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“Marlee!” Ephaltus beckoned. “Where is that apprentice of mine?” He entered the Ocularius Magnus room and found her engrossed with a vision of one of the six mages. She was giggling and obviously not hearing his calls. He sauntered up behind her and peered into the lens. It wasn’t the vision of the Green Mage using her magic wastefully entreating a vine to play with a great ginger cat that suddenly enraged him. No, it was the eyeball in the fringe edge of the enormous lens. He pulled Marlee forcefully from the seat ignoring her startled protests and he sent the Oculus spinning causing the image to fade to black.
“Ephaltus! Are you listening to me! Why did you pull me away like that? You frazzled my wits!”
Ephaltus turned to her, still fuming, “Such a silly way to say I frightened you, and frankly, I don’t care if I did. Did you forget to calibrate this infernal thing again?”
“Well, I thought I did.” Marlee said.
“As I expected. One of the gods or their servants was watching. I caught the culprit peeking into the side lens. That’s it! I am putting my foot down this time.” He cleared his throat. Gather yourself and put on something fitting. “We are going to Hearthhaven.”
“Marlee almost forgot to breathe for a moment and the air rushed back to her in a gasp. We are going to meet with the gods?”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. They are deities, but they are not the gods, not the ones who created this world. They are a bunch of spoiled offspring who have nothing better to do than cheat.”
“Why do they take such an interest in the tournament?”
“Well, the winner is the ruler, and the god of the ruler is usually the one who’s pushed on the rest of the kingdoms. It’s a bit of a strategy, this cheating. You see, the other gods find it necessary to thwart Cassany. They are afraid the kingdoms will plunge into darkness under Cassany’s rule or worship, and it probably will.”
“Isn’t that a good thing? We should allow them to defeat the god of darkness.”
“No, we are supposed to make this fair. We cannot allow favor or exclusion of anyone. It’s our job. The tournament must be fair, no matter the consequence. Besides, it falls in our favor too.”
“Our favor?”
Ephaltus cleared his throat again, “I just mean it’s easier on us if everything is fair. Can you imagine how the tournament might go if we took sides?” Marlee gave him a blank, contemplating expression. “You’ll find out what I mean all in good time.”
“What do I wear to meet gods?”
Ephaltus was even more irritated, “Dress as if you were meeting a king on his throne.”
“I don’t have anything so grand as that!” she said.
“I don’t know what to tell you then. Just get ready to leave. I want to get there as soon as possible.”
****
Ephaltus entered the chamber of the gods and headed directly for the long, wooden council table. He made himself comfortable sitting in one of the end seats, waiting for the meeting to begin. Helious was the first deity to arrive. It was no wonder Helios was early; his great dragon wings carried him swiftly to the meeting place. He shifted forms into a bearded, older gentleman with golden hair and golden robes to match. His face appeared sun kissed, and his golden eyes sparkled with the brilliance of the sun.
“Ephaltus.” The god of the White Mage said in greeting.
“Helious.” Ephaltus acknowledged.
Asrion entered the chamber next. His dark hair and blue eyes were accented perfectly by his ironic blue robes, ironic due to the fact he was the god of the Grey Mage. He glanced at Ephaltus, almost sneering before he took his place next to Helious. “Helious, brother. Good to see you.” He said without so much as glancing toward Ephaltus.
“You as well, brother.” Helious said.
Ephaltus sighed and Asrion stopped for a moment to glare at him. He opened his mouth to say something, something snide no doubt, when Andiel, goddess of the Red Mage, entered the room. She appeared as a nice-looking old woman, which grey hair and sparkling blue eyes. She smiled widely at the other two gods and then slipped into the seat next to Ephaltus. “Well met, tourney master.” She said in a sweet, melodic voice. Everyone loved Andiel. She was like the perfect grandmother, giving, caring, and sweet natured, unless she was crossed, that is, and then she would show her true and awesome power. But no one ever crossed that line on purpose.
“Andiel, how lovely to see you.” Asrion said.
“Yes, you look well.” Helious chimed in.
“Helious, Asrion.” She said with a nod. “It always fills my heart with joy to see you two.”
Benera and Nateria walked into the room together. An odd paring considering their champions, the Blue Mage and the Green Mage, are rivals and immune to most of each other’s magic. The two goddesses should be at odds, but they weren’t. Instead, they were getting on as if they were best friends. Benera was laughing at something Nateria said as they both took their seats.
“She won’t come.” Asrion was saying to Helious, “She never does.”
“Don’t be so negative.” Andiel cautioned. “I asked her here myself. She would not deny me.”
“So, she is running around as a female this century, then.” Helious stated.
“For now.” Asrion said, “Give her a few days and she will be bragging about how great she portrays a male. I find the gender swapping thing tedious. I say make up your damn mind and stick with it.”
“Hear, hear!” Helious agreed.
“Now boys. You know Cassany enjoys the attention. Why not give it to her?” Andiel said.
“Because it’s weird and unusual.” Asrion said flatly. He looked at Ephaltus as if seeing him for the first time. “Wouldn’t you say tourney master?”
“Don’t drag me into this.” Ephaltus said.
“No, I want to hear your thoughts on the matter.” Asrion insisted.
