creating new worlds. Who knows… Perhaps we, the Sleeping Gods, are just someone’s reverie? And perhaps, if we exist, then so do others like us?”

I didn’t want to get into a philosophical debate. Tiamat seemed to see that and continued.

“Yes, we know that you and several thousand million other sentients are not from here, Initial. You live in two worlds, and in that we are alike: here, in Disgardium, are merely our avatars.”

“When the Destroying Plague turned me undead, I lost control of my avatar for days. I’m afraid it will help again, and then the temple will have no protection.”

“Do not fear, Initial. You will be a man again and your heart will begin beating in the blink of an eye.”

“Alright. Now all we have to do is think of a way not to burn in the scorching desert heat. Nergal protected his followers…”

“And I will protect mine. But not like him. Now that we have more followers, I have the power to give life to this burnt patch of land. Now go, carry out your plans, and when you return, the temple will be surrounded by a flourishing oasis.” Tiamat walked majestically to the temple door and pointed below. “If, of course, your Crash and Sharkon don’t dig it up and trample it. But the weather will be beautiful…”

* * *

“Undead, undead, undead…” all around whispered. “And two humans among them. How is that possible?”

The Awoken stood in the center of the Yoruba castle yard. All except me were looking around, heads up. Gyula was pressed against Patrick, but the old soldier felt uncomfortable too, surrounded by enemy nonhuman races. Everyone, including Crawler, was waiting for the catch.

“Hey everyone!” Irita waved, cutting through the atmosphere. “How’s it going?”

The boys summoned their needlers just in case, which caused a new wave of whispers. Yemi greeted each of us, told Francesca to give the boys and Gyula and Patrick a tour round the castle. He stayed behind with me, cast a Dome of Silence above us.

“Success?”

“Yep. And I disabled Terrastera’s debuff in a small area for a day. I don’t have much time, so the flight from Shad’Erung is setting off right now, and there are only three seats left. Who’s coming with you?”

“Babangida and Francesca,” Yemi said. “Are you sure you can’t bring more, Initial of the Sleepers? Don’t your friends have the same group teleport spell as you?”

“They have it, but that isn’t the problem. A battle is approaching with Nergal’s army. I can’t slow down my fighters’ leveling by bringing more people along.”

“We will fight in the battle!” the mage declared. “The ores of the Broken Axe clan have added six thousand attribute points to each member of Yoruba. And to you and your people, incidentally.”

Unity was passive and didn’t notify me of any new bonuses for adepts, so my eyes widened in surprise. I whistled, then smiled, imagining the shocked faces of the Kharinza miners when they all suddenly realized their new strength. And Tissa, who could now capture all of Tristad solo…

“The Sleepers are grateful, Yemi, but no, I will only take three to Terrastera.”

The mage didn’t stop arguing for more spaces, but I held my ground.

“Yemi!” A huge ore approached us with a broken right fang and thick gray braids on his shoulderpads. He glanced at me and nodded. “Chosen one of the Sleeping Gods, Sarronos sees you!”

“And Scyth sees you, Sarronos! Welcome to the ranks of the Sleepers, chieftain.”

Sarronos, ore, level 372 chieftain

Broken Axe Clan.

“The ores of the Broken Axe have accepted the priest Yemi’s offer to join the Sleeping Gods,” the ore said. He spoke the common tongue, but his characteristic orcish growl made ever} word sound like an order. “The ancestral spirits bless the clan’s return to the ancient Sleepers, although I have heard that the false gods have declared a Holy War against you. The ores of the Broken Axe are willing to provide three thousand elite warriors to protect the temple of Shining Tiamat, the legends of whom have been passed down from mother to daughter for generations among the Uruk peoples.”

“As in the Yoruba clan,” Yemi said firmly. “Anyone capable of holding a weapon will protect the temple. But tell me, Scyth, how do we and Sarronos’ warriors get there?”

“We’re about to find out,” I answered the mage, activating Kusalarix’s coin.

A hole formed in space and the goblin woman poked her head through it.

“The dark ones are a bad influence on you, kid! What, ya got another castle? Yoruba? Eh… I’ll give ya twenty, no need for an inspection—and that’s my final offer!”

“The castle is not for sale!” Yemi growled, but Kusalarix ignored him.

“Mrs. Kusalarix,” I nodded. “Grokuszuid and Gruzelix said that the resources of the Goblin League are at my disposal. I need to get eight thousand sentients to the Lakharian Desert from two different points.”

Kusalarix drew on her cigarette, breathed out a cloud of smoke, frowned.

“Well… We could take eighty or eight hundred thousand, doesn’t matter. But who you calling sentient?” She stuck out a little finger, pointing at Yemi and Sarronos. “These two?”

The chieftain pounded his chest with his fist twice.

“A goblin is always a goblin! The ring of coin clouds the mind and poisons the heart. Merchant woman, the clan of the Broken Axe will pay you for a portal to the temple of the Shining One, Tiamat.”

“The Yoruba clan is happy to pay its share,” Yemi added.

“Coin…” Kusalarix chuckled and turned back to me. “We’re always interested in money. But, if I understand you right, these two ignorant assholes are planning to fight on your side in the war, right, Scyth?”

“Yes, Mrs. Kusalarix, but they aren’t the only ones I need in the desert. There are others too.”

“Don’t fret, kiddo, consider it done. The Green League will pay. Come see me, I got words.”

The portal opened wider. I exchanged glances with Yemi and Sarronos, nodded to them and walked through the shimmering veil.

“I’ll have him back to ya in five mins,” the goblin

Вы читаете Holy War
Добавить отзыв
ВСЕ ОТЗЫВЫ О КНИГЕ В ИЗБРАННОЕ

0

Вы можете отметить интересные вам фрагменты текста, которые будут доступны по уникальной ссылке в адресной строке браузера.

Отметить Добавить цитату