Season Content Notes: play violence

Iberto sat up that night, watching his brother sleep on the couch in the wrecked altar room. He had never expected to have a brother again, never realized that his goddess’ priests would be his siblings.

One day, there would be more siblings, many siblings. But for now — for a long time to come — it would be just the two of them, facing the world and their goddess together.

When Amir began to stir, restless and waking, Iberto slipped out of the room to find a nearby hiding place. Soon, the hunt would begin.

Amir emerged from the altar room, eyes intent as he searched for Iberto or the Goddess. He would have to learn to tap into his connection with the Great Goddess through his hunts. The minstrel took his time, closed his eyes, and Iberto felt him searching for the connection between them. A quick learner. This would serve the minstrel well in the hunt.

It was Iberto who Amir found first, and with a whoop Iberto broke from hiding and led Amir on the chase. Just as Iberto had begun his training, Amir would hunt Iberto and the goddess through the temple, learning as they went the shape of the temple and the people there.

He would not learn as much as Iberto had, for his connection to the goddess was and always would be weaker than that of the Chosen. But he would learn enough.

Iberto led the way through the temple complex, keeping enough ahead of Amir that the minstrel had to keep his mind on the hunt to follow well. A leg disappearing behind a corner here, a brief laugh in the dark there. It was surprisingly fun to have a sibling like Amir.

They dashed through the kitchen, dodging sleepy cooks pulling bread out of the ovens, who cursed good-naturedly as Iberto stole a bun on his way past. Then into the gardens where the Green and Idressa the Growing held sway. (Hannu was still gone on her quest and, whatever she might think of him, Iberto wished her luck and the blessing of all the gods.)

Iberto ate the bun as he ran toward the less well-kept areas of the temple. The altars of goddes that were, and the place of some of the weaker goddes that still lived. Iberto-that-was had shredded his feet on these stones, but that had led him to become what his Goddess needed him to be. The Goddess led him to turn down a hall she had not shown him in their first hunt-play.

Stopping before a doorway, Iberto allowed Amir to catch up. Amir grabbed him, and they went to the floor in a tangle of limbs. With skill honed wrestling a goddess, Iberto threw Amir off of him and through the doorway. He rushed to pin his brother before Amir could again find his feet.

It was a few minutes before Amir stopped struggling, but when he did, Iberto pulled his head up so he could look around the abandoned library. “Here are your answers, brother.”

The minstrel stared at the dusty shelves and crumbling scrolls and books. Iberto did not know what shape Amir’s answers would take, but he knew they were among the words written on the pages in this place. At least, the answers he needed soon.

Iberto allowed Amir to get up when he nodded agreement.

“I thought the Great Goddess was…” Amir trailed off — wisely, in Iberto’s opinion. Whatever Amir would have been taught was best forgotten. “She is the hunt in all its forms. For me, that means hunting people — those who are needed by the goddes and those who threaten them. For you, it means knowledge. And most of your training will be in how to find it.”

“I want answers,” Amir said to himself. Then, directed at Iberto. “I HUNT answers. And a library is a good hiding place for my… my prey?”

“Exactly.” Iberto grinned. “You will have many hunts, some small, some large, and one, if you are lucky two, great hunts which will be the work of your life.” Iberto frowned, feeling The Great Goddess’ warning. From the way Amir flinched, he felt it as well.

“What–” Amir started.

Iberto cut him off. “No questions, my brother. For you, especially. Answers are your prey, and once a question is asked we cannot answer it.” Iberto grinned. “Which is why she is displeased. I must have more care with my words, it seems.”

“I see. Then, I shall begin my hunt here. I know what questions I would ask, but I must find the answers myself.” Both of them felt the Goddess’s pleasure at his acceptance.

“Good, my brother.”

---

It was late in the day when the Called of the Balance sought out the sun-called.

The sun-called was in the gardens, probably enjoying the transition from day to evening. She had even brought the last of her afternoon meal to enjoy there.

The balance-called waved to the sun-called — Kira, her name was — “Greetings, sun-called. Can we talk?”

Kira looked up and smiled. “Certainly. What would you like to talk about?”

The balance-called crossed the gardens and dropped to the ground next to Kira. “Something unhappy, I think. I see a debt between you and Iberto. Would you tell me about it?”

Kira’s smile disappeared, and she looked away.

“A debt? Is this because of how he brought me to my Calling?”

Squinting, the balance-called examined the tie binding their two fellows. “Yes, that would be it.” They reached out a hand. “I wasn’t here, obviously. Would you tell me about it?”

The sun-called hugged herself, then took the balance-called’s hand. “He chased me down, bound me with rope, and dragged me here. Though I don’t know how much he could have done to stop me from running, he had no right to bind me.”

“Please,” the balance-called said, “tell me everything? You’re telling me what happened but not…” they searched for words, then shrugged, “It’s not just what happened, though, is it?”

Kira shrugged. “I don’t know how else to tell it. It was a violation. It was… I don’t know…”

“What were you doing when it happened?”

“I was talking to some friends in front of a theater. I haven’t seen them since I was brought to the temple, and I’m not sure if they know what happened to me.”

The balance-called nodded and squeezed Kira’s hand. “And Iberto approached you?”

“Yes. With his eyes on me… It’s hard to remember the feeling of it, but I think I was terrified. I didn’t know what he was or what he wanted.”

“Ha! I remember how terrified I was. Even after traveling with him for a week, knowing he meant me no harm, I couldn’t stop the fear,” the balance-called said. “So, you ran?”

“I did. He caught me in an alley and had me tied before I could say a word.”

“And he didn’t try to speak with you? To explain?”

“He might have. I was too busy trying to struggle free to listen.”

Han the Sun drifted into view, watching out for his chosen. The Called of the Balance smiled and waved to him. They knew from speaking with Iberto that the other called wasn’t fully aware of how they had changed since being called. It was strange to them because the balance-called’s changes were so obvious, so clear. They had lost much when they gave up their name, but they had gained much too — and it was worth it. It was so worth it. (Of course it was: the debt was repaid in full.)

It sounded as if Kira, like Iberto, didn’t understand how she had changed. Maybe didn’t understand how that change complicated the debt Iberto owed her. The debt she owed Iberto.

Kira pulled away, leaning slightly towards her god.

“So he brought you to the Temple?”

“Yes. As soon as he brought me to Han, he untied me. I threw a statue at him, but I chose to stay and accept my Calling.”

“Why?”

Kira looked to Han the Sun and smiled, her first smile since the balance-called brought up the debt. “Because Han has always been my god. I always wanted to serve him, to be close to him. How could I say no?”

The balance-called sighed. That was the complication they had been seeing. Kira felt a debt to Iberto for bringing her here, for giving her the answer to her deepest desires. But the way he had done it…

“Not even the goddes can change the past, but what about the future? What do you need to move forward without this staining your calling?” The balance-called felt the Scaled-One’s warning. What the debtor wanted or thought they needed was not always the true value of the debt.

“I don’t know. I spoke to Iberto after being Called. He said I had forgotten things and admitted he probably had too… But I don’t know how to answer your question.” Kira huffed.

“I doubt there is an easy answer,” the balance-called said, “But I think we can start by giving you back some of what you lost.”

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