Hellion's Reckoning
Chapter 36

Keira and Vestin rode aimlessly around the forest carrying bottles of wine they would occasionally spill out over the ground. It was hopeless. Their knights had searched every inch for Bacchus’ court for months and found nothing. The maenads never answered their questions, and they would not use force in fear of Bacchus’ wrath. He had been there at the Scarlet Night, but they had all been too drunk and lost to recognize him.

“Maybe we’re being too nice about it,” Keira suggested, stuffing another empty bottle into her saddlebag. They couldn’t waste their time pouring out libations, hoping he would decide to show himself. “Do you want to anger a god?” Vestin warned her, pulling his horse to block her path. Keira threw him a wicked smile and turned away from him, riding down the hill towards the statue of the forest guardian below.

Vestin really didn’t like that wild look in her eyes and quickly chased after her. “Keira!” He cried out as she drew her dagger, “No!” Vestin shouted in horror as she shattered the stone idol of Bacchus. The head shattered beneath her blade, and she swung herself off the horse with both her daggers drawn. He expected Inias to do something this mad, not his sister. She was always so calm and calculated. “Are you mad?!” He roared, throwing himself from his steed.

“Just a little,” Keira shrugged, pointing to the broken head on the ground. “That’s his thing, right?” She took one bottle from beneath the statue and popped it open. With a grin, she tipped the bottle back, chugging it down. “Want some?” She turned the bottle to her brother, who stepped back with his hands raised. “No!” He snapped at her, “I want no part in this! You hear that Bacchus? I’m not part of this, I rebuke it!”

“Kissass…” Keira muttered, throwing the bottle into the statue with a satisfying crash. Vestin shrieked in fear and threw his arm in front of his sister. “What?” She looked up to see the faces of several maenads glaring at them through the trees. “You got his attention. Now what?” Vestin whispered to his sister as they backed away. “I-I don’t know,” She hesitated, swallowing deep when she saw the maenads surrounding them, blocking their escape.

“Thank you!” A gentle voice called out from the growing crowd of maenads. Keira and Vestin relaxed when they saw the smile upon the face of an ivy crowned youth. His brown hair lay in thick curls around his ruddy cheeks. “What a horrible depiction.” He spoke again as he approached them, standing several feet above even Vestin. They had never noticed how tall he stood, or maybe he had never revealed it to them.

Keira took a slow step back, looking at the broken statue. “You didn’t like it?” She asked him. “Not at all. But what was I going to say?” Bacchus turned to the siblings, the horns atop his head beginning to shimmer. “Your great great…something grandfather was so happy when it was finished, I couldn’t crush his heart.”

“That’s sweet,” Keira smiled, offering a low bow to the forest guardian. Vestin gulped, still shaking with all the maenads staring hungrily at them. “Y-yeah, you’re a great god…hail to you milord,” He stuttered, mirroring his sister’s bow.

“Kissass,” Bacchus muttered to Vestin before turning his attention to Keira. Anger flickered in his eyes as he spoke, “And you, if I were interested in fighting a war, I’d have remained with my family,” He told her in a warning tone, “Nothing but fighting with them. In my heart I sought an escape and out of the vine flowed wine so sweet, the darkness in my soul was washed away.”

Keira struggled to contain her anger. “What do you think we leave these offerings for?” She asked him, “For your protection. That’s the duty of a forest guardian, the duty you chose.”

Bacchus’ eyes flared and Vestin stepped out in front of his sister, waiting for the god to strike. “We’ve been under a lot of stress, milord.” Vestin tried to calm him, but Bacchus only rolled his eyes. “You’re the heir Lord Varen chose?” Bacchus asked, effortlessly throwing him aside. The deity spoke with the voice of one who’d lived countless ages and had grown apathetic with it all. Vestin fell to the ground and Keira shot Bacchus with a glare.

“See that? That’s the look of a leader, ready to challenge me for your honor,” Bacchus shot her a smug grin. “I’ll spare you the humiliating defeat.”

Keira helped her brother up, trying to contain her anger. “You’re giving up, is that it?”

“I’m uncertain how much you know of me, Lord and Lady Ravenmoon, but I once had a wife,” Bacchus spoke as the two exchanged confused glances at each other, “My half-brother killed her, my father forced me to reconcile with him and forbade me from retrieving her in the underworld.”

As he went the two of them looked even more confused, “I don’t get it,” Vestin said, “Sorry about your wife?”

Bacchus shook his head and carelessly waved his hand at the boy. “I haven’t spoken to him since. Recently, my other brother delivered a letter. Father has agreed to return Ariadne to me if I come home to the Ethereal Vale. He has even sworn upon Hades’ River to allow me my space there. So no, I cannot fight your wars. I want to return home and see my wife.” With that, he turned away, but Keira reached out, grabbing his arm. “Wait! Just this one battle, please?” She begged, lowering her head. He stopped and yanked his hand out of her grasp.

“My family and I, we’ll honor you as our patron,” Keira went on, not allowing him to leave as she gripped his sleeve. “And every year we’ll have a big festival,” Vestin continued for her, resting a hand on his sister’s shoulder.

Bacchus smiled, lightly stroking his chin. “I enjoy festivals,” He purred, grinning at the two siblings. “Will there be theater?”

“Whatever you want!” Keira smiled and offered a hand to him. “A new statue too! We’ll even paint it!”

“One last battle,” Bacchus returned her smile and took her hand.