Chapter 36: Goddess

"My child, you look tired," Alesseja said, her voice soft and warm. She walked up to Irin and placed her hand on Irin's head. A moment of silence passed. "You have a question for me," the goddess said. Irin was still shocked to see her goddess in the flesh. It was rare for the gods to reveal themselves to mortals.

"Why?" Irin asked.

"Why, my child?"

"Why won't you help me heal Koth?" Irin asked, doing her best to hold back a sob.

"You know why, Irin."

"No. No, I don't," Irin insisted, shaking her head. The goddess placed her hand on Irin's cheek, making her look up. Irin saw sorrow and compassion in her eyes.

"You do. You just don't want to admit it," Alesseja told her.

"No! It can't be too late. It's my fault. I waited too long to heal him, if I had found shelter sooner, if I had stopped. It's my fault," Irin pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

"Oh, dear child," the goddess said, embracing Irin. Irin had never felt anything like it. It wasn't a regular hug; it was like being submerged in warm water and love. "I know you love him, and I would have liked nothing more than to see your journey together. You are both some of my favourite children. Life isn't a certainty, you know this. This isn't your fault. If you had tried to heal him the heartbeat after he had been poisoned, it would have been too late."

"He is still alive. If there is life, there is hope," Irin insisted.

"Death is just as much a part of life as life itself," the goddess reminded her.

"Not yet. He isn't done yet."

"Child, Irin, chosen protector of my followers, even if I grant you this, will you be able to do it? To bring him back, you will need to channel an enormous amount of my magic. You are weak right now. Your body is tired, your mind as well. You are wounded and have lost blood. You are in no shape to take this task on."

"I am willing to try," Irin told her.

"Do you know what you are asking?" the goddess asked, becoming serious.

"I do. If only one of us can go on and finish this mission, it should be Koth. He can do it. He will be able to find his way to where he needs to go; he is strong and stubborn. He will be able to do what I can't," Irin answered.

"Are you really ready to give up your life, your future, for him?"

"I am. Please, give me the means to save him. I will pay whatever price you ask of me," Irin said.

"I was afraid you would say that. You really are one of my favourites; I would hate to see you take your place at my side this soon. I have high hopes for you, my child, but it's your decision, and I will grant it to you. You have my blessing," Alesseja told her. She bent down and placed a kiss on Irin's forehead. Then she was gone. Irin wiped her tears away, got back to her feet, walked over to Koth and sat down.

"You better get your arse to FeighSho and solve this mess. And if you could take a moment to make me a grave that overlooks this lake, I would be grateful," she told him. She took a moment to look out over the landscape. It was truly beautiful. She knew that in a couple of weeks, the meadow would be full of spring flowers, and she wished she could be there to see it.

"Let's do this," she told him and placed her hand on his back. She closed her eyes and prayed to her goddess. This time there was no pushback. Instead, the familiar magic flowed into her. Irin used the magic and formed it into healing magic as she channelled it into Koth. As she started, she understood what Alesseja had told her. The poison had caused damage to Koth's body in ways she didn't want to think about. The pain had to be horrific. She kept channelling the healing magic into him, monitoring how his body repaired itself. Irin felt like time stopped as she sat next to Koth, focusing on him. As darkness came, she registered it and then focused back on him. Irin felt her own energy disappearing. She couldn't stop healing Koth; if she did so before all the poison had been removed, it would just spread through his body again. As dawn came, she was almost done. Koth's body was now free from the poison, and she could heal the injuries the dagger had caused. When she stopped, he was breathing easier, his fever was gone, and his skin had returned to its usual tanned green colour. And she was alive. Irin smiled as she made sure Koth was covered by his cloak. She wasn't worried about him still being asleep. He had been through a lot, and his body needed rest. She did her best to stand up. Her legs gave way from beneath her, and she ended up back on the floor. The need for food and water gnawed at her, and she swallowed her pride and crawled over to the saddlebags. She found the last pieces of cheese, and she emptied one of the waterskins. As she ate and drank, her vision blurred, and she had to lean her back on the wall to remain seated. She watched the horses as they grazed and listened to the birds. Spring was ever more present, and she didn't even feel the coldness of the breeze. Sleep, she needed it. Badly. Her first instinct was to go to sleep where she sat. Going back to where her blanket was spread out next to Koth seemed like an impossible mission. Then she wanted to check up on him before she drifted off. She sighed, coughed, and started to crawl back. The tiredness she felt was like nothing she had ever felt before. It was an effort just keeping her head up. She slumped down next to Koth. Maybe this was the end, she thought. Maybe she had survived long enough to make sure Koth would be okay. She was fine with it. She checked on him. He was asleep. She smiled and tilted over so she was lying down. The blackness was staining the edge of her vision, and she gave into it and slipped into unconsciousness.