Chasing Rainbows

By Jonathan Edward Feinstein

Something is happening and it seems to involve all the rainbows in the world and rainbows are the essential tools of many deities. So when Jael finds a lost and confused messenger goddess from the Hawaiian pantheon wandering among the limbs of the Norse World tree, Yggdrasil and Iris, the personal message bearer of the Roman goddess Juno is nowhere to be found, someone is going to have to investigate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365219559

Book preview

Chasing Rainbows

Chasing Rainbows

A Plethora of Deities: Book 11

by

Jonathan Edward Feinstein

Copyright © 2016 by Jonathan E. Feinstein

All Rights Reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Megafilk Press, Jonathan E. Feinstein, 923 Drift Road, Westport, MA 02790

Cover art: Rainbows couds sky (sic) by Jon Sullivan 2015, courtesy of www.public-domain-image.com.

ISBN: 978-1-365-21955-9

Stories by Jonathan Edward Feinstein

Gaenor’s Quest

The Red Light of Dawn

The Black Clouds of Noon

The Rainbow of Dusk

The Cold Clear Skies of Midnight

Gaenor’s Prophecy

Signs of Change

Corrected Visions (Forthcoming)

The Maiyim Stories:

The Maiyim Tetralogy

World of Water

Men of the Earth

Island of Fire

Gods of the Air

Three Stories of Maiyim

A Deadly Union

An Interesting Title

A Shattered Family

Ars Nova Magica (and related side stories)

The Maiyim Bourne

The Staff of Aritos

A Promising Career

A Fine Adventure

The Tears of Methis

Freshman Orientation

The Book of Candle

Dry Dock

Ars Scientiaque Magicae

Unexpected Reactions

Hypothetical Notions

Theoretical Bases

   Lift Off!

Required Components

Experimental Proofs

Desired Results

The Terralano Venture

Agree to Disagree

By the Light of the Silvery Moons

There Goes the Neighborhood

Down Time, Ltd.

Down Time

Taking Time

Time Out

Show Time!

Double Time

A Plethora of Deities

Downhill All the Way

In the Sky with Diamonds

The Seed

The Tree

Tempting the Fates

Teasing the Furies

Inspiring the Muses

Dancing with the Sphinx :Waltz

Dancing with the Sphinx :Tango

Dancing with the Sphinx :Foxtrot

Chasing Rainbows

The Care and Feeding of Your Elder God (Forthcoming)

The Wayfarers

A Land without Borders

A World without a Name

A Nation without Maps

A Country without Unity

A Continent without Form

An Ocean without Charts

An Empire without Order

An Island without a Shore (Forthcoming)

The Pirates of Pangaea

An Accidental Alliance

The Unscheduled Mission

A Planned Improvisation

The Forced Alternative

Other Stories

Elf Alert!

A Study in Ethnology

Off on a Tangent

Author’s Foreword

It’s a good thing I like this series and love the broad cast of characters that have developed within it, because while most of these are fairly short as novels go – some barely qualify as novels, in fact – I work harder and do more research for this series than anything else I write. Not only that, but it is cumulative. Each story adds new characters who go on to appear in later stories. Then to make matters worse, I’ve added in my own personal touches.

The A Plethora of Deities series is based on the notion that all religions are valid. I make a few exceptions in the matter of cults, but even there my idea is that each is valid in proportion to the strength of belief and number of a religions followers. So cults will have reflections on what I call the Divine Plain, but some only last a brief amount of time, others are as nebulous as related theologies might be and others, being close to the beliefs of other religions might get absorbed since the deities and other supernatural beings have their own minds as to what they are and want to be. Consequently, rather than having several versions of the same or nearly identical deity, they have chosen to merge.

Then, I also decided that while the gods of the ancient world are an interesting enough bunch, it seemed unreasonable that even they might not have changed over the centuries since they had active believers, especially since they evolved enough when they did. Once they no longer had believers to shape their personalities, it was only naturally to assume they might develop as well on their own… so I let them do just that. Problem is, I have had to keep track of the changes and stay consistent. It’s a lot of work for a bit of light fantasy.

But, as I said, I like this series. If I didn’t I would have wrapped it up years ago. Each story has centered on one or more of the growing cast and it is fun to change the narrative point of view from one story to the next and in some cases from chapter to chapter, although it is also a challenge to keep the style consistent and to make the change of viewpoint an organic thing. I really hate stories that just suddenly change point of view without at least a nod toward the transition. Simply shifting scenes suddenly almost always bothers me.

With that in minds I came up with this story in which I originally planned for Iris, the Greek messenger goddess and herald of Hera to be the central character, but as you will soon find out, someone else play a role just as central, or maybe more so to the entire story.

