The Fateless: Errata

by Seri Anne Lynn

  “My family was royalty, not de current ruling family, but close ‘nuff. Ya see, Elven royalty revolves wid time an’ circumstance, an’ e’ery tribe of elves has a royal family. When mine chose da Otherworld over dis one, dey lost dere rightful titles.

  “My family lost da privilege of bein’ royalty along wid da fortune dat went wid it when deys left dis world. Da brothers jus’ call me dat from time ta time fer some reason, more as a joke den anythin’ else.

  “I do technically have da title from da Crown dough. When I came back, questions were raised ‘bout if I was still royalty. An’ after I proved myself loyal, I was given my rightful title back by the ruling family at de time.

  “But it’s in name only, it doesn’t really hol’ any power an’ de Queen has made sure of dat. Now, dat’s ‘nuff said ‘bout it. If you’n gots more questions dey jus’ gonna have ta wait.” Tybor paused to see if there was any argument, and was thankful when there wasn’t, he clapped his hands. “Let’s ride.”

  They knew they weren’t getting anything else out of him, and frankly, they were amazed he’d given them that much. Everyone obeyed him this time and got ready to ride out.

  Rowen made a mental note that he’d said that questions would have to wait, not that he wouldn’t answer more about them; and he was definitely going to get more answers one way or another.

  It was a short journey to the Temple of Serendi from the alley. Tybor had the riders drop them off a few blocks back, just to keep suspicion at bay. He talked to Croix out of earshot of everyone else, then they rode off, leaving in the same formation they came.

  Tat cried. With all the commotion it had taken her a bit to realize that both the cloak and the pack were gone – and Tok with them. She cried even more when she realized that it had taken her this long to notice it.

  She wouldn’t tell them what it was that was truly bothering her, knowing that they would just once again tell her that Tok was smart and would figure out how to find them. And maybe she would, she had so far. She tried to stifle her tears with that hope, and kept brushing them away, but more came just as quickly to replace them.

  “Aidan, you an’ Tat walk side by side and stay behin’ Rowen and me. Stay as close to de side of de buildin’s as you’n can. Dat way de buildin’s will help conceal you’s a bit better if de doves fly o’er.”

  They were sure to stay out of sight of anyone who came near. This was especially important now considering Tat no longer had her cloak to help hide her perfectly rounded human ears, but at least her hair was long enough to help cover them.

  Tybor took this time to explain to them what to say and do once they arrived at the temples, clarifying that they needed to keep most of the mission details to themselves.

  “If it ain’t necessary to be tol’, den it shoul’n’t be, ‘specially if it involves anythin’ ‘bout me.”

  They were to only ask for a Priest or Priestess and inquire about Serendi’s whereabouts and if they could commune with her. If asked why, they could explain about being Errata, but only to the actual higher echelons of clergy. That information was on a need to know basis, and most simply didn’t need to know.

  “An if dings don’t play out as dey shoul’ den get out of dere as quickly as you’n can and meet up at de same place de brothers dropped us off.” He explained then they could find a way back to Yon’s Pass and find Miss Perry, and she would know what to do from there.

  Rowen wanted very much to focus on the other information he’d just learned about instead and was hardly listening. He couldn’t ask more questions now though; the timing was too bad. Still, he was very aware how nervous both Aidan and Tat seemed.

  What did this mean for them exactly? He wasn’t sure how all of this was supposed to work, and if he didn’t know; he was sure the other two didn’t know either. He considered the real possibility that no one would be able to help them, and all of this was for nothing.

  Was it possible that they would be able to contact Serendi here, or that someone would know how to get their seals back? If not then would they have to go somewhere else and find Serendi? If so, that was something he was not ready to join them in doing. He had to get back to his amma. He’d agreed to go with them here, but passed that, he wasn’t sure what his next move should be.

  The temples were divided into four rows with a narrow street dividing them in the middle. A pair of two, each coupled with their appropriate mate. The Gods temples sat on the right, while the Goddesses were lined on the left. Serendi’s temple sat at the end of the row of eight.

