Arianna's Lotus [http://i.imgur.com/oOhwKDZ.png]

Chapter Twenty-One

Union

“If we don’t have to travel through Falrrsald again for a few years, that would be wonderful,” I stated, leaning back on a sofa within our temple. Nalithor sat down beside me, sighing, and pulled me to his side. “Were you able to contact anyone?”

“It will be a while before they can send an airship to take us back to Dauthrmir,” Nalithor replied, grimacing. “Yiltanys mentioned something in regards to a portal connected to our temple in Dauthrmir, but…”

“Really?” I murmured, resting my head against Nalithor’s upper arm. “Having our temples connected would make sense. We can’t always rely on Vorpmasia’s airships and we don’t have our own fleet. Walking everywhere wouldn’t help us be efficient as deities.”

“If we use the portal to return it will surely make the Jivyador more suspicious of us.” Nalithor sighed heavily, stroking one of my tails while we thought. “I doubt we can push them much further before something breaks. With how many people still believe they’re the true Elders, I can’t help but worry we could end up with most of Avrirsa turned against us.”

“That would make our work…interesting, at least.” I grimaced. “I’d rather avoid that happening, but I can’t help but think the possibility is one of the reasons we have this temple here. Whether it’s three days now or three millennia, we can’t be everyone’s ally forever if we’re to act as Balance.”

“You want to wait for an airship, then?” Nalithor glanced down at me with a questioning frown.

“Let’s take a look through the most recent reports first and see if there’s anything to warrant a hasty return,” I replied. “If we don’t find anything pressing, then I don’t see a reason for us to use the portal to get back. We could use the time waiting to prioritize and finalize our plans moving forward.”

“Which would be prudent, given how impossibly much is on our plate.” Nalithor nodded, still frowning. “We should rest for another day, then dive into reviewing the reports. There is much for us to investigate around Eormir and in the Lari’xan’s domains, if you grow bored…or if they decide to put us to work rather than permitting us to rest.”

“Dinner?” I suggested.

“Perhaps later.” Nalithor pulled me fully into his lap and nuzzled my ears. “I want to savor the view with you for a little while longer.”

I looked out the wall of windows nearby, a contented smile coming to my face. It was a beautiful view…though it could have been improved with the destruction of X’shmiran buildings. The sun was setting, bathing the decrepit city and its surroundings in vibrant colors. A sigh escaped me as I relaxed into Nalithor’s lap and rubbed my cheek into the crook of his neck.

The Lari’xan had given us an incredible place to call “home.” That was something I couldn’t deny, even if Sihix’s personality made me call their motives into question constantly. I figured, with some luck, we might be able to manipulate the Jivyador into “allowing” us to use the temple as our permanent residence. As much as I’d come to adore the Dauthrmiran palace, there was something to be said about having somewhere to truly call our own. A place where we determined who was allowed in, to be guests, or to be our servants.

“It is lacking dedicated guards or an army though.” Nalithor chuckled, squeezing me. “I wonder what the Jivyador would do if we began searching for or assigning Chosen…”

“Let’s keep it truly to ourselves for a little while longer,” I murmured, shifting to kiss the side of his neck. “I think we can wait until we’ve indulged in each other in every room.”

“Gladly.” Nalithor laughed, giving one of my tails a brief tug before resting his hand on my hip.

☽ ✷ ☾

With no immediate matters for us to investigate, we decided to wait a week for the next airship to come to Eormir and finish its business. We had finally left the region earlier in the morning and, now during the late afternoon, Dauthrmir was coming into view.

Alala had stayed at our temple near Eormir so that she could work on her training as a Guardian and to protect the building for us. Djialkan and Fraelfnir were working the Lari’xan and the dragons of Falrrsald, but they were planning to join us as soon as they were done.

‘Sleep well?’ I asked when I felt Nalithor’s face shift against my shoulder. A low purr left him as he shifted to kiss my throat, his arms wrapping around my waist.

