased followers. Given the joy she felt emanating from the place, she was sure it was a paradise, much like her newly created gardens, but it was well protected, and more importantly, it seemed to know when an intruder approached. Sylvanus paused in the shadow of a tall pine that sat just at the edge of the clearing leading to the fortress’s rear gate. She stared at the tall, oaken portal for a long moment, looking for any gaps she could easily slip into. The thought to merely force the door down quickly entered, then fled her mind. She had tried that, had tried making herself seem a powerful goddess, but she had quickly been rebuffed, blinded with light so brilliant it had nearly tanned her supernaturally pale skin. It had made her feel insignificant, and so she played into that role, trying a number of approaches to breach the walls that kept her separate from Harmony’s power. Power she so desperately needed to seize hold of. She loved Kathranis, he had been a dear servant since he’d been a boy, but he was no priest, and while she now had two more followers, they too did not fit her needs. She wouldn’t survive as a goddess long without a congregation of size, or the power of a goddess who had such. All she needed was an audience with Harmony, a chance to speak her need, and she was sure she could simply share a touch of power. That required getting inside the mighty goddess’s fortress, a task she needed to focus on. Sylvanus conjured a bow made of pure sunbeams, drawing back its shining bowstring. A simple looking arrow appeared on the bowstring as if pulled from her champion’s quiver, but as she let it loose, it crackled with power, leaping out like a lightning bolt at a point on Harmony’s walls far from her current position. She winced when it exploded, putting chips in the portion of the wall she’d been aiming at, but she didn’t spare a second, leaping forward toward the gate, gathering what remained of her godly might to punch a hole through the oaken doors. She hadn’t made it half way across the clearing before a horde of beasts was on her tail, and a wall of thorns sprang up before her. She knew thorns though, knew just how to make the vines holding such bend as easily as she did breathe. A vine pushed her feet up and she jumped over the wall, landing on the other side with graceful ease, her sprint not at all interrupted. Her bare feet passed through the grass like skates gliding on ice, and she braced as she prepared to slam through the gate. Sylvanus let out a cry of pain as a hammer of light slammed into her side, appearing from nowhere to sweep her off her feet. She rolled away from the blow, attempting to get back to her feet and resume her run, but the hostile thorns ripped the ground apart beneath her, and the beasts approached quickly behind. Sylvanus groaned and with a blink she turned into a falcon, flapping her agile wings to dip and dodge through the grasping vines and growling creatures. She spiraled toward the trees, not daring to even try flying over the walls with that hammer somewhere near by. Instead she landed on a branch at the edge of the clearing, screeching her displeasure down at a panther with glowing purple eyes as it tried to claw its way up her tree. It failed, it’s claws leaving scores in the bark as it slid down, but while it growled and snarled at the bottom of the tree, it made no further attempts to climb, nor did the vines or any of the other creatures come toward her. Some began to amble away, while others sat down to rest closer to the gate. Sylvanus shifted back to her elvish form and stood on the branch, throwing her arms out wide in challenge. “I just want to speak!” Sylvanus called. “This cowardice is unbefitting a god, and I am tired of being treated like your enemy!” She received no answer, but she didn’t expect one. She hadn’t gotten any reaction from Harmony yet beyond keeping her out, as if she was beneath the new world’s goddess. That, more than anything, made her angry, and the urge to fling more power at Harmony’s walls sprang into her mind, but she squashed the emotion, deciding instead to cross her arms and stare, seeing if her brazen attack had drawn out any weaknesses. “Shoo,” a female voice said below. Sylvanus looked down to find a beautiful red-haired human woman shooing away the panther, while a tall, golden skinned knight towered behind her, his shining eyes forcing the beast back just as much as the massive warhammer in his hands did. Sylvanus sighed and rubbed at her eyes. “As if this wasn’t already a challenge… What are you two doing here? Don’t you have cults to play with?” Sune flashed a smile upward, as was her nature. “Sylvanus, you look haggard. Perhaps you should spend less time