To Trust a Goddess

First, Afena told them the story of how Mercyhowl became her son. Irimena had already finished eating her rat, and did not complain at all while doing so. All three of them sat at the small table in Afena's cottage, next to the lit hearth. Mercyhowl listened to the story from outside, knowing that it would be easier for the other two humans to remain calm if there was something between them and him.

"A god's after you?" asked Krenen with clear but controlled alarm in his voice.

"Has been, for years," said Afena calmly. "But this forest is vast, and the wards I've placed make it so gods get disoriented. We could worry about Treni, but I doubt she'll attempt anything with my son here."

"How could that beast be your son?"

Mercyhowl's head rested on the windowsill, and his ears did twitch when he heard the word beast, but did not react in any other way. Afena knew he liked being called that. Especially when it followed the word magnificent, as Selen had said.