Arrival

[Amaterasu]

"So that is your stance", said Amaterasu. "You choose to remain passive and to observe rather than intervening with the powers that you have." Her tone was calmer, now, even the frustration was diminishing with every word. "It is the duty of one in our position to use the powers granted to us to help those who cannot help themselves. I cannot agree with your position, Omni-sama, but it is neither within my power nor my realm to judge you, nor could I reasonably claim the throne for myself even if it were so."

She raised a hand towards the deity with a serious face, as if offering him to take it so she could guide him somewhere. "You may say that I am not a kami any longer, but I will nontheless show you what it means, to me, to be one. I will show you my way... and one day I'll come back. Then we can speak again. This is not over - but for today I bid you farewell." With that she put on a smile and bowed, only a tiny bit less deep than when she had initially greeted him. Then she turned around without looking at him another time and strode towards the rest of the group with big steps. To Oki, she whispered: "Lead the others back to the Frozen Fields... to Dwarfholm. I will leave some mounts by the gate who will come when you whistle. Don't try to follow me."

"We shouldn't..." the warrior began, but seeing her face, he cut himself off and nodded. "Understood."

The goddess picked up her pace again and had soon left the halls of Valhalla, leaving Oki, Urist and Fiara alone. Once again it was the former who took the initiative and knelt down.

"I apologize on behalf of my liege, Omni-sama", he said. "Her words were rash because of her upbeaten emotions. Please do not hold it against her. I've one last request to make... is there any way out of your home that would not take us through the same route that Amaterasu is going? I would not want to annoy you with our presence, nor do I want to make her believe that we are trying to follow her after I promised her that we wouldn't."

"Aye... tha' wouldn' be good", murmured Urist. He looked at the carving he had left for Omni's enjoyment, then bowed. "Bu' before we go, ah thank ye fer all yer kindness. Ah'll keep mum 'bout everythin' ah've seen an' heard here, ye've got me word."

Fiara bowed too. "You have my thanks too. The memories that you have returned to me... I'll be sure to not allow them to be lost again." All three of them kept their heads low as they awaited his response.