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)
“And we’ll distract them for as long as we can,” she continues, her expression fervent. “We will lay our lives down for you and the Vulture God.”
“Wait, hey, no.” I shake my head and grab Jemet by the shoulders. “Laying your lives down is a terrible idea.”
“But—”
“No but. You won’t slow anyone down for long. What’s the point of you dying? Either we’ll escape or we won’t, but I’d feel even worse if you and everyone here died trying to save us. That’s not what I want.”
Jemet doesn’t look convinced. “That is what the Lord of Disease would want—”
“Yeah, well, we’re not asking him. I’m in charge.” I think quickly, glancing around. “I’ll talk to Kalos and somehow get him moving. You pack a bag for me as fast as you can and I want you to get everyone out of here. Head to the farms—find Kina—and warn everyone you can to escape. If the army is Lord Kalos’s, I’m guessing they’re going to bring sickness with them. Avoid that. Avoid everything. Protect yourselves.”
She shakes her head. “We should be safe. When the gods are upon the mortal plane, they are not allowed to use their powers.”
I don’t know if I believe that, given that Kalos infected me the moment we met. “Humor me, Jemet. Be cautious anyhow.”
“Yes, Mistress.” Jemet’s eyes shine with more tears. She drops to her knees, kissing my hem. “You are the kindest—”
“Nope, nope, no time for that,” I say quickly, trying to drag her back to her feet. “We have to move fast, remember? Let’s just get going.”
“I will pack you a bag,” she agrees, and moves to leave. She pauses again and turns back to me. “Where will you go?”
“It’s best if you don’t know,” I tell her. “So no one can try to get the information out of you.”
She brightens and nods, then races away. “Loyal followers,” she calls out. “To me! Our Mistress has orders!”
People flock toward her as she moves to the center of the temple plaza. They give me uneasy looks, making the salt-throwing gesture over their shoulders as I pass by. I’m getting used to it. I head towards Kalos’s sanctuary, trying to think of what I’ll say to him.
How do I convince a god that just wants to be left alone that he needs to abandon his sanctuary and flee with me?
“Mistress!” Kina races forward with Dingle prancing around her feet. She’s out of breath, her cheeks flushed and her hair mussed. As I watch, she hunches over, holding her knees as she struggles to compose herself. “Army. Heading this way.”
“I know. Thank you. We’re going to get out of here.”
She nods, eyes wide. “Will he join you?”
“He will,” I tell her with a confidence I don’t feel. “Help Jemet pack and get out of here yourself. Will your family be safe?”
“They are fleeing even now.” Her expression is worried. “We have our valuables and what food we can carry. I hope it is enough.”
I take off my three golden necklaces and the bangles going up my arm and put them on her. “Here. Sell these when you get to a safe town. Get what you can.”
She shakes her head, worried. “But, Mistress, you’ll need them—”
“We’ll be fine. I promise. I’ll have a god with me, remember?” I smile at her with a confidence I don’t feel. “Now, hurry. Leave Dingle with me and get going.”
Her eyes fill with tears. “May the gods watch over you, Mistress Elsie. You are too good.”
The gods are the problem right now, but she means well. I hug her and turn toward Kalos’s doors. Jemet flutters at my side, all anxiety.
“You should go, too,” I tell her.
“I will wait until you are on your way,” she says staunchly. “It is my duty as his priestess.”
I nod and take a deep breath before I open the double doors and enter Kalos’s temple. It’s pitch-black inside, which is incredibly eerie. All the braziers are out. Of course they are; no one has been tending to them. Has he been sitting in darkness? For how long?
With an unpleasant curdling in my gut, I turn toward Jemet. “Do we have a candle?”
I don’t want to go in blind, stumbling all over myself. I need to seem calm and in control if I’m going to get him to listen to what I say. I wait as one of the servants finds a candle bowl and lights it, then hands it to me. I thank them and step into the darkness.
Immediately, they close the doors behind me. My candle sputters. My nerves flutter too. Did they have to do that? So quickly? I know they’re scared of Kalos. Hell, I am, too. He’s a god, and he might be apathetic right now, but that doesn’t mean he won’t change his mind. That doesn’t mean he won’t remember everything that happens. They want to please him, and my instructions were to keep his doors closed. Well…they’re closed.