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Visions in the night
The rain was pouring down, hammering on the roof of Lambert’s cottage. Everyone was already fast asleep but Lambert had less of a need for such things due to the power of the crown. Although tonight was one of the few nights they wanted to get some sleep in. Even gods need rest every now and then. Lambert had returned from a tough crusade just an hour earlier and their wool was still damp from the heavy rain.
They opened a small cabinet and fished out a small wooden box with camellia tea. A kettle was sitting on their fireplace, slowly heating up water. Surely some soothing tea would heat them up from the hostile autumn weather. While waiting for the water, Lambert went over to change the sheets in their bed. They couldn’t quite remember the last time they actually slept, so they figured it would be best to replace them. The soft, red and white sheets were a hassle to get on and Lambert appreciated that none from their flock got to see them look so undignified, fighting their own duvet. Finally they deemed the bed acceptable for sleeping in again and ventured back to the fireplace. They peeked into the kettle but the water still needed more time.
They sighed and stared out the window. It was completely pitch black outside. The room itself was only lit up by a few candles and the slight light that emanated from the crown’s red eye. Lambert sighed and decided to go through tomorrow’s to-do list one more time but before they could reach their reading glasses at their desk, someone knocked on their door.
Lambert froze. Who on earth was up in the middle of the night? And in this awful weather? Thoughts of various emergency scenarios rushed through Lambert's head as they made their way to the door. Had there been an accident? Did someone die? Had heretics found the cult again? The door opened with a slight creaking noise, slowly revealing none other than Narinder. The former god of death was completely drenched from head to toe, his red and white robes clinging to his body. The sight was quite amusing to Lambert and they likely would have laughed if they weren’t so surprised by his presence.
“W-what are you doing here?” Lambert finally managed to ask the black cat.
He didn’t respond and simply walked right past Lambert, inside the hut. Lambert shook their head and closed the door, muffling the deafening sound of rain again. Narinder had not exactly been himself after Lambert had defeated him a couple months prior. In fact, Lambert was pretty sure he hated their guts. So what exactly was he doing here? Gathering intel for some kind of revenge plot, maybe?
Narinder had made his way over to the fireplace and sat down on the floor in front of it. He looked absolutely pathetic and a pang of guilt ripped through Lambert’s stomach. He was completely drenched from the heavy rain and he let out a sigh. This was more likely an act of desperation, rather than well, anything else.
“Narinder?” Lambert tried again. “Are you… alright?”
He turned his head, looking up at Lambert with a stare that went right through them.
“I am plagued by visions in the night.” Narinder mumbled and looked down again. “Every time I close my eyes…”
“It sounds like you’re having nightmares.” Lambert tried.
“Is that what these damned apparitions are called?” Narinder said. “I’ve heard followers describe them before, but I have never experienced them before now.”
“You haven’t?” Lambert asked, confused.
“Gods do not dream, Lamb.” He replied, turning his gaze back to Lambert.
“Right…”
Lambert still wasn’t sure what to do, so they decided to do what they would’ve done if this was any normal follower of their cult. They walked over to the kettle and poured two cups of tea, instead of just one. Narinder must’ve been cold from the rain, so tea would surely help.
“Here.” Lambert said. “Drink this.”
Narinder stared at the cup Lambert was offering to him as if it was a strange, alien object. Finally, after an awkward silence, he accepted it.
“I, uhh, hope you like camellia tea.” Lambert tried while putting their own cup on a table next to the fireplace. “It’s a personal favorite.”
“It’s a passable offering.” Narinder hummed and stared at the cup in his hands.
Lambert nodded and smiled a little.
“How about your robes?” They asked. “You’re drenched.”
“An astute observation.” Narinder replied flatly.
“No, I mean, I can give you something else to wear.” Lambert sighed.
“Hmm, that sounds like a good idea.” He agreed.
Lambert got back up and went searching in their drawers and wardrobe for anything Narinder might be able to wear. He was significantly taller than Lambert, so it wasn’t exactly an easy task. Luckily they had stored a bunch of experimental robes in the bottom drawer. Some happy accidents from when Lambert tried their hand at sewing.
“Here you go!” Lambert smiled and handed Narinder a long black robe of questionable quality.
He took it without a word and proceeded to stare at Lambert.
“What?” They asked.
“Are you going to turn around so I can change?” He asked with a sigh.
“Oh, right!” Lambert replied, turning around swiftly. “Sorry!”
Narinder changed into the old robe and Lambert found two warm blankets they could both wrap themselves in next to the fireplace. Armed with tea, warmth and the silver tongue of a seasoned cult leader, they were sure they could manage to cheer up Narinder in no time.
“Do you want to talk about the nightmares?” Lambert asked and took a sip of their tea. “I hear it helps to talk about it.”
Narinder was seemingly holding a staring contest with his camellia tea.
“Must I?” He mumbled after a moment.
