Chapter 37 Kyzen
Kyzen
I’ve never felt so tempted to say fuck it all like I was last night.
Thayla and Yemi spent an hour at the hot spring before she told V to tell us we could join her.
By the time we surrounded her, the unfiltered rage and power that she was consumed with in the Athenaeum were gone.
We then spent many more hours out there watching her create different barriers that Yemi taught her. Then she showed Yemi what else she had been learning.
Neither mentioned what had happened in the Athenaeum. All Yemi told us when we rushed up to that row of books was that Mellcom and Jeremiah had cornered them.
It wasn’t until after we ate dinner last night, the five of us, that Thayla finally relayed everything that was said.
That motherfucker, again, used his power on her.
Weak piece of shit.
Hopefully, now he really knows how strong she is and whatever fucking domain he has can’t truly touch her.
He will never touch her.
I’ll cut his fucking body up and leave it in a box for his buddy to unwrap.
I blink away those thoughts and close the record book I’ve flipped through pointlessly a thousand times.
My gaze roams across the quiet records room in the Sanctum. This place is many times smaller than the Athenaeum and only holds records and laws. It gives us Rulers much quicker access to material we may need without having to scour row upon row in the Athenaeum.
I’ve spent more time here today than ever before.
It feels necessary, though.
Amick asked me, quietly and privately, last night if I had found anything on the meaning of doppia disaccord. I hadn’t, but the fact he was asking me means one thing.
Those two little words are really important to whatever he’s cooking up in that brain of his.
I’ve been looking since the first time he brought it up, but today it feels like an obsession to find the answer.
Mostly because I need a distraction from my thoughts, but also because I know my brother very well. Whatever piece of information this definition will give him, will result in him telling us what he’s thinking.
He may believe he’s slick and yes, I’ll admit, he is. Sometimes, though, he’s obvious in his scheming.
Hopefully, whatever the hell he’s got going on gets us out of this Power Worthiness coming up.
If not, then let’s fucking hope it helps the fallout that will undoubtedly come from the High Chancellor and all the Beginning Gods finding out about not only the amount of power we now hold, but Thayla and even Yemi.
A throat clears behind me and my spine straightens. My soul shivers in my chest and I whip around.
“I didn’t realize you could be so hard to find,” Thayla says with a sassy little smirk.
“What in the realm are you doing, gorgeous?” I ask, but don’t give her the chance to answer me.
My lips find hers the second my arms wrap around her.
“Gross. I’m right here, you two.”
We break from each other with goofy ass smiles lingering between us. I swear the sight of her eases all the stress in my body.
“Sorry, Yemi. I was taken by surprise and blinded by beauty.”
“Shameless flirt.” Thayla chuckles as she cuddles up into my side. “Seriously, though, it was incredibly difficult to find you.”
“Well, what brought you two looking? I told you I’d be at the Athenaeum in a few.”
“Yeah, I know, but Amick zoned in hardcore on whatever he’s doing. Rose was having a slight meltdown over her upcoming evaluation, despite all of us telling her she had nothing to worry about. So we thought it was best to give her and Lambrit some space.”
“I’m sure it’s still a little unnerving for her, regardless. You didn’t want to go find Creed and Riven? What I’m doing is boring as shit.”
We tried talking her into staying home today, but she wouldn’t have any of that. She didn’t elaborate but gave us a firm, ‘No, I’m going to the Athenaeum like I had planned.’
And that was that.
“No. There’s no doubt in my mind they meant it when they said they were going to the Court to put the fear of the gods in Jeremiah and Mellcom.”
“I’m also positive Sevryn meant it when he said he was going to break Jeremiah’s spine today.”
Fuck. I should’ve gone with the three of them.
“I’m thrilled you’re both here, but seriously, what I’m working on is liable to put you to sleep.”
They chuckle but still glance around with a sense of fascination in their eyes. Neither of them has ever been here, so of course they’re a touch curious.
“What are you doing in here? Maybe we can help.”
“Do either of you know what doppia disaccord means?”
They purse their lips at me and arch their brows. I smother my laugh with my hand.
“That’s a no. What does it mean?” Thayla asks.
“I’m not sure. That’s why I asked you two and that’s what I’ve been looking for.”
“Have you asked Amick?”
“He’s the one who asked me if I knew what it meant. Apparently, Nero asked him first.”
Yemi flinches in surprise. “Seriously? I’m shocked he asked Amick first rather than Doren.”
“Shit. You don’t think he asked him?”
She shrugs. “I’m not sure, honestly. Neither of them has said anything about it.”
