Mortals & Deities (40 page)

An uneasiness filled Arderi Cor.

There is no mistaking it. This is the priestess from the Temple back home. Yet why would a goddess come before a simple fielder?

I told you once, Arderi, that men are more than just the titles they hold. Did you not believe my words back then
?

You are in my mind? You can hear my thoughts?

As you can hear mine, yes.

Klain growled something that Arderi did not hear and Rohann leapt up and confronted the Kith.

There will be no violence in my presence!

The goddess’ order caused both men to settle down.

You have grown much since our last meeting, Arderi. I am proud of you.

Despite himself, his face flushed and he averted his eyes.

Rohann’s voice echoed in the chamber as he fell to his face. “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.

“She seeks nothing from you!” Arderi had never heard Elith so emotional. Twisting around to look at her, he watched as the rage that filled her face melted to astonishment. “How do you…the alley…”

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

The merchant rose to his knees. “Aye, it is my pleasure to serve.” he pulled something from his shirt, a medallion of some sort, and fiddled with it for a moment. Standing, he walked to Alant.

You care for your brother deeply. And fear for what he has become. What he still may become.

Her words drew his eyes to his brother who stood staring at something Rohann offered him. Alant’s hand hovered over the merchant’s outstretched palm. “Ju’kagi. That is from the Old Tongue. What does it mean?”

Aye. I have always loved and admired him. More than just a younger brother respecting an elder. Alant is special. He is a good man.

And you think this enough to protect him from what he will become
?

He hoped so. Yet, deep down, the words Larith Rine had said while Arderi was in Bin’Satsu still haunted him. What if becoming a Mah’Sukai changes Alant? He seemed fine now, yet what about in the seasons to come?

Will he change? Will he become the monster the Tat’Sujen fear?

Rohann turned from Alant and walked toward Arderi.

As I said, I can help. However, I need you to show me you are worthy of my aid. Take the Ju’kagi that is for the Tat’Sujen.

In the merchant’s outstretched palms sat two black stones. Now that Arderi saw what the merchant held, he noticed that they looked like smaller versions of the arms of the sculpture sitting before him. The same runes even ran around their edges. The runes on one of the stones started to glow as it neared him.

Looking from the stones to Alant, Arderi knew his decision had been made long ago, once he discovered it was his brother whom the Tat’Sujen Order had sent him to kill. He reached out and picked up the stone with the glowing runes.

Whatever it takes. I will see that my brother does not become a monster.

At the first glimpse of the woman floating in the blue sphere, memories flooded into Elith. None of them made sense, though she knew they were hers.

She lay on a table—a hard, cold table. People surrounded her. Men and women garbed in flowing white robes. A woman leaned down and peered into Elith’s eyes. Long, jet-black hair cascaded down over her shoulders. Her skin was the white of porcelain, though Elith did not think she knew what porcelain was. The woman smiled. It was not a smile of friendship. “Yes. This one is working. Now, let us see if the memory transfusion holds true.” Her tone came cold—as cold as the table—as if she spoke of something inanimate. “We may have finally succeeded in bringing one through.”

“My goddess. I have served you and come as you asked. What of the gift you promised me?” Rohann’s pleading cry snapped Elith back to the dank stairwell with the floating blue orb.

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.

When the woman said her name, rage took hold of Elith. The woman who had looked down at her while she lay on that cold table now floated before her.

How dare that woman even mention her name after what she has done to her!

Elith strode from the darkness into the light. “She seeks nothing from you!” She let her anger control her words.

On the contrary, she does seek something from me. She seeks help to regain her mind. To stop feeling as if she does not belong. Not even inside her own body.

The goddess’s statement caused Elith to take a step back, her mouth gaping open. She recognized the voice. It cackled and laughed at her. “How did you…the alley…”

Yes, Elith, that was I. Yet the healing that I gave you then was not permanent. Only enough to see you safely to me. It will start to fade now and you will slip back into madness.

Elith’s stomach lurched and she glanced around wide-eyed. If she had another memory bout, she could hurt Arderi Cor. Mayhaps more than hurt him. Memories of Srit Gowan, the priest she had killed upon her arrival to Mocley, sprang into her mind. His lifeless eyes staring out at her. Accusing her.

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

“Aye, it is my pleasure to serve.” Rohann Vimith walked past her on his way to Alant Cor.

Alant Cor made to take something from the merchant, then paused. “Ju’kagi. That is from the Old Tongue. What does it mean?”

I can heal you, Elith. Fix your mind so that you have no more...lapses. Ensure that you do not harm anyone whom you do not mean to harm.

Turning, Rohann Vimith walked to Arderi Cor next. She stared deep into his brown eyes.

She could not bear it if anything happened to Arderi Cor.

Then show me you are willing to do what it takes to ensure his safety. One simple task is all I ask of you to show that you are worthy of my aid.

What must she do?

Take the Ju’kagi, my Shikalu. Take the Ju’kagi and you will never have to worry over your broken mind again.

As if on queue, Rohann Vimith turned from Arderi Cor and held out his hand to her. In his palm rested one small, triangular piece of Ratave. Glowing runes ran around its edge. Reaching out, she took it from him.

She must be whole again. She must no longer fear her own mind.

When Rohann stood up and screamed at him, Klain had every intention of killing the man where he stood. Yet, the words of the goddess, if that is what she truly was, washed over him and his anger drained from him like water.

It is all right, my pet. You are here with me now.

A sense of peace washed over him and he looked around at the others. He watched Rohann fiddle with something in his shirt.

Rohann, the man who took me in. Gave me a home. A purpose.

He admired the man. Loved him, even. He was so confident. He commanded the respect of others. One could gain no higher achievement.

Rohann turned and walked to one of the brothers. The shorter of the two. The more powerful of the two. Klain had not realized before this moment how much he envied the young Human.