“Not at all.” Lambert replied, shooting him a smile. “But you’re very much welcome to talk about it if you so desire.”
Another pause from the cat.
“I see them.” He said, closing his three eyes. “All four of my siblings.”
Narinder took a deep, shuddering breath.
“I see them as I claw out eyes, throat, ears and mind. I see their faces as I sink into the gateway. I see the betrayal on their faces.”
“Forgive me if I’m prying, but what made them betray you like that in the first place?” Lambert asked, trying to hide the fiery rage they still held for Narinder’s deceased siblings.
“I was simply too powerful.” He sighed. “They worried I would usurp them all.”
“Did you want to?” Lambert continued, feeling quite invested.
This was all new information to them. Narinder had kept everything very close to his chest over the few years they had known each other. No amount of asking had budged the cat.
“Of course not!” Narinder huffed and sipped his tea. “I was only interested in helping.”
He stared into the warm flames of the fireplace.
“The nail in my coffin was when I discovered resurrection.” He continued. “Heket had… She had lost her wife. She was heartbroken…”
“And they just… Chained you up for that?” Lambert almost whispered in disbelief.
“Yes.” The cat answered. “Shamura was keen on keeping the natural order of things intact, whatever that means.”
“I really hate them.” Lambert confessed. “What they did to you was inexcusable!”
“I hate them too.” Narinder sighed, finally opening his eyes again. “But I love them too…”
Narinder fell silent again.
“I think that’s how I feel about you.” Lambert said without really thinking. “I mean, with being destined to be your vessel and being betrayed by you. You’re both a friend and an enemy, in a way.”
“I never betrayed you, damned Lamb.” Narinder scoffed.
“You SO did!” Lambert retorted, staring at him in disbelief. “We both know you didn’t have to kill me to leave the gateway!”
“I…” Narinder grimaced. “It's just how these things work, Lamb.”
“You didn’t even seem to want to sacrifice me!” Lambert retorted, not being able to stop all these feelings from pouring out. “I could see it in your eyes! You hated it too!”
“Quiet!” The cat snapped his gaze in their direction, cutting Lambert off. “You’ve taken everything from me!”
They both fell silent, staring intensely at each other. Finally Lambert sighed and look down at the wooden floor.
“Sorry for that outburst.” They said, “It’s just been eating away at me. I really thought we were close friends. That we were something… But when you told me to lay down my life for you… I just couldn’t believe what you were saying. I didn’t feel like I had a choice!”
Narinder breathed in through his gritted teeth. He seemed to be having a great inner conflict, and had seemingly reached a conclusion as he grimaced and sighed.
“Fine.” The cat said. “I did not want to sacrifice you. Is that what you want me to say?”
“That’s certainly a start…” Lambert started. “But I just want you back. I want to close this rift between us.”
Narinder kept his eyes on his tea again, shooting it an angry look.
“How do you propose we do such a thing?” He finally answered after staring enough daggers at the mug to break it.
“I’m not really sure…” Lambert admitted. “I think this is a start though.”
The cat hummed and nodded, not taking his eyes off the half-drinked tea.
“Can I stay here for the night?” Narinder asked, finally meeting Lambert’s gaze.
“That would be my pleasure, my lord.” Lambert said with a smile.
“Ugh, look what a pathetic being you’ve reduced me to.” He said with disgust. “And stop calling me that. I’m a mortal now…”
“Nuh uh.” Lambert said and got up. “You’ll always be my lord, Narinder.”
The lamb reached out a hand towards the cat and after a moment Narinder took it.
“Let’s get some rest.” Lambert said and crawled into bed.
“Are you expecting me to join you?” Narinder asked, lifting an eyebrow at them.
“I may be a god, but I can’t just magically make another bed for you appear.” Lambert chuckled as they got comfortable under their blankets.
“Fine, then…” Narinder huffed and joined them. “But you better make space for me.”
“Anything for you, my lord.” Lambert said, pulling a sly smile at him.
“You’re insufferable.” He responded.
“You’re still choosing me over going out in the rain.” Lambert said, grinning. “So I’ll take that.”
The bed wasn’t all that big. Narinder probably thought it was way too small for a god, but Lambert didn’t feel the need for anything too big. They laid there, arms touching, under the warmth of the blankets. With simple command, the crown flew off Lambert’s head and extinguished candle after candle, until the room was completely dark.
The rain was still pouring down, drumming on the roof. That sound always made Lambert feel at ease, which was much needed. Their former god was currently in their bed and they were trying not to freak out too much. Normally they were great at putting on a calm face but Narinder had a way of making that mask slip off.
Despite it all, Lambert decided to reach out for Narinder’s hand under the blankets. To their surprise Narinder accepted, and their fingers intertwined. Lambert felt their heart skip a beat.
“Good night, Nari.” They whispered.
“Good night, Lambert.” Narinder replied.