The War of Gods

Chapter 3 - Part 2

 "What was that about?" Mavar asked.

"Survival." Nerith answered.

"Didn't think to consult me and Joel before sputtering that non-sense?"

"I go where the wind takes me." Joel said, earning himself a pair of eye rolls.

Nerith snapped at Mavar. "Oh, that's rich coming from you. 'A prank'? When did we agree to that?" Nerith turned back to packing her things.

"Had any better ideas?" Mavar rebutted. "Chosen by a 'God of Peace'? Good luck hiding what we did after that."

"Or what we didn't do." Nerith said, softly.

"What did happen in there?" Joel asked.

The child slept soundly, unaware of the murderer in her room. Dishevelled brown hair covered small pointy ears, much like Mavar's.

He felt the magic fade away in his hand. What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he do it? He'd done worse.

Hadn't he?

"Mavar." A distant memory said in his head, but vivid as always. The smell of blood, torn flesh, death. "They're everywhere, we can't get out. There's something I haven't told-"

The girl rustled in her sleep.

No survivors.

Mavar lifted her carefully as to not wake her up and placed her gently inside a wardrobe off to the side of the bed. She looked so peaceful, couldn't be more than ten winters old. That was about the same age Mavar found-

"Mavar?" Nerith said from behind. Mavar quickly stood up, closing the wardrobe, and knocked a small soldier toy by accident. Luckily it didn't wake up the child. "What are you doing?"

"I'm... hum..."

"Taking care of the mission?"

"Look, I can explain, this-"

"The parents were in the other room. I... took care of them, too."

The silence between them stretched.

Mavar finally exhaled, and nodded to Nerith.

"We're done with this house then." Mavar said, walking back out of the room. "Did you find anything interesting downstairs?"

"Not much." Nerith said. "It didn't seem like they... had much." She shuffled uncomfortably. "But I'm taking this necklace as proof of a job well done."

She held up a small silver necklace. It didn't open or have any special engravings. Just a simple pendant with a flower shape. A family heirloom, or perhaps just a fashion trinket. It didn't matter now.

They started going back down the stairs. Nerith had done a good number on the house. Part of the dining table was burnt, but the fire had been put out before it could do any real damage.

"I thought about letting it burn," Nerith said from behind them, "but it just..."

"It doesn't feel right, does it?" Mavar said. None of it made sense. "I understand." He nodded and gave Nerith an empathetic smile. She almost looked taken aback by it.

But she smiled back.