“That rabbit has been following us the whole way,” Rodrigo remarked, pointing to a white hare that had been traveling alongside the group of deities.

  Rodrigo, Tania, Anpiel, and Susanoo had walked for just under ten days since the cold tundras of northern Vinland around Taltheilei. At last, the cold was beginning to ease slightly, and they had reached the region of the Great Lakes.

  The scene could not have been more surreal. The great lakes were immense bodies of crystal-clear water, so transparent that the entire landscape reflected upon their surface. Forests of pine in shades of green, ochre, and orange rose throughout the region, while the sounds of hundreds of birds filled the air. The gods had passed through countless villages made of tipi tents, yet they had not wished to stop in any of them. The news they had received before separating had terrified them, and they felt the need to hurry in their mission—their mission to become stronger.

  Eight days earlier, still in Taltheilei, just as the two groups were preparing to part ways, Anpiel suggested it would be better to inform Pallas about what had happened and about what they should do with Bellona.

  “Kill her,” Menrva said bluntly while she remained seated upon the naked and unconscious body of the Roman goddess.

  “I believe we should ask Athena for information about this,” Anpiel said again as he summoned the communication crystal connected to the planet ruled by the Greek goddess.

  At that moment Menrva’s expression darkened.

  “It is possible you will receive no answer, Anpiel,” the goddess said.

  Everyone remembered what Epona had said about Menrva’s words and swallowed nervously as they watched Anpiel attempt to contact the planet Pallas.

  Minutes passed without a response. At that moment they all understood the worst… Pallas had truly disappeared.

  “My master Athena entrusted me with the mission of bringing you to Vinland and protecting you here—helping you grow stronger because she knew Pallas would be invaded and destroyed by Lel,” the Etruscan goddess finally said as she buried her face between her knees.

  Ana then fell to her knees.

  “My master Athena is…?” the goddess asked, but she was interrupted by the Etruscan goddess.

  “We do not yet know what happened, but I am certain she must still be alive!” Menrva said with an angry expression.

  Melancholy overtook everyone present. Tania thought of Nabu, who had helped her protect Ibiza; Rodrigo thought of Asclepius; and Ana thought of Myrddin and of the companion she had made on Mars—Ishtar and her attendant.

  “I’m sorry. I should have said it earlier, but I feared you might refuse to come if you stayed to defend Pallas,” Menrva said, then looked out over the vast lake below them. “For me, it was the hardest decision to leave my newly reunited master behind in order to protect you.”

  “What should we do?” Tania asked. “Return to Asgard and try to locate Athena?”

  “I hold that the sacred duty we all share in this endeavour,” Susanoo suddenly interrupted, “is naught less than the augmentation of our own puissance—to become yet stronger, ay, and stronger still. Should their enemies fall upon us, we must either rescue our companions from the very jaws of peril, or else exact righteous vengeance for their untimely demise. These twain are our sole alternatives, and to accomplish such noble ends, we shall be compelled to confront entities whose might doth transcend even that of the divine Athena-sama herself.”

  “Well, you hardly ever speak, but you’re absolutely right,” Epona said.

  “We must not permit sentiments of vanquishment to overwhelm our spirits, nor to gain dominion over our resolve,” the eastern god continued.

  “You are right, Susanoo. We must continue. We will go to Haida Gwaii, and you head south. I promise we will meet again safe and sound in Tula,” Menrva said as she rose from Bellona’s body.

  “And what do we do with this traitor then?” Ana asked.

  “I suppose she cannot do anything now without her totema. Why not remove it and leave her tied up here? I doubt she represents any threat to us now. Besides, we destroyed her communication crystal,” Rodrigo suggested.

  “Always looking to spare a life, Rodrigo,” Tania said with disappointment.

  “I’m sorry, Tania, but… I don’t want to take anyone’s life ever again,” the young tannin said melancholically, which made the Punic goddess smile.

  “You are na?ve, boy,” Loki replied. “If you spare that woman’s life, she will do everything possible to avenge herself. Didn’t you hear that she worships that idiot Anat like some kind of religious figure? Killing her would be the best thing we could do.”

