Author: JLfromNH

A few weeks ago I posted a fragment of the novel I’m working on. We saw some of the gods both opposed and in favor of the god Dionysus and His actions. Here is part two.

…..Launching Himself into the air, Coyote streaked towards the south. Once He was gone, Manannan shifted Himself to the Otherworld and entered the quiet park where Athena was busy working over Her loom.

“Coyote saw Takannaaluk give Dionysus two pieces of Ares’ Armor, the greaves.”

“I suspected as much. The yarn just took on a darker color while I was weaving.” Athena paused in Her work and scowled at the Tapestry. “I’ll have to adjust my strategy a little.”

“Takannaakuk isn’t the only one who’s sympathetic to Dionysus. I’ve spoken with a few minor divinities Who hope for a chance to ride on His coattails, as humans say.”

“And I’ve spoken to some who either prefer remaining neutral, waiting to see which way the wind blows or refraining because They have no ability to fight.” replied Athena. Manannan watched as She plucked out a few threads and adjusted a few more. She then sat back and surveyed the results. The son of Lir thought the pattern looked good but given the complexity of what Athena was weaving, He knew that might be deceptive. The sound of two ravens croaking outside the pavilion drew Their attention. A figure in a ragged cloak and drooping hat approached, His shoulders sporting two sleek ravens.

“I for one will no longer remain neutral.” Said Odin, stepping into the pavilion. “Indeed, I regret now not adding My voice to Yours when You tried to dissuade Him.”

“What made you change your mind?” asked Athena.

“I finally cast the Runes to see what your brother’s rise might portend. What I saw wasn’t good. It makes me wish I had Transcended with the others. Ragnarok was a myth created by humans but if your brother continues to rise unopposed, it will likely become reality.”

“Enough have told me They loathe my brother and intend to fight Him that I fear you are right, All-Father. Right now They are too busy arguing among Themselves as to who should lead the battle. While They squabble, my brother grows stronger. It will make the battle that much harder for Them.”

“Some of Them approached me asking if I would conduct the Wild Hunt against your brother. I refused Them of course. The Wild Hunt is not meant for warfare but is only done out of the most dire necessity, when negative energies have built up to a catastrophic level and need to be safely discharged. It hasn’t reached that point – yet.” Odin’s single eye flared in anger. “Any one of Them could have struck down Dionysus when they had the chance but didn’t bother because They held Him in so much contempt. Now They realize Their mistake and are scrambling to make battle plans.”

“Dionysus knows this, which is why He searches for the Armor. He has no fighting ability but the Armor would make him nearly indestructible. If only Ares had come willingly instead of being dragged kicking and screaming by my Father into the Otherworld, I would have been able to get the Armor in my possession. Then it would have been a simple matter to give It to Pele or Sethlans to melt down once and for all. There’s no other Armor which comes close to what Hephaestus forged. Only Sethlans approaches Him in ability and He has already indicated He stands against Dionysus.”

“Hmph! I can’t picture Ares willingly Transcending.” said Manannan. “He might have given you an argument on what to do with that Armor. What finally did happen to Him?”

“Ares refused to Transcend and attacked Zeus in an effort to break His power so He could return to the ordinary world. Our Father slew Him with Artemis’s Bow and Arrow.” replied Athena, heavily. “Dionysus saw all this and never forgot it. That’s why He searches for the Armor. He fully expects me to make a strike against Him as Father did against Ares.”

Odin’s ravens suddenly began croaking loudly and Athena’s owl bristled its feathers as it spread its beak in a fierce hiss. The three gods turned to look at what approached.

At first all that could be seen was a black shadow moving along the cobblestone path. But as it drew near, the gentle light given off by the the pavilion began to illuminate it. Mannanan sensed Odin shudder and heard Him mutter in a low voice.

“…And I thought Hela was ugly….”

She Who walked the path was evidently sharp eared enough to hear Him, for a dry rattling laugh floated towards them.

“Yes, I am no beauty, All-Father. Death is often ugly especially to those never touched by it.”

She was hideous. Dressed in a blood red robe thrown back revealing Her skeletal body, She clutched a scythe in one bony hand and a sack brightly decorated with colorful skull patterns in the other. She did have some flesh, tendons and ligaments holding Her form together. Two shriveled breasts dangled from Her near fleshless chest. Scarlet orbs burned in the depths of Her eye sockets.

“Mictecacihuatl?” Even Athena seemed uncertain about the identity of their visitor now standing at the foot of the pavilion.

“Santa Muerta, they call Me now.”

“One of the Aztec gods?” Said Manannan. “I thought you all perished in the Catastrophe.”

