Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign (Worlds of the Crystal Moon, Book 1) (89 page)

Mieonus reasoned, “We didn’t know to watch Shalee. Just try to look at it our way. No kingdom should be able to survive the destruction of its hierarchy when it happens over a matter of Peaks. When we instigated the assassinations, Keldwin had not even planned his tournament yet. How could we have known that Sam would be invited to Brandor so quickly and end up in a position to step into leadership once Aaron was killed?”

Yaloom cut in. “Yes ... we thought with the general and the prince passing, Brandor would be led by a king that was growing sicker by the Peak. Sam becoming king was dumb luck.”

Lasidious threw his hands in the air again. “There’s no such thing as dumb luck, imbecile. You should’ve stopped the assassinations, and if your eyes would’ve been open, you would’ve. The two of you have been outwitted by Mosley and the council of cretins that surrounds him.”

Mieonus stomped her lifted heel again. “You don’t have to be so rude!”

Lasidious nodded. “You’re right. I’ll show you your failure firsthand. Come with me to see what the situation is like in Brandor. Meet me in the theatre next to Mosley ... if you have the nerve.” After a snide look, the Mischievous One disappeared.

When Lasidious reappeared, he was standing next to Mosley on the stage. Like the wolf, he was invisible to those who filled the theatre. Soon after, Mieonus and Yaloom popped in. They said nothing as they watched Sam place the blade onto Double D’s shoulder. This was going to be an event worth watching. Each took a seat on the stage floor.

Eventually, Lasidious decided to make conversation that could only be heard by the gods. “Mosley, I see your manipulations have Sam in the best position possible for the upcoming war.” The Mischievous One reached out and patted the wolf on his neck. “Sam ... a king and Shalee ... his queen. I must admit, I’m impressed, my friend. I should keep a better eye on you from now on. It appears you’re as proficient in mischief as I am.”

The wolf turned and looked at his fellow gods. “Sam is impressive to watch, is he not? It didn’t take more than a few simple suggestions to turn him into a leader. I would not say I’m as mischievous as you, Lasidious, but I appear to have a knack for it.”

Yaloom cut in. “I should’ve been watching you. Be assured, I won’t make that mistake twice. I had no idea you had Sam in the position to become Brandor’s monarch. It’s clear to me now that the assassination was an error in judgment.”

“Ya think?” Lasidious snapped. “You two managed to kill everyone who stood in Sam’s way. What should’ve taken seasons to accomplish, you managed to hand him in a matter of Peaks. Please ... remind me, why do the two of you deserve to live on Ancients Sovereign?”

“Okay, we get it!” Mieonus sneered. “How about we focus on your shortcomings. Answer this: what have you been up to?”

Lasidious rubbed his hands together in front of a sinister smile. “I could tell you ... but I assure you, there would be no shortcomings found in my answers.”

Mosley ignored Lasidious’ response and took a few more moments to brag. “Sam has completely taken control of this situation. Look at how the people support him.”

“He’s extraordinary,” Lasidious responded.

Mosley changed the subject. “I found your George.”

“Really?” Lasidious said without allowing his surprise to appear on his face, “I was wondering when someone would.”

Mosley reached up with his back leg and scratched his neck as he responded. “I sensed his presence yesterday just before Early Bailem. He teleported to meet with Kepler and his brothers on the north side of Gessler.” The wolf turned and looked into the God of Mischief’s eyes and waited for Lasidious to respond.

“Finally, the games we play are becoming more interesting. It will be harder to deceive one another now that we know who to look for.” Lasidious knew he could still speak with George in his dreams if he needed to. Whether Mosley was watching the Earthling or not, it would not be an issue once he spoke with him.

Mosley licked his jowls and then spoke. “George is headed north into the Barbarian Kingdom. Since he’s teleporting, someone must have given him a way to find power of his own.”

“Really?” Mieonus oozed as she glared at Lasidious. “I thought you were staying neutral and allowing the teams to play.”

Lasidious laughed. “No. I said I wouldn’t cheat while I was on a team ... and I didn’t. I never said I didn’t have goals of my own. What fun can be found in idle complacency? Besides, it appears it’s good that I abandoned my team. The two of you are no smarter than mortals. Sam would make a better deity than you.”

“Stop with the digs!” Yaloom snapped. “We get it. You’re the master. That was made clear when you found a way to rid us of Bassorine with the Book.”

Lasidious took a moment to enjoy the verbal pat on his back. “Thank you, Yaloom. There may be hope for you yet.”

Mieonus rolled her eyes. “Could you possibly have a bigger opinion of yourself? For your sake, that over-inflated head best not leak.”

Distracted, Mosley rolled onto his side. This new position allowed him to sniff Mieonus’ feet. “Delightful!” He twisted his head to look at Lasidious. “I’ll be watching George from now on. He’s controlling advanced magic for this world, and we both know it. I noticed he teleported without a spell or staff. Perhaps you’d be willing to divulge how he accomplished that.”

“You’re perceptive, Mosley,” Lasidious responded. “What else have your senses been telling you?”

Yaloom and Mieonus agreed with Lasidious that the wolf’s perceptions were accurate, although they did not know why they were agreeing.

“Well,” Mosley said in a calm voice, “we all know that George had no natural magical abilities when you retrieved him from Earth. The others would’ve known if you had tried to bring a magical being forward. The only way George could have gained his abilities is by eating the heart of someone before their soul left for the Book.”

Lasidious shook his head. “That’s not the only way.” Lasidious smirked. “But it is the easiest way.”

