Two (The Godslayer Cycle Book 2) (10 page)

Suddenly, the water around him burst free and he was now surrounded in air, though the feel of the water still suffused his being.  He knew on some instinctual level that it was this connection to water that gave him the power to remain on the surface, just as it had allowed him to reach the surface in the first place.  In nearly every direction were waves as far as he could see.  Some kind of rocky shore existed behind him, where he could feel the waves breaking against the stones. 

Nathaniel's body twisted in the air and he found himself near the face of a man looking at him, studying him.  The man was pulling something from Nathaniel's body – not clothes, certainly, but something hard.  Whatever it was, it fell easily away from his body, and the man's eyes glared luridly up and down Nathaniel's form.  Pausing his observation near Nathaniel's feet, the man squinted for a moment before speaking.

“
Two.
”

Just as abruptly as the vision had begun, it ended, and the man's clean-cut features were replaced by the bearded glower of a dwarf.  “Nate!” called Bracken, shaking the man's shoulders.

Nathaniel raised an arm to push Bracken back so he could sit up.  “I'm alright,” he managed, gasping deeply for air.  “It...  it's a sword.  Another sword.  This one was in water, the sea perhaps.”

Bracken stood up gruffly.  “So's we know where t'go now?  Fer the nex' sword, an'ways?”

Nathaniel closed his eyes to focus for a moment.  Opening his eyes, he stood up, brushing himself off. “I can feel it now.  I know which direction to go to find it.  But I'm not sure we should.”

Bracken cocked an eyebrow.  “Geoffrey?”

Nathaniel nodded.  “I only came this far to find out where Imery had taken him.  Now that the Goddess is dead, that's not going to happen.  But it doesn't change that we need to find him first.”

The pair stared silently at each other for a moment.  “Any 'deas?” grunted Bracken finally.

Nathaniel sighed.  “None.  Only thing I can even think is to head back for Oaken Wood, see if some lead can be found there.”

“
E'er think o' askin' yer dead frien's?  Ya know, the God ones?”

Nathaniel considered for a moment.  “Honestly, no.  I hadn't.  I suppose I just assumed they wouldn't know.  They keep going on about the providence of each group of Gods, and how the New Order doesn't know what they know and the other way around.  I should have at least asked, I suppose, but for some reason, I never thought to.”

“Then p'rhaps, ya shoul' be askin' 'em while ya has the chance.”  Bracken inclined his head in a direction behind Nathaniel. 

With a start, the man turned to witness the presence of the full pantheon of Old Gods.  Just as Dariel had suggested, it seemed they were each aware of the new sword's awakening, as well, and had traveled to speak with their Avatar upon the subject.

“So then,” growled Nathaniel, attempting to cover his shock.  “Bracken has an interesting point.  Do any of you know where Imery took Geoffrey?”

As was common, Airek stepped forward to speak on behalf of the others.  “You reasoned accurately,” said the God.  “We are blind to the actions of other Gods.  Wherever Imery took Geoffrey, she shielded his presence from our sight when she did so.”

“But Imery is gone now,” said Nathaniel.  “Shouldn't any magic she was using be gone, as well?”

Karmel answered, his masculine voice carrying a heavy dread as he spoke.  “Her magic would have passed, yes.  Which means she was in league with someone else who continues masking the child from our sight.”

“Or perhaps she was not the real villain,” came Brea's voice from the ground.  Nathaniel looked behind him to see the priestess leaning on her arm, though still prone upon the ground.  “If Imery took Geoffrey, she would not have had a need to have someone else mask him.  Why would she?  It's not like she knew she was going to die.”

Karmel stiffened at the slight, but Dariel spoke up before the God of Magic and Chance could retort.  “You suggest duplicity?  From whom, child of Imery?  Who would dare invoke the name of another God in such a fashion?  Or, for that matter, what God would have such a need?  In case you have not taken note of this fact, we Gods are somewhat arrogant in taking credit for what we do.  It helps inspire faith, after all.”

“Arrogance is sister to naivety,” said Brea as Nathaniel helped her to her feet.  “That was a tenet of Imery's, and one that is quite apt for this situation.”

