The Gods' Games Volume 1 & 2: Graphic Edition (The Gods' Games Series)

by Quil Carter

  “That’s right, we just call him Tee most of the time,” Malagant said with a nod. “He has someone looking for him, an enemy of his family. We’d prefer if his real name remained a secret.”

  “Of course,” Gorat said, taking the wineskin from his son and filling his own cup. “We’re amongst prophecy walkers, rest assured that once we arrive in Rhastt – all three of your names will be lost on the wind.”

  No one slept well that night. Ben continued to breathe on his own, but it was shallow and raspy. Everyone in the camp took turns watching over Ben, however Teal had insisted on sleeping right next to him with a hand resting on his bandaged chest. It was only after more idle threats from Malagant did Teal finally relinquish his watch over Ben, and even then he only shifted his bedroll over to Ben’s other side. So like they had been sleeping since leaving the Forest of Jare, Ben was cozy in between Malagant and Teal.

  At the first sign of daybreak, Gorat and Grady both took their axes and disappeared into the forest to look for wood for Ben’s litter.

  “Well, it’s light out,” Malagant said, kneeling over Ben. Teal’s hand rose up and down with Ben’s breathing. “He’ll be okay.”

  There was a crack inside of the forest which made Teal jump, but it was only Gorat and Grady coming back to the camp with long branchless tree trunks dragging behind them.

  “We should be able to get this done in a couple hours,” Gorat said, dropping the poles onto the ground. He glanced up at the sky. “We should be able to make a few leagues by the end of the day. It’s going to start snowing soon, but that will be a benefit with what I have planned for this litter.”

  “It’s better than nothing,” Malagant said, still watching Ben. They had bundled him up in every available blanket and cloak until all that could be seen was his face. From that view, he just looked like he was sleeping, this helped calm Teal down.

  “What was a jare doing here?” Malagant asked Grady. “Even with the noise, there shouldn’t have been one around.”

  “Could be because she was hungry; she may have had kittens to feed, or perhaps she was just a rogue,” Grady said honestly. “I personally have never seen a jare out this far; they prefer thicker woods and these woods are much too thin.”

  “Alright,” Gorat announced a couple hours later, stepping back to admire their handiwork, “let’s put him on it and see how it goes.”

  The litter was in the shape of a triangle with bowed wood that had been shaped into skis. Thick ropes had been wound around each of the three points and had also been stretched across the litter to support Ben’s body. It was modest but sturdy and though Ben’s horse was hesitant about it at first, after some guidance he started walking comfortably with the litter towed behind.

  After Teal insisted on trying it out to make sure it was safe, they put down several blankets over the ropes to make Ben more comfortable, then piled more onto him after they’d placed him gently into it.

  And after that they all carried on towards Rhastt.

  “Is there anything more we can do for him?” Teal asked when it was mid-afternoon; he hadn’t strayed his horse more than three feet from Ben’s litter.

  “No, not really,” Gorat said, turning around and glancing at Ben. “Besides changing his bandages and keeping him warm. His body just needs time to recover and sleep is best for that.”

  This made Teal sigh, then, true to his character, he started scratching his already shredded arms. The guilt was heavy on Teal’s face and he had already been taking sips of the desoni and other calming serums to try and keep his composure.

  With a sniff, Teal looked to where Malagant was behind him, then slowed down his horse until they were riding side by side.

  “He used to fade away for hours, when he was doing those morphine pills,” Teal said in a quiet tone. “He would just stare into space, so out of it.”

  Malagant was quiet for a moment before his eyes widened like he’d just come to a realization. “You did them too, didn’t you?” Ben had told him many stories about himself and Tav, with last night’s events Malagant hadn’t even had time to process that Teal had been Tav this entire time. Teal had had so many experiences in Ben’s world, it was almost impossible to believe that the meek, timid hibrid had been Ben’s roommate the entire time.

  Teal nodded. “Yes, and a lot of other things.”

  Malagant’s brow furrowed. “Why is being out of it and lethargic so wonderful? I never understood that.”

