The debate raged back and forth between us. We exhausted avenues looking for gold to pay for Oxen for the sacrifice, with compelling arguments to our gathered allies- the remaining four gods and Anora of Estoria, who Kyrah had brought here as a trusted friend.
But when the discussions were done, only one choice remained open. The Gods would use their power to blunt Sydon’s storm head to head.
Whatever the other option we could have taken would have been in some way to grant Sydon his victory. To bend the knee to his whim, or cry out in fear, assuage his anger with promises of his greatness. This cannot be.
We learn it as children. There is always a bully, someone capable of harm and to let them win brings them back again and again. They belittle those under them to have the victory they need to soothe their vanity.
There is a reason we tell stories of the heroes of old fighting monsters and gods to our children. They are more than true, not because they tell us that terrible power and cruelty exists, but because they tell us that they can be beaten.
So even though it will cost the gods some of their power, to blunt my father in his own area of expertise, it is the only option. To make him fear that whatever the cost we will stand and fight.
King Acastus gave us our reward- a map to the last known location of the Ultros- the ship we saw in our vision from the horn. The ship of cruel Xander, Acastus’ own ancestor. We also got to see up close the silver dragon that the King commands, Icarus. It seems flighty and immature compared to his powerful frame, more concerned with gifts and its own beauty than anything else.
We have pledged to our patron gods that in their honour we will stay and represent them in the Great Games, here in Mytros before we set out to find the ship. For all they have done for us, could we do otherwise?