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‘So I'm not just seeing things, right?’ Aym said, sitting off to the side of the prison he and his brother had grown up in. Said brother was sitting beside him, and they were both squinting towards the centre of the room. ‘Like. They both definitely want to fuck. There's no way that's not what's going on.’
Baal squinted a little while longer. He and his brother weren't completely imprisoned, occasionally able to go and perform their duties Above (albeit not for long, a few days at most), and unlike Aym, he liked learning about people. If either of them were going to successfully identify something like that, it was going to be Baal.
In the centre of the prison stood the twins’ master, the One Who Waits. He couldn't exactly do anything but stand, given the chains, so it was a good thing he was a god and didn't get tired. Hopefully.
His vessel stood in front of him, diminutive in comparison (and in general). The Lamb was talking about something or other, and probably should stand back a little so they could still look at the One Who Waits without breaking their neck, but they always stood as close as was both polite and possible. It wasn't that bad, because the One Who Waits always bent forward as far as his chains allowed, so they could speak as face to face as could be managed. But still.
Whatever they said seemed to be entertaining, because the One Who Waits laughed after. Laughed. Laughed. Neither twin could even remember the last time he'd laughed at anything that wasn't explicitly violent before the Lamb arrived over a century ago. Well, the Lamb usually only showed up after a crusade (or dying), so violence was usually involved, but still. This time, the Lamb appeared to have cracked a joke and made the god of death laugh at it. It probably hadn't even been a good joke – the One Who Waits would have laughed anyway, a delight on his face that he'd either never shown before the Lamb, or hadn't even existed prior. From here, Baal could just see how satisfied the Lamb looked, smiling up at their god as if he was the sole thing in all of creation they ever wanted to smile at again.
‘Okay, yes,’ Baal sighed. ‘They both definitely want to fuck.’
Aym pulled a face. ‘The next couple of centuries are gonna suck,’ he complained. ‘They killed Shamura two crusades ago?’
‘Three. All that's left is Kallamar,’ Baal said glumly. The twins were devoted to serving their master, and they were both looking forward to their oncoming permanent freedom – but the price was going to be steep. ‘He's going to be miserable forever.’
Aym's grumble was commiserating. ‘Should we do something? Can we do something?’
‘What, get them together?’ Baal asked, wrinkling his nose. ‘Master can't go anywhere, and that’s the last thing I want to see, thanks.’
‘Not get them to fuck, just together,’ Aym insisted. ‘At least that way Master has memories of them, instead of pining forever.’
‘I'm not sure that's better,’ Baal said, dubious. ‘Mourning his spouse has to be way worse than mourning the vessel he really liked.’
Neither of them questioned the assumption of ‘spouse’. If their master and his vessel resolved this tension, that was a given.
‘I think it would be worse that way,’ Aym said, shaking his head. ‘Then there's the whole ‘regretting things unsaid’ thing. He's going to be miserable one way or another, so he might as well be happy for a little while first, right?’
That was a decent point. Baal sighed in the way he always did right before Aym won an argument. ‘Alright. But if we have to stand there while they flirt, I'm giving you a scar over your other eye.’
‘We already have to stand there while they flirt,’ Aym said, tilting his head towards the two in question. ‘So. I have an idea.’
Baal squinted at his twin. ‘No.’
‘What? Why? I haven't even told you the idea yet!’
‘You have good ideas about fighting things and exploring stuff,’ Baal said placatingly. ‘But you don't even like people. Your idea sucks. I have a better one.’
‘No, your idea sucks,’ Aym retorted. ‘It's going to have a million steps when it just needs three to get to the same place. Even Master's schemes aren't as complicated as yours, and we don't have a lot of time.’
Baal huffed. ‘Alright, let's hear it.’
‘I'm going to go talk to the Lamb and get them to admit their feelings, then either they tell Master or I do.’
‘...Aym.’
‘It's guaranteed to work!’
‘It's guaranteed to make them both mad,’ Baal said, putting his paws on his hips. ‘It's the worst idea.’
‘Yeah? So what's yours?’
Three minutes later Baal finished explaining. ‘So?’
‘That's dumb,’ Aym said. ‘That's going to take years.’
‘No, it won't. And it'll make them both think it's their idea.’
‘We don't have the time!’
‘But we'll –’
‘Hey, you two,’ they heard, and both cats jumped at the Lamb's voice, whirling to face them. The Lamb's eyebrows were up, and the One Who Waits was looking over in this direction, exasperated. ‘Everything okay? The One Who Waits called twice. I've never seen you guys argue.’
‘Long story,’ the two chorused.
‘Alright,’ the Lamb said dubiously. ‘Well, I'm headed out, the cult's going to get worried if I take much longer. The One Who Waits is – well. You know. So come on.’
The Lamb chivvied the twins back over, which felt weird for some reason that neither twin could put a finger on. ‘Oh, right,’ they said. ‘The One Who Waits said he might need one of you to come Above for something? He didn't say what, but you should stop by the cult at some point if you can, I have something for you.’
The twins traded confused glances. ‘For us?’ Baal repeated.
‘Yep. I thought it would have to wait until after my sacrifice,’ they said as casually as they would talk about any other mundane event, ‘but this is better. Now scoot.’
