Mosley nodded. “Just please be my eyes on Ancients Sovereign. I want to know everything Lasidious is up to.”
Keylom sighed. “I’ll consider your request. I don’t want to become Lasidious’ target.”
The wolf grumbled, “I better get moving if I’m going to end George before I pass.”
Before another word could be spoken, Gabriel appeared next to Keylom. The Book’s voice sounded urgent as he hovered eye-level with the centaur. “Keylom, make haste and go to the Hall of Judgment. There isn’t a moment to spare. You’ll understand why upon your arrival.”
Without hesitation, Keylom teleported as instructed.
Gabriel looked at the wolf. “I wish you well, Mosley. Remember, you may call upon me whenever you choose to make your last request. Good journey, my friend. I will watch your progress with great interest. Until now, I’ve never been directly involved in the games the gods play, but I must admit, I’m going to enjoy being more than a spectator.”
“Your words are comforting,” the wolf replied. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Let’s hope you’re right, Mosley. You’ve grown on me.” The Book vanished.
Mosley turned and looked at the thick brush that was shrouded by the mist. He lowered his nose to the ground, sniffed for the perfect spot and then lifted his leg to mark the beginning of his trail. Once finished, he took a deep breath and then pressed forward, singing:
One big wolf just trottin’ through the jungle.
Don’t mess with me ... don’t mess with me.
Who has powerful fangs and the breath to make you slumber.
Don’t mess with me ... don’t mess with me.
I shall hunt George down and make him tremble.
Don’t mess with me ... don’t mess with me.
This night terror wolf is coming for you.
When Keylom arrived inside Gabriel’s hall, he was quickly greeted by Hosseff and Mieonus. The centaur’s hooves clapped against the marble floor as he moved into a better position for conversation.
“Where have you been?” Mieonus demanded. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Keylom whipped his tail across his flanks. “If only you were a fly, Mieonus. I was busy. Since when do I answer to you?” He turned to look into the nothingness within Hosseff’s hood. “For what reason have you summoned me? What business could I possibly have with the two of you?”
The shade responded. “As you know, the centaurs on Harvestom are about to go to war. We have knowledge that Lasidious plans to use this opportunity to convince them to serve him.”
“How?”
Mieonus was the one to answer. “Lasidious plans to send his new disciple to stop the war. He has convinced Gregory Id to worship him as well. You need to speak with the King of Kless before Gregory arrives, or we’ll lose our advantage. Explain that his Seeds of Plenty are hidden, not stolen. We need to be the ones who stop this war, not Lasidious. We cannot afford to lose their service.”
Keylom crossed his arms. “This could be the flaw in Lasidious’ plan that we’ve been looking for. I’ll go now.” The centaur vanished.
Mieonus stomped her lifted heel against the marble. “Doesn’t he need our assistance?”
Hosseff laughed. “I think he’d rather allow Lasidious to acquire more followers than be assisted by you.”
Mieonus gave the shade a nasty look. “Why?”
Hosseff shrugged. “You know I’m right. Stop pretending. Besides, Alistar is already there to provide any assistance the centaur may need.”
“Hmpf! Let’s go back to my waterfall and watch what happens.”
Meanwhile, on Harvestom, Keylom appeared next to Alistar inside Lasolias’ throne room. The gods remained invisible to the mortals and began a conversation.
“What are you doing here, Keylom?” Alistar queried.
“I intend to appear to Lasolias to inform the king that his army doesn’t need to attack Boseth. I will divulge where his Seeds of Plenty have been hidden and make him believe that I’ve spared his kind. In return, I’ll allow his browncoats to worship me.”
Alistar smiled. “I can only see one problem with your intentions.”
“And that would be?”
“Even if you stop the centaurs from going to war, they’ll never serve you. Their hatred for the blackcoats runs deep, and you, my blackcoated friend, are a representation of what they hate most. I think a different plan is in order, don’t you?”
Keylom looked at the black hair on the stallion portion of his body. “What do you suggest I do about it?”