  Teal thought for a second, it had been a long time since he even let himself think of his life as Tav. “It’s how it made you feel. It made you feel warm, relaxed and just comfortable inside. Even on the most stormy, coldest night, you would feel warm and content. No anxiety, or worries, everything just seemed okay.”

  “Sounds like you needed them to just live as Tav, huh?”

  Teal’s lips pursed and he nodded. “It was… it wasn’t good.” His tooth clamped down on his pursed lip. “But Ben was safe there; he certainly wasn’t dealing with demigods, crazy hibrids, or jare cats.”

  “Yes, maybe… but he was in a rather dire state when he was in his world, wasn’t he?” Malagant said, trying to cheer Teal up.

  “The demigod was driving him crazy and making me drive him crazy,” Teal said lowly. “If it wasn’t for Kelakheva and me, he’d have been fine.”

  Malagant stared at Teal; he looked around the woods that surrounded the two, trying to think of something else to lighten Teal’s mood.

  But there was nothing, just the soft flakes of snow that were starting to fall from the cottony sky.

  “Why hasn’t he woken up yet?” Teal asked, rubbing his scabbed up arms, even though Ben was bundled up in every blanket they had, he had insisted on giving his fur cloak to him.

  “It was a pretty big jare and like Gorat said, sleep is good for him,” Malagant said. He unlatched his own cape from around his neck. “It might be a couple days, but this way he’s not in any pain.”

  He held the cape out to Teal. “Here.”

  Teal shook his head, “I’m fine.”

  “You’re not fine, Teal Fennic,” Malagant said flatly. “Now take the cursed cape before you freeze to death and stop making me be your nursemaid!”

  “You’re very blunt, you know that, Malagant?” Teal said, grudgingly taking the cape. It was thinner than the Aryd wolf cloaks they had been wearing for some time but it was still warm.

  “It beats dancing around the truth.” Malagant shrugged. “Anyway, I was talking to Gorat and he thinks that Ben should be well-enough to ride by the time we get to Rhastt,” he said. “And if he still needs some rest or medical attention, Rhastt is one of the biggest towns in all of Alcove. He will have the best care.”

  “Good,” Teal said with a sigh. He looked down at Ben, the dark circles under his eyes were all the more prominent now and his lips were tinged with blue.

  Teal was reminded of the first time he had ever seen Ben; the same pale sickly face, the same black marks under his eyes. He’d become healthier since he’d arrived but he still always seemed to look sick.

  “I hope the demigod knew what he was doing,” Teal whispered, “because I certainly don’t.”

  “We can’t try and figure out the gods’ games, Teal,” Malagant said. “Elves have gone mad trying to do that.”

  Teal pulled Malagant’s cloak closer to himself. He looked down at his friend and watched as a couple snowflakes fell onto his face.

  Teal let out a defeated sigh, and wordlessly rode on.

  The following night found Malagant fast asleep by the fire. Gorat and Grady had taken them off trail to an abandoned tower made of grey stone, the first of several dotted around the Gelder Woods, once strong mage towers back in the days of the Black War.

  Although it may have once stood tall and powerful in its heyday, the tower was now a ruin almost completely taken over by moss and vines. The roof had partially collapsed, leading the upper floors uninhabitable, even for an evening shelter. But the stone apoth
ecary hut several yards away from a heap of loose stone that once held the horses stable, was still intact.

  They had made a fire inside; a fire pit had already been constructed from the last travellers who sought refuge here, and there had even been several stones knocked out of the roof for the fire smoke. It was no Lelan Castle, but it was comfortable and it beat sleeping on a mat on the ground any day.

  Malagant had been asleep for a few hours now and was having a rather nice dream, a dream that only he could think up. He was the champion of Alcove, he was standing on the balcony of the Pyre and thousands and thousands of elves were cheering for him. His father was beside him, telling him he was his favourite son, and the King of Alcove (well, former King of Alcove) King Calin was presenting him with his very own sword and a huge pot of gold. Oh, oh nope… now he was presenting him with his crown! Hail King Malagant!

  Hail King Mala–

  “Ouch!” Malagant jolted awake. He looked around, still half-asleep, for what had woken him up. He jumped a bit as he saw Teal’s reflective eyes staring at him.