Baal and Aym took their usual posts before they could think about whether or not they should be following the Lamb's instruction. Once they had, the Lamb smiled up at the One Who Waits, again looking like there was nothing else they ever wanted to smile at again. ‘Farewell, One Who Waits. Hopefully next time I see you will be after I've killed Kallamar.’
‘Of course,’ said the One Who Waits, but his expression was very briefly melancholy (once they'd turned their back to leave.) ‘Farewell, my vessel.’
The Lamb trotted over to the pentacle portal and vanished. Once they were gone, the One Who Waits looked down at the twins, two of his three eyebrows raised. ‘What was that just now? Neither of you have so much as hesitated to answer my call before.’
‘We're sorry, Master,’ the twins said in unison.
‘We were arguing about what we would want to do Above,’ Aym said. It was even true, technically speaking.
‘We serve you first, Master,’ Baal added. ‘So it's only when you'd give us permission. But still.’
The One Who Waits considered the two of them closely. ‘You two have served me faithfully the entire time we have been imprisoned,’ he said at last. ‘I see no reason to bar either of you from the chance to explore the world Above. My wretched sibling meant you as keepers, but you have long overcome their pathetic intentions. You will be rewarded.’
‘Thank you, Master,’ the two said again.
He shook his head, for some reason. ‘As I heard the Lamb mention, I will need one of you to go Above soon – they appeared blithe about the battle to come, foolish creature that they are.’ He sounded far too fond to give it any bite, though. ‘I wish to know more of Anchordeep before they take on my damnable brother. He is a coward – and cowards always have exit plans. Aym, you have travelled through that realm in years agone; I charge you with that duty. Baal, you will remain.’
Both cats bowed, which is how the two hid the quick exchange of smugness (Aym) and irritation (Baal).
‘I would have you go to the temple grounds as well, and report on what you see; even my sight of my vessel is limited to their presence. I wish to know more of the state of things.’
‘Understood, Master.’
‘Good. Now go.’
Aym bowed again, heading for the pentacle portal, grinning to himself. Time to put his own idea into play.
Baal watched him go, and hoped that when his brother did something stupid, he'd at least get to watch the consequences.
Aym decided to get the important work out of the way first, and so spent a few days casing the joint. The joint being Kallamar's temple, and after a few days, he was confident he knew most if not all ways Kallamar could attempt to flee.
With business taken care of, Aym was free to go do what he really wanted to do, and headed for his master's temple grounds.
It was a sunny day, and while Aym wouldn't admit it (it didn't go with his aesthetic), he was looking forward to sunny days where he knew he wouldn't have to leave eventually. Napping in the sunlight sounded wonderful; he'd always wanted to try it. Now wasn't the time for that, though – he was coming up on the limit of how long he or his brother could escape from the Below at any one time – so he rose through the pentacle portal at the temple grounds and landed lightly.
The first thing he noticed was that it was weirdly… colourful. He hadn't expected so many flowers out and about, nor the chatter of the cultists, who all seemed to be preparing for something. A festival, maybe? But what festival celebrating his master would involve flowers?
He nearly jumped out of his fur when he heard a call of his name. He whirled around, and sure enough, the Lamb was trotting over from the hub of doors to the Lands of the Old Faith. They had an alarmingly large covered basket casually perched on their shoulder; it was almost as big as they were. Sometimes it was easy to forget that the short, soft looking Lamb was preternaturally strong.
‘Hey, Aym, you made it!’ they said happily, coming to a stop next to him. ‘Good to see you.’
‘What is all this?’ he asked, looking back at the temple grounds. ‘I don't know any holiday for Master that involves flowers.’
‘Holiday?’ they repeated curiously.
‘This looks like you're preparing for a festival.’
‘Oh! No, it's not a festival,’ the Lamb said, shaking their head. ‘It's for me.’
‘For you?’ he repeated. That sounded kind of heretical.
‘Yeah, the followers want to give me a good send off,’ the Lamb said, confusing him further. ‘I'm going after Kallamar the day after tomorrow, and there's not really going to be much time for a party between when he's dead and my sacrifice, so we're doing it now.’
‘Wait, we only have a few days?’ he blurted out. Shit, that was practically nothing. He'd hoped they had a month or so, so his master actually got to have any memories, but…
‘Yeah,’ the Lamb said, but they were frowning. ‘Are you okay? You seem upset.’
‘I'm fine,’ he said, pushing it away. He'd have to work with what he had, that was all. ‘Just surprised.’
‘Well, I want you three free as soon as possible,’ they said practically. ‘Which reminds me, I have something for you and Baal. Can you meet me at the temple? I just need to drop this off at the kitchen, or Hetty and Julto will have my head before the One Who Waits will.’
It was said lightly, and so far as Aym could tell, it was genuine. That was… kind of upsetting, somehow. ‘Then I'll meet you there,’ he agreed.
‘Thanks. See you in a couple of minutes,’ the Lamb said, and he blinked rapidly as they reached up, ruffled the fur on top of his head, and trotted off.
‘What the fuck was that,’ he muttered, then fixed his fur before heading over to his master's temple.
