Page 34 of The Gods Veiling
It used to take my parents and me hours, days, to travel around.
“I was making a poorly estimated guess.”
“Ah, well, with a normal carriage and a taurn pulling the way, sure, it probably would take that long. Anyways, the processing system will be explained to you by the Chancellors during orientation. We’ll be the last to arrive back, so you’ll get out of the carriage and go straight there.”
Wonderful. No reprieve from one situation to the next.
I flop back in my seat once again and resume my dizzying stare that makes more sense now. I’m sure the views we’re passing would’ve been gorgeous on the all-day ride I thought we were taking.
I was also counting on that extended time to wrap my mind around things.
The outside continues to pass us by in a blur of colors that I can’t make out. We’ve already left Oddian, I know. Seismet’s covering the distance at ten times the speed my legs would go. But I wonder which region we’re in now.
We obviously won’t go through the Unclaimed region because it’s behind Oddian and barricaded. From our region, we’ll start entering the more, how do I say this…evolved regions. Darlander, then Edistoia, Abernie, and last, Godsden.
“Havar, do the Gods ever leave Godsden? I mean, yourself and the Chancellor are the only gods I’ve ever met in my life. Do you just gain your power and then never leave or what?”
He studies me and I fight anything on my face that could lead him to believe I’m fishing for answers. “You aren’t allowed to leave at first. A piece of your power will be unbound today, you’ll learn your designation and domain, then you’ll be monitored for a while as your power settles. You’ll learn the way of Godsden and eventually, you get more freedoms.
“This side is mostly traveled by Escorts and the Chancellors. Some gods like to venture over here but not many. Godsden has everything you could want. There isn’t much reason to leave. If it’s your family you’re concerned about, you can write letters.”
“This side? I wasn’t aware there was another side. Why isn’t that shared in any history or records in our library?” Lambrit asks, then sits a little straighter with the possibility of new information.
That magnitude of a secret doesn’t sit well with me.
Havar’s eyes widen for a fleeting second, then he schools his features. I catch it, though. “There’s much none of you are aware of. It’s the Beginning Gods’ rule to decide how much needs to be shared. You’ll learn soon enough. That’s all I can say about it.”
Lambrit’s eyebrows nearly touch his hairline. “Because you’ve been told you can’t speak on it or physically you can’t?”
“Both.”
“What you’re describing is a binding. How is that even possible?” Lambrit leans forward with pure fascination etched across his face.
“The Gods Binding, of course.”
A shiver races down my spine and I swallow the bile that collects in my mouth. My unease increases as Lambrit’s interest turns to confusion.
Why have we never heard of such a thing?
What in the realm is the Gods Binding?
I drift deep inside my mind with that thought. The anger, hurt, and sadness swirl with the confusion now growing. I have so many questions forming, yet they’re all clouded by the turmoil inside of me.
It’s unexplainable how two hours can pass by in both seconds and take a lifetime.
The men’s constant questions helped keep me distracted. At least the ones I found to be informative. Most of those came from Lambrit. He got some answers. Others he was told we’d find out soon enough. Garish has cared most about what training here looks like. Mellcom has been quiet and just stared at the side of my face.
Obviously, I’m not ready to give him the time of day.
And Jeremiah…
He won’t shut the fuck up about the food, the women, and parties.
I’m torn between thinking he’s doing this to get under my skin and truly wondering if the idiot believes we’re off to some sort of extended vacation.
“So you’re saying we can eat at a dining hall anytime we want or someone will bring us food to our house as we please?”
Nope. He’s really that dumb.
