Tales of a Dead God

Chapter Nineteen: Mom and Dad Should See This

Theo two followed Lorcán to a smaller courtyard not too far from the great hall. A large tree sat in the center with several benches placed around it. A butler was already waiting with a fresh platter of tea and a table set up. All three sat but only Lorcán bothered with the tea.

"I am sorry for your loss if they indeed were there."

Noah looked up from his lap. "They had been talking about doing something like this for months before we left."

"You never told me that." Theo was surprised by the news.

"I had to get us out of there and you would've wanted to stay for it."

Lorcán took a sip of the tea watching the two brothers. "I wish I had that same courage the first time Erebus did this."

"What do you mean," Theo asked.

"Like many of the Gods, I did not fight." Guilt laced each word as he spoke. "It is one of the biggest regrets I have to live with and the consequences that followed."

Theo's eyes went wide as the realization set in. "You were there. You're... you're a God."

A warm smile spread across Lorcán's face. "Indeed I am and yes I was there during the first war."

"Wow." He frowned slightly. "But why wouldn't you fight?"

"I was too scared to leave the protection of my palace to do what was right." Lorcán was straightforward and to the point. He had spent too many years running from his choices and was now learning that the only way to peace was to face the consequences.

Noah jumped in as Lorcán finished. "Do you agree with Melosa then? Will you do the same this time as you did all those years ago?"

"Ah, so you've heard her rather extreme positioning on this." Lorcán sat back in his chair. "I don't agree with her stance that no one should fight. No one fights then we leave ourselves vulnerable to significant attacks. Which are already occurring it seems."

"You only answered half of my question."

He paused carefully thinking of what to say. Rather how to say it. "My place isn't on the battlefield. I was created to collect and record all that occurs in this world. Though I will not fight physically, I will offer the knowledge I have obtained over the years." Noah didn't seem impressed by this statement as he sat stoned-faced. Lorcán leaned forward giving all his attention to Noah. "I can promise you that your friends will not have died in vain. I will not make the same mistakes I did before and stand by."

"Swear your life on it?" Theo jumped in. Lorcán casually turned to him. Care in his eyes.

"I swear my eternity on it."

~~~*~~~

Gabriel sat watching his brother finish off his third drink of the day. It was clearly too early to begin drinking, but who was going to stop him? Ciro threw his hand up to the waitress for another drink.

"You need to slow down."

Ciro stared through Gabriel as he spoke. His eyes were glazed over mostly from the alcohol but also from something Gabriel couldn't quite place.

"So is this your plan today?" Gabriel folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. "You get drunk and I end up lugging your ass back up the hill."

He slammed the mug on the table causing a few judging looks from the waitresses that were there. "Just throw me out on the street, I'll be fine."

Gabriel rolled his eyes leaning forward and pulling the drink away from Ciro. "I didn't come all this way to babysit your sorry ass while you mope around because some girl managed to get under your skin."