first.
:Most puzzles are simple once you know the answer, Surim told her. So what do the glyphs say?
:I started with the side marked “two lights / two truths.” The glyphs read: “All gods were born mortal. They learned to become immortal first. They learned how to become gods last.” There is a gap, then: “All gods love/hate/need as mortals do. All gods need mortals to see/connect/change the world.”
The five immortals remained silent. As the silence lengthened Surim began to wonder if they were still linked.
:That explains a few things, he said, when he couldn’t stand it any longer.
:Indeed it does, The Gull agreed.
:So the gods were immortals, Mirar mused. Does that mean we could become gods? That would explain why they fear us so much.
:They fear we will discover how to become gods, Surim agreed.
:Though would we want to? The Gull asked quietly. It says the gods feel human emotions, yet need mortals in order to affect the world.
:To feel desires, but not be able to satisfy them, Mirar said. No wonder the gods have no sense of humor.
:Does the pendant explain how to become a god, Emerahl? Tamun asked.
:No, she replied.
:So you have read the other sides?
:Yes.
:Tell us what it says.
:Three lights gives us three secrets, Emerahl told them. They are: “No god can be in two places at one time. No god can exist where there is no magic. No god collects and preserves souls of mortal dead.”
The silence that followed the list lasted longer than before. This time Surim was too caught up in the implications to be bothered by it.
The gods don’t take souls! The lie they had maintained for thousands upon thousands of years was so enormous Surim felt giddy. They need mortals to affect the world, he thought. So they need mortals to believe they need gods.
:Your Dreamweavers will be reassured by that, Mirar, Emerahl said.
:Reassured? I don’t know. They know they give up any chance of their soul continuing after death when they become a Dreamweaver. But how will they feel knowing it is no special sacrifice?
:I think most of your people don’t believe in souls anyway, Tamun said.
:What of the other two secrets? The Gull asked.
:We knew that gods couldn’t exist in voids, and suspected they couldn’t be in two places at once, Surim said. What of the last side of the pendant, Emerahl?
:I thought you’d never ask, she said smugly. The fourth, if you recall, is death. Listen to this: “All gods are equally powerful. None can affect the other but in position.” There is a gap, then: “Six surround one results in immobilization. Six surround one and take magic results in capture or death.”
:Six surround one? Surim repeated.
:One above, one below, one on all four sides, Mirar said. The victim within. If the six draw away all magic the god within can’t exist.
:The voids! The Gull exclaimed. I’d wager that is how the voids were created.
:Of course, Emerahl said. Hmm. I wonder how that will make me feel the next time I’m in one, knowing that a god died there.
:Depends on the god, Mirar murmured. If I knew where a few particular gods died, I’d be tempted to go there and have a little celebration.
Something wasn’t right. Surim repeated the secrets to himself a few times before he saw it. So if six gods had to surround another to kill him/her...
:There are only five gods, he pointed out. Where is the sixth?
:Sorli was the sixth. She killed herself, Emerahl reminded him. Remember the story on the Scroll. She felt guilty about what they had done and killed herself.
:How? Mirar asked. Ah, of course. The voids. She must have entered one.
:Thrown herself into oblivion, The Gull agreed. She must have felt very guilty indeed.
:Would you? Emerahl asked. Would any of you?
:Once again, it depends on the god, Mirar said. I wouldn’t feel a shred of guilt if I could get rid of the lot we have now.
:But you’re a Dreamweaver. You don’t kill, Surim pointed out.
:I don’t kill humans. I think I can make an exception for the gods, even if they were once human.
:Why do you ask, Emerahl? Tamun asked.
:I have been wondering, Emerahl said, her mental voice tense with excitement, if immortals can create voids.
Surim felt a chill run over his skin.
:We could give it a try, Tamun said.
:Perhaps between us, Mirar added.
:If there were six of us, The Gull finished. We are only five.
:Auraya might— Mirar began.
:She won’t, Emerahl pointed out. She still thinks she serves them.
:She might have changed her mind about that recently, he countered.
:We can’t take that risk, Tamun said firmly. If she knows we can do it she might warn the gods. Unlike gods, we can’t fly away to the other side of the world in an instant if it doesn’t work.
:She should be told the rest - all we have learned, apart from how the gods were killed, Emerahl said. She needs to know the true nature of the gods she serves.
The others murmured agreement.
:So what do we do without her? Mirar asked. Wait until another immortal comes into his or her powers? That could take a thousand years.
:If we have to, Tamun replied. Or until the gods have hurt and offended Auraya so much that we are sure she hates them as much as we do.
:Whichever comes first, The Gull agreed. Though if Auraya’s current situation ends badly, we may have no choice but the former.
:Not if I can help it, Mirar said.
:Now, Mirar, Tamun began. Don’t take any foolish risks. We will have a long wait before us if we have to wait for two immortals to come into their p—
:I have to go, Mirar said abruptly.
