Of course, Kaiser Willheim had them eating out of his hand in five minutes. Almost literally. He began passing out candy bars almost as soon as the first of the gold-and-green robes reached him.
Knowing precisely how big of a disaster this was going to be, Hawk said, "He's from the God-World" to her would-be rescuers. And, because they did not immediately react like they were scared, nor like they would like to cook Kaiser on the Earth Archon's altar, she added, "All three of them are."
This brought on a chorus of ooohs and aaaaahs, and an out-reaching of hands. One person in a green robe fainted. Hawk didn't see anyone reaching for the newly prone worshipper, so she leveraged them up herself, coaching them carefully out of a swoon. The others were swept along with soft words and many, many, many eloquent blessings. That left her alone with the fainter.
"Can you walk with me?" Hawk asked. The fainter nodded, and began helping Hawk through the brush. Movement made her realize her ill-fated ride on the Hare had damaged more than her pride. She was limping and had lost a shoe at some point. Her vaporous vanguard tried to offer their own shoes. She refused them and simply limped after the now-retreating lights. Her rescuer didn't have one. She was going off in the one direction the Shadow didn't want her to follow—back to the procession. And he might catch her in the dark, and...and one of the lights ahead was coming towards them, so she could relax. She didn't need to be afraid of strangers with Alex's face...it was the Light Archon and a small handful of gold robes, two of whom were left with Kaiser and the others. The remaining four held a litter.
"I am not getting on that," Hawk said, immediately.
"They found the remains of your Hare a few moments ago. I thought you had died." Her own Archon said, reprovingly. "Now I have one of those miracles I have always lusted after—a dead woman, revived!—and you won't accept one singular gift of joy?" His blank ivory mask tracked from her to the procession and back. "Besides. You are injured and there is quite a bit of territory between us and the procession. You'll be a swift meal for the Shadowbeasts."
Cats, she wanted to correct, but chose not to. These were their monsters, after all. Might as well stick with the local names. Sighing, she tried to argue that the fainter needed the litter more than she did. At which point the Archon of Light, saying nothing, moved the fainter to stand next to Hawk, where she could clearly see that they had two shoes to her one, and the bare foot was bleeding. She climbed into the litter and allowed her Archon to bandage her foot. Glancing at the Gold Robes, she said, "Is it...safe to speak?"
"Depends on what you wish to say," He said, congeniality. But his mask jerked once, a sharp no.
Shit. "I think I saw—"
"Secrets, that should be confessed to an Archon and only that. No need in sparking unnecessary panic, when we are recovered so late from a necessary one. Lift her up, men, there's a go. And we'll be back in one piece."
Yes, but she needed to give him one warning, no matter what. "I know these people, Archon," she whispered, pulling him down so she could whisper into one exposed ear. "The oldest man is dangerous. Do not trust him."
The Archon pulled back. "I understand."
They were brought back to the procession with a minimal amount of fanfare, at least until they reached the field of lights surrounding the moving baggage train. When the newcomers were safely surrounded by increasingly eager young acolytes (all in green and gold, of course) a handful of green robes broke off from the general glut and ran for the forward portions of the procession. Hawk, who was feeling very stiff by now, could only brace herself and hope the explosion of egos weren't going to be very bad.
YOU ARE READING
Book 2 The Gods of Light and Liars
Science FictionA week ago, Hawk West was just another Entomologist studying ants. Five days ago, she lost her husband when an extra-dimensional rift swallowed most of Boston. Three days ago, she became the best hope we have to avoid annihilation. Today, she's goin...