Author's note: Again, thanks to those that commented and reviewed throughout this story. Remember, your comments keep me writing. What do you know. Yesterday wasn't as crazy as I thought. It helps to have all of your Christmas shopping finished before hand. Merry Christmas to all!

Part 9

By the time I returned to the suite, Flamestrike was fast asleep after his long day of training and play. Fred and Sam were still missing and Shae was atop her bed delving into the spellbook that was found amongst Obsydiax’s hoard.

She looked up as I poked my head through the door. “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself,” I said with a small smile. “Busy?”

Shae shook her head and marked her place before closing the book. “Barry’s looking for you.”

“Yeah, well, he’s gonna have to wait for now.”

Her eyebrows rose a little at my response. “Something happened to you and you’re not sharing.”

I gave her a thoughtful nod. “I can’t really talk about it. Well, I can, but I don’t know that you’d believe me. I don’t really believe it myself.”

Scooting back on the bed, Shae patted the comforter in front of her. While I was situating myself, she said, “I know something is up. Dá»rdor nearly gave birth to a cow when I told him about what happened on Qrynn. I’ve never seen him so animated.”

That brought another smile to my face. “I guess he has some idea then.”

“Care to share that with the class, Ar’ri? I know I’m seriously curious.”

Sitting there, I looked at Shae’s face, full of questions and a thirst for knowledge, then my eyes trailed down her neck to the collar. “I need you to think about something. Seriously. In fact, I’m not going to take your first answer, so whatever it is, I’m going to ignore it.”

Shae rolled her eyes. “Quit being cryptic-girl and get on with it. What’s the question?”

“If you could take off your collar and return to what you were, would you?”

She blinked and immediately started to answer, but then stopped. “Would that mean that I couldn’t do magic?”

I shrugged. “I’m sure Dá»rdor could make a new collar and leave out his blood this time. You’d be a regular Sorcerer. Your powers would be a little less considering you wouldn’t be related to him.”

A second attempt at speaking proved fruitless to her. She seemed to think of something else, and again, she stopped herself.

I patted her knee. “Just something to think about.”

Rising off the bed, I made my way through the bathroom toward my room.

“Ar’ri?”

Stopping about midway through, I turned around. Shae was standing at the door appearing very nervous, but she forced herself to ask something that was proving very difficult for her.

“Do I have a chance with you?” Shae frowned and then shook her head. “I mean, do you think… I know you’re only into girls… I mean…”

Slowly, I made my way back to stand in front of her. “Shae, you and me… I just don’t know. Maybe. I’ve been so focused with what’s going on with Qrynn that I haven’t really thought of much else.”

Seeing the hurt look on her face, I corrected myself. “I’m not saying I haven’t thought about you. I have. I’ve even thought about the possibility of an us, but that can’t be my first priority right now. So, don’t make your decision on how it might affect a future relationship.”

~O~

Withdrawing my pack from between my breasts, I pulled out my personal Bag of Holding and started filling it with my leathers and adventuring boots, along with little things like clean underwear. Once that was complete, I took off my Circlet, my Armlets, unloaded my Rings and potions. I left the Scarab attached to my navel, because it was cute. All of this went into my empty panties drawer.

Right before I stepped out of the room, Flamestrike lifted his head.

“Mama?”

I moved over to him and kneeled down to kiss his head. “Go back to sleep honey. I’ll see you very soon, okay?”

With half-closed eyes, he lay his head back down and was asleep before I closed the door.

Looking around the suite, I sighed with happy memories of what we’d accomplished so far. It was only the beginning. That’s why I was doing what I had to do.

The map of Qrynn was laid out on the big table, which I folded and stuffed down my cleavage. With a last look, I turned and left the room.

A few minutes later I knocked on the door to Dá»rdor’s lab. He opened the door and saw me. A few seconds later the stunned look on his face faded and I felt confident enough to speak.

“Do you have a minute?”

He nodded and started to step out in the hall, but I held my hand up. “This needs to be private. Don’t worry about your protections, they won’t bother me.”

He seemed a little startled. “How…?” Then he stopped himself and backed up while I crossed the threshold.

I felt the tingling of static and a faint taste of dark chocolate in my mouth, but noticed that I wasn’t turned into a big pile of goo and tossed out in the hall.

We proceeded down a very short hallway and entered his lab properly. Unlike the Wizard’s lab that Shae and I raided, this was fully stocked with every conceivable magical item in existence, or so it seemed. Two wire racks, with five shelves apiece contained nothing but scrolls, another single one with rings, and so on. It looked like Dá»rdor had been working non-stop for years; ensuring Barry had what he needed whenever the Sorcerer passed on.

