Chapter 6

Alianne rubbed her thumb between her eyes, trying to sooth the headache that pounded in her skull. Headaches were becoming annoyingly frequent for Aly and she hated them. She was waiting for the rest of the conspirators in the meeting room. Aly was always the first one there, almost out of habit. Her mother believed in 'Early bird get's the worm' and other such nonsense.

She wondered if she had time to take a ten minute nap; missing a full night's sleep wasn't a very bright idea. It was right up there with slapping a god. Dove's arrival canceled any plans Aly had been forming for sleep. "Good whatever time of day it is, Dove." Aly greeted tiredly.

"Good evening to you too." Dove smiled at the older girl and sat down nearby. "Did you get any sleep last night? You look exhausted."

"Sleep is overrated." Aly covered a yawn. "Besides I had things on my mind." Things like Kyprioth's offer. And Nawat. My mother, and my Aunt Daine's dealing's with the gods. Did they ever have this much trouble with gods? Who could tell me what to do when a god falls in love with you?Not that Kyprioth was indeed in love with Aly. That was a vain, petty, shallow thought. No, gods don't fall in love with mortals in real life. That only happens in stories.

But where do those stories come from? Every myth is based in truth..

Maybe other gods might, but not Kyprioth. He doesn't feel things the way we do. He's not human. The best emotion for him is vague interest.

I know that isn't what you think. You hope there is at least a small kernel of love for you in his stone cold heart.

I am not talking to you anymore.

You shouldn't. It's quite pointless to argue with yourself, you know.

Oh, shut up.

"Aly, were you listening to me?" Dove asked. Aly focused on the thirteen year old again; her eyes were bright and she had obviously been speaking at length at Aly.

"No, I'm sorry. I must have zoned out."

"It's all right." Dove repeated what Aly had missed, a long winded lecture on politics that she had heard from one of her scholar friends. Dove was very interested in the politics of running a country. She and Aly conversed on that topic for nearly twenty minutes. Dove was pleasantly surprised by how much Aly knew about the inner workings of a nation, and once she knew that she was talking to someone with equal or greater knowledge began to ask many questions.

When the others arrived Aly and Dove were in a heady debate about the pros and cons of various branches of capitalism. "Children these days." Ulasim muttered.

The meeting went well; once the important information had been shared, the raka began to fret about the odd weather patterns over the Kyprish Oceans. "Did the god tell you anything, Aly? The oceans are his domain." Chenaoul asked.

"Unfortunately the god does not tell me everything. I would be frightened if he did. The god and I are less than friendly at the moment, anyway." Aly said. It wasn't a lie; Kyprioth had acted more than friendly, but Aly had responded with an equal and yet oppisite reaction. The rooms seemingly collective expression made Aly wish she had held her tongue though.

"Don't worry. I expect an apology soon." Aly wasn't kidding, although her tone was meant to lighten the mood.

"Only you would demand an apology from a god, Aly." Fesgao chimed in, shaking his head.

"Of course I would demand an apology. Kyprioth was out of line."

You didn't give him a chance to explain. Perhaps you owe him an apology.

I'm ignoring you.

I am you. Don't try.

I won't try. I'll succeed.