The Godling Chronicles (Shadow of the Gods, Book #3) (23 page)

Aaliyah took Gewey's hand. “Are you
certain?”

Gewey smiled and nodded. “Yes. Don't worry. I
don't sense the anger of the Oasis. But I do know that I must go on
alone.”

Aaliyah squeezed his hand and stepped back.
“We will await you here.”

Gewey turned and placed his hand on the
doorknob. The second his flesh touched it, darkness surrounded him
and there was a great rumble as if the very earth was being
shattered all around him. Aaliyah, Pali, and the hallway vanished.
For a moment, he was struck by fear and panic, as the rumble became
a roar, and a powerful wind rose up and swirled in a tempest
lifting him skyward. He let out a scream as he struggled against
the force. Then as quickly as it came, it disappeared. He felt
himself begin to fall. Unable to see through the darkness below, he
braced himself for impact, but it didn't come. Instead, he felt his
feet land gently on soft ground. Gewey knelt down, expecting grass,
but was shocked to find what felt like polished marble. He pressed
down with his finger. It gave way, sinking in, then reforming once
he withdrew.

“
This can't be real,” he said. His
words echoed repeatedly, then slowly faded. “Am I
alone?”

As if in response, a small ball of light,
appeared just in front of him. It grew brighter and brighter, until
he was forced to shield his eyes. Then it dimmed, and there stood
the figure of a man. He was as tall as Gewey, and just as broad.
His raven hair fell carelessly, in loose curls just above his
shoulders. He was dressed in a long, silver robe, open in the
front, revealing a loose-fitting white shirt, and trousers. His
features were sharp and angular, with a perfect symmetry that was
beautiful to behold. His flawless ivory skin bore no sign of age or
blemishes, and glowed with a soft radiance. He smiled as he met
Gewey's eyes.

“
I knew you would come,” he said. His
voice was deep and soothing.

“
Who-who are you?” Gewey
stammered.

“
You know me as Gerath,” he
replied.

“
God of the Earth,” Gewey
whispered.

“
Yes,” he replied. “And no.”

Gerath stretched out his arms. “What you see
before you is merely an image. A piece of my essence left behind in
this world. Left behind for you.”

Gewey eyed him carefully. “Are you my
father?”

Gerath laughed. “Indeed, I am. At least I am
your father in the way you would understand it. I played my part in
your creation.”

“
Then who is my mother?” he asked. The
words of Felsafell echoed in his mind. This knowledge would drive
him mad. Suddenly he was afraid to hear the answer.

“
I'm sorry,” he replied. “But some
answers I cannot give.”

Gewey became irritated. “Then why are you
here?”

“
I am here to help you,” Gerath turned
around slowly and bowed his head. “Many mistakes have my kind made.
And you must help us atone. You must redeem us.”

“
How am I to do that?”

“
By mending what we have broken.” He
faced Gewey again. His face bore immeasurable sadness. “We had
foreseen our imprisonment,” he continued. “And we built this place.
We built it so that you could one day find it. What resides within
this temple will aid you and those whom you love, should you choose
to follow the path put before you. But I sense that your efforts
will be hindered. Something evil now surrounds you and you must
face it. You must drive it out.”

“
What is out there?” Gewey
asked.

His eyes grew dark. “Creatures of pure hate
and malice. They were sent by the one who imprisoned us. But do not
fear them. You are stronger....far stronger than they can
understand. Stronger than all in creation, save one.” He stepped
forward and placed his hand on Gewey's shoulder. “My son.” His
voice was filled with compassion and sorrow. “Of all the Gods, you
were chosen to right our wrongs. You are untainted by our sins, and
bound to this world. Your connection to this place binds your
spirit to the very heart of the earth. Use that connection to
attain your true power, and none can stand against you.”

“
How do I do that?” Gewey felt the
touch of his father. It felt as if love it was a tangible thing he
could see and taste. Only his bond with Kaylia could compare. “Can
you teach me?”