To wield the power of the elements—fire and lightning. It must be wonderful!

He felt a smile creep upon his lips as he watched his master hand Alant a stone. They seemed so happy. As happy as he, himself, felt.

Looking down, he saw Charver standing next to him. The boy hugged his leg. The love he felt for the boy-cub filled him to the point of pain. Charver looked up and him, a look of fear in his eyes. Yet…Klain must be mistaken. There was nothing to fear here.

Rohann crossed in front of him and up to the other brother.

Arderi Cor! My first real friend!

Pride leapt into Klain’s chest as he watched his friend take something from his master. Pride to know such a good Human. And so young! Arderi would become so much more. And Klain knew him. Fought beside him. A fleeting memory of the time they had first met. When Klain had threatened Arderi. Shame filled him.

What a fool I was for antagonizing such a wonderful man!

Klain watched Rohann turn to Elith. She was amazing. Fast, deadly. The ultimate predator. If she had been of his kind, he would have pursued her.

She will make a fine mate.

The fact that she favored Arderi was not lost to him. A new burst of pride filled him at the thought of those two joined as one.

They will be glorious together!

He did not remember wanting to do it, yet he reached out a paw and grabbed Charver by the shoulder. Pulling him along, Klain took a few steps back from the goddess to give them space.

Space? Why do they need space?

He did not really care. He was all too happy to give them any space they needed. Rohann joined him and they watched the others step up to the three columns holding the blue globe aloft. They paused for a moment, looking from the goddess to the small stone each held in their hands. Then, one by one, they reached out and slid their stones into a slot on the column in front of them.

When the last stone slid home, the globe trembled as if struck. Slowly, the sphere shrank in size. It floated down to the base between the three columns. At the same time, the goddess curled up into the position much like that of a baby sleeping in her mother’s arms.

She looks so beautiful.

The orb continued to wither away, like a snowball melting in the hot sun. As it contracted, a root that had been attached to the back of the blue sphere that Klain had not noticed before pulled tight, stretched, then broke away to dangle with the rest of its kind from the ceiling.

Soon, the blue that made up the outside of the bubble constricted around the goddess. It then set her on the ground, still in the fetal position, like a leaf resting on a bed of moss. With a shimmer, the orb broke apart, more the consistency of smoke than light, and soon only the two strange torches they had found earlier lit the area. Rohann’s torch lay forgotten on a step. Arderi had propped his up in a pile of rubble. Together they provided enough light to see by. That made Klain happy. He did not wish to be draped in darkness. He would not be able to see the goddess if that were so.

The three who had surrounded the platform all stepped back, and for several long moments the group stared at the woman laying on the ground.

Saphanthia’s eyes fluttered open and she looked around. Sitting up, she smiled. Her smile filled Klain with a happiness unmatched. Her smile radiated out and filled his heart with a joy that made him want to leap into the air. The goddess reached out and used one of the posts that had held her bubble aloft to help her stand. “You have done well, my children.” She turned to Klain and the mere fact that she graced him with her gaze sent him reeling with rapture. Pointing at Alant, Arderi, and Elith in turn, she spoke directly to him. “Do not harm these three, my pet. They are still of some use to me. You may kill the other two, however.”

Her statement startled the others because Klain heard them gasp. Rohann reached out and grabbed Klain by the shoulders. Looking at the man, Klain could not understand why the front of his shirt was covered in blood. The torn remains of the man’s throat fluttered as he tried in vain to fill his lungs with air. Charver’s scream ricochet off the walls of the chamber, and it was only then that Klain saw the blood covering his paw. Bits of flesh still clung to his sharp claws.

How can this be?

Klain did not understand. He had not done what his eyes accused him of doing! He wanted to reach out and grab Rohann as the man’s knees gave way and he collapsed. Instead, he only stood and watched as the man fell, bleeding out his life onto the dirty floor.

His large muscular frame turned.

No! I did not do this! What is happening?

Charver, a look of pure terror upon his face, took tiny steps away from him.

Klain’s paw whipped out, grabbing the boy by the neck. Effortlessly, he hefted the small child from the floor and held him at eye level.

Klain raged.

Nix! Let go! I will not let any harm come to Charver!

The boy’s legs kicked wildly and he clawed at Klain’s paw as it crushed his throat.

NIX! This is not happening!

Something inside of Klain snapped. He no longer felt his own body. He stood in a small area of his mind. He could still see around him. Saw Charver gasping for breath at the end of his arm. Yet, he was a prisoner.

With a primal roar, he flung himself against the confines of his mind’s prison. He did not know what he smashed against—there was nothing there!—yet, something stopped him. Again and again he threw himself at the unseen barrier, all the while screaming.

Charver! NIX!

Something smacked Klain’s body in the side. The remote feeling did not bother him. Only Charver concerned him now.

The boy’s feeble attempts to remove Klain’s paw from his neck weakened and his eyes rolled back into his skull.

What is happening? Let go! This cannot be happening!

Again and again he slammed his body against whatever held him there. The body he still controlled, the body that was him trapped inside his own mind.

Charver’s small form went limp in his paw, the boy’s tongue sticking out one side of his mouth.

CHARVER!

Whatever had been smacking his body stopped. With a shriek of despair, he watched his own arm fling the boy’s lifeless body onto a pile of rubble. It landed arms and legs askew, like an old discarded ragdoll. Charver’s head flopped to the side, his blond locks falling across his sightless eyes.

Tears flowed over Klain’s cheeks and dripped into his mane. He howled and banged his fists on the invisible wall of his mind until his knees gave way. With a moan, he crumpled to the black floor.

He no longer yelled. He did not have the strength. All he could do was whimper. Whimper and cry over what he had seen. Over what he had done.

Charver…