Mortals & Deities (42 page)

Calling forth all his anger, Alant Cor launched every scrap of energy he had pulled into himself at the goddess Saphanthia. The bolt arced toward her head, then bounced off her upraised hand. With horror, he realized his brother, sword in hand, had stepped into the path of the bolt.

The lightning slammed into Arderi, picking him up and flinging him once more into the darkness of the stairs below.

“Arderi!” A numbness fell over Alant. In shock, he stared after his brother.

Elith’s continued screams of pain finally ripped him from his stunned state. Turning, he began to make sense of what his Essence filled eyes beheld.

Saphanthia stood in the middle of a veritable whirlwind of Melding Strands and Spectals. She manipulated the Essence around Elith—that was apparent since she was strung up like a sheep waiting slaughter. Yet, she also manipulated the Essence within the lion-man, Klain.

That is why he did what he did to Rohann and the boy!

Knowing he did not have the strength or understanding of his powers to attack the woman directly, Alant reached out and attacked her Melds. He did not understand what he did, just that it felt right.

Whatever he did, he was rewarded with a hiss of frustration from Saphanthia. Turning, she glared at him and frowned. “So, the new little Mah’Sukai wants to play. Let me show you what seven thousand turns of the seasons can teach one who has the desire to learn the intricacies of Melding the Essence.”

A flurry of Meld came his way. He recognized lightning and fire. Yet, the others were lost to him. With no time to think about them, he lashed out, disrupting everything he saw. It was all he could do to sever or counter each one as they came.

And yet, the more he countered, the faster others replaced them.

I will not be able to keep this up for long!

Klain lay in his own mind. Weeping. The events of the past few moments continued to play out over and over in his head. He could not comprehend how they had happened. How had he done such a horrible thing? Moving his attention to what went on around him, he realized that the others were attacking the woman.

That woman. That black-haired she demon. It was her. Somehow, she did this to me.

Standing, he flung himself once more at the barrier of his mind.

She killed Charver!

Claws extended, he slashed. His primal rage boiled anew. He thought if he could break through this invisible shield, he would regain control of his body. So he did what he knew—he attacked.

A flash of lightning nearly blinded him, yet he did not care. Muscles burned with his exertion, yet he did not stop. Only one thought filled his mind.

I will feast on her flesh!

With a roar, Klain slammed himself against the wall in his mind.

I will suck the marrow from her bones!

Through his anger he noticed that her expression had changed. No longer did she hold a look of amusement. Concentration painted her face now. And something else.

Is that fear I see in your eyes, goddess?

With a yelp of pain, Alant Cor winced. Something had lanced into his shoulder and the putrid smell of burning flesh filled his nostrils.

He had fought the Melds of the Essence that shot his way for what seemed like aurns. Every time he felt he understood what she did, Saphanthia attacked him with something new. The burning in his shoulder was not his first injury. Though, so far he still stood. Yet, his strength drained. He could no longer pull any power into himself. Instead, he concentrated on disrupting the Melded Strands or Spectals that moved in his direction.

At least Elith is no longer screaming.

Alant hoped his attack had helped the girl. He knew he would die here at the hands of this goddess. He only hoped his death would purchase an escape for the others.

A low rumble echoed from his right. It took a moment before his brain connected the sound to that of the Kithian. Chancing a glance, he saw determination filling the face that only moments ago appeared blank. Tears still flowed freely from the beast’s eyes. Now, however, they seemed more tears of anger than remorse.

Renewing his defenses, Alant tried once more to attack the Strands of Essence that still connected Saphanthia to the Kith. The growl grew louder, and Klain took one struggled step forward.

With the last of his strength, Alant reached out with his mind and sliced at the connection between the two. Klain lurched forward, falling on his paws and knees. With animal-like speed, he leapt at the woman, claws outstretched, fangs bared. Something struck him mid-leap and flung him back. He landed in a heap on a pile of stone and rubble. Scrambling back to his feet, the Kith charged once more, a look of primal hate in his eyes. Again, he was thrown back. This time when he rose, blood poured freely from several gashes in his body. Ignoring them, Klain attacked once more.

