Chapter Fifteen, Regi's Goddess (Patreon)

“Stop making a target of your head.” Regi caught the back of Dante’s shirt and pulled his head down below the level of the pebafri’s withers.

Dante bent lower and grimaced. “Never before has my height been such a disadvantage.”

Regi watched for a moment to make sure Dante remained within the old pebafri’s shadow before he moved his gaze to the line of trees to their north. Siger and one other attacker had already shown themselves on that distant horizon, something which frightened Regi far more than the occasional burst of weapons fire. While the energy blasts had never come close to either of them, the fact that Siger and his compatriots had allowed themselves to be seen suggested that the two men still felt they had the upper hand.

Had they shown concern about preserving their own freedom or the illusion of their innocence, they would have fled and attempted to secure some identity which was not stained with the dishonorable actions they had taken today. And they would seek that distance as quickly as possible. After all, the cold-weather temple was so close that Regi could see the wide, arched doorway through which the sacred animals entered the temple proper. lf Regi called for assistance from Gavd followers now, that assistance could arrive in mere minutes. Even walking, Regi and Dante would reach the temple within an hour.

“What's wrong?” Dante crouched beside the old pebafri that plodded toward the temple. When they had first left the the cover of trees, Dante had been more fluid in his movements even if the practicalities of cover required him to walk hunched. But now, his movements took on a jerky quality and he leaned against the pebafri, his odd fingered hand smearing the dust on the pebafri’s coat. Regi suspected Dante was in pain, but he refrained from complaining. Regi grieved that he could not spare Dante this physical pain, but more than that, he wished he could escape the sinking feeling that he was leading an innocent man into a trap designed for Regi.

Dante stumbled, and in his recovery, he stood straight for a moment, and either Siger or his compatriot opened fire before Regi could react. Dante doubled over so quickly that Regi feared he had suffered an injury, but Dante chuckled. “Someone needs to spend more time at the firing range, thank God.”

“I assume a range is a place of practice, and I am more than happy to say they need no more practice. They need someone to remove any access to weapons,” Regi countered. He wondered if their enemies hoped to kill Dante as well or if they only hoped that Regi would expose his position in an attempt to cover Dante were the other man to be injured. Even knowing that was likely Siger’s plan, Regi would abandon the cover offered by this slow-moving herd in order to protect Dante to the best of his ability. He could do nothing less for an individual who showed such exquisite loyalty.

“We should be to the temple within the hour,” Regi said with a reassuring smile.

Dante’s eyebrows became off-balanced. “Then why do you look so worried?”

Regi carefully schooled his expression into one of neutrality. “Interpreting facial gestures is difficult when two individuals do not share the same cultural background. Even individuals from one world will sometimes struggle to correctly interpret non-verbal communication from another who comes from a geographically isolated area.”

Dante blew air out his mouth. “That sounds like a fancy way of saying that you don't want to admit why you're concerned.”

Sometimes Regi wished that Dante was less insightful. “There are armed enemy seeking to shoot us. Is that not reason for concern?” A freio lumbered past the herd. Most Kowri would shake in fear at being near such a creature, but Dante didn’t spare it much more than a glance. Either he did not recognize the prodigious danger or he trusted the gods to keep their sacred animals in hand. The creature would not have left its mountainous home had not the Lord of retribution called him.

“Given they don't seem to be able to hit the broadside of a barn, it really isn't,” Dante said quickly. While Regi was unclear on the meaning of ‘barn,’ he understood the general message. Most Kowri didn’t train on weapons, so he hadn’t expected proficiency, but this level of ineptitude did make him wonder if the gods were intervening.

“We will be fine.” Regi hoped that by saying as much, he could will reality to reshape itself to his words. Before Kowri reached the stars they had believed that possible.

“We’re better than the other guys. The pebafri are about as mean as a polecat.”

“Are polecats mean?”

“Ferrets?” Dante grinned widely. “They are mean enough to eat a man’s leg.”