“Shae was right. This place is awesome.”

Dá»rdor graced me with a pleased smile. “I’m sure you didn’t come here to speak of my magical stores, Lady Ar’ri.”

Reaching into the corset once again, I pulled out a pair of gloves. “I needed to return these. I won’t need them anymore. Thank you for the extended loan.”

He took them reverently. “What Shaeria said was true. Somehow you’ve become a deity.”

I bit my lip in contemplation. “I don’t really know what I’ve become, to tell you the truth. I’m not a god. At least I don’t think so. That would mean I would have some sort of godly presence, wouldn’t it?”

Dá»rdor chuckled to himself. “Lady Ar’ri, the charisma you currently hold is making it extremely difficult to speak to you without sounding like a blithering idiot. I’ve taken magical measures in order to do so.”

That seemed wrong. “Shae doesn’t need to do that. Are you sure?”

Moving to a large cabinet, Dá»rdor opened it and placed the gloves within. “I am sure. I’ve also noticed you have removed all of your magical items, including your Ring of Regeneration.”

I nodded. “I’m going back to Qrynn alone. There are a few things I have to do before the big battle scene.”

Dá»rdor turned back around, looking at me strangely.

“If I don’t make it, can you tell the others, they can divvy up my stuff between them, and if they can watch over Flamestrike for me, I’d appreciate it.”

“You do not have to go alone,” he stressed.

I gave him an easy smile. “Yeah, I do. But that’s okay.”

When I turned to leave, he stopped me. “Lady Ar’ri…”

“Don’t let them through for two days. Then tell Barry to bring it.”

~O~

The greatsword was still on the table down in the cavern.

“… he is the Pirate King, Taran-tarah, Taran-tarah, and it is, it is a glorious thing to be a Pirate King! Ah Warrior! You’ve returned!”

Strapping on the shoulder belt, I pulled the greatsword out. “Listen up, Chester. We’re going to Qrynn, and I don’t need any lip. If you want to be helpful, then great, but if you just want to blather on then keep your mouth… or whatever it is you use to speak, shut. Do we have an understanding?”

“Something about you has changed, Warrior.”

I pursed my lips. “Do — we — have — an — understanding?”

“Will we kill evil dragons?”

“Oh yes. Many.”

A change of attitude overcame the sword. “Then let us go, forthwith and without further ado, Warrior. You will have my complete cooperation and dedication.”

When I turned around, Dá»rdor and Barry were standing by the Fire Diamond. I shot an angry look at the Sorcerer, but Barry stepped in front of him.

“I have excellent hearing within my own domain, Ar’ri Bauquinea. You may not go to Qrynn alone, especially without your protections. Too much is riding on this.”

My stride was long as I made to go around them. “Get out of my way, Barry. This isn’t about you anymore.”

He lifted his hand and I could feel the static in the air. Snapping the greatsword up in the guard position, I felt something ricochet off the blade. Barry’s eyes widened.

Then I pointed it at the Fire Diamond. A red beam of energy shot out of the point into the diamond and the air tore apart, showing nothing but blue.

As soon as the portal was opened, I felt lighter, at ease. I also felt need and danger.

“The portal has opened in the air, Lady Ar’ri,” said Dá»rdor.

“Yeah, I know.”

“This is suicide, Ar’ri,” Barry said. “Please wait.”

“Two days, guy’s. No sooner or I’ll be seriously pissed.”

With that, I ran for the portal and leaped through. I didn’t bother looking back because I had opened that thing pretty far up in the air for a reason.

“Tally-ho!”

A second later, my legs were wrapped around the neck of a Blue Dragon letting loose its Breath Weapon, a lightning bolt, at the protected forest. The sky was filled with at least twenty Dragons all doing their best to penetrate the canopy.

The Blue I landed on roared in defiance.

“Muzak!” I yelled. Ride of the Valkyries exploded out of the greatsword a hundred times louder than I’d ever heard it before.

The grouping that was diving along with the Blue, scattered as I brought the sword down through its neck, severing the spine. Before it had the chance to flounder, I rolled backward to my feet and leaped through the air.

A Red was closest, but it was coming at me head on. Instead of at the angle I needed, so I reared back, and just as it let loose its Breath Weapon of fire, I swiped at its mouth. Chester bit into the side and tore a five foot gash along the neck as I grabbed ahold of one of its horns and flung myself further up in the air.

