Page 63 of The Gods Veiling (The Valorian Veil #1)

It reminds me so much of Oddian, yet it’s definitely been kissed by the gods. The dirt path has changed into a stunning stone pathway that continues to lead down the road. I assume to a center and possibly in other directions.

There’s gold, marble, and beauty everywhere I turn my head, but just like home and honestly, the Godsdawn, it hasn’t taken over nature.

It’s infused itself.

There’s gorgeous ivy crawling around the pillars that hold up the massive building to my right. To the left, the staggeringly tall structure is much of the same.

Power swirls through the air. I sense it even though there’s a sheen of Riven’s coating my blood and invading all of me. I tilt my head back and inhale deeply.

I can’t help sighing when the smell of meadow grass and angel orchids fills my nose. “I didn’t think anywhere else in the Valorian Veil smelled like this.”

“Yes, your little forgotten region has held on the most to how the realm operated before the gods got greedier than normal.”

“What do you mean by that?”

He shakes his head. “Come on. I want to go to the market. My original plan has been ruined now, so instead of having fun, we’ll just eat. ”

“Eating is very fun. Who doesn’t love food?” He grunts something akin to agreement, I assume, and I carry on since he doesn’t say anything. “What was your original plan?”

“Uh, it was a master plan. That disgusting fool from yesterday ran straight here to his parents after being stripped from the meadows.

His daddy used to be lead Meadow Hand during his time in the Godsdawn.

I guess Ike stupidly believed because of that, his dad could talk his way back in or some shit.

“As I eavesdrop—overheard the conversation in the Sanctum, I was waiting for his dad to say what a disgrace his son was for harming a Veilatara. That never came. He relentlessly tried to negotiate ways to have his son’s image repaired. So I was coming to pay his meadows a visit today.”

My nostril lifts and a small touch of his power sheds off me. “He has Veilatara at his meadow here?”

“Fuck no. Other creatures. I was going to tie him up in the middle of his field, then set all the creatures free. Now my chaos is all calm and subdued because my harmony had to fix you.”

“Two things. One, I’m not broken, so you didn’t fix me. You just made me less mad at your assholery. Two, I’m so confused. Why do you need your chaos side to do that? Can’t you just summon it forward or however it works?”

“However it works? Has Amick not gone over this with you yet?”

I scowl at him. “No.”

“I’m going to mock him for his failure when we get home.

” He laughs like that just perked his mood all the way back up.

“Yes, of course it comes at my command, but it’s more fun and more powerful when it comes on its own.

It’s been swirling in my belly since I heard the conversation. Now it’s gone. Thanks a lot.”

“I didn’t tell you to use your harmony side on me, thank you very much. You did that all on your own. I’m grateful for the distraction but don’t turn it around on me like I asked for it.”

He grumbles something inaudible and stomps his way down the stone path. I race to stay on pace with him but after a couple of strides and me missing all the sights to see, I grab his arms to slow him down.

“Listen, Mr. Pissy Pants, slow down so I can see everything. After you feed me, we’ll go visit the meadows like you planned and maybe your chaos will give you the warm and fuzzies you obviously need.”

That beautifully terrifying smirk crosses his face. “You’re okay with what I have planned for Mr. Failure of a Father? ”

I shrug. “I’m not participating, just observing. Do whatever makes you happy, my little psycho.”

A deep hum vibrates from the back of his throat and he takes a huge step into my space. This time, I’m ready for his attack. I slam my hand between us, blocking his lips from locking with mine.

“I didn’t say you could do that.”

He backs away and puts his hands on his hips. “Confusing and tempting woman.”

“I’m not. You’re the confusing one. You’re more hot and cold than a storm in the summer.”

“I like dancing in storms.”

I seal my lips shut to keep from laughing at him.

Confusing and tempting man.

A little pep is added to his steps when we head in the direction of the market again. He murmurs one of his melodies to himself while my eyes eat up everything they can.

This is obviously more of the business side of Godsden. There’re no homes or anything like that. The few gods I see walking around are dressed in their best and we stick out with our pants and casual shirts. A few glances are directed our way, but for the most part, they go on about their day.

Riven tugs my arm as we take a path between two buildings and then another. This route has stolen the gorgeous and open sights for me to see, but we aren’t cast in shadows for long. A gasp escapes me, and my eyes grow wide when we hit a busy street.

