GODS AT THE CENTRE ( EDITING)

CHAPTER XXIV, VAXES: THE BEAUTY OF ODD THINGS.

Drown, that's all she could think of. Please, gods, let this ship sink or let me drown at least.

"A whore is but a penny. Bread is for half. Water is free. Is there a reason a man should not be happy?"
Someone was whistling cheerfully, his footfalls were rhythmic taps.

Vaxes hissed, she knew that song. She hated its cheerfulness, hated that damn singer, whoever he was for being so cheerful while she was sad.

The tapping and singing got closer and closer till he beamed at her.

"A beautiful morning to you, my friend. We are finally home-"

All it took was a deep scowl to send his good-natured face into confusion.

"Or never mind, I would be going now!" He danced away still whistling.

Vaxes shook the taffrail. She breathed frustration.

Across the seas, the sun was just rising, its light played across the waters, making it like a golden dream come to life. The cry of thousands of gulls filled her ears. There lying at the end of their journey was Thigia, the mother of cities

Drown.

"The gods haven't given man control over the sunrise nor the sunset. We don't command the wind and yet it seems to me that a man may shape his day with so little a thing as a smile or a frown in the morning," Biaros yawned.

"I'm not a man." She tightened her jaw.

"And that's your problem: thinking that not being a man is the source of all your problems, that and always being angry. A girl should smile often. Try it, smile with me." The corners of his mouth rose, effortlessly. His teeth were a white gleam. Although his blonde locks were slowly turning grey, it strangely gave him an odd attraction. A blend of youth and refined age.

She tried to smile.

He chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "No, no. Vaxes my child. That's not a smile, it's a frown. Show your teeth. Move your lips."

And she did just that.

He laughed again. It was most natural for him to do so. "No, that's a snarl! It's something a wild dog does. Try again."

This was ridiculous. "This is foolish! I don't want to smile!"

He glowed. "A smile makes one hardly age. It's my secret. A smile is also a weapon if you learn to use it well."

That snagged her attention. "How?" She growled.

"You're just like your father. Your emotions come out to the front. No hiding, no style. Mask your emotions. Bury your anger under layers and layers of smiles."

"That might work for you. You're a courtier. I'm a soldier. All I do is fight! I do not need smiles."

"Yet, it was with smiles that I saved you."

Unconsciously, she reached for his hand. "And for that, I will be grateful in all my lifetimes."

Biaros eyes laughed, pleased with the world. This man was called the queen's person. "I'm the Queen's and she's mine," he had told her on the. Island. He had been waiting for her at the camp.

"Don't mention it. Your father was my friend."

At that point, the steaming mugs were being passed among the sailors. Biaros took two steaming cups off the tray and handed one to her. "Drink," he smiled.

What she saw was Emmeso's face. She was back on his ship, beside him by the taffrail.

"A man can not escape his chi." His arrogant voice hummed just before he sipped from his mug.