‘I want to go back to our temple,’ Nalithor stated.

‘It’s a little late for that.’ I smiled, reaching up to stroke his hair. ‘Take a look outside. Look at how well the residential district is coming along!’

Nalithor grumbled, shifting until he could look out the window to my left without having to release me. He was silent, his frosty eyes quickly taking in the new additions and the scaffolding in places.

“It doesn’t feel as if I’ve been away long enough for so many changes to have happened,” Nalithor remarked, a sheepish smile on his face. “I wish to check in at the academy, but we should probably speak with your father first.”

“Indeed, we need to let him know we’re fine, and see how war preparations are going.” I nodded, watching as my nylziis finally sat up and stretched his arms over his head. “What do you want to look into at the academy?”

“I want to know if they have made any progress regarding the crystals I brought back from the structure in the Suthsul Desert.” Nalithor grimaced, crossing his legs. “Leaving that place alone doesn’t sit well with me. I would prefer if we looked into it before this war of ours, especially with the temple’s proximity to the Vorpmasian territories.”

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“We’ll want to make certain both of us are involved if we need to venture to the temple again, too,” I remarked, sliding my hand into Nalithor’s. “For practical reasons as well as pleasurable ones.”

Once the airship was docked, we gathered our things and left our private room. It felt good to be back in Dauthrmir, though I found myself missing the quiet of our temple. Nalithor chuckled, squeezing me, as we made our way through the Sapphire Quarter and toward the palace.

‘We should still exercise some degree of caution while in the city,’ I remarked, squeezing closer to Nalithor’s side. He shot me a small frown, before a look of recognition crossed his features. ‘I was reassigned because of the Beshulthien’s schemes, after all. I’m not convinced they’ll have given up by now.’

‘Stay with me at all times.’ Nalithor laughed when I promptly put my arms around his torso and squeezed, my ears flicking backward. ‘I will need to make an official report if I’m to keep up appearances with the Jivyador. With any luck, I can convince them to “allow” us to utilize the portal between our temples. It’s for the best we don’t tempt the Vampires, or strain the Imperial Guard.’

“Arianna, Nalithor!” Lucifer greeted us at the palace gates and promptly pulled us both into a warm hug. “I’ve had lunch for the three of us brought to my study. I want you to tell me everything!”

“Shouldn’t I check in with the Claws and Fangs?” I asked as Lucifer excitedly ushered us toward the palace.

“You can catch up with them later,” Lucifer scoffed. “Most of them are busy with work. They’ve been busy, and effective, since beginning work with your new allies. The rest are studying, guarding your wing of the palace, tending to Lalira…”

When we reached my father’s study, he sighed heavily after shutting the door behind us. Nalithor conjured a barrier around the room before pulling me over to the sitting area. Once the three of us were seated, my father took on a far more serious demeanor.

“I’m of half a mind to send the two of you back to your temple the moment the airship is finished refueling,” Father stated flatly. “Darius’ influence is spreading like wildfire. There’s multiple Beshulthien territories now pushing for us to surrender the two of you into their custody. Darius’ ‘clone’ has them believing you are false gods. Beshulthien merchants have been spreading much the same within our borders too—and it’s been sticking.”

“But, what of the war with the N’lafmarans?” I protested. “If we’re going to help with that, then you’ll need us here.”

“You’re not going to be helping.” Lucifer shook his head. “The Alliance will handle it. Officially, the two of you are removed from active duty to plan for your wedding.”

“And unofficially?” Nalithor narrowed his eyes.

“I need the two of you to do your damned jobs as gods!” Lucifer exclaimed, shaking his head hard. “Darius and his lies need to be stopped, beasts need to be dealt with… I’m sure there’s more you need to do that I’m not aware of.

“While I would love to enlist you both to help me further in Vorpmasia, I can’t in good conscience do that.”

“I know how we could eliminate one of those issues immediately,” Nalithor murmured, stroking his chin. ‘How…important is a wedding to you?’

