[Age of the Five 03] - Voice of the Gods

by Trudi Canavan

  “We’ll have to work out a way to fight them, or we’ll never survive a protracted battle here,” Ella added.

  “Well, I’m glad he didn’t get a chance to drill any holes in me,” he said.

  She smiled. “And I am, too. I wish I hadn’t needed to send you over there, but the only other way we could have talked to Mirar was through Arleej, and there may have been something he’d agree to so long as his people didn’t know of it.”

  “Did anything good come of it?” he asked.

  She looked at him, then shrugged. “Maybe. We will have to discuss it. You should get some sleep in these last few hours before the army arrives.”

  “I don’t think I will.”

  “No, but you will try,” she said firmly. “I’ll need you alert and at your best tomorrow.”

  Putting a hand on his shoulder, she steered him toward the town.

  48

  As Auraya grew aware of her aching body again she nearly groaned aloud.

  At least when I’m asleep I’m oblivious. I don’t feel pain or frustration or boredom or worry or…What is that?

  Something snuffled at her ear. She opened her eyes and turned her head. Round eyes and a pointed nose filled her vision. A narrow pink tongue licked her nose.

  “Owaya,” Mischief said quietly.

  “You’re back.” She nearly sobbed with relief.

  “Msstf hunt. Msstf find.”

  He moved something from his hand to his mouth and scurried up her arm.

  Shifting position, she went rigid with the pain that shot down her arms. Breathing steadily, she waited for circulation to return.

  The weight of the veez and the prodding of his feet didn’t help at all. As feeling returned his every movement sent shocks of agony along her arm.

  “Ow! That hurts!”

  He ignored her. Bending forward, she tried to see what he was doing.

  And a wave of giddy, dizzy hope took her breath away.

  Mischief was holding a key in his mouth. He was trying to insert it into the lock of the cuff around her wrist. Auraya gaped at him, but as she saw that he was trying to put the wrong end in the keyhole her wits returned in a rush. She glanced at the Servant guards. They were both leaning against the wall beside the gate, their heads lowered. Reaching out with her mind she saw that they were sulking about being left behind.

  The strongest Dedicated Servant in Glymma and I end up a prison guard, one thought. I must have done something wrong. What did I do wrong?

  Turning back to Mischief, Auraya touched his mind and sent the idea of turning the key around. He paused, then flipped it over, using both paws and his mouth.

  It seemed to take forever for him to insert it in the keyhole. Once there she sensed he was unsure what to do next. Then he remembered how he normally undid locks with magic. There was usually something inside that turned. He tried to twist the key, but his paws weren’t used to the action. Hearing a noise, Auraya glanced at the guards again. Her stomach lurched as she saw one was peeing at her.

  “You’d better hurry,” she told Mischief. “Or they’ll be eating veez stew tonight.”

  As the guard reached toward the gate she felt a surge of desperation. Mischief must have sensed it, as he suddenly ran down her arm and licked her face.

  “No, no, no!” she muttered.

  He scurried back to the lock, to her relief. He paused to sniff at it. She heard the gate open and the voice of the second guard raised in query. Turning away she watched Mischief anxiously as he stared at the key. In the corner of her eye she saw the guards step into the hall.

  Mischief took the key in his mouth and twisted.

  The lock snapped open and Mischief leapt up onto the throne. Gritting her teeth against the pain of moving a wrist long held in one position, she slid her hand out of the cuff and twisted it around to take hold of the key.

  The sound of footsteps grew louder, then more rapid as she pulled out the key and forced her arm around so she could insert it in the cuff around her other wrist. She twisted it. The lock opened.

  She glimpsed a flash of light from the guard and threw herself to one side. Magic scorched the base of the throne. She darted behind the enormous chair, panting with exertion, her heart racing.

  I have to get out of the void! She could hear two sets of footsteps drawing closer on either side. The Servants were coming around the throne.