with the animals and more time in civilization like a proper goddess?” Sylvanus crouched, her grin wicked as magic danced on her fingertips. “Do you think you’ll still be the goddess of beauty if I wrap you in thorns?” The ground beneath Sune’s feet began to shift. “You won’t be able to heal the scars, that I can promise.” Lathander slammed the butt of his hammer against the ground, the steel sending out a crack of thunder as if it had struck solid stone. “Enough,” he said. “Lady Sylvanus, please come down to speak. Lady Sune will not insult you again, you have my word.” The red-haired goddess snorted and rolled her eyes. “As if you have any say in what I will and won’t do.” Lathander slowly turned his head, his face not shifting. “The beast is still watching you. If the goddess of beauty would like the honor of defeating it alone, I will not protest. You may even use my hammer if you’d like.” Sylvanus smiled, laughing at Sune as she immediately cowered back as Lathander offered his weapon. Her eyes darted to the panther, who was watching the exchange carefully from a few paces away. Sune sniffed indignantly, turning her nose up to the weapon, but keeping an eye on the beast. “This is childish. Sylvanus, get down here so that we can talk face to face like proper gods.” Sylvanus’s grinning gaze shifted to Lathander, who sighed and let the hammer fall to his side. “Please,” he said, inclining his head. She was a sucker for proper respect, so Sylvanus decided to humor the “dawning light” and she slid down the tree. Landing lightly between the pair, she offered a smile to Lathander, eyeing him up and down. “No sandals my friend? I thought Torm was the knight in shining armor.” Lathander rolled his shoulders, looking mildly uncomfortable in the array of plate steel. “New world, and I need followers. I may not be as mighty as Torm, but I can fit the role well enough, and the humans largely consist of warriors. Whatever drives them to me.” Sylvanus gave Sune a side-eyed glance. “So does that mean this one is going to become the goddess of sheepherders and seamstresses?” Sune pursed her lips and a hand reached beneath her crimson dress, but Lathander slammed his hammer against the ground again. “Enough!” he bellowed. “This is beneath us, especially now.” Sylvanus chuckled and patted his cheek, giving the god a wink. “Relax, I was owed an insult, so now we’re even.” “Maybe if I put a knife in your back,” Sune muttered, but her hand left her dress with nothing, and with another eye roll and a huff, she spoke clearly. “Lathander’s right, let’s get to business. Obviously you haven’t had any luck getting into Harmony’s fortress.” Sylvanus sighed, ignoring the fact that it was a statement rather than a question. “I have not. She remains stubborn to my every attempt. Apparently unilateral power makes you a coward.” “She was attacked,” Lathander deadpanned. “The smart decision is to withdraw and heal.” “But I didn’t attack her,” Sylvanus countered. “Neither did either of you, so far as I know.” Sune snorted and a finger pointed to where the walls were still reforming. Sylvanus growled at her. “That only happened after Harmony refused to speak with me. If she doesn’t want her walls attacked, then she needs to listen when a goddess calls for her.” “Minor goddess,” Sune corrected. When Sylvanus snarled at her, the red-haired goddes raised her hands. “As we all are now. It is something I think we need to focus on; we are less than Harmony for the moment, as ant-like to her as mortals are to us.” She motioned to the walls. “We have all tried to breach her walls with no result. That is no small thing.” Sylvnaus grunted in agreement, doing her best not to stare at the tall, taunting walls before them. “That doesn’t change the fact that we deserve respect. I would like to help Harmony manage this world. Yes, she was alone for a time, but that has changed and I will not be thrown aside like garbage. I did not come here just to die because of selfishness.” Sune again snickered, and while Sylvanus understood the irony of her statement, it didn’t stop her from once again growling at the beautiful goddess. Lathander sighed and rubbed at his forehead. “I don’t think violence should be our way of getting Harmony’s attention. If nothing else, it alienates us with every further attempt.” “So what would you suggest?” Sylvanus asked, still fixing Sune with a glare. Lathander looked to the animals around the walls with thought, tapping his fingers along the handle of his warhammer. The creatures stared back, watching him with intent, but no aggression. He smiled slightly, then dismissed the hammer in a shower of golden light. “Have you tried asking for an audience?” Sylvanus snorted. “Of