Epilogue
Chasina
“You are a Champion,” Deimos’ booming voice filled the council chambers so thoroughly I actually winced at the sound of it. “Given awesome power and immortal life in exchange for a duty. A simple duty, Chasina, and one which you have failed to complete.”
I bowed my head in supplication as I knelt on the cold marble of the council room. Fourteen gods stared down at me from their place on the raised dais. The council of eleven, Deimos himself, his sister, and one in chains. He knelt as I did, eyes downcast and light hair falling over to hide his face. I did not know him. I doubted I wanted to.
“My sincere apologies, Lord Deimos,” I spoke, keeping my eyes on the floor before me so as not to offend the sensibilities of the leader of the gods. “I have failed you. I have failed all of Pavos. I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit with a glad heart.”
“Punishment,” Deimos spat. “I do not wish to punish you, Chasina. I wish for victory. It was one girl. One half mortal girl that I sent you after whom you failed to retrieve at every turn.Are you so useless that a child can escape your clutches again and again?”
I grit my teeth but held my tongue.
“Her partner was with her,” I told him. “I saw him.”
The boyyoulet slip throughyourfingers,I thought bitterly. Deimos frowned, glaring at me in that way of his that told me he knew exactly what I was thinking and that I was going to pay for it.
“He’s a traitor and will be dealt with,” Deimos assured me.
He strode from the dais and stepped down off of the platform to approach me. I knelt perfectly still as he circled me, watching me as he did. My gaze flicked up to where Valin stood in the corner, still wearing his blood-soaked honor. While I was here for a punishment, Valin would be claiming a reward. I heard that his squadron had fought best in Pavos’ defense. Good for him. He might finally rise above me in favor after all.
A white hot light flashed beside my head and I let out a shriek of pain. I raised trembling fingers to the left side of my face. They came away bloody. Deimos stood on that side of me. He was speaking but his words were muffled, warbling. I shook as I turned only to see a small stump of flesh resting on the floor beside my left knee. My ear.
In shock, I could only stare at the severed appendage.
“—so that you might remember the cost of failure, Chasina,” Deimos was saying. He had crossed to my right side now, but I didn’t look up at him. I could do nothing but stare at that bloody pile of flesh. My ear. He took my godsdamned ear. “It won’t heal. Wounds inflicted by Geist magic, the Light, cannot be healed by your Blessing. A bit of a clever loophole, that.”
I just stared and stared at the blood smeared marble beneath me, at the ear that would never be reattached, as blood flowed freely from my head. I was probably going to bleed out. I wasn’t sure I cared.
“Go,” Deimos commanded. “Flee to your luxurious mansion we provide you and remember, Chasina. The next time you fail to heed my instructions, it will be more than your ear.”
I didn’t move. I couldn’t. I knew what disobeying a command would mean but I just couldn’t tear my eyes away from the ear. My ear. Deimos reached the dais and turned back. Seeing that I still knelt on the floor, he clenched his jaw and took a step forward. But then strong arms were around me, lifting me and dragging me out of the council chambers, offering poor excuses for my disobedience as we went.
Valin stood me up on my feet on the other side of the door. Alosia was there, leaning against the opposite wall. She rushed forward when Valin let go and caught me as I swayed, holding me up as her gaze met Valin’s.
“Ear,” he said gruffly and I heard the intake of air as Alosia got a good look at where my ear had been.
“I’ll take her from here,” she assured him and he nodded, turning back and disappearing into the council chamber behind us, likely to claim his reward. Alosia led me forward, voice gentle as she spoke beside me. “Let’s get you home.”
My ear. He’d taken my ear. Two thousand years in his service, working my way up the ranks until I was his Chosen Champion, and this was what I had to show for it. Two failed missions and a missing ear.
I remained in a daze as Alosia led me out of the palace and into the streets. I didn’t speak at all until we reached the gates of my home. Finally, then, I snapped to attention. I couldn’t be seen like this, I realized. No one could see me like this.
“Thank you, Alosia,” I said, pushing off of her and regaining my own footing.
“Of course, Chas,” she replied, stepping away in understanding but not going so far that she couldn’t be back in an instant if needed.
I managed to hold my own long enough to make it into the house before stumbling. As expected, Alosia moved forward to catch me, bracing me against one shoulder as she led me through the immaculate hallways to the sitting room where she deposited me into a plush chair and sent the servants away for tea, several herbs with complicated names, and medical supplies.
“You can’t heal it,” I informed her bitterly.
“Not with magic,” she replied, moving pillows around to find herself a comfortable seat. “But I don’t just grow pretty flowers in my garden. Not anymore.”
She frowned. I didn’t ask any more questions.
“Did you see it again?” She asked a moment later, trying and failing to hide the wonder in her voice. “Sanctuary?”
I just stared at her.
