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I fight back a shudder. Is this how Aron would be if he had no anchor? “Yeah, well, when Aron’s himself again, maybe we’ll see if we can send someone back from Yshrem to come stay here with you. You need an anchor, you really do.”
“Because we ca
God, they are so creepy.
“Perhaps we should just pull a human from the other web. The web that sweet Faithful came from,” the first Spidae says, and the look in his eyes grows sly. “They seem eager to serve the gods in all ways.”
The breath explodes out of me. If they’re baiting me, they found the right way to do it. “You fucking bastard, you wouldn’t dare—”
“Faith.” Yule
At first, I don’t understand what she means. “Do what?”
The two Spidae go completely still, and their attention focuses on Yule
“I see it now,” says the other. “Very interesting.”
Yule
I shake my head, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her away. “Wait, Yule
“I know.”
“You…you really want to serve them? An anchor has to go willingly.” Who would willingly tie themselves to these two? As I look back at them, a third joins, identical to his brothers, this one with eyes so black they look like coals in his pale face. Did I think one was creepy? Three is a nightmare. “You want to stay here?” I hiss at her. “Really?”
She swallows hard. “Not really. I’m kind of scared, actually.” But she gives me a brave smile. “But if you can learn a new world, so can I.”
“Yule
One of the Spidae glides forward and touches Yule
She nods.
“Time out,” I call out, making a T with my hands. “No. Absolutely not. Yule
Yule
My throat goes dry. I take her hand in mine. “You’re my friend. Aron would keep you as long as I want. You’ve been good to me, and to him.”
She squeezes my hand, and I feel like crying, because I can tell her mind is already made up. “You have been my friend, too. Thank you for making me feel like your equal in all ways.” Yule
I swallow hard.
“I can see the guilt on your face,” Yule
“If you’re sure,” I begin, but Yule
“I’m sure,” she says, and I hate the tremble in her voice. But she’s brave and strong as she takes the hand extended to her and walks away with the gods.
I watch her go, feeling helpless. Did I just give my friend up…?
I’m surprised when one of the Spidae – the one with blue eyes – turns back and approaches me. I back up a step as he heads in my direction, and there’s a look on his face I can’t decipher. He pauses in front of me, thinks, and then leans in.
“They won’t check your pockets, you know.”
“O-kay…thanks?” I pat my pockets, but they’re empty. And before I can ask him what the hell he’s talking about, he’s gone.