The attack on Alant continued, though they did not contain the intensity as before. Deflecting multiple attacks with one swipe of what he thought of as a
shield
, he drew on a reserve of strength he did not know he had and launched his own attack. Lightning and fire shot from him, each one nearly striking Saphanthia, yet turning or dissipating at the last moment. Taking a few lessons from the goddess, he mimicked a few of her attacks, though he did not know if they had any effect.

The lion-man flew through the air once more, slamming hard into the far wall. When he rose, one eye was swollen shut and his left arm looked broken. Yet, the beast did not stop. Racing across the empty space between them, he flung himself once more at the goddess with a heart-pounding roar. For his efforts, the goddess extended his jump, arching him high over her head. His battered body soared into the darkness, landing with a sickening thud.

Only a moment passed before Klain emerged from the dark and launched himself again at his target.

Alant continued to press his attack, forcing the woman to retreat. From the corner of his eye, he saw that the silver creature no longer jutted from Elith’s chest. She still hung suspended in midair. Though now she thrashed about, seeking release. Redirecting one of his attacks, Alant slashed at the Strands that bound her.

When he did, Saphanthia turned on him, rage her only expression. “You are more trouble than I had expected, young Mah’Sukai! I am still weary from my release. Do not count this as a victory. Nor think this is the end between us.”

Something invisible struck Alant in the chest, driving him to his knees.

Saphanthia shot into the air, hovering just on the edge of the light cast by the Essence-enhanced torches. “I will not let you go, Alant. I will need your added power if I am to kill the ones who left me here to rot in that prison!” With a clap like the sound of thunder, she vanished.

A loud clank caused Alant to flinch. Looking around, he saw that the torch had fallen to the ground.

Releasing the Sight, Alant fell onto his hands and sucked air into his lungs. He felt consciousness slipping and knew if he lay down, he would pass out. Looking up, a spike of fear hit him when he saw Klain limping toward him.

The lion-man did not glance his way, however. Instead, he walked to a pile of rocks and the small body lying crumpled on top. Crouching down, he reached out with a shaky paw. Klain did not touch the boy, just left his paw quivering a hand’s width above his unmoving chest. He remained that way for endless moments before he balled up his paw, flung his head back, and howled. It was one of the most horrible sounds Alant had ever heard. It screamed of pain and hate and more remorse than words could ever describe.

Pivoting on his toes, Klain rose with a growl and ran up the stairway into the darkness.

Alant let out the breath he held, then stood. His gaze fell on the limp body of Charver. Tears welled in his eyes and he took a step toward the boy.

“Mah’Sukai!” Elith’s voice echoed from the stairs below. “Come quick. Arderi Cor lives!”

His heart leapt. With the amount of power he had put into the bolt, he was sure no one could have survived. The fact that joy filled him while he looked down at the dead child was not lost on him. Yet, he could not help the relief Elith’s words brought to him. Turning from the boy’s lifeless body, he limped down the stairs to where she awaited.

When Arderi Cor came around, he stared up into the soft face of Elith peering down at him. Her white hair, normally pulled back into a tight braid, lay in disarray around her face. Dirt smeared her cheeks, and dark bruises circled her eyes. Added to her gray skin, she appeared half-dead.

She looked stunning. “Hello, gorgeous.” His parched throat croaked the words out and he did not think she understood him. He struggled to pull air into his lungs.

“Mah’Sukai!” Even her voice sounded bone weary. “Come quick. Arderi Cor lives!”

Closing his eyes, he decided there was not one single spot on his body that did not burn in agony. He lay on the ground, regretting the decision to regain consciousness. A gasp escaped him as a deep, biting coldness washed over him and his body went numb. The numbness enveloped the pain and the pressure in his chest subsided. Breathing came easier.

In a rush, the coldness slipped away from Arderi and the dull ache of half-healed wounds spread out to fill the void left behind.

Alant slumped forward gasping for breath. He was kept from falling on top of Arderi by the quick hands of Elith. Looking down into Arderi’s eyes, he shook his head. “I am sorry, brother. I cannot continue. I will need to rest before I can hold the Sight again. I think I got the worst of your wounds.” He gave an exhausted grin. “You should live a while longer.”

