“Briny God,” Sigvid breathes, sweeping into a bow that Avina follows at his side.
“Rise, my son.” The Briny God conjures two horns and hands them a drink before reclining in an empty chair at a larger table. “It has been a long time since anyone arrived through this entrance. Please, sit and feast. I always have plenty of food and drink.”
Sigvid guides Avina to an open chair where they sit across from the god and then asks, “How are we here? Is this your hall?”
“Are the Depths the afterlife you have always thought it would be?”
Sigvid gapes as he examines the room, which looks more like the Toftlund longhouse than an afterlife. Or maybe that is the perfect version of an afterlife.
“Did you summon me? Were you the reason for my dreams?” Avina asks, setting her horn in the stand at their table.
“That was me, my dear.” The goddess’ voice rings as clear as it had during the Sacred Stone Ceremony.
“There she is!” The Briny God announces in a sing-song voice. “And here you worried they wouldn’t get the message.”
Maeve wears a long, flowing gown, much like the hideous Timber monstrosities Sigvid loathes. Her dark, thick hair seems to wave in and out of her dress. “Remind me again how I am stuck with you in Trelandfor eternity?” She plucks a piece of bread from a cutting board and slathers a slab of butter across the top.
“Awe, do not act like that, Maeve! We all thought sharing Treland was the best outcome. I only regretted that decision once.”
What the fuck is he talking about?
Maeve takes a bite and chews with an unamused expression. “Avina,” she changes the subject, “I see you received my message. We cannot force our Keepers, Guardians, and rulers to hear our callings. You have been the first not to allow your selfish desires to interfere in hundreds of years.” Her words may be cold, yet a faint hint of a smirk lingers along her lips.
Avina toys with the sapphire lying outside her tunic. “Is this about uniting the Stones?”
“Yes,” The Briny God blurts out. “I like this girl. She has a good head on her shoulders.”
Maeve levels a glare at him that could sink the continent of the Endless Shore. “Unification must happen to ensure theirseidrremains whole again.”
Avina removes the silver cord of the sapphire stone and places it on the table.
Sigvid tosses the Timber ring and places the nautilus necklace beside the sapphire. He looks at Briny. “What else is required to merge them?”
The Briny God scratches the back of his neck, “well, uh…”
“The last Keeper and Guardian to venture to the Depths divided the stone into thirds,” Maeve interjects. “Only a Keeper and Guardian can reunite them. Even Briny and I lack theseidrto intercede on mortal choices.”
Sigvid shoves away from the table to pace while he thinks. Meanwhile, Avina holds the three Stones in her palms. Her brow furrowed as if in deep thought.
“What happened to those who split the Stones?” She asks, interrupting the Briny God’s off-key humming.
Silence lingers for too long in the air as the Briny God busies himself, embedding a dagger in the grains of the table, and Maeve stares intently into the fire.
“They defiedthe law of the gods. The Stones demanded a sacrifice for their blasphemy.” Maeve does not elaborate any further.
Sigvid’s pacing stops. “What kind of sacrifice? Are we required to kill the other?”
“Their wrath against the Redwood line for misusingseidrexceeded their sense of reverence for us.” The Briny God hangs his head. “Although, the price to fix their mistake will not be your lives.”
“Then what is the fucking price, Briny?” Sigvid’s voice raises.
The Briny God lifts his head. “The ability to continue your bloodline.”
Avina clutches her chest and sharply inhales as if she cannot breathe.
Sigvid rushes to her side. “What is wrong?” he asks the two gods. “What have you done?”
Neither move to aid her or offer any insight.
