“A fine display, Ivor. I commend your bravery, even if it will result in your demise,” a soft voice said.

I sighed in irritation and looked up to see a smiling, androgynous face looking down at me. “May I help you…?” I trailed off, hoping to receive a name.

“I am Krathu. A deity of healing and compassion. Gruldia knows me quite well,” they said.

“Krathu! I am quite embarrassed to appear before you dressed like this. I did not expect to see you here, nor did I have the time to change,” Gruldia said, covering as much of her supple flesh as she could.

Krathu laughed, a musical, pleasant sound and gazed down at Gruldia. “Oh, you needn’t worry about that, my dear. You serve me faithfully, and that is all I can ask for. As for whatever you get up to on your own time, that is your business. Even when you pleasured yourself upon my altar, I was not offended. Surprised and understanding, but not offended,” they said with a benevolent smile. Turning to me, they said, “Now. As for you. I’m simply pleased that someone, especially a mortal, was unafraid of Xendarr enough to put him in his place. It will likely lead to your demise, you know. He may be a coward, but he is vengeful, jealous, and petty. I would take great care in dealing with him.”

I mulled this information over for a minute, pinching and rolling my lower lip, as I stared off into the middle distance. Krathu waited patiently for me to be prepared enough to question them. “So, you’re saying I may have to kill a god?” I asked.

They laughed that musical laugh again. “Oh, but you are a feisty one! My friend, I think you will find that quite impossible. No matter how much rage you have pent up, or how much love you have for your people, no power you may wield can truly kill a god. The absolute best you can hope for is a stalemate. The most likely outcome is your tortured, prolonged, and painful death. Xendarr is the Goblin’s god of acquisition. He takes what he wants, and intimidates others into compliance. He failed to do so with you. You have made his ‘shit list’, as they say. You may do as you please, but I would suggest you make peace with your life,” Krathu stated plainly.

“So you’re saying I definitely have to kill a god. Got it,” I said, staring them in the eyes. “Krathu, with all due respect, I think you’ll find that I am hard to kill. If Xendarr is as much of a coward as you’re saying, he will not attempt the deed himself. Instead, he will send “emissaries” of his will. I will simply have to prepare for this, and be vigilant at all times.” I sighed and fixed Krathu with a hard stare, causing them to tilt their head. “Know this: I will not back down, I will not show fear. I will also not make the first attack. I will simply respond in kind. If he wants a battle, I have more gods I can, and will call upon. My patron here is not the only god of my pantheon. He may be a god of fertility and ecstasy, but he is also an accomplished warrior. I, and Humanity as a whole, am not to be taken lightly. Nearly all of our multitude of gods have some experience with warfare,” I said softly.

“My Son is correct, friend. My divine family is ready to come to his aid at a moment’s notice, and all of us are willing and able to fight. If Xendarr himself comes for him, we will aid him. However, if all he sends are mortals, with the exception of a possible blessing, he will have to face them on his own. We are harsh, but fair. I ask you this from one deity to another: Try to keep Xendarr from doing anything stupid. Convince him to put this matter behind him. I assure you, all we want is peace, but we will not be cowed into submission again. Apologies have been given, and for Ivor, that was the end of it. He will harbor no grudge, nor ill will toward Xendarr or to his children,” he said amiably. “In fact, I think there is one that he cares a great deal for, right, Gruldia?” he asked.

Gruldia blushed and giggled, her ears wiggling like mad. Krathu looked upon their charge and smiled happily. “So I see. Gruldia, if you truly wish to continue, you have my blessing, my dear. Just don’t forget your duties at the temple, is all I ask,” they said

“I can? Krathu, are you certain? I thought it was forbidden to…” she trailed off, fidgeting.

