Page 55 of D'Vaire or Nothing
“Something Courage and I considered as soon as Chrysander and Ellery first discussed their plan,” Justice said. “We chose to ward the ground. If anyone shows up who is not employed by the resort or doesn’t belong to the D’Vaire extended family, Courage and I will be immediately alerted and time will freeze. To keep anyone from realizing a safety net protects them from goddesses, we had to use a light touch.”
“Clever,” Death commented. “Where did you hide the mark?”
Being a goddess had drawbacks when they were doing things on a planet. Unlike in a realm with magic charging the air, every bit of sorcery was immediately apparent on a dead rock like Earth. A warding spell would leave behind a visible symbol. Knowing Justice and Courage, they had probably chosen something like a sword or another weapon, but it would still be tough to explain a glowing blade suddenly appearing on the ground.
“It is in the parking garage,” Courage confided. “The second-to-last level. With so many of the guests teleporting to the resort, there won’t be that many cars. Hopefully, they won’t decide to take a spot high up.”
“What did you decide on? A spiky shield or maybe a mace?” Fate asked with a roll of her eyes.
“No, twit, we used the same pattern as the lines of the parking spaces,” Courage retorted. “They have an ethereal glow, which would be odd for anyone who caught sight of it, but hopefully they will assume it’s a very good fluorescent paint.”
“Wards aside, I think we should keep an eye on the D’Vaires tonight,” Fate insisted.
“Why?” Death asked, immediately suspicious of Fate. Her cheeks were flushed again. “What have you done?”
“Well, since you asked,” Fate responded, sitting up and tapping her slippers against the stone floor excitedly. “I’ve done a bit of arranging. Not one but two of our D’Vaires are set to meet their mates tonight!”
“Now she wants to get excited because she finally did her job,” Eternity drawled.
“One of them has a mate with a family that will herald in what I expect to be a new age for Elven D’Vaire,” Fate retorted with an aggrieved sniff.
“The sanctuary with the five resurrected elves and a revolving door of staff?” Justice asked. “It may be best to sway the D’Vaires to bring those elves into their home and use the mansion they built on the land of the Mystamre tribe for something useful.”
“That’s not what the D’Vaires want and neither do those precious shy elves,” Fate argued. “And it just so happens that one of our D’Vaires has an elven mate. I think he is the answer. Not him directly. Oh, you’ll see. I think it may sway an elf to join. There are many out there who need refuge. At least one of them has a mate locked in stasis thanks to one or some of the goddesses present.”
“What?” Justice asked.
“Yes, you,” Fate retorted, though her answer made no sense. “I’ll tell you if this works out. We’ll wake him up and unite them. It’s perfect. Elven D’Vaire needs a leader.”
Justice frowned. “Has Fate lost her mind? It’s a sanctuary with a board.”
“Let’s find out who she paired up this weekend. Then we can decide if she deserves a congratulatory pat on the back for her work or if we barricade her in the palace until she unites a dozen more couples,” Eternity suggested.
“I hate all of you,” Fate growled, sinking into her chair and folding her arms. “You are all awful, and I won’t visit you when you’re locked in prison cages.”
Death couldn’t help her smile. “What goddess could ever hope to contain me in a prison now? I outmatch everyone.”
“Mother can lock your ass up. Maybe I’ll stab Folly so Mother is immediately summoned. That’ll wipe the grin off your face.”
“Courage, would you be a dear and go lock Fate in a room with Mayhem and Chaos for an Earth month or two?” Death drawled.
Fate gasped. “That’s diabolical! I’d rather go eat a mountain with a giant.”
“Wouldn’t we all?” Life asked. “Now hush, and let’s find out if Fate is still good at her job.”
Obliging her sister, Death waved a hand so the viewing mirror in front of them showed the lovely card-themed resort filled with D’Vaires.
“Fate, tell me what part of the resort to focus on,” Death instructed.
Her ire long gone, Fate sat up and rested her hands on her knees. “I’m not sure who will bump into their mate first. Damn free will. I hate waiting. Split the screen. There is a group heading for Hearts bar. As for our other lucky gentleman, he remains at the King of Clubs, finishing his meal.”
“It’s a casino; should we place bets on who we think Fate has arranged to meet their other half this weekend?” Eternity asked.
“Absolutely,” Death replied. “My guess is the Brynewielm Duke.”
Fate’s gasp was so loud it nearly caused another seismic event in theebirlloba. “How did you know?”
“Because the group you pointed at heading for the bar is five people. Two of them are a mated pair. The other is female, and you mentioned the other lucky gentleman, so I assume the first is also male. That leaves me with two single D’Vaires. The odds were fifty-fifty, and apparently, I guessed correctly.”
