Amick #3
“Rellannaver, this is preposterous. You can see as clearly as me that he had ulterior motives. Even Calista just claimed she thought so,” Kirabaddon states as he stands from his chair.
“I disagree, Kira. Sure, we could use the excuse he was getting revenge for his Binder, but that doesn’t align with his timing.
Like it or not, the son that stands before you is the one most like you.
He is smart, conning, and unwavering in his ways.
If he wanted Harriseen dead before now, he would’ve been and we never would’ve known it was him. ”
My chest squeezes in an unexplainable way, and my stomach swooshes uncomfortably.
Never in my life has someone compared me so blatantly to my father.
I hope to never hear that again.
“Very well,” my father grits, staring at me with unfiltered hatred in his eyes.
That look alone snaps me out of my momentary discombobulation.
“I have one more matter to address.”
“What could that be?” he asks with narrowed eyes.
I allow the smallest smirk to cross my lips.
“I’m enacting my brothers’ and my right to terminate the agreement made on our behalf. I call for a fair hearing under the Law of Doppia Disaccord.”
The chamber falls so silent you could hear a feather fall.
That only lasts a breath later.
Derivius throws his head back, laughing as he stands from his chair, clapping.
Kirabaddon, Sabelline, and Calista turn on Rellannaver and begin shouting question after question.
Rather than answering them, her gaze scans across all of us.
“When the fuck did you add that clause, Accord?”
“Do not speak to her that way, Obliteration.” Derivius’s eyes glow as he takes a step toward him. “Aside from Val, we all signed that agreement. You and your whore were the two who neglected to read the fine print.”
“Enough! Both of you,” the Goddess of Accord says, slowly standing from her seat. “The remaining sons, step forward.”
Nero moves out of the way as my brothers step to either side of me. I swear the energy thrumming under their skin vibrates against mine.
“I ask this only once. Do you each truly believe that you have exceeded the expectations laid before you in the agreement?”
“Yes.”
There’s no hesitation in any of us.
We know we have.
“Very well. What is your requested time until your appearance?”
“One week.”
Our father barks a laugh. “I will not grant this.”
“I approve of one week and twelve signatures is all they will need,” Derivius says. “I proclaim here and now, as you are my witnesses, that I will sign in favor of the sons.”
“Of fucking course you will. This is not moving forward.”
Kirabaddon’s eyes bleed black as he glares at Derivius.
“A compromise can be made,” the Goddess of Accord says. “I move for three days.”
My gaze flicks to Derivius, and I give him a slight nod. If they can’t compromise on a time frame, they can move for my request to be downright denied.
“I approve,” he states.
“One condition.”
“Calista,” Kirabaddon growls, and she bats her lashes at him.
“Under their arrangement, I have the right to request their presence. I call forth my right to enact that. Here and now. If they willingly agree to come spend time with me, with their Binder and Riven, of course, I will approve of two days, not three.”
Goose bumps break out across my skin.
For a fleeting second, I’m tempted to say never mind.
“May my brothers and I converse?” I ask.
“No. She doesn’t need your fucking decision or permission. If she requests your presence, she gets it. Since she’s being generous enough to offer you the choice to go willingly, you will decide how you’re going to proceed. Now.”
Despite the sneer Derivius is shooting our father, no one else argues with him.
One afternoon of discomfort will be worth a lifetime of freedom.
Two days is not a long time to get done what we must.
We’ll find a way, though.
I glance at each of my brothers. They don’t have to respond with more than their eyes. A reassuring stroke caresses my soul, solidifying our choice.
“We agree to go willingly.”
Our moth—the Goddess of Creation squeals, jumping up and down.
“I approve.”
“As do I,” Rellannaver says. “Sabelline, I assume you don’t?”
Sabelline and Kirabaddon stay locked in a stare-off. It isn’t a hostile one, but it still makes me uncomfortable.
“Two days. Not a moment longer.”
Shock slithers over my skin as she and my father glare at the four of us.
“Very well. The motion passes. The five of you will leave from here with Calista. From the moment of your departure from here, you have exactly forty-eight hours to produce ten worthy signatures.”
“Twelve. Consequence has forfeited his right to sign, so he doesn’t count. They need twelve signatures from Domain Gods who are worth a fuck.”
“Worth is subjective, Kirabaddon, but to an extent, yes, I agree. I expect signatures from Domain Gods who have made a notable contribution to our region. Again, though, they only need ten. If you appear with ten notable, worthy signatures, in addition to the High Chancellors, I will sign in your favor.”
A small gasp behind me proves I just heard her correctly.
The question I don’t have the answer to, though, is, who does the Goddess of Accord consider worthy?