The Godling Chronicles (Shadow of the Gods, Book #3) (9 page)

Kaylia moved close to Gewey, her face hot
with jealousy.

Aaliyah smiled. “Fierce and protective.
Though I must admit, I can understand why.” Her hair shimmered in
the fire light. She stepped back and took a seat on a blanket a few
feet away. Mohanisi and Nehrutu rested next to her. “In the morning
I shall address the elves.”

“
I am afraid it will have to wait until
after the funeral rites,” said Theopolou. “They begin with the
sunrise.”

“
Of course,” said Aaliyah. She lay down
and pulled the blanket over her shoulders. It was mere moments
before sleep took her.

Gewey looked around. Small groups of elves
were gathered around the fires, speaking in hushed whispers. No one
had disturbed the newcomers while they were tending the wounded,
but news of them spread like wildfire. Gewey smiled. Only the
arrival of these elves could overshadow the presence of a God in
their midst. And for that, he was grateful. He finished his meal
and lay on his back. The stars were peeking out from behind wisps
of thin clouds high in the sky. He wished the night was clear. The
nights of a new moon were the best time for star gazing. Kaylia lay
next to him, her head turned toward Aaliyah.

“
She is beautiful,” said
Kaylia.

Gewey reached over and took her hand. “I
didn't notice.”

“
You do not need to spare my feelings,”
she said in a half-whisper. “I am not doubting your love for
me.”

Gewey turned his head and met Kaylia's eyes
“Good. And I'm not sparing your feelings. I was too busy in the
pavilion to notice such things.”

“
And now that you are not in the
pavilion?”

Gewey pushed himself up and leaned over her.
“And now that I'm not in the pavilion, you're still more
beautiful.” He kissed her softly.

She smiled. “She wants you.” Pulling him to
her she kissed him once more. “But she cannot have you. She called
me fierce, but she has no idea how fierce I can be.” She stroked
his cheek. “Now sleep.”

Gewey lay back down and closed his eyes. The
tingle of Kaylia's touch still caressed his lips. As sleep took him
he could feel his spirit drift. He had come to enjoy the sensation.
Then he heard a call. Not in words, but a sweet summons, like soft
music. Kaylia, he thought. A thin mist surrounded him. It was warm
and soothing. He allowed it to penetrate him.

“
I am here,” called a gentle, feminine
voice.

A figure approached through the mist. Gewey
expected to see Kaylia, but as the figure neared, he realized it
was not her...It was Aaliyah.

Chapter 7

A bitter chill woke Gewey the next morning.
Kaylia and Linis had already risen and were nearby helping the
others prepare the morning meal. Bellisia, Chiron and Theopolou,
had gathered a few yards away, and had donned white robes, Gewey
presumed for the funeral rites.

Aaliyah's face still burned in his memory,
but he could not recall anything beyond the point when she first
appeared. He scanned the area for her and her friends, but they
were nowhere to be seen.

Just next to him, lying atop his sword and
scabbard, he noticed his pack. Someone must have retrieved his
belongings from Theopolou's tent. He rummaged through his things
until he found the clothes Theopolou had given him, then went to
look for some place private to change. He thought perhaps to seek
out some water for washing, but didn't want to miss the ceremony.
Gewey walked toward the burned remains of the camp. Beyond the
pavilion, he could see dozens of funeral pyres that had been
erected in the night. He dreaded the sad ceremony that was to come.
Finding a hidden spot just beyond the pavilion, between two tents,
Gewey changed into his elf clothing.

“
You have an interesting mind.” It was
Aaliyah.

Gewey flushed. “How long were you watching
me?”

Aaliyah smiled. “Long enough.” She took a
step forward.

Though Gewey may have not noticed her beauty
before, he certainly did now. She had changed into a white, silk
dress, though much the same fashion as the one she wore before. It
flowed with her movements, wrapping itself playfully around her
obvious curves as she moved. Her hair was tied in a loose braid,
intertwined with thin white strands of shimmering cloth.

“
I thought this may be a bit more
appropriate,” she said. She held her shapely arms wide and spun
around. “What would you say?”

He felt his face grow hot with embarrassment.
“I...”

“
Perhaps not.” With a wry smile, she
took another step forward. “I brought nothing else, other than a
set of cotton trousers and tunic. The rest of my attire is on my
ship.”

“
How did you...” he stammered. “I
mean...last night.”

