Harvest of Dreams (The Gods' Dream Trilogy) (52 page)

The helmet felt heavy in her hands, and Pasinae didn’t follow suit. She planned to wait until the last possible minute before giving Ontarem greater control over her mind.

From the side doors, more robed priests and priestesses entered the room. Most already wore their helmets and carried the small braziers used for heat in the common areas and bedrooms during the winter.

With words and gestures, Pasinae directed the placement of the heaters along the edges of the room and on top of the pektats so the smoke could rise easier.

The priests with weapons training entered, carrying their spears.

“Stand there and there.” Pasinae pointed to places near the door. “You are not to kill any of the powerful ones. Disable only,” she commanded, raking them with her gaze. “If your choice is to die or kill one, then you give up your life for our God.”

“Yes, Trine Priestess,” the priests chorused, not daring to show how they felt about her orders.

Several acolytes toting heavy cloth bags ran from brazier to brazier, tossing in geserat herbs. Others followed with small torches, lighting the incense.

As the potent fumes filled the air, Pasinae sighed. She set the helmet on her head, pulling the weight down to cover her ears. Immediately, she had relief from the smell, as if Ontarem had closed a window over her face. She strode down the aisle and took a position in front and to the left of Ontarem’s statue, near the large pektat where Seagem’s handsome prince had lain for so long.
And will lay again.

She’d have to order more large resting places for the favored ones. Through the helmet—the stronger connection with her God—she saw the citizens of Penutar as tiny pricks of light. The people cowered in their homes, praying to Ontarem for their safety. For a moment, she wondered about her family, how they’d taken the news that she planned to visit.

Ontarem’s soldiers moved slowly from the temple to the sea, their life lights brighter than the ordinary people, but far dimmer than the forces from Ocean’s Glory, who marched inland toward the temple. “Your commander is weak of will, my God. His men lack the stamina they need for battle.”

Her gaze moved on to the cliff side. She pleased to note some of the invaders glowed with familiar energy. Soldiers from Seagem must be sprinkled among those from Ocean’s Glory, and she wondered how they’d survived the destruction of their city.

Two glowing lights came in sight, evidently just climbing onto the top of the cliff from the road, followed by two others who blazed with even more intensity—one with an energy pattern she’d never seen before. Pasinae suppressed a gasp at their power.

One light seemed familiar, and she squinted, as if doing so would sharpen the focus of her mind’s eye.
Thaddis?
She thought she’d felt him at the Triangle Islands, but hadn’t believed the king could have grown so strong.
He’ll want revenge on me.

Fear rattled her nerves, reflected back to her by the helmet, and she started to shake.
The feeling’s not real.
She struggled to recall her old training, to control how the helmet magnified her emotions, especially negative ones. She made herself take deep breaths and think soothing thoughts.

Once she’d calmed, Pasinae turned her attention to the western edge of the city. From the direction of the plains, she saw four life lights illuminated with the same intense strength as Thaddis and his companion, heading toward the temple. She recognized Indaran and Daria’s energy, but not the two others, similar to the person with Thaddis. She felt Ontarem’s interest in the three strangers, His desire to absorb their exotic power.

Pasinae grew dizzy with excitement. Visions of glory danced through her head. She imagined six large pektats lining the front of the temple, then a second row containing the lesser, but still strong people from Seagem, and Ocean’s Glory’s soldiers filling the rest—fuel sources for Ontarem unmatched in their world’s history.

Her attention drawn back to the approaching battle, Pasinae watched as the two armies met. Life lights died. Some snuffed out like candle flames, others slowly faded away. Many flickered—the injured but not deadly wounded, she supposed.

Ontarem caught up each one’s life force as it departed the body.

Her stomach lurched. Uncomfortable with the way the God savored each morsel, she moved a few feet away from the statue.

Ontarem pulled on her energy.

Strange not to feel the pearl resonate to Him, but instead to work through the helmet. Distracted by watching the map of Penutar in her mind’s eyes, out of habit, Pasinae initially allowed her power to flow to Him. But as the drain increased, Pasinae recognized the need to regulate Ontarem’s demands, or she wouldn’t have the power she needed when the ultimate battle took place.

Pasinae imagined a shield around her head between her skull and the helmet. She fought to remain calm, to stay focused. The power drain tapered off to a flow she found acceptable.

See, Archpriestess.
Ontarem drew her attention to the battle.
The invaders ravage my city, destroy my people. Join with me to prevent their destruction.

The invading forces spread out, racing down side streets and into houses. The dim life lights of the citizens flickered out. Then, the destroyers moved on to the next dwelling.

Fear made her hands tremble.
How could I have been so wrong about Ocean’s Glory’s intentions? They must want to destroy Ontarem’s power base before coming here to fight Him. Or for revenge,
her guilty conscience whispered.

That thought made anger well up in her. This time, Pasinae made no effort to modify the helmet’s effects. Anger exploded to rage, until her whole body shook. She called upon those emotions and increased her output to the God.

She saw the soldiers close in on the baker’s street, and fear reverberated through her.
My family!
A never-before-experienced feeling of protectiveness surged through her.

To save her people, fuel the soldiers who would protect them, Pasinae opened up and gave Ontarem everything within her.

~ ~ ~

Thaddis’s army had hiked the road up the cliff and, at the top, paused to catch their collective breaths. The front ranks spread out along the open landing—a long oval area with a low stone wall in front of the cliff that curved into a giant U—and waited for Thaddis to give them his commands. Earlier, crates, barrels, and other goods must have been stored here. Several bodies lay among smashed pieces of wood and other debris piled against the walls. Drifts of sand from the sea floor crunched under his boots.

