Seekers of the Stone Maker
A Deity's Favor

“Show me.”

Myla sat up and shook off the panic. The cold still clung to her skin, but she shook her head and pushed it away. Closing her eyes, she linked her mind to Shaynth’s and shared her visions.

Scenes flashed by in seconds instead of minutes or hours. It sometimes felt like the first time through. Myla showed them everything she could think of. Myla could feel Shaynth moving through her memories as an astral form next to her. After she finished sharing the new vision, she spoke up.

Do you want me to share the ones of Helena and the shared vision?

Yes. I think that would be appropriate.

Okay.

She reached back, deep inside herself. Myla grabbed at the shared vision first, and it fluttered through quickly.

It does seem like the same cave entrance. Shaynth told her.

Why would a dragon tell me not to come, though?

I don’t know. Maybe it knows you’re onto something.

As quickly as she grabbed that vision, she brought Helena’s memories forward. Sharing someone else’s memories felt wrong, but it had to be done. One by one, she felt her eyes take over Helena’s and become her as they moved through scene after scene.

She knew she was almost done with the vision because she watched Odin dispatching Zeus. Even watching it again, it was strange to see two deities fighting and be able to see it from a first-person perspective.

How did an elf come into contact with so many gods? She thought to herself.

When it reached the moment that Odin stopped and turned to her, the room shifted. She watched as the walls grew large vines that took over the room quickly. Myla turned back to Shaynth, but they weren’t there. In their place, Odin stood, smiling down at her.

Welcome back.

I-

Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you this time. I see that you aren’t here as a threat.

Thank you…

Odin turned away from her and walked down a set of stone stairs. He stopped after a few steps and turned to her. Realizing that she was supposed to follow, she moved towards him.

She realized she was on top of a tall mountain at the edge of the staircase. The staircase had been carved out. Odin sat down on the top step, gesturing next to him. Myla moved closer, unsure of how to react, and sat beside him.

I know you’re having issues with your telepathy and more, yes?

How do you…?

I know many things, Myla. Names, thoughts, people… I created humanity. I know.

Yes. I’ve been having difficulties. I mean, I’ve had issues since I was born, but it’s been getting worse lately.

I can fix it.

Fix it?

I can do many things.

Okay…

Odin placed his hand on her head, his palm covering her eyes. Even with the cover, she could feel the radiant glow from him. Myla could hear the static getting louder and louder. Its crescendo became almost unbearable. She went to scream, but nothing would come out. Then, silence.

Myla opened her eyes, and Shaynth was sitting across from her.

I was pushed out. What happened? They asked.

I… Odin spoke to me.

Myla told Shaynth about her conversation with Odin.

“The Allfather!?”

“Yeah. At least, that’s who he claims to be.”

“That’s extraordinary, Myla. We should always be cautious, but it seems that he’s done no harm to you, so we can thank him for that. The static?”

“I can’t hear it. It’s quiet.”

But, you can still…?

Yes.

“I need to go replace Lyla and the others. They’ll want to know.”

Myla stood up, and Shaynth followed her to the door. They placed a hand on her shoulder, looking down at her. Myla could sense that they were worried.

“Be careful, little one.”

Myla nodded her head, then stepped out of the cabin. She saw a few of the carnival troupe near the firepit and others running around, doing various late-night tasks. She walked over towards Lopper and Rags’s cabin, who were outside on their front porch drinking something hot, the steam flowing up and dissipating.

“Hello, is Rhokhishi or Lyla here?”

“No,” Rags answered. “I haven’t seen either of them in a couple hours.”

“Rhokhishi was at the firepit earlier. She must have snuck off to have some time with her girlfriend,” Lopper smiled.

“Okay, thanks.”

Where are they? She thought to herself. Turning away, she closed her eyes and pictured her friends in her mind.

Come here. I’ve had a vision. She thought loudly, hoping any of them were nearby.

As if lighting a flame, she could feel her friends in her mind one by one. It felt easy, which was new to her, but even more so, they were all still there.

Myla?

Woah, I can hear more than one of you.

