He grunts. "I am pleased, yes."
"I…aren't you going to say anything to her?" I whisper to him. "She's been waiting for your return. She's been faithful. And you're just going to nod?"
"What would you have me do?" Kassam glances over his shoulder at me.
I can't believe no one has given the gods PR advice in all this time. "Get down from here. Go shake her hand. Make a real connection. Think of what a difference it will make to her if she gets to actually meet a god instead of just watching him stroll past. A person like that will tell others of her experience." I poke him in the ribs. "Try doing things differently this time and maybe there won't be a next time."
He glares down at me but then considers the woman and her son, prostrate in the dirt as the wild army soldiers past. They both quiver, no doubt scared out of their minds at the sight of both Kassam and the animal madness he's at the head of. When I poke him again, he shoots me an irritated look and then slides off the side of the griffin. I remain atop it, because no one cares if I say hello to the locals.
Kassam approaches the woman, and I inwardly wince at the sight of his bare ass. Maybe I should have suggested pants.
The woman sits up on her knees, trembling as Kassam approaches. He holds a hand out to her and she takes it, reverent, and presses it to her brow. He murmurs something to her and her son, and there's a look of complete rapture on her face as she gazes at him, so earnest that it's almost painful to watch. He brushes his fingers over her face lightly, and then that of her son, and walks back toward the pawing griffin I sit atop. He walks alongside it, his hand on the griffin's flank.
"Well?" I prompt when we're out of earshot. "How'd it go?"
The look on Kassam's face is thoughtful. "She said such nice things. It made me feel good. Not forgotten." He glances up at me. "Your advice was wise."
"I'm your anchor. That's my job, right?" I smile down at him, pleased and a little proud that I was able to help.
"More than that. You are my wife." He reaches up and brushes a hand possessively down my leg, sending a flare of desire rushing through me. It's been hours since we last stopped to have sex and eat, and I'm feeling the hedonism beast inside me needing to be fed again. "Are you all right up there?" he asks. "I think I shall walk and greet the mortals as we arrive. I…like seeing their faces."
I'm pleased at his words. He's taking this seriously, which is good. Maybe this is another thing that will help him return to power that much quicker, and I'm glad I said something. "I'm fine. But if I can offer a suggestion…"
He gives me a heated look. "All of your suggestions have been wise so far, my little light. Speak freely."
"Pants."
Kassam blinks up at me—and then laughs. "Pants?"
"I'm just saying, godlike junk might be in a lot of faces if everyone drops to their knees." I wrinkle my nose. "At the very least, maybe a nice towel wrap around the hips."
Kassam just laughs and laughs.
In the end, Kassam goes with one of the plain white shirts I packed for him, torn into a long piece and knotted with vine at his hip. Between the hooves and antlers, the silvery eyes and the tangled hair that never seems to stay in one place, he looks absolutely wild and godlike. If I wasn't already completely messed up over him, I'd probably be as besotted as the farmers that come out in droves to see him.
Because they do come out in droves to see him. The farmer and her son are just the beginning. As we approach the city, more farmers and travelers come to a halt in front of us, dropping to their knees in front of Kassam. Many cry at the sight of him, women hold their babies out to him, and horses and cattle from the farmers leave the fields and join our ragtag army.
Everyone knows Kassam's name. He's not been all that forgotten, it seems, because they chant and whisper about him. They follow him towards the city atop the hill—Chandrilhar—and cry with pure joy when he touches them. They flock at his side, gazing at him adoringly, and I think it does wonders for his bruised god-ego. He's worried so much about being completely forgotten, but it's obvious that even back in the day, people loved him. That they remember him with fondness and they're genuinely thrilled to see his return.
I bet Seth can't say the same, and the thought makes me a little smug.
By the time we get to the lower set of walls around the city, there's a parade around Kassam. People have abandoned their farms to walk at his side, clutching children and gazing at him with adoration as he speaks. He tells the story of Riekki's betrayal over and over again, and I'd swear the mob is ready to destroy her on his behalf. They seem furious that one god would sabotage another, and vow vengeance on his behalf. The hedonism affects them, and they touch Kassam all over, shooting him lascivious, hungry looks before turning on each other. A lot of people make it to the bushes nearby to sate their needs. Quite a few of them don't.
More than one of Kassam's devotees shoot looks in my direction, and it makes me more than a little wary.
"Shall we kill your anchor for you, my lord Kassam?" someone cries out.
I'm suddenly glad I'm atop a mean-looking griffin instead of on the ground, in the midst of the parade next to Kassam. I shoot him a worried look.
"My friends," Kassam says in that rich, honeyed voice of his. "This is Carly. She is my anchor and has traveled from another world to serve at my side. She is also my wife and my chosen mate. I know that an anchor must die to free the god they are bound to, but I would keep Carly alive and unharmed. Once we have taken care of the evil Riekki, we will journey to the Spidae and beg for their help to keep her safe."
"Is it love?" a woman asks, reaching out to touch Kassam's arm.
He takes the woman's hand and kisses her knuckles. "It is. I have fallen for a mortal female. Protect and cherish her as you would protect and cherish me."
I gape at Kassam. Is he…lying? Or is it the truth? Why is my heart fluttering like mad at the thought? I have a lot of feelings for him myself, but I haven't unpacked them. If anything, I've deliberately avoided thinking about my feelings lately because the thought of love generally makes me want to run for the hills. It's just another one of those things that I'm terrible at.
But Kassam smiles up at me, all cheer once more.
I don't smile back. I don't know what to think. Part of me wants to steer this griffin back toward the mountains, because at least there, I didn't have to worry about well-meaning people eagerly asking if they can kill me. It's not the only reason, of course. The bigger part of me wants to run because of Kassam's declaration. If it's the truth, it's just going to cause us both misery. If he's lying…well, my feelings are still hurt, stupidly enough.
The pull of hedonism starts to get to the people around us, and Kassam's parade turns into a traveling orgy. They pull at his minuscule clothing, and when that doesn't work, they pull at him, trying to get him to join them. I try not to judge. I really do. Kassam affects everyone like that. But each time a strange woman touches his hair, or a man runs his hand down Kassam's well-muscled arm, I feel a surge of jealousy. Stupid, petty jealousy.