Meanwhile, Mieonus and Hosseff watched from her waterfall as Alistar explained that Keylom should go to the Kingdom of Tagdrendlia and speak with the blackcoats. He suggested that a blessing be given to Boseth, as well as a promise of peace. Alistar promised to stay behind and appear to the King of Kless to deliver the news about his kingdom’s Seeds of Plenty. The God of the Harvest agreed to offer Lasolias a bountiful harvest, and abolish the hunger his people were experiencing in exchange for his service.
Mieonus waved her hand across her waterfall and the image of Alistar and Keylom faded.
“What did you do that for?” Hosseff snapped, irritated that Mieonus would dismiss his desire to watch.
“We should’ve thought about the color of Keylom’s coat. One of us could have tried to convince the browncoats to serve us and not Alistar. I hate the fact that he is going to gain this benefit.”
Hosseff laughed.
“This is funny to you, shade?”
“Of course, it is. Do you really want a bunch of fly-ridden centaurs worshipping you? You know you think they’re beneath you. Your anger has been misplaced.”
A short series of moments passed before Mieonus conceded. “You’re right. But the idea of Alistar being glorified by any being makes me sick.”
A moment later, Lasidious appeared in Mieonus’ abode. “I need the two of you to meet me in the Hall of Judgment, and please be quick about it. This concerns the both of you.” Lasidious vanished, leaving Hosseff and Mieonus to ponder his request.
A moment later, Lasidious appeared in front of the Book of Immortality. “Gabriel, I need to speak with you. Mieonus, Hosseff and the others are on their way to the hall.”
Before another word could be said, Celestria appeared beside the Mischievous One. She took hold of her lover’s hand. “The others are on their way, my pet. But I’ve been unable to find Mosley, Alistar and Keylom.”
“What’s the purpose of this meeting, Lasidious?” Gabriel snapped. “I have no desire to speak with the gods at this moment. Please leave my hall.”
“Then don’t speak with us,” Lasidious snapped back. “I’ll take the others outside on the grass. Then you can wonder what we spoke about.”
Gabriel gave Celestria and Lasidious a feigned look of frustration. “I shall stay only out of curiosity. I hope this isn’t another waste of my moments.”
Now, fellow soul ... the laws of the gods had many flaws as you already know ... especially the laws that had been most recently created. The gods agreed that they could not take on the image of another deity or appear in the likeness of the people of the worlds. But these laws did not state that the gods could not take on the form of a beast and then claim to be a different god. Oh, the loopholes.
Meanwhile, back on Harvestom, Keylom had departed to speak with Boseth, the leader of the blackcoats. With the others of the Collective occupied by Lasidious and Celestria, Alistar took advantage of the flawed laws. The God of the Harvest assumed the appearance of a gorgeous, browncoated centaur, and he appeared standing in front of Lasolias.
Lasolias’ throne was a large swing that hung suspended from the rafters of a gigantic barn deep within the Woods of Cornoth. The swing was made of strong leather, and it was padded for comfort. Further, it was designed to hold the king beneath his horse-belly, and it would allow him to lower down and take the weight off his legs whenever he so desired. Fresh hay laid scattered about the floor,
and a large basket filled with assorted grains sat within reach of the king.
Lasolias’ guards stepped in front of the king as soon as they saw Alistar appear.
The God of the Harvest quickly held up his hands, and then he began his deception, or rather, his campaign to increase the number of his brother’s worshippers. “Lasolias, I am Lasidious, the centaur God of Peace, Love and Unity. I’ve come bearing pleasant news. Your Seeds of Plenty have not been stolen. They’ve been misplaced, and I’ve come to see that they are found.”
Seeing the confusion on Lasolias’ face, Alistar snapped his fingers and the bag holding the seeds appeared at the hooves of the king who chose to remain suspended in his swing.
“The war your army intends to fight is unnecessary,” Alistar proclaimed. “It is my sincere hope that you will choose to stop this course of action. For doing so, I’ll replenish your kingdom’s food supply. The browncoats will never know hunger again.”