“
The demi-Gods,” growled Malik.  All eyes suddenly darted to the Goddess of War and Peace.  “Why had we not considered that before?  A demi-God could potentially have the power to mask the child from us, especially if it is one sired by the Godlings.”

“
Is that possible?”  As he asked, Nathaniel wracked his memory for the fragments of stories he had heard of demi-Gods.  Children of God and mortal, each was supposed to have inherited some divine power, though they did not rise to the power of their Godly parentage.  From what he had heard, such beings were immensely powerful – but could one actually have the power to hide Geoffrey from the Gods?

“
It is conceivable,” answered Karmel.  “None of us have ever made a record of what abilities our children have. They have always been viewed as...  impure.  They exist, but we have never felt the need to intervene in their existence.  At least, not in any significant way.  And though the Godlings are supposed to practice purity in their lineage, not all of their ilk adhere to this.  Of course, they fiercely deny any such involvement with mortals, but the truth is that there have been more demi-Gods birthed in the last three centuries than ever before.  The only reason this has not become more widely known is that the Godlings make practice of slaying their own children if they begin displaying any characteristics beyond mortal means.  It is conceivable that one of the new demi-Gods who escaped such notice could indeed possess the power to hide from us.  If hiding was their talent, they would have been able to escape the Godlings, as well.”

“
It could be equally conceivable,” inserted Airek, “that it could be one of the other Godlings.  If we assume that Imery was not involved – though I find that the least likely possibility – there are any number of rivalries that exist within the ranks of the Godlings to posit the possibility that another of her brethren chose to take this action to embarrass the Goddess of Truth for some imagined slight or past wrong.  The Godlings have ever been childish in their behavior, and it is not inconceivable that this is simply a case of posturing that led to an unforeseen consequence.”

“
But all of that rests upon the premise that either the New Order or these demi-Gods knew about me or the swords,” interrupted Nathaniel. 

Airek looked grim.  “There is that mystery.”

“I will admit,” Malik growled, “that I had hoped the swords would remain secret until all could be recovered.  Regardless of whether the Godlings knew of the swords before, though, there is no denying that they must now know that something exists capable of slaying a God.  And this will mean that if they do not know, they will be seeking to know.”

“
Knowledge – however minute – is bound to lead to discovery, sooner or later,” agreed Elgoth.  Unlike most of the others, Elgoth's male form was more rotund, less the model of the perfect human specimen.  Though Nathaiel had yet to see this God's female form, he had to wonder if his counterpart also reflected this imperfection.  “Mystery compels discovery, and through discovery, further knowledge.”

“
Yes, yes.  We know all of this, Elgoth,” said Malik.  “There is no cause to recite your doctrine for us.  It is crime enough we have to hear the dogma of a deceased Goddess without being subjected to one of our own's.”

Elgoth looked sheepish at the rebuke.  “I have so little to contribute to these gatherings, Malik.  After all, most of them relate to discussions of things all of us already know.  Would you fault me the one chance to offer something constructive?”

“Enough bickering,” scolded Airek.  The Master and Mistress of Benevolence turned to Nathaniel.  “As much as we all share your grief over your son, there is little any of us can do about him for the present.  Someone took Geoffrey for a reason – that much is certain.  But nothing is gained at this point by guessing at who is to blame. 

“
We must presume that whomever is responsible for his abduction, though, is also in some way involved with your quest for the swords.  It is reasonable to believe that Geoffrey may well have been taken to prevent that very thing.  After all, if you decline to pursue the swords in favor of seeking out your son, then whomever is responsible will have successfully removed you as a potential rival.

“
If we make this assumption, then we have to consider that the only way to learn more of Geoffrey's fate will require you to continue in the quest to recover them.  Eventually, whomever is responsible for Geoffrey's abduction must act again – but only if he perceives you to be a continued risk.  If he is not encouraged to act again, if he believes himself safe from your own involvement, there is no reason to believe that he will be compelled to reveal himself until after his own objective is obtained.”

