Chapter 28 Thayla #3
When they finally start walking back toward us, my stomach drops at the look of concern written across both their faces.
Lambrit rubs the back of his neck, blowing his breath out harshly as he looks at Amick. “We’re going to have some issues with the areas we want to search.”
“Why?”
“A lot of those high reported isolated areas are gods and the families they’ve created. There are godly children spread out among the regions.”
“What the fuck? Don’t they know how dangerous that is?” Creed growls.
“Yes, they do, but he said the gods, the Beginning and those higher in the Godsdawn, are lying to us about more than we can fathom. He refused to go into detail but said we had nothing to worry about from the gods or children they created down here.”
I pinch my nose. “There’s literally no telling what all they lie about.”
“Did he say anything about his wife?” Kyzen asks.
“Aww, he was so sweet. He said the second he laid his eyes on her, he knew she was the one and he’d never return to Godsden without her by his side. That’s so romantic.”
Rose bats her lashes at Lambrit and he smiles at her just as softly. Their sweetness holds my attention for just a moment before the contemplative look on Kyzen steals it.
“What are you thinking?”
“Not really sure, yet.”
“We need to get back to the carriage and reevaluate our plans. I need to refresh myself on the history of godly children,” Amick declares, already striding back the way we came without another look back at any of us.
Yep, he’s about to freak out.
Sleep continues to evade me despite the fact this bed is magnificent, the comforter’s perfect, I’m nestled between Kyzen and Amick, and I’m staring at the stars.
Today ended with Amick frustrated, everyone else wondering what the fuck we’re going to do now that our most hopeful areas are more than likely gods and their families, and me just simply overwhelmed.
Derivius wouldn’t answer me when I asked if he figured out what the hell was going on. Then V, Seismet, and Verlet brushed the guys and me off when we asked if they knew what the god we met in the woods meant.
We’ve seemed to hit an invisible wall that we don’t see a way around yet.
I lift my fingers and jump from one star to the next but swiftly let my hand fall when Kyzen grumbles.
“What are you doing, little goddess?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“None of us are sleeping. We’re trying to let you fall asleep first,” Creed rumbles from the other side of Amick, who nods.
“Riven?”
“Still talking to myself, little burden.”
I blow out a breath as my body suddenly grows hot. It was definitely easier lying here thinking they were all asleep.
“Tell us what’s on your mind and maybe that’ll help,” Kyzen says, laying a kiss on my shoulder and pulling me closer.
Amick huffs and scoots over until his body is back pressed to mine and I suppress a laugh.
“Do you really think the stars are the gateway to the Valories?”
Two nos and two yeses respond.
I’m a tad shocked Kyzen is a no and Creed is a yes.
I’m not surprised Amick is a yes and Riven is a no.
“Don’t listen to my brothers, Thayla. The stars are one hundred percent the gateway to the Valories.”
“And you know that how, o wise one?” Riven asks.
“It was confirmed in the Book of the Gods Binding. The Binding was used to create what was named the Eye of the Veil for the very being Thayla is tied to. It was a large magnifying-glass-like dome that heightened the stars and brought them closer to the being so they could communicate easier with the Valories.”
“What?” I shout.
“Damn, here I was just going to say ’cause when I release souls, they float up, so I’ve always assumed they just go to the stars.”
“Wait—you can see the souls go up?”
“Yep.”
Fuck, that’s really sad. I don’t think I could watch that.
“To answer your what, yes, that was a creation that stemmed from the Binding. The Valories used the Binding without the Beginning Gods’ permission and created the Eye of the Veil. Just like they did with the creation of the Messenger.”
“Jeez, no wonder the Beginning Gods hate that being. They seem to be the favorites.”
I meant it as a joke, which to my credit, Kyzen and Riven laugh, Creed stays silent, but Amick makes a humming noise.
“I firmly believe they were, or, I guess, are.
There were a number of rules put in place surrounding them.
Namely the Beginning Gods were forbidden from killing them, harming, or developing any sort of platonic or romantic relationship with them.
Yet, that being could have as much to do with them as they pleased.
It was their responsibility to receive and relay messages from the Valories.
