AO 7 Ch 19

Ditzy began talking, telling about her life when she was younger, a small goddess of the budding pantheon known as Olympus.

Ditzy had taken the guise of a simple mortal to experience the world. In her folly, she had failed to temper her budding aspect of beauty.

A mortal king had caught just a glimpse of her, and even in her passing, she had caused ripples through the kingdom. The king demanded that the most beautiful woman in the world be found.

Soldiers swarmed the capital, the cities, and the towns. Yet, when the beauty he sought could not be found, the king looked beyond the mortal ladies to those others known for their beauty. 

Naiads, often considered to be small deities of lakes and rivers, took the form of some of the most beautiful women that could ever be seen.

The king had them stripped from their lakes and rivers, all in search of Ditzy. Yet, with each one that he received in his royal palace, rivers began to dry up, lakes sank into their soil. One after the other, the king killed the Naiads in disappointment. By the time they had been brought before him, they had all begun to wither and age. In his rage at the gods for denying him beauty, he slaughtered one after the other. 

It was only around this time that Ditzy finally became aware of what was happening and that she had been the cause. She immediately swept through the kingdom, taking every Naiad into her protection and stripping the entire kingdom of water.

If the king was so thirsty for beauty, it was only right that he be reminded of what it really meant to be parched. Within a week, the kingdom was crippled, on its knees with its sources of water completely gone. 

Once it had been drained of strength, Ditzy swept into the capital, offering water for those to take up arms against the king. Successfully breaking into his castle, Ditzy blinded him so that he may never see beauty again, lest it get the better of his feeble mind for he’d clearly become obsessed.

In that, she made a belt for the obsession of beauty to try and control her own powers.

The bitterness that the king instilled in those small Naiads would ripple for generations, giving birth to all sorts of rumors about beautiful women that lived in bodies of water and drowned men that lusted for their beauty.

***

When Ditzy finished telling me the story, I blinked a few times before speaking. "Wow. I mean there are old wives' tales of women's beauty being man's folly, but that really takes it to another level. I mean, don't get me wrong, Ditzy, you're hot, but like he really went on that heartless of a quest to try and get your beauty? I don't understand what he was supposed to do once he found you. He was already a horrible person." 

Ditzy laughed. "You are a rare man, Ard. Few with your sort of power still consider what the woman thinks." 

I wrinkled my nose and shuddered. "Well, whatever that is, it isn't my brand of chaos," I said quickly. 

"No, yours is far more adorable." Ditzy seemed exhausted after telling her story, and stretched ever so slightly before settling deeper against me. "Well, Ard, now that you've gotten a little of my story, what do you think about yours? Will it become something grand?" 

"I'll be lucky if my aspect doesn't manifest itself in a dunce cap," I admitted, my eye roving over the broken crown mural. "I really didn't want it to be a crown. That might even be worse than a dunce cap." 

Ditzy chuckled. "It's not like you have to wear it everywhere you go. I keep my girdle tucked away nice and safe within my own soul, lest someone else pick it up and cause a disaster like I had in the past." 

"Yeah, the last thing we need is some idiot running around picking up all the ladies, right?" I smiled at her. 

"It would be a nightmare if nothing else than the children you might spawn, Ard. Though I do think you will have to reassess your feelings on children. I can tell you it is not only Emlyn who will likely be knocking on your door in the coming nights." She told me.

"I will endeavor to brave through it," I said. "After the way Aurelia was with Beth's two boys, I have a feeling the time before I need to seriously think about starting a family is growing that much shorter."

Ditzy laughed. "Much shorter, Ard. Especially because you've already had two with Sienna and Selina. I think you're going to find it hard coming up with excuses to put off the others."

"Well, of course," I said quickly. "But that's what this little adventure is for, a little time for me to think. And make sure the biggest threat to myself and those I care about is exterminated." My eyes flashed at the thought of Freya. "Bad Kitty has some bad blood with Freya. How about you?”

“I do not have any terrible issue with her directly. However, her recruitment of Hades will be problematic to say the least." Ditzy told me.

"The gloomy guy, right?" I asked, remembering the god of death that had assisted her.

"Gloomy is an apt term," Ditzy said. "As the god of the underworld, he doesn't get much sun. But don't let his pale composure delude you. He is a terrifying warrior, just like his two younger brothers. Unlike Thor, he's going to keep a more level head and tactical mind. If we face him again..."

