Omen: 16, 20

  “Oof!” Adam stamped onto the soft grass and dirt, squatting down to half kneel within it. He slowly righted himself, stamping both of his feet onto the earth, befng around. He could see the rest of his panions, as well as the Awakened Wolves, had mao nd well into the earth.

  “Is this…” Adam gnced around, finding his cart to one side, beside a figure.

  It erhaps the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, her skin liquid ptinum, her veins running like streams of gold. Her eyes held an a wisdom of the greatest of elders, swirls of all manner of colours floating around. In one hand she held a staff with a set of scales, which banced every so often.

  Uveil let out a low sigh, which caused Mara to perk up, crossing her hands over her navel.

  ‘Whoa,’ Adam thought. ‘Goddamn, she’s so hot.’

  She raised her free hand in a greeting, before speaking, though it was more like she was reg poetry than speaking. “I am Uveil.”

  Adam stared at her, realising what she was by her sight. Though he was enamoured by her beauty, he steeled his mind, before walking over to the teen Iyrmen, before he began to don his armour.

  “Good m, uh, afternoon, Lady Uveil,” Adam greeted, before throwing a look to Jurot and the other Iyrmen, who stood rexed, though he hat Lud Mara were far more tense.

  “There is no need for that, Adam,” she said, her voice still near musical. “We shall not be fighting today.”

  “Of course not,” Adam said, still strapping his armour. “I have no doubt that yourself, a Goddess, are no doubt here to chat. Yourself, a Goddess with the suffix of veil. Aion to Lady Eveil?”

  “She is my mother.”

  “Of course, of course,” Adam said, slipping on his shirt, so that he had some prote at least. “The Goddess of Bance. I’m not sure if the Goddess of Bance has any issues with me, the one who disrupts such bance, in more ways than one, but…”

  Adam paused, beginning to strap on his gaus, befng her way, eyeing her up, noting the scales, which were made of pure whiteness, like light, but Adam swore he could see its true form now and again, though his mi fetting its appearance. “Last I spoke with your mother, the good Lady Eveil, we seemed to have no issues. In fact, I believe she was on my side, alongside her brother, Lord Sozain.”

  “You seem more eager to reveal your dealings with the Divine in front of all your panions,” she said, motioning a hand to the rest of his panions.

  The teen Iyrmen were a buzz with excitement, meeting with one of the Lesser Divine, a child of one of the main pantheon, the child of Ritetu. More exgly, perhaps they could even e to blows?

  Vonda held onto her shield with both hands, praying silently as she stared at the young Goddess. Her heart thundered in her chest, though she tried to calm herself.

  Rick remained frozen, his entire body both hot and cold. ‘A Goddess? Really?’ His eyes fshed across the Iyrmen, then to his own group, the farmers each staring at the woman. Rick dropped to his knees, with the other farmers, and the porters, following right after.

  ‘A Goddess!’ Brittany thought, also on her knees, her head growing lighter with each passing sed. ‘It’s a Goddess! Lady Uveil!’ She had heard the name from when the vilge would have its religious sermons now and again. As far as she knew, she was the daughter of the Goddess of Bance, and she knew no more beyond that.

  Nobby wasn’t sure who she was, but had dropped to his knees beside his uncles. He stared up at her, w how strong she was. The sweet, i Nobby, long corrupted by the way of the Iyrmen.

  The Awakened Wolves y on their back, revealing their stomachs to the Goddess, unsure of what to do.

  “I’m not sure whether they’ll believe something that crazy,” Adam admitted.

  “Even though you’ve shown how you defy all reason?”

  “Still, it’s hard to believe that I’ve met the Divine, isn’t it? Plus, it was only through a dream.”

  “You may only meet the Divihrough a dream.”

  “Uhuh,” Adam said, staring up at the Goddess as he tio strap on his equipment. “It’s fine for them to know, since most of them work for me. If they’re about to die, they should at least know the truth.”

  “Why would they die?”

  “Lord Sozai exactly give people a heads up when he wants to cim them,” Adam retorted, tapping his amulet, which was cool to the touch, the kind of cool that revealed his ever watchful eye.

  “A fair point.”

  Adam remained silent as he tio slip on his armour. Once he had donned most of it, he spoke up. “What do we owe the pleasure, Lady Uveil?”

  “I remained with your cart to make sure no oole it.”

  “Well, thank you kindly,” Adam replied, staring into the Goddess’ eyes.

  Lady Uveil could see it, the defian his eyes, the reason as to why she was so apprehensive about letting him live. She could hear the unspokeion from within his mind. “You must be relieved that you returned so soon.”