course I did, that was the first thing I tried! I was met by nothing but silence, and when my champion approached one of Harmony’s priests, he was met with insults and scorn!” Her face darkened, and her hair blew in an unseen breeze. “I was called a demon, was very nearly exorcised from my champion’s heart. I very nearly made Kathranis slaughter the priestess on the spot, although I would never tell him that.” “I tried when we first arrived,” Sune said. “Harmony does weave such a beautiful, if brutish, fortress. Clearly such an ally would be willing to broker a deal with me, and so I knocked on her gates and received nothing for the attempt either.” She crossed her arms and scowled at the gate. “I also do not care for being ignored.” Lathander chuckled. “Sounds more to me like you demanded attention. What I said was; did you ask for an audience? Asking implies understanding that you will be told ‘no’.” “I do not beg!” Sylvanus and Sune said at the same time. Both glanced at each other, then huffed and looked away. Lathander shook his head and walked toward the fortress. “I will make a plea. Better humiliation than eradication.” Sylvanus and Sune watched him move toward the gate, his arms outstretched and palms up. Sune scoffed and crossed her arms. “If he dies I’m taking his followers.” “Oh all paltry dozen humans, truly a great congregation,” Sylvanus snorted in reply. “Will you really wear battle armor to draw them to your side?” Sune’s nose curled in disgust, but she nodded. “Humans breed like rabbits, and I can be patient. War goddess for a century or two, then back to beauty, maybe try to make a little daughter to take up the warrior goddess mantle.” Sylvanus rocked her head back and forth. It wasn’t the worst plan, and humans did like their wars. Still, her elf was already doing well in his task, so she had no reason to change her plan, instead saying. “Then I genuinely wish you well Sune, we may not be close in our goals, but I do know how to appreciate a familiar face, arrogant as it is.” Sune smiled, nudging the nature goddess with an elbow. “Just try to use some of that mud you’re so fond of to treat your skin instead of leaving it all for the pigs.” Sylvanus hummed lightly, focusing on Lathander as he walked past a pair of bears. The starry-furred creatures didn’t move, merely watched him as he walked past, hands still outstretched. “Harmony!” he called. “Please, I ask that you show yourself. I am Lathander, and I can be a friend, as can my allies-” he turned motioned back toward Sylvanus and Sune with a broad smile “-if you would only come out to talk! Please, we want nothing more than to just speak.” He began to glow slightly with golden light, and Sylvanus rolled her eyes. “The Morninglord is vain as always I see,” she grumbled. “You could take a lesson or two about presentation,” Sune chuckled, watching the display with a smile. “I mean naked beauty can be attractive, but you could improve so much more with a well made dress, perhaps a fitting pair of shoes…” “Shoes are for men,” Sylvanus snapped. “And I don’t see you wearing any of such.” Sune side-eyed the nature goddess. “I’m already the most beautiful. Any changes I make to my appearance are to inspire the mortals or shame the immortal. Perfection cannot be improved upon.” Sylvanus scoffed and rolled her eyes. “No wonder you two get along so well. Vanity is apparently second nature for you.” “It’s called self-respect when it’s true,” Sune said. Quickly her smile fell. “Something is happening.” Sylvanus noticed it too. The air around them darkened, and the beasts around Lathander seemed to grow in size. Their teeth in particular shined as they were bared against the golden-skinned god, and Sylvanus’ eyes narrowed, her bow appearing her hands. “Pull him back here,” she ordered. Sune looked like she was about to protest, but suddenly the walls of Harmony’s fortress were simply gone, covered in a wall of fog so thick that none of the gods could see through it. More beasts crept through the fog, baring teeth the size of her arm, and horns that stretched tall, clawing at the sky. The beasts closed in a circle around Lathander, who had re-summoned his hammer. The god looked nervous, glancing back toward the other two Faerun deities. Sylvanus nocked an arrow, drawing it slowly back until the fletchings touched her cheek. She took aim at one of the bears drawing close to Lathander’s back. “Draw him back before he dies and you become the goddess of war in his stead,” Sylvanus said. Sune’s hands began to glow, and her dress blew back in an unseen wind. “Only because armor is hardly flattering to my figure.” Magic crackled, and with a snap of Sune’s fingers, a hand grabbed Lathander by his