Mighty Hammer Down (47 page)

They descended the 150 steps at the
rear of the temple and finally reached the city itself. It was
Alana who noticed that all the statues were positioned so that they
were facing the temple, and it gave them all a very strange
feeling. No matter where they stood, the statues seemed to be
looking at them. It was also totally silent except for the faint
breath of a breeze that moved through the strange city. No birds
sang, no animals howled. There was nothing but oppressive
silence.

Rommus felt something strange. As he
passed a statue he saw something it its eyes. This was not a statue
at all. He realized with a cold shock that they were all people
standing quietly, watching them as they passed by. The breeze did
not tug at their robes, and they moved only imperceptibly, but he
knew they were real and not made of stone or metal.

"Those are people," he whispered.
"Something is wrong though. I don’t think they are
real."

Alana suddenly went white with fear.
"People?"

"Yes Alana, Rommus is right. Actually
these things are not people, but they used to be. This is
Morendiir, the city of the dead. I do not think they could harm us,
but we should not bother them. I’m sure our presence alone is
unwanted," Vohl said.

"Oh this is awful," she said, bringing
a hand to her mouth. "I don’t want to be here. This really scares
me."

"Hey, you dragged me over here,"
Rommus said. "I’ll drag you now if you like."

"But Rommus, these are dead people
around us," she whispered. "I don’t like this at all."

Vohl interrupted as he thought out
loud. "One of these buildings has to house the gods. I have never
been here before though, so I do not know where it is."

"It’s that one," Rommus said as he
pointed, "the one behind that building there."

"How can you be sure?" Alana asked,
hugging herself to try to calm her fears.

"Because it’s made of gold. Everything
else here is green."

As they passed the building blocking
their view, the gold temple could be seen shining in the sunlight.
It was not much larger than the rest of the buildings in the city,
but every inch of it was made of solid gold. It was truly a sight
to behold, and their breath caught in their throats when they saw
it. They moved toward it and climbed the steps, but they hesitated
to enter when they reached the columns because they could not see
inside. They could see their reflections in the highly polished
gold pillars but there was a strange darkness that filled the
spaces between them, as if it was nighttime inside the building.
Finally Rommus stepped through, pulling the other two with
him.

What they saw inside was the most
incredible thing they had seen yet. The temple was just a single,
large room, made entirely of pure white marble. There was light
everywhere, its source seeming to come from between the columns all
around them. It was as if the sun made the area outside the temple
its home. While it was exceedingly bright, the light did not affect
their eyes, and they were able to see everything clearly as the
strange illumination filled the marvelous room.

What were more amazing were the seven
golden thrones that made a semicircle in the room. But the most
astonishing thing of all, what made them all fall to their knees,
was the fact that gods sat in the thrones. Everything Rommus had
ever known or thought was turned upside-down. His beliefs seemed to
wash away in an uncontrollable flood of change. He had doubted
everything all the way up until that point, but now that he had
seen the gods with his own eyes, there was no longer any doubt. He
immediately felt guilty and apologetic.

A booming voice filled the room, but
it did not hurt their ears. "Rise."

Rommus did as he was commanded after
his companions rose beside him. "You’re Oderion," he managed to say
to the bearded figure in the center of the room.

"Yes, I am. These are the lesser gods
who sit beside me." He held out his hand as he introduced the gods
around him. "That is Inshae, god of death. That is Terinopus, god
of life. That is Maeris, god of destruction. That is Tachion, god
of time. That is Aedensor, god of desire. There is a god missing.
Are you familiar with the gods?"

"Yes Oderion," Rommus answered. "The
god of war is not here."

"Incorrect. The god of war is in this
room." Oderion’s thundering voice echoed off the marble
walls.

Rommus felt his hair moving slowly in
a strange breeze that he could not feel on his skin. He noticed
that Oderion’s gray beard was affected in the same way, and looked
as if it was caught in a slow underwater current. He looked at the
other gods and saw the same thing in their hair and their robes. He
was thoroughly confused when he noticed that Vohl and Alana were
totally unaffected.

"You mean me. You’re telling me that I
am Arius?"

Oderion laughed a slow, hearty laugh.
"No my son. I do not even know your name. I know only that you are
a Tirinius."

"Then where is Arius? Where is the god
of war?"

"Arius is dead and in the void for
eternity. He has been murdered by humans with Archenarius, which
you carry at your hip."

Rommus put his hand on the hilt which
was hidden behind his cape. "This really is the sword of Arius? And
he was murdered with it? How is that possible?"

Terinopus stood up from his golden
throne and answered. "It is possible because of the safeguards we
have placed between this world and your own. Each god has a
bloodline connected to him in the world of the living. The Dirujen
is of Inshae’s bloodline, as yours is of Arius. If we did not have
this connection to your world, we could not exist there. Your sword
exists for the same reason, so that it can be used in both worlds;
although the one you touch now is different from the one you carry
in your world. The one that pierced you is more like the spirit of
the sword, and not complete unless you are in this
realm."

"Why would you need a weapon in our
world? Can’t you just control events without them?"

Terinopus put his hands behind his
back. "We cannot do anything in your world without connections to
our power in this one. Aside from being able to use our power, it
also allows a god to be eliminated if it is needed. Although no god
can harm another god, things can be altered if our artifacts are
used properly. The connection we have to your world comes with a
great price. In order for us to exist there, we must be made
vulnerable by these rules. To enter the mortal realm, we must
become partly mortal. That is the reason for the bloodlines. Only
the god of death is safe from this mortality, for no man or god can
kill a Dirujen."

Vohl’s shoulders slumped and his eyes
turned to the floor. "Then it is not possible to ask you to take my
life?"