Another Blue thought it would end the fight by snapping me up in its mouth, but lost the first foot of its snout in the process as I grabbed another spine and landed on the injured Blue.

Dragon Fire blasted atop me, but Chester’s protective aura kept me from being Elf Flambé. The Blue I was on, screamed at the attack, turned in mid-air swiped at its former ally. I took that chance to bury Chester deep in the Red’s belly as it dodged. Its own momentum against the greatsword disemboweled it in a second.

Holding on to the longest horn of the Blue, I stood. “Who’s next?”

Anger and determination poured off of me. That’s when I noticed my skin glowing the gold of Cory’s hair again.

The Blue rolled, trying to dislodge me, but I held firm until it looked like it was going to use the forest below to knock me off. It roared the entire way. A half second before it made contact, I swiped Chester through the Blue’s neck and then leaped again into the trees below.

Doing this at a hundred miles an hour probably wasn’t a good idea. I rammed into several fairly thick branches and hit the ground, knocking the air out of my lungs.

“To arms, Warrior. We have them on the run!”

I groaned as I pushed myself up and ran toward the tree line. Three reds landed on the ground, waiting for me, I suppose, or maybe waiting to see if I went splat, more likely.

I didn’t bother just trotting along. Willing everything into my legs, the tree’s blurred by as I exploded out of the forest and buried the greatsword, to the hilt, into the forehead of the first Red. I didn’t slow until I jumped into the air and severed the neck of the second and landed by the third and slammed the greatsword into its side, just behind the foreleg of the last Red and into its heart.

Spinning around, I looked up in the air at the remaining Dragons.

“Come on!” I screamed. My voice echoed in the air. “This forest and these people are mine!”

They hovered momentarily and then ran, or flew in the opposite direction, I guess. The bottom line was they left.

When they were just dots in the sky, I cancelled the Valkyries ride. That pretty much answered my question of what Cory did to me, at least part of it anyway. I really was all that I was before, even without my magic items.

My ribs and hip ached. Looking down, I saw that I got some dirt on my clothes. “Oh shit. Dá»rdor’s gonna kill me.”

I turned as I was brushing it off and saw the tree line littered with Elves, all staring at me in wide-eyed adoration.

“Salute them, Warrior. They are yours.”

Bringing the blood-covered sword up in the guard position, I then held it high. Then I slid into the shadow that the last red cast beside me.

Deep in the forest, I stepped out and checked the area before pulling out my pack and the cleaning kit within.

“Quite the show.”

Looking up, I saw Cory standing there, leaning against the tree in front of me. While I was still amazed by him, I could actually think straight for once. “You’re welcome to join in anytime you want.”

He smiled and shook his head. “No, I think you have things well in hand here. I have duties elsewhere.”

“You had duties here. Our people have suffered.”

He nodded and then came to sit on the ground before me. “Which is why I sent Marimaxzithuirn to Earth. The answer to Qrynn’s freedom lay there.”

Running the oil cloth over Chester, I looked up at Cory with a little doubt in my eyes. “So, you’re behind all of this?”

He shrugged. “In a way. I nudge others here and there. They choose to act.”

So Marimax… Mary Bybax was sent to Earth, to give birth to Barry, so he could make a fantasy game, that was really a training manual, that I would pick up and geek-out over, and then become this Elven Mary Sue, come to Qrynn and free the Elves? That’s more than a little nudge, Cory.”

All I got back was some sort of Gallic shrug.

“What did you do to me?”

He smiled innocently. I wasn’t buying it for a second. “I gave you possibilities. What you do with them is your choice.”

“Another nudge?”

Another shrug.

“And you had to kiss me to do that.”

“That was the fun part. If you wouldn’t mind keeping that to yourself, I’d appreciate it. My consort is the jealous type.”

I slid the greatsword in its scabbard and set it aside. “So, exactly what kind of possibilities have you given me?”

Cory shook his head with another smile. “That’s for you to discover. Though after your performance just now, you should be finding out fairly soon.”

He stood up and brushed the seat of his leather pants.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, you’ll see.”

With that he exploded into golden sparks and disappeared.

“Warrior, are you there?”

“Yeah, what’s up Chester?”

“I could neither contact you nor see beyond my material self. It was quite alarming. And as a matter of note, my name is not Chester.”

“Really? It’s not Chester the Chatty Claymore?”

“No.”

~O~

It was the noise that woke me. Somewhere in the distance, there was music, and someone was calling my name. I folded the blanket I was resting on and stuffed it into my pack before stowing it between my cleavage. Slinging Chester over my shoulders, I slid into a shadow and halfway stepped out high in the trees above the busy Elven village.

