Gods bounty, p.19
God's Bounty, page 19
I shook my head as I sighed, then bent to pick up the chains. They were surprisingly light, made from a metal I didn’t recognize. What I did recognize, though, were the runes inscribed across them. They glowed gently as they contacted my skin, and I saw that they were similar to the ones etched into the blade of my gladius.
Runes of binding.
What do you think, Lilith? I asked. Should we take the chains and beat them all to death? I was only half joking, but the demon seemed to seriously consider my words before she answered.
Not yet, she finally conceded. I suppose now is the time when they’ll be taking us to see someone important.
I nodded agreement and fastened the shackles. As they locked shut, I felt the magic in them swell. There was nothing there that would hamper my innate strength or speed, but I knew that testing myself against the chains would be impossible. My own strength would be turned back against me, and the harder I strained the stronger the shackles would become.
Lovely.
My steps were halting as the guards moved into tight formation around me and walked me away from the edge of the chasm. The chains dug into my bare ankles with every step, and I had to shorten my stride to keep from tripping.
We passed through the door and into a tunnel beyond. Unlike the vast, natural chamber we’d just left, this corridor looked like it had been actively shaped. The walls were flat and the corners were squared away, and we progressed through several similar hallways as we marched.
We walked for ten minutes, passing only a few other people in the narrow corridors. Most were human, but I also saw a Kheerzu and several other xenos of races I didn’t recognize. They were all dressed either in dark body armor or simple pants and shirts of grey cloth. Glancing around, I saw that all of them also had a circle insignia stamped or woven into their garments on the left chest.
Finally, our group came to a long straightaway. At the other end of the corridor stood more guards in front of a stout-looking pair of doors made from white wood. Each door had a semicircle painted in black, with the edges meeting to form the same simple circle design we’d seen everywhere else.
Do you recognize it? I asked Lilith.
No, she told me thoughtfully. Perhaps we should have asked our tour guides.
I chuckled at her commentary, and then saw one of the guards glance at me nervously. I rolled my eyes at him. I tried not to be too worried. Yet. I was evidently an important prisoner, and I knew enough to know that low-level guardsmen weren’t going to hurt me just because they were a bit jumpy.
At least, that’s what I told myself.
Our destination was the other side of the circle-inscribed door, another big, natural chamber of black rock. The room was dominated by a huge, circular table. The table had been projecting some sort of holomap when the doors swung open, but it blinked into nothingness as we entered and I could see across its flat expanse.
There were two people at the far end, one of them sitting in a lone chair and the other standing behind it, her hand resting gently on the back. My black gladius rested, sheathed, on the table before them.
My chest tightened as I saw her, but then my eyes fastened on the other figure.
Ignore her. Ignore her. Ignore her. It was a mantra in my mind, the only way I could keep everything from suddenly spinning out of control.
He stood as we approached the other side of the projection table. “Lucian Lightbringer,” he declared, his arms spreading wide and welcoming. His smile was genuine.
“Welcome. My name is Ysaac. Come, we have a lot to discuss. My daughter has told me so much about you.”
“I do hope you’ll forgive the shackles.” Ysaac’s voice was deep and calm, and his warm brown eyes watched me thoughtfully.
We were seated on a low bench in an alcove of the large chamber. My back was to the black rock, and there was something comforting about the way the uneven stone pressed cold against my skin. My feet were flat against the smooth floor, and my chained hands rested on my bare thighs.
I examined the man before me. He was only a few feet away, close enough to reach out and touch, but for now I only touched him with my eyes.
I knew, without a doubt, that this was the man my Father had sent me to kill. It was nothing physical that gave him away. He short, but well-proportioned, his face handsome and open. His sandy blonde hair was cut close, but not even enough to seem carefully styled. His hands were weathered, calloused, like he was used to hard work, but the nails were clean. There was muscle, too, beneath his simple shirt, and on the inside of his forearm I saw the same black circle emblem tattooed into his skin.