“Not all. Most of My brethren lost coherence when Their followers died from disease and genocide but a few of Us managed to cling to existence when populations stabilized. It was a good though bitter lesson for Us, not to base all Our power on the sacrifices the mortals used to make to us. Now my power begins to grow once more.” Her dry chuckle sounded again. “Death is a constant after all. And the devotion of My new followers has become important to Me. However your half-brother threatens that. He brings the danger of chaos which could wipe out what gains I have managed to make. You should have killed and flayed Him when you had the opportunity, Athena.”

“That…is not My way.” replied Athena, a wry twist momentarily appearing on Her mouth. “I prefer strategy to brute force.”

“As You will.” replied Santa Muerta with a shrug. “However I have brought something which might help out Your strategy.”

So saying, She opened the sack She held and dumped out its contents. Two golden gauntlets fell to the ground. Mannanan stepped forward and took them up, bringing them to Athena.

“I thank you.” Said Athena gravely. “May I ask how you managed to come by them?”

“They were found by some tomb robbers who attempted to melt them down for the gold. When the gauntlets failed to melt, they became frightened and brought them to a follower of mine, an up and coming drug lord. He fancies himself the next Pablo Escobar and dabbles in the occult. He saw at once their otherworldly nature and presented them as a gift to Me after summoning Me in a ritual. The offering pleased Me, so needless to say, his affairs will be prospering in the future.”

Manannan wondered what kind of ritual would draw such a one as Santa Muerta, but decided it was better not to ask. As one who slipped regularly between the Otherworld and the ordinary realms, He often helped guide the confused spirits of those who had just died on their transition into the Afterlife, seeing His efforts as a benefit to humans. But He never ruled over any of the realms of the Dead such as Arawn, Hela and their visitor did. While many of these realms were pleasant and comforting to those who had passed, some were dark and fearsome, reflecting the nature of the souls who had fallen into them. Given the frightful appearance of Santa Muerta, She likely ruled one of these latter realms.

“So far only the outer parts of Ares’s Armor have been found.” Said Odin. “It’s the Helm and Cuirass, the main parts of the Armor that concern Me. Have no sign of them been seen?”

“Not by I.” replied Santa Muerta. “But a soul I recently collected had a memory of seeing golden armor such as you mention when he was in the Middle East. Whether it belonged to Ares or was simply mortal armor was impossible to determine. Regrettably he could not recall where exactly he had seen it. The trauma of his death was too great to retain the memory.”

“Athena, there’s so much violence and turmoil in that place, so much so that it makes Me wonder.” said Manannan. “Would the Armor cause any of that?”

“No. Human warfare is self-generated. What’s happening there is the result of ordinary human meddling. The Armor would not affect that. Its energies are passive in nature. So unfortunately We can’t use it as a barometer for locating the remaining fragments.”

“I will question some of the other souls who have arrived in My realm.” Said Santa Muerta. “Because many who come to Me have died by violence, their memories are often fragmented. But a few do arrive intact so I will see if any who visited that region have any memories which might help You.”

Santa Muerta turned and left the same way She came. Athena’s owl finally smoothed its feathers and Odins’ ravens who had quietly grumbled the whole time She was present, fell silent.

“An unorthodox ally.” remarked Manannan.

“She helps us for Her own reasons.” answered Athena. “In Her own grim way, She promotes harmony as She knows it in the realm that is Her proper domain. She shepherds the souls who enter her realm rather than torment or devour them as demons would. She doesn’t try to remake worlds to suit Her taste.”

“But She might try to extend Her rule to other Underworlds.” said Odin. “More than a few are empty of any ruler. I know Hades has Transcended and so have a few Others. If no one assumes command of these places other than a few pitiful demons trying to raise Themselves up, She will likely expel Them and take on rulership Herself. She bears watching, I think.”

“Perhaps.” replied Athena. “But that’s a concern for the future. My brother is the great worry now.”

“True enough.” replied Odin, straightening. He lifted the two ravens off His shoulders and sent them flying in opposite directions. “I will return to Asgard and watch for further developments. Some of the Others may see an opportunity for advancing Their own agendas so We will need to beware of that. I don’t know about You but I don’t really want any more surprises.” So saying He exited the pavilion and vanished.

“I’ll go to New York City and do a little spying for You.” Said Manannan. “That seems to be where Dionysus is centering His activities.”

“I agree.” nodded Athena. Then Her lips curved in amusement. “By the way, did You make good use of those porcupine quills I gave You?”

“I did, Great Avatar of Wisdom.” Grinned Manannan happily. “I most certainly did.”

The above text is not carved in stone by any means and I may rewrite parts of it. The process of writing is for the most part inspiration rather than anything planned. As new ideas bubble up, the preceding words will be edited or deleted. Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m going to write until I actually sit down and start typing. Stay tuned.