"Wait!" Violet yanked her hand out of Sterling's grasp and stepped away.

The air around Sterling returned to normal, and the god raised one brow in confusion. "My queen?"

"Wait," Violet repeated, her eyes darting between Sage and Sterling. "Where are you taking me?"

Sterling held out his hand to Violet. "My castle. I promise it is the most beautiful, luxurious–and private–estate in all of Ovidia. You will love it."

"Private?" Sage asked. "Don't all the gods live on Mount Ovidia?"

When Sterling didn't respond, Violet repeated Sage's question. "You are taking me to the top of Mount Ovidia?"

"No, no, my sweet. Are you worried about my relatives? No, my private residence is on a small island off the coast. It's pristine."

Sterling reached for Violet's hand, but she deftly avoided his outstretched fingers.

"How can I be sure you aren't tricking me?"

Sterling placed a hand over his heart. "You wound me. Why would I trick the woman who I love?"

"Love?" Sage scoffed, shaking his head, but neither Sterling nor Violet seemed to notice his outburst.

"How do you know you love me?" Violet asked.

"How do I know that the sky is blue?" the god replied, without missing a beat. "Or that the sun is warm or flowers are beautiful? How do I know that bread is nourishing and the cool waters of a stream refreshing? These are things that one just knows. One look at you and I knew you were the only woman who would ever own my heart."

With his silk robes rustling in a slight breeze, Sterling took a step towards Violet, who took a step back. He took another step forward, and she took another step back. Then she took a third step backwards and bumped into a tree.

Sage balled his fists, but didn't dare hit the immortal. All that would do was get him killed. He was going to need to think his way out of this.

"I–I am promised to another," Violet stuttered as Sterling rested one large hand on the tree trunk next to her head.

"But I am a god," he purred, leaning ever closer.

Violet ducked down, narrowly avoiding his advancing lips, and side-stepped under the god's arm. "You don't even know me," she demurred, then turned pleading eyes towards Sage, who stood seething, but helpless.

"I don't need to know you," Sterling said with a laugh. "Love struck me like a lightning bolt, and as a god of gambling, I know when to go all in."

Watching the god's single-minded determination, Sage had a sudden realization. He thought of the ingredients he had collected for Tawny, and what Violet had said about barrenwort and its use in aphrodisiacs. Sterling had to be under the influence of a love potion. But why? Sage needed to learn more before he would understand. He needed to get the god talking.

"Sterling," Sage shouted. "You are right that Violet is a queen among women. She is the most beautiful in the land. So why should she choose you?"

The god turned on his heels and let out a chortle. "The little shepherd boy wants to know why his betrothed would choose me over him? Don't insult me, son of Phillip."

Sage gave a silent cheer that he'd gotten the god's attention. "You are a minor god. What will stop one of the greater gods from earning her affection once you take her to the top of Mount Ovidia? I can only assume that is why you weren't planning to take her there first."

Sterling stood up straight, his gaze boring icily into Sage.

"Yes," Violet said, following Sage's lead. "Why should I choose you among all the gods who will wish to suit me once they meet me? Show me you truly are the most powerful among the gods."

Turning back to Violet, the god's eyes softened. When Violet was in front of him, he seemed to forget all about Sage. He snapped his fingers and when he opened his hand, a dazzling emerald necklace was draped across his palm. "It sparkles, just like your eyes."

Violet blinked, nibbled on her bottom lip, and inhaled through her nose. Then she met the god's eyes. "I've seen more impressive gems on the neck of the baker's wife."

Sterling flexed his jaw, but did not respond. With a flourish, the necklace disappeared. Then he snapped again, and this time a tiara shimmered into existence. It was gold and encrusted with sapphires, amethysts, and diamonds. "A crown fit for my queen."

Sage watched, amused, as Violet gave the tiara an assessing look. "It is beautiful, if quaint," she said, her chin held high. "But..."

"But she'd still be married to a minor god," Sage loudly interrupted.

Sterling glared at Sage. "I am no minor god," he spat out.

"Aren't you?" Sage taunted, stepping away from the shaded outlook and onto the sunlit path. He pointed up to the sun. "You are but the great-grandson of the elemental gods, like the glorious Xanthus. And you are only the grandson of Queen Aurelia and King Azure. What are you, fifth in line for the throne? Sixth?"