sword belt. The goddess gave a yank that the hand mirrored, spiriting him away from the beasts creeping from the fog. The bears, however, reared up, their claws ready to tear into the vulnerable god. With a slow exhale, Sylvanus released her bowstring, and her arrow leaped out. As it neared her targets, she waved her fingers, casting a minor spell to clone the arrow. One slammed into each bear, and they snarled in pain, but while they both shook the arrows from their pelts with little effort, they were more than distracted enough to let Lathander pass under without harm. The golden-skinned god slid to a halt at their feet, and Sune was quick to help him stand. Lathander brandished his war-hammer, his eyes on the horde of creatures staring their way. “Thank you,” he said, taking a deep breath. “I notice you didn’t harm them.” Sylvanus shrugged. “It doesn’t hurt to curry favor, and it is my holding back that keeps us safe from attack for the moment, I think.” She motioned to the creatures, who, while still watching them carefully, had stopped just short of the clearing. Their eyes glowed with eerie light, and Sylvanus could see some deeper intelligence in those eyes, watching their actions closely. She dismissed her bow and crossed her arms. Immediately the creatures seemed to relax, their fur beginning to settle as they focused on Lathander and Sune. The goddess quickly let her hands fall as well, the glow of her magic ceasing. Lathander, perhaps rattled by the near ambush, settled for setting the head of his warhammer in the grass, but left the handle standing up, leaning on it. The creatures began to calm further, then all bristled to new heights, growling and snarling at the three deities. Lathander’s grip tightened on his hammer and he swung it into a ready position, while Sune’s fingers flickered with crimson magic. Sylvanus felt her fingers eagerness to again drawback a bowstring, but her senses told her to turn away from the creatures. They had been calming, yet something had renewed their fury. Glancing at the trees, she found them shrouded in shadow, with only the light emanating from their godly forms keeping the darkness at bay. Her lip curled at the realization of who was responsible, even his vile name left her tongue. “Mask,” she hissed. A low chuckle left the darkness behind them, and all three Faerun gods turned to find the cloth-faced god walking forth, a smile somehow present despite the shadows blocking all expression from his face. The god of shadows gave them a low bow, his eyes never failing to meet theirs. “Lady Sylvanus, Lathander…” His eyes flickered and his invisible smile seemed to widen. “My Lady Sune.” The crimson-haired goddess recoiled in disgust. “Why are you here rat?” she spat. “Haven’t you done enough damage with your vile scheming?” “I would hardly call it scheming,” Mask replied. “A mere knife in the back doesn’t begin to approach a scheme. Besides, it’s not as if any of you have come to harm because of my actions.” “Harmony refuses to see us,” Lathander growled. His grip tightened on his warhammer. “You may have well doomed us, if not with a murderous scheme, then with pure stupidity.” Mask’s smile vanished, and his eyes narrowed. “I’ve never liked the dawn. It ruins the best part of the night.” A dagger sprang from the shadows, plunging toward Lathander’s chest. The god batted the blade aside with his free hand, then, charging it with magic and letting out a war cry, he threw the warhammer into the shadows. It exploded with golden light, eradicating the darkness. Without hesitation, Sylvanus sprang forward as a hawk, instantly shifting into a bear the moment she was behind Mask. She roared and slammed her paws into his chest, sending him tumbling backward across the grass. She quickly followed, hitting him again to insure he fell at Sune and Lathander’s feet. Mask landed on his back, and Sylvanus landed on top of him in her elf form, planting a foot on his throat while drawing back an arrow and leveling at his masked face. Despite the aggressive assault and her pin on him, she could still feel him smiling. “I should put you down for bringing more petty war here,” she growled. “I did not come to this world to play the same stupid games of Faerun. I am a goddess, not a child.” “You certainly aren’t acting like a goddess,” Mask chuckled. He gasped as Sylvanus put more pressure on his throat, but she stopped short of breaking his neck when Sune gently touched her shoulder. The crimson goddess stared down at Mask with a frown. “What do you mean? Sylvanus has done as we all have, made allies and attempted to gather followers. It is what gods do.” “Gods seize power,” Mask said. “And here the three of you sit, weak and