9

That night they took home three large sacks of food, as much as they could carry.

Silas gazed out the window at the clouds gathering on the mountain in the distance. “It’s going to be stormy tonight, I think,” He said. Then he smiled. “It’s the perfect night for a story, don’t you think?”

The children excitedly gathered around him, and he began.

“The Gods had never been happier. They had peace and prosperity and everything they had ever wanted.

“Except for Feidlimid. Feidlimid, puffed up by the pride in his heart, needed one more thing more than anything else. He needed to be King.

“Slowly, over the course of years, he gathered up some followers. He seduced many of the younger, weaker Gods over to his side. He even recruited his son and daughter, and trained them to be some of the best duellers in the land. He did not tell his wife about his plan, knowing she would not approve.

“Then came the day when he was finally ready.

“Feidlimid proclaimed a contest. If no one could prove they could best him or his followers in a duel, then they would march into the Pantheon building and take the throne.

“Many, many Gods tried. Renja was disarmed by one of Feidlimid’s followers. Esid was disarmed by Feidlimid’s son. Cymis came close, besting Feidlimid’s son and daughter, but was disarmed by Feidlimid himself.

“Then, Palla approached. Feidlimid had underestimated how she would react to his plan. Palla was livid; she was scorned, and acting out of pure Wrath. She was able to disarm the weakest Gods easily. Feidlimid’s son and daughter refused to fight their own mother. She only had Feidlimid himself to fight.

“The mortals felt this fight, in their domain. They felt it as thunder and lighting, as floods and fires, as earthquakes and tornadoes. The mortals believed that it was the clashing of their swords that brought down destruction, but it was not. It was Palla’s rage and Feidlimid’s jealousy that caused the earth to tremble.

“Finally, after days of destruction and strife, the fight came to an end, with Palla as the victor.

“As Feidlimid lay on the ground, bloodied and within an inch of his life, Palla wept. As Feidlimid was bound by Esid and Renja, she fled the God’s Domain.

“The Gods brought him into the Pantheon Temple to be tried. In the temple, they found each and every throne destroyed except for one, which had been brought to the center of the room. Set lounged in it, his hands behind his head and his feet off of the floor.

“‘You changed the rules for becoming King.’ He said, waving his hand lazily. From every drop of blood spilt in the duels outside rose a heinous demon, commanded by Set. He grinned, and said: ‘You’ll pay for it with your blood.’

“The Gods were already weakened. There was nothing they could do. Esid and Renja were killed almost instantly. Cymis struggled valiantly, but ultimately only took down a few demons before his throat was slit. Feidlimid’s other son and daughter--”

Silas stopped for a second to fight down the emotion in his voice.

“Feidlimid’s son and daughter fled. They almost made it to the border of the Gods’ domain, but they were both killed.”

Silas paused for a moment.

“It was Etune, the Goddess of Truth, who escaped first. She reached Palla and told her of the desperate nature of the situation. Palla considered her options, then decided that there was only one thing to do. She waited as long as she could. She waited until she could see Set’s demons at the edges of the domain. Then she sealed it off.

“Everyone who was not slain by the demons perished from lack of air. It was less than a day before nothing, not even the plants, was alive in there.

“Once Palla was sure that Set and his demons could not have survived, she unsealed the Domain, and her and the remaining Gods set about cremating the bodies. However, Etune soon came to her with an unsettling discovery.

“Etune had found Feidlimid alive, just outside the Domain. He had been spared by Set, and both of them had escaped. Set had gone into hiding, and had left the nearly-dead Feidlimid somewhere where the other Gods would find him.

“As punishment for his hubris, his jealousy, his wrath and his ambition, Palla exiled Feidlimid, turning him mortal. The only way he could ever become a God again is if he brought her Set’s head.

“And so, as the only remaining member of the Old Pantheon, Palla took her place as leader of the Gods, and set about rebuilding the Gods’ Domain.

“...And that’s the end of the story. For real, this time. There’s no more.”

Milo sighed contentedly. “That was a good story.”

“It was a very sad story,” Adaline said. “I don’t think I liked it.”

“That’s okay. I agree with both of you.” Silas bent down and kissed each of them on the head. “Good night. I love you.”

“I love you too, Silas,” Adaline said.

“I love you too,” Milo said.

Silas smiled wearily, and gently blew out the candle.