GRETA

"Too slow!" Adler chuckles.

He lowers his sword. I have never seen him and Brommy do this before. It is only practice.

Clink, clink, clank.

I do not like the sound of metal hitting metal.

If only I could see in color. It would help me discern between the two of them better.

"I am not too slow. You just enjoy backing away rather than striking me head on. You are going...easy on me!"

"Dearest, Brometheous, I never go easy on you. I only go easy on Enoch."

For some reason, Brommy finds that funny and joins in on his father's laugh.

The two tall men lower their swords and sit down on the paved stone to rest. Slaves offer them vases full of drinking water while I watch from a distance.

Adler and his son sit together side by side with their backs faced away from me.

I suppose they forgot about their audience - me. I was supposed to be given sword lessons by Brommy today, but Adler made an appearance. So, the two decided to show off their skills rather than teach me them.

Even their sword fighting is almost exactly the same.

The way they step and the pattern they swing. It's incredible how similar their technique and strength is.

"Are you twins?"

Adler perks up at my question. He sets down his emptied goblet of water. I watch as it spills over in his hurry to stand up.

"Watch what you are doing," Brommy scolds. With a sigh, he wrings out the hem of his tunic that Adler's water spilled all over. "I'm sorry, Greta. I did not hear what you said."

"She asked if we are twins."

Brommy throws his head back with laughter.

"Me? Twins with him? Thank the gods no. What in Ashtium's name gave you that idea?"

"Everything about you both. Not only are you nearly identical, but your personalities and your mannerisms..."

I don't understand why Brommy appears annoyed by my observation. Well, I can sort of understand. I should not have said anything.

"I am going for a ride," he announces.

Without another word, he strides over to his voltak, and no sooner, I am left alone with his father.

Brommy was supposed to walk me back down to the hospice. Looks like I will be taking a solo trip now.

A chuckle comes from behind me. I tense up feeling Adler's heavy hand land on my shoulder.

"Oh, my dear child, it appears you struck a nerve with my war advisor."

"Is it true?" I ask. "Adler?"

Finally, he removes his hand from my shoulder. I turn to face him. I'm not expecting his sly smile. That mischievous glint in his eyes makes me very uncomfortable.

Just who is the real child here? It's certainly not me.

It irritates me to no end how he always finds my questions amusing and just stands there waiting to see how much further I'll try to pry.

"What is so funny?"

"There is nothing funny at all, Greta. It's just so hard to believe I have you all to myself. It's an exciting feeling. What a sharp little brain the gods have given you."

"You did not answer my initial question, Adler."

"You are right. I didn't."

Without asking, or answering further, he picks me up and begins walking away from the temple to the courtyard behind.

"I am in my adult body, Adler. You do not need to carry me. I do not like being carried anymore. It is not necessary, but thank you."

Still, he does not set me down.

His breath tickles my neck. My face warms as we near the great fountain. I am no longer the size of a baby. It is embarrassing, and unnecessary, to be held.

He sits down on the edge of the fountain holding me on his lap.

"It's going to be yule soon. We will have a grand celebration. Lots of delicious food and drinking. Most enjoyable of all is dancing."

"What is dancing, Adler?"

I look up. His smile falls as he rubs the back of his neck.

"I can show you...if you want. I'm afraid you are still upset with me. I understand I have hurt your feelings and betrayed your trust. You are not an ugly child or worthless. It was terrible. I'm afraid you have witnessed the unforgivable. I do not want you to be afraid, but I will admit, I am no perfect god. I am sorry."

"I appreciate your apology. Tell me something that is true, Adler. Why did you come looking for me in the desert?"

"Are you sure you want to know that answer?"

"Yes."

He sets me down and stands up. Taking my hands, he guides me around the stone fountain.

"Parshavar was right, little pearl. I was ordered to find a wife for the ruler of a nearby planet. The planet Eyu. In exchange, our star would not face persecution for, uh, how should I put this? Hmmm. Unsavory war crimes."

"Unsavory war crimes?"

"Yes, little pearl. Zard, Eyu's ruler, is aware of our star's false light. He does not understand our false light is the only way we can hope to survive-"

"I'm feeling dizzy. Why are you holding my hands and walking me in circles?"

"This is called dancing. Perhaps, I am dancing a little too fast. Let's slow down and I will continue to talk. Just tell me to slow down if I move too fast again."

"Brommy was supposed to teach me lessons today. I suppose he got a little carried away practicing with you."

"How unfortunate!" Adler exclaims with feigned sorrow. "Dancing, well, our footsteps...it is similar to footwork in swordfighting. Follow my lead, Greta. One...two, three...one, two, three. Try to follow my pace. This pattern of footsteps is a good start. Yes, just like that."

"Adler, doesn't it feel silly to dance with someone who does not even reach your elbows?"

"It does not bother me. Besides, it is worth it to see that little shy smile you try to hide. We are only dancing. There is nothing wrong about it. I taught my sons. Now, I am teaching you."

