The gods at home had been quite fond of pandering. Arialla would have to remember that it wasn't to Safrin's taste. She nodded.
If Safrin intended to lead her, Arialla was all too happy to be led -- though she didn't want to come across as overeager or avaricious. "Caverns of treasures sound more interesting than libraries, however dusty they may be."
She meant it: while Arialla was literate and intelligent, she'd never been a bookworm. She preferred to be outside in the sun -- but if she had to be underground, she'd rather explore a cave than be trapped amid stacks of books.
"So they can't escape her even in death ..." Arialla mused. "That's horrible. She really is just ... ugh."
She'd never liked the idea that the Voice was a mortal who had decided to ascend to godhood, but the concept of the Voice seizing not only godhood but total control over the souls, the eternal existence, of those foolish or desperate enough to follow her ... It was the kind of power that no former mortal should have. Even a single god shouldn't be able to simply alter the afterlife in such a total, unilateral way. Such a disruption to the natural cycle of life and death screamed wrongness at Arialla.
"If there's any way I can help stop her, or free the souls she's taken, I would be glad to," Arialla said sincerely.
please don't take my sunshine away
