Chapter 39 Amick
Amick
The thrill that was so prevalent in Thayla and my brothers only minutes ago is giving way to undivided concentration and nervousness.
Our gazes roam over the numerous groupings piling into the room where the Volreen has been staged. They all stand proudly as though they can’t wait to show how worthy they are of their power.
Fools.
I simply can’t understand how they don’t ask questions. Have none of them considered that there’s absolutely no reason to be measured every month? Power isn’t released monthly. Therefore, what’s being measured that often truly?
There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Harriseen has avoided me for multiple reasons. First and foremost, he doesn’t want to face me after what he did to my Binder. He knows I’d have a lot to say about that.
Second, this insult of a mandatory measuring. He knows me well enough to know I have questions. I would and will ask those questions.
“Like old times, huh?” Thayla whispers to Yemi, who scoffs and steps a touch more behind her.
“Old times, my ass. I thought for sure you were going to be killed where you stood.”
“Then your name got called and I accepted you.” Thayla giggles like it’s a fond memory.
That’s surely not the attitude she had on her first day.
“Best decision you ever made, thank you very much.”
Riven gasps in what I believe is offense. I’m not sure if he’s really offended by Yemi’s claim or if he’s trying to participate in their anxious teasing.
“I’m the best decision she’s ever made. Get that straight.”
“If my memory serves me, Riven, she didn’t have a choice in choosing you. I was a willing decision.”
I peer over my shoulder.
“Your memory serves you correctly. Now, though, she chooses us willingly every day.”
“Yeah, I do.” She blows me a kiss, and I force myself to stay still.
I desperately want to reach back there and pull her to me.
If I had it my way, my lips would be pressed to hers so this entire room could witness the place she holds in my life. Her place in our Valtrue as the most cherished and important member.
As though Creed can read my thoughts, he chuffs a small sound from beside me and his lips twitch. They instantly turn down into a frown as company joins beside us.
“Go find somewhere else to stand. There’s a whole fucking room of spots you could choose from.”
“Orders of the High Chancellor to be beside your Valtrue, Creed. We’ll be closing the show.”
I cut my eyes at Gladian. I’m positive that was sarcasm, but it’s highly unlikely. He’s never been one to joke about the orders the High Chancellor gives him.
His Valtrue, like ours, takes a formation with two in the front, Binder in the middle, and two in the back. With the exception that Yemi is also a step behind Thayla.
That was Yemi’s decision that Thayla didn’t like at all.
“Where are your pests at, Gladdy?” Riven asks.
I don’t glance over my shoulder to check, but I take note that it’s Chasin standing in the front beside Gladian.
“They’ll be here in a minute.”
“Thayla. Yemi.”
“Mara.”
Both respond with less ire than I expected. Their interactions are usually never exactly…pleasant.
“How are you?” Mara asks.
“Fine. You—did you have a rough training?”
Thayla’s tone changing from bored to borderline angry gets our attention instantly. Creed and I glance behind us while Kyzen and Riven shift forward.
“Something like that.”
“Something like that? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. I’ll cut his gods damned—”
“Don’t,” Mara says low.
“It was a misunderstanding,” Gladian says as he turns, stares at Mara, then at Thayla. “Not that it’s any of yours or your Valtrue’s business, I took care of it.”
“Every time I think there’s a hint of decency in you, you prove me wrong.
The fact you just called your Binder having a black eye, undoubtedly given to her by a member of your Valtrue, a misunderstanding, is disgusting and pathetic.
It won’t be a misunderstanding when I carve her fucking name in your forehead. ”
Creed, Riven, and Kyzen chuckle, causing Gladian’s eyes to narrow.
“You don’t even know what I did to defend her, but pray tell, Thayla, what more would you have me do?”
Thayla shrugs. “You had no problem tying me up to a post and whipping the shit out of me.”
That comment shifts the energy in the air. My head tilts a fraction as I notice how Gladian deflates a fraction.
“Yeah, and I learned my lesson from that. I then vowed to never whip anyone ever again. Got any more suggestions?”
“You didn’t vow that to us,” Creed says.
“No, I didn’t. I kneeled in the Court and vowed to the Valories.”
“Why?” Thayla asks.
“That’s none of your business either.”
She scoffs, then jerks her head to the side as his two missing Valtrue members finally emerge. Their matching blackened eyes don’t satisfy me, if I’m honest.
Not that I care about Mara and whatever strife they have going on, but I want retribution for my Binder.
