The Godling Chronicles : Bundle - Books 4-6

by Brian D. Anderson

  “I do not know.” Ayliazarah lowered her eyes and folded her hands in front of her. “I only know that once the child is truly among us, I must have faith that the Creator will return.” A single tear from her eye fell to the marble floor like a silver raindrop, shattering as though made of glass as it landed. “I feel her absence as keenly as any of you. As my prayers pass from my lips into oblivion, I suffer – as do you all. But it is like you said: we are commanded to carry out her will.”

  “Then we are in agreement.” It was Saraf who spoke. “Gerath should proceed without delay.”

  “I did not say that,” Ayliazarah protested. “I said that Gerath would not endanger us. If he feels he should wait, then I will not try to force him to do otherwise. And if you value peace in heaven, you will follow my example.”

  As her final words faded, the entire assembly erupted into a heated, unintelligible argument. The volume of angry voices rose to unimaginable levels, forcing Gewey to cover his ears. However, through the tempest of conflicting opinions, he was somehow able to work out how things stood amongst them. Pósix and Hephisolis were in agreement with Ayliazarah that Gerath that should do what he considered best. The rest of them were bitterly opposed.

  Melek held out his hand and the volume of the voices decreased.

  “Look at them,” he spat. “Pathetic.”

  “I didn’t understand any of that,” said Gewey, the echoes of the debate still bouncing around inside his head.

  Melek let out a hearty laugh. “I am not surprised. I am their father, and even I struggle to understand them. Apparently, Gerath refuses to carry out the Creator’s edict and bring you fully into the world. He knows your birth heralds their end – something that he is most anxious not to have come to pass. But there is more. It would also seem that the moment you came to be, the Creator abandoned them all.” He laughed again, this time for nearly a full minute.

  “That much I already know,” Gewey said after Melek had settled down. “I learned of it when I discovered who my true mother is. But I was also told that she is to return once my destiny is fulfilled.”

  Melek cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. “Will she? I think Gerath is afraid she will not. The rest of them follow blindly, wanting him to complete your birth in order to hasten her return. Not that they have any hope, regardless of what happens. The Creator will do them no good, so what would it matter?”

  “What are you saying?” asked Gewey, shocked. “Of course it matters.”

  “Why? Why would it be so important? What has our beloved Creator done for the world?”

  “Well, she created it,” Gewey pointed out. “Isn’t that enough? Without her, none of us would even exist.”

  “True,” admitted Melek. “But she has also stood idle while millions suffered and died. The first born drove themselves mad. And were it not for their immortality, they would have killed each other right down to the very last. Even so, they were able to inflict unbearable suffering. On and on it went until their feeble minds could grasp nothing but blood and destruction.”

  His eyes met with Gewey’s. “Is that the love of the Creator? And when I sought to right the wrongs of my children, she allowed them to banish me to this desolate nightmare of a prison.” He grunted in a very human way.

  “So you don’t want the Creator to return?”

  Melek shrugged. “I just don’t think it would matter, even if she did.” His eyes returned to the gods. “Ah, I see Gerath is nearly ready to boil over.”

  As if on cue, Gerath spread his arms. “Enough of this!”

  His voice was like rolling thunder. The other gods stepped away, startled.

  The group had all but forgotten the ball of light. It was now visibly trembling as Gerath approached, his expression grim. Kneeling down, he placed his hands upon it. In response to his touch, as Gewey had seen before, the light grew brighter and brighter. But this time Gerath did not withdraw, instead allowing it to continue increasing until it had completely surrounded him. After several minutes of this, the brightness gradually dimmed and faded away.

  Where the light had once been, a small child of no more than three years old now stood. Its features were fine and delicate, yet strong and proud, giving the impression of being both male and female.

  Gerath stood and looked directly into the child’s eyes. “I name you Darshan.”

  This done, he reached out toward Ayliazarah, who rushed to his side and wrapped her arm around him. “I need rest,” Gerath told her. “Help me.”

  A swirling portal of blue light appeared just behind them. Ayliazarah led Gerath through it. Darshan watched as his father disappeared without a word.

  One by one, the other gods stepped near to the child, looked at it for a moment, and then also entered the portal. Althetas Mol was the last.

  “Where am I?” asked Darshan. His tiny voice was soft and vulnerable.

  “You are home,” she replied, taking his hand.

  “Who are you?”

  Althetas Mol smiled, but did not reply.

  Gewey watched them vanish through the portal. A tear fell down his cheek.

  Melek placed a hand on Gewey’s shoulder. “Are you alright?”

  Gewey noticed that they were back inside Melek’s house. He walked over to the table and took a seat. Melek poured him a cup of wine and sat down in the chair opposite.

  “I really thought my father loved me,” said Gewey. “But clearly he didn’t.”

  The howl of the wind outside rose once again, carrying with it the wild voices of tormented souls.

  “There is more,” said Melek. “And though I wish it was not so, you must see it. One final time…then you can decide.”

  Gewey nodded. “I understand.”

  Chapter 8

  Several hours had passed, yet still there was no news from Maybell about what was happening. Lee had spent most of the time constantly pacing back and forth. It got to the point where Millet was compelled to command him to be still.