It was the aura around him that gave him away, the silent self-confidence and air of leadership. It was his eyes, too, which captured me as I glanced back into them. They were mellow and deep, and they reminded me of warm, comforting mugs of chocolate that I’d drunk with—
I felt a pang as I looked away to where Erin leaned against the wall behind him. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she was dressed in her familiar red armor. Her green eyes slid away from mine when I tried to meet them.
I realized the man was waiting for me to respond, so I yanked my gaze back to his face.
Ignore her.
I raised my eyebrows. “Oh, of course,” I answered. “Why would I take offense at being electrocuted, imprisoned and chained?” My tone, needless to say, was loaded with biting sarcasm.
The leader of the Profanes leaned forward, and his voice was earnest. “If I thought that you would listen to reason, I would have those chains removed in an instant. As it is, though,” he raised one hand. He held the gladius by its sheath and tilted it to catch the soft light of the glowing lamps that hung from the walls, illuminating the room. “I have it on good authority that you’re here to kill me.” He smiled though, as he said it, like the words were a joke between us.
I shrugged, pretending at an ease I didn’t really feel. “You’ve found me out me, yes. Here I am, ready to strike at any moment.”
Ysaac regarded me pensively. “Erin said you were a brave man. And I’ve done my research, as well. Your disregard is a strong defense, I think, but I hope that your curiosity will win out, in the end.”
I leaned away and feigned disinterest. I felt Lilith stirring in the back of my mind, watching.
Careful, Lucian, she muttered. This man… There’s something about him. Something dangerous.
All leaders are dangerous, I thought back. Power is dangerous.
Lilith disagreed. He knows things, she murmured. He sees things. More than he should.
Can you read him? I asked, already expecting her answer.
I could tell that the demon scowled. No… He’s as invisible to my senses as she was.
Strange.
“What do you want?” I asked, giving the man a blank stare. “You have me, a captive audience, and all you’ll say is that your dearest wish is to talk. Here I am. Just get it done with already.”
“Ah…” Ysaac sighed and tapped the tip of the sheath against his cheek. “I apologize. I’m speaking around the issue, you see, because I’m worried about what will happen if I’m wrong.” He bent down and leaned the gladius delicately against the bench. Then the man folded his weathered hands together in his lap. He seemed to hesitate another moment.
“What do you really know of me, Lucian?” he asked. “What has your father told you?”
I shrugged. “Why should you care?”
Erin’s father laughed softly. “You’re right, of course. Maybe I’m a bit vain. I just wonder what my adversary thinks of the thorn in his side.”
I regarded him coolly. Against my better judgement, his calm and easy demeanor was beginning to get to me.
“Very well,” he chuckled softly. “You don’t trust me. Why should you? You know nothing about me except whatever you’ve heard from the being that wishes me dead. But I know a bit about you, Lucian.” He settled back on the bench and regarded me. “You see, your world and mine are far more similar than you may have thought. Even before the regrettable circumstances of your bounty, you were of interest to me. An angel who kills gods? Ha. I could hardly believe it.”
It was his voice, too, that gave him away as a leader. As a visionary. There was something about it, something familiar. It was like my Father’s voice, but without the divine emphasis that ensnared listeners and forced them to accept his words. Ysaac had the same resonant tone, the same ember of belief that lent heat to his eyes when he spoke.
Lilith was listening too, and I felt the edge of her discomfort.
“I want to tell you about myself,” Ysaac continued. “And you can consider the values we share.” He paused, gathering his thoughts, and then continued. “Then, maybe, we can remove those chains.”
I spread my hands as far as they were able to go and gestured for him to speak. “I’m already riveted,” I said dryly.
Ysaac flashed a grin, then began. “The universe, as we know it, is vast and deep and mysterious. But there are certain constants that seem inevitable. Life grows tenaciously, even in the inky darkness of space, on bare rock and worlds where it seems impossible. Life flourishes, even, and culture and civilization follow. Mortal culture and mortal civilization. Then, at a point, another type of life emerges. Divine life.”
