Chapter 11

"Your Highness?"

Octavius looked up from the stool on which he sat, a priest was waiting in front of him in a shabby cloak covering an equally shabby tunic that was excessively frayed at the hem.

He had awoken early, taken a cloak from his trunk, and taken a walk. He had intended to visit the temple later in the day but on impulse had turned towards the cobble-stoned street and headed for the temple of Ashterah the goddess of war. The street was almost empty except for the fishermen who dragged their nets to their boats on the shore. He had stopped to watch them load up their boats and cut the ropes securing them to the shore with an absent mind. He had imagined jumping into one of the boats and rowing it to Intavia away from his kingdom and responsibilities until he remembered he already had his wishes all he needed now was the help of the goddess of war to win the war. With that in mind, he had continued on his way.

"You must come with me to the inner room and make your sacrifices there."

Octavius stood up wincing a little from the pain that shot up his legs, pain that resulted from riding hard to and from Intavia since the past week. He took a moment to get his strength back together, he hadn't had enough sleep the previous night for the worries that clouded his mind. He should be calm and at peace knowing that very soon his father will agree to an alliance with Intavia but all that filled his mind was guilt that came from the knowledge that he had selfishly sacrificed his child to be with a woman. No matter what Garius said he wasn't a hero, he was a coward and a fool. Angus was right. He loved Emilia and would have loved his child had she lived. The pain he carried from losing his child was one that he hoped time will heal.

Once he had gotten his bearings he followed the priest to a backroom hidden from the main temple by a black velvet curtain. The priest went about lighting lamps and turned on a simple sconce that sat on the wall, it had on it the emblem of Ashterah. There was a simple altar where a clay bowl sat filled with olives. There was a small carpet of straw below the altar worn out by constant use.

"You'll knee here Your Highness," the priest said pointing to the straw carpet.

Octavius complied.

"You know how to pray to the goddess, Your Highness, simply call upon her name and tell her what your heart desires and I am sure she will be willing to answer you after all the victory of Camelorn against the Amires will earn her more respect from the gods and the people." He said this and left quietly leaving Octavius alone in the room.

Octavius pulled his cowl back and chanted the goddess's name under his breath. With his eyes closed, he chanted faster, his voice rising to a tempo that was in tandem with his heartbeat, and soon the fire in the sconce joined until the room became too hot and he had to completely shrug of his cloak leaving only his tunic and sandals. The air in the room became thicker until Octavius found it hard to breathe and sweat poured down his face matting his hair flat on his skull, his tunic clung to his body almost becoming transparent.

At festivals the people simply presented their offerings to the priests who took them to this inner room and invoked the spirit of the goddess of war to accept the gifts brought by the people and then she made a magnificent appearance before the people to bless them but if anyone personally sought the aid of the war goddess they were to go into the inner room themselves and present their petitions before her. She only granted the prayers of those that could withstand the heat her presence brought for she considered men strong if they could endure the heat of her presence.

This was Octavius' first experience with the war goddess but he had heard enough stories about how she had punished men who couldn't endure long enough for her to appear and grant their wishes. The hair on his neck burned his skin but he kept in chanting and swayed in time with his chants. His cloth soaked up the sweat on his body and dripped the moisture to the floor. His eyes watered at the pain of the heat against his skin and he feared his skin was singed but kept his eyes closed tightly.

Suddenly the room became cold. The still heat of the room dispersed and the flame in the sconce became still. Octavius felt the heat on his body dry up leaving behind a pleasantly cool sensation across his skin.

"Open your eyes Octavius of Camelorn."

He fluttered his lashes open and his eyes fell on the most beautiful sight. Ashterah in her short pure white tunic that exposed the beautiful creamy thighs that the sculptor could not do justice to, stood beside the small altar with her back against it. She watched him through beautiful, hooded bright blue eyes framed by flame-red hair. No wonder men lusted after her for she was beauty in every sense of the word and her feminine curves were ample enough to tempt even the most pious of men, her gold belt hugged her waist and made the fullness of her hips visible; she was as much the goddess of war as she was the downfall of many men. She crossed her arms over her ample breasts, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she saw Octavius's eyes follow her movement but before she could get further satisfaction his eyes jolted up to her face to her utmost disappointment.

"Mortal man," she drawled seductively. "Rise"

Octavius complied.

