The Heavenly Host

Danyel had finally finished unpacking her bags. She had been about to unpack them herself, but the lad had insisted that he should do it. Normally, she would have politely refused, but her head was nearing an explosion point. She needed to come up with something to provide extra shielding.

“Danyel, I’m thinking a few small sandwiches for the evening, perhaps a cup of soup as well if they have something interesting? Unless you want something more? If so, feel free to order what you would like. Could you perhaps go down and arrange something for later this evening, and also if they have a list of wines that they could recommend with the sandwiches, could you bring that back for us to go over? We’ll then choose something appropriate that we’ll both enjoy.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.” Danyel nodded.

“Danyel?” Hilda gave a disapproving look. “Do not use that term, simply call me Hilda. Understand?”

Danyel blushed and grimaced, bowing slightly. “I’m sorry... Hilda.”

Hilda beamed at him and his own smile returned of its own accord. Much better. While you’re gone, I’m going to enjoy a nice bath and try to get rid of this headache!” She stood and made her way to the bathing room.

∼

“Ugh,” Jenn moaned to herself as she collected the last of her belongings. She had taken a nap after Hilda had left. The wine had gone straight to her head. Now, a few hours later, she was coming down, and not gracefully. Jenn was quite cross with herself; she normally did not imbibe like that, but that Hilda was just so charming and warm and confiding. What a truly likable woman! She had noted that Trisfelt and Hilda seemed to really hit it off. Who knew, perhaps there were sparks of romance?

Trisfelt could certainly do far worse. Hilda was so kind and sympathetic, and she had given both Jenn and Gastropé the warmest hugs, wishing them all the best for a demon-free journey. Hilda was just so reassuring; she simply had a way of making people feel good. Jenn was curious as to what would happen if Hilda unleashed her charms on Jehenna. Which would win? Now that would be an interesting conversation to observe.

Gastropé knocked on her door. “You set?” he asked as he stuck his head in.

Jenn smiled weakly at him. “Other than the start of a hangover, I’m good. One nice thing about evacuating every few weeks: you don’t end up with much to pack!” She shouldered the new backpack that Damien had given her. It was really quite roomy, and at least this time there would be no confusion over whose book was whose. The council had been more than helpful in restocking their spell components. She was far better prepared for this adventure than her last one — evacuating Lenamare’s school. Gastropé was already wearing his backpack and had a new walking staff in his hand.

“I assume that’s just a normal staff, not a wizard’s staff?” Jenn asked.

“I bought top quality with the intention of wizardizing it, but I just haven’t had the time. I’m thinking that with a long journey, I might get the time. As we were discussing this afternoon, I assume we won’t be on foot or horseback.”

“There you folks are!” Maelen exclaimed as he came down the hallway. He too seemed loaded with additional equipment in a new backpack. “We are going to Elrose’s chambers to fetch him and then we are off to Councilor D’Vils suite.”

They took off down the hall towards Elrose’s apartments. “So, I get that this is a ‘get out of town’ sort of thing for Gastropé and me, but what is this expedition you and Elrose have planned with Councilor D’Vils?” Jenn asked.

Maelen chuckled. “I probably should wait until we are all together, but being the friendly sort” — he laughed at himself — “I’ll go ahead and tell you. We are hunting down a goddess.” He laughed slightly evilly.

Jenn looked at him askance, noting from the corner of her eye that, as expected, Gastropé had just gotten paler. “You are kidding, of course,” she stated.

“Not at all!” Maelen smiled. “As you may recall, Trevin noted that the dark-skinned woman on the flying carpet with Exador and Ramses looked exactly like images she’d seen of the now vanquished goddess, Bastet. Both Elrose and I have had visions linked to her name, and the goddess appears to be involved in some way. We are therefore going to seek out some of her old temples to see if we can get some sort of linkage to determine if she’s actually involved, and what she might be up to.”

“Seriously?” Gastropé was shaking his head in disbelief. “We just managed to evict a giant horde of demons and a party of archdemons, and now we’re going to try to track down and spy on a goddess?”

“Is there something they don’t teach us in school? Does too much mana use cause one to go insane?” Jenn asked, half rhetorically.