So that’s where he thought he should start–trying to find someone who would look after someone with no life skills. But before he did that, he had to find someone who could be trusted to help him find his brother. Right now, he was hiding behind a tree just outside the little town, watching crowds of people come and go. 

Kaz’s father told him that humans with his eyes like his own might be trusted. He saw a girl passing by who looked about his age, wearing a white, crocheted robe. He thought she might be trustworthy. He walked through the forest, keeping pace with her and not wanting to lose track of her. He trailed her, peering at her through the forest, until she disappeared inside a small house belching smoke from its chimney. Kaz looked both ways, and then sneezed as hard as he could, blowing himself out of the forest with a thunderous clap and into the town. He sailed through the air and propelled himself toward the house the girl had gone into. 

The people in the town looked around, baffled for a moment. Then they thought the noise must have been thunder, and continued on their way. Kaz saw the door the girl went through was dilapidated at the bottom–the wood eaten away so that he could fit under the bottom of it. On the other side, he saw the girl reading a dusty old book while a man chopped fish on a wooden counter. 

"What book did you trade for today?" The man asked.

The girl yawned and replied, "A book about the gods."

The man laughed. "I'm not surprised. Have you learned anything new?" 

The girl sighed heavily. "Nothing…"

"Perhaps you should give up this ridiculous pursuit of yours. Why are you so convinced that the gods did not make us?" The man queried, slamming his knife down, making Kaz jump. 

"It doesn't make sense to me… If such divine creatures truly existed, why should they interfere in our affairs or communicate with us at all? Shouldn't they be above such things?" The girl frowned deeply. 

"Silly girl, always daydreaming. Go to your room and take a nap. Perhaps you've been helping me catch too many fish." The man replied, shaking his head.

The girl snapped her book shut and went into an adjacent room, shutting the door behind her. 

Kaz walked across the floor, dust and other debris flying up his nose from the close proximity to the ground. The floor beneath him was warped and puckered at some points. He went around them, trying not to trip or fall. 

Abruptly, the room went silent. The man stopped cutting fish. Kaz glanced at him, sweating profusely. The man looked around the room, sniffing. After a moment, he shrugged and continued cutting. “Could have sworn someone else was in the room…”

Kax breathed a sigh of relief and continued on. He continued on his way to the girl’s room, and pursed his lips. He was too big to fit under the door, and it wasn’t dilapidated. He would have to sneeze. 

The problem was that the force of the sneeze would blow him backwards, and away from the door, and would draw attention to him. He scratched his chin, contemplating how to get the door open, when it swung open on its own. He yelped as the door hit him and slammed him against the wall. The girl said, “James, did someone just enter the building?”

“You’re imagining things, Alleendelle, as usual. To be fair, I though someone might have been in here, too, but I was wrong.” James said.

“I could have sworn… but, if you say so.”

While they talked, Kaz quickly ran into the room before she could shut the door and observed a sparse space with a bed stuffed with straw, a few dolls, many books, and other odd trinkets lying around. 

Kaz dove into her straw bed and waited for her to return.

Once she shut the door, she sat on her bed, crushing him underneath her. He grunted in pain. She immediately stood back up. “OK, now I know I’m not crazy. Who’s in my room?”

There was a long pause, and he wondered if he should reveal himself. He decided there would be nothing wrong with it, as he was sure he could defend himself against her. He crawled out of the straw, and she yelped in surprise.

She gasped, “A demigod!”

Alleendelle knelt and scooped him up. “Who are you?”

“I am Kaz. I am not here for chitchat. Have you seen a demigod who looks like me?” he asked.

She was quiet for a moment, and then she nodded slowly. “I have. His name is Jan. He is being kept safe at the temple on the Hilltop Temple.” 

“Good. That’s all I need to know.” Kaz hopped down from her hands, making his way to her door. 

“Wait! It’s dangerous out there for a demigod. I can carry you to the temple if you wish.” Alleendelle suggested.

Kaz thought about that. “What are your credentials?”

Alleendelle laughed. “Credentials? What on earth do you mean?”

“Do you worship my father, the God of Thunder?” Kaz questioned. 

“Well, I… I don’t know. I am quite undecided when it comes to worshipping. I am unsure the gods are actually our creators or not.” Alleendelle shrugged her shoulders.

