Voice of the Gods

The rope! Tyve might fly into it. Auraya set her cup aside and jumped up. Drawing magic, she sent a thread of heat out to the end fastened at the top of the cliff. Fibers burst into flame as the heat quickly scorched through them. The rope fell to the ground, some of it sinking into the stream.

“It’s good to know you agree with me so heartily,” Jade said wryly.

“Tyve is coming. He might not see it.”

“Tyve? How do you know?”

“I saw his...” Auraya felt a shock as she realized what she was about to say. She concentrated on Tyve’s mind. To her surprise, his thoughts were clear. She looked at Jade.

“I can read minds again.”

The woman stared at her, then turned to look in the direction of the approaching Siyee. “I can sense anticipation and haste. Why has he come here?”

“Just to check on us.”

Auraya frowned. A feeling of anticipation and suspicion overlapped Tyve’s weariness and wish to be home. This duality of thought was strange.

:She’s emerged at last. Finally we’ll know what she’s been up to in there and if that woman with the hidden mind is who I suspect...

The thought ended abruptly and suddenly all she sensed of Tyve was tiredness. Something else came toward her. Something without form, rushing at her at incredible speed.

Huan.

The goddess rushed past her, followed by another. Auraya rocked back on her heels. The second god was Saru. They were behind her, searching...

:Where is she? I can’t see her!

“What is it?” she heard Jade ask.

I ought to let the shield around my mind drop to prove that I’m trustworthy, Auraya thought. But I don’t trust them.

Huan flashed back toward Tyve. The boy didn’t notice as the god’s mind connected with his. He was concentrating on descending and choosing a place to land.

:I cannot see her! Her mind is hidden!

Then the gods were gone, shooting away faster than Auraya could follow.

That’s done it, she thought. They know now. I wonder if this is the excuse Huan needs to kill me.

“What is wrong, Auraya?” Jade hissed.

Auraya shook her head, trying to think how she could possibly explain what had just happened. “Tyve wasn’t alone for a moment. Huan was with him, watching us through Tyve’s eyes.”

“Huan?” Jade’s eyes widened. “Here? Watching us?”

“Not any more,” Auraya assured her quickly. “They - Saru was with her - left to tell the others that my mind is shielded.”

Jade stared at her. “In all my years,” she murmured, “I’ve never encountered anyone who could sense the gods. Do the gods know you can?”

“Yes, but not like this. Before I could only do so when they were close.”

“And when did this change?”

“After you taught me to skim minds.”

Jade nodded. “Don’t let them know. Former White or not, they will kill you if they learn that you can spy on them. Don’t even tell Chaia.”

Auraya opened her mouth to protest that Chaia meant her no harm, then closed it again as Tyve landed. Jade gave her a meaningful look, then turned to greet the Siyee.

12

It took several seconds for Kalen to realize he was awake, then several more to remember where he was and why.

The Pentadrians’ house. Warm. Not hungry. Going to make me a Servant.

Waking up no longer brought a nagging dread over what the day might serve up to him. Not since he’d attempted to pick a man’s pockets and somehow found himself having a discussion with his intended victim about religion over a few drinks. The man had made him an offer too good to refuse: food and shelter in exchange for learning about his people.

A full stomach and safe, warm sleeping arrangements had been worth a few boring lectures, but Kalen found he got a buzz of excitement from being part of these secret followers of the forbidden cult of the Pentadrians. He’d been surprised to find himself learning beside, and being accepted as an equal by, people from all kinds of backgrounds. Like the young man sleeping on the next pallet, Ranaan, who used to be a Dreamweaver.

Who was breathing quickly as if he’d just had a fright.

“Nightmare?” Kalen asked.

A faint grunt of affirmation came in reply.

Talking helped after a nightmare, Kalen knew. It’s close to morning, I reckon. I’ll never get to sleep again, so I may as well talk.

“Ranaan?”

He heard the sound of the young man rolling over to face him.

“Yes?”

“Were you really a Dreamweaver?”

“Yes.”

“Why’d you join the Pentadrians?”

Ranaan sighed. “After my teacher was killed, Amli helped me get away. Amli saved my life and gave me a place to stay until it was safe to go back.” He paused. “But it’ll never be safe to go back. Fareeh’s murderers know I can identify them. They’ll kill me.”

“Is that why you became a Pentadrian?”

“It’s too dangerous being a Dreamweaver.”

“And being a Pentadrian isn’t dangerous?”

“Not as dangerous. Not for me, anyway. I... I like what Amli teaches. Their gods don’t make them kill Dreamweavers.”

“That doesn’t matter to you now. You’re not a Dreamweaver any more.”

“Just because I’m not a Dreamweaver doesn’t mean I don’t care what happens to them. Amli says that is the Pentadrian way. Dreamweavers don’t deserve what the Circlians do to them.” He paused. “Why did you come here?”

Kalen chuckled. “They feed me. I’ve got a warm place to sleep. I’m thinking all these boring lessons are worth sitting through if we end up joining in an orgy now and then.”

Ranaan burst out laughing. “Sorry to kill your hopes, Kalen, but they don’t have orgies.”

“They do so. Everybody knows they do.”

“It’s just a rumor the Circlians invented. Pentadrians have special rites for married couples that help them conceive children, but not orgies.”

“Amli might be telling you that in case you get offended.”

“Dreamweavers have known this for years, Kalen. There are Dreamweavers in Southern Ithania too, remember.”

“Oh.” Kalen cursed under his breath. “That’s the second bit of bad news I’ve had today.”

“Sorry.” Ranaan chuckled. “What was the first?”

“That they can’t make Giftless people Gifted.”

“Nobody can make their Gifts stronger,” Ranaan agreed.