“I have no doubt Thayla could put them each in their place if she pleased. You’re quite moody here lately, brother.”
“I wonder why that is.”I purse my lips at Seismet.
It’s his own fault for tapping into my emotions so often. I can’t tell you if it has or hasn’t strengthened our connection. I don’t feel any different. He’s in a constant state of aggravation.
“What trap are you referring to, Riven?” Creed asks again.
“Oh, just the one where Thayla lured us out here under the guise of relaxing when she really wants to talk.”
“Talk about what?” Kyzen and Creed ask at the same time.
I decide to cuddle up next to Amick since he’s the only one not barking at me.
“I want to get all of your opinions on something.”
“Okay.”
All of them, including our companions, drag the agreement out like they’re nervous.
This was a very last-minute thought on my part, but one that’s been consuming all my others here lately. Especially after I got the letter from Doren yesterday.
“How do you all feel about me openly communicating with the Messenger?”
They fall still. The shock on their faces would humor me any other time, but I’m being pretty serious right now.
“What’s your purpose behind wanting to do that all of a sudden, Thayla?”V asks.
“Honestly?”
“I’d expect nothing less.”
I nod and wait until Amick seats us on one of the built-in rocky benches.
“Things have been taking us by surprise too much here lately. It’s leaving me in a constant state of anxiety, waiting for something or someone to jump out and startle us. I just figured…
“If I give growing a connection with them a shot, then maybe they’d be more willing to give us a heads-up before shit goes down. I get it sounds a little selfish and superficial, but I don’t know what else to do to be more prepared for something.”
He hoots as he glides from the rocky formation he sat on that first night I met him, until he’s perched on Seismet’s head. The seriousness in our three revered creatures keeps my laughing at bay.
“Unfortunately, my Vedae, that isn’t how it works. The Messenger will know your intention and won’t freely give you answers.”
“Then how does it work? Because I, for one, am over this shit. I’m over the cryptic clues, a half-assed prophecy being told, running off to the Abandon or Hell because someone’s in trouble. It’s getting old knowing we’re in the middle of something we don’t fully understand and having no idea exactly what it is we’re supposed to be doing.”
My outburst echoes through the forest behind us, and I take a calming breath as I let the power of the hot spring sink into my bones. The anger slinks from my skin and I flex my fingers under the water.
“That’s because no one knows exactly what it is you’re supposed to be doing.”
“Seismet,”V and Verlet bark.
“No. I’m tired of this as well.”He neighs and a flow of power rips across the land as he slams his hoof down.
The guys and I stare at the three of them with our mouths gaping open.
It’s obvious they fall into their own conversation without us. They huff every so often, and V continues to point his wings at one or both of them.
“You all are the generation that never should have existed. None of the five of you ever should have been born, but you were. It threw the realm even more out of balance than it already was.”
“Brother,”Verlet warns, but Seismet shakes his entire body out as he stands.
