The Black God's War (55 page)

“Lift her onto the horse’s back. Position her so she lies across and tie her to the saddle.”

Lucia played the part, acting as if she had no control of her body while they lifted her onto the horse.

Rao walked to Briraji, gripped the white and yellow handle of Ysa’s sword, and pulled the blade from the sage’s chest. The dripping blood made his muscles weak and his stomach queasy.

Peace to you, Briraji.

“Go back and carry a message to General Indrajit. Tell him Briraji and the other men fought bravely against Rezzia’s black god, and tell them I have gone to talk to Rezzia’s king and Haizzem to bring an end to Rezzia’s invasion. If I succeed today, you will see your families again soon. If I fail, you must defend Pawelon in my stead.”

“Then we will be with you in spirit, my Prince,” a soldier said.

Another raised his fist in salute. “Victory!”

“Victory!” the crowd said together.

Rao motioned the first solider over to him.
You’ve got a trustworthy face.
He whispered to the young man in private. “Also, find my partner, the sage Aayu. I want you to tell him the truth about what happened to Briraji.”

The soldier nodded and saluted him again.

Rao continued with a smile, “And tell him I said his
sadhana
doesn’t work.”

With Lucia tied above her horse, Rao began to pull the white mare forward. The beast followed.
Thank you.

Rao looked back. The soldiers watched him, a few of them with their palms pressed together in a spiritual gesture of blessings and respect.

Lucia found Albina’s motion beneath her oddly comforting. As Rao led her further into the desert, she continued chastising herself for believing Rao had turned against her.

“We’ve gone far enough, haven’t we?” she asked.

“I’m sorry about the spitting.”

Bastard.
She mostly believed him, though. “If you hadn’t saved my life—”

“Lord Danato was doing a fine job of it.”

“You saw that?”

“I did. I was in my subtle body. Most human auras appear red. Yours is different, by the way. It must be because you are a Haizzem. But Danato’s entire being was solid white.”

I’ve had enough irony for one lifetime.

Rao continued, “I actually did talk to him.”

Lucia shook her head. “Let me down.” She wanted to watch his face while he explained.

“I think it would be better for you to stay where you are. If your army sees us, I want them to see exactly this: you draped across your horse, tied down.”

He’s probably right.
“Then what happened when you talked to Lord Danato?”

“He really did tell me your gods weren’t willing to kill Briraji. He said they respect his power too much to do that. So I offered to do it and asked for his help. He gave me Ysa’s sword. When I took it, I was able to see you and Briraji for the first time. I also felt stronger.”

Lucia’s mind stopped, arrested by confusion.
He helped both of us then.
She gazed at the shadowed ground passing beneath Albina’s hooves, enjoying the scent of the desert.

“I asked him why he sent you to the lake—”

“And?”

“He confirmed my suspicion. Then he told me your father’s debt would be settled today.”

More cryptic information I do not need.

“He also told me he would be coming for me today, after my death.”

Cryptic information you did not need.

“Lucia, if he speaks the truth, I
will
need you to protect me.”

“Don’t worry. Are you holding Ysa’s shield?”

“I am.”

Then with your shield protect him, Ysa.
“Keep her sword, too.”

“I will.”

“At least untie me, so I can get up when I need to.”

Albina halted. Rao loosened the rope binding Lucia’s midsection to the saddle.

They stayed quiet for some time after they resumed. Lucia worked again to reconcile what she knew about The Black One, her torturer since she was a girl, with what the god had done today and Rao’s theory of the black god.

“Help me understand something. Lord Danato has never been a friend to me—in fact he’s been a harsh companion. If he is who you think he is, why would he torture me?”

Rao said after a pause, “Perhaps you were suffering someone else’s karma. Every stray bit of karma in this universe must be resolved by someone, sooner or later. Karma can never be destroyed, only transformed.”

“And Danato promised my father’s debt would be resolved today? Does that mean someone else is going to die?”

“That’s hard to say.”