  She tentatively reached for magic and found it. The area behind the throne wasn’t in the void! Drawing magic greedily, she created a shield around herself just as the Servants stepped around the throne and attacked. She knocked one down with a blast of power, then turned to face the other. He stared at her, eyes wide with surprise and horror.

  Fixing him with what she expected was a look of utter fury, she took a step toward him.

  He fled.

  Smiling to herself, she straightened and drew more magic, sending it into her body to heal it. But even as she did she sensed the source diminishing. Moving further away from the throne, she felt a growing puzzlement as she entered magicless space again.

  Then she remembered that the void in the cave in Si had magic at its center. A ring of void around a magic core. This was the same—or had been until she had used the remaining magic inside it.

  The sooner she left the void the better. She strode out from behind the throne to the edge of the dais, then stepped off. Magic surrounded her again. She drew it in, feeling pain retreat as she healed herself.

  “Auraya.”

  Her heart froze as she recognized the voice. Turning, she felt her mouth go dry.

  A glowing figure stood nearby, eyes blazing with anger and hatred.

  Huan.

  Auraya hastily strengthened the barrier around herself.

  “Sorry to spoil your escape attempt,” the goddess said.

  “No you’re not,” Auraya found herself saying. Dismay had turned into a strange mix of defiance and resignation. “You’ve been looking for an excuse to kill me and now you have it.”

  “I don’t want to kill you,” Huan told her. “But I will, if I have to.” She took a step toward Auraya. “I will make a deal with you.”

  “A deal?”

  “Yes. I ask for one small thing: that you open your mind to me. For that I will let you live.”

  Auraya regarded the glowing figure. Behind the goddess’s features the vacant expression of the Servant who had given over his will was just visible. It was the Dedicated Servant who had been sulking about guarding her. The most powerful Dedicated Servant in Glymma. His powers would be enhanced by the goddess, but by how much? Not as much as the Voices, surely.

  At the same time she considered Huan’s request. What harm would there be in unveiling my mind? Huan would know Auraya had become immortal, but she probably suspected that anyway. She would know Auraya had learned from Jade—Emerahl. She would know that other Wilds existed and knew how to kill a god.

  I know how to kill a god. She’ll kill me anyway, if she sees that.

  She would also know that Auraya was strong enough to become a god, but then if Chaia knew that then Huan probably suspected it, too.

  If I am, then I must be stronger than this Dedicated Servant.

  The thought brought a smile to Auraya’s face. “I don’t think you can stop me leaving.”

  Huan’s eyes flashed. “You are wrong. But if you need convincing…”

  The glowing figure opened a hand. White light flashed out and struck Auraya’s barrier. Staggering backward, Auraya drew more magic to her defense, then flung some back at the goddess.

  Instantly they became locked in a deadly exchange of ferocious strength and speed. She felt the magic around her thinning as they both tapped into it. She felt the air vibrating between them. She deflected heat, lightning and crushing, hammering strikes.

  She’s matching me blow for blow. The realization was worse than the crushing force of Huan’s attack. The Dedicated Servant must be more powerful than I thought. I guess if the Pent
adrians vote to decide who become their Voices, it’s possible that there are Dedicated Servants as powerful or even more powerful than the Voices were before the gods enhanced their powers.

  Huan moved closer, blocking her escape and forcing her to one side of the hall. Auraya could not get past her. Slowly the magic Auraya could reach dwindled, forcing her to back away to reach more. Huan watched, smiling.

  I have lost. It is just a matter of time.

  But Auraya fought on, refusing to give up. She used the columns of the hall to shield herself. Pieces of stone were blasted from them, and one after another they crumbled until Auraya feared the roof would collapse. She felt herself faltering. Huan beat at her barrier and it finally collapsed.

  A force enveloped Auraya. It drew her forward until she stood a few steps from the glowing figure.

  “Now,” Huan sneered. “Open your mind to me.”

  A flash of stubborn defiance went through Auraya. She’ll kill me anyway, whether I do it or not.

  “No,” she replied.

  Huan’s eyes narrowed. “You seem to think you have a choice. I shall convince you otherwise.”