  “How soon?”

  “Six nights have fallen since you left,” the Goddess replied.

  Adam firapping on his greaves, before leaning back slightly, stopping from donning any more of his armour. “Only six days?”

  “Only six days.”

  Adam tio stare deep within her eyes. “That’s rather fortuhe Half Elf smiled, and did not make to don his breastpte.

  “It is,” Uveil replied, her lips pulled taut as she almost gred down at the Half Elf.

  “So, why did you send us between realms?”

  “I did not.”

  “You didn’t?”

  “No.”

  “Oh,” Adam replied, awkwardly. “So are you here to wele us back?”

  “No. I was to watch over your journey, and to make sure it didn’t happen.”

  “What didn’t happen?”

  “Whatever was to happen,” the Goddess replied.

  Adam looked to Jurot, furrowing his brows, before returning back to look at the Goddess. “Right?”

  “Unfortunately, you were taken, and so I remaio greet you upon your return.”

  “Well, thank you.” Adam motioo the cart. “Thanks for looking after the cart too. Did you try the fish?”

  “I did not steal anything.”

  “Not stealing,” Adam replied, raising his brows in arm. “I wouldn’t dare to suggest a Goddess was stealing.”

  “No, you would say it ht.”

  “Thank you.” Adam nodded his head, smiling with satisfa. “You’re no hough, I guess you’re above nobles?” ‘Maybe I should doublespeak with them?’

  “…”

  Adam narrowed his eyes, falling into thought. ‘Hold on. She was here to wele us back? Then what sent us there?’ He waited for her to respond, but when he realised she wasn’t going to ahe question, he tio think. ‘All of this seems so awfully… ve?’ He caught Jurot’s eyes, who slowly nodded his head.

  “Wele back, Adam,” called a voice from nearby.

  He was tall, with pale skin, and encil thin. He was adorned in long cloths all about him, with a rapier at his side, and a e in hand. His eyes were dark, his face hard to see uhe thin cloth across his face. Upon his head was a rge crow.

  “Crowseer?” Adam called.

  Uveil turo face him, her eyes full of judgement. The scales tipped even, and she clutched it tighter. She tio gre at the stranger, whose presence she had not felt until he had decred himself.

  “Have you been well?” Crowseer asked.

  “Well enough,” Adam replied. “Did you have anything to do with this?”

  “As curious as ever, I see,” Crowseer replied, smiling from behind the thin cloth. “I apologise fhtening you all, but I thought to allow you to finish your versation before I spoke up.”

  “How long have you been standing there?”

  “Long enough that it became awkward to not speak up,” Crowseer replied.

  “Right. So… did you have anything to do with it?”

  “You pyed a greater part than I.”

  Adam looked to Jurot, sighing. “And I thought the Gods were cryptic.”

  “I see you’ve not taken my warnings to heart,” Crowseer said.

  “Well… I mean… I have, a little.”

  “If you wish to a such a way, you are free to do so. If you do not wish to act such a way, then you are free to do so.” Crowseer smiled, pg both hands top his e. “I hope your children are well?”

  “They’re good.”

  “All… six of them?”

  “Six?”

  Crowseer began to think. “No, five, isn’t it?”

  “Do I have another child I don’t know about?”

  “I don’t believe so,” Crowseer replied, smiling ily. “What of your sister?”

  “She’s doing…” Adam paused. “Crowseer, the Iyr has corrupted her.”

  “They do love their fighting.”

  “What am I to do?”

  “What are any of us to do?” Crowseer bowed his head lightly. “What of the other children? You must adore your new Cousins too.”

  “I do, but they won’t let me spoil them,” Adam grumbled in response. “Shouldn’t I be allowed to get them as many magical items as I want?”

  “Spoiling them too much will not help them in life.”

  “You know, I hear that a lot, but how many times do you hear the children of nobles failing at life because they were too spoiled? Doesn’t matter if they’re sn coke o around killing peons. Hell, st I checked, telling a he truth get you killed. If you’re riough to make the w, it doesn’t matter if you spoil your children and they cause a mess, no one’s going to punish them. Or they’ll be punished with kig it at home, you know, to snort more coke.”

  Crowseer remained silent.

  “Sorry,” Adam replied, clearing his throat. “Anyway, my point is that if they get into trouble, I’ll be riough to sort the situation out, or strong enough to deal with it personally.”

  “No one man ge the world.”

  “No, but being rich helps you influe.”

  Crowseer remained silent.

  Uveil also remained silent.

  Adam cleared his throat. “Sorry.”

  Adam has definitely learned not to be so cocky.

  *Reads chapter.*

  Nevermind.