“
Oh, that was nothing,” she replied,
stepping closer. “I only wanted to see your mind for myself. A
selfish thing, I admit. But I could not resist the chance to
connect with Shivis Mol.”

“
Kaylia. She—,”

“
Kaylia knows nothing of it,” said
Aaliyah. “It was simple to occupy her thoughts. I...encouraged her
to dream of you. It was easy. She loves you deeply.”

The mention of Kaylia's love for him,
steadied his nerve. “And I love her.”

“
Well, of course, you do.” She sounded
understanding in the way of a mother to a child. “But then you are
quite young. And your bond with her makes your feelings infinitely
stronger.” Slowly her face saddened. Gewey suddenly wanted to
approach her. To comfort her. But he resisted. “I was bonded once.
Long ago.”

Gewey's heart ached to see her pain. “What
happened?”

She sighed deeply. “He died.”

“
Then how do you still live?” he asked.
“I thought that once bonded, your lives are as one.”

This shook her out of her melancholy and she
laughed softly. “Perhaps for the elves in this world that is true.
They have forgotten how to use their power. The bond between mates
is strong, but not unbreakable. One need not lose themselves should
the other die.” She glanced behind her. She could see the pavilion.
“A pity. The bond makes you stronger. We could have saved more if
they all had a mate's strength to share. But I suppose it is to be
expected that they do not bond, if the risk is death.” She tilted
her head and smiled. “Perhaps that is yet another thing we can
teach them.”

Gewey saw Kaylia approaching in the distance.
“I should go.” He didn't wait for a response. He edged his way pass
her. She did not move to ease his passing, forcing their shoulders
to touch.

As he neared Kaylia, he could clearly see
that she was not pleased.

“
What did she want?” asked
Kaylia.

“
Nothing,” Gewey replied. “She asked if
what she was wearing was appropriate for the funeral
rites.”

Kaylia shot a stare at Aaliyah, who was still
standing between the tents. “Is that so?” She took Gewey's hand.
“Come. We need to eat.”

Gewey allowed Kaylia to lead him back to
their bedrolls. A bowl of steaming porridge and a cup of new wine
had been place on the ground for him. After he finished, Kaylia,
Linis and Theopolou walked with him to the funeral pyres. The
gathering was already well underway. The pyres had been encircled
by the elves, just as Gewey had seen Linis and his seekers do
during the funeral of Berathis. Aaliyah, Nehrutu, and Mohanisi
stood beside Kaylia on his right. Linis, Theopolou, and the
remaining elders were to his left. Those wounded who could do so,
had made their way from the pavilion, unwilling to remain in bed
during the rites of their dead brethren. The ceremony was long,
lasting well into the afternoon. Elf after elf stood forward to say
words about their fallen comrades. After all had spoken the fires
were lit. So many that the heat caused Gewey to break into a sweat.
Finally, it was over and the crowd solemnly dispersed. Most eyes
were still swollen with tears.

Gewey, Linis, and Kaylia returned to their
bedrolls, while Theopolou instructed everyone to gather an hour
before sundown to hear Aaliyah and her companions speak.

Gewey spent the next few hours in light
conversation with Kaylia. He wondered what had become of Lee, Dina,
Millet, and Maybell. He missed his friends, especially Lee. Linis
searched the area for signs of what had become of his seekers, but
returned disappointed.

When the time came, they made their way
across the field in front of the pavilion. Most of the elves had
already assembled. Aaliyah, Nehrutu, and Mohanisi, were standing on
a small platform and facing away from the pavilion. The beds of
those who could be moved had been pulled close to the edge so they
could hear.

Aaliyah had changed back into her red dress.
She spotted Gewey as he approached and smiled. Gewey smiled back in
spite of himself. Theopolou, Chiron, Bellisia, and the other elders
stood just in front of the platform.

“
I'd rather stay to the back,” said
Gewey.

“
You can't,” said Kaylia. “I have a
feeling that whatever they say will concern you.”

Gewey opened his mouth to speak, but Kaylia
took his hand and half dragged him through the crowd, urging him to
stand next to Theopolou. Linis stood just behind him.

The moment he arrived, Aaliyah nodded to her
companions and stepped forward. “Brothers and sisters.” Her voice
echoed over the field with such tremendous volume that the
gathering jumped. “By now you have heard of our arrival and from
where we have come. Some may have doubt. Those who do not may
question our motives. To this I can only say that I speak truth,
and that there is no deception in my words.” She paused and looked
over the crowd. Her eyes bore the look of intense sadness.

