“Did you get any weapons?”
“No, but Edward’s going to give me something of
Ronez’s when we get back. Is there any shopping we have to do while Edward does
his thing?” I asked.
Divina considered Mordon, who was giving her his
undivided attention. “We should not be having this conversation in front of
your friend.”
“You’re afraid he’ll overhear one of the ten words he
knows and catch on to the grand plan, then go to Vretial and sell us out?”
“Yes.”
“Edward didn’t seem to get any Guardian instinct
attacks or something when he met Mordon.”
“You shouldn’t be so quick to rely on your instincts
just because Kiro said they’re trustworthy. The gods didn’t give the Guardians
any special powers of instinct; any they have is because of the Guardians
themselves.”
“How do you know?”
“Ronez and I talked about it. Tiamat told him to
think things through more because his instincts were putting his book in too
much danger.”
“Do you believe everything the gods say?”
She gazed into the water. “How should I know what
they say?”
“I’ve been wondering that the whole time. Do you
believe everything they say? Do you have unwavering faith in their judgments?
You don’t even doubt at all that they know exactly what they’re doing and
what’s going on with Vretial?”
“That depends. The gods are not all one in the same.
They have different priorities and opinions, and very often, they don’t agree.
I believe what I choose to believe and what I feel is right. No, I don’t agree
with them unconditionally.”
“Then how can you so easily dismiss the instincts of
those who keep such powerful books? I was never hurt by following my instincts.
And seeing as how often I have been injured in my life, that is saying
something.”
The look in her eyes stopped my breath as she
regarded me solemnly. “You trust me,” she said. She peered back into the water
and I was able to breathe again.
“Yes. You can’t convince me not to.” It wasn’t just
trust I felt for her.
“You shouldn’t,” she warned. “You know my work. You
know I gather and trade information.”
I didn’t like the sound of that, and she definitely
wasn’t trying to justify herself. “Whose side are you on?”
“I’m on my side, Dylan, and it would be best for you
if you never forget that.”
“Mordon!” There came the call of Mordon’s father, and
Mordon groaned as he stood.
He slid his book into the cover of a large plant.
“Bye,” he said to me. He went to the door, slid it open, and left quickly,
shutting it behind him.
It almost seemed like he wanted to get away from
Divina.
“You should ask your friend who his father is before
you trust him so unconditionally.”
“Who his father is, is neither Mordon’s fault, nor my
business. How do you think Vretial is transporting his servants around?” I
asked, changing the subject. “Edward says he doesn’t care, but I want to know.”
I want to know how Ronez died, and I want to know why I do.
“I don’t know. The gods are watching Vretial; they
would know if he were transporting his servants,” she said. I opened my mouth
to ask her to explain, but she sighed and looked around. After determining we
were alone, she leaned closer and lowered her voice. “The gods can transport
people even if their names are not in the books.”
“Does Edward know?”
“No. Nano does. His god, Zer, tells him things.”
“And he tells you?”
“Everyone tells me everything.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I asked.
Once again, she glanced around to make sure we were
alone. When she looked back at me, she poked me in the forehead. “Because,
stupid, I trust you. Don’t ask me why, I don’t know. None of it makes sense;
we’re missing too much. If Vretial is using his magic to transport his servants
around, the gods would know about it. Since the creation of the books, there
should be no travel between worlds that isn’t through the gods.”
“How was there travel before?”
“The universes had gateways. However, ancient, savage
beasts would roam free, so they closed the gates and each created a book. A
book is an object of power to the gods, more than a symbol or incantation. Each
of the twelve books is an avatar of its world. They were created second to make
changes to their worlds as they see fit, and first to keep others from doing
so. The books represent the world, so the gods’ magic can control changes
throughout all time with them, and only those with a god’s power can do it.
“The difference between a god and a wizard, other
than the obvious age factor, is that a god produces magic, while a wizard can
only use it. However, the magic the gods use is different from the magic of the
worlds.”
