A Clove of Fates

Epilogue

"What the hell were you playing at, giving that girl magic?" Heillar analysed the tears in his suit as he sat behind his desk. He was upset. About the suit, yes. It was one of his favorites, and making a new one, much like making a copy of anything, wouldn't be the same.

There was also the fact that he'd had to flee his own dining room to escape a teenage girl. On top of that, apparently they'd taken Elke, which put a large damper on his plans.

But it was mainly the suit.

"I was just starting to have fun with her!" Aeska exclaimed this from his favorite spot of his husband's office: on top of the desk.

Sragot simply laughed. "I didn't give her anything, Heillar, save some words of wisdom." She was sitting opposite of her brothers, her posture as rigid as the concept of death she presided over. She'd been summoned into his office as soon as Jarelis had unleashed that Great Blackness on the dining room.

She didn't have to come, and Heillar very well knew this, but she decided to humor her siblings, just this once. Despite what the public may have thought, she did have a good sense of humor.

Heillar scoffed. "You can't mean she has her own magic."

"I mean that like it or not, father is coming. Close enough now that he can be drawn from, and I didn't think he'd be one to discriminate."

He stiffened, looked to his partner. "Endir."

Aeska swallowed. "Not fair."

Heillar shifted, relaxing back into his chair. "I know that he's nearing. That's what all of this is about."

Sragot tilted her head. "You're trying to delay the Ending."

"I'm trying to stop the Ending."

"That isn't possible, Heillar. You should know that."

Heillar smiled. "And that is where we disagree." He stood, rubbing his chin. He wasn't sure why, but it had always made thinking easier. Of course, he didn't do this in the presence of mortals. It made him seem too human. "But this...this doesn't make sense. No human has ever drawn from him before. Not even in the Old Worlds when he began to near."

"No human has ever tried to draw from him before."

"But why her, Sragot? What's so special about her?"

"Her soul is bright. I should have plucked her when I got the chance. But now...I don't think I've ever seen a soul more attached to a body. She intends to live, and she is unshakable in this."

"So do I." Heillar laughed again. He was beginning to enjoy this once more. "I see where you're coming from now, my sister."

Aeska's eyes flashed. "A wonderful game, isn't it my love?"

"Yes... We'll have to talk to Orlog about this, of course."

"He won't say anything. He never does." Sragot said.

"He'll have to. I'll make him."

Aeska spoke. "And you, death? I guess you will be helping the new player in our game?"

"I think I will observe this round." She smiled slightly. "You can count on me not to interfere."

Aeska pouted. "I was afraid you'd say that..."

"You don't need me, brother, God of Charms. And she doesn't need help from me either."