“
No one can teach you this.” He
withdrew his hand, reached inside his robe, and pulled out a small
silver chain with a medallion the size of a gold piece attached. On
it was carved the symbol of Gerath. “In a few moments I will empty
myself into this. From that moment on I will cease to be, yet my
power will remain. Wear it, and my strength will pass to
you.”

“
What do you mean ‘you will cease to
be?’” he asked.

“
The part of me I left behind...its
will and its mind will be gone.” He handed Gewey the medallion. A
light flashed and a table appeared beside him. On the table rested
a bow, a dagger and a staff, all gleaming white. “Take these. They
are the tools of Vismal, crafted by my own hands. Give them to
those whom you love and trust, and your power will aid them. But
choose carefully, for once given they will only serve that master.”
He smiled a sad smile. “I have little else to give you. Most of
what I am has been trapped by the betrayer. What you see is a
shadow. But even the shadow of our kind carries great power. Use
that power so that you may better understand what you must
do.”

“
Why not just tell me?” he cried. “Why
not show me?”

“
I cannot,” he replied. “Or all will be
for naught. You must discover your power on your own. I can only
say that you have begun rightly. I sense mortal teachings within
you. They can give you what we never could.” He staggered back.
Gewey reached out to catch his arm, but his hand passed as though a
mist. “My time is short. The moment you stepped within these walls,
I began to fade. My knowledge does not extend beyond the moment I
was put here, and that slips away from me with each passing
second.”

“
But I have so many questions,” said
Gewey. “Please, I must know more.”

Gerath's form began to ripple and fade. “Know
that you have your father’s love, and that I await you even now.”
He gave Gewey one last loving smile. “I have only one more thing to
give...your name.”

“
My name?” Gewey's mind
raced.

“
Yes,” Gerath replied. “It is the name
given to you by a father whose worst crime was to sacrifice you to
a world of peril and hardship, in order to undo what he cannot.” He
faded completely. “Darshan.”

Gewey stood in stunned silence for a moment.
“Darshan,” he whispered.

He approached the table and examined the
weapons. The dagger was sheathed in an ivory scabbard, etched with
the symbol of Gerath. The hilt was wrapped in white leather and
crowned with a single diamond. The bow, short and impossibly thin
as to be certain to break if drawn, though Gewey was sure it would
not. The staff was as long as he was tall, and three snakes had
been carved to coil their way up its length. Gewey reach down and
gathered them in his arms. The table faded, and he found himself in
a large, empty room. A glow radiated from bronze plates on the
walls and he could see the silver door at the far end. Carefully
cradling the weapons and holding tight to the medallion, he walked
to the door, and pulled it open. There stood Pali and Aaliyah.

Aaliyah beamed and threw her arms around him,
nearly causing him to drop everything. ”Thank the Creator. When you
vanished, I feared the worst.”

“
We may be facing the worst,” said
Gewey. “If what I was told is true.”

“
What are those?” asked Pali, pointing
at the weapons.

“
Gifts,” Gewey replied. “Gifts from
Gerath.” He recounted his experience, leaving out that he was the
son of Gerath, as he was unsure how Pali would react.

“
Darshan?” asked Aaliyah, when he
finished. “You are called Darshan?”

Gewey nodded. “I know you call me Shivis Mol.
Have you heard this before?”

“
It means ‘the bringer of knowledge,’”
Aaliyah replied. “Shivis Mol is more a title than a name, given to
the one who will bring healing to the world.”

Gewey shrugged. “I don't know about that.
Right now, I'm more concerned about getting out of here. Gerath
said an evil resides here; one that will try to stop us.”

Aaliyah nodded in agreement. “Yes. These
matters can wait until we reach safety.”

“
I have heard of the legend of
Darshan,” Pali interjected, with a curious stare. “But if that is
who you are, then it can only mean that the Gods walk among us.” He
looked Gewey up and down. “Is that what you are?”

Aaliyah stepped forward, but Gewey caught her
arm and pulled her back. “I will not try to deceive you. Yes, I am
a God. But I am not like what you may think. I eat, I sleep, and I
can be hurt, just like any other man. My spirit is no different
than yours.” He could feel Aaliyah's muscles tensing in his
grasp.

