Gods in the Lianreida - Part 6 of 15

When he stepped away from it, the creature remained still. For a heartbeat, Larias thought he had failed, but then the beast moved, uncoiling so that it could stretch before turning its head so that it could observe both the god and the elf to whom he spoke. The elf’s face paled and she gently eased the tension in her bow. Still clutching it and arrow in one hand, she reached out with her other hand and leant against the nearest tree.

“You are a god,” she admitted, “but what brings you here?”

“I have to go,” Larias said, ignoring her question. “I will speak to your gods and ask if you can be made a guardian to the garden I must create so this creature can feed.”

The creature turned its head toward him and flicked a tubular tongue across his face. It would drink nectar from the throats of flowers he had yet to design. The arrow-headed serpent coiled about his arm hissed, reminding him he had created two beasts that day, but all the woman did was nod.

With his chariot now flesh and blood, Larias felt a peculiar reluctance about riding it towards Saran’s Watch. While it had been a mechanical thing, he had been able to ride it with impunity, knowing any harm to it could be repaired. Since it lived, it could die. Already he was beginning to regret his delay in the clearing.

The young elf had taken too much of his time and, speaking of elves…

Larias heard the not-too-distant sounds of battle.