afraid, begging for your might instead of taking the opportunity I have provided to seize it. You do not like act gods. You act like scared, little-” Sylvanus charged the tip of her arrow with magic, making it glow with emerald light. “Finish that sentence and I take an eye,” she hissed. “I will not be mocked.” To her increasing fury, Mask simply laughed. “Yes you will,” he teased. “In fact, give me a little more time, and I will see that mockery is the least of your problems. I have found such wonderful servants in this world. So much magic, such an astounding ability to remain unseen.” Before Sylvanus could reply, he vanished in a puff of smoke, clogging the air with a wretched stench. Sylvanus tried to turn away, but the smoke was enchanted. It clawed at her nose, and seemed to dig into her skin. It was only a burst of magically conjured wind from Sune that drove the cloud away before it could get into her lungs. Sylvanus dismissed her bow, looking around to find the natural light of the forest returning. A glance to the creatures found them once again calming. Unnervingly, Sylvanus that several met her gaze, holding it with a blistering curiosity hidden behind their abnormally intelligent eyes. She stared them down for a moment, willing them to blink, but when they continued to stare, she decided to focus on her fellow gods. She found Lathander staring into the dark of the forest, his warhammer bouncing dangerously in his hands, as if waiting for Mask to return. Sune, for her part, was staring past the animals, to where the walls of Harmony’s fortress still sat wrapped in fog, completely invisible beyond the barricaded of hazy white mist. Sylvanus’ eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms. “What are you think about Sune? Don’t tell me you are so foolish as to listen to a word that leech has to say.” Sune shrugged absently. “He is right, it is not our way to beg for power. It is hardly a godly thing to do.” “This is a new realm with new rules,” Lathander said, his eyes still fixed on the dark. “I just want to know what allies that rat has gathered to become so bold. He’d never have dared attack a god head on before, let alone three.” “I will try to track him,” Sylvanus said. “You are right in that he is too bold. He attacked Harmony, and now he attacks us. He does not show his face without purpose, and this little game of his must end before war inflames the realm. I cannot speak for you, but I did not come here for war, nor power. I came to spread life and beauty, and to save a precious few of my servants.” Sune smiled faintly. “Spread beauty, now that sounds like a marvelous.” She let out a slight sigh and glanced toward Sylvanus. “I suppose you are a better ally than the back-stabber. He no doubt wants the world mired in shadow, and then who will worship my beauty?” Sylvanus’ eyebrows raised. “Are you sure about this? This is an old tradition I have no trouble carrying over.” Sune snorted and rolled her eyes. “Drama queen. Lathander? Would you like to join us or are you going to play pup to the shadow walker?” The glare he fixed her with was enough to make the crimson-haired goddess winced, but she snorted and again rolled her eyes, pouting slightly as she crossed her arms. “No need to be rude, a simple ‘yes’ would suffice.” Lathander glanced to Sylvanus. “Let me do the hunting Lady Sylvanus. I have already entrenched my priesthood with the humans, and already they spread the word of Lady Sune as well. Your champion is working toward peace, and that will save us both. It should be your focus, in my opinion.” Sylvanus gave him a wry smile. “I hardly think the clanging of armor will help you sneak about, but I concur. My champion does require guidance, but if he has his way, the humans will be left at peace, and that works to our benefit.” She extended her arm, magic charging in a series of emerald runes across her skin. “Shall we make the bond? I think it is clear that Mask is our shared enemy. He should be destroyed.” “And after?” Sune asked, even as Lathander similarly extended his arm, also wrapped in runes, this time of gold. “After, we have no conflict,” Sylvanus said. “Nature requires the sun, and is always beautiful. You are not a goddess of industry Sune, you are of beauty. I don’t think you will find it difficult to help the humans create beautiful cities that are surrounded by even more beautiful fields and forests.” She smiled and winked at Lathander. “And the light of your knight in shining armor can act as your spotlight. It’s simply a matter of clearing shadows and making peace. Then the world will be ours.” She glanced toward Harmony’s fortress, noticing a slight shine as the fog began to clear. “And I think Harmony