“Can a Guardian control physical energy?” I asked,
already knowing the answer. I was trying to piece together what Nano and Nila
have told me.
“No, of course not. Only nominal energy and Iadnah
magic can directly, but Guardians can use nominal energy to control physical
energy.”
“How does Edward talk to Erono? More importantly, how
do I talk to Tiamat?”
“Why would Tiamat know any more about anything than
Erono?”
“Honestly, the questions he’s asking are super
important and all, but I really want to know why her book chose me.”
“Maybe you were the best one for it.”
“How? I have terrible luck and I knew no magic. Ronez
had a bunch of children to inherit the book. Children who are powerful and know
magic and---”
“You’re a descendant of him. You’re exceptionally
powerful and impressively adaptive. The books are the power of the worlds, and
are controlled by the gods. They do what the gods would do. Because your book
came to you, it means that Tiamat believed you were the best, even without ever
meeting you.”
“Did she know me before I became a Guardian? Did she
choose me or…”
“She did know you; she knows every human, she just
didn’t know that she knew you. You were chosen because you were who she would
have given the book to.”
“How did the book come to me? Did it just drop from
the sky?”
“I guess. You shouldn’t ask me, you should be asking
your god.” There was a moment of silence as she stared at the water. “I say too
much around you. No one can be trusted in these times, not even the Guardians,
and especially not me. You are foolish to trust me.”
“Ronez trusted you, and so does Edward. What’s so
wrong with that? What are you hiding?” She didn’t answer me. “Or is it
something that you don’t hide? Is that what you meant by trading information?
Do you give information to the enemy? To Vretial? Is that how Ronez---”
“I never betrayed Ronez,” she said. “And I will not
betray you or Kiro. I’ve lived a long time and have been and done many things.
Don’t dig,” she said.
I nodded. It wasn’t a promise. I wanted to tell her I
wouldn’t, but I didn’t know if I could keep myself from trying. My book was in
her hands because I trusted her, and I did, but that didn’t mean I could just
ignore that she was hiding something. Maybe it just wasn’t my business.
I realized she had leaned in closer to me. The heat
from her body penetrated the cold of the night and I found myself drawn closer.
Her breath smelled so sweet and her eyes sparkled in the light from the hall. I
was getting dizzy.
How did I go from suspicion to intimacy? Oh, of
course; she’s a woman.
Her lips were inches from mine when she halted. To
my great dismay, she turned to face the water and getting that kiss was not
going to happen.
After a few minutes, I sat back against the large
rock behind me. “Will you show me how to talk to Tiamat?”
“I don’t know how; I’m not a Guardian. Everyone else
can only speak if spoken to. You may have to figure it out yourself, but you
can ask Kiro. Now, I have a few things to do and people to meet with. It would
probably be boring and dangerous. If you were to stay here while Kiro and I are
out, would you be safe?”
“What kind of harm can I get into, in a hotel without
electricity or running water? Which reminds me, how does that run?” I asked,
pointing to the fountain.
“This hotel does have electricity. Most places in
Anoshii do.” She gazed up at the sky and stood. “Come on. Kiro should be done
by now. Don’t tell him you’re staying here.”
“I really don’t like lying to him.”
“You’re not lying; you’re just not saying anything.
Besides, if you come with me, we’ll be out for hours.”
In other words, I wouldn’t be able to hang out with
Mordon and help with the potion. It might be my only chance to make a potion in
a long time. “What about when Edward comes back and I’m here, while you’re
still out?”
“Kiro hasn’t gotten time alone with his son for
years. He’ll be out late. All you have to do is stay in the room and don’t let
any strangers in. Of course, if you felt like you needed fresh air, you can
come out here, and only here. I’ll give you a key,” she said.
She knew I was planning to leave, though I didn’t
know how she did. I guess if it was her job to get information she wasn’t
supposed to have, she was great at it. I did wonder why she was okay with me
visiting Mordon after telling me not to trust him.
