Of course, the Zidaoz could never admit that there were any fathers that preceded him at all. The legend of immortality was one that had to be strictly maintained if his people were to continue following him. If they ever discovered the truth, that he was a mortal man, they would lose faith and rebellion would ensue. That was something that the Zidaoz simply could not risk happening; especially at a time where the Bhoors could finally drive the Medorans into the ground and rewrite history. The new history of the world would exclude Medorans and Vindyri, and instead spread the glorious truth about the Bhoors. Any other cultures would be mentioned only in passing as evil cultures that were vanquished by the victorious Bhoors.
Chapter 44
"How did you know where to find us, Rommus?" Alana asked.
"Well, I didn't know where you would be, but there's a trail of carnage through the streets leading all the way to the Forum. I didn't know what was happening but I thought this was a good place to start looking."
"What about Song, Master Rommus?" Vohl asked. "Is he safe?"
"I can't answer that for sure, Vohl. He saved my life when we were down at the gateway to the void. He was able to trick the guardian of the void and transport him back in time with him using the star of Tachion. I don't know if he's okay or not but he was able to successfully remove Demeos from the fight and I was able to escape unharmed. If he wasn't there to save me, I would be dead right now."
"So the guardian of the void is gone?" Vohl asked. "Who then is guarding the gateway?"
Rommus shrugged his shoulders. "I guess no one is. But there is a huge stone door sealing off the passage down to the gateway. It's sealed by magic and without a god and a human both opening the door together, it cannot open. Song and I were able to open it, but without the help of a god, no one else can."
Tannis sheathed his sword. "You said Song had to save your life. Does that mean that you failed in restoring your powers? Are you not protected as the god of war?"
"Well, yes and no. We did enter the void and I found Arius. He was able to restore my powers, but he said that I would not have the full power of a god while another Tirinius lives. Under certain circumstances, I can still be killed like any other man, but being human grants me powers that the other gods cannot possess themselves. As it turns out, the gods fear me since I am not bound by their laws. It is why they have sent those creatures after you and I, father. They wish to assassinate me, and as far as they know, there is only one way for them to do it."
"You mean by killing me with that sword," Tannis said.
"Right. Killing you wipes us both out in one strike. At that point the gods of darkness will be more powerful than the gods of light, and they can overpower the other gods. This has been Inshae's plan all along; it has just taken a long time for him to implement it."
Alana rested both hands on the hammer after she placed its head on the floor. "How do we stop them then, Rommus? They are far stronger than any of us and if they have the gods behind them, then what can we do?"
"There are gods behind us too, Alana. At least one—if you count me. I don't think the gods of light conspire against us. I think we need only concern ourselves with the gods of darkness and maybe Oderion. As for what we can do, I have a plan—but it's far too dangerous for you all to come with me. I have to go alone."
Vohl stood straight and tall. "Master Rommus, have you learned nothing in our time together in this world? Whatever your mission, we will be going with you. This fight is our destiny."
"This isn't a fight any of you can win. I don't even know if I stand a chance myself, but I can't risk your lives in this. You mean too much to the fight here at Taburdum. The Bhoors and Vindyri are still here trying to defeat us at Taburdum and we can't let them spill over into the rest of Medora. The war is just as important as what I have to go do."
Tannis shook his head. "Rommus, it's a bad idea for you and me to go in separate directions. You have some protections against these assassins, and I have none at all. If you're not there to help me when they come for me, there's a good chance they will kill us both. If that happens, this war is over, and so is any chance for freedom. In addition to that, if you're right about the gods of darkness conspiring against the gods of light, then the situation becomes far worse. Like it or not, I am going with you wherever you go—at least until we can find a way to kill those creatures."
"And it will be just as hard to get rid of Vohl and I," Alana added.
"Yes, Master Rommus, if we are not with you, who will save your life when you need it the next time?"
Rommus cocked his jaw from side to side as he weighed Vohl's words. "They have the sword. They still have the eye of Indahinar, right?"
"The what?" Alana asked.
"Arius told me that these beasts have some kind of magical object that allows them to spy on others."
Vohl nodded. "I saw them using it just moments before they entered this room."
"Good," Rommus said. "They're going to need to see where we're going."
Chapter 45
Rommus stepped through the portal between the columns at the Columns of Inshae and Vohl, Alana and Tannis followed. He had considered going to Reyth instead, as that would have given the hounds of Maeris more opportunity to see them through the eye of Indahinar, however this also gave the twins the chance to confront them in the rocky passes between Reyth and the Land of the Gods. Rommus had determined that that path was too dangerous, and opted to show up at the Columns of Inshae. With any luck, the twins were watching their journey through the eye of Indahinar.
They walked to the rear of the temple set into the mountain and the drab green city of Morendiir came into view. Far below them, at the bottom of the stairs were countless buildings savaged by the ages but still standing. The green color was like the sickly bark of a tree in a graveyard whose roots fed upon the dead instead of the soil. Silver clouds ringed with gold shined at the horizon, and shafts of light fell through them, casting the city of the dead in warm, radiant light.