  “I agree with Loki,” Menrva said.

  “Rodrigo, unfortunately I also agree with that divine scum,” Tania added.

  “I am not fond of violence, but what guarantee do we have that she won’t attack us again?” Anpiel said.

  Epona and Ana remained silent. It was clear they wanted to agree with Rodrigo.

  “Very well, decided,” Menrva said as she summoned her golden spear. “Let us make this a democracy, like in ancient Rome.”

  The Etruscan goddess pointed her spear toward the head of the unconscious Bellona, but Rodrigo insisted.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “We are supposed to be better than Lel, right?” he said.

  “Rodrigo, sometimes difficult decisions must be made for the sake of others,” Tania replied sadly.

  “I support Rui,” Ana finally said.

  “And so do I,” Epona added, emboldened by Ana’s decision.

  “Mina-san,” Susanoo said, “to dispatch a soul whilst they slumber or lie insensate is the very epitome of cowardice. If Bellona-san doth wish to face us once more, pray do not deprive her of that opportunity. And should that moment arrive, then—and only then—mayest thou claim her life. She is, without question, our adversary; yet that doth not license us to strip her of her honour,” Susanoo replied with a somewhat irritated tone.

  “You never speak, and when you do it is only to contradict me,” Menrva said irritably.

  “Gomen, Menrva-san,” Susanoo replied with a slight bow to the Etruscan goddess.

  “Still… you are right. It would be cowardly on our part,” the Etruscan goddess finally admitted, making her spear vanish.

  “So what shall we do with her?” Tania asked.

  “As Rodrigo said, we tie her with adamantine chains and leave her here,” the Etruscan goddess said.

  “I don’t have adamantine among my belongings,” Ana replied apologetically.

  “I do, but I insist this is a terrible idea,” Loki said as he summoned dark ochre chains. When they fell to the ground they made a thunderous noise.

  “Good, Loki,” Menrva said. “Leave her tied up and let us divide the ambrosia to bring this brief meeting to an end.”

  When the two groups departed, Bellona remained seated on the ground, naked, her body completely chained. The goddess sat upon the cliff overlooking the lake where the battle had taken place.

  From those events, a little less than ten days had passed. Walking south, Rodrigo’s team had finally reached the region of the Great Lakes, where Queen Sedna had told them a deity named Wenabozho ruled.

  However, once they crossed the lakes they would enter Iroquois territory, a kingdom allied with Tula and therefore likely allied with Lel. But for two days a white rabbit had been following them, something Rodrigo had taken notice of.

  “It’s just a cute little bunny,” Tania joked as she crouched down to look at it.

  When she extended her hand, the rabbit surprisingly did not flee or try to bite her. Tania began to pet it while speaking to it as though it were a baby.

  “I am inclined to believe that thou art in need of children, Tania-san,” Susanoo commented after watching Tania lift the rabbit and tickle its belly while making childish sounds.

  Rodrigo, however, was happy to see Tania smiling and cheerful again—especially when she behaved in such a ridiculous way.

  “But don’t you find it strange that a wild rabbit would allow strangers to touch it?” Anpiel asked.

  At that moment they heard the rabbit begin to laugh.

  “Enough, enough, woman, I can’t take the laughter anymore,” the rabbit said in clear divine language before jumping from Tania’s hands.

  “Are you a deity?” Rodrigo asked in surprise.

  Then the rabbit transformed into a very handsome man with red eyes. His long white hair flowed down his back, and several feathers adorned his head. His face was painted red, and his chest was bare. He wore khaki trousers and a matching loincloth along with leather moccasins.

  “Thank you for the caresses, young woman. I feel much better now,” the man said laughing as he floated in the air like a cloud. Everyone was surprised he could float despite the anti-divinity barrier.

  “You were… a man?” Tania said in horror, making a face of disgust at the thought that she had unknowingly been petting an adult man.

  The man laughed as Tania approached him angrily.

  “Why didn’t you tell me to stop?” she demanded.

  “What person would feel uncomfortable being caressed by a woman as beautiful as you? I enjoyed every second of your hands’ movements,” the man replied with a pleased smile.