The gray stone houses and buildings lining the road had tightly closed doors and shuttered windows. His glance swept the rooftops, checked out the shadows of the buildings, but he didn’t see any hidden defenders. The only sign that people even lived in this town were more bodies sprawled where the water had swept them.

He looked away from the corpses, feeling pity and guilt.
We’ve come to free your families,
he sent his thoughts to them.
Were their souls as eager to reach Ontarem’s Hall as those of Seagem who passed over to the Hall of Yadarius?
The inhabitants of Ocean’s Glory were not as sanguine about death as those of their neighboring country, perhaps because they hadn’t looked forward to an eternity dwelling with their spoiled Goddess Besolet.

Thaddis strode over to a low stone wall. Careful not to bump the spear he wore slung across his back, he climbed on top so he could be seen. More and more soldiers streamed up the cliff road, faces red and chests heaving from exertion. At the curved landing, they pressed into the back rows, forcing the rest to crowd forward.

His gaze brushed over the two women—Sadie and Meleda—standing together, then over the ranks of the soldiers. Seagem’s men in green clumped together. The rest of the men wore black uniforms. Thaddis wondered how many had fought with him on that ill-fated day when he’d sent his army to attack Seagem.

Philan and Boerk pushed through the ranks and positioned themselves in front of where Thaddis stood. They turned to survey the crowd, feet planted, hands on the hilts of their swords, from the back looking like human pillars.

“Ontarem’s temple lies straight ahead.” Thaddis projected his voice so all could hear and extended his arms outward, as if to encompass the whole group. “We are here to free the people of Penutar from Ontarem’s yoke and bring peace and security to all of Kimtair. Thus, unless they attack, you will leave the citizens alone.”

Many nodded, their gazes meeting their neighbors. Some of the tight expressions relaxed.

“There will be no looting, no destruction. The consequences of any caught doing so will be grave.” Thaddis directed a sharp stare to the back rows nearest the road. “Pass the word to those behind you.” He glanced at the first row. “Captains, our goal is to head straight for the temple.” He slashed his hand in an
engage
motion.

His soldiers headed down the street, boots sounding a ragged cadence that evened out as more and more men fell into line, and they began to move as one.

After about twenty rows passed, Philan twisted to glance a quirked-eyebrow question at Thaddis. The emeralds of his grandfather Micfal’s badge, pinned to his uniform sparkled.

In an assent, Thaddis tipped his head in the direction of the temple, and jumped off the wall to join them, hastening ahead to Sadie’s side.

Avoiding eye contact, she leaned over to stoke Cheta, unbalancing the green-velvet carrysack on her back. She straightened, shrugged the helmet into position, and joined the march.

He fell in beside her, shortening his stride to match hers.

After glancing around, Sadie shuddered. “This place is so desolate.” The words burst out as if she couldn’t contain them. “I can’t imagine living here.”

“I’m sure the people who live here can’t imagine any place else,” Thaddis said. “This is all they know.”

With a grimace, Sadie rubbed the back of her head. “Something feels strange.”

Thaddis became aware of the throbbing in his brain. “Ontarem pulls energy from us.” All his protective instincts aroused. The Evil One wanted Sadie’s power, and Thaddis was leading her right to Him. Anger heated his blood.
He’ll have to go through me first!
But he couldn’t block the memory of his prior visit to the temple—his weakness, his helplessness.
What if I fail her?
He moved closer.

Without looking at him, Sadie eased away, putting several feet of space between them.

He tried not to let her coolness affect him. “What’s wrong?”

“I still think we can redeem Pasinae. We have the help of other Gods and Goddesses here, Thaddis.”

She’s too naive. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Sadie. But I have responsibilities. Pasinae’s evil. She’ll harm more lives and aid her God in controlling us all. I
can’t
allow that to happen.”

Philan and Boerk pushed between and in front of them. Philan shot Thaddis a stern look that was reminiscent of his grandfather’s when he thought Thaddis needed to get moving.

Thaddis nodded at Philan. He gestured for the rest of the warriors to precede them into the formation they’d practiced and then strode after them.

They marched far into the seemingly empty city before the sound of many running footsteps heralded the approach of Ontarem’s army.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

At the demarcation between the dried grassland of Drayleth and the hard-packed dirt of Ontarem’s city, Indaran and Jasmine reined in their horses. Before them rose several gray block structures, overshadowed by the ominous bulk of Ontarem’s temple, casting malignant energy over the surrounding buildings.

Indaran rolled his shoulders. The chains he carried in large saddlebags clinked with the movement.

Centuries ago, the Evil One had used the magical chains to bind His Twin, imprisoning Arvintor in Exonlah, then draining the colorful energy from the forest. Today, they hoped to use the same chains against Him. Arvintor had bespelled the links to make them as light as ropes.

He cast a quick glance at Jasmine.

Khan, with Shad perched on the horse’s rump, and Daria, with Shir riding in front of her like a miniature child, halted their mounts next to them.

The breeze carried the stink of sewage toward them from the nearby processing center.

Daria wrinkled her nose and pressed the back of her hand against it.

“Don’t worry,” Jasmine assured her with a smile. “Once we ride farther into the city, we’ll leave the smell behind.”

His sister raised an eyebrow. “A good enough reason to get away from this place.”

Shir fluttered her wings and chittered, sounding as if the monkey-bat was expressing her disapproval of Penutar.

Indaran didn’t blame her. Just seeing the buildings made his stomach tighten.

Daria stroked the monkey-bat’s head. “Reconnaissance, Shir.” With a gentle lift, she tossed the animal into the air.

Shad took flight with his mate.

Sheriff, riding in his pack in front of Jasmine, peeked his head out and licked her chin.

Jasmine had insisted on bringing him along. Her monga had played an important role in freeing her from Kokam and causing the Trine Priest’s death, and she felt they might need him again.