Page 138 of The Gods Veiling
His question isn’t asked with anger but genuine curiosity like my opinion for some reason matters. His glowing white eyes dive into mine like he’s waiting patiently for my response.
“No, I definitely do. I just don’t trust these gods around here. I’d be afraid of their retaliation. Even though he’s one hundred percent in the wrong, I don’t see them ultimately taking the death of one of their own very well.”
“You realize you’re a god, correct?”
“Meh. I’m not sure about that yet. Other than my looks, not much is changing.”
“You’d be very surprised, Thayla.”
“How so?”
I grow antsy as he doesn’t answer me. His attention shifts to Verlet, who approaches us with Riven and Kyzen at his side. They seem more confused than content.
“What did they decide?” I ask quietly when it becomes obvious the Veilataras are having their own conversation.
“Nothing has been decided,” Kyzen says.
“What do you mean? What have you all been talking about this whole time?”
He briefly spares the Meadow Hand a glance before his eyes first meet Riven’s over my head, then mine. He steps so close to me that my nose nearly touches his chest. I can’t contain the shiver that runs down my spine when he leans down to my ear.
“Verlet only spoke to us and asked how everything was going since becoming a completed Valtrue. He avoided talking about the situation at hand entirely. Itseemed more like a distraction to keep the focus off yours and Seismet’s clear conversation.”
“How did…we weren’t—okay, yes, we were, but that doesn’t make any sense.”
“No, it doesn’t but—”
“We’ll spare the god’s life today. He’s never to return to the Veilatara meadows. If he does, we’ll revoke our decision immediately and he’ll be killed on sight. The decision of his punishment will be left up to the gods, not us.”
Kyzen rapidly turns around, making it clear to me that Verlet spoke to at least both of us. “Are you sure? Any other terms, we will honor.”
He speaks out loud, I assume to let the Meadow Hand and the rest of us know he’s being communicated with. No one steps any closer to us, but the silence of the meadow is deafening.
“Riven is to be present while Anastasia is being strapped. That won’t happen today as she needs time to recover and settle. Other than that, no.”
“Of course I’ll be here,” Riven says. The smooth, almost soft tone makes my knees tremble and my mind cloud with confusion.
With that, Verlet bows his head. Kyzen mimics the gesture and I quickly do the same. He strolls away from us and heads toward Anastasia. Her plus the two older Veilatara who I assume are her parents, join him at his side.
It’s a majestic but almost saddening sight to watch them run off farther into the meadow together. It doesn’t necessarily feel like justice was served, yet it feels like that was the wisest choice.
A clear, annoyed huff vibrates through the air and Seismet finally withdraws his hooves from Ike. It only takes the god a second to get to his feet and on trembling legs, then he stammers closer to us.
“Why did it take that long to negotiate for my life? Are you not supposed to be the best Mediator for a reason?”
Oh, this motherfucker…
The sound of cracking echoes through the meadow and the slight pain blooming across my knuckles is a startling jolt back to reality. I shake my hand out and Riven’s laughter muffles the god’s bellows from the ground as he cups his bloody nose.
Oops. Saw red there for a second.
“How dare you? Have you lost your mind?” Ike yells at me.
I sneer down at him. “No, but you obviously have. First, you act ungrateful that your life’s been spared after the atrocity you committed. Then you have theaudacity to speak to the members of my Valtrue, who made that possible, like that. If your life had been in my hands, you wouldn’t have one anymore.”
My face must speak more than my mouth does because he blanches. His frightened features don’t change with whatever he sees on Kyzen’s and Riven’s faces.
“Have him escorted to the Gods Court. The Veilatara have spared his life and left his punishment up to the gods,” Kyzen announces and not a second later, a few of Ike’s fellow gods are lifting him from under his arms.