  Tania blushed and began shouting at him that he was a pervert.

  Rodrigo realized that when it came to love and sex, Tania was still like a child, since she had turned as red as a cherry.

  “Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy stroking my virile body?” the man continued teasing. “That problem can be solved.”

  Then the man transformed into a very beautiful and sensual woman. Since the clothing did not change, her round and beautiful breasts were fully exposed to the air, which left Rodrigo stunned by the sight. Anpiel quickly covered his eyes.

  “I’m sure Epona would not like that, Lord Rodrigo,” he said.

  The woman floated closer to Tania.

  “So, do you like me better like this?” she asked.

  Tania, still flushed and embarrassed, pushed the woman away from her view while the woman laughed with great amusement.

  “Who the hell are you?” Tania shouted angrily, still blushing.

  The woman then sat in the air, crossing her legs.

  “I am the great Nanabozho, queen of these lands,” the woman said.

  “Excuse me, Miss Nanabozho,” Anpiel replied.

  “We were informed that a leader named Wenabozho ruled these lands, and Queen Sedna recommended that we speak with him,” he explained.

  “Oh, so you want to speak with Wenabozho? You should have told me earlier!” the woman replied.

  Immediately the deity transformed back into a man.

  “Now I am Wenabozho. How can I help you?” he asked.

  “Wait, what exactly are you?” Tania asked in confusion. “A man? A woman?”

  Wenabozho laughed.

  “I am whatever I wish to be. Is that important?” the god asked.

  “I suppose not,” Anpiel replied, and Susanoo nodded. Tania was still in shock, and Rodrigo did not particularly care.

  “Well then, young foreign deities, why has Queen Sedna sent you to my territories?” the god asked as he floated in the air in a position that looked as if he were lying down.

  “Great Wenabozho,” Anpiel said, “we have been tasked with reaching the kingdom of Tula, and we ask for your support to cross your territory safely and quickly, if that is possible.”

  “But you have already crossed almost all of my territory. You entered it about seven days ago, and I have been following you ever since, taking various forms,” the god said. “You only need to cross the Great Lake, and you will be in Iroquois territory,” he added while pointing at the immense lake before them.

  “It might have been a better idea to talk to us seven days ago, don’t you think?” Tania asked irritably.

  “I saw that you were good people. You never tried to attack or trouble my people. In fact, I would not have appeared before you in this form if this beautiful girl had not touched me with her sensual hands,” the god continued, enjoying Tania’s embarrassed reactions.

  “We appreciate your words, great Wenabozho,” Anpiel said.

  “Of course. I suppose you will now need to cross Ontario in a canoe,” the god continued. “However, my people do not sail upon it because a gigantic serpent lives there. If you kill the serpent, you will be able to cross.”

  “I suppose it must be a tannin,” Tania said thoughtfully.

  “I am not familiar with your terms, but even if you destroy the serpent, the Iroquois will surely capture you while crossing, and they have very powerful warrior deities as well,” the god continued.

  Then the deity once again took the form of a woman. Anpiel quickly covered Rodrigo’s eyes again.

  “Before attacking the serpent, I recommend that you head south along the shore of this lake. There you will find a gigantic waterfall. Inside it lives an Iroquois deity named Hé-no. If you gain his support in defeating the serpent, he will surely allow you to enter Iroquois territory,” the goddess explained while still floating like a cloud.

  “That does not sound like a very difficult mission,” Tania said with a dismissive expression.

  “You think so?” the Anishinaabe goddess asked as she fluttered above Tania.

  “The Iroquois have been fighting that catastrophe for years and have never been able to wound it. Perhaps if the battle took place in the divine realm it would be easier, but on Earth it is very difficult,” she concluded.

  “Well, I do declare it is a most splendid opportunity,” Susanoo said as he drew his katana and pointed it toward the great lake.

  “Upon this very day, I shall claim the head of a Ryujin for mine own.”

  ake Ontario in Canada literally means that: "Great Lake." And the falls Wenabozho refers to are the Niagara Falls.

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