“
So you're saying I have to continue to go after the swords.”  Nathaniel cast a glance at Bracken.  The dwarf's only response was an exaggerated rolling of his eyes.

“
If we accept that Geoffrey was taken because of your involvement with the swords,” said Elgoth, “it really is the only reasonable conclusion, Nathan.  And only you know where the next sword is.” 

Several of the other deities nodded their heads in agreement.  Nathaniel caught Malik's eye as he glanced over the assemblage, seeking some other alternative than to continue to work for the Pantheon.  Clearly, the Goddess had something else to say on the matter that she did not want to say in front of the other Gods.

Nathaniel grit his teeth in frustration.  “Then we'll need to head west.  I believe the next sword will be somewhere near the sea.”

“
Before we go, I have one more mystery to discuss.”  Everyone turned to look at Brea.  “Would someone care to explain what all the fire in the sky was about?”

Brea felt like kicking Nathaniel.  What was it about being in the presence of Gods that left him so dim-witted?  Bracken had been correct in confronting him over not asking about Geoffrey.  After all, who better to ask about where his lost son might be than allegedly all-knowing deities?  Yet he never had.  And now – on the cusp of a world-shattering event – he had not thought to ask about the fire and thunder in the sky?

“What is it you would know, child of Imery?” asked Airek. 

“
For one, you can stop calling me that,” said the priestess.  “Clearly Imery is gone, and there's no need to keep reminding me about it.”

Sarla tilted his head.  “Whether we name you or not, it does not change what you are.”

Brea tensed.  “Do I call you the Lost Gods?  Try showing some respect.”

“
Yet we are not lost, child,” insisted Sarla.

“
To many, you are.  But saying it is not necessary.  And I am no God's child.  Apparently you have enough bastard children of your own.”

“
Is it really necessary to argue about this?” asked Nathaniel.  “She has asked you to not call her that.  Just respect her request.  Maybe even apologize.  But let it go and stop being so petty.”

Airek bristled momentarily before raising his hand.  “Peace, child.  If it offends to be reminded of your recently deceased deity, then we shall refrain.”  The God nodded his head with obeisance towards Nathaniel.  “In deference to the wishes of our Avatar.”

Typical
, thought Brea.
  Can't actually give ground on anything.

“
I think Brea's concern deserves equal consideration,” said Nathaniel.  “And not just because I am asking for it, either.”

Airek turned again to the priestess.  “Well then, what is your concern specifically?”

“Specifically?”  Brea gasped.  “Truly?  What
isn't
there to be concerned about fire and brimstone raining from the sky?  Is this what we are going to see every time one of your damnable swords kills a God?”

“
The fires in the sky were not related to Imery being slain,” insisted Karmel.  “The two incidents are completely unrelated, their proximity merely an element of chance.”

Brea clearly was not convinced.  “You expect us to believe that?  That somehow we see fire falling out of the heavens and accept that it's
not
related somehow to what just happened with Imery?

“
You forget, I saw what happened with Imery.  I was here.  Her essence ran through my hands when she died.  I saw how powerful her death was, the magics that were released.  And it's just
chance
that the very next day, fire begins raining down on the world like out of one of the old stories?”

“
Believe what you will,” said Airek.  “Karmel speaks true.  What you witnessed had nothing to do with Imery's passing, nor with any of the Godlings, nor even our own Pantheon.  Of that we are absolutely certain.”

“
Wait,” inserted Nathaniel.  “Something that powerful had nothing to do with any Gods?  What could have caused something like that if not Gods?”

“
I did not say that it did not involve Gods, Nathan,” corrected Airek.  “I said it did not involve us nor the Godlings.  Perhaps you are not aware, but ours are not the only pantheons upon the face of Na'Ril.”

“
Other Gods?”  Brea blanched, her face turning pale.  “There are other Gods besides the Old Gods and New Order?”

Bracken barked a laugh.  “'Course there be, yer holiness.  Why, e'en a dwarf knows tha' much!  An' tha's no' countin' the ones we buried un'er the mountain!”