The grounds were neat and orderly, but in a way that kind of felt like a house being packed up, he thought cautiously. The followers were all in good spirits, and he got a few curious looks (as well as a few frightened ones), but for the most part, he was left to his business. It felt weird. This whole thing felt weird, and he didn't like it.
The Lamb didn't take long, dusting their hands off as they came over. ‘Sorry about that, the twins just wanted to make sure everything was set up for the party,’ they said. ‘Everyone's a little nervous, but things will be okay. The transition period might be bumpy, but I think I've picked a few good disciples for the One Who Waits to pick from as my successor – he's free to pick whoever he wants, obviously, but the more prep work I do the smoother things will go.’
They talked about all of this as if it was completely normal, as if they were just retiring, not days away from being sacrificed in a way that couldn't be undone. Aym kind of completely hated it.
‘Anyway, you're not here for me to talk at, you'll see it all for yourself in a few days,’ they said, patting his arm. ‘Come on, let me show you what I have for you and Baal.’
He followed them around the temple and over to a small cluster of buildings – little houses, he realised, or cottages. One was a bit larger and nicer than the others, and it was that one that the Lamb headed over towards.
‘This area's for whoever the One Who Waits decides to give any authority or special favour to,’ they explained, coming to a stop in front of the larger cottage. ‘Where the important people will live, if they want to. This one is yours and Baal's.’
‘It's what?’ he said, startled.
‘It's for you and your brother,’ the Lamb said. ‘I had it made especially for you two – I don't know how often you'll use it, mind, just because I don't know what you'll be up to when I'm gone. But everyone deserves a home, and a place to rest. I wanted to make sure it's waiting for you when you’re all Above again. And the One Who Waits said you'd prefer to be together rather than apart when I brought the idea up to him a while back.’
Aym just stared at the cottage, trying to process the idea. He hadn't even really thought about what being here would mean. There was probably a lot to do. And the Lamb had still remembered to do something like this.
‘Thanks,’ he said at last, not really sure what to say. ‘Baal would say it better, but, uh. Thanks. I don't think either of us would've thought about it.’
‘That's okay, that's my job,’ they said, patting his arm again. ‘I'm not going to make promises I’m not sure I can keep, but I want this to go as well as possible for you guys. I know how sacrifices like this work, so I won't even be able to be mad from beyond the grave if I mess up, but still.’
‘Okay, stop,’ Aym said, scowling as he looked at them, and the Lamb blinked. ‘What's wrong with you?’
‘What do you mean?’ they said, bewildered.
‘Why don't you care?’ he demanded. ‘You're not even going to just die, you're going to be sacrificed, and you really don't give a shit?’
The Lamb flinched, looking hurt. ‘What are you talking about? Of course I give a shit,’ they said, squeezing his arm to try and comfort him. It didn't work. ‘I wouldn’t set up all of this if I didn't.’
‘Not that,’ Aym huffed. ‘You really don't give a shit about yourself? You're not scared at all?’
There was just enough of a flicker of hesitation before they spoke to tell him they were lying. ‘I'm not scared, Aym. It's what we've always been working towards. You three are about to be free, and I'll have served my purpose. This is the deal that I made with the One Who Waits.’
‘You'll be gone!’
‘Everyone goes sometime,’ they said gently, squeezing his arm again. Then they stiffened as he demanded,
‘And what about Master? Don't you care about him?’
‘Aym, that's what this is all about,’ they said, looking hurt again. ‘He's the entire point. I don't understand why you're upset.’
‘Do you have any idea how much Master's going to miss you?’ he snapped. ‘Do you get how much this is going to hurt him? You could at least look less happy about being destroyed for his sake, if you won't do it for yourself.’
‘He's going to be just fine,’ they said, but they weren't meeting Aym's eyes now. ‘I'm making sure of it – I'm just his vessel, he'll be fine.’
‘You really think that?’ he said in disbelief. ‘That you're just his vessel?’
‘Well. I'd like to think I'm his friend, too,’ they said, looking down at the ground. ‘Maybe. If a god can be friends with a servant like me. But he's not going to admit that, and it's a little sacrilegious, besides. I know my place. He'll get over it.’
‘No, he won't,’ Aym said flatly. ‘How many people do you think would be ‘friends’ with Master? That he'd even let be friends with him? If you don't give a shit about yourself, fine. That's stupid, but fine. But you could at least care about how Master feels about it.’
‘I think that you might be worrying too much,’ they insisted, shuffling a little. ‘Listen, Aym, it's better this way. I'm not afraid of what's going to happen, I just don't want to make anyone more unhappy than they have to be. The followers are scared, you seem upset, and the One Who Waits – he's probably not happy, either. But this is more important. So since someone has to be unafraid, it's going to have to be me. I made my peace with this a long time ago. It's going to be okay.’
‘Aren't you going to miss him?’
Another flicker of hesitation. ‘I won't be missing anyone, I won't exist.’
‘That's not what I meant.’
‘Aym, I don't know what you're trying to do here, but it's not about whether I'll miss him or I won't, whether I'm happy to be destroyed or I'm not,’ they said, sidestepping the question. ‘It's about making sure all of you are free. That's more important to me. He shouldn't be locked up in chains down there. You and your brother deserve to be able to live in the world – it's not fair to either of you that you don't get to come and go as you please.’ They ruffled the fur on his head again, smiling as he huffed in annoyance. It just felt weird. That was all. ‘You're going to be okay, and so is he. And so am I, in a way.’
