Liam watched as Vulkis' ship loaded with cargo and tried to not let the creeping depression slide back into his mind. He felt Meg's hand touch his back, rubbing gently.
“Hey,” she said. “You look kinda down.”
“I-” Liam stopped himself. He slowly shook his head. “I guess I kind of am.”
Meg slapped the back of his head. “Liam, you successfully pulled a triple cross: you talked a pickpocket into giving that psycho bitch your iPod, so you could get Neb to 'betray' you just to get to her offices. Then you let yourself get tortured to give Neb time to find incriminating evidence. Then, just to put a cherry on top, you fucking saved the local goddess.”
She laughed, pointing. “Look at all that fucking treasure.”
“Easily worth ten thousand XP,” Liam said. But Meg could see his heart wasn't in it.
“And, uh, the scribes say they got almost all of the books you said to copy off the iPod before it gave up the fight and died,” Meg said.
Liam ducked his head forward, his hands sliding along the stone railing that separated the side of the docks from the ten foot plunge into the dirty water of the harbor. He looked up a moment later, shoving himself to a full standing posture. “Megara the Messenger, I love you. I wouldn't trade you for a thousand slave girls-”
“I resemble that remark,” Liv interjected as she walked by – carrying their luggage towards the ship.
“When is she taking off her collar?” Liam muttered.
“Never, if I have anything to say about it,” Meg muttered back, grinning. “But go on, you were telling me how great I am.”
Liam brushed his hands along his hair. “It's true. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me on two worlds, Meg. But, the simple fact is... I loved Earth. I loved America. I loved my Mom and my family and my friends. I miss them. And, well, I thought that if I had the iPod and my longsword, I'd... always have a connection to them.”
He sighed.
“Now that connection's gone.”
Meg nodded, slowly. She cupped his cheek. “You still have that.”
Her eyes darted down to Liam's crucifix. He touched it.
“I remember when just seeing this would send you into a killing frenzy,” he said, grinning. “Not sure if I want it to be my only memento of Earth.”
“To be fair, I admit that I was operating on mistaken assumptions caused by two thousand years of historical drift and propaganda!” Meg said, putting her hand to her chest. “I'll only start choking you if you like it.”
Liam laughed.
But before he could continue, a shadow fell over the two of them. Meg's hand dropping to her javelins for a moment, but despite the shadow's size, they only saw Brigid. The goddess looked normal height, but Liam was rapidly getting used to how gods fucked with the reality that they inhabited. She was followed by a small cart, pushed along by several guards in their best uniforms. She also held a small bag in her hands.
“Liam Vanderbilt of Earth,” she said, her voice musical, but lacking the deep, resonant cascades that she had used before. “You are leaving our fair city so soon?”
“What can I say?” Liam asked. “I need a vacation.”
Brigid laughed, then held out the purse.
“I wish to grant you a boon,” she said.
Liam took the purse, but rather than feeling coins (which, he admitted, would have been surprising, considering the number of treasure chests that Vulkis was loading on his ship) he felt something hard and rectangular. And familiar. He opened the purse and looked at his iPod. His brow furrowed and before he could stop himself, he tapped the power button.
The iPod lit up, glowing brightly. The battery said it was fully charged.
“But-”
“I placed a single piece of the imbas within it,” Brigid said, sounding amused. “The fire of inspiration will keep this inspiring you until my flames are snuffed out.”
Liam's eyes widened.
“And,” Brigid said, “This fact has been lost over the years – forgotten as Purgatory lacks the metals of Earth - but it remains true in my heart.” She touched her fingers to her chest, snapping her fingers a moment later. The guards stepped forward, carrying a large parcel. Cloth fell aside, revealing gleaming metal beneath.
“I am the Goddess of Smiths,” Brigid said as Liam – his hands shaking – took a hold of his sword. “It'd be embarrassing if I let you leave without this.”
Liam looked at Delenn with eyes that were starting to brim with tears. His hands shook even more as he felt his throat closing up. But despite the emotion, he noticed subtle changes, small runes had been carved into the base of the blade where the blood groove had been. The edge of his sword shimmered faintly.
“It has been blessed by the Tuatha,” Brigid said. “It shall cut down the fey, the undead, and other supernatural enemies with ease. It shall not bend, break or dull. And...” She smiled, slightly. “And it serves quite well as a night light for midnight reading.”
“I-” Liam stammered. “I can't thank you enough, goddess.”
“Sure you can,” Brigid said, her voice prim. “This plan was too clever for Aries. Too clever by half. And even Aries knows that you cannot have an eternal war – and yet, he works for it.” She shook her head. “Sobek, I am sure, will want you to investigate further. For something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”
And with that, she turned and swept away.
As she left, Liam shook his head. “Nerd,” he said.
“Hmm?” Meg asked.
“I'm just saying, only a nerd would read Shakespeare before glancing at my copy of Warrior Women From Mars.”
Meg slapped the back of his head gently.
* * *
Liam closed his eyes as sailed away from Olimuras. His sword was strapped to his hip and his iPod tucked into a small pocket sewn onto a leather strap he hung around his neck. Placed there, its speakers could filling the air with the sound of music. His friends and lovers listened in silence – even the crew remained quiet, straining their ears to listen.
The song ended and Liam opened his eyes to tapp pause.
“Told you,” he said.
“Fine,” Meg sniffed, wiping at her eyes. “Yes isn't a dumb name for a band.”
Liv, though, was shaking her head. “What do you think about what Brigid said? About Aries? Because I think she's right.”
“I think,” Liam said, quietly, “That what we've done here is successfully blocked the bad guy's attack. There's going to be a counter-strike. And when you're fighting someone you don't know, all you can do is keep exchanging blows until you see a weak point... then...” He slapped his hands together. “Pow.”
They nodded, watching the port fade. Liam's brow furrowed. “Oh, hey, I think that's Neb!” He waved.
The tiny figure waved back.
“Surprised she didn't want to come with us,” Liv said.
“Well, she said she had to finish her studies,” Liam said, nodding. “Still... she was fun. And she, once again, reminds me of why I'm so glad that different species can't interbreed.”
“Hm?” Liv looked at him.
“Well, without magic,” Liam said, chuckling.
Liv slowly stood up, her hands resting on the railing. “You do know she's just blessed by Anubis, right?” she asked. “Under all that fur, the Chosen are just as human as you.”
Liam blinked.
Liv grinned, wickedly.
“So...” she said. “How does your wicked pain cult view bastards?”
And so, they sailed on, the crew and his friends ribbing Liam over his new clan of bastards, the number of which grew every day until the crew were speculating that he had populated an entire tribe. Through it all, Liam laughed, but at night, he lay in bed and his mind went around and around, worrying at the problem of their mysterious enemy – an enemy who could hoodwink gods and control basilisks.
Where was their next riposte?
Liam and friends will return in The Cross Guard, the next book of Purgatory Wars. Turn over for a sneak peek.