Brea's face now turned crimson.  “Forgive my ignorance, dwarf.  Forgive that I was raised to believe in only one order of Gods.  I only even knew of the Old Gods as a heathen faith from stories told around the countryside.  I did not even believe
they
were real until Imery mentioned I had been ensorcelled by Old God's magic.”

“
So you're saying that this... fire and brimstone, as Brea called it...  That this is the work of some other Gods from somewhere else on Na'Ril?”  asked Nathaniel.

“
Of that we cannot be certain,” said Airek.  “We only know that there was power we recognized as divine at the moment of its release into our realm.  But what came through – what you witnessed fall through the sky – that was material from a world other than Na'Ril.”

“
I think you need to explain that better,” said Brea.  “First, there are other Gods, and now you say there are other
worlds
?”

Airek sighed.  “To explain all that you do not know could take a lifetime, child.  Suffice it to say that there are other worlds, and there are other Gods on both this world and others.  There are many things that are similar in these others, just as there are as many different.  There are ways between these worlds that sometimes occur – sometimes it is a portal, others it is through crossing the vast distances between the worlds – though what you witnessed was the consequence of what can only be called a rupture, a moment when the reality between two worlds or places is split apart forcefully and the two worlds for a time share the same space. 

“It appears that the rupture was short lived, for it has closed.  The resulting discharge of contact between our realities was whatever material that you witnessed falling from the sky.  It was loud, it was magnificent, but it was fleeting.  And because it was fleeting, it is of no concern to us.  Whatever pantheon rules the domain where this rupture occurred can handle the more dire consequences, but our concern is limited to what affects our own domain.  And nothing we have witnessed suggests that rocks falling from the sky is of any grand import.”

“
Unless they fall from
your
sky or on your own heads, right?”

“
Will anything I say to you ever settle your doubts, child?”  Airek took a visibly deep breath before continuing.  “I remind you, we are forbidden to deceive our faithful, for we are bound by our word.  I have spoken, and so it is true.  Though I could possibly deceive you, child, if I wished to forever forego your faith, I could not deceive Nathan.  And so I say that what I have told you is true, just as I also say that I have not foregone hope that you will one day become one of our faithful.”

Brea looked to Nathaniel, who shrugged.  “Karmel once told me much the same.”

At this point, Dariel stepped forward.  “Do you know me, child of truth?”  When Brea shook her head, he smiled beatifically.  “I am Dariel, God and Goddess of Truth and Deception.  You could say that I am Imery's counterpart within the ranks of the Old Gods, though my sphere is actually much broader than hers.  Do you at least accept this?”

When Brea nodded, Dariel reached out and took Brea's hands into his own.  “As Patron of Truth and Light, I say to you that what Airek has said is true.  Both of the reality we live in and the cataclysm you bore witness to.  Neither we nor the New Order had anything to do with it, nor did Imery's passing in any way cause it.”

Brea was very conscious of the warmth spreading through her fingers from contact with the God.  Part of her mind wondered at how much greater the sensation seemed than from what she would expect from someone simply holding her hand, speculated over what caused it – whether it was a side effect of his divine presence or some kind of energy unique to a God.  And as the warmth spread up her arm and began to suffuse her chest, she felt a strange calm and comfort began to take over her mind to where even that much curiosity seemed unnecessary. 

It was then she felt something moving below the warmth, a cirrus moving surreptitiously beneath her skin.  Closing her eyes, she focused on the tendril moving so intimately up her arm.  Somehow she knew that its destination was her heart, the center of her being, and she could envision it spreading from there to every fiber of her being.  This seemed a wonderful thing, and a sense of anticipation, almost an expectation of bliss, built up in her chest as the filament twined through the flesh of her body, closer every moment to its goal.

In a moment of clarity however, the foreignness of the invasive tendril touched her mind and she knew it to be wrong.  And in recognizing the impurity of the invader, the acceptance of its presence vanished.  Without a moment's hesitation, she rejected the extrinsic existence of the fibrous energy and thrust it from her body.

Suddenly, Dariel pulled his hands back as though he had been shocked.  “What was--”

“I sensed your effort to manipulate me, Baron.  And I reject it.”