“I’m not sure what shift happened that caused the Valories to decide to create another being rather than continuing to send angels as they were, but something sparked it.
The Messenger was put on a very high but isolated pedestal with no way down or up.
They were hated by the beings they were made for, for doing what their creator created them to do. ”
Damn…that’s pretty sad as well.
“V, we’re discussing the Eye of the Veil, the Messenger, and why they were created. Got any insight on that?”
I shriek as he suddenly pops right in our room and lands on my stomach, hooting his little heart out.
“Finally. A question worth my time.”
“Are you saying my questions are unworthy of your time?” Amick asks.
Obviously, V is giving us all a lesson.
“No. Your questions are worthy, very much so. They aren’t timely.”
Amick tilts his head for a moment while he mulls over that, then with a sure nod, he settles back down.
“The creation of the Messenger came when a Beginning God first broke one of their sacred rules, creating an almost chain reaction. The others began following that lead. They began ignoring the Valories’ messages, and the Valories grew frustrated.
“In an attempt to make them listen and quit what they had started, they tried to interfere and force the Beginning Gods’ fate.
That backfired swiftly. The Valories then created the Messenger, declaring they’d be the sole individual, aside from us creatures, who would receive their messages.
The Beginning Gods could do with the messages as they pleased and face what came of their choices alone. ”
“Derivius told me that the Valories had turned their back on almost all of their creations, with the exception of him and a few others. Is that what you’re referring to?”
“Yes and no. Derivius is correct in saying that now, but there was a time when the Valories turned their backs on all of them, including him. They still don’t speak directly to him. He receives his messages from the Messenger as well. Many have received messages from them.”
I don’t miss his emphasis on many have received messages, but I choose to ignore it.
“What event started the chain reaction?” Amick asks, but V only hoots in response.
“Wrong time,” Kyzen says.
“The Messenger has always been the greatest secret kept in the Valorian Veil. They, before all others, know and can warn those around them of what’s to come. The Valorian Veil has fallen so far, there are gods who would not waste a second killing them if they had the chance.”
“Our father?” Riven asks darkly.
“He is one of them, yes. And many others on his side.”
I groan, covering my eyes with my hands. “And if we fail at finding the Binding and he gets his hands on me, I’m the only living being with a tie to that creation. Would the Messenger even care about the beings tied to them?”
“They’ve never been given the opportunity to truly care, but I would say yes, they care very much about you. Just like all the Beginning and Domain Gods are supposed to care about those who come from them.”
“Yeah, but barely any of those assholes really do. Who’s to say this being isn’t a selfish ass as well?”
Hell, maybe not even selfish. Possibly vengeful, angry. I would be if I was created and all my counterparts hated me, but I was still responsible for giving them messages to help them.
“You know, Thayla, the Messenger is a very powerful being who both receives and relays messages. They are capable of doing that to more than just the Valories.”
He starshoots away, leaving us with an echoing hoot that infuriatingly sounds like a laugh.
“Was he just cryptically trying to tell me to pray to this being?”
“Yes, I believe he was,” Amick says.
“He better find some better sage advice.”
Kyzen chuckles into my hair and lays a kiss on my cheek. “You don’t have to pray to anyone you don’t want to pray to.”
“You don’t have to pray, but you sure can worship me if you want, little burden.” Riven grunts when Kyzen elbows him, but I can’t help the smile that crosses my face.
It’s been far too many hours since he’s said something funny.
“That was rude,” he croaks the words out as he tries to take a deep breath. His arm crosses over Kyzen and his hand grips my wrist. “If you aren’t going to worship one of us, it’s night-night time. I can’t hold my eyes open any longer.”
I inhale sharply as his harmony floods my system and my body completely relaxes into the mattress.
Four murmured good nights float through the air and I groggily reply as my eyelids grow heavy. I might not be able to see as they shut fully, but I swear to you, the weight of four different hands presses into me somewhere.
I smile and a delicious thought runs across my mind before it’s wiped away by the fact we have to wake up tomorrow and start this taurnshit hunt all over again.
“Messenger, being, person, if you can hear me, a sign would be nice. I kind of have more important things to focus on, aka my Valtrue, than some asshole Gods Binding.”