Where are you? Are you okay?

Myla paused, waiting for them to all stop, then spoke back.

I’m in front of Rhokhishi’s cabin. Come here.

As if on cue, she watched as Ana turned a corner. She waved to Gisela, who flew off to her cabin, and walked over. Soon after, Rhokhishi and Mr. Muffins made their way over from Elysium’s, and Lyla and Leaf walked from her cabin.

“When did you learn how to link with multiple people?” Lyla asked aloud.

I think Odin did it.

“Odin gave you a hive mind?” Rhokhishi asked, confused.

“No, Rhokhishi. It’s a long story. Let me share it with you.”

Myla closed her eyes and pushed her memories and visions forward. Instead of showing the party the scene with Odin, though, she stopped and explained.

Every time I’ve gone into Helena’s memories or showed them, Odin has appeared and seems to know when I see him. We sat and talked for a moment, and he offered to help.

“And you let him!?” Lyla pushed.

“Not so much let him, but I didn’t feel I had another option. I don’t know his plan in any of this, but he’s taken the static away that I’ve been hearing when linked with someone and opened up a path to new abilities.”

“And the dragon… It said it was the Great Ice Wing. Do you think it’s Zidingris?” Leaf asked.

“Probably?” Lyla pulled the book out and flipped to the end, where Asmodeus’ Hounds of War were spoken about. She read through, placing her finger on the last name. “That’s them, alright. They must know we know.”

“Well, we know more and more about them in time. Dubh Catha we faced and stopped. The Hag Countess is most likely Baba Yaga. We also know a little about Kadra the Enchanting, Rilix the Corrupted Steelforge, and Zidingris,” Leaf stated.

“Kadra?” Mr. Muffins asked.

“Kadra was a rumor years ago in Westford.”

“An old rumor then. I heard nothing about it while there.”

“So, we’re just missing a few of these,” Lyla looked over the Book of Io, holding it up to catch the light from the fire pit.

“This one…” Rhokhishi placed her finger towards the top of the page. “This one sounds oddly familiar.”

“Wait, we know something about that one, too,” Myla exclaimed excitedly. She turned to her sister. “Do you think that was the one we saw? At the monastery?”

“Oh!”

Myla turned to her friends and closed her eyes. She pushed a vision that Yla had given recently. She could feel them watching as the Dark Order came through the treeline to ambush the monastery, only to start a battle with the monks there who were ready for the fight. Above the Dark Order, an angelic creature hovered above, commanding his army. Myla opened her eyes and looked at Rhokhishi.

Rhokhishi’s face became pale, and as she opened her eyes, they only showed anger.

“That’s Zarin the Just. Zarin is The Justifiable.”

“Are you sure?” Ana asked. “The name seems a little too on the nose.”

“Yes. I’ve been in front of him many times. I know it was him.”

“Where was the attack?”

“The Dark Order attacked my old monastery. Our quori, Yla, shared visions with both of us about it soon after I found the Book of Io, and Myla came. We left in the middle of the night, and this must have happened soon after,” Lyla answered.

“But, we saw your old master at Orin’s funeral. So, some of them must have survived.”

“Right. I wasn’t sure at the time if he was working with the Dark Order, but after the vision, he had to have been working against them.”

“Well, we know six of the eight Hounds of War. We stopped one, and at least two are alive and active,” Mr. Muffins stated.

“With rumors of more being around still,” Leaf added.

“Either way, it’s late and we need to rest. We’re safe here, so we should crash and figure out the rest tomorrow,” Mr. Muffins suggested.

“You’re right,” Lyla agreed, yawning widely. “Where are you crashing, My?”

“I’ll probably stay with Shaynth if I get another vision.”

“Good idea. Kiki, do you mind if I stay with you tonight? I don’t want to be that close to Ramona’s cabin tonight.”

“Of course.”

Myla watched as her friends dispersed. She closed her link to all of them, then turned back to Shaynth’s. As she was close, Shaynth opened the door and gestured inside.

“Thank you, Shaynth.”

“Of course, little one.”