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Description
Reaching his room, Inlé sat in the center of his floor, let his hair down, and began to meditate. Soon his body began to float in the air as the room around him became a black-hole that pulled him into it, stretching him thinner than an atom wide.

He returned to himself upon the hill where the goddesses feasted. But they would not be there for hours.

Come to us, he heard the wind call. Follow the sun to find us.

So sunward he ran. The grass around him was waist high, and the wind rippled this green sea as the Worldwanderer bounded through the breakers. The sun set before Inlé reached the goddesses, whose dance was coming to an end.

"Welcome, Wanderer," they called as one. "Tonight we do indeed have a task for you." The spinning slowed to a stop, and each woman smiled individually at Inlé.

The orange goddess grabbed his hand and said, "But first, the meal."

"Ladies," Inlé greeted. "I should not tarry here overlong. Pray, tell me what my mission is now, and I will be away at once."

"In time, boy," the silver goddess scolded. "Formalities are not only used in speech."

"That's right," the brown goddess agreed. "We can't talk business on empty stomaches. Then our minds would be on the meal to come and not the business at hand."

"That's just common sense, Inlé," the orange goddess said. "Come on," she said, pulling him along. "The food will taste so much better with your true tongue."

And it did.

"Now to business," the brown goddess said as the feasting slowed. "We have heard that you work as a messenger, as well as an errand runner. Is this true?"

"Among other things, yes," Inlé agreed.

"And is the outfit you're wearing a requirement?"

"Not at all. It is a preference, in that it allows for ease of movement and adequate storage. If the mission requires other garb, so long as the garb is easily available or provided, it will be worn instead."

"Good," she said. "It would be much better if you wore this"--a bundle appeared beside Inlé--"while you are our messenger."

The article that Inlé held up was a nondescript robe, un-dyed and rough-spun. He changed immediately, and was pleased to find that it was more comfortable than it had at first appeared.

"There now," the brown goddess said. "It looks good on you. It will adjust during your travels as is needed, but this is likely the simplest form to move in.

"As for what we need you to do: we are more intimately involved with our followers than some other gods. A message to our servant, the Archcardinal Arrats needs to be delivered to her ... supernaturally. We are not allowed to reveal ourselves directly to our followers, due to the rules made by the pantheon. To make the game of ruling more exciting, you see. But a message sent by supernatural means is acceptable, and so we hire you.

She began handing Inlé items as she gave delivery instructions. "This scroll will inform the Archcardinal of what it is we require. Another scroll is here for the king--and only the king, mind--of the country Ashkern. Another for the eremite who refuses to be named atop the Mountain of Dreams. Two more for the vacilando Fernweh and the soto Qadri. Lastly, this scroll goes to the sapphire maiden of the Lost Lake. Discretion is, of course, a requisite. And we trust you will abstain from perusing these yourself.

"Also, if you come across any wearing our symbol--the wheeled triskelion--you speak with our voices. Direct our followers as though they are your own. Be reasonable, but feel free to put them in their place if they try to hinder you.

"This bollocks dagger is a means of defense, and this spellbook has a list of every spell we thought you may have need. I'm certain you are accustomed to such items?"

"Of course, Lady."

"And will you require that these instructions be written out for you?"

"They are already memorized, Lady."

"Will you require a map?"

"It would be helpful, Lady, but I can make do without, as you see fit."

The brown goddess laughed. "Boy, you certainly know how to twist the knife, don't you? Not a fan of gods, are you?"

"Lady, I serve gods with respects and rhubarb. I do not claim to understand the reason such powerful beings rely on these base services provided by myself, nor do I ask for explanation. I carry out the tasks required me and am finished. My relations with previous employers are less than exemplary, and I have few deities on my regular clientele. Many who take on my services do so unwillingly, and more dislike my unsettled and unorthodox methods.

"With all due respect to each of you, I will work for you, but I do not serve you. I am not your equal, nor your superior. But neither am I your subordinate. I am an independent entity, assisting out of goodwill, and not out of servitude or worship."

Laughing again, the brown goddess said, "Good! You recognize we have power, but are not afraid to speak your mind. And you even try to do so diplomatically. If only we had worshipers like you! Not that I would try to recruit you, but you must understand, a boy such as yourself would be the perfect focus for our total power in this world. You claim not to understand us, but I have a feeling we are not too different, you and I.

"Good! Go to your tasks, Worldwanderer." Inlé and the goddesses rose to their feet, and Inlé began to walk off when the brown goddess called, "But remember this last warning, boy: each of we gods in this realm were once mortals as you yourself are. Have a care in your interactions, as our once mortality is never fully forgotten.

"And be careful not to follow us into ascension!" she called at last as he stepped off of the hill and the goddesses vanished with their feast as an oasis in the desert.

