Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 161535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 161535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
“Goddess Riekki would be pleased.”
Kalos makes a disgusted sound. “That pretentious creature. I doubt very much that she’d be pleased about any of this. Riekki prefers to hoard her knowledge. All the more reason for me to share mine, I suppose.”
I gaze up at Kalos, amused. If spite is what motivates him, then I’m fine with it.
“What now?” Omos asks. “What are your plans for now?”
“Sleep,” I admit. I would love to stay awake for a while but the exhaustion is coming over me like a heavy blanket. “Tomorrow, I would like to have a perfect day. Just relaxing and spending time with Kalos, and you, and Dingle. If that’s all right.”
Omos reaches out and touches my hand. “Whatever you need, of course. I am here to serve.”
Kalos says nothing. His thumb rubs the side of my neck, and I know he hates all the talk of how things are going to go. I know he hates how his hands are tied in regards to my fate.
He’s really going to fucking hate it when he finds out that I won’t be in the Afterlife here.
The next day is everything I wanted.
We spread a blanket out in the grassy field and watch the goats frolic around us. Even though there’s been a cold bite to the weather lately, this day proves warm and delightful. There’s a tray of food for me to eat, but I find my appetite isn’t so great, and I end up giving most of it to the goats. They’re so cute in their joy as they nibble on cheeses and fruits that it makes me laugh with delight. I lie in a nest of pillows, playing with Kalos’s fingers, and we lay beside each other and talk about nothing at all. We don’t discuss plans, or godhood, or anything important. We discuss freckles, and flowers, and if Dingle is going to grow a beard when he gets older, and what color bow it should have.
It’s the silliest conversation, but it makes me so happy.
Omos pauses in his chores to come and spend time with us for a while. I feel guilty that I’m too tired to help, but the monk will hear none of it. He chats with me about Metta, and what he plans to put in the book next. He’d like to go over stomach ailments and has a great store of dried mint and fennel seeds that he can share with the village. “I like the idea of someone coming over to visit and spend time at the monastery,” Omos says. “It can get lonely. The crystal pickers are slowing down now that there’s less for them to find, and my brothers haven’t returned. Having you both here these last few weeks has been delightful. I’ll miss you both greatly.”
“We’ll miss you, too,” I reply.
He glances over at Kalos, a brow arching. “We? You’ll miss me, my lord?”
Kalos just shrugs.
Omos laughs, delighted. “I’ll take that as a yes, my lord. Thank you both for spending your time with me.”
The monk leaves after a short while and returns with a tray that holds a big cup of a dark, foul-smelling tea. I sit up, ready to protest that I’m not thirsty, when I realize what this is.
This is the drink. The poison. Kalos and Omos must have talked about it while I was asleep.
I sit up, and when the monk gently offers the cup to me, I take it. The drink is so dark and inky that it looks like a pool of onyx. I hold it in my hands. “Thank you.”
“Magra’s blessing be with you,” Omos says in a soft voice. “I’ll leave you both to your privacy.”
He heads out of the field, the goats trailing after him to go into the barn. I glance up at the sky and realize the sun is setting. The day went by so very quickly, but I can’t be sad about any of it. It was just the nicest time. I stare down at the drink, hesitating. “Is it stupid to say I’m scared?”
“Of course you’re scared, Elsie.” Kalos touches my arm, reassuring me. “But I’m right here with you. The tea is the strongest plant that won’t hurt you going down. I made sure of that. It’ll put you to sleep and you’ll feel nothing else. When you wake up again, you’ll be with me, in my realm.”
Except I won’t. I lick my dry lips. I need to tell him. But I’ve waited so long that telling him just as I slurp down poison would be the biggest asshole move. I bank on the hope that he’ll forget about me once he returns home to his realm and settles back into his godhood again. Please, let him forget. I’m not doing this to hurt him.
With a deep breath, I lift the cup to my lips and drink. There’s a bitter, strange flavor, but it’s been sweetened with honey and goes down easily. I drink it all, right down to the dregs, and set the cup down on the blankets. Looking up at Kalos, his green eyes are so full of emotion that it snatches my breath away. I spread my arms, wanting my last moments to be a hug.