always and forever is forever young
your shadow on the pavement, the dark side of the sun
The multi-sensory illusion at the Northern Palace melted away within the first few seconds of Aura vanishing, almost as if someone had timed it that way. The other deities had all teleported. Mallos was left alone in the desert, staring at the rubble which, moments before, had formed a looming, painted wall.

The sun shone down, powerful in its midday might. Out here, close to the Equator, it was easy to see how a monotheistic cult had arisen around the Earth’s life-giving star. The sun was so strong that Mallos could feel the force of its rays pressing down on his back despite the fact that his body magically self-regulated its temperature.

He exhaled, lifting his gaze to stare out across the desert, where the ruins of the heretic’s city were sliding in and out of focus among the heat waves. A moment. He just needed a moment.

The last two days had been an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. He had felt Croe’s emotions in a brief, concentrated blast; confused and blended as they were, it was impossible to extract much sense from them, but easy to determine their cause. He’d have hung the trial and left there and then if he hadn’t, in that moment, received word back from his ex-boyfriend: yes, I’ll come. Stay put. Ander had arrived twelve hours later and reminded him in person that he could wait a few more hours for a potential lifetime of happiness.

Then Aura’s return. The trial. The Reaper’s scythe.

Mallos took another couple of breaths, glad to be alone but simultaneously wishing that Sperantia was here. Sperantia, who hadn’t been seen since she’d abandoned him several weeks ago, and hadn’t responded to any of his thoughts or emotions since – which she must have felt. She must have.

The solar deity caught his breath again and held it this time. He twisted his left-foot and vanished on the spot, reappearing instantaneously inside his living room in Shaman’s castle. He cast his mind out, searching for Croe. I’m here. A normal person wouldn’t have noticed him using a location spell, but she was almost as powerful a psychic as he was these days. I’m home.

He found her, shifted his foot, vanished again.

Croe’s temporary quarters were comfortable, but small and simple. The single room had a double bed, chest of drawers, chair and desk and an en-suite, but not much else. Guards were stationed outside the door at all times and the window as barred, which Mallos rather thought was a waste of time and resources. If she’d wanted to get out, no amount of guards or metal would stop her.

The room was dim, light only by a candle flickering on the bedside table, but he could see quite clearly. Croe was stretched out on the bed, supported at the head by pillows, one arm cradled around her breast at a telling angle. Mallos moved around the room and slid gently onto the bed beside her, his attention torn clean in two. He wanted to put his arm around Croe, kiss her, fill her in on the insanity of the past two days. He also wanted to take his daughter in his arms and never let her go.

The little girl was bundled up in a white blanket, her brown face and one tiny hand just poking out. Her fingers were so small. Her little dark eyes shone as they gazed upwards, innocent, experiencing every miraculous sight for the first time.

Mallos slipped his arm around Croe’s lower back, his shoulder touching hers. For a moment, he couldn’t think of a single thing to say. He had spent the last few weeks on edge, never confident if he’d be able to return to this, not certain that he’d even ever have a chance to meet his daughter. It took him a minute or two to find his voice.

“Are you alright?” He asked very softly, breaking the silence.


i can feel you in the silence saying, “let forever be,
love, and only love, will set you free.”