  “My gods, hibrid eyes are creepy in the dark,” Malagant groaned rubbing his eyes. “Is it my turn already? I was having a wonderful dream.”

  “I know, you were smiling like an idiot,” Teal said quietly, a small smile on his face. He was sitting on a crumbling stone near the fire looking over maps, Ben was laying right beside him, still in the litter.

  “The usual,” Malagant yawned sleepily. “I was the new King of Alcove, had lots of gold, elves cheering. I knew it was a dream though, my father liked me more than Josiah and actually seemed proud of me.”

  Teal smiled, and yawned too. “Well, I didn’t wake you up, my king. I think a spark from the fire might’ve landed on you.”

  “It’s a bit chilly tonight, so I probably was hugging the fire a bit too closely. I hate to think how much colder it would be without the shelter.” Malagant got up and went to go sit beside Teal, but stopped when he got closer to his friend. He looked horrible!

  Teal’s once brilliant green eyes were now dull and lifeless and his face was greying and cadaverous; he looked even sicker than Ben did.

  “Damned Darsheive, Teal Fennic! How long have you been up?” Malagant hissed, trying not to wake up the Firemanes who were asleep in the next room.

  Teal shrugged, tracing an imaginary path with his finger over a crisp new map of Azoria and Valewind. “It’s four hours until daylight,” he mumbled. “Do you think we should cut across the Forest of Ckhir, or do you think we’ve had enough woods? We could go through the Toneris Pass? It would save time.”

  “How long has it been since you’ve had a decent sleep?” Malagant asked, completely ignoring Teal’s question.

  “A couple days?” Teal admitted quietly. “I can’t sleep Malagant, I’m too worried about him; and when I do sleep, I have terrible nightmares.”

  “You’re a horrible sleeper, twitchy, very twitchy, and you whine and whimper,” Malagant commented. He got Teal’s backpack and took out a whetstone. He started sharpening his dagger.

  “I used to sleep properly, back before I had to worry about kessiiks and bounty hunters,” Teal said, then he paused for a second. “Well, no, I don’t think I ever slept well actually, but now I have even less of a reason.”

  Malagant gently scraped his blade over the stone. “They won’t be returning, the prophecy says we will be hidden and they were included in that.”

  The fire flickered in Teal’s eyes. “But for how long? And to who? Only King Erick’s elves or only the elves the prophecy decides on?”

  “If only the prophecies were that clear, it would make things so much easier.”

  Teal nodded. “I know.” He brushed a lock of red hair away from his eyes, his exposed arm covered in brown scabs. “I am just getting so tired of the prophecies throwing these things at us. I’m tired of playing the gods’ game.”

  This made Malagant sigh. The gods’ games… he said to himself. Elves since the beginning have been playing the gods’ games.

  Including our fathers.

  “We don’t have a choice,” Malagant said. “We’re here because of the gods and our penance is to play their games when they see fit.”

  “The gods need a television and a computer to entertain them for a while,” Teal said bitterly.

  Malagant held back a laugh. “Blasphemy.”

  “Gorat says Erick has been too quiet. Do you think he’s going to start sending soldiers and knights to search for the jewel? Since Nyte and Tseer failed?”

  “He’ll be doing something. We don’t know when Nyte will be able to return to Alcove, but at least when he does he won’t be able to find us; that must go for Tseer as well. The protection won’t last forever, but while we have it we need to get as far northeast as we can. Newvark is the best place to catch a ship to Garas, even though I’d rather avoid Azoria.”

  “I’ve never been to Newvark, or anywhere northeast, but I’ve heard the stories,” Teal whispered. Horrible stories. The Order, a strong thieves guild operated there, and the spy academy The Shadows of Azrah as well. Teal’s father always said: In Valewind you worry about the animals, in Azoria you worry about the elves.

  “I was stationed there a lot; it was… well, it was interesting.” Malagant smiled. “You’ll hate it of course, but I think Ben will find himself right at home. Lots of smuggling, lots of pirates, lots of crime…”

  “… and we’re bringing the shiny pendants of Elron there,” Teal groaned.

