The Grey God

Talia played with the pendant. Jenn wiped the tears that formed. Her whole body hurt at the idea of leaving the little girl. At least Talia would have a family to care for her until Jenn returned.

"I might be gone awhile, Talia," she said. "I want you to know I love you. I'll think of you every day and I'll come back for you. I promise."

Jenn set Talia back in her roughly hewn bassinet and rifled through the trunk containing the family's possessions. She pulled out a rusted dagger and the best pair of boots she had. She had little else in the way of possessions, aside from the necklace around Talia's neck.

With one last look at the bassinet, Jenn left the room. The family ceased talking as she appeared.

"I'm going to the Guardians," she said firmly. "I'll return for Talia."

Her proclamation startled them in to silence. She left before anyone could shut her up again in a room, running once she'd closed the door to the hovel the two families shared. Exhilaration filled her as she raced down the street. She'd done it! She'd escaped them at last!

She'd build a new life in the mortal world and kidnap Talia if necessary to get her child away from her family. Her daughter would grow up loved, not tolerated, in a world wide open with possibilities. There was no way to move up or improve life in the immortal world, but Jenn heard tales of the mortal world. It was wild and free, and Guardians could stay there, if they chose to.

Hopeful for the first time in her life, Jenn glanced up and stopped.

The sun was red. She stared at it. She'd thought it cloudy, for there was little light this morning. Even the red sun couldn't dampen her mood. She ran all the way to the Guardians' barracks and stopped, awed.

The barracks were plain but sturdy, made of stone. She walked through the gateway and imagined herself as important as the White God walking into his palace. The bailey was clean, the stables large and well-built. She joined a line of mostly men in front of a low stone table. Each received a scroll with information on their first day of training and assignments. She fidgeted as she waited.

"Lots of women signing up," one of them said behind her.

"They heard how the White God's mate slept her way to the top then landed a god," another snickered.

Jenn glanced towards them. Even their words did nothing to suppress her excitement. She waited until it was her turn to receive her scroll.