Chapter 30 Thayla #2
“Gods,” Lambrit exclaims, suddenly pacing back and forth. “The map, Thay. The map she followed was drawn out in the book.”
My lips part, but Amick hums. “The likelihood of that map being a map we can read and follow is slim to none. You said this was a mortal love story.”
“I’m telling you we can read it. I did read it when I read the book to Thayla. We need that book.”
Lambrit’s words hang in the air as we all stare at one another, indecision and doubt heavy in the air.
“We’ll discuss this further after we’ve got some—”
“Lambrit!”
His name bellows from my lips and I jump to my feet, but it’s too late as he and V disappear in a flash of light.
“V, you bring him back right now!”
“I didn’t take him. He was already thinking of doing this alone. I just accompanied him so he wouldn’t. Give him a minute and let him do what his mind is pushing him to do. We will be back in no time.”
“I’m going to whoop his ass when he gets back.”
“Did he and V just starshoot to Oddian?” Amick asks.
“Yeah, I’m pretty freaking sure.” I huff, pacing around Riven in a circle.
“Hey,” Kyzen says as he halts my steps. I lean my head into his touch and sigh as he runs his thumb across my cheek. “He’ll be okay. It’s the middle of the night, so no one is there and V’s with him. How about you come sit down? You’ve had an exciting few minutes.”
He doesn’t really give me the option to say okay or no. He leads me back over to the side of the bed and before I can climb up on my own, Creed lifts me by my hips and plants me back in the middle.
I won’t lie, the strength they all have is so distractingly sexy.
He tucks his arm around me, pulling me closer as though he can’t stand the thought of not touching me. I think he’s still worked up over not knowing if it was him or Sevryn that hit me with their powers.
It was both, by the way.
I believe Yemi stepping in front of Sevryn gave him enough time to draw some of his back and same with Creed, but I still got a little zap of both.
I won’t be telling either of them that, though.
“Do you all think this is really what the Messenger is trying to tell me, or do you think I’m reading too much into it because so far, we’ve made no progress and things are starting to look a little grim?”
My question has them all falling still. It’s something we’ve been avoiding talking about, though, and I don’t think now is the time to keep evading the conversation.
Amick’s the first to break and he makes his way over to the closet. I stare at the doorway until he emerges with a rolled parchment in hand.
“Between the fact that you’re tied to them, you had Riven’s Angel Aura Amethyst clutched in your hand, and it came right at a time like this, I’d say no, you’re not just reading into it.
” He doesn’t look up at me as he spreads the parchment across our bed and stares down at it like it holds all our answers.
“I brought this with me for the simple fact the shores of the Lost Sea touch Abernie. If the map in the book matches this one, we’ll know for certain. We’ll follow the landmarks of the islands and go from there.”
I nod even though I feel like I could be sick.
I’m absolutely petrified that we may have to venture into this formidable, unforgiving sea, but also, I’m freaking out that this being sent me a message and everyone’s just acting like it’s normal.
I feel like I have to keep my composure because they don’t seem concerned in the slightest.
I don’t want the being I’m tied to or any gods sending me messages. I’m already on too many Beginning Gods’ radars as it is. Add in the mystery god who orchestrated my way here to begin with, and I have far too many powerful beings fucking with me.
“You are a powerful being as well.”
“Not the time to be eavesdropping, Seismet.”
“I can’t help it. I feel your unease. I want you to know, while the meddling owl isn’t around, the Messenger is a lot like him, Verlet, and myself.
They have a purpose, and they take their purpose seriously.
I can’t exactly speak for them, but like V told you, they’ve never been given the opportunity to care for a being tied to them.
Maybe you should try embracing their help rather than fearing it.
If you were more accepting, they may be more giving. ”
I release a deep breath and sink deeper into Creed’s side.
“I get what you’re saying, I do, but I don’t like the idea of listening and allowing another powerful being to meddle with me. If I start being more accepting, I’m opening myself up to them manipulating things for us, and I’m so over that.”
“I understand that, but this isn’t a Beginning God we’re discussing.
The Messenger doesn’t benefit whatsoever from your words.
They don’t grow more powerful from you. Their desire and goal are the success of the realm.
If they were to manipulate things for you, as you put it, it would only set you in the right direction.
