Wrath of the Forgotten: Descendants of the Fall Book II, Hodges, Aaron [top 10 non fiction books of all time txt] 📗

come to this? She had seen her friend, the Goddess that had saved her life, imprisoned, locked away, all to save herself.

“I was meant to go home, you know,” Cara’s voice whispered through the bars. “That night in the mountains, before I led you to your precious hidden site. I was meant to go home.”

“I’m sorry,” Erika rasped, and her vision blurred. She turned to Maisie. “You can’t leave her like this. It’s not right. She’s a God!”

“One of your Gods, not mine,” Maisie said, but her face flickered as she spoke the words, as though she found herself doubting them. Her fingers played with the hilt of her sword as she glanced into the cell. “Besides, it’s not my call.”

“That’s right—it’s mine, Princess.”

Erika swung around as the king’s voice carried down the corridor. He appeared a moment later on the granite stairwell, his way lit by the unnatural glow of his gauntlet. Apparently, he had decided not to wear the riding gloves today.

“She doesn’t deserve to be treated this way,” Erika argued, taking a step towards him. “Whatever you think she is, Cara has done nothing wrong.”

“She did try to attack me,” Nguyen replied as he strode up. “I’d say imprisonment is a fairly light punishment for assaulting a monarch, wouldn’t you?”

A growl came from inside the cell and Erika only shook her head. “You cannot be serious—”

The king waved a hand, cutting her off. “Calm yourself, Princess,” he said, still using the moniker, much to Erika’s annoyance. He moved to stand before the bars of the cell. “The good Anahera has proven…difficult, but these are only temporary accommodations, while I have been making…other arrangements.”

“Other arrangements?” Erika asked as Cara’s words echoed her question from inside the cell.

Nguyen chuckled. “All in good time,” he replied, then offered a bow to the Goddess. “For now, I am afraid I must steal your visitors, Cara. There is something pressing we must attend to.”

“Oh?” Maisie asked as the king turned away from the cell. Within, Cara had sat up and was watching them closely.

“Yes, I am afraid things are coming to a head rather faster than I had forecast,” he said, looking from the spy to Erika. “The queen has arrived. There is to be a meet. With luck, I can forestall an attack long enough for my preparations to be completed.”

“You’re going to talk with her?” Erika hissed.

She clenched her fist, realising suddenly how precarious her situation was. The king already had a gauntlet of his own. With Cara and the map, there was little reason for him to protect her—not when the choice was between peace and a terrible war. Being the daughter of a dead king certainly wasn’t going to save her.

The king’s eyes glinted in the light of his magic. “You’re afraid I will betray you?” he asked, as though he had read Erika’s thoughts.

Erika swallowed. “Are you?”

Nguyen grinned. “On the contrary, princess. I was hoping you might help me.”

10

The Soldier

Adonis, what have you brought me?

Adonis had dropped to his knees with the other Tangata, but now he stood.

An anomaly, Matriarch, he replied, apparently making no efforts to shield his words from Lukys. This human possesses the ability to Speak, and to Hear.

Is that so, human? Milky eyes turned on Lukys. You can Hear us?

Lukys flinched—this time the Matriarch’s voice was far louder in his mind, as though all her will had suddenly focused upon him. The creature lifted its eyebrows at his reaction.

So it’s true. Her attention returned to Adonis. An anomaly indeed. How did you make such a discovery?

Chance, Matriarch, came Adonis’s response. He was broadcasting when we pursued the Anahera into human territory. He hesitated. She may have a connection with this human. She revealed herself trying to free him.

Pieces fell into place in Lukys’s mind at Adonis’s words. The Anahera were the Tangata’s name for the Gods. His blood ran cold as he realised the truth. His first day on the frontier, the Tangata had attacked, slaying dozens and suffering heavy losses themselves. But that had also been the night Romaine had arrived with the injured Cara. He frowned, staring at Adonis. Did the Tangata really hate the Gods so much that they had pursued Cara across the river, even thrown away so many of their own lives for a chance to slay her?

So the Anahera are finally returning to the world, the Matriarch mused. Perhaps there is hope yet. Her eyes shifted back to Lukys, and again the strength of her voice redoubled. Tell me, human, what interest do the Anahera have in humanity?

Lukys’s skin crawled at the power of her words, though this time he thought he managed to keep the reaction from his face. Suppressing a shudder, he made to climb to his feet. A hand from Sophia stopped him until the Matriarch nodded her permission.

“The Goddess is a friend to my people,” he said out loud, the words echoing in the silent chamber, “and she will come for us.”

Laughter rasped around the room as the Matriarch shuffled to the edge of the dais. Goddess? A smile curled her lips. Yes, of course, humans are such superstitious creatures.

There was a flicker of movement, and suddenly the Matriarch was leaping forward, clearing the pool of water in a single bound and landing beside Lukys. He cried out and tried to retreat, but a wrinkled hand caught him by the shirt and dragged him back.

Tell me, human, are you truly a friend to the Anahera?

“I…” Lukys swallowed, suddenly finding himself trapped in that awful gaze, in those bleached white eyes.

Words abandoned him, but images flickered through his mind, memories of Fogmore, of time spent with Cara and Travis and Romaine. Good times, gone now, swept away by the madness of the Archivist’s expedition.

So you speak the truth, the Matriarch murmured, and Lukys shuddered as he realised she had seen the memories. Then she sighed, and released him. Still, it must be a faint hope that she would come to this place of