An ivory arrow pierced the ground inches from my hand. I stared at it, my mind slow to comprehend what it was.
I heard the whistle of a harpoon next. A cry stuck in my throat as it neared.
Ristriel spun around and caught it by the shaft, its tip inches from his hip. It was of celestial make, so he could touch it even in his ghostly form.
I realized then that Yar and Shu had managed to hurt him before only because they’d had the element of surprise.
As though summoned by my thoughts, I saw the horned godlings closing in, their bodies like centaurs’， moonlight glimmering off their blue-and silver-striped horns. Beside them was a creature as ghostly as Ristriel, her upper body humanlike, her lower half like a comet trailing behind her. Another of our pursuers was three times as wide as a man and dark as loam, eyes glowing gold in the darkness. Some resembled dogs, others resembled Yar and Shu. Eleven in total. They surrounded us in an uneven circle, every last one armed with shining ivory weapons.
My starlight shimmered. I held my breath until it faded.
A demigod could easily overpower a godling, but not eleven of them. Especially not when his companion continually deprived his strength with her own.
But even the Sun struggled against the moon, so perhaps there was hope. Or so I thought, until a bonfire exploded behind me. Spinning around, I looked into the fiery, gemstone eyes of Saiyon.
The Sun God Himself, come to capture His quarry. He held in His hand a great pearlescent sword so sharp it hurt my eyes to look at it. It was too broad and heavy for any mortal man to wield, and its point hovered close to the ground.
Ristriel stepped in front of me. He flashed solid for a moment, but in Saiyon’s presence, he couldn’t hold his form, even with Saiyon dimming His power. At first I thought the Sun God was so radiant because the cloak of night emphasized His light, but then I wondered if this was Saiyon in full, not a division of Him. Which meant capturing Ristriel was critical enough that those on the other side of the Earth Mother were still waiting for dawn.
Even as the thought entered my mind, I heard an explosion overhead, though I dared not take my eyes from Saiyon to look. I knew the sound. Recognized the sparks in my peripheral vision. While we stood here on the Earth Mother, the war between day and night continued above us—or perhaps Saiyon’s soldiers were simply distracting the moon so He could finish His business with Twilight. After all, He was encroaching on her kingdom—I wasn’t sure if the Earth Mother claimed Her own, with Her face turned away in sleep.
“Let’s end this, Ristriel.” Saiyon’s voice was like a great low trumpet, too strong and loud for this quiet place. “You cannot wield time forever. If you try now, I will kill you where you stand.”
My breath stuck in my throat. My skin flashed silver. Demigods were immortal, but perhaps the death Saiyon intended was not the same as the death I knew.
Ristriel stood tall. “You cannot deal Your justice upon the Earth Mother.”
Saiyon frowned. “And She cannot offer you sanctuary in Her slumber.”
I tried to put a hand on Ristriel’s arm, startling him. He glanced at me, his dark eyes determined in their set but fearful in their depths. Focusing on Saiyon, I said, “What must be done? For You to let him go?”
A thin breath passed from Saiyon’s nose. “He cannot be let go. He is the only barrier between day and night.”
I held His gaze and stood tall. “You are a god of law, Saiyon. Explain to me how eternal chains are a just punishment for the recklessness of a newborn being.”
Saiyon’s light blazed a little brighter; there was strain in His features as He reined it in again. Ristriel stepped over to shield me, but I knew Saiyon would never hurt me.
When the god did not answer, I asked, “Can You?”
His diamond gaze flickered to His subjects surrounding us. His jaw set stiffly, but He managed, “I cannot.”
I breathed out a sigh of relief. “Then I ask again. What must be done, for him to earn his freedom?”
Saiyon did not respond for nearly a minute. The tension flowing between us, and between Ristriel and the godlings, made drawing breath a laborious effort. And yet His eyes never left mine. Just like when we first met, I sensed He was peering beyond my mortal fa?ade, deep into me, to something even I did not know. My understanding was so limited then, and yet I had spoken simple facts that even the Sun God could not deny. In truth, looking back, I am surprised He cared for me enough, at that time, to barter with me. Then again, a god of justice could not be entirely deprived of mercy.
When He spoke, it seemed to shake the Earth Mother Herself. He spoke to Ristriel. “The war will continue.”