As the Attrid and his warriors left, Olaf turned to the others . "Originally I'd have offered you to come by the estate and get cleaned up." He said with an apologetic look towards Saga. They shrugged in return. They realized things were complicated, more so then any of them had originally expected.

"Its alright. You clearly need to talk to your dad about what went down."

"We still need to get you two to the Hall of gods. Vetra, if you could take them there I'd appreciate it."

"Of course. I was heading there either way." Vetra smiled to the young warriors and motioned for them to follow her. She had been unusual quiet for the past few hours and Saga could feel how tense she was. Not that they could blame her. Saga was a little terrified themself. This was the whole reason they had come here.

"Splendid, then the rest of us can leave for our respective homes and families. We’ll meet up at my fathers longhouse after we have all let our people know we made it back safely.” He spoke and everyone nodded. Ordan was quick to love, but not before giving everyone a handshake and telling them he'd be back to get drunk with them in the evening. Lenara was living at Attrids estate as a guest, so she followed with Olaf as the redhaired warrior left. Ingrid hanged back a bit and had to be all but pried of them as she hugged Saga with the might of a bear. Then, it was only the three of them, Vetra turning towards the massive building which spire poked up over the middle-walls.

This was it. Who knew what would come of this. Saga had so many questions to ask.

Vetra led them down the main street that led deeper into the city. It was paved with smooth, white stone, with houses of all kinds set up along it. People was hawking wares, other places smelled of baked goods or smoked meats. Others smelled of exotic perfumes and more then one house had ruckus laughing coming from them with people spilling out red nosed and merry. They passed by bakeries and butchers and every other kind of eatery or shop. And there was people everywhere. Half-giants, Dwarves, elves, humans and even some slender looking lizardfolk who had amazingly vibrant scales and spines instead of hair. They were merchants hawking wares, guards looking bored and curiers hurrying back and forth. One alley they passed trough had two mangy looking and dog sized cats squaring off, hissing at one another.

They passed a large market square, where all manners of goods were being sold. Everything from tools and weapons to vials of remedies and talismans of the different gods. This city was as alive as it got, the place was crowded and everywhere there was noise. They saw a man conjure up little figurines in ice while entertaining some kids. At one point, they passed by a very pretty man who was selling magical mirrors that showed anyone they were as pretty as he was.

"He's an illusionist." Sash said as she leaned in. "Nobody knows what he actually looks like. He picks a new face and form every so often. Always obnoxiously good looking. He is apparently incredibly high level, so nobody can break his spells." She said and Saga frowned. That sounded like it must be incredibly confusing and annoying.

As they moved throughout the city, Saga felt a mountain dread. Up ahead, just past the second walls gates, loomed the biggest building in the city aside from the Jarls seat of power.

The Hall of Gods.

The building was massive, a norse style temple like the one she knew had stood in Uppsala. Only many this must have been several times bigger. It rose towards the city, its single tower defiant while the building stretched in all directions. Every inch of wood on this building was carved with runes and depiction of gods and divine events. Not a single pillar or even a supportive beam of the buildings façade was without carved ornaments. The large gates stood wide open, with various priests hurrying in and out. Others stood around preaching and telling all that would listen about what their particular god needed or wanted from their followers.

As they walked trough the massive, wooden temple gates, they entered a building that would make the 16th chapel seem like a Childs toy. ITs massive vaunted ceiling depicted gods and creatures in intricate design, all carved into the wood itself and then colored and detailed with gold and vibrant pigments that any artist on earth would kill for. Saga stared, mouth agape, chin firmly on the floor. The massive pillars holding the entire thing up was also in wood and carved with such skill as to be magical. Serpents and other animals wrapped about each pillar, making patterns that drew you in.

“Sister” Came a voice, melodic and kind. It broke trough the silent wonder of Saga who looked to see a woman, dressed entirely in gold and green, walk towards them. She was a dwarf, with short hair and freckles. Her face was wrinkled with age and her posture was like a supercharged Vetra. It was calming, motherly and kind but clearly held power that could be unleashed on any that threatened her and hers.

“High Priestess Matilda.” Vetra said with a slight bow.