“Take a mate? No, dearest. It is not forbidden. Simply unusual. For most of my charges -as I cannot have children of my own, you see- the joy of serving and healing is enough for them. You, my dear, are a special case. Your history as a breeder, especially one of your renown, was well known to me before you came to my temple. I knew what you would have issue with, and what would eventually happen. I just didn’t foresee it being something like this. Know that I am happy for you, dear. Cherish it as long as it lasts,” they said.

Gruldia wept for joy, her long ears practically vibrating. “I can do that, Krathu,” she said, sniffling. Turning to me, she took my hands and said, “Did you hear that, Ivor? Krathu has given their blessing. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“It is, Gruldia. It is,” I said, smiling at my little Goblin. Turning to Krathu, I asked, “Just what does that mean, exactly? Does that mean that typically, your order is discouraged from taking a partner?”

“Discouraged? No, my boy. It just isn’t something that normally happens. Most of my followers want nothing more than to heal and help others. I mean that literally. Some have subsisted on nothing more than the joy and bliss of healing for decades. No partners, no mates, no friends, even. Just the joy of healing. Gruldia is…different. She enjoys healing others, yes, but it doesn’t fill her the same way it does most of my others. I recognize this. Others of my order cannot, and that is the catch. You see, the council maintains no more than three Clerics on the premises, and these rotate out. Only my Head Cleric may meet with me, and that is Gruldia. For her to take a mate is highly irregular. She may wind up being ostracized by her fellows. She has a good heart, and a powerful spirit, and I would hate to lose such a talented Cleric. Especially to what may amount to little more than jealousy,” they explained.

I chewed on the last bite of my steak in contemplation. “What if she had someone to vouch for her? Someone to verify that yes, this allowance came directly from you?” I asked.

“That would be helpful to her. And myself, of course. Are you hinting that you would be such a one?” they asked slyly.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

I laughed softly. “As if any would believe me. But yes, I would,” I said.

“Very well. Stand, Ivor Freyrsson,” they commanded. I stood, Freyr watching in curiosity. Krathu touched my forehead and I felt….something….flow into me. “There. Any that are capable will know that you bear my mark. It is different than bearing your Patron’s. His is affixed to your soul, and none may override it. Mine is within your flesh. It is temporary, his will last for an eternity. All will know that I have allowed her taking of a mate,” they said with finality.

Freyr clapped me on the shoulder, “Good job, Son! You’ve angered one shitty god, and found favor with one awesome one. Kind of proud of you. Not gonna lie,” he said.

Krathu tittered in amusement, and said “I shall take my leave now. I hope to see you here again, Gruldia. Preferably even happier than you are now. I bid you a good day.” We watched as the slender, androgynous god turned and walked off into the distance, then simply winked out of existence.

“Well. This morning has certainly been interesting. If this is what awaits me every time I come to the Council, I need to brush up on some skills,” I said, shaking my head in wonder.

I saw Gruldia’s ears droop, and I knew something had to be bothering her. I picked her up and sat her in my lap, where she quickly wrapped her arms around me and held herself close to my chest. “Talk to me. What’s on your mind?” I said.

“You have to leave. That’s what’s on my mind. I’ve just had a taste of what life can be like when I’m treated like a person, and now it’s going to be taken from me,” she mumbled.

“I understand. I feel much the same. Being with you is absolutely enjoyable; especially in bed, but I have a feeling that the two of us learning who you are and can be out of bed will be just as rewarding, if not moreso.” At her quizzical look, I continued. “What do you like to do for fun besides sex?” She looked at me blankly, and I kept on, “What kind of music do you like? What’s your favorite food? Your favorite book? What sort of weird little trivia do you have tucked away inside that beautiful head of yours?” She blushed and I asked her, “What kind of plans do you now have for your life, Gruldia? Do you want to see if we can make babies? Do you want to plan a retirement? Hmm? These are all part of what makes a person even more real. These are things that you can learn about yourself. Especially now that you have someone who will support you in that, and encourage you to try new things.”

