ON THE DIVINE PLAIN
After the Court was adjourned I spent an unknown amount of time waiting to find out my fate without anything to do but talk to the Bailiff, think about the life I had led and those I had left behind.
As an atheist, I had thought that there wasn't anything beyond death so in a way the Abyss from what Svipdagr told me was exactly what I had expected to happen to me when I died. But the abstract idea of it, which I had always secretly been apprehensive of, is not the same as the reality which I was in all probability about to experience first hand.
Finally, my apprehension was put on the back burner when the Judge returned and for some reason, my thought thankfully turned from the worst-case scenario to the best. Once everyone had retaken their places in the back of the court she announced her judgement.
"AFTER CONSULTATIONS WITH HERMES, THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVINE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AND OTHERS I HAVE COME TO A DECISION AS TO THE FATE OF THE SOUL OF AED MAAS. There WERE TWO SEPARATE MATTERS TO CONSIDER NAMELY THE DEPOSITION OF HIS SOUL AND THE MANOR OF HIS DEATH. IF THE FORMER HAD BEEN THE ONLY THING TO CONSIDER THEN HIS FATE WOULD HAVE NO DOUBT BEEN THE PIT OF THE ETERNAL ABYSS, FROM WHICH THERE IS NO ESCAPE.
THE LATTER, ON THE OTHER HAND, MUST PRECLUDE THIS, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING. WE CANNOT TELL HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO COMPLETELY DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF HIS DEATH. THUS WHAT TO DO WITH HIS SOUL IN THE MEANTIME IS A CONCERN, THE STORAGE OF SOUL IS A TRICKY THING. HIS SOUL IS CURRENTLY RESIDING WITHIN A SERAPIS JAR NEARBY AND HIS BODY IS BEING PROJECTED HERE BUT THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY MEASURE.
IT CANNOT RESIDE THERE FOR MUCH LONGER WITHOUT BEGINNING TO DISSIPATE AND WE CANNOT SEND IT TO ANY OF THE AFTERLIVES FOR IT DOESN'T BELONG IN ONE. THUS THE ONLY OTHER OPTION IS TO TEMPORARILY PARK IT IN THE BODY OF A JUST DECEASED INDIVIDUAL UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT IS NO LONGER NEEDED.
FOR SECURITY REASONS IT CANNOT BE RETURNED TO EARTH INSTEAD AED WILL BE GIVEN THE CHOICE OF THREE DIFFERENT PLANETARY PLAINS AND BE SENT TO THE ONE OF HIS CHOICE. BAILIFF, PLEASE COLLECT THE OPTIONS FROM ME WHICH YOU WILL THEN PRESENT TO HIM AND WE WILL SEND HIM THEIR AS SOON AS A SUITABLE BODY TURNS UP."
So my date with the Abyss has been postponed for the time being and as a plus, I get a nice holiday on an alien planet before it gets rescheduled. I wonder would it have more humans in it or something similar or with other sentient races. Would I get to experience a primitive society or spaceships or perhaps even better magic, well there's no point imagining further Svipdagr is coming over with my three choices and I'll soon get to experience a new planet and all it has to offer.
When Svipdagr appeared he was carrying four envelopes which he pasted to me.
"Aed here are four envelopes the first three of which contain details about one of the options for you to chose from but before you look at them you must first read the contents of the first envelope."
I opened the first envelope and read what was written within.
I the Goddess Nehmetawy warn you that upon reaching your destination you cannot tell anyone who you actually are, what happened to you, where you are from or the existence of the Gods. Sooner or later whether on purpose or by accident you are bound to break one or more of these rules and at that point we will park your soul in a body on the most primitive planet in the universe.
You will be provided with the memories of the previous host of the body you will be parked in but they should remain distinct from your own memory and thought process. They will seem to you as if they belong to an entity separate from yourself. Although at the same time they may to a certain extent merge with yours to create a third one, this is highly unlikely.
And one last thing we will restrict the access you will have to those parts of your memories concerning the level of technology that exists on Earth so that you will be unable to introduce them to the society you find yourself in. At the same we will provide you with more knowledge of that society than would have been experienced by the previous host of your body, this will mainly be of a historical nature.