Description
Reaching his room, Inlé sat in the center of his floor, let his hair down, and began to meditate. Soon his body began to float in the air as the room around him became a black-hole that pulled him into it, stretching him thinner than an atom wide.

He returned to himself upon the hill where the goddesses feasted. But they would not be there for hours.

Come to us, he heard the wind call. Follow the sun to find us.

So sunward he ran. The grass around him was waist high, and the wind rippled this green sea as the Worldwanderer bounded through the breakers. The sun set before Inlé reached the goddesses, whose dance was coming to an end.

"Welcome, Wanderer," they called as one. "Tonight we do indeed have a task for you." The spinning slowed to a stop, and each woman smiled individually at Inlé.

The orange goddess grabbed his hand and said, "But first, the meal."

"Ladies," Inlé greeted. "I should not tarry here overlong. Pray, tell me what my mission is now, and I will be away at once."

"In time, boy," the silver goddess scolded. "Formalities are not only used in speech."

"That's right," the brown goddess agreed. "We can't talk business on empty stomaches. Then our minds would be on the meal to come and not the business at hand."

"That's just common sense, Inlé," the orange goddess said. "Come on," she said, pulling him along. "The food will taste so much better with your true tongue."

And it did.

"Now to business," the brown goddess said as the feasting slowed. "We have heard that you work as a messenger, as well as an errand runner. Is this true?"

"Among other things, yes," Inlé agreed.

"And is the outfit you're wearing a requirement?"

"Not at all. It is a preference, in that it allows for ease of movement and adequate storage. If the mission requires other garb, so long as the garb is easily available or provided, it will be worn instead."

"Good," she said. "It would be much better if you wore this"--a bundle appeared beside Inlé--"while you are our messenger."

The article that Inlé held up was a nondescript robe, un-dyed and rough-spun. He changed immediately, and was pleased to find that it was more comfortable than it had at first appeared.

"There now," the brown goddess said. "It looks good on you. It will adjust during your travels as is needed, but this is likely the simplest form to move in.

"As for what we need you to do: we are more intimately involved with our followers than some other gods. A message to our servant, the Archcardinal Arrats needs to be delivered to her ... supernaturally. We are not allowed to reveal ourselves directly to our followers, due to the rules made by the pantheon. To make the game of ruling more exciting, you see. But a message sent by supernatural means is acceptable, and so we hire you.

She began handing Inlé items as she gave delivery instructions. "This scroll will inform the Archcardinal of what it is we require. Another scroll is here for the king--and only the king, mind--of the country Ashkern. Another for the eremite who refuses to be named atop the Mountain of Dreams. Two more for the vacilando Fernweh and the soto Qadri. Lastly, this scroll goes to the sapphire maiden of the Lost Lake. Discretion is, of course, a requisite. And we trust you will abstain from perusing these yourself.

"Also, if you come across any wearing our symbol--the wheeled triskelion--you speak with our voices. Direct our followers as though they are your own. Be reasonable, but feel free to put them in their place if they try to hinder you.

"This bollocks dagger is a means of defense, and this spellbook has a list of every spell we thought you may have need. I'm certain you are accustomed to such items?"

"Of course, Lady."

"And will you require that these instructions be written out for you?"

"They are already memorized, Lady."

"Will you require a map?"

"It would be helpful, Lady, but I can make do without, as you see fit."

The brown goddess laughed. "Boy, you certainly know how to twist the knife, don't you? Not a fan of gods, are you?"

"Lady, I serve gods with respects and rhubarb. I do not claim to understand the reason such powerful beings rely on these base services provided by myself, nor do I ask for explanation. I carry out the tasks required me and am finished. My relations with previous employers are less than exemplary, and I have few deities on my regular clientele. Many who take on my services do so unwillingly, and more dislike my unsettled and unorthodox methods.

"With all due respect to each of you, I will work for you, but I do not serve you. I am not your equal, nor your superior. But neither am I your subordinate. I am an independent entity, assisting out of goodwill, and not out of servitude or worship."

Laughing again, the brown goddess said, "Good! You recognize we have power, but are not afraid to speak your mind. And you even try to do so diplomatically. If only we had worshipers like you! Not that I would try to recruit you, but you must understand, a boy such as yourself would be the perfect focus for our total power in this world. You claim not to understand us, but I have a feeling we are not too different, you and I.

"Good! Go to your tasks, Worldwanderer." Inlé and the goddesses rose to their feet, and Inlé began to walk off when the brown goddess called, "But remember this last warning, boy: each of we gods in this realm were once mortals as you yourself are. Have a care in your interactions, as our once mortality is never fully forgotten.

"And be careful not to follow us into ascension!" she called at last as he stepped off of the hill and the goddesses vanished with their feast as an oasis in the desert.