Thayla
The Assembly may have been this packed on the Veiling Day, but I didn’t have to stand in the middle of it.
This is the greatest number of gods I’ve seen in one place, and I’ll admit, it’s unsettling.
Ellian asked us to position ourselves “casually” between the Attendants and the rest of the gods. So we did. Now, though, there’s a literal fucking circle around us of nothing but empty space.
I’d like to believe I’ve grown used to the guys receiving wide berths, but this is ridiculous. The only group outside of Yemi’s Valtrue, Lambrit, and Rose brave enough to stand with us is the group I’d rather not be anywhere near.
Despite Kyzen and Riven positioning themselves where my body is blocked, Mellcom’s eyes do everything they can to sear through them and get a glimpse of me.
I can’t stand it.
My skin’s crawling, and my fingers twitch with the desire to stab him right through those haunting green orbs of his. Thank fuck Creed worked out a rotation that keeps me away from him and Jeremiah.
I don’t allow my gaze to travel toward them or their Valtrue. My attention roams over how tense Yemi’s men are standing and how opposite Lambrit is. He’s beaming with excitement this morning. It both warms my heart and makes my stomach cramp.
“You nervous?” I ask Yemi as her knuckles graze my hand for the third time from her clenching.
“Yeah. I don’t want the other gods to do some stupid shit while we’re standing right here in the middle, but I also wouldn’t want us to be anywhere else.”
I hum my agreement as I peer over at the Attendants.
“Do you think they have any idea what’s about to happen?”
“No, probably not. Veiling Days, meetings, whatever it was, we were always segregated like this, so they more than likely think it’s the same old, same old.”
“I can’t wait to see how surprised they get. This is going to be a blast.” Riven fucking giggles and I hang my head.
So do my other men.
“Riven—”
“No, no, Kyzen. No little pep talks. Everything’s going to be great. It’ll be even better if I get to put my fist through someone’s face today.”
He jerks his thumb toward Mellcom and Jeremiah, and I hide my smirk. I do appreciate that he’s punched Mellcom damn near every chance he’s gotten.
“None of us are going to do anything unless there’s a negative reaction that needs to be handled. We won’t be the cause of disruption for Ellian today.”
I shift from the sternness in Amick’s tone, and Creed rolls his eyes at me.
“Since the guys are going to look for bodies and do whatever else they’re supposed to do today, do you and Rose want to come over for a little while? We can talk about the meeting the two of you are leading and what the hell I’m supposed to do about training.”
Yemi’s shoulders drop like my invitation for her to get out of her house was the best thing she’s heard all day. Rose peeks around her, smiling and nodding.
“Damn, there you guys are. Thought I’d never find you through all this empty space,” Havar says as he barges through Yemi and me. He wheezes for breath as our elbows connect with his stomach.
“Hay-Hay, my man. Where have you been? I haven’t seen you since…” Riven trails off, tapping his finger against his lips.
“Since you drugged my cousin and her Valtrue. Hilarious, by the way. Top notch work.” They high-five one another, earning glares from Yemi and her men.
“Anywho, since our quest was so successful, they thought it fitting I get another mentee, plus a shit ton of other responsibilities. Thanks a lot for that, you guys. Really appreciate it.”
I snort and cut my eyes at him. “Are you really upset about it?”
“A touch, yeah. I wanted to finally be free from working with the gods and only deal with creatures. That, to me, is a proper promotion, given my power and Designation. Not to mention, the Veilatara actually talk to my ass now, but what do I know? I’m just a Meadow Hand.”
“You aren’t just anything. Maybe some things will change,” Yemi says, and Amick hums.
“Things should. Lambrit or myself will have a word with Ellian.”
“Me?” Lambrit asks.
“Yes, you, Lambrit. You’re his assistant now. You can express concerns to him,” Amick says with undeniable confidence.
Lambrit grins, nodding to him and then to Havar.
“Look at me. All loved and special,” Havar says, causing most of us to chuckle.
The sound is drowned out by the overwhelming roar of claps and cheers that blare through the Assembly.
Ellian makes his way out onto the platform, dressed in the flawless white robes that are apparently reserved for only the High Chancellor. His smile, although sincere, holds a hint of nerves.
He waves and claps along with everyone but gives our group the smallest dip of his head before he raises his palms to silence the crowd.