Reaching out his hand, Arderi helped steady his brother. “It is fine, Alant.” Blackness threatened to pull him back into unconsciousness. “I feel much better, thanks to you.” It was a bold-faced lie. His body remained in misery.

“Nix! If not for me, you would not be lying here.”

Arderi laughed and a groan followed. “Aye. True is true.”

Head bobbing, Alant’s eyes drooped closed for a moment. With a jerk, he sat up a bit. “How did you survive? The bolt I unleashed should have been powerful enough to kill anything.”

“I am not sure. When your bolt came near, I panicked and held up the only thing I had for protection—my sword. I guess it took the brunt of the blow.” Looking down, he saw a large charred gash in his side about the size of a melon. Alant’s initial healing had formed a large scab over it, but it still hurt as if it were a fresh wound. Grabbing Elith’s shoulders, Arderi pulled himself into a sitting position. The left side of his body screamed in pain. “This is the second time you have tried to cook me.” The memory of Rohann and Charver came to him. “Where is Klain?”

Breaking eye contact, Alant frowned. “After it was over, he spent a moment with the dead boy. Then he ran away.” He sighed. “I do not think we could have caught him even if we were able to try.”

A sadness filled Arderi. He understood the Kith’s pain. He had felt it when he thought Alant was dead. He looked up the stairs. “What happened to Saphanthia?”

His brother glanced over his shoulder to look up the stairs. “She is gone as well.” His breath came strained. “Though I do not think we have seen the last of her.”

“Why do you say that?” Shifting with the intent to stand, Arderi yelped. Reaching out, he grabbed his left leg. He ran his fingers over the bone below his knee. The bone beneath shifted and he felt the break. Both of the others hovered near. Nodding for Alant to continue, Arderi sat still.

“Something she said before she disappeared. That she needed my power to kill those who imprisoned her here.” Moving from his knees to his rear, Alant slid to a pile of rubble and rested his back against a slab of broken stone.

“Those who imprisoned her? Who do you think she means? She must have been in there since before this city fell to ruins. Surely anyone who lived when she went into that bubble is long dead.” With a grunt and Elith’s help, Arderi pushed himself across the floor to the wall, ensuring that his leg remained flat while he did. Hopefully, his brother would tend to it once he rested.

If not, it is going to be a painful walk home.

“She thinks not, Arderi Cor.” Elith had been silent, staring intently at the brothers as they talked. Now, with them each getting comfortable, she sat down cross-legged on the stone floor. “Her eyes have been opened, Arderi Cor. Meeting a god—a living breathing god—has changed how she sees things.”

Alant winced, and for the first time Arderi realized that small wounds covered him as well. “Aye, I think we can agree that we have all been changed by this meeting with Saphanthia.” Alant nodded in agreement while he searched for a more comfortable position.

“Yet, it has made her think. If the story of Bathane and Mash’ayel encasing Saphanthia within a prison of blue-fire, as it is written in the Book of the Twelve, turns out to be…” Waving her hand in a circle, she indicated the sculpture at the top of the stairs. “…this. Then what other stories from the Book are only half-truths?”

Arderi had not thought of it like that. Sure, they had sought out a goddess, one of the Twelve Gods of Man. Yet, he had not really believed they would find her. Not a real live god. He was not sure what they would find, now that he thought on it. Once they had been confronted with the reality of it, he had not had the time to think at all. Elith’s statement made him wonder, however. “So, you think the other gods are out there, living among us?”

Elith nodded, deep in her own contemplation. “Mayhaps. Yet, she is not sure they are gods at all.”

“She had the power, I can attest to that!” Alant sounded as if he was losing his battle with consciousness.

“Yes, Alant Cor. Yet, you held your ground against her. What mortal man can say that?” Looking up the stairs, Elith tilted her head to the side. “Also, once the battle turned, she fled. That is another blow to her godliness. Still, it is more than that. She did not seem…godly.”

With a snort he regretted making, Arderi winced. “You mean before or after she tried to kill us?”

Elith turned a blank stare at him. “Both, she thinks. She only regrets that she will not have the time to discover more of our gods secrets.”

