The way she bares her teeth tells me that she hates, hates, hates Seth, the Usurper in question. Are they really worriedabout that guy? I’m a little surprised that he’s enough of a factor that the goddess wants two other Aspects to band together with her to fight him off. Maybe being split into four aspects makes her feel vulnerable. Whatever it is, it’s a losing play on her end. My Kalos is never going to go for it.
“Work with you?” my Kalos asks. “Both of you?”
“Why not both of us?” she replies, eyes glittering. “With three Aspects working together, we’d be unstoppable, no? Didn’t you hear that Aron of the Cleaver has already been removed from the mortal realm? Don’t you think the three of us could run things if we worked together?”
He strokes his chin.
Okay, maybe my Kalosisgoing to consider it. My stomach sinks at the realization, but maybe he’s got a plan for all of this. Maybe there’s an angle I’m not seeing.
My Kalos stands upright, kicking the chair back behind him. He shoots the two gods a narrow-eyed look. “What makes you think I want to work with my two greatest enemies?”
Oh, thank fuck. I exhale with relief.
“Come now,” Belara says, moving forward. She doesn’t climb the hay bales to be on the same level as Kalos, but she moves to stand right before him. Her hand grips his thigh and she’s face-high with his crotch. “I can be very convincing.”
Murder. I want to murder her.
My Kalos plucks her hand off his leg and steps away from her grasp. “I’m no longer interested in anything you have to offer.”
I make a soft noise of relief in my throat. At my side, the woman leans in close to whisper. “No offense, my darling, but I’m not very fond of your goddess at this moment.”
“Me either.” I pull the veil off my head and stuff it under my arm. It’s probably not a good time to be seen as a Belara worshipper. I’m rather disgusted by how blatant the goddess’sploys are. Does she really think this shit is going to work? It seems painfully obvious to me.
But as I watch, Liar-Kalos’s hand clenches with anger as he sees Belara flirting with my Kalos.
Okay, so maybe someoneisfalling for this.
Someone in the crowd sneezes again.
I snap my attention back to the throng. Who was that?
The entourage all sneezes repeatedly and obviously, trying to cover up for one person in particular. But…who?I stare at them all fiercely, trying to figure out which one is the real Anchor. Which one looks like they’re faking?
A young, freckled man turns his head, and as he does, I see a gleam of wetness under his nostril. His nose is running. His eyes look a bit watery, and as I watch, he sniffs.
Aha. He’s not faking.
Unless he’sactuallysick. But why would Liar-Kalos make his own men sick? He wouldn’t. As I stare the man down, he sneezes again. The others follow suit, but it’s too late.
I know which one is the Anchor now. A sick joy spreads inside me even as I realize I’m going to have to kill him.
“Are you really going to infect all these people?” my Kalos asks, his voice pitched loud enough to carry over the crowd. “When we’re supposed to be meeting here in peace?”
I feel for my sword handle under my clothes. It’s belted at my waist, but I need room to draw it, and even more room to use it.
“You’re the one refusing to cooperate, aren’t you?” Liar-Kalos growls. “Didn’t we come here in peace?”
“Says the god spreading his plague even now. You think killing my Anchor will get you what you want? I thought Belara wanted to work together?”
“Can’t you tell I do?” the goddess cries, shooting an angrylook at Liar-Kalos. “Isn’t it obvious we’re here for discussions? Nothing more?”
Someone sneezes again, followed by another chorus. Ahead of me, a big man sways, as if ill. Someone makes a retching sound. Ugh. I press the back of my hand to my brow, but I can’t tell if I have a fever or not. If the crowd is really being infected with plague, I have to act soon. I glance at the two Kaloses—still staring each other down—and Belara is turning to her people. She makes a subtle gesture with her hand, and my heart clenches in fear.
“That man!” I bellow out as loud as I can and point into the crowd. “He’s got a knife! He’s here to attack Belara! Quick! Someone protect the goddess!”
Screams break out. The crowd surges ahead and I see the goddess being swarmed by her attendants, rushing to protect her. I pull my sword free and move towards Kalos’s retinue. His Anchor, the one I’ve identified, hovers at the back of the retinue group, likely to throw me off from assuming he’s the real one. There’s a woman surrounded in the center of the similarly garbed attendants, but I keep my eye on Runny-Nose. He’s hanging back as the others move closer to Liar-Kalos. People jostle and push in the plaza, and someone starts screaming. It’s madness.
It’s perfect.
