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“Good afternoon.” His voice was dry and void of emotion, unlike his expression. The fake smile on his face made Maris’s stomach turn. She didn’t return the greeting; she didn’t back down. She stared at him with a burning rage that bubbled from the pit to her stomach to her extremities.

“Silent treatment?” he said mockingly.

“Is there something you need, General Tuuli?”

Arwin’s eyes dragged over her body. She suddenly felt exposed and wanted to shrink away from the look.

“No. Well, yes. I think we started on the wrong foot. I wanted to apologize for what I said during our meeting. It was out of line.”

Maris glared at Arwin, unable to tell if he was lying. His lips were slightly upturned, but she wasn’t sure if his smile was condescending. “Apology accepted.” She squared her shoulders, not wanting to be intimidated by him any longer.

His grin widened, yet his eyes never smiled, they were void of that infinitesimal spark. “Blessed be the goddess,” he said, as Maris narrowed her eyes. Goddess? If this man wasn’t worshiping Ouranos like Valda did, who was the receptive of his prayers?

“Did I say something wrong?”

Maris shook her head slowly, taking a step back.

“Don’t tell me you are one of those who think all gods left?”

This conversation was going nowhere. What did he want? “I— am not sure what you want me to—”

“Do you believe in The Great Disappearance, Maris?”

Of course she did. It was what her parents taught her. The gods left, leaving their power to a handful of mortals. The kingdoms were forged after the strongest mortal took power. But Ouranos was a male god, and so was Poseidon. Who was the general’s goddess?Did it have anything to do with the golden apple he had kissed during Valda’s birthday?

“Yes,” she answered.

An acknowledging grunt escaped from Arwin. “I don’t believe in that,” he muttered, touching the handle of the sword at his waist before sticking his hand inside his pocket, grasping something. “I think some stayed behind. It was their turn to be worshiped as the old gods were.”

Maris opened her mouth, but Arwin changed the topic.

“You know, Maris,” he began, snapping his finger and pursing his lips, deep in thought. “Ever since I saw you the other day, I was fascinated and trying to remember where we had met.”

Maris stiffened, inhaling deeply, and taking a step back.

“It was a long time ago at the plaza. You are Raan Era’s girl, right?”

Maris upper lip curled, her hands balling into fists. She trembled with the need to smack him across his face. How dare he say his name? How dare he act so casually when it was after their meeting that her entire life collapsed. She could still remember her parents’ urgency when they left the plaza and how they dragged her down to the secret compartment inside their bedroom, how her mother begged her to stay quiet while they came and took her father.

She could still remember her mother’s empty gaze when she turned to tell her that the bond was broken.

“I know you had something to do with my father’s disappearance, General Tuuli.”

Arwin laughed, leaning against the wall, and looking down at her. He was being condescending, in fact he was being a total asshole, and Maris wanted to wipe that stupid smile from his face.

“Do you, now?”

Maris nodded, her jaw tense as he leaned closer. Her heartbeat resonated inside her head as she focused on the sharp and ugly scar on the side of his face. “I was young, but I remember how scared my father was when he saw you at the Festival. After that, my father was taken from our own home.” Her heart was beating so hard inside her chest, she was sure he could hear it. “What did you do to my father, General?” Maris asked, taking a tentative step forward, her hands fist by her side.

“Are you sure it was me?”

Maris frowned as she canted her head to the side in confusion.

“Maris!”

Widening her eyes, Maris noticed Valda walking out of her chamber, holding her cane and waving it around excitedly. Shooting a glance at Arwin, he silenced her by placing one finger over his lips. He pointed at himself and then wagged his finger back and forth.

He didn’t want Valda to know he was there. Why? “What do you mean?” She hissed just as he walked past her, brushing his shoulder against hers.