‘It isn’t. We can have one to appease our families later,’ I answered without hesitation. Nalithor squeezed my hand and I heard his heart beating a little faster.

“I will be making a report to the Elders later today,” Nalithor began in response to my father’s impatient stare, “If I tell them I’ve chosen Arianna to be my goddess, they will have no choice but to acknowledge us and to put a halt to anyone else attempting to become Balance.”

“But, a wedding—” Father began.

“A wedding isn’t more important than our jobs,” I pointed out, earning a dejected sigh. “Once the dust has settled, we can see about having a proper wedding.”

“You’re certain about this? Both of you?” Father looked between Nalithor and me a few times.

“Absolutely.” Nalithor nodded, as did I. “It’s one of the few problems that has a simple and pleasant solution. We would be fools if we didn’t act.”

“Very well,” Father relented. “If you both believe this to be the best decision, I will support you in it. Leave Lysander and Ellena to me—I will help them understand.”

After lunch with my father was over, he returned to his duties and I accompanied Nalithor to our wing of the palace. We declined taking an airship back to our temple since we had other ways to go there and other places to be. I just hoped the Jivyador could be reasoned with.

“This place reeks of Vampires,” Nalithor muttered, pulling me closer. He fell silent for a moment, then summoned a shadowy door immediately in front of us. Before I could question him, he pulled me through it and we reappeared within his Dauthrmiran temple. However, he didn’t release me.

“Teleporting a mortal?!” A gravelly voice came from our right. I glanced around Nalithor and raised an eyebrow. Sure enough, a Jivyador stood several feet away from us. The people working in the temple bowed, curtsied, or dropped to their knees to pay their respect to the false Elder. “How dare you abuse your powers in such a way! Should you continue such blatant misuse—”

“A mortal?” Nalithor asked, his voice a rumble that made the Jivyador pause in confusion. “Arianna is the Goddess of Balance. You take no issue with the other deities teleporting to and from temples—be it their own or someone else’s. Why should we be restricted from doing the same?”

“G-Goddess…” Excited whispers rippled through the people present. I glanced at the large room, noting there appeared to be people other than the Claws and Fangs present. Some looked to be commoners or nobles. Nearby were what looked to be offerings of incense, flowers, and trinkets.

“You…you have chosen a goddess?” The Jivyador blinked, glancing between us. Under other circumstances, I would have taken offense to his clear shock. “I thought you had planned to never choose a mate!”

“She is my wife. My mate. Do you take issue with that?” Nalithor pulled me closer to him, and I made a show of nuzzling up against his side.

“I— Of course not! There is just so much to do!” The Jivyador exclaimed, waving a handful of magic around. “I will make Her Highness a goddess at once. Then, I must go make certain the other candidates cease their activities!”

The Jivyador’s hands glowed brighter with magic, then the man disappeared. Though his magic was laughable at best, the sensation of someone else’s familiar magic drifted around Nalithor and I briefly. I glanced to the side, catching a shadow slinking out of the room and down the hall.

‘Well, the Lari’xan are useful when they wish to be,’ Nalithor remarked before turning his attention to the room of elated Vorpmasians. “I’m afraid we can’t stay long, but we thank you for your gifts.”

“What now?” I asked once we’d finally managed to escape to an empty sitting room.

“Several of my colleagues from the academy are going to bring us the information they’ve gathered regarding the structure near the Suthsul Desert,” Nalithor offered, pulling me into his lap. “Once that’s done… We will use the Lari’xan’s portal to return to our temple by Eormir. I want to wait a few days for your ‘ascension’ to spread throughout the Alliance before we do anything else.

“Once Djialkan and Fraelfnir have finished their work with the Lari’xan, we will make our way to the Suthsul Desert.”

“You mean take a few days to celebrate our marriage?” I teased, pulling myself up a little to give him a quick kiss on the lips.

“There will be a plentiful amount of that as well, my dear.”

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