“Gods of the Godsdawn, thank you for your attendance on this very historic day. The gods have seen it fit to bestow me the honorable position of High Chancellor. For those of you who don’t know me, I am Ellian Akova, God of Structure.”
The warmth that radiates in his voice is the polar opposite of the way Harriseen used to speak.
The entire Assembly can sense it. Shoulders drop, heads nod, and laughter even echoes through the space when he cracks a few jokes.
Everyone pays attention as he gives a little bit of information about himself and what he did for the Godsdawn as the Chancellor over the Plentifuls.
My men, myself, and our group of friends stand with our heads held high. These are the feelings you should get when you look and listen to your leader.
Pride. Safety. Hope.
He’s a better person than me. He hasn’t said one negative thing about Harriseen.
I would’ve been talking shit. Honestly, he doesn’t address him at all.
I guess in hindsight, I’m thankful he doesn’t bring him up.
I’m not sure how those who don’t know how he died would take him just throwing it out there that Amick stabbed him in the heart.
I hope they all receive what comes next peacefully.
“Today isn’t about replacing one ruler with another. It’s about the continuation of something greater than any single one of us. Power, when held correctly, is not possession. It’s stewardship. A change of leadership isn’t a fracture in our foundation. It’s proof that our foundation endures.
“If we’re to remain worthy of the region we protect, we must keep our minds open.
Especially when change feels uncomfortable.
Growth rarely arrives wrapped in familiarity.
Today, we don’t abandon our past. We honor it by building upon it.
We carry forward the wisdom earned, and we release what no longer serves us.
A stagnant system rots. A living one adjusts. ”
Ellian takes a deep breath, and a shift breezes through the air as his seriousness bleeds through his features.
“Before this address concludes, I’m going to decree my first change as the new High Chancellor of the Godsdawn.”
His eyes scan the massive crowd, lingering on the Attendants.
“For generations, the Attendant Designation has been diminished. Misunderstood. Reduced to something lesser. That was never their intended purpose. The original decree is clear. An Attendant’s domain, abilities, and temperament were designed to assist, complement, and enhance.
“Not to serve beneath, but to strengthen alongside. Our social structures depend on them. Our Designations function because of them. Without Attendants, the Godsdawn wouldn’t merely struggle. It would collapse into chaos. And yet, we’ve treated them as slaves.”
He pauses, adding to the deafening silence that comes over the Assembly.
“That ends now. Effective immediately, Attendants will be recognized as equal in standing to the other Designations. Their voices will carry the same weight. Their treatment will reflect their value. No Attendant will be compelled, diminished, or punished for fulfilling the role they were created for. If any among you believe equality weakens your authority, then you misunderstand authority.”
A heartbeat of silence drags on.
My pulse thunders in my ears as murmurs float through the air, and the tension from both sides presses in around us. A bark of laughter from somewhere to the left snaps the building anticipation.
“Equal?” a god calls, not bothering to hide his disdain. “You expect us to pretend they’re the same as us?”
A few voices answer him. Some agree, some don’t. The noise grows louder, rippling like waves gaining momentum.
“They were made to serve!”
“That’s their function!”
The Attendants stiffen, and my men shift subtly.
I follow suit as my glare scans across the crowd.
As their agitation and disagreement build, I map the faces shouting their revulsion so unashamedly.
I also pay attention to the ones who seem uncomfortable standing around gods who are so proudly hateful.
The god who spoke out first pushes his way through the crowd until he’s close to the clearing everyone made around us.
He points his finger at Ellian, and we all straighten our spines.
“You can’t just come into power and claim they’re the same as us. They’ve never been and never will be. They will remember their places.”
“Enough!”
I hold in my jolt as Kyzen’s voice carries over the Assembly. His navy irises and baby blue rings around his pupils glow, but his fingers hold steady as he steps forward.
We step with him.
“This decision isn’t up for debate or mediation. It’s been decreed and it will be honored.”
“Oh yeah?” the god asks as he tilts his head. “Or what?”
My mouth hums and my body vibrates as my power alights through my blood. My Consequence pushes at the back of my teeth, demanding to be set free.
“Are you threatening them?” Kyzen asks far calmer than I feel.
“What if I am?”
Stupid, stupid god.
“If you raise a hand against them, we will raise a hand against you.”
My power snaps across the Assembly, sending it back into silence. My cheeks heat from the many, many eyes that sear into me.