Chapter 39 Amick #2
The number of Valtrues waiting to be tested dwindles by the minute. The energy of the room leans heavier on the more relaxed side than anxious now that there are fewer of us to be tested.
Thayla presses her palm to my spine and I inhale sharply.
Exhale slowly.
It’s been up in the air about whose group would go first. Ours or Gladian’s.
That decision has been made.
“Rising Chancellor. Your Valtrue.”
We’re going to finally decide on a name for our Valtrue after this.
The Godrun Valtrue.
If Thayla’s okay with that.
I’m not sure she will be given the strained relationship she has with her parents.
“Amick,” she breathes against my back.
My shoulders straighten and I take a step forward.
The proper thing to do is for all of us to bow our heads and acknowledge the High Chancellor.
None of us can bring ourselves to do it.
Not even I.
It’s impossible to feign respect toward a being you hold so much hatred in your heart for.
“I see you all are doing well, but no wiser.”
You know nothing of wisdom.
I unfortunately keep that thought to myself.
“Very well,” he says sternly as he wipes the blade off on his robe. He holds it out, handle directed at me. “I expect to see great things from you, Amick.”
My hand is steady as my fingers curl around the leather-wrapped hilt. Every palm this blade has sliced today flashes across my mind and I can’t help my grimace.
This is so utterly vile and unhygienic.
These aren’t the only people this dagger has pierced, though.
My power swells as the tip of the blade splits my skin. As my blood pools in my palm, the atrocities committed with this weapon pile in my mind.
My gaze holds Harriseen’s the entire time I glide my hand through the creation of the Beginning Gods.
He gives me a cruel smirk, satisfied he will now have the secrets I hold.
To his complete shock, I return the gesture.
I, too, now hold his secrets.
The warmth from the essence of the Volreen crawls up my arm to my shoulder. There’s nothing I can do but allow it to measure me to its sacred content.
A velvety parchment forms between my fingers, and I release a subtle breath as I pull it free.
Unlike any of the other gods, I open my own truth.
I will know what it says before him.
The revelation that stares back at me rocks my entire soul. It shivers in my chest. Its responding half, the half that makes me whole, is immediate with its comfort, devotion, and…love.
She will—with her entire being—love me no matter what this parchment says. She will stand with me, proud no matter the decisions I make or truths I spill.
She will always have my back.
I know that better than I know myself.
“Rising—”
“Chancellor Ellian Akova,” I say, cutting Harriseen off.
Ellian steps up, I’m sure shocked and confused. I’m not positive since I won’t take my eyes off the High Chancellor. I imagine, though, a disruption of this magnitude has him concerned.
“Amick.”
“Hold on to this for me if you will.”
I pass him my parchment and Harriseen’s face fills with a fury I’ve never seen from him before.
His arm snaps out toward Ellian.
“You are so far out of line, Amick. I will not allow you—”
I plunge his own dagger through his heart.
The room descends into a hush that weighs as much as the Athenaeum. The only noise to be heard is Harriseen’s gurgles, struggling gasps, and my voice.
“I, Amick, God of Knowledge, find you, Harriseen, unworthy of the title High Chancellor. Your crimes and betrayals will come to light and shall be recorded.”
His blood spatters the ground as I snatch the dagger free. I hold his gaze the entire time he takes to crumble to the floor in his precious robes.
I feel nothing but satisfaction that the last emotion to cross his eyes was fear.
“He’ll find no place among the Valories.”
Creed’s low words echo around me as his arm stretches toward Harriseen’s body and his irises blaze white.
“Holy shit,” Thayla mumbles as she presses her back to mine.
“This is the fucking best day of my life. I’m so excited, I’m about to scream.” Riven giggles.
“Take one more step closer, and it’ll be the last thing you do,” Kyzen warns someone.
All the Valtrue’s in the room have drawn their weapons. They haven’t merged more than a foot forward. The uncertainty of what I did has them stunned still.
“Amick. What have you—”
Ellian’s question is silenced as a gasp slips through not only his lips, but mine, and Chancellor Gulliver’s, Laven’s, and Wick’s. The essence of the Volreen shoots from its bowl and wraps around the five of us.
With no permission from any of us, it tugs us until our hands are buried together in the bowl.
“What the fuck is happening, Amick?” Thayla asks with pure panic lacing her voice.
“It’s the Chancellor’s Choosing,” Ellian answers as his gaze collides with mine. “The Godsdawn must have a High Chancellor.”
Oh no.
I did not factor that into my last-minute decision.
“Amick, take your hand out of that gods damned bowl right now,” Thayla shouts as she comes to my side and grips my arm.
My heart thunders in my ears as I stare at her.
“I can’t, Mysenta. It won’t allow it.”
My breaths fall faster from my chest and Ellian grips my shoulder on the other side with his free hand.
