“You don’t even know what I did to defend her, but pray tell, Thayla, what more would you have me do?”
Thayla shrugs. “You had no problem tying me up to a post and whipping the shit out of me.”
That comment shifts the energy in the air. My head tilts a fraction as I notice how Gladian deflates a fraction.
“Yeah, and I learned my lesson from that. I then vowed to never whip anyone ever again. Got any more suggestions?”
“You didn’t vow that to us,” Creed says.
“No, I didn’t. I kneeled in the Court and vowed to the Valories.”
“Why?” Thayla asks.
“That’s none of your business either.”
She scoffs, then jerks her head to the side as his two missing Valtrue members finally emerge. Their matching blackened eyes don’t satisfy me, if I’m honest.
Not that I care about Mara and whatever strife they have going on, but I want retribution for my Binder.
I want to be the one to end their lives.
“They’re still recognizable,” Thayla grumbles as she rolls her eyes at Gladian. He returns the gesture, then focuses on Mellcom and Jeremiah.
“What took you two so long?”
“There’s a line of gods trying to get in here right now,” Mellcom grunts. Heat spreads through my fingers as he looks at Thayla. “Thay—”
“As all these gods in here are my witnesses, I will kill you where you stand,” she warns low.
“Then I’ll dance around the room with your corpse on my back like a backpack,” Riven says cheerfully.
“You’re fucking psychotic.”
“Eww, don’t flirt with me. I hate you.”
Kyzen, Thayla, and Yemi all snort. I’m positive Mara would like to make a sound, judging by how her nose just twitched, but she holds it in.
Our heads snap forward as a clap thunders through the room and multiple bright flashes of white appear in the center around the Volreen.
Chancellors Laven and Wick stand on one side, while Ellian and Gulliver stand on the other. Harriseen’s in the middle, gripping the edge of the Volreen as if it’s his own personal creation to handle as he pleases.
“Completed Valtrues of the Godsdawn and Godsden, welcome to our first ever Power Worthiness Test. For those of you who have been in your completed Pairings for more than a year are familiar with what is about to happen. For those of you who haven’t, this test resembles what you went through on your Veiling Day or Coming of Age Day.”
He croons on, over-explaining exactly what’s about to happen as though we’re children who didn’t understand his references. Everyone in this room remembers the day they stuck their hand in the Volreen for the Designation Revelation and Attendant Worthiness Tests.
“What’s a coming-of-age day?” Thayla whispers.
“Children who are born here in Godsden go through what you went through on your Veiling Day on their eighteenth birthday,” Yemi mumbles back.
She’s correct in her simple explanation.
“I notice and appreciate all your preparedness in bringing with you an item to slice your hand to offer your blood to the Volreen, but that will not be necessary. This blade…”
He holds a dagger in the air as he struts around, I assume so everyone can see it.
“Has been embedded with my power. Once you slice your palm with it and place your hand into the Volreen, you will produce a parchment. Scribed on it will be your results. Those results will be recorded, then instantly sent to the Beginning Gods who are converging in Valveilious. They will review every individual for their worthiness.”
The entire room shifts on their feet and murmurs float through the air. Some seem tinged in excitement at being noticed by the gods. Others, that news seems to unease them.
