Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 161535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 161535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
“Oh, no. The Lord of Disease remembers any slights done to him. I doubt any want to inflame his temper.”
I hope the god doesn't have an attitude problem. I wouldn't be surprised if he did, given the situation, but it'll make it easier to get along with him if he's not an angry sort. "I'm sure he'll be very reasonable."
He can take his time showing up, too. I'm not eager for this task to begin. . I just need him to arrive before I’ve talked myself out of the entire situation. Dingle starts trotting again, letting out a happy bleat as we head down the road once more.
If only I could be as carefree as a baby goat who has no idea of what he’s just escaped.
We walk for maybe another hour or so before the overgrown temple appears on the horizon. By the time we get to the stone plaza, full of broken statues and crumbling buildings, the air has grown oppressive with moisture and the water laps at our ankles. My dress sticks to my skin with sweat, and I feel disgusting, the air heavy.
As we approach, the priestess rushes out to meet us, her skull headdress with the spikes askew, ribbons fluttering as she hurries forward. “You’re late,” she pants. “He’s already here.”
Chapter
Six
“What do you mean, he’s here?” I want to throw up, but I’m not sure if that’s nerves or the torpid heat of the swamp.
The priestess wrings her hands. “The Anticipation! The god’s Aspect has arrived, just as the thread-spinner foretold. And he’s very unhappy.”
They both turn to me.
This is my moment to shine, isn’t it? This is what Lachesis brought me here for, bargained with me for. I suck in a deep breath, suck it up, and put on my game face. “Okay, tell me everything so far.”
The priestess’s hands tremble as she wrings them in front of her. “He arrived at dawn, during our prayers. One moment he wasn’t there, and in the next, I closed my eyes and… divinity.” She presses her fingers to her lips and falls to her knees. “Sheer divinity. We are so blessed.”
“Super blessed,” I agree, helping her back to her feet. What an awkward moment. “Now, let’s keep it together, all right? We need to figure out what comes next. Did he say anything? Where is he?”
“I knew our Lord of Vultures would be beautiful, but he is like one of the stars come down from the heavens,” she whispers. “Dazzling to gaze upon. So angry at us, too. His terrible beauty—”
“Dazzling,” I agree, straightening her headdress for her. “Let’s focus. Where is he at?”
Her expression changes from rapture to agony. “He has retreated to one of the far buildings. He does not wish to be here. He does not want our prayers. I offered myself as his and he refused. He is refusing all. We’ve displeased him somehow. You must help us!”
“Of course he’s upset,” I soothe, ignoring the sting of betrayal I feel at learning that she offered herself to be his despite knowing that’s why I was sent. Doesn’t matter. This is the part I was brought here for. To take care of the situation, just like I did back home. To keep a level head when everyone around me goes to pieces. “He doesn’t want to be here, remember? He wants to be home in his cozy plane of, uh, disease, or wherever it is that he spends his time.”
She turns tear-filled, frantic eyes to me. “He says he will take no Anchor! He has refused all that we offered. Even now, he is fading. I do not know what will happen if he does not take an Anchor, save that the High Father will be displeased, and our Lord will bestow that wrath upon us.”
“It’s going to be fine,” I reassure her again. “He’ll take an Anchor. I promise. Let me talk to him. Show me where he is.”
The priestess nods, weeping, and wipes her face clean of tears. We hand off Dingle’s lead to one of the priestess’s acolytes, the goat bleating and trying to chew on my damp skirts before he heads off with the promise of a turnip. Kina remains at my side, fluttering anxiously as we set our bags down and the priestess leads us through the ancient plaza towards the building that the god of disease has “claimed” as his own.
I can do this, I tell myself. This is what I’m here for. This is the moment I was brought to this world for. I just…I hope he’s not too gross-looking. I hope he’s not covered in crazy diseases. I hope he doesn’t think I’m here to be more than just a babysitter.
Like a sexy babysitter.
It occurs to me that I have no idea what I’m getting myself into. Shit. Too late to have second thoughts now. If he’s some gross, rancid god that wants to get a handy in exchange for my brother’s life and future? I’ll…well, I’ll have to figure something out.