“Could it mean my father is going to die?”
Or Caio? Or me?

“I don’t know, Lucia. My advice is to keep your thoughts on a positive outcome. We create this world out of the power of our own consciousness. Now we must use this power to create a solution.”

I wish it were that easy, Prince.

Rao raised the skin and sipped the last of his water. An expanse of barren desert stretched eastward toward the Rezzian army. The temperature had begun to rise, though the sun would not reach its zenith for some time. The Rezzian army looked like a mirage through the warm air, a shifting mass of human darkness.

“Lucia, we’ve been sighted.”

“What’s happening?”

“Four men on horseback are approaching.”

“I wish you luck.”

He’d managed to control his mind most of the day and keep his thoughts centered on his breath and body, but now the Rezzian threat was real and buried fears pricked his spine like icy needles. He continued to pull Lucia’s horse with her draped across it.

“Thank you for this chance,” he said. “If your black god comes to me in death, I hope it will be so that our people can live in peace again. For this, I would gladly sacrifice my life."

I should have died when I fought Caio. Every breath since then has been a gift from Rezzia’s gods.

Rao wondered if his vision for this world would not take root, if the soil of Gallea was not receptive to his imagination.

I have to try.

Rao pulled the horse to another stop. He held the bejeweled shield and white sword of Ysa for protection and also to show the Rezzians he was in control.

Goddess Ysa, if you can hear me, I only wish what is best for your people—and mine. Please give me the strength I will need.

The goddess Ysa, her slight frame covered in silver armor, sat calmly upon her giant steed. Her lance’s tip pierced the harsh earth. She faced the east and stared with stoic restraint into the heart of the Rezzian army.

Rao felt stronger with the blade in his hand, as
the black god suggested he would, but he knew the weakness in his body would still limit the power of his spirit.

The four riders approached warily. Rao planted Ysa’s sword in the dirt, within arm’s reach, and waved with his palm open. One Rezzian wore the fine red and yellow uniform of a diplomat. The others were hardened soldiers, each with a sword hanging at his side and a throwing spear in hand.

“I am the Prince of Pawelon. I seek an immediate audience with the king and Haizzem of Rezzia. Across this horse I have the royal daughter Lucia, devotee of the goddess Ysa. She is under my control, and should any harm come to me she will immediately suffer for it. I have afflicted her body with a deadly magic that will kill her if any harm comes to me. I will not speak to anyone but the king and the Haizzem themselves. Go send for them and tell them to come soon and alone or not at all. Tell them to bring the Pawelon girl they took after the duel. If they refuse, I will disappear with Lucia and they will never see her again.”

The delegation looked disgusted. They looked at Lucia, who played her part by hanging lifelessly over her mare.

“We will tell them,” the diplomat said before he yanked his horse’s neck around and galloped back to the east.

Chapter 79: After the Deluge

Earlier that morning.

NARAYANI AWOKE IN CAIO’S BED, cuddled in his arms. She remembered Mya’s rod had been in her hands when she fell asleep. She found it near her pillow and held it again. Her body shivered from a sudden rush of energy before her mind and body sunk into a profound calm. She remained aware of the trauma within her, but felt numb to its sting. Caio’s healing powers had deadened her raw emotions and restored sanity.

She rolled over and rested her forehead against Caio’s. His eyes opened, revealing his unguarded soul.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“You can’t leave me alone again.”

“Never again.”

She pulled his body against hers and savored the warmth of his skin.

Caio used two hands to massage around her heart, with one hand on her chest and the other on her back. “Can you use your ability to make yourself invisible again? I need you to come with me today. I don’t know what is going to happen, but if anything happens to me, I want you to go back to Rao.”

She sensed sadness in his voice. “Why do you say that?”

“Last night I dreamt this would be the final day of the war. Of course, I want you to come back to Remaes with me. I want you to see our palace. There’s so much space there: tall ceilings, atriums revealing the stars, white clay walls. And love. Everything there is full of devotion. It is paradise.”