My eyes snap open, and I turn my head in Chaska’s direction. “Ifeltsomething.”
But her attention is on the patch of ground in front of me. “The earth goddess listened.”
Where there were once only weeds and shards of grass now blooms a single yellow flower by my tucked legs.
I blink several times, but the flower remains. “Did I do that?”
Chaska lets out an exasperated huff of breath. “No.You turned to her, and she answered.”
“But why?” I ask. “I’ve ignored her my whole life.”
She plucks a blade of grass and lifts it up to her nose. “I sense a profound shift in the relationship between mother and daughter, brother and sister. It feels softer, as if there’s been a … reconciliation in their divine familia. We might be part of that story, in some small way.”
“I can’t see how.”
“Of course not,” she says. “We’rehuman.How can we fully know the ways of the gods? For now we must be open and listen, and be thankful for their gifts.”
It’s a start, a step in the right direction, though I sense the journey will be a long one. But I had felt Inti, I was sure of it—warmth curling around me like steam over a cup of hot tea. And then Pachamama’s friendly flower. They want a relationship with me.
“What do I do now?”
She seems amused by this. “Continue the conversation. Every day may not be like this, but you know they are present, listening. Tonight, when you read the words from Luna, perhaps they will make sense. But if they do not, try again and again.”
“I will.” Happiness bubbles to the surface. Without thinking, I throw my arms around her shoulders. “Gracias, gracias, gracias. This never would have happened if not for you.”
Chaska doesn’t push me away, roll her eyes, or tease me as I would suspect. Instead she hugs me back. “That is very true.”
I pull away, yearning to try again, to learn about these other gods who I’ve ignored for all of my life. I’m on the cusp of something immense, of finally understanding how I might be able to use Luna’s gift as it was intended.
More than anything, I want to be useful. If I’m a capable seer, then I have something to offer Sonco. Once married, I can take the first steps toward becoming the kind of condesa my people can respect. Leading an army against the Llacsan queen is the perfect demonstration of how far I’ve come.
“You have much to learn still,” Chaska says. “But if you give yourself the chance, I think you will make a fine seer.”
My happiness dims. “What do you mean? Of course I’ll give myself the chance.”
“Will you be both a seer and a ruler?”
“I can do both,” I insist.
“Of course you can,” she says with a shake of her head. “But it doesn’t mean you should.”
I lean away from her. “Where is this coming from?”
She assesses me and says, “Luna.”
“She spoke to you of this?”
“Some of your story has been revealed to me, yes.”
“What parts?”
“Ask her yourself,” she says, and her voice is kind, even as her attention draws toward the view of the city.
“I will.”
We settle into silence, and while not uncomfortable, I wouldn’t say it’s companionable. At least not on my end. I once again admire the city set into the mountain’s soft rolling hills. “You all have flourished,” I say. “It’s remarkable and inspiring.”
“And we have known no wars,” she says sadly. “But that might change in the near future.”