The music faded into the background as a flamboyantly dressed Elf climbed onto large, hastily-made platform.

“And out of the heavens, she flew,” he said in a pretty good stage voice. “Her mighty sword cleaving the ferocious head of Sapphirix from his sinuous neck with one mighty blow!”

He held a wooden sword, easily twice his size, in his hand, cutting the air in front of him. “A Triumphant song trailing her wake, the alluring, angelic, the angry, Ar’ri Bauquinea flew from her perch above the deadweight Blue and with her next blow smote the dreadful Red Dragon Searifax from the sky.”

My jaw dropped open as I watched the Elven Bard recount the battle above the forest.

“Oh my god,” I whispered.

A battle that could have lasted for more than a few minutes got stretched into an epic tale of twenty or more minutes. From the way he told it, I personally killed about four hundred dragons, or that’s what it sounded like.

I sat down on the branch and watched, dumbfounded as Bard after Bard took to the badly constructed stage. Two of them sang songs dubbing me Ar’ri Dragonslayer, and Ar’ri Dragonsbane. Another recounted my battle on the ground. The last person to take the stage was the Eldest.

His clothes weren’t the best I’d ever seen, but they were clean and somewhat regal. Considering what I saw of their village only the day before, I was surprised that they still had decent things at all, much less official clothing.

“You have heard the tales,” he started. “The visitors from the other tribes have seen her acts of bravery and her incredible presence. Each of you have witnessed and received the bounty with which she blessed us. And lastly you all heard her words throughout the forest and under the mountain this very day. When she stood defiant against the legions of Dragons and proudly proclaimed: This forest and these people are mine!”

A ripple of energy rushed through me. My heart started racing.

“There can be no doubt that the gods have returned and they have sent us one of their own, to wrest control of our world from the evil grip of Lyzax and her minions.”

Then eldest slammed his staff to the platform and light flared from crystal atop. “Does anyone doubt? Will anyone have an errant word against what they have seen with their own eyes?”

All that could be heard was the wood crackling in the flames of the various campfires.

“Good, as it should be. From this day forward, we shall do as she said. Her people will remake their homes here, in her forest, under her protection. And we will honor her request. We will pray to her.”

My eyes widened. “No, no, no, no,” I whispered. “Not pray to me. Pray for me. For, for, for. F-O-R.”

“Bow your heads.”

I didn’t hear his words, but ohhh did I feel them. After each line, the rest of the Elves in the area repeated them. There had to be thousands of them down there. In the darkness of the forest, my skin came alive, glowing deeply and bright. Energy surged through my body. The aches in my ribs and hip disappeared. I felt alive and powerful, moreso than I’d ever felt before.

“Look! In the Uppers!”

My eyes snapped open. There were a few of the infirm laid out on cots so that they could watch the proceedings and they had nowhere to look but up, right where I was.

All of the Elves looked skyward.

“There! The golden glow of Corellon Larethian. Ar’ri Bauquinea blesses us with her presence.”

Even though I knew it pained him in his elder years, the Eldest kneeled and looked up at me. “Thank you, Lady.”

I had to get out of there, but I couldn’t just disappear. They had hope now of a new life free of the Dragons. I couldn’t take that away. Unsheathing the greatsword, I concentrated and from the end, a golden burst of sparks shot forth over the forest, raining down upon all of the Elves like snowflakes. They cheered in unison, shaking the trees.

At the height of the cheer I pressed down on whatever was making me glow and watched as it faded before slipping away in the shadows.

~O~

From the side of the mountain, I looked down on the forest, still hearing their cheers. Frustration and shame poured through me. I wasn’t a god and leading them on like that just piled on the guilt even more.

“All you have to do is leave.”

I flinched at the new female voice, but looking up from where I sat, she wasn’t just a simple female. It was another one of them. Lithe of frame, true Elven features, seriously long shimmering black hair and very little to wear.

“I’m sorry, what?”

She smiled and sat beside me, also looking down at the tops of the trees. “I said all you have to do is leave, go back to Earth and never return. Eventually, the Dragons will return and destroy their new homes, killing many in the process since tens of thousands will return to their place in the forest.” She turned toward me, looking less than happy. “The Elves will curse your name for abandoning them and you will lose your godhood. You can be mortal again.”

Rubbing at my eyes, I scowled at her. “You’re not funny, you know.”

