“Sean, how are you doing?” Kara called out to me. I turned. “I’m alright. You?” I continued to my trunk and opened it. “I’m fine, but I wasn’t the one in the hospital.” “That was a couple weeks ago already.” “I know, but…” She stopped. “Why is your lunch in the trunk?” “Can’t carry open alcohol in the car.” “You have alcohol in your lunch?” “It’s just human wine. I’m allowed a few glasses worth on my lunch break for full moons.” “You fast on new moons and drink on full moons?” “I feast, and yes, it does include drinking. Back home, I’d be drunk by mid-morning unless I was on duty. Then it would be noon. Overindulgence is part of a full moon. Now, I overindulge in grape juice and have a few glasses of wine.” “And you can drink at work?” “As long as it’s human wine and it’s on my lunch break, yes. For me, there isn’t much difference between grape juice and human wine. Tonight, I’ll enjoy the good stuff.” “Good stuff?” “Elven wine. I have a couple of bottles from my father’s vineyards.” “Your dad made wine?” “He made the best wine in either world. Everything served at the palace came from his vineyards, as did the wine for the holy days. They rotated between all the vintners for full moons. Would you like to join me tonight?” “Dance naked on a rooftop and drink that stuff? No.” “If you drank that stuff, you wouldn’t care if you were naked. You also wouldn’t remember it. I wouldn’t give you that.” “Have you ever given a human your wine?” “Yes. It’s good for making people forget about you. I needed to do that to hide what I was. More recently, there have been a few women who wanted to try it. I made them sign a waiver. I’m not going to be accused of anything.” “Except for public nudity.” “I wear my bathing suit.” “That thing is hardly a bathing suit.” “I could wear more if you want.” “No. I’m not worshipping some goddess I know nothing about. Why are you pushing this?” “Sometimes it’s lonely. How can you truly celebrate abundance when you’re alone?” “Ask Lorraine. You two get along well.” “I did. She has to work.” “So, if you’re just going to get drunk, do it at her bar.” “It’s not just about getting drunk. Never mind. I’ll see you later.” It was stupid to ask her, to ask any of them, to join me. They didn’t understand. And who would want to worship a goddess that was a deity for a different species? I started into the building. Kara followed me. As she usually did, she walked the stairs with me. “Has your ex given you any more trouble?” I asked. “No. He’s still in jail.” “Good. If he gets out and gives you trouble, don’t hesitate to call the police again. Robert and Troy will be here quickly. I don’t think they trust me with my sword.” I winked at her, and she smiled. “I’ll call,” she promised. “Good.” *** I had a big dinner and went up to the roof to worship Shandalar. I rarely gave the other gods and goddesses a thought. That was typical. Each family had a god or goddess they worshipped. My father had raised my brothers and me to worship Dhiarus, the god of life. It was fitting of a vintner. He also encouraged us to acknowledge Reenta, my mother’s goddess. So I had grown up worshipping two deities, though I focused more on Dhiarus. Sometime after I’d reached the age where I could decide for myself who to worship, Shandalar drew me to worship her. She’d encouraged me to become a knight and blessed me often. My father had been furious that the goddess of loyalty would lure away another’s worshipper. But for the next three years, Dhiarus had given my father the best harvests Underhill had ever seen, and his wine surpassed any batch he’d ever made. Dhiarus then told my father that part of life is letting go of offspring when they were ready. My father stopped complaining, but it was clear he’d be happier if I moved back home. I never did. I don’t regret it either. Shandalar blessed me well in my time as a knight. I did well enough, even my father was proud of me. It was close to sunrise when I staggered down to my apartment, completely drunk. I passed out on my couch. At least I made it to my apartment this time.