When I opened my eyes, I was on the Path of Vau. Snake was not with me. There was only me and the crowned and throned figure before me.
His eyes were open.
The whites of his eyes were like glowing silver. The iris was as dark as his throne, as dark as the bridge, as dark as the abyss.
“Are you ready to proceed?”
“No, Sir. I am not.”
He lowered the bowl very carefully that I might see within it. The quicksilver fluid was now to the very brim. Another drop more, and it would overflow.
“When you are, return.”
It was then I saw the black rod that had been only the length of his forearm before, was now a tall thin staff at least my height. He raised it slightly and tapped it gently. I heard the sound of stone moving on stone behind me.
The tower of Chesed was a few steps behind me now, and there were shadows of people standing on the roof.
I turned back to the crowned and throned figure, and bowed deeply in respect. I took a military step back, a military about-face, and a military stride off the bridge onto the tower of Chesed.
I was greeted at the tower by certain figures including Hermes. “Come on, [Weaver].” He took me by the arm after I made proper greetings to those around me. “I know a place, and I know a person, and I know you’re not in any shape to do anything other than come along.” He’s right. I wasn’t. He took me between realms to a certain person, in a certain place, where I spent much of the night in pleasant conversation.