will join us, in time. I too would be careful if four new gods arrived, only for one to attack me.” She shrugged and glanced back to Sune. “We shall see. She is no Mask, that is for certain.” Sune looked hesitant for a moment more, then sighed and extended her arm. Each god clasped the wrist of the one to their left, and their runes intermingled. “I pledge my bow, and my every act to seeing peace on this world, with my allies, Sir Lathander and Lady Sune,” Sylvanus said, electing to keep her phrasing simple. “I offer my hammer, and every last drop of the dawn’s light to see peace and honor in this world, with my gracious compatriots, the beautiful Lady Sune, and the elegant Lady Sylvanus,” Lathander said, his eyes flickering slightly as he smiled at Sune. The crimson-haired goddess blushed, but she still spoke with perfect posture and tone. “And I offer my council, and all the magic I can wield, to see the shadows banished, and to see the new gods of this realm bring about a golden age of peace and beauty, with fellow gods, the Dawning Light Lathander, and the Mistress of the Trees Sylvanus.” Their runes halted, a perfect mix of each on all of their arms. The three met each others eyes, then with a nod, they bound their magic. The runes sank into their skin, burning themselves in place. Sylvanus met Lathander’s, then Sune’s eyes. “Then it is done. We live, or die, together.” Sune withdrew from the clasp first. “Do go work with your champion then. He’s making a muck of his first love, and frankly, he might just start a war with his buffoonery.” Lathander chuckled and pulled back as well. “Don’t be so hard on the mortal. I think the gryphons like him, he certainly is honorable enough. Think of it not as foolery, but as…” he snapped his fingers. “Earning endearment.” Sylvanus scowled as the pair chuckled. “Cease this. He is perfectly capable in finding himself a mate, he’s just… under-educated on the matter. He’s a warrior.” “Well if he’s anything like his goddess, he’ll start scratching the walls to mark his territory,” Sune teased. “Truly your breed nothing but wild men Sylvanus. It’s a wonder he’s not bred a pack of pups already-” “Cease, or I summon spiders into your godscape as often as I am able,” Sylvanus growled, her eyes narrowed. Sune’s lip curled in distaste, and she huffed, turning away with crossed arms. “It was just teasing.” Sylvanus continued to glare at the goddess for a long moment, long enough that Lathander let out chuckle and placed a hand on her shoulder to draw her attention away. “Sune will do her best to promote a message of peace amongst our followers in the humans while I’m on the hunt. If your champion is able to do the same with the gryphons, we should easily be to gather strength to put a stop to whatever Mask has hidden in his sleeves.” Sylvanus finally broke her glare, nodding slowly. She looked toward Harmony’s fortress. “Hopefully our actions will also get Harmony to come out as well. I have no desire to make her an enemy.” “But if it comes down to it?” Sune asked. Sylvanus’ lip curled. “I will not simply lay down at die, if that is your suggestion.” Sune walked toward her and wrapped her in a gentle hug, her voice genuine as she spoke. “I just wanted to be sure,” she said. “Mask’s words have wormed into my thoughts, and for a moment I feared that we weren’t acting like gods, just as he said. I don’t want to fight Harmony either.” She chuckled. “In fact, I quite like this world she’s crafted. The peoples here are robust, and affectionate. We just need a touch of that affection for ourselves. If she is willing to share, so am I.” She winked as she pulled back. “Just be glad that it was us that made it through. It could’ve been some bastard like Cyric.” Sylvanus snorted. “Or Bane, or any other minor devil or slime lord.” She let out a sigh. “Yes, we were quite lucky. It will take work to make this place perfect though. I am glad that you are both willing to help me see that happen. You have my thanks.” “Spoken like a civilized goddess,” Sune again teased. She danced over to hang on Lathander’s arm as he moved to stand beside Sylvanus. “Truly we are already corrupting her.” “Careful with the teasing,” he chuckled. “Or she may well make good on her spider threat.” “Perhaps,” Sylvanus said absently. Her eyes were locked on the walls of Harmony’s fortress. Some part of her still desperately wished the gates would spill open and new power would be hers to keep her champion safe, but they remained closed, and so she simply stared, even as Lathander and Sune withdrew to their godscape. After a time, she too turned away, but as she did so, she couldn’t shake the feeling that somebody behind those walls was watching her closely.