She looked downcast, and I hugged her close. “I don’t know any of those things about myself, Ivor. All I’ve ever done is fuck, give birth and heal people. I never thought to look after me. Just imagine, having to learn who you are at the ripe old age of four hundred,” she said with a snort.

“I did it when I was thirty-five. Proportionally speaking, about the same time as you. I had no idea who I was, either. Just did what was expected of me, and became whatever and whomever others wanted. Took me nearly a decade, but I eventually figured out who and what I am, and now, I’m living my honest truth. You’ll get there, too. I promise,” I said, kissing her forehead.

She sighed and snuggled close, and we all sat there for a few minutes, enjoying the spring air. Eventually, Freyr spoke up. “We should go, Son. Gruldia has duties to attend to, and you need to gather your things.”

I sighed and nodded. Gruldia held onto me tighter. I mentally shrugged and held my hand out for my rats, and they ran up my arm, perching on my shoulders, grasping my ears for support. I wrapped an arm around Gruldia’s nearly bare bottom, and stood, snuggling the Goblin woman close. Together, we walked out of the Hall of The Gods, and into the main hallway, where Mil’Grash was waiting.

“Good. I see that the meeting went well. Any issues?” she asked.

“Oh, nothing major. Just Xendarr wants to kill me thanks to an intentional slight, and Krathu has officially sanctioned Gruldia and I. You know. The normal stuff,” I said.

“You…Xendarr…Wha? And Krathu? Just…” she sputtered.

Gruldia giggled in my arms, then turned and spoke, “You should have seen him, Mil’Grash! Xendarr was pissed. All because Ivor stood up to him. Stood up for me.” She looked into my eyes, caressing my cheek. “My Ivor. Stood up to a god for a Goblin woman,” she said softly. “Uh, and Freyr, too. Yeah,” she hastily added, then buried her face in my neck, somewhat embarrassed.

“And Krathu? Her god. Sanctioned Gruldia taking a mate?” she prompted.

“Yeah. Both they and Gruldia figured she might run into trouble with the other Clerics, so Krathu kinda….rubber stamped me, I guess? Placed their mark on me. In my flesh. As a sign that this was sanctioned by them for any with eyes to see,” I said with a shrug. Gruldia’s breath quickened a bit when I did.

Mil’Grash looked at me again, and nodded. “You’ve certainly changed things around here, Ivor. Not that that’s a bad thing. But Xendarr? You’ve certainly picked the worst god to upset.” She sighed, shaking her head. “But I honestly can’t expect anything else from a Human, now that I’ve been able to meet one. Anyway. On to the next order of business. You will be leaving us today, so I am to teach you how to return on your own. You will, unfortunately, have to put the Goblin down,” she said, a broad smile on her face.

Gruldia squeezed me tighter, and held on for dear life. “Gruldia. I need to know what she has to teach. If you want me to return, I must know this,” I said gently as I kneeled.

“But I don’t want you to go. Can’t you just stay here? With me?” she begged.

“I’m afraid not, Gruldia. I checked the rules and laws. This is an interdimensional and interplanar space. As he was not selected by the Multiversal Entity, he cannot stay here for an extended length of time. After the Council has closed its business for the session, he can be here no longer than two days. At the latest, he must leave tomorrow. He also has business to attend to on his home planet. He doesn’t know it yet, but just like the other Council members, he is about to become a rather important person there,” Mil’Grash said gently.

“I wouldn’t count on that, Mil’Grash. Unless Daktu’un finds a way to contact Earth and directly ask for me, I’ll not be important there. Even conversing with Freyr will be difficult,” I said.

“Gruldia. Let go of him. If you want to see him again, please let go of him,” Freyr said softly.

Slowly, she let me go, standing on the carpet next to me. She stood there, looking forlorn and lost.

“Come with me, Ivor. I will teach you how to open a portal to the Council Hall,” Mil’Grash stated, then walked off down the hallway.

Gruldia clung to Freyr’s pant leg as she watched me walk down the hall and disappear around a corner.