Page 26 of The Gods Veiling
“Where should I hang my pretty little decoration? Oh, maybe right on the platform as a gift for the High Chancellor when he comes out.”
Riven continues his taunting while I step around them and continue toward our house. I don’t have the patience to deal with his antics today. The sight of those decorations makes my skin itch.
I’m ready for this day to be over with so I can focus once again on finding out the secrets of the Beginning Gods’ creation.
Kyzen’s voice eventually carries to me as he tells Riven to knock it off and come along. It only takes seconds for them to join my side with amused smirks on their faces.
“I thought the look you gave that poor guy was going to kill him where he stood,” Kyzen says.
“I didn’t give him a look.”
“You absolutely looked at him like he was shit on your shiny shoes.”
I blink in response. Whatever look I may or may not have given him doesn’t matter now.
“This Veiling is really getting to you.”
“Your observation is noted but completely unnecessary.”
“Yeah, okay. I expected the avoidance, but you’re not doing a good job of hiding it. Whatever you read has got that mind of yours whirling.”
Gods, his persistence is frustrating sometimes.
I want to process everything silently.
Out of my three other brothers, Kyzen is the most intuitive and observant. He’s also the most relaxed individual in this entire realm.
It’s baffling.
Thanks to his godly domain, he has far more tolerance and believes that there’s a time for everything. There’s always a smile plastered on his face that speaks of the appreciation he has for what’s happening in front of him.
Not me.
After all these years, the gods still hold our power over our heads. We’ve passed every test. We’ve listened, rather than argued. Mostly.
We’ve proved ourselves beyond a shadow of a doubt and it’s way past time we receive all of what is rightfully ours. This ridiculous, unjust day is just another means for them to show everyone who holds all the power.
There’s no reason to flaunt that other than the emotional satisfaction they get from it. That’s a pointless thing to crave.
Their requirement that nearly all of the Godsdawn be witnesses to their generosity during the Veiling Day celebration is also futile. It’s simply their way of showing off.
If they see fit to release any power to any of us, we could receive it from anywhere.
Alas, they command you to show up for the ceremony and participate. If you don’t, Gladian, the God of Strength—same god I insulted—will come and drag you there kicking and screaming if he has to.
I’ve witnessed it.
My brothers and I even experienced it ourselves last year.
He didn’t dare lay his hands on us, but he did make enough threats to convince us we needed to just suck it up and show up.
That incident is what spurred me on to find a way to get our essences out of the Gods Binding. I couldn’t care less about control until someone attempts to hold it over my head.
They’ve been doing it far too long now and Gladian’s show of strength that day, despite our silent agreement not to compete with him, gave me even more reason to try harder to find a way for our power to be released.
I’ve been solely focusing on the Volreen. Now that I know I can use more than that creation to get our essence out, I need to work on finding those pieces.
Not wasting my time standing around for a celebration.
