The Milk of the Gods

Negana cried out the name of her chosen spell: ‘The Milk of the Gods!’ She completed the hand gestures as best she could, ending with both arms pointed vertically.

‘Just to be clear,’ Ted spoke to Emily, standing right next to her so he could be heard over the fighting, ‘this is a powerful spell which brings a fallen comrade back to life and imbues them with superhuman strength and invulnerable skin for ten minutes. Who will you choose?’

Emily looked around. This sounded like a good spell, she figured she should just cast it on her whole army, surely?

‘Just one person,’ clarified Ted, as if reading her mind.

Negana had seen Amber fall just before casting the spell. Onyx was still fighting, side by side with Gerwald. As she watched, Gerwald kneeled, then lay down on the grass. He had been defeated.

He would be the most sensible choice, surely? He was pretty formidable already, but if he was invincible too, he would be pretty hard to beat, thought Emily.

‘I choose Gerwald of Lyria,’ Negana said in a clear voice.

You won’t be able to cast it again today. Are you sure you want to complete the spell?’ Ted asked.

‘I’m sure.’

‘Okay, I’ll go get him while you take your top off.’ And he walked into the crowds.

Did she hear that correctly, she thought? Did he just say ‘take your top off?’ Surely not, what sort of magic spell would require her to do that? She tried to think of something sensible he could have said to her which might have sounded like ‘you take your top off.’

Ted returned with Gerwald walking beside him, and the huge white haired man lay on his back at her feet. The fighting was still going on, her guards were falling back slowly as the Holy Order pressed forward.

‘Your Highness?’ Ted queried her, ‘Have you decided against completing the spell?’

‘Did you say I had to take my top off?’ asked Emily.

‘Of course,’ laughed Ted. ‘How else are you going to feed him the Milk of the Gods?’

Oh my fucking God, thought Emily. This can’t be real. She was certain Ted would be able to see her blushing even through the white make-up.

‘Your Highness?’ he repeated.

I can’t do this, she thought. She looked around. Without Gerwald the Saviours were losing this skirmish. Her guards were being pushed back and the enemy would be upon her in just a few moments. But still, there was no way she was going to do what she knew they expected of her. Why on earth did she have to pick the Milk of the Gods? Now that she understood, the clues were there.

If she saved Gerwald they might even win this. If she didn’t, she would not be able to fight the Holy Order off once her guard fell. She did not have much time at all. Even Ted was being jostled as her ring of retreating soldiers grew closer. What should she do?