Mortals & Deities (39 page)

Elith ghosted along. She liked the feel of her stride. Confident. Balanced. Graceful. She also liked the darkness. It cloaked her. Protected her. She never felt more alive than when in the dark.

Though not here. Not in this place.

She still fought the nagging feeling that she had been here before. Though, that was impossible. Until she sailed for Mocley, she had never left the isles of Komar. And more. A feeling of…dread. It filled her, gripped her and would not let go. The glow of the blue light ahead amplified her ill feeling. Whatever lay down those stairs on the other side of the massive pillar, it did not belong. Not here.

She sensed the others felt is as well. The Kithian radiated tension. The muscles across his back drawn tight, he gripped the strange V-shaped hilt of his thick sword like someone hanging onto a precipice. Arderi Cor, striding along next to the Kithian, fared little better. His stride spoke of a confidence that his wide eyes darting around the area betrayed.

Looking to the side, she peered at the Mah’Sukai walking next to her. He had extinguished the light between his hands, thank the gods. Yet, he had replaced that miracle with the miracle of lightning arcing from his fingertips—almost as hard on her sensitive eyes as the glow had been.

She will need to anticipate the time when he releases that power.

The last thing she wanted was to repeat the agony she had felt during their first encounter. Then, she had not expected the blinding flash of his power. Now, she knew the power the Mah’Sukai wielded.

She paid the boy no attention. He was the charge of the Kithian. It was not her concern whether either of them lived or died.

The brothers are all she cares for.

The blue light ahead grew in intensity as they approached the large pillar that split the stairway leading down. Vines and roots littered the area. She felt vulnerable this close to the others. Shifting her direction to the left, she slipped away from the group as they descended the stairs.

Rounding the pillar, she brushed a hanging root from her face. As she did, she saw the merchant, Rohann Vimith, on his knees. He stared up at something beyond her sight, his face bathed in blue, wearing a look of pure rapture. Tears flowed from his eyes, carving rivulets in his dirt-smeared cheeks. Continuing down the stairs and further around the pillar, the sight she beheld pulled her to a stop.

Before the merchant, upon a landing directly behind the pillar, sat a black onyx sculpture. Like a pyramid hollowed out, leaving only three triangular fingers rising up, it stood about the height of a man. Glowing runes edged the outside surfaces. Drawing near, she recognized the substance—Ratave—the same as her staff.

The sculpture, however, was not what held the rapt attention of Rohann Vimith. Suspended in a blue, egg-shaped bubble, held aloft by the three fingers of the sculpture, floated a woman. Her jet-black hair, fanning out as if submerged in water, glistened in the blue light. She wore a pristine white robe that also floated out, swaying gently in an unseen current. The woman appeared asleep. Her face serene and peaceful to behold.

Fear laced through Elith, and she felt her eyes widen. She looked at the woman and she knew. Knew with every fiber of her being…

She has met that woman before!

This close to Klain, Arderi Cor understood why anyone would be afraid of the beast. If he reached up over his head, he thought he could just touch the top of The Kith’s head. The fact that the lion-man was with the party, and not against them, was a relief. Walking next to him was as comforting as having Dorochi in hand.

The blue glow grew in intensity while they descended the stairs side by side. With an unspoken glance, they split, each taking a different side of the pillar. Rounding his side, Arderi saw that Rohann had dropped to his knees. Something held his attention. More than held it, the man looked enthralled. Tears ran down his face and he held his hands up in worship.

The sight stopped Arderi in mid-step. Only the thought of leaving the Kithian to fend for himself on the other side made him move his feet again.

Many situations had run through his mind as they traveled the tunnel to arrive here. Some so terrifying, they made his pulse race. Yet, even the most ridiculous of imagined scenarios had not prepared him for this.

A woman, encased in a large blue orb, floated above the floor over his head. Rounding to the front, he stood next to the kneeling Rohann and stared up, dumbstruck. The woman was the most beautiful he had ever seen. Her flowing black hair and unmarred white skin brought perfection to life. He could not put an age to her. At once she looked young—a woman in the fullness of her bloom. Next, she appeared a woman of middle-age—full of a life’s experiences.

He had believed neither the mad merchant nor his brother when they had spoken of being in the presence of a goddess. How could stories from a book—even the holy Book of the Twelve—come to life?

Yet, if this woman is not the Goddess of Wisdom made flesh, nothing can be.

Alant Cor had not known what to expect rounding the massive pillar that split the hallway in twain. He still held the Sight, pulling in all the Strands of energy around him. He had been doing so since they entered this smaller hallway. Yet, he did not need to hold the Sight to feel the massive flux bending the Essence. Everywhere he looked, Spectals and Strands vibrated under the strain. They struggled just to stay interconnected. He felt that at any moment the entire Plane could be pulled into whatever lay ahead.

Reality itself could unravel right here!

When his brother and the Kith split, Elith followed Arderi, though she stayed against the far wall. With the boy, Charver, pressed against his side, Alant decided to follow Klain.

The blue light laced into the Kith’s spotted fur once whatever caused it came into his view. The look of wonder mixed with terror filling the beast’s eyes did little to comfort Alant. As they walked up next to Klain, Charver moved from him to clutch the Kith’s leg. Turning, Alant understood the lion-man’s awe, and shared it.