“
I ask that you do not
reveal...Darshan's presence.” she said.

“
You mustn't worry,” said Pali, smiling
broadly. “I will not betray you. And you need not fear my people.
They bear the Gods no hatred. Though you may find it difficult to
convince them you speak truth. I admit, had I not seen you vanish
then return bearing your gifts, I would as well. Besides, if the
legend is true, and it seems it is, this is joyous news. It is said
that Darshan will bring everlasting prosperity to our people, and
cast out the evil that plagues the sands.” He slapped Gewey on the
shoulder. “But there will be time to tell you of our legends. I
will be coming with you when you return west.”

“
You cannot,” objected
Gewey.

“
Oh, but I must,” Pali countered. “If
Darshan has come, then it means that the elves of the desert shall
be reunited with our brethren in the west.” He eyed Aaliyah. “I
must see it done.”

“
I swore an oath to your mother,” said
Aaliyah sternly.

“
I may be her child, but I am not a
youth to be coddled,” he challenged, meeting Aaliyah's gaze. “If
you do not allow me to come with you, I shall make my own way
west.

Pali and Aaliyah stared hard at one
another.

“
Look,” said Gewey, breaking the
deadlock. “We can talk about it once we're out of here.” He took
his blanket from his pack and wrapped the staff, strapping it and
the bow across his back. The dagger he fastened to his
belt.

“
Are you going to wear the medallion?”
asked Aaliyah.

Gewey held it in his hand and traced his
finger over the engraving. Slowly he draped it around his neck and
took a deep breath.

“
Well?” asked Pali.

Gewey reached down and lifted the medallion
off his chest and examined it again. “Nothing.” He rubbed it with
his thumb. “I feel nothing at all.”

“
Perhaps you should draw power from the
earth,” suggested Aaliyah.

Gewey did as she suggested, but still nothing
changed. “I don't understand.”

A loud blast from a great horn rang out. Even
muffled by the walls of the temple the sound was strong enough to
cause the corridor to tremble. Gewey drew his sword. The narrow
hall would make it awkward, but he knew that the increased ability
to use the flow would be needed. He looked down the hall, but no
one came.

“
They await us outside,” said Aaliyah,
after a few minutes. “We are trapped.”

“
Maybe they want to take us alive,”
offered Pali. A wicked grin crept across his face as his looked at
Gewey. “But then we have Darshan with us. I wonder if they are
prepared for that?”

“
My enemies know about me,” said Gewey,
darkly. “If they choose to attack, they know who and what they
face. And they know that I bleed just like you.”

Gewey led them down the corridor and up the
stairs to the door. It was still shut. The horn blasted once more,
making Gewey wince. “Stay here,” he commanded, and exited the
temple.

It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to
the sunlight’s intense glare. When they cleared, he saw a familiar
black-cloaked figure, long curved blade in hand, twenty paces
ahead.

“
Do the Vrykol fear death?” Gewey
shouted. The flow raged through him.

The Vrykol took a step forward, then pushed
back his hood. “We do not.”

Gewey stared, stunned by what he saw. It was
not the burned, twisted features he had seen before. Instead it was
the face of an elf. Its skin was lightly tanned, and his long black
hair was tied in a tight braid. His face was narrow and angular,
with closely set deep blue eyes that tried to stare straight
through Gewey.

“
You can't be…” said Gewey.
“How?”

The Vrykol smiled, as though he had not a
care in the world. “My master went to great trouble in my creation,
young godling. I am the first of my kind...though not the last, I
assure you. I am here to offer you your life.” He chuckled. “Though
I already know what your answer will be.”

“
Then be gone,” said Gewey. He
strengthened his grip on his sword. “Allow us to pass.”

“
I'm afraid that is out of the
question,” he replied. “That is, unless you surrender what was
inside the temple to me. Do this, and I shall let you and your
companions go free.”

“
If you attack us, I will have your
head,” warned Gewey.