A Hand Weaving Chaos (Book 2 of The Fallen Gods Trilogy)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"Kachine, I have come as Kydel requested. If you are here, I wish to speak with you."

The moments are infinite. They trickle into eternity, a breath of wind brushing feathery tips against a tall mountain. She waits. Waits and waits because Kydel deems it be done in this fashion. She can curse his name until all the light of the world fade, but it will not change how things are done. It will not change this.

"Kachine!"

And finally, Kachine appears.

She is beautiful, radiating a light that darkness cannot dim. There are flowers in her hair. With Kachine, there are always flowers. Pink and blue and mauve. They fall, litter the ground, and die before anyone can love them.

At Kachine's side, kept elusively from sight, is a silhouette wreathed in darkness. It is difficult to distinguish whether it is male or female. No matter how she strains to see, her efforts are futile. And strain she does, until her eyes blur. But as with all things Kachine does, this is also impossible to understand.

"I am here Arianie."

"So I see."

"Do not reprimand me. I am what I am. You have no influence over me."

Her own chocking rage demands she tear the arrogance from Kachine's posture. Instead, she clenches her fists and holds on. "And does Kydel?"

Kachine's shrug is indifferent. "Whatever sentiments we harbor toward each other, the land must be healed. I am here because I am here. Accept that because it is all you will ever have of me."

Fury nauseates her. It is all she can do to remain coherent, to not reach out and beat the contempt from Kachine. "Tell me, what does Kydel request?"

"The dagger. But you must pass through my portal to reach it. Though the dagger may belong to you, only I know where it lies hidden. The chaos it brings is mine alone. Perhaps Kydel wishes you to seek my help. Perhaps he thinks you too proud."

Resentment unfurls at Kydel's betrayal. Will his manipulation never end? How dare he do this to her! Who does he believe he is? She is the mother goddess!

Indifference never leaves Kachine's stance. Her voice is as inexorable as the world. "Ask."

Manipulative, egotistical bitch. Does she expect groveling? "Kachine, will you help me find the dagger?"

A wry smile twists her face. "Yes," she answers, gallantly, it seems. "I will make a portal that will take you as close as I dare. The rest is your responsibility."

"Thank you Kachine. You are most generous."

"No, not generous. Prudent. Know that there have been many times when I fondly wished your ruin, just as certainly as you have wished mine. We would not be who we are if the case were otherwise. Are you ready?"

Kachine's presumptuousness is insufferable. "Yes. Wait! How will I get back?"

And Kachine smiles in a way that maddens her further. "You will find a way."

Magic is woven, the portal opens, and the world is gone.

*

Jill woke to shouting. It came from a distance, sounding like so much static and white noise. She sat up and cocked her head to listen, but the shouts were jumbled and muted. A riot maybe? What if Tamas had organized a mob to attack the temple? He had seen her in Valinac yesterday. Maybe he'd sent guards and aldar teres to hunt her down, to drag her back to the Inbastra, and back to...to him.