“Everything’s going to be as it should, my boy.”
The life I lived those first few weeks here flashes across my mind as I stare at the worried wrinkles in his forehead.
All those times he found me sitting in the dark with nothing but my torch lamp and a book. He knew I was searching for silence that was nowhere to be found in this new, loud, and overwhelming environment.
He never questioned it. Never pushed me the way the others did.
He’d bring more books and set them beside me quietly.
When I grew the courage to scour the Athenaeum, he’d sneak me in at night so I could have peace while I indulged in all the new knowledge.
We were his first adoptees, and he’s adapted to each of us as we needed him to.
Gulliver and Laven snap free first. They clutch their chests and sag with relief I didn’t expect to see. With the way they act, you’d think this would be exactly what they want.
That appears to be the furthest thing from the truth.
Wick is released next. He too eases.
“Amick,” Ellian whispers as power—ancient and raw—swirls around our fingers.
“I’m sorry, Ellian.” My voice barely reaches a breath as my mind whirls. “I didn’t mean to put you in this position.”
I’ve changed our lives irrevocably.
There’s no right choice between the two of us. We both would gain and lose from this title.
My mind grows fuzzy with the static that hums between my ears. The power continues to pulse between the two of us and my eyes squeeze shut to ward off the dizziness.
“One day, God of Knowledge. Your role will be fulfilled.”
The ambiguous voice fades from my mind as the Volreen releases us and I stumble back. Thayla’s arms wrap around my waist, and Kyzen and Riven grab an arm of mine each.
I wiggle my empty fingers, and my attention snaps to Ellian.
He trembles as he looks down at the parchment in his hand, then his glossed eyes jerk up to mine.
My throat closes as I read the apology in his features. His step toward me is unsteady, and the last thing I want to do is read what he’s handing me.
“It’s okay,” he says softly.
The parchment, naturally light as a feather, weighs as much as a Veilatara in my palm.
Your prayer has been honored.
The mantel shall be yours to hold and protect until the true Chosen takes his place.
For now, it is decreed.
High Chancellor Ellian Akova.
“What did you do?”
My question hangs between us as my Valtrue surrounds me.
“What any father—of any kind—should do. Protect and guide his children so they one day will outgrow and be better than us. I asked that you be granted time to grow. The gods saw fit to answer that prayer.”
Gods…we both know that was no power of the gods.
I’m not even sure if that was the Valories.
The closest thing I can compare that power to is what I experienced the one and only time I stepped into the Gods Veil.
A bright flash of light and a boom of power blast through the room. All the Valtrues in the room hit their knee as Derivius strolls forward. A low whistle leaves his lips as he glances down at Harriseen’s body.
“Found the cause of why the results quit showing up.”
“Derivius.” We, as in my Valtrue and all the Chancellors bow our heads.
Too many people around right now to act toward him as we usually would.
“Who cares to explain?”
“I will, sir.”
Ellian bows again as he makes his way to Derivius. He hands him not only the parchment that came from the Chancellor’s Choosing, but what I pulled out from my testing as he explains everything that happened.
“Interesting,” Derivius hums.
He attempts to look stern, but he most certainly just winked at me.
“You know killing a Domain God isn’t covered in the Law of Doppia Disaccord, right?”
“I’m aware. It is covered in the Laws of Neglectful Use of Status and Power. Especially when an unjust murder is committed first.”
“Can you prove that indisputably?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll have to, son.”
“Well, I believe this goes without saying, but the Power Worthiness Test will be concluded today as of now. You all may return to your homes. High Chancellor Akova, you shall come with me.
“Rising Chancellor, given your abilities listed, I declare with reasonable belief that you acted in good faith. I’m granting you an hour to gather your preliminary proof, then proceed to a temporary lockdown in your home. I’ll be in touch soon.”
Derivius holds his arm out for Ellian to take, and we bow as they, plus Harriseen’s body, starshoot away.
My Valtrue, Yemi, and I stay surrounding the Volreen as all the others exit the room, murmuring amongst themselves. No one speaks even after we know for sure that we’re the only ones in here.
“Kyzen, if you would, I need you to come with me to gather proof against Harriseen. The rest of you escort Yemi home, then go home, please. I have a lot to share with you.”
“You bet your fucking ass you do,” Creed grunts as he stomps away, not sparing me a glance.
Yemi gives me a tight smile and nod as she follows behind him.
Thayla lays her hand on my chest and stares into my eyes for an intense moment. My lids drift shut when she pushes up on her toes and kisses my cheek.
“See you at home, Candyman.”
“I’m both pissed at and proud of you,” Riven says as he punches me in the arm and runs after the others. I stay staring at the door even after they’re long gone.
“Come on and let’s get this over with. You’ve got a fucking realm of explaining to do today, Amick.”
Yes. I’m aware.