  These temples were older than Breah Dorn, built way before the city even existed. Rowen remembered that Amma had told him it was why the city existed now, and why they sat in the very center of it. It was also why Breah Dorn was the largest city in the territory.

  One temple was erected for each of the divine factions eons ago, serving to be a place where acolytes trained in their deities service and followers could come to commune directly with the Fates through their acolytes. Supposedly identical temples existed in each of the great lands to make this possible for everyone in the Notherworld to be able to speak with their appointed deity if necessary.

  The first in the set belonged to the ruling God Kismet. His grand temple seemed to be built out of one solid piece of black granite, trimmed in gold, and was the largest and most well-kept of all the temples. Across from it on the left sat an equally fine temple for the Goddess Tyche, Goddess of Mercy and Blessings. It shined in meticulous splendor with giant stained-glass windows that told the story of her legacy and streamed golden light onto the street. Muted now in the bright daylight, Rowen imagined at night it was probably a wonderful sight.

  The next on the row were the temples for Devora, the God of Devotion, and Destiny, the Goddess of Order. Both of which were identical to one another stark and bleak looking. They were constructed of massive wooden, iron and stone walls with very few windows. Appearing more like fortresses than temples, iconic of their Gods’ and Goddesses’ demeanor. There was a foreboding about them and as they passed, they made Rowen’s skin crawl, and he was glad to get past them as soon as he could.

  The next coupled set were that of Amora and Fortuna, the God of Love and the Goddess of Luck and Fortune. These he was more familiar with. Both had equally impressive gardens surrounding them of every flower you could imagine. Their temples weren’t as large as the previous two, and they seemed oddly placed, as if they had been moved out of order at some point.

  Ultimately, they had come to the last two temples sitting at the end of a dead-end row. The one on the right had at one time been Khaos’s temple. It would have been as equally magnificent as Kismet’s had been, but now lay in ruins. Even the path that led to what should have been the main entrance was unkempt and grown over with centuries of wild growth. Across from it stood their destination, the Temple of Serendi, Goddess of Hope and Chance.

  This was the smallest of the temples, made with pebbled walls and surrounded by an unkempt garden. A concrete statue of Serendi’s likeness sat near the front entrance, but half the face had been smashed; sending a clear message that she was in disfavor with the other Gods.

  They approached the small trail leading to the temple and Tybor stopped, getting their attention.

  “Well, dis is far as I go. From here out you’s will manage.”

  “What are you talking about?” Rowen cocked his head to one side, feeling bewildered.

  “It’s time.”

  “Time for what?” Rowen continued asking for an explanation, still not understanding, or maybe he just didn’t want to admit that he actually knew what was coming.

  “I’s completed my mission. You’s here safely. An’ now’s I got to do some o’er dings den hol’ up my end of da deal wid Cara.”

  “What the fuck?” Rowen snapped. “Have you gone insane!” Tybor started to speak but the others interrupted.

  “You can’t be serious,” Aidan added.

  “No. Mister Tybor sir, you got to com
e with us; we need you,” Tat tried to reason.

  “Look. I did my duty, an’ she’s already set da Annokai on ya’s. If’n I go back an’ let her know dat I didn’t return as scheduled ‘cause of da delay wid de dragons maybe she’ll say she made a mistake an’ dey will call ‘em off. Dat’s all you’ns best bet an’ de best way I can help ya now. Once I’ve done dat, maybe you’s can do what you’s gotta do without any mores interference.”

  “You can’t trust that bitch!” Rowen screamed.

  “Watch yer mouth! I’ve had ‘nuff of it. Even if she is a bitch, your momma nor your amma woul’ want you talkin’ like dat ‘bout a woman.”

  “Well it’s the truth.” Aidan defended him. “She is a bitch, and you can’t trust her.”

  “Dun matter. I gotta do dis, jus’ like you’n gotta do yer ding. Now go on.”

  Tat cried, “No! You can’t leave us.”

  “I dun wanna ma chère, but I got orders. Dis is where I gotta say goodbye.”

