Voice of the Gods

think Auraya would ever turn against the gods.

:I did. But if there’s a chance she will, I think you should be here. Listen, I have been thinking...

Since being doused with cold water, Auraya hadn’t been able to stop shivering. She longed for a blanket, or just a tiny bit of magic with which to heat the air around her. Mischief had curled himself around her neck. His breath smelled bad and she didn’t like to imagine what he had caught and eaten for it to be so foul. She was grateful for the little warmth he gave her, but he was too small to make much difference. Her chest hurt and her shoulder ached...

Think of something else, she told herself.

It was hard to think. She was tired and her mind seemed to work slower every day. But she had plenty of time. Puzzling over the “secrets” Mirar had told her kept her occupied from time to time. These secrets had apparently been told by a goddess who had killed herself. How did a god commit suicide? She frowned, sure the answer was important. It might be a clue as to how the gods had killed each other.

“Voids were created when a god was killed.”

That was another clue. A void was a place lacking in magic. The gods were beings of magic, which was why they couldn’t venture into a void. What would happen if they tried? Would they die? If so, then perhaps that was how this goddess had killed herself.

Could a god be forced into a void by other gods? Perhaps. But Mirar had said voids were created when a god was killed. That meant voids were made deliberately. Perhaps in order to kill.

So how was a void made? How did a god create a lack of magic? Well, that is obvious. Draw away all the magic in one place.

She blinked. Was it really that simple? Did a god draw all the magic away from where another was in order to kill him or her? What prevented the other god from doing the same in return? Why wouldn’t they simply dodge?

She shook her head. These questions made her head spin. She let her thoughts drift for a while, too tired to bother skimming minds. Her senses had become dull and she hadn’t the energy to concentrate.

Some time later she heard footsteps, but couldn’t be bothered opening her eyes to see who approached. Only when Mischief uncurled from her neck, letting cold air chill her, did she rouse herself.

“Auraya.”

A glowing figure stood at the edge of the dais. Sheyr.

“Chaia?” she croaked, surprised.

“Yes. I have come to offer you an escape, Auraya.”

“The other gods finally agreed, did they?” Speaking brought the need to cough. She resisted it. “How did you convince Huan?”

He smiled. “I didn’t. They don’t know and wouldn’t approve of what I am about to offer you.”

She straightened and felt a surge of hope. Would he defy the others for her sake? Then a fit of coughing took hold of her. When it had passed she felt dizzy and her lungs burned.

“So what’s the offer?” she whispered.

“I can’t free you,” he said. “The others will not allow it. But they said nothing about teaching you. I could teach you something that would allow you to free yourself.”

She stared at him. He smiled.

“Go on. I’m listening.”

“It has been clear to me for some time that your Gifts surpass those of any sorcerer. You are immortal, but you are more powerful than immortals. You can read minds. You can sense the presence of gods. You can hear us speak to each other. It would take but a little instruction from me for you to join us.”

“Join... you?”

“Yes. To become a god yourself.”

He must be kidding me, she thought. But why would he? It would be a poor joke. Maybe this is Sheyr. He’s come to torment me.

From somewhere at the back of her mind she heard Mirar’s voice. “All of the gods were born mortal, became immortals like us, then transformed themselves into gods.”

A thrill of excitement rushed through her, painful in its intensity. I could be a god!

But Mirar’s voice continued in her memory. “The gods still feel human emotions and yet they can’t perceive or affect the physical world except through mortals.”

Well, there had to be a price, she thought. And it’s got to be better than being dead.

“The gods don’t take people’s souls.”

She frowned and shook her head. The movement made her dizzy. She drew a deep breath to steady herself but only ended up coughing again. When she had her breath back she looked up at Chaia.

“Why?”

He smiled.

“I don’t want to lose you, Auraya. You’re sick. Your body will die if you do not have a chance to heal it. If you were a god, you would never be sick again. We could be together always.”

“But if I died we would be anyway. You will have my soul.”

His smile vanished. “It would not be the same, Auraya. The dead cannot touch the living. I want you to rule the world by my side.”

“And Huan’s?”

“Not if you do not wish it.”

“If we were enemies, it would hardly be good for mortals.”

“You would let her frighten you out of fulfilling your full potential?”

She looked away. “No.”

He held out a hand. “Will you join me, Auraya?”

She sagged against her chains. I don’t know if I want to become a god. To be separated from the physical world. To only know it and other people through their minds... and the other immortals would be invisible to me. Would Mirar consider me his enemy? The implications piled upon one another, too many for her exhausted mind to think about.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m too tired to think about it. I need time to consider.”

Chaia nodded. “Very well. I will tell you what you must do. You are sick, and I fear by the time I return it will be too late.”

Auraya nodded. She closed her eyes and concentrated all her strength on listening to Chaia describe what she must do to become a god.

44

Mirar had pieced together the route to the underground cavern from the memories and thoughts of the Servants and domestics that guarded or attended to Auraya. There were three gates blocking the route, each guarded by two magically powerful Servants.

As he approached the first gate, the two Servants guarding it watched him warily. Mirar smiled at them.

“So this is where the famous Auraya is being held?” he asked casually.

The two men exchanged glances, then one looked at Mirar and nodded.

“Can I go in?” Mirar asked.

“Only in the company of a Voice,” the other said.