Hymn of the Elder Gods

Unraveling

Kick drum rhythm in her temples, Eve stumbled from the car and fell to her knees, pack heavy on her back. The dirt beneath her hands was stabilizing, firm. Familiar.

She resisted the urge to kiss it.

Behind her, the rest of them unfolded themselves from the vehicle (at a much more reasonable pace). Eve curled her fingers into damp soil and after a moment, pushed herself upright, shoving away the helping hands that came in her direction. Behind them, the pink hunk of metal squawked as Han locked it. Whatever for, she couldn't fathom.

Then she craned her neck, staring anew at the city they'd emerged beside. It had been built into a fissure of the mountains, drenched in emerald foliage. Columns, reminiscent of something Greek, had been overrun by moss. Every so often, a flash of light would glimmer from within the depths of buildings. It was rhythmic, as though the city itself was a breathing, living creation.

"Han," Eve said, thickly. "I don't think there's much I can do for you, if the city is this strong."

"Well. There's somewhere I need to take you, before you actually do anything."

"Take her?" Samir asked, coldly.

"Before you ask, you can't tag along."

"I'm not even sure I want to go," Eve mumbled. She stood, only a little bit unsteady, and allowed the confusion and frustration to bubble up through her chest and light her eyes with disdain.

Han's expression quickly slithered into something more appeasing. "But really, I must insist - it is important that you do."

"No thanks. Now I want to go even less. You've been hiding something since we first met, and it was out of sick curiosity that I even agreed to follow you. You'll take me into the city, so I can see for myself. No shortcuts. No more secrets, no more lies."

Han flashed a poisonous shade of green. "Stubborn as always. But you'll regret it. You'll be poorly prepared, if we do things out of order." Eve watched him for a moment, crossed her arms, and sniffed.

"How bad could it possibly be?"

"Foolish girl," Han hissed, darkening to the color of a passing storm. "If it wasn't for Tamar I would have -"

"Would have what?" Eve interrupted, dryly. "Killed me?"

"I cannot speak of it, am not allowed to," Han replied, through gritted teeth. "She told me - no, insisted - that you needed time, or you'd crack under the burden. And then look at what you did? You went and got yourself half-killed anyway. Took me decades to track you down. You will go where I tell you, if I have to drag you kicking and screaming. I have some skill yet."

Eve scoffed. "What skills? You don't even have a head."

Han appeared to look up - but it was hard to tell. "I don't even know what god to ask for strength right now."

Eve drew a talisman from her backpack. It had the glyph for explosion scrawled across the front - slightly crumpled from her earlier, panicked attempt to use it. In the span of a breath, she slapped it across Han's back, imbuing it with a twinge of determination - just enough for it to start to smoke.

"Get a move on."

"Tamar help us," Han muttered, but began to walk.

"Who's Tamar?" Arman whispered.

"Quiet," Samir scowled. Eve fought back a flinch.

The silence thickened until the air grew cumbersome with it, and it only took two minutes before Arman began to fidget nervously, craning his neck from side to side. But there was nothing around them except for the city - which, being the topic of much controversy, didn't seem an appealing conversation topic. Samir shot the man another warning glance. Arman ignored it and cleared his throat.