‘So you don't care that he's going to miss you,’ Aym said stubbornly, refusing to be put off.
They sighed. ‘Aym, why are you stuck on this? What's wrong?’
‘He's going to be completely fucking miserable for the rest of time,’ he said, and they turned their head away, expression guilty. ‘You have to care about that a little, don't you?’
‘He's going to get over it,’ they said, even more guilty.
‘I've served Master for a thousand years, since I was a kitten,’ he replied. ‘Master isn't going to get over it. Never.’
‘I don't know what you want me to do about it,’ the Lamb said, starting to grow frustrated. ‘There's nothing either of us can do, and it doesn't matter how much I do or don't care, because this is happening.’
‘Tell him.’
They froze. ‘Tell him what,’ they asked, guarded.
‘Tell him how you feel,’ Aym said, and they stared at him. ‘Come on, you don't think you're hiding it, do you?’
‘I don't know what you're talking about,’ they said stiffly. ‘I'm not hiding anything.’
‘Baal and I've had to sit there for decades while you two flirt,’ he said with exasperation, and the Lamb tensed. ‘It's a pain in the ass, and you should say something while you still can.’
‘It's not like that,’ the Lamb insisted, and they were starting to look angry.
Shit. Baal might have been right. Aym hated when Baal was right.
‘Fine,’ he said shortly, looking away. ‘It's your choice. But it's a stupid one.’
‘Oh, for – Aym, what are you even trying to do?’ they demanded, throwing their hands in the air. ‘What good would something like that do? I've only got a couple of days to go, and even if you were right, how would it help? It wouldn't, that's how.’
‘You can't know that,’ he said, scowling at them. ‘Doesn't Master get a say? Shouldn't he get to know?’
‘There's nothing to know,’ they said through gritted teeth. ‘And even if there was, which there's not, it would be stupider to say something this late, anyway. Better nothing at all than a scrap to haunt him.’
‘He's going to be haunted anyway,’ Aym said, sensing the Lamb was maybe a push or two away from admitting it. ‘At least if you tell him, he'll know for sure.’
‘That's just going to hurt him more,’ they said. Then they sighed, shoulders slumping. ‘I don't know what you want from me, Aym. There's nothing to do, and if there ever was, the time to do it was ages ago. There's no time now. What's important to me is that everything is set up so things are as easy as possible. That's what I can do. That's how I can make this better.’
‘You don't think he would want to know?’ Aym pressed.
The Lamb gave him a tired look. ‘Aym. You're seeing something that's not there. The One Who Waits is a god, for one thing. For another, the entire point of me – resurrecting me, making me his vessel and cult leader – is so that I'm sacrificed to free him. He and I knew how this would go basically from the start, and we both know where it will end. There's no way out of it, and I don't want a way out of it. Just let it go.’
‘At least admit it to yourself,’ he said, frustrated. ‘This is stupid.’
He blinked as the Lamb took his paws. ‘Aym. I know you're literally older than me, but you're young,’ they said firmly. ‘I know it seems like there's an easy solution here, and there is – it's just not the one you seem to want. You're over a thousand years old, but you haven't had a chance to spend that time living. I'm over a hundred and thirty, and I've lived every one of those years out here in the world. By every mortal measure, I'm old. And I lived well. That's because of the One Who Waits. And in a way, because you two are the ones who keep him company and keep him sane, that's because of you.’
They squeezed his paws. This time it was comforting, beyond what someone holding his paws should be. Especially considering what was coming out of their mouth.
‘I owe all of you a debt,’ they said quietly. ‘I got to matter, because of you three. I got to make sure that all of my people didn't die for nothing. This is the price I promised to pay, and I am happy to pay it. No matter what happens, no matter how long it takes, no matter what happens to me, I am getting you out.’
Aym jumped a bit at that, startled. He'd only ever heard that kind of voice come out of the One Who Waits, when he was commanding the world to bow to his godly might. Now it came out of the Lamb, making the world bow to them, just so they could make him a promise. They radiated ferocity as they held his paws, but not a dangerous one – at least, not to him. It was protective.
‘Alright?’ they asked, not seeming to be aware of how odd the moment had been. Aym nodded wordlessly, and they smiled. Then they hugged him. Despite being pointedly shorter than him, he felt weirdly – contained, almost. As if their arms were big enough to hold the world, if needed.
For a split second he wondered if this was what having a parent was like, but instantly shoved the thought away. That was stupid.
He still curled into them a bit anyway, and they squeezed him before letting him go.
‘There, at least I got to hug one of you,’ they said with satisfaction, and he blinked. ‘It'd be nice if I got to hug your brother, too, but I don't think there's going to be time.’
‘Why would you want to?’ he said, still trying to process the hug in the first place.
They reached up and ruffled the fur on top of his head. ‘Because I think you two deserve them,’ they replied, simple and honest. ‘The One Who Waits wouldn't have been able to give you them when you were growing up. People shouldn't have to go without.’
‘He kind of did,’ Aym said, thinking back. ‘I remember – floating, sometimes. Then being held, I think. It was a long time ago.’
