DIVINE CHAMPIONS 4: THE SUN'S CHOICE

THE TIMES OF PARTING

That is when the door of the shed in the screen broke away. Outside, nearly fifty frost giants, mounted on gigantic horses, snarled at the divine champions. Each of them at least eight feet tall. One of them, in full battle armor, a long staff in his hand, stepped forward, and pointed his staff at Ishaan's friends, and said, "Come. The Giant King wants to have a word."

There wasn't even time for them to react, before three giants destroyed the shed with their horses, and picked the three up, and left. The last Ishaan heard was Rishi's voice, "Fjolsvid, get Ishaan. He's the only one who can save us."

And there was just snow dust.

"Now?" Ishaan asked, turning towards Eir. 

"Let's go." Eir said, her voice slightly breaking. Perhaps she knew that he would have to leave. She held Ishaan by the hand, and brought him down the stairs. They went to see Menglod, who was in the garden, playing with her dogs. Menglod heard them, and said, "Any moment now."

And that is when, a slightly familiar figure walked in through the garden. Wow! Fjolsvid was much faster than Ishaan had expected. "My Lady!" Fjolsvid was panting, "I just ran eighty miles in five minutes."

"I can see that. Speed tires the toughest giant I know apparently." Menglod said, "Take a breath, for you have to take Ishaan back."

"Not quite." A new voice in the hall said, "I've got this. Fjolsvid can rest." They all turned to see Svipdagr, and one of the handmaidens Ishaan had only seen. "Follow me."

Ishaan and the rest followed Svipdagr, who took them behind the castle, and stood in front of a vehicle. Just without any sort of wheel. This was surely a sledge. It was made of wood, polished, shiny, spacious and all. But who was going to pull it?

"Yay!" Eir exclaimed, "We have reindeers."

"Eh?" Ishaan turned towards her. Eir had surprised him with that childish exclamation. 

"No, child." Svipdagr said, "There is no reindeer."

"Bummer." Eir pressed her lips in disappointment. Ishaan saw it. He saw that despite living for a thousand years, Eir was still a twenty year old, and the child inside was still there. It had just hidden itself with time. 

"But who will pull this, honey?" Menglod asked.

"Well, your dogs needed a little trip, don't you think?"

"Sure, I can let them go, but what if they are not ready?"

"Honey, they are nearly two thousand years old."

"Menglod!" Ishaan interrupted, "I'll find the way. Rick connected himself to me. Now I can track him."

"Oh, no, no." Menglod said, "Gifr and Geri are not leaving you alone. They will take you to the palace. That is my final decision."

"And done."

"There isn't much time to waste. Ishaan, pack what you had, and get going. You need to get there as soon as possible. My dogs are as fast as sound itself. They will deliver you there in no time."

Ishaan bid farewell to everyone in the room, before turning back to the medical wing. He walked up the stairs and found his bag. Whatever of his stuff he had outside, he stuffed them inside his bag, put it on his back and was about to walk down, when he found Eir standing by.

Oh, how Ishaan would miss this beautiful face. Eir's eyes were full of tears. Ishaan went close to her. She said nothing. But she didn't loose eye-contact. Ishaan cupped his hands around Eir's face, and said, "I know that we've spent great moments here, you and me. But our feelings for each other are real. Despite all that, I have a family back in Midgard. And I don't want anything more than to see my mother and my sister again."

"Then I'll come with you." Eir said, "Why can't we be together?"

"We definitely can, but not yet, because, we don't want things rushed." Ishaan's mind was throwing out these mature words for fun, shocking even him. He went on, "And the price is way too hard for you. That is why, I want you to take time while I'm gone, and be absolutely sure that you want to leave this settled, immortal life, and live a finite life, full of uncertainties in Midgard. That is all."

"What if I am sure?"

"Then, I'll somehow come and get you."

"How will you know?"

"Point." Ishaan smiled, "You'll find me. You know where to find me, right?"

"Easily. Pankhpur, India, Asia, Midgard."

"Yep."

Eir's tears took a hold, as she collapsed into Ishaan's chest. Ishaan put his arms around her, before he put her head up by her chin, and kissed her forehead. "Remember me?" Eir said.

"Definitely."

"And don't fall in love with another girl on one of your quests, get me?"

"Never." Ishaan said, "You have my word."

The goodbye wasn't a tearful one, but goodbyes are never very happy. Ishaan realized how much over the last few days, had he gotten habituated to the castle, to the hill, and to the people. He waved his hands at everyone as Gifr and Geri had been tied to the sledge. Both the dogs seemed friendly with Ishaan, who petted them and sat on the sledge. One of Eir's fellow handmaidens handed Ishaan a bag, and said, "If they slow down, here's some chicken for them. Toss on the air for them, and they'll be alright. And for a turn, just say them the direction."

Ishaan nodded, and as he settled himself, Gifr and Geri howled, and started running.

Their acceleration was so sudden and so fast, Ishaan almost got knocked over. But he held on. He hummed to the song he had sung in Eir's chambers, and kept following the rune on his hand. The dogs were tied to the sledge, but there was no reigns. Ishaan rode along, and just as the handmaiden had said, asked the dogs to go right or left. Weirdly, the dogs understood him perfectly.

After nearly fifteen minutes of this superfast dog sledge ride, Ishaan found out that the rune turned reddish, and in front of him, maybe twelve feet away, the horses of the frost giants trotted forward. Ishaan laughed to himself, as he realized that the giants had not anticipated him. 

Ishaan asked the dogs to slow down, and looked around. The way that the giants took had a low hill running beside it. "Guys, climb. Up!" Ishaan said. The order was followed instantly. Gifr and Geri, who had been running non-stop for the last fifteen minutes, seemed to hardly break any sweat, as they climbed the hill, along with the sledge.