Sepki approached me with his mace his smirk taking over his whole head, “Now, even though you two used Anubis’ powers to attack me…”

  He stepped closer. I stepped backward, feeling much weaker than before. I felt the tide of the water on my feet. The lake was at my back and I had nowhere to run.

  “You don’t have to walk away, I’m going to forgive you.”

  Ynec and I exchanged glances. Sepki took another step forward and I, another step back. My feet were shin-deep in the water now.

  “I’m not mad that you attacked me. I’m not sure why but you two are children. I would never do anything to hurt you both. See? Now that you’re not in that beast form, I’ll put the mace down.”

  He tossed the mace in front of me. It splashed up water at me. I felt the water on my feet wash something into me. I looked down and saw an arrow from Ynec’s quiver hitting my leg. I reached down and picked it up, and pointed it at him.

  “As a paladin of Ra, I am here to protect. Even those that attempted to harm me, if their will is misguided. I assure you two will be totally safe and he should probably have turned it off by now.”

  His soft smile gave way to a menacing glare. He was buying time again. He took another step, not softly like the last few. This step was more like he was gearing up. I threw the arrow right at his face and said, “Fetch!”

  He caught the arrow instantly and inspected it. Then he laughed, “This is a pretty desperate attempt. What did you expect to do with this?”

  “It’s a spell. It makes whoever fails a wisdom check run after the object thrown.”

  I could hear the lake water parting behind me.

  “Well,” Sepki said, “I don’t mean to brag, but I think a wisdom check imposed by a child wouldn’t be very hard for me to break.”

  His cocky smirk faded. His neck craned up as he stared at the huge monster that monster emerged from the lake. It’s head blotted the sun, it’s long neck craned over me and rained lake water and fishes down on us.

  “You might be, but that’s not.”

  “A-” He took a step backward, “A lake drakon.”

  “You attempted to kill me so you could steal a book of the dead. You attempted to kill two children!”

  I started saying things to implicate him so he couldn’t use his spells. He looked at me for a second, his attention split between the two of us. He turned to run but the lake drakon dropped his neck and scooped him up with his tendrils, then threw him in his mouth.

  The creature swallowed Sepki whole. I knew it was only a matter of time before it’d be mad at me. As if he could read my mind, Ynec and I started booking it away. As our little legs carried us away from the lake I grabbed Ynec’s shoulder and shook him. We both burst into laughter as the lake drakon roared behind us. We had defeated the rogue Sun Thrower.

  The journey back home was quaint. We rested. I was gravely injured, so was Ynec. When I got some mana back, I healed Ynec. “Mend Friend” usually can’t be used on one’s self, but I adjusted it with Sylvan because I considered myself a friend.

  I looked at the book on the way back. It was dense and there were so many words I didn't’ understand. I wasn’t sure I could show this to my mother or Hesti. I would need to go to some different elf, or some kind of elven library.

  That thought reminded me. My mother would be furious that I left home. I had written her a note. She would be happy I wasn’t dead at least.

  As we got traveled, I talked to Ynec about our journey. For some reason, of all the things that happened, he kept focusing on the old couple. They didnt’ know any better. They hadn't seen a Chacali before. I said, “Hey look, Ynec. Once you get back, I’m going to talk to my mom about moving you in. You don’t need to be staying at an orphanage.”

  “Do’oc as well?” He asked hopefully. I gave him a rough look and said, “I don’t think a jackal will fly with my parents.”

  He looked down but said he understood. We had hitched a ride with a farmer. When we arrived in Skorwind, we jumped off and thanked him for his kindness. Ynec left to the orphanage to check on his jackal and told me he would meet me later that night.

  I arrived at my house and took a deep breath. It felt good to be home. I jiggled the door but it was locked. I knocked on the door. I patiently waited. Humming the whole time.

  I sighed happily as I waited for Hesti but when she didn't’ open the door, I knocked louder. I saw Hesti through the window and she closed the curtain. That was weird, I thought, she must have seen me.

  I knocked again and then said, “Hesti! Hesti, it’s your little master!”

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  She opened the door just a tad. She had tears streaking her cheeks and she couldn’t look me in the eyes.

  “Hesti,” I said, “I’m safe. You can let me in, it’s okay.”

  Between huffs, she said, “I know, little master. I.. am happy to see you are safe. But….”

  She looked into the house, as if she was staring at someone else. Someone was whispering to her.

  “I.. I can’t. I can’t. Not to the little master.”

  Suddenly my mother opened the door. She looked furious. More furious than I had ever seen her. She towered over me and for some reason I had more fear in me than when I fought Sepki. She merely pointed to the alley.

  “You want to risk your life? You want to act like an adult? You… you’re nine and yet you act like you could just traipse around doing missions while we worry sick at home? I can’t. I can’t deal with you as a child. You don’t come back until you tell me you’re not going to be a paladin any more.”

  “But mom!” I yelled, “You worked for-”

  “No. I’m not going to listen. You tell me right now you’re not going to be a paladin anymore and I'll let you in.”