The Lamb smiled. ‘Good, I'm glad,’ they said. ‘Always knew he had a soft side. Still, I wanted to give you a hug anyway. Baal too, if I can.’
‘And Master?’
The Lamb looked away from him. ‘I don't think that's appropriate,’ they said, and he sighed. He was pretty sure that was as much as he was going to get from them.
‘I should get going,’ he said. ‘If you're going to fight Kallamar soon, I should report back to Master.’
‘Of course,’ they said. ‘Come on, I'll walk you back to the pentacle portal.’
It was a quiet, faintly awkward walk over – for Aym, at least. The Lamb seemed at ease, but he wasn't sure what he was supposed to tell his master. Describe the temple grounds, he supposed, and thank him for telling the Lamb to make a home for him and Baal. He just had to hope he could avoid talking about the hug, at least before talking to Baal about it. It felt kind of like a brother thing.
‘Before you go,’ the Lamb said once the two reached the portal, and Aym tilted his head. ‘You seemed pretty insistent about the whole – feelings thing. Did… did the One Who Waits ask you to do that, or something?’
Aym really hoped they didn't think they were hiding the hope on their face. ‘No,’ he said, and the Lamb very briefly looked crestfallen before hiding it better than the last expression. ‘You should tell him. I think it's better to know for sure, rather than leaving him to wonder about it.’
The Lamb hesitated, but finally shook their head. ‘There's nothing to tell him,’ they said. ‘Besides, if there was, I'd have to ask you to keep it to yourself. I know you wouldn't, because he's your master, and I wouldn't want to ask you to lie, anyway. So it's a good thing there's nothing to talk about.’
He sighed, aggravated. ‘You're going to regret this,’ he warned.
The Lamb's mouth quirked. ‘I won't be regretting anything in a few days,’ they quipped. ‘Safe travels, Aym. Tell your brother hello for me.’
He nodded, then left, because staying there any longer was an uncomfortable, unpleasant thought. They might hug him again. That would be weird.
Only weird, he told himself firmly, then went to give the One Who Waits his report.
Baal knew what it looked like when his master was borrowing the Red Crown's sight, and for the half hour or so before Aym returned, the One Who Waits was very clearly preoccupied. Whatever he was seeing was apparently riveting – and bad, judging by his expression when he returned to himself, though he swiftly hid it. Presumably it had to do with whatever had Aym looking so troubled when he emerged from the portal.
Baal's jaw dropped when Aym explained that the Lamb was only a few days away from fighting Kallamar. He closed it, reminding himself that the Lamb might not succeed the first time around, that there was still time – but Aym's face made it clear what he though the chances of that were. Crap.
‘You have done well,’ the One Who Waits said when Aym was finished, but he sounded – off, somehow. ‘And you have given me much to contemplate. I wish to do so alone. I give you both permission to depart for three hours, to wherever you wish.’
It was extremely hard to not trade stunned looks with Aym. The One Who Waits almost never asked them both to leave – he'd never said, but Baal and Aym had long ago agreed that their master chose that because he didn't want to be alone in chains. Neither could blame him for that.
It was clear that wasn't true at the moment, however, and so the twins bowed in unison. ‘Yes, Master,’ they chorused. He nodded in answer, and so Baal went to join Aym, the both of them going to the pentacle portal. Aym seemed to have a destination in mind, so Baal followed him – only to blink when they arrived at the temple grounds.
‘Didn't you just leave here?’ Baal asked curiously.
‘Yeah, but it's important,’ Aym said, leading his brother towards the hub of doors and sitting on one of the low stone walls, out of sight of the portal. ‘We'll go over in a minute.’
‘What aren't you saying?’ Baal said, sitting next to his brother, the two of them leaning against the other one. ‘What happened?’
‘I talked to the Lamb,’ Aym said, and Baal slapped a paw over his own face.
‘Tell me you didn't talk to them about Master,’ he said.
‘Of course I did,’ Aym said, rolling his eyes. ‘Why are you surprised?’
‘I'm not surprised, I just wish you hadn't,’ Baal huffed. ‘Master was watching through the Crown, you moron.’
Aym's eyes went wide. ‘Oh, shit.’
‘I'm guessing the answer wasn't good?’ Baal said, and Aym wobbled a hand, making a face.
‘It was really obvious that they were admitting they have feelings, but they didn't actually say it,’ he said. ‘That's not the important part, though. They hugged me.’
Baal paused. ‘They what?’
‘Hugged me,’ Aym repeated. ‘We were talking about why the fuck they're so calm about everything, and they said a bunch of stuff about how they feel like they owe us, but it was the hug part that counted – and what they said before. They promised me they were going to get all of us out, but when they did, they used the same kind of voice Master uses when he's speaking as a god.’
‘Can they do that?’ Baal asked, uncertain. ‘Is it because of Master's Crown?’
‘I don't know,’ Aym said, ‘but it was weird. The hug was weird. All of it was weird.’
Baal knew his brother better than anyone – better than himself – so he gave Aym a Look. His brother caved almost instantly, which was the sign of something really bothering him.
‘The hug was weird, but it was also… nice,’ he said, looking at the ground. ‘It was dumb, but for a second it kind of felt like – you know. A parent.’
