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I choke on the slice of peach, my stomach tightening. Permanent guest. So it’s not my home, then. I’m just a guest. It’s their home and I’m just…visiting? But I keep smiling, because what else can I do?
Four
After I scarfdown the peaches and wash my hands and face, he continues to show me around the tower. There’s room after empty room as we head up the ramp that leads to the top of the tower. The tower itself seems divided into multiple rooms along the exterior wall of the tower, and only a few, circular rooms along the interior. I manage to peek inside one of the interior rooms, but it looks empty of everything but cobwebs. There are far more of the exterior rooms, though, and each has a bed and a window in it, along with other accoutrements. When we pause in one, I recognize the fireplace.
This was Faith’s room, but it looks empty. Surely they haven’t left so quickly? I glance over at my companion, but he’s treating this particular room with the same bored disinterest that he treats all others. I have to ask, though. “Are they gone?”
He blinks at me. “Who?”
“Aron of the Cleaver and his anchor. His companions. This was one of the rooms they were staying in.”
“Ah.” The Spidae shrugs. “I’ve moved you to a different timeline. I thought we should have privacy while you get comfortable with serving us.”
A different…timeline? “I see.”
He must sense my disappointment, for he touches my arm. “Come. I will show you something you will enjoy.”
“What is it?”
The god only smiles mysteriously and leads me further up the ramp. At the next landing, there’s a mass of webs covering a rounded portal and the Spidae brushes his hand over it. The webs part, revealing an entryway into a large chamber. This one has another one of the windows with a view out to the waters, and a window seat that I immediately covet.
It’s also full of trunks and bags of varying kinds.
I step inside, curious. There are wooden trunks of all kinds, some that look so old they might disintegrate at a touch, some with fresh, new-seeming wood. There’s a bag made of tapestry, and another enormous satchel made of leather, along with a saddle and saddlebags in the corner. The saddle looks…primitive and old. The room itself is cluttered from wall to wall with the trunks, and everything is covered with more dust. I cross my arms over my chest and look at the god. “What is this place?”
He shrugs. “Sometimes we get visitors.”
This surprises me. “And they leave their things behind?”
“Not all leave here alive.”
Oh. The news shouldn’t surprise me. The Spidae live in the most remote spot in the world, behind the Godspine Mountains and across the Ashen Sea. There are no civilizations out here, no friendly towns or even scattered outposts. Anyone that dies on this side of the mountains is just lost forever. I suppose the spiders bring their gear here, and the Spidae have no purpose for it, so it sits, eternally. “That’s sad.”
“Is it? Why?”
I know without looking over at him that he’s cocking his head at me, trying to understand. “They clearly had something urgent to ask you. Whatever it was, they didn’t get to live long enough to use what they learned.”
“You are certain they asked us for good things, then? Things like how to save a child, or how to marry a lover betrothed to another?” There’s a surprisingly cynical tone in his voice.
My question was foolish, then. Of course no one would travel so hard and so far for innocent questions. They are likely sought out by those that want power. Those that want nothing good for the everyday folk in this world. “Then these trunks are a bribe to you and your brothers? To get you to see something in their favor?”
“Does it matter? The owners are long gone, and anything in this room is yours.”
I start, surprised. “Mine?”
“A god has no need for mortal trappings. Even now, we only wear robes because it offends mortal eyes to be greeted by naked gods.”
I picture Faith’s reaction to that and I giggle. For a woman who serves Aron in all ways, she is surprisingly prudish at times. I can only imagine the horror on her face if the Spidae were naked around her.
The god makes a startled sound.
I turn, looking over at him, to see his eyes are wide as he gazes upon me. “That laugh…”
“Yes?”
“I liked it. It was…genuine.”
I manage a small smile. If he can tell what about my manner is real and what isn’t, I guess I’d better be real with him. “It was.”