"Don't worry, by the time we do, I will be ready. I just need a little break before we move on to the next part of this whole goddess versus goddess quest." I said and held her tight.

“That would be nice, Ard.” Ditzy murmured and was so relaxed against me, she began to doze off.

***

The rest of the trip back to my home village was entirely unremarkable, yet absolutely perfect.

Each of my women and I had at least one night to ourselves. Whether it was exploring the most recent town and enjoying what little nightlife they offered, frolicking in a field, or going out for a ride and a picnic. After everything we'd been through in Garrish, it was blissfully uneventful, yet full of everything I could hope to have around me. I felt the love and caring of my partners, and the curiosity of those who were not yet.

But all good things came to an end, especially as our carriage rolled down familiar twists and turns, even having been away. There's no way I wouldn't recognize Simon's shithole of a farm, or the way several children poked their heads out from behind the bushes, only to go scurrying off to their families and let them know someone was rolling into town on a very nice carriage. 

"So this is where you grew up," Aurelia said with innocent curiosity as she looked around.

To be honest, I was worried they would all suddenly think I was some sort of phony, or realize I came quite literally from the dirt the second they saw my home. 

"Stop being nervous, Ard," Emlyn nudged my shin. 

"I'm not nervous. Who's nervous? Me? No," I knew I was speaking far too rapidly to be believable. 

"It's nice in its own way," Eva tried to be kind.

"Yeah, and you see those clay tiles on the roof? Made of mud, not any of that fancy clay. Straight up mud baked in the sun. And if you look at that field way over there? That's where Princess Mudpie got her name," I hooked a thumb at Emlyn, only to get the expected punch on the shoulder. I refused to flinch, even though she hit like a charging bull. 

"Ah yes, that's the story we're not supposed to repeat," Viviana nodded along. 

"Correct. Emlyn doesn't want it known that she's the best mudpie maker for a thousand miles.” I confirmed.

“Do you want me to hit you again?" Emlyn asked. 

I shrugged. "Maybe. I know it's how you show your love." By pretending I wanted it, it suddenly made Emlyn no longer want to hit me. Take that, I thought, only for her to make up her mind and punch me in the shoulder again. 

As the village came fully into view, Emlyn began pointing. "That's the inn where Ard worked for Beth. Down the hill that way, two farmhouses down, and you'll find my family," Emlyn said. 

I felt a sinking feeling in my gut. I couldn't point to where my own family lived. After all, the man and woman who had raised me, my mother and father, were dead in their farmhouse, their farm lost long ago.

I had simply been unable to manage it on my own, and it seemed to only make sense to give it to a family with a few young children. That and I’d always believed I’d step out of the village to become a mage sooner or later. At least, I had been able to live comfortably in Beth's inn. 

More nosy heads poked out from the gathering of buildings of the village. Those who lived in the village proper, or as close to a village proper as existed out in this area, were the tradesmen of the area who were limited at best. A blacksmith that was really only good at making nails and repairing farm tools. A leatherworker whose stitching was so glaringly flawed that it became a fashion statement.

And of course, there was Beth's Inn. It didn't have any fancy decorations on the outside like the inns in larger towns, where the guard would point out the one with the colored ornament so you could find the good one. Beth's Inn was simply the Inn, because it was the only one. 

A teenage girl darted out from the Inn as we slowed before it. "How can we help you?" she asked, her smile hopeful for a good tip

I flipped her a gold coin because I could. "Run in and tell Beth that an old friend is here. And do me a favor, put these two up in the stables, the left side, I know the right side has a rotting wall, and I'm sure Beth still hasn't fixed it." 

The girl stared at me with big round eyes. "Yes, sir," she said quickly and made the coin disappear.

It had felt important to me to make it known I knew my way around the area. Something in me was not ready to say goodbye to the part of my heart that still was in this shithole of a village.

"If you don't mind, I'll drive the carriage," Maribelle said to the young girl. "Hop up here for now while they all get off."

The girl seemed confused, and her confusion only grew as one after another, other women popped out of the carriage before me. There were far more of us than a carriage of this size should ever be able to hold, even if everybody had been stacked up like logs in the interior. 