I want to be the one to end their lives.
“They’re still recognizable,” Thayla grumbles as she rolls her eyes at Gladian. He returns the gesture, then focuses on Mellcom and Jeremiah.
“What took you two so long?”
“There’s a line of gods trying to get in here right now,” Mellcom grunts. Heat spreads through my fingers as he looks at Thayla. “Thay—”
“As all these gods in here are my witnesses, I will kill you where you stand,” she warns low.
“Then I’ll dance around the room with your corpse on my back like a backpack,” Riven says cheerfully.
“You’re fucking psychotic.”
“Eww, don’t flirt with me. I hate you.”
Kyzen, Thayla, and Yemi all snort. I’m positive Mara would like to make a sound, judging by how her nose just twitched, but she holds it in.
Our heads snap forward as a clap thunders through the room and multiple bright flashes of white appear in the center around the Volreen.
Chancellors Laven and Wick stand on one side, while Ellian and Gulliver stand on the other. Harriseen’s in the middle, gripping the edge of the Volreen as if it’s his own personal creation to handle as he pleases.
“Completed Valtrues of the Godsdawn and Godsden, welcome to our first ever Power Worthiness Test. For those of you who have been in your completed Pairings for more than a year are familiar with what is about to happen. For those of you who haven’t, this test resembles what you went through on your Veiling Day or Coming of Age Day. ”
He croons on, over-explaining exactly what’s about to happen as though we’re children who didn’t understand his references. Everyone in this room remembers the day they stuck their hand in the Volreen for the Designation Revelation and Attendant Worthiness Tests.
“What’s a coming-of-age day?” Thayla whispers.
“Children who are born here in Godsden go through what you went through on your Veiling Day on their eighteenth birthday,” Yemi mumbles back.
She’s correct in her simple explanation.
“I notice and appreciate all your preparedness in bringing with you an item to slice your hand to offer your blood to the Volreen, but that will not be necessary. This blade…”
He holds a dagger in the air as he struts around, I assume so everyone can see it.
“Has been embedded with my power. Once you slice your palm with it and place your hand into the Volreen, you will produce a parchment. Scribed on it will be your results. Those results will be recorded, then instantly sent to the Beginning Gods who are converging in Valveilious. They will review every individual for their worthiness.”
The entire room shifts on their feet and murmurs float through the air. Some seem tinged in excitement at being noticed by the gods. Others, that news seems to unease them.
Harriseen’s gaze settles on my Valtrue. I’m the last he looks at and the one whose eyes he holds the longest.
I clear the suspicions on my face. As much as I want him to know I don’t trust him or this, I still need him for one thing. My head dips a fraction of an inch in acknowledgment.
He smiles in victory and my teeth grind together.
“Let us begin.”
I stand statue still, observing every individual who makes their way to the Volreen. First, if they’ve given their Valtrue group a name, it’s called. If they haven’t, all five members are identified, plus any Attendants tied to anyone.
One by one, in order of the males, followed by the Binder, then the Attendants, are tested.
I store every ounce of information the High Chancellor announces in my mind. Who he shows more or less interest in, is noticed.
Thayla’s small, unhappy noise, and Yemi’s gasp ring in my ear as he announces one of the gods has now been found worthy of an Attendant. He recites the Attendant’s abilities, then halts this entire production to send one of his own Attendants to find the poor being.
Ten minutes pass in uncomfortable, murmured chatter.
Rossin Ogena, the Attendant, is escorted into the room and turns paler than the clouds when all eyes turn to him. His steps falter and his shoulders tense.
“I accept my Attendant,” Agustis, the new Attending God, states loud and proud.
Many laughs ring through the air as Rossin shakes his head frantically.
“Come on. Don’t do anything stupid, please,” Thayla whispers as though he may hear her.
I agree wholeheartedly with her plea.
Why? Because I know my Binder.
If someone does something with malicious intent to that Attendant whose life just changed for the worse, she’s going to react.
And we will back her.
Luckily, Rossin gathers himself and follows behind his new Attending God with his head hanging low. I make note in my mind to keep a close eye on him.
The test continues on at a sluggish pace and the nerves of Thayla and my brothers are palpable against my skin.
Regret and disappointment in myself rage no matter how much I try to convince my mind that it isn’t fair. I researched and did all that I knew to get us out of this situation.
If even a Beginning God—the one who can find a loophole for absolutely anything—reassured us there was no escaping this.
Then there was no escape.