Agbe lifts a hand to inspect the scales on the underside of her wrist. Her skin is light brown and the scales that adorn both her wrists are golden. The scales are as sturdy as gold and come in handy for blocking projectiles and sharp weapons in battle.
“Admiring your own beauty?”Agê asks.
Agbe turns and smiles as Agê approaches. They are on an island of black sand surrounded by turquoise waters.
“I’m making sure there are no chips. I was in a scrape earlier.”
“Ohhh,” Agê said, “a Vodun in a brawl? What died recently by your mighty hand?”
Before Agbe could answer, Jo arrived on the winds. Agbe stood between Agê and Jo.
“Both my sisters here on my disc, this is uncommon, but welcomed.”
“The chip you were looking for is just below your wrist on the underside,” Jo said. She was the tallest of the three and her body was lithe underneath the flowing, gray garment that draped her. She has flowing black hair that was disturbed by winds to make it full and curly, and her skin was mahogany.
Agbe looked closer at her wrist to inspect it and smiled down at the chip in her armor when she saw it.
“What fierce beast did that to your scales?” Agê asked. “Nothing that would call you mother is capable of that. Where have you recently returned from sister?”
“Is this an interrogation?” Agbe asked and she smiled at both of them. “Why have you both come here?”
“Because our brothers can be aggressive…” Agê started.
“And we would rather settle this quickly than waste time with aggression,” Jo finished. “Where is Lêgba, sister? Have you been fighting his battles again?”
“Lêgba is a Vodun,” Agbe said. “He doesn’t need me to do anything for him. How would I know where he is? I assumed like Mawu-Lisa that he was attending to them. I have no time to worry over Lêgba anyway,” she looked to Agê with a smirk on her face. “This chip in my armor occured while I was mediating a dispute in the Absence Trench. Challengers to the current rulers wielded weapons made of rhasd procured from the other realm. I hear your aboatia Pultine is responsible for this other realm metal finding its way to the Fonlands.”
“Yana of the caves on Sakpata’s Disc is responsible for the trade of rhasd in the Fonlands,” Jo said.
“And Pultine coordinates her operation on that side. This rhasd is dangerous. First it’s a chip in armor, then it’s daggers through Vodun hearts. I have had no time to worry about Lêgba because your denizens are making the Fonlands dangerous for its Vodun.”
Agê nodded slowly. “That is very concerning indeed. How long has she had the chip in her armor, Jo?”
“For a while,” Jo said. “There are other concerning nicks as well. She has been waging combat with a considerable opponent.”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Agbe said. “But this rhasd has emboldened the worst of Fonlanders who will force us to be vengeful gods. And your Excisor is not even here to do the dirty work. Where is she again, Agê? Maybe she knows where Lêgba is, I hear she and the other mmoatia are very comfortable with him these days.”
“The mmoatia are wrangling an iteration,” Agê said casually, “and they do what they do to keep that situation contained. I trust them to honor Mawu-Lisa. They would not betray their maker out of fear.”
“Do you know where the real Lêgba is?” Jo asked.
“Why am I suspected of colluding with Lêgba? Because I did not offer wild speculation at our last gathering? Lêgba’s whereabouts are of no concern to the duties we attend. While we are distracted with Lêgba, we miss threats to our very lives.”
“I hear you, sister,” Jo said, “but Lêgba is a threat to the Fonlands. He is pulling a lot of Essence into the other realm, stressing the structure of the Fonlands. What he is building is not just an affront to Mawu-Lisa, it imperils the lives of all Fonlanders. We must find him, and then we can deal with rhasd. Your disinterest in finding Lêgba makes you suspect.”
“I’m glad that we can speak openly and honestly, sisters,” Agbe said, looking between them. “Please believe me when I say, I do not know Lêgba’s location. I assumed Xêvioso had found him outside of everything.”
“Just another iteration,” Agê said. “I do not think that we should be so worried about rhasd, but we should definitely identify any wannabe god slayers. Help us find Lêgba, everyone is doing what they can to try to locate him.”
“I will help, but only after I bring peace to my waters.”
“Fair enough,” Jo said. “I will join you. I would like to battle against these rhasd weapons.”
“Very well,” Agbe said then looked to Agê. “What about you?”
“I think two Vodun should be plenty,” Agê said. “I have to go speak with Gû so they know you will join our efforts with enthusiasm once you and Jo are done. But I will return soon and if there is anything left, I will gladly lend a hand.”
Agê left Agbe and Jo who jumped into the waters and headed to Absence City.
Meanwhile, outside of everything…
“This is the longest you’ve ever been with me,” Talj says. “Another tiny Vodun was here. He made tatters of your decoy.”
“I have nothing to rush back to. Everything is set in motion and moves as it will. I can leave if I am a nuisance, but I enjoy your company.”
“And I yours. But I must admit that my attention is divided. There are things occuring within me of great consequence and I find it hard not to notice.”
“What is happening?”
“An unwitting battle for my very existence. The players are not truly aware of the stakes, but if the wrong side wins, I will meet an untimely end.”
“We can’t have that.”
Talj watches as the tiny Vodun approaches, and soon it disappears.
“I did not anticipate this intervention,” Talj says, and then watches.
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