He tried to find a way out, hitting the wall that led up an inverted slope. The only exit was hundreds of meters into the air, and while he vainly tried to begin his climb, he only made to just above twice his height before he embarrassingly lost his hold. He fell and caught himself well enough, his training keeping him from falling into a heap, and it was only then he realized she was not pursuing him. That did not make sense to him. He had read what manuscripts remained of Calliope the Black Star, though scholars argued over her naming conventions. Many had called her Callypsa the Black Serpent, or Queen Kallos the Abyss. To most laymen, they would not have her in their cultural memory, save old curses or rituals by fires they did without thought of their origins. Beren hardly knew anything about her, because there was very little to know. All he knew was that she was either a powerful witch or a dark goddess, and that she preyed on mortal men's souls and devoured those that displeased her. 

You know, the usual from legends of that era.

He poked his head over a broken piece of ground to see if she had done anything, but sure enough, she had remained where she was, arms crossed and raising an impatient eyebrow. 

"I am used to my servants being frightened, but I have to ask if you are done." She said magnanimously, at least that's what he believed the gist of her statement was. 

No gouts of black flame or rocks falling atop his head. Well, whatever Beren was, he wasn't a coward or a liar, at least not when it counted. He took a deep breathe, and steeling himself, he stepped around the stone and faced her. "I'm not a cultist." He admitted. "As I said, I'm just a humble scholar."  

To his sincere surprise, she did not scream or turn into a giant serpent and devour him, or even looked offended. She gave a very human groan of annoyance, and muttered a word he had read once long ago that seemed to be a colloquial term for excrement. She placed two hands to her pretty face. He felt bad for interrupting her self pity, but he did add: "Uh, sorry. But uh, kill me if you're going to. I got nowhere else to go." 

"I can't, you fool!" She suddenly cried, causing him to jump. Her majesty and dangerous nature was still there, but there was an air of petulance about her. He supposed most deities were just that, in the sagas. "I am bound to you! Saitar knows why I was awoken by [b]you[/b] instead of someone I could work with, or would work for me, better yet." 

Beren crossed his muscled arms, his handsome face incredulous. "Bound?" He echoed. 

[hider=Her dark thoughts]
Calliope rolled her eyes. Not only was he not a slave, he was an idiot, she thought to herself. He looked like someone who would fight to the death against some beast for her entertainment over her morning wine. Or perhaps the learned men of this era were slower than the previous ones, and brutes at that?
[/hider]
 
"Have you not read the Namtar Cycle? The prophecies and placement of the cosmos?" 

"No..." He said slowly. "Well, yes, but out of the thirty six books, only some of book seven and twelve remain, at least we think those were their placements. Even then we know very little." He found he was growing slightly more comfortable, if only just. His thirst for lore was overcoming a bit of his incredulous fear at the absurdity of this meeting. 

"Very well, I suppose I shall educate you." She declared with reluctance, and stepped down from the small height to stand before him. To Beren, she was a head shorter than him, though she stood as if she bore the weight and strength of a gigante. 

[hider=Her dark thoughts]
He wasn't as tall as the large eunuchs she kept as her personal servants, nor as muscled as the giants she had cowed, but he was still powerfully built and sizeable, particularly compared to her. Handsome, in a commoner sort of way.
[/hider]
 
"I have been awoken by you, yes? This means I am now bound to you for a period of thirteen years, or thirteen favors. Whichever runs out first, and I must remain...resolute in such... service..." It left her lips in a hiss. "The pact cannot be undone. The prophecies also say-" She drew in breath to speak, but paused for a long moment. Her poise was replaced with a sweet smile. "That it is an honor to serve." 


[hider=Her dark thoughts]
She was about to reveal her role in freeing of the accursed Iskandrin, her six brethren to be awoken first, and the finding of the hero of legend, but she needn't tell this fool all of the prophecy. His ignorance served her, as long as she played it carefully. Perhaps she would feed him the less pertinent aspects of the prophecy and pay lip service to this one, but guide him to do what must be done to make her queen of all the world? Patience, she thought. Perhaps she could have a bit of fun as she plotted.
[/hider]
 
Beren scratched the stubble on his chin, pondering. He believed he was catching on. "What happens if you don't give the favors, or stick to the time?" 

She shrugged dramatically. "Oh you know how it is! A grim fate..." She lamented, slicing a hand across her throat. It was a simple gesture, one made less inconspicuous as her head leaped from her shoulders the moment the hand movement had been performed. It spun in a flip before landing in her waiting hands. A cry burst from Beren's mouth and he backpedaled, nearly falling over the stone he had hid behind. The headless sorceress continued as normal, only now her voice came from chest level as her amputated head continued to speak. "The powers that be will see to it I am cursed to a fate worse than death or imprisonment." 

His heart thundering in his chest, he grabbed at his bare chest, eyes as wide as saucers. "You don't need a head!?" 

"Well," she purred, lifting her disembodied head and placing it back atop her neck. Her eyes closed, she answered: "I can do so if I wish, but if someone else were to behead me, that would be a problem." 

"Can you- no." He had started, but he immediately stopped the thought. Asking her if she could remove his head was not a question he wanted answered. He let himself calm down, before taking stock. "Okay so... the favors of a goddess." He reasoned, pursing his lips. Glancing upwards, he said. "Well, I can't ask a favor of you without us getting out of here. Bet you can't even do that, even if I asked." Beren gave a chuckle. 

Calliope cackled, the cruel sound echoing across the walls of the dark chasm. "You think I am falling for that? You'll have to spend a favor for you to get out of here, boy!" 

Beren sighed, kicking a rock. Her laughter still echoed as he spoke. "You're right. I was just hoping I didn't have to spend one to just see the old, red sun again." 

Her laughter abruptly stopped. "Old red sun!? How long was I-..." She snapped her fingers, and the two of them were launched skywards, what looked to Beren like shadowy wraiths plummeting out of their feet, rocketing the two of them up and out of the chasm at a hundred meters per second. In three heartbeats, Beren landed on the procession walkway in a rough roll as Calliope looked up at the sky, squinting. Beren was just rolling over when she spun on him in a rage, eyes blazing. It seemed she had discovered the sun was quite yellow and healthy. His smug expression, chin resting on his hand, made it even worse. 

"Oh very clever, boy! See if I remain charitable to you after that little stunt." 

"You were going to be charitable?" He asked innocently, fluttering his lashes. He decided not to push it, however. He got to his feet and stretched his neck. She glared daggers at him, but there was a small bit of respect in her eyes now, if only the barest hint. "It's been twenty five hundred years, give or take a century, since you've walked the world. If we're going to be bound, we might as well not hate one another." He told her, and extended his hand. She curled her lips in distaste and confusion. 

"Is this some sort of ritual?" She asked. 

"It's a sign of agreement. You grab my hand, and we shake them for a brief moment." He explained. 

It took her many long moments, but she acquiesced. "Very well..." Calliope remarked. Her grip was surprisingly strong. Once they let go, he decided to grant her a small bow.

"It is my honor to meet you." 

"Yes, it is." She agreed. "Perhaps it will not be so unpleasant learning of this new world."

"You'll find you've effected it more than you think. We still have words that reference you." He told her, and then spoke without thinking. "-like Callypgian!" He tried not to curse, feeling like an idiot for even saying it. 

"What does that mean?" She inquired, amused. His eyes went to her hips, then back to her own eyes. He fidgeted with his thumbs.

"It means beautiful."