must enjoy
it. They never seem to tire.”
I do not frolic. L’ota fidgeted while she whispered her answer to Nyx. The Goddess thought she looked
uncharacteristically nervous.
“Well, it is true that skeeaeds are more serious than dryads, but you might find that
a little frolicking is fun.”
Do you command it so?
“Of course not! I don’t command you, or any of the Fey, to frolic. I simply meant
that you do look tired and that I am sorry if I have wearied you. L’ota, tonight I
want you to rest. Do not be concerned about Kalona, Erebus, or me. Tonight, little
one, is just for you.” The Goddess smiled at the Fey and patted the soft tuft of her
hair.
L’ota bowed her head and said, You command. I obey. Then she slid into the shadows and disappeared from the chamber, leaving the Goddess
shaking her head and sighing. “Though they have been with me for eons, the Fey remain
such strange creatures. Sometimes I believe they understand too much; sometimes I
believe it is too little. Well, a rest from her duties should replenish her energy,
whether she asked for it or not.” Nyx looked around the chamber again and smiled.
“And I have been keeping her very busy readying the palace for the presence of Kalona
and Erebus.”
“Kalona…” Nyx repeated his name, loving the sound of it. Oh, how she had missed him!
She had purposefully kept herself from visiting him so that he would not be distracted
and would be well and quickly prepared for the final test. And Kalona was obviously
in agreement with her; he had not once called for her, though L’ota had visited him
daily and waited patiently to bring his summons back to Nyx. Thus, Nyx believed his
greatest desire was the same as hers—to complete the final test as quickly as possible
so that he could join her in the Otherworld for an eternity!
Now the palace was ready, though so very empty. And Kalona was so very close! Perhaps
she could visit him once, for only a part of the evening. She would show him how eager
she was to have him by her side, and then leave him to his preparations.
The winged one calls for you. As if Kalona had read her mind, L’ota was suddenly there, whispering the words the
Goddess had secretly longed for days to hear. He is at the geyser. L’ota wrinkled her nose in remembrance of the smell of the place.
Nyx laughed gaily. “How kind of him to choose to meet me at Old Faithful! It shows
that he has truly rid himself of his jealousy of Erebus. Oh, L’ota! Could he be more
perfect?” The Goddess hugged the Fey, picking up the little creature and dancing playfully
around the beautifully decorated chamber that awaited her lover.
Nyx was still laughing when she let go of the skeeaed and hurried to choose something
lovely and sheer to wear, too distracted to hear the last hissing words the creature
would speak to her: Yesssss, L’ota watch. L’ota tell. L’ota show you!
* * *
Much later, during the eons she had to replay in her mind the events that led to heartbreak and
tragedy, Nyx often blamed herself. Had she not been so girlish, so giddy, so ungoddesslike,
she might have stopped to question the whys and hows of things and prevented the horror
of what was to come. But she hadn’t. Nyx hadn’t once truly wondered why L’ota had
become so distant and defensive. She hadn’t questioned why she didn’t feel Kalona’s
presence as she materialized at the geyser. She hadn’t been wise enough even to consider
whether the Darkness she had been sensing, though unable to reach her, had the power
to influence others.
No, Nyx had lacked in wisdom and experience, and because of that lack, she and many
others paid a price too dear for simple forgiveness.
That evening Nyx knew nothing of future pain and regret. That evening all she knew
was that she intended to spend it in the arms of her beloved.
Which was why the Goddess was completely taken aback when she
it. They never seem to tire.”
I do not frolic. L’ota fidgeted while she whispered her answer to Nyx. The Goddess thought she looked
uncharacteristically nervous.
“Well, it is true that skeeaeds are more serious than dryads, but you might find that
a little frolicking is fun.”
Do you command it so?
“Of course not! I don’t command you, or any of the Fey, to frolic. I simply meant
that you do look tired and that I am sorry if I have wearied you. L’ota, tonight I
want you to rest. Do not be concerned about Kalona, Erebus, or me. Tonight, little
one, is just for you.” The Goddess smiled at the Fey and patted the soft tuft of her
hair.
L’ota bowed her head and said, You command. I obey. Then she slid into the shadows and disappeared from the chamber, leaving the Goddess
shaking her head and sighing. “Though they have been with me for eons, the Fey remain
such strange creatures. Sometimes I believe they understand too much; sometimes I
believe it is too little. Well, a rest from her duties should replenish her energy,
whether she asked for it or not.” Nyx looked around the chamber again and smiled.
“And I have been keeping her very busy readying the palace for the presence of Kalona
and Erebus.”
“Kalona…” Nyx repeated his name, loving the sound of it. Oh, how she had missed him!
She had purposefully kept herself from visiting him so that he would not be distracted
and would be well and quickly prepared for the final test. And Kalona was obviously
in agreement with her; he had not once called for her, though L’ota had visited him
daily and waited patiently to bring his summons back to Nyx. Thus, Nyx believed his
greatest desire was the same as hers—to complete the final test as quickly as possible
so that he could join her in the Otherworld for an eternity!
Now the palace was ready, though so very empty. And Kalona was so very close! Perhaps
she could visit him once, for only a part of the evening. She would show him how eager
she was to have him by her side, and then leave him to his preparations.
The winged one calls for you. As if Kalona had read her mind, L’ota was suddenly there, whispering the words the
Goddess had secretly longed for days to hear. He is at the geyser. L’ota wrinkled her nose in remembrance of the smell of the place.
Nyx laughed gaily. “How kind of him to choose to meet me at Old Faithful! It shows
that he has truly rid himself of his jealousy of Erebus. Oh, L’ota! Could he be more
perfect?” The Goddess hugged the Fey, picking up the little creature and dancing playfully
around the beautifully decorated chamber that awaited her lover.
Nyx was still laughing when she let go of the skeeaed and hurried to choose something
lovely and sheer to wear, too distracted to hear the last hissing words the creature
would speak to her: Yesssss, L’ota watch. L’ota tell. L’ota show you!
* * *
Much later, during the eons she had to replay in her mind the events that led to heartbreak and
tragedy, Nyx often blamed herself. Had she not been so girlish, so giddy, so ungoddesslike,
she might have stopped to question the whys and hows of things and prevented the horror
of what was to come. But she hadn’t. Nyx hadn’t once truly wondered why L’ota had
become so distant and defensive. She hadn’t questioned why she didn’t feel Kalona’s
presence as she materialized at the geyser. She hadn’t been wise enough even to consider
whether the Darkness she had been sensing, though unable to reach her, had the power
to influence others.
No, Nyx had lacked in wisdom and experience, and because of that lack, she and many
others paid a price too dear for simple forgiveness.
That evening Nyx knew nothing of future pain and regret. That evening all she knew
was that she intended to spend it in the arms of her beloved.
Which was why the Goddess was completely taken aback when she
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