29. Chapter 29
29
Esta stared at the three stone pillars with a furrowed brow. One was slightly lopsided, and I straightened it up with a soft grunt. Maybe it was foolish to bring her here. Esta had been subdued since the truth of our situation unraveled so easily. I thought I’d take her to the place I always went when I had something weighing on my mind. Panic tightened my chest until Esta spoke.
“Which one is which?” She crumbled a piece of bread in front of each one.
“Well, tallest is the Warrior, of course.” I puffed out my chest. “This one is the beta god, the Sage. And the most petite? That’s the Oracle,” I explained, blushing. I had never shared this place with anyone. The effigies were hidden off the road into Misery Creek. In a place where only those who know would be able to find them.
“On the back they have symbols carved into them. A book for the Sage, a sword for the Warrior, and a crescent moon for The Oracle.”
There was so much more I could teach Esta about our old gods. Like how the Sage was known for his wisdom, the Warrior for his protection and the Oracle for her sight of the future.
“Did Maria teach you all of these things? Even though the old gods were outlawed?”
“She would bring me here once a year to make my blessings. But she had her own miniature version in the kitchen at Madam Silver’s, and she tossed the scraps in their honor, like you did, without knowing what it meant.”
Esta dusted off the top of the effigies. “There is so much I grew up ignorant about, Oliver. But I like learning about this and doing it with you. Speaking of, when we get home, we should practice some reading.”
I wrapped my arm around her waist and escorted Esta back to the cart.
“I love doing everything with you.”
She gifted me one of her brilliant smiles and I thanked the gods that her heart was in my hands. The most precious, divine thing I’d ever known. As we approached the cart I stiffened, it appeared we had company. Three elderly Designated, one woman and two men. They crowded close to our cart, their own smaller one slightly in front.
“I can’t believe we trusted you with directions. All that time spent reading, and you couldn’t interpret a map?” The older woman wagged her finger with a heavy scowl.
Their clothing was out of fashion and covered in patches, the color long faded. Yet a certain energy buzzed, drawing Esta and me in like magnets.
“I was following your notes about the right path; it’s not my fault you were incorrect.” One of the older gentlemen looked down his sharp nose. He was almost frail, with bowed shoulders, and his skin was weathered with deep lines, especially between his brows.
“Don’t look at me,” the other man threw up his hands with a huff of laughter as she glared in his direction. “I only hold the reins.” He was built like a barrel, and despite his age still held himself sturdy. His sleeves were rolled up to reveal sun spotted muscles, weathered but powerful.
“Just like a man, to absolve himself of wrongdoing.” The woman sniffed, her silver-white hair peeking out from her bonnet. She turned a sharp blue gaze on us as we approached. “Ah, come children, I need assistance.”
As we approached their scents mingled around me, each one deep like a trench in the ocean, or thick forest untouched by foot. They were dirt-covered by time, made into something precious. I’d never known such overwhelming scents. They were so tangled together I couldn’t tell what designation they were.
“Ma’am, is there something wrong with your cart?” I took my hat off.
“Oh no, I just need some help breaking through something solid.”
“What would that be, ma’am?” Esta helped the old lady sit on the edge of the cart.
“Breaking through the thick skulls of my companions.” She pursed her wrinkled lips. “Tip for you dear, never bond with Designated who can’t pull their weight.”
“Don’t mind her. She gets cranky when she misses a meal.” The lanky one dismissed her with a sniff. Esta shared a hidden smile with me as she pulled out a knapsack from the cart. After our outing, we were going to have a meal together. But Esta spread the plain fare out for the old lady instead.
“We have plenty to share.”
“I knew this was the right path.” The older lady smiled enigmatically. “What did I tell you?”
“We are mere servants in the face of your majesty.” The thick one complimented, leaning into me to add. “Tip for you, friend, never argue with an omega. Even if you win, you still lose.”
I frowned as the older lady pursed her lips.
“You see, child? Ingrates, the both of them.” She patted the seat until Esta sat beside her. I shuffled closer, needing to be near, even though I didn’t sense a threat.
“You were so generous, so I have to give you a scent reading to thank you. Have you ever had one of those done?”
I frowned, but Esta dismissed me with a wave, her face lighting up.
“My sister, Birdie, had one done at a fair once. It said she’d break four hearts before she found her true love. I have to tell you, my heart is already spoken for.”
A flicker of tenderness warmed my stomach, and I ran my hand down her back. I thanked the gods again, and the older lady’s face cracked with mirth.
“Oh yes,” she leaned in and sniffed Esta delicately. “You do have a lot of love in your future. But so much more than that. You’re a bright star, one of three. And when you burn, it blazes the entire sky. Your future is a new dawn. All you have to do is take the first step.”
What did that even mean?
I pulled a face at the two older men, the barrel shaped one shrugged while the thin older man plucked a slice of buttered bread and took a satisfied bite.
“They prefer cake, you know.”
“Sorry?”
“The gods. None of this stale bread business.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“I-I’m not sure I understand what you mean?” Esta said.
But the older lady hopped off, cleared out the rest of our food and limped back to her own cart.
“The fates are what they are, dearie. Thank you for the food. I can’t function without my second lunch.”
“Second lunch?” I scrubbed my face while Esta stifled a laugh, waving her free hand as the trio of Designated rode off toward Misery Creek.
“I think we just got swindled by the elderly.”
“Birdie said the same thing when she got her scent reading done,” Esta laughed, and I luxuriated in the sound of it. “She’s never noticed one man, let alone four.”
I pulled Esta into my arms and gave her a long, lingering kiss. Out here, in the brisk air, sharing these tiny, insignificant moments?
“She was right about one thing.” I kissed her on the nose. “You blazed right across my sky, and I’ll never stop being grateful for it.”
Esta melted into my embrace and I tasted joy on her tongue.
Whatever the future brought, we would be together, all of us.