He didn’t know which one it could be at all.

There was mint, thyme, rosemary, coriander, fennel and many other common herbs. All were completely unassuming and fitting the bill for the plant, but non seemed out of the usual. They didn’t smell different, they didn’t feel different, they didn’t even taste different.

It was just infuriating.

He had tried to try and sense auras like Ercole, hoping his higher magical attunement might help, but he couldn’t. He felt nothing when he tried and he’d have to ask Ercole to teach him how to do it later, just in case…

But now was not the time for that.

Agrippa had changed into some sort of hare and was sniffing each of the plants. He wasn’t sure if they could smell anything more than he could, but any idea was worth trying. Even if it was more for moral support than anything.

Ercole was trying his best with his magic and Shani was- well- trying to be helpful but entirely unsure on how to do so.

Then Hreysti was keeping watch, walking around the perimeter as he searched around. Axe out, ears and eyes alert.

Dyo bent down as he looked at a small rosemary plant. Perfectly average but with a strong smell.

He paused.

The potion made with the herb was going to use a base of red wine… And he had experimented a lot with different wine mixes, with thyme and rosemary pairing well with reds…

It might just make sense that it would be one of those two herbs. It didn’t entirely line up with it being a spice a few hundred years ago, but it could have been one that went well with it too.

It was his best guess. This rosemary… It seemed to stick out to him a little as he looked at it. It had a few blemished needles unlike any of the others, like one taken care of by an inexperienced or overworked gardener. Unlike the others that seemed to radiate a little in their brilliance and perfect state. An average plant.

“Hey, everyone-“

“They’re fucking here!”

He snapped around, catching Hreysti charging out of the forest, the thunder of a herd not too far behind him. A low, constantly approaching rumble.

He picked the rosemary, pulling most of the plant off as he bolted up. His legs moving even before he realised that he was running. Following shortly after Hreysti, Shani, Agrippa and Ercole.

But even as he ran, he made sure to jump over the ring of plants around the grove. Angering the gods any further wouldn’t do him any good.

None of them had any breath to talk as they ran, instead focusing on trying not to trip over the roots and vines of the forest.

Behind them the sound of pounding hoofs grew louder and louder. He flicked his head around, only to be met with very real evidence that it was the Custyr. Their hoofs having little issue traversing the rough forest floor.

He didn’t count how many there were, he couldn’t focus on that. All he could do was run. Just trying to get away from them and their swords.

But he kept his eyes away from where he was going for too long.

His feet clipped over an exposed root, sending him tumbling to the ground, the herb still grasped in his hand.

He turned, looking around to see a Custyr bearing down on him, about to strike.

He tried to push away.

And then saw a familiar axe cut into their throat. Blood sprayed out as the beast’s hands rushed to the wound, letting out a gurgling scream.

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“Get the fuck up!”

Hreysti yanked him up, pushing him forwards as he started to run again.

His lungs started to hurt, a slow-burning starting to envelop them as every breath of air seemed to sear his lungs. Spital welling in his mouth like a horse as he started to approach his limits.

He didn’t know how far they had ran. He didn’t know how long. All he knew was that he had to keep going.

But the light was in front of them. The light of the edge of the forest?

There wasn’t any more breath for him to think any more and he just went for it like everyone else.

All five of them charging straight back into the clearing. The same one.

But now, at the centre of it in the pavilion-

Was Athervi herself.

She sat at a firm oak table on a finely crafted dark wood throne. On the table lay a bowl of olives and a salet helm which her hand rested on. Even in his breathless state he couldn’t help but notice the unique owl-like visor attached to it.

But looking up from that was the goddess. A muscular, tall, beautiful, yet stern-looking woman with short, curly brown hair and piercing silver eyes. Her clothes were about as beautifully crafted as her chair and helm. A green and grey dress with silver pauldrons that somehow managed to fit with her outfit perfectly flowing down her form.

She studied them, swirling a clear tonic in a delicate glass goblet held in her other hand.