They were ferocious predators then. Regi had to admit that he had not expected the two young pebafri to be quite so violent, but when four enemies had attempted to leave the cover of the trees and take a more direct approach to killing Regi and Dante, their juvenile antics had become a vicious attack that had left two of the attackers on the ground. Since then, Siger and his remaining compatriot had followed from a distance as they kept to the trees. The pebafri had stalked the edge of the woods for a while. It was as if Gavd himself guided their fury. Regi knew that that was an overly optimistic estimate of the god’s ability since he had larger issues to watch, but right now Regi wanted to cling to the childlike hope that the gods would save them.

Considering that Siger still had the confidence to follow, Regi needed the assistance of the gods. He just hoped his story did not end with the gods being distracted or blinded to the events on the mortal plane while he bled to death. Too many stories ended that way.

“Regi, I have a problem with being denied information. Something has you worried, and I don’t think it’s Siger’s terrible aim.”

For a moment, Regi considered bluffing. If he were out here with one of his Coalition underlings on their first shipboard mission, he would have. However, he owed Dante more. And selfishly, he wanted someone else to bear this burden with him. “Reasonable creatures would have sought to flee before coming so close to the temple and the considerable resources Gavd’s followers dedicate to enforcing laws.” A female pebafri detoured around a thorn bush, shoving Regi out of her path. Dante caught him with a hand under Regi’s elbow. They stood still for a moment, the herd slowly wandering past them. But then Dante cleared this throat and trotted to catch up with the large male he preferred to use for cover.

“Are you suggesting that Steiger and his idiot friend don't know how to secure their own best interest, or are you suggesting that there is some trap that we are walking into?”

Regi was, once again, impressed with the insight Dante showed into the situation. Perhaps he had been training young ones straight out of Coalition academies too long because he considered such common sense was rare. “I hate to rely on the patience of the gods to prevent any possible trap. The gods are not interested in the survival of individual Kowri or outsiders as much as ensuring they guide the species down the correct path. Our lives are insignificant compared to that.”

“Divashi considers us significant.”

Regi wished he could trust that. “She wished to bring her dops home, and we were a necessary part of that.”

“Do you really believe that your gods care about pebafri and dops more than us?”

“They are sacred animals,” Regi explained. “And even then, their lives are sometimes used to advance a goal. The enemy might have chosen to kill those two attacking pebafri, but either Gavd or Divashi chose to use their lives to support whatever goal the gods pursue for their own ends.”

“So, you’re saying the animals are exactly as sacred as we are.”

Regi blinked. He was exalted and he had grown up around exalteds, but he had never considered those Kowri sacred to their gods. He had never considered himself sacred. Sometimes Dante made him see the world in uncomfortable ways. “Perhaps,” he admitted, “but we cannot rely on them to preserve our flesh. We approach the temple, and those two still do not retreat.”

Dante glanced in the direction of their followers. “Should we call for help?”

“That is the logical course,” Regi said, “which is why I hesitate to take it. Unpredictability is a strategic advantage.”

“Your people are kinda set in your ways. I love horses and I’m starting to think kindly about pebafri, but if one attacked me, I would shoot it. But you predicted that these guys wouldn’t take the risk of attracting Gavd’s attention, and you’re right.”

Regi winced when his boot sank into a soft spot formed by an excesses of animal excrement that had gathered in a shallow hole. He stomped to remove the excess material as he considered Dante’s words. His people were predictable. And he was leading them toward the temple. Going to the temple was predictable. “I could call Alb,” Regi said softly. So far he had not reached out to her. Dante’s words were like gibuks crawling through his brain, poisoning his thoughts.

“Do you think we should?” Dante asked, his voice oddly free of judgment.

“The gods are united in supporting the greater good of the Kowri people. If Divashi and Gavd guide us, then the Lady of stories is also our ally.” And that meant Alb would assist them. The logic was unassailable.

“Then call her,” Dante said. His voice was so without inflection that Regi knew he still suspected Alb of giving away their location. Given that Siger could just as easily tracked the communicator once Regi reconnected to the network, suspecting her seemed unreasonable. And yet…

The silence continued as they plodded toward the temple. So many large animals walked this ground that it was as hard-packed and devoid of life as any tiled over city surface on a Coalition world. Regi couldn’t delay for long because every step brought them closer to the temple. Overhead, birds soared, dropping into the temple from above, and a variety of poisonous creatures wandered to and from, their steps keeping them just outside the pebafri herd where Regi and Dante had taken shelter.