Her grin reappeared. “I’m told I can be very funny, but I am serious. Ar’ri, how do you think Cory and I became gods?”

I shrugged. “I hadn’t really thought about it.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “We were once like you. Cory was a Bard. Boy can that man sing.” The look on her face was nostalgic, but happy. “He inspired people, much like you are doing now. He’d show up, kill a few Orcs in true heroic fashion, and eventually people started praying for him to show up.”

Holding her hand out to the forest, I got the hint. “Much like what your people have done here.”

I felt tears escaping my eyes and running down my face.

“They didn’t have that much longer to go, Ar’ri. There was infighting, plays for power. The Eldest was about to be unseated, and then you show up. By the end of the day tomorrow, most of the Elvish nation shall know of your deeds, and you think you have power now?” She started laughing.

With a groan, I fell back on the earth. “Why me?”

She grunted a little, in a feminine sort of way. “Because you care. That’s Cory’s biggest weakness. Give him someone that actually cares about others and he comes around and lays one on them. Don’t think I don’t know about the kiss my consort gave you.”

My face heated up. “Sorry.”

She shrugged. “It’s how he passes on a spark of his essence. The rest is up to you.”

I eventually sat back up, listening to the celebration in the distance.

“You have a choice Ar’ri: shall you return to Earth and let your people die off, or will you fight and give your people someone to believe in once again?”

Turning my head to her, I was just in time to see her explode into little silver sparks.

“Great. No pressure or anything.”

~O~

Regardless of what I thought about being one of the High and Mighty crowd, I had a job to do. Pulling out the map, I spread it out on the ground and retrieved my Sharpie. Giving the Divine powers a try, I reached out and felt for any Dragon’s presence. The map lit up several points of light throughout Qrynn. After marking each one, the light disappeared. I circled Lyzax’s lair last.

Packing everything away, I pulled out Chester. “Ready to get to work?”

“Onward, Goddess, I am your faithful servant!”

I rolled my eyes before sliding into the shadows.

When I stepped out it was into a swampy area much further south than Obsydiax lived. The Black Dragon was only ten feet away. It hissed at me.

Concentrating, I let the golden glow return. “For your crimes against the Ten Races of Qrynn, Dragon, I sentence to you death.”

Acid flew from her mouth, completely covering the entire area, but the golden radiance kept any from touching me or my sword.

~O~

And so it went.

~O~

By high noon the next day, I felt stronger, by moon rise, stronger still. My awareness expanded to encompass the majority of Qrynn. I didn’t need the map any longer. I simply knew where the Dragons were scattering. Few of them were in their own lairs anymore; only the most stubborn stayed.

Instead of hissing or trying to fight me, they were cowering in my presence, the younger ones anyway. Chester was glowing brighter than even me. Instead of yammering on and on, he just kept getting brighter and brighter throughout the second night.

By the morning of the third day, the remainder of the Dragons sought shelter with Lyzax. There were only about twenty left. The rest of Qrynn was free, and my friends were coming. Chester went through a complete cleaning and a nice oiling before being allowed to rest.

I felt the portal open close to the Elven forest. Finding a shadow, I slid about four hundred miles south-southeast into the tree line. I told you I was getting stronger.

Muting my charisma as much as I could, I stepped out into the morning sun and saw Kog was the first one through, followed by Flamestrike.

“Mama!”

I dropped to my knees and he rammed into me full force, which made me lean back a little.

“Hey sweetie! You’re here. Does that mean you’ve got your Breath Weapon working?”

He backed up and showed me all of his needle sharp teeth. “Uh-huh. Look!” Turning his head to the empty glade, he took a deep breath and blew forth a torrent of flames worthy of his namesake. Oh, sorry, there’s a Flamestrike spell, kind of like Dragonflame, big, fiery, large with the destruction.

“Wow! That’s impressive.”

Barry stepped up. “For some reason, yesterday morning during practice, he almost destroyed the cavern with his first flame. You wouldn’t by chance know how that happened, would you?”

Being my familiar, Flamestrike took on a portion of my power. The stronger I got, the stronger he got. Whenever he grows up, he’s going to be a hell of a dragon to contend with.

“Me?” I asked innocently. “What makes you think I had anything to do with this?”

He wasn’t looking at me anymore, but at the tree line. “A few thousand Elves kneeling in the forest kind of gives you away.”

The rest of the gang was virtually lined up beside Barry, armed to the teeth and ready to do some major damage. I stood.

“Wait here.”

I made my way to the trees. “Eldest, please stand up.”

