Troketh had been bust since the last time the Mother Goddess paid him a visit. The mystery girl was elusive. Someone had gone to great lengths to make sure she disappeared. Keth grew more and more suspicious as time went on. He absolutely knew Kez Visat was behind all this, but could not prove anything. His 'brother' had many agents. Only Keth's network was more widespread. The God of Minds had checked his contacts in the resistance and found nothing. Every island was ignorant of her. Even the Shadow Dwellers had no clues to her identity save for her home town. And even they could tell him little more than the fact that she had arrived there some eighteen years ago with their spiritual leader. Keth dared not question the man directly as he had once been Kez's right hand man. It seemed as if the girl had appeared out of thin air. All Keth had was surface level information. He knew her name was Saiyi and that she was currently in residence on Hagoa. More than that illuded even him. His reputation started to feel threatened.
Then three months after Troketh had started his search, his patsy Duratai reported that the resistance had found an old aircar. They found it abandoned in the ruins close to Thay and seemed to have been there for many years. The aircar while worn down by the sand and sun, was still preserved in the dry wastes. The strangest thing about the vehicle was that it carried the symbol of the recluse Vow. The pieces fell together for Keth. Trovow had been a relatively big name among the Chosen. He had taken over the rule of his unnamed island nearly four thousand years before. He had been quite the ladies' man at the time. Then suddenly he all but vanished from the public eye. He moved his island and has not been seen since. Nobody knew why. Until now. Keth couldn't help but notice that Vow became a recluse around nineteen years ago.
"Got you now." Keth felt smug, his title justified once more. He prided himself on having eyes everywhere.
Troketh however meant the girl no harm. In fact, he saw opportunity. The Mother Goddess told him about her as a jab. She must know at least somewhat about his aspirations. At heart Keth was a simple man. He had been chosen during the God War as much by accident as by choice. He knew many frightening things, even for someone who was near immortal. He knew the Mother Goddess' real goals where the others did not care or have forgotten. He was not planning on being her little tin soldier in another globe spanning war once more. Keth also knew that it was only a matter of time until her peers returned seeking justice for their fallen number. He had been trying in vain to ready the others, but he could not let Kakai know his plans. He acted in shadow and round about ways. If he could get this girl on his side, she may in time tip the scales in his favour. They could banish the so-called Old Gods and reclaim their world. He dreamt of a world that need no Gods and no wars. Where he did not have to sneak around for fear of the Mother's vengeance. AS far as he could work out, Kez received fully half of the power that was 'gifted' by the amulets. He received half of that and so on. The Mother Goddess was many times more powerful than any one of the Chosen. He knew there must be a way to increase the power the amulets afforded. To be like the 'Old Gods'. He just didn't know how. This new girl however. She had been chosen by Kakai herself and handed an amulet without peers. IF he was correct, which he usually was, the girl Saiyi would wield power that Cyla had not seen since the God War. But he had to act swiftly, carefully and most importantly, he had to act secretly.
He entered his shielded aircar. He dared not fly by himself. His 'brother' would sense him without a doubt. The car lifted and he dove down flying close to the ground as was his custom to avoid detection. His first stop was the ruins where Duratai found the abandoned aircar. When he landed, he took off his amulet and left it behind in his vehicle. Vow's aircar was well hidden and it was a minor miracle Duratai's men found it at all. Once again the partnership with the Supreme Commander proved lucrative. The abandoned aircraft held no additional clues. Troketh searched every inch and the surrounding area. The insignia remained the only clue. He had not expected to find much there, but was disappointed regardless. Once he had returned to his own vehicle he hung is amulet around his neck again. It felt heavy, though its actual weight was negated by the power within. He returned to his island to bolster the energy that kept it aloft. Many would not have guessed but Troketh, with his reputation of being abrasive at best, cared for the people that lived on his island. He named his island Yesol, Oasis. He had even uplifted his Shadow Dweller population. He ensured their lifestyle and culture could continue, without the need to fight for life without access to fresh water and decent food.
The next day Keth prepared for his journey to Vow's island. The hermit had ensured his island was more than a day away from any of the others by moving to the poles. Keth could only guess how that had affected the people living on the island. The Shadow Dweller populace that had lived beneath the island when it moved had no chance of survival. By the time the other Chosen realised what had happened, they had all expired. For most of them death was a slow process. Troketh's blood boiled thinking about it, yet he needed information and being confrontational would not be conducive to his goals. He powered on the modified aircar. It had been fitted with a drive he had borrowed from the resistance. It would ensure he could reach Trovow's island and return in twenty hours. That left him only a few hours to gathered what information he could.
The flight was difficult as the winds in the upper atmosphere buffeted Keth's aircar. Nearly nine hours later his destination came into view. He could immediately see that the tower had no water flowing from it. The island also seemed to have collided with a mountain and had a severe tilt to it. As flew over the island it seemed deserted. No lights burned and the water that remained was frozen solid. Keth landed close to the tower. There he saw the first signs of life. Small groups of people were busy at the base of the tower with their own tasks. Keth immediately recognised that these were not natural humans. They were avatars. Servants created by the Chosen to reinforce the island population or in some cases act as a disposable military force. They looked and acted like people, but they had no blood and did not age.
"Where is your master?" Keth called to a nearby worker. "I am Troketh the God of Minds."
The avatar simply pointed to the tower. His expression was blank and Keth doubted if he could even speak. Everything about the island felt terribly wrong. The central tower stood, defiant to gravity despite the severe tilt of the island. Keth dared not use his power and hoped the elevator still worked. He was fortunate it did. Once he reached the throne room, he found the hermit sitting on the throne with a vacant expression.
"Trovow. I'm here seeking information."
The master of the island glared at him. His brow furrowed and he huffed.
"I know what you want God of Minds." The last bit said facetiously. "You will get nothing from me Troketh. Go home where it's warm and cuddle your Mother."
Keth clenched his fists. He would not be goaded into a confrontation.
"Vow. I found an aircar. I believe it belongs to you."
"Did you now? Probably stolen. The ones who could fled by air, it would make sense."
"I believe it was carrying something valuable to you."
"What would you know of value. What would any of you know. Nearly twenty years I have been here. You are the first son of that bitch to come. Now go, you are not welcome."
"I don't like doing it, but need I remind you that I am-"
"You're what. My superior. Fuck me, you lot are all the same." The hermit was growing increasingly agitated.
"Tell you what God of Minds. You come over here and take the information if you can."
Without warning the hermit lashed out with his fist. A great ball of fire leapt forward directly at Keth. Troketh had had enough. His eyes narrowed and the fire bent upward as if hitting an angled wall, incinerating the ceiling above melting some of the gold in the process. The younger God's face could not hide the shock. He had never really dealt with the eldest of the Chosen directly. Keth pointed a finger and the throne. The chair lifted, while the man in it was glued firmly to it, struggling as he might. His arms were bound to his side as the chair hovered toward Troketh. Once it was in arms reach Keth released his power. The chair fell shattering tossing the man inside like a child. He landed at Keth's feet staring up at the older deity.
"I am here for information. Now that I have used my power against my will, I have no hesitation to continue to do so to get what I want." The younger Chosen looked flustered and confused.
"I have been know to say that fear is the ultimate form of respect. So having said that, nod once if you want to die. Nod twice if you want to chat friendly like."
The hermit nodded twice. The God of Minds manifested two chairs from the floor and took a seat in one, legs crossed and arms folded.
"Good, now about that aircar."