“I’ll explain on the flight. I promise. Please, Thayla, the faster we get there, the faster we leave.” The plea in his tone stabs my soul, and my heart races.
I know good and fucking well whatever this is, is nothing he’d ever be truly okay with.
I nod and allow him to guide me to the others.
Their gentle touches and caressing of their soul simmer the…I can’t even call it rage. I don’t know what’s bubbling inside of me. Yeah, I’m pissed, but also deep disappointment washes through me.
Tense silence fills the carriage as we take our seats, and the wheels roll back. I’m not the least bit excited or curious to watch out the window of this flight.
Instead, I observe the stark differences between the Godsdawn carriages and this one.
Namely, it’s not at all luxurious. I mean, it doesn’t need to be, so that doesn’t really matter, but the dull leather and random extra seats take me by surprise.
I think that god Creed ordered around just placed two random chairs in here to accommodate us.
“I believe proper introductions and a thanks are in order. Our journey thus far wouldn’t have been as smooth as it has been without all of you.”
I stare at Doren.
His tone isn’t nearly as cheery as it has been, but his isolation from people has obviously stunted his ability to read a situation.
“I’ll begin. I’m Doren, God of Discovery. I’m sure Thayla filled you all in on everything she learned about me in our last encounter. We can spend some time after this truly getting to know one another. I really look forward to that. This is one of my Valtrue members, Nero Valadi. He’s—”
“Allow me, Doren.”
“Of course, of course.”
I tilt my head at the stern but patient look on Nero’s face. I’m not sure but can assume Doren found him pretty quickly after our encounter, and they’ve spent all their time together since then.
“As he said, my name is Nero Valadi. I’m a Valveilious Mediator.” None of us respond and he roams his gaze over each of us. “Something you all already knew. Which isn’t surprising given Kyzen’s role in Godsden. That is you, correct?”
Kyzen nods. “That’s correct. I recall your time in the Godsdawn overlapped with ours for a few years.”
“I apologize for not having the same recollection. The information that the sons of Obliteration were now living in the Godsdawn was a well-kept secret for many years. You’re all well known in Valveilious, though.”
Again, none of my Valtrue responds as they stare him down. I get the overwhelming sense that there’s more to that statement that I don’t understand. I’m not in the mood at the moment to decipher it.
An annoyed sigh leaves my lips as this…pissing contest between him and my men continues. They’re obviously trying to get a feel for him, but my nerves are too on edge for this tense stare-off.
“So anyways, Doren, officially, this is Kyzen, Creed, Amick, and Riven.”
“It’s very nice to meet all of you. Officially.”
Riven’s the only one to grace him with a smile. Kyzen attempts to, but it falls short. Creed grunts, and Amick nods.
Fucking lovely.
“Sevryn, care to add anything?”
He huffs out a ‘not a thing’ and I grit my teeth.
“Great. Glad we covered that. Now I’d like an explanation on absolutely anything that’s happening right now.”
“Where would you like me to start?”
Creed’s question holds a touch more attitude than I’d appreciate, but the way he’s staring out the window mindlessly makes me bite my tongue.
I take a deep breath and calm myself down.