Jonathan E. Feinstein

Westport, MA

June 4, 2016

Prologue – Fair Skies and Following Seas

A leave of absence? Juno asked curiously. She had been sitting on the porch of her temple-home, enjoying a cup of coffee as the sun rose. She wore a light silk blouse which she had decided to not bother tucking into her jeans. Olympus was a far more relaxed and comfortable place in the modern era. The furniture Juno used now had been manufactured on the mortal world and purchased at a store in Athens. She adored the cushions. They were ever so much more comfortable than anything she had sat on for the preceding millennia. And coffee! How had the ancient world ever gotten by without it? What might have the philosophers come up with had they a good cup of Joe to start their day with? Probably something a lot more meaningful than Zeno’s paradoxes, she was certain. Then again, perhaps they simply would have talked faster.

Yes, my queen, Iris replied simply. The messenger goddess was wearing a diaphanous chiton of the ancient style. It was something she only wore while on duty, a uniform of sorts. She attempted to hold herself in a confident pose, but her golden wings fluttered nervously and she kept changing which hand held her caduceus. Whichever hand did not hold the wand would occasionally brush a stray lock of her light brown hair back behind her right ear from which it would soon escape.

Juno noticed her messenger’s unease and wondered, Why? You see far more of the world than I do these days.

Actually, I rarely leave the Divine Plain, Iris pointed out. Think about it. When was the last time you had me send a message to any mortal?

It has been a while, Juno admitted. Oh, sit down and have some coffee. You’re making me nearly as nervous as you are, the way you’re hovering there.

Hovering? Iris asked, looking first at her wings and then her feet.

I did not mean that literally, Juno admonished her. Sit and we shall talk. Iris sat down beside Juno and accepted a cup of coffee. She drank it without cream or sugar, but noted that Juno had added a dash of cinnamon to the brew. All right, the divine queen said at last, What do you have in mind?

Your demands on me have not been heavy in a very long time, Iris replied. In the last few cycles, many of our pantheon have established second homes on the Mortal World. Hephaestos is in Oregon, Demeter in Massachusetts, Dionysus in New York and Venus in Vermont.

Vesta still lives in Rome, Juno pointed out.

Yes, she has a nice apartment in the Campo de Fiori, Iris nodded. I was at a party there a few years ago. Come to think about it; that was the last time I was in Rome. In any case, I believe it is time to see if there is a place for me out there.

Well, you are correct, Juno admitted, Olympus is just a sleepy backwater these days. So where are you going to look? New York? London? Paris? San Francisco, perhaps? Tokyo?

I haven’t decided, Iris shrugged. However, I am associated with new endeavors. It seems appropriate that I should just jump in and go with my strengths.

Why don’t you try New Orleans? Juno suggested.

New Orleans? Iris asked. Why?

I was there for Mardi Gras last winter, in my Hera aspect, Juno told her. It was a lot of fun.

You know, I think you may be one of the few deities who actually alternates between two such closely related aspects, Iris observed. Most of us just pick one and let the rest merge.

It’s like wearing a new outfit, Juno admitted.

So? Iris asked at last. Do I have your permission to go?

Of course, Juno told her. I envy you this opportunity.

There’s nothing keeping you on Olympus, you know, Iris pointed out.

True, Juno agreed, but this is home, and home for you too, you remember.

The mortals say home is the place they have to take you in when you have to go there, Iris mused. By that criterion, I suppose this is home, but there is no reason one cannot have more than one home.

Well, stay in touch, Juno told her. Maybe next time we share coffee it will be at your place. Hmm?

Who knows? Iris smiled. Anything might happen out there.

And you are anxious to see what it is, right? Juno observed. Take care of yourself.

Thank you, my queen, Iris nodded. She got to her feet and put her caduceus down on the table. She reached for the flask of Styx water on her belt, but Juno stopped her.

Keep the water with you, dear, she advised. The staff marks you as my messenger, but the water of the Styx is yours to use as you see fit.

It has been a while since I used it against perjurers, Iris pointed out.

That is not the only use for the water of that river, Juno reminded her.

Iris nodded again and reattached the flask to her belt. Until we meet again, she told Juno just before reaching up toward the sky. As she did so, a brilliant rainbow formed and extended to the porch floor in front of her. Iris stepped on to the rainbow as though it were a solid construct and the wind, until now just a light breeze, suddenly gusted with force, carrying Iris and the rainbow up and out of sight in an instant.

Part 1 – Gathering Clouds

One

A demoness walked lightly on the topmost branches of the great ash tree, Yggdrasil, with her long, curly, black hair blowing behind her in the wind between her huge, black bat-like wings. She paused to nod her head respectfully toward a pair of birds. One was the giant eagle, Sam and the other, a hawk named Vethrfolnir who perched on Sam’s head. They were both guardians of the World Tree but neither saw any harm in this demoness from the Hell of an entirely different part of the Divine Plain. Together, they nodded back at her. In response, the demoness winked one vivid violet eye at them and smiled warmly before moving a few paces on.

