Kalos is…Arrogance as well as Apathy? I want to laugh, because what a shitty combination, but there’s nothing funny about the situation. He has been rather fussy about his clothing, but I thought he was just vain. Maybe it’s not vanity at all. “Is there a way to check? How can we tell?”
“There are spinners in some towns.” At my blank look, he continues. “Wise women. They can see some of the Fates’ great web from afar. You might consult one.
“Yes! Fantastic! Where can we meet one?” A psychic? A real one? I would give my left tit for answers straight from the gods. Given that I’m currently besties with a god, I have no doubt that these spinners can really talk to deities. Why not?
His expression falls. “The nearby village has one, but she’s the woman that I’ve been visiting. Her illness is quite severe.”
“Oh.” I’m crushed, because I don’t want to bother a sick old woman. It takes me a moment to remember that Kalos is the god of disease. “What if we visit her? I’m sure I can ask nicely, and he’ll fix her up. I think he’d do that for me.”
“In other words, he will only help the unfortunate when both of you get something out of it?”
Oof. Hit me right in the heart, why don’t you.
Omos hesitates, then continues. “If I may be so bold…”
I grab him by the shoulders. “Be bold. Tell me exactly what you’re thinking, Omos. I need all the help I can get. I need advice. Answers. A crash course on what the fuck we’re supposed to do.”
He looks torn. “I just…I just wonder what your plan is. You’ve been with Lord Kalos for how long now?”
“Two months? Three? I’ve lost track.”
“And you’ve been running the whole time. Is…that your plan?” He asks gently. “To hide out and run for the entirety of his span upon the mortal realm?”
I blink at him. “I don’t know…I mean, what else can we do?”
“You tell me. You are the one accompanying a god.”
I’m silent. Not because I’m angry, but because he’s forcing me to really think about our situation long-term. I’ve been taking it day to day, hour by hour, existing until the next nap, the next meal, the next town. I haven’t thought bigger picture.
But…Kalosisa 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 dosomething.”
He makes it sound so easy.
I wakeup 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 yourother 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.”