"I am sorry, but no," Terinopus said
with sadness on his face. "There is a way for you to break your
curse, but I do not know it."

Rommus stared into Oderion’s immortal
eyes. "So were you all humans once? Did you all become gods through
using these artifacts somehow?"

"No," Oderion answered. "We have
always existed, even before any existence began. You are the only
human to become a god."

"So you admit it. I am indeed the god
of war."

"You are something of a god, and
something of a man. I’m afraid I do not understand the true nature
of your existence. You possess the powers of Arius, and yet you are
unable to use them. Your soul does not reside in the Land of the
Gods that parallels your world, nor does it fully reside in the
world of the living. It was sent to the void when the sword was
used on you, and so your power is spread through too many realms.
Your human side pulls your soul to where it feels at home, and your
god side sleeps inside you."

"You said you didn’t even know my
name. How can you be sure that I am the person you think I
am?"

"Because we called to you. We called
to all of those in your bloodline with the dreams. It is a power
that the god of life holds. He summoned you here and you came.
There is no doubt; you are the new god of war."

Alana took a step forward. "And how
can he be sure you are Oderion? Wouldn’t Oderion know his
name?"

"No, mortal, I would not, just as I do
not know your name. I do not care what your names are or what
purpose you think you serve."

A defiant look came to her face. "My
name is Alana Irith. Now you know."

"Do not show me disrespect again,
mortal. Keep your mouth shut."

Rommus took a step forward. "You seem
to care very little about the affairs of humans. Am I
misinterpreting?"

"No, you are correct. I am god of all
things. I cannot deal with the petty problems of
mortals."

He took another step towards Oderion.
"Then why create us? What purpose do we serve if you do not care
for us?"

Oderion’s voice got louder. "I need
you, Tirinius, to restore balance in this world. My reasons for
what I do in your world are not your concern. I have chosen not to
hear the prayers of mankind, but at the same time I have allowed
them to do as they please. I do not suffer you to worship me; you
should not assume that I am listening."

Rommus began to get angry. "So when we
build temples and do things in your name, to please you, you look
away? When my mother died in my father’s arms, you didn’t listen?
When he prayed to you all, hoping she would be spared, you didn’t
listen?"

"I told you my reasons are not your
concern. Do not tempt my wrath."

Instantly Rommus had pulled the sword
and had the sharp blade at Oderion’s throat. He could see the
coarse gray hairs of his beard reflecting in the polished gold
blade. "I did not ask for this, Oderion. I do not want to be a god,
especially if eternal indifference is a requirement. I am nothing
like you, nor will I ever be. I am not afraid to go to the void,
for my life has already been a void itself. I now fear nothing, but
I see fear in your eyes Oderion. You don’t know if this sword can
harm you. You don’t know if I am a god with human traits or a human
with the traits of a god. You have no idea if the new god of war is
bound by the same laws that bind you. Shall I test my theory, oh
great king of indifference?"

Rommus felt a hot rage boil up inside
him and it was almost too much for him to control. He had no idea
if Oderion would kill him instantly or if the god was truly afraid.
The other gods had all stood, but backed away, either out of fear
of what Oderion would do, or fear of what Archenarius would do to a
god. Either way Rommus held his ground. He knew that Vohl and Alana
were probably terrified as they stood behind him, and he would be
surprised if Alana had not fainted. Although he wanted to turn
around and check on his friends, he kept his eyes locked on the god
in front of him.

In a blink Oderion had done something.
He felt a surge of some kind of power in his chest and suddenly he
found himself standing in the Columns of Inshae. His companions
were on the floor, but got on their feet as soon as they realized
what had happened. He put his sword back in its scabbard and turned
to them.

"Are you both okay?"

"I’m fine. Alana said as she brushed
herself off. "What happened? How did we get back here?"

"I have no idea. Oderion must have
used his power on us. Maybe he tried to kill me and he couldn’t. I
don’t know what happened."

"I can’t believe we spoke with the
gods! I can’t believe you’re a god Rommus. This is all so much to
handle. I can’t imagine what it’s like for you."

"Nothing has changed Alana. I don’t
care what they told me in there, I am still Rommus Tirinius. I will
not become what they are."

"Master Rommus, look!" Vohl said as he
pointed.

Rommus could not see what had him so
excited, so he went closer to where he stood. He cocked his head at
the sight. "What is that?"

Vohl took a few steps toward the
strange undulating light that hovered between two of the gigantic
columns. He took a closer look and a smile came to his face. "Wait
here," he said and he ran around the massive column to the other
side. After a moment he returned, slightly winded. "It is as I
imagined. Between the columns are shafts of light with images from
other temples. Look through there. You can see Reyth. The light
between the next set of columns looks to be some other town in
Vindyrion. I think we might be able to step into the light and come
out of the temples in those places."

"That’s insane," Alana said. "I’m not
walking through that."

Rommus’s cape flapped in the light
breeze. "Is it as insane as meeting the gods? Is it as insane as
being thrust here instantly by Oderion?"

"I say we try it," Vohl said. "I’ll go
first. You heard the gods. I cannot die. If it works, follow me. If
it sends me to the void, don’t"

"Vohl wait!" Alana cried, but it was
too late.

Chapter 32

She felt a surge of power similar to
the one she felt just moments before. Even though she expected it,
she was amazed to see that walking through the columns magically
transported them to the town of Reyth. They must have been noticed,
because a crowd of people stood outside the temple in the dirt
streets, each staring with their mouths wide open. She couldn’t
imagine what they must have seen, but they most likely saw the
three of them appear out of nowhere like ghosts. She smiled, but
looked away from them; half embarrassed and half excited about
being able to do something so extraordinary.