  Magic flowed from the goddess and wrapped around Auraya’s body. Into her body. Pain ripped through her, pulsing up and down her limbs, tearing at her insides. She saw white and her eyes burned. Agony was all she knew.

  Then it stopped. Vision returned. Auraya realized she was lying on the floor, but could not remember falling down. Her body felt bruised. She was gasping for breath and suspected she had stopped breathing during Huan’s attack. Her mind began drawing in magic from the thin and depleted source around her to begin healing.

  So, she thought. It’s going to be torture then. She felt her determination waver. Then she thought of Mirar, and Jade. I can’t betray them. From somewhere she drew up the resolve to stay silent.

  “See?” Huan said. “It doesn’t take much magic. I can do it for years, if I want to. And I can do much, much worse. I can make you die of pain. Slowly. Very slowly.”

  Once again Auraya considered what was in her mind that the goddess might want to see. Jade’s identity came to mind. The secrets Mirar had told her. The realization that the Wilds were up to something. They knew how to kill gods. Were they going to try it themselves?

  I could let Huan see that and die quickly. All I gain from resisting is pain.

  But the Wilds will lose any chance of killing the gods if I do.

  And the gods deserve to die.

  She thought of the stories Jade had told her, of the lies the gods had told, of Huan’s manipulations and the Siyee’s doomed mission. Anger suddenly boiled up inside her.

  I can endure this. It won’t be easy…and the Wilds had better succeed. She glared at Huan. I don’t want to die knowing I spoiled any chance of someone killing this bitch.

  At Auraya’s glare, Huan straightened and magic flowed from her again. For a long time all Auraya was conscious of was the agony that moved through her body, the realization that pain could be a burning, an intolerable cold, a crushing ache, a multitude of terrible sensations.

  When it stopped, she found herself lying face down. Her nose was bleeding. Her forehead throbbed as if someone had kicked it repeatedly. She tried to move, then tried harder. Finally her body obeyed her desire and she rolled onto her back. A thousand hurts made themselves known and for a long moment she could not breathe.

  Huan peered down at her from a few paces away.

  “You’re dying,” Huan told her.

  Gods I wish I could smack that smug expression from her face—or pluck out her eyes! But…Huan can only see me through the eyes of a mortal, Auraya found herself thinking. If I can lure her out of that Servant at least she won’t see me die. Ha! If I could get her out of the Servant she couldn’t harm me at all!

  “Too bad,” Auraya said between gritted teeth. “Even when Chaia takes my soul I won’t tell you what I know.”

  Huan laughed. “Chaia isn’t here. And I don’t want your soul. You are going to cease to exist.”

  Auraya laughed. “If the gods have to be where a person dies in order to take their soul, they can’t possibly take all souls. They’d have to be in so many places at once…” She paused to catch her breath. “But you don’t take souls, do you? It’s all a lie.”

  Huan’s glowing eyebrows rose. “Oh? What makes you so sure of that?”

  “Chaia told me,” Auraya lied.

  “Did he?” Huan’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t think he likes you as much as he claims. He’s always giving me more excuses to kill you.”

  “Then kill me.”

  Huan shook her head. “Hmm. Do you really think I’ll let you die without seeing into your mind? I have to know what else he has revealed.”

  Auraya had only a moment to enjoy the bitter triumph of knowing Mirar’s “secret” was true before the pain began again. This time it was worse, and when the attack stopped the pain continued. She felt a warm dampness behind her head, and when she moved her skull creaked disturbingly. Shooting pains in one of her arms told her a bone had broken. Her heels were afire. Her whole body was bruised. Her jaw ached and her teeth felt loose.

  Huan smiled down at her.

  “Open your mind, Auraya.”

  If I do, she’ll have to leave the Servant, Auraya thought. That’s my lure. When she comes to me I’ll shut my mind again. But I can’t stop her returning to the Servant…

  She groaned. The pain in her head was growing. She drew magic and began healing the damage, and the pain began to lessen. It’s lucky I’m not in the void.

