Page 133 of The Gods Veiling
I gape at the chuckles that fall from him and Riven. Either neither of them truly cares about this god or maybe they’re both a little psycho. I’m not sure, but they don’t seem to be the least bit concerned about this.
“I’m so confused by how both of you are reacting. Someone came for you at the house like an hour ago and we’re just now coming out here.”
I didn’t answer the knock. Riven did, and he loudly shouted from the door that duty was calling for Kyzen.
The two of them pretty much switched spots and Riven gave me this deranged-ass smile when he sat beside me on the couch. He said if Kyzen was being called off for something important that I couldn’t attend, then he had special plans for us.
Nothing about that sounded fun for me.
The original plan was for Kyzen to give me a proper tour of the Gods Sanctum, and he was going to show me where he spends most of his time in his role.
I was utterly relieved when he announced that we’d all be going on this little adventure.
“The Veilatara have their own set of rules they live by as well as the rules of the Godsdawn. A cardinal rule for them is they protect their own. In their eyes, this is an offense punishable by death. In the eyes of the Godsdawn, it’s not. So now I’ll have to find a compromise.”
“You don’t seem to be concerned about compromising for his life.”
Kyzen shrugs and my eyebrows rise. “I have to put my personal feelings about this to the side. And I will. Once we get there.”
I take note of our very leisurely pace. Riven has a bounce in his steps like we’re going on a lovely stroll and Kyzen’s just as chipper with his drop-dead gorgeous smile on his face.
“Damn, Kyzen. You’ve got a vicious side I was unaware of.”
Why do I like that?
No, ma’am. Absolutely not.
“There’splentyof me you still need to get to know.” I keep my face relaxed when he winks at me. “I’m not being vicious in this case, though. It’s inexcusable to hit a Veilatara, especially a young one. I can’t even make excuses for the god. He isn’t new. He isn’t young and inexperienced. He’s well aware of the rules of the Veilatara as well as the rules and responsibilities set forth by his Designation. He didn’t panic and react on instinct. He got angry, took a moment, then reacted.”
That sobers my mood. “Is the Veilatara okay?”
“She’s okay. He got a single lash on her before an older Veilatara stepped in. Well, charged. Then one of the mentors also jumped in. Apparently, after some back and forth, word was sent for me. The god is apparently still pinned beneath the Veilatara’s hoof and a gathering of both gods and Veilatara is forming in the meadow.”
I don’t mean to snort, but it escapes me anyway. Yemi whips toward me and huffs. Granted there’s a very small grin on her face, so she’s obviously not judging my reaction.
“So you’ll be mediating between the Veilatara and who? The god who did this? And how will you communicate with them?” I ask.
“No, the Prime Veilatara will communicate with us and the lead Meadow Hand. The Prime speaks for the whole herd. He’s the only one who will communicate.”
Huh, I wonder if Seismet is the Prime.
I guess I’ll be finding out.
Unlike when I arrived and we passed the path to the meadows on our way to the gate of the Godsdawn, we take another way that’s been carved out through the forest.
On each side of us, the towering trees blow gently with the wind. There’s a sense of peace in the air. It didn’t feel anything like this from the Assembly or even when I took a run through the woods.
“Does the Veilataras’ power flow through here?”
Kyzen peers over his shoulder at me with a smirk. “Why do you ask?”
“Because this walk just seems and feels peaceful, like we’re surrounded by calming power.”
“It’s a mix of theirs and Riven’s in the air.”
“What?” I snort. “Riven’s?”
“You know, little burden, I’ve got this feeling you think the worst of me, and I can’t fathom why.”
