The Blackest of Knives

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 "Godwyn? Godwyn!"

Godwyn was slumped over in a chair on his balcony, with a tipped-over bottle of wine next to him. From what Tiche last heard, he ordered several bottles over the last several days before his mother cut him off. Though, by then, he had amassed an impressive stash of drink to keep him intoxicated for days.

Tiche looked back at Fortissax who gave a shrug of his dragon shoulders. He then nudged Godwyn with his nose hard enough to knock the demigod from his seat.

Godwyn entered a fury, swinging his arms and wailing like a madman. He shouted orders to an invisible army as his unsteady feet gave out and threw him back to the ground before Fortissax pushed him to the ground and pinned him with one claw.

"Godwyn, its us!" exclaimed Tiche.

The fog of battle faded from Godwyn, and he was again aware that he was in Lyndell. He rubbed his bloodshot eyes from both tears and drink.

"I..."

"Don't talk," said Tiche.

"What are you doing here?"

"Worried, obviously."

"Ranni?"

"She's become her mother. Her mind is too broken to even look at the world. So, she's retreated to her own," said Fortissax.

"I need to see her," said Godwyn.

"What thinketh thou canst do for her? Right now thy feet don't even work," said Fortissax.

"Come on," said Tiche, putting his arm around her shoulder to steady him. He leaned hard against her as she led him to where the servants prepared a hot bath.

Godwyn did smell of death.

As a child, Tiche watched from her hiding place among the trees outside the Woodfolk Village. The inhabitants complained about the stench and how it made them sick. They spent the day searching for the little hovel Alecto told her to stay in, determined to wipe it from their presence. Some even stated that the scent was evidence of Marika's failure to remove death from the world.

They were not wrong.

What many did not know—or even consider—was the limits of Marika's power. Death was never destroyed. Taken and sealed away, sure, and even indefinitely. Perhaps Marika would have people consider that "destroyed," but it was far from it. And day by day, Alecto dreamed of a time when she could have it again to exact her justice against Marika for tricking her.

But as others feared it, for Tiche, the smell was something of a comfort. It meant her mother returned, and the little girl knew she was safe again.

"This is my fault," said Godwyn.

"How is this your fault?" Tiche asked as she wiped her hand over Godwyn's shoulders.

"We have all grew up terrified of him," said Godwyn.

"Maliketh?"

"I shouldn't have left her alone with him."

"Mother used to tell stories about Marika's shadow-bound beast and half-brother. How he could destroy demigods," said Tiche. "But your children are alive and hidden away now. I don't see your mother or anyone else letting them be discovered. Not by him."

"I have nightmares about it. Every day, I wake up with dreams of maggots crawling under my skin and thorns tearing out of my body," said Godwyn.

"Shhh. Enough of this," said Tiche.

Once Godwyn was cleaned as good as he could without Tiche getting too intimate, she helped him to his bed to dress him.

As Tiche was combing out his long, golden hair, Godwyn began to sob. She laid her head down on his shoulder. Without knowing why, a single tear rolled down her cheek.

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No feelings for the Demigods.

Godwyn shifted, and his gentle hand rested on Tiche's cheek. A strong, callused hand that showed Godwyn was more than just a spoiled son of the queen that Alecto painted all Marika's children as.

Ranni was loyal, to a fault even.

Rykard was clever and could outwit anyone within the Lands-Between.

Radahn was brave and disciplined.

Miquella was perhaps the most intelligent little boy Tiche had ever seen. And kind to a point where it was supernatural.

Malenia was resilent.

And Godwyn was passionate. He was a man hardened in combat, yet the one who brokered the peace between Leyndell and the Ancient Dragons.

There were others of Marika's offspring, but these were the ones that Tiche had come to observe.

When his lips met hers, Tiche welcomed it. A strong part of her wanted this from the day she first laid eyes on the demigod. His scent, again brought that feeling of safety. She watched him often from afar, convincing herself that she was on recon for her guild, but in reality, she wished to see him if only to imagine what life might be with him.

When it was done, Tiche wished for another but, despite the longing, said with a sigh, "No. We shouldn't."

Godwyn nodded in agreement, "You should go."

For a moment, after Tiche departed, Godwyn sat on his bed. He remembered that night when he witnessed the sacred intimacy between his parents. It was then that Godwyn understood Marika's power and how she tamed and molded his father, Godfrey, from a savage warrior to a Lord. A rebirth of sorts as they became one only but for a moment. And though Godfrey was satisfied with the encounter, Marika was frustrated that her Lord could not remain part of her.

But as a warrior, Godfrey did not wish to lose his independence. Through seduction, Marika had already stripped him of his ferocity and savage nature. The beasts no longer let him run with them and he became as civilized as any man. He refused to let her take more, assuring her he would never leave her side as they made love. He was just as content living in his lover's embrace as did the mortals. But Marika, the goddess as she was, wanted more.

Could Godwyn, who was of the blood of Marika, not better bind with her and thus gain the gift of her eternal life?

As he pondered why his mother chose to reject him, Godwyn felt a twitch in his eye. He rubbed it, but that twitch to became a burning sensation. He rushed to his wash basin and splashed water in his eyes over and over to remove the offensive thing.

When he looked in the mirror, he saw a speck of sorts, swimming in the fluid of his eyes and showing Godwyn a vision of sorts where the thorns pierced his skin and flayed to rent the spirit from it that it might be devoured. And to his remembrance was the horrid prediction from the Finger Reading crone who had nursed him.

"When thou wast born, she loved thee more—and desired not for thee to die. And so she challenged the holder of death itself. Even the very Gloam-Eyed Queen. That she may hold Destined Death as a rune within her Elden Ring, should thy mother falter in her path, then thou shalt die against her will."

"No," said Godwyn, realizing that time was coming. And all his mother could give him in place of immortality was offspring. "Let me die, Mother and I will destroy everything. I will poison you from your roots. I swear it."

Of course, Marika said nothing in return. She wasn't there.

What to do? At this point, he could bear no trust in anyone. Even his closest friends were likely watched by those who had declared him their enemy. His mother had already given her answer. And Ranni... she was gone.

I always thought Maliketh was loyal to no one.ekse but Marika, especially after feeding him all the death roots, but saying that he listens to the greater will is a very interesting take, also is it actually lore accurate that Alecto and others tried to kill Metyr and so Marika buried the ancient cities? Because according to lore the black knives are from other lands, not the ancient cities. and I don't think anyone knew about the existence of Metyr

6mo ago

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