Page 40 of A Song of Saints and Swans
The goddess vehemently shook her head. “No! It’s just… the coincidences have been far too abundant to ignore—”
But the god of the Nav wasn’t done. “Are you saying I don’t know how to doMY JOB?!”
“Oh, cool it, Veles!” I shouted, beyond done with godly dramatics. “We all know how good Matthew was athisjob of being a raging psychopath. If the remaining madmen associated with the Facility have been lacing alcohol with something nefarious, then I would bet they’ve put in a lot of effort to cover their tracks. Efforts like having related deaths labeled as suicides while they continued to test their products on clueless civilians.”
Veles was murdering me within the fiery pits of his eyeballs, but I wasn’t done. “It wouldn’t be the first time this group of humans have made you look like a fool, so why don’t you direct your energy toward figuring out what they’re up to—and putting an end to it?!”
Marena was simultaneously shrinking away from Veles while also physically shielding me from his inevitable wrath, but I refused to back down.
Not when we have a resource like this at our disposal.
“You’re a godsdamngod,Veles!” I concluded. “So stop whining and go smite these assholes.”
The god of the Nav gaped at me in shock for a moment before a fanged grin spread over his face. “I knew there was a reason I liked you, swan. You’re right! I haven’t enjoyed a goodsmitingin a while, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving thanhumansplaying god…”
He trailed off, narrowing his gaze at me as if he’d never seen me before. “Anthia… how are you feeling at the moment, being here on Buyan?”
I shrugged, just as Rena anxiously asked, “What do you mean?”
Veles pressed his lips together. “Similar to the Nav and Prav, this island is in a realm apart from the human world. Mortals aren’t typically able to exist in such places, at least”—he grimaced, his gaze falling to Jarilo—“not without consequences.”
“Then we need to get him out of here!” Rena shrieked, gathering her twin in her arms and attempting to lift his much larger body.
With a sigh heavy enough to convey how inconvenienced he was, Veles picked up Jarilo and slung him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
“I’ll carry the delinquent. He’ll be as good as new once he’s on earthly soil—at least, he’ll be back to his aggravating self. Now! Let’s go sort out this mess, shall we,daughter?”
Marena nodded, scrambling to her feet before she froze and looked at me with wide eyes. “But… theAlatyr…”
Veles waved his clawed hand dismissively. “Let your consort handle it. It’s time youtrusted someone else to take care of things, soyoucan take a break now and then.”
Good advice.
The weight that lifted off Marena’s shoulders was an almost physical thing. She slumped against Veles' side, her expression heavy with exhaustion, but still unsure.
“I’ll be fine, Rena,” I soothed, closing the distance between us and depositing a sweet kiss on her lips, present company be damned. “I’m sure those oversized chickens are lurking somewhere nearby for when I need an escort off the island.”
Veles chuckled before wrapping his free arm around his daughter and pulling her close. “You won’t need to fly home, Anthia. TheAlatyris located inside the World Tree, which is a doorway to the Nav. Either Rena or I will meet you in my realm when we’re finished getting answers in Moscow.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak but grateful he’d be watching over my consorts while I got answers.
It’s time to find out who I am.
“Oh, and one more thing,swan maiden.”Veles flashed me another toothy grin as the three gods faded into the ether. “Welcome to the family.”
Roots
ANTHIA
After Veles, Marena, and Jarilo disappeared from sight, the first thing I noticed was thesilence.Walking to the edge of the summit, I saw the storm still raging below, but it no longer felt like a threat.
There’s nothing like a change of perspective.
When I first landed, my entire focus had been on rushing to Marena’s side. Now, I turned and took in the enormous tree trunk stretching into the heavens. You could find some fairly impressive, old-growth trees in the Siberian wilderness, but the size of this one made all others look like twigs.
Just as the Gamayun had said, a faint pinkish-white glow was coming from somewhere within, pulsing, as if it were a heartbeat. Unsure how to access the legendaryAlatyr,I tentatively approached the tree and placed my palm on the craggy bark.
“Hello? Um… let me in. Please?”