Finally, once they'd all piled out, I stepped out, and Uncle Valken came last, carrying the two books I had given him previously, as well as a third that was blank when he picked it up on our travels. 

"Mister, how do you fit them all in there?" the little girl asked, peering around the side of the carriage to check its size. 

I wiggled my fingers and let a little light shine between them. "Magic," I winked, taking the chain around my throat and pulling it up on top of my clothes. There were now four items dangling from the chain: my father's restored medallion, my own mage's medallion, Hecate's pendant, and finally, the newest addition, a ring made of Ardenium. 

The little girl's eyes were as wide as saucers as she looked at the mage's medallions. The rest of it meant nothing to her, of course. 

"Oh, sir mage," she corrected herself, "pleasure to have you in town. Can I ask what you're here for?" 

"Sent from the capital, headed towards Zenovia," I pointed south through the bog. "I heard this was the last point to stop before reaching our target." 

"You'd be right," she said quickly. "There's a fortress that butts up against it a ways that way," she pointed off into the distance, "but the bog's narrowest closer to here." 

"I am well aware, thank you though," I smiled at her.

She made a squeak and covered her mouth, only for Maribelle to crack the reins and get the carriage moving. 

I strolled into the inn like I owned the place, pushing open the door with a big smile flashing towards the bar, hoping to get a reaction from Beth.

And I got one, all right. She narrowed her eyes on me. "What are you staring at me like that for? I'm not gonna let you get away with this," she growled. "Fucking nobles." 

My jaw nearly hit the floor. "Beth, can you not recognize me?" 

She paused, giving me another once over before her eyes popped open. "Ard?" she asked. "I could hardly tell it's you. Look at you, you're not moping about and you actually have a smile on your face." 

"It wasn't that bad," I insisted, coming more fully through the door and allowing my entourage to come in after me. 

Beth ignored me for a moment, taking them in. "Well, I see why you have a fucking smile on your face. Good for you, Ard. I see Emlyn finally wisened up." 

"I wisened up?" Emlyn spat and stepped up to the bar to pick up a pitcher to see if it still had any beer in it. 

"And what are you doing, Miss? Making yourself so at home?” Beth's ladle was lightning quick, snapping on the back of Emlyn's hands.

Emlyn almost dropped the pitcher. "Ow! We're good for it," Emlyn rubbed her hand. "More than good for it. Ard pay her so I can get a drink please." She gave me big eyes.

Beth chortled at the two of us as I reached into the coin purse at my waist. What seemed like so little at the capital was enough to make Beth's eyes gleam and a friendly smile reappear on her face. "Well, it would have been best to know that beforehand. The only reason I figure I'd see you two again was either if you were fugitives or deadass broke.”

“Ha!" I let out a humorless laugh. That first one nearly happened.

"Just so happens I'm escorting a Zenovian princess back home." I gestured at Eva. “I thought maybe this establishment would be a good place to spend the night before we wait until we have fresh sunlight to try and cross the bog.”

"Well aren’t you a big time mage, escorting a princess.” She teased as a piercing wail sprung up from what used to be my bedroom up on the second floor. "I'll be right back." Beth was on her feet far faster than last time I'd seen her, and now that she was out from behind the counter, she'd lost that baby bump and much of the fat that had gone with it.

A second cry joined the first, and it was a youthful symphony that lasted only a minute before it died down, though Beth didn't return immediately. 

"Well, if she's not coming back." Emlyn plucked another pitcher.

I moved around behind the counter to find some cups for all of us, placing them up on the counter as another visitor joined us. As more people began to pour through the door, I realized that Viviana's entire caravan had followed us. 

"I'll take a pitcher and... I'll take three pitchers and five stews." One of the gruff tradesmen slapped a couple of silvered coins on the counter as I rose up from a low shelf, my hand full of cups. 

"Sorry, does it look like I work here?" I gestured to my finery. The man frowned, and Viviana was about to intercede, but I held a hand out. "Kidding. I used to work here. That's definitely enough, but Beth will be down in a minute." I paused. "You know what? Hold tight." 

I rolled up my sleeves and fetched Beth's ladle from the pot before quickly going to work, falling into an old, familiar rhythm of grabbing bowls and filling them with a slosh of the ladle only to lay them out on the counter one after the other.