He hadn't realized that descending from the heavens meant literally descending, and this resulted in a very ungraceful crash landing in the middle of a field.

" Fuck!"

He cussed to himself with grit teeth as he struggled up off the ground and dusted his clothes off. He was used to the other gods and attendants being a bit rude, being the most junior of the messengers, but this shit took the cake.

When he got himself situated, he realized that the field was, indeed, very empty. Wasn't he supposed to be meeting someone?

Not knowing what else to do, he began walking, looking for any paths that might lead to a village or perhaps even a town.

It was, as far as he could tell, a part of Holm he had never been to. Or perhaps the land had simply changed that much in his absence? He preferred the first explanation. The breeze had an oddly salty tang, and the mountains were far off, misty figures on the horizon.

He waded through the golden sea of grass for a while yet, not making much progress. A stand of trees became visible on the horizon, so he set course for that.

The sun was high in the sky, and small bugs and mice flitted by him; a grass snake, then another. The air itself carried the pleasant scent of life, the beginning of autumn but still comfortably warm. He was half tempted to shift into a cat and a frolic a little. He hadn't done so in a long time.

But there was official business to attend to, probably, so he restrained himself. The trees were growing close, and he could see that a path winded alongside them.

" What a surprise," a familiar voice called to him.

Standing between two great oaks was someone that Sif knew.

It was the travelling priest who had visited the village, who Sif had met in the mountains after he was burned.

He looked just the same as he did then; and it occurred to Sif that this man must have been at the call of the gods the whole time.

" Oh," Sif said, " You're you."

" Am I?" he replied, oddly humorless.

" Your name is Leánh?" Sif asked, still a little cautious.

" It could be," Leánh replied. " Now that you have a voice, you should tell me yours."

" Relnsif, Lance of Helna," Sif said.

Leánh's mouth crooked into a very small smile for a moment.

" It's nice," he said. "It suits you."

Something about him made Sif feel a little self-conscious, an emotion he wasn't entirely accustomed to feeling.

" You can just call me Sif," he said. " If it pleases you."

" That's fine," Leánh said, and he began walking away, beckoned Sif to follow after him. " It's easy to remember."

Sif caught up to him, and they continued strolling down the path together at a leisurely pace.

<- .....->