Ashton moved as Haven slid through the rift. Haven decided to coil around the tree since the ground was littered with babies.
Ashton blinked, "This enchantment is new, one of a kind, we should ask for more trees! One for each life."
Haven smirked as Willa was already stomping over. "You will require… assistance for each brood laid. I think an ongoing trade would be to our mutual advantage."
Haris narrowed his eyes as he squared his shoulders. "Unlike Nix, and even Ru. You Wind god, have not always kept to your word. How do we know you will return if you get the trees now?"
Haven's eyes constricted, "At least I don't send lessers to do my dirty work. Do not think it escaped my notice whose venom laced that harpoon."
Beloved used her talons to grip Nix's hair, "Nix they are angry… they don't want to share… perhaps without gods… our barter will prevail?"
Haris wanted to sigh, "Nix, I trust you at your word, but… what if war breaks out again?"
Ashton crossed his arms, "We, the three, will precast the spell, to you as you wish, no need to tell. Then no matter if war, even in death, the enchantment will work, to ensure offspring's health."
Willa came to an abrupt halt… she knew while the fire may have looked simple… none of the current gods would be able to replicate it. The flame had also been carefully controlled. A single misstep… and her eggs would have been burnt to ash. A precast could not account for such delicate precision.
Ashton held up a hand to stall the goddess's questions, "You cannot have both, while not as perfect as Beloved, the enchantment precision, will at least be enough. All those alive, at the time of the cast, will hatch with great vigor, compared to now the contrast."
Beloved peeked at the conflicted female, "I like your babies, to visit a few, even if war should break out… with us it has nothing to do."
Haris stilled, "Are you saying… if the truce is broken, you will not interfere?"
Ashton blinked, "Interfere? Hardly, I will lay down the law! All gods agreed, to abide, or to fall. If the earth keeps turning, nothing to loose, only the selfish, those who break the truce."
Beloved nodded along, "Exactly! We have no grudge! It's a matter of principle, to protect, and to love. So… if you lay eggs, and the babies are due… just give us a shout! Never enough babies… there are just so few."
Haris snorted, "How exactly will you lay down the law without war Nix?"
Nix tilted his head, his iris turning silver, the whites turning red. "They made an oath, I'll ensure that its kept." As if to agree, the sun shown brighter for just a heartbeat. Then Ashton smiled, "Who better to keep, than one who protects?"
Haris sighed, "Fine, the enchantment for trees. One tree for each egg sac hatched." He glanced around, they'd had more than a dozen egg sacs. "If anything happens to the trees, we will also provide aftercare."
Beloved shook her feathers in delight, "Big snake we get trees! So many trees! Let us find others, for you and for me!" She flew into his waiting arms.
Ashton winked, "I do like to barter, think I'm okay, what else can you offer, what else can we trade?"
"Spider silk." Haven called as he changed back into his snake form. They would take the two trees now, then return at a later date for the others.
Willa stared after the wind god, "Fine, we have a few bolts already. Next time you visit, send a warning. Also, return Colt to me!" She called seeing the spider legs peeking out from under the snake's feathers!
Haven glanced at the feather Beloved had hidden the spider baby under. They had already named him?
Beloved pouted as she lifted the crest feather. "We were just playing, a game of hide, a game of seek… I would never steal him… such cruelty beyond me."
Willa stilled, Colt… did seem fond of the bird. "I…"
"You are a new mother, a wish shared by more than a few. Beloved is envious, hoping for a union, such a fine baby, even among thousands there are not two." Ashton explained as a gentle breeze carried the baby spider into Willa's arms.
Haven snorted, "After our own hatch, we shall see who is finer." He eyed the male spider… perhaps he should squash it. What spider dares covet his offspring?
Ashton burst out laughing as he discretely handed Haris the enchantment. Just because other gods weren't present, didn't mean they couldn't see. He'd used the baby spider as a distraction to retrieve the enchanted egg.
Beloved and he had experimented with dozens of variations… this enchantment would bring out the desired characteristics of the offspring. Since Willa, the goddess's, mana was primary, with a controlled wish, the enchantment would bring Haris's characteristics to the forefront.
Not even with this enchantment could one make something that wasn't there though. So no spiders from snake eggs, or fish from spider eggs.
Haris nodded in understanding.
Willa easily removed the earth from the roots of the desired trees. Nix opened a rift to his long neglected palace, where she ensured the roots took to the soil. "You will have to water the area regularly." She reminded.
Beloved… had hers placed in a giant clay pot.
"Just for a while, until we return home… I want the tree now… but not when we roam." Beloved explained.
Willa shrugged, "Just break the pot when you find a place to plant it." Haven, the wind gods new name, was examining the different bolts of silk. She'd dyed most of them. "Just take them all."
Haven heard the hesitation, he quirked a brow, "Yesss?" He was quite pleased with the spoils, so was willing to hear her out.
Willa glanced over the chirping birds, "A word." She didn't look as she walked deeper into the cavern.
Haven followed, using small gusts of wind to move the babies out of his way. "Yesss?" He asked again.
Willa pulled out a black orb, "Birds are… flighty creatures Snake. What are you plotting?"
Haven curled his lips into a smile, "I am claiming the female, was it not obvious?"
Willa examined Haven, "Are you… and Ru entering an alliance?"
Haven narrowed his eyes, the idea had crossed his mind. Of course, claiming one of Ru's followers would tie them together, no matter how loosely. If war did break out again, Ru would not be idle. "She will be mine, if an alliance with sun is needed… I would put past grudges aside to keep her."
Willa leaned against the wall covered in silk, "This ongoing barter… is to tie us to your side then."
Haven half nodded, "Would we not be better than that mess of water gods. At least Ru keeps his promises. Even if I do not."
Willa's nose wrinkled at the memory, "Will the creation keep her word? Will you keep your word, for her?"
Haven's eyes constricted, "I imagine, being created by Nix, raised in Ru's blessings, she will keep her word. I will… do what I must to keep her." Haven's reign had been far more perilous than the earth goddess's. Nor did he have a protector like Ru.
Willa didn't push the issue. "Fine, then since Nix is clearly gaining favors, a warning. Three of the sea gods are on the move. Two went so far as to leave their own territories in the last decade. Whatever that offspring is planning, its going to happen before Nix's current body perishes."
Haven blinked, "I… will mention it." Haven caught the tossed black orb.
"I will be busy with my offspring, but… I am not so ungrateful. If there is need, call upon us." Willa stated. "Now take the silk and leave." She ordered. Having a snake in her domain was far from ideal. Not to mention, she wanted time with her newly hatched offspring.
Haven glanced over the agitated spider, without hesitation he collected more than half the bolts. More than a dozen shades of each color.
Willa's eye twitched, but she waved him away. Finally the rift closed and they were alone.
Haris was carrying Colt. "My love…"
Willa picked Haris up, the children quickly escaping as she approached the small house carved from a mushroom. They should celebrate. The children were well fed, the intruders gone, and the area safe.