“Yes. Why?”
“Most agreements I come across, it’s usually not like that. The consequences are clear. If one party steps over the line, the arrangement becomes void. This one is written in a way that gives you all, including your father, a lot of flexibility. Although the power imbalance is very clear.
“From what I gather, the only true repercussion your father would truly face is if in the event he came to the Godsdawn and attempted to take you against your will back to the Abandon, the others would step in against him. For the four of you, though, there are a few terms that are clearly laid out that would cause your return to the Abandon.”
This isn’t new or helpful information to me. Derivius, although he didn’t disclose this entire agreement to us, was very clear about certain rules we had to follow and things we had to be careful about.
Namely, the killing Domain Gods rule and a warning about the loss of protection for us if we cross the barrier willingly. Even to go fight.
“Judging by the blank look on your face, you knew that.”
“Yes. I’m well aware of the terms and truthfully, I’m not concerned with them. As you said, those provide us with plenty of flexibility to get out of trouble aside from a distinct few. The only thing I care about is a way to void the entire agreement. The terms don’t do that.”
“I agree they don’t, but there’s a piece of one that stands out to me and it’s why I asked about the Goddess of Accord. I won’t lie to you, the first time I read through it, I skimmed right over this. It’s something she always adds to any decree or agreement she oversees, depending on the definition of expectations. The second time gave me pause. I don’t know what it means, though.”
He motions for me to unroll the scroll, and he holds one side down for me as I drag the rest out. I follow his finger across the long-winded fluff until he stops at the long list of terms that laid out their expectations of us while we were here in the Godsdawn.
While under the privilege and protection of the Godsdawn, the sons shall be assigned roles deemed necessary to the betterment of Godsden. Fulfillment of these roles is expected and nonnegotiable. Exceedance of them is neither required nor anticipated.
In the event that the expectations of a standing divine accord are fulfilled, or deemed to have been fulfilled, the matter may then proceed under doppia disaccord. Where appointed entities demonstrably fulfill and surpass their designated functions, the governing authority will be required to acknowledge completion.
“The sentence that begins with,in the event that expectations, blah, blah, blah, she always includes this sentence. Hence why Iskimmed the first time. The second read through, I realized after the part,the matter may proceed, she used different wording. She always says, the matter may proceed at the discretion of the binding authority.”
I hum as I read the entire sentence repeatedly. I didn’t skim this anytime I read it. It was expectational, godly charged jargon in my mind.
All agreements have expectations attached to them and to me, this was the term that stated they expected us to fulfil and keep up our roles.
“What does doppia disaccord mean?”
“I have no clue.”
“Is that not a commonly used term among you Rulers?”
“No. Don’t you Guiders know more than any of us?”
“No. We’re all supposed to work with one another.”
He grunts. I can’t tell if it’s from his personal disagreement or if he agrees with my statement, but is acknowledging the Designations don’t work together as they should.
“I need to be going. Sorry I didn’t come up with more than it seems you did on your own.”
“You did. Given my brothers’ and my purposeful distance from the Goddess of Accord, I never would’ve known this was her wording or I suppose a change in her verbatim. I’m not sure if it means much, but it’s more than I had. I appreciate that.”
I’m not sure what sound that is coming out of him. Something akin to surprise, possibly. He dips his head and turns on his heel to leave.
“Nero, if I may.”
He pivots back toward me with his hand on the door handle.
“I know you take a lot of pride in your position in Valveilious, which is fine and understandable, but I’d like for you to know, my brother doesn’t want that position. You can let go of your formality around him. All of us, for that matter.
“Also, your parents’ approval may be something you continuously seek due to their standing and your fear of becoming lesser, but you could never be lesser at this point. Your Valtrue is incredibly strong. It’s my guiding advice, you put your effort into impressing the family you now have. Not the one who will never accept you by this point.”
The look on his face is very unkind.
He doesn’t say anything as he slings the door open. He freezes only long enough not to slam into my brother, then he stomps away.
“Well, good to see you too, Nero,” Kyzen calls as he arches a brow. “What did you say to him?”
