Here I am sitting atop the world's angriest bird-lion and people are touching my man.
And then I get mad at myself because I think of him as my man. He's not mine, and he's not a man, as he's reminded me many times before. Here I am dripping with crystals to keep my sanity and…why? So someone else can paw him? So they can all flock around him and make goo-goo eyes at him and threaten to kill me just to please him? Not for the first time, I wonder why I agreed to this.
But then Kassam glances up at me and gives me a rueful smile as if to say “Look at this mess” and my heart skips a beat.
Because I know why I'm here. I know why I went through all of this. I know why I'm at his side even if it's dangerous and people want to kill me. It's because of Kassam. Kassam with his laughing, affectionate nature and his eager drive to set things right. It's the way he smiles at me and looks at me. It's the way he's possessive of me, and how he gazes at me with so much pride when I speak. He's everything I'd want in a partner, and I'm probably falling in love with him.
It's typical Carly Randall. If I'm not the one sabotaging my relationship, it's because I'm in love with someone unattainable. I'm sure some of that is the hedonism leaking into my brain and making me look at him with heart-eyes, but even when I'm covered in crystals to thwart his appeal, I still…like him. He still makes me smile and hope for a better future. He makes me feel like I'm worthwhile.
Falling in love with him might be the most dangerous part of this journey after all.
36
Once word hits the city that a god has returned, even more people flood the streets. Kassam's expression changes from benevolent to impatient, especially when people start to jostle my griffin, trying to get closer to me, and another brings up the idea of killing me once more. The wild army encircles the outer wall, the animals not going into the city proper, and it becomes chaos as the townsfolk, drugged with the proximity of Kassam's hedonism, try to touch the creatures.
It's going to get ugly soon, and as Kassam's frown deepens, I decide it's time to play the wife card.
"Kassam, my lord," I call out from atop the prancing, agitated griffin I haven't dared to get off of. "A word with you, please?"
He pushes away a few of the more eager people clustered around him, wading through the unruly crowd to get to me. The moment he touches the griffin, it calms, feathers smoothing, but the crowd seems to get even more agitated. It's like they're jealous of any time he spends with the animals…or me. And that's going to be a problem. "What is it, little light?" Kassam asks, touching my leg.
I project my voice so the people crowding around can hear, even though I keep my attention focused solely on Kassam. "I'm very tired after such a long journey, my Lord of the Wild. If I'm to be your fuel for the coming weeks, I need rest and food. Please, let me do what I can to make your stay as comfortable as possible. I don't want to fail you, but I am only mortal." I do my best to look as helpless and tired as I can, and when Kassam's brows furrow together, I shoot him a meaningful look.
It finally dawns on him that I'm acting. "Of course, my anchor." He turns to the crowd, and they go silent, watching him with bated breath. "My fragile human anchor needs sleep and food if she is to see to my needs. Where can she rest in comfort?"
A few people offer their beds—big yikes—but one fat, well-dressed man steps forward, giving Kassam an adoring look. "It would be an honor to serve you both at my inn," the merchant says. "You shall have the finest rooms and the best meals."
Another man steps forward, this one tall and lean, with a pinched-looking face. "He should be established in the palace, just as the new god of knowledge." His face grows bright. "Chandrilhar shall boast two gods! Truly it is a blessed omen to be of such service in the Anticipation."
I nudge Kassam with my foot. "God of knowledge? He's here?"
The thin man overhears me, his gaze sharp as it roams over my form. "You know of him?"
"We come from the same world," I offer. "He came here to help Kassam avenge himself against Riekki." I don't point out that Seth is serving himself before anyone else, and that he's not exactly a god of knowledge. It seems wrong to deceive, but if these people have to choose between Seth or Riekki as a god, they're kind of fucked anyhow.
That seems to settle it. The fat merchant bows. "We will of course house the gods together, in the finest of dwellings in Chandrilhar. But allow my cooks to bring you the finest meal possible."
My mouth waters at the thought. "Vegetarian, please. I don't eat meat." And I gesture at the animals around me.
"One would expect no less from the anchor of the god of the wild," the merchant says with a smile, and I feel I've done something right, at least.
Chandrilhar, for all of its cluster of walls and houses, isn't the richest of places. The homes we pass are crowded and in disrepair, the streets hard-packed dirt instead of stone. Everyone looks happy and healthy, though, so I guess it could be worse. There are vendors with goods spread out on small blankets in front of various buildings, and we pass a butcher with a table out in the open, covered in flies, which makes me glad I insisted on being vegetarian.
Once we get out of the main section of the city, the streets open up a bit more, the houses becoming two-level, and they're not made of stone at all but some sort of brick, just like the walls. The brick houses are covered in flowering vines, and people stand on the roofs and wave down at Kassam as he walks through the streets, me still on the lone griffin (the rest of the army having been left outside the walls). At the top of the hill, with the best views, must be the palace. It's a long, expansive building with a second floor, the vines neatly covering the white-painted brick walls and there are even pretty stained-glass windows that make the place look colorful and attractive. A long train of stone steps wind up the side of the hill leading up to the palace, so I finally dismount from the griffin, who immediately flies away, and move to Kassam's side.
I'm sticking to him like glue.
The tall, thin man escorts us up the stairs. "I will issue my apologies on behalf of the prince himself. He is visiting his wife's family in Glistentide and will not return for many weeks. He will be thrilled for you to make use of his home and servants, however. Will you be staying for some time?"
Kassam shakes his head. "We ride on once Seth's army is ready."
"Then my prince will be very sad indeed to have missed you, Lord of the Wild. They will be singing songs of your return for generations to come." The smile that creases his face is genuine. "We are so honored you are here."
Indeed, everyone seems to be awed at the sight of Kassam. There are guards posted at each of the doors to the palace, and they gape openly at Kassam's figure. I mean, the guy is splendid to look at, from his hooves to the horns in his thick hair, to the vines that curl at his waist and trail up one arm, to the delectable brown skin that makes me want to lick him all over—
I rub my crystals, frowning. When was the last time we had sex? This morning? Yeah, he's about due for a hedonism recharge, and so am I. My stomach growls, reminding me that I need to eat, too.