In the distance, the still, statue-like beings of the dead watched them. Their cold, dead eyes followed them as they descended the 150 steps at the rear of the temple, but they did not move otherwise. Even the breeze had no effect on their robes, just as time seemed to no longer have effect on the beings.
But the dead did not draw Rommus's attention. In the clearing at the bottom of the stairs stood the six other gods. In the center was Oderion with his arms folded. To his right were Terinopus and Tachion; gods of life and time. To his left were Inshae, Maeris and Aedensor; gods of death, destruction, and desire. The hair and clothing of each god looked as if it was caught in a slow, underwater current, and Rommus could feel the same odd breeze tugging at his own hair and clothing.
Rommus rested the heavy hammer of Maeris on his shoulder when he reached the bottom of the steps. "I see you have been expecting me."
Oderion raised his chin a little. "We knew you would eventually come here. I see you have found a way to restore your powers."
"Yes, I have."
"You carry the hammer of Maeris. Where is the sword Archenarius?"
"I think you already know the answer to that question, Oderion. I know what you and the other gods have been trying to do."
Oderion kept his arms folded. "And what is that, god of war?"
"You have been trying to assassinate me. Don't pretend that you are oblivious to that endeavor, Oderion. Even if you are not responsible yourself, such things cannot happen without your knowledge."
"My actions and my knowledge are none of your concern. I will do as I see fit for as long as I sit at the throne of mankind."
Rommus nodded. "I'm sure you will. I come here to bring you fair warning; your reign will soon be coming to an end."
Oderion let out a booming laugh. "You do not possess the power to overthrow me, human. Even with the powers of a god you are barely more than an ordinary man. You are incapable of such a thing."
"I have no intention of overthrowing you, O
derion. But perhaps you should set aside your enormous ego and consider the fact that there may be others who wish to dethrone you."
"There are no others capable of such an act, foolish human."
"One of us is a fool, but we can only tell which one after all is said and done. To argue over future events is futile. Just know that you were warned."
Oderion unfolded his arms. "Who then conspires against me, human? Who wishes to see my rule end and all my kingdoms fall?"
Rommus smiled a sly smile. "A god who was not concerned with his own end would not need to ask that question. However, since you asked, it is Inshae, god of death. He and the other two gods of darkness wish to kill me, which would allow them to overpower the remaining gods of light. Then they can overpower you, Oderion."
"Impossible. No god may harm another god. I have set rules in place that cannot be broken."
"No? Even though it seems that those laws are crumbling? Here I am, standing before you as a man, while the true god of war is trapped in the void. Maeris has sent his minions to kill the new god of war, and still you think your laws hold up?"
"Maeris hunted your father, not you. Killing your father injures you indirectly. Such actions are allowed under my laws. Besides, you are more man than god."
Rommus rested the head of the golden hammer on the ground. "And you are sure that the other gods do not plot against you in similar ways? Surely you must have considered the obvious."
Maeris stepped forward. "How dare you blame the other gods for the pitiful troubles of man? You know nothing of our deeds or our intentions, and yet you stand before these beings greater than yourself and point the finger of accusation."
His voice was the voice a snake would have if it could speak. His features were human, but his appearance was off-putting. The hair on his head did not fall limp, but danced about like a flame. His eyes were fierce and wide like a predator, and flitted back and forth, constantly scanning and assessing his surroundings. His face was wide, to accommodate his heavy jaw and a mouth slightly larger than average. His arms were far larger than a common man would have, making even Tannis's muscles look small by comparison.
His robes were cinched at his waist with a wide leather belt emblazoned with a gold medallion at its center. Beneath the robes he wore boots; not the simpler sandals that the other gods wore. The other gods were less imposing, with the exception of perhaps the ghostly Inshae. Unlike the others, Maeris embodied a threatening aura—a quiet violence waiting to unleash a terrible doom upon the world.
Rommus shifted his weight. "I speak the truth and you know it. Your game is over, Maeris. The gods of light are on to you. The only question is what side Oderion is on."
"I am all sides," Oderion said. "I am all things."
Rommus shook his head. "You can hide behind your poetry if you want, Oderion, but the fact is you have trouble on your hands. Even if I have it all wrong and none of the gods beside you wish to do you harm, you still have me to deal with. You know I have the power to destroy you, and you need to eliminate that threat."
"I can destroy you at any time, human," Oderion said with a sneer.
"You would have done so already if that were true. There would be no need to send the hounds of Maeris after us if it was so easy for you. I even had Archenarius at your throat when we last met, and all you could do was send me back to the columns on the other side of this temple. I may be only a mere human, but I am no fool. The lies of gods are no more powerful than the lies of man."
Oderion laughed and stretched out an arm toward Rommus. "Shall we test your theory, god of war?"
"I believe we have already tested it, god of indifference."
Oderion aimed his outstretched hand at Alana, Vohl and Tannis. "Then perhaps you would be more injured if I destroy your companions."
Vohl spoke up as he stood in front of Alana. "You know you cannot harm me, Oderion. No god or man can kill a Dirujen. The god of life said those very words at our last meeting."
Terinopus stepped forward. "Indeed I did say those words, and the other gods know they are true. You are impervious to any attacks here, Dirujen."