“What do you mean you will not have the time?” Arderi felt a bit chill and thought about asking his brother to light a fire. Yet, that may lengthen the time before he could be healed and he did not wish to wait longer than necessary.

Elith’s silver, cat-like eyes caught the light from the torches at the top of the stairs. “She is leaving, Arderi Cor.”

This caused both men jerk their heads at her. “What? You cannot leave us here!” The thought of her abandoning them cut Arderi deeper than he expected. “You cannot seriously be thinking of returning to the Priests of Fatint? Not after all we have been through together?”

Shaking her head, she leaned back. “No. She doubts she will ever return to Komar. She must seek the way home. To become whole once more.”

Seek home? Become whole?

Arderi did not understand any of what she said. “Did you take a blow to the head, Elith?”

“No, Arderi Cor. Her eyes have been opened. She has seen her true home, spoken to one of her true race. Her memories call to her now. She can finally find herself. She knows where to look.”

Raising an eyebrow, Arderi looked at his brother for an explanation. Alant merely shrugged. “And when, exactly, did you do all this? When Saphanthia had you strung up in the air?”

“Yes, Arderi Cor.” Elith closed her eyes, obviously finished with the discussion.

Arderi was not. “Wait just a moment! What are you saying? Find yourself?”

Her eyes fluttered open and Arderi realized she had fallen asleep in that brief time.

She must have taken more injuries than she is showing.

Picking her head up, she stared at him. “She must seek out a Chi’utlan. The one that used to be near here was destroyed during the war that destroyed this city thousands of winters gone. She knows of many more, now. The locations of all of them upon the Plane of Talic’Nauth have been shown to her. The closest one is in the north of Ro’Arith. Though, there is no easy way to get to it. Instead, she will head for the one hidden on the isle of Elmorr’eth.

“She is sorry, Arderi Cor. If she does not repair her body now, it will die.” With that, she laid her head back and closed her eyes once more.

Knowing how she felt, Arderi did not wish to wake her again. Looking over at his brother, he saw that Alant was just as puzzled by the girl’s words. “Anything you wish to share? Some journey or epiphany you had while we were fighting the goddess?”

Alant snickered and shook his head. “Nix, brother.” He cut his eyes to the gray girl. “Though I do not know how much longer I will remain conscious myself.”

“Did you find your answers?” Arderi had not meant the question to upset his brother, yet a look of frustration crossed Alant’s face.

“Nix. I am sorry for dragging you along on this fool’s quest of mine.”

Waving a dismissive hand, Arderi fished the gold coin they had found at the gates of the city from his pocket. “Not a fool’s quest. We found the lost treasure of Sar’Xanthia, remember.” His brother did not laugh. Turning back to Elith, he watched her for a time. Her chest rose and fell with a steady rhythm of sleep. “I am going with her. Wherever she plans on going, I will not let her go alone.”

When Arderi turned back to his brother, he found Alant looking at the gray girl also. “Well, since I did not find the answers to what has happened to me here, Elmorr’eth seems as good a place as any to look. After all, it was the Elmorians who did this to me.” A wicked grin popped to his lips. “Besides, there is a certain girl there whom I would not mind seeing again.”

“Elmorr’eth it is, then.” Laying his head back, Arderi let his eyes sag shut and he knew the pain he felt would soon overwhelm him as well. “Alant?”

“Aye?”

“With Elith asleep, do you not think it would be wise for one of us to stand watch?”

His brother grunted. “I cannot. Using the Essence as I did has taken everything I have. I feel myself drifting off even now. You can stand watch if you wish, however.”

Arderi’s mind rode a wave of pain that bore him toward blackness and he knew he did not have long before he was out as well. “With the amount of pain I am in, it would be a relief if some monster came by and ate me.”

Silence fell and Arderi tried to push thoughts of his wounds from his mind.

“Arderi?”

Alant’s call pulled Arderi awake just as he began drifting off. “Aye?”

“I just remembered what Ju’kagi means in the Old Tongue.”

“And?”

“It means jailer’s keys.”

Arderi was too tired to laugh. The dull pain of his body got the better of him, and he lost consciousness.