Keeper (First Ordinance #2)(84)

"But where did I come from?" Brushing yet another tear away, I chewed my lip and struggled to clear my watery eyes.

"Dearest, perhaps only Liron had that answer," Kaldill replied.

I understood, just by looking at Kaldill, that Liron was dead. He was considered a rogue god, capable of terrible things. Was I also capable of such?

"Never think that," Daragar said softly. "Liron did what he could to save the people of this world. What better person to choose than the best you can find to perform that deed? Never place yourself among the ranks of the Hidden rogue gods. You do not belong there."

"We only have reports that he was capable, never that he acted in any way against the laws set out to watch and protect," Kaldill said. "It may be that he was coerced in some way to join the Hidden."

"This is too complicated for me to consider right now," I brushed more moisture away. "Berel, have you heard anything about the debates?"

"I've been watching live vids," he said, tapping his tab-vid. "It's the usual back-and-forth, now. I can see which ones already have their minds made up, and which are still unsure of their decision."

"They'll die if they stay—it's as simple as that."

"Today has been a trying one for you," Justis ran a hand down my feathers. "As was yesterday. Shall we have a quiet dinner and then rest?"

"I'm not very hungry," I mumbled, allowing my head to droop against Justis' shoulder.

"You should eat anyway—as much as you can," Ordin scolded gently. "Dena has Yellow Wings bringing a meal soon, and she and Ardis will join us."

"What will they think of all this? What about your brother?" I leaned away from Justis to ask. His dark eyes studied mine for a moment before he answered.

"When my brother learns you were brought here by Liron, he may curse himself," Justis sighed. "As should every Avii who has raised voice or hand against you."

"I hope the others never find out," I let my head fall against his shoulder again. "Tell Jurris if you like, but I don't want the rest to stare or ask questions I can't answer."

"There will be time to worry about these things later. Meal first, then rest," Ordin said.

He made it sound so simple.

There was nothing simple about any of this.

Something about Daragar's words concerned me, too.

He'd said that when things are connected, as the Orb and I were, that they had to be constructed at the same time.

Constructed.

I was a golem.

I'd never had parents. Ulrin had noted that I was curiously silent when he opened the box. Perhaps Liron intended that I never speak. I could carry no tales, that way. Why I did find my voice eventually, I couldn't fathom. Had Liron carefully plotted my life, or had he devised me for one thing and one thing only, with everything afterward an accident of sorts?

I felt like a fraud. A machine. Would anyone listen to me if they learned what I really was?

It made me wish to hide and weep from the sorrow and frustration I felt.

There was no time for self-pity. Siriaa's fate was uncertain because a poor decision had made it so.

"I'll eat," I mumbled.

"Good." One of Justis' wings lifted and covered me, pulling me tighter against him.

*

Vogeffa I

"How long will it take for the ship to arrive at the designated location?" Vardil asked.

"Two days at their best speed, provided there are no detours due to ASD entanglements," his assistant replied. "The ship left earlier this morning."

"Have any other Belancours met an untimely end?" Vardil asked.

"None yet, but we have several leads. One is hidden on Grey Planet, and another is still imprisoned on Le-Ath Veronis, as you know."

"Can one of ours bribe or infiltrate?"

"I will look into that immediately," the assistant replied. "Meanwhile, we have interviews with surgeons and warlocks to consider."

"I'll assess the lists very soon. Notify me when Siriaa is destroyed."

"I will, Lord Cayetes."

*

Kondar

"How in the names of all the gods did they get distracted over what parcels of land they wanted on Morningsun, rather than deciding whether they would go there in the first place?" Edden thumped the mug of tea on his desk.

"You know how easily some are lured away from the topic at hand," Melis shifted in his seat. "This is the usual delaying tactic, designed to divert attention and bring the vote closer, so that few know what they're doing when the vote is cast. If some think they won't get the best deal or exactly what they want, they'll vote against leaving."

"What can they hope to achieve by that?" Edden growled. "Time grows short. Who cares who gets a shoreline we don't even have, yet?"

"I realize that those who've offered the land did their best to match what the Sectors already have, and that was a noble thing to do. Who knew that it would become a petty squabble over who has the best parts of it? They haven't even set foot on it yet, and already it's a point of contention."

"It's times like this that I wished we could be a monarchy for just a few moments. I'd approve the exodus, everybody would be moved and then we'd go back to the way things were."