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“Yes, my lords,” I answered quietly. I stared at my hands that were only moments ago covered in blood. Panic started rising in my chest. Clawdia was dying, maybe already gone, passed into her new life, and I wasn’t with her.
Riseir raised one eyebrow and shrugged, his golden robe glimmered with the small movement. “Your prayers are not remarkable as many of the broken ones are also in dire need of our assistance.”
He stared at me as though he wanted me to say something. “Yes, my lord. Many are slaves.”
“So, you see our problem?”
“I’m sorry.” I took a breath and tried to calm myself. “I am most honored by your presence, my gods. I am at your service. However, right now, my soul pair—”
Charos waved his hand impatiently. “Yes, yes. Your soul pair is dying.”
I swallowed at his indifference. “I know—I know others are suffering worse … but she is—” I stuttered as I tried to hold back more tears.
I wanted to tell them how her smile set my heart alight. How I couldn’t imagine a realm without her light. How she was scared but still so brave. How she made me proud. How she was strong and fierce and beautiful. She is my everything.
Charos paced. The smell of incense hit me again as he stirred the air with his movements. “The slavers purging the realms are making our lives much more difficult by torturing and killing our worshipers.”
“We have brought you to us to consult with you.” Hedri continued to smile down at me.
Had this happened before, I would have been elated. I would have shouted and screamed and danced knowing that the gods chose me. I was special. My mother would have been so proud to see this, to hear about this. I would have offered the gods all of me. Become a willing slave to their desires.
But Clawdia lay still on a gravel road, and I would sacrifice anything to be with her, to save her.
I promised her I’d always save her.
I shook my head and said, “My soul pair—”
Riseir huffed out a frustrated breath. “Broken one, we have the power to save her. You should appeal to us to do so.”
I held my breath as hope surged through me like a flash of lightning, and I stared up at my god. “You would save her?”
He smiled. “We would.”
His smile was unnerving, but his words were a promise. He would, but there was going to be a price.
It doesn’t matter the price. Save her.
“What do you need me to do?”
Charos seemed pleased that I acknowledged the bargain and continued, “We find ourselves with people who are slaves, growing weaker and fewer each day.”
“You are free. You have found your soul pair. You are our hope.” Hedri smiled.
I shook my head. “I don’t understand.”
“Hope. For your people and for your gods,” Hedri clarified slowly with his soft smile still on his face.
I change my mind. Hedri is the scariest.
“I am your hope for what?”
“For the survival of your race. For the survival of your gods.”
I gasped. “You’re dying?”
“Gods are only such if they have people who worship them,” Riseir said.
Charos added, “Slaves have nothing. Only some call our names from the pit of despair.”