  “Let him go. I was right. All we ever were to him,” Rowen swallowed hard. “All he ever cared about was the mission.”

  “Say what you gotta Rowen; but you’s know da truth. Now I says go, an’ I mean it.”

  “Are you seriously going to go and be her love slave for a year?” Aidan inquired trying to speak to him reasonably.

  “I dun knows ‘bout bein’ no love slave, but dat was da deal an’ I’m sure she’s got her uses fer me. I got a few o’er dings ta atten’ to first dough. I gotta get dis mess settled wid Moira and den stuff straightened out wid da Crown an’ all, but dat is where I’ll be headin’ af’er, an’ I’ll get a message to her as quick as I can so you’s will continue ta be safe.”

  Tat couldn’t control the flood of tears gushing from her eyes again. Aidan wrapped his arms around her and pulled him to her.

  Rowen balled his fists as if he were readying to take a swing. “But she didn’t honor her end of the deal, so why do you have to?”

  “Because I do. It became part of de mission when I agreed to her terms an’ I’m sworn ta honor it. Now’s I tellin’ you three to go an’ do what I got you’s here ta do.”

  “Are we ever going to see you again?” Aidan asked.

  “I dunno what da Fates got planned fer any of us boy, but if I has my way, you’s can count on it. She’s only got me fer a year, after dat; we’ll see.”

  Tat pushed Aidan away and ran to Tybor, hugging him as if he’d fade away if she loosened her grip on him. Tybor hugged her back with the same intensity, but then he had to push her away from him.

  “A’ight, dat’s ‘nuff – now go!” he’d given them his final order.

  Rowen angrily turned away and began down the path saying nothing more, and a few moments later Aidan grabbed Tat’s hand and led her away as well.

  Tybor watched as they climbed the steps to the temple’s foyer. Rowen couldn’t hold in his tears, no matter how much he pushed them down, and by the time he’d reached the top step his face was awash with them. He felt that this was an act of betrayal, possibly one he’d never forgive. As tough as he tried to act, this hurt. And even though he kept telling himself that he refused to let Tybor get under his skin; he had let it happen anyway. And it cut deep.

  Tybor always told them that his mission was to get them there safely and he’d done it, so why was this such a shock? Maybe it was because they never expected him to live up to his deal with the Ceil. The woman was a snake. How could he be so blind? Aren’t we more important than some made-up deal he’d made to get us out of a tight situation? It was just something to get the Ceil to go along with, wasn’t it? No, Tybor only ever cared about his precious mission, never about us. He just wanted to go back to his mistress. This was an act of abandonment. Nothing more.

  Rowen grabbed the end of the large rope that was used to ring the temple doorbell. Yanking it with the strength of all the anger he had inside him, nearly ripping it from the decrepit wall it was affixed to. He turned to see if Tybor was still watching, he saw that the elf was gone. Well good riddance. We never needed him anyway.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Temple of Serendi

  A young pale Aelish silver haired girl appearing to be no older than Rowen stood in the temple foyer. She wore a robe of white sheer gauzy material that was almost see-through, and a head covering of a shiny opalescent cloth. He had to avert his eyes to keep from staring.

  “Merry meet, may I help you?” she greeted them. The girls voice sounded like chiming bells when she spoke, reminding him how the Annokai sounded when they were speaking in their own language.

  “Merry meet blessed daughter of Serendi,” Rowen returned the greeting the way he’d been taught to do. Doing his best to ignore his tears, he cleared his throat, “may we speak with the high priest or priestess please?”

  “I’m sorry but they are away on pilgrimage for the fast of Devora. I am Head Sister Amara, in charge until they return. You’re human, aren’t you?” she inquired rather pointedly. “Are you the ones the Annokai seek?”

  Rowen remembered that Tybor had just warned them not to give info to anyone but the Priest or Priestess. Screw Tybor. What does he know anyway?

  “Yes. And we need sanctuary, will the temple of Serendi accept us?” Rowen asked, remembering that his amma told him to do so if ever there was a time when he absolutely needed it. Although, she’d always told him to go to the temple of Fortuna – not Serendi, but a temple was a temple; surely they had the same codes.

