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We've been here in Rainworth for about a week, and Avidor is the only God I've brought back so far. He's been an interesting addition to the town who has mainly kept to himself. He takes his meals alone in his home, but he does seek me out frequently to train me in his magic and test my strength.
I know I should be bringing the other two Gods back, but most of our focus has been on making this place habitable. And luckily, it is now. Mace and I decided to share a home, which is where Tulip and I are today. It's a small, one-room stone structure with a bed of straw stuffed in a cotton covering. A stone table with four chairs is in the center of the room, and a small counter with a basin resting upon it runs along the wall. We also carved in a wood-burning stove, but it's not getting any use. All meals are currently served as a community, and I can't see that changing any time soon.
Like she was reading my guilty mind, Tulip asks, "When are you going to bring back the next God?" With a loud crunch she finishes the apple and tosses the core up in the air before catching it. "I figured you would've brought them all back at once."
"We haven't exactly figured out the rituals for theother two," I say, ducking my head. "Plus, there is no telling the strain it will have on my body or magic."
"But Himureal is no doubt getting worse," she remarks, raising a brow at me.
"Don't remind me." I rest my elbows on my knees. "I know we need to get them here, but honestly? I'm a little nervous of what they're going to be like. Avidor is…"
"Weird? Creepy?"
"All of the above."
Tulip laughs, tossing the apple up again. Before she can catch it, I Decay it, and she squeals when the rotten core hits her hands. "Lola! Gross!"
"Who's gross?" Morrow says, poking his head in the doorway.
"Me, apparently," I say with a laugh. The Summer Seasonale leans against the open doorway, holding his left upper arm with his right hand. His white shirt is stretched tight across his broad chest, but something looks different about him, and I can't quite put my finger on it.
"You've changed your hair!" Tulip squeals, charging towards him, grabbing him by the chin, and turning his face side to side. "When?"
"Just this morning," he says with a soft smile. "My braids had been growing out for a bit, and they were getting so heavy. Since I can't restrain them the way I used to, I just decided to shave it all off."
His newly buzzed hairstyle sharpens his features. It's a good look, matching his personalitywell.
"I love it," Tulip says with a broad smile.
The air between them is charged, but not in a good way. It's like their easy camaraderie and relationship are gone, replaced with two people who don't know how to interact. "Shadowweaver," Morrow says, turning to me. "Zeph sent for you. He's working on the next ritual and could use some assistance."
"I guess duty calls," I say, pushing past the two of them and heading up the stone walkway to the small home Zeph lives in now. It's a short walk, all of us choosing to cluster our homes together, and when I get there, I find him poring over a journal, his shoulders hunched. When he looks up at me, I notice deep bags under his eyes, his beard is overgrown, and his mouth is turned down at the corners.
"Shadowweaver," he says, rising to his feet. "Thank you for joining me."
"Sit down, Zeph," I say, crossing to him. "You look like shit."
"Well, hello to you too."
"What's going on with you?"
He sighs, scrubbing his hands across his face before looking at me with bloodshot eyes. "Can I speak freely?"
"Of course, why wouldn't you?"
"You're a God, and I'm your high priest, and it's not like we're friends. There is an inherent power imbalance."
A startled chuckle escapes me. "I'm sorry, what? Zeph, that's so fucking stupid. You're a great high priest, but before you were that, before you lost your mind, we were on our way to being friends."
He winces a little but nods, his expressionweary. "I'm exhausted, Viola," he says quietly, slumping down a bit in his chair. "Not just physically, but emotionally. Serving as Himureal's fake high priest didn't prepare me for being your actual priest, and fuck, it is draining."
"Why haven't you told me this before now?"
"Because we're working to save the realm, Viola. Me being tired isn't really something that weighs high on the list of priorities."
I lean against the table, crossing my arms over my chest. "You've seemed to be enjoying yourself."
"It's not that I dislike my responsibilities," he says kindly, "it's just that it feels like my responsibilities are all that I am now."