Regi waited until the temple entrance loomed near before he reached for his communicator. Soon they would have to leave the shelter of the herd and move around to the front of the temple, and that would be the moment of greatest danger.

He spoke clearly despite the fear souring his stomach. “I am Regi a’Divashi. Connect me to Alb a’Oba and any senior follower of Gavd currently assigned to preventing or investigating crime.” The communicator offered several tones as various individuals connected, but Regi waited until he saw Alb’s name listed as receiving before he spoke. “Dante and I are within sight of the rear entrance to the cold weather temple. Siger a’Gavd and at least one of his associates have shot at us multiple times, and we have taken refuge inside a pebafri herd moving toward the temple. Once Dante and I separate from the animals, I fear Siger or others will shoot at us again.”

“What is the origin of the conflict?” an unfamiliar female asked.

“He believes Gavd is the true god and those who follow Divashi and the Lady herself are a corruption.” That was answered with a profound silence. No one took more offense at Gavd monotheists than Gavd followers.

“How close are you to the temple?” Alb asked. “I am moving toward you, although age means I move more slowly than I once did.”

“Ten minutes walking would have us at the arch,” Regi said. The pebafri began to walk faster now, but Alb spoke before Regi could amend his answer.

“Stay to the right, and I will meet you near the last house on the temple side,” Alb said. That would be likely be Nawr a’Ectipic’s house. The exalteds were often the only ones who wanted houses that bordered the cold-weather travel path. Other Kowri found it discomforting to find a freio outside their window, even a sacred one.

“We shall send enforcers,” the female follower of Gavd said. Tones sounded as the various listeners disconnected, including Alb.

Regi put his communicator in his pocket and eyed the two sides of the temple. “If we wish to be unpredictable, we should move to the left.” Regi felt like a boy trying to cheat on a temple test of the gods. Denying an exalted was difficult, even when one was exalted.

“That would work,” Dante said, his tone still neutral. “That means we have to get by that creature.” Dante nodded toward the freio.

“I worry less about a sacred animal than I do about the chance that Siger or the others might encounter a miracle and fire a weapon in a way that proves actually dangerous.”

“That is a point.” Dante huffed. “So, left it is.  Is it just me, or are the pebafri moving faster?”

“They know there is food ahead of them,” Regi said.

“That explains it. Every horse I’ve ever ridden wants to get the bit in its teeth once it sees the barn.” Dante shifted pace to one that included far more bouncing in addition to more speed. The gait worried Regi since each upward movement put the back of Dante’s head in danger, but they had to keep up with the herd. Regi lengthened his own stride and tucked his arms close as he moved faster. They halved the remaining distance before a familiar burst of weapons’ fire interrupted the rhythm created by the pebafri’s hooves.

The large, old male screamed, a huge burn appearing high on his withers and up onto his neck. He bared his teeth at the sky and started to run.

“Oh fuck,” Dante said. Regi didn’t even have time to worry about the poorly timed referenced to copulation because all the pebafri began to run. Dante took off at a sprint that would be impressive even for a Kowri, but was doubly so for a medically fragile species, and Regi raced after him. The pebafri were panicked, and two more blasts from a weapon did not improve the situation. In order to keep some cover, Regi poured every ounce of energy into staying within the shelter of the herd—a herd that was moving to the right. Dante moved with them, and Regi followed. If this was a trap, Dante was set to spring it, and Regi did not have the air to argue the wisdom of that action.

The scream of frim filled the air as a flock burst out of the top of the temple, their raucous cries even louder than the pounding of pebafri hooves. The freio bellowed out a challenge before heat seared the side of Regi’s face. The near miss of an energy weapon left his skin tingling and hot. They were on the far right of the gate now and Regi forced his aching muscles to carry him faster—to get to Dante’s side before their enemies could close in on them.

Alb came out from behind a house, a dozen individuals near her. Regi had a moment of relief before his brain distantly noticed the da-males at her side raise his weapon.