  Lee and Linis had both tried to hear what was going on inside the pavilion, but even with their heightened senses they could catch only a few words. Certainly not enough to make out any details of what the two women were talking about.

  The camp was buzzing with rumors about who the mysterious woman might be. Some said she was the mother of Darshan - others a priestess come to heal him. A few even went so far as to suggest that the goddess Helenasia had come down to breathe life back into his lungs. This widespread speculation continued apace, even though Weila had been quite free about telling her people who the woman actually was.

  “They despair over Darshan’s death,” said Lyrial sadly. “Their hope is so strong that they would believe anything – even the impossible.”

  “I would not go so far as to say the impossible,” corrected Linis. “Though I doubt that Maybell can raise the dead, she has certainly come for a reason. Perhaps she brings with her the hope your people require.”

  Dina took his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. “I pray that you’re right.”

  Another hour passed. Eventually, Lee could wait no longer. He set off with rapid strides toward the pavilion, with Dina, Millet, Jacob and Linis all chasing after him. Flinging back the flap, he pushed his way inside but then stopped short.

  “I was about to call for you,” said Maybell. “Please sit.” She was cross-legged on the ground, with Kaylia’s head resting in her lap. The girl was fast asleep.

  Gewey’s body remained where they had left it: his skin still pink and looking very much alive. But for the fact that his chest was not moving he could simply have been resting.

  With soft, careful steps Lee moved closer and sat down a few feet across from Maybell. The others followed a moment later and formed a loose circle.

  “You don’t need to be quiet,” Maybell told them. She smiled tenderly as she looked down at Kaylia and stroked her hair. “She is beyond exhausted and will sleep for some time.”

  Lee couldn’t believe it. The la
st time he’d seen Kaylia she had been totally possessed with rage and sorrow. “How did you…? I mean…”

  “She is an amazing woman,” said Maybell, her gaze still lingering on her charge. “How she endured it, I can’t imagine. Were it not for her child she would have surely tried to follow him in death.”

  “It is her child that concerns us,” said Linis. “They are not safe here.”

  “And why would you say that?” asked Maybell. “There are no enemies nearby. And soon you will again have the protection of Darshan.”

  Her words produced a stunned silence.

  “You are all a bunch of fools,” she scoffed. “You really are. Gewey is a god. Do you think him so easily killed?” She began stroking Kaylia’s hair again. “Even through her madness she understood this. She knew he still lived.” Maybell glanced up to give the group an accusing look. “After all you have been through and all you have learned, did you not think that perhaps Kaylia might know something you did not? She is his wife and mother of his unborn child. And here you are, ready to drag her away against her will.”

  “What choice did we have?” snapped Lee. “We have thirty thousand elves exposed and cut off deep inside enemy territory. We are weeks away from Althetas, and our only hope for success has died. Then we find out that, not only has Kaylia gone insane, she’s also pregnant. What would you have us do? Sit here and wait for Angrääl to figure out what has happened and slaughter us?”

  “Of course not,” she replied. “But I would have you show some faith in Kaylia. She tells you that Gewey still lives. She feels it through her unborn child. Yet you pay her words no mind. You don’t even attempt to understand, and just want to drag her away from here. I may not be a soldier, but even I know it would take time for Angrääl to mount an assault large enough to defeat you.”

  She wagged her finger at Lee. “And don’t you dare tell me you tried to listen to her. I know you, Lee Starfinder. You tried to impose your will. That is why I found you wrestling her to the ground when I arrived. Kaylia will not be dissuaded from what she knows in her heart is the right thing to do. And the moment you all understand this simple fact the better off you’ll be.”

  “That’s not fair,” protested Dina. “We had no way of knowing anything other than Gewey had been killed and Kaylia was mad with grief. We have no idea how he died. Only that he did. All she told us was that he had been struck by....”

  “A dart,” Maybell interrupted. “Yes, I know. But didn’t it seem at least a bit odd to you that something so small could end the life of a god?”

  “We thought it was likely poison,” said Linis. “Though I could not detect any.”

  “You wouldn’t,” said Maybell. “Do you have it with you?”

  Linis reached into his tunic and pulled out a folded piece of leather, which he carefully opened. Inside lay the tiny dart. The tip gleamed brightly.

  Maybell chuckled. “When I tell you what this is, I think you will not be keeping it so close to your flesh again.” She picked it up gingerly, holding it with her thumb and forefinger. “What you see here is one of the Fangs of Yajna.” This brought no reaction. “The elves have a name for it as well.” She looked at Linis and grinned devilishly. “Your people know it as The Needle of Shagharath.”

  Linis turned pale. “You mean…”

  “That you placed the gateway to eternal darkness next to your heart?” Maybell nodded. “Yes. That’s exactly what I mean.”

  She took a long look at the dart before placing it back in the wrappings. Linis got up to place it in the corner, this time holding it as far away from his body as possible.

  “What exactly is it?” asked Dina, clearly upset my Linis’ reaction.

  “It is a weapon created long ago by the gods,” Maybell explained. “Created for a single purpose. To banish the spirit of the god Melek.”

