Page 30 of The Gods Veiling
“Why are you gods using a Veilatara as a means of towing carriages?”
“You say ‘you gods’ as though you yourself won’t be becoming one soon enough.”
“I’m not one yet. Plus, I’d have immortality without my power. You lot are trapping theirs by strapping their wings. Why not use an oxid or taurn? An animal created for labor or food with no power.”
“Those creatures aren’t allowed to live in Godsden. The green lands and meadow fields there are for creatures such as the Veilatara. They have a safe place to live, and we have a means of traveling the realm with beings who have no other option.”
“So when we return to Godsden, these contraptions come off their wings?”
His jaw locks and his lips pinch. That’s all I need to know.
“Doesn’t seem that safe then,” I whisper to the Veilatara before bowing low.
If this god boy and any of the others won’t show it respect, I will.
Gasps echo through the area. I glance down at my feet and peek through my few loose strands to make sure I’m not doing it wrong. My heart jumps to my throat as a hot brush of air moves the hair from my face.
Everything within me trembles as the warm touch of coarse fur rubs against my forehead.
Holy stars, the Veilatara is meeting my bow.
“Those who think as you do are killed for less, Thayla Godrun. Let’s hope you’re as strong as you feel.”
The deep voice that penetrates my mind holds me in place. I couldn’t free myself from his power no matter how much I wanted to, but he doesn’t keep me locked up for long. As his forehead lifts from mine, my hands shoot out to grip the ground for balance before I eat dirt at his hooves.
“You may call me Seismet. I look forward to seeing the Valories’ plan for you unfold.”
I stand, back straight, and try to hide the shaking in my hands by wiping the dirt off them.
Shit, what do I do? Do I speak out loud? Do I ignore him?
What is happening right now?
“All you must do is think and I’ll hear it. You don’t have to be so loud.”
Oh…
There’s no hiding the mental tremor in my voice as I try to send my thoughts back to him. Not so loud.“Thanks for that very ominous warning, Seismet.”
“Much better. And you’re most welcome.”
The glares and glances sear into my skin. I sense them crawling all over me from both the crowd and the god escorting us.
“Thayla, correct?”
I swallow harshly and gather the composure Seismet just knocked right out of me. “That’s me. And you are?”
“You weren’t listening at all when I stepped out of the carriage, were you?”
“Oh, um…no.”
He smirks and sticks his hand out toward me. “I’m Havar. My power domain falls under the God of Creatures. Maybe yours will as well. The Veilatara aren’t typically accepting of any who don’t have some form of power that aligns with theirs.”
“Young Havar is wrong. We don’t align ourselves with anyone who doesn’t hold the same values as we do. Your power doesn’t matter to us.”
No changes cross Havar’s face, so I assume Seismet shared that with me privately.
Lovely. I have a meddling god coercing my way to Godsden and an ancient, obviously omniscient, revered creature gossiping in my mind.