“All right,” Ephaltus breathed in sharply, clearly not wanting to weigh in on the matter. “You gods are all shadows of your parents, the old gods, and bickering on about each other should be beneath you, but here we are.”
“How dare you!” Asrion said.
“Oh, blow it out your ear.” Ephaltus muttered.
“Why, I should smote you where you stand.” Asrion said.
“Well, I’m sitting, genius.”
Helious shrank away slightly, shaking his head. Ephaltus saw him give Andiel a sorrowful, worried glance.
“I am going to teach you some respect, tourney master!” Asrion said.
“I would like to see you try, you pompous old windbag.”
Asrion stood up.
Ephaltus smirked, “Careful Asrion, with all your smarts, philosophies, and mental faculties, you think you would remember the last time you tried to show me up.”
“Asrion, please sit down.” Andiel said. “Ephaltus, please stop antagonizing him.”
Asrion hesitated and then sat back down. “We will be rid of you soon enough.”
Ephaltus glanced around, “Yes you will, and where is my apprentice by the way?”
Marlee had a piece of parchment and was talking intently to Nateria. Knowing her sister was the goddesses’ Green Mage made him a little uncomfortable about it. What was his apprentice discussing so fervently? He was about to find out when he spotted the black smoke rising up from a widening black hole in the floor. He pointed to the spot to alert the other nearby gods, “There she is. Cassany’s portal spell.”
Asrion glanced at the widening hole and smoke, “So dramatic, as usual.”
“Be nice, Asrion.” Andiel scolded.
The black smoke wafted through the air until the figure of a woman appeared to step out of it. The smoke cleared and Cassany floated to the seat beside Asrion, who groaned at realizing the goddess wanted to sit beside him. Marlee came to sit next to Ephaltus, and he welcomed her company. He would have to ask her what she was talking to Nateria about later.
Ephaltus stood from his end seat and held up his hand for silence. “Good, you are all here. Now, I will get straight to the point. I know you are all looking through the Oculus at your champions to gain an advantage. What will I have to do to make you all stop?”
“To whom are you referring exactly, Tourney Master? I have not looked through your spy glass.” Asrion said. “I’m not at all certain how something like that is even done.”
“What possible advantage could spying on our champions give us?” Benara asked. “I can already see my champion without your contraption.”
“No, no, no,” Ephaltus shook his head. “Don’t play coy. You know I am not talking about watching your own champion. I am talking about spying on the competition and possibly plotting to sabotage them.”
“Perhaps it’s good you are set to retire, tourney master, your paranoia is appalling.” Helious stated.
“Is this the reason we have been summoned here? If so, I have better thins to do.” Asrion said as he stood up.
“No, please sit back down, Asrion.” Andiel said. “I am afraid there is another matter we must discuss. There is an anomaly in the selection process.”
“What kind of anomaly?” Nateria asked.
“The former White Mage, Zedy, has accidentally become the White Mage again.”
“What! Impossible.” Helious said. “I would have sensed it.”
“See, you have been looking!” Ephaltus accused Andiel. “how could you have known otherwise?”
“All right, yes, I have been sneaking a look here and there.” Andiel said. “Now that you know, I would thank you to shut up about it and let me speak.”
“Why did you do it, Andiel?” Ephaltus asked, while sitting back in his chair.
Andiel glanced around the room at the face of her brothers and sisters before answering. “I have always been honest with you all. The fact is my champion is a sweet and kind-hearted woman and it’s about time we had a good calm leader for a change. I don’t want anymore of your horrible champions to win anymore. I have always played by the book and I have very few champions to show for it.”
“What of my champion?” came a demure voice from beside Asrion. It was Cassany, and she was speaking in low tones.
“Oh, speak up, Cassany. We know that demure voice and pleasant manner you’re displaying is just an act.” Asrion said.
Andiel pursed her lips, “I would say your champion is a good one too, Cass, but I know what you will end up doing to her in the end.”
“Why? Who’s her champion?” Nateria asked.
Asrion huffed, “As if you don’t know. All of you are so tiresome. We have been at this for hundreds of years. We all know each other’s tricks and mannerisms.”
“I really don’t know. You pompous fool!”
“Oh, name calling already, Nateria?”
“Stop it, the both of you.” Andiel said. “Nateria, Cass’s champion is a tragic one. She is the daughter of my champion. A former blood feeder who Cass has manipulated before and will again.”
“Your champion’s daughter! Is that allowed, Tourney Master?” Helious asked.
“I know of no rule against it.” Ephaltus replied.
“Could we get back to the matter at hand?” Andiel directed.
“There is no rule against a former Mage from taking another go a round, is there?” Benera said.
“Technically no,” Ephaltus said. “but, I think I know what Andiel is getting at here. Zedy was a mage long ago. He is experienced and will probably run circles around your new recruits. He is now a reviewer and training Arran. Does that give the Blue Mage an unfair advantage?”
“I don’t believe so.” Benera said.
“Of course not, Benera, The Blue Mage is your champion. Nateria pointed out.
“We knew this would happen one day.” Asrion said. “We let the former mages keep their abilities and now there are several of them running around.”
“What do you propose? Andiel?”
“What if we evened the odds by allowing each mage to train with an older one?”
“I can’t sanction that.” Asrion said. “I think we should leave everything as it is. If each god wants a champion to train their mage, so be it. It’s just part of the process.”