  Again there was no reaction.

  “I have read many volumes,” said Lee, after it was clear that no one had any idea who Melek was. “I have spent years within the Trixion Library. I am one of only three people who have a key. But not once have I seen that name mentioned. Nor have I heard of the Fangs of Yajna.”

  “That’s not surprising,” said Maybell. “Its ancient knowledge passed on to me by the Oracle of Manisalia. The elves have some legends that mention it. But I doubt even their elders know very much.”

  Linis pulled Dina close. “It is said that the Needle of Shagharath will send you to a night so black and eternal that you are driven mad the very moment you arrive. The terrors you encounter will make death a sweet release. But you can never die there. You live on, trapped within an endless nightmare.”

  “I’m afraid your legends are nothing more than stories to frighten children,” said Maybell. “Mortal souls were never meant to go to Shagharath. It is a prison with a single purpose. But that is not to say it does not hold peril. It is the dwelling place of Melek, first born and most powerful of all the gods.”

  “How is it I have not heard of him?” asked Lee.

  “After he was imprisoned there, his memory was then erased from all knowledge and his name forgotten by all but the gods and a few of their servants.”

  “If that is so,” said Dina. “How do you know about him?”

  Maybell shrugged slightly. “It would appear the gods feared he might one day manage to escape - or be released. They passed on the knowledge to the Oracle, who wrote this down and gave it to me.”

  “Why would she pass it on to you?” asked Lee.

  “I have asked myself that same question since I was a young novice. It wasn’t until I received a letter from the Oracle while in Valshara that it all became clear.”

  Her expression grew distant. “I was still a wide-eyed girl just two years into my studies when I received a package from Manisalia. I couldn’t believe it; it was from the Oracle herself. Not even the high priestess of the temple had met her, and yet here I was - a nobody - receiving parcels from the most famous woman in the world. I was so excited, it was all I could do not to tear the wrapping to shreds. Inside were six leather bound books and a folded letter.”

  She let out a half-hearted laugh. “The letter said that I was to learn from the books and keep the knowledge within them close and secret. That one day it would be my destiny to rekindle the light of the world. And when that time came, she would contact me once again. I was so proud that I paid no attention to the ominous tone of the letter. That the Oracle of Manisalia knew who I was and took an interest in me made me the envy of the entire temple. And I must confess…I loved the attention.

  “Over the next few years I studied and studied until I could practically recite every word from memory. The other sisters and brothers thought I was mad, but being that the request had come from the Oracle herself, not even the high priestess dared to object. She even permitted my other studies to suffer.”

  Maybell shifted her position, careful not to disturb Kaylia. “Of course, after a few years and having received no further instructions, I eventually hid the books away and moved on with my life.”

  “What did you learn?” asked Dina.

  “They told the story of Melek.” The name fell from Maybell’s lips like a curse. “He was the first born, and the father of all the nine gods. In his madness and arrogance he tried to conquer both heaven and earth. Had it not been for Gerath, who was his eldest son and chief opponent, Melek would certainly have ended up destroying all of creation. Gerath eventually convinced his brothers and sisters to rise up against their father, and so prevented this catastrophe from happening.

  “They created Shagharath to imprison his spirit and fashioned a weapon called the Fangs of Yajna that was able to kill Melek’s earthly form and send him there.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “The story is long, and most of it would mean nothing to you. What’s important is that Gewey is in grave danger. Melek is powerful and his heart filled with hatred. Now that Gewey is with him, I must go there and save him.”

  “How?” asked Le
e.

  Maybell pulled a letter from the small pocket on the front of her dress. “There is only one way.” She handed it to Lee.

  Lee studied the words carefully, then read them aloud for the benefit of the others.

  “The time has come, sweet Maybell. The hope of the world has been thrown into darkness, and he will be tempted by the father of gods. Now into darkness you must follow. You know the way and have the courage. The Fangs of Yajna will illuminate your path. But do not fear. You are strong and possess a true and pure heart.”

  At the bottom of the page was the symbol of the Oracle.

  “It could mean only one thing,” said Maybell. “And so I came here.”

  “How will you do this?” asked Linis, though his expression said he already knew the answer.

  Maybell only smiled.

  Dina gasped as Maybell’s intentions became clear. “You mean you are going to… No! You cannot.”

  “I must.”

  “If you do this,” said Linis. “Will you not also be facing a god?”

  “What is the difference between a prisoner and a guard?” asked Maybell.

  Her question was met with silence, so she continued. “The guard holds the keys. Melek will have no power over me. I have learned the secrets of Shagharath. If that was not the case then he would certainly have the advantage. But thankfully, I was an obedient young girl and learned the lessons I needed to fulfill my destiny.”

  “Can’t you return once Gewey had been saved?” asked Dina, tears welling in her eyes.

  “I’m afraid not,” she replied. “The Fangs of Yajna will destroy my body, making it impossible for my spirit to return.” She sighed and looked at her hands. They were wrinkled and calloused from a long life of toil. “I was beautiful once. At least, that’s what people told me. I think I’ll enjoy being beautiful again.”