The Heavenly Host

“I have a getaway cave a few leagues over.” Sam made a motion with his chin in a direction roughly opposite of Tom’s cave. “I work in the Courts most of the time, but I like to get away now and then, do some hiking and climbing. I also go skiing now and then.” Sam had set his can of soda down and could now gesture freely, and he waved towards the distant, snowcapped mountains.

“Really?” Tom asked, surprised.

“Yes, it is pretty cold up there, and the snow is rather acidic. It is not water based. You need to have appropriate clothing or demon hide.”

“That sounds fun, though,” Tom said, nodding. It did sound fun.

“It is, and no lift lines, if you have wings.” Sam smiled and nodded to Tom’s large wings. “Although I don’t know if they make ski bindings for hooves.” He looked down at Tom’s hooves. “I ski down in this form with a protective suit and then change and fly up in my winged form.”

“I’ll have to go sometime. Is there a skiing store in the Courts?” Tom asked.

“There are exactly two places with ski equipment. Von Trapp is a general outdoor and mountaineering store, and the Slippery Slope is a climbing and skiing store,” Sam said.

“So, were you just passing through or do you live around here?” Sam asked Tom.

“I live a few valleys over.” Tom gestured towards his cave. “I was just out stretching my wings; I’ve got a lot of company and needed to get away for a bit.”

Sam grinned. “I know how that goes. That is why I have my getaway cave. At work, I’m surrounded by clamoring demons always full of crazy ideas, plans for world domination; you know, the usual.”

“People at your work plan on world domination?” Tom asked.

“Well, they are demons, after all. It is really just talk; they never actually specify which world they are planning to dominate. If they did that, they would actually have to explain exactly how they intended to do it in concrete terms. Thus, such ideas never make it past the office acid cooler.”

“Put up or shut up, then?” Tom asked.

Sam grinned. “Exactly. And since they will do neither, I like to get away have some old-fashioned fun.”

“I should think of that. It would probably be a good way to get rid of stress,” Tom said.

Sam smiled. “You know it! That is why I do it, and in a close-to-human form, where I have to actually work to climb, no giant muscles or anything. I want to feel the strain, the pain of aching muscles afterwards. While climbing, I can focus only on climbing and when I’m finished, my aching muscles tell me I have accomplished something.”

“That really does sound good,” Tom said, nodding.

“Well then, Tom. Perhaps the next time I go climbing I will stop by and see if you want to join me.” Sam tilted his head and looked inquiringly at Tom.

“That would be great. I think I’d like that!” Tom said with a grin.

∼

“Well, Trevin, I grant you this is worth our discussion.” Ariel shook his head in disbelief.

“Which part? The demon stealing god magic, reversing a holy artifact and taking an Etonian knight hostage? Or the fact that the Nyjyr Ennead are not only back, but apparently forming alliances with demons? Or the fact that the deity whose mana was stolen is also the one most responsible for evicting the Nyjyr Ennead from this and other nearby planes?” Duranor asked.

“I’m not completely up on the history here; some of us do not live forever,” Taergon said.

“Dwarves don’t live forever, just a few hundred years,” Ariel noted disdainfully.

Duranor gave the alfar a glare. “Some people know to not outstay their welcome.”

“Enough, you two,” Elraith chastised them. “Ariel, you were a seated elder when the Nyjyr Ennead were driven off, correct?” Elraith asked.

“Yes. My sister and I take turns, as you know. I was seated at that time. As was Trevin,” Ariel said.

Trevin gave him a small glare for revealing her age.

Elraith chuckled. “No need to hide it, my dear. While I was not seated at that point, I do remember that you were.”

“Helspaeth, your mentor was the senior elder at the time,” Trevin noted.

Elraith nodded. “She was as old then as I am now. So I suppose there is some justice.”

“We should have done more when their priests asked for aid. You know gods don’t forgive easily,” Trevin said.

“I find it curious that Bastet herself would be involved. Gods never involve themselves,” Ariel noted.

“Could it be an avatar that simply looks like her mistress?” Duranor asked.

“Weird choice. Did you notice how hairy she was?” Daphne asked.

“I know, eeesh! Someone get the poor girl a razor!” Chloe replied.

Satyricus shrugged. “Personally, I find all the fur intriguing.”

“Since you aren’t being forthcoming, I’ll get to my point. When was this?” Taergon asked.

“About the same time the Vargosite Empire formed,” Duranor told him.

“How exactly do you know that? You could not have been alive then; that was a thousand years ago,” Satyricus asked, puzzled. “Even I had not been born yet, and I’m pretty sure I am older than you.”

Duranor shrugged. “My people have long memories and even longer tales.” He stroked his long beard.