Alistar stopped talking and waited for Lasolias to gather his thoughts as the horse of a man blankly stared past the shoulders of his guards. It was clear that the centaur had never been visited by a god.
After a few moments, Lasolias responded. “I know not your name.”
Alistar bowed. “Mighty King ... I have only recently ascended. I hail from a small village beyond the mountains to the north. The gods have sent me to provide our race of browncoats with a deity to represent our kind in the heavens. I am to bestow gifts upon you, Lasolias, and stop the war that will end the life’s sources of countless beings.”
The king shook his head. “If you are a god, then you should know my army is more than 60 Peaks from here. Word would not reach them before they begin their attack. It appears your ascension has come a moment too late.”
Alistar smiled. “Don’t be so sure, Your Grace. Soon, one of my disciples will make his presence known to you. He is a human, but I would ask that you treat him with respect. Give him this crystal.” He tossed a yellow shard to the king and watched as Lasolias caught it in his right hand. “This stone will show my disciple where to go. This war can be stopped. Your browncoated army will be spared, and you will never know suffering again.”
The God of the Harvest’s hooves scuffed the dirt of the barn floor as he tried to move through the king’s guards to stand directly in front of Lasolias. But one of the guards extended his pike to keep Alistar at bay.
The king commanded, “Stand down, Corporal. Let him pass.”
The guard quickly raised his pike.
Once Alistar was within arm’s reach of Lasolias, he addressed the king again. “In return for my generosity, I would request that you speak with your subjects. Give them my name. Tell them that Lasidious has brought peace to your world, and that he promises to replenish your lands with enough food to feed your kingdom for seasons to come.
“If they agree to worship me, your hunger will cease before the height of tomorrow’s Peak. They must speak my name in their prayers twice Peakly. If they are obedient, I shall forever bless your kind, and your family’s bloodline will never lose the throne of Kless.”
The god did not wait for the king to respond. “I must leave you now so that you may decide. If you choose my path, inform my disciple of your decision when he appears before your throne. Shout my name to the heavens as soon as your eyes are laid upon him. Do not wait for my servant to utter a single word before you profess your loyalty to me, or my promises to you will be revoked. Remember, Lasolias, you must shout my name to the heavens as soon as you see him. He will then use the shard to stop the war.” Alistar vanished.
Meanwhile, back on Ancients Sovereign, Lasidious was still holding the gods’ attention. “Celestria and I have found enough matter to create a new world for the dragons to call their own. As promised by this Collective, the dragons are to be rewarded for their treaty of peace that was established after the God Wars.”
Lictina, the lizardian goddess, stood from her seat. “Why were we not informed of your harvest?”
Lasidious smiled. “You were ... just now. You should know by now, my secrets are my own. More than 1000 seasons ago, Celestria and I sent for this matter to be retrieved by my Salvage Angels. They have since returned. They are only Peaks from being within range for us to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Gabriel lifted off the table and then floated into a better position to hover in front of Lasidious. “You cannot create this world unless you have enough matter to birth a star to warm it.”
Lasidious waved off Gabriel’s objection. “The matter to mold a new star isn’t available to us as of yet. But a new sun isn’t necessary to create.”
The Book reached up to rub his chin. “Then how do you intend to make the new world habitable without a sun? There would be no way to sustain life.”
Hosseff stood and added to the conversation. “There is another way, Gabriel.” After lowering his hood, the shade took his human form. “I’ve been looking forward to this Peak, Lasidious. Have your Salvage Angels returned with enough matter to add size to the worlds’ existing sun?”
The God of Mischief grinned. “There’s more than enough to accomplish the task. We are sharing the same mind, shade. Please ... explain it to the others.”
As usual, Mieonus had to add her scoffing remarks. “Oh, you must! Please inform those of us who are challenged and unable to understand that a larger sun will support another world. Perhaps our tiny, little minds are incapable of understanding that more space is necessary to position this new world in an orbit of its own. Please, wise and all-knowing Hosseff … can you explain how we will control this new world? I’m sure you’re not forgetting that Lasidious still controls the pieces of the Crystal Moon. You would never forget something like that.”
