To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Thirty-One
(Nebard)

…
“If you have a degree of experience, I will respect that. Someone has to be able to understand their faults to see what I show them. There are a number however that believe fighting is just taking a weapon in their hands and using it.”

“Some believe love is smooching, cuddling, and reading poetry.”

I saw her ready her drahaberd as she replied, “The one who loves me will not believe that. All three sound nice, but they are not what is going to be required to love me.”

“That I can believe.”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Thirty
(Jelnaya)

…
Makinor pulled me out of my thoughts by saying, “We were advised not to get the taint of Hell upon us, Jelnaya.”

I kept walking as I replied, “Do you believe Fergush is going to allow any taint on me? You already noted that there were no scars on my body.”

He moved up to walk beside me while commenting, “I actually believed you of Fergush would go around bragging on your scars.”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Twenty-Eight
(Jelnaya)

…
“Quafrey is not speaking of having me travel to other worlds, but of just needing these experiences to help in dealing with the variety of deities and individuals on my world.”

“Are my lectures helping you?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes went back to her armor after saying, “You’re welcome.” She continued to work while letting me know, “Now, we are really going to need to fight. It could get deadly, and I definitely expect it to get scary. Get something to eat. Makinor cooked it.”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Twenty-Eight
(Jelnaya)

…
Makinor replied, “That is actually a good philosophy, Jelnaya. I however don’t see how it applies here. We fight this.”

“Why?” I glared at Makinor for a moment, but seeing him just look back I went ahead and explained myself. “You’re here. You are a champion of a goddess of love. Why aren’t you seeing love apply? You should definitely be looking at me and thinking that I am focusing on the fight.”

“Honestly, Jelnaya, I am looking at you and thinking what a fine looking lady you are.”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Twenty-Seven
(Nebard)

…
“NO IT DOESN’T!” She moved her hand that was pointing at Makinor to also point to me as she said, “Think about it. Say I go to another world and just start slaughtering people. Even if it is at the command of Fergush, what do you think is going to happen?”

Makinor blathered, “I doubt Fergush would have gained permission –“

“THAT IS NOT WHAT HAS HAPPENED!”

Feeling that I could at least state the obvious, I said, “The god of that world stops you.”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Twenty-Six
(Jelnaya)

…
Attempting to explain things, I said, “I am not as I was. Actually, it is just my hair that is different, but there are other things about me that I know is not like most people. Our close association with the gods affects us. It makes us better. It is not just my beauty, but my health and being able to show off the aspects of Fergush that has others look to me as I proclaim him. I would say the same of you, Makinor.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“That’s not my point, Makinor. Look at these. They’re gross. They look gross, and how they acted was gross. Why would anyone look to them and want to be like them?”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Twenty-Five
(Nebard)

…
When Makinor tried to offer me a cloth, I said, “I took her. I just took her. Yes, she made me promises, but it didn’t matter. I know it didn’t matter to most of the others with me. She was just a prize. I took her.”

The other champion of a goddess of love said, “And you are loving her.”

“Both of you did things to earn what you have. I killed people. I did nothing to gain blessings. I gained honor for doing something ugly and wrong.”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Twenty-Four
(Jelnaya)

…
I guess it was good that Makinor asked a question, as I readied my drahaberd not about to explain myself. “What are you doing, Jelnaya?”

“It’s there. Not just watching, but active. Look at the floor. This is where they transformed the people.”

He bent down to touch etchings on the floor, then said, “You don’t fight this alone, Jelnaya. Don’t let Fergush kill you.” When I glared at him, he rose to say, “This is not his mission.”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Twenty-Three
(Nebard)

…
“No. Allow your wife to be your wife. Allow her to become just as much a part of your reality as that horse.”

Those words did not satisfy me, and I let my goddess know it by stating, “It’s not a horse.”

“The words from Pordarrish were good. They need to be become horses.” I felt all the tension in my body to drain away as Quafrey then said, “I love you, Nebard.”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Twenty-Two
(Jelnaya)

…
I smiled seeing the horses trying to pull at their tethers, and while my position again felt uncomfortable I spoke instead of adjusting my place. “That’s grass out there.” Seeing the heads of the animals turn to me, I explained. “Grass. I could also bring you to some water. For the rest of your lives, grass and water. No meat. No cooked vegetables. No wine, beer, whiskey. Grass and water.”

I believed one of the animals tried to say more, but all I understood was, “Kill.”