A black structure, much like something used to display a vase, stood on a landing of the stairs. It was large, a little bit taller than himself, with glowing runes running along its edges. It held aloft a massive glowing orb, like an egg of shimmering blue energy. The Essence danced around it, as if on fire. Running down the back of the pillar that split the stairwell ran a long thick root. Its bark, black as night, had the texture of burnt flesh.

The roots of the Chandril’chi tree! We are directly below it.

One thin offshoot of the root draped from the main body and had somehow attached itself to the back of the blue bubble. Tiny rootlings shot off from this, each one running along the circumference of the sphere, like the fingers of some deformed hand.

The tree is feeding off the orb! That must be the draw I feel.

The woman floating off the floor exuded the beauty the stories from the Book of the Twelve foretold. He did not doubt she was the goddess Saphanthia, even had Rohann not been below her crying in worship. The thing that shocked him the most was the fact that he recognized her. She
was
the woman who had come to him in the forest. The one who directed him here.

Yet, why? Why would a goddess appear before me?

Because, Alant. You are more important to me than you may ever know.

No words were spoken aloud, yet Alant heard the goddess’s voice as clearly as if she stood next to him. Looking up into her face, she maintained the appearance of sleep.

If she is aware of me, there are no outward signs.

Saphanthia is aware, Alant. I am aware of all my children.

He knew that the others heard the voice also from their startled expressions.

His brother glanced at him and pointed to the floating woman. “Did you just…?”

Nodding, Alant sought a glimpse of Elith, yet the strange gray-skinned girl was nowhere to be seen. “Aye. I think we all did.”

He looked back at the face of the goddess to see if there was any change in her features. There was not. “You came to me in the forest. Why?”

I came to all of you, in one form or another.

It was not the answer Alant had expected, and he looked at the others.

It was Arderi who spoke first. “The priestess! That is where I have seen your face. Yet, that woman was much older.”

You were presented with the visage you needed at that time, Arderi.

Continuing to use their names did more to unsettle Alant than the fact that they heard her speak without audible words. Stepping up to the three-fingered structure holding the blue sphere aloft, he took a closer look at the runes covering their edges. They seemed familiar, yet he could not place any of them.

“You did not come to me!” The Kith’s voice, though still a growl, sounded more reverent than normal.

“Shut your mouth, beast!” Rohann jumped to his feet. “You will show respect!” Spittle flew from his mouth and he took a step toward Klain. “You are in the presence of a god! I should have killed you as I killed that fool Timms!”

A low snarl rumbled from the Kith and he raised his sword to slash at the man.

There will be no violence in my presence!

Both men froze. Rohann glared at Klain. Although, as the merchant had not drawn his fine sword, Alant had no idea what the man planned to do. Alant was surprised to see Klain stay his hand and lower his black-streaked blade.

You are correct, Klain Kanon. I did not seek you out. You are more of a…bonus.

Rohann turned from Klain and fell once more before Saphanthia, this time falling all the way to his face and prostrating before the woman. “My goddess. I have served you and come as you asked. What of the gift you promised me?”

I cannot give you your gift just yet, Rohann. Nor can I give you the answers you seek, Alant. Nor the help that you, Arderi, and you, Elith, seek. Not until you have each shown me that you are worthy of my gifts with a simple act of obedience.

At the mention of her name, the gray girl slipped from the shadows and into the blue light cast by the floating orb. “She seeks nothing from you!” Ice laced her words and her face looked hard as stone. The anger drained from her face, replaced by shock. “How do you…the alley…”

Yes. I have sought each of you, Alant. And I can give you exactly what you desire. The questions you have will be answered. Yet first, you must show me that you are worthy.

Rohann. Give each of them their piece of the Ju’kagi as I have shown you.

The merchant stopped prostrating and gazed up into Saphanthia’s face. “Aye, it is my pleasure to serve.” From around his neck, he pulled a flat, multi-pointed pendant, like an oddly shaped star. With a twist, the pendant shifted into the shape of a perfect pyramid. Another twist and the pyramid broke apart into three pieces, each a miniature replica of the fingers holding the goddess in the air.

Stepping to Alant, Rohann displayed the three pieces on the flat of his palm. Now that the pieces lay before him, Alant saw that runes ran around their edges. They duplicated the ones on the larger sculpture perfectly. The runes on the piece to his right began to glow as the merchant moved his hand closer to Alant.

Yes, Alant. The one that glows is for the Mah’Sukai.

He reached out to pick up the stone, then hesitated. “Ju’kagi. That is from the Old Tongue. What does it mean?”

You have questions, Alant. About what you have become. About what you can do. Doubts as well rest in your heart. Are your brother’s fears true
?
Could a Mah’Sukai become a force of destruction
?
Could you destroy all you love and hold dear
?

I have these answers, Alant. Answers that you seek. Can you really leave this place without them
?

Alant’s jaw clenched and he glared at the stones in Rohann’s hand. He plucked the stone with the glowing runes from Rohann’s palm. He could not shake the feeling of being manipulated. And that word—Ju’kagi—nagged at him from a little used corner of his mind.

Yet, she is correct. I came here for answers. I cannot leave without finding out if I will become the monster Arderi thinks I will.