  The void! If she could trick Huan into going inside the void…no, the goddess would never fall for that.

  “Open your mind and the pain will end,” Huan crooned, bending closer.

  I need a void. She remembered her guess at how they had been created. Draw away all the magic in one place. If Huan senses it, she will move away. And then I’ll have no magic to heal myself. Except the magic I draw in…

  “Just let me see, and it’ll all be over.”

  Lure her out…make a void…stop her returning to the Servant. Suddenly it all came together. Auraya opened her eyes and stared at Huan.

  “All right,” she croaked. “Look then. Look and see how much I hate you.”

  Huan’s eyes blazed with triumph. Her glowing features vanished and the Dedicated Servant’s face appeared. He blinked with surprise.

  Auraya reached out with her unbroken arm and grasped his ankle. At the same time she pulled into herself all the magic she could sense. All at once. Power flowed into her. Senses attuned to the magic of the world, she felt a presence forced away, then fleeing. She felt the magic around her part like torn fabric, leaving a sphere of nothingness.

  It was a rent in the world, a terrible thing. She cried out in horror. Another voice joined hers and she felt hands around her arm. Pain snapped her back into an awareness of the world as the Dedicated Servant pulled her hand away from his ankle.

  He will alert others, if Huan hasn’t already, she thought, and felt a stab of panic. Magic burst from her. Still in the void, he had no chance to shield himself. She heard his bones crack as the blast hit him. He flew backward and sprawled on the floor, twitching.

  She spared him one small moment of pity, then the urgent call of her body drew her attention back. Using the magic she had drawn, she healed as much damage as she could before crawling out of the void and drawing more. Slowly bones mended, swelling eased and bruises faded. She got to her feet. Pinpricks of pain assailed her all over, as nerves taxed by Huan’s torture protested.

  She walked toward the gate. Stronger magic surrounded her. A small surge of it broke the lock. Turning back, she looked around the hall. The thought came that she could destroy it easily. But then she remembered that there was someone in it that she wouldn’t want to see harmed.

  “Mischief,” she called softly. “Mischief!”

  A small furry shape leapt off the throne and bounded over to her. He shot up the bloodied
sack she wore onto her shoulders. Auraya scratched him between the ears and walked out of the hall into the passage.

  And came face to face with a handful of Servants. They formed a line across the passage. A moment later she sensed Huan join them.

  Gods curse her! she thought. Then the irony of what she had just thought occurred to her and she choked out a crazy-sounding laugh.

  She can only attack me when she has possessed a Servant, but these Servants probably aren’t as powerful as the last one. The strong ones are at the battle.

  As the Servants attacked, Auraya was relieved to find she was right. But more would join them as she tried to fight her way out of the building.

  Do I even have to?

  Once more she felt the itch to destroy this place. She knew that there was a thick layer of rock above the hall, then the buildings of the Lower Sanctuary. Backing away to the side she knew was not depleted of magic. From the Servants, she retreated into the hall. They followed. When she was just within the gate she turned to face the room. Drawing in magic, she loosed it at the ceiling.

  There was a deafening boom and the floor shook. Cracks appeared where she had struck. Rubble piled into the hall. The Servants’ attack faltered. Glancing behind, she saw that they were backing away, exchanging terrified glances.

  It took three more blasts, each more powerful, to break through. Cracks crossed the roof of the hall. Faint sunlight filtered down, making curtains of light in the dust that veiled the piles of rubble that covered the floor below.

  The Servants had fled.

  Auraya paused to pat a trembling Mischief, who was now hiding down the back of her sacking shift. Then she straightened, drew magic greedily to herself and let it fly out. With a terrible crack, a great piece of the roof, thicker than a house was high, crashed down into the hall, crushing and burying the throne. Rubble flew past her and battered her barrier. Not waiting for the dust to settle, she strode forward, stepping over rocks and taking care not to enter either of the two voids.

  White walls appeared above, part of the Sanctuary. At the sight of the sky beyond her heart soared. It was pink. Dawn.