Chapter 8 Kyzen #3
“Enough, Riven. It’s clear why you’re acting like this and if you really weren’t okay with this relationship, you should’ve spoken up yesterday. You gave your blessing, which means you don’t get to be a colossal dick to Thayla today and attempt to make her feel bad about holding our hands.”
He presses his lips together, staring at me for an intense moment, then nods. His entire demeanor shifts. Not to calculating, teasing, or chaotic. I’m not sure exactly what it is that comes over him.
“Noted. Next time, I won’t stop you all from announcing your relationship to all of the Godsdawn so you know who will hear sooner rather than later how two of his favorites are now fucking their Binder.”
With the smallest glance spared to Thayla, he turns on his heels and starts walking back toward the Athenaeum.
My head hangs as both understanding and annoyance lace through me. All previous thoughts about how I couldn’t wait for the realm to see us together, shrivel and die right here at my feet.
“I’m trying not to feel bad for catching an attitude with him just now, but damn. He could’ve just flat out said that’s why he was warning us, rather than being an ass about it.”
“Yes, he could have, but then that would’ve been too obvious, less chaotic, and showed that he cares. That’s not something he’s going to do.”
“I don’t understand why not.”
“Because he—”
“Amick.” I meet his eyes for a moment before settling them on Thayla’s.
“Despite the shitty way he just went about it, that’s something Amick and I should’ve thought about on our own.
Especially with everything going on. I don’t like it, nor do I want you to think I’m ashamed of our relationship, but it is for the best that we don’t show the truth of it right now. ”
There’s still a tinge of annoyance and probably a little anger at the way Riven went about that in her body language, but she eventually nods.
“I understand why we’d want to keep this a secret and honestly, I’m fine with it.
The fewer people who know my personal life, the better.
Fuck, especially him. If we fail this quest he’s sending us on, I can only imagine how he’d hold this over our heads.
” She pauses, running her hands down her face as a rush of air blows from her nostrils.
Before I can tell her that’s not going to happen, she carries on.
“Do you all seriously think someone in the Godsdawn would run to him about this?”
“Who are you all referring to so cryptically?”
Fuck, I forgot they were behind us.
Amick stops walking and we all follow suit. “Yes. We’ll finish this conversation later and fill the rest of you in to an extent. My brothers and I will need to discuss with Thayla what she is and isn’t allowed to tell you.”
Confusion contorts the three of their faces and they each look at Thayla. She gives them a tight smile that they easily interpret as not right now.
“I thought just the High Chancellor was meeting us?” I ask.
“That was the plan,” Amick says as we start walking.
Tension grows in Thayla’s shoulders with each step closer to the Athenaeum doors we get. Gulliver and Ellian are standing behind the High Chancellor, who appears annoyed as fuck already.
“Lambrit, you and your Attendant report to where you are supposed to be.” Harriseen’s face fills with instant fury when Lambrit’s body locks up as his gaze moves to Thayla. “Are you looking at her for permission to obey my order?”
“He doesn’t need my permission to do anything. We asked him to join us here.”
His glare snaps to Thayla, and I shove my hands in my pockets to hide their immediate twitch.
“He has a role to fulfill. You do not have the authority to ask anything of him without my direct say-so,” Amick says.
Ah, fuck. Here we go.
“I directly invited Lambrit and Rose to join us on the quest we’ve been tasked with. Therefore, they’re to report to me. Shall we take this cordial conversation inside?”
My lips curl at the subtle bristle that passes through the High Chancellor at Amick’s stern words. It eats the old man alive inside to know my brother, if he had all his power, would be numerous times stronger than he is.
Amick isn’t one to flaunt. That’s never been important to him. It’s moments like this, though, when he knows he needs to take control of the situation before Harriseen can.
This isn’t an argument that needs to be mediated. It needs to be made clear, here and now, with other Chancellors as our witnesses, that Amick’s in charge of planning every step of what we’ve been tasked with by the Beginning Gods.
I love this shit.
As much ass-kissing as I begrudgingly have to do, it gives me great pleasure when Amick, any of my brothers, get an opportunity to throw commands around.
“Very well.”
The High Chancellor spins, shoulder-checking both Gulliver and Ellian on his way through the doors.
Gulliver gives us all—well, not Thayla, Rose, or Yemi—a small bow before following along. He misses the sneers we all shoot his way at the disrespect, but Ellian catches it.