Kaz didn’t know what to make of that, he just knew that he took it as an insult, as anyone who didn’t worship his father was not worth his time. “You don’t have the credentials. I will go on my own.”

“But wait! I can save you very much time if you allow me to carry you. I have so many questions I’d like to ask you, too. If you can answer them, perhaps I will be swayed into worshipping your father.” she suggested.

Kaz contemplated that for a moment. He eventually shrugged. “Very well. Sounds like a deal. I must warn you that I am a very powerful god, however, and that I could easily destroy you if you wrong me.”

“I know, I know. When do you want to go?” Alleendelle asked.

“Right now, of course. I must hurry, and become a greater god.” he said.

Alleendelle nodded. “Very well, let me pack up my things.” 

Alleendelle packed a rucksack with books and a water flask, and then tossed him inside. He yelled, “Excuse me! You shouldn’t treat a demigod so flippantly!”

Alleendelle inclined her head apologetically while peering into the bag. “Sorry, I got excited! Stay in there so no one can see you.” 

“Fine, fine…” Kaz rolled his eyes.

Alleendelle opened her door and said to James, “I’m going to the temple for worshiping purposes. I’ll be back tonight.”

“You? Going to the temple? Why? You don’t even know if you believe.” James shook his head.

“Yes, but I’m thinking if I hear the voice of the God of Thunder, I might be convinced.” Alleendelle explained.

James shrugged. “Alright. Just be back before it gets too dark.”

“Of course! See you then!” Alleendelle ran out the door, and walked steadily through a dense crowd. 

As she went, Kaz poked his head out of her bag and asked, “Who is that man? Your father?”

“No. He’s just my caretaker. I was abandoned as a baby.” she answered. 

“Interesting. Why were you abandoned?” Kaz went on.

She snorted a laugh. “How would I know that? I was a baby. You demigods sure are blunt. I was probably abandoned cause my parents couldn’t take care of me.”

“How disgusting. Parents should teach and provide for their children.” he tsked.

“I agree.” she laughed. 

There was silence for a long time, but  for the loud chatter of the crowd. Alleendelle cleared her throat. “You don’t talk much, do you?”

“No. I’m here on a mission.” Kaz replied.

“I know… you said you’re here to see your twin, right? Why?” Alleendelle queried.

“Yes. I must merge with him.” he stated.

Alleendelle giggled. “What on earth does that mean?”

“It means I must become a full god. I had become the god of war, but then Jan’s mom cheated and blasted us apart, depriving me of my birthright.” Kaz said.

“The god of war…” Alleendelle’s hair stood on end. The previous god of war had devasted elvenkind and helped humans win the previous war. In the end, he went mad and turned on the humans he so loved.

“Do all gods start out as demigods…?” Alleendelle conmtinued.

“You ask too many questions, girl. You must be quiet and take me to the temple. And I don’t have the answer to that question.” he replied.

Alleendelle pursed her lips, but remained quiet for a time. Kaz listened to her say hello to people on their way to the temple. She would pause for what seemed like ages at a time to talk with those she knew.

“Alleendelle, how are you doing? Are we doing religious study tonight? Your theory of the Great One never ceases to fascinate!” a girl accosted her, causing her to stop in her tracks.

“No, I’m busy tonight. I’m going up to the temple to gather more information on the gods. What have you been up to Cherene?” 

Kaz nearly blacked out from boredom as the pair went on to talk about inane things like shoes, family members, gossip, and makeup. Eventually, she kept moving. 

“Pause like that again, and I will have to destroy you.” Kaz said.

“Geez. Give me a break, would you? I hadn’t seen her in awhile.” Alleeendelle glared at him.

“What is this Great One she spoke of? Sounds blasphemous.” Kaz said, eying her suspiciously. 

“Well… I’m just not sure the gods created us. There’s no proof, not even evidence. And if they didn’t create us, why should we worship them?” Alleeendelle asked.

“You should worship us, because we can destroy you if we want to.” Kaz threatened. 

Alleendelle’s eyes widened. “Going to terrorize us to get us to worship you?”

“Of course. How else can we demand good behavior from you? If it weren’t for the possibility of going tot he underworld for bad behavior, you would all be killing each other…. at least, that’s what my pa said.” Kaz cleared his throat awkwardly, ashamed of how little he knew. He was parroting information his father had told him hours earlier, and not entirely comprehending it.