“It seems like you survived, good. Well then, I’m glad to meet you, Dyonaigus and friends.”

Dyo was still gasping for air when it finally hit him. That one of his gods was sitting there, right in front of him.

He dropped to his knees, bowing his head.

“No need to drop down, you shouldn’t be so formal with extended family and friends.” She said, waving her hand, “Your own friends can also have the same privilege too.” They added, eyeing Agrippa.

They bolted up, swallowing as they looked at the goddess, unable to meet her eyes.

“I see you managed to find it Dyonaigus, it seems like you do have a spark of wisdom inside you...”

“T-this is your herb?”

“Yes. I’m fairly proud of creating it, though Emra and your father did help a little. You can keep it.”

Ercole swallowed, “I am terribly sorry, your divine holiness for intruding on your sacred ground!”

Her eyes glanced at him, “It’s good to see that you’re sorry, but I was fully aware of the intentions of this group from the start. I don’t take being compared to human nobles particularly flattering however, young scholar. Though you were correct that I would pay attention once you walked inside my northern retreat. Too many people have sullied it for me to not keep a good eye on it.”

“Wait!” Dyo blurted out, “H-have you talked to my father recently!?”

He had to know.

She seemed a little taken aback, but composed herself again in a moment, “I have. He hosted a party after you and your friends killed that knight. Seemingly partly as a celebration of his most recent son's exploits, and partly to show off the various psychedelics he had created that month. Needless to say, I didn’t engage in that even if Yaawha seemed perfectly happy to entertain his insanity.”

It was Ercole’s turn to go slack-jawed, “Y-Yaawha- H-he goes to your parties?” he asked, his voice weak.

“I might be revealing a little too much, but yes. Ever since around- oh- two thousand years ago? But yes, they do speak to us a fair bit and often have to apologise for their followers’ actions to the rest of us. Poor thing…”

Dyo wasn’t sure if the usually confident nobleman could recover from that in a timely manner. But- It was surprising…

“Dyonaigus, your father also wanted me to-“ She groaned, “commend you on your “inventive” way of enacting your vengeance. Especially when applying your powers against a set of thugs earlier this week. I would however, like to add that you could perhaps gain more strategic acumen for future encounters. Violence and creative ways of cathartically killing or immobilising your foes will only get you so far. Strategy is queen.”

“Yes, Athervi.”

“Good. I don’t like watching wanna-be adventures ignoring my domains and getting killed. It’s excruciating watching them fail in such a simple way. Hopefully, my gift will help in that, however, you need a krater to make use of it, and that is something Calsyniacus decided to help you with.”

She snapped her fingers, and a lumbering Custyr walked out of the forest with a painted bronze bell-shaped krater.

Agrippa cowered away from it with Hreysti and Shani brandishing their weapons. But it paid them no heed. Simply depositing the vessel a few feet from Dyo before wandering back into the forest.

Around the body of the vessel was painted a scene of a Calsynian cult meeting. All of the attendees engaged in the ritualistic drinking and enjoying the loosening of their inhibitions. Just like the one he had attended on the night before that fateful day…

“He says also that you shouldn’t hold back with your powers with those who threaten you, or the ones you love. That and you should enjoy your time with your friends to the fullest with wine mixed in here. He may have other matters to attend to, but, like us all, we keep an eye out for our children.”

A broad smile spread across his face, “I-I wish I could thank him myself! A-and meet him…”

“In time he may come. He certainly is a- interesting, deity. Though you’ll find that the pot can mercifully be shrunk. Go, walk to it.”

He swallowed, stepping forward.

“Now place your hand against it and will it to be smaller.”

He did so, placing his hand onto one of its handles and-

It shrank, growing smaller and smaller until it was no larger than a cup and no heavier.

“I think that will be portable enough for you. The sizing-up process works much the same way and the brewing is also fairly easy for a man like you. Now, go. You will have safe passage, but I don’t want uninvited guests here lingering around, got it?”