Waterborne (Wanderlust 3)

Chapter Fourteen

Tanden found himself at a dining table.

It was large. As if he was a toddler at an adult's table, although he had his normal proportions. The table stretched out endlessly in either direction, fancy place settings laid out, but no other guests. He sensed that he was in a large room, but he couldn't quite see it. There were walls, his peripheral vision could see them, but when he tried to look closely he couldn't make out details.

He debated jumping off of his chair and looking around, but he wasn't sure he'd be able to climb back onto the chair. He was just thinking of climbing on top of the table when he heard the creak of a door opening.

Like the walls, he couldn't quite see the door. But he saw who walked in. And he couldn't believe it.

The woman was tall and strikingly beautiful. She looked a bit like Elorie. Her skin and hair were nearly as dark as the night sky, but she wore colourful wrapped clothes and her hair was braided with bright beads. A large jaguar walked at her side, powerful muscles rippling under spotted fur.

Axmazi sat directly across the table from Tanden. The jaguar, Praxel, hopped onto the chair on her left. Tanden stared, waiting for something to happen, but then motion by the door caught his eye.

A blond woman dressed in flowing white, with a sunburst crown resting on her perfect hair, walked in next. The Teltish Goddess. Of all the gods Tanden had learned about, she was the only one without a name or special title. She gracefully sat at Axmazi's right and rested her hands on her lap.

A third woman entered the room. Her skin was light brown, her hair long and dark. She wore a green dress and a wooden crown. Plants sprouted around her feet as she walked. Her Old Ziannan name was Zianesa, and Tanden found himself struggling to remember her Navirian and Deoran names.

Her family followed. Tanden named them each as he identified them. Kitsa, the goddess of air, so light on her feet she seemed fluttery. Roe, the ocean god, dressed in only a blue cloth wrapped around his waist. Volava, goddess of the fire and guardian of the Old Zian afterlife. Her husband Siour, the chariot driver. Rouis, the sun, nearly too bright to look at. Anniva and Tros, Orden, Lukk and Lovi, Acal and Finiss, Tolle. Sunia and Catul, each holding one of their son Eogan's hands. Mysma and Jute. They walked past in a steady line, each taking seats at the table.

An old, but powerfully built man walked in next, smelling of salt and sand. The Old God of the Sea. Tanden silently felt a thrill of victory, because here the Old God of the Sea was, in the same room as Roe, clearly not the same god.

The next man had reddish brown skin and wore all black, included an elaborate black mask, decorated with stones and feathers, which concealed everything but his eyes. Jawn, the all-knowing Morcean god.

A quartet entered next. Two men and two women, each with slanted eyes like Jale. They were the Tallenese season gods. Tiya, King Summer, dressed in airy yellow, projecting warmth and kindness. Till, Queen Spring, in pale green, bringing the scent of new flowers. Tigo, King Autumn, in dark greens and brown, a serious, wise expression on his face. Finally Tier, Queen Winter, dressed in white furs and carrying her lantern. Tanden shivered, feeling chilled simply by looking at her.

Behind them walked a woman. Her skin was a delicate blue, and her dark blue hair hung nearly down to her feet. Water streamed from her hair, but evaporated as it touched the floor. Attinabi, Tanden guessed, Mother Water.

Then, gods and goddesses Tanden didn't know. A god so tall he shouldn't have fit in the room. A pair with deer-like antlers jutting from their heads. A woman with four arms. Various animal-headed gods and goddesses. They walked in endlessly, taking seats at the table, stretching for what felt like forever in both directions.