“
Many lifetimes ago, our people
journeyed across the Great Sureshi, or what you know as the Western
Abyss, and settled this land. We lived and prospered for
generations, and for generations we came to see this land as our
own. But this was not so. For this land belonged to another people.
This land first belonged to the humans.”

This caused the elves to stir.

Aaliyah held out her hand to still the crowd.
“I know how many of you feel about the humans. And I know that many
believe you have reason to hate them. But what you do not know is
that it was we who first sinned against them. The humans were
already here when we arrived. But they were not as you know them
today. Mere children they were. Savage children, nomadic hunters
and gatherers. We brought to them our ways, and our learning. We
taught them to build, to farm, to live as a community. But in the
end we did these things for our own purposes.

“
In the end we subjugated the humans.
We turned them into little more than a slave race, born to serve
our needs.” She stepped down from the platform and stood in front
of Gewey, staring deeply into his eyes. “It was not until the Gods
showed us the error of our ways, did we realize what we had done.
But by then, it was too late.”

She broke her gaze and looked back at her
friends then back to the gathering. “The Gods created the Great
Barrier, and destroyed any hope to contact our people beyond. Any
who tried to cross perished. For thousands of years we have kept
watch, praying for the day we could return to you. Nineteen years
ago the Great Barrier disappeared, and now we have come.” She
stepped back onto the platform. “My brothers and I have lived our
lives with the knowledge of the sins of the elves, and the price we
have paid...the price you have paid. But now, we are here to help
you regain what you have lost...and to undo the wrongs of our
forefathers.” She closed her eyes and bowed her head. The only
sound was a soft breeze stirring the tents and pavilion.

Theopolou was the first to speak. “You say
that you have been able to come here for nearly twenty years. Why
have you waited so long? Why have you not revealed yourselves
before now?”

Aaliyah opened her eyes and sighed. “We could
not know what had become of you. The humans had clearly taken
control of this land. We sent scouts to gain information. What we
found was that you had become...different. You have changed from
the people you once were. To us, you had become more like the
humans. We were uncertain what to do.”

This caused angry shouts and curses.

“
Then why now?” asked
Bellisia.

“
Because of him.” She pointed
dramatically at Gewey. “When we discovered the coming of Shivis
Mol, we knew we must act.” She said this as though it was an
obvious truth. Her eyes fell on the wounded in the pavilion. “But
it is clear we should have acted sooner.”

“
How did you know about Gewey?” asked
Theopolou. “We have only just discovered it ourselves.”

“
We were given a prophecy when the
Great Barrier appeared,” Aaliyah replied. “It says that a God bound
to earth will come to show us the way to the Creator. He will wash
away our sins and reunite us with our people. We knew when the
Barrier disappeared, it heralded his coming.”

“
But how did you know it was me?” asked
Gewey.

“
Our people have connection with what
you call the flow,” she replied. “Though the elves of this land
have lost much of their power, we have not. You could never hide
what you are from us.” She held out her hand. Before Gewey realized
what he was doing he had taken it and allowed her to pull him onto
the platform. “We have learned much about our brethren since we
first arrived.” She spoke to the elves, but her eyes were on Gewey.
“You despise the Gods. You would turn away your one hope for
salvation. But you do not understand what that would mean. You have
an enemy rising against you. An enemy that will wipe you from the
face of this land. An enemy that has corrupted the hearts of your
brothers and sisters.” The persuasive elf released Gewey and
pointed to the wounded in the pavilion. “This is the result.” Her
voice was hard and cold as steel. “You have made war with your own
kind once before. This we know. And though it caused us great
sorrow to think of such a thing, we hoped that you had learned from
your mistakes. We hoped you had not fallen so far that your spirit
was lost.” The air around Aaliyah stirred as the flow rushed
through her. “You asked why we reveal ourselves now. You wonder why
we waited.” A flame burst to life above her head and shot skyward.
The crowd backed away in shock. Gewey stood transfixed. “We waited
because you are as different from us as the humans are from you. We
feared your own sins would return. We feared you could not regain
what you have lost.” She released the flow and the air stilled. Her
features softened and a delicate smile returned. “But the time for
fear is past, and we waited too long.”