Page 42 of The Gods Veiling (The Valorian Veil #1)

He jerks his head back toward the barrier and my eyes scan the shimmering veil. Twenty gods aren’t enough to hold it together forever. Especially if they’re growing tired and constantly restless.

“But they did not get past these defenses. That is the most important part. Four completed Valtrues on that side are plenty enough and there is backup here whenever it’s needed,” the High Chancellor states calmy but completely fucking wrong.

“The twenty of us holding the line on that side isn’t enough. We split up and rotate shifts in twelve-hour spans. No one can fucking sleep, everyone’s always worked up, prepared for the next hit. We’re not enough.” Brock’s voice rises with his frustration at the High Chancellor.

I understand and agree, but talking to the High Chancellor like that isn’t going to work. He takes shit way too personal.

“Sir, what’s your solution or request to put these matters aside?” I ask and give Brock a pointed look when he narrows his gaze on me.

“They are doing a fine job as they are. We can’t extinguish any more resources from the Godsdawn.

We already have a number of Valtrues assigned to a daily rotation from this side.

Not to mention we send you all plus other Valtrues in when they desperately call.

The pressure seems to be getting to them, but they need to remember they are gods. This is their responsibility.”

I hold my hand up to stop Brock from flipping his shit.

“I agree, it is their responsibility. If I remember correctly, there are four other completed Valtrues whose daily responsibility is to man this side. By the definition of their role, they’re to protect this perimeter.

Plus, the few others who are always on standby and in random rotation, correct? ”

“Yes,” the High Chancellor agrees begrudgingly.

“Do the majority of the attacks happen at night?”

Brock nods once before speaking, “Almost all of them are at night. We’ve only had one daytime attack in the last three months.”

“I see.”

The perfect solution to this problem is already worked out in my mind. Now it’s a matter of getting the High Chancellor and his silent brownnosers to agree.

“We don’t want to pull any more gods from the Godsdawn. That’d defeat the purpose of their responsibilities here that they know are theirs and put too much pressure on us. You’re completely correct in that, sir.”

Brock bristles beside me like he can’t believe I just said that. If he gives me two seconds, he’ll understand. The High Chancellor, on the other hand, is preening with his premature victory.

“I am glad you see it that way, Kyzen. Do you see a solution for this so we can stop with the pestering request?”

“I believe so, yes. The four Valtrues that have a daily rotation on this side shall take the daytime shift across the line from now on. Brock’s group, since this is their responsibility and they’re the most experienced, will continue to take the twelve-hour night shift.”

The Chancellors accompanying the High Chancellor begin murmuring agreeingly behind him. He keeps his face impassive although his eyes tell me something very different. He won’t be able to reject this, though.

“And what of this side? That will still leave us providing additional support at night.”

“Not necessarily. Like we just mentioned, there are random rotations already manning this perimeter along with the resources on this side. So no additional resources are being provided, just moved around from daily roles to nightly ones.”

There’s a tense strain slathered all over the High Chancellor’s body. For whatever reason, he really wants to keep the protection on our side of the perimeter, but that simply can’t happen. We need Brock and the Valtrues he leads protecting from over there.

“Chancellors, do you agree?” he asks with barely controlled anger. His eye even twitches a minuscule when they all hum yes. “Fine. Kyzen, work out the finer details.”

Without even a glance in Brock’s direction or any notion to the other Chancellors, he starshoots away. It isn’t but a second and they follow suit. I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest .

“Gods, he’s a delightful piece of work, isn’t he?” Riven says sarcastically as he walks up to the barrier to run his finger down it.

I turn fully to face Brock. “Did something happen between the two of you prior to this?”

“You mean the old fucker didn’t tell you?”

“Nope.”

“Of course he didn’t. Wouldn’t want to sully his good image.

I’ve come to him three times in the past month requesting help.

The night before the Veiling, one of the gods on this side was hurt and had to be taken to the healing villas.

He showed up here demanding to see me and tore into my ass for our carelessness .

“I lost my shit and told him I’m about to start screaming to the Beginning Gods, or worse, put in a formal complaint, about his lacking.

I may have also reminded him I’m no longer a god waiting for his power and my word carries a little more weight than it did when he had control over me.

It was only then that he agreed to set up a meeting with you present. ”

“That’ll do it. You hurt ol’ Harriseen’s pride. Ahh, I wish I could’ve seen it. No wonder he was so hard on our little Thayla the next day.” Riven sighs as he comes to stand back beside me.

Brock cocks his head to the side. “Your little Thayla?”

“Ah, yes. You’re looking at the newest completed Valtrue.” Riven dramatically holds out his wrist and highlights his mark with his other hand.

“Well, shit. The top gods just became…topper gods, huh?”

I can’t tell if it’s a question or a statement and the confused look on his face says he doesn’t know either.

Regardless, that’s not what I’m interested in discussing.

“I knew by his demeanor we weren’t going to get additional resources out of him, but a complete shift change should help until we can figure something out, right?”

“Absolutely. Us getting out of that godforsaken shack, being able to sleep in our own beds, eat a hot meal, have the ability to shit and shower with more than a curtain blocking us will give everyone the pick-me-up we need. We aren’t trying to avoid our responsibilities, but we’re getting our asses kicked.

The Oblirians are changing, and they aren’t holding back.

If they held the power we did, we’d be fucked. ”

I internally cuss at that news. “I know you’re not avoiding anything, but you can only do so much. Tell your groups to stick it out today and tonight. We’ll go meet with the ones on this side and inform them of the change. Tomorrow you’ll all get the break needed.”

“Thanks, Kyzen. I’d say hopefully I’ll see you all soon, but let’s hope that’s not the case.”

I shake his hand and grunt my agreement.

I fucking hate anytime we get called to come help.

Riven and I start walking the perimeter in search of the group leader on this side after Brock crosses back over.

I’m positive they’re not going to have any issues with the changes. It’s been stated enough times, but this is their responsibility and for the most part they enjoy the job. It’s literally built into them with their Defender Designation.

“Do you ever miss it?” Riven asks between his whistling as he drags his fingers through the shimmering veil.

“Miss what?”

“The Abandon.”

“We see it plenty enough for me.”

“You know what I mean.”

Yeah, I do.

“The Abandon, no. The power we had in the Abandon, yes.”

He sighs. “Samesies. Maybe our abandoned burden will help us get it all back.”

“Quit calling her that. And definitely don’t call her abandoned. I don’t see her taking kindly to that at all.”

“Why not? She’s like us in that regard.”

“Yeah, and I imagine like us, it’s not something she likes bringing up.”

“So sensitive. Regardless, Big DD gave us a sweet little release because of her. Maybe he’ll do it again, but next time all of it.”

I plaster on a normal smile as we come up to the first Valtrue we see. I don’t have anything to say to Riven regarding that.

Only time will tell what’s in store for all of us.