“I didn’t mean we had to sleep in a van,” the elder Fate said.
“Well, wearea god,” Lachesis said. “I’m sure we will adjust as needed.”
“Fine,” Atropos said. “Let’s get this over with. Do you agree with the conditions of our deal?” She leveled a steely glare at me.
“In exchange for Cardamom’s tree to be safe and whole, and never again be threatened or harmed by you or anyone you send. And also for Cardamom’s life to continue as it ever has, unchallenged by you in the same way it has been before this incident. For that, we will return your three coins by noon tomorrow.”
All three gods had the same narrowed-eye look on their faces. “You’ve worked with gods before, haven’t you?” Lachesis asked.
“Yes.”
“Yes,” Clotho said quickly. “We don’t need other negotiations. Those are the terms, and if you agree, we agree.”
Lachesis shook her head. Atropos stared up at the sky and muttered about youth and impulsiveness.
“I agree,” I said, “on behalf of Cardamom Oak.”
“Then it begins,” Clotho and Lachesis said at the same time.
“And it will end soon enough,” Atropos warned. “Enjoy your very short time left, little seed,” she said to Cardamom.
He didn’t reply, which was best. I was his voice, and he had a tendency to open his mouth and fuck everything up.
“So,” Card said, “now that we’ve come to an agreement, I wonder if you—”
I pushed off the post and wrapped my big hand over his stupid mouth. “Nope, no. He does not wonder anything. We are done here. All the way done. Completely, completely done.”
The Fates stared at him, as if willing him to find a way to get out of my hold, which I knew he could do. He was a wizard, and thatstepVal had witnessed was something Card used to do all the time.
He wasn’t a person who could be kept unless he wanted to be.
The moment stretched, then Atropos turned on her heel and stomped off toward her Slingshot.
Clotho smiled. “I knew this would work out. Didn’t I tell you it would work out?”
Lachesis pressed her lips together as if she wanted to say something else.
“I’m just so glad we decided on a road trip,” Clotho continued as she walked slowly back toward her Vespa. “Aren’t you glad?” she yelled to Atropos.
Atropos swung onto her Slingshot and gunned the engine to drown out the younger Fate’s words. She pulled out onto the road and took off.
Lachesis turned away, seemed to remember something, and turned back.
“You will have allies, Crossroads,” she said. “You will not like all of them. But...well, it is your choice if you take their assistance. Remember where your journey will take you, and spare no time looking backward for the gifts you seek.”
She disappeared, then reappeared behind the wheel of the van.
The van and Vespa engines rumbled, and the two Fates rolled down the road to the pullout just on the other side of a stand of trees where Atropos had stopped.
“That could have gone worse,” said Val, who had been silent this entire time.
Card reached up and pressed his fingertips to the back of my hand. The contact was electric and familiar.
I realized I was still holding him, my hand over his mouth. I’d also stepped into him, so that his broad back was against my stomach and breasts, so that his hips, if I took that slightest step forward would slot to mine.
The pressure of his fingers changed, became feather light as he dragged one fingertip over the back of my hand, pulling magic across the ink there.
I stepped back and dropped my hand off his mouth.