Lilith was right. This man knew more than he should. Most mortals knew nothing of the gods and their beginnings.
“Gods, though,” and the man frowned slightly. “They’re a different breed. Mortal life is a growing, expanding thing. We mortals, we’re sparks that burn fast and hot. But gods, they are like embers. Slow-burning, devouring. They want to burn higher and higher, to revel in their own flame, all the while consuming the charcoal the fuels them.”
I raised my eyebrows. It seemed Ysaac had something else in common with my Father — a propensity to sermonize.
“What if the gods just want to burn higher so they can shine a light for you bumbling mortals?” I disagreed more on principle than belief. At the moment I wasn’t feeling particularly generous towards anyone, mortal or divine.
Ysaac bent his head in a nod of concession. “Perhaps a few, an insignificant minority. But let me ask you, Lucian. You’ve met and spoken with more gods, likely, than anyone else living. Do you not think that most are more inclined to take than to give? More likely to encourage their own worship than the growth of the cultures they supposedly steward?”
“A poor sampling,” I countered. “The only gods I’ve met are the ones that people want killed.”
The man shook his head, brown eyes creasing sadly. “False,” he declared. “The gods you meet are the ones with enemies wealthy enough to pay for their deaths.”
I rolled my eyes. “Your argument is that, if they could, anyone would pay for the murder of their deity?”
Ysaac frowned thoughtfully. “No. My position is that gods do less good than they profess, and that they must be put in their rightful place.”
“And you know what place that is? Sounds pretty arrogant. Why do you know best?”
The man paused as if considering my question. Then, when he met my eyes, he seemed more curious than condemning. “Why do you do it?”
His tone had changed as he took a different tack, and I gave him a questioning look.
“Why do you kill them?”
I shrugged, trying to pretend the question hadn’t surprised me. “Gods are tough to kill. People pay good money for someone who can actually do it.”
“No…” Again the man smiled, like we were sharing a secret. “I don’t think that’s a good enough reason for you, Lucian. I think,” and here he lowered his voice, “that you are more like me than you think. Stop me if this sounds familiar… You were raised to believe in a divine mission, a holy crusade. The goal? Convince the mortals under your alleged protection that the worship of your family, of your Father, is a true and righteous act, deserving of their attention and energy.”
Beneath my facade of opposition, I squirmed uncomfortably.
“But you, Lucian,” and now Ysaac leaned forward earnestly and put his hand on my leg. “You learned different. I think that you know better than anyone that gods will lie, cheat, steal and murder for only one goal. And that goal isn’t the protection, preservation or advancement of their followers. It is their own preservation and advancement.”
I feigned indifference. “Poor me,” I told him. “I was scarred by my family and I take it out on any god I can get into my evil clutches.”
“No,” Ysaac disagreed bluntly. “You found out that your family didn’t care about you, your happiness, or the happiness of anyone else. They care about power, and will do anything to achieve it.”
The words struck uncomfortably close to home.
He continued in a gentler tone. “And that is the crux of the matter. Because I believe,” he glanced back at his daughter thoughtfully, “that you are in fact a man who is interested in happiness. Interested, even, in taking power back from those who abuse it.”
The man stood, dusting off his hands. “Come,” he said, and reached out to take me gently by the elbow. “I want to show you something.”
He was close enough to touch, close enough to kill. It would be quick. I was chained, but those chains could be used as a weapon.
Only, instead, I simply rose easily to my feet.
Lucian… Lilith muttered. She could sense what I was feeling, could tell that I was beginning to be intrigued by what Ysaac had to say. Remember our goal. Remember what’s at stake…
Don’t worry, I told her. I know what I’m doing, remember?
At least, I hoped I did.
Ysaac led the way from the chamber, scooping up the gladius and running his thumbs thoughtfully along the sheath. I followed, and Erin fell in behind. I could tell she was uneasy with my presence, could practically smell her guilt, but her lovely features were set in an expression of resolve. I tried to drop back, to walk nearer to her, but her free hand came up and she pushed me forward.