We left the garden and I was careful to memorize the
route back.
Upstairs was a hallway identical to that on the floor
level, minus the courtyard. Our door was the second on the left and, as usual,
was a sliding door. The room was similar to a typical hotel room with tan walls
and sienna colored carpeting. There was a small celadon-green table, about
four-by-three, in the middle of the room, low to the floor with four tan
cushions around it. In the center of the table was an elaborate tea set and a
lantern. The bed was about half a foot off the ground with dark green blankets
and pillows.
On the north wall was a large map of modern Duran,
while a large window with a window seat and large wooden shutters dominated the
east wall. Edward stood by the window, staring out. The conversation hadn’t
gone well.
“What did he say?” I asked.
He didn’t look at me. “Little more than ‘none of my
business.’ He said they’re handling it and I should only worry about training
you.”
“Did you tell him about my visions?”
“He knows. I’m going to go visit Hiroku.” He turned
to me. “If there are any problems, you know where I am. Stay with Divina,” he
said.
He studied me, possibly reading my mind. If I were to
think of something completely off the topic, it would have been suspicious. So
instead, I thought of sneaking out to see Mordon when they both fell asleep.
“Have fun. Safe fun,” he clarified before leaving and
sliding the door shut.
“You did very well,” Divina smiled at me.
“Are you sure he can’t still hear us?” I whispered.
“These walls, like the ones at the restaurant, are
soundproof. I’ll leave in a few minutes. Now, I’m trusting you to not do
anything stupid or dangerous.”
“I know. I won’t do anything stupid. I’ve lived by
myself for almost four years, not including all the time I was alone during my
childhood. But, before you go, will you show me how to use that music player?”
“Yeah. You get it, I’m going to change,” she said. I searched
through one of the bags. “Get something warmer on because Anoshii gets cold at
night during this time of year.”
I turned to respond without thinking and my heart
skipped a beat. She faced the other way and was lifting her shirt! I tried to
look away. I tried to close my eyes. Instead, I was frozen with my eyes and
mouth wide. Her beauty was unnaturally stunning. She paused, but didn’t lower
her shirt.
“Try not to have a heart attack,” she said with
undisguised humor.
Her voice only made me fall deeper into my daze. She
remained motionless for a moment and my daze faded away, leaving me confused
and dizzy. I quickly turned away and tried to focus on finding my player. “Are
you… decent?” I asked. I finally found the player and pulled it out of the bag.
“Always.”
She set a pitcher of water on the table. She had on a
short-sleeved dark blue, satin shirt tucked into her short, black pleated
skirt, with leather combat boots up to her knees.
“Where are you going?”
She grinned and sat on the bed. “Just to a few
meetings.”
Meetings she doesn’t want me at.
She grabbed
the little player, turned it over, and pushed a small button. The bottom half
slid slightly to the side, revealing a small, open square. She filled it with
water and popped it closed, setting the water back on the table. I handed her
one of the little CD cases. After popping the top open, she opened the CD case
and took out the little chip. “Did you pick this out?”
“No. I have no idea what it is.”
“Well, Kiro has a good sense of taste. In music at
least.” She stuck it in and pushed another button. The little set started
vibrating for a second before calming.
Some kind of creepy rock music with a really cool
melody started from the little set. I wasn’t sure about the instruments, but
one sounded like a guitar. We listened for a few minutes before Divina stood.
“I’m going to go. Remember to change into warmer
clothes. Also, remember that magic, including potions and the like, is illegal
here, so, if you’re going to do magic, try to be sneaky about it.” She left the
key on the table for me.
I waited for a few minutes before turning off my
strange little music player.
* * *
It was cold. In less than an hour, the temperature
had dropped at least ten degrees. I was also alone, and it occurred to me that
Mordon’s father may have caught on to his plans and stopped him. After about
half an hour, I decided I would go back soon, but just a few minutes later, the
door slid open and Mordon stepped out.