Page 45 of Goddess of the Broken

A small man in worn robes shuffled towards them, his face lighting up as he saw the goddess.

“It’s good to have you home,” the man said as he swept into a deep bow.

Tempest smiled. “It’s good to be back, Verity. I’m a little surprised, though. My home does not look like the home of a god.”

Verity rose and offered an apologetic smile. “You’ve been gone so long that all of your Broken have left me. Your residual power here has dwindled, and I’ve been left to care for your home as if I was a mere mortal.”

Her brow rose as she looked around. “I shouldn’t be surprised. I left with no warning and no plan of ever returning.”

Verity nodded, glancing back and forth between her and Aiden. “You’ve brought a guest?”

“Ah, yes. This is Aiden. He is my guest and is under my protection. Please prepare a room for him beside mine. And Verity?”

“Yes, goddess?”

“Spread the word that I’ve returned. When you are done, I invite you to join us in the dining hall so we can catch up. I know how much you love gossip, and I’m sure you have plenty.”

Verity bowed again and left to do as his mistress ordered, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Aiden watched as he disappeared into the mansion. “Your loyal servant?”

“Of a sort. I don’t actually have any servants. Sometimes those I’ve helped choose to stay on and serve me, to start a better life or just escape their old one. If they do stay, my residual power gives them a sort of protection. I guess I’ve been gone so long that was no longer the case for them.”

“You’re really not what I expected.”

Tempest strolled towards the entrance of her home. “You’ve known me long enough now that this is a surprise?”

Aiden took several quick steps to catch up and matched her pace. “No, but before that. I assumed all gods were power-hungry.”

“No, not all gods. We are much more like mortals than you would think. Sometimes we are corrupted by our immortality and power, though.”

“Why did you want Verity to spread the word you were here?”

A wicked grin spread across Tempest’s face. “I’m sure a few of my Broken will find their way back, but truly, I want the gods who have been messing with you and the land of the mortals to tremble.”

“You’re that powerful?”

She chuckled. “They have no idea how powerful I really am, but from what they do know, they have every reason to fear me.”

Chapter 22

TempestledAidentothe corner of a large dining hall. Tables and chairs filled the space in groups, with enough seating to comfortably feed over a hundred people.

With a happy sigh, she settled into an oversized plush red chair and gestured for Aiden to join her on one of the others around her. Verity soon walked in carrying a tray of food and drinks. He placed it on the low wooden table in the center of the grouping of chairs and took one for his own.

“You remembered my favorite. I’m touched.” Tempest leaned forward and picked up a small round cookie flecked with yellow.

Verity picked one up and took a bite. “How could I forget? After years of harassing you for eating a cookie with a weed in it, you converted me yourself.”

Aiden picked up a cookie and sniffed. “Do I want to know?”

“They’re dandelion shortbread cookies. Really, they’re delicious with all sorts of flowers and herbs added to them, but dandelion is my favorite. Especially with ginger tea and honey.” Tempest took a bite, ignoring the crumbs as they fell to her chest. “Verity, these are as good as I remember.”

“Thank you,” Verity mumbled, averting his eyes as his face reddened.

Tempest poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip before continuing. “So, fill me in. What’s happened recently?”

Verity set the rest of his cookie on the table and sat back in his chair. “It’s not good. Kirata is missing.”

---