Baal leaned into his brother to comfort him, because he sounded like he wanted to die after saying that. ‘I'm kind of jealous,’ Baal admitted, hating the feeling. At least it would tell Aym he wasn't about to make fun of him for it, at least.
‘That's why I brought you,’ Aym said, taking Baal off guard. ‘So you could see the place they built us, too, but the Lamb said they would've wanted to hug you too, before they're sacrificed. I figured if we both got to leave for a while, I might as well bring you here so they can do that for you.’
The two of them were quiet.
‘I don't want them to go away,’ Baal said at last, feeling helpless. ‘I know they have to, but…’
‘It doesn't feel fair,’ Aym finished, and Baal nodded. ‘They said that they don't mind, because it means they got to matter, and that the sheep didn't all die for nothing.’
Oh. Right. Baal had kind of forgotten what it would mean, for there to be a last sheep. ‘That's not fair, either,’ he said, and Aym shook his head in commiseration. ‘So Master has to lose them, we have to lose them, and the Lamb just – gets to be destroyed? That's their reward after everything they've done for Master? For us?’
‘I know,’ Aym said, rubbing his face with one paw. ‘They've just accepted it. And I think Master has, too. And I can't think of any other way to fix this, either.’
Baal nodded, dejected. ‘Remember when Master would tell us stories? When we were still kittens?’
‘Yeah. You liked the ones with fighting the most.’
‘And you liked the adventure ones,’ Baal agreed. ‘It was nice. All of the endings made sense, even when they were sad endings. But you hated those.’
‘Only the ones that could've been fixed,’ Aym said, pulling a face. ‘I don't see why people should just – give up, or not talk about things. Maybe we can't stop the Lamb from getting sacrificed, but they could at least know for sure first. They should at least try.’
‘Even if it makes Master sadder in the long run?’
‘How can it make him sadder? He's already going to be miserable forever,’ Aym said stubbornly. ‘I couldn't talk them into it, but you're better with people. Maybe you can.’
Baal looked over towards the temple grounds, then sighed. ‘I'll give it a shot,’ he said reluctantly, and Aym perked up. ‘But don't expect a miracle.’
‘Master doesn't hand those out for free either,’ Aym said with a nod. ‘Come on, they should be this way.’
Only they weren't. The Lamb wasn't anywhere to be found, though Baal and Aym combed the temple grounds; even the followers didn't seem to know exactly where the Lamb went, just that they'd gone off on an errand before the party and said they'd be back in an hour or two. It was coming up on their own time limit, however, so Baal and Aym returned to the pentacle portal, both glum.
‘Maybe we can talk Master and the Lamb into giving us a little time to say goodbye before the sacrifice,’ Aym said, and Baal nodded. Damn it. He'd really been looking forward to that hug, too.
It was a few minutes early, but the twins assumed that wouldn't matter much, right up until they both emerged into the Below and froze.
The One Who Waits looked – very strange. He was much shorter than before (only a few inches taller than the twins), with decidedly non-skeletal arms, and while he was still chained, the chains seemed to have resized with him. The chain length hadn't changed, however, leaving him some more room to move.
He didn't notice the twins. Neither did the Lamb. The two seemed a bit busy, judging by how the One Who Waits had the Lamb bent backwards with his paws supporting them, the two kissing so passionately that it made Aym and Baal want to die having to see it.
‘I didn't know he could change his form,’ Aym whispered to Baal.
‘I wish I didn't know now,’ Baal whispered back, face scrunched up. Just because he wanted the Lamb and his Master to be happy didn't mean he wanted to watch it. ‘Should… should we go?’
‘Good idea,’ Aym said with relief – which was unfortunately when the One Who Waits finally noticed them. The only thing that kept the Lamb from dropping was their own arms around his neck, as he straightened up and let go of them quickly.
‘Narinder,’ the Lamb huffed in disapproval, only to finally catch on to the fact that there were people behind them. They hastily let go of him, whirling around, then looked as mortified as everyone else. ‘...um. Hi?’
‘I thought you said there's nothing to tell him,’ Aym said, and Baal wanted to cover his face. So did the Lamb, but at least they actually got to do it; all Baal could do was elbow his brother.
‘It's complicated?’ they offered, only for the One Who Waits to sigh behind them, aggrieved. Between one blink and the next, he returned to his usual size and shape, as restricted as he normally was.
‘It is not complicated,’ he said, and the Lamb winced. ‘They saw the two of you were both currently Above, and decided that this was likely their only chance to speak to me privately. They spoke to me via the Crown, so I could summon them to me, and we discussed our state of affairs. We had intended to inform you in a more dignified manner – had you returned on time.’
‘Sorry, Master,’ Baal and Aym said, bowing their heads.
‘It's okay, you were going to find out anyway,’ the Lamb said bracingly. ‘Especially since plans have changed.’
‘Plans?’ Baal repeated, at the same time as Aym asked ‘Changed?’
‘The sacrifice has been postponed,’ said the One Who Waits, and both Aym and Baal straightened up, hope filling their chests. ‘On the Lamb's condition that we do go through with it if no other option presents itself, we will be looking into other options.’
‘I'm sorry,’ the Lamb said, looking at the floor as if the weight of their guilt was too heavy to hold eye contact. ‘Especially after I promised to get you out as fast as I can, Aym.’
