Page 61 of Dark Gambit Reliance

"You can talk with one of them if you wish. I can call either one."

43

JADE

Jade didn't trust the gods. They were liars and manipulators.

If not for the child-like woman with no legs strapped to the god's back, she would have attacked him first and talked later while holding him in a chokehold.

It had taken her a couple of moments to realize who he was, and when she had, she'd also noticed the woman who she'd mistaken for a child.

The trouble with the fuckers was that they seemed human if one didn't know what to look for, like the too-perfect features, the smooth alabaster skin, and their preference to stay in the shade because of their sensitive eyes.

They were like rats who only came out at night.

"If you can make a call from here," she said. "I would like to speak to Veskar."

He was clever enough to convey a message even if he was being held captive. Vrog had never been much for subterfuge, and she had no idea what kind of person Aliya had grown up to be. She would love to know how they ended up with the gods, though.

The god pulled a phone out of his pocket. "It's a satellite phone that can be used from anywhere, and the communication is secure."

"What's your name, god?" She shook her head. "I really don't like how you assholes refer to yourselves. We both know that there is nothing godly about you."

"Why are you so mean to him?" asked the woman named Mia. "He's risking himself and me to help you."

"That is true." She should dial back her hatred for the gods and give him a chance. "Are you human?" She looked pointedly at the missing legs. "Gods can regrow limbs."

"I'm not a goddess, but I'm not human either."

The god lifted his hand to silence the woman. "Mia is none of your business. I go by Tom."

He sounded so protective of the female with no legs, which was atypical of the gods who worshiped perfection. Maybe he was indeed different.

"That's a human name," she said.

"So is Jade."

"True." She let out a breath. "I apologize. You are not to blame for the deeds of your forefathers. I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you are a different breed." She forced a smile. "New and improved."

He lifted his hand again, this time to shush her as he put the phone to his ear.

"Did she come?" She heard a male's voice on the other side.

"I'm with her. She wants to talk to you." He handed her the phone. "Make it quick. We don't have much time."

She nodded. "Veskar?"

"It is me," he answered in Kra-ell. "Are you well?"

"As well as a captive can be. Can I trust Tom?"

"Yes, you can. Remember the story you told the children about the pompalo and the dorga?"

She'd known Veskar would find a way to tell her whether she could trust the god. He was using a fable they both knew.

A pompalo was a fearsome tiger-like animal, and a dorga was a large bird that was quite rare and a symbol of good luck. The story was that the bird was injured, and the pompalo saved her instead of eating her. When she asked him why, he said that she wasn't his enemy, nor was she his food source, and saving her would bring him luck.

"Who is the pompalo, and who is the dorga?"