Reaching out, I helped him to his feet. “You guys don’t need to knee for me. I’m not that kind of…” I cringed, “… goddess.”

I saw him wince a little. Being that old, even Elves had some Elven form of arthritis. I pushed a little energy through him, taking that away. Nobody should ever hurt just for being old.

He gasped and I saw his face light up. “Lady Ar’ri…”

I held up a finger and shushed him with a smile. “Now, these are my friends. They are the reason I am here today. Once I was shown how much you all were suffering. I couldn’t stand by and not do anything. Please look past their heritage and treat them as guests. They are all very honorable.”

The Eldest saw Flamestrike and swallowed. “Even the Dragon, Lady?”

I smiled. “Especially the Dragon, Eldest. He is my familiar, Flamestrike. During my first attack on Lyzax’s lair, I bonded with him as he was hatched from his egg. He’s as Good as I am, because he can’t be anything else.”

Looking back, I waved at my dragon. “Come here, honey.”

The little Red bounded forth and came to a stop beside me. “Do they want to see me blow fire, Mama?”

I shook my head. “I think they saw before, honey. Flamestrike, this is the leader of the Elves. We call him Eldest, okay?”

He nodded and I turned to the old Elf. “Eldest, this is Flamestrike. He will guard our forest while I am away. If anything approaches, I will instantly know because Flamestrike knows.”

My dragon’s eyes nearly bugged. “I gots to guard a whole forest?”

I nodded. “It’s a very important job, sweetie. And make sure to blow fire away from the forest and not into it, okay?”

He looked back and forth and then into the forest. “Um… where’m I gonna sleep?”

“Hold on just one second and I’ll show you.” Turning back I called the rest of the gang over. I was surprised to see Dá»rdor in company, but of course he’d want to be there for this.

Motioning the Sorcerer forward I saw the look of recognition on the Eldest’s face. “I believe you two know each other. I’ll leave the introductions to you. Play nice while I show Flamestrike his new digs.”

~O~

It wasn’t an artificial cave, meaning it wasn’t manmade or Elfmade, whichever. It was simply a natural cavern inside of the mountain that overlooked the forest of the Elves.

Flamestrike and I stood at the entrance while he looked into the darkness with a mild bit of trepidation.

I grinned down at him. “It’s safe, sweetie. I made sure it was cleaned out and there wasn’t anyone living here. Plus, only you and I can see the entrance. If anyone tries to take one step past this point… well, I really wouldn’t want to be them. Plus, it alerts me and I can be here in a second to make sure you’re okay.”

Inside we went.

“It’s dark.”

Shaking my head, I snapped my fingers and watched as the torches along the wall lit up on their own. “Sorry, I forget sometimes.”

At that point Flamestrike wasn’t listening any longer, because he was staring at his nest. I dropped down and hugged his neck to gain his attention.

“This is yours, and it’s big enough to where you’ll never have to add to it, so that means no swiping other people’s money. If you ever need something for your nest then you come to me, okay.”

He still wasn’t looking at me, but he nodded. “Can I go see now, Mama.”

I nodded. “Go on. Have fun.”

He took a running leap into the air and flew to the middle of the pile, landing on top. It looked like his flying had gotten better over the last two days. Immediately, he started rolling around getting everything juuuuuuussst right. Considering the size of his hoard, it was going to take quite a while.

“Flamestrike.”

His head popped up, eyes wide and blinking at me.

“You’re safe here okay; nobody’s going to bother you. If you need anything, just call out for me. I have to show the others a few things.”

“Okay, Mama!”

I grinned at the thought that he’d be busy for hours, happy and comfortable in his new home. The idea that he might have been trapped underground on Earth weighed heavily on my shoulders, but with Flamestrike being on Qrynn he was happy and he served a greater purpose which he would come to appreciate when he became older.

Sliding into the shadows, I exited close to my friends who were already in the Elven village. Kog didn’t look too comfortable. I wasn’t really surprised. Like I’d said before, Orcs and Elves didn’t really get on all that well. Him being a half-Orc, made it a little easier, but still.

“Lady Ar’ri.”

The small group of Elves that were behind me didn’t startle me. It’s one of the advantages that came with true power. While I didn’t have eyes in the back of my head, I might as well have.

I turned around. Five Elves, three men and two women, stood there with their heads bowed. All of them were wearing gray cloaks with smatterings of blue and red throughout, much like my current clothing. I sighed internally. It had to happen sooner or later.