The Goddess of Hate redirected her gaze. “I’m sure you’re willing to do what it takes to keep the worlds from colliding, or why would you bother creating? But tell me, Lasidious, is there also enough matter to create moons for the worlds? I’m sure the shade could also explain how these moons could safely orbit their hosts.”
As Hosseff glared at Mieonus, Lasidious and Celestria laughed.
Gabriel was the first to speak. “I don’t find Mieonus’ remarks humorous.”
Lasidious responded. “Despite Mieonus’ rude way of addressing the situation, she has actually made a valid point.”
For a brief moment, Lasidious allowed Mieonus to enjoy his compliment, and then the Mischievous One continued. “Let’s talk candidly for a moment, shall we? It seems we all know, in light of current events, my game with the Crystal Moon was about gaining the followers I need to control Gabriel and rule this Collective. So now that you finally understand my plan, it appears the game with the Crystal Moon is no longer necessary. I say we end the contest and focus on creating the new dragon world.”
Lasidious pushed back his chair and began to stroll around the table. “Regarding the Crystal Moon, I’m willing to surrender all its pieces. I’ll place them on my statue inside the Temple of the Gods on Grayham, and then I’ll release control to Gabriel ... but under a few conditions.”
Again, Mieonus entered the conversation. “I find it very entertaining that you would have the nerve to make enemies of us all. You boast about your plan to control us as if you have no fear of what we’ll do to stop you.”
Lasidious chuckled. “You’re right, Mieonus, I don’t fear any of you at all.” An dastardly grin spread across the Mischievous One’s face. “Hmmmmm! I actually feel sorry for the members of this collective. But how I feel is irrelevant to our conversation, don’t you think?”
“Completely irrelevant,” Mieonus jabbed.
Lasidious scanned the room. “So ... are you ready to hear my list of conditions, or shall I destroy the Crystal Moon and the worlds with it?”
Before another word could be said, Alistar appeared. “What did I miss?”
It did not take long for Gabriel to bring Alistar up to speed.
The God of the Harvest looked at the
Mischievous One and rubbed his hands together. “I’d love to hear your terms, Lasidious. You never seem to bore us.”
The Mischievous One reclaimed his chair. “My desires are simple. First … I shall surrender the Crystal Moon in its entirety to Gabriel, but only if it’s written into our laws that my statues shall forever hold the Crystal Moon and its replicas within the temples on the worlds.”
Mieonus sneered. “You mean there’s more than one of your statues?”
Celestria rolled her eyes. “Have you not been paying attention, Mieonus? Must everything be presented to you as it would a child? There are five temples throughout the worlds, and that would mean he has how many statues?”
Mieonus sat back in her chair and flipped her hand through the air. “Just continue with your idiotic conditions. And that would be five, by the way.”
The Mischievous One had to wait for most everyone in the room to stop laughing at the goddess before he continued on with the meeting. “Oh, poor Mieonus,” Lasidious sighed. “If only you were a much brighter apple, you’d be worth picking.”
The Goddess of Hate sneered, “And what do you mean by that?”
Lasidious sighed again. “Anyway ... moving forward. As I was about to say, Gabriel is to be the protector over the Crystal Moon. He will ensure that its pieces are never taken again. It will become law that no deity, not even me, can touch them ... this also includes Gabriel.
“Second ... whenever the gods need to add an additional piece to the Crystal Moon to allow for the expansion of worlds, these new pieces will fall under the law of my first condition. Each additional piece must be added to the Crystal Moon’s overall size and left to rest in the hands of my statues.”
Surprised that no one objected, Lasidious continued. “Third ... when we create the dragon world, it will be my statue that is erected inside their Temple of the Gods. Beyond that, I shall no longer require other statues to be erected in my likeness.”
The Eye of Luvelles Page 59
