Page 159 of The Gods Veiling
“I’m going to show you what a thorn in the side feels like.”
Mrs. Akova smiles at me like that’s the best thing she’s ever heard, and I return the look. “I love her already. So come on and let’s get you kids fed. It’s the least I can do since she saved me a day’s trip looking for this one, but it’ll have to be to go. The children’s day is starting.” She ruffles the little boy’s hair, then moves him over to Riven. “You two go ahead. Riven, do me a favor and talk to him about running through these streets.”
Him and the boy exchange matching grins. I have a feeling Riven will just be teaching him things he probably shouldn’t rather than helping in this situation.
Mrs. Akova links her arm through mine, and I can’t help but embrace the warmth spreading through me from her power. There’s a gentle and calm air about her. She feels like the safest place you could ever find yourself.
“You must be one of this year’s Chosen. You have that look in your eye.”
“By look, you mean confusion, correct?”
She laughs a little and pats my hand. “Yes, that and a sense of wanting to figure it all out. It’s rare that the Chosen venture into the heart of Godsden this soon after a Veiling, but I can always spot the ones that do.”
“Well, Riven proposed a break from the Godsdawn and I didn’t want to pass it up.”
“My, that boy can find something to get into. Always has and always will.”
I snort at her. She didn’t have to say it for me to already know that’s the truth. I have to force myself from asking her all kinds of questions about how she knows Riven and if she knows the others as well. It becomes easier, though, as we continue to walk down the street and child after child approaches her.
By the time we turn down a path, there are at least ten young ones behind us with Riven and Rowden leading the way a few feet ahead of us.
We come to what I’d call the first house we’ve seen, and it’s adorable. It’s larger than the housing in the Godsdawn and has a cute little fence surrounding it. All the kids run in front of us and start scattering around the lawn out front.
“Riven, keep an eye on them for me, please, and I’ll fix the two of you some food to go,” she says as she pats his arm, then turns to me. “It was lovely to meetyou, Thayla. Thank you for escorting me home. I do hate to rush you both off, but it takes a while to wrangle all these little ones in.”
I give her a sincere smile as the noise of laughter and squealing grows louder. “You’re not rushing us at all. I can’t imagine keeping track of all these kids. Thank you for feeding me.”
“Anytime. Learn and pay attention to everything in the Godsdawn, Thayla girl.”
As she strolls through her door, teasing the children as she goes, I can’t help but chuckle. “She’s the sweetest person I’ve ever met. Is she their teacher?”
“You don’t think I’m the sweetest person you’ve ever met?”
My forehead wrinkles as I bite back my smirk. “You’re up there, Riven.”
“I should be the sweetest. But she’s great as well. She’s their caregiver.”
My face falls slightly as I look at all the kids out here. “Wait, you mean—”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”
His words are dark, but he keeps a smile on his face as the kids call his name to get his attention. He laughs at their antics and even participates a little in their games. I stand in utter confusion and awe. He knows every one of them.
“Okay, children, inside, inside. We’ve got to learn a little today,” Mrs. Akova calls as she comes back out of the house holding two containers of mouthwatering food that I smell from here. “Here you two go. Thayla, I hope you love it all, dear. I didn’t know what you like, so I gave you a little of everything.”
“As long as it can’t eat me first, I’ll eat it.”
“My type of goddess. I love a woman who knows her food,” she says with a wink, and I beam at her as Riven takes the trays.
“We’re off. I’m taking Thayla to see a meadow.”
“Oh, how romantic. You two have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Riven makes an exaggerated gagging noise. “Which is nothing. You do nothing but smile and make delicious food.”
He tugs me away as Mrs. Akova and I giggle at her sauciness. I think she’s my favorite fully powered god I’ve met so far.
“How—”