‘Apologise not,’ the One Who Waits chided. ‘I know my servants well; neither begrudge you this.’
‘We really don't,’ Baal said with relief.
‘You promised me to get us out however long it took, not as fast as you can,’ Aym added. ‘We don't mind waiting.’
‘Master isn't the only one who'd miss you,’ Baal finished.
The Lamb's face was soft, and with a quick glance at the One Who Waits, they trotted over to the twins. ‘I'd miss you, too,’ the Lamb said, coming to a stop in front of them. ‘You two are good kids. You deserve better.’
‘Kids?’ Baal said indignantly, only to be elbowed by Aym this time.
The Lamb shook their head fondly, reaching up and ruffling the fur atop both twins’ heads and making them grumble in identical voices. Baal's was silenced a lot faster, as they then pulled him into a tight hug.
Oh. This was nice, Baal thought faintly as the Lamb held him. It felt in a weird way like they were carrying him, instead; he was still standing, but they were the one keeping him upright, and would do so until time ended if need be. He could see why it had occurred to Aym, that this might be how a parent would hug him.
After a moment, they pulled Aym into the hug too, and then it felt complete. Baal wasn't sure when he or Aym had hidden their faces in the Lamb's wool, or gotten their own arms around the Lamb and each other in turn. It was hard to deny that he and his brother were kind of clinging to the Lamb anyway, curled into them like a safe harbour, and it felt weird. Undignified. Like the two should pull away, because they didn't need something like hugs.
Baal wasn't sure he could, at the moment. The Lamb didn't seem inclined to make him or Aym let go, content to hold the twins as long as they needed to.
‘It's okay,’ they murmured, squeezing both of them. ‘I'm not going anywhere yet, and hopefully we'll find a way for me not to go anywhere at all. But one way or the other, I care about both of you very much, and no matter what, you will be free.’
It was that divine rumble Aym had mentioned, familiar from the One Who Waits, and so Baal just nodded. The Lamb might not be a god, but they did technically wield the power of one; that had to be the reason. If he could trust that power in his Master's voice, then he could trust it here, too.
The twins finally pulled away, and the Lamb let them. ‘Thank you,’ Baal said, unsure of what someone should say after their first hug in a very long time. The One Who Waits had held him and his brother as kittens, he remembered – floating them into the air with the power of the Crown, able to bend his arms just enough to securely cradle the two children once in reach. Baal and Aym had slept that way for a long time, until the two of them felt too old for such a thing. It had been so long ago that the memory was almost entirely faded, but it was easier to remember at the moment.
‘Any time,’ the Lamb said warmly. ‘Here, I need to go tell the cult that plans have changed. They'll be happy to hear it, they've all been acting as cheerful as they can, but I can read their minds. I know they're nervous.’
‘And what are you going to do about Kallamar?’ Aym asked.
‘Well, I'm killing him day after tomorrow, if everything goes according to plan,’ they said. ‘I'm just not going to be sacrificed immediately after. I'll go tell the cult, then you two can go and enjoy the party, and rest in your cottage.’
‘What?’ Aym and Baal said in identical blank voices.
‘I am giving you both permission to depart for the night,’ the One Who Waits said, to their mutual shock. ‘You may return at noon tomorrow.’
‘Are you sure?’ Baal asked uncertainly. ‘We don't want you to be alone, Master.’
The Lamb was looking anywhere but at the twins, fiddling with the hem of their fleece cloak. The One Who Waits was looking at the twins, and extremely pointedly. Ah.
‘Sounds like a plan,’ Aym said hastily, looking the precise amount of mortified as Baal was feeling. ‘Good plan, gotcha, we'll be here. And then not be here.’
The Lamb smothered a snort. ‘I'll be back, I'll just tell the followers that I'm meeting with the One Who Waits about the alternatives. Which is true. See you in a little bit.’
They trotted past the two of them, stepped onto the pentacle portal, and vanished.
‘Aym. Baal. Approach,’ the One Who Waits commanded. The twin cats snapped to attention, immediately falling into step with one another as they went to their master, bowing in unison. ‘A few days past, you two spoke on this topic,’ he continued, and both winced. ‘I heard only the end of it. Particularly of Aym's intention. This is why I asked you to visit the temple grounds.’
Aym managed to hide his smugness, and Baal hid his exasperation.
‘Had I thought we had the time, I would have encouraged Baal's plan in its stead,’ the One Who Waits continued, which at least made Baal feel better. ‘A circuitous scheme, but an elegant one. Unfeasible in the time left to us, however, and neither of you knew I had heard your argument, so I made use of it. I wished to know for myself, but I knew there was no chance the Lamb would speak of it, not on their own. You did precisely as I planned, Aym. However…’
He hesitated for a moment. ‘I know the two of you – my most faithful servants, companions and guardians, wards and students. You are not always of the same mind, but on this, you are. You have done a great service to myself, and to the Lamb, though I believe you know not the true extent of what you may have spared us through your meddling. Therefore, when we are free, I have decided to reward you with the only gift that matters after the duty you've performed. I will release you both from service, and you will be free to do as you please and go where you are wont.’
Aym and Baal flinched in unison. ‘What? No!’