“Don’t,” she muttered, low enough that it was only audible to my acute hearing.
I stumbled for a moment, and then Ysaac was there again beside me, taking my arm and holding me up.
“I apologize, by the way,” he said softly as I straightened, “for your current state of undress.” He gestured at my lack of clothes. “But we’re all aware that you’re quite a deadly fighter, and I would be remiss if I didn’t take all possible precautions.”
“I’m flattered,” I muttered, pulling away from his helping hands. “I’ve killed many a god using a shirt and pants.”
We progressed in silence for a while, after that. I could hear the scuffling feet of the contingent of guards that followed along behind Erin. I didn’t look back, but I had no doubt that they were on high alert, ready to gun me down if I made any sudden moves.
So, instead, I squared my shoulders and relaxed my muscles, walking with a slow, relaxed stride. Let them think that I had no fear, that the hairs on the back of my neck weren’t raised with the expectation of a blade or a lasbolt between my shoulders. After all, these people wanted to put gods in their proper place. And I was just one step down from a god myself.
We’re still going to kill this man, Lilith insisted as we walked. So don’t get too attached.
I scoffed inwardly. Attached? Don’t be silly. But I could tell the demon didn’t believe me.
I’m in your head, remember? she told me. I can tell you’re… intrigued, by this mortal. And I know you still have feelings for his daughter.
His daughter... I thought. It was a revelation I still hadn’t had time to process. Should I even be surprised?
The stone floor scraped against the soles of my feet, growing rougher as the demon waited to respond. No, she answered finally. You should not. Everything fits. Even the tale she told you about her childhood. This group, her father, whatever they are, they want nothing more than to hamper the plans of your family.
The only thing that doesn’t fit, I said, is why these people would want to keep me alive.
Hmm… was the demon’s only response.
We finally came to a halt before a heavy round door. It was made of a dark metal, obviously thick, and embedded in the surface were the glowing sigils that had become more and more familiar to me. Whatever was on the other side of that door, they wanted to keep on the other side.
Two guards stood outside in the hallway, standing more erect as Ysaac came into view. The tops of their heads brushed against the roof, which had lowered as we’d progressed. The corridor was even rougher now, but not in a natural way. It had been carved out, long ago, though not by modern tools. There was moisture on the walls and under my feet.
“Where are we going?” I asked. I didn’t like that I was the one to break the heavy silence.
Ysaac glanced back. He had placed one palm on the door, leaning into it, and from a pocket he produced a key. It matched the portal, black and heavy. “Like I said,” he smiled, but it was no longer lighthearted. It was more somber. “I want to show you something. The future.”
With that cryptic explanation, he stabbed the key into the door and turned. There was a heavy clunk and the tiny scraping sounds of ancient gears. Then the door swung open, and he pushed his way inside.
I hesitated a second.
What are you waiting for? Lilith demanded.
I wasn’t sure, but I thought I could smell something beyond the heavy portal. A scent of wet earth and decay, like an ancient, rotting forest. I don’t know… I thought back.
I took a deep breath. Then, I followed Ysaac through the hole in the dark, rough rock.
What I saw beyond it wasn’t the future.
And I hoped it never would be.
Chapter Seventeen
The figure floated twenty feet above our heads, body erect and arms trailing. It was a woman, I could tell immediately, from her shapely breasts and flaring hips. She was naked, but it seemed natural, like clothes would have covered up her innate beauty that was meant to be appreciated.
She was no human, of that I could be immediately certain. Her limbs were slender and elongated, with skin the green of fresh grass and stripes the white color of wood stripped of bark. A pair of long antennae stalks rose from her forehead, drifting gently like she was underwater. Her eyes, when they turned slowly to look down at us, were the sharp hue of evergreen needles. They were wide eyes, slanted upward and without pupils, too large for her delicate, elfin face.