They gain nothing if you fail in your part of helping the realm right itself once again. ”
“And what do they gain if I succeed?”
“Freedom.”
My heart pinches painfully at the longing in his voice. I’m still not even one hundred percent sure what is all wrong in the realm or what exactly it is my Valtrue, and I will be expected to do.
I can pick out a few things right off the top of my head, though, that need to be rectified sooner rather than later.
The straps trapping the Veilatara are big ones.
I sit up straight when the telltale sign of a starshoot spreads across the room. I send what I can of reassurance to Seismet, then narrow my eyes as Lambrit appears with V on his shoulder.
“Next time, you better give me a warning.”
Lambrit at least has the sense to look sorry. “I didn’t want you to tell me no. I know that library like the back of my hand and it was so much faster starshooting than the Veilatara traveling back.”
“I definitely agree but would’ve liked a warning.”
“Sorry, Thay.” He winks, then opens the book on the page his thumb is marking.
He and Amick don’t even have to discuss what the parchment rolled out on the bed is. He holds the book out and their gazes bounce from one another to the next.
“I’ll be damned,” Lambrit mumbles.
“What?” the rest of us ask impatiently.
Amick’s eyes scan all of us until he settles them on me.
“It’d seem this isn’t a mortal love story after all. Someone left us a very creative map.”
The roaring waves that crash into this side of the mountain aren’t nearly as deadly as those that collide with the cliff in Abernie.
I’m not sure if it’s the God of the Sea’s power that keeps the water calm right here at the shore, or if the Gully just traps the water, making it more desperate to escape into this massive body before me.
My gaze tracks Creed, Amick, and Gladian as they walk toward the sea stronghold that I didn’t even know existed until an hour ago. The stone structure is almost carved into the mountain itself, and a long pier stretches from its door, well out into the sea.
Apparently, there are gods whose role is to keep ungodly beings out of the sea. If they’re dumb enough to venture out here, these gods will do what they can to save them, but according to Amick, they more so have to clean up messes at that point.
It was an awful image to paint in my mind.
Plans were made and everything started moving incredibly fast the second Amick decided the map in the book matched that of the Lost Sea.
He jumped into action, arranging for Derivius to send a decree requesting we have a ship prepared for us, a guide that doesn’t question us or stand in our way, and for him to notify the God of the Sea to keep the creatures from attacking us.
It was a gut-wrenching shock to learn there are two types of creatures in this water.
Some are as intelligent as V and Seismet, but others…there’re a few species the God of Creatures created himself and they aren’t friendly with beings at all.
God or ungodly. It doesn’t matter to them.
I was really hoping when Amick and Creed went to share with Gladian what we were doing, the overgrown man-child would decide he and his Valtrue were going to carry their asses back to the Godsdawn.
I tried to convince Seismet and Verlet to convince Fausta to take them back anyway.
They laughed but didn’t agree.
I told them not to be surprised if I threw someone off the ship.
“Never thought you’d be entering this water when I told you about the Gully, huh?” Havar says as he comes to stand beside me, and I snort.
“Hell no. I remember backing up the second you said something about creatures. I can’t believe we’re going in there.”
“Me neither. Is it crazy I’m kind of excited to see if I have awareness with the creatures we may come across like I do the ones who live on land with us?”
“I have no doubt you’ll sense them, Havar. That’s supposed to be your strong suit after all.”
The hairs on the back of my neck prickle and my awareness of the god behind me amplifies tenfold.
Havar turns around more relaxed than I do and I give Collum a tight smile.
“How’s your journey been so far, Thayla?”
“It’s been a journey, that’s for sure. And yours?”
How fucking awkward.
“Interesting. I’ve heard countless intriguing stories.” His eyes trail up and down my body and my blood heats beneath my skin.
I force myself to stay collected when I feel Havar move his gaze over to me.
“I can only imagine given the gods you’re escorting.”
“Yes—”
“Collum, give Thayla and me a minute alone.”
Collum’s gaze whips to Havar and narrows for a brief second. The tension between the three of us rises until he finally nods.
“Of course. See you both soon.”
I flex my fingers, preparing myself for whatever Havar’s about to say.
“Has he made you uncomfortable before now? You completely shut down the second he walked up.”
“It’s nothing.”