“Kindyna, what the hell are you doing here?”
Phovos dropped the heavy stone brick she was carrying and rushed over to the tentacle-haired Thanatian. She had been busy helping rebuild a Kshan defensive fort and she’d only informed Lokmahro, so she was surprised Kindyna had found her. Well, Phovos was a pretty easy person to find, but that wasn’t the point.
“Um…”
Kindyna seemed hesitant. Not herself. Normally, she was bouncy and happy, while also a bit of a schemer. Right now, she seemed incredibly down. Something had happened. Phovos took Kindyna by the hand and led her to a shady spot under a straw umbrella. She dismissed the Kshan who were working there, they needed some time alone. The Kshan, who had all seen Kindyna, tutted, then wandered off.
“Kindyna, what’s wrong?”
“I… I can’t say…”
“Fine. Stay here one second.”
Phovos rushed off to get a bottle of water. Kindyna looked exhausted. Had she walked here? Phovos needed to know. They had never been close, but Phovos cared about all her younger ‘siblings’. Her nieces and nephews, whom she had spent years training. She couldn’t find any water, so a carton of hemp juice would have to do. She partly expected Kindyna to not be there when she returned, but there she was, staring blankly at the piles of bricks Phovos had abandoned.
“Alright, here’s a drink. You look parched!” Phovos worried. “What are you doing here? I thought the Sixteen had given up trying to get Vriskera out of my dirty claws?”
Kindyna shrugged but didn’t say anything.
“Sister, you’re worrying me!” Phovos exclaimed. “What’s wrong? I haven’t seen you like this since you and the other three got caught up in that Deitic stolen plane thing!”
“It’s… hard to explain…” Kindyna finally muttered as she looked away. That was when Phovos noticed it. Torn skin, loose scales. Some of her tendrils had been pulled out.
“Someone hurt you.”
“Zoi hurt me…” Kindyna replied bluntly. “She’s controlling. Manipulative. Not the bitchy way I was when I was young. I was manipulative because I liked messing with people. She just wants all the power to herself.”
Phovos grabbed a chair and sat Kindyna down. “Something happened. Something pushed her or you over the edge, and that’s why you’re here. Am I right?”
Kindyna nodded, rubbing her head where the loose scales were. Kindyna’s scales were always incredibly small, to the point of non-existence. Others called her a snake, and they were right, she had always been a slippery one.
“Zoi was talking about invading territories that aren’t completely… in on the Whenvern stuff. All this religion stuff is insane and she’s taking it to extremes…”
“Did you have an argument then?” Phovos asked.
“Hah!” Kindyna spat. “She accused Dilitir of conspiring against her. Dilitir’s been quiet, yeah, but his territories have been flooded with Kshan who don’t want to worship the Dragon God and he’s not the sort of bastard to force them to leave. He’s chill about it all.”
“But what about you?”
“Well, I got Thraki. Lots and lots of Thraki. Seems insane that the wyverns don’t want to worship the Whenvern. They have their hearts set on following a stupid God of Nothingness, but who am I to convince them otherwise? Idiots can believe whatever they want. Of course, Zoi seems to think I’m plotting as well. Why wouldn’t she? I used to plot and scheme against everyone all the time when I was little. Even with that Kronaron thing, I managed to scheme enough to make myself a pretty penny. Not scheming to hurt anyone, mind you. Just to make myself some extra money away from home. But Zoi… you know what she’s like.”
“I assume she has Thanatos following her around as well.”
“Nah, really? Of course he’s on his knees for her. He never had a problem with me until Zoi called me out during the meeting. I denied everything. Dilitir stood up for me. Tromos did too. But nooo, Zoi decided to get grabby and Thanatos defended her rather than stopping her. She tore out one of my tendrils, I pulled out some of her stupid vines trying to get free, then I told her to go fuck herself and stormed off. I wasn’t going to put up with that shit!”
Phovos tutted. “I assume that wasn’t it?”
“No. Fucking bitch is fucked up!” Kindyna growled. “She sent me threatening letters. She said she’d get the others to start pushing into my territories. And honestly… I don’t know what to do. I can’t really ask the others for help. Dilitir’s screwed. Tromos has to deal with Thanatos. Photios hasn’t been well and I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”
“So you came to me…”
“Yeah…” Kindyna took a deep breath, then took a sip of her drink. “This religion stuff is going to tear us apart…”
Phovos nodded in agreement, then wrapped her arms around Kindyna, hugging her tightly. “It’s okay, little sister. I won’t let that happen.”
“I know, Phovos. I know…”