Page 156 of Her Soul for a Crown
“My little brothers,” she cooed, pulling Calu to their side, wiping his tears as they fell like monsoon rain.
Reeri looked up, no longer in fear but expectation. Kama, Sohon, Baddracali, Anjenam Dewi, Wewulun, Bodrima, Gopolu, Bhooto Sanni, Morottoo, Bahirawa, the Riddhi, and a hundred more. As one, they rushed him.
Held him.
Loved him.
***
The pearl gates cleared again, the door yawning wide, allowing true communion in the Heavens for the first time. Yet not all had changed.
The Great Sword flew on the shimmering air, clean and sharp and gleaming in its own glory. It hung above the Yakkas, not in threat but in Heavenly patience, waiting.
“You have reset the cosmos to true balance,” a Divinity said, starlight dancing in their depthless eyes. “Yet a Lord of the Second Heavens it still demands. There must always be balance.”
The Yakkas stilled, staring up at the hovering sword. Not one reached out.
“We wanted only freedom,” Reeri said.
“There must be one Lord,” the Divinity said. “For though the foundations of the cosmos can only re-equilibrate, the rules in the Heavens may bend and reshape. Is a new Lord not then necessary, to choose such new decrees wisely?”
It was what Wessamony had wanted, for the cosmos to rise from its ashes, fresh clay for him to manipulate. Yet he had also wanted to be rid of his fetter.
“Do not fear. The cosmos has equalized communion between the two Heavens, so too with Earth.”
“The new Lord can return to Earth?”
“For abalancedamount of time.”
Reeri lost his breath. His eyes flashed to the sword dangling above him, a whisper of want in his ear.
“Do it,” Kama cooed. “Take the Great Sword and be our Lord. Choose decrees that protect us and delight in our gifts. Go to Earth as you please and race the setting sun to the beach.”
Reeri’s hands twitched.
“She can run with you.”
His mouth dried.
“Do it.”
The memory of a whip in his hand surfaced. “No, I—”
“It is whatwewant,” Ratti said. “Lead us into freedom.”
“Take hold of your dream, Reeri,” Kama cawed. “Together, we make it come true.”
The whip fell away, melting on a fading memory. He was not Wessamony. And as long as he existed, there would be no violence in this court. Reeri lifted his hand and curled his fingers around the glorious Great Sword’s hilt. Heavensong swam across the lake, sparking heavenslight and a loud cheer from all Heavenly beings.
“True balance has been long awaited,” the Divinity said. “Do not sour it again.”
“I will not,” Reeri promised, voice booming and golden, hand vibrating with the power of the sword. The power of a Lord. “Life is too precious.”
The Divinity smiled. “What shall be done first with the newfound freedom?”
Reeri turned to his brethren, his heart beating swift.
His.