  Malagant waved a hand. “We’ll tuck ‘em in our shirts; we’ll be fine. I know a captain, who was once, well… my captain, but now he’s a sea elf. Captain Creed. He will get us to Garas and if we pay him enough, he’ll be quiet about it too.”

  “I wish I knew elves like you did,” Teal said with a sigh. “I guess you do have your uses.” Then his lips downturned. “I admit I’m nervous about meeting Anagin.”

  “He’ll be overjoyed that you’re alive,” Malagant said. “He’s… you know our fathers were close.”

  Teal nodded, his eyes watching the fire. “I know, and perhaps that’s why I’m so nervous. He’ll ask questions I may not be ready to answer.”

  Malagant put a hand on Teal’s knee and rubbed it supportingly. “I think you both will have questions neither of you will be ready to answer… just know – I’m here for you.”

  Teal’s tooth found his lip again and he was quiet for several moments.

  Then finally the young hibrid sighed before nodding. “Thank you, Malagant. You’re a real friend.”

  25

  As the cold morning sun shone onto the twisted green forest below the Pyre, the former human, King Erick Zahn, usurper of the black ivory throne, stood in his bed chambers, quickly checking himself out in a large mirror.

  “Sweeny, do you think I should cut my hair or keep it longer?” Erick asked casually, glancing up at the black bangs that hung over his eyes.

  The brown and red-haired hibrid with what looked like a permanently worried expression, looked at his master and king.

  “I like it longer,” Sweeny said quietly. The squire was carefully holding Erick’s black ivory crown with both of his hands.

  “I think I do too,” Erick said, turning his head to different angles. He reached over and took the crown from the hibrid and placed it on his head.

  “My king?”

  Erick looked down the hallway to see his Grand Master, Keleon, walking towards him in full uniform.

  “Yes, Keleon?” Erick said, taking one more glance at his reflection before turning to his top military advisor.

  “Krafter and Stolas wish to meet with you,” Keleon said. “And we have word that Tseer the bounty hunter was indeed successful.”

  Erick seemed mildly surprised at this. “Was he really?” he said with a raised eyebrow. He turned and started walking down the hall towards his throne room, Grand Master Keleon following behind him.

  “That’s rather surprising, I was half-hoping he’d be killed
. Did he send a hawk?” Erick asked. He waved Sweeny away, the squire was picking at a stray thread that was sticking out of his black and red surcoat. The squire backed off, the offending thread pinched between his gloved fingers.

  Keleon nodded. “He’s on his way to Azrayne with the girl, everything is going according to plan.”

  Erick smiled not breaking his stride. “That will rattle some chains. Did Arganti have any useful information for me?”

  “It did not say in the letter, so I am to assume no.”

  “Pity… and the jewel?”

  “Nothing new yet but it will resurface.”

  King Erick’s eyes narrowed at this information; he opened the double doors to the throne room and walked inside.

  The king looked around to make sure his throne room was empty. Nyte had been ordered to take care of any elf that may be a spy, but Erick still preferred to be alone when discussing the Jewel of Elron.

  Once he was confident that no one else was around, Erick walked across the permanently blood-stained marble floors and sat down in his draken-shaped throne; his clawed hands rapping up against the copperhead snake’s head.

  “My Serpents have seen nothing?”

  Keleon shook his head. “No, my king.”

  “No matter… Philrick will tell me all I want to know,” Erick said quietly. “The jewel cannot remain hidden for long, and neither can that exiled king. Fortunately for me, one will eventually lead me to the other. Who knew that bounty hunter would make himself useful?”

  “Certainly not me,” Keleon said dully. “I would have done the job quicker and I would not have needed to be bribed.”

  Erick let out a small laugh, he reached over and patted Keleon on the arm. “I would have been more than happy to send you to the task, Keleon, but unfortunately I needed magic.”

  “Indeed,” Keleon said, his mouth a thin line.

  “You are making sure our Serpents are prepared in case there are any civil disputes over Arganti’s murder, yes?” Erick asked. He rolled up the piece of parchment and handed it to Sweeny. “Even though we’re going to cover it up, they’ll suspect us anyway. They always do.”