“Hi, Vikalos, what’s up?”
Phovos was in one of her more common spots, sitting in the canteen, sipping a bottle of water after one of her many blood donation sessions. Oddly, she didn’t have her Voidborn companion with her, but Elkay was passed out next to Phovos, after donating a good two litres of blood. That seemed like a lot of blood but Elkay had infinite blood, it seemed, so he just took blood donations as an excuse to have a nap at work. Normally Teekay was around to pamper him as well, but Teekay was busy working elsewhere on some ship repairs.
Vikalos would routinely wander around after his various duties to check in on everyone, and he would check in on Elkay more than most, so Phovos was surprised when Vikalos smiled and sat down next to her.
“Hello, dear. Are you busy?”
Phovos glanced around, then shrugged. “Not really.”
“Are you sure? Also, where is Phovoula… uh… Didn’t she… he want to use a different name?”
Phovos shrugged some more. “Yeah, he’s considering transitioning and that includes a new name, but he’s attached to his name and is struggling a little. I’ve just been calling him Phovos for now.”
“Fair enough!” Vikalos smiled. “I shall do the same then. Where is he though?”
“Phovos is doing some guard duty right now. He was getting defensive-clingy on me, so I told him to go and do something else for a bit, to clear his head. Patrolling the area is a good job for Phovos.”
“He is getting clingy?”
“He snapped at Leh when I squeaked in pain. Wasn’t Leh’s fault, I forgot what arm I used for last my last donations and Leh stuck the needle in an area which was a bit sore. It’s all fine though. Mistakes happen.”
“Again, fair enough! But in all honesty, I came here to speak to you. May we converse in a quiet manner?”
Phovos glanced at Elkay, who was snoring peacefully, then shrugged yet again. “Sure. Is here okay? Or do I need to get up and go somewhere?”
“No, no, here is fine. I just would like to ask you a few questions…” Vikalos lowered his voice. “Have I… mentioned my wedding plans?”
Phovos eyed Vikalos somewhat. “You’re being weirdly secretive about this wedding you want to do with Itaviir and Galyn. I thought you were just doing what Elkay here did with Teekay?”
“That is what Galyn thinks. Itaviir has grander plans, in so much as he wants to invite the Great Blades to be our witnesses. But I want something more than that. Much more.”
“Like… like what?”
“I want to give those two a surname.”
Phovos eyed Vikalos some more, clearly not understanding. “I don’t get it. Can’t they take your surname?”
“I don’t have one, dear. And they can’t just… make one up. In Beh’en culture, among Beh’enu, a surname has to be given to you. A Beh’enu who marries a Beh’ena may use the Beh’ena’s surname, only if they add the word “soul-bound” to the surname. But a Beh’enu otherwise can’t have a surname unless it is given to them by a Life Goddess. Specifically, a Mother of the Golden Paradise has to give it to you.”
“Oh…” Phovos frowned, realising what Vikalos was on about. “And… I count?”
“You are the final daughter of the Final Mother.”
“Can’t you ask Elkay-En?”
“Not really. Because Elkay-En doesn’t look like a traditional Mother. And I am not sure if he even counts because, according to him, Kinisis was his father, not his mother. You though, you… pardon for me saying this, but you look exactly like a traditional Mother from the Golden paradise. But more covered up and far nicer. While I would never ask you to do anything properly Life Goddess-y, I… I would really appreciate your help in getting Itaviir and Galyn a surname.”
Phovos thought for a moment. “Do I… have to do anything? Like, I don’t need to prove myself or anything, do I?”
“Perhaps, but for you, it would not be hard to prove. We never told the Great Blades of your true heritage, it was never widely known that you are Kinisis’s last child, but once that does become known, the Beh’evok in general will allow you to bless Itaviir and Galyn, cleanse them of their imagined sins and then give them a surname.”
“I mean… that doesn’t sound too bad… and I’ve spoken to the Great Blades before, they’re vaguely agreeable…” Phovos thought some more. “I do have a concern though, that I’m going to get a line of Beh’ens wanting me to bless them or whatever.”
“Would that be terrible?”
“No, just awkward. But I suppose, there are probably more exiled Beh’ens like Itaviir and Galyn, Galyn in particular, so if I can help people like that, I wouldn’t mind too much. I do have two way more important question thoughs. What surname would we give them both, and have you told them you are doing this?”
Vikalos didn’t answer at first. He leaned closer to Phovos. “I haven’t told them. It’s a surprise. They know that the Great Blades will be involved, and you’ll also be involved somewhat to agree with the Great Blades and their blessing of Itaviir and Galyn, to strike down their… admittedly rather stupid criminal records, but they don’t know that I am serious about giving them a surname. And I have been thinking long and hard about it.”
“Have you decided yet?”
“I have… ideas…” Vikalos grunted. “But I want to sit down with Arkay to discuss them.”
“Why Arkay?”
“He speaks a lot of languages, and he can help me with the ideas that I have. I know what I want, I just need assistant making it sound… as important as it should be.”
Phovos leaned back, then grinned. “Well, alright. I’m in. You three deserve your happiness.”
“Really?” Vikalos asked.
“Of course. You, Galyn and Itaviir are good people. Even if Galyn once stabbed me then later bit me across the shoulder while possessed by my mum. But I think this will be good for everyone, and those two can finally be properly happy and free of guilt, and you can be the happily married wife you always wanted to be.”
Vikalos smiled back. “I appreciate the help, Phovos. Thank you.”
“No worries, Vikalos. I’m always happy to help.”