Like all deities, there were mortals that followed them around or performed deeds in their name. Usually they were peaceful, but some ventured out, spreading the word of their chosen god. They were called Clerics. Since I was viewed as a warrior god, Paladin’s — holy warriors — were sure to follow. I really disliked Paladins. Clerics I could deal with.

All they needed was direction, a purpose — defending trees, or protecting injured children, celebrating on the winter solstice, things like that. In return for being devoted and praying nicely, they would be blessed with a portion of a deity’s power. They’re kind of like holy Wizards, though not usually as flashy. The can cure diseases, heal wounds, bless others, turn back the undead, create protections against evil, a whole lot of interesting things.

It was obvious their intent was to find out what they needed to do in order to perform their job properly.

“You five are the first?”

The guy in the lead lifted his eyes slightly. “We are simply the delegation sent to humbly ask for your favor, goddess.”

I didn’t let any emotion show on my face. It was best if the people didn’t know that their god didn’t quite know everything. I was surprised that they were merely a small group representing a larger.

“Please just call me Lady Ar’ri. I’m not into all the reverence that goes into this.” I chuckled a little. “And you can look at me. I’m not going to bite my own people.”

Their eyes lifted, but still never met mine. It’s like they were staring at my forehead or at my mouth. Well, I’d take what I could get for the moment. “I’m not too different from the other deities; I’m good, obviously, since I’m fighting evil. However, I’m not into laws.”

This had to be explained properly since they weren’t aware of Alignment classifications, so they probably didn’t understand the concept of Chaotic Good. “Just treat each other as you’d like to be treated yourselves, and protect those less powerful than you. Pray for the talents you wish to use and I will grant them.” I didn’t exactly know how to do that at the moment, but I’d learn.

“One thing that I must insist upon though is this: race does not matter to me. As you can see, I am friends with a half-Orc, and a Tiefling, as well as humans and even good Dragons. Males and females, even those in-between are equal in my eyes. I’m more interested in what is inside a person, their true self, than anything else. I will not tolerate hate for hate’s sake.”

A few of them looked confused. One of the girls looked out from behind the chosen speaker. “Even Orcs, Lady Ar’ri?”

My lips twisted to the side. “Especially Orcs. I know they are the enemy, but what if you were to come upon an abandoned Orc child that didn’t know about the hate our two races have for each other? Would you kill her for simply existing?”

Her brows furrowed.

“The Dragon, Flamestrike, is my familiar. What you don’t know is that he is a hatchling from the clutch of Lyzax herself.”

Surprise was apparent from the looks on their faces.

“He was newborn when I took him straight from her nest. Teaching him to respect others was easy enough, and now he will be your guardian when I am away.”

The spokesman nodded. “We understand, Lady. We have much to discuss amongst ourselves. By your leave?”

I nodded. Turning around, Barry and Shae were standing side by side mere feet in front of me. Shae was looking at me with trepidation and Barry with curious unease.

“This explains so much, Ar’ri Bauquinea,” he said.

I poignantly ignored him, grabbed Shae’s hand and walked over to Sam and Fred who were talking with a pair of Elves that seemed interested in how a motley crew consisting of different races came together. The Elves saw me and bowed, dismissing themselves from the conversation.

“Dudette, you’re a goddess?”

Rolling my eyes, I smiled at Fred threateningly. “It’s time we got rid of these.”

Reaching my hand up to their necks, I tapped the side of the collars where I knew they closed. A snap sounded and they both cracked open.

“Now you can use a Ring of Polymorph if you want to change back at any time.”

Sam nearly knocked me over with her appreciative hug; she even got her tail into the action. “Thank you, oh god thank you!”

When she pulled back, I gave Shae a look. She appeared scared, so I didn’t immediately break her collar open. Returning to Fred and Sam, I noticed they were locked at the lips. “Uh, guys, Shae and I are going to go have a chat. Hold the fort?”

Breaking apart, Sam nodded, happily.

I tugged lightly on Shae’s hand and we moved to the shadow of a thick tree and reappeared halfway up the mountain that overlooked the forest. Shae looked around.

“It’s beautiful.”

Looking out over the forest and the plains of the north, I nodded. “I come here to think. It’s peaceful.”

She turned to me, but didn’t say anything.

“Have you made your decision or do you need more time?”

Her head dropped and turned to the side. “I don’t know what to do.”

I left her to her thoughts for the moment while I pulled out a blanket and set it on the ground, where we eventually sat.

“If it’s any help, I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do in the future,” I said. “After we take care of Lyzax, I mean.”

She laughed, somewhat disbelievingly. “You make it sound like we’re cleaning out the garage.”