Mosley rolled his green eyes. “How about we level with each other, Lasidious, and you tell me how I’m doing so far? You gave George the ability to command a grand pack of his own, didn’t you?”

Lasidious lifted his hand and waved off the accusation. “Careful, Mosley. You’re giving me too much credit. All I did was tell the horse where the water was. George chose to drink it. I have been careful not to break the rules within the Book ... as I’m sure you have. Like you, I’ve done nothing other than make a few, simple suggestions. I only motivated my mortal to walk down a path of his choosing.”

The wolf frowned. “I would not call eating someone’s heart a simple suggestion. But whose power did he take?”

“Whether it’s a simple suggestion or not is a matter of opinion,” Lasidious responded. “I’ll answer your question, but everything I say from here on out will fall under the Rule of Fromalla.”

Fellow soul ... Mosley pondered Lasidious’ request. The wolf knew the Rule of Fromalla was a law that had been voted into existence by the gods and written onto the pages of the Book of Immortality. The law was passed because of the overwhelming lack of trust the Collective had for each other after the God Wars ended. Though the gods had fought together in order to survive, once the wars were over, a battle of a new kind began. Each deity needed worshippers to speak their name in order to increase their power once the worlds were populated. In an effort to undermine each other’s campaigns, the gods shared the others’ secrets.

It was Bassorine who had called a meeting of the Collective to suggest that they vote to pass the Rule of Fromalla, and this allowed for progress. The law was long and covered many angles, but it basically meant, if two or more members of the Collective gathered to share anything that was said to be under Fromalla, it could not be divulged to a non-present member of the Collective. The penalty for breaking this law—mortality.

“I agree to Fromalla,” the wolf responded. “Who did George end?”

Lasidious looked at Yaloom and then at Mieonus. He watched as they nodded and verbally agreed to obey the law. “George acquired his power from Amar. I’m sure you remember. He was one of the mage-brothers from Lethwitch.”

Mieonus gasped. “Are you serious? That was a wonderful manipulation, Lasidious. You could not have led a horse to more magical water anywhere on Southern Grayham.”

Though Yaloom had no idea who Amar was, he nodded to ensure he did not look foolish.

Mosley growled. The wolf had spent a Peak or two with Amar over his seasons while accomplishing various assignments for Bassorine. “I know Amar. He was one of the few beings on all of Grayham to have studied under the Head Master on Luvelles.”

Lasidious nodded. “Yes, that would be Amar.”

The wolf rolled to a more comfortable position as Sam’s blade sliced Double D in half, but the gods’ conversation continued without interruption. They no longer cared about the gruesome scene that was happening only a few paces away. “I would like to know how George learned to control the power he stole from Amar.”

A huge grin appeared on the Mischievous One’s face. “I’m happy you asked, because that’s the best part of how my pet was created. Amar was the one who taught George how to wield the power that killed him. Ironic, don’t you think?”

Mieonus shook her head as she pushed her long, brunette hair clear of her face. A sadistic smile appeared, and her brown eyes were filled with pleasure. “I’m sure you enjoyed yourself when you watched Amar pass. I know I would have. What do you hope George will accomplish with his newfound power?”

Lasidious shrugged. “Now, now, now ... you don’t think I’m going to tell you, do you? You’ll just have to tag along to find out.”

“Ha! You can’t blame me for asking,” the goddess chided. “I think your manipulations are masterful, Lasidious.” Mieonus clapped. “You must let me spend more of my moments with you. You play in a better sandbox of evil than I do.”

Lasidious chuckled. “I’ll consider it. What do you say we head over to Brandor’s arena and watch them light the pyres? We can continue to converse there.”

“That sounds like a pleasant idea,” Yaloom commented. “I haven’t been to an event like that for countless seasons.”

They all disappeared. As the night progressed, the gods sat on top of the highest point of the arena and watched the fire consume Keldwin and Aaron’s bodies. Sam lit the wood with Kael’s flame and then took his place on his new throne inside the royal box.

4 Peaks Later

The harvest for the Kingdom of Brandor was moving forward as planned, and the fields replenished themselves just as Alistar had promised. The crops that were gathered on the last Peak of the harvest had to be stored in the barns that were built across the kingdom, and they were overflowing.

There were 1,770 harvest wagons that had been built by the king’s army making their way to the coastal cities. The harvest was so plentiful that almost every man who owned a wagon had to help in the effort. In total, there were more than 80,000 wagons on the roads, each filled to capacity.

To the north, the Kingdom of Bloodvain was also gathering their crops, but there was nothing special about this event, and life in the north moved forward as usual for everyone—everyone, that is, except Senchae Bloodvain and his mages. The Barbarian King planned to meet George outside the city of Bloodvain’s walls.

Senchae’s scouts had spotted George and his jaguars, and they had returned to inform the king that George would arrive at the gates of the city by Late Bailem.

Senchae had heeded the talking bull’s words. He wanted to confront the human before George could challenge him in front of his military. The warning had made the king fearful that he could lose his crown, and Senchae was not about to let that happen. .

Since the meeting was not until later, there was a meal that needed to be eaten first. Kepler, Keller, Koffler and George were sitting down to have breakfast. They were a half-Peak’s walk from Bloodvain, and they figured they would arrive around Late Bailem. Keller had caught a baby fawn, and the mage was sitting by the fire with a stick to cook his portion of the catch.

“That’s awful,” Keller growled. “How can you stand to eat it that way? You’re cooking the flavor out of it, George.”