Oderion's attention snapped to Terinopus. "You dare assist these trespassers?"
"I do. These humans are innocent of any misdeed against us. The gods of darkness have conspired to kill the new god of war, and you have looked the other way. You threaten them even when they have made no threat against you. I can only deduce that you have sided with the gods of darkness in their endeavors, and wish to eliminate the god of war. While I cannot stop you from confronting the new god of war, I forbid you to do any harm to these other humans."
Oderion shook with rage. "Forbid me? You forget your place, Terinopus. You will obey me or I will banish you from this realm."
"You will do no such thing," Tachion, the god of time said.
Tachion's eyes were ablaze with the light of the sun. His hair was tufts of curly golden locks, swimming in the unseen breeze. His robes were white and pure, and the glimmering radiance of the air around him made them seem to sparkle. Soft light from all around him flowed towards him in a meandering flow.
Oderion appeared shocked. "Yet another betrayal in my midst. Your perfidy is unexpected, god of time."
"As is your alliance with the gods of darkness," Tachion said. "Make an attempt to harm the innocent and I will banish us all to the age before ages; an epoch when the powers of gods are meaningless."
Oderion's eyes burned with anger, but he lowered his arm. "Your defiance will cost you betrayers dearly in the end. You will pay for meddling in my affairs."
Terinopus walked over to stand with Tannis and the others. "I will accept my fate; whatever it may be. But I believe your fate will be far different than what you think you deserve, Oderion. It may behoove you to heed the warning of this new god who stands before you. The gods of darkness do intend to unseat you."
"Such a thing is not possible," Oderion snapped. "No god may harm another god."
"I guess it all depends on how you define the word harm," Rommus said. "Perhaps your annihilation is not their end goal, but it is clear to me that they plot against you. I thought you would possess a similar level of clarity and reason."
"I possess far greater clarity and knowledge than you can comprehend, human. I also possess protections from any harm a god can attempt on me. I fear no lesser god."
"Except me," Rommus said. "You fear me because you are unsure if I can harm you or not."
"Your arrogance has gone on quite long enough, human. Your threats do not frighten me, but they do enrage me. You will not leave this realm with that body. You will die here this day."
Rommus nodded as he frowned in thought. "I may, I may. However if you have any intelligence at all you must realize that with me eliminated, you are in danger of being overthrown by the gods of darkness. I am a genuine threat to you, which is why you want me dead; however your dedication to my elimination has blinded you to the truth. You are beset from both sides with the possibility of your downfall. So, allow me to offer a bit of human fairness to this matter between gods. I will not attempt to harm you, as long as you do not interfere. My fight is not with you; it is with he who has hunted me. I want the head of Maeris. Hand him over to me and you will be safe from my blade."
The gods of darkness laughed at Rommus, and the laughter echoed throughout the realm, falling even from the mouths of the dead.
——————
Gewin laughed at his own discovery. "You see brother? It works for us as well. It must be the sword."
Gorin looked at the light between the columns. "If I had known that an artifact of the gods would open these portals, I would have merged the hammers long ago and avoided all this walking."
"It serves us well now, since you are injured. Are you well enough to fight?"
Gorin reached over to his shoulder where his arm once was. Gewin had helped to bandage it with long strips of burlap cut from their cloaks. It was itchy and uncomfortable but there
was nothing else that could be done about it. Their injuries always healed quickly on their own, and usually required no cleaning or bandages, but this wound was larger than any either twin had received in the past. There wasn't any skin covering the exposed meat at the shoulder, and even though it had stopped bleeding, no new skin appeared to protect the flesh under the bandages.
"I am well enough to strike down any of them. You will need to wield the sword for now, but when we get the hammer back, I do not think I will be able to handle it properly with only one arm. You will be the one to carry the hammer after all is said and done. Perhaps, if we are lucky, Maeris can repair my arm and make me whole again."
"I hope so, brother. How do you think we use these portals? Just walk right through?"
Gorin walked down the row of columns. "These are different places all over the new world. We need to find the one that leads to the Columns of Inshae in northern Vindyrion. I suppose it is as simple as walking through the correct portal."
Gewin joined his twin in his search. "Here it is, brother. But I do not see the city of Morendiir. I see only the bridge leading into Vindyrion."
"The Columns of Inshae are south of Morendiir and face the south. Morendiir is on the other side of the temple, at the rear."
They stepped through the portal and found themselves arriving instantly at the Columns of Inshae. The temple there was far larger than any other temple they had ever seen, and it took a while to walk to the rear. Every column that they walked by was as big as any single temple in Medora, and tall enough that misty clouds could be seen near the tops.
One they reached the rear of the temple, the green city of the dead came into view. Far beneath them, at the bottom of the steps were all of the gods, surrounded by countless statues of spectators. The lifeless beings watched silently from a distance, curious about the sights their dead eyes beheld.
Rommus Tirinius stood in front of the gods, and several of his companions stood off to the side. Tannis was one of them, and at the moment his back was to the temple. If he would just stay there a while longer, Gewin could stab the sword through his back and complete their quest. They descended the steps in silence; their hearts racing with nervous excitement.
Soul Under the Mountain (Legend of Reason Series) Page 29
