Chapter Sixteen – The Fates
“This rift will work to our advantage,” Terra noted as they hovered over the image pool, watching the mortals decide their next steps. To call them “immortal” was preposterous next to true immortality like that of the Fates. “With them apart, the girl may never comprehend what she can do.”
“She has managed to grasp certain concepts quite quickly, and without guidance,” Incendia reminded them drolly. Though he would like to feel pride for his child’s intuition, he knew that that intuition would wreak havoc on this game if it continued.
When Incendia chose the girl as his player in this game, he knew that it was a good move, that it would lead to an impressive confrontation. The Fates so enjoyed confrontation.
But they also hated to lose.
It had taken years and many concessions to Terra in order to name the girl his, for Terra could see what a powerful adversary the choice could be. She did not want to lose. She had, after all, chosen the primary player for this game—the redheaded witchling named Sofie—after winning the last round, with every intention of winning again.
The others had selected well—Unda chose the one named “Nathan” as a means of attacking Sofie’s romantic side. That choice propelled the game forward with Sofie’s pleas for help from the Fates. A’ris further complicated the player Sofie’s life by inviting venomous jealousy into the game through the election of the witch, “Ursula.” That player’s hatred and determination far exceeded their expectations.
But they all knew that in the end, it would come down to a face-off between Incendia and Terra’s players.
And Incendia was certain that when the true test time came, his player would choose right.
“Do you think it’s true that the player Sofie will not pray?” A’ris asked, recalling her declaration to all that she no longer would.
“I don’t see how she won’t. When she grows desperate enough.” Terra chuckled to herself. “That silly name … ‘causal enchantments.’”
“Silly the name may be, but they’re the only lifeline for us into this world,” Unda said. It was their one true weakness, if it could be called that. “The only way to interfere without stopping a game before it has run its course.” If they stopped a game, how would they begin a new one? Who would be named victorious? Who would select the next primary player? Ending a game before completion was against the order of things, and the Fates required order.
“That is not true,” A’ris quickly corrected. “Recall we will be granted one audience with the player Sofie should the need arise. That was arranged.”
“Yes, it was.” Incendia nodded his agreement. He had arranged it as a barter for the two requests the player Sofie had made when the Fates had granted her request for an audience with them. “Let us not use it until absolutely necessary.”