“Oh. This is truly a market.”

My lips part as I turn in a circle. Both ways down the street have merchants, but they don’t look like the ones I’m used to. Nor do their stands or what they’re selling and trading.

Instead of just tables set out with a few items for sale, they have shops behind them that are even fuller of their things. People go from the table to inside, and others emerge with their hands full of things.

“This is not at all what it was like when Oddian met with Darlander.”

“No? What was it like?”

“Well, we all met at the line that separates our regions. We’d have tables set out in like a circle.

Them on their side, us on ours. What we brought with us was all we had.

Darlander would always have more variety because they’d bring with them the things from the other regions, but we always had the most produce.

This is like…everything in one place and it seems not to run out. ”

“Oddian people wouldn’t go farther into the regions?”

“Yeah, sure, some of them, but I never did. How do they afford and make all of this with so much abundance?”

I’m starstruck by the buzzing and excitement all around me. There’s so much happening, it’s overwhelming.

“I’m assuming the same as you all did. Trading products, the gods’ gold, or with the exchange and use of power.” He tilts his head and his nostrils kind of twitch at the confusion scripted across my face. “Why do you look like that?”

“Because it’s not the same at all, really. Yes, we traded products, but our currency wasn’t called the gods’ gold. We didn’t even have gold. We had paper bills. And obviously we didn’t exchange or have power to use to make anything.”

“Huh, strange. I guess that makes sense for ungodly people. Amick really is slacking on his teachings. Anyways, follow me.”

With that, he starts weaving in and out of people, and I rush to catch up to him before I get left and lost in the sea of people.

An umph falls from my lips when a body collides with mine. I instinctively grab their shoulders since they’re smaller than me and I glance down into a mischievous set of brown eyes.

I smile softly and arch my brow down at the young boy. “Someone’s in a hurry this morning.”

“Sorry, ma’am, had to get a head start—”

“Uh, Rowden, you cheeky boy. I can’t let you out of my sight for a moment,” a sweet, teasing, motherly voice calls out and the boy giggles as he turns in my arms.

“I wasn’t going to go far.”

“You said that last time and I found you on the roof of a temple.”

I snort at the kid’s laugh. He’s obviously not really in trouble and this is a common occurrence.

“And of course you found yourself in the arms of a beautiful woman. Oh, my dear, thank you for catching him.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say I caught him. He more so crashed into me.”

“There’s the goddess I’m looking for. Standing with the goddess I was running from,” Riven says as he comes up beside the lady and slings his arm over her shoulders.

I grumble beneath my breath, “I knew you were doing that on purpose. ”

“Oh, Riven, my boy. I didn’t know you were coming today and bringing a friend. Mind your manners and properly introduce us. It’s bad enough Rowden just ran into her while trying to escape me. Sound familiar?”

The boy and I chuckle while she and Riven have a stare off.

“Fine, very well. Thayla, this is Mrs. Annalise Akova. The best cook in Godsden. Annalise, this is Thayla Godrun, the new thorn in my side.”

“I’m going to show you what a thorn in the side feels like.”

Mrs. Akova smiles at me like that’s the best thing she’s ever heard, and I return the look.

“I love her already. So come on and let’s get you kids fed.

It’s the least I can do since she saved me a day’s trip looking for this one, but it’ll have to be to go.

The children’s day is starting.” She ruffles the little boy’s hair, then moves him over to Riven.

“You two go ahead. Riven, do me a favor and talk to him about running through these streets.”

Him and the boy exchange matching grins. I have a feeling Riven will just be teaching him things he probably shouldn’t rather than helping in this situation.

Mrs. Akova links her arm through mine, and I can’t help but embrace the warmth spreading through me from her power. There’s a gentle and calm air about her. She feels like the safest place you could ever find yourself.

“You must be one of this year’s Chosen. You have that look in your eye.”

“By look, you mean confusion, correct?”

She laughs a little and pats my hand. “Yes, that and a sense of wanting to figure it all out. It’s rare that the Chosen venture into the heart of Godsden this soon after a Veiling, but I can always spot the ones that do.”

“Well, Riven proposed a break from the Godsdawn and I didn’t want to pass it up.”

“My, that boy can find something to get into. Always has and always will.”