  “Rowen!” Tat chided in a near whisper, “He said–”

  “I don’t care what he said,” Rowen snapped back at her. “May we be given shelter?” he addressed his question back at the Sister.

  “It is as Goddess Serendi wills. May She shelter you with hope and give you the chance you seek,” the Head Sister opened the door for them to enter, then bolted the huge door behind them.

  ‘Why was it necessary to bolt a temple door?’ Aidan wondered.

  “We need to commune with the Goddess Serendi,” Aidan decided to take the opportunity to ask. “Is that possible?”

  “Not at this time, perhaps when High Priest Leigh or Priestess Nona return. I can give you room and board until then.”

  “When will they return?” Tat asked.

  “It is the eighth hour of the forty-two-hour fast, as I am sure you’re aware. I suppose when it is over and the feast that follows has concluded–”

  “That sounds like it’s going to take a while,” Aidan interrupted.

  “Not too long, I would suppose,” the Sister Amara added then rang another smaller bell for an attendant, most likely a lower level acolyte. A young Aelish male appeared, dressed in similar robes without a head covering. He was instructed to take them to the visitor quarters and help them settle in. Sister Amara excused herself stating that she had important matters to attend to.

  The three of them were given separate rooms again, much smaller and sparsely decorated than the ones on the ship. At another time perhaps, this would have made them happy, but this time it did not.

  An attendant ushered the boys to adjoining rooms, while Tat’s room was in another hall. Perhaps this was to segregate the quarters by gender. They appeared to be the only visitors there, so there was no real way to tell.

  Aidan, being restless as usual, had no intention of just sitting there in silence or in prayer. Nor was he waiting for the gathering bell to sound as the attendant suggested was customary to do, instead he opened the door that separated the two rooms to speak with Rowen.

  “So now what?” he asked Rowen who was laying on the almost child sized bed when he entered.

  “What do you mean now what? We’re here, this is where you wanted to go right?”

  “Yeah – but...” Aidan shrugged.

  “Yeah, I don’t know either. It’s not like Tybor was any help. I mean of all that crap he had us do, how did any of it prepare us for this? And here we are stuck again!”

  “Don’t get started on him. You know it’s
not going to do any good to just stay angry about it. He told us what the mission was; we should’ve known he wouldn’t stick with us after it.”

  “Look, I’ve known him a lot longer than you have, and he’s not acting right. He’s always been a crotchety ass, but he’s never acted like he’s had this many secrets before – or at least not to me. Hell, I don’t think I ever really knew who he was, just Amma always said to mind him, so I did.

  “But now I wonder if I should’ve had anything to do with him in the first place. I’m not even sure Amma knows all this stuff about him. You know, with being a Prince or leader of the Minions of Khaos. I’m positive she doesn’t know all that stuff.”

  “Well either way, he’s gone for now and we’ve gotta figure out what we’re doing next,” Aidan reasoned.

  “What do you mean what we’re doing next? Wasn’t the whole plan to get here?”

  “Yeah, I guess it was, but I’ve been thinking. You know, about that thing Marko said–”

  “Uh-uh. No way! I know what you’re thinking dude, but you’re not changing your mind now! I know Marko got you thinking you don’t have to go back, but man, the Annokai are after you. You’ve got to get your seal back at least, or they are going to eradicate you and possibly Tat too.”

  “I know, I know,” Aidan sighed. “But what if there is some other way?”

  “Like how?”

  “That... I don’t know,” he shrugged. Pacing back and forth for several minutes, he realized he needed more time to think about it. Aidan stuck his head back through the door, “anyway, do you think we should get out of this convent and maybe check out the town? If I’ve got to stay here for a few days, I’m going to need to do something or I’m going to go stir-crazy.”

  “I don’t know man, what will we do if we run into the doves?” Aidan shrugged, but then Rowen thought about it, just sitting here didn’t make a lot of sense either. “Well, let’s go see what Tat thinks.”