***

BROMMY

The shade is darkest now for Adler no longer is up in the observatory extracting light to host as our daytime. It is well into the night. Once again, he appears quite distracted from his duties.

Even if it is evening, he is supposed to be monitoring the skies at this hour.

Instead, he has completely abandoned that job and chosen to waste time fooling around with Greta's heart. That poor confused child needs to stay far away from him.

Her little head rests against Adler's stomach as he slowly dances around the fountain with her. This is no child's dance. It is a slow dance and the only dancing he should be doing is dancing his way back up into that observatory.

"Oh, for Ashtium's sake," I grumble, "What is he doing now?"

I tense up as his gaze darts up from Greta and over to me. He must have heard me.

Abruptly, Adler drops her hands and steps away from her. Good. At least, he has some rationality spinning in that eroded drunken mind of his.

"Hello, Brometheous."

"Brommy?" Greta says. "How long have you been waiting for me? I thought you left."

Fondly, Adler pets her head. Without speaking, he gestures for his guards to escort the little krexbin back down to the city below.

"Please, I want Brommy to take me-"

"I'm sorry, Greta. Brommy and I have some private matters to discuss. He will be down to take you to the hospice in a few minutes."

Ignoring the confused look on her face, he approaches me as his guards walk her away.

"What are you doing?" his voice hardens, "I can damn well do as I please with the child-"

"Is she truly a child to you, Adler? Or could it be she is no more a child to you than I am your son? How much longer am I to keep up this false image? This false role? I admit, it is so engrained in me I consider you a father and think of you as my own. Lately, however, this pretense has been quite difficult. Do not make the mistake of thinking it is any easier for me to pretend to be your son right now as it is for you to pretend to be her father. Perhaps, we can end the pretense? Femke's days are numbered. Then, that just leaves...Enoch."

"I thought you did not mind the role?"

"At first, I didn't. It is hard to watch our world crumble and it is going to be much harder to give this child away if you form any more of a bond with her than you have already. I admit I have gained much from this false identity you've given me, but for both our sakes, please leave the girl alone and focus on your job. It is almost time-"

"Did he say, Brometheous? Did Zard say when he planned to invade or is this your fear speaking instead of fact?"

"No, Adler. Zard did not tell me, but his crafts are not going anywhere. They plan to sit up there until you come out to hand her over. Please don't waste anymore time. Would you like me to deliver her instead? Would that make things easier?"

"No, I have an even better idea. We should hand this task over to the emperor, don't you think?"

"You want Enoch to deliver Greta to Zard? You believe he would have it in him?"

"No," Adler smirks, "But I will not be giving him our little pearl. I will be giving him someone else."

"Femke?"

The corner of his lip quirks up as he draws out his star map. He pinches the page zooming in on the very soul's stardust.

"Everything is relative, Brommy. No, I don't want Enoch to deliver anyone. I want Enoch to choose...and I will do the delivering."

"Truly? What do you gain by giving him that choice, Adler? Because I sincerely doubt your interests align remotely anywhere near mine right now."

"I want his planet, of course, and it will soon be ours. Very soon. Time is running out for us here. Let us make our move now before Enoch does. He has no backbone and will easily wilt to Zard's will. So, I will be going myself. Did you know when he finally have Eyu in our grasp we will be able to see in color?"

"Just a moment, I need to go back to something you just said. You want to go to Zard by yourself?"

"Yes and I will return with a new empress. So that silly child, as you can see, is none of my concern! Just see to it she does not stir up anymore trouble during my temporary absence."

"When are you leaving?"

"During yule."

"I hope you are joking. That is much too soon to form any organized effort into the desert-"

"The end is much sooner than you think."

My heart freezes up at his revelation. Yule is only a few days away! Leave it to Adler to make a last minute decision, more like it, last ditch effort.

"You better pray the gods send you a more detailed plan tonight because it won't come from me. We need a real plan, Adler. Not ideas, but a plan. I will see you in the morrow unless you lied to save face and we all blow up in our sleep."

"Always a beacon of hope you are," he laughs. New malice forms in that gaze of his. "I may be unorganized, dear friend, but I always come through in one way or another."

"I'm not one to make predictions based on history. I do not like to make predictions. Unlike you, I live in reality. The greatest fact right now is you have a habit of lying-"

"But that fact is based on history too, isn't it, Brommy? Just like all facts...everything is based on observation. Opinions. There is nothing true in this world. The only truth is no one knows the truth."

"I find your mind a scary place, Adler. You should share this nonsense with someone willing to listen. I need my rest. Come up with a plan and let us act on it if the end is truly here as you say. I do not enjoy listening to your nonsensical thinking. It's no wonder you are entirely lonely. The only source willing to listen to your disturbed mind is the same source that rots it. Wine...and all that bint leaf you've spent years smoking."

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