Page 12 of Lost and Stolen Gods
Rathor’s crew cheered and hopped around as I peeled my boots off the deck, pulse hammering in my veins because the air smelled different in a way that I didn’t have the words to describe. Itfeltdifferent too.
This wasn’t my world. Of course it wasn’t.
The ship bobbed for a moment before the wind caught the sails, blowing us toward the distant shore.
Mountains wreathed in clouds jutted up from the expanse, and birds circled the sky at the coast. They had to be huge to be visible from this distance.
“What are the flying things?” Remi pointed.
Rathor smirked. “Thunderbird sentinels.”
But I didn’t give a shit about the birds or the pretty view that seemed to have enraptured everyone else. I needed answers.
Dharma beat me to it, storming up to Rathor to demand, “Where are you taking us?”
He raised both eyebrows with a slight smirk. “Now, now, there’s no need for that tone, but I appreciate why you might be riled up. Your little ambush plan failed.”
“Can you blame us for trying?” Priti asked.
“No. I suppose not.”
Remi and I joined the trio. In daylight, there was a green tinge to Rathor’s skin. It shimmered as if it was imbedded with tiny specks of glitter. He was taller than I remembered too. At least a head and a half taller than me.
“We just want answers,” Priti said.
“I’m afraid I can’t give them to you,” he replied. “My role is to deliver the cargo.”
“We’re not fucking cargo,” Dharma snapped.
The look of pity he gave us made my stomach contract. “Whatcanyou tell us?”
His shoulders dropped slightly. “You’re no longer in the mortal world but in one of the many divine realms of the gods. This one is called Svargana. You all have divine blood, strong enough to warrant attention. My role is to collect you and transport you safely into the hands of the mage sent tocollect you.”
Dharma swallowed hard. “What if we want to go back home?”
“Then you’d have to fight me.” His smile was mirthless because he knew that we couldn’t hurt him. “My advice to you is to accept your fate. It doesn’t have to be an awful one. The spelled shackle that I’ve applied will dissipate once I hand you over.”
Dharma’s eyes gleamed at the thought, probably planning a second ambush attempt.
Rathor tutted. “Bad idea. The mage and guard will pulverize you if you attempt an attack. The loss of one potential won’t cripple them.”
So that was it. We were stuck. No way back, only forward. Fine, if that was the case then so be it. I’d adjust and survive, because that’s what I did best, and when the time was right, I’d find a way home. But for now, in this moment, there was one piece of information I needed more than air itself. “What do you know about the shadow monster who killed my grandmother?”
A wrinkle formed between Rathor’s eyebrows. “Shadow monster? I have no idea. We come for the marked. We reap and we leave. Shadow monsters? Not in our remit.”
He strode away, done with the conversation. “Sprigg, hoist the sail!”
“Wait a—" I let out a squeak as Sprigg loped past, long thin arms swinging against his ankles.
He leapt at the mast, then scrambled up to releasea purple sail that billowed and snapped. The boat picked up speed, and the land took shape. Cliffsides and rocky formations curved outward on fingers of land that seemed to reach for the sea to create a neat bay.
The closer we got, the larger the birds grew. We were still too far to make out much detail, but it was now clear to see they were circling the bay where we would undoubtedly be throwing down anchor.
There was truly no going back. The finality of that thought spawned claws of panic in my chest. This was bullshit. All of it. Rathor had to know more than he was letting on.
I stormed up to him again. “You’re lying.”
“Am I?” He didn’t even bother to look at me, and anger licked at my chest.