  I stared up at her. I just got my paladin powers. Not to mention the basenji form. With it, there was no stopping me. I choked up but I could not tell her I wouldn't be a paladin. I could see liquid soldiers breaking rank and escaping her phalanx of emotions. I could tell she was scared. I’d rattled her. I knew she just needed time to cool off but it still hurt when she slammed the door in my face.

  I ambled around the bronze ring for a while. I wasn’t really in the mood to talk to anyone about anything. I let out a deep sigh as I continued down the road. I reached the border of the the Silver Ring without realizing it. The sounds of hooting and cheering came from overhead. I looked up and noticed people flying. I rubbed my eyes and squinted. Surely I had just seen a bird? But no, there they were. These kids a bit older than me were all using wings to fly around. Two bullies were tossing some nerd’s book bag around, making the nerd the monkey in the middle. One of the bullies missed and the book bag came shooting down toward me.

  It landed in front of me and as the bully and nerd raced to get it, I picked it up and threw it back to the nerd. He thanked me profusely.

  “What are you guys?” I asked.

  “We’re students!” The young nerd said as he flew up, “Students of Shai Thuul!”

  I watched the bullies torture him a bit but they flew back down, noting that their spell was running out. I placed my hand on the cool stone. On the other side of this wall was Shai Thuul, the wizarding school Yajaira had told me about. The one she said her brother was going to.

  I walked for a while more along the wall and had, without realizing, found my way to the stupid dog statue. I was back at the shrine of Anubis. The Dog’s awkward mouth still pushed out water in short uneven spurts. I sighed. I had to talk to Anubis. There was a lot to catch up on. I sat down on the steps in front of that stupid dog statue but didn’t say anything. I didn’t pray or call to her. I just sat there and took it all in. I must have waited like five minutes before I heard a hurried, “Hey.”

  I looked up. It was Anubis. She was appearing to me as herself. As the lovely goddess I’d sworn to protect, “Hey,” I said, smiling, “Look…” Where should I start? I felt like I had so much to apologize for.

  “So…” Anubis started to talk but I cut her off.

  “Before you say anything… I know I shouldn’t have interacted with Dale. But he was cheating on you. AND it was with the water spirit. They had been together forever. For as long as he’d moved into that lake. I know I shouldn’t have engaged directly but he said something about you and I got mad. I’m sorry. But honestly he’s not the guy for you. But I am sorry. I disobeyed you.”

  I was looking down the whole time, unable to face her. But I got the courage to look up. She was giving me a wild look, the words were hitting her like a puff of air. She waved her hands frantically and said, “Okay.”

  “Okay?” I asked.

  She said again, “I’m sorry you had to go through that. Or glad that it happened. It’s about something else.”

  “What about?” Crap. Could she have found out about the book? Was this something the gods wanted too? I was not quite sure why Sepki would want it but I knew that he didn't’ want his god knowing about it. Or at least his god. Was it some kind of forbidden fruit to mortals?

  “It’s about your powers.”

  “My po-”

  “I’m in some real trouble here. You’re my first paladin, as I mentioned. I just gave you a bunch of stuff I thought was fair, but I don’t really know what’s fair for a ten year old. I mean a ten year old and a twenty year old and even a thirty year old are basically the same maturity level. At least to me. And well… I guess one of the other gods found out. Ra. One of the big guys. And he complained to the other big gods that I gave you too much power out the gate. Look, it’s not my decision but I think you can see they have a point. There's supposed to be an order. A slow ascent. It’s not supposed to be that much power. And he said you assaulted his paladin? I’m sure you had to. But still, you get it right?”

  “What do I get?”

  “Uh,” She shuffled in her place, a little awkwardly. She twirled her hair nervously and kicked the dust around her, “I have to take away some of the extent of your powers. At least for now.”

  “WHAT?!” I yelled angrily, “No. Hold on, about the paladin...”

  “I’m... So sorry,” She reached out and pressed her finger on my forehead I felt the power that I had been given surge back from me and into her finger. It felt like someone was taking my blood.

  Once that was finished she said, “Once again, SOOOo sorry. This was definitely my bad.”

  “No!” I yelled, “No, you can’t!” I reached out and grabbed her but she faded and my arms went right through her as she turned to dust.

  I was sad, then I was furious. I kicked a rock angrily and when it zipped into a sewer grate and I lost it, I got angry too. This was what I got for entrusting my magic from a higher source. This was her right. She could give me powers and take them away willy-nilly.

  I spent most of the day huffing and almost forgot I had made plans to meet back up with Ynec. I had bad news for him too. He was going to be bummed that he couldn’t move in with me right away, but I knew he’d understand. Hell, for now, I couldn’t even move back in.

  I walked up to him, dreading telling him the miserable morning had. I got to the Sisters of Hestia and made my way to his room. When I opened the door, I saw Do’oc scurry through my legs, making yipping noises. I looked up to see Ynec there.

  “Ynec, you would not believe the day I’ve had. It has been hit after hit. I think my goddess is mad at me. My mom is definitely mad at me and well… she just needs some time to cool off but, hell, I might be rooming with you tonight. It hasn’t exactly been a hero’s welcome.”

  Ynec was giving me a squirmy look as he stared at me. I looked around his room, wondering if I had interrupted him.

  “What?”

  Ynec let out a deep breath and said, “I’m leaving.”