season content notes: violence, abduction

Iberto did look around and saw things he had not last time. The longing on the faces of the many goddes who did not have Called. The monks standing, fuming, at the edges of the room. The awe of the few worshippers who remained, witnessing this moment when (to their eyes) one of the goddes would appear to claim his priest.

Each sacrifice would be different, the goddess whispered in his mind. So Iberto wasn’t surprised when the new Called didn’t leave her blood on the altar. Instead, she gathered her long hair into a braid and cut it off, laying the shorn length upon the altar. It shone blindingly for a moment before fading into nothingness.

Iberto did not hear the prayer she offered, but he didn’t need to. He could feel the tension of the half-fulfilled call echoing through the room. It didn’t last long as Han quickly spoke, calling the woman, now a new Called in truth, to his service. For a long moment, the two — Han and his Called — just stared at each other, as if each was afraid the other would disappear if they looked away.

Then, as one, they turned to Iberto and the Great Goddess. Perhaps, Iberto thought, they meant to offer thanks for bringing them together.

They spoke as one. “How dare you!”

The temple dissolved into chaos.

___

Iberto had been coming to terms with the many ways he had changed since becoming Called. Almost, he thought he had become used to them.

Ha!

Nothing could have prepared him for standing in the middle of the high altar room, arguing with the goddes themselves.

In hindsight, he should have expected many of the goddes to be upset. Though they were eager to regain old powers, to have Called hunted down and forcibly brought before them was a complete overturning of the old ways.

The old ways, Iberto told Han (loudly) were not working. Or did the godde wish Iberto had allowed him to fade out of existence rather than helping?

Around them, other goddes and Called were shouting questions, horror, demands, support…

The Great Goddess remained Iberto’s silent shadow. She said nothing aloud, but gave Iberto her full support and backed him with her power. Perhaps that was why, when the argument devolved from logic and reason to outbursts of emotion, Iberto’s heartfelt cry came as the roar of a great cat.

Even as the echoes of that roar faded, Iberto was speaking, unable to hold back his heart-truth, Iberto spoke words he had not dared admit, even to himself. “I will not again stand by and watch while my family dies around me!”

The room was stunned to silence. Absently, Iberto noticed that the human worshippers had all vanished — fled, if they had sense, when the fighting started.

Before Han or his Called or any of their supporters could find a response — his confession — another godde stepped forward. “Nor should you have to.”

The Scaled One, the goddess’ voice whispered into Iberto’s mind, and Balance-keeper.

“The hunt-called speaks truth,” the Scaled One said. “We are dying. Does any dispute this?”

Once again, silence filled the great room.

“We have tried much, over the years, to regain our power, but every year more of us lose our Called with none to replace them. Every year more fade and several have been lost entirely.

“Does any dispute this?”

Some murmured this time, but no one spoke out.

“So. The Great Goddess and Her Called have brought us a solution. A solution which has already brought a new Called and restored Han the Sun to full goddehood.”

“It should not have been this way,” the new Called cried out. “I don’t…” she looked at Han, “I am glad to have found my god, but to force me here. It is a violation.”

The Scaled One turned to Iberto. “I do not dispute this,” Iberto said, “What is fulfillment to one godde is violation to another, so it always has been, so it should remain. By the same measure, to make me stop my hunt would also be a violation, and a greater one, for it would bind me for life and I released the new Called to make her own choice.”

The Sun’s Called looked like she wanted to argue, but stayed silent.

“So, and so,” the Scaled One said. “The violation is a matter between two goddes, and you shall deal with it yourselves. But the death of the goddes is a matter for us all.

“Here is my balance — the hunt-called shall continue his hunts. Any Called who are violated by this will be owed repayment, and the hunt-called is urged to use greater care in how he approaches those who could be Called.

“Those who would stop the hunt-called are charged to come up with another solution. Another way to restore the fading goddes.

“When another solution is found, the hunt-called shall give over his hunt and give his aid to the new way!”

“Accepted,” the Great Goddess replied, and Iberto bowed his head in acquiesce. Slowly, other voices called out, accepting the Scaled One’s judgment.

Finally, only one voice remained. “So be it,” Han the Sun ground out. He turned and stalked from the room, his Called following behind.

___

The next day, Iberto went to the gardens, looking forward to spending time with Hannu and the Green.

But Hannu’s face when he arrived stopped him in his tracks.

“I cannot do this, Iberto,” she said.

“Cannot do what?”

“We will abide by the agreement, but what you have done makes a travesty and a disgrace of the calling. And you say will do it again? Over and over?” Hannu wiped her eyes and looked away. “I cannot sit and talk with you and act as if everything is the same when it will never be the same again.”

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