I smiled and shrugged. “There’s only twenty-two… oh, twenty-one left.”

Shae looked up at me, surprised.

“They’re fighting amongst themselves right now. A Blue just got smacked down by another Blue.”

“How?”

I gestured to my back. “Me and Chester have been pretty busy for the last two days.”

Shae’s eyes widened. “You’ve killed like fifty-something Dragons in two days?”

I nodded. “The Elves… they pray to me. The more they bring in, the more powerful I get. There’s about fifty thousand or so doing it since this morning. Once they get some of the other scattered tribes together, it’ll be a lot more.”

Her mouth opened a little. “Um, I’m not up on the Godly ranks. Where does that put you in the grand scheme of things?”

I thought about it for a few moments. “When we came to the forest the other day, an Elven god kissed me. That made me a Rank zero, kind of like a hero with a touch of divinity. When I came back, the forest was under siege and I killed… uh five dragons, I think. It was done in a pretty spectacular way. So, that night they gathered and started praying.”

Shifting uncomfortably on the blanket, I looked out over the forest again. “I jumped from a zero to a Rank five in moments. Over the next two days, they brought in other elves from under the mountain and I’m probably sitting around Rank eight or nine right now. So I’m a Lesser Deity.”

“For the moment,” Shae confirmed, and I nodded. “Once you hit eleven you go up to Intermediate.”

“Yeah, that’s the start of the big leagues.”

“You don’t sound too enthused.”

Facing her, I finally looked Shae in the eyes. “I’m scared to death of doing the wrong thing. What if I say something stupid and start some freaky holy war, or the Elves start sacrificing Orcs to me.”

She set her hand on mine. “I seriously don’t think that’s going to happen, Ar’ri.”

Shaking the thoughts of my divinity aside, I gripped her hand. “So, collar?”

Shae looked at me for a moment and then her face steeled up a bit. Raising herself up, she wiggled over and straddled my legs, seating herself on my lap. Her arms went to my shoulders and her hands behind my head before she leaned in for a kiss.

At that moment, I wasn’t thinking about anything else except for her. I don’t know how long we sat there, or even when I lay back and we deepened our exploration. I simply knew that afterward, I felt at peace for the first time since I’d come back to Qrynn.

We lay there in each other’s arms as Shae made her decision.

“I can always use a ring if I needed to be a guy for some reason, right?”

I nodded. “You don’t want to return to being David?”

She kissed me on my jaw, right in front of my ear. “I’m still David; I’m just Shae as well. And as long as I’m with you, I like being Shae. There’s just certain things… like my parents. I’d like to pop in and let them know what’s up, and I’d like to be a guy when I do that.”

My hand brushed her collar and it snapped open. “You’ll still be related to Dá»rdor. I can change that too, if you want.”

She shook her head. “I like things just the way they are.”

Then she showed me how much she’d like things to stay just the way they are.

~O~

One of the things that deities deal with is the lack of need for things. I didn’t have to eat or drink anymore. I never felt tired. I didn’t even have to breathe if I didn’t want to. The power that the Elves gave me in prayer sustained me. But not doing any of this is just weird. That’s why we were sitting on the ground around the campfire drinking decent mulled wine and partaking of a feast in honor of my friends.

At least that’s what it started off as.

“They’re down to eighteen now. Scratch another Red off the enemies list.”

“Dudette, that is so weird how you do that.”

I shrugged and sipped at the wine. “I can just feel it. Lyzax is about to blow her top. She’s lost control.”

Looking over at Barry enjoying a helping of deer meat and Flamestrike looking decidedly sleepy, beside him, I asked. “You want me to leave Lyzax to you?”

He looked thoughtful and swallowed his mouthful. “It’s my destiny.”

I rolled my eyes. “We both know it’s one possible destiny, Barry, not the only one.”

He dropped his hunk—o-meat to the plate. “I feel useless and Machiavellian with you taking care of all of my problems.”

With a bright grin, I laughed. “At least you’re coming to terms with your personality.

Something happened. I didn’t want to be overly geekish and say it was a disturbance in the Force, but that’s exactly what it felt like. Setting my goblet down, I stood up and stared off in the direction of the Dragons.

“Ar’ri?” said Shae.

The Eldest stood as well.

“No, no, no,” I whispered. “Shit.”

Barry was to his feet a moment later. “What happened?”

My eyes dropped to his and then I looked around. “A new player just took the field. You might get your chance after all, Barry. To arms. TO ARMS!”

TBC...