17. Thayla #2
“We’re stuck in this…phase of the plan. We’re learning.” I gesture loosely between us, Val, and Meridamus. “I know we are. But damn. It feels like we’re running out of time even though we just got started.”
“We did just get started. It’s day two of the seven days planned,” she says, and my gaze drops to the grass.
“I know that,” I mutter. “I know we’ll wake up tomorrow, start the next phase of training, fail, figure out why we failed, then do it again.”
“That’s literally the point of training.” She snorts. “I feel like there’s a point you’re trying to get to, but you can’t quite put it into words.”
An unflattering sound comes out of me.
“You know me so well,” I say, leaning into her. “Too bad you can’t see inside my brain and piece it together for me.”
“I don’t have to. Your mind and mouth may not be on the same page, but I understand.”
“Do you really? Pray tell if so ’cause I’m just as frustrated with myself now as I am with everything else.”
She shakes her head and smiles as she leans back on her elbows.
“This is what you wanted. You—we—agreed to give Val our all for the next week. That’s the plan.
But the plan isn’t meeting the expectations you had in your mind.
You came into this thinking that since you put the whole ‘he’s my father and the God of Boundaries’ debacle to rest with your power, everything was supposed to click. It isn’t clicking right away.”
My nose scrunches at how right she is.
“Every time we fail and start again, you look for the clock you can’t see.
Each failure feels like a setback rather than progress.
So now you feel like we’re crawling toward day seven while everything else is running.
You literally just said you always look for the outcome.
You had the outcome of these trainings already laid out in your mind and now you feel knocked off balance because it’s not going that way. ”
A heavy huff falls from my chest and her snicker makes my eye twitch.
“I’m adding you to my shit list.”
“Yeah, okay.” She laughs, nudging me. “That was your issue. Now you adjust your expectations and everything will be fine. We aren’t running out of time and we’re nowhere near the end. We’re just scraping the middle.”
Gods, she’s annoyingly right.
When I grow up, I want to be as positive as she is.
“You’re infuriatingly right, but I don’t know if adjusting my expectations is enough, Yem. I still feel like I need…”
More…
I sit up slowly as my mind finally races around a plan that satisfies me. The more I think about it, the better it sounds. My grin spreads across my face as I settle all my attention on her. Her smile flips into a frown.
“Uh-oh. I know that look. What? What are you about to do?”
“Something I should’ve already done.”
“Seismet, can you hear me?”
His presence vibrates around my mind and I shimmy in excitement.
“I can. Everything okay? Haven’t killed a Beginning God, have you?”
I snort. “No, not yet. Are the meadow hands already rounding the herd up?”
“Unfortunately. Why? What’s wrong?”
Shit.
“Nothing’s wrong. Just had a brilliant idea.”
“An idea that requires the herd’s help?”
His sass and skepticism have me rolling my eyes.
“Yes.”
“I see. Well, I can most certainly cause a distraction, but, and this is just a suggestion, you do have two Beginning Gods at your disposal who can do anything we can do.”
Huh.
I observe the two of them still chatting the afternoon away.
“Right you are, Seismet. I believe I’ll put them to work.”
His laugh echoes around my mind and I can’t stop the smile that takes over my face.
“They need to work anyway. Speaking of them, have you decided when you’re going to introduce us yet? Verlet is growing a touch impatient.”
“I’m sure he is, the Veilatara growing impatient.”
He neighs at my sass but doesn’t correct me.
“Soon, I promise. I know the two of them aren’t a threat to you or him, but…”
“You’re possessive. Just like Riven.”
“That’s not what I was going to say.”
“You didn’t have to say it for me to know. You’re not ready to share our company with them yet and I understand. It already grates on your nerves that they’re comfortable with V. Would it make you feel better if I promise to step on your father’s foot upon our introduction?”
A laugh bursts free from me and I slap my hand over my mouth to hold it in.
“Seismet,” I tease. “No need for violence.”
“Fine, very well. I will continue to be patient, I suppose,” he says, not bothering to hide the attitude. “Let me know how your brilliant plan goes.”
“Oh, you’ll know when it’s done.”
His laugh fades from my mind and I focus back on Yemi as she shifts around. Despite not hearing the conversation, she sits up beside me, shaking her head and dusting her hands off like she knows something’s coming.
I call my power back to me and clear my voice, gaining the Beginning Gods’ attention.
“Are you two done gossiping?”
Meridamus scoffs and arches his brow. “Are you two done sitting on your asses?”
There’s the snark.
“As a matter of fact, yes, but we’re also done with training for the day.”
He peers up at the sky, then back at me.