The second Envelope held details on the Planet Argenusm, which is a world almost the size of Earth only with slightly less water. It has three large continents and two smaller ones with a whole lot of islands thrown in. Two different races live there, one on the smallest continent and the other on the largest and they had yet to meet. They weren't that far apart, technological speaking, being roughly equivalent to Earth at the time of Alexander the Great.
The third envelope held details on the Planet Cantarus, which is a world two thirds the size of earth, roughly four-fifths of which was covered in water. It has two small continents that are not that far apart with some islands in between and a much larger one on the other side of the Planet.
It has a major race on each of the two small continents and they both had taken over some of the islands in between. One other race remained on a few of the smaller islands in between where they were dying out but they also resided on the larger continent in great numbers. How or when this had come about wasn't mentioned but it was very strange.
Both races on the small continents have reached a technological level similar to the late medieval era on Earth. The race on the large continent has varying technological levels from early medieval to early renaissance but the island survivors were stuck in the early iron age.
The fourth and final envelope held details on the Planet Taramaxi, a world about double the size of the Earth with a single large continent and a couple of hundred small islands. It was, other than at the equator, uninhabitable by the single race that resided there. They were at a technological level similar to that of mid 19th century Earth.
…
Three interesting choices but which to choose, Argenus seems too primitive, Cantarus too mysterious and Taramaxi too hot. What should I base my decision on, gut instinct, the most advanced planet, the least or a hundred other things. I could always toss a coin if I had a three-sided one I could use.
ON THE PLANET ARGENUS
In the villa of General Agathon Aetius:
"Uncle the council has heard rumours that the slave revolt on Isium has finally been crushed and fears they will be coming for us next. They have sent me to once again beseech you to take command of the militia and the defence of the Island, what say you."
"As I told them the last six times they asked, I made an oath and I will not break it."
"But uncle the oath you made was to the Empire and it is no more."
"The last emperor is still in charge of its replacement and as long as he is I consider the oath to be in effect."
"We all know that is but a polite fiction to prevent old fools such as yourself doing what needs to be done."
"You suspect that to be true until it is proven to my satisfaction I will do nothing."
"Alright uncle I am sure the council didn't for one moment think you would change your mind, I must get back and try my best to do what you will not. Before I go have you heard anything from your friends lately."
"Other than a letter from Naeus telling me his brother had died, no."
"Farewell then."
And with that Faxiles Aetius left his uncles villa and rode on his horse back to the militia encampment outside Camisos.
ON THE PLANET CANTARUS
In a cabin of the sailing ship Varian Wind:
"Father the captain says we should make landfall at Acelane Harbour sometime late tomorrow morning, how are you holding up."
"I feel slightly better than I did yesterday but I look forward to dry land, hows Abigail fairing."
"No let-up there, she's still sick as a parrot."
"Could you get me more of that medicine, I seem to have ran out."
"I'll see what I can drum up for you, but no promises."
ON THE PLANET TARAMAXI
In a small cottage on the outskirts of the village of Kalis:
"Lavim what finds you at our door this evening."
"Cathie we have finally received a telegram from Ayius, it is as we feared he was press-ganged by the Imperial navy and was serving aboard HIMS Ephosse in the Ennous Sea Fleet at the battle of Pydina,"
"Is he well."
"Sadly no he received a large splinter of wood in his left hand at the battle and unfortunately it had to be removed I'm afraid. He was invalided out and is on his way home."
"Poor Ayius is he overwise ok."
"He did not mention any other wounds but who knows."
"Cathie who is that at the door?"
"It's Lavim, father they heard from Ayius he has lost his left arm and is on his way home."
"At least he is alive and I suppose even with only one arm he should still be able to make some kind of living. I may yet allow you to marry him, Cathie, it all depends on how I find him on his return, who knows what this sort of thing could do to a man."
"Thank you father, he may not still wish be marry me with him being a cripple and all but I do so love him. Did he mention me at all or say when he might arrive."
"It was a telegram so he kept it short, it was sent from Tyasuce so he should be back in a day or two."
"Thanks for the news how has your mother taken it?"
"The loss of his hand prays on her but she is much better now that we have had news. I must get back now, good day."