Sterling turned his back to Violet, small silver flames lined his irises. "You forget your lessons, boy." His nostrils flared, and he stood up straighter. "I am the only god who can boast that he is descended from all four elemental gods, and I am not only the grandson of Aurelia and Azure but also, on my father's side, I am the grandson of Indigo and Veridian. All their powers course down into me."

Sage took a step down the road, drawing Sterling away from Violet. "And how does Violet know that those powers have not been diluted through the generations?"

Sterling narrowed his eyes. "Diluted?" he said with a wry laugh.

"Well, this whole plan of yours..." Sage waved his hand in the air, walking further away. "It screams of desperation."

The god took several steps forward before answering. "My toll road will be a great success. It will bring me untold riches."

"Oh, no doubt about it," Sage said, his eyes meeting Violet's. "But only because mortals would pay a fortune to have a personal audience with the gods who are more powerful than you."

"Excuse me?"

"Well, any other god could just sell access to themselves. But you, well, you are such a minor god that you must resort to selling access to your older relatives. The ones who can actually affect change."

At the barb, Sterling's skin turned an ominous shade of red and Sage wondered at the wisdom of his approach.

But then the god took a deep breath, and he looked over his shoulder at Violet. Maybe it was the love potion, but the sight of her seemed to calm him down. When he turned back to Sage, his skin had returned to a deep tan. "Your own father gave his fortune to have access to me."

It was Sage's turn to be confused. What fortune did his father have? And if he had some hidden source of wealth, what had he hoped to receive from Sterling? It was Aurelia who had visited his mother. At least that was what he had always been told. His father's recent denial of the goddess's visit only made Sterling's accusation make even less sense.

Sterling had said that Phillip gave him the idea to pave a toll road to the gods. Maybe there was a clue there.

"Interesting," said Sage, giving his mind an extra second to come up with a reply. "Interesting that my father never mentioned you. There were no altars to you in our house. You said he was an inspiration to you. Is that because he sought an audience with Aurelia?"

"Aurelia is all talk," Sterling sneered.

Sage must have hit a nerve.

The god continued, "Do you know what speaks? Money. Gold. Silver. The things I have a sway over."

Sage followed his gut and continued to prod. "Yet even your most loyal patron–my father–desired to spend that coin on access to your grandmother, even when you were right there in front of him."

"Money. Makes. The. World. Go. Around," Sterling said each word with a singular emphasis that steam leaked from his ears.

Even though he knew he should stop, Sage continued, "I bet the other gods aren't thrilled with your plan. And if they foil you, then the plan will fail. And where will that leave you?"

As Sage said it, the truth of his words rang in his ears. Some god–probably Tawny–had given Sterling this love potion to combat this toll road. There was plenty he still did not know or understand, but there must be a way to use this revelation to his advantage.

How would a love potion foil his plan?

"You know what? Never mind," Sage said before Sterling could respond. "What do I know? I'm nothing but a mortal."

"That's the first intelligent thing you've said since I've met you," Sterling snarled.

"And," Sage continued, ignoring Sterling's insult, "I would definitely give any fortune I had for access to your toll road. How, may I ask, will you enforce the toll? Because, as you can see, Violet and I could begin our trek with no problem."

"I haven't built the road yet, obviously. But when I do, I will guard the entrance."

"You? Yourself?" Sage was having too much fun. He knew he should stop, but he couldn't control himself.

"Eventually I'll train priests, but to start. Yes." Sterling snarled.

"Hmm. You said you were taking Violet to a private island. Why not to the summit?" Sage gestured up at the top of the mountain, which was wreathed in clouds.

Sterling shook his head. "Not that it's any of your business, but for privacy."

Sage leaned against a rock and brought his hand to his chin. "I bet you are not powerful enough to bring people directly to the summit. If you could, why build a road at all?"

"I am powerful enough. That's not at all what I am saying." Sterling threw his hands up in exasperation, and Sage knew he had won.

"Then prove it. Bring us to the summit right now," Sage said, stepping forward, knowing he had just earned Violet and himself a quick ride to the top of Mount Ovidia.