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)
But…Kalos is a god. He’s not wrong. He has power in his name, his reputation. He has limited access to his abilities, if I don’t mind being violently ill in exchange. If we wanted to abuse our power and take control of the situation, we could. It’s just risky. If people know where we are, they can come after us. We could be murdered within a week.
But is spending the rest of our days running and hiding the answer? “What did other gods do?”
“You must find your own path, of course,” Omos says. “But you met Seth. He has amassed an army. And when Lord Aron of the Cleaver was in the mortal realm, he had an army, as well. Several, actually.”
Armies. God, just the thought of trying to help Kalos run an army makes me want to vomit with stress.
“I don’t know that we’re fighters,” I admit. “And Kalos is unpredictable at best.” Even when he’s alert, he’s prickly and unsympathetic. And if he’s in a fugue state…I can’t imagine we would inspire an army.
“Then do something else.” Omos’s voice is gentle. “Just do something.”
He makes it sound so easy.
I wake up the next morning full of determination. Not even the headache throbbing behind my eyes can put me off my new plan. I eat breakfast, ignoring the faces Kalos makes as I devour the food, and approach Kalos with my idea before he takes the goats out to the pasture. “I have plans for today.”
His silvery brows go up.
“Omos says there’s a spinner in a nearby village. I want to go talk to her.”
Now he rolls his eyes. “What’s a charlatan going to do for you? If you want someone to lie to your face, I’ll do it and save you the walk.”
“He didn’t say she was a liar,” I protest. “Are they all liars?”
“Not all of them. But does it matter? Why do you want to talk to a spinner?”
“So we can pin down where your other aspects are so we can decide how to move forward? Let us know if Seth is coming after us? Tell us how much longer this Anticipation is going to continue?” I tick them off on my fingers. “Should I go on?”
He eyes me speculatively. “You’re in a foul mood this morning.”
“I’m not. I just have a headache and it’s getting worse when we argue. And I’m frustrated because all we’ve done so far is run from enemies, and I don’t feel like it’s an effective plan.” I’m tired and frustrated, and last night I’d dreamed that Seth had caught us, that he and Margo had laughed gleefully even as they led me towards a guillotine.
Not that I’ve seen a guillotine in this world, but the rest feels a little too close for comfort. The bad dream is probably the source of my headache and my shitty mood. “If we can ask someone who has a connection to the gods—possible connection,” I correct when his look darkens, “then why wouldn’t we take this opportunity to seek out information? What else were you planning on doing today?”
Kalos shrugs, but the annoyance remains on his face. “If this is what you’d like to do, then we can do it.”
“Yes. Perfect.” I want to grab him by the shoulders and kiss him with relief. For once, we’re going to be proactive instead of reactive, and the feeling rising inside me feels like…hope.
I put on my heavy shoes and smooth my wrinkled clothing out, then talk with Omos. He gives me directions to the village and offers up bundles of herbs to carry with us to keep the plague away. Then he giggles to himself, shaking his head. “I’d forgotten for a moment who you were with.”
“We’ll still take the herbs,” I say, tucking a bundle into my belt. I don’t want anyone else knowing who we are. It’s safest to be anonymous. Then I pause, my head pounding. “I don’t suppose you have anything for headaches?”
“Your head bothers you?” Kalos asks, stepping forward. When I shrug, he reaches out and brushes a fingertip across my brow. My nose tickles for a moment, but then the headache vanishes.
I should chastise him for that, but I’m just relieved my head feels better. I manage a wary smile. “Well, that’ll make travel easier. Thank you.”
Kalos just grunts.
“If you’re determined to do this, look out for the doors with the bird symbol painted on them,” Omos warns. “Those homes are full of sickness.”
It’s worrying to think about getting ill, but I’ve got Kalos with me. He’ll protect me. I thank Omos for the herbs and directions and we head out, leaving Dingle to play with the other goats. It’s a beautiful morning, the weather cool and the sun pink and orange as it emerges into the sky. On one side of the road, the trees sway in a gentle breeze, and if I didn’t look on the other side of the road, I’d think this place a lovely paradise. But one quick look on the other side and there’s nothing at all. Just dirt and that uneasy feeling as you stare out over the dead miles of land.