“I see now why his fuse is shorter than normal today. I figured it was your spat, Amick, but it’d seem you all came ready to lay down the law.”
“I hardly call our conversation a spat, but this isn’t any other task or role we’ve been assigned. He’s offended that I’m not allowing him to dictate everything that will happen. There’s too much at stake for his ego to be in charge right now.”
Ellian nods as his gaze moves over to Thayla. Her body shifts slightly into a defensive position at his attention. All the Chancellors have put a bad taste in her mouth, so I can’t blame her reaction, but he’s different. I believe she knows that but needs some time to get used to him.
“Ms. Godrun,” Ellian says, tilting his head. “When I told my wife this morning I’d be seeing you, she gave me a proper scolding and told me to apologize for whatever it is that I’ve done to make you wary of me.”
Thayla’s lips slowly curve into a sassy smirk. “I’m waiting.”
He snorts, as do the rest of us. “I apologize for how I came across on your Veiling Day. I swear to you, I’m in your corner.”
She holds his gaze for a long moment before she gives him a small dip of her head. “Thank you. Please tell her she’s my favorite god in Godsden.”
A bright smile lights up his face. I assure you, those two are the only reason in this realm I’ve always believed love is real. They are still sickly in love after all these centuries.
“She’s mine as well. Shall we all go inside? Best not to keep him waiting any longer.”
“Why are you and Gulliver here?” Amick asks as we step inside.
“He told us we’d be assisting you. Seeing as the Plentifuls are who I oversee, I imagine he’s going to assign me to the preparation of a carriage you will be requesting the construction of?”
“That’s correct. I informed him of it and will be taking my building plans to them today.”
“Understood. As for Gulliver, I’m not sure.”
“What Designation does he oversee?” Thayla asks. A low grunt from Creed has her turning her head toward him. “The Defenders?”
“Yep.”
“Ugh, you don’t think he’s going to try to oversee our training, do you?”
“It’d be wise of him not to interfere with my training.”
Yeah, he’s almost back to normal…
We make our way through the Athenaeum wordlessly. By the time we reach the nook where Amick usually has orientees and new Guiders meet him, the High Chancellor is standing behind the podium, tapping his finger. Ellian veers off to stand behind him as we all move to stand in front of him.
“Let us not waste any more time, seeing as you all have forgotten how to be punctual. Amick, I have informed the Chancellors of your two-week time frame for departure and your plan to have a carriage built that will accommodate your team. Inform us of your plan, the purposes behind them, and the gods you’ve assembled. ”
“Yes, we’ll leave in two weeks. The time from now until then will be spent on research as well as physical and power training. Our team will consist of my Valtrue, Yemi, Lambrit, Rose, and our Escort, Havar Andino. Each will play an intricate role in our success.
“We need a carriage constructed large enough to fit all of us. Which will require two Veilatara to pull. We’ll identify the two based on the Prime Veilatara’s recommendation and permission.
Starshooting everywhere isn’t feasible. We’ll need the ability to converse, rest, and regroup.
I anticipate us to take the entirety of the six weeks remaining in our two-month deadline to search the realm. ”
“I understand your need for the carriage, although the ungodly beings of the realm should be honored to house you. I suppose none of the Chancellors’ carriages will be large enough for all of you, nor the ones for Chosens.
As for your choice of Escorts, I fear you are choosing poorly.
There are many who are more experienced and more motivated for a task as important as this.
I will have to take your choice of him into consideration. ”
I gently grip Thayla’s hand the second her mouth opens. I understand her desire to defend Havar, and indirectly Yemi, but now isn’t the time. If she jumps down his throat in front of everyone, he’ll pull more shit like this at every turn.
“My next topic of discussion is protection. I will be assigning Defenders to join you on your journey.”
“No.” Creed’s one-word response has the temperature in the room nearly freezing. His deadly glare stays pinned on the High Chancellor’s.
“You will be too distracted with your task at hand to properly watch your own backs as well as the godly relic once you locate it. It is wise to have additional help.”
“I won’t be distracted as my role is solely to defend my Valtrue, the gods accompanying us, and the godly relic. I’m all we need.”
They stare at one another intensely. Long enough that Thayla shifts on her feet and Riven laughs quietly. Half of my Valtrue is gearing up for a fight while I’m preparing to speed up time.