“We still have about thirty minutes until you girls are due to meet the others at the Court.”
“I know that, but I have a better idea. I have a few questions first, then depending on the answers, I may need a favor.”
That gets both their attention. They pivot fully toward me, curiosity written across their foreheads.
“Well, ask,” Meridamus says, flopping his hand at me.
“What happens when a fully powered Domain God gets more power? Can they even get more or is it tapped out once they reach that level on the hierarchy?”
“Oh my,” Yemi mumbles. “I see where this is going.”
I shush her and focus on Val and Meridamus.
“Yes, they can get more, although it isn’t like when a becoming god gets power released. They won’t form new abilities,” Val says, tilting his head at my hum.
“So basically, what they already have is strengthened?”
“Correct. Why—”
“Would that extra power settle calmly or chaotically?” I ask.
His lips pinch as his eyes narrow.
Not angry. Suspicious.
“Calmly. The more power you have, the easier it is to accept more.”
Sounds good to me.
I jump up and offer Yemi my hand. She takes it with a saucy smirk and a teasing twinkle. She’s got my plan figured out and she’s down to go with the flow.
“Great,” I say, clapping my hands. “So we’re going to meet everyone at the Court and the two of you are going to use your divine power to block the power I’m going to release to everyone. I’ll use one of your Bindings so no one else senses they’re being put to use.”
The looks that cross both their faces are truly comical. They’re staring at me like that was the last thing either expected to hear.
“Thayla,” Val says, and I cross my arms. He holds his hands up. “I’m not saying giving yourself and the others more power is bad. It’s not, especially with what you all have coming up, but I want you to understand it won’t change how training goes.”
I’ll be the judge of that once I put my power to use.
“Regardless, and like you said, it’s not a bad thing. So why not make your introduction to the newest members of our little rebellion group one to remember?”
He hangs his head, then glares at Meridamus’s quiet chuckles.
“You set yourself up telling her it wasn’t a bad thing. Now you don’t have an argument to stand on.”
That’s true.
Val glances back at me and his lips twitch at the smug, victorious smile on my face.
“Fine. But I have a request.”
My hands drop to my hips.
“A request or a condition?”
“A request,” he says, dipping his head. “Whatever answer you give won’t change the fact that we’ll come block the power for you.”
My posture shifts and I rock from side to side, observing them.
“Fine. What request?”
“You allow both of us to participate in your afternoon trainings.”
My head jerks.
“What? You both want to train? Like actually train with swords?”
“You say it like I’ve never picked up a sword before.”
I scoff at Meridamus.
Obviously, he’s trained.
I’ve never even seen my fath—Val hold a sword. Other than that mural at the Court.
“Yes,” Val says. “It’s been a while since I put my other skills to use in the Court. I’d enjoy sparring with your…Valtrue.”
“Well, I didn’t have conditions for this agreement, but now I do,” I say, crossing my arms. “Firstly, if you purposely hurt one of them, you won’t like my reaction.”
“I’d never do that to you or them,” he says immediately.
The sincerity relaxes me a fraction.
“Second…” My gaze swings more to Meridamus. “Do not try to step on Creed’s or Kyzen’s feet. They are in charge of my training. You are not.”
“What if I have helpful advice?”
“Then raise your hand like a good boy and wait for them to call on you.”
Val tosses his head back, laughing at the disgust crossing Meridamus’s face. I hold his glare and my lips twitch.
“Fine.”
What could adding a couple more hours a day with them really change?
“I’m fine with you both joining.”
“I don’t even want to go anymore,” Meridamus grumbles and Val pats his back.
Still snickering.
“V, will you do me a favor and tell everyone to meet us at the Court? Lambrit, Rose, and Havar as well. I also need you to get Val’s Binding and bring that with you.”
“Oh my.” His elated hoot vibrates my brain. “Someone concocted a marvelous plan.”
“That I did.”
“I assume you want Mara there early as well?”
“Yes, and her entire Valtrue.”
He agrees far easier than the Beginning Gods did and it tickles me.
I’m still his favorite despite his chumminess with them.
Ugh. I sound jealous and possessive. Gross.
“Meet at the entrance or the center of the Court?” I ask Val or Meridamus.
“Whichever is fine,” Val says.
“I say the entrance. I like walking through the tunnel,” Yemi says, and I side-eye her. She winks.
Sly little shit.
My power wraps around me and the four of us pop up at the mouth of the entrance. The torches lining the Court and hall blaze thanks to the setting sun and I sigh at the realization that we’re about to do this shit for the next five days.
Gods, these days are going to be long.