Thayla #4
My nails tap against the table as my anger simmers.
“Let’s finish this up. We have a big day tomorrow,” Ellian says quietly.
He has a big day tomorrow that I’m sure he’s really worried about.
We all nod at him anyway.
“I’ve reassigned four fully powered Healers. They’ll serve rotations in the healing villas. Harriseen allowed them to wander Godsden freely, although they all live in the Godsdawn. That ends tomorrow. We need consistent, capable healers available to anyone who requires them.”
His gaze shifts to Iric.
“I reviewed Harriseen’s records. I’m sorry.”
“No apology necessary,” Iric says. “But thank you.”
Ellian dips his head, then continues. “I’m not destroying the imitation rooms. I want them redesigned and repurposed to truly heal. I’d like you to lead that effort. It’ll take time to unravel and reweave the threads of power there, but it’s worth doing.”
My breath hitches before I can stop it, and Iric’s eyes snap to mine. I hold his gaze until he looks away first.
“I think that’s a good way of turning something horrid into something helpful.”
Ellian nods, then focuses on Rose and Yemi.
“Restructuring the Attendants will be our greatest challenge. I want to call a meeting in the coming days and you two speak to all of them. You’ve proven Attendants and their Attending Gods can have balanced, beneficial relationships. They’ll trust you.”
Neither of them even turns to the other. They agree easily.
“As for now, Doren, integrate into the Godsdawn in whatever manner is comfortable for you. If you come across a role that you’d like to hold, let me know.
” Doren smiles and dips his head, and Ellian shifts his attention to Nero.
“You’ll continue the role you hold in Valveilious. I have no say-so over that.”
Confusingly, relief and disappointment wash over Nero.
“I’ll also be taking a full-time assistant. Some of their knowledge will be bound, as required, but not all of it. Lambrit, you are that assistant.”
His eyes flare with excitement and confusion. My heart pounds. The thought of him being even closer to powerful beings than he already is unsettles me. I stay quiet, though, as he jumps up and eagerly shakes Ellian’s hand.
“That’s all I wanted to warn you about. I won’t announce everything in tomorrow’s address, but I didn’t want to blindside you.
These changes go into effect once the lockdown lifts tomorrow, so if it’s not a bother, I could really use your help, Amick, Kyzen, and Lambrit, with getting new schedules ready and out to the Attendants. ”
They each agree. Lambrit with more enthusiasm than the others.
“The following day, we move forward. The rest of you are free to prepare and move around the Godsdawn however you need. Any questions?”
We all shake our heads. The guys aren’t thrilled—okay, well, neither am I—but they’re hopeful. That’s something. I stroke their souls in silent support.
Fuck, I didn’t think I’d ever have to go back to the Court.
“Well then—”
“I have unfortunate news,” Derivius cuts in. “I waited so I wouldn’t interrupt.”
Every spine at the table seems to slump. I close my eyes and sigh.
“Just say it,” Creed growls.
“Kira is…difficult to read right now. I expected fury after what happened. Instead, he was calm. Charming.” Derivius grimaces. “He called a meeting.”
“About what?” Amick asks.
“You. He argued that if you acted in good faith, you wouldn’t need the month I proposed to prepare for trial. A week would suffice. The vote passed.” He hands Amick a scroll, and we all stare as he rolls it out. “You have one week from tomorrow to prepare and present your case against Harriseen.”
“Very well,” Amick says low as he scans the parchment, and unease spreads from my toes to my head.
I swear a flash of worry just rushed across my soul, but it didn’t last long enough for me to know if it was his, mine, or one of the others.
“That’s not enough time to gather ten Domain Gods’ signatures to break the agreement, though.”
“I know. Keep that information to yourself for now and reveal it after the trial,” Derivius says.
Amick reads the parchment two more times, then nods. “Do you have any insight you can share with us about the whereabouts of the other replicas? I need to start preparing for that as well.”
“Let me…do some digging around about their hiding spots.”
“Digging? You believe they buried them?” Amick asks.
I reach over and pat his hand. “An expression usually referring to gathering information.”
“Ah. Okay then. In the meantime, after Ellian’s speech tomorrow, Riven, Creed, Sevryn, and Doren will search for the bodies I need.”
“We will?” all four say at once.
“Yes. I’ll be tied up with helping Ellian with the Attendants, then following that, preparing for the trial, and my new duties don’t provide me ample opportunity to search a forest. You’re the best suited to find them.”
“What fucking help am I for looking for bodies?” Sevryn snaps.
“You need some fresh air,” Amick says seriously.
Yeah…I’m not sure how fresh the air is around two corpses, but okay.
Better them than me.