“We sensed your arrival. And theirs.” Matilda said as she looked to the two marked by death. Saga and Sasha looked to Vetra in turn, unsure how to respond. The two also realized that the moment they had stepped inside, every part of the clergy regardless of the god they worshiped, had stopped what they were doing. They were now idly watching them. From a small group of onlookers a tall elven man disengaged his fellow acolytes and moved towards the. He was dressed entirely in black, with a white rose stitched across their heart, his face pale, his hair swept back in a severe, short haircut.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Saga, this is HIgh Priestess Matilda. She is the one who sees to all the Goddes of Growths business in most of the North. The man heading our way is Aurin, a priest of the Moribia. I assume he is very eager to meet you.” Vetra said and Saga and Sasha bowed to Matilda before turning to the approaching elf.

“I have been looking forward to meet you both.” He said with a voice that was low and respectful. His eyes were a strange silvery color and his skin pale to the point it reminded Saga of the mans Goddess herself. He had a very still and severe aura about him, as if everything about him on edge at all times.

“If you would follow me. Our High Priestess is in communion with our Goddess as we speak. As such she should be able to facilitate this meeting without any trouble, but such a task is straining and we should not dally.” He said as Saga and Sasha shared a nervous look. He was talking about talking to a Diety like it was just a phone call. Sucking in a breath, Saga steeled themselves and followed with Sasha in tow.

* * *

The building was was truly a marvel. The further they in they went, the more Saga appreciated the giant scale of it. But it was also somewhat unsettling. The extremely ornate, hand carved wood felt like it was slowly moving. As if the building was pulsing with a unknown force. It was like walking into a giant being and stand near its heart.

Further inside, past the main hall which was for all to visit and pray to whatever god that the hall had a statue off, there was an entirely different area. Instead of a large place for all to come worship, it was a more intimate, partitioned place. It was like having a bunch of built in smaller chapels housed within one giant building. Each of these were dedicated to a single god. There was one with a lady wrapped in thorns that Saga immediately knew was Vatras goddess. The inside was a lush garden with a fountain statue depicting the goddess of growth in the middle.

Each small temple room they passed had its own style with various symbolic pieces to represent their diety. The god of wealth and merchants had a room full of plush furniture, expensive carpets and rich silks where the God of Knowledge and Learning had a small library.

As they walked up to one that had a large rose on it, Saga felt a strange tug on their very being. The air felt suddenly thick with static energy of some kind and it made them stop. They glanced about, not knowing what this feeling was. It grew more noticable with each step they took towards the Death temple. Its door was massive and wrought out of something that looked like a mix of led and silver. A massive rose emblem took up most of the door in a very ornate decoration. Upon a closer look, they realized that the pistil of the flower was actually a skull.

The strange energies continued to build and soon it felt as if it was tugging them towards the door and they felt compelled to follow. Their feet were moving almost on their own and they had a look of bewilderment on their face as they stopped in front of the door. “What is this? What is happening?” Saga asked, eye wide.

“Your Goddess wishes to speak” Came a cold, ethereal voice from the other side of the door. The voice made everyone in the vicinity freeze in place. Behind them a servant of the Merchant God dropped their golden tray full of fruit. The death priest stopped in his tracks, shaking. The door before them began to crack open slowly and a rush of wind almost knocked everyone to their feet.

Peering into the room, Saga saw what appeared to be a elven woman. Her eyes were wide open and she had her head tilted back to stare up at the ceiling. Smoke billowed out of her mouth but rolled down over her body as if it was heavier then the air around them. The floor was entirely covered with the stuff, making it as if the rooms floor was made of gaseous shadows.

Before their eyes, some of the black mist spiraled upwards then compounded and expanded into limbs and a head until a woman stood there, tall and pale. The same woman who had killed the thing that killed Saga.

It was Death Herself.

The priest fell to his knees, staring into the floor. “My goddess!” He called out, half in exaltation, half in terror. The Goddess looked to him and spoke in that same cold voice again. “Please. Leave us. This conversation is for only these two. Go in my name, child of death.” She said and the priest shot up to his feet and left as he was half running for the door.

“Come to me. Saga Ljungborg. Sasha Vladivostok.” The goddess spoke as the two stepped into the room, hesitation written large across both their faces. This was a lot to take in, even for Sasha who was well aware of the gods and lived with them as part of her world since she was first born. But hand in hand, they steeled themselves and walked inside.

The door slowly shut behind them.