Mantle of the Gods

Oz was the one to wake everyone up.

The raven-haired woman just walked into the room and turned on the light.

“Time to get up!” She pounded on the foot of the bed. "Justia and Fray are already up and cooking breakfast.”

I opened my eyes. I had expected to be one of the first ones awake. I sat up, lifting both the women sleeping on me into the sitting position.

“You found the robes too.” Oz grinned. "Pretty nice, huh?”

“Yep." I slipped out from between the groggy women and got out of the bed. "I would have thought Aelin would be the one to do a wake-up call.”

Oz shrugged. "She’s still in bed. Justia said to let her sleep some more, so I’m the one who got to interrupt your…” She eyed us. "Beauty sleep.”

“Thanks…” I pulled on my clothes and walked over to her. I turned back to the women on the bed. Gesai looked like she was awake, just orienting herself, while Ether looked like she might fall over and go back to sleep. “Ges, can you make sure Ether doesn't go back to sleep?”

The redhead gave me a thumbs up as she scooted to the edge of the bed.

I followed Oz back to the living space and took in the smells. It looked like Fray was doing most of the cooking, while Justia was preparing the ingredients and set plates on the bar for people. There wasn’t a table to sit at, nor were there any barstools under the bar, so it looked like we were going to have to use the couches to eat on.

Ren was sitting on the eastern couch, looking at something on a screen while Rix was back at her corner, looking out at the water. The view itself was crazy, with the two lighthouses standing guard with poking out of the water at random places all the way to the land mass on the right of the horizon, while there was water that went on for as far as I could see on the left.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” I walked over to the window wall.

“Not really…” Oz pointed at the landmass. "That’s the Isle of Death. Everything that grows there is like it’s dead. The trees are hollow, the grass is brown, and there's mud and waterways all over the place.”

“And the Desolation of Wurn.” Rix added.

“That's probably why it’s like that.” Oz shrugged. "It became a Desolation before I was born, but grandad said that it used to be really pretty, but he only went there once when he was really young.”

“How long has it been a Desolation?” I looked around the room, but no one offered a definitive answer.

“It was before dad was born, so at least forty-five years.” Oz walked over to the plates of food on the bar and began picking at one. "That’s all I know… OW!”

Justia slapped her cousin’s hand. "Wait until everyone can get some!”

“It’ll be cold by then.” The raven-haired woman shot back. "Besides, what's the harm in eating off my own plate?”

“That’s your plate?” The brunette eyed her. “How do you know that?”

Oz licked her finger and dragged it across some of the food as she stared down her cousin. “Because I don’t think anyone else wanted it.”

I couldn’t help myself, I walked over and took a piece of breakfast meat off the plate and popped it in my mouth. "This stuff is really good!” It really was, though Tres probably only stocked these rooms with the best things. I enjoyed the look on both women’s faces. As a Porter, I rarely ate anything besides ration bars, but occasionally the Adventurers I was working for would have extra or leftovers that they didn’t finish. In those cases, I’d been allowed to help myself. It had taken a little getting used to, but after four years, eating after someone else didn’t bother me at all.

I smiled and tried to make a shocked face. "Oh, was that your plate?” I grabbed the one next to it. "I guess I’ll take this one.”

Neither woman said anything as I walked towards the couches, but I stopped when Ether and Gesai came out. I handed the plate to Ether and looked at Gesai. "Food’s ready, let’s get a plate.”

When I turned around Fray had a plate in each hand. We both took a plate from her.

“It’s delicious.” I smiled. "Thank you.”

Fray blushed and nodded, then grabbed her own plate.

Aelin walked out yawning and did a big stretch. Her sleepy eyes focused on me. "It’s morning…” She pointed. "Answers.”