The One Who Waits blinked all three eyes once. Twice. ‘What do you mean?’
‘We don't want to go,’ Baal said, Aym nodding in solidarity. ‘This is where we belong.’
‘We wish to continue serving you, Master,’ Aym said, and this time Baal was the one nodding. ‘We don't want to be released from service. We didn't do this because we wanted a reward.’
‘I did not think such a thing,’ the One Who Waits said slowly. ‘But I am curious, then, why you felt compelled.’
‘Because you’re going to be miserable without them,’ Baal said.
‘We wanted you to have something to hold onto,’ Aym added. ‘It might not have been much. But we wanted you to be happy for a little while, even if it was temporary.’
‘I see,’ he said at last. ‘Yes, you are correct. I knew not that the Lamb would come here of their own volition afterwards, admittedly. But you ensured that I knew it was mutual before the end, and that is a gift. If you wish not to be released from service, then I will not do so. You are still free to travel, of course, and do as you please on your days of rest.’
Another hesitation. ‘I am… glad, that you wish to remain of your own choice. I will not have you bound to me by obligation – you have spent your lives as such so far – but I would miss your company. And the Lamb was correct: older though you two may be, you are yet young. You are my guardians in this prison, faithful and true – but so too are you my charges, and in need of guidance yet. I am glad you choose to remain so.’
Aym and Baal bowed. Baal felt – weird. In the same way the Lamb's hug had felt weird. The One Who Waits had raised them, after all; it felt strange to think of him as such, but now that Baal had to think about it, the One Who Waits really was about as close to a father as either he or Aym had ever known.
‘Always,’ Baal and Aym said in unison, and meant it with all they had. When they straightened up, the One Who Waits was smiling at them. It was a rare phenomenon, before the Lamb; it was nice knowing it would be a little more common, now.
The sound of the pentacle portal made the two turn, just as the Lamb appeared. That had been quick.
‘Sorry, you two,’ they said, seeming to be in a hurry, and the twins traded looks. ‘I have something I need to talk to Narinder about, so off you two go –’
‘Is everything okay?’ Aym asked, and the Lamb nodded, despite looking like they were definitely preoccupied with something.
‘It's good, everything's good, now scoot.’
Aym and Baal began to do so on autopilot, then looked back at the One Who Waits, unsure. He was watching the Lamb with raised eyebrows, but nodded to the twins, so off the two went, a little troubled but deciding it had to be fine.
When the two emerged from the portal, a follower was waiting, surprisingly enough. He was a large newt fellow, bright blue and yellow-green; when they were the two to pop up, he first looked surprised, then deflated.
‘What's wrong?’ Baal asked.
‘Oh, I was just hoping you were Leader,’ the newt said with a bit of a drawling twang. ‘They ran off so quick after we talked that I'm worried I made em mad.’
Aym and Baal traded looks. ‘What did you talk about?’ Aym asked.
He looked embarrassed. ‘I read a lot as an eft, and I remembered something about different kinds of sacrifice rituals, way back. I mentioned it to em after their announcement, figuring that if anybody was gonna be able to make use of it, it was gonna be Leader, since they said they and the One Who Waits are gonna find another solution. But their face got mighty odd, and then they ran off without saying anything.’
‘Different kinds?’ Baal repeated curiously.
‘Yep. There's other things people can sacrifice to get what they want,’ the newt explained. ‘Or promises they can make that sacrifice other things. Memories can be sacrificed. So can virgins, without killing them. And sometimes people were married off to concepts or gods or things. You two good?’
Aym and Baal were looking at each other, both as tired as the other. ‘They're proposing, aren't they,’ Baal said.
‘If they're not, he is,’ Aym said in the same tone of voice.
‘What do you two mean?’ the newt asked, anxious. ‘Is Leader doing something?’
Aym and Baal sighed in unison. ‘There's probably going to be another announcement after noon, tomorrow,’ Baal said. ‘Probably. But the Lamb is fine, and they didn't look mad.’
‘Good,’ the newt said, relaxing. ‘Well, in any case, I'm Theanno. Saw you two poking around earlier today. If the Leader's off, then it's me and Puarjul who're in charge. What's your names?’
‘Aym and Baal,’ the two chorused.
‘We serve our master, the One Who Waits,’ Aym added.
‘When he's freed, we'll be here with him,’ Baal finished.
‘Oh, the twins! Leader's talked about you,’ Theanno said, beaming. ‘Well, let's get you fed and introduced then, if you're gonna be two of us. We're always happy to have more faithful. Come on.’
Baal perked up as Aym grimaced. ‘You're in charge of talking,’ he muttered to Baal as the two of them followed the newt. ‘I've done my job today.’
‘It's okay, you're not allowed to talk or you'll get us kicked out,’ Baal muttered back.
‘No, I won't,’ Aym hissed at him, glaring.
‘Yeah, you will.’
‘No, I won't!’
The two of them bickered while Theanno led them towards what was clearly a giant party of very relieved followers, and Baal thought to himself that he could get used to this. People and sounds, sunshine and the late afternoon breeze beginning to drift through the temple grounds, his brother beside him and dirt under his paws. His master would get to be free, and the Lamb wouldn't go away.
Things would be okay. He was sure of it.