CH 189: A Horse?

“Is there anything else?” Claire asked after catching her breath. She’d been bombarded with far too many surprises over the last couple of months. She actually thought the questions would slow down.

Lily shook her head. “Not from Fyre.”

“What does that mean?” Elsie chimed in.

“I spoke with the librarian about the restricted section and asked if there were any more books like these,” Lily continued. She had a nervous smile on her face. “She told me that the information I sought was likely in the Royal Library, since that book about His life was stolen from there.”

“Figures,” Ursa muttered. “Your Royal Family has caused us so many issues over the years…”

“Really?” Elsie asked. She raised her eyebrow. “You’ll have to tell us since our history education has been doctored.”

“Maybe later,” Claire said, holding her hand up. She stared at the book containing the life of the most hated man. “Lily, can you tell us the information within this book? Like the details? It’s obvious what we learned was entirely false.”

Lily pursed her lips, “Mmm, most of the book talked about the battles and fights the trio were in. The major difference between the book and what we learned was the motive. We were attacked, and He was fighting back, not the other way around.”

“Anything else?” Claire stood to meet Lily. “Like where He was from, or where Firewater and Silkie were originally from?”

Lily’s eyes widened. “Yes! Silkie! The book spoke about her relationship with Him. They were childhood friends.”

Claire furrowed her brow. They would have to ask Silkie more about Him once they figured out the protection spell. “Okay… what about Firewater?”

Lily shrugged. “He… joined them later, but his origins were lost to time.”

Claire took the book from Elsie’s hand. She skimmed through the pictures depicted within the book. She had a hunch that scratched at the back of her mind. A feeling that this book might have the answer to.

Then, she found it.

Firewater riding on a particular breed of horse. All black like the stallion Samira guided. The warhorse Elizabeth told her about. Firewater was riding the horse with Silkie in his arms, seemingly having rescued her from a precarious situation. Neither of the two looked happy to be near one another.

“What if they were like me?” Claire asked aloud. No one really knew how to answer her until she continued. “What if they were the Gods’ Champions, or Heroes? They were chosen to defend us from the Demons. What if Bennos, Marcellus, and the third God chose these three to lead humanity against our enemy?”

“It would make more sense than the Tyrant gaining Hero status forcefully,” Elsie said. She bit her thumb as her sister finished her train of thought.

“It never made sense how He was the only hero not claimed by a God.” Ana continued.

“Right,” Claire nodded along. “If that were true, I’d say Firewater was Marcellus’s Champion due to their resemblance and this breed of horse. That leaves the other two. Silkie and Him.”

“This shit’s above me,” Hannah said with an exasperated sigh. “I’m hungry. Does anyone else want something?”

“Hannah! This is important.” Toni scolded his knight.

“It is, and I cannot contribute meaningfully to the conversation,” Hannah said with a small smile. “I can at least bring food for those who want it.”

“It’s fine, Toni,” Claire said. She turned to Hannah, “I’d like some coffee and bread, please.”

Hannah nodded, then turned to Ursa. “I know you feel the same way. Why don’t you join me?”

Ursa glanced at Claire, as if seeking permission. Claire nodded while stifling a smile. The northerner exhaled, “Thank Rava. I’m starting to get a headache.”

“Same, sister,” Hannah chuckled before wrapping an arm around Ursa’s shoulder.

Claire watched the two exit the room, a series of more pleasant thoughts flooding her mind. She glanced at Ana, who licked her lips. Claire knew what the younger twin was thinking about. It was a nice reprieve from the conversation they were having.

Toni sighed, “I apologize. She can be quite rude.” “It’s fine,” Claire chuckled before sitting down on the bed. “It was a nice distraction from the conversation.”

“I guess,” Toni mumbled. “I just wish she took this a bit more seriously…”

“She’s a fighter,” Elsie giggled. The older twin was listening to Ana’s thoughts. “Much like Ursa, they are more worried about fighting, not why they are fighting.”

Elsie bunched the cuff of her sleeve up and reached out to her sister. She wiped Ana’s drool that was threatening to drip onto her dress. Ana flinched before staring at Claire. “S-sorry…”

“It’s okay,” Claire said with a smile. She’d much rather be thinking about sex than what they were talking about. “But, I would like to continue. Is that okay with everyone?”

All four nodded. Toni sat up and made room for the rest of them on the bed. Lily and the twins sat on Toni’s bed. The bed was big enough to hold all five of them as they continued their conversation.

“As I was saying,” Claire said after clearing her throat. “I think that Silkie, Firewater, and Him were all chosen by different Gods. I would have assumed the Tyrant was chosen by the God of War at the time, but…”

“That’s not one of our options.” Lily continued. “We have Bennos, the Goddess of nature and farming, Marcellus, the God of the Afterlife, and an unknown God.”

“Why can’t the unknown God be the God of War?” Toni asked, tilting his head.

“Ravens are linked to Intelligence,” Lily smiled. Toni tilting his head nearly made her mind go blank. It was a cute gesture. “God of War could range from quite a few animals like the Ox, Tiger, Lion, or any predator animal really. Birds like Ravens or Owls are usually saved for Wisdom.”

“The Ox?” Claire asked. “Isn’t that a farm animal?”

“It is now, but back then, it was used to cart equipment and people,” Lily explained.

“Wait,” Elsie scratched her temple. She opened the book back to the depiction of Silkie and Firewater on the horse. “Didn’t you say this was a warhorse?”

“Mhmm,” Claire nodded. “That’s what Elizabeth said.”

“Well, why would the God of Death be depicted by a literal War Horse?” Elsie continued putting emphasis on the function of the breed of horse.

“W-war leads to death,” Ana answered.

“Right, but we don’t only die in conflict,” Elsie retorted. “He has the Crow as a symbol as well. An animal representative of all facets of death. When else have we seen War Horses used as symbols of death? I can’t think of a single other time. It doesn’t make sense for a symbol of the God of Death.”

Now Claire was the one getting a headache trying to follow along. She glanced at Toni, who had a similar confused look.

Elsie let out an exasperated sigh, ‘Ana, you know what I’m getting at. Gods have been known to change their Divine Aspects when needed. It’s how the Pantheon survived His massacre.’

‘I do,’ Ana replied, eyeing her sister. ‘However, Marcellus was always the God of Death, even during His time. We have texts to pro-’

‘But Lily’s information just confirmed we were taught wrong,’ Elsie retorted. ‘That fact could be wrong too.’

The three left out of their conversation were left in silence. Lily watched the two and tried to guess what they were talking about while Claire and Toni just watched on. Toni leaned closer to Claire to whisper to her.

“What are they doing?” He asked quietly.

“Conversing,” Claire smiled. “They can talk to one another without speaking. It’s one of their skills.”

“Ohhh,” Toni exhaled. His face reddened as he continued. “I-I thought they were about to kiss…”

Claire burst out laughing. It caused the twins to snap out of their internal conversation in confusion. Elsie furrowed her brow in annoyance. She opened her mouth to speak, but Ana held her back.

“Elsie thinks Marcellus was that God of War,” Ana said with no stutter. “The one who slew the Tyrant.”