Kalos’s expression is as bland as bland can be. “Gossip. People make up stories because they have nothing better to do. You don’t believe it, do you? Do you feel like you’re sharing my powers when you work on the book?”
“Well, no. Mostly my shoulders hurt and my hand cramps.”
“Exactly.” He rubs his thumb over my hand. “I’ll have to give you a nice massage when we get back to the monk’s home.”
That sounds good to me. Kalos enjoys being alone with me (and let’s be real, I enjoy being alone with him, too). It usually turns into more than a massage, but our quiet moments also turn into long conversations, and I love those as much as his touch.
The priestess opens a set of ornate double doors and indicates that we should step inside. As we do, I see multiple altars covered in flowers. Delicately embroidered pillows are setupon the floor in front of each altar, and several priestesses in red kneel in front of them, praying. We move past them into a smaller room with a large open window that looks over a flower garden. A table with a vase and more flowers is set near the window, along with two filigreed chairs that look like they’d snap in a strong breeze.
“Please, sit here and I will get you refreshments,” the priestess says. She moves to one of the chairs and pulls it out from the table, looking at me pointedly. “You may call me Priestess Alithia. It is an honor to serve the gods, truly.”
I sit down, glancing out the window. The lovely garden in the distance is down a hillside, the window a sheer drop down a cliff at least fifty feet high. It makes me dizzy and I step back from the window just to be safe. “Thank you, Alithia. We’re not intending a long visit, though. I mostly just wanted to peek at your book?—”
“Don’t be foolish,” Alithia says in a warm voice. “You must be famished. I’ve heard that anyone serving the gods as their tether must eat all the time. Allow us to tend to your needs.”
A protest forms on my lips, but before I can speak, my stomach growls. Flushing, I manage a nod, and she bustles off.
Kalos thumps into the seat across from mine, stretching out his long legs. “They’re going to ‘honor’ us until we go mad with it, just so you know.”
I groan. “I’m starting to realize that.”
Priestess Alithia returns a few minutes later with a tray of food and a carafe of wine. My stomach growls anew at the sight of the apple slices, cheese wedges, and savory tarts that are piled atop the tray. There’s crusty bread with a pot of honey and butter in the shape of a rose. “Our food is simple, I’m afraid. If we had known we’d be serving the god’s Anchor, we’d have prepared something far more spectacular. Priestess Jifa isour cook and she’s distressed that this won’t be pleasing to you.”
“It looks delicious,” I tell her, and snag one of the tarts. Thick gravy oozes out. I take a bite. Heaven. “You’re very kind to feed us.”
Her eyes go wide. “We are doing our sacred duty! Truly, we are honored that a god should come and visit.” She glances over at Kalos again, and seeing no friendliness on his face, turns her attention to me once more. “If I may be so nosy…”
“Can we stop you?” Kalos asks, bored.
She flushes, but continues, staring at her ring-adorned hands. “Might I ask what Aspect we are honored with? Or is that too bold?”
Kalos doesn’t answer.
I glance over at him as I chew, and he gestures at me with a roll of his eyes, indicating that I can speak on his behalf. I debate on the truth or not, then decide the truth can’t hurt. “He’s Apathy.”
Her eyes go wide. “Oh my. I thought…I thought Apathy would be more…well…” She trails off.
“I’m trying very, very hard to be a good boy,” Kalos replies in a dry voice.
“I see.” Priestess Alithia considers this. “Is there anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable, my lord? Anything at all?”
“You can get the book for us.” He crosses his arms over his chest.
Alithia smiles. “Of course. Once your Anchor has finished eating, we’ll bring it out. We like to be careful that none of our books get stained or dirtied. You know how it is.”
It makes sense. I cringe every time I see a smudge on one of Omos’s beloved books, because each page represents hours of painstaking work that no one seems to appreciate. I eat a littlefaster, but the food is incredible. We get simple things at Omos’s home, but he’s careful to make his supplies stretch as far as possible so he can feed all that cross his doorstep.
They have no such compunction here. As I finish off the apple slices, another priestess comes in with a plate of jam-filled cookie sandwiches, and tiny tarts with candied nuts on the top. I eat one of everything, and it’s all so good that I continue eating. Priestess Alithia continues to make small talk as I chew. She tries to engage Kalos in conversation, but he ignores her and gazes out the window, clearly only here for my benefit.
It leaves me to chat with our hostess between bites.
Yes, we’ve met another Aspect or two.
No, we didn’t originally meet here, we met at one of his temples. No, I’m not from there. I’m from…elsewhere. I don’t say where.
No, I don’t know how many aspects are left or how much longer the anticipation will go on. (I lie about that, just because I’m not stupid.)
No, I haven’t met Belara’s Aspect.