My mouth parts as my mind whirls.
Why the fuck didn’t we consider asking the literal God of Discovery?
“Can we go see Doren? Is he home?”
“He should be. Poor thing can’t really go anywhere.”
“Great. Starshoot to your house?” I ask.
They look at each other, then nod at me.
In less than seconds, we’re strolling behind Yemi into her front door.
The sound of singing reaches our ears, and Thayla covers her laugh with a cough.
Her shoulders tense the slightest bit, though, as we enter the kitchen and she peers at where Iric is sitting at the table.
She told us last night she doesn’t know how to feel about his power.
We didn’t push the subject with her. She’ll come around to the idea of him helping her or not.
Honestly, I’m considering asking him for help…
“Well, this is a nice surprise.” Doren cheers as he sets his mug down on the counter and rounds it so he can hug Yemi.
Thayla and I hide our smirks.
“You’re home early.”
“Well, just for a few minutes, I assume. Kyzen would like to talk to you about something.”
“Oh. Is everything okay?” His worried gaze swings to me and I give him a dip of my head and smile.
“Everything’s fine. I’m struggling to locate information on a term and was hoping you may be able to help me. Do you know the meaning of doppia disaccord?”
“Ah, haven’t heard that in a long while. Most times, it means double disagreement. What was the context it was used in?”
He gives me the answer I’ve been searching for days for as though this is something we hear every day.
Fuck, I could’ve saved myself a lot of time.
“I have no clue. Nero asked Amick what it meant. He didn’t know, so he asked me. Now I’m here, asking you.”
The giddiness on his face falls a touch. I catch it, though.
“I see. So you haven’t found any deeper explanations on it?”
“No. You wouldn’t know where I could look for that, would you?”
He knows I know he’s keeping something from me. It’s written all over his face. I just don’t know why he feels the need to do that.
His eyes glow and lose focus on us as his head swivels side to side. He pivots gradually until he locks in on something.
A disgruntled hum vibrates from the back of his throat and his lips pinch into a tight frown when he calls his power back.
“I know where. Unfortunately, the information you need is in a…how shall I put this, less than desirable location.”
“Where?”
“The High Chancellor’s office.”
A crooked smile tilts my lips and I glance at Yemi and Thayla’s small laughs. Doren’s gaze bounces between the three of us in pure confusion.
“Undesirable, yes, but far from impossible. Perfect timing, actually. Today’s Harriseen’s last day in Valveilious. Can you tell me exactly what I’m looking for?”
“Hold on, are you planning on going to his office?” His voice pitches high with panic and Yemi grabs his hand.
“He knows what he’s doing. This isn’t his first time.”
I choke down my chuckle at his flabbergasted gasp.
“That’s quite dangerous,” Iric says.
His relaxed tone doesn’t hold a hint of judgment, just mere observation.
“It is, but like Yemi said, this isn’t my first time. It’ll hopefully be even easier this time around.”
“And I’ll be there with you.” My head shakes and Thayla perches her hands on her hips. “Why the hell not?”
“It’ll be easier and quicker for me to pop in and out. And if I were to get caught, I can come up with a million excuses for what I was doing. No…” I lighten and lower my tone as I lace my fingers through hers. “We both know no excuse will work for you. I refuse to risk that.”
Her harsh exhale causes her nostrils to flare, but she doesn’t disagree, although it’s clear that she wants to. Her fingers flex around mine a few times before she gives me a clipped nod.
“Fine.”
“I can’t believe you’re serious right now,” Doren whispers as if he’s afraid someone may hear him.
“Well, I am. This is important to Amick for whatever reason, so it’s important to me. I’d appreciate it if you told me what else you know but aren’t saying or tell me what I’m looking for?”
He tears his gaze from mine. The request in Yemi’s eyes gets him.
“Once you and Amick or whoever reviews the material, you’ll understand why I’m not saying anything else.
” He sighs and bows his head. “What you’re looking for is a scroll.
I’m not sure of the layout of the High Chancellor’s office, but it’s in a far corner, smooshed between two tomes.
The title of the scroll is The Law of Doppia Disaccord. ”
My mind searches my memories for any mention of that. I won’t sit here and say I know and have memorized every single law written into our realm, but I have a deep understanding.
“Why have I never heard of this law?”
“It hasn’t been practiced in quite some time. Long before even I was born. Let’s just say, the gods didn’t like the balance it brings.”
“How old are you?” Thayla asks, then her eyes widen. “Sorry, inappropriate time and question.”