"What is it you want?"

"Victory over the enemies of Camelorn"

She flashed her pure white teeth flashing also her fangs that couldn't resist a taste of the young prince before her. She retracted her fangs and pushed herself away from the altar, her hair falling in soft waves around her face. Her eyes fell to the lean muscles of the young prince before her, with much training he would be buff enough to tempt even the silly goddess of purity and make her forget her stupid vow of eternal virginity and purity. His hair that had once been plastered to his forehead because of the heat of her presence now stood unruly around his head whetting her appetite. She reached her hand towards him and he placed his strong lean fingers on hers making her much more excited at the prospect of spending a night with him. With any luck more nights with him.

"Come with me, mortal man."

One minute Octavius was standing in the now cool inner room and the next he was in the most beautiful room covered in pure gold and bright red that seemed to bleed. There were draperies made of the brightest red that interwoven with threads of gold, they blew in the wind and almost looked alive. The grounds and ceilings were of pure gold that reflected everything, Octavius saw his reflection on the floor and in the ceilings at the same time. A bed of extreme size was against the wall and on it were red beddings entangled at the corners. Octavius made a slow turn around the room. There were lamps and chandeliers of gold and silver, all like nothing he had ever seen before. There was a top to floor window that showed a view of Mount Kpamos, the abode of the gods, the snowcapped mountains that served as home for the gods stood in their majestic glory.

"Welcome to my temple, mortal man."

Octavius spun around and faced the goddess who no longer wore her white tunic but a gown of red that hugged her full curves, her red hair was tied in a high bun exposing her lovely neck to his view. Her red lips curved in a sly smile.

"Octavius of Camelorn," she approached him swaying her hips as she came. Her hand came up to rest on his shoulder, she let her hand slid along the length of his arm. Octavius pulled back. Ashterah frowned at his unusual action, she watched him carefully as he tried to avoid her eyes. "Octavius, don't be afraid I am the goddess of war and I will help up but first you have to please your goddess."

Octavius took two steps back and did his best to avoid her eyes. Her eyes were alluring, the one time he had looked into them he had felt an unnatural pull that made denying her difficult. His heart hammered in his chest at the thought of laying with the most beautiful goddess, it was an honor but at the same time his heart belonged to Emilia and he pledged his loyalty to her. He looked once at Ashterah doing his best to avoid her eyes, she was watching him with interest, running her eyes all over him. He felt rather than saw her smile a second time and when she approached him again he felt something change. He tried to move away but found himself held in place by her powers.

"Mortal man, no one rejects me."

"What good has happened to the ones who lay with you?"

Ashterah smiled, her white teeth flashed. "Those men who met their ends failed to please me but you Octavius, I see potentials in you." Her eyes traveled down to the front of his tunic and her smile turned predatory.

"I can't lay with you, my lady"

Her eyes flashed with ire. "You reject me?" she demanded.

"With respect, my lady. My heart belongs to another and I have given myself eternally to her"

Ashterah looked like she was going to scream in frustration. In two strides she crossed the room and stood before him and held his face in her hand forcing him to look into her eyes. "Don't defile me human, for your defiance feeds my hunger, stokes my flames, and anger me. YOU. WILL. NOT. DEFILE. ME." She pulled him and forcefully placed her lips on his, forced his lips apart with her tongue and when he refused to open up she screamed in frustration before sinking her fangs into the skin of his neck almost ripping out his jugular with her forcefulness. Octavius clenched his teeth against the pain, refusing to utter a cry of compliance for Ashterah hated weakness more than disobedience, he simply let her feed from him.

When he refused to react the way she had expected Ashterah pulled back with another feral growl and pushed him away from her violently. "I curse you son of Camelorn!"

Octavius reached his hands backward to break his fall but it came too late as his back and head came in hard contact against the floor. He found himself back at the inner room of the temple once again. He groaned as he rolled to his feet and rubbed at the back of his neck. There was no sign of Ashterah anywhere. She had dumped him most unpleasantly and had not even made any promise about helping him win the war, at least he had tried.

As he stood on his two feet he felt something drop from his cloth to the floor. He bent to pick it up, it was a small copper coin with Ashterah's emblem engraved in it. He breathed a sigh of relief. It was a sign that she was going to help them in the battle.