Dariel took a step back.  “I meant no harm--”

“No, you meant to convince me of your truth.”  Brea's eyes narrowed.  “The only reason I do not expel you from my presence is that, in spite of your efforts to influence me, I also sensed that your words
were
true.  The attempt to ensnare me in that truth was not needed, but you had to try anyways, didn't you?”

Dariel rubbed his hands together, to all appearances brushing burned fingers.  “You cannot expel the presence of another God without a deity's blessing,” the God snarled, though a quick glance at Airek dispelled any direct malice he might have spent upon Brea.  “But be that as it may,” he grumbled, “it is my nature to be both true and deceitful.  I beg your pardon that I felt the need to compel you to believe the truth.”

“Is there nothing more any of you can say on this...  firestorm?” interrupted Nathaniel, moving to stand between Brea and the Gods.

“
Oh, there is much more that could be said,” responded Airek.  “But none that is relevant nor of any significance.”

Nathaniel took a moment to look around the gathering to assure that no other God wished to speak, then nodded himself.  “Then I think we are done here for now.  I know where the next sword is, or at least its direction.  You have convinced me that I must continue the quest in hopes of crossing paths with whomever took Geoffrey, so you have me at least until that is settled.  So unless there is more you
will
tell me, I think we need to discuss our next move amongst ourselves.”

“
Nathan, please,” tried Airek.  “Do not dismiss us--”

Nathaniel set his jaw.  “I believe you have already said you have nothing more to say.”

For a moment, the God and Goddess of Charity and Greed returned the mortal's look, but after a moment he bowed.  “As you wish.  Summon us if you have need.”

Without further delay, the Pantheon vanished from sight.  Though all appeared to blink out at the same moment, Brea had the barest of impression that Malik had lingered a fraction longer than the rest, perhaps indicating that the God and Goddess of War and Peace did in fact have more to say.  Yet he had been dismissed and could not linger and maintain the civil obedience the Old Gods wished to portray.  Brea was not completely convinced that this show was genuine, yet for the moment, it served her purposes in having them gone.

Once the Gods had vanished, Nathaniel reached behind him to clasp the hilt of
One
, assuring that what was said next would indeed be kept from Godly ears.  He then
turned to Bracken and Brea.

“
So,” grumped the dwarf.  “The firefall?”

Nathaniel nodded.  “Yes.  We are going to go see what it left behind.”

“Wait,” said Brea, looking between the two.  “I thought you said we had enough to worry about?”

“
That was before the Gods decided we didn't need to know about them,” said Nathaniel.

“
But they said that whatever was falling from the sky was not related to your quest for the swords.  And apparently they can't lie about something like that.”

“
One thing I learned growing up around Bracken's tavern,” Nathaniel reasoned, “is that the truth does not always include everything there is to know.  When Dariel chose to step forward to convince you of the truth rather than Elgoth, it told me there was more known that wasn't being said.  Only we didn't know enough to ask the right questions.”

“
An' wha' better way ta fin' wha' they don' wanna talk 'bout than ta go ta the scene o' the crime?” inserted the dwarf.  “One o' them beasties hit near 'nough for us to fin', methinks, so's we can settle this 'fore we head west.”

Brea considered for a moment.  “When you put it that way, I agree.  I have nothing better to do at the moment, and could care less about your swords.  I do feel at least somewhat responsible for Geoffrey, however, especially if there is any truth that I was sent east to distract you from following the real abductors.  So I will go with you.”

“Well, you're not going anywhere until we're done with you,” spoke up Alsen.  Nathaniel had all but forgotten of the sellsword, and was startled to see the man to the side with his weapon drawn.  His brother stood beside him with his own blade in hand, though the latter displayed a much less threatening air as he only seemed to be pointing the sword rather than actually wielding it.  Apparently, Alsen had placed the sword into Derik's hand, but the elder man had no interest in doing anything with it.

Nathaniel drew
One
free of its scabbard.  “Do you really want to do this?  You have seen what my sword can do.”