Even here, at the top of the Tree, the branches were wide and strong and did not bow under the weight of a mere demoness as she found her favorite place to sit and look out at the universe around her. Are you in there, Rona? she asked out loud.

Where would I go, Jael? Rona asked. A slight smile appeared on Jael’s face that the demoness knew was not her own. Rona was a human soul with whom Jael had been bound for over two decades. They had experienced some rocky times at the start of their relationship but over time much that was good in Rona had rubbed off on Jael and some parts of Jael’s personality had become Rona’s. In all, Jael felt she had gotten the better part of the bargain.

You do not normally join me up here, Jael pointed out. It is the one place I still feel alone sometimes.

This is your special place, Rona pointed out, and I know you need to be by yourself sometimes, so I withdraw as far from your consciousness as I can to give you some privacy.

I had wondered, Jael commented. I wasn’t sure if you just could not come here or if you were afraid of heights.

Neither, Rona laughed, just a courtesy to the woman who allows me to share her life.

Well, join me now, will you? Jael invited. I didn’t come up with for solace or to contemplate my place in the world. You know, come to think about it, everyone leaves me alone when I come here.

The guardians of the World Tree respect you, Rona pointed out. They appreciate all you have done for them since this cycle began, so it is a small thing to give you your space when you need it. She fell silent, but a few minutes later added, Even Ratatosk leaves you alone up here.

Oh, now you’ve done it, Jael chuckled. You’ve spoken the Devil’s name.

Do you honestly think Lucifer would appreciate you equating Him with that squirrel? Rona asked.

He would laugh His butt off at the comparison, Jael countered.

So what did you want to talk about, dear? Rona asked.

What makes you think I had something in mind? Jael countered.

If you didn’t come all the way up here to be by yourself, Rona pointed out, you must have had another reason for needing the privacy.

You know me all too well, Jael nodded. I’ve been contemplating the future and since we share our existence, I thought we should make some decisions together. We have one more school year in Killington and then Evrona graduates.

I know. She’s thinking of working toward a Master of Fine Arts degree, Rona mentioned.

Oh yes, and I think she should, Jael nodded, but she cannot get a master degree of any sort at Sherburne College and there’s no reason for her to stay in Vermont. She can go anywhere and with her grades she’s going to have her choice of the best schools.

Where has she applied? Rona asked.

You know she’s kept that to herself, Jael pointed out.

And you practically gave Amy the third degree last night in Hattamesett just to make sure Evy had been applying. Yes, I was there too. I wouldn’t worry about Evy, though. I think she’s just trying to show you that you’ve done your job well and taught her to stand up for herself.

She’s come a long way since we found that bundle of tears on the Plain of Dis, Jael smiled, but I’m not really worried about her. Our Sparrow is ready to fly and I couldn’t be prouder of her, but once she flies, is there any need for us to stay in Killington?

It has proven to be a fairly good base of operations, Rona pointed out. Better than Cleveland in many ways, except that I doubt we could ever get Marcus to leave Case Western Reserve.

He’s going to have to sooner or later, Jael argued. He’s forty-five years old but hasn’t aged a day since he was twenty-one. Right now his colleagues find that remarkable, but in a decade it will be impossible. He already has to use various tricks to make himself older, but there’s only so much he can do along those lines.

There’s magic, Rona suggested, and he could take to walking with a limp, but I cannot see him doing that. The real problem is at the conventions. He’s made a good name for himself and he is fairly well known. He’s going to need to find a new career and he won’t like that at all.

He’ll have to find a way to go off the grid, Jael agreed, and that’s going to mean no more archaeology.

But he loves archaeology, Rona protested.

Well, there is an alternative, Jael considered. Both Dee and Athena have been offering him a position. If he comes to either Killington or Brandon, he can teach for a decade or so using a new name. After that he could show up at the AIA conventions again and while some of the old timers might notice he looks a lot like that guy who used to show up every year he would obviously be too young to be him. It might help if he changes his hair color too.

He really won’t like that, Rona laughed, It’s hard enough to get him to the barber shop on a regular basis. Can you imagine if he has to go blond and constantly has to keep touching up his roots?

Good point, Jael laughed with her. Well, perhaps a bit of magic is in order there. I’ll ask Ina, she must know a whole bunch of cosmetic spells. Likely, she invented them.

Oh good! You’re up here, a squeaky voice spoke from behind them. It was the sort of voice one normally only heard applied to cartoon chipmunks.

You see? Jael told Rona. I told you saying his name would summon him.

I only said it once, Rona replied contritely as they turned to face a squirrel roughly the size of a full grown German Shepherd.

"You know Ratty never feels he has to wait for